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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reprodult en un seul clichA, II est fiimA A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithodo. ' errata d to It e pelure, ;on A U i 2 3 32X 12 3 4 5 6 c r- r- ^ae JiistGricalaRcl C'Cientificcocietv of 3'/[anitoba. TRANSACTION No ^2 SlASOn I8R/-8 ON MANITOBA. ACCOUNT BY ONE WHO KNEW ITS SECRET HISTORY. A PAi'Kli liKAl) r.l':rnliK Till': SdCIKiV, MAY II, l.s>N. ii>i HON. GILBEHT McMICKEN SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY W IN\ll'i;«. : \I.\M HU.A 1 1(1 I IKI-. I'Kl.M'. I ^■■>, AN ABORTIVE RAID. AN IRISH REPUBLIC IN MANITOBA PLANNED BUT CRUSHED EARLY. Hon. Gilbert McMicken's Paper read before the Historical Society. Politics and a cold, damp night did not prevent tiie Historical Society from turn- ing out in force Thursday evg to hear the Hon. Gilbert McMicken recall the events of the Fenian raid in Manitoba. Judge Ardagh presided, and after the essay was read, it was discussed by Consul Taylor, Messrs. Ashdown and Bell and Profs. Bryce and Hart. Towards the end of September, 1871, whilst holding a commission under the Great Seal of Canada as Commissioner of Domiiiion Police, and acting as secretary of the Intercolonial Railway commission- ers, I was appointed Agent of Dominion Lands for Manitoba, in connection with other important oflices and duties. Owing to the disturbed state of public feeling in the Province I was hurried from Ottawa, and again, whilst stopping a day or two over at Windsor, arranging my family affairs, was still further hur- ried by a telegram from the Premier of the Government urgins my departure, owing to information he had received rel- ative to the threatened Fenian movement on Manitoba, in connection with the ap- prehended uprisingof the half-breeds, sub- sequent to my departure from the cap- ital. My two days' stay in Windsor involved no loss of time, for anticipatory of just such a possibility, I had instructed my agents in the Ignited States to meet me in Chicago prepared to communicate the fullest information respecting Fe- nian matters up to the latest moment. To keep tryst In tnis behalf, and in fuUeut compliance with the wishes of the Govern- ment, I on the following morning took my departure from Windsor en route for i''ort Garry. Accompanying me wero my astute and courageous son George, and Frank Ritchie equally trust- worthy; both most useful and reliable members of my Secret Service Police. Merely stopping over in Chicago between train connections,so as to lose no timp,and meeting my agents promptly as expected and arranged, I received the exact infor- mation I needed in respect to the con- dition of Fenian i alters and especially as to the projected movement upon P^ort Garry. The body was at this time "ery much disorganized and General O'Neil found it impossible to galvanize into it a spark of enthusiasm by which O'Douna- hoe might be encouraged by an offer of either men or means to any available ex- tent. The fact was amongst themselves, there was no fund, to provide either sus- tenance or transportation. The "sinews of war" had all been dis- sipated at Eccles Hill the preceeding year. O'Donnahoe had not wherewith to pay his own fare fr )m Chicago to St. Paul. Under such circumstances it was not to be wondered at that only forty-one (41) vol uu'eers were found foolhardy enough to form a forlorn hope and by means of contributions from sympathizers started in the wake of O'Donnahoe— to conquer Manitoba. This was the meagre result of the most pathetic appeals, the earnest urgings and the specious statements made as to the absence of all opposing force— the overwhelming num- bers of the Metis whose hospitable homes would at once yield quarters and tiospital' ity while the rich plunder to be obtained from the Hudson's Bay Company's stores at Pembina and Fort Garry would serve to enrich them all to an unbounded ex- tent. O'Neil had managed to forward from their hidden depository in Michigan at Port Huron two hundred and fifty (250) breech loaders that had been converted from Springfield rifles at the Fenian arm- ory in Trenton, New Jersey. tt may not be out of place here to men- tion that, in all,5,040 in number of Spring- field rifies had been so converted at this armory at an expense of ^13 ilUeach whilst the Colts Arms Manufacturing Company had tendered to effect the conversion for ^6 50 per rifle. You will see this operation cHUsed a draft on the Fenian treasury of $08,040. This aside, however, I procied- ed by first ou^goine train for St. Paul, go- ing by way of McGregor and Prairie de Chene. Arrived In St. Paul on Tuesday— I found as the comnmnlcatlon was at that period —I could not proceed on my way before Thursday morning I utilized my deten- tion as best I could In endeavoring to as- certain some points of Information, but, except the acquisition of a knowledge of the route in its exigencies, discomforts and topography, I had little success. In St Paull met with the Honorable Alfred Boyd, a member of the Manitoba Cabinet, and as a matter of course con- i^ratulated myself on the immediate pros- pect of some useful information in regard to the state of affairs in the Province. lu reply to my inquiry (graciously enough received,) in a jerky way, and rather jocosely uttered; he informed me there was likely to be lively times there soon ; pressing the query, he said the half-breeds intended pretty serious doings, and queri- ed further said he thought they would make a fuss ere many days. It appeared uncommonly strange to me that a mem- ber of the Government should not refer more seriously to such a grave subject and being under such apprehensions, and still more so did it appear to me when he told me he was going to do some shooting on the way home, as he had his own convey- ance, and he might be some a^ eeks on the way. All the elucidation I could extract out of this, t,o me, very strange manner of a Cabinet Minister, was a remark by a gen- tleman who knew him well, and who said in reply to my statement of astonishment: "Oh, he's queer. " On Thursday momintr we started by train on theBreckenridge Rail way, then in course of construction, and came to "Mor- ris," at that time the terminal point. We arAved at an advanced hour in the af ter- T^oon and put up at the temporary station building for the night. It was Hobson's choice in this respect, the station building comprising at that day the whole town of Morris. Under the circustances the meals were satisfactory and the quarters, on the plan of "forty for a garrett," acceptably good. Here I fell in with my companions for the trip booked, like myself, from St. Paul to