The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-07-19

has been converted INTO quaint hos
telry. The indians peopled this craggy
island with giant fairies and gave it the
name of e-ne-mock-e-mung. The
island is 72S feet above the level of the
ocean, with a mean temperature of Al
degrees Fahrenheit. Nature has given
to this enchanting spot a combination
of towering white cliffs, pine-topped
crags, wooded valleys and winding dells
making it a veritable paradise for the
summer idler who desires to get in
close communication with nature and
completely forget the scene of CONNER
cial strife and professional endeavor.
The island is about nine miles in Cir
conference, and is steep and in some
places precipitous shores rise to the
heighth of two to three hundred feet
above the surrounding waters of Lakes
Michigan and Huron. The boulevard,
built around the island at cost of
many thousands of dollars, is one of the
finest and most picturesque roads in
America. 1t starts from the village,
around the beach, along the shore to
DEVILS Kitchen, Pontiac's Lookout,
Lovers Leap and Chimney Rock. The
road then winds around the lake shore,
through cedar and balsam shrubbery,
back to the village. Among the points
of interest are Arch Rock, a natural
bridge of rocks on the northern cliffs,
Fort Holmes, the remains Of the old
British fort, Sugar Loaf, huge rock,
the shape suggesting it's name, the
DEVILS Kitchen, cave with blackened
walls near the beach on the southern
shore, Lovers Leap and Skull Cave,
with legendary associations, are all
interesting points for half days eN
cursion. The island was first settled by
white men in 1871, at that time being
French territory. 1t was held by the
French until 1851 when it was ceded to
the English. We greatly enjoyed trip
through the old fort which stands high
above the water and is reached by a
succession of stairways. 1t is now
abandoned and with most of the island
is held as a government park. The fort
was built in 1880, as security against
the indians, and the old stockades still
stand. From 1880 to 1895 the fort was
held by the British. Then the place
was peacefully occupied by American
forces in accordance with treaty.
Our troops held the position until July
II, 1872, when the fort and island were
captured without bloodshed by Capt.
Roberts, of the British army, from ST.
Joseph's island, with 1876 soldiers and
about 1000 indians. Between the 4th
and Sth of August 1914 a force of United
States troops attempted to recapture
the island and a severe battle was
fought, but the Americans were defeat
ed with considerable loss. During the
following winter peace was concluded
and the English evacuated the island
the following spring. During the
winter months Mackinac Island has a
population of about 800 people, but in
the summer months the population is
between 10000 and 10000. The business
part of the town consists principally of
novelty and curio stores and prices are
very high, as these people must make
their living during the summer months.
1t costs % cents for shave, so cents
for hair cut, and other prices are in
proportion. One of the beauties of the
island is the white and purple lilacs,
this being their native country, and
/ they grow wild in the dense woods.
The lilac trees, many of them a hundred
to two hundred years old, grow to a
heighth of forty feet, and we saw them
which measured more than foot and a
half in diameter. All over the island
are scattered the summer homes of
wealthy people, whose cottages cost
$4,000 to 100000, and this does not
include the land, which is only leased
from the government but the land rent
is only nominal and there is no danger
of the owners of the cottages being dis
turbed unless war should break out and
the ground would be needed for mill.
tary purposes. We spent delightful
day on this island, and left the follow,
ing forenoon for a trip to 'Saulte Ste
Marie, better known as "The 500" to sex
the greatest locks in the world, abou,
which we will tell our readers mex,
week.