Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-09-22
THE KNIFE AND TOMA.
4, l1, HAWK,

pF A WESTERN MAN.

known as Fort MoEntoSh. It was built by |
revolutionary general of that name in the |
summer Of l778. It was ono Of the limo
Of forts, which was intended to guard the |
people who lived South Of tho Ohio River,
from the inoursions Of the savages North !!
ward. This fort was QUO of tho favorite |
resorts of the great Indian spy and huntor,
Captain Samuel Brady. Although his !
usual headquarters was Pittsburg, then
consisting Of rude fort and score or two
of rough frontier tenements.
Brady had emigrated Westward, or
rather had marched thithcr in 1778, as
Lieutenant in the Eighth Pennsylvania
Regiment, under tho command of Gene raj
Richard Broadhead, of Easton. When,
in the spring of ITO, Mcintosh retired
from the command in tho West, Broad
hoad succeeded him, and remained at
Pittsburg until 1881. Shortly after his
advent to tho West, Brady was breyetted
Captain.
BRADY had served at tho siege Of Boston,
fought at hong Island and White Plains,
gone through the whole of tho terrible
campaign Of Trenton und Princeton, suf-
fcred at Valley Forge, distinguished hims
Bclf at Germantown and Brandywiue, aud
narrowly escaped death at Paol. But his
tastes led him to the erretio modo of wor-
fare known upon the frontier. Indeed his
early education upon tho upper Susque-
hanna had inouloated and developed those
tastes from the very earliest boyhood.
Hating on Indian with that instructive ha--
tired, which is begotten in the bosom of the
white race, by long years of contest and
outrage, a bitter intensity was impaired to
the feeling 10 this case by the murder of
his fathcr and younger brother by the
Indians under trying and terrible oircum-
stnnoes.
Having promised this much by way of
introduction, it brings us to the opening of
our story. On tho 2lst day of August,
l779. Brady set out from Fort NloIntosh,
for Pittsburg. He had with him two Of
his trusty and well tried followers Those
were not attached to the regular army, as
he was, but wero scouts and spies, who had
been with him on many an expedition.
They we're Thomas Bevington and Beuia-
min Biggs Brady resolved to follow the
Northern bank Of the Ohio. Biges ob
jeoted to this, upon the ground, as Brady
with savages Brady, howevor, had re-
solved to travel by the old Indian path,
and having made up his mind no oonsd-
Grafton could deter him from carrying out
his determination. Bevington had such
implicit faith in his ability to load that he
never thought of questioning his will
Quite discussion arose between Biggs
and his captain at the mouth of tho Beaver
River, about mile above the fort, and
where they must GROSS tho Ohio, if they
continued on tho Northern side. Biggs
finally yielded his objections, and they
crossed Beaver and proceeded with habitual
caution Of woodamen who fully understood
their business. They had started early,
and by rapid travelling they had reached,
ere noon came, tho last pieoe of bottom
land on the North side O. tho river, lust
below what is known as the Norrows Upon
this bottom pioncer, more daring than
most others, lad built cabin, and opened
a small spot of cleared land. lie had
planted it in corn, and it gave promise of
most abundant harvest.
But as thoy approached tho edge of the
clearing, just outside Of the fence, Brady
discovered Modian signs," as ho called |
them. His companions discovered them
almost as quick as he, and at once, in low
tones, communicated the necessity of a
keen watch. They slowly trailcd them
along tho 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 hcnco dull blue smoke arose in |
tho clear August sunshine. They observed
closely everything about it.. Brady knew
it was customary for the Indians after thcy
had fired q settlcr's cabin, il there was no
immediate danger, to retire to the woods
close at hand, aud watch for the approach of
any member of the family who might
chance to DO absent whom they made tho |
descent. Not knowing but that they were
oven then lying close by, he left Bevvip stou
to watch the ruins, lying under cover.
whilst no proceeded to the Nortbward and |
Biggs Southwark, to mako discoveries.
Both wero to return to Bevington, if they
found no Indians. If tbey camo across the
perpetrators, and they wero too numerous to
be attacked regularly, Brady declared it his
purpose to have ono fire at them and tha,
should be the signal for both of his fol.
lowers to mako the best of their way to tho
fort.
All this rapidly tronspired, end with
BRADY to decide. was to act As he stolo
cautiously round to the Northern side oe
tho inclcsure, he heard voice in tle dis
tance singing. lie listened keenly. and
soon discovered from its intona.ons,. TINT
1t was white mans He passed rapidly
in the direction whence tho sound came.
AS it approached, he hid himself behind
the trunk of large tree. Presently
white man, riding fine horse, oamo slowly