The native American., 1838-07-21
From The albany Argus.
BILL JOHNSON, THE LAKE BUCCA.
NEER
SCENE ON THE FRONTIER.

oCENE YIN lHE FRONTIER. r.a
The condition of the frontier, and the events
that transpire daily, continne excite the public
attention and interest. What may be the farther
designs Of the marauders; who seek either to EN-
broll the two governments or to crafty their de-
sire of revenge their thirst for pIunder, unless
arrested by the strong arm Of both governments,
Wei and speedily put forth, may be gathered
from the following facts, which we derive from
[authentc sources.
farly III the sprlng, party OF refugees made
"a Judgement on '.The Thousand islands, in the
81. Lawrence. The leader Of this gang is Will
liam Johnson-we known in all that region as
Bill Johnson-and known also as the leader in
the recent destruction of the Sir Robert Peel.
lie is Canadian by birth, is about SO wears
of age, Of powerful frame, and of great fear
lessness and energy of character. He has four
sons, who partake to considerable degree OF the
character OF the father. He was employed as a
| spy IN the American service during the last war,
and IN the course of it performed many bold and
hazardous exploits. He had at his command 4
river, merceptmg dispatches, attacking the small
craft selzing property, and harassng the British
settlements.
On one occasion he intercepted dispatches twice
IN one day Presque at Isle. On another, his boat
having been driven on the British shore in a
gale, and his crew captured, he eluded his pur-
suers Tor fortnight, and finally made his escape
| IN bark canoe, crossing the lake (36 miles in
wdth) alone in that frail vessel, and reached
Sacketts Harbor in safety. Since the war he
has resided at French Creek in the double ca
paclty of trader and smuggler. It is said thai
he boasts OF having force under his immediate
command OF SO men; but this is probably an ex
aggeraton, although he has undoubtedly more
than those who were with him in the capture
OF the Slr Robert Peel, and could probably com
mand, II necessary, much greater number.
he principal rendezvous and head quarters Of
Johnson ana MS marauders, is at fastness called
I ort Wallace, on an island at the head of Wells's
's!ahd' ana within the British territory. 1t is
sad to contain fortifcation of much strength Of
position; little is known, however. in relation 70
u, as johnson refuses to let any one not belong
ing to the gang visit it. He boasts much Of its
strength, and expresses the belief that with do
zen men ne could defend it against the attack of
Two hundred. lie has second rendezvous on
Aoel Island, Immediately below Wells's Island.
ahu a' opposite Alexandria Bay. ..The Thousand
's'ahus are SAID to number about l7OO,s and To
W III SIZE from 10 miles in length 10 a single
iock loot square. Wes's. Island (from whence
nc no a''acA was made on the Sir Robert PeeD is
VIC i'ges' OIL the group, and forms what is desig-
naou oy 'he sailors the Upper Narrows-the
i passage bringing GIN vessels within pistol shot of
.he island. They occupy more than 25 miles in
lhe rlvers' which IN some place is more than 10
miles wide. "A ~
They are little else than rock, with occasional
patches Of fertile land. Their sides are in manv
parts perpendicular rocks, thirty feet in height.
WI with abrupt shores, and great depth of water.
ihey are generally covered with dense forests
ana mick underbrush; and the passages between
Men are narrow, winding, and often rocky. II
scarcely possible to conceive place better
loiineo oy nature to afford secure retreat for
'ireebooters than this cluster of islands.