Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1875-08-20
geIerteh Misrellany.
A CENTENNIAL ROMANCE.

The L0uiSriHe Journal tells the
story of ninety-nine years ago. Sun
day, July II, l116. just when the rude
" constructed fort at Boonsborough
lay in drowsy stiffness on the banks of
the Kentucky river, Daniel Boone and
his associate, Richard Galloway, had
been absent since early in the morn
ing. and the good wives, sharers in the
toll of the early pioneer days, were en-
Toying the rest that the Sabbath
brought even to the unbroken wilder
ness. In the grateful shade of the
tree in one corner OF the enclosure sat
three young girls, just blooming into
womanhood. and giving an unwonted
charm to the rough evidences of civil
ization which had but recently forced
themselves upon the primitive harmo-
ny of the surrounding scenery. The
eldest of these maidens WAS Elizabeth
Galloway.
The other girls were younger BY
two years, and differed from her in ap-
pearance. Fanny Galloway was fairer
than her sister Betsy, but not more
pleasing in appearance. The third girl
Jemima Boone, was also naturally fair,
and. like Fanny, owed whatever fair
ness she may have lost to constant ex-
posure TO the weather. Nor We're
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 had lover who was a
hardy and bold pioneer, and ready 10
encounter any danger for his lady love.
As evening drew near, the last lin
gering breath of air seemed to lull it
self TO rest, and the July heat seemed
to become still more oppressiye-the
ear of one of the girls caught the sound
of the river as its subdued murmur
floated up over the bank, and she pro-
posed that they should 60 short dis
tance below the fort TO where canoe
was lying, and drift ont upon the bosom
of the river, to catch the rising cool
ness of the evening waters.
Hardly were they seated and prepar-
ed to push from the shore, when they
detected slight rustic in the brush.
and in moment more five stalwart
and hideous-painted Indians leaped to
the side ef the canoe and pulled it
close to the shore. What girl of six
teen could be equal to such an emer-
gency? 1t was here that the true sem
timental girl, who had just been dream
ing of her absent lover, and wandering
through the realms of maiden fancy
with loye-sick girls like herself, in an
instant converted herself into the dar-
ing and hardy woman of the frontier; !;
it was here that Betsy Galloway, with
ont Il moments hesitation, determined
to defend the honor and the lives of
herself and her young companions, and
wrote her name in the annals of Ken
tucky. Standing erect in the canoe,
she seized the paddle and at single
blow laid open to the bone the head of
the foremost savage. The other In
dians pressed on, but still undaunted,
the brave young girl fought them with
the ferocity of "a mother protecting her
young. Finally exhausted, she sank to
the bottom of the canoe, with her
trembling sister and friend and was
dragged ashore and hurried off to meet
whatever fate might be in store for
them.
The CONSERVATION of the fort can
well be imagined The fathers of the
girls soon returned, and, before the
night closed in, Daniel Boone, at the
head ofa party on foot, and Richard Cal
laway, at the head of party on horse
back, were off in pursuit. In Boone's
party were Samuel Henderson, John
Holder and Flanders Galloway. What
gave these youths such determined
looks and made them press on so eager
ly? Was it only knightly spirit that
prompted them to the rescue of forlorn
and captured damsels? All! as Sam
uel Henderson strobe along he was
thinking of the olive-cheeked heroine,
Betsy Galloway; and John Holder,
clenched his hands and ground his
teeth when he thought of poor, little,
frightened Fanny; and Flanders CAL
laway almost forgot his kith and kin
for thinking of his captured Jemima
Boone.
When the Indians started with the
girls they made the younger ones take