I A ————— BLOCKHOUS OF THE BRITISH FORT AT MACKINA By ELMO SCOTT WATSON URING the past month there was played In Chicago a baseball game which attracted widespread attention throughout the nation. Played by all- star teams from the two major leagues, It was hailed as game of the century.” At about the same time there was plaved In nerthern Michigan ball game which did not attract nearly so much atten. tion even though it for a brief moment one of the most thrill ing and spectacular events In American history, This was the re-enactment of the Indian ball game played outside the of Fort Michili- mackinac on June 4, 1763, a ball game which ended In a swift tragedy that cost the lives of more than a score of whi The occasion for the re-enactment of this game was the dedi cation by Governor Comstock of Michigan of a replica of the aded fort that or stood on the present site of Mackinaw Clty forerunner of later forts in the Mackinac region over which, during the three centuries of its his. tory, have flown the flags of three nations “the another recalled walls e men. little pal ¢ at Fort Michill- one of the he tragedy mackinae 170 in the larger drama tiac, the famous to “drive the hated Engl tiac’s plan was a simu confederated tribes, the swift capture forts In the West, risons and a general attack on settlements, and he all but succeeded In his am- hitious plan Because of its location on the south side of the Straits of Mackinac Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, Michilimackinae for more than a century had been one of the most im- portant outposts of the frontier. Connected with its early history are the names of Jean Nicolet, Radisson, Joliet, Perot, La Salle, Father Allouez and Father Marquette. who founded the Mission of St. Ignace nearby In 1671. Two years later it was selected by the French as the for a fort and from that time until 1759, when France lost her empire in America to England, the flag of France floated over a fortress of one kind or another at Mich. ilimackinae. In 1763 it was garrisoned by some a5 British officers and soldiers under the com- mand of Capt. Ethrington. Grouped around the little fort were the homes of a num- ber of French and English traders and It was some of the former who first gave the com- mander a hint of the tempest that was brewing among the Indians, But Ethrington disregarded their warnings, even going so far as 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 heeded even if he had disre. garded the others, came from Alexander Henry, an English trader, who had heen adopted as a “son, brother and friend” by Wawatam, a Chip pewn 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 an eye-witness, It fol lows, In part: “On the second of June Wawatam came to my house In a temper of mind visibly melancholy and thoughtful. He told me that he had just re. turned from his winteringground and I asked after his health; but without answering my question he went on to say that he was very sorry to find me returned from the Sault: that he had intended to go to that place himself, im- mediately after his arrival at Michilimackinae: and that he wished me to go there along with him and his family the next morning. “To 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 it. Wawatam was about forty- five yeurs of age, of an excellent character among hig nation, and a chief, “Referring much of what I heard to the pe culiarities of the Indian character, I did not pay all the attention which they will be found to hove deserved to the entreaties and remarks of which took pla YOIArsS Ago was of the ¢ ’ 2 chief into the sea” uprising of of all the their gar- the frontier neous the 1 acre of betw oan Groselliers, site George STATUE OF MARQUETTE AT MACKINAC my visitor, 1 answered that | could not think of going to the Sault so soon after the arrival of my clerks. Finding himself unable to prevail with withdrew for that day; but early the he came again, bringing with him and a present of ment At this interview, after stating that he had several packs of beaver, for which he me, he expressed a second time his hen the numerous Indians around the fort, consent to an “As a reason for this parti me, he next morning his wife dried intended to deal with who were ions from and earnestly pressed me to immediate departure for the Sault ar request, he as. sured me that in a body that day to the f of the commandant, 3 be gone all the Ins 1% proposed to come rt to demand liquor and that he wished me to intoxicated, 1 had made, at the period to which I am progress in the language In ‘awatam addressed me, as to he before they should grow Now pre ferring, so much which nbhie to hold an ord it; bu ary conversation In the Is manner of sp “fe master to tirely. Had 1 been further a gpect, I think 1 should have gathered ’ i £0 much information from this, my friendly monitor, as would have put me in possession of the de gris of the enemy. an rnabled me to save others as well unfortu- nately happened that as myself: as it was, it evervihing, nd patient, leaving long depart alone, with deject not before they had each let next day, being the The m tell 's birthday. ‘hippewa was going to play at ba catiway, wi another Indian nation, for a high wager He invited me to witness the sport, adding that the commandant was to be there, and wonld be on the side of the Chippewas. In consequence of this information, I went to the commandant, and expostulated with him a little, representing that the Indians might possibly have some sinister erd In but the commandant only smiled at my suspicions came to view: “The game of baggatiway which the Indians played npon that memorable occasion ig the most exciting sport in which the red man could en- gage, It was played with bat and ball. The bat, so-called, was about four feet In length and an inch in diameter, It was made of the tough- est material that could be found. At one end it was curved, and terminated in a sort of rack- et, or perhaps more properly a ring, in which a network of cord was loosely woven, The play- ers were not allowed to touch the ball with the hand, but caught it in this network at the end of the bat. At either end of the ground a tall post wag planted, These posts marked the sta- tion of the rival parties, and were sometimes a mile apart. The object of each party was to defend its own post and carry the ball to that of the adversary. “At the beginning of the game the main body of the players assembled halfway between the two posts, Every eye sparkles and every cheek is already aglow with excitement. The ball is tossed high into the air, and a general struggle ensues to secure