Year: 1874

others they most feared, and most


desired to capture. They extended


their lines up and down tho river, 80


rs TO hem him on to the brink of the


fearful abyss, not anticipating for a


moment that no would attempt to


leap across it.


As they approached tho river the


descent was long and gradual and


the timber open; and although Brady


could run as fast as his savage pur-


suers, he soon discovered that their


lines were too long to enable him to


pass either end. They could easily


have shot him, but they desired to


take him alive that they might wreak


their vengeance, by their choicest


mode of torture, for the many inju-


r'ies thoy had sustained at his hands.


As they approached the river, being


now sure of their prey, they called
en- him to throw away his gun or


they would have him. lie took their
advice, threw away his gun, shot.
pouch and powder horn, but not for


the purpose, as they vainly supposed,


of sprrendering himself to their saw
agdtruelty, when he might reach


the bank of the river. 1t was for


the purpose of freeing himself from
encumbrances, that he might be the


better fitted to accomplish the dread


full leap he had resolved to take, and
accordingly when ho reached the


brink ho bounded over the fearful


chasm, and landed safe on the other


side.


The Indins were so close upon


him, that while recovering from the
shock of landing on the rock, and be-
fore he was able to get into the bush
es, they fired upon him now that he
was likely to make his escape. A
ball took effect in the feshy part of
the thigh, but did not disable him
from running, He made directly for
a small lake, which was northwest of
that point about two miles distant.
This lake bears tho name Of "Bradys
Lake" to this day.


The Pittsburgh and Cleveland
Railroad passes over narrow neck
of land which divides this from an
other lake, about four miles west OF
l'avenna Those lakes, from their
close vicinity, are sometimes called
the Twin Lakes, and may be seen
and recognized by any traveller. That
one on the west side of the Railroad
is Bradys Lake


Being perfectly familiar with the
habits and customs of his enemies
and knowing they would never re-
lnquish their pursuit SO long as the
slightest hope Of success remained,
and he was bleeding quite freely, he
knew they could trace him by his
blood, he found tree that had fall.
on into the lake, at place where the
shore descended very gradually
where the water lily, which has q very
large leaf, covered the surface of the
water for a considerable distance.
He got on this log and went along
to the top of the tree, then stepped
into the wator and crawled away
some distance, where he found the
water shallow enough to enable him
to lie down on his back, with his
face merely above its surface, but
completely concealed from observation
by the large leaves of the water lily. |


His pursuers, afraid to risk tho
fearful leap, and unwilling to give
up the pursuit, went down the river
to point where they could cross
with safety. On making the point
on the other side where Brady land
ed, they took his trail and followed
it by his blood to the lake, then
along the tree to its top, they then
searched the water for some distance
but failing to find him, they conclud
ed he had plunged into the deep wa
tor and drowned himself rather than
fall into their hands.


They then returned to take more
careful survey of the spot where this
extraordinary feat ofagility had been
performed. After carefully contem-
plating the whole scene, and being
to admit, (and this is a
well-known trait of Indian character),
that any white man can excel an In.
dian in feats of activity, they gradu-
ally came to the conclusion that he
was not man, but a turkey, and
few across, saying, 'He no man, he
'urkey-he .fe,O !" and in order to
that fact they carved
on rock close by q rude representa-
ton of turkeys foot"


This remained there an object of
curiosity to hundreds Of persons,
and Others, till the summer
Of 1856, when, being on a visit to
some relations living there, and find
ing the rock was about being quar-
ried aud converted into building
stones, I obtained permission to
have block cut out containing this
turkeys foot, which brought home.
and, until quite recently, had it in
my possession.


After remaining in the water until
he was satisfied his enemies had en-
tirtly given up all hope Of finding
him, and had left the lake, Capt.
Brady made his way to the place, or |
near there, where tho town OF Raven
ma now stands, which had been agreed
upon between him and his mon, be- |
fore they reached the Indian encamp-
mept, a. the place Of rendezvous, ia |
case they should become separated. |
He then met what few of his follow
ara had escaped the fury Of the sava- |