Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-21

present area of the United
States, is oftenist acclaimed
the greatest Of French explor-
ers because of his achieve
ments in changing the map of
North America and the place
he made for himself as an en-
pire builder, his fame as a
pathfinder is outshone by the
brilliant achievements of an
other Frenchman, Pierre Es-
prit Radisson, who preceded
La Sale in the western Ameri-
can wilds. Both were daunt-
less, stout Of heart in the face
of the most terrible dangers
and hardships, resourceful and
ambitious. Both travelled over
many thousands Of miles of
land and water that no white
man had seen before.
To Radisson, baffled by poll
teal intrigues of the French
and English, must be given
first place as a trail blazer, al
though enemies, succeeded in
burying his splendid record in
oblivion for centuries. To La
Sale goes also great fame as
a claimant for his country of a
vast new empire and as a fac
tor in the development of the
new world.
Radisson was born at st. Malo.
France, in 1885 or 1886, and at the
age of Is he took ship for Canada,
going to Three Rivers. on the north
bank of the st. Lawrence, an outpost
of New France in the midst of the
land of the great Iroquois, Mohawk
and algonquin Indian nations. Near
there, at the age of II, his remarkable
adventures had their beginning when
he was captured by the Iroquois while
hunting. The unusual courage that the
boy displayed saved his life, but in an
attempt to escape he killed three war
rioys and fled. He was recaptured,
tortured cruelty and finally, because of
his bravery and contempt of pain.
adopted into the tribe. After two years
of nomadic life with the Indians he
managed to escape, sailed down the
Hudson to New York and took passage
for Europe with money advanced to
him by q Jesuit priest and a Dutch
merchant He soon returned to Que
bee and to Three Rivers.
First Whites to See Sioux
His life among the Indians had whet- .
ted his longing for adventure. He had
learned the Iroquois language and mas
tered the red mans wonderful knOwl-
edge of woodcraft. which stood him
in such good stead in the years that
followed. Radisson, with a knowledge
of the wealth to be gained in the fur
trade. determined to become a trader
and explorer. In company with Med
ard Chouart Grosseillers, his brother
in-law. he started west on his first ex-
pedition about 1865, and after many
thrilling experiences returned in a few
months with a small fortune in furs.
Then followed numerous other ex-
petitions into the west. There were
many battles with Indians and con- !
tinual hardships were endured. but
Radisson and his kinsman always won
through. In the spring of 1859 they
crossed what is now Wisconsin and
followed up the upper Mississippi, the
first white men to see this river. On
the banks of the Mississippi they met
great numbers of Sioux, who received
them Hospitality. They continued west
alone into the land between the p
Mississippi and the Missouri. meeting
many tribes who had not seen white
men before. They were greeted as men
from another planet and made well
come. f,
The old men among these Indians
told the white strangers of Indians who
had Travelled far south and had met
men who wore boards and had knives
like those the Frenchmen wore" These
were taken to be Spaniards by Raids
son. They were also told of an inland
sea to the north, far away, where the
winters were very cold and the furs
abundant and choice. BY this sea the
Indians meant Hudson's Bay which
Hendrick Hudson had found half a
century earlier. Radisson built a post
near where the city of Duluth now
stands. the first habitation of the white
race in all the northwest.
After accommodating a large store of
furs, Radisson started back for Que
beck with a great fleet of canoes. ac-
companied by 500 young Huron war
riors. who desired to visit the French
settlements. Radisson arrived in Que
bee after two years absence; and was
received with honor. His coming was
made a holiday. The bells in the
churches chimed a welcome, the bat
teries roared s%alutes, and the governor
was at the wharf to receive him. Ships !
that had waited in vain for two years
for furs sailed for France with full
cargOes. The adventure had brought
him fame and fortune.
Reach Hudson's Bay l.
In a few months the comforts of civ
jlization palled on Radisson and Gros-
SELLERS, and they decided to 60 into the l.,
far north in quest of the inland sea of
Indian legend. In New France of that
day fur trading was a monopoly. Trad
rrs had to procure licenses from those
in authority. The French governor
was willing to grant them a license. {
but they must agree to give him half !
the furs for their taking. This they !
refused to do, and some |
time after their expedition left Que :
bee without official sanction. ]
For hundreds of miles they travelled .t
lorth, over the waterways leading q
alto Hudson's Bay, every foot of their 4
quite being virgin territory. At last, 7
H. $500 --L ~ ---~- l