, 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 30 miles into the Bitter Root
valley, arriving September ~. There and then
De Smet began work on st. Mary's mission.
DE Smet, in the spring of 1912, made a journey
or 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 Il. 1913. with four fathers, a
lay brother and six sisters and supplies. The
q 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 Flathends. 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 Il was their
gambling. in which they often venture everything
they possess. These games were unanimously
abolished. as soon as l 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 sayagesT"
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 yenrs
since he first hit the Oregon Trail? For one thing.
his Iabors. travels. hardships and perlls belong I'm
the first rank Of similar exploits. He had Travelled
nearly $1,000 miles in every sort Of conveyance
and in every kind Of climate. As he once wrote
II was two years In the mountains without tast.
Ing bread, salt, coffee. tea, sugar. l was Tor years
without a roof. without "A bed. | have been six
months without n shirt on my back. and often 1
have passed whole days and nights without n NOR.
sci OF anything to eat"
These arduous labors had at least this reword,
He had become n great power among the Indian
tribes. All knew him. either personally or by rem
utntion. Also he was perhaps the one white man
whom all trusted. So trusted was he thnt the
United States government at least five times
nsked his services MS a mediator with various
tribes.
The ordinary. usual settlement OF the Ritter
Root country began In 1864 at MissOuIa-now n
modern city of 1900. which played host last sum.
m.r 10 the National Editorial association. The
Flatheads are It's near n%eighbors on a reservation
they have occupied since 1891.
The 1922 equivalent OF De Smet's establishment
in is4i of st. Mnry's mission in the Bitter Root
valley is the Mission Of ST. 1gnntlus and the sis.
ters OF Chnrliy NJ Providence at st. Ignatius I'm
the present Finthcnd reservation lying between
Mlssoula ANA Flathead lake. The original ~
Mnry's In the Bitter Root valley Is now Stevens.
Vile. There stands ST. Mnry's church. built by
Fnther Anthony Ravalii In 1866. This kind. good
priest and friend of MI mankind" arrived AT the
mission IN iSlJ and for forty years mlnlstered To
an nike. Indian aud white man. Romnn Catholic
and Protestant. His tombstone stands In the Gem.
etery back OF ST. Mnry's and Ravnli, a town I'm
the Jocko valley. benrs his mime.