Looking Back
St. Ignace News
March 17, 1885
The dog poisoner appears to be taking a rest.
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The last lecture of the course in the M. E. Church will be delivered this Tuesday evening, March 17th, by Judge C. R. Brown. Subject: “The Spirit Temple - or a Walk Through the Realm of the Soul.”
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Several teams attempted to go into the woods this morning, but on account of the great snow drifts found it impossible and turned back.
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During noon hour yesterday a large number of our citizens viewed the eclipse of the sun and moon through smoked glass. It was quite an interesting sight.
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We understand that the Algomah is now all ready for her season's work and as soon as sufficient rain comes to settle the snow on the ice she will commence breaking a channel. It is said that the ice in the Straits is thawed more now than it was this time last year.
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Yesterday one of the M. L. Co.'s rigs, containing a gentleman and a lady, capsized in that pretty little snow drift opposite the Everett House. The couple took a rest in the drift, while the horse and cutter went on to the east end of the city. No injury to the persons or damage to the rig is reported.
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Prof. Collins and Under-Sheriff Monteith visited Allenville last Saturday, intending to return in the evening. Owing to the snow blockade no train came down and they walked back on Sunday. The professor is considerably crippled from such a heavy dose of exercise, but is able to attend to his school duties.
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St. Andre, of the Island, who has been working for Capt. Dingman at Freedom, getting out poplar for some time, started for his home at 1 o'clock on Saturday in the face of a blinding snow storm. He lost his way and fetched up at Graham's Point at 9:30 p.m. after walking about 30 miles and was well nigh exhausted. He arrived at the Island Sunday noon.
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We have more snow now than at any time during the winter. Saturday's storm has left the streets in a bad condition for any kind of travel and very few were out at service in the various churches on Sunday.
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In various parts of the State the ministers and saloonists both kick against roller skating rinks. The latter claim wherever rinks are established, that they are ruining their business; and why the ministers kick at such a state of affairs is a mystery to us.
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There are about 30 passengers in the city awaiting the outgoing of the D., M. & M. train.
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During the snow storm last Saturday, two snow plow engines collided between Mackinaw City and Cheboygan. The front of one of the engines was badly damaged. No person hurt.
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Several teams hauling copper were stuck in the slush in the middle of the Straits while attempting a crossing yesterday, and had to return to this city. Passenger teams are making good time. The transfer of fright is almost suspended.
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It is reported that Coates & Arnold intend to begin in a day or two to thaw out the tug Chas. West, as fears are entertained that she will go to the bottom as soon as the ice weakens around her, unless this is done. She is laid up at the M. L. Co's breakwater.
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Miss Stella Seaman, of Drummond's Island, left her home on Friday morning with a team of six dogs and arrived here at 5:30 Sunday evening, having traveled a distance of 115 miles in three days. The first day out she made Detour, the next Strongville and the third, this city. She intended on starting out, to take the stage at Strongville, but she found her own rig so comfortable she changed her mind. Throughout the journey she kept her feet warm by the aid of a bottle of warm water, which she got refilled at every house she passed. She continued on her journey from here to Fife Lake, on a visit to her sister. A young lady who would undertake a trip like this all alone, through the wilds of Northern Michigan, and in such severe weather, should be placed on record as a heroine.
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Eagle's Soo stage, due last evening, arrived at 3 o'clock this morning. On arriving at the Everett house the driver was so exhausted that he was scarcely able to blow his horn loud enough to wake up the proprietor. The passengers were all in a paralyzed condition, one of them having to be carried into the hotel. All feeling had left his lower limbs but he was soon revived by stimulants and rubbing.
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The present snow blockade on the D. M. & M. R. R. is much worse than the one a week ago. Up to noon to-day no trains have arrived at or departed from this city since Saturday morning last. The express due there Saturday evening is now at Allenville, where she has been stuck fast for nearly three days. The snow plow has been out on the road since Saturday. Yesterday it worked through a big drift near Au Train and when near Dollarville encountered another bad one 1.5 miles long, which it also worked through. The engines along the line have run out of coal, and woods is used instead. The water supply has also run out, and snow is used. As the snow plow is now this side of the nearest telegraph office, nothing further can be heard from her until she arrives. This block seriously effects the business men of this city, as nearly all of them do more or less shipping up the line every day. The snow plow is hourly expected and all hope for a resumption of business on the line to-morrow. 125 YEARS AGO
St. Ignace News
March 20, 1885
Headline: “Attempted Murder and Suicide! Alexander Desotelle fires three balls into Felix Paquin and then sends a bullet whizzing through his own heart. Paquin's Wounds not Dangerous. All About A Woman.”
