New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-09

Mosquito creek and Clam River Dr. Erwin and i
hunter named Big Hunger came upon me ruins
These consisted Of a circle OF breastworkS, I'm,
of the earth eXcavated to mako moat which had
evidently been flooded from Mosquito Creek IN
works under the leaves and decay Of centuries
was found bed Of charcoal and ashes. giving the
wooden fort burned probably in the Stormlng or
the breastworks Excavations brought to lleht TWO
Skeletons and whaI more likely TO prove val
uabe for the clearing ny OF the mys,eTy OF fns
fort number of scraps of iron TO an appearahces
fragments have been forwarded TO the Smithsonian
Institution at Washington, TO DE examined d! On
perts.
4 LEGEND OF THE OTTAWA INDIANS
# wax legend heard from the local Indians that
led Dr. Erwin to hit upon the possibility OF this old
fort being the grave OF Henry Hudson In ancient
Michigan. between Lakes Michigan and Huron;
were peopled by the otta"as 'rpe 'hsc
Lake Huron. now the province of ontario mere me
numerous tribe famous for all time the especial
foe OF the Iroquois. Civilization has swallowed
OF Michigan are TO he found small encampments
OF the Ottawas living much as their forefathers
The many streams that thir the woods are rich
in fish the small lakes the paradise Of the
berries from the tangled brcr and deer eat the
fresh tops OF burseoning branches An Indian can
live in these Wilds in all his aboriginal solitude for
tho land cleared OF it's heavy timber is to all
relapse into a forest. ten small trees taking the
place Of the one great one sent down the river ,,or
lumber. I'm the ncighborhood OF Lake city lies
John Chinsw wash. an old Ottawa Indian. and his
account Of lfsend Of his tribe led those that are
with the tate Of Henry Hudson The Indians tale
Many years ago the Ottawa nation whose vii
lage was upon the shores Of Houghton Lake, a
beautiful sheet of water midway between Lakes
ninsGia AS their huntins-ground. Their hereditary
enemy was the Huron tribe and wars and raids
- hot fln
day band of the Ottawas' braves brought in a
party of white men the FIRST palefaces me otts-
nrGn hG white men TO he NORTH of Lake Superior
reached ioughton Lake the Indians, full Of curl
osity treated them as guests. only taking care that
quickly learned 10 love the leader Of the vh!,es
guiding his mon through the trackIess forest by
the stars instead OF adopting the methods Of tie
craft "StargaZer' soon became an authority i'm
the tribe, and looked upon patriarch and
chief. that his counsel taken on every point
affecting the welbeing Of the Ottawas.
THE ATTACK OF THE HURONs
After he and his men had been With the tribe for
were advancing in canoes along the southern
call the braves together TO repei the invasion and
q council of war was held; 'Stargazer" for lone
time had been imporng the OttaWas to allow him
and his continue their Journey to the south,
but the red men would never consent 10 let him 20.
However, with such grave danger, cG1fronins
them the chief promised "Stargazer tEht If he
would use all his abilities and ingenuity ~ assisting
the Ottawas in the forthcoming struggle after the
| raid had been repealed he and his men would be
furnished with guides into the south; StargazeI
consented the arrangement, and placing himself
at the head of a small band of warriors FASTENED
has only now come TO the knowledge OF the anti
ouarians of Michigan, when the main ngntlng
force of the Ottawas under the leadership OF the
var chief of the tribe attempted flank move
,nant with the object Of coming upon the rear OF
engaged i'm stormng the fort. A. II turned out.
the Iurons came against the Tort IN Irresistible
numbers and. after fierce struggle, swarmed
over the breastworks and put every one OF the de-
tenders white and red. to death. Then they faced
about and charged upon the main Dody OF tle
I Ottawas and. putting them to rout, drove the
tribe from the peninsula and TOOK possession OF the
country Here the Hurons remained until the Pot
,awattomies from the Southwest conquered the
land, and in 100 the Ottawas were again In pos
session and continued to hold their ancient hunting
ground until dispossessed by the white man. This IL
Indian Johns story, many points OF when are CON
~ As has been said the British Association meets.
for the second time in its history abroad TINS Tune
I'm Toronto. Canada. and II the report upon the
cutlass and scraps of iron found in the fort and
forwarded TO the Smithsonian institute at Wash
ington is favorable TO the theory that "Stargazer
might possibly be Henry Hudson. some OF the geo.
graphical experts. TO whom the name OF the great
1ocknev dscoverer Is sacred. will journey to Lake
CITY and attempt further finds. If Henry Hudson
reached land after being sent adrift among the
Ice foes Hudsons Bay. he would in all probabil-
itv follow the largest river flowing into the bay
from the south. This Is the Mssinaibi splendid
stream, whose course would lead HUDSON ana MS
mon in an almost straight line to the Straits of
Nackinac. which is the northern boundary of the
neninsula OF Michigan once admit the possibility
Of Henry Hudson guiding his small boat the few
days' sail TO the shore. and Indian Johns story
may be termed the height of the rational.