Qass Book- - COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT I Annals OF Fort Mackinac DWIGHT H. KELTON, CAPTAIN U. S. ARMY. BRAMHALL EDITION. BUY OR BUST. IF WE DON'T SELL YOU A COPY OF THE ANNALS - FORT MACKINAC BY DWIGHT H. KELTON. LL.D., Captain u. S. army. PRICE 25c. ^^ ^^^^^ 30c. JOHN W. DAVIS & SON, Mackinac Island, Mich., ^ GENERAL AGENTS FOR THIS EARTH AND CHICAGO. THE New Mackinac (Built upon the site of the "Mackinac House," which \vas burned in January, 1887.) MACKINAC ISLAND, - ^ MiCH. 100 GOOD ROOMS. TEN FIRE ESCAPES. HOT AND COLD BATHS. ARTESIAN WELL WATER. MILK AND BUTTER FROM OUR JERSEY DAIRY. EGGS AND CHICKENS FROM OUR FARM. This house is well arranged for the comfort of tourists, and is conveniently located on the Lake front, and forty feet from the only passenger wharf on the Island. The furniture, carpets, etc., are all "new." The house is equipped with electric bells, and modern conveniences. SAUE MAGK HIRE TO AMD FROM YOUR HOTEL. FRED. R. EMERICK, PROPRIETOR AND MANAGER. This hotel was built for the special comfort of summer boarders. On arrival each gueet will be asked how he likes the situation, and if he says the Hotel ought to have been placed upon Fort Holmes or ©n Round Island, the location of the Hotel will be immediately changed. Corner front rooms, up one flight, for every guest. Baths, gas, electricity, hot and cold water, laundry, telegraph, restaurant, fire alarm, bar-room, billiard table, sewing machine, piano, and all modern conveniences in every room. Meals every minute, and consequently no second table. Every guest will have the best seat in the dining hall. Our clerk was specially educated for the "New Mackinac" he wears the original Koh-i-noor diamond, and is prepared to please everybody. He is always ready to sing, matth worsted, take a hand at draw-poker, play billiards, sharpen your pencil, take you out rowing, lead the german, amuse the children, make a fourth at whist, or flirt with any young lady, and will not mind being cut dead when Pa comes down. He will attend to the telephone and answer all questions in Choctaw, Chinese, Chippewa, Volapuk, or any other of the Court languages of Europe. The proprietor will always be happy to hear that some other hotel is "the best in the country." Special attention given to parties who give information as to "how these things are done in Chicago." n INDIAN NAMES OF iss'^s- PLACES NEAR THE By mail, 350. PDrHT T 1\WQ ^' GREAT lakes; DWIGHT H. KELTON, LL. D., CAPTAIN U. S. ARMY. This is the Best Selling Book of this Century. ST. IGNACE REPUBLICAN p. D. BISSELL, Editor. St. Ignace, Mackinac County, Mich. PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. $2.00 — A. YEA]^ — $2.00 FAIRY ARCH. ANNALS Fort Mackinac DWIGHT H. I^ELTON, LL.D., CAPTAIN U. S. ARMY. AUTHOR OF INDIAN NAMES OF PLACES NEAR THE GREAT LAKES. AUTHOR OF INDIAN NAMES AND HISTORY OF THE SAULT STE. MARIE CANAL. CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE WISCONSN STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE KANSAS STATE H STORICAL SOCIETY- CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY. MEMBER OF THE VERMONT STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. BRAMHALL EDITION. 1894-- Copyright, 1882, by Dwight H. Kelton. Copyright, 1883, by Dwight H. Kelton. Copyright, 1884, by Dwight H. Keltcn. Copyright, 1886, by Dwight H. Kelton. Copyright, 1887, by Dwight H, Kelton. Copyright, 1888, by Dwight H. Kelton. Copyright, 1889, by DwiGHT H. Kelton. Copyright, 1890, by DwiGHT H. Kelton. Copyright, 1891, by Dwight H. Kelton. Copyright, 1892, by Dwight H. Kelton. Copyright, 1893, by Dwight H. Kelton. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1894, by DWIGHT H. KELTON, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. y A PRINTED liY Detroit Free Press Printing Co. Beauteous Isle ! I sing of thee, Mackinac, my Mackinac; Thy lake-bound shores I love to see, Mackinac, my Mackinac. From Arch Rock's height and shelving steep To western cliffs and Lover's Leap, Where memories of the lost one sleep, Mackinac, my Mackinac. Thy northern shore trod British foe, Mackinac, my Mackinac: That day saw gallant Holmes laid low, Mackinac, my Mackinac. Now Freedom's flag above thee waves, And guards the rest of fallen braves. Their requiem sung by Huron's waves, Mackinac, my Mackinac. t, f A\ Bi C, HJ m Q c, K MA C K I N A C M LC YU Arch Rock, Mackinac Island. GREETING. For courtesies received I am under obligations to: — Col. Clarence E. Bennett, U. S. A., Rev. C. L. WooDWORTH, Jr., Major Jno. J. Byrne, Captain A. A. ScHANTZ, Ray C. Davis, Esq., and P. D. Bissell, Esq. This edition is named in honor of Col. Frank J. Bram- HALL, of C-hicago, Illinois. COLDWATER, MICHIGAN, JULY, 1894. From Vol. I of Kelton's "Indian Names of Places Near the Great Lakes/' Chicago. (111.) Zhikagong, the locative case of zhikago, "a skunk," also used as a personal nan e. f Early French writers mention a elder named Chicagou, who lived near the site of the present city. According to tradition, Chicagou was drowned in the river. Whatever may have been the occasion for applying that name to the locality, there can be no question about the ety- mology of the word. Algic proper names are very commonly derived from the name of animals by the addition of o. Thus ZhikagOy is zhikag used as a man's name ; and zhikag^ or zhigag, is the Mephitis Americana^ or "skunk." The English term " skunk," itself is a corruption of the Abenaki form of the word, which is, sikango. Some have sought to lend dignity to the term, by tracing in its first syllable, the second syllable of kichi, "great." This is plainly inconsistent with the Indian pronunciation of the name. The origin of the word, however undignified, is plain : zhig^ is the Latin mvngere ; and kag^ or gag^ though now restricted to the porcupine species, was originally any horrid little beast ; hence zhi-kag, is equal to hestiola foeda mingens. Others have had recourse to zhigagawazh "wild garlic;" but this does not help matters, for the ugly root zhig, is still there, followed by -agawazh, " a plant ;" hence planta v/ri- nam redolens. Contents. PAGE Aucieut Michilimakinac I'^iS Ancient Names of -River's and Lalies, 101 American Fur Company 51 American Officers, 20 Battle on Mackinac Island, in 1814, 215 British Officers HG Capture of Fort Mackinac in 1812 2 i7 Collectors of Customs, 48 Conspiracy of Pontiac, . . 202 County Clerks 49 Early Michigan, ITf* Fort Mackinac, 20 French Officers, 176 Governors of Michigan, . . • . 18'2 Historical Events, chronologically arranged, 184 Indian Agents, , 48 Legend of Arch Rock .... 67 Legend of the Celestial Sisters S!) Legend of the Enchanted Moccasins, .111 Legend of the Giant Bear, 116 Legend of tlie Giant Fairies, 77 Legend of the Humpbacked Manitou, 1<>3 Legend of Lover's Leap, . 61 Legend of Mackinac Island 71 Legend of Mishini-Makinak, ^'3 Legend of the Red Swan, 133 Legend of Robertson's Folly, .57 Legend of Shingebiss 87 Legend of the Spirit of Sleep, . . .101 Legend of the Stone Canoe, 107 Legend of the Summer Maker, 49 Legend of the White Feather, 148 Light Houses 50 Mackinac Island, 15 National Park, 41 Postmasters, 49 Priests 45 Probate Court, Judges, 48 Presidents of the Village, 49 Summer Residences, - 239 Jd^CKIN^C l^wp, MICHIGAN. EnUred accordin^to Act of Congress in 1883, by H. Keltuh. Scale, 2 inches to 1 Mile. ^Ledyard's '1 Cliffs MACKINAC ISLAND. 16 Mackinac Island. Latitude 45° 51' North. Jjongitiide 84° 36' West of Greenwich, This island is situated in the Straits of Mackinac, about four miles east of the narrowest part ; fifteen miles from Lake Huron and thirty from Lake Michigan ; it contains 2,221 acres, of which 911 are in the National Park, 103 are in the Military Reservation, and 1,207 are private claims. The stratums of limestone which form the base of Mackinac Island, are identical with the lower division of the Helderberg series, while the stratums which form the upper portion of the island contain a good many fossils characteristic of the Upper Helderberg system, though but few of them are well preserved. The rocks on the island give undeniable evidences of the former prevalence of the water, to the height of 250 feet or more above the present level of the surrounding waters, though it is not intended to allege that the water of the lakes, as such, has ever stood at the level of the summit of Pyramid Rock ; nor do we speak upon the question whether 16 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. the changes have been caused by the subsidence of the lakes, or the uplift of the island. The Arched and Pyramid rocks owe their shape and posi- tion to tlie denudino: action of the waters, which durine: the drift period swept away the softer and disintegrating material, which surrounded these harder and more com- pact brecciated limestones. The mean surface of the water in the Straits of Mackinac is 581 feet above the mean tide at New York. There is a variation of about five feet in the height of the water in the Straits. The greatest depth of water on the bar between Mackinac and Kound islands is 40 feet; on the bar between Koiind and Bois Blanc islands, 16 feet; between Bois Blanc island and the main-land of the southern peninsula, 84 feet ; between Mackinac Island and St. Ignace, 210 feet. The greatest depth of water in the Straits is at a point about midway between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, where it is 252 feet deep. The following are the principal fishes which are found in what may be termed, Mackinac waters: Burbot, — Lota maculosa; Fresli -Water Drum, — Hap- loidonotus grunniens; Great Lake Catfish, — Ictahivus nigricans; Lake Herring, — Coregonus ariedi; Lake Stur- geon, — Acipenser ruhicundus; Lake Trout, — Salvelinus namaycush; Lake White-Fish, — Coregonus clupeiformis; Moon-Eye, — Hyodon tergisus; Muskellunge, — Esox nobilr MACKINAC I8LANU. 17 tor / Pike, — Esox lucius • Rock Bass, — Arribloplitea rupestris I Sun Fish, — Lepomis gihhosus ,' Wall-Ejed Pike, — Stizostedion vitreumi White Bass, — Roccvs chry- sops; Yellow Perch, — Perca americana. Several of the above have different local names. Of the shell-bearing animals, specimens of three general groups only are found on the Island ; viz., land snails ; fresh- water snails ; and fresh- water mussels. The average temperature of the waters in the Straits during the months of June, July, August and September, is 56, 63, 64 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. The yearly average of the Maxirmim and the MinimuTn temperatures for the different months is as follows: January, 39, — 16 ; February, 42, —19 ; March, 45, —13 ; April, 68, 9; May, 78, 30; June, 80, 40; July, 85, 47; August, 86, 44; September, 81, 37; October, 73, 25; Nov- ember, 62, 14 ; December, 47, 3 ; in degrees, Fahrenheit. The average total precipitation for a year, — including melted snow, — is 28 inches. The average rainfall for the months of June, July, August and September, is 2.20 ; 2.79 ; 2.31 and 2.12 inches, respectively. 