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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cy/AXiu C^tyypu y'/a^^'L^^ Souvcnire of tbc lp>aet Mitb miustrattond "k AN INSTRUCTIVE AND AMUSING WORK, GIVING A CORRECT ACCOUNT OF THE CUSTOMS AND HABITS OF THE Ipionccvs of Caiui6a AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY, EMBRACING MANY ANECDOTES O^' ITS PROMINENT INHABITANTS, AND WITHAL. AN ABSOLUTE CORRECT AND HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF MANY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POLITICAL EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY DAYS OF CANADA AND THE TERRITORY OF MICHKiAN. BY MiUtam Xewis Bab^ 'Wa(n^0cr, ©ntarlo, I80a. ! I ! f ■ I II .^^p \ Ut Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1896, by William L. Baby, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. This Work has already been published in the Dominion of Canada I I preface* In offering to the public these crude antl hastily written Reminiscences, I have thought it advisable to open them with one of the traditions of the renowned chief Pontiac, who exercised such an extraordinary influence over the various tribes of Indians with whom he was associated and who for so many years drew the undivided attention of the civil and military powers of those days. He at length failed in the accomplishment of his bold and comprehensive plan of attackiing a chain of nine forts from Michigan to Niagara on the same day; he himself besieging the Fort Pontchar- train at Detroit in 1763, but failed, an Indian woman having discovered the plot and revealed it to Major Gladwin, commanding the fort. Pontiac afterwards professed friendship for the English, but an English spy, having discovered treachery In his speech, stabbed him to the heart, and fled. — "Morgan's Celebrated Canadians," p. 55. I J: J I I J ^ \ 1 \ stable of Contents. An Old Family Legend during the Conspiiacy of Pontiac i The Destruction of W. Lyon McKenzie's Press 12a Serving Jury Summons in 1829 13 The Old Family Compact — its origin, and what I know about it 35 The Hon. James Baby — Obituary 58 Service on the Detroit Frontier during the Rebellion of '-^.y and '38 y2 Visit of the Prince of Wales to Detroit in September, i860 89a The Battle of Windsor, fought December 4, 1839. ... 90 Prominent Men of Essex i i6a An Old Time Breeze on Lake Erie — Sailing in 1831 . . 117 Journey from Little York to Sandwich in 1827 122a Navigation on Lake Ontario — 1824 125a At School in St. Raphael's in 1825 7. . . 127a The Runaway Slave 129 Journey to Litde York (now Toronto) in 1833 140 Visit to Col. Talbot in 1841 ., 148 An Unexpected Visit from an Old Schoolmate 156 Visit to the Village of Wickwimikong, ATanitoulin Island 164 Thrilling Experience with an Indian Pilot 187 The Book Peddler 10^ Visit to the Sault Ste. Marie ...!..' 215 A Sketch Showing. Among Other Things, how the Bruce Mines in Algoma were discovered 224 Farming in this Canada of Ours, and how it was I became a Farmer 240 Twenty-two Years' Service in H. M. Customs. . . . . . . 266a I. L I. w^^^mm This Second Edition respectfully dedicated to my numer- ous patrons by the Author. r- SOCVENIliS OF THE PAST. AN OLD FAMILY LEGEND DURING THE CON- SPIRACY OF PONTIAC Pontiac, the renowned Ottawa chief and warrior, came down from his camping ground on the Isle an Peche, (fishing island in French), situated immediately at the head of the Detroit River. From time immemo- rial Isle au Peche, was noted for its fishing qual- ities. The deep and pure waters of the Detroit River (the spawning nurseries of the noted whitefish) were so attract- ive that on reaching the shallow waters of Lake St. Clair they refused its allurements and consequently congregated in tens of thousands around this Island, and the feeding and gravelly shores of charming Belle Isle. No wonder that Pontiac loved this island. Pontiac proceeded to visit his old friend and trader, Jacque Duperon Baby, and found him at his store adjoining his house, situated on a A 11 I p OLD FAMILY LEGEND. II ' M 1 1 the bank of the Detroit River, where Baby and Hanrahan's liquor store now stands. It was a low log building eighty feet long by twenty feet wide, clap-boarded, and contained several rooms 'in a row, and was almost opposite Fort Pont- chartrain, then situated on what is now called Griswold street. City of Detroit, close to the river bank, "Sit down," ^aid Baby. Pontiac, looking suspiciously at him, reluctantly took a seat before the log fire. "They tell me," remarked the chief, "that those red coats have offered to give you a basket full of silver if you will betray me into their hands?" "How foolish that would be," said his friend. "I, who make a living by trading with you and your tribes. As a proof of my friendship we will smoke the pipe of peace." handing him a four-pound plug of tobacco, in the shape of a huge cigar, and a clay pipe. Pontiac, seizing his tomahawk, and pointing to its head, said, "Here is my pipe," (and the handle formed its stem), lit and smoked it. After their smoke his host remarked: "It's a long walk to the island to-night; there are my OLD FAMILY LEGEND. buffalo skins; use them and sleep before the fire and see if I betray you in the morning, but before going to bed have some supper. Theresa?" (a black negress) Baby called. "She has gone to bed," Mrs. B. repHes. "What is wanting?" "A bowl of bread and milk for Pontiac." "i will fetch it myself," Mrs. B. replies, and enters with a sil- ver tray, a large china bowl, a loaf of bread and a silver spoon. "Good squaw, Baby; many paupooses?" Pontiac asks. "Yes," and Baby holds up both hands twice, count- ing twenty. ' "Big camp," exclaims Pontiac, smokes his tomahawk pipe after supper in silence, makes his bed of buffalo skins- and goes to sleep with his feet to the fire. The next, morning Pontiac gets his breakfast with Mackinac toast,, (slices of bread, dipped in batter and fried in lard or butter,, and when done to a turn, can be served on a napkin with- out soiling), pork steaks, and a bowl of coffee, and tells him that he won't see him again for two weeks — squaw sick and too far from home. At this moment Mrs. B. appears and shaking hands with the chief, said, "Good bye, Pontiac; remember me to your I'll II' ■:l! ! Ill Ill 4 OLD FAMILY LEGEND. squaw, and when you return to see us bring me six mar- ten skins, dressed, for a boa, and a beaver skin for my bonnet. Here are eight yards of blue cloth for a frock and leggins, a red blanket, and twelve yards calico for her, two shirts, a double handful of assorted glass beads and a silver brooch (the size of a saucer) to wear on her breast, with the profile of old King George III. stamped upon it. Accept this also from me," handing him a silver box with six flints, tinder and a steel for striking fire. If she had left a $300 gold repeater and the silver box to choose from, he would have left the watch and taken the silver box. "If that is not enough my husband will pay you the diflference." Pontiac gives a grunt and wraps them in the blanket, says ^'bon jour" and leaves. Jacque Duperon Baby, his majesty's Indian agent, In- dian trader and farmer, and his wife, Susanne Reaume, were princely in their gifts to this monarch of forests, prair- ies, lakes and streams, and no wonder they sought his pro- tection and favor, for Parkman, the great American his- torian, relates the following exhibition of his power over bis followers — page 258, Vol. 1. OLD FAMILY LEGEND. A few young Wyandottes were in the habit of coming, night after night, to the house of Baby to steal hogs and cattle. The latter complained of the theft to Pontiac, and desired his protection. Being at that time ignorant of the intercourse between Baby and the English, Pontiac has- tened to the assistance of his friend, and, arriving about nightfall at the house, walked to and fro among the barns and enclosures. At a late hour he distinguished the dark forms of the plunderers stealing through the gloom. "Go back to your village, you Wyandotte dogs," said the Otta- wa chief. "If you tread again on this man's land, you shall die." They slunk back abashed, and from that time forward the Canadian's property was safe. The Ottawas had no political connection with the Wyandottes, who speak a language radically distinct. Over them he could claim no legitimate authority ; yet his powerful spirit forced respect and obedience from all who approached him. I. Tradition related by M. Francis Baby, of Windsor, U. C, the son of Pontiac's friend, who lived opposite De- troit, upon nearly the same site formerly occupied by his father's house. Though Pontiac at this time assimied the .f . I.' '. ••> OLD FAMILY LEGEND. Ill '1 attitude of a protector of the Canadians, he had previously, accordiing to thci anonymous diary of the siege, bullied them exceedingly, compelling, them to plough land for him and do other work. Once he forced them to carry him in a sedan chair from house to house to look for provisions.— Parkman, 259, vol, i. The same morning Baby said to Susanne, his; wife, ?ifter breakfast: "I will cross the river in my canoe and see Major Gladwin" (comma,nding the fort). He th^n crossed thp river and approaching, meets a soldier with two pails of water on a wooden yoke across his shoulders, addresses hi^ as follows : "My man, tell Major Gladwin that Jacque Duperon Baby wants to see him. Have him send me the countersign to pass the sentry. Here: is half a crown for you and be quick." The message is soon delivered and the. 5oldiieri , returned, breathing in Baby's ear, "Silence." Approaching the sentry he is accosted with, "Who goes there?" "A friend,'/ he answers. "Advance, friend, and give the countersign."!' When close to the sentry he an- swers, "Silence." "Pass on," said the sentry, and he has- tens to the major's quarters, gives the knocker (a brass OLD FAMILY LEGEND. rampant lion) three loud claps, which bring the major to the door. "Hello, Baby, is this you? Glad to see you; come in, make yourself comfortable. It's rather too early to drink, but a glass of old Jamaica will do no harm after paddling across the river." "Never refuse a good thing in moderation," replied Baby. They take a horn and Baby says: "Well, Gladwin, what's the news?" "D — nbad; these infernal savages pester the life out of us, with their bows of poisoned arrows. We can't leave the fort but they are dogging us; at night they are in their camps in the thick woods and are quiet; but- the worst of all, to-morrow we'll be out of provisions.'' "What news from that cut-throat, Pontiac?'' "He paid me a visit last night," said Baby. "Smoked the pipe of peace with me. My wife gave him his supper and he slept in my bufifalo skins in my dining room with his. feet to the fire. He was up bright and eprly, got his breakfast, and by this time is opposite the head of Isle au Cochon," (now Belle Isle). "Good! you are a brick!" "See here, Gladwin, to-morrow night set a lantern near the water plank," (two stakes driven in the bed of the river 8 OLD FAMILY LEGEND. and a stout rung passed through them to support tlie plank, and extending into the river to the depth of four feet,) "and at half-past 12 sharp, look out for me with six canoes loaded with pork, corn meal and beef. Have your soldiers ready at the gate with empty casks to unload the meal, and I will make three trips in succession before daylight. Will bring a five-gallon keg of old Jamaica, five gallons of old port and five gallons of Madeira. Tell your men to use all precaution and be as quiick as pos- sible. Good day, Gladwin ; I must hasten back home and to work. Keep up your courage, old boy, and all's well." Baby shakes hands and hurriedly leaves him. Gladwin re- turns to his fireplace and in a musing mood says in a smoth- ered voice, "What a brave and noble Frenchman — and a Loyalist at that.'' Recrossing the river. Baby, calling his hands together, said, "Boys," (he had thirty slaves, twenty ' men and ten women), "you have your hands full." (He worked a large farm, 1,000 acres in size, and about 200 acres in cultivation, now all built over by the City of Windsor.) "Ponipy," to his foreman, "to-morrow by sundown have forty hogs killed and dressed, ten head of fat cattle the OLD FAMILY LEGEND. same, and sixty bags of corn meal; put two quarters of beef and three hogs and six bags of meal in each canoe." As agreed upon at 12:30 at night u •=! lantern gave its dim light at the water plank; six canoe-loads of provisions were dumped in a hurry and returned till all was over by daylight. And Gladwin thanked him, saying, "England will not forget you," and Baby answen*d him, "I know it-; and when you want my services hereafter, suspend from the flagstaff the white ensign of St. George, and I will respond." The following summer, not long afterwards, he noticed the cross of St. George and crossed over the river and met Gladwin in sore tribulation, and asked him, "What's up?" and Gladwin replied, "I am expecting a vessel up from Fort Erie and she is overdue some three weeks, loaded with arms, provisions and men for my garrison. Can you find a way for me to get news of her and ascertain if she is liable to be attacked before reaching here?" and Baby replied, "I have traders all through the country on both sides of the river and lake (Erie), and I will instruct them to give me the news of her, if seen, and in the meantime discover the attitude of the Indians and report to you the \ JO OLD FAMILY LEGEND. l!!l Mil result of my inquiries in forty-eight hours from now. Fare- well." Returns home in his canoe and on his arrival there asks his slave Therese, "Where is Laframboise?" (his trader). She answers, "he is in the barn knitting a seine." "Tell him I want him immediately." Laframboise makes his appearance, removes his capuchon rouge and says, "me voici monsieur que voulez vous?" *'I want you to get ready immediately," said B., "and take with you in your canoe fishing .twine, fish-hooks, tobacco and pipes, glass beads, etc., etc. I will make the assortment for you to trade with the Indians. You will at once proceed in your canoe to the moith of the Riviere au Canard; you will as- cend it on one side for two miles, and return on the other. Keep your eyes open, and report to me by to-morrow night what you have seen. Comprenez vous, prend garde?" Exit the trader, and in an hour he is off. On the fpllowing day at midnight, hp reports. "I followed your instructions,, sir, and the Indians knowing me as a trapper fallowed me to enter among their tribes, and I found In- dians encamped on both sides of the .river; Wyandottes, Hurons and Pottowattomie§, Engaged iii-irtuUdng bows and OLD FAMILY LEGEND. II arrows of young hickory wood; the squaws were tv/isting strips of deerskin, and using the inner bark of ehn for the bow strings, and others tieing strips of wild turkey feathers on the arrows to guide their flight, with a spHt to insert the pois- oned flint barb, tying them neatly and firmly, with the finest thread of the raccoon gut. As I was leaving I entered a camp where an old squaw was engaged in dyeing porcupine quills in various colors for embroidering moc- casins, etc. Seating myself beside her, I pulled from my coat pocket a handful of assorted beads, a pound of to- bacco and a pipe, a paper of needles and pins, and hand- ing them to her I said in Indian, 'You appear to be very busy in your camps; what is it all about.' *We expect,' she replied, 'to soon see a vessel of red coats come up the river, and we are goiing to capture her when she passes Turkey Island.' Voila tout mon maitre." "Good," said Baby, "Here is a guiinea from Major Glad- win for you,-' and Baby gives Gladwin the information he sought for so anxiously within the promised time. It was correctly concluded from his information that a large force of Indians armed with bows and arrows would assemble -r-' I i ! i i 1 ! t 1 ,' \ 12 OLD FAMILY LEGEND. near Turkey Island and would make a night attack on the vessel on her way up. This news was conveyed to Glad- win, who in turn notified the captain, while the vessel was anchored in the stream immediately opposite to that island. In the dead of the night the crew and all on board, behind the bulwarks, impatiently waiting and ready for the attack, observed a flotilla of fifty or more canoes stealthily creep- ing along the rushes. Suddenly the attack was made upon the schooner, but so effectually were they received with grape, cannister and musketry that they were swept from the waters. (See Parkman, page 289, vol. i.) And on the following day the vessel hoisted sail and reached the fort in safety with an abundance of provisions, was un- loaded and returned for another trip. McKENZIE'S PRESS. 12a THE DESTRUCTION OF W. LYON McKENZIE'S PRESS. 1824. — This proved an eventful year for Canada. It was while attending school kept by Mr. Patfield that I was witness to an occurrence that at the time produced a sensation not easily to be described and sealed the fate of Canada — i. e., the destruction of the printing press of the notorious colonial advocate newspaper, published by Mr. W. Lyon McKenzie. As was our school boy custom in those days, a favorite pastime was bathing, not, Fm sure, for cleanliness alone, but more for the fun of the thing and cooling off. At that time the only approaches for steamers or vessels were two wharves extending some 200 yards into the bay, and respectively owned by the late Wm. Allan, H. M. Customs, foot of Jarvis, and one Cooper, foot of Young street. It was on the former place when, about 4 p. m., I, with a lot ill 12b DESTRUCTION OF ill I i;. hi (I of other scamps, had repaired for our wonted amusement and stripped to the buff. Our usual way was to take a run of fifteen or twenty yards and with a bound leap into the water head first, feet first if we could, but sometimes couldn't and struck the water back or belly first, the latter producing by no means an agreeable sensation. Emerging from one of these daring feats, I observed my two brothers, Charles and Raymond, with James King and Charles Reward, de- scending the road on a full run to the wharf, and pitching what they had in their arms into the bay and hastily return to McKenzie's office on top of the hill. Aware that some- thing extraordinary was in progress and quickly dressing myself, I soon discovered they were the unfortunate types of the Colonial Advocate (McKenzie's) they were put- ting an end to. Following them up, I discovered the office (part of McKenzie's dwelling) completely gutted, and an anxious crowd suddenly gathered together, and impressed with this most extraordinary, outrageous and unlawful act. A most ridiculous scene it was to see the foreman, who had taken refuge in the privy, through the door of which was cut McKENZIE'S PRESS. I2C out a half moon, and at each time he dared to peep through it he was peppered with a hand full of type. The mischief being over, the band of outlaws assembled together armed with bludgeons (no doubt anticipating an attack from the enraged inhabitants), walked off the field in good order. And well do I remember after secreting their arms they repaired to my father's house, whom they found seated at his dinner table, and with his usaal hospi- tality invited them to be seated, and, the wine decanters passing pretty freely, they broached the subject to him through Jas. King, student at law under the Hon. I. H. Boulton. Listening to him attentively until he had finished (suppressing the names of the parties), he was not a little surprised to find that my father disapproved of it in very measured terms, denouncing it as a cowardly and black- guard act. The parties implicated in this outrageous affair were Peter McDougall, merchant; Samuel Jarvis, Indian agent; I. Proudfoot, of the Upper Canada Bank; Charles Richard- son, law student; W. Campbell, law student; Charles and iitlj '1 ji I m I' ■JI 'i iiiiiii.j J i;i ii Ml li „l!l 1 2d McKENZIE'S PRESS. Raymond Baby, James Strachan, James King, William Lyons and if any others I have forgotten them. McKenzie immediately returned to Canada, from which he had fled for debt, instituted an action for damages and recovered a large amount, costing my poor father $2,000 for the shares his two hopeful sons were obliged to pay. It may as well be stated here that this unlawful act was, in the eyes of many, justifiable from the fact that the most vil- lainous calumnies affecting the characters of Canada's most honorable men were scattered broadcast through the me- dium of this sheet, not only of the living, but of the dead. .ill" lii!! i n: !i!^' SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 13 SERVING JURY SUMMONS IN 1829. In the month of May, 1829, and for many years pre- vious, my worthy uncle, the late William Hands, might well have been called the Governor of Canada West, for apart from being collector of customs, postmaster, treas- urer and register, and holding other offices of minor im- portance, he was sheriff of the western district, which em- braced the counties of Essex, Kent and Lampton, cover- ing a territory of 2,817 square miles. I was then sojourn- ing in the picturesque old town of Sandwich. The young- est son of Mr. William Hands, Felix, was acting as dep- uty sheriff and was entrusted with the service of sum- moning the jury for the court of assizes (then held but once a year at Sandwich), and by his earnest request I was persuaded to assist and accompany him In the ser- vice. It was necessary to send a portion of these sum- monses by way of the St. Clair river, to be left at Sarnia for the northern division of the district, and as a steamer (the Superior) was about to leave Detroit on her first trip -rrr HOT 14 SERVING JURY SUMMONS. , If .1111'' to Sault Ste. Marie, I was commissioned by Felix to pro- ceed to Detroit and send them by her. To cross the De- troit river in those days was not accompanied with the same ease and faciHty that it is done nowadays. At that time no person dreamed of such a place as the town of Windsor, in fact, John G. Watson, merchant, Chas. Jean- nette, Francois Baby, Vital Ouellette, Daniel Goyeau and Francois Pratt were the only settlers in it, who lived on the banks of the river as simple farmers. On the Ouelette farm was an inn kept by Pierre St. Armour (on the spot where the British American now stands), who kept a ferry, i. e., log canoe No. i. Francois Labalaine, an old and honorably discharged servant of the Hudson Bay Company, who lived nearly opposite the residence of the late Francois Caron on the Jeannette farm, and whose old home is still standing on the bank of the river, ran the other ferry, that is, log canoe No. 2. The fixed price for the round trip was twent> five cents.* Instead of •The staunch ateamera of the Detroit, Windsor & Belle Isle Ferry Company make this trip through one foot of solid Ice In fifteen minutes, and every comfort Is provided by Messrs. Campbell, Ave./ and Clinton for their passengers. SERVING JURY SUMMONS. ^5 a bell or whistle, Madame Labalaine had suspended over the door a tin horn, exactly four feet long, which she blew to call old Francois' attention to impatient passen- gers. These places were called by the habitants "La Traverse,'- that is, the crossing. Labalaine's canoe was his home, for, being severely afflicted with rheumatism, he was unable to get in or out of it without assistance, and a rare treat it was to listen to the old chap's stories of his exploits among the Indians and half-breeds of the Northwest Territory, as he leisurely paddled you over, and landed you wherever it suited his greater conveni- ence, either at the foot of Woodward avenue, Griswold, Shelby or Cass streets. Crossing over with Francois and landing at Griswold street, the first person I met was my uncle, James Abbott, who was then the postmaster for the City of Detroit and agent for the Southwest Fur Company, with the famous John Jacob Astor as Presi- dent. The population of Detroit at that time was 2,222. Now, 1894, 250,000. James Abbott was acting as steam- boat agent. To him I entrusted the sununons to be for- warded to Sarnia by the steamer, and returned to Sand- I i 'I'i, !!;; • ■'!' i!^' 111! i6 SERVING JURY SUMMONS. wich by log canoe No. 2. Although I had but little ex- perience in roughing it in the bush I had an idea that in undertaking this long journey I required suitable cloth- ing and equipped myself accordingly. Not so with my good cousin, Felix, who was tricked out with a black silk velvet cap, with a gold band, a nicely fitting blue cloth jacket, slashed with braid, tightly fitting black kersi- mere pantaloons strapped over a pair of patent leather shoes, in fact, he looked more like a lady's page than the servitor of His Majesty's jury sunmions. Our tan- dem team and dog cart being ready, we threw our sad- dles and bridles into the tail end of it, and then started, a jolly pair, on our peregrinations. Leaving Sandwich, our road was along the Detroit river bank, which we fol- lowed to its source. Lake St. Clair, and so ^n arrived at what was then called La Valle's Point. The road here was a heavy, sandy one and as La Valle kept a tav- ern, it offered a good pretext to tarry and smile, which we did. We then continued our journey along the shore of the lake, arriving in the evening at the Puce (Flea) river. A more appropriate name could not be given it. SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 17 which we learned to our cost, for on turning into bed we were so besieged by the nocturnal disturbers that we were soon glad to turn out of it, fly to our cart, which we filled with hay, and in it passed the night comfortably, at least flealess. Still following the lake shore brought us to Stony Point, where an inn was kept. I think a more appropriate name would be caravanserie, for if in the east that name implied a place of rest and safety for the weary traveller, surely this one answered the same purpose in Canada West. Not that I would for a mo- ment lead you to believe that there was danger from highway robbers; far from it, as Pierre Langloiis, Jacques Parent and Dominique Pratt would attest, who were the mail carriers that transported the mail from Sandwich to Little York (now Toronto) either on foot or on horse- back, eveiy alternate week from 1820 to 1835, and who never dreamt of danger in that way. But there was dan- ger in other ways, namely, the horrid condition of the roads. At the time I am writing about and for many years thereafter, the tide of emigration from the eastern to the western states was through Upper Canada, through IT- a i8 SERVING JURY SUMMONS. r 'II I i im. ■ n » 1- i i ! i I'll i I ; I I > ' r I which a stage route had been established. Starting from Detroit, after crossing the river, this road wound itself eastward along the river bank and Lake St. Clair shore, sometimes flanked by water on one side and marsh or forest on the other; again a prairie was to be encountered and anon an almost interminable forest through part of which a corduroy road was constructed, between Chat- ham and Hamilton at intervals. It consisted simply of huge logs thrown together without a covering, to keep horses and wagons from disappearing below. On arriv- ing at the caravanserie kept by my old friend, Francois Chauvin, you very abruptly left the lake shore road and struck the p*-airie. Often have I been amused to see starting from this spot two or three four-horse stage coaches with from eight to twelve passengers in each coach. The driver, on approaching the prairie, would pause and survey closely the place before him. Now, it was not exactly whrt he saw, but what he could not see, that appalled him, for well he knew from sad experience that there were holes and morasses sufficient to ingulf him and his four-in-hand out of sight if he was unfortunate ii li^ SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 19 arriv- ancois id and to see stage I each would '^ow, it lot see, )erience ;ulf him )rtiiiiate enough to fall into one. But nerved with the stimulant of various horns of "tangle-leg," freely supplied him by his passengers, and whirling his 20-foot lash over his head, which emitted a sound like a pistol-shot, he boldly made for it. For what? Of course for what he could not see — one of the aforesaid holes. Thus entrapped, there was no help for the driver but to unload his passengers, who, seizing the snake fence-rails surrounding the caravanserie and using them as pries, succeeded in releasing the coach from one hole to be precipitated into another, and thus, was the passage continued until the banks of the river Thames, some twelve miles distant, were reached, where, the road being passable, the travellers unshouldered their arms (the rails). Francois Chauvin's inn (or caravan- serie, 1 will persist in calling it) was popularly known as the "Goose" tavern. In fact, this aciuatic bird was so in- geniously prepared in various ways by mine host that it constituted the principal and standing dish for breakfast^ dinner and supper. The surrounding inhabitants found a lucrative occupation in propagating geese for the "Goose" tavern's table, and feather beds. Before bidding I ; '1 ^t :i ■■ Bssane ^^m Pi< I, j :90 SERVING JURY SUMMONS. adieu to my old friend Chauvin, it wouli not be out of place to narrate what became of hiim . Shortly after the Great Western Railroad was established, which event happened in 1854, I believe, his occupation of keeping the "Goose" tavern was gone. He then took to farm- ing, and instead of raising geese, began to raise corn to iatten hogs, and for many years his efforts as a farmer were crowned with success. But, unfortunately for Chau- vin, a brace of cockneys came down from Chatham one line autumn day to have a day's quail shooting. They flushed a bevy of quail in Chauvin's cornfield, in which the corn was eight or ten feet high, and let fly the con- tents of their four barrels, two of which poured into Fran- cois' eyes making, as it were, a "dead shot." Chauvin at the time was perched on a rider of his snake fence at a point where it was impossible for the huntsmen to see bim. He recovered from this eventually with the loss of his eyes, but the shock was too great for him, and in a short time afterwards, in a fit of desperation, he put an ■end to his miserable exisi ce by hanging himself in his barn. Nor can I bid a final adieu to this prairie without alluding to another incident which occurred to me some years after 1836. My friend, Harry Jones, then Crown Land Agent at Chatham, made a wager with some frie*:i that we could SERVING JURY SUMMONS. at bag a certain number of ducks (25 brace) by a certain time, and for that purpose we started for the prairie at Tanette^s Creek, where resided an acquaintance of ours, Mr. T., by whose invitation we made his home our head- quarters. Immediately in front of T.'s house the prairie road commenced. At that point it entered a slough or quagmire, which, being covered with water, proved a ter- ror to the western emigrants, who no sooner entered it than they found it impossible to budge without additional animal power. Appeals would therefore be made to our friend, who kept a yoke of oxen always reauy for the occasion. T., for a certain suir (five dollars) would, in a very reluctant manner, turn out his team from behind a shed where they were concealed and extricate the con- veyance from its difficulty. Five, ten, fifteen and even twenty dollars was often a day's compensation for this kind of v/ork. The country surrounding Janette's Creek then was nearly covered with water and afforded magnifi- cent sport to the duck and muskrat hunter. It was to complete the number of ducks we were to shoot on ouf wager that led me to do the following hazardous and I ' ■■Tf ^^mmmmmi I- "^'"-iimi m'f /. I: '111 H \M \4 S l-H X 00 P SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 27 complaining to the host of the bitter suffering the horse must have endured, the quiet response was: "De stack was good for him and de blanket too." Mr. P. P. L. received us with his usual courteous manner and advised us to leave our conveyance with him and proceed on horseback, as the roads were not opened for wagons, ex- cepting along the banks of the Thames, and informed us that we would have to strike at different points through the woods and take the trails. Bidding him adieu we left with the promise of seeing him in a few days. Our route was along the banks of the Thames, unril we reached the town line between Harwich and Howard. By taking this line we struck the Ridge road some nine miles distant, now Ridgetown, where the co\>ntry was more or less set- tled. It is impossible for me to describe this town line. Imagine, if you can, an opening through a dense and heavily timbered forest, nine miles in length and sixty- six feet wide. Along this line trees from two to six feet thick were felled by dextrous axemen as close to each other as possible. The cutting was usually done in the summer months. Every branch and leaf was left upon f 17* in I- \w u b t^^ 'V m li • lllllllll ll lllllll ■suniiii mm :r '-i liiii' I iii '■ii i Iii I'lill i,i'l!i i ' HI ; 1 1 t( ;[ i ■i " 1 : 1 1 i 1 ! i ! il 1:I n [ 1 1 \ I t 1 1 i i . 1 i i ■! i- < jiii t ti ' liilli 28 SERVING JURY SUMMONS. the trees to add fuel to the flames when fired. This vague description gives but a slight idea of it. To pen- etrate this line was quite impossible, so after a short con- sultation Felix decided to take one side of the line and I the other, which was traversed by swails and swamps in endless variety and covered with from one to four feet of water. It was decided to give a yell or an Indian "war whoop" to identify our locality. After penetrating some distance I was not surprised at hesrin^^^ a yell from Felix, with the exclamation, "I can get no further.'' He had encountered a prostrate patriarch of the forest in the shape of an oak some five feet in diameter, over which his horse was struggling to clear himself, encumbered with his rider. Dismounting upon the oak, and taking a survey around him, he exclaimed: "What's to be done?" "Tie your pants and boots over your head," I ,;lied, "and leg it." To do this, however, when the mos j. 'toes were as -hick as the leaves on the trees, was not tu be thought of, so, after a few more desperate efforts the horse was made to straddle and tumble over the oak. Of course, my way was no better than my companion's. SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 29 At length we both found it necessary to proceed on foot, leading our horses as best we could through this track- less forest. When we left our friend L. we expected to get through to the ridge by noon, but did not accom- plish this task until seven o'clock in the evening, at which hour we stumbled upon a welcome clearing (the first one since leaving the banks of the Thames) belonging to Jon- athan C, a squatter, I believe, situated about the spot where the town of Ridgetown now stands, with a population of 2,000 inhabitants. I'll venture to say a more bedraggled, forlorn pair of riders, with their sorry looking steeds, were never seen lin this Can- ada of ours. On asking friend C. if he could keep us for the night, he replied, "Certainly, if you can rough it, but you don't look like folks accustomed to our way of grub- bing." Now the terrors and escapes experienced on that town line were still fresh in our minds, added to which was the certainty of not reaching another halting place for ten or fifteen miles, so we quickly rejoined: "Oh, anything will do." To our great relief this squatter had a small stack of oats, and, fastening our jaded and fam- iT^BSi IM mi ■ 30 SERVING JURY SUMMONS. Ilii M i 1, in 1 -1 ^ i ' h -'^ 11 ! ij '] m 1. : :fr ished horses to a saplinj?, we served them with a boun- teous supply. In attending to his horse Felix discovered that one of the stirrups had been torn from the saddle and occupied himself, with the assistance of Jonathan, in making a substitute for it with strips of basswood bark, whilst I thought it as well to proceed to tlie log hut to see how the wind blew. As I approached the hut a fig- ure appeared at the open doorway, which proved to be the amiable spouse of our worthy host, and well it was that the breeze was light, otherwise it would have blown all she had on from her back and left her as sailors say, "under bare poles." Her golden unkempt hair hung loosely over her bare shoulders and, as she stood there barefooted, she presented a singularly interesting picture. Respectfully saluting her I asked her if she could get supper for two. She answered in the affirmative, and asked me to walk in and take a seat, remarking at the same time that victuals were scarce, and not much variety. In fact, pork and buckwheat cakes was their standing dish. Seating myself on a block of wood next the wall opposite the fireplace, I watched the busy housewife pre- mmmm I Mini! hi'^ li I i ii i & m » ^ (let lit' SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 31 pare the frugal meal. She seized from a shelf a large wooden trough which she quickly filled with buckwheat batter and then began to cut slices of salt fat pork for the fry. A large wooden crane was swung from the side of the chimney corner, suspended from which by a chain was a huge iron griddle and on this griddle, by means of a mequen (an Indian woode*h spoon of large size) the batter was emptied. It took exactly four spoonfuls of batter to cover the solitary utensil. The fragrant odor arising from the hot iron, as it permeated the surround- ing atmosphere of this rural retreat, acted like a charm^ for in an instant a bevy of young urchins, followed by a half-starved cat and cur, came rushing in seeking what they could devour. The youngest, a yearling, I should judge, was clad in nature's garb (with the exception that a cloth was substituted in place of a fig leaf) and clung tightly to its mother's skirt, from which it could not be detached. I expected that some mishap would befall the lit le chap, and my expectations were shortly afterwards fully realized. Felix's sudden appearance at the open door caused the good lady to quickly turn round, in doing ■MMOTiVI 32 SERVING JURY SUMMONS. IS! |i :, lit which she switched the little brat plump into the batter. You are mistaken if you think this untoward event dis- concerted her in the least. She simply seized the imp by the nape of the neck and swashed the batter from its naked limbs into the trough whence it came, and pro- ceeded with her culinary art as if nothing had happened. There was a grave consultation held outside of the hut immediately after that between Felix and myself. He was for total abstinence, and so was I if I could, but couldn't. It proved that hunger was an uncompromising foe, and proved the victor. (Sic semper tyrannus.) The buck- wheat was zed with sullen mood, and to our agree- able disappointment afterwards, we found our digestion unimpaired. About nine o'clock that evening Mr. C. in- formed us that, when we felt inclined to rest he would show us our sleeping apartment, which was in reality a ^'lean to" or shed attached to his shanty — in fact a fowl house. No floor or window marred its grandeur. The furniture consisted of a bedstead constructed of strong poles across which were strapped strips of basswood bark. This formed our bed and bedding. I omitted to mention II !ii| .^■JJII'I'AU IIHH B I!i f.l ",l ' J'i'i* '- : 1 -1 ■1 1 : 1^ ^i 1 ii 1 '1 ' ,. 1 I, i [ ;i ' ■ l| 1 ii i'b ! ^^1)!; '■i fi '1 1! i; : ;'■(! :•■' i ii'' IK i '■• ii \ SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 33 the fact that Felix met with an accident in "brushing through the line." He tore his pants in a conspicuous place unhidden by his short jacket. It happened fortun- ately for him that one Schneider, a job tailor by trade, was residing with our host, and to him the pants were gladly entrusted for repairs. We then turned into our crib, while the tailor set to work. The picture of that evening is vividly before me. Seated on his wooden stool, with an empty flour barrel to serve as a table, a tin plate holding a pint of melted grease provided with a bit of rag for a wick, and with huge old-fashioned spectacles on his nose, sat the weary looking tailor as he plied his needle, enveloped in a cloud of mosquitoes. "Flies are pretty thick," remarked Felix. "Yaw," said Schneider; then shaking his head, he said, "Mosquito bite not mi." We were glad to tumble out of our rude bed next morn- ing at daylight. Felix's horror can readily be imagined on finding a white patch as big as a saucer on the seat of his pants. The old chap had taken a piece of an old white cotton wheat bag with which to mend the panta- loons! 'i ■-'iM J.' ■ Ml '1 ■■1 mi 34 SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 1 i;i!