yards of Reed's blockhouse, which is called twenty-five miles from Pittsburg; her husband be. ing one of the spies, was from home; two of the scouts had lodged with her that night, but had left her house about sunrise, in order to go to the blockhouse, and had left the door standing wide open. Shortly after the two scouts went away, a number of Indians came into the house, and drew her out of bed by the feet; the two eldest children, who lay in another bed, were drawn out in the same manner; a younger child, about one year old, slept with the deponent. The Indians then scrambled about the articles in the house. While they were at their work, the deponent went out of the house, and halloed to the people in the blockhouse; one of the Indians then ran up and stopped her mouth, another ran up with his tomahawk drawn, and a third ran and seized the tomahawk, and called her his squaw; this last Indian claimed her as his, and continued by her; about fifteen of the Indians then ran down toward the blockhouse and fired their guns at the block and store house, in consequence of which one soldier was killed and another wounded, one having been at the spring, and the other in coming or looking out of the storehouse. This deponent telling the Indians there were about forty men in the blockhouse, and each man had two guns, the Indians went to them that were firing at the blockhouse, and brought them back. They then began to drive the deponent and her children away; but a boy, about three years old, being unwilling to leave the house, they took it by the heels, and dashed it against the house, then stabbed and scalped it. They then took the deponent and the two other children to the top of the hill, where they stopped until they tied up the plunder they had got. While they were busy about this, the deponent counted them, and the number amounted to thirtytwo, including two white men that were with them, painted like the Indians.

That several of the Indians could speak English, and that she knew three or four of them very well, having often seen them go up and down the Allegheny river; two of them she knew to be Senecas, and two Munsecs, who had got their guns mended by her husband about two years ago. That they sent two Indians with her, and the others took their course towards Puckety. That she, the children, and the two Indians had not gone above two hundred yards, when the Indians caught two of her uncle's horses, put her and the youngest child on one, and one of the Indians and the other child on the other. That the two Indians then took her and the children to the Allegheny river, and took them over in bark canoes, as they could not get the horses to swim the river. After they had crossed the river, the oldest child, a boy of about five years of age, began to mourn for his brother, when one of the Indians tomahawked and scalped him. That they travelled all day very hard, and that night arrived at a large camp covered with bark, which, by appearance, might hold fifty men; that night they took her about three hundred yards from the camp, into a large dark bottom, bound her arms, gave her some bedclothes, and lay down one on each side of her. That the next morning they took her into a thicket on the hill side, and one remained with her till the middle of the day, while the other went to watch the path, lest some white people should follow them. They then exchanged places during the remainder of the day; she got a piece of dry venison, about the bulk of an egg, that day, and a piece about the same size the day they were marching; that evening, (Wednesday, the 23d,) they moved her to a new place, and secured her as the night before: during the day of the 23d, she made several attempts to get the Indian's gun or tomahawk, that was guarding her, and, had she succeeded, she would have put him to death. She was nearly detected in trying to get the tomahawk from his belt.

The next morning, (Thursday,) one of the Indians went out, as on the day before, to watch the path. The other lay down and fell asleep. When she found he was sleeping, she stole her short-gown, handkerchief, a child's frock, and then made her escape. The sun was then about half an hour high-that she took her course from the Allegheny, in order to deceive the Indians, as they would naturally pursue her that way; that day she travelled along Conoquenessing cr. The next day she altered her course, and, as she believes, fell upon the waters of Pine cr., which empties into the Allegheny. Thinking this not her best course, she took over some dividing ridges-lay on a dividing ridge on Friday night, and on Saturday came to Squaw run-continued down the run until an Indian, or some other person, shot a deer; she saw the person about one hundred and fifty yards from her-the deer running, and the dog pursuing it, which, from the appearance, she supposed to be an Indian dog. She then altered her course, but again came to the same run, and continued down it until she got so tired that she was obliged to lie down, it having rained on her all that day and the night before; she lay there that night; it rained constantly; on Sunday morning she proceeded down the run until she came to the Allegheny river, and continued down the river till she came opposite to Carter's house, on the inhabited side, where she made a noise, and James Closier brought her over the river to Carter's house. Sworn before me, at Pittsburg, this 28th day of May, 1792.

