, 1873-05-26
OBITUARY..

Father Do Bmst for the laat half century ono
died G Isl 1t a Quarter past O'Clock yesterday morn.
ing, at tho st. Louis Univorsity, corner Of Ninth
and Groen Btreots. Not only were tho throndB
Of hia ifo intimately interwoyon With tho Gf1alTa
connected with tho carly history Of this State
and CITY, A briof sketch OF tho l1fo Of 3 man 10
romarkablo wlll bo interesting to our renders, no
matter what may DO thoir religioua convieionet
Dandormondo, in Belgium. His parents we're
tho region, several Of his rolativoa having
attained to the dignity Of provincial judges.
ans mS ssF % yssas yr4oparatory Epssop a. aoa
at hfochlin, where ho studied tho hl,-
mnnites. At school he waa noted as q good,
although not remarkable scholar, aud as ono
who enterod into sl juvenile aroftn Tith extInor
binary zost and earneBtress. While still o
youth ho showed signa of great physical strength,
eovcrer severe OK experiences Of lis mature yonrr. His
educatlon was completed when he was 20
's Abont 6h t6is time Father Norinokx, mission
ary, WHO had laborcd principally In Kentucky,
visited his home In Belgium. Nlootlng young
Do amet, he induced him to return With ! hin TO
1921. Do smot spent yoar or two ct White
march University, in Maryland, perfecting him
aolf in bis work OF spiritual preparation. IN
1928 ho loft tho, novitiate to come m to r. T.
the midst Of m almost path1oss wilderness: and
bud population not exceeding 5000 or
4,00o souls. The appIiancoa ot travel
we're thon Of d most primitive description. Tho
Cd tie Allegheny Mountains with & train ot two
or three hugo wagons, tho land-craft Of tho
period, hought d couple Of aasboats ct Pitts
burgh, in which they descended tho Ohio as far
md took the usual overland route to st; Louis.
Their arrival at this point WAS early IN Juno,
1928, almost fifty yoars ago. Father Do Smes
continued hiB novitiate ut FlorisAant, anu while
thcro made himself conspicuous BY his manual
onorgy III felling treas and building Lighthouses,
some of which monuments OF lis religious forco
and zeal wore still standing not many years ago.
1t is said that ho could do more work in day
| camo to St. Louis, and essiated in founding
tho College on Ninth and Washington avonuo,
assisting with his own hands In quarrying rock
for the foundation. He afterwards became
| toacllor In tho school, Rnd won the love OF nll
tho studouts by the unromitting kindness and
patience with which ho discharged the duties Of
Ills Office. In 1888 ho won't Us missionary to
tho Pottawaton.ics and Kekapoo9, who wero " =;
! tho same capacity to tho Western slopo OF tho
| Rocky Mountains, among tho Flatheads and the
| pondoriellos, branch Of the samo tribe. Hero
ho lived until five or six ycara ago, with tho OK
ception Of occasional yisita to Europe, made for
tho purpose Of raising contributions to carry on
| the missions, Once he chartered vessel. load
cd 1t with tho gifts he had received, md roturn-
| cd by way Of Cape Horn to tho mouth OF the
| Columbia River.
Tic labora of Father De emot among tho In
dians we're attended with marked SUCCESS. He
| mover carried weapon of any klnd, never at
temptcd violence, or offered resistance, aud
- sGsssa ~ sny Hiy on2 eans ns &
were love and gentlenoss., His porauaalye elo-
auonce was onca Of great benefit to tho Govern
mont in dealing with u tribo that had shown
Rigns Of hostility. BY invitation OF tho authori.
tics, ho accompanied an expedition commanded
by Con. Harnoy, and, acting as an emissary,
brought about d reconciliation, which became a
permanent peace. i ie alleged that none Of the
Indians with whom Father Do 6mot laborod at
Government. Threo, at least Of tho missions
established BY him are atill in existence in tho
claimed that his influence upon = the tl'e
mannorB, and redounded to their permanent
| rood Hllen they we're not brought into contact
With vicious whitos. Although familiar with tho
Indian tongues, be was not himself the author
Of any books printed in their language. Two In
dams however, educated uudor his supervi
sion, turned their attention to that matter, AMI
were the authors Of several volumes for ust
among thoir fellows, tho names Of which aEo no
known to tho writer. He had studied botany II
hia youth, and perfeoted himsolf in the Bcienct
during his long residence In the Rocky hloun
tanss
The College has had tho honor OF being th
permanent residence Of Father Desmet for th
tast sIx years. During that period he has viaito'
Belgium two or three timos, Ais GRAND beinl
always eleomosynary. When returning from
ono Of theso voyages about year Sn,
half ago, he foil on shipboal1
other serious phyeical injuries: Since that tin:
he has mover been in perfect health, and at dii
farent times within tho past four Or FIVE month
death has seomed to bo imminent. j. A. fow day
ago ho was taAen with chilla and fevor, wLic
finished the fatal work hegun by the casualty O
shipboard. Except for this accident, thur
seemed to he no reason why his life should nc
have been prolonged another score Of yeare, 9
great was Ills natural yigor and 80 abundant III
Vitality. Not mauy months after hia last fetlir
soon afterward, told the friends Of Father .
smot that he could not survive year, and tl1
r words proved prophetic. Tho deceased was t
. author Of three volumes OF Letters, principal
written from his forest homo IL the Far Wcs
wllioh arc now in process Of publication
). Frouc}a, Il, Belgium.
Nlnnz0nis
). ! from the Eetu York Euenfng Poa, May 23.