Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-03-29
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NORMANDY |,
WILLIAM r. A. WILSON
- 81
CHAPTER XXIV.-CoNrINuED.

WIFI III NOllln5 Vi II a A
La Sale and his little band arrived.
The meeting of the two comrades long
separated was full of gladness. La
Sale had entirely recovered his
strength and was filled with his old
time enthusiasm. The whole party
now made their way with the supplies,
tools, ammunition, etc, that Tonti
had brought with him from Quebec,
down the river 10 the spot where the
Illini town had formerly stood. La
Sale decided that he would try to
gather up the remnants Of the dis
persed nation. and found a new town
protected by the citadel he had long
contemplated erecting on the tall rock.
He found on their arrival that a num-
Der of the nlini had struggled back TO
their old home, and he was welcomed
by them as a friend and deliverer.
They entered heartily into his plans,
placing themselves willingly under his
leadership and protection, and sent
emissaries out to recall the scattered
tribes. They Joined in with a right
goodwill TO assist the French in the
building of the fort that was to be a
future protection against the incur
sions of their enemies.
This cliff stood by the rivers edge
like a castle tower. On three sides it
arose steep and sheer. Its height was
about la feet, while the top was about
an acre in extent. In front it over
hung the river; toward the west a for
est lay at its feet; eastward a wide
gorge protected it from approach in
that direction. 1t was accessible only
from behind, and that with difficulty
by a narrow, steep passage bidder at
the base amidst a waste OF oak and
walnut trees. The forest that crowned
it was quickly cut down and its tim
hers used in erecting a palisade that
ran around its edge. On the space
thus cleared were erected a chapel,
storehouses, a powder magazine, and
various buildings TO be used as
dwellings by those who would flee to 1t
for protection in time OF war.
During this work the bands Of the
defeated Illini came struggling in, UNI
til their number amounted to six thou
sand. Their lodges were built about
the foot of the cliff. From the vicinity
of Fort Miami came a band of twenty
five exiled savages from the eastern
tribes, chiefly Abenakis and Mohegans,
to join their slender force to that OF
the colony of La Sale. Soon the news
spread, and from the distant banks
80 +lo nlin M =, n hnly IF GhawapOGC
TO incorporate themselves with this
new confederation, while the Miamis
from the banks of the Theakin, real
izing the Importance of joining with
the Others against their common enc
nv the Iroouois, offered themselves
to swell the numbers. La Sale gladly
accepted these numerous additions
and soon the country for a mile around
the rock was dotted with the lodges
of the allies. The total number al
length amounted to over twenty thou
sane souls, of whom fully four thou
sand were warriors.
Finally the fort was finished and thu
flag that Renee had given to La Salt
fioated from the summit. The name o
Fort st. Louis was given to the fortl
f~ication, and thus after many defeat!
it seemed as though some lasting pro
eress had been made toward winning
the great west for the French king
Tonti had r%ecounted faithfully al
the adventures Of his journey to Lii
Sale and had received warm prais'
for all that had been accomplished
He described his meeting with Renee
at Quebec, the reason assigned b.
Frontenac for her leaving France, hi
endeavors for her safety, which h
knew was precious in the eyes of ri
friend. and all the course Of their wan
derings. La Sale was surprised a
learning Of her close proximity, but t
Tonti's amaZement expressed no in
tention of either going for her himself
or of sending to Michilimackinac t
bring her to him. In fact, although h
saw a faint flicker of the former ligh
in his eye when he first mentioned hel
vet he seemed to sh ow far greater con
Germ over learning the condition c
affairs at Quebec than he did to hea
the details of their voyage. Tontl at
tributed this seeming Indifference t
an attempt upon the part of his com
rade to conceal his real feelings, a
was his wont whenever anythin
No touched him deeply,
La Sale realized that in order t
maintain the advantage alread
gained and keep in hand the variot
tribes beneath his control, two thing
must be accomplished: one, that
making the fort impregnable so tn;
the trust of the savages that he coul
protect them from the Iroquois woul
not be lost; the other, that Of suppl.
ing them with French goods in e.
change for their furs. To meet Il
first conditions more men, ammun
ton, guns and cannon must be broug
from Quebec. To meet the second
trip to that city must be made in pc
son to make the best arrangement
possible with his creditors and to pr
vide for the importation of the vario
goods the Indians demanded, Thus
was that the christening of the 70
had hardly been accomplished befo
the eVeT-reStleSS spirit OL tHe Hi
urged him to action. He thereto
made his plans for leaving the fort
charge of Tonti and making the jor
ney eastward with all possible spec
One thing more, however, was esse
tial. This was that he should be al
to report the exploration of the low
Mississippi and take possession Of
N 60 - ..--4 ku..s4-r.. =. ~ - 4
king. This must necessarily be