The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-03-06
DR.. Kemper Throws Historical
Light on Subject.
HE TELLS OF NICOLLET'S JOURNEY
Arrived Here When Indians We're in
Force.
CHARMING SKETCH OF FORMER DAYS.
Researches Which VIII be Read With
Interest Because of Subject and
Way il is Handled.

The following local historical sketch
is from the pen of DR.. w. G. Kemper;
Samuel Champlain, the Governor OF
New France, in 1909 entered the north
ern part of what is now New York with
war party of Algonquins, and near
Lake Champlain defeated a party of
Iroquois The thunder and execution
of his arquebus striking them with ter
ror, and impelling them to flight. By
this Insignificant battle he gained for
the French the hatred of the Five Ma
tions, the most powerful and warllke
tribes in the country. Prevented by
them from exploring the country to the
south, the French penetrated westward
along the turbulent Ottowa river and
the north shore of Lake Ontario to the
waters of Lake Huron. These Jealous
missionaries, remarkable explorers and
thrifty traders often met Indians who
dwelt beyond the waters of the great
lakes and described that country in
glowing colors; Landed the valor and
dexterity of the inhabitants and the
wealth and the might of the natives.
They spoke of fabulous mine from
which came copper ore, which some of
them had in their possession,
1t was the general belief that China
lay to the west of the waters of the
great lakes, and could be reached by a
river leading to that great empire; and
the description of the Indians seemed to
verify this supposition. When the ex-
aggerated accounts of this region reach
ed the ears of the governor at Quebec
he decided to send message to these
natives to discover the all important
passage to China, and to encourage
peace with them and the French, with a
view of promoting trade. The discov-
cry of the copper mine, which was sup
posed to be located on an island in the
lake known as lie bdc des PudnS, Green
Bay was also of great Importance
Among the followers of the govern
or was a young man by the name of
Jean Nicollet, an Independent trader or
co,tre,r du bois. He had for a number
of years lived among the Algonquins,
had shared the denominations of their
cabins, and had been adopted by mem
ber of the tribe. Thus he learned their
language and became valued counsel
or. The rough and precarious existence
in the dense wilderness was to him an
ideal life, and one he preferred to all
the comforts of civilization. This man
Champlain chose, first as an Indian in
terpreter; and then as his ambassador to
region as distant, as dangerous and
as unknown as was central Africa be-
fore the discoveries of Stanley.
He started on mis- journey in July
1884, fourteen years after the landing of
the Puritans at Plymouth, accompanied
by some Catholic priests, who We're glad
of an opportunity to reach the Huron
country under the guidance of a man SO
we'll versed in the lore of the woods
They proceeded up the st. Lawrence
river to the mouth of the Ottawa at
Montreal, then up this wild stream,
with its hundred of falls and rapids,
through dense swamps and tangled un-
derbrush, until almost exhausted, and
{ tortured by millions Of mosquitoes, they
arrived at Allumette Island. Here the
missionaries remained, and Nicollet with
seven Hurcns continued his journey
alone. From early morn till late at
they padded up the turbulent river, or
carried their canoes passed the rapids
and falls, over stones, logs and wind
rows, through the brambles and thick
cts that lined the stream Now knee
deep in the ooze of the swamps, now
clambering over tangle of rotting logs
and stumps and again on the swiftly
flowing river. When they reached the
neighborhood of Lake Nippissing they
carried their frail boats across the ford
end glided among the wild beauties of
this body of water, thence down the
French river to Georgian Bay. They
had now reached the verge Of the from
tier known to the whites in those days.
Besides Nicollet and Champlain, but
few missionaries and traders had pene-
trated the wilderness to this point. Be
yond lay d region unknown, untrodden
by civilized man, region dark and
mysterious, inhabited according to the
superstitious natives by mighty manitos,
terrible demons, and bloodthirsty ogres.
Turning north they coasted along the