|i I i ifl ^ iii W'i LI,; I ill i'l ! m\ iiiitf!'' i m i With great difficulty I succeeded in soothing FeHx by assuring him that I would blacken the patch with a bass- wood brand, wh'ch I did after a fashion. Mounting our fresh horses and bidding our hospitable friends adieu, we cantered ten miles to our next stopping place. After serving the jurymen we returned to Chatham by the Ra- leigh, and not the Howard, town line, and proceeded to Sandwich by the old route. This was an exceptional por- tion of the old western district, and at that time recently settled. The older settlers in more favored parts were as comfortable and thriving as in any of • portion of Canada. Sixty years have brought about a wonderful change in the affairs of the nation. To perform the same service now and reach this spot it is only neces- sary to step on board a dining room car at Windsor at 5 p. m. and if you feel incHned for a meal you can regale yourself with all the delicacies that the land affords, and, if you could persuade the conductor to slack for a mo- ment, he would land you at 7:50 p. m. very near the spot where Felix encountered the old oak; in forty minutes more you could reach the C. place by travelling over as OLD FAMILY COMPACT. as fine a gravel road and as well settled as is to be found in Canada. Or, by taking the Canada Southern road, with the same speed and comfort, you could arrive within a short distance of the same spot, which took us three days to accomplish, but would have to look in vain for anything belonging to Jonathan C, his amiable spouse, or Schneider, the job tailor. THE OLD FAMILY COMPACT. ITS ORIGIN AND WHAT I KNOW ABOUT IT. Probably there is no subject relating to the history of Canada requiring more careful research and an honest and impartial pen to deal with than this very one. And I feel at a loss to account for my presumption in approach- ing it at all. In fact, the only excuse I can offer is thiis: I may consider myself as one of the few, and I an* nearly safe in saying, (to borrow a phrase from Coopc), "The mm 36 OLD FAMILY COMPACT. i'.:i i|ii!^l Last of the Mohicans," linked to it and surviving, in West- ern Canada at any rate, and perhaps the only one who has ever dared to raise a pen in its defense. In dealing with this subject it will be necessary to turn to the pages of the earliest history of Canada. We must yield the palm to chivalrous France, whose pioneers were the first missionaries, and following close behind them, her nobles who first discovered and pene- trated her vast domain from the Atlantic to the sources of the Mississippi, aye, and on to the Rocky Mountains, and what a living and imperishable monument to their memory have they left, as we trace them step by step, and the soul inspired sounds strike the ear of St. Laurent, St. Thomas, St. Charles, Montmorenci, Quebec, Mon- treal, Lachine, Laprarie, St. Anne, Frontenac, Detroit, St. Clair, Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, Marquette, St. Paul, St. Anthony, St. Louis, Baton Rouge, Nouvelle-Orleans, and so many thousand others. The French, then alone, with the consent (and often without it), of the aborigines, occupied ind governed the country up to the time of the taking of Quebec — 1759 — ll!|;i OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 37 after which 3 new tide of affairs soon set in with an Anglo- Saxon race, and was followed, not many years later, with a further emigration from the colonies, now the eastern states, when, at the close of the revolv'^ionary war, 1776, they declared their independence, the United Empire Loy- alists, who had bravely contended for British suprem- acy, abandoned their homes and fled to Cruiada, to rest under old England's proud banner, and one they had so long fought and suffered for. The same may be said of the then territory of Michigan, when, in 1776, then Canada, it was, by treaty, ceded to the United States, and many of its oldest inhabitants for the same reason left it, losing their homes and large possessions, and crossed the Detroit river into Canada in order to live under the old Eng- lish flag. One of these was t c father of the writer. There was no question then as to the loyalty and at- tachment to the crown, from Sandwich to Gaspe, of the inhabitants, which was more forcibly proved when, in a few years after, 1812, the American war was declared, and Canada had to fight and win her own battles with scarcely any help of Great Britain, then engaged in ■Hi ■T-r "T i • -ram ■■{■■■HIm 38 OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 1 . 'i war on the continent with Napoleon I. Only four regi- ments served in Canada during this war. The peace of 181 5 found Canada in the same position as it was in 1812 — had gained nothing, and lost nothing, but secured the confidence and attention of England. Hitherto, but very little time was devoted by the thinly- populated country to its government, but the time now arrived v/hen necessity demand'^d more active measures^ and those entrusted with its formation wisely (as they be- lieved) selected, as became necessary, those who had most distinguished themselves in the service and defense of their country for loyalty, education and integrity. Like all England's colonies, Canada suflfered from British rule at first, and the greatest hindrance to the development and settlement of the country was the wretched and de- plorable state of management of the public lands depart- ment. For instance: One-seventh of the provinces of Up- per Canada was reserved for the support of the estab- lished church of England; the Canada Company formed in England had secured large tracts of the finest lands in Canada; Col. Talbot, a favorite of George the Fourth^ OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 39 was intrusted with several thousands oi acres of land in the most favored part of the country, he retaining loo acres out of every 200 for himself to pay him for his trouble in settling the country; all British officers, leaving the service, were entitled to draw 600 acres of land, and ad- ded to this, private individuals purchased large tracts. Thus it will be seen that the greatest obstacles presented themselves to the rapid settlement of the country, whilst our shrewd neighbors, the Americans, on the contrary, of- fered every inducement to fill up their vast territories to emi- grants, offering them free homesteads and putting the upset price of $1.25 per acre of their best lands in their forest and western prairies, the latter yielding a return in one year to the industrious settler. Although laboring under these disadvantages, still Can- ada slowly progressed, and, with a population far different to that in the United States, the English, Scotch and Irish, who left their homes with strong attachments to their native lands, were glad to find so welcome a reception. And being generally persons of more or less means, intelligence and education, and familiar witii the modes of agriculture Tit ■^ 40 OLD FAMILY COMPACT. ! ■ r" in the country they had left, the majority being tenants and faiTii servants, with a good sprinkHng of merchants, trades- men and merchanics; and, as a consequence, Ontario will surpass, if not compare favorably, with any portion of this continent, in its successful and progressive state of agricul- ture, education, intelligence and morality. At the time I write of, say 181 5 to 1835, a strong bond of friendshiip prevailed amongst the peaceable inhabitants generally, engendered and fostered, no doubt, by the diffi- culties, hardships and privations surrounding them in a new country. A man's word was as good as his bond. Robbery or murder was very seldom heard of. The mails, containing large sums of money, often carried on foot (it took exactly two weeks to go and return with the mail from Sandwich to Little York on foot), the roads being impassable for horses or vehicles throughout the length and breadth of the Province. It was a matter of frequent oc- currence for the banks, merchants and others, to remit, by private hands, large sums of money— no receipt asked for or given. As an instance: In the month of November, 1834, on my way up from Quebec to Sandwich, I was com- OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 41 pelled to lay over at Brantford, the roads being 'impassable for the stage. On the evening previous to my departure thence, I had retired to rest when, about midnight, I was aroused by the pressure on my shoulder of a heavy hand, and confronted my disturber, who, in a night cap and gown, with a lighted candle in one hand, and a package in the other, startled me a little. Apologizing for the intrusion, he asked me if my name was Baby, and answering him lin the affirmative, he introduced himself as Mr. Buchanan, the then British Consul at New York, stating that he was on his way to the Township of Adelaide to visit his son, who was settled there, and then proceed on to Sandwich, but finding the roads in such a state, abandoned the idea, and made up his mind to return home, and informing me that he had a package from the Commercial Bank at Little York for their agent at Windsor, James Dougall, Esq., and would I not take charge of it? I told him I would rather not, as I did not know how I was to get through myself; but, to get rid of him, I told him to pitch it into my trunk, which was open, and it would have to run the chances. After doing so, he bid me good-night, and retired. This Ill mmm. ^mmM 42 OLD FAMILY COMPACT. iii package contained $25,ocx>, so Mr. Dougall, the agent, told me when I delivered it to him, a month sfter. On the following morning I left for London on foot, and my trunk to follow on the next stage, which did not reach me until three days after. If it were possible, I found the roads stil-. worse westward, and made up my mind to float down the Thames from London, anc' as there was no boat to be had, I hired a carpenter, and, with my little engineer- ing skill, built a kind of skiff with three boards, filled it half full of straw — the weather being very cold — threw my trunk, package and all into it, and amiidst a flow of ice running six miles an hour, started on my voyage, paddling my own canoe and encouraged by a cheer from John Har- ris, treasurer, Wilson, Beecher and Stewart, lawyers of London, who stood on the bank watching my departure. A three days' run brought me to Gardener's mill dam, in Mosa, and landing above it, hired a mill hand to jump the skiff, trunk and package still in it though, over the mill race, which he successfully laccomplished ; but how, at puzzles me. Another two days' run brought me to within four miles of Chatham, v/hen the river being blocked with OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 43 ice, I landed and reached Chatham, on foot, the same day, all right. It was not surprising that a feeling of security was felt throughout the land. A property qualification of £200 was required by the magistrates who were always chosen to serve on the grand juries, traveling often many miles to attend the assizes and quarter sessions, at their own ex- pense and greatest inconvenience. This proved a good school in after years, for the changes which took plac! under the present form of responsible government, as none knew better the wants of the country than those who filled the ranks of our first municipal councils. In 1822, or about that time, a noted character in the person of William Lyon McKenzie, and a man of untiring energy, ambition'tind imsc upulous audacity, occupied the public mind and started in Little York a paper called the "Colonial Advocate," which was destined to exercise a great influence on many of the quiet and hitherto peaceful inhabitants. Nothing was too vile, wicked, dishonest and unprincipled for this flaming sheet's attack upon those en- trusted with the government, whom he .styled the "family d \'T '-*""■••>*«■*■ •■■W-.ll'-^' ^ - 44 OLD FAMILY COMPACT. compact." It proved a failure in a short time, and the editor left the country for the Ur^tod States to avoid the bailiflf's pressing demands. Fortunately for him, an event occurred which soon placed him on his legs again. Some dozen or more young dare devils, a few of whom were sons of the traduced family compact, made an attack upon his printing press, gutted it and threw the type, etc., linto the bay hard by, in broad daylight. I was an eye witness to it, though not ii participant. Nothing could have hap- pened to him more opportunely. He returned immediately to the country, prosecuted «cl recovered full damages — some $15,000 or $20^000— — a started the paper with in- creased violence, defamation and bitterness. At length, finding his efforts for reform unavailable from the home or Provincial Government, he raised the standard of rebe lion near Little York, was defeated, and again fled to the United States, enliisted the sympathy of the American people, raised a mob of Canadian refugees and, with the scum of Buflfalo, took possession of Navy Island, in Canadian waters, two miles above the Falls of Niagara, and from which he was dislodged by the capture of the American steamer "Caro- OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 45 line," which had been employed by him in furnishing^ artillery, arms, stores, etc., from Buffalo to the island, knd was sent over the falls in a blaze, the bodies of several of the crew who were shot or could not escape, adding fuel to the flames. When the rebellion was suppressed he remained in the United States, but such was his restless and turbulent will, that he soon got himself into trouble there, was tried for sedition, and imprisoned. After being released, he returned to Canada, where he died in 1863, 1 believe. In reviewing the character and standing of those who were entrusted in carrying out the views of the British Government in those days, in many instances, as in all her colonial government, views entirely antagonistic to the colonists, and which they could not control, was this "family compact." Now, I hope I will not be considered egotistical in dealing with this subject. I find it necessary to commence with my c vn family. James Baby, my father,, in 1816, was appointed Inspector General of Upper Can- ada, and for what reason? In Morgan's work of "Cele- brated Canadians,'' he states: "That when the war broke 1 M» % f"^ -!k*'«IIUl.>4-J «•-«.,. 46 OLD FAMILY COMPACT. out, in 181 2, he commanded the miHtia of the then western district now Essex, Kent and Lambton, and performed many serviices highly essential to the preservation of the Province. The people had unlimited confidence in him. His merits had been so conspicuous during the war, his services so disinterested, his losses and privations so great, that the government was anxious to confer upon him some honor for his loyalty, and at the same time, some office, the revenue fr-^m which would in a measure com- pensate him for the Michigan and Indiana properties which he had abandoned — and he was appointed to the first high office within its gift, viz.: the office of Inspector General. So much for his merits. Now for his reward. To be sure, he enjoyed his salary of ^750 per annum, and, when he died, he left a few hundred acres of wild land which he was entitled to for his services and the most of which he had inherited from his father, and not one of his children held a government appointment. Probably one of the most traduced and villified members of the Family Compact by this famous "Colonial Advocate" was the Archdeacon, afterwards Bishop Strachan. Well ■ i- ■■ r OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 47 'n do I remember this person when he kept the common grammar school in Httle Muddy York, and I was his pupil at 8 years of age. Even at that tender age, I had the most vivid recollection of bis kindness, and unflinching in- tegrity and liberality. For example: It was a rule of his school, on Saturday forenoon, to have the Church of Eng- land Catechism and the Bible taught, and the afternoon a holiday. There being several of his pupils Roman Catho- lics, he would say: "Boys, if you don't wish to stay, you can go home and learn your own Catechism," which we preferred not doiing, as we would lose our playmates, and in consequence I know that one as well as my own. In the discipline of his school he invariably showed the strictest impartiality, and when any of his sons were implicated in mischief, they were always the first to suffer, and no light puniishment as nowadays, but a good birch, and to the buff at that. I have often heard it said during the time of his life (he died in 1883), that he lived a luxurious and extravagant one for a bishop, that his table was sumptuous, his wines of the best quality, and he kept his carriage. This was all true to a certaiin extent, but I must not omit to I i MM r 48 iUiUQ ■Pi OLD FAMILY COMPACT. observe this about the latter, I never saw him once in it, but I have met him repeatedly, and hundreds of times, on foot, in town and country. To the liberal-minded Cana- dian there could be no reasonable objection to this; on the contrary, by occupying the prominent position he did, as one of the earliest pioneers, and obHged to entertain the most distinguished strangers of Europe, such as clergymen, soldiers, sailors, and noted travelers, and his distinguished Canadian pupils as well, it was rather a source of pride that he was one of them who could disabuse them of the prevailing errors of the English people, who beKeved us to be very little remote from savages. Now, as to the fulfill- ment of his duties, no man rould have performed his mission with more faithfulness in such a wilderness as Canada then was. When the cholera broke out in 1832, and again in 1855, his labors were unceasing; night and day was he to be met on foot in and out of town, visiting the a^icted and administering the consolations of his re- ligion. Again, lin Morgan's sketches: Bishop Strachan has ever been the friend of the poor, to his name has been ascribed many benefits conferred upon them in the promo- OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 49 tion of education, and establishing institutions for the welfare of the old as well as the young. He has indeed merited all the love and affection which his people cherish for him. He is universally beloved and esteemed by his clergy and parishioners. But for him the celebrated Trin- tity College would not have been built in Toronto. Apropos of this college — when the Bishop visited England to procure aid for its erection, the writer was informed, on good authority, that he called upon the Duke of Wellington for aid in this laudable enterprise, but the Duke declined on the plea that he had no money to spare. The objection was surmounted by the Bishop (informing him that he understood that he had £400 invested in the Welland Canal. The Iron Duke had forgotten this and replied, "Take it and welcome." It is not to be wondered at, that this man exercised so powerful an influence in this young country when from its extremest limits, the pulpit, the bench, and the bar, and other professions have been so ably and honorably represented in his pupils. We will hastily note some of them: First, would appear Sir John Beverly Robinson. Having known this man intimately, I consider -fwr m - -MMi asHHiiHBi 1R"'!!!3: 'SiieMa-iwt.tk.irmm.^'^- f 50 OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 51,11 if r I ]i it an honor and pride to bear this, my humble tribute, to hiis worth and character. It is difficult to say in which he most excelled — whether as a finished scholar, a jurist, a statesman, a patriot, or as an exemplary Christian, or polished and refined gentleman. I again quote from Morgan: "Born at Berthier, in Lower Canada, in 1791, the son of a U. E. Loyalist. He attained the high posi- tion of Attorney General at the early age of 22. He enjoyed the confidence of three successive governors — Sir Peregrine Maiitland, Sir John Colborne and Sir Francis Bondhead. The thanks of the Legislature of Upper Can- ada was voted to him for the part he took in adjusting the financial difficulties of Upper and Lower Canada. He never once incurred the displeasure of his superiors, while, on the other hand, it was his good fortune to be honored with the express approbation of his sovereign on at least one occasion, and his public conduct especially elicited the approbation of colonial secretaries. On one occasion, he appealed to the three governors abc ve named, then all living in England, to bear him witness that their approba- tion had not been obtained by the suppression of his OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 51 opinions or tlie surrender of his judgment. Belonging to one of the few prominent famiHes, who, having fought under the Britiish flag in the American war of independ- ence, and took up their residence in Upper Canada, his loyalty, as he himself said of U. E. Loyalists, was of no doubtful origin, and when the war broke out in 181 2, he was one of a company of 100 volunteers who followed Sir Isaac Brock in the expedition which led to the capture V' Detroit, and v.ho penned its surrender to Brock lin the old Baby house, still standing in Sandwich. During the whole of his political career he was identified with the small official party known as the Family Compact. They defended the oligarchical system with a zeal fully proportiioned to the interest they had in maintaining it, and opposed the intro- duction of responsible government as if it had been an over tried project under which Hritish antcrests were sure to suffer destruction. They opposed Lord Durham's mis- sion as High Commissioner, and the Chief Justice, then clothed with the judicial ermine, officially condemned the report of that n'/f>leman on the affairs of Canada. If he erred in this particular, if time has proved that responsible in ■!*^: 52 OLD FAMILY COMPACT. J i government was not pregnant with the danger that he supposed it was, but proved, to the contrary, the very thing suited for Canada, this much may, at least, be said, that he only showed the error of the entire official party in the Province, and that his error was the error of the times and a, party, and that party systematically sustained by the British Crown, Sir John B. Robinson lis a picture of amiability and benevolence; he had a great flow of lan- guage and was a pleasant speaker; as a judge, his impar- tiality has never been impugned. He received the honor of a baronetcy, having previously refused to accept a knighthood. It will not be out of place here to insert the followiing correspondence as a proof of his honesty and •disinterestednesR : Little York, Oct nth, 1823. The Hon. James Baby, Inspector General of Privy Coun- cil : My Dear Sir — I must entreat you to say to the gentle- men who ifi company with you did me the honor to call ttpon me yesterday, that I have not been able to overcome OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 53 my first impression upon the subject of their visit. I have no other reason for decHning so gratifying a proof of the good opinion of my friends than that which I attempted to assign verbally, and I must rely upon your good nature for admitting it to be sufficient. I have never indeed ob- jected to becoming a public character on our small stage, so far "? it became necessary in the discharge of any public duty, but I have private feelings of repugnance to being placed in conspicuous situations, however flattering the occasion, which I will venture to beg of my friends to in- dulge when tliey interfere with no public service. Let me, however, beg of you to accept and convey my assurance that next to the approbation of the government and the public expression by the two Houses of the Legislature, at the result of my endeavors to be useful to the Province, I must value most the testimony which the proposed compli- ment conveys i me from gentlemen whom, independently of every private association of friendship, T cannot but respect the most highly, from their rank and character, and who are exempt by their situations from the influence of those feelings which in public matters, at least, often in- 54 OLD FAMILY COMPACT. sensiibly bias the judgment. You will do me the justice to believe, that next to the grateful sense I entertain of the honor intended me, is my anxiety to learn that I shall not be thought ungrateful in begging to decline it. I am, dear sir. Yours most faithfully and respectfully, JNO. B. ROBINSON. REPLY. York, Oct. 14th, 1823. I. B. Robinson, Esk., Attorney General: Dear ^ir — I am requested by the gentlemen, who had the honor of waiiting upon you on Friday last, to acknowl- edge vour trivor of the iith, and to express their acquies- cence in your determmation to decline the small proof of ppivaKte attaclinif nt aLTn] public respect which they intended. Hut while they do justice to the delicacy of your motives, they cannot but b<^)pe that some other manner of mani- festing the high sense they entertain of your services more OLD FAMIL^' COMPACT. 55 congenial to your feelings, which have proved so beneficial to the Province and so honorable to its natives. I remain, dear sir. Most truly yours, JAS. BABY. It cannot be said that he enriched himself at the ex- pense of the country, and I am not aware that any of his sons held positions under the Government lin his life time. True, the present Lieutenant-Governor is his next eldest son, and the more to his honor, as being chosen to carry out the views of responsible government and guided by prin- ciples no doubt he inherits from his honored and revered father. Another prominent member of the traduced Family Com- pact was Chief Justice Sir J. B. McAuley, born at Niagara, 1793. a^fl educated by the late Bishop Strachan. When he joined the Glengarry Fencibles, raised for the special defense of the Upper Province, he received a commission as lieutenant, and afterwards was appointed adjutant in the same corps. At Ogdensburg, Oswego, Lundy's Lane and 56 OLD FAMILY COMPACT. at the siege at Fort Erie, he was distinguished for his gal- lantry, never shrinking from the severest conflict and always ready to do his duty no matter where it might lead him. As a laborious and painstaking judge, none ex- ceeded him. We believe there are no two opinions as to the way he discharged the many duties incumbent upon him. Hiis knowledge of the law was extensive, the ex- perience he had gained was great, and ever desirous of rendering justice to the utmost in his power, he laboriously studied everything appertaining to the cases with which he had to deal. Many gentlemen, too, who now stand high in the legal profession, acknowledge wtith gratitude the as- sistance they received from him while they were yet students. His motto through life would appear to have been "Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy whole might," In 1859 the honor of knighthood was conferred upon him by Her Majesty the Queen. He left no sons and a very little property. In the hurried sketch of these prominent men, I must not omit to mention so many others equally deserving: The McDonalds, Sherwoods, the McLeans, the Hager- OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 57 mnns, Boltons, Jones and McNabs. All but the latter were prominent judges, all descendents of U. E. Loyalists and educated by Dr. Strachan, and noted for their un- swerving loyalty, honor and integrity, and for the defense of their country, from Christler's farm to Detroit. The impartial reader in reviewing the services and private worth of these true types of Canadians, wiill surely and charitably remove the veil which might dim the luster of their deeds, and forget their shortcomings, many as they may have been, and who among our most celebrated states- men nowadays, are exempt from them under any govern- ment, Liberal or Conservative, and I would fain hope that there are hundreds, nay thousands, in this proud domain, who would cheerfully contribute to the erection of a monu- ment commemorating their deeds, yes, even under the shad- ow of the immortal Brock, once their companion in arms on the battlefield, and at the council board, and would feel it an honor and pride to trace upon its pedestal Old Eng- land's crested motto: "Honi Soit Qui Mai y Pense." ':;ii - If ■■;t| '..£'1 «;8 HON. JAMES BABY. I THE HON. JAMES BABY— OBITUARY NOTICE. (Taken from Whitby Repository. England.) It is with extreme concern that we announce to the pubHc the loss of so valuable and respected a member of this Society as the Hon. James Baby, who, after a very short but severe illness, breathed his last on the aft- ernoon of Tuesday, the 19th of February last, in the 71st year of his age. As very few persons had heard of his illness, the report of his death produced a great sensa- tion, for he was uuch beloved by all who knew him. His disease was at first attended with excessive pain and repeated convulsions, and when they abated he wa" re- duced to a state of great debility, and had lost the power of articulation. He was nevertheless quite sensible, knew what was said to him, and recognized his friends when they approached him. He seemed fully aware of his approaching dissolution, and bearing his ollness with great fortitude and composure, he looked forward to the awful event with tranquil resignation. • ^Hhiu Vjflv''-T''' ^^ibHIL '^^^^^^^1 ^l^^l ll(jii. janics llahy, Inspector (ieiieral. ^ful i'^' '1 I 3ir-.;i: !.!!i in hii m pi( iif ha pe de; cm lau fee nee to spii reel J was nob the HON. JAMES BABY. 59 Those animating hopes with which he had always rested in humble confidence on the mercies of his God enabled hilm to contemplate death without dismay, and his last moments were marked with that elevated serenity and pious submission which well became the conclusion of a life in which the great duties of a man and a Christian had been conscientiously discharged. In everything that relates to the life and character of a person so extensively known through both provinces and deservedly beloved, the public will naturally feel a lively curiosity; and we lament that we are unable to meet this laudable desire with any other than a hasty and imper- fect sketch of both. Yet short as our notice must of necessity be, there will be found something to stimulate to moral (improvement, something to recommend and in- spire the love of virtue, and to exemplify the rewards of rectitude and the consolation of religion. James Baby was born at Detroit in 1762. His family was one of the most ancient in the colony, and it was noble. His father had removed from Lower Canada to the neighborhood of Detroit before the conquest of Que- m :t, -''S i 6o HON. JAMES BABY. bee, where, dn addition to the cuhivation of lands, he was connected with the fur trade, at that time, and for many years after, the great staple of the country. James was educated at the Roman Catholic Seminary at Quebec, and returned to the paternal roof soon after the peace of 1783. The family had ever been distinguished (and indeed all the higher French families) for their adherence to the British crown, and to this more than to any other cause are we to attribute the conduct of the Province of Quebec during the American war. Being a great favor- ite with his father, James was permitted to make an ex- cursion to Europe before engaging steadily in business; and after spending some time, principally in England, he rejoined his family. Unfortunately the limits assigned by treaty to the United States embraced within it the larger portion of his father's property, and the family attachment to the British government being well known, they were looked upon with little favor by the American population, and found it necessary, after much loss and disappointment, to remove to the south side of the river Detroit, which HON. JAMES BABY. 6i constitutes the boundary of Upper Canada. When the IVovince of Quebec was divided into two distinct govern- ments, Upper and Lower Canada, the subject of this no- tice became an executive and legislative councillor of the former, and continued in the regular and efficient dis- charge of the high and important duties of these emi- nent stations to the day of his death. Soon after his return from England he became exten- sively concerned in the fur trade, and other commercial pursuits; but war with the United States having broken out, all business was suddenly and completely stopped by a hostile invasion. Previous to this he had experienced very serious losses in his commercial dealings, and also in the erection of mills on the property still retained with- in the territories of the United States, and was endeavor- ing to make such arrangements as would relieve him from all such difficulties, and enable him to attend to his farm and orchard, and to his promising family. The sud- den war, and the calamities which it occasioned him, were not the only evils which befell him — about the same time he lost an affectionate wife, leaving five sout. and one (laughter, all very young. i •..'tfi 62 HON. JAMES BABY. To this lady, a woman of excellent name, unblemished worth, and attentive to every conjugal and domestic duty, he had been married several years, and in her society had enjoyed the greatest happiness. Her death gave him a great shock; nor did he, perhaps, ever wholly re- cover from the blow, for there were moments when he felt the loss, even to the last, most deeply, and he never married again. The death of Mrs. Baby appeared to blast his hopes and derange his purposes, and to throw ' . as it were, adrift on the ocean of life. liic commencement of the war was, perhaps, fortun- ate for him under his heavy bereavement, for he was im- mediately called to active service. He commanded the militia of the western district, and performed many ser- vices highly essential to the preservation of the province. The people were anxious to win his favor; they had the most unlimited confidence in his. judgment, and at his request their provisions, their cattle and personal services v/cre ever ready to support the king's forces in makitig head against the enemy. When it was in contemplation to withdraw tiie troops from the western part of the prov- HON. JAMES BABY. 63 ince he sent his children to Quebec; and when this event took place, he found his health so much impaired by fatigue and privation, and the grief which still consumed him, that he found it necessary to adopt the advice of his physicians, and to retire to Lower Canada. There he remained with his children till the re-establishment of peace, but not in the enjoyment of health; nor was it till after he had been some time at Sandwich that his strength and energy returned. His merits had been so conspicuous during the war — his services so disinterested — his losses and privations so great, that government was anxious to confer upon him some mark of approbation; and, knowing that his means had been very much impaired by the sacrifices he had made, it was determined to confer upon him the first of- fice that became vacant, if worthy of his acceptance. As if to meet these views, the office of Inspector General, a place of great responsiliiHty, was in a short time at the dis- posal of government, and was immediately bestowed upon Mr. Baby. The last seventeen years of his life have been spent at York, in the discharge of the duties of his office. ; ■'?« '3 ,.rJ lib ■! 