The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-30
TraVelerS' Guide.
GheGttelLiq
SIMON GIR1Y THE RENEGADE.
A Story Of the wheeling Borden

A story Of the wheeling Borden
Old Fort Henry as IL Stood on Main Stree
Hill in 1782-C0l. RbeHfzer Zane, M0jOi
Sam McClolLoch, Simon ReHt0n and L0ui
Wetssl-Ar7iual Of Mrs. Oruger ,atIel
her Marvellous Escape.
Iron advance sheets OF the Peoples Month,
for August)
AQUARTRTTE OF FAMOUS SCOUTS.
Let US now turn our attention 10 NOR
distant field Of action. Never did shade
Of evening gather over lovelicr or NOR
diversified panorama than that seel
about Fort Henry at the close of the do,
whose eventful deeds We have been de.
scribing.
This strong old fort was situated on
commanding bluff, q short hall mile from
Wheeling Creek. Right at the bas,
swept the majestic Ohio, whose broad
rapid current was here divided by large
and heavily.wooded island. called altel
the original and most prominent resident
Col Ebenezer Zane.
Right behind the fort ran a ridge O
bold, lofty hills, wooded from base t.
summit, with one universal mass of irest
green foliage. On the other side Of the
Ohio, another range of steep, wooded
hills corresponded, broken up here and
there by broad valleys or deep riffs, and
their bases occasionally spreading out into
broad and fertile plains.
The line Of Wheeling Greek, with lis
singular break through the hills in its
rear, and Its subsequent circular sweeps
on one side wall of rock or steep hill
side; on the other, rich alluvlum OF fer
tile meadow, was distinctly TO DO seen IN
all its tortuous windings.
Between the creek and the fort lay q
broad and exceedingly rich expanse o
bottom" lands, now the lower part o
the busy and thriving city Of Wheeling
At the time we write, most OF the wood
had been cut away, and the extensive
flat had just been plowed up and PLANTED
with corn.
COL EBENLZER ZANE
1t was no wonder that when, in jun
ITO, Ebenezer Zane, at the early age O
twenty.three, first stood on this bluff, ant
took in the out.spread and beauteou
landscape Of hills, river, island, and ricl
wooded plains, his eyes were enrapturet
at the magnificent vision. Hesaw all tn
varied charms, as well as the manifest ad
vantages OF the spot, and resolved there Il
make his home. With no friend but BIZ
faithful dog, and no companions but hi!
knife and gnu, this intrepid adventure
had left his pleasant home and all th(
comforts Of settled community in Berke
" county, Virginia, and had struck on
into the untroddcn western wilderness il
search Of adventure and o future.
Throwing up his rude little cabin, here
he remained, hunting and exploring, 10
one full season, and then returned Tor hi
family, TO relate what he had seen AM
done. A select band Of choice and reso
lutte spirits like himself soon resolved Il
60 back with him. In 1772, leaving hi
family OF old Redstone, on the Monon
gahela, he, in company with his brother
eilas and Jonathan, proceeded 10 TAX
possession.
At that time there was not single set
Element, save Fort Pitt, on the Ohio from
mouth TO source. This little band stooC
absolutely alone. A clearing was sool
opened in the dense forest, letting in tn
blessed sunshine, and iertilizing TIT
teeming soil. The cabins gradually IL.
creased around him; settlers steadily Sc
in, among the earliest being Bennett, Wet
z3l, Shepherd and others, and thus wa
laid the foundation Of the present city G
Wheeling.
WHO BUILT FORT HENRY.
Fort Henry, first called Fort Fincas
tai, was erected In 1774, and is said I
have been planned by no less personag
than General George Rogers Clarke, on
Of the best military heads then in tn
country. 1t was one of the most suit
stantial structures Of the kind in tn
West, having heavy oaken stockade!
four strong bastions, and, what was yer
unusual az that time, the commandant'
house was built high, like a tower, an
mounted a regular cannon. No regula
garrison was ever maintained there, br
Il was always well defended By the BRAY
settlers around, 1t having successful
stood two obstinate sieges. We sha
have something to say OF 1t hereafter.
AS the Indian attacks on our border
we're almost constant, and 30 very sudde
and indiscriminate as to endanger pei
sons OF both sexes and all ages, It was
universal and absolutely indispensSb
necessity Of those bloody and turbuleE
pioneer times TO have fortified place
where, In cases oil sudden alarms, or frol
intelligence given by paid scouts en-
ployed to range over exposed section
not only could the males fee for prote
ton, with some hopes Of beating of th
Zoe, but whore also all the families coul
take refuge until the danger had passeI
These intrenched places were divide
according 10 size, build and Importanc
into forts, stations and block-house
which We may very briefly describe
follows:
Forts were generally strong stockadt
enclosures, having bastions or bloc
houses at the corners; were provided wi
loopholes for musketry, and sometime
pickets, &c. Within were located 4
store and powder rooms, and the cabi
Tor lodging the fugitive settlers. Som
times families resided permanently with
the clncture, but generally 1t served as
mere temporary refuge in time Of DANCE
A station" was simply parallelcgra
Of log cabins, opening within on to
square, each being united to It's neighb
by strong bullet'prooi palisades, Will
were nothing but stout logs driven en-
wise into the ground, common gate 4
ing provided for exit and entrance, Al
the cabins frequently loopholed for rihl