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Souvenire ot tbe l^aet

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AN INSTRUCTIVE AND AMUSING WORK, GIVING A CORRECT
ACCOUNT OF THE CUSTOMS AND HABITS OP THE

pioneers of (Tanaba

AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY, EMBRACING MANY
ANECDOTES OF ITS PROMINENT INHABITANTS, AND
WITHAD AN ABSOLUTE CORRECT AND HISTORICAL
ACCOUNT OF MANY OP THE MOST IMPORTANT
POLITICAL EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE
EARLY DAYS OP CANADA AND THE
TERRITORY OP MICHIGAN.

BY

MtlUam Xewis Bab^

TRIlfn&sor, ©ntarlo, 1896.

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
and Copyrighted in 1896.
.1 Entered aedording to Act of Parliament of Canada in the year |
1896 by William L. Baby^ at the Department of Agriculture.

\„ 21. {L> a » «..-

preface.
In ofifering 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 whom he was associated and
who for so many years drew the undivided attention of the
civil and mflitary powers of those days. He at length failed
in the accomplishment of his bold and comprehensive plan
of attaching a chain ot nine forts fi*om Michigan to Niagara
on the same day; he himself besieging the Fort Pontchar-
train at Detroit in 1763, but failed, an Indian woman having
discovered the plot and revealed it to Major Gladwin,
commanding the fort.
Pontiac afterwards professed friendship for the English,
but an English spy, having discovered treachery in his
speech, stabbed him to the heart, and fled. — "Morgan's
Celebrated Canadians," p. 55.

arable of Contents.

An Old Family Legend during the Conspiracy of Pontiac. ... i
Serving Jury Summons in 1839  13
The Old Family Compact — its origin, and what I know about
it  as
The Hon. James Baby — Obituary  58
Service on the Detroit Frontier during the Rebellion of '37
and '38  'J2
The Battle of Windsor, fought December 4, 1839  90
An Old Time Breeze on Lake Erie — Sailing in 1831  117
The Runaway Slave  129
¦Journey to Little York (now Toronto) in 1833  140
Visit to Col. Talbot in 1841  148
An Unexpected Visit from an Old Schoolmate  156
Visit to the Village of Wickwimikong, 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 the Isle au Pesche,
(fishing island in French), situated-„i 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

2 OLD FAMILY LEGEND.
the bank, of the Detroit River, w;he,re Baby and Hanrahan's
liquor store now stands. It was a low log buflding eighty
feet long by twenty feet wide, clap-boarded, and contained
several rooms lin 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 we will smoke the pipe of peace,"
handing him a four-pound plug of tobacco, in the shape
of a huge cigar, and a clay pipe.
Pontiac, seizing his tomahawk, and pointing to its head,
said, "Here is my pipe," (and the handle formed its stem),
ht and smoked it. After their smoke his host remarked:
"It's a long walk to the Island to-night; there are my

OLD FAMILY LEGEND. 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. repHes. "What is
wanting?" "A bowl of bread and milk for Pontiac." "I
wfll 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. • i ^^
"Big camp," exclaims Pontiac, smokes his tomahawk.
pipe after supper in silence, makes his bed of buffalo skins'
and goes to sleep with his feet to the fire. The next
morning Pontiac gets his breakfast with Mackinac toast,
(slices of bread, dipped In batter and fried in lard or butter,
and when done to a turn, can be served on a napkin with
out soiling), pork steaks, and a bowl of coffee, and tells-
him that he won't see him again for two weeks — squaw
sick and too far from home.
At this moment Mrs. B. appears and shaking hands with
the chief, said, "Good-bye, Pontiac; remember me to your

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 ot blue cloth for a frock
and leggins, a red blanket, and twelve yards calico for her,
two shirts, a double handful of assorted glass beads and a
silver brooch (the size of a saucer) to wear on her breast,
with the profile of old King George III. stamped upon it.
Accept this also from me," handing him a silver box with
six flints, tinder and a steel for striking fire. If she had
left a $300 gold repeater and the silver box to choose from,
he would have left the watch and taken the silver box. "If
that is not enough my husband wifl pay you the difference."
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 ot coming,
night after night, to the house of Baby to steal hogs and
cattle. The latter complained of the theft to Pontiac, and
desired his protection. Being at that time ignorant of the
intercourse between Baby and the English, Pontiac has
tened to the assistance of his friend, and, arriving about
nightfall at the house, walked to and fro among the barns
and enclosures. At a late hour he distinguished the dark
forms of the plunderers stealing through the gloom. "Go
back to your village, you Wyandotte dogs," said the Otta
wa chief. "If you tread again on this man's land, you
shall die." They slunk back abashed, and from that time
forward the Canadian's property was safe. The Ottawas
had no political connection with the Wyandottes, who
speak a language radically distinct. Over them he could
claim no legitimate authority; yet his powerful spirit forced
respect and obedience from all who approached him.
I. Tradition related by M. Francis Baby, of Windsor,
U. C, the son of Pontiac's friend, who lived opposite De
troit, upon nearly the same site formerly occupied by his
father's house. Though Pontiac at this time assumed the

6 OLD FAMILY LEGEND.
attitude- of a protector of the Canadians, he had previously,
according to the anonymous diary of the sjege, bullied them
exceedingly, compelling them to plough land for him and
do other work. Once he forced them to carry him in a
sedan chair from house to house to look for provisions. —
Parkman, 259, vol. i.
The same morning Baby said to Susanne, his wife, 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
him as follows: "My man, tell Major Gladwin that Jacque
Duperon Baby wants to see him. Have him send me the
countersign to pass the sentry. Here is half a crown for
you and be quick." The message Is soon delivered and
the 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 the sentry he an
swers, "Silence." "Pass on," said the sentry, and he has
tens to the major's quarters, gives the knocker (a brass

OLD FAMILY LEGEND. 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 old Jamaica will do no harm after
paddling across the river." "Never refuse a good thing
in moderation," replied Baby. They take a horn and
Baby says: "Wefl, Gladwin, what's the news?" "D — nbad;
these infernal savages pester the life out of us, with their
bows of poisoned arrows. We can't leave the fort but they
are dogging us; at night they are in their camps in the
thick woods and are quiet; but the worst of all, to-morrow
we'll be out of provisions."
"What news from that cut-throat, Pontiac?" "He paid
me a visit last night," said Baby. "Smoked the pipe of
peace with me. My wife gave him his supper and he slept
in my buffalo skins in my dining room 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
Befle Isle). "Good! you are a brick!"
"See here, Gladwin, to-morrow night set a lantern near
the water plank," (two stakes driven in the bed of the river

8 OLD FAMILY LEGEND.
and a'stout rung passed through them to support the plank,
and extending into the river to the depth of four feet,)
"land 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- 1 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 quick 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 hini. ¦ Gladwin re
turns to his fireplace and in a musing mood says in a smoth
ered voice, "What a brave and noble Frenchman — and a
Loyalist at that." Recrossing the river. Baby, cafling his
hands together, said, "Boys," (he had thirty slaves^ tweinty
men and ten women), "you have your hands full." (He
worked a large farm, 1,000 acres in size, and about 2O0 acres
in cultivation, now all built 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
Hght at the water plank; six canoe-loads of provisions
were dumped in a hurry and returned tfll all was over by
daylight. And Gladwin thanked him, saying, "England
will not forget you," and Baby answered him, "I know it;.
and when you want my services hereafter, suspend from the
flagstaff the white ensign of St. George, and I will respond."
The following summer, not long afterwards, he noticed
the cross of St. George and crossed over the river and met
Gladwin in sore tribulation, and asked him, "What's up?"
and Gladwin replied, "I am expecting a vessel up from
Fort Erie and she is overdue some three weeks, loaded
with arms, provisions and men for my garrison. Can you
find a way for me to get news of her and ascertain if she
is liable to be attacked before reaching here?" and Baby
replied, "I have traders all through the country on both
sides of the river and lake (Erie), and I wfll 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
canoe fishing twine, fish-hooks, tobacco and pipes, glass
beads, etc., etc! I -wifl make the assortment for you to
trade with the Indians. You wfll 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- seeiL Camprenez vous, prend
garde?" Exit the trader, and in^ an! hour he is off. On
the foflowing day at midnight he- reports. "1 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. ii
arrows of young hickory wood; the squaws were twisting
strips of deerskin, and using the inner bark of eliii for the' bow
strings, and others tieing strips of -wird 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 I said in Indian, 'You appear to be very
busy in your camps ; what is it all about.' 'We expect,' she
replied, 'to soon see a vessel of red coats come up
the river, and we are 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, whfle the vessel was
anchored in the stream immediately opposite to that island.
In the dead of the night the crew and afl on board, behind
the bulwarks, impatiently waiting and ready for the attack,
observed a flotilla of fifty or more canoes stealthily creep
ing along the rushes. Suddenly the attack was made upon
the schooner, but so effectually were they received with
grape, cannister and musketry that they were swept from
the waters. (See Parkman, page 289, vol. i.) And on
the following _ day the vessel hoisted sail and reached the
fort in safety with an abundance of provisions, was un
loaded and returned for another trip.

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 Lamptbn, cover
ing a territory of 2,817 square mfles. I was then sojourn
ing in the picturesque old town of Sandwich. The young
est son of Mr. Wifliam 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 Samia
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 facflity that it is done nowadays. At that
time no person dreamed of such a place as the town of
Windsor, in fact, John G. Watson, merchant, Chas. Jean-
nette, Francois Baby, Vital Ouellette, Daniel Goyeau
and Francois Pratt were the only settlers in it, who lived
on the banks of the river as simple farmers. On the
Ouelette farm was an inn kept by Pierre St. Armour (on
the spot where the British American now stands), who
kept a ferry, i. e., log canoe No. i. Francois Labalaine, an
old and honorably discharged servant of the Hudson Bay
Company, who lived nearly opposite the residence of the
late Francois Caron on the Jeannette farm, and whose
old home is stifl 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 flfteen
minutes, and every comfort Is provided by Messrs. CamplDell, Avery
and Clinton for their passengers.

SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 15
a bell or whistle, Madame Labalaine had suspended over
the door a tin hom, exactly four feet long, which she
blew to call old Francois' attention to impatient passen
gers. These places were called by the habitants "La
Traverse," that is, the crossing. Labalaine's canoe was
his home, for, being severely afflicted with rheumatism,
he was unable to get In or out of it without assistance,
and a rare treat it was to listen to the old chap's stories
of his exploits among the Indians and half-breeds of the
Northwest Territory, as he leisurely paddled you over,
and landed you wherever it suited his greater conveni
ence, either at the foot of Woodward avenue, Griswold,
Shelby or Cass streets. Crossing over with Francois and
landing at Griswold street, the first person I met was
my uncle, James Abbott, who was then the postmaster
for the City of Detroit and agent for the Southwest Fur
Company, with the famous John Jacob Astor as Presi
dent. The population of Detroit at that time was 2,222.
Now, 1894, 250,000. James Abbott was acting as steam
boat agent. To him I entrusted the summons to be for
warded to Sarnla 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 jofly 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, tor if in
the east that name implied a place of rest and safety for
the weary traveller, surely this one answered the same
purpose in Canada West. Not that I would for a mo
ment lead you to believe that there was danger from
highway robbers; far from it, as Pierre Langloiis, Jacques
Parent and Dominique Pratt would attest, who were the
mail carriers that transported the mail from Sandwich to
Little York (now Toronto) either on foot or on horse
back, every alternate week from 1820 to 1835, ^^'^ 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 very 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 place before him. Now, it
was not exactly what he saw, but what he could not see,
that appalled him, for well he knew from sad experience
that there were holes and morasses sufficient to ingulf him
and his four-in-hand out of sight if he was unfortunate

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 rafls). Francois Chauvin's inn (or caravan
serie, I wfll 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. Before bidding

20 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
¦adieu to my old friend Chauvin, it would not be out of
place to narrate what became of bim . 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 efforts 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 eventuafly 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
t>arn. Nor can I bid a final adieu to this prairie without
alluding to another Incident which occurred to me some
years after 1836.
My friend, Harry Jones, then Crown Land Agent at
Chatham, made a wager with some friend that we could

SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 21
bag a certain number of ducks (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 ot 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 even
twenty dollars was often a day's compensation for this
kind of work. The country surrovinding Janette's Creek
then was' nearly covered with water and afforded magnifi
cent sport to the duck and muskrat hunter. It was to
complete the number of ducks we were to shoot on 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
coming 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
the 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 effort. Upon reaching it I found it bottom

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 grave 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,
with 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 affords me pleasure to say,
are now all comfortably settled in Hfe and honored mem
bers of society. From Dauphin's we foflowed 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 ot 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, and P. P. L., our kinsman, on whom we
greatly relied for proper information regardirig the man
ner and way of serving our jury summons in the south-
em part of the district, then almost completely a forest.
What P. 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 Tharnes, 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, whfle his black clay pipe, grasped firmly
by his well set teeth, emitted its gentle vapors, which he
appeared to offer 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 ot 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 Canada could do it more gracefully.
Charles felt solicitous about his horse and inquired where
he was to be kept, whereupon P. P. L. instracted 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 buffalo skin, left to its fate. There was not much
sleep for Charles that night and daylight found him
searching for his horse, which was 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 smfle. 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 usuaHy 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 slight idea of it. To pen
etrate this line was quite impossible, so after a short con
sultation Felix decided to take one side of the line and I
the other, which was traversed by swails and swamps in
endless variety and covered with from one to four feet
of water. It was decided to give a yefl 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 horses as best we could through this track
less forest. When we left our friend L. we expected to
get through to the ridge by noon, but did not accom
plish this task until seven o'clock in the evening, at which
hour we stumbled upon a welcome clearing (the first one
since leaving the banks of the Thames) belonging to Jon
athan C, a squatter, I believe, situated about the spot
where the town of Ridgetown now stands, with a
population of 2,000 inhabitants. I'll venture to say
a more bedraggled, forlorn pair of riders, with their
sorry looking steeds, were never seen lin this Can
ada of ours. On asking friend C. if he could keep us for
the night, he replied, "Certainly, if you can rough it, but
you don't look like folks accustomed to our way of grub
bing." Now the terrors and escapes experienced on that
town line were stfll fresh in our minds, added to which
was the certainty of not reaching another halting place
for ten or fifteen miles, so we quickly rejoined: "Oh
anything will do." To our great relief this squatter had a
small stack of oats, and, fastening our jaded and fam-

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 \ve\\ it was
that the breeze was light, otherwise it would have blown
all she had on from her back and left her as sailors say,
"under bare poles." Her golden unkempt hair hung
loosely over her bare shoulders and, as she stood there
barefooted, she presented a singularly interesting picture.
Respectfully saluting her I asked her if she could get
supper for two. She answered in the affirmative, and
asked me to walk In and take a seat, remarking at the
same time that victuals were scarce, and not much variety.
In fact, pork and buckwheat cakes was their standing
dish. Seating myself on a block of wood next the wall
opposite the fireplace, I watched the busy housewife pre-

SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 31
pare the frugal meal. She seized from a shelf a large
wooden trough which she quickly filled with buckwheat
batter and then began to cut slices of salt fat pork for
the fry. A large wooden crane was swung from the side
of the chimney corner, suspended from which by a chain
was a huge iron griddle and on this griddle, by means
of a mequen (an Indian 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, foflowed by a
half-starved cat and cur, came rushing in seeking what
they could devour. The youngest, a yearling, I should
judge, was clad in nature's garb (with the exception that
a cloth was substituted in place of a fig leaf) and clung
tightly to its mother's skirt, from which it could not be
detached. I expected that some mishap would befall the
little chap, and my expectations were shortly afterwards
fully realized. Felix's sudden appearance at the open
door caused the good lady to quickly turn round, In doing

32 SERVING JURY SUMMONS.
which she switched the little brat plump into the batter.
You are mistaken if you think this untoward event dis
concerted her in the least. She simply seized the imp by
the nape of the neck and swashed the batter from its
naked limbs into the trough whence it came, and pro
ceeded with her culinary art as if nothing had happened.
There was a grave consultation held outside of the hut
immediately after that between Felix and myself. He was
for total abstinence, and so was I if I could, but couldn't.
It proved that hunger was an uncompromising foe, and
proved the victor. (Sic semper tyrannus.) The buck
wheat was utilized with sullen mood, and to our agree
able disappointment afterwards, we found our digestion
unimpaired. About nine o'clock that evening Mr. C. in
formed us that, when we felt inclined to rest he would
show us our sleeping apartment, which was in reality a
^'lean to" or shed attached to his shanty — in fact a fowl
house. No floor or window marred its grandeur. The
furniture consisted of a bedstead constructed of strong
poles across which were strapped strips of basswood bark.
This formed our bed and bedding. I omitted to mention

SERVING JURY SUMMONS. 33
the fact that Felix met with an accident in . "brushing
through the line." He tore his pants in a conspicuous
place unhidden by his short jacket. It happened fortun
ately for him that one Schneider, a job tailor by trade,
was residing with our host, and to him the pants were
gladly entrusted for repairs. We then turned into our
crib, while the tailor set to work. The picture of that
evening is vividly before me. Seated on his wooden stool,
with an empty flour barrel to serve as a table, a tin plate
holding a pint of melted grease provided with a bit of
rag for a wick, and with huge old-fashioned spectacles
on his nose, sat the weary looking tailor as he plied his
needle, enveloped in a cloud of mosquitoes. "Flies are
pretty thick," remarked Felix. "Yaw," said Schneider;
then shaking his head, he said, "Mosquito bite not mi."
We were glad to tumble out of our rude bed next morn
ing at daylight. Felix's horror can readily be imagined
on finding a white patch as big as a saucer on the seat
of his pants. The old chap had taken a piece ot 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 ot 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 the same speed and comfort, you could arrive within
a short distance of the same spot, which took us three
days to accomplish, but would have to look in vain for
anything belonging to Jonathan C, his amiable spouse,
or Schneider, the job tailor.

THE OLD FAMILY COMPACT.

ITS ORIGIN AND WHAT I KNOW ABOUT IT.
Probably there is no subject relating to the history of
Canada requiring more careful research and an honest
and impartial pen to deal with than this very one. And
I feel at a loss to account for my presumption in approach-
ing it at all. In fact, the only excuse I can offer is this : I
may consider myself as one of the few, and I am nearly
safe in saying, (to borrow a phrase from Cooper), "The

36 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 affairs soon set in with an Anglo-
Saxon race, and was followed, not many years later, with
a further emigration from the colonies, now the eastern
states, when, at the close of the 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
Detroit 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, 181 2, 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 I. 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-
Heved) 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
hshed 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 settling the country; all British officers, leaving the
service, were entitled to draw 600 acres of land, and ad
ded to this, private individuals purchased large tracts.
Thus it will be seen that the greatest obstacles presented
themselves to the rapid settlement of the country, whilst
our shrewd neighbors, the Americans, on the contrary, of
fered every inducement to fill up their vast territories to emi
grants, offering them free homesteads and putting the upset
price of $1.25 per acre of their best lands in their forest and
western prairies, the latter yielding a return in one year to
the industrious settler.
Although laboring under these disadvantages, still Can
ada slowly progressed, and, with a population far different
to that in the United States, the English, Scotch and Irish,
who left their homes with strong attachments to their native
lands, were glad to find so welcome a reception. And
being generally persons of more or less means, intelligence
and education, and famfliar with the modes of agriculture

40 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
in the country they had left, the majority being tenants and
farm servants, with a good sprinkling of merchants, trades
men and merchanics; and, as a consequence, Ontario wnill
surpass, if not compare favorably, with any portion of this
continent, in its successful and progressive state of agricul
ture, education, intelligence and morality.
At the time I write of, say 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 murder was very seldom heard of. The mafls,
containing large suips of money, often carried on toot (it
took exactly two weeks to go and return with the mail
from Sandwich to Little York on foot), the roads beiing
impassable for horses or vehicles throughout the length and
breadth of the Province. It was a matter of frequent oc
currence for the banks, merchants and others, to remit, by
private hands, large sums of money — no receipt asked for
or given. As an instance: In the month of November,
1834, on my way up from Quebec to Sandwich, I was com-

OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 41
pelled to lay over at Brantford, the roads being impassable
for the stage. On the evening previous to my departure
thence, I had retired to rest when, about midniight, 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 in
the affirmative, he introduced himself as Mr. Buchanan, the
then British Consul at New York, stating that he was on his
way to the Township of Adelaide to visit his son, who was
settled there, and then proceed on to Sandwich, but
finding the roads in such a state, abandoned the idea, and
made up his mind to return home, and informing me that
he had a package from the Commercial Bank at Little
York for their agent at Windsor, James Dougall, Esq., and
would I not take charge of it? I told him I would rather
not, as I did not know how I was to get through myself;
but, to get rid of him, I told him to pitch it into my trunk,
which was open, and it would have to run the chances.
After doing so, he bid me good-night, and retired. This

42 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
package contained $25,000, so Mr. Dougall, the agent, told
me when I delivered 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 stifl 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 skifl, 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 amidst 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 mifl hand to jump the
skiff, trunk and package still in it though, over the mill
race, which he successfully accomplished; but how, at
puzzles me. Another two days' run brought me to within
tour 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 £200
was required by the magistrates who were always chosen
to serve on the grand juries, traveling often many miles to
attend the assizes and quarter sessions, at their own ex
pense and greatest inconvenience. This proved a good
school in after years, for the changes which took 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, dishonest and
unprincipled for this flaming sheet's attack upon those en
trusted with the government, whom he .styled the "family
d

44 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
compact." It proved a faflure in a short time, and the
editor left the country for the United States to avoid the
bafliff's pressing demands. Fortunately for him, an event
occurred which soon placed him on his legs again. Some
dozen or more young dare devfls, 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., into
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, enlisted 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 Fafls of Niagara, and from which he was
dislodged" by the capture of the American steamer "Caro-

OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 45
line," which had been employed by him in furnishing
artillery, arms, stores, etc., from Buffalo to the island, 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,
that he soon got himself into trouble there, was tried for
sedition, and imprisoned. After being released, he returned
to Canada, where he died in 1863, I believe.
In reviewing the character and standing of those who
were entrusted in carrying out the views of the British
Government in those days, in many instances, as in all her
colonial government, views entirely antagonistic to the
colonists, and which they could not control, was this
"family compact." Now, I hope I will not be considered
egotistical in dealing with this subject. ^ I find it necessary
to commence with my 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

45 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
out, in 1812, he commanded the militia of the then western
(district now Essex, Kent and Lambton, and perfonned
many services 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 tew hundred acres of wild
land which he was entitled to for his services and the
most of which he had inherited from his father, and not
one of his children held a government appointment.
Probably one of the most traduced and villified members
of the Family Compact by this famous "Colonial Advocate'"
was the Archdeacon, afterwards Bishop Strachan. Well

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 bis kindness, and unflinching in
tegrity and liberality. For example: It was a rule of his
school, on Saturday forenoon, to have the Church of Eng
land Catechism and the Bible taught, and the afternoon a
holiday. There being several of his pupils Roman Catho
lics, he would say: "Boys, if you don't wish to stay, you
can go home and learn your own Catechism," which we
preferred not doing, 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
punishment 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 Hved 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 certa;in extent, but I must 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, saflors, and noted travelers, and his distinguished
Canadian pupils as well, it was rather a source of pride
that he was one ot 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 fulfifl-
ment of his duties, no man could have performed his
mission with more faithfulness in such a wilderness as
Canada then was. When the cholera broke out in 1832,
and again in 1855, his labors were unceasing; night and
day was he to be met on foot in and out of town, visiting
the afflicted and administering the consolations of his re
ligion. Again, in Morgan's sketches: Bishop Strachan
has ever been the friend of the poor, to his name has been
ascribed many benefits conferred upon them in the promo-

OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 49
tion of education, and establishing institutions for the
welfare of the old as well as the young. He has indeed
merited all the love and affection which his people cherish
for him. He is universally beloved and esteemed by his
clergy and parishioners. But for him the celebrated Trin
ity 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 pupfls. We wfll hastfly 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
bis 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 ot 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 Maitland, Sir John Colborne and Sir Francis
Bondhead. The thanks of the Legislature of Upper Can
ada was voted to him for the part he took in adjusting
the financial difficulties of Upper and Lower Canada. He
never once incurred the displeasure of his superiors, while,
on the other hand, it was his good fortune to be honored
with the express approbation of his sovereign on at least
one occasion, and his public conduct especially elicited
the approbation of colonial secretaries. On one occasion,
he appealed to the three governors above named, then afl
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 famihes, who, having fought
under the British flag in the American war of independ
ence, and took up their residence in Upper Canada, his
loyalty, as he himself said of U. E. Loyalists, was ot no
doubtful origin, and when the war broke out in 1812, 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 in the old
Baby house, still standing in Sandwich. During the whole
of his political career he was identified with the small official
party known as the Family Compact. They defended the
oligarchical system with a zeal fully 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 suffer destruction. They opposed Lord Durham's mis
sion as High Commissioner, and the Chief Justice, then
clothed with the judicial ermine, officially condemned the
report of that nobleman on the affairs 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 is 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, havifig previously refused to accept a
knighthood. It will not be out of place here to insert the
foflowing correspondence as a proof of his honesty and
disinterestedn ess : Littie York, Oct. nth, 1823.
The Hon. James Baby, Inspector General of Privy Coun
cfl: 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 declining so gratifying a proof of the
good opinion of my friends than that which I attempted to
assign verbally, and I must rely upon your good nature
for admitting it to be sufficient. I have never indeed ob
jected to becoming a public character on our small stage,
so far as it became necessary in the discharge of any public
duty, but I have private feehngs 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 and the
public expression by the two Houses of the Legislature, at
the result of my endeavors to be useful to the Province, I
must value most the testimony which the proposed compli
ment conveys 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 feehngs which in public matters, at least, often in-

54 OLD FAMILY COMPACT.
sensiibly bias the judgment. You wfll 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
the honor qf waiting upon 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 pubHc 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 country, and I am not aware that any of his
sons held positions under the Government in 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 siiege at Fort Erie, he was distinguished for his gal
lantry, never shrinking from the severest conflict and
always ready to do his duty no matter where it might lead
him. As a laborious and painstaking judge, none ex
ceeded him. We believe there are no two opinions as to
the way he discharged the many duties incumbent upon
him. 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 gentiemen, too, who now stand high
in the legal profession, acknowledge with gratitude the as
sistance they received from him while they were yet
students. His motto through life would appear to have been
"Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy whole
might." In 1859 the honor of knighthood was conferred
upon him by Her Majesty the Queen.. He left no sons and
a very little property.
In the hurried sketch of these prominent men, I must
not omit to mention so many others equaHy deserving:
The McDonalds, Sherwoods, the McLeans, the Hager-

OLD FAMILY COMPACT. 57
mans, Boltons, Jones and McNabs. Afl 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, will surely
and charitably remove the veil which might dim the luster
of their deeds, and forget their shortcomings, many as they
may have been, and who among our most celebrated states
men nowadays, are exempt from them under any govern
ment. Liberal or Conservative, and I would fain hope that
there are hundreds, nay thousands, in this proud domain,
who would cheerfully contribute to the erection of a monu
ment commemorating their deeds, yes, even under the shad
ow of the immortal Brock, once their companion in arms on
the battlefield, and at the council board, and would feel it
an honor and pride to trace upon its pedestal Old Eng
land's crested motto: "Honi Soit Qui Mal 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
public the loss of so valuable and respected a member
of this Society as the Hon. James Baby, who, after a
very short but severe iflness, 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, tor he was much beloved by afl 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 ot great debility, and had lost the power
of articulation. He was nevertheless quite sensible, knew
v^rhat 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.

