New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-08
THE THOUSAND ISLANDS AND REGIONS
ROUNDABOUT.

HIS sOm-GIGAETIC LAND sPECULAroNs-THE
"PATROONs' OF NORTHERN YEw-YoRK.
IFRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT oP THE rRIBUSEl
ALEXANDRIA BAY, Jefferson Co., N. Y, Sept.
lO-Beyond question one the most delightful yaca-
ton tours that can he taken the North, through
the ST. Lawrence from Cape Vincent to Montreal From
the Cape, the Outet OF Lake ontario, the river FOR
sixty miles studded with islands-tbe Thousand
Islands"though there by count, between the
Cape and Oedensburgh some eighteen hundred, varying
in length from twelve feet to twelve miles.
Leaving New-York at p. III. by the Hudson River and
Central and Rome and WatertOwn Railways you are al
Cape Vincent the following forenoon Thence the htte
steamer Kelley conveys you 20 Alexandria Bay. where
in Crossmons new spacious, cleanly, well-apponted
hotel, realize the verify of shenstones verse;
-" Who er has Travelled lifes dull round.
Where er his footsteps may have been,
MAY sigh 20 think he still has found
The warmest welcome at an mn"
Alexandria Bay derives its name from Alexander,
son OF j. D. lie Ray, the early settlers and large
landed proprieoBs Of Jefferson County. Alexander lie
Ray WAS colonel in the Texan service during the Texan
war and was killed in a duel in 1896. As far back az
1894 the Bay was selected eligible place for port
and Mr.. lie Ray reserved mile square for village In
1893 wharf was built by Fuller Walton, on the spot
where descendant OF the latter continues the business
The islands Just hereab0ut are more diversified III size
and form picturesque IN outline and better WOODED
some five acres the writer counted twelve varieties Of
trees Five years ago OF these little Ave or sixacre
Kingdoms purchased for hundred dol
lars; nut prices have appreciated and desirable spots
where one can be monarch OF all he has had surveyed
readily command from five hundred to I'VE thousand
dollars.
Among those who have become purchasers and erected
cottages on their domains may be named ex-Judge
James c. Spencer of the Superior Court of hew-f0rk'
nj
within stone throw OF each other HIS cottage stands
on one OF the most beautiful OF the fy within mile or
the hotel He calls it Manhattan Island. and it Is fa
vorire resort for certain ManhattOes and oquOs who
speed hthe for safety and rest from the scaphunters
Of New York Mr.. Pullman, OF seepingcar reuowni ;
Mr. Warner a lawyer OF Rochester; Mr. W. 6. Deshler
of Columbus banker and many other gentlemen Of
fortune and taste have become lords OF isles. and
erected OF intend erect cottages for Summer resi-
denee. Bankers, especially, who seem 70 have clear
views as 20 the cOgnate relation Of currency 10 comfort
have selected this spot FOR repose, preerring for
Summer life. place made by the Higher power rather
than one in the bricky bawck dersivey said 10 have
been made by man."
There are propretors who scof at the enervang
cottage These yield themselves 20 the customs OF sol
diers and red men and contenng themselves with the
shelter Of tents pass the heated term under canvas
THIS good and jolly thing 70 do. Ladies, dainty IN
tastes and habtuaed the comforts OF city houses,
enjoy TO the full the camp ie the fishing the outdoor
meal the earlyt0-bed ana early-torse. ana fall into
IL AS easily and happily DOH the squaw within
rbt Of the Crossmon House on island Of three or
four acres four 1--WE neat white tents occupied by
little colony Of Sisters of Charity, who find IN the
pure bracng atmosphere of the the desired reere
alton and health-g growth.
As a general thing, weather favonng. guests do not
due atthe hotel After breakfast. IRON MY 70 hundred
OF the pretty s3 peculiar 20 the region are seen ghn
ing from the wharvos freghted with parties starting Tor
the fisheries having other hilarious purposes Indeed
the pervadng OF the place is jocular The oarsmen
are good cooks, and 20 forth armed with battery Oh
pots pans, and pals. wherewith to cook the midday
banquet After winning en- route. the requisite number
Of nsh you never fail that and meeting at the ap
pointed island, the gentle oarsman-Ours was Tom''
and good one tooin hour places before you ieed
upon which Charles DelmOnico
himself would set his seal
To give the world assurance Of"
excellence And mind you the ladies take their fun
share OF the catch" and contribute equal proper
ton of the yepound BASES. sometimes double Dasses
that constitute feature of the dinner.
Outside river pleasures and beauties the bay mas
little worthy OF note indeed, the only three things
70 chat about the pretty stone church erected many
wears ago through the efforts OF the late Rev III
Betbune, who was for many seasons Summer WSi'or'
the Rev Mr. Rockwell and the memory OF Bill Johnson
Mr. Rockwell combines in admirable proportions the
mariner and missionary After morning service on sun
day he gets up steam his Tiny propeller, and taxing
the helm pus of to of the larger islands where
farming is pursued aud there. according to appoint
uent breaches the Word. With 200 pounds Of coal ne
paddles bis own canoe !" during the day. He doeIn
many things deity knoveth all about his engine anu
how 10 repair IL undersandeth navigation; Inechni
Gu genius regulate thy watch, and so Is wateh
fu OF the time as well the eternity OF his pariSou
ers As be manipulates the wheel OF mis- miniature
frigate he verify looks as though he might be nau
descendant Of old Pontius Pilot himself
Mr. VIM johnson was a gentleman OF uncierieh
habits In the war 1912 he risked his pate in many
dangerous enterprise, FREQ uenty penetrating the Gu
emvs lines, and on one occasion appropriatng IN al
irregular way the British mail containing important
dispatches which he conveyed safely TO the American
commandant sacketts Harbor. But bic chief export
was in planning and executing the burning Of the BTU
sh steamer Robert Peel the night Of the 2sh vi
May 1885, at Clayton, Is miles above Alexandra Bay
AT the head OF a company of p men, armed and as
eused az Indians he rushed board the steamer "heh
the passengers were asleep and the crew taxing On
wood Driving everybody on shore he cast ON "ei
lines and shouting Remember tho Caroline, stecreu
her into and set her on fire at Rock lssna INC
very spot on which the lighthouse now stands sna VI
which, curously enough, he subsequently, appoi'eu
keeper. Tho Canadian authorities offered iarge TO
vard-ssOoo--for the "dome OF thoughp OF william
and Gov Marcy baited enterprsns Yankees with s'o
bonus for his body. Finally he was erretcd onI '"h
70 Auburn escaped. recaptured, but someho" op'
on escaping until the troubles adjusted Wnen NC
quietly settled down at Clayton became good clleA-
az well as "a kind husband and good PROVIDED ou'
he hated the British
The early history Of the g. Lawrence country some
what remarkable. In that region have occurrea sumo
OF the most gigantic land speculations OF modern
Prior IN the Revolution the territory embraced IN inc
counties OF Oneids, Jefferson, Franklin, LewiA anu Oh
lawrence had from time mmemorial been owned Ny
Oneida nation of Indiana To oxfinguish then S'io
. gssU Va AeAa n Ssu siaaxiA N ID INA