Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-11-19

would try the muscles of the hardest
men. Still the voyagers pressed on. 1t
was indeed a fairy scene which now
opened before them. Here bold bluffs,
hundreds of feet high, jutted into the
river. Here were crags of stupendous
size and of every variety of form, often
reminding one of Europe's most pictur
esque stream, where
oThe cestled crags of Drachenfels,
FroWn o'er the wide and winding Rhine"
Again the prairie would spread out its
ocean-like expense, embellished with
groves, garlanded with flowers of gor-
geous colors waving In the summer
! breeze, caeckered with sunshine and
the shade of passing clouds, with rowing
herds of the stately buffalo and the
graceful antelope. And again the
gloomy forest would appear, extend
ing over countless leagues, where
bears, wolves and panthers found
congenial home.
Having descended the river nearly
two hundred miles they came to an In
dian trail, leading back into the coun-
try. 1t was so well trodden as to give
evidence that powerful tribe was near.
1t speaks well for the Indians-for the
reputation which they then enjoyed
that Marquette, with his French COM
panion, NJ. Joliet, far away in the will
derness, seven hundred miles from any
spot which a white mans foot had ever
before trod, should not have hesitated
alone to enter this trail in search of the
habitations of this unknown tribe.
They left all their companions, with the
canoes, on the bank of the river.
For six miles they followed the mar
row track, when they came in sight of a
large Indian village. 1t was on an
open plain, so that the Indians saw
them approaching when at quite dis
lance. They knew, of course, that two
strangers, unarmed, could not be adj
vancing with any hostile intent. Four
of the patriarchs of the village imme-
diately came forward, bearing pipe of
peace, which was highly ornamented
With brilliantly colored plumes. AS
these chiefs drew near they saw, to
their surprise and delight, that the
strangers were pale faces. Though
none of them had ever before seen a
white man, the knowledge of his arrival
had spread widely through all the
tribes. The French had pursued
such a course of Justice and friend
illness with the Indians that, wher-
ever they went they were Hospitality re-
ceived.
One of these gentlemen OF the barbar
ian school, as he led the guests into his
cabin, said sc How beautiful is the sun,
Frenchmen, when it shines upon you,
| f0 x-.cff nnr whole
village greets you with welcome. You
shall find home in all our dwellings,"
The strangers were entertained with
the utmost hospitality. AS they were
about to take their leave, venerable
chief approached Marquette and sus-
pending, by cord, richly decorated
ppe about, his neck, said,
"This is the sacred calumet. 1t
signifies that, wherever you bear it y u
are the messengers of peace. All our
tribes will respect it, and will protect
you from every harm"
We cannot record this friendly recep-
ton without emotion. How beautiful
is peacei How different would the his
tory of this world have been but for
mans inhumanity to man. On reach
ing their boats the little band of voy-
ayers continued their iourneying down
the lonely and silent river. They
fioated beyond the mouths of the tur-
bid Missouri and the beautiful Ohio
Carefully they observed these impor-
tant points, but they made no attempt TO
ex plore either of these streams. The
Ohio was then, and for some years af-
ter, called the Wabash.
Il IL L
miles further, until they reached the
mouth of the Arkansas. Here again
they found large Indian village They
were received by the natives wi h the
same hospitality which had marked
their intercourse with the Indians dur
ing the whole of their route.
They now turned back and laborious-
" reascended the majestic Mississippi,
slowly forcing their way against the
swift current Their upward voyage
was commenced the 18th of July, 1873.
Instead of continuing their upward
course to the Wisconsin river, they en-
tered the Illinois river, and again
reached Green Bay by way of Lake
Michigan. They had been about two
months upon this voyage. During this
time the devoted missionary had lost no
opportunity of proclaiming to the In
dams the Christians God, and the way
! of salvation through faith in an atoning
Savior.
Even then Marquette had no conception
OF the true grandeur of that valley he
had entered, extending from the ALE
gheny ridges to the Rocky Mountains.
Still, when the tidings of his wonderful
discoveries reached Quebec, the excit-
ing intelligence was received with the
ringing of bells, with saIvos of artillery,
and, most pre- minent and important of
all, by nearly the whole population, led
by the clergy and other dignitaries CT
the place, going in procession to the
cathedral where the TIE Deun was sung
in thanksgiving to God.
In Marquette's account of this voy.
!, age he writes, "Nowhere did we see
snch grounds, meadows, woods, stays,
buffaloes, deer, wild cats, bustards,
swans, ducks, parroquets and even
beavers, as on the Illinois river"
! By the earnest request of the Illinois
Indians Marquette returned to them
and continued with them, revered and
| belovad nreachinU tho poepa1 for fxro