September 1679

On September 12th, 1679, M. de La Salle left Missilimakinak. M. de Tonty was not with La Salle because he did not arrive back at Missilimakinak until November because the high winds delayed him. They entered Lake Illinois (Lake Michigan) where he eventually arrived at an island at the opening of Green Bay that was 138.1 miles from Missilimakinak. The island was inhabited by the Pottawattamie nation. M. de La Salle found some of his men that he sent years ago to Illinois. They had animal fur that was valued at twelve thousand livres. M. de La Salle sent the Griffin vessel with five good sailors to go back to Missilimakinak and then go to the storehouse at the end of Lake Erie that they had built. Next, they would gather a load of merchandise from Fort Frontenac. They were to sail back to Missilimakinak and find instructions when the vessel was placed for wintering.

On September 18th, 1679, they set sail with a light west wind. Some of the Indians advised the pilot not to sail because of a great storm. However, the pilot was insisting on sailing. When the vessel was 0.86 miles from the land, the ship tossed and was unable to make head against the storm. All the sails had been struck and after a short time, and out of sight, the ship sank. They thought it might have been driven upon the shallows near the Huron Islands and buried in the sand. The ship was found around 2018 near Poverty Island, Michigan. Once M. de La Salle learned about the loss of the vessel and furs, it cost him more than 40,000 livres ($3,951,755 in today’s money).

On September 19th, 1679, La Salle went forward with fourteen persons in four canoes with a forge, carpenter tools for a house and ship, cabinet-makers, sawyers, and with arms and merchandise. About 138 miles from the island of the Pottawattamies, a dangerous storm appeared, so they reached land and stayed for six days until the storm passed.

On September 25th, 1679, they traveled by the coast all day and part of the night that was lightened up by the moon. When the wind was increasing they landed and went on a “naked rock” where it rained and snowed for two days. They hovered around a little fire of driftwood.

On September 28th, 1679, at noon they continued their voyage in their canoes. They went during the night until a whirlwind forced them to land upon a point of rock covered with brushwood. They stayed there for two days, eating the rest of their provisions (Indian corn and pumpkins they had bought from the Pottawatamies).