The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-01-23
THE PAYMAsTER's ROBBERY.
A Rcniniscence OF the War of 1912.
ny =. u. AUSTIN.

Watertown is the county seat Of JEFF
ferson county, New York. !. ia situa-
ted on the south si.s OF Buck River,
large and rapid str an. river rises
FAR up the Adirondss % iitains, aud
pursuing an westcr.t e ut-e for more
than a hundred miles, Smpties into
Lake Ontario at ltS eastern extremity,
not far from the outlet of the ST. Law
renee River. IL il a valuable stream,
not only watering large proportion OF
the northern part OF the State, but
abounding with mauy rapids and falls.
and thus furnishing n multitude OF
privileges for manufacturing purposes,
which are being amply occupied. Wat
ertown is located about ten miles mp
this stream from Sackett's Harbor.
This latter place during the last war
with Great Britain, was the Headquar-
ters Of our Northwestern Armies, aud
the rendezvous OF the American War
ships on Lake Ontario. Even at as
early date as ..thst struggle. (com-
mencirs in 1910, Watertovn was Of
no iuconsiderable magnitude and i'm
portance. And yet il has been compar-
atively unknown 10 the people OF our
country generally, until Of late years.
But on the building Of the Rome, Wat
crtoNn aud Cape Vincent Railroad.
when the st. Lawrence River aud its
Thousand islands became a fashion.
able summer residence and fishing re-
sort, Wateftovn rose rapidly in impor-
tance aud celebrity. Visitors to the
beautiful regions Of the ST. Lawrence,
when nearing them by railroad and
crossing the Black River nc Watertown,
fnd themselves suddenly in the midst
Of n largo and thriving town, filed
with manufactures and rapidly advan-
cling 10 the Dimensions Of a city to
which point it has already attained.
The settlement of this place commenc-
cd near the close Of the last century.
or about tile year 1795. The people
who originally located there, were from
the New England States, and were a
much more than ordinarily intelligent,
educated, industrious and enterprising
class Of citizens. $50
During the war OF 1912. wstertown
was great thoroughfsre for z. s.
troops. militia. sailors aud suffers. aud
all the motley crowd which follow an
army. Being in the vicinity Of Sac-
ketts Harbor, the Headquarters of the
northwestern armies. and IN the vicini.
~ OF the Canada line, near which near.
" all the hard battles OF that war were
fought, IL was the scene Of many bold
deeds aud daring adventures. and OF
exceptionally thrilling events.
Passing my early days in this vicini-
~ Of encounters. battles by land ard
water. soldiers, sailors, marchings,
counter. aud encsmpments.
my young mind became uecessarilv
filed with the history Of thousands OF
stories Of slangbters, vonrdings and
death. scalping aud .tortuTes BY Indi.
aIs, aud the many Wild scenes and
/ transactions Of which war il always the
prolific source. ,
Among the mary noted transaction.
which could be narrated. the most re.
= msrksble in many psriiculars, vs-
what came 10 DO csilsa Tue Whi,,le
soy RotbeT-@ -Befnr -. young sad
persooal spectator cf some OF its. mos
trsgic events, viii narrate them o.
they werc then deeply imprinted on
my fresh recollecti0o. In this effort
my memory is strengthened aud assist
ed by DR. HOugh's history ~ Jelferx.,f
county. and also by pamphlets lated,
placed IA my pOssersiuB by Lady al
WaiertOwn, Mrs. Judge strong. Cor
merly Mrs. Norris NJ Wr,drulT1. r.,
old fnend of niue. THIS pamphi..i /
estItlei "rhe Llfc aud Cn.rsoser q
yss,n Fsirbapks."
Samuel Whitilesey, E>q., n lawye
by profession, ~ fne abilities, settle,
10 waf.rtDwn in 1897. Ne aud hi,
wife werc members in COOL standing 81
tue q .,rr.r ,pslf. DrsSh.sD
u NJ oh nc Of t's town. TIL ufic
oi iit~ Jutks ~ his, -. a. .ni -. -.
! sppolps,assss { distirciien we're co