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THE MISADVENTURE OF JACQUES AND PIERRE
by John H. Leisgang
from an idea of a former Chaplain

In the late 18th century there was a French trader named Nicolas Perrot who established a trading post near Trempealeau, Wisconsin on the banks of the Mississippi river. The site of his Trading post has been located in Perrot Park. Very few people know that he had a network of traders establishing sattelite posts throughout West-central Wisconsin. One of those posts was located very near to Camp Decorah and was manned by two traders named Jacques and Pierre.

Jacques and Pierre were very ambitious and fair in their trading with the Winnebago (now called Ho Chunk) tribe in this area. The Indians were very zealous about trapping the beaver and other fur bearing mammals to trade for guns, beads, cloth, ammunition, food and whiskey. All went well for a couple of years until the animals started to disappear due to over trapping.

When fur started to get scarce the Indians demanded more trade goods for each pelt. Naturally Jacques and Pierre resisted giving them more and even started to give them less. The Indians did not like this one bit and threatened them. Jacques and Pierre could keep them in line because they had shotguns while the Indians only had old single shot muzzle loaders. This state of tension continued for several months.

Normally both of the traders would go to Perrot's trading post to deliver furs and get more goods. One day, however, Pierre was sick so Jacques went alone. While he was gone a large group of Indians came to their trading post and demanded better treatment. Pierre got his shotgun and told the Indians to leave. They refused and one of them sneaked around behind Pierre and hit him over the head knocking him unconscious.

They went into the trading post and took what they felt they had been cheated out of by the traders. Pierre came to as they were leaving and shot several with his shotgun. The rest of the group overpowered Pierre and killed him. They knew that French trapper/traders were very superstitious and believed that they would not go to heaven if their body was incomplete. St the Indians cut off Pierre's head and took it with them and hid it.

The next day Jacques returned and found poor Pierre's headless body. He took.the body to a private place and buried it being very careful to disguise the grave while very carefully noting where it was so he could bring Pierre's head to him when he found it. He then spent all his spare time looking for the head and asking Indians where it was. It was to no avail. Pierre soon had to leave because Perrot was closing his trading post and moving on.

Before he left, Jacques wrote down a detailed description of the location of Pierre's grave and gave it to a farmer who lived nearby. He made the farmer swear that he would keep the location of Pierre's grave a secret and would pass the location on to one or two others before he died so that Pierre's head could be reunited with his body if found.

Over the years I understand that several skulls have been found and placed by Pierre's grave. If one had been the right one it is said that Pierre would take it and leave. None of these skulls have ever disappeared. Also it is said that when the moon is full Pierre can be seen searching for his missing head.

If you ever see the headless Pierre searching for his head, do not get in his way. He has not hurt anyone and I am sure that he will not hurt anyone. He is only looking for his head.

The reason why I know all this is that when I was a staff member in 1956 I got to know a farmer, Mr. Frank Williams, living just down the road East of camp. He was quite old and sickly. He had no sons and started treating me like a son. A few months after camp closed, Sam Hagerman called me to tell be that Mr.Williams wanted to see me very soon.

I drove up to camp and went to Mr. William's house. In a very weak voice he told me this story and handed me an envelope when he finished. The envelope was plainly marked 'to be opened after my death' and was signed Francis Williams. A few weeks later Mr. Williams died. I opened the envelope and found the map to Pierre's grave inside. Please don't ask me where the grave is because I have given my word that I will only tell of it's location the same way that Mr. Williams told me. I have already selected the person that I am going to pass the secret to after I die. There is an envelope in my safe-deposit box with that person's name on the outside.

I have one very big favor to ask each of you. If you find a skull anywhere around Camp Decorah please come and get me so that I can take it to Pierre's grave in secret and, perhaps allow Piere to finally rest in peace and go to heaven.