Loyola University Chicago - Loyolan Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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I lit I,QYOl.AN-l'J.f' 'limi I'1a.x1 li I'.x1'r lili'l'WIil-.N Rlx1:ot'14:1 1'14g .XXII 'rum lxnrxxs more lllll1Ol'lZlllf than the acquisition nf new land, even though it rivaled fahnlous Cathay. Despite this ditference in aim, there was no contlictg each recognized the other's province and realized the inseparahility necessary for hoth projects to succeed. Finally all was ready on the SL'VCIlfC6IlIll of May. Provisions, canoes and men were ready. Only one thing was tu he done. .rXhove all, says Marmpiette. I placed our voyage under the protection nf tl1e Holy Yirgin lniinacnlate. promising that, if she granted ns tl1e favor of discovering the great river, l would give it tl1e 1181116 uf tl1e QiUllCCI3llOl1.n This done, l1e set sail Zlllllll the acclaim of tl1e natives. Their route led tirst along the llUI'IllXYZll'll shore of Lake Michigan, and this they followed until tl1ey catne to lireen l-Sav. llere tl1e Fox River enipties and it was up this stream that the travelers continued until Illlj' reaclied llll' site of what is now Portage, XX'isco11si11. Un tllK'lI' way to tl1is point they l1ad niet niany Indians, all of whom joined together to warn thein of their liztrfliltood in attempting a trip down the Mississippi. According to the savages, tl1e hanlts of the river were lined hy ferocious 11atives who killed all strangers, friendly or otherwise. Moreover, a dreadful ClCIllUl1 dwelt on the hanks of the river and l1is voice could he heard for niiles. The white men bllfllllll stay and not expose theinselves to certain death. Truly a fearful array of ohstacles other than natural stood in IllL'll' way, hut the French were not lllSllCZll'lL'llL'fl. Carrying their haggage and canoes they made the portage Zllltl arrived at the Xlisconsiii River. This flows in a sonth- ll'age ISI

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I The LOYOLAN-1925 I 'T lflilf discharges its waters in Virginia, and we think rather that is has its mouth in California. If the savages who promise to make me a canoe do not break their word to me, we shall explore this river as far as we can .... lVe shall visit the nations dwelling there, in order to open these passages to such of our Fathers as have been awaiting this good fortune for so long a time. This discovery will give us a full knowledge either of the South Sea or of the lYestern Sea. However, the time for this enterprise was to be put off for some time. The Sioux, the Iroquois of the North, who seem to have been the Ishmaels of that day, were at war with everybody and danger threatened the Upper Lakes. The Hurons and Qtttawas who comprised Marquette's parishioners feared to be actively embroiled in the possible conflict and determined upon migration as the solution of their difficulty. The Uttawas went to Manitoulin and the Hurons to Michilimackinac, better known as the world-famed summer resort, Mackinac Island. Here nature had exerted herself tremendously and a prodigal display of beauty was the result. In the latter part of 1670 the Jesuit Dablon had founded a mission there-the famous St. Ignace, now commemorated by a peninsula on the mainland. Hither Marquette removed to attend to the wants of his Huron Hock. Sixteen hundred and seventy-one is the generally accepted date for Marquette's change to St. Ignace, wihere he remained for over a year. His time was well occupied, what with taking care of the temporal needs of his people as well as reminding them of the existence of spiritual ones. To instill ideas of gentleness and forgiveness into the hearts of these warriors, cruel and vindictive, was hardg to make them believe in a fairth that could surpass their savage, yet admirable stoicism was a task worthy of Paul. Despite these discouraging features of his work, Marquette persevered, founding a college at St. Ignace. the only one west of New England. However, the time of deliverance was at handg not, however, thatt Marquette felt or desired that he should leave his labors, or that they were unwelcome. In 1672 I,ouis Joliet arrived at lllichilimackinac. Joliet was the son of an artisan and a former aspirant to the priesthood, having received the tonsure and minor orders at seventeen. Later, however, he gave up his idea of being a cleric and turned, instead, to fur-trading. Here he made a success and was chosen to be the one who should advance the fleur-de-lis southward. Marquette was to be his companion. Marquette's journal is eloquent on the fulfillment of his hopes and he speaks thus about Joliet's arrival: The day of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin, whom I had continually invoked, since I came to this country of the Ottawas, to obtain from God the favor of being enabled to