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

QudTUer OlduleteT III Tue pore, ana WllCD
carried fifteen bullets.
On coming from Canada. they avowed
their determination to fight their way back
They were not very well supplied with
ammunition, but had jug containing two
gallons of rum. Under cover of the
night, they proceeded to Martins bay, or
the eastern shore of North Hero, where
they lay in seclusion through the day, and
during the night, went to the mouth OF
Onion river, where they arrived at sunrise
They kept on up the river, and reached a
place called joys Landing, three miles or
so from Burlington, about noon. They
drew their boat on shore some sixty rods
above this. Mudgett ordered the men to
clean and oil their guns, and to put in new
fints where they were needed. He then
proceeded in quest of provisions and am
munition, and returned with a supply
toward evening They shortly after this
received tidings that the revenue boat was
coming. Two men from Burlington, whose
names were not given, came to the landing
and informed the smugglers that they
would not give the boat load, as they
were informed the revenue cutter was
coming to take her. Mott showed them
the big gun, when one of them said he
would give the crew ten gallons of rum
if they would 90 down the river and take
the revenue boat Day and Perkins OBJ
jected, when the men took Mudgett aside
and conferred with him, after which sew
eral of the crew were set to work running
bullets, at which they worked all night.
The smuggling party were here Joined by
Francis Ledgard and David Sheffield, in
creasing their number to ten.
On Monday evening the Fly proceeded to
the southerly end of Hog Island, where
they remained until morning. On Tues
day they proceeded along the easterly
shore Of North Hero, after passing which,
and when opposite Middle Hero, man
upon the shore waved his handkerchief.
They came to and were informed by him
that the Black Snake had gone up Onion
River He also gave them the names OF
those on board On Wednesday morning
the Fly went up the river to joys Land
ing, where the lieutenant was informed by
Asa Rice that the Black Snake lay some
sixty rods above. They then rowed up
the river, and turning a small bend in the
beach, came to the place where she lay /;
one end of her was on the shore, fastened
to some bushes Midget stood upon the
beach, few feet from her, with gun in
his hand He called to the revenue boat
not TO land but they disregarding his at
tempt to intimidate them, ran in immedi-
ately along side, between the Black Snake
and the shore. Midget retreated a few
steps, but kept on threatening and said,
Don't Law hands on that boat. | swear
by Cd [ will blow the first mans brains
out who lays hands on her" Lieut. Far
rington, who seems to have been a brave
and prudent man, with several men then
stepped on board the Black Snake, when
Mott came forward with the big gun, and
resting it in the crotch of a small tree,
pointed to where the lieutenant was stand
I ING. As the two boats were about to cast
off, Midget came to the bank and cried to
his men: Come on boys; parade your
selves , YOU are all cuwardo .hOy are SU-
ing to carry the boat off" Ledgard came
and called in what was denominated in the
testimony given IN the trial, a methodist
tone Of voice, 'Lieutenant, prepare to meet
! your God; your blood shall be split be-
fore you get out of the river The snug
Cling crew, with the exception of Day and
Perkins. walked along the bank, using de-
fant and threatening language, as the boats
were going down the river, The Fly came
up to Joys Landing to receive Mr..
Rice, and take him across the river.
Before they had landed upon the opposite
side, there was a gun fired, the ball of
which passed between the boats. just as
the Fly struck the shore, a second gun
was fired, the ball ofwhich passed through
the stern, six inches from the lieutenants
/ legs. Several guns were fired at the Black
Snake on board of which was Sergeant
johnson and six men. On the Fly, as Ell
lis Drake of Clarendon, one of the soldiers
of Lieut.. Harrington. was stepping aft to
take the helm, he was struck in the head
by two balls and killed instantly. The
crews of the two boats were about to fire,
when the lieutenant said DO not fire
run to the south shore" This done, they
landed, and were met by Capt. Jonathan
Ormsby, citizen of that part of Burling-
ton, who inquired "Why he did not arrest
these men, who were violating the laws of
their countay."
The party ascended the bank. and had
passed few rods up the road, when the
large gun was discharged with its load of
fifteen bullets, slugs and buck-shot Capt.
Ormsby fell, pierced by five balls, exclaim-
ing, Lord have mercy upon me L am a
dead man" and instantly expired. Asa
Marsh, one of the soldiers of Lieut. Far
rington, resident of Rutland, received
two balls in his breast and buck-shot in
his right shoulder, gasped once or twice.
and died. Lieut.. Harrington, who had re-
Trained with so much patience from order
ing his men to fire, was severely wounded
A shot went through the left arm just
abUye the olbUw, auvol,v, through tho ri oh +
shoulder, and bullet wounded him in the
forehead and lodged in his hat
The smugglers offered no farther resist
ance. They were taken into custody, with
the exception of Mott and Pease, by the
sergeant, and guarded until the arrival of
the States Attorney, when they were all
taken to the village of Burlington and COM
mitted to prison. There was no resistance
offered except by Dean, who threw Mr..
Rice when he attempted to apprehend him,
and although tied with cords, afterward
a window, but was secured. Pease was
apprehended on Hog Island by Capt. Har-
man, and Mott by the agency of Asa
Buckley, Esq, of Sheldon, at Hatley, c.
E., and imprisoned at Burlington.
| The greatest excitement now prevailed
throughout the entire region. The people
were horror-stricken at crimes like these
in the hitherto quiet and peaceful state of
Vermont. They called upon the authori-
ties of the State, to maintain inviolate the
dignity of the outraged law, and to let its
tremendouS Denal lties follow SDeedily and