18 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. The thickness of the ice bridge which is formed across the Straits in winter, varies with the winter seasons ; how- ever, in a very cold winter, ice is formed to the thickness of about four feet. The following is the height in feet, of the places speci- fied, above the mean surface of the water in the Straits : Port Mackinac — parade ground 133 Fort Mackinac — highest gun-platform 161 Fort Holmes— the platform 336 Top of the Pyramid Rock 285 Top of the Chimney Rock 13 5 Robertson's Folly 128 Highest point of the Arch Rock 15 Top of the Arch 140 Buttress facing the lake at Arch Rock 110 Top of the Lover's Leap 145 Lower Plateau of the Island 150 Upper Plateau of the Island 395 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKLNAO. Fort Mackinac. There are various ways of reaching the Fort from the village; probably the best is "up the steps," the view at the top being well worth the breath it costs. Now follow us, and we will show you through the Fort. The old block-house on our left was built in 1T80-S2, by the British troops ; for several years after they were built the block-houses were used as barracks for the troops, each of the three stories having been provided with an open fire- place; beyond, to the left, are two buildings, officers' quar- ters, built in 1876 ; passing along toward the flag-staff, we come to another set of officers' quarters, built in 1835, and another old block-house, the upper story of which contains a wooden tank, into which water is pumped from a spring at the foot of the bluff, and distributed through pipes into various buildings. This innovation on the water-wagon was made in accordance with a plan devised by, and executed under the direction of Lieut. Dwight H. Kelton, U. S. A.; water was first pumped October 11, 1881. While reinforcing the flag-staff in 1869, a bottle was taken out of the base, containing a parchment upon which was written : fo£t mackinao. 21 Headqitakters Fort Mackinac, May 25th, 1835. This flag-staff erected on the 25th day of May, 1835, by "A" aud "Q" Compaaies, of the 3d Regiment of Infantry, stationed at this post. The following Officers of the 2d Infantry were present: Captain John Glitz, . . . "A" Company, Com'd'g Post. Captain E. Kerby Barnum, . "G" Company. Ist-Lieut. J. J. B. Kingsbury, . "G" Company. 2d-Lieut, J. W. Penrose, . "G" Company, A.O.S. 2d-Lieut. J. V. Bomford, . . "H" Company. Asst.- Surgeon Geo. F. Turner, U.S. A: David Jones,. , . . Sutler. Absent Officers: Ist-Lieut. J. S. Gallagher, "A" Company, Adjutant. 2d-Lieut. J. H. Leavenworth, "A" Company, on Special Duty. Colonel Hugh Brady, Bvt.-Brig. General, Commanding Left Wing, Eastern Department, Headquarters at Detroit. Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Cummings, Commanding 2d Regiment, Headquarters Madison Barracks, Sacket's Harbor, New York. President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, Builder (of flag-staff), John McCraith, Private, "A" Company, 2d Infantry. Going down the steps to the right, we are brought face to face with one of the historical landmarks of this country, the building in which this book was written, the old stone officers-quarters, built in 1781-2, witli walls from two and a half to eight feet thick ; formerly the windows had iron bars across them. In 1812, the basement of this building aud the old block-houses were used as prisons, in which Captain Roberts detained the men and larger boys of the village, after the capture of the Fort, until he decided what 22 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. to do with them. Those who took the oath of allegiance to Great Britain were released and allowed to return to their homes ; the .others were sent to Detroit. Mr. Michael Dousman was permitted to remain neutral and was not dis- turbed. In 1814, the basement of this building and the block- houses were used as a place of refuge for the women and children of the village, while the vessels containing the American troops were anchored off the island. The old wooden building on our right, now used as a storehouse, was built for a hospital in 1828, on the site of the original hospital built by the British, and it is said to be nightly haunted by the noisy and visible ghosts of some Indians who were in early days the victims of the inquiring mind and deadly knife of a morbidly ambitious surgeon. The long, low wooden building at the other end of the stone-quarters, formerly officers' quarters, is now used as a storehouse ; facing it are the barracks, a two-story frame- building, built in 1859, occupied by two companies of soldiers, one on each floor, with mess-rooms, etc., complete lor each. We come next to the guard-house, built in 1828 ; beyond is the south sall3'-port, in which the old gates still remain in ])lace. Turning toward the north sally-port, on our right, there was in early days a well more than one hundred feet in depth, which furnished an abundance of good water for the uses of the garrison; the first building on our right is the office and storehouse of the commissary of subsistence, built in 1877, on the site of the old stone powder-magazine; the first office in the small building adjacent is that of the commanding officer and the adjutant, and adjoining it is the office of the quartermaster, which is connected by a covered passage-way with the storehouse beyond, built on the site of the post-bakery of earlier days ; the building beyond is a FORT MACKINAC. 23 bath-house, built in 1885, on the site of the old sutler's store. Going up the path from the guard-house we will examine the "reveille gun," and take a glimpse at the magnificent view from the gun-platform. Below, at the foot of the bluff, are the government stables, blacksmith shop, and gran- ary ; beyond them the company gardens, where the build- ings of the Indian agency stood in earlier days. In front of us is Round Island, where, for a long time, there was a large Indian village, the only remnant of which is an Indian burying-ground, on the southeastern part of the island. There is also an old burying-ground on Bois Blanc Island. It is a singular fact that all these Indian graves were dug due east and west. Wanchusco, a celebrated spiritualist of the Ottawa tribe, lived on Round Island for several years previous to his death, which occurred September 30, 1837. To the left of Round Island is Bois Blanc Island. The building in our rear is the hospital, built in 1858; leaving it to our right, we pass another old block-house, and over the old north sally-port, just outside of which, on July 17th, 1812, the British troops stood in line and presented arms while Lieuts. Porter Hanks and Archibald Darragh marched the American troops out, with arms reversed, to receive their parole as prisoners of war. Passing on we come to the library, built in 1879. When built, the fort was enclosed by a stockade ten feet high, made of cedar pickets, into the tops of which were driven irons with three sharp prongs projecting. Formerly all tiie buildings belonging to the fort were within this stockade. A better idea of the block-houses as they appeared then, and of the stockade, may be obtained from the illustrations, which are reduced from old drawings. 24 ■ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAO. The flags of three great nations have successively floated over the post at Michilimackinac, which has been the theatre 'of many a bloody tragedy. Its possession has been disputed by powerful nations, and its internal peace has continually been made the sport of Indian treachery and white man's duplicity. To-day, chanting te deums beneath the ample folds of the Jleur-cle-lia, to-morrow yielding to the power of the British lion, and a few years later, listening to the ex- ultant screams of the American eagle, as the stars and stripes ^float over the battlements on the "Isle of the dancing spirits." The historical reminiscences rendering it classic ground, and the many wild traditions, peopling each rock and g-len with spectral habitants, combine to throw around Mackinac an interest and attractiveness unequalled by any other place on the Western Continent. View of Fort Mackinac from the Southwest 26 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. United States Army. The following is a complete list of the commissioned offi- cers of the United States Army who have been stationed at Fort Mackinac. The year of their arrival at the Fort and their actual rank at that time are given. 