The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-05-29
FATHER DE SMET.
A Distinguished Missionary,
A Sketch of His Life,
A TOUCHING TRIBUTE 70 THE
DEAD PH1LANTRoPH1sT
Some Account of His Funeral.


4
one of the most universally known men OF
the Christian world A priestot the Gath |
Ole Church and member Of the Society
of Jesus he was known and honsred by
Catholic and Protestant alike, as one who
devoted spotless life and u great heart
10 works of Christian phllantrOphy. The
death of the reverend father took place ut
ST. Francis Makers church parsonage, on
Christy avenue, near Ninth street, whore
he had been sick about year. The prox-
innate cause of his death appeared % be
somewhat obscure, but the remote cause
was, no doubt, an accident ON shipboard on
his trip 10 Belgium little over year ago,
whittier he went 10 collect money and Sc
cure auxiliarieS for his Indian missions.
He received a fall by which three of his
ribs were broken, and was otherwise in.
iured internally. On his return 10 this
country he was attended by the late DIR.
Linton, who announced 20 him the impossi-
bility of living longer than year.
In the death of Father DeSmet the
world has lost one Of its most indetatigable
and enterprising missionaries of Christian
civilization Early in life he became
strongly impressed with the wrongs perpe-
trated ON the Indians Of our country, and
with the possibility Of their being brought
into intimate relations with Christianity, II
not with civilization. To the practical ac-
comphshment of this idea, he devoted his
talents, his time, and all the energies of a
of a more than ordinary vigorous organiza-
ton. Without stopping to count the OBJ
stacles in his way he pushed forward in the
course he had marked out for himself,
without tagging OF abatement OF zeal and
IL he did not succeed in doing all he believed
possible, he set an example TO the world OF
what man with strong conviction may do
IN overcoming apparently insurm0untable
obstacles. His heroic and self sacrificing
exploits as a Christian missionary will long
remain In the memory of mankind.
Peter j DeSmet was born at Bender
monde French, Termonde in Belgium on
the &lst day of January, 1901 OF his
early life there is but a meagre account, he
having been very reticient on that subject,
his extreme mOdesty preventing him from
speaking much Of himself His tamilywas
highly respectable and is said to have been
noble and he has now a brother who is a
distinguished civil Judge at Client Belgium
In July, 1921, the young DeSmet left Bel
GUM for America with the Rev. NJ. Ner-
enckx, and accompanied by five other
young Belgiaus, Felix Ncrreydt of Diest,
Jesse Van Asschc st. Armand, Peter j
Nerhaegen Of Naecht John b Smedts of
Rotslaer, and John A. Elet of St Armand,
all of whom became distinguished in their
order. AT the end Of forty days Father
DeSmet and his companions arrived at
Philadelphia. The next day they exchang.
adieux with W. Nerenckx.
From Philadelphia young DeSmet went
almost Immediately 10 Baltimore, where he
arrived on the 9th of October He re.
manned there about two years completing
his nOvitiate, and on his ordination came
to st Louis, arriving here on the 4th or
9TH Of June, 1923.
On arriving he at once saw the impor-
lance Of this point as a centre for eccesias-
teal as well as for secular affairs and ear
nestly identified himself with the objects Of
his order. In this connection he became
one Of the founders of the St Louis uni
verslty an institution whose fame has be-
come as wide as the country.
Ia 1888 he put into effect a resolution
long before formed Of devoting the remain
der Of his life to missionary labor among
the Indians. His first efforts were mace
among the Pottawatamies in Wisconsin,
but he soon pushed his way westward 10
the Rocky Mountains, which he reached
before the end of the year. His adven-
lures on this extended journey-immeas-
urably more so than now-partake more
OF the nature Of some wild romance than
OF simple history. Everywhere he was
received with open arms by the Indians,
the simplicity Of his nature at once win
ming their confidence An instance Of
his influence over them occurred when he
accompanied Gen. Harvey on an expedi-
ton to the Elattoot and Shoshonee Indians
on Columbia river. These Indians we're
committing depredatiOns and Gen. Harvey
was sent out in anticipation of a war but,
through the mediation of Father DeSmet,
the Indians were brought to terms without
difficulty, and peace was established. In
$50 he was sent by the Ri Rev Bishop
Ot St Louis on a mission 10 the Rocky
Mountains, on which occasion he accom-
panied the annual expedition of the Amer
lean Fur Company, starting from West
port, Me, Which was then the headquar-
tiers tor all westward bound trains From
the time he started ON this trip until with
in year Of his death, his whole life has
been devoted TO missions among the var
lOus Indian tribes including among others
the Shoshones, Blackfeet, Pawnees, Man
dams, PotowattOmies and Sampectches
His letters, giving an account Of his va
rious travels and labOrs among the aborig
ines, are written with an unaffected and
beautiful simplicity Of style.
He has published several interesting
works on the subject Of Indian missions,
the principal Of which are Western Mis-
sions and Missionaries, Oregon Mis-.
sions' and Letters and Sketches, con.
tanning the history Of his residence for a
year among the Indians of the Rocky
Mountains. To the latter he made five
different journeys in the course of his
eventful lite and seven times he has cross.
ed the ocean 10 seek in Europe the aid fol
his missions which he failed 10 get in thi,
country. On his last trip 20 Belgium ht
was created knight of the order Of Leop
old as a recognition Of his great merits
the decoration OF the order being bestowed
by the hands Of King Leopold the Second
For some time past aud up 10 the time OF
his death, he held the position Of treasurer
Of the Province which Iincudes allithe
Jesuit houses from the Aleghanies TO the
Rocky Mountains
Among the distinguishing traits Of Faith.
or DeSmets character was a moral courage
that shranS az no danger in the perform.
ance Of his duty. With the word of God
in his hand, and arrayed in his black gown,
80 well known among the Indians, by
whom he was called the Black Gown, :
he pursued bis far distant and solitary ex.
petitions, encountering savage tribes, with
whom he soon made friends. Although
they advanced with hostile intent and
brandished tomahaWks, he, with words Of
peace and gentleness, disarmed them, and
turned dangerous foes into firm and last
ing friends
With an indomitable resolution he pos.
sessed a charming simplicity of character
thatwon the hearts ofall with whom he came
in contact lie not only adapted himself
readily TO the minds Of children and ignor
ant savages, and the low aud humble, but
he was able 10 hold instructive converse
with kings aud princes, and the accom-
Pllsheed aud learned Of all classes. III
was familiar with science, and particularly
WEI Versed in botany, having classified the
plal'5 OF NJ. Louis years ago, lie was 6
gooa ufaughtsman and typographical en-
S hn O,o anu there are maps and surveys o.
the oregon and Rocky Mountain regions
where missions We're astoLE.L.l - y.