A VETERAN OF '37.
.ir. William L. Baby, a descendant of
>e of the oldest French families in
lerica, ari for twenty-two years an
Jcer in the Canadian customs, died
Jortly after two o'clock this afternoon
the British-American Hotel, Windsor,
lere he was residing . A week ago
had a paralytic stroke, but was ap-
^rently recovering urtil this morning,
^hen he took a turn for the worse and
ank rapidly.
^William L. Baby was born at Sandwich
1811, His family was founded in
le seventeenth century by Jacques
faby de Rainville, son of the Seigneur
rfc Rainville. Jacques was an officer in
♦;he famous Carignan Regiment, and
|9ame with it to America. Nearly a
centu-y later, in 1760, two of his de-
WM. L. BABY.
Descendant of Famous Frenclimen, wUo
died in Windsor '"
Bcendants, Jacques Duperon and M.
Baby, settled in Detroit and during the
fiiege of Pontiao the two brothers ren-
dered invaluable assistance to the garri-
son.
After the revolution the Babys re-
turned with the other United Empire
Loyalist?, and on the taking of Detroit
in 1812 one of them, Francis, was ap-
pointed marshal for the territory of
Michigan, which position he held till
1814.
Mr.' Ba^" was eHucated in ToronTo,'^
and spenc his boyhood there. On com-
ing to man's estate he bought a farm at
Chatham, Kent county, and lived there
for a number of years.
During tl o rebellion of 1837-8 he was
a lieutenant, commanding a company of
the Kent county militia. He was not -,
called out till Jan. 8, 1838, when the ,
'patriots' from Detroit made an attjvck
on Amherstburg. They had seized the
schooner 'Ann,' loaded her with arms
! and sailed her down to Gibraltar, twenty
miles beloAv Detroit, on the American
side. The Canadian troops were posted
behind trees and kept up a hot fire on
the schooner. The man at the helm
was shot down, many of the crew were
wounded, and the halliards were cut,
letting the mainsail drop. The schooner
di.ifted down the stream till she ran
afihore at Elliott's Point, and there she
was boarded by Lieut. Baby and his
company. The patriots surrendered,
and Dr. Thaller being wounded, Lieut.
Baby carried him on his shoulders to the
siiore.
Mr. Baby was married three times!
His first wife was a cousin. Miss Baby,
daughter of the late Francis Baby, of
Windsor. After her death he married
TNlias Ja3obs, daughter of Mr. George
Jacobs, township of Raleigh, Kent
county. His tliird wife was Miss Eliza
C. Chipman, daughter of Judge Chip-
man, of Detroit, and sister of Congress-
man J. L. Chipman. By her he had
one son, Mr. W. E. Baby, the well-
known Detroit lawyer. — Detroit 'Even-
ing News,' Dec. 9.
lyfAXlA
('£C'^*u
Souvcuire of tbc Ipiaet
Mitb Ullustrations
^
AN INSTRUCTIVE AND AMUSING WORK, GIVING A CORRB>CT
ACCOI'NT OF THE CUSTOMS AND HABITS OF THE
Ipionccre of Cana^a
AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY, EMBRACING MANY
ANECDOTES OF ITS PROMINErsfJ' INHABITANTS, AND
WITHAL AN ABSOLUTE CORRECT AND HISTORICAL
ACCOUNT OF MANY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
POLITICAL EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE
EARLY DA\S OF CANADA AND THE
TERRITORY OF MICHIGAN.
BY
MdUam lewis Bab^
lUinCteor, ©ntario, 18^6.
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
preface.
In offering to the public these crude and 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 w^hom he was associated and
who for so many years drew the undivided attention of the
civil and military povvers of those days. He at length failed
in the accomplishment of his bold and comprehensive plan
of attacking a chain of nine forts'f'Mil Michigan to Niagara
on the same day; he himself besieging the F'ort Pontchar-
train at Detroit in 1763, but failed, an Indian woman having
discovered the plot and revealed it to ^lajor Gladwin,
commanding the fort.
Pontiac afterwards professed friendship for the English,
but an Englisli spy, having discovered treachery in his
speech, stabbed him to the heart, and fled. — "Morgan's
Celebrated Canadians," p. 55.
^ablc of Contents.
An Old Family Legend during the Conspiracy of Pontiac.... i
Serving Jury Summons in 1839 13
The (^Id 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 '2,j
and '38 72
The Battle of Windsor, fought December 4, 1839 90
An Old Time Breeze on Lake Erie — Sailing in 1831 11/
The Runaway Slave IJ9
Journey to Little York (now Toronto) in 1833 140
Visit to Col. Talbot in 1S41 148
An Unexpected Visit from an Old Schoolmate 156
Visit to the Village of Wickwimikong, Manitoulin Island.... 164
Thrilling Experience with an Indian Pilot 187
The Book Peddler 193
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
SOUVENIRS 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 tb Isle au Pesche,
(fishing island in French), situated immediately at the
head of the Detroit River. From time immemo-
rial Isle au Pesche 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
2 OLD FAMILY LEGEND.
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 dn 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," said 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 wc will smoke the pipe of peace,"
handing him a four-pound plug of tobacco, in the sliape
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 Mieir smoke his host remarked:
"It's a long walk to the island to-night; there are my
OLD FAMILY LEGEND. 3
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. replies. "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 cofTee, 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
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 bkie cloth for a frock
and legg'ns, 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 ycu 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
his followers — page 258, Vol. i.
OLD FAMILY LEGEND. 5
A few young Wyandottes were in the habit of comings
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 assumed the
6 OLD FAMILY LEGEND.
attitude of a protector of the Canadians, lie had previously,
according- to the 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 v/ife, after
breakfast: "I will cross the river in my canue and see
Major Gladwin" (commanding the fort). He then crossed
the river and approaching, meets a soldier with two pails
of water on a wooden yoke across his shoulders, addresses
hini 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 nicssage is soon delivered and
the soldier 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 tlie 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 FAAIILY LEGEND. ' ' 7
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 ol 1 Jamaica will do no harm after
paddling across the river." "Never refuse a good thing
in moderation," replied Baby. They take a horn and
P)rd)y says: "Well, Gladwin, what's the news?'"" "D — n bad;
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 (juict; but the worst of all, to-morrow
we'll be out of provisions.''
"Whcit 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 buffalo skins in my dining ruom with his feet to the
fire. He was up bright and early, 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 FA^IILY LEGEND. ' ' '
and a stout rung passed through them to support the 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 iM'enchman — and a
Loyalist at that.'' Rccrossing the river, Baby, calling his
hands together, said. "Boys," (he had thirty slaves, twenty
men and ten women), "you have your iiands full." (Ho
worked a large farm, 1,000 acres in size, and about 200 acres
in cultivation, now all buih over by the City of Windsor.)
"Pompy," to his foreman, "to-morrow by sundown have
forty hogs killed and dressed, ten head of fat cattle the
OLD FAMILY LEGEND. 9
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 the 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 answered him, "I know it;
and V hen you want my services hereafter, suspend from the
flagstaf? 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
10 OLD FAMILY LEGEND.
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
9anoe fishing twine, fish-hooks, tobacco and pipes, glass
beads,: etc., etc. I vyill make the assortment for you to
trade with the Indians. You will at once proceed in your
canoe to the' mouth 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 oflf. On
the following day at tnidnight he reports. "I followed your
instructions, sir, and the Indians knowing me as a trapper
allowed me to enter among their tribes, and I found In-
dians encamped on both sides of the river; Wyandottes,
Hurons and Pottowattomies, engaged in making bows and
OLD FAMILY LEGEND. il
arrows of young hickory wood; the sqviaws were twisting
strips of deersl^in, and using tlie iririer bark of elm for the bow
strings, and otliers tieing strips of wild turkey feathers on
the arrows to guide their flight, with a split 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 J said in Indian, 'Ybu 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 going to capture her when
she passes Turkey Island.' Viola tout mon maitre."
"Good," said Baby, "Here is a guinea 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
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 au abundance of provisions, was un-
loaded and returned for another trip.
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
14 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
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 faciUty 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
Oiielette 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. Francoiis 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 twenty-five cents.* Instead of
•The staunch steamers of the Detroit, Windsor & Belle Isle Ferry-
Company make this trip through one foot of solid ice in fifteen
minutes, and every r;omfort Is provided by Messrs. Campbell, Avery
and Clinton for their passengers.
SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 15
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 w'ith 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 : gent 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 summons to be for-
warded to Sarnia by the steamer, and returned to Sand-
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 summons. 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 soon 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 Langlols, Jacques
Parent and Dominique Pratt would attest, who were the
mail carriers that transported the mail from Sandwicli to
Little York (now Toronto) either on foot or on horse-
back, ever)' alternate week from 1820 to 1835, ^"^1 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
b
i8 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
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 veiy abruptly left the lake shore road and
struck the prairie. 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 i)lace before him. Now, it
was not exactly what he saw. hut what he could not see,
that 'ippalled liini, 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 !,e was unfortunate
SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 19
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, I will persist in calling it) was popularly known as
the "Goose'' tavern. In fact, this aquatic 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, liefore bidding
20 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
adieu to my old friend Chauvin, it would 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
fatten hogs, and for many years his efiforts as a farmer
were crowned with success. But, unfortunately for Chau-
vin, a brace of cockneys came down from Chatham one
fine 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
him. 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 existence by hanging himself in his
barn. Nor can I bid a final adieu to this prairie without
alluding to anotiicr incident which occurred to me some
years after 1836.
My friend, Harry Jones, then Crown Land Agent at
Chatham, made a wager with some friend that we could
SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 2r
bag a certain number of clucks (25 brace) by a certain
time, and for that purpose we started for the prairie at
Janette'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 ready for the
occasion. T., for a certain sum (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 evei
twenty dollars was often a day's compensation for this
kind of work. The country surrounding Janette's Creek
then was nearly covered with water and aflfordcd magnifi-
cent sport to the duck and muskrat hunter, It was to
complete the number of ducks we were to shoot on our
wager that led me to do the following hazardous and
22 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
most foolish act. I jumped into a trapper's canoe or dug-
out, which was about twelve feet long and twelve or fif-
teen inches wide. Seating myself in the center of it, that
being the only way it would carry my weight, I started
down stream. After paddling a mile or so in the center
of the creek, which was about eighty yards in width and
twelve or fifteen feet deep, I observed five wood-ducks
coi?iing towards me. As they were about passing over
me I prepared to give them the contents of a double-bar-
relled gun which was borrowed from James Perrier. Fol-
lowing them with my aim, I discharged both barrels at
he flock. Of course, what might have been expected did oc-
cur, i. e., the upsetting of the canoe in the twinkling of an eye.
Whether my shot took effect I could not tell, but one
thing certain was I found myself at the bottom of the
creek, twelve feet below the surface, encumbered with my
gun, overcoat, shot-bag and a pair of boots coming well
up to my hips. How I managed to reach the surface
puzzles me now, but I did so and found myself some
ten or fifteen feet from my canoe, to regain which I made
a desperate efifort. Upon reaching it I found it bottom
■f"*
SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 23
side up, and immediately set to work to right it. This
task was accomplished only by great physical exertion. I
then threw my gun into the canoe, and seizing one end
of it, pushed it before me. On reaching the edge of the
rushes I became exhausted. My strength failed me. The
last ray of hope appeared to be fading away, and the
thoughts of a watery g^ave flashed vividly across my ex-
cited brain. As I was about to give up the contest I
found, to my infinite relief, that I could touch bottom by
standing on tip-toe. In this position my mouth was just
out of water, which enabled me to recover my breath. As
soon as I regained sufficient strength I hauled my boat
ashore, fully determined never more to shoot ducks in
Janette's Creek from a trapper's canoe. I find I have
been digressing from my subject and will therefore say,
in the language of my polite countrymen, "Revenons a
nos moutons."
The year Felix and I travelled this road the season was
comparatively dry. The road was in fair condition, so,
v/ith the assistance of a guide, we got along very well.
After leaving the "Goose" tavern, the next stopping place
24 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
was at Narcisse Dauphin's inn, located near the banks of
the Thames. Here we were kindly received by the wor-
thy host and hostess and regaled with a well served meal,
delightfully enhanced by being waited upon by their
charming daughters, who, it aflfords me pleasure to say,
are now all comfortably settled in life and honored mem-
bers of society. From Dauphin's we followed the banks
of the Thames until we arrived at John Goss' House of
Entertainment, the former residence of W. McCrae, M.
P., four miles below Chatham, where we spent the night.
The next morning we reached Chatham at 8 o'clock. If
my memory serves me right three squatters comprised the
population of this place at that time, which was then cov-
ered with a heavy forest of beech, maple, walnut and var-
ious other kinds of timber; these were H. Chrysler, black-
smith; Israel Evans, who operated a horse-power card-
ing machine, ana P. P. L., our kinsman, on whom we
greatly relied for proper information regarding the man-
ner and way of serving^ our jury summons in the south-
ern part of the district, then almost completely a forest.
What r. P. L.'s particular occupation was he scarcely knew
SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 25
himself, but generally he was ready for everything that
turned up. Approaching his log house, situated on the banks
of the Thames, we observed in front of the door this illus-
trious individual engaged in the interesting occupation
of milking his cow. He was seated on a three-legged
stool. Between his legs, which were thrust under the ani-
mal, sat the milk pail. A bonnet rouge, jauntily worn,
adorned his head, while his black clay pipe, grasped firmly
by his well set teeth, emitted its gentle vapors, which he
appeared to ofTer up on high as incense for the perfect
happiness he enjoyed here below. A buckskin shirt en-
circled his shoulders and loins, while blue cloth breeches
faced in the seat and knees with large patches of deerskin,
covered his nether limbs, the extremities of which sup-
ported a pair of "souliers de boeuf,"' or unfinished tanned
leather boots.
P. P. L. was a philosopher, pure and simple, and noth-
ing under heaven seemed to disturb the perfect equan-
imity of his mind and temper. As an instance, my brother
Charles, the previous winter, left Sandwich for Little York
with his horse and sleigh, and encountered a terrific snow
26 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
storm before reaching Chatham and arrived at L.'s house
at eight or nine o'clock in the evening. The usual hos-
pitalities and warm reception was given him by mine
host, and no one in Cana.da could do it more gracefully.
