The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-04

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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 to 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 Illini 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 q castle tower. On three sides 1t
arose steep and sheer. Its height was
about 125 feet, while the top was about
an acre in extent. In front 1t over-
hung the river; toward the west a for
est lay at its feet; eastward a wide
U0rUN nrOfnnfaJ ~ from onnrnonh In
that direction. 1t was accessible only
from behind, and that with difficulty
by O narrow, steep passage hidden at
the base amidst a waste of oak and
walnut trees. The forest that crowned
1t was quickly cut down and its tim
bers used in erecting q palisade that
ran around its edge. On the space
thus cleared were erected a chapel,
stor1h,ouses, 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, un-
Ill their number amounted to six thou
sand. Their lodges were built about
the foot of tho cliff. From the vicinity
OF Fort Miami ame a band Of twenty
five sxiled 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
of the Ohio came a body Of Shawanoes
to incorporate themselves with this
new confederation, while the Miamis
from the banks of the Theakiki, real
izing the Importance of Joining with
the others against their common ene-
my the IroquOis, 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 at
length amounted to over twenty thou
sand souls, Of whom fully four thou
sand were warriors.
Finally the fort was finished and the
flag that Renee had given to La Sale
fioated from the summit. The name of
Fort st. Louis was given to the forti-
fication, and thus after many defeats
1t seemed as though some lasting pro-
6KcSo udQ DotA Alduc IOWdTu WIuuluS
the great west for the French king.
Tonti had recounted faithfully all
the adventures Of his journey to La
Sale and had received warm praise
for all that had been accomplished.
He described hin meeting with Renee
at Quebec, the reason assigned by
Frontenac for her leaving France. his
endeayors for her safety, which he
knew wa precious in the eyes of his
friend, and all the course Of their
derinss. La Sale was surprised at
learning of her close proximity, but to
Tonti's amazemont expressed no in
tention Of either going for her himself,
or OF sending to Michilimnckinac to
bring her to him. In fact. although he
saw a faint flicker Of the former light
in his eye when he hrst mentioned her,
yet he seemed to show far greater con-
Germ ever learning tho condition of
afisirA = 0usbsc than h did = hear
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