USA > Connecticut > Incidents of pioneer life in the early settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve > Part 2
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These savage fiends, while on their way to camp, murdered an English woman and her two sons, who resided in a cabin on the commons, scalped them, and then made soup of a part of the woman, and invited a friendly Frenchman to partake of the repast with them, and when the feast was concluded, asked him if he knew what he had eaten? He said he supposed it a soup made of deer-meat. They then told him the
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truth of the matter, when he nearly fainted at the shock the information gave him.
Pontiac, encouraged by the aid of a French fac- tion, made every effort in his power to destroy the English settlements and demolish the fort of Detroit. He directed his warriors to shoot blaz- ing arrows into the chapel and other buildings with a view to produce a general conflagration, and thus drive out the English and destroy the garrison. During the siege, the Indians at- tempted to make a breach in the pickets, when the commandant of the fort, by way of stratagem, ordered his men to aid the savages by breaking into the pickets on the inside in the same direc- tion ; but took care to place a cannon loaded with grape-shot pointing directly in the line of the fiends as they should enter the fort. The breach was soon effected. The Indians began to rush in a solid body into the fort, yelling and brandish- ing their tomahawks and scalping knives, when the cannon was discharged, cutting a wide fur- row through their entire line. The slaughter was fearful. The survivors, panic-stricken, turned and fled in every direction.
Directly after this occurrence, Major Campbell was placed in command of the fort. The siege was still continued with various successes and disasters on the part of both the English and the Indians. Pontiac finally succeeded by strategy in
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securing the person of Campbell, and proposed to spare his life and set him free, if he would sur- render the fort. This he peremptorily refused to do. He was soon afterwards assassinated by a revengeful Indian. The assassin, with a few other Indians, who approved the act, disemboweled their victim, boiled and ate his heart, and then skinned his arms and made pouches of the skin. The treacherous deed, however, was condemned by Pontiac, who would have slain the assassin, had he not effected his escape. £ In the meantime, Col. Rodgers had assumed the command of the fort, and for months, night and day, employed every man and servant of the garrison in guard- ing the ramparts and in watching the movements of the crafty Indians, until reinforcements, long expected, could arrive and relieve him from the imminent danger to which he was exposed.
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CHAPTER III.
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Gen. Bradstreet's expedition-Destroys Indian Villages-Protects Detroit-Is censured-Retires in disgust with his troops- Suffers shipwreck near the mouth of Rocky River-Relics found --- Dr. Kirtland.
THE English had been dispossessed of most of their military posts in the region of the Lakes by the allied forces of the French and Indians, prior to the arrival of Gen. Bradstreet. The fort of Detroit was one of the few remaining forts held by the English, This fort contained supplies of great value, and commanded the entrance to the upper Lakes. It was therefore important that the English should maintain the siege, though the attempt at this time seemed almost hopeless.
The English government sent out a reinforce- ment consisting of three thousand men in com- mand of Gen. Bradstreet, who embarked his troops in open boats at Niagara, late in the sum- mer of 1764, and on his voyage up the Lake, landed a detachment of his troops at Saudusky Bay, burned the villages, and destroyed the corn-
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fields of the hostile Indians in that vicinity and along the valley of the Maumee River, and then proceeded with his entire force to Detroit. His arrival discouraged the enemy from making fur- ther attempts to maintain the siege, and induced the French and their Indian allies to conclude a - treaty of peace on the terms offered them. Pon- tiac felt chagrined, and refused to take any part in the negociation, though earnestly solicited, and very soon retired to the valley of the Illinois River, where he was assassinated about the year 1767, by an Indian belonging to his own tribe.
Not long after the treaty had been concluded, a serious disaffection occurred between Gen. Bradstreet and his superior in command, growing out of a severe censure pronounced by the latter on the conduct of the former. Gen. Bradstreet
regarded the censure as entirely unjust, and feling highly indignant, he withdrew his troops, some eleven hundred men, who were then with him in Detroit, and without even waiting to recall his scouts, re-embarked with a view to return to Niagara. On his voyage down the Lake he en- countered a violent storm, and in order to save Himself and the lives of his troops, he directed his pilot. who was a Frenchman, to steer for shore at the first practicable point where they could safely land. The pilot either from ignorance or treachery, conducted the flotilla against a rock-
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bound coast a few miles west of Rocky River, and not far from Cleveland. The result was the shipwreck of all the boats with the loss of nearly all the troops.
