New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-24

report Of only FIVE fathoms water and very soon OF
but three iathoms. This was inferred % indicate
orr vicinity 20 Bots Blanc point or island on tne
Michigan side, and the course Of the boat had a.
ready been filtered accordingly, when the line d.
rectly gave ten fathoms water. Soon, however
the water began 10 shoal again indicating land on
the other side and, the fog still continuing tnere
was no safe alternative but 70 cast anchor Al
sunrise in the morning the fog lifted showing DOS
Blanc on our left. the British coast on our rlsn''
and Mackinac almost directly ahead Of u.s. our BOAT
not being over three miles out Of her ihtenueu
course and this because she bad tackled 10 AVOID
the Michigan shore. note this as an instance OF
the csrei1lness and accuracy Of calculation which
thorough acquantance with these Lakes, 50 often
curtained for days with dense fog impresses on
their nayigators. Although the danger is slight,
unless OF collision with some other boat vessel,
and our situation as quiet and comfortable as If
sitting at ease in q iirstclass hotel ! was wildly
reminded Of the poets allusion:
-' sounding on our dim and perilous way
-MAcKISAo did not impress sofavorablys as
had anticipated The village is paltry enough
consisting OF three slight wooden piers water
street and back street. with perhaps sixty hoases
on both half Of them devoted to the sale OF things
in general hre-wster included. One OF them had
for its chief sign hmm curosties "a proof that
Photography is on It's travels 10 the Far West
The Fort stands TO the right Of the village, on the
brow Of the eminence, is built Of porous, shelly
limestone and has tolerable command OF the
main passage out Of Lake Michigan into Lake
Huron: but it happens ODE Itself commanded by a
higher eminence, a mile west Of 1t, which the
British silently seized and fortified al the outbreak
OF the War Of 1872 placing guns there IN battery
aud summOning our cOmmandant to surrender be
fore be suspected even that War was declared. !
trust the i'm portance Of Mackinac Military po-
siton, if not Of all Military positions together IS
nearly at an end.
The best feature OF Mackinac is its commanding
view of Lakes Michigan and Huron, with the sur
rounding isles headlands and bays. The air is Of
course very pure, and apt to be in motion there
is some considerable timber, but it is mainly cover
ed with low, shrub-like evergreens-Fir, Spruce,
sc 1t is among the coldest spots within the
limits of our Union The Cherry and the Currsnt
were not quite in blossom yesterday June lO,l but
were threatening it seriously. This was under the
warm, sunny side of hill. The young leaves
were just peepng out on an Apple tree believe
it blossoms but does not bear there, any than
at the Saul
Leaving Mackinac we nearly retraced our
course upon Lake Huron some thirty miles. but at
length bore North by West of it. and entered the
Grand Detour, winding among the thousands Of
generally small islands amid which the ST. Mays
bears the bounteous tribute Of the Father Of
Lakes to his children below. Here the scenery
is Mt once grand and beautiful Lovely islets Of
all sizes from township to a hay stack, encircled
by the deep, cold, transparent water of the Huron,
are strewn with prousion Of which nothing but nc
tual observation can give any adequate idea The
dark umbrage Of their mantling Evergreeus is Just
now happily relieved by the young, delicate, light
green foliage of the Poplar and White Birch,
which are next in abundance on the coast though
hear that the White Maple preponderates in the
interior of the larger islands. observed no cliffs
or precpces. though the banks OF the isles are
often solid rock rising several feet above the sur
face almost perpendicusrly with depth Of ten to
fifty feet water below. The day was clear and
pleasant, and its scenes will linger pleasantly in
my memory.
-lshhhlhf III ANhik III ~ ~ Jbn'AA Aniehh' Nht'h
lies on the British side Of the boundary channel
our boat cast anchor of the recently discovered
" Bruce Mines, commonly called Huron and St
Mary whereof Capt. Heating was the explorer
AS the development is but few rods from the
shore, and the boat had considerable freight 10
land in a small boat. we had time to give the mine
a hasty examination and gather some specimens.
1t is rich and wide vein Of Copper from the very
surface Of the soil, and very easily mined. may
speak Of it again-when more familiar 10y com
parson) with ores and mining
Here we were afforded our first taste Of the
Black Flies or, rather they took their first five
million tastes of each Of US The way they took
holds not To be beaten and their contempt of death
would have immortazed heroes. Old pioneers
and woodsmen had never seen their equal on Lake
Superior or elsewhere
Twenty miles above we took in tow the lighter
James X. Polk, liz is well that some one Of the
name can be pot to a good USE and commenced
loading her with our freight so as to tighten the
Ward over the shadows or fats of the St Mays
where there is but q feet water. By this means
We barely rubbed and came over We were now
within ten miles of the Sault and this being our
third day from Detroit and the passengers impa
tent the Captain resolved to disregard the raven
blsckness of the night for it had clolded and was
raining again. aud bring up at the wharf if posi-.
bic. So we came cautiously on, through the mar
row, crooked channel OF the impetuons ST Mays
with wide shadows on one side or both, now diving
into a mud bank and backing OIL, then scraping
over a point OF rocks with force that made our
boat SILVER from stem to stern until at last little
before midnight when Just within sight of port we
missed the channel entirely and stuck fast, the
clouds shutting down darker than ever Nothing
practicable remained bat to give up and turn in
and Capt Ward did it-there being not the least
necessity for casting an anchor When daylight
came, boat worked off with little difficulty. and
before o'clock was at her wharf
1t rains still, and | have found little time yet
for observation but the Saul seems the most grow
ing place have vets seen. New piers, store houses
nc. are rapidly going up the hotels swarm and
ores. veins, locations. companies sc. are in every
bodys mouth Working parties are going up and
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