M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-05-20
The PeriIs Of the Border.

~ AA%S ASNNAAA6 A~N~AAs+I NNNctAAFN
frightful massacre Of several white families
by the Black.foot Indians, we were reminded
of a thrilling event which occurred in the
"Wild West,'' short time subsequent to
the Revolution, in which highly accom-
| plished young lady, the daughter of distin-
guished officer of the American Amy, played
an important part. The story being Of a
most thrilling nature, and exhibiting in a
striking manner the "Perils oithe Border
we have concluded to give anextract from it,
as originally published, as follows : slss. &
The angle on the right bank of the Great
Kanawha, formed by It's junction with the
Ohio, is called Point Pleasant, and is place
OF historical note. Here, on the 10th of Oc-
tober, TIA, during what is known as Lord
Dunmore's War, was fought one of the fierc-
est and most desperate battles that ever took
place between the Virginians and their forest
foes. .. Faa,IY3Tl iss1 .a..'Titly
After the battle in question, in which the
Indians were defeated with great loss, fors
was here erected by the victors, which be-
came post of great importance throughout
the sanguinary scenes ofstrife which almost
Immediately followed, and which in this
section of the country wete continued for
many years after that establishment of peace
which acknowledged the United Colonies of
America free and independent nation. Z
At the landing Of the fort. on the day our
story opens, was fastened flat-boat of the
kind used by the early navigators OF the
Western rivers.
.ioUpon the deck Of this boat, at the moment
we present the scene 10 the reader, stood five
individuals, alike engaged in watching
group Of persons, mostly females, who were
slowly approaching the landing. or these
five, one was a stout, sleek negro in partial
livery, and evidently a house or body servant;
three were boatmen and borderers, as indi-
Gated by their rough, .bronzed visages. and
coarse attire; but the fifth was young man
some two.and twenty years Of age, Of fine
commanding person, and clear, open, intel
ligent countenance; and in the lofty carriage
of his head-in the gleam of his large, hazel
eye-there was something which denoted one
of superior mind; but as we shall have occa-
sion in the course OF our narrative to fully
set forth who and what Eugene Fairfax was,
we will leave him for the present, and turn
to the approaching group, whom he seemed
to be regarding with lively interest.
OF this group, composed of middIe.aged
man and four females, with a black female
servant following some five or six PAGES in
the rear, there was one whom the most casual
eye would have singled out and rested upon
with pleasure. The lady in question, WINS
about twenty years of age, Of
slender and graceful figure, and of tha, pecu-
liar cast of feature, which, besides being
beautiful in every lineament, rarely fails TO
effect the beholder with something like
charm. .H HH.aI .aiat] AI --i-1. aH
Her travelling costume a fine brownhabit,
high in the neck, buttoned closely over the
bosum and coming down to her small pretty
feet, without trailing on the ground-was
both neat and becoming; and with her riding
cap and its waving ostrich plume, set gaily
above her flowing CurIs, her appearance con-
trasted forcibly with the rough, unpublished
looks OF those of her sex beside her, with
their linsey bed-gowns, scarlet flannel petit
IOu loB uliN DlCuIuCu llllGIl caps.
'0h, Blanche, said one of the more vener-
able Of her female companions, pursuing a
which had been maintained
since quitting the open fort behind them,
cannot bear to let you CO. for it just seems as
If something were going to hap ppen tOiyou,
and when | feel that way, something general,
ly does happen AZ. --n.p I,aa, D
well, aunt returned Blanche, with light
laugh, i do not doubt in the least that some
thing will happen-for expect one Of these
days to reach my dear father and blessed
mother, and give them such an embrace as is
due from ilutiful daughter to her parents =
and that will be something that has not hap
pened for two long yearsat least .,.g
But don t mean that, Blanche. returned
the aunt, somewhat peIulontly; 'and sou inst
laugh like gay and thoughtless girl, when
you ought to be serious. Because you have
come safe thus far, through partially set
tied country, you think, perhaps, your own
pretty face will ward off danger in the more
perilous wildemess-but warn you that
fearful joumey is before you! Scarcely
boat descends the Ohio, that does not en-
more or less peril from the savages
that prowl along either shore; and some Of
them that go down freighted with human
life, are heard of no more, and none ever re-
turn to tell the tale .fe4- 3,
'Butwhy repeat Shis to me, dear aunt re-
turned Blanche, with more serious air,
when you know it is my destiny, either
good or bad, to attempt the voyage My
parents have sent for me to join them in their
new home, and it is my duty to &C, 10 them,
be the peril whatit may" i III Nl
You neve did know what it was to fear!'
,,ursued the good woman, ratbe., proudly
No she repeated, tuning to the others
blanche Bertrand never did know what it
was to fear, i believe zl..,,..,
Just like her fati. en- joined in the husband
Of the matron, the brother OF Blanche'S moth
er, the commander of the station, and the
gentleman ment tioi1ed as one OF
the party; "a true daughter ofa trus soldier:
Her father, Colonel Philip Bertrand, God
bless him for true heart ! never did seei2
10 know what 1t was to fear--and Blanche
is Just like him.
By this time the parties had reached the
boat; and the young man already described
Eugene Fairfax, the secretary OF Blanche's
fathef-at once stepped forward, and. in a
polite and deferential manner, offered his
hand TO the different females, to assist them
on board. The hand Of Blanche was the last
10 touch his--and then but slightly, as she
sprung quickly and lightly to the deck-bnt
a close observer might have detected the
slight flush which mantled his noble, express