county of Cayuga before I was born. Like the Fillmores, and Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, he was conservative and national in his politics and could never be induced to join in that sectional tirade which brought on the civil war and came so near sundering the Union. Happy was it for him that the veil was drawn between him and the carnage of our miscalled civil war.

But before that honorable discharge was granted him one more sad bereavement awaited him. On June 1, 1855, death severed the ties which had bound him to his faithful and devoted wife for over fiftythree years. Thus was he left alone in this cold world at the age of almost 81 years. It was evident that the last tie that bound him to earth had been broken. The light of this world had gone out forever. And yet he was permitted, or we should say, rather, forced to linger a year and a half longer. When friends and kindred gathered around his dying bed, in manifest agony over his approaching dissolution, he earnestly exhorted them to restrain their sorrows; assuring them that he had no fear of death; and that he cheerfully hailed its coming. In almost inaudible words he recited that beautiful hymn, commencing with these lines:

"I would not live always, I ask not to stay,

Where storm after storm rises dark o'er my way."

On the 12th day of December, 1856, his spirit was released from that tenement of clay that had been its abiding place for 82 years, 3 months and 18 days. Surrounded by sorrowing kindred, honored and respected by all who knew him, he passed calmly and peacefully to his everlasting rest.

And today, this second day of June, 1893, I sit here, in the quiet of my lonely room, at the age of almost four score, writing this humble tribute to his memory. I am the oldest of all his living descendants. Four brothers and two sisters have gone before; all buried close beside father and mother, in the Goodrich cemetery. There is a forest of tombstones, marking the resting places of a host of Genesee county's hardy pioneers. There rests my bosom companion who passed away three years ago, after having shared my joys and sorrows for fiftytwo years. There reposes her venerable father, Ralph C. Atkins, who died many years since, carrying in his body to the grave, a musket ball he received in fighting the battles of his country on the Niagara frontier, in 1814. Nor can it be long until I shall be with them, and the place will be vacant, where now is recorded the name of one more of the members of the society of Michigan pioneers.

STORY OF THE DROWNING OF DR. DOUGLASS HOUGHTON* AND SKETCH OF PETER MCFARLAND, THE LAST SURVIVOR OF THE EXPEDITION.

[Published in the Sault Ste. Marie News, January 30, 1892.]

A CENOTAPH TABLET AT ANN ARBOR:

To the memory of

DOUGLASS HOUGHTON, M. D.,

Professor of Chemistry, Mineralogy and Geology in this University, and Geological Surveyor General in This State.

In Science Learned, in Action Prompt. While Boldly Engaged in Public Duty, by the Overturning of a Boat in Lake Superior He Perished, Sinking, Never,

66

Alas! to be Seen Again Until "The Sea Gives Up the Dead."

October 13, 1845, aged 36.

The trustees of the University of Michigan this stone have taken care to place.

In an uncarpeted, meagrely-furnished, weather-beaten little frame house on Kimball street, near Spruce avenue, in Sault Ste. Marie, occurred last week the last chapter in a thrilling and tragic tale of Michigan, in which all who know of the great wealth of the upper peninsula of this fair State are interested. There died, in poverty that knew privations; in aggravating decrepitude, heroic Peter McFarland, the trusted friend, companion and would-be rescuer of Dr. Douglass Houghton and the last survivor of the fateful expedition that ended in the death of the man who, of all others, first attracted attention to the yet untold, but wonderfully developed mineral wealth of northern Michigan. Peter McFarland was born in 1799, where Superior, Wisconsin, now stands. His father was a Scotchman who occupied a responsible position in the service of the Hudson Bay Company; his mother was a Chippewa Indian woman. Peter grew up in the service of the same company his father served.

For years he was a voyageur and made

* For sketch of Dr. Houghton's life by Prof. Bradish of Detroit, see Michigan Pioneer Collections, volume 4, page 97.

many. trips to Hudson Bay and back, by way of Michipicoten and Moose rivers. Afterwards he was a leader of expeditions.

When Dr. Houghton, in whose honor a township, a county, a lake and a city are named, and for whom was placed the above memorial tablet in the cenotaph on the campus around which so many hundreds of Ann Arbor boys have congregated, first came here to enter upon the plan he originated to make a geological examination of the Lake Superior country, he engaged Peter McFarland as his chief personal assistant. McFarland served him well and Dr. Houghton's biographer refers to him as the doctor's faithful, trusted, heroic companion and friend.

Dr. Houghton made the mineral discoveries that first attracted attention to the upper peninsula. The development of this section was greatly retarded by his being drowned near Eagle river, on the Keweenaw peninsula, by the capsizing of an open sail boat containing four of his companions, his faithful black and white spaniel Meemee and all of his valuable field notes, specimens and instruments. Peter McFarland and a man named John Baptiste Bodrie saved themselves. Bodrie died some time ago. McFarland passed away last week and thus was the curtain rung down upon a drama of more than usual interest. Following is a verbatim statement of Dr. Houghton's tragic drowning and the important part played by Peter McFarland:

EAGLE RIVER, LAKE SUPERIOR, Oct. 14, 1845.-Statements of facts connected with the drowning of Dr. Douglass Houghton, geologist of the State of Michigan, and two of his men, Tousin Piquette and Oliver Larimer, near Eagle river, on the night of the 13th of October, A. D. 1845, as related by Peter McFarland and John Baptiste Bodrie, survivors:

"Dr. Houghton camped out the night of the 12th of October at Eagle Harbor; on the morning of the 13th he started in his boat with the undersigned acting as voyageurs, with three barrels of flour, a bag of peas, some pork, tent and bedding and a traveling portfolio, for Eagle river, a distance of eight miles, to the westward. On arriving at Eagle river they there took in some additional clothing for the surveying party and proceeded five miles still farther west to the storehouse of Hassey & Avery; they arrived there at noon and immediately commenced. unloading the boat; after waiting some time the miners at work on the location of Hassey & Avery came in to their dinner and from some of them Dr. Houghton procured the key of the storehouse and deposited his provisions. We all took dinner here, after which we started for Mr. Hill's surveying party, a distance of three miles on the shore.

