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Am. 136898 ('lUv. fl ,D. a"' v.. /?n5, 1880. i&#V CONTENTS. Portrait of the late Hon. Donald Gunn Frontiapiace. ~ ~ PAQI Sketch of the late Hoa Donald Gunn 9 CHAPTER r.— Discovery— VoyaRca of the Cabota— Cartier'a Explora- liona — Voyage of Roberval — Ghamplain — Diacorery of the Hudson's Bay Country— Contest between the English and French for the Fur Trade— The first Foits and Factories- Karl }[ Trade Statistics- Last Appearance of the French in the Hudson's Bay Country 32 CHAPTER n.— The Earl of Selkirk— His Dealings with the Fur Com- pany—The Selkirk Grant— Prospectus of the Selkirk Colony—Curious lncif!^trjr . n ', :i At •.»/ -// h:^*:' m^ SKETCH OF THE LIFE or THE LATB HON. DOXALD GUNX. There is no finer trait known to mankind than the honor and respect accorded men who have risen above adv^erse and obscure conditions, and " won their spurs " upon that hones- test of all battle fields, the one whose fray opens with the morning of their life and ends only with its close. Nowhere is this recognition so fully made, this sympathy so quickly avouched as on this continent, and nowhere on this continent has literary merit achieved a right to be heard, under such unique and secluded circumstances, as a success won in the inner wastes of that vast wilderness known, till of late, as the Territory of the Honorable Hudson's Bay Company. The condition of individual life in this — save to the trader — unknown region was that of singular bodily vigor, the most .robust and- assured vitality, the natural outcome of the hardy simplicity yet fullness of fare, the pure atmos- phere and healthful alternations of exercise and repose com- mon to the European adventurers in the ranks of the gi-eat trading corporation ; conditions that bred and sustained the ambitious enterprise so essential to exploration, and the establishment of — in unknown and hazardous regions— a traffic with the wild tribes and savage peoples whom they encountered, a record of which— could it be known — would furnish the nervous thrilling annals of the British race with matter equal to any that has gone before. Tasks like these, and daily kindred essay — dwarf lesser and more tranquil habitudes, are not an atmosphere for men ii I y X LIFE OF HON. DONALD GUNN. on studious thoughts intent, the few books that found their way inland, standard and valuable as they were, were only enough to keep alive the traditions of the youth, heir- looms and links that recalled the distant homes across the water and seas, subordinate entirely, a rule which found rare exceptions. Prominently one whose scholarly instinct was of a verity a part of his nature, the author of the History of which this, brief notice is a prefix, Donald G-unn, was born in the Parish of Halkirk in the County of Caithness, Scotland, in the year 179Y, and sprang from that strong and fertile class of peasant farmers whose health of body and mind — nurtured in the frugal simplicity of their native hills — has furnished so many worthy sons to the stout old land that gave them birth. A land whose scant nurture and limited scope, while it con- serves so much, yet breeds a necessity enriching other shores than those of the rugged peninsula stretching its rocky arms into the wild northern seas, sending out, from time to time, to the great unoccupied spaces her colonizing children, who achieve by virtue of inherent and trained qualities — that stand them ever in stead — a success second to none, if equalled by any. Of the children of the tenant of the old farm house in the strath of Braeholme, two furnish worthy proof of this fact, an elder son seeking at an early d^-y his fortune in the wilds of Australia, becoming in due course of time one of the largest wool growers and sheep farmers in the colony ; the other, the subject of our memoir, who turning his face to the west, wrought out amid the ice and snow of the northern land, not only fair fortune but an honored name. It was in the Parish School of Halkirk that the blue-eyed, fair-haired Scotch lad first mastered the raystic signs that were to prove to him in after years, such unvarying delight. Here the speech of the Hills took precedence, and the Gaelic (the tongue the Scotsmen fondly boast contains all others), found an apt and loving pupil ;'one who to the latest years LIFE OF HON. DONALD OUNN. Xi of his life knew no poet king save Ossian, no loftier flight than that of the strong wing of the early Scottish bard^ whose bold imaginings conned by the boy on the mist clad heights of the tempestuous shore, resonant with the might)^ music of the sea, found quick interpretation, and were framed in kindred elevation, leaving a picture no time could fade. Secondary, came the alien English — the strange classic spoken by the Southerns — that lent cMgnity to the little school-house, whose curriculum boasted these two alone, yet in themselves an education holding all of flexibility an d power that written or spoken thought demands, an equip- ment, seeming slender, in reality full of pith. Happily for the boy, the hills and valley, the storm and sunshine on the heather-clad braes, the glory and changeful lights of his mountain, sea girt home, these too were his- teachers. Here following the herds, or watching the brows- ing, wandering sheep, he drank in a tranquil strength he little wot of, received the silent benison of nature, knit- ting together the robust tissues that make life a harmony, a forceful quietude, breeding strength for cheerful essay of all tasks, admirably fitted for the one that now came quickly to his youthful hand. The Hudson's Bay Company, who had depots and shipping ports on the neighbouring islands, had long been in the habit of mainly recruiting their force of servants among the hardy, frugal people in the north of Scotland and the Ork- ney Isles. Their ships were the ' argosies ' that freighted fortunes from the distant shores of Hudson's Bay ; and their ships were to the simple youth of the coast — wearied with an unrenumerative toil that held no future — the brave craft that would bear them to a better fate. The slender stipend promised seeming, by home comparison, large indeed. Young Donald, now some sixteen summers, urged by such thoughts, and a love of wandering that seems instinctive at a certain period of life, aware of the large number of families being sent out by the Earl of Selkirk, engaged with the local l\ XI 1 LIFE OF HON. DONALD GUNN. M f agent, and in the year of grace, 1813, found himself duly enrolled as a servant ol the groat fur trading company, and bound for York Factory, on Hudson's Bay, in company with the Pilgrim Fathers of the North- West, now widely known as the Selkirk settlers. The future historian W'U yet linger over the pages of this volume, in seeking to portray anew the story of these peo- ple. No record of colonial life is more affecting than the tearful embarkation of these cottagers, their hardships at the bay, and the culminating and dreadful distresses in which they and their helpless families were plunged on their arri- val at the Red River, caused by their miserable and unex- pected involvment in the deadly strife and murderous competition of the two great rival companies, their own protectors and the wild half-savage men of the " North-West." The suffering is so real and persistent, their patience so admirable, their helpless acceptance of the most grievious situation so simple and unostentatious, that it hardly seems real ; deepening our sympathy and admiration as we look upon the picture of to-day, the smiling farms of their chil- dren and descendants, where plenty and peace brood over the spot fraught to their progenitors with terror, flight and distress. The life of a " Company man " — in the phrase of the country — is either fraught with incident or entirely unevent- ful, being simply a matter of locality'." " The Severn District," abutting upon " the Bay," in which Mr. G-unn passed his ten years of service, was the natural stronghold of the Hudson's Bay men, peopled by peaceful, inoffensive Indians, and pro- ductive of no marked event, while at the same time the plains to the west — as is seen in this narrative — were, with the Red River country, the theatre of a warfare so fatal to the contestants as to impel the coalition of the great rivals, the North West Company being merged into that of the Hudson's Bay in the year 1821. LIFE OF HON. DONALD GUNN. ZllI But the time, to a man of Mr. Gunn's energetic character, and thirst for knowledge, was not — if barren of event — unprofitably spent. His vicinity to the great depot of the north, and his early promotion to the position of a lesser postmaster, threw him continually into the society of the leading men of the Company, from whose conversation he derived a great store of exact information touching the past and contemporaneous history of the great governing Corpor- ation. He was also enabled to acquire, by loan or purchase, books, and the digest of his acquisitions at this period, as shown in conversation and reminiscences in after years, was of singular fullness and value. An immense amount ot local and character detail of the most uniqr.e and interesting description has, by his decease, been forever lost to the lesser records of our colonial history, a loss as great to us in the future as would have been the early destruction of " Pepy's Diary " to the English people. The year 1819 was to Mr. Gunn alike a memorable and happy one, he then marrying Margaret, the eldest daughter of James Swain, Esquire, the officer in charge of the York District, a union blessed and fortunate inevery respect— one unbroken for a period of fifty years. That the newly married couple were in no danger ot being at the time of their marriage enervated by luxury, Mr. Gunn would, with a keen recollection of the time and their free- dom from care and grief, amusingly relate. In addition to the usual allowance of small stores, their outfit of meats and breadstufFs was more suggestive than real, consisting of a " flint trade gun," ammunition, and twine for nets. The hardship was but in seeming, game and fish abounded, Indians and traders alike resorted to their well stocked " preserves " for subsistence, and, possibly, the jaded epicures of the city would have envied the young couple their keen enjoyment of their woodland fare. A deprivation more felt was at times when in recent pos- session of a treasured book, to be without candles or oil. IIV LIFE OF HON. DONALD OUNN. when thinly split pitch pine fagots would light up the house, drag from their shadowy coverts the finest print, and convert the snug log dwelling, nestled in evergreens, into a hall of learning, where each recurring page folded down and conserved satisfactions remembered through life. It being found inexpedent by the Hudson's Bay Company after the absorption of the North-West, to maintain so large a force as the united employes of the late Company and its own, certain reductions were determined upon, and Mr. Gunn gladly availed himself of the opportunity to retire. "With his wife and newly born son, he followed his old friends, the "Selkirk Settlers," to the Red River, settling in what is now the Parish of St. Andrews, but, which he and a few friends of certainly ambitious loyalty for the time named *' Little Britain," scarce foreseeing that their tiny speck of civilization would ripen so quickly, and assure here and to the west a " Greater Britain." The locality chosen, however, proved to be a good one, and drew about it a more than usually intelligent class of "freemen," as the retired servants of the Company were called ; among them Mr. William Smith, an English worthy full of strong, honest points, one of the most genial and humor- ous of men, who had also married a daughter of Mr. Swain,and was after appointed Secretary to the Council of Assiniboia a,nd Clerk of the Local Courts, aii^ office which he held until his death. - ' Happily for the new farmers, these were the halcyon days of the hunters. Buffalo were near and plenty, the net was ever in the water, sturgeon and ' gold eyes ' daily fair. Without ploughs, tools or cattle, their first attempts at agri- culture were of the rudest description ; putting down wheat with a hoe, the quantity of seed is not hard to sur- mise, yet from such a beginning ere many years— -aided by his stout sons — a spacious stone house with ample stabling for the large stock of horses and horned animals, and abun- dant grain, made the homestead of- Donald Grunn one of the LIFE OF HON. DONALD GUNN. XV foremost in the entire settlement, one whose abundance made ghid many a luckless soul. After an interval of ten years spent in active farming, Mr. Gunn found himself, by the increasing size and usefulness of his large family so relieved from personal attention to the farm, that he was enabled to take charge of the Parish School established, and, with the exception of the very slight contributions of the parents, supported by the Mission Society of the English Church This task, one held in the highest honor and respect in those primitive days — to the shame of our own diminished and unwise estimate be it spoken— was one so congenial to his taste, that, fortunately for the youth of both sexes in his charge, it was continued without intermission by him for the long period of eighteen years A period of usefulness in one of the highest and most re- sponsible functions i)ossible to an individual, one which while training others has disciplined and fitted for distinc- tion many of our best thinkers and actors in the world of statecraft and of letters. This was, in the case of Mr. Gunn, very distinctly avouched, not only in the career of numbers of his pupils who attained to positions of public trust and honor, but even more cer- tainly, if less marked, in the sustained life impress made upon all, intelligence bearing fruit by many a fireside,' unseen rivulets trained to fertilize and make glad an otherwise barren field. Had the classes in charge of Mr Gunn been fired with the same student ardor — simple and pure love of knowledge for its own sake — as their teacher, his task, always an arduous one, w^ould have been slight indeed. Its compensation lay in the fact that he w^as at last at the centre of all literary lore in the North-West, in contact with such varied and sufficient printed erudition as made him more than content. When, later, made custodian and librarian in his own house of the only public collection of books in the country, he XVI LIFE OF HON. DONALD (lUNN. was fairly environed with satisfaction, each tome a silent friend. It is hardly to be supposed that Mr. Gunn, with his ac- tivity of thought and broad well won culture, could be other than stirred by impulses looking beyond the school-room and farm. The hardly wrought settlers had at last emerged from the pressure that beset them, and were day by day as- suring themselves of greater comfort, stirred by certainties that held within them a future. The governmental structure under which they rested was alike primitive and paternal. But a paternal government is in its nature despotic, and the tradition of their race was averse to restraint however bene- ficient, unaccompanied by representation, the moulding hand of the governed. This they did not have. The Council of Assiniboia, the members of which were composed of leading English and French settlers, the Recorder or Judge of the Court, the Sheriff and all officers connected in any way with the simple machinery of the Government, were appointees of the Hud- son's Bay Company. The settlers were in fact without any representation or weight whatever — a strange anomaly under the British constitution — one which, failing in a single point, had cost the Crown the thirteen original colonies now form- ing the United States. But, if the anomaly was strange, the circumstances which begot it were more so. The .presence of thejsettlerswas due to the action of a great controlling member of the Hudson's Bay Company. The exigence that had prompted the settlement had long ago ceased to exist, but the settlement remained to be admin- istered as circumstances might require. The Company was * great chartered monopoly, with ascer- tained governing rights, and finding occasion to use them had formulated such as they deemed sufficient for the time and population, and it is hardly compatible with the least knowledge of human nature to suppose that they would per- : e a silent ith his ac- id be other chool-room 3t emerged by day as- certainties 1 structure I paternal, ic, and the ever bene- ding hand niboia, the iglish and Court, the the simple the Hud- thout any aly under gle point, low form- les which was due ludson's had long )e admin- th ascer- ise them the time the least ould per- LIFE OF HON. DONALD QUNN. XVll ^ mit — much less initiate themselves— the slighest infringement on their chartered rights. To grant the sottlers r<»presentation and then limit or nullify their legislative action would be idle. Both the set- tlers and the Company were right in the positions they as- sumed ; the one to desire and insist on responsible govern- ment ; the other to guard their immunities and privileges at all points. The lesson to be deduced even at this day, so remote from the charter, is one adverse to the existence of any monopoly whatever. We have sought to make clear by the briefest summary the causes of an agitation that shook the little settlement of Red River to its centre, in order to illustrate the public spirit and self-sacrifice of Mr. Gunn, who took a leading part in all movements tending to establish a responsible Govern- ment in the country — drafting petitions to the Imperial and Canadian Parliaraeiits, presi*Mng at the numerous meet- ings called for discussion of the theme, one looking forward to the formation of either a Colonial Government under the Crown, or adoption and recognition by Canada. By his frank utterance and open effort he certainly sacrific- ed all chance of a seat in the Council of Assiniboia, at that time an object of laudable ambition to the leading men in the settlement, but live J to know that the agitation was not without fruit ; it, conjointly with the establishment of a press by Mr. Caldwell, directing attention to the country and hastening the negotiations which ended in the purchase of the Company's rights in the vast domain over which they had so long held undisputed sway. Certainly the most strenu- ous ambition or pronounced capacity found but meagre scope in the days of which we write, but, both by the old and new res:ime Mr. Gunn's s<^rvico was sought to fill various local positions of trust ; he btnng from a very early d:iy joined in the magistracy, presiding as Tre.sident of the Court of Petty Sessions in his District, and was after appointe .'■fi'-.iili^l, I XVlll LIFE OF HON. DONALD GUNN, , !( Polico Magistrate and Justice of tho Peace for the Province, Postmaster and Inspector ol' Fisheries. These positions are mentioned as showing mainly the un- broken confidence extending over a long lapse ol' years felt by all classes in the integrity and ability of Mr. (hinn, who, upon tho formation of the new Government, waiving his just claims to the representation of his District in the Dominion Parliament as too remote and arduous a task for one of his now advanced years, accepted a seat in the Legislative Coun- cil or Upper House of the Manitoba Assembly, which ho held until its discontinuance as a public body,som(i five years later, voting unhesitatingly himself lor its abolition when con- vinced that its slight function was alike unneeded and an unnecessary stress upon the slender resources of the new Province. During what is popularly known as the " Red River troubles'" Mr. (Junn had a somewhat unexpected and undesired experience in legislation, being chosen a member to the Provisional Asseml)ly, organized during the winter of the armed resistance to the entry of Hon. Mr. Maded and an of the new ,s the " Lied ixpected and n a member he winter of Maedougall, jiod of great palation of of the most government, ieoi)le of_ St. that such ph delegates |ii, and pro- lomentarily Lindred peo- productive I assemblage k unity, but Warance of secrecy and surprise, gave confidence and tranquility to this widely-spread and, for the llrst time, divided coinmunity. Wo turn from passing mention of those troublous times, remembrance of which is now quickly fadinu; out, to a theme more in accordance with a thoughtful life. The spacious stone farm-house, to which we have adverted, was always the hospitable home, alike of the purposless tourist or the wandering J^avant who sought its well known doors in search of special facts in the physical geography or natural history of the vast terra inro'^nita of which the ited ]iivt'r settlement was the threshold. At Donald (runn's, the stranger found not only the warmth of a home, but an intelligence which threw light on all detail ofj)urposed travel and entered into and discussed every theme of scientihc research. The grateful and unexpected fact was so thoroughly appre- ciated by that late accomplished and adventurous ornitho- logist, Mr. Kennicott, of the Smithsonian Institute, Wash- ington City, that it at once led to Mr. Gunn being appointed as correspondent and contri]>uting member to that institu- tion, nor can we in any way so well give an idea of the consideration in which Mr. Grunn's services were held, as by reproducing from the published report of the Secretary of the Institute, 1S78, its regretful estimate of his value. — "In addition'To' its irrepamble loss in the death of its late Secretary, the institution has also to lament that of a number of valued correspondents " Among those to be first mentioned is Mr. Donald Gunn, of AVinnipeg, Manitoba, a veteran correspondent of the Smithsonian Institution, one of the earliest of its meteoro- logical observers, and one who for more than twenty years hns been a constant contributor of information and colbv-tions relating to the natural history of the Xorth-West. =^~ ^ ■^ -^^ '^ ^ As stated, the first connection of Mr. Gunn with the, Smithsonian Institute w^as that of a meteorological observer. His long continued observations of «« ' I 1 !, ( LIFE OF HON. DONALD OUNN. tlm wcalhcr woro amomr the mo.st n»lial>le of those within its archivoH. His coiitrihutions of objects of natural hiMtory were still more important, onibraoinuf, as tlu'y did, nearly ev<»ry branch in tho various clas.sos of th«' animal and vogt^- table kingdoms, and nunn'rous collections in archjpology and ethnology. Few reports of the Institution sinc»^ 18r>0 an? without some n-ference to his services. " In 1800 he madt; a special exploration, in hehalf of the Institution, of the region west of Lake Winnipeg, spending considerable time in th«» vicinity of iShoiil Lake and Lake. Manitobii, in the course of which he collected large numbers of skins and eggs of birds; among the latter, several previously entirely unknown in museums. Within a year correspondence was in progress with him in regard to the renewal of this exploration. * # * # 'Wf "It is understood that he has left behind him a minutely detailed journal of his experiences and his relations to the colony in /hich he lived for over fifty years, which will doubtless be published on account of its great historical value." As we transfer these words, we are moved with regret that we cannot also transfer a picture of the modest essay and quaint surroundings attending Red River foray into the domain of science at an early day. The simple outfit of canoe or cart heralding research into distant fields and haunts, whose wretched 'fauna' were made relnet^mt accessions to an undc>sired catalogue. Luck- less snak's ,\]<:\ other "Keptilia," unconscious of their good fortune, plunged in perpetual alcohol,— their manner of taking oif envied to the core by the drauthy souls who con- temned strongly the '• waste of whuskey." The picture, again, of the veteran seeker after the sca*^tered type that, re:^et, tells the strange story ot buried d;iys ; intent on fossil evidences, sought .imong the ' debris " of the limestone outcrop on the River. The honest neighbours looli:ing askance at this, to theia •* blind work ;" one a lose within iiml hiNtory (lid, lu'iiriy tl and wgt'*- i!iH)logy and half of the »g, KpcndinjT »» and Ljik(^ rg« iiuinhers ttcr, K«nvral rithin a year j^ard to the a minutely ions to the whirh will it historical with re^et odest essay ay into the search into luna ' were :ue. Luck- their good manner of s who con* le scattered lied d:iys ; rife- " of the leiijh hours " one a LIFE OF IlOPf. DONALt) OTtNN. zxi delver in quarries and unconscious iconoclast of unnumlM>r- ed trilohites, bi'ing moved to say ; " lilh mon ! were he hut lookinu for gold now." IL^ was, but of a kind not found in the shining >and ; ratliert he sort that illuminates scrolls, lair to eyes peering steadfastly into the twilight of the past. The personal characterislies of Mr. Guiin were of the most engaging character. In an intercourse of nearly twenty years we fail to recall other than the nioyt genial and unaHecteil cordiality to all ; superadded to this, his varied powi'rs of conversation, replete with valuable matter gathered from all sources, his sense of humor lighting up old Gaelic lore, the traditions of the Vi-king race from whom he sprung, the rough adventures and eccentricities of the hero worthies of ''the trade," the early and chequered life in the settlement, with a vein of grounded (-ulture running through all, made him to be one of the most companionable and instructive of men. An elder in the Kirk for many years, Mr. Gunn's liber- ality of thought — in this direction — would have been marked were it not for the general charity and largest tolerance uni- versal in the country. The three churches, English, French and Scotch, resting in close and harmonious vicinage. Latterly, when he had retired mainly from public ali'airs, nearly all of Mr. Gunn's time was occupiedln'the preparation of this history, arranging his collated facts and personal experience with such care and patience as will doubtless cause it to be — as he intended it should be — an authority upon all the matters coming under his hands. Towards the close of his life, his sight failing him, it was his greatest pleasure to have some one read aloud to him from his favorite authors, his mind retaining its force and clearness until a few hours before his death. This occurred on the last day of November, 1878, in his own house, surrounded by his family, the parting being so peaceful as to be literally falling asleep. flyb'-^^i^. \ ■ xxu LIFE OF HON, DONALD GlTNN. In tracing- the career of Donald G-unn from his boyhood, on the Strath of Braehohne to the close, and setting forth the detail of his faithful life, we cannot, knowing him so well, resist the impression that his truest and best success lay not either in public affairs nor ripe attainment, but was garnered under his own roof tree — was most assured in the affectionate devotion and unbroken regard of his friends. In the primitive simplicity and honest warmth of the society of which he was the patriach and head, in the con- fidence he inspired and the good he was enabled to do, lay his best guerdon. In this sphere he won the merit deserved by so few, for of him it can, of a truth, be said " the world was better in that he had lived." :| I F. L. H. "'''* boyhood, on o- forth the iiig him so best snccoss iiit, but was lured in the s friends, mth of the , in the con- to do, lay his rit deserved . " the world F. L. H. HISTORY OF MANIT013A. PART I. EARLY HISTORY— loOO TO 18:')-3, fty IHK LATE f^ON. pONALD GuNN. (HA IT Kit I. DlSCoVHltV — VoVACKS (»1' TMK C.MiOTS — ('.MtTlKU's Kxi'I.di; Al Ii >NS — VuVACH OI- lloUKUVAL — CllAMl'LAIN — I )lS('(tVKi;V or THK Hudson's liAV CnrNTUY — Contkst I'.ktwkkx tiik Kn(;[,isii \ND FhKNCII Foil TllK FlK TliAKK — Till", FlltST F<>I!TS AM) Fa('T(>i;ii:s — Kari.y Tkadk Statistics — Last Ai'i'KAiiAxrK ok TllK FUKNCH IN tiik HlUSON's 1)AY ("olNTItV. Tin: tliscovei'v of the isLiiuls in the (lulf of Mexico hy the ureat Clnisttj})ht'V Columbus, in 141>2, excited the aiubition iiud cupidity of tlie Knylish and Frencli Monarcli.s. The fornuo', Henry the Seventli, in 14l>7 coiuinissicined John Cabot, a \'enetian, to sail to the \vest in search of unknown lands, ami to take jiossession for the Crown of England of all jihices tliat henii^lit find in the course of liis voya^ue. Cabot was so far successful as to discover and touch at some ])oints of tlie Anuu'ican Continent. Tin. following; year, Sebastian Cabot, son of the former discoverer, was commis- sioned hy the Knj^lisli Monarch, and perfoi'med a most extensive exi»lorat(»rv vovaeiii^' tlie lii'st to discover the American ('(»ntinent. ]^>ut tiiey did not lor years atteni]»t to estaldish a trade or plant ciiloiiies in tlie lately discovered I'onntry. IJnt while KnL;land re}»ose«l on her lauiels, her ener^'etii; (lalic nei^^hlxtr fitted out an exjtedition in search of a passaj^e to the rich countries of the East. The ex]»edition, we are t(tld, coasted the American Continent from Carolina to the northern t'xtreniity of Nova Scotia. It wa'^ then ai>]tio]>i-iated in the name of his most Christian Majesty, under the inajLcnilicent. title of Xew Frsince ; hut the primary oltject of the voyage had not been accomplished; l)ut in l.";»4 .lac([ues Cartier, an exjterienced and aide seaman of St. Malo, was sent out with a ■similar view. He seems t(» have steered for Newfoundland or lor the Labrador coast, and he is said to have passed between the ]\Ia.i;(lalen Isles and enteied the Uay of Chaleurs, \\hich niiuic it still retains. Jie landed on its coast and took formal }io>session of the surroundinu countrv in the French kiny's name. The only i'niit of Cariier's first expedition was that it led to the discuNcry of the St. Lawrence afterwards. Two of the nativtis whom he took on board at (Jaspe and carried with him to France, weic the lirst j.arties who informed him that the river existed. Cartier departed on his second voyage in May, l."*:!."); he had three vt'sscl-; unchir his command, and hoiste(l his penant on board the Hfriunn', of about 11(1 tons l»urden, the two others of much less tonaue. After having' been se]iarated by stress of weather, they arrived at the appointed I'cndevous in the month of July.* And, after enjoyinj^' iv few days rest, they sailed up the !j,reat (lulf, and on considci'ing the I'oute which he pui'sued, we believe that his two savaues were (»f i^reat service to him ; but we are not informed whether they were those taken at (!as]»e the previous year and carried to France, oi' taken on board at sonu' ]»(»int alonu the (lulf at which he landed. I>e that as it may, we are informed that he had been C(»nducted by two sava^i^es taken on board and entered the mouth of the river, and ascended to a ]>oint fully 2(10 lea,uues up. lleachinL; a fair island, since named D'Orleans, (,'artier set his two native guides ashore to ti'eat with the ])eople of the country, who Hed from them at iiist, l)ut soon retuT'iied, and in their canoes of Itark <|uite * " Ilisfdire ilti ('iini)ilii " ul'F. (i. (iiirnciiu, Kssc'ssioii u.'. The only > disi'o\(M'y of vhoni he took were the tir.st rtier de]arted \essel-> under Jlt'i'in t lie, of ona;^e. After rrived at the d'ter enj(»yin;j; n considering' savages were vhether they 3(1 to France, •h he Innded. conducted hy )f the river, ichinu a fair lative guides 'd from them liark <[nite oncireled the shijts, olferinj; to their erews sujiplies of niaise, fisli and fruits. (Jartier «^aYe all a kind reeejition, and made them jnesents. Impatient to visit Hoehela^a, Cartier set sail for that ])lace, leavin,t( Stasi)i'ea(l over lake and forest to I'emote Irihes, many of whom hastened, from far distant rey the siyht of a people of Mliom they had heard so many stran<;e accounts, and at the same time to jiavticipate in the rich jiresents liestowed Itvtlie military commandeis of New Ki'anceon the native tril)es, of whif'li tirear n\> s and ammunition always formed a part f. d which in course of time enabled the triltes, who resided near the French settleJiients, to drive their countrvmen who lived furthei' west from their huntinn;' Ljrounds, leaving; tlu^ streams and forests where their forefatheis fished and hunted, to be Occupied ]»y the ut'w cnmers, who stru^j^led on extending their aress had been its course was westward. "A chief, wlio vaunted to have travelled much, and professed to " have seen in the westeiii regions of the country, men who wore " woollen ^aruieuts. None of these ;;avaoes, thus expatriated, ever " returned, all dying Iiefore ir)41, the earliest year after the " ]»rcsent that the Fieuch again visited Canada." When the Sieur de Jiolierval, a nobleman of Picardv, who stood jiigh in tlie estimation of his Sovereign, ask'ed and obtained a Koyal edict by wliieli he was enqtowered to raise volunteers, form a ])ermaiienl estalilislnneut anil govern it in tlu; King's name. Cartiei' liad tlie i-ommaud of the vessels assigned for the trans]»or- tation of the (';;!. MUsts to America. He set out with H\e shi[)s, early in the summer of ir)41. We are informed that, after a stormy i»assage of thrtse nuniths, he ariived at Xewfoundland, where he I'emained for souu' time expecting to be j'oiued by his ]»atrou, Iu(b('r\al, who was to have hdlowed him; l»ut he came not, and ( 'aili'i', pursuing his voyage, aseended the St. Lawrence a!id c;ist aiu'hor before Quebec. The Colonists, on landing, coni- lieir actual 'I' lake and I far distant 'ir curiosity any stranj^e icli jireaents n the native neci a part, led near the ived furthei' treains and Ite Occupied aj,'ricultnral iter a lar<4e .e been ex- re favorable ijf the New course was pi'ofessed to In who wore |triated, ever after the who stood bed a Ivoyal [rs, form a ng's name. [e trans} )or- H\e ships, [at, after a ■fi)undland, |ied by his |t he came Liiwrence idimi;, com- 1I1ST»)I;V or MAXITOMA. 3? nuuiced clearing; the land, near l)y, for enltivation. i.ea\iui: his ])eo]'le thus (tci'U])ied, ('artier ascended the St. Lawreiicf, li(»]iin,u tn «;et abtjve the rapids, oi' Satilt St. Luuis, but failed in tlu' ntttMupt. " Autumn came nn and iiassed awav brin«iin<: no tidiim< nl' Ijubci'- val." Cartiei', therefore, prepared to winter in tlif cuiiiitiy. l.ni desjiatched two of his vessels to St. Malo to inform the Kin^ <(f his own procet'din men, upon an expedition foi- the interior, in (|nest of the ciun- trv which the savages spoke of as abounding' in i.veeioii< metals aiK 1 stones of price, 'i'his exjiloi'atoi'y voya«i,(*. to the inieiior was less successful than the former jierfoi'med by ("artiei'. The extant relation of it by lloberval himsidf is incomplete; but had he dis- covered tlu! country in tla; \Ve>t, rej'ovtrd by the -;avaij:es of the *" Documents (111 I'nri."." tVide (iarnc.'iuV llistiTv wl ('iiuiiln ^■^'^■t.% '.,' I fl'l as HISTOUY OF MANITOBA. I in ! ill i r ! I Ka.st iis iilHumdiiij/ in goM, silver and jtivcious .stones — missed by liis jin'tlcci'ssor, of course — surely some indications of its existence, if discovered, \\(juld Ite found in the extant account, fragmentary though it is ; from which, however, we learn the discouraging fact, that Itefoiv the expedition retuiiied to (^^uehec, one of IJoherval's vessels sank', and eight of his men were drowned. Intelligence of lioberval's arri\al in Canada arrived in Paris just as war was to recommence between Fi'ancis the First and Charles the Fifth. Instead of sending the supjdies demanded, some historians have stated that the iving ordered Cart ier in 1 ."4."> to bring Iioberval and his ( 'olonists ])acl\ to France. And thus ended the first at- tempt at coloiii/iug by France in ( 'anada. The war with the Kmjiei'or. The rulers of Fi'ance lost siglit of Canada. Francis Fir:-,t died .'ilst Maicli, 1 .'»47. He was sm'C(!eded by Henry II., and in l.")4ll l{obev\al organized his si'cond expedition lor Canada ; but which he was destined never to reach, as he and all his followers perislied in the jiassage. Fi'iini iJolierval's urdbilunate expedition in l."4l' the FrencJ! nation seem to ha\e neglected, if not forgotten, Canada, ami con- fined nil their efforts for trade and cidom'zation to Acadia until the year JtiOT.wheii the Sieui'de Moiits aliamloned Acadia anil turned ills iitleiitlMU to ("anada. We are informed tliai in doiuo- this, he had iwit ubj.M Is ill \iew, /. r,, a desire to I'ular^e the Fr/neh ])os- sessioiis ill AiiierivM, and a liope of being alile at sume futuie time, to reai-h li.e Taeitie "oy a nortli-we>t jassage. Aftei' having iilttaiiied fiiiiii th'' King a renewal of his ja'ivilege-; jor one year, M. (!e .Mollis aiijxiinted Cb.nnjtlain his Lieutenant, and along with his |artiie(l two \essels, oie* to tratVie at Tadusa*,-, the 'itiier In bi-ar t!i.' ( 'nlmii.sts wiio were to cdmnience a settlement, Hear th" St. Lawivne'. Tlie t'Xiieditioii arriNcd at Stadaeoiui ((j>iiebiT (»ii thi' third day of .Inly, ('hampjain's j)eople diser.i- Itarked at the point of land now (tceiij)ied by the lowi^r town of the ]»reseiit City (if (^)iiei>ee. Tlie\- forthwith cleariMJ a place ;in;l erected tiMiipoiary cabins for sheltering places. The histui'iaii informs iis that Champlain, having set his liaiid in ( ariie.st to tlie wnrk, sooii saw a fort I'ise bid'ore him of some extent aiid respeet- able stivngth, w hih- scM'ial wtiv l>i:sied in clearing km I f)r tillaiic HisroilV OF MANITOBA. ao -niisseil by s oxi.sten !c, Vagnientiiiy iraj^int;- fact, lioberval'M i'llij,'onct:' of war was to tilt' Fifth, niiaiis have g I'oltei'val lie first at- r with tht' 'aiici.s Fir:-,t II., and in mada ; hut s foHDwers le KivncJ! I, and con- I until the ind turned ig this, he .ni'h j)us- tuie time, 'r ha\inn' one year, h)n^' with hisae, the ettletnent, "^tadaennii le (h'sei'.i- Aii of the 'lace air.l historian 'st to tiie ; ivspevt- )r tillam; or in uiher uscfid and arid urgent works. The foundations of a town yt't to heconie one of the most famous cities in the New VVoild, were now l»eing laid in the jireseiice of wondering redmeii ()n him by liis >;oveivign, Legislative, Judicial and Kxecntive. These great [lowers enaltled the Covernor to dis])ose in a summary mannci' of tlinse who had banded together to destroy his life. l>uval was tiicd and hung, his associates were sent back to France, and, after some time, the King extended his jtrerogative (»f jiai'doning otfem.fji to tlie accused, ^\'e are informed that the i-xanqile thus made .sutiiced to keej) down a s]>irit of mutiny among the Colonists. Cham])lain found, or btdieved that he had found, that since Car- tier's time, aborigintd (.'anada had undergone a great change among its contending tribes. Stadacona and Flochelaga existed n(» more; and ii did n(»t seem that the same native ]»o])ulati( ns, ms those of Cavtirr's day, jiossessed the country which had those ])lace their ;iea tor dijUarttMs. ^'et the tri]>le lin<' of stockades that ;ui- rou.nd;'d the A'illage of Hochelaga and the raise the h'oat, which (Hd not take jilace, howevei', till next day. Durinu the iuterveuinu niyht the s:ivaues he;;uiled the lime with dances, son>;s and ].rovocative terms launched at the native foe before them, in the styl^ of warrii.vs of tlie heroic a<^es of (Ireece as rccoidetl by Homer. When day (hiwued, a body of Ii'o(|U(»is, LMMl strong, advanced slowly, but with steady stej* and niucii conlidence, to the attack, headed by three chiefs, each distinguished by ii larye bunch of feathers in his head. ('hani])htin's allies, drew up into two separate c(ir}»s, and ]tut him forward as their leader, he was accompanied by two of his nu;n, the rest of his ]>eoi»le not havinji,' come up. Their Indian allies told the FVench to aim ])rincipally at the enemy's chiefs. The Iroipiois when within thirty stejis of their Ibes, sto(,d still in wonder \\\Hni observinj^' the unknown auxiliaries in the van of battle. Ilecoverinji' from theii' surjaise, they ansMered a thuht of arrows from their adversaries with another; but when the French dischartied their firelock and shot dead two of the chiefs, and mortally wounded another, the entire horde Hed to the woods, and, ]»einn- hotly jtursued thither by their trium]>hant antagonists, seveial more were killed and some taken ]»risoners. We are in- formed liy the histoi'ian that none of the victors were killed and only fifteen or sixteen wounded. I'licy ]»illaji«'d the enemy's camp and be^ian a, hasty retreat. Kvenin;^- l»ein*i' come, they cam]»ed and took one of llieii' jirisducrs, and first causing- him to sin;^ the HIST(»l;V OK MANITdl'.A. 41) iciitidiicd, and with U-\v and The Kifiich to stand well !(! that 'ic ex- nutivf trihes, 'dei'atioii, Ijiit is]»()H('d [,, ho uirivcd fioiji <»ut with his 1«'>»)1'. They '.s the ilhistri- liistdi'iaii that t take jilace, it the sMNiiues eative tfiins »r wanii.is of ii;i, ad\aiiced tile iittHck, e 1)11 iieh of Nvo sejiarute eeoiiipaiiied ^' eoiae u]). till' eiiciiiy's foe>, st(»(,d in the van ■ed a Hiyht when the the ehiefs, the Woods, ntaL;oni,st.s, e are in- killed and iny'> eani}> ey e;tni]ied ) sin'_ the A native ehiint yf death, jnelusive to his oondno; fate, they toititifdl jiiin in the mode nsnal witli them on sneli oeeasions. Chiimjilain, shocked with their harhurity, asked leave to ]iut the wretehe*! man out of fnvther \ni\n hy a a{('h ; hnt this was not allowed until the toi'ment»»vs had exhansted every device of sava^'e crnelty. in this first essay a«,'ainst tln^ while man in Canada, the eontendin^i Iriltes had an ojtportnnity of seein;^ the n his retnin from the above adventnre, ' 'liam|»lain set sail lor Ki'ance, wheie he arrived in dne time, and spent the winter of 1 •;()!> an«l l<)li>. In foi'min;^ an association for the jMirposr of carrying on the jieltry trade, he ohtained a new commission which warrai ited 1 lim to seize everv nnanthoi'ize continne for eleven years, he retnrned to his (loverinnenl of Canada, lie had very little time to attentl to the commercial affairs of the New Colony hetbre he was snmmoned to the field !•}• his allies to do battle against the once dreadful, now despised, Iro(inois, who weie lutverin^r in considerable force near the ( iiihonchere of the Kiehelieu. The battle was joinetl ; the fill-, arms of the b'l'ench deeideil the fate of the Iroipiois, who were rdl At the close of tl le cut to j)ieces or drowned m the river. eni:a|>;ement, liOO Hnrons ap})eared on the field. ]\Iost of these, liavin*>' never seen an Kurojiean, ie<:;ardeil the jiersons of the French, their dress, theii' arms, with astonishment. Ijttle foreseeing the etiect these stranj^ers, whom they met now for the first time, w onld nave on their own destiny and on that of their felhtw led men. After the above campaiuebec and tho sources of the St. Lawrence. Chani]»lain, thus armed with. absolute ]tower, naturally ex]>ected jiieat letnrns from the soeicty'.s traftic, causdl a site to l)e cleared in the vicinitv of ^Montreal, for -.'fiV,^>*. 1 tu HISTOI.'V (»!• MAMTuHA. I ' I: ^•it'ctiiij,' 11 fort to jnoti'rt tlu* tactorv iiitciidcd tn Itc dpnud on tlic, i^liiiid i)ftliiit Uiiiin-. He ('(iiicliidt'd iit tin* mhiih' tiiiii' ii tifaty of •ilIiiiiKjc tiiid tiiidf with the Hiirtdis, a piirty of 'rl;icli Hiitioti, 200 ill iimultcr, liiid ('((inc on a visit ; and tlic cliicfs ^avc him |n'niiis- sifiii to coiimit'ticc a si'ttk'iiH'Ht in their cotmtrv if he found its soil siiitalilf for the jtiirjiosf In ir>l'» Chaniphiin ascended the 'Ottawa, jtenetrated to Lake Nij»pissin^, and ]>assin^ on to the south >;uiived at tlie yiitterin^ waters of Lake Unroii and UavellinL; southwards he reached Lake Ontario in dnly. These Unrons and Outawas visited ('haiu|tlain \\hiie he \s:is residing at the Sank St. Lonis, ami nr^'ed him toaceomjiany them in theii' inteiidetl e\|iediiion against their conimop. etiemies tie' lro«|Uois, ami took the cirenitons route hy the ( )ltawa, not solely, we may sn]»|iose, lor tlie jairjtose of explorinf^ these hitherto nn- knoWM legions of the West, iMlt fol' the ]»nr|»ose of Itetler •oiM'calin^i their advance fi'om the eiiemv. On arrivinji at Lake ■^Jiitai'io, ojterations forthwith commeiu'ed, for all that was needi'd was to cross the St. Lawrence, The Iro<[tiois from ]iast defeats 'o^'canie cautious ami were found entrenched, and hy this means vjfiectually resisted their alxtri^inal foes, who advanced in a di — •')rd<'ily mannei', in spite of all the French I'onld ilo to regulate their movements. ( )nce repulsed theii' distrust of themselves '»,'ca;ne a> dejiressiuu a>i tlieii' confidence had l)een hi^h iMdor. ■. Notliinu was tlioUL;ht of hut retreat, and this was lia|>pily elVecled witiioul loss. Chamjdain, who had received two wounds in the -ufl'air, demanded tlu' aid of two liuicles to conduct him tit Montival. 'I'liis heinn denied, under dilVerent pretences, he had to jass the winter amon,L>' the savages. I'.ut lie did not pass thi' st'asou idly, Making himself ac(|uainteil with the surrounding regions, and •;'.specially v.iih what was then known as the Neutral Nation, •<.'hani])lain r Lake Su])erior. Noiwithstandin<4 this informatutn, so well calculated to excit,' "the ilai'ii.^- intujiedity of the hold sons of France, twenty-six years ;ra,n their course liefore any Frenchman had the honor of discovei- ■hi'^ and the ])leasuie of launchin;^- his birch canoe on the j^reat inland opoiK (1 on tli(! nil' :i tifjity of fll Iliitioli, I'OO ' liiiii jtcniiis- roinid its soil iis)'('ii(lt'<| the ti t'» tin- s(Mitli iml tiiivclIiiiM i\]\\h' III' WMM il»iiny tliciii ill • •MClllicS til'' kit, iKtt s(»It'Iy, llitlltTto lUl- - t<» ivmilate tlicnisi'lve-, Iu'liIi Iicfor, ■. 'ily t'll'cctt'd inds in tli" to Montii'a!. to J'lISS tip," st'asoii idly. I'.uioiis, and ral Nation, f toIlowinL; nu' acconnt d to excit.' v-si.\ years )f' disrover- ivat inland MIST(»lt^ OF MAN'ITOUA. 48 scii oi Xoitli AnuMica, Tlif kciclu* diamine of tlic kmI mim, the Likt! SiiiM'iior een jirei'i'drd hy that extraordinary class of men, the celelirated i'i)n nii'i-s tit's lii)l.t, \vli(» very likely, even at that early period, •exti'iided their tra) (piny and tradinji' exenrsioiis heyond the western sjioi.'s (it the ureal lake. lfs((, we mnst ai knowledge that they were Hot, if i'ej)orts he triie, the hest adajited niesseniicrs to pre- •jiaiv tlie sii\ai;e mind for the reeejttioti nf the snldime Inith of tlu' ay. Tlu;se gentlemen wei'c condiict- t'd liy ilie Assinilioines to Hudson's iJay, prohaidy hy the Nelson or \\.'\\ L'iNcr^. and aftei' havinji discovered that yreat inland s"a, they retrace,! ilu'jr steps, liein.u still yuided and protected hy th 'ir fr;c'.i'!s the Assinilioines as far as Lake Siiperitti', whence they pio- eeei'e 1 to the settlements on the lowevSt. Lawi'eiice. Their sa^^acity at once pointtMl out to tliem the comparatixf f;i- cility and advantaee of cirryinj^' on the trade through th" I5:iy. On i;i<'ir r.'t'.ii'u to Canada they rei>resented to their cotinti'yni-'u the -veat henetit that would accrue, not only to the colonv, l>ut to tlu; Fre.K^h Natiiin at laru'c, if ti'ading estahlislmu^nts would leitknited :l .1'.Vl.»« 44 HISTOKY OF MANlToHA. fi* .1 ' ' I i I i «m tlic ^liMii's nl IlihUnn's Iliiy ami tlir tiatli' ciinicil itn tlirnn;^Ii it. Ill viiiii tli<| tliry it'|»i'('S('nt to the vivid iiiiii;»itnitif' Ki'aiirc, all itaitics tiinn'(I n dcafcai' to tlicir cntrcatic"*, iinu ic- niaincil iiiniiovcd Ity ylowiii;^ rciin'sciitations jdacfd ln'foiv tln'in; diMa)>iioiiit('d in tlicii' ('\|M'ctatioiis, and dis;;Mstt'd liy tli.' I'oM iiidifl'- « rnicc of tlicii' coiintvviiM'n in the coloiiv, and liavin.u no I imU of ds y their own, they tiiniiMl tlicir tlioii^lits towanls naiicf, i ruNsci tlic Atlantic.aiid jH'cscntcd tlicir \ icw siind wisla-s in tli-' )iro]icn|Uar- tcr ; liut, mifoHiinatcly for tlicni, tlicir |irojcct liad no licttcv ^nc- ccsM in tlic niotlicr country than it had in the colony, Shmic of the Kn^lisli Historians liaxc stated that durinu their -;iay at I'aris, they had hccii introduced to the Knulish Anihassador at the ( 'mirt (if Ki'anec, who sent them to l"!n^land, and jiroNided our ad\ciitur- ers with letters of introduction to scNcral of his intluential friends iit tli(^ Kn^lish Court who are said to have recciNcd the ad\('iitiir- ers aiiersoiis of rank and v, taltli joined in fittinj; out the Ketch "Xone|iai'iel" under the couiiuand of Captain Zachariah (lillani who lived in New Kn^laiid ami who ]Mdlial»ly had sailed north fi'oni I'lciv and was ac(|iiainteii with those Northein Seas ; lladdison and Crosscdier acconijianicd hini. Wo learn from (Jillam's .lonrnal that he saiU'd {'rom (!iii\(send till' .">rd of dune ItidS ; on the 4th of August he saw lle>i|u,uer's Isle, at the entrance of the hay; am! on the dlli Scji- temher he ;,fot in with the Kast Main in latitude .">."• - ;!() Xnrtli,, and hy the 'J'.ltli to a IJiver calle(l Nemisco fi'oiii Lake Xcmisciv from which it drew its waters, hut called hy tlieiii iJujuMt'^ Kist'i'^ where they Mintered. They were iVozeii u]i on tla^ '.Uh De- cemher, and the cold was almost over in April. In diMie it. "Was Very hot when they prepared to sail for Knuland* Tlic jiro- Cfeds of the adventure must ha\c hccn reinunerative, fm on the *i;( I.Mii,'.' Mi. iiiul IK to ill. rcdii- liiij^ iiitliu'iice V l>v till' Kiiii; itit's, tinu i»'- Iit'l'div llit'in ; li>' ••••M iiiilifr. 'ri III* ImimU i)t' '.'llln', I Tiisst'd ■ pl'n)icl'(|ll;il'- !•> Ix'tlc!' M|c_ iit iiicii lit tltcir hfud, ji|)|)lit'tl uikI uhlaiiit'd uti iiiihniitcd chiirtcr puwcr of all the Iniids iiritund ami lu'Vund th«> hiiy; ;ill included within the •^iniit of liitid wuh tu he lidled K'it))et-t's land; iind with the liind the charter proposed to conlei' an eNclii. .sivi! li^ht of tiadi' on the conijiany. This famous, Init niiich dis- piiti'd charter, was yiiinted on the Jnd May, hiT'*. Mr. Charles r»aylty was sent over ( Joveriior that year in order to lie;,Mn a fac- tory which accirdinnly was lixedat llnpi'it's j»i\er where h'addison, he ( Iiusselier and (iillaiii, who went with r»ayley, wintered hefoie. Ill lil74 after consultation they proposed moving to Mouse iJiver in liil. "I - -^, where, as heiny farther from ( 'anada, tliev expected a hcttcr trade. Accordingly the (•overnor sailed to disc(»ver it, and sailed , a, .lesiiit, ii native of Knyland, was sent over land to discover the country and oiir situation under the j»retence of friendship, hrinj.iiii,n with him some hdlers to Captain De (irosst'- lier from his friends there, which j^nive the < iovernor suspi- cion of his corresjionilin;^ to our jnejudice and on this suspicion liaddisiiii and I )i' ( liosselier were dismissed the ('oiiipany's service, upon which they returned to the French in Canada, Init whether hy se;i \ ia I'iiiuiaiid, or hy land across the country, we caniatt sav. Do la I'oterie in his history of New France, says that .lean l*»oiir- doii who was out in the year lt»."»r» was the first Frenchman who Avas ill lliidson's I'.ay, lia\in,u sailed round from Canada hv tlm coast of Lahrador and landed (»ii the south side ol' the l»av where he lurL sonic Indians with whom he lormed treaties, and tliev, hear- in;; "f a straiiLie nation in their nei;;hl»orhood, sent to <,|ii('liec in 1(1(11 to lie^in a trade and to desii'c that a, missionary minht he sent to llieiii. Accordingly oiu' was ordered, hul the Indians on their ivtiirn repeiitin,!;- of what they had done, refused to conduct them, so they wei t hack to Canada. ( hir author further states that when Dc Ciosselier and his companion were dismissed the Hudson's Hay's service they ex})ressed their soii'ow for having' en- ,Ua,ued in it, ohtaiiied their ]»ardon in France, anil, on their return to (.'anada, they prevailed with the French ('onii)aiiy there to join 'M^^m^:. ri^t-K Tl i 1 li:i 4«; HISTOliY UF MANITOH.A. tlieni iiud to tit «nit u l':iik to take ])ossessioii ol' Nelson h'iveiv wliich tlie Kn^ilisli company at that time liad not settled. Wliilt; De (Irosselierand llatklison were sailing,' ronnd in their hark, in 1(1.S2, the Knj^lish (Nmipany at the same time resolved to i)Ossess Nelson lliver, and iii)]»ointed John iJadifivr ( lovenior, who Mas to fix a I'actory there hy the advice of Captain (Jillani. l»nt hefore either oi' them got then^ llenjamin (lillam had from New England, made a lodgment there; hnt was not left l)y his ship above fourteen days hefore De (rrosselier and liaddison arrived. The English had fixed at the nnnith <»f the Nelson Kiver,and the French had enter- l hut of the ('( 1 St. Theresa or llav's lliver. Ten davs after Uidgar arrivci dered l>v De (i di ho had I'osseiier Miut iiad possessi Kiver. Tlie French and he continued good friends until Fehruary, when the French surjtrised him, jait his men on hoard a rotten shi]i and sent them down tv the Knglish. There are, howevei", two other ac- counts given l»v the Fi'ench, differing from each other, and from the above statement. These statements have Ix'enmade by Mes- sieurs Jerniie who was afterwards (Jovernor of Fort Uourbou' and. liy De la I'oterie, Jennie says that De (Jrosselier hcaringof Hudson's J'»ay from the Indians (Ontawas) ii])on his leturn to Canada, engaged some merchants to su]»]»ly him with the necessary outfit, and sailel to St. Theresa oi' liay's Jiiver, where he wintered. ] during the winter some of his i>eople, hunting niton the ice, found that there were some Furoi>(!ans ,'it the entrance to Ncdson Kiver ; and informing the (Jovernor, he went and found six Fnglishmen almost starved to risoners, though, he had but fourteen men. The following year he left his son (.'houart with five men to keep the Fort and returned to (."anada ; l)ut l)cing disgusted with liis em- I HIST<.»1!Y OF .M AM TOP. A. 4? tied. While bark, in ICHL*, nssess Xclsou • Mas t.(» fix a . liefoiv tit her hi^land, made bove foiirttien e EiiLflish had eh had eiiter- ir arri\ed l)iit session of the itil February^ )ard a rotten ; but cari'ied Son (.'honart "his is the ae- two other ac- ler, and from ade liy yh'<- l)Ourli()u' and. I'.s J lay from ii^a|>ed some and sailel to utile wintei' there were d informing Host starvetl I'V had been After this hmen ^oine cr feastinj^- them and men. The () kee[t the th his oni- iiloyees, who had charged him with ooneealin<.^ j»art of the t'ari.'o. he sent his bi()ther-in-hiw IJaddison to France to eomplain ; lait liis lemonstrances not bein;^ r»^o;arded he reconciled himself to the Kn'di:jh and went to Kny:land, whence he retnrned to the l>av It, relieve his ne]>hew and ^^ive nj) the place to the Knylish. Monsienr De la I'oterie says that De (Jrosselier and Kaildisoiir havinj,' formed a scheme to jHtssess the May, went to l»ostoii and thence to Kn«iland, ([.(Uidon) and afterwards l»y the aid of the Knylish ('ompany erected Factories on llupcrt, Moose and Albany livers. Uy the time this was known in France Mr. Coruert wa- stmt to Deschenean intenedition and bavin;.; oi)tained their pardon from the French court, returned to Canada where the French formed a company for the liay and fitted out two small vessels under tbeii- t'ommand which went t(» St. Theresa River and built a little Fort. A vessel from l>ost(»n arrived three days aftei' with ten men, whom thev received as friends permitting them t(t yo to ilourbon, Nelson lliver, and four days after that a ship arrived froui l.ondftu tin- (it;w of which, after coming' to land, was o]»posed by the Foit,and. ill the contest the ice cuitinj.; the cables the ship was lost with fourteen of the crew, the rest implored the succor oi' the l-'oit which they in jtity uranted and ^ave them a bark to carry them to. the bottom (»f the bay. De (irosselier and Kaddison, leaving ei^ht men in the Fort, took the leaders of the interlopers to (Quebec am! wen; soon after released by the CJovernor. De (Irosselier anil Ilad- dison liein<> disgusted with their associates returned to France where Lord Preston was their abassador from Fn<>land who eiiuau ed ]{addis(»n to yo a^ain to London and yive up the Forts, whicit his nephew Chouart, comnumded which he accorossession of the Fnj^lish. He was therefore oblioed to winter on some small liver in the nei,L;h- bourliood, and returned ne.xt year with a bad trade. The French Coni])any having suffered a loss of 10(1,000 livires, Theres Conthev ]ietiti(jneany had five Horrisliinj^ Factories on the Hay, viz : Al- Ixiny, Moose, ]iu pert. Nelson and Severn, liut in 1()8(>, the ted to take York Factory of wliich (reyer Wiis (^»mmandei", l»ut failed of success; however, in sailin;^ soutii- 'ward, he attacked and captured New Severn Factory. After the French had remaineil seven years in jtossession of the Forts on .lames' J»ay, the Fludson's liay Comjiaiiy, andliy the assis- tit.ice of the Crown, regained ])ossession of their factories. But the .tollowin<< year, 1 ()i)4, the F'rench carrierisoners to Kniifland, amonji whom was Monsieur .leronice, where they remained four months. After their return to France, a Sipiadrou of five shi]>s was fitted out, coiLsistinjr of the Pcl'itnv, of oO i,nins ; the Pithnirr, of 4U guns ; the IK'^.vy), the Pro/on iid and the V'lolenfe. These were put under 3)'IlM?rville's command at Newfoundland, and in Hudson's Straits were met by the Ifshi)'e, and two Hudson's ]>ay shii)s, tlie JJeerinuand the Hudson's F.av, which De la Poterie savs were of HISTOIJY OF MANITOBA. 