Charles felt solicitous about his horse and inquired where
he was to be kept, whereupon P. P. L. instructed his
eldest boy to show him where the stock, consisting of a
cow and a yearling calf were wintered. To his dismay
and consternation he was led to a stack of marsh hay
into which a stake had been driven, and to this stake his
horse was secured by means of the lines, and covered
with a buflfalo skin, left to its fate. There was not much
sleep for Charles that night and daylight found him
searching for his horse, which v/as attended with some
difficulty, as everything was covered with a mantle of snow
to a depth of two feet. The outlines of the stack, how-
ever, were visible and approaching the lee side of it, he
encountered a sight which provoked a smile. There he
beheld a row of fowls perched upon the animal's back,
doubtless attracted there by the warmth of the heavy buf-
falo skin with which the horse had been covered. On
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, until 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 country 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
28 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
the trees to add fuel to the flames when fired. This
vague description gives but a sHght 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 hearing 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 replied,
"and leg it.'' To do this, however, when the mosquitoes
were as thick as the leaves on the trees, was not to be
thought of, so, after a few more desperate eft'orts 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 liorses 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 'in 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 wc cpiickly rejoined: "Oh,
anything will do." To our great relief this squatter had a
small stack of oats, and, fastening our jaded and fam-
30 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
ished horses to a sapling, 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 the 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 unkemj)t hair hung
loosely over her bare shoulders and, as she stood there
barefooted, she presented a singularly interesting picture.
Respectfully saluting her 1 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 nutch 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-
SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 31
pare the frugal meal. She seized from a shelf a large
wooden trough which she quickly filled with buckwiieat
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 wooden 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 shouldl
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
little chap, and my expectations were shortly afterwards
fully realized. Felix's sudden appearance at the open
door caused the good lady to (juickly turn round, in doing
32 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
which she switched the Httle brat pkimp 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 T could, but couldn't.
It proved that hunger was an uncompromising foe, and
proved the victor. (Sic semper tyrannus.) The buck-
wheat was y' ed with sullen mood, and to our agree-
able disappointment afterwards, we found our digestion
imimpaired. 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
SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 33
the fact that Felix met with an accident in "brushing
through the Hne." 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!
34 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
With great difficulty I succeeded in soothing Felix by-
assuring him that I would blacken the patch with a bass-
wood brand, which 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 other 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 inclined 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. 35
fine a gravel road and as well settled as is to be found
in Canada. Or, by taking the Canada Southern road,
with tht 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 oflfer is thils: I
may consider myself as one of the few, and I am nearly
safe in saying, (to borrow a phrase from Cooper), "The
Z6 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
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 and governed the
country up to the time of the taking of Quebec — 1759 —
OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 37
after which a new tide of afifairs 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 revolutionary 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 Canada, 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
Detroiit river into Canada in order to live under the old Eng-
lish flag. One of these was the 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
38 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
war on the continent with Napoleon L Only four regi-
ments served in Canada during this war. The peace of
1815 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 when necessity demanded 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 suffered 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 of acres of land in the
most favored part of the country, he retaining 100 acres
out of every 200 for himself to pay him for his trouble
in settliing 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 wiitii 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 with tlie modes of agriculture
40 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
in the country they had left, the majority being tenants and
farm servants, with a good sprinkhng of merchants, trades-
men and merchanics; and, as a consequence, Ontario wdll
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 1 write of, say 1815 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 nuirder 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 frecjuent 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 Connnercial Bank at Little
York for their agent at Windsor, James Dougall, Esq., and
would 1 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
42 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
package contained $25,000, so Mr. Dougall, the agent, told
me when I deUvered it to him, a month after.
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 still worse westward, and made up my mind to float
down the Thames from London, and 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 annidst 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 accomplished; but iiow, .it
puzzles me. Another two days' run brought me to within
four miles of Chatham, when 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 i200
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 place
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 and unscrupulous 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, diishonest and
unprincipled for this flaming sheet's attack upon those en-
trusted with the government, whom he stvled the "familv
d ^
44 OLD FAMILY COiMPACT.
compact." It proved a failure in a short time, and the
editor left the country for the limited States to avoid the
bailiff'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., dnto
the bay hard by, in broad daylight. I was an eye witness
to it, though not a participant. Nothing could have hap-
pened to him more opportunely. He returned immediately
to the country, prosecuted and recovered full damages —
some $15,000 or $20,000 — and 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 rebellion
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 Buffalo,
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 COAIPACT. 45
line," which had been employed by him in funiishing-
artillery, arms, stores, etc., from Buffalo to the island, and
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,
tJiat 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, I believe.
In reviewung 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 die
colonists, and which they could not control, was this
"fanwly compact.'' Now, 1 hope 1 will not be considered
egotistical in dealing with this subject. 1 find it necessary
to commence with my own 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
46 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
out, in 1 812, he commanded the militia of the then western
district now Essex, Kent and Lambton, and performed
many servnices 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 from 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
anost 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 ihe Archdeacon, afterwards Bishop Strachan. Well
OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 47
do I remember this person when he kept the common
grammar school in little Muddy York, and I was his pupil
at 8 years of age. Even at that tender age, I had the
most vivid recollection of hiis kindness, and unflinching in-
tegrity and liberality. For example: It v;as 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 certain extent, but I nuist not omit to
48 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 obliged 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 believed us to
be very little remote from savages. Now, as to the fulfill-
ment of his duties, no man could have perfoi-med 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; ndght and
day was he to be met on foot in and out of town, visiting
the afflicted and administering the consolations of his re-
ligion. Again, iln Morgan's [^ketches: 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-
ilty 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
50 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
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 elici ed
the approbation of colonial secretaries. On one occasion,
he appealed to the three governors above named, thf n 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 the surrender of his judgment. Belonging to
one of the few prominent famiUes, who, having fought
under the British flag in the American war of independ-
ence, and took up their residence in Upper Canada, hi&
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 of
Detroit, and who penned its surrender to Brock lin the old
Baby house, still standing in Sandwich. During the whole
of his political career he was identified wath the small official
party known as the Family Compact. They defended the
oligarchical system with a zeal fully proportioned 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 British interests were sure
to suflfer 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 nobleman on the afifairs of Canada. If he
erred in this particular, if time has proved that responsible
52 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
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 ils 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
disinterestedness:
Little York, Oct. nth, 1823.
The lion. James Baby, Inspector General of Privy Coun-
cil:
My Dear Sir — I must entreat you to say to the gentle-
men who in company with you did me the honor to call
upon 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 pul)lic character on our small stage,
so far as 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 they 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 an(^ the
public expression by the two Houses of the Legislature, at
the result of my endeavors to be useful to the Province, I
nuist value most the testimony which the proposed compli-
ment conveys to me from gentlemen whom, independently
of every private association of friendship, I 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.
sensibly 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.
J. B. Robinson, Esk., Attorney General:
Dear Sir — I am requested by the gentlemen, who had
tile honor of waiting ui)on you on Friday last, to acknowl-
edge your favor of the nth, and to express their acquies-
cence in your determination to decline the small proof of
private attachment and public respect which they intended.
But while they do justice to the delicacy of your motives,
they cannot but hope that some other manner of mani-
festing the high sense they entertain of your services more
OLD FAMILY 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 countr\', 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, and 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 I'^ort 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. His 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 wiith 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.
Jn the hurried sketcii of these prominent men, I must
not omit to mention so many others ecjually deserving:
The McDonp.Ids, Sherwoods, the McLeans, the Hager-
OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 57
mans, 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, wall 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 conmiemorating 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."
58 HON. JAMES BABY.
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 vahiable and respected a member
of this Society as the Hon. James Baby, who, after a
very short but severe ilhiess, 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 much beloved by all who knew him.
His disease was at first attended with excessive pain and
repeated convulsions, and when they abated he was re-
duced to a state of great debiliity, 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 illness with great
fortitude and composure, he looked forward to the awful
■event with tranquil resignation.
lion. Janu's liaby. Inspector rjcncM-al.
HON. JAMES BABY. 59
Those animating hopes with which he had always rested
in humble confidence on the mercies of his God enabled
hiim 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 ilmprovement, 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 fami'"
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-
6o HON. JAMES BABY.
bee, where, tin addition to the cultivation 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. 6t
constitutes the boundary of Upper Canada. When the
Province 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 afiectionate wife, leaving five sons and one
daughter, all very young.
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
liad 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 appeareci to
blast his hopes and derange his purposes, and tc throw
him, as it were, adrift on the ocean of life.
The 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
were ever ready to support the king's forces in making
head against the enemy. When it was in contemplation
to withdraw the troops from the western part of the prov-
HON. JAMES BABY- 65.
mce 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 v;as 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 responsibility, 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
sp«nt at York, in the discharge of the duties of his office,
64 HON. JAMES BABY.
and never has there been the slightest shadow of com-
plaint — a fact the more remarkable as he had to check
every other office in the province, and to pronounce in a
variety of questions, in which numbers were deeply inter-
ested; but such was the pubHc confidence in his integ-
rity and honor that not a murmur was ever heard.
As a member of both councils he displayed the most
wnconipromising probity; and no influence could induce
him to give up an opinion, which, after mature examina-
tion, he concluded to be right. Owing to his having cul-
tivated i>oth languages, French and English, and some-
times speaking in the one, and sometimes in the other,
he seemed, at times, slow of apprehensiion ; and, after hav-
ing made up his mind somewiiat pertinacious — but it was
the result of high principle — 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 polished manners and benig-
nity of disposition, tlircw a moral beauty around him that
is very seldom beheld. His favorite amusements par-
took largely of this simplicity. He was fond of fish'ing.
HON. 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 this amusement he 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 the most approved methods of
cultivation. He would frequently find him hastening in
the morning to enjoy his garden, and no man can be
fond of its fruits and flowers, and the delightful enjoy-
ment which they yield both to the eye and ear by their
perfumes and colors, witiiout having his heart touched
with gratitude to God, their Creator and the giver of all
good. This sweet and amiable disposition appeared in
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 comfort and happiness
of all domestic animals which he kept about him — but
we must hasten to a close.
His external accomplishments and manners v/ere highly
adapted to win afifection's esteem. To an address pecu-
liarly engaging from its dignity, urbanity and ease was
united a cordiality and kindness of deportment which in-
duced one to desire a more intimate 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 often 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
the gems which shed around his character that lustre
which made him so great a favorite. A strict probity
and inviolable love of truth were, perhaps, the most
prominent of his 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 valuable deposit he labored un-
ceasingly to inculcate that which he truly deemed the
foundation of every virtue — the principle of religion.
68 HON. JAMES BABY.
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,
the orphan, and of those who have no helpers, and
h'is 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. But
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 hiis nature
were kindled to their highest fervor.
It was, indeed, his lot to experience many afHiicting dis-
pensations in that quarter where his tenderest aflfecbions
were engaged; but here the consolations of Christian
hope and the unshaken assurance of divine goodness
were his 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 faith,
he turned with grateful contentment to those blessings
which he was yet permitted to enjoy, and which he con-
tinued wiith pious thankfulness and quickened sensibility
to cherish atid 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 —
•dignified dn his deportment — warm in his affections —
steady in his friendship — and unshaken in his principles.
The great object of his life was usefulness, and the spring
of all his action was religion. With scarcely a faiiling to
cast a shade over the collective splendor of the estimable
endowments which were united in his character and con-
•tlust, who that kn- w him can avoid dwelling upon his
memory witli a sorrowful joy. and feeling that a great
blank has been made in our social circle, and that one
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 physicians 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 country. 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 lin that vast assemblage dem-
onstrated the high respect in which Mr, Baby was held.
All business was suspended — every shop and ofiice was-
closed — there was no manifestation of sectarian feeling —
the whole conmumity appeared as one common family
united together in bewailing this melancholy bereave-
HON. JAMES BABY. 71
tnent. What an evidence does not this afford, that, how-
ever men may 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. Catholics, Protestants, Presbyterians
and Methodists were amalgamated together on this la-
mentable occasion, and with their respective ministers at-
tended his last obsequies with the greatest decorum and
attention. During the funeral sermon, which was
preached by the Very Rev. the Vicar General, hfs audit-
ory appeared powerfully affected. We never before wit-
nessed the ceremonies of the Catholic church on such an
occasion performed with greater solemnity; and we sin-
cerely hope that the harmony and union which appeared
to pervade all classes of the conmiunity 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.
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 midnight. I was then Hving in my log house, two
miles above Chatham, keeping bachelor's hall on the
banks, "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 Brereton and
V. Sunmer 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 liad a roaring fire, and witlidravv-
ing a flagon of rye from underneath my bed, where 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 adjoining room a
flitch of bacon of my own curing, and shaving some
very fine slices, parboiled for five minutes and frizzled i-n
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 cliimney corner to keep from
freezing, and carefully washing them chucked them into
a pot of boiling water for thirty minutes, and every drop
of water being poured from them, the cover taken of¥,
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, I re-
marked : i
"What's up and what in thunder has brought you
chaps here to knock me up at this hour of the night?"
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-
Vv^art 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
irom which he was driven by the capture and destruc-
tion of the famed steamer "Caroline," which was set fire
tcT and sent over the falls in a blaze, several on l^oard,
who could not escape, adding fuel to the flames. Per-
haps it woidd 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 bim "he could depend upon the loy-
alty of the Upper Canadians for defense," and challeng-
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 pway 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 Canadian 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 Forty-first or Forty-second Regi-
ment, who fought in Picton's division throughout the
Peninsular war, and was distinguished for his bravery,
f
76 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER.
having been shot through the jaw and laid on the battle-
field of Salamanca during the whole night, (thiis 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 commissa.y. 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, through which the teams could not pass, so they
SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 77
diT 'nped 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 Paint that evening and
bivouacked among the farmers. The shrill clarion of
chanticleer awoke us the next morning and we proceeded
on our way to 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 we were met by some of the
Windsor inhabitants, promiinent among whom was my
friend and kinsman, James Dougall, who g?ve 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
78 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER.
us do\\'n to Amherstburg, as "General'' Theller, so-called.
threatened an invasion there that night. About 9 p. m.
■we, that is, forty men of Major Ambridge's company,.
forty of the Kent voUuiteers (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. RadclifT
in command, proceeded down the river, the thermometer
at zero. On nearing 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
50-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
fortunatelv no one was hit.
SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 79
Proceeding on our way to Amherstburg we reached
the Lime Kiln crossing and, it being moonldght, we dis-
covered the schooner "Ann" moored in front of the old
barracks and now and then discharging her cannon up-
on the defenseless town. On discovering this, Col. Rad-
clifT ordered an immediate landing at the Lime Kilns and
we quartered ourselves as best we could in the Huron
Induan 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 march to Elliot's point,
8o SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER.
where we took up our quarters in the old Elliot house,
as also did Capt W. G. Hall with his 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, (Elliiott'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 sharpshooters, who
made it lively for the crew on board.
Col. Radcliffe 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 struggldng 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 sLill 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 hiis 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 with 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 claiiming my protection. No doubt he was
terrified at our appearance, and with our blankets
wrapped around our shoulders, 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 his cannon, so jumping
S2 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, wliere he found us
toasting before an open fireplace, and inquiired 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 ludkrous scene. Theller sitting on his
haunches and beholding the colonel for the first time in
his Hfe. 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. 8j
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 — 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 repliied: "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.
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 unofificer-like, but when it is considered
that the inliabitants 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 did 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 and 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
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 roid, which was situated
immediiately 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." He was only waiting for day-
86 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER.
light to see his way. In the meantime, Captain Glascovv^
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 April. Thus ended my four month's service as a
volunteer.
In reviewing the events of the Rebellion of 1837 and 1838
to-day, the 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
T^attle of V/indsor took place.
The following account of the capture of the sf'hooner
Ann is taken verbatim from Thellers "Canada,'" 1837- 1838,
pages 136 and 137.
"As we n eared the town volley after volley was poured
into us with considerable efifect, 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 the 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 boat
to her own will, and as the down-hauls had been cut away
by the shot the sails could not be managed. Unskilled as
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 incHned 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, nipjintained for
a while our position on the deck, and with much labor
brought our cannon to bear upon the ?hore. 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 bringing 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
'eceived 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 Radclifif, 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."
COL. JOHN PRINCE.
90 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
THE BATTLE OF WINDSOR, FOUGHT DEC. 4,
: I
1839. 'v
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 4th 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. 9^
duced. The contributors to this narrative think it ciue to the
pubHc, and to themselves, that there should be no miscon-
ceptions in an affair of so much importance — that "even-
lianded justice" should be meted out to all concerned. They,
therefore, uninfluenced by partialities 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 countr>'. 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 head(iuarters of the
92 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
enemy, and the want of sufficient means to repel any serious
invasion. To add to their anxiety and alarm, Major Reid,
of the 32d Regulars, who held the command at Sandwich,
was called to the London District, and that important trust
devolved on Col. John Prince. The effective force at that
time consiisted of Company Xo. i, and ii 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 Captain Lewis was conmiitted the charge of
the important post at Windsor.
With so small a force it was necessary to maintain the
.greatest watchfulness against any sudden attack; and to
ensure that vigilance so essential to our safety, nearly all the
inhabitants of Sandwich, not connected with any of the
above companies, acted as voluntary night patrol. As more
<lefinite and certain information of the strength and inten-
tions of the brigands was received, our situation became
the more alarming. Some of our most respectable and
influential inhabitants waited on Colonel Prince with a
request that he would ask Col. Airey, connnanding at Mai-
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 able 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 PatroUe in the most culpable neg-
ligence. His sentinels were placed without 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. Airey 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.
94 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
Lewis' Company be called to Maiden to take their place.
This request, most unfortunately, as the sequel proves, was
not granted.
On F>iday, the 30th of November, information was re-
ceived from uncjuestionable 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, wlio 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 ruffians 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 believed the impassable state of the river, the
Volunteer Patrolle, unfortunately, on that night relaxed its
usual vigilance, leaving the safety of all our inhabitants, and
ail that was dear to them, to the keeping of Capt. Lewis.
Most unfortunately Gen. Brady, too, deceived by the same
circumstances, arfd 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
96 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
useless oy 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 olT 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 tne 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. ^
day and gave information at the Barracks to that effect.
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 to
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 PatroUe. 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
coincidenjce the pieces of both parties missed fire. The
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, krrd Wounding
several of their men. The brave sentinel (Otterburj^), forc-
ing his vv^ay through his companions tO h^ve anotlier shot
and holding up his musket to facilitate his rrioV^nients, re-
ceived a ball and two buckshot in his left arm', xvliicti Obliged
him to retire from the conflict. As long lis their atnmunition
held out, our men made a most gallint 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 inofTiensive' colored
hian, named Mills, who resided near the scene of action,
coming out of his house to see what was the matter, was
BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 99
taken by the brigands, and on refusing to join them was
barbarously shot. From the Barracks the brigands pro-
ceeded to set on fire the steamboat 'l hames, belonging to
Duncan McGregor, Esq., and then laid up at Mr. Van
Allen's vvharf, 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 h; 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
loo BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
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 ofif 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
tile village, Captain Sparke halted and formed his men —
while the militia under Captains Fox and Elliott, also'
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 OP WI::DS0R. ioi
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. Instandy 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 meantime 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 orchard and in the act
of returning the fire which had been opened upon them by
Captains Fox and Elliott. Captain Si)arke wheeled his
conuuand 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 whole party and continued to the
edge of the woods, by Captains Fox and Elliott, preceded
by Capt. Thebo, whose judicious position brought him well
I02 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 alTair. Captain Sparke finding the
pursuit in excellent hands, halted his party when about 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 ofificers of
the party that he had just received intelligence that upwards
of two hundred brigands were marching down from Detroit
BATTLE OF WINDSOR. loj
on the American side for the purpose of crossing over
and attacking Sandwich lin 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
marcl; 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 the 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 strengtii of a
rear guard or reserve of the brigands which was still in
possession of Windsor. This body, headed (as is said) by
General Birse, at the time the action commenced in the
orchard, was drawn up in front of the burning barracks.
I04 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 waijon, and
•drove directly up to it. thinking it was a party of our own
miliitia. As Mr. Alorse 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 their pieces at him. Mr. Tyas leaker, who had also
approached the party, believing them to ])e 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 sv/ord, he will not run any farther." Several
then proceeded to "finish" him, as they expressed :it, 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 cfifect,
viz: "that the brigands had shot Dr. Hume, under the
impression that he was Colonel Prince." After killing the
doctor, they fired several shots at ]\Iorse, 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
io6 . BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
informants. Intelligence was also given by James Dou-
gall, Esq., and other respectable inhabitants who had
been reconnoitering at Windsor, that the brigands re-
maiming at that place certainly did not exceed one hun-
dred men; and that tliey 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 :o do, giving as his reasons that the report
could nor be correct — that the party at Windsor must be
much stronger than represented — that his post was at
Sandwich and if he should leave it he would by so doing
subject himself ^o 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 again.st the enemy until their arrival,
which might be expected in two or three hours. The
BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 107
appearance of this reinforcement was now most anx-
iously looked for, as it was plainly seen that no move-
ment would be m ule until it had arrived. In the mean-
time information continued to be received from many re-
spectable dndividuals who had been closely reconnoiter-
m^, 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 numl)er, with whom
he gallantly volunteered to drive the polluting ruffians
from our soil. His reciuest was denied — 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 apjirize
Col. Prince that they had retreated to the Windmills,
(their place of debarkation), and were escai)ing by canoes
to Hog Island; this intelligence, however, did not cause
io8 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
Col. Prince to change his determination to remain at
Sandwich until the arrival of the regulars.
When we had waited an hour or longer 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
frequented part of our main street. As the prisoner ap-
proached he was told by one of the officers to make his
peace with God, as lie had but a few minutes to live. The
wretched man, holding up both his hands, pleaded most
earnestly for mercy, but Col. Prince commanded him to
be shot upon the spot, and the same officer who had at
first addressed him, probably to disengage him from those
hy 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 hand, ex-
claimed, "D — n you, you cowardly rascals, are you go-
ing to murder your prisoner." This exclamation for one
instant retarded the fire of the party, but in the next the
BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 109
prisoner was brought to the gr und; he sprang again to
his feet, and ran around the corner of a fence, where
he was met by a person coming from an opposite direc-
tion and shot through the head. From papers found up-
on his person it appeared his name was Bennett. It is
to be regretted that this painful afifair took place lin our
most public street, and in the 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 happened
to be present when the prisoner was about to be shot by
Col. Prince's orders, entreated that he 1 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
II o'clock a. m. a detachment of 100 men of the Thirty-
fourth, under Capt. Broderick, a few artillerists and a
no BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
field piece, under Lieut. Airey, and some forty or fifty
Indians under Geo. Ironside, Esq., galloped into Sand-
wich. Waiting only a few minutes to inquire the state
of affairs 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 i)y 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, ammunition, 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
BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 1 1 1
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. Notning could be seen of those
whom the militia drove to the woods, nor of those who
had so long held possession of W^indsor, 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-
112 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
ish officer.*' On discovering the canoe Lieut. Airey or-
dered the field piece to be unlimbered 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 dismissed them also.
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.
BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 113.
Capt. Broclerick, finding there was nothing further to-
be clone, 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."
They were then brought to Col. Prince, who had now
commenced his return to Sandwich, When he had ar-
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 Mercer, 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 country.
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 hold him responsible for his in-
terference, as his (Col. Prince's) orders were to destroy
them all.
By information received immediately after the flight
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 the shore of the river or Lake St. Clc'.ir to cut off re-
BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 115
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 males and captured eight 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
the 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 misguided 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 this 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
ii6 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
gallantry and skill — 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 r:<tde 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 wore among the principal argu-
ments used In Col. Prince's behalf.
OLD TIME BREEZE. 117
AN OLD-TIME BREEZE ON LAKE ERIE— SAIL-
ING IN 1831.
The Baby Mansion, Around which Chister Historic
Memories.
In the winter of 1831 I was sojourning in the rural
town of Sandwich, under the roof of the old and vener-
able pile, the l^abv mansion, my place of nativity. There
is something so truly interesting in this place, identified
as it is with the past history of the country, that, although
1 have on more than one occasion alluded to it, I cannot
refrain from adding this, my last tribute to its history.
It was built about the middle of the last century and one can
scarcely imagine nowadays the difficulties then experi-
enced in accumulating the material and the labor to erect
so well l)uilt a structure. There was no such thing as a
saw mill or grist mills, except the scattered "moulins a
vent" (wind mills) along the shores of the River Detroit.
The nearest saw and grist mill by water power, even up
ii8 OLD TIME BREEZE.
to the year 1828, I beliieve, 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 construction 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-half
stories in height, with a three-foot stone wall cellar, the
size of the house, and as it was Iniilt for the northwest
trade, it was made capable of holding 600 or more pipe>
of wine or liciuors, which were then of the best (|uality
in the world, and were brought from Montreal in "ba
teaux'' (four-ton open ))oats), the same as ail 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 Imteaux,
threading their way along the Niagara River and the
shore of Lake Erie to their difYerent points of destination
— Detroit, Mackinac. Sault Ste. Marie, Green Bay, St.
OLD TIME BREEZE. 119
Paul, etc. The frame work of the building was filled in
with bricks and mortar; the beams and the slieathiing
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, bufifalo, mink, etc. The
roof is steep to shed the tempest blasts of snow and rain.
It stands the silent witness of the cannon's roar 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, where Te-
cumseh was killed, the father of the writer, Col. James
Baby, of the Kent iTiilitia, 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.
I 1
120 OLD TUIE BREEZE.
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 tits pear trees over a hundred years old; the bon
chretian, grafted on the stock of the old Erench pear
tree, the other, the French pear tree itself. They both
measured nine feet 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-
nuingled with the primeval forest adorning both sides of
the Detroit River from source to mouth, irrigated by the
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 with the rainbow's tinted spray, a pure and
holy incense, forever soaring to mark the finger of their
God. Tiiese emblems then are gradually disappearing,
but in the archives of Loyola will live forever. As did the
OLD TIME BREEZE. 121
poet in bidding adieu to luis native land so will I to thee,
die place of my birth and say. "good night."
I find that I have ])een wandering, so will return to
my subject, the "Breeze." At the time before men-
tioned (the winter of 1831) 1 was not particularly occu-
pied, professionally or otherwise, and an idea struck me
that money could be made l)y a sailing vessel. As there
was one. unfinished, for sale on the stocks at Sandwich,
I bought her, excepting a few shares, fitted her out and
called her the Tecumseh. At that time an iron furnace,
built by Fields & Cahoun, was in full blast in the town-
ship of Gosfield, and there was a great demand for pig
iron freight by water to Toronto. I took a contract to
deliiver a certain cjuantity there, and sent the vessel
dirough with a full cargo whilst I followed by steamer.
On her arrival the crew mutinied. I paid them ofT. bought
out the shares owned by the other shareholder through
a generous act of my father, then inspector-general of
Upper Canada, and trod the deck as boss. I had ac-
quired a good deal of experience in my youth in Little
York (now Toronto) Bay in the way of managing a skifif
122 OLD TIMK r.RKfiZE.
or sailboat, and often steered for the expert salmon fisher
up the Don, Credit and 1 lumber rivers, in pursuit of this
kinj;- of tiie finny tribe. It is to be observed (en passant)
that these now almost extinct fish, in former days, fre-
quented these streams in schools of thousands, for the
purpose of spawning-, which took place in the months of
September and October, and when then taken were almost
worthless and could be bought for 20 cents each, after
their long journey of 1,500 miles from the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, mostly in our fresh, and to them tepid waters,
streams and lakes, whereas, in 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 more or less upon g^un, or rod (they were
adepts at either) for fish or game, could be seen along
the shore with a flambeau, made from the pitch pine roots
and knots, l)urned in what waf, called a "light jack," made
of iron, the size of a half busliel measure, fastened to a
stafif, which was driven in the bank at the edge of the
stream, where the water ran swiftly over a rocky or peb-
OLD TIME BREEZE. 123
bly bottom, two or three feet deep where a piece of white
birch bark, four by six feet in size, had been stniK,
Aveighted with stones; the unwary sahnon, intent upon
passing the rapid over this bark, was pierced and taken by
the unerring spearman.
The wiidow of the kite Cok George Dcnison. my inform-
ant, who resided at tlie first rapids of the 1 lumber, told
me that, "( )ft in the stilly night" did she and her friends
wile away many an hour in witnessing this interesting
scene. All has to succumb, however, to the transnnita-
tion of time. What a melancholy reflection!
