64 The Winning of the West 



where the river broke into great rapids or riffles of 

 swift water. This spot he chose, both because from 

 it he could threaten and hold in check the different 

 Indian tribes, and because he deemed it wise to have 

 some fort to protect in the future the craft that might 

 engage in the river trade, when they stopped to pre- 

 pare for the passage of the rapids. Most of the fami- 

 lies that had come with him had gone off to the in- 

 terior of Kentucky, but several were left, and these 

 settled on an island near the falls where they raised 

 a crop of corn; and in the autumn they moved to 

 the mainland. On the site thus chosen by the clear- 

 eyed frontier leader there afterward grew up a great 

 city, named in honor of the French king, who was 

 then our ally. Clark may fairly be called its 

 founder. 16 



Here Clark received news of the alliance with 

 France, which he hoped would render easier his 

 task of winning over the habitants of the Illinois. 

 He was also joined by a few daring Kentuckians, 



Louisville. Clark's dates, given from memory, are often a 

 day or two out. His "Memoir" is of course less accurate 

 than the letter to Mason. 



16 It was named Louisville in 1780, but was long known 

 only as the Falls. Many other men had previously recog- 

 nized the advantages of the place ; hunters and surveyors had 

 gone there, but Clark led thither the first permanent settlers. 

 Conolly had laid out at the Falls a grant of two thousand 

 acres, of which he afterward surrendered half. His grant, 

 covering much of the present site of the city, was, on July i, 

 1780, declared to be forfeited by a jury consisting of Daniel 

 Boone and eleven other good men and true, empaneled by the 

 sheriff of the county. See Durrett MSS. in "Papers Relating 

 to Louisville, Ky." 