49 Wlii.'Ii of t!ie oave the read- tlie Hudson's IJay, viz : Al- in IGSd, tli« nada l>y land II lb9() Mon- wliicli (reyer sailing soutit- ses.sion of tlit^ 1 1)V the assis- ries. I Jut the the following avintura and eii- fortis, and leli were not iiid Charonte, ved in Hay's arj^e, but less compelled to herville took |ie Forest in >ii, who had love ea})tuiv. wlioni was Iths. After fitted out, |)f 40 yuns ; put under soil's Straits ships, the ivs wei'e of i 5(1, 36 and o'2 guns. An engagement ensued with the Profound, but without any .success on either side, being separated l)y the ice. Four -^'f the Frencli ships afterwards took .shelter in Danish Kiver, now Churchill. The Palmier, having lost her rudder in hard weather, but the Pelicav, commanded by D'Iberville, arrived at the entrance of Hay's River on the ord of September, and next morning the three English shii)S arrived. The Pelican had sent her shallo}) on shore, but, weighed, stood out to sea, and fought the three English ships. By some unfortunate accident the Hampi^hire, while in the act of veering, over.set, \\\)0\\ which the two other ships steered oft", but he came up and captured the Hudson's Bay. All on board the Haiiqi'-ihire, perished, as the Pelican had no boat to relieve them. A storm coming on that night, the Pelican was driven ashore and lost, with part of crew, as was also the Hudson'^ Bay. But D'lverville, with the greater ])art of his crew, getting safe to shore, upon the arrival of the other ships from Danish lliver, besieged and took York F'ort, and after wintering, returned in the Profound. Jiefore his departure he a})pointed M. Serigny ,Governor, and M. Jeromie, Lieutenant, wiio was afterwards made Governor in 1708. The Treaty of liyswilk was signed in Se})teml)er, 1G97, leaving the French in possession of all the settlement along the Bay, except Albany FmI, carrying on an inconsiderable trade for a [»eriod of seventeen years, until the Treaty of Utrecht, when all the territories on the Bay were restored to the I'ritish. After the Company had regained possession of York Fort, in the year 1718, tliey built a wooden fort at Churchill, which they named Fort Prince of Wales, and in 1742 they made the iirst settlement beyond the shores of the Bay, at a distance of 150 miles up the Al])any Piver, as a check to the Indians, who carried their trade from the shores of the Bay to the Frencl« in the interior. In 174<) the Company liad four small ftictories and two small houses, in wliich they lid not emphjy over 150 Europeans, and to carry on the trade at these i)osts they had three or four small vessels under two hundred tons ])urden each. The trade jirinnpally con- sisted of those fa/s which the natives brought down ir/ their birch <'.anoes, scarce large enough to contain two men witli an incon- D ■11 .«f?<^ViiBi., Ill J I li) 17 60 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. consideralile cargo, and as this abused people receive little or nothing in exchange for their furs, on account of the extravagant standard by which British goods are rated, they brought down no more than would purchase common necessaries aiid a few trilling toys. In order that we may present a continuous view of the transactions which took place on the sliores of the Bay from tlie Treaty of Utrecht to the year 1782, when Fort Prince of Wales and York Fort were captured and destroyed by La Persuse, we shall present to our readers a few extracts from " The Present State of Hudson's Bay," written l)y Mr, Kdward Umfraville, who served eleven years (from 1771 to 1782) at York Factory on Hudson's Bay, and who afterwards entered into the North- West Company's service and passed a few winters on the Saskatchewan. The above gentleman gives an account of the Hudson's P»ay Company's exports of trading goods and charges attending carrying on their trade and maintaining their factories for ten years, of which we shall give an abstract : — £ s. J. Amount of trading goods tor ti-n years 52,4(33 9 Factoiy charges during the above time 157,432 14 4 Total expenses for ten yeare from 1739 to 1748, both inclusive 209,896 3 4 Amount of the several sales of furs for the above ten years 273,542 18 8 t'lear profit for ten years 63,646 1 5 4 Dividends in one year among 100 proprietors 6,364 13 6 For (>ach proprietor for ten years 63 12 11 An account of the vahit- of exports made by the Hudson's Kay Company for ten years last past : — Anno. k s. d. 1739 4,9!t4 5 10 1740 5,630 10 11 1741 5,622 11 4 1742 1743 4,007 16 10 1744 4,8{'l 11 11 1745 6,736 !) 1746 5,462 10 6 1747 5,431 7 11 1743 4,581 8 7 1749 5,102 12 3 Total 52,463 16 10 eive little or J extnivaguiit j^ht down no 1 feM' trilling ; view of the B«ay IVoni the nee of Wales La Persuse, iw extracts itten l»y Mr. 771 to'l782) k'ards entered a few winters Hudson's liay iding carrying ten years, of .£ s. d. 52,463 9 157,432 14 4 209,896 3 273,542 18 4 8 63,646 15 4 6,3C4 13 6 63 12 11 'ompaiiy for ten I s. (1. 4,994 5 10 5,630 10 11 5,622 11 4 4,007 16 10 4,894 11 11 6,736 i) 5,462 10 6 5,431 7 11 4,581 8 7 5,102 12 3 52,463 16 10 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 51 The amount of trading goods only : — .1 s. d. 1739 :^477 8 5 1740 4,052 14 5 1741 4,028 8 3 1742 =3,618 15 11 1743 3,613 13 1744 4,152 16 11 1745 3,810 5 2 1746 3.390 8 5 1747 ■ 3,143 18 4 1748 3,453 2 7 Total amount of trading goods used in the fur trade for ten years at the seven forts, namely : Kui>ert, Moose, Albany, Henlcj , Seveni, York and Churchill 36,741 11 5 An account of the imi)orts or sales of furs made by the Hudson's Hay Company for ten years last past, distinguishing the amount for each year — £ 8. d. From Michaelmas, 1738 to Michaelmas, 1739 23,328 5 11 «• 1739 «' 1740 30,279 16 6 «• «• 1740 «« 1741 28,877 17 1 " «« 1741 " 1742 22,957 1 8 «« " 1742 •' 1743 26,804 19 7 '« •• 1743 " 1744 29,785 19 3 1744 " 1745 30,148 6 " " 1745 '« 1746 26,350 15 9 " 1746 «' 1747 24,849 7 2 " " 1747 " 1748 30,160 5 11 Total 273,542 14 10 An account of the amount of cliarges attending the carrying on the trade of the trade of the Hudson's Bay Campany for ten years past, distinguishing each year : — Anno i. s. d. 1739 12,245 14 9. 1740 13,346 9 3 1741 11,757 10 a 1742 12,084 3 1743 12,772 13 1744 20,201 13 11 1745 21,702 5 1746 19,360 11 4 1747 16,60!> 13 4 1743 17,352 4 10 Amount of charges, including £15,722 3s. 5d., provisions miuI stores sent to the forts ; men's wages must be added 157,432 14 4 Xdtk.— Laboring; men, a.« a rule, were paid .«ix pound ."terliuK per annum for the first thror years, and those who distinguished themselves by their activity and honesty, penenilly, on entering on a second term of three years, got some advance, commonly in ch)thing ; and in 1"S'4, on the petition of a clergyman or two in the Orkneys* men's wages were raised to £8 per annum. Amount of furs of each kind sold during the ten years last ]>ast, with the average price at which each kind sold. E.\tract>-(1 from the IWuc Ijook of 1749. s. d. £ s. d. 572,597 Beaver, average price per pound, 4 4-10 172,733 8 6f^ 3,400 Bears, " " each, 19 1 3,194 3 4 11,448 Cats, '« '« " 14 5i 8,288 7 6 .%!*^ •rijm:. 1 52 ],1>7(> ll>s. Castor IIISToUV OF MANITOBA. uin. per 1 >nuii( :33,182 •' lied Kent hers, average jnici' [icr pOUIKi, 3,460 Dfcr Skins, " cacli, !*♦)(» Klk Skins, " •< 17 Krinint', " " •t,ti(>4 Foxes, " " 8:3,100 Gnos.' guills, /Ti jier M, lHi,(Hn> Martin Skins, fa each, M( Mink-i " «' 2i »07 i 15 ■.VM Miwiuash, «' " 7,978 Otters, " «' r)2 liaeoons, " " l,f)13 Siiuirrcls, " " r. Tons Whale Oil at ^14 8h. per ton, 4,887 Whale Fins, " 10,51(1 Wolves, <« 8,431 Wolverines, " •2,540 Wooilehueks, " There are a lew other articles of small value. 2 VS 7 1 5oe 1 6 7,143 18 8i 3,240 13 9 1,238 5 Oi 3 6 3S 252,131 9 Hi Tlu'.se tahk'.s are Vtitsed on accduuts laid l)ofore the Select Coiu- luittee of the House (jf Commons in 1741). Mr. Unifraville signi- ticantly adc's: If then tliey could not afford to divide more than this, in the very zenith of their pro.S})erity, how inconsiderably must their y;ains have l)een of late years, since the French Canadian traders have penetrated the interior country. Their expenses have increased in a three-fold projtortion and their furs sent to En<;laud have decreased at least one third since the al)ove periotl. By way of cducidatin<^' tlie above assertion 1 shall just state the difi'erence of maintaininjj; York Fort at present (1788) and the ex- pense attending the same at the time the al)ove eiiijuiry took place (174!)). York Fort at this time has four subordinate settlements, at which settlements, conjointly, the Company allow one hun- dred men, whose wages amount to about £1800 per annum ; be- sides a sloo]) of sixty tons, that makes a voyage once a year be- tween York and Severn Factories. To discharge these expenses they received on an average from tlem all about 25,000 skins. In the year 1748 the compliment of r.ien at that settlement was no more than 25, whose wages amounted to £470 i)er annum, and their trade then stood at 30,000 skins one year with another. The oth- III £ s. d. 907 S 1,74:5 17 1 519 326 1 4 2,095 15 64 8 t),558 4 11 17 11 5 3,473 5 1 5 17 1 43 18 3 i HISTORY (JK MAMKJBA. 58 1 7 Oi 4i 4 4 72 28 3 50P 1 3 7,143 18 6 3,240 13 3^ 1,238 5 2,181 9 lU jlect Com- v'ille si<>iii- luore than •ably must iaii traders )rti()ii and hird since state tlie id the ex- took place Ittiements, lone huii- luin ; be- year be- expenses kins. In was no land their The oth- er establishments, which the Company maintained in the J>ay have snliered the like proportional change, all decreasin^^ in trade and liearin<4additionjil incumbrances. Mr. rmfraville further states: It must be (jbserved, that the calculation in the annexed tables, with many others, were compulsively i>roduce do not even allow their factors to know what the furs sell for in London for fear that iiKjuisitiN, aess, to which man- kind are so prone, should lead them to speculate, and draw infer- ences on matters which the Lords of the soil deem their own special jn'ovince, and proroj^ative. liut, the station 1 was in while 1 resided on tlie Bay, enabled me to know for a certainty, that the (piantity of furs im})orted of kite years, has fallen short of their for- mer imports; though it is allowed that they sell Ixitter now than at former periods. The Hudson's Bay Company confined their (»])e rations to the shores of the l>ay, for a period of seventy-two years after the date of their chart) I I' fsl^^fMi.' £4 HISTOnV OF MANITOBA. h :| account of its iiortlieni sitiuition and the general pre valency of winds from that ({uartcr, thinking of taking advantage of them in going southwartl. Accordingly the th.ree ships appeared before the Fort, on 8th August, 1782. At this time, which was six o'clock in the evening, tlie enemy had cast anchor within si.x miles of the Fort, anil in a little time afterwards ai)peared to be very industrious in sounding the river, and I have heard the Governor declare, that their otiicers went about the avenues of the Factory 8hoo*'''.ig l»irds, with the greatest indifference ; a convincing proof that they did not conceive themselves to be in much danger. The Fort at this time mounted forty-two cannon, six, twelve and twenty-four ])Ounders, and was provided with annnunition in great plenty, and the place was not in immediate want of any kind; the strength of the Fort itself was such as would have resisted the attack of a more consideral)le force than that which was brought against it. In short it was the opinion of every intelligent person that it might have made a very obstinate resistance when attacked, had it been as well provided in other respects ; Ijut, through the impolitic conduct of the Directors in London, every courageous exertion of their servants must have been considersd as impru- dent temerity for this j)lace which would have required four hundred men ^r its defence, the Company, in their consumate wisdom, had gari'isoned with only thirty-nine. August 9th, about three o'clock in the morning, the enemy began to disembark their troojis at a place called Hare Point ; whence they marched in regular order towards the Factory until they arrived within four hundred yards, when they made a halt, and sent two officers from the main l)ody with a summons to the Governor to surrender the place. The Governor and two of his officers met them half way, when all the ditficulties that obstr\icted the negotiations were speedily overcome, to the satisfaction of both parties. In conse- quence of this agreement, the French, to the number of about four hundred, entered the Fort about six o'clock in the morning, when the British Flag was lowered and a table cloth from the Governor's table hoisted in its stead. Every part now exhibited a scene of devastation and ruin, for the licentious soldiery, finding they were not restrained by a capit- ) nil K^^ HISTUKV OF MANITOBA. 66 n'evrtlency of B of tliem in )eared before lich was six :hin six miles to be very tbe Governor ' tlie Factory ,'incin«^ proof danger. Tlie twelve and ition in great my kind ; tbe e resisted tbe was brought iligent person ben attacked, tbrougb tbe ^ courageous as inipru- jf^uired four consumate st 9th, about mbark tbeir niarcbed m within four officers from irrender tbe half way, ations were In conse- ■ about four rning, when Governor's i ruin, for by a capit- I ulation, began to jdunder whatever came in tbeir way. It must, however, at the same time l)e acknowledged that the officers took every opportunity to dejn'ess this s})irit in the common soldiers with great humanity and address, jKjlitely sym])athizing witii tbe sufferers in the inevitable distress attending the fortunes of war. Tbe remainder of this and the following day, were spent in demol- ishing the works belonging to the foititications, shijtping on board various articles of stores and provisions, and a valuable (juantity of i)t'ltries which, if the Company had received, would have in- demnitied them for all their other losses conjointly. On the lltb the three ships set sail for York Factory, but about five o'clock in tbe morning a sail was observed apparently steering for Churchill, which Mas now in flames. One of the frigates gave chase. Tbe exi)erience of her comnuinder was injidequate to the task of coping with the skill of tbe English commander that if he had jKirsevered he would probably '^ave been led into such labyrinth of shoal water and rocky ground as might have made him repent his visit to Hudson's Bay ; but the Frenchman i)rudently gave up the chase in the evening. Our author states that Churchill was, by far, tbe best settlement erected on the Bay, and while tbe tnide of other settlements was on the decline for some years, this place had in general held its fonner medium, and of late years consideral.'ly increased. Notwithstanding the advantages, of so flourishing a settlement, to the Company, their extreme parsi- mony would not pemiit to have above one man to a gun, even in the midst of a precarious war. What folly could be more egregi- ous, than to erect a Fort of such extent, strength and expense and only allow thiily-nine men to defend it. The force which the French sent into Hudson's Bay was more than sufficient to reduce every ])lace in tbe country, weakly as they were. This place, in particular, with so few men, was totally incai)able of withstanding the wc]^ directetl efforts of so strong an armament, especially as the depth of the water in the Eiver would admit of the largest ships l^eing brought very near the Fort. Notwith- standing, the Governor must have been sensible of bis inability to make an obstinate defence. In some respects his conduct was highly reprehensible, in the first palace be .*.,-»,. \-,-1» 1 r r>v, IIISTOKY OF MANITOBA. slioiild liave sunt iiiforiimtioii to York Fort over land of uii eiif- niy'.s arrival in the liuy ; luul lie done so, the ])eo|ile at that scttle- Jiieiit would have luul five days more, at least, to jirepare theiii- Helves for so uiiexjiected an event. Secondly, he should have de- sti'oyed the jiajters (»f the master of the slooj*, who was then to the northward on a tradinj^ voya^'e. By the possession of these ])a]»ers tlie enemy acciuired a ccjniplett^ descrijttion of York Fort, with an account of its weakness on the land side, which Induced them to try their fortune in that way. We shall here subjoin Mr. I'mfra- ville's account of the taking' of York F'ort, " The first notice we had of an enemy l»ein«j; on the coast, was on the 20th of Auf^ust, 1782, in the evening,', at which lime the Com- pany's shijt was lyin^ at anchor in the roads, and had l>een there five, days, without liavinj^; th(^ least intimation of this event, al- though Mons. la l*er(»use, hy his own account, had been sounding (the river) Tort Nelson, on the 18th. The next day August 21st, the weather being extremely fine and calm, it afforded the enemy an o]iportunity to hmd their men in safety, which they attempted in fourteen boats, provided with mortars, cannon, scjiling ladders, and about three hundred men, exclusive of marines. "Our number of men consisted of sixty English and twelve In- dians, who l)ehaved extremely well to us, and evinced their regard f(»r us by every execution in their jjower. The defences of Y'ork Fort consisted of thirteen cannon, tweh'e and nine pounders, which formed a half moon battery in the front of the factory, but it being thought probable that the enemy might come in the night, and turn tliese guns against us, they were over set to prevent the French from taking this advantage. On the ramparts were twelve Swivel (hins, mounted on carriages, which might have annoyed the enemy in the most ett'ectual manner. F^-ery kind of small arms were in })lenty and good condition within the Fort. We had likewise ammunition in great store, and the people seemed to be under no apprehension. A fine rivulet of fresh water ran within the stockades ; there were also about thirty head of Ciittle, and as nniny hogs, with a great ([uantity of salt provisions of every kind. "August 22nd, two Indian scouts were sent out to gain intelli- gence, who returned in about three hours, and gave it as their opin- HISTOKY OF MANITOHA. f.7- 11(1 of all eiio- iit that scttle- |in'|)!iiv tlit'iu- ouUl luivc clc- iis then to the if tllUSt! jliljKM'S Fort, with iiii luced tht'iii to n Mr. I'mfni- coiist, was on iine the Coin- lad l)een there :his event, iil- )eeu .sounding Aiio;u,st 21st, tid the enemy ley attempted alin^ ladders, id twelve In- l their regard ices of York iiders, which but it Iteing le night, and ])reveiit the were twelve ive annoyed nd of small rt. We had eemed to be ran within ttle, and as every kind, gain intelli- 5 their opin- ion, that the t'liemy must In', nij^di at hand, as they heard several ('iiiis fired in the vicinity of the Koit. Altout sunset we could ]ilainly discern a large fire behind us, kindled liy tlu; French, as we sup]»osed, to refresh themstdves before attack the next day. August '2'M'd it was observed at tlaylight thai the company's shi]) had taken the advantage of a fiiuj bree/e at S. \V. and prudently shaped her ccuirse for Kiighmd, imjieiwived Ity the enemy. Ai»out ten o'clock in the morning the enemy n\)n peared before our gates ; during their apin'oach ii most inviting op- ])ortunity olfered itself to be revenged on our invaders, by discharg- ing the guns on our iiimjjarts, which must have done great execu- tion ; but a kind of tipid stupefractioii seemed to have taken pos- sessi(tn of the (Jovernor's mind, at this time of trial, and he })erem])tf»- rily declared he would shoot the first man whoofl'erearley took place, when the (iovernor received a summons written in Kiiglish. In this summons two hours were granted to consider the situation, but this indulgence was made no use of, and the place was m(»st inghtriously given u[i in ten minutes, without one officer being consulted, or a council Iteing assembled, so that this Fort, which might have withstood the united efforts of double the numl)er of those by whom it was assailed in an attack with small arms, was surrendered to a half stiirved, wretched grijup of Frenchmen, worn out with fatigue and hard labor, in a country where they were entire strangers. From the nature of their attack from l*ort Nelson Itiver, where they could not use their mortars or artillery, the ground being so very bad and intersjtersed with woods, thickets and bogs, l)y which they were so roughly handled in the course of their march that 1 verily believe they had not fifty pairs of shoes in their whole army. The difficulty of their inarch ai»i)ears very consincuous when it is considered they were a whole day in marching seven miles. When it is considered that the enemy's ships lav at twenty miles from the Factory in a boisterous sea, at a dangerous |->l MlUa?!^ _^iL,/^ li 11) 'ii' i 4 « 1} ,1 !i (8 HISTORY nV MANITdllA. «L'ji.H(in oi tlic yuui", and consccnu'iitly could imt co-oiu'iatt' witli their tr(M»i».s on slioiv, Imt with the greatest ditlicnlty and uncer- tainty ; and cvjmi this dryu'iidcd solely on itrojtitious winds and Weather; when it is further considered that their troojis could receive no snpjdies, hut what came from the shijis and that cidd, hun<,U'r an;es on his side, surrencU^red without tiring a jj;un. The jxior Indians- were so affected at our captivity that they exjn'essed their sorrows by sie poor Indians, who otherwise must have experienced great inconvenience and distress. Though the enemy sustained no loss from us during the attack on York Factory, yat, th.rough the severity of the climate and their own inexjKiiience, they lost five large barges, a considerable quantity of merchandise and fifteen soldiers, who were drowned in Hay's lliver after the place was taken. The Comi)any suffered great loss by the capture of this place which had remained in their possession since the peace of Utrecht. The whole of the ships outward bound cargo were entirely burnt and destroyed, together with great ([uantities of provisions, stores, 1 jr. i I «ii msToUV OK MANITOBA. 59 (■u-((|»('iatt' with ilty and unciT- timiH winds and t'ir troops conld i and that cold, risoners, with Ions. Liirerouse, is nation and an ity and <ay Company, without any definite object on the ])art of his Lordship's associate, beyond })ossilily a re-sale at an eulianced price when a sufficient amount should have been ])r(»cured to enable them to exercise a l)eneficial influence in the management of the Company's concerns, and thereby to increase the "meg ; thence in a southerly direction through said Lake, so as to strike its western shore in latitude 52 * ; thonce due west to the place where the parallel 52 ® intei"sects the western branch of the Red River, otherwise called the Assiniboine Kiver ; thence due south from that point of intersection to the heights of land which sej)arates the watei^s running into tho Hudson's Bay from those of the Jilissouri and the Mississippi Rivers ; thence in an easterly direction along th« height of land to the sources of the River WinnijK'g, meaning by such last named River the principal branch of the waters which unite in the Lake Saginagas ; thence along the main stream of those waters, and the middle of the several Lakes through which they (low, to the mouth of the River "Winnipeg, and thence m a northerly direction tnrough the middle of Lak'^ Winnipg to the place of beginning, which Territory is called As.siniboia. The f(illowing is the protest of the proprietors of the Hudson's l»ay Company against the grant to Lord Selkirk: — '/'(/ the Hiiiwarabh the Governor 'iii'f t'tnnpany nf Adcenturcrs of Emjlaiul tradimj in Hadsoii's Bail ; — The memorial of tin: undersigned Stockholders and proprietors in said Company, slieweth : that whereas it !(])peiirs from the records of the proceedings of said Com- jiaiiy, at their last meeting, that it Is in contemplation to grant to the right Honourable, the Karl of Selkirk, a certain part of the territory of the saiil Company td him and his heirs for ever in foe simple. Your memorialists have taken the same into their most serious consideration and availing themselves of the limited period allowed by the adjournmiMit of the said meeting, submit to your hon. body, tlie grounds and reasons u^wn which they dis- sent to any such grant, or alienation of the Company's Property. 1st. Because, wavering all the arguments which occur to them, jiroviiig the iin- liolicy of the said grant, there does not apjiear to bt> any adequate consideration stip- iilatt'il for between the .said Company and the said Earl. — The land proposed to be ;;ranted, comprehends a territory of about seventy thousand superficial miles, con - tiiiuing about forty-tive million^; of acres, of that part of the territory which is valua- ble and fit for cultivation, and constitutes no inconsiderable jiortion of the Company's Capital Stock. 'Ml ^i>m^ I IT" li 111 m n ^i HiSTOliV OF MANITOBA. 52ml. — Bt'uausf, if it be tor the byiu'fit of the said Company, (and thert- is no or'i- i'eni'e of .suHicifnt weight to make it clear to the understamliug of your Memorialists) to sell so large and valuable a jKirtion of their territory, tho proper mode of doing so i'or the interest ot tin* stockholilers, is obviously tliat which is usually adopted in the faithful executioti of fU trusts of a similar nature ; namely, to expose it to pub- He s.le, or at least give such notoriety to the the transaction as to admit of competi- tion Imtwetn individuals wlio may be inclined to purchase. The necessity of such a mode in the 3)resent case in placed beyond all dispute by the fact tliat a more valu- able consideratioTi, than that projwsed by the said Karl, may now be obtained for the property in (ju^stioii. 3rd — liecauSe it does not appear that tlic said Karl is bound by the conditions of Jiis grant, in a sutticient penalty, to establish sudi a settlement as will produce to the tJompany any substantial lienelits, or to exercise such acts of ownersliip as may be necessary to the ostensible objects of the Company in making the grant. In all grants recently made by the Crown in British America, provision is made for "ioim fide settlements, and a mere nominal provision to give a colourable pretext for the alienation of i)ul)lic property, but such as to secure the actual residence of one person in proportion to twelve hundred acres. And it has been proved by exp'rience, and isVlear to the nnderstandingof your Memorialists, that the foregoing regulations, adopted by his Majesty, is highly expedient and wise, and was suggested by the evils whicli had formally arisen from the possession of a tract of land bj one person, w^ho coilld seldom, even in the vicinity of a populous country, procure a sufficient number of settlers to satisfy the creditors of the original grant. If, with all the facilities aHbrded by a regular and extensive intercourse with Great Britain, it Avas impracticable to induce a very considerable number of persons to inruigrate, how much more in.sv nfiountable mast be the diHiculty of i)eopling a region two thousand miles from any sea port^ and out of the reach of all those aids and cond'orts which are derived from civil society. 4tli. Pn'cause, upon a fair and impartial estimation of the future value and import- ance of the lands puiiiosed to be granted, and the limited and unjaoductive consider- ation to be given, for them, by the said Karl, your Memorialists cannot perceive for the grant any other motive than to secure to the prosterity of the said Earl, at the expens(^ of the stock holders of the said Comjtany, an immensely valuable landed estate. 5th. Because in the event of a settlement of the said territory under the control of any jiower than that of the Company, private traffic would be carried on between the settlers and Indians, and clandestinely with traders from the United States and Canada, which no ordinance of the Company would prevent. Besides, it has been found that colonization is at all times unfavorable to the fur trade ; and it is not very a^^parent to your Memorialists, that .said Company has full power to exercise a Hnal jurisdiction, since various act:^ have been passed in contravention of the powers, 4)erhaps intended to be imparted in the charter, more especially the act of '43 of His Ma- jesty, George III, which gives the entire jurisdiction in crinunal cases throughout the whole Indian territory to His Majesty's Courts of King's Bench, in Upper and •Lower Canada. fith. IJecause, under the foregoing circumstances, such a settlement as the pro- -posed would, in process of time, erect itself into a distinct interest, adverse to that I ^5 51 I li- HISTORY OF MANITOI5A. ♦55 [ tlu'l't' is 110 PTl- ur Memorialists) lode of doing so illy adopted in xpose it to pub- mit of competi- ■essity of such a iiat a more valu- obtiiined for the he conditions of I produce to the rsliip as may be grant. In all II ia made for ourable pretext xctual residence pen proved by at the foregoing d was suggested of land b} one itry, procure a jrant. If, with rreat Britain, it in'uigrate, how two thousand emforts which ue and iiujiort- 1 U'tive eonsider- ii iiinot perceive 1 lid Earl, at the 1 iluable landed d er the control ■] ed on between • ted States and s, it has been iiid it is uot ^' • to exercise a J' of the powers. '43 of His Ma- liroughout the M 1 Upper and 1 nt as tlie pro- '^H dverse to that 9 of tlie ('i)iiipaMy, become an Jisyluiii for deserters from their service, and eventually under tlieir autiiority in practice a mere nullity. "ih. Because, from I he situatio;i of the lands proposed to be granted, and thiir , oiitiguity to the United States, the intercourse will be greater, and the communica- tifiii more easy between the frontier ports of the United States and settlement con- td.jitlati'd, than between the said settlement and Port Nelson ; hence the laws and It ^'iilatifins of tbr nunjiany will be uvaded, und every expectation of revenue de- fcattd in its very principle. 8tli. Because, your memorialists do not perceive that in making such a grant ac- cording to the terms expressed in the agreement to be entered into, sutticient n'ganl is iiad to the ditliculties in the way of carrying it into clfei't, or to the .sacritices wliii h tile Com])aiiy may be called upon to make. These reasons, and many others, which require more full illustration than the i^liortness of time between the last and present meeting woulil |iennit, appear to your memorialists sutliciently cogent to prevent the C'oinj>any from making tlie grant iKidcr consii ' ration, ujion such terms as are propo.sed by the Earl of Selkirk. LoKlxiX, May :5iitli, 1811. [Signed] William Thwaits, l!oiii:KT ■\Viutkiii;ai), John In(jlis, .InHN FlsH, Edwakd Elk'k, Alkx. Mc'Kknzu;. Lord Selklrk'fi Advevtimment and Prospectus of the Xevj Colony. A tract of land consisting of some millions of acres, and in point of soil and cli- mate inferior to none of equal extent in British Amtirica, is now to be disposed of, and will be sold extremely cheap, on account of its situation, which is remote from the present establishments. If a tract of the same extent and fertility were offered for sale in Lower or U}iper ('anada or Xova Scotia, purchasers would be eager to obtain it at one hundred or perhaps two huiidr»id thousand guineas, and at that price would make an ample fortune in the course of some years, by retailing it in small lots at an advance price to actual settlers. The land in question, no way differeiit in advantage, may be purchased for al)out i'HSOOO. The title has been submitted to lawyers of the first euiineiice in London, and is det lared to be unexceptionable ; but the situation is such, that the population of the older settlements cannot be expected, in th'' natural course of things, to be spread into it for a long period of time, and till that takes j)lace, this disadvantage of its remote situation must be an insuperable objection in the eyes of any unconnected individual who is looking out for lands to establish his family. Hence the prospect of finding .settlers to purchase the land in small lots is remote, and on this account the proprietors are willing to part with it for so inconsideraljle a price. lint the obstacles which, to an unconnected adventurer, may justly be deemed iu- siirrauuutable, may be overcome with ease by the combined efforts of many, and an adeijuate sura of money judiciously expended in removing the first difhculties of au E !; \i 66 HISTORY (JF MANITOBA. infant scttlpmcnt, may ])laie tluH tract of Imid in circuniHtanct's us advantageous to the juoiirif'tors as if it won- in the iminetliate vicinity of |)opulons colonifs. The exjHiiHPH, howt'vcr, wonhl be too groat lor an individual : it is tliinforc nroixxscd to form a Joint stock company, in 200 sliares of jtlOO each, so as »«) raise a sum of j£20,000, of which a moiety \a to he employed in tlie purchase ol tlie hinds i:; iiues- tion ; tlie remainder, in those expenses wliidi are necessary foi' bringing; settlers and tliersby rendering the land valuable. To those settlers, lands will b^ disposed uf, either in the way of sale, or lease in perjietuity at the oi>tion of the settler, on tenas very encouraj^inf^ to him, and abundiintly advantageous to the proprietors. As there are serious objections against receiving into th« proposed settlement any Americans of the description of those who are likely to oiler themselves, the settlers must be emigrants from Kurope, and the most feasiblp plan .seems to be, that they should be selected from those parts of the United Kingdom which are most ovcrburdsnod with inhaViitants, vi/.: tlie Highlands of Scotland and some jiarts of Ireland ; a small (lortion of the emigrants who now go from these districts to the I'nited States of America would be more tlian sufTicient for the object in view, .Sucli a change of their destination could injure no part of the Kingdom, .md would save the Emjtire subjects, who would oth("r\vise be entirely lost to their country. To facilitate an object thus e((ually advantageous to the public and to the parties concerned, it is proposed that a preference should be allowed to subscrii)ers who are • ]jersonally connected with these districts oi the Kingdom, and whose local inlluence may be of service in promotnig the desired change in the dcstinatson of thox- who are deterniinetl to emigrate. The settlement is to be formed in a territory wlicre re- ligion is not the ground of any dis(iualiiication, an unreserved jiarticijiation in every privilege will therefore be enjoyed In l'rotest."nts and Catholics witln ut ; and it is jiroposed that in evtry parochial division an allotment of land s!ui!i be made for the psrpetual support of a clergyman, of that pcrsua.sion which the mnj' :ity uf the in- habitants adhere to. As the lands in (question possess important natural advantages over any whii'h now remain unoccupied in Nova Scotia and the adjarent colonies, it lannot i'c deemed uni'easonable, if the settlers in general get their lands at the lowest rate wliich they would pay in those provinces. On the other hand, they will naturally e.xpect to be conveyed to tlieir land without incurring more exi)ense than if tliey were to .settle in these Maritime t'ohmies. The managers of the comx'rn mu.o.sed vi, h'l', oil tf-nas rs. As tlicre y Aiiifruans Ids must be y shfiuld be ir(\ a net advantage of i:40 after reimbursing the charge of bringing in the settleis. If he should jirefer leasing his rent will in two years repay the charge, and will remain afterwards as a clear incoiue to the proprietor. As tin- inland situation of the settlement will preclude the .settler from some of the sources of profit which are enjoyed in Maiitime situations, it be- comes necessary to ))rovide substitutes. The cultivation of hemp is peculiarly calculated for inlaml situations, as that article is so valuable in proportion to its weiglit, that it can bear the expense of a consider- able inlaml navigation. This (■\dti\ation is also a favourite mitional oViject, and the settlement will derive benefits from the public eni (luragenieiit which is iield out for promoting it. A still more beneficial object of attention is the growth of fine wool, an article so valuable, that it would bear any expense of inlmid couM-yann and one for which the country is peculiarly adapted. In the vicinity of the projjosed settlement there are immense open plains without wood, fine dry gra.ss land, much of it cajiable of immediate cultivation and all \vi 11 titled for iiasturage, particularly sheep. This is an advinitage that no other pari of Ihitish America i)ossesses by nature, and whirh the colonists of the Maritime Provinces cannot olitain without the iaborons and expensive o|ieintion of rlearing. If to this advantage the jiiojirietors add that of a good band of merino sheep, the settlers can never meet wiih any ditficnlty in ])aying the price or rent for their land. The lleeces of tenor twelve sheep will pay the rent of 10(i acres, and with the produce ot a very small (lock, the jirice of a lot of land may be paitain's life, and at the saine time declared that if they wo»ild not order tliem to be conveyeil to the shor»^ that they would seize the Ixtats and go to the land. A few, in the lieight of tlieir fury spraiiL over-board, swam unmohfsted to the shoi'e, and Wm\ t(t the hills, iiud were never retaken. The troubles on board th(! sluj)s weie soon luiide known in the town. A ('ai)tain McKen/ie went to the ships, nnd invited all wlu) Avere dissatisfied with their jiosition to conic on boai'd his boat, promising to set them free; hnwcver, .lai-k Tai had sometlnng to say on the sul)ject, and showcid that he was not willing to be so easily deprived of lii.s freight, and adojitcd an e\pc(liciit, which lelieved him for th(! jirescnt from all trouble rmui tb" gallant Cap- tain. Some one of tlu; ship's crew pitched a ninc-jMuind round shot into the boat, which pass(;d through lici' bottom, leaving those who were in her to choose between siid in the night; the ship left the harbor, otu' friend the Captain had to bear, the insult, and with it his disajipointment in not being able to icdn-ss his great grievance by the prowess of his own right hand. \Vc have never been able to obtain correct information as to the authority on which Ca])tain McKenzie acted in the dilliculties which took place on board the Hudson's Uay ships; some persons exjiressed the o])inion that the Captain was connected with the Custom House, and that he endeavored t(j seize the shi]»>, in conse(iuence of their taking a greater ninnber of ])ersons on Ixiard than was permitted by the provisions (jf an act of ra'dannnit commonly I >i m^^imy 11 .p I :\ I 70 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. Ciillotl " I)uii(lii.s '" Act, rf;j[iiliiliii;^ till! nuinber of passoiij^ers eiui- giiitin;; to Amoriiii uc.(;()nli!i so, ( 'aptain McKen/ie must h;i\(' iicted in this al'lair trom the Ifeiiemlent and ])atriotic Mnjtulses ot his two mind ; lieliesiiin, we may suppose, that the in\(»luntiny expatriation of these poor men, whom he wisheil to liberate, wiis an act of i^reat injustice and of unmitigated tyranny. As We have said above, the ship sailed in dune with her discon- tented and relVaclory car_yo. How they fared and btdiaveil on the voyai^c, wi' ha\e m'Nci' been able to learn; but this we know, that in the fall of I Si I they arriveil at \'ork Factory, in Latitude ."7 - North. We caniutt stale the day, nor even the month, on which they landeil on the shores of Hudson's Hay; but from their passing the winter near the llay, we may infer that they arrrived late in the season, oi' that tliei'e had l»een culjialile negligence somewhere, either in his Lordship, oi' in those who acted under him, in not making known to tliose in the country, Ity the shijtof the previous summer (ISlO), tjiat more than the ordinary iniml)eiof men were to he sent to the IJed JJiver, and might re([uire a few additional boats to carry them thither. His Lordship might have communicated all the necessary in- formation and instruction'! to those who ruled in the country, and they, from indolence, or from a desire to gratify the jnirty of stock- holders who were iinmical to his Lordshi])*s colonizing projects, might leave those who had to bagin the (olony to ]M'ovide the : !| HIST()|;V OF MAM'I'OIJA. 71 \ thcnisi^lvrs. It i> too htc to Iciirn tlio ''iviisc: the ctVect we know. Tim men for the colony were sent awiiy lati' in Antnmn, from the Factory, and were directed to l,'o forty or tifty miU's np the Nelson River to a place knowi> as Seal's ( 'reek ; tlu'ir (lovenior, Captain Miles McDonell, and Captain Hillicr (known as a jnstiee of the )»enee), accom]tanic(i them. Here they were instructed and assisted, hy a f*'\v old hands, to erect lo^' luits f(jr their protection from the chilling and hitter Itlasts of winter. Wc may easily fancy how ditlicult this labour would pro\c to men unaccustomed to the use of the axe ; notwilh.standinu, they pitiVi'd that ]iatience and |)t,'r,severaiiee can remo\e the Ltreatest- ditticulties ; they huilt their shanties; poor a':u mean they wer»', hut pl'el'erahle to ojieU huts, and e\('n to tents eovei'ed with Uothinn hut pine l»ush. No sooner Were they lodged in tluur winter ipiarters tlian the demon of discord and insnl»ordinationreai)]»eare(l amoni; them. It is hanl to say, after the la]>se of more than liity yeais, what the prnliHc source of these ditliculties was. It has heen stated hy S(»me of the men who were there at the time, men whose veracity 1 never heard called in ([uestion, that the food allowcil was iiisufli- cieut in (pumtity and of ]M»or (puility, and, fuither, their (Jovernor endeavoured to .subject theni to military discipline. \Vhate\er miu'lit ha\e been the cau.se or causes, rhe htim- drearv and severe winter of that inhos])itable r(!,u,ion was jtassed in mutual hatred un otticers ami their men. The sprint,', though late, came at last with all its ameliorating intiuences, long, bright, w^arm, sunny days, with abundance of water fowl, the greatest and best gift of spring to the inhabitants uf these sterile regions. All who wintered at Seal's Creek were ordered to headquarters, and to head([uarters they came to (jccupy houses which were i)alaces in comparison to their mean an«l miserable winter habitations. Now they were i'vd two or three days in the week on fresh })rovisions. They were no longer suffer- ing under the storms and bitter frosts of winter, and we might ex- peet a corresponding change in the nu^n's feelings. Ibit, unfoitunately, this was not the case, the sjtirit of insubor- » '■ii .wt.-. ,■*.. .\, fA.-*^ ' I I i Ti UlSTOltY or MANIToHA. (liiialion wuh .still niiikliii;^' in u\v,\\\ luniitH aitd Iciuliii;^' tiirin to fn'(|ii<'nt nets of (lisolicdioiicc, \vhi(.^li ('oiidiict on tlicii' jmrtH would natitrully |)1'o(1(R'c a spirit of uiikinauions, yet, throughout all these trying times they exhibited an uncon(|m'ral)le s}»iril of jiatient endurance, and were ever ready to obey their superiors and jierform tliidr duly. And to (Joveriior Auld's ])raise be it said, that lu; did not overlook such ( xem}ilary conduct nor let it pass uiirewarde(l. ( )ii the tiist (i^.piivtunity thai oifereil he represented tliesi; men's <^n()d lielia\ii'i'r to the committee, and that hoiiouralile body preseiiteil, tlii(»ugli their agents in Stornoway, each of their ])areiits with the sum of five jiouuds sterling as a sub.staiitial token of their apj)robation of these young men's merits. We have stated ab()V(! that Mr. Miles McI>oiielland his men arrived on the jaairies of Ked Kiver, at the latest, in the mouth of August, 1812, How these ]>ioiieersof civilization in the wilderues.s fuved or how they were employed we have not been aide to learii, hut we may rest satisfied that a great jiart of their time would be occupied in procuring food from the surrounding Indians and free- men, and that the rest of their time would Ije em])loyed in erecting (hvellings and stores at the place chosen for the liead([uarters of the »' I 'II '•1 ^ I t. 74 HISTOHV OF MANITOP.A. new .settlcinent, "^hich was iit ii point a mile below the conHuence of iho Assinihoine and Ked Kiver. This j)oint had the name of l)on<;liis Itestowed ujxm it, and continued during a period of four- teen yeai.i to enjoy die honour of being the site of the Governor's residence, the Colony stores and of the Hudson's Ks, and recorded as much as came to our knowledge of the history of the snudl l)aud of immigrants from the gre(!n valleys of Eriii, and from that busy hive of manufacturing and commercial industry, (Jlasgcw, to tlie centre of the American continent, to the very ]tlace whi'jh liis Lordship had appointeil for the future colony, and where they were directed to make ])reparations for the reception of the multitudes who were exi)ected to How in each suc(;eeding year, we will leave them for a time and endeavoui- to follow his Lordslii]! in his jieregrinations for re(;ruits mr the Hudson's liav Comitanv's service and for emigrants to the intended colony. K<»r the accomplishment of these objects he went over to Irehmd, and dui-ing his residence there he visited kSiigo and other towns in the west, whe' » he employed agents to engage sfrvants for the fur trade and for the colony. A great 'iuml>er of lal)orers and some clerks were soon procured. His Lordshi];, when in the Kmerald Isle, met with Mr, Owen Keveny whom he engaged for the Hudson's Uay Company's service, and likely in the first place, lor the ])urp(jse of taking charge of all the nu'u wlio had been engaged in Ireland with the view, no doubt, of })reventing desertion and mutinies similar t(/ those whicb took ])lace t)u' jtrevious season at Stornoway, and aft(!rwards to be employed in the service as circumstances might require. Mr. Keveny has l»een I'epresenteil as uncommoidy severe and cruel in his treatment of those under his authority. It has ])een currently rejtorted, and not ct)ntradicted, that for the most trivial otience he would order the offending party to be ])ut in irons ; in other cases the unfortunate culprit was nuide to run between two lines of men ilrawn up fronting each other, and each man pre] )ared with a cudgel to commence the strange, aiwl to one i)arty concerned, unj)leasant ip.eration of l»elabouring the object of their chief's resentment as soon as he entered between their ranks. The Hudson's Bay Com- pany's ships sailed for Ireland, and ])Ut into the I>ay of Sligo to i)a' ;l tiueuce aiiio of >f foiu- /ernur's s much IuukI of isy hive a centre ^ordship directe" I lio were c-iii for a tious for niLirauts _> ()l)jects e visited <4eut.s to )i'ucured. . ()\veu service, >e of all lo do\d)t, icli took s to he e. Mr. cruel in currently ffence he her cases s of men a cudt^el 1 pleasant tiiient as >ay Com- Sligo to i .. HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 75 take on board all those who had heen engaged. Here they were joined by ten or eleven newly married cou])le5, some young men, and two or three unmarried young ladies, all from the Western Islands of Scotland. The ships left Ireland some tinu' in June, and if we judge from what transpired on the ])assage, we must come to tlie conclusion, that all who were on l»oard were not satisfied with their t'ondition. No desertions took place this season, and all seemed to go on well fo)' a tiiue, but a tierce sj)irit of discontent ))eganto spread from one bo-;om to another, until ;dl the sailors and the ]>assengers l)etween decks becanu' infected by it, and .soon a]»])ear(!d in an att('mi)t to over])ower the Cajitain and his adherents, sei/e the shi]» and take her to some country at VV^ar with CIreat Britain and sell shijt and cargo to the bt'st advantage and divide the proceeds among the captors. However seci'et their machinations, thcie was a traitor among them who betrayed all their proceedings to the ('a])tain, and by the time they were all ])repared ^ 'r the meeting, the Captain and those who wei'e loval to him and willinu; at all hazards t(j do their duty at this dangerous moment, were reaily to uu'ct them. The L'aj)t{un ]daced armed ))arti<^s to guard the hatches, the (piarliT guns were loaded with grape shot and jiointed forward; when the consjiirators attenii)ted to get on deck they wen; hurled back into the hole by those who had been a])]>oijited to]ierform that duty. < )ue man, more daring or less fortunate than his associates in evil, rt'ceiv(^d a dangerous swoi'd wound on his shoulder, which nearly severed his arm from his body. This blow was given by Mr. .[(jhnston, who was assassinated hi a most deliberate but <'oward- ly manner by a French half-ltreed in a foolish quarrel that took place at Isle a la Cross Lake, in the winter of 1814 between the two o]i])osing companies. Th(^ mutineers subdued, all ]>arties seemed to be satisfied or were (piict, which answei'ed e(iually Mell, and early in the month (»f August they were landed at York Factory on the shores of Hudson's F)ay. While here Mr, Keveny had to cxcrcisi' some des])otic, hut, no doubt, a wholesome discipline by making a few unruly fellows run the yauntlet, somewhat terrifvint; and amnsiny to the H" f*'l I( fct ■.l ■ i 76 mSTOHY OF MAN I TOP. A. belidldei's, who for tlie Hrst time saw this very ancient but long neglected mode of punishment put into operation. A number of the ringleaders and of the most desperate of the mutineers were sent back with the shi]». We must here iiotice that Father Bourke accom[)anied the Irishmen as their si»iritual guide, but returned by the same conveyance that brought liim into the c(juntry ; this gentleman was the first minister of religion from the Hritish Isles, that set foot on llupert's Land, or at least that set his foot on the shores of Hudson's Bay. W(^ must further notice in this place, thai the first matrimonial union entered into by jicrsons of ]>ure Kuro]>ean blood, in Ilu])ert's Land, took place this Season, at York Factory, Itoth })artieswere Protestants and had ariived with the shi[) ; the marriage ceremony was performed by Father J)ourke, the catholic priest. After a shoi't stay at the Factory those who were destined, to serve at the diifereut posts in the interior were dis})ersed in every direction. Mr. Iveveny, the colonists and all tlie laboring men for the colony, with .some boats for upper Ked Jiiver, in all eight or nine l»arges took their ileparture for their destination, and after a fa\'or- able })assage they arrived in licalth and good s])irits some time in the latter and of October, (»n the banks of the much talked of, and long wished for. Red lliver. Mr. Keveny consigned his cliarge to Mr. ]\riles McDonell who had been already some months on the site of the intended colony, and who might now w itli some jiropriety assume the liigh sounding title of (Governor of Assiniboia, for here Were ten or eleven families to begin witli. — This small increase of numliers added to (roveinor McDonell's difticulties. Pro\ i-idus were not easily obtained at Fort Douglas, and in conse(|Uence they coidd iKit remain together at head-(|Uarters. The cohjnists, after remaining a sliort time at the (tovernor's residence, had to raise their camp before the winter set in, and remove to Lembina, to be within easy reach of the buifalo, the only source whence they expected to draw their su])))ly of provisions for the fast ap]>roaching winter. To Tembina they went and in conjunction with his Lord- sliijt's servants l)uilt a few huts which they sumuinded with a low stockade and dignified the ]tla('e with the honoral)le name of Daer. In the beginning of winter scarcity of food began to be severely HlSTOl.'V OK MANITOHA. 77 mt long _' of the •e iiotice spiritual him into fion fruiii east that t further ired into jok place 1 and had niuod ]jy :stined to in every g men f(jr ;ht or nine r a fiivor- le time in ed of, and c;harge to n the site >r(>i)riety for liere lerease of rovi^ions 'uce they ists, after had t(j Tenibina, enci^ they ])r()aching his Lord- vith a low e of Daer, e severely felt and steru necessity compelled the newcomers to se])arate. Some went u]) to the post on tlie Turtle River, others had to take to Jie plains and join the Freemen who were hunting the hutfah) on these treeless wastes and wlio were encamped jdong the ditl'erent streams tliat How into the lied Kiver from the west. Tlu; traders at that time were accustomed to hire hunters who supplied them with })rovisions. These Iiunters were either Indians or Freemen and at some Foils Freemen and Indians ; wlu'n tliu< em ployed 1)V tlie traders, each hunter liad connnoidy a Company's servant phiceil with him, whose duly was to receive the carcases from the hunter, to draw in the meat to a stage erected near tlie hunter's lodge, and to keep iiccount of the numher of animals or carcases he leceived. Horses and dogs were employed to drag in tlie meat to the Fort; hut iis these useful animals were too few for iiie work the deficiency had to su]»plied i)y the coh^idsts and ser- vants harnessing themselves by tens or l»y do/ens to huge Hat sleds, loaded with green l)ulfalo heef at which they toiled day after day till they arrived at the Fort. P^ach l)ui fait), moose or reil deer, was vahu'd at so many shillings, Halifax cun-ency, although most comnioidy ])aid in merchandize. We may form some idea of the great and nearly insurnujuntal)le ditliculties which these ]ioor men had to encounter — travelling for days without snowshoes through deej* snow, unaccustomed to the rigors of the climate, always exjKised to intense cold, and not uufretjuently overtaken on the ])lains by high winds and snow which in a few minutes till the air with di'ift, leaving the traveller no alternative but that of burying himself in a snow bank or freezing to death. When these parties took their loads and turned for the Fort, on sonu; trijjs, they tugged for days at their un- wieldy burdens ; it is true that every meal lessened their freight, so much so, that when the distance was great all they brought tu the Fort was very little more than would be required to iind them- selves until they should return to the hunting tents again, so that those who residetl at the fort fared but indifferently. In their distress during that winter the North West Conijiany's servants generously supjiliedthem often with provisions and with- out such helj* some of the colonists, and even some of the Com- » I ■■: ;i ^'i p U t \l M > III 78 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ) tally's Herviints, would have i)erislied of Imiij^ei', not only on the }»laiii.s of Ued Uivev, but also alon^^ the shores of Lake Wiuniyicg, one instance of which we shall here relate, as showin*^ in some de- gree the privations and miseries whicli tiie fur trader.^ had to endure at the time of which we are writing ;ind, as sliowinj^- also, tlie friendly spirit by which some, at least, of the North West paitners were animated towards the Hudson's liay (.'ompany servants when they were in distress. The Hudson's JUiy Company had a snuill trailing ]iost near the mouth of Pigeon lliver. The fall fishing proved a failure, and aftiT the winter set in no su]jplies could be drawn from the waters. Neither deer nor raldjits could be found in the forests. The few peojtle who were at the ])lace were compelled, by famine to break up into small ]iarties of two or three in eacii ; these took difteient directions and jtitclied their canr[)s aU)ng the lake at some distance from each otiun'. All failed to j»rocure anything adeijuate to the sujiply of tlieir most urgent wants, and after sonui time the little tiiey liH'i been able to procure became less, so much so, that some were reduced to absolute want. Thus enfeelded from tlie want (jf sutfici(!ncy of food, some of them were so nnich overcome liv the dark ]trospect bef(tre them that they began to des]>air, and if they had l)een left to their own resources W(»uld have perished, Itut for- tunately for them a young gentleman was with one party whose str(tn"' and energetic mind was more than eipial to the diltirulties of the ]»osition in which he and his com])anions in misery were ])L>ced To remain where they were would be certain death. An 'lere were they to go I they wei'e Hudson's Bay men, and the vm: jst Fort belonging to that company was Fort Douglas, and for 1 - Douglas our yonng friend, with two other men, set out, travelling on the east side of Lake Winnipeg for Has de la Ifiver, where the North-West Company had a post, (or rather, a depot). This place was much nearer to them than lied lliver ; but tliese emaciated and enfeebled men — scarcely al)le to walk — travelled on day after day, exposed to the bitter chilling winds that blew over the lake, nor did the night bring them vehef ; without strength to cut down trees, they had to content themselves with willows for fnel over which they had to watch all night being unable to enj\»y u the nipeg, uc (le- iiduve ieiidly ■; were n they -ai the re, and waters. lie few ) tireak itiL'rent li^>tance ti) the e little at some want enjoy HISTOUY OF MANITOBA. 