The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-07-03
BILL. JOHNSON, THE LAKE BUG
CANEER-SCENES ON THE FROM
TIER.

The condition of the frontier, and the events
that transpre daily, continue to excite the pub
lie attention and interest. What may be the
farther designs of the marauders, who seek
either to embroil the two governments, or TO
gratify their desire of revenge or their thirst for
punder, unless arrested by the strong arm oi
both governments, well and speedily put forth,
may be gathered from the following facts which
we derive from authentic sources.
Early in the spring a party of refugees made
a lodgment on THE Thousand Islands," in
the ST. Lawrence. The leader of this gang is
William Johnson-well known in all that re-
gion as Bill Johnson-and known also as the
leader in the recent destruction of the Dir Rob
ert Peel. He is Canadian by birth, is about
5S wears Of age, Of a powerful frame, and OF
great fearlessness and energy OF character. lie
has four sons, who partake to considerable de-
gree of the character of the father. lie was
EMPLOYED as spy i'm the American service du-
ring the last war; and in tire course of IT per
formed many bold and hazardous exploits. lie
had at his command six cared barge, IN which
he roamed the lake and the river, lntercepting
dispatches, attacking small craft seizlng prop
erty, and harassng the British settlements oh
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
nursSlers for a fortnight, and finally made his
escape i'm bark canoe, crossing the lake (thir-
tvsix miles in width) alone in that frail vessel,
and reached Sacket,'s Harbor in safety. Since
the war he has resided at French Creek, in the
double capacity of trader and smuggler. IL is
said that he boasts of having force under his
immediate command of $50 men; but this Is
probably an exaggeratioD, although he has un-
doubtedly more than those who were wnh HIM
in the capture of the Sir Robert Peel, and could
probably command, if necessary, much great
er number
The principal rendezvous and head quarters
of Johnson and his marauders, is at fastness
called Fort Wallace, on an Island at the head
of Wells Island, and 1Cittin he British terTlto-
ru Ii is said TO contain fortihcation of much
strength of position little is known, however,
in relation to il; as Johnson refuses TO let any
one not belonging to the gang visit 1t. He
boasts much of its strength, and expresses the
belief that with a dozen men he could defend
il against the attack of two hundred. lie has
a second rendezvous on Abers Island, iInme-
diateIy below Wells Island and opposite Alex
andria Bay. "The Thousand Islands, are
said to number about seventeen hundred, and
to vary in size from ten miles IN length TO a
single rock foot square. Wells lsland( from
whence the attack was made on the Sir Robert
Heel,l - INC largest VI tilc SfOupf anu totmS
what is designated by the sailors the Upper
Narrows-the passage bringing vessels within
pistol shot Of the island. They occupy more
than twenty-five miles in the river, which in
some places is more than 10 miles wide. They
are little else than rock, with occasional patch
es of fertile land. Their sides are in many
parts perpendicular rocks, thirty feet = height
with abrupt shores, aud great depth OF water.
They are generally covered with dense forests
and thick underbrush; and the passages between
them are narrow, winding and often rocky. IL
il scarcely possible to conceive Of place bet
ter formed BY nature to afford a secure retreat
for freebooters than this cluster Of islands.
johnson has several boats, every way adapt
ed TO his designs, one Of which is forty feet IN
length. but Of 50 light a construction ss to be
easily carried across the islands. and its speed
| Is said TO exceed that Of the swiftest boats on
/ the lake. shortly after the destruction OF the
1 Sir Robert Peel. he proceeded in this boat with
few Of his men up the lake, made predatory
4 incurs,on upon an island near the mouth OF the
Bay Of Quinta, and plundered the inhabitants
returning on the night OF the sth inst. to the
businesses Of T" The Thousand Islands. u is
no, known that he has been on the main land
: since the burning Of the :. X. p. lie has bad
; occasional interviews with some Of our citizcn'
since that event. but they have taken place %