Heroes of the Northland; Being Brief Biographies Supplementing Canadian History (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...way in canoes to Fort Frontenac, where La Salle succeeded in pacifying for a time his creditors, and in securing new supplies for another attempt to reach the Gulf of Mexico. 21. Once more he journeyed westward with Tonty, thirty men and a hundred Indians, going by way of Toronto and Lake Simcoe as before, and reaching Fort Miami in November. This time they found a new route to the Illinois by way of the Chicago river; but they were obliged to draw the canoes on sledges until they found open water below Peoria. On the 6th of February they entered the Mississippi. Space will not permit of details of the memorable voyage down that great river. The weather grew balmy, the Indians were friendly, and the voyagers reached the salt water at the gulf on the 9th of April, 1682. 22. La Salle had at length realized the dream of his life. He erected a cross, bearing the arms of France, and the words, Louis le Grand, Roy de France et de Navarre, Regne; le Neuvieme Avril, 1682. His men joyously fired off their muskets and sang the "Te Deum." La Salle named the new land " Louisiana." 23. On his way back he was taken dangerously ill and was left behind at a fort on the river, and it was not until September that he reached Lake Michigan. He then set about planting a colony on the Illinois to hold the land and protect the friendly Indians against the Iroquois. He stayed there for over a year, and then returned and sailed for France to obtain help for the infant colony. 24. He was received with favor, and assistance was granted by the king in fitting out an expedition to go by way of the Gulf of Mexico and up the Mississippi. It sailed from Rochelle on the 24th of July, 1684. After a voyage of two months the vessels neared the coast; but La Salle did not know the...