davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21

planned the matter to his men. He was unwill-
ing to order one of them to undertake the fear
ful adventure. He inquired il any one would
volunteer to perform it. Four young men
promptly stepped forward.
THE garrison is so weak, - said the colonel,
that onty one man can be spared from 1t.
You must decide which of you it shall be-
Each volunteer anxious to go on this
important mission that they cou ltd not readily
make decision. Precious time was passing.
While the young men were contending for the
privilege of performing a great public EeTyice
or to win the crown of martyrdom, the Indians
nigh. return, renew the siege, gain victory,
and annihilate the garrison.
Among the women who had taken refuge in
the fort was handsome, slender girl, less than
twenty years of age, with mild brown eyes, dark
hair, fair complexion, and apparently I'M
moved by the fearful danger and great excite
ment around her. She had recently returned
from school at Philadelphia, and had never en-
dured the experience of witnessing any OF the
terrible scenes then occurring on the frontiers.
The young maiden was Elizabeth Lane, a sister
of Ebenezer and Silas Lane who were in the
fort. Their aged mother and their eldest sister
were also there. Whilst the young men were
debating the question of which should have the
honor of imperiling his life for his country's
good at that time, Elizabeth Lane stepped for
ward and modestly asked permission to go on
the urgent errand herself. At first her request
was peremptorily refused. She renewed it with
increased earnestness. The commandant re-
monstrated, saying:
Either of the young men will likely be more
successful than you, for they are familiar with
danger and can run much faster than you. -
Her mother and brothers implored Elizabeth
not to think of such a rash act, but she per-
sisted in pressing her suit with more and more
earnestness.
II have but one object, - she said, ''in seek :
ing this, service. Every man is required in de-
Tense of the fort. My life is of no account here
in comparison with that of either of these young
men. You cannot spare one of them. Let
go. beseech you. am sure the God of heaven
will shield me from harm!''
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21

dred strong. and before the scouts of Col.
shepherd could learn their real designs, they
swarmed around Fort Henry. Their approach
had been heralded the night before by the blaze
of burning block-house twelve miles below
The families Of the hamlet aud neighborhood, SO
forewarned, took refuge in the fort.
At dawn a white man and negro sent out to
get some horses were assailed By Indians hidden
in Q corn field. The white man was slain by
bullet The negro escaped and aroused the gar
rison. Fourteen men were sent out to dislodge
the barbarians. They fell into an ambuscade
and all but two persisted. When tidings of the
attack reached the fort another party sailed
forth to assist them, and shared similar fate.
The garrison was now reduced to twelve fight
ing men, including boys.
Girty, having posted his followers near the
fort, now appeared with 4 white flag and de-
manded its surrender in the name of Ibis
Britanic majesty" Col. Shepherd well knew
the character OF the m1screant, and was satisfied
that only victory over the assailants would in
sure the lives of the garrison and the loved ones
in their charge-mothers, wives, sisters and
children-huddled within the stockade, and he
determined TO fight so long as there shou Id be
man left to fire rife or a musket, or charge
of ammuni ton to load one remained. He
promptly replied to Girty:
''This garrison will never surrender to yo1;
and you can obtain possession of the fort only
when there shall no longer remain an American
soldier to defend it,
Girty about to renew his demand when
lad in blockhouse fired at him, but missed his
aim. The miscreant instantly disappeared and
few minutes afterward the Indians began
siege by general discharge of rifles. THIS was
kept up fully six hours, from sunTising on
beautiful morning in early autumn. The little
remnant of the garrison was composed almost
wholly of sharpshooters who, from the block
houses, sent bullets with unfailing, deadly sim
among the Indians. Many OF them fell. At
little past noon the assailants, dispirited by
their losses and observing abatement of the
energy of the defenders Of the fort, withdrew to
the base of the hills.
1t was now dis covered by Col. Shepherd that
the stock of gunpowder was nearly exhausted.
In Ebenezer Lanes cabin, sixty yards from the
gate OF the fort, was key of powder, now a
priceless commodity, and it was determined to
make an effort TO secure it.. 1t would be a most
perilous undertaking, for the Indians were I'M
doubleday concealed not far away. 1t was re-
solved to take advantage Of the absence OF the
barbarians to make the effort. The colonel ex-
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21

