LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 Chap.. Copyright No.. 
 
 Shelf.. 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
BAILEY'S out; 
 
 OF 
 
 MACKINAC ISLAl 
 
 SCALE 2 In. To 
 
MACKINAC 
 
 FORMERLY 
 
 MICHILIMACKINAC 
 
 V' 
 
 BY JOHN R. BAILEY, M. D. 
 
 Attending Surgeon, Fort Mackinac, Mich.; (Late) Acting Assistant Surgeon, 
 
 U. S. Army, and Post Surgeon at Fort Mackinac, Mich., Fort Snelling, 
 
 Minn., and Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor, and U. S. Physician 
 
 for the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians at Mtcliilimackinac. 
 
 Brevet Lieut. Col. U. S. Volunteers and (Late) Asst. 
 
 Surgeon and Surgeon Eighth Missouri 
 
 Infantry Volunteers. 
 
 Organizer and first Commander, 1861, New House of Refuge General Hospital, 
 St. Louis, Mo.; Surgeon-in-Chief and Chief of Operating Corps, 2d Div. 15th 
 A. C. ; Chief Medical Officer on Staff of General Morgan L. Smith, Gen- 
 eral Lewis Wallace, General Giles A. Smith, General Lightburn 
 General David Stuart, General William T. Sherman and Gen- 
 eral F. P. Blair, Jr. ; Surgeon in charge of Regimental Hospit- 
 als at St. Louis Arsenal, Mo., Paducah, Ky., Fort Heiman 
 and Crump's Landing, Tennessee River, and Milli- 
 ken's Bend, La ; Special Field and General Field 
 Hospitals at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Russel's 
 House, Corinth, Memphis, Tenn., Chicka- 
 saw Bayou, Miss., Arkansas Post, Ark., 
 and Jackson, Champion Hills, and 
 Vicksburg, Mississippi, Etc., Etc. 
 
 Special Medical Purveyor, Army of the Tennessee, in the Field, 
 at Chattanooga, 1863-4. 
 
 HISTORY AND GUIDE BOOK WITH MAP 
 4TH EDITION, 1899 
 
 ROBERT SiVlITH PRINTING COMPANY 
 LANSING, MICHIGAN 
 
1? 201898 
 
 •ccoMD o&py. 
 
 
 t.^^'^'ioHn R. Bail 
 
 Copyright, IB^S", "By ToBn R. Bailey. 
 
 Copyrig-ht, 1896, by John R. Bailey. 
 
 Copyright, 1897, by John R. Bailey. 
 
 Entered according to act of Congress, in the j-ear 1899, 
 
 BY JOHN R. BAILEY, 
 
 In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 All rights reserved. 
 
 TWO COPIES RECEIVED. 
 
 
 SEi* 1 u 1899 
 
 ^/ 
 
 
THIS VOLUME 
 
 IS, 
 
 WITH LOVE, AND A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT, 
 
 DEDICATED 
 
 TO MY SISTER, 
 
 MARY NEOSHO WILLIAMS, 
 
 WIDOW OF GENERAL THOMAS WILLIAMS, 
 
 U. S. ARMY, 
 
 WHO WAS KILLED AT THE HEAD OF HIS VICTORIOUS TROOPS, 
 
 IN THE BATTLE OF BATON ROUGE, LA., 
 
 AUGUST FIFTH, 
 
 EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-TWO. 
 
 J. R. B. 
 

 Ye say they all have passed away 
 
 That noble race and brave 
 That their light canoes have vanished 
 
 From off the crested wave; 
 That 'mid the forest where they roamed 
 
 There rings no hunter's shout; 
 But their name is on your waters — 
 
 Ye may not wash it out. 
 
 "Ye say their cone-like cabins, 
 
 That clustered o're the vale, 
 Have fled away like withered leaves 
 
 Before the autumn gale; 
 But their memory liveth on your hills, 
 
 Their baptism on your shore; 
 Your everlasting rivers speak 
 
 Their dialect of yore." 
 
PREFACE. 
 Mackinac, formerly Michilimackinac — looking back- 
 wards to about the time of "The Flood" and forward to 
 the present time, has been carefully written, and the 
 following" works and of&cial reports referred to: Mitch- 
 ell's Geography, 1843; Taylor's Manual of History; 
 Michigan Manual; London and Paris State Papers; 
 United States State Papers, and Official Reports; 
 Sketches of the Life of Gurdon S. Hubbard; Letters and 
 Documents of the American Fur Co. ; my own personal 
 copies of Official Letters and Reports, Fort Mackin- 
 ac, Mich.; Memoir of Pere James Marquette, by John R. 
 Bailey, M. D.; Verwyst — Missionary Labors of Mar- 
 quette, Menard and Allouez; Ancient and Mordern 
 Michilimackinac; History of the Ottawa and Chippewa 
 Indians of Michigan (Blackbird's); Van Fleet's Old and 
 New Mackinac; Maps of Mackinac; Palmer's Historical 
 Register, 1814; Shea's Discovery and Exploration of the 
 Mississippi; also, Shea's Catholic Missions; Hennepin; 
 La Hontan, two volumes; Charlevoix, two volumes; 
 Alexander Henr}-; Carver; Disturnell; Newcomb's Cyclo- 
 paedia of Missions; American Missions to the Heathen; 
 Geological Reports by Foster and Whitney, and by 
 Professor Winchell; Thatcher's Indian Biography, two 
 
10 Preface. 
 
 volumes; Strickland's Old Mackinaw; Drake's Northern 
 Lakes and Southern Invalids; also, Diseases of the 
 Mississippi Valley, by the same author; Holme's Ameri- 
 can Annals, two volumes; Robertson's History of Ameri- 
 ca; Bancroft's United States; Bell's Canada, two volumes; 
 Albach's Annals of the West; Lahnman's Michig-an; 
 Sheldon's Early Michigan; Historical and Scientific 
 Sketches of Michig-an; Neill's Minnesota; Smith's Wis- 
 consin, three volumes; Wynne's General History of the 
 British Empire; Rog-er's Concise Account of North 
 America; Dillon's Early Settlement of the Northwestern 
 Territory; Heriot's Canada; Parkman's Pontiac; Park- 
 man's Discovery of the Great West; Schoolcraft's Works, 
 complete; Documentary History of New York, complete; 
 History and Discovery of the North West, Butterfield's; 
 and other works in my library. 
 
 I am under oblig-ation to 1st Lieut. Woodbridg-e 
 Geary, commanding- Fort Mackinac, and David W. 
 Murray, Foley Brothers and Georg-e C. Ketchum, of the 
 Island, for books of reference. 
 
 The historical facts and dates are drawn from books, 
 and matter that has long- been accumulating-, and much, 
 in the last century, from personal observation of over 
 fifty years of life, with the Indians, on the frontiers of 
 our nation. J. R B. 
 
 Mackinac Island, Michigan, May 2^, i8g^. 
 
 Revised, Mackinac Island, Michigan, April 2^, iSgg. 
 
 J. R. B. 
 
MACKINAC, FORMERLY MICHILIMACKINAC. 
 
 "Lo! the poor Indian, whose untutored mind, 
 Sees God in storms and hears Him in the wind." 
 
 GENESIS OF THE INDIAN. 
 
 To ascertain the g-enesis of a race or people we must 
 carry our researches far back of modern times into the 
 reg"ions of antiquity. Man began with a mere existence, 
 his personal wants and desires were all he had to care 
 for. The Indian, like the Caucassian, is a creature of 
 environment. He advanced as his limited resources 
 permitted, or descended to the lowest grade of savagery 
 when driven out by a stronger tribe and forced to 
 extremity. 
 
 When the Spaniards first visited this, then unknown 
 land, they found the inhabitants of the "New World" 
 in the various stages of societ}', from the lowest savage 
 
14 History of Mackinac. 
 
 state to that of a half civilized people. From whence 
 came these tribes and why their various conditions ? 
 They must have migrated from adjacent lands and 
 reached this continent from the near shores of North- 
 eastern Asia at a period unknown. 
 
 America is a continuation of the land surface of the 
 earth from Asia. The shallow straits of "Behring-" are 
 merely a depression in the uplift where the ancient drift 
 and g-laciers have washed through and by erosion made 
 the original valley wider and deeper. 
 
 People of Alaska. — "The Esquimaux are evidently 
 of Tartar origin, and no doubt migrated from Asia about 
 the time of their wars in China during the ninth and 
 tenth centuries." The lang-uage of that people, on the 
 Eastern and "Western coasts of North America, by the 
 sea, and of the Tchoutski bears a strong resemblance. 
 Interpreters from Hudson's Bay, and Moravian mission- 
 aries from Labrador can converse with them. They,' 
 the Esquimaux, in speaking- of themselves, apply the 
 word "Enyuin" people. The beginning of winter is the 
 first of their year. It is divided into four seasons and 
 twelve moons. 
 
 Kinzeghan, near Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska, has 
 long been a trading place with Tchuktchi or Asiatic 
 tribes, who cross the straits, from East Cape, in boats, 
 in mid summer, by way of the Diomede islands. They 
 meet the natives of the coast, east and west, and those 
 of the Mackenzie and Yukon river basins, who come far 
 from the south to trade. In July the Mackenzie is navi- 
 gable, for large vessels, into Great Slave Lake, more 
 than one thousand miles south of the "Frozen Ocean," 
 and the Yukon (or Kivhpak), as far. Fish and game 
 are abundant in all this territory, and barley, oats and 
 
Origin of the Aborigines. 15 
 
 potatoes will grow to maturity at Fort Norman, latitude 
 64° 31' north. (See "Hours at Home," "Russian Amer- 
 ica," July, 1867, pp. 254 to 265.) 
 
 In arctic climes, the days of summer are long-, the heat 
 of the sun often intense, nig-hts are short, and the face 
 of nature develops rapidly. The rivers and even the 
 streamlets become irresistible, moving- floods. They teem 
 with terrestrial life along- their borders, and aqueous 
 life within, and wing-ed aerial upon their waters. There- 
 fore, there is food enoug-h, and to spare, for the Tartar 
 Indian nomads. 
 
 There is now living on Mackinac Island a mixed blood 
 Indian woman about 68 years old (who came here at the 
 age of seventeen), of the Kilistinoux or Cree tribe. She 
 was born in the Churchill river country, between Hud- 
 son's Bay and Great and Little Slave lakes. She says 
 her people went to the north in summer by way of Great 
 Slave lake to barter with the tribes on the "Frozen 
 Sea." They started early in March and did not return 
 until the next year. They met the people from the 
 "Sea" coming up the river, half way. Some of her peo- 
 ple returned and others went north and did not come 
 back. 'Other parties went north by way of Red river 
 (of the north) to trade and sell furs. They, too, would 
 go one year, start in March and not come back until the 
 next season. Time then was no object. This woman. 
 Madam Cadro (now Cadotte), is part French. Her people 
 gave her in marriage to Cadro when she was only 
 twelve years old. He was a "Courier du Bois" and an 
 "Engagee" of the Hudson's Bay Company. Madam 
 Cadro is an intelligent, industrious, hard working wom- 
 an, and is generally respected. She relates this story 
 
16 History of Mackinac. 
 
 as a part of her life without the slig-htest idea it has any 
 
 bearing- of importance. 
 
 "The Kilistinoux have their more ordinary place of 
 abode in the vicinity of the Sea of the North." "The 
 * Assimpoula lac,' a tribe allied with the Kilistinoux, 
 where the country is still more toward the north," As- 
 sineboines, from "assin," a stone, and "boines," or 
 -'eboines" a corruption of "Bawn" Sioux. (See Hist, and 
 Biog-. notes.) They are the Sioux of the north, and 
 bands of the Sioux of the plains far to the south of them. 
 
 The Jews in China. — Colonies of Jewish extraction 
 have been known to exist in Pekin and the interior of 
 China in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and 
 before. Jewish traditions, Chinese inscriptions, and 
 observations of travelers show that large and influen- 
 tial communities of the Children Israel have resided in 
 China for a period of not less than two thousand years* 
 
 fChina is the oldest nation on the face of the earth 
 and has been a g-overnment, it is claimed, for at least 
 forty-five centuries. Japan was settled from that coun- 
 try and was a part of that vast domain. The natives of 
 Japan believe their country existed 660 years before the 
 Christian Era. 
 
 fThatthe aboriginals of America came originally from 
 Asia and the outlaying islands of that continent, by the 
 natural drift of current events, and the "Curo Shiwo" 
 and the Pacific drift currents, can hardly be doubted. 
 They might have been driven off the coasts of Japan in 
 their frail craft by storms and wafted by the ocean cur- 
 rents to the shores of Alaska, or as far to the south as 
 California and Mexico, or have crossed Behring straits 
 
 *Hours at Home, May, 1868, pp. 90 to 93. 
 
 •j-China, pag-es 397 to 409 and to 414, and Japan, 627 to 634. 
 LaJor's Cyclopedia of Political Science, etc. 
 
Origin of the Aborigines. 17 
 
 by way of the many islands in that channel. Numerous 
 instances of wrecks with survivers on board have been 
 recorded before and since 1785. In 1837 three ship- 
 wrecked Japanese were picked up in Washing-ton Terri- 
 tory, Others have since been rescued along- the Pacific 
 coasts and returned to Japan. 
 
 What occurred 100 years ago could have happened 
 1,000 years before, or at any time since the flood, when 
 "All the fountains of the great deep were broken up," 
 and afterwards the surface of the earth was re-peopled. 
 There is no mystery about the origin of the native 
 American. The Indian came from Asia, the cradle of 
 the human race. He may have been Aryan or Mongolian 
 or other extraction; that is of no consideration. Time, 
 climate, food, habits, and environment, with all its 
 influences have effaced his lineage and made him 
 a distinctly marked type. So, Columbus, when he 
 was first discovered by the shy inhabitants of our tropi- 
 cal sea, was not so for out of the way when he named 
 the natives "Indians." 
 
 Having- essayed to trace the orig-in of the aborigines, 
 we now come to the time, from A. D., 1001 to 1492, 
 when they were sig-hted by eastern navigators in their 
 native land. One of them, whose exploits are recorded 
 and best known, the aforesaid Christopher Columbus, in 
 1492, first landed from his Caravels on a tropical island, 
 one of a g-roup at the entrance of what is now the Gulf 
 of Mexico. That Genoese anchored off the coast and 
 viewed the "Promised Land." Investing- himself and 
 his followers in g-orgeous array they waded to the shore, 
 bearing- aloft the colors of Spain and Aragon with the 
 cross, the emblem of Christianity. He unfurls the flag- 
 and plants the cross before the astonished and frig-hten- 
 
 2 
 
18 History of Mackinac. 
 
 ed natives on the soil of the New World, taking- by 
 force of arms a country belonging to others, in the 
 name of the sovereigns who promoted his enterprise. 
 Here began a series of acts, wrongs, sequestration, pil- 
 lage and extermination that has been continued under 
 the guise of Christianity by the nations of Europe and 
 our Republic to the present time. It is but the continu- 
 ance of the survival of the fittest — the strong over- 
 powering the weak. 
 
 Columbus is followed by Cortez, for one, who falls 
 upon the peaceful nations of Mexico and Peru, slaughters 
 their people, dethrones their monarchs, and lays waste 
 their cities and plantations. Those nations are said to 
 have been far advanced in civilization, agriculture and 
 social conditions. And about the same time came the 
 French, English, Dutch, Portugese and others, until we 
 come down to the founding of a "New France," on the 
 banks and in the valley of the St. Lawrence which 
 includes the basin of the Great Lakes. 
 
 New France. — James Cartier, St. Malo, France, 
 discovered the St. Lawrence in 1534, and anchored 
 in Gaspe Bay. He had two vessels of 50 tons 
 each, and 122 sailors. He sailed up the gulf in 
 August until he could see land on both sides of the 
 river. The following year he returned and ascended the 
 St. Lawrence as far as the Indian village on the island 
 of Hochelaga, He called the hill on the island "Mont- 
 Real," and it is now the city of "Montreal." He re- 
 mained all the winter of 1535 in a palisaded fort on the 
 banks of the St. Charles, That winter was very cold 
 and many of his men died. 
 
 In the spring he took possession of the country again, 
 as he had done the year before, in the name of the King 
 
Fishing Vessels in Newfowidland. 19 
 
 of France. Then he returned to France in two of his 
 ships, having- abandoned the third one, and on July 16, 
 1536, ag-ain anchored at St. Malo. Cartiers' abandoned 
 ship was found imbedded in mud three hundred and 
 twelve years afterwards. No attempt to plant a perma- 
 nent colony was made for a series of years after 1534 and 
 1536; but it is inferred that some French of both of these 
 expeditions remained and intermarried with the Alg-on- 
 quins and Hurons, adapting" themselves to their con- 
 dition and mode of life. 
 
 Ag-ain, May 23, 1541, Cartier sailed from St. Malo with 
 five vessels, under the auspices of John Frances de la 
 Roque. La Roque was Lord of Roberval, whom the 
 French King- had appointed viceroy, January 15, 1540, of 
 the Country of the St. Lawrence. Cartier entered the 
 St. Lawrence and established a fort near the present 
 site of Quebec. Then he, in two boats, went up the 
 river and explored the rapids above Hochelag-a island. 
 After the exploration he returned and passed the winter 
 in his fort. In the spring he returned to France, In 
 June, 1542, when outward bound, he met the Viceroy at 
 the harbor of St. John with three ships and two hundred 
 men. Roberval ordered him to return, but he eluded 
 him in the nig-ht and continued his voyag-e. The Vice- 
 roy, although abandoned, wintered in the St. Lawrence. 
 That spring, 1543, he also left the country and virtually 
 gave up his possessions. No doubt more of the Vice- 
 roy's men remained in the land and took dusky resi- 
 dents for wives. 
 
 Adventurers and fishermen continued to cross the 
 Atlantic, until in 1578 there were no less than twenty 
 whalers from the Bay of Biscay, and three hundred and 
 fifty fishing vessels at Newfoundland. Those people 
 
20 History of Mackinac. 
 
 were French, Spanish, Portugese and Eng-lish. They 
 must, of course, have visited the main land to barter 
 and get supplies from the natives. 
 
 King Henry IV. of France, encouraged the Marquis de 
 la Roche, in 1598, to recolonize New France. But that 
 expedition was ill fated, and forty convicts were left on 
 Sable island near the coast of Nova Scotia. Five years 
 afterwards twelve of the convicts were found alive. 
 
 The following year a merchant, Pontgrave, and a 
 marine captain, Chauvin, were granted a monopoly of 
 the fur trade by the King of France. They started out 
 to get five thousand persons to found the new colony. 
 Arriving at the mouth of the Saguenay, there, at Tadou- 
 sac, they built a cluster of log huts and storehouses, 
 and left sixteen men to gather furs. They left and did 
 not return until 1601, when they found the men had 
 scattered among the Indians or were dead. Chauvin 
 made a second and a third voyage, but the colonizing 
 scheme was another failure. On the third voyage he 
 died, and with him the colony ended. 
 
 In 1603, Samuel Champlain formed a company of mer- 
 chants and adventurers to found, in earnest, a colony in 
 Canada. He sailed over in two small vessels, and made 
 a survey of the St. Lawrence as far as the island of Hoche- 
 laga. He tried to ascend the rapids, in a skiff with Indian 
 guides, but did not succeed. The Indians made a rude 
 plan of the river and the lakes above, that gave a crude 
 idea of their vast extent. On getting the information 
 he desired he returned to his ships and sailed for France, 
 but resolved to come again better equipped. Champlain 
 sailed, the second time, April 13, 1608, fitted out for 
 trade, exploration and colonization. The Saguenay was 
 reached in June, and soon after a settlement was made, 
 
Champlain in Canada. 21 
 
 at Quebec, on the bank where the lower town is 
 situated. 
 
 The winter of 1608-9 was severe, and not being- inured 
 to cold his men suifered greatly. On the opening- of 
 spring- fresh supplies from France arrived. June, 1609, 
 Champlain, with only two white men and sixty Hurons 
 and Algonquins, ascended the Richelieu into the lake 
 that now bears his name. They were met on the lake 
 and opposed by a band of Iroquois, who were soon routed 
 by a few shots from an arquebuse. The Iroquois and all 
 the five nations of what is now New York, were at war 
 with the Hurons of the lakes and the Alg-onquins whose 
 range was the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers. After- 
 wards the French called all Alg-onquins, wherever found, 
 Ottawas. 
 
 Champlain returned to France, but we find him back 
 to his province in 1610, 1611 and 1613 having- crossed 
 and returned between those periods. Having- learned 
 from the Indians the g-reat extent of country, the distant 
 Hudson's Bay, the larg-e fresh water seas, and the copper 
 found on the shores of Lake Superior, of the fish of all 
 the waters in unlimited quantity, and the fur-bearing- 
 animals, he wished to visit them. The great object, 
 then, was to secure the fur trade and explore the route 
 to China and India. With that intent in 1613 he sailed 
 up the St. Lawrence "bound for the Ottawa to discover 
 the North Sea." He reached Isle des Allumettes 
 and returned baffled and disg-usted to France. 
 
 1615. The Indians along- the St. Lawrence and the 
 shores of the great lakes, came yearly, in summer, to 
 trade with the French settlers. That year when the 
 Hurons and Alg-onquins were assembled at Montreal, 
 they asked Champlain to lead them ag-ainst their old 
 
22 History of Mackinac. 
 
 enemies the Iroquois of New York and he accepted their 
 proposal. Champlain then went to Quebec for supplies. 
 Returning- he learned the savag-es g-ot impatient and left 
 July 1 for their villages. Father Joseph le Caron, a 
 Recollet and twelve Frenchmen, who were armed went 
 with them July 10th. Champlain followed with ten 
 Indians and two Frenchmen. Both parties went by way 
 of the Ottawa to the Alg-onquin villages. They passed 
 the two lakes of the Allumettes and took a long used 
 portage* to Lake Nipissing, and from that lake in canoes 
 floated and paddled down the French river into Georg- 
 ian ba}'. Then they took a southward course along" the 
 shores of the bay to the Huron villages more than one 
 hundred miles distant at the head of the bay, the allied 
 forces then moved across the country by way of the river 
 Trent to Lake Ontario. They boldly crossed the lake 
 and landing, pushed into the interior and besieged the 
 Iroquois who were intrenched in a fort on Onondagua 
 lake. They were not successful and returned to their 
 homes with Champlain. In the spring Champlain 
 returned to Quebec, by way of the Ottawa, arriving- 
 July 11, 1616. Le Caron returned a few days before 
 Champlain, having learned something of the language 
 and the Indian mode of life. It is claimed that the 
 Chippewas and Ottawas (Algonquins) of the straits of 
 Michilimackinac and Lake Michigan islands and a few 
 Sacs and Sioux, were in that expedition. At that early 
 period Champlain and his followers had learned from 
 observation and previous reports the vast extent of ter- 
 ritory and inland fresh water seas, he held for the 
 French crown. 
 
 *Between L. Nippissing- and the Mattawan, or "beaver resi- 
 dence." 
 
Chaniplain Again in Command. 23 
 
 Fkanciscan Monks. — From 1608 to 1633 the priests 
 and monks of the gray robes (Recollets) were the domi- 
 nant relig-ious order in New France. Up to 1622 they 
 had established five missions from Acadia to the borders 
 of Lake Huron. Champlain himself was a Zealot firmly 
 imbued with the Roman faith. "Canada was a true 
 child of the Church." The statesman, soldier and the 
 priest, with his cross, went hand in hand tog-ether and 
 planted a shrine in every villag-e. Their object was to 
 secure the rich fur trade and proselyte the natives to the 
 ' Church of Rome. 
 
 1622. In 1622 the Hug-enots received a concessio i in 
 New France, but their stay was short. Then for the 
 first time there came three Jesuits, one of them John de 
 Brebeuf, whose career and final death is historic. 
 
 1627. Louis the thirteenth (Richelieu, being- Cardi- 
 nal and really King-) chartered the "Hundred Associates 
 Company," granting- them forever Quebec and the fort, 
 all New France and Florida. Champlain was one of 
 that company. The King- g-ave the company two ships 
 and invested them with almost soverign power. The 
 Roman Catholic Church was to be the established one, 
 and no other. That, with the Indian wars and the 
 Hug-enots, led to new troubles in the province, and 
 "A strange harmonious inclination 
 Of all degrees to reformation." 
 
 1629. The Eng-lish captured Quebec and all New 
 France in 1629, and returned the whole country, by 
 treaty, in 1632. 
 
 1633. We find Champlain again in command of the fort 
 and town of Quebec and New France, that he had pre- 
 viously been obliged to surrender to the English. This 
 
24 History of Maddnac. 
 
 time uuder the "Hundred Associates Company," and 
 the Jesuits, priests of the black robes, in the ascendant. 
 
 As soon as the French were known to be in command 
 ag-ain one hundred and fifty Huron canoes arrived atFort 
 St. Croix, Three Rivers, to trade with their old friends. 
 With them came John Nicolet, the interpreter, who was 
 directed by Champlain to proceed with the returning- 
 convoys to "La Nation des Puants" (at Green Bay, 
 Wis.,) to make a treaty with them and learn of "The 
 Men of the Sea" about their country, and "the g-reat 
 water." 
 
 1634. In compliance with instructions Jean Nicolet, 
 who had returned with the Hurons, journej'ed by the 
 Ottawa route, Lake Nipissing- and Geofg-ian Bay, to- 
 wards the land of the Winnebag^oes. He was conveyed 
 by seven friendly Indians in birch-bark canoes. Passing" 
 the mouth of the French river westward, he met the 
 "Nation of Beavers" "Am a kou ai" (amik or Amikou) 
 a beaver. They were descended from the "Great 
 Beaver," next to the "Great Hare," their principal di- 
 vinity. Their orig-inal homes were the Beaver Islands 
 ("Isles du Castor") in Lake Michig-an and afterwards 
 the Manitoulin Islands in Lake Huron. The French 
 named them "Nez Perces" from their habit of wearing" 
 ornaments and feathers thrust tbroug-h their noses. 
 
 The following- translated from the French: *"On the 
 18th of June, 1635, the chief of the Nez Perces or Beaver 
 Nation, which is three days journey from us (the Jesuit 
 missionaries located at the head of Georgian Ba}' of 
 Lake Huron) came to demand of us some one of the 
 Frenchmen to g-o with them to pass the summer in a fort 
 
 ^"History of the Discovery of the Northwest by John Nicolet 
 in 1634," pages 45-6. By C. W. Butterfield. 
 
Voyag'c of Nicolet to Green Bay. 25 
 
 which the}' had made bj reason of the fear which they 
 have of the *"A8 eats i 8 aentlhonon," that is to say the 
 nation of the Puarts — (Winnebag"oes), who have broken 
 the treaty of peace and have killed two of their men, of 
 whom they have made a feast." 
 
 The Beaver tribe were then on the main land where 
 Sieur Nicolet found them. Still farther on the shore of 
 the great lake were the "Oumisag-ai" Indians. All 
 were of Alg^onquin stock, and could be easily understood. 
 The canoes pressed onward and entered the St. Mary's 
 river at De Tour (the turn) and paddled up the stream to 
 the falls Sault de Sainte Marie. "And there stood 
 Nicolet, the first white man to set foot upon any portion 
 of what was, more than a century and a half after, called 
 'the territory northwest of the river Ohio, ' " at present the 
 states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigfan, Wisconsin 
 and Minnesota east of the Mississippi river. The In- 
 dians found at the Sault (leap or fall) pronounced "Soo," 
 were also Alg-onquins, Ojibiwas or Chippewas called by 
 the French Saulteurs (and Sauteurs) and by the Sioux 
 as Raratwans, "people of the falls" and other names 
 meaning" the same. 
 
 After a short stay at Sault Ste Marie he returned 
 down the river in his canoes propelled by the paddles of 
 seven Hurons. On reaching- the mouth of the river they 
 made the turn (De Tour) and coursing- along" the shores 
 of the northern peninsula they passed Les Cheneaux, 
 (the channels), St. Martin's Islands, St. Ignace, and 
 the island of Michilimackinac, Gros Cap and Seul Choix 
 in succession, until they turned from Lake Michigan in- 
 to Bay de Noquet ("No-ka," bear), where the shores 
 
 * "8" occurs in The Relation of 1636, and is equivalent in 
 English to "w, we, or oo," 
 
26 History of Mackinac. 
 
 are sand. There is a big" and little bay of the same 
 name. Here we visited a tribe called Roqui and No- 
 quets, or bear family, Alg-onquins classed with Chippe- 
 was. Farther up Green Bay he came to the Menomonees 
 on a river of the same name. They were Algonquins of a 
 lig"hter color, and their lang-uag-e was not easy to under- 
 stand. They lived on wild rice and by fishing- and 
 hunting. After a short stay he resumed his voyag^e to 
 the Winnebagfoes, to whom he had sent one of the 
 Hurons in advance. The Indian was well received, 
 for-told of his coming and his message of peace. The 
 Winnebagoes sent several of their young men to meet 
 him, the "wonderful man," who escort him and carry 
 his baggage to their camp. Arriving, he advanced 
 clothed in a robe of "Chinese damask sprinkled with 
 flowers and birds of different colors," and a pistol in 
 each hand, both of which he discharged in the air, to 
 the right and left. The women and children fled in dis- 
 may, for he was a "Manitou" who carried thunder in 
 his hands. The Winnebagoes were found to be numer- 
 ous. Their language was different from any Algon- 
 quins or Hurons; they were of Dakota stock. At that 
 time the Sacs and Foxes had not arrived; they came at 
 a later period. 
 
 Plearing of his coming, four or five thousand natives 
 of the different tribes soon assembled to meet him in coun- 
 cil. Nicolet made an alliance with them and urged them 
 to keep the peace with each other and the tribes eastward 
 of Lake Huron and with the Hurons and Nez Perces. 
 
 After the treaty he visited the Mascoutins, six (6) 
 days' journey up the Fox river. These Indians were al- 
 so called "Les Renards," "Musquakies," etc. Cham- 
 plain heard of them in 1615, "as being engaged in a 
 
Death of John Nicolet. 27 
 
 war with the Neuter Nation and the Ottawas." From 
 the tribe (Mascoutins) and others Nicolet got confused 
 stories of the Mississippi, Alg-onquin, "Missi," great, 
 and "sepe," water. They were so mixed with the Ouis- 
 consin (Wisconsin) that he could not get a definite idea 
 of what he and others supposed was the "sea," distant 
 only three days' journey. From here he went south- 
 ward and visited the Illinois tribe on the prairies and 
 returned to the Winnebagoes. 
 
 On his return trip homeward he tarried with the Pot- 
 tawatamies, who lived on the island at the mouth of 
 Green Bay. 
 
 1635. This was in the spring of 1635, after the ice 
 had broken up. The course was by way of the Straits 
 of Michilimackinac and the island of the same name to 
 south shore of Great Manitoulin island, where a band of 
 the Ottawas lived. The same seven Hurons were with him 
 as his convoy. From that island they crossed Georgian 
 Bay to the Huron villages. That season he accompanied 
 the Indians on their annual trading trip to his post on 
 the St. Lawrence river. They probably reached Three 
 Rivers between July 15 and 23, 1635. See Vimont (Re- 
 lation 1640 and 1643). Champlain died in the fort at 
 Quebec, December 25, 1635. 
 
 1642. Father Isaac Jogues and Raymbault, S. J., 
 plant the cross at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Jean 
 Nicolet was drowned by the upsetting of a boat on the 
 river, above Quebec, near the last of October, 1642. 
 ("History of the discovery of the North West, by C. W. 
 Butterfield.") 
 
 1646. Oct. 18th, Father Isaac Jogues killed by the 
 Mohawks. 
 
 1648. July 14th, the mission of St. Mary's on the 
 
23 History of Mackinac. 
 
 river Richelieu, was surprised by the Iroquois, early in 
 the morning" when the braves were absent on war or 
 hunting- parties, and all the women and children, old 
 men and the attending" priest (Father Daniel) were 
 massacred. The Hurons were terrified and villag-e after 
 villag-e was abandoned. 
 
 1649. At day break, March 16, 1649, one thousand 
 Iroquois assault the town of St. Ignatius on the Riche- 
 lieu (Sorel) and all were butchered and scalped except 
 three who escaped to St. Louis, near by. The Hurons 
 fled in all directions and fifteen towns were abandoned. 
 December 7, 1649, the village Etharita (near the head of 
 Georg"ian Bay) of the Tinnontate Hurons (who cultivated 
 tobacco), was attacked and the men, women and chil- 
 dren and Father Garnier, tomahawked and massacred. 
 After this g-eneral Alg-onquin defeat, "the Hurons and 
 Ottawas settled for some years on Missilemackinac 
 Island, and, ag-ain, fled to the islands at the entrance of 
 Green Bay, thence to the shores." "Memorie," Nicolas 
 Perrot, pp. 91, 92. 
 
 Father Grelon escaped the slaughter, and afterwards 
 went to China. Years after, on the plains of Tartary, 
 he met a Huron woman whom he had known on the 
 shores of Lake Huron. She had been sold from tribe to 
 tribe until she had reached the steppes of Central Asia. 
 Shea, "Cath. Missions," who cites Charlevoix, ch. V., 
 p. 45. 
 
 At that time the Huron mission was destroyed, thirty 
 villag-es abandoned and the frig-htened Hurons fled 
 across the waters to the islands and main land of lakes 
 Huron, Superior and Michigan. In the massacre of 
 March 16, 1649, Father John de Brebeuf, and March 17, 
 Father Lallemant, S. J., were cruelly tortured to death. 
 
Nicholas Pej-refs Voyage to Green Bay. 29 
 
 Father Allouez afterwards found some of the Hurons 
 at Chag-aouamig-ong- Bay and the Apostles Islands, Lake 
 Superior, in 1665, 
 
 1654. Two French traders* pass by way of Michili- 
 mackinac Island and Pointe Iroquois (St. Ig^nace) 
 throug-h the straits to Green Bay. They return in 1656 
 with 60 canoes, loaded with furs, and a larg-e party of 
 Huron and Ottawas, bound for the market at Three 
 Rivers on the St. Lawrence. 
 
 1665. Nicholas Perret was the next known and 
 recorded adventurer who made a canoe voyag-e throug-h 
 the Straits of Michilimackinac to Green Bay. From 
 1534 (up to this date) when Caftier explored the St. 
 Lawrence and planted a colony far up in the interior of 
 New France, that subsequently carried the fur trade to 
 the banks of the Saskatchawan, there were Frenchmen 
 in the province. Many of them were illiterate, and, of 
 course, left no record. They were simply trappers and 
 voyageurs. They ming-led with the Indians, inter- 
 married, and adapted themselves to the native mode of 
 life. The Indians built forts surrounded by palisades of 
 cedar, implanted in the g-round, from twelve to twenty- 
 five feet hig-h, for protection ag^ainst the assaults of other 
 tribes. The French did the same, and taug-ht the sav- 
 ag-es how to improve and better protect them. The 
 voyag-eurs were the pioneers, the advance pickets of the 
 coming- host of European usurpers. 
 
 1668. The French continue to advance, as well as the 
 English, Spanish and Portug-ese in other parts of the 
 continent, until in 1668 they are found in the reg-ion 
 of Michilimackinac controling" large and valuable mis- 
 sions under the Jesuits. With them the arts of a more 
 
 *Des Groseillers and Radisson. 
 
30 History of Mackinac. 
 
 civilized people prevailed to some extent, and the natives 
 were broug-ht to worship the God of the white man. 
 About this time, 1668, New France, was divided into 
 the following- provinces: 
 
 1. Hudson Bay — All territory north of latitude 49° 
 and west indefinitely. 
 
 2. Quebec — With Canada east, southward to the head 
 of Lake Champlain, and westward to the headwaters of 
 the Ohio. 
 
 3. Michilimackinac* — The country west of Quebec and 
 southward to and along- the Ohio, to the western bound- 
 ary of what is now Minnesota, and all the country drained 
 into Lakes Superior and Huron. Acadiaf (Nova Scotia), 
 Cape Breton, New Foundland, etc., were also included 
 in New France. 
 
 British America was then a strip of land between the 
 Apalachian mountains and the Atlantic ocean. 
 
 Spanish Possessions. — On the south of these was the 
 Spanish possessions of Florida (Georgia included) and 
 nearly all of the territory south of the Ohio, and the 
 valley of the Mississippi as far as the mouth of the 
 Illinois. 
 
 Vice-Royalty of Mexico, called New Spain, included 
 all to the southwest of these and north as far as Cape 
 Mendocino on the Pacific coast. P^W north of that cape 
 was unexplored and unknown. 
 
 New Mexico. — Later, when the province of New Mex- 
 ico was erected, it extended to the Missouri river, north, 
 at the place of the Mandan Indians. 
 
 Louisiana, under the French, claimed all territory 
 south of parallel 31°, east of the Mississippi and west of 
 
 *From about long- 78° E. to 97° W., lat. 49° to 50'' N. to 37° S. 
 f At first a reg-ion with undefined and disputed boundaries 
 between lat. 40° to 46° north. 
 
Province of Michilimackinac. 31 
 
 Georg-ia, and west of the Mississippi from its mouth to 
 its source as far as the Pacific ocean. It trenched on the 
 Spanish possessions of Florida and New Mexico. 
 
 1700. Province of Detroit. — That province was set off 
 from Michilimackinac, and included all of Canada west 
 above the Cataract of Niagara and north to Lake Huron, 
 that part of Michig-an south of Sag-inaw Bay, and most 
 of Ohio and Indiana. 
 
 Detroit was settled in 1701 and in a few years became 
 more important than Michilimackinac. Before that 
 "Michilimackina" had a history and afterwards a sepa- 
 rate history. 
 
 Michilimackinac. — Before and after these last dates 
 the capitol and the metropolis of the province of Michili- 
 mackinac was on the island of the same name, in the 
 Straits of Michilimackinac. It was not only the seat of 
 justice and base of supplies, but the center of trade of a 
 vast territory. It was the headquarters of French trad- 
 ers and trappers and their Courier des Bois and white 
 and Indian employees. The little island was well known 
 and g"ave its name to the extensive Province of Mich- 
 ilimackinac. 
 
 Indian languag-e. All Indian lang-uag-es, Algonquin, 
 or others, and the dialects of the various tribes and 
 bands of tribes, are, as a rule, better spoken and more 
 clearly understood by educated white people than by the 
 natives themselves. There is nothing singular about 
 this, it is so the world over with all intelligent peoples. 
 
 The Chippewas and Ottawas are of Algonquin lineage 
 and consequently their language is a dialect. Chippewa 
 and Ottawa are much alike so that the two dialects are 
 called one tongue or language. Chippewa is a wonder- 
 fully regular and expressive language. It abounds in 
 
32 Histoij of Mackinac. 
 
 verbs; nine-tenths, if not more, of its words are verbs, 
 only two of which are irreg-ular. Many of the words 
 thoug-h expressive are long" on account of adding" new 
 syllables to the various moods, tenses, persons and 
 participles of the verbs and of the compounding- of words 
 from two or more roots. There are words that have 
 from eig-ht to ten and as many as nineteen syllables. 
 For instance: "Metchikmakobidjig'anikewininiwissig'O- 
 baneag"," a. participle meaning-, "men who perhaps did 
 not build fences." Such a word would be a nut for a 
 German savant to crack. Just one more for our friends 
 at the head of Lake Michigan: Chicag-o, Ottawa, she- 
 g-og--oug-, locative case of she-g-og-, "skunk;" Nom., she- 
 g-og-; loc, she-g-og--oug-; Obj., she-g-og- or she-g-og-- won. 
 This ancient tong-ue has many words and syllables that 
 are radical, resembling- those of Asiatic and European 
 languag-es, and some have the same meaning. It is a 
 "living-, acting lang-uage; everything in it seems to live 
 and act." See Dictionary and Grammar of Chippewa, 
 by Bishop Baraga. Beuchemin and Valois, 256-58, St. 
 Paul St., Montreal, Canada. 
 
 Michilimackinac. The name of the province Michili- 
 mackinac is as before stated the one given by the sav- 
 ages as rendered by the French to the island in the 
 straits now called "Mackinac." 
 
 Michili-"Mackina c, teriminal "c," silent "a" broad, 
 pronounced in English ("Mackinaw"). There is no 
 "w" in the French alphabet. In Mackina ck terminal 
 "c"and "k" are both silent, "k" is superfluous. It is 
 the French rendering, from the Chippewa and Ottawa 
 dialet of Algonquin. The early French who got the 
 name from the Indians spelled it in various ways, and 
 so did the English, but always so as to get the present 
 
Chippewa Language. 33 
 
 pronunciation, "Mackinaw," "Maquina," "Macina," 
 "Macina c." The French being- the first dominants, 
 their spelling- prevails, but the pronunciation is the same 
 in French and Eng-lish; Mackina c, final "c" silent. In 
 place of "w" beg-inning a word, the French use "ou," 
 as "Ouisconsin," Eng-lish, "Wisconsin." 
 
 Michilimackinac is claimed to be derived from the 
 Indian words Michi, "Great," and Mackinac, "turtle," 
 from a fancied resemblance to a large mud turtle; also 
 from the Chippewa Mi-chi-ne Mau-ki-nouk, the two 
 meaning "the place of g-iant fairies." Schoolcraft says 
 there is another meaning- besides "great turtle." It al- 
 so means "spirits," or "fairy spirits." The spirits were 
 want to take the form of a turtle and become "turtle 
 spirits." 
 
 The nine Iroquois tribes were divide'd into two di- 
 visions of four and five tribes each. The first of the 
 four tribes was called "Atiniathan," and known as the 
 "Tortoise" tribe. "It is the first because they pretend, 
 when the Master of Life made the Earth, that he placed 
 it on a tortoise; and when there were earthquakes it is 
 the tortoise that stirs." ("1666. Paris Loc, I.)* 
 
 Some of the Huron bands had for totems the tortoise, 
 bear and plover. The bear was brother to the tortoise, 
 as with the Iroquois. 
 
 Macka-de-pe-nessy (Blackbird), an Indian interpreter 
 and son of an Ottawa chief, says that "Mi-she-mi-ki- 
 nock" (Chippewa) does not mean "large turtle" nor 
 "monstrous large turtle." "Michilimackinac" is not de- 
 rived from "Michimickinock." 
 
 When the Ottawas discovered the Island of Michili- 
 mackinac, long- before the Spaniards first came to 
 
 *Doc. Hist, of New York, Vol. 1, Page 3. 
 3 
 
34 History of Mackinac. 
 
 America, it was inhabited by a small remnant, independ- 
 ent tribe, who became confederates with the Ottawas. 
 
 The Ottawas were then living- on the Manitoula Island, 
 Lake Huron. Their enemies, the Iroquois, of New York, 
 often made war with them. Once in the dead of winter 
 the Ottawas were having- a great jubilee and war dances 
 on Manitoulin Island to celebrate their victory over the 
 Winnebagoes of Ouisconsin, when the Iroquois swept 
 down upon them and annihilated all but two- Those 
 two, a young man and maiden, escaped, and traveled 
 over the ice to Michilimackinac Island, with inverted 
 snow shoes. That was done to prevent their tracks be- 
 ing followed. They made their hiding place in the 
 natural caves of the island. They selected the wildest 
 part of the forest and lived in seclusion. They were oc- 
 casionally seen, and, in time, they raised a family of ten 
 children, all boys. One winter the whole family van- 
 ished in some mysterious way. Ever since the Ottawas 
 and Chippewas have called them "Paw-g-wa-tchaw-nish- 
 nawbay." "Wild roaming supernatural being-." To this 
 day they are in existence, roaming in the wildest parts 
 of the island and on the mainland. They can be seen, 
 or unseen, just as they, as spirits, please. Sometimes 
 they will throw a stone or a war club at a person walk- 
 ing in a lonely place, at other times they will throw at 
 your dog and set him to barking with fright. Again 
 they will, in day or night, throw clubs at a lodg-e in a 
 lonely place, and have been heard walking- around the 
 wio-wam. They have been tracked over the snow 
 by hunters, but never overtaken. An Indian or hunter 
 walking or hunting- alone, will apprehend some great 
 evil, and be seized with an unearthly frig-ht that makes 
 him shiver from head to feet, and the hairs on his head 
 
Indian Legend. 35 
 
 stand up like porcupine quills. You are benumbed with 
 terror by these spirits, the sensation is so awful. But 
 they never harm any one. 
 
 When an Indian recovers from the spell he generally 
 exclaims, "Pshaw! there is nothing- to fear, it is Paw- 
 gwa-tchaw-nish-naw-bay approaching me, he wants 
 something." They then leave tobacco, powder or some- 
 thing else in their tracks that the spirits fancy when in 
 the flesh. If they appear and talk to you they always 
 begin with the sad tale of the great catastrophy on the 
 Island of Mackinac, and whoever is so fortunate as to 
 see and talk to them, always becomes a prophet to his 
 people. 
 
 Reader, if you are imaginative, and seek these lonely 
 woods and caves alone, and the proper spell comes over 
 you, perhaps you may see those spirit fairies, face to 
 face, and learn of them their tragic fate. Therefore, ac- 
 cording to understood traditions, the tribal name of 
 those people was "Mishine-macki naw-go," which is to 
 this day a monument to their existence. The Ottawas 
 and Chippewas named the little island "Mi-shi ne- 
 macki-nong," in memorial of their former confederates. 
 It is the locative case of the Indian noun, "Michine- 
 mackinawgo," and is where the name Michilimackinac 
 originated. It is said some of the paleface chiefs, tour- 
 ists of the present day, vie with the Indians of the Fairy 
 Isle, and induct the spirits from their secluded abodes 
 into their corporeal forms. They tell us that the island 
 is truly a resort that revels with spirits of the departed. 
 
 We have dished up a salad, as a relish and variety, 
 some of the renderings of the name: 
 
 "Missilimakina." "Missilimakenak." 
 
 ' 'Missilimaquina. " ' 'Missilimakinak. " 
 
36 History of Mackinac. 
 
 ' 'Missilimaquine. " ' 'Missilimackinae. " 
 
 "Michilimaquina." "Missilimackinae." 
 
 "Michilimachina." "Michilimackinac." 
 
 "Mackina." "Machinac." 
 
 ''Macina." "Mackinaw." 
 