1796. Henry Biirbeck, Major, Artillerists and Eng'rs. << Abner Prior, Captain, 1st Infantry. «« Ebenezer Massay, Lieutenant, Artillerists and Eng'rs. << John Michael, (< 1st Lifantry. 1800. Richard Whiley, 1st Lieutenant. Artillerists and Eng'rs. 1802. Thomas Hunt, Major, 1st •< Josiah Dunham, Captain, Artillerists and Eng'rs. « Francis Le Barron, Surgeon's Mate. 1804. Jacob Kingsbury, Lieut. -Colonel, 1st Infantry. 1807. Jonathan Eastman, 1st Lieutenant, Artillerists. 1808. Lewis Howard,* Captain " « Porter Hanks, 1st Lieutenant, << " Archibald DaiTagh, 2d " 1810. Sylvester Day, Garrison Surgec )n's Mate. 1815. Anthony Butler, Colonel, 2d Rifles. << Willoughby Morgan, Captain, Riflemen. " Talbot Chambers, Major, " « Joseph Kean, Captain, « i< John O'Fallon, •' « << John Heddelson, 1st Lieutenant << «i James S. Gray, 2d « «< WUliam Armstrong, 2d (( « William Hening, Surgeon's Mate. « Benjamin K. Pierce, Captain, Artillery. « Robert McClallan, Jr., 1st Lieutenant, « Moses E. Merrill, Captain, 5th Infantry. << William Root, 1st Lieutenant, 5th •< John C. Robinson, 2d 5th 1844. John Byrne, Assist. Surgeon, , Medical Department. 1845. Charles C. Keeney, " " <( George C. Westcott, 2d Lieutenant, 2d Infantry. i< Silas Casey, Captain, 2d M Joseph P. Smith, Bvt. 2d Lieut., 5th " • t Fred Steele, " 5th " * Died at Fort Mackinac, November 7, 1836. 30 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 1847. Frazey M. Winans, " Michael P. Doyle, " Morgan L. Gage, " Caleb F. Davis, " William P. Chittenden, 1848. William N. R. BeaU, " Charles H. Larnard, ' ' Hiram Dryer, 1849. Joseph B. Brown, " Joseph L. Tidball, 1850. Charles H. Laub, 1851. David A. Russell, 1852. Thomas Williams, " George W. Rains, " Jacob Culbertson, " Joseph H. Bailey, 1854. Joseph B. Brown, 1855. John H. Greland, 1856. Edward P. Bagley, " William R. Terrill, " Joseph H. Wheelock, " John Byrne, 1857. Arnold Elzey, " Henry Benson, " Quilford D. Bailey, 1858. Henry C. Pratt, " Henry A. Smalley, " John P. Head, 1859. William A. Hammond, George L. Hartsuff, 1862. Grover S. Wormer, " Elias P. Sutton, " Louis Hartmayer, " James Knox, ' ' Charles W. Le Boutillier, 1866. Jerry N. Hill, " Washington L. Wood, 1867. John Mitchell, Captain, 15th Infantry. 2d Lieutenant, 15th " Captain, 1st Mich. Vols. 2d Lieutenant, 1st 2d 1st Bvt. 2d Lieut., 4th Infantry. Captain, 4th 2d Lieutenant, 4th Assist. Surgeon, , Medical Department Bvt. 2d Lieut., 4th Infantry. Assist. Surgeon , Medical Department. 1st Lieutenant, 4th Infantry. Captain, 4th Artillery. 1st Lieutenant, 4th 2d 4th Captain, Medical Department. Assist. Surgeon. < Thomas H. Fisher, 1st Lieutenant, 22d " Fielding L. Davies, 2d 22d 1877. Charles A. Webb, Captain, 22d " John Q. BaUance, 2d Lieutenant, 22d " Theodore Mosher, Jr., 2d 22d " Peter Moffat, Captain, Medical Department. 1878. Oscar D. Ladley, 1st Lieutenant, 22d Infantry. 1879. Edwin E. Sellers,* Charles L. Davis, Captain, 10th 10th " Dwight H. Kelton, 1st Lieutenant, 10th «• Walter T. Duggan, 1st 10th •« Bogardus Eldridge, 2d 10th <4 Edward H. Plummer, 2d 10th " George W. Adair, Captain, Medical Department. 1882. William H. Corbusier, " " •• 1883. John Adams Perry, 2d Lieutenant, 10th Infantry. 1884. George K. Brady, Greenleaf A. Goodale, Captain, 23d 23d ,. " Edward B. Pratt, 1st Lieutenant, 23d t< << Calvia D. Cowles, 1st 23d •< " J. Rozier Clagett, 1st 23d «< =4 _2 3j 25 a 5 O =3 CO m ® — 6 K O ^ M . ^ CJ O *= > 1; -t-i .i = «•- ' K 5 5 m ® " S K a ojt- " i-c > Ii4 j= -^ - ■ a -^ o . S o 0) © a taoSftn a! S=*.a^ ■f * D 3J -, 5-- 1) •^S t. -J a o o a OS 4> "•9 3h t«CiJ a . . a >>- a >, c— o o 1 o n C3 3 =S >i S .,1.-3 5fa tn t^« g^ S u s .£ >, :S o. 2|i 5^2 o^ "S^b t3 0) "O a t^T.?? O aj es " ■ 2.5 5 a cfe O g mcs o a d g o >■ H ^9 2tS O K 2"^ O 5S ■a o - fc e3 c • a a !>c ^ o a ■Z «- . 0; , Efi * ! 5 ^ ■s ^ & ^ CO T^ -^ BH 2 Qfe a g^ = 2^0! a*" . »i-a S .2 q a ^ H O g I S u,0 Ui X [50] AMEKICAif FUR COMPANY. 51 THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY. To notice slightly the origin of the American Fur Com pany, we will say that John Jacob Astor, a German by birth, who arrived in New York in the year 1784, commenced work for a bakery owned by a German acquaintance. He was afterwards assisted to open a toy shop, and this was fol- lowed by trafficking for small parcels of furs in the country towns, and which led to his future operations in that line. Mr. Astor's great and continued success in that branch of trade induced him, in 1809, to obtain from the New York Legislature a charter incorporating "The American Fur Company," with a capital of a million dollars. It is under- stood that Mr. Astor comprised the company, though other names were used in its organization. In 1811, Mr. Astor, in connection with certain partners of the old Northwest Fur Company (whose beginning was in 1783, and perma- nently organized in 1787), bought out the association of British merchants known as the Mackinac Company, then a strong competitor in the fur trade. This Mackinac Com- pany, with the American Fur Company, was merged into a new association called the Southwest Fur Company. But in 1815, Mr. Astor bought out the Southwest Company, and the American Fur Company came again to the front. In the winter of 1815-16, Congress, through the influence of Mr. Astor, it is understood, passed an act excluding foreigners from participating in the Indian trade. In 1817-18, the American Fur Company brought a large number of clerks from Montreal and the United States to Mackinac, some of whom made good Indian traders, while many others failed upon trial and were discharged. Among those who proved their capability was Gurdon S, Hubbard, Esq., then a youth 52 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC.^ of sixteen, later, oue of the early settlers of Chicago. He was born in Windsor, Vt, in 1802, his parents were Elizur and Abigail (Sage) Hubbard. His paternal "emigrant" ancestor was George Hubbard, who was at Wethersfield, Ct., in 1636. Mr. Hubbard was also a lineal descendant of the clei'g^anan-governor Gurdon Saltonstall (named for Bramp- ton Gurdon, the patriot M. P., whose daughter was the grand- mother of the governor), who was the great-grandson of Sir Richard Saltonstall, a firm and efficient friend of early New England. Mr. Hubbard left Montreal, where his parents thou lived. May 13, 1818, reaching Mackinac July 4th, and arrived at Chicago on the first day of November of that year. In 182S, he purchased of the Fur Company their entire interest in the trade of Illinois. Mr. Hubbard died at his home in Chicago, September 14, 1886. Having entire charge of the management of the company in the West, wore Ramsey Crooks and Robert Stuart. To William Matthews was intrusted the engaging of voyageurs and clerks in Canada, with his head- quarters in Montreal. The voyageurs he took from the habitants (farmers) ; young, active, athletic men were sought for, indeed, none but such were engaged, and they passed under inspection of a surgeon. Mr. M. also purchased at Montreal such goods as were suited for the trade, to load his boats. These boats were the Canadian batieaux, principally used in those days in transferring goods to upper St. Lawrence River and its tributaries, manned by four oarsmen and a steersman, capacity about six tons. The voyageurs and clerks were under indentures for a term of five years. Wages of voyageurs, $100, clerks from $120 to $500 per annum. These were all novices in the business; the plan of the company was to arrange and secure the services of old traders and their voyageurs, who, at the (now) organization of the company were in the Indian country, depending on their influence and knowledge of the trade with the Indians; and as fast as possible secure the vast trade in the West and Northwest, within the district of the United States, interspersing the novices brought from Canada so as to consolidate, extend and monopolize, as far as possible, over the country, the Indian trade. The first two years they had sue- AMEKICAN FUR COMPANY. 