The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-16


coasted along the south shore in a
frail birchbark canoe Spending
the winter among the Indians at
that point, the following spring, ac-
complnied by only single Indian,
he started for Chaquamegon Bay.
He took route through Portage
Lake. While the Indian was car
rying the canoe across the Portage
to Lake Superior, the good father
wandered into the woods, and was
never seen again. That was the
story told by the Indian, but it is
far more probable that Father Mes
nard fell victim to Indian treach-
cry. Some time afterwards his
cloak was found and it was conclud-
! ed that he either starved to death or
was killed.
Father Claude Allouez was the
next to follow, reaching LaPoint on
the first of October, 1868, where he
established "a mission. After him
came James Mdrauette and Caude
! Dablon, who established mission
at Sault Ste. Marie in 1868. The
! first map of Lake Superior was
drawn by Marquette, and Allouez in
1868, and was published in 1872.
! They named the lake Lac Tracy ou
Superleur. > Some years after the
death Of Pere Mcsnard, the Catholic
missionaries from LaPoint visited
the L'Anse Bay, and even down to
the period of the American revolu-
tion this locality was known TO the
couriers deS bois. Again the place
seems to have been forgotten by
white men, until the enterprise of
the American Fur company brought
it into notice, 1t will be remember
ed that when Colonel McKenney, in
1926, accompanied General Cass to
Fond du Lac, he mentioned in one of
his letters that a Methodist mission
was conducted at that time at
l. Anse, under the auspices Of Mr..
Dingle, of the American Fur COM
pany. After the exit of its patron,
this mission had languished Il had
but feeble existence and a small
following when Father Baraga
planted the cross on the shores of
the bay
Mr.. Peter Crebassa, who came to
l. Ansc, employed by the American
Fur company, in 1897, makes the
following statement: An old chief
named Penanshi came to see me
every Sunday. had an old Bible,
printed in the French language, in
1918. The old chief used to ask me
to read to him from the book, and
explain it, which did to the best of
my ability. He desired to know if
could get priest to come here,
and | replied that ] would write to
Father Baraga. who was then ut
LaPoint, Wis, and was the only
priest IN this portion of the country.
wrote to Father Baraga, explain
ing matters, aud invited him to
come. This was in 1910. He re-
piled that he could not leave La
Point, as he had church and II
large congregation there. Each
year | wrote to him, and at last in
1913 | received the following letter
written in French, aud the transla
tion reads thus:
Mr.. Peter Crcbassa,
Ny Dear Friend received your
letter on the 9th of the month with
great pleasure, and | think that |
am obliged to accept your invitation.
There are three years resistance on
the invitation to go to l. Anse. !
don ( like to leave my children, and
now cannot resist any longer for
| think it is the will of God that |
must go. For that reason promise
you | will go to L'Anse, if God win
Itt me i've VIII ldht VIC StllpoutI
of Mr.. Mendenhall, the Algoquin, in
the beginning of May and 90 to the
500" (the schooner will not 90 to
L L'Anse). and from the 500 get
some opportunity to reach your
place Please tell your Indians that
If see they will join the Catholic
religion will stay with them the
fore part of the summer, and | will
go back with you to LaPoint in the
month of July. You can also tell
your. Indians that if see they con.
vert to the Catholic religion in great
numbers. shall try to stay with
them if can and get another priest
in my place at LaPoint, with the
permission of our bishop. / am,
dear Sir, your friend,
FREDERICK BARAGA.
Missionary Priest
LaPoint, March IL, 1913.
Father Baraga came to L'Anse
in June, lS43, Mr.. Crebassa con
tinues, shortly after writing me
his letter Of acceptance, and com
menced his labor | had arranged
everything, and had u number of
Indians camuinU in yyiUwame on nv