La Salle and the Griffin, Part 2

In 1678-79 La Salle, the famous French Explorer, financed the construction of the first sailing ship on the Great Lakes. The ship was built in the wilderness near Niagra Falls on the Niagara River. La Salle’s plan was to buy a ship-load of furs at deeply-discounted wilderness prices and sell them in Montreal at a huge profit.

In May 1679, the hull of the sailing ship was launched into the Niagara River. A party of Iroquois Indians who watched the launching were amazed that the Frenchmen could build, what the Iroquois thought was a  floating fort, so quickly.

LaSalle named his ship Le Griffon (The Griffin), after a mystical creature with the body and legs of a lion and the beak and wings of an eagle. The ship carried a carved image of Le Griffon on her bow.

The Griffin was anchored in the Niagara River for several weeks while her masts and rigging were completed and supplies and gear loaded aboard. The ship carried small arms, powder, trade goods, merchandise, provisions and seven cannon for protection.

On August 7, 1679, Le Griffon was towed into Lake Erie. A hoped-for wind from the northeast arose. The 32 Frenchmen on board asked God to bless their venture as Le Griffon got underway.

For eons, the Native Americans could only hug the safety of the shore as they paddled their fragile Birch- bark canoes around the lakes. Le Griffon was the first craft to boldly cross the fresh-water seas called the Great Lakes.

Three days later, August 10th, Le Griffon reached the Detroit River, sailing between Grosse Isle and Bois Blanc island. The river was bordered on each side by vast prairies. In the distance were hills covered with vines, fruit trees, thickets and tall forest trees. Wild game abounded, including many species new to the crew. Soon the sails used to shade the deck of the Griffin, sagged with the carcasses of several deer killed by the crew. A variety of trees, suitable for building, covered the shore. Nut and fruit trees as well as wild vines, heavy with ripening grapes, grew in abundance.


The Griffon entered Lake Huron on August 23, crossed the Bay of Saginaw and was becalmed among the islands of Thunder Bay. Near Presque Isle on the 25th and 26th of August, the ship was battered by storms and rough seas.

On the 27th of August the ship rounded Point St. Ignace, and anchored in the bay of Michilimackinac. Here the crew found a settlement of Huron, Ottawa and a few Frenchmen.

The weary crew rejoiced as The Griffin anchored in this safe harbor. A salute was fired from the deck, and thrice answered by Huron firearms. The Franciscans celebrated Mass in the chapel of the Ottawa, thanking God for their safe arrival. La Salle attended the Mass, dressed in fine clothes, including a scarlet cloak bordered with gold lace. More than a hundred bark canoes, filled with curious Indians, swirled around the mighty ship.