Fort Garry in their totality. Mr. Wylie, a gentleman, representing the firm of •Tames Turner & Co., of Hamilton, and who in that capacity had been over the route several times previoasly, with him was Mr. James Turner, jr., son of the senior of the firm a fine young lad; in years somewhat short of his majority. Mr. Richard Fuller, also from Hamilton, with whom and myself an acquaintance- ship had sprung up some 16 or 17 years be- fore. Besides these, there were Colin Strang a younger brother of Robert and Andrew Strang, well known citizens of Fort Garry then as they are now of Win- nipeg; and a Mr. Klotz from llerlin. County of Waterloo, Ontario. These with myself, my son and Ritchie, made a party of eight. After supper, at about i) o'clock, the arrival of the stage vehicle from Fort Garry was announced, and ^vith it the Rev. Bishop i'ache. Mr. Wylie, who knew His Lordship, at my instance, introduced me to his rever- ence, whom I fouhd at once exceeding af- fable and Quite willing to converse freely on the topic which at that moment inter- ested memo!)t,and'engro88ed myjthoughts. We deferred conversation until after the Bishop bad rested a little and bad fortifi- ed himself physically with a good supper, as I had previously done for myself. This accomplished, I brooked no delay in pos- sessing myself of such information as His Lordship might be disposed to communi- cate; and at once retiring somewhat apart from the other guests in the apartment, asked what he could tell me about mat- ters at Fort Garry. He spoke in reply with great good-feel- ing and candor but evidently moved with deep sympathy for the fiock he had left behind him. He apprehended troublous timed and feared great trouble was about to ensue forthwith. The Metis were in- tensely agitated over the unfulfilled pro- mises of the Government and the harsh and insulting conduct of the more recent- ly arrived Canadians from Ontario. Al- luding to the Ontario volunteers who re- mained behind of the first expedition as intending) settlers, he said they were so hostile and abusive as to invoke severe re- taliation, and he feared ere many days scenes of a deplorable cliaracter. His Lordship of his own accord told me that on the previous evening he- had met, where ho stopped for the night at Macaulayville, O'Donnahoe and had a long interview with him; tried to persuade him not to proceed O'Donnahoe said he was going in with some fiiends as settlers, as he had a right to do under the recent order-of-councii, and to take up homesteads. I asked the Bishop if ne saw the friends O'Donnohoe referred to, and how many of them there were; also if Gen. O'Neil was with him. In reply he said there was a stranger with O Donnohue who might be O'Neil, and as to the number of men he could not tell how many, but as they walked along they seemed a very considerable number, and this in connection with the state of affairs at home gave him great anxioty and uneasiness. I counselled and entreated his Lordship to return to Fort Garry with me, as doubtless his presence and intluence would be all-powerful to allay the excite* ment and maintain peace. He said he was on a mission to Quebec according to appointment and the carrying out of this duty was paramount to all other present considerations. I spoke very candidly and plainly; said he would, if trouble ensued, as he apprehended, be looked upon as leaving the country under a full knowledge of the intended raid and insurrection, and had pur))08ely left the country so as to give countenance and passive aid as well as^en- couragement to the movement: and he might take my word for it that it would not be many days ere the Globe of Toron- to would express this view of the matter, and he could infer this as leadily as my- self. It was now between 11 and 12 o'clock, and on shaking hands at parting for the night, I besought the Bishop to Eonder the situation and the free words I ad spoken to him; a mutual "Good n good supper, Dyself. This delay in pos- aation as His to communi- aewhat apart ! apartment, about mat- at good-feel- moved with :k he had left id troublous le was about jtis were in- ifulfiUed pro- 1 the harsh more recent- ntario. Al- sers who re- )xpedition as they were so ike severe re- •e many days racter. His told me that i- had met, le night at and had a [lira; tried to proceed ;oing in with e had a right er-of-council, I asked the O'Donnohoe them there ) with him. a stranger It beO'Neil, he could not i^alked along ,ble number, the state of eat anxiety tis Lordship ith me, as influence y the excite- le said he according to ing out of lit to all I spoke nly; said ad, as he as leaving edge of the and had as to give well as^en- int: and he it would of Toron- ;he matter, lily as my- 11 and 12 at parting Bishop to 36 words I ual "Good )> t night" was expressed and we parted, he to his couch and I to the work of preparing a duplicate despatch in cipher to the government at Ottawa. One to be sent by telegraph from the station, the other to be sent by His Lordship from St. Paul ou his arrival there. This occu- pied me, letter-writing int uded, until be- tween '.i and 4 a. m. As our coach was to start at 6 o'clock, and it required an hour previous to have breakfaft, etc., I had no time for repose. Between 4 and 5 I went to the Bishop's bedside and again urged and besought him by every consideration in behalf of preserving the peace and pre- venting bloodshed to give up his trip to Quebec and return witn me, that I would assume all his expenses, etc. He said he was deeply sorry, but his trip to Quebec was paramount with him and he must proceed thither at all hazards. He kindly consented to hand my duplicate despatch to the telegraph office in St. Paul on his arrival, which he did. We shook hands and parted. It may be mentioned now that on our next meeting, which was on the 16th Jan- uary, 1872, immediately after the Bishop's return, he reminded me laughingly of what I had predicted would appear in the Globe, saying "You see it was just so, but it did not make it any more the truth for ail that." I was fully impressed by this interview with a conviction that, however insignifi- cant the Fenian force might be, there was great and immediate danger of a general rising of the P'rench Half-breeds, and was burning with impatience to reach Fort Garry. The morning was clear and cold; with one or two passengers added to our list, we started at 6 o'clock sharp, sped along fairly well over a good prairie road; saw many flocks of wild geese here and there ou the ground; reached the first stopping place for exchange of horses about half past 8, this time on the edge of one of the small lakes with which Minnesota abounds, and