The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-25
EARLY SETTLERS
HERE SUFFERED
MANY HARDSH|PS
Silas Zane Spent His First
Xmas Here In Hollow Syca-
more Tree.
Pioneers Later Celebrated
Event on January u at
Fort Fincastle.
BY MRS. ClOA FULLER.


as wolves. bears. and other equally
dangerous enemies OF the white man.
those hardy. early settlers still found
time to celebrate Christmas. which,
ut that time came on the 18th day OF
January, according TO the old English
calendar. When the calendar was
changed, at later date, and Christ
mas fell on December 18th. the for
mer date was spoken vi us Old
Christmas.
When Col. Ebenezer Zane. with his
two younger brothers. Jonathan and
Silas, discovered this territory, which
10 them seemed like a vision Of Par
adise," they Immediately made pre-
parations TO secure it Us their perma,
nent home.
These brothers were fearless. HARDY
pioneers. who considered nothing N
earth SO important as blazing new
trail. making a home for themselves
and families, and founding settle
ment, which might in future wears
become a great city. For this. they
endured hardship. suffered starva'
ton. at times. all kinds ot prira1or.
fought the Indians and wild beasts,
that future generations might enjoy
the fruits OF their labors; and many
OF them lost their lives. only TO De
FORGOTTEN BY those who followed
after.
Many Aardships.
We. who are surrounded by lrlehG@
and attluence. live in warm house,
ride in automobiles, street cars ana
trains. can scarcely imagine what
must have meant to one lone white
man, TO see both his brothers depart.
after helping him build his rude log
cabin on Wheeling creek. close V th'
Indian trail, where bands OF marauu'
ing Indians passed all too frequently
Tor his peace oil mind.
We know that SilaS Zane must have
been very grave man, for, when he
babe farewell TO his brothers. h.
knew not whether they would live TO
reach their families, whom they hai
left at Rcdstone Old Fort tnoW
brownsville, Pennsylvania. no:
whether. ii they dill reach them. they
would be able to return To him; nor
whether he would be alive, should
they succeed il their perilous jour
neying. Yet such was the bravery 81
the man who remained alone. IN tue
midst OF dangers. Sccu and unseen.
while his brothers. Col. Zane and his
brother Jonathan. returned to Red
stone Old Fort TO bring their families.
household goods, horses. cattle, negro
slaves and other laborers to thcif
new home in the west.
When they first set out from Red
stone Old Fort. on their quest Tor a
suitable place for 4 settlement. theF
carried with them only bag OF meal
and their trusty rifles, with which 10
kill wild game on the way, for food:
and, incidentally. 4 few savaees. II
necessary. for their safety and pro-
lection. They arrived on Septem-
Der morning. in the year 1869, anu
nature was clothed in her very beS'
autumn colors: the weather was mlld.
and when Col. Zane climbed 70 the
TOD OF the hill, where he gained pan.
oramic view OF the valley, with the
beautiful Ohio river. the Island. an
the hills. clothed with such wonderful
beauty, he became. for the moment.
AZ least, both poet and prophet. for
he sensed It's beauty, and the picture
OF busy, bustling city impressed
itself on his minds-eye. But Coionei
Zanas wife and child awaited him 1T
Redstone Old Fort. 50 he lost no tine
in returning to fetch them. hut SilaS
remained behind.
Supplies Run Short.
"A the cold weather OF fall anu
winter came on, his meal gave out.
he had to subsist on roots. berries and
fish. for he was afraid to shoot gam"
Tor food. when he realized the dan
gers of the Indian trail. whereon his
cabin stood. He shortly deserted his
rude cabin in the woods. and follow
ing I'D Wheeling creek. about tive
miles, where he found huge syca'
more tree, uprooted by a storm. on
the roots were partly in the water.
while the trunk Of the tree lay on
tho shore. Long familiarity with the
cunning OF the Indians taught him TO
be- wary: so. he Scoped out hole IN
tho heart of the tree. in the bottom.
or roots of it, large enough to admr
his body: and thrr" hs lvrd III"
whole. long winter through He WAS
Obliged to enter his sycamore HON"
through the cold waters OF the creek.
and to leave il in the same manner.
but this. in itself. hc realized. was his
sure protection against the willy In
dians. who would lose his tracks. "a
ter he had entered the water. This.
however. subjected him to wet. cod
feet, with little. or no fire TO warm
them BY: fer. he was AUST IA fearnl
oI building fires as OF shooting game.
As the winter wore on. he grew thin
and ,emaciated. from cold. exposure
to Indictment weather. lack OF nour-
ishing food, together with worry, no
doubt, regarding the fate OF his
brothers. Such was the Christmas "i
the first white man known to have
liked in this territory. The historicsl
details are measer; but We know that
he somehow endured the rigors OF
that loAely winter. and his brothers
found him. finally. when they return,
ed in the spring of ITO. They feared.
AT first. that he had starved or been
killed BY the Indians. when th"y
found his cabin deserted: but they
ALLOWED the forks OF the creek" and