MF – 1866.04.17 – Fenians at Eastport – #138 – F12251
FROM THE STATES,BOSTON, April 14.
EASTPORT, ME., 13th. – A large number of Fenians arrived in the Steamer New York. – Killian has returned with 30 or 40 men. They are perfectly quiet and are without arms. No disturbance.
TORONTO, C. W., 13th. – Another important Fenian arrest was made this morning. The excitement has somewhat abated.
BELFAST, ME., 13th. – Reports stated that Castine is designated as a Fenian rendezvous; and that 300 men are to concentrate there.
Castine is peculiarly accessible to the British Provinces.
WASHINGTON, 14th. – The War Department have sent to Eastport the steamer Winooski, the ironclad Mainbonomah, and the gunboat Ashuelot, as part of the fleet to be sent to the Gulf of St. Lawrence for the protection of our fishermen.
The Secretary of State believes that there are no apprehensions at present of any collision; and the attention of the President, and also of the British Government, has been called to the question whether negotiations could not be advantageously employed in adjusting the differences existing; but the measures taken in this regard are not sufficiently matured to render it expedient.
The Herald’s Eastport, Me., despatch of the 13th says, that the British man-of-war Pylades went to sea suddenly yesterday afternoon. It is said that 50 of her crew [mutined] and were put in irons, hence the departure of the vessel. The men of other vessels have been tampered with and similar difficulties are expected. Yesterday a party of English soldiers crossed from St. Stephens to Calais, where they got into a dispute with some Fenians, and a fight ensued which resulted in the English soldiers being thrown back over the bridge between the two towns. No lives lost.
A steamer from Boston this morning brought about 200 more Fenians. They were quartered in the town.
A Washington despatch says tat the Government has no fears that the Fenians will break the law. This movement is regarded as a demonstration, the object of which is to terrify the Canadians, vex the British Government and console the Irish, who have paid out their money so freely. IF the law is infringed the Government will instantly interfere.
Gold 126.
EASTPORT, April 15.
About 9 o’clock last night (Saturday) a steamer of strange appearance passed by here from the Eastern passage. She came up slowly until about opposite the town, and then run up a green and red light, in place of the white one which she carried. This done, she passed on towards Lubec, anchoring opposite Friar’s Head, Campobello. She stopped there about an hour and a half, and then proceeded seaward past Lubec. – She passed the town at the rate of 15 or 20 knots.
A squad of men landed on Indian Island, N. B., about 12 p.m. They proceeded to the dwelling of Collector Dixon, and, with arms presented, demanded the British Flag. Resistance under the circumstances being vain, the flag was given up
Dixon is here to report to the British Consul.
MF – 1866.04.14 – Fenians at Eastport – Bangor – #137 – F12251
FROM THE STATES
NEW YORK, April 12
A special despatch to the Herald from Eastport, says two large English Ships are here with steam up and portholes open, and everything ready.
The Americans are wild and consider it a challenge.
The Fenians have hired the Town Hall for three nights to holding meetings.
Another large British steamer is off Campobello with a large force of men ashore at work.
A large steamer with the American, flag and a private signal, has just gone up the river to St. Andrews.
A special despatch from Washington states that the President will soon issue a neutrality proclamation.
The U. S. Marshals have been ordered to prevent any invasion.
Gold 127 5 –8.
CALAIS, April 12.
Fifteen Fenians arrived in Calais by air-line from Bangor this morning.
More expected.
They left again in teams for Eastport.
Popular feeling is against them, and Calais Authorities are exercising every vigilance.
Excitement somewhat abated to-day.
More expected.
They left again in teams for Eastport.
Popular feeling is against them, and Calais Authorities are exercising every vigilance.
Excitement somewhat abated to-day.
BOSTON, April 12th.
N. Y., P. M. – The Herald’s Eastport, Me., despatch, of the 11th inst., says another English war ship, making three altogether, and a Revenue Cutter, have arrived during the last twelve hours.
Several hundred Fenians have quartered themselves at Calais and other places. There has been a mysterious [dissapearance] of several cannot brought there by unknown parties. Cartridges are been manufactured here.
There is tremendous excitement in St. Andrews, and Volunteers are deserting, while numerous [mysterous] disappearances of numbers of Irishmen in frontier towns are rumoured; – they are supposed to have joined the Fenians. Whole families are flying from the border.
There is tremendous excitement in St. Andrews, and Volunteers are deserting, while numerous [mysterous] disappearances of numbers of Irishmen in frontier towns are rumoured; – they are supposed to have joined the Fenians. Whole families are flying from the border.
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MF – 1866.04.12 – Fenians – O’Mahoney Fenians – Eastport – #136 – F12251
A number of “O’Mahoney Fenians” as they are called arrived at Eastport, in the “New Brunswick,” from Portland, on Tuesday. – They are described by those who came passengers with them from Portland, as a most ruffianly looking set. They did not bring their arms with them, because, as was at first stated the steamer could not take them; but it is now alleged that the officers of the boat would not bring them. The following [despatch] was sent by the editor of the St. Croix Courier to the Evening Globe:
EASTPORT, April 10.
I have ascertained the fact that Killian, with his two secretaries, Daley and Davies arrived here on Friday and put up at Mabees’ hotel, attracting unfavourable attention. They erased their names from the hotel books.
They are making free use of the wires and are constantly receiving despatches.
Popular feeling amongst the better classes is against them and they now observe great secrecy in their movements.
Killian applied at the Frontier Bank for funds and presented a telegram from New York certifying that his bankers held sixty thousand dollars at his credit. The bank would not advance the money and he is expecting the necessary vouchers by the steamer to-morrow.
An effort is being made to charter transports.
