The Holly chieftain., 1922-09-21

three lay brothers. At Fort Hill on the Snake
river In August he was met by an 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. Mary's mission.
De Smet, in the spring of 1912, made journey
of Inspection as far as the mouth of the Columbia.
That fall found him again in st. Louis. In 1S43
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 u, 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, 1874, 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:
II not able to discover among these people
the slightest blamewOrthy act, unless ii was their
gambling, in which they often venture everything
they possess. These games unanimously
abolished, as soon as had explained to them that
they were contrary to the commandment Of God.
. l have often asked myself is 1t these
people whom the civilized nations dare to call by
the name of savages?"
exploring, visiting tribes and establishing missions
He arrived at st. Louis December 10, 1S46
What had he accomplished In the seven years
since he first hit the Oregon Trail? For one thing.
his labors, travels hardshps and periIs belong In
the 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 !.
.I was two years in the mountains without tast.
ing bread, salt coffee tea, sugar. was for years
without roof without bed. 1 have been six
months without shirt 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 rem.
utation Also he was perhaps the white man
whom all trusted. So trusted was he that the
United States government at least Eve times
asked his services us a mediator with various
tribes.
The ordinary, usual settlement of the Bitter
Root country began in 1864 at Mlssoula-now n
modern city Of 1900, which played host last sum.
mer to the National Editorial association The
Flatheads are its near neghbors a reservation
they have occupied since 1891
The 1922 equivalent of De Smets establishment
in 1871 of st. Mary's mission In the Bitter Root
valley is the Mission of st. Ignatius and the Sis
tiers of Charity of Providence at ST. IgnatIus in
the present Flathead reservation lying between
Missoula und Flathead lake. The original St
Mary's In the Bitter Root valley Is now Stevens.
Vile There stands st. Mary's church. built bv
priest and friend of all mankind" arrived at the
mission in 1S45 and for forty years ministered to
nll alike, Indian and white man, Roman Catholic
and Protestant. His tombstone stands In the GEM
etery back of st. Mary's and Ravalli, town in
The Jocko valley. bears his name