Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25
THE CEN OF THE STRAITS.
ilackiaac, the Enchanted Island =
Picturesque Attractions and His
t0ric Associations of .Michi-
gan's Fairy Isle.
Arch Rock, Sugar Loaf and Skulls
Cave The Story of the
Lovers Leap.

| AuuiC uOuSe: Int lOurlSC dJ MdCkl-
nae Island who has read Constance Fenni-
more Wo0lson 5 charming Mackinao novel
invariably asks that question. Often the
| question Is put to native. Now the
| average Mackinac native is not very well
! posted in recent American literature, and
! has not the slightest idea who or what is
/ meant by the question, but it has been
asked of him So frequently during the last
! decade that out of mere self-defense he and
! his inqpisitor 60 on their respective WAYS
vejoicing. "Anne's" real home is non es,.
t The old agency. so fully described by Miss
| Woolson, stood in what is now the fort
garden, adjoining the village schoo! holse.
The ruins can still lie seen. By The way,
! ''Rast, an important character Of the
, book, keeps drug store in the village
now.
The globe-trotting Britisher who spends
a month In America with II )tebook and
then goes home and writes three-column
account Of mis- impressions invariably
picturesque ruins and historical memora-
nae. He will find on this beautiful island
relics of AUD Lang Syne'' to his heart
content. In fact, it is a veritable cradle of
history.
Two hundred and thirty years have pass
Ell since the first white man set foot on this
soil. Father Marquette a few years later
(l671) established Jesuit school here, and
his grave has turned Pointe St. Ignace, on
the mainland four miles away, into
miniature Mecca for those of his faith.
The names of La Sale, Hennepin, Tonty,
Cadillac and of other pioneers are associat-
ed with Mackinac
The island has been called the Gem of
the Straits, Fairy Isle, : the Enchanted
island and by various other euphonious
titles, all Indicative of its wonderful beauty.
Viewed from the deck of an incoming
| steamer 1t presents an appearance that can
never be forgotten. The waters, blue as
the Bay of Naples the rough, gray cliffs;
the white walls of the old fort, the quaint
houses OF the village nesting beneath it;
the gaily painted, redroofed cottages, and
| the background of gently rising greenwood
form wonderful picture. The island is
nine miles In circumference and three in
diameter, and for the most part has been
set aside, on account of its beauty and
healthfulness, as a national park.
Fort Mackinac, both on account Of It's
historical associations and its attractive
appearance, is chief point of interest to
visitors. 1t is situated on a rocky emf
nence commanding wide view of the
straits. 1t has stone Notifications and is
complete in all its appointments, both
ancient and modern, having three block
houses erected in 1880 and canteen fitted
up in 1890. The stone walls of the old
officers quarters are no less than three feet
thick. Fort Mackinac is one of the ''show
posts OF the country, as they are termed
IN army parlance, and is carefully kept up
in appearance. Three flags have foated
over i - the feur-de-lis Of France, the
British union jack and the stars and
stripes.
On the hill back of the fort are the ruins
of old Fort Holmes. built by the English
during the war of 1912 to give greater Sc
, curity to their mold ON the Island It was
| originally called Fort George. but when it
came into the hands Of the United States
the name was changed in honor of brave
American officer who fell in a battle on
the island during the struggles of that
period.
! Arch Rock is one Of the most noted
, physical features OF Mackinac and the
world. It is a natural arch spanning a
chasm ninety feet high and fifty broad.
1t is much like the famous natural bridge
of Virginia, oni y not so high Or massive.
Descending through this chasm ''arched
by the wand of God" one sees Fairy Arch,
a miniature arch rock.
Sugar Loaf is another wonderful point
of interest. 1t Is large mass of gray,
calcareOus rock, rising abruptly on pa-
teau that stands $50 feet above the level of
| the lake. 1t is like an old-fashioned loaf
! of sugar, such as our grandmothers used.
There Is large cavern at the base capa
bic of holding several persons at once
Skalls Cave is another spot pointed out
to visitors. 1t was Alexander Henry's
hiding place during the troublous times of
the massacre at old Fort Mackinaw. on the
mainland British Landing, on the west
end of the island, is historic spot. There
Captain Roberts disembarked a force of
English, French and Indians to capture
Fort Mackinaw in 1912. Two years later
Colonel Groghan landed his American
force there and led many Of them bravely
to death In the face of outnumbering foes
AS no summer resort is complete with
out lovers leap Mackinac has one of
course. And whatever may be said of
other spots where disconsolate SWANS and
swecthearts had cast their passion-rocked
bodies to destruction, Mackinac can GER
| tainly boast of the great original Lovers
| Leap" Here is the legend: Once upon a
time there dwet on this isle an Ojibwav
maiden. beautiful and charming in every
way Her name was Me-che-ne-mock-e
nuns o-qua, who had a brave and hand
some lover who delighted in the euphoni-
Gus title of Ge-niw-e-gwon. They probably
called themselves ''Me-che' and ''Ge-ni"
for short though that is a mere supposition.
Their favorite trysting place was bedrock
on the western bluff There, when her
brave went away in the great war canoe to
battle, Me che awaited his return One
evening. when straining her eyes to-
ward the setting sun. he perceived the
/ war canoe returning. But, alas! she soon
saw that her braves place was vacant.
With shrek she cast herself from the
rock and was dashed to pieces in an in
slant Her lover was not dead, however
| Wounded and too weak to paddle, he lay
in the canoe. On reaching the shore how
eagerly he sought the face of his loved
one, but in vain. He thought of their
| trysting place, and with sad forebodings
fastened to it, gazed over the precipice,
saw the mangled body of his sweetheart,
and before his companions could restrain
had leaped to her side. Such is the legend
of Lovers Leap To be sure it ism t true,
but it is romantic. It is pleasant thing to
think that once there were beautiful In
dian girls There are none left.
Situated at the head of three great lakes,
| Mackinac Island was recognized as a
natural center for commercial as well
missionary enterprises. John Jacob
Astor of New York, organized the Ameri-
can Fur Company in 1909, with a cash
capital of $1,000 900. For thirty-nine