while the horses were being got ready I went down to the lake si^.ore for the purpose of trying how a new Breech-loading gun just presented to me by a few friends on the eve of my depar- ture from Ontario would "carry," taking at my heels a beautiful Irish retriever, also a parting gift. I saw no fowl in the water except a solitary small "diver." To note how the shot would strike the water, I fir- ed at this lone bird. Swift as the shot itself he retriever bolted and took to the prairit on the back track as if to the nianoerboru. In his Heelest paces nothing could stay him or induce a look over his shoulder. He ran, and for aught I know is running yet. Starting again, we proceeded in rather a lagging manner and reached "Pomme tie terre about 1 p.m. There is an old saying that "cleanliness is next to godli- ness.' It needed little observation while applying this maxim to feel convinced the latter quality could not be flourishing in that neighborhood— it was not only for- bidding, it was revolting— yet we all ate more or less, as shipwreckad mariners are compelled to eat. The next stoppiuK place was "Old Crossing," somewhat of an improvement on the 'VPotato Ground," but the early completion of the railway to Breckenridge was an undisguised blessing, for the char- acter of both places inspired ■>. prayer for this change of route. At Macaulay ville, which we reached about sunset, we found comfortable, clean and tidy accommoda- tion, the hostess, an Eastern Townships woman, cleanly, good-looking, intelligent, and possessing a loving and loyal Cana- dian heart. Mr. Wylie had, in the course of his several journeys over the route, become well accquainted with this good lady and her husbuna, and stealing an op- portunity whilst she with her assistants were busied in preparing a good supper for us, learned from her 'Teady discourse" a good deal respecting the Bishop's stay there the previous niKht, and his inter- view with O'Bonnohoe, communicating this to me. Immediately after enjoying a hearty acceptable supper he made me ac- quainted with our good hostess. Her husband was a fellow-passenger in with us by the stage from Morris, hence I need- ed no introduction to him. What she had told Wylie she repeated to me. Her intense Canadian loyalty had led her to play the eavesdropper while O'Donnohoe was closeted with Bishop Tache and repeated much of the conversa- tion that was carried on between them. Interrupting her from time to time with trying questions and searching scrutiny I vas convinced, apart from her exuber- ance of intense Canadian sentiment lead- ing her to hasty conclusions, that what she told me was the truth pure and simple. What the Bishop had told me she fully corroberated. In addit- ion, however, she informed me that a man of the name of Bodkin had raised in the village a company of men for the Fen- ian service; that they had that day been sworn in by Bodkin as their captain and were to start for the taking of Fort Garry on the morrow; that the men had parad- ed around the village that day with badges of green ribbon on their breasts. Directly after this Mr. Wyllie accom- panied me to the office of Mr. Macaulay from whom we learned that what Mrs. reported was quite correct; that Bodkin bad (rot 28 men in all and several of them were his hetd sawyers. The loss of the service of these men was of serious conse(|uenco to hiiu and he had endeavor- ed bv every means in his power >o dis- suade them from engaging in this wicked and foolish project, but without avail. Frank Ritchie, to whom I have previ- ously referred, had learned by some means that the hospital-sergeant with the U. S. force at Fort Abercrombie, which \?a8 im- mediately across the Bed River, had just returned from St. Paul and had slipped a word or two as if he knew something of the Fenians, and had fallen in with them. Ritchie and the sergeant had been inti- mate in Ottawa while the latter was a member of the Prince Consorts Own Rifles stationed there for a time. It was now about midnight, but we crossed the river by an extra dollar to the ferryman, and, to Ritchie's message sent into the ser- geant, he promptly responded. He told me he knew Major Watson, who was in comand of the Fenians; that he came upon them on his way in at Old Crossing where they were encamped for the night. He ridiculed the move- ment to Watson and laughed at their meagre force. Watson saidir would be ail right at Fort Garry, that O'Donnahoe and the whole native population would be ready to greet their arrival, and their ranks would be well filled up at Pembina. The sergeant said he saw but two wagons with the party. They had some arms, some barrels of pork, etc.; that their num- bers were, so far as he could judge, not above forty if even so many; that they were a rough, hard looking set. All this information, coupled with what Bishop Tache had conveyed to me, very naturally caused me some anxiety, and induced serious cogitation. I consumed the rest of the night in writing dispatch- es, some for the mail and some in cipher to be sent by wire At 6 a.m. Saturday I aroused Wylie and asked him to interview the stage agent at once and induce him to give us the coach as an expiess the rest of the way, telling him he must accomplish this at all haz- ards or at any cost, yet to economize as much as possible. The result was, after no little difficulty in the negotiation, that by paying him five hundred dollars the coach would go through to Fort Garry with us without stopping anywhere oyer at night. A new way bill was made out, all names being excluded except Wylie, who figured on it as eight. The reason of this was to pre- vent my name appearing, as O'Neil be- ing ahead of us it was well known to him. Owing to this change and the prepara- tions it entailed, we did not get away from Macaulayville until late in the fore- noon, hence I had the opportunity of an interview with Mr. Bodkin and of seeing a number of green ribbon decoiated rap- seal lion*^. Except breaking aDhoroughbrace,which caused a little detention, and a detestable collation of rubabboo, at a changing sta- tion, nothing noteworthy occurred until we arrived at Georgetown. It may be re- marked here that the whole country through which we passed presented no sign of life or settlement; the desolation caused by the Sioux Massacre still reigned supreme. Daylight was just gone as we reached Georgetown. The prairie all around seem- ed to be lighted up with a lurid conflagra- tion at'once to us, strangers to prairie life, as grandly imposing and dread-inspiring. We had hardly freed ourselves from the roach when Mr. Wyllie was accosted by Mr. Pearson, father of Harry and Alfred Pearson, since well known