The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-08-05
RUGGED YOUGHIOGHENY
Turbulant Mountain Stream Figures
in First Campaign of Washington.
EXPLORATION OF THE STREAM.
Journey Made in Canoes Under Diff
culties-Progress Stopped at Ohio
Pyle and Party Abandons the At
tempt as Useless.

The Youghiogheny river is turbu-
lent mountain stream which comes up
into Pennsylvania from the high lands
Of Northeastern Maryland, and after
o vexed existence finds Oblivion in the
muddy food OF the Monongahela a.
McKeesport. In the old keelboat days
il was slackwatered a short distance
fiom its mouth, but the grass-covered
lCck walls are all that now exist TO
remind the observer of those other
days. The railroad robbed it of its
hope of usefulness. To-day it flows
unhindered down the cascady course,
and does for man no more than possl-
bly, turn a few rural mill wheels.
This unpretentious stream figures
in an interesting episode connected
with tho first military campaign OF
George Washington. In 1854 Lieuten-
ant Colonel Washington was pushing
his way toward the Allegheny noun
tains with his little army of three
hundred men to support the effort OF
Captain Trent and Ensign Ward -
the forks of the Ohio. Early in the
march came the news that the French
had captured the place and were pro-
ceeding to erect a fort of their own.
Washington pushed on and entered
the mountains, purposing to march to
the mouth of Red Stone river" on
the Monongahela, where Brownsville
row 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 Somerfield. Here high waters
detained him, so he assumed a posture
o. 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 20, 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 a mile the
roughness of the stream compelled
the party to go ashore. Here Wash
ingtOn met a pioneer trader. Peter
Suver by name, of whom he records
that he Seemed to discourage me
from seeking a passage by water"
On resuming 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, a halt was made until some
sort of a bark" was constructed. with
which they resumed the exploration
At the Turkey Foot where thres
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 a
fort. Thus this pioneering party fo,s
lowed the rugged twistings of the
Yough, hope alternating with fear of
failure, till at last they came to the
Ohio Pyle. There their progress sud-
denly ended for the leader saw at
once the uselessness of further ex.
ploration. All hope of conveying
stores and cannon by canoes down the
Yough Washington Immediately abaa-
doned, and he turned his face back uD
stream, planning to force forward the
wilderness progress of his little army
as rapidly as might be.
Thus ended what was probably the
first journey of a party of explorers
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 to canoe travel. the red man had
utilized it but little, while prior to the
time of Washington's visit, few, f
any, white adventurers had been so
bold as to trust themselves to its
treacherous currents so far down az
the Ohio Pyle. 1t may not be improb.
| dDlc IudJ WdoHlHSN NOu anu MS COIi'
panions were the first white men IL
see that famous falls In the nature
Of things there we're 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 passes above. The solitary
Indian, the three soldiers, the young
lieutenant, all came ashore and move1
wonderingly about, enjoying the new
beauties of the virgin wilderness. 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 dignity spoke the
commander of men. A lieutenant
colonel at 22, on independent com.
mand, his very bearing betokened the
greatness of future years. The Ohio
Pyle and the gorges Of the upper
Yough have more Of interest for the
traveller to-day because Washington
passed that way so long ago.
! CHARLES l.. SMITH