The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-09-08


slough, which supplies, even at the low
est stage of the water, II connection be-
tween the Mississippi and the Vermil-
; lion, usually carrying current from
the former to the latter; but during
floods i'll the smaller river, when it is
; higher, the direction of the current in
the slough is reversed. In the highest
Hoods from exceptional rains or from
the snow melting in spring, the Mis-
sissippi rises sixteen to eighteen feet
above its lowest stage; then it sends
off II wide part of its waters along the
course of Vermillion, to unite with the
broader flood of the main river south of
the island, which is reduced at such
times to a length of about seven miles
and maximum width of only about
one mile.
This island possesses several beau
tiful lakes, from half mile to two
miles long; and the largest, Sturgeon
lake, has width of half mile. Tim
Der grows along most parts of the
shores of these lakes, and along the
banks of both the Mississippi and Yer
million rivers, in some places reaching
far from the shores; but about four
fifths of the island is prairie, as it was
also Individually when Groseillier and
Radisson came here. Excepting an ex
tensive low and marshy tract on the
northwestern part of the island, all its
prairie is suitable for cultivation and
is now occupied and used for farming,
including not less than ten or twelve
square miles, or about 1000 acres.
As | traversed this historic island in
early May of the year 1901, at nearly
the exact season of the arrival of these
Frenchmen two and half centuries
ago, my thoughts went back to that
springtime, and | endeavored to picture
their coming with 80 Indians to join
those who IL year or two before had
come there, attracted by the fitness of
the island for corn raising. The island
81
its Indian population may have usually
exceeded its present number of white
inhabitants, perhaps $50, with their
twenty-five or thirty farmhouses, two
schoolhouses and church. Instead of
the neighboring railways and villages
of civilization, all the Mississippi bas-
. | in | l-a To no
inhabited by white men. But it had
many Indian villages, many cultivated
fields yielding abundantly, and unlimit-
ed supplies of fish and game. The ma
tive tribes had not yet obtained fire
arms, before which the buffalo, elk and
deer and most OF the wild fowl, have
with Europeans was begun by these
two daring explorers and traders.
In the ensuing winter messages were
sent from this island to many tribes far
and near, to invite them to join in the
fur trade and to 90 with their peltries
and canoes to the French settlements.
The representatives of many tribes
came, therefore, in the spring for this
great expeditions; but the Hurons, still
faring the cruel Iroquis who would
probably have ranging parties on the
Ottawa to waylay them, were reluctant
to start, and pleaded for delay yet an
other year. 1t was a critical time for
I 4,
ness success, and perhaps their lives, de-
pended upon returning. Their supply
of corn was ample, and their merchan-
disc for further trade was wholly ex-
hausted.
Before a great public council, in
which, as Radisson estimated, ! more
than 500 Indians were present, the earn
est arguments of Groseilliers to persu-
AIDE them to make this long canoe ex-
petition to Lower Canada for the sale
of their furs seemed unavailing, until
Radisson by bold assertion that he
would start alone, at the same time
suiting the action to the word, turned
Iilc lliC VI CIlc COuiCll W dppIONc anu
authorize the dangerous journey.
What a scene was that great council
for poet or a painter, to depict Crosse
illiers and Radisson pleading before 500
Indians! 1t is a day in the middle or
later part of June. On each side, some
two miles away rise the wooded bluffs
that enclose the valley and its islands.
In a beautiful prairie area the motley
crowd of savages are sitting or lying on
the ground. At the center of the as
semblage these two courageous French
men are striving to persuade their dus-
ky auditors to set out on the first com
mercial venture connecting this region
with civilization.
1t was finally decided that large
company, about 800" as Radisson
says, ''all stout men," should accom-
pany the traders in their desired return
carrying in canoes to Quebec vast
freight of most valuable furs. The de-
pressed fur trade, which had languished
since the defeat and exile of the Hurons
in 1G49-5O, was revived, and all the col