Hon. James Baby, Inspector General.

HON. JAMES BABY. 59
Those animating hopes with which he had always rested
in humble confidence on the mercies of his God enabled
liim to contemplate death without dismay, and his last
moments were marked with that elevated serenity and
pious submission which well became the conclusion of a
life in which the great duties of a man and a Christian
had been conscientiously discharged.
In everything that relates to the life and character of a
person so extensively known through both provinces and
deservedly beloved, the public will naturally feel a lively
curiosity; and we lament that we are unable to meet this
laudable desire with any other than a hasty and imper
fect sketch of both. Yet short as our notice must of
necessity be, there will be found something to stimulate
to moral improvement, something to recommend and in
spire the love of virtue, and to exemplify the rewards of
rectitude and the consolation of religion.
James Baby was born at Detroit in 1762. His family
was one of the most ancient in the colony, and it was
noble. His father had removed from Lower Canada to
the neighborhood of Detroit before the conquest of Que-

6o HON. JAMES BABY.
bee, where, in 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 famlHes) 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 littie favor by the American population, and
found it necessary, after much loss and disappointment,
to remove to the south side of the river Detroit, which

HON. JAMES- BABY. 6i
constitutes the boundary of Upper Canada. When the
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 councfllor of the
former, and continued in the regular and efficient dis
charge of the high and important duties of these emi
nent statioms 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 caiLamities which it occasioned him, were
not the only evils which befell him^ — about the same time
he lost an affectionate wife, leaving five sons and one
daughter, all very young.

62 HON. JAMES BABY.
To this lady, a woman of exceflent name, unblemished
-worth, and attentive to every conjugal and domestic duty,
he had been married several years, and in her society
had enjoyed the greatest happiness. Her death gave
him a great shock; nor did he, perhaps, ever wholly re
cover from the blow, for there were moments when he
felt the loss, even to the last, most deeply, and he never
married again. The death of Mrs. Baby appeared to
blast his hopes and derange bis purposes, and to 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 unHmited confidence in his judgment, and at his
request their provisions, their cattie and personal services
were ever ready to support the king's forces in making
ihead against the enemy. When it was in contemplation
*o withdraw the troops from the western part of the prov-

HON. JAMES BABY. 63,
ince he sent his chfldren to Quebec; and when this event
took place, he found his health so much impaired by
fatigue and privation, and the grief which still consumed
him, that he found it necessary to adopt the advice of his
physicians, and to retire to Lower Canada. There he
remained with his children till the re-establishment of
peace, but not in the enjoyment of health; nor was it till
after he had been some time at Sandwich that his strength
and energy returned.
His merits had been so conspicuous during the war —
his services so disinterested. — his losses and privations so
great, that government was anxious to confer upon him
some mark of approbation; and, knowing that his means
had been very much impaired by the sacrifices he had
made, it was determined to confer upon him the first of
fice that became vacant, if worthy of his acceptance. As
if to meet these views, the office of Inspector General, a
place of great 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
spent 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 public confidence in his integ
rity and honor that not a murmur was ever heard.
As a member of both councfls he displayed the most
uncompromising 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 both languages, French and EngHsh, and some-
tirnes speaking in the one, and sometimes in the other,
he seemed, at times, slow of apprehension; and, after hav
ing made up his mind somewhat 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, threw a moral beauty around him that
is very seldom beheld. His favorite amusements par
took largely of this simplicity. He was fond of fishing.

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 fafling 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 bim 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, without 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
it 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 accompHshments and manners were highly
adapted to win affection'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 in 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 reHgion of speculation, but a rule of life
which govemed all his actions, and not only extended
its purifying powers to his intercourse with the world, but
it penetrated the retirement of the closest arid 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
his regard was powerfully excited by every resemblance
to divine goodness, so that to the man possessed of moral
worth he was irresistibly drawn as to a brother. 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 his nature
were kindled to their highest fervor.
It was, indeed, his lot to experience many afflicting dis
pensations in that quarter where his tenderest affections
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, ^nd which he con
tinued with pious thankfulness and q-uickened sensibility
to cTierish and improve to the last moment of his earthly
existence. Thus the severity of his trials proved the stability of
his virtue, and his probationary sorrows, by softening his
devotion and refining bis 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 in his deportment— warm in his affections^
steady in his friendship — and tinshaken 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-
dust, ¦who that knew him can avoid dwelHng upon his
memory with 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 afl 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 towfl and its vicin
ity, and the countenance of every individual whom we had
an opportunity of observing in that vast assemblage dem
onstrated the high respect in which Mr. Baby was held.
All business was suspended — every shop and office was
closed — there was no manifestation of sectarian feeling —
the whole community appeared as one common family
united together in bewailing this melancholy bereave-

HON. JAMES BABY. 71
ment. 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. CathoMcs, 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, his 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 community 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 living 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. Sumner entered with a simultaneous exclamation, "We
are chilled to the bone, hungry as wolves, and dry as
powder horns." So tumbling out of bed I seized the
black bottle on the shelf, in the throat of which was
thrust a tallow candle, and lighting it threw two or three
billets of shag-bark hickory on the smouldering embers.

SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 73
and in a few moments had a roaring fire,, and withdraw
ing a flagon of rye from underneath my 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 sHces, parboiled for five minutes and frizzled in
a frying pan was a relish fit for an emperor.
In the meantime Jim Perrier had emptied the tin pail
of potatoes that stood' in the chimney 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 off,
and a handful of salt sprinkled over them caused their
jackets to burst and their cheeks to bloom like 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 :
"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 Aflan), with his stal
wart men of Gore, and the Toronto volunteers, had gone
to tbe 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, bis field of operations, and
from which be was driven by the capture and destruc
tion of tbe famed steamer "Caroline," which was set fire
to and sent over tbe falls in a blaze, several on board,
who could not escape, adding fuel to tbe flames. Per
haps it would not be out of place here to remark that a
short time previous to these events, Sir Francis Bond-
bead, tbe Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, bad
sent all the troops in bis province to aid and assist Sir
John Colborne in Lower Canada to suppress the rebel
lion there, telling bim "be could depend upon tbe loy
alty of tbe, Upper Canadians for defense," and cballeng-

SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 75
ing Mackenzie and bis rabble to "come on if they dared."
Rather a hazardous boast, as it proved afterwards.
Whilst Mackenzie was occupying Navy Island bis aids
and abettors were busy in other portions of tbe province.
Doctor (quack) TbeHer, from Montreal, taking his cue
from Papineau, in Lower Canada, made his appearance
in Detroit, and with tbe disaffected who ran away with
him, and the offscourings of Detroit, succeeded in rob
bing the arsenal at Dearborn of some 500 stand of arms
and two or three pieces of cannon. He made it pretty
lively for the defenceless 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, bad been sent from Chatham to Detroit to see
the authorities there and at Windsor and report tbe state
of affairs, and on his return gave tbe above information.
A meeting bad been cafled in tbe evening at the school
house in Chatham and 100 volunteers enrobed at once.
Capt. Bell, late of tbe 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 tbe battie-
field of Salamanca during tbe whole night, (this wound
interfered not a littie 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 possible tbe next morn
ing. It being then 2 a. m. one of them turned in with
me, while the other two laid upon tbe floor with my buf
falo skins and with the backs of chairs turned under for
pillows, slept soundly. After an early breakfast that
morning I shouldered my double-barrelled gun and we
started for Chatham. We found the village astir. James
Read, a merchant, furnished us with a loaf of bread and
two pounds of pork each and acted as commissary. He
engaged ten or twelve teams to take us to Dauphin's,
twelve miles from Chatham, down the river a littie below
which commenced tbe 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. -jt
dumped us there and returned home. With great diffi
culty and hardship breaking through tbe ice, we got to
the lighthouse some six miles distant, where we struck
dry land. We reached Stony Point that evening and
bivouacked among tbe farmers. Tbe 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 tbe
Windsor inhabitants, promiinent among whom was my
friend and kinsman, James Dougall, who gave us a kind
reception and was unremitting in bis 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 night following, which, I think, was on the
7th of January, the steam ferry "United,'' Capt. Clinton,
(father of tbe present manager of tbe ferry company), in
command, was ordered to hold herself in readiness to take

78 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER.
lis down to Amherstburg, as "General" TheUer, so-called,
threatened an invasion there that night. About 9 p. m.
we, that is, forty men of Major Ambri'dge's company,
forty of tbe Kent volunteers (of which I was put in com
mand), and twenty of tbe Windsor company under Capt.
W. G. Hall, in all one Hundred men, with Col. Radcliif
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
under the control of Tom Mason, as He was familiarly
cafled, the Governor of Michigan, who,, at the request of
the authorities on both sides of the river. Had gone down
that morning with the avowed intention of dispersing the
so-called patriots, but it was afterwards creditably re
ported that He indulged 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
fortunately no one was Hit.

SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 79
Proceeding on our way to Amherstburg we reached
the Lime Kiln crossing and, it being moonMght, we dis
covered the schooner "Ann'' moored in front of the old
barracks and now and then discharging ber cannon up
on the defenseless town. On discovering this. Col. Rad-
cliff ordered an immediate landing at tbe Lime Kilns and
we quartered ourselves as best we could in the Huron
Indian huts, they being the only inhabitants along tbe
river front at that time. Towards daylight an order came
from headquarters, viz.. Col. Prince, Maj. Laugblin, and Col.
Radcliff, for us to proceed to Amherstburg and receive
orders as to our movements. On arriving there the
company halted and I proceeded to tbe bouse of the
late James Gorden, where the above named officials were
quartered, and finding Col. Prince, be cheerfully accom
panied me to Bullock's tavern and, kicking open the door,
the house being unoccupied, desired 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 bis twenty men.
About 7 p. m. on tbe 9tb of January, 1838, the vrind
being fresh from the northwest and bright moonlight,
tbe schooner "Ann" was discovered leaving her moor
ings and coming down the river with all sails set, fol
lowed by a number of persons along shore peppering
away at Her with shot guns, rifles, pistols, etc., and as
she approached the point, (Elliott's), through floating ice,
a galling fire was opened upon Her from behind the
large trees on the point, and immediately she grounded,
affording a splendid target for our 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 struggHng in the ice to accornplish this, and on
reaching the vessel one got on the back of the other,
who in turn assisted others, until some twenty or thirty
got on board. H. Leighton and two or three others were
on board before us. All appeared as still as the grave.

SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 8i
Gen. Anderson laid alongside the bulwarks shot through
the chest, and died that morning in our quarters, in tbe
old Elliott bouse. Col. Dodge, a Toledo lawyer, was
found with bis right eye Hanging on His 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 cafled for Tbefler to sur
render, which be did by standing up and banding me bis
sword, and claiming 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 bis stock
ing feet, and wore a military frock coat, with a gilt star
on his left breast. Extending bim 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. THefler said He was exhausted
and bruised from the recofl of bis cannon, so jumping

82 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER.
into tbe water and ice He managed to get on my back
and I carried Him ashore, on reaching which our clothes
immediately froze stiff, and it was with difficulty we
reached our quarters, some Hundred and fifty yards or
more. Towards morning (three or four o'clock I should say)
Col. Prince entered our quarters, where He found us
toasting before an open fireplace, and inquired for "Gen
eral" Theller, who was lying on the floor in the corner of
the room, with my blanket for a covering, and a billet
of wood for a pillow. Pointing Him out to the colonel
the latter, in the most unceremonious manner, awoke
bim by a kick in tbe ribs. To my dying day I shall
never forget that ludicrous scene. Theller sitting on bis
haunches and beholding the colonel for the first time in
His life. If Tecumseh, Pontiac or Black Hawk had risen
from their graves and appeared before Him they could
not Have inspired more terror in His mind. A red fox-
skin bonnet, rather than cap, covered his head; a doe
skin jacket encircled bis burly shoulders and loins, tied
by a red sash, in which was thrust a pair of Horse pistols

SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 83
and a kind of cutlass; corduroy breeches and leather
gaiters reaching to the top of bis 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 replied: "The colonel is my superior officer
and I Have nothing to say."
"Let me Have my boots and cap, then," said Theller.
"You won't want either before daylight," was the colonel's
rejoinder. "Baby," continued the colonel, "see that a rope be pro
vided, to which securely fasten all the prisoners two abreast
and then tie the same to the end of a cart (which had Hastily
been provided) so that they can be safely conveyed to the
guard House at Amherstburg," which was done accordingly.
THefler, 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 unofficer-like, but when it is considered
that the inhabitants along the whole frontier, and he and his
family in particular, were in a constant state of fear and
trembling, expecting that every moment their Houses would
be fired and they murdered by these piratical ruffians (which
they 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 ot 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 kite-tail of
prisoners had vanished in the distance, I received orders to
return, at once, with the remainder of my company to
Windsor, as another invasion was expected there at night,
which, on our arrival, proved a false alarm.
Nothing particular occurred along the frontier until in
the month of February (I forget the exact date) an invasion
of the so-called patriots was made on Fighting Island, about
six miles below Detroit, and we, the Kent volunteers, with
others were ordered to the front. We left Windsor at 4 a. m.
The snow was a foot deep. We arrived at a farmer's
(Gignac's, I think) barn along the road, which was situated
immediately opposite the island, and to our agreeable sur
prise found Major Townsend with a detachment of the
32d Regiment from Amherstburg resting in lee of it from
the piercing cold northerly wind. Ascertaining who we
were He gave us a warm reception, remarking, "We'll Have
some fun before breakfast.'' He was only waiting for day-

86 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER.
light to see His way. In the meantime. Captain Glascow,
with three pieces of artillery. Had taken up a position com
manding a fair sweep of the island, which was covered with a
thick growth of burr oaks with their dried leaves still upon
them. He opened a fire of grape shot upon the invaders,
who were sitting around their camp fires, and such was the
effect that before we had time to cross over to the island, not
a soul was to be seen. They recrossed the river on the ice,
which was a foot and a Half thick, and were received with
open arms by Hundreds of persons on the American shore, in
sleighs, who were waiting to Hear the result of the fight.
The only trophy was a small six-pounder captured by the
Kent volunteers, which we took to Chatham, when we. were
disbanded and relieved by the 2nd Battalion towards the
end of April. Thus ended my four month's service as a
volunteer. In reviewing the events of the Rebeflion 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 tiie descendants of the U. E.
Loyalists — those Hearts of oak — the Corinthian pfllars of

SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 87
Canada to-day. All honor to those of tbe Old Family Com
pact; and glory to tbe brave and gallant volunteers, who
belonged to neither, but put tbeir shoulders to tbe wheel and
accomplished it.
As already stated we were reHeved by the Second Bat
talion in April, and being composed principally of farmers
and mechanics returned Home. December 4tH, 1839, the
battle of Windsor took place.
The following account of the capture of the scHobner
Ann is taken verbatim from THeller's "Canada," 1837- 1838,
pages 136 and 137.
"As we neared the town volley after vofley was poured
into us with considerable effect, and with more skill than the
niight 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 tbe anchor, was
shot in the wrist, and from which be afterwards died, and
away went the anchor. The enemy aimed with fatal pre
cision at tbe helmsman, and he fled below, leaving the boat
to ber own will, and as tbe down-bauls had been cut away
by tbe shot tbe sails could not be managed. Unskilled as

88 SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER.
mariners, confusion reigned among us, and tbe schooner
drifting with the ice, we were in a few moments aground on
tbe main shore, our deck presenting an inclined front to the
irritated and triumphant marksmen of tbe 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, maiintained for
a while our position on tbe deck, and with much labor
brought our cannon to bear upon the shore. Another vofley
and a rush to board us. The moon was shining bright, and
we were easfly seen and marked by tbeir riflemen, while they
were concealed behind tbe fences and tbe 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 kflled in tbe act,
fefl overboard, and his body found on shore tbe 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 tbe spot, and in the act of discharging the gun myself, I

SERVICE ON THE FRONTIER. 89
received a blow on tbe bead that felled me to tbe deck and
down tbe hatchway to the bold. Stunned and senseless, I
was dragged out by tbe victors, and placed in custody for
future disposition. On recovering, I found myself and
others in tbe charge of Lieut. Baby (tbe author), who pro
tected me from insult, and who was aided in this manly duty
by Captain Rudyard and Colonel Radcliff, tbe latter say
ing in my bearing that we were prisoners of war, bad con
ducted ourselves Hke brave men, and must not be abused,
but be banded over to tbe proper authorities for judidal
treatment. I was taken to tbe hospital (tbe 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, afl seriously
wounded."

"<'"'^->\,^

COL. JOHN PRINCE.

90 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.

THE BATTLE OF WINDSOR, FOUGHT DEC. 4.
1839.

The Report of the Battle taken from an Original Document,
Used in the Trial of Ool. 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 tbe 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 tbeir authors or
others, a longer silence would tend to sanction and per
petuate the misconceptions they Have but too generally pro-

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 91
duced. The contributors to this narrative think it due to the
public, and to themselves, that there should be no miscon
ceptions in an affair of so much importance. — that "even-
handed 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
pubflc, 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 tbe affair, it is necessary to com
mence tbe narrative with a brief outline of tbe circum
stances some weeks antecedent to tbe day of tbe attack.
From about the first of November it was reported, and
generailly believed, that large bodies of brigands, from
all parts of the United States, were wending tbeir
way to the State of Michigan for the purpose of
invading our country. The point of attack was var
iously stated to be Maiden, Sandwich, and Windsor.
Tbe inhabitants of tbe two latter places were kept
in a constant state of excitement and alarm by their
proximity to Detroit, tbe reputed, headquarters of the

92 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
enemy, and tbe want of sufficient means to repel any serious
invasion. To add to tbeir anxiety and alarm. Major Reid,
of tbe 32d Regulars, who held the command at Sandwich,
was cafled to the London District, and that important trust
devolved on Col. John Prince. The effective force at that
time consiisted of Company No. i, and ii men of Company
No. 2, Provincial Volunteer Mflitia, commanded by Capt.
.Sparke, and four companies of Col. Prince's battalion, com
manded respectively by Captains Fox, Lewis, Tbebo and
Elliott. To Captain Lewis was committed tbe 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
definite and certain information of tbe strength and 'inten
tions of tbe brigands was received, our situation became
tbe more alarming. Some of our most respectable and
influential inhabitants waited on Colonel Prince with a
request that be would ask Col. Airey, commanding at Mal-

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 93
den, to send up one or two companies of Regulars. Tbeir
request Col. Prince declined complying with, intimating
something like a fear that such an application would be con
sidered as an evidence of covvardice^ — assuring tbe 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 tbe public ; nor was
it lessened by tbe painful discovery that tbe post at Windsor
had been entrusted to an officer utterly unqualified for such
an important station. Night after night was Capt. Lewis
detected by the Volunteer Patrolle in tbe most culpable neg
ligence. His sentinels were placed without judgment, and
tbeir duties were performed in tbe 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 tbeir place.
This request, most unfortunately, as tbe sequel proves, was
not granted.
On Friday, the 30tb of November, information. was re
ceived from unquestionable authority, that a large body of
brigands, say from 400 to 600, were assembled on tbe 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, IntelHgence was brought that early on that
morning tbe greater part of them had left tbeir camp and
spread themselves among the lower order of taverns in
Detroit, making "Uncle Ben Woodwortb's" tbeir head
quarters. It was said that a considerable body bad also
passed the city and encamped in the vicinity of the "Poor
House," on tbe Fort Gratiot road, about two miles out of
town. On Sunday, the 2d, it was known that tbe encamp
ment on tbe farm of Mr. Marrantete bad been visited by a
detachment of United States troops, headed by Gen. Brady
and Major Payne, who put to flight tbe 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 tha.t one of their
leaders, and a "sub-treasurer" of their military chest, bad
absconded, and with all the funds. On Monday, tbe 5tb, it
was stated, and generally believed, that disheartened by tbe
foregoing misfortunes, tbe brigands had abandoned tbeir
undertaking and dispersed. Certain it is, that very few of
tbe 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 tbe kind cpuld be which bad been
made tbe rendezvous of sucb polluting scoundrels. De
ceived by these appearances, and trusting to the known and
untiring vigflance of Gen. Brady, and above all, relying on
what was believed tbe impassable state of the river, the
Volunteer Patrolle, unfortunately, on that night relaxed its
usual vigflance, leaving the safety of all our inhabitants, and
all that was dear to them, to tbe keeping of Capt. Lewis.
Most unfortunately Gen. Brady, too, deceived by tbe same
circumstances, and depending on Judge McDonnefl, Col
lector, to have tbe steamer Champlain (the only boat not
laid up, or in the employ ot tbe United States) rendered

96 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
useless by tbe removal of ber valves, relaxed also in his
accustomed vigilance. Judge McDonnell did not discbarge
tbe trust reposed in bim — and our watchful foes, possessed
of all these circumstances, took advantage of them, and at
one o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, tbe 4th, about 240
of them seized tbe Champlain. We do not learn that there
was any resistance on tbe part of ber crew — certainly there
could have been none worth mentioning, or tbe alarm would
have reached Gen. Brady. After raising steam, tbe boat
was cast off and landed our invaders at 3 o'clock a. m. on
tbe farm of Alexis Pelette, about four miles above tbe vil
lage of Windsor, which latter place is directly opposite the
city of Detroit, the Capital of tbe State of Michigan, and
two miles above tbe town of Sandwich.
It is here to be observed, that although so many on both
sides of tbe river were lulled into fancied security by the acts
of tbe brigands, yet, all were not so deceived. Several loyal
subjects residing in Detroit had ferreted out tbeir deep
laid plans. Three of these truly "patriotic" fellows having
obtained certain intelligence that an attack would be made
on Monday night, came over late on the afternoon of that

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 97
day and gave information at tbe Barracks to that effect.
One of the three enrobed tbe same evening in Capt. Lewis'
Company; another, bis companion, remained with bim in
the Barracks; and tbe third, knowing his doom should the
brigands prove successful, proceeded to Maiden. Tbe two
former fell martyrs to loyalty and love of country, while
gallantly defending tbe Barracks.
From Pelette's farm tbe brigands marched down to
Windsor without being challenged or opposed. When they
bad nearly arrived at tbe Barracks, occupied by a part of
Capt. Lewis' company, two ot tbeir' number, who bad been
sent in advance to reconnoitre, were met and challenged
by tbe Cavalry Patrolle. As they did not answer the chal
lenge, tbe Patrolle turned and rode back to the Barracks,
and relating tbe circumstance to tbe sentinel proceeded to
report to Capt. Lewis, whose quarters were about one-
quarter of a mfle further down tbe road. As soon as the two
men bad approached within sight of tbe sentinel be chal
lenged, and receiving no answer, levefled bis piece to fire,
tbe enemy simultaneously doing the same. By a singular
coincidence tbe pieces of both parties missed fire. Tbe

98 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
sentinel stepped inside tbe Barracks to reprime and give tbe
alarm. When be stepped out again. be found the bead 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.
Tbe few men on duty promptly answered tbe call by rush
ing out and opening a galling fire upon tbe advancing foe;
killing one of tbeir captains,^ named Lewis, and wounding
several of their men. Tbe brave sentinel (Otterbury), forc
ing his way through bis companions to have another shot
and holding up his musket to facflitate bis movements, re
ceived a ball and two buckshot in bis left arm, which obliged
bim to retire from the conflict. As long as their ammunition
held out, our men made a most gallant resistance ; and when
it failed, ten or twelve effected tbeir retreat, and the rest
about 113, surrendered to tbe eneniy, who set fire to the
Barracks and tbe adjoining bouse belonging to Mr.
Francois Jannette, which, with tbe bouse occupied by Mr.
Retter, were burned to tbe ground. An inoffensive colored
man, named Mifls, who resided near tbe scene of action,
coming out of bis house to see what was tbe matter, was

