The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-06
THE FATHER OF WATERS,
Lake Glazier Supposed to Be the
Source Of the Missis-
sippi.
The Tragic Fate of the Early
Explorers Of the
Stream.
De Soto and La Sale Both Found a
Grave in the Bed of the
Great River.

!
The source Of the mighty river, accordir
to Captain Willard Glazier, ia not IN an
ltasca OF schoolcraft, which is virtually
mere expansion of the stream in commo
with lakes Bemidji, Winnebesosish an
others on the same river; but its origin
IN beautiful lake some distance to til
south of Itasca and united with
by small permanent strea1
which enters the southern extrem
lty OF the latter. It must occur to moi
people as rather singular Circumstance
that this important discovery was not mad
long since and the only reason given to az
count for our ignorance of the true sourc
is that it lies outside Of the usual track q
the fur traders. and it is scarcely ever visit
cd by Indians or white men. Schoolcrafi
IN 1892, had pronounced Itasca, to be tn
verltas caput, or true head, and no one an
pears to have been sufficiently interested il
the matter to investigate his dictum unit
Capt. Glazier and his companions visite,
the unfrequented region with the object o
tracing the river to its extreme head ant
settling once for all a matter over which
much uncertainty prevailed. The histor,
of the Father of Waters" for the last 35l
years is Of great interest, and Sigh
sketch OF 1t may prove acceptable to som,
readers.
AS far back as the early part Of the six
tenth century the Spaniards began the ex.
pioration Of the Mississippi. and the story
OF their early attempt to trace the river and
survey the surrounding country is not with.
out strong tragic element. for the bold
European who first ventured upon the
waters of the mighty river found death and
not fame there. and the stream instead OF
yielding him the gold he sought, became
his grave. In 1889 Ferdinand De Soto, then
governor of Cuba, left the island in charge
of his wife and set sail for Florida, tempted
BY the reports OF gold to be found there.
He arrived safely and disembarked his men
and then, in order that none should be
tempted to return or abandon the enter
ships back to Cuba.
De Soto pushed through the strange land
with his followers, and after roundabout
journey reached the Miss issippi at the
Bluffs, now known as the Lower Chlcka-
saw" where the city of Memphis stands.
The party crossed the river at this point
and explored the country beyond until thew
came upon the White river some 200 miles
from its junction with the great stream. De
Soto then dispatched portion of his men
to explore the region of the Missouri bnt
the latter encountered such difficulties that
they were forced to return. At the end of
two years the expedition wintered near the
not springs and salt streams of the Washita,
but the canoes of the party got entangled
in the bayous and marshes of the Red river
and were lost.
At length the Spaniards succeeded in
striking the great river lower down, and the
country around was carefully surveyed,
without, however. showing any signs of the
gold for which they were seeking. All this
4 RI ho1 10 Al
hostility of the Indians, ever on the alert to
attack them. At length, dispirlted by the
dangers and disappointment he had en-
dured. the leader succumbed to malignant
fever which attaced him. De Soto died
May q. 1912. The story of his burial
t has been graphically told. amid the
the future, his body was wrapped in
4 mantle and sunk in the middle of
the river. A requiem broke the midnight
gloom and the morning rose upon the CON
sternation of the survivors. De Sofa sought
for gold. but found nothing sogreat as his
burial place." Such was the end of the first
adjacent country. Thousands journey on
The mighty river yearly now, but few of
those who constantly pass and repass on its
waters have any idea that the bed of the
stream is the resting place of the gallant
Spaniard who was the first European to
'IuNclSc tue M lbSlSSlppl.
After the death of DeSoto the expedition
vas under the command of Luis de Mosco-
70, and latter enduring every calamity that
,ould befall man. the party set to work and
quilt seventeen brigantines. Having ac-
'omplished this they passed out of one of |
he mouths of the river, and, following the |
'oast eastward, reached Cuba in the autumn
n the four years they had been away, only |
100 out of GOO who started returning to the |
sland.
For more than a century after De Soto's |
expedition the talk of further exploring the |
Mississippi remained in allegiance. But, in |
6'3, Catholic priest, named Marquette, |
md French trader. named Joliet, made
IN attempt to survey some parts of the
'lver, and there is no doubt that the ex-
ample set by these two resolute men moved
he Chevalier de La Sale to the important
work of discovery he took in hand shortly
most important in the his
DRY of Mississippi exploration.
In the first place La Sale dispatched
father Louis Hennepin to survey the up
,er waters as far as the Falls of st. An
hony, which were discovered by the priest
nd named after his patron saint. In 1862
IA Sale started with twenty.three French
nen and eighteen Indians to explore the
over reaches of the river. La Sale entered
he river from Illinois. journeyed down the
tream until he reached the s:passes, !" as
hey are called. by which the waters make
heir way to the sea. He SAINT parties to
urvey each of the three channels of the
delta, and sailed into the open
ruff of Mexico. The party then retraced
heir steps to Quebec, and La Sale returned
, France. "
In 1854. aided by the French government,
lie chevalier sailed with four vessels for
he Gulf of Mexico in order to enter the
from the sea, but he failed to &c
,mplish this task. LaSalle lost his ships,
Id after making a vain attempt to reach
lie river over land, he was assassinated by
he of his followers in March, 1887, the Sec
Id and greater explorer of the stream
hich overlook his predecessor, Ferdinand
9 Soto.
Twelve years later the mouths of the Mis-
ssippi were discovered by Iberville. The ,
,urce of the river has been sought for at J
lHerent times by travellers Of nearly every
In 1905 the United States gov
.nment sent Lieut.. Pike to survey the
'gion in which the Mississippi was sup
osed to have its origin, and in 1870, Gov
nor Cass, of Michigan, undertook SINH !
7 task, but they were unsuccessful in their
Etempts to trace it, as the source of the
yer remained still unknown. In 1852
enry Rowe Schoolcraft explored Lake
asca, which he regarded AZ the source of
le stream.
1t had long been suspected, however. that
he Mississippi had its fountain head higher i,
? than Lake Itasca, and in July, 1881, an
,pedition led by Capt. Willard Glaxier. dis
'Yered q lake south of Itasca, mile and q
IF in diameter, and falling into Itasca by
permanent stream. Beyond this there io 4
, water connected with the river, and