Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-05-14
TERMs on AnvERTlsINe.
MISCELLANY.
THE PERILs OF THE BORDER.

While reading recently an account of
the frightful massacre of several white
families by the Black foot Indians, we were
reminded of a thrilling event which oc-
Cured in the "Wild West, a short time
subsequent to the Revolution, in which a
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
to give an an extract from it, as originally
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, 1774, during what
is known as Lord Dumore's War, was
fought one of the fercest and most des-
perate 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,
a fort was here erected by the victors,
which became post Of great Importance
throughout the sanguinary scenes of strife
which almost Immediately followed, and
which in this section of the country were
continued for many years after that es
tablishment of peace which acknowledged
the United Colonies Of America free and
Independent nation.
At the landing of the fort, on the day
our story opens, was fastened fiat boat of
the kind used by the early navigators of
the Western rivers.
Upon the deck of this boat, at the mo-
mcnt we present the scene to the reader,
stood FIVE individuals, alike engaged in
watching group of persons, mostly fe
males, who were slowly approaching the
landing. OF those five, one was stout,
sleek negro in partial livery, and evident
ly house or body servent; three were
boatmen and borderers, as indicated by
their rough bronzed ysagcs and coarse
attire but the fifth was a young man,
some two-and twenty years of age, of
fine commanding person, and a 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 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 ap-
preaching group, whom he seemed to be
regarding with lively interest.
OF 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
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 be-
holder with something like a 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, without trailing on the
ground-was both neat and becoming \
and with her riding-cap and its waving
ostrich plume, set gaily above her flowing
curls, her appearance contrasted forcibly
with the rough, unpublished looks of those
of her sex beside her, with their linsey
bed crowns scarlet flannel petticoats, and
blcached linen caps,
"Oh, Blanche, said one of the more
venerable of her female companions, pur-
suing conversation which had been main
taincd since quitting the open fort behind
them, "I cannot bear to let you go for it
just seems to me as if something were
going to happen to you, and when feel
that way, something generally does hap
pen"
swell, aunt, returned Blanche, with
light laugh, 81 do not doubt in the least
that something will happen-for expect
ono Of those days to reach my dear flther
aud blessed mother and give them such
an embrace as is duo from dutifal daueh-
ter to her parents--and that will be some
thing that has not happened for two long