 "Maquina." "Mackinac." 
 
 If you only gfet the "Nac" right, you will know how 
 to "Na c" ("naw") the name. 
 
 1653. We drop back a few years, to 1653, when the 
 Iroquois invaders, eig-ht hundred strong-, pass the 
 Straits of Michilimackinac to attack the Hurons at 
 Green Bay. They laid sieg-e to the place for a pro- 
 tracted time, but failed to capture the fort. The Iro- 
 quois then broke up into two divisions, one marched 
 south and the other sailed northward throug-h Lake 
 Michig-an. The first division met the Illinois and were 
 cut down and captured by them. The Lake Michig-an 
 division met the same fate from the Chippewas, Missis- 
 aki and other ("Nig-ik") tribes on Lake Huron. 
 
 1660. Looking- forward from our last date we find 
 Father Reni Menard, S. J., October 15, 1660, at Keewen- 
 aw Bay, Lake Superior. He perished or was killed at 
 the head waters of Black River, Ouisconsin, about 
 Aug-ust 10, 1661. 
 
 Early records confirm the statement that Frenchmen 
 were at Green Bay, Lake Superior, Sault Ste. Marie 
 ("Soo") and Michilimackinac before the visits of the 
 "Black-g-owns" mentioned by Bancroft. They came 
 one year and returned the next (on their tours of trade 
 and barter) with flotillas of canoes richly laden with 
 furs, often convoyed by Hurons and o.ther Alg-onquins, 
 in bands, from three hundred to five hundred strong-. 
 The Indians would make their long- voyag-e in larg-e 
 
Father- AUoiiez at the Mission. 37 
 
 numbers, united to defend themselves from their 
 enemies, the Iroquois* 
 
 We find Father Allouez at the Mission of the Alon- 
 g-uin Outaouacs (Ottawas) "La Pointe du Saint Esprit," 
 on Lake Superior in the Province of Michilimackinac, 
 in 1669. That year he went down to Quebec and turned 
 over to Monsieur de Courcelles some Iroquois captives 
 whom he had redeemed of the Outaouacs. Father 
 Claude Dablon was sent to the Superior Missions and 
 Allouez went to Sault Ste. Marie, and remained until 
 November 3, 1669, He then departed for Bay of the 
 Puants (Green Bay), by way of the island of Michili- 
 mackinac, arriving- December 2, 1669. 
 
 1669. Michilimackinac Island was occupied and aban- 
 doned (for reasons of safety) by different bands of Indi- 
 ans from time to time, long" before this period. It had 
 often been passed and visited by French traders and 
 was well known. It was there the mission of St. Ig- 
 natius was founded before it was established at Point 
 St. Ig-nace. • "The Hurons settled on the famous Island 
 of Missilimackinac where we commenced last winter the 
 mission of St. Ignace.f 
 
 *Drawn from "Hist, and Biog. Notes" and "Relations," 1660- 
 1663, and other sources. 
 
 f Missionary Labors of Marquette, Menard and Allouez, Chap. 
 xxix, p. 114, Rev. Chrysostom Verwyst, O. S. F. 
 
38 
 
 History of Mackinac. 
 
 [Permission of St. Igaace Enterprise.] 
 ST. IGNACE DE MICHILIMACKINAC, i6bQ— 1880. 
 
 Marquette, 1670, in his letter from Mackinac Island, 
 published in this volume, writes: " We ourselves have 
 also v^intered here," Michilimackinac Island, "in order 
 to make arrang-ements for establishing- the Mission of 
 St. Ig"nace." It shows he was on the island, with 
 Dablon, the winter of 1669-70, and that some of the 
 Indians from La Pointe, Lake Superior, " were alread}' 
 there," St. Ignace. 
 
 1899. Saint : Ig-nace thoug^h old is, in many respects, 
 new, and bids fair to be a resort for tourists and a sani- 
 tarium, sharing" the laurels, as it does its history, with 
 the famous "Fairy Island," opposite. The city has a 
 population of about 2,500, an electric lig-ht plant and a 
 system of water works that supplies the purest water on 
 the g-lobe. The scenery is fine. You can drive many 
 miles over magnificent roads, constructed with cornifer- 
 ous limestone that forms bluffs and fantastic, weird 
 rocks like those of Mackinac Island. 
 
Father Marquette at St. Ignace. 39 
 
 FATHER MARQUETTE AT ST. IGNACE. 
 
 "The* Hurons of the Tobacco tribe, called Tionnon- 
 tate, having" been formerly driven from their country by 
 the Iroquois, fled to this Island, named Missiliraack- 
 inac, so famous for its fishery. They could only stay a 
 few years, however, the very same enemies oblig-ing" 
 them to leave this very advantag'eous post. They with- 
 drew, therefore, still further to the islands which still 
 bear their name, and are located at the entrance of the 
 Ba}- of Puants. Not finding" themselves sufficiently 
 safe, however, even there, they went far back into the 
 woods, and from there finally chose as their last dwell- 
 ing--place the extremity of Lake Superior, in a place 
 called La Pointe do Saint Esprit. There they were far 
 enough awaj- from the Iroquois not to fear them, but 
 they were too near the Nadouessi, who are, as it were, 
 the Iroquois of these quarters of the North, being- the 
 most powerful and war-like people of this country. 
 
 "Still all proceeded peaceably enough for several years 
 until the last (1671), when the Nadouessi having- been 
 irritated by the Hurons and Outaouacs, war broke out 
 between them, and it began so furiously that several 
 prisoners taken on both sides were consig-ned to the 
 flames. 
 
 "The Nadouessi, however, did not wish to begin an)^ 
 act of hostilit}' until after the}- had returned to Father 
 Marquette some pictures of which he had made them a 
 present, so as to g-ive them some idea of our relig-ion and 
 thus to instruct them by the eye, as he was unable to do 
 otherwise on account of their language, which is alto- 
 gether different from the Alg-onquin and Huron. 
 
 * Relation of 1672, pp. 35 and 36. 
 
40 History of Mackinac. 
 
 "Enemies so formidable soon struck terror into the 
 heart of our -Hurons and Outaouacs, who determined to 
 abandon La Pointe du Saint Esprit and all the fields 
 thej had so long cultivated. 
 
 "In their flig-ht the Hurons, rememberino- the great 
 advantages they had formerly found at Missilimackinac 
 turned their eyes thither, as to a place of refuge, which 
 they actually reached a year ago. 
 
 "This place has all the advantages that can be desired 
 by Indians. Fish is abundant there at all seasons, the 
 land is productive, and the chase for bears, deer and 
 lynx is carried on with great success. Besides it is the 
 great rendezvous of all the tribes who are going to or 
 coming from the north or south. 
 
 "For this reason, foreseeing what has since actually 
 taken place, we erected a chapel there last 3^ear already, 
 in order to receive those passing by and to attend to the 
 Hurons, who have settled there. 
 
 "Father Marquette, who has followed them from La 
 Pointe du Saint Esprit, still has charge of them."* 
 
 Marquette left La Pointe in the spring of 1671. He 
 did not reach Sault Ste. Marie in time for the great 
 gathering of tribes (that year June 14), to make a treaty 
 with the French. When he reached "Missilimackinac" 
 (Pointe St. Ignace) he found "a chapel built the winter 
 before by Father Dablon," also 386 Christian Hurons 
 and sixty Outaouacsinagaux." (See Hist, and Biog. 
 notes. ) 
 
 Marquette must have been on the island of Michili- 
 mackinac in 1670, as he passed a winter there before he 
 planted his mission at Point Iroquois (St. Ignace) or 
 North Michilimackinac. He lived on the island ( "Mack- 
 
 *Id. pp. 115-116. 
 
Michilhnacki)uic Island. 41 
 
 inac") whilst he was building- the chapel and preparing- 
 for his colony. 
 
 The following- is an extract from a letter of Jaques 
 Marquette written on Mackinac Island in 1670 (see 
 "Relations des Jesuits," 1671): 
 
 "Michilimackinac is an island famous in these reg-ions, 
 of more than a league in diameter, and elevated in some 
 places by such high cliffs as to be seen more than 
 twelve leag-ues off. It is situated just in the strait 
 forming- the communication between Lake Huron and 
 Illinois (Michigan). It is the key, and, as it were, the 
 g-ate for all the tribes from the south, as the Sault is for 
 those from the north, there being- in this section of 
 country only those two passag-es by water; for a great 
 number of nations have to g-o by one or the 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 convej-ance to their places of 
 abode. 
 
 "This place is the most noted in these regions for the 
 abundance of its fishes; for, according- to the Indian say- 
 ing-, 'this is the home of the fishes." Elsewhere, although 
 they exist in large numbers, is not properly their 'home,' 
 which is in the neighborhood of Michilimackinac. 
 
 "In fact, besides the fish common to all the other 
 tribes, as the herring-, carp, pike, g-old-fish, white-fish 
 and sturg-eon, 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 
 
42 History oj Mackinac. 
 
 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 Iriquois. The 
 three tribes at present living on the Bay des Puants 
 (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 Satiteurs, had their abode on the 
 main land at the west, and the others looked upon this 
 as their country for passing the winter, when there are 
 no fish at the Sault. The Hurons, called Etononiathron- 
 nons, have lived for some years in the same island, to 
 escape the Iriquois. 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 Michiliraackinac, 
 were so numerous that some of the survivors yet living 
 here assure us that they once had thirty villages, all 
 inclosed in a fortification of a league and a half in cir- 
 cuit, when the Iriquois 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 
 excellence 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 Iriquois, have turned their attention to this point, so 
 convenient for a return to their own country and will 
 follow the examples of those who have made a beginning 
 
Michiiiuiackinac Island. 43 
 
 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 estab- 
 lishinsf the Mission St. Igrnace, from whence it will be 
 easy to all the Indians of Lake Huron, when the several 
 tribes shall have settled each on its own lands. 
 
 "With these advantages, the place has also its incon- 
 veniences, particularly for the French, who are not fa- 
 miliar as are the savages, with the different kinds of 
 fishery, in which the latter are trained from their birth; 
 the winds and the tides occasion no small embarrass- 
 ment to the fishermen. 
 
 "The winds: For this is the central point between 
 the three great lakes which surround it, and which 
 seem incessantly tossing ball at each other. For no 
 sooner has 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 blast 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, especially 
 during the autumn." 
 
 Disgressing from the mission of St. Ignace we come to 
 an event connected therewith, at "Sainte Marie du 
 Sault," in the spring and summer of 1671, that was in- 
 tended for a master stroke of diplomacy. If it had con- 
 
44 History of Mackinac. 
 
 tinued for any leng-tli of time the results would have 
 been far reaching, so as to have made the French do- 
 main permanent in North America. It was a grathering' 
 of the tribes and bands from all directions to take part 
 in a general council at the "Sault" to consider a treaty 
 with the representative of the Ffench court, and to place 
 the Indians under the protection of the king of France. 
 We quote extracts from "Memoirs of Nicolas Perrot," 
 the account of that mass meeting, as given by Rev. 
 Chrysostom Verwyst, O. S. F., in "Missionary Labors," 
 etc.: 
 
 GREAT MASS-MEETING AT SAULT STE. MARIE IN 1671; NAMES 
 
 OF THOSE WHO SIGNED THE TREATY; 
 
 PERROT'S ACCOUNT. 
 
 "The treaty was signed in the presence of Dablon,' 
 Superior of the mission, and his colleagues, Dreuilletes, 
 Allouez," Andr6 of the Society of Jesus; Nicolas Perrot,^ 
 interpreter; Sieur Jollyet;* Jacques Mogras of Three 
 Rivers; Pierre Moreau, the Sieur de la Taupine; Denis 
 Masse; Franyois de Chavigny, Sieur de la Chevrottiere; 
 Jacques Lagillier, Jean Maysere, Nicholas Dupuis, 
 Francois Bibaud, Jaques Joviel, Pierre Porteret,^ Rob- 
 
 ^ Dablon and Dreuilletes were stationed at Sault, thoug-h Dab- 
 Ion spent a part of the winter of lb70-7l at Mackinac, building a 
 rude bark chapel there. 
 
 - Allouez and Andr^ were stationed at Green Bay, Andre hav- 
 ing- charg-e of the missionary stations at the head of said bay, 
 while Allouez attended the island missions. 
 
 ^ Nicholas Perrot, the author of the "Memoire." held several 
 offices under the Canadian government, was "Coureur de bois," 
 interpreter, and kind of governor or commandant at Green 
 Bay, between 1665-1701. 
 
 ^ Jollyet accompanied Father Marquette upon his voyage of 
 discovery and exploration down the Mississippi. 
 
 ^ Pierre Porteret accompanied Father Marquette on his last 
 journey to the Illinois in 1674, and was present at his death on 
 the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in 1675. 
 
Mass-Meeting at Sault Ste. Marie. 45 
 
 ert Duprat, Vital Driol, Guillaume Bonhomme." (Mar- 
 gry, vol. I. p. 97.) 
 
 Nicholas Perrot sa3^s:' . 
 
 "When the latter had arrived, he asked me if I would 
 like to go to the Outaouas, as interpreter, and conduct 
 there his subdelegate, whom he would place there to 
 take possession of their country. I informed him that I 
 was always read}^ to obey him, and offered him my 
 services. I left, therefore, with the Sieur de Saint Lus- 
 son, his subdelegate, and we arrived at Montreal, where 
 we remained until the beginning of the month, Obtober 
 (1670). We were obliged on our way to winter with the 
 Amikouets (Beaver Indians). The Saulteurs (Chippe- 
 was of Sault Ste. Marie) also wintered at the same place 
 and secured more than two thousand four hundred elks 
 on an island called the 'Island of the Outaouas,' (Man- 
 itoulin Island) which extends the length of Lake Huron, 
 from the point opposite St. Francis River to that of the 
 Missisakis, going towards Michilimakinak. This ex- 
 traordinary chase was nevertheless only made with 
 snares. 
 
 "On the 5th of the month of May, I went to Sault Ste. 
 Marie with the principal chiefs of the Pouteouatamies, 
 Sakis Puants (Winnebagoes), Malhommis (Menom- 
 inees). Those of the Foxes, Mascoutechs (Maskoutens), 
 Kikaboos (Kickapoos) and Miamies did not pass the bay 
 (Green Bay). Among them was a man by the name of 
 Tetinchoua, head chief of the Miamies, who, as if he 
 were their king, had day and night in his wigwam forty 
 young men as a body-guard. The village over which he 
 ruled had from four to five thousand braves; in one 
 word he was feared and respected by all his neighbors. 
 
 "I found at my arrival, not only the chiefs of the 
 
 ^ "Memoire," pp. 126-128. 
 
46 History of Mackinac. 
 
 north, but also all the Kiristinons (Crees), Monsonis and 
 whole villages of their neig-hbors; the chiefs of the Nip- 
 issing-s were there also, besides those of the Amikouets 
 and all of the Saulteurs, who had their settlement in 
 the place itself. The pole was erected in their presence 
 and the arms of France attached to it with the consent 
 of all the tribes, who, not knowing how to write, gave 
 presents as their signatures, declaring in this manner 
 that they placed themselves under the protection and 
 obedience of the king. The Process-Verbal was drawn 
 up in regard to this act of assuming possession, which I 
 signed as interpreter, with the Sieur de Saint Lusson, 
 subdelegate; the Rev. Missionary Fathers Dablon, Allou- 
 ez, Dreuilletes and Marquet signed lower down, and below 
 them the French who were trafficking in the various lo- 
 calities. This was done following the instructions 
 given M. Talon. After that, all those tribes returned 
 each to their country and lived several years without 
 any trouble from one side or the other. 
 
 "I forgot to say that the Hurons and Outaouas did 
 not arrive till after the act of taking possession, for 
 they had fled from *Chagouamigon (Chequamegon) on 
 account of having eaten some Sioux, as I have related 
 above. They were informed of what had lately been 
 done and agreed, like the rest, to all that had been con- 
 cluded and decided on." 
 
 *Chagaouaraig"ong, pronounced Sha-ga-wa-mi-gong. To pro- 
 nounce Indian words, observe that: 
 a is pronounced like a in father, far. 
 e is pronounced like a in way, say. 
 i is pronouned like ee in feel, seen, 
 o is pronounced like o in own, sown, 
 ou is pronounced like oo in foot, fool. 
 French ch is pronounced like sh in she, show. 
 kw is pronounced like q in queen. 
 
Process - Verbal. 47 
 
 Copy of the process-verbal of the taking possession 
 of the indian country.i 
 
 Preliminary remarks of Father J. Tailhan, S. J., 
 publisher and annotator of Perrot's "Memoire." 
 
 "The 'Relation' of 1671 (see text) and La Potherie 
 (II, pp. 128-130) contain many details in reg-ard to this 
 act of taking- possession omitted by Perrot, to which 
 the reader is referred. I will merely g-ive here the un- 
 published Process- Verbal of that ceremony, after the 
 somewhat incorrect copy deposited in the archives of the 
 
 marine The passag-es suppressed and replaced by 
 
 dots offer no historical interest; they are but simple 
 protocols or useless repetitions." 
 
 PROCESS-VERBAL. 
 
 "Simon Francois Daumont, esquire, Sieur de Saint 
 Lusson, commissioned subdelegfate of Monseig-neur, the 
 Intendant of New France. . . . 
 
 "In accordance with the orders we have received from 
 Monseigneur, the Intendant of New France, the 3d of 
 last July ... .to immediately proceed to the country of 
 the Indian Outaouais, Nez-percez, Illinois, and other 
 nations, discovered and to be discovered, in North 
 America, in the reg-ion of Lake Superior or Mer-Douce 
 (Huron), to make there search and discovery of mines of 
 all sorts, especially of copper, ordering- us moreover to 
 take possession in the name of the king of all the 
 country, inhabited or not inhabited, through which we 
 may pass.... We, in virtue of our commission, have 
 made our first disembarkment at the village or burg of 
 Sainte Marie du Sault, the place where the Rev. Jesuit 
 Fathers make their mission, and where the Indian tribes, 
 called Achipoes, Malamechs, Noguets, and others make 
 their actual abode. We have convoked there as many 
 
 1 "Memoire," pp. 292-294. 
 
48 History of Mackinac. 
 
 other tribes as it was in our power to assemble, and they 
 met there to the number of fourteen tribes, namely the 
 Achipoes,' Malamechs,^ Nog-uets,'' Banabeoueks,* Mako- 
 miteks,^ Poult^at^mis,* Oumaloumines,' Sassaouacot- 
 tons,^ dwelling- at the Bay called that of the Puants 
 (Green Bay), and who have taken it upon themselves to 
 make it (treat}^) known to their neig^hbors, who are the 
 Illinois,'' Mascoutins,"' Outag-amis," and other nations; 
 also the Christinos,'^ Assinipouals,'^ Aumossomiks,'* 
 Outaouais-Couscottons,'^ Niscaks,'" Maskwikoukiaks,''all 
 of them inhabiting- the countries of the North and near 
 the sea, who have charg-ed themselves with making it 
 known to their neighbors, who are believed to be in 
 g-reat numbers dwelling- near the shores of the same sea. 
 We have caused this, our said commission, to be read to 
 them in the presence of the Rev. Fathers of the Society 
 of Jesus, and of all the Frenchmen named below, and 
 have had it interpreted by Nicolas Perrot, interpreter of 
 His Majesty in this matter, in order that they may not 
 be able (to claim) to be ig-norant of it. Having- then 
 caused a cross to be erected to produce there the fruits of 
 Christianity, and near it a cedar pole, to which we have 
 attached the arms of France, saying three times with a 
 loud voice and public proclamation, that IN THE NAME 
 OF THE MOST HIGH, MOST POWERFUL, AND 
 MOST REDOUBTABLE MONARCH, LOUIS XIV. 
 OF NAME, MOST CHRISTIAN KING OF FRANCE 
 AND NAVARRE, we take possession of said place, 
 Sainte Marie du Sault, as also of the Lakes Huron and 
 
 'Chippewas, ''Merameg-, Man-um-aig, "Catfish," ^Noquets, No- 
 kaig-, "Bear Family or Clan," *Ne-baun-aub-aig (?), "Merman 
 Clan," ^Makomiteks (?), ®Pottawatamies, 'Menominees, '^Nassa- 
 waketons, "People of the Fork," 'Illinois, "'Mashkouteng-, Muska- 
 tine, Muskoda, "Prarie People," ^'Foxes, ^^Crees, '^Assineboines, 
 "Stonycountry Sioux," '^Mousoneeg, "Moose," '^Ottawa Kiska- 
 kon (?) or Ataouabouskatouk, a Cree tribe, '^Kiskakons(?), ''Mas- 
 kwakeeg" (?), Foxes, or Mikikoueks. 
 
Process- Verbal. 49 
 
 Superior, the Island of Caientaton (Manitouline), and 
 of all other lands, rivers, lakes and streams contiguous 
 to and adjacent here, as well discovered as to be dis- 
 covered, which are bounded on the one side by the 
 seas of the North and West, and on the other side 
 by the sea of the South, in its whole leng-th or depth, 
 taking- up at each of the said three proclamations a sod 
 of earth, crying- 'Vive le Roy !' and causing the same to 
 be cried by the whole assembly, as well French as Indi- 
 ans, declaring to the said nations aforesaid and here- 
 after that from henceforth they were to be protegees 
 (subjects) of His Majesty, subject to obey his laws and 
 follow his customs, promising them all protection and 
 succor on his part against the incursion and invasion of 
 their enemies, declaring to all other potentates, sovereign 
 princes, as well States as Republics, to them or their 
 subjects, that they neither can nor shall seize upon or 
 dwell in any place of this country, unless with the good 
 pleasure of his said most Christian Majesty, and of him 
 who shall govern the land in his name, under penalty of 
 incurring his hatred and the efforts of his arms. And 
 that none may pretend ignorance of this transaction, we 
 have now attached on the reverse side of the arms of 
 France our Process- Verbal of the taking possession, 
 signed by ourselves and the persons below named, who 
 were all present. 
 
 "Done at Sainte Marie du Sault, the 14th day of June, 
 in the year of grace 1671. 
 
 "Daumont de Saint Lusson." 
 
 (Then follow the signatures of the witnesses.) 
 
 After the congress at Sault Ste. Marie, Marquette 
 
 returned with the Indians to "Pointe St. Ignace" of 
 
 Michilimackinac. No account has been found of his 
 
 first year's labors at that mission, but in the second year 
 
50 History of Mackinac. 
 
 he wrote to Father Dablon, the following-, translated 
 from the Erench. ("Shea's Dis, and Explor. of the 
 Mississippi.") 
 
 "Rev. Father, — The Hurons, called Tionnontater- 
 onnons or Petun Nation, who compose the Mission of 
 St. Ig-natius at Michilimackinong", began last year near 
 the chapel a fort inclosing- all their cabins. They have 
 come reg-ularly to prayers, and have listened more read- 
 ily to the instructions I g-ave them, consenting- to what 
 I required to prevent their disorders and abominable 
 customs. We must have patience with untutored minds, 
 who know onl}' the devil, who, like their ancestors, have 
 been his slaves, and who often relapse into the sin, in 
 which they were nurtured. God alone can fix these 
 tickle minds, and place and keep them in His g-race, and 
 touch their hearts while we stammer at their ears. 
 
 "The Tionnontateronnons number this year three hun- 
 dred and eighty souls, and besides sixty Outaouasina- 
 gaux 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 to us seemed most averse to it. They 
 now wish to be Christians; they bring their children to 
 the chapel to be baptized, and come regularl}' to prayers. 
 
 "Having 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 four- 
 teen days, and on my arrival all assembled at the chapel, 
 
Marquette' s Letter to Father Dahlon. 51 
 
 some coming- even from their fields, which are at a very 
 considerable distance. 
 
 "I went readily to their pumpkin feast, where I 
 instructed them, and invited them to thank God, who 
 g-ave them food in plenty, while other tribes that had 
 not yet embraced Christianity were actually strug-g-ling- 
 with famine. I ridiculed dreams, and urg-ed those who 
 had been baptized to acknowledg^e Him v/hose adopted 
 children they were. Those who g-ave the feast, thoug-h 
 still idolaters, spoke in hig-h terms of Christianity, and 
 openly made the sig-n of the cross before all present. 
 Some young- men, whom they had tried by ridicule to 
 prevent from doing- it, persevered, and make the sig-n of 
 the cross in the greatest assemblies, even when I am 
 not present. 
 
 "An Indian of distinction among- the Hurons, having 
 invited me to a feast where the chiefs were, called them 
 severally by name, and told them that he wished to de- 
 clare his thoughts, that all mig-ht know it, namely, that 
 he was a Christian; that he renounced the g-od of dreams 
 all their lewd dances; that the black-g-own was master of 
 his cabin; and that for nothing- that mig-ht happen would 
 he forsake his resolution. Delig-hted to hear this, I spoke 
 more strong-ly than I had ever yet done, telling- that my 
 only desig-n was to put them in the way of heaven; that 
 for this alone I remained among- them; that this oblig-ed 
 me to assist them at the peril of my life. As soon as 
 anything- is said in an assemply, it is immediately di- 
 vulged throug-h all the cabins, as I saw in this case by 
 the assiduity of some in coming- to prayers, and by the 
 malicious efforts of others to neutralize m}^ 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 fall I beg-an to 
 
52 History oj Mackinac. 
 
 instruct some to make g^eneral 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 g-iven so exact 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 
 chang-e; so that they will not even go to ordinary feasts 
 without asking- my permission. I have 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. P. 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, baptized 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 wrecked. 
 
 "This, father, is all I have to give about this 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 to- 
 ward the South Sea who are still unknown to us, and to 
 teach them of our great God, whom they have hitherto 
 unknown." 
 
 The French shared with others the idea of the Miss- 
 issippi flowing into the Gulf of California, and in that 
 way they could find a short passage to China. 
 
 In 1672 Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac, succeed- 
 ed M. de Courcelles as governor of Canada. As soon as 
 he arrived, M. Talon, the Intendant, laid before him 
 
JJiirq Hello's Narralive. S3 
 
 the plan of exploring- the Mississippi River, For this 
 great underta)cing- they chose the Sieur JoUyet, wishing" 
 to have Father Marquette accompany him. On the 
 8th of December, 1672, feast of the Immaculate Concep- 
 tion, Jollyet arrived at St. Ignace, Mackinac and told 
 Father Marquette the joyful news of their appointment 
 to visit and explore the Mississippi. The pious missionary 
 was glad. For years he had longed for an opportunit}' to 
 visit the "Great River." Ever since he had come to the 
 Ottawa country he had invoked Mary Immaculate to 
 obtain the grace for him to be able to visit the nations 
 on the Mississippi. Now his prayer was about to be 
 • heard. He placed his intended voyage under the special 
 protection of the Immaculate Mother of God, promising- 
 her that, should he be so happy as to discover the gr«at 
 river, he would call it Conception River and give the 
 same name to the first Mission he would found among 
 the Illinois. Five Frenchmen volunteered to share with 
 Marquette and Joll3^et the hardships and dangers of so 
 glorious an enterprise. The winter of 1672-3 was spent 
 in making the necessary preparations and collecting in- 
 formation from the Indians. They drew up a map, on 
 which they marked the course of the rivers they were to 
 navigate, the names of the tribes and localities through 
 which they were to pass, the course of the great river. 
 
 The following, from Marquette's own narrative, is 
 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 discovery with me. t was 
 the more enraptured at this good news, as I saw my 
 
54 History of Mackinac. 
 
 designs on the point of being" accomplislied, and myself 
 in the happy necessity of exposing my life for the sal- 
 vation of all these nations, and particularly for the Illi- 
 nois, who had, when I was at Lapointe du St. Esprit, 
 very earnestly entreated me to carry the word 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 onr courage, and sweetened the labor 
 of rowing from morning till night. As we were going 
 to seek unknown countries, we took all possible precau- 
 tions, that, if our enterprise was hazardous, it should 
 not be foolhardy. For this reason we gathered all pos- 
 sible 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 estab- 
 lish among these new nations, as I have actually done 
 amnn<»- the Illinois. 
 
Marquette's Narfaiive. 55 
 
 "With all these precautions, we made our paddles play 
 merrily over a part of Lake Huron, and that of the Illi- 
 nois, into the Bay of the Fetid (Green Bay). The first 
 nation that we met was that of the Wild Oats (Eng"lish, 
 wild rice). I entered their river (Menominie) to visit 
 them, as we have preached the gfospel to these tribes for 
 some years past, so that there are many gfood Christians 
 among them. 
 
 "I informed these people of the Wild Oats of my 
 design of going- to discover the distant nations to instruct 
 them in the mysteries 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 the various 
 nations on our route, exposed us to another evident 
 danger — that of being killed by the war parties which 
 are constantly in the field; that the Great River is very 
 dangerous, unless the dif&cult parts are known; that it 
 was full of frightful 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; 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 concerned; 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 the river monsters, and besides, we should be on 
 our guard to avoid the other dangers with which they 
 threatened us." 
 
 The following extracts are from "Memoirs of Pere 
 James Marquette," by John R. Bailey, M. D., A. A. 
 
56 History of Mackinac. 
 
 Surgeon, U. S. Army. Published by direction of the 
 "Marquette Monument Association," Mackinac, Mich. 
 July 17, 1878: 
 
 "Leaving- the bay they enter Fox River, about 260 
 miles long-, -where there are many birds feeding- on -wild 
 oats. Advancing- up the river they passed the rapids 
 and approached Masl^outens, -where they arrived June 
 7, 1673. 
 
 "June 10. Taking- two Alg-onquin g-uides they started 
 for a river, the "Misconsing-" (Wisconsin), three leag-ues 
 off, that emptied into the Mississippi. The g-uides took 
 them safely to a portag-e twenty seven hundred paces 
 long-, and helped to transport their canoes to the river 
 and returned home. * * * 
 
 "They sailed down the broad Wisconsin past alter- 
 nate prairies and hillsides towards the g-reat river Missis- 
 sippi, which they entered June 17, with a joy that could 
 not be expressed. Here the two birch bark canoes raised 
 their happy sails to unknown breezes and floated down 
 the ocean stream, throug-h prairies and forests, often 
 meeting- with the wild Illinois, Shawnees, Sioux and 
 Chickasas (Marquette carrying- the cross before him), 
 frequently stopping to smoke the calumet, always striv- 
 ing- to convert these strange people to the worship of the 
 true Manitou and the Catholic faith. 
 
 "They reached the Now in-gon-e-na (Des Moines), 
 where Marquette stayed six days and published to the 
 Illinois the true God, their Creator. 
 
 "Their great chief hung around Marquette the sacred 
 calumet, which was the amulet of peace to all savage 
 nations. 
 
 "The little group proceeded onward. * * * 
 "They passed the Missouri and in less than forty leagues 
 floated past the Ohio to latitude 33", where near the 
 west bank of the 'great river' stood the village of Mich- 
 
Mai-quette' s Narrative. 57 
 
 ' igamea. * * * * ^'\\^ next day ten. men, in 
 a wooden canoe, escorted the discoverers ten leagues to 
 the village of Akansea below the mouth of the Arkansas 
 river (opposite the mouth of that river), the end of their 
 vojag-e." The fear of the Spaniards, and other causes, 
 prevented the continuance of their discoveries. * * 
 
 * Marquette and Joliet left Akansea July 17, 1673, 
 and ascended the Mississippi. 
 
 "In latitude 38° 30' they entered the river Illinois. * 
 
 * * A young- chief conducted the party by way of 
 the Illinois to Lake Michigan. In September all were 
 safe in (the mission of St. Francis Xavier) Green Bay. 
 
 "Joliet returned to Quebec and announced the dis- 
 cover}^ whilst Marquette remained to preach the gospel 
 to the Indians. Being often sick with dysentery, and 
 in feeble health, he remained at the Green Bay mission 
 until October 25, 1674, when he sailed for Chicago. 
 Reaching that river, after suffering from much sickness 
 and delay's 'he was received as an angel from heaven.' 
 He remained only a few months, imparting the gospel to 
 the red men. May 18, 1675, his strength failing, he 
 resolved to sail to the mission of St. Ignatius, Michili- 
 mackinac, and recruit his health in that salubrious 
 clime. 
 
 "On the route he entered a little river in Michigan, 
 and Bancroft says: 'Erecting an altar, he said Mass after 
 the rites of the Catholic Church, then begging the men 
 who conducted his canoe to leave him alone for half an 
 hour : 
 
 " ' In the darkling wood, 
 Amidst cool and silence he knelt down, 
 And offered to the mightiest, solemn thanks 
 And supplication. 
 " 'At the end of half an hour they went to seek him 
 and he was no more. The good missionary, discoverer 
 
58 History of Mackinac. 
 
 of a world, had fallen asleep on the margin of the stream 
 
 that bears his name. Near its mouth the canoemen dug- 
 
 his g"rave in the sand. Ever 
 
 after the forest rang-ers, if 
 
 in dang-er on Lake Michig-an, 
 
 would invoke his name. The 
 
 people of the west will build 
 
 his monument.'" 
 
 Pere Jacques Marquette 
 was born, "in the city of 
 Laon, in the Department of 
 Aisne, France, in the year 
 1637. * * * During- the 
 War of the Revolution three 
 of the Marquettes died here, 
 in the French army. Of the 
 valor of the family there is 
 no doubt. * * * Thus at 
 the ag-e of 38, May 19, 1675, 
 in the height of his fame 
 and g"lory, was the good 
 priest taken away from earth 
 to fill a brig-hter sphere in 
 some celestial space. He was 
 twenty-one years in the So- 
 ciety of Jesus — twelve in 
 France and nine in Amer- 
 
 From .1 photograph of Statue iti Olil 
 lea. Hall of Reprpsetitatives, C.ipiiol 
 
 "God did not SUifer the at Washington, d. c. 
 
 remains of Marquette to be forg-otten. Two years later 
 on the anniversary of his death, the Kiskakon Indians 
 (Alg-onquins), and a number of Iroquois repaired to the 
 spot and disinterred his body. Cleaning- the bones, they 
 
Burial of Marquetie. 59 
 
 placed them in a neat box of birch bark and conveyed 
 them to Point St. Ignace. 
 
 "The convoy consisted of thirty canoes. As they ap- 
 proached the mission of St. Ignace, 'Missilimackinac,' 
 Fathers Nouvel and Pierson met them and intoned the 
 'De Profundis,' in the sight of all the people, before 
 landing. The body remained in state, in the church, all 
 day Whitsun-Monday, June 8, 1677, and the next day 
 was deposited with funeral honors in the little vault 
 under the church, where he now reposes, the 'guardian 
 angel of the Ottawa Missions,' opposite the beautiful 
 island of Mackinac, the home of the 'Great Manitou,' and 
 of the 'spirits' whom the Indians delighted to worship. 
 
 "May 4, 1877. The foundations of the old church 
 were discovered on private claim No. 19, Mr. David 
 Murray's property, at Point St. Ignace, and September 
 3, 1877, a part of the remains of Marquette, in the 
 vault, inclosed in the bark casket described. * * * 
 
 "Now let the people of America and Europe unite 
 without distinction of race, creed or sect, and build a 
 shapely monument to the great and good missionary 
 whose fame and Christian virtues we can only emulate, 
 Mackinac, Mich., July 17, 1878." 
 
 One thousand copies of the memoir were ordered 
 printed and distributed by the monument association at 
 their first meeting on Michilimackinac Island, August 8, 
 1878. 
 
 1673. The year that Marquette embarked on his voy- 
 age of discovery, the French established a palisaded 
 fort* at Pointe St. Ignace. It was situated on an eleva- 
 tion in the rear of the church facing the bay, and was 
 surrounded by a trench and stockade of cedar pickets. 
 The outlines of the trench are visible to this day, and 
 
 *The first Fort Michilimackinac. 
 
^0 History of Mackinac. 
 
 helped to verify in 1878, the site of the old church and 
 Marquette's grave, where the modern monument now 
 stands. It was soon afterwards g-arrisoned by French 
 regulars in addition to the militia force. That was the 
 first Fort Michilimackinac and must be the one re-g-ar- 
 risoned after the Jesuits burned the church, abandoned 
 the mission in 1705 and returned to Quebec. 
 
 Marquette, as before stated, passed the winter of 1670 
 -71 on Mackinac Island (with Father Dablon, who was 
 there in 1669), laying- the foundation of the St. Ig-nace 
 mission (Rel. 1670-71, p. 144). 
 
 In June, 1671, the Tionnontate Hurons arrived at St. 
 Ig-nace from Chag-aouamig-ong" Bay, Lake Superior. 
 That year the Manitoulin Ottawas procured a supply of 
 arms and powder from Montreal. In the fall they started 
 on the war path to fig-ht the Sioux ("Nadouis-Sioux, 
 the enemies"). At St. Ig-nace the Hurons joined them, 
 and at Green Bay the Potawottomies and Sacs and 
 Foxes. Numbering- 1,000 braves they passed through 
 *'Ouisconsin," to the St. Croix valley, and boldly at- 
 tacked the Sioux. Repulsed, with great loss, and forced 
 to retreat, in the snow, towards the straits, their flight 
 was covered by the Hurons, who bravely defended the 
 rear losing- many of their warriors. In the spring- of 
 1673 Marquette states there were only 380 Huron souls 
 and about sixty Ottawas had lately joined them. 
 
 Accordingf to La Houtan, the Huron villag-e and pali- 
 saded fort, constructed in 1672, was on the level ground 
 around the middle of East Moran Bay, and continued 
 there until that tribe, with other bands, about 1702, left 
 for Detroit. He says, the "Ottawas fearing- trouble 
 with the Hurons beg-an to fortify the neighboring- 
 bluff," north and back of what is now, 1895, Cliffside 
 
SL Ignacc dii Michilimackitiac. 61 
 
 and vicinity. There are remains there of an earth- 
 work, supposed to be of Indian orig-in, and many of their 
 spear-heads, flints, stone hammers and other relics, have 
 been found thereabouts. On these premises at Cliffside, 
 St. Ig-nace, there is, in an enclosure of seven acres, all 
 the natural scenery (except the arched rock), that can 
 be found on Mackinac Island. In the yard, near the 
 dwelling-, there is a rock of the same formation as the 
 island Sug-ar Loaf, but not quite as broad at the base. 
 It is the Temple or Ghost rock — "Gebi-wau-beek" (or 
 "Chete") — of the Indians, and in front there is a flat- 
 tened projection — their altar — where the savag^es were 
 wont to worship and perform sacrifices. The credulous 
 natives say the spirits still ling^er there, but we have 
 never been able to see them. 
 
 After the departure of Marquette and Joliet from St. 
 Ig-nace, Fathers Henry Nouvel and Phillip Pierson erect- 
 ed a more substantial log- church and residence, pro- 
 tected by a palisade enclosure, twenty-five feet hig-h. 
 
 In the spring- of 1673 several bands, Ottawas and 
 others, Alg-onquins, arrived and settled about Rabbit's 
 Back, on the shores of Lake Huron. At that place, a 
 little over two miles from Huron settlement and church, 
 another church, roofed with bark, was built. In 1677 
 there were 1,300 souls at that mission ("Algonquin 
 Villag-e") the principal band being- Kishkakons. 
 
 In 1677, or before, a new "Ottawa Villag-e" was 
 started between Point La Barbe and Gros-Cap, by the 
 arrival of other bands of Algonquins. Near them a log- 
 chapel was built, the church of "St. Francis Borg-ia," 
 Father Nouvel in charg-e. During- the winter of 1677-8, 
 Father Enjalron lived, with Father Nouvel, in a rude 
 wig-wam adjoining- the chapel. In 1699 there were 
 
62 Histo7'y of Mackinac. 
 
 fifteen hundred (1,500) souls in that villag-e. All 
 Indian villag-es about the straits, unless fortified, were 
 g"enerally strung- along- the beach, in one or two lines, 
 near or convenient to the water. That year Buisson de 
 St. Come (Missionary) and Henry de Tonty visited 
 them. They walked throug-h the portag-e to Gros-Cap, 
 and sent their canoes around the point. St. Come was 
 on a journey by way of Michilimackinac, to the Lower 
 Mississippi, and mentions these facts in his journal. 
 
 From the time Father Allouez passed throug-h the 
 straits in 1699, en route to Green Bay (and visited 
 Mackinac Island), the population of "Point Iroquois" 
 (St. Ig-nace) was floating- and not permanent until the 
 mission was established. From November 5 to 11, 16t9, 
 Allouez was wind-bound on Little St. Martin's Island. 
 He crossed, "St. Martin's Day," to the main land, by 
 way of Big- St. Martin's Island, after the storm abated. 
 Then he met some Indians and two 'Frenchmen, who 
 tried to persuade him not to go to Green Bay so late in 
 the season. (See Journal of Allouez, "Relations.") 
 Father Dablon, Superior of the Jesuits, selected Point 
 St. Ig-nace for a mission, by reason of its position and 
 superior advantag-es for defense, productive soil, g-ame 
 and fish. 
 
 In the spring- of 1677 Father Nouvel took charg-e of 
 the Ottawas and Father Pierson retained the Huron 
 part of the mission of St. Ig-nace. Year after year 
 there are the same movements of the bands of restless 
 savag-es, and the annual trips to and fro of the French 
 fur traders and Indians for the market at Montreal. 
 
Voyage of the Griffon. 
 
 63 
 
 THE "aRIFFON." 
 
 The First Vessel on the Upper Lakes. Built by La Salle, 1679. 
 
 .670, LA SALLE AND HENNEPIN.-VOYACE OF THE "GRIFFON." 
 Durino- the expedition of Marquette and Joliet, both 
 
 kept journals. Joliet's was lost by the upsetting- of his 
 canoe in the St. Lawrence rapids, 1674, on his return to 
 Quebec. The fame of their discovery fired the minds of 
 the sanguine Frenchmen. Robert Cavalier de la Salle 
 in command at Fort Frontenac ( "King-ston") obtained a 
 concession from Count Frontenac, and with his approval 
 another from the French King-, which allowed him the 
 exclusive trade in buffalo skins and all other articles (ex- 
 cepting- the fur trade of the lakes), in the territory to be 
 discovered. 
 
 Late in November he sailed from Fort Frontenac, in 
 a ten-ton vessel, fully equipped, with Tonty and a corps 
 
64 Histoiy of Mackinac. 
 
 of mechanics and marines, across Lake Krie*" to 
 ("Ong-hiara") Niag-ara Falls, Here they disembarked 
 near the foot of the Falls and carried their mer- 
 chandise, anchors, chains and provisions above the 
 cataract, making- a portag-e of at least twelve miles. 
 That took them to where the current was less rapid. 
 The thick forests, rug-g-ed heig^hts, and deep snows 
 caused this work to be delayed until the 22d of Janu- 
 ary, 1679. During- the rest of the winter and early 
 summer they built, at the mouth of "Cayug-a" creek, 
 a sixty-ton vessel, the "Griffon." Here Father Louis 
 Hennepin, who had been appointed acting- missionary 
 of the expedition, and two other monks of the Francis- 
 can order joined them. 
 
 All being ready, whilst cannon were tired and the Te 
 Deum chanted, on the 7th of August, 1679, the little 
 craft unfurled her sails and swept boldly out on Lake 
 Krie. There were thirty-four men all told on board, 
 most of them fur- traders for the Mississippi valley. 
 
 In three days they made the leng-th of the lake, over 
 waters that had never before been sailed by so larg-e a 
 ship, and rounded northward "between the verdant isles 
 of the majestic Detroit." On either side of the strait 
 was an ever-varying- panorama to delig-ht the eye. 
 Groves of trees and intervening- prairies, forests of 
 maple, beech, walnut, chestnut, oak and wild plum. 
 with g-rape vines twining- through their branches. 
 There were herds of wild deer, bear and beasts of un- 
 known name ; flocks of wild turkej^s, quail, grouse and 
 other land and water fowl that made Hennepin, enrap- 
 tured, exclaim how "extraordinarily relishing." 
 
 Detroit was then a wilderness, unsettled by white 
 men. Up the river they sailed, and enter and cross the 
 
Voyage of the Grijfon. bS 
 
 shallow St. Clair lake. And thence up throug-h the 
 next strait, and into broad Lake Huron. 
 
 Again they chant the Te Deum and offer thanks to 
 Almig-hty God for their prosperity. Gentle breezes 
 waft them onward until they near the boisterous 
 "Sag-ina," when they encounter a fierce gale that 
 threatened to swallow the little ship and crew. The 
 fury of the tempest made even La Salle quake with fear 
 and call on all to commend themselves to heaven. But 
 the godless pilot anathematized his commander "for 
 having brought him after the honor he had won on the 
 ocean, to drown at last, ignominiously, in fresh water." 
 They all clamored to the saints, and with La Salle and 
 Hennepin, proclaimed "St. Anthony" their patron. 
 The winds abated and the vessel "plunged on her way 
 through foaming surges that still grew calmer as she 
 advanced." 
 
 Thunder Bay was passed, and soon to the left the 
 island of "Bois Blanc" (white wood) came in view, and 
 on the right (east) in the dim distance, could be out- 
 lined the Manitoulins of Georgian Bay. Onward they 
 sailed, and turning the foot of Bois Blanc, in front of 
 them, to the westward, up looms a highland ahead, 
 "sitting like an emerald gem in the clear, pellucid 
 wave, is the rock- girt fairy isle of Michilimackinac." 
 In the back ground, to the northward, is the Mission of 
 St. Ignatius, nestling at the head of a small narrow bay, 
 where they soon come to anchor near by. 
 
 The following is Hennepin's:* "The 27th, 1679, in 
 the morning, we continued our course northwest, with 
 a southeast wind, which carried us the same day to 
 
 *L/aluman says Hennepin was "Daring", vain, and determined, 
 ambitious to reap the g"lory of discovery and not too scrupulous 
 as to the means." 
 
66 History oj Alackinac. 
 
 Michilimackinac,* where we anchored in a bay at six 
 fathom water, upon a shiny white bottom. That 
 ba}'^ is sheltered by the coast and a bank lying- from the 
 southwest to the north; but it lies exposed to the south 
 winds, which are very violent in that country. 
 
