St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-20
RAVOUX REMINISCENT.
His Journey to fort Pierre Con-
tinued.

water; we had none for a day and
very long. Travellers on the prairies
who, for want Of food and water,
had to suffer almost to death say
that they would prefer to be without
food three or four days than one hot
day without water.
On that day we had eaten buffalo
dry meat, which might be compared
to sailed meat as to it's effect in
making one feel thirsty. At 2
o'clock in the afternoon two of our
caravan went before us on horse
back in order to find if possible
some water, for we were all very
thirsty. We Travelled until dark, ex-
pecting all the time to see our two
companions bringing us some water,
but they did not come back. At II
o'clock ]. B. Milford, fearing he
might die during the course of the
night, requested me to hear his
confession in order to prepare for
death. About midnight, however,
the weather changed, and at the
rising of the sun there was some
dew on the grass. Mrs. l. Malo, in
order to have little water for her
son. child about one year old, gath
cred with her handkerchief drops of
dew, pressed the handkerchief over
vessel, and was successful in her
purpose.
Afar on, at 9 o'clock in the morn
ing, we perceived our two compan-
ions on horseback raising I'D a
water key to make us understand
that they were coming to- our re-
lief. We proceeded speedily, and
having met them they presented it
to us that we might quench our
parching thirst. But our poor horses.
almost exhausted by the want of
water, had to go three or four miles
farther before they could get some
thing to drink at a place where we
were delighted at the sight of a
beautiful lake.
Toward the end of July we ar
rived at Fort Pierre, which was then
the principal trading post of the
American Fur company in the North
west. 1t is situated on the west
side of the Missouri river. The
agent of the company, the inter
prefers and the other employees were
all very kind to me. In the fort
they spoke the English, the French
and the Sioux languages. preach
the gospel to every creature" So
dld with pleasure all the time T was
there, at least as much or as often
as possible. [ married but one con-
pie, baptized thirteen children who
had Catholic parents, and fifty-fve
belonging to the Sioux nation at the
request Of their parents. Two or
three years before, Father De Smet
mad also baptized a certain number
OF their children. 1 did the same.
hoping that in a few years, if not be-
lore, they would have among them
Catholic missionary.
A large number of the UnE-nanas
Brules, the Blackfeet Sioux. and of
other bands of the Sioux nation. were
encamped at different places onIv q
lew miles from the fort To nv great
satisfaction L conversed many times
by an Interpreter, with some of the
chiefs and head men, and twice thew
came In great number to the fort to
near the good tidings of the Christian
religion, after having received an inyi-
tatlon from me for that purpose. AL
most torty-eiSht years have passed
since that time, and yet l have present
TO my mind the place where they met
their large number, their attitude
their attention and great respect TO the
word of God.
The subjects we touched were the
following ones: God; The Eternal
God; Creator and Preserver of All;
The Angels; Man and His Destiny:
The Fallen Angels and Their Malice
towards the Human Race; The Fall
Of Our First Parents; The Son of God
Made Man for Our Redemption; His
Doctrines; His Miracles; His Death;
His Resurrection; His Ascension Into
Heaven; The End of the World; The
General Resurrection; The Last Judg-
ment; Hell; Heaven; Eternity.
l had a good interpreter-the best 7
have ever knOwn-to explain in Sioux
the truths of Christianity. Never be-
fore or after was I so much satisfied
when announcing the word of God to
the Indians, excepting, however, the
few days spent in instructing the In
dams who were hung at Mankato on
the 18th of December, 1862. Thirty
three died Catholics, after having
given such signs Of faith hope and
charity, contrition and resignation to
their unfortunate fate that [ cannot
entertain any doubt Of their salvation.
AS soon as we had ceased speaking
to the Indians, one of the chiefs rose.
expressed his thanks to me for the good
things they had heard and recon-
mended to all the Indians there present
not to forget them, and to communicate
them to their respective families.
L visited another place down the
Grand Bend of the Missouri. I bap-
tized there eighteen children, and an
old Indian, very sick, eighty years of
age. 1 was invited to go to the tepee
Of chief Sioux by the name of Mato
Topa, "The Four Bears where 1
met him with the head men of his
band. the government agent and an
interpreter. We took there our dinner.
which being over, I announced to the
Indians, but chiefly by the Interpreter
the consoling truths of our holy faith
AS soon as we had ceased speaking to
them, several remarks were made by
Mato Topa. The first one, which was
addressed to the interpreter, was as
follows: ASK the agent why, for so
many years, our Great Father Ghe
president Of the United States has
sent us so many men, and never any
one to make known to us the good
things which have been taught US by
the black gown" The interpreter full
filed his duty; and the agent after
wards told me that if I was willing to
remain with the Sioux under his
charge, he would inform the depart
ment and obtain some funds to helm
me. My answer was, that having per-