I must now hurry over many things that happened while at Traverse City.
In June of 1856 news came that "King Strang" had been shot by his own
people. It was a long time before we could get the particulars.
The fishermen and merchants had now made a strong appeal to the
government asking for protection, and this time Strang could not make
his plea strong enough to prevent the coming of the U. S. steamer
Michigan with officers to make an investigation of the matter. The king
met the steamer at Mackinac Island, hoping to gain a little more time to
prevent any arrests of his people. The U. S. steamer proceeded to Beaver
Island, landing at the village dock in the harbor. King Strang took
passage on her back to the island, and as soon as landing he immediately
went to his home not far distant from the dock. He was soon sent for by
the officers, as they wished to consult with him about the affair. He
started for the steamer, and when about half way on the dock two men
stepped from behind a pile of cordwood and both fired their revolvers at
once, both bullets taking effect. He was shot through the back twice,
but did not die until eleven days after. He knew his last hours had
come, and he begged to be taken to his wife Mary, his true wife. The
women he had with him now were no comfort to him. Dr. McCulloch dressed
the wounds and told him he feared the trip would be too much for him,
that he might die on the way. He said, "No, no, take me home to Mary, my
true wife. I cannot die here, doctor. I want to die with my wife and
children. Take me to Mary, I know she will forgive me." Dr. McCulloch
had him put on a mattress, carried on board a steamboat and taken to his
wife's home in Wisconsin. The death of Strang was a terrible blow to
most of his people, but a relief to those that were suffering such
persecutions from him. One woman at Bower's Harbor expressed great joy
when she heard it, but I could not understand why she should be glad of
any one's death. She said. "I will tell you just a little of what the
king made me suffer."