7& sleep from the constant pinching of the cold. After strnggling on for some days onr fi'iend's two (•om])anions Ix'came so discouraged, that great ])ei'suasion liad to he used hefore they cciuld l)e induced to leave the hut in the morning, and after they had lesumed the journey they did not go far until they felt overcome and unul)le to proceed any further and liiy down on tlie ice to wait jiatiently for death to i»ut an end to their misery. The clerk seeing that he I'duld n<»t |)revail on them to make another effort titsave themselves, hade them farewcdl and continued on his journey, hut did not go tiiany miles until he espied a party of men on the lake coming to- wai'ds liim. These were North- West men who were going in seaich of Indians, and who had just left iheh- cam]) in the nearest ])oint; on meeting him some returned with lum to the camp which they had left, a short time hefore, and kindly ministered to his wants, and gave liim some information on the way and distance to the Fort for which after l>eing refreslu'd lie set out ; l)ut not hefore he had the ]tleasure of seeing his com]ianif)ns rescued from an un- timely and miserahle death, brought to the hut and sujtplied with food ])y their kind neighhors, who in the niorninu had left a <|uan- tity of potatoes in the hut, which nearlv proved fatal during the tusuing night to the famished men who could not restrain the cravings of their appetites, hut indulged fieely in the use of the ])otatoes. The clerk arrived that night at the North-West Fort and on the following day men were sent with dogs and sleds for the two men left hehiud and ])rought them to the ]>lace, where they were fed and cared for until their health and strength had been restoreil after which they were su])])hed with ]irovisions to serve them until they arrived at Fort Douglas. Such generosity on the part of the North-West traders may aji- pear strange to some of my readers ; hut here I must candidly state that up to that time, 1813, there was nothing approaching to animosity existing lietween the servants of the two com])anies ; tlie stvuui'le for existence between the rivals had not vet coin- menced, if any little ditticidties occurred they were always speedily settled, generally in a very friendly and pleasant manner over a " flowing bowl " of Demara punch. When the winter of 1812-13 had passed, with all itsconconutant ii i rm \i:: i; t:' 1 80 HISTOKV OK MANITOBA. fvils, and Iho Hj)r>n^' iulvuiKH'd witli all its genial iiillut'iiccs; when til" soft winds of the south and the warm rays of the sun had dissolved t!ie snow on the plains and tlu' ice on the rivers, fish of all kinds he^an to swarm in every stream, and wild fowl l)ecame ahnndant over the whole country. These favorable changes never fail to infuse gladness into every heai't in the laud, and never did a ehaniie from one extreme of teiM])('rature to the o]i)iosit<' extreme, anil from poveity to })lenty, hrinu greater j(jy into the hunuin heart than it hrought into the hearts of the destitute and miserable immigrants of IS] 2, who with the change of the season changed their residence ; leaving the ])lains of Dakota and Tembina passed on to Fort Douglas, and here once more Mr. McDonell had the ]»leasure of seeing all his ]te(»]ile united and under his immediate command. Here eiich colonist had a lot of lund assigned to him, and all commenced the arduous and tedious work of subduing the earth in order that it might bring forth food for themselves and for their families. This labor was undertaken with no moreethcient imj)lemenlsthau hoes, and feeble as these instruments were, they could not olitain as much seed as they could be able to commit to the ground. But here again the North West Company's jiartner in l{ed Kiver lent a hel})ing hand, Ity either giving or selling to the Colony Crovernor some "wheat, barley, potatoes, garden seeds, a Itull, four cows, some ])igs and some fowls, which had been brought from Canada at great expense; and altough still disa]ii)roving the motives under which the settlement was established they did all in their power to relieve the distress and wants of the colonists, Mr. McDonell was not backwards in acknowledging his ol)ligations for their assistance, both in his letters and in his verljal communications with the traders, but these were soon forgotten when his dilliculties diminished, and he \vas aware that all his zeal was required in carrying into effect by active measures the views of his employers. Early in the spring of 1818, when he had so far by the assistance of the North- West traders overcome the difticulties of his situation, his conduct, which had hitherto Ijeen rather temporizing than friendly, became less e([uivocal. In his capacity of (rovernor anil representative of Lord Selkirk, he told the Indians that they must take to him alone, for ' r 1 I IIIS'I'OI.'Y nl- MAMTol'.A. HI sak', llicii' j>i()Visi(»iis and jieltrifs, Ihmhl; the IiIihIiicc of laiitls of wliich his l-(H(lslii]i was jivojti'ictni', and on wliicli, (Miiis('(|Ui'iitly, tlic'V conld only liiiiit witli lii> ]M'niiissi(m ; a dcctiiiif I'idiciili'd l)y tlk' iiativi's, Idit of a iiatuiv to idiisc all tlic a|i]in'li('iisi(»us of the. C iiadian traders, wlutsf .'xistciKH', imt nnly on tlic iJcil Hiver, hnt in ureal jiart. of tli ' coiuitry, dc|icndcd upon tlie iirovisions jirocurcd at ili''ir jiosts \\iiliiu Lord Scdkirk's urant. We have stateil aliovethat the Jesuit Fathers Charles Uaunbault and Isaac do<4iie< \isited I.aki' Sn]ierior as early as 1(141, and indi\ idual laics, led liy euiiosity or l.ivc ol' adventure, inadi' tlyin^;' visits even to t!ie cd I;) ivlic\"c thai ;ic di;! n..l ( ■ntiniic t ) .am' it. 1- on the trade in pidtries, and a])parently no further ste]»s had Lei'ii taken for some years to extend the judiry trade in the Nor' West. In ITol M. N'ereiidrye having formed a trading'^company with some Montreal merchants, who e(^ui])])ed him for his journey, set out for Lake Superior with Pcre xMessager, a missionary p.riest. He had received orders to take |)ossession in the Kinu's name of all countries he should discover, also, to examine them carefully in (irder to form an idea what facilities they might jiossess for estab- lishing a route across them to connect Canada and Louisiana with tlie sea board of the Pacihc. To enable him to perform this useful F II «2 IllSToltV OF MANITOHA. Hurvici.' iKj ]»iil(lic aid wiis nivcii him, if inoiuiscd, ami as a con- H('(iiieiice, lie was (il)li<;i'(l to liii^vr about the iiitcniiudiatc renions, atteiidiii.iL!, to Ids own interests and tliat of his jiartners, till the year 17^i'l Previously to the yearlT^Jl some ol' his peojile startiu<^- from Kanianistinoya, a fort constructed to the north of Lake Sujierior in 1717 l»\' Lieutenant Koliertal dv Lan(»ue, jiassed to the Lal<(! of Lajiline, where tliey huilt Fort St. I'eter, then to the Lako des liois, where *hey ere .'tt'd I'ort St. Charles in 17;)2; next they followed the coh ■ c'. ;'ic yivev W'innipe^^, upon a l)ank ol' which t);ey raised, in !.:•■], 'ort MaurejtaH. The aosts useful to tla'niselves foi' the jirosccution of their itrivate ti'ade. ContinuiuiJ their trjivels thev crossed Lake Dauithin anil Swan Lake, discovered lictl Deei' liiver and ascended the Saskatchewan to the junction of its two great hraiu-hes. They are said to have estab- lished several tradiiiLt' f(»rts (/ c) Vort l)au|)hin, at the head of Lake Manitoba, and Fort de La Keine at its foot; also. Fort Uourbon, on tlie IHclie liiver, at the head of Lake Winnijteu; histly. Fort Kouge, in the angle formed Ity the Ked and Assiniboine JJivers. They continued afterwanls, directed liy 1\L de Verendry^'s brother and s(jn.s, to advance westwardly, other whiles nurtheily, Imi without finding the ocean they were in (juest of. In one of ilu'>e e.\i»lora- tions, during the year 17.''>('), a son of j\L de N'erendrye, the Jesuit, I'ere Aneau, and twenty others were massacred by tlie Sioux, in an island in the Lake Des Hois. The eiiter])rising V'erendryes are said to have extended their travcds in 17-f2 to tlu! Yellow Stone Liver, and in the following yeai' to the. foot of the Fiocky Mountains. Their course, no doid't, hail l)een U]) the Assiniboine Liver, thence across the plains to the Missouri Liver, following its course to the Mountains. The travellers on their return were cut oil" by the savages. Verendrye spent 40,000 livres on his travels; he expected some pecuniary com])ensation, but was ])ra('tically denied. Lut his successors reaped the fruits of his patriotic, self-denying and extensive labours, and so judicious was his choice of the localities where he built his trading posts, that some of them have been occui)ied as centres of Indian trade up to i) ^ m HISTolJV OF MAX1T(»HA, 88 tilt' pivsent time, iiiiil t(i his c liter] (rising' wau, naiiioly, Fort l>»»iirh(iii, at the head (•!" ("(mIui' Lake, and Vovi la Coniii in lut. '>ol, l(l.'> ufst lon^titmk', the last (»i' the Kiciichst'tth'- in<'nt.s on tlu' aliovc river. The war which tran.sfciTcd ihc Dominion nl' Canada fn mi l-'ranee to (ii'cat Ihitain dcranm*d the widely extended trade carried on fr(»ni ]\I<)ntrea!, on the one side to the shoivs of Hudson's Uay, ami on th(' other si(h3 to j*'ort la Come, on the Siiskatehewan, and pro- hahly to the tops of tln! Assinihoint; iJiver. Ihit aftei'lhe cession of Canada and the restoration of ])eace, numlteis of ' Mish 1)orn snbjects entered into the fui' trade, who, after a few ym- , lixed their head* [narters ut the (Jrand I'ortane, near the im rh o ., iyeon l{iver. The lirst of these enter})risin^' adv( iitnre' if vhoni we have an}' aceonnt was Mr. Thomas Ciirrie, who in I7 tV-w years i-Ntci..l.Ml it^ .li>rnvrnrM ;iii(l tniik- t.. tin- Aicli" iiimI WwWu' (pccain. TIimii-U u littlr out of chini)ol(.ui(.iil onicr \\.> iiiusl iii.'Htioii ilic lirst iii-jMiuaiuv d' thi- Hu.lsoiis liiiy CoiniKiu^- ou the Suskuli li.'WiHi, which took ].hi(v m the y-ar 1 774, •■K'\«n wais aftrr ih^ Tiviitv ol' Piiiis, iiii-l srvcii years iiriciThoiiia. C-.ri ^etth'-l at tlie v.v^t nul of Cclar Lake. We have .lali'.l ill ;i Ion... r jail ol' this woik the injnrioiis elleet, the presenee ol the Kreii. h-r;,iia.iiaii ira.lejs in the interior ha.loii lhei.n.titsatthelaeto:M'.oii:he.horou's I'.ay. As thr In- dians (M.uM n..\v '.ai1 •;■ tii.ir j^'hries h.r artiel,-. ..!' I'auopean nianii- facturu within tlieir hiintin- nvoun.l. : thrn-l,y nmovin- the neees- silv th,f e>iniK'l!"l tlieni in lorm-r years to sikMuI tli- Miniiner „„.,,,!,. in the perf-rniane" of h.n- "himI danuero'is voya-e-, over .,l,rMis hikes an. i rivei , full of raj ids and ealaraels. To rem- dy the vih and to restore ilvir deelininu Made, the Company saw the ne, ■ Vity <.!' earryin-' their -oods to ;h.' natives, as the hitler would „.» l.nuer tal«' th.-ir traih' to the I'.a.N , and tor the aeeoniplislmuMU uf thiii ohjeel an exiiedition was s nt inlaml in i 77-1-, under the coniinand of Mr. Ilrarne, the di-eov av. .,1' i 'oppei mine il've.. who eMnti'ined on till h- reaehed I'in^ Ulan i l-ake, where he l.,nlt his Ion, ninMy-two year> alter York Fa:"e ry ha/t iiem settled. Once ,,,,..., d iroin th" torpid >tate in whirh they exist'/d on the iVozeu sl,nr.; of the lV;y, they followed the example set thein hy their mor, . 'leis^viie eomiietitor,^, and, in lilth more than twenty y( ars, li;' i .-xtended their tradin- po:«ts iVom Cnndieiiaiid t<, the hase of the liocky M(.ui;Vdns. Thus, si(h' hy side, with their rival- from Caaada, h.rmin- eonnn.'naal relati.Mi^ with the savii|ie, trihes that roam "vev the vast i)lains thron-li whi"li both hranehes of tlie ;4Teat river How : and who, aecordiii- to Sir Alexander :\IeKen/ie's ac- count, oeeupicd the following re,L;ions, and the numher of warriors inoa<'li hand orlrilu- in 17'.l^!, namely, at Xepowe and s(aith hraneli, thirty tents of r.ristineaux or 'Ji) \varriors, and -ixty tents of Stone T \: oan ,,..,..».;,.«... 'ri>,>iv 1, iiiitiiiM- ..V, .iin, lo ,■ vt..iwlii. I mitii tlio iiivi^in.-, •- ■■•" ''•■ Ea'de Hills. Those ^.'A> trade at Forts Ceorge and Agustns, 80 tents; Crees on either ^iih" of the river, 2(H) tents, in the same country .,iv MO tents of Stiiie Indians; not .[uite tlie half of ihem inhahit the we-t woody )U itry, their n im'oer cannot he less H1ST(»1!Y !M- M.\Mrol;A. H who l.is lO/CU their ■ (Ill's, |v(' ot s Vdia Ihiit Teat ■; iie- ui'iovs ranch, Stone it,, t1io IS. SO saiue alf of u less than 4r»(). The Sarcet'soii the nortli l>i!iii{'h, :«.1 tents or lJ(i. (>)(- jinsitc to thest' on tile eastward near the head watcis ol' tlir smith hiaiich aiv the Tei^'aiis, imniherini^ lioin liMiii to 1"(HI iih'H : next t(t thciii an- the I'dood Indians to the iiuinhei of .'id iciitsoi ■Jiiii men. Kroni them downwards exieiid the Ulai'kl'ret Indiiiiis iiT the sunie n{iti(»n as the two last trihes ; iheii' iniiidiei' may he Slid men. Next to tluini and exlendiiie to the eoiilliieiiee oT ijic two hij.iieii;'.^ are the Fall ()!■ I>ie;-hellied Indians, who may amount to (Kill warriors. The ( 'ices ol' Ih'istineaiix, as called liy some w liters, and kiidwii aiiioiie thcliisidves iiy tin name of " Nehec Mthinniwoc," lia\e heeii at all times since the iid\ent of tiie whites jiiohahly the most iiiiiiieroiis trihe of Indians on the east side of the I, 'ocky Mountains ; and occiijiied, and at the present time do occn]iy. a wider I'aiiev of hunt in,e ^rounds than ;iiiy otiier of the alMiiJeinaJ nations in what has heeii know 11 as llnjiert's Land, their hnnliiiL'^ uroiinds exteiidiiii; from the vicinity of I'neaxa IJay to dames' liay, tlieiice northwardly al(»ii,u the shores (if Iludsdii's May to ('hnrcliil llixcr on the nnrlli, which formed the honndary hetween tliem and the Cheiiewayan, and in the south-westerly direction to where in former times tlu-y iiU!t the Assinihoines, and of late years, since the Assinihoiiies have moved to the west, met the Saulteaiix or <)jihois, who speak a coe;nate diideet, and who have fornn'd marriages with the ( 'rces, whence a i'a(;e has s|)riinj4 who sjienk a. mixe(| dialect and on whom the trader havi inijiosed tlu; new name of Xachdawew(i( . This mixed ]i(!o))le occiijiy the country on each sidti of the height of land north of Lake Su]ierior and llainy Lake and to the north-(>iist of Luke Winnipeg. Tn 1682 the English (;oni]iany took ])ossessiou of the mouth of the Nelson Kiver, and in the same autumn ihe French from Canada passed the wintijr near the sea on St. Thenjsa's oi Hay's River, and although from that day to the treaty of I'trecht they had carried on a destructive war with each other, yet there was one thing in which they seemed to agi'ee, namely, in supjilying the natives with fire-arms and ammunition, which they soon learned to use with deadly effect against theinhmd trihes, w hose only weaj ions of war were the tomahawk, the how and tlie Crees would l)e induced liy many reasons t irr. -w. o aiiai Tl i ' le swam])y idoii the frosty 4^ l!r SH IMSTollV oi' MAM'I'oMA. forests lliiil IiukIci mi tlic Hny, mid jdcss oil tnii iiiililcr cliinaU' iiiui or(!M|»y ii coiiiilry iilmiiiKliiiij; in the lnr;4f'i' iiiiiiiiiils of llu- clust'. Till! Ciccs, who visited tlir tiiidiiijj; |i()Sts uii tin; shores dl" Hudson's IJiiy, mid ihi' Assinil)oint's, whn irndrd in IGJH with dn l-iilh at tln^ West end (»r \/,ikf Sii|irriur, wcic idmiit Ihc saiiic time put in pos.si'ssion of liiv iiinis, and \.ithin a leu yeiirs thereidter they seemed a> it \<\ nintiial euiiseiit t(» have nuuh' a siiiiultiiiieoiis nioveineiil, th(t lurnier |ii'essiii;^ on to the south west, thf hitler pur.siiiiiLj their course to the north-west until they lui't in the rei^iou west of l,al; foi' some years previous to the year 17^0, and thai they made a preconcerted attack lliat year on the trading posts on the Assinil)oiiie. These small houses were at Pojlaj^'e la I'rairie, and represented three different assoeiatictiis, and had hut few men at each. 'I'lie Indians had kept their inleiitions so Ind from the whiles that the latter were altogether unjirepared to resist the onslaught made hv their iiainted and feathered assail- ants, who made themsidves masters of two of the houses, massaitred tliost^ wiio defeniled them and carried away the booty. Intoxicated by their success and contiding in their prowess they rushed on to attack the lliird hon>e, which was defended by a Mr. IJriice at the head of a few men. Mr. Hruce was known among the .savages by tlie forniidal)le nanu' of Ketelie Mink-man, /. e. liig Knife. He wa.s evidently known among the Indian tribes for his bravery and detennined courage, ami they learned by sad experience on the present occasion that his fame for valor had not l)een over-rated, for he not onl}- defended his po.st but slew a number of tho.se by whom he had been attacked, thereby admonishing the survivors to IIISTOUV (IK MANITOHA. 87 iiixi ju'h I ut ; ill 'OllH n;i(>M oitu' If (.f iilli- liti'il 11' Lo hive what mist .lU'SS lains year the V at , aiui ions liai't'tl sail- cred ati'd I to tlu! ts l)y He and the II tod, by •s to heat a liiiicly it'lrcut, h'aviny the icsohitr and roniiididilf I'lrnct' in posHcssioii of thf slain and of the field of hatth'. How far th" HiivayvH inleinU'd to linry thfir hostility towanls the liailt'is wi' have not lu'cii aide to leain, luii wc may lavsiimc that their defeat heforc Mr. Ilniee's little post at I'oita-^e la Trairie cooh-d their militaiy ardtiiir, and the follow ineyeiir small-|Mi\ (•fjimu.sl \ irii- leiit type attacked tla' liiltes intlie vieinityof lied iJiNcr aial spread oveiall the Indiaii Territories, even to the shores(tf Hudson's l»av. \s litle as the year I S 1 Ti the hleaehed holies < if those, who had l»e- C(»me the victims of the plaiiiie, were to he seen ill L^reat i|Uanlilit's at several |toints on the shoics of the Hay. The .Vssinihoines were eiicaiiiped at seM-ral jioints near the lied Ki\ei when the disease ujipeaied iHiiiinti them, and was intended hy the most I'utal tdVects ; HO much s^j, that ten \'eais after, when the iJed Lalf that once numerous trihe in that vicinity. After some days hail lieeii devuted to feastinu and the mutual interclian,e«i of picsents, the Assinihoine orators jia- thetically deplored the miserahle condition of their people, statini; that wherever they went lhe\' .saw nothin;^ hut the Ideached hones of their kindred; that their fornu'i allies, the frees, had always heen treacherous, and that an the ap]iearanee of the di.sea.se they went hefoi'e it to the west. "We are no longer uldelo resist ourenemies, the ."^idux. Come, then, and li\'e with u> Let us have (»ne iii'e and one l(l McKay, a \L'tei'iiii trader, wlm liad, in ciiiiucciiuu witii some (itlier ])C'tty ti'tulers, passed a few wiiiu-rs ay where no rival traders existed within luuulreds of miles. H!ST()i;V OF MAXn* UJA. &S+ CHAITKlf III. H.\ii(.i;axts vnii iiiK IvMii.'s Cni.dNV — A Cask, oi- I.dVi-; — TviMis KF.VKI; (IN I'xiAKH Illi; Sllll'S — ThaIUNC WIIII lilF. KmiIIMA X — AlliJlVAI, AT XfI.SdN K'IVHI; — (lllFAT I'lilVATKiNS — A Fli;F — Want of ImIT.F.MFNTS — roNTHNlloN liKTWKKN KlVAF * 'o.M- PANIKS AlMlFSTKl) — I )lSSAlTSFAClloN AMoNC. SfTTI.KFS — A FK'.IIT— TlilFlt AN1» A((,'IITTFli — Col.oNlSlS ]jFTri;NIN(. To C'anaha — |)i;. StkaiHan's Hosimtafitv. While tlntsc wlio li;i(l ;iiii\c(l (111 the ]ilaiiis of the Ii'fil i;i\cr, in the scasdii nl' IS] 2, wrVi' liallliiii; Inr (Icar life (|iiii'iili tlic t'MlldWJii^ winter and s]iriiiL;, His l,(ii'(lslii]i was not uiiiuiiKJf'iil (if tlic urent wiii'k wliicli lie liail (•(iiiniiciictMl and (li'lci'iiiiii('(l to carry (Hi. In the lii'^inniiiL; lie eniiiloyed au<'iits, in the Xnitli (tf ScotUuid, to enea!4v ser\ants tor the Hudson's i'>ay ('onipaiiy and settlers for the colony. The time was favouralile for the accouijilishinent of these olijeets. The late Marchioness of StalVord and 1 )nehess oi' Sutherland in her own ri^^fht, the only offsprin^df the last Duke of Sutherland, coni- nieneed a few years hefore the selfish and ei'Uid work of clearir.L^ the eonutry of its inhahitants, leasing the farms to shee])-hei'ds who stocked tlieir holdini^s, in many ])laees very extensive tracts, witli shee]). Many of these unfortunate peojde were dri\-en liy tlie force of circumstances, or rather, the force of ciuel and un- natui'al laws, from their hundile, liut once ha]i]iy ln'mes, which they had occupied, and which, in many t-ases, had been occupied by theii' foi'efathers, for many generations, umlei' the g(tod and kind Earls of former times, without knowiuL; wlieie to Hnd a home to shelter themselves and their nnl'ortnnate families, and not in a few cases destitute of food, and of means wherewith to procuic it. Their only wealth consisteut another downward ste]» to ruin. All who could realize a trilie by the sale of their ])ro]KMv -f»- I: ! i'i i u 90 1IIST()1:V OK MAXITOI'.A. ty tmiicil llicir Ihoiiniils towni'ds the western wdvM, and anxiously AViiitcil I'll' the livsL cliauco of" transpoilin^ tlieuisi'lves and their laniilies td the North Aineriean conLintMit, exjiuctin^u there to find a restiun; ])lu(!e which the iKdovetl land of their lorefiithL'rs no longer aM'oi'detl them. Tliis crisis in their al't'aii's was well calcnlateil to aid his Loi'd- shiji's sehenie of ithiiitlui:*' a colony on the hanks of the I'ed liiver. Xumhers of the farmers and ci'ofteis of the strath of Kildonan, and in Sdnie other |iarts of the conntry of Sutherland, had heen evicted in the sjirini; of >,■>{:'>. "Many of tlu'm found means of traiHporiatiMn to Xo\a Scotia, New lininswiek and lo the island ofSt. .lohn, now i'rince Ivlward's Island, others llocked to His Lordshiji's agents, offei'inij, ter In ad. Fortius sum, a ]ias,saji'e was to he ]»ro\"idtMl for them to the jilace of their destination, and tliey were to he furnished with ]ir(tvisions for twelve montlis after the day of their emharkatioii. To these families r ,iy he added some unmavrii'd yonn^ men anil young- woiui'ii. who Were sent hy their parents along with these families foi'iiie ex]»ress j.nrpose of taking possession of lots of land, huild- ing houses, and Ininging under cnlli\ation as much land as |(ossi- ble. In lew Words, they were tojtrejtare tor tip' reception of their ])arcnts and the younuer ini-mhers of thidr ivs])ecti\(' families, when ejecti'd tVoiu their mountain homes. To the cohuiists Were added a niimher of young nuui from all parts of Scotland, who were engaged f(»r a term of tiiree years. Some of them were to serve in the fur trade, others were to serve in the colony. Each of the lahoi'ers was to he paid twenty pounds sterling per annum and, at the cimI of tluuv term of service, each Ik came tmtit- led to one hundred acres of land in Ked Kiver. During the first week in rlnne, IHlo, the Karl of Selkirk, on his way north, an'ived in Sutherlandsliire, where he remained for some time, holding iateieourse with intending emigrants, making many MIST(.l;V OF MAMToI'.A. »1 WW it's, sts llid, lere iiy. :it- liis me jiiMiiiisi's ()(■ fiituit! t'iivdur, iiiiil jMiiiitiiin' out tn them tlic iulvant.ig- u.s wliicli llif cliiiiii^fi' tlit'V wciv iiltout t(i luakf woulil ultimately coiifiT ujKtu tlit'iii. AtU-r iiriaii,^iii^' al'l'airs and i^ivinu all necessary instiiK.'tioii.^ to his a^euts, he iiroct'cdcd on to 'I'huvso, wliciv he re- iiuiiiied ii short time, |irt']»ariu,u lor the I'eeejttion of the colonists and servants, who were ('\i»eetee ari'ani^ements had liei'U accomiiHslieil Jlis Lordship passed over tht' I'eiitlanil Firth to Stromness. Soon aftei' his de- [jarturi- tlie coh)nists and .>er\ants l)e^an to make their ajipearanee in th>' '^ood (lid town ofTlinrso. liei'e their stay was shoii. Tlie ageni iiad a cnastini; Vi sstd rrady to receiNc and to tran.>|>i/rt to StrM:iines> the motley erowil and relations, wl (f\\-' them the last endtrace, the last shake of the hand and to see them on Itoard. The wind blew freshly from the hills and the Wdfcr-vifcli cut hei' way swiftly thi'oueh the r(tu^h ami loamy wa\t's of the I'ent- land Filth. Ad on board, e\ce])t the stout ([uadrujieds and sailors, wei.' ].rostrate"l l)y that most nauseous coni]»laint, sea-sickness, groaninu distien gratified. Late in the e\ening we came in sight of the litlh! Nillagc of Stromness, and soon afterwards were anchored in its (piiet and safe harboui, and those who had been sick n few minutes before liecanie suddtuily well. A few boats came alongside on which we vvere end>arked and from which we landed a few minutes after. Here we were billetevv dirin t'oi' Imiiid niid l(i(lLiiii,u. Ht'i(3 we iiiii.-,t not itiiiit to state that llic aiicfl and the vcvy yniiiig, will) wciv ^(liiiu to till' coldiiy, liad a jiassauc ]iV(ividcd fur tliciu l)y sea fnuii Kcliiisdalc, and liad aniv('(l at this rendezvous a few liours ]>"i()Vr IIS. Ii'idand and tlii' western islands of Seotland eonirilnit- ed their ([iidia of intending' settlers and labourers who were v.ait- in.U here f.r a jiassa.uv to Hudson's Hay. Stroniiuiss, at the time, of which we write, was a small \ilhe4L'; yet It was hoiKinreil and |iidlected li\' a feM' eom|ianies of ]iension- M>. who Were ([iiartereil at tlie ]tlaee and ditl duty at a half-nn nu lottery, that stood near the liarhoiii', for the pi'oleetiun of the town and the ships that were eonstantly eallni.L:' there, 'riicse soldiers and the ncw-<',)iii;M-< tilled the little town, and, un ihnilii, enhanrcd tile price di' e\ crytliii.u that could coutrihiite to man's coiiit(irt, esjit'cially food and lodyin^s. A few found toleralile acciimnnnla- tions, others had to take ii]) their ((Uarters in uarrets, <'vei'y horse hein^ (icciipied to the fnll extent of its ca])aeity. And, if our Or- cadian friends laid a heavy hand on oiir jmi-ses, they repaid us to some e.\t(!nt l»y many kind words and friendly attentioirs. j'.oat buildiiin for the herrin^u tislieries on the coast of Caithness seeiiieil to he the chief, if not the only business, carried on in the i>lace, and we may admit that a considerable jtortion (tf its wealth was de- rived from the ti'ade carried on with the shi]is oi' all descri];tions and of all nations that fre(|nented its comm(»dious and safe harbour. A fi'W days aftei' the landii(U of the enii.urants, the Hudson's Bay shi])s and a briy bonnd for tlie Moravian ^lissions on the frozen shores oi' Labrador, under the ]>rotection of the lirazcn, a sl(>oj> of Mar. came to ai.ehor before the toM'U. Aliout the L'dtli of June all were endtarkey MANlTcl'.A. !t:i trt'sscil her ]';ii'ciil~, iviuicmI lirr In the lu-ci'ssily nl'ouii^r.itiiiu t" tin; |tlv \\v]\> to |ii'i'iiiiii , ii, r(.'stin,L; place tni' tlic Invcd (incs ,iil;'d ,ili aiL; the noi'lh c m-'t o| diii' lu'liAcd naii\f iaml, ono uftei anoLJu'!' of its lofty mountains sconicd lo sink its IkmiI in ilu', waves and disapjicav. Sea sickness jirosti'ated many to so ureal a (lej^rce that tlicv could not thiid< of anylidn^- hut their own sidfcr- inu, country friends and relative-, jej't hehind were all ftii'Motteii h\' these unfortunates : hut there weie others w ho were ahle to retleei ami reali/.e llpdr i.osiiiou. .Ml felt sud, hut lioi to an eiiual dei^iei'. Sonic hade farewell foi' e\-er to their nati\c hills. Those who were eun;',;;ed only for a U-w years, kejit ii]i their sinkini;' spirits with the th.ouuhl that tli"ir time of scr\ ici; would soon ex]»iic. wlu'ii tliev Would r'tui'u to tlc'ir na!i\-e land and once nmic he in the pre-euce and soc'ety of those whom they had left he' 1. How- evei', few, \ery lew, ever returiu'il [n ivali/e the > sustaininu lio]ie. whiidi cheered their heails in that sad an yui'J, hour. Little did these heavy hearted exiles know, or e i think that there were far ureater ^ufferinc^s and heart rend 1.4 trials hefore them than those wiiich they had to endure .ai hi l; a last adieii to their friends, and to the land of their hirtli. L.ttle did they know that in a few weidxs tinu' they would ha\-e to endure the l)uvnin" nidus of t\i)hus fever in the over crowd. 1! ui'd 11' V'jii- tilate'l hold of a -hip, never intended for the tian.sport of ;iny ureat nuniher of jieople. F((i' some time eN-erythinu went on \\(dl, with only one incident to hreak the dull monotony ( i a \'oya,ue on the Athintie. );l 94 HISTUllV or MANITdliA. s! On the rvc'uiii;^ (tf tile scfdiid (lay iiftci' Icaxin^ Siruiniii'ss, we si;_f]it('(l a, lar*i(; Ainciicaii ]»i'i\ ati't-i' stcciiiiu across diii' ciaiisc and tfiwiiiLi ii small >i'lii)(iii(r wliicli she imil rajilinvtj in '.lii' Ni^rtli Sra. On .serin,i; dui' tlci'L llie jirivali .t casl "W licv pii/f, >|arail hcicaiiN ass and sici-rcd sdiiUi-wcs 111 ^t lK'f< I'C (lie W 1 1 II I wliii'li lijcw IVt sl,l V at the tiiiic. The lirctrii ^aAC chase, ami ivcapturcd lln' ] ii'izf. Some time was lost l»y the /ird.icu, while piiiiiiii: soiiir of her uicn on hoard the sclaxtner, lo navigate her into sonic Uriii'-h jiorl. .Vftei" this (Uday, the chase was resuiiKMJ and coiitinnenoW, eoinnioiil}' called ice-heres, (Jn a Ijrigiii calm duly morning we heiudd a few of these glittering mountains; the sun rose in all its spleiidoiu', diffusing her 1.)right illuminating beams over a eloudless sky, M'hile her dazzling rays seemed to l»e reflected hy a smooth and unrullled expanse of ocean. As we progressed to the north-west these Hoat- ing mountains inei'eased in numher until we ci'ossetl Davis' Straits and eiitei'ed those of Hudson, wheiv. we met the pack ice. Here we h'arned that typhus fe\'er had a])]>eared wiih fatal effects among the colonists on hoard the Primr of Wtth--^. A few had been already consigned to the keeping of the great deeji ; (»tlier.s were prostrated by the disease, whose condition was reported to lie almost hopeless. Our progress through the straits was sloMand ditficult, the ice being unusually heavy and com])act. When we had well advanced towards the Day and lay near tlie north shoruof the straiis, we were visited by these extram'dinary speciniers of humanity, the Es<|uiniau\. Tlie morning was bright and calm, tJie streams of open w^ater in which the shij)S lay were smooth and shining like a mirror under the beams of the morning sun. At an early hour the o}ten water was literally covered with a nunierous fleet of luniacks and kyacks. These crafts ha\e frames tl sit w th ictl }nsi<»l!N OF MA N I TO 1 '.A. !Jf |1'S to (I re i.f (if wood ; the Wood t'niiiu' is covi'Vi'il with the skin of some iiiitrim- aniiiial, pvoltiilily tliai of the whali'. 'PIic iiiiiiack is fasliioiuMl oi I'oriiic'd like a liont, mid without a diH-k. Th>' kxai'k, in >liaiH\ like till- hirrli caiioc of the led man. with this (Htft'iiMicc, that tiic ky;uk is covered on the to]) and is navi^att'd hy ii single iiidi\idnal wlio sits midway hctwcMm stem and stern, and uses u |iadory, some fox skins, and e\-en their clothing, in many cases strii)]iing themselves to a si ite of nudiiv, foi' which the\' recei'ed, in return, razors of the most inferior (juality, knives, a few short hand-saws, needles, and though last. n.it the least csteen.ied. hits of iron hooi» lese ]ioor ignorant ]!eoi»le, on ix'eeivmg thesi th tritli •xpressed their jov in the most extravagant manner, for instimce, when an individual had ac(|Uired the coveted treasuiv he lieked it with the tongue, at the .same time, shouting, leaping and laughing; the l)it of rusty iron hoop was received witli demonstrations indicating vi\\\a\ satisfaction. This trade, convenieuv fo)' hoth ]»arties, and. no douht ])rotitahle to tlie white man, continued from the morning until the evening, when the natives retired to their fro/en rocks, where sununei', wi th it.' i-nial intlueuces, never softens the frozen i-arth ; where no herl )aue clothes the groutid noi' flowers ailorn the landscape, exce])t a few stinted licheirs that secnr to creep temerariously (»ut of the clifts of their parent rock as if afraid to come into contact with the frosty 4-^ yti lllS'lni;\ (ir MANridl'.A. ^toiiiiy li];ists tllill ^Wi'c|i oNcV tlicsc sterile I'deks iillil -tul'IUV seas. We l;iiiy well sii|i|ii,se that when llie e:irlli was diviijeil aiii(ill;4 tin! "^niis nt' lihii, llie iMil'iilt illiate llsi|uiluail X llllisl lui\e enine m I'ni' tile hist eiil. As I sai.l all Mp\t', nWY ]>assiiiie tliViiiiuli tile st)ait> was slow, lait (111 eiiteriiiu tile itiiv we luinid dpeii Wilier, with here and there a llnai nv lield (if lloatiii'.; '(•■■, tdssed ahuiil h\' wind ,iii(i ti ic lla\ iim aiTi\ cd aL the jmiiit w Ji'Tc ill" IImh. ( '()iii].aiiy's ships pail with each (itlier, all the >er\aiits. intended tni the linitheni depavt- iii-'iil, Were eiiiliaiked (Ml His Majesty's shiop df war, which, in (•(•iiipaiiy with the Vr'nuc of Witlcs^ steereil her eo'irse I'dV ("Imrehil i:iver. ( inr passie^c across the r,a\ wa> ipdck and plea>ani, ami ahdiil iiddii dii iiie ll'lh (iay dt' Anui!-!, 1 .^ 1 •">, we I.eheld the low and im- inlei'esi iii'4 shdTes dl' 1 1 udsdii's \\a\ st retched heldic ;;>, pVeseiiliiin' its nai'idW hdi'dei' (\[ \(dldW sand and dark hliie swani]i in the IVdiil, w iih ii^ dark and dismal Iddkini; line di' spruce and laniarack' in tlu; hat'k urdUiid. The scenery ajipeareil hlcak ;ind desdlate heydiid the pdwei'dl' descrijit idii. Ill a lew lidurs, al'ler we had seen the laiitl, We Were passing up the ri\cr lietween ('ape .Merry (Ui diir lett, and l'!s(|!niiiaii\ I'dint lerininalinL; llie IdW narrdw A\\< of LTvanite I'drnialidii on (Uir ri^ht, nu which I'drl i'riiiee dl' Walc^oiice stddd. The ri'urcliil Kiver at this pdini is w^vy narrow and de p. The I'di't wa-- cdininenceil in \~:\:\ and Imilt chielly, if iiol entirely, df granite. It stood within ."Id or 4(1 yards of the ii\er. The elluiliee!' who su j lerintellded the l)uildin,u desi-rihes it thus; — A s([Uare foil wiiii four iiasiions. All the stone, liiuc->.ioiic, sand, till' Wood for luirninLi, ihe lime, wt'i'(^ within a ([uarU'r mile's distance from the jilaee. Horses were employed to drau' the material to the place. Servants' wa^es were extremely low : yet with all these faculties the linihhiiL; was reiideieit useless for the purjio.se of defence owiiiL!.' to the iuiioiaiice and stubhornness of the (lo\ernor, wdidse Word was the law of the land. \\\ the oriLiinal iilaiis the rampart was to be 4:' fe<'t thick, but the (4ov'ernor was sure that 2."> l"e(.'t Would do; so the original ]>laii was laid aside, and so was the eniiiueer's ojiinioii, and the inan in power had it all his own way, His Kxcelleiu; , tloubtles>. t)elie\inu himself e(.[iially capable <>l W( a 111 oil.- or lecil liial aue ms'ldliV (iK MANITor.A. 97 iir of jiKlj^iii;^ till' ^Irt'hj^tli dl' Inrlitii'iitimis as well a-; tlic (luality nf hiMVcr skins. After lia\ in,u Ivcsjuisscil sn far on tin- i-cadt-r's tinu' ami iiaiiciict', We will ii'suiut" (lur iiui'rali\('. l.vM\iiii; the niiiis of the old l''oi't lu'liiud lis, We passed into an e\])an.-ioii ol'the river affoiMliiiL; ^oml and secinv aiielioiMt;t! and siitlieient 1 v ci'iiaeioii-- ti > contain a iiunier- oiis ilfet. I n I lie afti'rnooii of tlie 1 ."'tli we were taken to the new, oi' jiresriit faeloiy, a few miles luLjlier iiji the ri\i'r than where llie old Fort stood, and, when liindcd, we were left at full liln'ity t»» ilt'Connnodate oilischcs with lod;_;iiiL:s on the hare rock w lieic e\ery man eoiild ]ilease his own taste as the li'iioraMe (.'om|iany's agents did not think proper to admit us into the fort, n(»r to pi'o- vide us with ti'nts to sladter iis wilhoui. II iwcxcr. our stay was hiir .-hoi't. l'"our or li\c days after landing, we weiv iinharked in lioiits and set out for\'oi'lc fai'tory, whieh was at 'hat period h^-ad- qiiavters ol' til'' Xortlurn hepartiueiit. Afti'V pussin^ down the vix'er We ] ivocet'ded alonj^ the eo;i>t, and in three or four days irrived at llioad 1! iVer where wt! took refimc tor the ni'jht. While here a ^^I'eat storm o!' wind came on which continued for two days, ami, us prudent econoiii}' was the order of tlie day, tlie stock ot pi'ovisnur-; aliowi-d us hir the journey lu-uaii t(t look small. The hoats were crowded with new hands, and to avoid star\atioii, oiir commander jiiduvd it expedient to Send otf alioiit forty of the jiarty to ^o hy laud to \'ork factory. The party was ])laeed under the guidance of a man who had heeii ill the country some years liefore, Imt who, unfortunately, knew iiolliin^ oftlie line of road whiih we oii^lit to fo^ow•. The tirst day Wi' traveileii on ridues ol saihl and urav( 1, wiiich, at some ior_ mei' weriod, had Ikmmi thrown u') 1)\- 'lie t uie.ultuous wax'es of the great inland sea, when lashed into fury jiy the stormy winds of the north. These ancient sea heaehes extend for many miles in- land, demonstratine' tlu' (incroachmeiit ol'the land on the water.- of the liay. In our joiirne} on the second day, our giiitle, in the aft.'ruLui:, Ld i:-: iiit;; a ;;waiu}; with watei' kiicc deep, the surfact at every step yielding uiiiU'r ns, rendering our tra\elling not only slow, hnt e.Ktivinely fatigueing ; however, as the sun was g(jing down, chance or good fortune, brought us to a dry ridge w here we 4^ w IIISTOHV OF MANIT015A. 11' M I j)iisH«'(l the. iii;^'lit. On the tliinl day, at an i-aily linin, we ilcs- patchcd our meal, and t(» (tur (lismay, fuiiiid that wc liad tiiiishiMl the last (if dill' f'odd. \'(»i'l< I'aclniy, t(i whifli we wcir tiavclliii;^, and tilt' oidy jilacc. wht'ic our wants cuuld he sui»i»lit'd. was f'nity fii' tif'ty miles distant with tin- hn^ad ami iaj>iil Xelson liivi-r to cross, notwithstanding^ the ditlicultics which lay in our way, hcin*,' all younj,' and hearty men, we scorned to coniiilain or show- any sij^lls of weakness. We had the n(>nd fortune to keeji out of the swanijis and had line dry L;r<>und lo travel on all day; and in the evening we arri\('d at Sam's ('reek, where we found a shanty, laiilt ffir the accommodation of a few men who were sunt there from ^'ork Facttiry in the spiin^ and fall ol'the year, for the man- au'ement of the nooscMmnt. I>ut when we arrived there, there were neithei- Indians, white nu'ii or <;eesc, ami for want of any- thin^' better to su|i on, we .gathered a few nettle leaves, hoilcd them in water, ate, and went to rest. The followinj^' morniji.u' we went a few miles up alon^ the Jii\er, gathered })iles of pine brush, to which we set fire, to let those at the Factory know that ]iarties were waiting to be fmried over. The weather was line, and \\e had plenty of diy wood for fuel, so that we did not feel our want of food as much as we would undoubtedly have done umler less favourable circumstances. On observing the columns of smoke tiiai rose from the heaps ol' wood and brush that we set on fire, some i lats were sent t(j our relief, and about noon of the fifth da\' of our L''aining' for the Hon. Comjiany's service, the boats came to us, ami in a few hours were lauded on the east side of the Nelson. Five miles had to be travelled over before we reached the Factory. The path ^^'as a very miry and unpleasant one, but in the evening we arrived, all safe with very keen appetites, at the great em])orium of the fur tradi' in the uorthern department of I'ujiert's Land. Here we weresuj)- I)lied with food, but, most unaccountably, there were no houses in the place to afford us lodgings, and in consequence we had lo bivouac on the river liaiik before the Fort. Our companions whom We left in the boat were not many days bfliind us, and soon after their arrival we were dis[)ersed over the whole C(juntry, many of us no more to meet in this world. t( s t SU C( th fr( }I1sT()|;Y nV MANIToliA. 99 lint, iiH tlit'ii' liist(»iy is not niu' oliirct, we imist return U> tlic f'evt'V-stricki'ii iiikI miscriiMc f(ilr»nists. Wi- liuvc never been nl»le t(i aseertiiin the iiunilici' ut' (le;iths thai innk |il;ice on Ituiiid tlie ship, liiit the disease was ra^inLj; aniun*; them when they an'iv«'(l at the (.'hin(;hil Kiver, anliice, and had the doctor recommended it to be given, let us believe, for hunum nature sake, that the gentleman in charge would have freely bestow^ed it. However, we may admit, without any doubt, that to the want of i»roper and suitable nouiishinent and to the entire I'D V] ^'^ ■7] 7 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 l.i 1^ 1^ 1122 Hi laS IE Photographic Sciences Corporation 1.25 ||U II 1.6 ^ 6" ► 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTF?,N.Y. 14580 (716) 872*4503 'S)^ 100 HlSTOltV (>K MANITOBA. i h ' i absenct! of wanu uiid cuiut.iiUihlo l(Kl<4ino, may be Justly iittributed many (jf the deaths whieh tocjk place after tlie landing. As the autumn advanced the inclemency of the weather increa.sed to .such a (Uigree, that it brcniiH' absolutely neccs.sary for them to leave the ban-en rock.s, on which tlu^y had been landed and on which they had siilTnrcd so min'h misery and bereavement, and I'cmove to a ]»lace that wouM allurd wood fur building and fuel. Such a place "was not to be fouiui m.i.' tlic Fort, and in conse(|uence they had to go a distance of tiftfcii miles uit the river to where the ju'imeval forest stood unlirdkt n in all its solemn and silent grandeur. We can easily enurcivi- llie diflicult task these men had to jierfoim. The axe is an uuwieldy wra]ion in hands unaccustomed to its use; and such were these men, jiiid besides they were, from tlie eil'ects f>i' their late siirteriii->. incapable ol' performing any great amount of I.,.:' I labour. Xotwitlistanding the dis;id\'antagi - under which they laI)oured, liiits must be l)uilt to shelter tluni^elvi'- and tlieir families fnim the inclemeiiey of the season, and tn v.ork they went with indomit- abl(? I'esuliitiiiii and untii'ing peise\eianee ; tlie work, we may supiose, ii(lvaiM\ii slowly, and likely ind in [\\v most woi'kmanlike manner, Imt Iiefore llie winter hai! iar advaneced a few shanties had lieen ei'eeted in v.iiieh these unfortunates had to huddle together. be^s liad to Serve iis chairs, auil mud ilooring had to sui)})ly the want of ln'ds, tables, iVc, i.'^cc. We ean easily fancy that thesi' ha'nitations were of the most simple construction and veiy dl ad.ipti-d to del'eii'l llieir imnates from winter IVosts, so often ai.'com- ])anied liy Iu'a\y gales of wind, while Fahrenheit's thermometer rau.,>'d lor months iVom .i."i - to oil - below zero, and many times in the course of the wintei' fellas low as 55 ^ or even to (10 - . To the above we may add, that they had to drag on tlat sleds the scanty rations dealt out to them from the Company's stores, and in order to receive the same and return with it to their families they had every week to perform a j(turney of thirty miles on snow-shoes. While in Stronmes.-. His Lordship ^>ave the emigrants to under- stand that there \v; i no necessity to take money, clothing or articles of furniture along with them, as they could procure these things as dieap ;; lud Pdvcr as in Stromness. The ])oor exiles fuuiid, to 1 HkSTOKY OF MAXITOHA. 101 'S T. ill le in IS. r- ea as to their sad (lisapiKjiiitnient, that these words were of no vahie at Chnrchil ; nothing could be obtained without icady cash, and at prices ranging from one to two hundred per cent, above what similar articles could be purchased at in their native land. When they complained of the decejition practised u])<)n them they were told that these promises could only be fulfilled at lied Iliver. Here they were without cash and . without credit, no doubt, many wants ja'essing on them, and unfortuiuitely nine hundred miles from the place where they were ])romised cheap go(jds ; and where they were led to believe all their toils and suffering would come to an end. However they found that comjihiints and reiiKjn- strances were useless, and had, for the present, to bear tlieir unen- viable condition with as much resignation and eiiuanimity as jios- sible. Before leaving their homes, His Lordshij) and his agents had suggested to them the desirableness of providing themselves with firearms for their defence against any attacks wliich might be made upon them by their enemies. They were not slow to follow that advice, and every man provided himself with a musket or fowling piece and ammunition, powder and duck shot as far as his means would enable him to do. As the winter a-lvanced, the willow grouse or white i)artridge became very plentiful, and the hungry HighlaiuU'rs rejoiceil to see their huts surrounded by the cheen'ng presence of .s(t much animal life, and could not fail to consider this unexpected abundance, as a providential deliverance wrought in their behalf, similar to that which had taken place in behalf of the chosen pt , fold; when, after their murmurings, the quails spread (jver their camp. The exiles began to hunt, to kill and to eat, jtromising themselves the pleasure of bidding farewell to hunger while surrounded by so much food. But alas ! our joys are often transient and our hoi)es illusory and, unfortunately, so were theirs. Scarcely had they tasted of the abtindance with which the whole land teemed before tliey were made to feel, and that bitterly, their deitendcnt (.'onilition. Superintendent William Auld, knew, no doubt, that the ])artridges were not the enemies meant by His Lordship, and in consequence commanded every man to put the lock of his gun into the great man's keeping, with the threat that, refusing to ci injily with this J'i 102 HIHTOUV OK MANITOBA. modest reijuest would .subject the refViictoiy deliiuiuciit to the grieve )U.s pain.s uud peiuiltie.s of having hi.s ration.s stoi)])e(l. We have stated a fact well known to all who wen; along the Bay at the time. DiHerent motives have been ascribetl to the su|t(;rinten(lent in pei'iietrating this extraortlinavy act of despotism. Some .said that his motives were good and Innuane, viz. : to keep the.se hungry men from strolling after the birds, and thereby run the risk of losing their way in the woods and peri.shing in the snow. OtlH'rs said, and j»robably .said with truth, that his action originated in a desire to keep the settlers de])endent on the Comi»any's stores for their subsistence. Or perhaiKS. taking for granted that the charter had conferred on his em})loyers the exclusive right of hunting these fowls, and that any one unconnected with the Com- pany, or without his licen.se, who presumed to hunt them, ought to be treated as a j)oacher. Be the motive whatever it may have been, the superintendent's infamous interference, with what would no doubt have been a great beneKt to those ill-fed }»eo[)le, must have proved highly injurious to their comfort and well-being. Hunting afforded a nuttive for exerci.se and added to their scanty supply of food, and both were very much required. Here we must relate an accident that took place at Churchil in December, 1813, which was calctilated to do anything but draw forth the sui)erintendent*3 sym]>athy towards his unfortunate country-men. We have said above tliat the colonists were wintering at a distance from the Fac- tory, but some of them had, at stated periods, to come to that place to receive the rations served to them from the Company's stores, and as they could not return to their families the .same day they were ])erniitted to lodge in a room in the lower story of the dwelling-house. Unfortunately, when a few of them were passiug the night in the room assigned to them, the ceiling above them caught tire. It was supposed at the time that the devouring element found its way through a chink in the chimney to the stutHng ])etw(M'n the ceiling and the upper flooring, liut where it originated, oi' from what cause, is hard to say. The entire house was refluced to ashes, and the settlers got the credit of what we believe to have been accidental. No lives were lost, and the devour- ing flames did not extend to the buildings where the provisions and HISTOUV OF MANITOBA. lo:i as ttg iig tnuling goods wore stored. H' these had been destroyed the resulting calamities wouUl liave been great and dejdorable in the extreme ; many of the settlers would in all probability have perished of cold and hunger. V(jrk Factory was the (july place where help could be found, and to travel to it in the short cold days of midwinter would jnove more than formidable to the weaker sex and the children ; even men in the full vigor of life, if unaccustomed to travel on snow-shoes would tind the journey a very hard one, esjjecially if unsupplied with jnovisions. After the above untoward event had taken jilace and its immediate conseciuences remedied as far as could be done at that season of the year, the settlers made their weekly visits to the Comi)any's store to draw their rations, and during their nightly stay lodged with the Comjtany's servants, and thus time passed on until the beginning of April, when the long dreary and inclement winter of that sub-arctic region was drawn to an end, and the settlers began to prepare for their journey to York Factory. In the above month the days are long, and generally bright and somethnes mild in the height of the day ; yet the frost at night in that seas(m was very keen, and at times storms of wind prevailed which rendered travelling along the JJay slow, generally unpleasant, and sometimes dangerous. However, no time could be lost, the exiles had to start for York Factory, and about the middle of April they left their humble abodes at what has been known since their time as " The Colony Creek." Before leaving Churchil they received their gun-locks, and were })rovided with provisions and snow-shoes for the journey. They had to drag their rations, and as much of their baggage as they could, on tiat sleds, and those who had children had to take them along as best they could. We cannot form an adec^uate conception of the misery suffered by these ])eoi>le on this trip. The females suffered most, as they were not so well protected frcjm cold as the men were, and were less able to move through loose snow with these unnumageable recjuisites — snow-shoes — attached to their feet. We have not been able to learn how long they had been occupied in performing this journey of one hundred and forty miles, but we know that with the exception of some frost bites on noses, cheeks and chins, they arrived safely at the end of their journey, except a Mr. Angus McKay, whose M i 104 lllSTOKY OK MANITOBA. wife hiul been coiiHiied while uu the Journey. Their friends ('(mid not remain witli tliem, and the only way in whieh they tould help them was by giving to the unfortunate and forlorn pair, a.s much of their own rations as they could spare in order that they might not die of hunger before help coidd be sent Uj them from the Factory. We do not know how these people fared or how they were supported in their solitude, all we know is that they were taken to the Factory and to Red IJiver, and in th« summer of 1815 they were among those who left the colony for Canada, of whom we shall have something more to say hereafter. When the colonists arrived at the first stage of their journey they had to betake them- selves to the forest the secf)nd time to erect huts or tents to live in until the opening of the river. These tents were composed of a few poles covered with brush, forming a very imperfect defence against wind, snow or rain, but on tlu; whole their condition was much sujterior to what it had been at Churchil. Mr. W. H. Cook, an eccentric but kind-hearted gentleman, was in charge at York Factory at the time, and for many reasons wished the attempt to form the colony at lied lliver success as he and other fur trae towed by men against a swift current, besides many discharges or binding j daces where pait of the cargo liad to be carried; and in other places the entire cargo had to be carried oV(;r on men's bucks, the boats taken out of the water and launched over dry land. Besides lesser bodies of water, they had to pass over Lake Winnipeg, a distsmce of three hundred miles. Some "old hands", ((.'ompany's servants) who understortd working the boats in the rapids, and over the lakes, were put into each boat with the colonists, who had to work as common laborers on the i)assage; to take the tow ro]>e by turns, to tug at the oar from morning to nigiit, and to carry the freight over the portages; and all this labour without any couii)ensatiou. We cannot say when these people arrived in lied liiver, but it is liken ly that they had the pleasure of seeing the long looked for land of promise some time in the month of July ; neither can we state the number that went iularid by the first brigade. But, whatever may have been their number, their arrival added grejitly to (lovernor McDonell's numerical strength and advantage, which he did not allow to i)ass without endeavoring to turn it to good account, as we shall see hereafter. A few of the aged immigrants remained at Churchil after the younger meml)ers of their families had left. These had a passage provided for them to York Factory in boats after the ice had cleared away from the shores of the P)ay. Thuir condition, after then' anival there, was as miserable and distiessing as it could j)ossibly be, and this we say from personal knowleilge of the case. An aged and venerable patriarch, with his aged and equally venerable partner in life, was there in the month of July and had taken up his residence in the ruins of the old Fort, de- stroyed by La Perouse and his Frenchmen in 1782. This man, who had been a substantial farmer in his native land, now appeared to be in the most destitute state imaginable. His habitation consist- ed of a few poles on which was stretched, as an ai>ology for a cover- ing, a piece of what had been in its Ijetter day, a boat sail, but now so tattered and torn that it was perv^ious to every blast of wind that blew and to every drop of rain that fell ; the half frozen earth formed the flooring of his mean and uncomfortable abode. sm I SI ,1 ,1 i fi;i I '. 106 HISTOIiV OF MAXIIOIJA. He .s[)uke iiUiiiruf'iiUy of the sull't'iin«;s and Itereaveini'iits of lii.s fellow exiles and ec»nii)ani(»n.s in sorrrow l)Ut said very little of his own sad fate. When ejected from his farm liu dis]»osed of his stock by auction; out of the ])roceeds he ])aid into His Lordship's hamis ten {guineas for tlic ]iassaj,'e of each of his numerous family, and de ])osited a considerable sum in the Earl's hands to be diawn U])on as circumstances mi<roken hearted parents in their desolation without shelter, and with food barely sutHcient to sus- tain life, de])rived of all the projierty they once had posses.sed, and for what ? exile and misery. We have accompanied the immigrants from the brown hills and green straths of their native land to the wide spread i)lains of North America. We ha\e endeavored to give a plain, unvarnished narrative of their sufferings from sickness, hungta* and the toils which they had to endure by land and by water. We shall nov ay a few words on the manner in which they were received b .1'. Miles McDouell, the colony Governor. A few days after their arrival, each head of fiimily, and some young men who represented families who were expected to come the next year to the Cfdony, were })ut in possession of 100 acres of land each. A few were sujtplied with two Indian ponies each, while their less fortunate brethren had to be content wi<'i one each of these useful animals. In the course of a few days His Excel- lency mustered his men, servants and settlers. All were treated to a glass of spirits and furnished with muskets and bayonets ami ammunition. Two of the settlers refused to take these weapons of war. The Governor, at the same time, telling them, that according to the law of the land the strong dictated to the weak. The colonists were put in possession of land and ponies, but where were the implements of agi'iculture or even the iron to make them of. How strange there were none of these articles taken into the country although we can easily see that without the necessary implements the most industrious could not succeed. Yet His Lordsliip did not ;j n Illsrol.'V OF MANITOHA. 107 forgot to st'iitl a. liatteiy of tit'lil iiitillfrv with ammunition sind tumbrols, with many chu.st.s of nm.ski't.s and l)ayrovisions obtainable were a scanty supply «>f pemiean and cat-tish, and that without tlu! luxury of salt. We shall now return to the spriu;^ of 18l:i and trace up the transactions between the two companies during the following eventful winter. Tiie lew colonists who came t(» the country in 1S12 were not jnovided with sutlicient means to enable them to carry on agricultural (jperations with any fair ])rospect of success ; and we may well believe that nothing had lieen attemjjteil beyond the jdanting of a few potatoes, except what had been done on His Lcndshiji's farm. Destitute of everything that could con- duce to their advancement as agriculturists, they had to become trij)-men between the lied liiver and Hudson's Jiay, so that at the above jjcriod we may truly say that the (lovernor, two or three clerks, and a few laboring men rejiresented the colony. During the summer of 1813 peace, if noL good will, prevailed in lied liiver. Early in the following winter the i)rogress of the American arms along the Canadian lakes had become known on the Red Kiver. The North- West jiartners seen the i»robal>ility that all su])itlies from Canada might l)e cut off by the enemy, and trembled at the i)ro8pect of the destruction of their trade throughout the whole country, and Mr. Miles McDonell did not fail to see that the critical moment had arrived for connnencing operations against the Canadian traders in pursuance, as will hereafter be shown, of the general instructions of Lord Selkirk. The opportunity was eagerly taken advantage of by the (rinernor. This principal establishment was so placed as to enable him to intercept the communication by which canoes with provisions might be sent to meet the people employed in the remote stations in Lake Winnii)eg, on their route to and from the principal depot on Lake Superior ; and if the intercourse with Canada should be intercepted, not only the canoe men from the Ij . I 108 HIST().{Y OK MAMTOIU. northern j»ost.s l»ut tliMsi! from the nt-un'st (listricts would lie ol)li;,'ed to full hack on tliu Red Wiwr (U-jmitnient for subsistence. At this moment of eminent djin^'cr to their concerns, a general system of a^'^'n'sssi(»n iind violence jigainst their jiroperty was hegun hy Mr. Miles McDonell und(;r pretense that all the provisions coUetited in the country were required for the maintenance of the colonists, who, at this time, be it observed, did not exceed twenty-five or thirty persons. Tarties of colony servants were sent to interce])t convoys of traders on their way to the })0.sts. Their boats and caJioes navi- gating the rivers were tired at from the Fort and from batteries erected on the banks, brought to and rigorously searched, and wherever provisions of any description could l)e found they were ]»lundered without hesitation. When it became necessary in con- se(iuence of these outrages to conceal the property, warrants were issued to ajiprehend the North-West Comj)any's servants on the most frivolous and vexatious pretences, but the object of all the examinations, when l>rought before the Governor in his magisterial capacity, was to discover the dejiosits where provisions were removed to or concealed. (Jreat pains were taken to impress on the minds of the servants and Indians that the ruin of the North- West Com])any was at hand, that it was equally dangerous and useless to resist such coersive measures as the Governor had it in his ])ower to ajtply — to drive them entirely from the country. The partner (»f the North- West Company, in charge of the Red River department was placed by Mr. McDonell's conduct in the most distressing situation. Being aw.are of the necessity (jf providing against a danger which threatened the entire ruin of their trade, he made every exertion to protect the [iroperty under his charge. The means of precaution and defence ne resorted to soon produced the following proclamation from the Governor of Assiuniboia : After defining the limits of His Lordship's grant, the proclamation was as follows : — And whereas the welfare of the families at present forming the s"ttlement on the Ked Eiver within the said territory, with those on their way to it, passing the winter at York or Churdiil Fort, on Hndsoii's Bay, as also those who are expected to anive next autumn, ri»nders it a necessary and indispensable jiart of my duty to provide for their sujiport. In the yet uncultivated state of the countiy, the ordinary resources derived from the buffalo and other wild animals hunted within the terri- ,'1 IllSToltV ( • MANITOIJA. Ml* tory ill! jKit iiiiPii' than .i.l.'i(ii.ili' i<>v tlu' rciiiii'.iic .sujuily ; win ri'lori', it i^ licrcKy onlfcrfl tint UK |ti rsKii timling in I'nis or inoviMunis witliiii llu' tiiriti>ry \'<>i tin" Hiiilson'"* IJ.iy CoiiiiMihy, Xortli-WcHt Cunipiiny, m iiny nnrnnn.i hd iniiivi>hiiil, jK-rson iir tnidiTs \vliiit''ViT, .