Architect: Benno Janssen.(7)
From Pittsburgh Sun, 12 July 1923.
Island Where Young Officer Spent Night in Middle of Stream
Gone.
An accident, seemingly trivial at the time, has often
changed the fate of a nation.
Just 170 years ago, such an incident befell George Washington,
who was
then on his first diplomatic mission from Governor Dinwiddie of the
British Crown colony of Virginia to Legardeur de St. Pierre, the
commandant of the French at Fort Le Boeuf.
Washington was returning to Virginia, having completed his mission,
accompanied by Christopher Gist. On their return journey they had
abandoned their company of Indians, their horses, near Venango, as the
animals grew weak, snow had fallen, all day, and the creeks were frozen.
Gist was unwilling that Major Washington should undertake such a journey.
Washington insisted, however, and they set out with their packs, like
Indians, and traveled 18 miles. That night they lodged in an Indian
cabin. Washington was greatly fatigued. It was very cold; all the small
runs were frozen; they could hardly get water to drink.
The next day they proceeded, starting out about 2 o'clock in the morning,
and got to Murtheringtown, on the southeast fork of Beaver creek, that
day. They traveled all the next day, and the next, arriving at the
Allegheny river. It was here that they constructed a raft. Gist's
fingers were frostbitten.
In crossing the Allegheny on the raft Washington was thrown into the
water when the pole with which he was guiding the raft was hit by a
mass of ice. Unable to reach either shore, the pair abandoned their
raft and landed on an island near mid-stream. This island, variously
known as Wainwright's, McCollough's or "Good Liquor" island, has long
since disappeared, having been washed away but it served a purpose on
this twenty-ninth day of December, 1753.
This bit of island lay in the stream between what is now Thirty-sixth
street and Thirty-eight street, Lawrenceville.
Cross River.
The next morning Washington and Gist crossed from the island to the
opposite mainland on the ice, and, continuing their return trip, arrived
in Williamsburg, Va., capital of the colony, February 16, 1754.
Washington waited upon Governor Dinwiddie with the letter from the French
commandant, and with it offered his personal
journal. His
journal was
published widely, and sent to England, to show the English the position
taken by the French.
After Washington's return from his expedition to the French commander at
Fort Le Boeuf, and his report to Governor Dinwiddie, the House of
Burgesses of Virginia made a grant of 10,000 pounds for the protection of
the frontier. Washington, who had been stationed at Alexandria, to enlist
recruits, received a commission as lieutenant-colonel and orders from
Governor Dinwiddie, "with 150 men to take command at the forks of the
Ohio, to finish the fort already begun there by the Ohio company and to
make prisoners, kill or destroy, all who interrupted the English
settlements." Officers and men were promised 200,000 acres of land on the
Ohio, as a special inducement.
Just above the place where Wainwright's island lay in the river, at
Fortieth street, a new bridge is being constructed. It was at this point,
according to the most authentic information available, that Washington
with Gist set out to cross the river, on his return journey to Virginia.
Bridge Being Built.
The bridge at this site is still in the preliminary stage of
construction.
"Washington Crossing" is the name which was selected for this bridge.
This name was submitted with many others to the county commissioners.
William H. Stevenson, chairman of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission,
is the author of the title.
Pittsburgh is generally proud of its connection with the early career of
Washington, who later commanded the armies of the colonies in the
successful struggle for independence, becoming the first President of the
United States.
