The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-12

Father De Smct startedesstward throughth
country Of the hostile Crows So attached
had the Fiatheads become TO him that tn
: parting was very affecting. Following
the general direction OF the Yellowstone
Sept. II he reached post OF the American
Fur Company Fort AleIanderO amonl
the Crows; in ten days he passed on to the
Mandans and Minnetaries; five days latel
he was with the Arikaras. kinsmen OF th'
Pawnees in Nebraska: Oct. II. he was a
Fort Pierre. among the Cheyennes ant
Dakotas. As his horse was now completely
broken down by long travel he made the
rest Of his way down the Missouri River
10 a canoe Council Bluffs, Oct q. Here
for the frsi time in the long journey he
met familiar faces in the persons Of tive
fathers labor ring there among the Pota'
watomis the scene OF his own earliest mis-
sionary endeavor The night after his ar
rival ice closed the river. Dec. % West
port was reached; thence overland by
stage coach, the university welcomed his
return Jan. !, lNi.
It is not often that reader meets mar
rative more reple,e with incidents novel
and varied than this story OF Father De
He visited nearly twenty Indian tribes
all Of whom had received him kindly
by some he was treated with special mani
festations OF arectionate regard. He had
traversed the Territories OF Kansas, Ne
braska. Colorado, Montan ma, Idaho. North
and South Dakota. Iowa and Missouri,
Many OF the scenes that he passed have
since become historic. The total distance
] ID ~ t A nail
| In the two succeeding years he repeated
essentially the same tour. Later. in IS,
/ 40. 81. 81. SO and Cs. he made extensive
/ journeys. some of which we're continued
into the Dominion of Canada as far az
Fort Athaba On all these occasions
he was equally jealous and sucoeesful
in organizing churches in the frontier
settlements. The excellent map accom-
panying the narrative will indicate at u
glance how far reaching his influence has
beer
For varied and multiform information
relative to the tribes OF our early North
west there is no single work more valuable
than this admirably arranged and ammo
tated record OF the labors Of Father De
Smet They cover a period Of nearly
thirty five years OF constant jealous effort
results of his ever intelligent and sym
pathetic observations and studies. penned
while fresh and vivid. not recalled as ln-
distinct "reminiscences. form a veritable
thesaurus, OF which later students Of the
history and ethnology OF the early North
west win, no doubt. long continue TO take
advantage. He records frequent details
az 10 the domestic life OF the Indians. their
tal SLu.w IL
lore, their religious beliefs their forms
OF food and the preparation OF them. their
clothing. their physical features. their
mental traits, their agriculture. their
methods in hunting and in warfare. their
treatment OF diseases, their intertribal in
tercourse. the results OF intercourse with
the whites, DC, While thus studying the
Indians as 20 their habits. capabilities and
conditions, he was equally obseryant Of the !
nature OF the country that they occupied.
The general topography, special surface
features the water supply, the cha rscter
OF the soi the vegetation. the variations |
Of temperature. the saluhrity OF the eli |
mate. the native animals. fowl and fish |
their habits and value, were frequently |
observed and recorded. In these respects
the volumes before us take honorable place
with the ournals OF Lewis and Clarke and
the admirable narrative by Prince Maxi
milan Zu WED OF his explorations in the
same region.
Naturally. we might expect that the
long unsettled and embarrassing indian
question would press itself upon the father+
attention, Az early as 1888 its grave
importance to the white man az well as
TO the Indian had enlisted his earnest
thought; repeatedly II is mentioned or
briefly discussed in his letters: various
persons in official position were approached
as TO the matter in several instances his
advice was solicited. in pending neRotia-
tions with hostile tribes his assistance
was repeat teddy Of great value in securing
peace But the unfortunate system of
delay and vacilIation seemed to him TO
'hwart every anticipation OF better things
He was destined TO see more than one Of
his most hopeful missionary enterprises
some TO naught. Naturally. therefore. his
'angulne anticipations were in his later
years overcast. While generating the
Government of adverse intention be was
oroed 10 conclude that The white mans
purpose that the Indian should go 10 the
wall was fixed.
Though an alien by birth Father de
'met early imbibed the better spirit OF his
Idopted country and became in instinct
md conduct a true American. Perhaps
he mos, signal instance OF his loyalty was
hown IN his attitude in the Oregon question. 7
'nce known as the -A-4o-or-fight- con !
roversy. 1t CHANGED that while upon a
Missionary tour in ls42 upon the Columbia &
It Fort Colville, be met Mr. Peter S. Ogden /
vho had formerly served Mr. Astor in his
ur trade, but at this time was an official /
4 the Hudson Bay Company Upon in t
'itation he descended the river in Mr. :
)gdens barge 20 Fort Vancouver Mr.. 7
ogden he learned In company with two Of I
oers of the English army, had left England r
he previous April. The father soon had .
eason TO slrmise that the gentlemen were t
ot mere tourists, but had orders from r
heir Government to erec, fort and raise 4
he English ensign at the mouth Of tho Z.
Columbia in token OF taking permanent 3
Of the country. 1t was even h
minated that at their convenience thew +
'ould occupy California then belonging o
, Mexico as well; that is, while the United Il
tates was talking, the English were acting. n
y De Smet afterward expressed il. John /.
hull without much talk attains his end