Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-02-01
PRINCE OF ANTlcoSTI.
NJ. Menier, tho Chocolate Maker, FIJI
the French Flag in English Waters

M. Menier, tho Chocolate Maker, File.
the French Flag in English Waters.
Prospects of international trouble
between England and France drew
public attention at Quebec not only tc
the unconcealed protestations of sym
pathy with France on the part ol
several Of the FrenGh- Canadian news
papers, but also to the apparent efforts
of French citizens to control strategic
stronghold at the entrance to the Gull
of st. Lawrence. Two OF three years
ago NJ. Hsnri Menier; the well-known
chocolate manufacturer OF Paris; pur.
chased from former owners the whole
island of Anticosti, $50 miles in length,
on the pretence that he intended to
make of it hunting preserve. He
has since brought out a number OF
settlers from France, established
French colony on the island, flies the
French flag on the armed yacht,
manned by men of the French naval
reserve, in which he journeys to and
from the island, and, finally, pays no
duties upon imports from Europe OF
elsewhere landed upon Anticosti.
NJ. Menier has added to his civil
and military authority on the island
by the appointment of a Partisan, NJ.
Comettant, as governor. Both he and
Menier have SO ihgratiated themselves
with the French Canadian members
of the provincial goyernment of Quebec
by lavishly entertaining them beth in
Quebec and also at Anticosti that
hitherto they have been permitted to
do pretty much as they like, and the
few English-speakirg residents of the
island, whom NJ. Menier is doing his
utmostto have deported, complain TINT
the French governor rules the island
with rod Of iron.
At Fox bay, near one end of the
island, seventeen English-speaking
families from Newfoundland, belong
ing to the Methodist church, have been
living reaceably for the last twenty
six years. Ever since taking posses
sion OF Anticosti, NJ. Menier has done
his best to rid the island of these peo-
pie, who gain a poor livelihood by
fishing of the dangerous coasts.
Other means of driving them from
their homes having proved unavailing,
Governor Comettant had recourse to
the government. Upon being falsely
told that the Fox bay people were not
bona fde settlers at all, but simply
pirates, smugglers and wreckers, the
government, without making any in
quiries, sent down detachment Of
police to enforce the French demands.
Armed with clubs, revolvers, and hand
cuffs, the police, aided by NJ. Meniers s
men, surrounded the settlers and
ordered them 10 quit the island imme-
tiately, although no shadow of legal
proceedings had been taken, and none
of the ejecting party was in posses
sion of writs or warrants of any kind.
Though the offer was made 10 the set
tiers to land them on either shore OF
the Gulf of st. Lawrence, they de-
clarcd that they had nowhere to go
and could not leave in such a hurry.
They were compelled, however, be-
cause of their ignorance Of the world
and its ways, to sign document prom
Using to quit the island at an early
date. Now that the facts have be-
come kl. own at Quebec the utmost in
dignation has been caused against
both NJ. Mcnier and the government;
the document signed by the settlers
under compulsion has been declared
illegal, and a test case has been
.,r ..a = -i- - enttie