it as it descends. He who sue ceeds starts for the goal of the adversary hold. ing it high above his head. The opposite party, with merry yells, are swift to pursue. His course is intercepted, and rather than see the ball taken from him, he throws it, as the boy throws the stone from the sling, as far toward the goal of the adversary as he can. An adversary in the game catches it, and sends It whizzing back in the opposite direction, Hither and thither it goes; now far to the right. now as far to the left; now near to the one, now as near to the other goal; the whole band crowding continual. ly after it In the wildest confusion, until finally, some agile figure, more fleet of foot than the others, succeeds In bearing It to the goal of the opposite party, “In the heat of the contest, when all are running at their greatest speed, If one stumbles and falls, fifty or a hundred, who are In close pursuit and unable to stop, plle over him, form- ing a mound of human bodies, and frequently players are so bruised as to be unable to pro- ceed In the game, “This game, with its attendant noise and vio- lence, was well calculated to divert the attention of officers and men and thus permit the Indians Lives (taken from only original painting known) 4 to take possess Success certain many whil in bl murderons closure T more as they could no one 21 Rw t garrison v ted to siroll weapons of ag If by chance to descend by four h gling, all shot of a rude until the si rison that the slaughter had actually “I did not was now to be i there being a canoe prepared to depart on the for Montreal letters to my friends: and trader, Mr. Tracy, happened to call upon me, that another had Just arrived from Detroil, and proposing that I should go with him to thie beach to inquire the news, it so happened that 1 finish my letters, promising to follow Mr. Traces in the course of a few Mr. Tracy had not more than 20 from my when I heard an Indian and the noise of general confusion. Going instantly to my win dow, 1 saw a crowd of Indians within the fort, furiously cutting down and scalping every Eng. lishman they found. In particular 1 witnessed the fate of Lieutenant Jamette. “I had, in the room in which 1 was. a fow! ing piece, loaded with swan shot. This I im mediately seized and held it for a few minutes, waiting to hear the drum beat to arms. In this dreadful Interval I saw several of my country. men fall and more than one struggling between the knees of an Indian who, holding him in this manner, scalped him while yet living" ilarm » gtartied Was » match which ¢ fort, because, Bi thant + following day 1 employed myself in writing when a fellow even saving Canoe «till remained to minutes gone paces door wWar-cry Henry saved himseli from the massacre by hiding in the home of a French trader but he was later captured and eventually was ran- somed by his friend, Wawatam. Of the garrison Lieutenant Jamette, 15 soldiers and the trader. Tracy, were killed inside the fort. Captain Eth. rington, Lieutenant Leslie and 11 soldiers were taken prisoners, § of whom were later killed A few days after the massacre a party of Ot tawas arrived at Michilimackinae, They were furious at the Chippewas for making the attack without consulting them. So they took English captives away from the Chippewas and earried them to L'Arbre Croche where they were kept as prisoners until the end of the war when they were released or ransomed at Montreal During the Revolution Michilimackinae was one of the most important British posts In the West and In 1780 Major Sinclair, commandant of the post, transferred part of his troops te Mackinac Island where a new fort was built with blockhouses at the corners to protect the palisaded walls, By the treaty of 1783 which ended the Revolution Mackinac became an Amer. fean post and the Stars and Stripes became the third national flag to fly over it. In 1798 the first American troops under Maj. Henry Bur. beck occupled the post but early In the War of 1812 it was captured by the British who held it until the close of the war. On July 18, 1815, Colonel! Butler of the United States army took formal possession of the fort and from that time until 3805, a period of 80 years, when the government abandoned it, Fort Mackinac was an American army post. It Is now a Michigan state park. 10 by Wentars Nowapater (inion. ) i INNOCENCE The enthusiastic angler was relat neighbors, “Yes,” he sald proudly. *I1 the biggest fish of my night, It was a whopper, too, Do know, fe] lows, belleve It or believe it not. that fish weighed about seven pounds Some fish, what? enught career ast bass, and what a You His son, who had remained inter. ested throughout the now spoke up. “Yes, and do you know, daddy was so kind, he gave it to my little kit ten,” he sald. story, Dust and All Kumme—Is your Backe—Very—when loose wife savine? she sces under ty tobacco writing ta the to Eagle. dustpan and puts it back in bacco jar.—Brooklyn Dails It’s the Rule! Chief —Smoking in the office? Clerk —1It sir. Chief in the lustrato, is a pencil, Pencil or no office, — Yenice Slow Worker basi Well last night the he spent tl pairing the switch, He Should Talk “Sorry, but | can't pay “You're a fraud. sir, out money—how am | going to pas for my drinks?" —Berlin Berliner I! Mistrierte to ol ton » § Even Exchange Mother (to six year-old cigar) Harold father is pl Harold, what or Holding Out “Does your your age? “Well. part of it." new boy ALL SETTLED The young man who had been calling so frequently on Helen esme at last to see her father, Finally the suitor made this announcement : “It's a mere formality, | know, but we thought it would be pleasing to you If it were observed in the usual way.” Helen's father stiffened. “And may 1 Inquire,” he asked. “who suggested that asking my con- gent to Helen's marriage was a nere formality? “Yes,” rplied the young man. “It wns Helen's mother.” Tit- Bits, London ra—— Something in Common “Darling. 1 could not afford that antique jewelry for you, but | boughi you a ear.” “That 1s sweet of you, but it Is pot the same thing.™ kar well, it is old, anyway.” WHY, OF COURSE! unts in so inghter All Explained q ms the tit rom the f ail § 3 We I ence 11 420 Observant you seen the cashier this n without a ) + rallway Everybody's Bad News Keeps Have you told the gentle hat 1 am musics That I play instruments? No. i am him. —Munich Naectter, Writer "You say you earn money with the cle every week Horizontal, leeA large Hird $-Used for smoking 1lwNot many 12~Lubricated 13Usged In boating 14Winner 17—Part of the area of a eclircle 20-Used to measure gas 2leClirelen 23—One of the articles 24-~Dejected 28-