The survivors, after the storm had subsided, gathered from the wreck such provisions and arms as they could find, and with such prepara- tions as they could make, undertook to accom- plish the remaining distance, some two hundred miles, to Niagara, by traveling on foot along the line of the Lake shore through an unbroken wil- derness. In doing this, they suffered untold hardships, while many of them died on the way. It is said that the forlorn appearance of the few, who finally reached their destination, "beggars description."
The precise spot on the Lake shore where the shipwreck occurred is not known; but judging from relics which have from time to time been found along the beach since this country has been settled, it is evident that this unfortunate disaster must have happened at a little distance west from the junction of Rocky River with the Lake. It is probable that the pilot intended to enter that river with the flotilla entrusted to his guidance, and that he, through stress of weather, rather than through ignorance or treachery, failed in the attempt.
How many lives were lost is not known; but
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the number must have been very great as would seem from the remaining old grave-pits, which are still visible at different points on the bank of the Lake in the vicinity of the disaster. A great many relics have been picked up on the sand- beach, which have from time to time drifted ashore, or been denuded by the action of the waves. In fact, the citizens resident in that neighborhood are still finding more or less of these relics. They consist of a great variety of articles, such as silver spoons, knives and forks, bayonets, sword blades, gun barrels, flints, stocks and trimmings, and also French and English coins of gold, silver and copper, some bearing date as far back as the year 1714; and some in 1717, in 1749, and in 1764. In addition to these, other relics have been found, such as a surgeon's amputating knife, musket balls, cannon balls, bolts and rings, Indian amulets. an iron toma- hawk so constructed as to furnish a smoking pipe as well as a deadly weapon, and also frag- ments of boat timber. It was reported by the survivors that the flotilla was armed with six pieces of brass cannon, which were lost here in the wreck, including an iron box or chest filled with gold and silver coin. It is quite probable that the brass cannon and the treasure-box still lie embedded in the sand-beach, and may yet be discovered. It will be a piece of rare good luck
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for him who is so fortunate as to find the treas- ure-box.
For what is already known in respect to this shipwreck and the relics which have been found and collected, the public is largely indebted to the indefatigable researches and industry of the distinguished naturalist, Dr. Jared P. Kirtland, late of Rockport, deceased. He was a man of whom Ohio, and every friend of science, may well be proud. He loved Nature and held divine communication with her. From her teachings he derived a degree of wisdom which few men have ever attained. In the department of medical science, he excelled as a professional lecturer and practitioner. Yet he led a modest and unosten- tatious life, never displaying his learning from motives of vanity, but rather suppressing it. He loved his many friends, and received them with the kindest cordiality. The simplicity of his manners and the traits of his character were truly beautiful. In a word, he lived like a philospher, and died like a philosopher. And now-
" He walks with God the stellar deep,
Where tides of light unbounded sweep."
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CHAPTER IV.
Boyhood of Brady and Girty-Subsequent Life-Brady captured by the Indians -- Condemned to be burned-Escapes- Hotiy pursued -- Marvelous Leap-Brady's Lake-Rejoins his friends.
