The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-09-29
Marquette, 167s--ls7s.

4
The expedition of Father Jaques Mar
ouette and his companions, undertaken |
and accomplished during the summer OF
1913. was one of the most important events
in the history of the west The story OF
the adventures of this little band, as they
pushed their way far into an unknown
land, away from the haunts of civilized
men, in the light of the present, reads like
some fanciful trick of the imagination,
some revelation from the dream-haunted
courts of the unreal. When we consider
the condition of the country the immense
difficulties in the way the vast distance
to be traversed, in connection with the tact
that all that vast territory from the Ale
ghanies 10 the Pacific ocean, and from the
undissolying ice.felds Of the frigid north
20 the sun-lit strand Of the tropic seas,
was then a terra ine0gnitd, we are forced
into admiration of the courage which AM
mated the soul of that man who dared, al
most without companionship, 10 penetrate
into the hidden land. 1t has been said
that il requires no extraordinary courage
10 transform man into a hero, If the au-
dience be present to reward with applause
The worlds true heroes are those whose
deeds are unheralded, and whose fame Is
only reported 10 posterity TO preserve;
Maruuette's heroic zeal was manifested
without the eoncomitants which make com
mon men brave and brave men heroes
He expected no reward OF applause nc
went in search OF no mines OF wealth. ne
anticipated no worldly honors; but, lnspir
ed by the nobest motives that could warn
the soul nerve the arm, and strengthen
the body 10 endure fatigue, he lett TN
home of his youth, the fair land beyond
40, 81 mil de Of America
10 give his life TO serve savages. lhls wa
courage But when the wild children
the forest came 10 him on the shores Q
Huron and told him of great rivers an
fertile lands, inhabited by many tribes Z
an unknown people, far away to the soutf
the soul of the missionary was hlled VIII
snlicitude and he said Il will go trac
out the course Of these rivers, and bear IN
message of the gospel to God ; ch'ldre
who inhabit their banks, before they perls
In their sins The determination ont
formed he pursued his object with
unwayerinr purpose. Two years passt
nway before he could have b
wishes grati6ed. Then Froutenac, go
ernor and Talon, intendant OF Canada Sc
out an expedition undel the immedll
command of Monsieur Louis Joliet, al
the successor Of Allouez as missionary
the Huruns, the intrepid Marquette,
ordered 10 40 with it to the land OF
known rivers. May II, 1873. the par
left Green Bay at Lapointe, and proceed
By the Fox river in two canoes toward
source. Arriving at the portage, the
noes and baggage were transferred oV
land to the headwaters OF the Niscon
river and then bidding farewell TO Il
Indian guides who had warned them
terrible monsters, irighttul cataracts
horrible savages, they proceeded with
current toward the great river OF VIII
they had heard. june Il, 1913, the
noes containing this little party, consist
of five Europeans, gided out OF that sire
into the broad bosom of the NlissisSil
They landed aud Father Marquette c
brated mass there beneath the spread
branches Of the great old forest trees.
cannot detail the history Of thi, exp
ton. Ii was continued during the sum
and extended to the clay bluffs on wi
SUBMITS the Chickasaws had constru
their wigwams and kindled their cot
fires Ii was the middle OF September
fore they returned To Green Bay by
of the Illinois river, across the prairies
along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Marquette and his companions. tho
not the first Europeans 10 float upon
bosom Of the great river were the ear
pioneers Of civilization on its banks
century had passed away since DeSoto
his wretched quarters at Chicaza,
seen his hopes cxtinmished, and his dr.
of untold wealth vanish and the sur
of the river had remained undisturbeC
the keel of the white mans boat. v
Marquette and his companions accomp
ed their wonderful voyage
And now, after the lapse Of two hun
years mighty population, establishe
the land Marquette was first to exp
come with earnest purpose to recall
memory from the grave Of tine years,
crown his deeds with mighty PEG
tribute of honor In the catalogue OF
noble dead OF our heroic age, writer
characters thai can never be effaced st
recorded the name of Jacques Marqu
the gentle minister Of religion, the da
less explorer of an unknown empire.