-.liall uUr out ]iiii\ i.-.ioii.-i, riilicr of tlcsli, ilrinl uniit, grnin 'tr vi';,'ctiilili'>, iinn'iircj or iiii-,cMl within the suid tiiiitoiy liy wiiiii or lamt curriag"' lor on^' iwi-jvi' uioiitlis ln>ni llir ihti' In'irof, ^;^Vl■ and cxcrpl \» hut may !»• jmlgftl nicissary for tin' trading jiaitifs at this iircsint linn' witlun tin' li rritory to c.irry tln'ni to tlirit r('.s|M'iMivi' drstinations, and wIkj may, on d'lc a|i|ilirati<>n to ni", ohtaiu .1 liicnsc lor thr sanif. 'I'lu: provisions, inocnri'd and raised as ahovc, shall hi' t.ikiMi for tin- iiM' ot' till' iiilouy ; and, that nn In^s niiy aci'iiii' to [lartifs fuii'. rued' tlii'y will he paid lor hy lirilish liills at tin < n^louiary ratis. Ami !»■ u l.i ndty lurtlier niadr known, that wiiocvii' shall h' di'ti-ctrd in altempling In r.irry nut, or shall aid or assisi in carrying mil, or alti'ni|ii to carry out, any ]>rovisiiius prohiliitcd as alicpvf, cithci' liy hunl or l>y watc; carnage, ,hall lie taken into cnslodv ami Iirosectrii d as the law in such cases diiccts, and the iirovlsions so taken, us well as any goods or chat I'ds ot' wimf iiatii' ■ s.i .'ver, which m;iy lie taken along with them iiml als.i the cral'l, caM'iage ande.iUle insti nnieiita! ii n\eying aw.iy the same 'to ahv [lart Imt tie sc!,th'mcnt on l;cd ilivrr, dial! he f,,;'!!'.;. d. (h\-t\\ unde/ my hand at i'ciri D.'r, Sth d,;y c;!' ,la;:ua!y, 1>1 I. (Signed,* Mii.Ks Mel )« inkm., ( eivirnor. John Srr.NcKi;, Secretary. This jdoclaniation iiidiciilcd vcrv jiluiiily l(» i\\v (.'iiiiadiiui ti'adcrs what tht'V iiiij.,dit uxijcct, aiiusiind miles IVom lied Iviver. And is it not e(|iially singular, that llis Lordshij) slioidd he careful to provide agiiinst imaginary dangers, and overlook the necessity of]»roviding the colonists with agricultural im])lements, or even with iron to supply these indisi»eusihle re(|nisites to a community of luishandmen ? Governor AIcDonell had tdso, at this time, stu> ceeded in im])ressing the minds of the natives with the helief thttt he acted on a direct and not on assumed authority from His Maiestv's (iovernment, and heing ap])oiTited. at the desire of Lord Selkirk, a niiigistrate for the Indian territories, he made no scrujile of ar)plying according to discretion and to existing circumstances, the authority best suited to the vexatious and opj)ressive system he ; !■ n» lllST(ti;V OF MANITnilA. ' hml lit'eii ilircotcd td ciiforcc. We will not attciiij't »,'ivinj,' ii (i»'tiiiU'(l iiceuiint of Mr. McDmit'irs various uctsof a;:;4ivssii.ii tlii-< wiiiifioii tlu! pro|K'rtv aiul surviiiits of the Nortli-\Vt-ut the great and notable transaction of the spring of 1814 was the breaching of the defences by which the North- West Company's F'ort at the mouth of the little Sourie Kiver was defended, and the seizure of all the provisions in the Fort, which led to Mr. McDonell's and his sheriff's apprehension the following winter, to take their trial in Lower Canada under the provisions t)f the Act of the 4ord of the King, which Act he was ai)})ointed magistrate to enforce. It is essential to state this, that the proceedings, subsequently adopted with respect to this transac- tion, may be understood. Under the circumstances before mentioned, I IIISTOIJV OF MANITOUA. in rK the Noith-Wi;Mt inirtiicr hud lU'cmmilutcd u ^ujiply of in'ovisiitMs at CUM' of tlu'ir i»o.Hts on a river cullctl Itivicrc la Sdiirif, upon wliioli tlu' .siil>,si.st(!ntH' of tlu'ir iniopK' i»rinc'iiially (h'i»i'niU'(l. The ( loviMiior had lon<^ directed his attention to this depot, and within a few days after the date of hi.s proclaniatiitn, nnder the jirelext that it had been disoheyed, he sent a person nanietl .luhn Speneer, whom lie called or appointed sluailf for Lord S»dkirk's ler; lory, to seize the Fort. Sjiencer tindin<; resistance made hy tlu' persons in char;,'e, and seeing' that there; mij^dit he diliiculty in execntin^' his orders, and havinj^ jtrohahly some scrnph; ahoiit enforcin;; tliem without more })articular instructions, returned and reported thest; circum- stances to hi.s employers. Mr. McDonell immediately issued his warrant in a le^ial form for the seizure of the jirovisions (in which his authority as (Jovernor ormni^istratc! was not mentioned, nor was it material) wliich he delivered to the sheiilV, and reinfoicinj,' his former party with an additicuial numher of armed men, directed hiin, according to the exi»ression in his warrant, to hreak oj»en posts, locks and doors which mij^ht impede his proceediui,'. The party in char«>;e of the jxist, Mr. Pritehard, l)ein<,' intimidated hy the formidalde ap])earance of the assailants, made no further resistance than retiring within the stockades and shutting the gate of the Fort. 8i>encer, in execution of the warrant, directed his men to cntdown the pickets with their axes, and hreaking into the store, jdundered it of all tlie provisions it contained, consisting of oOU hagsijf jieuiican, 96 kegs of grease, and al)out 100 hales of dried meat, weighing about 8") lbs. each, which were taken across the. river and deposited in the Hudson Bay Comi)any's stores, except two batteaux loads that Mr. Spencer took down to Fort Douglas as unmistakable tokens of his success. In the first week of June the North-West traders, who had wintered at the different i)osts in the district, met at head- ([uartcrs where they were accustomed to receive their sujtply of provisions to carry them to F'ort William ; but this year their stores were em})ty. What was to be done under tlu;se circumstances so unusual and so trying ? How could })ro visions be i)rocured to feed so many men on their long voyage to head([uarteis? The North- West partners, in charge of the district, and their men, knew that the Hudson's Bay men alongside of them had great quantities of J"' mSTOm; OK MANITOBA. pciuican, .some of it tin.' pro[)t'rty of the X(»i'tli-\Ve.st Cunii>iuiy taken fidiii theiu by force of anus (hiring' the ]ivecediiig winter and sjiriii^'. Hciv were met a j^reat many Xorth-West Company servants, and they were acoomjtanied by numerous bands of Indians from the dift'erent outposts. Xo doulit they were in every respect more tlian a match for (Joveruor Mcl)f>n,dl iind liis followei's, and l»ein,u so, niiuht we not exjiect, and witli some reason, that the mend)ers of ihi' fniternity wliich has, unfoilunattdy, beenrejn-esented as ciijiable of c(»mmittinir the fonh-st ciiua .- to forward its interest, 1 say miyht ■(■ not expect tliat they wouhl, if not retahate U) the full, at least w il tlu! Hud> V 'ori, al d f(^r il i I'etake then' own provisions ; we liave shown abovi^ that they jtossessed am].le jiower to enal)le ilieiu lod(t so ? HoWi'Vcr, these u,eutlenie":! a.lo[)iLMla s'el'V dilleivilt couixe, and to obtain a part nf the ]ir-i\ioiiell, in \\hich he a,i;reed to ediidescend so far as to let them ]ia\e a limited sujiply \\,r their N'oyaj^e, on their jiromising jj return to his Kxcellency an (-(pial (piantity as soon as they would lie in a position to do so. Thus enabled to proceed on their journey, they arrived with their returns at Fort William. Here thev were met ]»y their partners from Montreal, and by those from all other parts of the interior, and every account concurreil in statinu that a violent system had been adoiited l»v the servants of the Hudson's Jia\ Company throu_i>hout the country. These accounts from all parts of the Iiulian country were fully contirmed by a letter written l.)y His Lordship to one of his agents oil the confines uf Athabaska, whjch.fell iirtothe hallds of .some" hie of the Xoltli-West jtariners, and showetl clearly his determination to insist on forcibly eje 'ting the Canadians from what the Hudson's Bay Company assumed to be their territory and exclusive jiroperty. This letter ctaitains the following directions, wliich are best given in his own words : — Von must give' thciii (tlw Canadians) solemn \,arning tliat the laml belongs to the Huilson's Bay Conipuny, and that they niii-st remove from it ; after tins warning; tluy sliould nut be allowed to cut any timbei' either for building or fuel. AVhat tV.ey hare cut ought to he openly and forcibly seized, and their buildings destroyed, in like manner they shoulil be warned not to fish in youv waters, and if they put down nets seize them as you would in England those of a poacher. We are so fully idvised liy the unimpeachable validity of the rights of property that there can be HISTORY OF MANITOBA. lis no scruple in t-nforcing them wherever you have the physical nisans. If they make forcible resistance they are acting illegally and are responsible for the con- sequences of what they do, while you are safa, so long as you take only the reason- able and necessary means of enforcing that which is right." Instructions of the same nature as the above had been disseminated over the whole of what the Hudson's Bay Company thought proper to Ciill their territory. And if the Hudson's Bay Company had the ppysical means to enable them to carry out the above instructions, what would then be the conation of the Canadian traders the reader may form some faint idea, when we tell him that the poor people, inhabiting' that inhospitable region, were dependent almost entirely on fish for their subsistence during winter, and the cold so intense as frequently to freeze mercury in open air. Spirit ther- mometers were generally used graduated to 60 '^ below zero of Fahrenheit. His Lordship was well aware of the severity of the climate and the impossibility of subsisting in it without fuel and fisli, when he issued the above considerate and humane com- mands. And if the Canadians, on being warned off, but unable to return to Fort William, were to surrender to those who represented His Lordship, would they be in a condition to supply with food, any addition to the number of men required at each of their own posts ? The best answer to the above question, i: is that about the time of which we are writing, Indians and white men, year after, perished from want of food. And we give the following as an instance : — In the winter of_1815 andTSlG, no fewei" thair-eighteen or twenty Hudson Bay Company's men per- ished from the united effects of cold and hunger, in the Athabaska district. With the above information before them, and aware from past experience that Mr. McDonell's boasting and successful de- predations had already produced a considerable effect on the minds of the Indians and on the minds of their own servants on whose steady adherence and devotion to their cause, the prosperity of their trade and general success depended, the Nortli-West Com- pany at this critical juncture in their affairs, came to the de ter- mination of resisting to the utmost of their power, the further vio- lence of their opponents and, if possible, to make an example of H .0 ■m vW «i i i f: '• 11 114 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. Governor McDonell and of his sheritt", Mr. Spencer, by procuring their arrest and trial at Montreal, for the offences they had com- mitted in the 8j)ring of the year. Mr. Duncan Cameron, one of their partners, a man of deter- mined resolution, but irritable temper, was entrusted with these measures < )f self-defence, and the management of the Ited River district. Mr. Cameron had been provided before he left Fort Wil- liam with warrants against Messrs. McDonell and Spencer, grant- ed under the authority of tlie 48rd of King, upon the information of persons who had been eye witnesses to their proceedings. No sooner had the North- Westers arrived at their wintering ground than disputes arose, as might have been expected, between parties. These frivolous and vexatious disi»utes served only to widen and deepen the breach which i)revious acts of aggression had made be- tween the rival comi)anies. And, as if Mr. McDonell intended to make that breach incurable, he served the following notice, in a legal form, upon Mr. Cameron, which left no hope of any good un- derstanding being established between them. UISTKICT OF ASSINinOIA. ?'« Mr. Duncan Ca nitron, ucllnfj ftyr the Nort.h-]Vest Compamj, nt lln forks of tke lied liiver. Take notice that by the authority and on the behalf of your land-lord, the right lionorable Thomas Earl of Selkirk, I do hereby warn you, and all your associates of the North- West Company, to quit the post and premises you now occupy at the Fort of the Red River within six calendar months from the date hereof. Given under my hand at Red River Settlement, this twenty-first day of October, 1814. (Signed.) Miles McDonell. This notice was followed by a cou'espondence relative to the^ arrangement made by Mr. Cameron's predecessor, in the spring, for the exchange of provisions. A gi-eat deal has been said, and published, against Mr. Cameron, who possibly assumed more con- sequence in his situation than was intended, with a view to counteract the effect upon the Indians of his adversary's misrepre- sentations ; but, from what we have been able to learn of their corres- pondence, it seems to have been conducted on both s'des with more irritability and attention to party feeling, than to temper and descretion. Similar notices to quit the Hudson's Bay Company and Lord Selkirk's tenitory were published throughout the country, ()/ the L'tober, >NELL. the- tiing, and cou- ,v to :>pre- rres- with and any try, HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 115 one of which we shall insert as it is well calculated to give the reader some idea of the moving spirit which was at work and throwing everything into confusion throughout the land. By order of IVUliavi llilUer, Bsqiiire, Justice vf the Peace. If afttT this notice your building is contiuiU'd 1 shall bv under tiic necessity of razing them to the ground. (Signe A. Kknnkiiy. Mr. McDonell's conduct became more outrageous than ever, not only towards his opponents, but also towards the helpless settlers under his protection. Many of the latter wearied and disgusted with the country, on account of the trials and bereavements of the last year, which feelings were increased and imbittered by a keen sense of the harsh and unjust manner in which they had been treated at Churchil, and on their inland voyage, heartily wished themselves away from lied Eiver and under the influence of more favoumble surroundings. To those recollections of the past were added the sufferings and miseries of the past winter, on the plains among the savages and barbarous Freemen. All of which, put together, rendered them everything but satisfied with their present condition, nor did the prospect before them indicate any- thing to cheer up their careworn and desponding spirits. We have observed above that the Governor's fir.st official act was to enroll the new comers among the Company's servants, and to put arms into their hands to fight His Lofdship's battles for the destruction of his commercial rivals ; and for the establishment of a cruel and despotic monopoly in the gi'eat jiorth-wt*??t^iritories. Let us enquire against whom, were they called upon to fight ? In some cases against near relations ; in most cases against men speaking the same language with themselves ; and in every case, against their country-men and fellow subjects. Can we then feel surprised when we are informed that the colonists had become ex- tremely dissatisfied with the experiment they had made ? When they thought on the past, Churchil with all the misery they suffer- ed there, rose before their minds. And when they endeavored to look forward into the future, they could see nothing but endless troubles and privations before them. They were fully convinced that it would be impossible for them to succeed in their agricul- I ! !i ,1 i'. '■■f ■''I "1 116 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. tnral etlorts, or to remain with any prospect of safety in the coun- try, while the Hudson's Bay Company assumed the right of seiz- ing the persons of the North-West Company's servants and of confiscating their property, and had enforced these assumed rights whenever their physical means enabled them to do so. They knew also that the Noilh-West Company had decided to protect their servants and their ])roperty against all aggressors, by oi)posing force to force. They justly inferred that all law and order would, in a short time, be set at defiance and etjually disregarded by the contending ]»ariies, and that, whichever of the two might come oti" victorious, they saw clearly they would be forced to take i)art in the ({uarrel in which they might lose some valuable lives, and were sure of being unable to proceed with tlie object for which they came to lied Elver. During the winter and spring the settlers had often to apply to tJie Nortii-West people for the means of .saving their families from starvation, Mr. Cameron commiserated his unfortunate countrymen and did all inhispower to relieve their wants, and we may believe thai he and those of the settlers who were capable of reflecting, would have talked over the present sad condition and of the dark pros})ect before them, and it might have been on one of these occa- sions the idea of leaving lied liiver, if possible, for Canada origin- ated. However that may have been, Governor McDonell did not apjn'ove of the intnnacy that was growing daily between those wliom he called his jjcople and those who were his employers o})- ponents in trade. As the spring advanced, the intercourse Ijetweeu the leading men among^he settlers and Fort Gibraltar became more frequent; from wliich conduct on their part, the Governor came to the conclusion that all was not right, and perhaps, the hitherto latent idea might have come to his knowledge, if so, he would see at once that the defection of the colonists, of which, as we shall see hereafter, they had already shown some symptoms, would frustrate all his cherished j)rojects for driving the Canadian traders, not only from the Red liiver, but out of all the Indian territories. His Excellency's disa])po^ntnient at this apparent defection was greai. nut hiw tii«picusure was still greater, which ho «'xin']ntf>fi in refusing jirovisions for the maintenance of those whom he suspect- w I HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 117 ed of being discontented, and if there be any truth in what has been said and written at the time, he jmt the most obnoxious in prison, some of whom he put in irons. Tliis harsh and high- handed treatment of men who had, or ought to have the rights of British subjects, we must confess, was not the most Hkely to sooth their distressed, irritated and troubled spirits, but was, on the con- trary, well adapted to produce a very different effect. And tliat it did soon produce that effect was manifest, for those wh.> had hitherto been undecided as to their future movements, adopted the opinions and followed the example of their more resolute and de- termined associates, and, with very few excejitions, decided on leaving the country, if they could procure the means to enable them to do so ; and, as a preliminary step in self-jirotection, they took possession of the field pieces that were either in the bastions or in the colony stores. These they committed for safe-kgeping to Mr. Cameron's care on the 3rd of April, 1815. Here we must leave them for a time and turn our attention to other events that transpired during the autumn and winter of 1 814. Early in the winter Mr. Spencer was arrested on a warrant against him, and sent down to Lac la Plui. An attempt to rescue him failed, the settlers refusing to use their tire-arms against the Cana- dians. An opportunity was afterwards taken of serving Mr. McDonell with the warrant against him, to wliich submission, out- wardly, he treated the warrant with great contempt, but in the meantime was busily preparing for measures of defence, if they should be necessary. He posted up notices that liis patron would grant pensions to all persons maimed and wounded in his service, according to their rank, (for he had made several ai»i»ointments from the step of captain to that of ensign) and threatened the Xorth- West with instant hostilities, taking every opportunity of seizing their people as prisoners when they were found in a defenseless situation. We have stated above that Mr. McDonell had told the Indians that they must take their hunts to him, as they could hunt on these lands only by his permission. It is likely that some attempt, to enforce the above declaration, led to the misunder- ing which took place between Governor McDonell and the free Ca- nadians, half-breeds and Indians. These wandering people were \ HS 1 I* h » ,4 i- il ill CI 1 :. .1 js 118 HISTOKY OF MANITOBA. as free as the winds that swept over their extensive plains ; they were altogether unaccustomed to the commands of a superior and could not brook the treatment they received from His Excellency. The consequences were innumeraljle. Scuttles and petty affrays be- tween the parties, which the former asserted, began by a party of Hudson'):" Bay men firing on one of theirs proceeding peaceably along a road with some ])rovisions. Who were the aggressors is hard to say at this distance of time, but we have never heard of any lives having been lost in any of these foolish attairs. f^xcept in one which look ])lace at tlie colony Fort. This affair is stated by some of the Karl of Selkirk's partisans, to have been brought on by the North- West Com})any ])eoj)le, (Bois Brule), viz. : *They marched from the Norlli-West (Jomjjany's post and stationed them- selves in a Wood adjoining the Governor's house, which was the princii)al building in the settlement ; they l»egan tlieir operations by filing a shot at Dr. White, the surgeon, who was walking near the house, but, fortunately it missed him. Another shot was fired at the same time, at Mi', liourke, tlie store-keeper, and the ball passed close l)y him. A general firing then took place from the woods, which was returned by those in the house, four of whom were wounded, and one of them (Mr. Warren) died of his wounds. After the North- West party bad kei)t up their fire for some time, they returned witli Mr. Cameron who, shortly after they left the fork's, had folhjwed them armed, and who, on tlieir return, con- gTatulated them with much satisfaction, upon the result of their exploit, and on their personal .vsaftity ; a- circumstance not very surprising considering that, during the attack, they were concealed in a wootl, not oiieof tlieni Ix-iiig visible to those on whom they were firing. After this cowardly and unprovoked attack, it would have been absurd in the remainiiig officers and settlers of the colony to have supposed that they would be permitted to remain in security. It was given out by Mr. (Jameron that he was resolved to have Mr. McDonell dead or alive ; but that, if he would sun-ender him- self quietly, or if the settlers would give him up, all further hos- tility should cease. At length Mr. McDonell, at the persuasion •The attack took phu'o on the 11th of June, 1815. HISTOUY OF MANITOBA. 119 of the other officers of the settlement, in order to prevent the fur- ther effusion of blood, and in the hope of securinj,' the reniaininj^ settlers from furtlier violence, suixendered himself to the warrant ; and was soon afterwards earned down to Mctntreal (about 2,500 miles) to be tried ; but no trial took place. 80 much for His Lordship's statement. Fortunately, for the cause of truth, in this case, we have other information tlian that of the interested partisans of either Company. We have the evidence of living and reliable witnesses, who were present when tiie above occurrences took place ; who all agree in stating that the French half-breeds, under Cuthbeit (rrant, took possession of a grove of trees near tlie colony Fort, where the Governor resided. Being under the shelter of the bushes, they opened tire on the Fort, and most likely, as related aV)ove, the Fort men manned their bastions, of wliicli there were four, one on each angle. These bastions were armed witli small wall pieces and blunderbusses, which were always kept loaded, ready for any emergency. As Mr. Warren was in the act of firing one of them the piece unfortunately burst, sliglitly wounding two or three of the men wlm were in the bastion, but dealing a mortal wound to poor Mr. WaiTen, who died from its effects, as he was on his way from Ked River to Norway House. We have stated above that Mr. McDonell and his sheriff' had been apprehended and canied to Canada to take their trial at Montreal for the robbery committed at lirandon House, in June, 1814. Mr. S])encer was duly arraigned before the courts of Lower Canada on the -ehaige on which 'he had been apprehended; and iu justification of his arrest, a true bill was found by the grand jury against him for grand larceny. A plea as to the proceedings was put in on behalf of the prisoner, alleging that the charter of the Hudson's Bay Company authorized the sei/Aire, in virtue of his office. Time was given by the Court to procure evidence and the opinions of legal authorities in England, with respect to the validity of that plea. Mr. McDonell had been detained on the route to Montreal, and did not arrive in time to be placed on his trial at the session of the court. The defendants were admitted on bail, and, it appearing clearly from opinions subseciuently taken in London, that, as they might have acted under a misapprehension 10 4 180 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 1 !• .1 V ! M -■ i ' of authority, there would Ije a failure in proving against them the felonious intent. The prosecution was dropped and there was no jurisdiction vested by the 43rd of King George the III, under which trials could take place in the courts of Lower Canada in actions for damages in civil cases. All hope, therefore, of bringing the question to issue in Canada, being at an end, the Canadian merchants again addressed the most urgent application on the subject to His Majesty's Government. After Mr. McDonell had sun-endered the colonists became more earnest in their entreaties for assistance to enable them to proceed to Canada. The greater part of those who had hitherto remained at or about the colony Fort took the opportunity now offered by the captivity of their leader, to present themselves at the North- West Fort and join their companions in pressing their entreaties for a passage to Canada. And upon a distinct understanding that noth- ing would be given beyond their transportation and provisions as far as York (now Toronto), the seat of government in Upper Cana- da, about fifty families, comprising above one hundred persons, were embarked in North- West Company's canoes and safely landed at their destination. Here their sufferings found relief in the pro- tection and assistance of the government and public commiseration was drawn to their case, by the zealous interference, in their behalf, and benevolence of the Rev. Dr. Strachan, who shortly afterwards published a statement, from their own evidence, of their case, and the delusions practised upon them, in order to warn the poorer classes of his countrymen against becoming, like these unfortunate people, the dupes__of land-jobbing speculators, artilass of persons well known in America, and of whom Lord Selkirk, from the mag- nitude of his operations, may be styled the chief. The settlers thus disposed of were nearly the whole of those who had wintered at Churchil, including some of those who arrived in the settlement in 1812. A few of them took employment in the Hudson Bay Company's service, a few went to Jack River, and three, the residue of the emigrants of 1813, went as far as York Factory with the intention of returning to their native land, but met a number of their former neighbors at that place, who had just landed from the ship, and returned with them to Red River. 121 ^^ HISTORY OF MANITOBA. tlieproffn-ssofM * "'"""""^ information and /".T!"^'" '''«'""• But it nea iUvvr many died at Churrl.i] i„ u i ^'^ t'ie settlors who went tn K CANADA, Octol.er 5th, 1816. *Ve have stated above that ^h. i to Canada to be tried f„: t„y t"' *'?^«™» '""J "««„ take,, arduous labours of years with '"^ l^P'^ *"«, dispersed. The ^t-yed ,„ a fe. shor:o„raTtte"::'*' '■' '"™^^' --'- I»arance, destroyed fon^ver V,, " ^ ""''™^' '" «" '""nan an. memomble.springand summer o^Tfiti"^ """mnsactions ofthe- teke notice of a deplomble encounte! !.'• T """' '"^ » ™»'»ent Cross between the servants of he • ^ '""'^ ^'"^ "' I^'« " la valuable lives we,, destro^ a L'f t T^ "*" '" *'"='' '-» Pve ,n the chapter following *'' "^ ''^"^ ^^ «haU i*i|: 1 I i-ni ii il Ti 122 HISTOHY OK MANITOBA. CHAlTKlt IV. A yKlKMlSlI IN WHICH Two AHK KiLLKD — A WaKK WITHOUT Wlllrt- KKY — I':-TTV Annoyancks — LouD Sklkikk in MoNTKKAL — TiiK FuK TuADK — Dkstitution among Hudson h ]Uy Mkn — From Scotland to IIkd Kiykk — A New (iOViounok — Admi- NlSTKA'J'lON OF .TUSTKJK — A SUKl'RISE — DolNGH AT I'KMHINA — A Conflict — Mu. Keykny in Tuouhle — Mukdeued — The Karl's S(>liueus for the North-Wkst. This (iUiiiTcl, which undcd .so fatally, oriLjiiiated about a .steel tra]>. The Hudson Bay Conii)auy',s .servants were setting trai)3 alon<; the lake for foxes and the North- Westers were doing the same. Kach ]>arty ocenjned different localities along the .shore and sejjarate islands. The North-West partner in charge of the dis- trict, finding himself at the head of a greater number of men than his oi)ponent, built a small house close to the Hudson Bay Com- pany's house, for a fort it could not be called, where a number (jf men were stationed for the ex])ress j)urj)ose of watching the move- ments of their rivals in trade. One of the Hudson Bay Company's men, on visiting his traps, according to custom, found that one of them had been taken away. He at once came to the conclusion that the missing traj) had been .stolen and that the theft had been committed by some one of the North-west jjcople. He imme- diately retui'ued to the Hudson ]3ay Comi)any's house, made known bis loss^ roused the sym])athy of a strong and valiant son of tlie Emerald Isle, who volunteered tn;,' before they found a Ira]* that had heen .set l>y Mr. lUack and with which they were returning' in triumi>h. Mr, lilack, ever vij^ilant, saw them returninij;, left the house at llie head i;e party of his men and met the two Ifmlson's liay men and sto]»i»ed their pro- gress h(tmeward. The two hrave youn^ nuMi kept jios.session of the tra]» until Mr. Johnston, with a ]iarty of Ilutlson's liay nu'ii, came >ip to them. Mr. Jolmston addressed himself to Mr. lllack, savinu, "It is much hetter that you and I settle this ati'air and let the men lie (luiet." Scarcely had these brief words heen uttered before a savaj^'e ami reckless (Canadian half Indian, l»iother-in-law to Mr. IMack, levelled his jiiece at Mr. John.-ton's ear, tired and blew out his brains. A few moments passed before either i)arty could realize the horrid s])ectacle that lay liefore them ; but, after a short pau.se, the demon of destruction took ])osse.ssion t)f the.se fierce and liery spirits, a j^eneral discharge of lire arms took ])lace, the contending parties rushing on each other with the most deter- mined fury. The liring was kept uj) and .strokes were dealt on every side ; but, fortunately for them, the dark .shades of night were silently but swiftly .stealing down on the scene of tlwi.v iiar- barous mujd^r.s and unnatural strife, rendering aim uncertain, and causing many deadly angry bullets to spend their force in the air. While this tragedy was being acted Mr. lUack stood with folded arms imploring the infuriated combatants to cease fighting; but he might as well have entreated the stormy and boisterous winds of the north, when in their most angry and turbulent mood, to be still. However, by degrees the North-West men began to weary at their work, and to acknowledge their defeat by retiring from the long contested tield, of which their opponents kept possession ; and, according to the rules of war, "to the victors belong the spoils," which consisted of the broken stocks and locks of a few guns. V! »|. •P O' If I, I J 124 HISTORY OK MANITOBA. Kiich jmrty Imd to titU^nd to tlm laints of the stinted measure with which drink was dealt out to them, and be- yond measure did they deplore the entirt^ absence of their favorite beverage, whiskey; for, without the aid of its soul-stirring influences they were convinced of their utter inaliility to perform their friend's obsequies in a beconn'ng manner. The gentleman, who was then in charge for the Hudson's Hay Company, was a man who delighted not in strife and bloodshed. He saw that the men who retunuMl from the fight were highly excited, and feared, and that justly, that if their excitement would be increased by drink, they might l>ecome ungovernable and jterjtetratf! some rash deed, for which on the return of reason they might feel both sorry and ashanuid. From these considemtions he resolutely refused drink, excei)t a very small ([uantity — and ammunition and arms dtogether. It will appear extmordinary and unaccountable to A\tn who are unacquainted with the fierce spirit worked by numerous acts of aggi'ession on the one part and resistance on the other, that the representatives of two wealthy associations formed of christain men, members of one of the most humane nations in Europe, should go to such fearful extremity ; and, that for an ar- ticle not exceeding twenty shillings in value. But those who know what took place at Isle a la Cross, during the preceding four or five years, are not ignorant of the cause? which oy)erated on the Hudson's Bay men and compelled them to resist the very first H..ST„KV „K M.^.,,,,,„„ a«<'mpl 1.1,1,1,, I,,. (|,„ y , • 123 """>•"" '"-"..I of til,. v,ii, t ,, r T'" """"«""-■■ ■'"' f' ■'» forty ,„ ,ia, „„.„ ,,„i„„.. ; " " '' "!" "ortii, .„.,, ,.,„.,„.„^ ;''>••■■■"» theiv „„,„,„„„, „.,.,,.,;'"'■'"""- »'"t..i. „,„„t,„\ J^'.'"«."n,ttl„.„ tl,„,.,, ,,.„ '''?''''■;'''' ""■'■■■ l«..st., in tin. ""■'".' ell,, lust .i,,,t.,; „.„ ,,,,:'■;'■"■ '"""»'•"" the i„te,„„.. ";>' ';pi«..i..iit.s. ri„. ,..,1,,,.,,,, ,"';.";;"';•"• «•'"' H'-v i.„>,ic.i- "t..- (V.I.... ,..t..,i .. c.,„,,,- .„"':''■• ;^--' 'ii.-k ..,„, M, t''-.i»c.l>.„, hy „,„„,vi„,„„„ ,,, ' - "I"'" ;.t l.i.,„.,., ,„„„„,,, «■>" "t otliei. ti,„.« „,tt,„,, , ~; ™ "-' f *t thci,. „„t, „u,ift, ooc,i»u,i„.l vi.,it. t„ tli„ H„„; ,"'"?'-"" f'>''«ettin« to ,„.; '» tl"^ »|.iiiiK „f 1814 ^,/ "''""l'^'''"'"l "iij...sti(iable. eral bo,.t3 were Htted out fi'I „ ' '"■ '■■*'" » '" Oo™. « ". composed of lAhine, a^iU Hi.^H,:r ''''"'■ """ "'« -"-s ^ ">« 0-^-oy ,.„,.„„,, thews'" trr:" "^"- "'" '-"^ fio Nonli.We.,t men l„.d t..e,.te,, tl.ein .^ \» "''*'''"'^"' ''"^ "« J7"'i' ""= 'u^u'y of thcii. eveuin! , , T": ^'''"''' '""' «'"1« on. -1*,1 thei,. „„f„rtn,,te JZZC7 "■" """' *-•»« «-.^. - H'mt of the»e acts to tl.ri^^ ; "'ii .^'f . "^ « ''icl. ..use swore as one man hy the souls of ,1 ' "^ '"'««"««,>„. All wo'iUlnot allow the o,,,K^,i°.f''"'''«'™'l«'t'.ers that they anJ pmnkson then, will ::,.; P'^[ f-"' -llanous .nU^Z f""« o..„el andbarbarousm, .-SJ "^«' '"'■'-"' M... John- fence an opportunity of .levelopin, • S "^"fT" ''''"' "' '''-^- ,.# i 'I ! 1 Kl ' i I II . i 126 HISTOHY OF MANITOHA. 1814-15, we .shall iiuw turn our attention to the Karl of Selkirk's simultaneous jiroceedinj^s in Seotland and in Canada, as these i)r(j- ceedings, each in its way, have had eonsiderahle intluence on the affairs of the country in general and on those of the colony in i»ar- ticulai Since the time that Sir Alexander McKenzie discovered the legions drained hy the streams whose united waters form that mighty river that bears its l)old and energetic discoverer's name, the North- West Company enjoyed the exclusive trade of those districts, which then abounded, and even now abound, more in valuiJ)le furs than any other district in North America. The al)0ve named Company occui)ied several permanent stations beyond the Long Portage. Fr(jm each of these stations parties were sent in every direction to occupy localities to which the si;rrounding na- tives would Hud easy access and where fish and game coidd be easily })rocured. Each of these parties were furnished with trad- ing go(jds, to a small amount, which consisted of iron works, tire- arms, ammunition, tobacco and spirits, though last not the least prized by the poor ignorant children of the soil. When the dif- ferent parties returned to head-((uarters, with the proceeds of the winter's trade, their returns were commonly so great that they could not })rocure canoes and men to take the furs to Fort William, and were year after year under the necessity of leaving large (Huintities of valuable peltries in the interior. The wealth obtained from the trade carried on in those distant regions must have been very great indeed. His Lordship of Selkirk visited Montreal in the beginning of the present century and became acquainted with the nuignates of the North- West Company, who vied with each other in pointing out to his Lordship, not only the great ex- tent over which they carried on their business and the large jirofits realized from it, but even the mode on which they conducted it. Possessed of the above information. His Lordship, on his return to P^ngland, took steps to turn it to his own advantage. In the first place he bought up 40 out of the 100 shares into which the stock of the Hudson's Bay was divided, which enabled him to become not only the moving spirit in that body, but in fact its lord and master. The Hudson's Bay Company, before the present period. : ! P 1815 had ""''"'"' "'' "'*"'■'■■>«'*• -stable,,? tCr!;it;™r'i;;' ;""' ''"'^- '■"^"■™'» '«twe„„ T ^"ed out ut York Kac::;L :,-""« ''"'■''^^- '^ -'^'^ cal. ^"'«» years ,.fe,. ,„„«,„,. ^Cj^i ">o following ,,„,■„,; the nv„,,, .se„di„j, their waters to,; u1 "f""'""'^'"'" ''etwee, "« -nto Athal,asl,.a Uke, ^ ""'"''''" ^ '%■ -cl those fa «>« ea,t side of P„„,^„„ ,a L '?■?' ""''''"'"' '" '^""t .... -'Percede the „eoe.,sit/of l-^ "' "■''■^''' '^ "-"-ered, w„,„d ^mn abie Wrri., „„[, ,.„::; fLPr^-f -«-« -er that h'f "' '""' ''^'''n'ed hte i„ the ant, mnr ,'''■■'■'' '""■" ""<"'<'- .;' U«., where they passed the wM er [n" T" ^"'"' '" ^^''^ " ton no attempt had bee,, ,„ade|,vH p. ' '' "'" '"""^ «^r>e>'« »"posed by the laws of P-^iot fo?tr::t^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ -- P"---„« ea.,„es and Ken.,e's rive, the Hudson^^X cZl'"^-''"r'*'^^-'' '"'<' '" «- ^patched au agent (M,, J^me^s^^T^;'" '^' ^'""'"-'f 1814 previous fall ,,,„. Hndson-Xt "',""'" '""" '-'""-^^ «' e * ---eas. served a.,':;::- ----ol^ .,»0 i :t' !■ 1 . ll I] i 'I II |.*- 128 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. Cuiiipiuiy'.s service, as one of their clerks, but, becoming discon- tented, he retired from the service the previous summer. He readily accepted Mr. Sutherland's proposals, and was certainly one of the best adapted men that could l^e found in the colony, to put his Lordship's plans into execution in person, Mr. Robeitson was tall and stout, with a fearless disposition and a considerable degree of ostentatiousness in his appearance. His mind was well inform- ed, and his disi)Osition affable and kind ; he spoke the French Canadian language fluently, and was in every respect well qualified to become a leader of these men. He succeeded in engaging a commercial firm in Montreal (Maitland, Gardener, Auldjo & Co.) to become agents for the Hudson's Bay Company. By their aid joined to his own indefatigable i)erseverance, he had the pleasure, before the first of May, of seeing himself at the head of a noble brigade of twenty-two canoes, manned and e([uipped with their full compliment of veteran voyageurs, interpreiers, guides, sub-clerks, clerks, and a class commonly known by the title " Bourgeois." This brigade took its departure from Lachine in the beginning of May, 1815, and, passing through the usual canoe route, arrived in the latter end of June fit Jack River, below Lake Winnipeg. Here they remained for some time, and were regaled according to North- West custom, each man being served with an allowance of rum, loaf bread, butter and pork. After this great feast they had to be contented with such rations as were served to the European ser- vants who were at the place, which invariably consisted of fish. We may here observe, that the men of this expedition were en- gaged and paid on the same system, as the North- West acted upon, in dealing with their engaged servants. The goods for the expe- dition to the North had been freighted early in the season from York Factory to Jack River and were waiting the aiTival of the brigades. In the beginning of July they left for the north under the command of several leaders, of whom, Mr. John Clarke was the chief. This gentleman was a native of Montreal and had been some years in the North- West Company's employment, in the fur trade ; but from some cause or other returned to his native city in 1809 and in the following spring embarked in the Astor expedition Nvhick was then fitting out at New York for the purpose of estab- HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 129 lisliinj,' ii trade in furs with the Imlians on the Columbia river. He .sailed round the Cape in the unfortunate Toiiquia and anived, after a tedious and dangerous voyage, in the mouth of the far famed river of the west, and lent his aid in building Astoria. He passed three years to the west of the mountains, where he had to endure such toils, privations and dangers, as seldom the bold and enduring fur ti'ader on the east side of the mountains, even in those duys of liardships and perils, had to encounter. Under its veteran leader the expedition i)assed on, without any accident, to Isle a la Crcjss, where a few canoes with their crews and cargoes were left to winter. The rest passed on to the north and arrived late in Se})tem))er at Athabaska Lake, which was to be considered, for the present, the head-([uarters of the expedition. Having arrived at this central ])oint, canoes were sent to lessoi' and greater Slave Lakes. A third brigade went u}» to Peace Kiver under Mr. Clarke's immediate command. All these detat^hments arrived too late in the season at their aj (pointed stations. The s])awning sea- son was over, the fish had left the shores for the deep parts of the lakes and could not be found. The Indians had been sui)plied by the Xorth-West traders and hnrried off to their hunting grounds in the surrounding forests, and as none of them could be found by the Hudson's Bay people, who were desirous of engaging them to hunt provisions for their estab- lishments, destitution stared them in the face. They had to endure great privations while occu})ied in erecting temj>orary habitations for the winter, and as that season advanced the tish taken l»ecame every day fewer ; even the rabltits which had hitherto afforded some aid, were all killed. Every i»ecourse thus failing the winter mouths were passed in a state of unmitigateil misery from the want of food. Towards tlie sjiring a second attempt wns made to find Indians, liojmig, that if these peo])le could Itc found, that they would obtain i)rovisions from them, by employing them to hunt. Parties were sent off in every direction, but failed to meet with any of those on whom they depended so much for their subsistence. And, it is truly ])ainful to record, that no fewer than eighteen men of these different parties, died from the combined effects of cold and hnnger. We may safely believe that the North-West traders, lA ,0 W\ I l! Si I I i. f '»:-/ 180 HiSTORY OF MANITOBA. instructed the Indians to remove to a distance from where the Hud- son's Bay men were likely to settle, and we have every reason to think, that these simple minded children of the forest, would im- plicitly obey the injunctions of men, who, l)y long intercourse and many kind words and some kind deeds, had gained their confidence. However, the North-West Comjiany, in some cases, extended their charity to their famishing countrymen and ]>reserved some of the survivors. Here we must leave them for the i)resent, and turn our attention to the noble Lord's transactions in Scotland. Early in the spring of 18115 lie employed agents in Sutherlandshire to procure emi- giants for the lied River. Clearances were still the order of the day, especially in the Parish of Kildonan. The only ray of hope that now remained was in emigrating from their native land and seek for new abodes beyond the Atlantic, in the forests or on the i)lains of North America. At this crisis in their affairs His Lordship's agents appeared in the place and l)egan to direct their thoughts towards the wide and fertile i)lains of British North America, where they were led to believe all their cares, suffering and sorrows would terminate; where each and all of them might with the greatest facility become the proprietor or proprie- tors of tine estates at the low price of five shillings sterling per acre ; the above prospect, we must admit, was highly encouraging. A number of families (consisting of seventy-two individuals) be- lievetl the promises made, and accepted the offer of transportation to the plains of the far west. The next step to be taken was to procure mqney to pay for their passage, which was to be ten guineas per head, and for such equipment as were absolutely necessary for their comfort on the voyage by sea, and on the long- inland journey they would have to perform between the Bay and the Red River. The next stej) to be taken was the sale of their property, which they had to accomplish under great disadvantages, as had generally l)een the case when these clearances took place. Notwithstanding, many of them realized enough to pay for their passage and necessary outfits. A few had a balance over, which they deposited in His Lordship's hands for the payment of land from which they were separated over four thousand miles l\y inter- ? v* i HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 131 vening seas and lands, which they would have to pass before they could take jfossession of that for which they had thus paid their money, A few persons were desirous of emigrating, who could not pay the passage money ; yet, these were furnished a passage on condition of paying for it by labour on His Lordship's farm in the colony, or by working in the boats from Red River to the Bay and back again to the colony. These different steps consumed time, the spring was far advanced, the day of ejectment was at hand ; the time was drawing near when they were to leave desolate their humble, but onie happy homes, the time when they were to cast their last sad look on the land of their birth, whose every hill and valley (in their names) recorded the glorious deed of tneir heroic sires in the days of old ; in their long and arduous, ]>ut suc- cessful, struggles against the tierce and warlike sea Kings of the north. The sad day, so long anticipated, had dawned when ihey were to leave forever their brown lieaths, their deej» glens, and lovely green straths witli their sweet streams, where in their youth they loved to lave. It has been said, and said, I believe with truth, that no peoi)le in Europe can compare in deep heart-felt attachment to their native land with the Highlanders of Scotland. If this be the case it is easier to conceive than to express the dis- tress and sorrow of their hearts at this im})ortant change in their condition. Yet they could discern a ray of ho]»e througli the dark and portentous clouds by which they were surrounded. They were habitually humble and devout students of their bibles. The/ remembered who said " Fear not little tlock," and believed that he who decked the lillies of the field with their brilliant hues, and fed the fowls of the air, would provide for them and theirs. Animated by hope, founded on faith, they commenced the long and arduous journey which had to be perlormed before they could find a resting place. The first part of this journey was performed by land and on foot ; some of their lighter stuff was carried on their backs, while the more ponderous articles were borne on the backs of such ponies as the kindness of their kindred and former friends could supply. Three days' travelling brought them to the ancient town of Thurso, whence they were fenied over the Pentland firth to Stromness. There they were embarked on board the ffedloiu, .tl I f i *i: j i |! ii 1' ■' 132 HISTOHV OK MANITOBA. boiiiul for Hudson's liay. Tin's sliij) was (;iii)acious and well arran^'ed for ])assen>>ers; adtM|uate stores of i»rovision,s of the best (inalitv were taken ou board. Some of the Coni])any's .servants were embarked on the same shi|) with the settlers, while Robert Simjtle and Alexander Mel )onell, with a stall" of elerks took their passa;,'e on l)oard the J'r'nn'c of W<(h's. The Heel look its departure from Stromness on the 17th day of June, 181.") ; it (((Msis'ed of foursail, viz: — the n<'e Kinisterre. Tlu^ pas.sage was easy and ])lea.saut, j;;eneral erforni the duties of teacher and spiritual guide to his felliiw eUiigrant,--. Mr. Sutherland was an unedueaLed man, in the common accei)tation of that phrase ; but he is spoken of by those wlio knew him, as a man of sterling and unfeigned piety. And here 1 must state that Mr. Sutherland was the hrst licensetl ])rea(.'her of the reformed faith on the shores of the Hudson's Bay. After a brief sojourn at York Factory, which had l)een greatly to the satisfaction of the new comers, they were embarked on board mg I -t 1 HISTOK OF A1ANIT0I5A. 168 K of some inlaml boats and comnieiiced thu long, difticult and danger- ous voyage of 700 miles from York Fact«jry to the Red River. The men had to ])erform the part of towing and rowing the boats and of airrying His Lordship's goods and stores over the carrying-places, and they had to do so without any compensation. The progress made was very slow, but the autinnn jmtved very favourable, and the journey was accomjdished, without any serious accident. On the ord of Noveml^er the boats entered the Red River and on the r)th arrived at Fort Douglas. Here we must mention an incident, which reflects great credit on CJovernor Sem]>le for kind- ness to those who were under his care. The colonists had been for some time on very short rations and the night they entered tlie Red River the very last was tinished for suj)pei'. The follow- ing morning the colonists were making no ])rei>ariitions for break- fast. He en([uired what was the cause of this unusual state of inactivity, and, on being informed that the people had no focjd to jtrepare, he immediately ordered his servant to deliver to them the biscuit and cheese which he had taken so far with him for the use of his mess during the winter. Fortunately for these })ilgrims the winter was late in setting in ; had it been otherwise they would have been set fast in Lake Winnipeg, and would most like- ly have perished of cold and hunger. A kind ])rovidence decreed otherwise and, as we have stated above, they arrived at Fort Douglas on the 5th day of November, 1815, in good health and full of hope. But here, though head quartcirs in the colony, no provisions had been made for the expected strangers, and all that they could ob- tain from His Lordship's stores was a small (quantity of unground wheat and a few ounces of raricid grease, i)er day, for each family ; but unsavory and scanty as this supply was it could not be con- tinued for many days. His Lordship had engaged to provide food for the colonists for the tirst twelve months, but now, in the CDm- mencement of an Arctic winter, his stores were empty. The winter was fast approaching ; the buft'alo, on which they must depend for their subsistence, were only to be I'ound on the great plains which extend from the Pembina Mountains to the Missouri. It was considered most advisable to send the settlers to Peml)iua, ,0 • ?' I I II 184 HISTOKY OF MANITOBA. I ll (■ ; V which was neventy miles nearer to the hunting grounds than Fort Douglas ; and to Pembina the immigrants must go. All those who were young and active, and as many company's servants, a.s could l)e spared from the Fort, were embarked in two boats and proceeded up the lied River for Fort Daer. The water was low, the days were short, and in consequence their progress was very slow, Notwithstiuiding, in the course of a few days they arrived at Scratching River and while passing the night there iuu sky be- came overcast jintl the wind blew strongly and keenly from the north. During tlie night there was a fall of snow and in the morning the river was covered over with ice. The boat voyage was at an end for the season. Starvation began to stare them iu the face ; their stock of ju'ovisions was nearly exhausted, and none could be obtained in their present position. Pembina, the nearest point where supplies could l)e expected, was distant thirty or forty miles. No beaten path pointed out the way, to the cheer- less and foodless strangers, over tlie frozen waste that lay between them and where they might expect to find food and rest. Their way lay over the plains, which were covered with a heavy gi'owth of untrodden grass — every blade of which was covered with snow and ice. However dreary and ditticult the journey before them, stern necessity compelled them to enter upon it, and each one took a load of whatever was most valuable or most re([uired of their individual property. Fathers and mothers \sere, in many cases, unable to take or carry anything with them excei)t their little ones, which they had, Indian fashion, to bind on their backs, and with these precious burdens, the gems of a future population, the (lipsey like crowd trudged along bearing the inclemency of the season and the pangs of hunger with as much equanimity as humanity could exercise under such trying circumstances. A few days, of severe and un- usual toil, broutrht these pioneers of civilization to the celebrated Fort Daer, which was situated on the south side of the Pembina River, Dearth met them here, similar to that from which they fled on leaving Fort Douglas, but they drew some consolation from the fact that they were seventy miles nearer to the source whence they expected to draw their winter supplies of food. The m fo jo sti si in ac th< i HISTORY OK MANITOBA. 136 month of Novenil)er was far 8i)ent when they arrived at what they fondly believed would l)e the end of their long and fatigueing journey. And in that Ijelief they went to work with all their strength and energy to hew down timber and to bnild huts to shelter them from the inclemency of the winter, which had now set in in all its severity. Tliese huts were of the most primative char- acter, the walls and roofs were comiM^sed of round unhewn logs, the interstices tilled up with clay served to keej) out the wind ; the floorings were such as nature provided — the bare earth. In these rude and humble dwellings our immigrants intended to pass the winter months ; but the improvidence and bad nuvnagement of those who were in charge of His Lii-dship's affairs in the colony soon U'gan to l>e seriously felt by all who were de}»endent on his stores for subsistence. We have said above that no provisions had l)een laid U[) for the maintenance of the expected settlers. The ground continued black and bare during the Hrst two months of the winter, which prevent- ed the use of sleighs, the ordinary vehicles for hauling in the winter season ; and without these appliances no provisions, to any great extent, could be brought to the Fort. The result was that the sorely tried and distressed strangers had to leave Pembina and per- form a journey of over one hundred and fifty miles over the plains, to where the Indians and others were hunting the buffalo. These unfortunate people had to perform the journey on foot, in the latter end of December, the most unfavoral)le time in the year for travelling ; they were ill provided with suitable clothing to protect their persons from the icy gales that swept irresistibly over the;:>e bleak and treeless plains; in a word they suffered so much misery, that those of them, who lived after, could not relate the sufferings of that winter without a shudder. On their arrival at the hunting tents. Freemen, half-breeds, and Indians vied with each other in extending their kind offers to the new oomers. Never- theless, their condition was far from being enviabla ; they, in the ordinary course of things, became hewers of wood and drawers of water, the objects of these rude and savage people's ])ity and con- tempt. However, before the spring some of the strangers had learned how to approach the buffalo and became excellent hunters, n 186 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ; ^1 . '1: Ih^'' |! a fact which iiicliiunl their hosts to ent. Htdsmn's Bay Hovsk, May IJttli, ISlf). At a yciiornl court, ht-ld this day, of tlie GoTeinor and I'oinpaiiy of Adventurer.