as good citi- zens of our good city. He addressed Wylie in a very excited manner and asked him if Mr. McMicken was one of the pas- sengers, Wylie hesitated and answered evasively, owing to the injunction of secrecy respecting my name, as it might bring danger to the whole party. Mr. Pearson said; Wylie this is no child's mat- ter, I ask you on the square if Mr. Mc- Micken is with you; it means for him life or death, and my anxiety is to save him from the danger which lies in his way. Wylie replied "he is on the square too, and I'll introduce you shortly." During this episode the order of the stage agent had been presented to the driver, who had only an hour or there abouts before arrived over a stage of about 20 miles. Such a hurricane of blasphemous swearing as issued from that profane driver's lips I never heard before,and could not imagine so vile a lame lump of humanity to exist anywhere out of the "inferno." Yet even in this there was hid a germ of virtue, a trait of humane feeling, for it was in considera- tion of his team (which he idolized) that he was excited into the indulgence of such revolting profanity, polluting the very atmosphere around him. However, when exhausted and some what solaced with tobacco from Fuller and rum from Ritchie, Lame Jack con- cluded to feed his horses, while we fed, and set ready to go back and retrace with with us the 20 miles over which he had come so recently. At our introduction Mr. Pearson abruptly said : "You must on no ac- count go on any farther, but return the way you came. You will be robbed and killed to a certainty." Whilst at Grand Forks in the morning wait- ing the stage to start he heard a Mr. Goldie state in the presence of 13 or 14 persons that his friend, Mr. McMicken. the Receiver-General of Manitoba, was on his way in by the stage which was to leave St. Paul on the Thursday and he had a million of dollars with him, and if there was any truth in what they said about the trouble at Fort Garry he felt awfully sorry for him. Goldie was in the stage which preceded me in the start from Morris by two days, and had O'Neil and O'Donnahoe with a Mr. and Mrs. Lathom as fellow passen- gers, and to them, not knowing them, he repeated this same statement. Mr. Pearson further said in coming down he met on the way two waggons laden with barrels and arms convoyed bv a lot of as villainous cut-throat looking raga- muffins as any one ever saw together; then addressing me said, "You won't attempt to go on; no, no, you must go n its to prairie life, dread-inspiriDK. irselves from the .8 accosted by Mr. rry and Alfred »wn as good citi- Ele addressed anner and asked bS one of the pas- and answered 3 injunction of lame, as it mi$;ht hole party. Mr. is no child's mat- |uare if Mr. Mc- eans for him life :y is to save him lies in his way. the square too, rtly." he order of the jrehented to the an hour or there ' a stage of about eof blasphemous n that profane before,and could a lame lump sist anywhere Jt even in this irtue, a trait of 18 in considera- te idolized) that 5 indulp;ence of % polluting the him. iBted and some 3C0 from Fuller Lame Jack con- while we fed, ind retrace with sr which he had Mr. Pearson lUst on no ac- but return the be robbed and Whilst at morning wait- irt lie heard presence of 13 or Mr. McMicken, anitoba, was on ich was to leave and he had a im, and if there said about the It awfully sorry which preceded s by two days, mnahoe with a fellow passen- )wing them, he tateraent. Mr. )mingdown he jns laden with by a lot of looking raga- saw together; i, "You won't 9, you must go haok. You can do nothing to save yourself in this wild lone coun- try—to proceed would be self-murder." I said I would think the matter over and after supper would confer with him further. ! I enjoyed '4 hearty supper, retiring from I which in a state of happy satisfaction, I I at once met my anxiously waiting friend | Mr. Pearson. He resumed his advice, in- j veiahing ardently against any attempt on my part to proceed on my journey. His { advice so honestly, kindly, earnestly, pressed upon me in the thick darkness of night made doubly dark by the deep shadows thro n around us by the lurid glare of the encircling flres of the prairie was impressive and grave, but I had duty to perform, and though having no- thing to boast of in the way of courage, danger could not sway me from a conviction of the ne- cessity of doing all in my power to accomplish the performance of tne duty I was charged with. At all hazards, then, I must advance. It need not be told how heartily I thanked Mr. Pearson, or how deeply I appreciated his warm-hearted friendship for me as a brother of "the mystic tie." I said to him: - must proceed; kindly answer me one or two questions and I shall be fully prepared for emergencies. At what hour did you leave Grand Forks i At what hour did you meet the Fenians ? At what hour did you arrive here ? At what rate were the Fenians travelling ? His replies gave me a basis for the cal- culation that the party had by that time reached Grand Forks, and to assure him said: Now you can see I shall pass over these 62 miles scatheless, and when there will be governed by circumstances as I find them. The prairie flres were raging in every direction far and near.Others present who knew nothing of Fenian dangers urged these as an insuperable obstacle to our getting on to-night. They said that it would be impossible to pass through them, and the team would not be kept under control, etc.. etc. Lame Jack was now, however, as fully determined to pro- ceed as he at first had so strenuously ob- jected. So we started. The team of four horses was superb. I do not think I ever saw four such handsome, well-conditioned, spirited horses hitched together, not even amongst those of the four-in-hand club in London; and notwithstanding their lately finished trip of twenty miles, were proud- ly champing the bit and fretting for the start. We had covered a distance of some three or four mile8;al 1 the party exhuberant in spirits and enjoyment, when suddenly our driver held up and asked us hurriedly to leave the coach as he had to turn about and try, after escaping the lire, to find a way of picking us up after it had passed; out we all sprang quicker than it is writ- ten. As the stage left us I admired the sight as it receded from our view. The white canvas covering, the proud stepping of the horses as seen in the light of the burning prairie afTorded as weird a scene as did the witches in Macbeth over the caldron on the Scottish heath. The fire came roaring and leaping down towards us with, to us as it seemed, race-horse speed. The flames varying in height from 6 to 12 feet, immediate