Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-10-10

WEDNESDAY EVENING. ......oC1. 10.
- -
De0ah or william yoorrssos. sb~
OoAcovcrcr ofshe source Of
the Nsississfppi.
We learn from the Montreal Telegraph
hat William Morrison, Esq, the discovtrer
81 the source Of the Mississippi, died re-
tently At ono # lis residences on Morrison's
ISLAND, between sorcl and Berthier. in the
|R1d year Of his age. The Telegraph gives
ahs following acc cunt of some incidents in
his career:
The name of William Morrison ~ idcnti-
bal uith the rise and progress OF the fur
Assds in Minnesota. He was born In Mon
|ersal, G. E., in 1875. In 1902 he CON-
|nenced bis apprenticeship with the Y. Y.
Far Company, at Fon du Lac, and vas
soon amer admitted ~ . partner. During
the years 1903 'I5 he explored the entire
rreion Of the Northwest, and win,ered At
many important & ogsaphical points. In
1876 be took charge Of John J. Actors bus.
iness, and remained With him unit, 1929,
when he retired and came TO Canada. lie
has aimee lived at Bcrthies. BY nm Indian
VIE he had two sons-tle eldest Of whom
oaA passed great portion Of HE life among
The wilds Of the Rocky MONTANA, in Ore
eon ard California, aud accompanied Col
fremont in his expedition. The other son
y register Of Deeds q Lake Superior Some
ysase after the death Of this lady hc mar
ried Miss Annie kittson, Of SoreI, since do.
csased, and BY whom be had four daugh-
tes. Vim. Morrison was ever popular
among the Indian tribes. and among them
his influence vas very great. The follow
ing incident will beer evidence 10 this, and
may add another scrap 10 the romantic his
Org or the Northwest
NJ. Morrison waa living II Sendy Lake at
The time when the great chief called 1.-The
Prophet" (brother 10 Tecumseh, Who, un-
like his brother chief, Was ever loyal % the
British Goveshmeat,) sent out his man.
datee TO al thu West u snuster Tho tribes 10
Z general massacre Of the whites The
message was sent secretly by runners with
accompanying tobacco n the terms were
accedcd 10, the tobacco YES cut end smoked.
p3nuS tsV loaians throughout the country
became apprissd Of the Prophets order
without the knowledge Of the whites. But
= sudden change was observed in the con-
duct Of the lndisns Never before were
signs 20 ominous Of evil, and matters daily
assumed more gloomy aspect. II vas
evident that some prompt action must be
taken 70 avert the Impending evil. snd NJ.
uosri00o va elected - the only enc able
70 break up the plot. Cheerfuly he accept
Cd the dangerous missisn, and accesdingly
stastsd oil 10 visit the assembled tribes. lie
utok wme bin two men, padded slowly
down the river, and passed the | dians'
camp. Some children play Ping on the hank
0rst disseversd him, and reported that
"Llttls Englishman" (as he was called) was
coming down The rivss. All ran out 70 meet
him. They would spsak 70 him II to none
ether. Anxious 70 learn IL tho whites were
still igoosans q he plot, they asked Il he
- any aswA lob, nethiae," hs replied
eass,eesly. fully understanding the Indian
character. "whas's the news with you ?"
''Nsthing." asid they, and hs began 10 slow.
y paddls bic canos. Then he paused sud
dsaly; ''Oh. -" aaid he. Il do remember
hing. The great msdicins man, the
be- been killed By the Long
Then b. proceeded slowly down
ylvse - theSgh scshing bad happened.
Hs ID eos know this n b. true. though il
aflRwards proved - BY remarkable coin
cidsnce. However. tho Indians fully be
liesed him.
Net an hour after HE return 10 the fort
the Indians began TO flock in by hundreds,
end seemed anxious 10 bccoms friends. The
paint vas removed from their faces, and
they inanifcaied their usual cordi.lity. They
had mo- wish 70 make var on the whites
but felt bound q obey tho order of the
great medicine man.
EveNtful "a his life has been, that which
most of all will immortalixe his name Is the
TACT Of his being the first white man Who
Uncovered the sources Of the Mississippi
river This honor has been generally award.
Cd To Schoolcraft but there are living Cor
were very recently witnesses Of tho just>
=. Morrisons claim. The follows
litter VII ch the late Mr.. Nor.
to the Historical Society OF
- Sta. clearly sets forth his claim a. to
leave no doubt Of his title to the lasting
honor of his great discovery:
IL len Grand Portage in 1909, and land :
cd O Lcech Lake IN Septcmbs In Octo-
bcr ! went and wintcrcd on one Of the Grow
Wing strcasns. near its source. Our Indians
we're P,llagers. In 1904 l wintcrcd At
Rice lake. (nos Cass lake, and followed IN
the Mississippi to Cross lake. Then follow
Cd the Mississ ppi up - near Eth lake, (now
ltasca, the source Of tn great Mississippi
the Portage We made to get to Rice lake,
that cmpties itself into the Red river. which
visited in 1904; aud If the latc Gsncr al
Pike did not IAy it down as such when he
came TO Leech lake, il is because he dill not
happen 10 meet me. vas At an outpost that
winter. The late Gen. Pike laid down on
bic map Cas- lake at the head Of the
mississippi river. | did not trace any YES
tgc Of white men before to ltasca lake. |
lSll-l2 again went the same route, and
down Rice river 10 the Plains. Then over.
seok gentleman with an Quit for Mackin>
&C, Mr.. Otepe, with whom | parted ut Fond
du Lac. lie took the south toward Nackin.
&C. and took the north toward headauar.
tsrs, which had been changed to Fort Wil>
hsm from Old Grand portage. This, | e.
pect, will explain that visited in 1904 and
u lsll-i9 ltasca, aid i've small streams
that empty into that lake.
by the way Of explanation why the late
General Pike, 10 1906. who had orders to
trace the Mississippi 10 ito source failed to
- ~. ! must say he was stopped little be-
low Swan rivss, what 10 nov called Pike
sapids or Block-housc.) BY the foe, and to
Leech lake. lie had 70 learn there where
The resources Of the Mississippi was. He
vent 70 Geo lake and could proceed no far.
thse. He he'd ben told that kne~ the
seurce. but could nos - me, being out On
On outpost. This want ofinformation made
him commit the error. Some person. not
knowing letter teld hin there w. no river
shove Csss like. Case lake receives the
waters Of Cross lake, aud Croas lake re-
csivss that Of 1tasca lake. There are
ovs small streams thst empty into
ltasca lake. They ere Ghest and will
econ loee themselves in swampe. Rice river
b short portage. and 10 called the hights Of
land, which q III dividing ridge bstvssn
The Mississippi end ths waters that simply
Into Red sivse and iludsoa bay. No white
nan en- claim the discovery Of the NISSAN
sippt before M, for I Vas the arst whe cav
80 soufce. Yours,
Il 10 nanifsse, therefore, that neither
3choolcsatl nor Nicellst arc the 6rse discov-
srers osths Aississippi.
Me- fiaon did much 70 develop the vas,
resDurslOSf The fer West.
Mock WoeereOoeo-CAOaD CoAs
osreoooe and 0ae0oeeln1.
Our rural friends are very hosp,table:-.
0sAss