^ of Kn^lantl, tradinf{ in Hudson's Buy, for the purpose of takinj; into consideration an ordinance for tlie more ctre(rtuai administration of justice in the Company's territories, pursuant to a notice of the same advertised in the fjouiltm Gazeffr, on Saturday the 13tli instant, the following resolutions were submitted to the proprietors and pas<.ed in the attinnative. First — That there shall he aj)pointed a Governor-in-t'hief and Council, who shall have paramount authoiity over the whole of the Company's territories in Hudson's Bay. Secondly — That the (Jovern , with any two of his Council, shall be competent to forma councillor the administration of justice, and the exercise of the power vested in them by charter. Thirdly — That the Goveiiior of Assiniboia and the Governor of Moose, within their respective districts and with any two of their resjiective Councils, shall have the same power ; but their power shall be su8i)ended, while the Governor-in-Chief is actually present, for judicial purposes. Fourthly — That a sheriff be appointed for each of the districts of Assiniboia and Moose, and one for the remainder of the Company's territory, for the execution of all such proce.sse8 as shall be directed to them according to law . Fifthly — That, in the case of death or absence of any councillor or sheriff, the Governor-in-Chief shall appoint a person to do th« duty of the office till the pleasure of the Company be known . Extracted from the Minute Book of the said Company. ALEXANDER LANE, Secretary. 9th June, 1815. By the adoption of the foregoing resolutions a system of admi- nistering justice was introduced into the country which could not fail being highly disagreeable to ♦^he Canadian traders. (Tovernor Semple has been represented as an amiable and cau- a i HIHTOKV oMMAMTOHA. 137 ae re tidus man, imd not'dcsirous (tf increasing the unfriendly feeling that existed Vietween [the servants of the rival conipanies ; and besides he had ample employment in ananging the aiVairs of the fur trade, and in providingjsustenauee for the settlers, in whose hehalf ht* manifested the deejKist interest, and for whom he did everytiiing that kindness cotdd suggest and that his high ])osition enabled him to do. S(»on after the new (rovernor's anival in tlu^ colony his subordinates commenced a series of vexatious aggiefi- sions on the Canadian traders and looked with peculiar odium on Mr. Duncan Cameron. As this gentleman was one day <|uietly passing on the highway, unarmed and unattended, he was nu't V»y a party of armed Hudson's lUiy men, heailed l»y one of the Com- jiany's clerks, who, according to his own statement, drew his pisttd, cocked it and levelled it at Mr. Cameron's head and then com- menced to horse-whip him for some real or su])])08e(l insult which had been offered the preceding spring. Aftt^r this castigation Mr. Cameron was seized by the party, carried before the Crovernor, and accused of having iniluced the settlers, the s])ring before, to go to Canada, a charge to which we believe Mr. Cameron would feel dis- posed, to some extent, to plead guilty. However, notwithstand- ing his well known hardihood, we have reason to believe he would not dare to incur the responsibility of furnishing a j)assage to up- wards of one hundred and forty persons, from Ited lliver to York, in Upper Canada, without the previously understood concurrence of liis co-partner. These gentlemen must have made a great pecu- niary sacrilice in providing so many people with i))'o visions and the means of transport from Red River to Little York. We must not overlook the fact that the settlers who went to Canada incurred heavy losses. All of them left their Itaggage at Churchil and was totally lost to them. Many of them had paid considerable sums for land from which they never derived any benefit; others deposited handsome sums in His Lordship's hands, every farthing of which was lost to them, partly owing to their own ignorance in money transactions, but chieHy from the disho- nesty of the i)arties to whom, in their simplicity, they entrusted their property. These were subjects that must have forced them- selves on their minds, and compelled them to make a choice. That :v»0 1 t| M M \U HISTOKY OF MANITOBA. 11; •; choice iiiclim'd i\\ein to leave Ke«l River and accept the otTer of a fnni passage to Canada. Mr. Cameron, although lacked by the ind«i- enc4i of the N«>rth-We.st (Company, had no nieann of (tonstmining thein to leave the C4)lony. Yet, the fact of their huivingthe colony anarently Mr. llobertson did rot relish a life of i>eace and inglorious ease. However, we may safely admit that the programme of what was to be done, in the sjiring, at the Ked Kiver, had been discussed in his jtresence, and most likely a]tproved and even authorized by him. Soon after Ciovernor Semple had left rumors got into circidation of some heavy pressure that was to be api)lied to the North-West Company's servants; yet notliing had occurred to enable them to form any idea of what their antagonists' jdans were until the night of the 17th of Marc! ^816, when, between seven and eight o'clock, Mr. Kobertson, at the head of an armed }>arty of Hudson Hay Comj)any's servants, attacked Fort Cibralter. The assailants rushed, with drawn swords, into Mr. Cameron's sitting room, where that gentlenuiu, unsuspicious of danger, was passing the evening in conversation with his clerks. On entering the room Mr. Ivobertson collared Mr. Cameron. Cap- tain McLean, Mr. IJourke and others seized his sword, pistols and other arms. The captured gentleman, as soon as he had recovered from his surjirise, asked Mr. Kobertson what he meant by his un- expected visit and extraordinary conduct. He replied "you will know that by and by." Mr. Cameron, his clerks and servants, The stuteinents my that Mr. Cuineron promised better behaviour. J mSTOKY UK MANITOIJA. Itt were lor Hinenil hours kopt in cotitineiiient, witli u j^uiird of arnuMl men }»1uc»mI over tlieni. The iK'liavioui of .souie of the Hndson'i Bay clerks was rude in the lowoHt »le^i-u»% threiiteninj^ to blow out the hniins of one of tlie North- West Conijmny'.H clerks wlio was their (lisarnu'd prisoiuif. After .sonic time hud lieen piissed, and a great amount of entreaty hud Inhhi usimI, Mr. Mcl»un ]K>rmitt(Hl Mr. Severight to ko to Mr. lie Marr's room, vviio was also guarded by a sentinel, and there f(»und Mr. Colin iloliertson, and askeil him if Ik; meant to keep them all prisoners, lo whieh the num in power replied that he woulil give an answer the next day. On the llHh the North-West Company's express, from Fort William, was C4ii)tured and hroijght into the Fort. The two men who had charge of it were put in prison. The letters were seized l»y Mr. liobovtson, who, by tlu; powers conferred by the charter, opened and read all excej)t three which were a«klressed to Mr. John Sev- eright ami were handed unopened to that gentlenum. On the same day Mr. Cameron sent his clerk, Mr. Severight, to Mr. Uob- eitsou requesting the iestorati(jn of Fort (ribrulter to its lawful owners ami allow them to carry on the trade as formerly. To this message Mr. Hobertson rei»lied that it was the key of the Ued Eiver, being situated at the conHuence of the two liivers, and that he was determined to keej) it at all hazards. After the Hudson Bay Company's servants had taken pcjssession of the place, they rem .ivcd idl the arms, public and private, likewise the trading goo'.l-*, ]>rovi.sions (»f every kinti, furs, books and ])aper,s, to the Hudson's Bay Fort. In due time the furs were sent to York Factory. A st^uad of men with cannon and muskets were sent, on the 19th, from Fort Douglas to North- West Fort to guard Mr. Cameron and his men. Those kept watch and ward until their pati'ence became exhausted, when they ttP'ned all the Canadians, except two, and Mr. Cameron, out of the Fort. The labouring men liad to take to the ])lains or lakes to hunt for their country, men, the Freemen, and throw themselves at their generosity for the preservation of their lives, during the spring months. Mr. John Severight made his way to Fort Qu'Appelle where Mr. Alex- ander McDonell was in command of the North- West ])08t. Here we must leave him for the present and turn our attention If 140 HISTOKV 01' MANITOBA. Hi to what had taken place^at reinbina, where, as well as in every other part of the interioi", each company had a few rude log huts dignified with the title Fort. The North-West Company's house stood on the north side of the Tembina liiver, at its junction with the Red lliver. The Hudson Bay Conii)any's establishment was directly opjjosite to the former but on the south side of Pembina. These were the chief provision posts, whence the posts on the lower Red River received their supplies. The Canadian traders had but few persons to feed at this place and were enabled to lay up a great stock of i)ro vision procured by the chase, with large quantities of Indian corn and potatoes. Bostenuois rangniau, a half-breed, was in charge of the i)lace, and two clerks and six or seven tripmeu constituted all his availal)le forces. On the night of the 20th Jof March, three days after Fort Cibralter had been captured, Bostenuois' house and all the little shanties in which his men lodged, were secretly surrounded and simultaneous- ly assaulted. The master, clerks and men were made ])risoners, taken to Foit Daei', lodged in c]ose quarters for some days, and, were afterwards sent down in bond to Fort J)ouglas, where they underwent a rigorousjcontinement for the s])ace of a week or two, and were at last turned out of the Fort. Mr. John Tritchaid and Mr. Alexander McDonell were the masterspirits in the al)ove aft'air, i'ud appropriated to their own use the spoils of those whom they had vampiished l»y their valor. These spoils consisted of arms, annnunition, trading goods, four or live packs of furs, great quantities of dried buffalo meat, Indian corn and potatoes ; every thing, whether the produce of the chase or the fvuit of the earth, was taken away by the victors. The poor Canadians were not only deprived of their hard gained accumulations, and driven from their comfortable homes but were, as stated above, carried prisoners to Fort Douglas, and finally, like^ their fellows taken in Fort CHbralter, had to seek :or an asylum among their kind countrymen who were passing the s]>ring among the buffalo on the i)lains. Mr. John Severight arrive'! safely at Cj|u'Appelle and aapiainted Mr. Mc- Donell with what had taken i>lace on the Red River. That gen- tleman wrote immediately to Mr. Colin Robertson requesting him to surrender the North-West Company's Forts to their lawful owueis 1 HISTOItY OK MANITOBA. 141 and leave tliem in the sanu^ cfUKlitioii in whieh lie touutl ih'jtn. This Mr. liobevt.sou refused to do, aiul AIi-. Severight had to retrace his steps to (^u'Appelle to tell Mr. McDoiiell that Mr. l{ohertson had refused c(jiiii)liaiice and that ^Ir, Cameron was still prisoner in his own house, attended by two of wis own servants. The Hud- son Bay mens' desire of glory was not sutisKed with their past achievements and as little was their avarice satisfied with all the jJnnder which they had ah'eady obtained. In the l)egiiinini]; of Ajiril an attem])t was made to take the North-West Company's house at Qu'Appelle, but McDomdl was j)repared to meet them and they had to retire without accom]»lishing their olyect. Hither- to we have seen the servants of the North-West Company submit to the attacks made on their ])i'o])t!rty and t^ven to the inqa'isoii- nient of their persons, witliout any violent resistance, although tliey hadl)een instructed by their council of the i)receding summer to defend their })roperty against all aggressors. However, after the attempt on the Post at Qu' Appelle, Mr. McL)onell, seriously impressed with the disorganised condi- tion into which the Xorth-West Conipany's business had been thrown by the destruction of their posts on the lower lied River, the plundering of their stores, the disjiersion of their servants and the captivity of their leader, set his mind to work to ])rovide such means as would enable him to evade (jr overcome the ditticulties of liis position. He knew that (Governor Semple and his i)eo})le were preparing for his interce])tion. The colony Fort comnumded the river. Its block houses were armed with a j)art of the field artillery brought from England in 18lo, and were so near the water's edge, that, even armed with musketry, no craft couhl ])ass in safety without the permission of those who occu})ied it. Tliese difhculties were neither overlooked nor despised Ijy Mr. McDonell who immediately ado])ted and began to ])ut in execution such plans as appeared to him to l»e best adapted for the i)rotection of the })eisons and j)ro])erty under his charge, and for the i»ur],ose of enabling him to accom})lish tliat object, he saw the necessity of having the number of his men increased. He sent messengers and letters to the North- West Company's agents on the Saskatche- wan and on Hwan Eiver, and his a])i)eal met with a favorable i.'pri 14S HISTORY OF MANITOBA. response. A number of men were sent from the above districts and those sent were hiilf-breeds (half-indians), the sons of French Canadian fathers by Indian mothers ; the major part of whom were no doubt Freemen who roamed over the plains and through the forests, following the chase, with few if any exceptions, desti- tute of the most trifling rudiments of civilization, and as barbarous as their aboriginal relatives among whom they lived. Unfortun- ately such were the auxilaries which were sent from all en the commun- ication, by land, between the stations on the Assiniboine and Lake Winnipeg, to effect that object. About sixty men, chiefly half- breeds and a few Indians were eacli provided with a horse, some bags of pemican were given them, part of which they were to use, the balance was to be given to the people, in the canoes, whom they were exi)ected to meet on their way down the river. On leaving Portiige la Trairie, Mr. McDonell gave them express orders to pass at a distance l>ehind Fort Douglas and the colony ; to molest no person, and, if possible, to avoid all observation. In pursuance of these orders, on the evening of the 19th day of June, 1816, the party proceeded by the edge of a swamp, about two miles from the Fort, with the intention of turning into the usual path, at a little distance below it. One half of the party had passed, if not unobserved, at least unpursued, and had reached Frog Plains, fully four miles below the Fort. Here they found a few colonists whom they detained as prisoners, but treated them well in every other respect. As the second party of the half- breeds, about one-half of the whole brigade, was passing down, they were, by the aid of a telescope, observed by a sentinel who was on the look-out (jn the top of the Fort, (rovernor Semple anxious, we may supi>ose, to execute his employers orders, saw the necessity of preventing, if possible, the North- West people who were up the river joining those who were expected to arrive from l)elow. This is the North- West Cumpany'sedition of the movements of the half-l»reeds up to the time they met Gov- ernor Sem]>le. And here we shall give the testimony of a gentleman who was present at the ill-advised and ever to be lamented conflict which took place between the rival parties on the 19th day of June, 1816. Mr. Pritchard in his narrative, says: — "On the afternoon of the 19th June a man in the "atch-house called out that the half-breeds were coming. The Governor, some gentlemen and myself looked through spy-glasses and saw dis- tinctly sc , e armed piirty, except to myself. The knife, the axe, or the ball put a period to the existence of the wounded ; and such horrible bar- barities were ])racticed on the bodies of the dead as characterises the inhuman heart of the sava^^v. The nnld and amiable Mr. Semple, lying on his side, his thii,di broken, and supporting his head on his hand, addressed the chief commander of our enemies by iiKpiiring if he was Mr. (Irant, and being answered in tiie aftirmative, said, " I am not nortally wounded and if you could get me conveyed to the Fort, I think I would live." (Jrant promised to do so ; and immediately left him in the care of a Canadian, who afterwards told that an Indian of their party came up and shot Mr. Semple in the breast. I entreated Mr. (rnint to })rocure me Mr. Semples watch or seals for the purpose of trans- mitting them to his friends, but I did not succeed. Our force amounted to twenty-eight men of whom twenty-one were killed and one \vounded. These were Governor Semi)le, Captain liogers, Mr. .Tai;ie8 White, surgeon; Mr. Wilkinson, pri- vate secretary to the Governor ; Lieutenant Holt, of the Swedish navy, and i\fi'. Alexander McLean, a settler, with fifteen laboring men. J. V. I'ourke was wounded in his retreat to the Fort. The enemy 1 am told, were sixty-two in mnuber, the greater part of whom wei'e the regularly engaged clerks and servants of the Xorth- West Com])any. They had one man killed and another wounded. ()ji the field 1 saw six of the Xorth-West Comi)any's Canadian servants, vi/. : JJoucluer, Morin, I )eschamp, Joseph Hesse, Magian, and Lavigne. All parties agTee that the lialf-lu'eeds were on horse- back when they passed down the country, and agree that Governor Semple mustered his men and followed the rofal that led north and parallel to Red River, in order to meet the Xorth-West Com- pany's men when they came to the road that led to the north. Semple's followers nnmbered twenty-eight or thirty men, most of them younu' lads unaccustomed to the use of fire-arms, and desti- tute, we may well supjtose, of that self-reliance which every expert and well trieil marksman possesses, even when confronted with the most imminL'nt danger. Sonu of the settlers pressed their be- loved Governoi' to grant tlum permission to accom[)any him, but JIISTOKY OF MANITOBA. 14ft he prudently refused their kind otters and enjoined on them tho necessity of remaining in the Fort with their families. While thus careful of the lives and eoinfuit of others, this conscientious and high-minded gentleman was constrained by his sense of honor and devotion to what he believed tt) be the injvlienable rights of hLs em])loyers, to leave his Fort and meet the j>arty that was |»a)wiug by. It is hkely that he and the North- West i)arty came at the same time, to the place known as the Seven Oaks. We shall now give the North- West Company's vei-sion of the aflair at the Seven Oaks, which is coiTobomted in almost every })articular by the settlers who were in the colony iit the time. This version states that on meeting the Hudson's Iky men, the half-breeds sent one of their numl)er, a Canadian named Bouchier, who spoke English, to encjuire of the Governor his object in pursuing them in a hostile mannei'. Bouchier rode up to the Governor, some words jtassed between them, upon which Mr. Semple took hold of Bouchier's horse by the bridle, disarmed him and ordered him to be tiiken i)risorer, anil that on his attempting to escape, the Governor ordered his men to fire immediately at Bouchier, and when his i)eople hesitated, seeing the danger they would incur in such a conflict, he was more pre- emptory in his commands, accusing them of cowardice for not immediately obeying. His orders were at last obeyed by some of his party and of the shots tired one passed by liouchier's ear iu i is flight, and another through the blanket of an Indian who was advancing in the attitude and with the language (jf friendship. Seeing hnnself thus treacherously assaulted, the Indian levelled his gun and fired in return, which example his i>arty folhjwcd, and the melancholy result of the conflict was that the Indians rushing in, Mr. Semple and aljout twenty of his people lost their lives, and one half-breed and an Indian on the other side. After the coalition of the two comi)anies, when i tarty interest required no longer to be propped up by any falrt'icalions that W(.)uld sprve that jiurpose, all parties agreed in acknowledging that the first shot was from Lieutenant Holt's piece which went oft' acci- dentally. On hearing the report, Bouchier fancied that he had been fired at and instinctively threw himself from his horse. His ,|»lt' 150 J{ I STORY OF MAiVITOHA. 1 i comjxinioiis lii'fiiiiielonging to the Earl of Selkirk, was to be taken possession of, for the indemnitiaition of the North- West Comjtany. While the negotiations were pending, the settlers had time to reflect. Tiiey considered the number and ferocity of tlieir enemies, they knew that they had large su[)plies of jrovisions within easy reach, they had heard of jiaitieauf Nuith- H18T0HY OK MANITdlU. Itti West jHiojile iKiing on their way U) the lied liiver, lK)tl) from th«- ii(»rth mid from Foil William. All these facts and Htiitementa after serious delibeiution, in(;lined them to aa'ei»tthe terms o tie itsd. In due time Mr. (imnt and a numlier of his men a|)]K'ared iH'fore the Fort. Mr. Ale.Kiinder j^IcDonell, aud a few of his |H;o|ile marched out lieaiing a white sheet tied to the end of a (Kile, which was made to do duty for a flag of truce. The parties met aud the treaty was ratified. The keys of the stronghold were formally handed to Mr. Orant, who entered in and took i)08session. Oixier was preserved and, as soon as convenient, an inventory of all the goods in the [ilace was taken, each sheet of the inventory l>oin|( signed as follows : '* Iteceived on account of the North-West Company !►▼ ino» Cuthl>eit (Jrant, clerk for the North-West ConiiMiuy." A coj)y of the inventory was given to Mr. McDonell, Mr. (iRiat. ke}>t another copy for the infomiation, or Itenefit, of his employers. In justice to Mr. (Irant's memory, and injustice to the feelinj^s of" his numerous and respectable descendants, we must say that the settlers, who were in the colony at the time saiil unanimously that Mr. (Imnt treated them with great kindness, and seemed to take pleasure in saying that, under the overruling of a kind jtrovidenoe, they owed the i»reservation of their lives and i)roperty to thai, gentleman's efforts in their behalf. After the F(jrt had been taken possession of, and some order uod confidence had l)een restored, Mr. Angus ^latheson, witii a few of the leading settlers, waited on Mr. (Jrant, and took the lilteity of vemonsti-ating with him on the inhumanity of leaving the remaiaji of those who had been slain, unburied, exposed U) dogs, wolves and vultures; at the same time requesting a gu.;rd, for protection, M'hile occupied in search for the dead and removiug them to the Fort. Mr. CJrant directed Mr. Matheson to take a [)arty of settlers witJi him, and go and bury the dead, assuring him, at the siiuie time, that none of his followers would molest them wliile jierfonn-. ing that sad duty. Being thus assured the party went forth and gathered up the scattered remains of eight or nine men who fell at the Seven Oaks. Among them they found the remains of their- kind fiit^nd and benefactor, (iovernor Semjile. After tliey saw the. .ill I' 3.L "rr — iiiilM. I m 154 HISTORY OK MANITOBA. 'ne that liiy before them they were enabled to form some faint io r,f the savage barbarity })racticed on the dead, and the merci- lesL . iielty that finished every wounded unfortunate that fell int*^ their liands. However distressing the task was to their feelings, these kind and devotrd friends, assisted liy a number of Pigeoi's friendly Indians, went to work, to perform the last sad duty t» their friends and countrymen. In many cases the mangled remains could not be removed and had to be interred where they lay. A few were taken to the Fort and buried in its vicinity. On the 22nd of June Mr. Alexander McDonell and his p-jople evacuated the Fort, leaving Mr. (Jrant and his followers in full possession. The vaiuiuished and retreating luirty were furnished ■with ])()ats and provided with ja-ovisions after which they bade farewell, for a time, to Fort Douglass. One of the North -West Comjiany's })eo])le was placed in each boat to show any marauders, half-breeds oi Indians, who might be lurking near the river for the purjMise of aimoying the fugitives, that they could not do so with- out being detected. While the l)oats were }>assing down the river, Mr. (hant, iiccompauied l)y a few of the most reliable of his men, rode down the plains keeping souje short distance in advance of the ))oats, escorting them until he thought that they were past all danger, when those escorts who were in the boats, landed and returned with Mr. (Irant to the Fort. The sorely distressed strangers passed on towards Lake Wiiniipeg, and on the morning of the '2'M'd met a large l)rigade of North-West Com])any's canoes •which were on their way uj» the Ked Iliver, and was no doubt the brigade expected by Mr. Alexander McDonell, and to which he sent the half-breeds with provisions, and for the ])urpose of pro- tecting them while ascending the river. Messrs. Alexander Mc- Ken/ie and Norman Archibald McLeod and Itobert H^nry, were in charge of the canoes. These gentlemen spoke kindly to their unfortunate countrymen and endeavored to persuade those among them, who were on their way to Hudson's Bay, to change their minds and accept a passage to Upper Canada, at the same time pointing out to them the great advantages they would enjoy in a country where civilization had made great progress, where persons and property were ])rotected by laws wisely enacted and etticiently HISTORY OF MANITOBA 155 executed. Some felt disposed to acce])t the ofters made by these new friends, l)iit the greater portion had firmly resolved on return- ing to their native mountains, and altliough ditt'ering in oi)inion, yet the ties of kindred and affection were too strong to permit them to se]iarate. They considered their ])rospect of success in Ee4 Fiiver hopeless while the country continued in such a state as prevailed during the last three years, which state was ushered in by the aggi'essive ])olicy tidopted by the Earl of Selkirk and the stern resistance witli which these aggressions were now met ])y the otlier party. While the emigrants and the North-West gentlemen were together, the latter took the lil)erty, according to the ini])roved morality of the times, of breaking open (iovernor Semjde's trunks, and of reading all the letters and papers which they found, and no doubt, kej)t all of them that might, at some future tinu% be turned to account in favor of their company. After this little business had been dis])atclied, a few prisoners taken and a few witnesses to give evidence in the Lower Canada law courts were embarked on board the canoes ; the colonists }>roceeded on to the lake, and arrived in due time safely and all well at Jack liiver, at the north end of Lake Winnipeg, where we shall leave them for the present. The north canoes, or some of them, proceeded up the river and found the Fort in possession of their own servants and dependents. After a stay of a few hours they returned for Fort William where they arrived on the 10th day of July. The North-West Company, thus accounts for this expedition which they sent into the interior at so unusual a period of the season : " Early in tlu- siiring rumors reached Fort \Vi!liam of the destruction of the pro- vision posts, and fearful that these aggressions miglit he extendeil to the interception of their trad? in the upiH>r Red River, the Saskatchewan, and even the trade from the north might he detained in the interior or easily sent down to York Factory, either of whi'h would ruin their immense trade throughout the Indian Territories, and, to prevent so dire a misfortune, an soon as the spring canoes arrived from MoutiTal, it was judged expedient to send a reinforcement to the relief of the servants and part- ners in the interior. For the accomplishment of that ohjei.t sixty men were dis- patched from Fort William in light canoes for the interior, with instructions to avail themselves of the aid of Indians it judged necessary." This brigade, as stated above, arrived in the lied Iiiver on the ,f III !i! _'l\l, 166 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. I ' morning of the twenty-third and after a short stay with the settlers at Netley Creek, a couple of canoes proceeded up the river, and, learning the navigation was now free for Mr. McDonell and his people, they returned to Netley Creek, and met a number of North- West partners, who had wintered at dift'erent places in the interior. These had arrived at their depot at I^ has de la Kiviere Winni- peg, but finding no provisions to supply them to Fort William, they manned a few light canoes and made for Red Kiver to get provisions, or find otit the reason why none was to be had, as in fonner years. After these met they turned their backs for the present on the Jled River and made for Fort William on Lake Sup* ior. The North-West Company's agents in Montreal knew that His Lordship of Selkirk, had engaged and regimented under two cap- tains, seconded by two lieutenants, about 140 mercenary foreign soldiers of De Meuron and WaWevile's regiments, with Mliom he intended to proceed to the Red River. The Indians and the Canadians (both the engaged and the free) could be easily persuad- ed that these were His Majesty's troops, placed at His Lordship's command to drive his rivals in trade out of the country. To counteract such idea or impression on the minds of their own servants and on the mmds of the Indians, they engaged two lieu- tenants of the discharged De Meuron's, and brouglit these two officers, in the light canoes, to the very scene of their contention. First, that their own servants and the Indians might see that they also had soldiers, and would be led to infer from that fact that the North-West Company was under the protection of His Majesty's Government, and in the second place, that these gentlemen, Wing independent of the contending parties, would have no interest in misref)resenting anything that might take place Ijetween the rivals, so far as the same would come under their observation. Thus, we have been minute in laying before the reader all the information that we have been able to collect, that threw any light on the feuds of those unhappy times. And we have been fortunate in being able to appeal, for our informatic n, to the testi- mony of living witnesses, and not reduced to uie necessity j)f Ill HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 187 I depending fur our knovvletlge of past events on the si>ecial plead- ing of interested parties. In nanating the transactions of the eventful summer of 1816, we cannot pass unnoticed a deplorable incident which o'^cured on the liiver VVinnij)eg. We have stated above that Mr. Owen Keveny came into Hudson's Bay in 1812, at the head of the Irishmen who came into the country that year. After passing one winter in Ked River, he returned to Ireland and came back in the faU of 1815 to Hudson's Bay, and passed the winti'r in the southern dei)artment. On the opening of navigation the following ripriug he had a boat fitted out at Albany, with a crew consisting of two half-breeds, the one a bowman, the other a steersman, in the middle were four Irishmen, making the usual number that are generally employed in working what is termed an inland boat. They made slow progress ; the Irishmen quarrelled among them- selves and were disobedient to their commanders. On their way up the river they met the inland boats going for the Bay with the proceeds of last winter's trade. In one of these was a young man who had fulfilled the term of his engagement with the Company, and who was on his way to th Factory, with the view of return- ing to his native land to assist his aged parents to numage their farm. Mr. Keveny commanded his constable, Tom Castello, to seize the young man, who, regardless of his entreaties, forced him into Keveny's boat. The Irishmen were noisy and refractory, and for the least umbrage given their irascible leader the unfortunate offending p-.rty would be made to run the gauntlet, and in cases of a graver character the culprit would be bound to a tree and receive a few strij)es on his bare back. Two sentinels weie posted every niglit : the duty of one of them was to stand with loa»led musket and fixed Ijayonet in the boat all night, the other sentinel had to walk liis lonely rounds before his chief's tent door, who ])assed the night in watching his sentinels. One of these unfortunate men, overcome l)y lassitude, sat down and fell fast asleep. Mr. Keveny, in true military style, went the rounds and found the man, to whose vigilance his personal safety had Ijeen entrusted, enjoying his rest He began to apply the toe of his boot to the defaulter's [)erson, for the purpose of restoring him to conscious- -il' ! !• i I I I ■ 158 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ness. The unhappy object of this rude assault, half asleep, started to his feet, but, before he could think of either flying or resisting, his tormenter seized the miserable man's bayonet and plunged it into his victor's hip. After this gallant exploit he retired to his tent, leaving the wounded man to staunch the bleeding as l)est he could. We shall mention one instance more of the manner in which Mr. Keveny treated his men. These poor fellows, deprived of rest by night and forced to toil at the oar and on the portages by day, it is not surprising that these over-N\Tought men should be over-come by sleep, when working under the oppressive heat of a July sun, from dawn to dark. Mr. Keveny could not endure these symtoms of weakness in man's physical nature, and to reauedy the evil tendency he decided on making an example of Hay, who fell fast asleep in his seat while holding the oar in his hand. To effect the remedy Mr. Keveny loaded his gun with powder and fired it in the sleeping man's face, at so close a distance that the skin was completely burnt and the countenance disfigured and blackened by particles of unexploded powder that lodged in the skin. However, in spite of all troubles and difficulties, as time passed on, they were approaching near to lied lliver, and in coming down English Eiver, near where it falls into Winnijieg Kiver, they met some Indians wlio informed them of the siaugliter at the Eed lliver, and of the departure of the settlers for Jack River. After the above information the two half-breeds, Hugh Liuklater and David Sanders, and the two or three families of Freemen who had accom])anied them from the Bay, with the intention of settling in the colony, turned Ixick under cover of the night, to rejoin the Indians whom they had passed on the ])receding day, judging tlmt if once there they would be far enough removed to render them secure from all molestation on the part (if their deserted master, who would at once see that there was no chance of his bein<> able with his h,.if-manned boat, to overtake the deserters. He, notwith- standing the weakness of his crew and the rough and dangerous nature of the navigation that intervened between him and Lake Winnipeg, proceeded on his voyage. Misfortunes often succeed each other, and so Mr. Keveny's experience fully ])roved. The next night all his men, except three, made their escape, and the HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 19» sorely giieved and irritated chief had to order his clerk, Mr. Colly, to steer the boat. Day after day did these four men work on rowing, carrying and launching the craft when they could not ven-i ture to descend by water, thus doing the work of seven or eight men. After a long and patient struggle they anived at the lower fall on the river Winnipeg, at a distance of fifteen or sixteen miles from the North- West Company's Fort at Bas de la River. (The H. B. Co. had no post at that place in the year 1816). These men were ignorant of the distance and of the nature of the road that lay Ixjtween them and the Fort ; but, as they were toiling on the porti age, an Indian woman, who was on her way up the river, (one of the men who was still with Mr. Keveny could speak the Indian language), was met, and they learnee performed on foot in half a day. During a day of hard labour they succeeded in getting the boat and cargo, before sunset, over the acclivity to the height of the portage. For the- first time, since they left Albany, their chief told them to cease labor. Some rations were dealt out to them and, contrary to the usual cust. served that he had not only gone to bed Init that he had fiiUen inta a sound slee}). Night s[)read lier sable mantle over forest, lake and stream, a few stjirs dimly twinkled through the broken clouds. The tiuie and situation were favorable for the accomplishment of their objecfc which was nothing less than emancipating themselves from the in- tolerable tyranny of their harsh and cruel master. They slung their all on their backs and directed their steps towards the North-West Company's Fort where they arrived at an early hour the following morning, and were received very kindly by the gentleman in charge of the place. The Orkneyman, more considerate than his : W ' ( 160 HFSTOKY OF MANITOBA. frijin'ls from the EineraM I.sle, and perluips more devoted to the pcrf')rmHnce (»f his duty, could not be persuaded by all that his com|)aniojis could say to leave his post and accompany them. He says, that while descendini,' the Uiver Winnipeg, he often wished for A Hi^ht with the North- West men, in which he mi<^ht chance to 5n(l an honorable termination to his miserable existence, yet, here he remained for some hours, his mind agitated by distracting fears VDtl sa li 162 HISTOriY OF MANITOBA. room, and a sentinel armed with one of his Lorship's muskets pla;ed at the door. After having been detained two or three nights at the Fort, he was sent off for Fort AVilliam in a canoe manned by three half-breeds, who were accompanied by another canoe with an equal number of men. Tht» day after Mr. Keveny's departure, the men who had formed part of his boat's crew and who were then at Bas de hi Riviere, wen', with five other men, sent up th > river to bring' down the boat and property, which consisted of a chest of arms, a distil, some casks of salt beef, flour, etc., with four calves which Mr. Keveny had taken from Osna- burgh for the purpose of raising stock in the colony. In due time the boat was taken to the Fort, and Mr. Colly, the clerk, being left without a master, and unable to go to any of the Hudson's Bay Company's Posts on Lake "Winnipeg, or to take the boat and property back, requested Mr. McLellan to take charge of the same. To this the latter gentleman agreed ; and the property being formally delivered, he gave his receipt to Mr. Colly therefor. This business being arranged, the Hudson's Bay clerk was desirous of returning to Albany and lost no time in applying to Mr. McLellan for a canoe and provisions. These also were granted, and Mr. Colly and James Corregan set out for Hudson's Bay, where they arrived safely in the beginning of October, in the year 1816. We have stated that after a few days detention at Bas de la Riviere, Mr. Keveny had been sent off for Fort "William, and the day after his boat and cargo were brought to the Fort by one Primo, who delivered to Mr. McLellan Mr. Keveny's papers, books, a wine flagon, a candlestick, cups, and some other little things ; and took for his own benefit the clothing left by Mr. Keveny when he was sent off for Lake Superior. Among the papers were found printed instructions from the Hudson's Bay Company. Here we may observe, that Mr. Keveny's boat had been fitted up m warlike style ; she carried a blunderbuss of formidable length and calibre on her bow, which turned on a pivot i IIISTORV OF MANIT03A. 165.' and could b(> ])rought to bear on any point either to the right or to the left. It carri(?d a large chest of muskets and bayonets, cartridge boxes and ammunition in great abund- ance. This boat was altog(»th(n' dill'erent, in its warlike equipment, from any that navigated those waters bi^tore its time or since, until the OOth and the Canadian volunteers came in ])y the Iviver Winnipeg, in 1870. TVe are informed in De Reinhard's declaration and confession, made before the Earl of Selkirk, at Fort William, on the third day of November, 1816, that the half-breeds who had be'Mi sent oti' with Keveny had been furnished with hand culls to bind their prisoner if he should become unmanageable, and further on in the same declaration we find these words : — I have learned afterwards from the half breeds that, having arrived at the Portage, the prisoner became so ui.ruly that they were under the necessity ot putting him in irons. The rest of the unfortunate Owen Keveny's deplorable history we gather from other depositions taken at Fort William before the Earl of Selkirk, in October of the same year. Baptiste Lapointe's and Hubert Faye's depositions agree- in the leading facts given in their evidence. Both say that they left Lac la Pluie in M r. Alexander McDonell's canoe, who was on his way to Red River, where he was to pass the winter. When they arrived at Pine Point they met five Bois-BruUb in two small canoes, with a mon whom they called Keveny in hand cufl's and with his wrists swollen, and, who, the Bois-BnVes said, had been made prisoner because he had killed two or three of his men. Mr. McDonell ordered Lapointe and Faye to take charge of the prisoner, and placed with them in the canoe an Indian named Joseph^ to guide them to Lac la Pluie. After nine days' travelling including stoppages, they met Mr. Stuart and the English River partner, Mr. Thomson, a few miles above Rat Portage. These gentlemen told them to turn back ; but their little canoe not being able to keep up with the brigade they wero obliged to land. The Indian, who from the first had attempted to kill Mr. Keveny, again levelled his piece but 1 1 1 164 HISTOEH' OF MANITOBA. l.r! was pivv'eiitod. lit; l>ooame 80 oxasponited at (his disap- poiiitiaent, and also heoauso tho two ('anadiun.s had at dill'orcnt timeis provt'iitod him from killing- Mr. Koveny, that he knocked the canoe to pieces with his paddle. Being now without a canoe, the Indiai: bought another for a blanket, in which he em])arked with the two Canadians, hniving- Mr. Keveny on the shore. Then they set out for llm de la Riviere, and after prooeed- ing till night the Indian, who had attempted to kill both the Canadians, left them, and the Canadians having lost their canoe remained in that place four days. At the end of that time a canoe arrived with Mr. Archibald McLellan, Mr. Grant, Mr. Keinhard and Mr. Cadoi, with five or six Boia Brttles, accompanied by their constant attendant, the Indian Joseph, sitting on the front of the canoe, wrapped in a Scotch plaid. Alter several questions about the Indian and the prisoner, the deponent, Baptiste Lapointe, informed Mr. Archi- bald that they hfv parted with the Indian because he wanted to kill the prisoner and had been prevented by the white men, and that in revenge ho had made an attempt to kill them, when they fought and separated. On hearing this tale Mr. Cadot called them sacres salots for preventing the Indian doing what he had been ordered to do. Mr. McLellan having come on shore at that moment, took a i)ole and beat the two Canadians. Being ordered to embark in the canoe they arrived the same day, or the day after, at the place where they had left Keveny, but he was no longer there. They found him, however, four or live leagues higher up the river among some Indians. After .some conversation between Mr. McLellan and those of their canoe, he ordered them to embark. So says Lapointe's evidence. Hubert Faye says : After some consultation Mr. Archi- l)ald bought a small canoe for some rum, and Tob ordered them to embark at once, which they did, leaving behind the Tndian Joseph, Mr. Keinhard (the Boi&-BruU), Mainville IJI3T0RV OF MANITOBA. 16S aiul Mr. Kevoiiy, with the small cunoo. Mr. MrLfllaii and crew, as stated almve, proci'odod on thoir journey, but did not travel beyond three leagues before they put to shore, and soon after saw the small tanoe approacliini!; ; and as there were only three persons then in it the Jhns-Bru/e.i said they have at last killed Mr. Keveny, which Mainville, when he arrived, confirmed by saying that the bullet had passed through his neck, and that he had been stabbed in the ])ack by Reinhard and had fallen on the canoe. This is what the two Canadians heard from Main vilie's relation of the manner i 1 which the ill-fated Mr. Keveny was murdered. Mr. Keinhard's declaration and confession, made to Captain D'Orsonnens, was much more in detail. The latter was then in possession of the North-West Company's Fort at Lac la Pluie, at the head of a number of Canadians and DeMeurons, in the Earl of Selkirk's service. Reinhard states that he received a copy of the Governor's proclamation, which was brought up from Canada by his Lordship, and circulated among his subordinates. This proclamation was founded on an Act passed in the Eritish Parliament in the 43rd year of the reign of George the Third, entitled : — An Act for extending the Jurisdiction of the Courts of Justice in the Provinces of Lower Canada and Upper Canada to the trial and punishment of persons guilly of crimes and offences within certain parts of Vorth America adjoining to these Provinces. It is amengsi other things enacted and declared that from and after the passing of the said Statute, all offences committed within any of the Indian Territories, or parts of America not within the limits of the said Provinces of Lower or Upper Canada, or of any civil government of the United Slates of America, shall be deemed to be offences of the same nature, and shall be tried in the same manner, and subject to the same punishment, as if the same had been committed within the Provinces of Lower or Upper Canada. Here we have given the Act, and hereafter we shall place the proclamation before the reader. A few hours after Reinhard received the letter and its accompanying document, his old friend and companion in arms arrived at the Fort with a number of Hudson's 13ay Company's canoe-men and DeMeurons, who took forcible 166 HL-JTORY OF MAN'ITUFU. I i lit) li! Ill I •possi!8siou of it lor hiw Lordship ofSolkirk, who hud hecomf iriiistcr of the most iiiii>ortiint (l»»iW)t, except Fort William, which the North-West Comp.iny occupied in the Indian Territories. We shall leave the galltint Cai)laiii and his DeMeurous ior th> ])resent, and turn our uttention to his Lordship's operations after his arrival at Montreal, in the fall of 1815, where he passed thcs winter months occupied in engai^ing" 4j()f/nf^e/irs and clerks for the I'ur trade, and in enlistinn- ■soldiers an ilicers, among whom the most conspicuous was Captain D'Orsonnens ; next to him was Captain Matthey. Lieutenants Fauche, Graffenried and some others followed the example set before them by their inconsiderate leaders. " They spread their troops in every direction, driving the peaceable inhabitants before them, and spreading alarm and terror among the women and children by their horrible shouts and exclamations. They placed two pieces of cannon in the centre of the Fort and sentinels in all quarters. All the while the above gentlemen did not offer any resistance, but, on the contrary, patiently submitted to the outrageous and lawless conduct of their assailants. " They were then carried off' to the Earl's camp, and guarded by an armed force. Had the least thought been entertained of making resistance, nothing would have been easier than to have done so, and to have exterminated the whole of Lord Selkirk's band, for at the time the Earl made his appearance we mustered nearly three times the number of his people, and were provided with more than sufficient means of defence ; ])ut no such thing was ever contemplated or even suggested, in i:)roof of which, the sale, and even the usual daily distribution, of liquor to the men, was i)ositively forbidden. The Fort was now in the utmost degree of dis- order, at the discretion of the intoxicated and infuriated soldiers, and if no blood was shed on this occasion neither Lord kjelkirk nor his people have any claim to the credit of it. About eight, p.m., our gentlemen returned, having, as I understood, engaged with Lord Selkirk to go back next day to his camp in order to undergo an examinat'on. I omitted to mention that, after our gentlemen had been carried oft, Mr. McNabb, one Mr. Allen (the Earl's medical attendant). ■' 't HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 177 .'!:< I I accompaniocl by Captain D'Orsoniiens, proceodi'd to the Korth-Wost Company's oflico, and thoro pro.sontod a warrant jvddrossed to tho chiot' clerk, with ordors to seal up all the paper?'. This being complied with, they went into Mr. Mc- Grilli\ ray's private room and did th(»same, and subs(Hpiently into the rooms of all the befbre-nam»Ml aentlemen. When the gentlemen returned to the Earl's civmji, they expostulated on the inj'ury done to their business by the presen(N' of the troops in the Fort, and insisted on their being withdrawn, which was only partly complied with, and a guard of twenty soldiers was left under the command of ]-.ieut. Graifenreid. " The general terror, the uncertainty as to what were the Earl's designs, and the acts of violence and infringement of all law and order, which nad been already committed, made us all pass a night of fear and anxiety. On the mor'v ing of the 14th of August, 1816, the partners in the North- West Company drew up a protest against the acts of violence committed the day before, which was in the followi. terms : — ■\Ve, the undersieined agents and partners of the Xortb-West Company, beinp this dhj, the fourteenth of August, 181(5, in a body assembled at Fort William, in the District of Kaministiqiia, do hereby formally protest against fi.e violtnt pro- ceedings done and committed upon our persons and property iit the above mentioned place in the afternoon of the abjve mentioned day, by a troop to the number of fifty to sixty, disbanded and intoxicated soldiers, formerly belonging to the Regiment of DeMeuron, and at present in the service and pay of the Earl of Selkirk, headed by Captain D'Oraonnens and Lieutenant Fauchc, and afterwards joined by Cap'ain Matthy and Lieutenant GriefFenreid, who forcibly entering the Fort gate, spread out their troops in every direction having their b'lyonets fixed and shouting a most horrid hurra ! which spread a general terror amongst the inhabitants of the Fort, after which they placed two pieces of cannon in the centre of the Fort, and sentinels in all quarters, and proceeded by order of the Earl of Selkirk with armed force ; leaving there one Dr. Allan, his Lordship's medical attendant, at their head, to seal up the papers and desks in the North- West Company's office and those of the private rooms of the agents We do therefore most soleiunly protest agaiust these acts of violence, and against all those whom it may concern. (Signed) WM. McGILLIVRAY, KEXNETH McKENZIE, JOHN McDonald, SIMON ERASER, " In conformity with their engagement to Lord Selkirk the previous night, our gentlemen were preparing to embark in order to proceed to his Lordship's camp, when a strong reinforcement of troops arrived from the other side, headed l ALLAN McDONELL, JOHN Mclaughlin-, HUGH McGILLIS, DANIEL McKENZIE. »l^ ^'(l|^ IM 178 IIISTailV (IF MANITOBA. \i li by Oiiptaiii Matthy, with (ho intclligonco that tho Earl would isooii be at (he Fort; and in less than half an hour afterwards he macb; his appearance with his body f]^uard. After he entered the hall in the mess-room, Mr. McGillivray handed to the Earl the above mentioned protest, which he read. An arintHi force of the 37th Jtegiment was stationed within and wi(hout doors. The Earl enquired who were the clerks in charge of the concern in the absence of the proi)rietors ; James McTavish and myself were named, which the l^larl approved of. His Lordship went with Mr. McTavish into the ofhce, where he entered into close con- versation with his Surifeon and Captain D'Orsonnens. Then he went into Mr. McGiliivray's apartment and to the different rooms occupied by the pioprietors in order to examine the seals put on the day before, after which he was in long and close conversation with his olHcers in the court yard of the Fort. He returned and ordered all the prisoners to be closely confined to their rooms ; and took a room for his own quarters in the mess house. Mr. McGillivray represented to him the necessity of allowing the clerks to proceed with their regular business, and that therefore the seals should be taken from off their desks, and the contents examined. His Lordship answered, that there were things of the utmost importance to be settled first, and then placed sentinels with fixed bayonets before the doors of all the partners. The Earl applied to me to give him an explanation of the various buildings in the Fort ; but I told him it was out of my power, as I was a stranger at the place. He then went round to take a full view of the Fort. I followed him. One Chatelain met him and took him aside. He returned into the Fort ; and, a heavy shower coming on, I took him into Dr. McLaughlin's house for shelter. " His Lordship was very inquisitive, enquiring as to the number of cattle, the produce of the harvest, &c. After the rain, he went to his room in the mess house, with Captain D'Orsoiinens, Captain Matthy and his Surgeon, who, in all respects, seemed to be his principal confidants and principal agents. After some time he came out and asked me to go for Mr McTiwish, who came and complied with his Lordship's req!-\est in explaining the use and contents of all the build- ings in the Fori. The bell rang for dinner. The prisoners received their dinners, eachj in his own room. During dinner, his Lordship and his party were very busy about on, Lild- HISTOSV OF MAN'lTOnA. 17» tho Fort, and carried oiF about oiohty ftuiis bfloiiMino- to the North-AVost Compaixy. An order was thou issued to all our men to carry all their canoes into the Fort, and break up fheir camp, no oni^ beinu' allowed to encamp or remain any loiiLier on this side of the river. His Lordship asktnl mi» it I knew the proprietors who were under conlinement. I an- swered ill the aliirmative. He told me it was necessary they should all be placed in one house, and pointed out the winterinL*- liouse, to the rii^'ht of the mivss house, as one that would answer the purpose. He requested me to accompany his constable, McNabb, to net the j^entlemen together anil convey them to their new prison. I took the liberty to observe to his Lordship that I should lind it rather a diflli- cult task to act in concert with his constable ag-ainst my employers, and be£^i»ed to be excused acceptinu' such a degrad* iiig office. His Lordship said he had plenty people oi' his own to perform this duty, but that perhaps they would do it in a less delicate manner. I answered his Lordship, that as for that I had not the least doubt, but could not possiblv comply with his request. Soon after I saw John McDonald conducted by an armed force, from his own room to the wintering house ; Allan McDonell was conducted thither in the same manner ; and in a few moments after I had the mortification to see Mr. McGillivray turned out of his private room, with his bau'gage. and carried away also, guarded by an armed force with fixed bayonets, to the winter house The mess-house being now cleared of all our gentlemen I went in, and found a person of the name of Lorimier, one Chatelain and the well known Williamson, all three agents of his Lordship, regaling themselves in the larder. " After this a new warrant was issued for searching the private rooms of the gentlemen who were in prison, to seize all arms, under the frivolous pretext that information had been given that a quantity of papers had been burnt the night before and a number of arms concealed. I accom- panied the searchers to every room ; John McDonald's room, being locked, was forcibly broken open with an axe by the constable and his party. " The search, sealing of papers and trunks, seizure of arms, etc., lasted past twelve o'clock at night. These articles were all sealed in my presence, and next to the Earl's seal I put mine. They were carried to his Lordship's apartment in the mess-house. An order was issued on the evening of Li 1 i I i) eople encamped before the Fort, and all the North-\\\'st Com[»any's servants were driven across the river and were not permitted to enter the Fort, even to re- ceive their rations, without an order from one of the military to the sentinel. The most almsive lang'iuiiie was made u^o of towards us by tht»se soldiers, who seemed to be thirsting for tumult ami bloodshed. Two loaded i)ieces of artilh'ry were placed before the gate of the Fort and comnninded the opposite shore, to keep our peoi)le there in awe. About ten o'clock, a m , the Karl proceeded to examine the prisoners, on whose behalf Lieutenant's Missaiu and lirumbyand Captain ^latthy were nominated as members of the court, and on the Earl's behalt, Mr. McNabb, l^orimier and another ; Dr. Allan a'ld Spencer acted as clerks. It is w^orthy of observation that Mr. Spencer was a prisoner, and was to be tried before the Court of King's Bench in Montreal the following month. The examination lasted till seven in the evening without interruption. Daniel McKenzie's examination was post- jioned till the morning ; several of our men were dragged from their huts and lodged in prison. " On the 18th, in the afternoon, canoes and crews were ready to go to ^Lontreal with the prisoners. Their baggage was taken out of the Fort and exposed on the wharf. Lefore the gentlemen embarked they were condemned to pass through a ceremony, which may in itself be considered a most cruel punishment. They were, one after another, carried from the jmson to his Lordship's tent, which had been emptied for the purpose, and here their baggage was opened and strictly searched. Some papers which, when thti first search was made, were said to be of no consequence, their testimentary depositions and their money were taken from them without mercy, and under the smiles of Captain D'Orsennens. After this two soldiers w^ere ordered to search their persons, and one of them had the impudence to put his hands into the pockets of Dr McLaughlin's trousers. Mr. McGillivray suli'ered very much from this harsh and un- li' :: HISTOUV OF MANITUBA. 