 "Michilimackinac is a neck of land to the north of the 
 mouth of the strait throug"h which the Lake of the Illi- 
 nois discharg-es itself into the Lake Huron. That canal 
 is about three leag'ues long- and one broad 
 
 "We lay between two different nations of savag-es. 
 Those who inhabit the Point of Michilimackinac are 
 called Hurons; and the others, who are about three or 
 four leag-ues more northward, are Ottawas. Those sav- 
 ages were equally surprised to see a ship in their country; 
 and the noise of our cannon, of which we made a g-eneral 
 discharg-e, filled them with g-reat 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 g-old lace, and most of his men, 
 with their arms, attended him. The chief captains of 
 that people received us with g-reat 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 savag-es staring- 
 and admiring that fine wooden canoe, as they called it. 
 They brought us abundance of whitings, and some trouts 
 of fifty or sixty pound weight. 
 
 "We went the next day to pay a visit to the Hurons, 
 who inhabit a rising ground on a neck of land over 
 against Michilimackinac. Their villages are fortified 
 with palisades of twenty-five feet high, and always situ- 
 ated upon eminences or hills. They received us with 
 
 *Now St. Igf-nace. 
 
Tlie Gj'iffon at M ichilirnackinac. 67 
 
 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, as we understood 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 a 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 
 September, when he set sail for Green Bay. At this 
 point, contrary to orders, he collected a cargo of furs, 
 with which he dispatched tne Griffo7i to Niagara, while 
 he himself, with a part of his men, repaired in bark 
 canoes to the head of Lake Michigan. Here he anxious- 
 ly 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 Griffon was a severe stroke upon La 
 Salle; yet he was not discouraged. With inflexible en- 
 ergy, 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,* 
 
 *Hennepin ascended the river to St. Anthony's Falls in the 
 spring- of 1680. He wintered 1680-81 at St. Ig-nace with Sieur du 
 Lhut(Duluth). 
 
68 History of Mackinac. 
 
 while lie himself returned to Canada for new supplies, 
 made necessary by the loss of the Griffon. In 1681, he 
 returned; and in 1682, having- constructed a vessel of a 
 size suitable for the purpose, he descended the Missis- 
 sippi to the Gulf. 
 
 "Having" completed the exploration of the Great River, 
 his next step was to plant colonies along- its banks; for 
 which purpose he labored, but with only partial success, 
 until 1687, when he was assassinated by one of his own 
 men." 
 
 Taking- the testimony of Holmes's "American Annals," 
 this fort or trading-post was first established in 1673. 
 Of the early history of this place, subsequent to La Salle's 
 visit, we have only information gathered from the notices 
 and writing-s of travelers and others. 
 
 In 1688, Baron La Hontan, an officer of rare accom- 
 plishments, visited this point, and from him we have 
 the following: 
 
 "At last, finding- that my provisions were almost out, 
 I resolved to g-o to Michilimackinac, to buy up corn from 
 
 the Hurons and Ottawas I arrived at this place on 
 
 the 18th 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 villag-es will fur- 
 nish me with 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 French- 
 men were some of those that Mr. de la Salle had con- 
 ducted upon the discovery of the Mississippi. They gave 
 
L,a Hojitan at Michilhnackinac. 69 
 
 out that they are sent to Canada, in order to g-o 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 gave, cannot be less than eight hun- 
 dred 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 leag-ue distant from the Illinese Lake, an account 
 of which, and, indeed, of all the other lakes, you may ex- 
 pect elsewhere. Here the Hurons and Ottawas have, 
 each of them, a villag-e; the one being severed from the 
 other by a single palisade; but the Ottawas are beginning" 
 to build a fort upon a hill that stands ten or twelve hun- 
 dred paces off. This precaution they were prompted to 
 by the murder of a certain Huron, called Sandaouires, 
 who was assassinated in the Saginaw River by four 
 young- Ottawas. In this place the Jesuits have a little 
 house or college, adjoining to a sort of a church, and in- 
 closed with poles that separate it from the villag-e of the 
 Hurons. These good fathers lavish away all their di- 
 vinity and patience, to no purpose, in converting such 
 ignorant infidels; for all the length they can bring them 
 to, is, that oftentimes they will desire baptism for their 
 dying children, and some few superannuated persons con- 
 sent to receive the sacrament of baptism when they find 
 themselves at the point of death. The Courejirs de Bois 
 have but a very small settlement here; though at the 
 same time it is not inconsiderable, as being the staple of 
 all the goods that they truck with the south and the west 
 savages; for they cannot avoid passing this way, when 
 
70 History of Mackinac. 
 
 they g-o to the seats of the Illinese and the Oumamis, or 
 to the Bay des Puans, and to the River of Mississippi. 
 The skins, which they import from these different places, 
 must lie here some time before they are transported to the 
 colony. Michiliraackinac is situated very advantage- 
 ously; 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 rough for such slender boats; and as they can not 
 come to it by water, so they can not 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 Illinese Lake lies still in their way." 
 
 La Hontan afterwards made a map showing the French 
 and Indian villages, and the Jesuit establishment as they 
 were in 1688. 
 
 In 1695, M. de la Motte Cadillac, who founded Detroit, 
 commanded at this post. He thus describes the place: 
 
 "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 hundred men, the best formed 
 and most athletic to be found in this New World; besides 
 many other persons v/ho are residents here during two or 
 three months in the year. . . . The houses are ar- 
 ranged 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 sir 
 or seven thousand souls, are about a pistol-shot distant 
 from ours. All the lands are cleared for about three 
 
M. de la Motte Cadillac at Marquette. 71 
 
 leag-ues around their villag-e, and perfectly well culti- 
 vated. They produce a sufficient quantity of Indian 
 corn for the use of both the French and savage inhabit- 
 ants." 
 
 "In 1699, Cadillac, perceiving- the importance of a fort 
 on the Detroit, repaired to France to present the subject 
 to the consideration of Count Pontchartrain, the Colonial 
 Minister. He was favorably received, and authorized to 
 establish the proposed fort at the earliest date possible. 
 This he accomplished in 1701. 
 
 "With the exception of here and there a Jesuit mission- 
 ary and a few half-savag-e coureurs de hois, the region 
 around Mackinac was now forsaken by the French. 
 
 "A dispute soon arose between Cadillac and the Jesuits, 
 the former insisting upon a concentration of French in- 
 terests in the west, at Detroit, the latter urging the 
 French Government to re-establish Mackinac. The 
 Jesuits did all in their power to prevent the Indians re- 
 moving to Detroit, while Cadillac held out every induce- 
 ment to prevail upon them to desert their villages and 
 settle in the vicinity of the new fort, and so far succeed- 
 ed that, in 1705, as we have seen, the Jesuits became 
 discouraged, burned down their college and chapel, and 
 returned to Quebec. But, alarmed at this step, the Gov- 
 ernor soon prevailed upon Father James Marest to re- 
 turn; 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 up- 
 on the French Government to send M. Louvigny, a for- 
 mer commander, with a few soldiers, to re-establish the 
 fort, but did not succeed until 1714, when the long wish- 
 ed for garrison and commander arrived, giving new life 
 to the settlement." 
 
72 History of Mackinac. 
 
 In 1721 Father Charlevoix was at Michilitnackinac and 
 thus writes of it: 
 
 "I arrived the twenty-eig-hth (June) at this post, 
 which is much declined since M. de la Motte Cadillac 
 drew to Detroit the g-reater part of the savag-es 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- vil- 
 lag-e, where there is still a g-reat trade for peltry, because 
 it is the passag"e or the rendezvous of many of the savagfe 
 nations. The fortf is preserved and the house of the 
 missionaries, who are not much employed at present, 
 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 
 g-reat numbers. I have been assured that since the set- 
 tlement of Detroit and the dispersion of the savag-es oc- 
 casioned thereby, many nations of the North, who used 
 to bring- their peltries hither, have taken the route of 
 Hudson's Bay, b}^ the river Bourbon, and g-o there to 
 trade with the Eng-lish; but M. de la Motte could by no 
 means foresee this inconvenience, since we were then in 
 possession of Hudson's Bay. 
 
 "The situation at Michilimackinac is very advantag-e- 
 ous for trade. This post is between three g-reat lakes. 
 Lake Michig-an, which is three hundred leagues in com. 
 pass, without mentioning- the g-reat bay that comes into 
 it; Lake Huron, which is three hundred and fifty leag-ues 
 in circumference, and which is triang-ular; and the Upper 
 Lake, which is five hundred leagues." 
 
 Charlevoix, at the time of this visit, 1721, apparently 
 
 *Beaver Islands. 
 
 f St. Ignace du Michilimackinac. 
 
M. de la Motte Cadillac at Michilimackinac. 73 
 describes the post and settlement of North Michilimack- 
 inac (St. Ignace), as he says: "The fort is preserved, 
 and the house of the missionaries," but does not allude 
 to the church, as that was burned in 1705. The move- 
 ment to South Michilimackinac must have been g-radual 
 up to 1760, when the Province of Michilimackinac was 
 transferred to the Eng-lish. 
 
 In 1681 La Salle, on his second voyag-e to the Mississip- 
 pi, passes by way of St. Ig-nace. Then M. de Villeray 
 was commandant at Fort Michilimackinac. 
 
 On account of Iroquois invasions the fur trade greatly 
 declined in 1683. 
 
 1684. M. de la Durantaye is commanding- at "Missili- 
 mackinac." He leads French and Indian forces, allied 
 with Ottawas, in LaBarre's disastrous attack on the Iro- 
 quois. 
 
 In 1688 Machilmackinac is the commercial and mili- 
 tary center of the northwest. That year Nicolas Perrot 
 arrived and persuaded the Ottawas and Fox tribe (of 
 Green Bay) to make peace. Perrot rescued the daug-hter 
 of a Chippewa chief, whom the Foxes intended to burn 
 at the stake and returned her to her father. 
 
 1686. Many of the Indian bands favor the English 
 and are inclined to unite with them and the Iroquois. 
 The French had only a small force in the province of 
 Michilimackinac, at that time, and having- met with 
 some reverses, the Indians, quick to discern, thoug-ht the 
 Eng-lish were better able to protect and provide for them. 
 Their ideas of prowess was favored by the arrival of mer- 
 chants and traders, from the province of New York, to 
 buy furs, and whatever they had for sale. They were 
 liberal, paid large prices for pelts, and supplied the 
 tribes with liquor. All this was done with the knowl- 
 edge, and connivance of Gov. Dougan, at Albany. A 
 
74 History of Mackinac. 
 
 few extracts from Doc. Hist, of New York will partly 
 show the situation. 
 
 "M. DE MEULLES TO THE MINISTER." 
 "My Lord * * * ("Paris Doc. ii"). "What 
 Indians there were evidenced the best disposition to 
 fig-ht the Iroquois to the death. Sieur de la Durantaye 
 who broug-ht the last six hundred men from Missili- 
 makinak has informed us that he learned from a Miami 
 chief that more than one thousand Illinois were coming 
 to our aid on learning that we were about to fight the 
 Iroquois, to such a degree are they their irreconcilable 
 enemies." 
 
 * * * "Quebec, the 10th 8ber, 1684." (Vol. 
 1, pp. 120, 127.) "Demeulles." 
 
 "GOV. DOUGAN'S REPORT." 
 
 "To the committee of trade on the province of New 
 York, Dated the 22nd February, 1687." 
 ("Lond. Doc. v.") 
 
 "My Lords" * * * 
 
 "The great difference between us is about the beaver 
 trade and in truth they have the advantag-e of us in it 
 @ that by noe other meanes than by their industry in 
 making discoveries in the country before us. "Before 
 my coming hither noe man of my Government ever went 
 beyond the Sinicaes country. Last year some of our 
 people went a trading among the farr Indians called the 
 Ottowais inhabiting about three months journey to the 
 West («) W. N. W. of Albany from whence they brought 
 a g"ood many Beavers. They found their people more 
 inclined to trade with them than the French the French 
 not being- able to protect them from the arms of our 
 Indians, with whom they have had a continued war. 
 
Extracts — Documentary History of New l^ork. 75 
 
 Soe that our Indians broug"ht away this very last year, 
 a great many prisoners. 
 
 "I^ast week I sent some of our Indians to New York 
 where when they came I obtained a promise from them 
 that some of themselves would goe along" with such of 
 our people as go from Albany and Esopus to these far 
 nations @ carry with them the captives they have 
 prisoners in order to the restoring them to their liberty 
 @ bury their hatchetts with those of thier enemys by 
 which means a path may be opened for those farr 
 Indians to come with safety to trade at Albany, and our 
 people goe thither without any let or disturbance." 
 (Vol. 1, pp. 156-7.) * * * 
 
 "It will be very necessary for us to encourage our 
 young men to go a Beaver Hunting as the French doe. 
 (p. 158). I send a map by Mr. Spragg whereby your 
 Lords may see the several Governmts &c how they 
 lye where the Beaver hunting is @ where it will be 
 necessary to erect our country Forts for the securing of 
 beaver trade @ keeping the Indians in community with 
 us. 
 
 "Alsoe it points out where theres a great river dis- 
 covered by one Lassal a Frenchman from Canada who 
 thereupon went into France @ and as its reported 
 brought two or three vessels with people to settle there 
 which (if true) will prove not only very inconvenient to 
 us but to the Spanish alsoe (the river running all along 
 from our lakes by the back of Virginia (§) Carolina into 
 the Bay Mexico) («) its beleeved Nova Mexico can not 
 bee far from the mountains adjoining to it that place 
 being in 36d North Latitude if your Lop^ thought it fit 
 I could send a sloop or two from this place to discover 
 
76 History of Mackinac. 
 
 that river." (p. 158). * * * "Theo. Doug-au." 
 
 (p. 187). 
 
 "Memoirs Concerning- The Present State ot Canada. 
 And The Measures That May Be Adopted For The 
 Security Of The Country, 12 November 1685 (Extract) 
 (Paris Doc. iii)" (p. 196). 
 
 "The most to be feared is the Iroquois who are the 
 most powerful in consequence of the facility with which 
 they obtain arms from the English, and the number of 
 slaves they make daily among- their neig-hbors by carry- 
 ing- away at an early ag-e their children, whom they 
 adopt; this is the only means of their increase, for this 
 their debaucheries of Brandy which lead them into 
 frig-htful disorders, the few children their women raise 
 could not of themselves sustain them, if they did not 
 make prisoners." (p. 196). * * * 
 
 "The importance of the post to be occupied on Lake 
 Erie is easily preceived, since we can easily g-o in vessels 
 from the lake to Missilimakina which would be a g-reat 
 facility for the trade of the country, to keep the Out- 
 aouacs in check and in obedience to the King-; besides, 
 we should have the means of reaching- throug-h this lake 
 to Illinois, and surmount by this communication with 
 ships many of the difficulties experienced in the rivers 
 in consequence of the number of portag-es. Being- mas- 
 ters of these two lakes and cruizing then with our 
 vessels, the English would lose the Beaver trade in that 
 quarter, of which they have abundance." 
 
 "A durable peace with the Iroquois Indians would be 
 more advantageous to the colony than prosecuting a 
 war;" * * * (p. 198). "Chevalier de Tonty" 
 is commanding the fort in behalf of "M. de Lasalle," 
 who has great influence with the Illinois. "M. de 
 
Extracts — Documentary History of New I'ork. 77 
 
 Ladurantaye" is sent to Lake Superior under orders 
 from "M. de Labarre" and to "Sieur Duluth," who is at 
 a great distance, beyond reach, so that neither can have 
 news before next year, in July, and, many of their best 
 men were with the Outaouacs. 
 
 "It is, also, necessary to reconcile six tribes of our 
 allie's, that are at war with each other, before making" 
 use of them. (p. 199). "I sent presents and instruc- 
 tions to M. Ladurataye to collect our" (p. 200) "French 
 and put himself at their head, in order to support his 
 reasoning- and to have more authority to reconcile them 
 in concert with Father Angeblau Jesuit Missionary at 
 Missilimakina." * * * (p. 201.) However, 
 arrangements are not easily made "to secure punctual- 
 ity," "since from the Illinois country there are four 
 hundred leagues;" and from the Outaouacs and 
 Savag-es of Lake Superior, three hundred leagues, and 
 from Quebec nearly two hundred, to the said place of 
 Niagara." * . * * * (p. 202.) 
 
 "M. DE. DENONVILLE TO THE MINISTER. S MAY, i686." 
 (Paris Doc. iii.) 
 
 "I learn that the news that I had the honor to send 
 you of the appearance on Lakes Ontario and Erie of 
 English Canoes accompanied by French Deserters on 
 their way to the Outaouacs is true. There are ten of 
 them loaded with merchandize. Therefore, my Lord, I 
 sent orders to Missilinakina, to Catarokony and other 
 places where we had Frenchmen, to run and seize 
 them." (p. 203.) * * * 
 
 "In regard, my Lord, as of primary importance the 
 prohibition of this trade with the English, who 
 without doubt, would entirely ruin ours by the cheaper 
 
78 History of Mackinac. 
 
 barg^ains they could g^ive the Indians and by attracting' 
 to them the Frenchmen of our Colony who are accus- 
 tomed to g"o into the woods." * * * "j am 
 pursuaded that the Iroquois are very anxious for peace." 
 
 * * * "What I should consider most effectual 
 to accomplish this would be the establishment of a rig-ht 
 g-ood fort at Niag-ara." * * * 
 
 "M. DE. DENONVILLE TO GOV. DOUGAN." 
 
 "Paris Doc. iii, p. 211." 
 * * * (Ext) "You are not ignorant of the 
 
 expedition of your merchants against Michilimaquina." 
 
 ****** 
 
 M. De Denonville's Memoir, (p. 213.) 
 
 On the Present State of Affairs In Canada And The 
 Necessity Of Making- War Next Year On The Iroquois. 
 (Paris Doc. iii.) 
 
 Quebec the 8th O'ber. 1686. 
 
 (Extract) "I annex to this Memoir, the duplicate of 
 the letter of June last in which I advised My lord of the 
 expedition of the Iroquois agfainst our allies the Hurons 
 and Ottawas of Missilimakina in the Sag-uinau. I have 
 learned since that the Eng-lish had more to do with that 
 expedition than even the Iroquois who struck the blow. 
 Their intrig-ues. My lord, reach a point that without 
 doubt it would be much better that they should have re- 
 course to open acts of hostility by firing- our settlements, 
 than to do what they are doing- throug-h the Iroquois for 
 our destruction." (p. 213) * * * 
 
 (p. 214.) 
 
 * * * "Mr. Doug-an, notwithstanding- works se- 
 cretly by all the artifices in the world to debauch our 
 Frenchmen and Indians. Col. Doug-an's letters will suf- 
 ficientlv explain his pretensions which embrace nc less 
 
Extracts — Documentary History of New Tork. 79 
 
 than from the Lakes inclusive to the South Sea. Mis- 
 silimackinac belong-s to them. They have taken its 
 elevation. They have been there treating- v^ith our Out- 
 awas and Huron Indians, who received them there very 
 well on account of the excellent trade they made there in 
 selling" their g^oods for beaver which they purchase much 
 dearer than we. Unfortunately we had at the time 
 but very few French at Missilimackinac M. de la Duran- 
 taye on arriving- there would pursue the Eng-lish to 
 plunder them; the Hurons ran to escort them after say- 
 ing many bad thing's of us. M. de la Durantaye did not 
 overtake the Eng-lish who met on their road the Senecas 
 g-oing- to meet them to escort them throug-h Lakes Erie 
 and Ontario until they were beyond the risk of being- 
 attacked by us." 
 
 "Thus you see, My Lord, that the Senecas and the 
 
 English understood each other charmingly." (p. 214-15.) 
 
 ****** 
 
 (p. 220) "The letters I wrote to Sieurs du Lhu and 
 de la Durantaye * * * ^jn inform you of my 
 orders to them to fortify the two passes leading to Mich- 
 ilimaquina. Sieur du Lhu is at the Detroit of Lake 
 Erie, and Sieur de la Durantaye at that of the portage of 
 Toronto. These two ports will block the passage 
 against the English if they undertake to go again to 
 Michilimaquina, and will serve as retreats to the Savages 
 our allies, either while hunting or marching against the 
 Iroquois." * ^ * 
 
 (p. 224) M. de la Durantaye is collecting people to 
 entrench himself at Michilimaquina and to occupy the 
 other pass which the English may take by Toronto 
 the other entrance to Lake Huron." * * * 
 
 "The M. deDenonville." 
 
80 Histo7'y of Mackinac. 
 
 "M. DE DENONVILLE TO THE MINISTER." 
 
 (Paris Doc. iii). 
 
 Quebec 16th Nov. 1686. 
 "Sincie my letters were written. * * * a man 
 whom I sent to Nauat * * * reports to me 
 that the said Colonel" (Doug-an) "has dispatched fifty 
 citizens of Orang-e and Monat among- whom are some 
 Frenchmen, to winter with the Senecas, where they will 
 depart, at the close of the winter, under the escort of the 
 Senecas for Michilimaquina, carrying- with them the Hu- 
 ron prisoners to restore them on the post of the English 
 Governor, who desires to prevail on the Outaouas, by the 
 service which he renders them, to abandon our alliance 
 in order to attach themselves to the English. They carry 
 an abundance of merchandise thither to to furnish it at a 
 much lower rate than we. (p. 224-5.) * * * 
 
 "M. DE DENONVILLE TO GOV. DUGAN. (P. 26I.) 
 
 (Paris Doc. iii; London Doc. v.) 
 
 "Aug. 22, 1687." 
 * * * ' Nevertheless, Sir, whilst you were ex- 
 pressing- these civilities to me you were g-iving orders 
 and sending passes to dispatch canoes to trade at Missil- 
 imaquina where an Englishman had never set his foot 
 and where we, the French, are established more than 
 sixty years." * * * 
 
 "What have you not done, Sir, to prevent the Senecas 
 surrendering to me the Outouacs and Huron prisoners of 
 Missilimaquina whom they treacherously captured last 
 year." * * 
 
Extracts — Docutnentary History of Nezv Tork. 81 
 
 "GOV. DUGAN TO M. DE DENONVILLE. 
 (Par. Doc. iii; Lond. Doc. V.) 
 
 8th Sept. 1687." (p. 266.) 
 "Sir — Yours of the 2lst of Aug-ust last I have re- 
 ceived." 
 * * * 
 
 (p. 268.) "As for Major McGreg-orie and those others 
 you took prisoners they had no passe from me to go to 
 Missilimaquine butt a pass to go to the Ottowawas, 
 where I thought it mig-ht be as free for us to trade as 
 you." * * * 
 
 "Further you blame me for hindering- the Sinakees de- 
 livering- up the Ottawawas prisoners to you, this I did 
 ■with good reason for what pretense could you have to make 
 your applications to them and not to me. Nevertheless 
 I ordered Major McGreg-ory to carry them to the Ottaw- 
 aways and if your claim be only to Missilimquina what 
 cause had you to hinder Mag-regory to go to the Ottawa- 
 was." * * * 
 
 "Project of the Chevallier De Callieres (p. 285), Gov- 
 ernor of Montreal and Commanding The Troops and 
 Militia of Canada," &c. 
 
 "January, 1689." ("Paris. Doc. iv.") 
 
 "TO MONSEIGNEUR, THE MARQUIS OF SEIGNELAY." 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 "Chevalier Anders" (Governor General of New Eng- 
 land and New York) "is a protestant as well as the 
 whole English Colony so that there is no reason to hope 
 that he will remain faithful to the King of England 
 (James ii) and we must expect that he will not only urge 
 the Iroquois to continue the war against us but that he will 
 even add Englishmen to them to lead them and seize the 
 
82 History of Mackinac. 
 
 posts of Niag-ara, Michilimakinak and others proper to ren- 
 der him master of the Indians, our allies, according- to the 
 project they have long- since formed, and which they ber' 
 g-an to execute when we declared war ag-ainst the Iro- 
 quois and when we captured 70 Englishmen who were 
 g-oing to take possession in Michilimakinak one of the 
 most important posts of Canada; our" (p. 286) "Entrepot 
 for the Fur Trade and the residence of the Superior of 
 the Rev. Jesuit Fathers, Missionaries among our Sav- 
 ages, and which belong-s incontestably to us." 
 
 "Frequent disputes were caused by the Duke of York 
 claiming, through his governors of the Province of New 
 York, (Wm. Tryon, and others,) that his province over- 
 lapped that of New France, and the source of said claims. 
 On page 740 Doc. Hist, of New York, Gov. Tryon's Re- 
 port: "Question No. 2. What are the reputed Bound- 
 aries, and are any parts disputed and by whom? Answer. 
 The Boundaries of the Province of New York are derived 
 from Two Sources" Grants from King Charles, 2nd, to 
 liis brother James Duke of York, & "Secondly, from the 
 Submission and Subjection of the Five Nations of Indi- 
 ans to the Crown of England." ^j^ ^j^ =^ 
 
 (p. 743.) "On the North A line from a point on the 
 East bank of Lake Huron in the Latitude of Forty Five 
 East to the River St. Lawrence, or the South Boundary 
 Line of Quebec;" The Iroquois and Senecas 
 come to Georgin Bay and Michilimackinac to hunt 
 beaver, and, in connection therewith, would fight the 
 Algonquin tribes of this vicinity, burn their villages, 
 and carry off their women and children as captives, and, 
 *'vice versa." 
 
 The French and English (and the Spanish) were rivals 
 in Europe and North America, so that the early history 
 
Michilimackiiiac, Boundaries, Etc. 83 
 
 of this reg"ion is intimately connected, and often result- 
 ant, with the chang-es caused by the wars intrig-ues, and 
 diplomacy of European Courts. Those nations had their 
 Indian allies, and the white -g-overnors (vandals,) who 
 represented them, in America were, g-enerally the prime 
 factors that lead to successive wars between the 
 savages and the frequent masacres of European settlers 
 who were unfortunate enough to be on the side of an op- 
 posing power. It was, truly, the survival of the fittest, 
 and in the march of conquest the poor Indian is sure to 
 be exterminated. ^ 
 
 From 1714 to 1760, there is little, recorded history of the 
 province, of Michilimackinac, and of the region about 
 
 the straits of ttfe same name. The establishment of the 
 
 — / 
 
 Province 6f Detroit, and the withdrawal of the troops to 
 the town of Detroit, on that strait, where many of the 
 Indians followed, caused a diversion of trade, and, conse- 
 quent decline of supremacy. 
 
 With the victory of the English on the Plains of 
 Abraham, before Quebec, September 12th and 13th, 1759, 
 the successful general Wolf fell, and the defeated gener- 
 al Montcalm was, also, killed. The, subsequent, sur- 
 render of Montreal and Canada, with all its dependencies, 
 on the 8th of September, 1760, by the Marquis de Vau- 
 dreuil, to the British Crown, was the opening wedge to 
 a change in history. The province of Michilimackinac 
 (in Canada), was transferred to Britain, and the French 
 domain extinguished forever. But the French habitants 
 remained and the effects of their civil institutions and 
 religion are evident to this day. 
 
84 History of Mackinac. 
 
 PONTIAC'S CONSPIRACY. 
 
 The change of jurisdiction from French to the 
 English rule was not agreeable to the Indians of the 
 Lakes. They were suspicious of the English, who 
 generally treated them with contempt, and looked upon 
 them more in the light of slaves, subservient to their 
 wishes, than as subjects entitled to their protection. 
 They still clung to the French with affection and 
 regard, and looked to them for protection and advice. 
 The Indian and French would lodge in the same wig- 
 wam, or cabin, on intimate terms. A French voyageur, 
 or coureur du bois, usually married a squaw (Indian 
 fashion), adapted himself to the social condition and 
 mode of life of her tribe, and became as one of them. 
 They claimed each other as brothers, and in the speech 
 of a Chippewa chief: "They called us children, and we 
 found them fathers." 
 
 The English were not liberal in their dealings with 
 the Indians, took advantage of them in trade, and often 
 allowed them to suffer when they needed supplies. 
 The French gave them clothing, ammunition and guns; 
 also food, when required. When an Indian visited an 
 English post he was looked upon and treated as an 
 enemy or spy, received coldly and often driven away. 
 English settlers had appropriated some of the best 
 Indian lands, and the French told them their hunting 
 grounds would soon follow. The French knew the 
 country was forever lost to them, but, in the spirit of 
 revenge, they inflamed the minds of the Indians with 
 wild tales, and informed them a chain of posts were 
 being established to pen them in between the settle- 
 ments and root them out of the land. These stories 
 
Pontiac's Conspiracy 85 
 
 they were only too willing to believe, on account of 
 their hatred of the English. 
 
 The French declared that the King- of France had 
 fallen asleep, and that while he slumbered the Kng-lish 
 had seized Canada; but now he was awake again, and 
 his armies were advancing by way of the St. Lawrence 
 and the Mississippi to drive the usurpers from the 
 country of his red children. Lieut. Edward Jenks, 
 commanding Fort Ouatanon, on the Wabash, wrote to 
 Maj. Gladwin, commanding Detroit, as follows: "28 
 March, 1763. The Canadians here are continually tell- 
 ing lies to the Indians. * * * One La Pointe 
 told the Indians a few days ago that we should be all 
 prisoners in a short time (showing when the corn was 
 about a foot high) , and that there was a great army to 
 come from the Mississippi, and that they were to have a 
 great number of Indians with them; therefore advised 
 them not to help us. That they would soon take 
 Detroit and these small posts, and then they would take 
 Quebec, Montreal, &c., and go into our country. This, 
 I am informed, they tell them from one end of the year 
 to the other." He adds: "Indians would rather give 
 six bear skins for a blanket to a Frenchman than three 
 to an Englishman." (Parkman's Pontiac, p. 178. ) The 
 passions of the Indians, wrought to a high pitch by 
 their real and imaginary wrongs, and exasperated by 
 French statements, were further inflamed in another 
 way. 
 
 There appeared among the Delawares a prophet who 
 claimed to be a messenger from the Great Spirit. He 
 urged them to lay aside the clothing and arms received 
 from the white man and return to their savage life. By 
 doing this, and observing his precepts, they would soon 
 
86 History of Mackinac. 
 
 be restored to their former greatness and power, and 
 drive the white man from their territory. He had 
 many followers, and his fame spread to the tribes on 
 the northern lakes. 
 
 The Indians were being- aroused. Belts of wampum 
 were sent by the Six Nations to all the Indians from 
 Nova Scotia to Illinois, and through the Massagues to 
 the Northern Nations. 
 
 Capt. Campbell, commanding Detroit in 1761, dis- 
 covered a plot to destroy him and his garrison, and 
 nipped it in the bud; also another design in the summer 
 of 1762 was frustrated. These plots were the fore- 
 runners of a coming tempest. 
 
 Early in 1763, when the Indians learned that the 
 French King had ceded all their country to the King of 
 England, without their consent, their indignation knew 
 no bounds. Pontiac, the principal chief of the Ottawas 
 (and of the band at Detroit), and one of them, but born 
 of an Ojibwa (Chippewa) mother went from tribe to 
 tribe, or sent his emissaries; "-and within a few weeks 
 a plot was matured, such as was never before or since 
 conceived or executed by a North American Indian. It 
 was determined to attack all the English forts upon the 
 same day; then, having destroyed their garrisons to 
 turn upon the defenseless frontier and ravage and lay 
 waste their settlements until, as many of the Indians 
 fondly believed, the English should all be driven into 
 the sea, and the country restored to its primitive 
 owners." 
 
 FORT MICHILIMACKINAC. 
 
 Before the war cloud burst, in the spring of 1763, sev- 
 eral English traders went with canoes to Michiliraacki- 
 nac; some followed the Ottawa route, and others the 
 
Fo7-t Michilimackinac. 87 
 
 lower strait ("Detroit") by way of the lakes. Let us 
 follow one of these adventurers by the lake route. Leav- 
 ing- Lake Erie he enters the "Detroit," and passing" the 
 settlement and fort of the same name, he soon enters Lake 
 St. Clair and crosses that water. His voyag^eurs urge 
 their bark canoes against the current of the long^er arm 
 of the strait (St. Clair) above until they reach the outlet 
 of Lake Huron. Now, they enter that, apparently, 
 boundless fresh water ocean, following the eastern shore 
 they paddle northward over the bay of "Sagina," and. 
 onward still. In two or three week-s, if his Canadians 
 labor well, and there is no accident, the trader ap- 
 proaches the end of his voyage. Near the head of the 
 lake westward, on the right, he passes the extensive 
 island of Bois Blanc, and sees nearly in front the "Pe- 
 quod-e-nouze," of the Indians, beautiful Michilimackinac, 
 rising with its white limestone cliffs and green foliage 
 from the broad, clear waters. He does not steer towards 
 it, for at that time the Indians were its only tenants, 
 but keeps along- the main shore to the left, while his 
 voyageurs raise the Canadian boat song and chorus. 
 "Doubling a point he sees before him the red flag of 
 England swelling lazily in the wind, and the palisades 
 and wooden bastions of Fort Michilimackinac* standing 
 close upon the margin of the lake. On the beach canoes 
 were drawn up, and Canadians and Indians were idly 
 lounging. A little beyond the fort is a cluster of white 
 Canadian houses, roofed with bark, and protected with 
 fences of strong round pickets. 
 
 "The trader enters at the gate and sees before him an. 
 extensive square area, surrounded by high palisades. 
 Numerous houses, barracks and other buildings, form a 
 smaller square within, and in the vacant space which 
 
 *On the south shore, the second fort of that name. 
 
88 History of Mackinac. 
 
 they inclose appear the red uniforms of British sol- 
 diers, the gray coats of Canadians, and the gaudy Indian 
 blankets, mingled in picturesque confusion, while a mul- 
 titude of squaws with children of every hue, stroll rest- 
 lessly about the place. Such was Fort Michilimackinac 
 in 1763." (Parkman.) 
 
 He adds — "This description is drawn from traditional 
 accounts aided by a personal examination of the spot, 
 where the stumps of the pickets and the foundations of 
 the houses may still be traced." Also, "Its name, which, 
 in the Algonquin tongue, siginifies the Great Turtle, 
 was first, from a fancied resemblance, applied to the 
 neighboring island, and then to the fort." 
 
 Michilimackinac though buried in the wilderness was 
 of no recent origin. The island was known to Cham- 
 plain before 1612, and the straits were afterwards fre- 
 quently passed by French traders with Indian convoys. 
 About 1669 the island of Michilimackinac, so famous for 
 position and commanding prominence, gave name to an 
 extensve province of which it was the emporium and cap- 
 ital, and probably the first settled place in Michigan. It 
 was the residence of Dablon, Superior of the Jesuits, 
 who there, with Marquette, in 1670, laid the foundation 
 of the mission of St. Ignace du Michilimackinac estab- 
 lished in 1671. That was on ths north shore, and where 
 the first Fort Michilimackinac was, afterwards, con- 
 structed, in 1673. There were two other forts in the 
 northern region besides Michilimackinac, Green Bay and 
 Sault Ste. Marie. "Both were founded at an early pe- 
 riod, and both presented the same characteristic features 
 — mission house, a fort and a cluster of Canadian dwel- 
 lings. They had been originally garrisoned by small 
 parties of militia, who, bringing their families with 
 
 1 
 
Pontiac's Conspiracy. 89 
 
 them, settled on the spot and were the founders of those 
 little colonies. i 
 
 Michilimackinac, much the larg^est of the three, con- 
 tained thirty families within the palisades of the fort, 
 and about as many more without. Besides its military 
 value it was important as a center of the fur trade; for it 
 was here that the traders eng-ag^ed their men and sent 
 out their g-oods in canoes under the charg-e of subordin- 
 ates, to the more distant reg-ions of the Mississippi and 
 the Northwest. 
 
 The greater part of the year the g-arrisons and settlers 
 were isolated and cut off from the rest of the world. 
 The distance between the three posts was so g^reat and a 
 water journey so serious and perilous that all communi- 
 cation was often stopped for months. 
 
 The Indians near Michilimackinac were Ojibwas (Chip- 
 pewas) and Ottawas. The Ojibwas claimed the Eastern 
 side of Michig-an and the Ottawas the Western, "sepa- 
 rated by a line drawn southward from the fort itself." 
 The principal villag^e of the Ojibwas, on the island of 
 Michilimackinac — "contained about a hundred war- 
 riors." They had another small villag^e near the head of 
 Thunder Bay. The Ottawas, with two hundred and 
 fifty warriors, lived at L'Arbre Croche (the tree crooked, 
 or crotched), west, on Lake Michig-an. The Jesuit mis- 
 sion of St Ig-nace had been moved there from the north 
 side of the straits. The Ottawas were nominal Catho- 
 lics, and the Ojibwas were not the least removed from 
 their primitive barbarism. The two tribes were hostile 
 to the English and loyal to the French. Their feeling's 
 of hostility were increased by the Canadians who were 
 jealous of the Eng-lish and their rivals in the fur trade. 
 
 We will now drop back to 1761, in the spring- and sum- 
 
90 History of Mackinac. 
 
 mer, and note what was transpiring" at Michilimackiuac. 
 The English had not taken possession of the fort and it 
 was occupied bj traders and coureur du bois, with their 
 Indian families. 
 
 But before coming- to one of a series of acts in the 
 drama about to be played, at eleven posts on the line of 
 the Great Lakes, let us present to our readers the Eng- 
 lish trader, Alexander Henry, who was principal, though 
 unwilling actor, in the tragedy at Fort Michilimackiuac. 
 Henry was the first English fur trader who arrived 
 among them. His adventures will describe the feeling 
 of the Indians toward the English. He had difficulty in 
 obtaining permission to trade at Michilimackiuac, as no 
 treaty of peace had been made with the Indians, the au- 
 thorities were apprehensive that the property and lives 
 of his Majesty's subjects would not be secure. He was 
 eager to make the attempt which he afterwards admitted 
 was premature. 
 
 He obtained the coveted license on the 3d of August, 
 1761, and began his journey by the "Ottawa route." 
 But nothing of note happened until he reached the isl- 
 and of La Cloche in Lake Huron. Here he found a 
 large village of Indians, who treated him with kindness 
 and civility until they discovered he was English. They 
 then told him the Indians at Michilimackinac would fall 
 upon him and kill him, and they had a right to share the 
 pillage. They demanded a keg of rum, and said if it 
 was not given, they would take it. Henry complied on 
 condition that he should not be further molested. He 
 received repeated warnings of sure destruction at Michi- 
 limackinac that oppressed him with a sense of danger, 
 but he could not return as he was advised, for his pro- 
 visions were nearly exhausted. Observing the feeling 
 
Pontiac's Conspiracy. 91 
 
 was exclusively towards the Eng"lish and his Canadian 
 attendants were cordially received, he changed his suit 
 for one of Canadian make, besmeared his face with 
 g-rease and dirt, and resumed the voyage. He took the 
 place of one of the boatmen, and when Indians ap- 
 proached, plied the paddle with as much skill as possible. 
 During- the rest of the trip he escaped notice. Early in 
 September he arrived at the Island of Michilimackinac 
 in his voyageurs costume, where we will allow him to 
 speak for himself. He writes : 
 
 "The land in the center of this island is high and its 
 form somewhat resembles that of a turtle's back. Mack- 
 inac, or Mickinac, sig-nifies a turtle^ and inic.hi, or 7nissi, 
 signifies great, 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 b}- the name of Michilimackinac, has 
 obtained its appellation. 
 
 "On the island, as I had previously been taught to ex- 
 pect, there was a village of Chippewas, said to contain a 
 hundred warriors. Here I was fearful of discovery, and 
 consequent ill-treatment; but after inquiring the news, 
 and particularly whether or not any Englishman was 
 coming to Michilimackinac, they suffered us to pass un- 
 injured. 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 me to be an Englishman. 
 
 "Leaving, as speedily as possible, the island of Michi- 
 limackinac, I crossed the strait, and landed at the fort of 
 the same name. The distance from the island is about 
 two leasfues. I landed at four o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
92 History oj Mackinac. 
 
 "Here I put the entire charge of my effects into the 
 hands of my assistant, Campion, between whom and my- 
 self it had been previously agreed that he should pass for 
 the proprietor; and my men were instructed to conceal 
 the feat 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 
 betrayed m}" secret, and I was visited by the inhabitants, 
 with a great show of civility. They assured me that I 
 could not stay at Michilimackinac without the most im- 
 minent 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 threatened; 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 pene- 
 trating 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 settlers. Most of those whom found 
 in the fort had originally served in the French 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 inclosed 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 stock- 
 ade. On the bastions are two small pieces of brass Eng- 
 lish cannon, taken some years since b}^ a party of Cana- 
 
Pontiacs Conspiracy. 93 
 
 dians who went on a plundering" expedition against the 
 posts of Hudson's Bay, which they reached by the route 
 of the river Churchill. 
 
 "Within the stockade are thirty houses, neat in their 
 appearance, and tolerably commodious; and a church in 
 which mass is celebrated by a Jesuit missionar3\ The 
 number of families may be nearly equal to that of the 
 houses, and their subsistence is derived from the Indian 
 traders, who assemble here in their voyages to and from 
 Montreal. Michilimackinac is the place of deposit, and 
 point of departure between the upper countries and the 
 lower. Here the outfits are prepared for the countries 
 of Lake Michigan and the Mississippi, Lake Superior 
 and the Northwest; and here the returns in furs are col- 
 lected and embarked for Montreal. 
 
 "I was not released from the visits and admonitions 
 of the inhabitants of the fort, before I received the equiv- 
 ocal intelligence that the whole band of Chippewas from 
 the island of Michilimackinac was arrived with the in- 
 tention 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 
 g^reat influence over the nation to which his wife be- 
 longed. Doubtful as to the kind of visit which I was 
 about to receive, I sent for this interpreter, and requested 
 first that he would have the kindness to be present at 
 the interview, and, secondly, that he would inform me of 
 the intentions of the band. Mr. Farley agreed to be pres- 
 ent; and, as to the object of the visit, replied that it was 
 consistent with a uniform custom, that a strang-er on his 
 arrival should be waited upon, and welcomed by the 
 chiefs of the nation, who, on their part, always gave a 
 
94 History of Mackinac. 
 
 small present, and always expected a large one; but, as to 
 the rest, declared himself unable to answer for the par- 
 ticular views of the Chippewas on this occasion, I being- 
 an Englishman, and the Indians having made no treat}- 
 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 
 country. This information was far from agreeable; but 
 there was no resource, except in fortitude and patience. 
 
 "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 blankets 
 were thrown loosely over their shoulders. Their faces 
 were painted with charcoal worked up with grease; their 
 bodies with white clay, in patterns of various fancies. 
 Some had feathers thrust through their noses, and their 
 heads decorated with the same. It is unnecessary to 
 dwell on the sensations with which I beheld the approach 
 of this uncouth, if not frightful, assemblage. 
 
 "The chief entered first, and the rest followed, with- 
 out noise. On receiving a sign from the former, the 
 latter seated themselves on the floor. 
 
 "Minavavana appeared to be about tifty years of age. 
 He was six feet in height, and had in his countenance an 
 indescribable mixture of good and evil. Looking stead- 
 fastly at me where I sat in ceremony, with an interpreter 
 on either hand, and several Canadians behind me, he 
 entered, at the same time, into conversation with Cam- 
 pion, inquiring how long it was since I left Montreal, 
 and observing that the English, as it would seem, were 
 
Pontia'cs Conspiracy . 95 
 
 brave men, and not afraid of death, since they dared 
 to come, as I had done, fearlessly among- their enemies. 
 
 "The Indians now gravely smoked their pipes, while 
 I inwardly endured the tortures of suspense. At length, 
 the pipes being finished, as well as along 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 de- 
 mand your attention! 
 
 " 'Englishman, you know that the French King is our 
 father. He promised to be such; and we, in return, 
 promised to be his children. This promise we have 
 kept. 
 
 "'Eng-lishman, 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 fallen 
 asleep. During his sleep 3'ou have taken advantag-e of 
 him, and possessed yourselves of Canada. But his nap 
 is almost at an end. I think I hear him already stirring- 
 and inquiring for his children, the Indians; and, when 
 he does awake, what must become of you? He will de- 
 stroy you utterly! 
 
 " 'Englishman, althoug-h 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 inheri- 
 tance, and we will part with them to none. Your nation 
 supposes that we, like the white people, can not live 
 without bread— and pork — and beef! But, you ought to 
 
96 History of Mackinac. 
 
 know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has 
 provided food for us, in these spacious lakes, and on 
 these woody mountains. 
 
 " 'Englishman, our father, the King- of France, em- 
 ployed our young" men to make war upon your nation. 
 In this warfare many of them have been killed; and it is 
 our custom to retaliate until such time as the spirits of 
 the slain are satisfied. But the spirits of the slain are 
 to be satisfied in either of two ways; the first is by the 
 spilling- of the blood of the nation by which they fall; 
 the other, by covering the bodies of the dead, and thus 
 allaying- the resentment of their relations. This is 
 done by making- presents. 
 
 " 'Eng-lishman, your king- has never sent us any 
 presents, nor entered into any treaty with us, wherefore 
 he and we are still at war; and, until he does these 
 thing-s, 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 consideration 
 that you have ventured your life among- us in the expec- 
 tation 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 reg-ard you, 
 therefore, as a brother; and you may sleep tranquilly, 
 without fear of the Chippewas. As a token of our 
 friendship, we present you with this pipe, to smoke.' 
 
 "As Minavavana uttered these words, an Indian pre- 
 sented me with a pipe, which, after I had drawn the 
 smoke three times, was carried to the chief, and after 
 him to every person in the room. This ceremony ended, 
 the chief arose, and g-ave me his hand, in which he was 
 followed by all of the rest. 
 
Pontiads Cojispiracy. 97 
 
 "Being" again seated, Minavavana requested that his 
 ■young men might be allowed to taste what he called my 
 English milk (meaning rum), observing, that it was 
 long since they had tasted an}-, and that they were very 
 desirous to know whether or not there were any differ- 
 ence between the English milk and the French. 
 
