The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-04-13
BRADY'S LEAP.

Samuel Brady seems to have been
as much of hero of the northeastern
portion of the valley of the Ohio as
Daniel Boon was of the southeast !:
and the country is as full of his hardy
adventures and hair-readth escapes,
although he lacks the industrious pen
of Flint to collect and clothe them
i that fascinating language so pecu-
liar to his style. From undoubtfuI
authority it seems that the following
incident sranspired: Brady's resi-
,lence was in that part of Pannsylva-
MIA now called Beaver county as noted
in the legend of tBrady's Hill;' and
being man of uncommon activity
and courage, as well as very superior
intellectual faculties, he was generally
selected as the leader of the hardy
borderers in all their forays and pur-
suits into the Indian territories north
of the Ohio.
On this occasion, which was, about
the year 1850, large party of Indian
warriors, from the Falls of the Cuya-
hoga and adjacent country, had made
an inroad on the South side of the
Ohio river, into that part of Beaver
county then known as the settlement
ofsCatfish Camp so called after an
old Indian warrior of that name, who
lived there when the whites first came
into the country. ON the Monongahe-.
Ia River. This party had murdered
sevaral families, and with their plum
der had re-crossed the Ohio before eff
,fectual pursuit could be made.
Directly after the alarm was given
Brady collected his chosen followers,
and fastened in pursuit; but the In
dams having day or more the start
before sufficient party could be
gathered, he was unable to overtakei
tnem in time to arrest their returns to
t. cir villages.
Near the spot where the town of
Ravenna now stands the Indians sep
arated INTO two parties, one of which
went to the north, and the other went
to the falls lofthe Cuyahoga. Brady's
men also divided part pursued the
northern train, and the remainder
went with him to the Indian village
lying on the river, in the present
township of Northampton, in Portage
county.
Although he made his approaches
with the utmost caution, yet the IN
dians, expecting a pursuit, were on
the lookout, and ready to receive him
with numbers four fold to those of
Brady's party. Their only safety af-
ter few hasty shots, was in retreat,
which soon became, from the ardor of
the pursuit, a perfect flight. ra9
Brady directed his men to seperate,
each one to take care of himself. The
Indians Immediately knew him from
his voice and having a most inveter-
ate hatred of him for his former iniur-
1off oil ofh \
pursued him with united strenth.
The Cuyahoga here makes a wide
bend to the south, including large
tract of several miles of surface, like q
peninsula; within this tract the pur-
suit was contested.
The Indians, by extending their line
to the right and left, forced him on
the banks of the stream. Having in
peaceable times, often hunted over the
ground with the Indians, and know
ing every turn of the Cuyahoga as
familiarly as the villager the streets
of his own town, he directed his
course for the river at q spot where
the whole stream is compressed by
the rocky cliffs into q narrow channel
of only twenty-five feet across the
top of the chasm, although it is con-
siderably wider beneath, and much
more than that in highth above the
current.
Through this pass the water rushes
like race-horse, chafing and roaring
at its confinement by the rocky chan
Del. A short distance above, the
stream is at least fifty yards wide
Brady, as he approached the chasm,
concentrating his mighty powers,
knowing that life or death was in the
effort, leaped the pass at a bound. 1t
SO happened that low place in the
opposite cliff favored the leap, into
which he dropped, and grasping the
bushes, helped himself TO ascend to
the top of the precipice go
The Indians for q few moments were
lost ill wonder and admiration, and
before they had recovered their recol-
lection he was half way up the side of
the opposite hill, but still within rifle
shot. They could have easily shot
him before, but being bent on taking
him alive for torture and to glut theii!
long delayed revenge, they forbore
the use of the rifle; but now seeing
him likely to escape, they all fired
upon him. One shst wounded him in
the hip, but not so badly as to prevent
his progress. The Indians having to
make a considerable circuit before
they could cross the river, Brady
gained great distance ahead; but his
wound growing stiff, and the enemy
gaining on him, he made for a pond
that still bears his name, and plunging
into the water swan for some distance
beneath the surface, till he came up
under large oak tree, which had fallen
into the pond. This completely car
ried him from observation, but afford
ell small breathing place to support
life.
The Indians traced him by the blood
to the margin of the water; made dill