The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-02-17
ELIZABETH ZANE.
How a Beautiful Girl ChecIxma ated
Simon Girty.

How a Beautiful Girl CheckmaCed
Simon GIrty.
The wickedest white man of the early
period Of 0hio's history was Simon Girty
who sided with the British in the war of
the Revolution, and com handed the In
dian allies which were induced to fight
against the Colonists, Girty was as cruel
as the worst red savage, and there are
many traditions in the SCioto and San
dusky valleys of his raids and outragea.
The following is the story of how
heroine succeeded in CheCkmating Girty
in the siege of Fort Henry, which was
situated on the Ohio River near Wheel
ing. In 1777 the fort, which was garris.
oned by AZ men, was suddenly attacked
by Girty with 500 Indians. He succeed.
ed in ambusCading and slaughtering 30
of the garrison, leaving only l2 to de-
fend the fort. Among the women and
children was young Elizabeth Zane, a
beautiful girl Of II. The II soldiers,
commanded by Colonel Shepherd were
good marksmen, and knowing that sur
render meant detah for their wives and
children as well as for themselves, they
resolved to fight to the last. But alas
bravery availed them little, for it was
not long before the small stock of powder
in the fort was almost exhausted, and
only a few charges remained to each
man. In despair the Colonel called his
brave little band together, and told them
that in house some go yards outside Of
the fort which their enemies had not yet
dared to approach, there was a keg Of
gunpowder. Whoever should try to
bring it into the fort would be in peril Of
his life from the Indians. He had not
the heart to order any man to such task,
but the powder was their only hope, and
therefore it was it his duty to ask if any
one of them was brave enough to volun-
teer the undertaking. Instantly three or
four young men avowed themselves
ready, bet only one man could be spared.
And while they were generously disput-
ing among themselv or the perilous
errand, Elizabeth u me approached the
Colonel and begged that she might be
allowed to 60 for the powder. Her re-
quest was promptly refused, but she per-
sisted earnestly, even against the remon-
stranCes and entreaties of her parents
and friends. In vain they pleaded and
reasoned with her, urging more than
once that young man would be more
likely to succeed through his power of
running swiftly. She replied that she
knew the danger, but that if she failed
her loss would not be felt, while not
single man could be spared from the gar"
rison. Finally it was agreed that she
should make the first trial. When all
was ready the gate opened and Elizabeth
walked rapidly across the open space
toward the house where the powder was
stored. Those inside the fort could plain
ly see that the eyes of the Indians were
upon her, but either from curiosity or
mercy they allowed her to pass safely
and to enter the house. Her friends
drew a breath of relief, and watching
even more snxiously for her reappesr.
ance, saw her come out soon bearing the
powder in a table cloth tied around her
waist. By this time the Indians suspect
ed her burden, and in a moment more,as
she was fastening toward the fort, they
sent after her shower Of bullets and ar
rows. They all, however, whistled by
her harmless, and with wild, startled eye
but undaunted heart, she sped on with
her dread treasure through the deadly
missiles. until at length she bore it in
triumph inside the gate. By the aid of
the powder aud the enthusiastic courage
which Elizabeth's self sacrifice inspired,
the little garrison was enabled to hold
out until relief came to them. And so
this noble act Of a young girl saved the
lives of all within the fort, and vsnquish-
ed it's 500 dusky assailants.
We have no account Of the subsequent
career of the heroine. The family be-
came we'll known in Southeastern Ohio,
and gave their name to the beautiful city
Of q !nesville. We shall be glad to hear,
on behalf of our readers, from some of
our friends in that section who can tell
us more about Elizabeth zlne.-ChicdgO
Interior.