64 HON. JAMES BABY. and never has there been the sHghtest shadow of com- plaint — a fact the more remarkable as he had to check every other ofifice in the province, and to pronounce in a variety of (|uestions, in which numbers were deeply inter- ested; but such was the public confidence in his integ- rity and honor tiiat not a nuirnuir was ever heard. As a member of both councils he displayed the most uncompromising j)rol)ity: and no inHuence could induce liim to give up an oi)inion, wiiich, after mature examina- tion, he concluded to be right. Owing to his having cul- tivated both languages. l*>encii and English, and some- times speaking in the one. ancl sometimes in the other, he seemed, at times, slow of apprehension; and, after hav- ing made up his mind somevvhat pertinacious — but it was the result (jf high jjriiiciph there was nothing of levity or selfishness allowed in forming his conclusions. There was a primitive simplicity in Mr. Baby's char- acter, which, added to his i)olished manners and benig- nity of disposition, thre\N' a moral beauty around him that is very seldom beheld. His favorite anuisements par- took largely of this simplicity. He was fond of fish'ing. HOx\'. JAMES BABY 65 The solitude with which it was attended was congenial to his mind — it gave him exercise, fresh air, and an appe- tite. For tills amusement lie had always a strong pre- dilection. It required hope and much patience; and, in- deed, few can sit quietly on the flowery banks of a calm river, separated from the cares and business of the world, without falling into such contemplations as shall benefit their souls. He had, perhaps, still greater pleasure in attending to his garden. To prune, to bud and graft, to sow and plant were among his most agreeable employments. He delighted in watching the progress of his labors, and was anxious to discover new methods of improving fruits and plants, and ascertaining tlie most approved methods of cultivation. He would fre(|uently find him iiastening in the morning to enjoy his garden, and no man can l)e fond of its fruits and flowers, and the delightful enjoy- niciit which they yield both to the eve and ear by their perfumes and colors, witliout ha^'Ing his heart touched with gratitude to God, their Creator and the giver of all good. This sweet and amiable disposition appeared in rll ;i'fl m t ii •i % 66 HON. JAMES BABY. all his occupations, and was evident in everything around him. He had a number of canary birds, which he tended with great care, and rejoiced as much in their increase as if he had received some great reward; and when the room resounded with their songs, expressive of their joys, their loves and their happiness, he appeared to participate in their innocent delights. We might proceed to mention the interest which he took in the c nfort and happiness of all domestic animals which he k pt about him — but we must hasten to a close. His external accompldshmenti: and manners were highly adapted to win affection's esteem. To an address pecu- liarly engaging from its dignity, urbanity d ease was united a cordiality and kindness of deportment which in- duced one to desire a more lintimate acquaintance. In his social intercourse he was a universal favorite for the sweetness of his temper, and innocence of his heart opened the affection of all in his favor. It was not that he was distinguished for his colloquial powers, for he was by no means the leader in conversation, but there was the polish of the most refined manners ripened by innate HON. JAMES BABY. 67 benevolence which made him so acceptable in all com- panies, that those only who have had the happiness of meeting him o(wtr. lin society can form a just conception of the pleasure of his presence. But highly as this excellent man was to be admired and loved for his engaging manners and virtuous senti- ments, the exalted qualities which dignified his moral nature are still more worthy of approbation. These were t' gems which shed around his chaiacter that lustre which made him so great a favorite. A stric*^ probity and inviolable love of truth were, perhaps, the most prominent of has moral virtues. From those his con- duct derived such a purity and elevation as could only spring from a mind in which the finest sensibilities of virtue had ever remained uncontaminated by the con- sciousness of dishonor. To transmit this precious inher- itance to his children by precept and example was the principal study of his life; and to secure to them the per- manent enjoyment of this valuab^ deposit he labored un- ceasingly to inculcate tliat which he truly deemed the foundation of every virtue — the principle of religion. m 68 HON. JAMES BAT'Y. His was not a religion of speculation, but a rule of life which governed all his actions, and not only extended its purifying powers to his intercourse with the world, but it penetrated the retirement of the closest and the secret recesses of the heart. Of christian charities his breast was peculiarly susceptible; he was the friend of the widow, tlie orphan, and of those who have no helpers, and his regard was powerfully excited by every resemblance to divine goodness, so that to the man possessed of moral worth he was irresistibly drawn as to a brother. lUit while his benevolence thus extends to all surrounding ob- jects, its flame became more warm and bright to those who were most near; and in the relations of husband, parent and friend, all the kindlier affections of his nature were kindled to their highest fervor: It was, indeed, his lot to experience many afflicting dis- pensations in tliat (juarter where iiis tenderest affections were engaged; but here the consolations of Christian hope and the unshaken assuraiK'c' ^)f divine goodness were tils refuge and support; and while he bowed in re- signed submission to that searching discipline with which HON. JAMES BABY. 69 it was the good pleasure of his God to exercise his faitli, he turned with grateful contentment to those blessings which he was yet permitted to enjoy, and which he con- tinued with pious thankfulness and (juickened sensibility to cherish and improve to the last moment of his earthly existence. Thus the severity of his trials proved the stability of his virtue, and his probationary sorrows, by softening his devotion and refining his best disposition, served only to render him better prepared for the felicities of another world. He was a Christian without guile — affable and polished in his manners — courteous in his conversation — (lignified lin his deportment — warm in his afYections4- steady in his (riendship — and unshaken in his principles. The great object of his life was usefulness, and the spring of all his action was religion. \\ lib scarcely a failing to cast a shade over the collective splendor of the estimable etidownuMUs which were united in iiis ciiaracter and con- (lust, who that kn him can avoid ilwelliiig up(»:i his memory with a sorrowful joy. and feeling tiiut a great hlank has been made in our social circle, and that one I ■rt ,:.'iS m 70 HON. JAMES BABY. of the most worthy of our elders has been gathered to his fathers. The funeral took place at eleven o'clock yesterday morning. It proceeded with all the solemnities of the Catholic ritual from his late residence to the cemetery attached to the Catholic church of this town. It was preceded by about fifty boys in surplice, then the officiat- ing clergyman, the Very Rev. W. J. O'Grady, B. D. V. G., accompanied by the venerable the Archdeacon of York, next the family physiicians and then the coffin, sup- ported by the members of the executive council as pall- bearers. It was the largest and most respectable funeral we ever witnessed in this rotintry. It was attended by all the virtue, rank and intelligence of the town and its vicin- ity, and the countenance of every individual whom we had an opportunity of observing tin that vast assemblage dem- onstrated the high respect in which Mr. Baby was held. All business was suspended — every shop and office was closed — there was no manifestation of sectarian feeling — the whole community appeared as one common family uiiilnl t<*gether in bewailing this melancholy bereave- HON. JAMES BABY. 71 ment. What an evidence does not this afford, that, hovv- L'ver n)en tnay rave and look furiously at each other on the minor questions of politics, all can yet agree in pay- ing the tribute of their united respect to incorruptible vir- tue and integrity. Catholiics, Protestants, Presbyterians and Methodists were amalgamated togetlu'r on this In nicntable occasion, and witii their respective ministers at- tended his last obsequies with the greatest decorum and attention. During the funeral sermon, which was preached by the \'ery Rev. the Vicar (ieneral, his audit- ory appeared powerfully afifected. We never before wit- nessed the ceremonies of the Catholic church on such an occasion performed witli greater solenmity; and we sin- cerely hope that the harmony and union which appeared to pervade all classes of the comnuinity may long con- tinue amongst us to heal the divisions of party, to pro- mote Christian charity, to cement us into the nature of one family, and that family into the nature of one heart. — The Canadian Correspondent. I ' 1 1] . I ill HI J 72 SERVICE ON DETROIT FRONTIER. SERVICE ON THE DETROIT FRONTIER DURING THE REBELLION OF '37 AND '38. It was on or about the ist of January, 1838, and the hour midnijT^ht. 1 was then Hving in my log house, two miles above Chatham, keeping bachelors hall on the l)anks, "where wandered along the hoary Thames its sil- ver winding way." I was aroused from a profound slumber, induced by a hard day's chopping In the bush, by a tremendous banging at the door, and desiring the intruders to come in, (no bolting of doors in those days), the leather latchet outside, and fastened to the wooden latch within, was violently jerked and three of my boon companions, viz.: James Perrier, Patrick Pirereton and \'. Sumner entered with a simultaneous exclamation, "We are chilled to the bone, hungry as wolves, and dry as powder horns." So tumbling out of bed I seized the black bottle on the shelf, in the throat of which was thrust a tallow candle, and lighting it threw two or three billets of shag-bark hickory on the smouldering embers. SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 73 and in a few moments had a roaring^ fire, and withdraw- ing a flagon of rye from underneath my hed, whore I kept it carefully concealed from my negro servant. An- drew Jackson, a bout or two of this soon thawed them out. and taking from the beam in the adjoiniing room a flitch of bacon of my own curing, ind shaving some very fine slices, parboiled for five nuuutes and frizzled in a frying pan was a relish fit for an emperor. In the meantime Jim Perrier had emptied the tin pail of potatoes that stood in the cliinmey corner to keep from freezing, and carefiiUy washing them chucked them into a pot of boiling water for thirty minutes, and ever)' drop of water l^eing poured from them, the cover taken off, and a handful of salt sprinkled over them caused their jackets to burst and their cheeks to bloom liike the rose. No such bacon, no such potatoes nowadays. The time is past, and Biddy has lost the art. So sitting around the board and doing ample justice to the feast, T re- marked : "What's up and what in thunder has brought you cliaps here to knock me up at this hour of the night?" ' Ai m sij V, r. i j-m ',.11 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) s:« • 1- 1.0 I.I ■^1^ |2.5 :: us 110 1.25 i 1.4 u ^ 72 '/, f ^/\ ^? ^;' (? / Photographic Sciences Corporation 4 33 WIST MAIN STRHT WnSTIR.N.Y. 14SI0 (716)l7a-4S03 74 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. "Oh, enough, and the devil's to pay," was the rejoinder. Mackenzie had raised the standard of revolt at Mont- gomery's tavern, some six or eight miles back of Toron- to. Col. McNabb, (afterwards Sir Allan), with his stal- wart men of Gore, and the Toronto volunteers, had gone to the front and dispersed them. Mackenzie had run the gauntlet and, by a narrow squeak, got to the Niag- ara frontier, crossed it at Queenston, and a short time afterwards made Buffalo his headquarters, and Navy Island, just above the Falls, his field of operations, and from which he was driven by the capture and destruc- tion of the famed steamer "Caroline, " which was sH fire to and sent over the falls in a blaze, several on board, who could not escape, adding fuel to the flames. Per- haps it would not be out of place here to remark that a short time previous to these events, Sir Francis Bond- head, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, had sent all the troops in his province to aid and assist Sir John Colborne in Lower Canada to suppress the rebel- lion there, telling htim "he could depend upon the loy- alty of the Upper Canadians for defense," and challeng- ^tg 1 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 75 ing Mackenzie and his rabble to "come on if they dared." Rather a hazardous boast, as it proved afterwards. Whilst Mackenzie was occupying Navy Island his aids and abettors were busy in other portions of the province. Doctor (quack) Theller, from Montreal, taking his cue from Papiineau, in Lower Canada, made his appearance in Detroit, and with the disaffected who ran away with him, and the offscourings of Detroit, succeeded in rob- bing the arsenal at Dearborn of some 500 stand of arms and two or three pieces of cannon. He made it pretty lively for the defenceless Canadi?.u frontier and the surrounding country was called upon to at once come to their aid. H. J. Jones, J. P. and Crown Land Agent, had been sent from Chatham to Detroit to see the authorities there and at Windsor and report the state of affairs, and on his return gave the above information. A meeting had been called in the evening at the school house in Chatham and 100 volunteers enrolled at once. Capt. Bell, late of the For.y-first or Forty-second Regi- ment, who fought in Picton's division throughout the Peninsular war, and was distinguished for his bravery, f ii. m ui m? " 1 ' \lk f !((«» .1, 76 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. :te::!j. (■:i'S;,: having been shot through the jaw and laid on the battle- field of Salamanca during the whole night, (thus wound interfered not a little in giving the word of command in after years), was chosen captain. I was chosen first lieutenant, T. McCrae second, and C. Cartier ensign. So it was to impart this news to me that I was so un- ceremoniously disturbed, and I was expected to join the company at as early an hour as possiible the next morn- ing. It being then 2 a. m. one of them turned in with me, while the other two laid upon the floor with my buf- falo skins and with the backs of chairs turned under for pillows, slept soundly. After an early breakfast that morning I shouldered my double-barrelled gun and we started for Chatham. We found the village astir. James Read, a merchant, furnished us with a loaf of bread and two pounds of pork each and acted as commissary. He engaged ten or twelve teams to take us to Dauphin's, twelve miiles from Chatham, down the river a little below which commenced the Raleigh and Tilbury plains, cov- ered with two or three feet of water and two inches thick of ice, tiirough which the teams could not pass, so they SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 77 dumped us there and returned home. With great diffi- culty and hardship breaking through the ice, we got to the lighthouse some six miles distant, where we struck dry land. We reached Stony Point that evening and bivouacked among the farmers. The shrill clarion of chanticleer awoke us the next morning and we proceeded on our way lo Brooker and Shaver's inns, about twelve miles from Windsor on Lake St. Clair, a little below which we encountered another marsh, suffering the same hardships as through the Tilbury marsh or plains. As we approached the ferry *ve were met by some of the Windsor inhabitants, promtinent among whom was my friend and kinsman, James Dougall, who gave us a kind reception and was unremitting in his attention to our every want, providing us with comfortable quarters and serving out to each of us the next day a new four-point blanket, which proved our greatest comfort. On the might following, which, I think, was on the 7th of January, the steam ferry "United," Capt. Clinton, (father of the present manager of the ferry company), in command, was ordered to hold herself in readiness to take Pi ill i ^1 •K r» 1 ^>f .,{1 78 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. •r' 1 1 'ii : ■':].]> M US down to Amherstburg, as "General" Theller, so-called, threatened an invasion there that night About 9 p. m. we, that is, forty men of Major Ambridg^'s company, forty of the Kent volunteers (of which I was put in com- mand), and twenty of the Windsor company under Capt. W. G. Hall, in all one hundred men, with Col. Radcliff in command, proceeded down the river, the thermometer at zero. On neaning Fighting Island we met the steamer ^'General Brady" on her way up from Bois Blanc Island imder the control of Tom Mason, as he was familiarly called, the Governor of Michigan, who, at the request of the authorities on both sides of the river, had gone down that morning with the avowed intention of dispersing the so-called patriots, but it was afterwards creditably re- ported that he lindulged in several bottles of champagne in his cabin upon the trip and knew no more of what was going on on board ship than if he had been in Tur- key. As we approached and were passing this steamer, to our great surprise, several shots were fired at us, but fortunatclv no one was hit. % SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 79 Proceeding on our way to Amherstburg we reached! the Lime Kiln crossing and, it being moonlight, we dis- covered the schooner **Ann" moored in front of the old bariracks and now and then discharging her cannon up- on the defenseless town. On discovering this. Col. Rad- cliff ordered an immediate landing at the Lime Kilns and we quartered ourselves as best we could in the Huron Indiian huts, they being the only inhabitants along the river front at that time. Towards daylight an order came from headquarters, viz., Col. Prince, Maj. Laughlin, and Col. RadclifT, for us to proceed to Amherstburg and receive orders as to our movements. On arriving there the company halted and I proceeded to the house of the late James Gorden, where the above named officials were quartered, and finding Col. Prince, he cheerfully accom- panied me to Bullock's tavern and, kicking open the door, the house being unoccupied, desiired me to take posses- sion and help ourselves to what we chose and to render a strict account of everything used. We soon regaled ourselves with what it contained in viands and wines, and about 9 a. m. received orders to m rch to Elliot's point, i J I . I', 1- M : 1 i ( I, * 'lit mm 'J [^ ! \ < 8o SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. "I where we took up our quarters in the old Elliot house, as also did Capt. W. G. Hall with bis twenty men. About 7 p. m. on the 9th of January, 1838, the wind being fresh from the northwest and bright moonlight, the schooner "Ann" was discovered leaving her moor- ings and coming down the river with all sails set, fol- lowed by a number of persons along shore peppering away at her with shot guns, rifles, pistols, etc., and as she approached the point, (Elliott's), through floating ice, a galling fire was opened upon her from behind the large trees on the point, and immediately she grounded, affording a splendid target for our shaf-pshooters, who made it lively for the crew on board. Col. RadclifTe had followed her down with the crowd, and on his arrival opposite and close to the vessel, called for volunteers to board her. I soon found myself with others struggling in the ice to accomplish this, and on reaching the vessel one got on the back of the other, who in turn assisted others, until some twenty or thirty got on board. H. Leighton and two or three others were on board before us. All appeared as still as the grave. SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 8i Gen. Anderson laid alongside the bulwarks shot through the chest, and died that morning in our quarters, in the old Elliott house. Col. Dodge, a Toledo lawyer, was found with his right eye hanging on hds cheek, caused by a spent ball. Capt. Brophy was also wounded, and found near the cabin door, also one Davis. On inquir- ing for the rest of the crew we were told that "General" Theller was in the hold of the vessel wiith some twenty or thirty others, and had closed the hatches over them. On the hatches being removed I called for Theller to sur- render, which he did by standing up and handing me his sword, and claiming my protection. No doubt he was terrified at our appearance, and with our blankets wrapped around our shouldcs, probably took us for Mohawk Indians. He was bareheaded and in his stock- ing feet, and wore a military frock coat, with a gilt star on his left breast. Extending him my hand I drew him up on deck and the others soon followed. I then or- dered them to jump overboard and they would find many on shore to receive them. Theller said he was exhausted and bruised from the recoil of hiis cannon, so jumping i I '. i 'K l^i •f /p-T 82 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. into the water and ice he managed to get on my back and I carried him ashore, on reaching which our clothes immediately froze stiff, and it was with difficulty we reached our quarters, some hundred and fifty yards or more. Towards morning (three or four o'clock I should say) Col. Prince entered our quarters, where he found us toasting before an open fireplace, and inquired for "Gen- eral"' Theller, who was lying on the floor in the corner of the room, with my blanket for a covering, and a billet of wood for a pillow. Pointing him out to the colonel the latter, in the most unceremonious manner, awoke him by a kick in the ribs. To my dying day I shall never forget that ludicrous scene. Theller sitting on his haunches and beholding the colonel for the first time in his life. If Tecumseh, Pontiac or Black Hawk had risen from their graves and appeared before him they could not have inspired more terror in his mind. A red fox- skin bonnet, rather than cap, covered his head; a doe- skin jacket encircled hus burly shoulders and loins, tied by a red sash, in which was thrust a pair of horse pistols SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 85 and a kind of cutlass; corduroy breeches and leather gaiters reaching to the top of his English heavily spiked laced boots finished his toilet distingue. Addressing Thel- ler, after the kick, the colonel said: "Get up, you d-rr-d piratical scoundrel/' Theller appealing to me said: "Captain Baby, I sur- rendered myself a prisoner to you, and now I claim your protection." To which I replied: "The colonel is my superior officer and I have nothing to say." "Let me have my boots and cap, then," said Theller. "You won't want either before daylight," was the colonel's rejoinder. "Baby," continued the colonel, "see that a rope be pro- vided, to which securely fasten all the prisoners two abreast and then tie the same to the end of a cart (which had hastily been provided) so that they can be safely conveyed to the guard house at Amherstburg," which was done accordingly. Theller, Dodge and Brophy were unable to walk and were bundled into the cart, to the end of which the rope was tied, and away it went with its kite-tail of prisoners to the guard 84 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. i:;.t- I.; house, upon which being reached it was decided, by the authorities, to send the prisoners at once to London by the lake shore route, to avoid the danger of a rescue, if sent by the frontier. They all reached London safely under a strong guard of volunteers, twenty of whom belonged to my com- pany. Colonel Prince's treatment of Theller would appear to be harsh, cruel, and unofficer-like, but when it is considered that the inhabitants along the whole frontier, and he and his family in particular, were in a constant state of fear and trembling, expecting that every moment their houses would be fired and they murdered by these piratical ruffians (which they diid the year following at the Battle of Windsor), Prince well knew the characters he had to deal with and he treated them as they well deserved. •' . Theller, Brophy and Dodge were sent to the citadel at Quebec, to be there securely held for further disposal, but from which, by some unaccountable means, the former and the latter escaped arid reached the American shore, and some years after, Theller published a book of his adventures. The other prisoners, some twenty-six in number, were tried SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 85 ! i in London ; half of them were hanged there, and the other half transportd for a certain number of years, and returned to the country after the time had expired. A short time after the cart aforesaid and its kiite-tail of prisoners had vanished in the distance, I received orders to return, at once, with the remainder of my company to Windsor, as another invasion was expected there at night, which, on our arrival, proved a false alarm. Nothing particular occurred along the frontier until in the month of February (I forget the exact date) an invasion of the so-called patriots was made on Fighting Island, about six miles below Detroit, and we, the Kent volunteers, with others were ordered to the front. We left Windsor at 4 a. m. The snow was a foot deep. We arrived at a farmer's (Gignac's, I think) barn along the road, which was situated immediately opposite the island, and to our agreeable sur- prise found Major Townsend with a detachment of the 32d Regiment from Amherstburg resting in lee of it from the piercing cold northerly wind. Ascertaining who we were he gave us a warm reception, remarking, "We'll have some fun before breakfast." lie was only waiting for day- y fr ^3 > 1 il (. iil!^^ 'f! !f t 1 I 1 i li '$ 86 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. light to see his way. In the meantime, Captain Glascow, with three pieces of artillery, had taken up a position com- manding a fair sweep of the island, which was covered with a thick growth of burr oaks with their dried leaves still upon them. He opened a fire of grape shot upon the invaders, who were sitting around their camp fires, and such was the effect that before we had time to cross over to the island, not a soul was to be seen. They recrossed the river on the ice^ which was a foot and a half thick, and were received with open arms by hundreds of persons on the American shore, in sleighs, who were waiting to hear the result of the fight. The only trophy was a small six-pounder captured by the Kent volunteers, which we took to Chatham, when we were disbanded and relieved by the 2nd Battalion towards the end of Apnil. Thus ended my four month's service as a volunteer. In reviewing the events of the Rebellion of 1837 and 1838 to-day, tlie fact is established that by its suppression this Canada of ours has been preserved to the British Crown, its brightest gem, all praise to the descendants of the U. E. Loyalists — those hearts of oak — the Corinthian pillars of SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 87 Canada to-day. All honor to those of the Old Family Com- pact; and glory to the brave and gallant volunteers, who belonged to neither, but put their shoulders to the wheel and accomplished it. As already stated we were relieved by the Second Bat- talion in April, and being composed principally of farmers and mechanics returned home. December 4th, 1839, the battle of Windsor took place. The following account of the capture of the schooner Ann is taken verbatim from Theller's **Canada,'' 1837- 1838, pages 136 and 137. *'As we neared the town vollev after volley was poured into us with considerable effect, and with more skill than the might before. It was no boys' play now, many of our men were wounded and considerable damage to the rigging. Captain Davis, who was holding on to the anchor, was shot in tlie wrist, and from which he afterwards died, and away went the anchor. The enemy aimed with fatal pre- cision at the helmsman, and he fled below, leaving the boa*: to her own will, and as the down-hauls had been cut away by the shot the sails could not be managed. Unskilled as f. !' ■'■ M ¥1 11 1 -1 •^m m- ' I 88 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. mariners, confusion reigned among us, and the schooner drifting with the ice, we were in a few moments aground on the main shore, our deck presenting an inclined front to the irritated and triumphant marksmen of the enemy. Dodge, Brophy, myself and a few others, determined to sell our lives at as dear a rate as possible, and still hoping that the force on the island would come to our rescue, maintained for a while our position on the deck, and with much labor brought our cannon to bear upon the shore. Another volley and a rush to board us. The moon was shining bright, and we were easily seen and marked by their riflemen, while they were concealed behind the fences and the trees of an orchard close at hand. Dodge was wounded in the eye, and fell, as I then thought, dead at my feet; Brophy was soon after dis- abled by a wound. A little boy, a Canadian refugee en- gaged in bninging us loaded muskets, was killed in the act, fell overboard, and his body found on shore the next morn- ing. All around me were soon disabled. The little time I had to think disclosed my probable fate in case of surrender. No other alternative seemed left but a preferable death on the spot and in the act of discharging the gun myself, I SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 89 received a blow on the head that felled me to the deck and down the hatchway to the hold. Stunned and senseless, I was dragged out by the victors, and placed in custody for future disposition. On recovering, I found myself and others in the charge of Lieut. Baby (the author), who pro- tected me from insult, and who was aided in this manly duty by Captain Rudyard and Colonel Radcliff, the latter say- ing in my hearing that we were prisoners of war, had con- ducted ourselves like brave men, and must not be abused, but be handed over to the proper authorities for judicial treatment. I was taken to the hospital (the old Elliott Homestead, our barracks pro tem., then unoccupied by W. L. Baby), to which had been previously carried Dodge, Brophy, Davis, Anderson, Smith and Thayer, all seriously wounded." t ; . it. \ * i \ I 1 ' ' : il VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALES. 89a n : VISIT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES 1 ) DETROIT IN SEPTEMBER, i860. August 15, 181 2. — On the eve of that eventful day four individuals left tlie hamlet of Sandwich, and ascended the river for two miles. This brought them to the ground on which the present uuilding of the S. & W. street car and express office now stands. The primeval forest nearly clothed the abrupt and craggy bank along the silent stream, save the clumps and scattered Normandy pear trees that struggled through the native oaks and elms, filled with their luscious fruit. The air is still and periodically broken by the hoarse and mournful sound of the bullfrogs heard for miles below, commencing with a single note and swelling into a grand chorus of 10,000. Arriving at this spot, the trees that had encumbered it had been removed the day pre- vious, and a space to work a park of five pieces of artillery made under the able supervision of Capt. Dixon, Royal Ar- tillery. Of the four individuals forming this group, one de- i. rl F 11] I; i . ■ i! 1 1 ! 5 1 i f, ill,.: 1 '■ ' .' h !■■■ i 1 ii li !! i 1 ; '• i ilk . -i. 90a VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALES. mands our first attention. About six feet in height, his well- shaped feet incased in a pair of highly polished Welling- ton boots, coming well up and over the knee ; his well-fitting doe skin breeches, the scarlet uniform of a commanding offi- cer wraps with admirable fit his well-developed chest, dis- playing to advantage his many clasps and medals, a black cocked hat surmounted by three white ostrich plumes, which drooped and shaded his beaming, though determined and brave countenance. This is the intrepid Gen. Brock. The one at his elbow commands our next attention. He is not quite so tall, but equally well built. Wellington boots up to the knee he would discard. His path leads him over the moss-covered, prostrate oak, to trace with stealthy step the snow-tracked timid deer, to spring and light with tender foot in his birch bark frail canoe, and trap the wary beaver in his work of toil. Moccasins of elk or deer skin, adorned with colored quills of porcupine, displaying his well- formed feet; leggings of the same material, the seams cut with deep fringe, a leather jacket trimmed the same, a light silk shawl with tuft of eagle feathers shades his nut-brown face, and thus stood the forest king, Tecumseh. The two others (McKee, the Indian agent VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALES 91a and interpreter, and Col. Elliott, brothers in arms of Te- cumseh), formed the group. When ready to return to their quarters, Brock called to his side Dixon, and thus instructed him, "You will open your battery at sunrise to-morrow. Yonder lies the Fort (Shelby)," pointing with his finger to the spot where now stands the new postoffice, "and to- morrow morning at nine we will attempt the capture of the fort." On the following morning the attack was made, and the fort surrendered without the loss of a single n.an on the part of the British and two or three killed and wounded in the fort only. The fort having surrendered. Brock found himself pos- sessor of 2,000 prisoners, 24,000 stands of arms, 43 pieces of artillery, 100,000 cartridges, 40 barrels of pow- der and a large suppb,- of provisions.* On the 17th Brock recrossed the river with Tecumseh, Split Log (Tecumseh's brother-in-law) and other celebrated Indian chiefs, with Francois BAby, uncle to the author, the relator, in the same boat, when it was observed that Ikock ap- peared lost in profound meditation, and, suddenly recover- ing himself, he gently placed his hand on the shoulder of ¥■ h ♦See Farmer's History of Detroit. 92a VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALES. Tecumseh and said (to McKee, the Indian interpreter), "Tell this brave man that this will prove a proud day for England, and to him in a great measure belongs the greater honor, and, as proof of my admiration and esteem, ask him if he will accept of this gift?'' at the same time presenting him with his pair of silver mounted pistols. The dusky warrior eyed him with a soft and tender smile, and the con- fidence of an eastern prince, gracefully declined, and, point- ing his finger at Split Log, said: "The services of my brother chief are equal to mine, and I cannot wound his feelings by appearing thus his superior.'' i^rock, perceiving at once the motive that actuated this truly brave man, made ample amends by presenting, him- self, the weapons to Split Log, and, unwinding his sash from his waist, asked him (Tecumseh) to accept of it, which he cheerfully did, and tradition relates that this sash was found encircling his loins when his body was found on the battle- field of Moravian Town. September 20, i860 — Forty years gone by, and let us re- call to mind the scene of that day in 1812. We are standing on that same spot where Capt. Dixon, of the Royal Artil- VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALES. 93a Icry, opened his battery of five guns on the Fort (Shelby). Let us figure to our minds the four indivi(hials mentioned in that group — Brock, Tecumseh, McKee and ElHott. The face of nature is changed. The 1)anks of the beautiful river adorned with h- ge blocks of houses of com- merce and hotels, the wharves are encumbered with steam- ers of our inland seas, from their utmost limits; the man- sions, villas and private residences of its industrious inhabi- tants crowd every available lot on land and stream. All is bustle, strife and energy. A sound fills the earth that thrills the air with joy and gladness, (^ur gracious Queen has sent the pride of her throne to visit her loyal and true sons of her far distant realm. The white and frosty-haired old veteran, who fought her battles north, east, south and west in long passed years and has chosen his quiet and peaceful home in the forest-encumbered wilderness, n covers his head and mentally exclaims, "God save the Queen.'' All classes of people vie with each other in paying him the great- est honor. The French clergy in pontificial rol)es receive him with homage; the English clergy meet him with open arms and exult in paying him that profound respect and m 94a VISIT ()1< PRINCE iW WALES. veneration as the son of tlieir nol)le Queen; the red and swarthy children of the forest are anxious to extend the hand of friendship and bid him welcome; the sons of Africa, freed from the chains of slavery tliat once oppressed them, and now as free as the air they breathe, wish him "God- speed." At 6 p. m. on the 27th of September an anxious crowd are waiting for his appearance at the Great Western Depot in Windsor. Clergymen, mayors, sheriffs, wardens, reeves and councilors, etc., choke the entrance. The train arrives, and the prince, with his staff, steps on board the steamer (ferryboat) Windsor, Capt. W. R. Clinton in command. The staff consists of his grace, the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl of St. Germain, Gen. F. Williams, Maj.-Gen. Bruce, Lord Lyons, Maj. Tresdale, Capt. Gray, Dr. Aikland, etc. So great is the jam that it is impossible for the prince to reply to the different addresses of the people. But he did so in time. Some people had an idea that the prince would appear in gorgeous gold and purpled robe, with crown of spangled jewels; and yet how amazed and astonished when, stepping forth to receive their homage, they beheld the son VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALFS. 95a of Victoria. A boy 19 years of age, about 5 feet 8 inches, rather shm, a white silk hat held in his mauve gloved right hand, in his left a slender cane; light, grey-colored suit of admirable fit encased his well-formed, royal, youthful and j)rincely body and limbs; light brown hair wafted to the right side exposed his white forehead; soft, beaming blue eyes, an aquiline nose, with pouting lips and cheeks with a bloom of a maiden of 16; such appeared Albert Edward. A du'^ky gloom proclaims a sombre night. As the steamer (Windsor) approaches the centre of the river, she is inter- cepted and surrounded by a fleet of steamers, tugs and yachts that choke the stream a half a mile wide. The sky is illuminated with designs and mottoes on flag and pennon and sides of steamers. On one directly in front, in trans- parent light, is, "Nemo me impune lacessit;" on another, "The rough burr-thistle spreading wide amang the bearded beer, I turned my weeding clips aside an spar'd the symbol dear." Again, "Briton's sons welcome Baron Renfrew to the land of their adoption;" "Welcome, laddie, for yer mith- er's sake." One blaze of reflecting light springs from the side of a barge anchored in midstream, and displays the \ ' . '1 1 'i 96a VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALES. I fl coat of arms of (Ircat Britain, again the goddess of liberty, and then the (jueen and Washington, and from the roofs of houses and decks of steamers the heavens are ablaze with brilliant rockets and Roman candles. At last the steamer arrived at the foot of Woodward avenue, where 100,000 spectators awaited him, and, amid cheers and waving of handkerchiefs and the sound of the national airs, he is con- veyed to his quarters. Tile forest chief Tecumseh and the plumed warrior Brock are still spectators of this scene (we will imagine), when the chief remarks, "My friend, what means this vast and gor- geous display?" And Brock replies, "They are paying hom- age to the heir of that mighty throne for which you and I fought and bled forty-eight years gone by." "It would ap- pear they are fast friends now," remarks the chief. "And why not?" replies the warrior. "Are they not all of one fam- ily, in descent, in blood, in language, in habits and cus- toms?" The sword should never be drawn to end their disputes. Let us hope that wisdom will ever prevail, to avert it, and by firmly extending the hand of friendship they may live on in brotherly love, so say we all. VISIT OF PinXCE OF WALES. 97a How highly amused must the prince have been on perus- ing tlie following article the next morning: Artemus Ward, the showman, the man of many experi- ences and unlimited humor, has seen the prince. The interview between these distinguished persons is sup- posed to have taken place at Sarnia, and A. Ward, Es(|., tells the story as follows: He handed me a segar, and we sot down on the pizarro and commensed smokin' rite cheerful. "Wall," saz I, "Al- bert Edard, how's the old folks?" "Her majesty and the prince are well," he sed. "Duz the old man take his lager reglar?" I inquired. The prince larfed and intermated that the old man didn't let many kegs of that bevridge spile in the sellar in the coarse of a yere. We sot and tawked there sum time abowt matters and things, and bimeby I axed him how he liked bein' prince as fur as he'd got. "To speak plain, Mr. Ward," he sed, "I don't much like it. I'm sick of all this bowin' and scrapin' and crawlin' and hurrain' over a boy like me. I wood rather go threw the country quietly and enjoy myself in my own way, with other boys, and not be made a show of to be garped at by everybody. id I 98a VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALES. i ii« ,1. When the people cheer me, I feel pleased, fur I know thay meen it, but if these one-hoss offishuls cood know how I see threw all their movements and understand exackly what they air after, and know'd how I larf at 'em in private, thay'd stop kissin' and fawnin' over me as they do. But you know, Mr. Ward, I can'i help being a prince, and I must do all I kin to fit myself for the persishun I must some time ockepy.'' "That's troo," sez I. "Sickness and the doctors will carry the queen orf one of these dase, sure's yer born." The time having arove fur me to take my departer, I rose up and sed : "Albert Edard, I must go, but previs to doin' so I will ob- serve that you soot n^.e. Yu're a good feller, Albert Edard, and tho' I'm agin princes as a giheral thing, I mast say I like the cut of yure gib. When you git to be king, try and be as good a man as yure mither has bin. Be just and jen- erus, espeshully to showmen, who have allers bin aboozed sins the dase of Noah, who was the fust man to go into the menagery bizness, and ef the daily papers of his time air to be beleeved, Noah's colleckshun of living wild beests beet ennything ever seen sins, tho' I make bowld to dowt ef his snaiks was ahead of mine. Albert Edard, adoo." I tuk his VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALES. 99a hand, which he shook warmly, and givin' him a perpetooal free pars to my show and also parses to take home for the queen and old Albert, I put my hat on and walkt away. "Mrs. Ward," I solilerquized as I walkt along, "Mrs. Ward, ef you cood see yure husband now, as he prowdly emirjis from the presents of the futur king of England, you'd be sorry you kalled him a beest jest becawz he cum home tired one nite and wanted to go to bed without takin' orf his boots. Yu'd be sorry for trying to deprive yure husband of the priceless boon of liberty, Betsy Jane." iL, '■■?■ li ■k ^ > 1 ft ii^ i r-L ^sAvX COL. JOHN PRINCE. i I M 90 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. : THE BATTLE OF WINDSOR, FOUGHT DEC 4, 1839. The Report of the Battle taken from an Original Document, Used in the Trial of Col. Prince. The following narrative of facts connected with the action of the 4tli of December, is furnished by eye-witnesses and actors in that affair. It has been withheld to this date, that time might be allowed for excitement to subside, and oppor- tunity afforded the authors of any erroneous or hasty state- ments, given officially, or otherwise, to make the necessary corrections. But the time has arrived when it would be highly culpable longer to withhold its publication. Several weeks have elapsed since the appearance of two statements of the affair, both extremely deficient and erroneous in many important points, and greatly calculated, whether inten- tionally or not, to mislead the public. As no corrections of these statements have been made, either by their authors or others, a longer silence would tend to sanction and per- petuate the misconceptions they have but too generally pro- BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 91 I 't\ duced. The contributors to this narrative think it due to the public, and to themselves, that there should be no miscon- ceptions in an affair o." so much importance — that "even- handed justice" should be meted out to all concerned. They, therefore, uninfluenced by partialdties or prejudices, and solely for the cause of truth, submit their statement to the public, pledging themselves for its correctness in all its essential points, and holding themselves ready to substan- tiate what they thus set forth. To give a correct view of the affair, it is necessary to com- mence the narrative with a brief outline of the circum- stances some weeks antecedent to the day of the attack. From about the first of November it was reported, and generally believed, that large bodies of brigands, from all parts of the United States, were wending their way to the State of Michiigan for the purpose of invading our country. The point of attack was var- iously stated to be Maiden, Sandwich, and Windsor. The inhabitants of the two latter places were kept in a constant state of excitement and alarm by their proximity to Detroit, the reputed headquarters of the ,4!i '■\ I'H 92 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. ■ i'l.