The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-08-08
Ifairy NIackinae.

this island. Ii rises from the bed of
Lake Huron To height of more than
300 feet above the water, mass of IL
believe) calcareous rock The waters
around il are purity itself, objects on
the bottom being distinctly visible
many fathoms beneath the surface.
Some portions of the shore consist of
perpendicular cliffs IA hundred feet or
more i'm height, resembling some old
gothic town. The little, old French
town is nestled on the southern shore,
its harbor "gem of the lakes while
the old fort frowns from the cliff 800
feet above. In some places are old
fields formerly cultivated by the In
dians. Elegant roadways, macadamized
by Mother Nature, thread the island in
all directions To the various points OF
interest.
1t is said that the island was formerly
covered with forest of rock naples,
oaks and other varieties of timber. AT
present all the timber on the southern
portion is of small growth.
Walks and winding paths lead in all
directions among the hills and preci-
pices, of the most romantic character,
and from every eminence overlooking
the lake, beautiful and sublime water
prospect presents itself To the view
To the naturalist it is little world
within itself, while the artist, the poet
and the geologist can live and grow fat.
Nature seems To have fairly exhausted
herself in the production of objects OF
interest which everywhere meet the
seeker of the inspiring and beautiful.
We were first driven TO Arch
Rock" which To be appreciated must
! 10 -
arch over Il chasm nearly a hundred
feet wide; its summit is 149 feet above
the level of the lake its abutments are
of limestone rock rising perpendicular
ly 100 feet from their base the opening
beneath the arch has been produced by
the falling of large masses of rock
which lie on the beach below. A path
leads out To the brink where one who
has the nerve to do so may look down
into the depths beneath, and II narrow
path leads over the arch which many
! persons are reckless enough to cross.
Mrs NJ insisted on going To the very
verge and insisted on holding to her
skirts In front of us lay the majestic
waters of the lake, dotted with islands
i'm the distance. We descended through
! this great chasm arched by the hand
of God" to its base where we found
another arch, only less magnificent than
the one above.
Resuming our carriage, we were
driven to the interior of the island
where we found ourselves confronted
by Sugar Loaf" a conical limestone
standing on plateau $50 feet above
the lake and rising perpesdicularly l3l
feet above its base. 1t does not even
take the curious to ask, How came
it here =" 1t looks as though some
mighty volcanic action had pushed il
up bodily through the crust of the
earth as one would push needle
through a piece of cloth. 1t stands
"alone i'm its glory" in the midst of the
forest, with no other rock near. We
leave it for somebody more familiar
with geology to answer How ?" On
the north side is an opening, reached
by means of IA ladder, in which severa
persons might find refuge.
We were driven to Point Lookout,
built by the government just north Of
Fort Holmes, from which q command
ing view of the island may be had
Just here was field of potatoes in 1S1:
when the island was captured by tn,
British. When the Americans resumed
possession, in 1915, the English wer,
compelled to pillow and replant the fielC
as, by the terms of the treaty, the,
were required to leave everything a.
they found it. Fort Holmes stands OF
the browning point of the island anC
was built in 1912.
On the southwest part Of the islanC
: isthe " Lovers Leap" 1t stands bold,
out from the cliff and in appearance,
resembles Sugar Loaf" This, lik,
many other points about Mackinac, ha
"a legend connected with il. Long be
fore paleface had ever profaned tn,
island, Me-che-ne-mock-e-nung-o-q ua,
young Oiibway girl, often wandered
there, and, gazing from its dizzy height
watched the canoes as they sped ava,
with their parties of young braves seek
ing for scalps and for fame. Here i
was that she first met Genin-e-gwOl
and with him exchanged words of love
here il was that she sat and chanteC
her sweet Ojibway love song, one stan
"a of which, for the benefit of the youn!
ladies, we quote, as follows:
Mong do gwain indie main dunn,
Mong do gwain indie main dun,
Vain shung ish ween neen G no shane,
Vain shung ish ween neen shane,
nee wan wan san DO zode,
nee wan wan san DO zode.
From this bluff she often watched tn,
return of the war parties, for anon,
them, she knew, was Ge-nin-e gwon
his head decorated with the plumes q
the great war eagle, which could b.
worn by none but the bravest of tn
brave, while the wild west wind wafte'
over the mad waves to her listening ca
the songs of victory. But once sh,
failed to hear the voice of her love
mingling with the voices of the return
ing warriors and her heart told her tina
he had gone to the spirit land. And :,
it was, an enemy's arrow had pierce,
his breast, and, leaning against tree
his face TO the foe, he had sung hi
, death song and passed to the happ.
hunting ground. Continually, she saw
his loving spirit reckoning her to fol
low. One morning her mangled bod.
was found mt the foot of the bluff
hence the name, Lovers Leap"
A beautiful boulevard extends aroun,
the shore for mile or more, at tn
eastern terminus of which is robin
sons Folly" cliff 1913 feet high. II
1880, Capt. Robinson had summe
house built on this cliff, which became
a resort for the officers from the fort
but one night the house was blown owe
the precipice, and the captain bein,
within maid for his folly with his life