, 1875-10-09
BETSY CALLAWAY.



The Louisville Journal tells this
story Of ninety-nine years ago:
Sunday, July IA, 1776, just when
the rudely constructed fort at
Boonsborough lay in drowsy still
ness on the bank of the Kentucky
river, Daniel Boone and his asso-
ciate, Richard Callaway, had been
absent since early in the morning,
and the good wives, sharers in the
toll of the early pioneer days, were
enjoying the rest that the Sab
bath brought even to the unbrok-
en- wilderness. In the grateful
shade of the tree in one corner of
the inclosure sat three younggirls,
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 seen
cry. The eldest of these maidens
was Elizabeth Galloway. The
other girls were younger by two
years, yet each had lover who
was a hardy and bold pioneer, and
ready to encounter any danger
for his lady love.
AS evening drew near the heat
seemed to become more oppres-
sive, and one Of the girls proposed
that they should go a short dis
tance below the fort to where q
canoe was lying, and drift out
upon the bosom of the river to
catch the rising GOODNESS Of the
evening waters. Hardly were
they seated, and prepared to pusE
from the shore, when they detect
led a slight rustic in the brush, and
i'm a moment more FIVE stalwari
and hdeously painted Indians
leaped to the side of the canoe
and pulled it close to the shore
What girl of sixteen could b
equal to such an emergency? L
was Just here that the sentimental
girl who had just been dreaming
of her absent lover, and wander
ling through the realms Of maiden
fancy, in an instant converted
herself into the daring and hardy
woman of the frontier; il was
there that Betsy Galloway, without
a moments hesitation, determined
to defend the honor and lives Of
herself and her young companions
and wrote her name in the annals
of Kentucky. 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 Indians pressed
on, but still undaunted, the brave
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. d
The CONSERVATION at the fort
can well be imagined. The faith
ers of the girls soon returned, ,and,
before the night closed in, Daniel
Boone, atthe head of a party on
foot, and Richard Galloway, at the
head of a party on horsehaok,were
off in pursuit. In Boone's party
were Samuel Henderson, John
Holder and Flanders Galloway.
What gave these youths such de-
termined looks and made them
press on so eagerly9 Wasit only
a knightly spirit that prompted
them to the rescue? All! as they
strobe along they ground their
teeth With rage, for those captured
damsels were betrothed to them.
When the Indians started with
the girls they made the younger
ones take off their shoes and put
on moccasins, but Betsy refused
to take off her shoes, and as she
walked along she ground her
heel into the soil to leave a trail.
IN,t;o;,,,- tb;s tba Tp1iapc roo1o