cremation seemed our inevitable fate. Furnishing each of the party with a few matches, a supply of which I always carry on ray person, and some pieces of newspaper, I ordered them to spread out along the trail and, at dis- tances of two or three yards apart, to fire the grass to leeward. This was done; none too soon, for young Mr. Turner got a slight scorching. As the grass burned, we followed the flames on to the seared and blackened sward. The flames from windward were stopped by the trail and the absence of anything to feed upon, and we were safe. The stage, having taken a turn far olT beyond our vision, got in rear of the flames, and our friend Swearing Jack soon picked us up. From this to Grand Forks, although constantly on the alert and keenly observant at each stop- ping for change of horses, no incident worthy of note occurred except it be that, nolens volens, at Frog Point (I think it was.) we were summarily made to ex- change from our roomy 4-horse coach into a 2hor3e jerky. Cramming and jamming was the order and some discom- fort resulted, and our progress was pro- portionately slow. Sunday morning dawned upon us, promising a beautiful day. We drove up to Stewart's door at Grand Forks about lO o'clock in the fore- noon, hungry and tired. After a hurried and rather imperfect ablution Mr. Stew- art soon had set before us wherewith to refresh and satisfy our appetites. In the meantime, however, I had seen Mr. Trail, the oflicer in charge of the Hud- son's Bay Company's post there, and from him had Mr. Pearson's statement fully corroborated. He told me the marching Fenians got in there late in the evening and left about four hours previous to my arrival. The Fenians and probable half- breed troubles at Fort Garry were freely talked of. The population of Grand Forks at this time, within a radius of two miles, did not exceed 00 or 70 all told, so far as I could judge. After breakfast I had a consultation with Mr. Trail; he thought I had better not attempt to proceed, I asked him for a good canoe, that my son and Ritchie were adepts with the paddle, and I might escape the banditti by taking the river; thus removinir danger from my fellow-passengers and leaving them at that point. Mr. T— said he would readily provide me with a canoe, but as the course bv the river was at least three times longer than by the trail, my object would be defeated, and my canoe would be noted from the banks as an object of suspicion, and news spread amongst the half-breeds and Indians as if by telegraph. I abandoned the idea of navigating my way onward, and concluded to stick by the Jerky. So the vehicle was got ready, 1 left all my cash but a few dollars and my papers to the safe-keeping of Mr. Traill and my baggage with Mr. Stewart. Fart of my son's bageage and of Ritchie's was also left, thus easing the load on the jerky. Here I may note that, had the Fenians f;ot hold of me, they would have been wo- ully disappointed in their financial ex- pectations, fcr, having purchased three safes for the Government use in Detroit — one of them a burglar-proof— I had Mr. Hamilton G. McMicken set the quadruple combination of the lock and placed all the funds in my charge excepting $3,000 in it, leaving it with the other two to be for- warded by ordinary conveyance. The de- lay occasioned some apprehension at Ot- tawa, for I was wired by Sir Francis Hicks (the telegraph line was now work- ing), asking if they had arrived. Fortu- nately just that day, the 2 ad of Decem- ber, they were brought in by sleigh from Pembina, intact. We started between 1 and 2 p. m. Pre- viously, however, we saw a man by the name of Kennedy, who had arrived out from Pembina that morning, his mission being to rouse all the half-breeds from Frog Point northward to join the force at the international boundary by Tuesday afternoon. To me this looked like busi- ness, and increased my anxiety to reach my destination. We proceeded leisurely, for the two horses had a heavy load be- hind them. The stopping places for re- freshment and change of team occurred about every 12 or 15 miles. At each we heard of the Fenians, and at each the same recurrence of most aversionable grub. Night set in upon us and we hoped to slip past the Fenians, encamped some- where on the route. We kept a strict watch. Fuller and Ritchie sat with the driver outside. They were to use as a watchword "Ir that dog all right." We had a dog with us belonging to Ritchie, afterwards eaten by the Indians. About midnieht, and as we were drawing near a changing station, "Is that dog all right ?" in clear tones strucic our ears. Stiflness and expectancy of undefined apprehen- sion ruled us all. Soon we heard Ritchie saying "A fine cool nighc for travelling boys;" the response, "You bet," we heard, and straining our eyes through the open- ings in the canvas-covered jerky, we saw the wagons and some of the men. The coach soon turned off the main trail, eoing in to the changing sta- tion. Here we got some refresh- ment—beefsteak, bread, potatoes and tea. Our stay here was about one hour. Our orses were fresh and we started out at a rattling pace. Very shortly after reach- ing the main trail; again we passed the Fenians. Three were ahead of the wagons as an advance guard, and five were be- hind them. Nothing was said, as I had ordered, and we shot ahead in silence and with such speed as we could. At the next stage house we picked up a driver who knew nothing of the road, having only came in from Pembina over it the previ- ous day. He, we found, was an Irishman Americanized; a full blown Fenian. Ritchie and Fuller pretended to be Americans and in full sympathy with his views. He told them he had been sworn in about two weeks ago, that they would see fun at Garry although he did not know how it would be now, as the leaders had made a big blunder. The raid was planned to take place in Novem- ber when the route by the lakes could not be passed over, and now the raid was ordered for Wednesday. All were to gather at Pembina then, so as to start on the march for Garry Thursday morning. "It was a d d mistake," he said, for now the Canucks could send up their soldiers by tiie lakes and rivers. Still he said, "You'll see fun anyhow." We neared Pembina as the day was breaking and were astonished to find a man on horseback close to, and following, our coach, dubious of the road we pulled up, and I inquired of the man on the horse which was the way into the village. He said he was* a stranger and did not know; was following us as he supposed the stage would take the right road Before this, however, at some unperceiv- ed bend in the road, we lost sight of the telegraph poles (the poles were planted, but