5857890 La Salle Driving the First Bolt for the Griffin, January 26th 1679, 1847-48 (oil on canvas) by Catlin, George (1796-1872); 37.8x56.3 cm; National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, USA; (add.info.: The expedition arrived at the mouth of the Chippeway River, 4 miles above Niagara falls, 26th January 1679. Henri de Tonti (1649/50-1704) Italian lieutenant to Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643-87) French explorer and fur trader in North America The expedition built a ship where the Iroquois had a well-established portage route bypassing rapids (later called Niagara Falls)).