Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-07-07
ANNE BAILEY.
IN TIL: OLD DAYS.

canoe. To the young generation OF
Charleston il means nothing more
than name. Vet Anne Bailey con-
tributcd more i'll Sclf-Sacriiicc and
service rendered than did any Other
single individual that had to do
with tho development Of Charleston
and the successful settling Of ka-
nawha Valley since its infancy. His
torianS have compared her with the
the worlds greatest hcroincS made
famous by their deeds Of bravery.
CharlcStonianS have looked upon
the site Of the old fort located there
but the name Of the one who riskcd
all hat those within its walls might
be saved from a tOrturing death at
Che hands of savage cruelty is not
TO be found.
Let us roll back the curtain OF
time and look upon the Charleston
of ycstcrday-thc Charleston of
over a century ago.
There arc the same plains. val
lcyS and hills; the same rivers flow
calmly on. In the forest that over
hung the banks. the buds had burst
and the green leaves told of the ap-
proach OF summer. The beautiful
kanawha river. fresh from its noun
tain springs, wendell its course ma
JcStically onward, its waters vet I'M
Sullicd by the murky tide of the
Ohio. The stately forest on the
broad bottom lands was so dense
that it almost shut out the light of
day. The trunks of the giant trees
were decorated with the ivy and
the honcysucklc, while the boughs
cntwined with the grape. On every
hand lowered the newlcy clothed
hills, standing like silent sentincls
guarding the valley far below.
1t was in the midst Of this inspir
ing beauty, down close by the brink
OF the Kanawha that Fort Lee stood
Day after day agents of civilization
found refuge within it's sturdy wall
Night came and they repeated, over
and over again, the story of strus-
giles with the savagcS. their battles
with beasts and elements, that
would make the blood of the weak
or curdlc at their ticrccncsS. Their
stories over, they would watch the
silent heat lightning flash fom the
Sultry accumulation of clouds that
screened the western sky, or Solacr
themselves with pipes. listening to
the mournful CRY Of the whippoor-
Will, or the quavcring Of the owl.
Then all would be Stillcd in sleep.
save the lone sentry. whose practi-
cal eye observed all.
Then, coming like flash with
out moments warning. an alarm
was sounded that was terrible
enough to quicken the pulSations
OF The calmcst heart: large body
OF SavaScs horcrcd near.
Excitement rcigncd supreme: Or
dcrs were shouted above the din of
stricken voices, and the garrison
made ready for defense. But that
small colony of humanity quarter
Cd inside that historic fort was de-
Stincd to be recipients of news that
intensified their alarm into abso-
lutte tcrror-the supply of powder
IN inc magazine was almost cX-
hauStcd, and if an attack should be
made. surrender and death at the
hand of a barbarouS savage foe was
inevitable.
One hundred miles Law between
Fort Lee and LcwiSburs, tile ONLY
place from which a supply of am
munliion could come. Colonel Geo.
'Irndrnln, who was in charge of
fort Lee. summoned the garrison
together and called for volunteers,
Tor Supcrmcn who would risk their
own lives so that others might not
perish. Their discovery of no DOW
der was having lis effect: some had
Already given UP all hope Of being
rescued, and others were quickly
being added 10 their number. MOI
4 man would undertake the Dcrilous
journey.
Brave men looked each other i'm
Inc face, only to see reflected back
the after diSmay and hoDclrssncsS
that appalled, The whole garrison.
Men, women and childrcn's heart
began To grow faint. when sudden
~ there was heard voice ringing
with determination. in tones nigh.
clear and true. that formed the
words: 81 will co." No eager
GIanceS were cast about to sec who
Spok" those three words. for there