The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-11-15
Travellers Register.
Ghe1nteIttqettttr:
A WHEELING Renaissance,
The story of Elizabeth Zane's Heroic
Exploit Re.tuld. , vi q :
NJ GEORGE z. DLAKEsLER.

NJ GEORGE z. DLAKEsLER. :
The struggles and encounters through
which the early settlers Of Ohio and 3D.
Dining Stats passed, when the red mar
held dominion, did not fall upon the
sIrrper sex, nor should all the achieve
menus OF pioneer days be credited to them
Tor women, with IN intrepidity seldom
equalsd, took part in many. adventures
aud achieved victories in blood chilling
encounters which should have placed
their names prominent in the early his
tory Of our country. .,..g
About 1882. Miss Elizabeth Zane, O
relative Of Col. e. Zane, lett school In
PhiIadelphia, having completed her edu-
cation, and cmigrated with family Of her
acquaintance TO the banks Of the Oaic
river, where her brother resided, ut Q
point then, as now, called Wheeling. Miss
zlue had been brought up In manner o.
living Tar different from that which the
almost unbroken forest afforded. She
knew nothing, OF course, about the perili
Of border lie, lurther than had been told
by others, but her courageous spirit
caused her to listen with interest 10 tales
Of adventure with the indians, and desire
10 take part in the struggle between civil
progression and barbara possession.
Al the time Miss Z,ne arrived at
Wheeling, a remarkable degree Of quiet
existed; there hud been no encroachments
UPON the possessions OF tho whites at that
point by the s9vages for some time, and
lhe people OF the settlement. had become
negligent in keeping guard. The block
house, or fort as 1t was called, was moi
manned as originally intended, and the
extra guns and ammunition had been
nearly all removed for Individual uses.
The Indians, who had among them
English renegades, acting as spies
doubtless heard Of the condition oil things
at the fort, at least they made complete
preparations for a surprise and massacre
Of the whole town. A large force ofwar
rOrs began steadily surrounding the set.
Element, and had nearly. gained poin'
where the uprising should take place
when borderer by the name Of Lynr
made the discovery Of danger, and tgayt
the alarm to the whitess The families o
Wheeling rushed hsphazard into the fort
taking with them such thinga as wert
most needed, and could be most easily
conveyed. In the haste, sufficient sup
ply Of powder was not secured 10 stand q
siege, although there was an abundance
secreted beneath the floor Of Colonel
Lines house. -. s5as III !.@ED = -
The Indians were upon the town with
their work of destruction before the de-
fcieacy could be supplied, and an attack
was made on the fort with the same spiri
manifested at the attack on Boons6or-
ough, in August, 177S. The garrisonmusl
have ammunition, or yield to the enemy
but how 10 accomplish this wasa question
not easily answered. The command wa
given Tor no one to fire unless he was Ger
tain Of wiplpg outs red akin, In othei
words to make every bullet count Bl
great precautlon the defence was kept vi
Tor a considerable time, but at last the III
tie stock Of ammunition became exhausted
and the situation, terrible beyond descrip
ton. J n. lra nj
The firing having nearly ceased at th,
fort, the savages became more bold II
their operations, and, It was evident tina
they would soon become poSsesors oil III,
garrison, AMI that q meFciless butcher1
would follow. ASbrief council was helC
aud decision made that the feetcst run
ner should be selected from among tn
men, and attempt 10 reach the houS,
where the powder was stored and reiuri
with supply. The undertaking woult
be one attended with great danger. really
with but o shadow Of . chance Tor SUCCESS
something must be done. While th,
matter Of determining who should be tn
one 10 make the bold attempt, Miss Zane
phafmingly beautiful, pale, and firm Il
purpose, stepped forward and declared
herself the one 10 go. When told that !
could not be, for men were fleeter AM
stronger, che replied, In nobleness Q
lpirit that che was young and active, witt
courage 10 face the dangers Of the mission
should man fall, she argued, the los
would be SOrely felt for every one wa
need TO protect tho lives Of the wome
and children, and her services being q
% avail In the fort would not DO missed
These arguments were forced upon Ii
defenders, aud such spirit oil courag
and determination was shown, that con
entwas Civ. former 10 make the terri6l
run. Y.ysvEFr efs ....,.
Divestipg herself Of such apparel a
would most retared her progress, Mis-
z.ne made her.pppearance at the gate {
the fort, In readiness tospring further mi
the very faces Of the muFderous savage
The men who had loaded guns were 81
toned az such port holes % commando
The best view OF the ground over whiC
the run was TO DO made TO reach the ma
Sltne, eight or ten rods distant All belr
ready, the signal was given, the gates SUI
denly opened, and the heroic woman sh
like an arrow through the aperture, ar
bounded like 4 young roe from tho iol
The Indians were dumbfounded vii
@tonishment atthe intrepidity manifesto
and without making any attempt TO X
OF capture the beautiful messenger, crit
out."tqutlsa!i" "eqliinGl' -womSn, Wona
Miss Zane reached the house In saiet
AID quickly taking Aa much powder
che could carry, readily disappeared, b,
mat with naNe1NFnttA Nhafanio All. a..