To think that this priceless fish has become now nearly
extinct in our fresh waters, and the reason is obvious,
for no fish equals 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. To return to my subject,
what, with my experience in salmon fishing and that ac-
quired by sailing with Capt. Bill Bucket, in the Kings-
ton packet, and Capt. R. Oats, of the sloop "Duke of
Richmond," (the former announcing her departure by the
124 OLD TIME BREEZE.
blast of a tin horn, six feet long, the latter by the yelp of
a four-pound swivel). I scarcely found myself capable
to sail or handle a vessel with compass and chart. It so
hai)pened I met Prideaux (liirty, a merchant and would-
be sailor from (josficld. He was looking^ out for the
owner of the Tecumseh to ship his goods to Amherst-
burg, so I appointed him sailing master. I was to be
super cargo, and I hired a lad as cooU, slush and bottle
washer. John Kirkpatrick, of Chippewa, merchant, dis-
tiller, miller and postmaster, then met me and asked me
to take a pair of millstones to Chippewa, which I agreed
to do. Having completed my cargo, I left Toronto with
a spanking north wind and had a quick run across Lake
Ontario to Port 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-
OLD TIME BREEZE. 125
seh's cargo, crew and barrel of whiskey in ten minutes
after would have gone over Niagara Falls and would
never more have been heard of, unless, perhaps, in the
debris of the whirlpool below. I again visited this spot
in 1845 *^^^ "ly wedding tour, and spent a few days with
the late Thomas Street, (my companion in youth), then
wilth his parents at their charming residence at the rap-
ids just above the Falls of Niagara. On one occasion we
left for Buffalo, and took the steamer "Emerald," Capt.
Vanallan, at Chippewa with a party of friends on their
way to see McCready play "Richelieu'' at Buffalo, and
passed through the present "cut'' leading from the village
into the Niagara River, constructed to avoid the danger-
ous trip around the point. We got to Buffalo all right,
hired John Fox 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 Bufalo. 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-
126 OLD TIME BREEZE.
night. The night was as dark as Erebus. Fox instructed
nie in my first duties, telling me to keep a stirict eye
to the weather, and in making my rounds I was to place
my foot upon the anchor chain and I could easily find
out if the vessel was dragging the anchor, and if so to let
out more chain to give it a better grip. I was thus occu-
pied when to my utter astonishment and fear a bright
light appeared, making everything as light as day, and
casting my eyes to the mainmast discovered on the top-
mast a ball of fire about the size of an ordinary bucket.
Alarmed at this, to me, unusual sight I hastened to the
companion-way and called for the crew to come up, which
they did, when old Joe Ridley exclaimed: "It's the Jack
o' Lantern," (ignus fatuus), which vanished as soon as
they appeared, but has never been effaced from my mem-
ory.
W<i left Point Abino the next morning and ran up the
lake opposite Cleveland with a light easterly wind and
drizzling rain. Suddenly, about 5 p. m., a clear sky
opened in the west, and in less than five minutes Lake
Erie was a sheet of foam. I)efore we had time to take
OLD TIME BREEZE. 127
in sail the squall struck us, blowing the jiib from its hanks
and carried it overboard and under the vessel. Let-
ting go the fore and main sail sheets with a run, we put
the vessel before the wind under bare poles and let her
scud. As night wore on the wind increased to a hurri-
cane and made things lively on board the Tecumseh. The
box stove broke loose and flew from side to siide in the
cabin; the light in the l^innacle was blown out; the man
at the wheel was lashed to the tiller and had to be relieved
every half hour, benumbed with sleet, rain and cold. The
howling of the tempest and the hissing of the raging seas
as they unfurled their maddened white caps I'll never for-
get. We succeeded at last in tying the tiger (stove) by
the leg to keep it from barking and biting, and were
crowded in the cabin, awaiting our fate, when at day-
light the man at the helm cried out: "Land, ho!" At
the time we were within two miles of Dunkirk lighthouse.
Then John Eox flew up the companionway to take in the
situation and proved ecjual to it. lie cried out: "If we
can't get up the foresail \ve'll be in the breakers iti less
than fifteen minutes." We followed him and found the
128 OLD TIME BREEZE.
halyards unreeved. He sprang- to the rigging, reeved
them and, witli great difficidty (as the sail was frozen)
we got up abont 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 cr::wlcd off the lea shore.
The stdi'm n.oderated rapidly and the sea went down.
We recovered our jib and entered Buffalo harl)or about
5 p. m., and found six vessels l:)lown high 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, called the Eagle Tavern, and kept by old
Ben Rathbun, and whilst at tea the alarm of fire was
heard. Hastening to the scene the fire was discovered
near the canal bridge, on Main street, I think it is, and the
wind, again dncreasing to a gale, the fire was swept to sev-
eral blocks in a few minutes. The annals of Buffalo
(1832) will record it as one of the most destructive fires
that ever occurred. I have every reason to remember it
wiith great distinctness, for I never spent a more wretch-
THE Rl'XAWAY SLA\ E. 129
edly uncoinfortable and laborious night. Standing widi
a gronp of others and watching the progress of the tlanies,
a violent slap upon the shoulders by a policeman warned
me to fall into line and pass the fire buckets, and wdien
exhausted with this another chap placed me at the twenty
man-power engine to pump. In the meantime hogsheads
of molasses, barrels of oil, etc., were rolled in the
street and burst open, leaving us ankle deep lin their
contents. Thus did we work until broad daylight, when
we were relieved. We repaired damages next day, and
had a favorable run to Amherstburg, which we reached
tlie 5th of January. Enough sailing for me.
THE RUNAWAY SLAVE.
In the year 1830 I was residing with my brother
Charles in the old Baby mansion, in the primitive and
historical town of Sandwich. The house was built at
the close of the last century and was the headquarters
i^o THE F^rXAWAY SLA\'E.
of (icn. Hull, when be invaded Canada in 1812; then in
the year followinj^ he re-entered it as a ])nsoner of war (after
the snrrender of Detroit) with the illustrious (ien. l>rock.
It was the head(|uarters of (ien. Proctor, and the brave
forest heroes, Tecumseh and Splitlo*^;-; and a^ain after
the battle of the River Thames (Ien. Harrison occupied
it as conqueror, and my father (the owner) as a prisoner
of war, when so taken at the aforesaid battle while in
connnand of the Kent militia, and was within pistol shot
of Tecumseh, the l)ravest 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-
tending housekeeping, as even now, for the want of proper
helj). In fact, servants in those days were out of the
question, 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 that of the outdoor
work by the father and sons, even among the most re-
THE RUXAW'AV SLANR. 131
spectable and refined of tlie coninuinity; and I question very
nuich wliether there is half the comfort, pleasure and happi-
ness with our present servants now as then without thcni.
These various occupations enil)raced all manner of work
but great store was placed on the successful raising of
fruit and gardening. In fact the mainstay of the house-
hold, and what constituted the greatest delicacy in the
vegetable line, was the asparagus, and this delicious suc-
culent when propagated as it should be with a deep, rich
mould for a top dressing, and cut 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-
bladed knife inserted three or four inches below the sur-
face was (|uite a different sort of vegetal)le to that now
generally seen exposed in our markets, more like grass
going to seed than anytlving else.
The mild and genial spring showers in the month of
May that brought this vegetable to ])erfection was accom-
panied with another (as great a delicacy) namely, the
snipe, which in early days were to be found along the
marshes bordering the Detroit River at and l)elow Sand-
132 THE RUNAWAY SLAVE.
wich 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 connnence 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 lin 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 bright hazel eyes were not
those of a negro 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 the night I mounted my
masters fleetest horse, passed the line in Ohio, and trav-
elled on the underground railroad (a cordon of abolition-
ists; plainly speaking, scattered through the state, who sue-
THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 133
coiired and aided these unfortunate serfs in their flight),
got to Cleveland and the rest has been told." "What
was your occupation?" lie was then asked. "]\Iy master
hired 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 cover
me, as you see. In my youth I was brought up to do
all kinds of work, now in the kitchen, then in the garden,
and again in the stable as groom. ]\Iy 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 le 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
miind not to remove the trail! It is needless to say
he implicitly obeyed instnictions, and had them served
on toast and done to a turn. Andrew, for such was his name,
J
134 THE RUNAWAY SLAVE.
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 of¥ his hat, and asked, "x\re 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 time 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
THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 135
be glad to get rid of him. In Michigan I could claim
liim, 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, Charles re-
plied, "We don't barter in human flesh in Canada; your
proposition 1 Jook 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., erf Ken-
tucky?" "Yes, sir," lie replied. "He is in the office now
and wishes to see you.'' If a 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 us con-
136 THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. ' * "'
cerned, 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 ofifice 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 carried 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 th.':t I tied from it." "You will not return with me,
then?" "Never! The punishment I would receive at
your hands would be death." "That's enough, And.ew;
go now to your work," I said. Exit Andrew, exit planter,
and as the latter left the door, grinding his teeih, he mut-
tered, "I'll fix him." A short time after this interesting
interview, Andrew re-entered and said, "I'm not safe here,
THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 137
aii'l ril get further into the interior of the coiintr}-. T
thank you sincerely /or your kinchiess and friendship, 1)Ut
I feel that you would be lin danger as well as myself, if
I remaiined. ^'ou little know his desperate character. [
have seen him bram a colt that would not ft)llow 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 Ijcd there; load the two single and double-
barreled guns you will find in the room with swan shot,
and if anyone dares to o])en the door or window, blow
out his infernal brains." These precautionary instructions
were carried out to the letter. "Tliere was a sound of revelry
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, wiien it ceased,
and we were tired out.
It so happened that oifr every movement through spies
was watched, and it was discovered that usually on a
Sunday Andrew was left at home alone. Fortunately
138 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 ilm-
mediately in front of the old mansion, some one or two
hundred yards from the house. Andrew had gone to
the, baker's for a fresh loaf of bread, and on his return
met the six ruffians awaiting him in the yard. l\\ a flash
he took in the situation, armed himself with two or three
stones lying loose hi the yard, and made for the stable
door, which was standing wide open. It w'as the noise
of these stones striking on the fence that drew diaries'
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.
THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 139
Surprised at this unexpected attack Andrew found
himself rehevcd of two or three of them, (and the assur-
ance of help g-ave him redoubled streng-thV, and so min-
j:^led 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 l)y. and
jumped from their carts and dismounted their horses to
see what the row was about.
Panic stricken at tliis invasion it did not take long for
the kidnappers to shake the dust from their feet and,
running to their 1)oat. 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, faiint and ex-
hausted, but neither seriously hurt. This was sufificient
proof that there was no safety for him to be with us and
the next day Andrew was paid of¥, a subscription was
made up among our friends, and he was advised to go
140 JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK.
to Toronto by stage. He was suppl'ed with letters of
recommendation and when Charles ^net him repeatedly
for several years after, he was ever grateful for our sorely
tried friendship, and remained contented and prosperous
in his place of refuge. i
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 01 Toronto) on the
19th of February, 1833, caused the hurried departure of
myself and brother Charles from Sandwich. On the even-
ting 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 in3ignificant hamlet. Sauntering about while supper
was getting ready, we entered the sitting room, where we
JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. 14T
observed the rather unusual sight of a person seated lin
an arm ehair 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 w^as 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 Mdal, 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 hi the
seventh concession of the township of Raleigh, and after
taking a hasty breakfast started ofif 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-
142 JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK.
light was waning, and a heavy snowstorm had set lin. All
traces being thus hopelessly obliterated we soon lost our
proper course homeward, ind found that we were
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 with 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 having 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, havdng become very nervous and restless in my
snow tomb, and fearful of the wolves, which I preferred
meeting on foot. Hastening to the sleigh which he had
provided we arrived here, w^hen 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,"
he replied, "will you ])lease drop a line to my poor wife
and tell her as gently as possible how I am situated." We
told him that we were making all haste to get there, and
would call on Mrs. \"iidal 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 afflicted British 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 Boulevard 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
144 JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK.
which I am tormented; give the vise another turn, and
that's the ddea." "Well," said the captain, "had I those
two old codgers here 1 would tell them to give that vise
another turn, and that is frost bite."
On our return from I ittle York eight or ten days after,
when passing through the Dorchester woods, we met a
double (boxedj sleigh, in which we observed as it was
passing a man lying at full length on his back, covered
with bufifalo robes and blankets, his head only visible. It
turned out that this was Capt. Vidal. He told us he was
getting on all right, and he hoped to be soon out again.
He \.as much pleased to hear that we had seen Mrs.
Vidal, who was quite well, and that we had delivered
his message. Two years after this I happened to be at
the Windsor and Detroit crossing, and observed a small
craft anchored in the stream opposite what was then'
Pierre St. Amour's inn, now the British American hotel,
and I asked Pierre to whom the craft belonged. "To
Capt. \^idal, 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.
JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. 145
"Well, Captain," I rejoined, "I shall never forget you,
and your venture in the Raleigh woods, and tlie figure
you cut in Cartier's washtub!'' "Ah/' said he, "I now
remember you distinctly, and the adventure you refer to,
and our meeting in the Dorchester woods. On that oc-
casion lit took me four days to reach York, and I never
left my sleigh during tliat time, as I found it nuich more
comfortable than the wretched bedrooms at 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 me at night. On my arrival at York I sent
for Dr. Widmer, a celebrated army surgeon settled in
Little York, who, after examiming me, pronounced 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 hils 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
k
146 JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK.
became collector of customs at that port. (Father 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 apparently 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 the 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, the 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 wiith you?' he replied, 'and
what's all this fuss about? Can't a man in this free coun-
"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, buflfalo and
wolf robes, why not I in sheep skins?' and throwing off
his suit and taking a seat before 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 with cold
water, rub him dry and bed him up to his belly in straw,
to prepare supper for him inmiediately, and ordered a hot
whiiskey punch, to make him warm, all done according
to 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 horse and luimsclf. He
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 wilfe making her appearance at
this moment, said to me, 'John, receipt that man's bill
and let him go, for he may give us a deal of trouble.'
148 VISIT TO COL. TALBOT.
So stepping up to him I said, 'Here is your bill, receipted,
sir; but should you ever come this way again, give my
house a wide berth, for if you don't I'll pepper you with
a dose of buckshot, and there is no judge or jury thac
will find nie guilty for shooting a wolf in sheep skins.'''
This eccentric individual was a brother of the late Col.
Talbot, and he was then on his way to visit his brother,
whose home was on the banks of Lake Erie, and not far
from St. Thomas. I 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.
VISIT TO COL. TALBOT IX 1841.
