Ancient and modern Michilimackinac, including an account of the controversy between Mackinac and the Mormons.

30

WAR ON THE MORtMONS.

they had warmed and slept, they waked with
their faces so swollen that they could not recognize each other.
Here they remained five days, occupying the
best fish shanty, and for want of an ax to cut
wood with, taking down the others for fuel.The fragments of provisions left in the various
shanties supplied them with food, such as
starving men know best how to relish. With
an ingenuity of invention which necessity only
produces, shaping timber with fire and knives,
saving nails from burnt shanties, and using
pebbles for hammers, they put Atheir boat in
good condition, and returned to learn the fate
of their lost companion, and the condition of
affairs at Beaver.
Twelve days elapsed after leaving HIo Island, before they reached it again. Then
they found the missing man, David Bates;
who, after escaping Granger and his party in
the long hunt they kept up, hoping to find Mr.
Strang, had subsisted on some small fragments of raw hide intended for oar straps, and
about two quarts of frozen potatoes, which
escaped the scrutiny ot Granger's free booters.
Granger took the tools, provisions, blankets;
cooking utensils, &c., of the Mormons as spoils
of war, and divided them among his companions. A portion of them were afterwards given up, but the larger share remained in the
hands of the victors.
Among the spoil was ajoiner's chest of tools,
taken along by Mr. Royal Tucker to use in repairing the Patchin's yawl. Upon this Sheriff Granger made a semi-official publication in
the Tribune or Advertiser at Detroit, that he
had seized in Strang's piratical camp "a box
of tools admirably adapted to bnrglarious purposes."
Granger took some fifteen or twenty prisoners to Mackinac. O'Malley ordered all to
prison. But when it was ascertained that
allwere ready to give bail, two or three were
let to bail, and the prosecution against the rest
abandoned, and they went home. Those let to
bail were discharged at the next session of the
County Court, no one appearing against them.

Granger returned to Beaver for Strang, an6
getting a fund subscribed for the purpose, offered a reward for his head. The reward of-,
fered at first was but twenty-five dollars, but
in a short time it was raised to $300,00. For
this reward, Mr. Strang was hunted by bands
of armed men, Indians and Half 13reeds, Irish,
&c., varying from seventy-five to 350 in nurnber, as the prospect of success increased or diminished, for four weeks.
Most of those men doubtless fully believed
that the Sheriff's advertisement would legally
justify them in killing Mr. Strang. Many
who did not look for the reward, thought it a
convenient- season to cret rid of a man who
was is the; way of their plans.
And there is not the slightest doubt that had
they succeeded in killinv him, the result would
have verided these opinions. The murderers
would ne-rer have been prosecuted. 4 Regular
Grand JuTy lists are not usually kept in Michilimackinae, and Sheriff Granger bad near two
years to remain in office, during which time
he would have had their selection. And there
is no doubt that a majority of the influential
men of that County would halve been glad to
be rid of Mr. Strang, by any safe means, however unlawful. Of this they have given, numerous proofs, and the fact treat sortie hundred
Mormons have beeln murdered in the last twenty years, and that no person has ever. been.
punished for it, gives ground for theiu enemies to hope the: same result in any aggres-,
sion upon thern.
UNITED STATES TAKE UP AGAINST
THE AlOR-11IONS.
Wbilethese proceedings were going on,
PresidentFillmoreandhis Cabinet were in.vited to New 'York to assist in the ceremonies
of opening'the New York and Erie Rail Road.
The President extended his visit to Detroit,
where he bad a brotber residina; and, while
there complaints were made before liim,,cbarg.
ingthe Wornions with being pere bucaneers,
and alledoing specifically.that Mr. Strang and
othe.ri Nyere uilty of treason, robbiDg the mail,

Granger returned to Beaver for Strang, and
getting a fund subscribed for the purpose, offered a reward for his head. The reward offered at first was but twenty-five dollars, but
in a short time it was raised to $300,00. For
this reward, Mr. Strang was hunted by bands
of armed men, Indians and Half Breeds, Irish,
&c., varying from seventy-five to 350 in number, as the prospect of success increased or diminished, for four weeks.
Most of those men doubtless fully believed
that the Sheriff's advertisement would legally
justify them in killing Mr. Strang. Many
who did not look for the reward, thought it a
convenien season to get rid of a man who
was is the way of their plans.
And there is not the slightest doubt that had
they succeeded in killing him, the result would
have veriied these opinions. The murderers
would never have been prosecuted. Regular
Grand Jury lists are not usually kept in Michilimackinac, and Sheriff Granger had near two
years to remain in office, during which time
he would have had their selection. And there
is no doubt that a majority of the influential
men of that County would have been glad to
be rid of Mr. Strang, by any safe means, however unlawful. Of this they have given numerous proofs, and the fact that some hundred
Mormons have been murdered in the last twenty years, and that no person has ever been
punished for it, gives ground for their enemies to hope the same result in any aggression upon them.
UNITED STATES TAKE UP AGAINST
THE MORM IONS.
While these proceedings were going on,
President Fillmore and his Cabinet were invited to New York to assist in the ceremonies
of opening the New York and Erie Rail Road.
The President extended his visit to Detroit,
where he had a brother residing; and while
there complaints were made before him, charg.
ing the Mormons with being mere bucaneers,
and alledging specifically that Mr. Strang and
others wsere guilty of treason, robbing the mail,