, 1842-03-05

II hooSS AVA IN 10 OeshSS ~ y
chevalier Tonti, Father Louis Henpin, Of the
order of Franciscans, and others, established
trading posts along lakes Erie, Huron, Michi-
gan, and the river Illinois. The history Of
these expeditions have been so recently and
so often before the reading community,
that a repetition in this place is deemed IN
necessary. La Sale was the commander.
Tonti. his lieutenant, afterwards became the
historian. Hennepin also wrote two sketch.
es, both of which were subsequently, pub.
lished one which, however, is unguestiona.
bly, fabulous.
The original plan of HE enterprise was
for M. de la Sale to proceed down the Mis-.
sissippi to its mouth, while Hennepin pene-
trated that river to its source. But La Sal.
lie, finding it necessary to return from his
trading post, On the Illinois, to Canada for
additional supplies, instructed NJ. Dacan and
Hennepin, to proceed with all despatch to
explore the Upper Mississippi. According.
ly they departed from fort Cleve CGur, on
the Illinois, with two men, and entered the
Mississippi, March 9th, 1880. They ascen-
ded the Mississippi to- the Falls of St. An
thony, which they named. Here they were
made prisoners by the Indians, were detain-
ed some iIOIllUSs II hliHN HIduC tiC way
into Canada bv the Wisconsin. Returning
to France, Hennepin published a splendid
account Of the vast country he discovered,
which he named Louisiana, in honor OF Louis
XIV, and dedicated it TO the great Colbert.
In this work he makes no mention of procee-
din down the Mississippi. After the explo-
ration Of that river by La Sale, and his
death, and after the publication Of La Sales
expedition by Tonti. Hennepin published
another journal including 4 voyage down the
{. Great River prior to that Of La Salle.-
This part of his story is evidently fictitious,
and has been condemned by many distin-
guished writers. This new and revised edi-
ton of his journals was published in England
in 1898, whittier he had fled from France
The truth is, there is very little dependence
to he placed in Hennepin. Peter Kahn, a
Swedish naturalist, who was in Canada, in
1859, says of Hennepin. HE has gained
very little credit in Canada; the name of hon.
or they give him there, is the great liar; he
writes Of places he never saw" StoddarJ
saws, His pretensions 10 the discovery of
the mouth of the Mississippi, are founded in
fraud and imposture."
From all tina, we can gather, the trading
pos = VI SdllDhit 'iIu NdShdSnlhs VI iiitbo'Ss
were established by La Sale, in 1858, while
on his exploration Of the Mississippi.
La Sale returned 10 France, fitted out ar
expedition to form Il colony near the mouth
of the "Great RIVER" but missed the place
and sailed westward along the Gulf Of Mex
leo. and finally landed at the mouth Of the
river Gaudaloupe, on the west side of the
bay of St. Bernard. Here he built a fort,
made a settlement of one hundred men, and
with a party Of fifty men. made another un.
successful attempt to find the mouth Of the
Mississippi. Returning to the bay Of st.
Bernard, The party coasted along its eastern
side. and entered a river, which. from the
number Of cattle found on its banks, was
called Cow river. This is supposed to be
the same as the Rio Colorado of Texas, Six
teen miles up this river La Sale built anoth-
er fort which he named st. Louis. which
mounted twelve pieces Of cannon and con-
tanned a subterranean magazine. 10 this
point he brought his colony. Here misfor-
tune succeeded to misfortune. The Indians
attacted the party and were beaten off with
difficulty. Sickness proved fatal to the COLO
nv, and about one hundred of the adventur-
ers, miserabIy persisted. Disease and ia
/ lIUOcS VI "ulIiIC interrupted t"O 'ooO'o ~
agriculture. The seed grain did not germl-
nate and but a scanty crop was reaiized.-
And to finish the series of calamities Of this
first Texan colony, their vessels, and a large
part of their provisions and stores were de-
stroved by violent storms. and the neglect
or unskilliulness of the officers and nhots.
Such was the painful situation >of the COL
onv. that in April, 1886, La Sale selected
twenty men, and made an effort to reach the
Mississippi river by land in a northeastern d.
~rection. He proceeded some four or five
hundred miles, but high waters, sickness, the
desertion of some of his men and the want
of ammunition compelled him to return. In
this excursion La. Sale visited several pow
erful nations Of Indians, who in general trea.
ted him with kindness. After spending the
! summer with the colony. and finding no re-
lief arrived for his people, he again set out in
January; 1857. with twenty men, to reach
l.. if possible. the Mississippi, and proceed to
his colonies in lllinois.-The winter rains
had raised all the rivers. and incredible hard
ships were imposed on himself and his men.
After wandering and suffering two months
they reached a delightful par, of the country
that abounded with game. A portion of the
men under his command had time to reflect