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• ' .-

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC ;

WITH

■ UN

COPIOUS EXTRACTS

FROM

MARQUETTE, HENNEPIN, lA HOUTAN. CADILLAC, ALEXANDER HENRY, AND OTHERS.

"Beauteous Isle! I sing of thee,

Mackinac, my Mackinac,
Thy lake-bound shores I love to see,
Mackinac, my Mackinac.
From Arch Rock's bright and shelving sttep
To western cliffs and Lover's Leap,
Where memories of the lost one sleep,
Mackinac, my Mackinac,

"Thy Northern shore trod British foe,

Mackinac, my Mackinac,
That day saw gallant Holmes laid low,
Mackinac, my Mackinac.
Now Freedom's flag above tliee waves,
And guards the rest of fallen braves,
Their requiem sung by Huron's waves,
Mackinac, my M.ackinac."

Bv REV J. A. VAN FLEET, M. A.

ANN ARBOR, MICH.:

COURIER STEAM PRINTING-HOUSK, 41 » 43 NORTH MAIN STREET.

1870,

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1870, by

J. A. VAN FLEET,

la the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan,

1
:

•i

;

PREFACE.

In the preparation of this little volume, I have carefully exam-
ined the following works : Holmes' American Annals, two volumes ;
Robertson's History of America; Bancroft's United States; Bell's
Canada, two volumes; Albach's Annals of the West; Lahnman's
Michigan; Sheldon's Early Michigan; Historical and Scientific
Sketches of Michigan ; Neill's Minnesota; Smith's Wisconsin, three
volumes; Wynne's General History of the British Empire; Rogers'
Concise Account of North America; Dillon's Early Settlement of the
North-Western Territory; Heriot's Canada; Parkman's Pontiac;
Parkman's Discovery of the Great West; Schoolcraft's Works, com-
plete; Documentary History of New York, complete; Palmer's His-
torical Register, 1814; Shea's Discovery and Exploration of the
Mississippi, — also, Catholic Missions; Hennepin; La Houtan, two
volumes; Charlevoix, two volumes; Alexander Henry; Carver; Dis-
turnell; Newcomb's Cyclopedia of Missions; American Missions to
the Heathen; Geological Reports by Foster and Whitney, and by
Professor Winchell ; Thatcher's Indian Biography, two volumes;
Strickland's Old Mackinaw; Drake's Northern Lakes and Southern
Invalids,— also, Diseases of the Mississippi Valley, by the same
author.

I am also greatly indebted to Messrs. Ambrose and William
Davenport for a detailed account of the War of 1812 in its connection
with this Island. These gentlemen were boys of from twelve to fifteen
years of age at the time, and were eye-witnesses of all that passed.
Their account agrees, in every important particular, with the oflici!
returns of Commodore Sinclair and Colonel Croghan, but is, «.
course, much more minute.

PREFACE.

Several other citizens of the place have likewise rendered valuable
assistance in matters falling within the scope of their recollection. I
also desire to acknowledge my obligation to Edgar Conkling, Esq., of
Mackinaw City, for valuable notes and suggestions, and to H. R.
Mills, M. D., of Fort Mackinac, and Rev. J. M. Arnold, of Detroit, for
assistance in getting the work through the press.

This book has been prepared to meet a want long felt and often

expressed by the many who throng this Island in quest of health or

pleasure during the summer. That it may accomplish this end, is the

earnest wish of the author,

J. A. V.
Mackinac, July 4, 1870

red valuable
tllection. I
ng, Esq., of
d to H. R.
Detroit, for

t and often
>f health or
s end, is the

. A. V.

CHAPTER I.

JESUIT HISTORY.

The first pole-faces who ventured into the region stretching
around the great lakes, were Jesuit missionaries. Of these,
the first who claim a notice here are the Fathers Charles
Raynibault and Isaac Jogues. In 1641, these two men visited
the Chippcwas at the Sault and established a mission among
them, but Raymbault soon after fell a victim to consumption,
and the eiiterprise was abandoned. Desperate Indian wars,
which soon followed, prevented any further attempt to estab-

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

lisli missions among the Indians around the lakes for nearly
thirty years.

In the spring of 1668, the illustrious Father, James Mar-
quette, was ordered to repair to the Ottawa mission, as that
around Lake Superior was then called. Arriving at the Sault,
he planted his cabin at the foot of the rapids, on the American
side, and began his work. In the following year he was joined
by Father Dablon, Superior of the mission, an J by their united
exertions a church was soon built. This was the first perman-
ent settlement made on the soil of Michigan.

During that same year, Marquette repaired to Lapointe,
near the western extremity of Lake Superior, leaving Dablon
to continue the mission at the Sault. When he arrived at his
new field of labor, he found several Indian villages, one of
which was composed of Hurons, who, several years before,
had dwelt, for a short time, on Mackinac Island.

Previous to leaving the Sault, Marquette had heard vague
reports of the " Great River," and had formed the design of
one day exploring it and preaching the gospel to those far-off
nations who dwelt upon its banks. That he might carry out
this design, he obtained, while at Lapointe, an Illinois captive,
and diligently studied the language, hoping that he would be
permitted to visit that people in the following Fall. But in
this he was doomed to disappointment. A war which broke
out between the Sioux, and the Hmons and Ottawas, com-
pelled the two last mentioned tribes to leave Lapointe and seek
a new home. Marquette's lot was cast with the Hurons, who
embarked in their frail canoes, descended the rapids of St.
Mary's, and, " remembering the rich fisheries of Mackinac,
resolved to return to that pebbly strand." Having fixed upon
a place of abode, the missionary's first thought was the estab-
lishment of a mission for the spiritual good of his savage fol-
lowers. While making the necessary preparations for the
erection of a chapel and the permanent founding of his colony,
he dwelt on this island.

The following extract is from a letter written by Marquette

JESUIT HISTORY.

br nearly

nes Mar-
1, as that
;he Sault,
Vmerican
'as joined
eir united
; perman-

Lapointe,
ET Dablon
etl at his
5, one of
s before,

rd vague

design of

se far-off

arr^ out

captive,

voukl be

But in

;h broke

'■as, com-

and seek

)ns, who

Is of St.

ackinac,

ed upon

ic estab-

^■age fol-

for the

colony,

arquette

in 1671, and published in the Relations des yesuits of that
year:

" Michilimackinac is an island famous in these regions, of
more than a league in diameter, and elevated in some places
by such high clifls as to be seen more than twelve leagues off.
It is situated just in the strait forming the communication
between Lakes Huron and Illinois (Michigan). It is the key,
and, as it were, the gate, for all the 'iribes from the south, as
tlie Sault is for those of the north, there being in this section
of country only those two passages by water, for a great num-
ber of nations have to go by one or other of these channels, in
order to reach the French settlements.

" This presents a peculiarly favorable opportunity, both
for instructing those who pass here, and also for obtaining easy
access and conveyance to their places of abode.

" This place is the most noted in these regions for the
abundance of its fisheries ; for, according to the Indian saying,
' this is the home of the fishes.* Elsewhere, although they
exist in large numbers, it is not properly their ' home,' which
is in the neighborhood of Michilimackinac.

" In fact, beside the fish common to all the chfr tribes, as
the herring, carp, pike, gold-fish, white-fish, and sturgeon,
there are found three varieties of the trout — one common ; the
second of a larger size, three feet long and one foot thick ; the
third monstrous, for we cannot otherwise describe it — it being
so fat that the Indians, who have a peculiar relish for fats, can
scarcely eat it. Besides, the supply is such that a single Indian
will take forty or fifty of them through the ice, with a single
spear, in three hours.

" It is this attraction which has heretofore drawn to a
point so advantageous the greater part of the savages in this
country, driven away by fear of the Iroquois. The three
tribes at present living on the Baye des Puans (Green Bay)
as strangers, formerly dwelt on the main land near the middle
of this island — some on the borders of Lake Illinois, others on
the borders of Lake Huron. A part of them, called Sauteurs^

i«^^

111.

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

had their abode on the main land at the west, and the others
look upon this place as their country for passing the winter,
when there are no fish at the Sault. The Hurons, called Eto-
nontathronnons^ have lived for some years in the siime island,
to escajje the Iroquois. Four villages of Ottawas had also
their abode in this quarter.

" It is worthy of notice that those who bore the name of
the island, and called themselves Michilimackinac, were so
numerous that some of the survivors yet living here assure us
that they once h-'ul thirty villages, all enclosed in a fortification
of a league and a half in circuit, when the Iroquois came and
defeated them, inflated by a victory they had gained over three
thousand men of that nation, who had carried their hostilities
as far as the country of the Agnichronnons.

" In one word, the quantity of fish, united with the excel-
lence of the soil for Indian corn, has always been a powerful
attraction to the tribes in these regions, of which the greater
part subsist only on fish, but some on Indian corn. On this
account many of these same tribes, perceiving that the peace
is likely to be established with the Iroquois, haVe turned their
attention t9 this point, so convenient for a return to their own
country, and will follow the examples of those who have made
a beginning on the islands of Lake Huron, which by this
means will soon be peopled from one end to the other, an event
highly desirable to facilitate the instruction of the Indian race,
whom it would not be necessary to seek by journeys of two or
three hundred leagues on these great lakes, with inconceivable
danger and hardship.

" In order to aid the execution of the design, signified to
us by many of the savages, of taking up their abode at this
point, where some have already passed the winter, hunting in
the neighborhood, we ourselves have also wintered here, in
order to make arrangements for establishing the mission of St.
Ignace^ from whence it will be easy to have access to all the
Indians of Lake Huron, when the several tribes shall have
settled each on Its own lands.

JESUIT HISTORY.

cl the Others
the whiter,
, called Eto-
same island,
as had also

the name of
lac, were so
re assure us
I fortification
is came and
sd over three
:ir hostilities

th the excel-
a powerful
the greater
rn. On this
it the peace
turned their
o their own

have made
iich by this
her, an event
Indian race,
ys of two or
iconceivable

signified to
bode at this
, hunting in
red here, in
ission of St.
5S to all the

1 shall have

*' With these advantages, the place has also its inconveni-
ences, particularly for the French, who are not yet familiar, as
are the savages, with the different kinds of fisher}', in which
the latter are trained from their birth ; the winds. '>\ the tides
occasion no small embarrassment to the fishermen.

" The winds : For this is the central r'^iut between the
three great lakes which surround it, and ,.;iich soem inces-
santly ..sing ball at each other. For no sooner h:i<% the wind
ceased blowing from Lake Michigan than Lake Huron hurls
back the gale it has received, and Lake Superior in its turn
sends forth its blasts from another quarter, and thus the game
is played from one to the other ; and as these lakes are of vast
extent, the winds cannot be otherwise than boisterous, espe-
cially during the autumn."

From this letter we conclude that Marquette must have
come to Michilimackinac in 1670, as he spent a winter here
before the establishment of his mission. Point Iroquois, on
the north side of the Straits, was selected as the most suitable
place for the proposed mission, and there, in 1671, a rude and
unshapely chapel, its sides of logs and its roof of bark, was
raised as "the first sylvan shrine of Catholicity," at Mackinaw.
This primitive temple was as simple as the faith taught by the
devoted missionary, and had nothing to impress the senses,
nothing to win by a dazzling exterior the wayward children of
the forest. The new mission was called St. Ignatius, in honor
of the founder of the Jesuit orde«-, and to this day the name is
perpetuated in the point upon whicn the mission stood.

During the summer of 1671 an event ocurred of no com-
mon interest and importance in the annals of French history
in America, but which, after all, was not destined to exert any
lasting influence. Mutual interests had long conspired to unite
the Algonquins of the west and the French in confirmed
friendship. The Algonquins desired commerce and protection ;
the French, while they coveted the rich furs which these tribes
brought them, coveted also an extension of political power to
the utmost limits of the western wilderness. Hence, Nicholas

^!i!

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

Perrot had been commissioned as the agent of the French gov-
ernment, to call a general Congress of the lake tribes at the
Falls of St. Mary. The invitations of this enthusiastic agent
of the Bourbcn dynasty reached the tribes of Lake Superior,
and were carried even to the wandering hordes of the remotest
north. Nor were the nations of the south neglected. Obtain-
ing an escort of Potawatomies at Green Bay, Perrot, the first
of Europeans to visit that place, repaired to the Miumis at
Chicago, on the same mission of friendship.

In May the day appointed for the unwonted spectacle of
the Congress of Nations arrived. St. Lusson was the French
official, and Allouez his interpreter. From the head waters of
the St. Lawrence, from the Mississippi, from the Great Lakes,
and even from the Red River, envoys of the wild republicans
of the wilderness were present. And brilliantly clad officers
from the veteran armies of France, with here and there a
Jesuit missionary, completed the vast assembly. A cross was
set up, a cedar post marked with the French lilies, and the
representatives of the wilderness tribes were informed that they
were under the protection of the French king. Thus, in the
presence of the ancient races of America, were the authority
and the faith of France uplifted in the very heart of our Con-
tinent. But the Congress proved only an echo soon to die
away, and left no abiding monument to mark its glory.

Marquette has left no details of his first year's labor in his
new mission, but during the second year he wrote the following
letter to Father Dablon. This letter has been published from
the manuscript, by John G. Shea, in his ''Discovery and Ex-
ploration of the Mississippi," and to him we are indebted
for it^

" Rev. Fathek, — The Hurons, called Tionnontateron-
nons or Petun nation, who compose the mission of St. Ignatius
at Michilimackinong, began last year near the chapel a fort
enclosing all their cabins. They have come regularly to
prayers, and have listened more readily to the instructions I gave
them, consenting to what I required to prevent their disorders

JESUIT HISTORV.

?'rench gov-
ibes at the
astic agent
2 Superior,
lie remotest
I. Obtain-
t, the first
Miamis at

pectacle of
he French
1 waters of
eat Lakes,
epublicans
ad officers
d there a

cross was
s, and the
;d that they
lus, hi the
; authority

our Con-
ion to die
y.

ibor in his
: following
shed from
/' and Ex-
indebted

ontateron-
t. Ignatius
pel a fort
jularly to
ons I gave
disorders

and abominable customs. We must have patience with un-
tutored minds, who know only the devil, who, like their ances-
tors, have been his slaves, and who often relapse into the sins
in which they were nurtui-ed. God alone can fix these fickle
minds, and place and keep them in his grace, and touch their
hearts while we stammer at their ears.

" The Tionnontateronnons .number this year three hundred
and eighty souls, and besides sixty Outaouasinagaux have joined
them. Some of these came from the mission of St. Francis
Xavier, where Father Andre wintered with them last year ;
they are quite changed from what I saw them at Lapointe ; the
zeal and patience of that missionary have gained to the faith
those hearts which seemed to us most averse to it. They now
wish to be Christians ; they bring their children to the chapel
to be baptized, and come regularly to prayers.

" Plaving been obliged to go to St. Marie du Sault with
Father Allouez last summer, the Hurons came to the chapel
during my absence as regularly as if I had been there, the girls
singing what prayers they knew. They counted the days of
my absence, and constantly asked when I was to be back. I
was absent only fourteen days, and on my arrival all assembled
at chapel, some coming even from their fields, which are at a
very considerable distance.

, " I went readily to their pumpkin feast, where I instructed
them, ai.d invited them to thank God, who gave them food in
plenty, while other tribes that had not yet embrace<l Christian-
ity were actually struggling with famine. I ridiculed dreams,
and urged those who had been baptized to acknowledge Him
whose adopted children they were. Those who gave the feast,
though still idolaters, spoke in high terms of Ciiristiauity, and
openly made the sign of the cross before all present. Some
young men, whom they had tried by ridicule to prevent from
doing it, persevered, and make the sign of the cross in the
gi'eatcst assemblies, even when I am not present.

" An Indian of distinction among the Hurons, having in-
vited me to a feast where the chiefs were, called them severally

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

by name, and told them that he wished to declare his thoughts,
that all might know it, namely, that he was a Christian ; that
he renounced the god of dreams and all their lewd dances ;
that the black-gown was master of his cabin ; and that for
nothing that might happen would he forsake his resolution.
Delighted to hear this, I spoke more strongly than I had ever
yet done, telling them that my only design was to put them in
the way of heaven ; that for this alone I remained among
them ; that this obliged me to assist them at the peril of my
life. As soon as anything is said in an assembly, it is immedi-
ately divulged through all the cabins, as I saw in this case by
the assiduity of some in coming to prayers, and by the mali-
cious efforts of others to neutralize my instructions.

" Severe as the winter is, it does not prevent the Indians
from coming to the chapel. Some come twice a day, be the
wind or cold what it may. Last foil I began to instruct some
to make general confessions of their whole life, and to prepare
others who had never confessed since their baptism. I would
not have supposed that Indians could have given so e..act an
account of all that had happened in the course of their life;
but it was seriously done, as some took two weeks to examine
themselves. Since then I have perceived a marked change, so
that they will not go even to ordinar}' feasts without asking my
permission.

" I havj this year baptized twenty-eight children, one of
which had been brought from Ste. Marie du Sault, without
having received that sacrament, as the Rev. F. Henry Nouvel
informed me, to put me on my guard. Without my knowing
it, the child fell sick, but God permitted that while instructing
in my cabin two important and sensible Indians, one asked me
whether such a sick child was baptized. I went at once, bap-
tized it, and it died the next night. Some of the other children
too, are dead, and now in heaven. These are the consolations
which God sends us, which make us esteem our life more
happy as it is more wretched.

" This, Father, is all I have to give about this mission ;

JESUIT HISTORY.

his thoughts,
iristian ; that
2wcl dances ;
and that for
s resolution.
1 I had ever

put them in
lined among

peril of my
it is immedi-
this case by
by the mali-

the Indians
day, be the
nstruct some
d to prepare
n. I would
so e..act an
of their life ;
> to examine
;d change, so
ut asking my

dren, one of
^ult, without
enry Nouvel
my knowing
e instructing
•ne asked me
It once, bap-
ther children
consolations
ur life more

his mission ;

where minds are now more mild, tractable, and better disposed
to receive instruction, than in any other part. I am ready,
however, to leave it in the hands of another missionary to go
on your order to seek new nations toward the south sea who
are still unknown to us, and to teach them of our great God,
whom they have hitherto unknown."

While Marquette was thus engaged in the labors of his
mission, his project for discovering and exploring the Missis-
sippi had attracted the attention of the French government,
and through the influence of M. Talon, the intcndant, a reso-
lution had been formed to act in the matter at once. It is
worthy of remark that the French, supposing that the Mississippi
might empty into the Gulf of California, hoped in discovering
that river to find also a short passage across the continent to
China. Having once formed the resolution to go in search of
the Great River, they were not long in making all needful prep-
aration for putting it into execution.

Sieur Joliet was designated as the agent of the French
government to carry out the design, and Marquette was to
accompany him. But little is known of Joliet except in his
connection with this one enterprise, which alone is sufficient to
immortalize his name. The following extract is taken from
Shea's " Discovery and Exploration of the Mississippi Valley."
It is from the pen of Father Dablon, and will give sufficient
information concerning him to serve the present purpose :

" They were not mistaken in their choice of the Sieur Jo-
liet, for he was a young man, born in this country, and endowed
with every quality that could be desired in such an enterprise.
He possessed experience, and a knovv^ ledge of the languages of
the Ottawa country, where he had speiit several years ; he had
the tact and prudence so necessary for the success of a voyage
equally dangerous and difficult ; and, lastly, he had courage to
fear nothing where all is to be feared. He accordingly fulfilled
the ex ctations entertained of him, and if, after having passed
through dangers of a thousand kinds, he had not unfortunately
been wrecked in the very harbor — his canoe having upset below

fTT

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

the Saut St. Louis, near Montreal, where he lost his men and
papers, and only escaped, by a kind of miracle, with his life —
the success of his voyage had left nothing to be desired."

When the Ottawa flotilla of 1672 brought back from
Qiiebec the news that his long cherished desire was about to
be gratified, Marquette exulted at the prospect before him. It
involved danger and hardship ; the way was blocked up by
hostile Indian tribes, and his health was already imj^aired by
the trials and privations which had fallen to his lot, but no con-
sideration of personal safety could deter him from his purpose. ^
He even gloried in the prospect of martyrdom.

Joliet, at lenyih, arrived at the mission, and together they
spent the winter in making the necessary arrangements for the
voyage. The following quotation is from Marquette's own
narrative, as published by Shea :

" The day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin, whom I had always invoked since I have been in this
Ottawa country, to obtain of God the grace to be able to visit
the nations on the river Mississippi, was identically that on
which M. Joliet arrived with orders of the Comte de Frontenac,
our governor, and M. Talon, our intendant, to make this dis-
covery with me. I was the more enraptured at this good news,
as I saw my designs on the point of being accomplished, and
myself in the happy necessity of exposing my life for the salva-
tion of all these nations, and particularly for the Illinois, who
had, when I was at Lapointe du St. Esprit, very earnestly en-
treated me to carry the woi'd of God to their country.

" We were not long in preparing our outfit, although we
were embarking on a voyage the duration of which we could
not foresee. Indian corn, with some dried meat, was our whole
stock of provisions. With this we set out in two bark canoes,
M. Joliet, myself, and five men, firmly resolved to do all and
suffer all, for so glorious an enterprise.

" It was on the 17th of May, 1673, that we started from
the mission of St. Ignatius, at Michilimackinac, where I then
was. Our joy at being chosen for this expedition roused our

JESUIT HISTORY,

his men and
with his life —
lesired."
it back from
was about to
sfore him. It
locked up by

impaired by
)t, but no con-
1 his purpose. %

together they
ments for the
•quette's own

f the Blessed

been in this

able to visit

ally that on

le Frontenac,

ake this dis-

is good news,

plished, and

for the salva-

Illinois, who

earnestly en-

try.

although we
h we could
as our whole
Dark canoes,
I do all and

started from

vheve I then

roused our

courage, and sweetened the labor of rowing from morning till
night. As we were going to seek unknown countries, we took
all possible precautions, that, if our enterprise was hazardous,
it should not be foolhardy. For this reason we gathered all
possible information from Indians who had frequented those
parts, and even from their accounts traced a map of all the new
country, marking down the rivers on which we were to sail,
the names of the nations and places through which we were to
pass, the course of the great river, and what direction we
should take when we got to it.

" Above all, I put our voyage under the protection of the
Blessed Virgin Immaculate, promising her, that if she did us
the grace to discover the great river, I would give it the name
of Conception ; and that I would also give that name to the
first mission which I should establish among these new nations,
as I have actually done among the Illinois.

" With all these precautions, we made our paddles play
merrily over a part of Lake Huron, and that of the Illinois,
into the Bay of the Fetid (Green Bay). The first nation that we
met was that of the Wild Oats, (English, wild rice). I en-
tered their river (Menomonie) to visit them, as we have
-reached the gospel to these tribes for some years past, so that
there are many good Christians among them.

" I informed these people of the Wild Oats of my design
of going to discover distant nations to instruct them in the mys-
teries of our Holy Religion ; they were very much surprised,
and did their best to dissuade me. They told me that I would
meet nations that never spare strangers, but tomahawk them
without any provocation ; that the war which had broken out
among various nations on our route, exposed us to another evi-
dent danger — that of being killed by the war-parties which are
constantly in the field ; that the Great River is very dangerous,
unless the difficult parts are known ; that it was full of fright-
ful monsters, who swallowed up men and canoes together ;
that there is even a demon there who can be heard from afar,
who stops the passage and engulfs all who dare approach ;

« V

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

lastly, that the heat is so excessive in those countries that it
would infallibly cause our death.

" I thanked them for their kind advice, but assured them
that I could not follow it, as the salvation of souls was con-
cerned ; that for them I should be too happy to lay down my life ;
that I made light of their pretended demon ; that we would
defend ourselves well enough against *^he river-monsters ; and,
besides, we should be on our guard to avoid the other dangers
with which they threatened us."

Space will not permit us to describe the journey of the
adventurers in detail. We can only say that they proceeded to
the head of Green Bay, entered Fox River, which they
ascended to the portage, crossed over to the Wisconsin, and on
the 17th day of June, feeling a joy that could not be expressed,
entered the Mississippi. From the Wisconsin they descended
to the Arkansas, whence they returned, satisfied that the Father
of Rivers went not to the ocean east of Florida, nor yet to the
Gulf of California. Arriving at the mouth of the Illinois, they
entered that river, by which route they reached Lake Michigan
at Chicago, and, coasting along the western shore of that lake,
arrived at Green Bay before the end of September.

Here Joliet took his leave of Marquette and returned to
Quebec, while Marquette remained at the mission to recruit
his failing health befoi'e again entering upon his missionary
labors. On his return, he had promised a tribe of the Illinois
Indians that he would soon establish a mission among them,
and this fact he doubtless communicated to his superiors at
Montreal by the Ottawa flotilla of the following year. • The
return of the fleet of canoes brought him the necessary order,
and on the 25th oi October, 1674, he set out to establish his
long projected Illinois mission. His former malady — dysen-
tery — however, returned, and he was compelled, with his two
companions, to winter on the ClMicago River. In the spring
of 1675 he was able to complete his journey and begin his
mission, but a renewed and more vigorous attack of disease
soon satisfied him that his labors on earth were nearly done.

„iiU

JESUIT HISTORY.

tries that it

■ssurccl them
lis was con-
>wn my life ;
t we would
listers; and,
ther dangers

Lirney of the
proceeded to
which they
)nsin, and on
be expressed,
sy descended
lat the Father
or yet to the
Illinois, they
ike Michigan
of that lake,
r.

returned to
)n to recruit
missionary
f the Illinois
among them,

superiors at

year. • The

essary order,

establish his
lady — dysen-
vith his two
In the spring
nd begin his
:k of disease

nearly done.

He could not die, however, without again visiting his beloved
mission at Mackinac and bowing in the chapel of St. Ignatius ;
he therefore set out, hoping that his failing strength would per-
mit him to accomplish the journey. As he coasted along the
eastern shore of Lake Michigan, his strength gradually failed,
and he was at last so weak that he could no longer help him-
self, but had to be lifted in and out of his canoe when they
landed each night. At last, perceiving the mouth of a river,
he pointed to an eminence near by, and told his companions
that it was the place of his last repose. They wished, how-
ever, to pass on, as the weather was fine and the day not far
advanced, but a wind soon arose which compelled them to
return and enter the river pointed out by the dying missionary.
They carried him ashore, erected a little bark cabin, kindled a
fire, and made him as comfortable as they could. Having
heard the confessions o'' his companions, f.nd encouraged them
to rely with confidence on the protection of God, Marquette
now sent them away, to take the repose they so much needed.

Two or three hours afterward he felt his end approachii.g,
and summoned his companions to his side. Taking his crucifix
from around his neck, and placing it in their hands, he pro-
nounced in a firm voice, his profession of faith, and thanked
the Almighty for the favor of permitting him to die a Jesuit, a
missionary, and alone. Then, his face all radiant with joy,
and his eyes raised, as if in ecstasy, above his crucifix, with the
words "Jesus " and " Mary " upon his lips, he passed from the
scene of his labors to his rest in heaven. After the first out-
bursts of grief were over, his companions arranged his body
for burial, and, to the sound of his little chapel bell, bore it
slowly to the spot which he himself had designated, where
they committf-;! it to the earth, raising a large cross to mark his
last resting placcf. This occurred on the i8th day of May,
1675, in the thirty-eighth year of his .i.ge.

Two years later, and almost on the anniversary of this
event, a party of Indians whom Marquette had himself in-
structed at Lapointc, visited his grave, on their return from

iKrtx

iT"

OLD AND NE\V MACKINAC.

i I

•

1^ ^H

ll '

their winter hunting grouiuls, and resolved to disinter their
good Father and bear his revered bones to the mission of St.
Ignatius, at Mackinac, where they resided. They therefore
opened the grave, and, according to custom, dissected the body,
.washing the bones and drying them in the sun. When tliis
was done, & neat box of birch bark was prejDarcd, into which
the l)ones were placed, and the flotilla, now become a funeral
convoy, proceeded on its way. Only the dip of the paddles
and the sighs of the Indians broke the silence, as the funeral
cortege advanced. When nearing Mackinac, the missionaries,
accompanied by many of the Indians of the place, went to
meet them, and there, upon the waters, rose the " De Profun-
dis," which continued till the coffined remains of the good
Father reached the land. With the usual ceremonies his
bones were then borne to the church, where, beneath a pall
stretched as if over a coffin, they remained during the day,
when they were deposited in a little vault in the middle of the
church, " where," says the chronicler, " he still reposes as the
guardian angel of our Ottawa mission." Thus did Marquette
accomplisli, in death, the voyage which life had not enabled
him to terminate.

In the life of this humble and unpretending missionarj*
and explorer there is much to admire. Though an heir to
wealth and position in his native land, he voluntarily sej^arated
himself from his friends, and chose a life of sacrifice, toil, and
death, that he might ameliorate the moral and spiritual con-
dition of nations sunk in paganism and vice. His disposition
was cheerful under all circumstances. His rare qualities of
mind and heart secured for him the esteem of all who knew
him. He was a man of sound sense and close observation,
not disposed to exaggerate, not egotistical. His motives were
pure and his eflbrts earnest. His intellectual abilities must
have been of no ordinary type ; his letters show him to have
been a man of education, and though but nine years a mission-
ary among the Indians, he spoke six languages with ease, and
understood less perfectly many others.

\Mi

JESUIT HISTORY.

sinter their
ssion of St.
;y therefore
ed the body,

When this
, into which
le a funeral
the paddles

the funeral
nissionaries,
ice, went to

De Profun-
of the good
emonies his
neath a pall
ng the day,
niddle of the
jposes as the
d Marquette

not enabled

; missionary
an heir to
y separated
ice, toil, and
piritual con-
disposition
qualities of
who knew
observation,
lotivcs were
bilities must
im to have
s a mission-
th ease, and

With Marquette religion was the controling idea. The
salvation of a soul was more than the conquest of an empire.
He was careful to avoid all appearance of a worldly or national
mission among the savages. On many a hillside and in many
a shadv vale did he set up the cross, but nowhere did he carve
the " Lilies of the Bourbons." His devotion to the " Blessed
Virgin" was tender and all-absorbing. From early youth tc
his latest breath she was the constant object of his adoration ;
no letter ever came from his hand which did not contain the
words " Blessed Virgin Immaculate," and it was with her
name upon his lips that he closed his eyes in death, as gently
as though sinking into a quiet slumber.

Marquette was a Catholic, yet he is not the exclusive
property of that people : he belongs alike to all. His name is
written in the hearts of the good of every class. As an ex-
plorer he will live in the annals of the American people
forever.

" He died young, but there are silvered heads
Whose race of duty is less nobly run."

The history of the mission of St. Ignace after its founder
embarked on that voyage which immortalized his name, may
i)e told in few words. Marquette was succeeded by Father
Pierson, who, in 1764, found it necessary to erect a new and
more commodious church, as a large band of Ottawas had
settled near. In the spring of 1677, prior to the transfer of
Marquette's remains to the mission, Father Nouvel arrived and
took charge of the Ottawa portion of the mission, leaving the
Hurons to Father Pierson. In the followinof vear the mission
was again consolidated, and Father Enjalran appointed mission-
ary. This Father continued at the mission for several years,
but after him we know little of its history. In 1706, the mis-
sionaries becoming disheartened, burned down their college
and chapel, and returned to Quebec.

\-y\i

!i m

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

CHAPTER II.

FRENCH HISTOnV.

Prior to 1679 little had been done toward exploring and
colonizing the great Northwest, save by the humble disciples
of Ignatius Loyola, but at that date commercial enterprise en-
tered the field, and the missionary spirit took a subordinate
place in the onward march of civilization.

When Joliet returned from his voyage down the Missis-
sippi, the young, energetic and adventurous Robert Cavalier de
la Salle, then lord of Fort Frontenac, had already planned an
expedition across the Great Lakes to the shores of the Pacific,
hoping thereby to find a short passage to China.

The news of the brilliant discoveries made by Marquette
and Joliet kindled the sanguinary mind of this young enthu-
siast, and induced him to redouble his exertions to carry out
his design. With plans for the colonization of the Southwest,
and commerce between Europe and the Mississippi, La Salle
now visited M. de Frontenac, Governor General of Canada,
and laid before him the dim, but gigantic, outlines of his pro-
ject. He aimed at the extension of French power by the con-
struction of a chain of fortifications at the most prominent
points along the lakes and rivers of the West. Frontenac en-
tered warmly into La Salle's plans, and advised him to apply
directly to the King of France. This he accordingly did, and
meeting with favor at the French Court, he obtained a com-
mission for perfecting the discovery of the " Great River,"
dated May 12th, 1678, and signed by Colbert, and also the
monopoly of the traffic in buffalo skins. He was, however,
forbidden to carry on trade with the Ottawas and other tribes

ii.. '1x111

FRENCH HISTORY.

ploring and
Ae disciples
nterprise en-
subordinate

the Missis-
t Cavalier de
' planned an
' the Pacific,

y Marquette
oung enthu-
to carry out
! Southwest,
ipi, La Salle
of Canada,
of his pro-
by the con-
: prominent
i-ontenac en-
im to apply
gly did, and
ined a com-
reat River,"
ind also the
as, however,
1 other tribes

of the lakes, who were accustomed to carry their furs to Mon-
treal. On his return to Qiiobec, he found Father Louis Hen-
nepin, a friar of the Franciscan order, " daring, vain and
determined," says Lahnman, " ambitious to reap the glory of
discovery, and not too scrupulous as to the means," who had
been appointed by his superiors as acting missionary to accom-
pany the expedition.

Though beset by difficulties on every hand which would
have appeared formidable to any man of moderate soul. La
Salle now pushed forward with the utmost dispatch. Late in
November he left Fort Frontenac, navigated Ontario in a little
vessel of ten tons, and, having pushed as near to the Falls as
could be done with safety, disembarked. Here the provisions,
anchors, chains, merchandise, &c., must be carried beyond the
cataract to the calm water above, a distance of at least twelve
miles. Impeded by deep snows, gloomy forests and rugged
heights, this task was not finished until the 22d day of January.

During the remainder of the winter and the early part of
the succeeding summer, a vessel of sixty tons burden, called
the Griffin, was constructed, and other preparations perfected,
for the prosecution of the enterprise. On the 7th day of
August, 1679, amid the firing of cannon and the chanting of
the Te Deum, the sails were unfurled, and the little vessel ven-
tured out upon Lake Erie. In all, there were thirty-four men
on board, mostly fur traders for the valley of the Mississippi.
Among them vvas Hennepin, the journalist of the expedition,
and two other monks who had joined them at the mouth of
the Cayuga, where the Griffin was built.

For three days she boldly held hev course over these
unknown waters, where sail had never been seen before, and
then turned to the northward " between the vejj[Jant isles of
the majestic Detroit." Here, on either hand, was spread out
the finest scenery that had ever delighted the Frenchman's eye.
Verdant prairies, dotted with groves and bordered with lofty
forests of walnut, chestnut, wild plum, and oak, festooned with
grape vines, stretched away as far as the eye could reach.

n inf!

Or.D AND NEW MACKINAC.

Hennepin wondered that nature, withont the help of art, could
have made so charming a prospect. Herds of deer and llocixs
of swan and wild turkeys were plentiful. The bears and
other beasts ami birds whose names were unknown, were,
in the lanj^uage of the missionary, " extraordinary relishin<:f."

This was twenty years before the settlement of Detroit.
Passing on up the rircr, they entered the lake which they
named St. Clair, from the day on which they traversed its
shallow waters, and, at length, Lake Huron lay hi re them,
like a vast sea, sparkling in the siui. Here again th. chanted
a Te Dcum, as a thank-ofVering to the Almighty for the pros-
perity that had attended them.

The gentle breezes which now swelled the canvas of the
GrifHn seemed to whisper of a quick and prosperous voyage
to the head waters of the Huron, but soon the wind died a\' ay
to a calm, then freshened to a gale, then rose to a furious tem-
pest. The elements were at war. The raging lake threatened
in her wrath to swallow the little vessel and all her crew.
Even the stout heart of La Salle was made to quake with fear,
and he called upon all to commend themselves to Heaven.
Save the godless pilot, who was loud in his anathemas against
his commander " for having brought him, after the honor he
had won on the ocean, to drown, at last, ignominiously, in
fresh water," all clamored to the saints. With the same breath
La Salle and the missionary declared St. Anthony the patron
of the expedition, and a score of others promised that a chaj^el
should be built in his honor if he would but save them from
their jeopardy. But the obedient winds \vei;c tamed by a
greater than St. Anthony, and the Grifhn " plunged on her way
through foaming surges that still grew calmer as she advanced."
Woody Bois Blanc soon lifts the top of her pristine forests to
the view of the anxious mariners. In the dim distance are the
Manitoulines. Farther on, " sitting like an emerald gem in
the clear, pellucid wave, is the rock-girt, fairy Isle" of Mack-
inac. St. Ignace, the scene of Marquette's missionary labors,
and the site of that chapel beneath which repose his peaceful

ililijli

FRENCH HISTORY.

^f art, could
r and Hocks
bears and
lowii, were,
•elishiiifj."

I of Detroit,
which they
traversed its
je' re them,
:hi chanted
or the pros-

invas of the
nnis voyage
id (Hed a\ ay
furious te ni-
ce threatened

II her crew,
ic with fear,

to Heaven.
;mas against
le honor he
liniously, in

same breath
I the patron
that a chapel
s them from
tamed by a
d on her way
e advanced."
ne forests to
tancc are the
raid gem in
e " of Mack-
)nary labors,

his peaceful

ashes, is before them, and Peciuodeuong, where as yet the
smoke of the calumet of peace has always ascended and the
shrill war-whoop has never been heard, rises gradually and
majestically from the crystal waters which cover but cannot
conceal the pebbly depths beneath. It was a grand and im-
posing scene that lay spread out before them.

The following is from Hennepin : " The 27th, in the
morning, we continued our course northwest, with a southeast
wind, which carried us the same day to Alichilimackinac,
where we anchored in a bay at six fathom water, upon a shiny
white ''ottom. That bay is sheltered by the coast and a bank
lying irom the southwest to the north ; but it lies exposed to
the south vv.nds, which are very violent in that country.

" MicLilimackinac is a neck of land to the north of the
mouth of the strait through which the Lake of the Illinois dis-
charges itself into the Lake Huron. That canal is about three

leagues long and one broad.

m * « « * * *

" We lay between two different nations of savages ; those
who inhabit the Point of Michilimackinac are called Ilurons,
and the others, who are about three or four leagues more north-
ward, are Ottawus. Those savages were equally surprised to
see a ship in thei; country ; and the noise of our cannon, of
which we made a general discharge, fdled them with great
astonishment. We went to see the Ottawas, and celebrated
mass in their habitation. M. La Salle was finely dressed,
having a scarlet cloak with a broad gold lace, and most of his
men, with their arms, attended him. The chief captains of
that people received us with great civilities after their own
way, and some of them came on board with us, to see our
ship, which rode all that while in the bay or creek I have
spoken of. It was a diverting prospect to see every day above
six score canoes about it, and the savages staring and admiring
that fine wooden conoe, as they called it. They brought us
abundance of whitings, and some trouts of fifty or sixty pound
weight.