JOHN WILKINS.

HARMONY is situated on the left bank of Conoquenessing cr., 14 miles S. W. of Butler. Detmar Bassa Müller, a native of Germany, here purchased a very large tract of depreciated land, at an early day, and sold

out in 1803 to George Rapp and his associates, who planted their first colony here, and called it Harmony. (See Beaver co.) In 1814, they sold out their land, 6,000 acres, of which they had cleared probably one half, for $100,000.

The country has not sustained any loss by the change of owners. The present proprietor, Abra'm Zeigler, Esq., from the eastern part of Pennsylvania, is a man of great enterprise, of indefatigable industry, and a practical farmer. It was but a short time after Mr. Zeigler purchased, until he sold out a number of lots in the town of Harmony, and also a number of farms, generally to Pennsylvania Germans, who are equal in industry and skill in farming to their predecessors; and much better citizens, inasmuch, as they enjoy the right of judging and acting for themselves, in all matters both of a religious and political nature. The present condition of all those farms is a state of the best improvement and cultivation. The raising of wool has been a business with them of considerable extent, and meets with much encouragement. The climate, situation, and soil of Butler co., were ascertained, from experience, to be well adapted to the raising of sheep. The land generally, in the neighborhood of Harmony and Zelienople, is very good, and in that township generally. This part of the county seems to have been more highly favored with settlers than most of the other townships. A number of Scotch families settled in 1796-7, who came from the island of Lewis, in the northern part of Scotland. They settled midway between Butler and Harmony, in Conoquenessing township. The old stock have mostly been consigned to the grave. Their descendants are numerous, and are now enjoying the fruits of their labor in peace and plenty. A house of public worship has been erected of brick, called the "White oak spring meeting-house," on the Butler and Harmony road, where a large congregation attend worship. They are of the Associate Presbyterian Reformed, or Unionists.-Haz. Register, June, 1832.

ZELIENOPLE is on the Conoquenessing, about one mile S. W. of Harmony, and 15 miles from Butler. The town was laid out by Dr. Miller about the year 1806. It now contains about 50 houses and 300 inhabitants, principally Germans of the Lutheran denomination. The soil around the village is very fertile. Iron ore, limestone, and bituminous coal can be obtained in abundance.

CENTREVILLE, in Slippery Rock township, contains from 40 to 50 buildings. It is only a few years since this place was laid out, and, as if by enchantment, it has sprung up into a handsome village. It is 14 mile from Butler, on the turnpike to Mercer.

The other villages of Butler co. are, HARRISVILLE, MURRINSVILLE, POR TERSVILLE, WOODVILLE, PROSPECT, EVANSVILLE, and SUMMERVILLE.

One of Capt. Samuel Brady's adventures occurred on the waters of Slippery Rock cr., probably somewhere in this co.

The injuries inflicted on the Indians by the troops under Gen. Broadhead quieted the country for some time. He kept spies out, however, for the purpose of watching their motions, and guarding against sudden attacks on the settlements. One of these parties, under the command of Capt. Brady, had the French creek country assigned as their field of duty. The captain had reached the waters of Slippery rock, a branch of Beaver, without seeing signs of Indians. Here, however, he came on an Indian trail in the evening, which he followed till dark without overtaking the Indians. The next morning he renewed the pursuit, and overtook them while they were engaged at their morning meal. Unfortunately for him, another party of Indians were in his rear. They had fallen upon his trail, and pursued him, doubtless, with as much ardor as his pursuit had been characterized by; and at the moment he fired upon the Indians in his front, he was, in turn, fired upon by those in his rear. He was now between two fires, and vastly outnumbered. Two of his men fell; his tomahawk was shot from his side, and the battle-yell was given by the party in his rear, and loudly returned and repeated by those in his front. There was no time for hesitation; no safety in delay; no chance of successful defence in their present position. The brave captain and his rangers had to flee before their enemies, who pressed on their flying footsteps with no lagging speed. Brady ran towards the creek. He was known by many, if not all of them; and many and deep were the scores to be settled between him and them. They knew the country well: he did not; and from his running towards the creek they were certain of taking him prisoner. The creek was, for a long distance above and below the point he was approaching, washed in its channel to a great depth. In the certain expectation of catching him there, the private soldiers of his party were disregarded; and throwing down their guns, and drawing their tomahawks, all pressed forward to seize their victim.

