Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-10-20
A Centennial Heroine.

(
ring episodes of the times of our forcfath
erS.
The scene opens (July 1sh.l775) in tn,
rudelv constructed fort of Boonrs borough
on the bank of the Kentucky River. Daniel
Boone and his friend early in the morn
ing, and the good wives were enjoying the
rest that the Sabbath brought even to the
unbroken wilderness.
! In the grateful shade of IL tree in one
corner ofthe enclosure sat three young
girls just blooming into womanhood. The
eldest Of these maidens was Elizabeth
Galloway. Just turned of sixteen, and rs
pretty as Il picture. The other girls were
younger by two years, and different from
her in appearance. Funny Galloway was
fairer than her sister Betsev but no more
pleasing in appearance. The hiiel girl,
Jemima Boone, was also naturally ialr,
and. like Fanny, owned whatever of fair
ness she may have lost to constant expos
ure 20 the weather. Nor We're these youn-
though but fourteen Years counted the
lives of the two girls. each had lover
who was 4 hardy and bold pioneer. As
the evening drew near, ihe last breath of
air seemed to lull itself to rest, and the
|
i've. The quick ear of one of the girls
caught the sound of the river as its sub
dued murmnr floated up over the bank,
and she proposed that they should 90 a
short distance below the fort to where a
canoe was lying, and drift ont upon the
b som of the river to catch the rising cool
mes, Of the evening waters. Hardly were
they seated, and prepared to push from
tl l,. cj, h,,- Il, Il IL. L.,
rustic in bush. and in a moment more five
stalwart and hideouly painted Indians
leaped to the side of the canoe, pulling it
close to the shore.
What girl of sixteen could be equal to
true heroine displayed himself 1t was
here that Bet>ey Galloway. without a
moments hesitation, determined to defend
the honor and the lives of herself and her
young companions. and write her name
on the annals of Kentucky. Standing
erect in the canoe. She seized the puddle.
and at a single blow, opened to the bone
tn" head OF the foremost savage. Tin.
other Indians pressed on. bat. still un-
daunted. the brave girl fought them with
the ferocitv of 4 mother protecting her
Young. Finally. exhausted. She sunk to
tlit w lplll vi llif t.tut' stltl Will ltl
trembling sister and friend was dragged
ashore, and was hurried off to meet what
ever fate might be in store for them.
The consternation of the fort can well
be imagined. The father of the girl soon
returned, and before the night closed in,
Daniel Boone. at the head of a party on
foot. and Richard Galloway, at the head
OF party on horseback. were off in pun
suit.
/ In Boone's party were Samuc. IIcnder-
son. John Holder and Flanders Caliawav
What gave these youths such determined
! luks and made them rrs> on So eagerly ?
Was it only a knightly spirit that prompt
ed them 10 the rescue of forlorn and cap
tured tam>el>? Ali, as Samuel Hcndcr-
son strobe along he was thinking of the
olive-chcckcd heroine. Bctscy Galloway
and John Holden clcnchrd his hands and
ground his teeth when he thought Of poor
little frightened Fa nnie: and Flander-
Callaway almost 70. got his kith and kin
Boone.
When the Indians started with the girl-
they made the Younger ones take off thcil
shoes, and put on moc,.>ins. but Brt>ey rr-
| fused to take Oft her shoes. but as >h,
! W aIhttl Sllt SIbuIl'l Iltl nee
into the soil to have a trail Notic
ing this. the Indians mad: the wAol,
party walk apart AMI deviatc irom III,
course, so a> to wade. through the wat"i
and destroy the trail. Then the undarnt
ed Bet>ey broke off twiys and droppe
them along the road, never Il uhtiny fol
moment that her father and her love
would soon be in hot pursuit of them; an,
when the savageS threatened her with up
lifted tomahawk ii she persisted in this
She secretly tore of portions of her dre>:
and dropped them in ,he road.
Boones party soon found the trail, an,
followed it rapidly, fearing that the girl
NIGH grow weary and be put to death
All Sunday night and all Monday tn,
pursuit was kept dp. On Tuesday morn
inc d slender column Of smoke was setl
in the distance. and the experienced ey
of the hunter at once detected the camI
of the Indians \ serious difficulty nov
presented itself. How were the captive
to be rescued without giving the captor
time to Kill thern? There was but lll
time for retlcc ion, rs the Indians mu,
quickly discover their presence. Th
white men wer, sure shots, and so The,
picked their III IN. fired upon them. ant
,hen rushed into the camp To the rescue.
! At the mOmtI lit of the attack the girl
We're sitting ut The foot of Il tree; Bct>ev
with a red bandnna thrown over her head
while the hands; of Fannie and .Jrmim
were ieclining ir her lap. Betseys div
complexion came near serving her 4 ba
turn a, this juncture. for one Of the res
cuing party coming suddenly upon hel
m stock her for :n Indian, and WIS abou
to knock her brains out with the butt of
, rifle. when a friendly hand intervened an
. saved the girl fro'n meeting her deaf
Just at the moment when she SAW libcr
within her reach.
The flthcrs AMI yallants carried the
. loved ones home in triumph. and this r(
nance of real liz. in Kentucky. a centur
, ago. would not +. complete without the ii
formation that the dreams of love IN
happiness that were so cruelty dsturbc
one hundred years ago this summer IT.,
were subsequently I'LL realized Bray
Betsey Callaway became Mrs Samuel IIcl
derson, and lived to tell the story of he
capture to her chllren's children. Littl
Fanny became Mrs. John Holder; IN
! Flanders Galloway took to his home Mis-
.Jemima Boone. and thus Cemented til
friendly ties of the Booncs and Call;
ways.
SuNpRY ILATrERs. s.-Everythiny abol