Republican Advocate Batavia-Genesee Co., NY January 4-1838 BRITISH OUTRAGE - OUR SOIL INVADED - BURNING OF THE BOAT CAROLINE - MURDER OF TWENTY AMERICAN CITIZENS BY LOYAL TROOPS ! The startling intelligence brought by express from Buffalo on Saturday night, is more than confirmed! What was then deemed incredible, is proved to be horrid reality! Our shore has been invaded! An American vessel has been attacked, set on fire and sent over the Falls of Niagara, by a foreign force! Unarmed American citizens have been brutally butchered by a British soldiery! AND THEIR DEATH MUST BE AVENGED! The Lion of England cannot feast upon the blood of Freemen with impunity! Twice already has he been bearded by the Eagle of the North, and again must his pride be brought low by the strong arm of the free! The horrid details of this damning outrage, as we have them from an eye witness, are these:-- On Friday afternoon, the steamboat Caroline, Captain APPLETON, came down from Buffalo to Schlosser, with passengers, and subsequently passed over to Navy Island, with a party of gentlemen, who wished to visit the Island. Before dark she again returned to Schlosser, where she was to lay during the night. The tavern accommodations at the place being limited, and a large number of persons having collected there out of curiosity, under the expectation that an attack would be made during the night upon the Island, the berths in the boat were made up (20) and 15 or 20 mattresses spread upon the floor. These were all filled as the steward and captain assert, and several besides were known to be asleep under the awning upon the dock. The whole number on board could not have been less than 45 or 50.--Some 10 or twenty of them are missing.--They were without doubt murdered, and have gone over the falls. At 12 o'clock all appeared in a profound slumber. A few minutes after that hour, however, the boat was attacked by what afterwards appeared to be five eight-oared boats--each containing from 10 to 15 regular British troops in sailor uniform. Capt. HARDING of Buffalo commandant of a schooner on Lake Erie, was awoke by the tumult below; and immediately upon discovering his danger, he rushed for the companionway. Before, however, he reached the deck, he was met by a soldier whose arms he caught hold of, making the remark that it was not possible he would attack an unarmed man; but he had scarcely made the remark, when he was struck a blow upon the head with a saber, which laid bare his skull for several inches, and knocked him again back into the cabin. The ruffian accompanied the blow with this remark--"There, take that, and go to h**l you d***d rebel." He fell upon the body of a black man, who had been killed by the murderers--he soon, however, regained his feet--leaped from the stern window and swam to the shore. Capt. H. had on a fur cap, with a front-piece, which doubtless, saved his life. Capt. KING, of Buffalo, after having reached the deck, had a saber aimed at his head. To guard the blow, he raised his right arm, and the saber fell upon his shoulder, leaving a frightful gash. Another blow followed, which nearly severed his arm at the wrist. He, however, escaped; but is not expected to live. Capt. APPLEBEE also reached the deck, but was knocked overboard by a blow upon the head from a musket. Although severely stunned, Capt. succeeded in swimming to the shore. The Engineer escaped from the boat, but in his retreat he received a stab from a bayonet. Two hands leaped from a window, and escaped unharmed. Capt. CASE, who owns the Caroline, also escaped uninjured; as did also two or three others. Horrid as are the details already given, the most diabolical act remains yet to be told. Upon the discovery of the tumult, many in the cabin attempted to hide from the monsters who were murdering their associates so indiscriminately. Among these was the cabin boy--an interesting lad of 12 years. He secreted himself in a cupboard; but he was soon discovered--upon which he fell upon his knees, an begged for his life, innocently remarking, "you ain't going to kill me, are you?" The brutish reply was--"We give no quarter!" and he was run through the body with a bayonet, with such force as to penetrate the back part of the cupboard! A slash or two from a saber followed, and the innocent and unfortunate boy slept the sleep of death! This scene was observed by Capt. KING, who remarked that of all the scenes of peril and death which he had witnessed, that was the most savage and awful. When the work of slaughter and death was complete, the murderers plundered the boat--broke up the furniture--set her on fire--towed her out into the river, and permitted her to float over the falls. When she reached the centre of the river, she was a solid mass of fire. The flames continued to ascend, with terrific sublimity, until she reached the rapids, on the west side of Goat Island. She then broke in pieces, and, in a moment all was total darkness. Several gentlemen who witnessed the heart rending spectacle, affirm that, while