Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-11-17
MISCELLANY.
From the National Gazette.

SILLIMAN's JOURNAL, for Oct. 1896.
This is an uncommonly interesting
number of a periodical, which always a
bounds with entertaining and instruc-
tive matter. The first article occupies
Sd pages. 1t consists of miscellaneous
Observations made during Tour in
May, 1888. to the falls Of the Guy ahoga,
near Lake Erie; extracted from the
diary ola Naturalist" A great portion
OF these observations are descriptive of
natural scenery, towns and villages, geo.
logical formations, coal depo>;tes. &C.
&c; but they are interspeIsed with
number Of historical notices of the first
settlers in that region, their battles with
the aborigines. and the incidents usually
occurring in the wilderness. To the
general reader these historical anecdotes
will have more interest than the scienti-
tic descriptions; but the whole article
is one Of agreeable reading. We have
placed below two legends, which T.
quail any thing we have met with, in
the romance of real life. The first, the
writer says he received from passen-
ger in stage coach, who resided in the
country many years and had often heard
it related. IL is entitled the
LEGEND OF BRADY'S HILL.
Samuel Brady, the hero of the follow
ing adventure, was over six feet in
height, with light blue eyes, fair skin,
81 dark hair: he was remarkably straight,
an athletic, bold, and vigorous back
woodsman, Injured to all the tolls and
hardsh;ps of a frontier life. and had be.
come obnoxious to the Indians, from his
numerous successful attacks on :heir war
parties, and from shooting them in his
hunting excursions, " heurv-r they cross
ed his path, or came within reach OF his
rifle for he was personally engaged in
more hazardous contests with the sava-
ges, than any other man west Of the
mountains, excepting Daniel Boone. He
was in fact ian Indian bater," as many
OF the early borderers were. This class
Of men appear to have been more nu-
merous in this region, than in any other
portion Of the frontiers and this doubt
less arose from the slaughter at Brad
docks defeat, and the numerous murders
and attacks OH defenceless families that
for many years followed that disaster.
Brady was also very successful trapper
and hunter, and took more beavers than
any OF the Indians themselves. In one
Of his adventurous trapping excursions,
to the waters Of the Beaver River, or
Mahoning, which in early days so aboun-
ded with the animals Of this species that
il took its name from this fact, it SO hap
pened that the Indians surprised him in
his camp and took him prisoner. To
have shot or tomahawked him on the
spot, would have been but small graft
fication to that of sstiating their revenge
by burning him at slow fire, in pres
ence of all the Indians of their village.
He was therefore taken alive to their
eDcampment, on the west bank Of the
Beaver River, about mile and a hall
from its mouth. After the ususal exul-
tations and rejoiciDgs at the capture Of
noted enemy, and causing him to run
the gauntlet, fire was prepared, near
which Brady was placed, alter being
stripped naked, and with his arms I'M
bound. Previously to tying him to the
stake, large circle was formed around
him. consisting Of Indian men, and wo-
men, and children. dancing and yelling,
and uttering all manner Of threats and
abuse that their small knowledge Of the
English language could afford. The pri-
soner looked on these preparations for