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 99
taken by tbe brigands, and on refusing to join, them was
barbarously shot.. From the Barracks the brigands pro-
ceedeid to set on fire the steamboat Thames, belonging to
Duncan McGregor, Esq., and then laid up at Mr. Van
Allen's wharf, nearly opposite. They did not succeed in
tbeir first attempt, but in an hour afterwards accomplished
tbeir purpose. When the boat was fired they compelled Mr.
Black and others of our people to assist them in getting ber
yawl out of tbe ice, in which they placed some of their party
who bad been wounded In the attack on tbe Barracks, and
sent them over to Detroit.
From Captain Lewis' quarters the horse patrol pro
ceeded to give tbe 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
tbe whole to not 'more than 40 men) together with a number
of the inhabitants of the town, were on tbe march for
Windsor. They were Immediately followed and overtaken
before arriving at tbe scene of action, by about 60 men of
Col. Prince's Battalion of Essex Militia, under the com
mand of Fox, Tbebo, 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 bis men defeated; but with
what loss be could not tell, as he bad immediately left the
place. When tbe entire party bad arrived at Mr. Maillioux,
about half a mile below Windsor, Capt. Tbebo, with his
company left tbe road and made a detour so as to come in
tbe rear ot the vfllage, a maneuvre, which in the sequel
proved of great advantage, as enabling our brave militia to
cut off many of tbe brigands in tbeir subsequent flight to
wards tbe woods. Tbe other parties continued tbeir march
up the road and at a short distance below tbe entrance of
tbe village. Captain Sparke baited and formed bis men —
while tbe militia under Captains Fox and Elliott, also
halted and were marshaled by Capt. Bell, df tbe 2nd Com
pany, Provincial Volunteers, assisted by Capt. Leslie, of
Col. Prince's Battalion. Both parties then resumed tbe
march, and when arrived at tbe lower end of tbe viflage,
again baited to reconnoitre. Intelligence was quickly
brought by James Dougafl, Chas. Baby and W. R. Wood,

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. loi
Esquires, who bad gone some distance in advance, that the
enemy (about 130 in number) bad been drawn up across
tbe road, but were then filing to tbe left into an orchard
belonging to Francois Baby, Esq. Instantly the mflitia led
by Capt. Bell strack off tbe road into tbe orchard of Mr.
Jannette, and marching up along the fence opened a well-
directed fire upon tbe enemy. In the meantime Captain
Sparke with bis command and the volunteer inhabitants,
who bad joined bim, continued bis march directly up the
road, and on arriving at the spot where tbe enemy had left
it, discovered them ensconced in the orchard and in tbe act
of returning tbe fire which bad been opened upon them by
Captains Fox and Efliott. Captain Sparke wheeled his
command off tbe road and after pouring a well directed fire,
led his gallant followers over an intervening fence to give
tbe brigands tbe steel. But 'the rascals waited not tbe touch
•of British bayonets — returning the fire, they "broke cover"
and fled across tbe fields in tbe direction of tbe woods.
Pursuit was given by the whole party and continued to the
edge of the woods, by Captains Fox and Efliott, preceded
by Capt. Tbebo, whose judicious position brought bim well

I02 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
to the left of the enemy. Several of tbe brigands were
killed in tbe chase, among whom were their leaders, Put
nam and Harvefl, tbe "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 tbeir flight, re
lieved themselves of tbeir arms, accoutrements, and ammu
nition, and even of parts of tbeir clothing. One man of
Capt. Efliott's company was killed, and another wounded in
this short but brilliant affair. Captain Sparke finding the
pursuit in excellent hands, halted bis party when about half
a mile from tbe 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 be 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 be informed Captain Sparke and the other officers of
the party that he had just received intefligence that upwards
of two hundred brigands were marching down from Detroit

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 103
on tbe American side for tbe purpose of crossing over
and attacking Sandwich in front, and that another body
bad gone round through the groves to attack it In tbe
rear. From this statement of Col. Prince, it was deerned
advisable to retire to Sandwich without delay, in Order to
defend that place, where all our ammunition, provisions and
tbe only guns we possessed were deposited. Tbe men who
were in triumphant pursuit of the flying foe were immedi
ately recalled, and Col. PrinCe ordered tbe whole force to
march back to Sandwich at double quick time. Before the
party left the 'fidd Adjutant Cbeeseman, of tbe 2nd Essex,
who had acted as a volunteer, brought up a prisoner whom
be bad taken. He surrendered bim to Col. Prince, who
ordered bim to be shot upon tbe 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 tbe strength of a
rear guard or reserve of tbe brigands which was still in
possession of Windsor. This body, headed (as is said) by
General Birse, at the time tbe action commenced in the
orchard, was drawn up In front of the burning barracks.

I04 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
It afterwards advanced nearly opposite tbe place where
Captain Sparke bad crossed tbe fence. Just at this time,
Mr. Morse, Commissary, and Doctor Hume, of the medical
staff, and others came from Sandwich in a wagon, and
drove directly up to it, thinking it was a party of our own
militia. As Mr. Morse jumped out of the wagon in front,
.and was about to address tbem be was stopped by a young
woman, who informed bim of tbeir true character. Mr.
Morse quickly communicated tbe intelligence to Doctor
Hume and retreated round tbe corner of an adjoining house.
As tbe doctor attempted to retreat, holding a pistol in his
band, and keeping bis "face to tbe foe,'' tbe brigands pre
sented tbeir pieces at him. Mr. Tyas Baker, who bad also
approached the party, believing tbem to be friends, called
out, "do not shoot that man, be is the doctor," and seeing
one of tbeir pieces flash, in the attempt to kfll bim, again
called out, "do not shoot that man, he is our doctor." The
brigands turned towards Tyas and demanded, "then why
does be not surrender?'' This pause caused by tbe enquiry,
enabled tbe doctor to get past tbe corner of a bouse, under
cover of which be crossed a fence and gained tbe rear of

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 105
tbe dwefling of Mr. Cole. Some of tbe brigands left the
ranks in pursuit, and one, said to be Bennett, a silversmith,
and resident of Detroit, taking the lead, rested bis piece
upon the fence which tbe doctor bad just crossed, and fired.
Bennett then turned to bis party and said "you may go
and take his sword, be will not run any farther." Several
then proceeded to "finish'' bim, as they expressed it, and in
doing so, mangled his remains in the most shocking man
ner. This minute statement of tbe transaction is given to
correct a fabrication got up, either as an attempt at a miser
able palliation of tbe brutal act, or for the purpose of effect,
viz: "that the brigands bad shot Dr. Hume, under the
impression that be was Colonel Prince." After killing the
doctor, they fired several shots at Morse, who had a most
miraculous escape — one of tbeir buflets passing through
his hair. Tbe others of the party in tbe wagon were made
prisoners by tbe brigands.
On our forces reaching Sandwich, it was positively as-
certaiined that no body of men had been seen either on the
American side of the river, opposite Sandwich, or in the
groves in tbe rear of tbe town, as stated by Col. Prince's
h

io6 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
inforrnants. Intelligence was also given by James Dou
gall, Esq., and other respectable inhabitants who had
been reconnoitering at Windsor, that tbe brigands re
maining at that place certainly did not exceed one hun
dred men; and that they were evidentiy preparing to
leave it, as they bad fallen back from tbe 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 tbe enemy. This
he refused to do, giving as his reasons that tbe report
could not be correct — that the party at Windsor must be
much stronger than represented — that bis post was at
Sandwich and if he should leave it be would by so doing
subject himself to trial by a court martial, and the liabil
ity of being shot. He further stated that be bad on the
first alarm dispatched an express to Maiden for some
regulars and a field piece, and that he did not think it
advisable to move against the enemy until their arrival,
which might be expected in two or three hours. The

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 made until it had arrived. In tbe mean
time information continued to be received from many re
spectable individuals who bad been closely reconnoiter
ing, of the weakness of the enemy and tbeir evident alarm
and dread of being attacked. It was confidently stated
that even fifty men could disperse or make prisoners of tbe
whole party; and Ensign Rankin, of tbe Provincial vol
unteers, solicited Col. Prince for that number, with whom
he gallantly volunteered to drive the polluting ruffians
from our soil. -His. request was denied — and the enemy
remained for hours in possession of the village without
any attempt being made to dislodge tbem; and were
actually permitted to march off at leisure, with drum
beating, and colors flying. After they bad vacated Wind
sor, horseman after horseman hurried down to apprize
Col. Prince that they bad retreated to the Windmills,,
(their place of debarkation), and were escaping by canoes.
to Hog Island; this intelligence, however, did not cause

io8 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
Col. Prince to change bis determination to remain at
Sandwich until tbe arrival. of tbe regulars.
When we bad waited an hour or longer for the ex
pected reinforcement a prisoner who bad been wounded
and taken after tbe engagement was brought into town.
He was conducted, surrounded by several of our men,
towards Col. Prince, who was then standing in tbe most
frequented part of our main street. As tbe prisoner ap
proached be was told by one of tbe officers to make his
peace with God, a le bad but a few minutes to live. The
wretched man, holding up both his bands, pleaded most
earnestly for mercy, but Col. Prince commanded bim to
be shot upon tbe spot, and the same officer who bad at
first addressed bim, probably to disengage him from those
by whom be was surrounded, ordered bim to "run for bis
life" — and in an instant a dozen muskets were leveled for
bis execution. At this moment Col. Wifliam Efliott, of
tbe Second Essex, who chanced to be near at band, ex
claimed, "D — n you, you cowardly rascals, are you go
ing to murder your prisoner." This exclamation for one
instant retarded tbe fire of the party, but in tbe next the

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 109
prisoner was brought to tbe ground; be sprang again to
bis feet, and ran around the corner of a fence, where
be was met by a person coming from an opposite direc
tion and shot through the bead. From papers found up
on bis person it appeared his name was Bennett. It is
to be regretted that this painful affair took place in our
most public street, and in the presence of several ladies
and chfldren, who bad been attracted to tbe 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 tbe action and brought in during the
course of tbe morning. Charles Elliott, Esq., who happened
to be present when tbe prisoner was about to be shot by
Col. Prince's orders, entreated that he imight be saved
to be dealt with according to the laws of the country;
but Col. Prince's reply was, "D — n the rascal, shoot bim,"
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., gafloped into Sand
wich. Waiting only a few minutes to inquire tbe state
of affairs at Windsor, which place they were told was
still in possession of tbe brigands, (although it bad actu
ally been evacuated long before), they proceeded at full
speed up the road in search of the enemy. Col. Prince
having by this time discovered that there were no brig
ands in the groves in tbe rear of tbe town, nor any cross
ing the river, nor any anywhere else in tbe neighbor
hood of Sandwich, except those which be bad left in pos
session of Windsor, and those who might have raflied
after he bad recalled tbeir pursuers — followed tbe regu
lars with the whole of bis command and all tbe male
inhabitants except some sixteen or eighteen men of the
artillery company under Capt. Cbewett. This small force
with a nine-pound field piece, were posted at tbe north
entrance of tbe town, and to it was committed tbe de
fense of the stores, ammunition, etc., etc., in the event
of Col. Prince being again misinformed, and any attack
from tbe groves in tbe rear, or from the opposite shore

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. in
being made upon tbe place. When Col. Prince reached
Windsor he was informed that one of the brigands was
lying wounded in the bouse of Mr. Wm. Johnson. Tbe
man whose leg bad been shattered by a musket ball bad
been found by Francois Baby, Esq., after the action, and
by bis orders was removed to Mr. Johnson's, with a prom
ise of surgical assistance. Col. Prince gave tbe order for
bis execution, and he was dragged out of tbe bouse and
shot accordingly.
Tbe regulars and artillery in wagons, and the Indians
on horseback, were by this time two or three miles in
advance of Col. Prince. They bad discovered no enemy
at Windsor, and so continued the pursuit to tbe Wind
mills, where they found the reported escape of tbe brig
ands but too correct. Nothing could be seen of those
whom tbe militia drove to tbe woods, nor of those who
had so long held possession of Windsor, except one man
who was made prisoner, and five or six others who were
then crossing in canoes to Hog Island. The captured brig
and made earnest appeals for mercy, to which Capt. Brod
erick replied, "You have fallen into tbe bands of a Brit-

112 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
ish officer.'^ On discovering tbe canoe Lieut. Airey or
dered tbe 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 tbe canoe amid
ships, just as it reached ice, and killed one man and se
verely wounded another.
When tbe brigands first commenced crossing to the
island they dismissed some of our men whom they had
carried prisoners from Windsor; tbe rest they put into
the Windmills and detained there untfl tbe last of tbeir
party was ready to leave, and then dismissed tbem also.
As soon as Gen. Brady was apprised of the invasion
of our country be 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 tbe time tbe brigands were making tbeir
escape in canoes, was crossing in tbe channel between
the island and our shore, and as it was afterwards ascer
tained, intercepted and made prisoners of a number,
whom be dehvered to tbe authorities at Detroit.

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 1,13.
Capt. Broderick, finding there was nothing further to.
be done, commenced bis return to Sandwich, leaving the
prisoners whom be bad taken to be brought down under
charge of a dragoon and some others. Col. Prince,
after meeting the regulars on tbeir return, continued his
march to tbe Windmflls, and about a quarter of a mfle
below them fefl in with Broderick's prisoner. He or
dered the man to be taken from the guard and to be shot
upon tbe spot, which was done accordingly.
About tbe time Capt. Broderick bad commenced bis re
turn tbe Indians bad gone in pursuit of some of the enemy
who had taken to tbe 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 tbe woods tbe cry was, "bayonet them,"
but Martin, one of the Indian brave.s, repHed, "No, we
are Christians, we will not murder them — we will deliver
tbem to our officers, to be treated as they tbink proper."
They were then brought to Col. Prince, who bad now
commenced bis return to Sandwich. When be bad ar-

114 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
rived opposite tbe burning barracks he ordered tbe wagon
in which the prisoners bad been placed to be wheeled
off tbe road. As soon as it had reached an open spot in
tbe rear of tbe ruins, be commanded the men be taken
out and shot. At this critical moment Charles Elliott,
and Robert Mercer, Esqs., and tbe Rev. Mr. Johnson, and
Mr. Samuel James rushed forward and entreated Col.
Prince not to commit murder by shooting the prisoners,
but begged bim to leave tbem to tbe laws of tbe country.
In making this appeal Mr. James made use of tbe em
phatic language, "For God's sake, do not let a white
man murder what an Indian bas spared." Col. Prince
yielded to tbe entreaties of tbe gentlemen, remarking to
Mr. Elliott that be would bold him responsible for his in
terference, as bis (Col. Prince's) oi^ders were to destroy
tbem all.
By information received immediately after tbe flight
of the brigands it was known that a large number bad
escaped to tbe woods. No party, however, was sent to
scour tbe neighborhood, nor were any guards stationed
on the shore of the river or Lake St. Clair to cut off re-

BATTLE OF WINDSOR. 115
treat nor were tbe means of transportation removed by
placing tbe canoes and boats under safe keeping. On
tbe following day five or six gentlemen volunteers went
out about fourteen miles and captured eight of the brig
ands. About thirty of tbe enemy succeeded in crossing
in a body at tbe 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. Tbe number of the enemy killed in tbe 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 tbe 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 tbe 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 tbeir

ii6 BATTLE OF WINDSOR.
gaflantry and skfll — not to add that the officers and men
of the militia are entitied to our high consideration tor
their coolness, bravery and promptitude. Tbe only opin
ion we will hazard, where we profess to state solely facts,
is that tbe brigands flattered themselves they should be
joined by our gallant Canadian mihtia men; we tbink they
are by this time cured of so vain a delusion.
*Colonel John Prince was publicly condemned for the
summary manner in which be disposed of tbe rebel pris
oners, and the feeling became so pronounced that a com-
missiion was appointed to take proof of bis acts and tbe
causes leading up to the same. Tbe evidence was taken
at Sandwich and the deposition forwarded to the Enghsh
government, and a strong effort made to convict bim, but
be bad a powerful supporter in tbe Duke of Wellington,
who at this time was Prime Minister, and who addressed
tbe House of Lords in bis behalf and be was acquitted.
He was soon afterward appointed District Judge of Algoma
and died some years ago at the Canadian Sault Ste. Marie.
*The defenceless state of Canada at the time of the rebellion and
the desperate character of the rebels -were among the principal argu
ments used in Col. Prince's behalf.

OLD TIME BREEZE. 117

AN OLD-TIME BREEZE ON LAKE ERIE— SAIL
ING IN 1831.

The Baby Mansion, Around which Cluster Historic
Memories.
In the winter of 1831 I was sojourning in tbe rural
town of Sandwich, under tbe roof of the old and vener
able pile, the Baby 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
I 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 tbe middle of the last century and one can
scarcely imagine nowadays the difficulties then experi
enced in accumulating tbe material and tbe labor to erect
so wefl built a structure. There was no such thing as a
saw mill or grist mflls, except the scattered "moulins a
vent" (wind mifls) along the shores of tbe River Detroit.
The nearest saw and grist mill by water power, even up

ii8 OLD TIME BREEZE.
to tbe year 1828, I believe, was McGregor's at Chatham,
some fifty odd miles from Detroit, which served tbe wants
of tbe inhabitants generafly. The siding and all lumber
required for use in construction of tbe building was cut
out by a whip saw, sucb 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.
Tbe bouse is about 40x50 feet in size, two and one-half
stories in height, with a tbree-foot stone wall cellar, the
size of the bouse, and as it was built for tbe northwest
trade, it was made capable of holding 600 or more pipes
of wine or Hquors, which were then of tbe best quality
in tbe world, and were brought from Montreal in "ba
teaux" (four-ton open boats), the same as all other mer
chandise tor the northwest trade. Tbey were brought as
far as Queenstown in boats, then loaded in wagons and
conveyed to Chippewa and again transhipped in bateaux,
threading tbeir way along tbe Niagara River and tbe
shore of Lake Erie to tbeir different points of destination
— Detroit, Mackinac, Sault Ste. Marie, Green Bay, St.

OLD TIME BREEZE. 119
Paul, etc. Tbe frame work of tbe building was filled in
with bricks and mortar; tbe beams and the sheathing
were of oak, and tbe sills of doors and windows of wal
nut. In tbe hall was bung an iron book, from which
was suspended massive scales capable of weighing 2,000
pounds of furs — otter, beaver, buffalo, mink, etc. Tbe
roof is steep to sbed tbe tempest blasts of snow and rain.
It stands the silent ¦ witness of tbe cannon's roar on lake
and field, (battle of Lake Erie and tbe taking of Detroit
in 1813). Its walls, balls, and chambers have re-echoed
tbe voices of Hull, Brock, Proctor, Harrison and Tecum
seh. After tbe battle of tbe River Thames, where Te
cumseh was killed, the father of the writer, Col. James
Baby, of tbe Kent militia, was taken prisoner and returned
to Sandwich with Gen. Harrison, who occupied this bouse
as bis headquarters, and bis humane and honorable treat
ment of tbe Canadians during this campaign was always
held in grateful remembrance by tbem. This bouse bas
sheltered and entertained tbe mitered and ermined, and its
doors were ever opened alike to tbe Huron and tbe hab
itant.

I20 OLD TIME BREEZE.
Tbe surroundings were in keeping with tbe bouse; it
bad a well stocked garden of tbe choicest fruits tbe cli
mate could produce. On October 3d, 1888, I measured
two of its pear trees over a hundred years old; tbe bon
chretian, grafted on tbe stock of the old French pear
tree, tbe other, tbe French pear tree itself. Tbey 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 tbe gos
pel and cross brought here from France nearly two cen
turies ago, nursed and cradled by tbe tender care of tbe
missionary fathers in wet moss, and planted and inter
mingled with the primeval forest adorning both sides of
tbe 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 cliff, from whose caves
(wild nature's pealing organ) ascends in thunder's roar
and mingles with tbe rainbow's tinted spray, a pure and
holy incense, forever soaring to mark tbe finger of their
God. These emblems then are gradually disappearing,
but in tbe archives of Loyola will live forever. As did tbe

OLD TIME BREEZE. 121
poet in bidding adieu to bis native land so wfll I to thee,
tbe place of my birth and say, "good night."
I find that I have been wandering, so will return to
my subject, tbe "Breeze." At tbe time before men
tioned (tbe winter of 1831) I was not particularly occu
pied, professionally or otherwise, and an idea struck me
that money could be made by a safling vessel. As there
was one, unfinished, for sale on the stocks at Sandwich,
I bought ber, excepting a few shares, fitted her out and
called ber tbe Tecumseh. At that time an iron furnace,
built by Fields & Caboun, was in full blast in tbe town
ship of Gosfield, and there was a great demand for pig
iron freight by water to Toronto. I took a contract to
deliver a certain quantity there, and sent tbe vessel
through with a full cargo whilst I followed by steamer.
On ber arrival tbe crew mutinied. I paid tbem off, bought
out tbe shares owned by the other shareholder through
a generous act of my father, then inspector-general of
Upper Canada, and trod tbe deck as boss. I had ac
quired a good deal of experience in my youth in Littie
York (now Toronto)' Bay in tbe way of managing a skiff

122 OLD TIME BREEZE.
or saflboat, and often steered for the expert salmon fisher
up the Don, Credit and Huniber rivers, in pursuit of this
king of tbe finny tribe. It is to be observed (en passant)
that these now almost extinct fisb, in former days, fre
quented these streams in schools of thousands, for the
purpose of spawning, wbicb 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
tbeir long journey of 1,500 miles from tbe Gulf of St.
Lawrence, mostly in our fresh, and to them tepid waters,
streams and lakes, whereas, in the spring of tbe year, as
bigb as $4 or $5 could be bad for them. It was not only
by boat tbey were caught, but in a more primitive way:
Tbe settlers in tbe neighborhood of these streams de
pending more or less upon gun, or rod (tbey were
adepts at either) for fisb or game, could be seen along
tbe shore with a flambeau, made from tbe pitch pine roots
and knots, burned in what was called a "light jack," made
of iron, the size of a half bushel measure, fastened to a
staff, which was driven in the bank at the edge of tbe
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, bad been sunk,
weighted with stones; the -unwary salmon, intent upon
passing tbe rapid' over this bark, was pierced and taken by
the unerring spearman.
Tbe -widow of tbe late Col. George Denison, my inform
ant, who resided at tbe first rapids of the Humber, told
me that, "Oft in the stifly night" did sbe and her friends
wile away many an hour in witnessing this interesting
scene. All bas to succumb, however, to tbe transmuta
tion of time. What a melancholy reflection!
To tbink that this priceless fish bas become now nearly
extinct in our fresb 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 tbe Kings
ton packet, and Capt. R. Oats, of tbe sloop "Duke of
Richmond," (tbe former announcing ber departure by tbe

124 OLD TIME BREEZE.
blast of a tin born, six feet long, tbe latter by tbe yelp of
a four-pound swivel). I scarcely found myself capable
to safl or handle a vessel with compass and chart. It so
happened I met Prideaux Girty, a merchant and would-
be saflor from Gosfield. He was looking out for the
owner of tbe Tecumseh to ship bis goods to Amherst
burg, so I appointed bim sailing master. I was to be
super cargo, and I hired a lad as cook, slush and bottle
washer. John Kirkpatrick, of Chippewa, merchant, dis-
tfller, mfller and postmaster, then met me and asked me
to take a pair of millstones to Chippewa, wbicb I agreed
to do. Having completed my cargo, I left Toronto with
a spanking north wind and bad a quick run across Lake
Ontario to Port Dalhousie, tbe entrance to tbe Wefland
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 tbe mouth of tbe Chippewa Creek into
tbe Niagara River — and I have often thought since that,
if the tow line bad parted rounding tbe point, tbe Tecum-

H o

OLD TIME BREEZE. 125
sell's cargo, crew and barrel of whiskey in ten minutes
after would have gone over Niagara Falls and would
never more have been beard of, unless, perhaps, in the
debris of tbe whirlpool below. I again visited this spot
in 1845 on my wedding tour, and spent a few days with
tbe late Thomas Street, (my companion in youth), then
with bis parents at their charming residence at tbe rap
ids jiist above tbe Fafls of Niagara. On one occasion we
left for Buffalo, and took tbe steamer "Emerald," Capt.
Vanallan, at Chippewa with a party of friends on tbeir
way to see McCready play "Richelieu" at Buffalo, and
passed through the present "cut" leading from tbe viflage
into tbe Niagara River, constructed to avoid the danger
ous trip around tbe point. We got to Buffalo all right,
hired John Fox and Joe Ridley, two sailors from Col
chester; left Buffalo and ran up tbe lake on the Canada
shore when it came on to blow from tbe southwest, and
'fearing, as sailors say, a dirty night, ran to shelter under
Point Abino, about twelve miles from Buffalo. It was
on this night I witnessed a most singular freak of nature.
I went on deck to relieve John Fox on watch at 12 mid-

126 OLD TIME BREEZE.
night. Tbe night was as dark as Erebus. Fox instructed
me in my first duties, tefling me to keep a strict eye
to the weather, and in making my rounds I was to place
my foot upon tbe 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 tbe mainmast discovered on tbe top
mast a ball of fire about tbe size of an ordinary bucket.
Alarmed at this, to me, unusual sight I hastened to tbe
companion-way and called for tbe crew to come up, which
tbey did, when old Joe Ridley exclaimed: "It's tbe Jack
o' Lantern," (ignus fatuus), wbicb vanished as soon as
tbey appeared, but bas never been effaced from my mem
ory. We left Point Abino tbe next morning and ran up tbe
lake opposite Cleveland with a light easterly wind and
drizzling rain. Suddenly, about 5 p. m., a clear sky
opened in tbe west, and in less than five minutes Lake
Erie was a sheet of foam. Before we bad time to take

OLD TIME BREEZE. 127
in sail the squall struck us, blowing tbe jib from its banks
and carried it overboard and under the vessel. Let
ting go tbe fore and main sail sheets with a run, we put
tbe vessel before tbe wind under bare poles and let ber
scud. As night wore on the wind increased to a hurri
cane and made things lively on board tbe Tecumseh. Tbe
box ^tove broke loose and flew from side to side in tbe
cabin; tbe bgbt in tbe binnacle was blown out; the man
at tbe wheel was lashed to tbe tiller and had to be reHeved
every half hour, benumbed with sleet, rain and cold. Tbe
bowling of tbe tempest and the hissing of tbe raging seas
as tbey unfurled tbeir maddened white caps I'll never for
get. We succeeded at last in tying tbe tiger., (stave) by
the leg to keep it from barking and biting, and were
crowded in the cabin, awaiting our fate, when at day
light tbe man at tbe helm cried out: "Land, bo!" At
the time we were within two miles of Dunkirk lighthouse.
Then John Fox flew up the companlonway to take in tbe
situation and proved equal to it. He cried out: "If we
can't get up tbe foresail we'll be in tbe breakers in less
than fifteen minutes." We followed him and found the

128 OLD TIME BREEZE.
halyards unreeved. He sprang to tbe rigging, reeved
tbem and, with great difficulty (as tbe sail was frozen)
we got up about twenty feet of it, brought tbe vessel to
tbe wind, and that moment about ten feet of tbe bul
wark of tbe weather bow was broached in by a heavy
sea, but we held our own and crawled oft' tbe lea shore.
The stdrm moderated rapidly and tbe sea went down.
We recovered our jib and entered Buffalo harbor about
5 p. m., and found six vessels blown bigb 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 tbe then prin
cipal hotel, called tbe Eagle Tavern, and kept by old
Ben Ratbbun, and whilst at tea the alarm of fire was
beard. Hastening to tbe scene tbe fire was discovered
near tbe canal bridge, on Main street, I tbink it is, and tbe
wind, again increasing to a gale, tbe fire was swept to sev
eral blocks in a few minutes. Tbe annals of Buffalo
(1832) wfll record it as one of tbe most destructive fires
that ever occurred. I have every reason to remember it
-with great distinctness, for I never spent a more wretch-

THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 129
edly uncomfortable and laborious night. Standing with
a group of others and watching the progress ot the flames,
a violent slap upon the shoulders by a policeman warned
me to fall into line and pass the fire buckets, and when
exhausted with this another chap placed me at the twenty
man-power engine to pump. In tbe meantime hogsheads
of molasses, barrels of oil, etc., were rolled in the
street and burst open, leaving us ankle deep in tbeir
contents. Thus did we work until broad daylight, wlien
we were relieved. We repaired damages next day, and
bad a favorable run to Amherstburg, wbicb we reached
the 5tb of January. Enough safling for me.

