The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-01-28
WHOLE NO., Az.
Career Of a Canadian Patriot.

lew days since. says tho Madison (wis)
Argus, inan and his wife in MiIwaukie.
were arrested on charge Of stealing mon,
cy from Il sick stranger. who afterwards died
as was supposed. from tho effects of poison
Tho charge of murder was thon also brought
against them. IL was subsequently ascer-
tanned. however, that he was not poisoned.
but had died from inflammation and paraly-
sis Of the lungs.
Tho person who thus died was Benjamin
Lott. noted twenty years ago. during tho
Canada rebellion. as ono of tho bravest, most
reckless and daring o; the band engaged in
il.
llo was born in Canada, of Scotch parents
and spent the early portion of his life. if We
are not mistaken. IN the city of Toronto
| Those of the Canada patriots" of 1887 8
will remember him as one of the bravest
and most desperate Of the rebel army. IL
is true that he was tho author OF many bar
barous deeds, but they woro not wholly with
out cause.
In tho year 1897. whom the rebellion first
! broke out IN Canadaa sister OF Lofts whom
ne loved with Il brothers affection, fell into
tho hands of q number of British officers,
who submitted her To the GrOssest indigni-
ties. which, wC bolCvo ultimately resulted
in her death. Hcuc, forth L,tt harbured
tha bittcrcst cGmty towards tho government
and its officers aul from this occurrence
may be da,od tho beginning of his desperate
career. lie took prominent part in tho
/ burning OF the British steamer Sir Robert
Peel, in 1889, and at Mill Point, where so
many of tho rebels were captured no es-
capped by jumping from tho second story of
house aud cutting bis way through largo
/ party Of troops who had surrounded it,
. La, 81 .: l..
but shortly afterwards went back IN disg,i o
and shot Capt. Usher the loader of the Can
adian party who burned tho Ame, lean stenm-
cr Caroline. Tns sesns to he one of tho
most cOwardly acts ever committed bv Lett.
llu employ d man to go to Capt Ushers
headquarters at night. who under some pre-
tchc". had got to come to tho door, when
Lett shot him dend on the spot, and again
mado his escape to tho Amei lean side
Shortly afterwards ho blew up tho Canadi-
an steamer Great Western, at Oswego, n.
\ for which ho was arrested tried and con-
victcd AT Butf.lO He was sentenced to soy.
cu years imprisonment but while being con-
veycd to tho State Prison. handcnffed and
shnckled. he jumped from railroad train,
While ii was going at the rate of thirty miles
an hour. aud made his escape. His hands
were smaller than his wrists, and he found
httIn d!tilculty IN getting off the handcufs,
aud then. with his feet still chained. no
Jumped along about II mile. when ho took
pair of rocks and hammered at his ancles
until he got them broken off
1t would not do for him to remain on tho
Amercan side, SO ho went INFO Canada, and
commenced operations there again. and
among his exploits were the blowing up of
Brooks Mnnumrrta and also one of the locks
in tho Wnlaud canal. which events took
pIace in l-3S. lie eludru the vigilance Of
both the United States and Canadian Off
GERS for upwards of IA year. when he was fl
n"ly recdptrrcd and sent to tho New York
State Prison. on tho indictment for blowing
up tho Great Western, hut wac rardoned
out after two years confinement. After this
he came to Illinois. where he has since resi-
ded, aud We are Informed that he was tho
owner of considerable property in tho ycin
ity Of Ottawa in that State.