Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-05-15
The Perils of tho Border.

While reading recently an account OF the
frightful massacre Of several white families
by the Black. foot Indians, we were remind
ed of thrilling event which occurred in the
"Wild West,' short time subsequent to the
Revolution, in which highly accomplished
young lady, the daughter Of distinguished
officer of the American Army, played an
important part. The story being Of most
thrilling nature, and exhibiting in striking
manner the "Perils of the Border" we have
concluded give an extract from it, as orig
inally published as follows:
The angle on the right bank of the Great
Kanawha, formed by its junction with the
Ohio, is called Point Pleasant, and is place
Of historical note. Here, on the 10th Of
October, l774, during what is known as Lord
Dunmore's War, was fought one of the fer
cest and most desperate battles that ever
took place between the Virginians and their
forest foes.
After the battle in question, in which the
Indians were defeated with great loss, fort
was here erected by the victors, which be-
came post of great importance throughout
the sanguinary scenes of strife which almost
Immediately followed, and which in this Sec
ton of the country were continued for many
years after the establishment OF peace which
acknowledged the United Colonies Of Amer
lea free and independent nation.
At the landing of the fort, on the day our
story opens, was fastened a fiat boat of the
kind used by the early navigators 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
group of persons, mostly females. who were
slowly approaching the landing. Of these
five, ono was stout, sleek negro, in partial
livery, and evidently house or body SER
want three were boatmen and borderers,
as indicated by their rough, bronzcd visages
and course attire but the fifth was young
man, some two and-twenty years of age, of
fine comm ,nding person, and clear, open,
intelligent countenance and in the lofty
carriage of the head-in the CLEAN of his
large, bright, hazel eye-there was something
which denoted a superior mind; but as we
shall have occasion in the course of our mar
rative to fully set forth who and what Eu-
gene 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 middle 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 cas-
ual eye would have singled out and rested
upon with pleasure. The lady in question,
was apparently about twenty years of age,
Of slender and graceful figure, and Of that
peculiar cast OF feature, which, besides being
beautiful in every lineament, rarely fails to
affect the beholder with something like q
charm.
Her travelling costume-a line brown hab-
it, high in the neck, buttoned closely over
the bosom and coming down to her small
pretty feet, without trailing on the ground
was both neat and becoming !; and with her
ridins-cap and its waving ostrich plume, set
gaily above her flowing curls, her appearance
contrasted forcibly with the rough, unpollsh-
ed looks Of those of her sex beside her, with
their linsey bed-gowns, scarlet flannel petit
coats, and bleached linen caps.
"Oh, Blancb," said one of the more ven-
cradle of her female companions, pursuing a
conversation which had been maintained
since quitting the open fort behind them, I"
cannot bear 10 let you go; for it just seems
to me as if something was going to happen
to you, and when feel that way, something
generally does happen"
"Well, aunt" returned Blanche, with q
light laugh, II do not doubt in the least that
something will happen-for expect one of
these days to reach my dear father and bles-
sed mother, and give them such an embrace
-, :, lao r.o,.. a 1ut;c,l Jc,rbt.r no, m
rents-and that will be something that has
not happened for two long years at least"
"But don't mean that, Blanche" return
ed the oth:r, somewhat petulantly "and
You just laugh like gay and thoughtless
girl, when you ought to be serious. Because
you have come safe thus far, through par
TALLY settled country, you think, perhaps,
your own pretty face will ward off dagger in
the more perilous wilderness-but l warn
you that fearful journey is before you !!
Scarcely boat descends the Ohio, that doe,
not e. counter more or less peril from the
savages that prowl along either shore and
some of them that 60 down freighted with
human life, are heard OF no more, and none
ever return to tell the tale.'
"But why repeat this to me, dear aunt"
returned Blanche, with more serious air,
"when you know it is my destiny, either
good or bad, to attempt the voyage2 My
parents have sent for me to join them in
their new home and it is my duty TO go to
them, be the peril what it may"
"You never knew what it was to fear y
pursued the good woman, rather proudly
NO." she repeated, turning to the others,
blanche Bertrand never did know what it
was to fear. l believe"
"Just like her father" joined in the hus-
band of the matron, the brother OF Blanche's
mother, the commander of the station, and
the party "a true daughter of true SOL
der. Her father, Col. Philip Bertrand, God
bless him for true heart never did seem to
know what it was to fear-and Blanche is
just like him."
BY this time the parties had reachd the
boat; and the young man already described
Eugene Fairfax, the secretary Of Blanche's
father-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
to touch his-and then but slightly, as she
sprung quickly and lightly to the dcck-but
close observer might have detected the
slight flush which mantled his noble, express
sive features as his eye for a single instant
met hers. She might herself have seen it
perhaps she debut there was no CORES
ponding glow on her own bright, pretty face,
as she inquired, in the calm, dignified tone Of
one having the right to question, and who
might als,' have been aware Of the inequ H.
ty of position between herself and him she
addressed
Eugene, is everything prepared for our
departure? 1t will not do for Our boat to
spring leak again, as it did coming down
the Kanawha-for it will not be safe for us,
am told, to touch either shore between the
different forts and trading. posts on our route,
this side of our destination,-the Falls of
the Ohio"
"No, indeed % rcjoined her aunt, quickly
sit will be as much as your lives are worth
a. -