Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-06-29
BILL JOHNSON, THE LAKE BUCA-
ON THE FRONTIEH.

events that transpire daily, continue TO excite
the public attention and interest "n"
may be the fnrher designs OF the marau-
ders, who seek either to embroilthe two gov
ernmenis. or to crafty their desire OF re-
venge oflheir thirst for plumber, unless ar
rested BY the strong arm OF both govern
ments, well and speedily put forth, may be
gathered from the following facts, which we
derive from authentic sources.
Early in the spiing a party OF refugees
made a Judgment on The Thousand is,
lands" in the ST. Lawrence. The leader OF
this gang is VIM. Johnson--well known IN
all that region us Bill Johnson--ond known
also as the leader in the recent destruction
of the Sir Robert Peel. He is Canadian
by birth, is about 50 years of age, OF pow.
rrful frame, and of great fcarlessness and
energy of character. He has four sons,
who partake to a considerable degree of the
shara,,vr of the father. He wre Employed
rs spy in the American service during the
las, war and in the course Of II performed
many bold and hazardous exploits. He
had at bis command a six Dared barge, ~
which he roamed the lake aud the river, in
ierceptng dispatches. attacking small craft,
seizing property, and harrassing the Brush
settlements. On one occasion he intercept',
ed dispatches twice IN one day at Pressure
Isle On another, his boat having been drlv.
en- on the Brush shore in gale aud his
crew captured. he eluded his pursureIs for u
fortnight, and finally made his escape in
bark canoe, crossing the lake Qhiry-six
miles in idth) alone in that frai vessel, aud
reached Sackeu's Hafbor in safety. Since
The war he has resided al French Creek, in
the double capacity Of trader and slnuggcr.
II is said that he boasts Of baving-a force I'M
der his immediate command Of $50 men;
but this is probably an eAaggeratlon. al
though he has undoubtedly more than those
who were with him in the capture Of the
Sir Robert Peel. and could probably com
mand, il necessary. a much greater mum
Der.
The principal rendezvous and head quar-
,ers OF Johnson and his maraudrrs. is at a
fasiness called Fon Wallace. on an Island
nj the bead OF Wells Island, and 'cithM Tie
British territory II is said to contain for
iiiicalion OF much strength OF position little
is known. however, in relation TO IL, as John.
son refuses to let any one not belonging TO
the gang. vs, il tle boasts much OF its
strength. aud expresses the belief that with
a dozen men he could defend it against the
attack OF two hundred He has srrond
rendezvous on Abers Island. Immediately
below Wells Island and opposite Alexan-
dria Bay The Thousand Islands" are
said to number about seventeen hundred, and
to vary in size from ten miles Ia length TO
single rock foot square Wells Island
from whence the attack wns made on the
Sir Robert Peel.) is the largcs, ofrhe group.
and forms what is designated by the sailors
the Upper Narrows--lhe passage bringing
vessels within pistol shot OF the island Taey
occupy more than twenty five miles ia the
river, which in solBe places is more than 10
miles wide They are little else than rock.
with occasional patches OF ienile land
Their sides are in many parts perpendicular
rocks. thirty feet in height, with abrup,
shores and great depth Of water. They are
generally covered with dense forests and
thick underbrush; aud the passages be-
tween them are narrow, winding and often
rocky 1t is scarcely possible 10 conceive
OF place better formed by nature TO afford
a secure retreat for ireeboo,ers than this
cluster of islands.
Johnson has several boats, every way
adapted TO his designs. one OF which is forty
feet in length, bu, OF so light a construction
ms to be easily carried across the islands,
and its speed is said 10 exceed that OF the
swlltesl boats on the lake Shortly after the
destruction Of the Sir Robert Peel. lac pro-
ceeded in This boat with few OF his men up
the lake made predatory incursion upon
an island near the mouth of the Bay of
Qulnta, and pundered The inhabitants, re.
turning on the night ofthr Sih inst 10 the
businesses of"The Thousand Islands" 1t
is not known that he has been on the main
hnd since the burning OF the S. r. u. He
has had occasional interviews with some OF
our citizens since that event, but they have
taken place on the water lie and those
tina, attend 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 he has with
HIM, II is said, invariably, the colors of The
Sir X. Z. He considers the destruction of
that vessel as IN nc, OF piracy, and that his
life has become thereby forfeited, aud says
he shall sell il at the dearest rate
Such is the character OF The Bucanier of
the Lake sufficient surely, with tie natural
and ordinary progress Of exaggera,ion, 10 be
n subject OF alarm TO the border inhabitants.
An alarm not altogether groundless, from the
lacl that the large islands of this numerous
group are inhabited by lawess race OF
half handful who would scarcely scruplr
TO join in nearly any enterprise for plumber
who have perhaps one hundred boats, and
whose number has been enlarged consider
ably by refugee accessions. 1t is supposed
hat thare "a, NJ least nna thons.nd II, s,s