The Coolidge examiner., 1934-07-06

entails Marco Polo had written about seveCal
centuries before and that IN finding them. The
long-soughi new route 20 China might be discoY.
cred. That was why Nicolet carried with him "A
superb robe OF Chinese damask. embroidered all
over with flowers and birds" lie was prepared
to make proper appearance on meeting the
Chinese mandarlns-
Nlcolet left Three Rivers. QUE July l. 1884.
in company with three Jesults Fathers BrebeuL
Daniel and Davosi. who were accompanying a
band OF Hurons on their way home from their
annual trading visit 10 Quebec. lie travelled with
them 20 the Isles des Alumettes where he lin
gered for a time with his friends. the AlgOn-
quins. Later 30 Joined the JesuIts AT IhonatIria.
where be assembled n party OF seven Hurons
and embarked In a frall canoe for hts Journey
into the West.
Crossing Lake Huron. the party journeyed up
ST. Mary's river 10 what Is now Sault Ste Marie.
returned south then proceeded west through the
Straits OF Macklnac and padded out into Lake
Michigan. which was known then and for many
years afterward as the Lake Of the Illinois Con
tInulng southwark Nieolet and hla Indian friends
entered Green bay and near the head OF that
body OF water he found the people he had been
sent to nnd-the Wlnnebag0es who had come TO
blows with the Hurons allies OF the French. and
with whom be had been charged 10 negotiate a
peace.
when he neared the Wlnnebago town, he sent
a messenger ahead 10 announce his coming. and,
having put on his gorgeous robe followed him
on the scene" writes William Henry johnson In
French Pathfinders In North America Never
did a circus making its grand entry into a VII
age In all the glory OF gilded chariots and brass
band inspire deeper awe than this primitive am
bassador. with his flaming robe and a pair Of
pistols. which he fred continually His pale face
had
them sense Of something unearthly The squaws
and children fed into the woods, shrleking that
II was a manltou tsprID armed with thunder
and lightning The warriors. however. stood their
ground bravely and later entertained him with
a feast OF one hundred and twenty beaver.
But II Nlcolet did not succeed in opening
relations with Cathay and Cipango tChina and
Japan), he did something else that entities him
to be commemorated among the Pathfnders. He
ascended Fox river TO its headwaters. crossed
the little divide that separates the waters flowing
into the Lakes from those that empty into the
Gulf OF Mexico and launched his canoe on the
Wisconsin. first white man, so far as we know.
who noated on one Of the upper tributaries Of
the mighty river"
Nicolet made such a favorable impression on
tie Winnebagoes that he was able to negotiate
treaty with them by which they agreed to take
their furs to the French posts on the St Law
renee He also won the friendship of the Mas
coutins. spent the winter with them and returned
TO Quebec In 1885 to report to Champlain Of his
adventures In the west
Eight years after this historic journey. Nico-
let met a tragic death In the St Lawrence river
By this time he was the chief official OF the
trading company at Quebec and his influence
among the Indians was perhaps greater Jnan
that OF any other man OF his time.
In 1912 word reached Quebec that Sokoh