Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-02-07

1uletneSS now relSned, ana the DARK
ness became intense. About mid
night 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 a lighted brand en-
deavoring to set fire to the kitchen.
Sam, watching his chance, sent bull
let through his red hide
Early the following morning the
Indians 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 house Of the
settlers. After placing a heavy charge
of powder in it and filling it to the
muzzle with cannon balls, captured
the day before from fatboat that
was passing down the river from Pitts
burg, in great triumph they conveyed
it to within 60 or 70 yards of the fort
and pointed it at the gate. Then,
with shouts of exultation, which
meant, We've got you now, they
touched it off. To their utter amaze
ment and CONSERVATION, the log burst
into a thousand fragments, flying in
every direction, killing and wounding
several of their own number. During
all this time the rihemen in the fort
and dwelling were picking them off
at rapid rate, and when the smoke
from the explosion had cleared away
the ground was found strewn with
dead savages.
The disaster and the disappoint-
ment arising from it so exasperated
the Indians that they madly threw
themselves against the gate with heavy
battering rams made Of logs, deter
mined 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
well knew, would rejoice to get shot
at him. The constant fire poured upon
the savages from the fort and dwell
ing forced them to again retire.
At this juncture it was discovered
that the supply of powder in the fort
was about exhausted. Ebenezer Zane
remembered that he had keg slowed
away in his home, but how was it to
be obtained? Whoever ventured to
procure it was almost certain to be
cut down by the bullets of the In
dians, who were so near and always
on the alert. Only one man could be
spared for the service from the fort.
Colonel Sheppard, not being willing
to order any one to the duty, asked
for volunteer. Every man present
eagerly offered to undertake the haz-
ardous duty, and while they were con-
tending for the honor it was feared
that before the question was settled
and the powder obtained the savages
would renew the attack. At this mo-
ment Elizabeth Zane-or Patty, as
she was usually called-a young girl
lust returned home from school In
Philadelphia, but little accustomed to
the horror of border-warfare came
forward and asked to be permitted to
go for the powder, alleging as rea-
son for her going that not man could
be spared from the defense of the fort.
"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. l have no fears for the result.
God will protect me.
So earnest was the appeal Of the
young heroine that consent was re-
luctantly given. There was no time
to lose. Kneeling for a moment in
prayer, she arose with smile upon
her beautiful face, saying, II am
ready" The gate was thrown open.
She sailed forth and soon cleared the
space between the fort and her broth
er's house, which she reached in
safety. Not one shot was fired at her.
Such action on the part of the savages
could not be accounted for unless the
movement was SO sudden and rapid
that they had not time to realize the
situation, ans then it was only a
1"squaw." A tablecloth, containing
the contents of the keg of powder, was
hurriedly fastened about her waist,
and she started upon her return trip,
running with the feetness Of a fawn
toward the fort, her long glossy curls
floating back from her bare head, upon
which the mild rays of the early au-