no wire strung as yet). We halted for consultation. Rumor said that at that time there were 1,500 men encamped upon the boundary at St. Joe, and Wyllie was afraid the driver was heading for this en campment. I struck a light, saw what time it was, and scanned a !pocket cow- pass. The course of the Red river was known, and so a little calculation and re- flection assured me that keeping the course we were pursuing we would strike the Red river before very long. This was correct; in about 20 minutes the poles were hailed with joy and a heap of nervousness abated. Before entering Pembina, know- ing that we would overtake the previous coach there and find Mr. Goldie at the inn, I instructed Mr. Wyllie (who knew Robertson, the inn- keeper) to find out before I got out of the coach what room Goldie occupied. He did so, and I at once sprung out with face blackened and begrimmed with the black- burned dust from the prairie, rushed into Mr. Goldle's room. I found hirajustup and buttoning his suspenders. Having a Colt's navy revolver in my hand I address- ed him in language interlarded with what might have been taken as lessons learned from Lame Jack and referring to the ex- trer .e danger he had thrown around me, forbade him on penalty of instant death to show any recognition of me before any one, by word or look, and not to go out of range of my observation. He trembled and promised, I promising to explain fully in silence and . At the next driver who I, having only it the previ- I an Irishman wn Fenian, mded to be .1 sympathy them he had eks ago, that r although he Id be now, as >lunder. The iCe in Novem- kes could not ;he raid was All were to IS to start on r morning. "It aid, for now their soldiers Itill he said, the day was ihed to find a ad following, .d we pulled on the horse ) village. He id not know; iupposed the right road le unperceiv- sight of the vere planted, We halted for that at that :ampedupon I Wyllie was ; for this en tt, saw what pocket conn- ed river was ition and re- eeping the woula strike g. This was le poles were nervousness ibina, know- ertake the find Mr. bructed Mr. on, the inn- out of the iupied. He lut with face bh the black- rushed into him just up Having a id I address- d with what sons learned g to the ex- I around me, istant death e before any to go out of [e trembled »xplain fully when we met at Fort Oarry. Poor man, his cup and saucer rattled to- gether as he attempted to take a cup of coiFee, but he was mum and un- demonstrative. Here the stage people wanted to put us all together into one coach, I would not assent and insisted on my rights as having hired mine as an ex- press. I manage, to have the "regular," with Goldie and Mr. and Mrs. Latham start first, followed immediately by my vehicle. While waiting in Robertson's O'Donnahoe sat at one end of the stove, I at the other— thanks, however, to my precautions and our stage arriving 2 days ahead of time, no suspicions were aroused as to my being there; few were astir, as it was only (5 a. m. We were now in the crisis of our danger, and excitedly appre- hensive and watchful, for a couple of men on horseback armed with repeaters could have made us an easy prey. Coming in view of the post which con- spiciously pointed out what was then as- sumed as the boundary line, we felt as if nearing home, as coming under the aegis of neverfailing British protection, forget- ting, or casting aside all fears as we pass- ed the welcome post, our pocket pistols were drawn and the remaining drops of inspiring bold John Barleycorn" were quaifed to the toast of "The Queen," and cheer after cheer testified to our loyalty and and returning confidence and courage. Chaneing horses at the Marais, at Kline's (here a dinner characteristic of the route and needing starvation sauce, a little going a long way) next in St. John Bap- tist, then at D'Lorme's wearrived.the two conveyances always within hail on the south bank of the Assiniboine. About sunset Fort Garry was reached safely on Monday the 2nd day of Oct- ober 1871. The river was very low the crossing narrow, the ramshackle old scow in use lay on the north side, and the halfbreeds in charge made haste at great leisure, and more time than was at all necesf ary was consumed in bringing us over; down what is now Main street, then an open prairie road, we wore driven with a dash up to the door of the Davis hotel. Nothing inviting, everything forbidding- dirt, discomfort uud whiskey abundant. What few houses there were, mean and insignificent in appearance, and as if drop- ped down here and there at random, with- out order and at haphazard. A room could not at once bt, allotted to me although I proposed that ray son and myself could room together. Davis was the autocrat of the whiskey ranch and we must wait his will to eat and sleep, it ma) be readily iaferred that having come in from St. Paul's in 4 J days, and with less than four hours sleep, I stood greatly in need of the latter, and|of the former, seeing the kind of food we had on the way "it goes without saying." Supper announced, I entered a room with a taole running lengthwise in the middle of it— every seat filled with occupants some with coat* on, others without. S^vetaX who thought it no breach of law : etiquetto to eat with unwashed hands. 1 managed to hustle into a seat and satisfied my stomach pro tem with a fried sold eye, a boiled potato, in his jacket fortunately, and a cup of tea. I was not allowed to enjov even this undisturbed, for Capt. Villiers, the chief of Provincial police, in gold lace and spangles, introduc- ed himself to me and said the Lieiit.-Gov- ernor had heard of my arrival and was anxious to see me; that it was now dark and he would wait and see me up to Gov- ernment House. He needed not to wait long; we walked up and I entered the vice regal hall, begrimmed with the black dust from the burnt prairies, which the Red River water could eftect little in the way of cleansing power. Shirt and collar in keeping with the color of the epider- mis—having been donned at Grand Forks 36 hours before— I felt my outward appear- ance had little to recommend me to a favorable reception, but the Lt.