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FENIAN RAID OF ‘66 (Part 3)
EXTRACTS FROM THE TRIBUNE OF FORTY-TWO YEARS AGO, TELLING OF THE NOTED INVASION.
[People's Press, 12 May 1908]
Occupation of Fort Erie-The ball was opened on Friday morning last, between three and four o’clock, by the crossing of a body of Fenians, from 1,000 to 1,300 strong, under command of Col. O’Neill, the capturer of John Morgan, and a most daring officer. The invaders started from Black Rock in canal boats towed by tugs, in the absence of the U.S. steamer, Michigan, and of course effected a landing without molestation, there of course being no Canadian troops in this section of the country. No artillery or cavalry accompanied the raiders; they were principally dressed in broad-rimmed, low-crowned rowdy hats and black coats, and were well provided with good rifles. Their first step was to take possession of the village and fort, which they did hastily, but not in time to catch the G.T.R. train, which barely escaped. The telegraph operator made good his escape, but the reeve, P.T. Kempson, Esq., M.D., and others, were detained. With the exception of the tearing down the wires and the destruction of a small bridge, the village suffered but little from the invaders and no violence was done the citizens.-Taken from the Tribune of Thursday, June 7 1866.
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