The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-05-14
The perils Of the Border.

While reading recently an account Of the
fiich,lul massacre Of several white families
by the Black-ioot Indians, We were remind
ed of thrilling event which occurred in
the "Wild West short tims subsequent
to the Revolution, in which highly accom-
pIishcd young lady, the daughter of n dis.
,inguishcd officer OF the American Army,
played an important part. The story being
Of a mos, thrilling nature, and exhibiting in
a striking manner The "Pcris Of the Border"
we have concluded to give an extract from
il, as originally published, as follows:
The snglc on the righ. bank Of the Great
Kanawn. formed by lis junction with the
Ohio, is called Point Pleasant, snd Is n
place OF historical note. Here, on the 10Th
of October, l77i. during what is known rs
Lord Dunmorc's War, was fought one OF
the fierccst and mos, desperate battles that
ever took place between the Virginians and
their forest foes.
Aitcr the battle in question, in which the
Indians were defeated with great loss, a
fort was here erected by the victors, which
became post of great importance through
out the sanguinary scenes of strife which
almost immediately followed, and which in
this section o. the country were continued
for many years after that establishment Of
ppace which acknowledged the United
Colonies of America tree and independ-
ent nation. rl. .gT
AT the landing Of the fort, on the day our
story opcns, was fastened a flat boat OF the
kind used by the carly nayigators Of the
Western rivers.
Upon the deck Of this boat, at the moment
we present the scene to the reader, stood
five individuals, alike engaged IN watching
a group of persons, mostly females, who
were slowly approaching the landing. or
these five, one was stout, sleek negro, IN
partial livery, aud evidently a house or body
servant; three were boatn,en and bordercrs,
os indicated by their rough, bronzed yissges
md coarse attire but the fifth was young
man, some two-and.twenty years Of age, OF
a fine commanding person, and clear, open,
intelligent countenance; and IN the lofty
carriage Of his head-in the CLEAN OF his
large, bright, huzel eyc-,here was some
thing which denoted one Of superior mind
but ms we shall have occasion 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 ap-
preaching group, whom he seemed 10 DC re-
garding with lively interest.
or this group, composed Of a middle-sged
man and four females, with q black female
seryan, following some i've or Elk PAGES IN
the rear. there was one whom the most cas-.
nal eve would have singled out and rested
upon with pleasure. Tho lady In question,
was apparently about twenty years OF age,
Of slender and graceful figure, ana OF ti'at
ncculiar cas-, of feature, which, besides De-
,nc beautiful in every lineamcn', rarely fails
10 siIec, the belolder with something IKE a
charm.
b,bit. high in the neck, butioned closely
over The bosom and coming down to her
ANAL pretty feet, without trailing on the
pround-was both neat and becoming; and
with her riding-cap aud It's waving ostrich
plume, set gaily above her flowing curls,
her appearance controsted forcibly with tho
rough, unpollshed looks Of those Of her sex
beside her, with their lnsey bed.gowns,
scarlet flannel pe,,icoats, and blcached lin
en- cape.
"Ob, Blanche" said one Of the more yen-
eublc OF her female companions, pursuing
- a conversation which had been maintained
since quitting the open fort behind them, u
cannot bear to let you 20 Tor IL Just seems
to inc us IL something were gong 10 happen
IoosrisvEp on FOURTH FACE.