Leaving Highway 15 at Crosby, travel back roads that stitch together the crazy quilt- like pieces of lakes and rivers of the Rideau Waterway flowing south. Those back roads will take you through California, past Jones Falls, up Battersea Road and down Burnt Hills Road whose wooden bridge crosses Cranberry Lake at Brass Point. After crossing the bridge you will once again arrive at highway 15 south of Seeley’s Bay to complete the loop. Through your course you might stop at Sand Lake boat launch to hear loons and see the invasive yet beautiful flowering rush. Settlers introduced this lovely plant from Europe in the early 1800’s.
Before you contemplate the tragic story of Peter Brass, a Red Tailed Hawk, a male Pileated Woodpecker, and Crows make the back road journey to Brass Point worth every lingering moment.
Peter Brass was a British soldier with a flawless career. He was granted all the lands around Brass Point. Having constructed himself a log shanty he determined to build himself a home. This would require a loan, and he approached the wealthy Sir Henry Smith. Smith wanted the Brass land, and he contrived to have Peter Brass leave his land to him in his will, as collateral for the loan. The Convery’s were neighbours, and Joe Cameron joined the framing of Peter Brass. Peter was in the woods when he came upon Ruth Convery crying. She tore her blouse, yanked her hair and screamed loudly. The well paid off Joe Cameron and William Convery pulled guns on Brass.
The trial was swift. The Convery’s and Cameron testified against Brass. He was hanged in Market Square in Kingston. As he stood on the scaffold he calmly spoke of his innocence and foretold the demise of the three who committed perjury. The rope around his neck broke twice before the hanging was complete.
Brass foretold that Cameron would die where a child would live. Mr. Convery was to die a long excruciatingly painful death, and his daughter would die by fire.
Never sober after the trial, well compensated for his lies, and needing not to work a day, Cameron fell in a drunken stupor in a rut in the road. He could not get up, and drowned in a few inches of water. Mr. Convery contracted what many believed was leprosy and spent years in bed wracked with pain. His daughter Ruth cared for him. One night there was an explosion in the house and a passerby was able to rescue Ruth but unable to reach William. Ruth died one hour after her rescue but not before confessing to the plot that had Peter Brass hanged.
Red Tailed Hawk
Male Pileated Woodpecker
Crows
Flowering Rush
Brass Point
