The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-23

Michigan, in the hour of darkest and
most dreadful peril, invoke on their
knees the prayerful intercession of the
sainted Marquette. This Christian
| martyr has been honored by a noble
statue in the American panthenon at
our national capital, contributed by
Wisconsin.
CAvALloR DE LA sALLE.
The greatest of the early explorers
cannot be followed through his north
| ern lake and Canadian successes and
| failures: his uuarrels with the Jesuits
and his other distressing tribulations
| 1t is enough to know that his merits
| won the confidence and unvarying sup
| port of Count Frontenac, the ablest of
all the early French governors. and
that the illustrious Colbert and the
worldly-wise Louis XIV were the chief
| promoters of his far-reaching dscov-
cries. Born of good family in Rouen
he came to Canada at twenty three
with a splendid physique an excellent
education. high ideals and high am
btion. Among the fruits of first voy
age was the exploration of Lake on
tario. the discovery of the Illinois river
and a visit to the Ohio river and to the
present site of Chicago. From the sec
ond expedition resulted the first sight
and first description of Niagara Falls
by Father Hennepin one of LaSalles
party: the building of the Griffin In
1878, on Niagara river: the exploration
OF the lakes as far as Detroit in this
first of all lake-built vessels; the trav
ersing of the upper lakes and pene-
tration of the interior of the Illinois
| country, where Fort Creve COuer was
built. and the intrepid explorers final
triumph over all obstacles and enemies
in reaching the Mississippi by descend
ing the river Illinois LaSalle tells us
that he was detained at the mouth OF
the Illinois for twelve days. by floating
ice: that in February. 1852. he found
himself moving down the mighty cur
rent of the river Colbert. as he named
it. made more mighty by the muddy,
mad-rushing Missouri: that the coun-
try between the latter river and the
ohio, he declares in simplest French.
was beautiful; that game abounded
near where we know De Soto crossed;
that the savages We're hostile between
tho mouth of the Arkansas and juno
tion of Red river. and that early in
Apvil. the parting forks of the wonder
full river We're before their eyes. On
Aprtl Q. 1852, LaSalle and his then
faithful followers, having passed out
through the three channels of the Miss
ssippi into the Gulf of Mexico. effected
Il joint landing, and there planting the
holy cross. proclaimed the divinity of
their religion and the sovereignty of
their country, '.in the name of the most
high. mighty. invincible and victorious
Prince Louis the Great, by the grace Of
God. king Of France and of Navarro"
Shouts of Long live the king!' and
three volleys of musketry confirmed an
acquisition or grant of stupendous,
though unmeasured, magnitude to
Louis XIV. the then most powerful
monarch in the world. The successful
explorer named the whole vast region.
extending to Canada and to the great,
tributary northwest. Louisiana in honor
of it's new sovereign.
In 1854, the ever-friendly Frontenac
having been recalled, and the large
minded Colbert having died, the indo-
mitable LaSalle betook himself to the
court of Versailles, where his signin-
cant services, his worth, weight and
dignity of character secured a favor
able response to his praiseworthy petit
tion and lofty prayer. The minister OF
marine and colonies, Seignelay, the son
of Colbert; agreed to fit out an eXpedi-
tion to proceed by sea to the mouth of
the Mississippi, for no less grand a
purpose than to lay the foundation of
great empire. The resolute LaSalle
purposed to establish Il fort and a col
ony, sixty leagues above the mouth of
the great river from which the French
could control the settlement of a conti-
nent and eventually drive the Span
iards from Mexico He was given four
vessels to be commanded while at
sea" by Beaujeu, captain of the navy,
who was so consumed with conceit
that the ceaseless recognition of his
own Importance appeared more essen
tial TO him than the success of the ex-
petition. Through the ncapacity or the
deception OF Beaujeu. the colonists
We're landed at Metagorda bay, one
hundred aud thirty leagues west of
their destination. From this blunder
followed no end of disasters. A land
ing place in the wilds of Texas was a
wholly different thing from settle
ment on the banks of a mighty conti- |
mental river The martinez of the royal
navy hastily returned to France taking
what was most useful to the colonists
with him. The abandoned settlers We're
reduced to desperate straits. LaSalle |
and his colony, while suffering from
malarial fevers. from lack of food and |
from all the perl.s and privations of the |
wilderness, resolved in March, 1857, as
Il last hope to seek succor from the re-
mote outposts near the northern lakes. |
Some progress had been made in this |
dangerous direction. when IA hunters |
quarrel, resulting in the killing of Nor |
enger LaSalle's nephew, precipitated a |
conspiracy, which ended i'm the assas- |
of the intrepid leader of the |
expedition.
Here on the banks of the placid Trim
ity river, beyond the restraints of civil |
iZation "A wretch named IDrchvesuua |