Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1873-05-28
Death Of Father 0eSmet.

This aged and well known Jesuit
missionary among the Indians died
in St. Louis Oh Friday, May Esd,
aud his funeral took place oil Sunday
from st. Xavier's church in that city
withsthc most solemn and imposing
ceremonies of the Catholic church.
Peter John DcSmct was born at
Dendcrmonde, n small town in Bel
GUM, January 81, 1901, aud being of
Il good family, received n liberal ed
ucatio,l, beyond what was customa-
ry in that country ut that time. lie
early dedicated himself to tho church,
aud in July, 1921, having been fully
ordained, he left his native land, and
in company with band of Young
missionaries, commenced that long
and perilous course of Journeys by
sea and land, through torrents and
deserts, prairies and forests, amid
white men and red men, surrounded
and bcset with dangers and priva-
tions far exceeding the category
through which the apostle to the
GcntIlcs was called to pass; and al
most riyaling him in the pioneer
work he performed aud the grand re-
suits which Immediately followed
the preaching of Saul of Tarsus.
No man has, perhaps, Travelled
more than he has. His name was ia
miIiar .io all of the Indian tribes.
A few years ago he penetrated the
| country of the Snake indians, whose
fierce prowcss and intense hate of the
whites had turned aside from their
| Il IF l.n srl.n nj =
Father DcSmet was as uupretcndiug
as simple child, yet, he was, aside
| from the immense information which
such Il man must CLEAN from his great
travel. q man of great learning.
| Father DcSmet has on several Oc-
caSions served the government i'll its
treaties with the Iudians-treaties
which were respected and observed
at least by the Indians, and when the
Pacific railroad, now an accomplish
ell fact. was first mootcd, the charts
OF Father DcS,net, made by himself
on his voyage through the Indian
| country, were found to be SO correcs
that they were the most valuable in
the indication of the locality for the
preliminary surveys FOR that great
| route. So III the treaties with the
Indians, in past times made before
amy survey or exploration of the
country, the maps of Father DeSmci
were those to which resort was had
to fix the boundaries of the rcserva.
| tiOns and were never known 10 be in.
correct.
On the occasion Of his last visit 10
Rome it is said hat tic pope !ionorc,
him as no other person had been hon;
orcd by Pope P,us the IN. Throw
ing aside papal state, he went TO tho
e-clGmbcr to meet Father DE.
Smct. to throw his arms around him
and embrace him. five mistake not
it was Oh the occasion of the same
trip that The king OF the Eelgians
conferred upon him the cross of the
Order of Leopold. AS an evidence
OF the appreciation IN which he was
held in his own country, the Belgian
consul made his death the subject OF
n special aud official telegram tC
the Belgian minister for foreign
affairs.
In our own chumiry leading men
haee held him in the highest rerute
ami cherished his Intimacy. Tn,
tender devotion Of Colonel Bento!
To Kim was prnvcrbial, while tl:t
friendship of General iiarncv fol
him is known TO all. 1t is said that
no living men SO Thoroughly knew
the Indian character as General Har
ney and Father beSmet.