THE RUNAWAY SLAVE.

In tbe year 1830 I was residing with my brother
Charles in tbe old Baby mansion, in tbe primitive and
historical town of Sandwich. Tbe bouse was ' built at
tbe close of tbe last century and was tbe headquarters

I30 THE RUNAWAY SLAVE.
of Gen. Hull, when be invaded Canada in 1812; then in
tbe year following be re-entered it as a prisoner of war (after
tbe surrender of Detroit) with tbe illustrious Gen. Brock.
It was tbe headquarters of Gen. Proctor, and the brave
forest heroes, Tecumseh and Splitlog; and again after
tbe battie of tbe River Thames Gen. Harrison occupied
it as conqueror, and my father (the owner) as a prisoner
of war, when so taken at tbe aforesaid battle whfle in
command of tbe Kent militia, and was within pistol shot
of Tecumseh, the bravest of tbe brave, when be fell mor
tally wounded. (In reality tbe house appears to be as
sound and substantial to-day, October 8, 1895, as on the
day it was finished.) We were keeping bachelors' ball,
and, as a matter of course, experienced tbe difficulties at
tending housekeeping, as even now, for the want of proper
help. '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
bouse. The ordinary routine of indoor work was done
by the mother and daughters, and that of tbe outdoor
work by tbe father and sons, even among tbe most re-

THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 131
spectable and refined of tbe community ; and I question very
much whether there is half tbe comfort, pleasure and happi
ness with our present servants now as then without them.
These various occupations embraced all manner of work
but great store was placed on tbe successful raising of
fruit and gardening. In fact the mainstay of tbe house
hold, and what constituted the greatest delicacy in the
vegetable line, was tbe asparagus, and this delicious suc
culent when propagated as it should be with a deep, rich
mould for a top dressing, and cut when tbe 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 tbe sur
face was quite a different sort of vegetable to that -now
generally seen exposed in our markets, more like grass
going to seed than anything else.
The mild and genial spring showers in the month of
Alay that brought this vegetable to perfection was accom
panied with another (as great a delicacy) namely, tbe
snipe, which In early days were to be found along tbe
marshes bordering tbe Detroit River at and below Sand-

132 THE RUNAWAY SLAVE.
wich and tbe swales back of it, where a bounti
ful supply was always to be bad by tbe keen sportsman
in the proper season. To commence my story, it was on
a balmy morning in tbe 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 bis appearance, we
asked bim where be came from, to wbicb be replied that
be bad run away from bis master in 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 be had ever been a -slave; bis
finely-cbiseled features and bright hazel eyes were not
those of a negro in tbe slightest degree, and save tbe
slight shade of his bronzed complexion, be could at most be
classed a quadroon. "How did you make your escape?"
we inquired. "In the dead of the night I mounted my
master's fleetest horse, passed tbe line in Ohio, and trav
elled on tbe underground railroad (a cordon of abolition
ists; plainly speaking, scattered tbrotlgb tbe state, who sue-

THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 133
coured and aided these unfortunate serfs in tbeir flight),
got to Cleveland and tbe rest bas been told." "What
was your occupation?" be was then asked. "My 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 bim with barely clothes to cover
me, as you see. In my youth I was -brought up to do
all kinds of work, now in tbe kitchen, then in tbe garden,
and again in the stable as groom. My mistress, being a
French lady, prided herself on being a famous cook, and
taught me bow to prepare game and vegetables in tbe
proper way." "Cest le garcon q'ill nous taut, engage
le," I said to Charles in French. "Tbe boy we want, hire
bim." No sooner said than done. Turning to bim I said,
"Well, then, try your skill in gathering up the cutting-s
of tbe asparagus." He followed me to tbe kitchen, and
as we passed through the porch, I pointed out to bim.
six brace of snipe, and desired him to prepare tbem, and
mind not to remove the trail! It is needless to say
be implicitly obeyed instructions, and bad them served
on toast and done to a turn. Andrew, for sucb was bis 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 be to us. Some time elapsed, six months or so,
when one morning whfle we were engaged in my brother's
office writing up briefs, a knock was beard at tbe door,
and tbe knocker desired to come in. A tab, slender per
son, with 'broad brimmed white felt bat, a cord and tas
sel in place of a bat band, dressed in Kentucky grey and
tbe type of a Southern planter, addressed Charles, with
out taking off bis bat, and asked, "Are you the proprie
tor here?" "In our country," replied Charles, "we are
accustomed when past tbe threshold to uncover our beads;
when you do so I wfll answer you." A crimson flush
suffused his visage, and with a reluctant aiir be removed
his bat. "Be seated, sir," said Charles, and in so doing
be, the stranger, drew forth a cigar case and proffered
each of us one, remarking at tbe same time, "I hope it
will not be offensive to you to light a cigar." "Not at
all, sir," we said, at tbe 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
bim, but in Canada your laws are different, I am told."
"Decidedly so," was Charles' answer. Now continued tbe
planter, "If tbe matter of two thousand ($2,000) dollars
is an inducement, will 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 I look upon as an insult, and tbe sooner you
get out of this country tbe better for you." As be was
about to leave, I said, "Hold on for a minute; if Andrew
consents to go with you, all right; if not, be remains with
us." So, hastening to the stable, I found Andrew busy
grooming our horses (and a better pair never -«vere- .sad
dled). "Andrew," I said, "do you know Mr. T., of Ken
tucky?" "Yes, sir," be repHed. "He is in the office now
and wishes to see you." If a thunder clap bad unroofed
tbe stable be could not have shown more terror. Drop
ping bis currycomb and brushes, be exclaimed, "Great
Heavens! My old master! What wifl become of me. Master
WflHam?" "Fear not,'-' I said to bim, "you are as safe
here as in the fortress of Quebec, as far as tbe law is 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 office together. The
Kentuckian, with an eagle eye fixed upon him, said:
"Andrew, do you know me?" "Yes, sir, I know you too
well." "What became of my favorite horse. Sweep
stakes, that you stole from me?" "Sir, I never stole your
horse. I used him as my best friend to gain my liberty.
He was not saddle-galled, for I rode him bareback, and
when be carried me twenty-five miles I dismounted on
the road be was accustomed to travel, took the bit from
his mouth, secured the bridle around bis neck, turned his
head homeward, and I am as sure that he reached it as
I am that I fled from it." "You will not return with me,
then?" "Never! Tbe punishment I would receive at
your bands would be death." "That's enough, Andrew;
go now to your work," I said. Exit Andrew, exit planter,
and as tbe latter left tbe door, grinding bis teeth, be 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
and I'll get further into the interior of tbe country. I
thank you sincerely /or your kindness and friendship, but
I feel that you would be in danger as well as myself, if
I remained. You little know his desperate character. I
have seen bim brain a colt that would not foHow bim
without a baiter.' "You must do nothing of the kind,"
said Charles. "During the day there is no danger; at
night there may be. We'll fit up the room at the left
hand of the stair landing; keep the key in your pocket;
make your bed there; load tbe two single and double-
barreled guns you will find in the room with swan shot,
and if anyone dares to open the door or window, blow
out bis infernal brains.' These precautionary instructions
were carried out to the letter. "There was a sound of revelry
by night with pipe" and bowl, for a fortnight after in the old
ancestral , ball, 'till one or two in the mpmlng keeping vigils
¦with several friends in Andrew's defense, when it ceased,
and we were tired out.
It so happened that our every movement through spies
was watched, and it was discayered that usually on a
Sunday Andrew was left at home alone. Fortunately

138 THE RUNAWAY SLAVE.
for bim 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 tbe board fence and tbe side of tbe bouse.
It would appear that tbe man with tbe broad brimmed
white hat had hired five desperadoes in Detroit to kid
nap Andrew whfle we were at church.
Tbey crossed tbe river in a rowboat and landed it im
mediately in front of tbe old mansion, some one or two
hundred yards from tbe bouse. Andrew bad gone to
,tbe baker's for a fresh loaf of bread, and on bis return
met the six raffians awaiting bim in tbe yard. In a flash
he took in tbe situation, armed himself with two or three
stones lying loose in tbe yard, and made for the stable
door, which was standing wide open. It was the noise
of these stones striking on the fence that drew Charies'
attention to the yard, and observing tbe knot of scoun
drels endeavoring to tie Andrew band and foot, he seized
the handle of an axe close by, and, bareheaded and in
shirt sleeves, went at tbem with the will of a tiger.

THE RUNAWAY SLAVE. 139
Surprised at this unexpected attack Andrew found
himself relieved of two or three of them, (and tbe assur
ance of help gave bim redoubled strength), and so min
gled in tbe fray that it was doubtful who had tbe best of
it. At this moment a cavalcade of horse carts and cav
alry men hastening home from cburcb (in a cloud of dust,
and with tbe racket of a tempest), passed hard by, and
jumped from tbeir carts and dismounted tbeir horses to
see what the row was about.
Panic stricken at this invasion it did not take long for
tbe kidnappers to shake tbe dust from tbeir feet and,
running to tbeir boat, as if the devil was after tbem,
they shoved from tbe shore, and were soon across tbe
river. It was at this stage of tbe affair that I arrived
from cburcb and met Charles and Andrew at tbe gate,
a sorry looking pair, truly; covered with dirt and blood,
the clothes nearly torn from tbeir backs, faiint and ex
hausted, but neither seriously hurt. This was sufficient
proof that there was no safety for bim to be with us and
the next day Andrew was paid off, a subscription was
made up among our friends, and be was advised to go

I40 JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK.
to Toronto by stage. He was supplied with letters of
recommendation and when Charles met bim repeatedly
for several years after, be was ever grateful for our sorely
tried friendship, and remained contented and prosperous
in his place of refuge.

JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK (NOW TORONTO)
IN 1833.

Tbe sad and unexpected news of our father's death in
tbe town of York (the present city— of • -Toroilfe) on the
igtb of February, 1833, caused tbe hurried departure of
myself and brother Charles from Sandwich. On tbe even
ing of tbe 23d we reached Chatham with good sleighing,
where we put up at an inn kept by one Claude Cartier,
immediately on tbe bank of tbe River Thames and oppo
site the present Rankin House. Chatham was then but
an insignificant hamlet. Sauntering about whfle supper
was getting ready, we entered tbe sitting room, where we

JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. 141
observed tbe rather unusual sight of a person seated in
an arm chair with bis feet in a tub of water and envel
oped in a blanket from bead to foot. Asking the land
lady who this person was sbe replied that he was a stran
ger and was badly frostbitten. A natural feeHng of sym
pathy prompted us to approach bim, and we asked bim
whence be came and bow he came to be in this pitiable
plight. "My name," be replied, "is Vidal, a captain in tbe 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 visiting, and per
haps settling in this part of Canada. I arrived here by
stage yesterday morning, and engaged tbe landlord Car-
tier as a. guide, who told me that be was (as be appeared
to be) familiar with tbe country for forty miles around.
My intention was to examine some lots of land in tbe
seventh concession of tbe township of Raleigh, and after
taking a hasty breakfast started off on foot, making a
bee Hne through tbe unbroken forest with not even a
clearing in sight. We found tbe lots, but not until day-

142 JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK.
Hght was waning, and a heavy snowstorm bad set in. Afl
traces being thus hopelessly obliterated we sbon lost our
proper course homeward, and found that we were
travehng in a circle (invariably the case with a lost wood
man). In this emergency Cartier proposed that I should
remain behind and be would attempt alone to find his
way to tbe river whence be could return with some con
veyance to take me back to Chatham. As I was pretty
well used up I consented, but be informed me that I
should be buried in snow to keep from freezing. To
this I agreed, and tbe storm having abated, Cartier,
guided by tbe north star, found bis way out to tbe river,
whence be returned to within a short distance of the place
where be bad left me, and found me walking about
briskly, having become very nervous and restless in my
snow tomb, and fearful of tbe wolves, wbicb I preferred
meeting on foot. Hastening to tbe sleigh wbicb be had
provided we arrived here, when I found that I was se
verely frostbitten, and instead of rubbing me with snow
they put me into this tub of warm water, wbicb I tbink
makes matters worse." We then asked bim if we could

JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. 143
be of any service. "Certainly you can," be replied. "As
I can't write and will not be able for some time to come,"
be replied, "will you please drop a line to my poor wife
and tell ber as gently as possible bow I am situated." We
told bim that we were making all baste to get there, and
would call on Mrs. Vidal and inform ber as he desired.
This seemed to cheer bim up and give bim great relief.
What was to us surprising was the courage and fortitude
of this afflicted British sailor. Thrown upon tbe mercy
of strangers, suffering excruciating agony his pluck and
endurance never for a moment forsook bim. He related
to us tbe following incident. "When I was in Paris,
France, last and strolling along the Boulevard St. Ger
main, I entered a eafe and ordered a dejeuner a la four-
cbette, and seating myself outside, two elderly gentle
men approached, and seated themselves at a table next
to me; one said to tbe other: "You are a martyr to
rheumatism, you tell me; is it painful?" "Well, I should
say so,'' be replied. "I can only compare it to one put
ting his finger in a vise, and give it one turn, that's it."
"Ob," replied tbe other, "that's nothing like gout, with

14A JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK.
wbicb I am tormented; give tbe vise another turn, and
that's tbe idea." "Well," said the captain, "bad I those
two old codgers here I would tell tbem to give that vise
another turn, and that is frost bite."
On our return from Little York eight or ten days after,
when passing through tbe Dorchester woods, we met a
double (boxed) sleigh, in wbicb we observed as it was
passing a man lying at full length on bis back, covered
with buffalo robes and blankets, bis bead only visible. It
turned out that this was Capt. Vidal. He told us be was
getting on all right, and be hoped to be soon out again.
He was much pleased to bear that we bad seen Mrs.
Vidal, who was quite well, and that we bad delivered
bis message. Two years after this I happened to be at
tbe Windsor and Detroit crossing, and observed a smafl
craft anchored in the stream opposite what was then'
Pierre St. Amour's inn, now tbe British American hotel,
and I asked Pierre to whom tbe craft belonged. "To
Capt. Vidal, of Sarnia," he said, and tbe captain shortly
after making bis appearance, I asked bim if be remem
bered me. "I don't know you from Adam,'' be replied.

JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. 145
"Well, Captain," I rejoined, "I shall never forget you,
and your venture in the Raleigh woods, and tbe figure
you cut in Cartier's wasbtub!'' "Ab," said he, "I now
remember you distinctly, and tbe 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 that time, as I found it much more
comfortable than tbe wretched bedrooms at tbe taverns
where there was no fire. Tbe driver took good care of
me during the day, and bis 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 examining me, pronounced my
case a serious one. I said to bim, 'Doctor, I am an old
sailor, and would like to have as much of my bands
saved as would haul in a rope or bold a tiller.' He did
so, and brought me through, as you see," (exposing bis
right band, with part of bis thumb and tour fingers gone).
He did not show me bis left band or his feet; probably
they fared a littie better. He bad purchased a farm and
was settled at Sarnia, adjoining tbe 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 tbe sign "Tbe Trav
ellers' Home," and drove directiy to tbe stable, where we
found the landlord, who apparently was in a very bad
humor. "What's up?" we asked bim. "Ob,'^ be replied,
"I never was in 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 bad left alone in the bouse, came rush
ing in, exclaiming, 'John, run quickly to tbe bouse, for
the devil is there, sure!' Arming myself with my pitch
fork, I hastened to tbe house and entering the barroom
found tbe devil there, sure enough, facing me, with his
back to the fire, clothed in a sufl of sheepskins, with the
wool on from head to heels, with a ram's head so dressed
that tbe shape was perfectly preserved, tbe 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 tbe matter with you?' he replied, 'and
what's all this fuss about? Can't a man in this free coun-

"WHO, AND WHAT THE DEVIL, ARE TOU?"

JOURNEY TO LITTLE YORK. 147
try dress as be pleases in this blasted climate of ypurs?
I see folks driving about wrapped in bear, buffalo ^nd
wolf robes, why not I in sheep skins?' and throwing pff
bis suit and taking a seat before the open fireplace as
cool as a cucumber, ordered bis horse to be put up, (he
had tied bim to tbe signpost), to wash him with cold
water, rub him dry and bed bim up to his belly in straw,
to prepare supper for bim immediately, and ordered a hot
whiskey punch, to make bim warm, all done according
to his directions. At night he ordered a tub of cold
water up to bis room to take a bath before retiring to
bed. No fire and thermometer at zero. Next morning
after his breakfast be called for his bill, in which I had
charged bim for extras for bis horse and himself. 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 tbe first magistrate that I can find,' and strapping
on his sheep skins strode out to where bis horse was
tied to tbe signpost. My wife making ber appearance at
this moment, said to me, 'John, receipt that man's bjli
and let him go, for be may give us a deal of troujble.'

148 VISIT TO COL. TALBOT.
So stepping up to bim 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 that
wfll find me guilty for shooting a wolf in sheep skins.'"
This eccentric individual was a brother nf tbe late Col.
Talbot, and he was then on bis way to visit bis brother,
whose home was on tbe banks ot Lake Erie, and not far
from St. Thomas. I never beard if be ever paid bis bill;
but of course be did, for this class of individuals, though
rough and cranky, are seldom dishonest.

VISIT TO COL. TALBOT IN 1841.

My,;first glimpse of this remarkable man was in tb<;
winter, of 1820, when I was 8 years old. He was then
a guest of Sir Perigrine 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 be at
tract attention to bis extraordinary winter dress. Seated
by tbe side of Lady Sarah Maitland in a sleigh, and
driving along King street in bis sheepskin coat and cap,
with its sheepskin tail of eight or ten feet long wound
round bis neck to serve as a muffler, with tbe end trailing
by tbe side of tbe sleigh. But when this garb was thrown
off and he made bis appearance in parlor or drawing-
room, how changed bis appearance! — the very type of an
aristocrat, a handsome and thoroughbred nobleman.
What a jolly time must these old soldiers have bad toast
ing tbeir shins before a blazing fire of billets of maple,
beech, or shag-bark hickory wood, with pipe alight and
flagon of good old Absalom Shades (of Dumfries, now
Gait's) whiskey at 20 cents per gallon, and fighting tbeir bat-
ties in tbe peninsula over again — Salamanca, Tores VidraSj
Badajos, etc., etc., winding up with Quatre Bras and
Waterloo, and tbe thrill when they heard Napoleon cry
out, "Sauve qui peu," — "run who can," and interlarded
with such questions and answers as this: "Well, Talbot,
what think you will Canada be one hundred years from

I50 VISIT TO COL. TALBOT.
now?" Talbot repHes, "It's pretty bard 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 tbe 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 be should himself be entitled to 200
acres. Tbe grant to each settler was afterwards increased
to 100 acres. I was always under tbe impression that
be served in tbe Peninsular war, but was mistaken. He
was settled in Canada at that period.
Having lost sight of bim from that year (1820) until
the year 1841, an opportunity offered 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 intervals to full sized forest trees,
presenting a most neglected and unsightly appearance.
Hitching our horses to tbe gate, we proceeded to tbe
bouse, a couple of hundred yards from tbe road, which

VISIT TO COL. TALBOT. 151
was situated on tbe bank, and fronting Lake Erie, and
mounting a flight of steps leading to tbe 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 tbe other end
of tbe gallery, and passing an open window, were saluted
in a very gruff voice with bis 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 bigb regard
for a friend of tbe late James Baby, of Toronto, our
father, bas induced 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 be desired,
and opening it, a swarm of geese, turkeys, ducks and
fowls made for it. Stfll holding tbe knob of tbe door,
he desired us to quickly enter, and slamming it with a
bang, closed them out. This place served as a kind of
store-room, where he kept all manner ot farm products,
and from wbicb he fed bis poultry. From this apart
ment he led us into bis office or sittingroom, and having

152 VISIT TO COL. TALBOT.
been seated, be 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 who squirt tbeir vile tobacco juice in every
direction that I find it impossible to endure it, and I have
adopted this plan of transacting all my business, through
this open window. You wfll, I hope," be continued, (it
being nearly i p. m.), "do me tbe pleasure of staying to
dine with me. Not much choice in tbe country, you
know. Excepting bam and eggs and poultry, there is
littie else." "Nothing better," we repHed. "But, Col
onel, you must excuse us; we are in a hurry to get on
to St. Thomas." "Well, a glass of old p«>rt or brandy wfll
do us no barm," and descending into his cellar, soon re
appeared with a bottle in each band, and after regaling
ourselves and about to depart, led us into his store-room
to show us tbe products of bis sheep-farming, and cer-
tainly if one could be a judge of sucb articles as bolts of
cloth and flannels, and blankets of softest texture, tbe dis
play would have given credit to tbe best woolen factory
in tbe country. From this room be led us into another

VISIT TO COL. talbot; 153
elegantly furnished apartment, hung with crimson velvet
paper, Turkey carpet and furniture to match. "This," be
remarked, "is my sanctum sanctorum. When my lady
friends visit me this is their room'' — and nothing could ex
ceed as a rural scene tbe view from its open window —
perched upon a hill of some 100 feet in height, and over
looking a meadow of twenty or thirty acres, with its
flock of snow white sheep quietly grazing, and girt with
a belt of forest trees stfll untouched by tbe 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 sofne love affair in tbe old coun
try, and be made up bis mind to lead tbe 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 be
burdened himself with all tbe cares of bis household, do
ing the most menial work about it, even to tbe 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 sucb men as Talbot, John

154 VISIT TO COL. TALBOT.
Prince, of Sandwich; Deblackyears, Vansittarts, Grahaims,
Lizars and Alexanders, of Woodstock; the Dunlaps, of
Goderich; Crooks and Hydes, of Plympton; Jones, Fatfl-
orms, Vidals, Wrights and Sutberlands, along the shores
of Huron and river St. Clair, and a thousand others lost
to memory. Nursed and cradled in tbe lap of luxury, ac
customed to all the refinements of civflized life, with am
ple means, then abandoning their comfortable homes in
tbe old country (many of tbem with grown up sons and
daughters fit to grace a throne), and scattered like wild
pigeons throughout tbe length and breadth of Canada's
then wilderness, to encounter a life of toil, privation, dis
appointment and sorrow. The result could be easily fore
told. In less than three-quarters of a century tbey have
been swept away, and scarcely a vestige left behind. After
clearing up their farms and beautifying tbeir country
homes, tbeir means were exhausted, and at that time
no market to dispose of what tbey bad to sell, wflicb
tbey were as unfit to do as to black boots or sweep chim
neys. Consequently the sturdy, iron-fisjed, , economical
and laborious field band often became the owner of the

VISIT TO COL. TALBOT. 155
farm he helped to log and clear up. The difference be
tween gentihty and wefl directed labor.
These distressing events could not possibly have trans
pired without leaving in the province an indelible stamp
behind tbem, and what was that? Unswerving loyalty
to the British flag (many of them had been in tbe army
and. served during tbe rebeflion of '-tfj and '38 in Can
ada), the soul of honor in afl tbeir dealings, educated
and refined in their manners, and many of them became
from necessity useful servants in tbe civfl or municipal
service. How different a row to hoe bad tbe U. E. Loyalists
and their descendants, as also tbeir fellow settlers of
French, English, Scotch and Irish descent. Tbey were
"to the manor born." Inured and trained in dire neces
sity, tbeir wants were few, and depended upon them
selves to supply tbem. Their neighbors helped to build
their log bouses and barns. A genial climate and a
fruitful soil, which tbey loved, supplied tbem with their
necessary , wants, and as time rofled on the country im
proved and supplied -tbem with luxuries tbey never

156 VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE.
dreamed of. But tbe greatest boon attained was edu
cation, and following it moral and religious 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 climate 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 sbe then bid defiance to the restless
croakers who are anxious and wflling to sefl their birth
right for a mess of pottage.

