Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-05-06
Elizabeth Zane.

Tlr wirkrdest white man of the early
period of Ohio history was Simon
Grit. WHO sided with the British in the
way Of the revolution. and commanded
the Indian allies which were induced to
fight against tho colonists. Glrty W. )
as cruel as the worst red savage, aud
there are many traditions III the Scicta
and Studu.ky valleys Of his raids and
outrapcs. In HI Fort Henry, which
WAS situated on the Ohio river, near
Wheeling, which was earrisuntd by
for.v.two men, vas Suddenly attacked
by Girty with force OF five hundred
Indians.
He succcoied in anbuscadipg an
Strengthening thirty of the garrison,
leuving Tut twelve to defend the fort
Amoug the women and children was
Young Elizabeth Il ,ue, "a beautiful girl
of seventeen. The twelve soldiers,
commanded by Colonel Shepherd, were
good murksmcn, ard knowing tiIat sur
render meant death for their wives and
children ns well as for themselves they
resolved to fight to the last. But, alas!
bravery availod them little, for it was
not long before the SNAIL stock Of pow
der III the fort was almost exhausted,
and only few charges remained to each
man. La despair the Colonel called his
brave little band together, and told
them that ut II hcuse some sixty yards
outside tie fort, which their enemies
la not yet dared approach, there was
kcg OF Sunpowder.
Whoever shonlA try to bring it into
ll, g., Ln ~, Of 4 fn
from the Indians. He had not the heart
to order any man to such task, but the
powder was their only hope, and there
fore it was his duty 10 ask il any one OF
them was brave enough TO volunteer
the undertaking. Instantly three or
four men avowed themselves ready, but
only ore man could be spared. Bat
while they were generously disputing
among themselves for the periloub
erraud, Elizabeth Zane approached the
Colonel and begged that she might be
allowed to so for the powder. Her re
quest was promptly refused, but she
persisted earnestly, even against the
remonstrances and entreaties OF her
parents and friends.
In vain they pleaded and reasoned
young man would be more than likely
to succeed through his power of run
ming 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 little
garrison. Finally, it was agreed that
she should make the first trial. When
all was ready the gate opened and Eiiz-
abeth walked rapidly across the open
space toward the house where the pow
der was stored. Those inside the fort
could plainly see that the eyes OF the
Indians were upon Lor, but either from
curiosity or mercy they allowed her to
pass sifely and to enter the house Her
friends drew breath of relief, and
watching even more auxiously Tor her
reappearance, saw her como out soon,
bearing the powder i'll tablecloth, tied
around her waist.
BY this time the Indians suspected
her burden, and in moment more, as
she was Fastening toward the fort, they
sent after her shower of bullets and
arrows. They all. however, whistled
by her harmless, apd with wild startled
eye, bat undaunted heart, size sped on
with her treasure through the deadly
missiles, until at Inst she bore it Ill tri-
umph inside the gate. BY the all OF
the powder and the enthusiastic courage
which E!izabeth's self sacrifice inspired,
the little garrison was enabled to hold
out until relief came to them. And so
the noble act of young girl saved the
lives of all within the fort. ami van
pushed its five hundred dussy assault
ants. The I,ne f"mily became well
known in southern OHIO, and gave Their
name to the beautiful! city OF Il sIes-
vile.