The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-12-23
Pere Marquette anil his early -Ex-
nlOra ton of the West

Pere Marquette anil his early Ex-
plOratiO of the West.
Marquette was born In France, of high
connections, and was educated by the
Jesuits for the priesthood. He took the
VOWS OF the order, aud discharged their
obligation with an unquestioning faith.
| frail in body and of a gentle nature, be was
inspired with almost superhuman energy,
and toll aud privation In his Masters cause
he estee ned as naught. He chose Canada
as the field of his labors, and was early
transferred to the remotest Of the mission
airy outposts on Lake Superior Here, in
his intercourse with the Illinois, who resid
ed thirty days journey to the west, he learn
ed of a great river which they were com
1 plains on which grazed countless herds of
buffalo Under the sanction of the Inten-,
dant of Canada, he was authorized to start
on voyage of discovery. Accompanied by
Joliet and five v3yageurs in two canoes he
skirted the lake Michigan from ST. Ignace
to Green Bay, assembled the Fox River,
passed through Lake v innebago, and
threaded the sluggish and serpentine stream
beyond to the portage; then crossing the
water shed, the canoes were re-embarked,
and they foated down the Wisconsin to it's
mouth. The clear placid current of the
| Great River rolled before them, and we can
well imagine The wonder and delight which
this scene awakened. They again launch
their canoes, and day after day and week
after week float upon the mighty tide. They
note the turbulent Hood poured in by the
Missouri, and dlscoloration of the water
extending to the whole volume;- and after
several days voyaying they again note the
clear water discharged by the Ohio. Fl
naly they reached the mouth Of the Arkan
sas, when, learning that the Indians we're
hostile and were armed with guns procured
FROM the Spaniards-for Spain was then
at war with France they reso lved to retrace
their course. Arrived on their return voy-
age at the mouth of the Illinois, they as
cended that stream to the great Indian
: town near where Utica now stands, where
} they were Hospitality received by the In
, dians, who guided them across the por
J tage Of the Des PLANES to the Chicago
River. Thus, then Marquette and his
followers were the first white men to view
the site on which the city of Chicago has
been erected! This was in September, 1878
: From this point they proceeded to Green
r Bay, having, in the course of four months,
2 padded their canoes more than two thou.
t Marquette had longing desire to plant
f the standard of the Cross among the In.
} dians of the Illinois Valley. Accordingly
the next year, late in October, with two
r voyagers, he left Green Bay for Chicago
, Arrived there he assembled the river 70,
, about two leagues and built hut in which
to pass the winter. Game was abundant
! buffalo, deer, and turkeys, were shot il
2 sight of their habitation. Marquette was
e aware that the seal of death was upon him
q and SO expressed himself to his voyageurs
5 and the exposures incident to his voyage
2 SO late in the season had aggravated biz
disease. His hemorrhage returned, bu
1 with the return of spring the disease relent'
ed. He then proceeded to the Indi II
s town, where he gathered about him the
T. chiefs and their followers and proclaimed
the mysteries Of the faith. Returning tt
! Chicago, he embarked for Mackinac, cir
f cling the head of the lake, and then coast
h ing along its eastern shore TO where small
e stream discharges itself into the great re,
9 servolr, south of the conspicuous promon
e tory known as the Sleeping Bear" Hi
a., disease had returne- and he lay PROSTATE
/ in the canoe. The warm breath OF sprine
s revived him not, and the bursting bud
failed tn attract his dimmed eye He wa.
: aware that his hour had come, and re
E; quested his voyageurs to land. Tenderly
= they bore him to the bank of the stream
e and built for his shelter a bark hut
S Calmly he gave directions as to the mode
: of his burial, carved the forgiveness of hi
c companions If in aught he had offended lad
minstered to them the sacrament, anc
f thanked God that it had been voucbsafec
t to him to die in the wilderness. As thu
e night stole on he insisted that they rest
3 saying that he would call them as he fna
e hour approached. Two hours after they
, heard his feeble cry, and as they reached
n his side they found him 10 the last agony
), This was on the 18th Of May, 1915.
g Upon the bank of the stream which BEAR
: his name they dug his grave and buriee
d him as directed; but this was not destined
to be his final resting place A party O
e Ottawas year or two afterwards, being IL
. the vicinity, opened tie grave and PLACED
e the relics in birchen box: They ther
conveyed them In canoe, escorted b,
f many others, to St. Ignace; and as the In
= dams approached the shore, waiing thei
Y rude funeral songs, priests, neophytes, anC
r traders, all gathered to receive the sacreC
: trust, which was deposited with solemn
g ceremonies beneath the floor of the chape
@ in which the good missionary had SO otter
@ administered the rites of his religion
; Western Monthly for December.
; E9P a Quaker having lost quarter O