The Coolidge examiner., 1932-07-08

passed the present site of Duluth, Mimi, and
landed at the American Fur companys post of
Fond du Lac. From there he proceeded by
well known route part waterways and part
portages, up the st. Louis and East Savanna
rivers and down the West Savanna to Sandy
lake. He then went up the Mississippi to Upper
Red Cedar lake which was named Cassina (the
present Cass lake, and this lake he confirmed
Pixies report as the true source of the Mis-
sissippi" But Pike was not destined TO have
the honor Of becoming the discoverer of "the
true source OF the Mississippi"
That honor was to be reserved for Amer
lean mineralogst named Henry Rowe School
craft and 1t is his feat which is the occasion for
an interesting centennial celebration in Min
nesota this summer On July Is, 1882, School
craft discovered what is now known as Lake
Itasca and which has officially been determined
the true head" Of the Mississippi and In recog-
milton Of that fact twelve communities in the
vicinity Of Itasca state park, organized into
what is known as the Northwestern Minnesota
Historical association, will commemorate the
event with pageant which Is free to the pub
lie which win be staged on the banks of Lake
Itasca and to which the whole nation is invited.
The dates for the pageant are July 13, 16 and
81, August IA and % and September 4. In addi-
ton to these pageants the Minnesota Historical
society viii hold its annual meeting In the park
on July 16 and most of Its program will be de-
voted to the history of Schoolcraft's exploration
Few stories OF exploring expeditions and dis
coveries in American history have many ro-
mantle elements in them as has the story of
Schoolcraft's achievement. He was born at Ham,
ilton, ~ Y. March 2S 1893, and was educated
at Middlebury and Union colleges. Schoolcraft
was one of the first Americans to become in
terested in mineralogy and geology and, because
- ~ IL hf- E--N -
sissippi valley in 1917.
Schoolcraft accompanied Governor Cass ex-
pedtion in 1920 as mineralogist and although he
seems to have accepted Cass' belief that Cass
lake was the true source of the Mississippi, the
mineralogist took careful note of that fact that
Cass lake had two inlets indicating that there
must be some body of water which fed Cass
lake and which therefore might more properly
be regarded as the source. But he had no op-
portunity at the time to pursue his investiga-
tions In 1922 the semi-diplomatic position of
Agent Of Indian Affairs in the Northwest was
created and Schoocraft, being best fitted for
the post because of his knowledge of the In
dians, was given the appointment
In 1882 Cass who was then secretary of
war. instructed his former mineralogist to con-
duct an exploration into the country west of
the Great Lakes, the principal purpose being
one or paclHcaIlOn. For the CnlppeWaS naQ
received a painted war club and pipe from
Chief Black Hawk Of the Sauks, who was
preparing to resist what he considered the
unjust aggressons of the whites in the state
Of Illinois. Schoolcraft was instructed to
checkmate the activities Of the Sauk leader
among the Chippewas, TO try to bring about
lasting peace between them and their hered-
itary enemies, the Sioux to gather as much
information about them as he could, and to
see to 1t that as many as possible were vac
cinated For purposes of evangelical OBJ
servation" a missionary, William T. Boutwell,
was attached to the party; DR.. Douglass Hough-
ton went to vaccinate the Indians; and a mil
itary escort consisting of ten soldiers command
ed by Lieut.. James Allen was provided.
Schoolcraft's party left Sault Ste. Marie on
June Z, 1882, and went by way of Fond du Lac
and the Savanna portage to Sandy and Cass
lakes While he was still on Lake Superior
he met Ozawindib or the Yellow Head, Chip
pewa Indian whose home was at Cass lake
This Indian was hired to guide the party He
led the explorers to Star island in Cass lake
where his village was located. From this
place Schoolcraft planned to push on into the
wilderness through one of the inlets that he
had observed in 1920, hoping to find the true
source of the Mississippi
The Yellow Head who knew the region WE'LL
was ready to help him. He drew maps, col