The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-08-06
CHICAGO INVADED.
Epain's Armies MaGe q Raid on
the { ity.
a Castilian Horde Camped Sa the
Banks of the Desplainca and
ChIumct Rivers
Long Ago.

and the finer statecrait reasons of il
are hidden in the catacombs of the
Escurial, along with tons of other doc
uments that will never see the light
gain. But we know that those men
Of war marched over the Illinois prai
ries and that they were sent to increase
the dominions of their sovereign.
By the treaty of Paris signed in 176G
France ceded to Spain all of that vast
territory known as Louisiana, which
stretched from the mouth of the Mis-
Bissippi to the Canadian line. In 1871
Great Britain was at war with the
United States, Spain, Holland and
France. St. Louis, Mo, was a Spanish
town and English officers attacked it
at the head of 800 Indians. They were
defeated with little trouble and re-
treated.
In revenge the Spanish commander
at st. Louis, which his people called
San Luis de Illinois," planned a raid
against the British post of ST. Joseph.
1t was fort or outpost located at a
point two miles from the present city
of Benton Harbor, Mich, and 60 miles
northeast of Chicago across the lake.
The force began its long, difficult and
dangerous journey on January 2, 1871.
They estimated the distance at 220
leagues, or geo miles, and subsequent
| surveys have proved that they were re-
markably good guessers. 1t was Of
ficered by Capt. Eug>Nio Pure, COM
| manding, and Lieut.. Carlos Tayon. The
interpreter was Luis Chevalier. Chiefs
Electurno and Nequigen led the 60 In
dians of the Fox and Pottawatomic
tribes. There were 65 Spanish volun-
teers-in all 100 men selected with
| special reference to their ability to
withstand the arduous journey.
They marched up the Mississippi
| river to the mouth of the Illinois and
thence along the track of the French eX-
9lorers and voyageurs. This route took
hem up the Illinois river past Fort
Ireve Coeur (peoria) to old Fort ST.
Louis (Starved Rock). Here they
| planted the blood-stained banner of
| lragon and CASTLE. A century before
rom that rocky eminence La Sale had
lnfurled the ileur de lis of France. Sub
;equently the British flag had waved
pver it. Now "Old Glory" waves there
II peace and beauty.
| purre's forces toiled in snow and ice
| the junction of the Kankakee and
| Oesplaines rivers. They followed the
| Desplaines to a point west of what is
low South Chicago, and came to the
axe at its southern edge. They found
| alnt nf nd nd
lupcs. Thence they marched to their
| destination.
| The small garrison of Fort Joseph
led to Detroit at the news of their ap-
roach, and all of the stores fell into
he hands of the invaders. They pro-
| 'laimed the sovereignty of Spain over
| his section and divided the stores.
| \fter resting some days they began
| heir return march over the former
| cute. They reached ST. Louis in safety
after a midwinter march of nearly ! 400
niles through hostile country. They
| had few casualties and gathered much
)lurder.
The assertion of Spanish sovereignty
1t Fort Joseph is evidence that Spain
| Intended to claim dominion over a ter
~itory that would give her an entry to
| he great lakes. Her war with Great
| nritain. however. was unsuccessful, and
| marked the beginning of here decline
rom frst-class power. How near this
section came to remaining under
| spanish dominance for a time, at least,
s proved by the fact that it required
he combined offices of France. England
md the United States TO defeat the
spanish proposals to allow questions
Of territory to remain in abeyaRce dur
| ing a truce that was to last a quarter
Of century. She continued to check
the developmtnt of the west so far as
lay in her power, even going so far as
to close the mouth of the Mississippi
river, cutting off utterly this section
from connection with the sea. 1t was
reopened only by the threat of the Ten
nessceans to storm New Orleans.
If the expedition to the capture of
Fort Joseph produced no lasting result
and bought no great glory to the Span
ish arms they are of interest as mark
ing the only period when the banner of
CASTLE reached the valley of the st.
Lawrence. 1t was Spain's farthest step
to the northwest at time when her
southern outpost was on the lower edge
of Chill. The expedition was inspired
indirectly from Havana. To-day, after
the lapse of more than a century, that
which may be inspired from Havana
may mark the end of Spanish rule in the
New World. The dominion of the don
over the valleys of the Calumet, the
Chicago, the Illinois and the st. Joseph
fleeted like vision. He looked from
the crags of Starved rock out over that
wild, beautiful silent landscape, which
the flight of time has so little marred
that could he return to it tomorrow
he would scarcely observe n variance
from what he saw 115 years ago. and
dreamed that he had conquered an en-
pire for his nation. He left it never to
return. His ownership ceased with his
departure. When he lowered his en-
sign on the morning he began his home
ward march to St. Louis it had tioated
for the last time over the valley of the
Illinois. Four banners have waved over
that beautiful fortress of nature. Three
have been driven from it. What shall
be the fate of the fourth h?-Chicago
Chronicle.
Seen by the Eye.
A speck of gold weighing the mil
lonth part of a grain may be easily
seen by the naked eye.-Chicago Chron-