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

" We went the next day to pay a visit to the Hurons, who
inhabit a rising ground on a neck of land over against Michili-
mackinac. Their villages are fortified with palisades of
twenty-five feet high, and always situated upon eminences or
hills. They received us with more respect than the Ottawas,
for they made a triple discharge of all the small guns they had,
having learned from some Europeans that it is the greatest
civility among us. However, they took such a jealousy to our
ship that, as we vmderstood since, they endeavored to make our
expedition odious to all the nations about them.

" The Hurons and Ottawas are in confederacy together
against the Iroquois, their common enemy. They sow Indian
corn, which is their ordinary food ; for they have nothing else to
live upon, except some fish they take in the lakes. They boil
it with their sagamittee, which is a kind of broth made with
water and the flour of the corn, which they beat in a mortar,
made of the trunk of a tree, which they make hollow with
fire."

La Salle remained at Mackinac until the second day of
September, when he set sail for Green Bay. At this point,
contrary to orders, he collected a cargo of furs, with which he
dispatched the Grifiin to Niagara, while he himself, with a part
of his men, repaired in bark canoes to the head of Lake Mich-
igan. Here he anxiously awaited the return of his little vessel,
but alas ! he waited in vain. No tidings ever reached him of
the ill-fated bark, and to this day none can tell whether she was
swallowed in the depths of the lake, destroyed by Indians, or
made the prize of traitors.

The loss of the Griffin was a very severe stroke upon La
Salle, yet he was not discouraged. With inflexible energy, he
pursued his course. From Lake Michigan he proceeded into
the country of the Illinois, where he wintered. Early in the
following spring he dispatched Hennepin to discover the sources
of the Mississippi, while he himself retui"ned to Canada for new
supplies, made necessary by the loss of the Griffin. In 1681
he returned, and in 1682, having constructed a vessel of a sizo

.! (

FRENCH HISTORY.

le Hurons, who
against Michili-
1 palisades of
1 eminences or
n the Ottawas,
guns they had,
is the greatest
jealousy to our
'ed to make our

deracy together
hey sow Indian
! nothing else to
CCS. They boil
roth made with
it in a mortar,
:e hollow with

second day of
At this point,
with which he
iclf, with a part
of Lake Mich-
bis little vessel,
reached him of
hether she was
by Indians, or

troke upon La
ble energy, he
proceeded into
Early in the
vcr the sources
anada for new
iffin. In 1681
vessel of a sizr*

suitable for the purpose, he descended the Mississippi to the
Gulf.

Having completed the exploration of the Great River, his
next step was to plant colonies along its banks, for which pur-
pose he laboi-ed, but with only partial siccess, until 1687, when
he was assassinated by one of his owi men.

Some modern writers have stated that the first fort at
Mackinac, which at that time meant little more than a trading
house surrounded by a stockade, was built by La Salle in 1679,
but the fact that Hennepin makes no mention of this, and that
La Salle was prohibited from trading with the Indians of this
region, would seem to be sufficient proof to the contrary. Be-
sides, if we may take the testimony of Holmes' American
Annals, this fort or trading post was first established in 1673.

Of the oarly histoi^ of this post, subsequent to the date of
La Salle's visit, we have only such information as may be
gathered fiom the notices of travelers and others whose
writings have come down to us.

In i6S3 tlie Baron La Houtan, an ofl^cer of rare accom-
plishmentb, visited this post, and from him we have the fol-
lowing :

' At last, finding that my provisions were almost out, I
resolved to go to Michilimackinac, to buy up corn from the
Hui'ons and Ottawas, ***** ♦ ♦

* * * * I arrived at this place on the iSth of
April, and my uneasiness and trouble took date from the day
of my arrival : for I found the Indian corn so scarce by reason
of the preceding bad harvests, that I despaired of finding half
so much as I wanted. But, after all, I am hopeful that two
villages will furnish me witii almost as much as I have occasion
for. Mr. Cavalier arrived here, May 6th, being accompanied
with his nephew, Father Anastase the Recollect, a pilot, one of
the savages, and some few Frenchmen, which made a sort of a
party-colored retinue. These Frenclmien were some of those
that Mr. de la Salle had conducted upon the discovery of Mis-
sissippi. They give out that they arc sent to Canada, in order

"p M 1 1 — r~

I I,
1 :

Ol-n AND NEW MACKINAC,

ill:

1 I ■ ( M

i! Si

! I

to go to France, with some dispatches from Mr. de la Salle to
the King ; but we suspect that he is dead, because he does not
return along with them. I shall not spend time in taking notice
of their great journey overland ; which, by the account they
give, cannot be less than eight hundred leagues.

" Michilimackinac, the place I am now in, is certainly a
place of great importance. It lies in the latitude of forty-five
degrees and thirty minutes. It is not above half a league dis-
tant from the IlUnese Lake, an account of which, and, indeed,
of all the other lakes, you may expect elsewhere. Here tlie
Hurons and Ottawas have, each of them, a village ; the one
being severed from the other by a single palisade ; but the Ot-
tawas are beginning to build a fort upon a hill that stands ten
or twelve hundred paces oft'. This precaution they were
prompted to by the murder of a certait? Huron, called Sanda-
ouires, who was assassinated in the Saginaw River by four
young Ottawas. In this jlace the Jesuits have a little house or
college, adjoining to a fort of a church, and inclosed with poles
that separate it from the village of the Hurons. These good
Fathers lavish away all their divinity and patience, to no pur-
pose, in converting such ignorant infidels ; for all the length
they can bring them 10, is, that oftentimes they will desire ])ap-
tism for their dying cliiidren, and some few superannuated
persons consent to receive the sacrament of baptism when they
find tlicmselves at the point of death. The Coureurs dc bois
have but a very small settlement here ; thougli at tlie same
time it is not inconsiderable, as being the staple of all tlic goods
that they truck with the south and the west savages ; for they
cannot avoid passing this way, when they go to the seats of the
Illinese, and tlie Oumamis, or to the Bay des Puans, and to the
River of Mississippi. The skins, which they import from
these dirtcrent places, must lie here some time before they are
transportcil to the colony. Michilimackinac is situated very
advantageously ; for the Iroquese dare not venture, with their
sorry canoes, to cross the strait of the Illinese Lake, which is
two leagues over; besides that the Lake of the Hurons is too

J^ ilii

FRENCH HISTORY.

[r. tie la Salle to
:ausc he does not
e in taking notice
the account they
;s.

in, is certainly a
itude of forty-five
lalf a league dis-
lich, and, indeed,
^'here. Here the
village ; the one
ade ; but the Ot-
ill that stands ten
ution tliey were
on, called Sanda-
iv River by four
e a little house or
iclosed with poles
ins. These good
ience, to no pur-
)V all the length
y will desire bap-
\v superannuated
iptism when they
Jonrcurs dc bois
igh at the same
le of all the goods
ravages ; for they
to the seats of the
Puans, and to the
hey import from
e before they are
; is situated very
.'uture, witli their
Lake, which is
lie llurons is too

rough for such slender boats ; and as they cannot come to it by
water, so they cannot approach to it by land, by reason of the
marshes, fens, and little rivers, which it would be very difficult
to cross ; not to mention that the strait of the Illincse Lake lies
still in their way."

We are also indebted to La Iloutan for a map f,howing
the location of the Jesuit establishment, and also of the French
and Indian villages as they existed in 16SS.

In 1695 M. de la Motte Cadillac, afterivards the founder
of Detroit, commanded at this post. He thus describes the
place at the time :

" It is very important that you should know, in case you
are not already informed, that this village is one of the largest
in all Canada. There is a fine fort of pickets, and sixty houses,
that form a street in a straight line. There is a garrison of
well disciplined, chosen soldiers, consisting of about two liun-
dred men, the best formed and most athletic to be found
in this New World ; besides many other persons who are resi-
dents here during two or three months in the year. * * *
The houses are arranged along the shore of this great Lake
Huron, and fish and smoked meat constitute the principal food
of the inhabitants.-

" The villages of the savages, in which there are six or
seven thousand souls, are about a pistol-shot distant from ours.
.^11 the lands are cleared for about three leagues around their
tillage, and perfectly well cultivated. Tiiey produce a sufii-
cicnt (juantity of Indian corn for the use of both the French
and savage inhabitants."

In 1699, Cadillac, perceiving the importance of a fort on
tlie Detroit, repaired to Francj to present the subject to the
consideration of Count Pontchartrain, the colonial minister.
He was favorably received, and authorized to establish the pro-
posed fort at the earliest date possible. This he accomplished
in 1 701.

With the exception of here and there a Jes.:it missionary

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

>ll

and a few half savage coureiirs de bois, the region around
Mackinaw was now forsaken by the French.

A dispute soon arose between Cadillac and the Jesuits,
the former insisting upon a concentration of French interests
in the West, at Detroit, the lal^'er urging the French govern-
iTient to reestablish Mackinaw. The Jesuits did all in their
^jower to prevent the Indians removing to Detroit, while Cadil-
lac held out every inducement to prevail upon them to desert
their villages and settle in the vicinity of the new fort, and so
far succeeded that in 1706, as we have seen, the Jesuits became
discouraged, burned down their college and chapel, and
returned to Qiiebec. But, alarmed at this step, the governor
soon prevailed upon Father James Marest to return, and
shortly after, the Ottawas, who were becoming dissatisfied at
Detroit, began to move back to Mackinac.

Father Marest now did all in his power to prevail upon
the French government to send M. Louvigny, a former com-
mander, with a few soldiers, to reestablish the fort, but did not
succeed until 1714? when the long wished for garrison and
commander arrived, giving new life to the settlement.

In 1 72 1, Father Charlevoix, the historian of New France,
visited Mackinaw, and thus speaks of it :

" I arrived the twenty-eighth (June) at this post, which is
much declined since M. de la Motte Cadillac drew to Detroit
the greatest part of the savages who were settled here, and
especially the Hurons. Several Ottawas have followed them,
others have dispersed themselves in the Isles of Castor ; there
is only here a middling village, where there is still a great
trade for peltry, because it is the passage or the rendezvous of
many of the savage nations. The fort is preserved, and the
house of the missionaries, who are not much employed at
l^resent, having never found much docility among the Ottawas ;
but the Court thinks their presence necessary, in a place where
one must often treat with our allies, to exercise their ministry
among the French, who come hither in great numbers. T have
been assured, that since the settlement of Detroit, and the dis-

rol
trJ
foi
HI

iu:4itukuLi

mf\

FRENCH HISTORY.

ion around

the Jesuits,
:h interests
ch govern-
ill in their
'hile Caclil-
1 to desert
brt, and so
lits became
lapel, and
e governor
eturn, and
satisfied at

evail upon
rmer com-
nit did not *
rison and

fv France,

, which is
to Detroit
here, and
ved them,
or; there
1 a great
ezvous of
, and the
Dloyed at
Ottawas ;
ice where

ministrv
T have

the dis-

persion of the savages occasioned thereby, many nations of the
North who used to bring their peltries hither, have taken the
route of Hudson's Bay, by the River Bourbon, and go there to
trade with the English : but M. dc la Motte could by no means
foresee this inconvenience, since we were then in possession of
Hudson's Bay.

" The situation of Michilimackinac is very advantageous
for trade. This post is between three great lakes : Lake Mich-
igan, which is three hundred leagues in compass, without
mentioning the great Bay that comes into it ; Lake Huron,
which is three hundred and fifty leagues in circumference, and
which is triangular ; and the Upper Lake, which is five hun-
dred leagues."

From the date of Charlevoix's visit, down to 1760, when
it passed forever out of the hands of the French, the records of
the establishment at Mackinaw are very meagre, and compar-
atively devoid of interest. At the last mentioned date, we find
the fort on the south side of the Straits, but the time of the
removal to that point has not been given by any author at the
writer's command. Hennepin, La Houtan and Cadillac,
whom we have already quoted, describe it ^s on the north side,
while Charlevoix says nothing bearing upon the question.
Sheldon, in his History f Early Michigan, suggests that the
I'emoval probal'y .ook place in 1714, when the post was
reestablished.

A brief notice of the war which ended with a transfer of
Qiiebec with all its dependencies, not the least among which
was Mackinac, will close the chapter.

France and England being rivals in the Old World, could
not be partners of the New. Had these two powers been sat-
isfied to divide the American continent amicably between them,
the history of Columbia would have been far difierent from
what it is now. But when they crossed the Atlantic, they
brought with them their hereditary enmity, and this enmity
was strengthened by new issues which were constantly arising.

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

Each desired undivided dominion over the North and West,
and at times the struggle for supremacy was desperate.

The Indians around the hd-ces were, almost without excep-
tion, friendly to the French, while the " Five Nations," dwell-
ing south and east from Lake Ontario, sided with the English.

As early as i6S6, English adventurers, in quest of the rich
furs of the Northwest, pushed up the lakes to Mackinac, but
the French, imwilling that any portion of the Indian trade
should pass into the hands of their enem-cs, made their visits
to this region too hazardous to be oft repeated.

The heart sickens in contemplating this portion of our
country's history. Many a spot was stained with the blood of
its unfortunate inhabitants. The forests were often lighted up
with the conflagration of burning villages, and the stillness of
the midnight hour was frequently broken by the shrill war-
whoop, mingled with the shrieks ci' helpless women under the
tomahawk or scalping-knifc. And these tragic scenes were too
often prompted by French or English thirst for power.

But ihially, after many years, during which, with onh-
short intervals of peace, these scenes of blood had frequent
repetitions, the British government determined to make a
powerful eflbrt to dispossess the French colonics of this terri-
tory. Military operations, however, were at first unfav Mable
to the English cause. Many a red column of well trained and
well armed regulars wavered before the rifles of the combined
French and Indians, who fought concealed in thickets, or from
behind a breastwork of fallen trees. But in 1759, victory
turned on the side of the English, and the question was
brought to a speedy and decisive issue. An English army,
under the command of l^rigadier-General Wolf, succeeded,
during the night of September •2th, in gaining the Heights of
Abraham, at Qiiebcc, where, upon the following day, was
gained one of the most momentous victories in the annals of
history, a victory which gave to the English tongue and the
institutions of a Protestant Christianity the unexplored and
seemingly infinite North and West.

FRKXCH IHSTORV,

rth and West,
pcratc.

without cxccp-
iitions," dwcll-
h the English,
est of tile ricii
Macldnac, but
Indian trade
de their visits

Tliough tliis victory was gained in vSeptember of 17:^9, it
was not until September of 1760 that a final surrender of Can-
ada, with all die French posts around the lakes, was made to
the English, and not till vSeptember of 1761 that possession was
taken of Mackinac by English .roops, as mentioned by Henrv
in the following chapter.

..,.|.

)ortion of our

the blood of
Jn lighted up
lie stillness of
c shrill war-
len under the
enes were too
)wer.

h, with only
had frequent

to make a
of this terri-

unf:iv)rable
1 trained and
ic combined
:ets, or from
7S9, victory
uestion was
iglish army,

succeeded,
: Heights of
\g day, was
e annals of
fue and the
plored and

; f

I I

I •:

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

CHAPTER III.

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

With the change of jurisdiction narrated in the previous
chapter, a new scene opens before us ; a scene in which the
red men arc the principal actoi's. The victory on the Heights
of Abraham, at Qiicbec, gave to England the possession of a
wide extenc of territory, but that territory was one massive
forest, inteiTupted only by prairies or lakes, or an occasional
Indian cleared field, of small dimenh'ons, for maize. The em-
blems of power in these illimitable wastes were the occasional
log forts, with picketed enclosures, which, from time to time,
had been constructed by the French, but more as trading posts
than as military strongholds.

What the English had gained by force of arms they took
possession of as conquerors, and, in their eagerness to supplant
the French, they were blind to danger. Some of these posts
were garrisoned by less than a score of men, and often left
dependent upon the Indians for supplies, though they were so
widely remote from each other that, " lost in the boundless
woods, they could no more be discovered than a little fleet of
canoes scattered over the whole Atlantic, too minute to be per-
ceptible, and safe only in foir weather." But, weak as were
the English, their presence alarmed the red man, for it implied
a design to occupy the country which, for ages, had been his
own, and the transfer of the territory around the Great Lakes
from the French, who were the friends of the Indians, to the
English, upon whom they had been taught to look with dis-
trust, could not, therefore, be regarded with favor by these
tawny sons of the woods. The untutored mind of the savage

^'^^m

lie previous
which the
:he Heights
iession of a
me massive
occasional
. The em-
2 occasional
ne to time,
ading posts

they took

to supplant

hese posts

often left

ay were so

boundless

tie fleet of

to be per-

ik as were

it implied

been his

eat Lakes

ms, to the

with dis-

by these

the savage

) *

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

could not comprehend by what right the British flag was un-
furled in the West. They could not understand liow the Eng-
lish could derive any claim to the red man's forest from victories
over the French. Hence, from the very first, the English were
regarded with suspicion by the Indian.

It would have been well had the conduct of the English
been such as to allay these suspicions, but, unfortunately, it was
not. The Indians and French had lived on terms of the
greatest intimacy. They were often like brothers in the same
lodge. " They called us children, and we found them fathers,"
said a Chippewa chief, and these feelings pervaded the bosoms
of all the lake tribes. But the English were cold and repulsive
toward the Indians. The French had made them liberal pres-
ents of guns, ammunition and clothing, but the English either
withheld these presents altogether, or dealt them out so spar-
ingly that many of them, deprived of their usual supplies,
were reduced to want, and thus a spirit of discontent was ^
fostered among them. But there were other grievances. The
English fur traders were, as a class, ruffians of the coarsest
stamp, who vied with each other in violence and rafacity^
and who cheated and plundered the Indians and outraged their
families. The soldiers and officers of the garrisons had no
word of welcome for them when they came to the forts, but
only cold looks and harsh words, with oaths, menaces, and not
unfrequently blows from the more reckless and brutal of their
number. Another fruitful source of anxiety and discontent on
the part of the Indians, was the intrusion of settlers upon their
lands. Their homes were in danger. In spite of every re-
monstrance, their best lands had already been invaded ; their
hunting grounds would soon be taken from them, and the
graves of their ancesters be desecrated by unhallowed feet.
Some of the tribes were wrought up to the highest pitch of
excitement and revenge by this constant invasion of their
rights.

Meanwhile, it must not be supposed that the French were
mere idle spectators of passing events. Canada was gone, be-

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

|| u

I :

yond the hope of recovery, but tlie\' still sought to revenge its
loss by inflaming the resentment of the Indians, and in thi&
they spared neither misrepresentation nor falsehood. They
told them that the English had formed the deliberate design of
rooting out their race, and for that purpose were already pen-
ning them in with settlements on the one hand and a chain of
forts on the other ; that the King of France had of late years
fallen asleep ; that, during his siiunbers, the English had seized
upon Canada, but that he was now awake, and his armies were
even then advancing up the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi,
to drive the intruders fiom the country of his red children.
These, and similar fabrications, made a deep impression upon
the minds of the savages, and nerved them for the approaching
contest. Yet another cause contributed much toward increas-
ing the general excitement and dissatisfaction, and bringing
the matter to an issue. A prophet came among the Delawares,
and the susceptibility of the Indians to religious and super-
"stitious impressions gave him a mighty influence over them.
They were taught to lay aside everything which they had re-
ceived from the white man, and so strengthen and purify their
natures as to make themselves acceptable to the Great Spirit,
and by so doing they would soon be restored to their ancient
greatness and power, and be enabled to drive the enemy from
their country. The prophet had many followers. From far
and near large numbers came to listen to his exhortations, and
his words, pregnant with mischief to the unsuspecting Eng-
lishman, were borne even to the nations around the northern
lakes.

This excitement among the savasje tribes soon led them to
overt action. In the spring of 1761, Capt. Campbell, then
commanding at Detroit, learned that a deputation of Senecas
had come to the neighboring village of the Wyandots for the
purpose of instigating the latter to destroy him and his garri-
son. Upon examination, the plot was found to be general, and
other posts were to share the fate of his own ; but his prompt-
ness in sending information to the other commanders nipped

ii . WV

«p«««l

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

revenge it*
and in this
lood. They
ate design of
ilready pcn-
l a chain of
)f hite years
h had seized
armies were
Mississippi,
ed children,
es&ion upon
m^proachlng
ard increas-
nd bringing
; Delawares,
and super-
over them,
hey had re-
purify their
rrcat Sjiirit,
leir ancient
;nemy from
From far
tations, and
:cting Eng-
ic northern

ed them to
abell, then
of Senecas
ots for the
his garri-
cneral, and
lis prompt-
ers nipped

the conspiracy in the bud. During the following year a similar
design was detected and suppressed. But these were only the
precursors of a tempest. In the spring of 1763 a scheme was
matured, " greater in extent, deeper and more comprehensive in
design — such a one as was never, before or since, conceived or
executed by a North American Indian." It contemplated, —
firsts a sudden and contemjDoraneous assault upon all the
English forts around the lakes ; and second^ the garrisons hav-
ing been destroyed, the turning of a savage avalanche of
destruction upon the defenseless frontier settlements until, as
many fondly believed, the English should be driven into the
sea and the Indians reinstated in their primitive possessions.

But before we further describe this conspiracy, let us turn
our attention towards Michilimackinac, and note the events that
were transpiring at that point. It is unnecessary to say that
the Indians of this neighborhood as generally and as sincerely
lamented the change which had taken place in public affairs as
their iTiorc southern neighbors. While they were strongly
attached to the old residents with whom they had so long lived
and traded on the most amicable terms, they were very gener-
ally prejudiced against the new comers ; and this prejudice was
wholly due to the French, for, at the time of which we speak,
the English had not taken possession of the post. We cannot
better describe the feelings which actuated these Indians than
by relating the adventures of Alexander Henry, the first Eng-
lish fur trader who ventured to come among them. It was
with difficulty that Henry obtained permission to trade at
Michilimackinac, at the time, for, no treaty of peace having
been made with the Indians, the authorities were justly appre
hensive that neither the property nor lives of His Majesty's
subjects would be very secure among them. But, eager to
make the attempt which he himself afterward called prema-
ture, he at length obtained the coveted license, and, on the 3d
day of August, 1761, began his journey. Nothing worthy of
note occurred until he reached the Island of La Cloche, in
Lake Huron. Here the trader found a large village of Indians,

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

in;

Hi!'

whose behavior was, at first, full of civility and kindness, but
when they discovered that he was an Englishman there was at
once a marked change in the treatment which he received at
their hands. They told him that the Indians at Michilimack-
inac would not fail to kill him, and that they had a right,
therefore, to a share of the pillage. Upon this principle they
demanded a keg of rum, ailding that if it was not given to
them they would proceed to take it. Henry judged it prudent
to comply, but on condition that he should experience no fur-
ther molestation from them. From this point lie received
repeated warnings of sure destruction at Michilimackinuc.
Oppressed with a sense of danger, he knew not what to do.
It was well nigh impossible to return, as he wi'.s advised to do,
for his provisions -vA'cre nearly exhausted. At length, observing
that the hostility oi .' ^ Indians was exclusively towards the
English, while between tnci.. ■' his Canadian attendants
there appeared the most cordial good will, he resolved to
change his English dress for a suit such as was usually worn
by Canadian traders. This done, he besmeared his face and
hands with dirt and grease, aud, taking the place of one of his
men whenever Indians approwched, used the paddle, with as
much skill as possible. !•! .his manner he was enabled to
prosecute his journey without attracting the smallest notice.
Early in September he arrived at the Island of Mackinac, and
here we propose to introduce the hardy adventurer to the
reader, and allow him, in his voyageur's dress, to speak for
himself:

" The land in the centre of this island," he says, " is high,
and its form somewhat resembles that of a turtle's back.
Mackinac, or Mickinac, signifies a turtle^ and michi, or m/sst,
signifies greats as it does also several^ or many. The common
interpretation of the word Michilimackinac is, the Great
Turtle. It is from this island that the fort, commonly known
by the name of Michil'mackinac, has obtained its appellation.

" On the island, as I had previously been taught to expect,
there was a village of Chippewas, said to contain a hundred

IbiilllL.,,

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

warriors. Here I was fearful of discovery, and consequent ill
treatment ; hut after inquiring the news, and particuhu'ly
whether or not any Englishman was coming to Michilimack-
inac, they suflered us to pass, uninjured. One man, indeed,
looked at me, laughed, and pointed me out to another. This
was enough to give me some uneasiness ; but, whatever was
the singularity he perceived in me, both he and his friend
retired, without suspecting nic to be an Englishman.

" Leaving, as speedily as possible, the island of Michill-
mackinac, I crossed the strait, and landed at the fort, of the
same name. The distance, . " ' the island, is about two
leagues. I landed at four o'clock in the afternoon.

" Here I put the entire charge of my effects into the hands
of my assistant, Campion, between whom and myself it had
been previously agreed that he should pass for the proprietor ;
and my men were instructed to conceal the fact that I was an
Englishman.

" Campion soon found a house, to which I retired, and
where I hoped to remain in privacy; but the men soon be-
trayed my secret, and I was visited by the inhabitants, with
gicatshow of civility. They assured me that I could not stay
at Michilimackinac without the most imminent risk, and
strongly recommended that I should lose no time in making
my escape to Detroit.

" Though language like this could not but increase my
uneasiness, it did not shake my determination to remain with
my property and encounter the evils with which I was threat-
ened, and my spirits were in some measure sustained by the
sentiments of Campion, in this regard ; for he declared his
belief that the Canadian inhabitants of the fort were more
hostile than the Indians, as being jealous of Indian traders,
who, like myself, were penetrating into the country.

"Fort Michilimackinac was built by order of the gov-
ernor-general of Canada, and garrisoned with a small number
of militia, who, having families, soon became less soldiers than

Urtiitiiiiii i

iiiii

Dili

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

settlers. Most of those whom I found in the fort had originally
served in the Fi-ench army.

" The fort stands on the south side of the strait which is
between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. It has an area of
two acres, and is enclosed with pickets of cedar wood, and it
is so near the water's edge that, when the wind is in the west,
the waves break against the stockade. On the bastions are
two small pieces of brass English cannon, taken some years
since by a party of Canadians who went on a plundering expe-
dition against the posts of Hudson's Bay, which they reacher'
by the route of the river Churchill.

" Within the stockade are thirty ho-jses, neat ii. their
appearance, and tolerably commodious ; and a church, in
which mass is celebrated by a Jesuit missionary. The num-
ber of families may be nearly equal to that of the houses, and
their subsistence is derived from the Indian traders, who as-
semble here, in their voyages to and from Alontreal. Michili-
mackinac is the place of deposit, and point of departure
between the upper countries and the lower. Here the outfits
nre prepared for the countries of Lake Michigan and the Mis-
sissippi, Lake Superior and the Northwest ; and here the
returns, in furs, are collected and embarked for Montreal.

" I was not released from the visits and admonitions of the
inhabitants of the fort, before I received the equivocal intelli-
gence that the whole band of Chippewas, from the island of
Michilimackinac, was arrived, with the mtention of paying me
a visit.

" There was, in the fort, one Farley, an interpreter, lately
in the employ of the French commandant. He had married a
Chippewa woman, and was said to possess great influence ovei
the nation to which his wife belonged. Doubtful as totlic kind
of visit which I was about to receive, I sent for this interpre-
ter, and requested, first, that he would have the kindness to be
pr^'sent at the interview, and, secondly, that he would inform
me of the intentions of the band. Mr. Farley agreed to be
presen': ; and, as to the object of the visit, replied, that it was

iliii^

Hfft*^ ttWTv^LY »w»ae ,**, '» vw iw*v j" »■»«»■*•«■• ■

"WW

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

originally

: which is
n area of
od, and it
the west,
stions are
me years
ing expe-
' reachef'

ii. their
lurch, in
lie num-
Liscs, and

who as-

Michili-
leparture
le outfits
the Mis-
lere the
jal.

s of the

intelh'-

iland of

fn\g me

r, hitely
irricd a
cc ovei
10 kind
tcrpre-
s to be
inform
to be
it was

consistent with a uniform custom, that a stranger, on his
arrival, should be waited upon, and welcomed, by the chiefs of
the nation, who, on their part, always gave a small present,
and always expected a large one ; but, as to the rest, declared
himself unable to answer for the particular views of the Chip-
pewas, on this occasion, I being an Englishman, and the In-
dians having made no treaty with the English. He thought
that there might be danger, the Indians having protested that
they would not suffer an Englishman to remain in their part of
the count, y. This information was far from agreeable ; but
there was no resource, except in fortitude and p.itience.

" At two o'clock in the afternoon the Chippewas came to
my house, about sixty in number, and headed by Mina'va'va'-
na, their chief They walked in single file, each with his
tomahawk in one hand, and scalping-knife in the other. Their
bodies were naked, from the waist upward, except in a few
examples, where blfnkets were thrown loosely over the shoul-
ders. Their faces were painted, with charcoal worked up with
greaac ; their bodies, with white clay, in patterns of various
fancies. Some had featbci-s thrust iuiough their noses, and
their heads decorated with the same. It is unnecessary to
dwell on the sensations with which I b<;held the approach o^
this uncouth, if .lot frightful, assemblage.

" The chief entered first, and the rest followed, without
noise. On receiving a sign from the former, the latter seated
themselves on the floor.

" Minavavana appeared to be about fifty years of age. He
was six feet in height, and had in his countenance an inde-
scribable mixture of good and evil. Looking steadfastly at
me, where I sat in ceremony, witli an interpreter on either
hand, and several Canadians behind me, he entered, at the
same time, into conversation with Campion, inquiring how
long it was since I left Montreal, and observing thai the Eng-
lish, as it would seem, were brave men, and not afraid of
death, since they dared to come, as I had done, fearlessly,
among their enemies.

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

" The Indians now gravely smoked their pipes, while I
inwardly endured the tortures of suspense. At length, the
pipes being finished, as well as a long pause by which they
were succeeded, Minavavana, taking a few strings of wampum
in his hand, began the following speech ;

"' Englishman, it is to you that I speak, and I dcmpncl
your attention !

" ' Englishman, you know that the French kin '• ,ar
father. He promised to be such ; and we, in rctum, promised
to be his children. This promise we have kept.

" ' Englishi lan, it is you that have made war with this our
father. You are his enemy ; and how, then, could you have
the boldness to venture among us, his children.'' You know
that his enemies are ours.

" ' Englishman, we are informed that our father, the king
of France, is old and infirm ; and that, being fatigued with
making war upon your nation, he is fallei* asleep. During his
sleep you have taken advantage of him, and possessed your-
selves of Canada. But his nap is almost at an end. 1 think I
hear him already stiiTing and inquiring for his children, th.:;
Indians ; and, Avhen he does awake, what must become of you ?
He will destroy you utterly !

" ' Englishman, although you have conquered the French,
you have not yet conquered us ! We are not your slaves.
These lakes, these woods and mountains, were left to us by our
ancestors. They are our inheritance, and we will part with
them to none. Your nation suppc^os that we, like tiie white
people cannot live without bread — and pork — and beef! But,
you ought to know that He, the Great Si:)irit and Master of
Life, has provided food for us, in these spacious lakes, and on
these woody imu'^^^ainri.

" ' Englishman, our father, the h\n^.:, if Fra-^ce. employed
our young men to make war upon your natior, in this war-
fare manv of them have been killed ; and it is our custom to
retaliate until such time as the spirits o^ th'. slain are satisfied.
But the spirits of the slain are to be satii^'^ed in either of two

mmm

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

3es, while I

length, the

which thev

>f wampum

I I dcmr>ud

kin^, 'r ,:,ar
1, promised

i^ith this our
i you have
You know

r, the king
igiied with
During his
:ssed you!-
1 think I
ildren, ths
ne of you?

le French,
ur slaves,
) us by our
part with
the white
^ef! But,
Master of
s, and on

k'lnployed

til is war-

ustom to

satisfied.

;r of two

-•3

ways ; the first is by the spilling of the blood of the nation by
which they fell ; the other, by covering the bodies of the
dead, and thus allaying the resentment of their relations. This
is done by making presents.

" ' Englishman, your king has never sent us a.iy presents,
nor entered into any treaty with us, wherefore he and we are
still at war ; and, until he does these things, we must consider
that we have no other father nor friend, among the white men.
than the king of France : but, for you, we have taken into con-
sideration that you have ventured your life among us in the
expectation that we should not molest you. You do not come
armed, with an intention to make war : you come in peace, to
trade with us, and supply us with necessaries, of which we are
much in want. We shall regard you, therefore, as a brother ;
and you may sleep tranquilly, without fear of the Chippcwas.
As a token of our friendship, we present you with this pipe, to
smoke.'

" As Minavavana uttered these words, an Indian presented

r e with a pipe, which, after I had drawn the smoke three

♦^imes, was carried to the chief, and after him to every person

iti the room. This ceremony ended, the chief arose, and gave

Me his hand, in which he was followed by all the rest.

" Being again seated, Minavavana requested that his
young men might be allowed to taste what he called my Eng-
lish milk (meaning rum) observing, that it was long since
they had tasted any, and that they were very desirous to know
whether or not there were any difibrance between the English
milk and the French.

" My adventure on leaving Fort William Augustus, had
left ■in impression on my mind, which made nic tremble when
Indians asked for rum ; and I would therefore willingly have
excused myself in this particular ; but, being informed that it
was customary to comply with the request, and withal satisfied
with the friendly declarations which I had received, I promised
to give them a small cask at parting. After this, by the aid of
my interpreter, I made a reply to the speech of Minavavana,

llil I;

OLD AND NH:W MACKINAC.

declaring that it was the good character, which I had heard of
the Indians, that had alone emboldened me to come among
them : that their late father, the king of France, had surren-
dered Canada to the king of England, whom they ought to
regard now as their father, and who would be as careful of
thv, he other had been ; that I had come to furnish them

with 11' essaries, and that their good treatment of ,ne would
be an encouragement to others. They appeared satisfied with
what I said, repeating e/i ! (an expression of approbation)
after hearing each particular. I had prepared a present, which
I now gave them with the u^^inost good will. At their depar-
ture I distributed a small quantit}' of rum.

" P jlieved, as I now imagined myself, from all occasion
of anxiety, as to the treatment which I was to experience from
the Indians, I assorted my goods, and hired Canadian interpre-
ters and clerks, in whose care I was to send them into Lake
Michigan, and the river Saint Pierre, in the country of the
Nadowessies ; into Lake Superior, among the Chippewas, and
to the Grand Portage, for the northwest. Everything was
ready for their departure when new dangers sprung up and
threatened to overwhelm me.

" At the entrance of Lake Michigan, and at about twenty
miles to the west of Fort Michilimackinac, is the village of
L'Arbre Croche, inhabited b}' a band of Ottawas, boasting of
two hundred and fifty fighting men. L'Arbre Croche is the
seat of the Jesuit mission of Saint Ignace dc Michilimackinac,
and the people are partly baptized and partly not. The mis-
sionary resides on a farm, attached to the mission, and situated
between the village and the fort, both of which are under his
care. The Ottawas of L'Arbrj Croche. who, v/hcn compared
with the Chippewas, appear to be much advanced in civiliza-
tion, grow maize for the market of Michilimackinac, where
this commodity is depended upon for provisioning the canoes.
• *' The ne\7 dangers which presented themselves came from
this village of Ottawas. Everything, as I have said, was in
readiness, for the departure of my goods, when accounts

1 !

|i>>>^MMMuw.

CONSPIRACY OF POXTIAC.

I had heard of
' come among
e, had surren-
they ought to
■ as careful of
' furnish them
of .ne would
satisfied with
' approbation)
present, which
t their depar-

1 all occasion
perience from
dian interpre-
:ni into Lake
ountry of the
ippewas, and
rything was
ung up and

ibout twenty
le village of

boasting of
loche is the
ilimackinac,
The mis-
and situated
e under his
n compared

in civiliza-
nac, where
the canoes.
5 came from
iiid, was in
1 accounts

arrived of its approach ; and shortly after, two hundred war-
riors entered the fort, and billeted themselves in the several
houses, among the Canadian inhabitants. The next morning,
they assembled in the house which was built for the command-
ant, or governor, and ordered the attendance of myself, and
of two other merchants, still later from Montreal, namely
Messrs. Stanley Goddard and Ezekiel Solomons.

" After our entering the council-room, and taking our
seats, one of the chiefs commenced an address : ' Englishmen,'
said he, ' we, the Ottawas, were sometime since informed of
your arrival in this country, and of your having brought with
you the goods of which we have nSed. At the news we were
greatly pleased, believing that through your assistance our wives
and children would be enabled to pass another winter ; but
what was our surprise, when, a few days ago, we were again
informed, that the goods which, as we had exjjected, were in-
tended for us, were on the eve of departure for distant coun-
tries, of which, some are inhabited by our enemies! These
accounts being spread, our wives and children came to us, cry-
ing, and desiring that we should go to the fort, to learn, with
our own ears, their truth or falsehood. We accordingly cm-
barked, almost naked, as you see ; and on our arrival here, we
have inquired into the accounts, and found them true. We see
your canoes ready to depart, and find your men engaged for
the Missijopippi and other distant regions.

" Under these ciixumstanccs, we have considered the
afiair ; and you are now sent for, that you may hear our deter-
mination, which is that you shall give to each of oiu' men
young and old, merchandize and ammunition, to the amount
of fifty beaver-skins, on credit, and for which I have no doubt
of their paying you in the summer, on their return from their
wintering.

" A compliance with this demand would have stripped me
and my fellow-merchants of all our merchandize ; and what ren-
dered the afiair still more serious, we even learned that these
Ottawas were never accustomed to pay for what they received

,,;! ■ ill

jii!!^^^

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

on credit. In reply therefore, to the speech which we had
heard, we requested that the demand contained in it might
be diminished ; but we were answered, that the Ottawas had
nothing further to say, except that they would allow till the
next day for reflection ; after which, if compliance was not
given, they would make no further application, but take into
their own hands the property, which they already regarded as
their own as having been brought into their country, before the
conclusion of any peace, between themselves and the English.

"We now returned, to consider of our situation; and in
the evening, Farley, the interpreter, paid us a visit, assured us
that it was the intention of the Ottawas to put us, that night, to
death. He advised us, as our only means of safety, to comply
with the demands which had been made ; but we suspected our
informant of a disposition to prey upon our fears, with a view
to induce us to abandon the Indian trade, and resolved, how-
ever this might be, rather to stand en the defensive, than sub-
mit. We trusted to the house in which I lived as a fort ; and
armed ourselves, and about thirty of our men, with muskets.
Whether or not the Ottawas ever intended violence, we never
had an opportunity of knowing ; but the night passed quietly.

