The Snowflake herald., 1921-02-04
DEED OF HEROES
IS PERPETUATED
Monument Erected in Montreal in
Honor of "ThermopyIae Of
Canada"
EXPLOIT LIKE FICTION TALE
Adam DauIac With Sixteen Compan-
ions Face Overwhelming Force
Of Indians In Attempt to
Save Montreal.

of Adam Daulac, or Dollard, Sieur des
Ormeaux, and his 16 brave companions
at the Long Sault-which has been
called '"The Thermopylae of Canada
has been perpetuated in granite and
bronze, and a handsome monument
added to the public treasures of the
city Of Montreal The monument, the
work of Alfred Laliberte, stands in
LafOntaine park. dwelling ceremo-
MES took place recently.
The exploit which has made the
name of DOllard immortal in Canadian
history, occurred in May, 1860. Dol
lard at that time was commandant Of
the garrison at Montreal or Vile
Marie. Paul de Chomedy, Sieur de
MaisSonneuve, who had founded the
city in 1912, was governor. For some
months the colony had been in dan
ger of extinction at the hands Of the
Iroquois. Dollard, who had come to
the colony three years before, at the
age of twenty-five, asked leave Of
Maisonneuve to lead party of Volun-
teers against the Iroquois. 1t was
known that hundreds of Indian war
riOrs lay at the mouth of the Richie
lieu river below Montreal, while hun
dreds more were on the Ottawa river,
above Montreal, Three Rivers and Que
bee were to be wiped out. Dollard's
plan was to meet the Indian warriors
on their way down the Ottawa and
give battle, regardless of numbers.
Sixteen men joined him in his des-
perate enterprise. All took an oath
to accept no quarter, made their wills,
and attended religious service. They
proceeded up the st. Lawrence, entered
the Ottawa, at the head of the Island
OF Montreal-where the swift surrents
baffled them for week-crossed the
Lake of Two Mountains, and passed
Carlton, so miles above Montreal.
At the Long Sault.
Finally they reached the foot Of
swirling torrent of waters, barring the
way. The Indian warriors had to pass
that way and that was the place to
meet them. Dollard and his men took
possession of a .palisade fort near the
rivers edge, built by an Algonquin war
party some months before. They were
soon joined by 40 friendly Hurons and
four Algonquins.
In a day or two the Iroquois made
their appearance. Their advance guard,
while making an attempt to land, was
fired upon. Those who escaped report
ed to the main body, 200 strong, about
the Sault. The Indians quickly descend
ed the rapids in their war canoes and
fell to the attack
They rushed upon the little garrison,
but were driven back. Capturing the
birch canoes of the Frenchmen and
their Indian companions they set them
ablaze and attempted to do the same
with the palisade. A whitening fire
greeted them and they retired in de.
feat. During the next attack. immedi-
ately after, one of their great chiefs
fell. For five days and nights the
struggle continued. The defenders were
without water and were unable to
swallow the crushed Indian corn they
had for food Their Indian allies de-
serted them, with the exception of four
AlgOnquins and one Huron.
On the fifth day re-enforcements to
the number of 500 reached the IrO-
quois, and a savage assault was made
on the palisade The French were on
the alert, and the Indians were once
more compelled to retire Other at
tacks were made in the three follow
ing days, but with no success.
Last Grand Assault.
The IroquOis then determined upon q
general assault. Great shields of wood,
four or five feet high, were made, and
under the cover of these the warriors
came on. In the face Of a heavy fire
they succeeded in reaching the pal
isade, crouching low, and attempted to
cut their way in with hatchets.
At this point DOllGrd crammed big
musketoOn with powder, and plugged
up the muzzle. Lighting the fuse, he
tried to throw it among the Iroquois
without, but 1t struck the top of the
palisade, fell back among the defend
ers and exploded with disastrous eff
feet Pressing the assault at this mo-
ment OF confusion, the Iroquois thrust
their firearms into the loopholes and.
fired. A breach was made in the fort
and Dollard and his men sprang
forward to the defense. Other breaches
were made, and Dollard met soldier's
fate. His followers threw themselves
upon their assailants, but the end had
come at last.
The II young heroes from Montreal
gave their lives, but not In vain. for
the Iroquois abandoned their enter
prise, having had more than enough bf
battle, and Montreal, Three Rivers and
Quebec were saved.
This Marriage Not a Failure.