while its tail is disproportionately slim and
long. II is impossible to watch the cuckoo 5
actions and not feel that he is a mysterious
bird; is it quite possible to fairly tell just
what it is that makes this impression In the
first place it, form is unusual, so attenuated
and heightened in appearance; and then its
eyes are very gloomy and sad-looking. and its
flight is as odd as its voice is peculiar.
have seen a yellow billed cuckoo going
about with one of its eggs in its mouth, search
ing for the nest of some other bird. So soon as
it found one 1t dropped the egg in it and left it
to be Matched by the owner OF the nest Still,
Notwithstanding this parasitic habit, the Amer
lean cuckoo builds nest of its own and matches
a brood of young every spring. The English
cuckoo often deposits its eggs in the nest of a
bird much smaller than itself. that when
they are Matched, along with the eggs of the
smaller bird they crowd out the weaker brood
and usurp the nest. 1t is also stated on good
authority that this bird has the power of color
ing its eggs so to closely resemble those o
the bird in whose nest they deposited.
The black witch, bird closely allied to the
cuckoos. inhabits the Atlantic coast from Geor-
gis to Florida. From four TO six of these birds
build one nest in common, fill it with their eggs
and sit upon it in closely hudded group to
hatch their young.
The ground cuckoo builds nest for itself, but
it lives most eccentric life, running on the
ground in preference to flying. and living chiefly
upon reptiles that it kills in very adroit man
ner by repeated strokes of its bill the back OF
its victims neck. 1t has very long tail, anu
absuIdly short wings, which it holds comically
akimbO as it runs.
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21

Button tells us that some pelicans have a
pouch that will contain twenty pints of LIQUID;
that man could put his foot into it, and even
thrust his arm into it up to the elbow. Ellis
relates that he a put his head inside
one, and Sanctius SAYS that pelican was seen
to let fall negro child that it had slowed away
in its enormous pouch.
pelican is said to have followed the army of
the Emperor Macmillan, flying above it when
on the march, sometimes rising so high that it
looked no larger than swallow. The bird
reaches a great age; the one above mentioned
lived to be eighty years old, and was pensioned
by he emperor
In some countries pelicans have been do
mesticated and trained to fish for their mas
tiers, and it is said that they very faithful in
their work, going far out to sea and returning
heavily loaded with game. Along the Atlantic
and gulf coasts the brown pelicans are often
seen marshaled on the sandy islands in such
armies of men on parade. In the shallow sounds
off the coast of Alabama and Hississi opi have
seen thousands of pelicans fishing at the same
time. 1t was a beautiful sight to watch them
tumbling against the sky like feathery cloud,
and presently falling like rain OF birds upon
the dark green water, which they 'churned into
q foam with their plungng.
Off North Beach. near st. Augustine, Fla,
saw large fsh-hawk perform a very savage
and yet very graceful act in robbing brown
pelican of its prey. The hawk lowered high in
the air above the pelican, and when the latter
struck down and caught fish the bold robber
swooped upon him and, Selling him by the
head, forced him to drop it. The hawk then let
go the pelican's head, and, dashing down after
the falling fish, caught 1t before it reached the
water and triumpnantly bore it away in its
talons.
Although the beaks of pelicans are verv large
they are not exceedingly strong, and the birds
although they fight savagely. rarely hurt one
another. 1 have seen them wage long and fierce
battles in mid-air, with no other result than
some hoarse cries, great Tapping of wings
and few detached feathers.
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21
HOW TO RUN,