" Early the next morning, a second council was held, and
the merchants were again summoned to attend. Believing that
every hope of resistance v/ould be lost, should we commit our
l^erson into the hands of our enemies, we sent only a refusal.
There was none without, in whom we had any confidence, ex-
cept Campion. From him we learned from time to time,
whatever was rumored among the Canadian inhabitants, as to
the designs of the Ottawas ; and from him toward sunset, we
received the gratifying intelligence, that a detachment of Brit-
ish soldiery, sent to garrison Michilimackinac, was distant only
five miles, and would enter the fort early the next morning.
Near at hand, however, as relief was reported to be, our
anxiety could not but be great; for a long night v% is to be
passed, and our fate might be decided before the morning. To
increase our apprehensions, about midnight we were informed

iit'ijiitniiiiiaii

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

^vhich we had
2d in it might
; Ottavvas had

allow till the
ance was not
but take into
y regarded as
try, before the
I the English,
ation ; and in
5it, assured us
, that night, to
ty, to comply
susijectcd our

with a view
esolved, how-
ve, than sub-
> a fort ; and
ith muskets.
ce, we never
ssed quietly,
as held, and

elievingthat

commit our
ly a refusal,
ifidence, ex-
ne to time,
itants, as to

sunset, we
ent of Brit-
distant only
:t morning,
to be, our

^^ IS to be
•riling. To
e informed

that the Ottawas were holding a council, at which no white
man was permitted to be present, Farley alone excepted; and
him we suspected, and afterward positively knew to be our
greatest enemy. We, on our part, remained all night upon
the alert ; but at day-break to oiu* surprise and joy, we saw the
Ottawas preparing to depart. By sunrise, not a man of them
was left in the fort ; and indeed the scene was altogether
changed. The inhabitants, who, while the Ottawas was pres-
ent, had avoided all connection with the English traders, now
came with congratulations. Tliey related that the Ottawas had
proposed to them, that if joined by the Canadians, they would
march and attack the troops which were known to be advanc-
ing on the fort ; and they added that it was their refusal which
had determined the Ottawas to depart. " At noon, three hun-
dred troops of the sixtieth regiment, imder the command of
Lieutenant Lesslie, marched into the fort ; and this arrival dis-
sipated all our fears, from whatever source derived. After a
few days, detachments were sent into the Bay des Puans, by
which is the route to the Mississippi and at the mouth of Saint
Joseph which leads to the Illinois. The Indians from all
quarters came to pay their respects to the commandant ; and
the merchants dispatched tlieir canoes, though it was now the
middle of September, and therefore somewhat late in the
season."

Thus relieved froni his fears, Henry spent the winter at
Michilimackinac amusing himself as best he could by hunting
and fishing. But few of the Indians, he tells us, came to the
fort excepting two families, one of which was that of a chief.
These families lived on a river five leagues below and came
occasionally with beaver flesh for sale. This chief was an
exception lo the rule, for instead of being hostile toward the
English, he was warmly attached to them. But, in this case
the exception proved the rule to a demonstration. Henry thus
speaks of him. " He had been taken prisoner by Sir William
Johnson, at the seige of Fort Niagara ; and had received from
that intelligent oflicer, his liberty, the medal usually presented

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

Ill

"!1 ■

to a chief, and the British flag. Won by these unexpected acts
of kindness, he had returned to Michilimackinac, full of
praises of the English, and hoisting his flag over his lodge.
This latter demonstration of his partiality had nearly cost him
his life ; his lodge was broken down and his flag torn to pieces.
The pieces he carefully gathered up and preserved with pious
care ; and whenever he came to the fort, he drew them forth
and exhibited them. On these occasions it grew into a custom
to give him as much ''quor as he said was necessary to make
him cry over the misfortune of losing his flag. The command-
ant would have given him another ; but be thought that he
could not accept it without danger."

Upon the opening of navigation, Henry left Michilimacki-
nac to visit the Sault de St. Marie. Here he made the
acquaintance of M. Cadotte, an interpreter, whose wife was a
Chippewa, and desirous of learning that language, he decided
to spend the succeeding winter in the family of his new found
friend. Here also there was a small .fort, and during the sum-
mer a small detachment of troops, under the command of
Lieut. Jcmctte, arrived to garrison it. Late in the fall, how-
ever, a destructive tire which consumed all the houses except
Cadotte's, and all the fort supplies made it necessary to send
the garrison back to Michilimackinac. The few that were left
at this place were now crowded into one small house and com-
pelled to gain a subsistance by hunting and fishing. Thus,
inuring himself to hardships and familiarizing himself with
the Chippewa tongue, Henry passed the second winter of his
sojourn in the wilderness of the Upper Lakes. Early in the
succeeding spring, 1763, he was visited by Sir Robert Dover,
an English gentlemen, who, as Henry tells us, " was on a voy-
age of curiosity," and with him he again returned to Michili-
mackinac. Here he intended to remain until his clerks should
come from the interior and then go back to the Sault. Leav-
ing our hero at the moment of his arrival at the fort, we must
again turn our attention to the tribes farther sor .

"^ It is difficult to determine, ' says Parkman' which tribe

wa|

mi^

rip(|

tanj

anc

maj

(jricl

r
elsij

attil

the

upf

I (liatlUktU^MliMi

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

cpccted acts
ac, full of
his lodge,
y cost him
n to pieces,
with pious
them forth
o a custom
y to make
command-
lit that he

;hilimacki-
made the
vife was a
le decided
lew found

the sum-
imand of
all, how-

s except
r to send

were left
and com-
;. Thus,
self with
cr of his
y in the
t Dover,
Jn a voy-

Michili-
s should
Leav-
ve must

ch tribe

was first to ra sc the cry of war. There were many who
might have done so, for all the savages in the backwoods were
ripe for an outbreak, and the movement seemca almost simul-
taneous. The Delawares and Senecas were the most incensed
and Kiashuta, chief of the latter, was perhaps foremost to
apply the torch, but if this were the case, he touched fire to
materials already on the point of igniting. It belonged to a
greater chief than he to give method and order to what would
else have been a wild burst of fury, and to convert desultory
attacks into a formidable and protracted war. But for Pontiac
the whole might have ended in a few troublesome inroads
upon the frontier, and a little whooping and yelling under the
walls of Fort Pitt."

There has been some dispute as to the nationality of Pon-
tiac. Some have made him a member of the tribe of Sacks or
vSaiikies, but by far the greater number have placed him among
the Ottawas. His home was about eight miles above Detroit,
on Pechee Island, which looks out upon the waters of Lake St.
Clair. Plis form was cast in the finest mould of savage grace
and strength, and his eye seemed capable of penetrating, at a
glance, the secret motives which actuated the savage tribes
around him. His rare personal qualities, his courage, resolu-
tion, wisdom, address, and eloquence, together with the hered-
itary claim to authority which, according to Indian custom, he
possessed, secured for him the esteem of both the French and
English, and gave him an influence among the Lake tribes
greater than that of any other individual. Early in life he dis-
tinguished himself as a chieftain of no ordinary ability. In
1746 he commanded a powerful body of Indians, mostly Otta-
was, who gallantly defended the people of Detroit against the
formidable attack of several combined northern tribes, and it is
supposed that he was present at the disastrous defeat of Brad-
dock, in which several hundred of his warriors were engaged.
He had alwtiys, at least up to the time when Major Rogers
came into the country, been a firm friend of the French, and

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

received many marks of esteem from tlie French officer, Mar-
quis de Montcalm.

How could he, thei'., " the daring chief of the Northwest,"
do otherwise than dispute the English claim to his country ?
How could he endure the sight of this pco^Dlc driving the game
from his hunting grounds, and his friends and allies from the
lands they had so long possessed ? When he heard that Rogers
was advancing along the lakes to take possession of the country,
his indignation knew no bounds, and he at once sent deputies,
requesting him to halt until such time as he could soe him.
Flattering words and fair promises induced him, at length, to
extend the hand of friendship to Rogers. He was inclined to
live peaceably with the English and to encourage their settling
in the country as long as they treated him as he deserved, but
if they treated him with neglect he would shut up the way and
exclude them from it. He did not consider himself a conquered
prince, but he expected to be treated with the respect and honor
due to a king.

While a system of good management might have allayed
every suspicion and engendered peace and good will, a want of
cordiality increased the discontent, and Pontiac soon saw' that
the fair promises which had been made him were but idle
woi'ds. The Indians were becoming more and more dissat-
isfied, and he began seriously to apprehend danger from the
new government and people. He saw in the English a bound-
less ambition to possess themselves of every military position
on the Northern waters, an ambition which plainly indicated
to his far-reaching sagacity that soon, nothing less than undis-
puted possession of all his vast domain would satisfy them.
He saw in them a people superior in arms, but utterly desti-
tute of that ostensible cordiality toward the Indians personally
to which his people had been accustomed during the golden
age of French dominion, and which they were apt to regard as
necessary indications of good faith. There seemed no disposi-
tion for national courtesy, individual intercourse or beneficial
commerce of any kind. All those circumstances which made

IMHI

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC.

'fficcr, Mar-

Vorthwest,"
is country ?
g the game
es from the
hat Rogers
ic country,
It deputies,
1 Sv^e him.
length, to
inclined to
sir settling
served, but
e way and
conquered
and honor

^e aHayed
a want of
I saw' that

but idle
re dissat-
from the
a bound-
^ position
indicated
an undis-
sfy them.
I'ly desti-
ersonally
e golden
egard as

disposi-
eneficial
:h made

the neigliborhood of the French agreeable, and which might
have made their own at least tolerable, they neglected. Their
conduct never gave rest to suspicion, while that of the French
never gave rise to it. Hence the Indians felt, as Minavavana
expressed it, that they had " no father among the white men
but the King of France," and Pontiac resolved, as he had threat-
ened, to " shut up the way." His plan, as we have said, was
to make a contemporaneous assault upon all the British posts,
and thus eflectually to extinguish the English power at a single
blow. This was a stroke of policy which evinced an extraor-
dinary genius, and demanded for its successful execution an
energy and courage of the highest order. But »Pontiac was
fuUy equal to the task. He was as skillful in executing as he
was bold in planning. He knew that success would multiply
friends and allies, but friends and allies were necessary to
insure success.

First, then, a council must be called, and for this purpose,
at the close of 1762, he sent out his embassadors to all the dif-
ferent nations. With the war-belt of wampum and the toma-
hawk stained red in token of war, these swift footed messen-
gers went from camp to camp and from village to village,
throughout the North, South, East and West, and in whatever
tribe they appeared the sachems assembled to hear the v ords
of the great Pontiac. The message was everywhere heard with
approbation, the war-belt accepted and the hatchet seized as an
indication that the assembled chiefs stood pledged to take part
in the war.

The grand council assembled on the twenty-seventh day of
the following April, on the banks of the little river Ecorce, not
far from Detroit. The pipe went round and Pontiac stepped
forth, plumed and painted in the full costume of war. He
called into requisition all the eloquence and cunning of which
he was master. He appealed to their fears, their hopes, their
ambition, their cupidity, their hatred of the English, and their
love for their old friends, the French. He displayed to them a
belt which he said the King of France had sent him, urging
4

OLD AND XEW .MACKINAC.

, I

him to drive the English from the country and open tlic way
for the return of the Frep.ch. He painted, in fjlowincf colors,
the common interests o( their race, and called upon them to
make a stand against a common foe. He told them of a dream
in which the Great i>Ianiiou had ;:ppcared to a chief of the
AbtMiakis, saying, '■' I am the Maker of heaven and earth, the
trees, lakes, rivers, and all things else. I am the Maker of
mankind ; and because I love you, you must do my will. The
land on which you live I have made for vou and not for others.
Why do you suffer the white men to dwell among you ? ^I
children, you have forgotten the customs and traditions of y
iprefathcrs. Why do you not clothe yourselves in skins, ao
they did, and use the bows and arrows, and the sto'.e-pointed
laiices which they used ? You have bought guns, knives, ket-
tles and blankets from the white men, until you can no longer
do without them ; aud what is worse, you have drunk the poi-
son lire-water, which turns you into fools. Fling all these
things away ; live as your wise forefathers lived before you.
And as for these English — these dogs dressed in red, who have
come to rob you of your hunting-grounds and drive away the
game — you must lift the hatchet against them. Wipe them
from the face of the earth, and then you will win my favor back
again and once more be happy and prosperous. The children
of your great father, the King of France, are not like the Eng-
lish. Never forget that they are your brethren. Thc} arc
veiy dear to me, for they love the red men, and understand the
true mode of worshipping me."

Such an appeal to the passions and prejudices of credulous
and excited savages was well calculated to produce the desired
eflcct. If the Great Spirit was with them, it was impossible
to fail. Other speeches were doubtless made, and before the
council broke up the scheme was well matured.

Thus was ihe crisis hastening on. While every principle
of revenge, ambition and patriotisn'. in the savages was thus
being roused up to the highest pitch, and die tomahawk was
already lifted for the blow, scarce a suspicion of the savage

^mm

CONSPIRACV OF I»ONTIAC.

II tlie way
iii!^ colors,
11 thcin to
jfa dream
lief of the
cartli, the
Maker of
vill. Tlie
for otliers.

•

on ? A4
lis of y

skins, ac5
e-pointed
lives, ket-
110 longer
V the poi-
all these
fore you.
vlio have-
away the
pe them
vor back

children
the Eno-
-"hej arc
stand the

rednlous
; desired
ipossible
fore the

'rinciplc

'as thus
wk was

savage

design found its way to the minds of the English. Occasion-
ally an English trader would see something in their behavior
which caused him to suspect mischief, or " some scoundrel
half-breed would be heard boasting in his cups that before next
summer he would have English hair to fringe his hunting-
frock," but these things caused no alarm. Once, however, the
plot was nearly discovered. A friendly Indian told the com
mander of Fort Miami that a war-belt had been sent to the
warriors of a neighboring village, and that ihe destruction of
himself and garrison had been resolved upon ; but when
information of this was conveyed to Major (iladwyn, of De-
troit, that officer wrote to General Amherst stating that, in his
opinion, there had been some irritation among the Indians, but
that the affair would soon blow over, and that in the neighbor-
hood of his own' fort all was tranquil. Amherst thought that
the acts of the Indians were unwarrantable, and hoped that
they would be too sensible of their own interests to conspire
against the English ; he wished them to know that if they did,
in his opinion they would make a " contemptib'-^ figure."

"Yes," said he, "a contonptihlc figure I They would be the
sufferers, and in the end it would result in their destruction."
Deluded men ! Almost within rifle shot of Gladwyn's quarters
was Pontiac, the arch enemy of the English and the prime
mover in the plot, and the sequel proved how " contemptible "
was the figure which the savages made !

From nortii to south and from east to west the work of
extirpation soon began. Numbers of English traders, on their
way from all quarters of the country to the different posts, were
taken, and their goods made the prize of the conquerors.
Large bodies of savages were seen collecting aroiuul the vari-
ous forts, yet, strange to say, without exciting any serious alarm.
When the blow was struck, which was nearly at the same
time, nine out of the twelve British posts were surprised and
destroyed ! It would doubtless be interesting to notice in de-
tail these nine surprisals, but it is foreign to our purpose to give
in full more than one, that of Michilimackinac. We may say,

;i! ,

1 I

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

however, that in general quite as much was effected by strate-
gem as by force, and that, apparently, by a preconcerted sys-
tem indicative of the far-reaching superintendence of the great
leader.

This chapter may be appropriately closed with the follow-
ing extracts from speeches made by Pontiac to the French cT
Detroit diu'ing the siege of that place :

" I do not doubt, my brothers, that this war is very trouble-
some to you, for our warriors are continually passing and re-
passing through your settlement. I am sorry for it. Do not
think that I approve of the damage that i • done by them, and
as a proof of this, remember the war witl. the Foxes, and the
part which I iook in it. It is now seventeen years since the
Ojibwas of Michilimackinac, combined with the Sa-^s and
Foxes, came down to destroy you. Who theh defended you ?
Was it not I and my young men ? Michinac, great chief of all
these nations, said in council that he would carry to his village
the head ot your commandant ; th? t he woidd eat his heart and
drink his blood. Did I not take your part? Did I not go to
his camp and say to him that if he wished to kill the French
he must first kill me and my wai'viors.? Did I not assist you
in routing them and driving them away? And now you think
that I would turn my arms against you ! No, my brothers ; I
am the same French Pontiac who assisted you seventeen years
ago ; T am a Frenchman, and I wish to die a Frenchman ; and
I now repeat to you that you and I are one — that it is for both
our interests that 1 should be avenged. Let me alone. I do
not ask you for aid. for it is not in your powe;; to give it. I
only ask provisions for myself and men. Yet, if you arc in-
clined to assist me, I shall not refuse you. It would please
me, and you yourselves would be sooner rid of your troubles,
for I promise you that as Soon as the English are driven out
we will go back to our villages, and there await the arrival of
our French father. You have heard what I have to say •; re-
main at peace, and I will watch that no harm shall be doi e to
you, either by my men or by the other Indians."

UliteMikk

"WW^

CONSPIRACY OF PONTIi«iC.

The following address was made ut a more advanced stage
of the siege, when Pontiac had become anxious to secare the
French as auxiliaries in the war. Throwing a war-belt into
their midst, he said :

" My brothers, how long will you suffer this bad flesh to
remain upon your lands? I have fold you before, and I now
tell you again, that when I took up the hatchet, it was foi your
good. This year the English must all perish throughout Can-
ada. The Master of Life commands it, and you, who know
h m better than we, wish to oppose his will. Until n'^w I have
said nothing on this matter. 1 have not urged you to take part
with us in the war. It would have been enough h. fl you been
content to sit quiet on your mats, looking on, wl-de we were
fighting for you. But you have not done so. You call your-
selves our friends, and yet you assist the English with provis-
ions, and go about as spies among our villages. This must not
continue. You must be either wholly French or wholly Eng-
lish. If you are French, take up that war-belt and lift the
hatchet with us ; but if you arc English, then we declare war
upon you. My brothers, I know this is a hard thing. We
are all alike children of our great father, the King of France,
and it is hard to fight among brethren for the sake of dogs.
But there is no choice. Look upon the jlt, and let us hear
your answer."

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

CHAPTER IV.

MASSACRE AT FORT MACKINAC.

The following description of Michilimackinac is taken
from Mr. Parkman's very excellent work entitled " History of
the Conspiracy of Pontiac." " It is drawn," says the writer,.
" from traditional accounts, aided by a personal examination
of the spot, where the stumps of the pickets and the founda-
tions of the houses may still be traced."

" In the spring of the year 1763, before the war broke out,
several English traders went up to Michilimackinac, some
adopting the old route of the Ottawa, and others that of Detroit
and the lakes. We will follow one of the latter on his adven-
turous progress. Passing the fort and settlement of Detroit, he
soon enters Lake St. Clair, which seems like a broad basin
filled to overflowing, while, along its for distant verge, a faint
line of forest separates the water from the sky. He crosses the
lake, and his voyageurs next urge his canoe against the current
of the great river abo^ e. At length Lake Huron opens before
him, stretching its liquid expanse, like an ocean, to the farthest
horizon. His canoe skirts the eastern shore of Michigan, where
the forest rises like a wall from the water's edge ; and as he
advances northward an endless line of stiff and shaggy fir trees,
hung witli long mosses, fringes the shore with an aspect of a
monotonous desolation. In the space of two or three weeks.
K his Canadians labor well, and no accident occurs, the trader
approaches the end of his voyage. Passing on his right the
extensive island of Rois Blanc, he sees, nearly in front, the beau-
tiful island of Mackinaw — rising, with its white clifls and green
foliage, from the broad breast of the waters. He does not steer

, V. JUUm

MASSACRE AT FORT MACKINAC.

towards it, for at that day the Indians were its only tenants ;
but keeps along the main shore to tlie left, while his voyageurs
raise their song and chorus. Doubling a point he sees before
him the red flag of England swelling la/.ily in the wind, and the
palisades and wooden bastions of Fort Michilimackinac stand-
ing close upon the margin of the lake. On the beach canoes
are drawn up, and Canadians and Indians are idly lounging.
A little beyond the fort is a cluster of the white Canadian
houses, roofed with bark, and protected by fences of strong
round pickets.

" The trader enters at the gate, and sees before him an
extensive square ai*ea, surrounded by high palisades. Numer-
ous houses, barracks, and other buildings form a smaller square
within, and in the vacant space which they enclose appear the
red uniforms of British soldiers, the gr v coats of Canadians,
and the gaudy Indian blankets, mingled in picturesque confu-
sion, while a multitude of squaws, with children of every hue,
stroll restlessly about the place. Such was Fort .Michilimack-
inack in 1763. Its name, which in the Algonquin tongue sig-
nifies the Great Turtle, was first, from a fancied resemblance,
applied to the neighboring island, and thence to the fort.

" Though buried in a \vilderness, Michilimackinac was
still of no recent origin. As early as 1671 the Jesuits had es-
tablished a mission near tlie place, and a military force was not
long in following, for under tlie French dominion the priest
and the soldier went hand in hand. Neither toil, nor suiTer-
ing, nor all the teri'ors of the v>'ilderncss could damp the zeal
of the unduunled missionary ; and the restless ambition of
France was always on the alert to seize every point of advan-
tage, and avail itself of every means to gain ascendancy over
the forest tribes. Besides Michilimackinac, there were two
other posts in this nortlicrn region. Green Bay and the Sault
Ste. Marie. Both were founded at an early period, and both
presented the same characteristic features — a mission house, a
fort, anil a cluster of Canadian dwellings. They had been
originally garrisoned by small parties of militia, who, bringing

I'l'l- ■ '!,:

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

i >

their families with them, settled on the spot, and were founders
of these little colonies. Michilimackinac, much the largest of
the three, contained thirty families within the palisades of the
fort, and about as many more widiout. Besides its military
value, it was important as a center of the fur trade, for it
was here that the traders engaged their men, and sent out their
goods in canoes, under the charge of subordinates, to the more
distant regions of the Mississippi and the northwest.

" The Indians near Michilimackinac were the Ojibwas
and Ottawas, the former of whom claimed the eastern section
of Michigan, and the latter the western, their respective jjor-
tions being separated by a line drawn southward from the fort
itself. The principal village of the Ojibwas contained about
a hundred warriors, and stood upon the island of Michilimack-
inac, now called Mackinaw. There was another smaller vil-
lage near the head of Thunder Bay. The Ottawas, to the
number of two hundred and fifty warriors, lived at the settle-
ment of L'Arbre Croche, on the shores of Lake Michigan, some
distance southwest of the fort. This place was then the seat of
the old Jesuit mission of St. Ignace, oiiginally placed by Father
Marquette on the northern side of the straits. Many of the Ot-
tawas were nominal Catholics. They were all somewhat im-
proved from their original savage condition, living inlog houses,
and cultivating corn and vegetables to such an extent as to sup-
ply the fort with provision, besides satisfying their own wants.
The Ojibwas, on the other hand, were not in the least de-
gree removed from their primitive barbarism."

At this time bot'i these tribes had recc ivcd from Pontiac
the war-belt of black and purple wampum and the painted
hatchet, and had pledged themselves to join in the contest.
Before the end of May the Ojibwas or Chippewas received
word that the blow had already been struck at Detroit, and
wrought up to the highest pitch of excitement and emulation,
resolved that peace should last no longer. Eager to reap all
the glory of the victory, or prompted by jealousy, this tribe
neither communicated to the Ottawas the news which had come

.v,.-im(Miiii»i

MASSACRE AT FORT MACKINAC.

to them nor their own resohition to make an immediate assault
upon Michilimackinac ; hence the Ottavvas, as we shall also
learn fron? Henry's account, had no part in that blood)' tragedy.
There were other tribes however, which, attracted by rumors
of impending war, had gathered at Michilimackinac, and which
took part in the struggle.

There is a discrepancy between the official report of Capt.
Ethrington, commander of the post, and Henry's statement ;
the former making the garrison to consist of thirty-five men,
with their officers, and the latter, as we shall see, of ninety.
We give the reader the facts just as we find them recorded,
leaving him to reconcile this diflerence in his own way. Per-
haps, as Parkman suggests, Henry intended to include in his
enumeration all the inhabitants of the fort, both .soldiers and
Canadians.

We left Henry at the moment of his arrival at the fort.
We must now allow him to go on with his story, for he is far
better qualified for that task than we are.

" When I reached Michilimackinac I found several other
traders who had arrived before me, from difi'erent parts of the
country, and who, in general, declared the dispositions of the
Indians to be hostile to the English, and even apprehended
some attack. M. Laurent Ducharme distinctly informed Major
Ethrington that a plan was absolutely conceived foi destroying
him, his garrison, and all the English in the upper country,
but the commandant, believing this and other reports to be
without foundation, proceeding only from idle or ill-disposed
persons, and of a tendency to do mischief, expressed much dis-
pleasure against M. Ducharme, and threatened to send the next
person who should bring a story of the same kind a prisoner to
Detroit.

" The garrison at this time consisted of ninety privates,
two subalterns, and the commandant, and the English mer-
chants at the fort were four in number. Thus strong, few en-
tertained anxiety concerning the Indians, who had no weapons
but small arms. •

l-^^^'li!

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

" Meanwhile the Indians from every quarter were daily
assembling in unusual numbers, but with every appearance of
friendship, frequenting the fort and disposing of their peltries
in sucli a manner as to dissipate almost any one's fears. For
myself, on one occasion I took the liberty of observing to Major
Ethrington that, in my judgment, no confidence ought to be
placed in them, and that I was informed no less than four hun-
dred lay around the fort. In return the Major only rallied mc
on my timidity, and it is to be confessed that if this officer
neglected admonition on his part, so did I on mine. Shortly
after my first arrival at Michilimackinac in the preceding year,
a Chippewa named Wa'wa'tam began to come often to my
house, betraying in his demeanor strong marks of personal
regard. After this had continued for some time, he came oii
a certain day bringing with him his whole family, and at the
same time a large present, consisting of skins, sugar, and dried
meat. Having laid these in a heap he commenced a speech,
in which he informed me that, some years before, he had ob-
served a fast, devoting himself, according to the custom of his
nation, to solitude and the mortification of his body, in the hope
to obtain from the Great Spirit protection through all his days ;
that on this occasion he had dreamed of adopting an English-
man as his son, brother, and friend ; that from the moment in
which he first beheld mc he had recognized me as the person
whom the Great Spirit had been pleased to point out to him
for a brother ; that he hoped that I woukl not refuse his pres-
ent, and that he should forever regard me as one of his familv.

'' I could do no otherwise than accept the present, and de-
clare my willingness to have so good a man as this appeared to
be for my friend and bu/ther. 1 offered a present in return Tor
thatwhidi I liad received, wJiich Wawatam accepted, :'.nd then
thanking me for the favor which he said that I had rendered
liim he left -ne, and soon after set out on his winter's hunt.

'' Twelve months had now elapsed since the occurrence of
this incident, and I had almost forgotten the person of my
brother^ wlien. on the second day of June, Wawatam came

MASSACRE AT FORT MACKlNxVC.

again to my house, in a temper of mind visibly melancholy and
thoufijhtful. He told me that he had just returned from his
uointcring-ground^ and I asked after his health ; but without
answering my question he went on to say that he was very
sorry to find me returned from the Sault ; that he had intended
to go to that jDlace himself, immediately after his arrival at
Michilimackinac ; and that he wished me to go there along
with him and his family the next morning. To all this he
joined an inquiry whether or not the commandant had heard
bad news, adding that, during the wintei, he had himself been
frequently disturbed with the tioise of evil birds ; and further
suggesting that there were numerous Indians near the fort,
many of whom had never shown themselves within it. Wa-
watam was about forty-five years of age, of an excellent char-
acter among his nation, and a chief.

'' Referring much of what I heard to the peculiarities
of the Indian character, I did not pay all the attention
winch they w^ill be fijund to have deserved to the entreat-
ies and remarks of my visitor, I answered that I could not think
of going to the Sault so soon as the next morning, but would
follow him there after the arrival of my clerks. Finding him-
self unable to prevail with me, he withdrew for that day, but
early the next morning he came again, bringing with him his
wife and a present of dried meat. At this interview, after stat-
ing that he had severed packs of beaver, for which he intended
to deal with me, he expressed a second *^'me his apprehensions
from the numerous Indians who were around the fort, and ear-
nestly pressed me to consent to an inin.cdiate departure for the
Sault. As a reason for this particular request he assured me
that all the Indians proposed to come in a body that day to the
fort, to demand liquor of the commandant, and that he wished
me to be gone before tliey sliould grow intoxicated. T had
made, at the peri(xl to wh'jh I am no'.v referring, so much pro-
gress in tlic language in wliicli Wawatam addressed me, as to
be able to hold an ordinary covcrsation in it ; but the Indian
manner of speech is so extravagantly figurative that it is only

fpr-

1 ,|:

• ; ;;'

1 ,:

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

I '!

:! I'

for a very perfect master to follow and comprehend it entirely.
Had I been further advanced in this respect I think that I
shonkl liave cjathcred so much information from this my friendly
monitor as would have put me into possession of the designs of
the enemy, and enabled me to save others as well as myself;
as it was, it unfortunately happened that I turned a deaf ear to
everything, leaving Wawatum and his wife, after long and pa-
tient, but inert'ectual eflbrts, to dejDart alone, with dejected coun-
tenances, and not before they had each let fall some tears.

" In the course of the same day, I observed that the In-
dians came in great numbers into the fort, purchasing toma-
hawks, (small axes of one pound weight,) and frequently de-
siring to see silver arm-bands, and other valuable ornaments, of
which I had a l.n-fre quantity for sale. These ornaments, how-
ever, they, in no instance, purchased ; but, after turning them
over, left them, saying that they would call again the next day.
Their motive, as it afterward appeared, was no other than the
very artful one of discovering, by requesting to see them, the
particular places of their deposit, so that they might lay their
hands on them, in the moment of pillage, with the greater
certainty and dispatch.

" At night I turned in my mind the visits of Wawatam ;
but, though they were calculated to excite uneasiness, nothing
induced me to believe that serious mischief was at hand.

" The next day, being the fourth, of June, was the king's
birthday. The morning was sultry. A Chippewa came to
tell me that his nation was going to play at bag'gat'iway, with
the Sacs or Saiikies, another Indian nation, for a high wager.
He invitetl me to witness the sport, adding that the command-
ant was to be there, and would bet on the side of the Chippe-
was. In consequence of this information, I went to the com-
mandant, and expostulated with him a little, representing that
the Indians might possibly have some sinister end if. view ;
but the commandant only smiled at my suspicions."

The game of baggativvay, which the Indians played upon
that memorable occasion, was the most exciting sport in whicli

Mil M'

MASSACRE AT FOUT MACKINAC.

t entirely.

nk that I
ly friendly
designs of
as myself;
leaf car to
ig and pa-
cted coun-
ears.

at the In-
ing toma-
juently de-
aments, of
ents, how-
iiing them
: next day.
r than the

them, the
t lay their
he greater

Vawatam ;
»s, nothing
land.

the king's
a came to
way, with
gh wager,
command-
ic Chippc-

tiie com-
nting that

ii'. view ;

ayed upon
t in which

the red man could engage. It was played with bat and ball.
The bat, so called, was about four feet in length and an inch
in diameter. It was made of the toughest material that could
be found. At one end it was curved, and terminated in a sort
of racket, or perhaps, more properly, a ring, in which a net-
work of cord was loosely woven. The players wore not
allowed to touch the ball with the hand, but caught it in this
network at the end of the bat. At either end of the ground a
tall post was planted. These posts marked the stations of the
rival parties, and were sometimes a mile apart. The object
of each party was to defend its own post and carry the ball
to that of the adversary.

At the beginning of the game the main body of tlie
players assemble half way between the two posts. Every eye
sparkles, and every cheek is already aglow with excitement.
The ball is tossed high into the air, and a general stri.ggle en-
sues to secure it a- it descends. He who succeeds stirts for
the goal of the adversary, holding it high above his heac'i. The
opposite party, with merry yells, are swift to j^ursue. His
course is intercepted, and rather than see the ball taken from
iiim, he throws it, as the boy throws a stone from a sling, as
far towards the goal of the adversary as he can. An adver-
sary in the game catches it and sends it whizzing back in the
opposite direction. Hither and thither it goes : now far to
the right, now as far to the left ; now near to the one, now as
near to the other goal ; the whole band crowding continually
after it in the wildest confusion, until, finally, some agile figure,
more fleet of foot thiui others, succeeds in bearing it to the goal
of the opposite party.

Persons now living upon this island, who have frequently
seen this game played by the Indians, and themselves partici-
pated in it, inform the writer that often a whole day is
insufficient to decide the contest. When such is the case, the
following day is taken, and the game begun anew. As many
as six or seven hundred Indians sometimes engage in a single
game, while it may be played by fifty. In the heat of the con-

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

< \

m ''■'

test, when all are runniii!^ at their p^rcatest speed, if one
stmnblcs and falls, fifty or a hundred, wb.o arc in close pursuit
and unable to stop, pile over him, forming a mound of human
bodies, and frequently players are so bruised as to be unable
to proceed in the game.

This game, with its attendant noise and violence, was well
calculated to divert the attention of ollicers and men, and thus
permit the Indians to take possession of the fort. To make
their success more certain, they prcvaileil upon as many as
they could to come out of the fort, while at the same time their
squaws, wrapped in blankets, beneath which they concealed
the murderous weapons, were placed inside the enclosure.
The plot was so ingeniously laid that no one suspected danger.
The discipline of the garrison was relaxed, and the soldiers
permitted to stroll about and view the sport, without weapons
of defence. And even when the ball, as if by chance, was
lifted high in the air, to descend inside the pickets, and was
followed by four hundred savages, all eager, all struggling, all
shouting, in the uni'estrained pursuit of a rude, athletic exer-
cise, no alarm was felt until the shrill war-whoop told the
startled garrison that the slaughter had actually began.

Henry continues : '' I did not go myself to see the matcli
which was now to be played without the fort, because, there
being a canoe prepared to depart on the following day, for
Montreal, I employed myself in writing letters to my friends ;
and even when a fellow trader, ]Mr. Tracy, happened to call
upon me, saying that another canoe had just arrived from
Detroit, and proposing that I should go with him to the beach,
to inquire the news, it so happened that I still remained, to
finish my letters, promising to follow Mr. Tracy in the course
of a few ininutes. Mr. Tracy had not gone more than twenty
paces from my door, when I heard an Indian war-cry, and a
noise of general confusion. Going instantly to my window, I
saw a crowd of Indians, within the fort, furiously cutting down
and scalping every English lan they found. In particular I
witnessed the fate of Lieutenant Jeniette.

MASSACRE AT FOUT MACKINAC.

" T had, ill the room \n which T was, a fowlinji-piocc.
loaded witli swan shot. This 1 iinincdiatcly seized, and held
it for a few minutes, waiting to hear the drum beat to arms.
In this dreadful interval I saw several of my countrymen fall,
and more than one struggling between the knees of an Indian,
who, holding him in this maimer, scalped him wliile yet living.
" At length, disajjpointed in the hope of seeing resistance
made to the enemy, and sensible, of course, that no ellbrt of
my own unassisted arm could avail against four hundred
Indians, I thought only of seeking shelter. Amid the slaughter
which was raging, I observed many of the Canadian inhabit-
ants of the fort calmly looking on, neither opposing the Indians
nor sutfering injury : and, from tliis circumstance, I conceived
a hope of finding security in their houses.

" Between the yard-door of my own house and tliat of
M. Langlade, my next neighbor, there was only a low fence,
over which I easily climbed. At my entrance I found the
whole family at the windows, gazing at the scene of blood
before them. I addressed myself immediately to AI. Langlade,
begging that he W'ould put me into some place of safety until
the heat of the atVair should be over, an act of charity by
which he might perhaps preserve me ^from the general mas-
sacre ; but, while I uttered my petition, M. Langhule, who had
looked for a moment at me, turned again to the window,
shrugcfing his shoulders, and intimating that he could do
nothing for me : " Qiie voudriez — vous que j'en ferais ? "

" This was a moment for despair ; but, the next, a Pani
woman, a slave of ISl. Langlade, beckoned me to follow her.
She brought me to a door, which she opened, desiring me to
enter, and telling me that it led to the garret, where I must go
and conceal myself. I joyfully obeyed her directions ; and
she, having followed me up to the garret door, locked it after
me, and with great presence of mind took away the key.

" This shelter obtained, if shelter I could hope to find it,
I was naturally anxious to know what might still be passing
without. Through an aperture, which alforded me a view of

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

lljf::

tlic !irca of the fort, I l)chcl(l, in sliiipcs tlic foulest ;iti(l most
terrible, the ferocious triumphs of barbarian conc[uerors. The
(lead were scalped and hiau^led ; the dyinjjf were writhing anil
shriekin<f, u'uler t!ie unsatiated knife and tomahawk ; and,
from the bodies ot some, ripped open, their butchers were
drinking the blood, scooped up in the hollow of joined hands,
and quatlbd amid shouts of rage and victory. I was shaken,
not only with horror, but with fear. The suflerings which I
witnessed, I seemed on the point of experiencing. No long
time elapsed before every one being destroyed, who could be
found, there was a general cry of " All is linished ! " At the
same instant I heard some of the Indians enter the house in
which I was. The garret was separated trom the room below
only by a layer of single boards, at once the flooring of the
one and the ceiling of the other. I could therefore hear every-
thing that passed ; and the Indians no sooner came in than
they inquired whether or not any Englishman were in the
house. M. Langlade replied, that " he could not say," — he
" did not know of any ; " — answers in which he did not exceed
the truth ; for the Pani woman had not only hidden me by
stealth, but kept my secret, and her own. M. Langlade was,
therefore, as I presume, as far from a wish to destroy me as he
was careless about savihg me, when he added lo these answers,
that " they might examine for themselves, and would soon be
satisfied as to the oi)ject of their question." Saying this, he
brought tliem to the garret door.

" The state of my mind will be imagined. Arrived at
the door, some delay was occasioned hy the absence of the key,
and a few moments were thus allowed me in which to look
around me for a hiding place. In one corner of the garret was
a heap of those vessels of birch bark used in maple-sugar mak-
ing, as I have recently described.

" The door was unlocked, and opening, and the Indians
ascending the stairs, before I had completely crept into a small
opening which presenteil itself at one end of the heap. An
instant later four Indians entered the room, all armed with torn-

MASSACUK AT FOIIT MACKINAC.

ahawks, and all besmeared with blood upon every part of their
bodies.

" The die appeared to be cast. I could scarcely breathe,
but I thought that the throbbing of my heart occasioned a noise
loud^enough to betray me. The Indians walked in every direc-
tion about the garret, and one of them ajoproached me so closely
that at a particular moment had he put forth his hand he must
have touched me. Still I remained undiscovered, a circum-
stance to which the dark color of my clothes, and the want of
light in a room which had no window, and i'x the corner in
which I was, must have contributed. In a word, after taking
several turns in the room, during which they told M. Langlade
how many they had killed, and how many scalps they had
taken, they returned down stairs, and I, with sensations not to
be expressed, hoard the door, which was the barrier between
me and my fate, locked for the second time.

