The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-06-07
EVANSVILLE, W. VA, TUESDAY. JUNE L 1885,

OA cA1oih tiO Nitu VIC COnSOlR
tion of knowing that. SO far, this brave
little garrison is not weakened"
mo, no-leave this adventure to
usf cries one Of the late disputants
iva can run faster than you, and ara
therefore more likely to be successful.
We cannot yield this peril to d lady.
and see her throw her life away-we
would not be acting like men, and
shame would ever rest upon us.
Fhe race IS net always to the
swift, nor the battle TO the Strong. ("
proudly replies the noble girl. ''what
is my life compared to yours, who
can skillfully use the rifle against our
savage foe. and are required here for
the protection of these helpless be-
ings who stand around you'll Look at
these little, innocent children, each of
whose lives is az valuable as mine.
and, remember, their whole depend.
ence is upon your
'Lizziel Lizziei' now interposes
one OF her two brothers who were
present-"tbis must not bel You
must notgo! We cannot suffer it and
retain the name of men: You cannot
comprehend what you ask-you do
not consider the peril. Remember:
you are just from Philadelphia, where
you have lived in safety, in case, in
comparative refinement and luxury;
and you cannot surely be aware of the
risk, the danger, of trusting yourself
alone with savage. merciless foe.
who spares neither sex nor agel Com
slider! there are numbers of Indians
strolling about yonder village, to
whom your scalp would be d prize of
victory; consider everything, aud give
over this mad follyr'
Brother" replied the fair girl,
you have seen little of me of late, and
you know little of my invincible will,
or you would not attempt to thwart
me in what I have resolved to per-
form. Come! come! we lose time.
Open yon gate before it is too late,
and let me go, for go 1 must; some
thing whispers me that the good God
will sustain me-"
In vain they try. with reason, with
remonstrarice, with representations OF
the danger put in every conceivable
form, with affectionate appeals, with
downright pleading, to induce the
brave girl to abandon her purpose;
and at last, with the utmost reluc-
lance, they yield assent to her heroic
Instantly that consent
is gained, she strips herself of every
unnecessary article of clothing, and
demands that the gate be opened to
her.
All crowd to the gate, speaking
words of affection, encouragementa and
hope. Now it slowly opens. The
fair girl now fixes her eyes steadily
upon her brothers house; the distance
Is sixty yards; she measures 1t in her
mind; she calculates the time that
will be required to reach it; she draws
a long breath; and now, she bounds
from the fortress; and sincere, earnest
prayers from the hearts of every be-
ing she goes forth to save ascend to
Heaven for her protection and safe re-
turn.
See how she flies over the interven-
ing spacel Will she succeed? How
long the distance seems for space
that is so short
There! she nears the house; she
r caches it; she enters it. Why stays
she so long? Why does she not como
back while there is an opportunity
There! therel-she comesl she
She holds some dark object
tightly in her grasp; she has the pow
der; the fort will be savedl The In
dians see her; they raise their mus
kets; they fire, but they are at too
long range to hit her. Still she comes
on-on; neGrer-nearer; she is still
One moment more I
Nearer-nearer! And now-see! she
bounds through the gate, and is
caught in her brothers arm. almost
fainting. But she has the key Of pow
der clasped to her breast; she is safe /:
the gate shuts behind her. And now
the welkin rings cheer on cheer
cheer on cheer-for now the fort and
all it contains will be savedl
No longer any fear in that lonely
fortressi-all is now hope, and ANNA
ton, and joy. Soon again the Indians
renew hostnities; but the brave little
garrison is prepared for them; and as
fast IA they venture forth against its
stout walls, so fast they fall back in
the arms Of death. The women cut
patches and run bullets; and the men
load and fire.
The sun COOS down; but not sin
gle life is lost within the fort, and
only one man slightly wounded.
And all night long the Indians prowl
about, and keep mp an irregular fire
upon the fort, but do no harm.
And at break Of day, after seige of
twenty-four hours during which
twelve brave, noble fellows have with
stood five hundred savages -reinforce-
ments arrive; the Indians become dis
heartened; they burn the village, and
at last, with loud yells of disappoint-
ment and rage, they raise the seige
and depart.
Such was the seige of Fort Henry,
on the present site of Wheeling, West
Virginia, in the month Of September,
and the year 1777-and such the hero
ism Of its gallant defenders.
Immortal be the name Of Elizabeth
Zane, the noble heroine Of Fort Henry
New York Ledger.