Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-03
A CENTENNIAL ROMANCE.

The Louisville Journal tells the story of nlne-
ty-nine years ago. Sunday, July IA, 1776. just
when the rudey constructed fort at BooDs-
borough lay 10 droWsy stiffness on the banks Of
the Kentucky river, Daniel Boone and his as
sociate, Richard Galloway, had been absent
since early 10 the morning, and the good wives,
sharers in the toll of the early pioneer days,
were enjoying the rest that the Sabbath brought
even to the unbroken wilderness. In the CRATE
tul shade of the tree in one corner of the en-
closure sat three young girls, just blooming
into Womanhood, and giving an unwonted
charm to the rough evidences OF civilization
which had but recently forced themselves upon
the primitive harmony of the surrounding scene
ry. The eldest of these maidens was Elizabeth
Galloway.
The other girls were younger by two years,
and differed from her in appearance. Fanny
Galloway was farer than her sister Betsy but
not more pleasing 10 appearance. The third
girl, Jemima Boone, was also naturally fair,
aud, like Fanny, owed whatever fairness she
may have lost to constant exposure to the
weather. Nor were these younger maidens
without their fancies, too, for the wilderness
natures its occupants rapidly, and though but
fourteen years counted the lives of the two girls,
each bad lover who was a hardy and bold
pioneer, and ready to encounter any danger
for his lady love.
As evening drew near, the last lingering
breath Of air seemed to !ull itself to rest and
the July heat seemed to become still more op.
pressive-the quick ear Of one of the girls
caught the sound of the river as its subdued
murmur hOated up over the bank, and she pro-
posed that they should 60 short distance be-
low the fort to where canoe was lying, and
DRIFT out upon the bosom Of the river, to catch
the rising GOODNESS of the evening waters.
Hardly we're they seated and prepared to
push from the shore, when they detected
slight rustic in the brush, and 10 moment
more FIVE stalwart and hideously- painted To-
diars leaped to the side of the canoe and pull
ed it close to the shore. What girl of sixteen
could be equal to such an emergeucy2 1t was
here that the true heroine displayed herself.
1t was here that the sentimental girl, who had
Just been dreaming of her absent lover, and
wandering through the realms of maiden fancy
with love-sick girls like herself, in an instant
converted herself into the daring and hardy wo-
man of the froDtier; it was here that Betsy CAL
laway. without moments hesitation, deter
mined to defend the hooor and the lives of her.
self and her young companions, and wrote her
name in the annals of Kentucky. Standing
erect iD the canoe, she seized the paddle aud
at single blow laid open to the bone the head
of the foremost savage. The other Indians
pressed on, but still undaunted, the brave young
girl fought them with the ferocity of mother
protecting her young. Finally exhausted, she
sank to the bottom of the canoe, and with her
trembling sister and friend was dragged ashore
and hurried off to meet whatever fate might
be in store for them.
The CONSERVATION of the fort can we'll be i'm.
agined The fathers of the girls soon return
ed. and, before The night closed in, Daniel
Boone, at the head of party on foot and
Richard Galloway, at the head of "a party on
horseback, were off in pursuit Iu Boone's
party were Samuel Henderson, John Holder
and Flanders Galloway. What gave these
youths such determined looks aud made them
press on so eagerly? Was it only kuighty
spirit that prompted them to the rescue Of for
lorn and captured damsels2 All as Samuel
Henderson strode along he was thinking of the
olive-c checked heroine, Betsy Galloway and
John Holder, clenched his hauds aud ground
his teeth when he thought of poor, little,
frightened Fanny; and Flanders Galloway al
most forgot bis kth and kin for tbaking of bis
captured Jemima Boone
When the Indians started with the girls they
made the younger ones take off their shoes and
put on moccaslns, but Betsy refused to take
of her shoes, aBd as she walked along she
ground her heel into the soil to leave trail
Noticing this, the indians made the whole par
ty walk apart and devate from the course so
as to wade through the water and destroy the
trail. Then the undaunted Betsy broke off
twlgs and dropped them along the road, never
doubling Tor moment that her father and her
lover would soon be in hot pursuit of them
and wheo the savagas threatened her with up
lifted tomahawk if she persisted in this, she
secretly tore off portions Of her dress and drop.
ped them Oh the road.
Roona's nartu coop Eoupd tbo tro, onJ p.1
lowed it rapidly, fearing that the girls might
grow weary and be put to death. ALI Sunday
nlght and all Monday the pursuit was kept up.
On Tuesday morning slender column of
smoke was seen in the distance, and the ex-
perienced eye of the hunter at once detected
the camp of the Indians. A serious difficulty
now presented itself. How we're the captves
to be rescued without giving the captors time
to kill them2
There was but little time for reflection, as the
Indians must soon discover their presence
Inc white men were sure shots, and SO they
plcked their men, fired upon them and rushed
into the camp to the rescue: At that moment
OF attack the girls were sitting at the foot of q
tree; Betsy with red bandanna handkerchief
thrown over her head, while the heads of
Fanny and Jemima we're reclining in her lap
Betsy 8 olive complexion came near serving her
a bad turn at this juncture, for one of the res.
cuing party coming suddenly upon her mis-
took her for an Indian, and was about 10 knock
her brains out with the butt cf bis rife, when a
friendly hand intervened and saved the girl
from meeting her drath at the moment when
she saw liberty within her reach.
The fathers aud gallants carried their loved
ones home iu triumph. and this romance of
reel life in kcutucky century ago would not
be complete without tie information that the
dreams OF love and happiness that we're so
cruelty disturbed uiuety-oine years ago this
summer day were subsequently all realized
Brave Betsy Galloway became Mrs. Samuel
Henderson, and lived to tell the story of her
capture to her children and her children s
children. Little Fanny became Mrs. John
Holder; and Flanders Galloway took to bis
home Miss ,Iemima Rome and thna oorna..aa