The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-24

try, where Fort CreYe Couer was built,
and the intrepid explorers final triumph
over all obstacles and enemies in reach
ing the Mississippi by descending the
River Illinois. La Sale tells us that he
was detained at the mouth of the ILL.,
nois for twelve days by floating ice; that
in February, 1852, he found himself NOV
ing down the mighty current of the Riv
er Colbert, as he named it, made more
mighty by the muddy, mad-rushing Mis-
souri,; that the country between the lat
ter river and the Ohio, he declares in
simplest French, was beautiful; that
game abounded near where we know De
Soto crossed; that the savages were hos
tile between the mouth of the Arkansas
and junction of Red river, and that early
in April, the parting forks of the Won
derful river were before their eyes.
On April 8, 1882, La Sale and his then
faithful followers, having passed out
through the three channels of the Mis-
sissippi into the Gulf of Mexico, effected
a joint landing, and there planting the
holy cross, proclaimed the divinity of
their religion and the sovereignty of
their country, "Ir 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 acqui-
sition or grant OF stupendous, though un-
measured, magnitude, to Louis XIV, the
then most powerful monarch of the
world The successful explorer named
the whole vast region extending to Can
ada and to the great tributary north
west, Louisiana, in honor of its new SOW
ereign
In 1854 the ever friendly Frontenac hay
Ing been recalled, and the Iarge-minded
colbert having died, the indomitable La
Sale betook himself to the court Of
Versailles, where his significant serv-
ices, his worth. weight and dignity of
character secured favorable response
to his praiseworthy petition and lofty
prayer. The minister of marine and col
on1es, Seignelay, the son Of Colbert
agreed to fit out an expedition to pro-
coed by sea to the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi for no less grand a purpose than
to lay the foundation of a great en-
pire. The resolute La Sale purposed to
establish fort and a colony, sixty
leagues above the mouth of the great
river from which the French could con-
troll the settlement of continent and
eventually drive the Spaniards from
Mexico.
He was given four vessels to be COM
manded while at sea" by Beaujeu, a
captain of the navy, who was so con-
sumed with coneeit that the ceaseIess
recognition of his own Importance APP
peared more essential to him than the
success of the expedition. Through the
incapacity or the deception of Beaujeu.
the colonists were landed at Metagorda
bay, Is leagues west of their destina-
ton. From this blunder followed no end
Of disasters. A landing place in the
wilds of Texas was wholly different
thing from settlement on the banks
of mighty continental river. The mar
tinet of the royal navy hastily return
ed to France, taking what was most use
full to the colonists with him. The
abandoned settlers were reduced to des-
perate straits. La Sale and his colony,
while suffering from malarial fevers,
from lack Of food and from all the pefils
and privations of the wild erness, resolv-
ed in March, 1887, as last hope to seek
succor from the remote oatpests near the
northern lakes. Some progress had been
made in this dangerous direction when
hunters quarrel, resulting In the kill
ing of Morenger, La Sales nephew. p. e
cipitated a conspiracy which ended in the
assassination of the intrepid leader of
the expedition.
Here on the banks Of the placid Trim