Editor's Note: The story revolves around a 36 year old woman identified only as Mrs. Lassard, who had left her husband in Frankfort and followed a man named Alexander Desotelle, with whom she wished to elope, to Traverse City, where she claims they were married. He denied this and deserted her for work in various communities, eventually coming to St. Ignace, where he “went into Reid's camp to work.” She followed him here, stayed at the Marquette House, and eventually married Felix Paquin of St. Ignace. Subsequently, Mr. Desotelle accosted the couple at their home, shot at Mr. Paquin, then shot and killed himself. Mrs. Lassard, now Mrs. Paquin, was originally from Montreal and needed a translator at the trial. A jury ruled Mr. Desotelle died of his own hand, although it could not determine whether the act was intentional or accidental. Of Mr. Paquin, the newspaper reports:
One ball passed through the muscle of Paquin's left arm, another through his left hand and another through the fleshy part of his right leg near the groin. His injuries will not prove fatal unless gangrene should set in.
The funeral of Desotelle took place from the city hall this morning at 9 o'clock.
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The snow plow arrived here Tuesday at 3 p.m. and Saturday's express train arrived a few minutes later. Wednesday morning the express left on time, preceded by the snow plow. The express train consisted of two freight cars, one baggage and two coaches. When about five minutes from the city the two freight cars ran off the track, caused by a broken rail. The engine passed over safely. A messenger was sent back and the yard engine went out and brought in the two coaches and baggage car, arriving here at noon. The yard engine, with men and wrecking material then left for the scene of the accident and had the track clear at a late hours the same evening. The express train left again at 2 o'clock yesterday morning. The snow plow arrived at Marquette at 9 o'clock Wednesday night.
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The 20th of March and the thermometer registered 12 degrees below zero at 7 a.m.
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A number of camps have broke up the past week and woodsmen arrive here by every train. The majority of them get on a “tear” and then settle down to await the tie for a job on the “drive.”
80 YEARS AGO
The St. Ignace Enterprise
March 20, 1930
Notwithstanding the fact that Mackinac county has neither an agricultural agent nor a club agent, it is at last on the map as one of the leading counties in 4-H club work, with a program comparing very favorably with other counties in the peninsula.
Winter club enrollments in the projects of clothing, hot lunch, and handicraft, totaling less than fifty, in any previous year, increased to 126 in 1929 and 303 in 1930; the latter increase being 142.8 per cent over the previous year and the highest percentage increase in the counties above the Straits. On a population basis we hold first place, having one club member to 26 inhabitants, with Menominee County our closest competitor, having one to forty.
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When customers called at the Chicago Market Thursday they found P. E. Gallagher ready to attend to their wants. The illness of Archie Grant called Mr. Gallagher back to the meat business.
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Henry Gynack, 24, of Detroit and Carl R. Gray, 22, of Wolf Lake, Michigan, who were apprehended and placed under arrest by Sault police and Chippewa sheriff's department, February 17, in possession of a car which it was charged they stole here, were found guilty during a special term of circuit court.
The stolen care was owned by Clarence Eby, and was parked in front of his home. The two young men stole the car and drove north on U.S.-2. They became stuck in a snowbank and Louis Litzner, local garage owner, helped them out. He later gave information to the sheriff here, who telephoned police officers at the Sault. The two were apprehended just inside the Sault city limits.
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Thomas H. MacDonald, chief of the Bureau of Public Roads of Washington, D. C., will be here June 4, and will be present at the dedication of the monument to Frank F. Rogers, highway commissioner, at Allenville turn, where U. S.-2 turns west to Manistique, according to a letter from Grover C. Dillman, state highway commissioner, to Fred S. Case, cashier of the First National Bank of the Sault.
The monument is constructed and will be unveiled in June. Every county and city in the upper peninsula has had a part in its construction, It is to honor Rogers for the notable work he did in helping to make Michigan roads what they are today.
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Interest in the coming city election was manifested at both the caucuses and convention held by the Republican and Democratic parties Friday and Saturday.
James F. Jamieson heads the ticket for the Republicans and Charles J. Mulcrone for the Democrat. Mrs. Emma Lee for Treasurer has no opposition. Mayme Brown Michelin, Democrat, opposes Rose E. Valier, Republican, for city clerk.
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Governor Fred W. W. Green appointed Prentiss M. Brown to fill the vacancy in the State Board of Examiners caused by the death of Martin J. Cavinaugh of Ann Arbor. Mr. Brown had been nominated by the Michigan Supreme Court. The term expires June 30, 1931.
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From Allenville: Fishing through the ice on Brevort Lake this winter has been great sport for the people here. Stanley McCauley holds the honors for spearing the largest muskellunge, 33 pounds, with Luey Wartilla second with a 26 pound muskey, and Rudolph Wartilla third with a 23 pound pike.