53 ceeded in bringing into tlieir employ seven-eighths of the old ludiar traders on the Upper Mississippi, Wabash and Illinois Rivers, Lake; Michigan and Superior, and their tributaries as far north as the bound- aries of the United States extended. The other eighth thought that their interest was to remain independent; toward such, the company selected their best traders, and located them in opposition, with instructions so to manage by underselling to bring them to terms. Block House Built in 1780. At Mackinac, the trader's brigades were organized, the company select- ing the most capable trader to be the manager of his particular brigade, which consisted of from five to twenty batteaux, laden with goods. This chief or manager, when reaching the country allotted to him, made detachments, locating trading-houses, Avith districts clearly defined, for the operations of that particular post, and so on, until his ground was fully occupied by traders under him, over whom he had absolute authority. We will here allude to Mr. Aster's attempt to establish an American emporium for the fur trade at the mouth of the 54' ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. Columbia River, which enterprise failed, through the capture of Astoria bj the British in 1814, and the neglect of our government to give him protection. The withdrawal of Mr. Astor from the Pacific coast, left the Northwest Fur Com- pany to consider themselves the lords of the country. They did not long enjoy the field unmolested, however. A fierce competition ensued between them and their old rivals, the Hudson's Bay Company, which was carried on at great cost and sacrifice, and, occasionally, with the loss of life. It ended in the ruin of most of the partners of the Northwest Company, and merging of the relics of that establishment, in 1821, in the rival association. Ramsey Crooks was a foremost man in the employ of Mr. Astor in the fur trade, not only in the east, but upon the western coast, and has been called ' ' the adventurous Rocky Mountain trader. " Intimately connected, as Mr. Crooks was, with the American Fur Company, a slight notice of him will not be out of place. Mr. Crooks was a native of Greenock, Scotland, and was employed as a trader in Wisconsin, as early as 1806. He entered the service of Mr. Astor in 1809. In 1818, he returned from his three years' journey to the western coast, and in 1817 he joined Mr. Astor as a partner, and for four or five years ensuing he was the company's Mackinac agent, though residing mostly in New York. Mr. Crooks con- tinued a partner until 1830, when this connection was dissolved and he lesumed his place with Mr. Astor in his former capacity. In 1884. Mr. Astor, being advanced in years, sold out the stock of the company, and transferred the charter to Ramsey Crooks and his associates, whereupon Mr. C. was elected president of the company. Reverses, however, com- pelled an assignment in 1842, and with it the death of the American Fur Company. In 1845. Mr. Crooks opened a cnmmi«;sinn house for the sale of furs and skins, in New York City. This business, which was success- ful. IMr. C. continued until his death. Mr. Crooks died in New York, June 6, 1859, in his 73d year. Mr. Astor died in 1848. Washington Irving, in his "Astoria," gives a graphic account of the occasional meetings of the partners, agents and employes of the old Northwest Fur Company, at Mont- AMERICAN FUR COMPANY. 55 real and Fort William, where tliey kept high days and nights of wassail and feasting ; of song and tales of adventure and bair-breadth escapes. But of those lavish and merry halls of the old "Northwest," we need suggest no comparison with the agency dwelling of the American Fur Company at Mackinac, where the expenses charged for the year 1821 were only $678.1:9. In that account, however, we notice the following entries : "31^ gallons Teneriffe Wine, 4-J gallons Port Wine ; 10 gallons best Madeira ; T0|- gallons Wine ; 9 gallons Brandy ; and one 'barrel of flour." Red LEGEND OF "ROBERTSON'S FOLLY." Captain Robertson was a gay young English officer and a great admirer of the ladies. One pleasant summer even- ing, as he was strolling in the woods at the back of the fort enjoying his pipe, he suddenly beheld, a few rods before him and just crossing his path, a female of most exquisite form, feature and complexion ; she seemed about nineteen ; was simply dressed ; wore her long black hair in flowing tresses ; and as for a moment she turned on him her lustrous black eyes, her whole countenance lighting up with anima- tion, the gallant captain thought he had never before seen BO beautiful a creature. He politely doffed his cap and quickened his steps, hoping to engage her in conversation. She likewise hastened, evidently with the design of escaping him. Presently she disappeared around a curve in the road, and Robertson lost sight of her. At the officers' quarters that night nothing was talked of but the young lady and her possible identity. She was clearly not a native, and no vessel had been known to touch at the island for many a week. Who could she be ? Cap- tain Robertson could hardly sleep that night. A rigid inquiry was instituted in the village. The only effect was to engender as intense curiosi-ty in the town as already existed among the garrison. As the shades of evening drew near, the captain was again walking in the pleasant groves enjoying the delightful lake breezes and the whiff of his favorite pipe. He was think- ing of last evening's apparition, and blaming himself for not pressing on more vigorously, or at least calling to the 58 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. fair spectre. At this moment, raising his eyes from the ground, there she was again, slowly preceding him at a dis- tance of scarcely more than thirty yards. As soon as his astonishment would permit, and as speedily as he could frau)e an excuse, he called to her : " Mademoiselle, I — I beg your pardon." She turned on him one glance, her face radiant with smiles, then redoubled her pace. The captain redoubled his, and soon broke into a run. Still she kept the interval between them undiminished. A bend of the road, and again she was gone. The captain sought her quickly, but in vain ; he then rushed back to the fort and called out a general posse of officers and men to scour the island, and, by capturing the maiden to solve the mystery. Though the search was kept up till a late hour in the night, not a trace could be found of her. The captain now began to be laughed at, and jokes were freely bandied at his expense. Two days passed away, and the fantasy of Captain Robert- son began to be forgotten by his brother officers, but the captain himself maintained a gloomy, thoughtful mood — the truth is he was in love with the woman he had only twice seen, and who he felt assured was somewhere secreted on the island. Plans for her discovery revolved in his brain day and night, and visions of romance and happiness were ever ffitting before his eyes. It was on the evening of the second day that he was irresistibly led to walk again in the shady path in which the appai:ition had twice appeared to him. It led to the brow of the precipice at the southeastern corner of the island. He had nearly reached the famous point from which we now look down perpendicularly 128 feet into the placid waters of Lake Huron, when, sitting on a large stone, apparently enjoying the magnificent scene spread out before her, he discovered the object of his solicitude. Escape from him was now impossible, silently he stole up to her. Robertson's folly. 59 A cruncliing of the gravel under his feet, however, disturbed her, and turning, her eyes met his. " Pretty maiden, why thus attempt to elude me ? "Who are you ? " There was no answer, but the lady arose from the rock and retreated nearer the brink of the precipice, at the same time glancing to the right and left, as if seeking a loop-hole of escape. " Do not fear me," said the captain, " I am commander of the garrison at the fort here. No harm shall come to you, but do pray tell me who you are, and how you came on this island ! " The lady still maintained a stolid silence, but in the fading light looked more beautiful than ever. She was now stand- ing within three feet of the brink with her back to the terrible abyss. The captain shuddered at the thought of her tnakmg an unguarded step and being dashed to pieces on the rocks below. So he tried to calm her fears lest, in her agitation, she might precipitate a terrible catastrophe. " My dear young lady," he began, " I see you fear me, and 1 will leave you ; but for heaven's sake do pray tell me your name and where you reside. Not a hair of your head shall be harmed, but Captain Kobertson, your devoted ser- vant, will go through fire and water to do your commands. Once more, my dear girl, do speak to me, if but a word before we part." A.S the captain warmed up in his address, he incautiously advanced a step. The girl retreated another step, and now stood where the slightest loss of balance must prove her death. Quick as thought, the captain sprang forward to seize her and avert so terrible a tragedy, but just as he clutched her arm, she threw herself backward into the chasm, drawing her tormentor and would-be savior with her, and both were instantly dashed on to the rocks below. 60 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. His mangled remains were found at the foot of the preci- pice, but, singiilar as it may seem, not a vestige could be found of the woman for whose life his own had been sacri- ficed. His body alone could be discovered and it was taken up and buried in a shady nook near the middle of the island. He was long mourned by his men and brotlier officers, for he was much beloved for his high social qualities and genial deportment ; but by and by it began to be whispered that the captain had indulged too freely in the fine old French brandy that the fur traders brought up from Montreal, and that the lady he professed to see was a mere ignis fatuus of his own excited imagination. But the mantle of charity has been thrown over the tragedy, and a commonplace explanation given for the name the rocky point has acquired, of " Robertson's Folly." LEGEND OF "LOVER'S LEAP." Many years ago, there lived a v^arrior on this island whose name was Wawanosh. He was the chief of an ancient family of his tribe, who had preserved the line of chieftain- ship unbroken from a remote time, and he consequently cherished a pride of ancestry. To the reputation of birth he added the advantages of a tall and commanding person, and the dazzling qualities of personal strength, courage and activity. His bow was noted for its size, and the feats he had performed with it. His counsel was sought as much as his strength was feared, so that he came to be equally regarded as a