The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-05-20
The Perils Of the Border.

full massacre of several white families by the Black
foot indians, we were reminded of thrilling event
which occured in the 4" Wild West a short time
subsequent to the Revolution, in whnh highly
accomplished young lady, the daughter of dis
tinpuishsd officer of the American army, played
an important part. The story being of most
thrilling nature, and exhibiting in a striking mad
ner the " Perils OF the Border" we have concu-
ded to give an extract from it, as originally pub
lished, as follows:
The angle on the right bank of the Great Ka-
nawha formed by its junction with the ONO, ls
called Point Pleasant aud is place OF historical
note. Here, Oh the 10th of October, IVA, during
what is known as Lord Dunmores War was fought
one of the iercest aud most desperate battles that
ever took place between the Nirginans and their
forest foes.
After the battle in question, in which the lndi-
ans we're defeated with great loss, fort was here
erected by the victors which became post oil
great Importance throughout tho sanguinary
scenes OF strife which almost Immediately follow
ed and which in this section OF country were con-
tnued for many years after that estah ishment o'
peace which acknowledged the United Colonies of
America free and independent nation
Az the landing OF the fort. on the day our story
opens, was fastened fiat boat OF the kind used
by the earlN naNlbulOIS VI tuC NSStSlh lNOlS'
Upou the deck of this boat, at the moment we
present the scene to the reader stood five ndivid-
uuls alike engaged in watching group of persons
mostly females, who were slowly approaching the
landing or these five, one was a stout, Sleek ne
gro. in partial livery, and evidently house or
BODY servant; three were boatmen and bordererS,
as indicated by their rough, bronzed visages and
course attire; but the fifth was young man, some
tYo-and-twenty years OF age, OF a line command
inE person. and clear, open intelligent counten-
ancc; and in the lofty carriage of his head-in the
CLEAN of his large, bright, hazel eye e-there was
something which denoted one of superior mind;
but Us we shall haYe occasion in the course OF our
narrative to fully set forth who aud what Eugene
Fairfax was we will eaye him for the present, aud
| turn to the approaching group, whom he seemed
to be regarding with lively interest
OF this group, composed OF a middle aged man
aud four females, with black female servant FOL
lowing 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, was apparently about twenty
wears of age, of slender and graceful figure, and
of that peculiar cast of feature, which, besides be-
inc beautiful in every eament, rarely ials to et-
fect the beholder with something like charm.
Her travelling costume-a fine brown habit,
high in the neck, buttoned closely over the bosom
and coming down to her small pretty feet, with
out trailing on the ground-was both neat and be-
coming; aud with her rdngcap and It's waving os-
trich plume, set gaily above her flowing curs, her
appearance contrasted forcibly with the rough, uu-
polished looks of those of her sex beside her with
their linsey bed-gowns, scarlet flannel petticoats,
and bleached linen caps.
"Oh, Blanche, said one Of the more venerable
| of her female companions pursuing IL conyerSa-
ton which had been mantnnei since quitting
the open fort behind them, 9 cannot bear to let
| you go; for ii just seems to me as II something
were going to happen to you, and when feel that
way, something generally does happen"
..Well, aunt, returned Blanche, with q laugh,
" do not doubt in the least that something will
happen--lor expect one of these days TO reach
! nv dear father and blessed mother, aud give them
such an embrace as is due from a dutiiu daugh er
to her pareuts--and that will be something that
has not happened for two long years at least"
" But don't mean thai, Blanche, returned the
other, somewhat pelulenuy; s. and you just laugh
like gay and thoughtless girl, when you ought
to be serious. Because you have come sale thus
far through partially settled country, you think
d perhaps. your own pretty face will ward off dan
/ ger in the more perilOus wilderness-but war;
you that fearful journey is before you! Scarce
ly boat descendS the OHIO, that does not encoun
ter more or less peril from the Savayes that prov
along either shore; and somo of tho"i that go dow
freirRied with human life, are heard Oh ho i'ore
anu hone ever return 10 tell lle talS'
{" But why repeat this TO me, dear aunt" return
ed Blanche with more serious air, ''when yor
know it isny destiny, either good or bad, to at
, tempt the voyage? My parents have sent for mi
to join them in their new home, and it is my duty
to go to them, be the peril what it may"
: "You never did know what it was to fear! pur
sued the good woman, rather proudly. mo" sh'
repeated, turning to the Others, Blanche Bertrand
never did know what it was to fear, believer
n "Just like her father p joined in the husband o
the matron, the brother Of Banche's mother, thu
commander of the station, and the middlc-age,
], gentleman mentioned as one OF the party; A tru
ri daughter of true soldier, Her father Coone
}, Phillip Bertrand, God bless him for a true heart
never did seem to know what it was to lear--ant
| Blanche is just like him."
BY this time the parties had reached the boat
and the young man already described--Eugen
Fl Fairfax, the secretary of Banche's father--a
once stepped forward, and in polite and deteren
1 tial manner, offered his hand to the different fe
D males to assist them on board. The hand @
? Blanche was the last TO touch hs-and then bu
slightly as she sprung quickly and lightly TO th
/ deck--but close OBJ erver might have detecte
q the slight flush that manted his noble, expressly
features as his eye for single instant met hers
She might herself have seen it-perhaps she did
but there was no corresponding glow on her ow
bright, pretty face, she inquired, in the calm
: dgni6ed tone of one having the right to put tn
j.; question, and who might also have been aware G
the inequality of position between herself and hir
E she addressed:
Eugene, is everything prepared for our depaI
ture?" 1t will not do for our boat to spring
leak again, as it did coming down tue Kanawha-
for it will not be safe for u.s. am told to touch
either shore between the different forts and tradin
posts on our route, this side of our destination,-
the falls of Ohio"
"No, indeed" reoined her aunt, quickly;
will be as much as your lives are worth to ventur
> a foot from the main current of the Ohio-for new
q reached us only the other day. that many boat
had been attacked this spring, aud several los
q with all on board"
: "No one feels more concerned about the sal
: passage of Miss Bertrand than myself" replied Eu
: gene, in deferentia tone; "and since our arr
b val hnrn hava left nothing nndnne that ihnnoh