Quick of eye, fearless of heart, and determined never to be a captive to the Indians, Brady comprehended their object and his only chance of escape, the moment he saw the creek; and by one mighty effort of courage and activity, defeated the one and effected the other. He sprang across the abyss of waters, and stood, rifle in hand, on the opposite bank, in safety. As quick as lightning, (says my informant,) his rifle was primed; for it was his invariable practice in loading to prime first. The next minute the powder-horn was at the gun's muzzle; when, as he was in this act, large Indian, who had been foremost in pursuit, came to the opposite bank, and with the manliness of a generous foe, who scorns to undervalue the qualities of an enemy, said in a loud voice, and tolerable English," Blady make good jump!" It may indeed be doubted whether the compliment was uttered in derision; for the moment he had said so he took to his heels, and, as if fearful of the return it might merit, ran as crooked as a worm-fence-sometimes leaping high, at others suddenly squatting down, he appeared no way certain that Brady would not answer from the lips of his rifle. But the rifle was not yet loaded. The captain was at the place afterwards, and ascertained that his leap was about 23 feet, and that the water was 20 feet deep. Brady's next effort was to gather up his men. They had a place designated at which to meet, in case they should happen to be separated; and thither he went, and found the other three there. They immediately commenced their homeward march, and returned to Pittsburg about half defeated. Three Indians had been seen to fall from the fire they gave them at breakfast.

CAMBRIA COUNTY.

CAMBRIA COUNTY was taken from Somerset and Huntington by the act of 26th March, 1804. The seat of justice was at first designed to be at Beulah, but the act of 1805 established it at Ebensburg. In 1807, the county was fully organized for judicial purposes. Length 35 ms., breadth 19; area 670 sq. miles. Population in 1810, 2,117; in 1820, 3,287; in 1830, 7,076; and in 1840, 11,256. The county occupies one of the most elevated positions in the state on the western declivity of the great Allegheny mountain.

"To the traveller passing westward, this mountain presents a bold precipitous front; but on crossing the summit the declivity is very gradual, not exceeding that of ordinary hills; thus demonstrating the existence of a broad elevated table land between the Allegheny mountain and the subordinate range of Laurel hill. The latter mountain skirts the western part of the county, becoming depressed and broken as it passes northward. The surface is exceedingly rugged and broken, and the soil comparatively cold, better adapted for grazing, and oats, rye, and potatoes, than for corn and wheat. Still it furnishes many a happy and comfortable home to the hardy mountaineers, who have preferred the crystal springs and salubrious air of this region, to the more enervating climate of the luxuriant lowlands."

No stream passes the great barrier on the east: in every other direction the waters which rise here flow to far distant points. The west branch of the Susquehanna rises in this co., with its tributaries, Chest cr. and Clearfield cr., and after breaking through the Allegheny mountain in Clinton co., sends its waters to the Atlantic ocean. On the other hand, Paint cr. and little Conemaugh, draining the mountains at the southern end of the co., break through the Laurel hill below Johnstown, and send their waters to the Gulf of Mexico. The Allegheny mountain is the boundary between the great secondary coal formation of the west, and the lower secondary" strata of the southeastern counties. The deep wild valley of the Conemaugh has opened to view several valuable beds of coal, iron, and limestone; other seams of coal and iron are exposed on the northern waters of the county. Borings for salt were made a few years since on Black Lick cr., and salt water obtained, but the manufacture was abandoned.

