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La Nauze, who also was fortunate in having splendid support from his
men. The occasion of the Patrol was the disappearance of two priests,
Fathers Rouvier and Le Roux, who in 1913 had left Fort Norman on the
Mackenzie River for a two years' absence in establishing missions
amongst the Eskimo of the far North. When the two years were well on and
no news had been received from them, their friends began to get anxious,
and of course appeal was made to the Mounted Police, who were expected
to unravel all mysteries and solve all perplexing problems. And it is to
their credit that they never turned a deaf ear to such appeals. It took
nearly two years and a half to get the solution of the mystery. There
were others in the patrol when it started, but Inspector La Nauze,
Constable Wight, Special Native Constable Ilavinik and Corporal W. V.
Bruce were those who were in at the end when two Eskimo men, Sinninsiak
and Uluksak, were arrested by them at Coronation Gulf as the
self-confessed murderers of the two priests. Leaving Great Bear Lake in
April, 1916, La Nauze, Wight and Ilavinik reached Coronation Gulf a
month later and here they met Corporal Bruce, who had been sent out by
Inspector Phillips from Herschell Island to gather information that
would help to locate the priests, if alive, and if they were not found
to discover the cause of their disappearance. Bruce knew the whole
region and knew many of the Eskimos personally. Without exciting their
suspicion he had found amongst them and purchased several articles of
priests' wear which strongly indicated that the priests had perished.
Ilavinik proved a treasure. The party found two of the explorer
Steffanson's men and they had heard of Ilavinik, so that the way became
easier. Finally La Nauze and Ilavinik began to talk to the people in
their igloos, and inquire if any white men had been that way at any
time. They said Yes, and then La Nauze sat back and let Ilavinik do the
talking. In a little while he turned, trembling with the excitement of
it, to the Inspector and said, "I have got on the track. These men know
who murdered the priests and they are very, very sorry that any of the
Eskimos should have done it." This led very soon to the arrest of
Sinnisiak, who was said to be the chief instigator of the crime, his
companion being of a milder type. After examination of the prisoner and
witnesses, the Inspector formally committed Sinnisiak for trial by a
competent court. The