A BAND OF OUTLAWS IN CANADA.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 390, 12 November 1874, Page 2

A BAND OF OUTLAWS IN CANADA.

Canada is at this time vexed with a Cave of Adullum of her own which is likely to yield her no small annoyance and ti-ouble. Towards the west of her vast dominion, southward from ' Mackenzie Bay down to the Montana Territory, runs the giant range of the Rocky Mountains, cutting off British Columbia from Canada proper. Upon British soil, at the foot of these natural fortresses, where Canada in the north and the United States on the south march together, and where the huge masses of primeval granite divide New Georgia on the west from Saskatchewan on the east, a band of as pestilent rascals as ever infested the borders of civilisation have taken up their head-quai'ters, and have for some years put the execntive of the Dominion at deliberate defiance. Rumour asserts them to be about 500 strong, and on every nationality under Heaven. Mexican rowdies, desperadoes from Colorado and Nevado, wild men from Oregon, deseiters from the Federal army, escaped convicts, half-castes, and a few native Indians — such is the heterogenious material of which this little band of I&maelites is composed ; and here, amid the almost inaccefsible mountain fastnesses, they have built themselves a strong fort, and openly avowed their intention to hold their own against all comers. Their main business appeal's to be the illicit distillation of whiskey, which they barter with the native Indians for skins, and so drive a roaring ! and most lucrative toade, the profits of which might tempt even New York itself. For wives and corapanionsin their solitude they have Indian women, procured either by purchase or violence ; and beyond the trouble of attending to their still — which sits upon them as lightly as does the charge of their Chartreuse factory upon the Trappist monks of the old Abbey in the Alps, — they know neither care nor responsibility, and acknowledge fealty to no flag. The profits of their nefarious trade have enabled them to arm themselves to the teeth with revolvers, breach-loaders, and repeating rifles of the most approved and latest patterns, and sqpie few months

ago, by a daring well-conceived and well-executed raid, they surprised a detachment of United States troops in an insolated fort, and carried off a stand of Spencer Carbines and six pieces of field artillery. These last are now mounted in position in the mountain fastness, and as several members of the gang are deserters from the Federal army, and bkilled in artillery drill, the fortress stronghold is one which can well afford to laugh an ordinary seige to scorn ; while, even should the assault be successful, the desperadoes have a secure retreat amongst the beetling crags that tower over their heads, and of which they know by heart every peak and pass. Meanwhile we are glad to learn the position of the Adullamites is threatened. The Government of the Dominion is resolved to put them down with a high hand and has despatched against them a force of mounted cavalry, 300 strong, under the command of Colonel French of the English Royal Artillery, and equipped with two ninepounder Armstrong field pieces. The invading army has to traverse 800 miles of territory, and it is calculated that it will take six weeks or a month -at least to reach the bandits' stronghold. There a wild and reckless resistance is expected. The majority of the desparadoes are escaped convicts, and will fight with halters round their necks. Their numerical strength as matched against their opponents is as five to three, and the position of the beleaguered fortress will give the besieged a considerable advantage. There is, of course, the possibility that, as the regulars close in upon them, the bandits may disperse, leaving their still and surplus store of whiskey behind them as loot for the invaders, but the chance of such a result is considered to be very small.