visit the nations on the river Mississippi- this very day was precisely that on which M. Joliet arrived with orders from Count Frontenac, our governorg and from M, Talon, our intendent, to go with me on this discovery. I was all the more delighlted at this good news, because I saw my plans about to be accomplished, and found myself in the happy necessity of exposing my life for the salvation of all these tribes: and especially of the Illinois, who, when I was at l.'oint St. Esprit, had begged me very earnestly to bring the word of God among them. Joliet remained with Marquette through the winter, discussing ways and means for the monumental journey before them. To Joliet, the extension of New France was t'he all-importankt thing, although he did not slight the im- portance of a further dissemination of Christianity: Marquette was a loyal and true Frenchman, hut, for him, the conversion of the natives was ten times lPage 221

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The LOYOLAN-l925 westerly direction, and in turn bore the explorers on. Marquette tells how, when they came to the top of the water-shed marking the line of demarcation between the rivers Howing into the Great Lakes and into the Mississippi, they began a new devotion to the Blessed Virgin, which we practised daily, addressing to her special prayers to place under her protection both our persons and the success of the voyage. Finally the lVisconsin brought them to their goal. On the seventeenth of june, 1673, exactly one month after their start, they entered the Mississippi. No recourse to Marquette's journals is needed to imagine the joy and happiness that overwhelmed these men. To Joliet, no doubt, came thoughts of a new empire in which he would be an outstanding figure. To Marquette came visions not of additions to an earthly kingdom but of an extension to the kingdom of Him VVll01'l1 he served. One was right, the other was wrong, as history has shown. In accordance with his promise Marquette named the river The Conception. That this name has not remained is an occasion of sorrow, but the expulsion of the French before they had made much more than a slight impression upon the Midwest had this effect. Sufficient it is to know that the patroness of this country was honored in intention at least. From the confluence of the two rivers the journey proceeded without a halt until the 25th of june. On this date, seeing evidence of the nearby presence of men, the party halted to investigate. The consensus of critical opinion has placed this spot near the Des Moines River, and hence Marquette's landing was made in Iowa, the first visit of the white men to this state. The natives, whom they encountered a short distance from the river, received them hospitably. The calumet was smoked and presents exchanged. A great feast was arranged and the travelers received the kindliest and most considerate attention, culminating in the gift of a calumet that combined the features of a signet and a talisman. Again the travelers received warnings concerning their undertaking, but they persevered in their intention and continued on their voyage. Farther down the river they came upon an evidence of Indian mythology that is closely similar to the familiar European legend of St. George and the Dragon. This was the representation of the Thunder Bird, the excellence of which Marquette remarked upon and which existed well into the last century. The adobe of the Thunder Bird had hardly been passed when the Missouri came into sight. The river was in Hood, trees and all manner of huge debris were whirling in the grasp of the muddy waters, and it might well be considered a dispensation of Providence that the party passed safely. Not far from the Missouri they came to the abode of the demon they had heard about. This proved to be merely an arrangement of rocks upon which the waters beat with such violence as to produce a horrible din which the Indians had construed into the voice of Beelzebub or one of his ilk. After having stopped to observe this, they continued and soon reached the Ohio. Near here they noticed large masses of iron ore, later to be worked by American colonists. Now several occasions arose to test the efficacy of the calumet. A short distance below the Ohio a tribe of apparently Iroquois origin was met. At first hostile, they speedily became friendly, feasted the French royally, and, what was more important, told them that the sea was but ten days distant. A short time after they encountered an Illinois tribe who were very hostile and only pacified after a great display of the pipe. By these people they were sent downstream about ten leagues to the Quapaws, a Sioux tribe. Their village was probably close to the Arkansas River and near the spot where De Soto was buried in 15-ll. A very friendfly reception was tillage 241