AN UNEXPECTED VISIT FROM AN OLD
SCHOOLMATE.

In perusing tbe 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
tie York, and most certainly one -that I have never for-

VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE. 157
gotten. He was merging from youth into early man
hood, perhaps twenty or twenty-two years of age, 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, bis complexion as fair as that
of a blonde of eighteen; was noted for his love of manly
sports, 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 tbe old Upper Can
ada bank, I beHeve tbe first one in 'Ontario, and lived
in a charmmg cDft-age ' near t'be Don. His-.great deHght
was to man his northwest bark canoe with a picked crew
and race with the steamer "Canada" for mfles in reach
ing ber wharf.
Unfortunately, bis only domestic female companion
was one of questionable reputation. As time wore on
a deficiency in tbe bank occurred, a meeting of the bank

158 VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE.
directors was called and tbe guilt was fastened upon him.
A messenger was dispatched to bis home, but the bird
bad flown, and the messenger informed that be had lefl
early in tbe morning in bis bark canoe. It was at once
conjectured that be bad crossed the lake (Ontario) at the
nearest point to tbe United States and Capt. Richard
son, of tbe steamer Canada, was dispatched by the bank
directors in pursuit of the fugitive, and overhauled bim.
near Fort Niagara, and upon ordering bim to surren
der, be stood up in bis canoe and deliberately swaflowed
tbe contents of a vial of laudanum. Capt. Richardson
immediately returned with bis prisoner to Little York,
and stopping at tbe garrison, took on board the surgeon
of tbe regiment, stationed there, and with tbe aid of a
stomach pump, ejected the poison. While tbe patient
was in convulsions, and from wbicb be recovered, was
tried and found guflty, and banished from tbe country.
No event that had ever occurred in tbe town bad
proved sucb an astonishing and painful sensation.
A short time after his banishment be committed a for
gery on tbe bank''s cashier by signing bis (tbe 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
Hc library now stands. Tbe woman followed bim and
was his 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 bis old school
mates in Little York, called to see bim, and felt deeply
In his misfortune and disgrace, and contributed to bis
wants and comforts pending his trial.
I had paid a visit to Little York a short time before
this and bad but just returned to Sandwich, when Charles,
in a confidential way, broached tbe subject I am about
to relate. "Who do you suppose paid me a visit last
night? Our old schoolmate, F. R. L bad retired to
bed," be continued, "and windows wide open from ex
cessive beat, and about four a. m. (my lamp still burn
ing), I beard my name cafled softly several times, and
putting my bead out of tbe window heard bim say in a
suppressed tone of voice, 'Is that you, Charley?' and I
repHed, 'Yes, who are you?' And he said, 'Let me in,
I

i6o VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE.
quick. I am a friend.' So I slipped on my pants and
sHppers and descended tbe stairs, let bim in and con
ducted bim to my room upstairs. When brought to the
light bis appearance appalled and frightened me. A red
sflk handkerchief tied around bis bead, with ends hang
ing down his back, bis short blanket coat on, and around
bis waist the useful sash, under wbicb was stuck a but
cher knife and in bis stocking feet (be lost bis blanket
shoes in tbe marsh), and bis story added to my conster
nation. I will repeat it in bis own words.
For a fortnight past I led tbe turnkey to beHeve I was
partiafly Insane, and kicked up a d — 1 of a row in my cefl,
played on my flute (he was an excellent player) and ham
mered on tbe window sfll, and my female friend
supplied me stealthily with what I required. First, we were
allowed to walk in tbe 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 tbe purpose and about two a. m. rofled up

VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE. i6i
my blanket coat, tied it to one end of my sash, and started
for tbe end of tbe corridor where slept tbe turnkey near tbe
door. I bad made up my mind to sell my life dearly if in
terrupted, and held tbe knife aloft, this is it (showing me a
butcher knife), and bad be attempted my arrest be would
have felt its keen blade; approaching the door I felt for tbe
lock, which fortunately was unlocked, and loosening tbe
clasp it fefl, and awoke the turnkey, who, sitting on bis
haunches in bed, demanded "Who is there?" I could bear
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 bim, 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
m the upper story of the old jail, which was surrounded
by a row of pointed cedar pickets about 15 feet
high. Unloosening my sasb, with one end of it
tied to the blanket I threw tbe latter from
an open window over the picket fence some six or
eight feet from me, and holding on to the end of tbe sasb

i62 VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE.
jumped clinging to it. I then hauled myself band over
band to the top of tbe fence, and dropping down outside,
made for tbe river, and when opposite here, now Clark's
dock, stole a skiff and landed nearly opposite, and not
knowing tbe road to the river struck tbe marsh and waded
through it, up to my hips, as you see. Now, said
Charles, here was a dilemma that perplexed me and
wbicb would have puzzled a Pbfladelpbia lawyer, as
to what was to be done. I co.uld not keep bim with
safety to myself, or bim either, so I got bim to clean him
self up of bis marsh mud, dressed bim in a suit of my own
clothes, and called with bim on a confidential friend, and
bad bim stowed away in tbe garret of bis fowl bouse, where
be can neither stand up or walk, but is crouched like a tiger
in bis lair. It was in this bole, which I climbed up to the
next day on a short ladder, that I bad my first glimpse of
bim since I had last seen tbe dasbing, gay and festive
Lothario in Little York! His wild and glaring eyes, and
distended nostrils, and trembHng voice, attested tbe soul-
harrowing fear be labored under, so we soon left bim with
the promise to see him soon again. As we well knew, tbe

VISIT FROM A SCHOOLMATE. 163
authorities in Detroit were wide awake and came over in
squads in search of tbe culprit, but he was so well con
cealed that be remained undiscovered, and shortly after
midnight with our aid be left Sandwich, through the back
woods, bound for Moravian town, an Indian village near tbe
famous battle ground on the River Thames, and after a few
days rest there started for another Indian viflage (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 tbe United States,
was arrested, tried, incarcerated in Auburn's State prison
for life, and where by his prepossessing appearance, his
courtly and gentlemanly manners, be so ingratiated himself
in the good will of its managers, that he became usefully
employed there, until by some unlucky chance, be fell down
stairs and broke his neck.
Note. — In my brother's frequent visits to the jail be so
well informed himself as to the locality of the house that
otherwise be never would have reached it.

i64 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
VISIT TO THE VILLAGE OF WICKWIMIKONG,
MANITOULIN ISLAND.

On a sultry evening in the month of August, 1864, I
was seated on my veranda in Sandwich, watcliing the
vapors from my favorite T. D. pipe as they gently as
cended and assumed various forms (suggestive of build
ing castles in the air) when my meditations were sud
denly interrupted by tbe appearance of my old friend,
J. R. B., of Milwaukee, who cordially joined in this
agreeable pastime, and the foflowing subject was
broached: "I have just returned," be commenced, "from a trip in
tbe 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 borne
passed through the great Manitoulin Island, and on our
passage through whfle skirting tbe shores of South Bay,
on the southern portion of tbe 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
in 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 tlie geologist, that be
remarked to my friend "that were be li-ving in Canada, be
would not leave a stone unturned until be could secure a
right to work the quarry.":
"Now," continued B., "I am living in Milwaukee, and
engaged in business there, so I can't attend to it, but if you
will undertake to secure tbe location from tbe government
and the Indians, I will pay all your expenses, and further
more, -will 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 repHed, "but I tbink
the difficulties will be bard to overcome. First you have to
deal with tbe government, then with tbe Indians, and last,
though not least, the missionary fathers (S. J.), who regard

i66 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
with a jealous eye tbe welfare of the Indians, and prevent
as much as possible tbe contamination of the white man in
tbeir settlements."
"Very true," my friend replied, "but your knowledge of
the country, and tbe 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 tbe course of six or eight days, my friend compHed
with bis 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 tbe Northern Railroad got my
supplies, and took passage on the steamer bound for tbe
Sault Ste. Marie, and landed at Killarney, at tbe bead of
the Georgian Bay, near the foot of tbe Lacloche Mountains,

MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 167
some twenty miles distant from tbe Manitoulin Island.
Hunted up Charles Lamarandier, Indian trader and mail
carrier, and worked my passage in bis birch canoe, and
reached Wickwimikong vfllage, on tbe Great Manitoulin
Island. As tbe 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 tbe trader to ask for
lodgings at tbe mission bouse. Leaving bim to sleep or
pass tbe night in bis canoe, I ascended ,a rocky faced bill
some one or two hundred feet in height, and found tbe
church and mission bouse adjoining it, built near its edge
and commanding a charming view of tbe bay and country
for miles around. A loud knock at tbe door soon after was
i
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 tbe same
brother with a gentle knock at the door and tbe usual salu
tation of tbe bouse: "Benedicamus Domino" (praise tbe
Lord). "Who is there?" I replied, instead of "Deo Gratias"
(tbe proper answer) "thanks be to God," and he passed on,
satisfied that I was alive, for when tbe answer is not

i68 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
promptly made, an entrance to tbe chamber bas occasionally
disclosed tbe fact of sudden death or helpless fllness.
At that time five of tbe fathers, viz: Kobler (tbe supe
rior), Cbone, Blatner, Ferrar and Hanepeau, were at the
mission bouse, assisted by four lay brothers. Tbe latter
attended to the labours ot tbe farm and indoor work (no
women being employed by tbe Jesuits as bouse servants),
but in harvest and pressing times tbe fathers gave a helping
band. Tbe same brother who let me in, invited me to take
breakfast, and directed me to tbe dining-room, tefling me
that I would find a coffee pot, containing three gaflons,
kept hot on tbe kitchen stove, and the table supplied with
bread and butter, and bowls with maple sugar; all that con
stituted tbeir breakfast.
After this repast, which tbe fathers took standing, and in
silence (as no conversation is observed at meals, but pas
sages from tbe lives of the saints or other religious books
are read by one of tbe lay brothers). Father Hanepeau
enquired of me "what was my errand?" I then frankly
told bim all about it, and asked bim if I bad their consent,
as well as the Indians, to prosecute tbe seai*cb.' He gave

MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 169
me every encouragement, and said be would assist me in
procuring a faithful guide, a birch canoe of bis own, a bag
of flour twenty-five pounds, a piece of pork fifteen pounds,
one pound of tea, a tin kettle, cups, knives, baking powder
and salt, maple sugar, a trolling line and spoon book, for
which I paid bim. Collecting these together Avitb my drill,
shovel and hammer, and tying them in a bundle with my
plaid shawl, wbicb was to serve me as a blanket, it was
quite equal to one man's pack (about forty pounds), which
I would have to carr)' 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 bim,
and found bim ripe for tbe occasion. Bidding tbe father
adieu, and thanking bim for his trouble and kindness, we
struck a path for Manitowoning Bay via Bayfield Inlet.
Pierre, with tbe canoe upside down over bis head
and shoulders, and I with tbe pack on my back,
crossed tbe portage, about five miles, in two hours,
and struck tbe inlet, launched our canoe, took
off our boots, and paddled for tbe bead 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 givfe it to tbem,
and I was curious to see bim prepare for it; with an axe
wbicb be carried he soon collected along shore plenty of
dry wood, and soon bad a brisk fire, then going to the
shore, took from the water a clean flat stone tbe size of a
soup plate, and stuck it up on edge before tbe fire to beat,
and seizing tbe bag of flour, turned down the mouth of it
even with the flour, scooped a bole 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 bis two fists, flattened
it out on tbe stone, and again set it before tbe fire, bung
tbe tin kettle up over tbe fire, filled with water, cut three or
four slices of pork and chucked tbem into tbe boiling water
for about five minutes, then held my shovel over the fire
and fried tbe pork, threw in half a cup of tea and one cup
of maple sugar into tbe kettle, and served the dinner on
pieces of birch bark. Whether it was tbe exercise, or tbe

MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 171
bracing air, or both combined, wbicb hungered me, I know
not, but I never partook of food with greater relish. All
that was to be cleaned after this repast was tbe shovel,
wbicb Pierre did, by jabbing it into tbe sand. Great Scott,
I thought, if my lady friends would take a leaf from Pierre,
what a deal of bother there would be saved, to be sure.
Again we took to our canoe, and with our trolling line
caught six black bass. Arrived at tbe bead 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 tbe 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 bad breakfast, with tlie addition of black bass.
Launched our canoe and coasted along the barren and
bleak shore, with my map as a guide, and on tbe bright
lookout for tbe object in view, which made its appearance
some six or seven miles off, 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 broken off from
tbe layers. Secured tbem, and prepared to return home,
but my first object was to get rid of tbe fleas, wbicb stifl
tormented me; so, jumping into tbe canoe, I landed on a
solitary rock, stripped myself of every vestige of clothing,
spread it in the bright sun, and took a good batb, resulting
to my entire satisfaction. After carefully examining and
taking soundings at tbe entrance of tbe bay, and satisfied
of its safe navigation to Lake Huron, I returned to camp
and found Pierre in good bumor, with a supply ot green
corn, potatoes and a male white fisb just caught, which be
obtained from an old Indian. I asked bim bow be intended
cooking lit, and if he was going to fry it on my shovel. "Oh,
no, spoil," be said; "I show you." So, cutting a stout
switch the size of bis forefinger, twice tbe length of tbe fish,
sharpened it at both ends and ran the small end of it
through its mouth, nearly to tbe tail, then stuck it firmly
into tbe sand, before a bright fire, when one side was
cooked, turned tbe other, and when tbe drip from tbe mouth
fell clear tbe fisb was done, and served on a piece of clean
birch bark. Epicures rave about snipe and woodcock

MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 173
served on toast, but give me a wbitefisb 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 favorable breeze
springing up, Pierre suggested that we should sail instead
of paddling and working so bard. "Where are your sails ?"^
I said. "Monsieur, votre chale est tout ce qu'ille taut"
(your shawl is all we want), and giving bim 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 tbe rate of about six miles an hour. As neces
sity is tbe mother of invention, I was fully impressed with
the belief that of all garments invented by man (or woman)
the shawl is tbe most useful. Towards night, approaching
our camping ground at the head of the bay, the wind bad
increased to a living gale, when Pierre directed my atten
tion to a bright light on land some distance off, with the
simple remark, "Big fire," wbicb it proved to be, for in an
incredibly short time it was abreast of us, moving with tbe
whirlwind, and tbe roar and flashing of a thunder storm.
Old 'patriarchs of tbe forest, with extended arms aflame and
yielding to the tempest's blast, would rock to and fro for a

174 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
moment and suddenly fall and disappear in the devouring
element with tbe noise of thunder; anon the screeching night
owl, or tbe startled and bewildered wood grouse (partridge),
would be seen darting through tbe 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 tbe wind
ward side, and with a good supply of new bay, slept
soundly. On my return to Wickwimikong, I found tbe late
Bishop Farrel of Hamilton there, who was on a tour of bis
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 bouse, be was escorted to Killarney by tbe chiefs
and Indians in their canoes, with all tbe pomp and cere
mony due to royalty itself. On tbe day following, when
ready to start for home. Father Blatner, a Swiss, I tbink,
and a most learned and accomplished linguist (since
appointed to a professor's chair at Fordbam, N. Y.),

MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 175
approached and enquired bow I bad succeeded in my
search tor stone?
After giving bim full particulars, be remarked, "I tbink
there is something far more attractive and lucrative on tbe
island, and that is oil." At this startiing revelation I
pricked up my ears and eagerly desired further information.
He then told me that he would, in company with tbe prin
cipal chiefs of the island, accompany me across tbe bay and
I could judge for myself. At tbe appointed hour we started
and arrived at the desired spot, and as we approached it,
discovered for several yards around it a perfect calm, and
a peculiar colour reflected by tbe rays of tbe 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 ofl.
Returning to the mission house, the approval of the prin
cipal Indians and tbe 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-

176 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
ration and testing of tbe 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 tbe confidence
tbey reposed in me, a perfect stranger; and bow often and
with what deep interest have I reflected since, upon the
incidents of my first visit to tbeir establishment. How men
of sucb cultured minds, varied talents, nursed and schooled
in tbe lap of luxury as many of these missionaries are, and
suddenly plunged Into this rude, uncultivated, un civflized
and inhospitable region, with no associates save tbe untu
tored children of tbe forest, is difficult to understand. It
is not surely for filthy lucre, for that the poor savage does
not possess. Then what is it? It must be tbe anchor of
faith, hope and charity alone! During my short stay.
Father Hanepeau, the one who procured' me a guide,
invited me into bis room, where be had a printing press,
and where be taught bis young Indian pupils bow to print
in the Indian language their bym^n 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 tor a piflow.
He was then seventy years old, and for six months in the
year spent tbem in visiting the different encampments for
hundreds of miles around, often obliged to draw bis tobog
gan and bis traps in winter over two and four feet of snow,
on bis snow shoes. "How do you celebrate mass in these
camps?" I enquired. "This is all I carry on my toboggan
or in my canoe," be 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," be answered, "dried fisb and Indian corn boiled
together is breakfast, dinner, and supper." "Pretty tough?"'
I queried. "Yes, for those who live to eat. I eat to
live." I asked no more questions. I dreamed that night
I met this old and weatberbeaten 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 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
and tbe vauUs ot heaven, bis only chapel, I beard the
tinkling bell of tbe lonely savage (bis only guide and
companion), as with . head bowed down, on bended
knees be announced tbe elevation of tbe host. And
I beheld the silver-haired and bare-beaded pilot in
purple chasuble, with arms uplifted and pointing heaven
ward, and in bis fingers were held tbe offspring of Mary,
the Lamb of God, who taketb away tbe sins of the world,
as be implored our Heavenly Father, that through the love,
suffering and thorn-crowned agony of this, bis dearly
beloved Son, in whom be was so well pleased, bis wrath
against fallen man would be appeased, and tbe ten thousand
angels that were present at the nativity, with the star illum
inating the manger in Bethlehem one thousand eight hun
dred and ninety-two years ago, and tbe same shepherds
then tending tbeir flocks, and the three wise men from tbe
East enthroned on tbeir snow white camels, burdened with
tbeir offerings of gold, myrrh, and enveloped in clouds of
incense, exclaimed in one voice, "Hosannah, Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men."
And tbe chorus of these angels, shepherds and wise men.

MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 179
added to the savages and pilots, reverberated throughout
these mountains of Lacloche, and the awful detonation
awoke me in fear and trembling.
Tbe solicitude for the more destitute of tbe inhabitants
of tbe village is worthy of note. In tbe basement of this
mission bouse a large room is set apart for tbeir special
use, rough benches are placed around it, and in tbe center
a table, and as you enter tbe outside door, a bell pull is con
spicuous, and upon ringing this bell a slide window opens
to the kitchen, through wbicb is passed by a lay brother a
pan of milk, a loaf of bread, tin cups and spoons. It was
seldom tbe 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 tbe biflside by the squaws and children, or
maybe tbe first wbitefisb or trout snared in the gill-net of
the crippled Indian? In witnessing this scene, how sen
sibly is one reminded of that beautiful passage, "Simeon
Peter, lovest thou me? Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I
love thee! Feed my sheep. Feed my lambs!" This pre-

i8o MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
caution is taken to save time and unnecessary intrusion in
other parts of tbe bouse, as tbeir poverty engenders filth
and vermin, and is to be avoided by keeping tbem at ann's
length. Nor are tbe more thrifty children of both sexes
neglected. A school is established close to tbe mission
bouse, where the boys are taught by tbe lay brothers of
tbe order in the most necessary branches of education, such
as English, French, and geography, simple rules in
arithmetic, writing, etc. At a future time I bad frequent
occasion to visit this school, and was much interested in
studying tbe character of these wild children of tbe lakes
and forests. In reply to my question, are tbey apt schol
ars? tbeir old teacher replies: "Yes, very." They are
extremely sensitive, however, and require mild and per
suasive treatment. Instead of tbe rod when they deserve
it, we imprison tbem in tbe school room as tbeir greatest
punishment. Such is tbeir innate nature, that like tbe
young duckling which runs to water ere it is full fledged,
or tbe quail or partridge to cover; so does tbe Indian love to
come and go with perfect freedom. For the girls, there i^
also established an admirable school by a sisterhood of

MANITOULIN ISLANDS. i8i
charity from Cleveland, O., who conduct a small farm con
nected with tbeir establishment, and attend to all the manual
labors of it. Nay, build their own bouses, and are most suc
cessful in all branches of refined husbandry. Tbeir exam
ple in this Hne, apart from education, is of incalculable
worth to the natives. In studying tbe 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 tbe assistance of a
bead mason and carpenter, tbey have built a stone church
and mission bouse, with altar, pews, and windows, display
ing as much taste and craft as tbeir more fortunate white
brethren. Where tbey display tbeir greatest ingenuity and
skill, however, is in tbe construction of tbeir birch bark
canoes and Mackinaw boats, unrivaled in tbeir safe, buoy
ant, and sailing qualities. I took the steamer at Killarney
in due time, and arrived at Sandwich, and made no delay
in showing my specimens of stone and oil in Detroit. Tbe
former was pronounced of too flinty a nature to be easily
worked, but Professor Duffield certified to tbe superior
quaflty of tbe oil, after being thoroughly tested, pronounc-

i82 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
ing it equal to tbe best Pennsylvania oil; I hastened to Mil
waukee to meet B. and report, who when I met bim, eagerly
inquired, "How about the stone-quarry?" "A failure, I'm
afraid," I replied, "but I have struck oil,'' and producing the
bottle gave bim its history. Surprised at tbe sudden turn
of affairs, be 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 bard
labor sinking six wells from twenty to three hundred and
sixty feet deep, purchasing machinery and employing the
Indians in tbe construction of bouses, building a dock,
chopping cordwood, etc., we only succeeded in producing
one hundred barrels of refined oil, pronounced by Parsons,
the refiner in Toronto, as tbe best in Canada, but wbicb
exhausted our means, and forced us to abandon tbe enter
prise. In throwing these crude and hastily written remin
iscences together, to those who feel interested in tbe sub
ject it may prove interesting to learn the actual state of
things as noted below in the present, day. I found tbe
Indians in 1864 scattered over their reservation, but princi-

MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 183
pally in and about their village (Wick-wimikong), and occu
pying miserable log huts and destitute of every comfort in
tbeir surroundings. Indeed, after planting their small
patches of com and potatoes in tbe spring, they abandoned
tbeir bouses, leaving the squaws and children to tend to
tbeir crops until tbe fall, to gain a precarious living by fish
ing and bunting in tbe regions of the Georgian Bay and
Lakes Huron and Superior country. Impressed with tbe
idea of tbeir poverty and discomfort, I felt a strong desire
to know bow tbey progressed, not having seen or beard
from tbem since then, and I bad tbe temerity to write to tbe >
missionaries and requesting tbe information I so much
desired. To my agreeable surprise I received a prompt
answer from tbe superior, Rev. F. J. Hebert, dated October
15, 1891, from wbicb I take the liberty of making tbe fol
lowing extract: "Tbe 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 tbe Lake Superior region, to Fort William, and this
is tbeir headquarters). Tbe population of tbe Indians is
860; many of tbem are living in comfortable and commo-

i84 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
dious bouses, with carpeted floors, musical instruments and
gardens well stocked with fruit trees.
Tbey 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
r
are taught shoemaking, blacksmitbing, tailoring, etc., partly
supported by tbe Canadian Government. Many ot them
are excellent mechanics, sucb as masons, plasterers, bouse
builders, etc. A temperance society bas been established
within tbe last year and now numbers ninety-six members.
They have a large convent, wbicb is at tbe same time an
industrial school with fifty pupfls, besides regular boarders.
Two large general stores are doing a thriving business, also
a saw mill and door and sasb factory." Tbe Rev. Father
concludes bis interesting letter with tbe humorous remark:
"Tbey are not all saints, but I believe tbey can compare
favorably with tbeir more favored white brethren." It is
gratifying to learn at all events, that tbe labour's of these
isolated missionaries have not been fruitless, and are in
profound sympathy as expressed in Pope's beautiful lines :

