The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-10-29

0nnpoWder ExpIoIt-Mollieseo Scott ". Eliz-
abetIh Zane Mra. Lydia 3. CFugeFn Yer
scIty Tlndieated.
Editors Inisillgsncsr. Ell Fl
ut win be, reeollected byyour readers,
that some weeks ago Mr.. W. G. Brocku-
nier, in letter Of his published in tile
Register, announced his intention of pro-
,dueins evidence that Mrs. Crugcr made a
different statement in regard to the heroine
ofrthe powder exploit, inalsS9, from that
given in her letter OF 1919. Itwould seem
TO be time now that Mr.. Brockuniers
statement should either be verified or re-
tracted. And, that q, square issue DO pre-
scented, 1t may be stated that 1t can be
shown by a letter from Mrs. Thorn
us H. List, that Mrs. Lydia $. Cru
ger made like statement to ccrtain
parties in 1922, to that contained in her let
ter OF 1919; and, therefore, it Is hardly to
be presumed that she contradicted herself
in 1882. Besides, It Is believed that the
testimony on which Mr.. B., will chiefly
rely, is that OF the hearsay evidence-very
unreliable at best-of some OF the descend
ants Of Molly Scott and Mrs. Burkett,
about whom l have only to say, that it is
hoped Mr.. B., will hardly venture to place
such testimony in the scales against that
OF Mrs. Cruger and Mrs List. The letter
Of Mrs. List Is given below.
WHEELING, July 22d, 1878.
Rev. j. H. Atafeehen:
DEAR StR-I have very distinct recollcc'
ton that ut the time OF my wedding, In lS2z
| heard Mrs. Lydia 8. Cruger relating to John
List, ST., and John List, Jr., Gather and
brother OF my husband, Thomas ii. List,
the circumstances OF the powder exploit q
Fort Henry; and that she mentioned Molllf
Scott as the heroine OF that affair ! have
heard her relate the same at different tlnies
since, aud her version Of 1t was always TIC
same. In fact, she was not aperson who dealt
In contradictory statements
Iwillstate, moreover, that at least hity year
ago | heard Mrs Tomlinson, wife OF JOSEPH
Tomlinson, ST., tone Of the earliest, II not Tho
6rst settler, at the mouth Of Grave Creek
giving an account OF the same transaction, In
which she gave the credit to Mollic Scott, and
did not speak OF the matter as II 1t were dis
puted point at that time
[signedl " Sidney LIST
To the above have only word or two
to add, and request that Mr.. D. will give
the matter his special attention. How is
1t that since 1926, the Zane family have
been promising to give the world q true
history Of the siege Of Fort Henry, but
thus far have failed to do so2 Doddridsc
tells us, that such promise was made by
Noah Zane, ESQ.,, in 1895, and We learn
from good authority, that like pledge has
been given not less than ten times since
and yet we have seen no fultilment OF 1t
Now no one could object to this, il it had
not been the means OF preventing others
who were well qualified, from doing so
There can be but little doubt that Mr.
Doddridee himself would have published
such history had Noah Zane given him
suitable encouragement. NowI wouldash
Mr.. Brockunier, how long this course is tc
be pursued? One thing is certain, thai
1 il persisted in much longer the public
wifi settle down in the beliet-which II
fast gaining ground-that tho theory con
Meeting The name Of Elizabeth Jane will
the powder exploit was thoroughly ex
plodeed by Mrs. Cruger's letter Of lS47..
Whether Mr.. B. respond to this article
or not, is matter OF no concern to mi
whatever, my object being merely to vim
dictate the truth Of history, and the veraci
ty OF Mrs. Lydia S. Cruger, which he has
very ungenerously, as | think-attcmptec
to assail, without at the same time giving
tho evidence upon which his impeacilmen
rests, IN ]. H. McMEclIgS.