Schooner Sinbad was chartered to leave for Machias this afternoon, but through the influence of the British Council and prominent citizens charter was revoked.
A small boat of 15 tons however eluded their vigilance and got out.
Revenue cutter Ashuelot is coaling up and preparing for an outward voyage.
Every precaution will be taken to prevent the breach of neutrality laws.
Great excitement here! Much terror prevails in Campobello and several families have removed here.
MF – 1866.04.07 – Fenians – Illinois – #135 – F12251
ILLINOIS CORRESPONDENCE.
WAIFS FROM THE FAR WEST.
The Fenian movement – Its Mendacious and Malignant Exaggeration – The Excitement and Scare in the Provinces Grotesque – A Grand Fizzle – Weather.
CHICAGO, Ill., March 25th, 1866.
No true friend of New Brunswick, in whatever clime located, can read the proceedings in the Legislature now assembled, without feelings of mortification and regret! The ridiculous and base statements put forth relative to a Fenian invasion are too grotesque for anything but derisive laughter were it not for the grave consequences involved, and the mendacious motives which prompt those who make them, and from whom they originate. It is a well understood fact everywhere, that this City is regarded as the great stronghold of Fenianism in the Western States, and it may be taken for granted that no better stand-point view of the Fenian movement is to be had in the United States excepting New York City. It is not necessary to be versed in all the ramifications of the movement to form an estimate of its strength and vitality. Many opportunities of late have been offered to form an opinion as to both. The demonstration made here on St. Patrick’s Day was, in every respect a failure and caused a blush to mantle the face of every true Irishman who witnessed it. Yet take up the files of the New York Press, and you are told that this city alone, is to furnish regiments of infantry, of artillery and formidable batteries, and are about ready to take the field ! ! Chicago is also to man and equip a Fleet to traverse the lakes. – Chicago to-day has not in her midst men sufficient to form one regiment to aid the Fenians, and yet in the New York papers they are credited with three. “Laughter holds its sides,†when we come to consider the Marine forces. – It is true after a strenuous effort about 800 men with muskets appeared in the procession on St. Patrick’s Day. But such looking men! It would take many, very many Brigades of such material to make an invasion of the Provinces a success. No impartial or even interested person here believes for a moment that an invasion will ever really take place. Months will elapse before they will be in any sort of position to make the attempt. Meetings in various parts of this city have of late been frequently held, which were open to the public, and at which Roberts and Sweeney have both appeared, and the most earnest appeals made for men and money, and to each much enthusiasm was manifested, but very few men and less money were received. Roberts has spoken four times in the city within a month. He is a very fluent speaker and of good address; but his speeches fail to accomplish the desired effect and the cause languishes. He is stumping the West, while confederate, Gen. Sweeney, is “speaking his piece†in the New England States. Sweeney may possess military genius but certainly there is nothing in his appearance to indicate it. There appeared in this city a few weeks since another individual who is a prominent leader of the movement, and as the majority of the leaders are just such men, your readers can readily appreciate its importance and character. I now refer to Peter A. Sinnott – a gentleman who it will be remembered once taught school in St. John, afterwards kept a saloon in Cross-street, and whose sudden exit from the City is too well known by his too confiding creditors there. He gave a public exhibition in one of our prominent halls before a large audience, and your correspondent was present. Among other things this renegade said that several months ago he suggested an invasion of the Provinces to his brother Senator Scanlon of this City, and claimed that it would have been successful had his suggestion been acted upon at that time, but now the attempt would be worse than insane. Sinnot is a member of the “Central Council†of the O’Mahony faction. Time appears to have dealt harshly with Sinnot, and in appearance he is shabby indeed. His oratory was very tame and less effective than it was in the Temperance Hall, St. John, some years since. If the papers of St. John would publish extracts from the well-informed and influential press of this City regarding the Fenian movement, instead of from the inventive columns of the New York press, the people of New Brunswick would then be able to form a true and correct estimate of Fenianism. There is not a journal of influence in the Western States that does not condemn and ridicule the idea of an invasion of the Provinces by such a body. The American people thus far have enjoyed the Fenian movement as an excellent farce, and the Munchausen stories started and in circulation in the Provinces concerning the movements of large bodies of Fenian troops for an invasion, causes them to indulge in immoderate laughter at the expense of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia (vide the Halifax scare) and Canada. A commission de unatic should be ordered for those Confederate M. P. P.’s in New Brunswick whose incendiary harangues may produce much mischief.
– J. B.
MF – 1866.03.13 – Fenians Scare – Police Court – #134 – F12251
A FENIAN SCARE
John Earle, 30, was arrested for firing a pistol out of the window of Mr. Philips’ store in Nelson-street, on Sunday night between 10 and 11 o’clock. On being called for an explanation of his conduct, he stated that last night as he was about retiring to bed, he recollected that he had forgotten a letter in the store, and as it was one of importance which required to be mailed this morning, he thought it better to attend to it at once. Before starting for the store “the folks in the house†began to joke about the Fenians, saying he might be attacked on the way, but he took the jokes as they were intended and proceeded on his way. He had been only a short time in the store, however, when he heard a noise at the door, and thinking it was his brother who had followed him with the intention of frightening him and testing his courage, he in turn determined on frightening the brother, and accordingly picked up a revolver that lay behind the counter and fired a shot through the window. Instead of his brother, however, it happened to be two policemen who were at the door. They had been informed by some person that a man had gone into Mr. Philips’ store, and of course went to the place. They tried the door, and almost immediately the shot was fired. They again rapped at the door, and said they were policemen, but received no answer, and after waiting for some time one of them was about starting for more assistance, when the prisoner opened the door and came out. He was of course arrested and brought to the Station House. A fine of $10 was imposed on him this morning.