Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-09-09

and probably much actual suffering would
have ensued but for this. The little stores
in the country towns each had its ashery,
and all were eager to purchase. Upon the
sales of their pot and pearl ashes In Mon
treal they depended almost entirely tor the
means of remittance to their creditors IN
the American cities. So important was
the traffic that in most of the interior
towns of Vermont, during the greater por-
ton of the year, uot dollar in money
could be raised except from the sale OF
ashes. Without this, goods or provisions
could not have been imported, taxes could
rot have been collected, and the country
must have been greatly impeded In its ad-
vance and prosperity. The embargo, there
ore, inflicted upon this interest destruc-
tive blow. The mere han is had large stocks
of ashes on hand and more or less amount
lue from the settlers, which were payable
in that commodity. With ruin staring
them in the face, the temptation to run
their ashes across the line to Montreal was
too great for the patriotism OF the most OF
them, smuggling was commenced on an ex-
tensva scale. To counteract and repress
this, numerous force of revenue officials
were posted along the frontier, to which
were shortly added guards at different
points from the militia. The extent to
which party spirit was at that time carried,
greatly favored the smuggler. The Fed
eralists were his friends. In their utter alb
lorence of Pres ident Jefferson's administra-
ton and the embargo, the most of them were
ready to notify the smugglers OF the advent
of the custom-house officer, to guide HIM
to a place Of safety, or to secrete his goods
upon their own premisis. No lnformer
ever arose from the ranks of the Federal
ists; so much was certain, and where d.
rect aid might not be obtained, the snug
gIer knew that he was safe from betrayal
But on the other hand the Democrats, the
supporters of Mr.. Jefferson, favored the
enforcement of the law, They sided with
the revenue officials, and many of them
were active in giving information of the
place where smugglod goods or property
was concealed Loads of potash, or droyes
of cattle, would sometimes be accompanied
with force sufficient to overawe the Gus
tom-house officers, and prevent all attempt
at seizure At other times, the officers of
the government would rally their Demo-
cratic friends in sufficient numbers to bear
down all opposition, and to seize and carry
away the property. Collisions of this kind
were not unfrequent, In several OF which
serious wounds were received and in one
case the result was death. Large quanti
ties of ashes were brought to the ports of
Lake Champain, and sold at a small price
to speculatng smugglers, who stood ready
to purchase. This beautiful lake, with its
secluded bays, shady hooks and uninhabited
islands, offered a convenient highway to
the smuggling boat, which moved only at
night, and remained quiet by day. Ma
jor Charles X Williams of Rutland, since
Chief Justice and Governor of the State.
was stationed with militia force, at the
important post of Windmill Point, on the
western shore of Alburgh.
The late Doctor Jabez Penninman of
Colchester was the collector of the customs.
\ twelve cared cutter called the Fly, be-
ione,;~s 70 thU @',Stnm-house department.
crulsed about the Ontlet OF the lake, and
smuggling in that direction, became un-
certain and dangerous. Peerless among
the boats engaged in smuggling, was the
terrible Black Snake. With a crew of
powerful and desperate men, thoroughly
armed, she had for Il few months de6ed the
government officials. Either by stealthily
Guiding their vigilance, or by overawing
them by a display of hostile force, she had
continued to freight large quantities of
pot-ashes across the line to Canada. They
had had at no time a force at their CON-
mand sufficient to render prudent an at
tempt to seize the audacous craft.
Dr. John Stoddard of St. Adams,
merchant and well known smuggler, en-
ployed the Black Snake to transport ashes
from St Albans bay into Canada. Their
course lay around the end of st. Adams
Point, thence along the eastern shore of
the lake to Maguam creek; upon this one
and a half miles, to a narrow strait coI.-
Meeting with Charcoal creek Here they
were obliged to tighten their boat by re-
moving portion of her loading to smaller
ones They then foated into Charcoal
creek, down this into Missisquoi river,
thence down the river to its mouth across
Misssquoi bay to Cooks bay in Canada,
to place now called Hilliker's Landing,
about one mile north Of the village of AL
burgh Springs. The boat had made sew
eral trips with complete success, but was
at length encountered by Officer Joseph
Stannard, who commanded the crew In the
name of the United States to surrender
Stoddard was on board. and persuaded the
men to exert themselves at their oars.
Stannard, being without force to back his
demand was compelled to witness their safe
escape across the line into Canada But
the officers of the government were now
fully determined upon her capture The
Black Snake was built to run as ferry
boat between Charlotte, VT and Essex,
y. Y, and was used some time for this
purpose. Her length was forty feet,
width, fourteen, sides straight and high,
depth, four and half feet. She had
seven oars on a side, sharp bow and square
stern torecastle, but no cabin. She
had u mast and one sail was steered by
rudder, was never painted, but besmeared
with tar, which gave her black appear
ance, John and Ezekiel Taylor of Cald-
wells Manor in Canada, purchased her to
run as a smuggling boat; but when the
trips became dangerous, they employed a
man by the name of William Mudgett, to
navigate her, AS she could carry nearly
one hundred barrels of potashes, at a
freight of five or six dollars per barrel,
the enterprise was a paying one, and JUS
tilted some risk. But her audacious ca
reer was drawing to close, The collector,
DIR. Penniman, applied to Major Williams
for detachment of men to proceed in the
revenue cutter called the Fly, to find and
capture her. On the first day of August,
A. ID. 1903, Lieut.. Daniel Harrington, of
Brandon, discreet and competent officer,
Sergeant David B. johnson, and twelve
infantry privates, were detailed for service.
Thn Rla cl- SnaLa had or1,cSod tho Limo