Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-22
THE PERILS OF THE BORDER.

THE PEKILS OF THE BORDER.
While reading recently an account Of tn.
frightful massacre of several white families
by the Black foot Indians, we were remin
ded Of thrilling event which occurred ii
the "Wild West" short time subsequen
to the Revolution, in which a highly ac
complished young lady, the daughter Of
distinguished officer Of the American Ar
ny, played an important part. The stor.
being Of a most thrilling nature, and ex
hibiting in striking manner the "Perll'
| Of the Border" we have concluded to giv'
en- extract from it, as originally published
as follows:
! The angle on the right bank Of the Grca
Kanawha, formed by its junction with til.
Ohio, is called Point Pleasant, and is ;
place Of historical note. Here, on the 10tl
of October, 1774, during what is known al
Lord Dunmorc's War, was fought one o
the fercest and most desperate battles that
ever took place between the Virginiaus ane
| their forest foes.
| After the battle in question in which tho
Indians were defeated with great loss, a for
was here erected by the victors, which be-
came post Of great Importance through
cut the sanguinary scenes of strife which
almost immediately followed, and which in
this section Of the country were continued
for many years after the establishment o
peace which acknowledged the Unite d Col
onies Of America free and Independent
nation.
At the landing Of the fort, on the day
our story opens, was fastened dat-boat O
the kind used by the early navigators Of the
Western rivers
Upon the deck Of this boat, at the mo-
ment 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, one was a stout, sleek negro,
in partial livery, aud evidently house or
body servant; three were boatmen and Dor
derers, as indicated By their rough, bronzed
visages and coarse attire; but the fifth was
young man, some two-and-twenty years
If age, OF fine commanding person, and a
clear, open, intelligent countenance; and in
the lofty carriage Of his head-in the CLEAN
IF his large, bright, hazel eye-there was
something which denoted one Of superior
mind but as 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.
OF this group, composed Of a 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 cas-
uai eye would have singled out and rested
upon with pleasure The lady III question,
was apparently about twenty years Of aye,
of a slender and graceful figure, and Of that
peculiar cast Of feature, which, besides be-
ing beautiful in every ineament, rarely
fails to affect the beholIer with something
Ike charm
Her travelling eosture-a fine brown
habit, high i'll the neck, buttencd closely
over the bosom and coming down to her
smell pretty feet, without trailing on the
ground-was both neat and becoming; and
with her riding eap and its waving ostrich
plume, set gaiiy above Der flowing curls,
her appearance contrasted furcibly with the
rough, unpublished loulls OF those Of her sex
beside her, With their linsey bed gowns,
scarlet flannel pctticoats, and blcachcd lin
Ell caps.
"Uh, BlaHclc,' sa;d enc Of the more
venerable Of her female companions, pursu-
ing conversation which he'd been main
tanned since quitting the open fort behind
them, y cannot bear to let you 60 ; for it
just seeres TO me as ifsomething were going
to happen to you, and when | feel that
way, something generally does happen"
"Well, aunt, returned Blanche, with a
light laugh, y DO not doubt i'll the least
that something viii hsppen expect
ore Of these days to reach my dear father
aud blessed mother, snd give them such an
embrace us is due from dutifnl daughter
to her parents ard that will be something
that has rot happened for two long years at
least.
"But don't mean that. Blanche" re-
turned the other, somewhat petulantFy !;
"and you just laugh like gay and thought
less girl, when You ought to be serious
Because you have come safe thus far,
through partially settled country, you
think, perhaps, your own pretty face will
ward off danger i'll the more perilous will
derness-but warn you that fearful
Journey is before you Scarcely boat
descends the Ohio, that does not encounter
more or less peril from the savages that
prowl along either shore; and some Of them
that 90 down freighted with human life,
are heard Of no more, and none ever return
to tell the tale
but why repeat this tome, dear aunt, .
returned 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 rev home, and it is my duty to go to
them, be the peril what it may"
"lou never did know what it was to
fear p pursued the good woman, rather
proudly. "No," she repeated, turning to
the others, "Blancbe Bertrand never did
know what it was to fear, | believe -
"Just like her father."' joined in the
husband Of the matron, the brother of
Blanehe's mother, the commander Of the
station, and the middle-aged gentleman
meathoncd as one Of the party q. true
! daughter Of q true soldier. Her father,
Col. Philip Bertrand, God bless him for a
! true heart. never did seem to know what
it was to fear+and Blanche is just like
hin, -