hunter, a warrior and a counsellor. Such was Wawanosh, to whom the united voice of the nation awarded the first place in their esteem, and the highest authority in council. But distinction, it seems, is apt to engender haughtiness in the hunter state as well as civilized life. Pride was his ruling passion, and he clung with ten- acity to the distinctions which he regarded as an inheritance. Wawanosh had an only daughter, who had now lived to witness the budding of the leaves of the eighteenth spring. Her father was not moie celebrated for his deeds of strength than she for her gentle virtues, her slender form, her full, beaming Jiazel eyes, and her dark and flowing hair. Her hand was sought by a young man of humble parent- age, who had no other merits to recommend him but such as might arise from a tall and commanding person, a manly step, and an eye beaming with the tropical fires of youth and love. These were suflficient to attract the favorable notice [Cl] 62 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. of the daughter, but, were by no means satisfactory to the father, who sought an alliance more suitable to the rank and the high pretensions of liis family. "Listen to me, young man," he replied to the trembling hunter, who had sought the interview, " and be attentive to my words. You ask me to bestow upon you my daughter, the chief solace of my age, and my choicest gift from the Master of Life. Others have asked of me this boon, who were as young, as active and as ardent as yourself. Some of these persons have had better claims to become my son-in- law. Have you reflected upon the deeds which have raised me in authority, and made my name known to the enemies of my nation ? AVhere is there a chief who is not proud to be considered the friend of Wawanosh ? Where, in all the land, is there a hunter who Jias excelled AVawanosh? Where is there a warrior who can boast the taking of an equal num- ber of scalps? Besides, have you not heard that my fathers came from the East, bearing the marks of chieftaincy ?" "And what, young man, have you to boast? Have you ever met your enemies in the held of battle? Have j^ow ever brought home a trophy of victory ? Have you ever proved your fortitude by suffering protracted pain, enduring continued hunger, or sustaining great fatigue? Is your name known beyond the humble limits of your native vil- lage? Go, then, young man, and earn a name for yourself. It is none but the brave that can ever hope to claim an alliance with the house of Wawanosh." The intimidated lover departed, but he resolved to do a deed that should render him worthy of the daughter of Wawanosh, or die in the attempt. He called together several of his young companions and equals in years, and imparted to them his design of conducting an expedition against the enemy, and requested their assistance. Several embraced the proposal immediately ; and, before ten suns LEGEND OF " LOVEB" S LEAP." 63 set. he saw himself at the head of a formidable party of young warriors, all eager, like himself, to distinguish them- selves in battle. Each warrior was armed, according to the custom of the period, with a bow and a quiver of arrows, tipped with flint or jasper. He carried a sack or wallet, provided with a small quantity of parched and pounded corn, mixed with pemmican or maple-sugar. He was fur- nished with a Puggamaugun, or war-club of hard wood, fastened to a girdle of deerskin, and a stone or copper knife. In addition to this, some carried the ancient sheinagun, or lance, a smooth pole about a fathom in length, with a javelin of flint firmly tied on with deer's sinews. Thus equipped, and each warrior painted in a manner to suit his fancy, and ornamented with appropriate feathers, they repaired to the spot appointed for the war-dance. A level, grassy plain extended for nearly a mile from the lodge of Wawanosh along the lake shore. Lodges of bark were promiscuously interspersed over this green, and here and there a solitary tall pine. A belt of yellow sand skirted the lake shore in front, and a tall, thick forest formed the background. In the center of this plain stood a high, shat- tered pine, with a clear space about, renowned as the scene of the war-dance time out of mind. Here the youths assem- bled, with their tall and graceful leader, distinguished by the feathers of the bald-eagle, which he wore on his head. A bright fire of pine wood blazed upon the green. He led his men several times around this fire, with a measured and solemn chant. Then suddenly halting, the war-whoop was raised, and the dance immediately began. An old man, sitting at the head of the ring, beat time upon the drum, while several of the elder warriors shook their rattles, and " ever and anon " made the woods re-echo with their yells. Thus they continued the dance for two successive days and nights. 64 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. At length the prophet uttered his final prediction of suc- cess; and the warriors dropping off, one by one, from the fire, took their way to the place appointed for the rendez- vous, on the confines of the enemy's country. Their leader was not among the last to depart, but he did not leave the village without seeking an interview with the daughter of Wawanosh. He disclosed to her his firm determination never to return, unless he could establish his name as a warrior. He told her of the pangs he had felt at the bitter reproaches of her father, and declared that his soul spurned the imputation of effeminacy and cowardice implied by his language. He averred that he could never be liappy until he had proved to the whole tribe the strength of his heart. He said that his dreams had not been propitious, but he should not cease to invoke the power of the Great Spirit. He repeated his protestations of inviolable attachment, which she returned, and, pledging vows of mutual fidelity, they parted. That parting proved final. All she ever heard from her lover after this interview was brought by one of his success- ful warriors, who said that he had distinguished himself by the most heroic bravery, but, at the close of the fight, he had received an arrow in his breast. The enemy fled, leaving many of their warriors dead on the field. On examining the wound, it was perceived to be beyond their power to cure. They carried him toward home a day's journey, but he languished and expired in "the arms of his friends. From the moment the report was received, no smile was ever seen in the once happy lodge of Wawanosh. His daughter pined away by day and by night. Tears, sighs and lamentation were heard continually. Nothing could restore her lost serenity of mind. Persuasives and reproofs were alternately employed, but employed in vain. She would seek a seques- tered spot, where she would sit and sing her mournful LEGEND OF " LOVEr's LEAP.'' 65 laments for hours together. Passages of these are yet repeated by tradition, one of which we give : THE LOON'S FOOT. I thought it was the loon's foot, I saw beneath the tide ±Jut no-it was my lover's shining paddle I espied ■ It was my lover's paddle, as my glance I upward cast, That dipped so light and gracefully as o'er the lake I passed. The loon's foot— the loon's foot, 'Tis graceful on the sea; But not so light and joyous as That paddle-blade to me. My eyes were bent upon the wave. I cast them not aside And thought I saw the loon's foot beneath the silver tidJ But ah! my eyes deceived me-for as my glance I cast. ' It was my lover's paddle-blade that dipped so light and fast The loon's foot— the loon's foot, 'Tis sweet and fair to see; But, oh, my lover's paddle-blade. Is sweeter far to me. The lake's wave-the long wave-the billow big and free It wafts me up and down, within my yellow light canoe; But while I see beneath heaven pictured as I speed It IS that beauteous paddle-blade that makes it heaven indeed The loon's foot— the loon's foot, T'he bird upon the sea. Ah! it is not so beauteous As that paddle-blade to me. flew upon the rock on which she usually sat. This mvsten' ons v,s,tor, which, from its sweet and artless notes, Tea Chtleeh seemed to respond in sympathy to her plaintive voice. It was a strange bird, such as had not before been observed. It came every day and remained chanting its 66 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAO. notes till nightfall ; and when it left its perch, it seemed, from the delicate play of the colors of its plumage, as if it had taken its hues from the rainbow. Her fond imagination soon led her to suppose it was the spirit of her lover, and her visits to the lonely rock were repeated more frequently. She passed much of her time in fasting and singing her plaintive songs. There she pined away, taking little nour- ishment, and constantly desiring to pass away to that land of expected bliss and freedom from care, where it is believed that the spirits of men will be again reunited, and tread over fields of flowery enjoyment. One evening, her lifeless body was found at the foot of the rock, but when death came to her, it was not as the bearer of gloom and regrets, but as the herald of happiness. LEGEND OF "ARCH ROCK." After the Gitche Manitou had called into existence the beautiful Island of Mackinac and given it into the care of the kindred spirits of earth, air and water, and had told them it was only to be the abode of peace and quiet, it was so pleasant in his own eyes that he thought, " Here will I also come to dwell, tliis shall be my abode and my children may coma and worship me here. Here in the depths of the beautiful forest they shall come." Then calling his