-Governor, Mr. Archibald, received me with demonstrations of gladness. I apolo- gized for my appearance and on not hav- ing letters of introduction, as I had left all but as I appeared before him at Grand Forks. He said I needed no introductory papers for he had heard from headquarters and otherwise of me and was indeed very glad to see me. We entered at once into conversation upon the state of affairs. I told him ex- actly how matters stood with the Fenians and assured him the report of a large gatherinK at St. Joe was a baseless rumor; that O'Donnohue and O'Neil could not possibly muster over 70 men at Pembina, and probably not half that number. He had nothing to fear from outside forces; all would depend on how it stood with the Metis and others within the Province. He said there was every reason to appre- hend a rising; that he was doing what he could to operate on them through Fathers Dugas and |Ritchot, but they in- sisted as a condition that he would Bive them a satisfactory assurance that the promise of a full amnesty would be fulfilled at once. Without this they could exercise no influence upon their people; that Riel had their hearts and he would not yield unless the amnesty was granted forthwith. After some discussion upon the state of affairs, Mr. Archibald hav- ing told me of the unpleasant state of feel- ing between the Canadians, as they were called, and the Halfbreeds: that it was bitterly hostile on both sides, and towards himself personally as Lieutenant-Gover- nor, the former as a whole were malign- antly antagonistic. His Honor then said, Mr. McMicken, you have had large ex- Ferience in circumstances of this kind, and have had none. What would you advise me to do? Without hesitation I advised the issue of a proclamation calling the whole body of the people to arms, and this without a moments' 8 I 111 ^i; delay. AsBuring him it he could but ptot 400 or 5ieclM, llie in! Province of Manitoba, Orooting ; VVliorcaa. infiiUijfoiK'o ban i4 prox inee, 'roni a coun- try with wliieli wo are at jK''it'«'- iinas only OfM). Kalher unwisely, Mr. Cunningham, the held captain of the homo !0 or religion, or FLAG enjoin them to ility to be offl- )rize and com- ers so selei^ted to conimiinica- rnor of our said e that persons jcricnoc shall be •y drill anidia- •hen called into find allowances he country need >lo to repel those 3. The handful ?ive no serious vc their homes )NCE ! eply of all our iir call. ve caused these and the groat J nfllxed. 'ell-beloved the hibalri, Lieut cn- i of Manitoba, or Canada, etc., at Fort (tarry, ■ear of our Lord lid seventy-one. ur reign. lAIU), cial Secretary. a public meet- s station, theti St. Julien res- dressad by tlie Younp; in fer- A patriotiHtn. audience was Fully large as- >r it was difll- all gathered I aHtonishcd iHed from the n, over 1,(100 vcH. Where was to nie a . was a great to a man en- nied a j.,oodly ij Kique, under . Smith, now t of those an- overnor were heir services, •rving Loyal- mand of Mr. gn in the first from Oeitario. iy 100 strong. :ed a company r.— now Mr. ml. iirm the mm' selves, for l)o- ids of the 711 iiumUer at the uir \> as only Cunningham, the iiouiu 9 guard, obtained arms for his com- mand. Thia soon became known and the Kildonan men represented by Mr. Harrower and John Sutherland, then, and still known as "Scotchman" protested most strongly against the distinction, and insisted upon having arms served out to them, thescarcity of supply could not be made known to them and they were un- reasonable. Mr. Sutherland, whose cour- age and loyalty appeared far above boiling point, said they must have arms or know the reason why. "Bombardiuian had re- ceived a blow and Comontrotonthologus must die." Harrowersaid "Mr. McMicken, I admit you have the best of the argument, but 'the Kildonan men must have arms for all that.' " That morning I sent Ritchie off by the staore to Pembina to watch matcers there and report. I endeavored to obtain two saddle horses for myself and son to go to the Hudson's Bay Co s. post near Pembina, but failed, and was obliged to remain at the fort. Miny perplexing difficulties cropped up, to annoy the Governor. Fuihers Ritchot and Dugas had daily in- terviews with him but they inv.ariably ended by their refusing to urge Riel to enroll w'ith his people unless the amnesty was assured tothem. Duiing the night of Tuesday or Wednesday one of the can- non was spiked. The circumstance at the time was suspicious and rather alarm- ing, but it had no ill effect. On Monday morning Major Irvine who was in command of the volunteers assem- bled a force of 200 men and in the evening dull, dark and drizzling, started out with all the panoply and pomp of glorious war, crossed the A.ssiniboine with some confus- ion and delay, baptising the chief of the commisariat. Major Peebles, in the river. This valorous force with the temerity be- gotten oft h» occasion marched without halting to St. Norbert. Here Pere Ritch- ot was indebted to the good feeling and watchfuhiess of Capt. Mulvey for his es- cape from a danger he little suspected Three or four scouts, factors in the Hud- son'sBay Co. started out for the Company's fort at Pembina. Except an in- timate ac(|uaintance made with the prai- rie by Mr. Factor Christie having been catapulted over his horse's head nothing special occn.rred on the wav. Capt. ViUiers, of the police, was direct- ed to cs.^ahlish videttes between Fort Garry and Pembina for the purpose of maintaining communication and obtain- ing information. The leas*^ said of this service the better; it was not only nil— it was worse. In the meantime, however, the banditti under O'Neil and O'Donuahoo to the num- ber of 1.") or 20 had crossed t he boundary and stormed the Hudson's Hay fort, op- posed as vigorously as ho couhl by the of- ficer in charge, Mr. Watt, who had hut one arm. They comnimenced rifling the stores, and when about preparing to es- tablish themselves there Col. Wheaton, of the United States regular troopa, dispers- ed and captured a number of them. This, thanks to the prompt and high-minded Wheaton, ended the raid— how O'Neil and O'Donnahoe and those with them were dealt with by the United States civil au- thorities is a matter of historical record and does not come within the object of this paper. Meanwhile great excitement prevailed in the then hamlet, the germ of Winnipeg and Fort Garry. Apprehensions were en- tertained that Col. Irvine and his small force would be gobbled up by Riel and his followers. Rumors obtained that the vil- lagers were to be attacked by a large force of Metis from St. Boniface. The home guard were active; several were incarcer- ated on suspicion. In Mr. Cunningham*t» eyes an Irish name, especially if the per- son who bore it was a Roman Catholic, was a strong ground for suspicion and a justifiable cause of arrest. On Sunday forenoon, the Raid being a thing of the past, Mr. Archibald felt verv anxious on the score of the arrests made by Cunningham's home guards, and requested me to give it my atten- tion. I proceeded to the police station in the cells of which the prisonrrs were held, and on the way introduced myself to Mr. Ban- natyne, who was a J. P. for the province. He accompanied me and informed