Father Aulneau, Wounded By An Arrow, Fell Upon His Knees

All that Father Felix Martin, S.J., that indefatigable laborer in the field of historical research, could glean, thirty years ago, from various sources, is summed up in the short account found on a stray sheet among his notes, and which we here translate and place on record to save it from oblivion : " We are not in possession of the details relating to Father Jean-Pierre Aulneau's family, education and vocation to the religious life. He came to Canada in 1730, and six years subsequent to his arrival he was chosen to accompany an important expedition of discovery westward, undertaken by Monsieur de La Veranderie. The latter commanded a party of twenty determined men, one of his own sons being among the number.

The explorers had reached the Lake of the Woods, and had lauded on an island for their morning meal. Their camping fires, however, betrayed their presence to a band of Sioux warriors who were prowling about in the neighborhood. These Indians, notorious for their cruelty and for the implacable war they waged on all those who gave them"

The correct date of his arrival is, as we have seen, Aug. 12, 1734.

umbrage, resolved to attack the French. They stealthily landed on the island without attracting notice, and rushed upon the explorers who were off their guard. Many were pierced with arrows or were felled with the tomahawk. Some sought safety in flight only to perish in the waves. Father Aulneau, wounded by an arrow, fell upon his knees, when an Indian coming up behind him dealt him the death blow with his tomahawk.

"All the baggage was pillaged, but the Indians dared not touch the body of the missionary. Three weeks after the occurrence, a party of Indians of the Sault passing by the spot, found his body unmutilated. Not being able to dig a grave for it, as the island was all rock, they raised over the body a cairn one or two metres in height.

Link (here) to the book entitled "The Aulneau Collection", By Fr. Authur F. Jones, S.J.

Photo is of Fort Saint Charles located in Minnesota the alter of this chapel marks the grave of Fr. Jean-Pierre Aulneau, S.J. Read more about it (here)