Capt. Samuel Brady was one of the most re- markable men known to the traditional history of western frontier life. When but a child the death of his father and mother deprived him of a home, when he was placed in the family of one of his father's relatives in the western part of Penn- sylvania. The family in which he was received had previously adopted a young lad as a son, whose name was Simon Girty. Brady and Girty Were nearly of the same age, and as they grew to manhood came to regard each other as brothers. They were bred in the wilderness and accustomed to hardships. They loved excitement, and were ·ver ready to engage in bold and reckless adven-
About the time they became of age, the Indians made an unexpected incursion on the small set-
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tlement where they resided, and cruelly massa- cred nearly every family within its limits. But . as it happened both Brady and Girty succeeded in making their escape; but in their flight they took different directions, and finally became den- izens, at different localities, in the great north- western wilderness. In the course of a few months, Brady was selected and made captain of a brave band of civilized traders and adventurers, and Girty the chief of several Indian tribes. They adapted themselves to their new relations in life, and, in after years, often met in battle as chieftains of their respective forces without recog- nition. The results on both sides were often as disastrous as successful. Hence both were re- garded as invincible chieftains. In fact, Brady became the "terror" of the Indians, while Girty became the "scourge" of the white settlements.
In or about the year 1780, Brady with a small force of twenty men undertook to " steal a march " on the Indian villages at Sandusky, but was way- laid by a party of Indians lying in ambush in the vicinity of Kent, in Summit County, near a small Lake now known as "Brady's Lake," where af- ter a sharp fight, all his force, with the exception of himself and one man, were killed. He and his surviving "companion in arms" took to their heels and sought safety in the dense forest. But the Indians, knowing Brady and desiring to cap-
----
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ture him alive, if possible, pursued him with their united forces and soon succeeded in making him their prisoner. They disarmed him, bound his hands behind his back, and proceeded with him, at once, to the Indian villages at Sandusky. When the party with their prisoner arrived at the villages, there was a universal demonstration of joy among the Indians,
Preparations were at once made for his execu- tion by "fire and fagot," and all the neighboring tribes of that region were invited to attend and participate in the cruel festivities of the occasion. In the meantime, though unbeknown to Brady, his manly appearance had won the sympathies of a young Indian maiden, who was the daughter of a distinguished chief, and who appealed to her father to spare the captive's life. Her appeal was met by a severe rebuke.
On the day appointed, thousands of "plumed warriors" with their women and children ap- peared and surrounded the funeral pyre to which the prisoner was bound, awaiting the application of the torch. At this moment the prisoner recog- nized, in the circle of chiefs that surrounded him,. the companion of his boyhood whom he had loved as a brother, Simon Girty, disguised as an Indian chief, and to whom he appealed to save his life. But Girty, more of a savage than his savage associates, turned a "deaf ear," and with
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cool indifference refused to listen to the appeal, though sufficiently pathetic to have melted the heart of a stone.
The torch was applied. The flames soon rose like billows, surging around the victim, when the sympathizing Indian maiden, in a moment of frenzy, rushed towards him with the design to re- lease him, or die in the attempt.
The fire had already weakened the cords with which the victim was bound, and being entirely unaware of the maiden's kind intentions, and writhing in agony. be sundered the bands that bound him, sprang forward, seized the maiden, flung her into the midst of the consuming flames, and then ran for "dear life" into the adjoining forest. This sudden and unexpected feat in con- nection with the unearthly screams of the maiden so paralyzed the Indians with astonishment, that a considerable time elapsed before they could comprehend the matter, or rescue the maiden from her perilous condition. This delay enabled Brady to penetrate the forest to a considerable distance before the Indians could rally and com- mence pursuit. The Indians, however, soon rallied and gave chase on the track of their es- caped victim, inspired by a merciless spirit of revenge. Brady expected pursuit, and though weakened by the tortures he had suffered, speck before his pursuers like an antelope. The Indians
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raised the "war-cry" and quickened their strides as they ran.
On the second day of the pursuit, as night ap- proached, the Indians came in sight of their vic- tim. They attempted to surround him, but in the darkness of nightfall he eluded them. But soon afterwards, the full moon arose in such splendor as to render it easy to see and be seen at considerable distances beneath the shadows of the trees. The Indians in the meantime had lost the track of their victim, and were delayed in their endeavors to regain it until broad daylight the next day.
