The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-14

Vlsllng many tribes in the neighborhood
q Green pay, probably including trip
70 Ine OJlbWays of Lake Superior. Very
carry IN the spring, while the frozen
streams forbade canoeing. these two
frenchmen, with about $50 Indians went
o. snoWshoes across a distance Of about
nltY leagues, as Radisson says, to q
river where they spent three weeks il
making boats. The snowshoe journey
TOOK them, as the sneaker showeg across
ne ne present area. of Wisconsin TO the
Ity OF Prairie du Chen. When their
beats We're built, they went up the river
eight days, to two indian tribes, prob
aply near the site of the city of Wi
Plies of corn and meal, which, as the
narrative says, lasted until they came
to the first lending isle
Lands of Isle Pelee.
Many evidences give entire assurance
that this. first landing isle was Isle
Pelee, which afterward was the chief
center OF the French fur trade for this
region. 1t is now known as Prairie ISL
ara, lying between the main channel of
the Mississippi and the sloughs of the
lower course of its tributary, the YER
Idillion river. This island is mostly a
beautiful expanse of fertile prairie, from
Which 1T received both it's French and
English names. 1t is ten miles long and
about two miles wide, being the largest
Island in the whole course of the Mis-
sisslppi- A few years before this time
the Huron Indians had been driven from
their villages and lands southeast of
Georgian bay by the fierce attacks Of
the 1roquoiS, and in their fight they at
flrst sought refuge with the Illinois In
aians on the river Of that name, but
year or two before this expedition OF
our TWO French traders, these Huron
eXlles had come to Prairie island in
duced probably by its large area of
Eialrle admirably adapted for raising In
dian corn. These traders hoped to re
turn, With an escort of the Huron In
disns on their long canoe trip back 20
the lower St. Lawrence, within few
weeks after their arrival at Prairie isl
ana But the HuronS, having so recently
como there and begun their cultivation
O. corn on new ground, had little to
supply for subsistence of the large COM
pfny that would go down to Montreal
and Quebec. Therefore Groseilliers and
Rad;sson were obliged, though very re-
lux tantly TO defer their return until the
next year. To make sure of large crop
or corn, and that it should be stored and
saN ed for the long returning journey,
GIoselllers remained at Prairie island
all the yea, from early in May, 1855 UNI
I'll the expedition for Lower Canada
started about the end of June, 1856
Went From River to River.
During that summer of 1866. Radisson
Went with Indian hunting parties and
spent, as he says, -four months without
ef. PortagIng from one hunting ground
10 another, they came Unto the great
river that divides itself in two" meaning
propably the Illinois river, which is form
ed by the Des PLANES and Kankakee
| rivers, each an important canoe route.
In the ensuing winter, messengers were
sent from Prairie island to many tribes
Iar and near, to invite them to join in
the fur trade and to go with their pei
tries and canoes to the French settle
ments. The representatives of many
tribes came therefore in the spring icr
TINS great expedition; but the HarOns,
still fearing the cruel Iroquois who
would probably have ranging parties IN
the Ottawa to waylay them, feared to
start, and pleaded for delay yet another
year 1t was a critical time for these
Two french traders, as their business
success, and perhaps their lives, depend
/ ed on returning. The supply of corn was
ample, and their merchandise for further
trade was wholly exhausted.
1t was decided that a large company.
about 500, as Radisson says, "all stout
men,, should accompany the traders in
their desired return, carrying in canoes
TO quebec q vast freight of most yalu-
able furs. The depressed fur trade.
which had languished since the defeat
and exile Of the Hurons in 1649-5O, was
revived, and all the colonists Of Montreal.
Inree rivers and Quebec, welcomed the
traders and their Indian retinue with
great rejoicing
In second Western expedition three
years later, Groseilliers and Radisson
Yoyaged along the south shore of Lake
superior to Chequamegon bay and trav-
eled into the central and northern part
OF Minnesota, during the winter and
spring of 1659-60, being then the first
Europeans to visit the Sioux