Troublous Times in Canada: A History of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870MacDonald, John A. (John Alexander)
History
Troublous Times in Canada: A History of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870
MacDonald, John A. (John Alexander)
Canada -- History -- Fenian Invasions, 1866-1870; Fenians
"The St. Catharines Journal says that three young Canadians in Corry,
Pa., named respectively John A. and George Macdonald, of St. Catharines,
and Thomas Kennedy, of Niagara, hearing that the Fenians were on
Canadian soil, determined to be on hand in the hour of danger, and at
once took train for home, arriving at St. Catharines last Wednesday
night (May 25th). It is no small thing for a working man to throw up a
situation and sacrifice all for their love of country, and Canada should
be proud of such sons."
At the time the Fenians were getting ready to make their second invasion
of Canada in 1870, the writer of this book was employed as a newspaper
reporter in a town in Pennsylvania where Fenianism was rampant, and
in the course of my daily duties had rare opportunities for gleaning
information as to the intentions of "the Brotherhood." I noticed that
preparations were being made with the utmost secrecy possible, and that
those who were engaged in organizing the movement were men of the most
determined and desperate character. I chanced to know some of them
personally, and by a careful process of reportorial "interviewing,"
learned that a sudden dash on Canadian territory was to be made within
a few days. The chief desire of the leaders was to keep their intentions
from the knowledge of the United States authorities, and they were very
averse to giving the least publicity as to their movements.
However, in a casual way I received information from a reliable source
that large numbers of men were on their way from the southern part
of Pennsylvania. Ohio. Indiana. Kentucky, Tennessee and other places,
travelling as ordinary passengers, and that they would rendezvous at
Erie. Dunkirk. Buffalo, Niagara Falls and other places along the
border, where they were to receive their equipment. This news I duly
communicated to my friends at home (St. Catharines) and gave them notice
that trouble was impending.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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