181 worthy trt\itmt»nt, which was nu'g'ravatod ]>y Lord Selkirk n.'l'usiiiii- lo K't his own servant j^o with him. Alter this they were sent oli' in threooanot's, and a fourth lollowed with si)ldiei8 as a i^uard," Vandorsliiys q-oes on to say : *' All our bravo and faithful men, who were spectators of their depar- ture, were silent as the ^rave, not from any awe of Lord Sel- kirk's overwhelmin<5 po\N er or of his military precautions and martial law, but from the natural fetdiiii^s of th«'ir hearts, the unaltennl respect they bore their masters, and from the rem«'mbrance of their kiiulness. *' The North- West clerks in charj^e at Fort AVilliam, applied to his Jiordship for permission to send oil' their canoes, both to the interior with goods for the Indian trade and the furs to Montreal, but his Lordship did not condescend to return an answer to their request. The same request was pressed on his Lordship in an interview which we had with him after the partners had been sent oil". His Lordship pretended that he could not authorize this without being provided with our invoices of the goods intended for the interior, and, although we were convinced he had no right to ask such a thing, yet we complied with it, not in consideration of his person nor through servile fear and obedience to his unlaw- ful demands, but for the benelit of the North-West Com- pany's trade, and in order to secure the utmost despatch. When he was in possesion of the invoices he demanded to see the goods. We took this as a favoural)le omen, and ex- pected that our entreaties would no longer be laughed at, but ultimately complied with, [ii this, however, as well as in all that he did, he acted hypocritically; and this is the man who boasts of the protection he has afforded the North- West Company's property by not suilering his soldiers to pillage. On being shown into the stores his Lordship was very curious to know th^ tarilf ; but I told him 1 could not justify myself in complyi/jg with his request. I pressed his Lordship lor his early deci.sion with regard to the despatch of the goods. In his evasive \ ay he gave me some faint hopes, but he meant nothing by it beyond killing time. Under pretence of a search warrant, McNabb and McPherson got possession of the keys of the stores and warehouses. I de- manded to see this warrant, which demand was very reluctantly complied with. After perusing it, 1 observed to them that they had acted contrary to the tenor of their war- rant, and that I therefore protested against their taking pos- •t hi.' 132 HISTOKY OF MANITOBA. session of the keys, and urged the postponing the search till next day ; that the warrant A'ery distinctly stated that the constables should enter in the day time in+o the North- West Company's stores and warehouses and there search, etc., but the warrant by no means authorized them to seize the keys of those buildings in the middle of the day and carry them off. Tht^refore, I insisted on the keys being immediately returned, and (hose of the provision store being still in my possession, I resolutely refused to give them up, and declared I should hold those who had the superintendance of those stores answerable for the conse- quence in case they gav«^ way to the illegal demands of the constables. Md'herson went then for the Earl, who came in a great passion enquiring who had opposed those keys being put into ihe justody of his constables. I came Ibr- ward and told him it was I, and that so long as I remained in charge of the North- West Company's concerns, 1 never would sanction such illegal actions ; that I did not by any means intend to oppose the executions of legal warrants or obstruct legal measures adopted by him in his capacity as magistrate ; but, that at the same time my duty was im- perative, and that as long as I had the power I would stand forward to protect the property entrusted to my care again.^t any illegal attack. The Jilarl then frivolously jiretended that this warrant could have no ellect without his being in possession of all the keys, adding that he had studied the laws of his country too well not to know them better than a foreigner 1 observed that my being a foreigner had never been against me in the eyes of every man of sense, xnd that I certainly corJ'essed I was not lawyer enough to see and to explain in how Mar he could in this case and upon this Avarrant exteiid his authority, but that nothing could be plainer than that an order to enter in the day time into a certain place, and there to search f3r certain goods, could not be explained to mean to seize all the keys of such place and carry them olf. He threatened that it the keys were not at once given up that he would force them from me by military force and coercion. 1 told him that they should not be put in his possessioii until he did so, and 1 insisted on the warrant being put in execution without delay ; that it was full day-light (half-past four pm) and that 1 was ready to give his constables access to any place that he desired to search, ^dy determination had the desired effect ; HISTORY OF MANITOiJA. 18a his Lordship lowered his tone, and we proceeded to examine the provision store, where none of the goods sought after were found, and the keys of these buildings remained with me. It being now too late to search the other build- ings, I agreed with the constables that all the keys should remain this night in my possession in a box, of which they should have the key, which was agreed to by them : and that we should resume on the following morning at six o'clock. " Among other representations made the next morning to the Earl we told him that if our men remained eight days longer on the ground we should be short of provisions, and that our fishermen being prevented from pursuing their avocations, very much contributed to diminish the stock of provisions on hand ; but, as usual, our remonstrances had no etfect — indeed, no notice had been taken of them. " The Earl now occupied two rooms in the mess-house. Two soldiers, with fixed bayonets, were stationed in the hall when we took our meals. "At this time, 2 Jth of August, 181G, there were in the fur shed at York Factory from forty to fifty packs of furs marked " K. K.", which had been taken from the ISorth-West Company's storehouse the previous year at Fort Gibraltar and at Pembina. " Before six o'clock on the following morning we pro- ceeded to search the stores for the furs stolen. Upon enter- ing the fur store they found a vpst quantity of peltries, some packed and others not. They saw the dilHculty of their enterprise, and in order to put it off and to kill time and to throw the North-West Company's concerns into confusion, new and arbitrary orders were issued by Lord Selkirk to search the stores again, which had been gone through, under the pretext that furs, papers, or other articles might be concealed in the bales of dry goods. I, however, refused to adnr/ them again, as they had once already in their capacity of constables declared that they were satisfied the objects of their search were m)t there. The ]']arl issued new warrants of the same tenor as the one numtioned with the addition of the indelluite words 'and various other articles.' I had been at one of the warehouses wh(»re they were searching for papers or arms in suspicious places, as they thought proper to cull them, and all this aiithorized, instigated and ordered by a man vost<*d with the dignity of t HtHld 184 HISTOaV OP MANITOBA. lii WW. ii tilii.d the snperintendance of the buildings and farm, representtd to his Lordship, that his people had carried oH'and burnt a great part of the pickets iuid fences. Lord Selkirk replied that it was what might be expected wheii they were not supplied with fuel " 1 went to see the Earl on the morning of the 2 1st, and mentiouiHl to him that the dry goods stores had been searched a second time, so that there could be no longer any obstacle to sending otl" our goods ; but, as usual, new pretexts and new difhculiies were started, and in consequence of this we .sent him, in the afternoon at four o'clock, a prote.'-t •'Bail was offered on the same day for Daniel McKenzie, hut refused. Early in the morning a canoe arrived from Montreal, w^th dispatches for the Company ; they were taken from the guide and put into the custody oi a soldier of the 37th Regiment. When informed of this T addressed the Earl of Selkirk as follov^'s : — 1^ >i tUsJr^J^^' HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 185 To the Right Honourable the Earl of Selkirk, Justice oj the Peace . Mv. Lord, — Whereas a canoe arrived tlii3 morning from Montreal with de- spatches for the North-West Comiuiny, and which have been taken by Captain Matthy from the bearer of them and placed under the charpe of a sentinel, we take the liberty to apply to your Lordship in order to know the reason of such proceed- ings, and to have the aforesaid despatches delivered to us. " After breakfast his Lordship sent word that he wanted to see us. lie informed us that the de.spatches had been seized upon the same principle as the other papers of the Norih-West Company, and were equally liable to be exam- ined. I questioned the legality of this, as the despatches could not have been included in his former warrant, and no new one havinii' been served. He also communicated to us that he had received our protest of the previous day, adding that we were ourselves greatly the cause of the delay which was put to the forwarding of the goods, for not having put him in possession of the invoices of the goods intended for the interior. I'he mask is only torn as yet ; it will soon be completely thrown olf. At this interview he handed in the lollowing letter : — FoKT William, Aug. 22nd, 1816. Gk.ntlkmkn, — Id order to obviate the possibility of any mistake, I beg to have your answer in writing to this query. Whether the thirty-four paciis of furs marked R R., which you have printed out as those set apart by order of the agents of the Ncrth-West Company, are to be given up to the Hudson's Bay Company as their property, and whether on this principle, you are ready to send them down to Montreal, consigned to Messrs. Maitland, Gardner & Auldjo, agents of that Com» pany To J. C. McTavish and Jasper Vandkrslcys. I am, &c., &c Sklki: " The following answer was given : — In reply to the letter which was handed to us this morning, personally, by your Lordship, we beg to state that the thirty-four packs of furs marked R.R , which have been set apart from the peltries of thd N.W.Oo., cannot be given up as H.B.Co's property, but that we are ready to Sjnd them down to Montreal to the care of some house unconnected with both Companies. '■ AVe received word that his Lordship intended to proceed to tlie examination of the box with the despatches, which was done accordingly. The contents were principally the rroclamadom of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, and a few private letters which his Lordship took into his own private keeping.' = i||!|l|(^ 186 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. Here we shall, for the benefit of our readers, add a verbatum copy of the Proclamation, viz : — Proclamation. Whereas, in and by a certain statute of tlie Parliament of the United Kiner- dora of Great liritain and Ireland, made and j)as3cd in the forty-third year of His Majesty's Keign, entitled ' An Act for extending the j'lri-^diclion of the Courts of Justice in the Provinces of Lower and Upp'ir (Canada, for the trial and punish- ment of persons g;iilty of crimes and offences within certain j'arts of .Vortli America, adjoining to the said Provinces :".It is, amongst otlier things, enacted and declared that from and af'er the passing of the said statute, ' All offences committed within any of the Indian Territories, or parts of America not within the limits of either of the said Provinces of Lower or Upper Canada, or of any Civil Government of the United States of America, shall be and be deemed to be oflfjnces of the same nature, and shall be tried in the same manner and subject to the same punishment as if the same had been committed within the Provinces of Lower or Upper Can- ada ; And whereas, under and by virtue of the above in part recited statute. Justices of the Piace have bien duly nominated and appointed, with power and authority to apprehend within the Indian Territories aforesaid, and to convey to this Province of Lower Canada f)r trial, all and cvcy person and persons guilty of any crime or oiTence whatsoever; And wl- rea'?, there is reason to believe that divers breaches of the peace by acts of force and violence, have lately been com- mitted within th3 aforesaid Indian Territories and the jurisdiction of the aforesaid Justices of the Peace ; I have, therefore, thought, by and with the advice of His Majesty's Executive Council of and for the Province of Lower Canada, to issue this Proclamation for the purpose of bringing to punishment nil persons who may have been or shall be guilty of any such act cr acts of lorce or violence as aforesaid, or of other crime and offence whatsoever, and to deter all others from following their pernicious example, hereby requiring all his Majesty's subjects, and others within the said Indian Territories, to avoid and to discourage all acts of force and violence whatsoever, and all proceedinfrg whatever tending lo produce tumults and riots, or in any way to disturb the pi'blic peace. And I do hereby strictly charge and command all Justices of th'' Peace, as aforesaid, nominated and appointed und-. r and by the above mentioned statute, and all Magistrates throug'ioit this Province, and do require all others His Majesty's subjects generally, in their res[)cctive stations, to make search to dis- cover, apprehend and commit, or cause to be committed to lawful custody for trial in due course of law, pursuant to the piovisions in the above mentioned statute contained, all persons who have been or shall be guilty of any act or acts of force and violence as aforesaid, or of any other crime or crimes, offence or ofifences, within the said Indian Territone.^, to the end that the laws may be carried into prompt execution against all such offenders for the preservation of the peace and good order therein. Gi' CM under my hand and seal at the Cast!,? of St. Louis, in the City of Quebtc, 'I li-e haio Pr ivince of Lower Canada, the sixteenth day of July, in the year of Our L-irl one ti o isand eight hundred and sixteen, and in the hfty-sixtb year of His Majc:t;,'s Reign. (.Signed) J. C. ,Siikub!:ookr. By H'.> ?xi.9U';n.'.y's .- .mmand. J .-UN Tav.-'^.iI, D.;puty Secretary. Quebec ^rr^'i'e. " i HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 18T Having sot the Govprnor Gonerars rroclamation and thi> transactions which had alroadv taken place at I'ort "William before the reader, we shall follow tlie North-West Company- gentlemen in their long, disagreeal)le and daniivrous voyage to the ;^^-ir^ons in Canada, to which his Lordship's warrnnts had consigned them. They were embarked in three of their own canoes, a fourth followed with a score or so of Df- Menron soldiers to prevent their escape. One of the canoes has been represented as greatly inferior in size to the canoes ordinarily nsed in navigating the great lakes. In this canoe twenty-one persons had been embarked ; three of these were partners, viz., Kenneth McKenzie, Allan McDonell and Dr. John McLaughlin. They had proceeded some distance on their way towards Sault St. Marie, when, making a traverse, they were overtaken by a storm. The canoes had to change their course, but before they could make the land the smallest canoe sunk, and unfortunately seven of the crew and Mr, McKenzie, one of the passengers, were drowned. The rest were picked up and saved. For some reasons, the guards were ordered to convey them to Sandwich, in the w^est district of Upper Canada, where warrants directed their committal to the common gaol. However, after a tedious jouri.ey on their route to Sandwich, they had to pass through Little York (the Toronto of to-day), and the Judges and Attorney-General being on their circuit at Kingston, " e Governor ordered the guards to take them thither. The Judges, finding the crimes with which the prisont^rs were charged in the warrants, were alleged to have ^ en committed in the Indian Territories, the Governor dir ted them to be taken to Montreal. On their arrival thev' i iiey were brought to trial before the Court of King's Bench ; the most vindictive arguments were urged for their commit- ment. The crimrs imputed to them were no less than high treason, conspiracy and murder. However, they were, with- out hesitation, admitted to bail; and thus frustrated his Lordship's plan for subjecting his commercial rivals to a long and degrading imprisonment. Ultdli il 188 IKSTORV OF MANITOBA. 1 1 ' !M^ At the time of these troubles, Canada was divided into two Provinces. The Governor General had his residence at Quebec, the seat of military power. What is now known as Ontario was then, to a great extent, an unknown, pathless wilderness, without any facilities for land travelling-; so travellers had to perform their journeys in canoes by the circuitous water communication allbrded by the lakes and rivers, requiring months to perform journeys that can now be accomplished in a few days. Sir John Sherbroke did not like to act without consulting Mr. Gore, the Civil Goverr.or of the Upper Piovince ; and the Civil Governor could not undertake any responsibility until he had first obtained the Governor-in-Chief's advic^e. This unsatisfactory state of affairs necessarily created great delay, and Mr. William Mc- G-illivray saw that the navigation would be closed before any measur'^s could be taken, in consequence of the meeting of the two Governo.o. He determined to follow the ordinary legal process for redress ; warrants were granted by a magistrate of the western district of Upper C nada, on evi- dence of Lord Selkirk's outrages, and Mr. Smith, the under Sheritr, with an assistant, was ordered to carry them into execution. Mr. Smith proceeded forthwith to join M. de Kocheblave at the Sault, ])ut so much time had been lost in making these various arrangements that the plan was en- tirely frustrated by the lateness of the season, M. de Roche- bhive with his party reached the Sault St. Marie on the nineteenth day of October, and hav.ng no information of the I r oceedings at Quebec or in Upper Canada, as a preliminary measure, he sent on to Fort William a constable and twelve men, with criminal warrants issued against Lord Selkirk and the DeMeuron oflicers, by Dr. Mitchel, of St. Joseph's. The constable arrived at Fort Willian on the seventh Novem- ber, and executed the warrant by arresting Lord Selkirk and the foreign oliicers. At first his Lordship hesitated at the course he should pursue, but, possibly, considering he had gone too far to recede, and knowinir the constable had not HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 18& and .salliciont Ibivo to compi'l his sul^misi-ion, ho rolused obfdi- t'liee to his authority and made the eonslal)Ui prisoner, plac- ing him under a g'uard ot sokliers for a few days, alter ^vhich he was ordered to leave the Fort. M. de liochi'blave and his party, on account of the lateness of the season and scar- city of provisions, had to set out on their return to Canada. In Lake Huron they met the sheriff, Mr. Smith, on his way to join them. They immediattdy returned to the ^Sault and embarked on board the North-AVest si-hooner, tlio Invinrible, to cross Lake Superior. A gale of wind ensuing, the scohooner was totally wrecked on the 13th November. The crew and passengers were saved, but having no other con- veyance and being unable to continue their attempt to reach Fort William, they were obliged to return, and arrived at Montreal on the 23rd December, after a most fatiguing journey performed chiefly on foot. The noble Earl having, as we have seen abov-v sum- marily disposed of the constable and his men, rei-.ciined "monarch of all he saw" in quiet posse.ssion of the North- West Company's chief depot with all its accumulated stores of trading good 3 and provisions, and like a skilful com- mander extended his depredatory excursions to the surround- ing trading posts taking forcible possession of their contents and carrying the gentlemen, whom he found in charge of these diiierent places, into captivity, not even sparing the trading post at Fond du Lac, on the Kiver St. Louis, which falls into the west end of Lake Superior, near the place where the present Town of Duluth stands within American Territory, as recognixed })y former and recent treaties. Mr. (rrant who was in charge was taken prisoner and deprived of the property in his possession ; although the merchandise at that station had paid duties to the American Government and was jointly the ]>roperty of the North- West Company and of American citizens who were interested in this prrtof the trade Yv'hile a party of his Lordship's mercenaries were engaged in plundering the Fort on the River St. Louis, \m' lit 1 It' 1 100 HISroRV OF MANITOBA. another party was dispatched to the east along the north shore of the great lak(^ ; the Forts at the Tic and at Michipicoton became tlicir i)rey — Mr. Mcintosh, the partner in charge, and his ch'rks were made prisoners and the goods were taken i)Ossession oi" for his Lordship's benefit. Messrs. Mcintosh, Grant and a few others of their fellow partners were sent dou n to Montreal under the llimsy pretence that they had bet^n aiding and abetting in the troubles of the previous spring at lied lliver, but, we believe, the true reason for 'heir captivity and banishment from their charges to have been very dillerent. During M. de Ivocheblave's detention at the t^ault, waiting for the Sherift, a party of DeMeurons' soldiers arrived with Mcintosh, Grant and others in custody, on their way to Canada, in canoes belonging to the North- West Company and navigated by their servants. M. de Itocheblave took the canoes from the DeMeurons' ;2uard but did not further interfere with them or with their jmsoners. These last proceeded, however, on their own justification, and surrendered themselves to the authorities in Lower Canada, and were admitted to bail on the accusa- tions preferred against them. While the above recited transactions were taking place to the south and to the east of Fort "William, his Lordship was not unmindful of the North-West. He sent a party of DeMeurons and voyageurs, under the command of Mr. Fiddler, to capture the Fort at Lac la Pluie, on the communi- cation to the interior, and next in importance to Fort William. The clerk in charge of the Fort refused to sur- render it, and as Mr. Fiddler was not prepared wath suffi- cient force to obtain possession, he was obliged to return to Fort William. His Lordship, to remedy this failure, sent oil" Cantain D'Orsonnens with a party of soldiers and two field pieces. Mr. Dease, the clerk in charge, had a force of seven men under his command ; these had to support themselves by fishing. D'Orsonnen's blockade deprived them of their HISTORY OF MA\irOB.\. 191 men their usual supply of I'jod — and the Captain sent them word that a timely surrender would be their best policy as further resistani^e mig'ht enrage his men to such a degree tliat he could not be answerable ibr their conduct. AVeighing the chances the besieged agreed to a timely surrender and opened iheir gates. The besiegers took un- conditional possession of the Fort with all the merchan- dise it contained, which the owners valued at several thousand pounds sterling. In possession of the Fort on Lac la riuie, situated midway between Lake Superior and lied Iliver, his Lordship's Jjieutenant could easily keep open his communication with Fort AYilliam in his rear, and mature his plans at leisure for the invasion of the iS'ortli- AVest Company's trading posts on the Red River; the retaking of Fort Douglas, and the re-establishment of the colony — the avowed object of his Lordship's great military expedition to the far west. Captain D'Orsonnens had the North- West Company's stores at command, and he dealt them out liberally to the Indians to purchase their friend- ship and assistance in his intended winter journey to Red River. All things being ready, he set out in the month of February, travelling by the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods ; thence conducted by Indian guides, they passed through the forests that intervene between that Lake and the Red River. On reaching Red River they followed its course northwards for a distance of twenty or thirty-five miles, at the end of which they turned to the west and came to the Assinniboine, somewhere in what is now known as the Parish of St. James. Here they spent some time in making scaling ladders, and thus provided themselves with the means of getting over the defences that surrounded what was then known as Fort Douglas (otherwise " the Colony Fort.") A favourable opportunity for the accomplishment of the object of their long and toilsome journey soon pre- sented itself in a stormy night, when the howling winds drowned every other sound, and when tlie thickly falling |j!|l!(' I 192 inSTORV OF MANITOBA. m jiiip ii ■.I'll smd (Iril'tiii^- snow ohscnivd tho sight and concoaK'd the enemy's approuch, until he had not only planted his ladders on the outside of the stockade, but until he had ascend«'d to 1 heir top and was in the act of planting* otiiers on the inside, on which these practiced and well trained vett^-ans descended in a moment into the Fovt, when the gallant sentinels, terrified at the sight, iunominiously threw doAvn tlieiv weapons of war and iled into Ihe hous'^, lollowed l»y tlieir assailants who made prisoners of all Avho fell into their hands. Among these was ]\Ir. Archibald McLellan whom they aft(!rwards sent to Canada to take his trial for his imputed or real participation in the Keveny murder. The common Jacks were after a few days turned out of the place, and at full liberty to go where their inclinations led them and to hunt for their subsistence wherever they might think proper. Very fortunately for these poor men, many of the Freemen wore hunting near the river and fishing in its waters who received their destitute friends into their tents and fed them till the spring. His Lordship's proceedings at Fort "William may be con- sidered an episode in the history of the lied Iviver, as a sequence to the feuds which originated there and disturbed the peace of that part of the country during the preceding three or four years. We deemed it our duty to give our readers a brief sketch of these extraordinary transactions ; and having done so we will return to the colonists whom we left on the sterile rocks at Jack Itiver, We hav«» stated that on leaving Red River they had decided on bid- ding farewell to the country and to all who were in it, for to them it had proved a land of unmitigated misery and dismay, and for the purpose of carrying out their intention they addressed a letter, asking for a passage to Scotland, to Mr. James Bird, who on Mr. Semple's death, by seniority, or on some previous arrangement made by the Company to meet such contingency, became superintendent of the northern department. Mr. Bird in his ansvrer pleaded his HISTOllV OF MAMTOHA. 198- the ed to isido, iidod iiiels, t hoiv their their ,vhom al for urder. of the IS led might any ol' in its tents inability to provide a passag'e for thein, as there was no certainty tliat a ship of sullicit'iit (;ai)acity to accommodate so many passeni^ers woukl arrive that season in the IJay, and in the abscnee oi' such ]>ro])ability th^'ir best ixjliry would l)e to remain where they vver«» as their condition would be incomparably worse if reduced to the necessity ol wintering" on the bleak shores of Hudson's IJay. Futun- events j)roved this advice to 1)6 both timely and \\ise. The Britunia, a ship of considerabh' burden, arriv«*d rather late in the season at York Factory. Notwithstandiui'- she delivered her carg-o and received the returns ot the preceding season and sailed with a considt'rable number of servants, whose contracts had expired and were desirous of returning to Europe — but, on reaching the Straits, they found that stern winter had bound the seas in his icy fetters. The good ship returned to the land and was run ashore forty or lifty miles north of the mouth oi the JSevern lliver, and was towards the spring accidentally burnt to the water's edge. Immediately on her reaching the shore the passengers had to march lor York Factory, and as the provision stores were but scantily sup- plied in those days of '• penny wise and pound foolish "" economy, the servants wiio had returned from the ship had to make the best of their way inland. If our colonists had been on board that ship, viz : tender females and young children, the reader may form some faint idea of what their sutferings would have been. The colonists, though much against their will, made up their minds to pass the winter at Jack River. There they had to prepare abodes to protect their families from the inclemency of that sub-arctic region, where Faren- heit's thermometer has been known to indicate, at times, from fifty to fifty-five degrees below zero, during the winter months. Twine had to be bought, nets had to be made, and fish had to be procured for their daily subsistence, which, vmfortunately, often frll far short of w^hat their necessities required. However, there was no remedy, for here there M . *l ^w /A PhotDgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) &;2-4503 for the purpose of treaty mitkinir, that they must be provided for during the time the negotiations are carried on and for some time after. The present occasion was no exception to the general rule. However, after a considerable quantity of tobacco had been smoked, and full justice done by the hungry savages to his Lordship's pemican bags, the Earl appeared in lordly apparel and attended by a princely retinue. The savages were seated within the Fort enclosure, and after much tact and cunning had been used on the one part, and lengthy orations delivered by the other, the high contracting parties concluded the following treaty : — " This indenture, made on the eifrhteenth day of July, in the fifty-seventh year of the reign of Our Sovereign Lord King Qeorgf? the Third, and in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, between the undersicrned Chiefs and Warriors of the Ohippeway or Saulteaux .Vation and of the Killistino or Gree .Vation, on the one part, and the Right Honorable Thomaii, Earl of Selkirk, on the other part : Wituessetli, that for and in consideration of the annual present or quit-rent hereinafter mentioned, the said Chiefs have given, granted and con- firmed, and do by these presents give, grant and confirm, unto Our Sovereign Lord the King, all that tract of land adjacent to Hed River and Assiniboine River, be- ginning at the mouth of the Red River and extending along the same as far as the Great Forks, at the mouth of Red Lake River, and along the Assiniboine River as far as Muskrat River, otherwise called Riviere des Champignons, and extending to the distance of six miles from Fort Douglas on every side, and likewise from Port Dfcr (at Pembina), and also from the Great Forks, and in.other parts extend- ing in breadth to the distance of two English statute miles back from the banks of the said rivers, on each side, together with all the appurtenances whatsoever of the said tract of land, to have and to hold forever the said tract of land and ap- purtenances to the use of the said Earl of Selkirk and of the settlers being estab- lished thereon with the consent of Our Sovereign Lord the King, or of the said Earl of Selkirk : Provided always, and these presents are under the express con- dition, that ^hc said Earl, his heirs and successors, or their agents, shall annually pay to the Chiefs and Warriors of the Chippeway or Siiulfeaux .Vation the present or quit-rent, consisting of one hundred pounds weight of good marketable tobacco, to be delivered on or before the tenth day of October at The Forks of the Assini- boine River, and to the Chiefs and Warriors of the Killistino or Cree Nation a like present or quit-rent of one hundred pounds of tobacco, to be delivereed to them on or before the said tenth day of October at Portage de la Prairie, on the banks of the As.oiniboine River; Provided always, that the traders hitherto estab- lished upon any part of the above-mentioned tract of land shall not be molested in the possession of the lands which they have already cultivated and improved till His .Mnjesty's pleasure shall be known. (' ■! 304 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. (:f ! " In wimesa whereof lh« Chirfi aforesaid bftre set their marks at The Forks of the Red River on the day afuresHid. "(Signrd) SELKIRK. " Signed in prpflence of Thomas Thomas ; James Bird ; F. Matlhey, Captain; P. D'Orsonens, Captain ; Miles McOonell ; J. Bute ; Chaa. OeLorimier ; Louis Nolin, Interpreter; (jiieki-do-at, BIr Kara; Raya^^ie Rebmoa, alias Black Robe; Mocbe- w-keoacb : Macke-tii-Uxonace, HUck Rohe ; Pi([wls." Aftor his Lordship had. in connection with the Commis- sioners, attended to the restitution of the property taken by their opponents from the Hudson's Bay Company, and vice versa ; the DoMeurons located ; the colonists put in possession of land, and the Indian Treaty concluded, he bade farewell to his friends and, accompanied by a guide and a few trusty men, turned his face to the south, passed through the land of the Dakotah to Prairie des Chiens, whence he passed to the east and embarked for Europe at New York ; not being desirous of visiting Canada on his return, fearing, as it has been said, becoming involved in fresh law suits with his rivals in trade. "We have stated that a few of the settlers crossed Lake "Winnipeg on ice and put in some seed. Their industry was amply rewarded by the abundant crops which they reaped in harvest. These people have invariably affirmed that from one bushel of wheat sown forty was reaped ; barley produced fifty- six ; potatoes more than doubled that rate of increase. From various causes so very little seed had been sown that as the winter approached they were threatened by famine. To avoid this danger they resolved on passing the winter on the plains beyond lembina. Towards the latter end of October the settlers had to leave their primitive abodes on the the Lower Red River and em- bark in some Hudson's Bay Company's boats that were going to Pembina with trading goods for the trading stations on the Upper Red River. In due time they arrived at the place where they had erected their shanties in November, 1815, and here they set to work with all their energy to prepare winter abodes — expecting to make this place their head- •quarters, where the aged and infirm might reasonably expect (( " ff; IIISTURV OF MANITOBA. 205 to fiml security and oiijoy rost. Ilnlovtunat^'ly, u)ilon's«»»'ii «'V«'nts (Usuppointccl tli'-.st* ploasini^ anticipatioiis The Imllalo, on which they had to dt'|HMul lor their sul>sist»Mice, were at a great distance in the open plains towanU the Missouri, and the want of horses or even dojrs to draiz* the Imlliilo })eer to the slianties I'rom the liuntini( tents was keenly IMt. Such was the low state of their iinanccs that they could not i)urchase any oi' thes^' useful animals, and without their aid they could not remain any louifer in the position which they took up in the heuinninu- of winter ; so, with heavy h«'arts and emaciated forms, they set out on their loni,'', dangerous and laborious journey ov**r the frozen, dreary, barren wilderness that lies l)etween IVmbina and the Coteau, or high land, that rises to the north of the Mis- souri, where the Indians and freemen were hunting the buffalo, where they arrived all in good health, but thoroughly way-worn and in very destitute circumstances. However, in a short time they were able to procure, not only a suffi- ciency for the supply of their daily recurring wants, but were able by industry and frugality to make some provisions for future emergencies. The winter was unusually mild, and in the latter part of February the snow began to tlaw under the combined in- fluence of a bright sun and southerly winds. This change in the weather led our pilgrims to the conclusion that their wisest course would be to raise their camp and travel for some point on the Upper Red liiver. On their way back they met with abundance of game, for, besides numerous herds of buffalo and deer, wild fowl were plentiful in every creek and pond. After their arrival on the banks of the river their time was employed in hunting, and in preparing the necessary means of floating down the stream with their pro- visions after the ice would clear off, which event took place in the beginning of April. After their arrival in the settle- ment their first care was to obtain seed wheat, and the nearest place where any could be procured was at Bas de la iDfl •' il ft- n! '• i > ! '■* 206 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. Riviere Winnipeg, where Fort Alexander now stands. The North- West Company had at that place a considerable area under cultivation on which they raised different kinds of cereals, among which were wheat and barley. Thither some of the colonists went and were successful in securing seed, but on what terms wo are unable to say. After their return the hoes were put in operation, and all the seed that they had was committed to tht soil. The summer was favorable, and the fields in a few days assumed a promising appear- ance. Everyone that sowed expected that in a short time he would reap a rich harvest ; but, those unfortunate people, in the midst of all their pleasant anticipations, were assailed by a new and most formidable ene.ny hitherto unknown to them. On the afternoon of the 18th July, 1818, in a cloud- les"? sky, the sun became partially obscured by clouds of fly- ing insects, some of v/hich were constantly falling to the earth, and between three and four o'clock in the evening the entire swarm lighted on the earth, or rather fell on it, and remained until they had deposited their ova sacks. The wheat and barley were nearly ripe, but in a few days the former was stripped of all its leaves, which deprived the berry of a considerable portion of that nutriment which nature intended for it. After the wheat has eared the plant is too hard for the grasshoppers' power, and stands uninjured. It fares very differently with the barley — they attack the plant a few inches below theTiead and clip it off as if cut by a pair of scissors. In this work they are such perfect adepts that, when in any great numbers, every ear in the field is on the ground in the course of a few days and left for the hus- bandman to gather up if he thinks proper to take the trouble to do so. In the present case the settlers were able to gather in their grain crops, but all the vegetables in the gardens were destroyed in a few hours. While the colonists were lamenting their hard fate and hopeless condition, a few French families from Lower Canada, under the conduct qf two priests, arrived in the I HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 207 and )wer the colony and became settlers. The arrival of these few immigrants served only, in the meantime, to increase the existing evil by creating a greater demand for food, the want of which became every day more pressing. Having gather- ed in what remained of their once promising crop, and stored it up c»efully for future use, they began to turn their anxious thoughts towards Pembina and the places beyond, notwithstanding the remembrance of their suffer- ings and privations in preceding winters. Early in the autumn the settlers left the colony, and arrived safely at Pembina before the winter had set in. The former abodes were easily re-arranged, and the very aged and the very young remained there. The strong and vigorous went to the plains beyond to hunt and to take the proceeds of their hunt to those whom they left at Pembina. Fortunately for all interested the buffalo were within a short distance, say 40 or 50 miles, from Peml)ina. The hunters had their tents along the Salt Kivers, where they procured abundance of food for the winter, and the means of making some provisions for the exigencies of the ensuing summer. Early in the spring of 1819 the Canadian families settled at Pembina. The Scotch families returned to their former abodes in Kildonan, and as early as the reason would admit, commenced sowing and planting, but before they had finished sowing the young locusts began to appear and feed - on and devour every green herb that grew on the cultivated fields and on the plains. It has been related by some of those who were here at the time that these voracious pests stripped the willows and trees of their leaves and bark. The settlers had sown and planted with great toil, and no doubt looked forward with hope to the time when their labor would be richly rewarded by an abundant harvest, but in a few short weeks they saw all their expectations destroyed. As those hatched in the colony disappeared, fresh swarms from the south-west descended on the devoted land and began pairing and depositing . their ova, thus i m' iim 1; m Vh 'i> it ;.i ::!^;[i . r ■ I ' I u i 208 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. cutting off all prospect of better times in the next year. Notwithstanding their perseverance, forethought and economy, want of food began to be severely felt by the Scotch settlers, and these fresh swarms rendered them im- patient and discontented, dispairing of ever being able to make a li^ang as agriculturists. !>.!any of their young men had become good hunters, could travel on snow-shoes, drive dog-trains, and delighted in ornamenting both dogs and sleighs with bells and ribbons, and were in other respects falling rapidly into the free and independent habits of the hunter. Urged by necessity, they left their habitations on the Lower Red River, and went to pass the winter on the plains beyond Pembina, where we shall leave them for the present, while we narrate a transaction that took place at the Big Fall on the Sascatchewaii. In 1818, William Williams, Esquire, came from England to superintend the Hon. Hudson's Bay Company's affairs in what was then known as " The Northern Department of Rupert's Land." This gentleman had previously been a naval captain in the East India Company's service. On his arrival in Hudson's Bay, he passed a few days at York Fac- tory, and then proceeded inland to Cumberland House, where he passed the winter months. Towards the spring, he left his winter quarters and went to Red River, where he arrived early in the month of May. Here he found a craft dignified by the naine- gun-boat. This vessel, after- having been duly- rigged and prepared, manned for lake navigation, had been armed with some field pieces, manned by Hudson's Bay Company's servants, and carried a strong body of armed DeMeurons. As soon as Lake Winnipeg opened, the gun- boat, accompanied by some river boats, whose crews were fully equipped for the campaign, left Red River, and in due time arrived at the Big Fall. Then they made preparations for intercepting the North-West Company's brigades of canoes that were soon expected to arrive from all parts of the North. Governor Williams, like a skilful commander, fixed I HISTORY OF MANITOaA. 209 his headquarters on an island at the foot of the Fall. This done, the forces were assembled around the G-eneral's tent, and the charter was read and explained to them. Next in order, the Commander harangued his men to excite their military ardour, and pointed out the illegal wickedness of the Canadian traders in daring even to navigate the rivers that flowed towards Hudson's Bay. How much more ought that wicked audacity which led them to build trading posts over all the land to be reprobated and punished ? Then he assured his army that if they behaved valiantly and survived the expected conflict that their wages would be increased; if wounded, they would be compensated by the Hon. Com- pany with pensions being settled upon them for life at the same rates paid to soldiers receiving similar injuries in His Majesty's service ; and if any single man chanced to be slain, the price of blood was to be paid to his father or to his rela- tions. Married men who should perish in this meritorious strife had His Excellency's promise that their widows and orphans would be carefully watched over and provided for by the Company until able to provide for themselves. Thus exhorted and encouraged to the performance of mar- tial deeds, the gallant Governor and his warlike followers took possession of the portage. Ambuscades were placed at suitable points, and sentinels were placed at the upper land- ing ; a couple of field pieces were landed and placed in position so as to hear on the river or on-ihe cleared road over which passengers travelled and goods were carried, as cir- cumstances might require. Being thus advantageously placed, their ardour had but little time to flag before the first bri- gade of the North- West Company's canoes came to the por- tage, of which the various parties along the road were in- formed by the sentinels placed at the upper landing. As soon as the canoes came to the unloading place they began putting their packs on shore. The gentlemen passengers stepped on shore, each with his vade mecum, the calumet in hand and cloak thrown loosely over the shoulder in : 01' iU i It U' I ii:! t;:: Ml 4 *■ ^i1^ ! I' 210 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. true trader style, commenced travelling over the well-known path towards the lower landing. They did not proceed far before their armed foes, hitherto concealed behind bushes and trees, surrounded them, made them prisoners and conveyed them to headquarters on the Island, where they placed them in the tender keeping of a guard of DeMeurons. In this affair five gentlemen of the first rank in the North-West company's service were captured, viz : Messrs. Angus Shaw, John George McTavish, John Duncan Campbell, William Mcintosh and a Mr. Frobisher, with a number of guides, interpreters and batailleurs. These prisoners were all for- warded to York Fort, on Hudson's Bay, where they were confined until the ships were ready to sail for Europe. Messrs. Shaw and McTavish were sent to England ; Mr. Duncan Campbell and a number oi guides and laboring men were sent by Moose Fort and the Ottawa River to Mon- treal. Mr. Frobisher and a few of his men were kept in durance vile at York Factory, and would, in all probability, have had to pass all the winter at that inhospitable place and in rigid confinement, had they not managed to elude the vigilance of their keepers, which they did during a dark and stormy night in ihe beginning of October. Ihey found an Indian canoe along the river, into which they embarked and proceeded inland. Several posts belonging to the Hud- son's Bay Company lay along their route to Lake Winnipeg Nevertheless, they passed them unobserved and ha-d coasted along the North end of that lake before the navigation had closed. These unfortunates were without provisions and destitute of the necessary appliances by the aid of which they might be able to procure any article. However, they struggled on, day after day, until within a few days' journey of Moose Lake, where they'encaraped for the night. Here they were confined to their hut for some time by a storm of wind and snow, and while in this wretched hut, poor Mr. Frobisher's life came to an end in November, 1819. When the weather moderated those w ho had been his companions i H(ST()RV OF MANITOBA. 211 Lown i far i and eyed them L this ■West 5haw, illiam •uides, II for- departed, leaving his body unburied, and in a few days reached the North- West Company's post at Moose Lake, where their wants were supplied and their lives preserved. They told the sad tale of their own sufferings and of Mr. Frobisher's miserable end. Thus ended the last scene in the great tragedy that had been in course of acting from 1808, when Angus McDon- nell, a clerk in the North- We&t Company's service, was shot at Red Lake by one John Mowat, a laborer in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, up to the period of which we have been writing. We have left our Scotch settlers at Pembina and on the plains beyond that place. The buffalo, on which the multi- tude of half-breed settlers and Indians depended for their subsistence, were in great numbers, but kept, far out in the open plains, which rendered hunting and taking the pro- visions to camp more laborious than at any time during the preceding year, when the cattle were near the woods ; in other words near the camp, as it is in the woods only that the hunters with their families can venture to make their place of abode during the winter months. Notwithstanding the distance over which they had to draw their provisions, they had enough for winter and some to spare, which they made into pemican for summer use. In April they left the plains and arrived safely at Pembina, when, as usual, they preparedr^ome dug-out canoes and others made of wicker frame-work covered with bull hides (these were made im- pervious to water with tallow well rubbed on the seams.) When the ice had cleared off these crafts of primitive con- struction were launched on the stream, received their xreight, and the settlers proceeded to their habitations, which they had abandoned the previous autumn, where they arrived safely in the beginning of May, 1820. They were without seed of any kind, consequently they were saved labor that would have been,under existing circumstances,unproductive. As May advanced, and the rays of the sun had communi- I '!*!<' 212 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 15 I !;;i 1 cated the requisite degree of warmth to the soil, the young locusts became very numerous, so much so that they literally covered the face of the country for a distance of many miles to the south, to the west, to the east and north — to the very shore of Lake Winnipeg. As no employment could be had in the colony during the summer month«, many of the youns: men engjiged to work on his Lordship's boats employed in freighting goods from York Factory to the colony. These men were paid for their labor in goods, for which they paid from two to four hundred per cent, on the original cost in England, yet, hard as their labor was, and although* poorly paid for it, they deemed themselves fortunate in being able to earn their food and raiment. Those who remained in the settlement had to depend for their subsistence on such supplies as they could procure by fishing and hunting wild fowl, which amounted to half rations one day and to starvation the next. Wearied of this state of existence, they began to prepare for their journey to Pembina, for which place they left their summer residence in October, 1820, and arrived in due time at their hitherto city of refuge from famine. We have related the solemn promise given by the Earl of Selkirk to the Scotch settlers when he was in the colony, in 181Y, viz : that on his arrival in Scotland he would send a Presbyterian clergyman to minister to them in the land of their adoption. Years had passed, but his Lordship's pro- mise had not been fulfilled, and great as their disappoint- ments, misfortunes and losses had been since they came to the Red Eiver, all these were considered by the colonists of a light and transitory character when compared to the want of their spiritual pastor whose duty would be to minister consolation under the trials and difficulties of this mortal life, and to cherish and strengthen within them the ho e of a better hereafter. We may form some idea of their surprise and disappointment on the arrival of a minister, not of their own p rsuasioi., so often solemnly promised and so anxiously uHl HISTORY OP MANITOBA, 213 expected, but a Missionary from the Church of England. In October, 1820, when the Rev. Mr, "West made his appearance in the settlement, nearly all the people in it were members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. West, we believe, was a pious, well-meaning man, desirous of advancing the spiritual wel- fare of those who attended on his ministry, but he steadily adhered to the ritual of his church, and, in it, the Scotch could see no spirituality, nor believe that they could receive any edification from such forms ; besides, we must not forget, that the English language was to them a foreign tongue, as very few of the aged understood any but Gaelic, for which they longed vehemently. Mr. "West soon perceived that his prospect of usefulness among the Scotch settlers was anything but encouraging ; therefore, he extended his visits during the winter months to the trading posts in the neighboring districts, where he met some of the native tribes and saw their poverty and deep moral depravity, which furnished him with a theme well calculated to excite the benevolence of the Christian public in behalf of the benighted savages that roam through the forests and over the plains of the western w^ilderness. On his arrival at York Factory the previous autumn, he en- deavored, by means of some trifling presents and a few kind words, to ingratiate himself into the red man's confidence. In this he succeeded so far as to get these people to ^ut a few boys under his care for the purpose of being educated and prepared for future usefulness among their countrymen. These he took along with him to the colony, and in the beginning of winter opened a school at which the children of a few traders and settlers attended. "We are not prepared to say what progress they made, but this we will say, that this elementary school established by Mr. West for the instruction of a few Indian boys was the germ whence ori- ginated all the Protestant schools and colleges in Manitoba at the present time. iHHC 1 IT i ; il : ■ ' - .['.M ■<; : i i '.'• I jii ! I 214 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. In February, 1821, a party of men, under the command of Mr. Laidlaw, left the colony for Prairie du Chien, the nearest settlement in the United States, performing the long and arduous journey on snow-shoes, which occupied them nearly three months. Here they purchased two hundred and fifty bushels of wheat at ten shillings a bushel, and with the use of flat-bottom boats conveyed the same to the colony. The wheat thus obtained was sown and a good crop follow- ed. The cost of the expedition is said to have been jC1,040. The Earl of Selkirk died in 1820, which facilitated the amalgamation of the two trading companies. His Lordship's real object in forming the colony on the Red River appeared at the time to be the hope of getting a number of hardy men raibed in the country, inured to the climate, and devoted to their patron's interest, to enter into the Hudson's Bay Com- pany's employ and become servile tools in carrying arbitrary measures for the destruction of the North-West Company. He, moreover, expected, no doubt, that he w^ould be able, in the course of a few years, to receive considerable supplies of grain from the colony for the fur trade. He knew that the grant of land which he obtained from his fellow-stockholders would give him a pretence for quarrelling with the Canada Company, and, ha'l he been able to effect his object, he would probably have broken up the colony, for it has always been a source of injury to the fur trade. "We have left the settlerajai Pembina and on the plains to the south-west of that place, where they passed the winter of 1820-21. Good health prevailed in their camps, and they fared for food as well as those dependent on the chase generally do. "When the winier roads began to break up ; the settlers and freemen began to return to Pembina. We have stated above that the French families took land at Pembina, where they intended to go into farming opera- tions. Here a number of their countrymen, with their half Indian families, built their huts or pitched their wigwams, forming a village of considerable size, with its two priests mU II i. HISTORY OF MAVITOBA. 315 and chapel, having, at least outwardly, the appearance of civilization and comfort. The Scotch and some men from the Orkney Islands, who had been for some years in the Hudson's Bay Company's service, and who had families by native women, returned to the lower settlement in 1821, where, as usual, they had great difl&culty in procuring subsistence during the summer months. The locusts that had been hatched in the spring, in due time left the settlement. A '"resh swarm passed over the place, and, as has invariably been the case when swarms passed, many of them kept dropping to the earth. Fortu- nately, those in a few days took flight again, and departed without depositing their eggs. A few patches of grain escaped their ravages, but when these had been cut and gathered in, the quantity of grain was so triffling that the people laid it up for seed to sow in the following spring, and began once more to turn their thoughts towards Pem- bina and the plains of Dakota, where they passed the winter of 1821-22. We have already narrated the lawlessness and disorders that prevailed during the last ten years throughout the Indian territories. The keen competition in trade had not only created a greater outlay in trading goods, but during the above period the number of servants employed by each of the contending paties had been doubled, and the wages of these men, especially in the Hudson's Bay Company's service, had been more than tripled. To these extraordinary expenses we must not forgot to add the great sums spent by each of the rivals, on litigation in the Canadian Courts ; yet, long and ardent as the strife had been between these potent rivals, neither of them seemed to have gained any advantage over the other, both were on the brink of insolvency. Pru- dent men in each Company's service became anxious to put an end to the unsatisfactory state of affairs that prevailed, and to devise some means by which that desirable object might be attained. The merchants that wore at the head iJtHl (' )■ 1 1 . ti h .A |: !