The Montana courier., 1922-09-20

three lay brothers. At Fort Hill the Snal
river in August he was met by advance part,
of Flatheads. Passing through the site of Mis-
soula, they went 80 miles into the Bitter Roo
valley, arriving September "a. There and the1
De Smet began work ST. Marys mission
De Smet, in the spring of 1S42, made journey
of inspection as far as the mouth of the Columbia
That fall found him again in st. Louis. In 184s
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 al
Antwerp December 10, 1S43 with four fathers, a
lay brother and six sisters and supplies. The
voyage around Cape Horn. They 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
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
| 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, 1S46
What had he accomplished in the seven years
since he first hit the Oregon Trail? For one thing
his labors travels, hardships and perils 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:
81 was two years in the mountains without tast.
ing bread salt, coffee, tea, sugar was for years
without q roof, without bed. / 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 rep
utation Also he was perhaps the one white man
whom all trusted So trusted he that the
United States government at least five times
asked his services mediator with various
tribes.
The ordinary usual settlement Of the Bitter
Root country began in 1854 at Missoua-now a
modern civ of 1900, which played host last sum-
NOR m the National Editorial association The
Flatbeads are its near neighbors on reservation
they have occupied since 1891
Tho 1000 equivalent of De Smets establishment
In 1s41 of ST. Mays mission in the Bitter Root
valley is the Mission of ST. Ignatius and the Sis
ters of Charity of Providence at ST. Ignatius in
the present Flathead reservation lying between
Missoula and Flathead lake. The original St |
Aiarv,s in the Bitter Root valley is now Stevens
Vile There stands st. Mary's church. built by |
Father Anthony Ravalli In 1885, This kind good
priest and friend Of all mankind" arrived at the
mission in 1S45 and for forty years ministered to
all alike Indian and white man, Roman Catholic
and Protestant His tombstone stands In the cem
etery back OF st. Marys and Ravalli, a town in
the JocKo valley, bears his name.