Souvenirs of the Past

University of Cj Southern Rej Library Pai THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OE CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES Ut^1- 0^ Souvciiire of tbc |p>a6t Mith llllueti-ations ^ AN INSTRUCTIVE AND AMUSING WORK, GIVING A CORRECT ACCOUNT OF THE CUSTOMS AND HABITS OF THE Ipionccrs of Canaba AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY, EMBRACING MANY ANECDOTES OP ITS PROMINENT INHABITANTS, AND WITHAL AN ABSOLUTE CORRECT AND HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF MANY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POLITICAL EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY DAYS OF CANADA AND THE TERRITORY OF MICHIGAN. BY MiUiain Xcwis Bab^ lUin^sor. Ontario, isoc*. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1896, by William L. Baby, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. This Work has already been published in the Dominion of Canada IPrcfacc. Tn offering- to the pul)lic these crude and liastily written Reminiscences, I have thought it advisable to open them witli one of the trachtions of the renowned chief Pontiac, who exercised such an extraonUnary influence over the various tribes of Indians witli whom he was associated and who for so many years drew the undivided attention of the civil and military powers of those days. He at length failed in the accom])lishment of his bold and comprehensive plan of attack:ing a chain of nine forts from ^lichigan to Niag"ara on the same day; he himself besieging the Fort Pontchar- train at Detroit in 1763, l)ut failed, an Indian woman having discovered the plot and revealed it to Major (lladwin, commanding the fort. Pontiac afterwards professed friendship for the Englisli, but an luiglish spy, having discovered treachery in his speech, stabbed him to the heart, and fled. —-"Aloni-an's Celebrated Canadians," p. 55. 838043 Hablc of Contents. An Old J-'aniily Legend durin,<;- the Conspiiacy of Pontiac ^ The Destruction of W. Lyon McKenzie's Press. ...... 12a Serving Jury Summons in 1829 13 The Oki Family Compact—its origin, and what \ know about it 35 The Hon. James Baby—Obituary 58 Service on the Detroit kVontier during the Rebellion of 'T,y and '38 7~ Visit of the Prince of Wales to Detroit in September, i860 89a The Battle of Windsor, fought Deceml)er 4, 1839 cjo Prominent Men of Essex i i6a An Old Time Breeze on Lake Erie—Sailing in 1831 . 117 Journey from Little York to Sandwich in 1827 122a Navigation on Lake Ontario— 1824 125a At School in St. Raphael's in 1825 127a The Runaway Slave 129 Journey to Little York (now Toronto) in 1833 140 Visit to Col. Talbot in 1841 148 An Unexpected Visit from an Old Schoolmate 156 Visit to the Village of Wickwimikong, Manitoulin Island 164 Thrilling E.xperiencc with an Indian Pilot 187 The Book Peddler 193 Visit to the Sault Ste. Marie 215 A Sketch .'showing. Among Other Things, how the l^)rucc Mines in Algoma were discovered 224 Farming in tliis Canada of Ours, and Iiow it was I became a Farmer 240 Twenty-two Years' Service in H. 'SI. Customs 266a This Second Edition respectfully dedicated to my numer- ous patrons by the Author.. SOCVENIRS OF THE PAST. AN OLD FAMILY LEGEND DURING THE CON- SPIRACY OF PONTIAC. Pontiac, the renowned Ottawa chief and warrior, came down from his camping ground on the Isle au Peche, (fishing island in French), situated immediately at the head of the Detroit River. From time immemo- rial Isle au Peche, was noted for its fishing qual- ities. The deep and pure waters of the Detroit River (the spawning nurseries of tlie noted whitefish) were so attract- ive that on reaching the shallow waters of Lake St. Clair they refused its allurements and consequently congregated in tens of thousands around this island, and the feeding and gravelly shores of charming P)elle Isle. No wonder that Pontiac loved this island. Pontiac proceeded to visit his old friend and trader, Jacquc Duperon Baby, and found him at his store adjoining his house, situated on 2 OLD FA^IILY LEGEND. the bank of the Detroit River, where Baby and Hanrahan's liquor store now stands. It was a low log building eighty feet long by twenty feet wide, clap-boarded, and contained several rooms in a row, and was almost opposite Fort Pont- chartrain, then situated on what is now called Griswold street, City of Detroit, close to the river bank. "Sit down," said Baby. Pontiac, looking suspiciously at him, reluctantly took a seat before the log lire. "They tell me," remarked the chief, "that those red coats have offered to give you a basket full of silver if you will l)ctray me into their hands?" "How foolish that would be," said his friend. "I, who make a living by trading with you and your tribes. As a proof of my friendship we will smoke the pipe of peace," handing him a four-pound plug of tobacco, in the shape of a huge cigar, and a clay pipe. Pontiac, seizing his tomahawk, and pointing to its head, said, "Here is my pipe," (and the handle formed its stem), lit and smoked it. After their smoke his host remarked: "It's a long walk to the island to-night; there are my OLD FAMILY LEGEND. 