The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-08-17
BR1DI'S LEAP.

One of the famous characters of the
border, a hundred years ago, was Samuel
Brady. lie seemed to have possessed the
qualities best calculated to win and hold
the place and honor of a hero among the
pioneers In him were combined immense
strength, the most astonishing agility,
nerves steady as steel and great endurance.
He was brave to recklessneSs. vigilant as
weasel, and cunning as a fox, gifted with
peculiar tact and fertility of device, and
skilled in everything pertaining to frontier
life and warfare. Many times he outwit-
ted and overmatched the wiliest and ablest
of the Indian chieftaius.
To such qualities he united those that in
spire the esteem and confidence of friends !;
lie was generous TO fault, affable and
sympathetic, courteous in manners and en-
leTtaining in conversation.
Indeed, so numerous were the excellen-
cies and exploits attributed to him, that
he might be deemed mythical person
age, he lived few centuries farther away
in the past
But the writer has known so many rela-
tives and intimate friends of Captain Brady;
has seen such positive and still existing
proofs of his courage and prowesS, and Wis
tied the verv spot of SO many of his deeds,
some of which ye. bear his name, that his
place among American celebrities is fully
established. His relative, Major General
Hugh Brady, of whom General Scott makes
such honorable mention in the battle of
Chippewa, used TO say captain sam
Brady is the bravest of Americans, com
pared with whom the rest of us are little
better than towards"
He reached maturity of body and mind
so early as TO have borne part IN the
siege of Boston before he was eighteen
wears of age and as a lieutenant. though
not tNcnty-one, was ihe most efhclent III eS-
Gaping and saving others from the massacre
of Paoli Owing to the butchery of his
father and brother by the Indians, he had
in boyhood registered vow of vengeance,
which. perhaps, may in part account for
his iutrepidity.
The recital of one of bis exploits will give
an idea both of the men and border war
fare as waged against the early jnhabiiants
of regions now peaceful and prosperous.
Brady had been placed IN command OF n
small party Of scouts detalied 10 watch ne
movements of the Indians and gave warn
ing of the approach of hostile bands 10
ward the settlements. The territory to be
covered by his operations was denOmInated
the sFrench Creek Country wild but
beautjfnl belt of forest ''Oil regions" and
extending north and south across the conn
ties of Venango aud Crawford, Pennsy!-
vania.
One afternoon the scouts struck fresh
Indian trail in the valley OF stream caieo
Slippery Rock Creek.
Calculating from the character of the
trail that the enemy were not numel Gus
euouoh to make it necessary to apprise the
oarrisons and settlements, Brady decided
In follow the savages and attack them at
davbteak the next mGrning. Swiftly but
wariIv the scouts threaded the wilderness,
until. when darkness stopped their pursuit,
they were within very short distance oi
their unsuspecting foe. Muncliing sup
Ger of venison and corn, and drinking from
their hands the waters OF brook, they
stationed their guards, and then lay down
among the dry leaves to wait for the dawn;
But while they had been tracking ana
nreparino to assail the Indians in their
front. another aud larger party of Indians
in their rear we're trailing them, with minds
bept on blo1d-~a worse trap being beated
for themselves than they had set for the
enemy.
Daybreak came, and as soon as !: vas
Eoht enough to look thI ough the sights of
n rifle the scouts were under morton.
Creeping among the dense foliage, few
minutes brought them within range OF
their victims, who were sitting in circle
eating breakfast. Each selected bis target
when Brady gave the signal to fire, which