The principal occupation of the inhabitants is in agriculture, lumbering, and in the labors connected with the immense transportation business on the public improvements. The latter also furnishes a convenient market for the surplus produce of the county.

The Portage railroad, connecting the eastern and western divisions of the Pennsylvania canal, crosses the mountain in the southern part of the county, and communicates with the slackwater navigation of the Conemaugh river at Johnstown. The northern turnpike from Hollidaysburg to Pittsburg, crosses the county. At Ebensburg a branch turnpike runs to Indiana and Kittanning.

Near the north line of the county, about a mile or two above the forks of Beaver-dam and Slate-lick creeks, there is said to be an ancient circular fortification. The embankments are four or five feet high, and overgrown with immense trees. There were very old clearfields or open prairie lands, not far from this fortification, which probably gave name to Clearfield county.

The following sketch of the early history of Cambria co. is extracted from several numbers written by Mr. Johnston of Ebensburg, in the paper edited by him in 1840. A few corrections have been made in names and facts-corrections which were made by the author in numbers subsequent to the first:

"Previous to the year 1789, the tract of country which is now included within the limits of Cambria co. was a wilderness. Frankstown settlement,' as it was then called, was the frontier of the inhabited parts of Pennsylvania east of the Allegheny mountain. None of the pioneers had yet ventured to explore the eastern slope of the mountain. A remnant of the savage tribes still prowled through the forests, and seized every opportunity of destroying the dwellings of the settlers, and butchering such of the inhabitants as were so unfortunate as to fall into their hands. The howling of the wolf, and the shrill screaming of the catamount or American panther, (both of which animals infested the country in great numbers at the period of its first settlement,) mingled in nightly concert with the war-whoop of the savages.

"It is believed that Capt. Michael McGuire was the first white man who settled within the present bounds of Cambria co. He settled in the neighborhood of where Loretto now stands, in the year 1790, and commenced improving that now interesting and well cultivated portion of Allegheny township; a large portion of which is still owned by his descendants. Luke McGuire, Esq., and Capt. Richard McGuire were sons of Michael McGuire, and came with him.”

Thomas Blair, of Blair's Gap, Huntington co., was at this time the nearest neighbor Capt. McGuire had. He resided at a distance of twelve miles.

"Mr. McGuire was followed not long afterward by Cornelius Maguire, Richard Nagle, Wm. Dotson, Richard Ashcraft, Michael Rager, James Alcorn, and John Storm; the last was of German descent. These were followed by others-John Trux, John Douglass, John Byrne, and, we believe, Wm. Meloy. Under the auspices of these men, and perhaps a few others, the country improved very rapidly. The first grist-mill in the county was built by Mr. John Storm.

"The hardships endured by these hardy settlers are almost incredible. Exposed to the inclemency of an Allegheny winter, against the rigor of which their hastily erected and scantily furnished huts afforded a poor protection, their sufferings were sometimes almost beyond endurance. Yet with the most unyielding firmness did these men persevere until they secured for themselves and their posterity the inheritance which the latter at present enjoy.

"There was nothing that could be dignified with the name of road by which the settlers might have an intercourse with the settlements of Huntington co. A miserable Indian path led from the vicinity of where Loretto now stands, and intersected the road leading to Frankstown, two or three miles this side of the Summit.

