The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-07-29
CELERON'S 'SLEAD PLATES
Journey Of Brilliant Frenchman tc
Ohio Country.
LAID CLAIM TO WHOLE REGION
Daring Trip Marked by Variety of Ex'
periences-Buried Plates Founo
After Fifty Years by Boys Swim
ming in the Muskingum.


liant Frenchman, a chevalier of st
Louis. Captain Celeron de Bienville,
who in the summer of 1749 made a
! bold dash from Montreal to the Ohio
country and back by order Of the gov.
| ernor general, La GaliSsoniere. His
object was to renew formal posses
sion of the Ohio valley and warn off
all English traders and land specu'
lators whom he might find there. His
party numbered IA officers and cadets,
20 soldiers, $50 Canadians and com
pany of 80 Indians. He had Jesuit
chaplain. The journey was made in
% large canoes.
Setting out from Montreal, Celeron
pushed up the st. Lawrence and along
Lake Ontario, stopping at the place
now occupied by Ogdensburg to visit
a Sulpitian priest there resident.
Landing at the mouth Of the Niagara
he portrayed around the great cataract
and launched his canoes in Lake Erie
Sldrting its southern shore he stopped
near where now is located Portland,
N. Y. Seven days Of hard work were
spent in carrying overland to Chau-
tauqua lake. near Mayville Thence
the journey continued the length of
that lake, through the outlet into
Conewango creek, and down that
stream to its junction with what the
French then called the Oyo, or Ohio,
row the Allegheny. This river was
followed amid varied adventures as
far as the mouth of the Miami, up
which progress was made as far as
Pickawillany, where ruled a Miami
chief whom the French called La
Demoiselle, but whom the English had
named Old Britain. There the badly
used canoes were destroyed and
long tramp was begun through the
forests to French fort on the Maui
NEE. Boats were there provided by
the garrison and Lake Erie was soon
reached. Thence the return was made
to Montreal, few of the party going
to Detroit.
On this daring trip Celeron met
with a sufficient variety of expert
ences. At several points along the
Ohio he buried leaden plates bearing
the French arms and laying claim to
the country. He is known to have
buried plates at the mouth Of Cone
Wango creek, at point four leagues
below the mouth of French creek and
at the mouths of Wheeling creek, the
Great Kanawha, the Muskingum and
the Miami. 1t has been asserted that
he deposited plate at the place after
wards famed as the site of Fort Du-
Guesne, but this claim arose from a
confusion in the mind of an early
writer as to the location of certain
places on the river and a misinterpra-
tation OF an Indian name.
Celeron met with several English
traders during his progress. At IAN
ancient village of the Shawanese,"
whom he calls Chauenons. which was
on the present site of Springdale, Pa,
he fell in with six traders on their
way to Philadelphia with so horses
and $50 bales of furs. At Shannopin's
Town, where is now Thirty-second
street, Pittsburg, the Indians had all
fled, leaving six English traders. This
was then the home of Queen ALI
quippa All these intruding traders
Celeron warned away. When he
passed the Delaware town of Attiuue
now Kittanning, Pa, he found only
deserted cabins, the people being in
hiding. At Logstown he was received
with a salute not altogether to his
pleasure. Hhe inhabitants lined the
high river oank firing their guns, for
getting in their enthusiasm to omit
bullets in loading. The reception
made things lively for the travellers
for little while. A threat by Celeron
that he would fire on them recalled
their wits. Fears that the English
traders would inspire a night attack
by the Indians caused great uneasi-
ness among the Frenchmen. At the
Shawanese town al the mouth of the
Scioto the French advance 1ag was
sEot through, and the demonstration
was so hostile that the expedition en-.
camped on the opposite side of the
river and posted guards. There were
several English traders here, but
Celeron deemed it prudent not to mo-
lest them. His efforts to seduce Old
Britain and the Miamis from their
English alliances met with no success
Altogether The expedition was fail
ure, save as it formally laid claim to
the region which was so soon to be so
bitterly fought for. Practically it only
made clear the fast friendship OF the
Ohio tribes for the English. Some Of
Celeron's famous plates have since
come to light. After so years the one
buried at :he Muskingum was foupJ
by some boys who were swimming
They had melted half of it into bullets
before the remained was rescued AMI
given into the keeping of the Ameri.
can Antiquarian society. In 1916 n
lad named Beale found the plate
which was deposited at the Great
Kanawha, at Point Pleasant. w. Va.
The Ohio historian Of the long ago.
Mr.. Atwater, left the statement on
record that he had seen the plate
which had been laid by Celeron undac
the big fiat rock opposite the barren
mountain" below the mouth of French
creek. knowledge is had of one other.
which was never buried. The Indians
were suspicious of tho Frenchman's
plates with their "devilish writing"
80 they stole one from him and took