Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-15
THE POWDER EXPLOIT.
Betty Zane Does the Deed
Some Interesting Remarks
From n Neighboringing Edi-

EEo" OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES "
tor.
Ohio Valley News
Nmety-six years ago where the busy
city Of Wheeling now stands wrapped
in its gray mantle OF smoke, u little
handful of early settlers, warned at the
rapid approach OF tho Indians, gathered
for safety within the walls OF Fort Hem
~. We all remember well whether the
knowledge came as u legend or from the
pages OF history, how the hordcs OF say,
agc redskins gathered about the devoted
band who hravcly kept them ut bay UNI
ill their powder failed them. The com
mandcr called for u volunteer tn 90 To
the house Ut Colonel Ebenezer Zane,
where the government supplies were
kept There was no lack OF gallant men
who were ready for this deed nj noble
DARING but Betsy Zane, II young and
beautiful girl, stepped forward and offer
ed her services. on course there was
bat one word ON this subject, and that
uttered Il most emphatic no! Hut,
she reasoned, iii 90 can only die and
the llitll UIt lltt'ttN w 'Vi'it WV "''
Al last consent was given, the gate was
opened, and SHE went forth. The In.
dams gazcl ON her in silence, or con-
tcmtuously grunted, ~ squaw." She
reached her brothers house, got her sup
ply Of powder, and returned in safety IN
the midst oi perfect shower I'll Indian
bullets. The fort was saved, the siege
WAS raised, and Betsy Zane was hero
inc. She aitcrward was twice married,
the last tune Ia Mr. Clark. and was the
mother OF Ehcnezer Clark, who is living
TO-DAY ono OF the oldest citizens al Mar
tins Ferry, and can tell the story ~ his
mother told it to him many and many
time. Did We ever doubt its truth?
No, indeed; not in the slightest partc-
ular; and yet to-day, after near y cen
fury has passed, after Betsy Zane has
long been sleeping the last dreamlcss
sleep, some adventurous spirit out OH
n voyage of discovery, is going to cover
himself with glory ny opening the eyes
OF the misguided public to the fact that
while indulgiug in hero Worship II bow
cd at the wrong shrine. Betsy Zane did
nothing astonishing; sat quietly ON the
hearth, maybe, making bullets. Mollio
Scott was the brave lassic who carried
the powder. Has the spirit of unhclicf
seized upon this generation? Must We
only believe what our own eyes see? Are
all the events in history which were OF
sufficient Importance to bc slowed away
in our hoyish memory, to bc scattered to
the winds and become as though they
never were? made only OF "such stuff US
dreams arrPn Why cannot these giants
from doubling Castle, these ruthless i'm
age breakers, he satisfied with cutting
loose from their own moorings and shov-
ing their own solitary boat out on u sea
OF calms where no great event ever
rlpplcs the CLASSY surface of the waters?
There are many things We will believe
in the face Of their protests, We will
believe that in six days God made the
heavens aud the earth that lie made
man in His own image, that there IL II
vcritablc he'll; that Shakespeare wrote his
own plays; that William Tell shot tho
apple; that George Washington had
little hatchct; that Jefferson Davis did
attcmpt To escape from the victorious To-
gions oi the federal army III his wifc's
pctlicoats; and that Betsy Zane, and
none other, at the siege OF TT. Henry,
carried the powder in her apron.
Mr.. McMcchcn, the champion of Mol
lie Scott has certainly undertaken Il huge
contract, or to use an expressive Western
phrase, he has shit of more than he can
Chaw." II is no small matter To over
turn the settled historical convictions OF
the entire native born population oi the
upper Ohio, aud their descendants, scat
tered over the almost illimitable West.
One Of the earliest facts connected with
the settlement of the West, with which
we became familiar in our hoyhood was
the heroic exploit OF Betsy Zane, and
We had il not from the uncertain
pages oi history, bm from ne
HpSUj D,cH Wh0 WCrG there; and
now we are called upon TO dsbclicvo
this fact, attcstcd by eye witnesses,
attestcd 10y history and tradition, attes-
ted by the son OF the heroine who Is
living in our midst to-day, attostcd rs
Thoroughly ~ any historical fact from
the creation of Adam to the closing
scenes OF our great rebellion, mainly
upon the ipS d ra OF Mrs. Crugcr,
made near the close OF long long life
when most likely memory was tottcring
ON its throne, u vain old lady who spent
her latter years between entertaining
prominent statesmen ut her hospitablc
mansion, and admiring her silks and
hrooaies, which like herself were relies
Of past We can't do il, Scttingca.
aside the concurrent testimony OF the
past and present generation, and mar
rowing the contest down to the state
ment ri Mrs. Crugcr and that of our
long and well known citizen, MIR. +.
Clark, whose character for truth aud
ycracity is above suspicion, we unhcs-
itatipgly declare that Betsy Zane, di'
vcsting herself of her outer garments,
which might have impedod her pro
grrss did carry in her apron the pow
der, which enabled tho heroic defenders
oi Fort Henry To raise tho siege and