The Portland daily press., 1870-05-26
CITY.
PASSAGE OF TROOPS,
SEIZURE OF ARMS.
CsnsidernbIe Excitement Among tho
Brotherho0d.

We mentioned yesterday morning that .
company of Fenians, numbering some eighty
men, arrived in this city on the night expires.
train from Boston on Tuesday night They
were met at the depot by several of the Broth
erhood and escorted to Dolan's Block on Fore
street, where bedding, having been procured
was laid upon the floors of the hall and the
men comfortably accommodated. They were
under the command of Col. Driscoll and anoth-
er officer About half-past G O clock yesterday
morning the command fell in, after having
partaken Of first-rate breakfast and marched
attired in plain clothes and carrying carpet.
bags, down to the Grand Trunk depot. where
they embarked on board the o'clock train TO,
South Paris, intending to await there the
regular train for Island Pond. Prior to en-
barkation Col. Driscoll (who wore a sword
under his coat) made a number of inquiries Of
several OF the officials of the road as to whether
there were any opportunities for men to get
work on the road at any of the different points
along the line, how long il took to reach South
Paris, how many trains day run over the
road. etc. The intention seemed to be to
blind the eyes of the bystanders, which was
not success under the circumstances. Not
withstanding the early hour there were a
number of spectators of this warike move
ment and many were the commentaries pass
ed. One enthusiastic Fenian gazing upon the
men, who were very soldery looking, young,
and well-disciplned, calculated, 'ah begorra,
but them's the carpet baggers thatll stick"
After the departure of the train it was evident
that the excitement was not over that there
vva lraxv
from before long. There was considerable stir
and movement about the headquarters on Fore
st., where knots of the well-known Fenians
were gathered together, talking earnestly and
rapidly interviewing in such case was of
course absurd, for one told one story while the
next one was quickly contradicted. 1t was
said that news had been received from ST. Al
bans that the Fenians had crossed the line tax
ing stand at Pigeon Hill, (which is about IA
miles from Franklin, VT, y their old old head
quarters in '66, where they had raised the
"Sunburst" headed by the Stars and Stripes
That they had been met by the British and a
skirmish had taken place in which the British
were compelled 40 retreat. This was followed
by another statement purporting to come from
New York, that during the night large bodies
of men had left for the border, that recruiting
was rapidly going on, and that it was estimat-
ed that 10000 young Irishmen, formerly U. S,
soldiers had left in in the past few days.
Of course the circulation of this intelligence
was most inspiring, and, taking advantage of
the enthusiasm, a committee started at once to
collect funds for the cause, which was moder-
ately successful. About sixty young men
were recruited to leave in the noon train to
join the company that had gone on in the
morning, and shortly after - o'clock they be-
gan to gather in the G. T. Depot to take the
cars. But here new surprise awaited every
body. From some source or other Fl. B. M
Consul, II. j. Murray, Esq, had received in
formation that arms were being forwarded in
the train, and in company with U. S. Marshal
Marble, and District Attorney Webb. proceed
ed to the train and pointed out three cases
supposed to contain arms, and two crates filled
it is supposed with ammunition. Quite an ami
mated discussion as TO whether the governmen MT
had the right to stop the arms, if arms they
were, took place, but the car containing them
was switched off on a side track and the
train proceeded without them, and also with
out larger portion of the sixty men who had
some fifteen remaining on the train. Later in
the afternoon the Canadian Express Co., which
had received the goods in the regular course of
business without knowing the contents, went
and got them from the car and returned them
to the Eastern Express Co., from whom they
had received them. In regard to the destina-
tion of the Fenians we hear it rumored that it
is their intention to take the Derby line from
Island Pond and proceed to Stanstead, some
twenty-five miles distant which they will
make the base of operations in that quarter,
and expect to be largely reinforced. This may
be all mOonshne, for it seems as if the only
object to be gained by the move would be to dis
tract attention from the real field of action, OF
what is more likely to extend continuous line
of troops along the frontier which would be
rather job. Still it may be the intention to
have five or six different points of attack from
the Lakes to the eastward.