Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-09-22

three lay brothers. AT Fort Hill on the Snake
river in August he was met by advance party
of Flatheads. Passing through the site Of Mis-
soula they went 80 miles into the Bitter Root
valley, arriving September "A. There and then
De Smet began work on ST. Marys mission
De Smet in the spring of 1912, made journey
of inspection far as the mouth of the Columbia.
That fall found him again in st. Louis. In lS43
he solicited for the mission south to New Orleans
and east to Boston, and took three recruits and
supplies to Westport and started them west.
Then he set sail for Europe. After visiting the
principal cities of six countries he embarked at
Antwerp December - 1S43 with four fathers a
lay brother and six sisters and supplies. The
voyage was around Cape Horn. They were nearly
wrecked on the Columbia river bar, but landed
safely July 81 1884, and went at once to the Bit
ter Root mission.
These Bitter Root Flatheads, by the way, seem
to have been too good to be true. All explorers,
traders and travellers bear witness to their high
moral character and attractive ways De Smet
says of them:
81 was not able to discover among these people
the slightest blameworthy act, unless it was their
gambling in which they often venture everything
they possess. These games were unanimously
abolished as soon as / had explained to them that
they were contrary to the commandment of God.
l have often asked myself: is it these
people whom the civilized nations dare to call by
the name of savages?"
De Smet then passed two strenuous years in
exploring visiting tribes and establishing missions.
He arrived at st. Louis December 10, 1916.
What had he accomplished in the seven years
since he first hit the Oregon Trail? For thing,
his labors travels hardships and perils belong in
tbe first rank of similar exploits He had travelled
nearly $4,000 miles in every sort of conveyance
and in every kind of climate. AS he once wrote
81 was two years in the mountains without tast-
ing bread salt, coffee, tea, sugar was for years
without roof, withouz bed. l have been six
months without shirt on my back, and often
have passed whole days and nights without NOR
sci of anything to eat.
These arduous labors had at least this reward
He had become great power among the Indian
tribes. All knew him, either personally or by rep
utation. Also he was perhaps the one white man
whom all trusted. So trusted was he that the
limited States government at least five times
asked his services as a mediator with various
tribes
The ordinary usual settlement of the Bitter
Root country began in 1864 at Missoula-now q
modern city of 15000 which played host last sum
MGR TO the National Editorial association The
Flatheads are its near neighbors on a reservation
they have occupied since 1891.
THE 1929 equivalent of De Smets establishment
in 1941 of St. Mary's mission in the Bitter Root
valley is the Mission of ST. Ignatius and the Sis
ters of Charity of Providence at st. Ignatius in
fine nresent FIathead reservation lying between
Missoula and Flathead lake The original ST
Mary,s in the Bitter Root valley is Stevens
Vile There stands st. Mary's church. built by
Rather Anthony Ravalll in 1866. This kind good
nrest and friend of all mankind" arrived at the
mission in 1916 and for forty years mnistered to
all alike Indian and white man, Roman Catholic
and Protestant. His tombstone stands in the Gem
etery back Of St Marys and Ravalli, a town in
the Jocko valley, bears his name.