" There was a feather-bed on the floor, and on this, ex-
hausted as I was by the agitation of my mind, I threw myself
down and fell asleep. In this state I remained till the dark of
the evening, when I was awakened by a second opening of the
door. The person that now entered was M. Langlade's wife,
who was much surprised at finding mc, but advised me not to
be uneasy, observing that the Indians had killed most of the Eng-
lish, but that she hoped I might myself escape. A shower of
rain having begun to tall, she had como to stop a hole in the
roof. On her going away I begged her to send me a little
water to drink, which she did.

" As night was now advancing, I continued to lie on the
bed, ruminating on my condition, but unable to discover a
source from which I could hope for life. A flight to Detroit
had no jirobable chance of success. The distance, from Mich-
ilimackinac, was four hundred miles ; I was without provisions ;
and the whole length of the road lay through Indian countries,
countries of an enemy in armS; where the first man whom I
should meet would kill me. To stay where I was, threatened
nearly the same issue. As before, fatigue of mind, and not

PT^

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

tranquility, suspended my cares, and procured me further
sleep.

" The respite which sleep afforded me, during the night,
was put an end to b}' the return of morning. I was again on
the rack of apprehension. At sunrise I heard the family stir-
ring, and, presently after, Indian voices, informing M. Lang-
lade that they had not found my hapless self among the dead,
and that they supposed me to be somewhere concealed. M.
Langlade appeared, from what followed, to be, by this time,
acquainted with the place of my retreat, of which no doubt
he had been informed by his wife. The poor woman, as soon
as the Indians mentioned me, declared to her husband, in the
French tongue, that he should no longer keep me in his house,
but deliver me up to my pursuers ; giving as a reason for this
measure, that should the Indians discover his instrumentality
in my concealment, they might avenge it on her children, and
that it was better that I should die than they. M. Langlade
resisted, at first, this sentence of his wife's, but soon suffered
her to jjrevail, informing the Indians tliat he had been told I
was in the house, that I had come there without his knowledge,
and that he would put me into their hands. This was no
sooner expressed than he began to ascend the stairs, the
Indians following upon his heels.

" I now resigned myself to the fate with which I was
menaced ; and regarding every attempt at concealment as vain,
I arose from the bed, and presented myself full in view to the
Indians who were entering the room. They were all in a state
of intoxication, and entirely naked, except about the middle.
One of them, named Wenniway, whom I had previously
known, and who was upward of six feet in height, had his
entire foce and body covered with charcoal and grease, only
that a white spot, of two inches in diameter, encircled either
eye. This man, wal .ing up to me, seized me, with one hand,
by the collar of the i- it, while in the other he held a large
carving-knife, a> n" lo plunge it into my breast; his eyes,
meanwhile, wer(.- ^xjd steadfastly on mine. At length, after

f I'

MASSACRE AT FORT MACKINAC.

some seconds of the most anxious suspense, hs dropped his
arm, saying, " I won't kill you ! " To this he added, that he
had been frequently engaged in wars against the English, and
had brought away many scalps ; that, on a certain occasion, he
had lost a brother whose name was Musinigon, and that I
should be called after him.

" A reprieve, upon any terms, placed me among the
livii:g, and gave me back the sustaining voice of hope ; but
Wenniway ordered rie down stairs, and there informing me
that I was to be taken to his cabin, where, and indeed every-
where else, the Indians were all mad with liquor, death again
was threatened, and not as possible only, but as certain. I
mentioned my fean; on this subject to M. Langlade, begging
him to represent t'^e danger to my master. M, Langlade, in
this instance, did not withhold his compassion, and Wenniway
immediately consented that I should ren'.ain where 1 was, until
he foimd another opportunity to take me away.

" Thus far secure, I re-ascended ny garret .stairs, in order
to place myself the fitrthest possible out of the reach of insult
from drunken Indians ; but I had not remained there more than
an hour, when I was called to the room below, in which was
an Indian, who said that I must go with him out of the fort,
Wenniway having sent 'lim to fetch me. This man, as well as
Wenniway himself, I had seen before. In the preceding year
I had allowed him to take goods on credit, for which he was
still in my debt ; and some sliort time previous to the surprise
of the fort he had said, upon my upl)raiding him with want of
honesty, that ' he would pay me before long ! ' This speech
now came fresh into my memory, and led me to suspect that
the fellow had formed a design against my life. I communi-
cated the suspicion to M. Langlade, but he gave for answer,
that I was not my own master, and mubt do as I was ordered.

" The Indian, on his part, directed that before I left the
house I should undress myself, declaring that my coat and
shirt would become him better than they did me. Ills pleasure,
in this respect, being complied with, no other alternative was

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC,

left me than either to go out naked, or to put on the clothes of
tlie Indian, which he freely gave me in exchange. His motive
for thus stripping iT>e of my own apparel, was no otlier, as I
afterward learned, than this-, that it might not be stained with
blood wjien he should kill me.

" I was now told to proceed, and my driver followed me
close until I had passed the gate of the fort,^ when I turned
toward the spot where 1 knew the Indians- to be encamped.
This, however, did not suit the purpose of my enemy, who
seized me by the arm, and drew me violently in the opposite
direction, to the distance of fifty yards above the fort. Here,
finding that I was approaching the bushes and sand-hills, I
determined to proceed no further, but told the Indian that I
believed he meant to murder me, and that if so, he might a&
well strike w^here I was as at any greater distance. He re-
plied, with coolness, that my suspicions were just, and that he
meant to pay me, in this manner, for my goods. At the same
time he produced a knife, and held me in a position to receive
the intended blow. Both this, and that which followed, were
necessarily the affair of a moment. By some effort, too sudden
and too little dependent on thought to be explained or remem-
bered, I was enabled to arrest his arm and give him a sudden
push, by which I turned him from me, and released myself
from his grasp. This was no sooner done, than I ran toward
the fort with all the swiff:ness in my power, the Indian follow-
ing me, and I expecting every moment to feel his knife. I
succeeded in my flight, and, on entering the fort, I saw Wen-
niway standing in the midst of the area, and to him I hastened
for protection. Wenniway desired the Indian to desist ; but
the latter pursued me around him, making several strokes at
me with his knife, and foaming at the mouth, with rage at the
repeated failure of his purpose. At length Wenniway drew
near to M. Langlade's house, and, the door being open, I ran
into it. The Indian followed me, but on my entering the
house, he voluntarily abandoned the pursuit.

'^ Preserved so often and so imcxpectcdly, as it had now

MASSACRE AT FOET MACKINAC.

been my lot to be, I returned to my garret with a strong in-
clination to believe that, through the will of an overruling
Power, no Indian enemy could do me hurt ; but new trials, as
I believed, were at hand, when, at ten o'clock in the evening,
I was roused from sleep and once more desired to descend the
stairs. Not less, however, to my satisfaction than surprise, I
was summoned only to meet Major Etherington, Mr. Bostwick,
and Lieutenant Lesslie, who were in the room below. These
gentlemen had been taken prisoners, while looking at the
game, without the fort, and immediately stripped of all their
clothes. They were now sent into the fort, under the charge
of Canadians, because, the Indians having resolved on getting
drunk, the chiefs were apprehensive that they would be mur-
dered, if they continued in the camp. Lieutenant Jemette and
seventy soldiers had been killed ; and but twenty Englishmen,
including soldiers, were still alive. Tlicse were all within the
fort, together with nearly three hundred Canadians (belonging
to the canoes, &c.)

" These being our numbers, myself and others proposed
to Major Etherington to make an eflbrt for regaining posses-
sion of the fort, and maintaining it against the Indians. The
Jesuit missionary was consulted on the project; but he dis-
coiu'aged us by his representations, not only of the merciless
treatment which we must expect from the Indians, should
they regain their superiority, but of the little dependence which
was to be placed upon our Canadian auxiliaries. Thus the
fort and prisoners remained in the hands of the Indians, though,
through the whole niglit, the prisoners and whites were in
actual possession, and they were without the gates.

" That whole night, or the greater part of it, was passed
in mutual condolence ; and my fellow-prisoners shared my
garret. In the morning, being again called down, I found my
master, Wenniway, and was desired to follow him. He led
me to a small house within the fort, where, in a narrow room,
and almost dark, I found Mr. Ezekiel Solomons, an English-
man from Detroit, and a soldier, all prisoners. With these, 1

7°

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

remained in painful suspense as to the scene that was next to
present itself, till ten o'clock in the forenoon, when an Indian
arrived, and presently marched lis to the lake-side, where a
canoe appeared ready for departure, and in which we found
that we were to embark.

" Our voyage, full of doubt as it was, would have ct<m-
menced immediately, but that one of the Indians, who was to
be of the party, was absent. His arrival was to be waited for,
and this occasioned a very long delay, during which we were
exposed to a keen north-east wind. An old shirt was all that
covered me. I suffered much from the cold, and in this ex-
tremity, M. Langlade coming down to the beach, I asked him
for a blanket, promising, if I lived, to pay him for it, at any
price he pleased ; but the answer I received was this, that he
could let me have no blanket, unless there were some one to
be security for the payment. For myself, he observed, I had
no longer any property in that country. I had no more to say
to M. Langlade ; but, presently seeing another Canadian,
named John Cuchoise, I addressed him a similar request and
was not refused. Naked as I was, and rigorous as w^as the
weather, but for the blanket I must have perished. At noon
our party was all collected, the prisoners all embarked, and we
steered for the Isles du Castor, in Lake Michigan.

" The soldier, who was our companion in misfortune, was
made fast to a bar of the canoe, by a rope tied around his
neck, as is the manner of the Indians, in transporting their
prisoners. The rest were left unconfined ; but a paddle was
put into each of our hands, and we were made to use it. The
Indians in the canoe were seven in number ; the prisoners four.
I had left, as it will be recollected, Maj. Etherington, Lieut.
Lesslie, and Mr. Bostwick, at M. Langlade's, and was now
joined in misery with Mr. Ezckicl Solomons, the soldier, and
the Englishman, who had newly arrived from Detroit. This
was on the sixth day of June. The fort was taken on the
fourth ; I surrendered myself to Wenniway on the fifth ; and
this was the third day of our distress.

MASSACRE AT FORT MACKINAC.

" We were bound, as I have said, for the Isles du Castor,
which lie in the nT^'th of Lake Michigan ; and we should
have crossed the lake, but that a thick fog came on, on account
of which the Indians deemed it safer to keep the shore close
under their lee. We therefore approached the lands of the
' Ottawas, and their village of L'Arbre Croche, already men-
tioned as lying about twenty miles to the westward of Michili-
mackinac, on the opposite side of the tongue of land on which
the fort is built.

" Every half hour the Indians gave their war-whoops, one
for every prisoner in their canoe. This is a general custom,
by the aid of which all the Indians within hearing are ap-
prized of the number of prisoners they are carrying. In this
manner we reached Wagoshense, (Fox Point,) a long point,
stretching westward into the lake, and which the Ottawas
make a carrying-place, to avoid going round it. It is distant
eighteen miles from Michilimackinac. After the Indians had
made their war-whoop, as before, an Ottawa appeared upon
the beach, who made signs that we should land. In conse-
quence, we approached. The Ottawa asked the news, and
kept the Chippewas in further conversation, till we were within
a few yards of the land, and in shallow water. At this iro-
ment, a hundred men rushed upon us, from among the bushes,
and dragged all the prisoners out of the canoes, amid a terrify-
ing shout.

" We now believed that our last suflerings were approach-
ing ; but no sooner were we fairly on shore, and on our legs,
than the chiefs of the party advanced and gave each of us their
hands, telling us that they were our friends, and Ottawas whom
the Chippewas had insulted by destroying the English without
consulting with them on the aftair. They added that what
they had done was for the purpose of saving our lives, the
Chippewas having been carrying us to the Isles du Castor only
to kill and dcvoui us.

" The reader's imagination i3 here distracted by the variety
of our fortunes, and he may well paint to himself the state of

7»

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

mind of those who sustained them ; who were the sport, or the
victims, of a series of events more Hkc dreams than rcahties —
more Hke fiction than truth ! It was not long before we were
embarked again, in the canoes of the Ottawas, who, the same
evening, re-landed us at MichiHmackinac, where they marclied
us into the fort, in view of the Chippewas, confounded at
beholding the Ottawas espouse a side opposite to their own.
The Ottawas, who had accompanied us in sufficient numbers,
took possession of the fort. We, who had changed masters,
but were still prisone s, were 'odged in the house of the com-
mandant, and strictly guarded.

" Early the next morning, a general council was held, m
which the Chippewas complai.ied much of the conduct of the
Ottawas, in robbing them of tlieir prisoners ; alleging that all
the Indians, the Ottawas alone excepted, were at war with the
English ; that Fontiac had taken Detroit ; that the king of
France had awoke and repossessed himself of Qiiebec and
Montreal, and that the English were meeting destruction, not
only at Michilimackinac, but in every other part of the world.
From all this they inferred that it became .lie Ottawas to re-
store the prisoners and to join in the war ; and the speech was
followed *by large presents, being jjart of the plunder of the
fort, and which was previously heaped in the center of the
room. The Indians rarely make their answers till the day
aficr they have heard t'^'e arguments offered. They did not
depart from their custom on this occasion ; and the council
therefore adjourned.

" We, the prisoners whose fate was thus in controversy,
were unacquainted, it the time, with this transaction ; and
therefore enjoyed a nigiit of tolerable tranquility, not in the
least suspecting the reverse which was preparing for us.
Which of the arguments of the Chippewas, or whether or not
all were deemed valid by the Ottawas, I cannot say, but the
council was resiuncd at an early hour in the morning, and,
after several speeches had been made in it, the prisoners were
sent for, and returned to the Chippewas.

MASSACIIE AT FORT MACKINAC.

" The Ottawas, who now gave us into the hands of the
Chippewas, had themselves dechired that the latter designed
no other than to kill us, and i7iakc broth of us. The Chipjie-
was, as soon as we were restored to them, marched us to a
village of their own situate on the point which is below the
fort, and put us into a lodge, already the jDrison of fourteen
soldiers, tied two and two, with each a rope about his neck,
and made fast to a pole which might be called the supporter of
the building.

" I was left unti(;d ; but I passed a night sleepless and full
of wretchedness. My bed was the bare ground, and I was
again reduced to an old shirt, as my entire apparel ; the
blanket which I had received, through the generosity of M.
Cuchoise, having been taken from me among the Ottawas,
when they seized upon myself and the others, at Wagoshense.
I was, besides, in want of food, having for two days eaten
nothing. I confess that in the canoe, with the Chippewas, I
was offered l)read — but bread, with what accompaniment !
They had a loaf, which they cut with the same knives that they
had employed in the massacre — knives still covered with blood.
The blood they moistened with spittle, and rubbing it on the
bread, oO'ered this for food to their prisoners, telling them to
eat the blood of their countrymen.

" Such was my situation, on the morning of the seventh
of June, in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-
tliree ; but a few hours produced an event which gave still a
new color to my lot. Toward noon, when the great war-chief,
in company with Wenniway, was seated at the opposite end of
the lodge, my friend and brother, Wawatam, suddenly came
in. During the four days preceding, I had often wondered
what had become of him. In passing by, he gawe me his
hand, but went immediately toward the great chief, by the side
of whom and Wenniway he sat himself down. The most
uninterrupted silence prevailed ; each smoked his pipe ; and
this done, Wawatam aiose and left the lodge, saying to me, as
he passed, ' Take courage.' • .

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

" An hour elapsed, during which several chiefs entered,
and preparations appeared to be making for a council. At
lengtii, Wawatam reentered the lodge, followed by his wife,
and both loaded with merchandise, which they carried up to
the chiefs, and laid in a heap before them. Some moments of
silence followed, at the end of which Wawatam pronounced a
speech, every word of which, to me, was of extraordinary
interest.

" ' Friends and relations,' he began, ' what is it that I
shall say.^ You know what I feel. You all have friends, and
brothers, and children, whom as yourselves you love ; and you
— what would you experience, did you like me behold your
dearest friend, your brother, in the condition of a slave ; a
slave, exposed every moment to insult, and to menaces of
death? This case, as you all know, is mine. See there (point-
ing to myself) my friend and brother among slaves — himself a
slave !

" ' You all well know, that long before the war began, I
adopted him as my brother. From that moment, he became
one of my family, so that no change of circumstances could
break the cord which fastened us together. He is my brother ;
and because I am your relation, he is therefore your relation
too ; — and how, being your relation, can he be your slave .''

" ' On the day on which the war began, you Avere fearful,
lest, on this very account, I should reveal your secret. You
requested, therefore, that I would leave the fort, and even cross
the lake. I did so ; but I did it with reluctance. I did it with
reluctance, notwithstanding that you, Menehwehna, (Alinava-
vana,') who had the command in this enterprise, gave me your
promise that you would protect my friend, delivering him from
all danger, and giving him safely to me. The performance of
this promise I now claim. I come not with empty hands to
ask it. You, Menehwehna, best know whether or not, as it
respects yourself, you have kept your word, but I bring these
goods to buy olV every claim which any man among you all
may have on my brother, as his prisoner.'

MASSACRE AT FORT MACKINAC.

" Wavvatam having ceased, the pipes were again filled ;
and, after they were finished, a further period of silence fol-
lowed. At the end of this, Menehwehna arose and gave his
reply :

'' ' My relation and brother,' said he, ' what you have
spoken is the truth. We were acquainted with the friendship
which subsisted between yourself and the Englishman, in
whose behalf vou have now addressed us. We knew the dan-
ger of having our secret discovered, and the consequences
which must follow ; and you say truly, that we requested you,
to leave the fort. This we did, out of regard for you and your
family ; for, if a discovery of our design had been made, you
would have been blamed, whether guilty or not ; and you
would Ihus have been involved in difficulties from which you
could not have extricated yourself.

" ' It is also true, that I promised you to take care of your
friend ; and this promise I performed by desiring my son, at
the moment of assault, to seek him out and bring him to my
lodge. He went accordingly^ but could not find him. The
day after, I sert him to Langlade's, when he was informed that
your friend was safe ; and had it not been that the Indians were
then drinking the rum which had been found in the fort, he
would have brought him home with him, according to my or-
ders. I am very glad to find that your friend has escaped.
We accept your present ; and you may take him home with
you.'

'' Wawatam thanked the assembled chiefs, and taking me
by the hand, led me to his lodge, which was at the distance of
a few yards only from the prison-lodge. Aly entrance appeared
to give joy to the whole family ; food was immediately pre-
pared for me, and I pow ate the first hearty meal which I had
made since my capture. I found myself one of the family ;
and but that I bad still my fears as to the other Indians, I felt
as happy as the situation could allow.

" In. the course of the next morning, I was alarmed by a
noise in the prison-lodge ; and looking through the openings of

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

the lodge in which I was, I saw seven dead bodies of white
men dragged forth. Upon my inquiry into the occasion, I was
informed that a certain chief, called, by the Canadians, Le
Grand Sable, had not long before arrived from his winter's
hunt; and that he, having been absent when the war began,
and being now desirous of manifesting to the Indians at large
his hearty concurrence in what they had done, had gone into
the prison-lodge, and there, with his knife, put the seven men,
whose bodies I had seen, to death.

" Shortly after, two of the Indians took one of the dead
bodies, which they chose as being the fattest, cut off the head,
and divid,cd the whole into five parts, one of which was put
into each of five kettles, hung over as many fires, kindled for
this purpose at the door of the prison-lodge. Soon after things
were so far prepared, a message came to our lodge, with an in-
vitation to Wawatam to assist at the feast.

" An invitation to a feast is given by him who is the
master of it. Small cuttings of cedar-wood, of about four
inches in length, supply the place of cards ; and the bearer, by
word of mouth, states the particulars. Wawatam obeyed the
summons, taking with him, as is usual, to the place of enter-
tainment, his dish and spoon. After an absence of about half
an hoiu', he returned, oringing in his dish a human hand and a
large piece of flesh. He did not appear to relish the repast,
but told me that it was then, and always had been the custom,
among all the Indian nations, when returning from war, or on
overcoming their enemies, to make a war-feast, from among
the slain. This, he said, inspired the warrior with courage
in attack, and bred him to meet death with fearlessness,

" In the evening of the same day a large canoe, such as
those which come from Montreal, was se^n advancing to the
fort. It was full of men, and I distinguished several passen-
gers. The Indian cry was made in the village ; a general
muster ordered ; and, to the number of two hundred, they
marched up to the fort, where the canoe was expected to land.
The canoe, suspecting nothing, came boldly to the fort, where

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MASSACRE AT FORT MACKINAC.

the passengers, as being English traders, were seized, dragged
through tlie water, beaten, reviled, marclied to the pii,->on-
lodge, and there stripped of their clothes and confined.

" Of the English traders tliat fell into the han(L of the
Indians, at the capture of the fort, Mr. Tracy wa the only one
who lost his life. Mr. Ezekiel Solomons and Air. Henry Rost-
wick were taken by the Ottawas, and, after the peace, carried
down to Montrciri, and there ransomed. Of ninety troops,
about seventy were killed ; the rest, together with those of the
posts in the Bay des Puants, and at the river Saint Joseph,
were also kept in safety by the Ottawas, till the peace, and
then either freely restored, or ransomed at Montreal. 'J iie
Ottawas never overcame their disgust at the neglect with
which they had been treated, in the beginning of the war, by
those who afterward desired their assistance as allies."

OLD AXn NEW MACKINAC.

CHAPTER V.

ESCAPK OF JIEXUV AND OTHERS.

The peculiarities of the Indian character will readily
exiilain to us the part which the Ottawas played in this transac-
tion. They deemed it a gross insult that the Ojibwas had
undertaken an enterprise of such vast importance without con-
sulting them or asking their assistance. They had, therefore, res-
cued Henry and his companions in tribulation from the hands
of their captors and borne them back to the fort, where they
h.nd, to the dismay of the Ojibwas, taken possession not only
of the fort, but of the other prisoners also. This, however, was
purely out of revenge to the Ojibwas, and not from any good
will towards the prisoners. After the council of which Henry
has told us, some of the prisoners, among whom was Henry,
were given up, but the oOicers and several of the soldiers were
retained and carried b}- the Ottawas to L'Arbre Croche. Here,
owing probably to the influence of Father Janois, they were
treated with kindness. From this point Ethrington despatched
two letters, one by Janois to Major Gladwyn, at Detroit, and
the other by an Ottawa Indian to Lieutenant Gorcll, at Green
Bay. Both of these letters contained a brief account of the
massacre, and an earnest entreaty for assistance. The one ad-
dressed to Gorell was as ibllows :

" MiciiiLiMACKiNAc, June ii, 1763.

" Dear Sir : Tliis place was taken by surj^rise on the

fourth instant by the Chippewas, (Ojibwas,) at which time

Lieutenant Jamctte and twenty men were killed, and all the rest

taken prisoners ; but our good friends the Ottawas have taken

ESCAPE OF HENRY AND OTHEHS.

Lieutenant Leslie, inc, and eleven men out of their hands, and
have promised to reinstate us again. You'll thcrcH^rc, on the
receipt of this, which I send by a canoe of Ottawas, set out
with all 30ur garrison, and what English traders you have with
you, and come with tiic Indian who gives you this, who will
conduct you safe to me. You must be sure to follow the in-
struction you receive froin the bearer of this, as you are by no
means to come to this post before you see me at the village,
twenty miles from this. » * * I must once more beg you'll
lose no time in coming to join mc ; at the same time be very
careful, and always be on your guard. I long much to see you,
and am, dear sir, your most humble servant,

" Gko. Ethrington.
"J. GoRELL, Royal Americans."

When Father Janois i-eached Detroit he found the place
closely besieged, and consequently r.'^ assistance could come
from that quarter, but at Green Bay the case was otherwise.
With seventeen men Lieutenant Gorell had taken i^ossession of
that post in 1761, and, by a system of good management, had
succeeded in allaying the hostility of the savages and securing
the friendship of at least a part of the tribes around him. On
receiving Etnrington's letter Gorell told the Indians what the
Ojibwas had done, and that he and his soldiers were going to
Michilimackinac to restore order, adding that, during his ab-
sence, he commended the fort to their care. Presents were dis-
tributed among them, and advantage taken of every circum-
stance that could possibly be made to favor the English cause,
so that when the party was ready to embark ninety warriors
proposed to escort the garrison on its way.

Arriving at L'Arbre Croche, where Captain Ethrington,
Lieutenant Leslie, and eleven men were yet detained as pris-
oners, Gorell received an intimation that tlic Ottawas intended
to disarm his own n)cn also, but he promptly informed them
that such an attempt would meet with a vigorous resistance
and the Indians desisted. Several days were now spent in hold-

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

ing councils. The Indians front Green Bay requested the Ot-
tawas to set their prisoners at liberty, to which the latter at
length assented. Thinking only of how they might escai/e the
presence of their troublesome and treacherous foes, they prepared
to depart. One difficulty, however, yet remained. The Ojib-
was had declared that they would prevent the English from
passing down to Montreal, and again they had recourse to a
council. A reversion of feeling, as we shall soon see, had
already taken place among the Ojibwa chiefs, and at length,
though reluctantly, they yielded the point. On the eighteenth
day of July, escorted by a fleet of Indian canoes, the English
left L'Arbre Croche, and on the thirteenth day of August all
arrived in safety at Montreal, leaving not a British soldier in the
region of the lakes, except at Detroit.

Let us now go back, in point of time, and hear our old
friend llenry to the end of his story.

" In the morning of the ninth of June, a general council
was held, at which it was agreed to remove to the island of
Michilimackinac, as a more defensible situation in the event of
an attack by the English. The Indians had begun to entertain
apprehensions of a want of strength. No news had reached
them from the Potawatamies, in the Bay des Puants, and they
were uncertain whether or not the Monomins would join them.
They even feared that the Sioux would take the English side.
This resolution fixed, they prepared for a speedy retreat. At
noon the camp was broken up and we embarked, taking with
us the prisoners that were still undisposed of. On our passage
we encountered a gale of wind, and there were some appear-
ances of danger. To avert a dog, of which the legs were
previously tied together, was thrown into the lake — an ofl'ering
designed to soothe the angry passions of some offended Manito.

" As we approached tlie island two women in the canoe
in which I was began to utter melancholy and liideous cries.
Precarious as my condition still remained, I e- ,i ,rienced some
sensations of alarm from these dismal sounds, of which I could

ESCAPE OF IIENUY A^•D OTHERS.

not then discover the occasion. Subsequently I learned that it
is customary for the women, on passing near the burial-places
of relations, never to omit the practice of which I was now a
witness, and by which they intend to d.-note their grief.

" By the approach of evening we reached the island in
safety, and the women were not long in erecting our cabins.
In the morning there was a muster of the Indians, at which
there were found three hundred and fifty fv^VSng men. In the
course of the day there arrived a canoe fruin Detroit, with am-
bassadors, who endeavored to prevail on the Indians to repair
thither, to the assistance of Pontiac, but fear was now the pre-
vailing passion. A guard was kept during the day and a
watch by night, and alarms were very frequently spread. Had
an enemy appeared all the prisoners woidd have been put to
death, and I suspected that, as an Englishman. I should share
their fate.

" Several days had now passed when, one morning, a con-
tinue alarm prev/Jled, and I saw the Indians running in a con-
fused manner towards the beach. In a short time I learned
that two 1 'rge canoes from Montreal were in sight.

'• All the Indian canoes were immediately manned, and
those from Montreal were surrounded and seized as thev turned
a point, behind which the flotilla had been concealed. The
goods were consigned to a Mr. Levy, and would have been
saved if the canoe-men had called tliem French property, but
they were terrified and disguised nothing.

" In the canoes was a large proportion of liquor — a dan-
gerous acquisition, and one which threatened disturbance among
the Indians, even to the loss of their dearest friends. Wawa-
tam, always watchful of my safety, no sooner heard the noise
of drunkenness which, in the evening, did not fail to begin,
than lie represented to me the danger of remaining in the vil-
lage, and owned that he could not himself resist the temptation
of joining his comrades in the debauch. That I might escape
all mischief, he therefore requested that I would accompany
him to the mountain, where I was to remain hidden till the

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

liquor should be drank. We ascended the mountain accord-
ingly. After walking more than half a mile we came to a
large rock, at the base of which was an opening, dark within,
and appearing to be the entrance of a cave. Here Wa\\'atam
recommended that I should take up my lodging, and by all
means remain till he returned.

" On going into the cave, of which the entrance was nearly
ten feet wide, I found the further end to be rounded in its shape,
like that of an oven, but with a fui-ther aperture, too small,
however, to be explored. After thus looking around me, I
broke small branches from the trees and spread them for a bed,
then wrapped myself in my blanket and slept till da3'-break.
On awaking I felt myself incommoded by some object upon
which I lay, and removing it, found it to be a bone. This I
supposed to be that of a deer, or some other animal, and what
might very naturally be looked for in the place in which I was ;
but when daylight visited my chamber I discovered, with some
feelings of horror, that I was lying on nothing less than a heap
of human bones and skulls, which covered all the floor !

" The day passed without the return of Wawatam, and
without food. As night approached T found myself unable to
meet its darkness in the charnel house, which, nevertheless, I
had viewed free from uneasiness during the day. I chose,
therefore, an adjacent bush for this night's lodging, and slept
under it as before ; but in the morning I awoke hungry and
dispirited, and almost envying the dry bones, to the view of
which I returned. At length the sound of a foot reached me,
and my Indian friend appeared, making many apologies for his
long absence, the cause of which was an unfortunate excess in
the enjoyment of his liquor.

" This point being explained, I mentioned the extraor-
dinary sight that had presented itself, in the cave to which
he had commended my slumbers. lie had never heard of its
existence before, and upon examining the ca\ j together we saw
reason to believe that it had been anciently filled with human
bodies.

ESCAPE OF HENRY AND OTHERS.

" On returning to the lodge I experienced a cordial recep-
tion from the family, which consisted of the wife of my friend,
his two sons, of whom the eldest was married, and whose wife,
and a daughter of thirteen years of age, completed the list.

" Wawatam related to the other Indians the adventure of
the bones. All of them expressed surprise at hearing it, and
declared that they had never been aware of the contents of this
cave before. After visiting it, which they immediately did,
almost ev'ery one ottered a did'erent opinion as to its histoiy.
Some advanced that at a period when the waters overflowed
the land, (an event which makes a distinguished figure in the
history of their world,) the inhabitants of this island had fled
into the cave, and been there drowned ; others, that those same
inhabitants, when the Hurons made war upon them, (as tradi-
tion says they did,) hid themselves in the cave, and, being dis-
covered, were there massacred. For myself, I am disposed to
believe that this cave was an ancient receptacle of the bones of
prisoners sacrificed and devoured at war feasts. I have always
observed that the Indians pay particular attention to the bones
of sacrifices, preserving them unbroken and depositing them
in some place kept exclusively for that purpose.

" A few days after this occurrence Menehvvehna (Minava-
vana,) whom I now found to be the great chief of the village
of ISIichilimackinac, came to the lodge of my friend, and when
the usual ceremony of smoking was finished he observed that
Indians were now daily arriving from Detroit, some of whom
bad lost relations or friends in the war, and who would cer-
tainly retaliate on any Englishman they found, upon which
account his errand was to advise that I should be dressed like
an Indian, an expedient whence I might hope to escape all fu-
ture insult.

" I could not but consent to the proposal, and the chief was
so kind as to assist my friend and his family in eflecting that
very day the desired metamorphosis. IVIy hair was cut ofl", and
my head shaved, with the exception of a spot on the crown of
about twice the diameter of a crown piece. My face was painted

OLD AND NKW MACKINAC.

with three or four dilTercnt colors, some parts of it red, and
others hhick. A shh't was provided for me, painted witli ver-
miUion mixed v/itli grease. A large collar of wampnnj was
put round my neck, and another suspended on my breast.
Both my arms were decorated with large bands of silver above
the elbow, besides several smaller ones on tlie wrists ; and my
legs were covered with mlfasses, a kind of hose, matie, as is
the favorite fashion, of scarlet cloth. Over all I was to wear a
scarlet mantle or blanket, and on my head a large bunch of
feathers. I parted, not vvdthout some regret, with the long liair
which was nattn"al to it, and which I fancied to be ornamental ;
but the ladies of the family and of the village irj general ap-
peared to think my person improved, and now condescended
to caU me handsome, even among Indians.

" Protected in a great measure l)v tliis disguise, I felt my-
self more at liberty than before, and the season being arrived in
which my clerks from the interior were to be expected, and
some part of my property, as I had a right to hope, recovered, I
begged the favor of Wawatani that lie would enal:)le me to pay
a short visit to Michilimackinac. He did not fail to couiply,
and I succeeded in finding my clerks ; but either through the
disturbed state of the country, as tii . represented to be the
case, or through their misconduct, as I had reason U> think, I
obtained nothing; ant! nothing, or almost nothing, I now be-
gan to think would be all that I should need during the rest of
my life. To tish and to hunt, to collect a few skins and ex-
change them for necess:rries, was all that I seemed destined to
do and to acquire for the future.

" 1 returned to the Indian village, where at this time much
j'carcity of food prevailed. \Wc were often for twenty-four
hours without eating, and when in the morning we had no
victuals for Lhc day before us. the custom was to black our
faces with grease and charcoal, and exhibit tln-ough resignation
a temper as cheerful as if in the midst of plenty. A repetition
of the evil, however, soon induced us to leave the island in
seurcli of food, and accordingly we departed for the Bay of

for
on

kiu(

nor

vhc

ESCAPji or nK\n\ and others.

Boutchitao

ny, distnnl cioht leagues, and where we found

plenty

of wild fowl and iish."

Leaviu'r the bay iusl inenlioned, Henry, with his friend
Wawatam and family, came to St. Martin's Island, uliere, in
the enjoymer.'c of an excellent and plentiful supply of food, they
remained until the twenty-sixth of August. "At this time,"
continues the narratoi', "'the autunm being at hand, and a sure
prospect of increased security from hostile Indians allbrded,
Wawatam proposed going to his intended wintering-ground.
The removal was a subject of the greatest joy to myself., on ac-
count of the frequent Insults to whicli I had still to submit from
the Indians of our band or village., r.Vid to escape from which I
would freely have gone almost anywhere. At jur wintering-
ground we were to be alone, fov the Indian families in the
countries of wbich I write separate in the winter season fn* the
convenience as well of 3ub.«istcnce as of the cliase. and re-asso-
ciate in the spring and summer.

'• In preparation, our first business was to sail for ?viichili-
mackinac, where, being arrived, we procured from a Canadian
trader, on credit, some tritiing articles, together with ammuni-
tion and (wo bushels of maize. This done, we steered directly
for Like MichigJin. At L'^Vrbre Croche ^ve stopped one day,
on a visit to the Ottawas, where all the people, and particularly
O'kl'no'chu'ma'ki, the chief — tlie same who took mc from the
Chippewas — behaved with great civility and kindness. The
chief presented me with a bag of maixe."

i'rom L'.Vri)re Croche they proceeded directly to the
mouth of the river Au\ Sables, which, Henry tells us, is "on
the souihern side of the lake," and as they huntec' along their
wav. Henry enjoyed a persona) freedom of which lie had long
been deprived, atid became as expert in the Indian pursuits as
the Indians themselves. The winter was spent in the cliase.
" By degrees," says Henry, " I became familiarized with this
kind of life, and had it not been for the idea of which I could
not divest my mind, lliat I was living among savages, and for
the whispers of a lingering lH)pe that I should one day be re-

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC:.

leased from it — or if I could have forgotten that I had ever been
otherwise than as I then was — I could have enjoyed as much
happiness in this as in any other situation."

At the approach of spring the hunters began their prepara-
tions for returning to Alichilimackimic, but their faces were no
sooner turned towards the scene of the massixcre than all began
to fear an attack from the English. Tlie cause of this fear^
Henry tells us, was the constant dreams of the more aged wo-
men to that effect. Henry labored, but in vain, to allay their
fears. On the 25th day of April the little party that had col-
lected upon the beach embarked.

Henry writes : " At La Grande Traverse we met a large
party of Indians, who appeared to labor, like ourselves, under
considerable alarm, and who dared proceed no further lest they
should be destroyed by the English. Frequent councils of the
united bands were held, and interrogations were continually
put to myself as to whether or not I knew of any design to at-
tack them. I found that they believed it possible for me to
have a foreknowledge of events, and to be informed by dreams
of all things doing at a distance.

" Protestations of my ignorance were received with but
little satisfaction, and incun'ed the suspicion of a design to con-
ceal my knowledge. On this account therefore, ch: because I
saw them tormented with fears which had nothing but imagi-
nation to rest upon, I told them at length that I knew tiiere was
no enemy to insult them, and that they might proceed toMichili-
mackin'ac without danger from the English. I further, and
with more confidence, declared that if ever my countrymen re-
turned to Michilimackinac, I would recommend them to their
favor, on account of the good treatment which I had received
from them. Thus encouraged they embarked at an early hour
the next morning. In crossing the ba^' we experienced a storm
of thunder and lightning.

" Our port was the village of L';\.rbrc Croche, which we
reached in safety, and where we staid till the following day. At
this village we found several persons who had lately been at

ESCAPE OF HENRY A>;D OTHERS.

Michilimackinac, and from them we had tiie satisfaction of
learning that all was quiet there. The remainder of our voy-
age was thercfuru performed with confidence.

" In the evening of the twenty-seventh we landed at the
fort, which now contained only two French traders. The In-
dians who had arrived liefore us were very few in number, and
by all who were of our party I was very kindly used. I had
the entire freedom both of the fort and camp.

" Wawatara and myself settled our stock and paid our
debts, and this done, I found that my share of what was left
consisted in a hundred beaver skins, sixty raccoon skins, and six
otter, of the total value of about one hundred and sixty dollars.
With these earnings of my winter's t<nl I proposed to purchase
clothes, of which I w.i.s much in need, having bsen six months
without a shirt, but on inquiring into the price;, of goods I
found that all my funds would not go far. I was able, how-
ever, to bu}' two shirts, at ten pounds of beaver each ; a pair
of leggings^ or pantaloons, of scarlet cloth, which, with the
ribbon to garnish ^hcva. fashionably ^ cost me fifteen pounds, of
beaver ; a blanket, at twenty pounds of beaver, and some other
articles at proportionable rates. In this manner my wealth
was soon reduced, but not before I had laid in a good stock of
ammunition and tobacco. To the use of the latter I had be-
come much attached through the winter. It was my principal
recreation after returning from the chase, for my companions
in the lodge were unaccustomed to pass their time in conversa-
tion. Among the Indians the topics of conve«ation are but
few, and limited for the most part to the transactions of the day,
the number of animals which the\ fetve killed, and of those
which have escaped their pursuit, and other incidents of the
chuse. Indeed, the causes of taciturnity among the Indians
may be easily understood if we consider how many occasions
of speech which present themselves to us are utterly unknown
to thcn\ — tlie records of histor}', the pursuits of science, the
disquisitions of philubuphy, the systems of politics, the business

OLD AXD NEW MACKINAC.

and tlic amusements of the day, and the transactions of the four
corners of the world.

