TORNADO 1835.

Perhaps the best remembered and most extraordinary phenomenon was that which the people of the northeastern counties witnessed in 1835. On Christmas day of that year an exceptionally heavy fall of snow covered the ground, which was followed on the 26th by a mist, and this was succeeded in turn by a drizzling rain. The rain ceased suddenly, the clouds lowered, grew dark, and assumed such appearances as would lead the spectator to conclude that this globe was about to collapse. The storm king at length broke loose, swooped down from the Northwest in black night, uprooting trees, sweeping everything in his track, and bringing with him such a current of icy air that man and beast, not then in shelter, were frozen to death. This storm was as sudden as it was phenomenal. It is well remembered by the old settlers, and forms for them a mark on the page of time.

THE METEOR.

The meteor seen November 1, 1857, passing southward, proved to be a most remarkable one. Its journey was accompanied by a sharp, rumbling sound like thunder.

THE COMET.

This strange visitor, belonging to that numerous but erratic family whose movements are so carefully noted by astronomers, and the time of whose entrances and exits is a matter of mathematical certainty, appeared to the people of this county, June 30, 1861. Whatever may have been its attributes and peculiarities one thing is certain, that it has had no rivals in the comet line. Its sudden debut at that time was the cause of much speculation among men of letters as well as the people in general. It was first visible in a northwesterly direction, when it appeared like a bright star. It attracted but little attention at first, it being supposed to be a lamp attached to a kite; but directly a train of light shot up, which gradually increased in length until it passed the zenith. The nucleus of the comet when viewed through a glass, presented a very clear and sharply-defined outline, shining with the brilliancy of a star of the first magnitude. Its motion was in an easterly direction, and exceedingly rapid. The train of light extended beyond the constellation, Lyra, and the center of its extremity was directly over the star Vega. Its length extended over the immense distance of 100°, being 30° longer than the comet of 1843, which extended over a space of only 70°.

The comet of 1881 remained with us for weeks, and disappeared from the view of citizens of this county, a short time after a portion of its tail separated from the nucleus and main train. It will be remembered as affording much subject for gossip during the latter part of the summer of 1881.

ECLIPSE OF THE MOON, 1881.

One of the most sublime astronomical events of 1881-a total eclipse of the moon-occurred Sunday morning June 12. The moon appeared above the horizon at about 8:20 P. M., on the 11th, in its usual brilliancy. When about two and one

half hours high, it received the first contact with the penumbra of light shadow of the earth upon its eastern limb, which became slightly dim, and a loss of lunar light followed as the moon entered the penumbra. Fifty-six minutes then elapsed without further change in its appearance, while traversing the partial shadow of the earth; but when the umbra or dark shadow of our planet was reached, the eastern limb of the moon again darkened, suddenly, almost to invisibility. The circular shape of the earth's shadow was distinctly seen when passing over the face of the moon. At 12:38 A. M., June 12, the moon was wholly within the umbra, and the total eclipse commenced. It continued in darkness for an hour or so, when all was light again.

CHAPTER XI.

THE INDIANS.

Before entering upon the history of men and events connected with the county during the last century, we will inquire into its aboriginal or prehistoric period. From years coeval with the Columbian era, the Indian, as we know him, made his presence known to the decaying remnants of the Mound Building Race, who sought a refuge on this peninsula from the periodical assaults of their barbaric brethren. The origin of the American Indians, which must always interest and instruct, is a favorite with the ethnologist, even as it is one of deep concern to the ordinary reader. The era of their establishment as a distinct and insulated people must be set down and credited to a period-immediately after the separation of the Asiatic, after the confusion of language, and the formation of languages. No doubt can exist, when the American Indian is regarded as of Asiatic origin. The fact is that the full-blood Indian of pioneer days is descended directly from the original inhabitants of this continent, or in other words from the survivors of that people, who, on being driven from their fair possessions, retired to the wilderness in sorrow, and reared up their children under the saddening influences of their unquenchable griefs, bequeathing them only the habits, manners, and customs of the wild, cloudroofed homes of their exile-a sullen silence and a rude moral code-leaving them ignorant of the arts and sciences which, undoubtedly, marked the period of their prosperity.

In after years those wild sons of the forest and the prairie grew in numbers and in strength, yet minus even a tradition to point out the rise and fall of their fathers. However, some legend told them of their present sufferings, of the high station which their progenitors once had held, and of the riotous race that now reveled in a wealth, which should be theirs. The fierce passions of the savages were aroused, and uniting their scattered bands, all marched in silence upon the villages of the Tartars, driving them onwards to the capital of their Incas, and consigning their homes to flames. Once in view of the great city, the hurrying bands halted in surprise. Tartar cunning took the advantage of the situation, and offered to the sons of their former victims pledges of amity and justice-pledges which were sacredly observed. Henceforth Mexico was open to the children of the Mound Builders, bearing precisely the same social and commercial relation to them, that the Hudsons Bay company's posts do the northwestern Indians of the present day-obtaining all-offering little in return.

The subjection of the Mongolian race, represented in North America by that branch, to which those Tartars belonged, seems to have taken place about five centuries prior to the arrival of the Spaniards; while it may be concluded that the war of the races, which resulted in the reduction of those villages erected by the Tartar hordes, took place between one and two hundred years later. These statements, though actually referring to events which in point of time, are comparatively modern, can be substantiated only by the fact that, about the periods mentioned, the dead bodies of an unknown race of men were washed upon the European coasts; while previous to that time there is no account in European annals of even a vestige of trans-Atlantic humanity being transferred by ocean currents to the shores of the eastern world. Toward the latter part of the first half of the Fifteenth Century, two dead bodies, entirely free from decomposition, and corresponding with the physical characteristics of the red man as afterwards seen by Columbus, were cast ashore on the Azores-a circumstance which confirmed the great, the illustrious discoverer of this continent in his belief that a Western world and a Western people existed and waited recognition.

