June  4,  was  the  King's  (George)  birthday.  It  must  be  cele-
brated with  pastimes.  The  discipline  of  the  garrison,  some  thirty-
five  in  number,  was  relaxed.  Many  squaws  were  admitted  as
^visitors  into  the  fort,  while  their  "braves"  engaged  in  their
favorite  game  of  ball  just  outside  the  garrison  entrance.  It
was  a  spirited  contest  between  the  Ojibwas  and  Sacs.  Captain
George  Etherington,  commander  of  the  Fort  and  his  Lieuten-
ant, Leslie,  stood  without  the  palisades  to  watch  the  sport.  Sud-
denly the  ball  was  thrown  near  the  open  gate  and  behind  the
two  officers.  The  Indians  pretending  to  rush  for  the  ball  in-
stantly encircled  and  seized  Etherington  and  Leslie,  and  crowded
their  way  into  the  Fort  where  the  squaws  supplied  them  with
tomahawks  and  hatchets,  which  they  had  carried  in,  hidden  under
their  blankets.  Quick  as  a  flash,  the  instruments  of  death  were
gleaming  in  the  sunlight  and  Lieutenant  Jamet  and  fifteen  sol-
diers and  a  trader  were  struck  down  never  to  rise.  The  rest  of
the  garrison  were  made  prisoners  and  five  of  them  afterwards
tomahawked.  All  of  the  peaceful  traders  were  plundered  and
carried  off.  The  prisoners  were  conveyed  to  Montreal.  The
French  population  of  the  Post  was  undisturbed.  Captain  Ether-
ington succeeded  in  sending  timely  warning  to  the  little  garrison
at  La  Rav   (Green  Bay)  ;    Lieutenant  Gorrell  the  commandant


Pontiac's  Conspiracy.  429

and  his  men  were  brought  as  prisoners  to  the  Michillimackinac
fort  and  thence  sent  with  Etherington  and  Leslie  to  the  Canadian
capital.  The  little  post  of  Ste.  Marie  (Sault)  had  been  ^partially
destroyed  and  abandoned.  The  garrison  inmates  had  withdrawn
to  Michillimackinac  and  shared  its  fate.