" Eij^ht days had passed in tranquility, when there arrivcc!
a band of Indians from tlic Bay of Saguenaum. Tlic}- had as-
sisted at the siege of Detroit, and came to muster as many re-
cruits for that service as they could. For my own part, I was
soon informed that, as I was the only Englishman in the place,
they proposed to kill me in order to give their friends a mess
of English broth, to raise their courage.

" This intelligence was not of the most agreeable kind,
and in consequence of receiving it I requested my friend to carry
me to the Sault de Sainte Marie, at wliich place I knew the
Indians to be peaceably inclined, and that M. Cadotte enjoyed
a powerful influence over their conduct. They considered M.
Cadotte as their chief, and he was not only my friend, but a
friend to the Englisli. It was by him that the Chippewas of
Lake Superior were prevented from joining Pontiac.

" Wawatam was not slow to exert himself for my preser-
vation, but, leaving Michilimackinac in the night, transported
myself and all his lodge to Point St. Ignace, on the opposite
side of the strait. Here we remained till daylight, and then
went into the Bay of Boutchitaony, in which we spent three
days in fishing and hunting, and where we found plenty of
wild fowl. Leaving the bay we made for the Isle aux Ou-
tardes, where we were obliged to put in on account of the
wind's coming ahead. We proposed sailing for the Sault the

next mornmg.

" But when the morning came Wawatam's wife com-
plained that she was sick, adding that she had had bad dreams,
and knew that if we went to the Sault we should all be de-
stroyed. To have argued at this time against the infallibility of
dreams would have been extremely unadvisable, since I should
have appeared to be guilty, not only of an odious want of faith,
but also of a still more odious want of sensibility to the possible
calamities of a fiiniily which had done so much for the allevia-
tion of mine. I was silent, but the disappointment seemed to

ESC/ E OF IIEXRY AND OTHERS.

seal my fate. No prospect opened to console me. To return
to Micliilimackinac could only ensure my destruction, anil to
remain at tlic island was to brave almost equal danger, since
it lay in the direct route between the fort and the Missisaki,
along which the Indians from Detroit were hourly expected to
pass on the business of their mission. I doubted not but, tak-
ing advantage of the solitary situation of the famih', they would
carry into execution their design of killing mc.

" Unable therefore to take any part in the direction of our
course, but a prey at the same time to the most anxious thoughts
as to my own condition, I passed all the day on the highest part
to which I could climb of a tall tree, and whence the lake on
both sides of the island lay open to my view. Here I might
hope to learn at the earliest possible moment the approach of
canoes, and by this means be warned in time to conceal myself.

" On the second morning I returned, as soon as it was
light, to my watch-tower, on which I had not been long before
I discovered a sail, coming from Micliilimackinac. The sail
was a white one, and much larger than those usually employed
by the northern Indians. I therefore indulged a hope that it
might be a Canadian canoe on its voyage to Montreal, and that
I might be able to prev^ail upon the crew to take me with them,
and thus release me from all my troubles.

" My hopes continued to gain strength, for I soon per-
suaded myself that the manner in which the j^addlcs were used
on board the canoe was Canadian, and not Indian. My spirits
were elated, but disappointment had become so usual with me
that I could not suffer myself to look to the event with any
strength of confidence. Enough, however, appeared at length
to demonstrate itself to induce mc to descend the tree and re-
pair to the lodge with my tidings and schemes of liberty. The
family congratidated mc on the approach of so fair an oppor-
tunity of escape, and niy fatlicr and brother (for he was alter-
nately each of these) lit his pipe and pi'escnted it to me, say-
ingf ' jSIy son, this may be the last time that ever you and I
shall smoke out of the same pipe ! I am sorry to part with

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

you. You know the aUcctiou which I have always borne you,
and the dangers to which I have exposed myself and family to
preserve you from your enemies, and I am happy to find that
my ell'orts promise not to have been in vain.' At this time a
boy came into the lodge, intbrming us that the canoe had come
from Micliilimackinac, and was boiuul to the Sault de Saintc
Marie. It was manned by three Canadians, and was carrying
home Madame Cadotte, wife of M. Cadotte, already mentioned.

"My hopes of going to Montreal being now dissipated, I
resolved on accompanying Madame Cadotte, with her permis-
sion, to the Sault. On communicating my wishes to Madame
Cadotte, she cheerfully acceded to them. Madame Cadotte, as
I have already mentioned, was an Indian woman of the Chip-
pewa nation, and she was very generally respected.

" My departure fixed upon, I returned to the lodge, where
I packed up my wardroWe, consisting of my two shirts, pair of
Icffgifigs^ and blanket. Besides these I took a gun and ammu-
nition, presenting what remained further to my host. I also
returned the silver arm-bands, with which the family had
decorated me the year before.

" We now exchanged farewells, with an emotion entirely
reciprocal. I did not quit the lodge without the most grateful
sense of the many acts of goodness which I had experienced in
it, nor without the sincerest respect for the virtues which I had
witnessed among its members. All the family accompanied
me to the beach, and the canoe had no sooner put ofi'than Wa-
watam commenced an address to the Ki'chi Ma'ni'to, beseech-
ing him to take care of me, his brother, till we should next
meet. This, he had told me, would not be long, as he intend-
ed to return to Micliilimackinac for a short time only, and then
would follow me to the Sault. We had proceeded to too great
a distance to allow of our hearing his voice, before Wawatam
had ceased to oflicr up his prayers.

" Being now no longer in the society of Indians, I laid
aside the dress putting on that of a Canadian — a molton or

ESCAPE OF HENRY AND OTHERS.

lilaiikct coat over my shirt, and a haiulkcrchicf about my head,
hats being very little worn in this country.

" At daybreak on the second morning of our voyage we
embarked, and presently perceived several canoes behind us.
As they approached we ascertained them to be the tleet bound
for the Missisaki, of which I had been so long in dread. It
amounted to twenty sail. On coming up with us and sur-
rounding our canoe, and amid general inquiries concerning the
news, an Indian challenged me for an Englishman, and his
companions sujjported him by declaring that I looked very like
one ; but I alVected not to understand any of the questions which
they asked me, and Madame Cadotte assured them that I was
a Canadian whom she had brought on his first voyage from
Montreal.

" The following day saw us safely landed at the Sault,
where I experienced a generous welcome from M. Cadotte.
There were thirty warriors at this place, restrained from join-
ing in the war only by M. Cadotte's influence. Here for five
days I was once more in the possession of tranquility, but on
sixth a young Indian came into M. Cadotte's saying that a ca-
noe full of warriors had just arrived from Michilimackinac ;
that they had inquired for me, and that he believed their inten-
tions to be bad. Nearly at the same time a message came from
the good chief of the village, desiring me to conceal myself un-
til he should discover the views and temper of the strangers.
A garret was a second time my place of refuge, and it was not
long before the Indians came to M. Cadotte's. My friend im-
mediately informed Mut'chi'ki'wish, their chief, who was re-
lated to his wife, of the design imputed to them of mischief
against myself. iSIutchikiwish frankly acknowledged that they
had had such a design, but added that, if displeasing to M. Ca-
dotte, it should be abandoned. He then further stated that
their enand was to raise a party of v/arriors to return with
them to Detroit, and that it had been their intention to take me
with them.

" In regard to the principal of the two objects thus dis-

■j^^'^^Llh'

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

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I.I

1.25

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ill 112.5

|3-6 lllll^^

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Sciences
Corporation

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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. US80

(716) 872-4503

'^ 4.

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

closed, M. Cadottc proceeded to assemble all the chiefs and
warriors of the village, and these, after deliberating for some
time among themselves, sent for the strangers, to whom both
M. Cadotte and the chief of the village addressed a speech.
In these speeches, after recurring to the designs confessed to
have been entertained against myself, who was now declared
to be under the immediate protection of all the chiefs, by whom
any insult I might sustain would be avenged, the ambassadors
were peremptorily told that they might go back as they came,
none of the young men of this village being foolish enough to
join them.

" A moment after a report was brought that a canoe had
just arrived from Ni-igara. As this was a place from which
every one was anxious to hear news, a message was sent to
these fresh strangers, requesting Uiem to come to the council.
They came accordingly, and being seated, a long silence en-
sued. At length one of them, taking up a belt of wampum,
addressed himself thus to the assembly : ' My friends and broth-
ers, I am come v/ith this belt from our great father. Sir William
Johnson. lie desired me to come to you, as his ambassador,
and tell you that he is making a great feast at Fort Niagara ;
that his kettles are all ready and his fires lit. He invites you
to partake of the feast in common with your friends the Six
Nations, which have all made peace with the English. He
advises you to seize this opportunity of doing the same, as you
cannot otherwise fail of being destroyed, for the English are on
their march with a great army, which will be joined by difler-
ent nations of Indians. In a word, before the fall of the leaf
they will be at Michilimackinac, and the Six Nations with
them.'

* " The tenor of this speech greatly alarmed the Indians of

the Sault, who, after a very short consultation, agreed to send
twenty deputies to Sir William Johnson, at Niagara. Tliis
was a project highly interesting to me, since it ollbred me the
means of leaving the country. I intimated this to the chief of

i^iiiliitik

ESCAPE OF HENRY AND OTHERS.

the village, and received his promise that I should accompany
the deputation.

" Very little time was proposed to be lost in setting for-
ward on the voyage ; but the occasion was of too much mag-
nitude not to call for more than humari knowledge and
discretion ; and preparations were accordingly made for sol-
emnly invoking and consulting the Great Turtle. In this,
the first thing to be done was the building of a large house or
wigwam, within which was placed a species of tent, for the
use of the priest, and reception of the spirit. The tent was
formed of moose-skins, hung over a frame-work of wood.
Five poles, or rather pillars, of five diflerent species of timber,
about ten feet in height, and eight inches in diameter, were set
in a circle of about four feet in diameter. The holes made to
receive them were about two feet deep ; and the pillars being
set, the holes were filled up again with the earth which had
been dug out. At top the pillars were bound together by a
circular hoop, or girder. Over the whole of this edifice wei"e
spread the moose-skins, covering it at top and round the sides,
and made fast with tliongs of the same ; except that on one
side a part was left unfastened, to admit of the entrance of the
priest.

" The ceremonies did not commence but with the approach
of night. To give light within the house, several fires were
kindled round the tent. Nearly the whole village assembled
in the house, and myself among the rest. It was not long
before the priest appeared, almost in a state of nakedness. As
he approached the tent the skins were lifted up as much as was
necessary to allow of his creeping under them, on his hands
and knees. His head was scarcely within side, when the edi-
fice, massy as it has been described, began to shake ; and the
skins were no sooner let fall, than the sounds of numerous
voices were heard beneath them ; some yelling ; some barking
as dogs ; some howling like wolves ; and in this horrible con-
cert were mingled screams and sobs, as of despair, anguish,
and the sharpest pain. Articulate speech was also uttered, as

ill

1?'

!>;,

> 1

II; '

OLD AND XEW MACKINAC.

if from human lips, but in a tongue unknown to any of the
audience.

" After some time, these confused and frightful noises were
succeeded by a perfect silence ; and now a voice, not heard
before, seemed to manifest the arrival of a new character in
the tent. This was a low and feeble voice, resembling the cry
of a young puppy. The sound was no sooner distinguished,
than .ill the Indians clapped their hands for joy, exclaiming
that this was the Chief Spirit — the Turtle — the spirit that
never lied ! Other voices, which they had discriminated from
time to time, they had previously hissed, as recognizing them
to belong to evil and lying spirits, which deceive mankind.
New sounds came from the tent. During the space of half an
hour a succession of songs were heard, in which a diversity of
voices met tlie ear. From his first entrance, till these songs
were finished, we heard nothing in the proper voice of the
priest ; but now he addressed the multitude, declaring the
presence of the Great Turtle, and the spirit's readiness to
answer such questions as should be proposed.

" The questions were to come from the chief of the vil-
lage, who was silent, however, till after he had put a large
quantity of tobacco into the tent, introducing it at the aperture.
This was a sacrifice, oftered to the spirit ; for spirits are sup-
posed by the Indians to be as fond of tobacco as themselves.
The tobacco accepted, he desired the priest to inquire, —
Whether or not the English were preparing to make war upon
the Indians? and, whether or not there were at Fort Niagara
a large number of English troops? These questions having
been put by the priest, the tent instantly shook ; and for some
seconds after, it continued to rock so violently that I expected
to see it levelled with the ground. All this was a prelude, as
I supposed, to the answers to be given ; but a terrific cry
announced, with sufficient intelligibility, the departure of the
Turtle.

" A quarter of an hour elapsed in silence, and I waited
impatiently to discover what was to be the next incident in

kiitiiiui

ESCAPE OF HENRY AND OTHERS.

this* scene of imposture. It consisted in the return of the
spirit, whose voice was again heard, and who now deHvered a
continued speech. The huigiiage of the Great Turtle, Hke
that which we had heard before, was wi^olly unintelHgible to
every ear, that of the priest excepted ; and it was, therefore,
not till the latter gave us an interpretation, which did not com-
mence before the spirit had finished, that we leai'ned tflfe pur-
port of this extraordinary communication.

" The spirit, as we were now informed by the i^ricst, had,
during his short absence, crossed Lake Huron, and even pro-
ceeded as far as Fort Niagara, wliich is at the head of Lake
Ontario, and thence to Montreal. At Fort Niagara he had
seen no great number of soldiers ; but, on descending the St.
Lawrence as low as Montreal, he had foinul the river covered
with boats, and the boats filled with soldiers, in number like
the leaves of the trees. lie had met them on their way up the
river, coming to make war upon the Indians.

" The chief had a third question to propose, and the spirit,
without a fresh journey to Fort Niagara, was able to give it an
instant and most favorable answer. ' If,' said the chief, ' the
Indians visit Sir William Johnson, will they be received as
friends?'

" ' Sir William Johnson,' said tfic spirit, (and after the
spirit, the priest,) ' Sir \Villiam Johnson will fill their canoes
with presents : with blankets, kettles, guns, gunpowder and
shot, and large barrels of rum, such as the stoutest of the
Indians will not be able to lift ; and every man will return in
safety to his family.' At this the transport was universal, and,
amid the clapping of hands, a hundred voices exclaimed. 'I
w ill go too ! I will go too ! '

" The questions of public interest being resolved, individ-
uals were now permitted to seize the opportunity of inquiring
into the condition of their absent friends, and the fate of such
as were sick. I observed that the answers given to these ques-
tions allowed of much latitude of interpretation.

" The Great Turtle continued to be consulted till near

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

i;i!

»'f

midnight, when all the crowd dispersed to their rcspeclive
lodges.

" I was on the watch, through the scjne I have described,
to detect the jjarticular contrivances by which the fraud was
carried on ; but, such was the skill displayed in the perform-
ance, or such my deficiency of penetration, that I made no
discovWics, but came away, as I went, with no more than those
general surmises which will naturally be entertained by every
reader."

Henry accompanied the Indian deputation, and reached
Fort Niagara in safety, where he was received in the most
cordial manner by Sir William Johnson. Thus he escaped
tlie suficrings and dangers which the capture of Michilimack-
inac had brought upon him.

The reader will doubtless be interested to know the fate of
Minavavana, or the Grand Sautor, as he was otherwise called,
who led the Ojibwas at the massacre of Michilimackinac.
The following notice of this chief is from the pen of J. Car-
ver, Esq., an English gentleman who visited Michilimackinac
in the year 1766, three years after the massacre :

" The first I accosted were Chii^pevvas, inhabiting near
the Ottowan lakes ; who received mc with great cordiality,
and shook me by the ha«d in token of friendship. At some
little distance behind these, stood a chief, remarkably tall and
well made, but of so stern an aspect that the most undaunted
person could not behold him without feeling some degree of
terror. He seemed to have passed the meridian of life, and
by the mode in which he was painted and tatooed, 1 discov-
ered that he was of high rank. However, I approached him
in a courteous manner, and expected to have met with the
same reception I had done from the others ; but to my great
surprise, he withheld his hand, and looking fiercely at me,
said in the Chippewa tongue, ' Caurin nishishin saganosh,'
that is, ' The English are no good.' As he had his tomahawk
in his hand, I expected that .this laconic sentence would have
been followed by a blow ; to prevent which I drew a pistol

ESCAPE OF IIEXRY AND OTHERS.

from my belt, and holding it in a careless position, passed close
by him, to let him see I was not afraid of him.

" I learned soon after, from the other Indians, that this was
a chief called by the French the Grand Sautor, or the Great
Chippewa Chief, for they denominate the Chippewas, Sautors.
They likewise told me that he had been always a steady friend
to that people, and when they delivered up Michilimackinac to
the English on their evacuation of Canada, the Grand Sautor
had sworn that he would ever remain the avowed enemy of its
new possessors, as the territories on which the fort is built
belonged to him.

*' Since I came to England I have been informed that the
Grand Sautor, having rendered himself more and more dis-
gustful to the English by his inveterate enmity towards them,
was at length stabbed in his tent, as he encamped near Michili-
mackinac, by a trader."

For a little more than a year after the massacre, !Mackinac
was only occupied by the courcurs de bois and such Indian
bands as chose to make it a temporary residence ; but alter the
treaty with the Indians, Captain Howard, with a sufficiently
large detachment of troojis, \vas sent to take possession of it,
and " once more the cross of St. George was a rallying jDoint
and the protection of the adventurous traders.

" In 1779 a party of British officers passed over from the
point of tlie peninsula to the island of Michilimackinac, to
reconnoitcr, with the intention of removing the fort thither.
After selecting a location, they asked permission of the Indians
to occupy it. Some time elapsed before their consent could be
obtained ; consequently the removal was not eflected until the
ensuing summer. A government house and a few other build-
ings were erected, on the site of the present village, and the
troops took possession on the 15th of Jul}', 17S0.

" The removal of the inhabitants from the main-land to
the island was gradual, and the fort, which was built on the
site of tlie present one, was not completed until 17S3."

•M

- =*

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

CHAPTER VI.

i*i

WAR OF l8l2.

When the war of 1812 broke out, the territory of Michigan
was in a defenseless condition. The military posts about the
lakes were but poorly fortified, and manned with insufficient
garrisons. They were situated in the midst of almost impene-
trable forests, filled with hostile savages, while at no great
distance was a large body of British subjects who could easily
be brought against them.

The garrison of Fort Mackinac, at the time, consisted of
only fifty-seven effective men, under the command of Lieuten-
ant Hanks. The fort itself was mainly the same as now.
The walls which had been built by the British in i/So, and
which are t;till standing, were surmounted by a palisade of
cedar pickets about ten feet high, intended as a defense against
the Indians. To make it impossible to scale this palisade, each
picket was protected at the top by iron prongs, made sharp,
and by hooks on the outside. Through it were numerous port-
holes, through which a leaden shower of death might be made
to pour upon any foe that should dare to come in reach. Two
or three guns of small calibre were planted at convenient places
upon the walls, and one small piece in each of the three block-
houses which are yet standing. The town, at the time, was
much smaller than now. Except the old distillery which stood
upon the beach some little distance beyond the present western
limits of Shanty Town, no building had been erected west of
the house new occupied by Mr. Ambrose Davenport, and none
east of the fort garden except one small shanty which stood
near the present site of the old Mission Church. With one

i^p^T"

THE WAR OF 1812.

u'M

exception, the houses were all one story buildings, built of
cedar and roofed with cedar bark. Tiiis one house which
formed the excepti- 1 was then occupied by a Dr. Mitchell,
and is still standing. The several traders then on the island
hud each what might be called a store, and there was one
dock, so called, which consisted of two cribs filled with stone,
and connected with each other and with the beach by two logs
placed side by side.

In 1795, when the British gave up Fort Mackinac to the
Americans, they repaired to the island of St. Joseph, which is
situated in St. Mary's River, about twenty miles above Detour,
and there constructed a fort. This fort was garrisoned, at the
commencement of the war, by a small company of British
regulars, under command of Captain Roberts.

When war was declared, there was an unpardonable neg-
ligence on the part of the War Department in not furnishing
the western frontiers with information of that important event.
Owing to this negligence, the English at Detroit were in pos-
session of this important news before it reached the American
side, and the English commander, taking advantage of that
fact, hastened to transmit the intelligence to all his out-posts
and take such steps as would best secin-e the interests of the
British crown. Among his expedients was a plan for an im-
mediate attack on Fort Mackinac. With almost incredible
dispatch, a messenger was sent to St. Joseph, bearing a letter
to Captain Roberts, which, strange to say, was franked by
the Secretary of the Amcricatt Treasury^ containing the
information of the declaration of war, and also the suggestion
of an immediate attack on this fort as the best means of
defending his own.

Roberts was but poorly prepared for an enterprise of such
moment, yet, entering warmly into the views of his superior
officer, and being cordially supported by the agents of the two
western Fur Companies, he was not long in deciding ui^on his
course. Messengers were hastily dispatched to the Ottawas
and Chippewas, two neighboring Indian tribes, who, eager for

lOO

OLD AND NKW MACKIXAC.

\*\ ■ ii'

strife, soon flocked to his standard in larjje numbers. Tlie
French, jealous of the Americans, still farther augmented his
strength, and, in the short space of eight days, he had a force,
naval and military, of more than a thousand, at his command.
On the i6th day of July he embarked.

Let us now turn our attention to Fort Mackinac. The
first intimation which the little garrison and town received that
all was not right, was from the conduct of the Indians. In
obedience to the summons of Captain Roberts, they were going
toward the Sault in large numbers. This caused some uneasi-
ness, and Lieutenant Hanks, with the citizens of the place,
made every eflbrt to learn from them the object of their jour-
ney. Several councils were called, but in vain. See'gee'noe,
chief of the Ottawas, was questioned closely, but not a word
could be elicited from him which in any way explained their
conduct. This caused the cloud of uncertainty to lower, and
miilc the anxiety of the citizens more and more painful.
Failing to get any satisfaction from the Indians, they next
called a public meeting of the citizens, to consult upon the
mattc" and it was resolved to make yet another ellbrt to un-
ravel the myster3'.

Mr. Michael Dousman, an American fur trader, had some
time before sent two of his agents, William Aikins and John
Drew, into the Lake Superior region to trade with the Indians
for furs. He hat! heard of their return to the Sault, but knew
of no reason why they had not returned to headquarters on
this island. He therefore, on the i6th of July, under pretence
of ascertaining the reason for the delay, but really to learn
what it was that called so many of the Indians in that direc-
tion, set out for the .Sault, starting about noon. When four or
five miles this side of Detour, he learned the whole truth, for,
meeting Captain Roberts' expedition, he was taken prisoner,
barely escaping with his life.

When night had let her sable curtain fall over the wide
expanse of water and forest, and the expedition was nearing
the island, it was proposed by Captain Roberts to send one

THE WAR OF l8l3.

lOI

Oliver, a British trader, to the people of the town, to inform
them of his approach and conduct them to a place of safety.
Mr. Dousman now urj^ed upon Captain Roberts that the peo-
ple would perhaps be slow to believe such a report from a
stranger, and, anxious for the safety of his friends, asked leave
to return on that mission himself. This he was permitted to
do, having first taken oath that he would not f^ive information
of their approach to the garrison. Separating himself from
his captors, he returned to the harbor in ftont of the town,
and, an hour before day, proceeded to the house of Mr. Arr>-
brose R. Davenport, and rapped loudly at the door. Mr.
Davenport, on learning who was at the door, exclaimed,
*' What, Dousman, have you come back! " and rising hastily,
came out. " Yes," replied Dousman, " I have come back, and
I have important news for you." After extorting from him a
promise of secresy, he proceeded to inform him that zuar had
been declared^ and that the British had come to take the fort,
being already upon the island. Judge of the surprise, we may
say indignation, of the citizens, as, one by one, they received
the information. We can well imagine that there was hurry-
ing to and fro through the streets of Mackinac on that eventful
morning. Fifty-eight years have run their courses and nearly
two generations of the human family have passed away since
that time, anil yet \vc can see the anxious faces that looked out
from every door and window as the unwelcome news was
whispered in the ears of startled sleepers. " What can it
mean ! " is eagerly and simultaneously asked by every two that
meet, but not a man in Mackinac can imravel the mystery.
Word is circulated that if the citizens will flee to the distillery
they shall be safe. Like wild-fire the message goes from
mouth to mouth, until every man, woman and child is on the
way to the place designated.

Meanwhile, Captain Roberts proceeded to the north-west
side of the island, landed his forces, and began his march
toward the fort. At the farm near the landing they took pos-
session of a number of cattle belonging to Michael Dousman,

I02

OLD AND NEW MACKINACV

who then owned the farm, and before the dawn of day readied
the hollow which may be seen a short distance to the rear of
the fort. Upon a little ridge which separates this hollow from
the parade ground (and only a few paces from it) they planted
a gun in the road, and anxiously awaited the approacli o'' day.

Inside the fort, all was the most perfect quiet, not a sus-
picion that the war bugle had been blown found a place in a
single bosom, though the enemy's gun was even then pointing
over them at the distance of but a few rods. The dawn
appeared, and the imsuspecting garrison began to move. As
Lieutenant Hanks looked out from his quarters, (the same as
are now occupied by the commanding officer) he was struck
with the unusual quiet that prevailed in the tovvn below.
What could it mean? No smoke went curlinj; gracefully up-
ward to the sky as usual, and no hurried footsteps were in the
streets. Strange ! Something evidently was wrong, and sum-
moning Lieutenant Darrow, he ordered him vvith two men to
go dov/n and ascertain what it might be. Accordingly this
officer descended to the town, to search for the trouble. lie
proceeded on his way until he, too, had arrived at the distillery,
M'hen the truth flashed upon him. Under a strong guard
which had been sent by Captain Roberts, the inhabitants of the
place were awaiting the decision that would again make them
subjects of the British crown. Darrow entered the distillery
and shook hands with its inmates, but when he proposed to
return to the fort, the guards proposed to make him prisoner.
Taking a pistol in each hand, and demanding permission to
retire, he faced the guard, and, followed by his men, walked
backwards till beyond their reach, when he returned v»'ithout
molestation to the fort.

But Lieutenant Hanks had no need of waiting for the
return of Darrow to know the truth, for the sharp report of a
British gun soon told him all, and more than all, that he wished
to know ; and before the distant forests had ceased to reecho
the sound, or the smoke of that unwelcome sunrise gun was
lost in the azure vault of heaven, a British officer, with flag in

THE WAR OF I Si 2,

103

hand, appeared and demanded a surrender, emphasi/lng the
demand hy a statement of the overwhehnlng niuiibers of the
nivading army and a threat of indiscriminate shuighter by the
savages at the first motion toward resistance.

When the inhabitants of the town had been gnJ, red
under guard at the distillery, Messrs. Davenport, Abbot, Ur).^t-
wick. Stone, and John Dousman, who were among the Icidnig
citizens, were advised to go at once to the landing . nd give
themselves uj^- i / Colonel Dickson, who had been left at tiiat
point b^' Captain Roberts for that purpose. This they ccoid-
ingly (lid. They were then urged by Colonel Dickson to
pctititjn Lieutenant Hanks to surrender the fort at once, stating
that the Indians would be entirely unmanageable in case there
should be any resistance. This advice they also followed.

The position in which Hanks was now placed can be
easily imagined. Not having received intelligence of the
declaration of war, he was wholly olV his guard, and unpre-
pared to defend himself. The British troops, though less in
number than the garrison under his command, had a position
which commanded the fort, and were sujiported by nearly a
thousand Indian warriors, who had been instructed to show no
mercy in case that any resistance was made. Such being the
case. Lieutenant Hanks surrendered the fort without even the
ceremony of a refusal, and his men were paroled and sent to
Detroit.

Some blame has been attached to the conduct of Lieuten-
ant Hanks in this transaction. It has been claimed that, to
say the least, the surrender was precipitate ; that some experi-
ment of the enemy's power to take the fort was due to the
honor of the American flag, and ought to have been made, and
that the result would probably have shown " that an invading
corps, composed of thirty regulars and a rabble of engages
and savages, witFi two old rusty guns of small calibre, was
much less formidable than had been imagined." This seems
very plausible, especially to those who are unacquainted with
the savage barbarities of Indian ^varfare, but when it is con-

m
^

104

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

sidcrcd that the first act of resistance would probably have
been the signal for the uplifting of a thousand tomahawks and
the brandishing of a thousand scalping-knivcs, wc hesitate to
condemn the conduct of Lieutenant Hanks in thus promptly
making the surrender.

Some one was doubtless to blame. It was an unpardon-
able oversight that information of the existence of war was not
ir mediately transmitted to the fort, and thorough preparation
made for its defense. It was not, perhaps, the most flattering
indication of good generalship that Lieutenant Hanks should
permit himself to be thus surprised. He was on tlie extreme
frontier, surrounded by Indian nations whom he knew to be
imfriendly and treacherous, and but a few miles distant fiom
the inveterate e lemies of the American flag, whose wounded
pride made them as unscrupulous as the savages themselves,
and he should not have allowed himself to be thus surprised.
Under these unfavorable circumstances, his vigilance ouglit to
have saved him from the humiliating necessity of surremier i
but after the English had planted their guns almost beneath the
shadow of the fort, and the assembled savages, with ijiiple-
ments of death in their hands, stood ready and eager, if occa-
sion should ofter, to repeat the bloody scenes of 1763 at Old
Mackinac, was it not wise in him to make a virtue of necessity
and permit the English to take peaceable possession of the
fort and the island.? We leave the reader to judge for him-
self in the premises.

When the fort had been surrendered, the next step was to
assemble the citizens at the government house, and administer
to them the oath of allegiance to the British crown. Most of
them willingly took this oath, but Messrs. Davenport, Bost-
wick, Stone, Abbot, and the Dousman brothers refused to turn
traitors to the country of their choice. With the exception of
Michael Dousman, who was permitted to remain neutral, these
men were immedlatel}' sent av/ay with the soldiers, and were
not permitted to return till after the declaration of peace.

The services of Captain Roberts ai.d his men in thus sur-

THE WAR OF l8l2.

105

prising and capturing Fort Mackinac, were highly appreciated
and liberally rewarded by the British government. Prize
money to the amount of ten thousand pounds was divided
among the volunteers and soldiers, and merchandise and arms
distributed to the Indians. Sir William Johnson, Esq., as quoted
in " Old Mackinaw," tells us that, in 1S36, he " examined the
list or pay-roll for this prize-money ; the names of all tliosc who
participated in the taking of Fort Mackinac were there en-
rolled, the money was divided according to rank, and each
person receipted for his individual share."

Having thus easily and cheaply succeeded in wresting
from the American people their most important western mili-
tary position, the English at once set about the work of
strengthening themselves in their new possession. Fearing
that they would not be able to hold what they had so easily
gained, they hastened to construct a fortification on the crown-
ing point of the island, which, in honor of their reigning sove-
reign, they dignified with the title of Fort George. Tlic
remains of this old fort, now called Fort Holmes, may still be
seen, and, from its historical associations, it is a place of much
intei'cst.

io6

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

CHAPTER VII.

WAR OF lSl3, CONCLUDED.

DuKiNG the progress of the war, important changes took
place in the Territory of Michigan. Fort Dearborn, on the
south-western extremity of Lake ^Michigan, was forgotten ahke
by the government and by General Hull, until about the middle
of July, when Captain Ileald, its commander, was ordered to
" dismantle the fort, destroy the surplus arms and ammunition
and withdraw the garrison to Detroit." But in the attempt to
execute this order the displeasure of the Indians was incurred,
and the whole garrison either killed or taken prisoners.
Through the ignorance and cowardice of General Hull, the
whole territory was finally surrendered to the English ; but the
disgraceful act roused such a feeling of indignation in the
\7est, that every man's cheek burned with shame, and ten
thousand men sprang to arms, eager for a sight of the foe.
General Harrison was placed in command, and the tide of
victory soon turned in fa'' or of the American cause.

On the tenth day of September, 1S13, Commod(jre Perr^'^
gained his brilliant victor}' on Lake Erie. This again opened
the way to the territory abandoned by Hull, and Harrison
pressed on to occupy it. The British army retreated before
him anil he entered Detroit. On the fifth of October, a decis-
ive victory was gained over the combined British and Indian
forces, known as the victory of the Thames, in which Tecum-
seh, the great Indian war-chief, was slain. The death of this
chief broke up the alliance of the western tribes and opened
the way for treaties of peace.

So far as the North-west was concerned, the war was now

THE WAR OF lSl2, CONCLUDED.

107

practically closed, yet there was one post of great importance
which had not been wrested from the English. That post was
at the head of the lakes and was virtually the key of the West.
Active steps were soon taken to dispossess the English of this
stronghold and drive them wholly from the American soil.
Immediately after the battle of the Thames, an expedition to
the upper lakes was contemplated, but, unfortunately, it was
prevented by the non-arrival of two schooners — the Chippeway
and Ohio — which had been sent to Cleveland and Bass Islands
for provisions. These vessels had arrived oft' Maiden, but a
storm from the west drove them to the lower end of the lake,
where they were stranded.

Early in the following April, 1S14, this expedition up
Lake Huron was again proposed, tlie object being twofold —
the capture of Fort Mackinac and the destruction of certain
vessels which it was said the English were building in Glou-
cester, or ^latchadash Bay, at the south-east extremity of the
lake. But this plan was also abandoned, partly from a want
of men, partly from the belief that Great Britain did not, as
had been supposed, intend to make an eflbrt to regain the com-
mand of the upper lakes, and partly also from a misunder-
standing between General Harrison and Colonel Croghan, who
commanded at Detroit, on the one liand, and the Secretary of
War, on the other. No sooner, however, had the plan of
April been abandoned that it was revived again, in conse-
quence of new information of the establishment at Ivlatchadash
Bay.

In obedience to orders issued upon the second day of June,
ample preparations were soon made. A squadron was fitted
out, consisting of the United States sloops of W"ii- Niagara and
Lawrence, carrying twenty guns each, with the smidler schoon-
ers Caledonia, Scorpion, Tigress, Detroit, and others, and a
land force of seven hundred and fifty men placed on board.
Commodore Sinclair was the naval commander, and Lieut.
Col. Croghan, a ung man who had gallantly and success-
fully defended Sandusky during the early part of the war, had

io8

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

■i '.1

charge of the militia. Ambrose R. Davenport who, two
years before had been sent away from Mackinac on account of
his loyalty, was chosen to accompany the expedition as quar-
termaster and guide. On the third day of July, when all was
ready and fair winds had proflcred their needed assistance, the
sails were spread and the fleet sped joyfully on its course. Dif-
ficulties encountered on the flats of Lake St. Clair, and the
rapid currei of the river prevented the squadron from reach-
ing Lake Huron till the i3th. High hopes of success and
bright anticipations of glory, cheered the hearts of ofiicers and
men as that fleet of sloops and schooners, the lai"gest that had
ever ventured out upon the b( om of Lake Huron, proudly
shaped its course for Matchadash Bay. Disappointment, how-
ever, awaited them. Every possible eflbrt was made to gain
the desired bay and destroy the imaginary vessels there build-
ing, but in vain. No pilot could be found for that unfre-
quented part of the lake. Islands and sunken rocks were nu-
merous and threatened destruction to the fleet. The lake was
almost continually covered with an impenetrable fog and from
the time already consumed in the fruitless attempt, the provis-
ions of the army were growing short, hence that part of the
work was abandoned and the squadron pushed on toward the
head waters of Huron.

When ncaring the place of destination, a council was
called to decide whether they should proceed at once to the
capture of Fort Mackinac, or first repair to St. Joseph's and
destroy the enemy's works at that point. It was urged that an
immediate attack upon the fort was policy, inasmuch as the
English, having had no intimation of their approach, were
probably without Indian allies, and unprepared to defend the
island ; that, should they first proceed to St. Joseph's, time
would thus be given the English to call in these savage auxili-
aries, and so strengthen themselves that, upon their return, it
would be diflicult, if not impossible, to take the place. But
Sinclair thought that, by leaving a part of tlie squadron to
cruise round the island during his absence, this could be j^re-

THE WAR OF lSl3, CONCLUDED.

109

vented ; hence, in spite of salutary advice from those who
knew the Indian character far better than themselves, it was
agreed between the naval and military commanders to proceed
at once to St. Joseph's. This was a fatal error. As well at-
tempt to prevent insects from flying through the air by holding
up the hand as to think of hindering Indians in their approach
to the island with two or three gun boats anchored in as many
different places about it.

On the 20th of July, they arrived at St. Joseph's and found
the British establishment at that jDoint deserted. This they
burned, but left untouched the town and North-West Com-
pany's storehouses. While windbound at this j^oint, Sinclair
captured the North-West Company's schooner ^Mink, from
Mackinac to St. Mary's with a cargo of flour, and by this
means received intelligence that the SL-hooner Perseverance-
was lying above the Falls of St. Mary, at the foot of Lake
Superior, in waiting to transport the Mink's cargo to Fort Wil-
liams.

Upon the receipt of this information, he dispatched Lieut.
Turner, an active and enterprising officer, to capture her, and,
if possible, get her down the falls. Col. Croghan attached
Major Ho'-'-^s with a party of regulars to cooperate in the ex-
pedition, in which the capture of St. Mary's was included.
The following ofliL ial report of Lieut. Turner to Sinclair will
give the reader a clear idea of what was eflccted by this move-
ment. It is dated U. S. Schooner Scorpion, ofl' Michilimacki-
nac, July 2§th, 1814:

" Sir : I have the honor to inform you, that agreeable to
your orders of the 22d instant, I proceeded on the expedition
to Lake Superior with the launches. I rowed night and day ;
but having a distance of of sixty miles, against a strong cur-
rent, information had reached the enemy at St. Mary's of our
approach about two hours before I arrived at that place, car-
ried by Indians in their light canoes ; several of whom I
chased, and by firing on them and killing some, prevented

all

■ it

■' •'li^

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

their purposes ; some I captured and kept prisoners until my
arrival, otliers escaped. The force under Major Holmes pre-
vented anything like resistance at the fort, the enemy with
their Indians carrying with them all the light valuable articles,
peltry, clothes, &c. I proceeded across the strait of Lake
Superior without a moment's delay ; and on my appearance,
the enemy finding they could not get oft' with the vessel I was
in quest of, set fire to her in several places, scuttled, and left
her. I succeeded in boarding her, and by considerable exer-
tions extinguished the flames, and secured her from sinking. I
then stripped her and prepared for getting her down the falls.
Adverse winds prevented my attempting the falls until the
26th, when every possible eflbrt was used, but I am sorry to
say without success, to get her over in safety. The fall in
three-quarters of a mile is forty-five feet, and the channel very
rocky ; the current runs from twenty to thirty knots, and in
one place there is a perpendicular leap of ten feet between
three rocks ; here she bilged, but was brought down so rap-
idly that we succeeded in running her on shore below the rap-
ids before she filled, and burned her. She was a fiu'-i new
schooner, upwards of 100 tons, called the Perseverance, and
will be a severe loss to the North-West Company. Had I
succeeded in getting her safe, I could have loaded her to ad-
vantage from the enemy's storehouses. I have, however,
brought down four captured boats loaded with Indian goods to
a considerable amount ; the balance contained in four large and
two small storehouses were destroyed, amounting in value
from fifty to one hundred thousand dollars. All private prop-
erty was, according to your orders, respected. The ofiicers
and men under my command 1 ^haved with great activity and
zeal, particularly midshipman Svvartwout.

