Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-06-08
{ On board the Steamboat One;df

Dout WIN mcln. we snail walt with anxiety Tor
further information.
! On board the Steamboat Oneida,
"Wednesday, 3Oth May, 1885.
TO the editor of the Morning Courier
SIR,--EXpectlng to be in Montreal as
soon as any other who has heard of the
burning of the steamboat Sir Robert Peel.
| shall give you a few of the particulars,
which may be relied on as facts g. not ru,
mors, as have my information from sew
eral eye witnesses.
About 9 o'clock this morning the stsam-
boat Sw Robert Peel stopped at land,
ing on Wells Island, about seven miles
below French Creek, belonging to, and
separated from the main land Of the U.
States, by channel not more than TWEEN
ty rods wide Immediately on her stop.
ping, man who had charge of the wood
on the wharf, stepped on board, and sta.
ted that number Of very suspicious
looking characters were near, and he
thought they had mischief in view, and
would therefore advise the Captain to start
Immediately.
The Captain paid no attention to this
| report, and proceeded with his business;
| IN about ten minutes afterwards, between
so and 40 men came out Of the bush, at
time when most of the hands were on
shore getting wood. The gang al dress
ed and painted, either as Indians or Ne
groes, rushed on board, some armed with
guns and fixed bayonets, some with pis-
tolls and swords, and others with an i'm
plcment resembling lance or spear on
red painted pole about feet long they
Immediately ordered the Captain on shore,
placed guard on the gangway to prevent
the men on shore from returning and
six Of them took possession Of the Engine
Room. AT this time great alarm was
created among the ladies', in consequence
Of the ruffians dashing their bayonets and
lances through the cabin windows, and
breaking open the various doors. AT
first, those gentlemen who attempted to
get out Of the cabin on deck, were push
ed back, either by a slight push Of the
bayonet, or by a strong one with the butt
of the guns. The next order was for all
the passengers and hands to be put on
shore, they at the same time shouted if
they would 60 on shore quietly no one
would be hurt. As all the passengers
were in bed at the time, many Of them
rushed to the deck nearly naked, and were
not allowed to return for either their
clothes or trunks, but rudely pushed on
shore if they did not walk off at once
They were only three cases in which they
allowed those who came on the deck 10 re-
turn for their clothes, but those who
brought their clothes or trunks on deck
were allowed to take them away. Sew.
cral of the ladies were driven on shore
in their night dresses, and the Ladies
Maid told me they were not even allowed
to take their jewellery. One man who
refused to leave the boat, was wounded
in the arm by bayonet.
When all who could be found were
driven on shore, the pirates cut the boa
out, and let her float down about fifty
rods, where they let 60 the anchor, ant
after remaining on board about half ar
hour, probably pillaging all that was va
liable and portable, they set her on fire
in several places and abandoned her.
Unfortunately the mate and pilot, Rode
rick M'Swan, had gone TO sleep ust a
the boat made the wharf, and did no
awake till the flames burst into his room
he rushed across the deck through tn
blaze, leaped into the water and swan
ashore. Poor fellow, he is now lying il
one of the berths oc this cabin, on his wa.
to his home in Prescott, with his face
hands and feet very badly burned. 1t i
exciting to look on this victim of thes
lawlcss brigands.
The purscr got across by some mean
to Gananoque, and travelled by land eS
press to Kingston, with the news of he
capture, which created great sensation
and an order was Immediately issued I
the several steamboats, in the port not
leave till farther orders. The Oneid
shortly after came up, with the passenger
Of the Sir Robert Peel, and brought tn
farther news Of the boat being burned
On hearing this news, many along III
R wharves became highly excited, and wei
R much inclined not to wait for the actlo
of the Government in the matter. A
t. the Kingston had orders not to move,
c. left her and proceeded downward on I'll
:. Oneida, and on arriving at French Crcel
nj learned the pleasing intelligence that ii
y, authorities were making every eXerlion
. arrest the perpetrators Of this unprovoke
outrage--they had already taken thre
- and were in pursuit after the rest. III
y name of one of the prisoners is Lee,
ut stonemason, and when arrested he ha
o. with him a Iady's silk cape, book {