92 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF NEWFOUNDLAND 



far as his plans depended upon them could not brook delay. 

 Early in September, 1696, De Brouillan, tired of waiting for 

 D'Iberville, sailed with one King's ship, eight St. Malo priva- 

 teers, and some soldiers under L'Hermitte and St. Ovide, 

 failed to enter St. John's Harbour, achieved small successes at 

 Bay Bulls and Ferryland in spite of the resistance of Captain 

 v Cleasby,R.N., who was compelled to burn his ship, plundered 

 the settlers, burnt their houses, and shipped off 150 Ferry- 

 landers to Barnstaple. The exiles arrived, sick, destitute, 

 homeless, and heartbroken, at the very moment when com- 

 pensation to Captain Holman, as the saviour of Ferryland, 

 was being approved of by the Committee of Trade. And 

 De Brouillan's deed was only a prelude to the real tragedy. 

 and Duller- On November i, 1^96, the concerted plan was executed. 

 viUeand j) e Brouillan, L'Hermitte, St. Ovide, and about 100 of the 

 Ulan took 1 50 soldiers who garrisoned Placentia, sailed to Renewse, 

 St. Johns, w hji e D'Iberville, De Montigny, and some 124 (half-breed?) 

 7. ' Canadians and Canadian or Acadian Indians, for whom 



D'Iberville was pecuniarily responsible, stole forth from 

 Placentia like a pack of wolves slid over frozen sea-arms, 

 plunged through mossy, half-frozen morasses, splashed ' waist 

 deep ' through unfrozen fords, and reached Ferryland, where 

 ' they found twelve horses, very a propos, which they used as 

 i provisions ', and where after a few days De Brouillan rejoined 

 them. The soldiers and Canadians then marched on St. John's. 

 The first skirmish occurred near Petty Harbour, whence 34 

 Englishmen sallied forth, and, according to an English account, 

 were driven back by a snowstorm, but according to French 

 accounts were attacked and driven into the town, where 

 36 men were killed on the spot, several were taken, and the 

 rest escaped to St. John's. A second skirmish occurred near 

 St. John's, where De Montigny and 30 Canadians surprised, 

 or were surprised by, 84 or 88 Englishmen hiding behind 

 burnt trees. Shots were exchanged at close quarters. The 

 main French army soon arrived upon the scene. Abb 