Brady had now reached the vicinity of the Cuyahoga River, a distance of nearly one hun- dred miles, after traveling day and night for nearly forty-eight hours, when he sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree to take a few moments rest ; but hearing a faint sound in the air, and putting his ear close to the ground, Indian-like, he at once recognized the near approach of his savage pur- suers, and in a few minutes more saw them com- ing in full chase directly towards him. The moment he sprang to his feet, the bloodthirsty savages discovered him and sounded the "war- whoop" with a terrific yell, and quickened their spord with the expectation of capturing him on the banks of the Cuyahoga River, which they would soon reach. The land descended some- what in the direction of the river .. This fact
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enabled Brady to increase the speed of his flight, and when he reached the yawning chasm in the rocks through which the river flows, though dark, deep, and twenty feet wide, he leaped the gulf at a bound, and soon disappeared in the dis- tance on the other side. The Indians followed close upon his heels, and when they reached the fearful gulf and saw that he had leaped it and disappeared, they were struck dumb with amaze- ment, and came to the conclusion that he was the favorite of the Great Spirit, who had given him wings to elude their grasp. This belief in- duced most of the Indians to abandon further pursuit, and to return to their villages at San- dusky, while a few of them, less credulous, resolved to cross the river and, if possible, re- capture the fugitive.
The few Indians who continued the pursuit, after crossing the river, discovered the blood- stained footprints which the lacerated feet of Brady had left behind him, and following the di- rection found that he had reached the shore of a small inland lake at no great distance from the river, His last footstep indicated that he had entered the lake. They traversed the entire cir- cuit of the lake, but could discover no other evi- dence of his direction. They then concluded that he had undertaken to swim the lake and was drowned in the attempt. Believing this to be the fact, they gave up further search as useless, and
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sat down together on the trunk of an aged tree which had fallen into the lake, leaving its mas- sive upturned roots still clinging to the bank, and beneath which Brady had secreted himself. He had craftily deceived his pursuers as to his direction by leaving his last footprint on the sand beach at some distance away, and swim- ming thence to his hiding place. Here he over- heard the conversation of the Indians, while they were sitting on the fallen tree directly over him, and to his great joy learned that they had given up all hope of finding him, and would now return to Sandusky. They soon started, and when they had passed beyond sight and hearing, Brady emerged from his hiding place and congratulated himself on his "hair-breadth escape." He soon reached a neighboring white settlement, and after recovering from the effects of his exhaustion and severe sufferings, rejoined his friends on the frontier, who at once restored him to the captain- cy. His bitter experiences had increased his hatred of Indians, and led him to renew with more zeal than ever his desultory warfare with them along the entire line of the western frontier. This he lived to do for many years with success. The rocky chasm over which he leaped, and the lake where he hid himself, will doutless remain for all time as monuments to his memory; the one being known as "Brady's Leap," and the other as " Brady's Lake." Such is fame.
CHAPTER V.
Origin of Moravian Missions-Early Efforts-Driven from Huron River-Station at Tinker's Creek-Compelled to leave -- Attempt to stop at Black River-Ordered to depart -Find refuge in Canada.
THE Moravians were the first Missionaries who penetrated the wilds of the Western Reserve. They derive their name from Moravia, a province of Austria, and were originally organized as a Christian Society under the name of " United Brethren." by Count Zinzendorf, who became their Bishop. Zinzendorf was born a religious enthusiast, and as he grew to manhood, became a man of great wealth and influence When but a child, and so soon as he had learned to write, he often addressed letters to Jesus Christ, and flung them out of the window upon the wings of the wind, believing that they would be wafted up to Heaven and be read by his Divine Master, and answered by a letter in return.
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While in the prime of manhood, Zinzendorf, as early as 1741, visited North America, accompanied by his daughter, who was then but sixteen years of age, and with her assistance, succeeded in establishing several missions among the Indian tribes, remained two years, and then returned with his daughter to Europe. In his own country his followers soon became numerous, and were generally inspired with a missionary spirit, and especially with a desire to convert the Indians of the Western World to Christianity.
