Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1876 — A Floating Island in Lake St. Clair. [ARTICLE]

A Floating Island in Lake St. Clair.

Ex-Postmastek-Gen. Jewell being in the city Friday, a party of gentlemen consisting of Charles Root,, 8. Dow Elwood, Emory Wendell, W. G. Thompson, 8: W. Thompson and the distinguished visitor, boarded the steam yacht Lillie, Capt. Thomas Allen commanding, for a trip to Lake St. Clair. When about two miles below the lower end of the ship canal, Capt. Allen sighted a new feature in the bearings of the lake—such a one as caused him to look a second time at his compass and to rub his eyes in wonderment. About half a mile to the westward was an island, with its underbrush and small trees, while here and there were small stumps and remnants of rail fences. The chart contained no representation of an island in that locality, and during all his sailing Capt. Allen never before had noticed the land.

Can it be possible that the land is coming out to meet and do honor to the distinguished yachting party ? queried Capt, Allen, as he put his wheel over to make for the phenomenon, at the same time calling the attention of his passengers to the object. As the yacht neared the island it was discovered that it drifted with the wind, and the engineer was called upon to turn his propeller a little more lively in order to overtake the island. At last the nose of the yacht grated against the land and the gentleman looked on in wonderment. There, like a huge blanket, was a piece of earth about three acres in area, apparently solid, yet floating and covered with thrifty vegetation. The swell of the water made no impression and the slight waves dashed against the beach as though touching the main land. At last Capt. Allen, after testing the stability of the earth, stepped ashore, and walking to where a dilapidated rail fence was visible, took one of the rails to the yacht. Mr. Wendell nailed an American flag to the rail, and by unanimous consent the land was christened “Jewell’s Island.” The explanation offered by this reremarkable affair is that a portion of the mainland on the north shore of Lake St. Clair has been undermined by the unprecedented high stage of water , now prevailing. Never before has such an occurrence been known, and as Detroit River was dotted Saturday with bits of earth of from two to three feet area, it is supposed that Jewell’s Island is gradually breaking in pieces. —Detroit Free Tress.