Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-12-10


episodes of tue times of our forelathers.
The scene opens (July 18th, l775) in the
rudely constructed fort of BoOnesborough,
on the bank OF the Kentucky River. Daniel
Boone and his friend early in the morning,
and the good wives were enjoying the rest
that the Sabbath brought even TO the un-
broken wilderness.
In the grateful shade of a tree in one cor
ner Of the enclosure sa. three young girls,
just blooming into womanbood. The eldest
of these maidens was Elizabeth Galloway,
just turned Of sixteen, aId as pretty as
picture. The other girls were younger by
two years and different from her in appear
ance. Fanny Galloway was fairer than her
sister Betsey but no more pleasing in APP
pearance. The hired girl, Jemima Boone,
was also laturally fair, and, like Fanny,
owned whatever of fairness she may have
lost 10 constant exposure TO the weather.
Nor were these younger maidens Without
their lancies, and though but fourteen years
counted the lives of the two girls, each had
a lover who was hardy and bold pioneer.
As the evening drew near, the last breath
of air seemed TO lull itself TO rest and the
sive. The quick ear of one Ct The girls
caught the sound Of the river as its sub
dued murmur tloated up over the bank,
and she proposed that they should go a
short distance below the fort to where
canoe was lying, and drift out upon the
bosom of the river to catch the rising cool
ness Of the evening waters. Hardly were
they seated, and prepared TO push from the
shore, when they detected a slight rustic
in the bushes, and in a moment more five
sta'wart and hideously painted Indians
leaped 10 the side Of the canoe, pulling il
close TO the shore.
What girl of sixteen could be equal to
such an emergency? 1t was here that the
true heroine displayed herself. II was here
that Betsey Galloway, without n moments
hesitation, determined to defend the honor
and the lives Of herself aud her young
companions, and write her name on the
annals OF Kentucky. Standing erect in the
canoe, she siezed the paddle, and at a sim
| gle blow, opened 10 the bone the head Of
the fOremus, savage. The other Indians
! pressed on, but, still undauuted, the brave
| girl fought them with the ferocity of
| hausted, she sank to the bottom of the
canoe, and with her trembling sister and
friend was dragged ashore, and was hur-
ried or 10 meet whatever fate might be in
store for them.
The CONSERVATION Of the fort can well be
imagined. The father Of The gill soon re-
turned, and before night closed in, Daniel
Boone, at the head Of party on foot, and
Richard Galloway, at the head of party
ON horseback, were OF in pursuit.
In Boone's party were Samuel Hender-
son, John Holder and Flanders Callaway.
What gave these youths snch determined
looks and made them press ON so eagerly? :?
Was it only aknightly spirit that prompt
| ed them to the rescue OF the iorluru and
captured dalnsels? All! as Samuel Hen
derson strode along he was thinking Of the
olive-cheeked heroine, Betsey Callaway (;
and John Holden clenched his hands and
ground his teeth when he thonght Of Foor
little frightened Fannie; and Flanders
Galloway almost forgot his kith and kin
for thinking OF the captured Jemima
Boone.
When the Indians started with the girls
shoes, and put on moccasius, and Besey re-
fused 10 take oil her shoes, but as she
walked along she ground her heel into the
soil to leave trail. Noticing this, the In
dians mado the whole party walk apart
and de yiate from the course, so as 10 wade
through the water and destroy the trail.
Then the undaunted Betsey broke offtwigs
and dropped them along the road, never
doubling for moment that her father and
her lover would soon he in hot pursuit of
them and when The savases. threatened
her with up!fted tomahawk if she persist
ed in this, she secretly tore of portions OF
her dress and dropped them in the road.
Poone's party soon found the trail, and
followed ii rapidly, fearing that the girls
might grow weary and be put 10 death.
All Sunday night and all Monday the pur-
suit was kept up. On Tuesday morning a
slender column OF smoke was seen in the
distance, and the experienced eye of the
hunter at once detected the camp OF the In
dians. A serious difficulty now presented
itself How were the captives to be res
cued without giving the capors time tc
kill them? There was but little time fol
|
cover their presence. The white men were
sure shots and so they picked their men
fred upon them, and then rushed into the
camp TO the rescue.
} At the moment of the attack the girls
were sitting at the foot Of tree; Betsey
with red bandana thrown over her head
while the hands of Fannie and Jemim;
were reclining in her lap. Betseys olivt
complexion came near serving her baC
turn at this juncture, for one of the rescu
, ing party coming suddenly upon her mis-
took her for an Indian, and was about L
knock her baius out with the butt OF n
fle, when a friendly hand interveued anC
= saved the girl from meeting her death jus
} at the moment when she saw liberty with
5 in her reach.
The fathers and gallans carried thei
J loved ones home in triumph, and this ro
= nance of real life in Kentucky, centur.
ago, would not be complete without the in
o formation that the dreams of love and hap
= plness that were so cruelty disturbed on
b hunil ed Yeas ago this summer day wer
b subsequently, all realized. Brave Betse
1 Galloway became Mrs. Samuel Henderson
o and lived TO tell the story of her capture I
her children's children. Little Fanny be
i came Mrs. John Holderi and Flander
Callaway took TO his home Miss Jemim
o Boone, and thus cemented the friend
: ties of the Boones and Callaways.
o
Itisa libel on the holy and useful sacra
ment of work TO call anxiety by its name
for work, real, honest work, is Of all infiu
= ences the most quieting, the most seriou