The Somerset reporter., 1894-12-06
A HEROINE.

WAS erected upon the site now occupied
by the city of Wheeling The fort was
surrounded by the cabins of the settlers
and was named III honor of the great
Virginia orator and patriot, Patrick
Henry.
On tho morning of the LIST OF Sep
TENDER, 1871, scout appeared at the
fort, announcing the near approach of
the dreaded Simon Girty with large
band of savages. Having the night be-
fore received an intimation of danger
from an Indian raid, the families Of
the settlers had removed To the fort.
The fort at this time was but lightly
garrisoned, a portion of its forces hav-
ing been sent to re-eniorce posts that
were more exposed, they being i'll no
apprehension of danger from British or
Indian fees. 1t was in charge Of Colo
mel Sheppard.
The dwelling of Colonel Ebenezer
Zane stood about 60 yards distant from
the palisade In this building were stor-
ed supplies of various kinds, which 1T
was very desirable to preserve, and, the
house occupying a favorable position to
aid in resisting the attack, il was dccid-
ed to mako the defense from both points
In the dwelling when the attack was
made, there were but eight persons,
four men and four women, including
the negro cook and his wife.
The first attack was made upon rec
onnoitering party under the command
of Captain Mason The Indians were
n ahort from tba fort
and fell upon the httle band without
moments warning. Moro than one-half
of them persisted. Captain Ogle, with
IL men, hurried out to the assistance of
Mason, and only four of his men ever
returned. The others were ruthlessly
butchered by bullet and tomahawk. The
garrison was now reduced to mere
handful of determined defenders, most
ly young men. They numbered about
IL, with the brave Colonel Sheppard
and Ebenezer and Silas Zane at their
head.
The women and children were hud-
died together inside the pickets, over
whelmed with grief and fear, for all
hope for the safety of the fort now SEEM
ed lost. At this critical moment Simon
Girty appeared with white flag and
demanded the unconditional surrender
of the fort. Although the besiegers out
numbered the besieged thirtyfold, the
Indians numbering over 300, the belea-
guered garrison resolved to resist, for
they we'll knew what their fato would
be if they fell into the hands of the
treacherous fend, Girty Colonel Shep-
pard promptly told the scoundrol that
tho fort would never be surrendered to
him nor to any other man while there
was person left to defend it
Girty became enraged and ordered an
attack. "Girty, said the historian Loss
ing, was the offspring of crime. His
father was settler i'll Pennsylvania,
an outlaw and sot, and his mother
was disgrace to her sex. " Simon,
with his two brothers, when youths,
were captured by the Indians His
brother James was adopted by the Del
awares and became the fiercest savage
of the tribe Simon was adopted by the
Senecas, became great hunter and
finally powerful leader among the In
dians exercising his innate wickedness
to the fullest extent and declaring eter
nal enmity toward his own race. Foi
many years the name of Simon Girty
was terror to the settlers of the north
west. He was as oodthirsty and unrc-
lenting as a tiger, excelling the savagos
in the cruelty he inflicted upon those
who fell into his clutches. Male and
female, old age and helpless infancy,
suffered alike
The besiegers for several hours kept
up an Intellectual fire against TIE fort
and dwelling from the cabins in which
they were sheltered. Whenever n red.
skin showed himself, the never failing
rifle of the sharpshooter was sure to
bring him down. Several times the In
dams advanced upon the gate of the
palisade, hoping to be able to force it,
but each time were compelled to retreat
under a CALLING fire The few men III
the fort were enabled to keep up cou
slant firing for the women nodded the
bullets and loaded the guns as fast as
they could be used. Night coming on,
the firing ceased, Quetness now reign
ed, and the darkness became intense.
About midnight tho attention OF the
negro cook, Sam, was attracted by a
small stream of light that found its
way through crevice in the kitchen
wall from the outside, An investigation
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