My first glimpse of this remarkable man was in th<,'
.winter of 1820, when I was 8 years old. He was then
a guest of Sir Pcrigrine Maitland, Lieutenant-Governor
of Upper Canada. So well-known and distinguished a
person could not make his appearance in Little York
VISIT TO COL. TALBOT. 149
(now Toronto) without notice, and particularly did he at-
tract attention to his extraordinar)'^ winter dress. Seated
by the side of Lady Sarah ]\Iaitland in a sleigh, and
driving along King street in his sheepskin coat and cap,
with its sheepskin tail of eight or ten feet long wound
round his neck to serve as a muffler, w'ith the end trailing
by the side of the sleigh. But w^ien this garb was thrown
ofT and he made his appearance in parlor or drawing-
room, how changed his appearance! — the very type of an
aristocrat, a handsome and thoroughbred nobleman.
What a jolly time must these old soldiers have had toast-
ing their shins before a blazing fire of billets of maple,
beech, or shag-bark hickory wood, with pipe ahght and
flagon of good old Absalom Shades (of Dumfries, now
Gait's) whiskey at 20 cents per gallon, and fighting their bat-
tles in the peninsula over again — Salamanca, Tores Vidras,
Badajos, etc., etc., winding up with Quatrc Bras and
Waterloo, and the thrill when they heard Napoleon cry
out, "Sauve qui pen," — "run who can,'' and interlarded
wiith such questions and answers as this: "Well, Talbot,
what think you will Canada be one hundred years from
150 VISIT TO COL. TALBOT.
now?" Talbot replies, "It's pretty hard to say, but one
thing is certain — I won't give an acre of my 100,000 to
any chap who will not swear allegiance to the old flag,"
etc., etc.
Col. Talbot landed on the 21st of ]May, 1803, at Port
Talbot. Terms were that for every settler whom he lo-
cated on fifty acres he should himself be entitled to 200
acres. The grant to each settler was afterwards increased
to 100 acres. I was always under the impression that
he served in the Peninsular war, but was mistaken. He
was settled lin Canada at that period.
Having lost sight of him from that year (1820) until
the year 1841, an opportunity ofrered to renew our ac-
quaintance, and having occasion to pass his residence in
company with my brother Charles on our way to St.
Thomas, our attention was drawn as we approached it to
the remains of an old hedge fence planted alongside of
the road, grown up at lintervals to full sized forest trees,
presenting a most neglected and unsightly appearance.
Hitching our horses to the gate, we proceeded to the
house, a couple of hundred yards from the road, which
VISIT TO COL. TALBOT, 151
was situated on the bank, and fronting Lake Erie, and
mounting a flight of steps leading to the kitchen, found
ourselves on a gallery extending the length of the house.
Inquiring of the servant at the kitchen for Col. Talbot,
we were directed to proceed to a door at the other end
of the gallery, and passing an open window, were saluted
in a very gruff voice with his usual salutation, "What do
you want?" Brought up all standing with this extraor-
dinary interrogation, and trying to collect our senses, I
ventured to reply, "A proper respect and a high regard
for a friend of the late James Baby, of Toronto, our
father, has ijnduced us to call on you." "That being the
case, gentlemen, I am only too glad to see you. Proceed
to the door and I'll let you in,*' and doing as he desired,
and opening it, a swami of geese, turkeys, ducks and
fowls made for it. Still holding the knob of the door,
he desired us to quickly enter, and slamming it w'ith. a
bang, closed them out. This place served as a khid of
store-room, where h. kept all manner of farm products,
and from which he fed hiis poultry. From this apart-
ment he led us into his office or sittingroom, and having
152 VISIT TO COL. TALBOT.
been seated, he thus addressed us: "You will, I hope,
pardon me, gentlemen, for saluting you in that uncere-
monious way, but the fact is, I am so pestered with these
land grabbers wdio squirt their vile tobacco juice lin every
direction that 1 find it impossible to endure it, and I have
adopted this plan of transacting all my business, through
this open window. You will, I hope," he continued, (it
being nearly i p. m.), ''do me the pleasure of staying to
dine with me. Not much choice in the country, you
know. Excepting ham and eggs and poultry, there is
little else." "Nothing better," we replied. "But, Col-
onel, you must excuse us; we are in a hurry to get on
to St. Thomas." "Well, a glass of old port or brandy will
do us no harm," and descending into his cellar, soon re-
appeared with a bottle in each hand, and after regaling
ourselves and about to depart, led us into his store-room
to show us the products of his sheep-farming, and cer-
tainly if one could be a judge of such articles as bolts of
cloth and flannels, and blankets of softest texture, the dis-
play would have given credit to the best woolen factory
in the countrv. From this room he led us into another
VISIT TO COL. TALBOT. 153
elegantly furmished apartment, hung with crimson velvet
paper, Turkey carpet and furniture to match. "This," he
remarked, "is my sanctum sanctorum. Wlien my lady
friends visit me this is their room'' — and nothing could ex-
ceed as a rural scene the view from its open window —
perched upon a hill of some 100 feet in height, and over-
lookiing a meadow of twenty or thirty acres, with its
fllock of snow white sheep c[uietly grazing, and girt with
a belt of forest trees still untouched by the ruthless axe.
Our visit ended we left the Colonel with many thanks
for his cordial and hospitable reception.
A rumor prevailed in Canada that this eccentric man
had been disappointed in some love afifair in the old coun-
try, and he made up his mind to lead the life of a recluse
in the one of his adoption, and vowed eternal celibacy.
He carried that out, but at what a heavy charge, for he
burdened himself with all the cares of his household, do-
ing the most menial work about it, even to the milking
of cows and making butter. How sad and melancholy
a reflection when one thinks of the awful sacrifices made
in Canada in those days by such men as Talbot, John
154 VISIT TO COL. TALBOT.
Prince, of Sandwich; Deblackyears, Vansittarts, Grahams,
Lizars and Alexanders, of Woodstock; the Dunlaps, of
Godcrich; Crooks and Hydes, of Plympton; Jones, Fath-
orms, Vidals, Wrights and Sutherlands, along the shores
of Huron and river St. Clair, and a thousand others lost
to memory. Nursed and cradled in the lap of luxury, ac-
customed to all the refinements of civilized life, with am-
ple means, then abandoning their comfortable homes in
the old country (many of them with grown up sons and
daughters fit to grace a throne), and scattered like wild
pigeons throughout the length and breadth of Canada's
then wilderness, to encounter a hfe of toil, privation, dis-
appointment and sorrow. The result could be easily fore-
told. In less than three-quarters of a century they have
been swept away, and scarcely a vestige left behind. After
clearing up their farms and beautifying their country
homes, their means were exhausted, and at that time
no market to dispose of what they had to sell, which
they were as unfit to do as to black boots or sweep chim-
neys. Consequently the sturdy, iron-fisted, economiical
and laborious field hand often became the owner of the
VISIT TO COL. TALBOT. 155
farm lie helped to log and clear up. The difference be-
tween gentility and well directed labor.
These distressing events could not possibly have trans-
pired without ieaving in the province an indelible stamp
behdnd them, and what was that? Unswerving loyalty
to the British flag (many of them had been iu the army
and served during the rebellion of '-^^y and '38 in Can-
ada), the soul of honor in all their dealings, educated
and refined in their manners, and many of them became
from necessity useful servants in the civil or municipal
service.
How different a row to hoe had the \2 . E. Loyalists
and their descendants, as also their fellow settlers of
French, English, Scotch and Irish descent. Tliey were
"to the manor born." Inured and trained in dire neces-
sity, their wants were few, and depended upon them-
selves to supply them. Their neighbors helped to build
their log houses and barns. A genial climat^i and a
fruitful soil, which they loved, supplied them with their
necessary wants, and as time rolled on the country im-
proved and supplied them with luxuries they never
156 VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE.
dreamed of. But the greatest boon attained was edu-
cation, and following it moral and religion?- training.
Hence there is no portion of the habitable globe that
can boast of a more sturdy, hardy and intelligent race
of beings and a more favored soil and cliimate than Can-
ada and its people. All it wants is good, stable govern-
ment, with honest, liberal minded, intelligent men at the
helm, and well can she then bid defiance to the restless
croakers who are anxious and willing to sell their birth-
right for a mess of pottage.
AN UNEXPECTED VISIT FROM AN OLD
SCHOOLMATE.
In perusiing the interesting and highly valuable book,
"Mrs. E.'s Ten Years in Canada,'' what scenes of my
youth are not vividly called to my memory; one in par-
ticular. When about ten years of age there were few
persons of any note I was not acquainted with in Lit-
tle York, and most certainly one that I have never for-
VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE. 157
j^fotten. He was mcrjrinjT^ from youth into early man-
hood, perhaps twenty or twenty-two years of a^e, about
five feet nine inches in height, well-knit frame, lithe and
active as a panther. His countenance as remarkable as
his physique. His wavy hair was auburn. His large
blue eyes were prominent, his complexion as fair as that
of a blonde of eighteen ; was noted for his love c>i manly
iports, of fishing, shooting and boating, and a lover of
song and music. His delight was to roam among the
Indians, camped on the island, or on the banks of the
beautiful Don, whose vales and meadows are so pic-
turesque.
He was employed as a clerk in the old Upper Can-
ada bank, I believe the first one in Ontario, and lived
in a charming cottage near the Don. His great delight
was to man his northwest bark canoe with a picked crew
and race with the steamer "Canada'' for miles in reach-
ing her wharf.
Unfortunately, his only domestic female companion
was one of questionable reputation, As time wore on
a deficiency in the bank occurred, a meeting of the bank
158 VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE.
directors was called and the guilt was fastened upon liim.
A messenger was dispatched to his home, but the bird
had flown, and the messenger informed that he had left
early in the morning in his bark canoe. It was at once
conjectured that he had crossed the lake (Ontario) at lie
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 wnith 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 hiis 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 tir.ie before
this and had but just returned to Sandwich, when Charles,
in a confidential way, broached t'-'e 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 iln a
suppressed tone of voice, 'Is that you, Charley?' and I
replied, 'Yes, who are you?' And he said, 'Let me in,
1
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 h'is appearance appalled and frightened me. A red
silk handkerchief tied around his head, with ends hang-
ing down his back, 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 luis 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 W'indow 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 impression of the keyhole of my
cell door and with a piece of puter or zinc hammered a key to
fit it. I then cut a piece 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 the end of the corridor where slept the turnkey near the
door. I had made up my mind to sell my 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; approach'ing die 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 suppressed 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 pointed 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
i62 VISIT FR( m A SCHOOLMATE.
jumped clinging to it. 1 then hauled 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 skiff 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 dilenuna that perplexed me and
which would have puzzled a Philadelphiia lawyer, as
to what was to be done. I could not keep hin?. 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 with Irlm 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 da\- on a short ladder, that I had my first glimpse of
him since I had last seen the dashing, gay and festive
Lothanio in Little York! His w-ild 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
VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE. 163
authorities in Detroit were wide awake and came over tin
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, tlirough 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 gentlemanly 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 the jail he so
well informed himself as to the locality of the house that
otherwise he never would have reached it.
i64 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
VISIT TO THE VILLAGE OF WICKWIMIKONG,
MAXITOULIN ISLAND.
On a sultry evening" in the month of August, 1864, I
was seated on my veranda in Sandwich, watching the
vapors h'om my favorite T. D. pipe as they gently as-
cended and assumed various forms (suggestive of huild-
ing castles in the air) 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:
'T 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 on 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
dn 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 mind of the geologist, that he
remarked to my friend "that were he liviing in Canada, he
would not leave a stone unturned until he could secure a
right to work the quarry."
"Now," continued B., "I am living in IMilwaukee, and
engaged in business there, so I can't attend to it, but if you
will undertake to secure the location from die government
and the Indians, I will pay all your expenses, and further-
more, Willi send you a map and trace upon it every step
necessary for you to take as a guide to 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
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 Toronto, 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 Manitouliii Island.
Hunted up Charles Lamarandier, Indian 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 tlie
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: "Benedicamus 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 w^hen the answer is not
t68 MAXITOULIN 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, lilatner, I'errar anrl llanepeau, were at the
miission house, assisted by four lay brothers. The latter
attended to the labours of the farm and indoor work (no
women beini^ employed by the Jesuits as house servants),
but in harvest and pressing; times the fatliers 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 coffee 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 him if I had their consent,
as well as the Indians, to prosecute the search. He gave
MAXITorLIX ISLANDS. 169
111c every encouragement, and said he would assist nie in
procuring a faithful guide, a 1)ircli canoe of his own. a bag
of Hour twenty-five pounds, a piece of pork fifteen pounds,
one pounil of tea, a tin kettle, cups, knives, baking i)owder
and salt, maple sugar, a trolling line and spoon hook, for
which I paid him. Collecting these together with my drill,
shovel and luunmer, and t\ing them in a bundle with my
plaid shawl, which was to serve me 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 English, 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
I70 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; with an axe
Avhich 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 the 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 mmutes, then held my shovel over the fire
and fried the pork, threw in half a cup of tea and one cup
of maple sugar into the kettle, and served the dinner on
pieces of biirch bark. Whether it was the exercise, or the
MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 171
bracing air, or both combined, which hungered me, I know
not, brt I never partook of food with greater rehsh. All
that was to be cleaned after this 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,
w^hat 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. Spent 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 our path, arriving at South Bay about nine a.
m., and had breakfast, with the addition of black bass.
Launched 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 ofif, and with striking effect. On
landing, I found it unnecessary to resort to blasting, as any
172 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
quantity of different specimens could be 1)roken 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, 1 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 carefull} 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, with a supply of green
corn, potatoes and a male white fish just caught, which he
obtained 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 stuck it firnilv
into the sand, before a bright fire, when one side 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
MAXITOULIK ISLANDS. 173
served on toast, but give me a whitcfish cooked in this way
and served on birch bark. But mind, it must be a male fish.
Getting ready to start for home, and a favora])le breeze
springing up, Pierre suggested tliat we should sail instead
of paddling and working so hard. "Where are your sails?"
I said. "Monsieur, votre chale est tout ce (|u"ille faut'*
(your shawl is all we 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 cami)ing ground at the head of the bay, the wind had
increased to a living gale, when 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
174 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
inonient and suddenly fall and disappear in the devouring
element with the noise of thunder; anon the screeching night
owl, or the startled and bewildered wood grouse (partridge),
would be seen darting through the fire-lit clouds and sud-
denly disappear.
