Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/76

46 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY of Minnesota: "The journals of Kadisson, published by the Prince Society of Boston, in 1885, cannot be trusted for dates, but are correct in the description of the customs of the tribes he visited." Neill, Edward D. "Wisconsin Historical Society Col- lections, volume X, 188, pages 292-297. Accepting the supposed chronology of the Prince Society's volume, the first western expe- dition is referred to the years 1658-60 and the second to 1662-63 or 1664. Neill, ' Edward D. Macalaster College Contributions, first series, 1890; pages 86-94, 223-224. The expedition to Lake Superior, narrated by Radisson, is restricted to about one year, in 1659-60 ; and two later expeditions by Groseilliers are noted, with return from the last August 5, 1663. Perrot's account of the wanderings of the Ilurons and Ottawas is translated; but no sug- gestion appears that Radisson 's "first landing isle," not here mentioned, Avas their place of refuge, "Prairie Island' (Pelee) on the Mississippi. McCormick, Hon. Robert Laird. A short letter, dated Decem- ber 26, 1902. is published by Hon. J. V. Brower in volume VI of his "Memoirs of Explorations in the Basin of the Mississippi," 1903, page 72. In this letter Mr. McCormick writes: "Histor- ical students would welcome further information regarding the travels of these two explorers who doubtless saw the upper Mis- sissippi years before Joliet and Marquette, but in the absence of documentary testimony it is presumption to seriously claim that Radisson crossed AVisconsin on snowshoes from Green Bay to the Mississippi river in 1651-55." Moore, Charles. "The Discovers of Lake Superior." (Publi- cations of the Michigan Political Science Association, volume II. pages 199-211. Ann Arbor, January, 1897.) The two western journeys of Groseilliers and Radisson are referred to 1658-60 and 1661-63. It is doubted that they saw the Mississippi, but the claim of an overland trip to Hudson bay is accepted. The chro- nology carefully studied out a year before by Campbell is con- sidered and rejected. I quote the following from "Memoirs of Exploration in the Basin of the Mississippi," volume VI. Minnesota. By J. V. Brower: "At the annual meeting of the Minnesota Historical Society held at St. Paul, January 13, 1902, AVarren Upham deliv- ered an address containing expressions of opinion concerning the original discovery of the area of Minnesota by Peter Esprit Rad- isson and Medard Chouart in the spring months of 1655. Those opinions were placed in writing, ordered printed and were about to be adopted as adequate history. Indeed, Mr. Upham was so positive concerning the results of his study of Radisson 's narra- tives that at page 83, Kathio, announcement was made that Radis-