The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-08-06

BILL JOHNSON, the Hero Of the Canadian Re-
6elIf0n IA correspondent of the New York
Herald gives the following interesting sketch:
| selected as the place of rendezvous Clayton
formerly French Greek, 80 miles from WATERFOWL
quiet, pleasant village, built on a pavement Of
primitive strata, which out crops all along the bank
OF the river. Bill Johnson, the Hero of the Cana
dian Rebellion, resides here. As all sorts Of ex-
travagant stories afloat concerning his marvel
Gus career, outline Of his history may interest
many Of your readers.
He is a native of Canada, and now nearly seven
ty, with an athletic and commanding form, and is
still the corsair OF the Fifteen Hundred Islands
that crowd the St Lawrence within a. small Sec
ton OF its ample current. The first adventure
which made him known in England and the Uni
ted States, was his daring robbery Of the enemy's
mail during the last war, for which he received
reward of $500. From that time he became
hunted outlaw to the English, and recprocated
most cordially their enmity In MAY, 1888, he
boarded the Sir Robert Peel, British steamer
with thirteen men, expecting promised reinforce
ment. The failure scattered his band, and he fed
to the wilderness of islands, where for several
months he eluded the search of his enemies. If he
heard the puff of steamboat in pursuit, starting
| from his ambush, he dropped his canoe upon the
opposite side Of the island and shortly looking
out from distant eyry on the fruitless chase-fy-
ing from every attempt to arrest him. like invis-
ibe yet dreaded genius Of the romantic solitude
Kate, his second daughter, often sought his lair
in light skiff, to carry food and cheer the fugitive
in his exile. Never man in more painful
suspense. Both Governments offered large bounty
for his apprehension for breafing neutrality laws
and the loss of the vessel, which he afirms the
crew set on fire. The following autumn he deliv-
cred himself up to the civil authorities of this State
and was lodged in the Jail at Albany-was bailed
out in the spring and returned to his avorite hadnt
| When the time Of trial came Van Rensselaer,, in
prison with him, was pardoned by the payment Of
a fine and his case postponed. Johnson, who said
he liked the Jaor but was tired of confinement, at
| eight o'clock the same evening made his escape
and walked forty miles before daylight when, over
come with WEAKNESS, he took to the canal Kate
who passed most of the period he was in Jail with
her father, had lef. two weeks previous but joined
him in Rome; and the Captain was soon darling
once more along the shadowy channels Of this mag.
nifcent river. He has the standard of coors taken
from the Robert Peelin safe keeping Kate is
married and lives snugly near the paternal domi-
Gil. She has been taken in good society, praised
and onized, till we surmise that her seclusion
naturally enough, is not entirely agreeable. Hel
mind is clear and active, her character independent
and her manners pleasing. Her life of adventure
and excitement has not been favorable to the cul
ture of the moral feelings, though the religious ell
ement may now appear in retirement