 "My adventure on leaving Fort William Augustus 
 had left an impression on my mind which made me 
 tremble when Indians asked for rum; and I would there- 
 fore 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 declar- 
 ations which I had received, I promised to give them a 
 small cask at parting. After this, by the aid of my inter- 
 preter, I made a reply to the speech of Minavavana, de- 
 claring 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 surrendered Canada to the King of England, whom 
 they ought to regard now as their father, and who would 
 be as careful of them as the other had been; that I had 
 come to furnish them with necessaries, and that their 
 good treatment of me would be an encouragement to 
 others. They appeared satisfied with what I said, re- 
 peating Eh! (an expression of approbation) after hear- 
 ing each particular. I had prepared a present, which I 
 now gave them with the utmost good-will. At their 
 departure, I distributed a small quantity of rum.- 
 
 "Relieved, as I now imagined mj^self, from all occa- 
 sion of anxiety as to the treatment which I was to 
 experience from the Indians, I assorted my goods, and 
 hired Canadian interpreters and clerks, in whose care I 
 was to send them into Lake Michigan, and the river 
 
"98 History of Mackinac. 
 
 Saint Pierre, in the country or the Nadowessies; into 
 Lake Superior among the Chippewas; and to the Grand 
 Portag-e, for the north-west. Every thing 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 by a band of 
 Ottawas, boasting of two hundred and fifty fighting 
 men. L'Arbre Croche is the seat of the Jesuite Mission 
 of St. Ignace de Michilimackinac, and the people are 
 partly baptized and partly not. The missionary resides 
 on a farm, attached to the mission, and situated be- 
 tween the village and the fort, both of which are under 
 his care. The Ottawas of L'Arbre Croche, who, when 
 compared with the Chippewas, appear to be much 
 advanced in civilization^ grow maize for the market of 
 Michilimackinac, where this commodity is depended 
 upon for provisioning the canoes. 
 
 "The new dangers which presented themselves came 
 from this village of Ottawas. Every thing, as I have 
 said, was in readiness for the departure of my goods, 
 when accounts arrived of its approach; and shortly 
 after, two hundred warriors entered the fort, and 
 billeted themselves in the several houses among the 
 Canadian inhabitants. The next morning they assem- 
 bled in the house which was built for the commandant, 
 or governor, and ordered the attendance of myself, and 
 of two other merchants, still later from Montreal; 
 namely, Messrs. Stanly Goddard and Ezekiel Solomons. 
 
 "After our entering the council-room, and taking our 
 seats, one of the chiefs commenced an address: 'Eng- 
 lishmen,' he said, 'we, the Ottawas, were some time 
 
Pontiads Conspiracy. 99 
 
 since" informed of your arrival in this country, and of 
 your having" brought v^^ith you the goods of which we 
 have need. 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 expect- 
 ed, were intended for us, were on the eve of departure 
 for distant countries, of which some are inhabited by 
 our enemies! These accounts being spread, our wives 
 and childred came to us, crying, and desiring that we 
 should go to the fort, to learn with our own ears, their 
 truth or falsehood. We accordingly embarked, almost 
 naked, as you see; and on our arrival here, we have in- 
 quired into the accounts, and found them true. We see 
 your canoes ready to depart, and find your men engaged 
 for the Mississippi and other distant regions. 
 
 " 'Under these circumstances, we have considered the 
 affair; and you are now sent for, that you may hear our 
 determination, which is, that you shall give to each of 
 our men, young and old, merchandise and ammunition 
 to the amount of fifty beaver skins, on credit, and for 
 which I have no doubt of their paying you in the Sum- 
 mer, on their return from their wintering-.' 
 
 "A compliance with this demand would have stripped 
 me and my fellow- merchants of all our merchandise ; and 
 what rendered the affair still more serious, we even 
 learned that these Ottawas were never accustomed to 
 pay for what they received on credit. In reply, there- 
 fore, 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 until the 
 
100 History of Mackinac. 
 
 next day for reflection ; after which, if compliance was 
 not g-iven thej would make no further application, but 
 take into their own hands the property, which they al- 
 ready reg-arded 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 our situation; and in 
 the evening, Farley, the interpreter, paid us a visit, and 
 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 dispo- 
 sition to prey upon our fears, with a view to induce us 
 to abandon the Indian trade, and resolved, however this 
 might be, rather to stand on the defensive than submit. 
 We trusted to the house in which I lived as a fort ; and 
 armed ourselves, and about thirty of our men, with mus- 
 kets. Whether or not the Ottawas ever intended vio- 
 lence, 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. Be- 
 lieving that every hope of resistance would be lost should 
 we commit our person into the hands of our enemies, we 
 sent only a refusal. There was none without, in whom 
 we had any confidence, except 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 British sol- 
 diery, sent to g-arrison Michilimackinac, was distant 
 only five miles, and would enter the fort early the next 
 morning. Near at hand, however, as relief was reported 
 
Pontiac's Conspiracy. 101 
 
 to be, our anxiety could not but be great ; for a long- 
 night was to be passed, and our fate mig-ht be decided be- 
 fore the morning-. To increase our apprehensions, about 
 midnight we were informed that the Ottawas were hold- 
 ing a council, at which no white man was permitted to be 
 present, Farle}- alone excepted ; and him we suspected, 
 and afterward positively knew, to be our greatest enemy. 
 We, on our part, remained all hight upon the alert ; but 
 at daybreak, to our 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 
 were present, had avoided all connection with the En- 
 glish traders, now came with congratulations. They 
 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 advancing- 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, under the command 
 of Lieutenant Lesslie, marched into the fort ; and this 
 arrival dissipated 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 Missis- 
 sippi, and at the mouth of St. Joseph, which leads to the 
 Illinois. The Indians from all quarters came to pay 
 their respects to the commandant ; and the merchants 
 dispatched their canoes, though it was now the middle 
 of September, and therefore somewhat late in the 
 season." 
 
 Henry spent the winter in Michilimackinac, amusing 
 himself by hunting and fishing. But few of the Indians 
 came to the fort, excepting two families, one of which 
 
102 History of Mackinac. 
 
 was that of a chief. These families lived on a river* five 
 leagues below, and came occasionally with beaver flesh 
 for sale. That chief was an exception to the rule ; for 
 instead of being- hostile toward the English, he was 
 warmly attached to them. But in this case the excep- 
 tion proved the rule, to a demonstration. Henry thus 
 writes of him : " He had been taken prisoner by Sir 
 William Johnson, at the siege of Fort Niagara ; and had 
 received from that intelligent officer his liberty, the 
 medal usually presented to a chief, and the British flag. 
 Won by these unexpected acts of kindness, he had re- 
 turned to Michilimackinac, full of praises of the English, 
 and hoisting his flag over his lodge. This latter dem- 
 onstration 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 liquor as he said 
 was necessary to make him cry over the misfortune of 
 losing his flag. The commandant would have given him 
 another; but he thought that he could not accept it 
 without danger," 
 
 When navigation opened Henry left Michilimackinac 
 to visit Sault St. Marie. "Here he made the acquaint- 
 ance of M. Cadotte, an interpreter, whose wife was a 
 Chippewa; and, desirous of learning that language, he de- 
 cided to spend the succeeding winter in the family of his 
 new-found friend. Here also there was a small fort, 
 and during the summer a small detachment of troops, 
 under the command of Lieutenant Jamette, arrived to 
 garrison it. Late in the fall, however, a destructive fire, 
 which consumed all the houses except Cadotte's, and all 
 *Chebovai,'-an River. 
 
Pontiac's Conspiracy. 103 
 
 the fort supplies, made it necessarj^ to send the garrison 
 back to Michilimackinac. The lew that were left at this 
 place were now crowded into one small house, and com- 
 pelled to gain a subsistence by hunting- and fishing-. 
 Thus, inuring- himself to hardships, and familiarizing- 
 himself with the Chippewa tong-ue, Henr}- 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 Eng-lish g-entleman, 
 who, as Henry tells us, 'was on a vo3'ag-e of curiosity,' 
 and with him he ag-ain returned to Michilimackinac." He 
 intended to remain until his clerks should come from 
 the interior, and then go back to the Sault. Leaving 
 our hero at the moment of his arrival at the fort, we 
 turn our attention to tribes further south. 
 
 Parkman says: "It is difficult to determine which 
 tribe was first to raise the cry of war. There were 
 many who might have done so ; for all the savages ia 
 the backwoods were ripe for an outbreak, and the move- 
 ment seemed almost simultaneous. 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 trouble- 
 some inroads upon the frontier, and a little whooping 
 and yelling under the walls of Fort Pitt." 
 
 The nationality of Pontiac is disputed. Some have 
 made him a member of the tribe of Sacks, or Saakies* 
 but the greater number have placed him among the Ot-^ 
 
104 History oj Mackuiac. 
 
 tawas. "His nome was about eight miles above Detroit, 
 on Peche Island, which looks out upon the waters of 
 X/ake St. Clair. His form was cast in the finest mold of 
 savage grace and strength, and his eye seemed capable 
 of penetrating, at a glance, the secret motives which ac- 
 tuated the savage tribes around him. His rare personal 
 qualities, his courage, resolution, wisdom, address, and 
 eloquence, together with the hereditary claim to author- 
 ity which, according to Indian custom, he possessed, se- 
 cured for him the esteem of both the French and Kng- 
 ]ish, and gave him an influence among the Lake tribes 
 greater than that of any other individual. Earl}- in life 
 he distinguished himself as a chieftain of no ordinary 
 ability. In 1746 he commanded a powerful body of In- 
 dians, mostly Ottawas, who gallantly defended the peo- 
 ple of Detroit against the formidable attack of several 
 combined northern tribes; and it is supposed that he was 
 present at the disastrous defeat of Braddock, in which 
 several hundred of his warriors were engaged. He had 
 always, at least up to the time when Major Rogers came 
 into the country, been a firm friend of the French, and 
 received man}- marks of esteem from the French officer, 
 Marquis de Montcalm." 
 
 "How could he, then, ' the daring chief of the North- 
 west,' do otherwise than dispute the Eng-lish claim to his 
 country? How could he endure the sight of this people 
 driving the game from his hunting-grounds, and his 
 friends and allies from the lands they had so long pos. 
 sessed? When he heard that Rog-ers was advancing 
 along the lakes to take possession of the country, his in- 
 dignation knew no bounds, and he at once sent deputies, 
 requesting him to halt until such time as he could see 
 him. Flattering words and fair promises induced him. 
 
Po)itiac's Conspiracy. 105 
 
 at leng-th, to extend the hand of friendship to Rog^ers. 
 He was inclined to live peaceably with the Eng"lish, and 
 to encourag-e their settling- in the country, as long as 
 they treated him as he deserved; but if they treated him 
 with neg-lect, 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-." 
 
 The Indians felt, as Minavavana expressed it, that 
 they had "no father among- the white men but the 
 King- of France;" Pontiac resolved, as he had threatened, 
 to "shut up the way." His plan was to make a contem- 
 poraneous assault upon all the British posts, and effectu- 
 ally extinguish the English power at a single blow. 
 "This was a stroke of policy which evinced an extraordin- 
 ary genius, and demanded for its execution an energy 
 and courage of the highest order. But Pontiac was fully 
 equal to the task. He was as skillful in executing as he 
 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 ambassa- 
 dors to all the different nations. With the war-belt of 
 wampum and the tomahawk stained red in token of war, 
 these swift-footed messengers 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 words of the great 
 Pontiac. The message was everywhere heard with ap- 
 probation, the war-belt accepted, and the hatchet seized, 
 as an indication that the assembled chiefs stood pledged 
 to take part in the war. 
 
106 History of Mackinac. 
 
 "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 ap- 
 pealed 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, 
 urg-ing- him to drive the English from the country, and 
 open the way for the return of the French. He painted, 
 in g'lowing- colors, the common interests of their race, 
 and called upon them to make a stand ag-ainst a common 
 foe." He related a dream in which the Great Manitou 
 had appeared to a chief of the Abenakis, saying-: "I am 
 the Maker of heaven and earth, the trees, lakes, rivers, 
 and all thing-s else. I am the Maker of mankind, and 
 because I love you, you must do my will. The land on 
 which you live, I made for you, and not for others. Why 
 do you suffer the white men to dwell among- you? My chil- 
 dren, you have forg-otten the customs and traditions of 
 your forefathers. Why do you not clothe yourselves in 
 skins, as they did, and use the bows and arrows, and 
 the stone-pointed lances which they used? You have 
 bought g-uns,' knives, kettles, and blankets from the 
 white men, until you can no long-er do without them; 
 and, what is worse, you have drunk the poison fire-water, 
 which turns you into fools. Fling- all these thing-s away; 
 live as your wise forefathers lived before you, and as for 
 these Eng-lish — these dog-s dressed in red, who have come 
 to rob you of your hunting--g-rounds, and drive away the 
 game — you must lift the hatchet against them. Wipe 
 
Massacre at Fort Michilimackinac. 107 
 
 them from the face of the earth, and then you will win 
 my fa vox back again, and once more be happy and pros- 
 perous. The children of your great father, the King- of 
 France, are not like the Eng-lish, Never forg-et they are 
 your brethren. They are very dear to me, for they love 
 the red men, and understand the true mode of worship- 
 ing me." 
 
 We left Henry on his arrival at the fort. The Otta- 
 was and Chippewas had received the war belt of black 
 and purple wampum and the painted hatchet, from Pon- 
 tiac, and were pledged to join in the war of extermina- 
 tion. Near the last of May word came that the blow 
 had been struck at Detroit, and the Indians were wild 
 with excitement. The Chippewas resolved to assault 
 Michilimackinac at once and not notify the Ottawas. 
 Other tribes had gathered in the vicinity who joined the 
 Chippewas. We will continue the story in Henry's own 
 words: 
 
 MASSACRE AT FORT MICHILIMACKINAC. 
 
 "When I reached Michilimackinac, I found several 
 other traders who had arrived before me, from ditferent 
 parts of the country, and who, in general, declared the 
 disposition 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 for 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 displeasure against M. Ducharme, and 
 threatened to send the next person who should bring a 
 story of the same kind a prisoner to Detroit. 
 
108 History of Mackinac. 
 
 "The g-arrison at this time consisted of ninety pri- 
 vates, two subalterns, and the commandant, and the 
 Eng-lish merchants at the fort were four in number. 
 Thus strong- few entertained anxiety concerning the 
 Indians, who had no weapons but small arms. 
 
 "Meanwhile the Indians from every quarter were 
 daily assembling- in usual numbers, but with every 
 appearance of friendship, frequenting the forts and dis- 
 posing of their peltries in such 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 oug-ht to be placed in 
 them, and that I was informed no less than four hundred 
 lay around the fort. In return the Major only rallied 
 me 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 Michilimacki- 
 nac, in the preceding- year, a Chippewa named 
 Wawatam 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 on 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 observed a fast, devoting 
 himself, according to the custom of his nation, to soli- 
 tude and the mortification of his body, in the hope to 
 obtain from the Great Spirit protection throug-h all his 
 days; that, on this occasion, he had dreamed of adopt- 
 ing an Eng-lishman as his son, brother and friend; that, 
 from the moment in which he first beheld me, he had 
 recognized me as the person whom the Great Spirit had 
 
Mqssacre at Fort Michilimackinac. 109 
 
 been pleased to point out to him for a brother; that he 
 hoped that I would not refuse his present, and that he 
 should forever reg-ard me as one of his family. 
 
 "I could do no otherwise than accept the present, and 
 declare my willing-ness to have so good a man as this 
 appeared to be for my friend and brother. I offered a 
 present in return for that which I had received, which 
 Wawatam accepted, and then, thanking- me for the favor 
 which he said that I had rendered him, he left me, 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, when, on the second day of June, 
 Wawatam came ag-ain to my house, in a temper of mind 
 visibly melancholy and thoughtful. He told me that he 
 had just returned from his wintering-ground, and I 
 asked after his health; but without answering my ques- 
 tion, he went on to say that he was very sorry to find 
 me returned from the Sault; that he had intended to g-o 
 to that place himself, immediately after his arrival at 
 Michilimackinac; and that he wished me to g^o there 
 along with him and his famil}^ the next morning. To 
 all this he joined an inquiry whether or not the com- 
 mandant had heard bad news, adding that, during the 
 Winter, he had himself been frequently disturbed with 
 the noise of evil birds; and further suggesting that there 
 were numerous Indians near the fort, many of whom 
 had never shown themselves within it. Wawatam was 
 about forty-five years of age, of an excellent character 
 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 
 which they will be found to have deserved to the en- 
 
110 History of Mackinac. 
 
 treaties and remarks of my visitor. I answered that I 
 could not think of g"oing- to the Sault so soon as the next 
 morning-, but would follow him there after the arrival 
 of my clerks. Finding- himself unable to prevail with 
 me, he withdrew for that day; but early the next morn- 
 ing he came again, bringing with him his wife and a 
 present of dried meat. At this interview, after stating- 
 that he had several packs of beaver, for which he in- 
 tended to deal with me, he expressed a second time his 
 apprehensions from the numerous Indians who were 
 around the fort, and earnestly pressed me to consent to 
 an immediate 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 g-one before they should grow intoxicat- 
 ed. I had made, at the period to which I am now 
 referring, so much progress in the language in which 
 Wawatam addressed me, as to be able to hold an ordi- 
 nary conversation in it; but the Indian manner of 
 speech is so extravagantly figurative, that it is only for 
 a very perfect master to follow and comprehend it 
 entirely. Had I been further advanced in this respect, I 
 think that I should have gathered 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 unfor- 
 tunately happened that I turned a deaf ear to every 
 thing, leaving Wawatam and his wife, after long and 
 patient, but ineffectual efforts, to depart alone, with 
 dejected countenances, and not before they had each let 
 fall some tears. 
 
 "In the course of the same day, I observed that the 
 
Massacre at Fort Michilimackinac. Ill 
 
 Indians came in great numbers into the fort, purchasing- 
 tomahawks (small axes of one pound weight), and fre- 
 quently desiring" to see silver arm-bands, and other valu- 
 able ornaments, of which I had a large quantity for sale. 
 These ornaments, however, 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 
 afterwards appeared, was no other than the very artful 
 one of discovering, by requesting to see them, the par- 
 ticular 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 4th 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 Saakies, another Indian 
 nation, for a high wager. He invited me to witness the 
 sport, adding that the commandant was to be there, and 
 would be on the side of the Chippewas. In consequence 
 of this information, I went to the commandant, and ex- 
 postulated with him a little, representing that the In- 
 dians might possibly have some sinister end in view; but 
 thecommandant only smiled at my suspicions." 
 
 " The game of baggatiway, which the Indians played 
 upon that memorable occasion, was the most exciting 
 sport in which the red man could engage. It was played 
 with bat and ball. The bat, so called, was about four 
 foot in length, and an inch in diameter. It was made 
 of the toughest material that could be found. At one 
 
112 History of Mackinac. 
 
 end it was curved, and terminated in a sort of racket, 
 or perhaps more properly a ring, in which a network of 
 cord was loosely woven. The players were 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 adver- 
 sary." 
 
 " At the beginning of the game the main body of the 
 players assemble half-way between the two posts. Every 
 eye sparkles and every cheek is already aglow with ex- 
 citement. The ball is tossed high into the air, and a gen- 
 eral struggle ensues to secure it as it descends. He who 
 succeeds starts for the goal of the adversary holding it 
 high above his head. The opposite party, with merry 
 yells, are swift to pursue. His course is intercepted, and 
 rather than see the ball taken from him, he throws it, as 
 the boy throws a stone from a sling, as far toward the 
 goal of the adversary as he can. An adversary in the 
 game catches it, and sends it whizzing back in the oppo- 
 site 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 final- 
 ly, some agile figure, more fleet of foot than the others, 
 succeeds in bearing it to the goal of the opposite party." 
 
 The writer when a boy, eleven years old, saw this 
 game played near Fort Towson, in the Indian Teritory, 
 between Choctaws and Chickasaws. My father was 
 Post Surgeon in the medical corps of the army, at Tow- 
 son. We were the guests of a Choctaw chief, Colbert. 
 
Massacre at Foj't M ichilimackinac. 113 
 
 and his son. I went to school with young" Colbert, where 
 there about forty pupils, all Indians, except two white 
 boys and myself. On this occasion there were one hun- 
 dred players, fifty from each tribe. The players were 
 naked, excepting- a breech-clout, of raw-hide or cloth, 
 ornamented with feathers or beads, some decked behind 
 with horse or coon tails, according- to the fanc}" of the 
 buck. The g-arae was played just as here described, but 
 there were two long- poles, about six or eig-ht inches 
 apart, at each end of the line. The object was to throw 
 the ball between the poles of the adversary. At the 
 termination of the g-ame there was a g-reat feast, and, 
 among- other delicacies, dog- was served. My father said 
 I partook of roast dog- with a relish, but I don't remem- 
 ber that part. 
 
 "In the heat of the contest, when all are running- at 
 their g-reatest speed, if one stumbles and falls, fifty or a 
 hundred, who are 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 pro- 
 ceed in the g-ame. 
 
 "This g-ame, with its attendant noise and violence, 
 was well calculated to divert the attention of officers and 
 men, and thus permit the Indians to take possession of 
 the fort. To make their success more certain, they pre- 
 vailed 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 inclosure. The plot 
 was so ing-enionsly laid that no one suspected danger. 
 The discipline of the g-arrison was relaxed, and the sol- 
 diers permitted to stroll about and view the sport, with- 
 out weapons of defense. And even when the ball, as if 
 
114 History of Mackinac. 
 
 by chance, was lifted hig-h in the air, to descend inside 
 the pickets, and was followed by four hundred savag-es, 
 all eag-er, all strug-g-ling", all shouting- in the unrestrained 
 pursuit of a rude athletic exercise, no alarm was felt 
 until the shrill war-whoop told the startled gfarrison 
 that the slaughter had actually begun." 
 
 Henry continues: "I did not go myself to see the 
 match which was now to be played without the fort, be- 
 cause, there being a canoe prepared to depart on the fol- 
 lowing- 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 g-o with him to the beach, to inquire the n-ews, 
 it so happened that I still remained, to finish my letters, 
 promising- to follow Mr. Tracy in the course of a few 
 minutes. Mr. Tracy had not g-one 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, furi- 
 ously cutting down and scalping every Knglishman they 
 found. In particular I witnessed the fate of Lieutenant 
 Jamette. 
 
 "I had, in the room in which I was, a fowling-piece, 
 loaded with swan-shot. This I immediately 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 manner, 
 scalped him while yet living. 
 
 "At length, disappointed in the hope of seeing- resist- 
 ance made to the enemy, and sensible of course, that no 
 effort of my own unassisted arm could avail against four 
 
Massacre at Fort M ichiliviackinac. 115 
 
 hundred Indians, I thought only of seeking shelter. 
 Amid the slaug-hter which was raging, I observed many 
 of the Canadian inhabitants of the fort calmly looking 
 on, neither opposing the Indians nor suffering injury; 
 and, from this circumstance, I conceived a hope of find- 
 ing securit}' in their homes. 
 
 "Between the. yard-door of my own house and 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 iramediatel}^ to 
 M. Langlade; begging that he would put me into some 
 place of safety until the heat of the affair should be over, 
 an act of charity by which he might perhaps preserve me 
 from the general massacre; but, while I uttered my peti- 
 tion, M. Langlade, who had looked for a moment at me, 
 turned again to the window, shrugging his shoulders, 
 and intimating that he could do nothing for me: ^Que 
 voiidriez — vous que f en ferais ?'' 
 
 "This was a moment for despair; but the next, a Pani 
 woman, a slave of M. Langlade, beckoned me to follow 
 her. She brought me to a door, which she opened, de- 
 siring me to enter, and telling me that it led to the gar- 
 ret, 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 afforded 
 me a view of the area of the fort, I beheld, in shapes the 
 foulest and most terrible, the ferocious triumphs of bar- 
 barian conquerors. The dead were scalped and mangled; 
 
116 History of Mackinac. 
 
 the dying- were writhing- and shrieking under the un- 
 satiated knife and tomahawk; and from the bodies of 
 some, ripped open, their butchers were drinking- the 
 blood, scooped up in the hollow of joined hands, and 
 quaffed amid shouts of rage and victory, I was shaken, 
 not only with horror, but with fear. The sufferings 
 which I witnessed, I seemed on the point of experienc- 
 ing-. No long time elapsed before, everyone being- de- 
 stroyed who could be found, there was a general cry of 
 'All is finished !' At the same instant I heard some of ' 
 the Indians enter the house in which I was The garret 
 was separated from the room below only by a layer of 
 sing-le boards, at once the flooring of the one and the ceil- 
 ing- of the other. I could therefore hear everything- that 
 passed; and the Indians no sooner came in than they in- 
 quired whether or not any Englishmen were in the house. 
 M. Lang-lade 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. Lang-- 
 lade was therefore, as I presume, as far from a wish to 
 destroy me as he was careless about saving- me, when 
 he added to these answers, that 'they might examine for 
 themselves, and would soon be satisfied as to the object 
 of their question.' Saying this, he brought them to the 
 g-arret door. 
 
 "The state of my mind will be imagined. Arrived at 
 the door, some delay was occasioned by 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 
 
 *Paunee. 
 
Massacre at Fort Michiliinackinac. 117 
 
 bark used in maple-sugar making-, 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 presented itself at one 
 end of the heap. An instant later four Indians entered 
 the room, all armed with tomahawks, 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 direction around the garret, and one of them 
 approached me so closely that at a particular moment, 
 had he put forth his hand he must have touched me. 
 Still I remained undiscovered, a circumstance to which 
 the dark color of m}- clothes, and the want of light in 
 a room which had no window, and in 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, heard the door, 
 which was a barrier between me and my fate, locked for 
 the second time. 
 
 "There was a feather bed on the floor, and on this, 
 exhausted 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 en- 
 tered was M. Langlade's wife, who was much surprised 
 at finding me, but advised me not to be uneasy, observ- 
 ing that the Indians had killed most of the English, but 
 that she hoped I might myself escape. A shower of rain 
 
118 History of Mackinac. 
 
 having" beg"un to fall, she had come to stop a hole in the 
 roof. On her gfoing- away, I beg-g-ed 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 probable chance of success. The distance 
 from Michilimackinac 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, fatig-ue of mind, and not tranquility, suspend- 
 ed my cares and procured me further sleep. 
 
 " The respite which sleep afforded me, during the 
 night, was put to an end b}' the return of morning. I 
 was again on the rack of apprehension. At sunrise 
 I heard the family stirring-, and, presently after, Indian 
 voices, informing M. Langlade that the}- 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 ; g^iving- 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 pre- 
 vail, informing- the Indians that he had been told I was 
 
Massacre at Fort Michilimackinac. 119 
 
 in the house, that I had come there without his knowl- 
 edge, and that he would put me into their hands. This 
 was no sooner expressed than he beg-an 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 face and 
 body covered with charcoal and grease, only that a 
 white spot of two inches in diameter encircled either eye. 
 This man, walking up to me, seized me with one hand by 
 the collar of the coat, while in the other he held a large 
 carving-knife, as if to plunge it into my breast; his eyes, 
 meanwhile, were fixed steadfastly on mine. At length, 
 after some seconds of the most anxious suspense, he 
 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 Musinigou, and that I should be called after 
 him. 
 
 "A reprieve, on any terms, placed me among the liv- 
 ing, and gave me back the sustaining voice of hope ; but 
 Wenniway ordered me down stairs, and there informing 
 me that I was to be taken to his cabin, where, and indeed 
 everywhere else, the Indians were all mad with liquor, 
 death again was threatened, and not as possible only, 
 but as certain. I mentioned my fears on this subject to 
 M. Langlade, begging him to represent the danger to 
 
120 History of Mackinac. 
 
 my master. M. Lang-lade, in this instance, did not with- 
 hold his compassion, and Wenniway immediately con- 
 sented that I should remain where I was, until he found 
 another opportunity to take me away. 
 
 "Thus far secure, I reascended my garret stairs, in 
 order to place myself the farthest possible out of the 
 reach of insult from drunken Indians ; but I had not re- 
 mained there more than an hour, when I was 
 called to the room below, in which was an Indian, who 
 said that I must g-o with him out of the fort, Wenniway 
 having" sent him 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 short time 
 previous to the surprise of the fort, he had said, upon my 
 upbraiding 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 communicated the suspicion 
 to M. Langlade ; but he gave for answer, that I was not 
 my own master, and must 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. His pleasure, in this respect, being complied with, 
 no other alternative was left me than either to go out 
 naked, or to put on the clothes of the Indian, which he 
 freely gave me in exchange. His motive for thus strip- 
 ping me of my own apparel, was no other, as I afterward 
 learned, than this, that it might not be stained with 
 blood when 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 
 
Massacre at Fo7't Michilmiackinac. 121 
 
 turned toward the spot where I knew the Indians to be 
 encamped. This, however, did not suit the purpose of 
 my ememy, 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 mig-ht as well 
 strike where I was as at any g^reater distance. He 
 replied, with coolness, that my suspicions were just, and 
 that he meant to pay me in this manner for my g-oods. 
 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 thoug-ht to be explained or remembered, I 
 was enabled to arrest his arm and g"ive him a sudden 
 push, by which I turned him from me, and released 
 myself from his g-rasp. This was no sooner done, than 
 I ran toward the fort with all the swiftness in my 
 power, the Indian following- me, and I expecting- every 
 moment to feel his knife. I succeeded in my flig-ht, 
 and, on entering- the fort, I saw Wenniway standing- in 
 the midst of the area, and to him I hastened for protec- 
 tion. 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 
 rag-e at the repeated failure of his purpose. At leng-th 
 Wenniway drew near to M. Lang-lade'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. 
 
 *Timber was felled for fuel and cultivation allowing- the 
 winds to form dunes. 
 
122 History of Mackinac. 
 
 '•Preserved so often and so unexpectedly, as it had 
 now been my lot to be, I returned to my garret with a 
 strong- inclination to believe that, through the will of 
 the 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 aroused from sleep 
 and once more desired to descend the stairs. Not less, 
 however, to my satisfaction than surprise, I was sum- 
 moned only to meet Major Ethrington, Mr. Bostwick, 
 and Lieutenant Lesslie, who were in the room below. 
 These gentlemen had been taken prisoners, while look- 
 ing 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 murdered, if they 
 continued in the camp. Lieutenant Jamette and 
 seventy soldiers had been killed; and but twenty Eng- 
 lishmen, including soldiers, were still alive. These 
 were all within the fort, together with nearly three 
 hundred Canadians, belonging to the canoes, etc, 
 
 "These being our numbers, myself and others pro- 
 posed to Major Ethrington to make an effort for 
 regaining possession of the fort, and maintaining it 
 against the Indians. The Jesuit missionary was con- 
 sulted on the project; but he discouraged 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 night, the 
 prisoners and whites were in actual possession, and they 
 were without the gates. 
 
Massacre at Fort Michilimackinac. 123 
 
 "The whole night, or the greater part of it, was 
 ■passed in mutual condolence; and m}- fellow-prisoners 
 shared m}- g-arret. In the morning, being again called 
 down, I found my master, Wenniwa}', 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 Englishman from Detroit, 
 and a soldier, all prisoners. With these I remained in 
 painful suspense as to the scene that was next to pre- 
 sent itself, till ten o'clock in the forenoon, when an 
 Indian arrived, and presently marched us 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 com- 
 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 ver}- 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 extremit}-, M. 
 Langlade coming down 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 an}- property in that 
 country. I had no more to say to M. Langlade; but, 
 presently seeing another Canadian, named John Cuch- 
 oise, I addressed him a similar request, and was not re- 
 fused. Naked as I was, and rigorous as was 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. 
 
124 History of Mackinac. 
 
 "The soldier who was our companion in misfortune 
 was made fast to a bar of the canoe, b}* a rope tied around 
 his neck, as is the manner of the Indians in transport- 
 ing- their prisoners. The rest were left uncontined; 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, Major Ethrington, Lieutenant Lesslie*, and 
 Mr. Bostwick, at M. Lang-lade's, and was now joined in 
 misery with Mr. Ezekiel 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. 
 
 "We were bound, as I have said, for the Isles du Cas- 
 tor, which lie in the rjiouth 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 ap- 
 proached the lands of the Ottawas, and their village of 
 L'Arbre Croche, already mentioned as lying about twenty 
 miles to the westward of Michilimackinac, on the oppo- 
 site 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 apprised 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 Michi- 
 limackinac. After the Indians had made their war-whoop, 
 as before, an Ottawa appeared upon the beach, who made 
 *Also spelled Leslie. 
 
Massacre at Fort Michiliniackinac. 125 
 
 sig"ns that we should land. In consequence we ap- 
 proached. The Ottawa asked the news, and kept the 
 Chippewas in further conversation, till we were within 
 a few 3ards of the land, and in shallow water. At this 
 moment, a hundred men rushed upon us from among- the 
 bushes, and drag-g-ed all the prisoners out of the canoes, 
 amid a terrifying shout. 
 
 "We now believed that our last suffering's were ap- 
 proaching; but no sooner were we fairly on shore, and 
 on our leg-s, 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 in- 
 sulted by destroying the English without consulting 
 with them on the affair. 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 Cas- 
 tor* only to kill and devour us. 
 
 "The reader's imagination is here distracted by the 
 variety of our fortunes, and he may well paint to him- 
 self the state of mind of those who sustained them; who 
 were the sport or the victims, of a series of events more 
 like dreams than realities — more like 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 Michilimackinac, where they marched 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 prisoners, were lodged in the 
 house of the commandant, and strictly guarded. 
 
 "Early the next morning, a General Council was 
 held, in which the Chippewas complained much of the 
 *Beaver Islands. 
 
126 History of Mackuiac. 
 
 conduct of the Ottawas, in robbing- them of their 
 prisoners ; alleging- that all the Indians, the Ottawas 
 alone excepted, were at war with the Eng-lish ; that 
 Pontiac had taken Detroit ; that the King- of France 
 had awoke, and re-possessed himself of Quebec and 
 Montreal, and that the Engflish were meeting- destruc- 
 tion, not only at Michilimackinac, but in every other 
 part of the world. From all this they inferred that it 
 became the Ottawas to restore the prisoners, and to -join 
 in the war ; and the speech was followed by larg-e 
 presents, being- part 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 da}' after 
 they have heard the arg-uments offered. They did not 
 depart from their usual custom on this occasion ; and 
 the Council, therefore, adjourned. 
 
 "We, the prisoners whose fate was thus in contro- 
 versy, were unacquainted, at the time, with this trans- 
 action ; and therefore enjoyed a nig-ht of tolerable 
 tranquillity, 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 can not say, but the Council 
 was resumed 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. 
 
 "The Ottawas, who now gave us into the hands of 
 the Chippewas, had themselves declared that the latter 
 designed no other than to kill us, and make broth of us. 
 The Chippewas, 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 prison of fourteen soldiers, tied two and two, 
 
Massacre at Fort iMichilimackinac. 127 
 
 with each a rope around his neck, and made fast to a 
 ;J)ole which might be called the supporter of the build- 
 ing-. 
 
 "I was left untied ; 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 siezed 
 upon myself and the others, at Wagoshence. I was 
 besides in want of food, having for two da^'s eaten 
 nothing. I confess that in the canoe with the Chippe- 
 was, I was offered bread — but bread with what accom- 
 paniment ! 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, 
 offered 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 hun- 
 dred and sixty-three. 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, suddenl}^ came in. During the 
 four days preceding, I had often wondered what had 
 become of him. In passing by, he gave me his hand, 
 but went immediate!}' toward the great chief, by the 
 side of whom and Wenniway he sat himself down. The 
 most uninterrupted silence prevailed, each smoking his 
 pipe ; and, this done, Wawatam arose and left the 
 lodge, saying to me, as he passed, 'Take courage.' 
 
128 History of Mackinac. 
 
 "An hour elapsed, during- which several chiefs en- 
 tered, and preparations appeared to be making- for a 
 council. At length, Wawatam re-entered the lodge, 
 followed by his wife, and both loaded with merchan- 
 dise, 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, what is it that I shall say ? 
 You know what I feel. You all have friends and broth- 
 ers 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 condi- 
 tion 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 [pointing- to myself], my friend and 
 brother among slaves — himself a slave! 
 
 " 'You all well know that, long- before the war beg-an, 
 I adopted him as my brother. From that moment, he 
 became one of my family, so that no change of circum- 
 stances 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 beg-an, you were 
 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, notwithstand- 
 ing that you, Menehwehna (Minavavana), who had the 
 command in this enterprise, g-ave me your promise that 
 you would protect my friend, delivering- him from all 
 
Massacre at Fort Michilimackinac. 129 
 
 dang-er, and g-iving- 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 g-oods to buy off every claim which 
 any man among- you all may have on my brother, as his 
 prisoner.' 
 
 " Wawatam having- ceased, the pipes were ag-ain filled ; 
 and, after they were finished, a further period of silence 
 followed. 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 you have now addressed 
 us. We knew the danger of having our secret discov- 
 ered, 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 
 thus 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 sent him to Lang- 
 lade'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 ray 
 orders. I am very glad to find that your friend has 
 
130 History of Mackinac. 
 
 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 lodg-e, which was at 
 the distance of a few yards only from the prison-lodg^e. 
 My entrance appeared to g'ive joy to the whole family; 
 food was immediately prepared for me, and I now ate the 
 first hearty meal which I had made since my capture. 
 I found myself one of the family; and but that I 
 had still my fears as to the other Indians, I felt ashappj- 
 as the situation could allow. 
 
 "In the course of the next mornino-, I was alarmed by 
 a noise in the prison-lodge; and looking through the 
 openings of 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, hav- 
 ing 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 
 of the head, and divided 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 invitation to Wa- 
 watam 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 
 
Massacre at Fort Michilwiackinac. 131 
 
 four inches in leng^th, supply the place of cards; and 
 the bearer, by word of mouth, states the particulars. 
 Wawatam obe3'ed the summons, taking" with him, as 
 is usual, to the place of entertainment, his dish and 
 spoon. After an absence of about half an hour, he 
 returned, bring^ing- in his dish a human hand, and a 
 larg"e 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 overcomming- their enemies, 
 to make a war-feast from among" the slain. This, he 
 said, inspired the warrior with courag"e in attack, and 
 bred him to meet death with fearlessness. 
 
 "In the evening" of the same day, a larg"e canoe, such 
 as those which come from Montreal, was seen advanc- 
 ing" to the fort. It was full of men, and I disting"uished 
 several passengers. 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 the passengers, 
 as being English traders, were seized, dragged through 
 the water, beaten, reviled, marched to the prison-lodge, 
 and there stripped of their clothes, and confined. 
 
 "Of the English traders that fell into the hands of 
 the Indians, at the capture of the fort, Mr. Tracy was 
 the only one who lost his life. Mr. Ezekiel Solomons 
 and Mr. Henry Bostwick were taken by the Ottawas, 
 and, after the peace, carried down to Montreal, 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 
 
132 History of Mackimic. 
 
 either freely restored, or ransomed at Montreal. The 
 Ottawas never overcame their disg-ust at the neglect 
 with which they had been treated, in the beginning- of 
 tha war, by those who afterward desired their assistance 
 as allies." 
 
 THE ESCAPE OF HENRY AND OTHERS. 
 The part the Ottawas played at Michilimackinac will 
 readily explain Indian character. They had rescued 
 Henry and his companions from their captors and bore 
 them back to the fort, of which they took possession, 
 with the other prisoners, to the dismay of the Chippe- 
 was. It was not for any good will to the prisoners, but 
 out of revenge because the Chippewas made the attack 
 without consulting or informing them. They held a 
 council and gave up Henry and some of the prisoners, 
 but the officers and several soldiers were retained and 
 carried to L'Arbre Croche by the Ottawas. Here 
 Father Janois influenced the Indians to treat them with 
 kindness. From that place Etherington sent a letter by 
 Father Janois to Major Gladwin at Detroit, and one to 
 Lieut. Gorell at Green Bay by an Ottawa Indian. 
 These letters both contained brief accounts of the 
 massacre and an entreaty for assistance. The following 
 was addressed to Gorell : 
 
 " MiCHiUMACKiNAC, June 11, 1763. 
 "Dear Sir,— This place was taken by surprise on the fourth 
 instant by the Chippewas (Ojibwas), at which time Lieutenant 
 Jamette and twenty men were killed, and all the rest taken 
 prisoners ; but our good friends the Ottawas have taken L/ieu- 
 tenant lyesslie, me, and eleven men out of their hands, and have 
 promised to reinstate us again. You'll therefore, on the receipt 
 of this, which I send by a canoe of Ottawas, set out with all 
 your garrison, and what English traders you have with you, 
 and come with the Indian who gives you this, who will 
 conduct you safe to me. You must be sure to follow the 
 
The Escape of Henry and Others. 133 
 
 instrucution you receive from the bearer of this, as you are 
 by no means to come to this post before you see me at the vil- 
 lage, twenty miles from this. ... I must once more begf 
 you'll lose no time in coming- to me ; at the same time be very 
 careful, and always be on your g-uard. I long^ much to see you 
 and am, dear sir. 
 
 •' Your most humble servant, 
 
 "Geo. Ethrington. 
 "J. Gorell, Royal Americans.'''' 
 
 The following- is from Parkman : "The Conspiracy 
 of Pontiac," Vol. 2, p. 336, 337. "A copy of the orig-i- 
 nal was procured from the State Paper Office of 
 London." 
 
 "Michilimackinac, 12 June, 1763. 
 
 "Sir: — Notwithstanding that I wrote you in my last that all 
 the savag-es were arrived, and that every thing seemed in per- 
 fect tranquility, yet, on the 2nd instant, the Chippewas, who 
 live in a place near this fort, assembled to play ball as they 
 have done almost every day since their arrival. They played 
 from morning ; then throwing their ball close to the gate, and 
 observing Lieut. Leslie and me a few paces out of it, they came 
 behind us, seized and carried us into the woods. 
 
 "In the mean time the rest rushed into the Fort, where they 
 found their squaws whom they had previously planted there, 
 with their hatchets hid under their blankets, which they took, 
 and in an instant killed Lieut. Jamet and fifteen rank and file, 
 and a trader named Tracy. They wounded two, and took the 
 rest of the garrison, five (seven, Henry) of whom they have 
 since killed. 
 
 " They made prisoners of all the English Traders, and robbed 
 them of everj' thing they had; but they offered no violence to 
 the persons or property of any of the Frenchmen. 
 
 " When the massacre was over, Messrs. Langdale and Farle 
 the interpreter, came down to the place where Lieut. Leslie and 
 me were prisoners; and on their giving themselves as security 
 to return us when demanded, they obtained leave for us to go to 
 the Fort, under a guard of savages, which gave time, by the 
 assistance of the gentlemen above mentioned, to send for the 
 Cutaways, who came down on the first notice, and were very 
 much displeased at what the Chippeways had done. Since the 
 arrival of the Cutaways they have done everything in their 
 
134 History of Mackinac. 
 
 power to serve us, and with what prisoners the Chippeways had 
 given them, and what they have bought, I have now with nie 
 Lieut. Leslie and eleven privates ; and the other four of the 
 Garrison who are yet living, remain in the hands of the Chippe- 
 ways. 
 
 " The Chippeways who were superior in number to the 
 Ottaways, have declared in Council to them that if they do not 
 remove us out of the Fort, they will cut off all communication to 
 this Post, by which means all the Convoys of Merchants from 
 Montreal, La Baye, St. Joseph, and the upper posts would 
 perish. But if the news of your post being attacked (which they 
 say was the reason why they took up the hatchet) be false, and 
 you can send us a strong reinforcement, with provisions, &c. 
 accompanied by some of your savages, I believe the post might 
 be re-established again. 
 
 "Since this affair happened, two canoes arrived from Montreal, 
 which put in my power to make a present to the Ottaway 
 nation, who very well deserve anything that can be done for 
 them. 
 
 "I have been very much obliged to Messrs. Langdale and 
 Farl6, the interpreter, as likewise to the Jesuit, for the many 
 good offices they have done us on this occasion. The Priest 
 seems inclinable to go down to your post for a day or two, which 
 I am very glad of, as he is a very good man, and had a great 
 deal to say with the savages, hereabout, who will believe every 
 thing he tells them on his return, which I hope will be soon. 
 The Cutaways say they will take Lieut. Leslie, me, and the 
 eleven men which I mentioned before were in their hands,' up to 
 their village, and there keep us, till they hear what is doing at 
 your Post. They have sent this court for that purpose. 
 
 '•I refer you to the Priest for the particulars of this melon- 
 choly affair and am, Dear Sir, 
 
 Yours very sincerely, 
 (Signed) GEO. Etherington. 
 
 " To Major Gladwin. 
 
 "P. S. The Indians that are to carry the Priest to Detroit 
 will not undertake to land him at the Fort, but at some of the 
 Indian villages near it, so you must not take it amiss that he 
 does not pay you the first visit. And once more I beg that 
 nothing may stop your sending of him back, the next day after 
 his arrival, if possible, as we shall be at a great loss for want of 
 him, and I make no doubt that you will do all in your power to 
 
The Escape of Henry and Others. 135 
 
 make peace as you see the situation we are in, and send up pro- 
 visions as soon as possible, and ammunition, as what we had 
 
 was pillaged by the savages, 
 
 "Adieu, Geo. Etherington." 
 
 "When Father Janois reached Detroit he found the 
 place closely besieged, and consequently no assistance 
 could come from that quarter; but at Green Bay the 
 case was otherwise. With seventeen men, Lieutenant 
 Gorell had taken possession of that post in 1761, and, 
 by a system of g-ood manag"ement, had succeeded in 
 allaying- the hostilit}^ of the savag^es and securing the 
 friendship of at least a part of the tribes around him. 
 On receiving- Ethrington's letter, Gorell, told the In- 
 dians what the Ojibwas had done, and that he and his 
 soldiers were going- to Michilimackinac to restore order, 
 adding- that, during- his absence, he commended the 
 fort to their care. Presents were distributed among- 
 them, and advantage taken of every circumstance that 
 could possibly be made to favor the English cause ; so 
 that when the party was ready to embark, ninetr 
 warriors proposed to escort the garrison on its way. 
 
