The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-04-30


We read Of Columbus in many vol
umc; we relate anecdotes of Daniel Boone,
We hear much Of the Pilgrims Of Ply
/ mouth, and with the remarkable lives of
many pioneers we are familiar; but who
speaks Of Joliet, Marquette, and La SalleI
Joliet. Marquette. and La Sale were the
first white men who explored the country
along the shores OF the Illinois and Mis-
sls~lPpl rivera country now divided into
great houri>hing States pcoplcd by mill
ions The three discoverers were natives
, Of France, and belonged to the order of
Jc-uit., a class OF men devoted to all the
haVd-hlps that men endure; they 20 forth
sh"rn and stripped Of fashion ornaments
and life's expensive and bubLlc-like enjoy
ments to spread the doctrine of the cross:
they sccl; the distant abodes Of heathcn-
ism to grasp the darkness until they roll
haal, it clouds or perish as martyrs to tho
cause Of light: they climb every hill. ira
verse every valley. and wander over the
whole car,h. with the mysterious secret OF
their mission closed beneath the thought
/ tul brow.
! \ colony ha1been establish he'd by French
, Je-Uits at Quebec. whence they sent lnia-
I s;onaries 10 Indian tribes, hoping to extend
among them the principles OF their creed
and u ultimately colouize whatever por-
: ton # country thoy might claim 10y right
! Of discovery. Gradually the field Of their
. labor grew wider until little parties were
scattered all along tn" great lake chain
: Every month new discoveries were made,
and each messenger from the more distant
conveyed To the older stations wonderful
accounts Of the beauty ami extent of the
country Their ambitions were excited by
; the prospects of wealth and desire for high
. L. al rv-..- al
I Others were prompted by religious entLu-
slain 10 20 further into the wilderness
.I9l; / Of Uhom Is : known than Mar
! quett- or l. Sale, was desirous OF finding
the - great livcr. 30 often mentioned by
the lulianS. Accordingly, in June, 1913,
he, accompanied 10y Marquette and a few
assistants, st out in bark canoe. Silent
" and cnvapture,i by the charming scenes
Of beauty ali around them, they tioated on
. until tLey reached the point where the
waters OF the Wisconsin unite with those
I OF the Mississippi Here the travellers
pause; for little, then pushed our into
: the current Of the great river which
bore them onward TO the mouth OF the
Ohio Having made this long Journey,
they returned entered the river Illinois.
discovered I'll that country through which
il flows and reached Green B8r when Jo-
let took his dcpar,ur, for Quebec to
make known their adventures From
;ha, t:lne Joliet disappeared. and i not
known IN connection wich other discover
les. vet be accomplished enough TO have
MaT1Neyte ieIni 1Ilf5u6d his adventures
bUr he was more "f a r"ligionist than y
man of practical enterprise: hesought new
places t. find other tribes Of red men to
! whom he could declare the existence of :.
.sr.l.. 4 l..
cross. lie looked upon the progress OF his
[ religion q the progress Of perfection; his
s9.Iit was always calm. his enthusiasm un-
corrupted ly >elIishneSS. and his genius
unclouda3 hy passion and tl-cinationS Of
/ the world with the Indians he was a IA
I yorite, and hy his countrymen he was re
v-.cI About two years after he had dis
! covered the Mississippi. in passing from
Chicago river towards Mackinac. on Lake
! Michigan. he turned the canoe into q
small stream flowing to the lake, landed,
built rough altar, consccrated his pray
crs. and died chanting praises 10 the better
. land
The last of the three-La Salle-was the
greatest. lie was educated under the con-
troll OF jesuit instructors, resigned his CON
uection with the order, and began his ex-
rlorations in the west. He followed the
track of Joliet and Marquette, but sur
passed them III the extent of his discover
les. He planted colonies along the Illinois
and Mississippi, and other streams, and
stimulated his companions to activity and
endurance, by example and kind attention
/ to their wants. But envy and avarice Gre
! ated dissension; the settlements Were bro
! ken up. conspiracy was formed, and as
the good Ia Sale was returning from Port
st Louis to Canada. he was shot dead by
one OF his own party. All thai he had
endured brought him to the poor reward
of the final place
Where the ravenous bird AMI proving beast,
Made OF the dead gladsome feast.