Track Athletics for Boys-By Walter c.
Dohm.
Amateur Champion Middle Distance Running.
The increased interest in track athletics mani
tested by boys throughout the country in gen.
eral, and at the large preparatory schools and
academies more particularly, is one OF the
marked features of the advanced position which
this form of sport has taken in amateur ath-
letics. Four inter-scholastic athletic leagues
now hold annual meetings at which youthful
against each other for championship laurels
while nearly all the individual members OF these
leagues have their held days" as well. 1t is
in the vicinity of the large athletic clubs and
colleges that these sports create most in
terest, and the directors of the great New
the discovery 81 athletic talent 55St i0F
in the course of few years carry the emblems
of their associations to the front in some great
colleges, Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Column
bia, even deeper interest is manifested in the
work of the prep" schools, for it is the
embryo Splinter, jumper, and hurdler OF these
institutions who are to compose the teams
which later on will do battle or the inter-
collegiate championship honors. While in
many cases the champion of an inter-scholastic
lesgue viii develope into an inter-
collegiate, or even q national champion, it
ment in Athletic ability, and the bright hopes
OF Athletic successes entertained at school fail
to materialize. This arrested development is
usually due either to improper training or what
is only another form OF the same thing, too
early speci alization in athletic work.
The most common, abd at the same time the
mistake most fatal to athletic success which is
made In training, not by boys alone, but by four
out OF every i've beginners, is doing too much
WORK. In the case OF boys, many ofthem follow
system OF training designed only for maturer
athletes, or preparing Tor a race on q track
where older athletes are training they adhere
too ciesety 10 the system which these men
follow.
Now, between the ages OF II and IS the great
est amount OF physical development ordinarily
in hnNy a -
matured athlete, having already attained his
matured growth, has only to replace the tissue
lost through severe muscular exertion, while he
himself has in addition to this to meet the wants
OF his gro"ing system The two have nothing
in common, and the result is that instead of the
benent which was TO have been derived from
the exercise, even permanent injury NAV be
inflicted.
As for specializing, no boy should think of
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21

the 'front.' and. as il in response TO this move
ment, the whole company surged forward
There was q flash, puff OF smoke and loud
report awoke the echoes of the canon. The man
who had first moved forward reeled in his sad
die and fell.
In the glamor OF the moonlight no one
seemed to recognize him. There was wild cries
of He is Killed. ''Who is he?'' mo, he is
all right. Seei He is MP againi''
They had not dared close in around him, lest
the horses, already terrified and prancing
should Irample him down. Those near to him
instinctively drew off, while one or two quickly
dismounted and ran to his side, but before they
could reach him he was on his feet, holding by
the ponlmel OF his saddle to steady himself.
II only wanted word with you, McCiary -
he said, addressing the sentinel. Listen to
me now. These men are honest farmers. men
you know and respect. Most of them settled in
this valley, along the line of his stream before
the water company was incorporated. This
water is life and subsistence to our people.
Their crops are failing; cattle dying. The stag
nant pools along the bed of the brook are breed
ing pestilsnce throughout the valley. Be more
than the faithful servant of a rich corporation.
Be nan, and respect the rights of your fellow
men,
They could see that the man who fired the
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21

One still night late in September, as the boys
were returning from their chores about the
stable, Martin caught Ned's arm in excitement,
pointing to the open stretch OF road on the OPP
poste side OF the brook
The bridge and its approaches shone white in
the moonlight The ground beyond was dark
with moving figures. Men on horseback were
crossing the bridge, which rang with mufied
response to the Gathering hoofs. Then the body
seemed to pause, as if for deiiberation. mo-
ment later two mounted fgu IS dashed up to
Home Ranch
The boys ran down to meet them. The horse
men drew rein.
''Mr. Willets!' exclaimed Martin, wonder
ingly, IS he recognized a steady young ranch
man, who with his wife and child, lived a couple
of miles further down the stream
Boys said the farmer, 1--WE have business
up the Canon tonight. Do you want to
join us?''
. No need of further explanation. Ned
swered like a soldier to the roll call.
II will come
Then, seeing Martins eager movement, he
laid his hand on his brothers. shoulder.
''Only one, Martin. If anything should hap
pen, they must have you to depend upon. -
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21
A HEROINE OF THE FRONTIER.
BY Benson j. LOSING, the Famous
Historian.