- / , •' t ' I'.i'. ji I enemy, and the want of sufficient means to repel any serious invasion. To add to their anxiety and alarm, M:ijor Reid, of the 32d Regulars, who held the command at Sandv/ich, was called to the London District, and that important trust devolved on Col. John Prince. The effective force at that time consisted of Company No. i, and 11 men of Company No. 2, Provincial Volunteer Militia, commanded by Capt. Sparke, and four companies of Col. Prince's battalion, com- manded respectively by Captains Fox, Lewis, Thebo and Elliott. To Captai'- F.ewis was committed the charge of I'll the important post at Windsor. ... .iK('i >' With so small a force it was necessary to maintain the greatest watchfulness against any sudden attack; and to ' ' ehsure that vigilance so essential to our safety, nearly all the inhabitants of Sandwich, not connected wit'i any of the above companies, acted as voluntary night patrol. As more •definite and certain information of "^he strength and inten- tions of the brigands was received, our situation became the more alarming. Somj of our most respectable and influential inhabitants waited on Colonel Prince with a request that he would ask Col. Airey, commanding at Ma'- ' I ' , 't'.n BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 95 den, to send up one or two companies of Regulars. Their request Col. Prince declined complying with, intimating something like a fear that such an application would be con- sidered as an evidence of cowardice — assuring the gentle- man that his battalion was abundantly ab!e to protect them from any attack of the enemy. His assurances, however, had little weight in allaying the alarm of the public ; nor was it lessened by the painful discovery that the post at Windsor had been entrusted to an officer utterly unqualified for such an important station. Niight after night was Capt. Lewis detected by the Volunteer Patrolle in the most culpable neg- ligence. His sentinels were placed witho'tt judgment, and their duties were performed in the most slovenly and un- soldier-like manner. Indeed, it became too apparent to every reflecting observer, that the post was liable and likely to be surprised whenever the enemy might think proper to make the experiment. Under such circumstances, Francis Baby, Robert Mercer and James Dougall, Esquires, ad- dressed a request to Col. Aiirey that a part of Capt. Bell's Company (No. 2 Provincial Volunteers), then doing duty as sentinels at Maiden, might be sent to Windsor, and Capt. n BATTLE OF WINDSOR. i Lewis' Company be called to Maiden to take their place. This request, most unfortunately, as the sequel proves, was not granted. On Friday, the 30th of November, information was re- ceived from unquestionable authority, that a large body of brigands, say from 400 to 600, were assembled on the farms of Mr. Marrantete and Major Forsyth, about two miles below the city of Detroit. Their watch-fires on that even- ing were distinctly seen from Sandwich, and stimulated the Volunteer Patrolles to double vigilance. On Saturday, the 1st of December, intelligence was brought that early on that morning the greater part of them had left their camp and spread themselves among the lower order of taverns in Detroit, making "Uncle Ben Woodworth's" their head- quarters. It was said that a considerable body had also passed the city and encamped in the vicinity of the "Poor House," on the Fort Gratiot road, about two miles out of town. On Sunday, the 2d, it was known that the encamp- ment on the farm of Mr. Marrantete had been visited by a detachment of United States troops, headed by Gen. Brady and Major Payne, who put to flight the few brigands who BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 95 were left there as a guard, and captured thirteen boxes of arms. A report was current on that day that one of their leaders, and a "sub-treasurer" of their military chest, had absconded, and with all the funds. On Monday, the 5th, it was stated, and generally believed, that disheartened by the foregoing misfortunes, the brigands had abandoned their undertaking and dispersed. Certain it is, that very few of the rufHans were to be seen on that day in Detroit, and "Uncle Ben's" was as deserted as it generally is, or as any other establishment of the kind could be which had been made the rendezvous of such polluting scoundrels. De- ceived by these appearances, and trusting to the known and untiring vigilance of Gen. Brady, and above all, relying on what was beheved the impassable state of the river, the Volunteer Patrolle, unfortunately, on that night relaxed \^.L, usual vigilance, leaving the safety of all our inhabitants, and all that was dear to them, to the keeping of Capt. Lewis. Most unfortunately Gen. Brady, too, deceived by the same circumstances, and depending on Judge McDonnell, Col- lector, to have the steamer Champlain (the only boat not laid up, or in the employ of the United States) rendered '"■Vi m T" 96 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. Ill useless by the removal of her valves, relaxed also in his accustomed vigilance. Judge McDonnell did not discharge the trust reposed in him — and our watchful foes, possessed of all these circumstances, took advantage of them, and at one o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 4th, about 240 of them seized the Champlain. We do not learn that there was any resistance on the part of her crew — certainly there could have been none worth mentioning, or the alarm would have reached Gen. Brady. After raising steam, the boat was cast off and landed our invaders at 3 o'clock a. m. on the farm of Alexis Pelette, about four miles above the vil- lage of Windsor, which latter place is directly opposite the city of Detroit, the Capital of the State of Michigan, and two miles above the town of Sandwich. It is here to be observed, that although so many on both sides of the river were lulled into fancied security by the acts of the brigands, yet, all were not so deceived. Several loyal subjects residing in Detroit had ferreted out their deep laid plans. Three of these truly "patriotic" fellows having obtained certain intelligence that an attack would be made on Monday night, came over late on the afternoon of that BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 97 clay and gave information at the Barracks to that ePect. One of the three enrolled the same evening in Capt. Lewis' Company; another, his companion, remained with him in. the Barracks; and the third, knowing his doom should the brigands prove successful, proceeded to Maiden. The two former fell martyrs to loyalty and love of country, while gallantly defending the Barracks. From Pelette's farm the brigands marched down ta Windsor without being challenged or opposed. When they had nearly arrived at the Barracks, occupied by a part of Capt. Lewis' company, two of their number, who had beea sent in advance to reconnoitre, were met and challenged by the Cavalry Patrolle. As they did not answer the chal- lenge, the Patrolle turned and rode back to the Barracks, and relating the circumstance to the sentinel proceeded to report to Capt. Lewis, whose quarters were about one- quarter of a mile further down the road. As soon as the two- men had approached within sight of the sentinel he chal- lenged, and receiving no answer, levelled his piece to fire, the enemy simultaneously doing the same. By a singular coincidence the pieces of both parties missed fire. The 1 T- 98 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. sentinel stepped inside the Barracks to reprime and give the alarm. When he stepped out again he found the head of a column of brigands had reached the point where he had first seen the two men. He fired his piece at this body, and again entered the Barracks to rouse its inmates to action. The few men on duty promptly answered the call by rush- ing out and opening a galling fire upon the advancing foe; killing one of their captains,^ named Lewis, and wounding several of their men. The brave sentinel (Otterbury), forc- ing his way through his companions to have another shot and holding up his musket to facilitate his movements, re- ceived a ball and two buckshot in his left arm, which obliged him to retire from the conflict. As long as their a;mmunition held out, our men made a most gallant resistance ; and when it failed, ten or twelve effected their retreat, and the rest about 113, surrendered to the enemy, who set fire to the Barracks and the adjoining house belonging to Mr. Francois Jannette, which, with the house occupied by Mr. Retter, were burned to the ground. An inoffensive colored man, named Mills, who resided near the scene of action, cdming out of his house to see what was the matter, was III BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 99 taken by the brigands, And o« refusing to join them was barbarously shot. From the Barracks the brigands pro- ceeded to set on fire the steamboat Thames, belonging to Duncan McGregor, Esq., and then laid up at Mr. Van Allen's wharf, nearly opposite. They did not succeed in their first attempt, but in an hour afterwards accomplished their purpose. When the boat was fired they compelled Mr. Black and others of our people to assist them in getting her yawl out of the ice, in which they placed some of their party who had been wounded in the attack on the Barracks, and sent them over to Detroit. From Captain Lewis' quarters the horse patrol pro- ceeded to give the alarm at Sandwich. In a very short time Captain Sparke with No. i and about eight men of No. 2 companies of Provincial Volunteer Militia (amounting in the whole to not more than 40 men) together with a number of the inhabitants of the town, were on the march for Windsor. They were immediately followed and overtaken before arriving at the scene of action, by about 60 men of Col. Prince's Battalion of Essex Militia, under the com- mand of Fox, Thebo, and Elliott. On their way up, they M Hi m lOO BATTLE OF WINDSOR. )■*'■ ■' '1 tM.I • 'j'-y-' ■ \'\ were met by various persons retreating from Windsor,, among whom was Capt. Lewis, who stated that his Barracks- had been attacked and fired, and his men defeated ; but with what loss he could not tell, as he had immediately left the place. When the entire party had arrived at Mr. Mailldoux, about half a mile below Windsor, Capt. Thebo, with his company left the road and made a detour so as to come in the rear of the village, a maneuvre, which in the sequel proved of great advantage, as enabling our brave militia to cut oflf many of the brigands in their subsequent flight to- wards the woods. The other parties continued their march up the road and at a short distance below the entrance of the village, Captain Sparke halted and formed his men — while the militia under Captains Fox and Elliott, also ■ I halted and were marshaled by Capt. Bell, of the 2nd Com- pany, Provincial Volunteers, assisted by Capt. Leslie, of Col. Prince's Battalion. Both parties then resumed the march, and when arrived at the lower end of the village,, again halted to reconnoitre. Intelligence was quickly brought by James Dougall, Chas. Baby and W. R. Wood,. BATTLE OF WINDSOR. lOI Esquires, who had gone some distance in advance, that the -enemy (about 130 in number) had been drawn up across the road, but were then fiHng to the left into an orchard belonging to Francois Baby, Esq. Instantly the militia led by Capt. Bell struck off the road into the orchard of Mr. Jannette, and marching up along the fence opened a well- directed fire upon the enemy. In the meantim.e Captain Sparke with his command and the volunteer inhabitants, who had joined. him, continued his march directly up the road, and on arriving at the spot where the enemy had left it, discovered them ensconced in the orcliard und in the act of returning the fire which had been opened upon them by Captains Fox and Elliott. Cjaptain Spsrke wheeled his command off the road and after pouring a well directed fire, led his gallant followers over an intervening fence to give the brigands the steel But the rascals waited not the touch of British bayonets — returning the fire, they "broke cover" and fled across the fields in the direction of the woods. Pursuit was given by the wliole party and continued to the edge of the woods, by Captains Fox and Elliott, preceded by Capt. Thebo, whose judicious position brought him well J 1 1 1 1 i .'S-i HH ■I •;! ^H ■ s 1 is ^1 ft WM i> : SI % n ^1 ■1 n J n p^f*">M 1 02 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. to the left of the enemy. Several of the brigands were killed in the chase, among whom were their leaders, Put- nam and Harvell, the "Big Kentuckian"; and one of their standard bearers (whose colors were captured by Ensign Rankin, of Captain Sparke's company) and a great number were wounded. Many of them, to expedite their flight, re- lieved themselves of their arms, accoutrements, and ammu- nition, and even of parts of their clothing. One man of Capt. Elliott's company was killed, and another wounded in this short but brilliant aflfair. Captain Sparke finding the pursuit in excellent hands, halted his party when aboiit half a mile from the main road, preparatory to marching back to dislodge any party who might have remained in Windsor. Just at this time Col. Prince made his first appearance on the field, though some think he may have arrived a few moments sooner, as being dressed in a fustian shooting coat and fur cap, he might not have been immediately recognized. However that may be, at this important mo- ment he informed Captain Sparke and the other officers of the party that he had just received intelligence that upwards of two hundred brigands were marching down from Detroit BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 103 on the American side for the purpose of crossing over and attacking Sandwich tin front, and that another body- had gone round through the groves to attack it in the rear. From this statement of Col. Prince, it was deemed advisable to retire to Sandwich without delay, in order to defend that place, where all our ammunition, provisions and the only guns we possessed were deposited. The men who were in triumphant pursuit of the flying foe were immedi- ately recalled, and Col. Prince ordered the whole force to march back to Sandwich at double quick time. Before the party left the field Adjutant Cheeseman, of the 2nd Essex, who had acted as a volunteer, brought up a prisoner whom, he had taken. He surrendered him to Col. Prince, who ordered him to be shot upon ihe spot, and it was done ac- cordingly. Previous to the commencement of our retro- grade movement, and during its progress, several persons joined us, bringing various accounts of the strength of a rear guard or reserve of the brigands which was still in possession of Windsor. This body, headed (as is said) by (ieneral Birse, at the time the action commenced in the orchard, was drawn up in front of the burning barracks. jA : I 1 iA^^^^ ,1 1| 1 304 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. It afterwards advanced nearly opposite the place where Captain Sparke had crossed the fence. Just at this time, Mr. Morse, Commissary, and Doctor Hume, of the medical staff, and others came from Sandwich in a wagon, and •drove directly up to it, thinking it was a party of our own miliitia. As Mr. Morse jumped out of the wagon in front, and was about to address them he was stopped by a young ^woman, who informed him of their true character. Mr. Morse quickly communicated the intelligence to Doctor Hume and retreated round the corner of an adjoining house. As the doctor attempted to retreat, holding a pistol in his hand, and keeping his "face to the foe," the brigands pre- sented theiir pieces at him. Mr. Tyas Baker, who had also approached the party, believing them to be friends, called out, "do not shoot that man, he is the doctor," and seeing one of their pieces flash, in the attempt to kill him, again called out, "do not shoot that man, he is our doctor." The brigands turned towards Tyas and demanded, "then why does he not surrender?" This pause caused by the enquiry, enabled the doctor to get past the corner of a house, under •cover of which he crossed a fence and gained the rear of BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 105 the dwelling of Mr. Cole. Some of the brigands left the ranks in pursuit, and one, said to be Bennett, a silversmith, and resident of Detroit, taking the lead, rested his piece upon the fence which the doctor had just crossed, and fired. Bennett then turned to his party and said "you may go and take his sword, he will not run any farther." Several then proceeded to "finish" him, as they expressed lit, and in doing so, mangled his remains in the most shocking man- ner. This minute statement of the transaction is given to correct a fabrication got up, either as an attempt at a miser- able palliation of the brutal act, or for the purpose of effect, viz: "that the brigands had shot Dr. Hume, under the impression that he was Colonel Prince." After killing tlie doctor, they fired several shots at Morse, who had a most miraculous escape — one of their bullets passing through his hair. The others of the party in the wagon were made prisoners by the brigands. On our forces reaching Sandwich, it was positively as- certained that no body of men had been seen either on the American side of the river, opposite Sandwich, or in the groves in the rear of the town, as stated by Col. Prince's h ii '1 io6 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. m I ti informants. Intelligence was also given by James Don- gall, Esq., and other respectable inhabitants who had boen reconnoitering at Windsor, that the brigands re- maiming at that place certainly did not exceed one hun- dred men; and that they were evidently preparing to leave it, as they had fallen back from the spot where they had murdered Dr. Hume, to a position in front of the store of Gardner & Babcock. Col. Prince was made acquainted with these facts and earnestly solicited by Mr. Dougall and others, as he had now 200 men upon the ground, to send up a force to dislodge the enemy. This he refused to do, giving as his reasons that the report could not be correct — that the party at Windsor must be much stronger than represented — that hiis post was at Sandwich and if he should leave it he would by so doing subject himself to trial by a court martial, and the liabil- ity of being shot. He further stated that he had on the first alarm dispatched an express to Maiden for some regulars and a field piece, and that he did not think it advisable to move against the enemy until their arrival, which might be expected in two or three hours. The ti : |1 V i;i BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 107 ^ Dou- o had ids re- ic hun- ring to :re they of the s made by Mr. pon the y. This e report must be was at io doing lie liabil- on the lor some think it arrival, IS. Tiie appearance of this reinforcement was now most anx- iously looked for, as it was plainly seen that no move- ment would be made until it had arrived. In the mean- time information continued to be received from many re- spectable individuals who had been closely reconnoiter- ing, of the weakness of the enemy and their evident alarm and dread of being attacked. It was confidently stated that even fifty men could disperse or make prisoners of the whole party; and Ensign Rankin, of the Provincial vol- unteers, solicited Col, Prince for that number, with whom he gallantly volunteered to drive the polluting ruffians from our soil. His request was demled — and the enemy remained for hours in possession of the village without any attempt being made to dislodge them; and were actually permitted to march off at leisure, with drum beating, and colors flying. After they had vacated Wind- •sor, horseman after horseman hurried down to apprize Col. Prince that they had retreated to the Windmills,, (their place of debarkation), and were escaping by canoes, to Hog Island; this intelligence, however, did not cause io8 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. Col. Prince to chanjje his determination to remain at i^andwich until the arrival of the regulars. When we had waited an hour or lonj^er for the ex- pected reinforcement a prisoner who had been wounded and taken after the engagement was brought into town. He was conducted, surrounded by several of our men, towards Col. Prince, who was then standing in the most frecjuented part of our main street. As the prisoner ap- proached he was told by one of the officers to make his peace with Gof' he had but a few minutes to live. The wretched man, holding up both his hands, pleaded most earnestly for mercy, but Col. Prince conuua?uled hilni to be shot upon the spot, and the same officer who had at first addressed him, probably to disengage him from those by whom he was surrounded, ordered him to "run for his life" — and in an instant a dozen muskets were leveled for liis execution. At this moment Col. William Elliott, of the Second Essex, who chanced to be near at h'^nd, ex- <:laimed, "D — n you, you cowardly rascals, are you go- ing to murder your prisoner." Thiis exclamation for one instant retarded the fire of the party, but in the next the BATTLE OF WINDSOR. I CM/ l)risoner was brought to the grouiul; he sprang again to his feet, and ran around the corner of a fence, vvliere he was met by a person coming from an oj)posite (Urec- tion and shot tlirough the head. J^'rom papers found up- on his person it appeared his name was liennett. It is to be regretted that this painful affair took place lin our most pubhc street, and in tlie presence of several ladies and children, who had been attracted to the doors and windows by the strange events of the morning, but who little expected to witness so awful a tragedy. Another brigand named Dennison, also wounded and unarmed, was taken after the action and brought in during the course of the morning. Charles Elliott, Esq., who iiajjpencd to be present when the prisoner was about to be shot by Col. Prince's orders, entreated that he i might be saved to be dealt with according to the laws of the country; but Col. Prince's reply was, "D — n the rascal, shoot him," and it was done accordingly. To the great satisfaction of our anxious people, about 1 1 o'clock a. m. a detachment of lOO men of the Thirty- fourth, under Capt. Broderick, a few artillerists and a ii! no BATTLE OF WINDSOR. field piece, under Lieut. Airey, and some forty or fifty Indiians under Geo. Ironside, Esq., galloped into Sand- wich. Waiting only a few minutes to inquire the state of aflfairs at Windsor, which place they were told was still in possession of the brigands, (although it had actu- ally been evacuated long before), they proceeded at full speed up the road in search of the enemy. Col. Prince having by this time discovered that there were no brig- ands in the groves in the rear of the town, nor any cross- ing the river, nor any anywhere else in the neighbor- hood of Sandwich, except those which he had left in pos- session of Windsor, and those who might have rallied after he had recalled their pursuers — followed the regu- lars with the whole of his command and all the male linhabitants except some sixteen or eighteen men of the artillery company under Capt. Chewett. This small force with a nine-pound field piece, were posted at the north entrance of the town, and to it was committed the de- fense of the stores, ammimition, etc., etc., in the event of Col. Prince being again misinformed, and any attack from the groves in the rear, or from the opposite shore 11. "t BATTLE OF WINDSOR. Ill being made upon the place. When Col. Prince reached Windsor he was informed that one of the brigands was lying wounded in the house of Mr. Wm. Johnson. The man whose leg had been shattered by a musket ball had been found by Francois Baby, Esq., after the action, and by his orders was removed to Mr. Johnson's, with a prom- ise of surgical assistance. Col. Prince gave the order for his execution, and he was dragged out of the house and shot accordingly. The regulars and artillery lin wagons, and the Indians on horseback, were by this time two or three miles in advance of Col. Prince. They had discovered no enemy at Windsor, and so continued the pursuit to the Wind- mills, where they found the reported escape of the brig- ands but too correct. Nothing could be seen of those whom the militia drove to the woods, nor of those who had so long held possession of Windsor, except one man who Was made prisoner, and five or six others who were then crossing in canoes to Hog Island. The captured brig- and made earnest appeals for mercy, to which Capt. Brod- erick replied, "You have fallen into the hands of a Brit- vm' * .Mil ' '^ 1: 112 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. ish officer.'' On discovering the cano'e Lieut. Airey or- dered the field piece to be unHmbered and a fire to be opened upon the retreating rascals. Some capital shots were made but without effect, until Lieut. Airey himself pointed the gun, when one shot struck the canoe amid- ships, just as it reached ice, and killed one man and se- verely wounded another. When the brigands first commenced crossing to the island they dismissed some of our men whom they had carried prisoners from Wiindsor; the rest they put into the Windmills and detained there until the last of their party was ready to leave, and then diismissed them \ As soon as Gen. Brady was apprised of the invasion of our country he dispatched Maj. Payne with a detach- ment of United States troops and a field piece on board the steamboat, to act as circumstances might require. Maj. Payne, at the time the brigands were making their escape in canoes, was crossing in the channel between the island and our shore, and as it was afterwards ascer- tained, intercepted and made prisoners of a number, whom he delivered to the authorities at Detroit. ! ^5.' BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 113 Capt. Broderick, finding there was nothing further to be done, commenced his return to Sandwich, leaving the prisoners whom he had taken to be brought down under charge of a dragoon and some others. Col. Prince, after meeting the regulars on their return, continued his march to the Windmills, and about a quarter of a mile below them fell in with Broderick's prisoner. He or- dered the man to be taken from the guard and to be shot upon the spot, which was done accordingly. About the time Capt. Broderick had commenced his re- turn the Indians had gone in pursuit of some of the enemy who had taken to the woods. After a sharp chase they succeeded in taking seven prisoners, one of whom in at- tempting to escape after being captured was fired upon, wounded and retaken. When the prisoners were first brought out of the woods the cry was, "bayonet them," but Martin, one of the Indian brave.s, replied, "No, we are Christians, we will not murder them — we will deliver them to our officers, to be treated as they think proper." Tiiey were then, brought to Col. Prince, who had now commenced his return to Sandwich. When he had ar- tt 114 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. rived opposite the burning barracks he ordered the wagon in which the prisoners had been placed to be wheeled off the road. As soon as it had reached an open spot in the rear of the ruins, he commanded the men be taken out and shot. At this critical moment Charles Elliott, and Robert Pvlercer, Esqs., and the Rev. Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Samuel James rushed forward and entreated Col. Prince not to commit murder by shooting the prisoners, but begged him to leave them to the laws of the countr)'. In making this appeal Mr. James made use of the em- phatic language, *'For God's sake, do not let a white man murder what an Indian has spared." Col. Prince yielded to the entreaties of the gentlemen, remarking to Mr. Elliott that he would iiold him responsible for his in- terference, as his (Col. Prince's) orders were to destroy them all. By information received immediately after the Alight of the brigands it was known that a large number had escaped to the woods. No party, however, was sent to scour the neighborhood, nor were any guards stationed on th shore of the river or Lake St. Clair to cut off re- 11 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. "5 treat nor were the means of transportation removed by placing the canoes and boats under safe keeping. On the following day five or six gentlemen volunteers went out about fourteen miles and captured eif ht of the brig- ands. About thirty of the enemy succeeded in crossing in a body at the river St. Clair and arrived in Detroit on tiie following Friday, and parties of two to five continued to escape for several days, and even weeks after their defeat. The number of the enemy killed in the engagement, with those afterwards shot, was correctly ascertained to be 32; and the prisoners taken, brought in and committed at Sandwich and Maiden amount to the same number. The prisoners taken at Chatham are said to exceed twenty in number. Many of the misguide 1 and guilty fugitives no doubt perished in the woods from cold, hunger and wounds. Our loss was four killed and four wounded — none mortally. In closing thiis narrative it will not be deemed pre- sumptuous to say that the greatest praise is due to Capt. Sparke, his officers and the Provincial volunteers for their 11 I ii i(" liiiiii ii6 BATTLE OF WINDSOR. ¥. : ■ t gallantry and si ill — not to add that the officers and men of the militia are entitled to our high consideration for their coolness, bravery and promptitude. The only opin- ion we will hazard, where we profess to state solely facts, is that the brigands flattered themselves they should be joined by our gallant Canadian miilitia men; we think they are by this time cured of so vain a delusion. *Colonel John Prince was publicly condemned for the summary manner in which he disposed of the rebel pris- oners, and the feeling became so pronounced that a com- missiion was appointed to take proof of his acts and the causes leading up to the same. The evidence was taken at Sandwich and the deposition forwarded to the English government, and a strong effort made to convict him, but he had a powerful supporter in the Duke of Wellington, who at this time was Prime Minister, and who addressed the House of Lords in his behalf and he was acquiitted. He was soon afterward appointed District Judge of Algoma and died some years ago at the Canadian Sault Ste. Marie. *The defenceless state of Canada at the time of the rebellion and the desperate character of the rebels were among the principal argu- ments used in Col. Prince's behalf. d men on for opin- ' facts, lid be k they or the I pris- com- id the taken ngHsh n, but igton, ressed Liiitted. Igoma Vlarie. ion and II argu- fifP 1 1 ■ 1* if '■: \^ i II hi PROMINENT MEN OF ESSEX. ii6a PROMINENT MEN OF ESSEX. 1832. — Probably the most noted person that settled in Sandwich was the late Col. John Prince. Me came from Cheltenham, a noted watering- place in England, was a suc- cessful chancery lawyer, married, with four children, born in England. His object was to settle on a large tract of land in the then territory of Illinois, but finding the attractions so alluring in the way of climate, game, fish, etc., in the western district that he remained there, purchasing the homestead of the late George Jacobs, Esq., and subseciuently several park l(.^s adjoining the town of Sandwich, which constituted the so-called Park farm. He brought with him 75,000 guineas, and amongst his many and various accom[)lishments he was a keen sportsman and a splendid shot, had a fine breed of clioice setters and brought with him several brace of English plieasants to breed from on his farm. A man of splendid ii 1 1 7.1 ru()Mi\i':\"r mi-n ov i'.ssi'.x phvsiiino. about five foot ton itu'lios in lioii;lit. poworfiilly iW volnpod ohost ami slutiildors atid a voioo of tliuiidor. hiil so coiitrollod and niodi'Jod that at tinios it i\\Wi\ tho audionoi- witli wondiT at his i>o\vorfnl donnnoiations and his olootric llij;i»ts of oiat«)rv. A strikinj;- tvpo of Dan. O'Cv-nnoll, tin- ronownod Irisii patriot. llo had boon in Sandwioh but a short tiino wiion ho askod mo if I would join hiiu atul show him iho notod j^rounds for jLjamo about SatuKvioh, whioh I j^ladly did, and I w.is umoh oihfn-d in witnossinj; his woll-trainod doj^s and his ad mirablo shootinj;'. ;\ftor our day's sport, ho invitod mo In dine witli liim, whioh I aoooptod with muoh ploasuro, and I shall novor forj^ot tho surprise and awkward j)osition I was ])laood in at tho foUowins;- inoidont. Arrivinj^" at his homo and soatod in his parlor waitiuj^^ dinner, .'uul his olKU"min^- wife soatod at her harp, whioh she j^layod with artistic skill. The servant, a bright -looking- i"Jiglish girl (by instructions from her master, of course), approached me first with a sil vcr tray and on it a silver two-handled tankard filled with foaming beer (home brewed). Rather taken aback at this offer, I stared at the poor girl, and asked for a tumbler to It I»U()MIMC.\T Ml<:.\ Ol" I'.SSICX, n«a (liink out of, vvliicli IMinrc ii(»titi'(l, and in tlic most kind, insinnatin^^ and cordial manner ri'markcd, "My dear yonn;^ Irii'iid, vvlu-n an I'lnj^lisli j^cntlciiian invites liis j^nest to par- take <>f Iiis hospitality Iiis first desire is to lidtior liim by Ids taking' the first dranj^dil from ilie howl, and the family foil ovv. Mm s assu. I seized it hv the two handles and freeh nn- bihed the liowinjj^ hevera^^' with a hi^h appreciation of the honor l)estovved npon me, notwithstanding; my narrow, tm- sophistieated ideas of Canadian gentility. After spenJ. i? i !$ ' Wa IS ii8 OLD TIME BREEZE. I to the year 1828, I believe, was McGregor's at Chatham, some fifty odd miles from Detroit, which served the wants of the inhabitants generally. The siding and all lumber required for use in constniction of the building was cut out by a whip saw, such as we now see used only in the construction of vessels or ships, and every board was fin- ished with a bead, and every wrought iron nail driven through a hole bored with a gimlet to avoid splitting. The house is about 40x50 feet in size, two and one-hali stories in height, with a three-foot stone wall cellar, the size of the house, and as it was built for the northwest trade, it was made capable of holding 600 or more pipe.i of wine or liquors, which were then of the best quality in the world, and were brought from Montreal in "ba- teaux" (four-ton open boats), the same as all other mer- chandise for the northwest trade. They were brought as far as Queenstown in boats, then loaded in wagons and conveyed to Chippewa and again transhipped in bateaux, threading their way along the Niagara Rdver and the shore of Lake Erie to their different points of destination — Detroit, Mackinac, Sault Ste. Marie, Green Bay, St. T OLD TIME BREEZE. 119 Paul, etc. The frame work of the building was filled in with b licks and mortar; the beams and the sheathing were of oak, and the sills of doors and windows of wal- nut. In the hall was hung an iron hook, from which was suspended massive scales capable of weighing 2,000 pounds of furs — otter, beaver, buffalo, mink, etc. The roof i^ steep to shed the tempest blasts of snow and rain. It stands the silent witness of the cannon's ^oar on lake and field, (battle of Lake Erie and the taking of Detroit in 1813). Its walls, halls, and chambers have re-echoed the voices of Hull, Brock, Proctor, Harrison and Tecum- seh. After the battle of the River Thames, whe:-e Te- cumsch was killed, the father of the writer, Col. James Baby, of tlie Kent militia, was taken prisoner and returned to Sandwich with Gen. Harrison, who occupied this house as his headquarters, and his humane and honorable treat- ment of the Canadians during this campaign was always held in grateful remembrance by them. This house has sheltered and entertained the mitered and ermined, and its doors were ever opened alike to the Huron and the hab- itant. 1 i'i I- 1 i i H \m H I20 OLD TIME BREEZE. 1 The surroundings were in keeping with the house; it had a well stocked garden of the choicest fruits the cli- mate could produce. On October 3d, 1888, I measured two of dts pear ♦^rees over a hundred years old; the bon chretian, grafted on the stock of the old I'Vench pear tree, the other, the French pear tree itself. They both measured nine fee^ in girth, consequently about three feet in diameter; in height seventy feet or more, and in full bearing. These first and tenacious emblems of the gos- pel and cross brought here from France nearly two cen- turies ago, nursed and cradled by the tender care of the missionary fathers in wet moss, and planted and inter- miingled with the primeva' forest adorning both sides of the Detroit River from source to mouth, irrigated by tlie limpid waters of Superior and Huron, which flow on to pay tribute to Niagara's fearful clifif, from whose caves (wild nature's pealing organ) ascends in thunder's roar and mingles vJth the rainbow's tinted spray, a pure and holy incense, forever soaring to mark the finger of their God. These emblems then arc gradually disappearing, but in the archives of Loyola will live forever. As did the Mm OLD TIME UREKZE. t2l poet in bidding adieu to luis native land so will I to thee, the place of my birth and say, "jj^ood nifj^ht." I find that 1 have been wanderinu^, so will return to mv subject, the "Ureeze." At the time before men- tioned (the winter of 1831) I was not particularly occu- pied, professionally or otherwise, and an idea struck me that money could be made by a sailinjj^ vessel. As there was one, unfinished, for sale on the stocks at Sandwich, 1 boug"ht her, excepting^ a few shares, fitted her out and called her the Tecumseh. At that tune an iron furnace, built by hMelds & Cahoun, was in full blast in the town- ship of Ciosfield, and there was a great demand for pig iron freight by water to Toronto. I took a contract to (lehver a certain (juantity there, and sent the vessel through with a full cargo whilst I followed by steamer. ( )n her arrival the crew mutinied. 1 paid them off. bought out the shares owned by the other shareholder through a generous act of my father, then inspector-general of Tpper Canada, and trod the deck as boss. I had ac- (|uired a good deal of experience in my youth in Little York (now Toronto) pK-^y in the way of managing a skiff i B: ^ ' ^m 122 OLD riMi-: likiJCZR or sailboat, and ofti'ii starred for tlic oxport salmon fislui up tlio Don. Credit and lliimhor nivors, in pursuit uf tlii^ kiui;- of the tinny tribe. It is to be «)I)served (^en i)assantj that tliese now almost extinct tisii, in former days, fre- tpiented tliese streams in sciiools of thousand^, for the purpose of spawninj;. which took place in the months of September and ( )ctt)ber, and when then taken were mIuiosI worthless and could be bouj;ht for 20 cents each, after their long journey of i,5ci(^ miles from the (lulf of St. Lawrence, mostly in our fresh, and to thenj tepid waters, streams and lakes, whereas, i the spring of the year, as hiigh as $4 or ^5 could be had for them. It was not only by boat they were caught, but in a more primitive way: The settlers in the neighborhood of these streams de pending nu)re or less up»m gun, or rod (they wen adepts at either) lor tish or game, could be seen along the shore with a llaud)eau, made from the pitch pine roots and knots, burned in what was called a "light jack," made of iron, the size of a half bushel measure, fastened to a statf, which was driven in the bank at the edge of the stream, where the water ran swiftly over a rocky or peb- T OLD TIME T'.RKKZK. 123 l)ly bottom, two or tlircc feet deep where a piece of white l)irch bark, four by six feet in size, had l)een sunk, weij^hted with stones; the nnwary sahnon, intent npon passinj;- the rapi' over this bark, was pierced and taken by the nnerring spearman. i'lie wiidow of the late Col. (ieorj^c Denison, my inform- ant, who resided at tiie first rapids of the linnd)er, told ine that, "( )ft in the stilly nij^jht" did she and her frien< -; wile away many an honr in witnessin«^ this interestinff scene. All has to snccnmb, however, to the transmtita- tion of time. What a melancholy reflection! To think that this j)riceless fish has become now nearly extinct in our fresh waters, and the reason is obvious, for no fish e(|uals the salmon for its love for pure and limpid streams, and they are now shut out from them by mill dams and the filthy water produced by various man- ufactories erected on them. o return to mv su bject, what, with my experience in salmon fishinp;^ and that ac- quired by sailing: with Capt. Bill I'ucket, in the King^s- ton ])acket, and <.apt, R. Oats, of the slooj) "Duke of Richmond," (the former announcing her departure by the ir 11 124 OLD TIME liREEZE. blast of a tin liorn. six feet lonj;. the latter by the yelp of a four-p(Min(l swivel). I scarcely found myself capable to sail or handle a vessel with compass and chart. It so happened I met IVideaux ( larty. a merchant and wcnild- be sailor from (losfield. lie was lookinj^; out for the owner of the Tecumseh to ship his jjoods to Amherst- burj;-, so 1 appointed him sailinjj^ master. T was to be super carj^o, and I liired a lad as cook, slush and bottle washer. John Kirkpatrick. of Chipi)cwa. merchant, dis- tiller, miller nnd postmaster, then met me and asked me to take a pair of millstones to Chippewa, which I ap^reed to do, Ilavinj^ comj)leted my carj^o, I left Toronto with a spanking- north wind and had a (juick run across Lake Ontario to I\)rt Dalhousie, the entrance to the Welland Canal, and in two days climbed the ladder of the locks to Port Robinson, on the Chippewa Creek, and arrived at Chippewa; unloaded Kirkpatrick's millstones, received a barrel of whiskey in turn for freight, hired a yoke of oxen to tow us around the mouth of the Chippewa Creek into the Niagara River — and I have often thought since that, if the tow line had parted rounding the point, the Tecum- yelp of :apablc it so would- for tlu" iilierst- to he bottle It. (lis- ed nie ag^reed o with i Lake ^elland cks to ved at ved a i oxen k into ; that, ecum- I I!;' w w « X 4'^ OLD TIMIC fiKKKZK. 