The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-26
KANSAS HISTORY
N JULY Il24.
Something of the Journey of.
VenVard BourgmOnt.
TREATED WITH INDIANS
Death Of Bourgmont and the
End of the Expedition.
TREATED With INDIANS

month OF July, l724. the State Historical
so.ciety has records which prove, although
this is incidental TO their purpose II
was in that month Of that year that the
ffst white party visited Kansas after the
Coronado expedition of 154I, relates the
Topeka State Journal The Relation o.
: the voyage OF NJ. &c Bourgnont, chega.ier
OF the military order OF st. Louis, com
nandant OF the river Missouri and above
the falls Of the Arkansas, Is the name
Of the Old manuscript. a copy OF which
Is preserved by the State Historical so
ciety.
The Relation" is a journal kept by
some member Of the expedition and copied
in the Memoirs OF the History OF Louisi
ana, one of the earliest Of the French
American histories written by DumOut
soldier and hterateur. and copied by
many later historians. Chsrievoix and
Bernard de Ia Harpe both mention this
expedition Of Bourgmont and from these
sources the explanation OF the voyage
TO the Indian tribes OF what IS now is
obtained
EtienHe Venya-d Bourgmont was
French courtier and adventurer who was
first appointed commandaat Of the fort
OF Detroit. in 1706, but who was recalled
to France from that post on account Of
having precipitated trouble between the
Ottawas aid Mlamis in which several
Frenchnaen were Killed. When he returned
to France. however. he was restored TO
favor through the influence OF John Law.
the Scotch inancier who in the regency
Of the Duo dOrlesns during The minor
4ty Of Louis XIV attempted 10 restore
the fortunes of the French kingdom and
originated that fantastic scheme known
10 history and the readers Of modern TO
nance as The Mississippi Bubble" His
plan was. briefly. 70 secure trading and
mining concessions from the Indians in
that large part Of America which then
belonged 10 the French IN Bourgmont
he saw man whom nature and expert
ence had fitted for the furthering OF his
plans and secured for him the Cross Of
) St. Louis in order TO bring about his re
turn to America 10 establish the coun-
merce with the savages of the MISS
sippi and especially with the Paducas.
The Paducas occupied the middle and
western part Of what is now Kansas and
contended with the other tribes in this
ing grounds in the extreme western part
Of the state. but their identity with the
tribes which were here when the white
settlers cape is strangely confused Du-
mont says they were later known as the
Comanches, but there are other early rec
ords which show that the Comanches
were q separate tribe existing At that
time. other authorities say they were
what was later known as the Arapahoes
and there are others who think they may
have become extinct or been merged with
some other tribe This latter. however
does not seem probable as according TO
the records of the Bourgnont expedition
they were the largest and most powerful
Of the tribes in this section and their
friendship and commerce was particularly
desired by the French
This expedition Of I724 is not it would
xeerl from the manuscript diary, his tirst
TO Kansas He must AT least have visited
Fort Orleans in western Missouri near
The present site of Jefferson City. al some
earlier date Of the Cranes fKansas) tribe
IN receiving him indicate that the tribe
had some dealing with him before he
was recalled 20 France from Detroit
Roursrnont landed at Mobile on the gulf
of Mexico from France in august, l722-
and ascendsf the Mississippi and the
Missouri TO Fort Orleans two years later.
This expedition started from Fort or
leans in June. I724 Part o. the expe-
aston was by water under N. de ST
Ange. commander of the garrison Of Fort
Orleans. and started sunday. June = On
the following day BourFmont with his
81 ID -
old. always mentioned in the manuscript
as the cadet. set out by land
with Bourgmont and his son were Re
naudiere. Bellerive. Stephen Roulet, Ser
bet several soldiers sne servants and loo
Mfssouris commanded by eight war chiefs
and the great chief % the nation. sixty
four Osages and four chiefs OF the ma
zion. These InUisn tribes Rad already
agreed with Bourgmont 10 ira e with the
French 10 the exclusion OF the spanish
and to keep peace with the neishborng
tribes and they accompanied him on The
Journeys 10 the villages Of the other In
dians as guarsn tee OF good faith.
The direction ~ TIE party which went
nv land WIS northwest across whsr Is
row Missouri 10 The village o. the kan
sas tribe near the present site q the
town OF Atchison. The journey was &C
cornplished IN twelve days and they ar
rived on the east hank Of the Missouri
Friday. June :. and csmped there that
night
The chief OF the Kansas and his war
riors greeted BourEuont and his fol-
lowers with friendliness and promised
him their allegiance. They gave the
Frenchmsn presents OF horses. peltries
ard provisions and entertained them roy
ally for weeks
Meanwhile the water expedition had
been lees successful and rsrort reach
ed Bourg1nont soon after his arrival at
the Kansas village that Illness had BE-
fallen number OF the Frenchmen and
indians who were under De 81 Auge and
that they were rot able 70 proceed.
Bourzmont sent I'VE Of his followers with
provisions 20 assist them. but there vas
great anxiety IN the camp as the Mis-
sour was falling rap.dfy every day and
n was feared IL would not Be navi-
gable long enough 10 permit the rest
Of The party 10 join them. But BY July
&c the boats srrfved with The presents
vhicA Bcurgnort had bought for the
Indians and a few days later they pro-
nsedsd e. khskr Journey across what IS