The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-02-04
waIrrKN FOR TIE TRuH NosrHKRNkR:
Ontonagon, Lake Superior.
By G. d. LAwroN.

onAgon which, in the days OF its prosperity
the palmy days OF the famous Minnesota and
National Mines that are situated in Its vicinity
Was the most considerable town upon the bord-
ers OF the great lake. In the rotting wharves,
tumbling down warehouses and mammoth
hotel, ,-untenanted and gravftating to ruin
one sees the evidences OF stagnation and decay,
sadlyi in contrast with the thrift and activity
which once prevailed Here, in that early day
congressman Hubbell first began before primi
tive juries and local crowds, to lay the founda-
ton Of his subsequent success; and judge Will
liams first inspired the people OF this flourish
ing hamlet with degree OF confidence in his
legal attainments, that has led to his selection
to preside in the courts Of the Upper Peninsu-
la. Here, also, senator Chandler, a second
Zack as his admirers designate HIM, the present
representative from the copper district in the
upper branch of the state legislature, formerly
resided and harangued the listening court
Here too, many other well known men filed
their several vocations and finally reluctantly
glided away with the departing multitude. -
Among these are Bertinshaw, the boot and shoe
man OF Detroit; Congdon d Co., now mer-
chants OF Detroit; asl 1t is said that our newly
selected senator to Washington, Omar d. Con-
ger, wandered to here in his boyhood days, fol-
lowing in the footsteps OF an older brother
who was an employee in the Minnesota mine.
Young Conger, it is declared, made a lucky find
Of mass OF copper in the old Ontonagon or
Vulcan location, from the sale OF which he
realized sufficient sum 10 enable him to re-
tnrn TO his home and to secure a college edu-
cation.
The village is situated at the mouth OF the
Ontonagon River, stream OF considerable
size, formed 10y the union Of two important
branches which have their origin in the interior
OF the Peninsula, and combining, their waters
flow westerly in a single channel, plunglng
adown series Of rapids along the deep and
romantic gorge IN which it crosses the mineral
range, then flowing smoothly for a score of
miles become finally lost in the depths Of the
great lakes. Prior to the advent OF the white
man into the country. this river was favorite
resort Of the Indians for gathering wild plums
and similar fruits which grew near it's borders,
but especially for catching sturgeon, which in
their season entered the stream in great num-
bers and were captured by the Indians with
spears as they attempted to pass through the
openings in the weirs with which the Indians
barricaded the river. Alexander Henry, writing
OF this fishery in 1765, says that months sub
sistsnce for regiment OF men can be caught
in few hours time; and Mr.. Ii. r. School
craft, who accompanied Gen. Cass, then Gov
erner OF the territory, on tour OF inspection
along the south shore OF Lake Superior in 181 9,
describes the mode OF catching and preserving
the fish, pursued by the Indians, which the
/ party Witnessed. Mr.. Schoolcraft mentions that
the fish which were taken were from two feet
to four feet in length and similar, to all appear
ance, to the north river sturgeon; and although
| itlhad ever been main dependence to the In
dams for food, and great numbers were yearly
taken, there was no dminution in the annual
supply. To the northern Indians, fish were al
most their total resource in that rigorous eli
mate but little maize could be raised and game
was comparatively scarce, but in the abundance
OF fish there was never any failure.
Upon the borders OF this river was located
the first mining enterprise undertaken in the
Lake Superior region, carried on in 1770, under
the direction OF Mr.. Alexander Henry, who
represented certain distinguished gentlemen in
England, among whom were the Duke OF
Glouster, his excellency Mr.. Secretary Town
shend, Sir Sam'l. Touchet, and others who fur
nished the funds and who applied for charter
at the seals Office. Henry built vessel at the
Sault dc Ste Marie, and with party of miners
supplied with tools and provisions, proceeded
to the Ontonagon River in the fall OF 1770, and
ascending with the party about 20 miles up the
stream, started drift in high bluff near its
borders. Leaving his men to prosecute the
work during the winter Henry returned to the
Sault, and in the spring sent the vessel with
provisions TO the relief of his men what was
his surprise, however, when his vessel soon re-
turned with his miners aboard, they having
abandoned their work, realizing the futility OF
any efforts TO secure favorable results at the
locality where they had been engaged. They
had penetrated the bluff about 40 feet, and fail.
ing to secure their excavation with proper sup.
ports, when the spring came and the ground
loosened, the walls fell 10, and the Captain re.
tired disgusted.
The location Of this primitive mining worl
was near the site OF the once noted copper
rock" an erratic mass of copper which had fal
len from the bluff, or through some transport
ing agency had been carried to this place, ant
which Henry describes as being tons in weight
Dazlon, Charlevoix, Carver, Mckenzie, etc.
had successively made mention of it, and upor
! his visit to the region, Gen. Cass, with his par
ty, made special journey to see it and Mr.
Schoolcraft describes the great difficulties me
+. with in accomplishing it, with the thermometei
at 9Oo in the shade and the mosquitoes anC
small black flies attacking them in swarms.-
The Governor acknowledged himself bushed.'
, This rock" which really weighed less than three
tons, was up to that time the largest mass o.
native copper known in the world, and is nov
in possession Of the War Dept. at Washington
having been brought to the mouth of theIrive
In the spring Of 1s42. by Jim. PAUL, who lef
the lead region in Missouri, for that purpose
PAUL hoisted the mass upon . truck car tn,
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