The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-27

TRADITIONS CONCERNING THEM IN
Pennsylvania.

A Blacksmith of Former Days Who Ran
Into Bullets Ore Supplied by Indians.
Pointers That Do Not Develop-Red
Mems Pipes and Weapons.
Where, if anywhere, are the lead
mines of northwestern Pennsylvania? In
connection with attempts to answer this
question the writer hereof, in boyhood,
harvested many stone bruises by day
and treasure dreams by night, together
with numerous traditions of the days Of
practically unbroken forests, bears
grease and primeval economy.
This section, comprising parts Of
northern Venango and southern Craw-
ford counties, is about forty miles south
of Cory, sixteen miles north Of Oil City,
ten miles west of Tltusville and eight
cen miles east of Meadville. There is no
doubt in the minds of plenty of entirely
rational people that somewhere within,
or continuously without, the region OF
country which these towns bound, there
is a locality where an exceptionally good
quality of lead ore may be obtained, or.
At least, the locality where ore Of such
quality was obtained formerly by the
Indians, both for their own use and 70
sell or trade TO the white settlers. As
the source of this supply was carefully
kept secret by the fundamentally oil
Chief Cornplanter's tribe-and has never
been discovered. it IS regarded as rea-
sonable TO infer that it may yet be a
source Of profit as 70 believe that IL was
exhausted.
4 POINTERS EXPERIENCE
At what Is now Bradleytown, a VII
lage three miles southwest of here, CT
one of the branches of Sugar Creek, a
pioneer named Jacob Jennings lived 10G
years ago and had near his pioneer
house a small blacksmith shop. From
Mrs. Samuel Natson, Of ChapmanviIIe,
and John Jennings, Of SQnville. some
interesting "reminiscences were obtained
as related by their father, who was a
son q Jacob Jennings. The latter. al
his blacksmith shop, frequently sIaelted
and run into bullets rich lead ore sup
Piled by the Indians. They made peri
odlcal trips 20 this place for that pur-
pose. Coming up from the Allegheny
river they made II a point 70 reach his
home IN the evening, there being usually
several IN the party. They would be
allowed 10 stay and would sleep around
the freplaces IN the house and shop. al
daybreak they would strike northward
up the creek and would return a few
hours later with a stock OF the lead
product 70 be melted No amount @!
OF barter or OF purchase
price would cause them 70 disclose the
whereabouts Of the lead deposits
Fifty years ago. according 70 a mem
Der O. tile family. Mrs. Robert Gillespie |
and a daughter. then a little girl. were
lost II taa woods. AID during their wan
6er,uGs foaad along raylne an out
of lead filed rock. uiece q /
WHICH they took with them. After EnI- /
ing their way home they were unab.e 10 I
End thar way hack WIN older rn,rabe-x /
Of the family - JBe nt where tIs-g
aaa found gne lead Farls1s as..I eJa.- 4
.lliTleg- searches have a-a u4a.e -ll
along '.=- rsrl.e~ lu tss4t aI oae
enthusiasts a-y gluZ . considerable pr
.lon II a y-sT - tne sears--.; nlr ssssl- 4
from a fragment weighing ascur fsa
pounds and taysU3 IS 4 Geld IA Rassle -
.owaszl-- C--w-5.a l1--sy, V.2s.u Il