Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-01-11

the palisade, hoping to be able to
force it, but each time were COM
PEELED to retreat under a CALLING
fire. The few men in the fort were
enabled to keep up u constant fir
ing tor the women nodded the
bullets and 10 led the guns as fast
as they could be used. Night
coming on, the firing ceased
QnietnesS now reigned, and the
darkness became intense. About
, midnight the attention of the negro
cook, Sam, was attracted by .
small stream OF light that found its
way through a crevice In the
kitchen wall f om the outside. An
investigation revealed an indian
with a lighted brand vOring
to set fire to the kitche u. Sam,
watching his chance, sent ballet
through his red hide.
Early the following morning th e
Indians renewed the attack with
much vigor. Having procured a
hollow maple log, they cOnN erted
it into a cannon, binding it around
solidly with chains obtained from
the house of the settlers After
placing heavy charge of powder
in it and filling it to the muzzle
with cannon balls, captured the
day before from a hatbOat that
was passing down the river from
Plttsburg, in great triumph they
conveyed it to within 60 or 20
yards of the fort and pointed it at
the gate. Tden, with shouts OF
exultation, which meant, "We've
got you now," they touched it Oft.
To their utter amazement and cOu-
sternatiOn, the log burst into a
thousand fragments, flying in every
direction, killing and wOunding
several Of ther own number. Dur.
ing all this time the riHemen in the
fort and dwelling were picking
them of at a rapid rate, and when
the smoke from the explosion had
cleared away the ground was found
strewn with dead savages.
The disaster and the dis appoint
nent arising from it so exasperated
the Indians that they madly threw
themselves against the gate with
heavy battering rams made of logs,
determined to force an entrance.
Above the din and confusion the
voice of Girty was heard urging
the savages on, but he was nowhere
TO be seen, being shielded from the
deadly rifles of the patriots in the
fort, who. he we'll knew, would re-
iolce to get a shot at him. The
constant fire poured upon the
savages from the fort ana dwelling
forced them to again retire.
At this luucture II was discover
ed that the supply of powder lh
the fort was about exhausted. II @
nezer Zane remem bered that he
had a keg slowed away in his
homo, but how was it to be obtain
ed? Whoever ventured to procure
it was almost certain TO be cut
down by the bullets of the Indians,
who were so near and always on
the alert. Olly one man could be
spared for the service from the
tort. Colonel Sheppard, not being
willing TO order any one to the
du.v, asked for volunteer. Every
man present eagerly offered tO>on.
dertake the hazardous duty, and
while they were contending for the
honor it was feared that before the
question was settled an the
powder obtained besavages would
renew the attack. At this mo-
met Elizabeth Zane-Or Patty, az
she WAS usually called-a young
girl inst returned home from school
IN Philadelphia, but little accus'
toned to the horrors of border
warfare came forward and asked
to he permitted to go for the pow
der, alleging as reason for her
gong that not a man could be
spared from the de1ehse OF Tue IOrC'
"Whoever undertakes the duty will
be in great danger of being killed
or seriously wounded, and if [ fall
will not be missed in the defense
of the fort, have no fears tor the
result. God will protect me.'
50 earnest was the appeal of the
Young heroine that consent was
reluctantly given. There was no
time to lose. KDeeIing for a mo-
ment IN prayer, she arose with a
smile upon her beautiful face, say
lEg, 81 am ready" The gate was
thrown open. She sailed forth
!, and soon cleared the space between
the fort aud her brothers house,
] which she reached in safety. Mt