Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-03-22

engaged at the town OF the friendly
Illini, one of the men who had been
left behind at Fort Creve-Coeur ar
rived, bringing the disastrous news
that the entire force remaining there
had mutinied, destroyed the fort, and
taken to the woods to lead the free
rowing life of the coureurs-de-bois that
they all 50 much desired. Thus were
these three Frenchmen and the two
Priests left alone. They made their
quarters in the Illini town. There was
now no hope of terrifying the rock
even. until Tonti's return.
Thus passed the spring. With the
early summer came the news that car
ried dismay to the hearts of all their
savage allies; the ferocious %Iroquois
were on the march to attack them.
Confusion reigned. The white men
were instantly accused Of being Iro-
quois spies, and the approaching at
tack was attributed to their doings.
For a time it looked to all as though
in the heat and excitement of the mo-
ment they would be sacrificed to the
fear and anger of the frightened saw
ages. But La Sale boldly proclaimed
that the whites were friends of the
Illini, and to prove this said they
would join them in their defense
against the oncoming enemy. This
served to stop any active measures
against the French, although they
were still viewed with suspicion.
A few days later the advance guard
Of the attacking force appeared, and
hurried preparations were made to re-
sist. The squaws and children were
hurried down the river to an island.
where they were left with a small force
to guard them, while the main body OF
the warriors remained to meet their
foe. The faces of the braves were
creased, their bodies painted, and the
night spent in dancing their war;
dances, singing their war-songs, and
working up their courage to meet the
coming battle. The scouts brought in
ever-increasing reports of the size ot
the force that was making ready to fall
upon them. La Sale offered to medi-
ate between the two nations, SO ad-
vancing with two Of his companions,
he held out a belt of wampum as a sigu
of peace. When the Iroquois COM
menced firing on them La Sale sent
the others back, and, proceeding alone,
soon entered the %Iroquois lines. He
inquired haughtily what they, the al
lies of the French, meant by coming on
a warlike errand against the Illini, who
were the children of the great Onontic
and who were under his special pro-
lection. He stood unflinching amid
group of bowling. threatening savages
One brave, intoxicated with dreams Of
blood and murder. struck at him with
a knife, but the blade that was intend.
ed for his heart, striking a rib, glanced
off, inficting an ugly flesh wound. An
other seized his hair with one hand
and with the other made the motions
of scalping him. La Sale, withou'
weapons or any means OF defense, fold'
1y chided them for their behavior ant
demanded a council of the chiefs. Jhi.
was held, and he repeated his demands
that the Illini be left in peace, threat
ening the %Iroquois with the wrath O
France if they were harmed.
After a long and tedious season o
, harangues from many Of the chief
they brought forth six packages G
beaver skins and placed them befor
: La Sale. The chief orator then pre-
/, scented them to him and explained thei
meaning. che first two were to de
clare that the children Of the grea
Onontio (the Illini) were not to b
eaten. The next was a plaster to hea
La Sales wound. The next was OF
to anoint himself and his French com
, panions for a long journey, The mex
announced that the sun was bright an
travelling good. The last required tina
: the whites should withdraw from tn
l Illini camp, and go home to Quebec
| La Sale tbereupon thanked them TO
their gifts, but asked when they them
l selves were going to depart, and leav
| the Illini in peace. This raised a storr
t of angry feelings, and murmurs wer
: heard on all sides that they would We
eat the flesh of the Illini. La Sail
then kicked over the pile Of beave
skins, saying that he would not re
4 ceive them If they were going to ca
s the children of the great Onontio.
: He was thereupon driven from tn
lodge in which the council was hello
q He offered again to mediate, withou
n success. He then withdrew, sent 10
{ the rest of his party, and KNOWN
4 that to remain would mean a certai'
4 and terrible death for them all, set OIL
q in a leaky canoe for Fort Miami. The
I we're obliged to land and repair tn
9 leaks. While thus engaged, Fathe
e Ribourde wandered away from thei
d camp TO mediate at the setting of tn
sun. He was never seen again by tn
n eyes of the French. A number of Ire
j quois who had followed the course c
9 the party since leaving, surprised hir
s while engaged with his devotions i
the timber near by, and cleft his sku,
e with an AK, killing him without SCUM
or struggle on his part. Thus die
the only heir to a wealthy Burgundia
house, who had renowned the CON
forts Of this world to carry to heathe
ears the truths and consultations of tn
8 church. Noble martyr of the faitf
true soldier of the cross, he braved
thousand dangers, fred by a holy yea
d meeting his death at the hands
n those he had com 10 far to bless.
It After searching yainly to find trac
Of their companion and spending tw
days in the vicinity in the vain hop
that he would return, they at last re
newed their journey, reaching Fol
o Miami without further accident. The