The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-03-12
FREDERICK BARAGA.
Continued from page one,


ner to Canada and receive the
bounty of the British; but not only
the Ottawas received such annuities,
but many tribes of the Chippewas
and OF other nations did likewise. 1t
is apparent that as late as the
"thirties" the British government
entertained the idea that these In
dian nations might become useful
allies in the west in case OF war
with the United States. This was
probably the policy of Sir John
johnson, son of Sir William, and the
controller of Indian affairs in Canada.
But this coddling with our Indian
nations probably induced the United
States government to hasten their
removal from the frontier to safe
place west Of the Mississippi. The
manner in which this was done in
the case of some nations, | regret to
say, was discreditable to humanity.
The scenes attending the forcible re-
moval of the Pottawotomies from
their homes on the st. Joseph by
United States troops were heart
rending.
His Indians having gone to Canada
TO be absent three weeks or more,
Father Baraga took occasion to
fulfill a purpose he had much at
heart.
During the long and dreary win
ter season of 183l-32 his nights had
been devoted to the preparation for
the press of little book of 200
pages, written in the Ottawa dialect
1t was intended as prayer book
for his neophytes, containing prayers
at mass, litanies, hymns and devo-
tional prayers, besides catechism
This little book was his first philo-
logical effort in America, and he
went to Detroit in August Q832) to
have it printed. 1t was no easy
work to have such work 90 through
an American press. 1t involved in
it's proof reading much labor and
patience. on the part of Baraga; but
it was nevertheless published by
George l.. Whitney, proprietor and
editor of the Detroit Daily Ad-
vertiser, in 1892
There We're at the time number
of Ottawa villages in the Grand
River valley At the chief canton a
Baptist mission had been established
for some years, but had secured only
small following Here was the
seat of the United States Indian
agency for southern Michigan. In
dian traders and their white fol-
lowers were numerous, with the re-
suit that the OttawaS in these can
tons, who were nearly all unbe-
levers, had become badly democrat
lied. Raw Ohio whiskey could be
had for twenty-five cents per gallon
Debauchery had taken a strong
hold, to the great pecuniary advan-
tage of the Indian traders But
Father Baraga built his cabin where
the city of Grand Rapids now
stands, and he began. to preach in
the Ottawa dialect. This enraged
the Baptist missionary followers,
who found active allies among the
traders. They nstigated drunken
crowd one night to attack Father
Baraga s cabin. He had been
hastily warned of their coming and
had strongly barred the doors and |
W vi tuty "tIc
too drunk TO effect an entrance. |
Had they succeeded he would have
been murdered. For hours this
drunken crowd besieged his cabin.
Their yells were tirightful He ex-
pected every moment to see the
bark roof ablaze and contemplated
his death by fire. Word, however.
was sent to the acting United States
marshal of the riot, and he came
and dispersed the rioters.
During this Internal uproar. Fa-
Their Baraga remained on his knees
in prayer. Convinced of the evil
brought upon these people by the
abuse of liquor, he came TO the con
cusion to offer himself rs an ex-
example There in that cabin. but
unawed by his assailants, he solemn
ly vowed to abstain from intoXicat-
ing drink during the whole course
Of his life. He kept that pledge !
faithfully to the last. Manuscript,
Rev. w. Elliot, from V. Rev Jacker.
But many time, when overcome
with exhaustion, when his stomach .
was nauseated by unpalatable food.
when Shivering in his wet clothing
or partly frozen during Lake Su-
pcrior winters, he sadly needed "a
glass of wine or of brandy to revive .
both body and mind, be may have 5
been tempted, but the night scene
in his cabin on the Grand river !
would recur to his mind and he Of .
fered the privation to his Redeemer
whenever experienced.
There was an Ottawa council as
at Mus-ke-gon to deliberate I
about moving west of the Mississip- !,
pi Father Baraga attended this
council and greatly admired the ma
tive eloquencc of some Of the speak =
Frs. He decided to remain among L
the OttawaS of Grand River. and in
the autum of 1894 he made an over
land journey TO Detroit probably to O
obtain funds for missionary neccs- q
sites y
while Father Baraga was 50 i
successful in his apostolic work, this u
success was creating an opposition F.