me that one of those held in custody was a nephew of his. Mr. Ashdown, also a J. P., joined us as we entered the offtce of the police clerk, Mr. Barton, who was then the offi- cer in charge of the station. I asked him to show me a list of his prisoners, this he readily complied with. There were six in number. Taking them in order consecutively, I inquired who ordered this man's imprisonment { He answered, Mr. Cunningham, By what authority did you receive him or retain him in custody { By Mr. Cunningham's order. A written order J No. Have you no written order or warrant of commit- ment { No. And so on through the list. Turning to Messrs Bannatyne and Ash- down, I asked them if the laws of Mani- toba authorized such despotic authority, and the holding of these men as prisoners under such circumstance. No, ho, they both laid "certainly not." I immtdiately directed Mr. Barton, un- der my authority as an officer of the Do- minion specially chaiged with matters within the criminal jurisdiction of the General Government, and the sanction of His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor of I the Province, tosefc the prisoners at liher- I ty. This he instantly did, greatly to the ' relief and satisfaction of them and their friends. One more episode, and I sball draw to a conclusion: On (hat Sunday lllel, at the church door at St. Norbert, harangued the people. He told thorn their friend O'Donnahoe had failed, and it be- came them to ofTer their ser- 10 vices to the Governor. Quite a large number of them turned out on horseback and came np to St. Boniface on the south bank of the river. S«nator Girard, then a member of the Provincial Government, came over and with much precision induced Mr. Archi- bald to cross over and formally accept the prolfered services of Riel and his follow- ers. This be it noted, when all occasion for bis services had passed away, so that the move on Biel's part was a hollow mockery. Humane feelings anr^ ' desire to concili- ate prompted the Gove i r into yielding, contrary to his convictions and better judgment on this occasion. The memorable handshaking took place, a scene over which prudence or other vir- tue draws the veil. Yet one more episode and I have done. On the Tuesday following, a squad of Metis, numbering some thii ty or more, headed by Mr. Joseph Royal, mounted on liorseback, accoutred in their own fashion and with much braggadocio binding them- selves to give a ^ood account of the en- emies of the Province wherever found. The only enemy, however, they were like- ly to encounter besides the majority of themselves (for of the lot it migbt be doubted if in the bosom of any of them exceptii?g Pascal Breland and one or two otiiers, a heart had a beat of loyalty with- in it) lay in the large quantity of 50 over- proof rum which Royal insisted should be served out to them and would not stir without it. They had a *2lorious time of it, a time of free frolic and feasting never in all their lives before enjoyed, and certainly never since. But their good fortune did not end here. On their victorious return from their valorous campaign on the exhaus- tion of their commissariat and the rum, Mr. Royal demanded and obtained for himself and each member of the squad. six. dollani per diem. To this extent did 80 many of the Metis profit by the threat- ened insurrection and the raid. The raid is ended. It is my turn to end; I have done. DISCUSSION. The chairman, after expressing his high Sersonal appreciation of the paper of Mr. [cMickcn, invited a aeneral discussion of its topics and suggestions. Mr. J. H. Ashdown, concurring in the obligation of the society and public to the lecturer, eularged upon the incidents nf the Archibald administration, criticizing what he regarded as its want of genuine Oanndian policy. Dr. Bryce recalled vividly the Incidents of the trial of O'Neil anti ot. • -s in St. Paul, at which ho attended while en route to Winnipeg. U. S. Consul Taylor, referring to flic brief reference in Mr. McMlcken's paper 3 the heroic action of Urt. Col. iJoyd Wheaton, captain of the 20th U. S. in- fantry in command of Fori Pembina, in surrounding with a military force the Hudson's Bay post of Fort Pembina, now West Lynue, and capturing the Fenians who had occupied the post, remarked that he felt bound injustice to Col. Wheaton, to explain the circumstances which at- tendea such an invasion (apparently) of Canadian territory. Mr. Taylor had ob- tained information e^rly in September 1S71 of the probability ot a Fenian attack upon Manitoba, which he communicated to Governor Archibald and his ministers and received an assurance that neither the Manitoba authorities nor the Cana- dian Government would object to a move- ment of American troops across the inter- national boundary for the suppression of a violation bv Fenians of the Neutrality Laws of the United States. On the Uth of September a full statement of the situa- tion was forwarded to Washington. On the 19th September orders were sent to Col. Wheaton to make the proposed arm- ed intervention, which he gallantly exe- cuted, and under date of October 5 was able to communicate as follows to the L nited States Consul at Winnipeg : ''I have captured and now hold 'General' J. O'Neill, 'General' Thomas Curiey and 'Colonel' J. J. Donelly. I think further anxiety regarding a Fenian invasion of Manitoba unnecessary." It is further due to Col. Wheaton to state that the ground for the release of the prisoi ers by U. S. Commissioner Spencer at St. Paul was that the acts for which they were charged, were committed on Britiah Territory, and beyond the jurisdiction of the court, a circum- stance, however, which did not deter the English Government from expressing and conveying their thanks to the American commandant of Fort Pembina. An addi- tional circumstance, relating to the per- sonal intervention of Gen. Grant, may now be mentioned, which w^as lus trans- mission of a despatch to Lord Lisgar, Gov- ernor-General of Canada, permitting thfr movement of British troops if necessary through American territory. The Consul feltjustitledin adding that it is within his personal knowledee that in 180(1, or whenever the first Fenian invasion of Canada occurred, William H, Seward, Secretary of State at Washington, left it entirely with Lord Lyons whether Presi- dent Lincoln should issue a proclama- tion denouncing the Fenian movement and otherwise Indicate vigorous measures for its repression, but was diHSuaded by the British Minister on the ground that undue importance would thuH be given to an otherwine insignificant agitation. In 1H7I. in respoci to Manitoba, a more vigor- ous policy was deeniQd necessary bv the civil an