Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-10-29
CAPTAIN BRADY'S FAMOUS LEAP.

In pursuance with your request,
furnish you the following sketch of the
celebrated leap Of Captain Sam. Brady
across tho river when pursued by the
Indians. This narrative was orig
inally prepared at the instance Of
Judge Wilkins, but never having been
in print, | trust it may prove OF some
interest 10 your numerous readers:
Having heard of "Brady's leap" from
childhood, have taken some pains to
obtain all the facts within my reach
which might tend to shed light on the
subject Tho only documentary evi.
dence have been able to procure is
found in small work entitled "lIistori-
cal "reminiscences Of Summit County,
by Gen. Il. V. Bierce," of Akron, Ohio,
which was sent to me by the author
in 1856, in answer TO q letter of inqui-
ry addressed by me to him, seeking
for information on the subject.
His statement is very brief. and /
copy it entire: "As remarked on a
former occasion, the Cuyahoga river,
Portage Path and Tuscarawas branch
of the Muskingum, were originally
the boundary between the Six Nations
of the Western Indians. The Onon-
dagas, Oneidas, Mohawks and others
OF the Six Nations resided 10 the ter
ritory until the difficulty with Diver
in 1906. There was, on the first set
tlcment of the country, an Indian trail,
commencing at Fort Mcintosh, at the
mouth Of Big River, and running from
thence west through Portage county,
crossing the Cuyahoga in Franklin, lat
what is called the Standing Rock 7;
thence west to Northampton in Sum-
nit county, where there was a settle
ment of Indians; thence to Sandusky
and Detroit. This trail was the great
Indian thoroughfare from Detroit to
the Chic river. On it we're also con-
stantly passing large parties of Indi-
ans, and it became, of course, the IA
vorite hunting grounds of these West
ern Nimrods. The Indians were as
ready as they for the encounter, and
a war Of determination commenced.
10 1850 II large party Of warriors from
the villages on the Cuyahoga had
crossed the Ohio and made an incur
sion into the settlements, numbering
several families, and taking away a
large amount Of plumber.
"Brady called together his band
and started in pursuit. lie led on the
men, guided more by courage than
until be entered the Indian
village on the Cuyaboga river, in what
is now Northampton. The Indians,
expecting pursuit, were prepared for
him, and with numbers four times his
own, attacked him on all sides, and,
with bis followers, he was put to per-
feet rout. The retreat became flight,
and every man was for himself The
Indians singled out Brady, and leav-
ing all the rest, chase commenced
for him, which continued without in
terruption till he arrived at the Cuya-
boga river in Franklin, just north of
the present location Of the bridge on
the road TO Ravenna. The Indians
had extended their lines so as to hem
him in, and with loud shouts of tri-
imph, thought their prisoner safe
The river was here bounded on each
side by perpendicular rocks, the chasm
being 90 feet wide. Brady on reach
ng the river, gave bound that de-
,pair on one side and hope on the 9TH
sr alone could have effected; and clear
ng the abyss, he gained the opposite
bank"
This statement, ] have no doubt, is
substantially correct as far as it goes,
Dut is by no means full and complete.
Having been on the ground and ex-
smincd it carefully; and from inquiry
n the neighborhood as to the tradition
among the first settlers, as well as
rom information derived from my
ather fifty years ago, believe the
'ollowing additional facts TO be true;
The place where Brady leapcd across
he Cuyahoga river is at little vileage
called Franklin Mills, six miles west
If Ravenua, the county seat of Port
lge county, Ohio, and within about
.wo miles Of the railroad leading from
to Cleveland. Both above
md below this place the banks are
ow, and the stream easily forded at
my ordinary stage of water. But for
he space Of perhaps half mile or
more, the ground ascends on either
tide Of the river, by q gentlc rise for
he space OF half a mile.
The geological formation is that of
gray sandstone, and the Cuyahoga
river at this point passes, for some dis
.ance, through what seems to be o.
Lissura In the rock. caused BY some in