Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-03-31
ELIZABETH ZANE.
A Heroine OF Early Days. and How
She Saved the Fort.
From the Classic Walls of q Phiia-
delphia College to the Rude
Cabin of the Frontier.


We naturally revert in memory
and history to the brave deeds OF daring
performed in the great Northwest terri
tory OF hundred odd years ago by the
hardy pioneers of our civilization. ONO
Is 70 celebrate in various parts OF the
State her hundredth anniversary and It
is but fitting that we call up these scenes
Of early days and give the younger gem
Grafton q taste of the courage possessed
and the dangers endured by our fore
fathers in the long ago when the steam
boat. the railroad. the telegraph, the tell
ephone, the electric light and the air
snip were not.
Apropos to this there appeared pretty
poein in the st. Nicholas written by that
CHEEKY poet John S. Adams. which Is
r, produced here. The sentiment Is
founded on the following anecdote
which we get from Howe's history Of
Ohio.
Elizabeth Zane, who acted with so
much heroism at the siege of Wheeling,
in 1882, lived many years since about
two miles above Bridgeport, on the
Ohio side of the river. near Martinsville.
She was twice married. first TO ar.
Mclaughlin, and secondly to Mr.. clark.
lished source.
When Lynn, the ranger, gave the
alarm that an Indian army was APP
preaching, the fort having been for some
time unoccupied by q garrison, and
Colonel Zane's house having been used
for = magazine, those who retired Into
the fortress had TO take with them
supply of ammunition for its defence.
The supply OF powder, deemed ample at
Tho <ft,,a mos rNvv al M hanGtQd nv
reason OF the long continuance OF the
siege, and the repeated endeavors OF the
savages to take the fort by storm, few
rounds only renamed. In this einer-
gency, IL became necessary to renew their
stock from an abundant store W hich was
deposited In Colonel Zane's house.
Accordingly. it was proposed
that one OF the neetest men
should endeavor to reach the house, OBJ
tain a supply of powder, and return
with 1t to the fort. It was an enterprise
full of danger; but many OF the heroic
spirits shut up in the fort were willing
to encounter the hazard. Among those
who volunteered to go on this enter
prise, WAS Elizabeth. the sister OF Col
onel K. Zane. She was young, active
and athletic, with courage to dare the
danger, and forsitude to sustain her
through 1t. Disdaining to weigh the
others, when told that man would en-
counter less danger by reason OF his
greater heetness, she replied, "and
should be fall his loss will tie more Sc
yerely felt; you have not one man to
spare; woman will not be missed in
the defence of the fort" Her services
were then accepted. Divesting herself
of some of her garments, as tending to
impede her progress, she stood prepared
for Z he ha "a rd0na vHufnra and " hen
the gate was thrown open, bounded
forth with the buoyancv of hope. and
in the confidence OF success. rapt
in amazement, the Indians beheld her
springing forward. and only exclaiming
"A squawi' "A squaw 7 no attempt was
mace 10 interrupt her progress. Arrived
at the door she proclaimed her errand.
Colouel Silas Zane fastened table cloth
around her waist, and emptyiug in.o IL
a keg of powder again she ventured
forth. The Indians were no longer pas
sive Ball after ball whizzed by, several
OF hich passed through her clothes.
She reached the gate, entered the fort in
safety, and thus was the garrison again
saved by female intrepidity. This hero
inc had but recently returned from
Philadelphia, whore she bad received
her education. and was wholly unused
to such scenes as were daily passing
on the frontiers. The distance she had
to run was about forty yards"
This dauntIess pioneer maiden's name
Is inscribed In gold on the scroll Of fsmes
She wis the lassie who knew no fear
When the tomahawk cleaned ON the FAR
If deeds Of daring should win renowp,
Let us honor the damscl Of Wheeling Town
Who braved the danger with deep disdaln
Brig hteyed, buxom Elizabeth Zane
Twas more than hundred years ago;
They were close beset by the dusky foe,
They had spent OF powder their scanty store,
And who the gauntlet should run for moref
She sprang to the portal and shouted III"
rTis better girl than man should die:
My loss would he but the garrisou's gaint
sUnbar the gatsi" said Eiizabeth Zane
the powder was forty yards away,
Around her the foemeu o ambush lay:
AS she darted from shelter they gazed with
Then wildly shouted, 81 squaw! a squaww
She neither swerved to the left nor right,
Swift as en- antelope was her flight:
.Quick! open the door," she cried amain.
sNot hope forlorni It's Elizabeth Zana"
No time had she TO waver or wait
Back she must go ere II be too late,
She snatched from the table its cloth In
haste.
And knotted It deftly about her waist.
Then filled it with powder-never, wesn,
Had powder SO lovely magazine:
Then, securing the bullets-a deadly refp--
Like startled fawu ded Elizabeth Zane.
She gained the fort with her prec ous freight;
Strong hands unfastened the oaken gate;
Brave mems ewes suffused with tears.
That had there been strangers for many years
From nint-lock rifles again there sped
q Cal nst the skulking redskins storm OF
lead.
And the war whoop sounded that day In vain,
Thanks to the deed OF Elizabeth Zane.
Talk not to me OF Paul Revere,
A man on horse back. with nothing to fear:
Nor OF old John Burns with his DELL crowned
hat
He'd an army to back him. so what Of that?
Hers to the heroine plump and brown.
" no ran the gauntlet In Wheeling town.
Here is a record without q stain
Beautiful, buxoin Elizabeth Zane.
CHEAP LIVING