Litchfield enquirer., 1837-04-13
LEGEND CT BnaDY's MILL.

Samuel Brady, the hero or the follow ing adventure. was over six feet in height, with light blue eyes, fair skin, and dark hair; he was remarkable straight and atli- irt'c, bold an.: vigorous backwoodsman
 nurcd To all the tolls and hardships of a frontier life, and had brcome very obnox- ions 10 the Indians, from the numerous Suc- cesslEl attacks on their war parties, and from shooting them in their hunting cxcur- sions, whenever they crossed his path, or came in reach o: his rife for he was per- sonaily engaged in more hazardous contests with tue savagcs, than any other man west "t the mountains, excepting Daniel Boone. tie was, m fact. an Indian hater," as many of Ihe early borderers were. This class of men appear 10 havcb been more nu- mcrous in this region than in any other portion of the frontiers, aud this doubtless arose from the slaughter a. Braddock's de- feat, and the numerous murders and attacks on defenceless families that many years fol- lowed that disaster. Brady was also ve- ry successful trapper and hunter, and took more beavers than any ofthe Indians thems selves. In one fhis adventurous trapping excursions, to the water of the Beaver Xiv CT, or Mahoning, which in early days so abounded with animals of this species, that 1t 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 tomahawkcd him on the spot, would have been but small qualification to that ofsatiating their revenge by burning him at slow fire, tn presence of all the Indians of their village. He was therefore taken alive to their cncampment, on the west bank of the Beaver River, about a mile and a half from its mouth. Alter the usual exultations and rejoicngs at the cap turc of noted enemy, and causing him to run the gauntlet, a fire was prepared, near whicl, Brady was placed, after beiug stripped naked, and his arms unbound.- Previously to tying him to the stake, a large circle was formed around him, con- sis,ing ofIndian men, women, and children, dancing and yelling, and ultefing all man. ner of threats and abuse that their small knowledge of the English language could afford. The prisoner looked on these preparations for death, and on his savage foes, with a firm countenance and steady eye, meeting all their threats with truly savage for,iludc. In the midst of their dancing and rejoicing, a squaw of ono of their chiefs cane near him with a child in her arms. Quick as thought and with in- mitivc precedence, he snatched it from her and threw it into tho midst of the flamcs.- Horror-struck at the sudden outrage, the Indians simultaneously rushed to rescue the infant from the fire. During this con- fusion. Brady darted from the circle, over turning all that came in his way, and rush. cd into the adjacent ,hickets, with the In- dians at his heels. He ascended the steep side of the present hill, amidst shower of bullets, and darting down the opposite de- clviiy, secretcd l,imselfin the deep ravines and laural thickets that abound for several miles to the west of it. His knowledge of the country, and wonderful activity, cna- bed him 10 clndc his enemies, and reach the settlements on the south of tue Ohio river, which he crossed by swimming The hill near whose base this adventure is said to have happened, still goes by his name and the incident is often referred to by the traveller, as the coach is slowly dragged up its side.