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From Gros Cap: The syrup makers are getting ready for the syrup season. Cecil Smith, who has a large up-to-date-evaporator, has already started to tap trees.
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From Cedarville: Mr. John Liberty for the past 25 years a resident of Marquette Island, died at the County Poor Farm at St. Ignace March 12. Mr. Liberty leaves a brother and sister but their names and addresses are not known here.
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From Moran: At a meeting held Tuesday evening the Brevort township school board awarded the contract for the new Moran high school to Walker and Cox, of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The building which is to be strictly modern, will be constructed of brick and tile, two stories high and will be 55 by 70 feet, heated with a hot air furnace. The contract price was $21,500. Work on the building will be started as soon as weather conditions permit.
50 YEARS AGO
The Republican-News
and St. Ignace Enterprise
March 27, 1960
State ferry docks at St. Ignace and Mackinaw City were leased to Arnold Transit Co. and Straits Transit, Inc., at open competitive bid lettings held in Detroit on Mar. 8 by the Michigan Waterways commission.
In St. Ignace on Dock 1, Arnold Transit Co. will have the north slip and Straits Transit, Inc., will have the face of the dock along with the freight elevator.
On Dock No. 2, Straits Transit, Inc., will have the water taxi spot closest to shore along with the adjacent spot of 300 feet where they operated last year. The Arnold Line will be at the end of the dock where the Munising was located.
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Nicholas “Red” Jones, one of baseball's most colorful umpires, will be guest speaker at the fifth annual athletic banquet sponsored by the St. Ignace Lions club for St. Ignace high school athletes and associates.
“Red” Jones is on the staff of the public relations department of the Pfeiffer Brewing company and is appearing in St. Ignace through the courtesy of Ryerse Sales company.
A film of the 1959 World Series between the L. A. Dodgers and Chicago White Sox will be shown as part of the program.
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A snowsled trail which ended abruptly at the edge of a hole in Lake Michigan ice led to the discovery Thursday afternoon of the bodies of two missing Gould City coyote hunters, who apparently drowned Wednesday of last week when their propeller-driven sled plunged into the water.
The bodies of Cecil Miller, 46, and Oren Smith, 40, were recovered form the 14-foot deep water about a half-mile from sore and a half-mile west of Naubinway shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday. The two men had been last seen about 24 hours earlier when they stopped to talk with Richard Maudrie of Naubinway, an ice fisherman, who had been out in the lake not far from where the sled plunged through apparently think ice.
The hole in the ice had been found shortly after noon Thursday by three volunteer searchers, Donald White of Garnet and Melvin and Charles Frazer of Naubinway, who had been following a set of snow sled tracks.
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From Mackinac Island: This past week we have had ideal spring weather. We escaped the snow and our temperature has not dipped below zero. Travel by air and the motor sleigh continues daily. The landing field for the plane is just anywhere on the boy you wish to take or leave from. Of course, at this time, talk is when the first boat ma be going to try it. From the looks of the ice in the Straits it will still be some time before boat travel.
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From Les Cheneaux: Soon to be expected are the returning of the cottage owners. Right now the perch are biting very well out on Musky Bay, through the ice. Last weekend there were more than 200 persons out there fishing for both perch and pike.
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From Hessel: A major step in Civil Defense by means of classes in care of the sick and injured are now being offered to residents of Les Cheneaux. This vitally important course is being sponsored by the Mackinac Chapter of the American Red Cross and the instructor is Phyllis Tuck, R. N., of Cedarville.
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A national certificate of honor has been won by the Purple and Gold News of St. Ignace LaSalle high school along with four other Michigan schools, according to Dr. C. J. Stringer, president of the Michigan Tuberculosis association.
The five school papers won state honors in the project sponsored each year by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Tuberculosis Association along with its state and local affiliates.
Other award-winning papers were School News and Views, Redford Union Lola Valley junior high school; the Tattler, Roosevelt junior high school, Ironwood; the Algonquin, Algonac high school; and The Pep, West Branch juniorsenior high school.
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Mrs. Bruce Westover has joined the exclusive club of those favored people who have held a “perfect” hand at cribbage. Mrs. Westover was playing a game with her son, Leon, on Monday when she turned the “right” five and held 29 points.
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A fire which started in a woodshed at the rear of a home in Gros Cap, destroyed the dwelling of Lawrence Corp at 4 p.m. last Sunday.
Mr. Corp, who was in the living room of his home at the time, did not detect the blaze until it had a bad start. He suffered burns about the face and hands in a vain attempt to save his belongings. He was treated for burns at Mackinac Straits hospital.
Fire Chief Leonard St. Louis was unable to determine the cause of the blaze which originated in the woodshed which contained a large supply of firewood. St. Louis said that the home and contents were completely destroyed by the blaze. Firemen were hampered by a limited water supply.
