Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-05-10

"uiSH ic PoSScSSeu, duQ 10 IOrCe upon MIN
something else which is 10 him neither
venerable nor true.
The Indians have been proved, by the
success OF the French among them, 10 be
capable of civilization. Near Little Ira
verse in the northwest part Of Michigan,
within easy reach Of Mackinaw, there is
an Indian village, full of orderly and in
dustrous inhabitants, employed chiefly in
agriculture. The English and Americans
have never succeeded with the abo,igines
so we'll as the French; and it may be doubt
ed whether the clergy have been a greater
blessing to them than the traders.
1t was with regret that we parted with
the commandant and his large young ia
mlly, and stepped into the boat TO return to
the ship. The captain looked a little grave
upon the delay which all his passengers
had helped to achieve. We sailed about
nine. We were in great delight at having
seen Mackinaw-at having the possession
of its singular imagery for life; but this
delight was at present dashed with the sor-
row Of leaving it. could not have be-
lieved how deeply i, is possible to regret
place, after so brief an acquaintance with
it. We watched the Island as we rapidly
receded, trying to catch the aspect Of it
which had given it lis namo-the Great
Turtle. Its flag first vanished; then its
green terraces and slopes, its white bar
racks and dark promontories faded, till the
whole disappeared behind headland and
lighthouse of the Michigan shore.
Lake Huron was squally, as usual
Little remarkable happened while we ira
versed it. We enjoyed the Lake trout
We occasionally saw the faint outline Of
the Manitouline Islands and Canada. We
saw sunset which looked very like the
general conhagration having begun: the
whole western sky and water being as if
OF red flame and molten lead. This was
succeeded by paler fires. A yellow planet
sank in the heaving waters to the south;
and the northern lights opened like sill
yer wheat sheaf, and spread themselves
half over the sky. 1t is luxury to sail on
Lake Huron and watch the northern lights
On the 7th we were only twenty miles
from the river ST. Clair; but the wind was
right ahead, and we did not reach the
mouth Of the river till the evening Of the
9Th. The approach and entrance kept US
all in state Of high excitement, from the
captain down to Charley. On the after
noon of the 9th, Fort Gratiot and the mar
row mouth Of the ST. Clair became visible
Our scope for tacking became narrower,
every turn. The captain did not come to
dinner; he kept the lead going necessarily.
Two vessels were trying with US for the
mouth Of the river. The American schoon-
er got in first, from being the SMALLEST
The British vessel and ours contested the
point stoutly for long while, sweeping
round and crossing each other, much as if
they were dancing a minuet. A squall
came, and broke one of our chains, and
our rival beat US. In the midst Of the strug-
gle, we could not but observe that the sky
was black as night to windward, and that
the captain cast momentary glances thth-
err, as if calculating how soon he must
make all tight for the storm. The British
vessel was seen to have come to an anchor.
Our sails were all taken in, our anchor
dropped, and grim silence Prevailed
The waters were fiat as ice about the ship.
The next moment the sky-organ began to
blow in our rigging. Fort Gratiot was
blotted out; then the woods; then the other
ship; then came the orderly march Of the
rain over the myrtle-green waters; then
the storm seized US. We could sea rely see
each others faces, except for the light
ming; the ship groaned, and dragged her
anchor, SO that second was dropped
In twenty minutes, the sun gided the
fort, the woods, and the green, prairie-like
Canada shore. On the verge Of this prai
rie, under the shelter of the forest, an i'm
mense herd Of wild horses were seen scam
pering. and whisking their long tails. A
cloud Of pigeons, in countless thousands,
was shadowing alternately the forests, the
lake, and the prairie; and an extensive en-
campment Of wild Indians was revealed on
the Michigan shore. l, was a dark cur
tain lifted up on a scene oil wild and singu-
lar beauty.
Then we went to the anxious work of
lacking again. We seemed 10 be running
aground on either shore. as we approached
each. Our motions were watched by Sc
veral gazers. On the Canada side, there
were men on the sands, and in n canoe,
with sail which looked twice as big as
the bark. The keepers Of the Gratiot ght-
house looked out from the lantern. A par
ty Of squaws, in the Indian encampment,
sealed on the sands, stopped their work Of
cleaning fish, 10 see how we got through
the rapids. A majestic parsonage, his
arms folded in his blanket, stood on an
eminence in the midst Of the camp; and
behind him, on the brow Of the hill, were
groups Of unclothed boys and men, looking
so demon-like, as even in that scene to re-
mind me Of the great staircase in the bal
let Of Faust. Our ship twisted round and
round in the eddies, as heplcssly as log,
and stuck, at last, with her stern within
stones throw Of the Indians. Nothing
more could be done that night We dropped
anchor, and hoped the saiIors would have