Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-05-12

"s8udui uihoSacTe Ct stteIoi WINE tsuiiAc7
by the Black foot Indians, we were remind
ed Of thrilling event which occurred in
the ovid West short time subsequent
to the Revolution, in which highly accom-
plished young lady. the daughther Of dis
tinguished officer in the American Army
played an important part The story being
of most thrilling nature and exhibiting il
striking manner the 'Perils Of the Border,
we have concluded to give an extract from
it, as originally published, as follows:
The angle on the right bank Of the Grea,
kanawa, formed by its JUNCTION with the
Ohio, is called Point Pleasant and is plae.
Of historical note. Here, on the 9th Of Dc
tober, IVA, during what is known a. Lore
Dunmore's War, was fought one of til,
fiercest and most desperate battles that evel
took place between the Virginans and theil
forest foes.
After the battle in question, in which til.
Indians were defeated with great loss, Q
fort was here erected by the victors which
became post Of great Importance through
out the sanguinary scenes of strife which
almost Immediately followed, and which il
this section Of the eouLtry were continued
for many years after that establishment o.
peace which acknowledged the United Col
onies Of America a free and independent ma
ton.
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
ment we present the scene to the reader
stood five individuals, also engaged in
watching group Of persons, mostly females
who were slowly approaching the landing.
Or these hve, one was stout sleek negro in
partial liyery,and evidently house or body
servant; three were boatmen and borders.
as indicated by their rough. bronzed visages
and coarse attire; but the fifth was young
man. some Internationally years Of age, OF
a 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 one of superior mind /;
but 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 APP
preaching group. whom he seemed to re-
gard with lively interest.
OF this group, composed of middle-aged
man and woman and four females, with a
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 a slender and graceful
figure, and Of that peculiar cast of feature,
which. besides being beau iful in every
lineanent, rarely fails TO effect the behold
er with something If 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
and with her riding cap and its waving os-
trich 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
gowns. scarlet flannel petticoats, and
bleached linen caps.
"Oh, Blanche, said one of the more ven
cradle OF her female companions, pursuing
a conversation which had been maintained
since quitting the open fort Lehird them,
81 cannot bear to let you 90; for it Jus,
seems to the as if something were going to
happen to you, and when feel that way
something generally does happen"
well, aunt" returned Blanche, with a
light laugh. 81 do not doubtin the least that
something will happen-for expect one OF
these days to reach my dear father and
blessed mother, and give them such an
embrace rs is due from dutiful daughter
to her parents-and that is something that
has not happened for two long years a,
least
But don't mean that Blanche" returned
the other, somewhat petulantly "and you
Just laugh like gay and thoughtless 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 in the
more perilous wilderness-but | warn YOU
that fearful journey is before you Scarce
ly boat descends the Ohio. that does no,
encounter more or less peril from the sava
ges that prowl along either shore and
some of them 60 down freghted with hui
man life, are heard of no more and none re
turn to tell the tale
''But why repeat this to me dear aunt,
returned Blanche, with more serious air
"when you know it is my destiny, either
good or bad, to attempt the voyage? NV
parents have sent for me to Join them in
their new home, and it is my duty to
go to them, be the peril what it may"
"Nou never did know what it was tC
fear!' pursued the good woman, rather
proudly. NO." she repeated, turning tt
the others, Blanche Bertrand never die
know what it was to fear, believed"
Just like her father!" Joined in the hus
band of the matron, the brother ofBlanche':
mother the commander of the station, ard
the middle-aged gentleman mentioned as
one of the party; "a true daughter of a
tue soldier Her father Colonel Philip Be
trand, God bless him for true heart never
did seem to know what it was to fear-and
Blanche is just like him.
BY this time the parties had reached the
boat; and the young man already descrlb-
ed-Eugene Fairfax, the secretary o.
Blanches father-at once stepped forward
and, in polite and deferential manner, Of
fered his hand to the different females. te
assist them on board The hand of Blanche
was the last to touch his-and then bu,
slightly, as she sprung quickly and lightly
to the deck-but close observer might
have detected the slight flush which man
tied his noble, expressive features, as hi:
eye for single instant met hers She might
herself have seen it-perhaps she did-but
there was no corresponding glow on hel
bright. pretty face, as she enquired in tn,
calm. dignified tone of one having the right
to put the question. and who might also
have been aware of the inequality Of posi-
ton between herself and him she addressed
Eugene, is everything prepared for oul
departure? 1t will not do for our boat tc
spring aleak again, as it did coming dowr
the Kanawha-for it will not be safe for us
| am told, to touch either shore between
the different forts and trading posts on oul
route, this side of our destination,-the Fall:
of the Ohio"
mo, indeed" rejoined her aunt, quickly
''it will be as much as your lives are worth
to venture foot from the main current O
the Ohio-for news reached US only the
other day. that many boats had been attack