"Many anecdotes are related by the citizens of Allegheny township of the adventures of their heroic progenitors among the savage beasts, and the more savage Indians, which then infested the neighborhood. The latter were not slow to seize every opportunity of aggression which presented itself to their bloodthirsty minds, and consequently the inhabitants held not only property,

but life itself, by a very uncertain tenure.* The truth of the following story is vouched for by many of the most respectable citizens in Allegheny and Cambria townships, by one of whom it has kindly been furnished us for publication. A Mr. James Alcorn had settled in the vicinity of the spot where Loretto now stands; and had built a hut and cleared a potato patch at some distance from it. The wife of Mr. Alcorn went an errand to see the potatoes, and did not return. Search was immediately made, but no trace could be found to lead to her discovery. What became of her is to this day wrapped in mystery, and, in all human probability, we shall remain in ignorance of her fate. It was generally supposed that she had been taken by the savages; and it was even reported that she had returned several years after; but this story is not credited by any in the neighborhood."

The following interesting biographical sketch also pertains to the early history of the co. From the Mountaineer-Ebensburg, 14th May, 1840:

"Died, on the 6th inst., at Loretto, the Rev. Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, who for 42 years exercised pastoral functions in Cambria co. The venerable deceased was born in 1770, at Munster, in Germany. His father, Prince de Gallitzin, ranked among the highest nobility in Russia. His mother was the daughter of Field Marshal General de Schmeltan, a celebrated officer under Frederick the Great. Her brother fell at the battle of Jena. The deceased held a high commis. sion in the Russian army from his infancy. Europe in the early part of his life was desolated by war-the French revolution burst like a volcano upon that convulsed continent: it offered no facilities or attractions for travel, and it was determined that the young Prince de Gallitzin should visit America. He landed in Baltimore in Aug. 1782, in company with Rev. Mr. Brosius. By a train of circumstances in which the hand of Providence was strikingly visible, his mind was directed to the ecclesiastical state, and he renounced forever his brilliant prospects. Already endowed with a splendid education, he was the more prepared to pursue his ecclesiastical studies, under the venerable Bishop Carroll, at Baltimore, with facility and success. Having completed his theological course, he spent some time on the mission in Maryland.

In the year 1789, he directed his course to the Allegheny mountain, and found that portion of it which now constitutes Cambria co., a perfect wilderness, almost without inhabitants or habitations. After incredible labor and privations, and expending a princely fortune, he succeeded in making the wilderness blossom as the rose.' His untiring zeal has collected about Loretto, his late residence, a Catholic population of three or four thousand. He not only extended the church by his missionary toils, but also illustrated and defended the truth by several highly useful publications. His 'Defence of Catholic principles' has gained merited celebrity both here and in Europe.

"In this extraordinary man we have not only to admire his renunciation of the brighest hopes and prospects; his indefatigable zeal-but something greater and rarer—his wonderful humility. No one could ever learn from him or his mode of life, what he had been, or what he exchanged for privation and poverty.

"To intimate to him that you were aware of his condition, would be sure to pain and displease him. He who might have revelled in the princely halls of his ancestors, was content to spend 30 years in a rude log-cabin, almost denying himself the common comforts of life, that he might be able to clothe the naked members of Jesus Christ, the poor and distressed. Few have left behind them such examples of charity and benevolence. On the head of no one have been invoked so many blessings from the mouths of widows and orphans. It may be literally said of him, if his heart had been made of gold he would have disposed of it all in charity to the poor.""

EBENSBURG, the county seat, is a flourishing village, on the top of one of the ridges of the Allegheny mountain, 7 miles west of the summit, and 74 from Pittsburg. It commands a grand and extensive view of the surrounding country. The annexed view was taken from the hill about a mile southeast of the village. The academy and courthouse will be recognised near the left of the view. In addition to the usual county buildings, the place contains a very handsome academy, and four churches, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, and Independent. The latter three are Welsh. One half the population of the town, and the greater proportion for miles around it, is composed of Welsh-a people remarkable for thrift, sobriety, and industry. The ancient tongue of Cambria strikes the ear of the traveller from nearly every one he meets, and the services of three

* Nevertheless, it is said that Michael Rager, another settler, left 27 children.