ALEXANDRIA BAY CHAMBER of COMMERCE

The Heritage Of Alexandria Bay And The Thousand Islands Includes Accounts And Legends Of Pirates Who Looted Passing Ships. Perhaps The Most Famous Of Alexandria Bay's Pirate Stories Was The Capture Of The Sir Robert Peel In May 1838, During The Patriot War With Canada. A Gang Of Pirates Led By Bill Johnston Boarded The Ship, Ordered The Passengers And Crew To Shore, Grabbed 20,000 Pounds In Militia Payroll, Then Torched And Fled The Vessel. Within Days, Thirteen Men Were Captured And Charged For The Assault On The Ship, But None Of Them Were Ever Convicted. The Remnants Of The Sunken Hull Still Remain There, And Have Been A Popular Underwater Adventure For Scuba Divers And A Curiosity For Tourists And History Buffs. In August, Alexandria Bay Comes Alive With "Bill Johnston's Pirate Days" Featuring Reenactments Of The Pirate Ship Attack On The Village.