Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-02-16
PERE MARQUETTE.
The Recent Discovery of his Long.
Lost Grave-A Valuable Historical
Paper by Rev. Geo. DuffIeld before
the State Pioneer Society.

The Recent Discovery of his Long.
Lost Grave-A Valuable Historical
Paper by Rev. Geo. DuffIeld before
/ the State Pioneer Society.
i Jacques Marquette came late to his
tame. Open DavenpOrt's Dictionary OF
Biography, 1856, comprising the most
eminent characters of all ages, nations,
and professions" and you will not find
even so much as his name. Turn for his
name to the Cyclopedia of Biography. by
Parke Goodwin. with a supplement- by
George Sheppard, 4. D. 1872, and you
will not find it there. Hence we see the
need OF such an historical society as the
present, that one of the greatestand best of
the original founders of Michigan may re-
ceive his due credit, and be henored with
al appropriate monument. Marquette
was born of an honorable family at Lson,
Iii the north of France, in the year 1857,
but the month and day of his birth are
not so easily found. In 1864 he Joined
the society of Jesuits, and In 1866 was
sent to the mission in Canadas. After the
river st. Lawrence and the great lakes
lad been mapped out, the all absorbing
object of interest with Governor From
tenac Talch, the intendent, and Marquette
/
/ the north the wonderful Mississippi that
De Soto, the Spaniard had first seen at
the South in 154l. In 1868. according 10
Bancroft, he reported to the Chi, pewa,
at the SaIlt, to establish the mission of
ST. Mary, the oldest settlement begun by
Europeans within the present limits of
Michigan. On the Gay OF the immacu-
late conception of the Holy Virgin in
1878, he received his orders from From
tenac to go with Joliet on his long de-
sired journey. Taking, probably, the
short trail through the woods, he found
his companion at Point st. Ignace. where.
after many remarkable vicssitudes, both
in lite and death, he was at length to
find his grave where his numerous
friends and admirers. both French and
Indians, We're tor so long Il time to lose
sight of it; and where second time he
gains his place as one OF the founders OF
Michigan.
| Apart from bis peculiar mission, which
was looked upon by the Protestant col
onies OF New England with anything
but favorable eyes; apart from this Pc
culiar dogma Of the conception which
has only been sanctioned.by the present
Pope, there were many things in the
life and tunes OF Marquette that, to
the lover OF biography, make his Char
acter as attractive us that OF Francis
Xavier, the great apostle OF tie Indies,
or OF his still greater master. IgnaJlus
LoyOla. Marquette was mucl. more than
Il religious enthusiast. He was "a
scholar and man of science. Having
learned within few Years to speak with
ease in six different languages, his tai
ents as g iinguiSt were quite remarkable.
a subtle element of romance pervaded
Lis character, which was 10 doubt one
OF the great sources and elements of his
power and success among the Indian
tribes. lie had fine eye for natural
beauty. Everyone WHO touches his
character seems emulOuS Of adOrning it
with new epithet. PaIkman speaks of
him as the humble Marquette who, with
claSped hands and upi Urned eyes, seems
Il 1igure evoked from some dim legion of
medieval salnt>hip. In life he seems to
have been looked up to with reverence
bv the widest savage, by the rudest
frOntierSman, and by the lolished officer
of government. Most of all other states
his name and his fame should be dear to
Michigan.
Such then was the man who, on the
18th day OF May, 1873, with the simple
outft OF two birch canoes, supply of
smoked meats and Indian corn, and five
men, embarked on what was then known
as Lac des Illinois. now Lake Michigan.
June 18th they came to tile portage, and
after carrying their canoes some two
miles oyer marsh and prairie, they COM
mltted themselves 10 the current that
was to bear them. they know not whittier
perhaps TO the Gulf of Mexico, perhaps
TO the South sea, or to the Cult OF Cali
tornia. June 17th, where now stands
Prairie-du-Cb Chen, he had found what he
sougth, land, he says, with a JOY that l
cannot express, We steereJ forth
cur canoes on the Mississippi, or
} great river" We know that the honor
OF the discovery is very stoutly contested
in favor or La Sale, but for the present
we confidently hold with Parkman.
!, Fortunately for the fame of Marquette
the true record of his labors was not
left TO doubt or tradition, and the hear
say testimony of CharlevOiX. Among
the papers discovered some 25 wears ayO
i'll the archives of the college of Quebec
were accounts of the last IabOrs and
death of Father Marquette and the re-
moval of his remains, the journal of his
, great expedition, the very map he drew
and letter he LETT unfinished at the
time of his death-sO. ut least. saws Mr.
Shea. and that these documents are to be
; fOand in his work on the discovery and
1 exploration of the Mississippi Valley.
October 25.; 1914, he again lett st
5 Ignace TO fulfill promise to the Kas
= Kas Kias, i'll Illinois. Dececember 4, ht
7 reached Chicago, hoping to ascend tht
river, and, by portage, reach the Illinois
e but the ice had closed the stream, anu i
: was too late. A winter march agains
/ the cutting winds Of the prairieS wa
S beyond his strength. His two faithful
! companions erected a log hut house ant
chapel, the first church and the frs
: white settlement of the city known TO
: its great misfortunes the wide world over
e the city of Chicago. With the openin:
of spring the good father set out, ani
his last letter notes his progress till tn
9th OF April, 1915. ''Just after Easter b.
was again stricken down by disease, an,
he saw that if he would die in the arm
OF his brethren, at ST. Ignace. he mus
' depart at one. Escorted by the Kas-Kas
f kias, who were deeply impressed witt
y his zeal. he reached Lake Michigan, CAV
orders 20 his faithful men to launch hi
!, canoe, and commenced his adventurou
L voyage along that still unknown an
dangerous shore. His Strength, how
i ever, failed so much that his men despair
:, ed OF being able to convey him alive t
their journeys end; for in fact he becam
j. so weak and so exhausted that be coul
e no longer help himself, nor even stir, an
had to be handled and carried like
child. He, nevertheless, in this state
: maintained an admirable resignation
,e joy and gentleness, consoling his Deloye
e companions and encouraging them
IL suf1er courageously all the hardships
If tins vova ora -