The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-01-15


(From the Spirit the Times J
THE CASE OF MCLEOD, AND
THE BURNING OF THE STEAM
BOAT CAROLINE.
We mentioned yesterday the admis. .
sion by Mr.. Fox. the British Minister,
in one Of his letters TO The Secretary of
State, that The burning Of the Caroline
was the "act Of persons in her Maies-
ty's service, obeyDg the orders Of their
superior aulhorities," and as the whole
Of that outrage will probably come up
again before the public, in consequence
ofthe arrest of Mr.. Mcleod charged
with having been concerned in it, and
whose release the British government
through Mr.. Fox has demanded, we
feel disposed 10 make few remarks
which we conceive german to the mat
ter. This outrage, 1t will be recolleCted,
took place on the night ofthe 29th De-
cem5er 1887. The steamboat Caroline
was lying at the wharf at Schlosser, N.
York, in peace and quietnes. She was
au American boat, was owned, and man
aged BY American citizens, and carried
an American flag. She had been en-
ployed during the day as ferry-boal,
by her proprietor, a citizen Of Buffalo,
and had carried men, who from motives
Of curiosity or business, had chosen to
visit the adjacent island. Her crew
were asleep after the tolls Of the day,
and several strangers too who had
sough, refuge on board Of her from tho
inclemency Of the weather, were repos-
ling peaceably on board, thanking Heav
on pre- baby for the hospitality ex,en-
ded to them. About midnight boats
filed with armed men left the British
shore. aud with mutiied oars approach
cd the devoted vessel. Tie watch on
board saw them, but he could have had
no idea Of the destruction intended -.
| The boat had been engaged in harm
less trade, and anticipating none, was
totally unprepsred for murderous ct
ltack. In moment after, British eff
GERS, and British soldiers, sprarg upon
her deck, and mockng at the flag OF
our country, oud despislng its boast ol
protec,lon, commenced with insatia,e
gredipess the work OF death. The alne.
oers aroused fom their beds by the
sharp fire Of pistols, the c|angor o
. swords, the oalhs and Impressions Of
the essaIants, and the horrd cry as
they buIchered the Americans, Of "g'vp
the ID rebels no quarter - They
rushed on deck, aud fearful picture
presented Itself. All was confusion
o terror and bloodshed. Ono American
5 Mr. Durfee had reached the waarf il
. safety, in his flight, for like his fellow 8
he was totally unarmed, when bulle
pierced his brain. and with leap on,
a groan Of agony, he fell and expired
How many were thus lphumsn)y tutcl
e cred, the rec ords of eternity aone cal
show. Some were able 10 dfng them
j. selves, wounded and mutilaied, to
place of safety. One, o citizen Of Buffa
10, whose only crime was that he hn'
G slept that night on board the CarolIpe
was found dead upon the shore and 1t i
}. eoniectured that several met their doom
lin a still more terrific way, by remsinin
y con- ncealed on board the boat during IN
't massacre. The British boast that i
f. this ralorous attack upon sleeping an
% unarmed men. they slew six or sevei
10 So be it. They are welcome TO the gl
" ry-and we hope our citizens will neve
J. forget it! The scene did not end here
}" "When the boats crew we're all escs
re- red OF murdered or perchance concet
n ed IN her, she was cut loose, toweG inl
the stream and set on fire, and slgu;
y IiCht WAS seen on tho British sho' c /
y guide the boals OF their return lror
Is their expedition. The scene now be
i, came one of awful sLbIlmI,y. The Ca
> roine was in flames, and the resistIet
!" food was bearing her on toward tn
cataract. As the Cres curled abol
, her her engine began 10 work by III
= hea, ofthe burning vessel, and the pitch
: flames threw a red glare on the wi
u scenery around her, 1t showed tn
'e wiu,ry forest, and glowed upon the wa
r ters-it revealed the rebel island, ar
NJ the barracks of the British soldiers,
oc showed too, the gashly corpse and clio
u ted gore of the murdered Durlee. OI
'e ward the burning vessel was borne, al
y nearer ard nearer the mighty precipi
Mt From one side size was viewed with e
n ultation-f from the other with de-
lie threats of vengeance; and as she near,
in the foaming gulf-'he Fall of Niaga'