The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-06-04
RUGGED YOUGHIOGHENY.
Turbulent Mountain Stream Figures in
First Campaign of Washington.

lent mountain stream which rises in
the high lands of Northwestern Mary
land, and after vexed existence finds
oblivion in the muddy flood of the
Monongahela at McKeesport. In the
old keelboat days it was slackwatered
short distance from its mouth, but
the grass covered lock walls are all
that now exist to remind the observer
of those other days. The railroad
robbed it of its hope of usefulness.
Today it flows unhindered down the
cascady course, and does for man no
more than possibly turn few rural
mill wheels.
This unpretentious stream figures
in an interesting episode connected
with the first military campaign of
George Washington. In 1854 Lieu
tentant Colonel Washington was
pushing his way toward the Ale
gheny mountains with his little army
of three hundred men to support the
effort of Captain Trent and Ensign
Ward to build a fort for the Ohio
company at the forks of the Ohio.
Early in the march came the news
that the French had captured the
place and were proceeding to erect
fort of their own. Washington push
ed on and entered the mountains,
purposing to march to the mouth of
Red Stone River on the Mononga-
hela, where Brownville now stands,
and there to fortify base for future
action against the French on the
Ohio. On May IS he reached the
Great Crossings of the Youghiogheny,
in the vicinity of what is now Somer-
field. Here high waters detained him,
so he assumed a posture of defense
land went down to observe the river"
Having the idea of advancing by
water from this point he determined
to take the risk of making a personal
exploration of this unknown stream.
Accordingly, on May 90, in company
with Lieutenant West, three soldiers
and one Indian, he embarked in a
canoe and began the dangerous de-
scent through the mountain gorges.
After proceeding half mile the
roughness of the stream compelled
the party to go ashore. Here Wash
ingtOn met pioneer trader, Peter
Suver by name, of whom he records
that he seemed to discourage me
from seeking a passage by water"
On resumirg the journey some of the
party waded most of the distance, for
the canoe was none too safe. Finding
that six men were too many for one
canoe, halt was made until "sOme
sort of bark was constructed, with
which they resumed the exploration.
At the Turkey Foot, where three
streams unite, near the site of the
town of Confluence, halt was made
of considerable length. Washington
was much impressed by the suitable
ness of this place as the site for fort
Thus this pioneering party followed
the rugged twistings of the Yough,
hope alternating with fear of failure,
till at last they came to the Ohio
Pyle. There their progress suddenly
ended, for the leader saw at once the
uselessness of further exploration.
All hope of conveying stores and can
non by canoes down the Yough Wash
ington Immediately abandoned, and
he turned his face back up stream,
planning to force forward through the
wilderness the progress of his little
army as rapidly as might be.
Thus ended what was probably
the first journey of a party of explor-
ers on the foam-fecked bosom of the
Yough. Few indeed were the eyes
which looked on this portion of the
noisy little river before those of
Washington saw it. Lying aside from
the leading trails, and not being suit
ed for canoe travel, the red man had
utilized it but little, while prior to
the time of Washington's visit, few
if any, white adyentuers had been
so bold as to trust themselves to its
treacherous currents so far down as
the Ohio Pyle. 1t may not be i'm
probable that Washington and his
companions were the first white men
to see the famous falls. In the nature
of things there were but few who
could have been there before them.
Standing not long ago on the huge
rocks beside the Ohio Pyle, the writer
allowed his fancy to picture the two
frail craft coming down the stream
from the passed above. The solitary
Indian, the three soldiers, the young
lieutenant, all came ashore and NOV
ed wonderingly about, enjoying the
new beauties of the virgin wilder
ness. But the figure in the scene
which drew most the eye of fancy
was the tall youth whose clear eye,
firm lips and strangely matured dig
nifty spoke the commander of men.
A lieutenant colonel at %, on indie
pendent command, his very bearing
betokened the greatness of future
years. The Ohio Pyle and the gorges
of the upper Yough have more of i'll