Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-19
GIVEN UP BY BRITISH
Mackinac Island Surrendered
by the Treaty of Client.
|EFF0RT TO CAPTURE 1T
American Attack Upon the Place Re-
pulsed.
ATTEMPTS TO CONVERT INDIANS
Catholic Mission Established in 1871
and Presbyterian Mission in 1902.
The Famous Mrs. johnson.
ATTEMPTS TO CONVERT INDIANS
MACKINAC. Septemher hi la0:
BY WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.


Special Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago
Record-Herald.
MACkINAC. September 13, 1907
The British remained in possession of
Mackinac Island after it's capture from
the Americans in 1912 until the close of the
war, although after Commodore Perry S
victory on Lake Erie in 1913 an attempt
was made to recover possession by a fleet
of two sloops of war and four gunboats
the largest and strongest that was ever
organized upon the great lakes with a
land force Of $50 regulars and militia
under command of Lieut.. Col Croghan
L. S. A. Ambrose r. Davenport one of
the residents of Mackinac Island, who had
been expelled by the British for refusing
to take the oath of allegiance. was the
guide Of the expedition. ST. Mary's river
was the first object of attention and the
British fort at St. Joseph's was captured
and burned. This caaused a delay which en-
abled the British Mackinac Island to
strengthen their Notifications and secure
reinforcements from Canada and from the
surrounding Indian tribes.
A battle was fought on the farm of
Michael Dousman, when the Americans
were defeated and compelled to withdraw.
Col. Croghan then decided to blockade lie
island and cut off Its supplies, expecting
to starve the garrison into a surrender.
Two gunboats were left to perform this
duty. while the rest of the squadron re-
turned to Detroit. But the British cap
tured one of the blockading vessels by
night sortie in canoes and found aboard 1t
a book of signals which enabled them to
capture the other also.
The failure of this campaign, which left
the key to the upper lakes in control Of the
British, was a serious disadvantage to the
United States, but under the treaty of
Client Great Britain relinquished jurIsdic-
Ion over Mackinac Island and July
Is. 1915. the British troops retired to
Drummonds Island on the Canadian shore
of the 500, where new military post was
established and Fort Mackinac came again
into the possession of the Americans, who
retained 1t as two-company post until
1895, when 1t was transferred to the state
of Michigan.
Between 1915 and 1895 many famous
army officers saw service here, including
Gen. Ulysses s. Grant. wso spent two years
In the garrison while a first lieutenant In
the 4th Infantry in 1890 Gen. Edwin
Sumner was here while lieutenant In the
I'd Infantry In 1927, and Gen. Samuel T.
Heintzelman was his meSSmate.
Attracted by the presence of friends at
the military post, q few southern families
came to the island in 1912 to spend the
summer. They found the climate so agree
able and the scenery SO beautiful that they
built cottages and advertised the attrac-
lions and advantages of the place among
their friends. Year after year the number
of visitors from the south grew-from
Louisville, Memphis, New Orleans Mobile
and other southern cities-and few small
hotels were built to accommodate them.
troit, Cleveland and Chicago took their
place, and since then the island has become
one of the most popuIous and popular of
resorts.