The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-04-24
From lhs Wheeling Register.
FORT DU QUESNE,
A Legend Of Love in the
0idcn Time.

ViNtt EgltC'
Every student Of colonial histor,
is familiar with the story Of til,
gallant and impctuous BgpddOck
whose death, in the fearful anbusI
prepared for him by the Indians
wus but another evidence ofthe un
fitness Of European soldiers t,
wage war with the woodsmen ofth,
New World. Had Braddock fol
lowed the advice of Washington
who was then Il subaltern i'll the
ranks of the Kings army, he might
have seen glorious fulliilment o
his anticipaticns in the opening o
the campaign, by the capture O.
Fort Du Quesne, and The ample
chastisement of the French and
their Indian allies. But English
officers did not realize the dangers
of The American mode Of warfare
and the untimely death OF Brad.
dock, together with the destruction
Of nearly his entire army, was the
first intimatiOn II thsni that some
thing more than mere valor was
needed TO subtluc nh enemy accus-
toned TO the wiics Of Indian bar
baritr in the trackicss wilderness Of
'"e west
1t is true that afterwards, ths
English droTe !he french armies
rom the soil ol inc State hGnoreo
by tho name OF William rehn
and that the Fort, over Inc posses;
SION OF whIc!l SO much brave OlooH
hNG been SplII!Cd, was wa, re-cllrls.enoo,
and catleH fort Fitt' "Iter on" OF
England'S greatest statesmen ouI
a!l tl'Is col!a not restore lne llves 'S' >
o' those VINO had IaIIen'cr hus'' inc
sobs Of the mothers, WIDOWS anu
orphans oyer tne sea- WHOSE nus
bands and sons laa neeh me VIC
tl'ls oil "Hraddock,s $ MlS'aNs'
Among the few survivors OF
Brmldock's army was young Eir-
ginian, named Thomas Derrick,
who had joined the expedition at
the personal solicitation OF George
Washington. Struck with the
grand character OF the country
near Fort Pitt now Pittsburgh he
concluded to risk lis life in secnr-
ing u tract of land near the con-
tluunce Of the two streams which,
iosethcr, form what the French
called La Belle River, but alter
wards and now known as the Ohio;
1t was years before Derrick could
rest in peace on the possessions
which lie boldly claimed as his
own; but, By indomitahle energy
and bravery, he soon became rec
ognizcd as Il rcal "squatter sOver-
eign," and even the Indians gave
way in respect to the courage and
industry OF the white settler.
In the meantime, however, Der
rick had made several Journeys
back to his old home on the Poto-
mae. There was all attraction Tor
him there. which lod him to risk
all the dangers Of traversing the
wilderness. but fortune seemed To
favor him; and although l." had
escaped capture bY tie Indians a
score Of times, almost by a hairs
breadth, he was c hccred on by the
smiles Of the girl he loved, and who
loved him fonlly in return. One
smile from her one kiss from her
sweet lips, amply repaid him for
the dangers through which llo had
passed; and she loved him the
NOR, when sho knew OF tho devo'
ton which impelled him to make
these sacrifices for hOr. Finally,
on tho OCCASION Of his last visit,
Mary CarniIax became the willing
bride of Thomas Derrick; and
amid the prayers and protests OF
their friends, The two lowers started
through tho wilderness to their
new hume. Arriving at Fort Pitt
Derric; established a trading post
on the banks of the river. aud amid
his old friends in the garrison and
the new friends he had made
among the Indians, he prospc.reC'
( far more than he hal even antlcila'
ted. His wife Mary, was the !lEh'
Of his cycs-the only one ON "ti tho
broad earth he had ever IoYed :
and their lives in sweet simplicity,