Fortunately our camping ground was out of its 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 enthusiasm 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
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 approached lit,
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 sought 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 the mission house, the approval of the i)rin-
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 explo-
m
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 have I reflected siincc, upon the
incidents of my first visit 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 diflficult 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, hope and charity alone! During my short stay,
leather Hanepcau, the one who procured me a gmide,
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: "Father, where do
you sleep?" "There." he replied, pointing to a shelf with
MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 177
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?'' 1 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 (jueried. "Yes, for those who live to cat. 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
178 MANITOULIX ISLANDS.
and the vaults 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 the silver-haired and bare-headed pilot in
purple chasuble, with arms uplifted and pointing heaven-
ward, and in his fingers were held the ofifspring of Mary,
the Lamb of Ciod, 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, hiis 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 JJethlehem 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 their snow white camels, burdened with
their offerings of gold, myrrii, 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,
MANITOULIX ISLANDS. 179
added to the savages and pilots, reverberated throughout
these mountains of Lacloche, and the awful detonation
awoke nie in fear and trembling.
The soliciitude for the more destitute of tlie 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 arc.Mind 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 sldde window 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 dish 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-
siibly 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-
i8o MAXITOl'LIX ISLAXDS.
canton is taken to save time and nnnccessary intrusion in
other parts of the house, as their poverty enjj^enders 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 arc tauj^dit by the lay brothers of
the order in the most necessary branches of education, such
as Eng^Hsh, I'rench, 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 c[uestion, 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 wath perfect freedom. For the girls, there is
also established an admirable school bv a sisterhood of
MANITOL'LIX ISLAXDS. i8l
charity from Cleveland, ().. who conduct a small farm con-
nected with their establishment, and attend to all the manual
labors of ii. 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 mission 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 saiiling 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 Duf^ield certified to the superior
quality of the oil, after being thoroughly tested, pronounc-
i82 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
ing it equal to the best Pcnnsylvpnia oil; I hastened to Miil-
waukee to meet P>. 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 him its history. Surprised at the sudden turn
of affairs, 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
iabor sinking six wells from twenty to three hundred and
sixty feet deep, purchasing machinery and employing the
Indians in the construction of houses, building a dock,
chopping cordwood, etc., we only succeeded in producing
one hundred barrels of refined o'A, 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 :In 1864 scattered over their reservation, but princi-
MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 183
pally in and about Ihcir village (Wickwinnikong), aiul occu-
pying niiscnible log huts and destitute of every comfort in
their surroundings. Indeed, after planting their small
patciies of corn and potatoes in the spring, they abandoned
theiir houses, leaving the squaws and children to tend to
their crops until the fall, to gain a precarious living by fish-
ing and hunting in the regions of the Cjeorgian 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 since 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 P'ort William, and this
is theit headquarters). The population of the Indians lis
860; many of them are living in comfortable and commo-
i84 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
within 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 mill 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 lin
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, wlien
the late Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Sir Alexander
Campbell, landed there with the Hudson Bay Company's
bark canoe, and Factor King, of Aiichipicotons post, with
twenty voyageurs in command, on his return from Lake
Superior, and on has 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 cjuite 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 Hanepeau),to whom
he gave a pressing invitation to return witJi him to break-
fast, which the father modestly declined. Observing a po*.
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 ever>'thing 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.
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 engagetl 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 rather 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 pleasiing. He managed his
i88 THE INDIAN PILOT.
boat well, however, and after a smart trip with a fair
wind the part;- landed at Killarney, and under the order
of B., ]\Iiconce and his brother proceeded to put on
board the iron pipe, while B. went to the office of the
freight agent to attend to some other engagement in re-
gard to shipping.
It was about five o'clock in the afternoon when B.
returned to the Mackinaw Ijoat and he was somewhat
alarmed to find that she was loaded to witlnin 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 che easy manner of the two Indians, and got
on board.
As the craft was making her first tack ofi 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 ])lew almost a gale. About this time B. also
observed that Miconce was intoxicated and was acting
THE INDIAN PILOT. 189
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, which 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 considerable 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 circumstances he was). The
boat tossed about in the gale and waves, while our friend
I90 THE INDIAN PILOT.
sat watching and waiting for tlic 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 minil, that, wiith
the lieavy 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 serious one.
As these thoughts passed in rapid succession through
his mind ii. determined to take the licjuor, if possille,
from the Indians whiU- they slept and throw it over-
board. Our friend l\. was of large build, athletic, cour-
ageous and was 'ry handy ^^ith his fists. As he was
about to carry out hiis 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 Aliconce, and seizing him l)y the collar of his coat
with the left hand and catching hold of his canteen with
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 tlie whiskey (for such it proved to
bej histed but an instant, after which ^liconce jumped to
his feet and, drawing a long clasp knife, m?.ae a pass at
B., which almost readied him. IJefore 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 15. with
a short bar of iron, but he met his match, for another
punch sent lulm sprawling beside the other Indian. Our
friend then reached over for the knife, but Aliconce, who
had recovered from the blow, fought desperately, and in
the scuFHe a vein in die Indian's left wrist was laid open
and the boat was bespattered with blood. The Indian's
frantic exertions, yells and execrations became some-
what modified by the loss of blood and bursting into a
loud whoop he was seiized 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
n
192 THE INDIAN PILOT.
fishiin^ smack left the iwu Indians to the hrm-cv of the
storm, which was still at its height. Tie arrived
at the cape safe and sound and ^iwc his experience to
the missionaries, who had, by the way, recommended
foe Mic(Mice to him as a reliable man. The following
morning Miconce and his brother arrived at their des-
tination with their iron pipe in good order. c|nite sober
and humble, and after having his wrist dressed by one
of the missionaries, who took occasion to g^ive him a
good dressing at the same time, sought t)ut our friend
1). and humbly asked his forgivenness, which was granted.
lUit, sad to relate, these ])()or fellows the following
vear were caught in a gale of wind of¥ Bears Rump
Island with their boat loaded with gravel, when the boat
swamped and they never were seen or heard of after-
wards. Too nuich fire water again.
THE BOOK PEDDLHR. ujs
THE BOOK PEDDLER.
On the i8tli of Jiiik\ i.Srxj. the anniversary of the bat-
ik- of Waterloo — the day on which the fate of JCuropc
was scaled by the Iron Duke i)laeinjT his iron heel on
the neck of Napoleon the (ireat, from which it was not
released until death, on St. Helena's barren isle. i)Ut an
end to his eventful career — 1 found myself saunterins>"
down Main street in the City of .Milwaukee, dejected in
spirit and absorbed with the troubles that then over-
whelmed me. Suddenly and unexpectedly thrown out of
emj)loyment by the removal from the city of my gener-
ous employer, 1 bent my steps to the Young Men's Li-
brary, of which 1 was an honorary member; and here "I
will pause to remark*' that I know of no institution tliat
I have yet seen that will compare with it for its admir-
able arrangement, the collection of its library, and the
courteous and gentlemanly dej)ortment of its attendants.
Entering this seat of learning I seized the first volume
within reach, threw myself into a capacious arm chair.
194 THE BOOK rEDDLI-.R.
and was soon lost in follouinjij^ the drift of that ilhunincd
and oxaUc'd mind. "l''onolon," 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 (|uestion I nodded assent, whereupon the stranger
continued: "Your friend, the librarian, has recommended
you to me as a fit per^on 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
IVIr. 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 nuiiiber of volumes one, two and
three, in different styles of binding — Xo. i, pilt UKjrocci);
No. 2 calf, and Xo. 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 'Mike 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 cruslning thought. Then
came the counter reflection: "Is it honest; is there any
position, occupation or service that man is called upon to
196 Tin: KOOK PEDDLER.
fulfil! tliat \\c. should fuul fault with or repine at? Perish
forever the craven thouj^ht! Let man aspire to higher
aim. In Ciod is our trust, and we'll never submission to
His will refuse." Thus moralizinfjf, I started for the first
ward. This was generally occupied hy laborers and me-
chanics. It was my impression that I could face people
of that class on more e(|ual grounds than the elite, in
my tirst 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'h'laherty, adorned the U)\> of the doorway. The noise
produced by the shoemaker's hanmier and lap-stone in
poundinpr a piece of sole leather seemed to drown and
absorb everything else. (Jn approaching the industrious
pro{)rietor T incpiired, "Would you be kind enough to
make me a pailr 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
THE BOOK i'EDDLER. 197
trininied the leather until it assumed the f<jrm of a per-
fect circle, wiitlulrew the awl, imbedded his knife finuly
in the board, n/atle a slit in the leather the width of the
lace or strin|^ desired, placed his left tluunb nail at a
proper distance from the knife to serve as a j^uai^e, seized
the end of the leather with his ri<;ht hand, gave it a quick
jerk, and, in the twinkling of an eye sput out a yard of
it; he then rt)lle(l it upon his board, blackened it and
handed to me. "What have I to pay you," I asked.
"Five cints, yer honor." i)n handing him the change I
observed that the way he pronounced that coin would
lead a person to b<lieve 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 repliied, "but I have become
so galvanized with the people surrounding me that I am
fast losing my nationality." "Faith, thin, I cud well bc-
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
198 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
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
afiforded me an excellent opportunity to exhibit my pros-
pectus, which was quickly removed from lits 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
foine book ye hev there," exclaimed O'Flaherty, 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 — $4, $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-
THE BOOK PEDDLER. 199
row morning. 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 him 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 Vc'ntrampe, 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. \^antrampe 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. Huge drops of sweat were coursing down his
red chops and he was looking about as savage as a meat
2<)o THE BOOK PEDDLER.
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 li'is time with a book-peddler, for
he gruffly replied, "Xix 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 p. stranger, to join me
in a glass, to which he raiised 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. 201
lected."' *'Ver>' 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,' " 1 rejoined, at the same time producing
the prospectus. The superb binding immediately caught h'is
eye and he subscribed for a $4 edition. We drank to the
health of IJismarck, and as I was about to leave he said:
"When you first came in I took you for a (ierman. and
you may think yourself very nuich flattered 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, whereupon I thanked Best for
the compliment, promising at the same time to return the
following day with the book. This sale led to our tak-
ing many schupers together afterwards. Somewhat elated
at my success I sauntered forth to new fields. After walk-
ing a short distance I approached a respectable looking
residence on the same street and rang the door bell. In
202 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
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 with 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 prominent seat overlooking the 'fry.' On approach-
ing the girls I asked if Miss Cinderella Tompkdns (ficti-
tious, of course), was within. The girls stopped their
tread-mills, looked at each other and giggled. The old
hen of this full-fledged brood, looking over the upper
rim of her gold specks, said, "There's no such person
here.*' "I am exceedingly sorry for that," I replied, "she
lis a lady of my acquaintance, and being an expert needle-
THE BOOK PEDDLER. 203
woman I thought it Hkely she would be engaged in this,
the most fashionable establishment in the city.'' Grace-
fully bowing to her 1 was about to depart when she asked
me if there was anything in her line that I wanted. "Xo,"
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 tliem 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
204 TIIR r.()v)K rp:i)l)LER.
struck with the ai)])caraiice of a mansion f|uite out of the
way of onhnary l)uil(Hn.c:s in point of architectural design
and in the tasteful ornamentation of the s^rounds sur-
roundinjj;- it. in fact denoting the residence of a million-
aire, or hog, corn, or beef speculator, or, ])erhaps, a rail-
road magnate, or banker. To tackle this place re(|uired
brass, strategy, and considerable self possession, otherwise
it would be a deplorable and mortifying failure. Arous-
ing my spirits with the old proverl), "nothing ventured
nothing won,'' 1 opened the gate and found myself on a
neatly-kept, wide, gravelly walk leading to the marl^le
steps of the mansion. 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. vSeizing 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 liright Creole
1 had often read about. Her dark wavy hair fell in
graceful curls over her shoulders, in striking contrast to
her white nuislin 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 mesmerism 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 wiithin?" I asked. *"Yes,"
was the reply. "I'ray be kind enough to sa\' that a gen-
tleman wishes to see her." "Give me your card," she
said. "Oh, never mind the card," 1 replied, "she'll know
who I am before 1 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. 1 made up
my mdnd that the poor girl made an awful faux pas and
would catch it after I was gone for letting me in. On
2o6 THE iUJ( )K PEDDLER.
entering this drawing room 1 was struck with my noise-
less tread, lost in a thick Tuikey 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. vScattered 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 embellished witli choicest works of art both in paint-
tings 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 i)lace 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 1 was
soon lost in reflection. P^ive, ten, fifteen, twenty min-
utes elapsed and yet no word from the lady. R'ising
from my chair, assisted in so doing by the elastic spring
cushion, I sauntered to a picture inmiediately in front of
me. It was a steel engraving, a copy of Claude Lor-
THE BOOK PEDDLER. 207
rainc's celebrated painting, "Roman Edifices in Ruins.'' I
was faniiiliar with this clief d'euvre, having- had one in my
possession for many years, hut 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,
formed 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-antique 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 nuich as to say, "here
I am, sir, what do you want?" From her appearance I
could tell that she had been carefully studying her dress,
no doubt thinking that T had come to neirotiate a loan,
perhaps, of a million dollars or so from her husband to
o
2o8 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
secure a ^np on sonic wheat, timber or pork transaction.
She was very handsome. (I fomul out afterward she was
a younjj;- bride.) 1 (elt as if I would sink throuj.;h the
floor for haviuij^ placed myself in such an awkward and
humiliating- position. h'oldinj;- my arms, and rever«jntly
bowing' to her. I opened the ball as follows: ''Madam,
1 have a tlujusand apolojj^ies to make to you for this un-
timely intrusion, but. attracted by this beautiful ])alace and
the cJiarmini;- tout ensemble of its surroundinj^^s, 1 could
not resist the tem])tation of ofTerinj^^ to your cultured mind
a book which would help to adorn the beautiful collection
of works l)efore me, and which would probably to you
be a volume the most interesting, 'Lossing's Illustrated
Washington.' a luistor)- of the father of this great coun-
try." With my truthful and earnest gaze I watched her
countenance and if she was at all angered it was for a
moment and as quickly disappeared. She remarked that
of coiu-se in subscribing to so valuable a work she would
like me to bring it to her for inspection, whereupon the
prospectus was immediately withdrawn from its place of
concealment. On producing the captivating article she
THE UUUK PEDOLKK. J09
was (juite charmed with its morocco hiiuhiip^ and or-
dered two copies, one for hcrsch' and one for her sister
in (Ireen luiy. At this moment the door bell rant; and
in bounced her husband, who was rather taken by sur-
l)rise on beholdinj^ a stran<^er. A red Irish setter was at
Ills heels, who, on seeinsj^ his mistress, tlew to claim her
caresses, observing; which his master cried out, "IJruno,
to kennel," and to kennel the doj^ flew like li.i,ditning'. I
\Tas struck with the gentleman's appearance, in one hand
was his light straw hat and in the other was ij;rasi)ed a
knotty black thorn stick, his auburn curly hair was mat-
ted on his forehead with perspiration; his face had never
been touched with a razor; his well knit frame was clothed
in a ligiit grey sununer suit of admiral)le fit; no gold chain,
finger rings, etc., were to be seen on Ivis 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 l)eauty near him. The lady, addressing her hus-
band, said: "Arthur, this person brought here a book
for my inspection, and I have bought two volumes from
2IO THEIUJOK 1'EI)1)1J:R.
liini." "I am only too j^lad tliov please you," he replied.
