Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-05-06
fifth higher than in the most prosperous and
active times ever known.

srAxprxe STONE, April q, 1859

Since wrote my letter lat De-
ccmber, giving the name, and its origin, ofmy
home in the Allcghanies, have fallen in with
historical fact which sustains me, and which did
not then know existed. 1t is of character which
proves that ours is mean place, as its ancient |
name has been preserved among tho records of
other lands. IN the tenth volume Of the Colonial |
History of New York, I linda map drawn by Capt. |
Pouchot, and furnished to Marshal de Belle Isle |
and bearing dato 1853, Of the French and English
frontiers from Montreal to Fort Duqucsne. On it
see nesting among the imaginary hills, Stand'n
Stone Fort. on the banks Of the J.neata. That fort
was said to have stood tho very lot on which |
now write this Thus you will see that our name
and fame entities US to DO noticed.
Stand,n Stone deserved no small consideration.
Tho region round about furnished several of the
most noted Indian hatcrs md Indian fighters in our
western world In standing Stone Fort, Gen. Hugh
Brady and twin sister were born. Tho General
from the ranks to the position he occupied at
his death. OF him it is said that when told by his
physician while ill, that he could not survive, lie
answered: Let the drums beat; my knapsack is
swung, and Hugh Brady is ready to march"
Indian killer, was born on tho bans of the Juniata
opposite our town. No name go terrible to
the Indians as Brady OF this man, Sam Brady,
it is told that the only time when he had an OPP
tunity to kill an Indian and did not, was on an
occasion, when, having killed father, who, with
his two sons, fell within the range Of his rife, in
| the twilight of an evening-thc next morning he
| sought his victim. The body was gone. llo took
| the trail and for sixty miles followed it, until he
overlook the two sturdy sons bearing the body Of
their father away from the hated pale faces to
his happy hunting grounds with the buried Of his
tribe. This exhibition of flal piety was too much
even for Brady. lie let tlen none; and they
| bore their burden, rs he subsequently, ascertaincd
one hundred and sixty miles, to its final rest. it
was this same Sam Brady who, when forced into q
corner at Slippery Rock, in Butler County, jump
cd chasm tive ty.three feet wide, and escaped,
while his pursuers, bafaed, said: "ugh, Brady
mako big jump" 1t was he, too, who shot the
Indian on horseback who was carrying of a white
child and its mother and thou sh numbers of war.
riors were in sight, said to the mother: Jenny
Sleeper, am Capt. Brady; follow Inc and l will
save you and your child"
But did not propose narratne at length the
wonderful deeds Of that wonderful man, Sam Bra
dy but only to gather into this letter few Of the
many strange truths which still told of the
Indian fighters Of this region. Fiction has told her
tales Of Indian warfare, and Of tho white man.
unrelenting hate. Yet there was no need Of fc.
ton to fill the historians page with deeds Of wild
daring.
story is told of man by the name Of Mozart
ney, who onco met in some Of his scoutings, with
an Indian warrior; where the ingenuity Of Nc.
Cartncy saved his life, but to the Indian sure
death. Mccartney, dreaming not that there
red-skin within many miles Of him. had just dis
charged his rife at deer. The crack of his life
was almost instantaneously followed by another
and his sharp eyes restcl upon the swarthy face o.
an Indian, whose aim had missed him; both had
empty rifles; it was question Of life and death
who should first get lead into his gun. Mozart
ney freed before lie began; the Indian, seeing
his movement, also freed; and both rifles were
quickly loaded; neither man dared to expose nj
inch Of his person. The Indian was, finally tenn pit
cd to look from his hiding place; he saw Mozart
neys hat slowly peer out from behind the tree
instantly his gun was in rest, and he waited til
he began to see the brim and then fired; and a.
he the hat suddenly drop he bounded into the
open space with his tomahawk, ready for quick
work. lie had ran over, perhaps, one half the
distance, when Mccartney stepped from behind the
tree, and with the calm inquiry" Where " u
going with your little axe ?'-shot him down. lie
had deceived the Indian by putting his hat or
his ramrod and exposing it, thus Turing him to hi.
death.
Thomas Coleman was another, whose implacablc
hate hunted the savases through life. In 1853 his
younger brother hal been mastered at sugar
camp, and his body thrown into the boiling kettle
For this he devoted himself solely to Indian hunt.
ing. Yet he never told any Of his exploits. De-
casionally dead savage was found where Coleman
had been, but it was never known who killed him
Not unfrequently he would return to the fort GOV
cred with wounds, while his own knife and toma
hawk looked as if they had done bloody work
That was all that would be known of "old Coey's'
fights Sometimes, however, he would lead hi
fellows on some trail. Coleman was always un
willing to return until he had overtaken the In
dams and got a crack at them. In the war o
sl2, some of our soldiers who went TO the Canadi
frontier, say that Indians inquired for 4" Coley,
one Of whom bore on his forehead, by which
he would remember him for the balance of his life
Twenty years ago a delegation Of Indians passed
through our valley on tho Canal. Cooley" heard
of and it is said he shoullered his rifle and fol
lowed down the towing path several miles to get
crack at them. This is, doubtless, not SO. lie
was in the neighborhood with his cvcr.prescnt
his business led him down the Canal; but that
he went to shoot an Indian, told imagined by
some one on no authority. lie was a man Of toe
much sense to show bis hatred at such time. lie
died about sixteen years ago, loved and respected
by all. Yours, A. ".