Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-08-11
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT
OF OhIo-An Original story of West
ern Events, Never Before written.
Il. WHITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor.

eru Events, Never Before WHICH,
From the Louisville Courier-Journal-
Some years since saw statement in
the Cincinnati Gazette Il think that was
the paper) that the first settlement ever
attempted in Ohio was at the mouth OF
the scioto, in 1884, and that the names
of all the adventurers had perished from
memory. But for an aversion to writing,
| would have given to some journal, at
that time, the history of an event that
must be interesting to all Western peo-
pie, but especially to the people of Ohio.
NV father, Alexander McCown, con-
Quoted the enterprise remember but
one other name of the ill-fated hardy
band, that of Peter Patrick. Both had
fought the Indians from the Sandnsky TO
the Mingo Bottom, in the sad and disas-
trous defeat of General Crawford.
think the number of the men did not
exceed eight or ten, and that theJ were
all married men, accompanied by their
wives. The company had brought with
them several dogs, one of which, as a
hero, deserves monument from the
people of Ohio. | must give a brief
history of this noble dog, whose name
was Lion. He had belonged to John
McCown, brother to my father, both
then living in their native county, Lar
caster, Pa. John McCown was return
ing home one dark night, when, just as
he entered his yard his huge dog Lion
sprang suddenly upon him, with his
paws upon his breast, and grappled for
his throat. A word from his master dis
armed the dog, and, overwhelmed with
shame and horror at his mistaken as
sault, he ran in wild dismay to the house
of Alexander McCown, and, as the door
was open, he plunged into the house
and took shelter under the bed, from
which neither coaXing nor threats could
dislodge him. He was left in quiet pos
session of his retreat till morning, with
the simple remark, Lion has done some
mischief" Early in the morning, be-
fore the dew, more eVanescent than his
masters anger, had vanished, Lion was
startled in his covert by his masters
voice demanding him, and threatening
to shoot him with his deadly rifle, with
which vengeance had armed him. Al
exander soon convinced his brother so
far of the nobility of the dog s charac-
ter by his shame aud repentance for his
misapplied VIOLENCE, as to extort from
him the promise to give Lion to him.
Lion never afterward entered bis mas
ter's premises. Perhaps this may be
the name OF the first dog, at least the
first worthy to be recorded, in the ar
cbives of Ohio. Pardoned for this cpl
sode in regard to nero of the bloody
scene to be enacted, / proceed to say the
settlement had so far advanced with the
apring that an orchard had been planted,
and corn was growing when Alexander
McCown dispatched five men, under
command of Peter Patrick, early one
morning to make surveys Of iepd in TIE
rich bottoms Of the Scioto. I remen-
t,r the description of Peter Patrick.
NV "a tber told me he thought that morn
ING he had sever seen pobler- looking
fellow as he stoo,A In camp erect as an
Indian chief, and WI" sta'"art lorla
towering above the ordinary S s'@suio "
men, armed with his rifle and tomahaws.
Patrick remarked that there was not an
Indian in the nation that could run with
him. He little dreamed how soon some
thing speedier than Indian fight would
overtake him. He had inscribed the
initials Of his name, p p, on numerous
trees, in making surveys, when suddenly
from the densely sheltered ambush a
yolley of rifles broke the silence of the
forest. and before the echo had died away
on the distant hills, five mani y forms lay
weltering in blood, the victims of an in
qidious and yindictiye foe. But one man
escaped to tell the tale.
1 well remember my fathers remark,
that the cries of anguish from the women
and children, berett Of their husbands
and fathers, exceeded all the distress he
had endured in the tomahawk and rife
combats of Crawford's defeat. Alex
ander McCown well knew that the next
Of the willy Toe would be an
artfully concerted attack upon the camp
under cover of night. Accordingly as
The aight advanced the watchful dogs
detected the sly approach OF the artful
foe The few men we're stationed apart
in front Of the camp, well armed, end
Zach one holding dog to be let loose Al
I sirnal. Nv fathers very remark
MONT Lion was that he knew he would /
attack the devil if he would command
him. Soon, with animshng Whoop, the
5ogs of war we're let slip, and 81 cage |
encountered The lurking Indians.
So fierce aud deterpined was the al /
tack Of the dogs that the sayages, foiled /
in their plan, began 10 retreat, ana we're /
parsued by the dogs until their voices
rere scarcslv heard from the distant /
h1ls An tia DOGS returned safe % /