Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1915-03-13
Famous
Catholics.
JAMES CARTIER.
BY paul Il. Martin.

BY Paul x. Martin.
While James Cartier is generally
termed "the discoverer Of Canada,
his explorations had a direct bearing
on the history OF that territory now
embraced in the United States, and
that bearing was one which is par
ticularly Catholic in its Significance
In order 10 understand this more
fully It is necessary to glance ahead
o few years. and to consider the
marvellous work done by the Jesuit
fathers among the Indians of New
York State. In those DAYS social
service" and social welfare were
unknown words. but the intrepid
missionaries were the men who laid
the foundations for tina, work which
is now SO popular among all classes
of people
The Jesuits came to America from
France. first entering that territory
which belonged TO Francs by right of
the discoveries OF James Cartier.
Gradually they extended their labors
until they were finally laboring
among the Indians IN territory
claimed by the Dutch. but these
Jealous men drew no lines at nation
atty OF colonization so long as there
we're souls to be saved Their work
has had marked effect in the develop
ment OF America aud credit must be
given 70 Cartier and his companions
for having blazed the trail for the
entrance OF Christianity into this
part of the New World.
A native of Brittany. born al
Ssint-Maio in 1871. Cartier early
turned his ambitions toward the sea.
and when scarcely more than a child
was doing a mans work aboard the
primitive vessels which skirted the
French coast Like so many others
who sought honor in the New World,
he was undoubtedly influenced by
the discoveries of Columbus. and re-
solved to follow in the footsteps OF
that iliustrious navigator The
records of his early work are incom-
plete. but It is generally thought that
he followed some OF his countrymen
on their expeditions of discovery to
Newfoundland or Brazil.
France had made several attempts
to establish colonies in the Western
Hemisphere. having sent as agents
such men as Thomas Aubeft, Jean
Denys, the Baron de Lcry. the Par
mentiers and Verrazano, FlOrentine
navigator The attempts of these
men had been more or less uusuccess-
full, and Cartier after giving much
study TO the question, offered his
services to PHILIPPE de Chabot. Adj
miral OF France. at the time when
I.ropafe ,rao aho,,f 10 ronat- tIa ola
attempt Cartier was not alone in
his ambition. and was greatly dis
concerted when he learned that many
men DESTROYS of undertaking the
work had made application before
him But Cartier had already dis
tinguisled himself and had won some
recognition from the Crown This
fact led to his selection, and on April
20, 1884. he set sail from his native
port with two smalisssps and . crew
of sixty men. ..-
Laying his course toward New
Foundland. he reached Cape Bona
vista after voyage lasting twenty
days. and from there continued his
explorations toward the north. He
entered the Strait Of Belle Isle and
explored the coast Of Labrador as
I FAR as Brest. and then turning south
\ followed the western coast of New
I Foundland as far as Cape St. John.
He then sailed toward Magdalen
Islands, which as well as Prince Ed
ward Island he sighted, and adyanc-
ing toward the west. be visited the
entrance of the Miramehi river,
Z Chaleurs Bay and Gaspe Basin. Then
crossing the estuary OF the st. Law
renee to the northern coast, he turned
his course beck to France.
This first voyage consumed 1877
days, and upon his return to his ma
tive land Cartier made report oil
his expedition which was so salts
factory that the next year the Kine
offered him another commission anC
supplied him with a better fleet ant
more men. In all Cartier made foul
voyages, during one of which he war
compelled to winter at the mouth o.
the River Lairet Owing to lack o.
proper food, scurvey broke on
among his men and Twenty-Five o
them died Cartier also visited th'
Indian villages which marked thi
sites of the present cities of Quebe'
and Montreal, and which afterwar,
became the base OF the missionar.
endeayors