The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-02-04

MONROE, La, FEBRUARY 4, 1882.
ROBERT DE LA SALE.
The second centennial of the discov-
cry of the mouth of the Mississippi
river will occur on the 9th Of April, and
the day will be celebrated at New Or
leans by a number of literary and his
torical societies. A brief history of the
life of I1aSalle, the disco verer of the
mouth of the river, will be read with
interest at this time.
The best and most authentic reports
fix April 9th, 1851, as the day the gal
beyond the turbid floods of the Missis-
sippi delta, the blue, placid waters of
the Gulf of Mexico.
The life-and the tragic death-of
that remarkable man read like those
romantic legends by which the first dis
coveries of the New World seem to
have undertaken to surpass the most
dazzling fictfons of knight erraDtry.
Born of an honorable and wealthy fam
lily, his first years were devoted to the
study of theology and having resolved
to Join the order of the Jesuits he had,
asrequired before entering it, renowned
his share of the paternal inheritance.
Then, infiamed at the recital of the dan
gers and glories of missionary life, he
first turned his eyes toward Japan and
China, where the field of Martyrdon is
never closed; but hearing of the i'm
mense labors of Father Marquette and
his bold companion, Jolyet, he plunged
in the wilds Of Canada in search of
honorable and lasting fame. Without
means, depending only upon his own
energy he resolved to complete Father
Marquette's great work by descending
the "Great River'' to where it emptied
its waters in the great reservoir of the
Atlantic or its estuaries.
The French Governor of Canada sec
onded his views and advised him to
return to France, where Seignelay, the
him all the aid in his power, and on
the 18th of July, 1878, accompanied
only by 80 bold companions, amongst
whom was found the gallant "Cheval-
ier'' DE Tonti, the daring LaSalle made
sail for the anew France" Yet too
poor to stand the expense of his enter
prise, he spent over two years in increas-
ing his capital by bold and lucky traffic
with the Indians of the great lakes, and,
although at times meeting with crush
ing reverses, he continued with una
bated energy the prosecution of his
scheme, till In February, 1852, we find
him and his little canoe fotilla boldly
emerging from the mouth of the "ItIi
nois," and launching forth on the tur-
bulent bosom of the "F'ather of Floods"
as to him first designated by the Indian
name OF "Meschacebee." After having
taken possession of tho country of the
"Arkansas." or an Arc en- .sang,'' from
the bloody bows and arrows of its
tribes, he finally on the day named
before, April 6, 1852, planted on the
reedy banks of the great river the white
banner Of France, and named it "The
st. LOUIS" in honor of his King.
After returning to Canada, he again
visited France, and again his patron,
Seignelay, providing him with four good
ships, sent him, at his own request, in
search of the mouths of the Mississippi
by way of the Gulf of Mexico.
Then comes the usual tale of all early
Observation-Disclosures, treasons, deser
tions, till finally, drifting too far to the
East, he missed by less than one hum
dred leagues the much coveted object
OF his search tered through the Rio
Colorado the wild country where now
tfourishes the State of Texas, and on
the 18th of May, 1857, fell victim to
the discomfort of tho mutinccrs, who
were about the sole survivors of this
unfortunate expedition. Father Char
1evoiX-the most reliable of early his
torians of our country and whom Ban
croft takes as his guide in all disputed
or doubted questions-Father Charlie
voiX thus notices this loss: "Such was
the tragical end of man to whom
France is indebted for the discovery OF
one Of the finest regions Of the New
World. Endowed with Il capacity-a
depth of mind-a courage and fortitude
which should have led him to the ac-
complishment of the greatest enter
p:ises, he lost many of his warmest
friends by his headstrong and over
bearing manners"
In connection with the name of La
Sale, let it not however, be forgotten
that tho honor of this discovery is
equally claimed by Father Hennepin,
n no less daring missionary who, in
1858 published in Paris Subscription
OF Louisiana" and a few years later Il
"Relation of the Discovery of very
extensive Country lying between New
Mexico and the Glacial Sea-" but, there
=.