New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-25
SUMMER RETREATS.
Three Days among tue Thousand ISLANDS
Bill Johnston The Hero Of the Canadian Re-
belliOE-Kate the Hereisc OF the IsIaaas-
Scenery of the ~. Lawreoce.

| Three Days among tue Thousand Islands
Bill Johnston the Hero Of tho Canadian Re-
bellioE-Kaie the HsrsInc of the IsIaaas-
Scenery of the 81. Lawrooce.
Correspondence Of Tbs Trbuns.
ALEXANDRIA BAY. Wednesday, July TO- 1850.
FRIEND GREELEY: Since my arrival on tho from
tier have thought ID a serious mistake that you
failed to make your intended excursion to The
Thousand Islands during your Northern tour.
1 selected as the place OF rendezvous, Clsyto
formerly French Creek, 30 miles from Waterto wn )
quiet, pleasant village built on pavement o
primitive strata, which out crops along the bank OF
the River. Bill Johnston, the Hero Of the Cenadi-
an Rebellion resides here. As all sorts OF exray.
agsnt stories are aAOst concerning his marvellous
career, an outline Of his history may interest many
Of your readers.
He is q native Of Canada, and now nearly seventy,
with an athletic and commanding form, and 10 still
the corsar Of the Fifteen Hundred Islands that
crowd the st. Lawrence within small section Of
It's ample current. The first adventure which m ade
BIN krown in England and the United States, was
bis daring robbery Of the enemys Mail during the
last War, for which he received a reward Of $500
From that time be became q hunted outlaw 70 the
EDglsb and reciprocated most cordially their en-
nifty. In May, 1888, he boarded the Sir Robert
Peel British steamer. with thirteen men, expect
ing promised reinforcement. The failure scat
tered his band, and he fed 10 the wilderness OF
Islands, where for several months he eladed the
search Of bis enemies. II he heard the puff Of e
steamboat in pursuit. starting from his ambush, he
dropped his canoe upon the opposite side Of the
island, and was shortly looking out from q dstant
eyry on the fruitle. Classifying from every at
tempt TO arrest him, like an invisible yet dreaded
genius Of the romantic solitude
Kate, bis second daughter, often sought bis lair
ina light ski to carry food and cheer the fugitive
in bis exile. Never was a mas In more painful
suspense. Both Governments offered large boan.y
for bis apprehension for breaking neutrality laws
and toe oss Of the vessel. which be aairms the
crew set on Ere. The following Au,amn be deliy-
cred himself up 10 the civil authorities OF this State
and was lodged ia ,hsjail a. Absny-wu baIled
out in the Spring and returned 10 bis fsyorte haunt
When the time OF triai came, Van Rensselaer,, In
prison with him, was psrooned by the payment Of
fine and bis case postponed. Johnston, who said
he liked the Jailor but xss tired Of confinement at
o'clock the same evening made his escape and
walk ed forty niles before a,light, when, over.
come with WEAKNESS, he took 10 the Canal Kate,
who passed most Of TIE period be was 10 jail with
her father, bad les two weeks previous, but oined
him in Rome and the Captain was soon dssing
once more along the shaio~y caanae's Of this mag.
nifcent river. He has the standard Of colors taken
from the Robert Peel in safe keeping Kate is
married and lives snugly near the pasernsl doni.
Gil Che has been in good society. praised and
lionzed, til We sGrmse that her secinsion, na,ur.