West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-11-17
OLD FORT PITT.
4 Preston County Roy Visits the old
Landmark Made Famous Ovcra
Hundred Years Avo.
Special correspondence to Tho ABous.

the history of Fort Pitt, or as il is
more commonly called Fort Du-
qucsne. 1t Is one OF the few re-
naming rclicts of colonial times.
when the tomahawk and scalping
knife ran rampant. When this
grand and glorious republic was not
IN existancc, but when the hatred of
the Anglo Saxon and Glul were
avenging themselves with such afro.
cious deeds Of b1rbarlty on our
shores.
Fort Duquesne was built to re.
tnrd the western progress of Eng
lish civilization. The French were
cognI2ant OF the fact that the Eng
lish colonization was Ear superior to
their own, SO they built a line Of
forts from Canada TO the prcscn,
location Of Pittsburgh. and oven
farther south to check this western
progress Of the English. thereby re
tanning their trade with tho Indiana.
or all this line Of forts. Duouesnc
is the only one remaining. The
first desire Of the student when
coming TO the Smoky City" Is TO
sec tins old.timc rcdoubt. TO ac.
comphsh this desire is no small un
dertaking. Almost any person can
tell you it is down at the "Polnt. ."
However, you will derive but little
satisfaction from this, as the Point
is the neck Of land at the Junction
Of the Allegheny and Monongnhcls
rivers and extends over considerable
territory.
A few days ago, having a little
spare time call to oursclf," We re.
solved TO 'takc in the fort" con-
scqucntly VIC repaired to the west.
ern end Of Penn Avcnuc whore we
supposed the fort was located. This
rs not q very desirable part Of the
town, as il is mostly inhabited by
foreigners. a policeman is never
| known TO be in this locality, so our
only source Of interrogation was n
few old topcrs, bcer bloats aud
buns, aud gang Of urchins who
kept the ncighborhood rcsOunding
with their hlaritics. After inter
rogating about a dozen specimens
Of humanity, who wcro proppcd
against Iamp-posts aud holding
down c0rbstoncs, whose ficcs rt.
scmbIod piece Of steak more than
the conntenancc OF n human, we
resolved to try tho "hd," who is
supposed TO know everything but
what he should know.
No sooner had wc broachcd the
subject thln we were assliIcd by
about forty. Each one, n language
clear and bright, expressing bis de-
sire TO pilot us through for the
mcogor sum Of h;e cents. Compc
uton was soon the ordor Of the d,y
/ One liitlc fellow was $50 anxious.
that he agreed to pilot us through
for % penny. We resolved to ac
cept bis proposition. We gtyo him
a quarter, which no douot was
more money thgn be had ever pos
sesscl before, for hc Immediately
tossed it upin the airand gave .hrcc
war whoopa, much to The cnagriu Of
his companions Well, this kId was
sight ho was sookless, hlIrs
and almost painless, wha. fcu rlg.
did cover he ncagr. frame looked
as " they bad been worn aud thrown
away by some inmate of Che Fort
durInglts occupation Ug thc French.
From Penn Avenue we pissed up 90
narrow alley called Fort Alloy.
Passing uP this alley about fifteen
rods, We came to cour. "Jbcr
cher Fort " says our guide. built
cr hundred an' fifty years ergo
dad told me SO lreIf" Well