Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-06-27
From The Journal Of Commerce.
NEWS FROM THE FRONTIER

NEWS FROM THE FRONTIER.
"The excitement growing out o
the recent outrage on the Sir Ro6er
Peel still continues, and occupies al
minds. Refugees from Canada, estl
mated at about fifteen hundred, arr
scattered along this frontier, and TO
months have been secretly but busllJ
engaged in preparations for an incur
sion into Canada. 1t is to be regret
ted that they have kept alive among
our citizens cool deal of the sympn
thy at first manifested for what wa:
termed the patriot cause. The pratt
cal conduct of these last desperadoe:
has had good effect in rectilying, to
some extent, an erroneous state o.pub'
lie feeling, but it has not as yet been
entirely ellicacious. The greater part
of the offenders have been arrested,
but the ringleaders are not yet taken,
and they probably owe their success
in GLIDING justice in some measure to
the interfering sympathy Of our people.
Most Of those who are still at large,
have taken refuge among the 'Thou>
sand Islands in the River st. Law
renee, and can assure you 1t Will be
a very difficult and dangerous matter
to dislodge them. What are called
the Thousand Islands, are in truth
about seventeen hundred, extending
some thirty miles up and down the st.
Lawrence; and by theirpecullar iorna.
ton and location, they present the
most secure retreat for ireebooters that
can be found in any quarter OF the
globe"
"These desperate men cannot be
driven of without military and naval
force of considerable power. The Is
lands have high rocky shores, are CO.
vered Will, dense wood, separated by
narrow, winding and intricate chan
neis, and full OF Businesses OF great
natural strength. The present pos
SCISSORS have numerous lurking places,
very difficult to be discovered, are
provided with water craft well adap-
ted TO their service, well armed, and
plentifully provided with ammunition
and provisions. Their leader, Will
liam Johnson, seems, to be, from all
accounts, admirably designed by char
acter, and fitted by education and hab.
il. for the enterprise in which he is en-
gagged. Hardy, bold and resolute, he
recklessly pursues the objects he has
in view. He Processes to be well
aware of the perlIs he encounters, ac'
knowledges the despera,eness of his
cause, aud avows his belief that he
shall lose his life in its prosecution
He declares that he will not be taker
alive, and has notified those who are
on the search for him, that they mus
bring their collins with them.
"He is literally armed 'cqp-a-pie
carries six pistols about his person,
repeating rife, dirk and bowie knife.
His row boat is nearly forty feet in
length, made Of white cedar, has eight
oars, and exceeds in speed, on trial
the fastest steamboat on the lake. lie
declares that he is al war with the
Queen of Great Britain, for the redrcs;
of injuries received from her Canadian
subjects that his warfare is honorable,
and that he acts under commission
received from the patriot Government.
He bids fair To he as renowned il buc.
caneering history as Captaia Kidd.
am interrupted, ana must abruptly
close my description Of the hero of The
Thousand Islands"