|
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS CONNECTED WITH WYANDOTTE AND
VICINITY BY DR. E. P. CHRISTIAN
Distinctly does the writer remember when a lad, being thought by his elders either too young or stupid to comprehend the tenor of the conversation, of hearing remarks about visits to the island and statements in regard to the number assembled there, preparations and probabilities of an attack on this or that point.
Another point in the immediate vicinity of Wyandotte is historically interesting, as being the scene of the great council of Pontiac with the conspiring tribes who designed not only the capture of Detroit but of all the northwestern settlements and which preceded the outbreak of the war in which occurred the engagement, the history of which we have been narrating in the preceding pages.
Says Mrs. M. E. Shelden in describing the event, "With the close of the year 1762, Pontiac's arrangements were complete. Far and near he dispatched his swift messengers with gifts of tobacco and belts of wampum to call the
•As a historical souvenir, possibly of some interest, I here present to this Society, in behalf of Mr. Payne's family, this cannon ball, picked up hot from the ice on the river in front of the present Wyandotte by Mr. Payne, Sr., during these disturbances. Mr. Payne came to Michigan in 1831 and resided at the locality of Wyandotte till 1854, when he removed to his farm on the Monguagon, adjoining the Eureka county tract on the latter's southern edge, and fronting on the Detroit river. Mr. Payne hearing firing went on the ice to see if a crossing was being attempted by the so-called patriot forces. His man, who accompanied him, called out, "Here, boss I here comes a good wicket ball, " at the same time striking it with an ax which he carried, as with a bat. The concussion threw him on his back forcibly, severely injuring him. The ball was still hot when picked up, though rolling a long distance upon the ice. It had come straight from the British gun on the Canadian side.
Michigan
Page 8
|
|
If you find this information helpful please consider making a donation
Thank you
Thank you
|
