Important News From Michipicoten Island – A Mine Attacked by Indians

The Miners in the employ of the Quebec Mining Company on Michipicoten Island, on the North shore of Lake Superior, arrived here in small boats on the 31st  ult., Having been attacked by the Indians in that neighborhood and driven from the island on the 26th ult. The Indians went so far as to fire at the Miners and made a very hostile demonstration. The Agent of the mine, Mr. Wilson of Hamilton, C.W., was absent at the time and the men had no other way left but to abandon the mine. 

These men applied at once to Joseph Wilson Esq., the only magistrate on the Canada side, opposite this place, for assistance, but Mr. W. could do nothing, as the government has provided neither ways nor means for such emergency, and the consequence will be that the Indians will rob the mine of its provisions and everything in fact that is available in the way of moveables. This is the second time this Company have been molested by the Indians and may prove as serious as the Mica Bay affair in the fall of 1850, when a large number of men were attacked and much property destroyed. They succeeded so well at that time that they have undertaken the same thing again.

This occurrence is very much to be regretted as it not only does great injury to this particular mining company and to the business generally, but it also encourages this lawless disposition in the minds of the Indians. The Government of Canada appears to have been very negligent to say the least in protecting the mining interest in this region of the country; very little encouragement has been given in this kind of enterprise and the adventurers in this business have not only been obliged to contend against great obstacles on account of the climate, but have had to contend against the worst kind of regulations from the Government.

With these two instances of lawless aggression on innocent parties engaged in mining before us we are at a loss to determine whether this region is controlled by the Government or the Indians. One thing is certain; unless prompt and stringent measures are adopted to protect subjects engaged in this and other branches of business in this remote region, there will soon be little or no business of any kind to protect.