Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-18

Ottawa and Chippewa nations, who had
protested great friendship for the United
States. he suspected that the British and
their Indian allies were contemplating an
attack upon the islands, hence after con-
sulting with several American gentlemen.
he decided to dispatch Michael Dousman.
who was thought the most suitable man
for the service. to ascertain their move
ments and Intentions. Within fifteen miles
Of the island Dousman met the attacking
party. was made prisoner. put on his
parole of honor and landed at the island
with positive directions to give the soldiers
no intelligence whatever. He was also In
structed to take the inhabitants of the
village Unfortunately to place on the
west side Of the island where their per-
sons and property would be protected by
British guards but, should they go to the
fort he was warned that they would be ex-
posed to a general massacre by the saw
ages. which would be inevitable If the gar
rison fired gun.
As Hanks had but ffty-seven soldiers
five civilians and drummer boy under his
command. and the enemy had thousand
regular troops and a la ge band of saw
ages. he surrendered on demand July H.
1872 believing that resistance would not
only be hopeless but fatal. The troops
were allowed the hOnors of war paroled
and sent to the nearest military station
Capt. Roberts. commanding the British
forces, promised to respect the rights and
property of individuals but all civilians
who remained were required to take the
oath of allegiance to Great Britain or leave
the island within thirty days. Five civil
Ian employees OF the company who refused
to obey this stipulation were sent away
with the soldiers. but Michael Dousman
was allowed to remain neutral
Pontiac's Conspiracy.
Dousman's loyalty is still a subject of
controversy. His descendants and defend
ers have always commended that but for his
influence the garrison and the inhabitants
of the island would have been massacred.
as they were on June 4, 1863, when the
French-Canadians with their savage allies
undertook to drive the English from the
northern country. The massacre at Mack
mac Island occurred on the birthday of the
King of England. The Indians. always
protesting their loyalty to the British in
the strongest terms, engaged in game or
ball and other fecreations, ostensibly in
celebration of the day, and drew the entire
population inside the stockade. Then, at
a given signal. they seized their tomahawks
and knives, which the squawS had brought
in concealed under their blankets. took the
whites completely by surprise, fell upon
them in the midst of the game and muir
dered everybody present. including the
commander seventy soldiers and all the
inhabitants except about twenty men. who
being absent were taken prisoners after
ward bound and carried by boats to Green
bay, where they succeeded in escaping by
the assistance OF a friendly savage.
This was a part of what was known as
Pontiac's conspiracy. With the change of
admin stration from French to English
after the victory Of the English on the
Plains of Abra ham in September ll59. the
Jurisdiction of the Mackinac country was
transferred to Great Britain. and French
authority was never restored. AS the pop
ulation of the country was nearly all of
French extra ction, they tenaciously re-
tanned their religion. customs. practices and
prejudices even to the present day. The
change was not agreeable either to them
or to the Indians. The English were not
50 liberal or friendly. Frenchman and
an Indian would live together in the same
wigwam or cabin, and the French coureur
de bois usually married squaw and
adapted himself to her surroundings But
the English always kept aloof and nat
urally were never able to secure the con-
fidence of the aborigines
Early In 1853 when they learned that the
French king had coded all their country to
the King of England without their consent,
the Indians were very indignant, and Pom
tiac, the principal chief OF the Ottawas and
one of the ablest Indians known to history.
went from tribe to tribe or sent his ennis
saries to organize simultaneous attack
upon all the English forts and settlements.
SO that the country might be restored to its
original owners. Pontiac received the en-
enlargement and, In measure. the CO
operation of the French population. and the
conspiracy, although not successful, cost
many lives and arrested the development
of Michigan and Wisconsin for many years
Pontiac was a great man. His home was
on Peche Island, in Lake St. Clair. eight
miles above Detroit. which may be seen
from the deck of a passing steamer. His
rare personal qualities. his superior ability.
his wisdom, his courage eoquence and
determination gave him undisputed control
over all the other chiefs in this part of the
country. and his war record surpassed that
Of all his rivals. He of the chiefs
in command of the Indians at the disastrous
defeat of Braddock near Pittsburg several
years before. He always hated the English
and loved the French. and his war of ex-
termination was skillfully planned and con-
Quoted with great ability and energy.