The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-06-13
ILLINOIS TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

A few weeks ago, Mr. NORMAN MATsoN, OF
Princeton, ILL.,, laid upon our table duo
decimo volume of some $50 pages, of which
he is the author, entitled 1.-THE French and
Indians of Illinois River" with request
that We should read it, and, If we felt like it,
review It. Amid other distractions the vol
ume was mislaid, until a few days ago we
were reminded that a second and revised edi-
ton was aboutto be issued. Then we took it
up and gave 1t a hasty perusal
The first eleven chapters, about half of the
volume, refer to the explorations of Joliet,
Maquette, La Sale, &c, in the Illinois valley
and more particularly to their efforts to form
q permanent French settlement in the vicni.
ty of Starved Rock Buffalo Rock, Old Utica
and other points between Ottawa and La
Sale. This history, which of course possesses
deep local interest, is substantially the same
story, with some additions, as that previously
told by Bancroft ana Foster, and SO enchant
lngly by Parkman. Mr.. Matson's researches
however, have enabled him to enlarge the
story by occasional very interesting additions
PILETTE.
In 1855, after De Bougis had relinquishcd
his command of Fort ST. Louis, a tall, spare
man, calling himself Captain Richard Pi.
lette, made his appearance there. This man
had been a captain in the army, but for some
cause was dismissed from service, and in or.
der to retrieve his misfortune came west. Pr
ette renamed at the fort n number of days
without letting his business be known, but
when the proper time came he drew from his
pocket commission, under the governors
! seal, authorizing him to take command Ton.
ii denied the power of the governor TO ap-
point a commander, as the fort was private
property-having been built and mounted by
La Sale at his own expense, in accordance
with charter from the king of France. In
a pompous manner Pilette proclaimed him
self commander of Fort st. Louis, by virtue
of his commission, and addressing the sol
diers in tone OF authority, ordered them to
! lay hold of Tonti and place him under guard.
Without making any reply, Tunti with his
| iron hand knocked down the wouldbe COM
mander, and at the same time relieving him
of three of his front teeth. Before the usur-
per could regain his feet, the soldiers carried
him outside of the gateway, setting him on
the rock, and gave him a start downwards.
The rock being covered with sleet Pilette
could not recover his footing or stop his DIES
cent, but in that position slid 10 the bottom,
tearing his pantaloons into fragments, and
, bruising himself on the sharp crags of rocks.
r Captain Pilette bruised and bleeding, his
Clothing torn almost off him while sliding
}. down the rock, made his way to La Nantum,
/ where he found sympathy among his ooun-
7 irymen and their Indian friends. While here
u ne ne concoctcd plan to gam power OF the In.
Glans, aud secure their trade, in defiance OF
La sales charter and Fort ST. Louis With
h eighteen Frenchmen and about fifty war
{ flors, he went 10 Buffalo Rock and on IFS
summit commenced building fort. Here
my QUIT block house, IA store house, ard
surrounded them with earthworks and pail
saueS' Pilette promised the Indians to sup.
ply them with goods, war implements, &c,
" 10 exchange for furs, and protect them from
I the iroquois Acting on this promise large
a number OF Indians came here and built
n lodges within the stockades, rs well rs
" around II, aad in short time il became "A
= large iowa The place took the name o: lie
y y fort DIES Hianiis, and was occupied by the
inulans long after the French left the coun-
ny The remains of this tort was plain 10
DC seen in the early settlement Of the country.