( )n turning over the cover and seeing^ my name on the
tlv-leaf the hushand in(|uired, "Are you from Canada?"
"Yes," 1 replied. "Are you any relation to Charles B., of
Sandwich, George and Horace B., of Montreal, or
l''rancois I)., of Ouehec?" he asked. "They are all
brothers or cousins," I replied. "lUess 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 salutatiion. "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 liottlcs of sparkling Catawba, and
a silver pitcher filled with lice water. "Brandy or Cataw-
ba," the gentleman asked. "Ih-andy I can get any day,
Catawba never," I replied; "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 requCvSted me to
TIlEliOOK IM:i)l)Ll':k. 211
help myself. I generally obey orders and consequently
followed his instructi(/ns. We saluted each" other and
imbibed the sparkling; and delicious drau,i;;ht. "Oh, Sam
Hill/' said 1 to myself lin thinkin*^^ 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 mc,
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 mc
with on the flowery banks of the LifTy, '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 Vielief that I had been sorely trespassing I bade
my host and hostess adieu, leaving them to their reflec-
212 THE ROOK PEDDLER.
tions and they to mine to dream of that divinity which
shapes our ends, "rougli 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 WasHinO
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 which the l>ell 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,
about 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 he firmly held the ten-foot handle of a whitewash
brush which 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 l)lack clay pipe which he
sported was about three 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 appeared to have been made in one piece. The
heels of h'is 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-tw.) last
plantin'." "You come from a very large and distinguiishcd
family?" "Can't tell much 'erbout 'cm, it's so long, long
ago." "Do you think you would know any mcm1)ers of
the family if you saw their likeness?" "I mought, 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 daughter .1 view
of George and Martha Washiington, their Virginia home,
214 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
etc., wlicrciipon the younji^ fawn exclaimed, "Pap, dem's
white folks, des no kin to us." "Hold on," I replied,
"they were all black once and after a time turned white.
After two or three generation you'll all turn white, too, and
be of one famih'."' "lloss, what's dat book woth env-
how," asked the anxious-looking fawn. "The cheapest
edition is two dollars," I rej^lied. "We can't pay you for
it befo' three months, we am so poo'." iaid the girl. "Well,
then," I said, "Pll make you a present of one. Come
with nie and get it, for it would be a pity to live without
knowing who your ancestors were." It is perhaps need-
less to 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 ex])ected. There w'as one tlning I
learned, to my entire satisfaction, namely, that tridy one-
half the world knows very little how the other half
lives, and if you wish to satisfy yourself on that subject
get a boox agency from J. Rogers Bros., book publish-
ers, Chicago, as I did, and prove it.
TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIK 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 lands'^^nes on the continent of
America — attractive to the lovers of sport by gun or
rod, where twenty thousand islands or more afford 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 connnenced to run on it this fall, preparatory to resum-
ing it in the ensuing spring, after undergoing a thorough
overhauliing this winter.
Stepping on board on the 9th instant, with a party of five,
we secured double staterooms, furnished with all the con-
2i6 TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE.
veniences reasonably recjiiircd. 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 IMcKay, anxiously
waiting for the order, in loud and stentorian voice, cries out,
"Let go your headline, haul in your sternline," and the
shrill, thrice-sounding whistle is heard, and slowly the Cam-
bria leaves her quiet sleeping berth, and 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 hug the shores of
the beautiful Belle Isle, affording us a charming view of its
mos(|ue-like buildings, its sinuous canals and flower-decked
islets, and passing 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), with 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
TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARTE. 217
Grosse Pointc proper, which, with marine glass in hand,
gives lis a connnanchng view of its milhonairc summer
retreats, beautified In- ornamental trees and shrubs, close-
clipped hedges, and clouded with choicest flowers of
autunm. Diirectly here our attention i-^ claimed by two
enormous dredges, employed by the American Govemmcnt
to deepeti the channel to twenty-one feet, and gradually we
lose sight of them as they plunge their mighty iron clad
arms in the watery deep, and, with 1 [erculean sweep
deposit their well-filled spoons in the dumping scows. As
we are about to lose sight of land the stalwart, eagle-eyed
captain steps down from the pilot house and (juietly
instructs his wheelsman to steer "north east (|uarter east,"
which will bring us to the mouth of the .St. Clair Elats
Canal. As we gradually apj^roach its wide and open chan-
nel, it appears planted on either side with rows of dwarfed
willow trees extending a mile in length, and its entrance
guarded by iis ever watchful lighthouse.
Emerging from the canal, the spacious and \^enetian
club houses, hotels and villas come in full view, with strik-
ing effect, each varying in design, color and size to suit the
2i8 TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE.
caprice of their respective owners, and each one perched
upon knolls, dredged from the surronndinj;' flats. As we
plow tlirouj^h the swift waters of the St. Clair River, we
soon approach W'alpole Island, tlit; favorite resort of excur-
sionists, and innnediately opposite is Ilarsen'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 and gentlemanly purser, ]\lr. Kelly,
and waited upon by civil and attentive waiters. After
breakfast we step to the promenade deck, and with field
glass survey the Canadian rugged shore, and reach Gode-
rich, whose harbof is formed by a cleft in the high clay
bank, through which the River Maitland flows, with light-
house perched on its sununit on the right, and the pictur-
esque residence embowered in dwarfed evergreens on the
left, once the residence of the Gait family. Not a great
deal can be said of this harbor in its present state, as we
found it difficult with our steamer to turn in it, for want of
TRIP TO SAULT STR. MARIE. 2U)
water, but an improved and powerful dredge is at work,
with prospects of great results.
Leaving Godericli, we touch at Kincard'inc and South-
ampton, then steer for the Isle of Coves, the entrance to the
Georgian I'ay. The night is dark and temi)estuous, and
as we leave its lighthouse the. Cambria feels the buffets of
its chopping seas, but forges on and with steady roll (un-
pleasant to our lady passengers) doubles Cape Smith at
early dawn, and with the 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 the misty atmos])lierc dears, the
chaiin of the Laclochc Mountains ap])ears in sight, and as
we thread our way through these intricate cnannels spread
at their feet, some of them the size of large lakes (the favorite
haunt of the sea gull), we descry one following at a long dis-
tance in the wake of our steamer. With measured Maj") of
wing, he approaches within j^istol shot, with head linclined
and eye intent upon the blue and crystal waters. We throw
a morsel of broken cracker in the wake of the steamer, and
220 TRll» TO SAULT STE. MARIE.
mark his graceful evolutions, Tnlike the bird of prey, who
darts like a thunderbolt and pounces on his victim, this
white-winged visitor is strikingly different; the crumb has
scarcely touched the water, when his eagle eye sees it, he
changes at once the Hap of wing and extends his broad
pinions to full extent, changes his ctjurse 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 rufHed waters, sc^izes 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 Lake (leorge's devious channel,
I'Yom this point of view our course wt)uld be abruptly
stopped at the foot of the mountaiin, 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 settlement of Clarden River, etc. We soon are
in sight of the Sault Ste. Clary's city, and stopping first on
the Canadian side, cross over to the American shore, when
TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. 221
our captain receives a message from ]\Ir. 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 opi)ortunely for
our party, as it gives us ample time to see both canals. ( )ur
boat lands 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
play, with a spacious basin catching the falling spra\'. in
which disport the liivcly speckled trout. Mounting a Hight
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 ofticer 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 water 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.
222 TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARll".
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 feriy boats that ply
between the two places. Through the kindness and polite-
ness of Mr. Tenipleton, the otificer of the customs, who
kiindly offered us his carriage, we were enabled to visit the
canal now being constructed on the Canadian side. l)Ut
could form but an imperfect idea of its construction, owing
to the enormous debris witli 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 su])plies of ice. milk, tish and pota-
toes, the former remarkable for its thickness and piuMtv. and
the latter famed for their delicious qualities, and also its
maple sugar, with which we supplied ourselves. Our next
principal stopping place is at Gore Bay, an 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
TRll' TO SAl'LT STP:. MARIE. 223
and (Icej) wattTs, affordinj^^ a safe and (|iviet harbor. ( )ur
vigilant and wideawake captain and mate tliink 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 (leorgian IJay, we encounter the
un(|uiet ripple of its restless waters, wliich increase to a
stiff breeze, portending a stormy nig-ht. 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 ( ioderich in time to avoid a liivinjg gale, which detains
us two nig-hts and a day, and are agreeably entertained
there by Mr. Ira Lewis and family and friends, and on the
i8th arrived at Windsor at five a. m., much pleased with
our pleasant trip.
! i
224 THE liRUCE MINES.
A SKETCH SHOWING, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
HOW THE 15RUCE 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 liritish army, and hundreds of its officers sought
a place of rest in Canada, and among the many was a
Capt. D., wdio, with ample means and a grant from the
government of 600 acres of land to which he was entitled
for his long and faithful scrviices, settled down in the town-
ship of Barric, 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
in music, song and poetry, and with all a connoisseur in
the culinary art 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
THE BRUCE MINES. 225
by whom she had two sons, her third marriage was to a
distinguished ofificer in the British army, of blunt, 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 theiir 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 pronounced 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 tlie year 1820 and
the 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.
226 THE BRUCE MINES.
They were, indeed, the pride and envy of tlieir 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 bis 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
life, involving application, study and la1)or, however, were
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 unlinnited
scope in the mountainous districts of Ontario and Al-
gonia, whose mountains, lakes and streams would give
him free liberty to enjoy the scope of his inclinations.
After a time he became tired of hus luxurious life in Lit-
tle York (now Toronto) and sought the quiet, cozy and
comfortable home of his stepfather in the county of Bar-
rie. 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 witli her dozen or more cows, chop-
ping and carrying in wood to cook his own breakfast,
yoking his oxen and jilowing 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 h^tt 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 hum:
"Great Heavens, my friend, this you? Reduced to this
situation, far worse than abject slavery. What has
brought you to this state of miserj'^?'' "Fate," he inno-
228 THE BRUCE MINES.
cently replied. "Why do you remain here?" continued
his school-mate. "Come where 1 have been! See what
I have seen! This continent lis ours, unlimited in its
prairies and forests, its lakes and streams of crystal vv'aters,
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 raspl)erry. The Indian has indeed a
fine life, and the dusky squaw, untranmieled 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 honndless regions of
Lakes Hnron 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-nnile 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?" "Xo," 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 hor.se,
but, say, how will a bowl of but.ermilk 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 off for the Sault Ste. Marie, old chap, and
a line from you hereafter would be most accejitable. I'^are-
well, au revoir." In the evening, while sitting around the
capacious and glowing wood fire the stepfather noticed
hiis 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
230 THE BRUCE MIXES.
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 liappy to further your inclinations, my
boy," replied the father. "You certainly appear quite out
of place in your present occupation here. The house
would liave been in ashes but for our timely ijnterferencc
in building your fire yesterday; the sheep fold was left
open last week and had I not closed the gate in time we
would have l)een without wool or mutton lor the next
five years by the destruction of the whole fiock by a score
of famished wolves that arc 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 unsophisticated
THE BRUCE MINES. 231
white man'" "Xo fear," said the son. "One who has
l^one throiig-h the firey ordeal of lovely Paris is a livin"^
proof of his safety in this rejii^ard.'' "When do you pro-
pose to start?" said the father. "Not later than Tuesday
next," was the reply. "Well," returned the father, "the
sooner. 1 think, the better." ( )n the Tuesday following
the sun slowly crept upon the horizon with that peculiar
smoky orange color, denoting the advent of that lovely
genial Indian sunmier, when nature lavislies 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, surmounted by a pair of
sheepskin gaiters buttoned well up to the knee, the tightly-
fitting cdrduroy breeches, the capacious waist and shoot-
ing coat, replete with roomy pockets, a red flannel shirt
232 THE BRUCE MINES.
with crimson cravat, a cloth cap with sun-proof peak com-
pleted his toilet a la chase. Thus cciuippcd in well-knit
frame, gold-rimmed spectacles and his douhle-barrelled
shotgun* on shoulder, he looked the type of a London
cockney. "Adieu, mon cher pere," he said, extending his
hand to his stepfather. "I Jon voyage, mon cher fils, et
(pie (lieu 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-
se])h, 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 IJRLXE MINES. j^^
hastily arisinj^ from liis couch he noticed the dog- hark-
ing; up a tree, and soon ohserved to his astonishment and
extreme gratification a hew of partridge, some fifteen or
twenty, scattered al)out on the hmhs of the tree. Seiz-
ing his douhle-harrelled gun he hrought two down with
the first shot from the lowest limh. and to his amazement
the rest stood still, while the dog continued harking. He
then took another shot and another couple fell until he
picked out and killed in the same way the whole hew.
In the meantime the owner of the dog. hearing the
report of guns in ra])id succession, hastened to the tree.
She ])roved to he an old s(|uaw. the mother of the girl
she was leading. She was hut a child of fifteen years
and seemed even younger. She wore a neat pair of
deerskin moccasins elaborately embroidered with porcu-
pine c|uills. 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 vvaiist loosely,
suggesting her maidenly beauty, the curl of her smiling
234 THE BRUCE IMNES.
lip displaying her ivory teeth, lier dark gazelle eyes
fringed with long blaek eyelashes, her raven hair tied on
the hack of her neck and falling to her waist, a broad
brinnned straw hat with a wreath of wild roses completed
her 'island costume. Such did this angelic beauty appear
to this bcwiildered brain. Addressing the mother, the in-
truder asked. "Cestil I'lsle de St. Joseph?" (is this St. Jo-
seph island)? "Oui, monsieur,"' replied the dove of fif-
teen. "Ma mere pari pas I'rancais." (My mother does
not speak ]">ench.) "Can you direct me, my dear, where
I can procure a loaf of bread," he asked her in French.
