Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/91

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST mSSOURI 31 firmed La Salle in his intention to explore the great river. In October, 1681, he returned to Lake Michigan, entered the Chicago river and reached the Mississippi, February 6, 1682. This time he did not attempt the construction of a large vessel, but made his way down the river in canoes. He reached the mouth ol' the river, October 6th and took possession of the entire country in the name of the king of France. Having returned from this voyage of dis- covery. La Salle set out upon the execution of the remainder of his great scheme. This in- cluded the project of fur trade among the Illinois Indians. lie had become convinced that this was possible only after organizing tlie Indians, and offering them protection against the raids of the Iroquois. He had selected as the site for his trading post, the great ruck known as Starved Rock. Here he planted a colony, and the Indians having fallen in with his schem.e, he won their friendship and estab- lished a flourishing trade in that territory. Leaving his little colony, he made his way back to Canada to secure still further sup- plies, but here he found things changed. His friend, Frontenac had been superseded as gov- ernor of Canada, and the new governor was under the influence of La Salle's enemies. He did all he could to hinder and discourage La Salle who found it necessary once more to go to France. Here, in spite of the misrepresent- ations of the governor, he once more won the confidence of the kihg and his ministers and received still more valuable patents and grants in the new territory. He organized a new expedition. It was planned to sail to the Gulf of Mexico, locate the mouth of the river, and then proceed up its course to some suitable place where a colony would be founded. In this way he intended to take and hold all the valley of the jMississippi. The officer in command of the ships was both incompetent, and hostile to La Salle. He failed to find the mouth of the river, and after cruising back and forth for a time, he insisted on landing the expedition on the coast of the gulf some four hundred miles west of the mouth of the river. The ships then sailed away to France leaving La Salle and the members of the expedition helpless in an unknown and entirely unpromising re- gion. La Salle made the best of the situation. A colony was formed, houses and shelters erected and the beginnings of a settlement formed. It was La Salle's intention to search for and find the river from this place. After numerous attempts he became convinced that he was so far from the river and so ignorant of its po-sition and direction that he could not any longer hope to be successful in his search. The colony in the meantime was in a deplor- able condition. Food supplies were limited; the region in which they were was barren and inhospitable. Many members of the expedi- tions were dissatisfied and hostile to their leader. At last La Salle formed a desperate resolu- tion. He despaired of finding the river. He saw that the colony could not long survive. No help could be expected from France direct. He determined to go overland to Canada and there secure ships and provisions for saving his men. On foot, then, accompanied by a few members of the expedition to set ovit a walk a tliousand miles through an unknown country, to cross rivers and lakes, to meet the Indians and to confront all the dangers of the wilderness. Nothing shows better the uncon- querable determination of the man than this la.st projected journey. He had gone but a little way until he was shot and killed by one