, 1873-04-27

PORTAGE they reached Lac Illinois, now Lake
Michigan. From thus point they coasted along
the west shore Of the lake, and arrived at st. Ig-
mace late in September, 1873, hayin performed
canoe-voynge, in the cou1se Of four months, Of
over 1850 miles. Thus Marquette and Joliet
were the first white men to visit the present site
OF Chicago, two hundred years ago next autumn.
The precise day cannot be determined;
but, as they reached st. 1snace = in
the latter part Of September, and
a. 20 miles day. in boisterous weather would
bo reasonable distance to be traversed in
probably in the latter part Of August that tha
site Of Chicago was first visited by men OF Euro
pean deecent.
Arrived at st, Ignace, the two explorers sep
a1ated,- Joliet hasteniug to Quebec to announce
to the Governor the results OF the expedition,
which had determined the existence Of great
natural highway from the Northwest to the
ocean, and Marquette settling quietly down to
resume his missionary labors among the In
dians. -.
Marquette, originally Of 3 fra1 constitution,
had contracted by exposure tho seeds Of fatal
disease, consumption. He had been impressed
so strongly with the artlessness and simplicity OF
the Illinois that he desired to plant among them
tho standard Of the Cross; but it WAS not until
the fall OF 1914 that he Was enabled
to carry his plan into execution Late in Octo-
ber, with canoe and two voyageurs, he left
Green Bay, and proceeded to Chicago. The sea-
son Was boisterous, and the camp fires at night
failed to give generous warmth These expos
ures brought On q hemouhage Of the lungF,
which told so fearfu1ly that the good Father
predicted that this journey would be his last.
Arrived at the mouth OF the river, he ascanded
about two leagues, probably to beyond where
Wards Rolling Mills now arc. Here his roy
ageurs built hut, in which he passed the win
ter. Game was abundant, and buffalo, deer, and
turkeys we're shot without moving from the site
Of his habitation. With tho return Of spring,
his disease 1elented. and he proceeded to the
great Indian village below the present town OF
Ottawa, where he gathered in the eaEages, and
preached to them the mysteries of his filth. A
few days after Easter, he returned to tho mouth
of the river and embarked for Mackinac, passing
nround the great sand-dunes at the head Of the
lake. and thence coastod along the eastern mar
gin to where small stream discharges itself into
the greet reservoir south Of the pronontory
known as the Sleeping Bear"
Marquette lay PROSTATE in the canoe. The
warm breath Of spring revived him rot; the ex-
pending buds OF the forest, or the song OF birds,
attracted not his attention. at: this point ha
requested to be put on .shoro. His
voyagerrs bore him tenderly to. the
bank of tho stream which is destined for
Ill time to bear his name, and erected over him
bark hut. He WAS aware that his hour had
come. Calmly he ssve directions Us to the mode
OF his burial; craved forgiveness OF his COM
panions, if in aught he had offended them; nd
ministered to them tho Sacrament, and thanked
God that he was permitted 10 die in the wilder
ness, Witness to tie faith in his Savior: AZ
the night stole on, he insisted that his voyageurs
should retire to rest, assuring them that he
would call them when the final hour approached.
Two hours after thoy heard his feebla CRY, and,
as they reached his side, found him in the last
agony. This event happened May IS, 1G75.
Upon the hank OF the stream they
dug hia grave, and buried him; but
this was not to be his last resting
place. A hunting party ct Ottawas, a year or
two afterwards, having wandered to the vicinity,
opened the grave, and, having placed tho
precious relics in birchen box, conveyed them
to St. 1gnaee. As they approached the shore,
singing their rude funeral songs, priests, nso-
phytes, and traders gathered together to receive
the sacred trust, and deposit it beneath the floor
Of the chapel in which the good missionary had
SO often celebrated the 1ites Of his faith
| Such is the history Of the discorerer Of the
site Of Chicago; md it seems proper that efforts
be made to recover the relics OF the good mis-
siona1y, that they be deposited With pious care in
the West Park, Lear where he passed the winter Of