-' I' «• HISTORY UF MANITOBA. of tho North- West Company's affairs in En<]fland, and their agents at Montreal, iu 1810, endeavored to como to some understanding with his Lordship for the purpose of main- taining peace throughout the Indian territories. All their proposals were rejected, Again, in 1814, they laid some pro- positions before the Earl, which, iu their opinion, if accepted by him would restore peace and i)rosperity, but his Lord- ship returned an answer containing conditions which, if agreed to, would deprive the Canadian traders of every post that they occupied within what the Hudson's Bay Company were pleased to call their territories ; and before they would be permitted to maintain their communication with their establishments on the waters that flow into the Arctic and Pacific Oceans, they were informed that it would be necessary for them to lease and pay rent to his Lordship, and to the Hudson's Bay Comi)any for the sites on which their s'-ores and houses were built along the route to the far North and West ; moreover, that some dues must be paid for the privilege of navigating the lakes and rivers through which they would have to pass in going from Lake Superior to Portage La Loche. On receipt of these modest overtures the North- West Company saw no chance of arriving at an amicable termination of the existing troubles. The negotiations ceased, but, as we have already seen, the contention continued until both became fairly exhausted. On reflecting on the past they saw the folly of the ruinous course tlley had pursued. ThelfTnterest dictated the necessity of abandoning it, and wisdom suggested the onljf means by which the fur trade could be once more made profitable to those concerned in it — namely, the union of the two Com- panies, which event took place in the month of March, 1821. It put an end to party strife and rivalry in trade, not only in Red River, but over the length and breadth of the land. The new Hudson's Bay Company's wintering partners were divided into two grades, the highest being termed Chief Factors and the other grade Chief Traders . The Company's m HISTORY OF MAJflTOBA. tlT stock in trade was divided into one hundred shares. The stockholders reserved for themselves the prolits on sixty of these shares. The proiit on the forty shares was divided between the Chief Factors and Chief Traders, but not in equal shares. The forty shares appropriated for the remu- neration of the wintering partners were broken or divided into eighty-four parts, of which the Chief Factor received annually the profits on two of these shares. The Chief Trader had to be content with one of these shares, or, in other words, one eighty-fourth, which, in prosperous times, yielded a fair remuneration to these gentlemen. On retiring from the ser- vice each of the commissioned officers' interest in the profits remained for seven years. The first year of his retirement he received a full share, and during the remaining six years he received annually one-half share ; but during the seven years in which he drew the retired share it was understood by him that he must not enter into any competition in trade with his former employers. If he did, they reserved the right io withhold the retired share. Under the new order of things the commission men — namely, Chief Factors and Chief Traders — were ex-officio members of the council for the fur trade. Under the new arrangement the Company took into con- sideration the claims and interests of superannuated clerks of different grades, but whose services were no longer re- quired. For the purpose of giving eacKx>f these gentlemen a small annuity for a limited time — seven years — the profits on a few shares were assigned, and at the expiration of the seven years the sums arising from the aforesaid shares were applied to the formation of a reserve fund, and the old ser- vants, many of them in extreme want, were left to provide for themselves. AVhile the leading men in the fur trade were discussing the terms on which they would unite their stock in trade, his Lordship's agents were busily occupied in Switzerland enlisting families for his colony on the Red River. About it^ltl'd i;f' 218 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. i. ,r m ^m ■'i' i M 1' 1 the usual shipping time— say, from th«^ 10th August to the 10th September, — these colonists arrived at York Factory. As a rule they were of the poorer class, chiefly mechanics — clock and watchmakers, with a goodly proportion of pastry cooks— but very few, if any, agriculturists. These immi- grants left their own country under the guidance of a gentle- man known by the title of Count d'Eusser, who was sent by the Prussian or Swiss Government to accompany them to the place of their destination, and report on the colony, its soil, climate and Government, when he returned, to those who had sent him. These people passed the brief time they remained at the Bay very much to their satisfaction ; but " human pleasures seldom last long," and the new-comers soon realized the full force of thai saying. The fall boats had to start for the interior, and the Swiss had to embark, seven hundred miles of river and lake navi- gation, including thirty portages, laying between them and the colony. Their former sedentary habits ill-fitted them for the continuous and laborious bJorts required in working the boats while on the water and transporting the goods over the portages. Their progress was unusually slow. Cold weather with frost and snow overtook them in Lake "Win- nipeg, and some of them suffered greatly from frost-bites, and all of them from dearth of food. November had well advanced before they arrived at Fort Douglas. Here they met the DeMeurons, and in them recognized their country- men and became naturally desirous of settling near them ; but the contrast between the drunken, disorderly DeMeurons and the quiet, moral and honest Swiss helped to break up the friendly arrangement, and the want of food completed what the dissimilarity of habits had commenced; and, in consequence, as many of the latter as could undertake the journey, set off for Pembina to join those who had gone there in October. The trip proved very toilsome as they had neither dogs nor horses ; they had to yoke themselves to flat sleds on which they had their childrou and baggage- HISTORY OP MASITOBA. II» Howrfvor, timo brought thom to tho ond of thoir journey, the groat camp where the hunters had tht'ir headquarters. These hunters consisted of French CanadiaiiH, Scotromise of a liberal price lor all that they would bring to the manufactory. An establishment worthy of the BuHalo Wool Company was erected in the heart of the settlement, and the posses- sion of a certain quantity of the requisite matt'rials was judged to be all that would he necessary to ensure the success of the enterprise. At the time of which we are writing, the buffalo were in great numbers a few miles south of Pembina, and a multitude of people, composed of the various races in the land, had congregated to hunt these animals during the winter months ; and in the spring, when the hunters returned to the settlement, a trille of w^ool and a considerable number of hides were delivered at the Factory. But it was now found out that wool and hides were not to be had for the picking of them up. for the w^ool cost something and the price of a hide ranged from eight to ten shillings sterling ; and before the hide could be freed from the wool it had to undergo the diH'erent operations of soaking, heating and pulling. All the available hands in the place, male and female, were called into operation. The men and lads manipulated the hides, and it is well known that an expert hand at pulling the wool could gain from six to ten shillings per day ; even boys thought themselves ill- compensated for their labor at anything less than four or five shillings per diem. Female labor was neither over- looked nor undervalued, as all who could spin were invited to the Factory to receive wool to make into yarn, for which labor they were paid at the rate of one shilling per pound. Thus we iind that the industry of the colony had not only been stimulated but also turned into a new channel, iu which it found money or credit in the Hudson's Bay Com- n'tUt' i' i l!i I. i! ;h 'ft ■' in m rilSTORY OF MAXITOUA. k\ paiiy'ti l)ooks, neither ol" vvliich they could have realized IVoiii the produce of their i'arnis. Thin ailUir enabled the .settlers to obtain a little money at the right time. A small herd of doniesti«t cattle was brought in this summer on speculation, and, arriving at this juncture, were eagerly competed I'or by the lew who had money or credit, and sold at highly remunerating prices; good milch cows sold as high as C30 each, and oxen trained to work sold lor XIS each. It may ])e interesting to observe here that these were the first cattle ever brought from the Unit(;d States to this settlement, and the lirst the colonists owned since they left their native hills. Here wo must inform the reader that operatives were introduced from England, con- sisting of wool-dressers, furriers, curriers, saddlers and harness makers ; likewise, an outfit of goods was procured and a store opened in the establishment for the convenience of those carrying on the work. Some leather and cloth had been manufactured, but they could not compete favorably with similar articles brought from Europe, and, unfortunately, rum formed a considerable portion of the outfit, and it was well known that drunkenness and disorders prevailed in the es- tablishment to a fearful extent. Hides were allowed to rot, the wool spoiled, the tannery proved a failure, and i 'though the €oncern dragged on until 1825, it was apparent to the most cursory observ^er that its progress was from bad to worse, and when its affairs were finally wound up it was found that they had not only expended their original stock of cC 2,000, but were indebted in the amount of c£500 to their bankers (the Hudson's Bay Company). This heavy loss hung for some years over the heads of the stockholders, until the Hon- orable Hudson's Bay Company relieved them from their responsibilities by cancelling the debt. The crops of this season proved to be the best and most abundant that had ever been reaped in the colony. It has been positively asserted that the wheat put in with the hoe produced over fifty returns ; barley and potatoes were more ULSTORV OF MANITOBA. 233 from ley at )Ught L'ture, loy or milch work ? here J lilted )wned •m the i, con- larness a store [ those 1 been r with y, rum 18 well he es- rot, the flfh the most se, and id that £2,000, cankers ang for le Hon- n their id most It has the hoe re more productive. Yet those of mixed blood, who, ahout tliis time, began to appropriate to themselves the tith' of free men, with many of the young colonists, resorted to the plains to pass the winter among the hullalo, whence th»'y made occasional trips to the settlement with the produce of their hunts, for the use of those who remained at home. A few ploughs were at work in the spring of 1S23, yet the ma.ss of settlers had to ply their hoes as in former times. Notwithstanding, a greater (iuantity of seed had been committed to the soil than ill any previous year, and although the summer months proved exceedingly dry, the crops were very good. C'aptain Bulger gained golden opinions among the settlers for his impartiality and love of justice ; ))ut as he was at the head of an establishment distinct from and independent of the iur traders, he met with considerable opposition and annoyance from the latter, who endeavored to prevent those under his command trafhcking with natives for provisions, leather and horses. The Captain, for his own satisfaction and for the benefit of all who were in the colony, sent a statement of the case to the Earl's executors, in which, from the result, we are in- duced to infer that he represented strongly the hardship of prohibiting the interchange of the above specified animals and commodities. The above gentlemen had to bring the case before the Hon. the Board of Directors in London, who saw that their repre- sentatives in Red River were, by their high-handed conduct, sowing the seeds of future strife and trouble ; and sent a special express to the colony, via Lake Superior, with circulars which were put into the hands of the leading men in the settlement. In these documents, the Hon. Directors gave full permission to the settlers to buy horses, leather and i)ro- visions from the freemen and from the red-men. Governor Bulger resigned and left for Eiiulnnd, vid York Factory, where he met his successor Captain R. P. Felly, who in due time arrived at Fort Doufflas and assumed the It ^[ 5 !i il 'if'h IK '■ 1 •! ^1 -342 HISTORV OF MANITOBA. and 182 4 on the plains near the G-reat Salt River, whence they brought great quantity of the green beef into the settle- ment on sleighs, turning the surplus into dry-meat and pemican, with which they descended the river on the opening of navigation to exchange for such supplies as they required to fit them out for the summer hunt. Those who had settled in the colony and intended to give all their time to the improvement of their lands had, in the pri'ceding season, purchased teams of oxen ; but, unfortunately, such was the scarcity of iron that very few, if any, ploughs had been mounted ; very little of that all important metal to an agri- cultural community had been brought into the colony during the preceding season, and that little was laid hold of by the patriotic Grovernor Pelly, for the purpose of mounting His Excellency's pleasure carriage. Notwithstanding, a consi- derable extent of new land was brought under cultivation, the summer was favorable, the harvest abundant, and all kinds of cereals attained great perfet^tion. We must not omit mentioning here that from four to five hundred head of cattle were imported this summer (1824) from Louisiana and Kentucky, They met with a ready market, but prices ranged much lower than in 1823, Trained oxen sold at £S to =£9 sterling each ; first-rate milch cows were bought at =£7, and some as low as =£<3. Un- trained oxen, cows of inferior appearance and heifers were sold at much lower prices. The whole herd w^as bousrht, and the adventurous speculators were paid in bills of ex- change, at sixty days' sight, on the Honorable Hudson's Bay Company. The hunters accomplished iheir two trips and were successful in both. The Hudson's Bay Company bought up all the pemican, tallow and drip meat that' the people had to spare ; many of them sold the last bag "of pemican and the last bale of meat, and returned to the p 'ins to pass the winter among the builalo. The few hunters w^ho had houses in the settlement and who were desirous of passing the winter months in them, reserved for winter use the HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 243 hence settle- t and :)eiiing quired settled to the season, k'as the d been m agri- during ' by the iiig Uis a consi- tivation, and all T to five r (1824) a ready 1823. e milch Un- rs were bought, s of ex- on's Bay •ips and ( bought e people pemican to pass A^ho had passing use the :g. principal part oi' what thoy brought in in the fall ; and when these supplies ran short, as they generally did, they had to leave the settlement and betake themselves to the lakes to procure fish, or buy back a part of the provisions which they had sold the preceding summer, always paying one hu.ndred per cent, on what they sold the same at a few months before ; but so long as it was on credit and only to be paid in kind, when they would return the ensuing sum- mer from the hunt, they were perfectly satisfied. The first week in April, 1825, saw the dissolution of the «nows of winter. The warm rays of a bright sun in a few days penetrated and thawed the earth so as to enable the husbandman to commenct^ his operations. Those who had become colonists during the last two or three years saw clearly that they could not force the soil to give them ])read until they possessed the necessary means to subdue it, so their first object was to purchase oxen ; but, although these had been secured, before any great extent of land cculd be prepared for the reception of seed, ploughs were required. The country furnished abundance of wood suitable for the construction of those essential implements, but iron to mount them could not be procured in the colony, and those desirous of obtaining that useful metal and who had money in the Company's hands, had to send for it to York Factory, on Hudson's Bay, where it cost Is. sterling per pound, and the freight inland cost 3d. per pound. The Idacksmith charged =ei sterling for ironing the plough ; notwithstanding, num- bers of new ploughs were prepared for spring operations. A considerable extent of new land was turned up and sown, and the lands that had been cultivated in former seasons were sown ; and doubtless this spring saw twice the quantity of seed committed to the soil that had been put in in any former season. The summer months were all that the husbandman could desire in sunshine and genial showers. The crops grew luxuriantlv, ripened well, and were gathered in in good I^Hl fl 244 HISTORY OF MANITOHA. condition, affordinir tho industrious fiirmcr the jdcasincr prospoct of brt'ad onouirh I'or his household during tho vvintor months and some to spare to his indii^cni lU'ighbor. Whoat sown on land that had Ik'oii cropped once or twice bel'oro yielded from twenty to thirty returns ; sown on the sod, it mav ])e said to haA'e averaged six or seven returns. Barley gavt> from thirty to forty returns, but when sown on the sod it did not yield more than the wheat did on similar soil. Several hundred head of cattle were brought into the colony this summer. The; demand for them was not very great, consequently th(» prices were low, yet they were sold and the adventurers received their bills. HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 24S ClIAlTl^lR VII. Events of 1820-7 — Fami.ni-: and Stauvatio.v amoxg the IlrxTKRs— A Skvkrk Winter— Thirty rHRisii from Cold and Starvation— The Terrible Flood— The liED IxivER Valley hecome;^ a CoxTiXTioris L\ke — The Dam \oE^4— Trade and Commerce — Aoriculture and the riKJDUCE MaRKET. Ill ivcordiiiiT tlio transact ions of 182i), tlio most disastrous since the corrimoncement ol' the colony, wo must premise l)y statiui? that the precedini^ months of September and Octo- ber had been uncommonly rainy and cold. A])out the 20th October, the -wind beo-an to blow fiercely from the north, accompanied l>y a heavy fall oi' snow, which lasted forty- eight hours, and literally choked the water in the river, and when the wind fell, such was the intensity of the frost that not only the rivers but even the great lakes assumed their winter covering. Heavy falls of snow su( ceeded each other at short intervals during the first part of the winter, and in January, the snow in the w^ood, where undistur])ed by the winds, was five feet deep. We have stated above that the French half-breed portion of our population, with some of the poorer class of the Lower Canadians, passed their time summer and winter on the plains hunting the buffalo. In the fall of 1825, a greater number than usual went to enjoy the pleasure of the chase and luxuriate on its produce ; but, unfortunately,their hopes were not realized. Rumours reached Pembina, in January, to the <»ffect that the hunters had been unsuccessful and that they w^ere destitute of food and in great distress. Humours of every kind being common in these parts, and oftener false than true, they did not receive much attention. However," in the early part of February, some person w^ho had arrived at Pembina from the camp, n^i\ t* 246 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. I I If W ||Dn ■f lii 1 not only conlirmcd the previous reports, but sho\v«'(l clearly (hilt the condition of tin- lV«M'in"n wiis far mor»' deplorable than fame had rumori'd. Mr. McDermott aiul Mr. Alex, lios.s were at P»^nibina, tradinir under a license, from the Hudson's IJay Company. Thr.>e t^enllenicn mi<;ht symi)a- thize with the sulferers, but they had very little else to j^ive. }Iowevor,they immediately dcsi>atched a niesseni^er to hcad- (juarters to make tho sad condition of the unfortunate hun- ters known to Donald McKcn/ie, ]'isquirc, who held the oflice of Colony Governor and Chief Factor in chari^e of th'- Company's alliairs in the district. This benevolent g'eiitle- man not only made use of the stores under his charge for thi> relief of the suilerers, but added the inlluence of his hiuh position and j^ersonal character to indu'-e others to Join in the good work. The settlers delivered their contributions of Ibod at Fort Garry, and some of them volunteered to take the stores to lV'm))ina, which was, comparatively speaking, easily done, as the road was good. lUit very few of those for whom the charity was intended had yet arrived at that paint, and the nearly insui)erable dilliculty lay beyond, as neither horses or oxen could go any farther, and the only practicabh; mode of conveyance, owing to the deep snow, was by using dogs and sleighs, which greatly increased the la))or. The distance some of the sufferers were from Pem- bina was nothing short of 1 50 if not 200 miles ; })ut sympathy for them was general, and those who had dogs and trains offered their services to carry supplies to the relief of the famine-struck multitude, who, it was well known, were pressing on to reach Pembina. Train after train was loaded with the provisions, and entered on the boundless snow- covered plains, over which they had to travel with supplies. However, they had not gone far before they met some of those they were in search of, and from them they generally received such information as enabled them to find others. Many of these intrepid drivers travelled over a wide extent of country in search of their missing friends, numbers of i. HISTOKV OF MANITOBA. 217 whom, if not all, owod. uiulor Providence, tho prosf>rvation ol their lives to the dexterity and unwearied per^everanco of those who may Justly he fsaid t(> have snatched them from th<^ jaws of death. We have stated above how suddenly and unexpectedly the winter set in and the Gfreat depth of snow that fell in the early pari of it. The hunters had arrived at th«'ir hunting;" grounds and found ])uf!alo, hut from various causes were unable to make any i^rovisions for a future day before the storms of the winter covered the ]>lain8 with snow threi» or four feet deep. Their horses had become useless in hunlinu" and on account of the n;veat labor they had to perform in obtaininii' their scanty food from so u^reat a depth of hard packed snow, were in a few weeks not only unlit for any kind of labor but unable to procure their own food. While thus destitute of food Ibr man and for beasts, between the 15th aiul 20th l)ec(»mber, a p;nKu snow storm canui on, such as has rarely been seen even on th'ise wide and treeless plains. This storm, which blew irom the north, continued to raf^e durino; three days and four nig-hts, drove the bulfalo before it beyond the reach of the hunters and killed a great many of their horses. Alter the weather had moderated the camp broke up, a group or family going here, another going there, in hope of finding wood-animals ; others made their way to the Devil's Lake expecting to take pike by angling; but all their efforts to procure food on land or from the water failed- Then they began to kill and eat the few emaciated horses that remained ; these finished, the dogs were next resorted to, raw hides, leather, and even their old shoes ; some nad been found A'ho had baried themselve:" in snow banks for shelter from the keen blasts that swept vjver the frozen plains ; but unfortunately their refuge, not in a few cases, had become their graves. The heat of their bodies melted the snow, they became wet, and being destitute of dry raiment) fuel and food, were frozen in a body of solid ice ; others had been found one here, one there — along the road that led to If '' ^^^t^i^Ayjftj^^^*! WlSa- •aSUUd^l ^48 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. f: )'■■ ' Pembina, doad and frozen, where, on being overcome by las- SAide they sat down to rest and were relieved from ail their .. . )rtal Burt'erings by the hand of death. Some of these were found very near to Tembina, viz : a woman with an infant on her ])ack was found within a mile of the place where she had succumbed in the arduous but unequal struggle for life, after having travelled 100 miles in three days and as many nights. The sullcrings of most of these people exceeded everything of which we can form an idea. One family, ronsistinii' of the husband, wife and tliree children, were du2r out of the snow where thev had been buried for five days and live nights, without food or fuel ; the mother and two ot the children recovered. The fainished crowds that arrived at Pembina w^ere fed and nursed for a few days yet so debilitated were they, that on the way down to the set- tlement it might be said that they crawled rather than walked, and a few of them died by the way. Thus, after unparalleled exertions had l)een made by those intrepid men who went to the rescue, the survivors were brought to the settlement and supplied with such comforts as their circum- stances required ; some ot them had their feet frost-bitten, others, hands and noses suffered likewise. The common belief was that over thirty of these hunters perished duiing that terrible winter. After the survivors had recovered their former health and strength, numbers of them went to Lake Manitoba to pass the spring months, and were success- ful in ol)taining an abundant supply of fish. Those who remained in tlie settlemer.t found employment among the farmers who, in return supplied them with food. The colonists had scarcely recovered from the anxieties and exertions of the previous winter when they were over- taken by unotlior calamity as unexpected as it was destruc- tive. The spring was unusually cold until the last week in April, when the wind began to blow from the south, the snow began to thaw, and on the 2nd of May the accumulated water overllowed the bank^', literally and rapidly changing HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 249 )y las- l their } were infant »ro she lor life, many :ceeded family' I, \vere for five her and ds that .ays yet the set- er than ,as, after jpid men t to the circum- t-bitten, ommon duiing ecovered went to success- Bose who aong' the anxieties ere over- destruc- week ill )uth, the iinuhited changing the valley of tlie Ked River into a huge lake. At Fort Garry it rose nine feet perpendicular in twenty-four hours. Many of the settlers had built their shanties on the low points along ihe river. The water rose so suddenly that, in some cases, its rushing into the houses roused the inmates from their beds, when, in their terror, they lied, under the shades of night, to the upper bank, venturing a second time into the Hood to relieve their cattle from their dangerous position. But there were cases, not a few, where the people were cut oil* from the second bank by deep wattT, and in these cases, the inmates had to climb to the roofs of houses and pass the night ill these very unpleasant and dangerous situations, until the light of day enabled their neigh])ors to see their perilous condition and come to tlieir reseue with boat or dug-out and land them on dry ground.: i)ut here they iound no abiding place, so level was the country, so rapid the rise of the water, that on the 5th all the land was submerged for some miles on each side of the river. The terrified people lied, some went to the pine hills on the east, some to the rocky hills on the west, others went down along the river and found dry land ■ and those who had been located near Upper Fort Garry with the gentle DeMeurons, whom his Lordship of Selkirk brought into the colony to restore order and keep the peace, camped on the high lands on the north of the Assiniboine. At this crisis every boat and dug-out was called into operation and per- formed excellent service : first, in carrying the people who had to flee for life to places of safety ; next, in returning to save all that could be found of the abandoned property ; for many of the fugitives had taken nothing with them except the clothes on their backs. Furniture, grain and utensils of every kind had been left in the houses, iims^ HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 251 f every ains or Liiipeg. i Assin- ., wheat of food ant, the uTopeaii at ion on beef not lose who ding- the r, that so Ltls, while the cuT- the river, led while perllnous )us occnr- nnal rains sources of Then an ler months. •e, a quick ,uses. We o be rising lued rising J the usual he middle led within urn to the ut in this the Scotch remain at Red River, while the Swiss and DeMenrons had ^nade up their minds to leave the country and cross the plains to the United States, intending to rejoin their compatriots wOio, dissatisfied with the state of things in Red River, left it in 1828 and, unfortunately for themselves, followed the great river into the land of fnvr and ague, of which diseases most of them died during the first winter after their arrival on Fever River. The Swiss and DeMeurons were joined by other restless and discontented spirits; and so little was their residence in the land desired that food and other necessaries for their intended journey were given gratis by the Hudson's Bay Company's servants with the view of hastening their departure and helping them on their journey. The emigrating party, numbering 243 souls, left the colony on the 24th day of June auvd entered on their long and danger- ous journey to Fort Snelling, in the United States. AYe learned afterwards that the party crossed the plains in safety, and that the Swiss settled down on the UpperMississippi and were prosperous. After the subsidence of the water the hunters left the colony to hunt the buffalo, and returned with their carts well loaded. The iiardy Canadian farmer, the adven- turous voyageur and the equally hard and determined North Britons were not to be terrified out of the country by accidental events. They decided, without delay, on the course most proper for them to pursue, and although the advanced season gave but slender hope that their toil would be crowned with success, yet a considerable quantity of barley, potatoes and some wheat had been committed to the soil ditring the last ten days of June, and all came to maturity with surprising rapidity. When we inform the reader that the Red River Colony is in the 50th degree of north latitude the above may appear incredible ; yet such was the eflect of a hot sun acting on soil naturally rich that had been for some time saturated with tepid water. Sowing having been fin- ished, houses and stables had to be built, and, as almost all the former buildings had gone before the current, new t' ^>m^ zssssssssssssss 262 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. materials had to be provided ; the new buildings were erected on the second or upper ])ank, and in most cases were finished before the winter set in. The lakes had been resorted to in autumn for the purpose of taking whitefish for winter u ie. Their efforts had been very successful, and sturgeon were taken all winter at different points in the lied Itiver, and where the river falls into Lake \Yinnipeg sturgeon were taken in great abundance by the various individuals who passed the winter in its viciniiy, but there were parties there who, ])eiiig destitute of sturgeon nets, had to su})sist on pike taken by the line and hook. Those who had barley were very fortunate in ])eing able to get it turned into Hour by a wind-mill that had been built in 1825 by the Earl of Selkirk's executors ; before its erection all the grain raised in the colony had to be ground on querns or hand-mills, and however strange it may appear most if not all the families from Kildonan brought these use- ful and lime revered instruments from their native straths to the plains of Red River ; and it was no uncommon thing for those who had grain, buc no means of grinding it, to make the first suitable stones they found into querns Most of the farmers who had raised a trifle of wheat the preceding season were not able to save much of it for seed. Others had none of that valuable cereal to commit to the soil, and had to content themselves with sowing some barley and planting a few potatoes. The summer was favorable for the productions of the earth, so much so, that the little sown yielded great returns. The hunters were successful in both trips, and brought in, in the course of the summer, abundance of pemican, dry- "nont and tallow ; also, the dressed hides of the animals killed. The fishermen pursued their usual occupations and added considerably to the stock of provisions procured by the other parties ; in a word, the people in the settlement had the satisfaction of knowing that there was enough food ill the place to enable them to bid defiance to want until HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 253 the openinc: of the navigation in the Ibllowinu" spring-. AVhile rejoicing- over the success that attended our labors during the year, a new and unexpected cause of trouble sprung up between the rulers of the land and those whom they ruled. The deep snow of 1826, on its dissolution filled every pond and marsh in the vicinity of the colony willi water. and in them the muskrat, castor {Jihir-zebelhimn), had become very numerous, and were chieily hunted l)y the Indians and half-breeds. The Company claimed the exclu- sive right of buying all the furs hunted in the country, for the payment of which that body politic had tw^o price lists differing from earh other. The Indians were paid according to one of them, the half-breeds and whitemen according to the other, which system of trade we shall endeavor to explain. The Indians were dealt with on the old system of " made beaver," a technical term among the traders, which term, with the reader's permission, we shall endeavor to explain. The skin of a lull grown beaver, either imme or common, was the lix(Kl standard by which all other kinds of furs were valued, namely : the skins of twelve lull aTOWn, prime muskrats were equivalent in trade to one beaver skin. Suppose an Indian asked the trader for one half-pound powder, which, in the language of trad(\ was one made beaver, he got it, and had to pay twelve rat skins, or an equivalent in other kinds of furs to the beaver skin. On the other hand, the furs brought to the Company's store by those known as freemen were valued in cash (to wit), a freeman, half-breed or whiteman, brought a beaver skin to sell, or rather to barter, cash he could not get for it, but it was worth twenty shillings sterling in goods. "Whereas the down-trodden red-man could only get the value of one shilling for a similar article. The prime rat-skin was only worth twopence in goods to the redskin, while it was worth sixpence to the freeman. But it generally happened that the Company's stores were empty of all goods before !t(H' I-; 25 1 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. r; llfli !>.1J i I' y . ml ■tmi"' ' 1 Christmas Under these circumstances scrip was given for I'lirs. The petty traders, who resided here wore careful to be on good terms with the man in power, and w(;re the first admitted into the sale shop, where they obtained goods to the lull amount of their cash and credit. These they kept on hand until the Company's goods would be done, when they dis* posed of them to the freemen for scrip at an advance of two or three hundred per cent., so that when the freeman could only get scrip for his furs, he w^as, as a rule, very poorly paid for them ; nevertheless, better paid than the red man, and therefore could afford to buy from him and give some- thing on the bargain. When the hunting season came on, Avhich was in the beginning of winter, the Indians, as a rule, were destitute of clothing to protect their bodies from the cold, and as the country was bare of large game, these improvident people had to depend on the few muskrats they hunted for their food, which, in many cases, would not furnish them w^ith one meal per day. Thus suffering from famine and naked- ness, we cannot feel surprised that they endeavored to take the paltry proceeds of their fitful industry to the best market. The freemen lived in the Indian camps and hunted with them in the marshes and forests. The former had generally food, ammunition and articles of clothing to spare. These they bartered with the redman for his furs, who, not- withstanding this trade in his camp, frequently visited the farmers to exchange his furs for their produce. But this state of things, so satisfactory to the parties engaged in it, did not continue long before the rulers at Fort Garry came to hear that the above traffic, which they termed illicit, w^as carried on, and the plan adopted for its suppression was as unpleasant as it w^as summary. The constabulary force in the colony numbered about a dozen men, and in their house- searching expeditions their only warrant was the presence of a Hudson's Bay Company's clerk. These men, on some occasions, went forth armed with muskets and bayonets, to HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 265 the great terror of the dames whose mansions they honored with their visits. All furs found were confiscated, no ques- tions being asked as to how the possessor came to have them. To elucidate what we have stated abov(\ we shall give a few cases to the point. Mr. Registe Laliance, a French Canadian, had been at^cused of having furs in his possession, and thus infringing the Company's privilen-es. The police were mustered, armed and sent to Mr. LaRance's house, who happened to be from home. The door was locked, but bars and bolts had to give way ; the house was broken into, and all the furs it contained carried to Fort Garry to swell the Company's accumulation of the like property. Several individuals, both Canadian and English, were dealt with in a like summary manner ; but the cases that evoked the greatest degree of public sympathy with the oppressed and odium to their oppressors were those of two Lower Canadians, both very poor and one of them lame, who had, after the disasters of 182(j, settled at Lake Manitoba for the purpose of hshing, being unable by any other means to sup- port life ; and that of an Italian, who was a tin-smith by trade. It was well known in the settlement that he had no goods to exchange for peltries, he might now and then patch or mend some kettles or other tin-ware for the Indians, for which these poor people, if they remunerated him for his material and labor, would have to do so by giving him suoh furs as they had ; but, w^e believe, that the only sin committed by our two Frenchmen against the privileges aid immuni- ties conferred by the charter, w^as their being in company with the Italian tinker. Be that as it may, they were hon- ored in the month of February with a domiciliary ^visit from his Lord.ship's constables, backed by the cusiomary authority, a gigantic Hudson's Bay Company's clerk. The offending parties were apprehended, the torch was applied to their shanties, which were reduced to ashes, and the poor unfortun- ates were not allowed to take their hooks and nets out of the lake. Thus, being deprived of the means of providing •MM) 256 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. for their subsisti'iite, they were miirched to Fori Garry. The two FreiichmiMi were confined for some time, strictly en- joined not to return to the scene of their former misde- meanors, and then turned out of the phice ; the Italian tin- smith was kept in durance vih^. for some months, then sent to York Factory, brought ]>efore the Fur Trade Council, threatened with deportation to Eni^land. and many more hardships, all of which our hero l)ore with equanimity worthy of an ancient Roman. After the above ordeal, he was engaged to labor for a time in the kitchen, and was provided with a passage in the fall boats to lied River. =^ These petty acts of oppression are only worthy of a place in history, in so fiir as they show how good and worthy men may become instruments of tyranny, when their duty to their employers compels them to enforce the dictates of a vicious system ; and, also to show how acts, trilling in them- selves, may give rise to animosities, which may go on for years intensifying, until the tempest of outraged public feel- ing l)ursts on the heads of the oppressors, of which more hereafter. Those who had any claim to be considered culti- vators of the soil, exerted themselves to the utmost of their power to enlarge the area of their cultivated lields. When the thaw had penetrated the soil to the depth of two or three inches, was considered the most favorable time for ploughina- • The year 1827 sdw the Fliulaon's Bay Company commence to act on the Earl of Selkirii's idea of transporting gooils from the Bay to the Oolony, by opening a winter road between a certain puint on Fox llivcr and Oxford House. The goods were forwarded in boat3 from the Bay to the stores on the above river. A road, pighty-one miles in length, had been made through forests and orer swamps be- tween O.xford House and Fox's River. His Lordship contemplated using reindeer to transport the goods; his successors used dogs for that purpose during the first year, but it was soon found that they were unfit for the work. In 1828, stables had been erected at a distance of eleven miles from each other, hay had been pro- vided at each of the shanties, oxen had been taken from the Red River and eni- jdoyed on the road, but, tbrough some mismanagement, they did not do better than the dogs. Bale after bale had to be thrown off the sleighs everywhere and never looked after. In 1829, the undertaking was relinquished, af;e.' having co^t the Company in men's wages, oxen, and lost and destroyed goods, some thousaaJs of pounds sterling. niSTORy OF MANITOBA. 267 . TKe tly en- inisde- au tin- 311 sent 'ouncil, y more uiimity he was rovidt'd f n pi act- worthy eir duty ates of a in them- [To on for blic feel- ch more ed cuiti- of their yhen tlie or three loug'hing- on the Eiirl )y opening a The goods er. A road, swam 1)3 be- jing reindeer iring the first 1828, 8lables lad been pro- liver and em- loi do better -rj'where and having cost me thousands new land, us it was softer then than when hardened by long exposure to the rays of the sun. However, no sooner had the crops (or seed) been committed to the earth than the breaking up of new land re-commenced, and was carried on during the last two weeks of June. Land thus ploughed was left to the action of summer rains and winter frosts until the following spring, when it would get a second ploughing-, then sown with wheat, which never failed tj yield large returns, ranging from forty to sixty ])usliels per acre. 01" course, much depended on the nature ol' the season, as well as on the quality of the soil. After the Hood of 182(J great impetus was given to agricultural operations. The seasons, during a series of years, had been all that could be desired ; quantities of grain remained on hand year after year. A market was demanded for surplus produce, and a larger im- portation of goods annually into the colony. Governor Simp- son promised that the Company would bring in a sufficient stock of goods to supply all who could pay for the same, and, that henceforth the Company would buy from the settlers all the agricultural produce that would be required for the fur trade. The public mind became elated by th(^se generous promises of getting a market for the produce of the land, and of finding an open store in the settlement where supplies could be obtained for cash all the year round. "We must observe here that all the inhabitants of this extensive region depended upon the Hudson's Bay Company's stores for dry goods, gi'oceries, ammunition and iron work, no other store of any importance being then in the country. The Company's sale shop would be opened, as we have said above, for the public in Octo])er, when every man in the settlement who had a few pounds, or even a few shil- lings, set out for Upper Fort G-arry, each anxious to be the first at the shop door. Even if he succeeded in being the first at it his chance of being the first to get in was very slender indeed, for in a few moments he would be surrounded bv scores of men who in their eagerness to get to the door, .Vept Q '«(M' wr jmum 2S8 HISTOKY OF MANITOBA. crowding en each ofher, not only to the great annoyance but danger of the weakest. About 8 a m. the officials entered the sale shop by some private door ; two men were placed at the public entry to keep back the multitude that pressed with its united weight; agairst the front door, which would be by degrees cautiously unbarred, when in spite of the stronn; and armed men, a crowd would burst in with such force that many in the throng were thrown off their balance, came full length to the ground, and were injured by being tramped upon by their surer-footed or more fortunate friends. The guards at the door re-locked and re-barred it with all convenient speed, and as soon as those within assumed something like order the sales began. The presiding genius was a senior clerk, who impatiently looked for a chief trader's commission, and who evidently believed that retailing cotton, ammunition, tobacco, &c., was incompatible with his personal dignity, and who, unfortunately, exhibited occasion- ally the bitterness of his feelings in expressions of ill-humor towards his unfortunate and helpless customers. The per- sonage above described took his seat at a desk fronting a win- dow, two or three sub-officials were in attendance to measure and weigh. A purchaser presents himself before the man at the desk, whose first demand was " Give me your money.?'' Customer — "I will, if you please, as I buy." The man at the desk, peevishly — "You must comply with our rules ; if you do not, you must retire and give place to another." A mental glance at the empty wardrobes at his home, and the nearness of winter subdued the refractory. The cash was handed over, counted and entered on the book. The customer began to receive such articles as were to be had, being occasionally reminded that the cash to his credit was getting low. Thus business went on until the customer would be paid for his last pennies by a few ounces of thread or of tobacco. By degrees all who got in would be served, or, in other words, their cash would be spent, and they would be sent out by a back door, or even at a window. Again the front door HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 28» ice but entered placed pressed L would e of the ich force balance, by being fortunate ,d it with assumed i(T cjenius ef trader's retailing s with his i occasiou- l ill-humor The per- ing a win- to measure the man at r money.'?' man at the les ; if yo^ A mental .e nearness ^andedover, .er began to (ccasionally low- Thus ipaid for his jbacco. By (ther words, sent out by le front door would be cautiously opened, when others rushed iu to take up the places left vacant by those who had passed out by the back door ; and in this way the good people of Assi- niboia, day after day and week afb'r week, spent their time and money until the goods would be disposed of and all the ca.sli in the settlement gathered in, which was generally accomplished by the last of November. The above mode of doing business continued from the coalition of the two Com- panies to the year 1832 or 1883. About the above period a few private gentlemen began to import dry goods from England, which they retailed in the settlement at a very handsome percentage on their ovaiay. The facility with which these private merchants turned their goods into cash taught the Hudson's Bay men that they might safely venture to import a much larger supply of goods into the colony and lose nothing by doing so. So much for the fulfilment of the first promise. Now to the second promise, namely, a market for agricultural produce. The promise was relied on, the colonists spared neither labor nor means to produce articles for the long wished-for and now graciously promised market, so that in a short time the demand was adequately supplied. No sooner had this been accomplished, than the astute Governor saw that he had gained the vantage-ground and could rej^ulate the prices as he pleased ; but Governor Simpson was too wise a man to desire all the odium that the new tariff would call forth to centre on himself, therefore he resolved to share it with his Colonial Councillors. These were assembled at Fort Garry, the new tariff was submitted to their Honors, and, so far as the people knew, was passed nem con, for at this period of our colonial existence we had neither printing press nor reporter. The reader may desire to know who composed the Council, and as the desire is laudable we shall endeavor to gratify it. Know, then, that the Governor of Rupert's Land, when pre- sent, was chairman ex officio ; in his absence the Governor of the colony, who was at the same time a Chief Factor in the .^M' hi ' 260 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. II > 1'^ III !! lion. Company's servi 'o, and who, as w»' have said above, depended for his emoluments on the profits on th<* general trade over the countrj. Next rame the Vicar- General of .Tuli- opolis and two clerLrymen of the Entjlish church, sent into the countrv as missionaries to the aborigines, but who were at the siuif^. time Chaplains to the Hon. Company, and in receipt ol annual salaries and valuable allowances from that body. To this we may add that one of these Reverend gen- llemen kept a ladies' Imarding school, for whose subsistence considerable quantities of colonial produce was required The other gentlemen who had seats in the Council were in receipt of retired shares from the Hon. Company; besides, each of them was dependent for many articles of farm produce on the settlers. We have set before the reader the composition ot the Council ; we shall now acquaint him with its action on the present occasion. The prices of agri(niltural produce were reduced as follows : — Flour, from l(3s. per cwt. to lis. 6d. ; wheat, from 7s. 6d."per bushel to 3s. 6d. ; barley, from 5s. per bushel to 2s. ; potatoes, from 3s. per bushel to 6d. ; beef, from Od. per lb. to 2d. ; butter, from Is. per lb. to *7d. ; cheese, from 6d. per lb. to 4d. ; eggs, from Is. per doz. to 6d. ; pork, from (id. per lb. to 2d. Pemican, dry meat, tallow and all articles of food procured by the chase were reduced in a similar ratio, while dry goods, groceries, salt, ammunition, iron works and all other articles required by the settlers and hunters remained at their former prices ; and at the same time that the price of produce was so reduced, the price of land, in 1829, was raised from 5s. per acre to 7s. 6d. The Reverend William Cockran came to the colony in 1825 and took up his residence with the Rev. D. T. Jones, who had his establishment where St. John's Cathedral and College now stand. These missionaries labored for a few years together among their fellow- Protestants, namely, the Scotch settlers and Orkney-men, who had been year after year retiring from the fur trade service, and coming with their h HISTORY OP MAVITOBA. Mt above, of .Tuli- I'lit into ho wore , and in om that >n(\ g.'ii- )sistence rod Tho u receipt 3, each of oduoo on n ot tho )n on tho uco wovo lis. 6d. ; .m 5s. per ,eef, from |. ; choose, d.; porlv. and all ,ced in a jmunition. ittlers and the samo price of Gd. liiy in 1825 ^ who had College :ew years :he Scotch |after year ith their half-brood families into the colony to settle along the course of the river, as we have said above, from th.^ northern extremity of tho Scotch sottloment, occupying tho Parishes of Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, down to tho southern limit ol what was then considered the Lulian reserve. In order to bring religious instructiou witliiu easy reach of those who lived at a distanc^o from St. John's, the Kov. AVilliam Cock- ran decided on seitlinu' at G rand Rapids, and bought from l»j to 20 chains of land from the Governor of the Northern Department, who was acting for the young Earl of Selkirk, for which tho Rev. gentleman paid 7s. (id. per aero. A lew families who came to tho colony from Moo.se and All)any hal to deposit tho pri(;o of three chains of land valued at 7s. Od. per acre before they wore permitted to leave for the colony in 1821*. Tho ri.se in the price of land compared with the reduc- tion made in the price of everything that it produced stirred up a spirit of bitter hostility against the legislators in tho people at large, for all classes wore disadvantageously ailtH'ted by these changes. However, after the multitude had grum})led to their hearts' content they had to ac(£uiesce in the new order of things ; in fact, the market was more' than supplied, when unfortuiuitoly, the quality of Rod River produce was loudly complained of from one end of tho land to the other. The Hour was said to bo not only sour, ])ut unlit for hog's feed, the butter rancid and unfit for human food, the cheese was declared to be still w'orso, beef and pork at twopence per pound was found fault with. Engli.sh produce must be imported and carried inland from York Factory to the different stations in the interior. The settlors, after all their labor and expense in improving and enlarging their farms, were left in a worse condition than before they had made the above improvements and extensions, since the market which they had so conlidently rolie*'. on and so much required was withdrawn. To account for this state of things, we must take a view of the circumstances of the colony at the time. A certain class of farmers understood .(ickle were not used. The firkins, made of green wood, one day exposed to rain, the next day to a burning sun, became leaky, and the salt put in the butter, after it had become liquid, escaped. From these different causes, wher the firkins reached their destination their contents were invariably found to be worthless ; and we may fairly apportion the blame between the producer and buyer, as if both had conspired to ruin the produce market. .'(1 'na 364 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. CHAPTER VIII. h I m Prcxuiess of the Settlements — Arrival of Colonists AT Red River— Erection of a New Fort— The Difficulties of Stock-raising — The Unfortunate Sheep Specttlation— Driving Sheep from Ken- tucky TO Red River. AVe have stated how the Scotch settlers lamented and fretted at the non-fulfilment of his Lordship's promise of sending them a minister of their own persuasion, and who could address them in their native tongue ; and while in the above dissatisfied and gloomy state of mind certain statements made by the Rev. Mr. Jones and published in the Missionary Ixegister of December, 1827, came to light in the colony. Speaking of the Scotch colonists, at page 630, the Reverend gentleman expresses himself thus : " I lament to say there is an unuhristianlike selfishness and narrowness of mind in our Scotch population, while they are the most comfortable in their circumstances of any class in our little community." And, then, to heighten the contrast, if not to disseminate the seeds of discord and party feeling, he adds : " The Orkney Islanders are a far more promising and pleasing body of men. There is among them an identity of feeling and disposition, and the energy of their character is in general directed in a proper channel." And, as if it were to finish the picture th^is begun and to crown the climax, he further remarks : " The half-breeds walk in simplicity and godly sincerity ! " The last sentence'is worthy of the note of admiration. Nor do we doubt, from our own knowledge of the classes of whom he speaks, that the Reverend gentle- man found the task of dictating to Orkney Islanders, as he calls them, and to half-breeds too, much easier than to make stubborn Scotchmen renounce their creed. AVe may here HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 265 .ONISTS r— The CUNATE ; Ken- ed and mise of nd who i^^hile in. certain Lshed in light in •age 630, [ lament rowness le most ►ur little if not to le adds : pleasing ■ feeling er is in were to imax, he city and he note owledge gentle- ;rs, as he to make nay here I observe that the Presbyterians were never sincerely attached to the Church of England, although the young people and those of the aged who fancied that they understood some English, attended on the services of the ministers of that church. But when his Reverence's complimentary com- parisons came to their knowledge, they decided on making another eiibrt to obtain a minister of their own persuasion. With that object in view they waited, by delegation, on Donald McKenzie, Esq., Grovernor of the colony, who re- ceived them very cordially and directed them to prepare their petition for a minister, and promised to forward the same to the X)lace of its destination. Certain gentlemen were instructed to draft the petition, which was in due time submitted to a large and influential meeting of Scotch settlers, who unanimously approved of it and attached their signatures. This done, it was consigned to the Governor's care, who, in conformity with his promise, did forward it ; but the unfortunate document was stopped short and never went beyond York Factory, from which place it was returned to Red River in an empty butter iirkin belonging to one of its chief promoters. The only reason that we can assign for this charitable interference with men's feelings and rights is that the Reverend gentlemen's, (Messrs. Jones and Cockran,) satelites got up a counter petition addressed to the Board of Directors in London. Those two petitions were despatched by the same conveyance for York Factory, where they met the Rev. D. T. Jones. AVe hove reason to believe that the Reverend gentleman, on his landing, was favored with a copy of the counter petition, which was forwarded and arrived safely at its destination; but, whether Mr- Jones' presenc' at York Factory had anything to do with the fate of the petition sent by the Presbyterians we will not say, but we believe that we may salely to ii ascribe the glory of consigning its rival to its ignominious fate, and of achieving what was at the time considered a brilliant triumph to the counter petition. However, the Rev. Mr. 