3 bufifalo skins; use thcin and sleep before the fire and see if I betray you in the morning, but before going to bed have some supper. Theresa?" (a black negress) Baby called. "vShe has gone to bed," Mrs. B. replies. "What is wanting?" "A bowl of bread and milk for Pontiac." "I will fetch it myself," Mrs. B. replies, and enters with a silver tray, a large china bowl, a loaf of bread and a silver spoon. "Good squaw, Baby; many paupooses?" Pontiac asks. "Yes," and Baby holds up both hands twice, count- ing twenty. "Big camp," exclaims Pontiac, smokes his tomahawk ])ipe after supper in silence, makes his bed of bufifalo skins and goes to sleep with his feet to the fire. The next morning Pontiac gets his breakfast with ]\Iackinac toast,, (slices of bread, dipped in batter and fried in lard or butter,, and when done to a turn, can be served on a napkin with- out soiling), pork steaks, and a bowl of coffee, and tells, him that he won't see him again for two weeks—squaw- sick and too far from home. At this moment Mrs. B. appears and shaking hands witlr the chief, said, "Good-bve. Pontiac; remember me to vour 4 OLD FAMILY LEGEND. squaw, and when you return to see us bring me six mar- ten skins, dressed, for a boa, and a beaver skin for my bonnet. Here are eight yards of bkte cloth for a frock and leggins, a red blanket, and twelve yards calico for her, two shirts, a double handful of assorted glass beads and a silver brooch (the size of a saucer) to wear on her breast, with the profile of old King George III. stamped upon it. Accept this also from me," handing him a silver box with six flints, tinder and a steel for striking fire. If she had left a $300 gold repeater and the silver box to choose from, he would have left the watch and taken the silver box. "If that is not enough my husl)and will pay you the difference." Pontiac gives a grunt and wraps them in the blanket, says "bon jour" and leaves. Jacque Duperon Baby, his majesty's Indian agent, In- dian trader and farmer, and his wife, Susanne Reaume, were princely in their gifts to this monarch of forests, prair- ies, lakes and streams, and no wonder they sought his protection and favor, for farknian, tlic great American his- torian, relates tlie following exliibition of his power over In's followers—page 258, Vol. i. OLD FAMILY LEGEND. 5 A few young Wyandottes were in the habit of coming, night after night, to the house of Baby to steal hogs and cattle;. The latter complained of the theft to Pontiac, and desired his protection. Being at that time ignorant of the intei^course between Baby and the English, Pontiac has- tened to the assistance of his friend, and, arriving about nightfall at the house, walked to and fro among the barns and enclosures. At a late hour he distinguished the dark forms of the plunderers stealing through the gloom. "Go back to your village, you Wyandotte dogs," said the Otta- wa chief. "If you tread again on this mans land, you sliall die." They slunk back al^ashed, and from that time forward the Canadian's property was safe. The Ottawas had no political connection with the Wyandottes, who speak a language radically distinct. Over them he could claim no legitimate authority; yet his powerful spirit forced respect and obedience from all who approached him. I. Tradition related by M. Francis Bal)y, of Windsor, U. C., the son of Pontiac's friend, who lived opposite De- troit, upon nearly the same site formerl\- occupied by his father's house. Though Pontiac at this time assumed the — 6 OLD FAMILY LEGEND. attitude of a protector of the Canadians, he liad previously, accordiing to the anonymous diary of the siege, bullied them exceedingly, compelling them to plough land for him and do other work. Once he forced them to carry him in a sedan chair from house to house to look for provisions. Parkman, 259, vol. i. The same morning Baby said to Susanne, his wife, after breakfast: "I will cross the river in my canoe and see Major Gladwin" (commanding the fort).

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