Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-09-05
Correspondents.
MAckNAw IstArp. Az. 2o
EDroR JOURNAL:

Of the tales Of the early struggles Of the
inhabitants; Eliminating among, and ooca-
sionally, ruminating upon the many scatter
ed relics of ancient art and glory; observing
a few Of natures freaks in geological for
nations, of which l viii not here speak
and sympathising at times with the red
man of the forest, on whose wrinkled broRs
the ravages Of time, and much more, the
ravages of the graspirg avarice Of tho
pale faces, have legibly left their traces; /
have found that, which if properly brought
before the Inauguration, can but interest,"
will not give you in full the particulars
of my journey here. After about three
hours ride on the C. & 7. R. r, I arrived
in CleFeland. Having but little elsa to do,
during my stay there Of about day and 9
half I improved my time as best 1 could,
in visiting different portions of the city and
noting the improvement made since my last
visit which was about a year since. Clege-
land IS indeed beautiful place and to thoss
who like city life pleasant place to live
I stopped st the Weddell HOUSE where /
found several persons anxiously waiting Tor
the North Star of the Cleveland and Lake
Superior line Of Steamers. As she was
due some three days, rdmor was afoat that
that she had sunk on the upper lakes, CON
sequently our expectations of trip on her
to Superior were frustrated. We according
y stepped on board the Steamer Nay
Queen bound for Detroit. We had pleas
ant run of about 10 hours and arrived in De-
troit about 7 o'clock A. NJ, Aug. Is. Ihad
but little time to view Detroit as the steam
er on which 1 wished to continue my jour
ny had advertised TO leave at 2 o'clock P.
VI. The BiddIe house situated on Jeffer-
son Avenue one of the pleasantest streets
| ever was on, is not inferior in point Of &C.
comrnodation to any first class house.
Here l found it was good to meet friends
from home, for l had the pleasure of taking
one by the hand, and of him learned Of
the death of our esteemed friend ]. N. I
was indeed surprised as well as panied to
hear of this death. Accompanied by my
friend to the dock l stepped on board the
steamer Michigan of the Buffalo and Green
Bay Co. bound for the latter port touch,
ing at Mackinaw.
As we pass up the riyet near her Britanic
Majesty's domains, and view nearly oppos
site Detroit the town Of Windsor as she
lies in calm repose, in silent comparison
with The spirit of enterprise dis2l4yed by
their American neighbors. and as we pass
farther up the river and witness the scenery
on either shore, with here and there an old
windmill in delapidated condition, it is
seeno unique as well as antique. After
experiencing some pretty rough weather,
particularly of Saginaw Bay, we brought
up at Mackinaw Sabbath morning, Aug. II.
This quaint old French town of 1900
inhabitants with its overhanging fortress, is
situated on an Island in the straits Of
Michilimaekinac. Near it unite the waters
of the three great lakes-Superior, Huron
and Michigan-hence, being so central it IS
a great resort for the Indians of the surroun-
ding country. The first white settlement on
these straits was Point Ignatius, which is the
most southern cape Of the upper penensula
of Michigan. The second white settlement
was on the opposite point of the straits on
what.is now called old Mackinaw. During
the Pontiac war this place was burned.
Fort Maekinaw stands on the most con
spicuous part of the Island. It's occupied
by a garrison of the Fourth Artillery, Uni
ted States Army.
Ole. Fit Holmes stands back of Fl Mack
inaw about a half mile, on the highest point
of the Island, 400 feet above the water
This fort was captured BY the British during
the last war, under cover Of the night the
British 900 strong, were conducted to their
cowardly attack by Scotchman, they land
ed on the most beautiful point Of the Island
commanding view of the straits at their
harrowest point, also Of ridge called Rab-
its ridge.
But the most imposing and attractive Gu
riosity is the natural arch or bridge. This
bridge is second only to the Natural Bridge
Of Virginia, and as climbed up and gained
a point where but few feet have trod, and
beheld the mad waves of lake Huron at
the distance of l20 feet below, furiouslv
1ashing against the base of this Island rock;
it was sight most sublime. Sugar Loaf or
Pyramid rock is the second great rocky
phenomena, it rises about so feet from its
base and more than I60 feet above the wa
ter, it IS inaccessible except by ladders
This rock was unquestioHably god of great
note in the Indian mythology. There are
several caves or nitehes at its base, and
'bout twelve feet from its base is quite d
ecess which entered by means Of ladder
md found lare enough to seat eight persons,
I is easy to imagine these fecesses and caves
o be the receptabFes for sacrifices and offer
ngs, and the green mounds which surround
t the graves of war captives slaughtered
'efore the face of this frowning deity
Besides these rocks mentioned, there are the
lovers Leap the Devils Chimney,the Dew
Is Kitchen, and others.