 "Arriving- at L'Arbre Croche, where Captain Ethring-- 
 ton. Lieutenant Lesslie, and eleven men were yet 
 detained as prisoners, Gorell received an intimation that 
 the Ottawas intended to disarm his own men 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 holding- 
 councils. The Indians from Green Bay requested the 
 Ottawas to set their prisoners at liberty, to which the 
 latter at length assented. Thinking- only of how they 
 might escape the presence of their troublesome and 
 treacherous foes, they prepared to depart. One diffi- 
 culty, however, yet remained. The Ojibwas had de- 
 
136 History of Mackinac. 
 
 clared that they would prevent the Eng-lish from pass- 
 ing- down to Montreal, and ag-ain 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, thoug-h reluctantly, they yielded the point. 
 On the eig-hteenth day of July, escorted by a fleet of 
 Indian canoes, the Eng-lish left L'Arbre Croche ; and on 
 the thirteenth day of Aug-ust all arrived in safety at 
 Montreal, leaving- not a British soldier in the reg-ion of 
 the lakes, except at Detroit." 
 
 Let us g-o back now. Hear Henry to the end of his 
 story: 
 
 "In the morning- of the ninth of June, a General 
 Council was held, at which it was ag-reed to remove to 
 the island of Michilimackinac, as a more defensible 
 situation in the event of an attack by the Eng-lish. The 
 Indians had begun to entertain apprehensions of a want 
 of strength. No news had reached them from the Pot- 
 awatomies, in the Bay des Puants, and thej- were 
 uncertain whether or not the Monomins would join 
 them. They even feared that the Sioux would take the 
 English side. This resolution fixed, the}' 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 passag-e, we en- 
 countered a g;ale of wind, and there were some appear- 
 ances of dang-er. To avert it, a dog-, of which the legs 
 were previously tied together, was thrown into the lake 
 — an offering designed to soothe the angry passions of 
 some offended Manitou. 
 
 "As we approached the island, two women in the 
 canoe in which I was, began to utter melancholy and 
 hideous cries. Precarious as my condition still re- 
 
The Escape of Henry and Others. 137 
 
 mained, I experienced some sensations of alarm from 
 those dismal sounds, of which I could not then discover 
 the occasion. Subsequently I learned that it is custo- 
 mary 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 denote 
 their g"rief. 
 
 "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 fig-hting- men. In the course of the day, there 
 arrived a canoe from Detroit, with embassadors, who 
 endeavored to prevail on the Indians to repair thither, 
 to the assistance of Pontiac ; but fear was now the 
 prevailing- passion, A g-uard was kept during- the day, 
 and a watch by night, and alarms were very frequently 
 spread. Had an enemy appeared, all the prisoners 
 would 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 
 continued alarm prevailed, and I saw the Indians run- 
 ning in a confused manner toward the beach. In a 
 short time I learned that two large canoes from Mon- 
 treal were in sight. 
 
 "All the Indian canoes were immediately manned, 
 and those from Montreal were surrounded and seized as 
 they turned a point, behind which a flotilla had been 
 concealed. The goods were consigned to a Mr. Levy, 
 and would have been saved if the canoe-men had called 
 them French property ; but they were terrified and 
 disguised nothing. 
 
 "In the canoes was a large proportion of liquor — a 
 
138 Hislory of jV/ackiiiac. 
 
 dangerous acquisition, and one which threatened disturb- 
 ance among- the Indians, even to a loss of their dearest 
 friends. Wawatam, always watchful of my safety, no 
 sooner heard the noise of drunkenness which, in the 
 evening, did not fail to begin, than he represented to 
 me the danger of remaining in the village, and owned 
 that he could not himself resist the temptation of join- 
 ing his comrades in the debauch. That I might escape 
 all mischief, he therefore requested that I would accom- 
 pan}^ him to the mountain, where I was to remain 
 hidden till the liquor should be drank. We ascended 
 the mountain accordingly. 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 Wawq^tam recommend- 
 ed 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 
 further 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 daybreak. 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, 
 
 *Skull Cave. 
 
The Escape of Henry and Others,. 139 
 
 and without food. As nig-ht approached, I found my- 
 self 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 nig-ht's lodg"- 
 ing", and slept under it as 
 before; but in the morning- 
 I awoke hung-ry and dis- 
 pirited, and almost envy- 
 ing- the dry bones, to the 
 view of which I returned. 
 At leng-th the sound of a 
 foot reached me, and m}^ 
 Indian friend appeared, 
 making- many apolog-ies 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 extra- 
 ordinary sig-ht that had presented itself in the cave to 
 which he had commended my slumbers. He had never 
 heard of its existence before, and, upon examining the 
 cave tog-ether, we saw reason to believe that it had been 
 anciently filled with human bodies. 
 
 "On returning- to the lodg-e, I experienced a cordial 
 reception 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 daug-hter of thirteen 
 years of ag-e completed the list. 
 
 " Wawatam related to the other Indians the adventure 
 of the bones. All of them expressed surprise at hear- 
 ing it, and declared that they had never been aware of 
 the contents of this cave before. After visiting it, 
 which they immediately did, almost every one offered a 
 
140 History of Mackinac. 
 
 different opinion as to its history. Some advanced, that 
 at a period when the wateres overflowed the land (an 
 event which makes a disting-uished fig-ure 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 tradition says they did), hid themselves in the 
 cave, and, being- discovered, 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 pu.rpose. 
 
 "A few days after this occurrence, Menehwehna 
 (Menavavana), whom I now found to be the great chief of 
 the villag-e of Michilimackinac, came to the lodg-e of my 
 friend, and when the usual ceremony of smoking- was 
 finished, he observed that Indians were now daily arriv- 
 ing- from Detroit, some of whom had lost relations or 
 friends in the war, and who would certainly retaliate on 
 any Eng-lishman they found, upon which account his 
 errand was to advise that I should be dressed like an 
 Indian, an expedient whence I mig-ht hope to escape all 
 future insult. 
 
 "I could not but consent to the proposal; and the 
 chief was so kind as to assist my friend and his family 
 in effecting that very day the desired metamorphosis. 
 My hair was cut off, 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 with 
 three or four different colors, some parts of it red, and 
 others black. A shirt was provided for me, painted 
 with vermilion mixed with grease. A large collar of 
 
The Escape of Henry and Others. 141 
 
 wampum was put around my neck, and another sus- 
 pended on my breast. Both my arms were decorated 
 with large bands of silver above the elbow, besides 
 several smaller ones on the wrists ; and my legs were 
 covered with mitasses, a kind of hose, made, 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 without some 
 regret, with the long hair which was natural to it, and 
 which I fancied to be ornamental ; but the ladies of the 
 family, and of the village in general, appeared to think 
 my person improved, and now condescended to call me 
 handsome, even among Indians. 
 
 "Protected in a great measure by this disguise, I felt 
 myself 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 Wawa- 
 tam that he would enable me to pay a short visit to 
 Michilimackinac. He did not fail to comply, and I 
 succeeded in finding my clerks ; but, either through the 
 disturbed state of the country, as they represented to be 
 the case, or through their misconduct, as I had reason 
 to think, I obtained nothing ; and nothing, or almost 
 nothing, I now began to think would be all that I 
 should need during the rest of my life. To fish and to 
 hunt, to collect a few skins and exchange them for 
 necessaries, was all that I seemed destined to do and to 
 acquire for the future. 
 
 "I returned to the Indian village, where at this time 
 much scarcity of food prevailed. We were often for 
 twenty-four hours without eating, and when in the 
 morning we had no victuals for the day before us, the 
 custom was to black our faces with grease and charcoal, 
 
142 History of Mackinac. 
 
 and exhibit through resig-nation a temper as cheerful as 
 if in the midst of plenty. A repetition of the evil, how- 
 ever, soon induced us to leave the island in search of 
 food, and according"ly we departed for the Bay of 
 Boutchitaony, distant eig-ht leagues, and where we found 
 plenty of wild fowl and fish." 
 
 Leaving- that bay, Henr3', with his friend Wawatam 
 and family, came to St. Martin's Island, where, in the 
 enjoyment of an excellent and plentiful supply of food, 
 they remained until the twenty-sixth of Aug-ust. "At 
 this time," continues the writer, "the autumn being- at 
 hand, and a sure prospect of increased security from 
 hostile Indians afforded, Wawatam proposed g-oing to 
 his intended wintering- ground. The removal was a 
 subject of the greatest joy to myself ; on account of the 
 frequent insults to which I had still to submit from the 
 Indians of our band or village, and to escape from 
 which I would freely have gone almost anywhere. At 
 our wintering-ground we were to be alone ; for the 
 Indian families in the countries of which I write sep- 
 arate in the winter season for the convenience as well of 
 subsistence as of the chase, and reassociate in the spring 
 and summer. 
 
 "In preparation, our first business was to sail for 
 Michilimackinac, where, being arrived, we procured 
 from a Canadian trader, on credit, some trifling articles, 
 together with ammunition and two bushels of maize. 
 This done, we steered directly for Lake Michigan. At 
 L'Arbre Croche we stopped one day, on a visit to the 
 Ottawas, where all the people, and particularly O'ki'- 
 no'chu'ma'ki, the chief — the same who took me from 
 the Chippewas^ — behaved with great civility and kind- 
 ness. The chief presented me with a bag of maize." 
 
 From L'Arbre Croche they proceeded directly to the 
 
The Escape of Henry and Others. 143 
 
 mouth of the river Aux Sables, which, Henry tells us, 
 is "on the southern side of the lake," and as they 
 hunted along- their way, Henry enjoyed a personal free- 
 dom of which he had long- been deprived, and became as 
 expert in the Indian pursuits as the Indians themselves. 
 The winter was spent in the chase. "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, that I was living- among- savag-es, 
 and for the whispers of a lingering- hope that I should 
 one day be released 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." 
 
 As spring approached the hunters began their prepara- 
 tions for returning- to Michilimackinac, but their faces 
 were no sooner turned toward the scene of the massacre 
 than all beg-an to fear an attack from the English, on 
 account of the constant dreams of the more aged 
 women. Henry labored, but in vain, to allay their 
 fears, but on the twenty-fifth of April the little party 
 embarked in their canoes. 
 
 Henry writes: "At La Grande Traverse we met a 
 larg-e 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 interrog-ations were continually put to myself 
 as to whether or not I knew of any design to attack 
 them, I found that they believed it possible for me to 
 have a foreknowledg-e 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 incurred the suspicion of a 
 
144 History of Mackinac. 
 
 design to conceal my knowledg-e. On this account, 
 therefore, or because I saw them tormented with fears 
 which had nothing- but imagination to rest upon, I told 
 them at length that I knew there was no enemy to 
 insult them, and that they might proceed to Michili- 
 mackinac without danger from the English. I further, 
 and with more confidence, declared that if ever my 
 countrymen returned to Michilimackinac, I would recom- 
 mend them to their favor, on account of the good treat- 
 ment which I had received from them. Thus encour- 
 aged, they embarked at an early hour the next morning. 
 In crossing the bay, we experienced a storm of thunder 
 and lightning. 
 
 "Our port was the village of L'Arbre Croche, which 
 we reached in safety, and where we staid till the follow- 
 ing day. At this village we found several persons who 
 had lately been at Michilimackinac, and from them we 
 had the satisfaction of learning that all was quiet there. 
 The remainder of our voyage was therefore performed 
 with confidence. 
 
 "In the evening of the twenty-seventh we landed at 
 the fort, which now contained only two French traders. 
 The Indians who had arrived before 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. 
 
 "Wawatam 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 toil, I proposed to purchase clothes, of 
 which I was much in need, having been six months 
 without a shirt ; but on inquiring into the prices of 
 
The Escape of Henry and Olhers. 145 
 
 goods, I found that all my funds would not g-o far. I 
 was able, however, to buy two shirts, at ten pounds of 
 beaver each ; a pair of Icggins, or pantaloons, of scarlet 
 cloth, which, with the ribbon to g-arnish them, fashion- 
 ably, 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 become much attached through the winter. It was 
 my principal recreation, after returning- from the chase ; 
 for my companions in the lodg-e were unaccustomed to 
 pass their time in conversation. Among- the Indians 
 the topics of conversation are but few, and limited, for 
 the most part, to the transactions of the da}', the num- 
 ber of animals which they have killed, and of those 
 which have escaped their pursuit, and other incidents of 
 the chase. 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 them, — the records of history, 
 the pursuits of science, the disquisitions of philosophy, 
 the s\'stems of politics, the business and the amusements 
 of the da}', and the transactions of the four corners of 
 the world. 
 
 "Eig-ht days had passed in tranquillity when there 
 arrived a band of Indians from the Bay of Saguenaum. 
 They had assisted at the seige of Detroit, and came to 
 muster as many recruits 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 g-ive their friends a mess of English broth, to 
 raise their courage. 
 
 10 
 
146 History oj Mackinac. 
 
 "This intellig-ence 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 which 
 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 
 Eng-lish. It was by him that the Chippewas of Lake 
 Superior were prevented from joining- Pontiac. 
 
 " Wawatam was not slow to exert himself for my pres- 
 ervation, but, leaving- Michilimackinac in the nig-ht, 
 transported myself and all his lodge to Point St. Ig-nace, 
 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 Outardes, where we were 
 obliged to put in on account of the wind's coming ahead. 
 We proposed sailing for the Sault the next morning. 
 
 "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 destroyed. 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 family which had done so much for the alleviation 
 of mine. I was silent, but the disappointment seemed to 
 seal my fate. No prospect opened to console me. To 
 return to Michilimackinac could only insure my destruc- 
 tion, and to remain at the 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 
 
The Escape oj Henry and Others. 147 
 
 Detroit were hourly expected to pass on the business of 
 their mission. I doubted not but, taking- advantage of 
 the solitary situation of the family, they would carry 
 into execution their design of killing me. 
 
 "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 Michilimackinac. 
 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 prevail 
 upon the crew to take me with them, and thus release 
 me from all my troubles. 
 
 " My hopes coti tinned to gain strength; for I soon per- 
 suaded myself that the manner in which the paddles 
 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 confi- 
 dence. Enough, however, appeared at length to demon- 
 strate itself to induce me to descend the tree and repair 
 to the lodge with my tidings and schemes of liberty. 
 The family congratulated me on the approach of so fair 
 an opportunity of escape, and my father and brother (for 
 he was alternately each of these) lit his pipe and pre- 
 
148 Histoty of Mackinac. 
 
 sented it to me, saying-: ' My 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 you. You know the 
 affection which I have always borne you, and the dan- 
 g-ers to which I have exposed myself and family to 
 preserve you from your enemies, and I am happy to And 
 that my efforts promise not to have been in vain.' At 
 this time a boy came into the lodg-e, informing- us that 
 the canoe had come from Michilimackinac, and was 
 bound to the Sault de Sainte 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 
 permission, 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 Chippewa nation, and she was very 
 generally respected. 
 
 "My departure fixed upon, I returned to the lodge, 
 where I packed up my wardrobe, consisting of my two 
 shirts, pair of leggins, and blanket. Besides these, I 
 took a gun and ammunition, presenting what remained 
 further to my host. I also returned the silver arm-bknds 
 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 mem- 
 bers. All the family accompanied me to the beach, and 
 the canoe had no sooner put off than Wawatam com- 
 menced an address to the Ki'chi' Muni 'to, beseeching 
 
The Escape of Henry and Othe7'S. 149 
 
 liim to take care of me, his brother, till we should next 
 meet. This, he had told me, would not be long", as he 
 intended to return to Michilimackinac 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 offer 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 blanket coat over my shirt, and a handkerchief 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 fleet bound for the Mississaki, of which I had 
 been so long in dread. It amounted to twenty sail. On 
 coming up with us and surrounding our canoe, and amid 
 g-eneral inquiries concerning the news, an Indian chal- 
 lenged me for an Englishman, and his companions sup- 
 ported him by declaring that I looked very like one; but 
 I affected 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 joining in the war only by M. Cadotte's 
 influence. Here for five days I was once more in posses- 
 sion of tranquility; but on the sixth a young Indian 
 came into M. Cadotte's, saying that a canoe full of war- 
 riors had just arrived from Michilimackinac; that they 
 had inquired for me, and that he believed their inten- 
 
150 History of Mackinac. 
 
 tions to be bad. Nearly at the same time a message 
 came from the g-ood chief of the villag-e, desiring- me to 
 conceal myself until 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 immediately 
 informed Mut'chi'ki'wish, their chief , who was related 
 to his wife, of the design imputed to them of mischief 
 against myself. Mutchikiwish frankly acknowledged 
 that they had had such a design, but added that, if dis- 
 pleasing to M. Cadotte, it should be abandoned. He 
 then further stated that their errand was to raise a party 
 of warriors 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- 
 closed, M. Cadotte 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 embassadors were per- 
 emptorily 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 Niagara. As this was a place 
 from which every one was anxious to hear news, a mes- 
 sage was sent to these fresh strangers, requesting ihem 
 to come to the council. They came accordingly, and, 
 being seated, a long silence ensued. At length, one of 
 
The Escape oj Henry and Others. 151 
 
 them, taking-up a belt of wampum, addressed himself thus 
 to the assembly: 'My friends and brothers, I am come 
 with this belt from our g-reat father, Sir William John- 
 son. He desired me to come to you, as his embassador, 
 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 oppor- 
 tunity 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 different 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 speecn greatly alarmed the Indians 
 of the Sault, who, after a very short consultation, agreed 
 to send twenty deputies to Sir William Johnson, at 
 Niag-ara. This was a project highly interesting- to me, 
 since it afforded me the means of leaving the country. I 
 intimated this to the chief of the villag-e, and received 
 his promise that I should accompany the deputation. 
 
 "Very little time was proposed to be lost in setting- 
 forward on the voyage; but the occasion was of too much 
 mag-nitude not to call for more than human knowledge 
 and discretion; and preparations were according-ly made 
 for solemnly invoking- and consulting- the Grkat Tur- 
 tle. 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 pil- 
 lars, of five different species of timber, about ten feet in 
 
152 History of Mackinac. 
 
 heig-ht, 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 the top, the pillars were 
 bound together by a circular hoop, or girder. Over the 
 whole of this edifice were spread the moose-skins, cover- 
 ing it at top and round the sides, and made fast with 
 thongs 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 inside, when the edifice, 
 massy as it has been described, began to shake; and the 
 skins were no sooner let fall than the sounds of numer- 
 ous voices were heard beneath them; some yelling, some 
 barking as dogs, some howling like wolves; and in this 
 horrible concert were mingled screams and sobs, as of 
 despair, anguish, and the sharpest pain. Articulate 
 speech was also uttered, as 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 all the Indians clapped 
 
The Escape of Henry and Others. 153 
 
 their hands for joy, exclaimmg" 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 recog"nizing them to 
 belong- to evil and lying" spirits, which deceived man- 
 kind. 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 the 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 
 village, 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, offered to the spirit; 
 for spirits are supposed, 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 leveled with the ground. All this 
 was a prelude, as I supposed, to the answers to be given; 
 but a terrific cry announced, with sufficient intelligibil- 
 ity, 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 this scene of imposture. It consisted in the return of 
 the spirit, whose voice was again heard, and who now 
 
154 History of Mackinac. 
 
 delivered a continued speech. The language of the 
 Great Turtle, like that which we had heard before, 
 was wholly unintelligible to every ear, that of the priest 
 excepted ; and it was therefore, not till the latter gave 
 us an interpretation, which did not commence before 
 the spirit had finished, that we learned the purport of 
 this extraordinary communication. 
 
 "The spirit, as we were now informed by the priest, 
 had, during his short absence, crossed Lake Huron, and 
 even proceeded as far as Fort Niagara, which is at the 
 head of Lake Ontario, and thence to Montreal. At Fort 
 Niagara he had seen no great number of soldiers ; but, 
 on decending the St. Lawrence as low as Montreal, he 
 he had found the river covered with boats, and the boats 
 filled with soldiers, in number like the leaves of the 
 trees. He 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 the spirit (and after the 
 spirit, the priest), ' Sir William 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 will go too! I 
 will go too! ' 
 
 "The questions of public interest being resolved, in- 
 dividuals were now permitted to seize the opportunity 
 
The Escape of Henry and Others. 155 
 
 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 questions allowed of much lati- 
 tude of interpretation. 
 
 "The Great Turtle continued to be consulted till 
 near midnight, when all the crowd dispersed to their 
 respective lodg^es. 
 
 "I was on the watch, throug"h the scene I have de- 
 scribed, to detect the particular contrivances by which the 
 fraud was carried on ; but such was the skill displayed 
 in the performance, or such my deficiency of penetration, 
 that I made no discoveries, 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. 
 
 You will doubtless be interested to know the fate of 
 Minavavana, or the Grand Saulteur who led the Ojibwas 
 at the massacre of Michilimackinac. The following 
 note is from J. Carver, Esq., an English g-entleman who 
 visited Michilimackinac in the year 1766, three years 
 after the massacre : 
 
 "The first I accosted were Chippewas, inhabiting- 
 near the Ottowan lakes, who received me with g-reat 
 cordiality, and shook me by the hand in token of friend- 
 ship. 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 deg-ree of terror. He seemed to 
 have passed the meridian of life, and by the mode in 
 which he was painted and tattooed, I discovered that he 
 was of high rank. However, I approached him in a 
 
156 History of Mackinac, 
 
 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- fierce- 
 ly 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 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 
 Saulteur, or the Great Chippewa Chief ; for they de- 
 nominate the Chippewas, Saulteurs. They likewise 
 told me that he had been always a steady friend to that 
 people, and when they delivered up Michilimackinac to 
 the Knglish, on their evacuation of Canada, the Great 
 Saulteur 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 Saulteur, having rendered himself more and 
 more disgustful to the English by his inveterate enmity 
 toward them, was at length stabbed in his tent, as he 
 encamped near Michilimackinac, by a trader." (Car- 
 ver's Travels.) 
 
 A little more than a year after the massacre, Michili- 
 mackinac was occupied by the coiireiirs de bois and such 
 Indian bands as chose to make it a temporary residence; 
 but after the treaty with the Indians, Captain Howard, 
 with a detachment of troops, was sent by Col. Bradstreet 
 to take possession of it, and "once more the cross of St. 
 
Importance of Michilimackinac. 157 
 
 Georg-e was a rallying- point, and the protection of the 
 adventurous traders." 
 
 IMPORTANCE OF MICHILIMACKINAC. 
 
 After a treaty of peace had been made with the In- 
 dians, and the fort reoccupied by Capt. Howard's forces, 
 confidence was restored and the fur trade resumed. 
 
 Sir William Johnson wrote to Gen'l Gage. "Johnson 
 Hall, Jany. 15th, 1767." Extract. "As Michilimaki- 
 nak seems now to be our principal mart of trade and 
 that for sevl reasons it should be well and Duly Inspect- 
 ed I think a Comissr there very necessary and shall be 
 glad of your thoughts about it, which if agreeable to 
 mine, I shall remove one of the Comissr to that place 
 early in the spring." * * * (p. 835 Doc. 
 Hist. N. Y. ) 
 
 Reply of "Gen'l Gage to Sir Wm. Johnson, New York, 
 Jany 25th, 1767." 
 
 Extract. "Michilimakinak seems to be the most 
 material Post we have, and certainly more necessary for 
 a Commissary than any other. 
 
 "Sir Henry Moore shall be acquainted with your 
 desire concerning the Traders being obliged to take 
 passes. 
 
 "It is reported that all the Traders who came this 
 year to Missilimackinac have been permitted to ramble 
 wherever they chose." * * * Tho's. Gage." 
 
 "Sir. Wm. Johnson, Bart. Johnson's Hall. (p. 873 
 Doc. Hist. N. Y.) 
 
 "For the next thirteen years the history of the post 
 appears to have been the usual military routine with the 
 annual gathering and departure of the fur-traders, until 
 the garrison was removted to Michilimackinac Island in 
 1780-8i. 
 
Impoi'tancc of Alichiliniackiiiac. 159 
 
 1780. Michilimackiuac Island and the present Fort 
 Mackinac ("Michilimackinac") 
 
 The following- year, 1764, after the massacre at South 
 Fort Michilimackinac, the French began to move to the 
 island and the present settlement may be said to date 
 from that period. Althoug"h the scene of action, during- 
 the war of 1775-83, was far from the region of the straits 
 of Mackinac the island had its part in that revolution. 
 It was selected on account of its commanding" position, 
 adaptability for defense, with a small force, and strateg-ic 
 importance, and garrisoned. 
 
 From fear of attack by the United States forces, and 
 "as a measure of safety," Major A. S. DePeyester com- 
 manding (South) Fort Michilimackinac, and under 
 instructions, with: "in 1779, a party of British officers 
 passed over from the point of the peninsula to the island 
 of Michilimackinac to reconnoiter, 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; con- 
 sequently the removal w^s not effected until the ensuing- 
 summer. A government house and a few other build- 
 ing's were erected on the site of the present villag-e, and 
 the troops took possession on the 15th of July, 1780. 
 
 "The removal of the innabitants from the main land 
 to the island was gradual, and the fort which was built 
 on the site of the present one, was not completed until 
 1783. 
 
 On the 4th of October, 1779, Major Patrick Sinclair, 
 Lieut. Governor, arrived and assumed command of 
 (South) Michilimackinac, relieving- Major De Peyster, 
 who left, Oct. 15th, on His Majesty's Sloop of War, 
 
 "Welcome," bound for Detroit. 
 
 11 
 
160 History of Mackinac. 
 
 There was, many years, packed away with my old 
 books and papers, the orig-inal parchment deed"^ of the 
 Island of Michilimackinac, from the Indians, in 1781, to 
 King- Georg-e III. It is missing-, and was presented to 
 me through Ronald McLeod of the Astor House, who 
 owned the -Fur Co.'s papers and books. Maj. Sinclair 
 sent to the island, Nov. 6, 1779, the sloop of war " Wel- 
 come," with workmen and the timbers of a house to be 
 erected for them to live in. The government house was 
 erected in the garden, below the present fort, on the 
 level, nearly in front of where the stable now stands. 
 
 February and March, 1780, when the ice was firm, the 
 Catholic church, on the south shore, was taken down, 
 the logs hauled over, and the church re-built on the "old 
 cemetery" lot on Market street, and (old) Church street. 
 A g-overnment wharf was built of log- cribs, filled with 
 stone, in the bay in the front of the present south sally- 
 port. On the 4th of November Lieut. Governor and 
 Commander Sinclair moved over to the island and estab- 
 lished his headquarters. 
 
 During the winter of 1780-81 the sloops "Welcome," 
 "Angelica," "Archangel," and schooner "De Peyster" 
 laid up at the island in the harbor. A block house was 
 completed east of the government house, on the present 
 school lot, and in Januar}- the crews of the vessels were 
 quartered therein. 
 
 During the fall of 1780 the sash, doors and casings and 
 other wood work of many building were sent over in 
 vessels to the island; and in the following winter the 
 logs and timbers taken down were hauled over on the 
 ice. Pine and cedar logs and timbers were also whip- 
 sawed at Pine river, on the north shore, and trans- 
 
 *See p. 162. 
 
Fort Moved to Michilimackinac Island. 161 
 
 ported. When spring- came, the traders pulled down 
 their building-s and rafted them to the island, where 
 the logs were again put up. Their provisions and goods 
 were sent in boats. The entire movement of the troops 
 was not completed until late in the summer of 1781. 
 
 The stone quarters for officers, block houses, maga- 
 zines, and walls of the fort appear to have been con- 
 structed of the hard limestone formation of the Island, 
 quarried near by, with an idea of the security and perma- 
 nency of the British Empire. Wells were dug for water 
 supply, and there was a system for elevating water 
 through lead pipes (bore 1^ inch diameter) from springs 
 at the foot of the hill, west of the fort. Water is now 
 forced up by steam pump from the same source into a 
 reservoir in the second story of the north block house, 
 and from thence distributed about the fort. Water was 
 also conveyed through log piping- to the stores, ware- 
 houses and dwellings of the fur company. Apple, cherry 
 and plum orchards were planted, with currants and 
 g-ooseberries in the gardens. All accounts show that 
 they raised the finest of fruits and veg-etables. Some of 
 the apple trees are there to this day, and can be found 
 at St. Ignace and vicinity, on Bois Blanc, Drummond's 
 and St. Joseph's islands. All of these fruits, and pears, 
 raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and hardy vege- 
 tables grow to perfection in this region. The British 
 continued to improve the fort and strengthen the posi- 
 tion until 1796, when their troops were withdrawn to 
 St. Joseph's Island. The ditches, without the stockade 
 were not then completed and no work has since been 
 done on them. The site, except for barracks, is only 
 tenable in connection with the higher Fort George 
 ("Holmes") plateau. Mackinac's elevations and 
 
162 History of Mackinac. 
 
 strategic positions, collectively, have been declared to be, 
 " by nature, a perfect Gibralter." See p. 170. 
 WHAT A BRITISH COMMANDER THOUGHT. 
 
 Excerpt letter. "R*. McDouall, Lt. Col. Command- 
 ing- Micliilimackinac and Dependencies, 2d May, 1815." 
 Bulg-er Papers, 1815, Wis. Hist. Coll., Vol. XIII, p. 143. 
 
 "My Dear BuIvGEr: — * * * Our neg-ociators * * * 
 have shown themselves profoundly ignorant of the con- 
 cerns of this part of the Empire. I am prostrated with 
 grief at the restoration of this fine island — a fortress 
 built by nature for herself." 
 
 DEED OF MICHILIMACKINAC ISLAND. 
 
 By tl)C$e Presents we the following chiefs Kitchie 
 Negon or Grand Sable, Pouanas, Koupe and Magous- 
 seihigan in behalf of ourselves and all others of our 
 Nation the Chipiwas who have or can lay claim to the 
 herein mentioned Island, as being 
 their representatives and Chiefs, by 
 and with mutual consent do surren- 
 der and yield up into the hands of 
 Lieut. Governor Sinclair for the 
 Behalf and use of His Majesty 
 George the Third of Great Britain, 
 France and Ireland King Defender 
 of the Faith, &c &c &c His Heirs 
 
 Kitchie Negon. 
 
 His mark. Exccutors, Administrators forever 
 
 the Island of Michilimackinac or as 
 it is called by the Canadians La 
 Grosse Isle (situate in the strait which 
 joins the Lakes Huron and Michigan) 
 and we do hereby make for ourselves 
 and our Posterity a renunciation of all 
 claims in future to said Island; We pouanas" 
 
/ 
 
 ^ 
 
 jUcfu ij Micliiliinackinac Island. 163 
 
 als > acknowledge to have received by 
 command of His Excellency Frederick 
 Haldimand Esqr. Governor of the Pro- 
 vince of Quebec, General & Commander 
 in Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in 
 Canada &c &c &c from the said Lieuten- 
 ant Governor Sinclair on his Majesty's 
 Behalf, the sum of Five Thousand 
 Mark of PouANAs Pouuds Ncw York currency being" the 
 
 & Kausse the same i r ^i 
 
 nation but different adequate and compleat value or the 
 
 Chiefs. ^ 
 
 before mentioned Island of Michilimack- 
 inac, and have signed two deeds of 
 this tenor and date in the presence of 
 Mathew Lessey, John McNamara, 
 David Rankin, Henry Bostic, Benja- 
 min Lyons, Etienne Campion, and P. 
 Antoine Tabeau the underwritten wit- 
 nesses, one of which deeds is to remain 
 with the Governor of Canada, and the 
 other to remain at this Post to certify Mark of 
 
 the same, and we promise to preserve magousseigan. 
 
 ^y\ in our Village a belt of wampum 
 
 [ /^ Seven feet in Length to perpet- 
 
 /^ uate secure and be a lasting 
 
 ' "" memorial of the said Transaction 
 
 "VV 
 
 to our Nation forever hereafter, 
 
 and that no defect in Deed from 
 
 Oka. want of Law Forms or any other 
 
 shall invalidate the same. In witness whereof We the 
 
 above mentioned Chiefs do set our Hands & Seals this 
 
 Twelfth day of May in the year of our Lord one thou- 
 
164 History of Mackinac. 
 
 sand seven Hundred and Eig^lity one and in the twent}- 
 First 3'ear of His Majesty's Reig-n. 
 
 [.signed] 
 Mathew IvEssev Benjamin Lyon 
 
 David Rankin Ett Campion 
 
 Henry Bostic P. An. Tabeau 
 
 Patt Sinclair 
 
 Lt. Gov. & Commandant . 
 
 John Mompesson 
 
 Capt. Comg. a Detachment of the King's Regt. 
 
 R. B. Brooke 
 
 Lieutenant Kino's or Eighth Reo-iment. 
 
 John Robert McDonald 
 
 Ensign King's or Eighth Regiment. 
 
 HISTORICAL RESUME AND LIST OF OFFICERS, FRENCH AND 
 
 BRITISH, AT MICHILIMACKINAC. 
 1634. John Nicolet passes through the straits con vo3^ed to Green 
 
 Bay. 
 1665. Nicholas Perrot, interpreter and officer, passes the straits 
 
 to Green Bay. 
 I669. Father Allouez, S. J., in the straits, at St. Martin's Islands, 
 
 St. Ig-nace, and Michilimackinac Island bound for Green 
 
 Bay. 
 1669-71. Father Dablon, S. J., at Michilimackinac Island. 
 1669-71. Father Jaques Marquette, S. J., at Michilimackinac 
 Island. 
 
 1671. Mission at St. Ignace du Michilimackinac founded hy 
 Marquette by direction of Dablon. 
 
 1672. Dec. 1, Joliet arrived at St. Ignace. 
 
 1673. Marquette and Joliet start on their voyage of discovery. 
 1679. Robert Cavelier de La Salle, with Henry DeTonty, Du 
 
 Lhut and Father Hennepin arrive, Aug. 27, at St. Ignace, 
 
 on the "Griffon," and spend some days. 
 1680-81. Du Ivhut winters at St. Ignace.. 
 1681. M. de Villeraye commanding Michilimackinac. 
 1684. M. de la Durantaye commanding Michilimackinac. 
 1684. M. de la Valtrie acting commander of Michilimackinac, 
 
 while Du Lhut and Perrot, with Ottawas, are in I^a 
 
 Barre's campaign against the Iroquois. 
 
List of French and Bfitish Officers. 165 
 
 1685. M. de la Durantaj'e commanding Michilimackinac and 
 
 dependencies. 
 1688. Baron La Hontan at Michilimackinac. 
 1690. M. de la Pore lyouvignv commanding- Michilimackinac 
 
 and dependencies. 
 
 1694. M. de la Motte Cadillac commanding- Michilimackinac and 
 dependencies. 
 
 1695. Cadillac advises an expedition ag-ainst the Iroquois that 
 takes the field, and many prisoners are brought back by 
 the Michilimackinac Indians. Frontenac orders nine 
 posts, among them Green Bay and Sault Ste.' Marie, 
 placed .subject to the command of Cadillac. A treatj' of 
 peace made by Le Baron, a Huron chief, -with the Iroquois. 
 Thirty Iroquois scalps brought to Michilimackinac, and 
 thirty-two prisoners, by the Potawatomies and other 
 Algonquin Indians. 
 
 1701. Cadillac leaves Michilimackinac (St. Ignace) to found 
 Detroit and Fort Pontchartrain, taking many Indians 
 with him. Perrot and Father Enjalron at Michilimacki- 
 nac. 
 
 1702-3. The Hurons and more Ottawas go to Detroit. 
 
 1705. The Jesuits burn their church at St. Ignace and move, 
 with most of the French, to Quebec. 
 
 1712. Fort Michilimackinac regarrisoned by M. de Louvigny 
 and command. 
 
 1721. Father Charlevoix visits Michilimackinac. 
 
 1728. M. de Lignery's expedition from South Michilimackinac. 
 
 1730. M. de Buisson comd'g (South) Michilimackinac. 
 
 1743. M. de Blainville, Commandant, Michilimackinac. 
 
 1744. M. de Vivchevet, Commandant, Michilimackinac. 
 
 1745. Louis de la Corne, Capt. and King's Commandant, Michi- 
 limackinac. 
 
 1747. M. de Noyelle. jr.. Commandant, Michilimackinac. 
 
 1748. M. Jacques Legardeur St. Pierre, Commandant, Michili- 
 mackinac. 
 
 -1750. M. Duplessis Faber, Capt. and King's Commandant, 
 Michilimackinac. 
 
 1753-54. M. Beaujeu de Villemonde, Capt. and King's Com- 
 mandant, Michilimackinac. 
 
 1754-55. Mons Herbin, Capt. and King's Commandant, Michili- 
 mackinac. 
 
 1758-60. M. Beaujeu de Villemonde, Capt. and King's Com- 
 mandant. Michilimackinac. 
 
Michilitnackinac Under the United States. 167 
 
 1761. Capt. Belfour, 80th Regt., comd'g Michilimackinac. 
 
 1761. Oct. 21st, L/ieut. Leslie, 60th Royal Amer., comd'g Michi- 
 litnackinac. 
 
 1763, Geo. Etherington, Capt. 60th Royal Amer., comd'g Michi- 
 limackinac. 
 
 1763. Massacre at Michilitnackinac (now "Mackinaw South 
 Shore "), June 4th. 
 
 1764. Capt. Howard, comd'g Michilimackinac. 
 
 1774-79. A. S. de Peyster, Major, comd'g Michilitnackinac and 
 dependencies. 
 
 1779-82. Patrick Sinclair, Major, comd'g Michilimackinac and 
 dependencies. 
 
 July I5th, 1780, Major Sinclair transferred part of his 
 troops to Michilimackinac (" Mackinac ") Island and there 
 established the 3d Fort Michilimackinac; and, Nov. 4th, 
 following, Sinclair himself removed to the island perma- 
 nently. 
 
 1781. John Mompesson, Capt. comd'g detachment of King's 
 Reg't; R. B. Brooks, Lieut. King's or 8th Reg't; John 
 Robert McDonall, Ensign King's or 8th Reg't. 
 
 1782-87. Daniel Robertson, Capt., comd'g Michilimackinac and 
 dependencies to May 10th, 1787. 
 
 1791-96. Edward Charleton, Capt. 5th Regt. Foot, comd'g Mich- 
 ilimackinac. 
 
 1796. Occupation of Michilimackinac Island by the troops of the 
 United States. 
 
 MICHILIMACKINAC UNDER THE UNITED STATES. 
 At the close of 1775-83 the independence of the United 
 States of America was acknowledged by Great Britain 
 and by the terms of the Treaty of Paris, September 3, 
 1783, the post of Michilimackinac ("Mackinac"), with 
 others on the lakes, became a part of the Republic. On 
 various pretexts the British retained possession of this 
 and other forts until after the treaty promulg-ated on the 
 29th of February, 1796, in which it was stipulated that 
 all British troops should be withdrawn from posts within 
 the boundaries b}^ June 1, 1796. By a treaty between 
 the United States and the Potawatomies, Chippewas, 
 
168 History of Mackinac. 
 
 Ottawas, Shawnees, Delawares and other Indian tribes, 
 at Greeville, Ohio, Aug-ust 3, 1795, the Indians ceded the 
 fort of Michilimackinac and Island, with the adjacent 
 main land, wherever the title of the Indians had been 
 exting-uished by g-rants and g-ifts to the French and 
 English g-overnments, and a piece of land north of Mich- 
 ilimackinac Island, on the main shore, to measure six 
 miles along- the strait between Lakes Huron and Michi- 
 g-an, extending- three miles back from the water. The 
 Chippewas also included Bois Blanc Island as a volun- 
 tary g-ift. 
 
 1796. The first United States troops to occupy Fort 
 Michilimackinac, on the island, was the command of 
 Major Henry Burbeck, who, with one company of Artil- 
 lerists and Engineers, and a company of the 1st Infantry 
 and three officers arrived in October, 1796, and took pos- 
 session. In 1802, Rev. David Bacon, Presbyterian, who 
 had been for two years a missionary at Detroit, sent by 
 the Connecticut Board of Missions, was assigned to 
 Mackinac Island to preach and teach. He was the first 
 Protestant clergyman to the island, but was re-called in 
 August, 1804. Until 1812 matters appear to have been 
 conducted without disturbance, the only excitement 
 being the business of the Fur Company, and the annual 
 arrival and departure of the "Brigade Commanders,'' 
 with their men, boats and outfits, to the various .trapping 
 and trading stations. 
 
 LIST OF UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICERS STATIONED AT FORT 
 MICHILIMACKINAC FROM 1790 TO 1812, A. D. 
 
 Henry Burbeck, Major, Artillerists and Engineers, 1796. 
 Ebenezer Massay, Lieut., Artillerists and Eng-ineers, 1796. 
 Abner Prior, Captain. 1st Infantry, 1796. 
 John Michael, Lieut., 1st Infantry, 1796. 
 
War of i8i2-ij. 169 
 
 John Wiley, 1st L,ieut., Artillerists and Engineers, 1800. 
 , Thomas Hunt, Major, 1st Artillerists and Engineers, 1802. 
 Josiah Dunham, Capt., Artillerists and Engineers, 1802. 
 Francis LeBarron, Surgeon's Mate, 1802. 
 Jacob Kingsbury, Lieut. Colonel, 1st Infantry, 1804. 
 Jonathan Eastman, 1st Lieutenant, Artillerists, 1807. 
 Lewis Howard, Captain, Artillerists, 1808. Died January 13, 
 
 1811. 
 Porter Hanks, 1st Lieutenant, Artillerists, 1808. 
 Archibald Darragh, 2d Lieutenant, Artillerists, 1808. 
 Sylvester Day, Garrison Surgeon's Mate, 1810. 
 
 BRITISH OFFICERS 1812-14-1:^. 
 
 1812, July 17. Charles Roberts, Capt., comd'g. 
 1814. Robert McDouall, Lt. Col., comd'g Michilimackinac and 
 dependencies. Dr. Mitchell, Surgeon B. Army. 
 
 WAR OF 1812-1:;. 
 
 June 19, 1812, in accordance with declarative Act of 
 Congress, President Madison proclaimed war with Great 
 Britain. 
 
 During- that war the British g-enerall}^ g-ot the worst 
 of it on the sea, and the United States on the land, until 
 the final battle of New Orleans (foug-ht January 8th, 
 1815, after peace had been concluded) when the British 
 forces were defeated. Without noting what occurred 
 elsewhere we shall confine ourselves to the operations at 
 Mackinac Island and vicinity. 
 
 In the spring" of 1812 Fort Mackinac was all within 
 the inner intersecting- lines of the three block-houses and 
 the slope in front very much as it is now; there were no 
 buildingfs without the lines. The only approaches were 
 through the south and north arched sally-ports, each 
 provided with a portcullis, that could be instantly 
 dropped. They were, both, additionally secured by 
 g-ates, double planked, that could be closed at any time 
 during" the night or day. Strong", squared, cedar "pal- 
 
170 History of Mackinac. 
 
 isades" pickets, were set vertically on the walls and in 
 the ground intersecting- the inner lines of the block- 
 houses. They were about 10 feet high, pointed at the 
 top, pierced at intervals, by two rows of loop-holes (one- 
 half on two adjoining" pickets) for musketry, ang-led 
 from within outwards so that the fire could be delivered, 
 standing or kneeling- at the enemy in any direction 
 Near the block-houses strong, three-pronged, sharp, iron 
 spikes, were set in the apexes of the pickets and like 
 spikes and pointed hooks wherever the ground approaches 
 seemed to favor scaling parties. The block-houses were 
 armed with iron carronades that protected the picket 
 walls of the fort and iron g-uns were planted at conven- 
 ient places so as to rake the hill-sides and other 
 approaches. 
 
 Lieut. Hanks commanding Fort Mackinac and the 
 people of the island generally, had reason to expect a 
 declaration of war and measures for safety were taken. 
 The British commander at St. Joseph's Island, Capt. 
 Charles Roberts, 10th Royal Veteran Battalion, g-ot the 
 first notification. It is believed it reached Roberts 
 through the agents of the fur companies, as the traders 
 of the Mackinac company were mostly English, and 
 both companies were unfriendl}^ to the United States. 
 He was advised in the message from General Brock, his 
 superior, to attack the fort of Michilimackinac at once, 
 as the best means of preserving his own position. Capt. 
 Roberts received the message July 15th. On the morn- 
 ing of the 16th he embarked for Michilimackinac, on the 
 N. W. Fur Co 's ship, "Caledonia," with two iron six 
 pounders, ten batteaux and seventy canoes. His force 
 consisted of 42 regulars and 4 officers, 260 Canadians, 
 572 Chippewas and Ottawas, 56 Sioux. 48 Winnebagoes, 
 
Siu'7'ender of Michilimackinac. 171 
 
 and 39 Menomonies, being- 306 white men and 718 
 Indians, all told 1021. 
 
 At 3 o'clock A. M., July l7th, they arrived at the north- 
 west bay, facing- St. Ig-nace, and began to debark. The 
 Canadians attached ropes to the g-uns and hauled one of 
 them to the top of the hill commanding- the fort. The 
 other g-un was broug-ht over in the same way and planted 
 in the rear of the fort, just before daybreak. At 11:30 
 A. M. an officer with a flag- of truce, approached and 
 demanded the surrender of the fort. The official report 
 of Lieut. Hanks will g-ive the cause and reasons. 
 
 Copy of the official report of Lieut. Porter Hanks, to 
 General Hull, announcing- the surrender of Fort Michili- 
 mackinac, July 17th, 1812, "to his Britannic Majesty's 
 
 forces:" 
 
 "Detroit, August 12th, 1812. 
 
 " Sir — I take the earliest opportunity to acquaint Your Excel- 
 lency of the surrender of the garrison of Michilimackinac, under 
 my command, to his Britannic Majesty's forces under the com- 
 mand of Captain Charles Roberts, on the I7th ultimo, the partic- 
 ulars of which are as follows: On the 16th, I was informed by 
 the Indian interpreter that he had discovered from an Indian 
 that the several nations of Indians then at St. Joseph (a British 
 garrison, distant about forty miles ) intended to make an immedi- 
 ate attack on Michilimackinac. 
 
 " I vv^as inclined, from the coolness I had discovered in some of 
 the principal chiefs of the Ottawa and Chippewa nations, who 
 had but a few days before professed the greatest friendship for 
 the United States, to place confidence in this report. 
 
 "I immediately called a meeting of the American gentlemen 
 at that time on the island, in which it was thought proper to 
 dispatch a confidential person to St. Joseph to watch the motions 
 of the Indians. 
 
