“The Native burning at the stake, which was seen in the apparition and had happened in 1690 at Onondaga, was Ethan Teganannokoa and whom was a Mohawk from the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier, although he died a glorious death. When in the midst of the flames, which he did not cease to encourage his wife to have invoked with him the holy name of Jesus. And having been near to death, which he revived all his strength and in imitation of his Master that he had prayed the Lord with a loud voice to the conversion of those, who treated him with such inhumanity.”

He was about thirty-five years old when he came in 1677 to live at the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier in Sault Saint Louis. He was a Huron married to a Mohawk and stayed among them. His wife, Suzanne and their six children and a daughter-in-law accompanied him to the Mission. He had asked to be baptized with his family. He sent his children evening and morning to the Fathers and to the instructions intended for the young. He frequently received Holy Communion and never missed the village exercises of devotion. His wife was always pleased to receive the missionaries who came to their home.

In August 1690, he went to the hunt with his wife and another Native. In September, fourteen Cayugas discovered the group and captured them, but brought them to Onondaga. He was persuaded that he would be put to death. He told his wife to persevere in the Faith and if she would return to the Sault Saint Louis, to raise his children in the belief of God.

When they arrived that one of them said to him, “My brother, you are dead.” He replied, “I am a Christian. Do what you want with me. I am not intimidated by your abuse and your torments. I am willing to give up my life for a God who shed his blood for me.” Soon after he said these words that they made large incisions on his arms, thighs and throughout his body. They cut several of his fingers and removed all his fingernails. One of them cried, “Pray God.” He said, “Yes, I would pray to him.” He raised his hands and did the sign of the cross with his right hand and said in a loud voice, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” They cut off half of his fingers and they cried again, “Pray to God now.” He again made the sign of the Cross and at that instant they cut off his remaining fingers. They then invited him to pray again to God. He again made the sign of the Cross, but with the palm of his hand. They then cut off the palm of his hand and then cut him everywhere he had marked the sign of the Cross.

They then brought him to the fire. They then ordered him to sing as they do in the country. He refused and recited the prayers he was accustomed to say everyday. One of them took a burning coal and placed it in his mouth. They then attached him to the stake. He looked at them and said, “Fill yourselves with pleasure to see me burning, do not spare me, my sins merit more sufferings that you can not make me endure, and more you torment me that more you augment my recompense that is prepared for me in Heaven.

Someone took a hot iron and slowly burned his entire body. It seemed he was not suffering with his eyes raised to Heaven. He got back all his fervour and said his last prayer. He recommended his soul to Jesus Christ and asked to forgive them.

His wife was left to live and kept there for some time. Then when she was freed had returned to where she was born until her son came and got her and brought her back to the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier in Kahnawakon.

The other Native lived and had some fingers cut off and a large incision in his leg. He was brought to Cayuga, but never renounced to his Faith. He accompanied a group of Cayugas in an expedition to Montréal and escaped secretly and went to the Mission in Kahnawakon. Father Cholenec wrote that he was still living a truly Christian life in 1717 at the Mission (in Kahnawake).