125 sell's carjjfo, crew and barrel of wliiskey in ten niimitcs after would have j^onc over Niagara l''alls and would never more have been heard of, unless, i)erha|)S, in the debris of the whirlpool belov/. I aj^ain visited this spot in 1H45 on my weddin^^ tour, and spent a few days with the late 'JMiomas Street, (my companion in youth), then wiith his parents at their charminj^ residence at the rap- ids just above the I'^aiis of Niagara. On one occasion we left for r>uffalo, and took the steamer "luiierald," Capt. Vanallan, at Chippewa with a party of friends on their way to see McCready play "Richelieu'' at lUiffalo, and passed through the present "cut"' leadinj^ from the villaj^e into the Niagara River, constructed to avoid the danger- ous trip around the point. We got to lUiffaio all night, hired John L'ox and Joe Ridley, two sailors from Col- chester; left Buffalo and ran up the lake on the Canada shore when it came on to blow from the southwest, and fearing, as sailors say, a dirty night, ran to shelter under Point Abino, about twelve miles from Buffalo. It was on this night I witnessed a most singular freak of nature. I went on deck to reliieve John Fox on watch at 12 mid- i . 1J() oM) 1 1 Ml'". I'.Ki'.i-:/!-:. ni.nht. riio niijlit was as dark as l''ri'l)us. I'«>\ instnutrd mo iti my lirst ilntirs. tillinj; tiu> to \ rliaiii to «;ivo it a hotter I'j'ip. I was thus otou- piod whon tv> my nttor astonishment and fear a bright lij;lit appeared, making eveiythinj; as lij^ht as day, and easting my eves to the mainmast diiseoveti'd on the top- niast a hall of tire ahout the size of an ttidinarv hneket. Alarmed at thi^. to me. mmsnal sisjht 1 hastened to tl le eompanii>n -way and called for the ere\< t«) eome up. which thev di«l. when old |oe Kidlev exelaimed; "It's the lack o' Lantern." {ij^ims falnus). uhieh vanished as soon as they a[>peared. hut has never heen i fTaccd from my mcni- orv We left point Ahino the next morninjj and ran up the lake opj)osite (.leveland with a lij;ht easterly wind and tlrizzlin^ rain. Suddenly. al)()ut 5 p. m.. a clear sky «.>pened in the west, and in less than five minutes Lake Krio was a sheet of ft^ini. Before we had time to take OLD TiMi-: i'.Ri:i:zi':. 127 in sail llic sfniall struck ns, Mnwiiij^' tlic jlh from its hanks and rarricd it ovcrhoar.l and iiiidcr tlic vessel. Lct- \\]\^ i^tt the fori- and main sail sheets with a nm, uc pnt the vessel hefore the wind nnder bare poles and let her send. As ]U^\[[ wore on the wind increased to a hurri- cane and made thinj.,''s lively on hoard the Tecnniseh. The l)o\ stove broke loose and tiew from sidi- to s.'dc in the cabin; the lij^dit in the binnacle wa> blown out: the man at the wheel was lashed to the tiller and had to be relieved every half hour, bemimbed uith sleet, rain and cold. The liovvlinj;' of the tempest and the hissing of the ra^inj^ seas as they unfurled their maddened white caps I'll never for- j^^et. We succeeded at last in tyinj^' the tij^a-r (stove) by the lej^ to keep it from barkinj^^ and bitinq-, and were crowded in the cabin, awaitin^^ our fate, when at day- lij^dit the man at the helm cried out: "Land, ho!" At the time we were within two miles of iJunkirk lighthouse. Then John h'ox flew up the conipanionway to take in the situation and j)r()ve(l eijual to it. He cried out: "If we can't jj^et up the foresail we'll be in the breakers in less than fifteen minutes." We followed him and found the 4- fi. t ;f ii 128 OLD TIME BREEZE. halyards unrceved. He sprang to the rigging, reeved them and, with great difficulty (as the sail was frozen) we got up about twenty feet of it, brought the vessel to the wind, and that moment about ten feet of the bul- wark of the weather bow was broached in by a heavy sea, but we held our own and crawled off the lea shore. The stdrm moderated rapidly and the sea went down. We recovered our jib and entered P»uP lo harbor about 5 p. m., and found six vessels blown i ^^h and dry on Buffalo beach by the gale we had weathered. Having safely moored the vessel and left instructions for the dam- ages to be repaired, I found my way to the then prin- cipal hotel, callerock. It was the head(|uarters of (ien. rn)ctor, and the brave forest heroes, Tecuniseh and Splitloji^; and ap^ain after the battle of the River Thames (ien. Harrison oecupied it as eon(|ueror, and my father (the owner) as a jirisoner of war. when so taken at the aforesaid battle while in connnand of the Kent militia, and was within, pistol shot of Tecuniseh, the bravest of the brave, when he fell mor- tally wounded. (In reality the house appears to be as sound and substantial to-day, October 8, 1895, as on the day it was finished.) We were keeping- bachelors' hall, and. as a matter of course, experienced the difficulties at- tendiufj housekeepinji^, as even now, for the want of proper help. In fact, servants in those days were out, of the (|uestion, and fortunate it was if you could procure a per- son once a week to do the washing and scrubbing of the house. The ordinary routine of indoor work was done by the mother and daughters, and (hat of the outdot)r work by the father and sons, even among the most re- It THE RUXAWAY SLA\R. 131 spectable and refined of the connnunity; and I (|uesti<)n very nnich whether there is lialf the comfort, pleasure and happi- ness with our present servants now as then without thcni. These various occupations end)raced all manner of work hut great store was placed on the successful raisinji;^ of fruit and j^ardeninj^. In fact the mainstay of the house- hold, and what constituted the [greatest delicacy in the veg-etable line, was the asj)aragus, and this delicious suc- culent when pro])aj^cTted as it should he with a deej), rich nu)ul(l for a top dressing, and tut when the pale and pur- ple bulbs of 'an inch or more in diameter have made their appearance, and with a sharp and pointed saw- hladed knife inserted three or four inches below the sur- face was (|uite a different sort of vegetable to that now generally seen exposed in nur markets, more like grass going to scfU tluiil hHytlnlng else. The mild and genial spring showers in the month of May that brought this vegttable to perfection was accom- panied with another (as great a di'licacy) namely, the snii)e, which in early lys were to be found along the marshes bordering the Detroit River at and below Sand- !l i ill''-' m ' 1 s 1 M ^ ^ K< ; r m', 'W. 132 THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. vvich and the swales back of it, where a bounti- ful supply was always to be had by the keen sportsman in the proper season. To commence my story, it was on a balmy morning in the month of May when occupied in our garden cutting asparagus, that a young man ap- proached us and inquired if we wanted to engage a ser- vant. Strongly prepossessed with his appearance, we asked him where he came from, to which he replied that he had run away from his master tin Kentucky, had ar- rived the night previous in Detroit, crossed the river into Canada as soon as possible, and was recommended to us for employment. Strange, I thought, that he had ever been a slave; his finely-chiseled features and liri^ht hazel eyes were not those of a n«.'j4Vo in the slightest degree, and save the slight shade of his bronzed complexion, he could at most be classed a quadroon. "How did you make your escape?" we linquired. "In the dead of tlie night I mounted my master's fleetest horse, passed the line in Ohio, and trav- e\\\}K\ on the underground railroad (a cordon of abolition- ists; plainly speaking, scattered through the state, who sue- THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 143 coured and aided these unfortunate serfs in their flight), got to Cleveland and the rest has been told." "What was your occupation?" he was then asked. "My master liired me to a stone and brick mason, and when master of my trade and of age took building contracts, made lots of money, and so I left him with barely clothes to cove* me, as you see. In my youtli I was hrouglit up to do all kinds of work, now in the kitchen, then in the garden, and again in the stable as groom. My mistress, being a French lady, prided herself on being a famous cook, and taught me how to prepare game and vegetables in the proper way." "Cest lo garcon q'ill nous faut, engage le," I said to Charles in French. "The boy we want, hire him." No sooner said than done. Turning to him I said, "Well, then, try your skill in gathering up the cuttings of the asparagus." He followed me to the kitchen, and as we passed through the porch, I pointed out to him six brace of snipe, and desired him to prepare them, and niiind not to remove the trail! It is needless to say lie implicitly obeyed instructions, and liad them served on toast and done to a turn. Andrew, for such was his name, i Mlifl! 134 THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. In proved a treasure. Respectful, cleanly, capable, lithe and active as a panther. We became much attached to him, and he to us. Some time elapsed, six months or so, when one morning while we were engaged in my brother's office writing up briefs, a knock was heard at the door, and the knocker desired to come in. A tall, slender per- son, with broad brimmed white felt hat, a cord and tas- sel in place of a hat band, dressed in Kentucky grey and the type of a Southern planter, addressed Charles, with- out taking off his hat, and asked, "Are you the proprie- tor here?'^ "In our country," replied Charles, "we are accustomed when past the threshold to uncover our heads; when you do so I will answer you." A crimson flush suffused his visage, and with a reluctant air he removed his hat. "Be seated, sir," said Charles, and in so doing he, the stranger, drew forth a cigar case and proffered each of us one, remarking at the same time, "I hope it will not be offensive to you to light a cigar." "Not at all, sir," we said, at the same tame declining his offer. "I have reason to believe you have a runaway slave in your employment, and being a horse thief, I suppose you would I I ' THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. "*i, 135 Iff ^ I be glad to get rid of him. In Michigan I could claim him, but in Canada your laws are different, I am told." "Decidedly so," was Charles' answer. Now continued the planter, "If the matter of two thousand ($2,000) dollars is an inducement, wiill you both lend me your aid in se- curing him?" Astonished at this proposition, Lliarles re- plied, "We don't barter in human flesh in Canada; your proposition I look upon as an insult, and the sooner you get out of this country the better for you." As he was about to leave. I said, "Hold on for a minute; if Andrew consents to go with you, all right; if not, he remains with us." So, hastening to the stable, I found Andrew busy grooming our horses (and a better pair never were sad- dled). "Andrew," I said, "do you know Mr. T, of Ken- tucky?" "Yes, sir," he replied. "He is in the office now and wishes to see you." If u thunder clap had unroofed the stable he could not have shown more terror. Drop- ping his currycomb and brushes, he exclaimed, "Great Heavens! My old master! What will become of me, Master William?" "Fear not," I said to him, "you are as safe here as in the fortress of Quebec, as far as the law tis con- B IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) , /.Q 1.0 I.I 1^ 1^ 1&^ 1^ 2.0 I ^WPIff 1.25 1.4 I pm VQ /,. ^^. ^ rhotegrfrohic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WnSTIR.N.Y. I4SI0 (716) trs^sos \ iV 4 •>^ ¥k V t\ 4' #^ ^ ill illi! i; I i (■n m Shjf 136 THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. cemed, and you have many friends to protect you while with us. Come on, and meet him face to face; we'll take care of you." Thus assured, we entered the office together. The Kentuckian, with an eagle eye fixed upon him, said: "Andrew, do you know me?'' "Yes, sir, I know you too well." "What became of my favorite horse. Sweep- stakes, that you stole from me?" "Sir, I never stole your horse. I used him as my best friend to gain my liberty. He was not saddle-galled, for I rode him bareback, and when he carnied me twenty-five miles I dismounted on the road he was accustomed to travel, took the bit from his mouth, secured the bridle around his neck, turned his head homeward, and I am as sure that he reached it as I am that I fled from it." "You will not return with me, then?" "Never! The punishment I would receive at your hands would be death." "That's enough, Andrew; go now to your v^^ork," I said. Exit Andrew, exit planter, and as the latter left the door, grinding his teeth, he mut- tered, "I'll hx him." A short time after this interesting interview, Andrew re-entered and said, "I'm not safe here. liViii:. THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. n7 and I'll get further into the interior of the countr}\ I thank you sincerely /or your kindness and friendship, but I feel that you would be lin danger as well as myself, if I remaiined. You little know his desperate character. I liave seen him brain a colt that would not follow him without a halter." "You must do nothing of the kind,'^ said Charles. "During the day there is no danger; at night there may be. We'll fit up the room at the left hand of the stair landing; keep the key in your pocket; make your bed there; load the two single and double- barreled guns you will find in the room with swan shot, and if anyone dares to open t!ie door or window, blow out his infernal brains.'' These precautionary instructions were earned out to the letter. "There was a sound of revelrv by night with pipe" and bowl, for a fortnight after in the old ancestral hall, 'till one or two in the morning keeping viigils wiith several friends in Andrew's defense, when it ceased, and we were tired out. It so happened that our every movement through spies v/as watched, and it was discovered that usually on a Sunday Andrew was left at home alone. Fortunately %.. 11 I ,;: m. ^1 IH Hii riHIiWi ^38 THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. for him on this occasion, Charles was unavoidably de- tained there, and was engaged in reading in the front room with doors and windows wide open, when an un- usual sound struck his ear as if brickbats or rocks were striking against the board fence and the side of the house. It would appear that the man with the broad brimmed white hat had hired five desperadoes in Detroit to kid- nap Andrew while we were at church. They crossed the river in a rowboat and landed it im- mediately in front of the old mansion, some one or two hundred yards from the house. Andrew had gone to tlfe bgiker's for a fresh loaf of bread, and on his return met the six ruffians awaiting him in the yard. In a flash he took in the situation, armed himself with two or three stones lying loose 'in the yard, and made for the stable door, which was standing wide open. It was the noise of these stones striking on the fence that drew Charles' attention to the yard, and observing the knot of scoun- drels endeavoring to tie Andrew hand and foot, he seized the handle of an axe close by, and, bareheaded and in shirt sleeves, went at them with the will of a tiger. ■'Jt i^^^V f tM ill M THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 139 :i*S(S' Surprised at this unexpected attack Andrew found himself relieved of two or three of them, (and the assur- ance of help gave him redoubled strength), and so min- gled in the fray that it was doubtful who had the best of it. At this moment a cavalcade of horse carts and cav- alry men hastening home from church (in a cloud of dust, and with the racket of a tempest), passed hard by, and jumped from their carts and dismounted their horses to see what the row was about. Panic stricken at this invasion it did not take long for the kidnappers to shake the dust from their feet and, running to their boat, as if the devil was after them, they shoved from the shore, and were soon across the river. It was at this stage of the affair that I arrived from church and met Charles and Andrew at the gate, a sorry looking pair, truly; covered with dirt and blood, the clothes nearly torn from their backs, fatint and ex- hausted, but neither seriously hurt. This was sufficient proof that there was no safety for him to be with us and the next day Andrev." was paid off, a subscription was made up among our friends, and he was advised to go W L#' ';•:' a*" ■ ff ^ i ni ■ t : 140 JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. to Toronto by stage. He was supplied with letters of recommendation and when Charles met him repeatedly for several years after, he was ever grateful for our r jrely tried friendship, and remained contented and prosperous in his place of refuge. if JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK (NOW TORONTO) IN 1833. The sad and unexpected news of our father's death in the town of York (the present city -of TorolnflSa.) on the 19th of February, 1833, caused the hurried departure of myself and brother Charles from Sandwich. On the even- ling of the 23d we reached Chatham with good sleighing, where we put up at an inn kept by one Claude Cartier, immediately on the bank of the River Thames and oppo- site the present Rankin House. Chatham was then but an insignificant hamlet. Sauntering about while supper was getting ready, we entered the sitting room, where we i |K|{^ IP' IK; 1 Im'^- %t ' JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. 141 observed the rather unusual sight of a person seated lin an arm chair with his feet in a tub of water and envel- oped in a blanket from head to foot. Asking the land- lady who this person was she replied diat he was a stran- ger and was badly frostbitten. A natural feeling of sym- pathy prompted us to approach him, and we asked him whence he came and how he came to be in this pitiable plight. "My name,'' he replied, "is Vidal, a captain in the Royal Navy. I arrived in Little York (Toronto) from Eng- land about a month ago, leaving my wife and young fam- ily at an hotel there for the purpose of visiiting, and per- haps settling in this part of Canada, I arrived here by stage yesterday morning, and engaged the landlord Car- tier as a guide, who told me that he was (as he appeared to be) familiar with the country for forty miles around. My intention was to examine some lots of land lin the seventh concession of the township of Raleigh, and after taking a hasty breakfast started off on foot, making a bee line through the unbroken forest with not even a clearing in sight. We found the lots, but not until day- ■ Ml i; f ■ . ' 1 n 142 JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. light was waning, and a heavy snowstorm had set lin. All traces beiiig thus hopelessly obliterated we soon lost our proper course homeward, and found that we wen; traveling in a circle (invariably the case with a lost wood- man). In this emergency Cartier proposed that I should remain behind and he would attempt alone to find his way to the river whence he could return wilth some con- veyance to take me back to Chatham. As I was pretty well used up I consented, but he informed me that I should be buried in snow to keep from freezing. To this I agreed, and the storm liaving abated, Cartier, guided by the north star, found his way out to the river, whence he returned to within a short distance of the place where he had left me, and found me walking about briskly, haviing become very nervous and restless in my snow tomb, and fearful oi the wolves, which I preferred meeting on foot. Hastening to the sleigh which he had provided we arrived here, when I found that I was se- verely frostbitten, and instead of rubbing me with snow they put me into this tub of warm water, which I think makes matters worse." We then asked him if we could JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. 143 be of any service. "Certainly you can," he replied. "As 1 can't write and will not be able for some time to come," lie replied, "will you ])lease drop a line to my poor wife and tell her as gently as pcjssible how I am situated." We told him that we were making all haste to get there, and would call on Mrs. Vildal and inform her as he desired. This seemed to cheer him up and give him great relief. What was to us surprising was the courage and fortitude of this afHicted IJritish sailor. Thrown upon the mercy of strangers, suffering excruciating agony his pluck and endurance never for a moment forsook him. He related to us the following incident. "When I was in Paris, France, last and strolling along the lioulevard St. Ger- main, I entered a cafe and ordered a dejeuner a la four- chette, and seating myself outside, two elderly gentle- men approached, and seated themselves at a table next to me; one said to the other: "You are a martyr to rheumatism, you tell me; is it painful?" "Well, I should say so,'' he replied. "I can only compare it to one put- ting his finger in a vise, and give it one turn, that's it." "Oh," replied the other, "that's nothing like gout, with i P 11 mm 144 JOL'RNJCV 'r(_) LIT'ILI': YORK. wlucli ! am loniuMitciI; j^ivc llio viso aiiotlicr turn, and that's llu' li.ioa." "Woli," said tlio oaptaiii, "had I those two t)Id oodi;trs liorc I woidd toll thoni to };ivo tliat vise another turn, atul th;it is frost hite." On our return from Little N'ork eij^Iit or ten days after, when passing- ilironj^h the Dorehester woods, we met a donhle (boxed) sleigh, in whieh we observed as it was passing a man lying at full length on his back, covered with bulTalo robes and blankets, his head only viisible. It turned out that this was Cant, \idal. lie toM us he was getting <.n\ all right, ami lie hoi)e(l to be soon out again. He was nmeh pleased to hear that we had seen Mrs. X'itlal, who was tjuite well, and that we had delivered his message. Two years after this I happened to be at tlu' Windsor and Detroit crossing, and observed a small craft anchored ii' the stream opposite what was then' Pit! re St. Amour's inn. now the liritisli American hotel, and I asked Pierre to whom the craft belonged. "To Capt. Mdal, of Sarnia," he said, and the captain shortly after making his appearance, I asked him if he remem- bered me. "I don't know you from Adam,'' he replied. J0URNJ':Y T(J LITTLK YORK. M5 "Well, C'lptaiii," 1 tTJoiticd, "I shall iicvt-r forj^^ct you, and your vt'iitnrc in the Kalcij^h woods, and tlic figure y(ju cut ill ( articr's vvaslituh!'' "Ah," said lie, "1 now reineinher you distitictly, and the adventure you refer to, and our meeting in the Dorchester woods. On that oc- casion lit took- nie four days to reach York, and I never left my sleigh during that time, as I found it much more comfortable than the wretched bedrooms .it the taverns where there was no fire. The driver took good care of me during the day, and his bulldog slept in the sleigh and guarded nie at night. On my arrival at York I sent for Dr. Widmcr, a celebrated army surgeon settled in Little York, who, after examiming me, ])ronounced my case a serious one. I said to him, 'Doctor, I am an old sailor, and would like to have as much of my hands saved as would haul in a rope or hold a tiller.' He did so, and brought me through, as you see," (exposing his right hand, with part of his thumb and four fingers gone). He did not show me hiis left hand or his feet; probably they fared a little better. He had purchased a farm and was settled at Sarnia, adjoining the town, and eventually 146 JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. became collector of customs at that port. (Fatlicr of the present senator.) On our journey and on our return home we stopped at an inn in the Long woods with the sign "The Trav- ellers' Home/' and drove directly to the stable, where we found the landlord, who appareniiy was in a very bad humor. "What's up?" we asked him. "Oh,'' he replied, "I never was lin such an infernal stew in all my life. Last night I was here in the stable doing up my chores, when my wife, whom I had left alone in the house, came rush- ing in, exclaiming, 'John, run quickly to the house, for the devil is there, sure!' Arming myself with my pitch- fork, I hastened to the house and entering tiie barroom found the devil there, sure enough, facing me, with his back to the fire, clothed in a suit of sheepskins, with the wool on from head to heels, with a ram's head so dressed that the shape was perfectly preserved, tlie horns being well set up, and two glaring glass eyes the size of a sil- ver dollar. 'Who and what the devil are you?' I asked him. 'Why, what's the matter with you?' he replied, 'and what's all this fuss about? Can't a man in this free coun- of the Dpped Trav- re we ' bad plied, Last when rush- ?, for )itch- "oom 1 his I the issed ^Q\n^ L sil- sked 'and Ditn- g ' , If i iilll "WHO, AND WHAT THE DEVIL ARE YOU?" JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. 147 try dress as he pleases in this blasted climate of yours? I see folks driving about wrapped in bear, buffalo and wolf robes, why not I in sheep skins?' and throwing ofif his suit and taking a scat j>eforc the open fireplace as cool as a cucumber, ordered his horse to be put up, (he had tied him to the signpost), to wash him witli cold water, rub him dry and bed Iiini up to his Ix'lly in straw, to prepare supper for him innnc«liately, and ordered a hot whiiskey punch, to make him warm, all done according t(^ his directions. At night he ordered a tub of cold water up to his. room to take a bath before retiring to bed. No fire and thermometer at zero. Next morning after his breakfast he called for his bill, in which I had charged him for extras for his liorse and hhnself. lie flew into a towering rage at this, and said, 'Sir, you are a knave and an extortioner, and I shall haul you up before the first magistrate that I can find,' and strapping on his sheep skins strode out to where his horse was tied to the signpost. My wiife making her appearance at this moment, said to me, 'John, receij)t that man's bill and let him go, for he may give us a deal of trouble.' I*i 11^ Ml if'' i.t. if \ ■■ JKB ' \ m ■ m 148 VISIT TO COL. TALBOT. So stepping- up to him i said, Micro is your bill, receipted, sir; l)ut should you ever couie thiis way aj^ain, j^ive my house a wide berth, for if you don't I'll pepper you with a dose of bucUslK)t, and there is no judge or jury that will fmd me j^uilty for shootinj;' a wolf in sheep skins."' This eccentric individual was a brother of the late Col. Talbot, and he was then on luis way to visit his brother, whose home was on the banks of Lake ICrie, and not far from St. Thomas. 1 never heard if he ever paid his bill; but of course he did. for this class of individuals, though rough and cranky, are seldom dishonest. \ ISIT TO COL. TALBOT IN 1841. My first glimi)se of this remarkable man was in th directors was called and the guilt was fastened upon him. A messenger was dispatched to his home, but the bird had flown, and the messenger informed that he had left €arly in the morning in his bark canoe. It ' as at once conjectured that he had crossed the lake (Ontario) at the nearest point to the United States and Capt. Richard- son, of the steamer Canada,, was dispatched by the bank directors in pursuit of the fugitive, and overhauled him near Fort Niagara, and upon ordering him to surren- der, he stood up in his canoe and deliberately swallowed the contents of a vial of laudanum. Capt. Richardson immediately returned with his prisoner to Little York, and stopping at the garrison, took on board the surgeon of the regiment, stationed there, and with the aid of a stomach pump, ejected the poison. While the patient was lin convulsions, and from which he recovered, was tried and found guilty, and banished from the country. No event that had ever occurred in the town had proved such an astonishing and painful sensation. A short time after his banishment he committed a for- gery on the bank's cashier by signing his (the cashier's) VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE. 159 name to a draft; was tried and found guilty and impris- oned in Detroit's jail, situated at this time where the pub- lic library now stands. The woman followed him and was hils constant visitor while in prison. My brother Charles, who was living with my uncle, Baptiste Baby in the old mansion in Sandwich, (still standing), hearing of his incarceration, and having been one of his old school- mates in Little York, called to see him, and felt deeply in his misfortune and disgrace, and contributed to his wants and comforts pending his trial. I had paid a visit to Little York a short time before this and had but just returned to Sandwich, when Charles, in a confidential way, broached the subject I am about to relate. "Who do you suppose paid me a visit last night? Our old schoolmate, F. R. I had retired to bed," he continued, "and windows wide open from ex- cessive heat, and about four a. m. (my lamp still burn- ing), I heard my name called softly several times, and putting my head out of the window heard him say lin a suppressed tone of voice, 'Is that you, Charley?' and I replied, 'Yes, who are you?' And he said, 'Let me in, ll* : i ' j ! ' i iLiiiiiii' i6o VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE. quick. I am a friend.' So I slipped on my pants and slippers and descended the stairs, let him in and con- ducted him to my room upstairs. When brought to the light Ills appearance appalled and frightened me. A red silk handke**chief tied around his head, with ends hang- ing down his beck, his short blanket coat on, and around his waist the useful sash, under which was stuck a but- cher knife and in his stocking feet (he lost his blanket shoes in the marsh), and his story added to my conster- nation. I will repeat it in his own words. For a fortnight past I led the turnkey to believe I was partially insane, and kicked up a d — 1 of a row in my cell, played on my flute (he was an excellent player) and ham- mered on the window sill, and my female friend supplied me stealthily with what I required. First, we were allowed to walk in the corridor of the prison, and with a piece of dough I took the impressiion of the keyhole of my c<^ll door and with a piece of pewter or zinc hammered a key to fit it. I then c.tapiece out of my blanket coat tail, and made a pair of slippers to avoid noise, chose a dark and stormy night for the purpose and about two a. m. rolled up VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE. i6i my blanket coat, tied it to one end of my sash, and started for tlie end of the corridor where slept the turnkey near the door. 1 had made up my mind to sell n^y life dearly if in- terrupted, and held the knife aloft, this is it (showing me a butcher knife), and had he attempted my arrest he would have felt its keen blade; approaching the door I felt for the lock, which fortunately was unlocked, and loosening the clasp it fell, and awoke the turnkey, who, sitting on his haunches in bed, demanded "Who is there?'' I could hear my heart beat, and sui)pressed my breath; I held my knife ready to destroy my victim if he attempted to seize me. The howling and racket of the wind deceived him, and turn- ing in his bed, he soon again slept and snored. I then quietly opened the door sufficiently to let me pass through, and mounting the stairway like a scared monkey, was soon in the upper story of the old jail, which was surrounded by a row of poiinted cedar pickets about 15 feet high. Unloosening my sash, with one end of it tied to the blanket I threw the latter from an open window over the picket fence some six or eight feet from me, and holding on to the end of the sash I ft m 1 1 1! p h'. 1 i\ i' ■ I • h 1 I ■ - ! f ' ; i: ■ : ; i (1 ! i ^ u. 1 ' 1 I'li i i 1 1 '' ' ! ■■f; 1 ! ■ i \ j 1i 1 ii! 162 VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE. jumped clinging to it. i tlien hanled myself hand over hand to the top of the fence, and dropping down outside, made for the river, and when opposite here, now Clark's dock, stole a skiiflf and landed nearly opposite, and not knowing the road to the river struck the marsh and waded through it, up to my hips, as you see. Now, said Charles, here was a dilemma that perplexed me and which would have puzzled a Philadelphia lawyer, as to what was to be done. I could not keep him with safety to myself, or him either, so I got him to clean him- self up of his marsh mud, dressed him in a suit of my own clothes, and called witli hiim on a confidential friend, and had him stowed away in the garret of his fowl house, where he can neither stand up or walk, but is crouched like a tiger in his lair. It was in this hole, which I climbed up to the next day on a short ladder, tliat I had my first glimpse of him since I had last seen the dashing, gay and festive Lothario in Little V'^rk! His wild and glaring eyes, and distended nostrils, and trembling voice, attested the soul- harrowing fear he labored under, so we soon left him with the promise to see him soon again. As we well knew, the 'i I VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE. 163 1(1 over outside, Clark's ind not 1 waded w, said mc and /yer, as m with ;an him- niy own nd, and , where a tiger p to the mpse of festive ^es, and le soiil- ini with lew, the authorities in Detroit were wide awake and came over lin squads in search of the culprit, but he was so well con- cealed that he remained undiscovered, and shortly after midnight with our aid he left Sandwich, through the back woods, bound for Moravian town, an Indian village near the famous battle ground on the River Thames, and after a few days rest there started for another Indian village (Muncy- town) in the township of Delaware, not far from London, thence to Little York again, but Canada had ceased to protect him, and again he got back to the United States, was arrested, tried, incarcerated in Auburn's State prison for life, and where by his prepossessing appearance, his courtly and gentlenipnly manners, he so ingratiated himself in the good will of its managers, that he became usefully employed there, until by some unlucky chance, he fell down stairs and broke his neck. Note. — In my brother's frequent visits to tlie jail he so well informed himself as to the locality of the house that otherwise he never would have reached it. i M' il lit f ■ i r i ■ i i ' 1 k i j i ! ' , ■■J ■■ ; ■ i' 1 -. ■ ' ' ', i 1 i j 1 1: 1 j 1 164 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. VISIT TO THE VILLAGE OF WICKWIMIKONG, MANITOULIN ISLAND. On a sultry evening in the month of August, 1864, I was seated on my veranda in Sandwich, watching the vapors from my favorite T. D. pipe as they gently as- cended and assumed various forms (suggestive of build- ing castles in the aiir) when my meditations were sud- denly interrupted by the appearance of my old friend, J. R. B., of Milwaukee, who cordially joined in this agreeable pastime, and the following subject was broached : "I have just returned,'' he commenced, "from a trip in the Lake Superior region, in search of timber limits, and copper, gold or silver mines, accompanied by Mr. L. (a noted geologist of New York), and on our return home passed through the great Manitoulin Island, and on our passage through while skirting the shores of South Bay, on the southern portion of the island came in sight of a promontory of singular and striking appear- ance oil its shore, as white as snow and resem- MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 165 bling an old ruined castle, and on our near approach to it composed (as the geologist thought) of white lime- stone or marble in layers of two, six and twelve inches lin thickness, and a shelf landing of the same rock, where a seventy-four-gun ship could be moored directly along- side of it." So striking and favorable an impression did this rock produce on the mmd of the geologist, that he remarked to my friend ''that were he livting in Canada, he would not leave a stone unturned until he could secure a right to work the quarr\'." "Now," continued B., "I am living in Milwaukee, and engaged in business there, so I can't attend to it, but if you will undertake to secure the location from the government and the Indians, I will pay all your expenses, and further- more, wiill send you a map and trace upon it every step necessary for you to take as a guide *o find it. What say you, will you try it?" "I have no particular objection," I replied, "but I think the difficulties will be hard to overcome. First you have to deal with the government, then with the Indians, and last, though not least, the missionary fathers (S. J.), who regard 1 I \m m m ■■ 1 ' '1 '^ i ■■ ; i ' ■ » ' ] . r t ■■ 1 i !'■' ■'\ -Itr. ... j j ' ■ \ 1 - 1 ■' ' ' i 1 M J 1 i66 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. with a jealous eye the welfare of the Indians, and prevent as much as possible the contamination of the white man in their settlements." "Very true," my friend replied, "but your knowledge of the country, and the people you have to deal with, places you in a position as favorable to succeed as any other per- son. In short, nothing ventured, nothing won, is my motto.'' With this logic I consented to go. I was instructed by my friend, on reaching Collingwood to prepare for the expe- dition a steel drill (an inch bar about four feet long, sharp- ened and tempered), a mason's hammer, a shovel, two pounds of blasting powder, fuse, etc. It is needless to say that in the course of six or eight days, my friend complied with his promise promptly and liberally, and a very short time after, I started on my voyage of discovery. Took the Great Western Railroad at Windsor to Toionto, and reached Collingwood via the Northern Railroad got my supplies, and took passage on the steamer bound for the Sault Ste. Marie, and landed at Killarney, at the head of the Georgian Bay, near the foot of the Lacloche Mountains^ MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 167 some twenty miles distant from the Manitoulin Island. Hunted up Charles Lamarandier, I. dian trader and mail carrier, and worked my passage in his birch canoe, and reached Wickwimikong village, on the Great Manitoulin Island. As the inhabitants were all Indians or half-breeds, there was no place for a stranger to lodge, and it being twelve, midnight, I was advised by the trader to ask for lodgings at the mission house. Leaving him to sleep or pass the night in his canoe, I ascended a rocky faced hill some one or two hundred feet in height, and found the church and mission house adjoining it, built near its edge and commanding a charming view of the bay and country for miles around. A loud knock at the door soon after was answered by a lay brother, who opened it, and upon being informed who I was, provided me with a comfortable bed. At five o'clock that morning I was disturbed by the same brother with a gentle knock at the door and the usual salu- tation of the house: *'Benedicanius Domino" (praise the Lord). "Who is there?" I replied, instead of "Deo Gratias" (the proper answer) "thanks be to God," and he passed on, satisfied that I was alive, for when the answer is not \ I* I I il ': : ■ ' 1 I , i i . ' : > ■ \ I i ii i j i 1 \ ' i 1 i i i68 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. promptly made, an entrance to the chamber has occasionally disclosed the fact of sudden death or helpless illness. At that time five of the fathers, viz: Kohler (the supe- rior), Chone, Blatner, Ferrar and Hanepeau, were at the miission house, assisted by four lay brothers. The latter attended to the labours of the farm and indoor work (no women being employed by the Jesuits as house servants), but in harvest and pressing times the fathers gave a helping hand. The same brother who let me in, invited me to take breakfast, and directed me to the dining-room, telling me that I would find a cofifee pot, containing three gallons, kept hot on the kitchen stove, and the table supplied with bread and butter, and bowls with maple sugar; all that con- stituted their breakfast. After this repast, which the fathers took standing, and in silence (as no conversation is observed at meals, but pas- sages from the lives of the saints or other religious books are read by one of the lay brothers). Father Hanepeau enquired of me "what was my errand?" I then frankly told him all about ilt, and asked himif I had their consent, as well as the Indians, to prosecute the search. He gave MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 169 me every encouragement, and said he would assist me in procuring a faithful guide, a birch canoe of his own, a bag of flour twenty-five pounds, a piece of pork fifteen pounds, one pound of tea, a tin kettle, cups, knives, baking powder and salt, maple sugar, a trolling line and spoon hook, for which I paid him. Collecting these together with niy d'^ill, shovel and hanmier, and tying tliem in a bundle with my plaia shawl, which was to serve nic as a blanket, it was quite equal to one man's pack (about forty pounds), which I would have to carry across two portages. We soon found Pierre Lafrance, a half-breed, the guide, a smart, active and intelligent fellow, who spoke French, of course, broken Engliish, and Indian. Struck a bargain with him, and found him ripe for the occasion. Bidding the father adieu, and thanking him for his trouble and kindness, we struck a path for Manitowoning Bay via Bayfield Inlet. Pierre, with the canoe upside down over his head and shoulders, and I with the pack on my back, crossed the portage, about five miles, in two hours, and struck the inlet, launched our canoe, took off our boots, and paddled for the head of the bay, some ■!'1 ■i\,:'9 '! r ^ ? ; I- ilili ! '■II' ) i1 1 ir i.i'f 170 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. fifteen or twenty miles distant, and from which point to South Bay, another portage of four or five miles was to be made. About one p. m., after three hours coasting, Pierre said we must land and have dinner. These hungry chaps would eat twenty times a day if you would give it to them, and I was curious to see him prepare for it; wiith an axe which he carried he soon collected along shore plenty of dry wood, and soon had a brisk fire, then going to the shore, took from the water a clean flat stone the size of a soup plate, and stuck it up on edge before the fire to heat, and seizing the bag of flour, turned down the mouth of it even with the flour, scooped a hole in it, threw in a pinch of salt and baking powder, and a cupful of water, and worked a lump of dough the size of his two fists, flattened it out on tlie stone, and again set it before the fire, hung the tin kettle up over the fire, filled with water, cut three or four slices of pork and chucked them into the boiling water for about five minutes, then held my shovel over the fire and fried the pork, threw in half a cup of tea and one cup of maole sugar into the kettle, and served the dinner on pieces of birch bark. Whether it was the exercise, or the . '■•(:■.