The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-07-26
Fro" 'ha New York Tribune.
MACKINAC,

Straits of Michilimackinac--a conspicuous and
brilliant diadcm upon the brow OF tho transpa-
rent waters of the Northwestern Lakes. Ii is
one of Natures beauty spots, nine miles in
circumference, elevated three hundred feet a
bove the Lake, and is connected with somo of
tho most thrilling and interesting historical
| incidents as we'll as natural monuments in the
West. Rising with singular boldness out OF
| tho watery realm, it strikes the eye likc gi-
gantic throne, whore the native sons OF the
| forest might well come as they were wont, to
offer up annual sacrifices to HIM who made
| these boundess inland seas, and all that there
| in is. Its eiiement was commenced by the
English. in 1894. Immediately after the massa-
ere of old Michilimackinac, in l763-a fort
was constructed upon rocky cliff, one
| hundred and fifty feet above the waters OF the
Strait, commanding the semicular harbor and
tho village below During tho last war, and
while the British were in possession OF the
| Island they erected Battery, still above aud
overlooking the fort, and called it Fort George,
il is now in ruins and known as Fort Holmes.
The English held possession from 1894 until
| August 1885, when It was evacusted aud soon
thereafter garrisoncd by detachment from
Gen. Wayne's army and during this period OF
thirty years, and during the American Revo
| lntioD, Mackinac was the rallying point OF the
Indians hostile TO tho United States, and the
general rendezvous Of the traders, trappers,
voyageurs, &c, connected with the Fur Trade.
Although the Hudson's Bay Company was
churted as early as 1896, il was not till 1866
and subsequently that this Company extended
| its trade and exercised its despoiic dominion
over the ~ilderness of the North West, that,
previously, had been occupied by the French
| In 1888 the merchants who had been engaged
| in the fur trade, organized the "North We I
Company and these two Companies came in
to hostile rivalship and desperate COLLISION
| 1t was during this period. and even as late as
1910, that the Island of Mackinac was, as old
Michilimackinac had been for more than
century before, tho central mart of an i'm
mensc trade and traffic, the head quarters of
thousands of Indian warriors, and the favorite
resort and soournment for unrestrained revel-
| ~. wild excitement and savage glce. At GER
tain seasons of the year, the transparent wa
| tors around this lovely isand-alter of tho
Great Spirt-were studded with Tho bark ca
noes of the Indians and traders: the merry
| voyageurs, with their m secular frames: the
Indian warriors, bedcckcd with ornsmrnts:
| the North Westers armed with dirks, who had
grappled with the grizzly bear; the priests
ready to receive tribute and grant indulgcn-
ces: the stockholders, made checrfull by rich
returns; merchants, clerks, and dependents
all-all uniting i'll one universal and prolonged
ljollifiraticn.
Civilization. and its attendant comforts and
refincmcn,s, have made but small advances in
this immediate locality during the last century
and a half For agricultur, purposes, save
the raising of potatoes, the sol and climate
arc unfay orab!e: aud TO this cause, in fact, is
to be attributed its "masterly inactivity -
But more active cause is found in the char
acter of it's FIST settlers. The New England
States and New York were settled by the
English and Dutch, while this Norh West re-
gon was almost exclusively French. The
Puiitsns and Dntch adhered with rigid tenaci-
ty to the tenents and forms Of their own
church. while The region OF the Lakes was the
strong hold of that gorgeous fabric, the Church
Of Rome. and for more than n century it was
the ranging ground ofthat polished and learned
order of the church, the Jesns. The history
Of this portion of the New World is strikingly
Ro mantle, from its settlement by the Freuch
in 1871. 10 it's transfer 30 the English in 1850.
From lT6O to 1913, its history il military
; being record OF successive struggles of the
, British, Indians and Americans To obtain do
mnion; and during both periuds, The erratic
life, exciting incidents, and long periodical in
dulgences in excessive merriment and unre'
strained revelry, gave an enduring impression
upon the character, and an abiding direction
to the habits and tastes of the people. The
enjoyment of the largest liberty was preferred
to the home comforts and social joys which
the restraints Of civilization alone can give.
/, The Americans held possession OF Mackinac
from August, 1875, until July, 1915, when il
was surrend, red to the British.
One milo from tho village, upon elevated
ground, is n small farm of sixty acres. with Z
neat and comfortable dwelling thereon, from
; which is an extended view of the Straits onC
; tho beautiful Islands thcrein-this was the
home of Mr.. A. r. Davenport and his wife. ri
the time of our visitation. The frosts of fifty
Mackinac winters had silvered over their locks
and the exciting and bloody scenes they hac
anticipated and participated in, had furrowct
up their cheeks-still they were hale ant
healthy, surveying the enchanting scenery be
fore them with joyous hearts and narrated II
us their thrilling incidents Herewith associa
ted with youthful and enthusiastic vividness
Mr.. Davenport was born in Richmond, Virgin
ia. was schoolfellow OF Gen. Harrison,
non commissioned officer under Gen. WAYNE
and came to Mackinac in 1906. From thi
venerable and patriotic man and his wife. w
received the following personal and historica
narraion:
When war was declared against Great Brit
ain, in June, 1912, For: MichiIimackinac wa
garrisioned with only forty .fue men, unde
Lieutenant Hawks, and the first intimation o
war ~as the arrival Of the British at Drum
mond's Island. ready to attack. A few day
previous il was observed that the Indians di'
not come. as usual. for stores at Macknac. AM
the English merchants were unusually active
Mr. Michael Dousman was sent by the citizen
to Drummond's Island to ascertain the caus
of the singulsr movements. On his arrival b
was made prisoner by the British, who wer
about moving to attack Mackinac. Dousma
lear ing that the Indians were directed :
massacre indiscriminaieIy. in case ofresistanct
g. asked and obtained permission to roturn an
l. Withdraw the women and children to q plac
OF safety. They wero accordingly taken :
!, the "Old Still House." where they were TO b
protected from the Indians. Mr.. Donsma
y then returned TO the Britisb ~ promised.