Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-09

they believed that demon resided there,
and they dared not visit his domain to
procure copper without first propltlatlng
him with rites and gifts; then, trembling
and in silence, they lighted fires around
some exposed mass of the metal, and, when
it was softened, they hastily cut of, a small
quantity and fled to their canoes without
looking back. So strong was their dread
that for years the explorers were unable to
obtain from them information about the
point. neither would they act as guides,
tempting brides were offered.
Presque Isle is the name of high
headland two miles north of Marquette.
Its shores are rugged, sandstone cliffs,
broken here and there by the waves into
fancifully formed caverns,. pillars and
arches The strata are nearly horizontal,
and the veins of different colored minerals
make singularly striking appearance. 1t
AgassiZ immensely when he
visited it few years before his death.
This spot was once the site of a flourish
ing Indian village of the Chippewa tribe.
OF the scenic beauties that will be seen
on the way the most striking are Douglas
Fall, the great cave at Cat Island, the
Miners Castle Dead River Falls and the
cave at Presque Isle.
A spot that should be visited before
leaving the lake shore is Mackinac, pro-
nounced as though spelled "Mackinaw."
Mackinac Island lies like broken link
between Upper and Lower Michigan.
Around it meet the waters of the two
great lakes, Huron and Michigan, whose
I &c
island has sufficient area to cause journey
of nine miles in skirting its shores. 1t is
shapen as if it had been made square, and
then some giant force had pulled each Of
its corners a little way. 1t rises sheer
above the translucent waters, great pla-
teau, 200 to 500 feet in hight, wooded
luxuriantly and framed with broad white
beach.
As is the custom with old villages,
wherever they are seen, the little original
settlement crouches at the foot of bluff
beneath the struggling, picturesque
settlement of shops and cottages, churches
and hotels, facing the white strand and
the marvelously clear water. As is also
the custom with the wiser planning Of
mankind to-day, the far choicer high
ground is being built upon with modern
hotels and lovely villas Up there, also, is
the military reservation of 103 acres, and
the remainder has been set apart by the
Government = justly approaching its
unique attractions-for a national park.
Fort Mackinac, which stands on rocky
eminence just above tbs town, was built
by the Enelis in 1880. The buildings
are hospital, outside the wall and east of
the fort; a guard-house, near the south
gate; officers quarters on the hill near the
flagstaff, quarters for the men in the CEN
ter, block-houses on the walls, magazine in
the hollow, not far from the south gate;
store-houses, offices, etc. There are per-
sons yet living on the island who, during
the troubles of 1914, took refuge in these
selfsame block houses. In the rear of the
fort is the parade ground, and the spot
where Captain Roberts planted his guns in
1872, while his whole force of Indians was
concealed in the adjacent thickets. Cap
tain Roberts disembarked at British Land
ing, marched across the island and took
up his station at this point without being
discovered.
Half or three-quarters of mile behind
Fort Mackinac, on the crowning point of
the island, is Fort Holmes, built soon after
the British captured the post in 1872.
Each citizen was compelled to give three
days work toward its construction. The
excavation enclrcling the embankment, or
earthworks, was originally broader and
deeper than now. The place of the gate is
seen on the east side, one of the posts yet
to mark its position. In the
center of the fort was erected huge block
house, beneath which was the magazine.
Near the gate was the entrance to several
cellars, which have now
caved in. The fort was defended by what
are now called ''popguns," the largest of
which was only an lS-pounder. History
shows this fort to have been considered
very remarkable and formidable defense in
its time. Its first name was Fort George,
but when it became an American posses
sion it was renamed in honor of Major
Holmes, hero who fell at Early's Farm.
As far back as history begins to blend
with traditions that reach into the dim
NEST past, Mackinac Island has been a
place of great interest. A legend relates
that large number of Indians were once
assembled at Point st. Ignace, and while
gazing at the rising sun, during
the great Manitou, or February moon,
they beheld the island suddenly rise up
from the water, assuming It's present form.
From the point of observation it bore the
fancied resemblance to the back of huge
turtle; hence they called it by the name of
-nung, which means
great turtle. This name, when put into
French dress, became Michilimackinac, to
be in turn again abbreviated by the al
ways practical English into Mackinac.
In 1871 Father Marquette, pioneer and
priest, wrote that "Michilimackinac is an
island famous in these regions, of more
than league in diameter, and elevated in
some places by such high cliffs as to be
seen more than twelve leagues off," Father
Marquette was doubtless the first white
man to visit it, or at least to dwell upon it.
He established school on the island in
1911 for the education of the Indian
youth, and so much was he attached to
''the Straits that when he died, in 1875, it
was at his request his Indian converts
brought his body back to the little mission
established by him at St. Ignace The first
vessel ever seen on these waters was the
Griffin" built by the explorer La Sale
on Lake Erie, in 1878.
In 1895, Cadillac, who still later founded
Detroit, established small fort here
Then came contests and skirmishes, not
unmingled with massacres, until finally
with all the other French
strongholds on the lakes, was surrendered
to the English in September, 1861. In
1853 began the conspiracy of Pontiac
coup de glterre wonderful for the sagacity
with which it was planned and the rigor
with which it was executed.
A year afterwards, treaty of peace
having been made with the Indians,
troops were again sent to raise the English
dag over the fort. The present fort on
Mackinac Island was built by the English
IN 1880. By treaty of peace between
Great Britain and the United States Sep
TENDER 8, 1888, the island fell within the
of the United States, but under
various pretenses the English refused to
withdraw their troops. November 10. 1894.