The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1901-08-31
|WhiteHand|
"A Tale Of the Early Settlers !
Of Louisiana. 5
BY AUSTIN c. RURDlCk
CHAPTER I.


beholding the Star Of Empire" setting
amid the golden waters Of the Pacific,
while the folds OF our nations banner al
most enwrap the continent, are prone to
look upon the valley Of the Mississippi as
a region old in civilization. Yet. long
after the Atlantic shores were gemmed
with cities and thriving villages. the
great valley of the mid-continent was a
vast solitude unknown to our forefathers.
Long after colleges and schools, govern
mentS and courts. societies and churches,
had arisen and f1ourished in the Atlantic
colonies, the red man hunted his game
in the forest, and drove his canoe over
the bosom Of the great Father of Waters.
unmolested by the palefaced invader.
In the middle of the sixteen century,
bold aud hardy band Of adventurous
knights and warriors, led by Fernando de
Soto landed at the bay Of Santo Spiritu,
in Florida, and, in all the pride and pomp
of glorious array, started off through the
deep forests in quest Of those tabled
cities where untold gold awaited their
coming. On they went, meeting ami
overcoming obstacles innumerable, and,
Al length. a worn and weary remnant or
the once proud host sat down to rest upon
the bank of the mighty river. \ little
further on, they went through the wilds
of Arkansas, but the same stern, dark
forest, with its ayenglng hordes of red
men, met them at every step, and they
came back TO the Mississippi, where De
Soto laid down and died. His great,
hard heart was broken. The remnant of
his party hastily constructed IA few rude
vessels. and sailed down the river, fol-
lowed by the curses of the Indians.
After this. the great valley remained
untrodden by the white men for a cen
fury and a half. when, in July, 1913,
small band of Europeans and Canadians,
under Joliet and Marquette. reached the
banks of the great river. They had come
from the st. Lawrence, and had wan
dered through the vast solitudes of the
Maumee and the Wabash. They floated
down as far as the mouth of the Ar
kansas, where, having made themselves
sure that the Mississippi cmptied into the
Gulf of Mexico they returned to their
people in Canada. Great rejocinsS were
held over the reports these adventures
brought with them; yet Joliet and Mar
quettC both died ere the white man again
sought the Father of Waters.
Seven years later, the celebrated La
Sale. at the head of forty soldiers and
few monks, found the mighty river, ana
after recrossing the Atlantic, and return
ing with more aid, and after passing
through adventures almost Incredible, he
fairly commenced a colony in Louisiana.
In 1851 he was assassinated by his own
companions, and the few white men left
were little better than a mere handful
Of wanderers in the wilderness.
\ few years later, came the men whose
names are cherished as among those who
suffered the most and worked the most
Faithfully for the noble homes Of the
South. Most prominent among them
were the two brothers, lbrrville AMI
Bicnyillc. the latter OF whom was The
founder Of the city of New Orleans. and
for many years governor of the colony.
From this time really commenced the
growth of Louisiana.
This territory was inhabited by numer
Gus tribes Of Indians, more numerous,
perhaps, than in any other section of the
country. Some of them were mere fam
HES. insignificant in their capacity as dis
tinctivc tribes. but vet speaking an idlom
peculiar to themselves. chcriShng their
own exclusive traditions. and exercising
all the rights Of independent powers. But
lhc principal tribes in the southern c0un-
'.H We're ,"1'e III hummer me NatcheZ,
IN 'hoc'a"S' ana Ihc 'hIrKaHaWS. ana
with these and the YazooS. did the
French Of that period have mostly 10
deal.
Il WAS in tn" summer of 1727 that we
iutrolu"" our readers to 4 pleasant home
~ the banks Of the Mississippi Some
Rou-" now stands, the Marquis BriOn ST
.luIirn had located himself, ana erected 4