Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-17
SAMUEL BRADY, THE SCOUT.
"Reminiscences of Local Character Famous
in Indian Times.

1 In Indian Times.
Mr.. Mattison Darragh, an old resident o
Bridgewater, Beaver county, talking re
Gently on matters relating to earlier days il
the county, incidentally related the follow
ing, which will perhaps be more interestin!
from the fact that it positively locates tn
old town of Logstown. Said Mr.. Darragh
About the year 1910, myself and friend
Mr.. Frank Porter, also resident of Bea
yer county, boarded steamboat at Pitts
burg for Bridgewater. Presently gentle
man named James K. Moorehead, vel
known in Pittsburg. came aboard accompa
MED by military looking old gentleman
Learning from the clerk that Mr.
Porter and myself were passen
gers for Bridgewater, Mr.. Mooreheat
hunted us up, and introducing
General Brady, for that was his companion
stated that he was bound for the same place
that we were, and as General Brady wal
| quite feeble from old age, requested that We
| should look to his comfort and see him
| safely to hotel in our village. We gladly
accepted the responsibility.
After the boat had left the wharf and
had proceeded several miles down the river,
the venerable old General suggested that we
ascend to the hurricane deck, where We
could get a better view of the country,
stating at the same time that he wanted to see
if there were any landmarks left of old
Logstown. Arrived at the point where
Economy is now located, he looked toward
the south side of the river, and pointed out
an old and dilapidated cabin, and said that
was the only Distinguishing feature LETT by
which he could recall the place. He
remembered when that cabin sheltered the
family of sturdy woodsman, who was one of
his brothers trusty scouts, and as he looked
over the broad bottom land covered by
trees and bushes, where once so many cabins
stood, but, alas! touched by times decaying
breath, had mouldered away, and now COW
cred by natures mantle of green, tears un-
hidden stole down his bronzed and withered
cheeks, and he turned from the scene sor-
rowfuilv.
The conversation naturally turned upon
the exploits and adventures of his brother,
who proved to be none other than the ia
nous scout, Samuel Brady, whose deeds of
daring, thrilling adventures and hair
breadth escapes have been sung by poets,
emblazoned in prose, and handed down by
tradition until his name is as inseparable
from the history of Pennsylvania as is the
name of Washington from that of the ma
tion.
f'What marked him from other men and
hunters of his day?" asked Mr. Darragh.
''There were many marks of distinction,
replied the old General. "Being a large
and muscular man, at log-rollings, house
raisings, ETC., he could outlift most compet-
itors. In athletic sports he could throw
most men, was great jumper, runner, etc,
and as marksman with rifle was seldom
beaten. In fact, he was an all-round ath-
1a4z ~
ordinary men of to-day"
The old General related several incidents
in which his brother figured, one of which L
distinctly remember, said Mr.. Darragh.
upon one occasion" said the General, che
and l came down from Pittsburg or, as it
was then called, Fort Duquesne, in canoe,
to visit the block house, situated about two
miles from the mouth of Big Beaver (where
New Brighton now stands.) Just as we
turned the point to go up the Big Beaver,
our canoe struck snag, and, overturning.
threw US into the water In the canoe were
our guns and a jug of whisky. Now what
do you suppose Samuel grabbed first and
held to like grim death?" asked the old
General, with a significant twinkle in his
eye.
''The gun, of course" we suggested in
concert.
"Ah, no: not he," laughed the General.
''He held fast 10 the jug and took it to
shore safely. He knew the gun would sink
and stay just where it went down, but the
Jug would float away from him. He riehted
the canoe, went to where the capsize, oc-
CURED, jumped into the river and easily Sc
cured his gum"
This certainly establishes beyond doubt
the fact that Logstown was originally
located on the south side of the Ohio river.
And remembering that General Brady was
quite old at the time of the interview, it is
like listening to words from the dead to
establish a long disputed fact. w