G. W. Phillips Past and Present of Platte County, Nebraska

Annotation

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The work left unfinished by J Oliet - the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi - was accomplished by the indomitable La Salle. The discovery of a water route to China, the planting of colonies in the West, the building of a fort at the point where the Mississippi flows into the Gulf of Mexico - these were the magnificent schemes revolving in his mind while at Fort Frontenac, Canada. Having first Obtained a royal commission for perfecting the discovery of the great river, La Salle, with the necessary companions and stores, as cended Lake Ontario, entered the Niagara River, and, passing around the falls, selected a spot at the mouth of a stream now known as Cayuga Creek, on the American side, about two leagues above the cataract Where he commenced building the Griffin, a bark of sixty tons. This craft, after many delays, was finally fully equipped, and spreading her sails, boldly stood on her way westward - the first ves sel to navigate Lake Erie. This was in August, 1679.