MANITOULIN ISLANDS. 185
"Lo tbe poor Indian whose untutored mind.
Sees God in clouds, or hears bim in tbe wind."
In tbe summer of 1866 (I tbink it was) I happened to
be in the village of Killarney, on tbe Georgian Bay, when
tbe late Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Sir Alexander
Campbell, landed there with tbe Hudson Bay Company's
bark canoe, and Factor King, of Micbipicotons post, with
twenty voyageurs in command, on bis return from Lake
Superior, and on bis way to the city of Ottawa via that river
and after leaving Killarney landed at tbe first portage late
in tbe evening. At early dawn tbe next morning Sir Alexan
der arose and though quite lame, with tbe aid of a cane took
tbe path for a short walk while breakfast was getting ready,
and bad proceeded but a short distance when be descried the
curling smoke from a camp fire, and approaching it, to bis
surprise observed a priest in bis vestments saying mass, with
bis two Indian guides serving him, directly in tbe path; wait
ing for a short time untfl be bad finished, be approached and
introduced himself to tbe priest (Father Hanepeau), to whom
be gave a pressing invitation to return with him to break
fast, wbicb tbe father modestly declined. Observing a po'

i86 MANITOULIN ISLANDS.
on the fire with a rnixture of fisb 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," be 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 _sOj" replied tbe priest, "yet I never
find my burden too heavy to carry; and we get used to
it, like everything else; as the galled shoulder on tbe
plough-borse 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
bis camp, who suppHed bim 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 ManitouHn Island, it became tbe
duty of one of our officers to proceed to Kiflarney, (tbe
steamboat landing), eighteen miles distant, and receive
some thousand feet or more of two-inch iron pipe and
have tbe same transported in open boat to tbe cape.
Tbe gentleman in question, whom I shall call B., was
not long in finding tbe owner of a large built Mackinaw
boat, a tall athletic Indian by name Joe Miconce, (Bear),
who, with bis brother, was engaged to make tbe trip,
our friend B. to accompany them and give directions.
Tbe owner of the boat was of tbe quiet order of In
dians, who seldom speak unless there be absolute neces
sity for conversation. He was rather a fine looking
specimen of tbe red man in physique and intelHgence,
although be appeared sullen and bis expression of coun
tenance was not altogether pleasing. He managed bis

i88 THE INDIAN PILOT.
boat well, however, and after a smart trip with a fair
wind tbe party landed at Killarney, and under tbe order
of B., Miconce and bis brother proceeded to put on
board the iron pipe, while B. went to tbe office of the
freight agent to attend to some other engagement in re
gard to shipping.
It was about five o'clock in tbe afternoon when B.
returned to tbe Mackinaw boat and be was somew.bat
alarmed to find that she was loaded to witbin six inches of
tbe gunwale. Tbe Indians did not seem to be at all
uneasy in tbe matter, however, and having by much ex
perience witnessed tbe extraordinary skifl and nerve of
tbe Manitoulin Indian and balf-breed in tbe manage
ment of the canoe and Mackinaw boat, our friend sought
comfort in tbe easy manner of tbe two Indians, and got
on board.
As tbe craft was making ber first tack off the point
at Killarney our friend noticed for tbe first time that the
weather was rough outside and that even where they were
the wind blew almost a gale. About this time B. also
observed that Miconce was intoxicated and was acting

THE INDIAN PILOT. 189
in a very strange manner. In tbe first place be left bis
tlHer and stern sheets to the care of bis brother and our
friend B., and reaching through a porthole in the bow
of tbe boat produced a tin gallon canteen and took a
good swig of its contents, banded tbe same to bis brother,
who followed suit, then repeated the first attack, set bis
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 tbe best be could, for tbe Indian
alongside him was becoming too drunk to realize tbe
situation or care for tbe boat, and after rolling around
he, too, sHpped 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 tbe boat in sucb a gale, made up bis mind that
he was much safer with the sails down (wbicb in all
probability under these circumstances he was). Tbe
boat tossed about in the gale and waves, while our friend

I90 THE INDIAN PILOT.
sat watching and waiting for the Indians to awake and
proceed with tbe journey.
Tbey bad made but about half of the distance of the
trip when his position flashed upon bis mind, that, with
the heavy gale and four tons of iron in an open boat,
with two useless Indians, a single gust of wind or wave
to swamp it, bis situation was a serious one.
As these thoughts passed in rapid succession through
bis mind B. determined to take tbe liquor, if possible,
from the Indians while they slept and throw it over
board. Our friend B. was of large build, athletic, cour
ageous and was very bandy with his fists. As he was
about to carry out bis intentions in regard to the can
teen, Miconce awoke and glared at bim with sullen
countenance and bleared eyes. He again beckoned to his
brother, and reached down for bis canteen. This was
too much for our friend, who threw off his coat, sprang
upon Miconce, and seizing bim by tbe collar of bis coat
with the left band 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 tbe whiskey (tor such it proved to
be) lasted but an instant, after wbicb Miconce jumped to
his feet and, drawing a long clasp knife, made a pass at
B., wbicb almost reached him. Before tbe Indian could
recover tor another pass our friend, throwing bis weight
with a well directed blow, caught bim under tbe chin and
he fell like a log. The brother then came at B. with
a short bar of iron, but he met his match, for another
punch sent bim sprawling beside tbe other Indian. Our
friend then reached over for tbe knife, but Miconce, who
had recovered from tbe blow, fought desperately, and in
the scuffle a vein in tbe 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 wboop he was seized with an hysterical fit fell in
the bottom of tbe boat, where be soon slept soundly
alongside bis brother, who lay there half conscious, but
not caring to renew tbe fight. Our friend then took bis
white pocket bandkercbief, tore it into strips, bound up
the bleeding wrist of Miconce, and signalling -.a passing
n

192 THE INDIAN PILOT.
fishing smack left the two Indians to tbe mercy of the
storm, wbicb was still at its height. He arrived
at the cape safe and sound and gave bis experience to
the missionaries, who bad, by tbe way, recommended
Joe Miconce to bim as a reliable man. Tbe following
morning Miconce and bis brother arrived at tbeir des
tination with tbeir iron pipe in good order, quite sober
and humble, and after having bis wrist dressed by one
of tbe missionaries, who took occasion to give bim a
good dressing at tbe same time, sought out our friend
B. and humbly asked his forgivenness, wbicb was granted.
But, sad to relate, these poor fellows tbe following
vear were caught in a gale of wind off Bear's Rump
Island with tbeir boat loaded with gravel, when tbe boat
swamped and they never were seen or beard of after
wards. Too much fire water again.

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 193

THE BOOK PEDDLER.

On tbe i8th of June, 1869, tbe anniversary of tbe bat
tle of Waterloo — tbe day on wbicb the fate of Europe
was sealed by tbe Iron Duke placing bis iron heel on
tbe neck of Napoleon tbe Great, from which it was not
released untfl death, on St. Helena's barren isle, put an
end to bis eventful career — I found myself sauntering
down Main street in tbe City of Milwaukee, dejected in
spirit and absorbed with the troubles that then over
whelmed me. Suddenly and unexpectedly thrown out of
employment by the removal from tbe city of my gener
ous employer, I bent my steps to tbe Young Men's Li
brary, of which I was an honorary member; and here "I
will pause to remark" that I know of no institution that
I have yet seen that will compare with it for its admir
able arrangement, the collection of its library, and the
courteous and gentlemanly deportment of its attendants.
Entering this seat of learning I seized tbe first volume
within reach, threw myself into a capadous arm chair.

194 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
and was soon lost in following tbe drift of that iflumined
and exalted mind, "Fenelon," when a gentieman of quiet
and pleasing address approached me and thus introduced
himself: "Your name is B., is fl not?" To this rather unex
pected question I nodded assent, whereupon tbe stranger
continued: "Your friend, tbe librarian, bas recommended
you to me as a fit person to canvass this city tor the
most attractive book of tbe times, viz: 'Lossing's Life
of George Washington,' illustrated; my name is J. Rogers,
of tbe firm of Rogers Bros., Lake street, Chicago, book
publishers,, and if you feel inclined to accept tbe job, say
so." Taken rather by surprise, with tbe idea flashing
across my mind that I was about as fit for a booksefler
as the man in tbe moon, I replied to Mr. Rogers that
I would think about tbe matter and let bim know on
tbe morrow at bis room, 20 East Water street, Kirby
House. Agreeably to appointment, tbe next day I found
Mr. R. and told bim I would accept bis offer; be there
upon instructed and directed me in my duties, which were:
First — On bis return to Chicago be was to send by re-

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 195
turn steamer a certain number of volumes one, two and
three, in different styles of binding — No. i, gilt morocco;
No. 2 calf, and No. 3, cloth — ^to be sold at $4, $3, and
$2 respectively.
Second — To be careful in getting reliable subscribers,
for in that depended our success of course.
Third — Never to expose tbe prospectus (sample book),
for folks generally bad an aversion to book peddlers.
Now, how in "Sam Hill" was I to sell a book "like a
pig in a poke," without exposing it, puzzled me. Stfll,
it was my duty to .obey instructions 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 tbe breast of
my coat, I made my exit on Main street. "What,'' I
reasoned with myself on reaching tbe pavement, "has it
come to this? I, tbe descendant of an honored name,
reduced to this strait?" Sad and crushing thought. Then
came the counter reflection: "Is it honest; is there any
position, occupation or service that man is called upon to

196 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
fulfill that we should find fault with or repine at? Perish
forever tbe craven thought! Let man aspire to higher
aim. In God is our trust, and we'll never submission to
His will refuse." Thus moralizing, I started for the first
ward. This was generally occupied by laborers and me
chanics. It was my impression that I could face people
of that class on more equal grounds than the elite, in
my first lessons. Approaching a shoemaker's shop I
found tbe door wide open. A sign, representing a large
boot, on wbicb bad been artistically painted tbe name of
the proprietor and sole occupant of the building, Patrick
O'Flaberty, adorned tbe top of tbe doorway. Tbe noise
produced by the shoemaker's hammer and lap-stone in
pounding a piece of sole leather seemed to drown and
absorb everything else. On approaching tbe industrious
proprietor I inquired, "Would you be kind enough to
make me a pair ot shoe thongs?" "Certainly," be replied,
and bade me take a seat on a comfortable leather-covered
shoemaker's bench in front of bim. Seizing bis cutting
board and throwing it across bis lap he picked up a piece
of calfskin, drove bis awl through tbe center of it, then

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 197
trimmed tbe leather until it assumed tbe form of a per
fect circle, -withdrew tbe awl, imbedded bis knife firmly
in tbe board, made a slit in the leather tbe width of tbe
lace or string desired, placed his left thumb nail at a
proper distance from tbe knife to serve as a guage, seized
the end of the leather with bis right band, gave it a quick
jerk, and, in tbe twinkling of an eye sput out a yard of
it; be then rolled it upon bis board, blackened it and
banded to me. "What have I to pay you," I asked.
"Five cints, yer honor.'' On banding bim the change I
observed that tbe way be pronounced that coin would
lead a person to believe that be came from the "ould
sod." "Yis, indade, and sbure tbe way ye deteckted me
ye must kum frum tbe same." "The best half of me
on my mother's side did," I replied, "but I have become
so galvanized with tbe people surrounding me that I am
fast losing my nationality." "Faith, thin, I cud well be-
lave ye; I feel the same myself," rejoined O'Flaberty, as
be scrutinizingly surveyed me from bead to foot. "Still
this is a great country," I said. "Tbe gratest in the
wurrld," was the response. "And Washington was tbe

198 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
greatest man and soldier in it," said I. "That's true for
ye," was tbe quick reply of my new acquaintance, who
began to evince a disposition to be sociable and talkative.
"Was be an Irishman?" I asked. This question rather
puzzled tbe 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 Wefling
ton?" "I'm not so sure about that, but I'll see." This
afforded me an excellent opportunity to exhibit my pros
pectus, which was quickly removed from its hiding-place
and opened in sucb a manner as to attract attention. I
then took great pains in showing Washington's Virginia
home, bis bouse, furniture, boots, etc. "That's a moighty
foine book ye hev there," exclaimed O'Flaberty, as be
glanced at the prospectus with its elaborate binding. "Yes,
indeed," I replied, "next to tbe bible the finest book
printed." "Where did ye get it?" be asked. "Where
there are plenty more," saiid I. "Is it cba-a-pe?" be in
quired. "That depends on tbe quality — $4, $3 and $2,"
I rejoined. "Faitb'n I tbink I'll tak tbe $2 one," said
be. "Afl right," I repHed, "you shall have one to-mor-

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 199
row morning. Put your name down." "I can't write," be
said, "you put it down fur me." This I gladly did and
bade Mr. O'Flaberty good morning, who, on accompany
ing me to the door, loudly exclaimed "Long loife to yer
honor." On bearing this I said to myself, "if Pat only
knew I was making a dollar out of bim be would have
wished me to tbe devil instead." After leaving Mr.
O'Flaberty's establishment I visited a baker's shop, the
proprietor of wbicb, Jules Vantrampe, as bis name
implies, was a Dutchman. On entering tbe door
an awful clatter caused by a bell suspended by means
of a steel spring over tbe doorway greeted my ears, wbicb
also aroused Jules, who was busily engaged at a bread
trough in tbe back room at the time. Vantrampe quickly
made bis appearance wearing upon bis head a square-top
paper cap, while a sheet or table cloth reaching from his
jaws to his toes covered bis person. His sleeves were
tucked up to tbe elbow, displaying a pair of well-formed
hands and arms which were partially covered with flour
or dough. Huge drops of sweat were coursing down bis
red chops and he was looking about as savage as a meat

200 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
axe. I mildly informed bim that I bad a valuable book
I would like to show bim. This chap apparently did not
believe in fooling away bis time with a book-peddler, for
be gruffly replied, "Nix furstand HengHsb," at tbe same
time slamming tbe 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 tbe largest sa
loon in tbe place, tbe 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 tbe bar as near as I could, seated myself,
rapped upon the table and called for a scbuper of beer,
a pretzel and a piece of limburger cheese. Tbe landlord
waited upon me. I asked bim, as a stranger, to join me
in a glass, to wbicb be raised no objection, but quickly
got bis 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," be replied, "but my time
is so engrossed with beer that the brain is sadly neg-

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 201
lected.'' "Very likely you have grown up sons and
daughters," I continued, "who are of your turn of mind.
I have an excellent book, and it wifl surprise me greatly
if you do not pronounce it a work that no true American
should be without." "What is it," he inquired. "Tbe
greatest work of the age — 'Lossing's Life of Washing
ton, fllustrated,'" I rejoined, at tbe same time producing
the prospectus. The superb binding immediately caught his
eye and be subscribed for a $4 edition. We drank to the
health of Bismarck, and as I was about to leave be said:
"When you first came in I took you for a German, and
you may tbink yourself very much flattered when I tell
you if I met you five times a day I would be forcibly
reminded of Kaiser William." We then drank a bumper
to Kaiser Wifliam's health, whereupon I thanked Best for
tbe compliment, promising at tbe same time to return tbe
foUowing day with tbe book. This sale led to our tak
ing many scbupers 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 tbe door was partially opened by
the maid of all work, slip shod, who, with a napkin round
ber bead, snappishly yefled, "What do you want?" "I
would Hke to show tbe lady a very fine book," was my
polite reply. "Misses told me never to let a book-man
enter tbe bouse; if I did sbe would discbarge me," say
ing which she closed tbe door, wbicb closed tbe scene. I
then returned to Main street, one of tbe most fashion
able streets of the city, and entered a large miflinery 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 tbeir tread-mills.
and kicking up an awful racket. An elderly lady occu
pied a prominent seat overlooking tbe 'fry.' On approach
ing tbe girls I asked if Miss Cinderella Tompkins (ficti
tious, of course), was witbin. The girls stopped tbeir
tread-mills, looked at each other and giggled. Tbe old
ben of this full-fledged brood, looking over tbe upper
rim of her gold specks, said, "There's no such persoir
here." "I am exceedingly sorry for that," I replied, "she
is a lady of my acquaintance, and being an expert needle-

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 203
woman I thought it likely sbe would be engaged in this,
tbe most fashionable establishment in tbe city." Grace
fully bowing to her I was about to depart when sbe asked
me if there was anything in ber line that I wanted. "No,"
I repbed, "but there may be something in mine that would
exceedingly interest you as well as these industrious young
ladies." She asked me what it was, and drawing forth
my Prospectus, I exposed it to tbeir delighted gaze. Tbe
old lady took a $4 volume, and two of the girls a $2 vol
ume, remarking at tbe same time that they could not pay
immediately. "Oh, that makes not tbe sHghtest differ
ence," I said, "in a month will do." Thanking tbem for
their kindness I bade tbem adieu. On tbe whole I could
not complain of my canvass. I found it more successful,
however, with tbe laboring classes, and for that reason
made it my aim to watch for the time of tbeir leisure
hours, particularly at noon, when tbey could be seen by
tbe hundreds at tbeir 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 tbe city, and on my return homeward was

204 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
struck with the appearance of a mansion quite out of the
way of ordinary bufldings in point of architectural design
and in tbe tasteftil ornamentation of tbe grounds sur
rounding it, in fact denoting the residence of a miflion-
aire, or bog, corn, or beef speculator, or, perhaps, a rail
road magnate, or banker. To tackle this place required
brass, strategy, and considerable self possession, otherwise
it would be a deplorable and mortifying failure. Arous
ing my spirits with the old proverb, "nothing ventured
nothing won," I opened tbe gate and found myself on a
neatly-kept, wide, gravelly walk leading to the marble
steps of tbe mansion. On either side of this walk were
beds of choicest flowers whose delicious odor filled tbe
air. Two whirligig fountains in tub play, one on each
side, cast tbeir beautiful sflver spray wbicb glistened in
the rays of tbe declining sun. Ascending tbe steps, a
massive mahogany door met my gaze, by tbe side of wbicb
was the usual plated bell-pull. Seizing this I gave it a
desperate pull and tbe sound of the tinkling bell could
be beard from cellar to garret. Presentiy a voice was
heard from upstairs saying, "Susanna, go to tbe door."

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 205
The door was opened and I was struck with Susanna's
appearance. Sbe was the living image of tbe bright creole
I bad often read about. Her dark wavy hair fell in
graceful curls over ber shoulders, in striking contrast to
ber white muslin dress, which encircled a form of fault
less beauty. Staring in ber dark, liquid eyes provoked
from ber a smile wbicb disclosed ber handsome ivory
teeth. There is a kind of mesmerism at times, that we
cannot account for, wbicb asserts its sway. Sbe seemed
to be aware that I was struck -with her appearance. .1
politely inquired if Mr. S  was at home. She an
swered, "No, be wfll not be home from tbe bank tfll six
in tbe evening.'' "Is Mrs. S  -within?'' I asked. "Yes,"
was tbe reply. "Pray be kind enough to say that a gen
tleman wishes to see ber." "Give me your card," sbe
said. "Ob, never mind tbe card," I replied, "she'll know
who I am before I leave." Sbe then invited me in and
led me to tbe drawing room, very likely taking me for tbe
uncle of her mistress or very intimate friend. I made up
my miind that tbe poor girl made an awful faux pas and
would catch it after I was gone for letting me in. On

2o6 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
entering this drawing room I was struck with my noise
less tread, lost in a thick Turkey carpet. A table occu
pied each end of tbe room, while in tbe center vases of
choicest flowers filled the wefl ventflated apartment with
delicious fragrance. Scattered about tbe vases were richly
bound works of latest editions. Commodious arm chairs
invited you to tbeir embrace. Heavy lace curtains drooped
from cefling to floor. Tbe crimson velvet papered walls
were embellished with choicest works of art both in paint
ings and engravings. A harp stood in one corner of tbe
room while at the other end, and in an opposite corner
was a $2,000 Weber grand piano. A guitar, apparently
of great value, occupied a conspicuous place on one of
tbe finely upholstered sofas. I thought to myself there
must be music in tbe air. Everything denoted refinement,
culture and taste. Seating myself in an arm chair I was
soon lost in reflection. Five, ten, fifteen, twenty min
utes elapsed and yet no word from tbe lady. Rising
from my chair, assisted in so doing by the elastic spring
cushion, I sauntered to a picture immediately in front of
me. It was a steel engraving, a copy of Claude Lor-

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 207
raine's celebrated painting, "Roman Edifices in Ruins.'' I
was familiar with this chef d'euvre, having bad one in my
possession for many years, but wbicb, alas, was unfor
tunately lost by fire. Huge elm trees occupying tbe fore
ground cast tbeir deep shadows over a stream that invited
tbe thirsty herds to slake tbeir thirst, some of
which were standing in it up to tbeir knees. The
goat herd, a girl tending ber stubborn goats,
formed an attractive feature, while in tbe dis
tance the faintest outlines of tbe ruined edifices all in
spired to fill tbe 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 bearing tbe
rustling of a moir-antique sweeping tbe broad and circling
stairway. In a moment after the lady of the bouse floated
in, as it were, on airy wings, and, with an inconceivably
gracious bow, presented herself, as much as to say, "here
I am, sir, what do you want?" From her appearance I
could tell that sbe bad been carefully studying her dress,
no doubt thinking that I bad come to negotiate a loan, '
perhaps, of a million dollars or so from her husband to

2o8 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
secure a grip on some wheat, timber or pork transaction.
Sbe was very handsome. (I found out afterward she was
a young bride.) I felt as if I would sink through tbe
floor for having placed myself in sucb an awkward and
humiliating position. Folding my arms, and reverently
bowing to ber, I opened tbe bafl as follows: "Madam,
I have a thousand apologies to make to you for this un
timely intrusion, but, attracted by this beautiful palace and
tbe charming tout ensemble of its surroundings, I could
not resist tbe temptation of offering to your cultured mind
a book wbicb would help to adorn tbe beautiful coflection
of works before me, and which would probably to you
be a volume tbe most interesting, 'Lossing's Illustrated
Washington,' a history of tbe father of this great coun
try." With my truthful and earnest gaze I watched ber
countenance and if she was at afl angered it was for a
moment and as quickly disappeared. Sbe remarked that
of course in subscribing to so valuable a work she would
like me to bring it to ber for inspection, whereupon the
prospectus was immediately withdrawn from its place of
concealment. On producing the captivating article sbe

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 209
was quite charmed with its morocco binding and or
dered two copies, one for herself and one for ber sister
in Green Bay. At this moment tbe door bell rang and
in bounced her , husband, who was rather taken by sur
prise on beholding a stranger. A red Irish setter was at
his heels, who, on seeing bis mistress, flew to claim ber
caresses, observing wbicb bis master cried out, "Bruno,
to kennel," and to kennel tbe dog flew like lightning. I
was struck with tbe gentleman's appearance, in one band
was bis light straw bat and in tbe other was grasped a
knotty black thorn stick, bis auburn curly bair was mat
ted on bis forehead with perspiration; bis face had never
been touched with a razor; bis well knit frame was clothed
in a light grey summer suit of admirable fit; no gold chain,
finger rings, etc., were to be seen on bis person; be seemed
to tbink that beauty unadorned was adorned tbe most.
Just the kind of a chap to ride a steeplechase, spring over
a six-foot barred gate, swim the Niagara river or captivate-
the Irish beauty near bim. 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 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
bim.'' "I am only too glad they please you," be repbed.
On turning over tbe cover and seeing my name on the
fly-leaf tbe husband inquired, "Are you from Canada?"
"Yes," I repHed. "Are you any relation to Charles B., of
Sandwich, George and Horace B., of Montreal, or
Francois B., of Quebec?" be asked. "Tbey are afl
brothers or cousins,'' I replied. "Bless me," continued the
gentleman, "tbey are all my most intimate friends who
have always extended me tbe warmest hospitality. Glad
to see you. My wife, Mr. B.'' I bowed gracefully
to ber salutation. "Caroline," be added, "I have bad 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, (tbe sylpb), who carried a silver tray containing a
bottle of Cognac, two bottles of sparkling Catawba, and
a silver pitcher fifled with ice water. "Brandy or Cataw
ba,'' tbe gentleman asked. "Brandy I can get any day,
Catawba never,'' I replied; "so I'fl take the wine." He
drew the cork, which flew like that from a champagne
bottle, filled a glass for madam and then requested me to

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 211
help myself. I generally obey orders and consequently
followed bis instructions. We saluted each other and
imbibed tbe sparkling and delicious draught. "Ob, Sam
Hill," said I to myself in thinking ot my prospectus, "what
a weapon; thou feedest tbe hungry, slaketh tbe thirsty
and clothe the naked." Tbe exhilarating glass warmed
the banker's Irish heart, and, addressing himself to me,
be said, "Mr. B., I crossed tbe Atlantic in February last
and stole from Erin this gem of tbe dear Emerald Isle
and sbe brought ber harp with ber. Caroline," he said,
looking at bis wife, "give us tbe song you captivated me
with on tbe flowery banks of the Liffy, 'The Harp that
Once Thro' Tara's Hall.' " With tbe most graceful ease
she moved to tbe harp, seated herself, swept with deli
cate touch tbe strings of tbe instrument, and then poured
forth her soul in song, as none but a child of Erin can
do. Tbe pathos, the melody, the voice; what can I com
pare to it. Ob, for tbe pen of a Scott to describe that
scene and tbe pencil of a Raphael to paint it. After express
ing tbe belief that I bad been sorely trespassing I bade
my host and hostess adieu, leaving tbem to their reflec-

212 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
tions and tbey to mine to dream of that divinity which
shapes our ends, "rough hew tbem as we may." On the
following day while in tbe vicinity of tbe Menominee
bridge a comical looking sign attracted my attention.
Two whitewash brushes, crossed, were painted, over
the doorway, as also tbe name, "gEorGe WasHinG-
ton, cITy white waSbEr." Tbe 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 bouse, in
the cupola of which tbe bell was striking tbe 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 tbe door where I bad taken
refuge. It was ber home. I inquired if tbe wbitewasber
could be seen. Sbe replied, "Pap will be here soon for
bis dinner." Presentiy tbe father made bis appearance.
In one hand be carried a large tin pail while with tbe
other he firmly held the ten-foot handle of a whitewash
brush wbicb was thrown across bis shoulder. His old

THE BOOK PEDDLER. 213
white stovepipe bat was battered out of shape and was
very much discolored. Tbe black clay pipe wbicb be
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
tbe shoulders. Tbe blue cotton shirt and pants which
he wore appeared to have been made in one piece. Tbe
heels of his red, lime-burned boots were turned under,
compelling bim to walk with a kind of baiting gait. "Your
name is George Washington," I observed as tbe old man ap
proached me. "So de white folks calls me," was the re
ply. "And are you from old Virginia?'^ "Jis-so." "How
many years since you left there?" "About forty-two last
plantin'." "You come from a very large and distinguished
family?" "Can't tell much 'erbout 'em, it's so long, long
ago." "Do you tbink you would know any members of
tbe family if you saw tbeir likeness?" "I mougbt, and
again I moughten't,'' was tbe response. "Well, we'll look
and see," I said, at tbe same time drawing forth my pros
pectus, exposing to tbe old man and bis daughter a view
of George and Martha Washington, tbeir Virginia home.

