The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-09-06
Grand Basket Picnic!

Celebration of the Two Hundccdth universal
nv of the Discovery of starved Rock!
! While person who has resided in LA Sale
county thirty years is recognized as an old
settler, few probably realize the fact that starry
ed Rock, in this county, was discovered by
Europeans two hundred years ago. Ietsuch
is the fact. 1t was visited by French mis-.
sionary on the 10th of September, 1913, with
in fifty.three years after the landing of the
Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock
1t is proposed to hold a picnic on Starved
Rock on the 10Th of this month, in celebration
of the two hundredth anniversary of its dis
covery. There are many associations con
nected with the place which will make such
picnic deeply interesting.
One of the most interesting features Of the
occasion will be an address by Chief Justice
SIDNEY BREEsE, Of the Illinois Supreme
Court, who has been telegraphed to and sig
nifes his readiness to deliver such address.
The Judge, it may not be generally known,
has in preparation, and about ready for the
press history of the discovery and settle
ment of Illinois by the French, prepared from
materials which he obtained directly from the
Government Records in Paris. That Judge
b. has uncommon familiarity with the sub
ject is evident from an opinion which he de-
livcrcd some II years ago in an important
land case, involving some Of these old French
claims of title. The opinion is found in n
H. Reports, p AS, and a brief extract will
not be found unintcresting in this connection:
Anterior to the voyage Of the Jesuit Priest,
Father James Marquette, with the SiGur JOLT
ct, in the summer of 1873, prosecuted under
the auspices Of Mons. Talon, the lntcndant
Of New France, as Canada was called, and
then under the crown Of France, but little, if
any, authentic information existed, of the riv-
cr Mississippi The Jesuit Father, with his
proceeding from Canada by way
of Grccn,Bay and the Wisconsin river, entered
the Mississippi, on the 10th of June, 1913, and
explored il to the mouth of the Arkansas, and
returned, by way of the Illinois river, in Sep.
cmbcr of that year. This was an exploration
by the French Government, TO be
conducted on larger scale subsequently,
when, in 1913, Robert Cavalier De La Sale
obtained letters patent from Louis XIV. dated
18TH of May of that year BY this patent La
Sale was permitted "to cndeavor to discover |
he western part of New France" the king |
having at hcartthis discovery, through which |
[ was probable, a road might be found to
penetrate to Mexico" La Sale was permitted
o construct forts wherever necessary, and to
lold them on the same terms as he held Fort
Eronenac under his patent Of March 10, 1915
Acting under this patent of 1913, La Sale
With small party, reached, by way Of the
illinois river, on the 9th Of April, 1852, the
mouth of the Mississippi, and took formal
possession of il, and Of the country watered by
he river, in the name Of Louis XIV, and in
lis honor called the country Louisiana.
In virtue Of the authority, under his letters
atent, La Sale constructed Fort ST. Louis,
I the Starved Rock" on the Illinois river,
nd other forts on the lakes and Mississippi ;
yer. lie seemed to have entire control Of
lis portion of Louisiana, establishing his
overnmcnt at the Fort 81 Louis, where it re.
aimed until 1890
While it will be a basket picnic, and thus
/ who attend will be expected to bring their
Tn refreshments, Il band will be engaged for
lc occasion, stand and suitable tables will
e erected, and abundant provision made for
supply o. good water, with Ice
The invitation is extended to all who feel any
itcrcst in the subject and rs Starved Rock,
nd its many interesting historical associa-
ons are matters Of home pride, we hope an
ccasion which promises SO largely to refresh
ur memories in regard to those events, will
e improved by a magnificent attendance