 "Captain Michael Dousman, of the militia, was thought the 
 mc^t suitable for this service. He embarked about sunset, and 
 met the British forces within tenor fifteen miles of the island, 
 by whom he was made prisoner and put on his parole of honor. 
 He was landed on the island at daybreak, with positive direc- 
 
172 ' History of Mackinac. 
 
 tions to give me no intellig-ence whatever. He was also 
 instructed to take the inhabitants of the village, indiscrimin- 
 ately, to a place on the west side of the island where their 
 persons and property should be protected by a British gua.rd, but 
 should they go to the Fort, they would be subject to a general 
 massacre by the savages, which would be inevitable if the garri. 
 son fired a gun. This information I received from Dr. Day, who 
 was passing through the village when every person was flying 
 for refuge to the enemy. I immediately, on being informed of 
 the approach of the enemy, placed ammunition, etc., in the Block 
 houses; ordered every gun charged, and made every preparation 
 for action. About 9 o'clock I could discover that the enemy were 
 in possession of the heights that commanded the Fort, and one 
 piece of their artillery directed to the most defenseless part of 
 the garrison. The Indians at this time were to be seen in great 
 numbers in the edge of the woods. 
 
 "At half past 11 o'clock the enemy sent in a flag of truce, 
 demanding a surrender of the Fort and island to his Britannic 
 Majesty's forces. This, Sir, was the first intimation I had of 
 the declaration of war; I, however, had anticipated it, and was 
 as well prepared to meet such an event as I possibly could have 
 been with the force under my command, amounting to 57 efi^ec- 
 ive men, including officers. Three American gentlemen, who 
 were prisoners, were permitted to accompany the flag: from 
 them I ascertained the strength of the enemy to be from nine 
 hundred to one thousand strong, consisting of regular troops, 
 Canadians and savages; that thej' had two pieces of artillery, 
 and were provided with ladders and ropes for the purpose of 
 scaling the works, if necessary. After I had obtained this 
 information, I consulted my officers, and also the American gen- 
 tlemen present, who were very intelligent men; the result of 
 which was, that it was impossible for the garrison to hold out 
 against such a superior force. In this opinion I fully concurred, 
 from the conviction that it was the only measure that could 
 prevent a general massacre. The Fort and garrison were 
 accordingly surrendered. 
 
 "The enclosed papers exhibit copies of the correspondence 
 between the officer commanding the British forces and myself 
 and of the articles of capitulation. This subject involved ques- 
 tions of a peculiar nature; and I hope. Sir, that iny demands and 
 protests will meet the approbation of my government. I cannot 
 allow this opportunity to escape without expressing my obliga- 
 
Surrender of Michilimackiiiac. 173 
 
 tion to Doctor Sylvester Day, for the service he rendered me in 
 'Conducting' this correspondence. 
 
 "In consequence of this unfortunate affair, I beg leave, Sir, to 
 demand that a Court of Inquiry may be ordered to investigate 
 all the facts connected with it; and I do further request, that the 
 court may be specially directed to express their opinion on the 
 merits of the case. 
 
 " I have the honor. Sir, 
 
 ****** 
 "PORTER HANKS, 
 
 '''■Lieutenant of Artillery. 
 " His Exellency General Hull, 
 
 '■'■ Conimanding the N . W. Ariny.'' 
 P. S. "" * " It may be also remarked that one hundred and 
 fifty Chippewas and Ottawas joined the British forces two days 
 after the capitulation. P. H." 
 
 CAPITULATION. 
 
 By the terms of that instrument, agreement between 
 Captain Charles Roberts, commanding- his Britannic 
 Majest3''s forces, and Lieut. Porter Hanks, commanding 
 those of the United States of America, the fort and 
 island were to be surrendered and the troops allowed to 
 march out with the honors of war, and then deliver 
 their arms. They were to be sent to United States 
 stations as paroled prisoners of war, on their honor, not 
 to light until exchanged. All private propert}^ of in- 
 dividuals was to be respected and the vessels in the 
 harbor, with their cargoes. All citizens of the United 
 States who refused to take the oath of allegiance to the 
 British King were allowed to leave the island within 
 one month from the date of the surrender. 
 
 Lieut. Hanks had but fifty-seven effective men and 
 five sick men and a drummer boy. Taking into con- 
 sideration the odds against him and the fact that he did 
 not know that war existed, or had been declared, also 
 the unfriendly disposition of the Fur Companies, coup- 
 led with the temper of the Indians, whom the Fur 
 
174 History of Mackinac. 
 
 Companies influenced and larg-ely controlled, resistance 
 would have been hopeless and fatal. 
 
 The other officers besides Lieut. Hanks surrendered 
 and paroled, were 2d Lieut. Archibald Darrah and Dr. 
 Sylvester Day, Garrison Surg-eon's Mate. Dr. Day had 
 quarters without the fort, in the villag-e, in a house on 
 Market street, at the head of "Old" Church street; the 
 lot now belong-s to the Donnelly estate. Capt. Michael 
 Dousman, whom Lieut. Hanks dispatched to watch the 
 motions of the Indians, and was captured by Roberts, 
 was an ag-ent of the South West Fur Company, of which 
 John Jacob Astor was president. Mr. Dousman had in 
 the winter sent Wm. Aikins and John Drew to trade 
 and purchase furs of the Lake Superior Indians. He 
 heard they had returned to Sault Ste. Marie, and judg-ed 
 from the actions of the Mackinac Indians, there was 
 cause for their nonappearance at the island. When 
 Mr. Dousman returned to the island he called at the 
 house of Mr. Ambrose Davenport and notified him, next 
 on Dr. Day, and in turn, the citizens. Dr. Day 
 went immediately to the fort. The people all gathered 
 at the "Distillery," for refug-e, where the British, after 
 landing-, placed a g-uard. The "Distillery" was near 
 the Indian cemetery, under the bluff to the west of the 
 villag-e. The three g-entlemen, prisoners, referred to by 
 Lieut. Hanks, and who accompanied the flag- of truce, 
 were John Dousman, Samuel Abbott and Ambrose R. 
 Davenport. 
 
 At that time the villag-e was small and compact. 
 The houses were one-story log- structures roofed with 
 bark, except the two-storied (Dr. Mitchell) residence* 
 with mansard roof, now 1895 standing, on Market street. 
 There were, in the harbor, nine small vessels, each with 
 
 *Demolished in 1897. 
 
Surrender of Michilimackinac. 175 
 
 an averag"e crew of five or six men. Two other vessels 
 arrived after the surrender, loaded with furs. All the 
 building- lots, g^ardens and g-overnment inclosure were 
 fenced, for protection, by high cedar pickets, firmly set 
 in the ground, that gave the town a weird and foreign 
 aspect. Many stumps of pickets can be traced, on divid- 
 ing- lines, to this day, and some shortened on&s are still 
 standing. 
 
 After the surrender the citizens were assembled at the 
 g-overnment house to have the oath of alleg-iance to the 
 British Crown administered, which most of them 
 willingly took. Messrs. Samuel Abbott, Stone, Bost- 
 wick, Davenport and Dousman brothers, refusing to 
 subscribe to the oath, were sent away with the soldiers. 
 Michael Dousman was allowed to remain neutral. 
 
 BRITISH OCCUPATION OF THE CAPTURED FORT MICHILIMACK- 
 INAC AND ISLAND. 
 
 The British troops held the fort and island until the 
 summer of 1815, after the close of the war. They con- 
 structed, armed, and equipped the strong earthwork and 
 out-works on the "Heights above Michilimackinac," 
 which they named "Fort George," in compliment to 
 their king. The citizens of the island were compelled 
 to assist in building that redoubt. In the center of the 
 oblong, within, a pit was excavated, over which was 
 erected a square block- house and magazine made of 
 cedar logs hewed. There were two bomb-proof look- 
 outs in advance, right and left of the gateway, connect- 
 ed with the fort by covered, underground ways. In 
 advance of these, on the edge of the hill, each facing 
 southward and westward, gun platforms, mounted with 
 iron cannon, that covered the lower fort, and raked all 
 the approaches. The face of the earthwork within the 
 
176 Histoiy of Mackinac. 
 
 moat was set with three rows, interlaced, of sharpened, 
 pointed cedar stakes, inclined in as many angles, so 
 arrang-ed as to render it about impossible tor an enemy 
 to g-et to the top of the parapet alive. There were iron 
 
 BLOCK HOUSR. njRECTRT) 17S0. SHOWING PALISADES. 
 
 g"uns mounted within the fort; the slope without the 
 ditch was cleared of all obstructions, and the trees on 
 the plateau below felled. The plateau in rear of 
 the earthwork was also cleared and used as a drill and 
 parade g-round. 
 
 1814. A FLEET SAILS TO MICHILIMACKINAC. 
 
 Althoug-h the British had captured the island key of 
 the straits, without bloodshed, they were in constant 
 fear of attack from the land and naval forces of the 
 United States. 
 
 After the memorable naval battle near the head of 
 
A Fleet Sails to Michilimackinac. 177 
 
 Lake Erie between Perrj and Barclay, Sept. 10th, 1813, 
 where the entire British fleet of six vessels was cap- 
 tured, or destroyed, the tide had turned and the chances 
 of invasion were imminent. 
 
 April, 1814, an expedition was proposed to capture 
 Michilimackinac and destroy certain vessels ; the enemy 
 were said to be constructing-, at Gloucester, on Matcha- 
 dash Bay, southeastern extremity of Lake Huron. In 
 accordance with orders issued June 2d, following-, a fleet 
 of vessels was fitted out consisting- of U. S. sloops of 
 war, " Niag-ara" and "Lawrence," each twenty g-uns, 
 and the smaller schooners, "Tig-ress," "Detroit," "Cale- 
 donia," "Scorpion," and others, Capt. Sinclair (com- 
 modore), on board, with a land force of seven hundred 
 and fifty officers and men. Lieut. Col. Crog-han,- com- 
 manding-. Ambrose R. Davenport, of Mackinac Island, 
 was quartermaster and g-uide. 
 
 They sailed July 3d, and entered Lake Huron the 12th 
 instant, and made for the entrance of Matchadash Bay. 
 It was the larg-est and strong-est fleet that had ever 
 ridden the waters of the lake. Continuous fog's delayed 
 them, and, not having- a pilot, the many shoals and 
 reefs at the inlet of the bay threatened sore destruction. 
 It takes an expert sailor, with the best modern charts, 
 to enter Georg-ian Bay in good, clear weather. 
 
 Deeming- the entrance unsafe the squadron sailed for 
 the head of the lake. Then it was decided to leave part 
 of the fleet to cruise about the island, and with the rest 
 of them to g-o to St. Joseph's, and destroy that fort 
 before g-oing- to Michilimackinac. If they had assailed 
 the Island first, it is thoug-ht, it mig-ht have been taken 
 (as it occurred in 1812), without firing- a shot, as the 
 enemy had only one small company in the fort. The 
 
178 History of Mackinac. 
 
 delay allowed the British time to fortify and secure 
 Canadian and Indian allies, which led to the subsequent 
 defeat of the United States invading- forces. Col. Cro- 
 g-han arrived, with the detached expedition, at St. 
 Joseph's Island, July 20th, and burned the fort but left 
 the town and N W. Fur Co.'s warehouses intact. 
 Whilst there, wind bound, he captured that company's 
 schooner, "Mink," bound up from Mackinac Island to 
 Sault Ste, Marie loaded with flour. From parties on 
 the "Mink " he learned the iiour was to be transported 
 to Fort Williams, by the schooner Perseverence then 
 waiting- above the falls. 
 
 Lieut. Turner, with a naval party, was dispatched to 
 capture the schooner, and, if possible, to get her below 
 the falls. Maj. Holmes, with regulars, was in com- 
 mand, intending to get possession of the fort of Sault 
 Ste. Marie and destroy it. 
 
 Lieutenant Turner's report to Commodore Sinclair 
 relates what was accomplished: 
 
 " U. S. Schooner " Scorpion," off Michilimackinac, 
 July 28th, 1814. 
 
 " Sir: I have the honor to inform you, that agreeable to your 
 orders of the 22nd instant, I proceeded on the expedition to Lake 
 Superior with the launches. I rowed night and day; but having 
 a distance of sixty miles, against a strong current, information 
 had reached the enemy at St. Mary's of our approach about two 
 hours before I arrived at that place, carried by Indians in their 
 light canoes; several of whom I chased, and by firing on them, 
 killed some and prevented their purposes; some I captured and 
 kept prisoners until my arrival, others escaped. The force under 
 Major Holmes prevented anything like resistance at the fort, the 
 enemy with their Indians, carrying with them all the light valu- 
 able articles, peltry, clothes, etc. I proceeded across the strait of 
 Lake Superior without a moment's delay; and on my appear- 
 ance, the enemy, finding they could not get off 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 
 
Capture of the Schooner Perseverance. 179 
 
 exertions exting-uished 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 effort was used, but I am sorry to say with- 
 out success, to get her over in safety. The fall in three-quar- 
 ters 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 rapidly that we succeeded in 
 running her on shore below the rapids before she filled, and 
 burned her. She was a fine new schooner, upwards of one hun- 
 dred 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 advantage 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 thou- 
 sand dollars. All private property was, according to your orders, 
 respected. The officers and men under my command behaved 
 with great activity and zeal, particularly Midshipman Swart- 
 wout. 
 
 "I have the honor to be. sir, with great respect, your obedient 
 servant, Daniel Turner." 
 
 After Holmes and Turner returned from St. Mary's 
 Falls, with the launches, to St. Joseph's Island, the 
 squadron sailed for Michilimackinac, arriving- July 26th. 
 Since their first appearance off Bois Blanc Island, Ivieut. 
 Colonel Robert McDouall, (Gleng-arry Lig"ht Infantry, 
 Fencibles), commanding-, had time to plant cannon at 
 assailable points, muster Canadian and Indian allies, and 
 prepare for defense. Guns were planted to command all 
 water approaches, the heig-hts, the elevation above the 
 distillery, on the hill west of the fort and convenient 
 places east to Robinson's Folly. 
 
 The fleet came to anchor at the foot of Round Island. 
 They were at once oblig-ed to move towards Bois Blanc 
 Island to avoid the rang-e of the enemy's g-uns, that 
 
180 History of Mackinac. 
 
 opened fire, and rendered their position untenable. 
 Then Col. Croghan sent a force in launches to Round 
 Island (Mr. Ambrose Davenport as guide), to recon- 
 noiter, with the view of establishing- a battery on the 
 water front opposite the fort. A site above the " lime- 
 kiln " was selected, facing the village, and the party 
 leisurely returned through the woods and clearings, 
 picking raspberries by the way. The British, on the 
 alert, discovered them and sent a large party of savages 
 over in two or three hundred canoes and several bat- 
 teaux, who soon reached the island. They pursued the 
 stragglers to their boats and captured one Frenchman. 
 One of the launches struck a rock, just below the water 
 level, and swung around as if on a pivot within reach of 
 the enemy's guns. The savages opened fire and the 
 boat returned the compliment, but no damage was done. 
 The officer in charge ordered the men to cease firing and 
 push off the boat, which was soon done, and they 
 returned to the fleet. Sinclair directed a small, one-gun, 
 vessel to sail up through the Round Island channel to 
 head of the Indians and re-take the prisoner if possible. 
 Whenever the boat, in tacking, neared the shore she was 
 fired on by the savages, who swarmed on the beach. 
 The fire was returned from the boat with gun and 
 small arms. No one was injured but nothing was 
 accomplished, as the wind was against them. 
 
 As the Indians were returning by the Mackinac chan- 
 nel, the "Lawrence," anchored west of the island, fired 
 a shot at them without effect. They plied their paddles, 
 chanting the death-dirge, intending to roast their vic- 
 tim and feast on him. When they landed, Colonel 
 McDouall sent a strong guard, who took the prisoner 
 and conveyed him to the fort. 
 
182 History of Mackinac. 
 
 When the "Lawrence" was cruising-, the day after, a 
 dense fog- came on. As it lifted, later that day, the 
 vessel had drifted near the southwest end of the island, 
 with little wind, and in range of the enemy's guns; she 
 was fired on from the west-end battery without effect. 
 One shot was returned by the " Lawrence," but her guns 
 could not be elevated enough to strike the fort. After 
 this, unfavorable weather prevented operations several 
 days. 
 
 Finding- the place could not be carried by assault from 
 the front, or east and west sides of the island. Colonel 
 Crog-han and Sinclair determined to effect a landing in 
 the northwest bay, where Roberts debarked two years 
 before, and make a lodgment from which they could 
 annoy and finally starve out the enemy. That plan 
 they attempted to execute, August 4th, and the result is 
 shown in the following- reports: 
 
 " Official report of Lieut. Col. George Croghan of the Battle oj 
 Mic/iilimacfiinac Island. 
 
 "U. S. S. War, 'Niagara,' Off Thunder Bay, \ 
 "■August gth, 1 814. S 
 
 "Sir— We left Fort Gratiot (head of the Straits St. Clair) on 
 the 12th ult., and imagined that we should arrive in a few days 
 at Matshadash Bay. At the end of the week, however, the Com- 
 modore, from the want of pilots acquainted with that unfre- 
 quented part of the lake, despaired of being- able to find a 
 passag-e through the island into the bay, and made for St. 
 Josephs, where we anchored on the 20th day of July. After 
 setting fire to the Fort of St. Josephs, which seemed not to have 
 been recently occupied, a detachment of infantry and artillery, 
 under Major Holmes, was ordered to Sault St. Mary's for the 
 purpose of breaking up the enemy's establishment at that place. 
 
 " For particulars relative to the execution of this order, I beg 
 leave to refer you to Major Holmes' report, herewith enclosed. 
 Finding on my arrival at Michilimackinac, on the 26th ult., that 
 the enemy had strongly fortified the height overlooking the old 
 Fort of Mackinac, I at once despaired of being able with my 
 
Battle of Michilimackinac Island. 183 
 
 small force, to carry the place by storm, and determined (as the 
 only course remaining) on landing and establishing myself on 
 some favorable position, whence I could be enabled to annoy the 
 enemy by gradual and slow approaches, under cover of my artil- 
 lery, in which I should have the superiority in point of metal. 1 
 was urged to this step by another reason, not a little cogent; 
 could a position be taken and fortified on the island, I was well 
 aware that it would either induce the enemy to attack me in my 
 strongholds, or force his Indians and Canadians (the most effi- 
 cient and only disposable force) ofiF the island, as they would be 
 very unwilling to remain in my neighborhood after a permanent 
 footing had been taken. 
 
 " On inquiry, I learned from individuals who had lived many 
 years on the Island, that a position desirable as I might wish 
 could be found on the west end, and therefore made arrange- 
 ments for disembarking. A landing was effected on the 4th 
 inst., under cover of the guns of the shipping, and the line being 
 quickly formed, had advanced to the edge of the field, spoken of 
 for a camp, when the intelligence was conveyed to me that the 
 enemy was ahead, and a few seconds more brought us a fire from 
 his battery of four pieces firing shot and shells. After recon- 
 noitering his position, which was well selected, his line reached 
 along the edge of the woods, at the further extremity of the field 
 and covered by a temporary breast work; I determined on 
 changing my position (which was now two lines, the militia 
 forming the front), by advancing Major Holmes' battalion of 
 regulars on the right of the militia, thus to outflank him, and by 
 a vigorous effort to gain his rear. The movement was immedi- 
 ately ordered, but before it could be executed, a fire was opened 
 by some Indians posted in a thick wood near our right, which 
 proved fatal to Major Holmes and severely wounded Captain 
 Desha (the next officer in rank). This unlucky fire, by depriving 
 us of the services of our most valuable officers, threw that part 
 of the line into confusion from which the best exertions of the 
 officers were not able to recover it. Finding it impossible to 
 gain the enemy's left, owing to the impenetrable thickness of 
 the woods, a charge was ordered to be mads by the regulars 
 immediately against the front. This charge although made in 
 some confusion, served to drive the enemy back into the woods, 
 from whence an annoying fire was kept up by the Indians. 
 
 *' Lieut. Morgan was ordered up with a light piece to assist the 
 left, now particularly galled; the excellent practice of this 
 brought the enemy to fire at a longer distance. Discovering that 
 
184 History of Mackinac. 
 
 this disposition from whence the enemy had just been driven 
 (and which had been represented to me as so high and command- 
 ing), was by no means tenable, from being interspersed with 
 thickets, and intersected in every way by ravines, I determined 
 no longer to expose my force to the fire of an enemy deriving 
 every advantage which could be obtained from numbers and a 
 knowledge of the position, and therefore ordered an immediate 
 retreat towards the shipping. This affair, which cost us many 
 valuable lives, leaves us to lament the fall of that gallant officer. 
 Major Holmes, whose character is so well known to the war 
 department. Captain Van Home, of the 19th Infantry and 
 Lieut. Jackson of the 24th Infantry, both brave intrepid young 
 men fell mortally wounded at the head of their respective com- 
 mands. 
 
 " The conduct of all my officers on this occasion merits my 
 approbation. Captain Desha, of the 24th Infantry, although 
 wounded, continued with his command until forced to retire from 
 faintness through loss of blood. Captains Saunders, Hawkins 
 and Sturges, with every subaltern of the battalion, acted in the 
 most exemplary manner. Ensign Bryan, 2nd Rifle Regiment, 
 acting Adjutant to the battalion, actively forwarded the wishes 
 of the commanding officer. Lieuts. Hickman, 28th Infantry, and 
 Hyde of the U. S. Marines, who commanded the reserve, claim 
 my particular thanks for their activity in keeping that command 
 in readiness to meet any exigency. I have before mentioned 
 Lieut. Morgan's activity; his two assistants, Lieut. Pickett and 
 Mr. Peters, conductor of artillery, also merit the name of good 
 officers. 
 
 "The militia were wanting in no part of their duty. Col. Cot- 
 greave, his officers and soldiers, deserve the warmest approba- 
 tion. My acting assistant Adjutant General Captain N. H. 
 Moore, 28th Infantry, with volunteer Adjutant McComb, were 
 prompt in delivering my orders. 
 
 "Captain Gratiot of the engineers, who volunteered his ser- 
 vices on this occasion, gave me valuable assistance. On the 
 morning of the 5th, I sent a flag to the enemy, to enquire into 
 the state of the wounded (two in number), who were left on the 
 field, and to request permission to bring away the body of Major 
 Holmes, which was also left, owing to the unpardonable neglect 
 of the soldiers in whose hands it was placed. I am happy in 
 assuring you that the body of Major Holmes is secured, and will 
 be buried at Detroit with becoming honors. I shall discharge 
 
Battle of Michiliniackinac Island. 185 
 
 the militia to-morrow, and will send them down, together with 
 two regular companies to Detroit. 
 
 "With the remaining three companies I shall attempt to 
 destroy the enemy's establishment in the head of Jfaw-taw-wa- 
 sa-ga River, and if it be thought proper, erect a post at the mouth 
 of that river. 
 
 "Very respectfully, I have the honor to remain, sir, your 
 obedient servant, 
 
 "G. CROGHAN, 
 
 Lieui.-Col. 2nd Riflemen. 
 " To Hon. J. Armstrong, 
 
 Secretary of War.''' 
 
 Naval Report, Battle of Michiliraackinac Island, by 
 Captain Sinclair: 
 
 "United States Stoop of War 'Niagara,' 
 
 Off Thunder Bay, August 9th, 1814. 
 " Sir— I arrived oflf Michilimackinac on the 26th of July; but 
 owing to a tedious spell of bad weather, which prevented our 
 reconnoitering, or being able to procure a prisoner who could 
 give us information of the enemy's Indian force, which, from 
 several little skirmishes we had on an adjacent island, appeared 
 to be very great, we did not attempt a landing until the 4th inst., 
 and it was then made more with a view to ascertain positively 
 the enemy's strength than with any possible hope of success; 
 knowing, at the same time, that I could effectually cover their 
 landing and retreat to the ships, from the position I had taken 
 within 300 yards of the beach. Col. Croghan would never have 
 landed, even with his protection, being positive, as he was, that 
 the Indian force alone on the island, with the advantages they 
 had, were superior to him, could he have justified himself to his 
 government, without having stronger proof than appearances, 
 that he could not effect the object in view. Mackinac is, by 
 nature, a perfect Gibraltar, being a high inaccessible rock on 
 every side, except the west, from which to the hights, you have 
 near two miles to pass through a wood, so thick that our men 
 were shot in every direction, and within a few yards of them, 
 without being able to see the Indians who did it; and a height 
 was scarcely gained before there was another within 50 or 100 
 yards commanding it, where breastworks were erected and can- 
 non opened on them. Several of those were charged and the 
 
186 History of Mackinac. 
 
 enemy driven from them; but it was soon found the further our 
 troops advanced the stronger the enemy became, and the weaker 
 and more bewildered our forces were; several of the commanding 
 officers were picked out and killed or wounded by the savages, 
 without seeing any of them. The men were getting lost and 
 falling into confusion, natural under such circumstances, which 
 demanded an immediate retreat, or a total defeat and general 
 massacre must have ensued. This was conducted in a masterly 
 manner by Col. Croghan, who had lost the aid of that valuable 
 and ever to be lamented officer, Major Holmes, who, with Cap- 
 tain VanHorn, was killed by the Indians. 
 
 "The enemy were driven from many of their strongholds; but 
 such was the impenetrable thickness of the woods, that no advan- 
 tage gained could be profited by. Our attack would have been 
 made immediately under the lower fort, that the enemy might 
 not'have been able to use his Indian force to such advantage as 
 in the woods, having discovered by drawing a fire from him in 
 several instances, that I had greatly the superiority of metal of 
 him; but its site being about 120 feet above the water, I could not 
 when near enough to do him an injury, elevate sufficiently to 
 batter it. Above this, nearly as high again, he has another 
 strong fort, commanding every point on the island, and almost 
 perpendicular on' all sides. Col. Croghan not deeming it pru- 
 dent to make a secQnd attempt upon this place, and having 
 ascertained to a certainty that the only naval force the enemy 
 have upon the lakes consists of one schooner of four guns, I have 
 determined to dispatch the "Lawrence" and "Caledonia" to 
 I^ake Erie immediately, believing their services in transporting 
 our armies there will be wanting; and it being important that 
 the sick and wounded, amounting to about 100, and that part of 
 the detachment not necessary to further our future operations 
 here, should reach Detroit without delay. By an intelligent 
 prisoner, captured in the "Mink," I ascertained this, and that 
 the mechanics and others sent across from York during the win- 
 ter were for the purpose of building a flotilla to transport rein- 
 forcements and supplies to Mackinac. An attempt was made to 
 transport them by the way of Matchadash, but it was found im- 
 practicable, from all the portages being a morass; that they then 
 resorted to a small river called Nautawasaga, situated to the 
 south of Matchadash, from which there is a portage of three 
 leagues over a good road to Lake Simcoe. This place was never 
 known until pointed out to them last summer by an Indian. 
 This river is very narrow, and has six or eight feet water in it 
 
Battle of Michilimackinac Island. 187 
 
 about three miles up, and is then a muddy, rapid shallow for 45 
 miles up to the portage, where their armada was built, and their 
 storehouses are now situated. The navigation is dangerous and 
 difficult, and so obscured by rocks and bushes that no stranger 
 could ever find it. I have, however, availed myself of the means 
 of discovering it; I shall also blockade the mouth of French 
 River until the fall; and those being the only two channels of 
 communication by which Mackinac can possibly be supplied, and 
 their provisions at this time being extremely short, I think they 
 will be starved into a surrender. This will also cut off all sup- 
 plies to the Northwest Company, who are now nearly starving, 
 and their furs on hand can only find transportation by the way 
 of Hudson Bay. At this place I calculate on falling in with their 
 schooner, which, it is said, has gone there for a load of provi- 
 sions, and a message sent to her not to venture up while we are 
 on the lake. 
 
 " Very respectfully I have the honor to remain, Sir, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 Arthur Sinci^air. 
 
 "To Hon. Wm. Jones, 
 
 '•^Secretary of the Navy.'''' 
 
 Report of Captain N. H, Moore, 28th Infantry, Acting- 
 Assistant Adjutant General, of the killed, wounded and 
 missing, affair of Aug-ust 4th, 1814. 
 
 " On Board the U. S. Sloop of War, ' Niagara,' 
 11th August, 1814. 
 
 "Artillery — wounded three privates. 
 
 "Infantry — I7th Regiment; killed, five privates; wounded two 
 sergeants, two corporals, fifteen privates. Two privates since 
 dead. Two privates missing. 
 
 "19th Regiment — wounded, one captain, nineteen privates. 
 Captain Isaac Van Home, Jr., since dead; one private since dead. 
 
 "24th Regiment — killed, five privates; wounded, one captain, 
 one lieutenant, three sergeants, one musician, five privates. 
 Captain Robert Desha severely; Ivieut. Hezekiah Jackson since 
 dead; one sergeant since dead. 
 
 "32nd Regiment — killed, one major. Major Andrew Hunter 
 Holmes. 
 
 "United States Marines— wounded, one sergeant. 
 
 " Ohio Militia killed, two privates. Wounded, six privates — 
 one private since dead. 
 
188 Histojy of Mackinac. 
 
 " Grand total — One major and twelve privates killed; two cap- 
 tains, one lieutenant, six sergeants, three corporals, one musician 
 and thirty-eight privates wounded. Two privates missing. 
 
 "The above return exhibits a true statement of the killed, 
 wounded and missing in the affair of the 4th instant. 
 
 "N. H. Moore, Captain 28th Infantry. 
 
 "Acting Assistant Adjutant General." 
 
 The battle was foug-ht on Michael Dousman's farm 
 (now Earley estate), in a field, westward of the road 
 leading- from the Fort to the "British Landing." The 
 enemy's battery (four guns) was masked behind a ridge, 
 750 feet from the road, in the old orchard, in front of 
 the woods, to the left, after entering from the harbor 
 and villag-e, through the "red g-ate." The positions are 
 delineated on the outline map. When the defeated 
 troops regained their shipping the fleet moved near their 
 former position off Bois Blanc island. 
 
 Failing" to capture Michilimackinac, measures were 
 devised to prevent the arrival of supplies and starve the 
 enemy into submission. All the troops but three com- 
 panies were sent to General Brown at Niagara, in the 
 "Lawrence" and "Caledonia." A pilot was secured 
 and the remaining squadron sailed for the French and 
 Nautauwasaga rivers in Georgian Bay. French river 
 was decided useless as a winter route (the one from 
 Montreal by way of the Ottawa portage and Lake Nip- 
 pissing) and was avoided, and the course laid to the 
 " Nautauwasaga " the outlet of Lake Sincoe. Here sup- 
 plies were conveyed across the peninsula from York 
 (Toronto) and reshipped to Michilimackinac and Sault 
 Ste. Marie. The enemy's schooner "Nancy" was dis- 
 covered a few hundred yards up the river, protected by a 
 block-house on the opposite shore. The following morn- 
 ing two howitzers were landed and planted within range 
 
Battle of Michiliniackinac Island. 189 
 
 of the block-house at which shells were thrown. One 
 of the shells burst and blew up the mag-azine, allowing- 
 the enemy scarcely time to escape. That lighted a train 
 laid to the vessel, that set fire to her and her valuable 
 cargo, and six months supplies for Fort Michilimacknac 
 were entirely consumed. It was not considered necessary 
 to fortify and garrison the position, so Colonel Croghan 
 and Sinclair left the "Tigress" and "Scorpion" to 
 blockade the river until the ice began to form, which 
 would prevent the forwarding of provisions. After that 
 the rest of the squadron sailed for Detroit. 
 
 The captain and several of the crew of the "Nancy" 
 escaped in a boat and sailed for Michilimackinac and 
 informed Col. McDouall of the disaster. That intrepid 
 officer saw that something must be done to prevent 
 starvation, as provisions were scarce. The command, 
 already, on half rations, had a long winter before them. 
 An expedition was sent in open boats to break the block- 
 ade. It consisted of one hundred and fifty sailors and 
 soldiers with two hundred and fifty Indians. When the 
 force arrived at the head of the bay, they discovered the 
 "Tigress" alone; she had been separated several days 
 from the "Scorpion." During the night of September 
 3rd, it being very dark, she was boarded and captured 
 after a desperate encounter, in which several men were 
 killed and others wounded. The signal book fell into 
 the hands of the enemy. British officers now, having 
 the vessel and knowing her signals, captured the " Scor- 
 pion " at dawn, on the 6th instant. That was the final 
 stroke to the ill-fated expedition and Michilimackinac 
 was secure for another winter. 
 
 Mackinac Island was then, as it is now, the key of the 
 Upper Lakes. When held by land and naval forces 
 
190 History of Mackinac. 
 
 combined, the power in possession was master of the 
 situation. Considering- the remoteness of the place 
 from other settlements and the slow and limited means 
 of communication, the "aifair"of August 4, 1814, and 
 the subsequent connected events, was a serious and dis- 
 astrous defeat to the United States. Had it not been for 
 the terms of the treaty of peace, ratified the following- 
 year, the continued occupation of the fort and straits, 
 by the British, would have been of far-reaching effect 
 on the commercial and industrial interests of this nation. 
 
 Peace was concluded between the two contending 
 nations during the winter of 1814-15, as the result of the 
 Treaty of Ghent, December 24, 1814, and proclaimed, 
 February 18, 1815. 
 
 The U. S. Sloop of War, "Niagara," U. S. Schooner, 
 "Porcupine," and two chartered vessels sailed from 
 Detroit with six months' supplies for Michilimackinac, 
 in command of Samuel Woodhouse, Lieut., U. S. Navy, 
 July 3, 1815, and arrived the 18th instant. There was 
 on board a land force of one company of artillery and 
 two companies of rifles, all under Colonel Anthony But- 
 ler, 2d Rifles, U. S. Army. William Gamble, collector 
 of customs, was also with the expedition to establish the 
 post. 
 
 After due exchange of courtesies between the retiring- 
 and in-coming commanders and their troops. Col. Butler 
 took formal possession, 12 m., July 18, 1815, of the fort 
 and dependencies. Col. McDouall, with the British 
 force, then retired to Drummond's Island, at the mouth 
 of St. Mary's river, where a large post was laid out. 
 Colonel Butler left Capt. Willoughby Morgan, U. S^ 
 Army, in command of Fort Mackinac and returned to 
 Detroit with the fleet. 
 
192 History of Mackinac. 
 
 Fort "Georg-e" was re-named "Fort Holmes" (in 
 honor of Major Holmes) and was occupied a few days 
 by a detachment and Michael Dousman was appointed 
 military ag-ent of Michilimackinac. 
 
 Soon after the detachment was withdrawn from Fort 
 Holmes the block house was taken down and rebuilt for 
 the stable, now at the foot of the hill, in front of Fort 
 Mackinac. It is not, and never was, ornamental; and it 
 would be a great improvement to the landscape to remove 
 all the stables and storehouses from the lake front. 
 
 August 31, 1815, Major Talbot Chambers arrived and 
 took command of Fort Mackinac, and Capt. Morgan was 
 ordered to Detroit. 
 
 In 1816 Colonel John Miller, with part of the 3d 
 Infantry, arrived, and soon thereafter left with the 
 "two companies of rifles," to establish Fort Howard at 
 Green Bay. 
 
 THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY. 
 
 The American Fur Company was organized by John 
 Jacob Astor, who was born in Germany, and migrated 
 to this country in 1784, and settled in New York. He 
 first worked in a bakery, afterwards assisted in a toy 
 shop and then began, in a limited way, selling furs in 
 country towns about the city. From the beginning he 
 was industrious, careful, prudent, saving (of course suc- 
 cessful) and by strict attention to business, soon accu- 
 mulated considerable means. In 1809 the American Fur 
 Company was chartered, under act, by the state of New 
 York, with a capital of one million dollars, Astor presi- 
 dent, and principal share holder. In 1811 Mr. Astor, 
 and others, associates of the North West Fur Co. (org-an- 
 
The American Fur Company. 193 
 
 ized 1783) boug-ht out the "Mackinac Company" and 
 founded, with his company, the "South West Fur Com- 
 pany." The war of 1812-15 was a damper to the fur 
 trade. After peace was concluded in 1815 Mr. Astor 
 boug-ht out the " South West Fur Company " and re-es- 
 tablished the "American Fur Company." Up to that 
 time most of the merchants and employes of those com- 
 panies were British and not favorable to the United 
 States. During- the winter of 1815-16, through the 
 influence of Mr. Astor and his company, cong-ress passed 
 an act prohibiting- foreigners trading with Indians in the 
 United States. 
 
 In the winter of 1817-18 more active operations in the 
 fur trade began. A number of clerks and voyageurs 
 were engaged at Montreal, by Mr. Matthews, agent of 
 the "American Fur Company," of Mackinac Island. 
 Hon. Gurdon S. Hubbard, of Mackinac Island and 
 Chicago, was one of the clerks enrolled for five years, at 
 one hundred and twenty dollars a year and board. 
 
 Matthews' force left Lachine, on the St. Lawrence, 
 May 13th, 1818, in open batteaux (loaded with sup- 
 plies), propelled by oars. The average distance made 
 was fifteen miles a day; and, at the end of a month, 
 they reached Little York (Toronto). From York they 
 journeyed overland, with ox teams to (Youngs Street) 
 Lake Simcoe. They crossed the lake and hauled their 
 batteaux, with the help of a yoke of oxen (they had 
 brought in one of the boats) over the Nau-tau-wa-sa-ga 
 portage — six miles — "into the river of the same name." 
 From thence, in re-loaded batteaux, down the river, 
 through Georgian Bay, and over Lake Huron, to Macki- 
 nac Island, where they landed — "at the foot of Robin- 
 son's Folly," July 4th. Here they were met by Ramsey 
 
194 History of Mackinac. 
 
 Crooks and Robert Stewart the resident managers of 
 the headquarters of the "American Fur Company," and 
 "a host of clerks and voyagfeurs," who g"ave them a 
 royal welcome, with a 4th of July celebration. 
 
 1818. "Here was located Fort Mackinac, at that 
 time g-arrisoned by three or four companies of United 
 States troops. The village had a population of about 
 five hundred, mostly Canadian French and mixed Indian 
 blood, whose chief occupation was fishing in summer 
 and hunting in winter. There were not more than 
 twelve white women on the island, the residue of the 
 female population being either all or part Indian. Here, 
 during the summer months congregated the traders 
 employed by the Fur Company, bringing their collec- 
 tions from their several trading posts, which extended 
 from the British dominions on the north and the Mis- 
 souri river in the west, south and east to the white set- 
 tlements; in fact, to all the Indian hunting grounds, so 
 that when all were collected they added three thousand 
 or more to the population. 
 
 "The Indians from the shores of the upper lakes, who 
 made this island a place of resort, numbered from two 
 to three thousand more. Their wigwams lined the 
 entire beach two or three rows deep, and with the tents 
 of the traders made the island a scene of life and anima- 
 tion. The voyageurs were fond of fun and frolic, and 
 the Indians indulged in their love of liquor, and, by the 
 exhibition of their war, medicine and other dances and 
 sports, often made both night and day hideous with 
 their yells. These voyagrurs were all Canadian French, 
 and were the only people fitted for the life they were 
 compelled to endure; their cheerful temperament and 
 
The Anierica7i Fur Company. 195 
 
 happy disposition made them contented under the priva- 
 tions and hardships incident to their calling-." 
 
 Yearly, in July, when the "outfits" of the various 
 outposts had returned, the furs were unpacked, counted, 
 assorted, appraised, the profit and loss of each ascertained, 
 then repacked, pressed and stored in the company's larg^e 
 warehouse ready for shipment to Mr. Astor in New 
 York. The furs, or pelts taken, were marten (sable), 
 mink, otter, beaver, black, silver grey, and common fox, 
 deer, moose, elk, bear, buffalo, wolverine, badger, lynx, 
 raccoon, wild cat, muskrat, and all small fur animals. 
 
 "The force of the company when all were assembled 
 on the island comprised about four hundred clerks and 
 traders, tog-ether with some two thousand voyag-eurs. 
 About five hundred of these were quartered in barracks, 
 one hundred lived in the ag-ency house," now the John 
 Jacob Astor House, "and the others were camped in 
 tents and accommodated in rooms of the islanders. 
 
 "Dances and parties were g-iven every nig-ht by the 
 residents of the island in honor of the traders, and they, 
 in their turn, reciprocated with balls and jollifications, 
 which, though not as elegant and costly as those of the 
 present day, were sufficiently so to drain from the par- 
 ticipants all the hard earning of the winter previous." 
 
 Each "brigade" had a stout fellow, the "bully" of 
 that crew of voyageurs who "wore a black feather in 
 his cap," and, if he got cleaned out, good naturedly gave 
 the feather to the conqueror. 
 
 Batteaux used by the "brigades" (in addition to 
 canoes) resemble the Mackinac fishing boats of the pres- 
 ent day, but were larger, with a capacity for about three 
 tons of merchandise, and the clothing and rations of the 
 men. Each batteau had a crew of a clerk and five men. 
 
196 History of Mackinac. 
 
 One man steered and four propelled the craft with oars. 
 The daily ration of a mess of from six to ten men, was, 
 to each man, one pint of hulledor Ijed corn and trom 
 two to four ounces of tallow. It was more than they 
 could eat, better than bread and meat, and was g-enerally 
 liked. On Saturday flour was issued for Sunday pan- 
 cakes. The voyag-eurs were not provided with shelter 
 and their lugg-ag-e was restricted to twenty pounds, car- 
 ried in a bag-. The commander of the " brig-ade " 
 selected the best boat and an extra man for "orderly," 
 "and the will of the commander was the only law 
 known." The clerks messed with the commander and 
 orderly. They had salt pork, tea and coffee, and a tent 
 for shelter. 
 
 The company had mechanics, who made and repaired 
 boats, and manufactured traps, tomahawks, nails, and 
 other articles from iron. The capital of the Fur Com- 
 pany was immense, and their policy was to monopolize; 
 fully nineteen-twentieths of traders of the northwest 
 were eng-ag-ed by them. 
 
 The few traders on the island were Michael Dousman, 
 Edward Biddle and John Drew, also Mrs. Mitchell, wife 
 of Dr. Mitchell, surg-eon in the British army. All were 
 under the influence of the Fur Company, boug-ht most of 
 their g-oods of the corporation, and sold their furs to the 
 company. 
 
 Some of the Indian women, the mixed bloods in par- 
 ticular, were intellig-ent and accomplished, and married 
 prominent men. Mrs. Dr. Mitchell was a mixed blood, 
 and the widow Lafromboise, whose daug-hter married 
 the U. S. Commander of Fort Mackinac ; also a Miss 
 Chandler, who married a prominent lawyer of Green 
 Bay. Mrs. Edward Biddle was an Indian of queenly 
 
The American Fur Company. 197 
 
 appearance; she dressed in Indian costume, the finest 
 'black or blue broadcloth, beautifully ornamented with 
 silk and moose-hair work. 
 
 The late Major John H. Kinzie conducted the Fur 
 Company's retail store in the basement of a building- on 
 the corner of Fort and Market streets. Here Alexander 
 St. Martin, a French Canadian youth, 18 years old, was 
 accidently shot, June 6, 1822, by one of his companions, 
 whilst they were carelessly examining- a loaded shot g-un. 
 Dr. William Beaumont, U. S. A., Post Surg-eon, Fort 
 Mackinac, was called and saw St. Martin about 25 min- 
 utes after the accident. Rewrote — "Thecharg-e, con- 
 sisting of powder and duck shot was received in the left 
 side of the youth, he being- at a distance of not more 
 than one yard from the muzzle of the gun. The con- 
 tents entered posteriorly, in an oblique direction, forward 
 and inward, literally blowing off integuments and mus- 
 cles of the size of a man's hand, fracturing and carrying 
 away the anterior half of the sixth rib, fracturing the 
 fifth, lacerating the lower portion of the left lobe of the 
 lungs, the diaphragm, and perforating the stomach." 
 The wound healed and left a valvular orifice that could 
 be depressed at pleasure and the contents of the stomach 
 and action of the gastric fluids on them watched. This 
 case led to a series of experiments and observations that 
 are world renowned. (See "Experiments and Observa- 
 tions on the Gastric Juice and the Physiology of Diges- 
 tion. By William Beaumont, M. D., Surgeon in the U. 
 S. Army, 1833.") 
 
 In 1823 the United Foreign Missionary Society sent 
 Rev. William Montague Ferry to establish a mission and 
 school for Indians at Mackinac Island. He arrived 
 October 19th, and opened the school in the court house 
 
198 History of Mackinac. 
 
 with twelve Indian children on the 3d of November. 
 The school increased in numbers and usefulness, and in 
 1825 the " Mission House" was built and the " Mission 
 Church" in 1830. Many children from the neig-hboring- 
 shores attended, and at one time there were nearly two 
 hundred in training-, with an ample corps of teachers. 
 The results of the usefulness and sound principles 
 taug-ht in that institution can be noticed to this day, in 
 some of the inhabitants of this island and vicinity. 
 Senator Thomas W. Ferry, who has done much for 
 Mackinac Island and the state at larg-e, was born in the 
 "Mission House" (now a hotel), in 1827, on the 1st of 
 June. Rev. Mr. Ferry went to Grand Haven in 1834, 
 and the mission was abandoned in 1837. 
 
 Fort Mackinac was temporarily evacuated, October 
 14, 1839, by Capt. Samuel McKenzie's company, 2d U. 
 S. Artillery, and re-occupied May 18, 1840, by Capt. 
 Harvey Brown's company " H," 4th Artillery. 
 
 The Fur Company continued operations from 1815 
 until 1834, when Mr. Astor transferred his stock and 
 charter to Ramsey Crooks and associates. Mr. Crooks 
 became the president, and business continued as usual 
 until 1842, when, on account of competition with the old 
 " North West Fur Company," (British) and other causes, 
 it was oblig-ed to assig-n, and the American Fur Com- 
 pany's career ended. During- all that period, the 
 company for life and trade was Mackinac, and to all 
 intents and purposes Mackinac was the American Fur 
 Company. 
 
 The erection of the Fur Company's building-s cost 
 fifty thousand dollars, and three million dollars' worth 
 of merchandise were annually exchang-ed in the Indian 
 country for furs. The amounts disbursed by the g"ov- 
 
Fisheries of Michilimacki^iac. 199 
 
 ernment for Indian annuities and the support and pay- 
 ment of the troops each year were often over one million 
 dollars more. 
 