Storm, flood, disease, whisky, have created sad havoc in the ranks of the aborigines since the occupation of the country by the white man. Inherent causes have led in a greater degree to the dissemination of the race even more than the advance of civilization, which seems not to affect it materially. In the maintenance of the same number of representatives during three centuries, and its existence in the very face of a most unceremonious, and whenever necessary, cruel conquest, the grand dispensations of the Unseen Ruler are demonstrated; for, without the aborigines, savage and treacherous as they were, it is possible that the Spanish and French explorers, would have so many natural difficulties to contend

against, that they would surrender their work in despair, and fly from a continent, which their knowledge, zeal, and perseverance gave to the world. It can not be questioned that the ultimate resolve of Columbus was strengthened by the appearance of Indian corpses on the Eastern shores of the Atlantic, even as it is conceded that the existence of savages in the interior led the Spanish and French missionary priests from savage village to village, until the entire continent from the Arctic regions to Patagonia was known to the civilized world. From such a stand-point the position of the Indian in the economy of the Divinity must be acknowledged, and the services which he has rendered to civilization held in high esteem. It would not be a matter for surprise to learn, that the same spirit which crushed the power of tyranny at Yorktown 100 years ago, and sent a thrill of liberty throughout the world, would offer to the remnant of a great and ancient race-a lasting peace.

THE OTCHIPWE INVASION.

During the second decade of the Sixteenth Century, about the year 1519-20, the Otchipwes or Chippewas gained possession of the district from the mouth of the Kawkawlin to the river, now known as the Clinton, called by the French Reviere aux Hurons. At this time the great struggle for tribal supremacy took place, and the last Sauk warrior fell before the advancing Chippewas in the valley of the Saginaw. Throughout all this district, particularly along its rivers and streams, may be found mounds filled with human bones, scattered round in all directions, showing, unmistakably, that they were cast together without regularity, and telling of fierce and sanguinary battles. So early as 1834, a few aged Indians resided on the shores of Lake Huron; each of them was questioned regarding the ancient history of his nation, and each of them was not slow to relate the tradition of his tribe, so far as it related to the Chippewa conquest of Northern and Western Michigan. At length the old chief-Puttasamine-was interviewed in the presence of Peter Gruette, a half-breed, well known from Detroit to Mount Clemens, and westward still to Mackinac. Gruette acted as interpreter, and as a result the following valuable legendary sketch comes down to us. Puttasamine said the Sauks occupied the whole country from Thunder Bay on the north, to the head waters of the Shiawassee, and from the mouth of Grand River to that of the Huron north of Detroit. The rest of the country was occupied by the Pottawatomies, the Lake Superior country by the Otchipwes and Ottawas, the Monomonies round Green Bay, and the Sioux west of the Mississippi. The main village of the Sauk nation stood on the west side of the Saginaw River, near its mouth; and from that place were accustomed to rush forth to war with the Chippewas on the north and the Pottawatomies on the south, and also with other nations in Canada. At length a council was called consisting of Otchipwes, Pottawatomies, Monomonies, Otta

was, and six nations of New York, which council assembled on the island of Mackinaw, and where it decided on a war of extermination. The chiefs summoned the warriors, a large army was organized, and embarking in bark canoes, started down the west shore of Lake Huron, arriving at Saginaw Bay, the warriors started over the waters by night, lay concealed during the day, and so continued their advance until they arrived at a place called Petobegong, about ten miles above the mouth of the Saginaw River. There they disembarked a portion of the army, while the main division crossed the bay and made a landing on the east bank of the estuary of the Saginaw, in the night. Next morning both divisions started up the river so as to attack the eastern and western towns at the same time. The warriors on the west bank attacked the main village, surprised the inhabitants, and massacred almost every man, woman and child to be found there-the few survivors escaping across the river to another village, which occupied the site of the Portsmouth.

The eastern division of the allies came up to the village, which then occupied the site of Bay City, where a desperate battle was fought. Notwithstanding the favorable position held by the Sauks, they were defeated and great numbers slain— the survivors retreating, some into the eastern wilderness, others seeking refuge on Skull Island. Here the refugees considered themselves safe, as the enemy did not appear to possess any canoes; but the season offered the invader, that which art denied; for on the next night, the ice was found sufficiently thick to warrant a crossing, which circumstance enabled the allies to advance on the island. Here nothing was left of the Sauks, save twelve women, and those who fled eastward to the river country. The victory was as decisive as it was bloody. The victors reviewed their forces, and then divided, some proceeding up the Cass (formerly the Huron) and the Flint; others up the Shiawassee, Tittaba wasink, and spread over the land.

The most important battles were fought against other tribes in the neighborhood of the Flint bluffs, and eastward to Detroit; but of such Puttasamine could recount very little.

After the extermination of the Sauk warriors, the twelve women referred to, remained for disposal, and so important did they appear, that a council of the allies was held to decide their fate. Some were for torturing them to death; others recommended mercy; while others still argued that they should be sent west of the Mississippi. The last proposition was carried, and an arrangement made with the Sioux, that no tribe should molest them, that they should be responsible for their protection. The Sioux warriors and women kept their promises faithfully.

The conquered country was divided among the allies as a common hunting ground; but great numbers of them who engaged in the chase, never returned, nor could any tidings of them be found, for which reason it became the settled