Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-01-11
A HEROINE.

and Wa named lu honor of the great
Virginia orator and patriot, Patrick
Henry.
On the morning Of the LIST of Sep
tcmber, III, - scout appeared at the
fort, announcing the near approach Of
tho dreaded Simon Girty with large
band of savages. Having the night be-
fore received al 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
gaIrisoned. portion of its forces hav-
ing been sent 20 rc-cnfOrce posts that
wcro more exposed, they being in no
apprehension OF danger from British or
Indian foes 1t was in charge of Colo
mel sheppard
The dwelling of Colonel Ebenezer
Zane stood about 90 yards distant from
the palisade. In this building were stor.
cd supplies Of various kinds, which il
was very desirable to preserve and, the
house occupying favorable position to
aid in resisting the attack il was decid.
Ell 10 make 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 a REQ.
onnoitering party under the command
of Captain Mason. The Indians were
nmbushed short distance from the fort
and fell upon the little band without
moment : waning More than one.half
of them perishcd. Captain Ogle, with
- mon, hurried out 10 the assistance Of
Mason, and only four OF his men ever
returned The others were ruthlessly
butchered 10y bullet and tomahawk. The
garrison Wa now reduced 10 mere
handful OF determined defenders, most
" young Mcu. They numbered about
-, with the brave Colonel Sheppard
and Ebenezcr and Silas Zane at their
head.
The women and children were hud.
died together inside the pickets, over
whclmod with grief and fear, for all
hope for the safety of the fort now seem
I'd lost. AT this critical moment Simon
Girty appeared with white flag and
demanded the unconditional surrender
uf the fort. Although the besiegers out
numbered the bosiapod thirtyfold, the
indians numbering over 800, the belea-
gulrc1 -alI, CA resolved 20 resist, for
they we'll knew what their fate would
be if they fcll into the hands Of the
treachorous t.cDd. Girty. Colonel Shep-
pard promptly ,Jld the scoundrel that
the for would never be surrendered 10
him nor 10 any other man while there
WAS person Lett TO defend it.
Girty became cragcd and ordered an
attack. "Girty, said the historian Loss
ing was the offspring of crime. His
father was a settler in Pennsylvania,
an outlaw and sot, and his mother
was disgrace 10 her SEX Simon,
with his two brothers, when youths,
We're captured ly the Indians. His
brother JahC- was adopted by the Del
awarcs and became the fiercest savage
uf the tribe. simon was adopted by the
ScnccaS, became great hunter and
finally pow riu leader among the In
dianS, exercising bis inmate wickednesS
TO the fullest extent and declaring eter-
nal ennitv toward his own race For
many years the name OF Simon Girty
was Il terror 10 the settlers of the north.
west lie was rs bloodthirsty and unre.
lenting as n tiger, cXcelling the savages
III the cruelty he inflicted upon those
who fell into his clutches. Male and
female, old age and helpless infancy,
suffered alike
The bcsicgorS for several hours kept
up an Intellectual fire against the fort
aud dwelling from the cabins in which
they were sheltered. Whenever a red
skin showed himself, the never failing
rifle of tho shalIehooter was sure to
bring him down. several times the IN
dians advanced upon the gate of the
palisade. hoping 70 be able 10 force il,
but each time were compelled to retreat
under CALLING fire The few men i'll
tho fort were enabled 10 keep mp u con
slant firing for the women nodded the
bullcts and loaded the guns rs fast as
they could bc used. Night coming Oh.
the firing ceased Quictuess now reign
ed, and the darkness became intense
About midnight the attention OF tho
negro cook, sam, was attracted by
small stream Of light that found its
way through a crcyice i'm tho kitchen
wall from the outside. An investigation
revealed an Indian with a lighted brand
cndeavoring 10 SGT fire to the kitchen.
sam, watching his chance, sent a bullet
through his red hide.
Early the following morning the In.
dians renewed the attack with much
vigor. Having procured hollow maple
log, thcy converted 10 into i cannon,
binding it around solidly with chains
obtained from the houses Of the set.
tlors. After placing q heavy charge Of
powder in it and filling it TO tho muz-
zle with cannon balls captured the day
before from flatboat that was passing
down the river from Pittsburg, in great
triumph they conveyed it To within GO
or 20 yards of the fort and pointed il ut
the gate. Then. with shCvts Of exulta-
ton, which meant, We've got you
now, they Touched it OIL 70 their ut
fer amazcment and CONSERVATION, the
log burst into Thousand fragments,
rring in every direction killing and