 Henry R. Schoolcraft, Indian Agent from 1833 to 
 1841, author of "Alg-ic Researches," and other works, 
 resided in the "Old Ag-ency"* building that stood in 
 what is now (1895) the (East) fort garden, and after- 
 wards in the " Indian Dormitory," f-west, adjoining. 
 
 With the winding up of affairs of the American Fur 
 Company, in 1842, the sail vessels, batteaux, small boats, 
 buildings and other property on Mackinac Island passed 
 into the hands of private individuals and firms, who 
 embarked in the fur, fish and other branches of trade, 
 on their own account, with more or less success. The 
 vast fur business at once diminished to less than half the 
 original volume, and finally was transferred to other 
 places until it entirely disappeared from the island. 
 
 THE FISHERIES. 
 
 1895. With the decline of the fur trade the fishing 
 business became prominent, and the voyageurs, Indians 
 and their boats and outfits, that had been so successfully 
 used, were utilized for that purpose. The Indians 
 resorted to Michilimackinac and vicinity, to obtain fish 
 for subsistence long before the "pale faces" visited this 
 country. 
 
 As early as 1824 whitefish and trout, in small quanti- 
 ties, salted and packed in barrels, were caught and sent 
 to the Buffalo market. All the fishing grounds for one 
 hundred and fifty miles, or more, around sent their catch 
 to Mackinac Island, where the fish were assorted, 
 resalted, repacked in barrels ready for shipment. From 
 
 * Home of " Anne." 
 
 f Now the Union School House. 
 
200 History of Mackinac. 
 
 1854 to 1860 the trade in salted fish increased to over 
 two hundred and fifty thousand packages, valued at over 
 one million dollars. Whitefish were frequently taken in 
 g-ill nets that weig-hed from twenty to twenty-five 
 pounds, and lake trout were caught that weighed eighty- 
 five pounds. 
 
 The pound or trap nets introduced about 1865, later 
 the long gangs of gill nets, set about the shoals and 
 reefs in the lakes, fished by men on steam tugs, in 
 which fish are taken whilst on the shores and shoals 
 spawning, and at all other times, have nearly ruined the 
 business, and if it were not for the artificial hatching 
 and annual planting of fry, there would be very few fish 
 left in the lakes. Most of the catch now is packed in 
 ice and shipped fresh to Chicago and other points; few 
 are salted. The business can only be revived by inter- 
 national legislation of a protective character, as the 
 United States alone cannot control the "high seas." 
 
 PEOPLE OF THE ISLAND. 
 Among the business firms and families of Mackinac 
 Island before and since the '40s are Jonathan N. Bailey,* 
 Jonathan P. King, Rev. A. D. Piret,t Edward Guil- 
 bault, L. Y. B. Birchard, P. C. Kevan, Wm. M. Johnson, 
 J. H. Cook, McLeods, Wm. Madison, J. S. Saltonstall, 
 John Becker, Arian R. Root, Wendells, Toll & Rice, 
 Lasleys, Charles M. O'Malley, Jones and Drew families, 
 Biddle & Drew, Chapman & Gray, William Scott, 
 Edward Kanter, Peter White, Samuel K. Haring, Bela 
 Chapman, Edward A. Franks, Michael Earley, Hulbert 
 & Kirtland, Leopold & Austrian, Bromilow & Bates, 
 John G. Read, Hoban Brothers, Henry Van Allen, C. 
 
 ♦Postmaster 1825,29; later first postmaster of Chicago. 
 f " Pere Michaux," in "Anne." 
 
Counly and Borough of Michilimackinac. 201 
 
 B. Fen ton, Todds, Chambers, McNally and Donnelly 
 families, Douds and Mclntyres, Graveraet, Desbro, Gas- 
 kill, Truscott, Bennett and 
 Davis families, Gallagher, Cou- 
 chois, Metevier, Lyon, La- 
 chance and Louisig-nau fami- 
 lies, Tanner, Granger and 
 Hamblins, Bailey families, 
 George T. Arnold, F. B. 
 Stockbridge, John W. Davis & 
 Son, George Truscott & Son, 
 Dominick Murray and family, 
 John R. Bailey & Son, H. W. 
 Overall, W. P. Preston, Wm. 
 Sullivan, Shomin Lapeen, Al- 
 lor, McGulpin, Martineau, 
 Rainville, Taylor, Burdette, 
 
 MADAM CADOTTE* 
 at Age of 25. 
 
 and Cheniers, Bogans and Foleys, James F. Cable, 
 Mulcrones and Holdens, Murray Brothers and McCartys. 
 
 COUNTY AND BOROUGH OF MICHILIMACKINAC. 
 Under the territory the jurisdiction of the courts at 
 Michilimackinac extended over a large area of the 
 Southern Peninsula, all of the Northern, the greater 
 part of Wisconsin and westward to the Pacific Ocean. 
 When Michigan became a State in 1837, the boundaries 
 of the county of Michilimackinac were south to Saginaw 
 Bay (the south line across the State being the north line 
 of township twenty), west to the Menominee river and 
 north to Canada. As the country settled the boundaries 
 were gradually contracted to the present limits. The 
 borough of Michilimackinact (now village of Mackinac) 
 
 *See pag-e IS. 
 
 f 1899. A bill is now before the legislature to re-incorporate 
 into City of Mackinac Island. 
 
202 History of Mackinac. 
 
 was the county seat. The villag-e (boroug-h) was incor- 
 porated in 1817, April 6th; amended 1842-1843; the act 
 of April 6th, 1817, repealed March 16th, 1847; amended 
 1859, 1865, 1869; reincorporated 1875 and February 19tli, 
 1895. The president of said villag-e ("borough of Mich- 
 iliraackinac "), is a member of the Board of Supervisors 
 of the county by virtue of old acts of incorporation, 
 operative. 
 
 September 18th, 1882, the county seat was transferred 
 from Mackinac Island to St. Ig-nace. 
 
 LEGEND OF MICHILIMACKINAC, 1879. 
 
 The following was written for the "Department of 
 the East," Military Division of the Atlantic, and pub- 
 lished in pamphlet form. A copy is in the "Park 
 Book" "No. 1.," "Letters Sent," p. 126 to 135, inclusive, 
 Fort Mackinac, Michig-an. The notes added marked 
 with a star "*," and inclosed in brackets, (), are not in 
 my orig-inal: 
 
 LEGEND OF MICHILIMACKINAC 
 
 Fort Mackinac, Mackinac Island, Michigan. Lati- 
 tude 45° 51 '22" north; Long-itude 84° 41 '22" west. 
 
 Heig-ht of parade ground above Lake Huron, 150 feet. 
 (*Estimated; since found to be 133 feet.) 
 
 Area of Island. — The island is about nine miles in 
 circumference. (*Actual measurement, on the beach, 
 within the water line, eight miles, less twenty feet.) 
 Area, 3.47 square miles. 
 
 (*Elevation of " Lakes Huron and Michigan," above 
 sea level, is "581 3-10 feet." "Lake Superior 601 8-10 
 feet." "The difference of 20>4 feet between Lake 
 Superior and Huron occurs in the rapids of St. Mary's 
 river.") 
 
 The general trend of the land is from northwest to 
 
Legend of Michilimackinac. 203 
 
 . southeast, having a diameter of about three miles and a 
 breadth, from southwest to northeast, of a little less 
 than two miles. 
 Area in acres: 
 
 Mackinac National Park 911.21 
 
 Military Reservation 103.41 
 
 Private Claims 1,207.20 
 
 Total... 2,221.82 
 
 Geology. — This peculiar formation is part of the 
 Onondaga salt group of the Upper Silurian System, and 
 the Upper Helderberg limestone group of the Devonian 
 System. The first, or base, is of unknown thickness, 
 and the second, forming the body, or cap, about 250 feet 
 deep. 
 
 The south end of the island, and face, is plainly 
 terraced. Starting from the apex of Fort Holmes, 318 
 feet above Lake Huron, before we come to the water, 
 there are four distinctly marked natural terraces, each 
 showing the wave lines of aqueous formation. The 
 existence of the island is probably due, under the agency 
 of the Divine Creator, to the gradual subsidence of the 
 waters during thousands of years of time. Trilobites 
 are found in the limestone formation. Beautiful arches, 
 caves, conical and pyramidal rocks have been formed by 
 time and the action of the elements on the limestone 
 surface and add greatly to the beauty of the scenic isle. 
 Of such, the Great Arch Rock, "*Fairy Arch" of the 
 Giant's Stair-Way, Scott's Cave, Sugar Loaf Rock, 
 Lover's Leap, Chimney Rock, and others are examples. 
 Climate. — On account of the large bodies of fresh 
 water surrounding, the climate is pleasant and agree- 
 able. Extremes of temperature are 90° Fahr., and —23° 
 Fahr. ; average about 39" Fahr. (to 41°). 
 " "Fniry Arch," see page 204. 
 
FAIRY ARCH. 
 
 'Fairv Arch " was discovered and named bv Dr. Bailej- in 1866. 
 
Legend of Michilimackinac. 205 
 
 Soil. — The surface of the island is very irreg-ular, and 
 the soil scanty but very rich, covering, as a g^eneral 
 rule, the underlying" rock only a few inches. 
 
 Vegetation. — The timber which has been cut down 
 from time to time is small. Beech, maple, iron wood, 
 oak, birch, wild cherry, and hazel, arbor vitse, fir, spruce, 
 pine, juniper, tamarack, etc., are the principal. The 
 common juniper abounds. 
 
 Fort Mackinac and Island. — The fort is built on the 
 bluff of a plateau, at the southeastern side of the island, 
 and overlooks, in frowning grandeur, the straits and the 
 little village of Mackinac, nestling on the beach, around 
 the bay below. The Island of Mackinac is situated in 
 the straits of the same name, between the Northern and 
 Southern Peninsulas of Michigan, about one-third the 
 distance through the straits from the eastern or Lake 
 Huron side. The island is about three miles from the 
 shore of the North Peninsula, and south side seven or 
 eight miles from the Southern Peninsula. In front of 
 the fort, to the southeast, is Round Island, a mile dis- 
 tant, and three miles away, in the same direction, is the 
 west end of the large island of Bois Blanc (white wood), 
 which stretches out ten or twelve miles to the eastward, 
 towards Lake Huron. The bay, or harbor, is small, of 
 the usual horseshoe or crescentic form, and should be 
 improved by breakwaters on the south and southeast 
 points. 
 
 Near places. — The village of Mackinac on the beach, 
 in front of the fort adjoining the Military Reservation 
 and Park, (in two detached portions) is the nearest most 
 important town. It is the county seat (* was then) of 
 Mackinac county, has about 700 inhabitants, seven 
 hotels, (*now ten) a number of private boarding houses 
 and several fine stores. It is one of the most noted and 
 
206 History of Mackinac. 
 
 healthful summer resorts in the country, and is visited 
 by hundreds of people from all parts of the Continent 
 and Europe, who are in search of health, pleasure and 
 recreation. The next town near the island, is Point St. 
 Ig-nace, on the mainland, three miles to the northwest of 
 the island, population about 450, (*St. Ig-nace is now a 
 city and is the county seat, population 2,500). But the 
 most important town, near the fort, is Cheboygan, f at 
 the mouth of the Cheboyg-an river, in the Southern 
 Peninsula, about sixteen and a half miles south-east, 
 population 2,500, (* present population of the City of 
 Cheboyg-an is about 7,000.) Port Brady, Sault Ste. 
 Marie, sixty miles north and east is the nearest military 
 post. The nearest railroad station is Petoskey, dfty-five 
 miles distant, on Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, 
 (*since the G. R. and I. R. R., and the Mackinac Divi- 
 sion of the M. C. R. R. have extended their lines to 
 "Mackinaw," a village of about 250 inhabitants, adjoin- 
 ing- the site of (South) Fort Michilimackinac. These 
 roads make daily connections by ferry steamers — ice 
 crushers — "Ste. Marie" and "St. Ig-nace," from St. 
 Ig-nace the terminal point of the D. S. S. and A, R. R. 
 and the M. St. P. and Sault Ste. Marie R. R. and with 
 Mackinac Island by the steam ferry "Alg-©mah." Three 
 months during- the summer season there is a daily mail 
 from Petoskey and a mail three times a week via Che- 
 boyg-an the rest of the year, (*now there is a daily mail, 
 the year round, and in the summer season, four or five 
 mails per day, by the railroads and steam ferry connec- 
 tions. ) During- the season of navig-ation from about the 
 25th of April to the 15th of December this place is 
 accessible by lines of steamers from Buffalo, Detroit, 
 f Alg-onquin — Place of entrance, portage, or harbor. 
 
> 
 z 
 
 >> 
 
 O '"^ 
 
 H 
 2 
 
 o 
 
208 History of Alackinac. 
 
 Chicago and other points, which land at all hours of the 
 day and nig"ht and in winter by rail to Petoskey, (*see 
 notes above), stag"e via Cheboygan, thence over the ice 
 bridg-e to Mackinac. 
 
 The straits generally freeze over about the 15th or 
 20th of Januarj' and continue closed until the 15th or 
 25th of April. 
 
 The entire section of country bordering- the straits and 
 vicinity, with the islands in the straits, was originally 
 called "Michilimackinac,"or "Michilimackina," rendered 
 thus by the French from the Indian name "Me-che-ne- 
 mock-1-nong," which is said to mean "Great Turtle." 
 It was thus named by the savages from a fancied 
 resemblance of the island, as seen from Point St. Ignace, 
 to the back of a large turtle. The name has since been 
 contracted to "Mackinac," now pronounced by the Eng- 
 lish "Mack-i-naw." This beautiful Isle of Mackinac, 
 the "Home of the Great Manitou," and of the spirits 
 whom the Indians delighted to worship, was a favorite 
 sporting and camping ground of various Indian tribes 
 long before the white man trod its sacred soil. 
 
 Settlement. — The first settlement of Michilimackinac 
 by white men, it is said, was the founding of the mission 
 of St. Ignatius at "Michilimockinong," now Point St. 
 Ignace, in 1671 by Rev. James Marquette. (*Recent 
 research shows that Mackinac island was settled before 
 St. Ignace, and we believe that its occupation antedates 
 any other in this region of the lakes.) Within two or 
 three years thereafter, the first stockade at the post of 
 Michilimackinac was constructed. The stockade itself 
 was called, by the French, some other name. This post 
 was the most important in all Canad;t; it was the center 
 of the fur trade, and the base of supplies f(ir the entire 
 
Legend of Michilitnackinac. 209 
 
 northwest. The g-arrison consisted of two hundred sol- 
 diers, and at least 8,000 Indians, in wig-warns and vil- 
 lages, were encamped along the shores. Finally the 
 post was abandoned and subsequently the "Post of 
 Michilimackinac," and a mission of the same name, was 
 established in 1714 (*that date is not positively known) 
 at what is now called "Old Mackinaw," on the south 
 shore of the straits eight miles from this point. It was 
 held by the French until 1761 when it was transferred to 
 the English as a part of the territory ceded by the 
 French in 1760. 
 
 Massacre. — June 4, 1763, as a part of the plot of the 
 "Conspiracy of Pontiac," the English garrison was sur- 
 prised and captured by the Indians, a portion of the 
 command massacred, and the rest made captives. For a 
 little more than a year after the massacre the post was 
 occupied by coureur de bois and a few Indians as a tem- 
 porary residence. It was then taken possession of by 
 Captain Howard of the British army, with two com- 
 panies of troops and occupied until 1780. That year it 
 was abandoned and the troops removed to the Island of 
 Mackinac. 
 
 Fort Mackinac. — The present fort was occupied July 
 15, 1780, but not completed until 1783. At that time the 
 stone building (on ground plan marked "3") and the 
 block-houses "27, 28 and 29," and a strong bomb-proof 
 magazine with arched walls, six feet thick, built on part 
 of the site of the present commissary, "9," were con- 
 structed, also, the two arches and stone works, sur- 
 mounted by a stockade of white cedar posts, squared and 
 pointed at the tops, about ten feet high and set in 
 the lines intersecting the block-houses. The stockade 
 was pierced with two sets of loop-holes for musketry 
 
210 History of Mackinac. 
 
 and the block-houses armed with small iron cannon. 
 The whole formed a most perfect and secure defence 
 ag-ainst the Indians of that day. 
 
 In 1817-18 and as late as 1856-7 the fort retained much 
 of its orig"inal appearance. About this last date a part 
 of the stockade rotted and fell down and the rest was 
 removed. The other parts of the old fort and works, 
 viz., the stone wall facing- the lake, and the other stone 
 and earth works, block-houses and old building's, "1, 2, 
 3 and 4," retain much if not all their uniqueness. 
 
 Buildings.— The material of "3, 27,28 and 29," is 
 roug"h limestone, quarried near the fort, of various 
 shapes and sizes. The walls are very thick and strong-, 
 and also now about one hundred years old, bid fair to 
 last for centuries. No. "3," is a story high, on the 
 parade with a basement facing- the water, and a two- 
 story porch on the water front. It is divided by a stone 
 wall into two equal parts, with a narrow hall through 
 the center of each half, and a set of officers' quarters on 
 each side of the halls. The barracks for two companies, 
 "5 and 6," were constructed in 1858. Other buildings on 
 the same foundations have been twice destroyed by fire. 
 An upper story "6," was added, and porch remodeled to 
 make room for two companies in 1876-7. This barrack 
 is a two-story frame building with porches the whole 
 leng-th in front, facing the parade ground southeast. 
 The upper story of the porch has a tight deck planking- 
 that answers the double purpose of a floor above and a 
 roof of the lower part. The dormitories are 11 5-12 
 feet high and are fitted with single iron bedsteads, each 
 having an air space of 4% and 749 cubic feet respect- 
 ively. Mess-rooms and kitchens, "6," are in the rear 
 of the main building. 
 
212 History of Mackinac. 
 
 Hospital. — "10, 11, 12," is a wooden structure two 
 stories high, with porches in front facing the lake, 
 stands on the second level, east and just outside of the 
 old walls of the fort, about 17 feet above the level of the 
 parade ground. It is a double house with wide halls 
 through the center of each story, and rooms on the sides 
 of the halls. There are three wards besides the other 
 rooms, capacity 14 beds, with an air space of from 600 
 to 800 cubic feet each. It was constructed in 1858. 
 There is no bathroom nor dead house attached. (*Since 
 a dead house and also hospital steward's quarters, both 
 near by, have been built and a bathroom added to the 
 hospital. ) 
 
 Commissary . — This fine building was completed in 
 1878. It is a one-story frame house, built on the site of 
 the old magazine. It has a cellar which is part of the 
 walls of the demolished magazine. 
 
 Officers'" Quarters. — "25" remodeled, and "26" added, 
 *'26," "22," "23," and "24," constructed in 1876-7, all on 
 the right of the flagstaff, on the second level, are new 
 modern houses, one and a half stories high, with wide 
 one-story porches in front, bay windows on the west and 
 east sides of each. Commandant's block, "21," with a 
 hall in the center and two rooms on each side of hall. 
 "23" and "25" are also double, with two halls in the 
 center, separated by a division wall, and two rooms on 
 the outside of each hall. The attic stories of each are 
 finished, and there are dining-rooms and kitchens, "22," 
 "24," "26," "26," in the rear. 
 
 Other Buildings. — The magazine, "18," brick, and 
 the wood buildings, "19," "20," "14," "15," "16" and 
 "31," were constructed in 1876-7. Date of construction 
 of "13," "30," and "32" unknown. There are no relia- 
 
Legend of Michilimackinac. 213 
 
 ble data to tell even the probable costs of construction. 
 
 Drainage. — The drainage is natural and very good. 
 
 Water. — The supply is from a well back of the stock- 
 ade and from cisterns, but mostly from the lake, and 
 has to be drawn up the steep hill in carts. This keeps 
 two men and a span of mules constantly employed. 
 (*A system of water supply, through iron pipes, forced 
 from a spring at the foot of the hill west of the fort, has 
 since been devised. The spring water, hard, from the 
 limestone formation, is forced into a reservoir in the 
 upper story of the north block-house by a steam pump- 
 ing engine and from thence distributed to all of the 
 buildings. Bath rooms, water closets and drainage 
 pipes have, also, been put in the officers' and men's 
 quarters and the hospital.) 
 
 Sanitary. — The health of the post is excellent. There 
 are no epidemics or prevailing diseases. It is, probably, 
 the most healthy station in America. 
 
 Reseivations. — The original reservation, mostly on 
 the east side of the island, contained a little more than 
 two square miles. See Capt. J. N. Macomb's T. E. Map 
 of Island of Mackinac, 1855. 
 
 Round Island. — Is reserved for lighthouse purposes. 
 (*It is in the corporate limits of the village of Macki- 
 nac; area, 180 acres.) 
 
 Bois Blanc Island. — A large part of this island con- 
 taining 21,351-88, is "Reserved to supply Fuel for 
 the Garrison of Michilimackinac." fThe sections re- 
 served are: "10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 
 20, 21, 31, 32, 33 and 34" (sixteen sections = 9,733 32-100 
 acres). See map "According to survey filed Surveyor 
 General's Office, Chillicothe, Ohio, October 5th, 1827." 
 
 f See p. 228. 
 
214 History of Mackinac. 
 
 National Park, — By an Act of Congress, March 3rd, 
 1875, the Military Reservation, and the United States 
 lands, on the island, not in market, were set apart as a 
 "National Park," excepting- only the present Reserva- 
 tion, 103.41 acres around the fort. See map "Mackinac 
 National Park," by Major G. Weitzel, U. S. A., 1875. 
 The park is under the control of the Secretary of War, 
 and the commanding officer of Fort Mackinac is, 
 ex officio, the Superintendent. 
 
 History.— Vrom 1780 to 1795 the fort was held by the 
 British. Then the place was peacefully occupied by our 
 forces in accordance with previous treaty. Our troops 
 held the position until July 17th, 1812, when the fort 
 and island was captured without bloodshed by Capt. 
 Roberts of the English army, from St. Joseph's Island, 
 with only a few, 135, soldiers and about 1,000 Indians. 
 Roberts landed in the night, on the north side of the 
 island in a small ba}-, that has ever since been called the 
 "British Landing." Fearing he could not hold what he 
 had so easily attained, he caused the redoubt of "Fort 
 George," ("Fort Holmes,") a very strong earthwork, to 
 be erected on the highest point of the island, about a half 
 or three-quarters of a mile in rear of the present fort. 
 Between the 4th and 8th of August, 1814, a force of 
 United States troops, under Colonel Croghan and Major 
 Holmes, attempted to recapture the island. A severe 
 battle was fought, and our troops were surprised and 
 defeated by the British and Indians in ambush. Major 
 Holmes and twelve men were killed, three officers and 
 forty-eight men were wounded and two missing. Fail- 
 ing in the attempt Colonel Croghan withdrew the rem- 
 nant of his command to his shipping. 
 
 During the following winter, 1814-15, peace was con- 
 
Mackinac National Park. 215 
 
 eluded and the Eng"lish evacuated the place in the spring-, 
 '(*summer.) "Fort Georg-e" has since been called 
 "Fort Holmes" in honor of the lamented major. 
 
 The fort has been several times without a g-arrison, 
 and many of the old records are lost or stolen. It is at 
 present garrisoned by Go's "C" and "D" of the 10th 
 Infantry, Capt. and Brevet Major E. E. Sellers in com- 
 mand. The morale of the command, discipline, and 
 police regulations of the fort are excellent. 
 
 Fort Mackinac, Michigan, August 20th, 1879. 
 
 John R. Bailey, 
 
 Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army., Post Surgeon. 
 
 SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF MACKINAC NATIONAL 
 
 PARK. 
 
 When General Belknap was Secretary of War, in 1875, 
 he sent a letter through General Sackett, Inspector Gen- 
 eral U. S. Army, requesting Dr. John R. Bailey to give 
 a written outline for the improvement, etc., of Macki- 
 nac Island National Park. We suggested that the park 
 be left as nearly as possible in a state of nature, the 
 present roads, walks and bridle paths should be im- 
 proved, and the carriage roads widened. An additional 
 road around the island on the bluff, and one on the beach 
 below, both to be connected at convenient places. A 
 limited number of lots to be platted at suitable points, 
 subject to lease, one parcel only to each applicant, for a 
 stated time (with the privilege of renewal), so that there 
 could be no chance for speculation, the whole to be 
 under the direction and control of the Secretary of War, 
 and the commanding ofl&cer of Fort Mackinac, ex-officio., 
 the superintendent of said park, in accordance with the 
 title of the original bill. And that an additional com- 
 
216 History of Mackinac. 
 
 pany of troops be sent to patrol and police the park. 
 The additional company was sent, and new quarters and 
 barracks erected in 1876-7 for their accommodation. 
 
 All work and plotting- of lots on the park appear to 
 have been done, as nearly as could be, to the letter and 
 spirit of that communication. 
 
 LIST OF OFFICERS AT FORT MACKINAC, 1815-1895. 
 
 "Lfist of Officers stationed at Fort Mackinac, Michigan, and 
 year of their arrival, from 1815 to 1895 inclusi/e: 
 
 1815. Anthony Butler, Colonel 2nd Rifles. 
 Willoughby Morgan, Captain Riflemen. 
 Talbot Chambers, Major. 
 
 Joseph Kean, Captain. 
 John O'Fallow, Captain. 
 John Heddelson, 1st Lieutenant. 
 James S. Gray, 2nd Lieutenant. 
 William Armstrong, 2nd Lieutenant. 
 William Hening, Surgeon's Mate. 
 Benjamin K. Pierce, Captain, Artillery. 
 Robert McCallum, Jr., 1st Lieutenant, Artillery. 
 Louis Morgan, 1st Lieutenant, Artillery. 
 George S. Wilkins, 2nd Lieutenant, Artillery. 
 John S. Pierce, 2nd Lieutenant, Artillerj'. 
 Thomas J. Baird, 3rd Lieutenant, Artillery. 
 
 1816. John Miller, Colonel, 3rd Infantry. 
 John McNeil, Major, 5th Infantry. 
 Charles Gratiot, Major, Engineers. 
 William Whistler, Captain, 3rd Infantry. 
 John Greene, Captain, 3rd Infantry. 
 Daniel Curtis, 1st Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 John Garland, 1st Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 Turly F. Thomas, 1st Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 Henry J. Conway, Jr., 1st Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 James Dean, 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 Andrew Lewis, 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 Asher Phillips, Paymaster, 3rd Infantry. 
 
 1817. Edward Puroell, Hospital Surgeon's Mate. 
 Albion T. Crow, Hospital Surgeon's Mate. 
 William S. Evelith, 2nd Lieutenant, Engineers. 
 
Officers at Fort Mackinac. 217 
 
 1818. Edward Brooks, 1st Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 Joseph P. Russel, Post Surgeon. 
 
 1819. Joseph Gleason, died at station, March 27th, 1820, 1st 
 
 Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 William Lawrence, Lieut. Colonel, 2nd Infantry. 
 Peter T. January, 2nd Lieutenant, 3d Infantry. 
 John Peacock, 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 William S. Comstock, Surgeon's Mate, 3rd Infantry. 
 
 1821. William Beaumont, Post Surgeon. 
 Thomas C. Legate, Captain, 2nd Artillery. 
 Elija Lyon, 1st Lieutenant, 3rd Artillery. 
 James A. Chambers, 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Artillery 
 Joshua Barney, 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Artillery. 
 
 1822. James M. Spencer, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Artillery. 
 
 1823. Alexander C. W. Fanning, Captain, 2nd Artillery 
 William Whistler, Captain, 3rd Infantry. 
 Samuel W. Hunt, 1st Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 Aaron H. Wright, 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 George H. Crosman, 2nd Lieutenant, 6th Infantry. 
 Steward Cowan, 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. 
 
 1825. William Hoffman, Captain, 2nd Infantry. 
 
 Richard S. Satterlee, Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 Carlos A. Wait, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Seth Johnson, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 
 1826. David Brooks, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Alexander B. Thompson, Captain, 2nd Infantry. 
 
 1827. James G. Allen, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Edwin James, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 Ephraim K. Barnum, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Edwin V. Sumner, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Samuel T. Heintzelman, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 
 1828. Charles F. Morton, 1st. Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Sullivan Burbank, Captain, 5th Infantry. 
 Robert McCabe, Captain, 5th Infantry. 
 William Alexander, 1st Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Abner B. Hetzel, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Josiah H. Vose, Major, 5th Infantry. 
 
 1829. James Engle, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Amos Foster, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Enos Cutler, Lieut. Colonel, 3rd Infantry. 
 Moses E. Merrill, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Ephraim Kirby Smith, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Isaac Lynde, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 
218 History of Mackinac. 
 
 Caleb C. Sibley, 2nd lyieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 William E. Crug^er, 1st Lieutenant, 5ih Infantry. 
 Louis T. Jamison, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 
 1830. Henry Clark, 1st Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 
 1831. John T. CoUingworth, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Robert McMillan, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1832. George M. Brooks, Colonel, 5th Infantry. 
 Waddy V. Cobbs, Captain, 2nd Infantry. 
 
 Joseph S. Gallagher, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 George W. Patten, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Thomas Stockton, Brvt. 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Alexander M. Thompson, Major, 6th Infantry. 
 John B. F. Russell, Captain, 5th Infantry. 
 
 1833. "William Whistler, Major, 2nd Infantry. 
 Ephraim K. Barnum, Captain, 2nd Infantry. 
 Joseph R. Smith, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 James W. Penrose, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Charles S. Frailey, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 George F. Turner, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1834. Jesse H. Leavenworth, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 John Clitz, died at station, Nov. 7, 1836, Captain, 2nd 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 1835. James V. Bomford, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Julius J. B. Kingsbury, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Massena R. Patrick, Brvt. 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 
 1836. James W. Anderson, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Erastus B. Wolcott, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1839. Samuel McKenzie, Captain, 2nd Artillery. 
 Arnold Elzey Jones, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Artillery. 
 
 1840. Harvey Brown, Captain, 4th Artillery. 
 
 John W. Phelps, 1st Lieutenant, 4th Artillery. 
 John C. Pemberton, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Artillery. 
 
 1841. Patrick H. Gait, Captain, 4th Artillery. 
 George C. Thomas, 1st Lieutenant, 4th Artillery. 
 George W. Getty, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Artillery. 
 Henry Holt, Asst. Surgeon, U. S Army. 
 Alexander Johnston, Captain, 5th Infantry. 
 William Chapman, 1st Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Spencer Norvell, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Henry Whiting, 2nd Lieutenant. 5th Infantry. 
 John M. Jones, Brvt. 2nd Lieutenant, Sth Infantry. 
 
 .1842. Martin Scott, Captain. 5th Infantry. 
 Rev. John O'Brien, Chaplain, 
 
Officers at Fori Mackinac. 219 
 
 1813. Levi H. Holden, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 Moses E. Merrill, Captain, 5th Infantry. 
 William Root, 1st Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 John C. Robinson, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 
 1844. John Byrne, Asst. Surgeon. U. S. Army. 
 
 1845. Charles C. Keeney, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 George C. Westcott, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry. 
 Silas Casey, Captain, 2nd Infantry. 
 
 Joseph P. Smith, Brvt. 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 Fred Steele, Brvt. 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Infantry. 
 
 1847. Frazey M. Winans, Captain, 15th Infantry. 
 Michael P. Doyle, 2nd Lieutenant, 15th Infantry 
 Morgan L. Gage, Captain, 1st Michigan Vols. 
 Caleb F. Davis, 1st Lieutenant, 1st Michigan Vols. 
 William F. Chittenden, 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Michigan Vols. 
 
 1848. William N. B. Beall, Brvt. 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Infantry. 
 Charles H. Larned, Captain, 4th Infantry. 
 
 Hiram Dryer, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Infantry. 
 
 1849. Joseph B. Brown, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 Joseph L. Tidball, Brvt. 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Infantry. 
 
 1850. Charles H. Laub, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1851. David L. Russel, 1st Lieutenant, 4th Infantry. 
 
 1852. Thomas Williams,* Captain (Brvt. Major). 4th Artillery. 
 1852. George W. Rains, 1st Lieut. (Brvt. Major), 4th Artillery. 
 
 Jacob Culbertson, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Artillery. 
 Joseph H. Bailey, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1854. John R. Bailey, Actg. Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Armj'. 
 
 1855. John H. Grelaud, 1st Lieutenant, 4th Artillery. 
 Joseph B. Brown, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1856. John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 Edward F. Bagley, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Artillery. 
 William R. Terrell, 1st Lieutenant, 4th Artillery. 
 Joseph H. Wheelock, 1st Lieutenant, 4th Artillery. 
 John Byrne, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1857. Arnold Elzey (Jones), Captain, 2nd Artillery. 
 
 1857. Henry Benson, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Artillery. 
 Guilford D. Bailey, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Artillery. 
 John. R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Arm}-. 
 
 1858. Henry C. Pratt, Captain, 2nd Artillery. 
 
 Henry A. Smalley, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Artillery. 
 John F. Head, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 * See p. 7. 
 
220 History of Mackinac. 
 
 1859. William A. Hammond, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. 
 
 Array. 
 George R. Hartsuff, 1st Ivieutenaut, 2nd Artillery. 
 
 1860. John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 George E. Cooper, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 1862. Grover S. Wormer, Captain, Stanton Guards, Michigan 
 Vols. 
 
 Elias F. Sutton, 1st Lieutenant, Stanton Guards, Michi- 
 gan Vols. 
 
 L/Ouis Hertmeyer, 2nd Lieutenant, Stanton Guards, Mich- 
 igan Vols. 
 
 James Knox, Chaplain, Michigan Vols. 
 
 John Gregg, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army, Michigan Vols. 
 
 Charles W. Le Boutillier, Asst. Surgeon, 1st Minnesota 
 Infantry Vols. 
 
 1866. Jerry N. Hill, Captain, Vet. Res. Corps. 
 Washington L. Wood, 2nd Lieutenant, Vet. Res. Corps. 
 John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1867. John Mitchell (Reed), Captain, 43rd Infantry. 
 Edwin C. Gaskill, 1st Lieutenant, 43rd Infantry. 
 Julius Stommell, 2nd Lieutenant, 43rd Infantry. 
 Hiram R. Mills, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1869. Leslie Smith, Captain (Brvt. Major), 1st Infantry. 
 John Leonard, 1st Lieutenant, 1st Infantry. 
 Matthew Markland, 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Infantry. 
 
 1870. Samuel S. Jessop, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1871. Thomas Sharp, 1st Lieutenant, 1st Infantry. 
 John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1872. William N. Notson, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1873. John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 Carlos Carvallo, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1874. Carlos J. Dickey, Captain (Brvt. Major), 22nd Infantry. 
 John McA. Webster, 2nd Lieutenant, 22nd Infantry. 
 John R. Bailey, Actg. Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 J. Victor DeHanne, Captain, Asst. Surgeon. U. S. A. 
 W. W. Dougherty, 1st Lieutenant, 22nd Infantry. 
 
 1875. Alfred L. Hough, Major, 22nd Infantry. 
 
 1876. Joseph Bush, Captain (Brvt. Major), 22nd Infantry. 
 Thomas H. Fisher, 1st Lieutenant, 22nd Infantry. 
 Fielding L. Davis, 2nd Lieutenant, 22nd Infantry. 
 John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1877. Charles A. Webb, Captain (Brvt. Major), 22nd Infantry. 
 John G. Ballance, 2nd Lieutenant, 22nd Infantry. 
 
Officers at Fort Mackinac. 221 
 
 Theodore Mosher, Jr., 2nd Lieutenant, 22nd Infantry-. 
 Peter MoflFatt, Captain, Asst. Surg-eon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1878. Oscar D. Ladley, 1st Lieutenant, 22nd Infantry. 
 
 1879. Edwin E. Sellers, died April 8th, 1884, Captain (Brvt. 
 
 Major), 10th Infantry. 
 Dwight H. Kelton, 1st Lieutenant, 10th Infantrj*. 
 Walter T. Dugg-an, 1st Lieutenant, 10th Infantry. 
 Bogardus Eldridge, 2nd Lieutenant, 10th Infantry. 
 Edward H. Plummer, 2nd Lieutenant, 10th Infantry. 
 Charles L. Davis, Captain, 10th Infantry. 
 John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1880. George W. Adair, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1881. John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon. U. S. Army. 
 
 1882. "William H. Corbusier, Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. 
 
 Army. 
 
 1883. John Adams Perry, 2nd Lieutenant, 10th Infantry. 
 
 1884. George K. Brady, Captain (Brvt. Lt. Col.), 23rd Infantry. 
 Greenleaf A. Goodale, Captain, 23rd Infantry. 
 
 Edward B. Pratt, 1st Lieutenant, 23d Infantry. 
 Stephen O'Connor, 2nd Lieutenant, 23rd Infantry. 
 Benjamin C. Morse, 2nd Lieutenant, 23rd Infantry. 
 Calvin D. Cowles, 1st Lieutenant, 23rd Infantry. 
 J. Rozier Clagett, 1st. Lieutenant, 23rd Infantry. 
 John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1886. William C, Manning, Captain, 23rd Infantry. 
 George B. Davis, 2nd Lieutenant, 23rd Infantry. 
 
 1887. Charles E. Woodruff, 1st Lieutenant, Asst. Surgeon, U. 
 
 S. Army. 
 
 1889. John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 Harlan E. McVay, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1890. Jacob H. Smith, Captain, 19th Infantry. 
 Charles T. Witherell, Captain, 19th Infantry. 
 Edmund D. Smith, 1st Lieutenant, 19th Infantry. 
 
 1890. Zebulon B. Vance, Jr., 2nd Lieutenant, 19th Infantry. 
 Woodridge Geary, 2nd Lieutenant, 19th Infantry. 
 Henry G. Learnard, 2nd Lieutenant, 19th Infantry. 
 Edwin M. Coates, Major, 19th Infantry. 
 
 Harlan E. McVay, 1st Lieut., Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 
 1891. John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 Alexander McC. Guard. Captain, 19th Infantry. 
 Joseph Frazier, 2nd Lieutenant, 19th Infantry. 
 
 1892. Edwin F. Gardner. Captain, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. A. 
 John R. Bailey, Attending Surgeon. 
 
222 History of Mackinac. 
 
 Edwin F. Gardner, Capt , Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Arm)'. 
 1893. John Howard, 2nd Lieutenant, 19th Infantry. 
 
 James Ronayne, 2nd Lieutenant, 19th Infantry. 
 189+. Clarence E. Bennett, Major (Brvt. Col. U. S. V.), 19th 
 
 Infantry. 
 1894-5. Woodbridge Geary, 1st L,t. (Comd'g Post), 19th Infantry. 
 
 John R. Bailey, Attending Surgeon. 
 1895. E. M. Johnson, Jr., 1st Lieut., 19th Infantry. 
 
 Fort Mackinac was evacuated by Major Thomas Wil- 
 liams' command, Co. "L," 4th Artillery, October 12th, 
 1856, and re-garrisoned May 25th, 1857, by Capt. Arnold 
 Elzey (Jones), Co. "E," 2nd Artillery. August 2d the 
 command, and that at Fort Brady, Sault Ste. Marie, all 
 under Capt. Henry C. Pratt, Co. "G," 2nd Artillery, with 
 John R. Bailey, A. A. Surgeon, U. S. Army, were ordered 
 to the scene of Indian hostilities at Fort Snelling, Min- 
 nesota. June 6th, 1858, Fort Mackinac re-garrisoned by 
 Capt. Pratt with Co. "G," 2d Artillery, and evacuated 
 April 28th, 1861, by the same officer and command. 
 Re-occupied May 10th, 1862, by Capt. Grover S. Wormer, 
 Co. "A," Stanton Guards, Mich. Vols., who had in 
 charge "Genl. William G. Harding, Genl. Washington 
 Barrows and Judge Joseph C. Guild,'' "Confederates," 
 prisoners of war. September 10th, 1862, the troops and 
 prisoners were removed to Detroit, and the three state 
 prisoners sent to Johnson's Island, Lake Erie. Re-gar- 
 risoned August 3rd, 1866, by the 4th Independent Com- 
 pany V. R. Corps, and that command ordered away 
 August 26th, to be mustered out of service. The fort 
 re-occupied August 22d, 1867, by Co. "B," 43d U. S. 
 Infantry, Capt. (Brevet Col.) John Mitchell (Reed) com- 
 manding; and, since then has continued to be garrisoned. 
 The present garrison is a detachment of the 19th U. S. 
 Infantry, under 1st Lieutenant Woodbridge Geary, with 
 
Churches. — Summer Resort. 223 
 
 a quartermaster serg-eant and twelve men. John R. 
 Bailey, Attending- Surg-eon. 
 
 The title of the "National Park Bill," setting- apart 
 the "Military Reservation and United States lands" on 
 the Island of Mackinac, makes "The Commanding- Offi- 
 cer of Fort Mackinac, ex-officio superintendent of said 
 park." During^ all the periods from 1856, when the 
 troops were absent, the fort was in charg-e of the late 
 Ordnance Serg-eant William Marshall, deceased. 
 
 CHURCHES. 
 
 1895. The oldest Christian parish on the island is St. 
 Ann's, Roman Catholic, that may be said to date from 
 1669, or before, Reverend Father James Miller in charge. 
 Presbyterian "Mission" and school dates from 1823, and 
 the "Mission House" and church was subsequently 
 erected; the "Mission Church," now a Union Chapel, is 
 being repaired. "Trinity"* parish, formerly "St. An- 
 drew's," Protestant Episcopal, dates from 1842; and the 
 church on Fort Street was erected in 1882, mainly 
 throug-h the efforts and with the funds of devoted Chris- 
 tian women of the island and their tourist friends. 
 Mackinac Island is the summer residence of the Bishop 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. 
 
 MACKINAC ISLAND.— A SUMMER RESORT 
 
 About 1842 a few southern families began making the 
 island a resort. They brought their slaves with them 
 and often remained the entire season, from June until 
 November. Year after year the tourists, who could they 
 only come by water, gradually increased, also the accom- 
 
 * 1099. Rev. Lea Kelk-Wilson, Rector. 
 
224 History of Mackinac. 
 
 modations, by remodeling- old buildings, in proportion to 
 the gfuests. 
 
 After "the late unpleasantness," 1861-5, summer travel 
 increased with years of peace and prosperity, railroads 
 (lines before mentioned) projected their roads to both 
 sides of the straits, more steamers were placed in com- 
 mission, new hotels, boarding- houses, and private cot- 
 tages erected, until finally, the island has become one of 
 the noted and most celebrated of the world's resorts. 
 
 From an experience of over forty years in the practice 
 of medicine on Mackinac Island, and vicinity, much of 
 that time as Post Surg-eon, Fort Mackinac, we have 
 observed that all cases of debility, and prostration from 
 whatever disease or cause — ^when the patients* are not 
 beyond the hope of recovery — are benefited by the pure 
 bracing- air, and often cured. Miasmatic diseases do not 
 exist, and epidemics from purely local causes can hardly 
 occur. At the fort, with an average command of 60 to 
 80 men (or about 100, women and children, included), 
 there has been for two or three months — at times— in 
 succession, a clean sick report. Few places can show as 
 g-ood a health bill the year round. 
 
 Professional and active business men, prostrated by 
 active, mental and physical exertion, and the heat of 
 cities, debilitated women, nursing- mothers, and teething- 
 children, suffering- with diseases peculiar to dentition 
 and hot weather, are often cured as if by mag-ic — under 
 proper manag-ement — by the chang-e to this climate. 
 The island and vicinity, from June to November is the 
 place, "par excellance," for the relief of hay-fever and 
 all asthmatic subjects. It is not prudent to bring- 
 patients here in the last stag-es of consumption or wast- 
 ing- thoracic diseases, but cases in the incipient stag-es 
 
226 History of Mackinac. 
 
 are often greatly benefited. As the months of March, 
 April, November and December are variable and subject 
 to extremes of temperature, if this island has any local 
 disease, it is rheumatism and kindred affections, but for 
 such the summer and mid-winter seasons are not objec- 
 tionable. 
 
 It is the days of long- continued sunlight, the air, 
 tempered by g-reat inland fresh-water seas, latitude, alti- 
 tude and position of Mackinac Island, that makes the 
 climate. Summer days, including twilight, are from 3 
 A. M., to 9:30 p. M. The whole face of nature has 
 lengthened, daily sunshine, and in consequence, all veg-- 
 etable and animal life is vigorous and buoyant with cir- 
 culation. A hop-vine has been known to grow eighteen 
 inches in twenty-four hours, and in May you can watch 
 currant leaves unfolding in your garden. 
 
 What to wear: When you come to Mackinac bring- 
 your winter g-arments, wear them, and take in the sun- 
 baths. Your appetite will increase, digestion improve, 
 and nightly, under soft blankets, you will sleep the 
 charming sleep of perfect restfulness. 
 
 The extremes of cold and heat are less than in that 
 same latitude east and west, and some places far to the 
 south. 
 
 Monthly mean and extreme temperature for a series of 
 twenty-four years, taken from Meteorological Records, 
 Fahrenheit thermometer, are: June, 57°; July, 65°; 
 August, 64°; September, 55°; October, 45°; November, 
 34°; December, 23°; January, 19°; February, 18°; March, 
 26°; April, 37°; May, 48°; yearly mean, 41°; minimum, 
 -23°; maximum, 90°. Annual rainfall, 28 inches. 
 
 At Sault Ste. Marie, not a degree north, minimum has 
 been -55° in Feburary (when -29° here); maximum, 95° 
 
Al/i tildes. — Acts of Congress. 227 
 
 to 100"; Montreal, -36° to 102°; St. Paul, less than a 
 degree south, minimum, -56°; maximum, 103°; St Louis, 
 Mo., minimum, -25°; maximum, 108°. We have only 
 once, during- a residence of 43 years, seen the minimum 
 here, -29°, and maximum never above 90°. 
 
 ALTITUDES. 
 
 The following- table of altitudes is from Winchell's 
 Geological Reports and Lake Surveys: 
 
 Lake Huron and Michigan above sea. feet 581.3 
 
 Fort Mackinac, parade ground, above lake 133 
 
 Fort Mackinac, upper level, above lake 150 
 
 Principal plateau of Mackinac Island above lake.. 150 
 
 Upper plateau of Mackinac Island above lake 294 
 
 Fort Holmes above lake 318 
 
 Sugar Loaf Rock, summit, above lake 284 
 
 Arch Rock, top of arch, above lake 140 
 
 Arch Rock, summit, above lake 149 
 
 Arch Rock, buttress, top of, facing lake, above lake 105 
 
 Robertson's Folly 127 
 
 Lover's Leap, above lake 145 
 
 Lake Superior, above sea 601.3 
 
 ACTS OF CONGRESS FOR MACKINAC ISLAND. 
 
