The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-09-12

IA
SNO certain star hangs over Father Point
.6W21fS all good men should keep to their
s6SHleIlkI homes for on that night danger turks
SyvylST ON the ST. Lawrence river off the
E0ZSN point and the hunter and woodsmen
GSSl&y Of the interior are in danger Of their
rs Father Point is near the mouth Of
the Rimouski river and is on the
south shore of the St. Lawrence The people of
that place are used to caring for the poor and
distressed. They have seen much disaster
and heartbreak they have long ceased to regard
such occurrences for long.
The history Of Father Point dates back before
the coming Of the white man. The language of
the Indians gives legends Of the evil star.
One winter while the Indians of the Rimousk
region were planning a trapping expedition to
the Champlain river the star rose above the
point and by that sign forbade the Indians to
embark. There were old men In the village who
had heard OF the legend and who told the young
men to remain at home until the star had passed
on. The young men laughed at the counsel Of
the old men and tried to depart. Then the old
men went to the water and destroyed the canoes
OF the young men. They threw them on the fires
and sat by in silence while the young men rallied
ut the older heads for the superstition.
But the Great Manitou took revenge for the
rebellion Of the young men. The legends tell
how the Great Manitou sent the deepest snow
Inat n8Q ever lallen. Inc trails were buried and
none were able to leave their wigwams Famine
came because they could not go on the hunt
formerly The young men died and there were
few left to tell the tale.
Then came the French. One night when the
wind howled around Father Point and sighed In
the branches Of the trees Of the Rimouski river
the star reached the zenith above the fatal spot
Don't go out tonight" chanted the Indian
medicine men. There is death In the land
Don't go out tonight"
But the French left their homes in spite of the
warnings. All the young men Of the river coun-
try marched away, because had not the great
General Montcam commanded? They were 60
ing to the defense Of Quebec. Their boats took
TO the river that night and they Knocked the star
"a It twinkled from above the crags. AS their
boats moved up the St Lawrence toward Quebec
the boats of Wolfe hove in sight. As the sailors
of Wolfe's command passed Father Point the
watch on the boat saw the star, so the records
say. He pointed upward. for the star was In the
zenith and 1t was Of great brilancy.
The men went on up the stream. The French
landed and were welcomed to Quebec. The Eng
fish followed them. They, too. landed, but It
many weary months after. Before that time the
French soldiers had laughed many times about
the warnings Of the old Indian medicine chiefs
Before that time the English had forgotten the
star which hung over Wolfe's vessel, but the
Waterman Of that night did not forget and the
Indian medicine men did not forget.
Then one night Wolfe. with his men, crept up
the heights Of Abraham above Quebec and when
v broke he commanded the view Of the city
he French rushed to the defense Of the city
the plains Of Abraham they fought most
Nvalianty. but they seemed unable to stand before
the onslaughts Of the English. Every man from
the banks Of the Rimouski died in that terrible
lconfict. Montcalm. who had ordered them to
the defense Of Quebec, also was killed in battle
land as he was about to die he reverently thanked
God he was spared the sorrow Of surrendering
the fortress to the English.
! The English won the victory but the annals of
that fight show that every officer and man who
rode on the boat that night the star shone and
Ieven General Wolfe himself fell bleeding that
morning. The Waterman alone survived the