messengers, he bade them fly to all lands of heat and noise and troublous insects, and tell the suffering ones of every race and clime that in these northern waters was a place prepared where they could come and rest, leaving all care behind. In the straits of Mackinac, In the clear pellucid wave, Sitting like an emerald gem, Is the rock-girt Fairy Isle. Round its bold and craggy shore Sweep the billows far and wide, With a gentle sinuous swell, And the moan of distant seas. Blue its waters, blue the sky, Soft the west wind from afar Moving o'er the scented grass, And the many myriad flowers. The cool invigorating breezes shall bring health and elasti- city to the weak and weary. Here disease shall not dare [67j -68 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. invade the pleasant glens or beautiful hilltops. Here let them come and receive my blessing. " Ye shall also tell the stranger friends, who may come to seek me, that my royal landing is on the eastern shore; there shall they draw up the canoes upon the pebbW beaoh under the shadow of the Argued Gateway. Under the Aech which they can see from afar, let them come with songs of rejoicing — neither night or day shall it be closed to any one who may seek me. Let them land before it and pass through it and ascend to my dwelling, and worship before me. When the great spirit made known his wish to dwell with men, all nature seemed to rejoice and to make preparations for his abode. The tallest trees claimed the privilege of being the poles of his wigwam, and sweet balsam firs laid themselves at his fret for use. The birch trees unsheathed themselves and sent their bark in all its soft creamy whiteness to form the outside covering. The trees of the forest all vied with each other in seeking a place in the future home of the Gitche Manitou. Scarcely had the poles fitted themselves into their places, and the birch bark unrolled itself and arranged its clinging sheets in orderly rows upon the outside, when the noise of distant paddles was heard from the lake — swiftly and gaily they drew near, guided by the spirits of earth, air and water. Never had such a sight been witnessed on this earth. The Gitche Manitou, went to meet them, and stood upon the Arch and upheld his hands in blessing. As his children unloaded their offerings of beaver, white- bear and other skins, they marched in procession up to the gateway and fell upon their knees and offered their thanks to the great spirit for the happy privilege of contributing to the comforts of his earthly home. LEGEND OF " ARCH ROCK." 69 " Yes, my children dear, my loved ones, I am here in joy and gladness. Here to live in peace among you. I have come to teach you wisdom In the arts of love and living. I accept your native offerings, These white bear, and fox skins silvery, Shall a couch of warmth and comfort Make for me when around my fire, I am resting from my labors. Of the beaver skins and otters They shall line the wigwam smoothly, So Ka-bi-bo-nok-ka, the north wind, Ne'er shall peep or whistle thro' them. Enter in my gateway proudly, And ascend my staircase slowly, And see the home of the Great Spirit, Where he dwells among his children." They did as he commanded, and when they were about to return he thus addressed them: " Now, my children, as you leave me. Forth to go upon your journey ings. Tell to all who know and love me, That whenever a chieftain "Wooes and weds a dark-eyed maiden, He shall bring her here before me. Gay with gai'lands, sweet with roses. With the sound of music fleeting Far and nfear from eveiy islet That lies sleeping in these waters, In these glittering, dark green waters. Sweetest strains of music blending Shall salute them, as the billows Of the mighty lake of wonders Bears them onward to the portals. Where my blessing will await them. And as long as they thus serve me I will dwell upon this island, .Henceforth blessing youth and maiden Joined in closest bonds of wedlock- 70 LEOENl) OF " ARCH KOCK." But, if in the coming seasons, Some foul spirit roams among you, And destroys my loving children, This fair home that I have built Shall become a rocky fastness, Where they all may fly for shelter And be safe in my protection." Many, many years have passed. The wigwam ot the Great Spirit has been transmuted into stone, and is now known as the Pyramid. The Arched Gateway can still be seen as in ancient times, with its portals guarded by tall green sentinels. LEGEND OF MACKINAC ISLAND, There once lived an Indian in the north, who had ten daughters, all of whom grew up to womanhood. They were noted for their beauty, but especially Oweenee, the youngest, who was very independent in her way of thinking. She was a great admirer of romantic places, and paid very little attention to the numerous young men who came to her father's lodge for the purpose of seeing her. Her elder sis- ters were all solicited in marriage from their parents, and one after another went off to dwell in the lodges of their husbands, but she would listen to uo proposals of the kind. At last she married an old man called Osseo,who was scarcely able to walk, and too poor to have things like others. They jeered and laughed at her on all sides, but she seemed to be quite happy, and said to them, "It is my choice, and you will see in the end who has acted the wisest." Soon after, the sisters and their husbands and their parents were all invited to a feast, and as they walked along the path, they could not help pitying their young and handsome sister, who had such an unsuitable mate. Osseo often stopped and gazed upward, but they conld perceive nothing in the direction he looked, unless it was the faint glimmering of the evening star. They heard him muttering to himself as they went along, and one of the elder sisters caught the words, " Sho-wain-ne-me-shin nosa."* " Poor old man," said she, '' he is talking to his father, what a pity it is that he would not fall and break his neck, that our sister might have a handsome young husband." Pres- *Pity me, my father. [71] 79 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. ently they passed a large hollow log, lying with one end to- ward the path. The moment Osseo, who was of the turtle totem, came to it, he stopped short, uttered a loud and peculiar yell, and then dashing into one end of the log he came out at the other, a most beautiful young man,^ and sprmgmg back to the road, he led off the party with steps as light as the reindeer. But on turning round to look for Ins wife, behold, she had been changed into an old, decrepit woman, who was bent almost double, and walked with a cane. The husband, however, treated her very kindly as she had done him during the time of his enchantment, Ind constantly addressed her by the term of ne-ne-moosh-a, or my sweet-heart. When they came to the hunter's lodge with whom they were to feast, they found the feast ready prepared, and as soon as their entertainer had finished his harangue (in which he told them his feasting was in honor of the Evenino- or Woman's Star), they began to partake of the portion d^'ealt out, according to age and character, to each one. The food was very delicious, and they were all liappy but Osseo, wlio ooked at his wife and then gazed upward, as if he was looking into the substance of the sky. Sounds were soon heard, as if from far-off voices in the air, and they became plainer and plainer, till he could clearly distinguish some of the words." -My son-my son," said the voice, "I have seen your afflictions and pity your wants. I come to call you away from a scene that is stained with blood and tears. The earth is full of sorrows. Giants and sorcerers, the enemies of mankind, walk abroad in it, and are scattered tlirough- out Its length. Every night they are lifting their voices to the Power of Evil, and every day they make themselves busy in casting evil in the hunter's path. You have lon^r been their victim, but shall be their victim no more The LEGEND OF MACKINAC ISLAND. 73 spell you were under is broken. Yonr evil genius is over- come. I have cast him down by my superior strength, and this strength I now exert for your happiness. Ascend, my son — ascend into the skies, and partake of the feast 1 have prepared for you in the stars, and bring with you those you love. "The food set before you is enchanted and blessed. Fear not to partake of it. It is endowed with magic power to give immortality to mortals, and to change men to spirits. Your bowls and kettles shall be no longer wood and earth. The one shall become silver, and the other wampum. They shall shine like fire, and glisten like the most beautiful scarlet. Every female shall also change her state and looks, and no longer be doomed to laborious tasks. She shall put on the beauty of tlie starlight, and be{5ome a shining bird of the air, clothed with shining feathers. She shall dance and not work — she shall sing and not cry." "My beams," continued the voice, "shine faintly on your lodge, but they have power to transform it into the light- ness of the skies, and decorate it with the colors of the clouds. Come, Osseo, my son, and dwell no longer on earth. Think strongly on my words, and look steadfastly at my beams. My power is now at its height. Doubt not — delay not. It is the voice of the Spirit of the stars that calls you away to happiness and celestial rest." The words were intelligible to Osseo, but his companions thought them some far-off sounds of music, or birds singing in the woods. Very soon the lodge began to shake and tremble, and they felt it rising into the air. It was too late to run out, they were