Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/165

 got under way to plant a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi. But no success attended the enterprise. La Salle. falling into serious disputes and even quarrels with Beaujeu, who had command of the fleet under him, missed the entrance of the river, and in February, 1685, was compelled to land his dispirited and despairing company at some point on the coast of Texas. In the midst of disaffection and treachery and death, La Salle did not lose heart: with characteristic intrepidity, in April, 1686, he set out with twenty men to find the Illinois, where Tonti was awaiting him, but without avail: he was compelled to return to the fort in October. Yet as his only hope lay in extricating himself and his followers—less than forty—by an overland passage, early in January he set out again with seventeen men on this forlorn enterprise. Three of the party conspired to commit murder; they slaughtered Moragnet, Nika and Saget, and when La Salle came to inquire after the missing men, Duhaut discharged his musket from ambush and shot the unhappy commander through the head. This was on the 19th of March, 1687. Good Father Anastase dug his grave, buried him, and erected a cross over his remains. La Salle " died some where about the spot where now stands the town of Washington," says Mr. Gayarré, "which town owes its foundation to some of that race to which belonged his avenger, and the star spangled banner now proudly waves where the first pioneer of civilization consecrated with his blood the future land of liberty."

The murderers of La Salle, quarrelling over the spoils of their leader, met themselves with the same retributive fate at the hands of some of their associates, of whom Joutel, the narrator of these dismal events, with no more than five others, made their way to the banks of the Mississippi, where they fell in with two Frenchmen, left there by Tonti, on his return from a vain search after his old commander. The twenty men left behind at the fort which had been built by La Salle, also perished; and thus, after the most indefatigable efforts, and the most brilliant prospects of success, the colony of La Salle came to an untimely end sad—termination to the career of its energetic and gallant founder.

Affairs in Canada, meanwhile, had become very much embroiled. Disputes having arisen between Frontenac the governor and the Intendant, De la Barre was sent out in 1682 to succeed Frontenac. Dongan, the governor of New York, although charged by James II. to maintain a good understanding with the French, used his influence secretly to inflame the