The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-04-03
BoRDEn WARFARE.

Early Struggles OF the Wheeling Settle.
ment-An Interesting Volume by with.
srs. t '.
In 1881 thoro was published at Clarks.
burga volume entitled "Chronicles OF
Of Border Warfare" or history Of tho
settlement by tho whitos OF Northwest.
orn Virginia. and Of tho Indian wars
aud mnssacros in that section OF tho
state. with anecdotes and reflections.
The author WINS Alexander S. Withers,
a vol known writer OF carly history In
those days. Many Of tho incidenta 70.
citol by Withers wore OF traditional or
legendary origin, but for tho most part
tho volume was fairly correct history OF
this section OF Virginia, irrcconcilablo
datos not affecting tho material facts.
It 10 aixty.four years since the original
edition OF Withors' work wa, given to
the public. and It Is doubtful! il many
volumes OF that publication nre extant
to-day. But 1t has been preserved in
now form. q handsomely printed edition
just issued from tho press OF the Robert
Clarke Company, Cincinnati, O., oditod
aud annotated by Reuben Gold
Thwaitcs. secretary Of tho Wisconsin
historical society, with tho addition OF
OF memoir Of tho author and iRustra-
tive notes by tho late Lyman Copeland
Draper. Tho present work will DO OF
consuming interest 10 all historical
students in what Is now West Virginia,
and more especially Wheeling, OF whose
frat settlement and the carly struggles
Of the settlers in defense Of Fort Henry
1t largely treats. II Is remarkable, how
ever, that work so rich in tho legends
of this locality should have ignored ono
Of tho most familar-Maior McCol-
loch's famous leap, which Is now point.
cd out to Interested visitora
or tho fret settlement OF Wheeling,
Withers says:
In 1860 Col. EbeucEer Zanc. his brothers silas
and Jonathan. with some Others from tho South
Branch, visited the Ohio river for the purpose
OF commencing Improvements: and sevBrauy
proceeded TO select positions for their future
residence, Col Zane chose for his au emncnce
north OF the mouth OF Wheeling creek, near TO
the Ohio, aud opposite Il beautiful and cou.
siderable Island In that river, The spot thus
selected BY him Is nov, occupied by his son Noah
Zane, aud is nearly tho center Of the present
inenced improving on Wheeling creek where
Col. Moses Shepard now lives. (Is5o) aud Joua.
than resided with his brother Eoenezer. Several
OF those who accompanied the adventures Ike
wise remained with Col. Zane In the capacity OF
laborcts. --a4.
After making these preparations
they went back for their families, return
Ing in the ensuing year (l770) accompa.
MED by Col, David Shepard Gather OF
Moses). John wetzel Gather OF Lewis
and the -McCollochs. Soon after this
other settlements were made At differ
ent points above aud below Wheeling.
A foot note states: "ro tho bravery
and good conduct OF those three broth
ers (Zanes) the Wheeling settlement
was mainly indebted for its security and
preservation during the war Of the rev.
olution."
The frs. attack made on Wheeling,
or Fort Henry, was ia Iii. on which
occasion the notorious renegade, Simon
Girty, is said by tho author to have lcd
the Indians. but which is denied by the
annotater; also by Bu.tcriield in his
history OF the Girty brothers. The nc
count Of this attack is very vivid, but
the number OF whites claimed to have
boen killed is doubted by the annota,er.
who says. that somo OF the deeds OF
heroism related by Wi.icrs were con.
nected with the second scice in 1852.
OF that second siege and the heroism
OF Elizabeth Zane, n young lady who
had just returned from school at Phila-
dclphia, much has been written bv
local historians, and the details Withers
gives arc not at variance with their
statements. There are other incidents
and events OF tho troublous border
times that arc Of equal interest with
those cited above, such as tho Corn.
stalk and Logan tragedies, and Indian
outraces and massacrei in this section
from the kanawha to Pittsburgh. up
tho MonongaheIa and throughout what
is now the interior OF Yves. Virginia.
In his memoir. OF tho author, Mr..
Draper says that he well deserves to
have his name and memory perpc.ua,ed
as n public benciactor for his good SER
vices in tho field OF western history.
lie was born near Warrcnton, Va, Dc
tober l., 1892, the third centennial an.
niversary OF the discovery OF America.
His mother was II c%lsin of Sir Walter
Scott. In 1927 ho located in Bridge.
port. Harrison county. this state. lie
afterwards went to Missouri, but re-
turned TO West Virginia, Locating near
Weston. He died january %, 1865. at
the homo OF his eldest daughter, Mr..
Jonnot S. Tavenncr, near Parkersburg.
His son. Major Horny W. Wither., who
lives in Gilmer county, served with
credit during the late war in tho Union
army, i'll tho Twelfth Virginia regiment.
Tho volume under notice is S Vo. 4G7
pages, printed in largo type. clotl, bind.
ing, and vol worth tho 50 50 asked for
little Robert Clarkc Company, Cincin.
natl, Ohio. .