Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-09-29
For the Delaware Gazette
NOTES OF ERAHEE.
On THE GREAT LAKES,
September, 1866 ]

NOTES OF I1eAREE
On THE GREAT LAKES.
September, 1866
st0ur young wild land the free the proud!
Unerushed by power unawed by fears
Her knee TO none but God Is bowed,
For Nature teaches freedom here
From gloom and snow to light and flowers,
| Expands this heritags Of Ours.p
The island of Mackinac is situated il
the straits of the same name, which join
Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. To the
tourist this is one of the most attractive
places in all the lake region, and is visited
during the hot months of summer By
scores of seekers after health and pleas
ure. Here clear skies and a cool, pure
atmosphere dispense life and animation
| to the wasting invalid, and re-inyigorate
the wan inmate of the studio and the
carewoTn denizen of the crowded city
Amid the charming scenery and bouyant
elastic atmosphere. the business man for
gets his cares, and the sick man loses his
pains. In this extreme northern latitude
| Nature has reserved quiet refuge from
the anxiety and ills which torture the
busy millions who dwell in milder climes
Our entrance to the Strait was made
during the evening of the 9th. Despite
stiff breeze, which blew cold enough to
benumb ones fingers, gauzy vapor hung
III GuC ar anu -OOSCuESQ BOul6-
what the beauty of the scenery. The
mainland of the Northern Peninsula, or
dinariIy in view, could not be seen, and
the only land visible was the wild, rocky
shores of Bois Blanc Island. The
solitary dwelling of lighthouse keeper
was the only sign glass would discover
on that uncultured coast. The evening
shadows gathered thickly and the Bois
Blanc light suddenly shot its bright and
cheerful CLEAN over the water. Ny com
panion, a Maekinac fisherman who had
just come from Washington, musingIy
remarked: Il might have got light
house too if had been willing to scheme
for it. An old fellow, who was violent
Democrat, kept that light for years.
When the new administration came into
power they turned him out and substi-
tuted Republican" These remarks of
my piscatorial friend set me to philoso-
phizing upon two subjects, viz: the power
of human jealousy, and the jealousy of
human power, How any man could be
envious of anOther's three hundred a
year in his lonely home on that bleak
island, or how executive favor could find
in SO small and so remote an object a
matter for political preferences, [ could
not imagine.
While thus meditatiDg, the lights from
Mackinac twinkled through the gloom
A few moments afterWard the Rocket was
safely moored, and one of Sherman s
bummers" was raiding through the vii
laRe. The latter Is pleasant little town
situated on the eastern side of the island,
and containing two churches, five hotels,
ten or twelve stores, and about 700 in
habitants. Its chief traffic seems to be
in Indian trinkets, (made in New York;
fish, pleasure and health, the last two of
which can be had at any of the hotels
cheaply at the rate of five dollars per
diem. Fort Mackinac is situated on a
bluff 200 feet high, overlooking the town
and commanding magnificent view of
the lake, the strait, and the adjacent
islands. At present it is in the charge of
an old sergeant who is the humble sue
cessor Of some of the bright lights of the
military world. AS he has no superiOrs
to be in awe of, no interiors to be Jealous
of, and no enemies to be afraid of, the
old man doubtless has a quiet time. We
/ took one lock at his froWning battlements
and turned away wishing him much joy.
The island of Mackinac is not desti-
tute of historical and legendary interest.
As a strategic point it is has always been
| important, since it commands the great
highway of the upper lakes. In 1898 it
was surrendered to the United States
government by Great Britain. In 1872
It was surprised and captured by the
British and held by them during the war.
One mile west of the village is a huge
rock called the Lovers Leap" The
result would be amusing if some votary
of Cupid would ascertain just how many
places of this name there are on the con-
tinent. One feature of it would doubt
| less be the discovery of fearful mortal
| ity among lOve-lorn females. But how
ever this may be, Mackinac has its YER
table Lovers Leap, as will witness the
following legend:
Long before the pale faces visited the
island, young Ojibway girl often wan
dered to this rock and gazing from Its
dizzy heights watched the receding canoes
of the combined war parties of the Ojib.
ways and Ottawas speeding south in
search of fame and scalps. Here she of.
ten sat, unused, and hummed the songs
lGe-niW- loved. The spot was en-.
deared to her, for it was here that she
and Ge-niw-e gwon first met and ex,
changed words of love and formed ar
affinity of spirits existing between them
From this bluff she often watched anC
listened for the return of the war parties
for among them she knew was Ge-niw-e
gWon, his head decorated with war eagle
plumes, which none but a brave coulC
in advance the shouts of victory anC
death, as they shouted and sang upoI
leaving Pe-quot-e-nong, (Old Mackinac
to make the traverse to the Spirit o.
Fairie Island.
Zone season, when the war party re
turned, she could not distinguish his ia
miliar and loved war-shout Her sou
told her that he had gone to the Spiri
Land of the West. 1t was SO. An enc
my's arrow had pierced his breast. Blu
: ere he died, while leaning against tre
with his face to his enemies, he wished
the mourning warriors to remember hin
to the sweet maid of his heart. Thus h.
died far away from his home and tn
friends he loved. This was too much fo
the Ojibway maiden. The warm emotion
of her heart were paralyzed, and she wit
messed the spirit of her lover continual,
beckoning her to join him in the happ
hunting grounds of spirits in the west
"One morning her body was fount
= mangled at the foot of the bluff. TIL
: soul had thrown aside its covering o
I earth, and gone to the spirit OF her be
loved Ge-niw-e-gwon."
The island is interseoted by fine car
5 riage-roads which are shaded by beech, ma