EXTRACTS FROM THE TRIBUNE OF FORTY-TWO YEARS AGO, TELLING OF THE NOTED INVASION.
[People's Press, 19 May 1908]
Friday-“Friday appears to have been spent by the Fenians in scouring the country for five or six miles round, apparently for the sole purpose of securing horses, as other property, both public and private, was not destroyed with the exception of Sauerwine’s bridge on the G.T.R., which was burned. Had they wished, they might easily have taken possession for the time being of the Welland canal, either at Port Robinson of this place, or at Port Colborne, there being no troops to prevent them, and the citizens having no arms. While O’Neill sauntered through Bertie, our authorities were speedily concentrating troops at Chippawa and Port Colborne. On Friday night a portion of the Fenians encamped on the road, leading east from New Germany.”-Taken from the Welland Tribune, June 7 1866.
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.
EXTRACTS FROM THE TRIBUNE OF FORTY-TWO YEARS AGO, TELLING OF THE NOTED INVASION.
[People’s Press, 5 May 1908]
It was the first day of June 1866, forty-two years ago, that the Fenians crossed over from Buffalo and invaded Canada, landing at Fort Erie without molestation. For several weeks past the Press had been publishing matter pertaining to this notorious raid, and from now on will give a short history of the actual invasion, which began as above stated on June 1st.
The Tribune of June 7 (1866) says: “The long talked of invasion of Canada by the Fenian Brotherhood has at last become an accomplished fact. For some time past it has been known that the Sweeney-Roberts men were concentrating on the Canadian frontier, and more especially at points opposite this peninsula. These threatening symptoms of an invasion were looked at lightly, however, as it was believed by many that our government was fully posted in their movements, and, inasmuch as no troops were called out, the reported moves were thought by many to be all sham. The events of the past week, however, have demonstrated that at least some of the Fenians are in earnest, and that it will not do for our authorities to remain apathetic spectators of the organization and concentration of the Fenian forces on our frontier. “
Next week we shall publish a short account of the occupation of Fort Erie.
EXTRACTS FROM THE TRIBUNE OF FORTY-TWO YEARS AGO, TELLING OF THE NOTED INVASION.
[People's Press, 28 April 1908]
Mr. Gladstone on Fenianism- Mr. Gladstone, in a recent speech at Liverpool, made the following remarks with regard to Fenianism in British North America: “We are told that Canada and New Brunswick are threatened with fire and slaughter from the revenge of the Fenians for the wrongs inflicted by England upon Ireland; and this I must say that if the men of Canada and New Brunswick, who are wholly guiltless of these wrongs-be they what they may-who are not entangled in the controversy, who have no more to do with it than the people of the Sandwich Islands, if the Fenians as they call themselves in America, are capable of the abominable wickedness of passing their frontier, and of making their impotent, miserable attempts, which they will be, to carry desolation over these peaceful districts and among harmless colonists, then I say, that so far from your treating the conduct of these men-let them be Americans or whom you like-with humanity or indulgence, no more execrable manifestations of folly or guilt have ever been made in the annals of the human race from the time that it commenced it existence upon the earth. Men who are capable of such proceedings would at once, by their insanity and their guilt, place themselves entirely beyond the sympathy of the whole civilized world. I feel the fullest confidence that these men who inhabit the British provinces of North America and who are governed by principles in the main our own, know well how to defend their homes, their wives and children; and if unhappily, the need arose, there is no resource possessed by this country that she would not fairly spend to assist them in their holy work.”
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