"(3uii, monsieur." she replied, "die nous," (at home).
"And will you allow me to eat in your cabin?" he in-
cpiired. "I have tasted no food but wild raspberries for
several days." "Yes," replied the dove, "my mother
says you can. and you are (|uite 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'lil
vous plait," (permit me to help you, sir, if you please),
and this did he cheerfully do. "Avez vous des pomme
'J UK 15RUCR MIXES. 235
(Ic terre?"' (Have yon potatoes at lionio) asked the stran-
^vv. "iieau coup." (plenty) re])lie(l the anjj^el.
"Now I am in hick," thonp^ht the stranj]^er, so on ar-
riving at their wit^wani. plnckinj^^ and preparinj:;; four of
h.iis lairds, two for himself and one for each of his g"uests,
he rolled them up separately and folding them up in
large basswood leaves buried them in live ashes. They
turneil 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 wdth 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 sun was slowly rising aliove the
blue ethereal horizon when the stranger crept from un-
der hiis canoe, stripped to the bufif and plunged head-
long into the limpid waters of this beautiful island and
rolling and puf^ng about like a playful porpoise, struck
for shore, and shaking himself like a Newfoundland dog,
236 THE iiRLXE MIXES.
clothed himself and hied aj^faiii to the tent of the Indian
fifirl, and to breakfast on ash-roasted wood grouse, corn
bread, potatoes and teaberry tea.
A fleet of canoe and Mackinaw boats, containinj^ 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 among"st the in-
habitants, denotinj:^ peace and plenty, and the stranger
a^ain realized what his friend !~^t. .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 ])riest said, "Make him marry you ac-
cording to the rules of your church," and under these
rules he married he., 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? An 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
Till' r.kL'Cl-: MIXES. 237
a journey of two hundred and lil'ty miles on snow-shoes.
I'ut the yount^ wife, with her papoose wra])ped in a bhm-
ket upon her shoulders, followed him. Three weeks
elapsed and their journey was accomplished. I'2xhausted
and half starved, with feeble step.s they reached the home
of his father in the township of Barrie. She waited
outside whiile 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 (1 — d low-bred squaw, and disgrace yourself and fam-
ily forever. If you do not leave her, never shall 1 for-
giive you; never shall I own you again. Leave her or
leave rny 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
238 THE BRUCE MINES.
iously considered lier situation l)efore. The harsh and
cruel words of the father rang in her ears, v^he 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 purpos 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; neither 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. "Aly 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 MIXES. 239
to leave thiis woman for the sake of your family, your
interests, your own respectability." "Hush!'' said the
son, "Xot another word; my mind is made up now,
if it never was before. This woman is my wife; it was
no fault of hers, and 1 cannot cruelly forsake her and
■he babe of my own blood to please my family. Jt is
too late now. You can bestow your wealth and posi-
tion upon someone else. Disinherit me if you choose,
but I'm ofT 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
reaMzed a large sum.
Being well known .throughout Ontario, and having
moved in his youngor days in the best society, his fin-
is'.'.ed cducaticn and suavitv of manner secured for him
240 OLD TIME !• ARM IXC.
a prominent g^ovcrnnion-t a])pointnicnt and he died Icav-
m^ a large family in civilized life, but not on St. Joseph
.Island.
FARiNlIXG IX TTI IS CAXA] )A OF OURS. AXD HOW
IT WAS I r>ECA:\IE A FARRIER.
When Lasalle and Hennepin, the French 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 J^rie 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 w^as 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 TI.ME FARAIIXG. 241
were dispossessed of their cornfields, the Frenchmen took
possession, and the first thinj^ 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 P.ull came along and conquered
the I'Yenchmen, 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
Ajiril, 1812. In 1816 my father, for his valuable services
in the war of 1812, was ai)pointed Inspector Cieneral of
I'pper 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 the 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
242 OLD TIME FARMIXi;.
Jock Straclian, as he was irreverently called, and who kept
the t^raniniar school in muddy Little York, lie was soon
succeeded by the Revs, r.ethune. Elms, .\rmour and Ehil-
lips. My progress in A, \\ and C beine^ very slow 1 was
transferred to Mr. I'atheld's school. L'nder the care oi this
worthy person I first be^an to feel an interest in. niy studies,
and to him 1 am indebted (if I may be credited) for writing
a legible hand, as also for my slow progress in arithmetic.
About this tim:\ 1823, the late Roman Catholic and first
bishop of L'pper Canada, Alex. McDonnell, of Regio])()lis
of (Ilengarry, was making a tour of his diocese, then em-
bracing the whole i)rovince of Ontario. This noted pioneer,
bom at Glenurquhart, Scotland, in I76(), 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 Cilengarry 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 Ogden?
OLD TIME FARMING. 243
burg in the same year. Died in Dumfries, Scotlam!, 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 h()use,
whose diningroom served as a chapel for the spare Catho-
lic population of the town and 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 w^e tarried for the night with a Mr.
244 OLD TIME FARMING.
Angus McDonald, if I mistake not the father of the late
Premiere, Hon. John Sandfield, of Ontario.
It was (luring this evening tiiat a few noted persons
called to pay their respects to the bishop, and among them
was a Aliss 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 me was gratifying in
the extreme and doubly enhanced my esteem when, 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 lordsbip leaving us at his residence). On
parting with her she cordially invited me to repeat my
OLD TIME FARMIXG. 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 siie 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.
How pleasant 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 was not a little sur-
246 OLD TIME FARMKXG.
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 slcepinj^ and study room (the l)rooms made l)y
ourselves of cedar Ijouj^Iis taken from a swamp hard by),
replenish the water pitchers, clean or black my shoes, and
make a respectable appearance withal ; and 1 conceive no
more salutary practice than this very one. as if taught me
to help myself. Aly sojourn at St. Raphaels did not pro-
duce the result ho]KHl for by my anxious and induljT^ent
father, for althouji^h every attention was paid to moral and
religious training, the education I 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 Glengarr}', 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 appeared a
strong rivalry, and the men were distinguished by gallic
OLD TIMl-: 1-ARMIXG. 247
nicknames, tlenotinf]^ a long or short nose, or a blue or red
one, or l)y the cars, eyes, complexion or size; but 1 am sorry
to say that 1 cannot write them down in that beautiful lan-
.i^^uas^e. What surprise*' me the most was the stalwart and
hardy physi(|ue of these.' llijj^lilauders, for often did they ap-
])ear at the old St. Raphaels churcli in their kilts, when we
school l)oys could scarcely keep warm with warm winter
elothinj:^-. Donald, however, proof asLjainst cold in winter
in his kilts, was no match for the elephantine truncated
mos(|uitoes in sunnner, which were to be found in myriads
about the (ilencj-arry swamps, as the followinj^;- incident will
prove: Connnencing his first sunnner's residence in Canada,
just from Scotland's (irampion Hills, he called upcjn the
I'ishop. 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 htm 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 TIMI*: I A KM IXC.
buckskin, causing his legs to so Gwell that lie 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 hanniiock on the shores of the
Georgian Bay.
That 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 them 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 with goods from ^Montreal, where they had
been detained by the closing of navigation; and to be taken
to the different points in Upper Canada. Let me describe
this, if I can : Standing knee dee]) in snow, and just out
of the way of the track, we hear the live tinkling of sleigh
bells as merrily approaches 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 'II MI-: I'AKMIXC. 249.
flowing' iiic'uu' liis iK'i'k and shoulders, otlu'rwisc his coat is
as sk't'k and smooth as that of a nioK-. ( )n tlu' traincau
is a IiofTshcad of su<j^ar seventeen hundred (1,700) pounds
in weight, or a hoi^shead of rum, mohisses, or bales of dry
jToods e((U<'il to that \vei,i;ht, but he moves alonji;' on his joj;'
trot with the ease of a ship at sea. l'\)llo\vin.S4 close behind
is Jean l)ai)tist, the owner and driver on the same trot,
but \v]K'n tired, steps on the sleit;'h. I le wears the conical
bonnet l)lue, pulled down over his ears, his gray capot
and tu(|ue of etoffe du pave (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'omber d'un bois je m'en
vais dancer," contented and happy as the day is long and
250 OLD TIME FARMING.
proving the proverb "that wliere 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 iiim to
Toronto, and just at that age when the Piost important
step generally decides the make or break of one i:>ursuit in
after life. As already mentioned I was not educated clas-
sically, and my inclination led me to a lural life. Intent
u])on 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 that is
required in the life of a Canadian farmer, nor are you pre-
|)ared 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 prt)bability 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 TLME I'ARMIXG. 251
you the choice of a farm in any part of Ontario you may
select." I have often thought since what wisdom and
])lain c jnnnon sense there was in this wholesome advice.
I thought seriously of it and for the time abandoned the
idea, hut I had left school and something nnist be done,
so 1 entered a lawyer's office, tried my hand in a grocery
store, and at last purchased and sailed a schooner, in
hYM)ruary, 1833, my father died, leaving mean 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, Init my old idea for a country
life retun^"d, so 1 took to farming. 1 had allotted as my
share a beautiful farm on the river Thanujs, two miles
above Chatham and containing two hundred and forty-six
acres (246) comparatively in i: 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
252 OLD TIME FARMING.
upon which he was stan(Hng, 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 head, for
that matter, was not chopped olT, for we were both green
with the axe). Wrapping my fingers up vviith dead leaves,
we went home, got a bunch of cobwebs in wliich 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 tilings 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 farmer's life
adorning then- 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 virgin soil, and pleased
to make of your patient ox and faithful steed your con-
r
254 OLD TIME FARMING.
stant companions in labor, and their only reward meted
out to them by gentle treatment and care for their com-
forts. The fruits of vour labors should afford vou nmnite
pleasure, as you obsor\'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 l^eing inured by
j)ractice in the days of my youth to the former, and not
possessing the latter, I struggled along.
1 will now return to my first straits. I think about the
greatest difficulty I had to contend with was the making
of bread; as we had no rooking stoves in those days, the
old-fashioned Dutch oven (simply an iron pot 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-
terminerl to l)uil(l a clay one, such as were seldom seen,
and originated witli the first and probably French or Dutch
OLD TIME FARMING. 255
settlers, and as a neighl)or of mine liad some little knowl-
edge of their construction, 1 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. Xow 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 made a hole in the
ground, throwing the top soil away, and came to the clay,
which we had worked u]) with the spade and hoe, to the
consistency of tlidck 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
256 OLD TIME FARMING. .
thick — ^beliold the oven built. Now \vc fill the barrel
chock full of kindliug aud 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 the saving of
labor has been the first consideration. Now, when my
oven was built 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,
I
i
OLD TLME FARMiXG. 257
and the way those hogs went at it was "root hop^ or die;"
and thus he prepared clay for his oven. Nothing' hke
necessity, the mother of invention.
About this time 1 had a visit from my neighl)or, 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 1 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 io pay out money
for all you touch; for instance, you paid lor 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
258 OLD TIME FARMING.
a blacksmith and carpenter shop, and we were taught all
kinds of work on rainy days; to make or repair a wagon
wheel, make a biill-plougli (made entirely ot wood, and
faced with a plate of steel. The> 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 'Peter
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 who 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 mairied, an ac-
OLD TIME FAR.MING. 259
coniplished and liighly 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 1 iy,
he went to England and brought out another one, equally
accomplished as the first, and io! 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
26o OLD TIME FARMLNG.
contented. "Why," he remarked, "Mr. S., you appear in
a very different mood than wlien I last saw you." "Yes,"
he 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. She is to the manor born, 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. 1 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, the 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-
OLD TIME FARMING. 261
traordinarv sensation seized nic, as if some fiend had
brained me with a ckib. Recovering from my stupor I
found myself straddle of the beam of the plow,
and the horses out of sight. 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 T 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 me? No, but still I could
not forget my poor father's counsel. I learned afterwards
to hold the lines in each hand and not around my neck,
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 lUackstone to the advocate, Abernethy to
the physician, Watts to the engineer, or belles letters to
the philosopher.
262 OLD TIME FARMING.
It was while intent and determined to follow this pur-
suit in life, that 1 took to myself a partner, and although
unaccustomed to life in the backwoods, she cordially
and cheerfully aided me r'n 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 T 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 Flome," that it is difificult 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 FAR.MIXG. 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 health, 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 discovercl
in the roof 01 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 ashes 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 mc 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-
264 OLD TIME FARMIXG.
Slime me, but my farm did, and I would certainly advise any
young- man or old one (if he desires to farm in Canada),
to apprentice himself to a prosperous and practical farmer
and accpiire a thorouj^^h 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 l)efore me, but the active life I had led unsuited
me for a sedentary one, and I was soon induced to em-
l)ark in a trade, which unfortunately proved as disastrous
(juite, if not more so. than farming for want of knowl-
edg-e and experience, for in the former the loss came by
slow degrees, whereas in the latter it came with a run-
ning hop, ski}) and a jump. Xeed 1 say it was the trade
of tanning-. Xot having the slightest experience in the
matter, 1 had to trust entirely to others, i started in an
old tannery, with vats tilled with old liquor (extract of
tan bark which had lost its strength for several vean^
standing), but used by my ignorant foreman with fresh
liitjuor. Conse(juently, hides and skins to the value of
thousands of dollars were turned out, after six months'
{)LD TIME FARMING. 265
Ln\;'jib:. waitiiif^, almost worthless. The reverse was ap-
pareiit, 1 was tanned, instead of the leather. I never re-
covered from this false step sufficiently to continue in this
trade, so left it with dear bout^ht experience. The £^reat
.\apoIeon wisely said, "C'est !e premier pas (|ui cont."
Hie 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 tiie ebb, leads on to fortune."
] always struck it at the wron^" time. Resting on my oars
at this juncture, a bait was thrown out to me by a friend
tliat I easterly seized, which was to open a stone quarry
on the (ireat Manitoulin Island. The enterprise ended in
forming- a company to bore for oil instead, and after ex-
l)ending- $50,000 of the company's money 100 barrels only
was pumped out, and with it my last dollar. So ended
that venture.
A northerly current drifted me into th(^ reg^ions of Lake
Michigan and (ireen IJay in the service of the United
States Lake Surveys of the Racine Reef and locating the
present Sturg:eon i'.ay ship canal. Too nuich 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.