The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-05-24
BRADYS LEAP.

During the early settlements in the
western part Of Pennsylvania and the
northwestern part Of Virginia, the hardy
adventures into those then wilderness sol
ltudes ut times suffered severely from the
incursions Of the Indians. As early as
1880, quite large body Of warriors, from
the vicinity Of Uuyahoga Falls, came sud
denly down upon the unprotected tlon-
tier, and before any check could be put
to their ravagcs, succeeded III numbering
and pIundering quite a number Of whites,
and etfecting their retreat III safety.
At this time, there was a well-known
Indian hunter in that vicinity, one Capt.
Samuel Brady, whose many daring exploits
and hair breadth escapes had rendered him
as famous throughout that region as his
cotemporary, the celebrated Daniel Boone,
was in kentucky; and having under his
leadership u goodly number Of as brave
and daring spirits as himself, he at once
called them together, selected u certain
number for the expedition, and set out on
the trail Of the savages, hoping to over
take them and inflct a severe chastlse-
ment before they should reach their vii
! lagcs.
In this respect, however, the captain
/ and his friends were disappointed, Tor the
/ Indians had gained a start which enabled
| them to reach their towns in advance of
their pursuers but as they belonged to
! different tribes, it was discovered that they
| had separated on the bank Of the Cuyaho-
| 90, one part crossing it and going to the
| northward, and the other turning off to
| the westward, as it was supposed, to the
! Falls, where it was known there was Il
village.
This division of the Indians rendered 1t
necessary for the whites, if they would
! follow each trail, to divide their force also,
which would weaken it materially, and
render their further pursuit still more
hazardous; and in view Of this new
danger, Captain Brady stated the whole
matter fairly to his companions, and inqul-
red of them what they were disposed to dc
under the circumstances.
Should he follow either oneof the trails
he said, the other half Of the Indians wo'
escape should they follow neither one
all would escape, and should they divide
each division would be comparatively
small, and they might all be cut off in de
tail therefore, it was for them to choose
whether they would 90 forward in one
party or two, or return as they were with
out striking blow.
The men were not long in deciding
they were unanimous III their desire Il
push forward and take vengeance upol
the enemy they also preferred a division
Of the party, and accordingly about one
half Of them Immediately crossed the rlv
cr and set off to the northward, while tn
remainder, under Captain Brady, followed
the westward trail to the Cuyahoga Falls
1t was the design and expectation o
the gallant Captain to take the Indians b.
surprise; but the latter, expecting TO b
pursued by the whites, were prepared t.
receive them, and it was only by mer
accident that the bordererS were save'
from falling into an ambuscade WhlcI
would have proved fatal to all.
Seeing that the Indians were fully pre-
pared for them-that there was no chanc
of taking them by surprise-that thel
numbers were at least four times as man
as their own-our friends judiciously de
termined upon a retreat; but they had nc
gone far when the Indians, utterlng thel
. widest war-whoops, set after them IN
body.
knowing that if his men continued to
gether there would be no hope for any G
them. Captain Brady. in order to save A