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.
The next day (25th of May) things were looking more serious.

About 9 o'clock in the morning I went down to the railway depot on my quest for "news items." and found that two trains had just arrived--one from Pittsburgh and the other from Central Ohio, on which were an unusually large number of men, who were bound for Buffalo.