The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-04-16
Mistaaaaruaa.
AMACKINAW wMTkas ME.
.TnOn "To-DAr. a BOSTON LITERARY IOUnsA


which, say the learned, is derived from its oval
shape, and signifies in the Indian tongue, "the
Great Turtle" lies ust In the straits OF the same
name, which form the connecting link between
two Of our great lakes, Huron and Michigan -
The town Of MackinaW is situated on the south
shore Of the island, and consists Of few streets
running parallel to the water, intsrseeted BY
Others at right angle, with houses neither very
many nor very large, a Ourt-house, a ail, a
church, and hotel. Just back Of the town
rises q steep cliff, one hundred and fifty feet
high, on the top Of which stands the fort. In
summer this little place is fall Of life. The
fur traders and the Indians are in the constant
habit Of resorting thither, though Of late years
the steady and rapid advance Of the white men
towards the West, has been as usual, signal
for the disappearance Of the red hunters
and their squaWs. The great steamers Of the
Western lakes make Maekinaw landing
place, and through the whole Of the travelling,
seasons, mutitudss Of tourists are tarrying there
for few days at time, to breathe the delicious
ly cool atmosphere, 50 refreshing and invigora.
ting after the sitting heat Of the crowded cities,
Some Of the rich men Of Buffalo, Detroit aud
Cleveland, have built little country seats here,
where they may enjoy more quietly than they
otherwise could the pleasures Of the place
Fishing, boating, bathing, &C., are the faVOrite
amusements Of the visitors, and the date when
the first white-fish is eaten, forms an epoch in
ones life which is never forgotten.
Such is the summer life Of Mackinaw. But
in winter the whole aspect Of the place changes,
the town is deserted, except by the few people
who make it their home, and by the troops who
! Al 6. Il ! IL.
tense, the snow lies many feet deep over every
thing, and the lake is frozen for miles around.
The only communication with the main land is
by crossing on the ice. The strait at the mar
rowest point is four miles wide, and the mail
bags are brought over not oftener than once a
week, il so often. The wind sweeps with ter
rifle force through the strait aud the driving
winter storms Of snow and hail possesses fury
and strength which is nowhere surpassed.
1t was about two hours after noon on one Of
these wntry days, and the storm aud the wind
were whistlng and bowling with sounds like
the laughter of demons mingling with the
groans Of their victims, when a troop of chill
dren left the little school house in Mackinaw
for their homes. There we're girls as well as
BOYS among them; but they were all buffetting
their way in the face of the driving sleet cheer
fully aud bravely, though now and then the
cold, and fall perhaps, would bring the tears
to the eyes of some Of the younger ones
Their path lay along the shore, where they felt
the full violence OF the wind, which was blow
ing a perfect hurricanes at one moment driving
the snow before it with tremendous velocity;
at the next catching it up IN some eddy, and
whirliug it into pillar Of the most light and
graceful dimensions. The children had Just
reached that point of their route which they
had, after much discussion, decided to be the
place of the greatest difficulty, when the strings
Of the bonnet of one Of the little girls became
loOsened, and in a moment the bonnet was toss
lug thither and thither, and the wind carrying
it with great rapidly out on the lake. One Of
the boys, son Of an officer stationed at the fort
sprang after it, and was ust about 10 seize it,
when a blast Of wind suatched it from him, and
hurled it rod or two farther away. lie ran
after it again and again, aud each time the bon
net eluIed his grasp, aud it was carried, still
farther out on the ice; till when be had az last
succeeded in securing, he found himself nearly
quarter Of mile from the land, bTeathless
and exhausted, the wind and snow coming to
prevent his return. Every effort to reach the
shore served only to diminish the little strength
he had left while in every pause " hich he made
to take breath, the wind would blow him more
away from The land. He shouted for help, but
the storm drowned his voice. lie renewed his
exCrtions to reach his companions, but his wear
led limbs refused to obey the promptings OF hi
will. lhe shore was apparently last recedinG
from him, and the thiCkly falling snowflake
were shutting out every thing with their Whit
veil.
Meanwhile his perplex;ties had not escaped th
attention Of the children, who had been care
fully observing his movements: followed will
shouts uf laughter and dapplause his chase after tn
bonnet, and greeting with cheers his tiual sHc
cess. They had watched with constantly ia
creasng anxiety his attempts to retUrn and see
ing that his strength was falling and that iu
stead Of getting nearer to them the wind Wa
each instant blowing him farther away, the
had fastened as quickly as they might to tn
fort, and there with eager, imperfect and con
fused language told the story. To the mind {
the father this only seemed clear;--his son va
on the lake; the wind was carrying him cor
stantly away from the shore; his little strengt
had failed him in his attempt to return, and ur
less assistance were speedily rendered him,
must perish. Accordingly the officer summon
ed together some of the men who were in Il
fort, aud they descended to the beach. A
ready the middle of the winters day was passet
and the light was beginning to fade. The 5tOrl
seemed to increase with violence as the sun WeI
down; the snow flakes fell more tbickly, an
the wind howled more hoarsely. The cold Wa
intense and the current Of icy air swept throug
the straits, piercing like the bayonets of the 70
the stout hearts OF the soldiers. 1t was da
"Such as when the birds die
In the deep forests, and the fishes lie
Stided in the translucent ice, W. lCh makes
Even the mud and slime OF the VAIN lakes
wrIpk ed cold, as hard as brick; and when
Among their children, comfortable men
Ga'heT about great fires, and vet feel cold"
As they stood on the sandy beach thickly strowl
with the hoary seeds which winter scatlers ant
strained their eyes through the dense storm
the figure Of the little boy was now seen for
moment as the fur y of the tempest diminished
and then quickly vanished behind the cloud
fast falling snow. He was still struggling, b,
his efforts were becoming ever fainter and fair
ter, aud the shdtl screams Of the blast SCENE
already the exultlng yells of victory. NarkiI
the direction in which the tempest was drivil
him, the men started forth to his assistance
As they advanced on the ice away from the sht
ter Of the cliff the storm grew more free a
terrible: theI wind shrinked more wildly; I
snow became instantly more binding and tn
clothes seemed to stiffen in the damp, freezi
air. There were no path over the ice, and Il
were without any object by which to st
their Course-stlll they pressed on brayely ste
" vet without hope. All were silent for
one had words of cheer or comfort to give
other words they would nOtspeak. Tie off
spoke first
"My men, said he, eve must go back.
20 farther would be useless at best. We can
find the boy IN the midst Of such storm.
TO venture out on the lake now would be to U
lessly face danger and possibly death. | h
no right to set you face to face with such death
The men heard him quietly and thol
there were some words Of remonstrance,
.ho,,oL tbav ,Uonld all GLADLY hova eon4;r