BY Benson j. Losing, the Famous
Historian.
At the time of Dunmore's war Q77D. inst he
fore the beginning of the Revolutionary strue.
gle,Sa stockade fort, in parallelogram form. was
built about quarter of a mile above Wheeling
Creek, for the protection aud defense OF settlers
of an acre of ground. 1t had a biockhouse at
each corner and several log cabins within If for
the use of families. The gate was on the side
toward a struggling village of about twenty log
cabins-the seed of the pre5ent lourishing citV
of Wheeling of nearly a., 900 Inhabitants Tbe
fort was built under the superintendent Of
Ebenezer Lane and John Caldwell, each of
whom occupied one of the cabins of the hamlet
ward Fort Henry, in honor of the Jealous pa
triot, Patrick Henry.
In the year l7T7 Fort Henry was garrisoued bv
only forty-two men all told, some of them mere
boys. Their commander was Col. Shepherd,
resolute and skillful officer. At that time an
energetic British officer, Col. Hamilton was in
omInand of the garrison at Detroit He sent
out bands of Tories and Indians to desoIste the
homes of the American settlers on the frontier
and distress them as much as possible His IA
vorite and most cruelinstrument in this business
was Simon Girty, the offspring of crime born of
Irish parents out of wedlock. He was adopted
by the Seneca Indians and be came the fercest
savage in the tribe. For twenty years he was
the terror of the women and children of the
Ohio region.
At the time we are considering, Girtv and his
TO flowers were lowering around Fort Henry and
the Wheeling hamlet on the cultivated plain be-
tween the wooded hills and the river In Nav
and June they made some distressing forays on
the settlem ents. As summer advanced these
became more frequent and alarming The set
tiers were compelled to drop their implem ents
of industry and snatch up the weapons of war
Finally in September, the savage hosts of Girtv
assembled on the Sandusky river. several hun
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21

The genuine American cuckoos lay greenish
colored eggs usually, but the color is said to
vary through many shades of green, blue and
brown, sometimes notified in various way. This
may account FIR the story of their ability to
suit the color of their eggs TO that OF those in
the nest where they to be deposited. The
yellow billed cuckoo often drops an egg in the
nest OF hooking bird, but the queen of song
sters is not to be duped so easily. She filings the
offending egg out of her nest she
it. In the BIOLOGIST for 1873 it Is stated that for
eight or nine successive years pair of wagtaiis
built in the same spot, and each year they
reared young cuckoo.
The voice of the cuckoo is singularly harsh,
with an information quite indescribable. Its call
is said to foretell rain in time of drought and it
is fact that the bird is more noisy Just preced-
ing change from dry to a damp atmosphere.
The mangrove cuckoo, found in the Ever
glades of Florida, will light on the back of an
alligator as it lies summing ITSELF and feed upon
Indeed, as whole. the cuckoo family is a very
odd one, and worthy of careful study.
There are two specimens of pelican in America,
one the white and the other the brown; the
latter is exclusively a bird. the latter is
often found inland. Beneath the lower mandi-
GUS sac. which is used dip net with which to
catch fish. The white pelican fishes while
swimming by opening its mouth and suddenly
scooping the prey from the water but the brown
species flies around above the water until the
fish is seen. when it strikes down like hawk
instantly takes wing again. The fish eau ght by
1t are usually much larger than those taken by
the white species. AS one few past me on the
shore OF Florida island shot il with IN arrow
and it fell close by on the sand. Upon examina-
ton found in its enormous sac six fish, whose
combined weight must have been at least two
pounds. This was the only time 1 ever found
more than one fish In the pouch of this species.
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21

all of the conventions that had been called in
their midst had been but sham fight, gener-
allied by INSCRIPTIONS men who had sought
thereby to get a better price from the water
company for their riparian rights. Some OF
these men had sold their privileges outright;
others had compromised for liberal allowance
OF water.
The poorer farmers, whose prosperity ruin
was largely dependent on the security of their
water rights, and upon whom the loss OF water
for a single month entailed serious privation
and loss, found the courts deaf to their appeals
for immediate protection.
The Austins with difficulty watered their cat
tie from their spring, which beginning TO
show the effect of two successive dry seasons by
dimished flow of water, and saved sufficient
for household purposes. The bed OF the brook
was dry, and the hydraulic ram which they had
put in the strram to water some small fruits
they had planted on the bottom land was use
less incumbrance. Thei- figs were whitening
and dropping from the boughs, green raspber-
les shriveled and turned brown upon the
bushes. Even Hopes roses began 10 look
sickly, while garden vegetables parched IN the
sun.
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21