already as high as the tops of the trees. Osseo looked around as the lodge passed through the topmost boughs, and behold ! their wooden dishes were changed into shells of a scarlet color, the poles of the lodge 74 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. to glittering wires of silver, and the bark that covered them into the gorgeous wings of insects. A moment more, and his brothers and sisters, and their parents and friends, were transformed into birds of various plumage. Some were jays, some partridges and pigeons, and others gay singing birds, who hopped about, displaying their glittering feathers, and singing their song. But Oweenee still kept her eartlily garb, and exhibited all the indications of extreme age. He again cast his eyes in the direction of the clouds, and uttered that peculiar yell, which had given him the victory at the hollow log. In a moment the youth and beauty of his wife returned ; her dingy garments assumed the shining appearance of green silk, and her cane was changed into a silver feather. The lodge again shook and trembled, for they were now passing through the uppermost clouds, and they immediately after found themselves in the Evening Star, the residence of Osseo's father. " My son," said the old man, " hang that cage of birds, which you have brought along in your hand, at the door, and I will inform you why you and your wife have been sent for." Osseo obeyed the directions ; and then took his seat in the lodge. " Pity was shown to you," resumed the king of the star, ''on account of the contempt of your wife's sisters, who laughed at her ill fortune, and ridiculed you while you were under the power of that wicked spirit, whom you overcame at the log. That spirit lives in the next lodge, being a small star you see on the left of mine, and he has always felt envious of my family, because we had greater power than he had, and especially on account of our having had the care committed to us of the female world. He failed in several attempts to destroy your brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, but succeeded at last in transforming yourself and your wife into decrepit old per- sons. You must be careful and not let the light of his LEGEND OF MACKINAC ISLAND, 75t beams fall on you while you are here, for therein is the power of his enchantmeut; a ray of light is the bow and arrow he uses." Osseo lived happy and contented in the parental lodge, and in due time his wife presented him with a son, who grew up rapidly, and was the image of his father. He was very quick and ready in learning everything that was done in his grandfather's dominions, but he wished also to learn the art of hunting, for he had heard this was a favorite pursuit below. To gratify him, his father made him a bow and arrows, and he then let the birds out of the cage that he might practise in shooting. He soon became an expert, and the very first day brought down a bird, but when he went to pick it up, to his amazement, it was a beautiful young woman with the arrow sticking in her breast. It was one of his aunts. The moment her blood fell upon the surface of that pure and spotless planet, the charm was dissolved. The boy immediately found himself sinking, but was partly upheld, by something like wings, till he passed through the lower clouds, and he then suddenly dropped upon a high, romantic island. He was pleased on look- ing up to see all his aunts and uncles following him in the form of birds, and he soon discovered the silver lodge, with his father and mother, descending with its waving barks looking like so many insects' gilded wings. It rested on the highest cliffs of the island, and here they fixed their residence. They all resumed their natural shapes., but were diminished to the size oi fairies; as a mark of homage to the King of the Evening Star, they never fail, on every pleasant evening during the summer season, to join hands and dance upon the top of the rocks. These rocks were quickly observed by the Indians to be covered, in moonlight evenings, with a larger sort of Puk Wudj Ininees, or little men, and were called Mish-in-e-moh-in-oTc-ong, or turtle 76 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. spirits, whence the island derives is name. Their shining lodge can be seen in the summer evenings when the moon shines strongly on the pinnacles of the rocks, and those who go near those high clijffs at night can hear the voices of the happy little dancers. THE GIANT FAIRIES. Long years before the white man came into these regions, many fairies lived here, rollicking fairies, who laughed and danced and sung their lives away. Every flower and bush and tree, every rock and hill and glen, was thickly peopled with these canny folk, and on moonlight nights all the Indians in their wigwams sat in breathless attention — Then they hear, now sweet and low, Sounds as of a distant lyi'e, Touched by fairy hands so light That the trembling tones scarce are heard. What the music none can tell, So unearthly and so pure, — But it seems as if the notes Loosened all the magic sounds Held within the tinkling grass,— In the mosses and the ferns. In the vines which climb and creep, In the flowers of every hue, — In the heavy-folded rose, In the violets at its feet, In the lily's gentle swing. ' Sweeping o'er the lonely streams, Through the sands on deserts low. Through the snows on mountains high, Through the flowers on the plains, Through the sylvan shady bowers, Through the forests dark and hoar, Through the lofty oaks and elms, 78 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC, Through the leaves of tulip trees, Through catalpas, white with bloom. Through magnolias kingly crowned, Through the poplars, amber sweet, Through the towering cypresses. Pendant with the gray old mosses, Patriarchs of" the lowlier tribes. With the sound of laughing brookg, And the notes of singing birds ; Softened by the cooing dove, By the plover's gentle dip, By the lonely, limpid rills, By the silence, deep, profound, Resting o'er the wilderness. With the thunder's distant roar, Rolling, rumbling through the sky. Over mountains, hills, and plains, Over rivers, lakes, and seas; Chiming with the overture In its massive undertones, Mellowing, melting all its chords Into dulcet harmonies; Into dirge-like requiems; Into rhythmic symphonies; Gathering all the breath of song In its weird and wayward moods; In its plaintive, touching strains; In its playful laughing trills; In its wild and fearful tones; Trancing all the insect tribes. Hid in thicket, bush, and grove; — Butterflies, of every hue. Bees, of wondrous skill and lore; Beetles, puzzled, lost, and wild; Mites and emmets, flies and gnats, Maddened, ravished, filled with joy, — Frenzied with the flush of song. THE GIANT FAIKIE8. ~J) Birds, in forest, tree, and copse, In the jungle, in the grass, Near the lonely stream and lake, On the wing in winding flocks, Wildered with the rapturous sounds. Pause to listen, still and mute, Till the tempest rushes past, — O, the music ! O, the sweet ! Breathing fragrance, breathing song. Mingling all of earth and air That can charm the wakened sense. Thus with odors rich and rare. Music lent its magic power. Dirge and requiem, ditty, lay. Fugue and march, and waltz and hymn Silver-toned, euphontous, grave; Chimes of measured step and grace. Dulcet strains of sweetest rhythm. Overtures of matchless sweep, — All that fills the hungry air. All that wakes the sleeping sense, Blending with the virgin soil; With the creeping juniper. With the cedar and the pine. With the rich magnolia's bloom, With the jasmine and the grape, With the scent of early fruits; — Such the music, such the air. Sweeping westward o'er the lakes, Such,— the Isle of Mackinac. It was upon the eastern rock-bound shore that the giant fairies most loved to congregate. There they skipped up and down their famous stairway, and, flinging themselves into the water, would disappear in its depths, perhaps to rise again on the back of some immense sturgeon or whitefish, the reindeer of the lakes, for a race through, the sparkling water. 80 AKNAL8 OF F©RT MACKINAC. These genii lived in the many caves in the rocks. In the depths of their quiet homes were — Tables, crowned with daintiest food, Wine of berries, rich and sweet ; Beds of eider-down and moss; Cliarabers, opening to the sea. Filled with sparkling stalactites ; Rubies bright, and amethysts. Diamonds flashing, filled with light; Marble halls and palaces ; Corridors, of awful length, Stretching westward toward tbe sun, Opening into distant halls, Wildering to the aching sight. Wide the pavements covered o'er With the shells of Qvery hue ; Lichens green, and red, and white. Spreading wider, flush and fair, Sprinkled with the aureate dust Found within their hidden caves. Their favorite dancing place was the plateau just below where the fort now stands, and the entrance to their subter- ranean abode was under the immense rock that supports one of the corners of the wall. Here their mystic ring was kept, and on moonlight nights they gathered from far and near — At twilight on the lonely Isle, 'Mid the rustling of the leaves, And the chirp of dainty birds, And the notes of whip-poor-wills, — Oft was heard the mystic dance Of Giant Fairies, lithe of step. Moving in their sinuous sweep To the sounds of lute and string. Now, where the rippling waters play, Or on the billow's gentle swell, Laughing, rollicking and free, THE GIANT FAIRIES. 