Hide Article Text (OCR)
‘FICTl'KEStJlK BIACKINACTlie i:lt;linr of the Ihlglc lJring.s Home a Grip Full ol'Fair} Stories.I’trhaps no place iu America is rii-lior in story and legend than in this 111 11c isle, which has I .cell variously termed llle “Gibraltar of America, Thy Isle or tlu-Duming Spirits” tile' Gc-rn of till-- Straits, I In- island ofI lie tiiaht Fairies,” etc. Tin- Chippewa name is “Mishininiakinang, literally ‘'at tin- phtee of the gnat uplifted bow,” probably referring to the Arrh Hock. Tills name the French modilied to Miehiliinakinae, of which the lirst part has been gradually dreplied. As most of the readers of the lie,1.1; have read descriptions of the island 1 will not tire them by a repetition. IVrhnps they are not so familiar with its origin and logeiid-nry history as told by the Indians.A very I imp; time ill'll, says the legend, there, lived an Indian eliief who had ten heautiful dan,''liters. They were all married except tint youngest and most beautiful of all, Oweem-e. v ho re.jerled all the young, handsome suitors and linally married an old, poor and decrepit man named ttsse, i. His sisters-in-luw were very inneli aslntmed of him and wished lie, might fall and break bis neek so that their fjSKU-r might lnive a liandsoine husband. One day as the entire family were going to a feast to whielt they laid heeii invited, Osseo nave a loud yell and datting inti, a hollow loft djitne olltkl tin- other i lal a young and ! ea-ilifnl man. lie iiad br.dii-U the -poll -d his . 1, :. oitmenl. lint on looking id tlivirnre, she had lieell .-hanged lo an old woman, bent alums! double and walked with a eane. lint Osseo treated her with i tmsUuit kindness i-alliny her w- wt iiioosIi h, or 'girly gitly,” They linally rcai'licd the lodge of the hunter where the feast was prepared, and, to make a long story short, Osseo's grandfather who was a powerful manitoo dwelling ill the evening star, took them till up through the air to himself uway from the inlinem-c of the wicked spirit, who was ji aloas heeanse Oshi-o's father had been gfn-n Uni espeeial euro of the female world. Ossetfs sisters-in-law and their bu.-ibumls were rhunged into birds. In due lime Oweem-o increased tin- populatlim and presented Osseo whh a non, who grew up rapidly and while hunting olio dny shot u bird. When hit ran to piek it up he found it to ho u very beautiful young woman one of his aunts. As soon us her hlood fell on the evening star tlio spell was broken and the boy found himself sinking and looking up saw all his uncles iiimIaunts and his futher And mother fol lowing him. They finally tiroppeil on a high and beautiful island where they were changed into fairies, and even to this day they may be heard on pleasant summer evenings singing and dancing along the I'ltfTs. When the moon shines brightly, their silver lodge may be seen on tlie highest pinnacle of flip roeks.”As to the origcn of Mackinac Island, tradition says that many centuries ago a party of Ojibway Indiana stand ing on the bluffs where St. Ignaoe is now located, saw the island slowly rising from tlx strait, and ixdieving it to Ixi an immense turtle, called it “Mishimikinak,” or “giant turtle.After the great Gitehe Manitou had thus created Maekinae Island, it was so heautiful that he decided to live there himself. Accordingly he told his messengers to lly to all hinds and tell the inhabitants to come there to worship him and receive his blessing. His lodge was built on the eastern part of the island, where Sugar Loaf Hock now stands. A short ilistanoe from there, on the eastern shore, he built tin ari-lied gateway over the water, where the visitors could-draw up their canoes and march through in procession. The Gitelie Manitou went out to meet tliem and standing on tlio arch, stretched forth his hands in blessing. For many, many years he dwelt there and received the 'homage of his people, lint when tlie palefaces iu their strange canoes began to explore these waters, the Gitehe Manitou changed liia people into fairies, a great crack opened in the plateau, and into this and the eaves in different parte of tlie island they die appeared. Tlie Gitehe Manitou'-s lodge was changed to stone and is culled by tlio pale-faoes “Sugar Loaf Hock.'’ The arched gate-way on the eastern shore remains os it was when then tlie Great Spirit dwelt upon the l-'airy Isle. I stood upon the arch, saw tlie great stone lodge, tlio “crack,1 and several eaves into which the fairies disappeared, and from which they even yet steal forth to danoe along the cliffs on summer nights; so there can be no doubt, about the truth of the legend.About 171)3 Captain Kobinson, a young oHloor belonging to the English garrison at the fort, and a great pet of the ladies, while walking in the woods back of the fort one evening, met a beautiful female about.nineteen. He lifted his cap, and turning, tried'to engage her in conversation, but she eluded him anil disappeared. She wus a stranger, and us no ship -had been seen in those waters for many months, the captain's story made a great sensation both tit tlie fort and in tne village, and it was hinted that the euptuin might have indulged too freely in the old wine brought up from Quebec by the French traders. But he saw' and spoke to her again the next evening and she again glided uway from him mill baffled .pursuit. By this time the captain was hudly ‘■stuck on her” ami could think of nothing else. Two or throe days later he saw her a third time, sitting on a stone on tlio rocky promontory in the .outli-oast part of the island. It was this, time impossible for her to escape hut she l-ctrcateil and seemed much frightened, while the captain made himsolf known uuil assured her.of hie devotion. As he went on with'hie protestations he incautiously .advanced and site instantly stepped to tlie very edge of the precipice, where tlie slightest move must have dashed her to death on the rocks 125 feet below. To avert such it dreadful calamity, the captain sprang forward and seized her, Imt she threw herself backward mid they went over the precipiue together. The captain's mangled body was found at the foot of the cliff, but, strange to relate,.no trace of the laily wus ever seen. She was a fairy. As proof of the truth of rids tide, 1 saw tlie exact spot where it happened. It is called to this day, “Holiinson's Folly.”| .Should you visit Mackiuuc Islund j you will lie told niuny other equally romantic stories both historical and I legendary. It is enchanted ground I and celebrated in song and stony, j Whether guzing ucross 1lie straits at its biittlcmcnteil elilTs mid emorold crowned heights, or wandering in its shady dolls, rich with tic associations of two centuries, you Will come to half believe yourself in l'uiry-lnnd.It has lieeii tlie scene of many historical episodes and hloudy tragedies. Before visiting it, read its history carefully uudyiui will appreciate your visit more. The present season is about over anil it is too late to be sure of good weather. It is best reached from here liy the Grand liop-ids \ Indiana Hailroad, which every summer sells tourist tickets during the entire season at very low rates. When you go, no mutter ut what time lie sure to take your winter wraps, or overrunt.Hept. 7, ini. Wakkkn 1). WklikFrom ull accounts Chumbet'lulu's Gough Hcmoily is 11 Godsend to the ulllicted. There is no advertisement about tills; we feel just like saying it. —The Democrat, Carrolton, Ky. For salo Gy W. N. MeKeehen.l’oisou ivy, insect bites, bruises, scuhis, burns, are quickly cured by DeWitt’s Witch Hazel Sulvo, the great |ille cur-'-. McKeelien
Newspaper Details
Fremont Eagle
Fremont, Indiana, US
Thu, Sep 10, 1896
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Ruth D.
NA, NA 11 Jan 2025
Other Publications Near Fremont, Indiana
Fremont Eagle
