History Behind the Victory Flagpole - Father Hennepin - Behind the Victory Flagpole — Father Hennepin

Behind the Victory Flagpole — Father Hennepin

By Barbara Meyer Bistodeau

Did you ever wonder what would have happened if Father Hennepin hadn’t come to this area, discovered a beautiful waterfall and named it St. Anthony Falls? Some other explorer might have come along and named it “Mumbo Jumbo Falls,” or something equally weird, and think how that would have messed up our history!

    Father Hennepin came to America with La Salle in 1678 when he was 38 years old. He was born in Flanders, educated as a Franciscan priest and served in the French army as a chaplain before coming to America. In 1679 he accompanied La Salle on his first expedition as a missionary and historian.

    In 1680 Hennepin, Michael Accault and Antoine Auguelle were directed by La Salle to take a large canoe and a stock of provisions and go down the Illinois River to the Mississippi. From there they were to ascend the Mississippi to determine its source. As a missionary, Father Hennepin’s goal was to get acquainted with the natives so he could preach the faith to them.

    Accault was appointed leader of the group and was given, by La Salle, goods worth about $240. Father Hennepin was given 10 knives, 12 awls, a small roll of tobacco, two pounds of black and white beads, a small package of needles and a peace calumet­ (peace pipe.) These were meant to appease the Indians or be given as gifts, and Hennepin was to be the chaplain and chronicler of the expedition.

    The journey got under way on the last day of February, 1680 and they began the ascent of the great Mississippi River on March 12. It was mainly uneventful until a month passed by, when they came upon 33 birch bark canoes containing 120 native warriors who were on their way to make war with another tribe who were their blood enemies.

    Hennepin noted that the ‘savages’ were struck dumb with astonishment at seeing three lone white men in a canoe. But after a while the warriors began yelling and firing arrows at the intruders. Thinking fast, Father Hennepin held up the calumet La Salle had given him and decided to test its virtue. The elders of the tribe, seeing it, prevented the younger warriors from killing them.

    However, the Indians refused to smoke the peace pipe and the white men were taken as prisoners to the Indian’s camp. The three Frenchmen could not understand what the Indian council was saying, but they could tell by their actions and motions that they would be put to death. As a peace offering, Father Hennepin gave them several axes, knives and a small quantity of tobacco. The Indians accepted the gifts but did not change the verdict.

    Accault and Auguelle still had their weapons, but were pondering the chance of winning against such overwhelming opposition. Hennepin could see it was hopeless, but decided to either call their bluff or die. He made a spiritual statement, handed an ax to the nearest Indian, bent forward baring his neck and motioned for the Indian to kill him. This somehow made the Indians change their minds, showing a bit of empathy for the captives and they were given food and drink. The calumet was also returned.

    The next morning a chief named Narhetoba asked for the white men’s peace pipe. It was passed around to all of the party and signified that the three would live, but remain prisoners. Then began the voyage up the Mississippi which ended at a point five leagues below the falls, probably not far from where St. Paul stands today. Going ashore, the Indians broke up the explorers’ canoe, hid their own canoes in the rushes and took all of the white man’s goods. By foot they began the trek to the Indian’s villages at Mille Lacs, which the Sioux called “Mde-Wau-kon,” or “Spirit Lake.” Here the three Frenchmen were adopted into Indian families, whose sons had been killed in war. Hennepin’s adoptive father lived on an island, had five wives, and treated his new son well. As a good son, Hennepin shared some seeds he had brought along and planted corn, beans and other vegetables for his new family. He taught the Indians how to cultivate them.

    In the middle of the summer, the Indians went on their annual buffalo hunt and took the white men along. Going down the Rum River, the three captives talked the Indians into a story that they were obligated to meet La Salle down river to pick up some promised supplies. It was a bluff to finally escape; the Indians bought the lie and gave them a canoe, a gun, 15 charges of powder and provisions for the trip. It was on this voyage that Hennepin first saw the “Falls of St. Anthony.” He named it “St. Anthony of Padua, in gratitude for the favors done me by the Almighty through the intercession of that great saint, whom we had chosen patron and protector of all our enterprises.”

    The so-called supplies from La Salle were never located, of course, and by now the travelers were running out of food. This was relieved by Augelle catching some catfish and broiling them over coals. Still hungry though, they pondered hiding out to stay free, or letting their stomachs dictate the course of their action. The latter idea won, and that evening they hooked up with the Indians who were returning from the buffalo hunt with plenty of meat, and they had a feast of buffalo burgers! Their captors again took them back to their adoptive parent’s villages at Mille Lacs. Soon after, they ran into explorer, Du Luth, who had some influence over the Indians, and they were able to obtain their freedom. From there, they left the Indian villages and returned to Canada with Du Luth.