Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-30
ELIZABEI,H ZANE.
HO,c Beautiful Young Girl Che5kmGfed
! o simon Girty.


Ho,c beautiful Young Girl Cheokmated
simon Girty.
The wickedest white man Of the early
period of Ohio history was Simon Girty.
who sided with the British in the War
of the Revolution, and commanded the
Indian 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 Sciota
and Sandusky valley Of his raids and
outrages. In 1777 Fort Henry, which
was situated on the Ohio river, near
Wheeling, which was garrisoned by
forty-two men, was suddenly attacked
by Girty with force of 500 Indians.
He succeeded in ambuscading and
slaughtering thirty of the garrison,
leaving bu> twelve to defend the fort.
Among the women and children was
young Elizabeth Zane, a beautiful girl
Of II. The twelve soldiers, commanded
by Col Shepherd, were goodmarksmen,
and, knowing that surrender meant
death for their wives and children as
we'll as for themselves, they resolved to
fight to the last But, alas! bravery
ayailed 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 at a
house some sixty yards outside the fort,
which their enemies had not yet dared
approach, there was a key 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 such task, but the powder
was their only hope, and therefore it
was his duty to ask if any one Of them
was brave enough to volunteer the I'M
dertaking. Instantly three or four men
avowed themselves ready, but only one
man could be spared. But, while they
were generously disputing among them
selves for the perilous errand, Elizabeth
Zane approachedth the Colonel and begged
that she might be allowed to go for the
powder. Her request was promptly re-
fused, but she persisted earnestly, even
against the circumstances and entreaties
of her parents and friends.
In vain they pleaded and reasoned
with her, urging more than once that a
young man would be more than 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 little gar
rison. Finally, it was agreed that she
should make the first trial. When all
was ready the gate opened and Eliza
beth 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 her; but, either
from curiosity Or mercy, they allowed
her to pass safely and to enter the house.
Her friends drew breath of relief, and,
watching even more anxiously for her
temperance, saw her come out soon,
bearing the powder in table-cloth 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, and with wild, startled
eve, but undaunted heart, she sped on
with her treasure through the deadly
missiles, until at last she bore it in tri-
umph inside the gate. By the aid of
the powder and the enthusiastic courage
which Elizabeth's sef-sacrifce 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 and van
pushed its 500 dusky assailants. The
Zane family became well-known in
Southern Ohio, and gave their name to
the beautiful city of GAINESVILLE.