Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-04-14
From the Western Pioneer.
HIIeTORY OF ILLINOIS.
mr. THE SENIOR EDITOR.
ny,,ovEpy OF 1LIINOIs.

DISCOVERY OF ILLINOIS.
VOYAGE OF IA Sale across Laks Oalerio-Siagasa
Winter ouar,srs--Returns 10 Frohtsnac-
First vesssl bail, Oh Fake Erie--Expcaitoa OF
Toa,; up The Lakc--Departnrs OF the Gs'ihn up
.hr T,ake.-Arriye a, the Bay OF Pdan,s--i.oss
NJ ,he Griffin and crew--ProceeA in canoes up
Lake Mathematical Chicago-Obta'n adeli-
ZION f,re-Buld u for--Procsed to the Illinois
R;yer--Voyass down the sams--DsseFtca iadi.
"a, y;llaae--Peoria Lak:-Iniian Encampmsa,
-E.ieaiyrecep,ion --Great Feast.
La Sale having launched his barque,
lift the Fort on the 18th Of November.
fSse, bent on the prosecution OF trade
and discoveries. After tedious and
dangerous passage Of one month through
lake Ontario, the party arrived atan
Indian village called Onnont.tas'e,
where they procured supply Of corn,
and proceed towards the falls Of Niaga-
"a. The stream being rapid, and the
wind contrary, they cast another and
proceeded by land about nine leagues
to the village of Niagara. This was a
town Of the Iroquois, situated at the
entrance Of lake Erie, called by the
French, lake Cont, and near the pre-
sent site Of Buffalo. Tonti, the prin-
cipal historian Of the expedition, and
second in command, says: "Niagava
!, . village Of Ioquois, situated upon
The lake Of Cont, near the wonderful
fall I have taken notice Of" After
spending one night at this village the
party proceeded three leagues further
IN, where they fortified themselves.
The season being SO far advanced and
the weather severe, La Sale found it
necessary TO place his men in winter
quarters, under the command of Cheva-
Tier dc Tonti, and returned himself to
Fort Frontenac. This perilous jour.
ney he accomplished on foot, through
apathlcss wilderness, and amidst storms
Of snow, with two men for his compan-
ions, and little roasted corn for provl-
sions.
During his absence, his men, under
Tonti, were engaged in constructing q
ship or barquc in which they expected
TO navigate the upper lakes on their
projected voyage fdiscovery.-ln the
mean time they carried on brisk trade
with the native and procured large
quantities Of furs. a small party were
also sent to reconnoitre the way to H.
lin0is.
In the spring, La Sale returned with
anew supply of goods and ammunition
to prosecute trade with the Indian ma
tons he might discover. He also des-
patched the chevaler and a small party
Of men on an expedition up the lake.
They passed through lake Erie to the
northern side Of lake Huron, where
they heard Of the exploring party sent
out the preceding autumn. After view.
Ing ..as .outry along the lakes, Tonti
andhis party returned TO Niagara. The
following extract from the journal ol
Tonti, will show the impressions pro-
duced by this exploration:
"Thc strait or canal, by which the
lake Hsrie joins with that Of the
Hurons is abou, thirty leagues long
l landed on the north side andrcnqui-
red for the men NJ. La Sale had sent
before; but hearing they had gone high.
CIR, advanced into the country in hopes
to find them; and this gave me an OPP
portunity to take an exact survey Of
that delicious peninsula, which has al
most the form Of heart by reason
ofthc .hrec lakes already mentioned. I"
La Sale having sold his goods and
collected his furs. returned to Fort
kr,-ntenac for new supply and addi-
,;on,i mn. Besides merchandise for
trade he brougin, back large supply
ofnr,>yisions, andthrecrecollct monks,
to minister in spiritual things to his
men and The Indians.
Father Louis Hennepin, who also
became leader and a historian in the
enterprise, had spei:t the winter at Ma
CARA.
The energies Of the whole party
were now directed to the Gsmplet!on
and equipment Of their ship, which
was called the Griffin, of about sixty
tons, and carried five small guns.
The lroquois, il seems were jealous
Of these movements, and made one or
two attempts to burn the vessel before
It was launched, but were defeated by
the, watchful sagacity Of the French.
On the seventh Of August, 1870, the
first ship that ever navigated lake Erie,
left her moorings, having on board
thirty-four men, and on "the eleventh
entered q strait thirty leagues long and
one broad" Detroit river and Oh the
Dad Of the month entered lake Huron.
After encountenring severe storm on