Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-01-26
A HEROINE.

In the year 1776 small palisade fort
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 in honor of the great
Virginia orator and patriot, Patrick
Henry.
On the morning of the 1st of Sep
tenber, 1777, scout appeared at the
fort, announcing the near approach of
the dreaded Simon Girty with a 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-enforce posts that
were more exposed, they being in 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 We're stor-
ed supplies of various kinds, which it
was very desirable to preserve, and, tho
house occupying a favorable position to
aid i'll resisting the attack, it was decid-
ed to make the defense from both points.
In tho dwelling, when the attack was
made, there were bnt 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 We're
ambushed a short distance from the fort
and fell upon the little band without a
moments warning. More than one half
of them perished. Captain Ogle, with
12 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 a mere
handful of determined defenders, most
ly young men. They numbered about
~, with the brave Colonel Sheppard
and Ebenezer and Silas Zane at thoi1
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 800, the belea-
guered garrison resolved to resist, for
they well knew what their fato would
be if they fell into the hands of the
treacherous fiend, Girty. Colonel Shep-
pard promptly told the scoundrel that
the 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 twas the offspring of crime. His
father was settler in Pennsylvania,
an outlaw and a sot, and his mother
was a 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 a great hunter and
dians, exercising his innate wickedness
to the fullest extent and declaring eter-
nal enmity toward his own race Fol
many years the name of Simon Girty
was terror to the settlers of the north
west. He was as bloodthirsty and unre-
lenting as tiger, excelling the savagcs
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 the fort
and dwelling from the cabins in which
they were sheltered. Whenever rcd
skin showed himself, the never failing
rife of the sharpshooter was sure to
bring him down. Several times the In
dians advanced upon the gate of the
palisade, hoping to be able to force it,
but each time were compelled to retreat
under CALLING fire. The few men in
the fort were enabled to keep up con
stant firing, for the women nodded the
bullets and loaded the guns as fast as
they could be used. Night coming on,
the firing ceased. Quietness now reign
ed, and the darkness became intense
About midnight the 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
revealed an Indian with lighted brand
endeavoring to set fire to the kitchen
Sam, watching his chance, sent bullet
through his red hide.
Early the following morning the IN
dians renewed the attack with much
vigor. Having procured a hollow maple
log, they converted it into a cannon,
binding it around solidly with chains
obtained from the houses of the set
tiers After placing a heavy charge of
powder i'll it and filling it to the muz-
zle with cannon balls, captured the day
before from fiatbOat that was passing
down the river from Pittsburg, i'll great
triumph they conveyed it to within 60
or 70 yards of the fort and pointed it at
@lxN cl,1 IS