The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-09-27
PIRACY ON THE LAKES. I
Statemc cnts Of the Pilot, Fire
[. man and WatcIlman.
FULL PARTICULARS.s

Z The long;talkeds Of raid upon our
Lake commerce, concerning which our
city and border were thrown into great
excitement near one. year ago has at
last eliminated. The treacherousre
els who have been skulkipg along our
border-the remnants ofguerilla bands
and escaped prisoners from Johnson's
Island and Camp Douglas, transported
Kentucky secessionists, and copper
heads--have organized a piratical raid
upon our commerce, the particulars Of
which we give, below, 1t has been n
bold affair when we consider the small
number known to be engaged, and the
audacity of its public management.
The ultimate object seems to have
been nothing less. than the capture Of
the United States steamer Michigan
and the release of the .Inhnson's Island
prisoners. That from Is to 25 men
could capture two steamers on Lake
Erie with full crew and passengers,
making in all some 40 persons, would
argue great panic on the part of. the
latter or great cowardice. The pirates
themselves seem to have in turn become
alarmed, as with the exception Of a
moderate amount of plunder, they
gain no result from their raid, except
wanton destruction of property and
were glad in the end to escape in any
hurly- -burly sort Of fashion. The
scheme of these men is doubtless not
yet fulfilled, and it behooves our citi-
zens to be on their guard. They in
tended originally to use the boats cap
tured 10 aid them in other piracies, but
becoming alarmed, surrendered all the
advantages they had. 1t is not proba-
BILE the little band whose crimes we re-
cord, constitute the whole of the con-
spiracy against our border, which has
been known to be brewing for months
past. b1l }iJiad yasm ~
STATEMENT OF THE PILOT.
Michael Campbell, pilot of the Philo
Parsons, makes the following state
ment: Early on Monday morning,
two men came to the boat, as she was
lying at Trowbridge, Wilcox & Co. s
dock, and enquired at what time the
boat would start? Capt. Atwood re-
piled at o'clock. They then inquired
if he would stop at Sandwich and take
on some passengers. The two men
took passage, and on stopping at Sand
witch four or five others got on board.
AT Maiden where the boat arrived
about halfpa o, about a dozen more
took passage making 16 in all, which
Mr.. Campbell estimates as the whole
number of the pirates. They made
themselves free and easy, patronizing
the saloon freely. About IL o'clock,
when on Lake Erie, one of the pirates
came into the pilot house and asked
Campbell what course he was steering.
The reply was the regular course
from Bar Point to North Bass Island.
He then requested the loan of the
spy glass, which was granted. When
within six miles of the Middle Sister
the same man inquired what course
the steamer was on, which information
was given him. After, dinner seven or
eight of the pirates went up on deck to
take observations, but in the mean
time Campbell went below, his watch
as pilot being off at noon, after which
time it is customary for him to relieve
the mate below. Some Of the passen-
gers were at cards in the saloon, and
one of them made the remark that
there was a suspicious crowd on board
some Of them being armed with revol-
vers. Campbell replied that some of
them looked like Southerners. The
Parsons landed at North Bass Island,
where Capt. Atwood left the boat, that
being his residence, the mate taking
charge. Left Middle Bass for Kelley's
Island, where eight or ten passengers
were taken making between 40 and so,
men, women and children. Campbell
went to the lower deck to trim boat,
and happened to look into the ladies
cabin here he noticed certain mystic
rious movements among the strangers
such as revolvers, ard casting furtive
glanccs, as if to see if they were obsery-
cd. Some of them were also seen in
squads, talking in n very low tone.
The boat left Kelley's Island ON her
regular time for Cedar Point. Camp
bell went into the saloon and while
there heard the report Of pistol follow
ed byra scream. He reached the deck
saw one of the pirates, with cooked
revolver in one hand and an axe in the
other, running after the fireman.
jl Heard the exclamation "Go down
below, to forward hatch, or I'll blow
your did brains out.'' The fireman
however got away and went up on
deck, when he observed a man known
as the "ColoneI,'' who had taken the
boat in charge. The boat was in du-
rance, and five of the pirates Were at
the steps reaching to the lower decks,
each armed with one or two revolvers
and an axe. The passengers and crew
had been thrust forward on the deck
known as the promenade deck"--
where they were being examined sim
gly, to see if they had any weapons,
and after examination they were taken
aft into the cabin This was about A
o'clock. After this part of the pro-
gramme was concluded they Were all
ordered down into the hold excepting
the ladies and children and n few eld-
erly men, who were placed in the cabin.
Two Of the deck hands were ordered
on deck to throw overheard some hea-
Wy freight, mostly pig iron, and Camp
bell was ordered on deck, after which
the scuttleewere shut down. Camp
bell was ordered to run the boat back
to Maiden, keeping at usual distance
from Kelly's Island, for fear of being
known. They started and proceeded
some distance, but in the mean time the
fuel getting low, the "Colonep inquired
where any could be procured, to which