Columbia gazette and the southern mines advertiser. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne County, Calif.) 1855-1858, 1858-07-01

.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
Tot be safe for us, 1 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 % rejoined her aunt
qaickly sit will be as much as your
lives are worth to venture foot from
the main current of the Ohio--for news
reached US the other day, that many
boats have been attacked this spriug,
and several lives lost Gu board -
"No one feels more concerned about
the safe passage OF Miss Bertrand thon
myself" replied Eugene, in def ren-
tial tone and since our arrival here,
l have left nothing undene that |
thought might possibly add to her Sc
cutty and comfort
"Ihat is true to my personal knowl>
edge" joined in the uncle Of Blanche !;
land | til ank you, Mir. Fairfax, in be-
half Of my fair kinswoman. There will,
Perhaps" he pursued, che no great
danger, so long as you keep in the cur
rent but your watch must not be neg
lected for single moment, either day
Or night; and dc not, | solemnly charge
and warn you, under any circumstances,
Or on any pretenso whatever, suffer
yourselves to be decoyed to either
shore"
81 hope We understand cur duty bet~
Ter, Colonel" said one Of the men re-
specially.
81 doubt it not,n replied the COM
mander CT the point Il believe you
are ali faithful and true men, or you
would not be selected by the agent Of
Colonel Bertrand, for takine dow meks
precious freight than YOU ever carIi5d
before; but still the wisest and the best
of men have lost their lives by giving
ear to the most earnest appeals of hu-
mauity. You understand what l mean |;
White men, apparently in the greatest
distress, will haA your boat, represent
themselves as having just escaped from
the Indians, and beg of you Tor the
love of God, in the most piteous tones,
to come TO their relief but turn deaf
ear to them-to each and all Of them
even should you know the pleadors to
be Of your own kin for in such case
your own brother might deceive you
not wiliaiIy and voluntarily, perhaps
but because Of being goaded Oh by the
savages, themselves concealed. Yes,
such things have been Known as one
friend being thu used to lure another to
his destruction and so be cautious.
vieilant, and true, and may tho COD
keep you from all harm !''
as he finished speaking, Blanche
proceeded to take an aifcetionate leave
OF all, receiving many tender message
for her parents from those who held
them in love and vencration and the
boat boat swung out, and began to float
down with the current, now fairly en-
tered upon the most dangerous portion
of long and perilous journey.
The father Of Blanche, Colonel Phil
ip Bertrand, was a native OF Virginia,
and descendent Of enc Of the Hugue
not refugees, who fed from their native
land, after the revocation of the edict
Of Nantz in 1868. He lad been an
officer Of some note during the Revolu-
tion-a warm political and personal
friend Of TIE au nor Of the Declaration
Of Independence and gentleman who
always stood high in the esteem of his
associates and contemporaries.
Though at one time man Of wealth,
Colonel Bertrand had lost much, and
suffered much, through British invasion;
aud when, shortly after the close Of the
war, he had met with few more seri-
Gus reverses, he bad been iain to ac-
cept a grant of land, near the Falls OF
the Ohio, now Louisville, rendered him
by Virginia, which then held jurisdic-
ton over the entire territory, now con.
shutting the State OF Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel
upon seeking his new possessions, and
building up new home in the then
Ear West. and as his wife had insisted
upon accompanying him en- his first tour,
he had assentcd to her desire, on condi
ton that Blanche should be left among
her friends, till such time as a place
could be prepared which might in some
degree be considered fit abode for one
SO carefully and tenderly reared.
Blanche would gladly have gone with
her parents; but on this point her father
had been inexoriable- declaring that
she would have to remain at the East
till he should sec proper to send for her;
and as he was man Of positive charac-