Among the many of his adherents, who engaged in this benevolent and philanthropic work, were the two heroic apostles, Zeis- berger and Heckewelder. They were admirably fitted from education and a natural love of adven- ture to "fight the good fight of Faith " in the western wilderness. They were not less morally brave than enthusiastic, and trusted in God, knowing no fear except the "fear of God." While they took their lives in their hands in their inter- course with the Indians, they carried with them no ready weapons of defense, except the " Sword of the Spirit." They commenced their mission- ary labors among the Indians, about the year 1770, and devoted themselves to this benevolent enterprise for the period of a half century or more. During the Revolutionary war with Great Britain, they were subjected, at times, to untold
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hardships, and imminent dangers in their associa- tion with the various Indian tribes, who were, in many instances, hostile to each other, being in alliance either with the English, or with the Americans. The missionaries were generally received by the Indians as divine messengers sent to them by the Great Spirit ; and in consequence of their familiarity with the Indians, they soon acquired their language and a controlling influ- ence over most of them, and especially their chiefs. It was for this reason, that Gen. Washington often employed one or other of the missionaries to assist him in securing treaties and friendly rela- tions with the Indians, in behalf of the American Government.
There were other Moravians engaged with Zeis- berger and Heckewalder in promoting the cause of Christian Missions among the western Indians. They all acted in concert, and thus succeeded in dotting the wilderness here and there with mis- sionary stations, and in gathering about them, if not in converting, a considerable number of their dusky disciples, whom they partially fed and clothed, and who, for inducements of this kind, if for no other reasons, became attached to the mis- sionaries, and were ready to follow them either "through good or evil report."
The town of Bethlehem, Pa., was founded by a colony of Moravians as early as 1741, and was
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regarded as the headquarters of Indian missions. Zinzendorf in his visit to America approved the selection of this locality, and called the land which was purchased the "Nazareth Tract." A mission house, school house and work shop were the first buildings which this Christian colony erected. No purer, better or holier Chris- tian men and women ever graced the face of the earth than those early colonists. Even the neigh- boring graveyard where they now sleep, quaint, moss-grown, and singular as its prostrate marble tablets may appear, has an air of sanctity thrown about it, which still recalls the Christian purity and simplicity of other days.
When the Indian war commenced the mission- aries were subjected to indignities and many perplexing embarrassments. Zelsberger and Heckewelder had established several promising missions, at different points, on the rivers and lakes of the western wilderness, among which was the mission at Huron river on Lake Erie. Here they had gathered "into the fold" some fifty or more converted Indians; but were so persecuted by the unconverted war chiefs in the vicinity, that they, in the spring of 1786, were compelled with their converts to abandom the station.
They procured two small vessels at Detroit, and, taking their converts on board, prayerfully com-
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mitted themselves to the "tender mercies" of Lake Erie, with a view to "pitch their tents" somewhere on the banks of the Cuyahoga river in the Western Reserve; but, before they reached the river, they were overtaken by a terrific storm, which compelled them to return to the island near Sandusky for shelter. Here they remained until the storm had abated, when one of their vessels was withdrawn by the owner. This was to them an unexpected occurrence, and placed them in a dilemma. What next to do they hardly knew; but "where there is a will there is a way."
They then placed about half the party on board the remaining vessel, including the women, chil- dren and luggage. The vessel was so crowded as to render the condition of passengers almost un- endurable. The remainder of the party were left in the woodlands on shore, in a nearly desti- tute condition, and with but as mall supply of provisions. They resolved, however, to follow
their brethren, wives and children. In order to effect this, some traversed the Lake shore on foot, while others constructed rude canoes and pro- ceeded by water. It so happened that the entire company arrived at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River on the same day.
They then, after uniting in a brief religious ser- vice, proceeded together in charge of their apos-
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tolic leaders, Zeisberger and Heckewelder, up the river as far as "Tinker's Creek," where the French had established a trading post which they had recently abandoned. Here the missionary pilgrims "pitched their tents," and named the place "Pilgrim's Rest." They probably arrived in June. Here they cleared more land, ploughed, sowed and expected to reap. They also built for themselves cabins, and a chapel in which they held public worship. At their first meeting in the chapel, they celebrated the "Lord's Supper." In the fall, Heckewelder left the community and returned to Bethlehem. A Moravian brother by the name of Edwards supplied the vacancy caused by his absence.
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