The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-19
For the Republic.
NIINESOTA-No, 4,

10 trace the Mississippi to Its source, amidst this
maze of pseudo-alpne hills and lacustrne steppes,
spreading over half the continent, was not indeed
light task. But it was hardly to be anticipated
that it should have remained undiscovered for so
long period after its mouth had been well-known;
after its central portions had been often described;
and even after its channel had been followed up its
spreading maze for six or seven hundred miles
above ST. Anthony's falls.
1t is curious to look into this problem II is now
known, since the publication of the collections
Ternoux Campans at Paris, that the Spanish dis
covered the mouth of the Mississippi in coasting
the Gulf shore in boats in the autumn of 1927 lust
SIX years after the final conquest of Mexico. The
Apalachites had told them Of a great river filling
into the northern side Of the Gulf; but they were
slow TO explore it, At length the rage for conquest
Of captain who had followed the standard of Pr
zarro, led 70 Its exploration The Inflated exped-
uon of De Soto, and his discovery of this stream
IN l54l, near the $50 of north latitude, are well
known. But 1t was the only attempt TO explore it
made by Spain. For more than a century after
DE Soto's failure the Mississippi rolled its immense
volume to the ocean hidden stream The
French, who began TO settle Canada In 1908, were
long confined to the lower parts of the ST. Law
renee, both by their inherent weakness and the en-
nifty Of the lroquois The overthrow of the Erie
coniederacy by the latter in 1863, only served to
cramp the French enterprise, and exposed them
more fully to the ire and scrutiny Of this rising
power. Even thirty years later in their history,
the French trading posts still rested at Sau Ste
Marie, st. Ignace, ST. Joseph's, and Mchilimacki-
nae.
In 1868 Claude Aloez established a mission near
the head Of Lake Superior. Five years later,
namely, in 1913, p. Marquette and M. Joliet, en-
tered the Mississippi by the Wisconsin, and ex-
plored it downwards to the Illinois. About this
period great mind for its energy and the magnif-
~. -. =
Robert de la Salle who if his life had been spared
would have founded great French empire in the
West. IL is probable that the ardor of the mission
airy reports first drew his attention to North Anne
RIGA, but, whatever the cause, he was man
far in advance Of his age.
Hennepin, who came over with him during his
first visit in 1878 appears to have been the first
traveller who saw the Mississippi above the Wis
consin. He left fort Crepeoour, which had been
erected by La Sale the Illinois, with couple of
men in a canoe, on a missionary excursion in 1880
After reaching the Mississippi, at the mouth of the
Illinois, and exploring its channel for some distance
below chow far is apocryphal,) he was taken pris-
oner by the Nodoy<essies, a name then in vogue
for the Dacoas or Sioux, and carried into their
country among the bsah above st. Anthony's
falls This name Of Lssaii, after having puzzled in
quIrers, and cast discredn on Hennepn's narrative
Of his captivity for more than a century and half
has recently been found by DIR. Williamson TO be the
name Of the ancient Sioux residence at Mile Sac.
Eontainde means knife lake, and from this ancient
seat of the Sioux their Missouri brethren call all
the Mississippi Sioux Banyate. We are indebted
to Hennepin for tho names he bestowed on ST.
Anthony's falls and the river ST. Francis, which
last was the highest point reached by him.
The actual discovery Of the Upper Mississippi
rested here about eighty-three years. La Honton,
who amused the world with a suppostious voyage
up its channel TO "riviere Ia Tongue" never saw il
and discovered nothing. Quebec fell in 1859, and
the cession of all New France to the British crown
followed in three years In 1866 three years after
the cesson, Carver visited the region Of St Peters
and the falls Of St. Anthony, with enlarged views
Of discovery; although admitting the utmost point
claimed by him, he did not ascend above the mouth
Of the ST. Francis. He published in London
vague map Of the sources Of the Mississippi and
appears to have been the first traveller who used
the word Oregon. II was his notion that the
Oregon-now Columbia river--originatcd on a con-
tinenta summit near the source Of the Mississippi.
But his expedition was failure, and after crossing
the Atlantic, he appealed to ministers in London, in
van to furnish him means for it's further prosecu-
ton. The booksellers published his Journal TO meet
his necessities and employs hacks to fill up the
appendix.
No further attempt to explore its source was
made TIL after the acquisition of louisiana, pc
rod Of thirty-nine years. In 1905, Mr. Jefferson
determined to get some more definite ideas than
were then extant of the extent of the newly ac-
CURED country snd set on foot the celebrated expe
ditions of Lewis and Clarke and Of Lieut.. Pike
Pike did his work like another Ledyard Leav-
ing st. Louis in 1905, he pushed his way in boats
thIry-three miles, estimated, and over-estmated,
by him, above st. Anthony's falls to Pine creek an
eligible point for encampment, south Of Crow Wing,