The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-03
French Priest Landed at Sandusky
and Trail Across to Des Moines
River, Runs Through
Part of keokuk.
RED MEN GREET THEM
Explorer Priest Commended Himself
and Companions to God and
Ventured In
land.

The visit Of Father Marquette to the
teresting story, told perhaps most in
terestingly in the Northwestern Re-
view, of July 1857. published in keo-
kuk by II. Fl. Bedding. The date OF
Mafquette's landing at Sandusky Is
June 81, 1878. From the article in the
Review, the following account OF the
tFrenchman's visit is taken:
While gliding along a sandy beach
they saw the imprint of human feet.
Marquette observed it first and calling
to his companion, Joliet, they sprang
from the boat and followed the traces
some distance, entering an Indian
trail.
Leaving orders for the boats to re-
main until he returned, the Jealous
ladventurer, attended by his companion
set out to seek the people whom ne
knew could not be far distant. The
trail receded from the river, assembled
Ia high bluff and brought them to ar
open prairie extending northwestward-
lily as far as the eye could see. Still
following the traiu they crossed the
prairie and travelled on for distance
of six miles, when they at last found
themselves in the vicinity Of three
Indian villages.
The narrative OF Marquette is so
simple and unpretending and w1thal
so clear in its description OF the place
where the villages stood On the banks
of the Moingona (Des Moines) that 1T
might easily be ascertained with suf-
ticient accuracy to satisfy the curious.
II stood at the foot of long slope
running eastwerdly from the river
about six miles west from the Mis-
sfssippi. Upon the rising ground at
the distance OF half league, stood
the other two villages above mentioned
and belonging to the same tribe.
Taking the description of the pious
voyager into proper account. 1t would
lead us to believe that the spot upon
which the Indian villages stood could
not have been over four miles from
the mouth OF the Des Moines ana mav
probably have been near the tall
bluffs first met with in ascending that
stream.
AS the two adventurers approached
the Indian village, they called aloud
1--WE commended ourselves to God"
said Marquette. for they knew not at
what moment they might need His aid
perhaps in a few moments they
might fall a sacrifice to vavage fero-
city. With a holy resignation, they
then advanced toward the Indian
lodges. At length they were met bv
four old men of the tribe and to their
great Joy were welcomed to their rude
wiSwaTis, the ssEtimsIi OF friendship
were here for the first time exchanged
between the Illinois as they called
themselves. and the pioneers Of a
great people. The old men presented
them with richly ornamented calu-
met, the emblem Of peace and friend
ship among these children OF the for
est and the weary travellers with the
veteran deputation entered in triumph
this savage settlement far in the will
derness.
A great council was at once held, IN
which all the dignity and imposing GER
emonies Of the rude savages were ex-
posed to the humble voyagers. Mar
quette in turn made known to them
his mission from his Heavenly Master
and told Them of his king and country
far beyond the great sea and his
viceroy in New France and the vic
tories the latter obtained over their
enemies. the dreaded Troquois. He
then asked them Of the Mississippi
and the Moingona and what people
lived in the countries to the south and
further west. His questions were
kindly answered and after sitting sew
eral hours, the council broke up and
the travellers were conducted to the
lodge Of the chief which was like the
rest. unless perhaps 1t might have
been more pIentifully supplied with
provisions. Then came the sumptous
meal of the savage. Hominy, fsh,
buffalo, game and dog meat were pre-
scented in turn to the strange guests.
or the dog meat, says Marquette, I'VE
declined to partake."
For a week the time passed pleas
antly and Marquette had made many
efforts to instruct his entertainers, but
to all Of his lessons they replied with
a. negative shake of the head and a
solemn grunt. They wished, however.
to hear more and he promised them af-
ter his return from his long voyage to
come and instruct them further.
Six hundred warriors, commanded by
their most distinguished chief, accom-
panjed him back TO his boats, They
gave him the great calumet at part
ing, in, order to protect him and win
the friendship OF the hostile natives
of the south. Assisting him to his
boat. they silently watched the little
fleet until it was borne by the cur
rent beyond their view.
These were the first nation OF the
Mississippi valley visited by Europ-
cans and the place of interview should
be classic ground 1t cannot be far
from the place above indicated and the
trail pursued by the Indians and Mar
auette in going to and returning from
their boats. must have been partly
within the present limits Of the city
of Keokuk.
A warship goes on a whaling voy-