the boat was in flames, they saw persons moving upon the deck. While this may be so, we hope it may only have been the workings of their imaginations. As soon as the fire on the boat was visible, the murderers gave three cheers for Victoria, a large transparent signal was raised at Chippewa, to guide the direction of the boats to the harbor; and reiterated shouts were distinctly heard from the British troops. And yet, in a despatch received in this city by express from McNABB to Mr. GARROW, Marshalt of this District, the former asserts that the destruction of the Boat was unauthorised! He must deem the American people the same tame, ignorant fools that those are over whom he tyranizies, and who kiss the rod that smites them. If the act was unauthorised, the 50 or 60 murderers will be delivered up to justice. If they are not, there is a law of redress which can be put in force. When the boats were returning, a fire was opened upon them from the Island, but as the night was dark, the result was unknown. In the course of Saturday forenoon, Mr. WEST, of this city, crossed over to the Canada side, below the falls, for the purpose of ascertaining whether any bodies had floated upon shore. After encountering the fiery glances of 40 or 50 savages stationed at this point, he was escorted into the officers apartment, and bluntly told that no bodies had been discovered, and he was at liberty immediately to return. He did return; and on his way back observed in the eddy, many portions of the wreck, and a part of the body of one of the murdered inmates of the unfortunate steamboat! In recording this horrid tragedy, we dare not give utterance to our feelings. But we must say, that if this outrage be not speedily avenged--not by simpering diplomacy either--BUT BY BLOOD--our nations honor deserves the in dignity it has received. P.S. Since the above was written, we have seen a gentleman who left Niagara Falls on Saturday evening at 5 o'clock.--He says that the number of murdered is estimated from 15 to 20. When the boats landed, there were two spies on board--one of whom was seen, by the watch on the steamboat, to shoot the first man killed. The murderers were armed with swords, pistols, muskets and axes. The ax was the principal weapon used to murder the persons sleeping in the cabin; and they employed it indiscriminately. It was a horrid butchery! The contemplation of it curdles our blood. ****************************************************** What man of feeling and patriotism can read the account of the murder of the poor cabin-boy of the Caroline, without feeling indignant towards the barbarians who were so bent on murder as to disregard the supplications of innocence? Who can think with composure, of the heart-rending cries and entreaties of this unfortunate youth, that his life might be spared! But he appealed to a wretch whose heart was steeled to the cries of mercy, and the appeal was made in vain! 'We give no quarter,' is a motto for Canadian tyrants and oppressors. ******************************************************* The friendly and amicable relations that have so long existed between the Government of the United States and that of Great Britain has at length been broken up by one of the most cruel and bloody aggressions ever committed on the rights and privileges of the American People. On Saturday morning last, about 3 o'clock, whilst the crew and passengers of the Steamboat Caroline were asleep in their berths, unconscious of danger, a number of boats from the Canada shore, at Chippewa, proceeded across the Niagara River to Schlosser, boarded the Steamboat and MURDERED TWELVE AMERICAN CITIZENS, after which they set the boat on fire, towed her into the stream and sent her over the Falls! From this damnable tragedy we may infer to what extent American rights are respected by Canadian authorities. They seem bent upon embroiling the two governments in a war, and to effect this object they have at length committed an outrage, which, for brutality and atrocity cannot be equalled by any act in modern warfare. But they will find, if we mistake not, that they will not be gainers by this brutal and savage violation of our neutrality. The enlightened and hardy sons of Revolutionary Patriots and Heroes will not tamely submit to this nefarious insult and outrage. We are, as a nation, and as individuals, too, jealous of our rights, and are ready and able to demonstrate to these barbarians and murderers that American Citizens are not to be assassinated by hireling ruffians with impunity. They may rest assured that the American citizens will repel every invasion of their rights, and visit every depradation upon their liberties and lives with tenfold punishment. Let the Government of the United States but do its duty, and if reparation is not speedily made by the Canadian authorities, thousands and tens of thousands of our brave and hardy yeomanry will rally around the banner of American Liberty, ready and willing to abide the onset. xxxxxxxxxxxx submitted by Linda Schmidt