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-<An exclamation
29-—A wriggly inhabitant of the sen
30-~Drevoured
leRecent
Instrument used by doctors
37~Fear
0A titled personage
0-Part of a ship Attempt
2-—Maker 47-«A fish
48-—A Bouth American snake
heeFExisted bl-=Thus
53—A tool B6—Tike
bTwwA tree BBA visitor
6lA foreign ruler 63Bmell
88-—A small, sharp dit of metal
$6—A popular modern Invention
87The sewed edge of clothing
§3~One who examines ore
10--Put together
e |7
Vertical,
~<A preposition
2A numeral 3--To tease
$~To make a noise like a dove
b=-One who employs
6-—Trials TA poem
$8—Common name of a fur-bearing
animal
$~The load of a ship
10«Otherwise 18-~To grant
16—Large woody plants
18-Island near Greece
18-~Movement of the ocean
20-~Power of attraction
22-Keenest h—-Work
26~Man's name 27«-Bend down
82—Organ of the body
E3eDistorted
35-Regret 28—Used In Nshing
27=Part of a circle 38To court
42-A traveling star
43-To knock 44—A playing card
46-To be In debt
6A line of mountains
48-—~Mouth of a bird 50-—To stupely
b2-Found In a desert
E4-Pertaining to the moon
b5—Harmony
b6-~Refuse from a fire
bi—8imple Jokes €0-—Reverberation
62-Exint 64—Alne