" I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obe-
dient servant,

" Daniel Turner."

On the return of the launches to St. Joseph's, the squadron
proceeded to Mackinac, where it arrived on the 26th. During

oj
b(
fa

iUiili

THE WAR OF lSl2, CONCLUDED.

Ill

the time that had now ehipsed since tlie first appearance of the
fleet ofl' Ught-housc point, Colonel McDonall, British com-
mander at Mackinac, had not been disinclined to make the
most of the opportunity thus afforded liim for strengthening
his position. Everything had been put in the most perfect
order ; weak points in the fortifications had been strengthened
and such aid as the country afforded had been summoned to
his assistance. Nor was this aid inconsiderable. Under the
unfortunate circumstances attending the attack, more efficient
auxiliaries could not have been found than those very savages
who, during that brief period of delay, had gathered in large
numbers upon the island. Batteries had been planted at vari-
ous places on the heights which best commanded the ap-
proaches to the island. One was situated on the height over-
looking the old distillery, another upon the high jjoint just
west of the fort, and others alon the ridge back of the pres-
ent town from the fort to Robinson's Folly. Thus that officer,
though he had but few men comparatively in command, and
must liave surrendered at once had an immediate attack been
made upon him, was able, with the advantage he had now
gained, to withstand a strong force.

Various feelings agitated the inhabitants of the place as
the squadron neared the island. Some had two years before
parted with friends with whom they now hoped to be rc-united,
while others, who had turned traitor to the American flag,
justly feared the gallows should the approaching expedition
succeed in taking the fort.

Sinclair puslicd up as near to the channel between Round
and Mackinac islands as he dared on account of the batteries
of the enemy, and as close to the eastern extremity of Round
Island as safety would ^ ormit, and anchored. Scarcely, how-
ever, had the anchors reached the bottom when the English
opened a brisk fire upon him, and though he imagined himself
beyond the reach of harm from that source, the balls that were
falling around him and whizzing over his head told him that
he must take a more resjjcctful distance or be destroyed.

'■>}

^{ .

112

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

When the licet had been removed farther awav toward Bois
Bhinc, out of the reach of the enemy's guns, Croghan (Hs-
patchcd an officer with a number of men, and Mr. Davenport
as guide, to Round Island, to reconnoitre the enemy's position
and if possible find some advantageous point at which to erect
a battery. Having landed, the party j^rocceded cautiously
across the island until they came to the point nearest Mackinac
Island, when they began their return. They had selected, as
the most advantageous position for a battery, a point just above
the old lime-kiln seen from this village, which is the crowning
point of the island. No sooner, however, had the movement
been discovered by the British than two or three hundred birch
bark canoes, with several batteaux and other boats, were
launched, and a large party of Indians started in pursuit.
They were not long in gaining the island. The party, suspi-
cious of the apjoroach of the Indians, hastened back toward
their boat ; but the island was just at that time covered with a
plentiful crop of raspberries, and the men, ignorant of the
foe, loitered somewhat, in spite of all that could be said to
them, \\nien they reached their boat, the Indians could be
seen skulking through«the woods after them, and one of their
number, a Frenchman, who had been more heedless than the
rest, had been captured. They now sprang into their boat,
and, we may believe, pushed oft' with as much dispatch as
possible ; Init at a short distance from the beach, scarcely out
of reach of ♦ihc enemy's fire, the boat sti'uck a rock which was
just beneath the surface of the water, and swung around as
tiiough upon a pivot. At this the savages, who were fast
emerging from the thickets and approaching the beach, fired
upon them. The fire was returned, but without execution on
either side. Fearing that the Indians upon arriving at the
point from v/hich they had embarked would be able to reach
them, the officer ordered the soldiers to cease firing and en-
deavor to clear the boat from the rock. This they accom-
plished with a little exertion, and returned without further
mishap to the fleet.

THE WAR OF l8l2, CONCLUDED.

113

Upon learning that one of the party sent out had been
captured by the Indians, Sinchiir ordered a small vessel of one
gun to pass round to the farther side of the island, that if pos-
sible he inight be re-taken. A strong wind was blowing from
the west, against which the little bark must make her way
through the narrow channel that separates Round and Bois
Blanc islands ; hence, the task was difficult. She had scarcely
laid her course when the beach was thronged with savages,
and as often as she came in i-each, in beating through this
channel, these savages poured upon her a shower of musket
balls. This compliment was returned with much spirit, but,
aside from the injury done the vessel, neither party sufiered
loss.

The Indians now began their return to Mackinac with
their victim, chanting the death-dirge. A shot was fired at
them from the Lawrence, (anchored west of Round Island,)
but without effect. As they neared the island, the Indians that
had remained came down to meet them, and the prisoner would
have been killed and feasted upon by his inhuman captors, had
not the British commander sent a strong guard of soldiers and
rescued him, the moment the canoes touched the beach.

During the next day, as tlie Lawrence was cruising about
the island, a thick fog suddenly came down, and enveloped all
in obscurity. When, later in the same day,'this fog lifted, her
commander found that he was within a very short distance of
the south-west part of the island, with scarcely any wind, and
within range of the enemy's guns. A vigorous fire was opened
upon him from the battery near the west end of the fort, luit
with such want of skill that he suffered no damage from it.
He fired a single shot in return, but could not elevate his guns
sufiicicntly to batter the walls of the fort. Unfavorable vveaiher
prevented furtlier operations for several days.

Col. Croghan, having now learned something of the

strength o( the enemy's fortifications, and of the number and

spirit of the savage allies wliich the English had called to their

assistance, despaired of being able to take the place by storm

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

Ll f

as he had hojicd. He therefore (Ictermined to cfleet a hinding
and establish himself on some favorable position, whence he
might annoy the enemy by gradual and slow approaches, imdcr
cover of his artillery, which he knew to be superior to that of
the foe. This he desired to attempt on the south-western side
of the island, not far from that part of the present village
known as Shanty Town. The shore there was unobstructed,
and the ascent to the high table land on which stands the fort
comparatively easy ; there were no coverts near, from which
the savages might pour upon them a deadly fire ; there was no
thick undergrowth to be penetrated, in which might be laid the
murderous ambuscade. If any attack should be made upon
them on their way from the place of landing to the fort, it must
be in an open field and with a chance for a fair fight, which
Col. Croghan knew to be contrary to every principle of Indian
warfare.

But there was one objection which Sinclair urged against
a disembarkation at this point. The positions Avhich his ves-
sels would be obliged to take in order to effect it, would expose
them to the fire of the fort, while he could not elevate his guns
sufficiently to do the enemy any injury. Hence the idea was
abandoned, and it was decided to land on the north-west side
of the island, where Captain Roberts had landed two years
before.

A more unfortunate movement than this could not possibly
have been made. The island, which is about three miles in
diameter, is mostly covered with an almost impervious growth
of small trees. A better Indian battle-field could not be found
than what might be selected even to-day on this island. But
if we step back across the chasm of more than half a century,
and view it as it was when that little fleet was hovering around
its beach in search of a safe and convenient landing, we shall
see a very material change in it, as a whole, and that change
we shall find to be favorable to the purposes of savage warfare.
We cannot suppose that the axe has lain idle for more than
fifty years, that there has been no multiplication and enlargc-

lymi^

ite

THE WAR OF l8l2, CONCLUDED.

mcnt of clearings, no thinning out of dense forests, no widen-
ing of Indian trails into wagon roads. Indeed, authentic in-
formation, as well as reason, tells us that at that time the
island was little less than a labyrinth. The mass of vegetation
which everywhere covered it was intersected by foot-paths and
occasional cart roads, but these were ill adapted to the wants
of even a small army on the march. Tlie clearings were small,
and could serve only as so many slaughter pens, in which the
American troops might be butchered by bloodthirsty and
unprincipled barbarians, concealed in the adjacent thickets.
Who does not see that, on such ground, every Indian was more
than a match for the best disciplined soldier, and that the large
number of these savage auxiliaries which the Britisli com-
mander had been able to collect during the absence of the fleet
was far superior to any equal reinforcement of regular troops
he could have received ! By thus landing at a point nearly
opposite the fort, Col. Croghan was compelled, amidst these
embarrassing obstacles, to traverse nearly the whole width of
the island in order to reach the British position. It was a for-
lorn hope. No superiority of generalship could eflect against
such obstacles ; no perfection of military discipline could coun-
tei'balance these dense thickets, swarming with fiends in human
form.

Col. Croghan was too well acquainted with Indian military
tactics, and also with that dastardly spirit of cowardice which
for years had made the English the instigators of the most
atrocious and bloody deeds that had ever stained the character
of a savage, to be wholly unaware of the dangers before him.
But, nothing daunted by these difficulties, this gallant officer
prepared to disembark his forces, hoping to gain the clearing
near the landing, and there fortify himself, thus compelling the
British to attack him in his stronghold.

On the 4th of August the vessels of the fleet were ranged
in line, at the distance of three hundred yards from the beach,
and the small boats made ready to carry the devoted army to
the island. Scarcely, however, had the work of disembark-

\iG

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

-5

ation l)cj:;un, when the adjacent thickets were observed to be
full of savages, plumed and painted for the strife. When all
was ready, and the word of command had been spoken, they
moved toward the landing with measured dip of the oar, and
meanwhile a brisk cannonading cleared the thickets of their
lurking foes. Under cover of the guns the landing was easily
etlected, and the best possible arrangement of the troops made,
preparatory to the marching:

While the American squadron had been cruising about the
island, the English had taken every precaution to secure them-
selves against surprise. Guards had been stationed at short
intervals around the entire island, and every road and bridle
path intersecting the island had, with one exception, been
eftectually blockaded. The road running from the rear gate
of the fort back to Early's (then M. Dousman's) farm was
alone left free. As soon as it became evident that the Ameri-
cans intended to eflect a landing, the whole Indian force, with
the Canadians and most of the soldiers, moved back to that
part of the island to resist the attempt.

After we have passed through the gate on our way to
Early's farm-house, we see upon our left an orchard through
which runs a little ridge, crossing the road at right angles.
This ridge, at the time of which we write, formed the bound-
arv line of the clearing on the east. North and west from the
house was a swamp, since converted into a meadow. Upon
the south and south-west the clearing was the same as now,
only more circumscribed. The British troops were posted in
the edge of the woods south from the road, and behind the
elevation mentioned, while in the road, on the ridge, a battery
was planted. To the north and south of the clearing, the
Indians, with an occasional vagabond trader more brutal even
than themselves, lay concealed in large numbers.

Colonel Croghan, having quickly formed his line, had
advanced to the edge of the clearing, or farm, when intelli-
gence reached him that the enemy was in waiting for him, and
ready to dispute his progress. In a few seconds after he

iUMi

THE WATl OF l8l2, CONCLUDED.

iiy

received this information, a fire was opened upon him from the
enemy's battery, lie now carefully surveyed the clearing
before him, and became convinced that the enemy's position
was well selected, but, by a vigorous movement, he hoped to
outflank him and gain his rear.. Accordingly, he decided to
change his own position, which was then " two lines, the
militia forming the front," and advance, Major Holmes' battal-
ion of regulars on the right of the militia. This movemont
was immediately ordered, and, to encourage his men, Major
Holmes led them in person ; but while gallantly pressing on
to the charge, a destructive fire was opened by some Indians
concealed in a hicket near the American right, and the brave
Major Itolmes fell, mortally wounded. Captain Desha, the
officer next in rank, also received a very severe, though not
fatal, wound. The battalion having now lost the services of
its most valuable ofiicers, fell into confusion, from which the
best exertions of its remaining officers were not able to
recover it.

Finding it impossible to gain th» enemy's left:, owing to
the impenetrable thickness of the woods, a charge was ordered
to be made by the regulars immediately against the front.
This charge, though made in some confusion, served to drive
the enemy back into the woods, whence an annoying fire was
kept up by the Indians. Lieutenant Morgan was now ordered
up with a light piece, to assist the left, which at this time was
particularly galled, and the excellent service of this piece
forced the enemy to retire to a greater distance.

Croghan had now reached the point at which he had hoped
to fortify himself, and thence harass the enemy at pleasure, but
he found it by no means tenable on account of the thickets and
ravines surrounding it. He therefore determined no longer to
expose his troops to the fire of an enemy having every advan-
tage wiiich could be obtained from numbers and a knowledge
of the position, and ordered an immediate retreat to the place
of landing. When the troops had regained the shipping the
fleet again moved round towards Bois Blanc and anchored.

ii8

OLD AND NEW MA-'KINAC.

While the forces were preparhig to disembark, previous
to the engagement, Mr. Davenport had urged !Major Holmes
to exchange his uniform for a common suit, stating that the
Indians would otherwise certainly make a mark of him, but
Holme's replied that his uniform was made to wear, and he in-
tended to wear it, adding that if it was his day to fall he was
willing. The sequel showed how unwise he was in not listen-
ing to this advice. The party of Indians posted on the right
were Winnebagoes from Green Bay — the most savage and
cruel of all the British allies, and they, indeed, did make a
mark of him. Five well-aimed bullets simultaneously entered
his breast, and he expired almost instantly. Captain Desha
also felt the fury of these savages, but fortunately escaped with
his life. Captain Vanhorn and Lieutenant Jackson, both brave,
intrepid young men, also fell mortally wounded at the head of
their respective commands. Twelve privates were killed, six
sergeants, three corporals, one musician, and twenty-eight pri-
vates wounded, and two privates missing.

The most shocking barbarities were practised on the bodies
of the slain. They were literally cut to j^ieccs by their savage
conquerors. Our informant I'emembers seeing the Indians
come to the fort after the engageinent, some with a hand, some
with a head, and some with a foot or limb, and it is officially
stated by Sinclair, upon the testimony' of two ladies, (Mrs. Da-
venport and Mrs. John Dousman,) who were present and wit-
nessed it, that the hearts and livers of these unfortunate men were
taken out, and " actually cooked and feasted on — and that, too,
in the quarters of the British officers, sanctioned by Colonel
McDonall — by the savages." Fragments of these bodies were
taken to the Indian graveyard west of the village and placed on
poles over the graves, where they remained for ten clays. Fortu-
nately, however, the body of Major Holmes, which, by neglect of
the soldiers in whose hands it had been placed, had been left on
the field — escaped the sad fate of the others. During the
action these men concealed the body by covering it with rails
and leaves, so that the Indians did not find it. It liad, how-

THE WAR OF lSl2, CONXLUDED.

119

ever, been stripped, but in this case the British commander
acted with promptness and humaniU, threatening to hang the
jDcrpetrators, should they be found out, if the articles taken
were not immediately returned. This threu soon brought the
clothes, watch, papers, etc., which had been stolen by two
Fi'enchmen, into his possession, and with the 1 ody they were
given up to the Americans.

Thus, in loss and disgrace, ended the effort to wrest Fort
Mackinac and the island upon which it stands from the Eng-
glish. When the fleet first appeared ofF Light House Point
there was but a single company of troops In the fort, and but
few, if any, Indian auxiliaries upon the island, and had Colonel
Croghan at once demanded a surrender instead of at first going
to St. Joseph's, the po.it vvould doubtless have passed back into
the hands of the Americans without shedding of blood, and with
as little parley as, two years before, it had passed into the hands
of the English. Oi.. had a prompt and willing surrender been
refused, a vigorous attack must have quickly reduced the gar-
rison to the necessity of yielding, as the American force was
greatly superior to the English. But the delay was pregnant
with disaster and disgrace. Each moment in which the enemy
was permitted to strengthen his defences and increase his num-
bers, diminished fearfully the chances of success. Even after
the return, had the landing been made at the point desired by
Colonel Crogiian, tlefeat might have been avoided, as under
those circumstances the Indian allies would have been nearly
useless ; but as it was defeat was almost a necessity. An army
of iron men could scarcely have traversed the whole breadth of
this island under the rapid and continuous shower of musket
balls which would have been poured upon them, without fal-
tering and falling into confusion.

Having failed in the reduction of Fort Mackinac, which
vSinclair denominated a " perfect Gibraltar," measures were
now taken to starve it into submission, by cutting oft' its sup-
plies. The troops, with the exception of three companies, were
dispatched in two vessels to join General Brown on the Ni-

lii

jsm:^

I20

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

agara, and the remainder of the squadroii, a pilot having been
now secured, directed its course to the east side of the hike, to
break up any establishments which the enemy might liave in
that quarter. While the Americans were masters of Lake
Erie, there were only two practicable lines of communication
between the remote garrison of Fort Mackinac and the lower
country. The first of these was with Montreal by way of the
Ottawa, Lake Nippising, and French River, and the second
with York by means of Lake wSimcoc and the Nautauwasaga
River. ILaving learned that the fi'.st of these communications
was impracticable at that season of the year on account of the
marshy state of the portages, they proceeded to the mouth of
the Nautauwasaga, in hopes of finding the enemy's schooner
Nancy, which was thought to be in that quarter. On the thir-
teenth of August the fleet anchored ofl^" the mouth of that river,
and the troops were quickly disembarked for the purpose of
fixing a camp on the peninsula formed by th'" river and the
lake. On reconnoitcring the position the scl ooner was discov-
ered in the river, a few hundred yards above, under cover of a
block-house erected on a commanding situation on the oppo-
site shore. On the following morning a fire was opened by
the shipping upon the block-house, but w".n little cficct, owing
to a thin wood which intervened and obscured the view. But
about twelve o'clock two howitzers were landed, and, placed
within a few hundred yards of the block-house, commenced
throwine: shells. Li a few minutes one of these shells burst in
the block-house and shortly after blew up the magazine, allow-
ing the enemy scarcely time to make his escape. The explo-
sion of the magazine set fire to a train which had been laid for
the destruction of the vessel, and in a few minutes she was en-
veloped in flames, and her valuable c; rgo, consisting of several
hundred barrels of provisions, intended as a six mouths' supply
for the garrison at Mackinac, was entirely consumed.

Colonel Croghan did not think it advisable to fortify and
garrison Nautauwasaga, because the communication from York
was so short and convenient that any force letl there might be

THE WAR OF lSl3, CONCLUDED.

131

easily cut oft' during the winter, hence Sinchxir left the Tigress
and Scorpion to blockade it closely until the season should be-
come too boisterous for boat transportation, and the remainder
of the squadron returned to Detroit.

But this blockade, which, had it been properly enforced,
must speedily have made a bloodless conquest of Mackinac,
was soon brought to an end by the capture of both these
schooners.

After the destruction of the Nancy, her captain, with sev-
eral of his men, at once repaired to Fort Mackinac to commu-
nicate the news of the loss to Colonel McDonall and the little
garrison under his command. Under the circumstances, it was
unwelcome news indeed. Provisions were already getting low ;
a single loaf of bread was worth one dollar and a half, the men
were subsisting on half rations, and had already been reduced
to the necessity of killing several horses to ward oft' starvation.
And worse than all, a long and dreary winter was near at hand,
portending, under the circumstances, nothing but death from
starvation. Something must be done, and accordingly an ex-
pedition was at once fitted out by Colonel McDonall, consist-
ing of a force of a hundred and fifty sailors and soldiers, and
two hundred and fifty Indians, in open boats, to break the
blockad^e if possible. Wficn this party had arrived in the
vicinity of the American vessels, the Tigress, which for several
days had been separated from the Scorjjion, was surprised and
boarded during the night of September third, it being very dark,
and after a desperate hand to hand struggle, in which some
were killed and several wounded was captured. During the
contest an attempt was made by the Americans to destroy the
signal-book, but, unfortunately, without success, and by the aid
of this book the Tigress, now manned by English officers and
men, surprised and captured the Scorpion on the morning of
the sixth, at dawn of day. This was a finishing stroke to the
ill-fated enterprise, and Mackinac was left secure in the hands
of the English until peace was declared.

123

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

During the following winter, 1814-15, peace was conclud-
ed between the belligerent nations, and in the spring the post
was evacuated by the English, and a company of American
troops under Colonel Chambers, took peaceable possession.

MACKINAC ISLAND.

123

)St

CHAPTER VIII.

MACKINAC ISLAND.

This island, as far back as we have any account of it, has
been a place of great interest. It received its original name
from the Indians. An old legend relates that a large number
of these people were once assembled at Point St. Ignace and,
while intently gazing at the rising of the sun, during the
Great INIanitou, or Februaiy Moon, they beheld the island
suddenly rise up from the water, assuming- its present form.
From the point of observation, it bore a fancied resemblance
to the back of a huge turtle, hence they gave it the name
Moe'che'ne'mock'e'nung, which means a great turtle. This
name, when put into a French dress, became Michilimackinac.
From the island it i^assed to the adjacent points. In some
connections in the early history, the name is apnlied to the
section as a whole ; in others, to the jooint north of die Straits ;
but more frequently, to that soui' of the Straits now known
as Old Alackinac. Tin 1 m is now obsolete, except as ap-
plied to the county which lies immediately north of the Straits
in which the island is included. The island has now taken
upon itself the name of Mackinac.

Indian mythology makes this island the home of the Giant
Fairies, hence the Indians have always regarded it with a
species of veneration. The day is still within the memory of
many individuals now living on the island when the heathen
Indians, in passing to and fro by its shores, made offerings of
tobacco and other articles to the these Great Spirits to pro^iiti-
ate their good will. These fairies, we are told, had a subter-
ranean abode under the island, the entrance to which was near

124

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

the base of the hill, just below the present southern gate of the
fort. An old Indian, Chees'a'kee or Spiritualist, who once en-
camped within the limits of the present garrison, is related to
have visited this abode of the fairies under the following cir-
cumstances : During the night, while wrapped in the uncon-
sciousness of a sound slumber, one of these spirits approached
the place where he was, laid his shadowy hand upon him and
beckoned him to follow. In obedience lo the mysterious re-
quest, his spirit left the body and went with the fairy. To-
gether they entered into the mystic dwelling-place of the
spirits. Here the Checsakee was introduced to the Great
Spirits assembled in solemn conclave. He was lost in wonder
and admiration at what he saw around him. The place where
they were assembled seemed to be a very large and beautiful
wigw.im. After spending some time in the fairy abode, the
master spirit of tht assembly directed one of the lessv,r spirits
to show the Indian out and conduct him back to his body.
What were the proceedings of that assembly, the Indian could
not be induced to tell, nor were the particulars of what he saw
during that mysterious visit ever made known to his fellow
red men. From their fairy abodes, these spirits issued forth at
the twilight hour to engage " with rapid step and giddy whirl
in their m}stic dance."

Something of the feeling of veneration which the red men
had for this, to them, enchanted island may be learned from the
following soliloquy of an old Indian chief. He was just leav-
ing the island to visit his friends in the Lake Superior country.
The shades of night were falling around him and the deep
blue outlines of the island wcve dimly shadowed forth. As he
sat upon the deck of the steamer and watched the " lovely
isle " fast receding from his view, memory was ousy in recall-
ing the scenes of by-gone days and the emotions of his heart
found expression in these words :

" Moc'che'ne'mock'e'nung, thou isle of the clear, deep-water
lake, how soothing it is, from amidst the curling smoke of my
opawgun (pipe), to trace thy deep blue outlines in the dis-

r^MiMUm

MACKINAC ISLAXD.

i»5

tance ; to call from memory's tablets the traditions and stories
connected with thy sacred and mystic character. How sacred
the regard with which thou hast been once clothed by our
Indian seers of by-gone days. How j^leasant in imagination
for the mind to jiicture and view, as if now present, tlie time
when the Great Spirit allowed a pcacef>.l stillness to dwell
around thee, when only light and balmy winds were permitted
to pass over thee, hardly ruffling the mirror surface of the
waters that surrounded thee ; or to hear, by evening twilight, the
sound of the Giant Fairies as they, with rapid step and giddy
whirl, dance their mystic dance on thy limestone battlements.
Nothing then disturbed thy quiet and deep solitude but the
chippering of birds and the rustling of the leaves of the silver-
barked birch." But these fairy spirits have long since deserted
their island home and gone we know not where, and the race
of beings in whose imagination they lived has also well nigh
passed away.

From Father Marquette's description of the island given
in a previous cliapter, we learn that it was often the chosen
home of the savage tribes. Marquette was doubtless the first
white man to visit it, or at least to dwell ujoon it. The first
permanent white settlement on this island was made in 17S0,
when the fort and town were removed to this point, not be-
cause of its superiority in a commercial or military point of
view, but for the security which it afforded against the sur-
rounding Indian tribes. Had that one event of June 4th, 1763,
never occurred, this island would no doubt have still been in
the hands of nature, and the fort and town at " Old Alackinac,"
where they properly belong.

Contrary to the ti'eaty of 17S3, the English held possession
of the island until i795? when they were compelled to give it
up. The size and population of the town has varied at difter-
ent stages of its histcjry. In 1820 it consisted " of about one
hundred and fifty houses and Gome four hundred and fifty jier-
manent inhabitants." At that time there was no school, no re-
ligious service, no attorney, and no physician (other than at the

:il

m 'iS

1; ' '; 'Si

ft : '-F,

126

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

garrison) in the place. There were, however, courts of law,
a post office, a jail, and one or more justices of the peace. At
present, there are about eight hundred inhabitants, many of
whom are engaged in fishing, and absent during a greater part
of the summer.

The most interesting feature of the island since the war
of 1812 has been its connection with the fur trade carried on
b}' John Jacob Astor, Esq., of New York. Previous to 1S09
an association of traders existed, called the Mackinac Com-
pany, but at that date Mr. Astor organized the American Fur
Company. Two years after this he bought out the Mackinac
Company and established a new company known as the South-
West. During the winter of 1S15 and 1S16 Congress enacted a
law that no foreigner should engage in trade with the Indians
who did not become a citizen, and after this Mr. Astor again
established the American Company. This company was or-
ganized with a capital of two million dollars. It had no
chartered right to a monopoly of the Indian trade, yet by its
wealth and influence it virtually controlled that trade through a
long series of years. The outposts of the company wei"e scat-
tered throughout the whole West and North-west. This
island was the great central mart. The goods were brought to
the company's storehouses at this point from New York by
way of the lakes, and from Qiiebcc and Montreal by way of
the Ottawa, Lake Nipissing and French River, and from this
point they were distributed to all the outposts, while from all
the Indian countries the furs were annually brought down to
the island by the company's agents, whence they were sent to
New York, Qiiebec, or the various if)arkets of the Old World.
The traders and their clerks who went into " the countries "
were employed by the company at a salary of from four to six
hundred dollars per year, but the engages or boatmen who
were engaged in Canada, generally for five years, received,
besides a yearly supply of a few coarse articles of clothing,
less than one hundred dollars per annum. Generally, at the
end of five years, the poor voyagcurs were in debt from fifty to

M.'M-cMhiUlm

MACKINAC ISLAND.

127

one hundred and fifty dollars, which they must pay before they
could leave the country ; and the trader often took advantage
of this, even encouraging the men to get in debt, that they
might avoid the necessity of introducing new and inexperi-
enced men into the country. The men were fed mainly on
soup made of hulled corn, or sometimes of peas, with barely
tallow enough to season it, and without salt, unless they pur-
chased it themselves at a high price. The goods were put up
in bales or packs of about eighty jjounds each, to be carried
into the countries. Upon setting out, a certain number of
these jiacks were assigned to each boatman, which he irust
carry upon his back across the portages, some of which were
fifty miles over. They performed the journeys over these
portages by short stages, or by carrying the packs but a short
distance at a time, thus never permitting their goods to be sep-
arated. The route of travel to the head waters of the Missis-
sippi was by way of Lake Huron, St. Mary's River, Lake
Superior, and such rivers as would take them nearest the par-
ticular points to which the various parties had been assigned.
The valleys of the Mississippi and the Missouri were reached
by way of Green Bay, Fox and Wisconsin rivers. The traders
often occupied nearly the whole summer in the trip from their
trading posts to Mackinac and back.

Mr. Astor's principal agent on this island was Ramsey
Crooks, to whom, with others, he sold out in 1S34 ; but the
trade now lacked tiic energy and controlling influence which
Mr. Astor had given it, and the company soon became involved.
Li 184S the business vi^as closed and the property sold. In its
best days the business was one of mammoth proportions, but
it exists now only in hislory.

Schoolcraft gives the following description of the state of
society in 1820: "Society at Michilimackinac consists of so
many diverse elements, which impart their hue to it, that it is
not easy for a passing traveler to form any just estimate of it.
The Indian, with his plumes and gay and easy costume, always
imparts an oriental air to it. To this the Canadian, gay,

I2S

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

thoughtless, ever bent on the present, and carinj^ nothing for
to-morrow, adds another phase. The trader, or interior clerk,
who takes his outfit of goods to the Indians, and spends eleven
months of the year in toil, and want, and petty traflic, appears
to dissipate his means with a sailor-like improvidence in a few
weeks, and then returns to his forest wanderings, and boiled
corn, pork, and wild rice again supply his wants. There is in
these periodical resorts to the central quarters of the Fur Com-
pany much to remind one of the old feudal manner.^, in which
there is proud hospitality and a show of lordliness on the one
side, and gay obsequiousness and cringing dependence on the
other, at least till the annual bargains for the trade are closed."

The elements of the present population are much the same
as during the palmy days of the fur trade. Indians, primitive
possessors of the " beautiful isle," are still present, and consti-
tute no inconsiderable portion of the inhabitants. Many of the
old French and English voyageurs who ha\'e spent the best part
of their lives in the employ of the fur trade, arc also living upon
the island. The population is mixed — English, French, and
Indian blood frequently flows in the veins of the same family.
Aside from the original population, there are several very ex-
cellent families who have come to the place at a comparatively
recent date.

The town itself is a perfect curiosity. It is situated at the
foot of the blufl', upon the brow of which stands the fort, and
extends for the distance of about a mile around the beach. It
contains two churches, four good hotels, capable of accommo-
dating from thirty to two hundred guests each, seven stores,
and four or five groceries, about one hundred dwelling houses,
a post oftice, court house, and jail. Some of the buildings are
of modern architecture, but others are antique in design
and appearance. There are buildings yet standing, parts
of whicli were brought from Old Mackinac when the
town and fort were removed from that point, while several of
the houses, some of which are yet occupied, were standing
during the troubled and exciting scenes of 1S12. Many of the

MACKINAC ISLAND.

129

fences arc of the original palisade style. Let us make the cir-
cuit of the town, starting from the docks. As we proceed
along tlie beach towards the west, we see buildings of every
description, from the most modern style down to the shanty
with clapboards and shingles of bark. Beyond the extreme
western limits of Shanty Town is the site of the old distillery,
where, in 181 2, the terrified and trembling inhabitants were
gathered for safety while Captain Roberts, with his savage
allies, should possess himself of the fort and island. Above
this is the old Indian burying ground, where still sleep the
mouldering dust of many a brave son of the forest. Retracing
our steps, we turn to the left and pass througli Shanty Tovvn,
principally occupied by fishermen who are absent during most
of the summer. The fishing grounds extend from Drummond's
Island, near Detour, around the north shores of Huron and
Michigan to Green Bay, including the islands in the northern
portion of both these lakes. As we return to the town on the
back street we notice on the right the old Catholic burying
ground, upon which once stood the old log church brought
from Old Mackinaw after the massacre. Farther along, upon
the same side of the road, is an antique house with huge stone
chimneys and dormer windows, which, during the war of 1S12,
was occupied by Dr. Mitchell. Mitchell was a traitor, and
after the return of peace had to leave the island and country
for Canada. Adjoining the court house is the old storehouse
of the Amei'ican Fur Company, which was the place of deposit
and point of departure for all the merchandise of that company.
The adjacent building, now the McLeod House, was put up
by the Company for the accommodation -of the clerks when
they came out of the Indian countries during the summer.

Returning now to the point from which we set out, let us
make our way towards the eastern extremity of the town. The
large garden upon our left as we leave the business portion of
the town, belongs to the fort. It is cultivated by the soldiers
of the garrison, and does much towards supplying them with
vegetables of almost every variety. Potatoes, beets, carrots,

I30

OLD AM) NEW MACKINAC.

radishes, onions, cabbaj^e, cucumbers, etc., are produced in great
abundance and of the best quality. Ciicrries, currants, strav/bcr-
ries, and other small fruits also grow plentifully in this and other
gardens, and from one tree, standing near the fort barn, twen-
ty-two barrels of apples were taken at a single gathering a few
years since. In this garden is the site of the old government or
council house, the first building ever erected upon the island.

Adjoining the garden on the east is the old agency prop-
erty. The house was erected about fil"ty jears ago by the Gov-
ernment, as a residence and office for the United States Indian
Agent. For many years all the Indian payments were made in
this building, which was thus made to subserve the same gen-
eral purpose as the old government house. The other building,
called the dormitory, now occupied by the union school cf
the place, was erected by the ovcrmnent for the accom-
modation of the Indians during l. ^^iodical visits to
the island for the purpose of receiving tlien .. luiities, but
never much used by them. The next building which attracts
particular attention is the Catholic Church. This was at first a
small log building, erected in 1833 by Father Mazzuchelli, but
with two enlargements it has grown to it; present dimensions.
The society is now contemplating the erection of a new and
more commodious edifice.

At the extreme eastern end of the town is the mission
property now in possession of Mr. E. A. Franks, the house be-
ing kept by him as a hotel. The history of this mission is
briefly as follows : In the month of June, in the year 1S20, the
Rev. Dr. Morse, father of the inventor of the telegraph, visited
this island and preached the first Protestant sermon ever deliv-
ered in this portion of the Northwest. Becoming particularly
interested in the condition of the traders and natives, he made
a report of his visit to the United Foreign Mission Society of
New York, in consequence of which the Rev. W. M. Ferry, a
graduate of Union College, was sent in 1822 to explore the
field. In 1823 Mr. Ferry, with his wife, opened a school for
Indian children which, before the close of the year, contained

MACKINAC ISLAND,

131

twelve scholars. la 1S26 the school aiid little churcli passed
into the hands of the American Hoard of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions, anil as Mackinac was easy of access to the
Iiulians of the lakes and the upper Mississippi, it was deter-
mined to make it a central station at which there should he a
large hoarding school, composed of children collected from all
the Northwestern trihcs. These chililren were expected to re-
main long enough to acquire a common school education, and
a knowledge of manual labor. Shops and gardens were pro-
vided for the lads, and the girls were trained for household
duties. The first report of the mission made to the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was at the meet-
ing held in New York in September, 182^. It contained the
following facts : Nunber of teachers, eight ; Rev. William M.
Ferry, Superintendent ; Mr. John S. Hudson, teacher and farm-
mer ; Mr. Ileydcnburk and wife, Mrs. Hudson, Miss Eunice
Osmcr, Miss Elizabeth McFarland, and Miss Delia Cooke,
teachers ; there were one hundred and twelve scholars in the
school, who had been collected from the whole region extend-
ing from the white settlements south of the Great Lakes to
Red River and Lake Athabasca ; there had been several inter-
esting cases of conversion ; French priests had occasionally vis-
ited the region and opposed the mission to the extent of their
power.

During the winter of 1S2S-9 ^ revival influence prevailed.
Thirty-three were added to the church and ten or twelve others
appeared to have become penitent for sin. Instances of con-
version occurred even in the depths of the wilderness, among
the traders. The church now numbered fifty-two members,
twenty-five of Indian descent and twenty-seven whites, exclu-
sive of the mission family. The establishment continued pros-
perous for several years. At times there were nearly two hun-
dred pupils in the school, among whom were representatives of
nearly all the Indian tribes to the north and west.

Owing to the great expense of the school, the plan was
modified in 1S33, the number of scholars being limited to fifty,

132

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

and smaller stations commenced in the region beyond Lake
Superior and tiie Mississippi. In 1S34 Mr. Ferry was released
from the mission, and in 1837, the popnhition having so changed
around Mackinac, and the resort of the Indians to the Island
for purposes of trade having so nearly ceased that it was no
longer an advantageous site for an Indian mission, the enter-
prise was abandoned.

The mission house was erected in 1825, and the church in
1829-30. After the close of the mission the property passed
into the hands of the present occupant. We cannot say how
much or how little was accomplished by this mission ; the rcve-
•lations of eternity alone will give full and reliable information
on this point. We only know that many who would other-
wise have been left in ignorance and heathenism arc indebted
to the Christian efforts of these missionaries for a knowledge
both of the arts and sciences, and of the way of salvation.

Having now made the circurt of the town, we are ready
for the two forts. Fort Mackinac, which stands on a rocky
eminence just above the town, was built by the English ni-iety
years ago. It 's new garrisoned by a small company of United
States troops under the command of Brevet Major Leslie Smith.
There are six brass pieces, and arms and accoutrements for a
full company. The buildii.ga are a hospital, just outside the
wall east of the fort, a guard house, near the south gate, officers'
quarters, near the south-west angle of the fort, and on the hill
near the flag-staff; quarters for the men, in the centre ; block-
houses on the walls ; magazine, in the hollow, not far from the
south gate ; storehouses, offices, etc. There are persons yet
living on the island who, during the troubles of 1814, took re-
fuge in these selfsame block-houses. Passing out at the rear
gate of Fort Mackinac, we cross the parade ground and see the
S]>ot where Captain Roberts planted his guns in t8i2, while
his whole force of Indians was concealed in the adjacent
thickets.

Half or three-quarters of a mile to the rear of Fort Macki-
nac, on the crowr.ing point of the island, is Fort Holmes.

MACKINAC ISLAND.

This, as we have seen, was built soon after the Britisli captured
the post in 1S12, E?ch citizen was compelled to give three
days' work towards its. construction. When finished the exca-
vation encircling the embankment, or earthworks, was much
broader and deeper than now, and the embankment itself was
lined on the outside by cedar poles, reaching from the bottom
of the ditch to its top, while a quarter or a third of the distance
from the top of the embankment to the bottom of the ditch,
cedar pickets interlocked with these poles, which extended out
over the ditch like the eaves of a house, making it absolutely
impossible for any one to get inside the fort except by the gate.
The place of the gate is seen on the cast side, one of the posts
yet remaining to mark its position. In the centre of the fort
was erected a huge block-house, beneath which was the maga-
zine. Near the gate was the entrance to several underground
cellars, which have now caved in. The fort was defended by
several small guns, the largest of which was an eighteen-
pounder, placed on the point, on the opposite side of the cel-
lars from the fort. They undertook to dig two wells, but find-
ing no water at the depth of one hundi-ed feet, they became
discouraged and rclinquislied the attempt.

The fort, we are tokl, presented a very fine appearance
when finished. It was first named Fort George, bat after the
surrender of the island to the Americans it was called Fort
Holmes, in memory of the lamented Major Holmes, who fell
as before recorded.

