The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-05-14
The Perils of the Border.

nc Vi tuc DOIutIs
While reading recently, an account of the
yfrightful massacre of several white families
by the Blackfoot Indians, we were remind
ed Of thrilling event which occurred in the
"Wild West," a short time subsequent to
the Revolution, in which a highly accom-
Plisbed young lady, the daughter of a dis
tinguiShed officer Of the American Army,
played an important part. The story being
of a most thrilling nature, and exhibiting in
striking manner the "Perils of the Bor-
der" We have concluded to give an extract
from it, as originally published, as follows:
The angle on the right bank Of the Great
kana.w ha, formed by its junction with the
Ohio, is called Point Pleasant, and is place
Of historical note. Here, on the 10th OF Oc-
t0ber, l'Ii, during what is known rs Lord
Dunmore's War, was fought one of the
-fcrccst and most desperate battles that ever
took place between the Virginians and their
forest foes.
After the battle in question, in which the
In iians were defeated with great loss, a fort
was here erected by the victors, which be-
came post of great importance throughout
the sanguinary sccnes of strife which al
most immediately followed, and which in
this section of the country were continued
Tor many years after that establishment OF
peace which acknowledged the United Colo
mes OF America free ard independent na-
ton.
AT the landing of the fort, on tho day our
story opens, was fastened a fiat boat of the
Kind used by the early nayigators of the
Western rivers.
Upon the deck of this boat, at the moment
we present the scene to the reader, stood five
group OF persons, mostly females an WaGSolng wSo ra
slowly approaching the landing. or these
live, one was stout, sleek negro, in partial
livery, and evidsLtly house or body serv
ant; three were boatmen and borderers, MS
Indicated by their rough, bronzed visages
and coarse attire; but the fifth was young
man, some iwo-and twenty years OF age, OF
fine commanding person, and clear, open,
intelligent cOuntenance; and in the lofty
carriage of his head-in the CLEAN OF his
large, bright, hazel eye-there was some
thing which denoted Que of superior mind;
but rs 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 approaching
group, whom he seemed to be regarding with
lively interest.
or this group, composed of middle aged
man and four females, with black female
servant following some five or six PAGES In
the rear. there was one whom the most
casual eye would have singled out ami rest
cd upon with pleasure. The lady in ques-
ton, was apparently about twenty years of
age, of Il slender and graceful figure, and OF
that Iecu lar cast of feature, which, besides
being beautiful in every lineament, rarely
fails 10 affect the beholder with something
like a charm.
Her travelling costume-a fine brown hab
it, high in the neck, buttonei closely over
the bosom and coming down to hlf small
pretty feet, without trailing ON the ground
was both neat and becoming; and with her
Iilrng cap and its waving ostrich plume, set
eaIly above her flowing curls, her appear
ince contrastcd forcibly with the rough, un-
polished looks of those of her sex beside her
with their limsey bed gowns, scarlet fanne
pctticoats, an blea.hed linen caps.
'Oh, Blanche" said one OF the more ven
cradle of her female companions, pursuing ;
conversation which had been maintained
since quitting the open fort behind them
IL cannot bear to let you go; for it jus
seems to Us if something were gong u
happen TO you, and when 1 feel that way
something generally does happen"
"Well, aunt" returned Blanche, with
light laugh, Il do not doubt in the least tha
something will happcn-fOr l expect one o
these days to reach my dear father and blesse,
mother, and give them such an embrace as
due from u dutiiul dau hter to her parents
and that will be something that has not hap
y
''But don't IN, that, Blanche, y return
el the other, somewhat pctulantly; "and yo
Just laugh like gay and thoughtless CIR
when YOU ought to be serious. Because 20
have come safe thus far through PARTIAL
settled country, You think, perhaps, your ow
pretty face will ward of danger III q NOR
perIlous wilderness-but warn you that
fearful journey is before you! Scarcely
boat descends the Ohio, that does not encoun
ter more or less peril from the savages thI
prowl along either shore; and some of thel
that go down freighted with human life, al
heard of no more, and none ever return
tell the tale"
..But why repeat this to me, dear aunt
returned Blanche, with more serious al
when YOU know it my destiny, either goo
or bad to attempt the voyage! My paren
have sent for me to join them in their he
home, and it is my duty to go to them, be Z
peril what it may
"You never did know what 1t was TO lear
pursued the good woman, rather Prouaiy
t.No,n she repeated, turning TO the othel
-'Blanche Bertrand never did know what
was TO fear, | believer
Just like her father" joined in the h1
band OF the matron, the brother oil biahch'
mother, the commander of the station, al
the middle-aged gentleman mentioned us
OF the party, IA true daughter OF truo Sc
dier. Her father. Colonel Philip Bcrtran
God bless him, for 4 true heart. never q
seem TO know what it was to fear-al
Blanche IS just like him."
BY this time the paIties had reached I
boat; and the young man already dcscilb
-Eugcne Fairfax, the secretary of Banch'
father-at once stepped forward, and, in P
lite and deierential manner, offered his hal
70 the different females, TO sist them
board The hand Of Blanche was the il
20 touch his-and then bat slightly, 5