La Salle had resolved to build his first fort at the mouth of the Niagara River, but the Iroquois permitted him to build only a large storehouse. They were greatly displeased when he set about building a ship above Niagara to sail the Great Lakes to the west, and threatened to burn it.
ROUTES OF THE FRENCH MISSIONARIES AND TRADERS WHO EXPLORED THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
The first ship on the Great Lakes
When the new ship, the Griffin, was ready to sail, they towed her up the Niagara River and then into Lake Erie. There was great rejoicing over the Griffin. Amid the firing of cannon and the singing of songs she spread her sails, the first to whiten the waters of Lake Erie.
The visit to Mackinac
On they sailed, through sunshine and storm, up Lake Huron until the mission town where Marquette was buried came into view. When the Griffin fired her cannon, all was astir in that town of fur traders, missionaries, and Indians. La Salle's men landed with great show. They marched to the little chapel and knelt before the altar.
The "Griffin" sails for the storehouse
La Salle then sailed through the straits and to the head of Green Bay, where some of his men, sent out many months before, had collected a great quantity of furs. Laden with these, the Griffin sailed for the storehouse on the Niagara, but La Salle never saw again this first ship of the lakes.