Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-05-19
The Perils Of the Border.

While reading recently an account
of the frightful massacre of several
white families by the BIack-toot Indi-
ans, we were reminded of Il thrilling
event which occurred in the 'Wild
West" short time subsequent to the
Revolution, in which Q highly accom-
plished young lady, the daughter of a
distinguished officer Of the American
Army, played an important part. The
story being Of the most thrilling nature,
and exhibiting in a stirling manner the
''Perils Of the Border" We have CON
cluded to give 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 Pleas
ant, and is place Of historical note
Here, on the 10th of October, l774, du-
ring what is known as Lord Dunmore's
War, was fought one of the fiercest
and most desperate battles that ever
took place between the Nirginians and
their forest foes.
After the battle in question, in which
the Indians We're defeated with great
loss, a fort was here erected by their
victors, which became post Of great
Importance throughout the sanguinary
scenes Of strife which almost immedi-
ately followed, and which in this sec
ton OF the 'coantry were continued
for many years after that establishment
OF peace which acknowledged the Uni
ted Colonies Of America free and in
dependent nation.
At the landing of the fort. on the
day our story opens, was fastened a
fiat boat OF the kind used by the early
navigators of the Western rivers.
Upon the deck of this boat. at the
moment we present the scene to our
reader, stood five individuals, alike en-
gagged in watching a group of persons,
mostly females, who were SLOWLY ap-
preaching the landing. Of these five,
one was a stout sleek negro. in partial
livery, and evidently a house or body
servant; three We're boatmen and Dor
derers, as indicated by their rough,
bronzed wages and coarse attire: but
the fifth was young man, some two
and twenty years Of age, of a fine com
manding person, and clear, open, in.
telligent countenance; and in the lofty
carriage OF his head-in the CLEAN OF
his large, bright, hazel eve-there was
something which denoted one of supe
rior mind; but as We shall have occa
sion in the course of our narrative tc
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 regard:
ing 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 wa.
one whom the most casual eve woult
have singled ont and rested upon will
pleasure. The lady in question, wa:
apparently about twenty Years of aoe
of slender and graceful fonre and o
that peculiar cast of feature which be
sides being beautiful in every Inca
ment, rarely fails to affect the beh olde
with something like charm
Her travelling cOstume-a fine brow,
habit, high in the neck, buttoned close
ly over the bosom and coming down t,
her small pretty feet, without TRAILING
on the ground-was both neat and be
coming; and with her riding CAP anc
its waving ostrich plume, set Gail,
above her flowing curls, her appear
ance contrasted forcibly with the rouob
unpublished looks of those ofher GOV he
side her, with their insey bed-oowns
scarlet flannel petticoats, and bleache,
linen caps.
, "Oh, Blanche" said one oftbe NOR
venerable Of her female comnan;ons
pursuing a conversation which ha,