The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-10-20

Immediately after day-hreak the
Indians and British withdrew to the
spring, and cessation of hostilities for
several hours ensued.
II was about noon of this day that an
incident occurred which has been the
theme of history, poetry and romance.
We allude to the 'gunpowder exploit"
AS it is familiarity known in border
story.
AS we have already stated, Colonel
Zane remained in his cabin near the
fort, during the whole siege. Finding
that his supply of powder WAS likely to
run out, he proposed TO those present,
that some one of them would have TO
visit the fort and renew the stock. II
was known to be hazardous under
taking, and unwilling to order any OF
the white men to so perilous an enter
prise, Colonel Zane submitted the mat
ter 10 their own devotion and courage.
One of them instantly proffered his ser
vices, but female member OF Colonel
Zane's family came forward and said,
NO! I iUiH go; should 1 be killed, 1
can be better spared than one Of these
men," That woman, according to the
traditionRry accounts of the country,
was Elizabeth Zane, sister to Colonel
Zane. She is represented to have been
u young woman of great resolution aud
much energy of character, and those
who knew her intimately say unhesi-
tatingly, that she was just the person
for such an exploit. Preparing herself
for the feat, the intrepid girl stepped
from the cabin and bounded to the fort
with the speed of deer. A number of
Indians concealed in the neighborhood,
saw her emerge from the cabin, bnt did
not attempt to shoot, only exclHiming
with contemptuous epithets, "Squaw,
squaw." She reached the fort, and ty-
ing about her person eight or ten
pounds of powder, again Ventured
forth, and moved rapidly towards the
cabin of Colonel Zane. Suspectiug all
was not right, the savages opened upon
her a voIIey of rifle balls, but uu-
sCathed, the courageous girl bounded
into the arms of those who stood ready
to receive her.
That act OF the heroic and single
hearted female saved the inmates OF
Colonel Zane's house from certain
destruction. Their ammunition had
been exhausted, and every soul would
have fallen IA sure prey of the savages
had not n supply been obtained.
Night closing in, the enemy renewed
the attack, and maintained it without
intermission until day-break.
Shortly afler sunrise, the enemy
despairing OF success, commenced kill
ing the cattle, burning the vacant
cabins, &c.
ABOUT ten o CLOCK "A. h.I an 1nulau
spy, who had been sent out to watch
the approach of relief, returned, and
when within sight of the fort, gave II
long, deep, peculiar whoop, which the
welI-trained Indian hunters fully un-
derstood as signal to be of. Scarcely
had the echoes of his shout ceased re-
verberating along the valley than the
entire hostile army moved rapidly
toward the river, which they crossed
near where the Northwestern Bank
now stands. In less than half an hour
after the retreat, Captain Williamson
with seventy mounted men rode up TO
the fort, and great was the rejoicing at
the appearance of his gallant band.
Thus ended the final investment of
Fort Henry. The Indians never again
attempted to modest it, but gave the
place ns wide latitude as convenient
in their expeditions against the back
settlements.