-«.,£' MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 171 bracing air, or both combined, which hungered me, I know not, but I never partook of food with greater rehsh. All that was to be cleaned after thiis repast was the shovel, which Pierre did, by jabbing it into the sand. Great Scott, I thought, if my lady friends would take a leaf from Pierre, what a deal of bother there would be saved, to be sure. Again we took to our canoe, and with our trolling line caught six black bass. Arrived at the head of Manitowon- ing Bay at seven p. m., and slept under our canoe, tan- talized by fleas insiide of our clothing, and devoured by mosquitoes outside. Spei».; a horrible night, but Pierre swore he never slept better. At daylight we commenced to cross the portage of four or five miles, with the woods on fire, and with great difficulty, climbing over burning trees obstructing oar path, arriving at South Bay about nine a. m., and had breakfast, with the addition of black bass. Laimched our canoe and coasted along the barren and bleak shore, with my map as a guide, and on the bright lookout for the object in view, which made its appearance some six or seven miles ofT, and with striking effect. On landing, I found it unnecessary to resort to blasting, as any i. • i B ' t !M l\\ ^i i 1$ i ! f:li I 'ill ' li i'l't Ik , I! 5 ii I il: ! 172 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. quantity of dififerent specimens could be broken off from the layers. Secured them, and prepared to return home, but my first object was to get rid of the fleas, which still tormented me; so, jumping into the canoe, I landed on a solitary rock, stripped myself of every vestige of clothing, spread it in the bright sun, and took a good bath, resulting to my entire satisfaction. After carefully examining and taking soundings at the entrance of the bay, and satisfied of its safe navigation to Lake Huron, I returned to camp and found Pierre in good humor, Vvitli u supply of green corn, potatoes and a male white fish just caught, which he oljtained from an old Indian. I asked him how he intended cooking lit, and if he was going to fry it on my shovel. "Oh, no, spoil," he said; "I show you." So, cutting a stout switch the size of his forefinger, twice the length of the fish, sharpened it at both ends and ran the small end of it through its mouth, nearly to the tail, then sti'-k it firmly into the sand, before a bright fire, when oiu ^i!e was cooked, turned the other, and when the drip from the mouth fell clear the fish was done, and served on a piece of clean birch bark. Epicures rave about snipe and woodcock MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 175 1 from lome^ [1 still on a thing, ulting g and itisfiecl i camp green ich he tended "Oh, stout le fish, of it firmly c was mouth If clean )dcock served on toast, but give me a whitefish cooked in this way and served on birch bark. Bat mind, it must be a male fish. Getting ready to start for home, and a favorable breeze springing up, Pierre suggested that we should sail instead of paddling and workings so hard. "Where are your saiils?'' I said. "Monsic'ir, votre chale est tout ce qu'ille faut" (your shawl is all wc want), and giving him my consent to use it, we put ashore, and in about twenty minutes cut two cedar saplings, used my shawl as a sail, and away we scudded at the rate of about six miles an hour. As neces- sity lis the mother of invention, I was fully impressed with the belief that of all garments invented by man (or woman) the shawl is the most useful. Towards night, approaching our camping ground at tiic iicad of the bay, the wind had increased to a living gale, wlicn Pierre directed my atten- tion to a bright light on land some distance off, wiith the simple remark, "Big fire," which it proved to be, for in an incredibly short time it was abreast of us, moving with the whirlwind, and the roar and flashing of a thunder storm. Old patriarchs of the forest, with extended arms aflame and yielding to the tempest's blast, would rock to and fro for a 'f"'. 1 I 'P ^ V M . f ■ ■ ; 1 ■ ] ;: m i i?!i| i '< ' i.i': 1 , ;;:■ ['■It J 174 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. moment and suddenly k '1 and disappear in the devouring element with the noise of thunder; anon the screecliiing night owl, or the startled and bewilderc^^ wood grouse (partridge), would be seen darting through the fire-lit clouds and sud- denly disappear. Fortunately our camping ground was out of lits course, and safely landing, turned our canoe over us on the wind- ward side, and with a good supply of new hay, slept soundly. On my return to Wickwimikong, I found the late Bishop Farrel of Hamilton there, who was on a tour of his diocese, and whose present mission was to confirm some fifty or one hundred Indian children, and I can scarcely express my surprise at the enthusilasm and respect shown to this venerable dignitary, when on his departure from the mission house, he was escorted to Killarney by the chiefs and Indians in their canoes, with all the pomp and cere- mony due to royalty itself. On the day following, when ready to start for home. Father Blatner, a Swiss, I think, and a most learned and accomplished linguist (since appointed to a professor's chair at Fordham, N. Y.), MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 175 )uring : night ridge), d sud- [:ourse, : wind- , slept :he late • of his some arcely shown m the chiefs cere- when think, (since Y.), approached and enquired how I had succeeded in my search for stone? After giving him full particulars, he remarked, "I think there is something far more attractive and lucrative on the island, and that is oil." At this startling revelation I pricked up my ears and eagerly desired further information. He then told me that he would, in company with the prin- cipal chiefs of the island, accompany me across the bay and I could judge for myself. At the appointed hour we started and arrived at the desired spot, and as we approaclied liv, discovered for several yards around it a perfect calm, and a peculiar colour reflected by the rays of the sun on the water, indicating the presence of the much souglit for treasure, and for further proof, on landing the Indians spread a blanket over the water, and after several attempts wrung from it a sufficient quantity to fill a quart bottle. Thus did I strike oil. Returning to tlie nuission liouse, the approval of the prin- cipal Indians and the missionaries was secured, and the lease afterwards confirmed by the government of 75,000 acres of that portion of the island not ceded, for the cxplo- I ' m I'l M i! . I ^n ! ^ U'f fii an ■1(1 iffi i'i 176 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. ration and testing of the territory including the whole of Cape Smith. I could not leave this interesting spot with- out expressing my sincere thanks to these friendly Indians and missionaries for their hospitality, and the confidence they reposed in me, a perfect stranger; and how often and with what deep interest h^ve I reflected siince, upon the incidents of my first \:s'x to their establishment. How men of such cultured minds, varied talents, nursed and schooled in the lap of luxury as many of these missionaries are, and suddenly plunged into this rude, uncultivated, uncivilized and inhospitable region, with no associates save the untu- tored children of the forest, is difficult to understand. It is not surely for filthy lucre, for ^ that the poor savage does not possess. Then what is it? It must be the anchor of faith, nope and charity alone! During my short stay, I'^ather Hanepeau, the one who procured me a guiide, invited me into his room, where he had a printing press, and where he taught his young Indian pupils how to print in the Indian language their hymn books. Seeing no bed in the room, I said: "Feather, where do you sleep?'' "There," he replied, painting to a shelf with i*./^..-.—.,. MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 177 Ire do with a buffalo robe to lie on, and another rolled up for a pillow. He was then seventy years old, and for six months in the year spent them in visiting the different encampments for hundreds of miles around, often obliged to draw his tobog- gan and his traps in winter over two and four feet of snow, on his snow shoes. "How do you celebrate mass in these camps?" I enquired. "This is all I carry on my toboggan or in my canoe," he answered, pointing to a box about four feet long, two feet wide, and eight inches deep; "when I open it in camp it stands on four legs, and when it is empty it serves as my altar. My vestments, chalice, candle- sticks, crucifix, etc., are packed in it." "What about your provisions?" I enquired. "Where an Indian can live, so can I," he answered, "dried fish and Indian corn boiled together is breakfast, dinner, and supper." "Pretty tough?" I queried. "Yes, for those who live to eat. I eat to live." I asked no more questions. I dreamed that night I met this old and weatherbeaten pilot of the cross in a gorge of the Lacloche Mountains, just twenty miles distant, and in sight from where I slept, and as the first rays of the morning sun gilded their hoary peaks I ''I w. t iii! ■i'l ■ ;.i Hi it;'! h I P'lH liii l! ri 111 178 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. and the vault of heaven, his only chapel, I heard the tinkling bell of the lonely savage (his only guide and companion), as with head bowed down, on bended knees he announced the elevation of the host. And I beheld tlie silver-haired and bare-headed pilot in purple chasuble, with arms uplifted and pointing heaven- ward, and in his fingers were held the offspring of Mary, tlie Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, as he implored our Heavenly Father, that through the love, suffering and thorn-crowned agony of this, his dearly beloved Son, in whom he was so well pleased, his wrath against fallen man would be appeased, and the ten thousand angels that were present at the nativity, with the star illum- inating the manger in Bethlehem one thousand eight hun- dred and ninety-two years ago, and the same shepherds then tending their flocks, and the three wise men from the East enthroned on theiir snow white camels, burdened with their offerings of gold, myrrh, and enveloped in clouds of incense, exclaimed in one voice, "Hosannah, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men." And the chorus of these angels, shepherds and wise men, .-it \h MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 179 added to the savages and pilots, reverberated throughout these mountains of Lacloche, and the awful detonation awoke me in fear and trembling. The solidtude for the more destitute of the inhabitants of the village is worthy of note. In the basement of this mission house a large room is set apart for their special use, rough benches are placed around it, and in the center a table, and as you enter the outside door, a bell pull is con- spicuous, and upon ringing this bell a sliide windov/ opens to the kitchen, through which is passed by a lay brother a pan of milk, a loaf of bread, tin cups and spoons. It was seldom the room was without occupants, either with poor squaws and squalid children or old, decrepit men. No charge. For what could these poor creatures offer in return, unless it were a ddsh of strawberries or huckleberries plucked from the hillside by the squaws and children, or maybe the first whitefish or trout snared in the gill-net of the crippled Indian? In witnessing this scene, how sen- sibly is one reminded of that beautiful passage, "Simeon Peter, lovest thou me? Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee! Feed my sheep. Feed my lambs!" This pre- -I i8o MANITOULIN ISLANDS. ; I M^ : I1M iJI caution is taken to save time and unrecessary intrvcsion in other parts of the house, as their poverty engenders filth and vermin, and is to be avoided by keeping them at arm's length. Nor are the more thrifty children of both sexes neglected. A school is established close to the missiion house, where the boys are taught by the lay brothers of the order in the most necessary branches of education, such as English, French, and geography, simple rules in arithmetic, writing, etc. At a future time I had frequent occasion to visit this school, and was much interested in studying the character of these wild children of the lakes and forests. In reply to my question, are they apt schol- ars? their old teacher replies: "Yes, very.'' They are extremely sensitive, however, and require mild and per- suasive treatment. Instead of the rod when they deserve it, we imprison them lin the school room as their greatest punishment. Such is their innate nature, that like the young duckling which runs to water ere it is full fledged, or the quail or partridge to cover; so does the Indian love to come and go v/ith perfect freedom. For the girls, there is also established an admirable school by a sisterhood of i* ■ ! MANITOULIN ISLANDS. i8i charity from Cleveland, O., who conduct a small farm con- nected with their establishment, and attend to all the manual labors of it. Nay, build their own houses, and are most suc- cessful in all branches of refined husbandry. Their exam- ple in this line, apart from education, is of incalculable worth to the natives. In studying the Indian character one cannot but admire the skill and readiness of both men and women to acquire and perform mechanical labour in its various and useful branches. With the assistance of a head mason and carpenter, they have built a stone church and miission house, with altar, pews, and windows, display- ing as much, taste and craft as their more fortunate white brethren. Where they display their greatest ingenuity and skill, however, is in the construction of their birch bark canoes and Mackinaw boats, unrivaled in their safe, buoy- ant, and sailing qualities, I took the steamer at Killarney in due time, and arrived at Sandwich, and made no delay in showing my specimens of stone and oil in Detroit. The former was pronounced of too flinty a nature to be easily worked, but Professor Duffield certified to the superior quality of the oil, after being thoroughly tested, pronounc- m h\ ¥■: H'r It i It „i i ill 'I I! 1 i 4:1 ■! |: 'p , :* !'■ B'il: 182 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. ing it equal to the best Pennsylvania oil ; I hastened to Mill- waukee to meet B. and report, who when I met him, eagerly inquired, "How about the stone-quarry?" "A failure, I'm afraid," I replied, "but I have struck oil," and producing the bottle gave Inni its history. Surprised at the sudden turn of afifairs, he immediately proposed forming a company, and I was to proceed at once to Quebec, then the seat of government, to ratify our proceedings. A company was formed and $50,000 paid in, and after two years of hard labor sinking six wells from twenty to three hundred and sixty feet deep, purchasing machinery and employing the Indians in the construction of houses, ' 'ulding a dock, chopping cordwood, etc., we only succe^ ^ in producing one liundred barrels of refined all, pronounced by Parsons, the refiner in Toronto, as the best in Canada, but which exhausted our means, and forced us to abandon the enter- prise. In throwing these crude and hastily written remin- iscences together, to those who feel interested in the sub- ject it may prove interesting to learn the actual state of things as noted below in the present, day. I found the Indians lin 1864 scattered over their reservation, but princi- -'ii^'^ii. m 'HiiiiMiiMniiiwwwMii MANITOULIN ISLANDS. ^83 pally in and about their village (Wickwimikong), and occu- pying miserable log huts and destitute of every comfort in their surroundings. Indeed, after planting their small patches of com and potatoes in the spring, they abandoned thetir houses, leaving the squaws and children co tend to their crops until the fall, to gain a precarious living* by fish- ing and hunting in the regions of the Georgian Bay and Lakes Huron and Superior country. Impressed with the idea of their poverty and discomfort, I felt a strong desire to know how they progressed, not having seen or heard from them sinre then, and I had the temerity to write to the missionaries and requesting the information I so much desired. To my agreeable surprise I received a prompt answer from the superior. Rev. F. J. Hebert, dated October 15, 1 891, from which I take the liberty of making the fol- lowing extract: "The fathers mentioned in your letter have all passed away. We number seven priests and seven lay brothers (it must be borne in mind that this mission em- braces the Lake Superior region, to Fort William, and this is their headquarters). The population of the Indians lis 860; many of them are living in com'ortable and commo- !■ : 'i $' '■h 1 -!| ' i; ' ' '.M \ 1 >' l''s' i 1 1 'I' ' 1 ' ill • 1 ' i ' 1 ? / i i ' 1 1 f; ■ ■ 1 ■ .V pi u < mj '} 1 ; ; KMi '■ 1 ■ ■ ;' If ; 1 . i ; i .,i^ 184 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. dious houses, with carpeted floors, musical instruments and gardens well stocked with fruit trees. They have progressed rapidly in farming, raising wheat, oats, potatoes, etc., have fine horses and cattle, an industrial school with fifty pupils in regular attendance, where they are taught shoemaking, blacksmithing, tailoring, etc., partly supported by the Canadian Government. Many of them are excellent mechanics, such as masons, plasterers, house builders, etc. A temperance society has been established withm the last year and now numbers ninety-six members. They have a large convent, which is at the same time an industrial school with fifty pupils, besides regular boarders. Two large general stores are doing a thriving business, also a saw miill and door and sash factory." The Rev. Father concludes his interesting letter with the humorous remark: "They are not all saints, but I believe they can compare favorably with their more favored white brethren." It is gratifying to learn at all events, that the labours of these isolated missionaries have not been fruitless, and are iln profound sympathy as expressed in Pope's beautiful lines: MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 185 "Lo the poor Indian whose untutored mind, Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind." In the summer of 1866 (I think it was) I happened to be in the village of Killarney on the Georgian Bay, when the late Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Sir Alexander Campbell, landed there with the Hudson Bay Company's bark canoe, and Factor King, of Michipicotons post, with twenty voyageurs in command, on his return from Lake Superior, and on hiis way to the city of Ottawa via that river and after leaving Killarney landed at the first portage late in the evening. At early dawn the next morning Sir Alexan- der arose and though quite lame, with the aid of a cane took the path for a short walk while breakfast was getting ready, and had proceeded but a short distance when he descried the curling smoke from a camp fire, and approaching it, to his surprise observed a priest in his vestments saying mass, with his two Indian guides serving him, directly in the path ; wait- ing for a short time until he had finished, he approached and introduced himself to the priest (Father IIanepeau),to whom he gave a pressing invitation to return with him to break- fast, which the father modestly declined. Observing a po*. 1 t;. m ■f I i V m m I m^ ^iii ill I iiin m J;:ii ^^li i86 MANITOULIN ISLANDS. on the fire with a mixture of fish and Indian corn, and three tin pans placed upon the ground, with as many miquens (an Indian wooden spoon) to serve it, "At least," remarked Sir Alexander, "allow me to send you something to diversify your fare." "My guides, no doubt," he replied, "would be glad to receive it, but when that gives out we'll have to fall back on our usual dish." "You have chosen a rough path to follow heavenward," Mr. Campbell remarked. "To you, perhaps, it appears so^" replied the priest, "yet I never find my burden too heavy to carry; and we get used to it, like everything else; as the galled shoulder on the plough-horse burns when raw, at first, yet in time it gets callous and ceases to pain." It is needless to say that one of the guides returned with Sir Alexander to his camp, who supplied him with a generous basket of pro- visions to return with. ! i 1 THE INDIAN PILOT. 187 THRILLING EXPERIENCE WITH AN INDIAN PILOT. While prosecuting our search for coal oil at Cape Smith, on the great Manitoulin Island, it became the duty of one of our officers to proceed to Killarney, (the steamboat landing), eighteen miles distant, and receive some thousand feet or more of two-inch iron pipe and have the same transported in open boat to the cape. The gentleman in question, whom I shall call B., was not long in finding the owner of a large built Mackinaw boat, a tall athletic Indian by name Joe Miconce, (Bear), who, with his brother, was engaged to make the trip, our friend B. to accompany them and give directions. The owner of the boat was of the quiet order of In- dians, who seldom speak unless there be absolute neces- sity for conversation. He was ratlicr a fine looking specimen of the red* man in physique and intelligence, although he appeared sullen and his expression of coun- tenance was not altogether plcasiing. He managed his •« . i ,,ll 11 i I n ll ;ii !;| ! l^j pi i88 THE INDIAN PILOT. boat well, however, and after a smart trip with a fair wind the party landed at Killarney, and under the order of B., Miconce and his brother proceeded to put on bo-ird the iron pipe, while B. went to the office of the freight agent to attend to some otlier engagement in re- gard to shipping. It was about five o'clock in the afternoon when B. returned to the Mackinaw boat and he was somewhat alarmed to find that she was loaded to within six inches of the gunwale. The Indians did not seem to be at all uneasy in the matter, however, and having by much ex- perience witnessed the extraordinary skill and nerve of the Manitoulin Indian and half-breed in the manage- ment of the canoe and Mackinaw boat, our friend sought comfort in the easy manner of the two Indians, and got on board. As the craft was making her first tack of¥ the point at Killarney our friend noticed for the first time that the weather was rough outside and that even where they were the wind blew almost a gale. About this time B. also t)bserved that Miconce was intoxicated and was acting 11 Hw**^imw«srCTwirwm THE INDIAN PILOT. 189 point It the were also icting in a very strange manner. In the first place he left his tiller and stern sheets to the care of his brother and our friend B., and reaching through a porthole lin the bow of the boat produced a tin gallon canteen and took a good swig of its contents, handed the same to his brother, who followed suit, then repeated the first attack, set his canteen down, scowled at our friend, coiled himself up in a ball and went to sleep. The wind was increasing from the northwest, the craft was taking in considerable water, whiich our friend was . obliged to bale out the best he could, for the Indian alongside him was becoming too drunk to realize the situation or care for the boat, and after rolling around he, too, slipped down in the boat, and left our friend to its sole management. To haul in sail was a matter ^ at- tended with considcable danger and exertion, but our friend, being somewhat of a land lubber, and afraid to handle the boat in such a gale, made up his mind that he was much safer with the sails down (which in all probability under these oircumstanccs he was). The boat tossed about in the gale and waves, while our friend nii I IQO THE INDIAN PILOT. ! J ! Ill' sat watching and waiting for the Indians to awake and proceed with the journey. They had made but about half of the distance of the trip when his position flashed upon his minr' that, wdth the heavy gale and four tons of iron in an open boat, with two useless Indians, a single gust of wind or wave to swamp it, his situation was a seiious one. As these thDughts passed in rapid succession through his mind B. determined to take the liquor, if possible, from the Indians while they slept and throw it over- board. Our friend B. was of large build, athletic, cour- ageous and was very handy with his fists. As he was about to carry out his intentions in regard to the can- teen, Miconce awoke and glared at him with sullen countenance and bleared eyes. He again beckoned to his brother, and reached down for his canteen. This was too much for our friend, who threw ofT his coat, sprang upon Miconce, and seizing him by the collar of his coat with the left hand and catching hold of his canteen wiith the right turned it suddenly upside down and the stop- per being out the contents in an instant were in the lake. THE INDIAN PILOT. 191 The struggle to empty the whiskey (for such it proved to be) lasted but an instant, after which Miconce jumped to his feet and, drawing a long clasp knife, made a pass at B., which almost reached him. Before the Indian could recover for another pass our friend, throwing his weight with a well directed blow, caught him under the chin and he fell like a log. The brother then came at B. with a short bar of iron, but he met his match, for another punch sent him sprawling beside the other Indian. Our friend then reached over for the knife, but Miconce, who had recovered from the blow, fought desperately, and in the scuffle a vein in the Indian's left wrist was laid open and the boat v/as bespattered with blood. The Indian's frantic exertions, yells and execrations became some- what modified by the 1 3ss of blood and bursting into a loud whoop he was seuzed with an hysterical fit fell in the bottom of the boat, where he soon slept soundly alongside his brother, who lay there half conscious, but not caring to renew the fight. Our friend then took his white pocket handkerchief, tore it into strips, bound up the bleeding wrist of Miconce and signalling a passing I -It. i: \ ''4 M n 192 THE INDIAN PILOT. 'lli Mii fishiing smack left the two Indians to the mercy of the storm, which was still at its height. He arrived at the cape safe and sound and gave his experience to the missionaries, who had, by the way, recommended Joe Miconce to him as a reliable man. The following morning Miconce ard his brother arrived at their des- tination with their iron pipe in good order, quite sober and humble, and after having his wrist dressed b)'^ one of the missionaries, who took occasion to give him a good dressing at the same time, sought out our friend B. and humbly asked his forr^ivcnness, which was granted. But, sad to relate, the • poor fellows the followiiig year were caught in a gale of wind of¥ Bear's Rump Island with their boat loaded with gravel, when the boat swamped and they never were seen or heard of after- wards. Too much fire water again. U I if 1 11 THE BOOK PEDDLER. 193 THE BOOK PEDDLER. On the 1 8th of June, 1869, the anniversary of the bat- tle of Waterloo — the day on which the fate of Europe was sealed by the Iron Duke placing his iron heel on tiie neck of Napoleon the Great, from which 'it was not released until death, on St. Helena's barren isle, put an end to his eventful career — I found myself sauntering down Main street in the City of ]\Iilwaukee, dejected in spirit and absorbed with the troubles that then over- whelmed me. Suddenly and unexpectedly thrown ( at of employment by the removal from the city of my gener- ous employer, I bent my steps to the Young Men's Li- brary, of which I was an honorary member; and here "I will pause to remark'^ that I know of no institution that I have yet seen that will compare with it for its admir- able arrangement, the collection of its library, and the courteous and gentlemanly deportment of its attendants. Entering this seat of learning I seized the first volume within reach, threw myself into a capacdous arm chair. ]t i •■ ! .■■< N 194 THE BOOK PEDDLER. and was soon lost in following the drift of that illumined and exalted mind, "Fenelon," when a gentleman of quiet and pleasing address approached me and thus introduced himself: "Your name is B., is it not?" To this rather unex- pected question I nodded assent, whereupon the stranger continued: "Your friend, the librarian, lias recommended you to me as a fit person to canvass this city for the most attractive book of the times, viz: 'Lossing's Life of George Washington,' illustrated; my name is J. Rogers, of the firm of Rogers Bros., Lake street, Chicago, book publishers, and if you feel inclined to accept the job, say so." Taken rather by surprise, with the idea flashing across my mind that I was about as fit for a bookseller as the man tin the moon, I replied to Mr. Rogers that I would think about the matter and let him know on the morrow at his room, 20 East Water street, Kirby House. Agreeably to appointment, the next day I found Mr, R. and told him I would accept his offer; he there- upon instructed and directed me in my duties, which were : First — On his return to Chicago he was to send by re- THE BOOK PEDDLER. 195 turn steamer a certain number of volumes one, two and three, in different styles of binding — No. i, gilt morocco; No. 2 calf, and No. 3, cloth — to be sold at $4, $3, and $2 respectively. Second — To be careful in getting reliable subscribers, for in that depended our success of course. Third — Never to expose the prospectus (sample book), for folks generally had an aversion to book peddlers. Now, how in "Sam Hill" was I to sell a book 'iike a pig in a poke," without exposing lit, puzzled me. Still, it was my duty to obey linstructions no matter what hap- pened, consequently I had suitable cords or pieces of braid attached inside of my coat which afforded a means for carrying the prospectus unobserved. Thus schooled and armed with my prospectus concealed in the breast of my coat, I made my exit on Main street. "What," I reasoned with myself on reaching the pavement, "has it come to this? I, the descendant of an honored name, reduced to this strait?" Sad and crushing thought. Then came the counter reflection: "Is it honest; is there any position, occupation or service that man is called upon to i .;; '• *s i •3 i f ) il IIJ 196 THE BOOK PEDDLER. fulfill that we should find fault with or repine at? Perish forever the craven thought! Let man aspire to higher aim. In God is our trust, p.nd we'll never submission to His will refuse." Thus moralizing, I started for the first ward. This was generally occupied by laborers and me chanics. It was my impression that I could face people of that class on more equal grounds than the elite, in my first lessons. Approaching a shoemaker's shop I found the door Wide open. A sign, representing a large boot, on whiich had been artistically painted the name of the proprietor and sole occupant of the building, Patrick O'Flaherty, adorned the top of the doorway. The noise produced by the shoemaker's hammer and lap-stone in pounding a piece of sole leather seemed to drown and absorb everything else On approaching the industrious proprietor I inquired, "Would you be kind enough to make me a paiir of shoe thongs?" "Certainly," he replied, and bade me take a seat on a comfortable leather-covered shoemaker's bench in front of him. Seizing his cutting board and throwing it across his lap he picked up a piece of calfskin, drove his awl through the center of it, then ' 131 THE BOOK PEDDLER. 197 trimmed the leather until it assumed the form of a per- fect circle, wiithdrew the awl, imbedded his knife firmly in the board, made a slit in the leather the width of the lace or string desired, placed his left thumb nail at a proper distance from the knife to serve as a guage, seized the end of the leather with his right hand, gave it a quick jerk, and, in the twtinkling of an eye sput out a yard of it; he then rollecl it upon his board, blackened it and handed to me. "What ha', I to pay you," I asked. "Five cints, yer honor." On handing him the change I observed that the way he pronounced that coin would lead a person to Uelieve that he came from the "ould sod." "Yis, indade, and shure the way ye deteckted me ye must kum frum the same." "The best half of me on my mother's side did," I replied, "but I have become so galvanized with the people surrounding me that I am fast losing my nationality." "Faith, thin, I cud well be- lave ye; I feel the same myself," rejoined O'Flaherty, as he scrutinizingly surveyed me from head to foot. "Still this is a great country," I said. "The gratest lin the wurrld," was the response. "And Washington was the t t.ii- 198 THE BOOK PEDDLER. i'.j greatest man and soldier in it," said I. "That's true for ye," was the quick reply of my new acquaintance, who began to evince a disposition to be sociable and talkative. "Was he an Irishman ?" I asked. This question rather puzzled the thrifty cobbler. After pondering over it care- fully for a few moments in a vain endeavor to give a cor- rect answer, he inquiringly remarked, "Wasn't Welling- ton?" "I'm not so sure about that, but I'll see." This afforded me an excellent opportunity to exhibit my pros- pectus, wliich was quickly removed from its hiding-place and opened in such a manner as to attract attention. I then took great pains in showing Washington's Virginia home, his house, furniture, boots, etc. "That's a moighty ioine book ve hev there," exclaimed O'Flahertv, as he glanced at the prospectus with its elaborate binding. "Yes, indeed," I replied, "next to the bible the finest book printed." "Where did ye get it?" he asked. "Where there are plenty more," saiid I. "Is it cha-a-pe?" he in- quired. "That depends on the quality — $|, $3 and $2," I rejoined. "Faith'n I think I'll tak the $2 one,'' said he. "All right," I replied, "you shall have one to-mor- I ! THE BOOK PEDDLER. 199 row mo/ning. Put your name down." "I can't write," he said, ''you put it down fur me." This I gladly did and bade Mr. O'Flaherty good morning, who, on accompany- ing me to the door, loudly exclaimed "Long loife to yer honor." On hearing this I said to myself, "if Pat only knew I was making a dollar out of hiim he would have wished me to the devil instead." After leaving Mr. O'Flaherty 's establishment I visited a baker's shop, the proprietor of which, Jules Vantrampe, as his name implies, was a Dutchman. On entering the door an awful clatter caused by a bell suspended by means of a steel spring over the doorway greeted my ears, whiich also aroused Jules, who was busily engaged at a bread trough in the back room at the time. Vantrampe quickly made his appearance wearing upon his head a square-top paper cap, while a sheet or table cloth reaching from his jaws to his toes covered his person. His sleeves were tucked up to the elbow, displaying a paiir of well-formed hands and arms which were partially covered with flour or dough. }fug<^ drops of sweat were coursing down his red chops and he was looking about as savage as a meat 2^.>U THE BOOK PEDDLER. IP Ml I' 1 .. i-;-H I ■if I axe. I mildly informed him that I had a valuable book I would like to show him. This chap apparently did not believe in fooling away his time with a book-peddler, for he gruffly replied, "Nix furstand Henglish," at the same time slamming the door in* my face. This rebuff served to whet my appetite, to appease which, it being near noon- time, I wended my way to Best's lager beer saloon. Best made his own beer and in addition ran the largest sa- loon in the place, the magnitude and splendor of which was quite surprising. Twenty-five or thirty tables cov- ered the floor at which were usually seated four persons. I approached the bar as near as I could, seated myself, rapped upon the table and called for a schuper of beer, a pretzel and a piece of limburger cheese. The landlord waited upon me. I asked him, as a stranger, to join me in a glass, to which he raised no objection, but quickly got his glass and sat down beside me. "If I'm not mis- taken you are fond of literature," I ventured to remark after clearing my throat by a good draught of refreshing and exhilarating beer. "Very," he replied, "but my time is so engrossed with beer that the brain is sadly neg- THE BOOK PEDDLER. 20 1 lected.'' "Very likely you have grown up sons and daughters," I continued, "who are of your turn of mind. I have an excellent book, and it will surprise me greatly if you do not pronounce it a work that no true American should be without." "What is it,'' he inquired. "The greatest work of the age — 'Lossing's Life of Washing- ton, illustrated,' " I rejoined, at the same time producing liie prospectus. The superb binding immediately caught Ms eye and he subscribed for a $4 edition. We drank to the health of IJismarck. and as 1 was about to leave he said: "When vou first came in I took you for a (lerman, and you may think yoursilf very mucli Hattered when I tell you if I met you five times a day I would be forcibly remiinded of Kaiser William." We then drank a bumper to Kaiser William's health, wheroupcm I thanked Best for the compliment, promising at the same time to return the following 'lay with the book. This sale led to our tak- ing many schupers together afterwards. Somewhat elated at my success 1 sauntered forth to new fields. After walk- ing a short distance 1 apj)riached a respectable looking residence on the same .street and rang the door bell. In V I 202 THE BOOK PEDDLER. !:'ii response to my ring the door was partially opened by the maid of all work, sliip shod, who, with a napkin round her head, snappishly yelled, "What do you want?" "I would like to show the lady a very fine book,'' was my polite reply. "Misses told me never to let a book-man enter the house; if I did she would discharge me,'' say- ing which she closed the door, which closed the scene. I then returned to Main street, one of the most fashion- able streets of the city, and entered a large millinery es- tablishment, whose plate glass windows filled wiith bon- nets, caps, ribbons, and corsets attracted my attention. Here I found a half dozen girls operating their tread-mills and kicking up an awful racket. An elderly lady occu- pied a prommeni seat overlooking the 'fry.' On approach- ing the girls I asked if Miss Cinderella Tompkins (ficti- tious, of course), was within. The girls stopped their tread-mills, locked at each other and giggled. The old hen of this full-fiedged brood, looking over the upper rim of ker gold specks, said, "There's no such person hmc." "I am exceedingly sorry for that," I replied, "she lis a lady of my acquaintance, and being an expert needle- ii THE BOOK PEDDLER. 