After the return of the Americans a party of officers, wish-
ii.j > see what they could do, planted a gun at the rear gate of
Fort Mackinac and made the l^Iock-lnuse in Fort Holmes a
mark. They soon tore this monument of English absurdity in
pieces, showing how ill-adapted the fort was to the purposes
intended. The fragments of the building were afterwards re-
moved to the foot of the hill beneath Fort Mackinac and made
into a barn, which is yet standing.

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

CHAPTER IX.

BIACKINAC ISLAND, CONCLUDED.

The natural scenery of the island of Mackinac is unsur-
passed. Nature seems to have exhau itcd herself in the clustered
objects of interest which everywhere meet the eye. The lover
of nature may wander through th.e shaded glens and climb
over the rugged rocks of this island for weeks, and even
months, and never grow weary, for each day some new object
of beauty and interest will attract his attention. As you
approach the island it ap]^>ears a perfect gem. A finer subject
for an artist's pencil could not be found. In some places it rises
almost perpendicularly from the very water's edge to the heiglit
of one hundred and fifty feet, while in otliers the ascent is grad-
ual. Parts of the island are covered witli a small growth of
hardwood trees — beech, maple, ironwood, birch, etc., — while
other parts abound in a rich variety of evergreens, among
which spruce, arbor-vitic, ground pine, white pine, balsam, and
junij^cr predominate. Henry R. Schoolcraft, Esq., who first
visited the island in 1S20, thus speaks of it:

" Nothing can exceed the beauty of this island. It is a
mass of calcareous rock, rising from the bed of Lake Huron,
and reaching an elevation of more than three hwndred feet
above the water. The waters around are purity itself. Some
of its clifi's shoot up perpendicdarly, and tower in pinnacles
like ruinous Gothic steeples. It -.s cavernous in some ^'la'-cs ;
and in these caverns the aucient Indians, like those of Indui,
have placed their dead. Portions of the beach arc level, and
adapted to landing from boats and canoes. The harbor, at '.ts
south end, is a little gem. Vessels anchor in it and find gjod

i ii^iiiim

MACKINAC IS1.AND, CON'CLUDED.

135

holding. The Httle, old-fashioned French town nestles around
it in a very primitive style. The fort frowns above it, like
another Alhambra, its white walls gleaming in the sun. The
whole area of the island is one labyrinth of curious little glens
and valleys. Old green fields appear, in some spots, which
have been formerly cultivated by the Indians. In somo of
these there are circles of gathered up stones, as if the Druids
themselves had dwelt here. The soil, though rough, is fertile,
being the comminuted materials of broken-down limestones.
The island was formerly covered with a dense growth of rock-
maples, oaks, ironwood, and other hardwood species, and thei'e
arc still parts of this ancient forest left, but all the southern
limits of it exhibit a young growth. There are walks and
winding paths among its little hills, and precipices of the most
romantic character. And whenever the visitor gets on emi-
nences overlooking the lake, he is transported with bublime
views of a most illimitable and magnificent water prospect.
If tbc- noetic muses are ever to have a new Parnassus in Amer-
ica, titey should inevitably fix on Michilimackinac. Hygeia,
t )0 ''• Uild place her temple here, for it has one of the purest,
ru cst .learest, and most healthful atmospheres."

.'.he geological aspects of the island are curious and inter-
esting. At its base may be seen the rocks of the Onondaga
Salt Group, above which, says Professor Winchell, State Geol-
ogist of Michigan, " the well characterized limestones of the
Upper Ilclderberg Group, to the thickness of two hundred and
fifty feet, exist in a confusedly brecciated condition. The indi-
vidual fragments of the mass are angular, and seem to have
Keen but little moved from their original places. It appears as
.iic v/hole formation had been shattered by sudden vibra-
tions and unequal uplitls, and afterwards a thin calcareous mud
poured over the broken mass, percolating through all the inter-
stices, and re-cementing the fragments.

" This is the general physical character of the mass ; but
in many places the original lines of stratification can be traced,
and individual layers of the formation can be seen dipping at

136

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

various angles and in all directions, sometimes exhibiting
abrupt flexures, and not unfrequcutly a complete downthrow
of fifteen or twenty feet. These phenoincna were particularly
noticed at the cliff known as Robinson's Folly.

"In the highest \irt of the island, back of Old Fort
Holmes, the formation 1.- \ less brecciatcd, and exhibits an

oolitic character, as first obe, ived in the township of Bedford,
in Monroe county."

" The Island of Mackinac shows the most indubitable
evidence of the former prevalence of the water, to the height
of two hundred and fifty feet above the present level of the
lake ; and there has been an jnbroken continuance of the same
kind of aqueous action from that time during the gradual sub-
sidence of the waters to their present condition. No break
can be detected in the evidences of this action from the present
water-line upward for thirty, fifty, or one hundred feet, and even
up to the level of the grottoes excavated in the brecciatcd ma-
terials of ' Sugar Loaf,' the level of ' Skull Cave,' and the
' Devil's Kitchen.'

" While we state the fact, however, of the continuity of
the action during all this period, it is not intended to allege
that the water of the lakes, as such, has ever stood at the level
of the summit of Sugar Loaf. Nor do we speak upon the
question whether these changes have been caused by the sub-
sidence of the lakes, or the uplift of the island and adjacent
promontories. It is true that the facts presented bear upon
these and other interesting questions, but we must forego any
discussion of them."

In a private communication to the writer, t^he author of
these extracts states that, in his opinion, there has been some
elevation of the island and adjacent regions, but more subsi-
dence of the water. The island and neighboring promontories
were once continuous with each otiier, the isolation having
been eftected by denudation ; '' much of which," says the same
eminent author, " was probably cflectcd during the prevalence

MACKIXAC ISLAND, CONCLUDED.

137

of the continental glacial, and much during the time of floods
following, and the action of the sea ^vhile the region was sub-
merged." Springs of water, clear and cold, may be found at
the base of tlie high cliHs which bound many parts of the
island, and also at other localities in its interior. The geology
of the surrounding islands and promontories is much the same
as that of this island.

With these general ideas, descriptive and geological, we
may now proceed to visit the various places of interest. Start-
ing from Fort Mackinac, let us follow the foot-path along the
brow of the bluff overlooking the eastern part of the town. If
fond of natural scenery, wc shall be delighted with the grand
panorama of nature, the successive scenes of which will be
presented to us as we proceed. Half or three-quarters of a
mile from the fort, at the south-eastern angle of the island, is
the overhanging cliff known as " Robinson's Folly."* The
following is the interesting history of this point: After the re-
moval of the fort to the island in 17S0, Captain Robinson, who
then commanded the post, had a summer-house built ujion this
cliff. This soon became a place of frequent resort for himself
and his brother officers. Pipes, cigars, and wine wei'e called
into requisition, for at the time no hospitality or entertainment
was complete witliout them, and thus many an hour which
would otherwise have been lonely and tedious, passed pleas-
antly away. After a few years, however, by the action of the
elements, a portion of this cliff, with the summer-house, was
precipitated to the base of the rock, which disastrous event gave
rise to the name. Around the beach below is a confuted mass
of debris, the remains, doubtless, of the fall.

A little to the north of Robinson's Folly may be seen an
immense rock standing out boldly from the mountain's side,
near the base of which is a very beautiful little arch known as
the " Arch of the Giant's Stairway." This arch is well worth
the trouble of a visit.

* Sec Map of the Island.

138

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

A walk along the beach northward from this point is
somewhat difficult, on account of the large portions of the clifls
which have in places been precipitated to the water's edge, but
a good foot-path along the brow of the bluft' brings us, with
only a few minutes' walk, to the far-famed " Arch Rock."
_-^^^-'^^— This is one of Nature's

C"^" ■= _ works which must be

seen to be appreciated.
Words cannot fully de-
scribe it in all its grand-
eur. It is a magnifi-
cent natural arch span-
ning a chasm of eighty
or ninety feet in height,
and forty or fifty in
width. The summit
of this rock is one hun-
dred and forty-nine feet
above the level of the
lake. Its abutments
are composed of cal-
careous rock, and the
opening imderneath the
arch has been produced
by the falling down of
the great masses of rock
now to be seen upon
Arch Rock.* thc bcach bclow. A

path to the right leads to the brink of the arch, whence the vis-
itor, if sufficiently reckless, may pass to its summit, which is
about three feet in width. Here we see twigs of cedar grow-
ing out of what appears to be solid rock, while in the rear and
on cither hand the lofty eminence is clothed with trees and
shrubbery— maple, birch, poplar, cedar, and balsam— giving to

* Tlic above cut is from Professor Wincli'jU's " Sketches of Creation," published
by Harper & Hrothers, New York.

MACKINAC ISLAND, CONCLUDED.

139

the landscape richness and variety. Before us are the majestic
waters of Lake Huron, dotted in the distance with islands.
We may now descend through the great chasm, " arched by
the hand of God," and at the base of the projecting angle of
the nii n rock find a second arch, less magnificent, but no less
curious and wonderful. Passing under this, we soon reach the
beach below, whence the view is particularly grand and impos-
ing. The mighty arch seems suspended in mid air above us,
and as we gaze upon it, lost in wonder and admiration, we ex-
claim with the Psalmist, " Lord, what is man that Thou takest
knowledge of him, or the son of man that Thou makest account
of him !" Foster and Whitney say of this rock : " The portion
supporting the arch on the north side, and the curve of the
arch itscif, are comparatively fragile, and cannot for a long pe-
riod resist the action of rains and frosts, which, in this latitude,
and on a rock thus constituted, produce great ravages every
season. The arcli, which on one side now connects this abut-
ment with the main clifi', will soon be destroyed, as well as the
abutment itself, and the whole be precipitated into the lake."

Tlie following parody on a popular song was found writ-
ten on a stone near the base of Arch Rock, about five years

since :

" Beauteous? Isle! I sing of thee,

Mackinac, my Mackinac,
Thy hike-bound shores I love to see,

Mackinac, my Mackinac.
From Arch Rock's height and shelving steep ]

To western cliffs and Lover's Leap,
Where memories of the lost one sleep,

Mackinac, my Mackinac.

" Thy Northern shore trod British foe,
^lackinac, my Mackinac,
That day saw gallant Holmes laid low,
Mackinac, my Mackinac.
Now Freedom's flag above thee waves, ^

And guards the rest of fallen braves, ^

Their requiem sung by Huron's waves,
Mackinac, my Mackinac."

140

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

*
,%

Taking the road which leads into the interior of the island,
we soon find ourselves at the " Sugar Loaf Rock." This rock
is about one hundred and fifty yards from the foot of the high
ridge, upon the south-east extremity of which stands Fort
Holmes. The plateau upon which it stands is about one hun-
dred and fifty feet above the level of the lake, while the sum-
mit of the rock is two hundred and eighty-four feet above the
lake, giving an elevation of 134 feet to the rock itself. The
composition of this rock is the same as that of Arch Rock. Its
shape is conical, and from its crevices ^row a few vines and

cedars. It is cavernous and
somewhat crystalline, with
its strata distorted in every
conceivable direction. In
the north side is an open-
ing, sufficient in its dimen-
sions to admit several in-
dividuals. Here one might
s| find shelter from the most
^*^- violent storm. Within this
opening, 'upon the smooth
surfaces of tlie rock, may
be found the autograph.s of
hundreds of eager asj^irants
Sugar Loaf Rock.* ^^^_^^. i^niortality. As we

take refuge in this rock we are reminded of the Rock of Ages,
and led to sing, wiih the poet,

" Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in tliee."

As wc approach this rock along the road, the effect is
grand and imposing. The patriarch of the ages, it lifts its
hoary head high up towards heaven in utter defiance of the
fury of the elements. The view is also very fine from the top

* The above cut is from Professor WinchcH's " Sketches of Creation," piiblisheil
by Harper & Brothers, New York.

MACKINAC ISLAND, CONCLUDED.

141

of the vidge, whenct. by its isolated position and bold form, it
strikes the beholder with wonder and admiration.

Tlic " curious " are ever eager to know by what freak of
nature this monstrous boulder has been placed in it? present
position. Has it been thrust up through the crust of the earth,
like a needle through a garment, by some internal volcanic ac-
tion — or has it been separated from the adjacent ridge and dis-
entombed from its ancient sepulchre by a system of gradual
denudation carried on by nature tlu-ough the successive ages of
the world's history .-' Science tells us that the latter hypothesis
is the true one. Foster and Whitney, in their geological re-
port, mention the Arch and Sugar Loaf Rocks " as particular
examples of denuding action," and state that this denuding ac
tion, producing such an opening, (as in the Arch,) with other
attendant phenomena, couid only have operated while near the
level of a large body of water like the great lake itself. This
coincides with the views of Professor Winchell, whom we have
already quoted on this point. Traces of water action now seen
on the vertical sides of these two rocks, two hundred feet above
tlie level of the water, are precisely the same as those seen upon
the rocks close by the water's edge. To all fond of natural cu-
riosities these two rocks alone possess attractions sufficient to
justify a visit to the Northern lakes.

Let us now return to tlie fort, whence we started, and
again set out in a diflercnt direction. Half a mile to the rear
of Fort ^lackinac, and only a few yards to the right of the road
that leads to Early's farm, is " Skull Rock," noted as the place
where Alexander Henry was secreted by the Chippewa chief,
Wawatam, as related in a previous chapter, after the horrid
massacre of the British garrison at Old Mackinac. The en-
trance to this cave is at present low and narrow, and promises
little to reward the labors of exploration.

Two miles west of the village and fort is Early's (formerly
Michael Dousmau's) farm. This farm consists of a section of
land, and produces annually large quantities of hay and vege-
tables of the best quality. Near the house now occupied by

143

OI,D AND NEW MACKINAC.

Mr. Early is that relic of 1812, the old Dousman house, across
the road from which is the battle ground hallowed by the blood
of the lamented Holmes and others. After the battle such
fragments of the slairf as had been left on the field by the In-
dians were gathered up and buried near the east end of the lit-
tle mound or ridge on the opposite side of the field from the
road.

Following the road leading through this fa'rm, we soon arrive
at the " British Landing," so named from the fact that Captain
Roberts, with his mixed command of English, French, and In-
dians, here disembarked his forces to take the place in 1S12.
It is also noted as the point wliere the American troops under
Colonel Croghan cHected a landing, under cover of the guns of
the American squadron, on the eventful fourth of August, 1814,
as already described.

Near the north-western point of the island is vScott's or
Flinn's Cave. To find this we turn to the right a few rods this
side of British Landing, and follow an unfrequented trail
through the woods. A stranger should not attempt this jour-
ney without a guide. This cave is underneath one of the huge
rocks peculiar to Mackinac. Its entrance is extremely low,
but when once inside the giant Goliath might stand erect.
Those intending to visit this cave should provide themselves
with a lamp or candle, as but an occasional ray of sunlight can
penetrate its hidden chamber. While inside this rock-roofed
cavern a peculiar sensation takes possession of you, and you are
reminded of the scene described iii the sixth chapter of Reve-
lation, where the kings of the earth and the great men hide
themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountain, and
say to the mountains and rocks, " Fall on us and hide us from
the face of Him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath
of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is come, and who
shall be able to stand?" In the vicinity of this cave arc yet
standing a few patriarchs of the forest, remnants of the heavy
growth of timber which, at an eai'ly day, covered the island.

Our next tramp will be around the high blutls which

MACKINAC ISLAND, CONCLUDED.

bouiul the south-western side of the islaiul. Leaving the town
at its western extremity, we may follow the foot-path around
the brow of these blutVs, or continue along the beacli, close to
the water's edge. About a mile from the village, as we pursue
the latter course, is the '" Devil's Kitchen," a cavernous rock,
curious, both in its formation and in its name. Near it is a
spring of clear, cold water, shaded by evergreens and other
trees.

A few yards farther on is the famous " Lover's Leap."
This rock stands out boldly from the side of the clill", and in
appearance is similar to the Sugar Loaf Rock. There are
other points on the island to which romantic visitors have ap-
plied this name, but tradition has bestowed the title only upon
this. William M. Johnson, Esq., formerly a resident of this
village, gives us the following legend concerning it:

" The huge rock called the ' Lover's Leap ' is situated
about one mile west of the village of Mackinac. It is a high,
perpendicular bluff, one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet
in height, rising boldly from the shore of the lake. A solitary
pine tree formerly stood upon its brow, which some vandal has

cut down.

" Long before the pale faces profaned this island home of
the genii, Me'che'ne'mock'e'nung'o'qua, a young Ojibway girl,
just maturing into womanhood, often wandered there, and gazed
from its dizzy heights and witnessed the receding canoes of the
lar""c war-parties of the combined bands of the Oiibwas and
Ottawas speeding south, seeking for f;\me and scalps.

" It was there she often sat, mused, and hummed the songs

Ge'niw'e'gwon loved ; this spot was endeared to her, for it was

there that she and Ge'niw'e'gwon first met and exchanged words

of love, and found an aflinity of souls existing between them.

It was there that she often sat and sang the Ojibwa love song :
' Mong-e-do-gwain, in-de-nain-dum,
Mong-c-do-g\vain, in-de-nain-dum,
Wain-shung-ish-ween, neen-e-mo-shane,
Wain-shung-ish-wcen, necn-e-mo-shane,
A-nee-wan-wan-san-bo-a-zode,
A-nee-wan-wan-san-bo-a-zode.'

144

OT.D AND NEW MACKIXAC.

" I give but one verse, which may be translated as follows :
' A loon, I thought, was loomlni,',
A loon, I thoiii,'lit, was looming,
Why! it is he, my lover!
Why! it is he, my lover!
I lis paddle in the waters gleaming.
His pachlie in the waters gleaming.'

" From this bLifi'shc often watched ..lul listened for the re-
turn of the war-parties for amoiigst them she knew was Ge'-
niw'c'gwon, his head decoraiied with war-eagle plumes, which
none but a brave could sport. The west wind often wafted far
in advance the shouts of victory and death, as they shouted and
sang upon leaving Pe'qnod'e'nong, (Old Mackinaw,) to make
the traverse to the Spirit or Fairy Island.

" One season, when the war-party returned, she could not
distinguish his familiar and loved war-shout. Her spirit told
her iLat he had gone to the spirit land of the west. It was so ;
an f n.jrr.)'s arrow had pierced his breast, and after his body was
placed learing against a tree, his face fronting his enemies, he
died, but ere he died he wished the mourning warriors to re-
mcmbei' him to the sweet maid of his heart. Thus he died,
far away frome home and the friends he loved.

" Mc'che'nc'mock'e'nung'o'qua's heart hushed its beatings,
and all the warm emotions of that heart were chilled and dead.
The moving, living spirit of her beloved Ge'niw'c'gwon she
witnessed continually beckoning her to follow him to the happy
hunting grounds of spirits in the west ; he appeared to her in
human shape, but w as invisible to others of his tribe.

" One morning her body was found mangled at the foot of
the blufl'. The soul had thrown aside its covering of earth, and
had gone to join the spirit of her beloved Ge'niw'c'gwon, to
travel together to the land of spirits,, realizing the glories and
bliss of a future, eternal existence."

Some little distance further on is " Chimney Rock," which
Professor Winchell denominates one of the most remarkable
masses of rock in this or any other State.

A footpath which leads from the beach near the base of

MACKINAC ISLAND, CONCLUDED.

145

Lover's Leap to the plateau above brings us to the old Daven-
port fariH, now owned by G. S. Hubbard, of Chicago. Report
says that several summer-houses are soon to be built on this
farm, which will greatly enhance the beauty of the locality.
Adjoining this farm is the Jones farm, once the property of the
Pi'esbyterian mission on the island.

Having now made the circuit of the island, let us once
more ascend to Fort Holmes, take our seats upon the high sta-
tion built some years since by the Government engineers, and
look around us. The island lies at our feet, and wc cm see al-
most every part of it. The little clearings seen in various
places were once gardens cultivated by American soldiers.
That in the vicinity of Arch Rock was called the " big garden."
In 181 3, when the English captured the island, the clearing on
the high plateau back of the Fort Holmes was planted with
potatoes, and when the Americans came back to take posses-
sion of the island in the spring of 1815 the English, not having
cultivated it during the time, were compelled to plow it up and
plant it, that, according to the terms of the treaty, they might
leave everydiing as they found it.

As wc gaze upon the adjacent islands and main land mem-
ory is busy with the scenes of the past. Two hundred and fifty
years ago only bark canoes dotted the surface of the lake. A
few years later the songs of the Canadian voyageur, as he rowed
or paddled his large battcau, echoed and reechoed around the
shores. Now the shrill whistle of the propeller is heard, and
the white sails of hundreds of vessels are spread to the breezes.
The first vessel ever seen on these waters was the Griffin, in
1679, and the first steamer was the Walk-In-the-Water, in 1819.
It would be difticult to estimate the amount of wealth which is
annually carried through these straits. During the season of
navigation from ten to fifty sails may always be seen passing
up and down through the straits, and almost every hour in the
day from one to ten propcUors are in full view.

146

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

^.:

Some four or five miles to the north-west of us lies the
mixed Canadian and Indian settlement of Point vSt. Ignace.
This was the second place settled in the State of Michigan, the
Sault being the first. At the head of East Moraa Bay, some
little' distance north of the church, is the site of the mission es-
tablished by Marquette in 1 671, some remains of which may
yet be seen.

Farther north is the bluft' called '■ Rabbit Sitting." North-
easterly the St. Martin Islands, the entrance to the Chenoux
and the dividing ridge between this and the Sault St. Mary.
On the north-east is Point Detour, and, though thirty mile g dis-
tant, vessels may sometimes be seen entering St. Mary's River.
Round and Bois Blanc Islands lie to the south-cast of us, be-
yond which, at the distance of eighteen iniles, is Cheboygan,
situated at the mouth of a river of the same name. This place
is advantageously located, and is growing rapidly.

About sevon miles south-west from this island, on the north-
ern apex of the southern peninsula of Micliigan, is Mackinaw
City. W. M.Johnson, Esq., thus speaks of this intincsting lo-
cality :

" Mackinaw City, with its coasts and the islands before it,
has been the theatre of some of the most exciting and interest-
ing events in Indian history, previous to the arrival of the
' white man.' It was the metropolis of a portion of the Ojibwa
and Ottawa nations. It was there that their Congresses met, to
adopt a policy which terminated in the conquest of tho country
south of it ; it was there that the trampi.ig feet of thousands of
plumed and painted warriors shook Pc'quod'e'nong — the In-
dian name — while dancing their war dances ; it was from
thence that the startling sound of the war yell of these thou-
sands was wafted to the adjacent coasts and islands, making
the peaceful welkin ring with their unearthly shouts of victory
or death."

MACKINAC ISLAND, CONCLUDED.

147

With this glance at the surroundings of Mnckinac, the fol-
lowing table of altitudes will appropriately close the chapter. It
is di^wn from Professor Winchell's Geological Report for 1S60 :

Localities.

Lake Huron

Fort Mackinac

Fort Holmes

Robinson's Folly

Bluff facing Round Island

Summit of Sugar Loaf

Chimney Rock

Lover's Leap

Top of Arch at Arch Rock

Highest Summit of Arch Rock

Top of Buttress facing Lake at Arch Rock
Principal Plateau of Mackinac Island. . . .

Upper Plateau of Mackinac Island

Lake Superior

Feet Above
Lake Huron.

127

M7
284

HS
140
149
los

150
294

Feet Above
the Sea.

578
728
897
70s
725
862
709

723
718
727
683
728
872
627

148

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

; n

. ■^ ■ " : ^ ■'

CHAPTER X.

MACKINAC AS A HEALTH RESORT.

Mackinac as a health resort is unsurpassed, its cool air
and pure water, together with its natural beauties and historic
associationij, ai'e just what are needed to bring back the glow
of health to the taded cheek, and send the warm currents of
life dancing through the system with youthful vigor.

In Mackinac, you eat with a new relish, and sleep as when
a child. You row, you ramble like boys and girls, scarcely
able to keep your buoyancy within bounds. You need to set
a double guard about your dignity, lest it escape you entirely.

But it is unnecessary for us to bear testimony on this sub-
ject, when so many more competent witnesses are at hand.

The following letter by Dr. Mills, A. A. Surg., U. S. A.,
shows the philosophy of the health-restoring circumstances
which surround the invalid on this island :

Fort Mackinxc, Micii., May 2, 1870.
Jiev. Jas. A. Van Fleet .

Dear Sir, — In complying with your request for my views
on Mackinac as a resort for invalids, I will be as brief as pos-
sible. I have been a resident upon the island during the period
of nearly three years, engaged in civil and military practice,
and therefore have had something of an opportunity for forming
an opinion upon that subject.

In the first place, there arc two governing ideas in the
selection of places of resort for those in ill health. If possible
that locality should be sought which will most probably be the
means of a permanent cure. When such a result is beyond

MACKINAC AS A HEALTH RESORT.

149

hope, the present comfort of the patient stands next in import-
ance. That place, therefore, which affords the greatest num-
ber of health-giving and comfort-giving elements, will meet
the wants of the largest class. But no single locality can be
expected to meet the wants of all. No land of bliss, where
joys are unalloyed, has as yet been discovered. There are
certain places adapted to the wants of particular cases. In the
selection of these, accurate knowledge and sound judgment
should be the constant guides. The hinly-burly, hap-hazard
manner in which people post off to some celebrated locality,
in search of health, is an illustration of the kind of reasoning
almost unconsciously employed by many, who upon other sub-
jects are considered sound thinkers : the old doctrine over
again, " What's good for one tiling must be good for another."
Hence the crowds which throng the springs and the wells, all
undergoing the same internal and external (!■ cnchings, in the
endeavor to cui-e almost as many different diseases as there are
people on the grounds. There is undoubtedly much benoht to
be derived from the judicious use of water. No one will deny
that the springs of the country are the sources of many blebS-
ings. Yet many weak, debilitated, half dead men, women
and children have had the last sparks of vitality drowned out
of them, in the blind routine of water cure ; while others with
good constitutions, who only needed a thorough cleansing ot
the cutaneous surfaces, which they should have had at home,
for decency's sake, have returned to the bosom of their families
rejoicing in the wonderful efficacy of the springs. I have no
word of condemnation for the springs. I do not deny the
medicinal qualities of many of them. But the absurdity of
the manner in which they are resorted to, without competent
advice, and often to the actual injury of those fondly seeking a
cure, must be obvious to all.

Mackinac is available as a place of resort for health and
pleasure at present only in summer; but the time is not far
distant when it will be as noted as a resort for invalids in win-
ter as it is now in summer.

w ■

ui i;

H: !'

150

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

Its position geographically and hydrographically is such
as to render the temperature at all seasons of the year moderate
and uniform. This is the first and most important in the list
of health-restoring and health-preserving influences to be
enumerated in connection with this place. This is the central
fact, around which all the others arrange themselves. It is in
the mildness and uniformity of its temperature that the superi-
ority of Mackinac as a jDlace of resort exists. It is this that
causes thousands to come here annually to spend the " heated
term." This is well shown by an examination of the follow-
ing table :

DEGREES OF MEAN, MONTHLY, AND EXTREME TEMPERATURE, FOR A

SERIES OF YEARS.*

LOCALITY.

Mackinac Island,

Montreal

Albany, N. Y.,...,

Omaha, Neb.,

Chicago,

Detroit,

Mich.

<'P.^A^

3 I §■ tl! o I u

u I :

i9;iS 26:37;4,S|57;65 64 55 .(SLhIzj
1416 2840 S3 66 70 fyVsg 4Sl32;ig
•24 25 35 47 "" '''''^7^ 70 <^' ^'g'iol'iS
»Q 2.S M S-2 <'-2i7.? 76 75 ^'<'' 5^1.3'' 2'j

24l2S'.5^,4'5'5''"''3i7'K«^''''"|49,.'?S|2Q'
27|i7|3SS'3iS''^<56 7o|68i6oJ48|28|37|

Philadelphia, Pa., 1 13^35 4° 5' 'sy 69175173 6^54:44 35

Cincinnati, O., | 30 3i 44 58,61 71 I74I73 CvSls, 41 34

St, Paul, Minn. I14I1831 46 sq 68 73 7'' 59 47 3^ '7

St. Louis, Mo., !l.33'3Sl44SS;66 74,79177169:55411341

23
36

1 "

X E I O

-^" 6
'A

24
37
28

20
26

90
102
99

95
98
106 tig

100 3S

loS i23

♦Climatology of United States, by Lorin Blodget: 1857.

By this table it will be seen that the extremes of heat and
cold are not only not as great in Mackinac as in other places
east and west on the sajne parallel, but even in places much
farther south. At Montreal, during the time embraced in the
table, the mercury has been as low as 36 degrees below zero,
and as high as 102 above. At St. Paul, on nearly the same
parallel, the greatest degree of cold designated is 57 degrees
below zero, and of heat, 100 above. At St. Louis, hundreds
of miles farther south, the table shows that the mercury has
been as low as 25 degrees below zero, and as high as loS
above. By looking at the figures opposite Mackinac, it will be

MACKINAC AS A HEALTH RESORT.

151

seen that 33 degrees below zero is the lowest, and 90 above
the highest mark of the mercury. During my residence here,
however, the mercury has but once been as low as 19 degrees
below zero. This was during the winter of 1S67 and 186S.
During the winter of 1S68 and 1S69, 16 degrees below zero
was the coldest. During the past wmter 13 degrees below
occurred but once.

Why this difierence in favor of Mackinac ? In my opin-
ion it is owing principally to the influence of the large bodies
of water which surround it ; Lake Superior on the north-west,
Huron on the east and south, and Michigan on the south and
west. By a well known law in physics, heat is absorbed or
rendei'ed latent in the passage of any substance from the solid
to the fluid and from the fluid to the gaseous states ; and con-
versely, heat is given out or rendered sensible in the passage
of any substance from tlie gaseous to the fluid, and from the
fluid to the solid states. To illustrate : Take a single pound
of ice. The thermoineter shows its temperature to be 32 de-
grees Fahrenheit. Now, if just enough heat be applied to this
pound of ice to change it from the solid to the fluid state, and
the temperature of the water thus produced is immediately
tested, it will be found to be only 33 degrees F., the same as
found in testing tlie temperature of the ice before the applica-
tion of heat. Here has been an expenditure of heat in the
process of liquefaction. By accuuite measurement it bus been
found that 140 degrees of heat are necessary for this change
from ice to water. If, again, heat is applied to this water, the
temperature will continue to rise until it reaches 213 degrees,
the ordinary boiling point of water. But all attempts to heat
this water above that point will be in vain. Why? Because
heat is necessary for the transformation of water into steam,
and every degree of heat which is now added will be consumed
or rendered latent in this process. The reverse process is
naturally attended by the opposite result. Hence the philos-
ophy of the warming of buildings by steam. Wherever the
steam comes in contact with objects sufficiently cold to reduce

152

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

it to a lower degree than 212, it immediately becomes con-
densed into water, giving out its surplus heat. The same is
true in the transformation of water into ice.

In summer the evaporating surface of these lakes is very
extensive, and the influence on the climate at Mackinac and
places thus centrally located is, as a consequence, very great.
The amount of water which escapes into the air as vapor, in a
single summer day, from the surface of these lakes, would
astonish one who has not accurate information upon this
subject.

Of a necessity the amount of heat drawn from the sur-
rounding atmosphere will corres^oond. In winter, in accord-
ance with this law, the changing of vapors into water, and
water into ice, ojierates in the opposite direction, and heat is
given out or rendered sensible. Thus these immense bodies of
water become the regulators of the climate, both in summer
and winter. Not only are great extremes of heat and cold
thus prevented, but also the sudden daily changes which occur
in many other places, to the great discomfort and injury of all,
and especially the invalid.

Growing out of its position and resulting temperature is
another important item in the consideration of Mackinac as a
health resort ; i. e., the ■purity and btwyancy of the atmos-
phere. The amount of heat is insufficient for the extensive
production of miasmatic, disease-generating exhalations, which
are so destructive in warmer climates. Even if this were not
the case, the absence of swamps and marshes, and disgusting
cesspools, sufHciently insures atmospaeric purity. The
amount of oxygen in a given measure of air, as compared
with that in warmer climates, accounts, in part at least, for its
buoyant, exhilarating etlects. Tlrus, in cjnsequencc of the
mild, uniform temperature, the atmosjDherc in summer is cool
and agreeable, free from floating poisons, and well stocked
with life and health giv'.ig principles.

The water, though containing considerable lime, is free
from noxious impurities. The pebbles on the bottom of the

MACKINAC AS A HEALTH RESORT.

153

lake can be seen when the lake is still, on a fair day, at the
depth of many feet. Its average temperature is about 42 de-
grees. In favorable localities, however, where it is shallow
and the rays of the sun are direct upon it, the temperature is
raised sufficiently for pleasant bathing. In a medical point of
view, these lakes furnish a very important article of food —
trout and white fish. Nothing is better calculated to meet the
wants of overtaxed brains and nerves.

As a summer resort it is probably unsurpassed. It is
easily accessible by short and pleasant water routes, and the
influences which cluster around the lovely spot are adapted
equally well to the treatment of the infirmities of the mind and
body. A cheerful, hopeful state of mind is of the greatest
importance in the treatment of disease. This once esta1)lished,
the physician can begin to feel that his eftbrts may be of some
avail ; but otherwise, remedies and advice alike are useless.

The view of the island at a distance, if approached on a
plea.'anf day, either from Lake Huron or Lake Michigan, is
highly pleasing, especially to those from the crowded city or
the interior of the country. The valetudinarian is inclined to
forget his maladies in his admiration of the beauty of the pic-
ture before him. And the first impressions are not only con-
firmed by a sojourn upon the island, but new pleasures, and
new sources of amusement and recreation, are constantly
springing up to engage the attention. The views which can
easily be obtained from various poitits, and of which one never
tires, are unsurpassed in beauty and love^' .ess. No pen can
adequately describe them. Again, the auady walks and beau-
tiful drives which radiate from the ','illage to various points of
natural and historical interest, are the sources of much enjoy-
ment.

When rock, and cave, and battle-field, and other objects of
interest, have received their share of time and attention, and a
change is desired, the MaciJnac boats — famous for the fiUc
that never was serious accident known to occur to one of them,
when handled by Mackinac men — lie waiting nei'r the beach

154

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

ready for an excursion upon the lake. Round Island, Bois
Blanc, Mackinaw City, (Old Mackinaw,) Point St. Ignace,
and many other places of interest, are within a few hours' sail.
Overcoat and gloves for gentlemen, and furs for ladies, should
be the invariable companions, no matter how warm and pleas-
ant the day, for winds are fickle and the hour of return uncer-
tain. A basket of edibles will sometimes meet an unexpected
demand. Gun and fishing-tackle will add to the interest of the
occasion, especially if the trip extends into the duck and brook-
trout regions.

If exercise of the muscle as well as diversion of mind is
desired, and this is a healthy combination, a supply of skiiVs
is ever at hand. By these a trip to the surrounding islands, or
the noted places along the beacli around Mackinac can be
safely made in a few hours. But those who wish to make
more extended or more rapid voyages can avail themselves of
the small steamers which belong in this locality. Some have
complained of the mosquitoes and black flies in their sallies to
the main land, but it is said that the odor of carbolic acid re-
moves this annoyance. From my experience in the use of the
article in hospital practice, I am inclined to think this will
accomplish the purpose.

These are some of the favorable circumstances which sur-
round the invalid at Mackinac. It will be seen at once that
they take a wide range in their therapeutic application. I have
great confidence in medicines timely iXWiX judiciously adminis-
tered. But in very many, especially chronic cases, I have still
greater confidence in the efficacy of these hygienic agencies.
It would be far from rational, however, to discard either. The
combination of the two, in accordance with the necessities of
each case, will be followed by the happiest results. Science
and Practice alone are competent to decide the proportion of
each required.

One will now almost instinctively come to something of a
conclusion as to the class of cases to which this place is best
adapted. In fact the hygienic influences are so varied in char-

MACKINAC AS A HEALTH RESORT.

155

acter, so extensive in range, tliat there is very little liability
to mistake. iJuring my residence hero, very few invalids
hnve come under my notice who have not received more or
less benefit before their departure. Instead, therefore, of at-
tempting to enumerate the diseases or conditions to the treat-
ment of which this place is favorable, it will take much less
time to designate those to which a sojourn here is thought to
be unfavorable.

It is perhaps unnecessary to say that in all acute cases of
Inflammation, the patient should remain at home until the
crisis is passed. When the stage of debility comes on, how-
ever, Mackinac may prove highly beneficial in promoting a
rapid recovery.

I would advise no one who is thought to be rapidly ap-
proaching dissolution to think of coming here as a last resort.
The unavoidable fatigue and exposure incident to the journey,
will greatly overbalance all the good results to be hoped for.
Home, quiet, peaceful home, is the place for such.

Those in the last stages of Consumption are not usually
benefitted. Invalids of this class seem to think the air •' lou
strong" for their " weak lungs," to use their own terms. The
sot "cwhat increased moisture of the atmosphere, over th'at of
places inland, is also supposed to act unfavorably.

Those suffering from Asthma are in some instances ren-
dered more comfortable, and in others less. It is impossible to
say what the effect will be until the trial is made.

Rheumatism is not usually a severe disease here, but it is
perhaps more frequent than any other.

Intermittent, RemiLent, and Typhoid Fever are very sel-
dom, if ever, known to originate here ; but occasionally those
coming from miasmatic districts, upon their arrival, show
symptoms of these disorders, in a mild form. They come
charged with a poison and the change is the occasion of its
working oft'. This is usually soon over with, however, and no
more fever and ague is heard of until a new stock of the ma-
larial poison is obtained outside. This was quite forcibly illus-

:fi

156

OLI> AND NEW MACKINAC.

tratcd in the cases of several soldiers now stationed at this
post. This company arrived here from New Orleans in May,
1S69. During the three months following there were several
cases of Intermittent Fever. But in every instance these cases
were easily controlled in two or three days, and relapses were
very unusual.

I have not seen a well marked case of Typhoid Fever on
the island.

In most Chronic Diseases this locality usually proves
highly beneficial. The supporting of the vital powers I • one
great object to be aimed at in the treatment of all cases —
especially chronic. I am not one of those, however, who, in
their blind adoration of " Supporting Treatment" forget the
specific disease, the cause perhaps of the whole difficulty, and
neglect its treatment, when it is possible to reach it. The two
must go hand in hand. There are general remedies which
apply to almost all cases ; at the same time each case requires
additional specific treatment according to character of the spe-
cific disease, age, sex, temperament, and a thousand other cir-
cumstances which go to make up the case. As the science of
the practice of medicine advances, the great, and imtil recently
quite unrecognized truth, stands forth in more glowing light ;
that cases are to be treated and not diseases alone. The dis-
ease is only a part, often a small part, of what goes to
make up the case. Medication therefore, though it properly
holds a secondary therapeutic relation as compared with gene-
ral hygienic measures, is none the less important. Both are
essential.

