TALON, Pierre, explorer, born in Canada in the second half of the 17th century; died after 1700. His father, Lucien, accompanied by the entire family, joined La Salle's expedition in 1684. He was also, with a younger brother, a member of the part, y that entered the country of the Illinois in 1687. After the assassination of La Salle, Pierre took refuge among the Cenis Indians, by whom he was well treated. On the arrival of a Spanish force at the village, he was arrested, but was soon released and asked to remain, as interpreter, with Franciscan missionaries who accompanied the soldiers. He then told the Spaniards that his three brothers and a sister were slaves among the Clamcoets or Carancaguaces, and, at his request, a detachment was sent for them. Two of his brothers and his sister were rescued, but the other brother remained with the Indians until 1691. They all went to Mexico after some time, and were taken into the service of the viceroy. Talon wrote an account of the death of La Salle, which is preserved in the French depet de la marine, and is entitled " Interrogations faites a Pierre et Jean Talon, par ordre de Mr. le Comte de Pontchartrain, a leur arrivee de la Vera Cruz, le 14 Septembre, 1698." Charlevoix made use of this document in his account of the death of La Salle. He says that the author, who seems strongly prejudiced against La Salle, agrees with Joutel as to the manner of the murder, but not as to the names of the assassins and the attendant circumstances.