Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-03
FOUNDING OF QUEBEC
Sieur de ChampIain Had Re-
markabIe Experiences.
DISCOVERY OF THE LAKE
Explorer Makes the Find as Mat
ter of Course.
EFFORT TO GAIN INFORMATION
Treated the Indians With Greatest
Degree of Justice and SINGER
ity-Most Humane.
DISCOVERY OF THE LAKE
EFFORT TO GAIN INFORMATION
BY WILLIAM T.. CURTIS.


ALBANY y Y. July >. 1909.
| am sure that everything relating to
the remarkable experiences OF Sieur de
Champlain in making the first explora-
tons of the valley of the ST. Lawrence
and lower Canada. and in founding a
colony there Is of universal interest. par
ticularly just now. when the people are
celebrating tina tercentenary of his enter
prise.
The discovery OF Lake Cnamplain was
not an accident. II came about as a
matter Of course during the thorough eff
forts made by Champlain TO become IA
miliar with the territory in which he was
building an empire, and his reports and
records concerning what he saw and
learned from the Indians show a consci-
entious. intelligent and patient determine
lion to gain the information wanted by
his king, and TO report 1t as faithfully
as possible He treated the Indians with
the greatest degree of justice and SINGER
ity. He endeavored to promote their
CHARACTERIZATION: he translated the Lord s
PRAYER and other extracts from the Cos
pes into the Indian tongues. and wrote
an exposition of Christianity in simple
language for the instruction of the saw
ages. We should honor him not only as
an explorer and pioneer. but also Is
statesman and an empire builder who set
AN example that should have been fol-
lowed by his successors. Almost without
exception the French explorers got on
better with the natives thar those of any
other race. They We're not so reacherous
and avaricious as the Spanlards; they
were not so brutal and merciless as the
English. and If YOU will compare the
records of the three races i'm their treat
mpnt of the aborigineS from the st. Law
renee to the Straits of Magellan you will
lind that the French were the most hu-
name and sympathetic and just.
Laid Foundations of City.
On July ;, 1908, Champlain laid the
foundations OF the city which still bears
the name of Quebec.
During the winter following he learned
from the Indians who came to the settle
ment. that far to the southwest there ex-
listed a large lake. whose waters were
dotted with beautiful islands. and whose
ishores We're surrounded by lofty noun
tains and fertile valleys. An opportunity
TO explore this lake and the river by
which its waters were drained into the
ST. Lawrence was eagerly coveted by
Champlain. This region occupied a Pc
cular relation to the hostile tribes on the
north and those south OF the st. Law
renee. 1t was the battlefield or warpath,
where for many generations, on each re-
turning summer. they had met in bloody
conflict. The territory between these con-
tual fear had kept IT open and uninliab-
tied. The Montagnais in the neighbor-
hood of Quebec were quite ready to con-
duct Champldin on this exedltlon, but II
was nevertheless on the condition that ne
should assist them in an attack upon any
enemies that might be encountered on the
way To this he acceded without hesita-
ton.
Starts for Exploration.
on the 18th of June. 1869, Champlain
left Quebec for this exploration. His
escort of Montagnais was subsequently
augmented by warriors from their allies.
the Hurons and the Algonauins. After
numerous delays, when the expedition
war fairly afioat on the river Richelieu,
il consisted of sixty warriors in bark ca
noes. clad in their usual armor. accom-
panied by Champlain and two French ar
auebuSiers. Proceeding up the river, they
entered the lake July 4. 1909, and moved
tardiiy along its western shore AT the
expiration of nearly three weeks-on the
:s5tn of July, l69-in the shade OF the
evening, they discovered a fiotilla of bark
canoes. containing about two hundred
Iroquos warriors Of the Mohawk tribe
who We're searching for their enemies, the
tribes of the north, whom they hoped TO
lind on this old war path. Early the next
morning, on the present site of Ticonde-
roga, near where the French subsequent
~ erected Fort Carlton, whose ruins are
still visible, the two parties met. IL was
the first exhibition of firearms the saw
ages had ever witnessed. Champlain,
moving at the head of his allies, dis
charging his areuebus at the enemy. Two
chiefs were instantly killed. and another
savage tell mertallS wounded. The two
French arquebusiers, attacking in flank.
poured deadly fire upon the astonished
Mohawks. The strange noise of the mus
kerry, their comrades mysteriously falling
dead or wounded. and the deafening
shouts Of the victors carried dismay into
the Mohawk ranks. In CONSERVATION they
fed into the forest, abandoning their ca
nues, arms, provisions and belongings of
every sort
The joy of the victors was unbounded.
In three hours after the fight they had
gathered up their booty. placed ten cap
tives in their canoes. performed the Gus
tomary dance OF victory, and were sail
ing down the lake on their homeward
voyage. They soon reached their destina-
ton. having fingered here and there to
inhict the usual inhuman punishment
upon their prisoners of war. The crdel-
ties which they practiced in the presence
OF Champlain were abhorrent to his gen
TO mitigate and soften the sufferings
which ne could not wholly avert.
Hurried Survey of Lake
lie had made hurried survey of the
lake, extending nearly its whole length,
IT'S wooded shores fianked by the Adiron-
Gacks on the west. and by the Green
mountains on the east. From the mouth
of the Richelieu be penetrated inland 80
miles, and. as the discoverer. might justly
claim that the whole domain of which
this line was the radius had by him been
added to the French dominion. To this ex-
quiSitely fine. eXpanse of water ne gave
his own name: and now, after the lapse
of 800 years, 1t still remains. Soon after
arriving at Quebec. Champiain made
preparations To return to France.
Champlain was again appointed lieu.
tenant for the government Of the colony
Of Quebec. During the summer OF 1910
he was unable 10 undertake any explora-
tons, although two important ones had
been projected the year before. One oil
them was in the direction of Lake ST
john and the headwaters of the Sague
nay. the other up the ottawa and to the
region of Lake Superior.
Before the Algonquins from the Ottawa
returned To their homes Champlain began
practice which proved of great value
IN after years. He placed in the custody
or the Indians Il young man to accom-
pany them to their homes, pass the win.
ter learn their language. their mode OF
life and numberless other things which
can only be fully understood and appre.
ciated by actual residence. On the othe,
hand, young savage was taken to
France and made familiar with the form.
Of civilized life. These delegates of botl
parties could act as interpreters and thu.
intercourse between the French and In.
dians became easy and intelligent Cham.
nlaira 1Q1 Er-a.