 At the sug-g-estion of Dr. John R. Bailey, and through 
 the influence of Senator Thomas W. Ferry, who intro- 
 duced the bill, the "Indian Dormitory," a part of the 
 military reservation, 0.46 acres, between the fort gar- 
 dens (the building and grounds enclosed), was ceded, by 
 Act of Congress, in 1870 to Union School District No. 
 1, Township of Holmes, Mackinac Island; "For educa- 
 tional purposes only, and, if ever converted to other 
 uses, it shall revert to the government." 
 
 Four other bills passed. Acts of Congress, were pro- 
 posed by Dr. Bailey— three were introduced by Senator 
 Ferry, the last by Senator O. D. Conger and Rep. 
 
228 Hiitury of AJackinac. 
 
 Breitung-. The first was the "Mackinac Island National 
 Park" Bill (passed March 3rd, 1875)— two were of a 
 private nature — and the fourth the "fBois Blanc Island" 
 Bill; in "An Act to provide for the disposal of aban- 
 doned and useless Military Reservations." * 
 =!: Sec. 3. ****** 
 
 "And provided further, the proceeds of the military 
 reservation lands sold to Bois Blanc Island near to Fort 
 Mackinac military reservation shall be set apart as a sep- 
 arate fund for the improvement of the National Park on 
 the Island of Mackinac, Michig^an, under the direction 
 of the Secretary of War," passed, 1884. Act disre- 
 garded and subverted. 
 
 The following provision in the "Sundry Civil Bill," 
 was introduced by Senator McMillan, at the suggestion 
 of the Secretary of War, and passed at the close of the 
 last session of Congress, March 3rd, 1895." 
 
 "165. Military Reservation on Mackinac Island, 
 Michigan. The Secretary of War is hereby authorized 
 on the application of the Governor of Michigan, to turn 
 over to the State of Michigan, for use as a State Park, 
 and for no other purpose, the military reservation and 
 buildings, and the land of the National Park on Macki- 
 nac Island, Michigan; Provided that whenever the state 
 ceases to use the land for the purpose aforesaid, it shall 
 revert to the United States." The measure is, now 
 before the State Legislature. If Michigan proposes to 
 set up alone in the kingdom business she wants this key 
 to the waterways, but if not it may be well for the U. S, 
 to "hold the fort." 
 
 If under the French and British regime and with the 
 United States, up to the present time, the possession of 
 
 tSee p. 212. 
 
Defenses of the Straits of Mackinac. 229 
 
 the Island of Mackinac and its fortification, has been 
 deemed so important, why should a continuance of its 
 occupation be, all at once, considered useless? . A strate- 
 g"ic point once selected, on any commercial hig^hway, 
 must, so long- as there is a necessity for an army and 
 navy for foreign or local defense, alway remain. More 
 vessels of every class, with a g-reater tonnag-e and larg-er 
 value, annually pass through these straits and, by ferry, 
 across them, than in any channel in the known world. 
 Assuming- there is no longer danger from Great Britain, 
 simply because that nation never considers it policy to 
 attack an equal or a stronger power, unless she finds it 
 divided or crippled by internal strife, that reason is not 
 conclusive. Suppose, in times of peace and fancied 
 security, there should arise an insurrection, riot, rebel- 
 lion, or a band of robbers invade these channels in an 
 armed vessel, and any of said parties hold the position 
 for two or three days, or less time, interrupt navigation 
 and stop the railway ferries. They could destroy float- 
 ing property and lives, levy contributions and interrupt 
 railroad connections, that would cost this government 
 more than it would to hold the fort a hundred years. A 
 small garrison, with two or three properly mounted 
 "disappearing" modern guns, and gunboat well armed 
 to rendezvous in the harbor and patrol the waters, would 
 be ample security, at comparatively little cost. 
 
 MACKINAC ISLAND. 
 
 Hon. Henry R. Schoolcraft, Indian Agent from 1833 
 to 1841, and author, writes, after a visit to Mackinac 
 Island in 1820: 
 
 "Nothing can exceed the beauty of this island. It is 
 a mass of calcareous rock, rising from the bed of Lake 
 
230 History of Mackinac. 
 
 Huron, and reaching- an elevation of more than three 
 hundred feet above the water. The waters around it 
 are purity itself. Some of its cliffs shoot up perpendicu- 
 larly, and tower in pinacles, like ruinous g-othic steeples. 
 It is cavernous in some places; and in these caverns the 
 ancient Indians, like those of India, have placed their 
 dead. Portions of the beach are level, and adapted to 
 loading- from boats and canoes. The harbor at its south 
 end is a little gem. Vessels anchor in it and find g-ood 
 holding. The little old-fashioned French town nestles 
 around it in a very primitive style. The fort frowns 
 above it, like another Alhambra, its white walls gleam- 
 ing- 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 some of these 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 g-rowth of 
 rock-maples, oaks, iron-wood, and other hard-wood 
 species; and there are still parts of this ancient forest 
 left, but all the southern limits of it exhibit a young- 
 g-rowth. There are walks and winding paths among its 
 little hills, and precipices of the most romantic charac- 
 ter. And whenever the visitor gets on eminences over- 
 looking the lake, he is transported with sublime views 
 of a most ilimitable and magnificent water-prospect. If 
 the poetic muses are ever to have a new Parnassus in 
 America they should inevitably fix on Michilimackinac. 
 Hygeia, too, should place her temple here; for it has one 
 of the purest, driest, clearest, and most healthful atmos- 
 pheres." 
 
SUGAR LOAF ROCK. MACKINAC ISLAND. 
 
232 History oj Mackinac. 
 
 Geologically speaking-, too, the island is interesting 
 and instructive. It appears to be a confused mass of 
 corniferous limestone, 250 or more feet in thickness, in 
 places the strata, well defined but broken, and tilted at 
 various angles, and at its base are the rocks of the 
 Onondaga salt group. Prof. Winchell writes: 
 
 "The well-characterized limestones of the Upper 
 Ilelderberg group, to the thickness of two hundred. and 
 fifty feet, exist in a confusedly brecciated condition. 
 The individual fragments of the mass are angular, and 
 seem to have been but little moved from their original 
 places. It appears as if the whole formation had been 
 shattered by sudden vibrations and unequal uplifts, and 
 afterward a thin calcareous mud poured over the broken 
 mass, percolating through all the interstices, 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 various angles and in all directions, 
 sometimes exhibiting abrupt flexures, and not infre- 
 quently a complete downthrow of fifteen or twenty feet. 
 These phenomena were particularly noticed at the cliif 
 known as 'Robertson's Folly.' 
 
 "In the highest part of the island, back of Old Fort 
 Holmes, the formation is much less brecciated, and 
 exhibits an oolitic character, as first observed 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 unbroken con- 
 tinuance of the same kind of aqueous action from that 
 time durinsf the gradual subsidence of the waters to 
 
Geology of Mackinac Island. 233 
 
 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 g-rottoes excavated in the brecciated 
 materials of 'Sug-ar-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 
 alleg"e that the water of the lakes, as such, has ever 
 stood at the level of the summit of Sug-ar-loaf. Nor do 
 we speak upon the question whether these chang-es have 
 been caused by the subsidence 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 foreg-o any discussion of them.'^ 
 
 Professor Winchell believed there had been some ele- 
 vation of the island and surrounding- land, but more 
 subsidence of the waters: "much of which was probably 
 effected during- the prevalence of the continental g-lacial, 
 and much during- the time of floods following-, and the 
 action of the sea while the region was submerg-ed." 
 
 The g-rand feature of the island formation is the 
 "Arch Rock," in the bluff, on the eastern face. 
 
 The following- parody on a popular song was found, in 
 1865, written on a stone, placed on a water-worn shelf 
 near the base of the arch, it was first published in 1870. 
 
 "Beauteous Isle! I sing of thee, 
 
 Mackinac, my Mackinac; 
 Thy lake-bound shores I love to see, 
 Mackinac, my Mackinac. 
 From Arch Rock's height and shelving steep 
 To western cliflFs and Ivover's Leap, 
 Where memories of the lost one sleep, 
 Mackinac, my Mackinac. 
 
234 Ilistoiy of Mackinac. 
 
 Thy northern shore trod British foe, 
 
 Mackinac, my Mackinac, 
 That day saw gallant Holmes laid low, 
 Mackinac, m3' 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.'" 
 
 ARCH ROCK. 
 
 Summit of arch rock above lake level 149 feet. Foster 
 and Whitney mention the Arch and Sug-ar-Loaf Rocks, 
 **as particular examples of denuding* action." 
 
Geology of Mackinac Island. 235 
 
 "The portion supporting the arch on the north side, 
 and the curve of the arch itself, are comparatively frag- 
 ile, and can not for a long period resist the action of 
 rains and frosts, which, in this latitude, and on a rock 
 thus constituted, produce great ravages every season. 
 The arch, which on one side now connects this abutment 
 with the main cliff, will soon be destroyed, as well as the 
 abutment itself, and the whole be precipitated into the 
 lake/' 
 
 GLEANED FROM "THE HIGHEST OLD SHORE LINE ON MACKINAC 
 ISLAND," BY F. B. TAYLOR, 1892. 
 
 "All the lower levels of Mackinac show plain evidence 
 of past glacial action. The modern beach is composed 
 almost entirely of limestone pebbles which are generally 
 well rounded." The beach on which the village is built, 
 from the water to an altitude of forty-five or fifty feet, 
 is of the same material. 
 
 "Post glacial submergence is more plainly marked 
 from the 170 foot plain where there is a well developed 
 beach ridge, and four others, up to 205 feet, about the 
 base of Fort Holmes hill. Facing the N. E. cliff's of 
 Fort Holmes ("island"), the beach lines are all wanting 
 but the 170 foot ridge. The surface of the island is well 
 sprinkled with bowlders, many erratics, of northern 
 origin, their exposed surfaces strongly weathered. 
 There are no bowlders with glacial scratches below the 
 205 foot level. 
 
 "Then the real 'Ancient Island,' three-quarters of a 
 mile long and less than half as wide, its longer axis 
 northwest and southeast, the highest point, covered by 
 the British earthwork, is the Fort Holmes plateau. It 
 is covered with drift, the bowlders and pebbles striated. 
 
236 History of Mackinac. 
 
 The fort embankment, surrounded by a ditch five or six 
 feet deep, is most entirely bowlder clay mixed with 
 striated bowlders and pebbles. 
 
 "All the main land, north and south, was submerged 
 when the summit of the Island of Michilimackinac 
 ( 'Pequod-e-nong-e') was a dot in the waters." We leave 
 the rest to the reader for deeper study, theories and con- 
 jecture. 
 
 "Ye call these red-browed brethren 
 
 The insects of the hour, 
 Crushed like the noteless worm amid 
 
 The regions of their power; 
 Ye drive them from their fathers' lands, 
 
 Ye break the faith, the seal; 
 But can ye from the court of Heaven 
 
 Exclude their last appeal?" 
 
MACKINAC ISLAND STATE PARK. 
 
 PUBLIC ACTS, MICHIGAN, REGULAR SESSION, 1895, PAGES 514, 
 
 515. [NO. 222.] 
 
 AN ACT to provide for the appointment of a board of commis- 
 sioners who shall have the management and control of the 
 Mackinac Island State Park, and defining its powers and 
 duties. 
 
 Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact: That, 
 pursuant to an act of congress authorizing the Secretary of War, 
 on the application of the Governor of the State of Michigan, to 
 turn over to the State of Michigan- for use as a state park, and 
 for no other purpose, the military reservation and buildings and 
 the lands of the national park on Mackinac Island, Michigan. 
 Provided, that whenever the State ceases to use the lands for the 
 purposes aforesaid, it shall revert to the United States; the Gov- 
 ernor be and he is hereby authorized and directed to make appli- 
 cation to the Secretary of War, as aforesaid; and that upon the 
 turning over to the State of Michigan of said military reserva- 
 tion and the buildings and the lands of the national park on 
 Mackinac Island, the same shall thereafter be known as the 
 "Mackinac Island State Park." 
 
 Sec. 2. Provides: Within thirty days, appointment by the 
 Governor, with the Senate's consent, of a board of five commis- 
 sioners, citizens of the State, to serve, respectively, two, four, 
 six, eight and ten years; also, the Governor to be ex-officio, a 
 member. Commissioners serve without compensation, but may 
 receive actual expenses out of the park fund, for not exceeding 
 one week in each year. Governor to fill vacancies. 
 
 Sec. 3. Provides: Commission can lay out, control and man- 
 age park, employ and pay a superintendent, but debts and obli- 
 gations can not exceed the funds on hand. Commissioners can 
 designate one or more employes to act as deputy sheriffs of 
 Mackinac County, with sheriff's approval, without pay or com- 
 pensation as such. Commissioners report to Governor annually 
 
 (237) 
 
238 History of Mackinac. 
 
 receipts and expenditures, and recommend and sug-gest as may 
 seem proper. 
 
 Sec. 4. Provides: Superintendent shall see " that tlie United 
 Slates flag- is kept floating- from the flag staff of Fort Macki- 
 nac " under rules governing- when the fort -was occupied " by 
 the United States troops." Approved May 31st, 1895. 
 
 MACKINAC ISLAND STATE PARK COMMISSION. 
 
 Term expires. _ 
 Hazen S. Pingree, Governor, ex-officio — 
 
 f Peter White, President, Marquette, June 21, 1901 
 
 f George T. Arnold, V-President, Mackinac Island.. June 21, 1903 
 
 *George H. Barbour, Detroit June 21, 1905 
 
 *Charles R. Miller, Sec'y and Treas., Adrian June 21, 1907 
 
 *William A. Perren, Detroit..^. ..June 21, 1909 
 
 The Commission held its first meeting in the Grand Hotel, 
 Mackinac Island, July 11th, 1895, elected officers, and adopted 
 rules for the park. Subsequently the Governor accepted the 
 park for the State of Michigan from the Secretary of War. 
 
 The detachment of U. S. troops vacated the fort Sept. 16th, 
 1895, and embarked for Sault Ste. Marie, and 1st Lieutenant 
 Woodbridge Geary, U. S. Army, commanding, (ex officio super- 
 intendent,) turned the fort and Park over to George T. Arnold, 
 Acting Superintendent of Mackinac Island State Park. 
 
 1897. Michigan Legislature passed March 31st, Joint Resolu- 
 tion 14, to provide for restoring Fort Mackinac to the United 
 States, authorizing Mackinac Island State Park Commission to 
 transfer the Fort and Military Reservation (103.41 acres) to the 
 United States whenever the Secretary of War notifies the Com- 
 mission it is desired for military occupation. 
 
 In conclusion, the fort on the Straits of Michilimackinac has 
 been in three locations: Fort Michilimackinac (St. Ignace) North 
 Peninsula, 1673, Fort Michilimackinac (Old Mackinaw) South 
 Peninsula, :j;l721-80. Fort Mackinac, Michilimackinac Island, 
 1780. 
 
 § Michilimackinac was the official distinctive title of an exten- 
 sive territory or province of New France and the name was not 
 lOcal nor confined to the Island of " Michili-Mackinac," where 
 it originated, as many suppose. 
 
 ^Appointed by John T. Rich. 
 ■^Appointed by Hazeti S. Pingree. 
 JExact time of occupation not determined. 
 §See pp. 2S-32, 34, 91. 208. 
 
240 
 
 History of Mackinac. 
 
 MACKINAC ISLAND HOTELS. 
 
 Capacity 
 
 The Grand 1,000 
 
 Island House 300 
 
 Astor House.. -.. 300 
 
 Mission House 250 
 
 New Mackinac 250 
 
 New Murray 200 
 
 The Rectory . 25 
 
 
 Capacity 
 
 Lake View 
 
 100 
 
 New Chicago 
 
 , 90 
 
 Bennett Hall 
 
 150 
 
 Brunswick 
 
 75 
 
 Palmer House 
 
 50 
 
 Lozon House 
 
 50 
 
 BOARDING HOUSES. 
 
 Mrs. A. E. Davis. 
 
 Cameron & Packard. 
 
 Old Homestead. 
 
 S. B. Pool. 
 
 James Hoban. 
 
 Mrs. Belle Gallagher. 
 
 Stephen Dowd. 
 
 Mrs. Thomas Gallagher. 
 
 Thomas Chambers. 
 
 
 SAINT IGNACE. 
 
 
 Hutc-l Cadillac 
 
 150 Russell House _ 
 
 50 
 
 jiuii.i.'nn 
 
 40 The Algoinah 
 
 40 
 
 LES CHENEAUX. 
 
 Name of Hotel. Proprietor or Manager. 
 
 Bethel Home W. H. Law. 
 
 Club House -- Geo. Davidson. 
 
 Pennsylvania Hotel .. Samuel Meik. 
 
 New Mulcalonge W. A. Patrick. 
 
 Les Cheneaux Hotel Chas. Hessel. 
 
 Elliot House A. H. & J. W. Beach. 
 
 Islington Hotel.. Melchers & Co. 
 
 The Lookout Hossack & Co. 
 
 Lake Side Hotel John Coryell. 
 
Transportation. — Roads and Paths. 241 
 
 STEAMER AND RAIL LINES TO MACKINAC ISLAND. 
 
 Anchor Line. 
 
 Arnold Line. 
 
 Detroit & Cleveland Nav. Co. 
 
 Lake Mich. & Lake Sup. Trans. Co. 
 
 Northern Steamship Co. 
 
 Northern Mich. Trans. Co. 
 
 Hart Line Steamers. 
 
 Great Northern Transit Co. 
 
 North Shore Nav. Co. 
 
 Island Trans. Co. 
 
 Inland Route Steamers. 
 
 Michigan Central Railroad. 
 
 Grand Rapids & Indiana Ry. 
 
 Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Ry. 
 
 Steamer Columbia. 
 
 Also tramp or wild steamers and many private yachts. 
 
 ROADS AND PATHS ON MACKINAC ISLAND. 
 
 Steamers landing from twenty to fifty per day. 
 
 "When you land at Mackinac Island, by lake steamers or by the 
 steam ferries that connect with the M. C. G. R. & I., D., S. S. & 
 A., and Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie R. Rs., face to 
 the front, with the town and fort before you. The road through 
 the center of the island leads from the fort to Fort Holmes, Skull 
 Cave, Cemeteries, Dousman's Farm ('* Earley's "), Battle Field, 
 British Landing, Boulevard and Scott's Cave. Roads to the 
 right (eastward) to east end, Robertson's Folly, Giants' Stair- 
 way, Fairy Arch, Arch Rock, Sugar Loaf Rock, Park ave- 
 nue and Leslie avenue into the British Landing road. Roads to 
 the left (westward) to Grand Hotel, Park avenue, "West End," 
 Wacheo, ("Hubbard's Annex"), Lover's Leap. Chimne_y Rock, 
 and Lover's Lane, and Cupid's Pathway, into the British Land- 
 ing road. Consult Outline Map of Mackinac Island. You can- 
 not get lost, if attentive to directions, but if you do it will only 
 be a charming temporary novelty. 
 
 In an address, "Mackinac Island and Its Associations," of the 
 author, before the New York Genealogical and Biographical 
 Society, New York City, Dec. 10th, 1897, is the following, in con- 
 clusion: 
 
242 Histo?'y of Mackinac. 
 
 " If when battle fields are being set off, as National Parks and 
 Reservations, that help to perpetuate the memories of Civil 
 strife, why not I'eg'arrison the old Fort, on the historic island, 
 where battles were fought with a foreign foe! An island named 
 by the savages, and whose settlement by the whites, is coinci- 
 dent with the discovery of this continent; where the soldiers of 
 three great nations have proudly marched over its sacred soil, 
 and, on the shores of the straits, their flags have triumphantly 
 waved." 
 
 In the fall of 1896, a lake shore " Beach Boulevard " 1\%%% miles 
 from Borough Lot to Mission Park was projected, and section 
 from Grand Hotel to British landing, 15,100 feet, completed. 
 About $5,000 will construct the north and east sides. This boule- 
 vard, when finished, will be a driveway that can be nowhere 
 excelled for novelty, variety and scenic effect — another charm to 
 nature's Fairy Isle. 
 
 We respectfully suggest, the east shore water front of the Park 
 should be left, as it now is, adorned with nature's loveliness, and 
 the Beach Boulevard terminate at the line intersecting the 
 Earley farm and the Park, there to be connected with Leslie 
 Avenue, up the hill, by that part of the old established roadway 
 to Scott's Cave. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 INDEX, PARTIAL, TO NAMES, SUBJECTS OF BOOK, ETC. 
 
 page; 
 
 A. D. 1492, Navigation 13 j 
 
 A. D. 1899, Navigation 207 
 
 A cadia 20,30; 
 
 Alaska ...14, 16 
 
 Albany 74, 75 
 
 Aryan - 17 
 
 Asia 13,17,28 
 
 Apalachian mountains 30 
 
 Bays — Bay of Biscay 19 
 
 Bay de Noquet 25, 26 
 
 Georgian 22,24,28, 65, 
 
 82, 177, 186, 189 
 
 Grand Traverse 143, 206 
 
 Green (Bay des Puants. 
 L,a Baye). .24-29, 37, 42, 44, 
 55, 57, 62, 67, 70,101 181- 
 186, 187 
 
 GaspeBay 18 
 
 Hudson.. -21,72. 93 
 
 Little Tra vrese 206 
 
 Matchadash 177, 186-9 
 
 Saginaw 65, 87, 145 
 
 Thunder 65, 89 
 
 Beaver Islands 24, 45, 124-5, 
 
 Bois Blanc Island. .65, 87, 168, 
 179, 188, 213, 228 
 
 British America 30 
 
 Cadro, Madam (now Cadotte). 15, 
 16, 201 
 
 California . 16, 52 
 
 Cape Breton 30 
 
 Champlain, Samuel 20-27 
 
 Cheboygan.. 102, 206, 208 
 
 Chicago - -.32, 57 
 
 China. 16, 52 
 
 Chippeway language 31-2 
 
 Columbus ... 17 
 
 Conger, O. D. (U. S. Sen- 
 ator). 227 
 
 Cortez --18 
 
 Cross Village.. 89, 98, 135-6, 142 
 
 144 
 
 PAGK 
 
 Deed of Mackinac Island.. 160, 
 
 162-4 
 
 DeTour... 25 
 
 Death of Pere Jacques Mar- 
 quette 57-58 
 
 Detroit.. 31, 64, 71, 83, 85, 104, 
 106, 132-5, 145, 180, 185, 192 
 
 Etharita .28 
 
 Esquimaux 14 
 
 Extracts — Doc. Hist, of N. 
 
 Y... ..74, 83, 157 
 
 Falls — Niagara 64 
 
 St. Anthony's 67 
 
 Sault Ste. Marie 25,179 
 
 Ferry, Thomas W. (Senator) 
 
 198, 227 
 
 Fisheries, fish 41-3, 199, 200 
 
 Flood (Deluge) 17 
 
 Franciscan monks, Huge- 
 
 nots, Jesuits 22, 23 
 
 Florida 23,30 
 
 Governor of Michigan. .228, 237, 
 
 238 
 Gebi-wau-beck (or bee), 
 
 "Cliffside," St. Ignace.. 60-61 
 
 Genesis of the Indian. 13-17 
 
 Gulf of California ..,52 
 
 Mexico.-. ..17 
 
 St. Lawrence 18 
 
 Henry, Alexander 90, 157 
 
 Islands — Drummond's 190 
 
 Round 180 
 
 St. Joseph's.. 161, 170, 177, 
 179, 182 
 
 Illustrations — Arch Rock 234 
 
 Fort Mackinac. 148, 158, 181, 
 
 191, 211 
 
 "Block" House of.. 166, 176 
 
 , Cadro, Madam 201 
 
 Fairy Arch of the Giant's 
 
 Stairway 187, 204 
 
 Indian.. 8, 13 
 
 Marquette, statue of 58 
 
 243 
 
244 
 
 Index. 
 
 Illustrations — page 
 
 Mackinac Island.. 6, 11, 225, 
 239 
 Sentry box and parapet 
 
 of Fort Mackinac 181 
 
 Marquette at St. Ignace 
 de Michilimackinac-- 38 
 
 Skull Cave 139 
 
 Sug-ar Loaf Rock, Mack- 
 inac Island. ... 231 
 
 Str. Sainte Marie 139 
 
 The Griffon 63 
 
 Indian languag^e 31 
 
 Indian legend 33-5 
 
 Iroquois massacre of the 
 
 Hurons 21-29 
 
 Indians — 
 
 Algonquins 6, 9-24, 236, 
 
 21-2, 24-6, 61, 82 
 
 Ama kou ai 24 
 
 Assineboines 16 
 
 Choctaws 112 
 
 Chickasaws 56, 112 
 
 Chippeway.-15, 31-7, 86, 89, 
 99, 103, 107, 157 
 
 Delawares 85, 105 
 
 Hurons. -.22-5, 28, 39-43, 46, 
 
 50-4, 69, 80 
 
 Huron woman in Asia.- 28 
 
 Fox- ...26.73 
 
 Illinois 27, 56 
 
 Iroquois- -22, 28-9, 33-4, 36-7, 
 73, 76, 78 
 Kiskakon, Ottawa band, 
 
 58, 61 
 
 Mandan... 30 
 
 Menomones 55, 48, 136 
 
 Mohawks .- 27 
 
 Nez Perces 24, 26, 47 
 
 Ottawa. -31-7, 39, 45-6, 48, 
 
 60, 68-9, 76-7, 89, 98, 101, 
 
 102-4, 124-36 
 
 Potawattomies-.45, 48, 60, 
 
 136 
 
 Sacs 26 
 
 Senecas'. 74, 79, 80-2 
 
 Sioux --16, 22, 25, 46, 56, 60, 
 136 
 
 Shawnees 56 
 
 Six (5) Nations. 82 
 
 Winnebagoes 26-7 
 
 Isle aux Ontardes 146 
 
 (Beaver Islands.) 
 Isle du Castor-. -24, 72 123. 125, 
 
 146 
 
 PAGK 
 
 Japan 16 
 
 Japan current (Curo Shwio) 16 
 Jews 16 
 
 Joliet (JoUiet, Jollyet)-.49, 53-7, 
 
 61 
 
 Key of the lakes... 69, 70, 162, 
 
 176, 185, 189 
 
 Lakes — Champlain ...21, 30 
 
 Des Allumettes 32 
 
 Erie 64, 79, 87, 177, 186 
 
 Great Slave 14, 15 
 
 Huron- -21, 24, 26, 28, 30-1, 
 
 34, 36, 42-8, 82, 99, 92, 168, 
 
 177, 227 
 
 Michigan -.24, 36, 42-4, 89, 
 
 92-3, 98, 168, 227 
 
 Nipissing-- 22, 24, 188 
 
 Onondagua 22 
 
 Ontario.-. 22,79 
 
 Simcoe 186, 188 
 
 St. Clair 87, 104 
 
 Superior. -21, 29-39, 43, 47, 
 49, 93, 98, 178, 227 
 
 Les Cheneaux. ___25, 240 
 
 Louisiana 30 
 
 Mackinac Island — 
 
 A summer resort 223-7 
 
 "A perfect Gibraltar". - 
 
 162, 185 
 
 Acts of Congress for 
 
 214, 219, 227-8 
 
 City of... 201 
 
 Churches 223 
 
 Ferries 206-7, 241-2 
 
 Hotels 240 
 
 Geology 203, 227,229-38 
 
 National park-. 214-15, 228, 
 227-8 
 
 Railroads to 206, 241 
 
 Roads and paths 
 
 215, 222, 230 241 
 State park commission 
 
 237-8 
 
 State park 228, 237-8, 242 
 
 Skull Cave. -138-48, 233. 241 
 
 Steamer lines 206-8, 241 
 
 Map of Mackinac Island, 
 
 prefacing title page. 
 Marquette and Joliet, voy- 
 age of exploration 54-61 
 
 Marquette's letter to Father 
 
 Dablon - - - 41-3 
 
 Marquette Monument Asso- 
 ciation 55, 56 
 
 McDonall, John Robert-164, 167 
 
Index. 
 
 245 
 
 PAGE 
 
 McDouall, Robert-. 162, 169, 179, 
 180, 189, 190 
 McMillan, Jas. (Senator)... 228 
 Memoir (ext.) of Pere Jacques 
 
 Marquette (Bailey 's).^.. 55-59 
 Michilimackinac — 
 
 A fleet sails to 176-190 
 
 Battle of island.171, 193, 209, 
 214 
 
 Island, deed of 
 
 160, 162-4 
 
 Cadillac at 70-71 
 
 Charlevoix at 72-73 
 
 County and borough of 
 
 201-2, 205 
 
 Courts .201 
 
 Defenses, Straits of. .228-9 
 
 Importance, stragetic, 
 
 of.. 37, 40-3, 69-83, 88-90, 
 
 157-62, 167-92, 211-12, 214- 
 
 15, 228-9, 238, 242 
 
 Island, fort moved to. 160-1 
 
 Island occupied 37-9 
 
 Island, U. S. troops re- 
 occupy Ft. Mackinac 
 
 167, 190-192 
 
 La Hontan at 68-70 
 
 La Salle at 65-68 
 
 Legend of 202-215 
 
 List of officers, French 
 and British, etc., at__ 
 
 164-7, 169 
 List of U. S. officers, 
 
 etc 168-9, 216-22 
 
 Massacre 107-57 
 
 Name, etc.. .30, 32-7, 83,208, 
 238 
 
 Surrender of 169-75 
 
 The Griffon at 63-8 
 
 First fort (St. Ignace), 
 northern peninsula.. 
 
 59-60, 70, 208-9 
 Second fort (Old "Mack- 
 inaw"), southern pen- 
 insula ..107-57, 209 
 
 Third fort (Mackinac), 
 Michilimackinac Is- 
 land ..158-99, 202-42 
 
 Mexico 16, 30,75 
 
 Minnesota 25, 30 
 
 Mongolian. 17 
 
 Montreal 18-22, 83, 114. 131-4 
 
 New France. -18-24, 44, 50. 52, 83 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Newfoundland 19, 30 
 
 New Mexico 30 
 
 New York 74-82, 192, 195 
 
 Nova Scotia ...30 
 
 Oceans — Atlantic 16-21 
 
 Arctic ...14-15 
 
 Pacific 16, 17, 30, 79, 201 
 
 Origin of the Aborigines.. 13-17 
 
 Pontiac's conspiracy 84-157 
 
 Priests and other clergy — 
 
 Allouez..-29, 37, 62, 44-5, 50 
 
 Andre 44, 50 
 
 Anastase 68 
 
 Angeblan 77 
 
 Baraga -. 32 
 
 Breboeuf .23, 28 
 
 Charlevoix 72-3 
 
 Dablon-37, 44-5, 50, 60, 62, 80 
 
 Daniel 28 
 
 Druilletes 44-5 
 
 Knjalron 61, 165 
 
 Garnier 28 
 
 Grelon 28 
 
 Hennepin 64-8, 164 
 
 Janois 132, 135 
 
 Jogues.. 27 
 
 Lalemant 28 
 
 Le Caron 22 
 
 Marest 71 
 
 Marquette.. 32, 44, 46,49-52, 
 208 
 
 Menard. ...36, 37 
 
 Miller.. 223 
 
 Nouvel.. 61, 62 
 
 Piret, A. D 200 
 
 Pierson 61, 62 
 
 Richelieu .. 25 
 
 Ryambault 27 
 
 Vierwest 37, 44 
 
 Clergy— Bacon, David 168 
 
 Ferry, Wm. M 197 
 
 O'Brien, John 218 
 
 Knox, James 220 
 
 Provinces of New France. .30-1 
 
 Detroit ...31, 83 
 
 Hudson Bay 30 
 
 Michilimackinac. 30-36. 64, 
 83 
 
 Quebec 30, 83 
 
 Province of New York — 
 
 Boundaries 82 
 
 Quebec... 19, 24, 83, 60 
 
246 
 
 Index. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Michigan, Governor of.. .228, 
 237-8 
 
 Rivers — Arkansas 57 
 
 Alt Sables... 143 
 
 Cayug-a Creek 64 
 
 Cheboygan... 102, 206 
 
 Chicago.. 32. 57 
 
 Churchill 15, 93 
 
 Des Moines 56 
 
 Detroit ._ 64 
 
 Fox... 26, 56 
 
 French 22, 24, 187 
 
 Illinois... .44, 57, 101 
 
 Mackenzie. 14 
 
 Marquette 57 
 
 Mattawan 22 
 
 Mississippi.. 24-5, 27-30, 44, 
 53. 56, 67, 68, 93, 99, 101 
 
 Missouri 56 
 
 Nautauwasaga .._ 186 
 
 Ohio 30, 56 
 
 Ottawa. „ ..22, 90 
 
 Pine 160 
 
 Red River of the North. 15 
 
 Richelieu (Sorel) .21, 28 
 
 Saguenay 20 
 
 Saskatchawan 29 
 
 St. Fran<-is 45 
 
 St. Joseph's ...101,131 
 
 St. Lawrence.. 18-21. 85-6, 
 154, 193 
 
 St. Mary's (Soo) .25, 27 
 
 Trent 22 
 
 Three Rivers .24, 27, 44 
 
 Wabash 85 
 
 Wisconsin 56 
 
 Yukon 14 
 
 PAGE 
 
 St. Ignace and St. Iguace 
 
 de Michilimackiiiac 25-29, 
 
 37-44, 49, 50-52, 53-4, 59-63. 
 
 66-73. 89, 161, 168, 206, 240 
 
 Father Marquette at... 37 
 
 Sault Ste. Marie.. 25, 27. 36-7, 
 
 40, 43-50, 52, 88, 102-3, 109-10. 
 
 146, 148-56, 178-9, 182, 188, 202. 
 
 206 
 
 Schoolcraft, Henry R 199. 
 
 229-33 
 
 Seul Choix 25 
 
 Spanish possessions 30 
 
 St. Malo (France) 18-19 
 
 St. Paul 227 
 
 Straits — Behring 14-17 
 
 Detroit 64 
 
 of Michili-Mackinac-_25. 27. 
 54. 59, 66, 72, 79, 87, 205 
 
 defenses of 228-9 
 
 greatest waterway 
 
 in the world 228 
 
 St. Clair 65 
 
 St. Ignatius, on the Sorel.. 28 
 
 The American Fur Co 192-99 
 
 The process verbal 47-50 
 
 Toronto ("York") 79, 188 
 
 Vice royalty of Mexico 30 
 
 War— Pontiac's 84-157 
 
 Revolutionary.. .158-61. 214 
 
 of "1812-15" 169-92. 214 
 
 of "1861-5" — 222 
 
 Wagoshence ("Waugosh- 
 
 ance") 124-25 
 
 Washington Territory 17 
 
 Williams, Thomas... 7, 219 
 
OUR CURIOSITY SHOP j 
 
 Water Street 1 
 
 1 
 
 A 
 
 V 
 
 11*** 
 
 
 
 s 
 ^ 
 
 HAS A GREAT VARIETY OF 
 
 
 Che Tinest... 
 
 
 Xaxm Indian Ulork 
 
 t 
 
 ON THIS CONTINENT 
 
 t 
 
 A SELECT ASSORTMENT OF 
 
 Imported China and <.?* 
 
 \^^^ 
 
 ^*** 
 ^**>(^ 
 
 Pottery, Diamonds and 
 other Precious Stones, 
 
 ► 
 
 s 
 
 Heathen Gods and Im- 
 
 ages, Fancy Jewelry and 
 Souvenirs of Gold, Sil- 
 
 
 ver, etc., etc. ,^ S <^ <^ 
 
 
 IN PROFUSION, TO SUIT 
 
 i. 
 
 THE MOST FASTIDIOUS 
 
 s 
 
 k 
 s 
 s 
 
 
 1*** 
 
 1 
 
 HILL'S 
 BAZAAR, 
 
 Agent for Col. Bailey's 
 "Great Book," MACK- 
 INAC, formerly Mich- 
 ilimackinac. 
 
 MACKINAC ISLAND 
 ....MICHIGAN 
 
 ■\i ^^fLtd. ^ A^ ,^^^td.,d.^^i^^.J.^i^ ^iA. J , J i a i J,J tlf '''''^ ^'^' ^ 4/ k J t J i tJ i 4 d! '^'>--'^^-^-^-^^ 
 
 ' ■ l |^^||^Vl|^ll^^u^^||^^|yM^^||^^||^^|||^|||^|■^^||^^||^^^^^ll^^ll^^ll^^ll.^f^l ^ ^ ll^ ^^ ^ | l V ■^ ^ ||| ^" ^ ^ ||f^' lVl'^ l■^ ^ '' '^" ' ^ | ' ' ^' ^ 
 
 r Old ^ -^ i 
 
 FRANKS BROS. 
 PROPS. . . 
 
 The Missionary Pioneer 
 House of the ^ ^ 
 ''Fairy Isle'' S S 
 
 MISSION HOUSE 
 
 "EAST END" 
 
 MACKINAC 
 ISLAND 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 Comfortable i 
 
 and -^ S \ 
 
 Reliable S % 
 
 1 
 
 ^^tA^^^jAtjJj^jd^^^^^^J^^^^l^A^^A^^J^^J^I^J^^jJl^^^^^^^^^^l^^ 
 
Mackinac 
 
 ,,,,JSLAND 
 
 JJackmen's 
 Association 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 NO. OF NO. OF 
 VEHICLES SEATS 
 
 Bailey, E. S... 3 12 
 
 Bailey, A. W 1 4 
 
 Chambers, J. A 1 4 
 
 Chambers, George 1 4 
 
 Chambers, Gun 2 10 
 
 Chambers, W. K 2 8 
 
 Chambers, Thomas 1 6 
 
 Chambers, F. T 1 4 
 
 Chambers, W. D 1 4 
 
 Chapman, R 1 4 
 
 Corrigan, A. R 2 8 
 
 Crosby & Lozon 2 10 
 
 Cushway, A. G 4 16 
 
 Donnelly, W 1 6 
 
 Furguson, Ed 1 4 
 
 Franks, S. R 2 8 
 
 Franks, Mrs. E. A 1 6 
 
 Hammond, Theo 1 4 
 
 Hoban, James 3 12 
 
 Hoban, John 2 10 
 
 Hoban, Arnold 1 6 
 
 Jollie, L. J 1 4 
 
 Leggette, Joe 1 4 
 
 Lachance, B 11 55 
 
 Lambert, Joe.. 1 4 
 
 Lasley, James 1 4 
 
 Louisignaw, Charles 1 4 
 
 Marshall, W 1 4 
 
 McCarty, James 1 6 
 
 McCarty, John 3 12 
 
 Mclntyre, D 1 6 
 
 Mclntyre, James 2 10 
 
 Newton Bros 3 14 
 
 Pound, W - 1 4 
 
 Rounds, Frank .. 2 10 
 
 Rounds, Ray 1 4 
 
 Shomin, N 2 8 
 
 Wilmette, Joe 1 6 
 
 4^" t^* V^ 
 
 Rates Adopted by the Village Council. 
 
OOOCHOOOOOOOOOOO 
 
 BAILEY & SON'S 
 
 mnAs, 
 
 Mackinac Island, Mich. 
 
 Is acknowiedg^ed to be 
 the finest and most reli- 
 able place on Mackinac 
 Island to buy Drug's, Med- 
 icines, Prescriptions, etc., 
 and is the most popular 
 place where the wear.v 
 pedestrian can for a few 
 pence revel in the de- 
 lig'hts of an Ice Cream 
 Soda or quench the thirst 
 with the finest carbonated 
 beverag-es that can be pro- 
 duced. 
 
 We g'ive this branch of 
 our business special atten- 
 tion , and we shall endeav- 
 or to furnish our cus- 
 tomers with the best of 
 everytliingr. A single 
 trial will be sufficient to 
 satisfy the most fastidi- 
 ous. 
 
 ooooooooooooooo 
 
 'x^T^^T^^^^'^^ 
 
 r'^'^^^^'^T^'^^P^^TT] 
 
 Finest Line Chocolates 
 Best Line Cigars t^ <>* ^ 
 Purest Line Perfumery ^ 
 
 .in the City 
 
 Dr. 
 3. R. Bailey ^ Son 
 
 Come and see us. 
 
 MACKINAC : 
 ISLAND : 
 
 *^"T 
 
 T T "^ '\"^' *\' 'T 'V 'v '\ 'T '\' 
 
 ii^i«^iii^ii^iii^iii^iii^ii^i«^iii^iii^ii^m^J^in^iii|^iii^iii^iii^i^ 
 
 EDWARD J, McADAM 
 
 A 
 
 TWO STORES ON WATER STREET AND 
 STAND IN THE GRAND HOTEL 
 
 ...INDIAN CURIOSITIES... 
 
 And an assortment of Fancy and other 
 Goods too numerous to mention. 
 
 Agent for Dr. John R. 
 p' Bailey's "Great Book."' 
 
 MACKINAC, formerly 
 f Michilimackinac ; O 't 
 
 •sells, as our g'oods g^o, 
 
 "like hot cakes.'' 
 
 ...Fruits and Nuts in Season... 
 
 MACKINAC ISLAND, 
 
 MICHIGAN -— — ^ 
 
 ;^,v...'>.,..'v,..wv.'>...-t.v...v...'>....v...^..w\...i..v...vvv..'>...v...i.v...v...v..\...w.v.. 
 
 loooooo oooooo 
 
 Moss Agates «^ 
 Fancy Jewelry 
 and Souvenirs 
 
 Books J- J" J- 
 Magazines ^ 
 Papers and J- 
 Fine Stationery 
 
 oooooo OOOCM>0 
 
M l. umiiimimii. ■■■■...■■.. •■TIP ^ 
 
 DR. 
 
 JOHN 
 
 L»TE POS 
 
 R. 
 
 T SI, 
 
 BAILEY, 
 
 RGEON, FOR 
 
 < c c 
 
 ESTABLISHED 
 
 M. G. 
 
 18S4 
 
 BAILEY, 
 
 YEARS IN Th 
 
 Manager 
 
 NESS. 
 
 National Park Drug Store 
 
 Oldest Drug House In the Northwest 
 
 JOHN R. BAILEY 
 cS- SON — -^ 
 
 Mackinac Island 
 Michigan 
 
 . . . Headquarters tor . . . 
 
 'MlNflCFOmiyiatCHILIMCKINIiG," 
 
 By John R. Bailey, JM. D. , Etc. 
 Sold by Agents Qene racily 
 
 Physicians' Prescriptions 
 a Specialty 
 
 Graduates in Pharmacy 
 in Charge 
 
 ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^P* ^^^ 
 
 Drugs, Medicines, 
 
 Wines and Liquors, 
 
 Fine Perfumes, 
 
 rollet Articles. 
 
 Fancy Goods. 
 
 Druggists' Sundries 
 
 Fancy Groceries, 
 
 Glassware, 
 
 Hardware, 
 
 Gen' I Merchandise. 
 
 '^ 
 
 Sporting Goods, 
 
 Fishing Tackle, 
 Confectionery, 
 
 Cigars, Tobacco, 
 Paints, Oils, Wail 
 Paper, Stationery, 
 
 Optical Goods. 
 
 4k«A4k4^ 
 
 f/-r^ /^f^am ^rk/ia Ginger Ale, Sherbet and Min- 
 
 ice ^rea m ^>oaa ^^g, yy^^^^^ „„ Draught. 
 
 wiiiiiiiiiiiii i 'i i ii n iiiiii i iiii ii i i iiiiiiiiiiiiiii m ii im iiiiii im iiiiiiiiiii i i 
 
C8C85C«CR5000CRMftCK8XeC8>C8»5Ca85«8»Xe5S^^ 
 
 ♦ ♦♦ 
 
 ^he grand Botcl.^, 
 
 » 
 
 Accommodations for 
 700 Guests 
 
 Strictly First-class jt^jt 
 
 MACKINAC ISLAND, 
 MICH, jt ^ Jk 
 
 FAMOUS 
 
 § THIS 
 
 8 ^ RESORT 
 
 HOTEL , , . 
 
 ^ Opens for the Season 
 
 §July If and continues 
 until late in September 
 
 rOB RATES ADDRESS Ot 
 
 J. R. HAYES g 
 
 WAYNE HOTEL O 
 
 Detroit, Mich. O 
 
 ITTTTfTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTrrrrmni 
 
 THE WAYNE ^^ 
 Detroit 
 
 UNDER SAME MANAGEMENT 
 
 Rates, $2.00 to $3,50 Per Day 
 
 )^iSC85C8SOCe»>OOOOOC8>OOCH>0000»<>OOOOOOOOOOC8»>Ca83< 
 
KiiiiiiiiT i iiiiiii im iii m iiiii i iiiiiiiiii i i n ii i iiiiiiiii ii ii iiii n i n »iai 
 
 Robt. Smith Printing €o. 
 
 LANSING, - MICHIGAN 
 
 Primm and Binders 
 
 LAW AND MEDICAL BOOK 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
 WE MAKE A SPECIALTY OF 
 
 CATALOGUES, PAMPHLETS, AND ALL 
 
 CLASSES OF EDITION WORK 
 
 STATE PRINTERS AND BINDERS 
 
 ...PUBLISHERS... 
 
 Cbc State Republican 
 
 DAILY AND SEMI- WEEKLY 
 
 •"•• .■ ■ .■■■■■■■.■■■ ..^ 
 
Real Estate! 
 
 I 
 t 
 
 :::::: TOR SALE :::::: 
 
 A L1A\1TED NUAXBER OT 
 CHOICE CITY LOTS AND 
 IMPROVED PROPERTY IN 
 ST. IGNACE, AND VALU- 
 ABLE EAR^n LANDS IN 
 A\ACKINAC, CHIPPEWA ^^p 
 CHEBOYGAN : : : COUNTIES 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 clfiHN R. BAILEY 
 
 MACKINAC ISLAND 
 /niCLllGAN 
 
SEP 16 1899