203 woni?in I thought it likely she would be engaged in this, the most fashionable establishment in the city." Grace- lully bowing to her I was about to depart when she asked me if there was anything in her line that I wanted. "No," I replied, "but there may be something in mine that would exceedingly linterest you as well as these industrious young ladies." She asked me what it was, and drawing forth my Prospectus, I exposed it to their delighted gaze. The old lady took a $4 volume, and two of the girls a $2 vol- ume, remarking at the same time that they could not pay immediately. "Oh, that makes not the slightest differ- ence," I said, "in a month will do." Thanking them for theiir kindness I bade them adieu. On the whole I could not complain of my canvass. I found it more successful, however, with the laboring classes, and for that reason made it my aim to watch for the time of their leisure hours, particularly at noon, when they could be seen by the hundreds at their different factories. This class of people I found far more eager to read than I dreamed of, I had attended one of these factories some distance from the heart of the city, and on my return homeward was -■ ■ 1 Ji 1 . x§ I i hi i. 1' .1 204 THE BOOK PEDDLER. struck with the appearance of a mansion quite out of the way of ordinary buildings in point of architectural design and in the tasteful ornamentation of the grounds sur- rounding it, in fact denoting the residence of a million- aire, or hog, corn, or beef speculator, or, perhaps, a rail- road magnate, or banker. To tackle this place required brass, strategy, and considerable self possession, otherwise it would be a deplorable and mortifying failure. Arous- ing my spirits with the old proverb, "nothing ventured nothing won," I opened the gate and found myself on a neatly-kept, wide, gravelly walk leading to the marble steps of the mansiion. On either side of this walk were beds of choicest flowers whose delicious odor filled the air. Two whirligig fountains in full play, one on each side, cast their beautiful silver spray which glistened in the rays of the declining sun. Ascendiing the steps, a massive mahogany door met my gaze, by the side of which was the usual plated bell-pull. Seizing this I gave it a desperate pull and the sound of the tinkling bell could be heard from cellar to garret. Presently a voice was heard from upstairs saying, "Susanna, go to the door.'' THE BOOK PEDDLER. 205 The door was opened and I was struck with Susanna's appearance. She was the living image of the bright Creole I had often read about. Her dark wavy hair fell in graceful curls over her shoulders, in striking contrast to her white muslin dress, which encircled a form of fault- less beauty. Staring in her dark, liquid eyes provoked from her a smile which disclosed her handsome ivory teeth. There is a kind of mcsmerii,;:! at times, that we cannot account for, which asserts its sway. She seemed to be aware that I was struck with her appearance. I politely inquired if Mr. S was at home. She an- swered, "No, he will not be home from the bank till six in the evening." "Is Mrs. S within?" I asked. "Yes," was the reply. "Pray be kind enough to say that a gen- tleman wishes to see her." "Give me your card," she said. "Oh, never mind the card," I replied, "she'll know who I am before I leave." She then invited me in and led me to the drawing room, very likely taking me for the uncle of her mistress or very intimate friend. I made up my miind that the poor girl made an awful faux pas and would catch it after I was gone for letting me in. On I •^, 1 .'^ 1'' f! hi| iM: H '111 N 206 THE BOOK PEDDLER. entering this drawing room I was struck with my noise- less tread, lost in a thick Turkey carpet. A table occu- pied each end of the room, while in the center vases of choicest flowers filled the well ventilated apartment with delicious fragrance. Scattered about the vases were richly bound works of latest editions. Commodious arm chairs invited you to their embrace. Heavy lace curtains drooped from ceiling to floor. The crimson velvet papered walls were embellish 3d with choicest works of art both in paint- dngs and engravings. A harp stood in one corner of the room while at the other end, and in an opposite corner was a $2,000 Weber grand piano. A guitar, apparently of great value, occupied a conspicuous place on one of the finely upholstered sofas. I thought to myself there must be music in the air. Everything denoted refinement, culture and taste. Seating myself in an arm chair I was soon lost in reflection. Five, ten, fifteen, twenty min- utes elapsed and yet no word from the lady. Rising from my chair, assisted in so doing by the elastic spring cushion, I sauntered to a picture immediately in front of me. It was a steel engraving, a copy of Claude Lor- THE BOOK PEDDLER. 207 raine's celebrated painting, "Roman Edifices in Ruins.'' I was famiiliar with this chef d'euvre, having had one in my possession for many years, but which, alas, was unfor- tunately lost by fire. Huge elm trees occupying the fore- ground cast their deep shadows over a stream that invited the thirsty herds to slake their thirst, some of which were standing in it up to their knees. The goat herd, a girl tending her stubborn goats, forme'' an attractive feature, while in the dis- tance the faiintest outlines of the ruined edifices all in- spired to fill the soul with admiration for such a scene and such an art. Lost in reverie in admiring this sub- lime work I came suddenly to my senses on hearing the rustling of a moir-antiquc sweeping the broad and circling staiirway. In a moment after the lady of the house floated in, as it were, on airy wings, and, with an inconceivably gracious bow, presented herself, as much as to say, "here I am, sir, what do you want?" From her appearance I could tell that she had been carefully studymg her dress, no doubt thinking that I had come to negotiate a loan, perhaps, of a nuIHon dollars or so from her husband to o > i r i ii l! i^ t 208 THE BOOK PEDDLER. secure a grip on some wheat, timber or pork transaction. She was very handsome. (I found out afterward she was a young bride.) I felt as if I would sink through the floor for having placed myself in such an awkward and humiliating position. Folding my arms, and reverently bowing to her, I opened the ball as follows: ''Madam, I have a tliousand apologies to make to you for this un- timely intrusion, but, attracted by this beautiful palace and the charming tout cnsci ible of its surroundings, 1 could not resist the temptation of offering to your cultured mind ? book which would hel; o adorn the beautiful collection of works before me, and which would probably to you be a volume the most interesting, 'Lossing's Illustrated Washington,' a hiistor\' of the father of this great coun- try.'' With my truthful and earnest gaze T watched lier countenance and if she was at all angered it was for a moment and as quickly disappeared. She remarked that of course in subscribing to so valuable a work she would like me to bring it to her for inspection, whereupon the prospectus was inuuediately withdrawn from its place of concealment. On producing the captivating article she THE BOOK PEbDLER. 209 ated nin- her or a that ould the :e of she was quite charmed with its morocco binding and or- dered two copies, one for herself and one for her sister in Green Bay. At this moment the door bell rang and in bounced her husband, who was rather taken by sur- prise on beholding a stranger. A red Irish setter was at liis heels, who, on seeing bis mistress, flew to claim her caresses, observing which his master cried out, "Bruno, to kennel," and to kennel the dog flew like ligntning. 1 was struck with the gentleman's appearance, in one hand was his light straw hat and in the other was grasped a knotty black thorn stick, his auburn curly hair was mat- ted on his forehead wiith perspiration; his face had never been touched with a razor; his well knit frame was clothed in a light grey summer suit of admirable fit ; no gold chain, finger rings, etc., were to be seen on his person; he seemed to think that beauty unadorned was adorned the most. Just the kind of a chap to ride a steeplechase, spring over a six-foot barred gate, swim the Niagara river or captivate the Irish beauty near him. The lady, addressing her hus- ))and, said: "Arthur, this person bn»ught liere a book for my inspection, and I have bought two volumes from m^ i ;l i * 2IO THE BOOK PEDDLER. him." "I am only too glad thev please you," he repHed. On turning over the cover and seeing my name on the fly-leaf the husband inquired, ''Are you from Canada?'' "Yes," I replied. "Are you any relation to Charles B., of Sandwich, George and Horace B., of Montreal, or Francois B., of Quebec?" he asked. "They are all brothers or cousins," I replied. "Bless me," continued the gentleman, "they are all my most intimate friends who have always extended me the warmest hospitality. Glad to see you. My wife, Mr. B." I bowed gracefully to her salutation. "Caroline," he added, "I have had a long walk and feel dreadfully oppressed. Order some re- freshments, please." The lady immediately disappeared, and in a few moments returned, accompanied by Susan- na, (the sylph), who carried a silver tray containing a bottle of Cognac, two bottles of sparkling Catawba, and a silver pitcher filled with lice water. "Brandy or Cataw- ba," the gentleman asked. "Brandy I can get any day, Catawba never," I replies- "so I'll take the wine." He drew the cork, which flew like that from a champagne bottle, filled a glass for madam and then requested me to THE BOOK PEDDLER. 211 help myself. I generally obey orders and consequently followed his instructions. We saluted eacii other and imbibed the sparkling and delicious draught. "Oh, Sam Hill," said I to myself dn thinking of my prospectus, "what a weapon; thou feedest the hungry, slaketh the thirsty and clothe the naked." The exhilarating glass warmed the banker's Irish heart, and, addressing himself to me, he said, "Mr. B., I crossed the Atlantic in February last and stole from Erin this gem of the dear Emerald Isle and she brought her harp with her. Caroline,'' he said, looking at hiis wife, "give us the song you captivated me with on the flowery banks of the LifFy, 'The Harp that Once Thro' Tara's Hall.'" With the most graceful ease she moved to the harp, seated herself, swept with deli- cate touch the strings of the instrument, and then poured forth her soul in song, as none but a child of Erin can do. The pathos, the melody, the voice; what can I com- pare to it. Oh, for the pen of a Scott to describe that scene and the pencil of a Raphael to paint it. After express- ing the belief that I had been sorely trespassing I bade my host and hostess adieu, leaving them to their reflec- it it i' I' 212 THE BOOK PEDDLER. tions and they to mine to dream of that divinity which shapes our ends, "rough hew them as we may." On the following day while in the vicinity of the Menominee bridge a comical looking sign attracted my attention. Two whitewash bnislies, crossed, were painted over the doorway, as also the name, "gEorGe WasHinG- ton, ciTy white waShEr." The door stood wide open. The air was clear and hot, Sol's meridian rays striking you to the brain if not well guarded. Immediately oppo- site this rude structure was a large brick school house, in the cupola of whicn the bell was striking the hour of noon, while from its portals belched forth two streams, one of boys and the other of girls. One of the latter, al)out fourteen or fifteen years old, black as ebony and sprightly as a fawn, made for the door where I had taken refuge. It was her home. I inquired lif the whitewasher could be seen. She replied, "Pap will be here soon for his dinner.'' Presently the father made his appearance. In one hand he carried a large tin pail while with the other lie firmly held the ten-foot handle of a whitewash brush whicli was thrown across his shoulder. His old THE BOOK PEDDLER. 213 white stovepipe hat was battered out of shape and was very much discolored. The black clay pipe which he sported was about th'-ee inches in length and turned up- side down, and it appeared a matter of perfect indifference whether it was alight or not. His arms were bare to the shoulders. The blue cotton shirt and pants which he wore appealed to have been made in one piece. The heels of has red, lime-burned boots were turned under, compelling him to walk with a kind of halting gait. "Your name is George Washington," I observed as the old man ap- proached me. "So de white folks calls me," was the re- ply. "And are you from old Virginia?'' "Jis-so." "How many years since you left there?" "About forty-two last plantin'." "You come from a very large and distinguished family?" "Can't tell much 'erbout 'em, it's so long, long ago.'' "Do you think you would know any members of the family if you saw their likeness?" "I monght, and again I moughten't,'' was the response. "Well, we'll look and see," I said, at the same time drawing forth my pros- pectus, exposing to the old man and his daugiiter a view of George and Martha Waslnington. their Virginia home, 214 THE BOOK PEDDLER. etc., whereupon the young fawn exclaimed, "Pap, dem's white folks, des no kin to us.'' "Hold on," I repliied, "they were all black once and after a time turned white. After two or three generation you'll all turn wdiite, too, and be of OiC family." "I'oss, what's dat book woth eny- how," asked the anxious-looking fawn. "The cheapest edition is two dollars." 1 replied. "We can't pay you for it befo' three months, we am so poo'." said the girl. "Well, then,'' I said, "I'll make you a present of one. Come with me and get it, for it would be a pity to live without knowing who your ancestors were." It is perhaps need- less tc add that the girl followed me and got the book. Considering my deficiency in brass, self-confidence and strategy my career as a book canvasser was about as suc- cessful as could be expected. There was one thing I learned, to my entire s'dihvdviUiU, namely, that truly one- half the world knows very little how the other half lives, and if you wish to satisfy yourself on that subject get a book agency from j. Rogers llros.. book publish- ers, Chicago, as I did, and prove it. !-i \i\ TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. 215 VISIT TO THE SAULT STE. MARIE. A new route to the Sault from Windsor and Detroit was established in the summer of 1894 (by way of the North Channels leading to St. Mary's river, by the steamer Cambria), embracing one of the most attractive, pictur- esque and charming iands':^nes on the continent of America — attractive to the lovers of sport by gun or rod, where twenty thousand islands or more afTord varied and innumerable opportunities to whip the dark and limpid waters with gaudy fly, or snare the unlucky bass or dore, with killing and treacherous spinning spoon encircling them. Although familiar with the old route from Collingwood to the Sault by way of Killarney, this new one is different, and I felt not a little interested when I found that the Cambria had commenced to run on it this fall, preparatory to resum- ing it in the ensuing spring, after undergoing a thorough overhauling this winter. Stepping on board on the ()th instant, with a party of five, we secured double staterooms, furnished with all the con- 'ii ,1 2l6 TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. veniences reasonably required. The hour having arrived to depart, Captain Gidly, in uniform (the very type of a dauntless and brave Acadian sailor), climbs the iron ladder leadiing to the pilot house, with the agility of a panther, and his ever ready and trustworthy Mate McKay, anxiously waiting for the order, in loud and stentorian voice, cries out, "Let go your headline, haul in ycir sternline," and the shrill, thrice-sounding whistle is hearci and slowly the Cam- bria leaves her quuet sleeping berth, ai.d prepares to buffet with the angry waves of Huron's Lake and the turgid waters of the Georgian Bay. Touching at the beautiful City of the Straits (Detroit) for passengers and freight, we bend our course to the Canadian channel and huj, ^ le shores of the beautiful Hellc Isle, affording us a charming view of its mosque-like buildings, its sinuous canals and flower-decked islets, and ])assing the tidy little brick lighthouse at the end of the island, steer our course for the lighthouse on Grosse Pointe, flanked on our right by the Isle au Peche (vulgarly called Peach Island), witii Hiram Walker's summer villa looming in the distance. We are now fully entered upon the quiet waters of Lake St. Clair, and in full view of I J! M'l TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. 217 Grosse Pointe proper, which, with marine glass in hand, gives us a commanding view of its milhonaire summer retreats, beauc'iitd by ornamental trees and shrubs, close- clipped hedges, and clouded with choicest flowers of autunm. Dtirectly here our att«?ntion i-^ claimed by two enormous dredges, employed by the American Government to deepen the channel to twenty-one feet, and gradually we lose sight of them as they plunge iheir mighty iron clad arms in tlie watery deep, and, with Herculean swee]) deposit their well-filled spoons in the dumping scows. As we c\re al>out to lose sight of land the stab, t, eagle-eyed captain steps down from the pilot house and quietly instructs his wheelsman to steer "north east cjuarter east," whiich will bring us to the moutl: of the St. Clair IHats Canal. As we gradually apjiroach its wide and open chan- nel, it appears planted ot: either side with rows of dwarfed willow trees extending a mile in length, and its entrance guarded by its ever watchful lighiliouse. Emerging from the canal. Uie spacious and \'enetian club houses, hotel;-, anrl villas come in full view, with strik- ing effect, each varyinr^- in design, color and size to suit the I* 2l8 TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. III! 1 I ^1 ! I m caprice of their respective owners, and each one perched upon knolls, dredged from the surrounding flats. As we plow througli the swift waters of the St. Clair River, we soon approach Walpole Island, the favorite resort of excur- sionists, and limmediately opposite is Harsen's Island, a fashionable retreat also from summer heat. Here the som- ber sky shuts out the view, and we retire to our saloon, delighted with our day's experience. Touching at Sarnia during the night, we are well into Lake Huron at seven a. m. on the loth, enjoy a comfortable breakfast liberally pro- vided by our courteous aud gentlemanly purser, Mr. Kelly, and waited upon by civil md attentive waiters. After breakfast we step to the promenade deck, and with field glass survey the Canadian rugged i.!iore, and reach Gode- rich, whose harbor is formed by a cleft in the high clay l)ank, through which the River ]\laitland flows, witli light- house perched on its sununit on the right, and the pictur- esque residence embowered in dwarfed evergreens on the left, once tlie residence tf the ( ialt family. Not a great deal can be said of this harbor in its present state, as we found it difficult witli our steamer to turn in it, for want of TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. 219 water, but an improved and powerful dredge is at work, with prospects of great results. Leaving (iodericli, we touch at Kincardine and South- ampton, then steer for the Isle of Coves, the entrance to the Georgian Ray. The night is dark and tempestuous, and as we leave its lighthouse the Cambria feels the bufifcts of its chopping seas, but forges on and with steady roll (un- pleasant to cur lady passengers) doubles Cape Smith at early dawn, and with tlie village of Wickwimikong looming in the distance at the head of its bay, we soon enter the north channel, and call at Manitowoning, an Indian village on the Great Manitoulin Island. The scenery now assumes an air of grandeur, and as tlie mistv atmosphere clears, the chaiin of the Lacloche Mountains appears in sight, and as wo thread our way through tiiesc intricate ciiannels spread at their feet, some of them the size of large lakes (the favorite haunt of tlie sea gull). \\v descH' one following at a l«»ng (lis- tance in the wake of our steamer. With measured flap of wing, lie approaches within pistol shot, with head inclined and eye intent upon the blue and crystal waters \\'( throw a morsel of broken cracker in the wake of the steamer, and i ' ' 1 220 TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. I *i mark his graceful evolutions. Unlike the bird of prey, who darts like a thunderbolt and pounces on his victim, this vvhite-vviinged visitor is strikingly different; the crumb has scarcely touched the water, when his eagle eye sees it, he changes at once the flap of wing and extends his broad pinions to full extent, changes his course of flight, and with graceful circling curves descends to the precious mor- sel, extends his webbed feet, alights with the grace of a dancing nymph, settles upon the rufTled waters, seizes his crumb, and again ascends and pursues his flight, to renew the feat, to the envy of his fellow fleet-wings, who are clam- orous to participate in the feast, and rapidly increase in numbers. We emerge at last into ]a\]:v Meorge's devious channel. lMun\ this point ni view our course would be abruptly stopped at tlie foot of the niomitaiin. miles distant, but as we near the end of the lake a sudden turn northerly brings us into the St. Mary's River again, flanked on either side by the thriving settlenienl of Garden River, etc. We soon are in sight of the Sault Ste. Mary's city, and stopping first on the Canadian side, cross over to tlie American shore, when TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. 221 : ■■}* '1 our captain receives a message from Mr. Brown, of Port Arthur (the courteous and gentlemanly manager of our boat), desiring us to wait for him, as he is on his way down per steamer Empire. This happens most opportunely for our party, as it gives us ample time to see both canals. Our boat lantls us near the foot of the canal, and we hasten to see its wonderful locks, passing; on our way the beautiful public park tastefully laid out with ornamental trees, dark in foliage, peculiar to this climate, and a fountain in full playi with a spacious basin catching the falling spray, in which disport the lively speckled trout. Mounting a flight of stone steps, we are on a level with the top of the canal, and innnediately opposite the engine house of hydraulic power, managed by a gentlemanly officer in uniform, who extends to us every courtesy. A large steam barge loaded with lumber, with her two consorts, are in the lock, and presently the lever is turned, the gates from below are opened, and the torrent of wiiter rushes out with the noise of thunder. Slowly sinks the imprisoned fleet until the water level is reached, when they glide gently away. A new lock is being constructed alongside of the present one. I it 222 TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. } i! which is to be of far greater capacity. We visit the large Hotel Iroquois, overlooking the park, and return to the Canadian side by one of the steam ferry boats that ply between the two places. Through the kindness and polite- ness of Mr. Templeton, the officer of the customs, who kindly offered us his carriage, we were enabled to visit the canal now being constructed on the Canadian side, but could form but an imperfect idea of its construction, owing to the enormous debris with which it is encumbered, but were informed that every effort is being made to complete it next year. Leaving the Sault on our return at early dawn to thread our way through the intricate passages by daylight, we stop at St. Joseph's Island for supplies of ice, milk, fish and pota- toes, the former remarkable for its thickness and purity, and the latter famed for their delicious qualities, and also its maple sugar, with which we suppHed ourselves. Our next principal stopping place is at Gore Bay, nn inlet of the Great Manitoulin Island, remarkable for the beauty of its entrance, its bluff highland, clothed with dwarf evergreen, hiding the naked rocks from top to the very edge of its dark TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. 223 and deep waters, affording a safe and qmiet harbor. Our vigilant and wideawake captain and mate think it proper .to remain here, and wait till morning, until the fog lifted, and we then proceeded on our way. Again, on doubling Cape Smith and entering Georgian Bay. we encounter the unquiet ripple of its restless waters, which increase to a -stif¥ breeze, portending a stormy ni.trht So the captain puts in at Tober Mory, formed by nature, one of the most perfect harbors in the world. We leave at daylight and reach Goderich in time to avoid a laving gale, which detains us two nights and a day, and are agreeably entertained there by Mr. Ira Lewis and family and friends, and on the iSth arrived at Windsor at five a. m., much pleased with our pleasant trip. j^i I , *i ^i :'U>',y- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // !/>/> «?.> A 1.0 i.i i H: 1^ 12.0 = 'M 1.6 P% ^) "»' y ^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WnSTM.NY. MSSO (716) •73-4303 a>' iV <^ 4 ,'*i» ,^' ■e «». iff jW/ ^^ f 1 ^ .mDm^mmmmmmmmmmmm 1* I I !i'; l! S !' 22^ THE BRUCE MINES. A SKETCH SHOWING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HOW THE BRUCE MINES IN ALGOMA WERE DISCOVERED. The peace of Europe, declared after the bloody field of Waterloo in 1818, was the cause of a great reduction in the British army, and hundreds of its officers sought a place of rest in Canada, and among the many was a Capt. D., who, with ample means and a grant from the government of 600 acres of land to which he was entitled for his long and faithful serviices, settled down in the town- ship of Barrie. He had married an Italian lady of rare and singular accomplishments, highly educated, the mis- tress of several languages, English, French, Spanish and Italian, the latter denoting the home of her birth, gifted m music, song and poetry, and wiith all a connoisseur in the culinary ^rt of the most refined English, French and Italian taste. She had been twice a widow before her last marriage, the first of an Italian gentleman, by whom they had no issue, the second of an English clergyman ^^i i.! im PQ THE BRUCE MINES. 225 ^\\ i Pi < Q M %■ < by whom she had two sons, her third marriage was to a distinguished officer in the British army, of bhtnt, severe and arrogant manner, by whom she had one son. . It was the pride and aim of their Hves to give these three sons the best education they could in their unsettled and ram- bling life, with a view of completing their studies in the gay, festive and alluring city of the world, seductive Paris. Consequently they became pronounced linguists and adepts in the knowledge of the finest brands of cham- pagne, mozelle, Hock, Burgundy, etc. Versed in all that pertained to operatic style and song, unapproachable ad- . mirers of female beauty, and an ungovernable and recher- che taste for the most prqjicjunced epicurean diishes of the times. Added to these so-called accomplishments, the three sons were remarkable in physique and gentlemanly bearing. The father settled in Canada about the year 1820 and tlie sons followed about two years after, and such were their accomplishments that, drop them into any portion of the habitable world, they would make their mark. m, 226 THE BRUCE MINES. I i I ui It 1:;. i i .' I II h 11 f '; They were, indeed, the pride and envy of their devoted parents. The eldest, in making his appearance in Little York in 1822, soon became the lion of the town. Marked at- tention was paid to him by the ladies, and gentlemen courted him for his polished manners and liis versatile and broad knowledge of the world, politically, morally and socially. His thorough knowledge of the French and English languages was a free and easy passport to him in any circle of society. The ordinary pursuits of Hit, involving application, study and labor, however, wee too irksome to him and an annoying restraint upon his various inclinations to shoot, fish, sail, dance, dine and sup, and he secretly fancied a wider field, an unlimiited scO'pe in the mountainous districts of Ontario and Al- goma, whose mountains, lakes and streams would give him free liberty to enjoy the scope of his inclinations. After a time he became tired of hiis luxurious life in Lit- tle York (now Toronto) and sought the quiet, cozy and comfortable home of his stepfather in the county of Bar- rit. Here his occupation was indeed a diversified one. THE BRUCE MINES. 227 Getting up at five tin the morning, cleaning out the cow and horse stables and the pig-pens, and in pressing times helping the milkmaid with her dozen or more cows, chop- ping and carrying in wood to cook his own breakfast, yoking his oxen and plowing till noon, with an hour for dinner and again at the plow or harrow till six, then sup- per on mush and milk. Then with the fowls to roost, and repeat the next day the same toil, variegated only to suit the weather and seasons. Now logging the wood piles and firing the brush heaps, again husking the corn in the open field. Then in the fall butchering twelve or fifteen hogs, (scalding himself in the operation), then obliged to rip them open and plunge both hands into the hot entrails, and completing the labor by washing and cleaning thoroughly the carcases for market. While one day employed in the latter occupation, ex- hausted, weary and unwashed, a former school-mate in Paris, (St. Martin), fished him out and thus saluted hiim: "Great Heavens, my friend, this you? Reduced to this situation, far worse than abject slavery. What has brought you to this state of mise y?" "Fate/' he inno- t'-'m m 228 THE BRUCE MINES. nit V'^ "iil 11 1 i. 111 cently replied. 'Why do you remain here?" continued his school-mate. "Come where I have been! See what I have seen! This continent lis ours, unlimited in its prairies and forests, its lakes and streams of crystal waters, teeming with golden-eyed and speckled trout; its vales and mountains, unexplored and filled with untold wealth; its dusky inhabitants free from all care in this transitory world, but to feed on nature's bounteous gifts, their sole occupation to trace the timid deer, to seine with finest thread the warry whitefish and trout in the invisible gill- net, to pluck and gather the luscious huckleberry and the prickly goose and raspberry. The Indian has indeed a line life, and the dusky squaw, un trammeled with the care of her infant papoose, suspends it under the foliage of the shady maple, to be rocked to sleep by the lullaby of the waving branches and rustling leaves. The life is enchant- ing, my boy, and unknown to the white man." "Truly, your description is very alluring and worthy of consider- ation. Gladly would I make the change from this detest- able drudgery, but, pray, where lis this state of bliss to be found, St. Martin?" "Why," continued St. Martin, THE BRUCE MINES. 229 **in the charming islands of the Georgian Bay, the straits of the Saint Marie's river and the boundless regions of Lakes Huron and Superior, where the trace of the white man is scarcely known." Then almost in the same breath he asked, "I say, old fellow, I am d — d thirsty after a twenty-miile tramp through the woods. Has the old man anything in his cellar in the way of a glass of old sherry, Hock or St. Julian?" "No," replied the other, "not a drop of anything, but cursed rot-gut Canadian whiskey, fit only to cure the bite of a rattlesnake or cur with the rabies, or kill the botts in the paunch of a horse, but, say, how will a bowl of buttermilk do?" "Well, all right, give me a pull at anything; that's better than water." He then takes his buttermilk with a grin and tells his friend, "I'm oflf for the Sault Ste. Marie, old chap, and a line frcrm you hereafter would be most acceptable. Fare- well, au revoir." In the evening, while sitting around the capacious and glowing wood fire the stepfather noticed bis stepson with pipe ablaze in thoughtful mood, and ob- served to him, "What has ruffled and disturbed you?" "Why, my friend St. Martin has given me such glowing mk ..••.^i"': ^^{^i I ■; . 230 THE BRUCE MINES. .*, -I w accounts of the upper lake region, their mineral moun- tain resources, the abundance of game, fish and fruit, and withal the ease and comfort of their dusky inhabitants, that I feel a very strong inclination to test the alluring bait, with your kind indulgence." replied the son. "I would only be too happy to further your inclinations, my boy,'' replied the father. "You certainly appear quite out of place in your present occupation here. The house would have been in ashes but for our timely tinterference in building your fire yesterday; the sheep fold was left open last week and liad I not closed the gate in time we would have been without wool or mutton for the next five years by the destruction of the whole flock by a score of famished wolves that are nightly prowling 'round, and Mary, the milkmaid, says that half the cows yesterday were turned into pasture without milking, she not being able alone to milk them.'' Then, after a pause, "Yes, I think a change would be advisable," replied the father. *' But one thing I would most strenuously observe to you: Beware of the seductive blandishments of those dusky- buxom maidens, far too captivating to the tmsophistkated I THE BR JCE MINES. 231 white man'" "No fear,'' said the son. "One who has gone through the firey ordeal of lovely Paris is a living proof of his safety in this regard.'' "When do you pro- pose to start?" said the father. "Not later than Tuesday next," was the reply. "Well," returned the father, "the sooner, I think, the better." On the Tuesday following the sun slowly crept upon the horizon with that peculiar smoky orange color, denoting the advent of that lovely genial Indian summer, when nature lavishes in all its beauty, the comforts to man and the animal creation, the perfection of its fruits and flowers, with a warning to the provident tillers of the soil to shield their helpless and confiding animals from winter's blighting blasts, and store the well-filled woodshed, destined to feed the glow- ing embers of the cheerful hearth. It was on the event- ful Tuesday the stepson was seen with glowing and smil- ing countenance, in the garb of a sportsman; his well laced English walking shoes, surmoianted by a pair of sheepskin gaiters buttoned well up to the knee, the tightly- fitting corduroy breeches, the capacious waist and shoot- ing coat, replete with roomy pockets, a red flannel shirt 4\ m \'i ' 232 THE BRUCE MINES. IHli ■.I fit with crimson cravat, a cloth cap with sun-proof peak com- pleted his toilet a la cha?e. Thus equipped in well-knit frame, gold-rimmed spectacles and his double-barrelled shotgun on shoulder, he looked the type of a London cockney. "Adieu, mon cher pere," he said, extending his hand to his stepfather. *'Bon voyage, mon cher fils, et que dieu vous benisse," he replied, and the son left for the Sault Ste. Marie. After a long and tedious journey overland and by canoe around the devious coast of the Georgian Bay, the chan- nel islands, he arrived at the beautiful island of St. Jo- seph, on St. Mary's river, sound in limb, to be sure, but ^ worn out with fatigue and privation. For two days he had scarcely tasted food, excepting the wild raspberries plucked along his path. Carefully lifting his birch canoe over the gravelly beach, he seized a bundle of wild hay from the bottom of his canoe, rolled it up in a bundle, turned over his canoe and coiled him- self under it, with the hay for his pillow, and fell sound asleep. How long he remained so he could not tell, but he was awakened by the barking of a dog close by, and THE BRUCE MINES. ^ZZ hastily arising- from his couch he noticed the dog bark- ing up a tree, and soon observed to his astonishment and extreme gratification a bevy of partridge, some fifteen or twenty, scattered about on the hmbs of the tree. Seiz- ing his double-barrelled gun he brought two down with the first shot from the lowest limb, and to his amazement the rest stood still, while the dog continued barking. He then took another shot and another couple fell until he picked out and killed in the same w^ay the whole bevy. In the meantime the owner of ithe dog, hearing the report of guns in rapid succession, hastened to the tree. She proved to be an old squaw, the mother of the girl she was leading. She was but a child of fifteen years and seemed even younger. She wore a neat pair of deerskin moccasins elaborately embroidered with porcu- pine quills, these fitting perfectly her well-shaped feet and ankles, a pair of blue cloth leggins fringed with the same adorned her limbs, which a loose bright colored, calico gown covered a little below the knee, a broad leather belt around her well-proportioned waiist loosely, suggesting her maidenly beauty, the curl of her smiling i'. '■?• '^■v.}^ •ri5 .r ;.''■'■ mm li 234 THE BRUCE IMNES. ^^Bf I I lip displaying her ivory teeth, her dark gazelle eyes fringed with long black eyelashes, her raven hair tied on the back of her neck and falling to her waist, a broad brimmed straw hat with a wreath of wild roses completed her lisland costume. Such did this angelic beauty appear to this bewiildered brain. Addressing the mother, the in- truder asked, "Cestil Tlsle de St. Joseph?" (is this St. Jo- seph island)? "Oui, monsieur,*' replied the dove of fif- teen. "Ma mere pari pas Francais," (My mother does not speak French.) "Can you direct me, my dear, where I can procure a loaf of bread," he asked her in French. "Ouii, monsieur," she replied, "che nous," (at home). "And will you allow me to eat in your cabin?" be in- quired. "I have tasted no food but wild raspberries for several days." "Yes," replied the dov*., "my mother says you can, and you are quite welcome." The stranger was about shouldering his double-bar- relled gun and gathering up his wood grouse, when the dove said, "Permettez moi de vous aider, monsieur, s'dl vous plait," (permit me to help you, sir, if you please), and this did he cheerfully do. "Avez vous des pomme THE BRUCE MINES. 235 (le terre?'^ (Have you potatoes at home) asked the stran- ger. "Beau coup," (plenty) repHed the angel. "Now I am in luck," thought the stranger, so on ar- riving at their wigwam, plucking and preparing four of his birds, two for liimself and one for each of his guests, he rolled them up separately and folding them up in large basswood leaves buried them in live ashes. They turned out beautifully browned with enough juice to make them relishable, and with a bowl of tea made from the wild teaberry, he dined like a king. As evening ap- proached it was with reluctance that he parted with his entertainers, but with a heavy heart he finally left the beautiful dove and returned to his canoe, to recline his troubled brain on his hay pillow and be lulled to sleep by the plaintive cry of the whip-poor-will. The soft and smoky amber-tinted s:in was slowly rising above the blue ethereal horizon when the stranger crept from un- der htis canoe, stripped to the buff and plunged head- long into the limpid waters of this beautiful island and rolling and puffing about like a playful porpoise, struck for shore, and shaking himself like a Newfoundland dog, m 4 '> li H t ■ ^: i \ ■: *i'J ' « '^ • j li .1 ti 236 THE BRUCE MINES. clothed himself and hied again to the tent of the Indian girl, and to breakfast on ash-roasted wood grouse, corn bread, potatoes and teaberry tea. A fleet of canoe and Mackinaw boats, containing many of the island Indians, arrived while he was at his break- fast. Their boats were loaded with lake trout and whitefish, which were freely distributed amongst the in- habitants, denoting peace and plenty, and the stranger again realized what hiis friend St. Martin had told him and he came to this conclusion: "This shall be my home, and the dove my wife, if she will have me," and he asked her, and she replied, "Ask the priest," and he did so, and the priest said, "Make him marry you ac- cording to the rules of your church,"' and under these rules he married her, and at the end of the first year a child was born to the dove, but as time rolled on the fish and game disappeared. It had been a disastrous season and starvation almost stared them in the face. What ■ ■•■< was to be done? Kn appeal to his stepfather was the .. '*■ only course, and for him they started. Winter had set in ; the earth was mantled in two feet of snow. It was 1 J* I- ■ .'' »:... ■ N THE BRUCE MINES. 