Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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I2 -The Spectator . raised. This was the last historical event in these waters, until by the treaty of peace the island was given back to the Ameri- cans. For eighty years it was a government military post, un- til it was abandoned in 1895. 1 At the time of our visit last summer we were impressed by the abundance of lilacsg the island is covered with them. The lilacs grow not on bushes, but on trees. These trees grow as large as, and often larger, than our apple trees. The trunks are sometimes two feet in diameter. Mackinac Island is peculiarly suited for busy people seek- ing rest and repose, as nowhere can be found more perfect quietude. P Nina's Escapade By Margaret Ambrose '13 N a room cosily furnished and adorned with Christy pic- tures and colored pennants, stood a tall, graceful girl. Her dark brown hair fell in wavy masses around her high fore- head. VVith her hands behind her, she stood looking out the window, over a well-kept lawn, which terminated in a grove in the distance. The young thing smiled in anticipation of the good time she would soon have. Nina King was always anticipating fun and pleasure. Among all the girls of the Freshman class, she was the leader of the merry-making. For tonight the Freshman girls had planned a feast. Every nrember of the class was more than enthusiastic for its success. Almost at the last hour, however, Nina had told some of the girls that she could not be present. She was very sorry, she said, but she had such a dreadful headachef, and so would stay in her room all evening. VVho, to see her now, would believe the dreadful headache possible? She had turned suddenly away from the window with a little giggle, and half running across the room, threw herself upon the couch among a lot of college cushions, to com- plete the plan she had been forming. For several minutes she

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. The Spectator ll been rebuilt and cemented, because they were about falling down. The stockade of cedar logs, which formerly surrounded the fort, has long since fallen down. The blockhouses, which are built of cedar logs, are still standing. The officers' quarters and the commissary house, both of which were built of part stone and part wood, and the men's quarters are still standing. Some of the officers' houses are now occupied as summer cot- tages. The fort and houses are all whitewashed. Fort Macki- nac and much of the land on the island is owned by the state of Michigan as a state park. Lately a bronze monument was erected there to Pierre Marquette, the discoverer of the Mis- sissippi. ' - The fort was built by the British in 1780, and, at the close of the Revolutionary War, was ceded to the United States. At the opening of the war of 1812, the fort was garrisoned by a lieutenant and fifty-seven men. Captain Roberts, of the British Army, landed on the island with a force of 300 regulars, 700 In- dians and two cannon. They surrounded the fort, built Fort Holmes, and planted a gun there which commanded the weak- est part of Fort Mackinac. The fort then surrendered. The Americans determined to make an effort to win it back. After Pearyis victory a portion of his fleet, with 750 men on board, set out for the island. They landed at the same spot where the British had landed before. Trying to storm the fort, they were defeated. In their return to the ships they were surprised and fired upon by a masked battery and a large force hid in a woods. This was the battle of Early's Farm. The Americans arrived at their ships with a loss of seventy-five men in killed and wounded. It being found impracticable to take the fort it was determined to reduce it by starvation. For this purpose the Tigress and Scorpion were left behind. They found the schooner Nancy, laiden with six months' supplies for the garrison, opened fire and blew her up, cargo and all. With starvation staring them in the face the garrison, under com- mand of Lieutenant Woolsey, set out in open boats, and in the dead of night boarded and captured the Tigress, where she was lying at anchor at Detour. Two days later they captured the Scorpion, by sailing close up to her in the guise of friend- liness and then opening tire. The Mackinac blockade was now

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I The Spectator I3 remained in an apparent deep study, and then jumping, up she exclaimed: It's the very thing, funny I didn't think of that before. Oh! NVon't the girls be frightened, and won't it be fun, tho! She walked over to her wardrobe and taking out a dark blue skirt, surveyed it critically. Then laying it on a chair with a satisfied expression on her laughing face, she went to her dressing table. Opening a drawer, she took out a box of trin- kets, and from the bottom of the odd collection brought forth a large pair of goldarimmed spectacles, putting them on, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror. The sight that met her gaze was so ludicrous that she laughed aloud. lt was such a merry little laugh, as though she already pictured herself in attire like that of the matron. After replacing the glasses she took up her Greek, and glanced over the next day's lesson, while awaiting the time for action. Isn't this perfectly delightful, exclaimed stout little Kitty Brown, as she settled herself more comfortably among a host of cushions piled on the floor. She indeed looked as snug as a little kitten. It is simply grand, answered one of the other girls, who sat opposite Kitty, munching a large piece of cake. And we cannot possibly be detected, she continued, as we have made everything so secure, and the matron is not like- ly to be around, as you know she has been rather ill today. Everything would be complete were Nina only here, chimed in another girl. I am very sorry she could not COXIIC, for she makes everything so jolly and we always have more fun when she is with us. q Let us drink a toast to Nina, even though she is not here, spoke up Katharine Raymond, a tall, pleasant-looking girl, who was dishing out ice cream and passing bonbons at the same time. The idea was met with general favor and one of the girls arose with mock gravity to deliver the toast. I Girls, she commenced, holding up her glass containing orange Sherbert, we are here this evening- But' she got no further. Rap! rap! came the loud knocks on the door. A general