The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-22

amid the ranks o. the dtBkI Wnffipr1
that followed. and tossing to and fro
IN the evening breeze was seen the
proud and historic banner oe Britain,
victorious on 20 many honorable aeldg
Of Continental Europe, but now lending
the sanction Of It's presence 70 the haF-
barous and cruel warfare Of the saH-
age.
The besleging force numbered forty
British soldiers, under the command Of
Captain Pratt, and 2eO Indian warriors
commanded by Girty. They quickly
formed their lines Of investment around
the fort, and, advancing their colors,
made q demand for the surrender of
the fort. This was promptly refused,
and the refusal emphasized by the FIR
ing OF several shots at their standard
by order OF sIlas Zane.
The Indians Immediately opened-fire
on the fort and rushed forward to the
assault with great impetuoslty. They
were met by brisk and well-dlrected
fire from the garrison and house. which
soon drove them back In confusion.
Rallying. they again rushed Forward
and were again repulsed.
Both the fort and the house were well
supplied with arms, and the great ex-
ertIons Of the women in holding bull
let's, loading guns and handing them TO
the men enabled them to fire SO rapidly.
vet effectively, as to supply In some
MEASURE their lack of numbers and
cause the savages to recoll from every
charge. The fort had also small cam
non, mounted as a swivel gun, which
was very efficient aid in repelling
their attacks. The enemy 1t is said,
at first took It to be wooden dummy
intended to deceive them into keeping
a respectful distance, but when the
swivel sent its messengers OF death so
swiftly into their ranks they were con-
founded and dlsmayed. At the very
FIRST shot Captain Pratt called to his
men to stand clear, saying he had heard
cnnnon before and this was no malSe-
believe AFFAIR.
The FIRE from the house Of Colonel
Zane had also been very CALLING, It
occupied Just the position to AFFORD the
greatest service to the peieaguered gar
rlsbn, as at any attempt to assault or
storm the fort the enemy were met
with a hot enflading IRE which waS
particularly destructive and demoraliz-
ing to the assailants.
Taught prudence. the savages re-
tired to the base of the hill, where, un-
der the protection Of the forest, they
maintained constant fire upon the.
fort until darkness interviewed, when It
ceased. and the garrison was left for .
short time undlsturbed.
Tried the Firebrand.
So severely. however, had they sut-
fered from the fire poured upon them
from Colonel zane's house that they
were determined to seize the oppor-
tunity Of the darkness to set 1t afire
and destroy 1t. For this purpose, when
all was silence, savage with a IRE
brand In his hand, came crawling to the
kitchen, and raising himself from the
ground, waving the torch to and fro
to rekindle It's flame, and dbout to APP
ipy It to the building, received a shot
which forced him to let fall the engine
OF destruction and hobble bowling
away. The vigilance of Sam (the
nego) had detected him In time to
thwart his purpose.
Little repose had the anxious garri-
son Tint night Aside from the COM
slant vigilance necessary to prevent
any attempt OF the cunning sayages to
scale or undermine the pickets and PEN
citrate the enclosure, they were called
upon actively to resist their impetuous
attacks through the night, made
doubly difficult by the surrounding
darkness.
Their fear OF the cannon and the Sc
we're reception they met with at the
hands OF the garrison and the few men
stationed in Colonel Zane's house. In
their first onslaught, made the lenders
chary OF again risSlng direct assault
In daytime. About - o'clock at night,
however, under cover Of the thick dark
ness. they mHde a furious assault on
the plckets to capture the place by
storm. swnrminE up to the gates, and
filling the night with their fearful and
hIdeous yells, they rushed hard upon
the palisades, expecting, through tho
breach. to massacre the brave and gall
liant defenders OF tho fort, But their
purpose failed OF success. The plokets
resisted the attempt to break them
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