The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-08-10

Ing and spectacular events In American history.
This WAS the re-enactment of the Indian ball
game played outside the walls of Fort Mchill-
mackinac on June 4 1853, ball game which
ended In a swift tragedy that cost the lives OF
more than score of white men. The occasion
for the re-enActment of this game was the dedi-
cation by Governor Comstock OF Michigan OF
replica Of the little palisaded fort that once
stood on the present site of MackInaw City, the
forerunner of later forts In the MackInac region
which. during the three centuries OF Its his
tory, have flown the flags OF three nations.
The tragedy which took place at Fort Michili-
mackinac ITO years ago was one OF the events
In the larger drama of the conspiracy OF Pom
tIac the famous chief OF the ottawa Indians,
to drive the hated English into the sea-" Pom
tiacs plan was simultaneous uprising of the
confederated tribes, the swift capture of all the
forts In the West, the massacre of their gar
rsons and q general attack on the frontier
settlements, and he all but succeeded In his am
bilious plan.
Because of It's location on the south side OF
the Straits Of Mackinac between Lake Huron
and Lake Michigan, MchIllmackinac for more
than a century had been one OF the most I'M
portant outposts of the frontier. Connected with
its early history are the names of Jean Nicolet,
RadIsson, Groselliers, Joliet, perot La Sale,
Father Allouez and Father Marquette, who
founded the Mission Of ST. Ignace nearby In
1871. Two years later 1t was selected by the
French as the site for fort and from that
time until 1862 when France lost her empire
In America to England, the flag of France fioated
over a fortress of one kind or another at Mich
ilimackinac. In 1853 1t was garrisoned by some
So British officers and soldiers under the COM
mand of Capt George Burlington. Grouped
around the little fort were the homes of num-
Der OF French and English traders and 1t was
some of the former who first gave the COM
mander hint of the tempest that was brewing
among the Indians.
2 But Burlington disregarded their warnings,
even going 80 far to threaten to send as a
prisoner to Detroit the next person who should
disturb the inhabitants OF the place with such
evil tidings. The final warning, and one which
he should have needed even Ii he had dlsre-
garded the others, came from Alexander Henry,
an English trader, who had been adopted as
"son, brother and friend" by Wawatam Chip
pewa chief.
Henry. one OF the survivors of the massacre
has left us an interesting account OF the events
leading up to the tragedy and of the massacre
itself, of which he was eyewitness. 1t fol-
lows, In part.
"On the second of June Wawatam came to my
houge in a temper Of mind visibly melancholy
and thoughtful He told me that he had just re-
turned from his wintering- ground and | asked
after his health but without answering my
question he went to say that he was very
sorry to find me returned from the Sault, that
he had Intended to go to that place himself, i'm
mediately after his arrival at Mchllimackinac;
and that he wished me to go there along with
him and his family the next morning.
ITO all this he Joined an inquiry whether or
not the commandant had heard bad news adding
that during the winter he had himself been dis
turbed with the noise of evil birds; and further
suggesting that there were numerous Indians
near the fort, many Of whom had never shown
themselves within 1t. Wawatam was about forty
1--WE years Of age, Of an excellent character among
his nation, and chief.
referring much of what ! heard to the pc
culiarites OF the Indian character, did not pay
all the attention which they Will be found to
have deserved to the entreaties and remarks OF