Dr. Houghton and Peter McFarland then started into the woods on the line and not finding Mr. Hill he returned to the boat and found by the arrival of Tousin Piquette and Oliver Larimer that Mr. Hill and his men were two miles still further up the lake. Dr. Houghton then started in his boat in pursuit of Mr. Hill, with McFarland, Bodrie, Piquette and Larimer; we met Mr. Hill and his party about sundown and after remaining nearly an hour and transacting some business we then put back with the same persons for the purpose of reaching Eagle river that night. We had nothing in the boat but some bedding and the portfolio; at the time of leaving there was a gentle land breeze and a heavy sea from the outside. Dr. Houghton took his usual seat in the stern as steersman, while four of us rowed the boat. On arriving opposite the Hassey location Peter McFarland asked Dr. Houghton if he was going to stop. Dr. Houghton replied, 'No, for if I do not get to Eagle river tonight Oliver Larimer will lose his passage down the lake.' McFarland them stated to Dr. Houghton that he was afraid it was going to blow. Dr. Houghton replied: 'No, I guess not; a land breeze can't hurt us.' By this time we were opposite the storehouse of Hassey & Avery. McFarland then told Dr. Houghton that he must go ashore at the warehouse, as Larimer's baggage was at that place. At this we put into the landing and after getting the baggage we then started for Eagle river. The wind was about the same as when we left Mr. Hill except that it commenced snowing a little and to grow dark; after rowing nearly three miles we found ourselves opposite a place called the sand beach. At this place the wind changed and commenced blowing from the northeast and the snow came faster. In a short time we encountered a heavy sea, caused by a reef projecting into the lake about a mile and a half. McFarland then asked Dr. Houghton to go ashore at the sand beach. Dr. Houghton replied: 'We had better keep on-we are not far from Eagle river, pull away boys, pull hard.' At this, Bodrie spoke in the French language to McFarland, and said, 'We had better go ashore.' Dr. Houghton immediately inquired of McFarland, 'What did Bodrie say?" McFarland told him, when Dr. Houghton replied, 'We had better go to Eagle river tonight, as we shall there have a new log house to dry us in.' The wind and snow kept increasing and after rowing some time, Dr. Houghton remarked, once or twice, 'Pull away, my boys, we shall soon be in, pull away,' and encouraged us by similar expressions. We commenced shipping water and made but little progress. After knocking and rolling about among the breakers for over an hour and it storming all the

time, McFarland bailed the boat out and advised Dr. Houghton to put on his life preserver. The bag containing it was handed to him and he placed it at his side; instantly a heavy sea struck the boat and filled it. Dr. Houghton then proposed going ashore. McFarland told him he could not land; that the coast opposite there was all rocks. Dr. Houghton immediately put the boat about saying, 'We must go ashore; we can do nothing here.' Within 200 yards of the shore we shipped another sea, which was followed by a larger billow, and the boat capsized with all hands under her. McFarland was the first person from beneath, and upon rising to the top of the water, caught hold of the keel of the boat at the stern. Upon looking around, he saw a man's arm about half way out of the water. He instantly lowered himself and caught the man by the coat collar, and upon bringing him up, it was Dr. Houghton, who recognized him. McFarland told him to take off his gloves and hold on to the keel of the boat. The advice was followed; McFarland still preserved his hold. Dr. Houghton then remarked, 'Peter, never mind me, try to go ashore if you can; I will go ashore well enough.' Instantly a heavy sea struck the boat, throwing it perpendicularly into the air. It fell over backwards, and Dr. Houghton disappeared forever. McFarland regained the boat and upon getting in, discovered for the first time one of his companions, Bodrie, in the water and clinging to the bow. In this position they both remained some fifteen minutes, but saw nothing more of their companions. The sea washed them out again. McFarland drifted towards the rocks and got a loose hold. In a moment he was washed off and was carried to and fro against the rocks some three times. The fourth wave landed him on the top of a ledge of rocks, and by clinging to a crack in the rocks, and getting hold of a small bush, he succeeded in saving himself. After landing he looked around him and could see nothing but the boat filled with water and the bedding floating. Soon he heard a voice among the rocks, asking in French, 'Who is that?' McFarland replied, 'It is me, Peter.' The man was Bodrie. We commenced looking about in every direction and hallooed at the top of our voices, but heard no answer. We continued examining, until we found ourselves growing chilly and stiff, when Bodrie remarked, 'Well, we have lost our brothers; it may be that one of us will get to Eagle river to tell their fate.' We started and on the way down McFarland fell several times from exhaustion and cold. Bodrie roused his companion up and they finally succeeded in reaching Eagle river between the hours of 11 and 12 at night. We told what had happened and within an hour the entire coast was