MAKE haste, Austin, " said Willetts. Bring
an et-crowbar-anything you have
handy. No firearms. mind. -
As the hoTsemen took their way up the canon,
any stranger who might have seen them would
have been puzzled to make out their character
aud purpose, Surely this gay cavalcade
bound on sport or pleasure, nor yet could it have
been mistaken for a martial company riding
forth to open contest, where honor and renown
were to be achieved. No light jests passed.
There was no laughter on the grim faces, no en-
thusiasm in the downcast eyes. 1t was more
like funeral party, for in hi heart each loyal
man rebelled against the position into which he
had been forced-that OF an opponent to the
peaceful administration of the laws OF the
state,
They came to point where they could see
broad and glistening wall of stona crossing the
gorge above them Along this three armed men
were pacing, like sentinels a rampant. The
ripple OF imprisoned water could be heard
above.
The sound maddened the ranchers. This was
the precious fluid for want of which their stock
was dying, their gardens and small fruits parch
ing, their wells running dry.
Halt. Who are your
1t was one of the sentinels the dam who
challenged them.
Loud and clear came the reply. 1--WE are
seventy men from the valley. We want water. -
81 am here to protect this dam. Don't you
come nearer. or IN fire.
The sentinel raised his rifle to his shoulder and
leveled it at the crowd.
One of the men on horseback pressed toward
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21
Her entreaty prevailed. Divesting herst

Her entreaty prevailed. Diyesting herself OF
outer garments that might be an encumbrance,
and putting night robe, she passed out OF
the gate with firm step and walked briskly to
her brothers. cabin unmolested. The Indians
had observed the whole movement and watched
her steps fTsm fort to cabin, but seemed to have
been restrained by an invisible power from
shooting defenseiess girl, SO angelic in ap-
pearance in her white robe. She quickly emp
tied the powder in the key into tabl cloth,
which she bound around her waist, and was
soon seen walking swiftly back towards the
fort. The vigilant Indians. now suspecting the
nature of her errand and her burthen, dis
charged a volley of rife bullets at her, ont not
one touched her. though four pierced her flow
ing robes as she quickeued her pace into run
She re-entered the gate Of the stockade with
her precious treasure in safety and triumph.
The mon cheered her, and the women, espe-
cially her relatives, wept for joy, and audibly
than ked the mighty for her protection from
harm and the promise OF deliveraDce which she
had brought. Guardian angels had shielded
the inspired and intrepid girl
The Indians renewed the siege and continued
it until late at night, but with continually les
Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-21

SEEMING vigor. The bullets of the sharp shooters
in the block houses, sent by the powder provided
by Elizabeth Lane, laid many dusky warriors
low, and when, at dawn, small reinforcement
for the garrison appeared and cut its way
through the line of the besiegers the latter,
alarmed and disheartened, fed from the scene.
Elizabeth Lanes bold and patriotic feat in
spired the young men of the garrison with adj
miration that was almost reverent devotion.
One OF the young men, named Mclaughlin,
who coveted the opportunity to perform that
service, wooed and won her heart and hand.
They were married st Wheeling within year
after the occurrence of the events above re-
corded. They lived happily together for about
ten years, blessed with sons and daughters,
when the husband died. Two years later the
widow married q Mr.. Clarke. and for many
years they lived on the Ohio side OF theI bean
tiful river above Bridgeport, There the noble
Heroine Of the Frontier died at the age Of four
score years, surrounded by her childr en- and her
grandchildren.