214 THE BOOK PEDDLER.
etc., whereupon the young fawn exclaimed, "Pap, dem's
whfle folks, des no kin to us." "Hold on," I replied,
"tbey were all black once and after a time turned white.
After two or three generation you'll afl turn white, too, and
be of one family." "Boss, what's dat book woth eny-
bow," asked tbe anxious-looking fawn. "Tbe cheapest
edition is two dollars," I replied. "We can't pay you for
it befo' three months, we am so poo'." said the girl. "Well,
then," I said, "I'll make you a present of one. Come
with me and get it, for it would be a pity to live without
knowing who your ancestors were." It is perhaps need
less 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 expected. There was one thing I
learned, to my entire satisfaction, namely, that truly one-
half the world knows very little bow tbe other half
lives, and if you wish to satisfy yourself on that subject
get a book agency from J. Rogers Bros., book publish
ers, Chicago, as I did, and prove it.

TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. 215

VISIT TO THE SAULT STE. MARIE.

A new route to tbe 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 tbe most attractive, pictur
esque and charming landsc^nes on tbe continent of
America — attractive to tbe lovers of sport by gun or
rod, where twenty thousand islands or more afford varied
and innumerable opportunities to whip tbe dark and limpid
waters with gaudy fly, or snare tbe unlucky bass or dore,
with killing and treacherous spinning spoon encircling
them. Although familiar with tbe 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 tbe Cambria
had commenced to run on it this fall, preparatory to resum
ing it in tbe ensuing spring, after undergoing a thorough
overhauling this winter.
Stepping on board on tbe 9th instant, with a party of five,
we secured double staterooms, furnished with all tbe con-

2i6 TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE.
veniences reasonably required. Tbe hour having arrived
to depart. Captain Gidly, in uniform (the very type of a
dauntless and brave Acadian saflor), climbs tbe iron ladder
leading to tbe pflot bouse, with the agility of a panther, and
bis ever ready and trustworthy Mate McKay, anxiously
waiting for tbe order, in loud and stentorian voice, cries out,
"Let go your headline, haul in your stemline," and the
shrill, thrice-sounding whistle is beard, and slowly tbe Cam
bria leaves ber quiet sleeping berth, and prepares to buffet
with the angry waves of Huron's Lake and the turgid waters
of tbe Georgian Bay. Touching at the beautiful City of
tbe Straits (Detroit) for passengers and freight, we bend
our course to the Canadian channel and bug tbe shores of
the beautiful Befle Isle, affording us a charming view of its
mosque-like buildings, its sinuoUs canals and flower-decked
islets, and passing the tidy little brick lighthouse at tbe end
of the island, steer our course for the lighthouse on Grosse
Pointe, flanked on our right by tbe Isle au Pecbe (vulgarly
cafled Peach Island), with Hiram Walker's summer vifla
looming in tbe distance. We are now fully entered upon
tbe quiet waters of Lake St. Clair, and in full view -of

TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. 217
Grosse Pointe proper, wbicb, with marine glass in band,
gives us a commanding view of its millionaire summer
retreats, beautified by ornamental trees and shrubs, close-
clipped hedges, and clouded with choicest flowers of
autumn. Directly here' our attention h claimed by two
enormous dredges, employed by the American Government
to deepen tbe channel to twenty-one feet, and gradually we
lose sight of tbem as tbey plunge tbeir mighty iron clad
arms in the watery deep, and, with Herculean sweep
deposit their well-filled spoons in tbe dumping scows. As
we are about to lose sight of land tbe stalwart, eagle-eyed
captain steps down from the pilot house and quietly
instructs bis wheelsman to steer "north east quarter east,"
which will bring us to the mouth of tbe St. Clair Flats
Canal. As we gradually approach 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 its ever watchful lighthouse.
Emerging from tbe canal, tbe spacious and Venetian
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 tbe surrounding flats. As we
plow through tbe swift waters of tbe St. Clair River, we
soon approach Walpole Island, tbe favorite resort of excur
sionists, and immediately opposite is Harsen's Island, a
fashionable retreat also from summer heat. Here tbe som
ber sky shuts out the view, and we retire to our saloon,
delighted with our day's experience. Touching at Sarnia
during tbe night, we are well into Lake Huron at seven a.
m. on tbe loth, enjoy a comfortable breakfast liberally pro
vided by our courteous and gentlemanly purser, Mr. Kefly,
and waited upon by civil and attentive waiters. After
breakfast we step to tbe promenade deck, and with field
glass survey the Canadian rugged shore, and reach Gode
rich, whose harbor is formed by a cleft in the bigb clay
bank, through wbicb tbe River Maitland flows, with Hght-
bouse perched on its summit on the right, and the pictur
esque residence embowered in dwarfed evergreens on tbe
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 STE. MARIE. 219
water, but an improved and powerful dredge is at work,
with prospects of great results.
Leaving Goderich, we touch at Kincardine and South
ampton, then steer for the Isle of Coves, tbe entrance to the
Georgian Bay. The nigbt is dark and tempestuous, and
as we leave its lighthouse the Cambria feels tbe 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 tbe viflage of Wickwimikong looming
in the distance at tbe bead of its bay, we soon enter tbe
north channel, and' call at Manitowoning, an Indian village
on the Great Manitoulin Island. The scenery now assumes
an air of grandeur, and as tbe misty atmosphere clears, tbe
chain of the Lacloche Mountains appears In sight, and as
we thread our way through these intricate cuannels spread
at their feet, some of tbem tbe size of large lakes (tbe favorite
haunt of tbe sea gull), we descry one following at a long dis
tance in the wake of our steamer. With measured flap of
wing, be approaches within pistol shot, with head unclined
and eye intent upon the blue and crystal waters. We throw
a morsel of broken cracker in the wake of tbe steamer, and

220 TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE.
mark his graceful evolutions. Unlike tbe bird of prey, who
darts like a thunderbolt and pounces on bis victim, this
white-winged visitor is strikingly different; tbe crumb has
scarcely touched tbe water, when bis eagle eye sees it, be
clianges at once tbe flap of wing and extends his broad
pinions to full extent, changes bis course of flight, and
with graceful circling curves descends to the precious mor
sel, extends bis webbed feet, alights with the grace of a
dancing iiympli, settles upon tbe ruffled waters, seizes his
crumb, and again ascends and pursues bis flight, to renew
the feat, to tbe envy of bis fellow fleet-wings, who are clam
orous to participate in tbe feast, and rapidly increase in
numbers. We emerge at last into Lake George's devious channel.
From this point of view our course would be abruptly
stopped at tbe foot of the mountaiin, miles distant, but as we
near tbe end of tbe lake a sudden turn northerly brings us
into the St. Mary's River again, flanked on either side by
the thriving settlement of Garden River, etc. We soon are
in sight of tbe Sault Ste. Mary'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 Mr. Brown, of Port
Arthur (tbe courteous and gentlemanly manager of our
boat), desiring us to wait for bim, as be is on his way down
per steamer Empire. This happens most opportunely for
our party, as it gives us ample time to see both canals. Our
boat lands us near tbe foot of tbe 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 tbe falling spray, in
which disport tbe lively speckled trout. Mounting a flight
of stone steps, we are on a level with tbe top of tbe canal,
and immediately opposite tbe engine bouse of hydraulic
power, managed by a gentlemanly officer in uniform, who
extends to us every courtesy. A large steam barge loaded
with lumber, with ber two consorts, are in the lock, and
presently tbe lever is turned, tbe gates from below are
opened, and the torrent of water rushes out with tbe noise
of thunder. Slowly sinks tbe imprisoned fleet until tbe
water level is reached, when tbey glide gently away. A
new lock is being constructed alongside of the present one.

222 TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE.
which is to be of far greater capacity. We visit the large
Hotel Iroquois, overlooking tbe park, and return to the
Canadian side by one of tbe steam ferry boats that ply
between tbe two places. Through tbe kindness and polite
ness of Mr. Templeton, the officer of tbe customs, who
kindly offered us his carriage, we were enabled to visit the
canal now being constructed on tbe Canadian side, but
could form but an imperfect idea of its construction, owing
to tbe enormous debris with which it is encumbered, but
were informed that every effort is being made to complete
it next year.
Leaving the Sault on our return at early dawn to tli'-Crifl
our way through the intricate passages by daylight, we stop
at St. Joseph's Island for supplies of ice, milk, fisb and pota
toes, tbe former remarkable for its tbickness and purity, and
the latter famed for tbeir delicious qualities, and also its
maple sugar, with wbicb we suppHed 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,
biding tbe naked rocks from top to tbe very edge of its dark

TRIP TO SAULT STE. MARIE. 223
and deep waters, affording a safe and quiet harbor. Our
vigilant and wideawake captain and mate think it proper
to remain here, and wait tfll morning, until the fog lifted,
and we then proceeded on our way. Again, on doubling
Cape Smith and entering Georgian Bay, we encounter the
unquiet ripple of its restless waters, wbicb increase to a
stiff breeze, portending a stormy nigbt. So tbe captain
puts in at Tober Mory, formed by nature, one of tbe most
perfect harbors in tbe world. We leave at dayhght and
reach Goderich in time to avoid a living gale, wbicb detains
us two nights and a day, and are agreeably entertained
there by Mr. Ira Lewis and famfly and friends, and on tbe
i8tb arrived at Windsor at five a. m., much pleased with
our pleasant trip.

224 THE BRUCE MINES.

A SKETCH SHOWING, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
HOW THE BRUCE MINES IN ALGOMA
WERE DISCOVERED.

Tbe peace of Europe, declared after the bloody field
of Waterloo in 1818, was tbe cause of a great reduction
in tbe British army, and hundreds of its officers sought
a place of rest in Canada, and among tbe many was a
Capt. D., who, with ample means and a grant from the
government of 600 acres of land to which be was entitied
for his long and faithful services, settled down in tbe town
ship of Barrie. He had married an Italian lady of rare
and singular accomplishments, highly educated, the mis
tress of several languages, English, French, Spanish and
Italian, tbe latter denoting tbe home of ber birth, gifted
in music, song and poetry, and with all a connoisseur in
the culinary art of tbe most refined English, French and
Italian taste. Sbe bad been twice a widow before ber
last marriage, tbe first of an Italian gentieman, by whom
they bad no issue, tbe second of an EngHsh clergyman

AN INDIAN BRIDE.

THE BRUCE MINES. 225
by whom she had two sons, ber third marriage was to a
distinguished officer in the British army, of blunt, severe
and arrogant manner, by whom sbe bad one son. It was
the pride and aim of tbeir lives to give these three sons'
the best education tbey could in their unsettled and ram
bling Hfe, with a view of completing tbeir studies in tbe
gay, festive and alluring city of tbe world, seductive Paris.
Consequently they became pronounced linguists and
adepts in tbe knowledge of the finest brands of cham
pagne, mozelle, Hock, Burgundy, etc. Versed in afl 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 dishes of
tbe times. Added to these so-called accomplishments, the
three sons were remarkable in physique and gentlemanly
bearing. , ,
The father settled in Canada about tbe year 1820 and
the sons followed about two years after, and such were
tbeir accompHshments that, drop tbem into any portion
of tbe habitable world, they would make their mark.

226 THE BRUCE MINES.
Tbey were, indeed, tbe pride and en-yy of tbeir devoted
parents. The eldest, in making bis appearance in Little York
in 1822, soon became tbe Hon of tbe town. Marked at
tention was paid to bim by tbe ladies, and gentlemen
courted bim for bis polished manners and bis versatile
and broad knowledge of tbe world, poHtically, morally
and socially. His thorough knowledge of tbe French
and English languages was a free and easy passport to
bim in any circle of society. The ordinary pursuits of
Hfe, involving application, study and labor, however, were
too irksome to bim and an annoying restraint upon his
various inclinations to shoot, fish, sail, dance, dine and
sup, and be secretly fancied a wider field, an unlimited
scope in tbe mountainous districts of Ontario and Al
goma, whose mountains, lakes ahd streams would give
bim free liberty to enjoy tbe scope of bis inclinations.
After a time he became tired of bis luxurious life in Lit
tie York (now Toronto) and sought tbe quiet, cozy and
comfortable home of bis stepfather in the county of Bar
rie. Here his occupation was indeed a diversified one.

THE BRUCE MINES. 227
Getting up at five in tbe morning, cleaning out the cow
and horse stables and the pig-pens, and in pressing times
helping the milkmaid with ber dozen or more cows, chop
ping and carrying in wood to cook bis own breakfast,
yoking bis oxen and plowing till noon, with an hour for
dinner and again at tbe plow or barrow till six, then sup
per on mush and milk. Then with tbe fowls to roost,
and repeat tbe next day tbe same toil, variegated only
to suit tbe weather and seasons. Now logging, the wood
piles and firing the brush heaps, again busking the corn
in the open field. Then in tbe fall butchering twelve or
fifteen bogs, (scalding himself in the operation), then
obHged to rip tbem open and plunge both hands into
tbe hot entrails, and completing the labor by washing and
cleaning thoroughly the carcases for market.
While one day employed in the latter occupation, ex
hausted, weary and unwashed, a former school-mate in
Paris, (St. Martin), fished bim out and thus saluted him:
"Great Heavens, my friend, this you? Reduced to this
situation, far worse than abject slavery. What bas
brought you to this state of miserj^?" "Fate,'' be inno-

228 THE BRUCE MINES.
cently replied. "Why do you remain here?" continued
bis school-mate. "Come where I have been! See what
I have seen! This continent is ours, unlimited in its
prairies and forests, its lakes and streams of crystal waters,
teeming with golden-eyed and speckled trout; its vales
and mountains, unexplored and filled with untold wealth;
its dusky inhabitants free from all care in this transitory
world, but to feed on nature's bounteous gifts, tbeir sole
occupation to trace tbe timid deer, to seine with finest
thread the warry wbitefisb and trout in the invisible gill-
net, to pluck and gather tbe luscious huckleberry and tbe
prickly goose and raspberry. Tbe Indian bas indeed a
fine life, and the dusky squaw, untrammeled with the care
of ber infant papoose, suspends it under tbe foliage of tbe
shady maple, to be rocked to sleep by tbe lullaby of tbe
waving branches and rustling leaves. Tbe life is enchant
ing, my boy, and unknown to tbe white man." "Truly,
your description is very afluring and worthy of consider
ation. Gladly would I make tbe change from this detest
able drudgery, but, pray, where is this state of bliss to
be found, St. Martin?'' "Why," continued St. Martin,

THE BRUCE MINES. 229
"in the charming islands of tbe Georgian Bay, tbe straits
of the Saint Marie's river and the boundless regions of
Lakes Huron and Superior, where tbe trace of the white
man is scarcely known." Then almost in tbe same
breath be' asked, "I say, old fellow, I am d — d thirsty
after a twenty-mile tramp through the woods. Has the
old man anything in bis cellar in tbe way of a glass of
old sherry. Hock or St. Julian?" "No," repHed the other,
"not a drop of anything, but cursed rot-gut Canadian
whiskey, fit only to cure tbe bite of a rattlesnake or cur
with tbe rabies, or kfll tbe botts in tbe paunch of a borse,
but, say, bow wfll a bowl of buttermflk do?'' "Well, afl
right, give me a pull at anything ; that's better than water."
He then takes bis buttermilk with a grin and tefls his
friend, "I'm off for tbe Sault Ste. Marie, old chap, and
a Hne from you hereafter would be most acceptable. Fare-
weH, au revoir." In the evening, while sitting around tbe
capacious and glowing wood, fire tbe stepfather noticed
bis stepson with pipe ablaze in thoughtful mood, and ob
served to bim, ''What bas ruffled and disturbed you?"
"Why, my friend St. Martin bas given me such glowing

230 THE BRUCE MINES.
accounts of tbe upper lake region, their mineral moun
tain resources, the abundance of game, fisb and fruit, and
withal tbe ease and comfort of tbeir dusky inhabitants,
that I feel a very strong inclination to test tbe alluring
bait, with your kind indulgence," replied tbe son. "I
would only be too happy to further your inclinations, my
boy," replied the father. "You certainly appear quite out
of place in your present occupation here. Tbe bouse
would have been in asbes but for our timely interference
in building your fire yesterday; the sheep fold was left
open last week and bad I not closed tbe gate in time we
would have been without wool or mutton for . tbe next
five years by tbe destruction of the whole flock by a score
of famished wolves that are nightly prowling 'round, and
Mary, tbe milkmaid, says that half tbe cows yesterday
were turned into pasture without mflking, she not being
able alone to milk them." Then, after a pause, "Yes, I
think a change would be advisable," replied tbe father.
"But one thing I would most strenuously observe-to ycret:
Beware of the seductive blandishments of those dusky
buxom maidens, far too captivating to tbe unsophisticated

THE BRUCE MINES. 231
white man"' "No fear," said the son. "One who has
gone through tbe firey ordeal of lovely Paris is a living
proof of his safety in this regard.'' "When do you pro
pose to start?" said the father. "Not later than Tuesday
next," was the reply. "Well," returned the father, "the
sooner, I tbink, the better.'' On tbe Tuesday following
the sun slowly crept upon tbe horizon with that peculiar
smoky orange color, denoting tbe advent of that lovely
genial Indian summer, when nature lavishes in all its
beauty, tbe comforts to man and tbe animal creation, the
perfection of its fruits and flowers, with a warning to the
provident tillers of tbe soil to shield tbeir helpless and
confiding animals from winter's blighting blasts, and
store tbe well-filled woodshed, destined to feed the glow
ing embers of the cheerful beartb. It was on tbe event
ful Tuesday the stepson was seen with glowing and smil
ing countenance, in tbe garb of a sportsman; bis well
laced English walking shoes, surmounted by a pair of
sheepskin gaiters buttoned well up to the knee, tbe tightly-
fitting corduroy 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 bis toilet a la chase. Thus equipped in well-knit
frame, gold-rimmed spectacles and bis double-barrelled
shotgun on shoulder, be looked the type of a London
cockney. "Adieu, mon cber pere," be said, extending bis
band to his stepfather. "Bon voyage, mon cher fils, et
que dieu vous benisse," he replied, and tbe son left for
tbe Sault Ste. Marie.
After a long and tedious journey overland and by canoe
around tbe devious coast of tbe Georgian Bay, tbe chan
nel islands, be arrived at the beautiful island of St. Jo
seph, on St. Mary's river, sound in limb, to be sure, but
worn out with fatigue and privation.
For two days be bad scarcely tasted food, excepting
tbe wild raspberries plucked along bis path. Carefully
lifting bis birch canoe over tbe gravelly beacb, be seized
a bundle of wfld bay from tbe bottom of bis canoe, rolled
it up in a bundle, turned over bis canoe and coiled him
self under it, with tbe bay for bis piflow, and fell sound
asleep. How long be remained so be could not tell, but
be was awakened by the barking of a dog close by, and

THE BRUCE MINES. 233
hastily arising from his couch he noticed the dog bark
ing up a tree, and soon observed to bis astonishment and
extreme gratification a bevy of partridge, some fifteen or
twenty, scattered about on the limbs of the tree. Seiz
ing ills double-barrelled gun be brought two down with
the first shot from the lowest limb, and to his amazement
the rest stood still, while tbe dog continued barking. He
then took another shot and another coUple fell until be
picked out and kflled in tbe same way tbe whole bevy.
In tbe meantime tbe owner of the dog, bearing tbe
report of guns in rapid succession, hastened to tbe tree.
She proved to be an old squaw, tbe mother of tbe girl
she was leading. Sbe was but a cbfld of fifteen years
and seemed even younger. She wore a neat pair of
deerskin moccasins elaborately embroidered with porcu
pine quills, these fitting perfectly ber well-shaped feet
and ankles, a pair of blue cloth leggins fringed with tbe
same adorned ber limbs, which a loose bright colored
calico gown covered a little below tbe knee, a broad
leather belt around ber well-proportioned waist loosely,
suggesting ber maidenly beauty, tbe curl of ber smfling

234 THE BRUCE IMNES.
lip displaying ber ivory teeth, her dark gazelle eyes
fringed with long black eyelashes, ber raven bair tied on
tbe back of ber neck and falling to ber waist, a broad
brimmed straw bat with a wreath ot wild roses completed
ber island costume. Sucb did this angelic beauty appear
to this bewildered brain. Addressing tbe mother, tbe in
truder asked, "Cestil I'Isle de St. Joseph?" (is this St. Jo
seph island)? "Oui, monsieur," replied the dove of fif
teen. "Ma mere pari pas Fraiicais." (My mother does
not speak French.) "Can you direct me, my dear, where
I can procure a loaf of bread," be asked ber in French.
"Oui, monsieur," sbe replied, "die nous,'' (at home).
"And wfll you allow me to eat in your cabin?" be in
quired. "I have tasted no food but wild raspberries for
several days." "Yes,'' replied the dove, "my mother
says you can, and you are quite welcome.''
The stranger was about shouldering bis double-bar
relled gun and gathering up his wood grouse, when tbe
dove said, "Permettez moi de vous aider, monsieur, s'lil
vous plafl," (permit me to help you, sir, if you please);
and this did he cheerfully do. "Avez vous des pomme

THE BRUCE MINES. 235
de terre?" (Have you potatoes at home) asked the stran
ger. "Beau coup," (plenty) replied tbe angel.
"Now I am in luck," thought tbe stranger, so on ar
riving at tbeir wigwam, plucking and preparing four of
Ws birds, two for himself and one for each of bis guests,
he rolled tbem up separately and folding tbem up in
large basswood leaves buried them in live ashes. Tbey
turned out beautifully browned with enough juice to
make them relisbable, and with a bowl of tea made from
the wild teaberry, be dined like a king. As evening ap
proached it was with reluctance that be parted with bis
entertainers, but with a heavy heart be finally left the
beautiful dove and returned to bis canoe, to recline bis
troubled brain on bis hay pillow and be lulled to sleep
by the plaintive cry of tbe wbip-poor-will. Tbe soft
and smoky amber-tinted sun was slowly rising above the
blue ethereal horizon when the stranger crept from un
der bis canoe, stripped to the buff and plunged head
long Into tbe limpid waters of this beautiful island and
rolling and puffing about like a playful porpoise, struck
for shore, and shaking himself like a Newfoundland dog.

236 THE BRUCE MINES.
clothed himself and hied again to tbe tent of tbe Indian
girl, and to breakfast on asb-roasted wood grouse, corn
bread, potatoes and teaberry tea.
A fleet of canoe and Mackinaw boats, containing many
of the island Indians, arrived while be was at bis break
fast. Their boats were loaded with lake trout and
wbitefisb, which were freely distributed amongst tbe in
habitants, denoting peace and plenty, and tbe stranger
again realized what his friend St. Martin bad told bim
and be came to this conclusion: "This shall be my
home, and tbe dove my wife, if sbe will have me," and
be asked ber, and she replied, "Ask tbe priest," and be
did so, and the priest said, "Make bim marry you ac
cording to the rules of your cburcb,'' and under these
rules be married ber, and at the end of the first year a
cbfld was born to the dove, but as time rolled on tbe
fisb and game disappeared. It bad been a disastrous season
and starvation almost stared tbem in tbe face. What
was to be done? An appeal to bis stepfather was tbe
only course, and for bim they started. Winter bad set
in; tbe earth was mantled in two feet of snow. It was

THE BRUCE MINES. 237
a journey of two hundred and fifty miles on snow-shoes.
But the young wife, with ber papoose wrapped in a blan
ket upon ber shoulders, followed him. Three weeks
elapsed and tbeir journey was accomplished. Exhausted
and half starved, with feeble steps tbey reached tbe home
of his father in the township of Barrie. She waited
outside while be entered and approached his parents, who
were appalled and thunderstruck at tbe unexpected re
turn of tbeir prodigal son. "Who is this person who
bas accompanied and awaits you?" the stepfather de
manded. "My wife," be repHed. "What? You marry
a d — d low-bred squaw, and disgrace yourself and fam
ily forever. If you do not leave- ber, never shall I for
give you; never shall I own you again. Leave her or
leave my bouse at once. Return to your camp, if you
choose, but never enter my door again untfl you give
ber up." His poor wife bad entered tbe bouse unobserved,
beard this conversation in tbe adjoining room and quietly
raising tbe window slipped out so gently that she bad dis
appeared from tbe scene before any further notice was taken
of heir by tbe inmates of tbe bouse. Sbe bad never ser-
q

238 THE BRUCE MINES.

\

iously considered ber situation before. Tbe harsh and
cruel words of tbe father rang in ber ears. Sbe realized
then for tbe first time what a sacrifice her husband had
made, wbicb would ultimately result in tbe disinherit
ance if sbe remained with bim, and sbe determined that,
come what might, sbe would give bim up and retrace
ber steps back to ber native isle of St. Joseph, where
she would never burden bim again. Sbe was all but
prostrated with fatigue and hunger; a heavy snow storm
was raging; it was late at nigbt, but sbe never flinched
in ber purpose for an instant, but tightening tbe blanket
which held her tender babe to ber back, sbe disappeared
in the gloom of the storm,' turning ber steps to tbe north.
Her pride bad been trampled under rougb-sbod heels, but
she cast no blame on her husband; neither did sbe weep
or bemoan ber own condition. A servant of the bouse
had entered before the stormy interview was over and
informed tbe son that sbe bad gone. "My God," said
he, "Gone? Where?" "Why, back to ber wigwam,"
sneeringly replied bis father, "tbe proper place for ber."
Then continuing tbe father said, "Once more I ask you

THE BRUCE MINES. 239
to leave this woman for tbe sake of your family, your
interests, your own respectability." "Hush!" said the
son. "Not another word; my mind is made up now,
if it never was before. This woman is my wife; fl was
no fault of bers, and I cannot cruelly forsake her and
the babe of my own blood to please my family.. It is
too late now. You can bestow your wealth and posi
tion upon someone else. Disinherit me if you choose,
but I'm off to overtake my Indian bride. I wifl never
abandon ber." And he kept bis word, followed and
overtook ber, and together shared the misery and fatigue
of the journey.
Years rofled on and tbe 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 tbe fact. A company was formed and the
result followed of working tbe mine. He sold out and
realized a large sum.
Being well known . throughout Ontario, and having
moved in bis younger days in the best society, his fin-
is'-:ed education and suavity of manner secured for him

240 OLD TUIE FARMING.
a prominent government appointment and be died leav
ing a large family in civilized life, but not on St. Joseph
Island.

