The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-06-30
BILL JOHNSON.
From The albany Argus..

of this gang is William Johnson, and known
also as the leader in the destruction of the
Sir Robert Peel. He is a Canadian by
birth, is about5S years of age, of apower-
ful frame, and of great fearlessness and en-
ergy of character. He has four sons, who
partake, to considerable degree, of the
character of the father. He was employed
as spy in the American service during
the last war; andin the course Of it perform
ed many bold and hazardous exploits. He
had at his command a six-oared barge, in
which he roamed the lake and the river, in
terceptng dispatches, attacking the small
craft, seizing property, and harassing the
British settlement. On one occasion he
intercepted dispatches twice in one day at
Presque Isle. On another, his boat having
been driven on the British shore in gale,
and his crew captured, he eluded his pur-
sures for fortnight, and finally made his es-
cape in bark canoe, crossing the lake (36
miles in width) alone in that frail vessel,
and reached Sackett's Harbor in safety.
Since the war he has resided at French
Creek, in the double capacity of trader and
smuggler. 1t is said that he boasts of hav-
ing force under his immediatne command,
of $50 men; but this is probably exaggera-
ton, although he has undoubtedly more
than those who were with him in the cap
ture of the Sir Robert Peel, and could proba-
bly, command, if necessary, much greater
number.
The principal rendezvous and head-quar-
ters of Johnson and his marauders, is at a
fastness called Fort Wallace, on an island
at the head of Wells Island, and qCithin
the British territory. 1t is said to CONTAIN
a fortifcation of much strength Of position;
little is known, however, in relation to it,
as Johnson refuses to letany onenot belong
ing to the gang, visit it. He boasts much
of its strength, and expresses the belief thar
with a dozen men he could defend it against
the attack of two hundred. He has sec
ond rendezvous ON Abel's Island, immedi-
ately below Wells Island and opposite AL
exandria Bay. "I'he Thousand Islands"
are said 10 number about seventeen hundred,
and TO vary in size from the miles in length
to single rock a foot square. Wells ISL
and from whence the attack was made on
the Sir Robert Peel is the largest of the
group, and forms what 81 designated by the
sailors the Upper Narrows-the passage
bringing vessels within pistol shot of the
island. They occupy more than twenty
five miles i'll the river, which in some places
is more than ten miles wide. They are
little else than rock, with occasional patches
of fertile land. Their sides are in many
parts perpendicular rocks, thirty feet in
height, with abrup: shores, and great depth
Of wafer. They are generally covered with
nassaof,s - -~nd thick underbrush; and the
ing, and often rocky: ki5e IRIS farfs q2rE9E q2rE9Ei Minas iinas
BILE to conceive of place better formed by
nature to afford secure retreat for freeboot-
ers thah this cluster Of islands.
Johnson has several boats, every way
adapted to his designs, one of which is for
ty feet in length, but of so light construc-
ton as to be easily carried across the island,
and its speed is said to exceed that of the
swltest boats on the lake. Shortly after
the destruction of the Sir Robert Peel, he
proceeded in this boat with a few of his
men up the lake, made predatory incursion
| upon an island near mouth of the Bay of
Quints. and plundered the inhabitants, re-
turning on the night Of the 9Th inst, to the
fastness of "The Thousand Island.,' 1t is
not known that he has been on the main
land since the burning of the S. r. p. He
has had occasional interviews with some OF
our citizens since that event, but they have
taken place on the water. He and those
that at end him on these occasions are well
armed. His own appearance, with six pis-
tolls, dirk and bowie knife in his belt, is
sufficiently belligerent; and hehas with him,
it is said invariably, the colors of the Sir.
r. p. He considers the destruction of that
vessel as an act of piracy, and that his life
has become thereby forfeited, and says he
shall sell it at the dearest rate.
Such is the character of the Buccaneer
of the lake; sufficient surely, with the natur-
al and ordinary progress of exaggeration,
to be subject of alarm 10 the border inhabi,
tants.-An alarm not altogether groundIess,
from the fact that the larger islande of this
numerous group are inhabited by lawless
race Of half banditti; who would scarcely
scruple to join in nearly any enterprize for
plumber; who nave perhaps one hundred
boats, and whose number has been enlarged
considerably by refugee accessons. II is
supposed that there are at least one thousand
refugees and other persons on these islands,
under the control and at the command OF
| Tohhson and sevpraI thousaudr of ,aG,o.oa..