LA SALLE, RENE-ROBERT CAVELIER, Simi. de (1643-S7). The discoverer of the Ohio, and the first explorer of the greater part of the Mississip pi River. Ile was a member of a wealthy mer chant family of Itouen„ and when twenty-three emigrated to Canada, where the superior of the Seminary of Saint Sulpice made him a grant of a large tract of land at the place now called La chine, eight or nine miles above Montreal, on the Saint, Lawrence. Ilis imagination was stirred by the tales of the Indians respecting a mighty river which they called the Ohio. which flowed into the sea at a distance of some eight months' journey. La Salle conceived that 'the sea' could be no other than the long-sought Gulf of California, and that the northern water route to China, was probably within his reach. He disclosed his view, to Courcelles, the Governor of New France, and received letters patent au thorizing his venture. In order to obtain the necessary funds. he sold his seigniory. Ile bought four canoes, and hired fourteen men. and was joined by another expedition under Dallier de Casson. which was fitted out by the seminary priests for the conversion of the Indians. The combined forces consisted of seven canoes and twenty-four men. They started up the Saint Lawrence on July )3, 1669. They went. through Lake ()Mario, at the western end of which they met the explorer Joliet, returning to Canada. From him a map of the northern lakes was obtained, and with it such accounts of the spirit ual destitution of the Indians in that region as determined Dallier to strike north and estab lish a mission.
La Salle separated from the missionaries. and for the next two years devoted himself to ex plorations, of which we have only vague and unsatisfactory information. His maps and jour nals have disappeared, although it was asserted, as late as 1756. that they were in existence. It would seem that La Salle turned southeast from Lake Erie, reached a branch of the Ohio, and followed that river certainly as far as the Louis ville Rapids, possibly to its junction with the Mississippi. Here his men deserted, and La Salle returned to Lake Erie alone. In 1671 lie organized another expedition—respecting which we have no authentic and detailed informa tion: passed up the Detroit River to Lake Hu con; thence to Lake Michigan, and across the Chicago portage to the Illinois River. and may have deseended this stream to the Mississippi. lie returned to Montreal before 1673, when he laid before Count Frontenac hi, project for the exploration of the Mississippi. The Governor gave La Salle a new seigniory in the 'West. which ineluded the new Fort Frontenac, near the pres ent town of Kingston. on Lake Ontario. and also a virtual monopoly of the fur trade in that region. In 1674. and again in 1677. Frontenae sent La Salle to France, to push his fortunes at Court. lie was favorably received on both
occasions, and on his second visit received a patent empowering him to pursue his discover ies at his own expense, on condition of com pleting them within five years, to build forts, and to monopolize the trade in buffalo-skin,. He raised funds, and returned to Canada. with thirty men and the equipment for another expedition.
Seventeen men under La Motile Cadillac. and including the Franciscan Hennepin (q.v.), sailed from Fort Frontenae in a little vessel of ten tons on November IS, 1678. They reached Niagara River on December 5, and began the construction of a palisade fort. They were joined by La Salle and Tonty on January S, 1679. The vessel was wrecked soon after, but the stores were saved. and the keel of a new vessel of forty-five tons was soon laid at the mouth of Cayuga Creek, an affluent of the Niagara River. This was named the Griffon. Meanwhile La Salle returned to Fort Frontenae for supplies, and on August 7, 1679, the voyagers set sail on Lake Erie for the great river. By September they had reached Green Day (Lake Michigan). Here La Salle loaded the Griffon with furs and sent her back to the settlements. She was never again heard from. With four canoes and fourteen men La Salle followed up the western shores of Lake Michigan, while his lieutenant. Tonty, with twenty men, took the eastern. The two finally met at the Miami, or Saint .Joseph River, at the southeast corner of the lake, where Fort Miami was built. The party started up the Saint Jo seph on December 3. 1679. and crossed the por tage to the Kankakee. a tributary of the Illinois River. Near the present town of Utica, Ill., they found an Indian village of 460 lodges. A little below Peoria Lake another Indian village was reached, and there La Salle heard circumstantial accounts of the efforts made by his enemies— both Jesuits and fur-traders in Canada—to thwart his plans and even endanger his life. Sev eral of the party deserted at this place. In Jan uary (1680) La Salle built a fortified camp. which lie named Fort Crevecomr, and soon after began the construction of another vessel of forty tons. Leaving Tonty in command of the fort. T.a Salle with four men and a guide started in March to return to Fort Frontenac for supplies. He arrived there in safety. in May. to find his sup plies lost and the revenues plundered by dis honest agents. News followed him that Tonty's men had mutinied and deserted. La Salle at once organized another expedition, and started in search of his friend. The Illinois country had suffered a terrible invasion of the Iroquois, and devastation met him everywhere. He reached the ruins of Fort and went down the Illi nois to the Mississippi. finding no trace of Tonty. who had made his way down the western side of Lake Michigan to Green Bay.