FARMING IX THIS CAXADA OF OURS. AXD HOW
IT WAS I BECAME A FARMER.

When Lasalle and Hennepin, tbe French explorers, on tbe
loth of August, 1679, ^^'^^^ groping tbeir uncertain way, on
the square rigged vessel "Le Griffon" 213 years ago, up tbe
stream from Lake Erie and debouched into the Lake St.
Clair, tbey found it no river at all, and being Frenchmen,
tbey called it in their own language by its proper name, De
troit, that is strait, and named tbe Indian encampment tbey
bad just left the same which it bas held till to-day; and on
the opposite side just a littie below they called it "Les Hur
ons;" and why? because it was another Indian encampment
occupied by that tribe, who cultivated it as other tribes did,
along its shores, and when in after years tbe poor Indians

OLD TIME FARMING. 241
were dispossessed of tbeir cornfields, the Frenchmen took
possession, and tbe first thing tbey did was to plant pear
trees brought from France in groups, and so tbe 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 tbeir days will soon be
numbered. When John Bull came along and conquered
the Frenchmen, be changed tbe name of "Les Hurons" and
caHed it Sandwich, but that was all he did, for he left tbem
in full possession of their homes, their customs and tbeir
religion. It was here I first drew breath on the 30tb of
April, 1812. In 1816 my father, for his valuable services
in the war of 181 2, was appointed Inspector General of
Upper Canada and moved to Little York (now Toronto)
with bis family. At that time there were no steamers on
the lakes, only small schooners and batteaus. Landing at
Chippewa, above the falls of X^iagara, a portage was made
to Queenston, then by vessel to Little York.
In the year 1819, my father, intent upon giving me tbe
best education In bis power, placed me, at an early age,
under the tutorship of that remarkable man. Archdeacon'

242 OLD TIME FARMING.
Jock Strachan, as be was irreverently called, and who kept
tbe grammar school in muddy Little York. He was soon
succeeded by tbe Revs. Bethune, Elms, Armour and Phil
lips. My progress in A, B and C being very slow I was
transferred to Mr. Patfield's school. Under the care of this
worthy person I first began to feel an interest in my studies,
and to him I am indebted (if I may be credited) for writing
a legible hand, as also for my slow progress in arithmetic.
About this time, 1823, the late Roman Catholic and finst
bishop of Upper Canada, Alex. McDonnell, of Regiopolis
of Glengarry, was making a tour of bis diocese, then em
bracing tbe whole province of Ontario. This noted pioneer,
bom at Glenurqubart, Scotland, in 1769, emigrated to Can
ada with bis 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 tbe then wil
derness of Glengarry in 1803 and 1804. He was noted for
bis distinguished services in Canada in the war of 1812 as
soldier and chaplain at the battle of Cbrystler's Farm on
the St. Lawrence, and again at the storming of Ogdens-

OLD TIME FARMING. 243
burg in the same year. Died in Dumfries, Scotland, tbe
14th of January, 1840.
As there was no cbapel, much less a cburcb in Little
York then, be was a welcome guest in my father's house,
whose diningroom served as a cbapel for tbe spare Catho
lic population of tbe town and surrounding settlement.
A brief sojourn of tbe bishop led me to form a great rev
erence for this venerable old pioneer, and bis offer to take
me in charge as pupil in bis new college of St. Raphaels, just
opened, was eagerly accepted by my father.
Leaving Little York in tbe 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 tbe keen winter's blast, and driven by bis
faithful negro valet, Herbert, whose emancipation be bad
purchased. This journey then from York to St. Raphaels,
in Glengarry, involved the necessity of a short visit at afl
the towns and villages along tbe travefled road, I. e., Peter-
boro. Port Hope, Cobourg, Bellevflle, Prescott and Corn
wall. At tbe last place we tarried for tbe nigbt with a Mr.

24+ OLD TIME FARMING.
Angus McDonald, if I mistake not tbe father of tbe late
Premiere, Hon. John Sandfield, ot Ontario.
It was during this evening that a few noted persons
called to pay tbeir respects to tbe bishop, and among tbem
was a Miss Ellen Greenfield McDonald, from near St.
Raphaels, a great favorite of tbe 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 tbem rude and
uncouth playmates; ber attention to me was gratifying in
tbe extreme and doubly enhanced my esteem when, in tbe
course of tbe evening, sbe was urged to sing, and comply
ing, in tbe 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 ber home in tbe bishop's sleigh was offered ber and ac
cepted, resulting in my seeing ber home, not far from St.
Raphaels (bis lordshiip leaving us at bis residence). On
parting with ber she cordially invited me to repeat my

OLD TIME FARMING. 245
visits on holidays, wbicb I was only too glad to do. There
was something so charmingly delightful and attractive in
this sweet girl's character that I can never forget the im
pression she produced upon me, as we stood upon tbe ver
anda for tbe last time, ber rich auburn hair ruffled by a
gentle breeze, tbe friendly clasp of ber band, the smile of
her dimpled cheek, tbe sparkle from ber 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 tbe 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 tbe 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 flself
to my mind and experience, and I was not a Httie sur-

246 OLD TIME FARMING.
prised to learn that I was expected to take care of myself;
that apart from my studies I was to make my bed, sweep
out the sleeping and study room (tbe brooms made by
ourselves of cedar boughs taken from a swamp bard by),
replenish tbe water pitchers, clean or black my shoes, and
make a respectable appearance witbal; and I conceive no
more salutary practice than this very one, as It taught me
to help myself. My sojourn at St. Raphaels did not pro
duce the result hoped for by my anxious and indulgent
father, for although every attention was paid to moral and
religious training, tbe 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 tbe bishop, who put me to tbe task of copying the
census roll of Glengarry, to form a petition to tbe govern
ment in favor of bis 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 wbicb two clans there appeared a
strong rivalry, and tbe men were distinguished by gallic

OLD TIME FARMING. 247
nicknames, denoting a long or short nose, or a blue or red
one,. or by the ears, eyes, complexion or size; but I am sorry
to say that I cannot write them down in that beautiful lan
guage. What surprised me the most was tbe stalwart and
hardy physique of these Highlanders, for often did tbey ap
pear at the old St. Raphaels church in tbeir kilts, when we
school boys could scarcely keep warm with warm winter
clothing. Donald, however, proof against cold in winter
in his kilts, was no match for the elephantine truncated
mosquitoes in summer, which were to be found in myriads
about the Glengarry swamps, as the following incident will
prove : Commencing his first summeris residence in Canada,
just from Scotland's Grampion Hflls, he called upon tbe
Bishop, who asked bim how be fared in Canada, and
in reply said, "All right, your lordship, but for tbe infernal
mosquitoes, which are devouring me."
"Throw away tbe kilts then," said the bishop, "and get
a pair of buckskin breeches,'' wbicb be said be would do.
On meeting again bis lordship be told bim he had fol
lowed bis advice, but the breeches were not, be bad found,
proof against tbe pests, for tbey pierced bim through tbe

248 OLD TBIE FARMING.
buckskin, causing bis legs to so swefl that be bad to rip bis
breeches up to pufl tbem off. Tbe bishop doubted this, but I
believed it, and in after years, to my torture, tbey have
pierced me through a canvas hammock on tbe shores of tbe
Georgian Bay.
That these men were loyal, brave, and not over scrapu-
lous, could not be denied. When their services were re
quired- to suppress tbe rebellion in lower Canada in 1838,
tbey went down infantry and returned cavalry, and would
have driven home before tbem tbe flocks and herds of tbe
rebels, bad tbey been allowed by tbeir superior officers.
Another interesting winter scene to me was tbe long
train (thirty or forty in a string) of traineaus of tbe habit
ants loaded with goods from Montreal, where tbey bad
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 deep in snow, and just out
of the way of tbe track, we bear the live tinkling of sleigh
bells as merrily approaches the dwarf, bardy Norman bred
pony, with tbe step, strength and agility of a tiger, bis
shaggy forelock shading bis eyes and forehead, and bis

OLD TBIE FARMING. 249
flowing mane bis neck and shoulders, otherwise his coat is
as sleek and smooth as that of a mole. On tbe traineau
is a hogshead of sugar seventeen hundred (1,700) pounds
in weight, or a hogshead of rum, molasses, or bales of dry
goods equal to that weight, but he moves along on his jog
trot with the ease of a ship at sea. Following close behind
is Jean Baptist, tbe owner and driver on tbe same trot,
but when tired, steps on the sleigh. He wears the conical
bonnet blue, pulled down over bis ears, bis gray capot
and tuque of etoffe du paye (home spun) wound tightly
around bim, and kept there by a red or blue sasb, the bot
tom of bis pants tucked under bis socks and lapels of his
soufliers de boeuf (half tanned cowhide) well greased and
defying snow or rain. Tbe never absent short clay pipe,
with its silver tube in wbicb is inserted tbe bone of a turkey
wing, wbicb makes it portable, otherwise carried in bis
pocket it would break. Tbe strong and fragrant vapors from
this fired clay, impregnates tbe cold and frosty atmosphere
and when it is out, be enlivens the air with tbe stirring song
of "A la Clair Fontain" or a "L'omber d'un bois je m'en
vais dancer," contented and happy as tbe day is long and

2SO OLD TIME FARMING.
proving the proverb "that where ignorance is bliss, 'tis
folly to be wise.''
After I bad been three years with the worthy bishop he
closed bis college, I believe for the want of support, his
means being very limited, and 1 returned with him to
Toronto, and just at that age when tbe most iniportant
step generally decides tbe make or break of one pursuit in
after life. As already mentioned I was not educated clas
sically, and my inclination led me to a rural life. Intent
upon this, I consulted my worthy parent, who bad grave
and serious objection to that kind of occupation, and he
thus reasoned:
"You are unaccustomed to tbe manual labor that is
required in the life of a Canadian farmer, nor are you pre
pared for the privations, bardsbips and self-denials involved
in sucb a life, and again you cannot expect to Hve alone
\'i'ithout a helpmate. In all probability you may be blessed
with children. Can you imagine the difficulty of raising
a family In the back woods, removed from schools, churches,
etc? Weigh, then, well the consequences. However, if
you have fully made up your mind to follow it, T will give

OLD TIME FARMING. 251
you the choice of a farm in any part of Ontario you may
select." I have often thought since what wisdom and
plain common sense there was in this wholesome advice.
I thought seriously of it and for the time abandoned the
idea, but I had left school and something must be done,
so I entered a lawyer's office, tried my band in a grocery
store, and at last purchased and sailed a schooner. In
February, 1833, my father died, leaving me an ample share
of his small fortune, principally in wfld lands, and had it
been carefully nursed would have left me comfortably
provided for in after life, but my old idea for a country
life returned, so I took to farming. I bad allotted as my
share a beautiful farm on the river Thames, two miles
above Chatham and containing two hundred and forty-six
acres (246) comparatively in a wild state with scarcely any
improvements, save a log bouse and six or eight acres
that could be cultivated. I hired a man and his wife to do
tbe 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 wbicb be was standing, with my right band resting
on a sapling and nearly witbin reach of bis axe, and as be
was reaching further below tbe 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 band, or my bead, for
that matter, was not chopped off, for we were both green
with tbe axe). Wrapping my fingers up with dead leaves,
we went borne, got a bunch of cobwebs in which my
fingers were enveloped and sent for Dr. Ironsides at Chat
ham, who soon appeared and fastened tbe fingers to
gether with sticking plaster. It was some time before
I could again shoulder tbe axe, but quite recovered from
the injury, though tbe scars are still left. I then began
to realize tbe truth of my father's admonition, but this did
not intimidate me in tbe least, and when I recall tbe first
years of my farming experience it often provokes a smile
at the ridiculous straits I was put to, yet what extraordi
nary things have been done with this simplest of imple
ments, and bow often from tbe stately forests, will we see
tbe 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 tbem in every direction, and tbe solitary wood
pecker, the drumming partridge, and that king of tbe fea
thered tribe, tbe golden crested wild turkey in company
with tbe red deer tbeir sole occupants; and now what do
we behold: Commodious and comfortable brick bouses
and barns, extensive meadows and fields stocked with tbe
finest cattle and sheep in tbe world, with teeming orchards
of the best fruits in America and everything pertaining
to the comfort, wealth and edification of a farmer's life
adoming tbeir homes; therefore I contend that the sturdy,
noble and lion-hearted farmer who bas 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 tbe age.
In pursuing this secluded Hfe deprived of all amuse
ments, tbe greatest pleasure is to make tbe most of your
surroundings, and rejoice in tbe successful efforts in sub
duing tbe stately forests, and witnessing tbe vigorous
growth of your first crops from tbe virgin soil, and pleased
to make of your patient ox and faithful steed your con-

254 OLD TIME FARMING.
stant companions in labor, and tbeir only reward meted
out to tbem by gentle treatment and care for tbeir com
forts. Tbe fruits of your labors should afford you mnnite
pleasure, as you obserAre tbe thrifty orchard, and well
stocked vegetable garden, supplying you with delicious
fruits and vegetables, and what with tbe ornamental trees
judiciously laid out and beautifying your country home,
what more could one reasonably desire. To bring this
about, however, cannot be accomplished without ceaseless
toil, excessive labor and patience, or abundant means
(money) to employ others to do it. Not being inured by
practice in the days of my youth to tbe former, and not
possessing tbe latter, I struggled along.
I will now return to my first straits. I tbink about tbe
greatest difficulty I had to contend with was tbe making
of bread; as we bad no cooking stoves in those days, tbe
old-fasbioned Dutch oven (simply an iron pot with a cover)
was tbe sole one in use, but as only one loaf at a time
could be baked, it was exceedingly troublesome, so I de
termined to build a clay one, sucb as were seldom seen,
and originated with tbe first and probably French or Dutch

OLD TIME FARMING. 255
settlers, and as a neighbor of mine bad some little knowl
edge of their construction, I secured bis services. So we
went to work and sank four posts in tbe ground, four feet
high, and across the top of these we laid split puncheons
or staves of bass wood to form a bed or foundation, say
four by six feet, over which it was to be covered with eight
inches of mortar, or clay, then we took an empty barrel
with the head knocked out, and laid it on its side length
ways. Now this was to form the shape of the oven, then
we commenced preparing tbe mud cats. My readers, I am
sure, never beard of that name. Well, I wifl tefl you
what tbey were, and bow made. We made a bole in the
ground, throwing tbe top sofl away, and came to tbe clay,
which we bad worked up with the spade and boe, to the
consistency of thick mortar, then a bay rope about two
feet long and size of your thumb, wbicb we souced and
worked in this mortar untfl fl was about as thick as your
arm, then laid it carefufly around tbe barrel and over fl; this
is a mud cat. Leaving a place for tbe door and shaping it
the size you want it with a piece of boop iron; then we give
it a thick coat of mortar, making it about eight inches

256 OLD TIME FARMING.
thick— behold tbe oven built. Now we fill tbe barrel
chock full of kindling and set it on fire, and when it is
burned out your work is done, and I'fl wager there is no
invention of man that wifl 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 bas led to
afl tbe improvements of tbe age, and tbe saving of
labor bas been tbe first consideration. X^ow, when my
oven was built I bad not taken a wrinkle from my good
friend and neighbor, Jake Sbepley, and if "an honest man
is the noblest work of God" be was one, but be 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 bim
seated by tbe side of a pit wbicb be bad dug out, with a
pail of water on one side and a half bushel measure of peas
on tbe other and six thundering barrows (bogs) in tbe
pit. I saluted bim thus: "Jake, what in Sam Hill are
you doing?" Squirting a mouthful of tobacco juice clear
over the pit be replied, "I am preparing for mud-cats."
He then threw in a handful of peas, then a bucket of water.

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I

OLD TIME FARMING. 257
and the way those bogs went at it was "root bog or die;"
and thus be prepared clay for bis oven. Nothing Hke
necessity, tbe mother of invention.
About this time I bad a visit from my neighbor, John
Arnold, who asked me to ride with bim to Chatham, when
the following conversation took place: "Wefl, Mr. B.,
how do you like farming?" "I rather like tbe country life," I
repHed, "but I don't tbink there is much money in it."
"You are right," be said, "there is not. Keep out of debt,
economize and utilize all you can. Now, I think," be
•continued, "that you labor under great disadvantages, and
I'll tell you what I mean. You are lucky in getting your
farm without paying for it, but you have to pay out money
for afl you touch; for instance, you paid for your horses,
wagon, harness, plough, etc., and even your bats, 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 bad
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 tbe 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 bull-plough (made entirely of wood, and
faced with a plate of steel. Tbey lasted for years in tbe
clay soil of Kent, where there are no stones.) I raised
my horses from tbe old mare, and made my wagon, plough
and barrow. Tbe harness, a breast strap and rope traces,
and no britcben required, as there are no bills. My bat a
straw," be continued, "is made by my daughters; my coat,
pants and shirts are home made; even my shoe packs I
made myself out of a bide that Peter Ralston, alias 'Peter
Rawhide,' tanned on shares; and my harness tbe same.
Now all I have to pay for is a pound of tea a month for
tbe 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 tor me, and it reminds me now of another instance
of a successful farmer who settled on tbe 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 bim bis young wife, just married, an ac-

OLD TIME FARMING. 259
complisbed and highly educated person. After cleaning
up a hundred acres or so and building commodious barns
and beautifying bis forest home, bis 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, be tried to sell out
and leave Canada, but was dissuaded from it, in fact he
bad spent so much of bis means that no purchaser could
be found. Knowing tbe inutility of farming without a wife,
and not disposed to marry again, except an English lady,
be went to England and brought out another one, equafly
accomplished as tbe first, and lo! in a few years sbe passed
away as did tbe previous one. It was at this period that
my informant called upon bim and found bim in a state
of frenzy, crushed by- bis dire -misfertttn^, and resolved to
quit the country forever, but be bad spent so much im
proving bis place that again no purchaser could be found.
Ill this state be left bim, and when my informant paid him
tbe next visit, a few years after, be found bim in bis bar-
vest field with several loaded wagons securing a bountiful ¦
crop of one hundred acres of wheat, joyous, happy and

26o OLD TIME FARMING.
contented. "Why," he remarked, "Mr. S., you appear in
a very different mood than when I last saw you." "Yes,"
be replied, "then I was crushed indeed, but time bas its
soothing influence and finding that I could not sell out
except at a ruinous sacrifice I determined to take another
wife. Sbe is to tbe manor bom, inured to tbe cHmate,
familiar with all the duties of a backwoods life, makes our
own clothes, goes to market and provides for. tbe bouse
with sales of butter, poultry, eggs, etc., and we are mak
ing money band over fist." How many simflar cases have
I known in Canada, but bow few succeeded as well in a pe
cuniary way.
Now came tbe tug of war — plowing. I bad a pretty
good span of horses, but tbey were as strange to tbe plow
as I was, who never bandied one. I was then twenty-
four years old. Tbey were in good order, fat, frisky and
playful, and I was strong, active and fearless. I bad opened
two or three furrows around tbe field (instead of in lands,
ten or twelve feet wide, tbe proper way) and following
tbe 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
traordinary sensation seized me, as if some fiend bad
brained me with a club. Recovering from my stupor I
found myself straddle of tbe beam of the plow,
and tbe horses out of sight. Tbe plow bad struck a bid
den root, the double tree had parted in tbe middle and the
lines around my neck jerked me suddenly over tbe bandies
and onto tbe beam. Limp and sore I found my poor
horses at the stable door, who saluted me with a snort.
Patting them gently I led tbem back to tbe plow. Do
you think that that intimidated me? X^o, but still 'I could
not forget my poor father's counsel. I learned afterwards
to hold tbe lines in each band and not around my neck,
and thus avoid another thunder clap.
It was not only with tbe plow that 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 tbe mysteries of a farmer's life; for
though ever so simple, tbey are as necessary to learn and
master, as is Blackstone to tbe advocate, Abernetby to
tbe physician. Watts to tbe engineer, or belles letters to
tbe philosopher.

262 OLD TIME FARMING.
It was whfle intent and determined to foflow this pur
suit in life, that I took to myself a partner, and although
unaccustomed to life in tbe backwoods, sbe cordially
and cheerfully aided me in my every effort — but man pro
poses and God disposes — alas, in nine months on a tem
pestuous and stormy nigbt in February sbe passed away,
leaving a still born infant as a pledge of our love.
My beartb and home became too desolate, and I left
it to allow tbe current of time to allay tbe troubled stream,
and after a four years' respite again took another part
ner, and lo, tbe avenger cleft from my side another flower
of Eve. Many would suppose that this was enough to
discourage me, but no, such are tbe attractions of "Home,
sweet Home," that it is difficult to part with tbe shade
trees that you have planted to screen tbe rays of tbe mer
idian sun from tbe cottage door, tbe thrifty fruit trees that
have contributed their luscious fruits to appease tbe thirsty
palate, and the creeping rose and honeysuckle perfuming
tbe air that invites you to repose. Again did- the third
partner link ber fate to mine. Nurtured afid accustomed

OLD TIME FARMING. 263
to tbe refinements and luxuries of a city life, attractive
by ber charms, sbe forsook afl to share my lot.
The privations, exposure and bardsbips of ber forest
home preyed upon ber health, and as if to crown all our
misfortune in tbe depth of a cold winter nigbt, with two
feet of snow mantling tbe earth, a blaze was discovered
in tbe roof of tbe bouse, and in tbe 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 tbe very spot where lay tbe asbes of my once bappy
home another was erected, of far more commodious and
comfortable proportions, but for various reasons I aban
doned it to cast my lot in a different sphere of life with
out a regret, for events have proved to me that I struck
a wrong track when I took to farming, and I am reminded
of a jocular remark made to me by my old friend, John
Prince, who, when be first came to Canada in 1832, said,
"my father kept a pack of bounds in England, but tbey
soon ate bim up." Now in comparing my lot to bis
there was but this difference, tbe bounds did not con-

264 OLD TIME FARMING.
sume me, but my farm did, and I would certainly advise any
young man or old one (if he desires to farm in Canada),
to apprentice himself to a prosperous and practical 'farmer
and acquire a thorough knowledge of it before launch
ing on so precarious a sea of life.
In 1858 I bade farewell to my forest home with mingled
feelings of pleasure and regret, and a broad field of un
certainty before me, but tbe active life I bad led unsuited
me for a sedentary one, and I was soon induced to em
bark in a trade, wbicb unfortunately proved as disastrous
quite, if not more so, than farming for want of knowl
edge and experience, for in the former tbe loss came by
slow degrees, whereas in tbe latter it came with a run
ning hop, skip and a jump. Xeed I say it was tbe trade
of tanning. X'ot having the slightest experience in tbe
matter, I bad to trust entirely to others. I started in an
old tannery, with vats filled with old liquor (extract of
tan bark which had lost its strength for several years
standing), but used by my ignorant foreman with fresh
Mquor. Consequently, bides and skins to tbe value of
thousands of dollars were turned out, after six months'

OLD TIME FARMING. 265
i:n>.;'jiis waiting, almost worthless. The reverse was ap
parent, I was tanned, instead of the leather. I never re
covered from this false step sufficiently to continue in tliis
trade, so left it with dear bought experience. The great
X'apoleon wisely said, "Cest le premier pas qui cout.''
The first step, wisely or unwisely taken, leads to success
or faflure, or in other words, "There is a time and tide in
tbe affairs of men; if taken at the ebb, leads on to fortune.''
I always struck it at tbe wrong time. Resting on my oars
at this juncture, a bait was thrown out to me by a friend
that I eagerly seized, wbicb was to open a stone quarry
on tbe Great Manitoulin Island. Tbe enterprise ended in
forming a company to bore for oil instead, and after ex
pending $50,000 of the company's money 100 barrels only
was pumped out, and with it my last dollar. So ended
that venture.
A northerly current drifted me into the regions of Lake
Michigan and Green Bay in tbe service of tbe United
States Lake Surveys of the Racine Reef and locating the
present Sturgeon Bay ship canal. Too much praise can
not be said in favor of tbe discipline, order and efficiency

266 OLD TIME FARMING.
of this admirable corps. After an honorable discbarge
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.