The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-08-16

The first we see OF this beautiful Isle
as the steamer passes up the straits are
the white walls of old Fort Mackinac.
Our band commenced to play as we
steamed into the harbor. Crowds of
people welcomed US by waving Of hats
and handkercheifs. They are princi-
pally guests of the Hotels who have
come to meet their friends; among
them are the soldiers from the Fort in
blue uniforms and Officers in blue and
gold with white helmets.
This Island was the headquarters of
the American Fur Company, out of
which business the millionaire JohnTJa
cob Astor made his great fortune.
The Island is nine miles in circum-
ference. and covers an al ca of six thou
sand acres. Indian mythology makes
this Island the home of the Giant Fairies
From their fairy abodes these spirits
issued forth at twilight hour to engage
with rapid steps and giddy whirl in
their mystic dance. But these fairy
spirits have long since deserted their
island home and gone we know not
where, and the race of beings in whose
Imagination they lived have also we'll
nigh passed away.
The town is situated at the foot of the
bluff and extends for the distance of
about a mile around the shore. Some
of the buildings are of modern archi-
lecture, but others are antique in de-
sign and appearance. Many of the
fences are of the original palisade style.
verything on the island is curiosity;
the roads or streets that wind around
the harbor or among the grovelike for
ests are naturally pebbled and macad-
amized. Old Fort Mackinac stands on
a rocky emlnence two hundred feet
above the town. 1t was built by the
English one hundred and two years
ago, and has much interesting history
conneced with it. The fort renamed
in possession of the British till 1898,
when it was surrendered to the United
States. IL was retaken in 1912, but
restored again by the treaty of Ghent
in 1914. 1t is now garrisoned by COM
pany of U. s. troops. A cannon is
fred at sunrise when the Stars and
Stripes are unfurled from a flag staff
above the fort; again at sunset
we hear the bugle call, see a flash of
light and hear the report of cannon as
it echoes and re-echoes along the hills.
Tue natural scenery of the island is
unsurpassed, its whole area is one laby-
rinth of curious little glens and valleys.
There are walks and winding paths
among the hills, and precipices of the
most romantic character. Some of its
cliffs shoot up perpendicularly and
tower in pinacles like the ruins OF Goth
ic steeples. Out from the crevices in
the rocks gush springs Of water clear
and cold. The National Park covers
two thousand acres. 1. has drives
which wind among groves of Evergreen
Birch and Maple. There is spruce, ar
borvitae, groundpine, whitepine, bal
sam and juniper. Some of the rocky
sleeps have moss covered boulders
wreathed in runnig vines, and surround
ed with ferns and wild flowers. There
are secluded places in the Park where
there is nothing to disturb the quiet and
deep solitude, but the chippering of
birds in the deep forest shade, and the
rustling of the leaves of the silver bark
ed birch. The island is covered with
charming natural scenery from the
beautiful to the grand, and one may
spend weeks constantly finding objects
of interest and new. scenes of beauty.
Beyond the National Park is a tract of
cultivated land known as the Early
Farm, with farmhouse, stone walks ,and
palisade fences, perfect picture of con-
tentment.
Mackinac as health resort is uusur-
passed, its clear, cool air and pure
water, together with its natural scenery
are just what are needed to bring back
the glow of health to the faded cheek
and send the warm currents of life
dancing through the system with youth
full vigor In Mackinac you eat with a
new relish, and sleep as when child !;
you row, you ramble like boys and
girls, scarcely able to keep your buoy
ancy within bounds. Thousands of
people are visiting this lovely island
this season for health ,lrest and recrea-
ton. They come from all over the
Union, and they 60 away with pleasant
memories of Mackinac and their sum-
mer holidays.
| The passenger steamers all call here
on their way up and down the lakes.
These steamers are elegantly fitted up
for comfort and convenience of passen-
gers, and are furnished with a piano,
string band and jubilee singers. There
are seven hotels here and another is TO
be built soon, on grand scale with all
the modern improvements. They open
in June and close in October.
A. f. STARR.
| Clothing.