237 a journey of two hundred and fifty miles on snow-shoes. But the young wife, with her papoose wrapped in a blan- ket upon her shoulders, followed him. Three weeks elapsed and their journey was accomplished. Exhausted and half starved, with feeble steps they reached the home of his father in the township of Barrie. She waited outside wlitlle he entered and approached his parents, who were appalled and thunderstruck at the unexpected re- * turn of their prodigal son. *'Who is this person who has accompanied and awaits you?" the stepfather de- manded. *'My wife," he replied. "What? You marry a d — d low-bred squaw, and disgrace yourself and fam- ily forever. If you do not leave her, never shall I for- giive you; never shall I own you again. Leave her or leave my house at once. Return to your camp, if you choose, but never enter my door again until you give her up." His poor wife had entered the house unobserved, heard this conversation in the adjoining room and quietly raising the window slipped out so gently that she had dis- appeared from the scene before any further notice was taken of her by the inmates of the house. She had never ser- Q i;ii m 1 ] ■' !'; ' ' ■■■■ i l.i ! i-iS m 238 THE BRUCE MINES. ioiisly consiidered her situation before. The harsh and cruel words of the father rang in her ears. She reaHzed then for the first time what a sacrifice her husband had made, which would ultimately result in the disinherit- ance if she remained with him, and she determined that, come what might, she would give him up and retrace her steps back to her native isle of St. Joseph, where she would never burden him again. She was all but • prostrated with fatigue and hunger; a heavy snow storm was raging; it was late at night, but she never flinched in her purpose for an instant, but tightening the blanket which held her tender babe to her back, she disappeared in the gloom of the storm, turning her steps to the north. Her pride had been trampled under rough-shod heels, but she cast no blame on her husband; iieither did she weep or bemoan her own condition. A servant of the house had entered before the stormy interview was over and informed the son that she had gone. "My God,'' said he, ''Gone? Where?" "Why, back to her wigwam," sneeringly replied his father, "the proper place for her."" Then continuing the father said, "Once more I ask you THE BRUCE MINES. 239 to leave thiis woman for the sake of your family, your interests, your own respectability." "Hush!" said the son. "Not another word; my mind is maa up now, if it never was before. This woman is my wife; it was no fault of hers, and I cannot cruelly forsake her and the babe of my own blood to please my family. It is too late now. You can bestow your wealth and posi- tion upon someone else. Disinherit me if you cliocse, but I'm off to overtake my Indian bride. I will never abandon her." And he kept his word, followed and overtook her, and together shared the misery and fatigue of the journey. Years rolled on and the mother of the dove had secretly known of copper deposits in what is now called the "Bruce mines." The stepson was aware of this and divulged the fact. A company was formed and the result followed of working the mine. He sold out and realiized a large sum. Being well known throughout Ontario, and having moved in his younger days in the best society, his fin- ished education and suavity of manner secured for him ^i '-■■'• '! ^ i . ■ ! 4 'y 1 'I w 240 OLD TIME FARMING. a i)rominent government appointment and lie died leav- ing a large famil\- in civilized life, but not on St.'Joseph Island. lii I i '! FARMING IN THIS CANADA OF OURS. AND HOW IT WAS I BECAME A FARMER. When Lasalle and Hennepin, the F>ench explorers, on the loth of August, 1679, were groping their uncertain way, on the square rigged vessel "Le Griffon'' 213 years ago, up the stream from Lake Erie and debouched into the Lake St. Clair, they found it no river at all, and being Frenchmen, they called it in their own language by its proper name, De- troit, that is strait, and named the Indian encampment they had just left the same which it has held till to-day; and on the opposite side just a little below they called it "Les Hur- ons;" and why? because it was another Indian encampment occupied by that tribe, who cultivated it as other tribes did, along its shores, and when in after years the poor Indians OLD TIME FARMING. 241 were dispossessed of their cornfields, the Frenchmen took possession, and the first thing they did was to plant pear trees brought from France in groups, and so the shores were ornamented with them. At this late day many of these old French pear trees are still standing, some of them yielding the delicious fruit, but their days will soon be numbered. When John Bull came along and conquered the Frenchmen, he changed the name of "Les Hurons" and called it Sandwich, but that was all he did, for he left them in full possession of their homes, their customs and their religion. It was here I first drew breath on the 30th of April, 1812. In 1816 my father, for his valuable services in the war of 181 2, was appointed Inspector General of Upper Canada and moved to Little York (now Toronto) with his family. At that time there were no steamers on the lakes, only small schooners and batteaus. Landing at Chippewa, above tlie falls of Niagara, a portage was made to Queenston, then by vessel to Little York. In the year 1819, my father, intent upon giving me the best education in his power, placed me, at an early age, under the tutorship of that remarkable man, Archdeacon if'l m^ ■ m '':l i 1 1 1! : ': ■ r - 1 , i. : 24^ OLD TIME FARMING. Jock Strachan, as he was irreverently called, and who kept the grammar school in muddy Little York. He was soon succeeded by the Revs. Bethune, Elms, Armour and Phil- lips. My progress in A, B and C being very slow I was transferred to Mr. Patfield's school. Under the care of this worthy person I first began to feel an interest in my studies, and to him I am indebted (if I may be credited) for writing a legible hand, as also for my slow progress in arithmetic. About this time, 1823, the late Roman Catholic and first bishop of Upper Canada, Alex. McDonnell, of Regiopolis of Glengarry, was making a tour of his diocese, then em- bracing the whole province of Ontario. This noted pioneer, bom at Glenurquhart, Scotland, in 1769, emigrated to Can- ada with his settlers of one thousand Highlanders and set- tled there on one hundred and sixty thousand (160,000) acres of land granted by the government in the then wil- derness of Glengarry in 1803 and 1804. He was noted for his distinguished services in Canada in the war of 181 2 as soldier and chaplain at the battle of Chrystler's Farm on the St. Lawrence, and again at the storming of Ogdens- OLD TIME FARMING. 243 burg in the same year. Died in Dumfries, Scotland, the 14th of January, 1840. As there was no chapel, much less a church in Little York then, he was a welcome guest in my father's house, whose diningroom served as a chapel for the spare Catho- lic population of the town au'' surrounding settlement. A brief sojourn of the bishop led me to form a great rev- erence for this venerable old pioneer, and his offer to take me in charge as pupil in his new college of St. Raphaels, just opened, was eagerly accepted by my father. Leaving Little York in the depth of a severe winter, to my youthful imagination, I thought myself singularly fa- vored in having so distinguished an individual as my pat- ron, and luxuriated in the rich fur-robed sleigh that pro- tected me from the keen winter's blast, and driven by his faithful negro valet, Herbert, whose emancipation he had purchased. This journey then from York to St. Raphaels, in Glengarry, involved the necessity of a short visit at all the towns and villages along the travelled road, i. e., Peter- boro, Port Hope, Cobourg, Belleville, Prescott and Corn- wall. At the last place we tarried for the night with a Mr. S'll 'I it; M 244 OLD TIME FARMING. 8 ■ Angus McDonald, if I mistake not the father of the late Premiere, Hon. John Sandfield, of Ontario. It was during this evening that a few noted persons called to pay their respects to the bishop, and among them was a Miss Ellen Greenfield McDonald, from near St. Raphaels, a great favorite of the bishop's, and who paid me marked attention, I suppose as his companion de voy- age. Unaccustomed as I was to the soothing and kindly influ- ence of ladies' society, having lost my dear mother in my infancy and my sole companions, many of them rude and uncouth playmates; her attention to mc was gratifying in the extreme and doubly enhanced my esteem \vhen, in the course of the evening, she was urged to sing, and comply- ing, in the most unaffected and cultivated voice, with thrill- ing pathos, sang, "Ye Banks and Braes of Bonny Doon," ac- companying herself on the harp. On the next day a ride to her home in the bishop's sleigh was offered her and ac- cepted, resulting in my seeing her home, not far from St. Raphaels (his lordslnip leaving us at his residence). Ci'n parting with her she cordially invited me to repeat my h! OLD TIME FARMING. 245 visits on holidays, which I was only too glad to do. There was something so charmingly delightful and attractive in this sweet girl's character that I can never forget the im- pression she produced upon me, as we stood upon the ver- anda for the last time, her rich auburn hair ruffled by a gentle breeze, the friendly clasp of her hand, the smile of her dimpled cheek, the sparkle from her lustrous blue eyes, enshrined in the most faultless form of a woman, as she bade me adieu. Hov^ ileasant it was, in after years, to look back to this journey; not alone in making me familiar with the locality of these places, but thrown into society of the most noted families in the province as nothing could exceed the atten- tion and respect paid to this distinguished missionary. I was not too young to observe a remarkable feature in the state of society through the route I had travelled, for many of the most distinguished were represented by Catholic ladies married to Protestant husbands, and nearly all de- scendants of U. E. Loyalists. Ensconced in St. Raphaels, a new phase presented itself to my mind and experience, and I v"\s not a little sur- ^h i"! 1' !i :.; ii 'W :! 1 I' :i 246 OLD TIME FARMING. prised to learn that I was expected to take care of myself; that apart from my studies I was to make my bed, sweep out the sleeping and study room (the brooms made by ourselves of cedar boughs taken from a swanp hard by), replenish the water pitchers, clean or black my shoes, and make a respectable appearance withal; and I conceive no more salutary practice than this very one, as it taught me to help myself. My sojourn at St. Raphaels did not pro- duce the result hoped for by my anxious and indulgent father, for although every attention was paid to moral and religious training, the education T received was far from fit- ting me for a profession, owing, more to my dullness than anything else, I suppose. A readiness with the pen, however, served a good pur- pose for the bishop, who put me to the task of copying the census roll of Glengarry, to form a petition to the govern- ment in favor of his new college just started. I was aston- ished to find that out of one thousand or more names en- rolled, ninety-nine out of a hundred were McDonalds or McDonnells, between which two clans there aippeared a strong rivalry, and the men were distinguished by gallic OLD TDIE FARMING. 247 nicknames, denoting a long or short nose, or a blue or red one, or by the ears, eyes, complexion or size ; but I am sorry to say that I cannot write them down in that beautiful lan- guage. What surprised me the most was the stalwart and hardy physique of these Highlanders, for often did they ap- pear at the old St. Raphaels church in their kilts, when we school boys could scarcely keep warm with warm winter clothing. Donald, however, proof against cold in winter in his kilts, was no match for the elephantine truncated mosquitoes in summer, which were to be found in myriads about the Glengarry swamps, as the following incident will prove : Commencing his first summer's residence in Canada, just from Scotland's Grampion Hills, he called upon the Bishop, who asked him how he fared in Canada, and in reply said, "All right, your lordship, but for the infernal mosquitoes, which are devouring me." "Throw away the kilts then," said the bishop, "and get a pair of buckskin breeches," which he said he would do. On meeting again his lordship he told him he had fol- lowed his advice, but the breeches were not, he had found, proof against the pests, for they pierced him through the 248 OLD TIME FARMING. ,;■■ I i; I I , : 1 ii I I ' liti buckskin, causing his legs to so swell that he had to rip his breeches up to pull them off. The bishop doubted this, but I believed it, and in after years, to my torture, they have pierced me through a canvas hammock on the shores of the Georgian Bay. Tliat these men were loyal, brave, and not over scrupu- lous, could not be denied. When their services were re- quired to suppress the rebellion in lower Canada in 1838, they went down infantry and returned cavalry, and would have driven home before tiiem the flocks and herds of the rebels, had they been allowed by their superior officers. Another interesting winter scene to me was the long train (thirty or forty in a string) of traineaus of the habit- ants loaded witli goods from Montreal, where they had been detained by the closing of navigation; and to be taken to the different points m Upper Canada. Let me describe this, if I can: Standing knee deep in snow, and just out of the way of the track, we bear the live tinkling of sleigh bells as merrily approaciies the dwarf, hardy Norman bred pony, with the step, strength and agility of a tiger, his shaggy forelock shading his eyes and forehead, and his OLD TIME FARMING. 249 flowing mane his neck and shoulders, otherwise his coat is as sleek and smooth as that of a mole. On the traineau is a hogshead of sugar seventeen hundred (1,700) pounds in weight, or a hogshead of rum, molasses, or bales of dry goods equal to that weight, but he moves along on his jog trot with the ease of a ship at sea. Following close behind is Jean Baptist, tlie owner and driver on tlie same trot, but when tired, steps on the sleigh. He wears the conical bonnet blue, pulled down over his ears, his gray capot and tuque of etoffe du paye (home spun) wound tightly around him, and kept there by a red or blue sash, the bot- tom of his pants tucked under his socks and lapels of his soulliers de boeuf (half tanned cowhide) well greased and defying snow or rain. The never absent short clay pipe, with its silver tube in which is inserted the bone of a turkey wing, which makes it portable, otherwise carried in his pocket it would break. The strong and fragrant vapors from this fired clay, impregnates the cold and frosty atmosphere and when it is out, he enlivens the air with the stirring song of "A la Clair Fontain" or a "L'ombcr d'un bois je m'en vais dancer," contented and happy as the day is long and m 250 OLD TIME FARMING. ; ' i I i Hi 1 :■ proving the proverb "that where ignorance is bhss, 'tis folly to be wise." After I had been three years with the worthy bishop he closed his college, I believe for the want of support, his means being very limited, and I returned with him to Toronto, and just at that age when the most important step generally decides the make or break of one pursuit in after life. As alreadv mentioned I was not educated clas- sically, and my inclination led me to a rural life. Intent upon this, I consulted my worthy parent, who had grave and serious objection to that kind of occupation, and he thus reasoned: "You are unaccustomed to the manual labor tiiat is required in the life of a Canadian farmer, nor are you pre-, pared for the privations, hardships and self-denials involved in such a life, and again you cannot expect to live alone without a helpmate. In all probability you may be blessed with children. Can you imagine the difficulty of raising a family in the back woods, removed from schools, churches, etc? Weigh, then, well the consequences. However, if you have fully made up your mind to follow it, T will give OLD timf: farming. 251 you the choice of a farm in any part of Ontario you may select.'' I have often thought since what wisdom and plain common sense there was in this wholesome advice. I thought seriously of it and for tlie time abandoned the idea, but I had left school and something must be done, so I entered a lawyer's ofifice, tried my hand in a grocery store, and at last purchased and sailed a schooner. In February, 1833, "^y father died, leaving me an ample share of his small fortune, principally in wild lands, and had it been carefully nursed would have left me comfortably provided for in after life, but my old idea for a country life returned, so I took to farming. I had allotted as my share a beautiful farm on the river Thames, two miles above Chatham and containing two hundred and forty-six acres (246) comparatively in a wild state with scarcely any improvements, save a log house and six or eight acres that could be cultivated. I hired a man and his wife to do the housework and commenced chopping and clearing up the land. It was while thus engaged that I met with my first mishap. I had been resting myself after felling a tree and was watching my man cutting through a large one f M' 252 OLD TIME FARMING. i S i ^:i i i ! i Upon which he was standing, with my right hand resting on a saphng and nearly within reach of his axe, and as he was reaching further below the cut, I suddenly felt a sting- ing pain, and to my consternation found two of my fingers split to the bone (it was lucky my hand, or my nead, for tliat matter, was not chopped of¥, for we were both green with the axe). Wrapping my fingers up wiith dead leaves, we went home, got a bunch of cobwebs in which my fingers were enveloped and sent for Dr. Ironsides at Chat- ham, who soon appeared and fastened the fingers to- gether with sticking plaster. It was some time before I could again shoulder the axe, but quite recovered from the injury, though the scars are still left. I then began to realize the truth of my father's admonition, but this did not intimidate me in the least, and when I recall the first years of my farming experience it often provokes a smile at the ridiculous straits I was put to, yet what extraordi- nary things have been done with this simplest of imple- ments, and how often from the stately forests, will we see the change that it will effect in a few short years. In my short span of life I have witnessed whole townships one OLD TIME FARMING. 253 dense mass of forest with swales, swamps and marshes intersecting them in every direction and the soHtary wood- pecker, the drumming partridge, and that king of the fea- thered tribe, the golden crested wild turkey in company with the red deer their sole occupants; and now what do we behold: Commodious and comfortable brick houses and barns, extensive meadows and fields stocked with the finest cattle and sheep in the world, with teeming orchards of the best fruits in America and everything pertaining to the comfort, wealth and edification of a farmers life adorning their homes; therefore I contend that the sturdy, noble and lion-hearted farmer who has hewed out such a home (and I know thank Providence, many of them) is as equally deserving of a crown, and far more so, than the greatest heroes of the age. In pursuing this secluded life deprived of all amuse- ments, the greatest pleasure is to make the most of your surroundings, and rejoice in the successful efforts in sub- duing the stately forests, and witnessing the vigorous growth of your first crops from the Airgin soil, and pleased to make of your patient ox and faithful steed vour con- / il! \ w tL. 254 OLD TIME FARMING. i ' stant companions in labor, and their only reward met^.d out to them by gentle treatment and care for their com- forts. The fruits of your labors should afford you ninnite pleasure, as you observ^e the thrifty orchard, and well stocked vegetable garden, supplying you with delicious fruits and vegetables, and what with the ornamental trees judiciously laid out and beautifying your country home, what more could one reasonably desire. To bring this about, however, cannot be accomplished without ceaseless toil, excessive labor and patience, or abundant means (money) to employ others to do it. Not being inured by practice in the days of my youth to the former, and not possessing the latter, I struggled along. I will now return to my first straits. I think about the greatest difficulty I had to contend with was the iiiaking of bread; as we had no cooking stoves in those days, the old-fashioned Dutch oven (simply an iron p. with a cover) was the sole one in use, but as only one loaf at a time could be baked, it was exceedingly troublesome, so I de- termined to build a clay one, such as were seldom seen, and originated with the first and probably French or Dutch OLD TIME FARMING. 255 settlers, and as a neighbor of mine had some Httle knowl- edge of their construction, I secured his services. So we went to work and sank four posts in the ground, four feet high, and across the top of these we laid split puncheons or staves of bass wood to form a bed or foundation, say- four by six feet, over which it was to be covered with eight inches of mortar, or clay, then we took an empty barrel with the head knocked out, and laid it on its side length- ways. Now this was to form the shape of the oven, then we commenced preparing the mud cats. My readers, I am sure, never heard of that name. Well, I will tell you what they were, and how made. We .nade a hole in the ground, throwing the top soil away, and came to the clay, which we had worked up with the spade and hoe, to the consistency of thick mortar, then a hay rope about two feet long and size of your thumb, which we souced and worked in this mortar until it was about as thick as your arm, then laid it carefully around the barrel and over it; this is a mud cat. Leaving a place for the door and shaping it the size you want it with a piece of hoop iron ; then we give it a thick coat of mortar, making it about eight inches 1! i 256 OLD TIME FARMING. ■ f hi si ■a I "'i i V'- thick — behold the oven built. Now we fill the barrel chock full of kindling and set it on fire, and when it is burned out your work is done, and I'll wager there is no invention of man that will equal it in turning out a batch of bread, pumpkin or apple pie, roast pig, turkey or beef. Regarding this oven business, as everything must be economized to make a successful farmer it has led to all the improvements of the age, and ^he saving of labor has been the first consideration. Now, when my oven was l)uilt I had not taken a wrinkle from my good friend and neighbor, Jake Shepley, and if '*an honest man is the noblest work of God" he was one, but he did away with the hoe and spade to a great extent, as I will try and explain. Going to Jake's one fine day I found him seated by the side of a pit which he had dug out, with a pail of water on one side and a half bushel measure of peas on the other and six thundering barrows (hogs) in the pit. I saluted him thus: "Jake, what in Sam Hill are you doing?'' Squirting a mouthful of tobacco juice clear over the pit he replied, "I am preparing for mud-cats.'^ He then threw in a handful of peas, then a bucket of water, rrel t is no Ltch eef. be to of my )od lan /ay try im 1 a ;as he ire ar er. <-J ! i"/>i II OLD TIME FARMING. 257 and the way those hogs went at it was "root hog or die;'' and thus he prepared clay for his oven. Nothing hke necessity, the mother of invention. About this time I had a visit from my neighbor, John Arnold, who asked me to ride with him to Chatham, when the following conversation took place: "Well, Mr. B., how do you like farming?'' "I rather like the country life," I replied, "but I don't think there is much money in it." "You are right,'' he said, "there is not. Keep out of debt, economize and utilize all you can. Now, I think," he continued, "that you labor under great disadvantages, and I'll tell you what I mean. You are lucky in getting your farm without paying for it, but you have to pay out money for all you touch; for instance, you paid for your horses, wagon, harness, plough, etc., and even your hats, coats, shirts, boots and socks and everything you have. That is your case. Now here is mine. Father gave me my lot and an old mare and cow, and after a few years I had enough land cleared to keep a dozen sheep. On my father's farm we were four or five boys and as many girls and brought up to all kinds of work. On the farm was .j( ' ii ;!'! h m:] ■:i| 258 OLD TIME FARMING. i|! It/'' a blacksmith and carpenter shop, and we were taught all kinds of work on rai-ny days; to make or repair a wagon wheel, make a bull-plough (made entirely of wood, and faced with a plate of steel. They lasted for years in the clay soil of Kent, where there are no stones.) I raised my horses from the old mare, and made my wagon, plough and harrow. The harness, a breast strap and rope traces, and no britchen required, as there are no hills. My hat a straw,'' he continued, "is made by my daughters; my coat, pants and shirts are home made; even my shoe packs I made myself out of a hide that Peter Ralston, alias Teter Rawhide,' tanned on shares; and my harness the same. Now all I have to pay for is a pound of tea a month for the old woman; I don't buy any sugar, for I have a sugar bush and make lots of sugar to sell." Now here was a les- son for me, and it reminds me now of another instance of a successful farmer who settled on the shores of Lake Simcoe many years ago, and v.ho came to Canada from England with some ten or fifteen thousand pounds ster- ling, and purchased four hundred acres in a block there. He brought with him his young wife, just married, an ac- OLD TIME FARMING. 259 complished and highly educated person. After cleaning up a hundred acres or so and building commodious barns and beautifying his forest home, his poor wife, suffering from the great wants and privations attending so secluded and laborious a life, sickened and died. Plunged in the deepest affliction at this irreparable loss, he tried to sell out and leave Canada, but was dissuaded from it, in fact he had spent so much of his means that no purchaser could be found. Knowing the inutility of farming without a wife, and not disposed to marry again, except an English lady, he went to England and brought out another one, equally accomplished as the first, and lo! in a few years she passed away as did the previous one. It was at this period that my informant called upon him and found him in a state of frenzy, crushed by his dire misfortunes and resolved to quit the country forever, but he had spent so much im- proving his place that again no purchaser could be found. In this state he left him, and when my informant paid him the next visit, a few years after, he found him in his har- vest field with several loaded wagons securing a bountiful crop of one hundred acres of wheat, joyous, happy and Hi 260 OLD TIME FARMING. I! contented. "Why," he remarked, "Mr. S., you appear in a very different mood than when I last saw you." "Yes," lie replied, "then I was crushed indeed, but time has its soothing- influence and finding that I could not sell out except at a ruinous sacrifice I determined to take another wife. vShe is to the manor bom, inured to the climate, familiar with all the duties of a backwoods life, makes our own clothes, goes to market and provides for the house with sales of butter, poultry, eggs, etc., and we are mak- ing money hand over fist." How many similar cases have I known in Canada, but how few succeeded as well in a pe- cuniary way. Now came the tug of war — plowing. I had a pretty good span of horses, but they were as strange to the plow as I was, who never handled one. I was then twenty- four years old. They were in good order, fat, frisky and playful, and I was strong, active and fearless. I had opened two or three furrows around the field (instead of in lands, ten or twelve feet wide, tlie proper way) and following the plow and horses sometimes at a trot, the sweat pour- ing from my face and the horses in a lather, when an ex- I OLD TIME FARMING. 261 traordinary sensation seized me. as if some fiend had brained me with a cUib. Recovering from my stupor I found myself straddle of the beam of the plow, and the horses out of siglit. The plow had struck a hid- den root, the double tree had parted in the middle and the lines around my neck jerked me suddenly over the handles and onto the beam. Limp and sore I found my poor horses at the stable door, who saluted me with a snort. Patting them gently I led them back to the plow. Do you think that that intimidated mc? No, but si'll I could not forget my poor father's counsel. I learned afterwards to hold the lines in each hand and not around my r'^ck, and thus avoid another thunder clap. It was not only with the plow tliat I found myself astray, but in a thousand other things. Laboring then under these serious disadvantages I struggled along for want of being educated in the mysteries of a farmer's life; for though ever so simple, they are as necessary to learn and master, as is Biackstone to the advocate, Abernethy to the physician. Watts to the engineer, or belles letters to the philosopher. * * 262 OLD TIME FARMING. : I ) ■ I- ;;^'ri It was while intent and determined to follow this pur- suit in life, that I took to myself a partner, and although unaccustomed to life in the backwoods, she cordially and cheerfully aided me in my every effort — but man pro- poses and God disposes — alas, in nine months on a tem- pestuous and stormy night in February she passed away, leaving a still born infant as a pledge of our love. My hearth and home became too desolate, and I left it to allow the current of time to allay the troubled stream, and after a four years' respite again took another part- ner, and lo, the avenger cleft from my side another flower of Eve. Many would suppose that this was enough to discourage me, but no, such are the attractions of "Home, sweet Hone," that it is difficult to part with the shade trees that you have planted to screen the rays of the mer- idian sun from the cottage door, the thrifty fruit trees that have contributed their luscious fruits to appease the thirsty palate, and the creeping rose and honeysuckle perfuming the air that invites you to repose. Again did the third partner link her fate to mine. Nurtured and accustomed OLD TIME FARMING. 263 to the refinements and luxuries of a city life, attractive by her charms, she forsook all to share my lot. The privations, exposure and hardships of her forest home preyed upon her liealth, and as if to crown all our misfortune in the depth of a cold winter night, with two feet of snow mantling the earth, a blaze was discovered in the roof of the house, and in the space of one short hour all was swept as by a tornado, and our child of two years old was with difficulty snatched from the devouring flames. Did this even intimidate me? By no means. On the very spot where lay the aslies of my once happy home another was erected, of far more commodious and comfortable proportions, but for various reasons I aban- doned it to cast my lot in a different sphere of life with- out a regret, for events have proved to me that I struck a wrong track when I took to farming, and I am reminded of a jocular remark made to me by my old friend, John Prince, who, when he first came to Canada in 1832, said, "my father kept a pack of hounds in England, but they soon ate him up.'' Now in comparing my lot to his there was but this difference, the hounds did not con- 171 1 ' 264 OLD TIME FARMING. sume me, but my farm did, and I would certainly advise any young man or old one (if he desires to farm in C'^nada), to apprentice himself to a prosperous and practical farmer and acquire a thorough knowledge of it before launch- ing on so precarious a sea of life. In 1858 I bade farewell to my forest home with mingled feelings of pleasure and regret, and a broad field of un- certainty before me, but the active life I had led unsuited me for a sedentary one, and I was soon induced to em- bark in a trade, which unfortunately proved as disastrous quite, if not more so, than farming for want of knowl- edge and experience, for in the former the loss came by slow degrees, whereas in the latter it came with a run- ning hop, skip and a jump. Need I say it was the trade of tanning. Not having the slightest experience in the matter, I had to trust entirely to others. I started in an old tannery, with vats filled with old liquor (extract of tan bark which had lost its strength for several years standing), but used by my ignorant foreman with fresh, liiquor. Consequently, hides and skins to the value of thousands of dollars were turned out, after six months' OLD TIME FARMING. 265 i:nxioits waiting-, almost vvorthtess. The reverse was ap- parent, I was tanned, instead of the leatlier, I never re- covered from this false step suflficiently to continue in this trade, so left it with dear bouglit experience. The great Napoleon wisely said, '*C'est le premier pas qui cout.'" The first step, wisely or unwisely taken, leads to success or failure, or in other words, "There is a time and tide in the affairs of men ; if taken at the ebb, leads on to fortune.'' I always stmck it at the wrong time. Resting on my oars at this juncture, a bait was thrown out to me by a friend that I eagerly seized, which was to open a stone quarry on the Great Manitoulin Island. The enterprise ended in forming a company to bore for oil instead, and after ex- pending $50,000 of the company's money 100 barrels only was pumped out, and widi it my last dollar. So ended that venture. A northerly current drifted me into the regions of Lake Michigan and Green Bay in the service of the United States Lake Surveys of the Racine Reef and locating the present Sturgeon Bay ship canal. Too much praise can- not be said in favor of the discipline, order and efficiency 266 OLD TIME FARMING. of this admirable corps. After an honorable discharge from this service I struck the Great Western Railway, and at last came to anchor in H. M. Customs at Windsor, from whence it is not likely I will be ever able to hoist sail for another port. t3 SERVICE IN H. M.. CUSTOMS. 266a TWENTY-TWO YEARS' SERVICE IN H. M. CUS- TOMS. In assuming the duties of this office I was assured by those in authority that so long as I was able to discharge the duties of it I would not be disturbed, but in this I was mistaken, as the following epistle will show: Sir-I have it in command to acquaint you that His Ex- cellency, the Governor-General in Council, has been pleased to place you on the retired list, to take effect from the i.th day of July, 1895, with an allowance at the rate of $308 00 per annum-viz., $.5 66 per month. I have the honor to remam, sir, Your obt. servant, S. M. McMICHAEL, Acting Commissioner. Ottawa, July 27, 1895. Did those good people in Ottawa consider for one mo- ment the painful and humiliating position of placing an old I i 267a SERVICE IN H. M. CUSTOMS. and faithful servant of twenty-two years' service and 83 years of age with an invahd wife on the paltry pension of $25 66 per month? No, they did not. They Were misin- formed, as some of them acknowledged afterwaf ds ; but the mischief was done and no remedy. Hence the production of these memoirs, from necessity. The experience of so many years spent at this port, the most important in the Dominion as regards the traffic between the two countries, requires greater vigilance than at any other in it, and whatever I have to say about it can do no harm to anybody and may interest a few. At the im- minent risk of giving grave offense to my Canadian friends, I would venture the opinion that taking a leaf from Uncle Sam would be advisable. Why not clothe landing waiters in imiform? It was proposed some years ago, but fell through. As punctuality, obedience and promptness to duty are considered requisite in all matters of business, the inexperienced and raw recruit (a landing waiter) often finds himself at fault in his onerous duties, and requires the con- stant care and solicitude of his superior officer. When practicable it is desirable having landing waiters, at ferries SERVICE IN H. M. CUSTOMS. 268a particularly, conversant with both languages. A?, an in- stance: A buxom, dashing young lady landed with a two- story Saratoga trunk and a yearling tot. When she was asked to examine it, no answer. Where bound? Still no answer. "Parlez vous Francais?" I asked her. "Oh, oui, monsieur," she replied. I found out she was going to a sta- tion on the C. P. R. R. "How much money have you?'' I asked. "One dollar and fifty cents," she replied. If she hired a hack to take her and trunk to the station, they would charge her $1 ; so I hired a spring dray for twenty-five cents, sat her and tot on the trunk and she left satisfied. Three or four days after a Frenchman (her brother) appear d and presented me with a six-pound dressed turkey, thanking me for the little trouble I had taken. The straits that innocent people to avoid customs are put to is often pitiable. A handsome and attractive brunette was asked to show what was in her basket (a loose towel rolled up in it), but sad to relate, in stooping to do so the end of a six-pound rump steak was exposed at the end of her shawl, which she had suspended from a string tied round her shoulders. What could the officer do but tell her to conceal it better the next 26()a SFCRNICIC IN H. M. CUSTOMS. «! ,!''" ;' i M tiino. and allow her to pass on? A little attention to stranj^ers is proper. Seated on the veranda at the British American, a lady sat near me with her three romping children tnmblincc about her. 1 knew she was from (ialveston, Tex. I ventured to remark that she must find it troublesome to travel alone. "Exceptinjy." she said, "to pass throuj^^h those horrible cus- toms, I have no trouble. T leave for New York this even- ing' to join my husband, a fancy dry goods merchant at ("ial- veston." "You assure me," I answered, "that you have not purchased anything in Canada." "Certainly not," she re- plied. "You can satisfy yourself." Which I did. I then told her I would accompany her with her trunks across the river and try to help her. Accompanying her to Detroit, I approached the ITnited States landing waiters, whom I have always found civil and obliging, and I said to them, "Gen- tlemen, this is a lady from one of your cities. I am satisfied she has bought nothing in Canada. Here are the keys of her trunks," handing them to them, *'if you desir^ to open them." "If you assure us that it is so, Mr. B — ," was the reply, "she can SERVICE IN H. M. CUSTOMS. 270a pass on." She had them checked to New York and re- turned to dine at the American, and would take the train in the afternoon. On leaving the hotel she expressed the ob- ligation she felt for the little trouble I had taken. I begged to assure her that I was paid by H. M., tiie Queen, for all I did, and she would feel highly ofTcnded if she thought her servants did not always ac(|uit themselves properly. "May you, then, always smoke the pipe of peace between the two countries," she remarked, at the same time handing me a beautiful meershaum pipe in a case. A poor woman came off the boat with a basket contain- ing articles of clothing, shoes, socks and scraps of calico, amounting to about $2. I told her they were dutiable, and she replied she had not a cent left. I asked her to accom- pany me to the collector, and he would act in the manner he thought proper. Her husband rented a small piece of land in Anderdon. He had been bed-ridden for three years past; she had six children, all young; had worked all winter making straw braid, with the light of a chimney fire; no sale for it in Windsor; had to sell it in Detroit, and ex- 27ia SERVICE IN H. M. CUSTOMS. p V si- changed it for these goods. She was allowed to go, and felt much relieved and thanked the collector (Mr. Benson). Such were a few of the mi.ny incidents encountered in this most thankless and disagreeable occupation, relieved in a great measure by the kind and courteous feelings existing with the officers composing the Windsor stafif and the public as well. l\