Daily Northern Islander

Saint James, Lake Michigan, Friday, June 20, 1856

Murderous Assault.

On Monday last the U.S. steamer Michigan entered this harbour at about 1 o'clock, P.M., and was visited

by the inhabitants promiscuously during the afternoon.

At about 7 o'clock Capt. McBlair sent a messenger (San Barnard, the Pilot) to Mr. Strang, requesting him

to visit him on board. Mr. Strang immediately accompanied the messenger, and just as they were

stepping on the bridge leading to the pier in front of F. Johnson & Co.'s store, two assassins approached

in the rear, unobserved by either of them, and fired upon Mr. Strang with pistols. The first shot took effect

upon the left side of the head, entering a little back of the top of the ear, and rebounding, passed out near

the top of the head.

This shot, fired from a horse pistol. Brought him down, and he fell on the left side, so that he saw the

assassins as they fired the second and third shots from a revolver, both taking effect upon his person,

one just below the temple, on the right side of the face, and lodged in the cheek bone; the other on the

left side of the spline, near the tenth rib, followed the rib about two inches and a half and lodged.

Mr. Strang recognized in the persons of the assassins Thomas Bedford and Alexander Wentworth.

Wentworth had a revolver, and Bedford a horse pistol, with which he struck him over the head and face,

while lying on the ground. The assassins immediately fled on board the U. S. steamer, with pistols in

hand, claiming her protection.

The assault was committed in view of several of the officers and crew from the deck of the steamer, also

Dr. H. D. McCulloch, Franklin Johnson, and others, and no effort made to stop it.

Mr. Strang was taken up by a few friends, and some of the officers of the boat, and carried to the house of

Messrs. Prindles, where the surgeon of the steamer made an examination of his wounds, and declared

recovery hopeless.

Process was taken out for the apprehension of the assassins, and the Sheriff of the county called on

Capt. McBlair for their delivery, the Capt. Refused to give them up, saying that he would take them to

Mackinac, and deliver them into the hands of the civil authorities of the State there.

The steamer left the next day, carrying off all the persons supposed to be complicated in the affair, thus

affording military protection to murders, and overthrowing the sovereignty of civil law.

Hopes are entertained of Mr. Strang's recovery.