The St. Louis Republic., 1900-08-12


accorded the honor of having first brought
to the knowledge of the civilized world the
immense extent of the Mississippi Valley,
yet the fortunes of the French in this part
OF North America were greatly advanced by
the energy. enterprise, perseverance anu en-
duiance Of Sieur de Ia Sal'e.
Robert Cavalier, sieur de Ia Sale was
born at Rouen in Normandy, France, No
vember 22, 1913. says Joseph Wallace. in his
History of Illinois and Louisiana Under
French Rule" Mr. Wallace presents an in
teresting study OF the character and
achievements of a remarkable man. La
Sale received liberal education, and while
still minor became member Of the So
ciety OF Jesus, and studied and taught for
several years in their schools. growing
ambition and a love for independence
caused him to withdraw from the order. 1t
10 said that he parted from them on good
terms, but 1t appears that many Of the
Jesuits opposed him in his work for France
on the American Continent. This connection
with the Jesuits caused him to forfeit his
inheritance, under the French law. but his
family made him an allowance of about
$50 q year.
In the spring OF 1866 he was at Montreal
with an older brother, who was priest
OF the Order of st. Sulpice The Seminary
OF st. Suipice made a liberal offer to the
young man OF a grant of land upon easy
conditions. La Sale accepted the conces-
sion, and became engaged In fur traffic The
place subsequently took the name of La
Chlne, which was given to it I'm dersion of
It's pToprietor's early scheme for the dis
covery of western passage to China. He
became proficient in the Indian languages.
In his dreams he visited the untroddeu re-
gions toward the setting sun, and longed
TO lind a waterway to the Pacific Ocean.
1t was in 1869 that he set out. accompanied
Dy several priests. upon an expedition into
the unknown land. Though attended by
mishaps and hampered by the enmity of
MS rivals, the Jesuits. La Sale discovered
the Ohio River, and descended 1t for a con-
siderable distance. This was in the fall and
winter of 1863 and 1910.
Ihe expedition of Joliet and Maruuette
had well-nigh demonstrated the fact that
the Mississippi emptied it's vast volume of
waters INTO the Mexican Gulf; but this was
far from satisfying the mind of La Sale,
VINO wished to see and know for himself.
lie mad read the published narratives of
the spanish adventurers in the Southwest
ana heard the vague stories of the Indians
ana he seems to have entertained the idea
Cfirst put forth in Marquettes journaD that
by ascending the Missouri or some other
western affiuent OF the Mississippi. it would
be found to interlock with another stream
running southwest 10 the Vermilion. or
Gulf of California. and thus afford the de-
sired passage to the Pacific. Above all, La
Sale longed to trace the Mississippi to the
sea. and thus acquire for himself the dis
JUNCTION he coveted, and for his sovereign
an embryo Empire
Frontenac, Governor of the French colo
MES became firm supporter Of La Sale,
ana sent him to Onondaga to conference
with the Indians, relating to the matter of
FUR trading. La Sale was unusually sue
cessful In his diplomatic relations with the
Indians, and to him much of the success
of the French fur trade is due In 1874 La
sale visited France with d letter from
frontenac- The King gave a grant of land
to him and authority to prosecute his plans
Ihus Fort Frontenac and adjacent lands
came to him. For the next two years La
Sale In America devoted himself to develop
Ing his estate, building boats for freight
and arranging for military and clerical
force. He was now on the high road to
fortune, if riches had been his sole object.
and he consequently became a mark for the
shafts Of the envious.
His desire to explore grew with his fnan-
cial success. In 1871 he again went to France
| and obtained from Colbert, the Minister for
the Colonies. permission to explore and
build forts with seigniorial rights over all
lands that he might discover and colonize
within five years. All this was to be under
taken by La Sale at his own expense. Hen
ry de Tonty accompanied La Sale to Amer
lea this time, and became valued lieuten-
ant
For .his expedition across the lakes and
down the Mississippi a sailboat was built
estimated at about sixty tons burden. She
was called the Griffin in compliment to the
armorial bearings of Count de FronteDac
She was the first sai-rigged and sea-goins
craft that ever spread canvas to the winds
of the Great Lakes.
On August Z. 1879 La Sale and his adver-
turous followers stepped aboard the new
vessel which was waited by a gentle wind
out upon the crystal surface of Lake Erie
Thus the Griffin. flying from her masthead
the pennon Of France. went forth as a her.
aid of civilization and as the forerurner of
that uncounted multitude of schooners
brigs. barks, propellers and other smaller
craft which to-day ply the Great Lakes.
Disaster attended the first portion of this
expedition. The Griffin was lost. Hostile
Indians interfered with their progress and
Tonty was left at Fort Creve Occur (heart
break, near the present city of Peoria
while La Sale returned for supplies and
re-eflforcemef1tS.
In the winter Of 16so-si, while his for
tunes seemed at the lowest ebb. La Sale
was never more active or more determined
upon achieving ultimate success. He had a
plan to unite all the different and warning
tribes of Indians of the West into a defen-
sive league; to colonize such of them as
would consent about fort to be erected
and maintained by him on the Illinois
River. and thus oppose an effectual barrier
to the further incursons OF the Iroauois
and their adherents. This extensive plan
exempifes La Salle's resources in emer.
gency, and its successful execution was an
plorer.
1t was on February 0. 1852. that La Sale
arrived at Creve Coeur with men and sup.
plies. II was his third attempt to explore
the Mississippi On the 13th navigation be.
ing open, his small fotilla was launched on
the current of the Father of Waters, which
was to bear him southwark to the sea- A,
the mouth Of the Mississippi. April g. La
Sale performed the ceremony of taking DOS.
session of the country In the name Of the
King. so 1t was that France gained Louisi.
ana, which was to come into the possession
of another race, but one which was allied
in blood to the gallant La Sale. The ex.
plofer was of Norman blood and closely re.
ated to the Englishmen, who have con.
quered North America and helped to founo
q mighty Republic.
BY virtue Of the authority conferred in
his patent, La Sale ruled his broad domain
| as a seigniory and went through the form
f,f tn,.a x,f I.S