Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-09-15
The Sturp Teller.
THE KNIFE AND T0MAHAWK
BY A WESTERN MAN.

ary general Of that name in the summer OF
177S. 1t was one of the line Of forts, which
was intended to guard the people who lived
south of the Ohio river, from the incursions
of the savages to the northward. This fort
was one of the favorite resorts of the great
Indian spy ard hunter, Captain Samuel
Brady. Although his usual headquarters
was Pittsburg, then consisting of a rude
fort and score or two of rough frontier tene-
ments.
Brady had emigrated westward, or rather
had marched thther in 177S, as lieutenant
in the eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, under
the command of General Richard Broadhead,
of Easton. When, in the spring of l779,
Mcintosh retired from command in the West,
Broadhead succeeded him, and remained at
Pittsburg until 1851. Shortly after his ad.
vent to the west, Brady was breyetted Cap
tain.
Brady had served at the siege of Boston,
fought at Long Island and White Plains,
gone through the whole of the terrible cam
paign of Trenton and Princeton, suffered at
Valley Forge, distinguished himself at Ger
mantown and Brandywine, and narrowl es-
capped death at Paoi. But his tastes led him
to the erratic mode of warfare known upon
the frontier. Indeed his early education
upon the upper Susquehanna had inculcated
and developed those tastes from the very
earliest boyhood Hating an Indian with
that instructive hatred, which is begotten in
the bosom the white race, by long years
of contest and outrage, a bitter intensity was
impaired to the feeling in his case by the
murder of his father and younger brother
by the Indians, under trying and terrible cir.
cumstances.
Having promised this much by way of in
PRODUCTION, it brings US to the opening of our
story. On the 2lst day of August, l779,
Brady set out from Fort Mcintosh, for Pitts.
burg. He had with him two Of his trusty
and well-tried followers. These were not
attached to the regular army, as he was, but
were scouts and spies, who had been with him
on many an expedition. They were Thomas
Bevington and Benjamin Biggs. Brady re-
solved to follow the northern bank of the
Ohio. Biggs objected to this, upon the ground,
as Brady we'll knew, that the woods were
swarming with savages. Brady, however,
had resolved to travel by the old Indian
path, and having made up his mind no con-
sderation could deter him from carrying out
his determination. Bevington had such i'm
plicit faith in his ability to lead that he never
thought of questioning his will.
Quite discussion arose between Biggs and
his captain at the mouth of Beaver river,
about mile above the fort, and where they
must cross the Ohio, if they continued on the
northern side. Biggs finally yielded his OBJ
jections, and they crossed Beaver and pro-
ceeded with the habitual caution Of woods
men who fully understood their business.
They had started early, and by rapid travel
ing they had reached, ere noon came, the
last piece of bottom land on the north side
of the river, just below what is known as the
Narrows. Upon this bottom pioneer, more
daring than most others, had built cabin,
and opened a small spot of cleared land.
He had planted it in corn, and it gave prom
ise of most abundant harvest.
But as they approached the edge of the
clearing, just outside of the fence, Brady
discovered "Indian signs" as he called them.
His companions discovered them almost as
quick as he, and at once, in low tones, COM
municated to each other the necessity of a
keen watch. They slowly trailed them along
the side of the fence toward the house, whose
situation they we'll knew, until they stood on
the brow of the bluff bank which overlooked
it. A sight of the most terrible description
met their eyes. The cabin lay in mass of
smouldering ruins; from hence dull blue
smoke rose in the clear August sunshine.
They observed closely everything about it.
Brady knew it was customary for the In
dians after they had fired settlers cabin, if
there was no immediate danger, to retire to
the woods close at hand, and watch for the
approach of any member of the family who
might chance to be absent when they made
the descent. Not knowing but that they were
even then lying close by, he left Bevington
to watch the ruins, lying under cover, whilst
he proceeded to the northward and Biggs
southwark, to make discoveries. Both were
to return to Bevington, if they found no In.
dians. If they came across the perpetrators,
and they were too numerous to be attacked
regularly, Brady declared it his purpose to
have one fire at them and that should be the
signal for both Of his followers to make the
best of their way to the fort.
All this rapidly transpired, and with Bra
dy to decide, was to act. As he stole eau
tiously round to the northern side of the in
closure, he heard voice in the distance sing
ing. He listened keenly, and soon discov-
cred from its intonations, that it was white
mans. He passed rapidly in the direction
whence the sound came. As it approached,
he hid himself behind the trunk of large
tree Presently white man, riding fine
horse, came slowly down the path. The form
was that of Albert Gray, the stalwart, brave,
devil.may-car settler, who had built him
home miles away from the fort, where no one
would dare to take family, except himself.
Brady wore, as he almost always did, the
Indian garb, and had war paint upon his
face. He knew that if he showed himself
upon the path, Gray would shoot, taking
him to be an Indian. He therefore suffered
Gray quietly to approach his lurking place.
When the time came, he sprang forward ere
the settler could have time to prepare, drew
his tomahawk, and seizing him, dragged him
from his horse AS he did so, he whispered
to him:"I am Captain Brady, for Gods sake
be quiet"
Gray, with the instructive feeling of one
who knew there was danger, and with that
vivid presence of mind which characterzes
those acquainted with frontier life, ceased
at once to struggle The horse had been
started by the sudden onslaught, and sprung
to one side Ere he had time to leap for
ward, Brady had caught him by the bridle
His loud snorting threatened to arouse any
one who was near. The Captain soon soothed
the frightened animal into quiet.
Gray now hurriedly asked Brady what the
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