The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-26

ana the then ancient village OF Chlppe-
wa is Still more so to-day.
sixty years ago the province OF Up
per Canada was upset by internal strife.
The patriots had their headquarters on
Navy Island, in Canadian waters just
above the falls, Sir Francis Bond Head
was governor, and in response to his
call for troops about three thousand
men had gathered near Chippewa
Creek, on the upper Niagara. This was
the situation when the steamer Caro-
line appeared on the river to run be-
tween Buffalo and the Falls, and also
to Navy Island. Her career on the up
per Niagara was destined to be brief,
for she had made but two trips when
she was destroyed. AS darkness was
falling on December 49, 1887, she moor
ed at Schlosser dock for the night. The
tavern on shore, kept by a man named
Fields, was crowded as usual, and that
night over score of persons found a
sleeping place on the Caroline. The
New York state side Of the river was in
a state of peace, and there was no
thought of danger However. the trips
| made by the Caroline had not escaped
the eyes Of the English soldiers near
Chippewa creek, and it was determined
| that this source of assistance should be
cut off.
Colonel McNab was in charge of the
British forces, and he resolved to send
party of his men to destroy the YES
sci that was alleged to be carrying sup
plies to the patriots. He realized that
to make the trip across the river in
the midst of the floating ice was ex-
tremely hazardous, and for this reason,
instead of ordering men to duty, he
consulted his officers, and among them
Captain Drew, who was given permits
sion to call for volunteers to form the
expedition that was destined to send
| the Caroline to destruction and prove
one Of the most thrilling incidents ever
enacted at Niagara.
! When Captain Drew called for men
there were no responses at first. The
men knew of the dangers attending
such an EXPEDITION, and askd for further
information. Finally the youngest men
in camp became imbued with the en-
4 thusiasm of prospective laurels and o!
becoming heroes. Enough men volun-
teered to man seven boats, making a
party Of seventy or eighty in all. The
men were marched down to boats lying
in the creek, and there Captain Drew
gave explicit instructions to the com.
manders of teh boats, at the same tint
ordering that the men preserve strict 81
lence and cautiond them to be obedient
Captain Drew took charge of one Of the
boats, Shepard Mccormack of another
while others in charge Of boats were
Christian Beer. John Elmsley, Thomas
Hactor, John Gordon and John Batters
by.
The point Of starting was pretty close
to the upper rapids, and to avoid tht
strong current the boats pulled III
stream a short distance before starting
to cross the stream. 1t was approach
ing midnight and young moon aided
them in their route at the start, bu
this light did not last, and two of thu
boats lost their way, one striking or
Buckhorn Island, the other on Navy
Island, from which point she was firet
at by the patriot sentries. The reception
told them Of their whereabouts, AND
they FASTENED to the Canadian shore
AS the other five boats reached the mid
die of the river the men were ordered
to attack the Caroline as soon as thu
vessel was reached, and then pull in 81
lence toward the steamer.
The sentry on deck was alert and dis
covered the approach of the boats. III
hailed them, but Drew's orders wer
| obeyed, and no answer was given. Re
ceivIng no response, it is said he fire,
on the boats and then sounded al
alarm. Reports conflict here, for it !
said there were no arms aboard TIL
boat beyond an old pistol. The peopl
on the shore were aroused, but had n
arms to repel the invaders. The Brit
ish soldiers had little trouble in secur
ing control Of the craft. They towe
here out in the river, on the way set
ting her on fire, and as they left her t
the mercy of the curreytS She flames she
skyward and illumined the river froT
bank to bank.
People on both shore stated afterwar
that they were certain they saw huma
beings on her deck as she swept dow
to destruction The fire that was fas
eating into her shone brighter an
brighter, and across the waters came
: those on shore the walls Of the doome
ones about to perish by a fate nothin
: could avert. Up and down the vesst
rocked as it passed down the rapids
. and thousands watched her course a
she neared the cataract and made tn
plunge to be lost for ever in the water
" Of the gorge below. Never since ha
such a weird spectacle been witnesse
at the falls.
) When the facts about the destructio
of the Caroline became generally know
r the excitement was intense. The borde
3 assumed a warlike attitude, and ID is
. notable fact that the United States go'
: eminent demanded redress ''for the d.
7 struction of property and assassinatio
of citizens of the United States on til
soil of New York state at Schlosser
The assination referred to was the xii
ing Of Amos Durfee on the dock at tt
time the Caroline was cut out. He we
shot in the head, good evidence that Il
f attacking party had more than cutlas
5 es, as claimed. To the entire countr
: it was surprise that a body of arme
g men seeking "glory" should pass b
/ the headquarters of the patriots G
t Navy Island and attack an unarme
E vessel on the New York state shore.
: The grand jury in session at Loci
l port was quick to give attention to tt
= crime, and on January 8, 1888, five day
e after the destruction Of the Carolin