81 Or clambering Donan's Obelisk, "With towering leap and sportive romp, With heyday pranks, and leer, and jest, They reel, and minuet, and waltz. In wassail mirth and jollity. Upon Ledyabd's lofty Cliffs they perch. In graceful curves they reach the Arch That hangs upon the eastern shore, — Now gently tripping round its base, They climb upon its rugged sides, And sweeping o'er its dizzy height, With rapid flight and easy grace, They move around the Pyramid, And peep within its secret caves. Or stand upon its star-lit shaft; — And then, away, away, away, They sweep around the grand plateau That sits enthroned upon the Isle; — Within Skull Cave they barely peep, RuGGLEs' Pillar, they lightly touch, To Whitney's Point, they hie away, Thence, the Lover's Leap they climb. Here the tramping feet were heax*d Of the Pe-quod-e-nonge dance, * When the gathering warriors came Plumed and painted for the fight; — And the startling yell was heard O'er the Island — o'er the straits, O'er the waters, deep and clear. O'er the Huron and its shores. O'er the breezy Michigan; Suddenly La Salle's morning gun from the " Griffon " rang out on the breeze and echoed and re-echoed with many re- verberations from the adjacent shores. With horrible shrieks and cries and groans they flew from all parts of the island, and entering their cave disappeared evermore from mortal view. 83 ANNALS OF FOET MACKINAC. Reluctantly they left the Isle When the " pale faces " touched upon Their native waters, rocks, and hills; — For only will they deign to dwell Where the wild hunter seeks his food And claims the forest all his own. I sing of the fairies fled, I know not where they are, Whether living, dying, or dead. On the earth, or some distant star. In the hollow wastes, or the vacant caves, In the shadowy, dreamless land. Where the river of Lethe gently laves Its footless and dusky sand, — Far, far away is the spectral band. Over the silent moor, Over the secret dell, Over the waters fresh and pure With music's magic spell, Hither and thither they went. Now rapid, or grave, or slow, » Till the drowsy hours were spent And the morning began to glow. But we see them now no more. We hear them not at even. By river, or lake, or lonely shore, Beneath the western heaven. And thus have the fairies left our shore, Their beautiful forms we shall see no more; The caves are forsaken, the mountain and plain, Our Island home shall greet them — never again. LEGEND OF MISHINI-MAKINAO. 83 LEGEND OF "MISHmi-MAKINAK." Note : — There is a tradition that many centuries ago while a party of Indians were standing on the bluff where St. Ignace is now located, and looking out over the straits they saw the present Island of Mackinac rising out of the water, and beliving it was some animal, from its movements and shape they pronounced it to be a turtle. The Island was known to the early French visitors as " Michilimackinac: " popular tradition says that the meaning of the word is " Giant Turtle." In the Ojibwa dialect as now spoken, " Mishimikinak " signifies " Big Turtle." Edisoked. — A story teller; one who repeats and hands down the tales of Mena-bosho and other kindred legendary lore. Eh heh ! Eh heh ! — is the usual refrain of Indian magic songs. Where the restless currents of Michigan The twin-born Huron embrace, Along the headland there sat a clan Of the wild Ojibwa I'ace. In the noontide calm, on the sleepy shore. Reposed the lords of the land, While the story-teller's mystic lore Beguiled the simple band. Thus spake the prattling Edisoked; — "A wigwam stands in the deep; Enchanted lies in the channel's bed The Giant Turtle asleep. S4 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. Around him paddle whitefish and trout, The slow worm creeping goes; The sea-gull's scream and the rover's shout Break not his charmed repose. Rise up, rise up, O Turtle grey; Rise up, thou chief of the lake, Thy cousins call thee, — eh heh! eh heh! Enchanted Turtle, awake!" The lake lay calm and the wind was hush'd, But lo! there rose a swell; The surges over the pebbles rushed — The song had broken the spell. It heaves; it eddies. Alack! Alack! The breakers tower and fall; Unwieldy Mishini-makinak Toils up to answer the call. Already whitens the flood mid-way Twixt shore and shore. On the strand, Along the headland, in blank dismay The brown Ojibwa stand. And slowly, softly the rounded back Emerging meets the eye. Till all of Mishini-makinak Lies basking 'neath the sky. He floats, a mammoth in turtle shape, An overturned bowl, the back; The dragging tail a fleshy cape, The jowl a headland black. The mighty shell like an island lies, At anchor out in the lake. *Tis not an isle. O strange sui'prise! * 'Tis the Chief uncharmed, awake! Unmoved, alike, by the billow's sweep, By the tempest's battering shock, Severe and calm in the azure deep, He stands a towering rock. LEGEND OF MISHINI-MAKINAK. 85 But alert within that frowning form The spirit blithe and gay, With fairy sprites, that 'round him swarm, Communes by night and day. The dappled trout and the whitefish come Up-lake, down over the Falls; His children all from their silent home To the gay carouse he calls. The Red Man — eager yet doubtful, while The silver tide runs past. Enticed, bewitched, to the magic isle His birch bark paddles at last. And one there comes in robe of black, With face so sweet and grave. That frowning Mishini-makinak Smiles on him from the wave. With toilworn feet, a pilgrim quaint, The holy cross in his hand From la belle France he comes, good saint, To sleep on the pebbly strand. And over the waves as the chief grows old, In storm or sunshine gay. The Lily, Lion and Eagle bold Their homage come to pay. On hoary Mishini-makinak Their several flags unfurl. While wrestling, each from the giant's back The other seeks to hurl. Oh! sure is the flight to the mother bee Of the humming swarms of the hive; But surer, swifter, from land and sea. The Chieftain's vassals arrive. . From prairies far and their burning heat. From Hudson's shivering bay; From the western peaks, at the Giant's feet They flock their wealth to lay. 86 AJN^ALS OF FORT MACKINAC. The skiff, the light canoe, the smack. The merchant's ship in their wake, All bound for Mishini-makinak Are plowing river and lake. Bright, broken dream! It calls not back That gay chivalric time: — Wilt thou still honor old Makinak, Age of the dollar and dime ? Behold the answer! Do not these things Arabian marvels eclipse? On comes — on comes, — as on eagle's wings, A fleet of wingless ships ! With panting bosom, — with splashing gait, With dull monotonous roar, They come, — their frolicsome human freight In the Sorcerer's lap to pour. There all, in sweet oblivion lost, (The touch of witcliery's wand) Their ailments offer a holocaust At Giant Tctrtlb's command. ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 87 Shingebiss. There was once a Shingebiss, the name of the fall dnck, living alone in a solitary lodge on Mackinac Island in the coldest winter weather. The ice had formed on the water, and he had but four logs of wood to keep his fire. Each of these would, however, burn a month', and as there were but four cold winter months, they were sufficient to carry him through till spring. Shingebiss was hardy and fearless, and cared for no one. He would go out during the coldest day, and seek for places where flags and rushes grew through the ice, and plucking them up with his bill, would dive through the openings, in quest of fish. In this way he found plenty of food, while others were starving, and he went home daily to his lodge, dragging strings of fish after him, over the ice. Kabibonokka* observed him, and felt a little piqued at his perseverance and good luck in defiance of the severest blasts of wind he could send from the northwest. " Why ! this is a wonderful man," said he ; "he does not mind the cold, and ap- pears ashappj' and contented as if it were the month of June. I will try whether he cannot be mastered." He poured forth tenfold colder bhists, and drifts of snow, so that it was next to impossible to live in the open air. Still, the fire of Shinge- biss did not go out: he wore but a single strip of leather around his body, and he was seen, in the worst weather, searching the shores for rushes, and carrying home fish. "I shall go and visit him," said Kabibonokka, one day, as * A personification of the northwind. 88 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. he saw Shingebiss dragging along a quantity of fish. And, "accordingly, that very night, he went to the door of his lodge. iMeantinie Shingebiss had cooked his fish, and finished his meal, and was lying, partly on his side, before the fire, singing his songs. After Kabibonokka had come to the door, and stood listening there, he sang as follows :- Windy god, I know your plan, You are but my fellow-man; Blow you may your coldest breeze, Shingebiss you cannot freeze, Sweep the strongest wind you can, Shingebiss is still your man ; Heigh! for life — and ho! for bliss, Who so free as Shingebiss ? The hunter knew that Kabibonokka was at his door, for he felt his cold breath ; but he kept on singing his songs, and affected utter indifference. At length Kabibonokka entered, and took a seat on the opposite side of the lodge. Shingebiss did not notice him, but got up as if nobody were present, pushed the log, which made his fire burn brighter, repeating, as he sat down again : — You are but my fellow-man. Yery soon the tears began to flow down Kabibonokka's cheeks so fast, that, presently, he said to himself : " 1 can- not stand this — I must go out; he must be aided by some Manitou, I can neither freeze him nor starve him — he is a very singular being — I will let him alone." an:!