Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

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1854

pg 213       would not sell at this price and on these conditions.  We, in 
             common with the whole town, had a very unfavorable opinion of him.  
             It was quite evident that he had imposed on us, and that his 
             intention from the start was only to make sure of our desire to 
             obtain his land at any price.  This was on the Wednesday of Holy 
             Week.
                  There are occasions when, by adopting vigorous measures, the 
             enemy is surprised and frightened, and we thus elude his snares.  
             On Thursday morning before mass F. Sorin sent five or six of his 
             stoutest men with strict orders to listen to no one and to tear 
             down the dam; and they were especially charged to answer anyone 
             that might attempt to interfere with them, that they received no 
             orders from anybody except their master, and that the land was 
             his.  Never was order more promptly carried out.
                  Our man could not hold out against this bold stroke--tearing 
             down under his very eyes a dam from which he could have still 
             earned some thousands of dollars.
                  The fall of the dam completely changed his position in regard 
             to the college.  We had a quasi-title to justify us; public