New-York tribune., 1902-08-24
PREHISTORIC INDIAN CITY.
SITE OF MASCOUTENS, WHICH EARL1
EXPLORERS OF WISCONSIN Wis
TIED. REDISCOyERED.
Bv the Rev. Thomas Clithero.


In Wisconsin's prehistoric period there existed an
Indian city with the musical name of MascouteiS-
1t was located according TO Dablon QS7o. IN lite
midst OF a terrestrial paradise the way to which,
over the stony ra pids of the lower Fox, IS nKeheu
TO the way to HEAVIER" Situated upon commahu-
ing bluff at the junction OF many rivers, Win d
phenomenal range of vision Ger prairies green anu
parklike groves 1t was in a land of game and corn'
of fruit and flowers, land OF strategy oi CUM
merce and of material plenty
The Mascoutens were the celebrated gems de
feu or fire nation. Their city existed through an
age Of mighty hunters and warriors; through d
series of momentous and violent transitions unoer
three flags and as many races: through an era oi
changes marvellously rapid from oarparish ~
civilization and during all that period It's people
were associated with every great event ana every
heroic name Of those stirring times here T>icoi.e'
$3.50, the first white TO tread the soil OF WIS
cousn paused on his journey TO the Great Watei'
and for some nexplcable reason turned pach
within three days journey of his quest without
having solved the mystery of the MISSISSIPPI 'he
yermilion Gulf the China sea
Here Marquette and Joliet r672 Hennep'n ana
Du I,uth Qeso) La Hontan and Perrot QSSS, en-
iova6 bosnitaltv: and here at later date both
perrot and De Tonty Morand and De Lgnery'
provoked hostility by thirst for conquest ana the
greed of commerce.
when the smoke of battle of the French and Indian
wars had blown away it was found that anna the
confusion Mascoutens had disappeared. Its people
had vanished and left nothing but name NO
trace location OF the one or the whereabouts
OF the other has until now been found. city OF
Nv enty thousand inhabitants with thirty suburban
villages containing dozen tribes. with three
whole nations and many languages. had vanished
like the lost tribes of Israel ana left not trace
of themselves their dwelling place Since that
day one prominent question has agitated Wisconsin
antiauarians with interest enhanced by mystery,
Where was Mascoutens? Where was the Mission
Of ST. James? Marquette d673) in his journal thus
answers this question
We knew that at three leagues from Mascoutens
Il river which discharged into the Mississippi;
that the direction it west-southwest, but
that the road is broken by so many swamps and
small lakes that it is easy to lose ones way,
especially s the way leading thither is so full
OF wild (rice) that IL IS difficult TO find the
channel" With this statement every other ancient
author agrees. Hennepin makes the journey down
the crooked, rice choked stream six hours long
La Hontan traverses the wild rice junges in half
day Featherstonhaugh QSS5). the English geolo-
gist warped his through the sea of wild rice
and mud between Q O'Clock a and p. m. Shea
quotes Allouez finding the kickapoos on the
Wisconsin River four leagues from Mascountens
Nicollet was three days journey from the Missis-
sippi down a large stream. He evidently stood at
the Portage. Father Crespel of De Lignerys