In recommending this place to invalids, I would refer
especially to that large class of cases which comes under the
head of general debility. It is unnecessary to go into exten-
sive specifications. They are at once recognized in men,
women, and children, by a weakly, sickly appearance, low
vital powers, feeble pulse, coated tongue, pale or sallow skin,
want of appetite, the functions of the various organs of the
body inadequately performed and vario' ; other unhealthy con-

MACKINAC AS A HEALTH KFISOKT.

157

ditions. No better place can be found for sickly chlerotic girls
and puny boys ; worn out men and women, whether suffering
from overworked brain or muscle. No better jolace can be
found for tliosc inclined to Ilypocliondriacy. A change from
the tiresome sameness of home scenes cannot fail to do good.

Those cases of consumption which are not far advanced
are often greatly benefitted.

Bowel complaints seldom prevail. Hence this is a good
place for infants and children during the hot summer months.

It is not necessary to continue the enumeration. I have
attempted thus hastily to put forth some general ideas which
might serve as guides to those of your readers who may have
occasion to avail themselves of a resort for health or pleasure.

I liave the honor to be sir, very respectfully, your obedient

servant,

H. R. Mills, M. D.,

Post Siirgeon.

The following extracts are from the pen of Daniel Drake,
M. D., who, in a professional cajDacily, visited the island in
1842. In his " Discourses on Northern Lakes and Southern
Invalids " we find the following :

" When the south-west winds, which have traversed tlie
vast plains separating the Gulf of Mexico from the lakes, reach
the shores of the latter, they are necessarily dry and hot.
Hence the temperature of Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland, Sandusky,
Toledo, Detroit, and Chicago, in the average latitude of 43°,
is quite as great as their position shoidd experience — greater,
perhaps, than the traveler from Louisiana or Carolina would
expect. But the duration of these winds is at no time very
long, and whenever they change to any point of the compass
north or west, they bring down a fresh and cool atmosphere to
revive the constitutions of all whom they had wilted down.
These breathings from the north descend from the highlands
around Lake Superior, which are nearly as elevated above the
sea as the mountains of Pennsylvania, and stretch oft' beyond

I5S

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

the sources of the Missi.ssippi to the Rocky Mountains. In
passing over that hike, witli Alichigan and Huron immediately
south of it, the temperature of which, in summer, as we have
already seen, is less tlian 60°, these winds sufler little increase
of heat, and become so charged with moisture from the extend-
ed watery surface as to exert on the feelings of the people along
the southern shores of Erie and Michi<;aa a most refreshing; in-
fluence.

"From the hour that the voyager enters Lake Huron, at
the head of St. Clair River, or Michigan, at Chicago, he ceases
however, to feel the need of such breezes from the north-west,
for the latitude which he has then attained, in connection with
the great extent of the deep waters, secures to him an invigorat-
ing atmosphere, even while summer rages with a withering en-
ergy in the South. The axis of each of these lakes is nearl}' in
the meridian, and every turn made by the wheels of his boat
carries him further Into the temperate and genial climate of
the upper lakes. Entering it by either of the portals just men-
tioned, he soon passes the latitude of 44°, and has then escaped
from the region of miasmas, mosquitoes, congestive fevers, calo-
mel, intermittants, ague cakes, liver diseases, jaundice, cholera
morbus, dyspepsia, blue devils, and duns ! — on the whole of
which he looks back with gay indifierence, if not a feeling of
good-natured contempt. •

" Ever3'\vhere on the shores of the lakes, from Ontario to
Superior, if the general atmosj^here be calm and clear, there is,
in summer, a refreshing lake and land breeze : the former com-
mencing in the forenoon, and, with a capricious temjjer, con-
tinuing most of the day ; the latter setting in at night, after the
radiation from the ground has reduced its heat below that of
tlie water. These breezes are highly acceptable to the voyager
while in the lower lake region, and by no means to be despised
after he reaches the upper.

" But the summer climate of the lakes is not the only
source of benefit to invalids, for the agitation imparted by the
by the boat on voyages of several days' duration, through waters

-yt

MACKINAC AS A HEAI/ni IIRSOUT.

159

which are never stagnant and sometimes rolling, will be found
among the most efficient means of restoring health in many
chronic diseases, especially those of a nervous character, such
hysteria and hypochoiuhiacism.

" Another source of benefit is the excitement imparteil by
the voyage to the faculty of observation. At a watering-place
all the features of the surrounding scenerv are soon familiarized
to the eye, which then merely wanders over the commingled
throngs of valetudinarians, doctors, dancers, idlers, gamblers,
coquettes, and dandies, whence it soon returns to inspect the
infirmities or tedium vitcc of its possessor ; but on protracted
voyages through new and fresh regions, curiosity is stirred up
to the highest pitch, and pleasantly gratified by tlie hourly un-
folding of fresh aspects of nature — some new blending of
land and lake ; a group of islands diflcrent from the last ;
aquatic fields of wild rice and lilies ; a rainbow walking on the
' face of the deep ;' a water-spout, or a shifting series of painted
clouds seen in the kaleidoscope of heaven.

" But the North has attractions of a difierent kind, which
should draw into its summer bosom those who seek health and
recreation in travel. From Ontario to Michigan the voyager
passes in the midst of spots consecrated to the heart of every
American, and deeply interesting to all who delight to study
the history of their native land. The shores and waters of the
lakes, so often reddened with the blood of those who fought and
died in the cause of their country, will present to the traveler of
warm and patriotic feelings scenes which he cannot behold
without emotion, under which real diseases may abate, and the
imaginary be forgotten."

After briefly alluding to the mixed French and Indian pop-
ulation around the head of the lakes, he thus continues :

" But a different inhabitant, of more interest than either to
the dyspeptic and the gourmand, is the celebrated white-fish,
which deserves to be called by its classical name, coregonus
albus^ which, liberally translated, signifies food of the nymphs.
Its flesh, which in the cold and clear waters of the lake, organ-

f.t'

1 60

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

ized and imbued with life, is liable but to this objection — that
he who tastes it once will thenceforth be unable to relish that
of any other fish.

" The island of Mackinac is the last, and, of the whole, the
most important summer residence to which we can direct the
attention of tlie infirm and the fashionable. True, it has no
mineral springs, but living streams of pure water, cooled down
to the temperature of 44"^, gushing from its lime-rock precipices,
and an atmosphere never sultry or malarious, supercedes all
necessity for nauseating solutions of iron, sulphur, and epsom
salts. An ague, contracted below, has been known to cease
even before the patient had set his foot on the island, as a bad
cold evaporates under the warm sun in a voyage to Cuba. Its
rocky, thougli not infertile, surface, presents l)ut few decom-
posable matters, and its summer heats are never great enough
to convert those few into miasms.

" Situated in the western extremity of Huron, within view
of the s<:raits which connect that lake with Michigan, and al-
most in sight, if forest did not interpose, of the portals of Lake
Superior, this celebrated island has long been, as it must con-
tinue to be, the capital of the upper lakes. The steamboats
which visit the rapids of the St. Mary and Green Bay, not less
than the daily line from Buffalo to Milwaukee and Chicago, are
found in its harbor, and the time cannot be remote wlien a
small packet will ply regularly between it and the first. By
these boats the luxuries of the Soutli, brought fresh and succu-
lent as when first gathered, are supjjlied every day. But the
potatoes of this island, rivalling those of the banks of the Shan-
non, and tlie white-fish and trout of the surrounding waters,
yielding only to those of Lake Superior, render all foreign deli-
cacies superfluous. We must caution the gourmand, however,
against tlie excessive use of t"ort, {sal/no amct/iystcs^) ^vhich
arc said to produce drowsiness , for he who visits Mackinac
should sleep but little, lest tome -ene of interest should pass
away unobserved."

MACKIXAC AS A HEALTH UESORT.

l6l

The same author, in his " Diseases of the Mississippi Val-
ley," thus alludes to Mackinac :

" The three great reservoirs of clear and cold water —
Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior, with the island of
Mackinac in their hydrographical centre — offer a delightful hot
weather asylum to all invalids who need an escape from crowd-
ed cities, paludal exhalations, sultry climates, and officious med-
ication. Lake Erie lies too far south, aud is bordered with too
many swamps, to be included in the salutiferous group. The
voyage from Buffalo, Cleveland, or Sandusky, on that lake, or
from Chicago or Milwaukee, on Lake Michigan, may afford,
should the wa'er be agitated, all the benefits of sea-sickness,
without its ted.'ous prolongation. On reaching Mackinac an
agreeable change of climate is at once experienced, and the
bodily feeling is heightened by the emotions which the evidence
and consciousness of having retreated upon an island raise in
the mind of one who has not before enjoyed the novelty of an
insular life. To his jaded sensibilities all around him is fresh
and refreshing ; a feeling of security comes over him, and when,
from the rocky battlements of Fort Mackinac, he looks down
upon the surrounding waters, they seem a moat of defense
against the host of annoyances f'om which he had sought a
refuge. Thus the curative stite of mind begins to act on his
body from the moment of his landing, and if he be a person of
intelligence and taste, this salutary mental excitement will not
soon die away ; for the historic associations, not less than the
scenery of this island, are well fitted to maintain it.

"From the summit of the island the eye rests upon a num-
ber of spots consecrated to military history. But the natural
scenery is still better fitted to make the invalid forget his ailments.
Several agreeable and exciting boat voyages maybe made to the
neighboring coasts, from eacli of winch a new aspect may be
had, and the island itself, although but nine miles in circuit, af-
fords opportunities for a great variety of rambling on foot. In
these excursions he may ascend to the apex of the island, once
the site of a fort. From this summit, elevated far above all that

162

OLD AND XEW AIACKIXAC.

■m ■'

>k-''

surrounds it, the panorama is such as would justify the epithet
to Mackinac — Qiieen of the Isles. To the west are the indent-
ed shores of the upper peninsula of Michigan ; to the south,
those of the lower, presenting in the interior a distant and
smoky line of elevated table-land ; up the straits green islets
may be seen peeping above the vvatcrs ; directly in front of the
harbor Round Island forms a beautiful foreground, while the
larger, I3ois Blanc, with its light-house, stretches off to the east ;
and to the north ai'e other islands at varying distances, which
comjolete the archipelago.

" When the observer directs his eye upon the waters more
than the land, and the day is fair, with moderate wind, he finds
the surface as variable in its tints as if clothed in a robe of
changeable silk. Green and blue are tlie governing hues, but
they flow into each other with such facility and frequency that
while still contemplating a particular spot, it seems, as if by
magic, transformed into another ; but these mid-day beauties
vanish before those of the setting sun, when the boundless hori-
zon of lake and land seeins girt around with a fiery zone of
clouds, and the brilliant drapery of the skies paints itself upon
the surface of the waters. Brief as they are beautiful, these
evening glories, like spirits of the air, quickly pass away, and
the gray mantle of night warns the beholder to depart for the
village while he may yet make his way along a narrow and
rocky path, beset with tufts of prickly juniper. Having re-
freshed himself for an hour, he may stroll out upon the beach
and listen to the serenade of the waters. Wave after wave will
break at his feet over tlie white pebbles, and return as limpid
as it came. Up the straits he will see the evening star dancing
on the ruffled surface, and the loose sails of the lagging schoon-
er flapping in the fitful land-breeze, while the milky way —
Death's Path of the red man — will dimly appear in the
waters before him !"

The following extracts are just to the point, and will meet
with a hearty response from the thousands who have experi-
enced similar sensations in visiting Mackinac :

MACKINAC AS A HEALTH RESORT.

163

" Mackinaw, Mich., August 7, 1856.

* * * " Yours of July 20th has been forwarded to me
at this place, whither I have come in search of the fugitive,
health — at least, to escape from the debilitations of our summer
heats. I wish you were here ! It is a fortnight to-day since we
arrived, and such paradisiacal weather as we have had ! just
warm enough not to be cold, and just cold enough not to be
warm. Only one thing is wanting to me, and I should thrive
like a green bay tree, and that is the home diet.

" Last night we had some commotion among the elements,
and to-day it is cloudy, and a fire is comfortabie. But a few
whifTs of this air would make your luugs give a hygienic laugh,
I am sorry to hear there are any symptoms in your throat or
elsewhere which give 3'ou present discomfort or forebodings. I
am afraid of that Eastern climate for your lungs. I do not be-
lieve that air will ever agree with you. It requires a Boreas to
blow it, and none but a Boreas can breathe it. * * *

" Horace Mann."

"Mackinaw, Mich., August 6, 1S57.
* * * " Here we all are at Mackinaw, and enjoying
ourselves too well not to tell you about it, and to wish you were
here with us. The climate, the air, etc., perform the promise
made last year, and, as all the family arc with me, I enjoy vastly
more than I did last year. I never brcathea "uch air before,
and this must be some that was clear out of Eden, and did not
get cursed. I sleep every night under sheet, blanket, and cov-
erlet, and no day is too warm for smart walking and vigorous
bowling. The children are craz}' with animal spirits, and eat
in such a way as to demonstrate the epigastric paradox that
the quantity contained may be greater than the container. I
verily believe if you would spend one summer here — say from
about the middle of July to the middle of September — it would
make your brain as good as Samuel Downer's brain ever was
since it occupied its present cranium, and that is saying a great
deal. * * * Horace M.vnn."

164

OLD AND NEAV MACKINAC.

CHAPTER XI.

MACKINAW CITY.

The Straits of ISIackinaw, as we have seen, have been the
theatre of interesting and exciting events from the earliest times
down to the present. While the whole southern portion of the
State was yet a wilderness which no white man had ever pene-
trated, Mackinaw was the home of the missionary, the trader,
and the soldier, and the center of a valuable and fast increasing
traffic with the Indians of the North-west.

And it was from Mackinaw, as a center, that colonization
spread through the surrounding country. Detroit was settled
in I'joi, by Cadilac, who for several years had commanded at
Mackinaw. The history of Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well
as other Northwestern States, must begin with a notice of this
point, because the earliest settlers of these States started out
from Mackinaw, and the j^eriod is yet within the memory of
many now living on tliis island when Chicago came to Macki-
naw for supplies.

These arc significant facts. The early Jesuits and tradei's
fixed upon Mackinaw as a basis of their missionary and com-
mercial operations, not by mere chance, but because of its nat-
ural advantages. Mackinaw is a historical centre because it is
a geographical and commercial center. Nature alone has given
it its advantages and made it what it has been in history. For
a series of years, however, its natural advantages seemed to be
overlooked, and the surging wave of poj^ulation rolled across
vSouthern Michigan and so on to the westward. Yet it has
never been quite forgotten, and at the present time we believe
it to be gradually rising into favor, owing to the fact that it is
better kno\vn and better appreciated than ever before.

MACKINAW CITY.

165

But we do not propose to enter into any elaborate discus-
sion of its merits. We wish simply to set forth a few facts
relative to an enternrlse just now attracting some attention.
Ferris, in his " States and Territories of the Great West,"
makes the following mention of the straits : " If ons were to
point out on the map of North America a site for a great cen-
tral city in the lake region, it would be in the immediate vi-
cinity OF THE Straits of Miciiilimackinac. A city so
located would have the command of the mineral trade, the
Jishcries^ the furs^ and the lumber of the entire North. It
might become the metropolis of a great commercial empire.
It would be the Venice of the lakes." In 1S53 !Mr. Edgar
Conkling, then of Cincinnati, with something of the same ap-
preciation of this point, secured a large tract of land on the
south side of the straits. In 1S57-5S he surveyed the city
site, but the financial revulsion at that time and the war which
soon followed prevented further ojDcrations until the present.
During the past winter a good dock has been constructed and
preparations are fast being made to build up the new city.
The streets, as surveyed, arc eighty feet in width, and the ave-
nues one hundred and one hundred and fifty feet, respectively,
and are to be forever unobstructed by improvements of any
kind, shade trees alone excepted. The lots, with the exception
of those in fractional blocks are fifty by one hundred and fifty
feet. Old Mackinaw Point, where may still be seen the ruins
of the old "Fort Miciiilimackinac," has been resp""cd for a
park. It is now in a state of nature, but in this instance nature
has done more unassisted by art than is often accomplished by
both combined. A richer and more beautiful variety of ever-
greens can nowhere be found than here, and " when the skill-
ful hand of the horticulturist has marked its outlines and thread-
ed it with avenues and footpaths, pruned its trees and carpeted
its surface with green, it will present the very perfection of all
that constitutes a park deligluful." Suitable blocks and lots
for county and city buildings, school-houses, churches, and insti-
tutions of learning and charity, will be donated for their respect-

1 66

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

ive pui'poscs whenever the proper authorities are prepared to
select suitable sites. There are three good harbors on the east,
north, and west sides of the city, respectively. The soil is
sandy and the land sufficiently elevated above the level of the
water to warrant an entire absence of mud forever. "There
are no marshes, no tide-covered sands, no flood-washed banks,
no narrow and isolated rocks or. ridges to intercei^t the progress
of commercial growth and activity. On the contraiy, the lake
rises under the heaviest rains but little, and breaks its waves on
a dry shore raised far above its level."

At a comparatively recent date large ac)ditions have been
made to this property, so that now the real estate interests of
the enterprise cover an area of about thirty-fi'.'e thousand acres,
seven thousand of which lie on the north side, upon the upper jDe-
ninsula. Much of this land abounds in the elements of wealth
and prosperity. There may be found peat and hard wood suit-
able for smelting and manufacturing iron and copper; gyp-
sum in abundance ; " stone for water lime, building stone, and
building lime," while all geologists agree that the salt formation
underneath its surface will richly reward all who turn their at-
tention to the manufactine of that indispensable article.

The noiicy of the proprietor of this enterprise is at once
liberal and enlightened. Every legal measure will be taken to
exclude forc'er the sale of alcohol as a beverage, thus insuring
the future inb.abitants freedom from midnight brawls and drunk-
en revels. The public wants are to '.,e liberally provided for,
and the whole property finally devoted to the building up and
endowment of a '•'• grand^ naiiotial^ unscctarian^ Christian
University," and will be placed 'n the hands of responsible
trustees whenever the public is t ;ady to make the enterprise
its own. Such arc the facts as they have been communicated
to us.

The idea of a univcisity at thcr straits may strike some as
premature and uncalled for, bwt two consiilerations are alone
more than sufficient to justify an immediate advance in that di-
rection. First, the health of this region is such as to ensure the

i; *■

MACKIXAW CITY.

167

hisbest success of such an institution. The isothermal line of
Mackinaw is that which has proved the most favorable, both in
Europe and America, for intellectual development.

This all-important and only truly fundamental idea of
health is too often forgotten in the location of institutions of
learning, and, as a consequence, the mind is frequently devel-
oped only at the expense of the body. Men become intellec-
tual giants and physical pigmies at one and the same time.
But the invigorating atmospliere of Mackinaw City will do for
the physical part just \vhat a thorough university course will do
for the mental, and thui a symmetrical and perfect development
will be secured. The facts elucidated in the previous chapter
will prove this.

The health of Mackinaw is not disputed. A second fact
we regard as equally indisputable. A few years will people
Northern Michigan and the unoccupied territory of the North-
west witli tens of thousands, who will need just such an insti-
tution as the one proposed. And besides this " coming popu-
lation," hundreds of the sons and daughters of our more south-
ern and much less healthful cities and towns will be but too
glad to resort to even-tempered Mackinaw to secure an educa-
tion, whenever the proper facilities for that purpose are af-
forded.

That the public attention is already turning this way is too
evident to need proof. The " Northern Pacific" is no longer
a mooted question, but is actually in process of construction,
with a fair prospect of making the straits its eastern terminus,
while several roads from the more southern cities of this and
other states are even now hastening tow.irds Mackinaw to
claim a share of the spoils. The day is not tar in the future
when Mackinaw will be a railroad centre, as it is by nature a
commercial centre, and these roads will all lay their laurels at
the feet of the new city and rising university.

As to the prospects of Mackinaw City and the wealth of
the surrounding country, which must eventually concentrate
here, the following extracts are in point. They are from E.

i68

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

D. Mansfield's Review of " Old Mackinaw," by Strickland, as
published in the Methodist S^iiartcrly Rcviexv for June, iS6i :
" Whoever looks upon the map of North America will be
struck with the singular conformation of both land and water
roundthe Straits of Mackinaw. There is scarcely anything in
Arrjciican geography more remarkable. The vast expanse of
American lakes, flowing through more than two thousand
miles, and covering more than one hundred thousand square
miles of water surface, seems here to concentrate, and the three
great lakes, Superior, Huron, and Michigan — to speak meta-
physically — lay their heads together, as if to consider some no-
table point. Far to the north-west of the straits stretches Lake
Superior, with its clear waters and its pictured rocks. Far to
the south lies Lake Michigan, with its long arm at Green Bay,
while to the south-cast stretch the dark waters of Huron, with
its Manitou Islands and Georgian Sea. But vast as are these
inland seas, they here meet together. Superior forms its waters
through the Sault of St. Mary's ; Michigan rolls through the
Straits of Mackinaw, and the magnificent Huron comes up to
meet them. That a point so remarkable by nature should be-
come equally so in the growth of a young and rising empire,
seems to be a necessary inference from these facts. There are
but few points on the earth which j^resent such striking advan-
tages for the pursuits of commerce. If we look upon the map
of the globe, we shall find, perhaps, only four or five which
have similar features. The Straits of Gibraltar, separating Eu-
rope from Africa ; Constantinople, on the Bosphorus ; Singa-
pore, on the Straits of Malacca ; and the Isthmus of Panama,
are the only ones which now strike us as presenting a parallel.
Singapore has rapidly concentrated Asiatic navigation, and
more various people may be found there than at any ocean
point. Panama is rising to commercial importance with equal
rapidity, while Gibraltar and Constantinople are world-re-
nowned for the value of their positions. Mackinaw jorescnts
nearly the same features. Not only do great inland seas here
meet together, but on every side of these waters press down

MACKINAW CITY.

[69

great districts of land, rich, various, and abundant in their re-
sources. On the north lies the peninsula of Canada, which,
although long regarded as barren and inhospitable, has been
recently proved a country of good soil, abundant water, and
mild climate. To the south is the peninsula of Michigan, now
fast filling up with a thrifty American population. To the west
is the great mining region, where copper and iron seem in-
exhaustible. Thus nature seems to have made this place as
rich in the materials as in the channels of commerce. Nor has
she placed any barriers in the way of its future growth. Con-
stantinople has its plague, and Panama its fevers ; but Macki-
naw, grand in its scenery, and opulent in its resources, is equally
salubrious in its climate, and inviting to the seekers for health,
pleasure, and repose.

" Looking now to the commercial and industrial develop-
ment of that region, we find still more extraordinary results.
Attached to the State of Michigan is the peninsula, which is
inclosed between the Straits of Mackinaw, Lake ^Michigan, and
Lake Superior. For two centuries after the settlement of New
England and New York, the wild, unfrequented, unknown
shores of Lake Superior were unsuspected of any other capacity
for production than those of the forest and the lake. It is only
since 1S46 that its immense beds of iron and copjicr were dis-
covered, and only within the last ten yeai"s that that region has
exhibited a wealth of mineral production which the world can
scarcely parallel on an equal space. No sooner were the facts
known than copper companies (and since iron companies) be-
gan to be formed with the celerity and energy of an excited
speculation. Capital was found in the great cities ready to be
invested in such enterprises, laborers flocked thither, mines
were opened, and now we have immense bodies of copper an-
nually trans2:)orted to Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and other
places, to be smelted. In 1858 the copper ore exported from
points in the Peninsula was. six thousand tons, which yielded
four thousand tons of pure copper, worth two millions of dol-

170

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

I*'

lars. \» hen we consider that this is one-third the amount of
copper produced by Great Britain, and one-seventh of the
whole amount pro(hjccd out of America, we can understand
the value of these mines, which have scarcely been opened ten
years.

" In the same region, and above the Sault of St. Mary, are
iron mines equally extraordinary. The United States has in
various sections immense deposits of iron. But in all the ba-
sins of the lakes there is nothing comparable to this. In the
vicinity of Marquette, a flourishing port of Lake Superior, iron
hills rise from six to seven hundred feet in height, which are
a solid mass of iron ore. When smelted in the furnace they
yield more than half in pure iron of a superior quality, which
is in demand at all the manufacturing towns of the east.

" In the meanwhile the resources of the country which
were obvious to the eye, were naturally sought and developed
by a dirterent class of persons. The fisheries yielded the finest
fish in exhaustlcss quantities, and from Sandusky Bay, in Ohio,
to Superior City, in the wild north-west, the lake salmon and
the Mackinaw trout are transported, like the oysters of the At-
lantic, to gratify the epicurean palate in town and city. These
fisheries have now risen to great importance. They are sup-
posed to exceed in product the whole of the other fresh water
fisheries in the United States. At this time about one hundred
thousand barrels of fish are freighted, and the annual value of
the fisheries amounts to a million of dollars.

" No sooner had civilization penetrated the wilderness of
Lake Supei-ior than another product came into immediate de-
mand. I"ar as the eye could cast its searching glance, or the
traveler penetrate the dark forests of Michigan, of Wisconsin,
or of Canada, there rose the tall, slim trunks, and deep green
foliage of the pine. Here was material in which the people
south and west were deficient. The pines of the Alleghany
and the Susquehanna had begun to diminish. Their stock
would soon be gone, while here stretched away hundreds and
thousands of miles of pine forest. Very soon, as the settle-

MACKINAW CITV.

I'/I

ments began to increase in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minneso-
ta, powerful steam engines were erected on the Saginaw, the
Sable, Traverse Bay, La Crosse River, St. Peter's, and through-
out the pine region, creating at once an immense trade in pine
lumber. The great center of the pineries at this time is in the
lower peninsula of Micliigan, south of old Mackina v. This
lumber region is one of the wonders of our country, and it is
supposed that Michigan is the greatest Jumber region of the
world. Here are not only interminable forests of choice pine,
but water outlets on every side. At the northern extremity are
the Straits of Mackinaw ; at the east, Sagina^v and Sable ; at
the west is Traverse Bay, the Muskegon, and Grand River ;
while to the south is the northern outlet of Lake Erie. On
every side lakes and rivers are ready to transport the products
ot Michigan, which enjoys every ad\antage which belongs to
the northern temperate zone. As this immense production,
this flow inward of the growing population, this growtli of in-
dustry, goes on, there will finally arise a great commercial city
on the straits. Before we speak of this let us glance at the
commerce of the lakes, which has grown already out of this
recent development of mines, and fisheries, and pineries. Even
the people of the United States, accustomed to the rapid growth
of their own country, have scarcely been able to realize that of
this lake commerce.

" But a very few years since scarcely a single steamer pro-
ceeded beyond Detroit, and not five years since the newspapers
announced as an extraordinary event the annual voyage of a
passenger vessel to the upper end of Lake Superior. Recently,
however, the canal round the Saidt of St. Mary has been com-
pleted, and this has given a great impetus to the navigation of
Lake Superior. In 1S54 but 'two steamboats and five sail ves-
sels reached Superior City. In 1S56, two years after, forty
steamers and sixteen sail vessels reached that port. Now, hun-
dreds of vessels navigate that lake from one extremity to the
other. What the commerce of this great northern lake will be
may be judged by the startling facts, that theve are now six

m-^

172

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

tccn luindred vessels navigating the northwestern lakes,
manned by thirteen thousand seamen, and trading with ports
on five thousand miles of lake and river coasts. The exports
and imj^orts amount to hundreds of millions in value, and are
still increasing at a most rapid rate. Since the continuation of
the canal round the Sault of St. Mary, the annual value of ex-
ports and imjoorts which, pass through the Straits of MackinavV
is estimated at one hundred millions of dollars, and this com-
merce of the great lake will flow on till it exceeds that of the
Caspian or the Black Sea ; till its shores shall be lined with
cities, and the story of Marquette, and the victory of Pontiac,
become the classic legends of marveling boyhood. With these
facts before us, it is no surprise to find that while the imme-
diate country round Old Mackinaw is yet a wilderness, an en-
terprising gentleman has laid out a city on the site of ' Old
Mackinaw.' There was one lakl out years before at t'^j upper
end of Lake Superior, and is now a large town, growing with
great rapidity. A/ the Straits of Mackinazv^ as ivell as the
upper end cf Lake Super/or, there must be large cities to
supply the demands of commerce. It is not a matter of
speculation^ but a necessity of nature. The same necessity
has already created Ihiffalo., Toledo., Detroit., Chicago., and
St. Louis. The demand for such tozvns on the shores of
Lakes Huron a?td Superior., and especially at the Straits
of MackinazL'., whose bay and Lake Michigan fow together.,
are obviously far greater than those zvhich have already
caused the growth of Buffalo and Chicago. Tlicy have
grown to supply the commerce of comparatively limited dis-
tricts. One means of testing this is to apply radial lines to
the site of any city existent or proposed, so as to include what
naturally belongs to them, and thus compare them with one
another. Tlic radial lines of New York and Philadelphia ex-
tend across the ocean to Europe on one hand, and across the
mountains to the Valley of tlie Mississippi on the otlicr. In
looking to this fact we are no longer surprised that New York

MACKINAW CITV.

173

has its million of inhnbitants, and riiiladelphia its six luiiulrcil
thousand.

" If we look to the radial lines of Chicaj^o, wc find that
they are limited on the south by the competition of St. Louis,
and on the nortli b)- Milwaukee. Vet Chicajijo, at the southern
end of Lake Michigan, has risen to be a large city l)y a suilden
and extraordinary growth, arising from the rich, though limited
country about it. Apply these radial lines to Mackinaw, and
we find that they naturally include all of Michigan, a large
part of Wisconsin, and a large part of Canada West ; but in
reference to zvater yiavigation^ no interior site ift America
is equal to that of Mackinaxv. Here concentrate the navi-
gation of eighty thousand square inilcs of water surface^
ivhicJt has no common center but that of the Straits of
Mackinaw. Two facts must be observed : that a commercial
point which concentrates the trade of Lakes Superior and
Michigan, must lie within the circuit of their coasts ; but there
is no such point but Mackinaw. The oth-^v is, that the point
of commerce which oilers the shortest distance, and therefore
the cheapest, to the great markets of the Atlantic, will be pre-
ferred. Mackinaw is five hundred miles ix;arer to BulTalo
than is Fond du Lac, and three hundred miles near than Chi-
cago. So it is the same distance nearer to the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, or the ' ity of New York. It is on the south side
only, through the peninsula of Michigan, and toward the
States of Indiana and Ohio, that the position of Mackinaw
seems deficient in communications. But we no sooner see this
than we sec also two great lines of railroad, progressing from
the south through the peninsula toward Mackinaw. The one
passes on the west side from Fort Wayne (Indiana) through
Grand Rapids and Traverse Bay. The other through Lansing
and Amboy ; both terminating on the north at Mackinaw, and
both, by connection with Indiana and Ohio roads, at Cincin-
nati on the south, thence they will soon be carried to the
orange-growing shores of Florida. Thus may some future
traveler be borne in a few hours from the soft air of the south-

tti

174

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

ern Atlantic to the keen breezes of the north, and bathe his
huiguid hmbs in the clear cold waters of Michigan.

" Tlius briefly have we followed the facts presented by
Mr. Strickland, till we find ourselves again standing on the site
of ' Old Mackinaw ; ' no more the single, lonely spot of civil-
ization amid red warriors and Alpine forests, but just emerg-
ing to light amid a wonderful growth of people, of commerce,
of industry, and art. The forests still stand, scarcely broken ;
but the sound of the advancing host, whicli is to level them
with the ground and build up the structures of civil society,
cannot be mistaken. They come with the heavy tread and
confused noise of an army with banners.

" The growth of the American vStates, as we have said,
is from the outer to the inner circles ; from the shores of the
Atlantic and the Pacific, from the Bay of St. Lawrence and
the mouths of the Hudson and the Mississippi, toward the in-
terior. Then we had Boston, New York, Qiiebcc, and New
Orleans, long before we had Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Louis,
and Chicago, which are the second growth when the wave
flowed over the AUeghanics. Again the wave is flowing from
the valleys of the St. Lawrence, the Ohio, and the Mississippi,
into the great central basin of the lakes, which, lying in the
very center of the North American continent, are the last to
receive, as they will ultimately concentrate, the great moving
mass of humanity and civilization. The circles are growing
narrower, and Mackinaw, which was the center of Indian and
of missionary romance, will finally become one of the great
centers of commercial growth and social progress, presenting
the contrast between the solitudes of nature and the wild life
of the Indian, on one hand, with 'lie busy activity of modern
society, its multitude of people, au 1 the wonderful arts.

'' The steady, uninterrupted growth of our country, which
no other nation can now interrupt, aflbrds at once the moral evi-
dence that what we have seen of growth and development in the
past, will be exhibited in a progressive line through the future
till ages have passed away. We have seen from t1 . . little set-

C:.^m»i

CHEBOYGAN.

175

tlements at Plymouth and Jamestown their grachial growth
inward till cities arose along our coasts which rival the largest
of ancient nations. We have seen them again extending along
the Ohio and the ]Mississippi, till great to vns, filled witii com-
merce and with arts, arose upon their bawKs. We have seen
them enter the basin of the lakes, till Buftalo spreads itself
along the rapids of Niagara, till Chicago looms up in a day,
and St. Paid looks down from the far North-Wcst. Why
should not this movement continue? What wljould interrupt
it.'' We may imagine the beautiful shores '/f Hiu'on and Su-
perior alive with the chariots of commerce, and gleaming with
the spires of beautiful towns. Here, where we have stood on
the site of ' Old Mackinaw,' beholding its world of waters, we
seem to sec, shining in the morning sun, some metropolis of
the lakes, some B\zantium, presiding yvcr the seas which lave
its shores. Here, perhaps, in those bright days of triumphant
civilization, some pilgrim student may inquire for the grave of
Marquette, may read the story of Pontiac, and lament the woes
of that , ild nation v.-ho once frequented the shores of Huron,
and sung their last songs round the ' Pequod'e'non'ge ' of the
Indian, the ^/ackinaw of the whites."

CIIEnOVGAN.

This young and thriving town, to which the attention of
the business and pleasure-seeking public is thus respectfully
called, has a pojoulation of about fifteen hundred. It has four
good hotels, ten or twelve stores and groceries, two churches
in process of erection, a jewelry store, furniture store, black-
smith and carriage shops, grist mill, two good shingle mills, six
large saw mills, etc.. etc. Situated at the mouth of the Che-
boygan River, its location is one of the finest and most advan-
tageous in the State.

Six miles in the interior is Mullet's Lake, some twelve
miles in length by five or six in breadtli. vStill further back is
Burt Lake, nearly as large. Other lakes of smaller dimensions

176

OLD AND NEW MACKINAC.

continue the chain to within five miles of Little Traverse, with
a depth of water in the connecting rivers sufficient for small
steam crafts. Three miles above the town Black River pours
into the Cheboygan from the south. This is also navigable for
the distance of nine miles. Numerous smaller rivers empty
into the Black, the sources of which are far in the interior, so
that, in all, between three and four counties ilnd a natural out-
let through the Cheboygan- River.

About one-half of this large tract of country is covered with
a heavy growth of pine, while the other half is as heavily tim-
bered with beech and maple, and will make the best of farming
lands. Cheboygan is the only natural outlet.

These lakes and rivers abound in a great variety of fish —
trout, jDickerel, bass, etc. — and the forests upon their banks are
filled with wild game, thus afibrding sportsmen the largest
scope for enjoyment. No more desirable or satisfactory pleas-
lu-e trip could be made than one up this beautiful chain of lakes
and rivers.

'X^jSmpWiv

ADVEKTISEMENTS.

ill

.it-

ith
m-
ng

1 —
arc
;est
:;as-
.kes

MISSION HOUSE.

E. A. FRANKS, - Proprietor,

MACKINAC, MICH.

This old and favorite Hotel is most delightfully situated on the
romantic Island of Mackinac, within a short distance of the water's
edge, and contiguous to Arch Rock, Sugar Loaf, and other Natural
Curiosities in which this famous island abounds. Eoats to let.

June, 1870.

MCLEOD HOUSE.

R. McLEOD,

Proprietor,

MACKINAC, MICH.

FOR SALE.

The above-mentioned House, containing thirty sleeping rooms,
two parlors, office, barber shop, laundry, bath room, etc., etc., fur-
nished throughout; also, a good horse, cow, buggy, dray, harnesses,
and sltigh, together with the adjoining store-house, formerly head-
quarters of the American Fur Company. Will all be sold for $6,000.
Inquire of or address the proprietor.

Junk, 1870.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

ISLAND HOUSE.

Capt. H. VAN ALLEN, Prop.

MACKINAC, MICH.

B. C. FREEMAN'S

VOICE. WALTZ. AND

QUADRILLE BAND

HAS AGAIN RETURNED FROM CLEVELAND.

And is prepared to furnish Music for Balls, Parties, and Reunions on
sliort notice. Also, Shavin;;- and Hair-Cutting d' e in the best jtyle.
June, 1870.

H. R. MILLS, M. D.,

PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON

MACKINAC, MICHIGAN.

June, 1870.

A. A. SURGEON, U. 3. A.

ADVKUTISEMENTS.

BROMILOW & BxVFES,

MACKINAC. ^riCII.,

And E. E. Rromilow & Co., Cliica-jo, 111., STEAMBOAT, WHARF
AS'D GENERAL STORE.

FISHERMENS' SUPPLIES.

Inspected Fish ibr sale and orders to puirhase solicited.
E. E. liROiMILOW. Chicago. JOHN !)ATES, Mucki/i.tc.

GEORGE W. STIMSON.

N^ACKINAC CITY, MIfll,

REFRESHMENTS

KEPT CONSTANTLY OS HAND.

lodginct furnished, horses to let.

June. 1870

MCKAY HOUSE.

JOHN McKAY, - Proprietor,

CHEBOYGAN, MICH.

GOOD HORSES AND CARRIAGES TO LET.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

THE GRACE DORMER.

This last and Beautiful Steamer will form a daily freight and pas-
senger line between Mackinac Island, Cheboygan, and Mackinac City.
She will also make

PLEASURE EXCURSIONS

FOR WHICH SHE IS ESPECIALLY ADAPTED.

To the Chenoux, Carp River, St. Ignace, LaCrosse Village, the inter-
esting and historic " Old Fort Michilirnackinac," and other places of
interest or pleasure, whenever desired.

CLOSE CONNECTION MADE AT CHE BO TG AN

With smaller boats running to Mullet's and Burt Lake**, etc.

F. M. SAMMONS.
R. PATTERSON,
June, 1S70. O-vncrs. Cheboygan, Mich.

THE MARINE CITY.

This fast and commodious side-wheel .steamek will uxake
Aveekly trips from

DETROIT TO MACKINAC

Touching at Cheboygan, Crawford's Qi arry, Ali'kna, Harris-
viLLE, Sauble, Forestville, and all intermediate Lake Shore
Ports, and connecting at Alpena with the Metropolis for Bay City
and Saginaw. Special attention given to the

SAFETY AND COMFORT OF EXCURSIONISTS

She will leave Detroit every Monday at 10 P. M., and Mackinac
every Thursday at 7 P. M. Fare for the round trip, $12.
Junk, 1870.