'Nl'!' h'll : TTp 11 if 266 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. I'.! 'H-'! i *i ll 11 i n Jones and his lady arrived in the oolony in the beginning- of October, 1829, and took possession of the parsonage at what has since been known as St. John's, but was then known as Kildonan, the centre of the Scotch settlement. The fate of the unfortunate and dishonored petition promist^d immunity from all fear of having his equanimity disturbed by the arrival of a Presbyterian Minister in the land, whose pres- ence in the colony at that time would reduce Mr. Jones' con- gregation to about half a dozen families with four or five Indian families who had left their frozen forests and came to the colony to visit a sister, a daughter, or some near relative married to a white man. Once in Red River, they must go to the buffalo hunt, generally as servants, but while there they were in their element, feasting from nightfall to morn- ing, and when they returned with the last trip they were as poor as they had been when they commenced the first. They were permitted to erect huts on the east side of the river, opposite the parsonage, where they passed the winter months supporting themselves by working among the settlers. They were induced to attend prayer meetings in the evenings, where they were instructed in the rudiments ol Christianity. "While these Indians were struggling in their native forests for a hard-earned and precarious subsistence, as they knew no other condition of life they were satisfied ; but, after passing a few winters in the milder climate of Red River, and after ha^ • acquired a taste for the good things pro- cured by the (uffalo hunt and raised on the farms, thev could not b( " duced nor compelled to return to their former hunting grounds, and here we shall leave them for the pre- sent. The Rev. Mr. Jones was well-known to those among w^hom he had taken up his residence on his return from England, and although their minds had been alienated from the Church of England to a greater degree than in former times by the well-known opposition given by the clergy and adherents to their petition ; yet they could not fail to appre- ciate his eloquence in the pulpit and many amiable qualities HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 2vr in private life. Always kind and indulgent to his hearers, he now laid aside such parts of the liturgy and formulas of the Episcopalian Church as he knew were offensive to his Pres- byterian hearers. He also held prayer meetings among them after the custom of their own church. Here all was extem- pore, which raised him higher than ever in their estimation, especially when they knew that he could only do so at the risk of forfeiting his gown. His own words were : " I know that I am doing good : and as lonu; as I can do good to souls the technical forms of this or that Church will not prevent me. The Rev. Mr. Cockran, w^ho had hithorto resided at St. John, had been occupied in making an establishment at the Grrand Rapid (now St. Andrews), to which he brought his family a few days before Mr. Jones arrived in the settlement. This zealous and indefatigable preacher of the Gospel ad* mitted the dwellers in the vicinity every Sunday into his private dwelling, w^here he performed Divine service during the first year of his residence in his new charge ; but before the close of the winter, a great effort had been made by the minister and by the liberal-minded portion of the congrega- tion to collect materials for a building that was intended for a time to answer the double purpose of a school-house and church, which w^as made habitable before the winter set in. However, the erection of a more suitable place of worship was not lost sight of. In the summer of 1830 tim- ber had been rafted down from the forests bordering on the Assiuniboine River. Delegates were sent to Donald McKenzie, Esquire, to ask for a lot of land for a church and grave-yard. The Governor exceeded their rec|uests, for he not only gave the congregation a lot of eight chains frontage on the west side of the river, but also gave them a forest lot of eight chains frontage on the east side of the river. As soon as convenient a building of fifty feet by twenty feot was com- menced. sngrefrati<)n that b:iilt the church at (Jrand Rapids and worshipped in it. HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 26^ Nor must we omit to inform our readers, that the unceas- ing turbulence of the French half-breeds, made Governor Simpson desirous of removing his residence from their imme- diate vicinity at the confluence of the Red and Assinniboine rivers. He decided on building a fort twenty miles farther north on the Red River. For the purpose of carrying oat his intentions, he took his workmen to the most eligible spot on the Red River for the erection of a stone building, and they commenced operations in the month of Octobor, 1831, digging foundations, quarrying stones and preparing tim])er. The river bank is from thirty to forty feet high, composed of fossiliferous limestone within a distance of a hundred yards from where the buildings were to be reared, and stones from the same place were burned into lime, the unbroken forests on the east side of the river furnishing abundance of fuel for that purpose. During the summers of 1832 and 1833 a com- modious dwelling-house and a capacious store were finished, and Governor vSimpson and iamily passed the winter of 1833 and 1834 at the Stone Fort. Goods were sold at the store to the settlers inhabiting the north end of the colony, thus doing away with the necessity of travelling over many miles for the purpose of purchasing their trilling supplies. To which we may add, that it being always a place of some importance, but more so when the Governor wintered there, it affordc^d a market to those who lived in its vicinity. In 1839 a stone wall was commenced, designed as a defence ; this structure was three or four feet thick, with embrasures for small arms in it at regular distances of fifteen feet from each other. A capacious round tower occupied each of the four angles. The circumvallation forms a square, with a gate on the south- east side which lies parallel to the river, and another gate on the north-west side which fronts the plains. This station, though the walls and towers have been left in an unfinished condition and giving tokens of decay, is notwithstanding the most important post the Hon. Company has in the country on account of its being the terminus of lake navigation for ^Mi I|!f| h i : !■ 270 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. steamers. Here they receive their cargoes of trading goods, which they take to the Big Fall at the mouth of the Sascat- chevvan, whence those goods are forwarded to the west and to the districts lying to the north of that river. The steamers on their return trips bring the furs collected on the Sascat- chewan and in the districts to the north during the winter, and are thence forwarded through the United States to Eng- hnd. We shall, with the reader' -"^rmission, now revert to many attempts made by the G^. v Viuj to direct the attention of the agriculturalist from raising whea , vhich he could not turn to any other account beyond that of supplying his family with bread. The original, or Earl of Selkirk, settlers were now pressed to pay the heavy debts which they had incurred during the lirst few years they had been in the colony. Some iamilies owed his Lordship's estate as much as three hun- dred pounds sterling, and no family owed less than one hun- dred. These heavy debts had to be paid in produce, for which they were allowed very low prices ; so the quantity which they delivered at the Company's stores fully supplied the only market to which the farmer could go, and this being closed against all who w^ere not in debt, gave rise to mur- murings and expressions of discontent. The Governor, with his well-known sagacity, endeavored to divert the public mind from brooding over past disappointments and to turn it into new channels of industry. Flax and hemp seed were introduced and given gratis to those who were ambitious to try their fortune in the new adventure, and, as an additional stimulus, prizes, varying in value from one to five pounds sterling, were promised to those w^ho raised the greatest quantity of rough material. The ground had been well pre- pared ; the seeds, sown w4th care, grew to perfection, and was pulled in due time, but, unfortunately, as a rule, with few exceptions, the settlers knew nothing of the processes of steeping, beating and hackling, the articles to prepare them for domestic use or for the foreign market, so that we may I HISTORV OF MANITOBA. 9T1 ^oods, lasoat- st and ■amers 5ascat- Eug- ) many 1 of the 3t turn lamily s were icurred . Some je hun- iie hun- uce, for uantity p plied IS being :o mur- >r, with public I to turn ied were Ltious to [ditional pounds [greatest ell pre- |ion, and lie, with [cesses of •e them e may say that a great amount of labor had been lost. It is true the prizes promised liad been paid to the parties to whom they had been awarded, and a few hundred yards of coarse sheeting had been manufactured at this time by some of the o^d settlers, who had been accustomed to such work in Scot- land. Scarcity of laborers, consequent high wages, and the entire absence of skilled li'bor, ruined the whole scheme ; but, at the same time, it was clearly proved that the rich alluvial soil of Red River was capable of producing these valuable plants in the greatest perfection. The next hobby to which public attention was direci, rl was a joint stock concern, to be [named " The Tallow Com- pany." Its capital was tu consist of jC 1,000, divided int.. '00 shares of jEo each. The affairs were to be manager .7 . chairman and six directors. The shares to the amoun^ sub- scribed were at once taken in cattle, and six shares q' Mfi d L.iy subscriber to be a director. The general rule for laking in the cattle was their age— none taken under one nor above five years old. Those of one year old were valued at jCI each ; two years old at £2 ; three years old at =£3, and soon. The whole herd consisted of 473 head. The first or prelim- inary meeting was held in th«^ first part of April, 1832, with- in what had formerly been known as Fort Gribraltar, at the confluence of the Red and Assinniboine Rivers, The Grovernor made a clear and forcible speech, in which he pointed out to his hearers the illimitable extent of fertile plains that were in the colony and in its vicinity ; the wisdom and advantage of utilizing the same by stocking them with domestic cattle ; any number, like the buffalo, might be raised, as in some parts of New South Wales, with- out the aid or trouble of hand feeding in winter. H« ex- pressed his belief that the business might be increased to any extent — so much so, that the Jtallow and hides w^ould become valuable articles of export. The cattle were, according to promise, delivered to those who had been appointed to receive them, and branded with ^|.(i 272 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. !'■ I m the initials T. T., sii^nifying tallow trad<\ and soon alter conveyed to pasture grounds, at the foot of the pine hills, at a short distance to the 3ast of the settlement, and placed under the care ot two herdsmen. On the 30th day of April a furious storm came on from the north ; about 18 inches of sncw fell, a circumstance altogether unusual at that season. The storm was followed by some very cold and stormy weather. Home of the cattle were very lean. All had been housed and regularly fed during the winter. The triile of new grass that had sprung up at this early period was first deeply buried in snow, then covered with water. The only food that remained for the sutlering stock were the branches of trees and tops of willows which were picked vi* by the stoater animals that took the lead, leaving little or nothing for the weaker ones that followed, and the consequence was that 2G of these died. However, during the summer the stock improved rapidly, and men began to look favorably on the undertaking. At the same time, it was considered advisable to make some provision for their subsistence during the bleak and stormy months of winter ; the quantity of hay made averaged one load per head Roofless sheds were railed in, not for pro- tection against the cold, but to answer the double purpose of keeping them together at night and preserving them from the w olves ; yet, w ith all this attempt at care, the intense cold of the winter, when the mercury froze and when the spirit thermometer on several mornings indicated from 40 to 45 minus, proved to be too much for them. When driven into these roofless pens they instinctively pressed for warmth as close together as they could stand, and generally passed the night in that unusual position ; hence, when turned out in the mornings they were so benumbed with the cold and standing all night that they could scarcely walk, and, of course, were unable to procure their food in deep snow during the day. In this miserable manner they passed the first winter, during which time 32 died from the combined i HISTORY OF MANITOBA. m <»ftect8 of cold and want of food ; the ears, horns and tails of many of them froze and fell ott'; the cows lost their teats, besides which 53 were killed by the wolves. The total loss the first year was 111. The carelessness and indolence of the herdsmen contributed greatly to this disaster, but the chief agents in producing these unfortunate results were the wolves, the dread of whose ravages led to the cattle being cooped up together, where they stood in a semi-torpid state all night. In the beginning of the second year of this experiment, the cattle were removed to a new grazing ground, a short distance farther from the settlement, but more sheltered than where they passed the previous winter. Here herds- men were engaged, whose first care was to lay in a sufficient quantity of hay ; then they built warm sheds. The stock- holders were called on for five shillings sterling per share, to defray these extra expenses. The cattle were driven in every night, and after the winter set in were regularly fed. As a further precaution against neglect, it was arranged that each director, in his turn, should visit the cattle once a week. No plan, whatever, could be devised to prevent the ravages of the wolves, which killed twenty notwithstand- ing the care taken, and to the above loss we may add that of sixteen that died of cold. The stockholders were discouraged by every fresh loss, and all interested in the business were loud in their demands to put an end to the concern. In October, 1834, the herd was disposed of by auction, and the shareholders realized the full amount of their in-put, but sacrificed the interest of their stock for two years. For some years, the history of the colony may be said to consist of series of speculations. Notwithstanding the failure of the flax and hemp scheme, and the more than probable failure of the " tallow trade " project, Grovernor Simpson seemed, in spite of all difl5.culties, determined to confer some permanent benefit on the colony. In 1833, he turned his attention to the introduction of sheep, which was always .KM' ■ar 274 ni3T0RV OF MANITOBA. § ■lit ! one of his most favored designs. For the aicomplishment of this ol)je('t, he proposed the formation of a joint stock company in order to raise the sum of c€ 1,200, to be laid out in the purchase of sheep in the United States, and in bring- ing them from there to ]led River. This j^lan was accepted with grt'at readiness, and th(^ money as readily paid. The Governor oifered to send Mr. Rae, a clerk in the Hudson's Bay Company's service to superintend the buying and bring- ing of the sheep to the colony. With him was associated Mr. J. P. Bourke, whom we had occasion to notice in a Ibrmer part of this work. These gentlemen with only four men, late in the season, crossed the inhospitable plains to St. Peter's. From St. Peter's their course was directed to St. Louis and from thence through the state of Missouri, where it was expected the sheep would have been purchased, in which case their return home would be comparatively easy. But, unfortunately, while here the leaders quarreled. Mr. Rae w^as young and full of energy, haughty and over-bear- ing in his disposition, which rendered him a very unsafe counsellor and unpleasant companion, while, at the same- time, he was entirely destitute of the experience and tact which distinguished his more sagacious, but equally high- minded colleague. The occasion of their rupture was this : On arriving in Missouri the price oi sheep was found to be from 5s. to Ts. 6d. a head, ])ut, not very numerous ; and the people, believing from report that the strangers were intending to buy some thousands instead of a few hundred, were in conse- quence so ill-advised as to demand from the strangers 10s. per head. Mr. Rae took offence at this attempt at extortion, as he considered it, and though the sheep were oifered after- wards at 7s, 6d. per head, he refused to deal with the Missou- rians and pushed on for Kentucky, a further distance of 450 miles. Remontrances proved vain ; to all that Mr. Bourke could urge on the score of increased difficulty in the transport of the ilocks and other adverse contingencies, Mr. j. « HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 3T6 lishmenf iut stock > laid out in brin?- accept»>d lid. The Hudson's md bring- asBociated atice in a only four ains to St. oSt. Loui& , where it chased, in ively easy, •eled. Mr. over-bear- ery unsafe the sami'- and tact ally high- ,rriving in n 5s. to 7s. !, believing buy soiue in conse- mgers 10s. extortion, lered after- ,he Missou- distance of that Mr. |ulty in the ;encies, Mr. "RoAi turned a deaf ear, and followeil the l)eMt of his way- ward inclination. Alter this misunderstanding, Mr Bourke declined taking any active part in the management of atlairs during the whole journey. After a variety of adventures and loss of time the party reached Kt'iitucky, and found that the price of sheep there dill'ered v«'ry little from what they could have bought them at in Missouri, })eing from 5m. to 78. a head. Here the numlu'r required was completed, viz.^ 1,475; but on the way back they began to meet with the dilFiculties that the sagacious Bourke foresaw and f(»retold. They had to pay for pasture every night, and whenever they halted during the day ; besides, many sheep died from the effeit of hard driving. On their way up the Mississippi th«'y gave another instance of the wisdom of their management ; they saw that the sheep were sulfering from the burden and heat of their fleeces, and at a certain place they halted to clip them, and agreed with a certain individual to let him have all the wool at a lixed price. The following day the wool was to be delivered and the moiu'y paid, but the individual not being able to raise the full amount, could not get wool to the value of the cash he had. At the same time, a ;. umber of poor people had collected about the place and made several offers, according to their means, for portions of the wool ; but their united oifers falling short of the original valuation, they were rejected with contempt, and the wool was order- ed to be })urnt on the spot, which indicated neither wisdom nor humanity. The former would say, sell the wool for what the people are able to give for it, which in all probability would have amour ♦ed to a few hundred dollars ; the latter would say, if the pt- >ple be too poor to buy, better that it should clothe the n»'edy than that it should be burnt. Giving it away might answer a good object ; it could not fail to enlist in their behalf the friendship of those among whom they were travelling, which, no doubt, would be of some value. Had the sheep been purchased in Missouri they might have been in Red River before the excessive heats at" ^i{'\\ 1 > . 2T6 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 11 IRS H : ' m\ ■ V' i 1 Ijli ii\ I:'' July and Augnsl had come on, and before the tall coarse grass on the plains had come to its height. Many localities in those plains produce a species of plant which, in its mature state, is armed with sharp barbed spines, which penetrated the sheeps' skins as they walked through the grass ard finally caused death, which, with over-driving, killed the helpless creatures by tens and by twenties every day. It was currently reported and believed that 1,200 of these over-driven and helpless animals perished from the cause already referred to, or by the knife, between St. Peter's and Pembina. It is distressing to relate that every sheep that failed to keep up with the llock was doomed to have its throat cut by order of the men who had so unfortunately been trusted with their safety. The agents in these butch- eries did not hesitate to inform the writer that in one morn- ing only, while at breakfast, the bloody knife deprived no loss a number than forty-four of life. The leaders, as became men in their position, rode in advance of their charge, and every now and then some one of the men would have to ride up to them with the news that so many of the sheep could not be made to move on. " Cut their thr«):;ts and drive on," was the invariable order. A few days' rest, say one in seven, would have enabled these worn-out animals to recruit their strength, or even a few hours each alternate day allowed them to rest and feed might have enabled many of those whose livefi had been cut short by the knife to perform the journey. On their arrival on the top waters of Red River, they came to a camp of Sioux, ci met with a party of that nation, who received them kindly. Thesr Indians were headed by the great war chief, Wanata, who, with a number of his braves, escorted them and hunted for them until they arrived at Pembina ; yet, such was the intensity of their longing for home that even while protected and provided for by the Great Chief, they f.rove on without stop or stay, heedless of the wanton and barbarous butchery of many of their charge every day, which so disgusted the drivers that HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 277 coarse >f plant L spines, through driving, BE every 1,200 of rom the t. Peter's y sheep have its tunately e butch- le morn- rived no s became arge, and e to ride ep could rive on," in seven, uit their allowed of those brm the id River, of that ,ns were number til they of their 'ided for or stay, many of 'ers that they refused to use the knife any longer in shedding inno- cent blood, leaving the business in the hands of their su- periors. However, they arrived in the settlement in the latter end of September with 251 sheep, a few of which died after- wards in consequence of the hardships they had undergone by the way. Notwithstanding the facts related above, the Governor and Managing Committee presented the leaders of the enterprise with a vote of thanks, in which they wore sustained by the farmers, who, having to run with their few and hard-earned pennies to the stores to buy clothing for their households, now rejoiced at the fact that so many of these useful animals had been brought into the s»^ttlement, believing that in time, with ordinary care, they might be in- creased to any number; but there was another party, to wit, the petty shop-keepers, who, influenced by the Grovernor, advanced a few pounds each to the undertaking, but who never intended to be troubled with the care of sheep, and only expected their advances to be paid back after the flock would arrive and be disposed of. However, as the business had been so mismanaged, they saw no immediate prospect of having their cash returned, and were, in consequence, ready to pass a vote of censure on the Governor, and on all who did not think as they thought ; so, to silence their clamor, the Governor declarca that he was ready to pay back all the money that had been subscribed, and that he would keep the sheep until they would become numerous enough 10 give each of those who would be desirous of having a few a chance to buy ; that, in the mean-time, he would give them in charge to the manager of the Company's experi- nif^ntal farm. The croakers pocketed their cassh again. Many of the poorer class left their money in the Company's hands for two or three years, until the sheep had been auctioned, when they were so keenly competed for that one with an- other they sold for two pounds sterling each. ,j i 1 ■ ! ? 2V8 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. M i 1 I -i i. CHAPTER IX-. The Experimental Farms— Early Produce Markets — Sale of the Colony to the Hudson's Bay Co. — The French Halk-Breeds threaten to Revenge an Assault Committed on One of their Number — The Hudson's Bay '^o. forced to make Slight Concessions. "We have alluded to the experimental farm which had been commenced a few years previous to the sheep adven- ture. The site chosen for the undertaking was a low alluvial flat near the Assinniboine River, and at a short distance from Upper Fort Garry. What object the Council of the fur trade had in view, when it sanctioned this new idea that had its origin hi Governor Simpson's fertile brain, we cannot say. However, a first-class dwelling-house had been erected ; barns, stables and cow-houses were provided ; and animals of the best breeds were purchased to stock the farm. A stallion was imported from England, at a cost of toOO, to impiove the breed C'f horses ; breeding mares were also imported from the* United States at great expense. The most improved inipl'ments for working the farm were pro- cured, and the dairy was iunii.-hod with equal care. We might reajsonahly expv^ct that an undertaking so liberally provided lor wouid .succopd, but practical and skilful agri- culturists were not employed. The choice of a mannger to carry out this grea design was made by the Governor and his Councillors of vhe fur trade, who appointed Chief Factor McMillan, a gentleman of the fur trade, well knovv^n for his activity and perseverance, but unacquainted with agricul- tural operations even on the smallest scale ; and who was con- sidered by nine-tenths of those who knew him best as altogethin- unqualifu'd for the right discharge of the duties HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 279 of the office in which the Grovernor's influence and partiality had placed him. The servants engag-ed to labor on the farm were, with few exceptions, half-broeds, who had been accustomed to hunt the buffalo and drive dogs, and knew no more about farm work than the red man of the surround- ing forests and plains. The dairy maids had, as a rule, been brought up on the plains or at some of the trading posts in the north, and, consequently, knew nothing of butter and chte^e making. Flax and hemp were both sown and grew to perfection, but after having been pulled were allowed to rot. Here we shall quote the words of a writer who lived in the vicinity of the experimental farm, and who w^as in Hrdson's Bay men's confidence.=^ The thousands that were lavished on this scheme from beginning to end were rendered nugatory by rodnce that would be required for carrying on the trade, ilieveby closing the litfle market that had hitherto been ope 1 to the settlers for the ale of their produce. The spring IB-'S SPA. the iiuw comers in full operation, aboitt twenty o HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 281 s, were T in the till the o;entle- salary ; le Bay, rived in • taking- it estab- tions on iniboine •t Garry, down to •ect new A' inter at \ in July, is grand )ved and scale far Ivania^-^e tly boast- only in dry, and heir em- destitute by their in mute ised the |st pitch; rimental with all no; on the ertobeen e spring It twenty acres were ploughed and put under crop. An area of 80 or 100 acres was enclosed, one half of which was allowed to remain undisturbed by the plough ; so that by degrees our fears were disappointed, for the experimental farm produced little if any, more than was required to feed those who labored on it, and the settlers contii.aed to take as much wheat to the Company's stores as they had been accustomed to take before the commencement of the model farm, namely, eight bushels a year could be sold by the farmer who had no other way of gaining a shilling. Hunters and trip-men were favored with a market for four bushels from each at 3s. Gd. per bushel ; importers and mechanics could sell no grain at the Company's stores, w^hich state of things shows conclusively that the settlers raised abundance of grain for their own use and, in the aggregate, ten times more than the market demanded. Yet, as soon as Chief Factor McMillan had left his establishment, Captain Cary w^as on his way to form another — and all for the benefit of the colony. "We may ask here, was such a project calculated to benefit the settlers ? We do not hesitate to say that it was not ; but that its success would have closed against them the limited market that they had hitherto, and might have been the means of sending numbers of industrious men to seek homes in other lands. The Company, we believe, was favorable to the co^ y, ■while it existed on a small scale, as it supplied that 1 dy with provisions and men in the heart of their trading districts, and helped to give a tone to its proceedin-:s at home, which eclat that politic body knew well ' 'V to turn to serve its own purposes, as is to be seen by the e})orts submitted to the Colonial Ollice in 1836 and 1837 by Gov- ernors Simpson and Pelly, when soliciting the renewal of license. These gentlemen did not scruple to claim the merit of having some Catholic and two l*rotestant Missionaries with thirteen schools in Red River. "VYe know that the I ite Bishop of J uliopolis received a salary from the Company, l(|:|l 282 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. Ill' IM'V . and so did, as we have said, the two Missionaries of the Church of England. The high school at St. Johns was patronized by the wintering partners, whose children were the only pupils that were admitted, and on it the fur trade Council bestowed an annual grant of jGIOO ; but the unfor- tunate twelve schools, where the plebean multitude received all the education that fell to their lot, were unendowed, and even unknown to the nabol)s of the fur trade ; yet the two Grovernors dragged them in to do duty on the above occasion* and so were the experimental farms. A flock of two or three hundred sheep was for sometime on the farm ; shep- herds were brought from Scotland to manage them, and a lew animals of a superior breed had been brought from England by Captain Cary to improve the original stock. The wool was annually sold at auction, and averaged about twenty-liv^e cents per pound. The animals, as we have statedjabove, w<:'re sold off to the settlers. The laborers brought from England became notorious in the set'clement, for their beer drinking habts, and as their contracts expired, their superior was but too well pleased to sign their discharge, and get clear of such unprofitable servants. The Captain occupied the farm from March, 1837' to June, 1847, ten years and a few months. Then he left with his family {jr Canada, and \\e cannot forbear stating that, whichever way the speculation affected the Hon. Company's interests, we believe that it must have proved a very profitable speculition to him. Having set before the reader all the reliable history of the three experimental farms that we could collect, A^e shall, with his permission, turn back to the memorable year of 1835 — memorable from two events that transpired in it, namely : the sale of the colony to the Honorable Hudson's Bay Company, and the first emeute or riotous gathering c' the French half-breeds of the place. The people from one end of the settlement to the other were discontented, if not irritated, at the high price set on the land in 1833, i.e., 10s. HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 283 6d. per acra. The follow ing- year it was raised to 12s. 6d. per acre, and old servants who had a few^ i)ounds of their hard-earned wag-es in the Company's hands were made to pay that amount. It is true all who could not pay for land might sq7iat on unoccupied land, l>ut could not obtain any legal title to the same and might at any time be ejected and forfeit their improvements. The thoughts of the insecure tenure by which they held their little property made the laborinii' class very uneasy in general, but more especially the young people of mixed blood, w^ho not only declared the price to be unreasonal)le but declared loudly that the Com- pany w^as robbing them of lands that descended to them from their maternal ancestors. And while the public mind w^as in this unsettled state* an incident, trifling in itself, roused the indignation of the French half-breed population to the highest pitch. Before relating the above referred to incident v\ v must, by way of explanation, inform che reader that ihe Hon. Hudson's Bay Company employed, daring the season of open water, from one hundred to one hundred and fifty men in their boats to transport goods, furs, etc. These tripmen depended for the support of their families during the wi . ter, on what they gained by voyi ging in the summer, but, as a rule, they w'ere one-half their summer's work in debt. When the boatmen returned to the colony in October, whatever balance, if any, would be due to each would be paid. After a few days' idleness and gossip the money would be spent. Want would begin to press. A new engagement must be entered into. The contract once signed, a certain portion of the promised wages would be paid down, another would become payable at Christmas, and another part when ready to enter on their long and laborious voyage either to Portage LaLoche or to York Factory on Hudson's Bay. But as we mean more fullv hereafter to (reat of the system on which the freighters carried on their business, suffice it to say here that in 1834 Mr. Thomas Simpson was accountant at Upper h 984 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ii Fort Garry, part of whose duty it was to aj^ree with the voyageurs, keep their accounts, and pay the promised wages at the d fFerent periods stated in the contracts. Christmas was one of these stated periods and a season when all who felt inclined to indulge in intoxicating drinks, and could pay for the same, hurried to Fort Garry in crowds. The tripmen, as a rule, appeared before the accountant, who paid to each individual the amount due. For some hours the business in the ofiice and in the sale shop was done in a quiet nd orderly manner until Larocque, a French half- breed, entered the office and asked for his money. Mr. Simpson, not relishing his presence, applied some un- courteous epithets to him, which called forth a retort that provoked Mr. Simpson to so great a degree that he lost all power of self-control, and seizing the fire-poker, he struck Larocque on the head, setting an inch or two of the skull bare. The wounds d man rushed out of the office where he had been so unceremoniously treated and joined his friends, who w^ere in considerable numbers in the Fort. They could scarcely believe the evidence of their own eyes when they was their coujitryraan covered with his own blood, and endeavoring, as far as his excited state of mind permitted, to explain what had taken place in the office. The multitude looked upon him as unjustly and cruelly treated, and conse- cjuently determined to make common cause with him and take the redress of his grievance into their own hands. However, in the meantim<^ they olfered no insult or violence to an}'" one, but retired, in the first instance, peaceably to their individual homes ; but fame had preceded them, and in its own way had given various editions of the affair that had occured at the Fort. 1 he all engrossing subject flew from village to village, from house to house and from man to man ; the passions were routed ; the people unanimously per- suaded themselves that the blow inflicted on Larocque was an insult to the entire French half-breed race ; " We must 1 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 235 th the wages istmas ill who . could 1. The 10 paid ars the me in a h half- y. Mr. me un- ort that lost all 3 struck he skull e he had ds, who y could en they lod, and itted, to iiltitude d conse- Ihim and hands. Iviolence to their lid in its hat had lew from to man ; Isly per- Iqvie was lYe must be avenged" — " AVo must retaliate," was the cry. In the space of a few hours, all the French half-breeds had assem- bled in the vicinity of the Fort ; a council was held, where it was decided that Mr. Simpson must be delivered up to them, to be dealt with according to their understanding of the law of retaliation, or, if the modest demand would not be complied with, thoy declared that they would demolish Fort Garry and take Simpson by forcc'. The demand and threat were transmitted to the Groveruor of the colony, and at the same time, to prepare themselres for action, the war song and war dance, in true Indian wtyle, were commenced. Several messages passed now between the parties, all to no purpose. Finally, it was resolved to send a deputation to the en- raged multitude to settle the dispute, if possible, before it would be too late. For the accomplishment of that desirable object, a deputation was sent formed of the following gen- tlemen, namely, Mr. G-overnor Christie, Chief Factor Cam- eron, Robert Logan, Esquire, and Alexander Ross, Esquire, both merchants in the colony. The embassy left Fort Grarry at ten o'clock, on a cold and stormy winter night. The scene that presented itself to them on entering the house where the hostile party were assembled was truly wild and savage ; in the words of one of the mediators, " They resembled a troop of furies more than human beings." All occupied in the Indian dance and excited to the highest degree, some time passed before the tumult had sufficiently subsided to give his Honor and his friends the chance of being heard, and after they had been heard, reason proved, for a time, to be but a feeble weapon against infuriated brute force. Nevertheless, after a parley of some hours, and after some concessions had been made to the aggrieved party, the diffi- culty was settled, the diplomatists no doubt claiming great credit to themselves for the dexterity which they displayed in the management of their difficult and even dangerous negotiations. However, we must remark here that after the |il! I 286 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. above trifling' concessions had been made, the bearing of the half-breeds became haughtier than ever. The wounded man was paid the full amount of his wages for the trip and was allowed to remain at home. His sym- pathizers were presented with a ten-gallon keg of rum, and tobacco. In the following spring, another physical demonstration took place before the gates of the Fort. A number of demands were made, as follows : 1st. The prices of provisions were to be raised. 2nd. An export was demanded for tallow, robes and other articles procured by the chase. They loudly protested against any import duty being levied on goods imported from the United States, for many of the French Canadians and half-breeds, both French and English, had already made several trips to the Mississippi, exporting horn cattle, horses, furs and some articles of col- onial industry, and, on their return, bringing home cotton goods, groceries, ammunition, tobacco, &c., &g. These bold adventurers considered themselves entitled to exemption from import duty on two grounds : 1st On ac- count of their having established commercial intercourse with the neighboring states. 2nd. On account of the great danger incurred on their journey to and fro. Their demand fell on deaf ears, the Colonial Grovernor and his Council were exclusionists and all interested to defeat every attempt to export the produce of the country, or to introduce foreign manufactured goods, except via Hudson's Bay. Yet these hostile demonstrations and demands were not unproductive of some advantage, especially to intending settlers, as the salutary fear which they impressed on our men in power, was the cause of reducing the price of land from twelve shillings and sixpence per acre to seven shillings and six- pence. And at the same time, to please the native youth, it was decided by the land agents, that each young man on settling on land should receive twenty-five acres gratis. HISTORY UF MANITOBA. 28T g of the IS wages rlis sym- •um, and nstration demands L8 were to DW, robes ity being lor many rench and ississippi, les of col- me cotton intitled to si On ac- [itercourso the great r demand [incil were ttempt to e foreign Yot these troductive ,er8, as the in power, ,m twelve s and six- |e youth, it man on ratis. CHAPTER X. The New Council — Lawsi Passed— The Law Courts — Judicial Districts— Politics— Introduction of tub Jury System — Puhmc Flogoin(i and its Results — Damaoe by Frosts— Non-Arrival of Supplies. "We have stated that in 1835 the colony was transii-rred for a money consideration by the young Earl of Selkirk to the Hon. Hudson's Bay Company. This change of sovereigns was only known for some time to the chosen few. The multitude were kept in the dark on the great change that had taken place in the proprietorship of the colony, and believed themselves to be still his Lordship of Selkirk's liege subjects. From the commencement of the settlement up to the time of whicH we are writing, a period of twenty-four years, we may say that the community held together with- out any other rule to guide its members than the golden one, "Do to others as you would wish others to do to you."' It is true, during the above period we had a dignatary bearing the title of Governor who had his stall' of Senators, who, in their united capacity, were to make laws to regulate the actions of the settlers. They were the sole judges of the laws, and were entrusted with the power of executing their own sentences. Yet, although the colonists were composed of various nationalities and professing different creeds, such was the kindly feeling and good faith that existed among- them that legislators, judges and bailiffs found very little to do, except when called upon to defend the Hon. Company's exclusive right to deal in furs ; but the threats and demands made by the half-breed population at this time pointed out to the stockholders the necessity of establishing a stronger form of Government in the colony for the accomplishment of that object. The Governor's former advisers, with a few l{i li ,.«^.. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 JAS12.8 ■ 50 ■"■ |56 112 Ki2 2.5 1 2.2 us li£ 11112.0 1.4 i.6 ^- c?'^ Photographic Sciences Corporation i\ ttl(»rs und th»' Company thoinstdvos, it waH tt'lt that justice was iiion* likely to he ohtained iVom soineone who was not a paid servant of the Company, drawing", us he did in tiiis case, the lil)t»ral salary ot €700 .sterlinj^ per annum. In other respects, .Tudi»'e Thorn, the genth'iaan appointed, wasol standing an.t ability (juiteefjual to the i>osition which he filled. Many o))jected to him on the ground that he could not speak French, which at this time was the language spoken by the majority of the popu- lation. It was said, too, that during the Tapineau trouldes in Canada he w as no favorite of the French ; that the people of that nationality exhilnted, more or less tow ard him, a feel- ing which was expressed l)y their countrymen in Canada. However, there was no outcome to this state of atiairs from the tim(» the Judge arrived in 1839, until we come to an incident in connection with the name of Mr. Simpson, who had been on an Arctic expedition. This gentleman left the Red River settlement on the Gth June, 1840, for the purpose of crossing the ])rairies to St. Peter, on the Missis- sippi River, thence making his way to England. It was said that he was very anxious to reach his destination before the arrival of his companion in the Arctic exploration, who had gone by way of what is now known as the " Dawson route," with the same object in view. On starting from the settlement he was accompanied by a considerable number of settlers and half-breeds ; but, in his anxiety to reach England in advance of his companion, he pushed on ahead, with only a party of four men. "When next found, on the afternonn of the 13th June, he was dead, and the dead bodies of two of his companions were found a short distance from him. The two others who had started with him returned with the report that the severe stretch to w hich his facul- ties had been subje<'ted for several years, and his intense anxiety to hurry forward, had brought him to insanity, under the influence of which he shot down two of his I' II I ; 800 HiSTORY OF MANITOBA. ikli n :'ii, Si>i; ! I t::, fi si ■i ! 306 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. i> h i m '^.'H CHAPTER Xir. The Pemdina Treaty— The Great Flood ok 1852— Judicial— The Mails — Arri^'-al of Dr. Schultz— A Printing Press— Mr. Dallas Succeeds Gover- nor Slmpson — William MacTavish becomes Gov- ernor, and Difficulties follow — The Sioux Mas- sacre — The Riot over the case of the Rev. Mr. Corbett. In 1851, Governor Ramsey visited Pembina and concluded a treaty with the Indians for the purchase of a vast tract of land on the Upper Red River. This treaty excited consider- able feeling in the Red River Settlement at the time. It was indeed a sad disappointment to the half- breeds who hoped to be recognized as the rightful owners of the disputed lands at Pembina, on account of their painful efforts to estab- lish a settlement there. i i The year 1852 witnessed a renewal of the terrible scenes of 1826, another flood covering and destroying a great part of the Red River Settlement. On the seventh of May, says Mr. Ross, in an appendix to his " Red River Settlement," the water had risen eight feet above the high-water mark of other years. The overflow soon spread ruin throughout the settlement, boats and canoes were in the most-urgent demand with which to save life and property. The river had extended its breadth to about six miles and was rising at the rate of about one inch per hour. The settlers were now filled with the greatest consternation. On the 12th of May, seven days after the flood had com- menced, about half the colony was inundated, and great damage had been done to almost every description of pro- perty for a distance of over twenty miles up and down the river. To use Mr. Ross' description, " the crying of children, HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 307 1852— lULTZ — GOVER- ;s Gov- JX MA8- EV. Mr. mcluded b tract of :onsider- ime. It eds who disputed to estab- scenes reat part ay, says ement," er mark roughout urgent he river as rising ers were had com- nd great of pro- iown the children, lowing of cattle, squeaking of pigs, and howling of dogs, completed the straugv and melancholy scene." On the 22nd, the water reached its greatest height, being within eighteen inches as high as in thf Hood of 1626, pre- viously described by Mr Gunn. The flood of 1852 found more property within its reach on account of the settlement being larger. The scone was, no doubt, a sorry one, if we are to rely upon the accounts which living witnesses give us; dwelling-houses and barns were floating in all directions, with dogs, cats and poultry in them ; out-houses, carts, carioles, boxes, cupboards, tables, chairs, feather beds, and every variety of household furni- ture drifting along, added to the universal wreck As in the earlier Hood but one life was lost ; a few horses, cattle and some pigs were neglected, and consequently drowned, in other respects the destruction was almost unlimited. The flood was caused in this way : — On the breaking up of the river, the ice, according to Mr. Koss' account, choked in the channel, which caused the water to rise seven feet in the course of a few hours. This occurred in the night, and before the people were aware of it, they were floating in their beds. Hence the confusion was great, and much more loss was sustained than would have resulted had the first stages of the disaster occurred in the day time. The cause of the flood, as stated above, is disputed ; some say there was no ice jam at alL.. -- - Mr. Ross goes on to say that " cattle and sheep were drowned before the people were aware of it, and two men who had gone to rest on a rick of hay, fou.nd themselves in the morning floating with the current some three miles from where they had laid down the night before. Others again, in the absence of canoes or other assistance, had to resort to the housetops ; some took to the water and hung to the branches of trees and bushes till daylight brought them relief ; and what may seem somewhat remarkable, in the midst of this scene of distress, some pigs were swept away — t! 8M HISTORY OF MANITOBA. IP"' id., 1 1 A m i one of which was known to swim for two days and two nights together without relief, and yet was caught alive. The cold as well as the water pressed so hard, that one man was reduced to the necessity of cutting up his plough for firewood to save his children from freezing. The spectacle was as novel as it was melancholy. Three thousand five hundred souls abandoned their all, and took to the open plains. The loss of property, besides that of the crop for the year, was estimated at .€25,000 sterling. The people were huddled together in gipsy groups on every height or hillock that presented itself." The Colonial Governor, the Bishop of Rupert's Land, as also the Rev. John Black, were untiring in their efforts to aid and comfort and cheer the heartless, homeless people ; but it was not until the 12th of June that they could ap- proach their desolate homes and commence the work of re- building or repairing, as the case required. There is but little to record in 1852 except the distress consequent upon the flood, but before the end of that year the settlement had pretty thoroughly recovered from its eflfects. In 1853 Mr. Thom was removed, by order of the Directors in England, from his position of Recorder and placed in the position of that of Clerk of the Court, with, however, the same pay and allowance which had been before given him. This .-—arose, it is said, from the difficulties brought about in an. ac- tion between an officer of the Hudson's Bay Company and one of the military, both of whom w^ere resident in Fort G-arry. This case, which was for defamation of character, involved such a number of prominent people in the colony, and so many complaints were made in regard to the action of the Recorder, that it led to tl e action mentioned. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Thom resigned his situation as Clerk, and returned to Scotland, and Mr. Johnson, a Lower Canadian lawyer, succeeded him. Mr. Johnson continued his duties until the year 1858, when he returned lo his l HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 309 practice in Canada. He was succoeded by Dr. Bunn, the principal medical practitioner in the colony, who continued to act in that position until the spring of 1861, when he died suddenly ol* apoplexy. Governor MacTavish succeeded him until the appointment of President of the Court was given in 1862 by the Hudson's Bay Company to John Black, Esquire. AVe may pause at this point to give the reader some statis- tics. First, as to the list of Uo" ^rnors from 1812 to 1855 : — Cnpt. Miles McDonell, from Aup[ust, 1312, to Jiino, 1815. Alex. McDonclI, from August, 1815, to June, 18J2. Capl. A. iUilger, from June, 1822, to June, 1823. Robt. Pflly, from June, 1823, to June, 1825. Donald UcKenzie, from June, 1825, to June, 1333. Alex. Christie, from June, 1833, to June, 1839. Duncan Finlayson, from June, 1839, to June, 18 H. Alex. Christie, from June, 1814, to June, 1846. Col. Crofton, 6th Reg., from June, 1846, to June, 1847. Major Griffiths, 6lh Reg., from June, 1847, to June, 1848. Major Caldwell, from June, 1848, to June, 1855. A census was taken in 1849, when the colony was found to contain 5,391 souls, divided as follows: — Men, married and widowers, 873 ; unmarried, 145 ; women, married and widows, 877 ; unma^'ried, 135 ; sons over 16 years of age, 382 : under that age, 1,314; daughters over 15 years of age, 373 ; under that age, 1,292. There were in the colony 7 churches, 12 schools, 2 water and 18 wind-mills. There were 745 dwelling-houses, 1,06G stables and 335 barns. Of live stock there were 1,095 horses, 990 mares, 2,097 oxen, 155 bulls, 2,147 cows, 1,615 calves, 1,565 joigs and 3,090 sheep. Of farm implements there were 492 ploughs, 576 harrows, 1,918 carts, 428 canoes and 40 boats, and there were 6,329 acres of land under cultivation. From 1855 until 1857 no military force was stationed in the settlement, but in the latter year a company of Royal Canadian Rifles arrived in the colony, remaining four years, and returning to Canada in the year 1861 by ship through Hudson's Bay. fi 310 HISTOP.Y OF MANITOBA. ;■'! ':',' sfi. ' :• It' ll Hi it p' In 18G2 the American (loverninent established a semi- monthly mail communication with Pembina, with which the settlement authorities also connected. Before this time mails had come by way of the head waters of the Mississippi, through the frontier town of Crow AVing, and had only been received once a month. In 1857 the Legislature of Canada fitted out an explora- tory expedition, under the command of 3. J. Dawson and Henry Youle Hind. These gentlemen continued their oper- ations during that and the two succeeding years, and in 1859 made a report to the Government. This report attracted very general attention, and was the means of inducing sev- eral Canadians to settle in the country. Among others who went there at that time was Dr. Scliultz, then a student of Queen's College, Kingston. That year also witnessed the arrival of two Canadians with a printing press — Mr. AVm. liuckinghaiji and Mr. Wm. Cald- well. This advent of Canadians, though few in number, was looked upon with suspicion and dislike by the Hudson's Bay Company's authorities. Strong efforts were made to in- duce the people not to patronize the Nur'-lV ester, which was the name given to the first newspaper. A short time afterwards Mr. Buckingham left the settlement, selling his interest in the Nor'-Wesler to Mr. James Koss, who had been a distinguished scholar at the Eed River College of St. John, and had afterwurds passed a creditable examination at the University of Toronto. In 1864 Mr. Ross sold his inter- est in the newspaper to Dr. Schultz, who, in 18G5, also bought the interest of Mr. Caldwell, and continued sole proprietor till 18t)8, when he sold it to Mr. Walter R. Bown. The efiect ot the advent of this newspaper was an important era in the history of the settlement. Sir George Simpson, until then Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company's affairs in North America, had died suddenly the year before, and Mr. Dallas, son-in-law of Governor Douglas, of British Columbia, suc- ceeded him. This gentleman had been for many years a mm HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 311 a semi- which lis time sissippi, ily been explora- son and ?ir oper- [ in 1850 ittracted ing sev- lers ^\ ho Lident of ans with m. Cald- I number, Hudson's ide to in- r, which lort time 'lling his ^'ho had ^e of St. nation at his inter- 50 bought noprietor :he effect era in the ntil then in North r. Dallas, bia, suc- years a merchant engaged in the China trado, but, while owning stock in the Hudson's Bay Company, had visited British Col- umbia and had married a daughter of Governor Douglas, of that colony, acquiring double interest in the colony in this way. Ho remained in British Columbia until appointed by the Hudson's Bay Company's Directors in England to suc- ceed Sir George Simpson in the management of their nffiiirs in America. This gentleman had not had the training of the ordinary Hudson's Bay Company's officer ; his ideas were very much more broad, and he believed that the time had come when the monopoly of the Company in the far trade must practically cease, and that they could only hope to continue to make large dividends by accommodating themselves to the altered condition of aflair.s, and competing with the incom- ing population with Ci)Tv!tal in the usual way. To this end he looked upon the pul>lication of the newspaper in Fort Garry with pleasure, and had his administration continued it is thought that, possibly, the serious occurences of 1869 and ls70 might not have had to be recorded. Jealousies, however, among the regularly trained fur-trade officers of the Hudson's Bay Company rendered his position untenable, and after a short time he retired to England, to be succeeded as Governor of Assinniboia by Wra. Mac- Tavish, Esq., who was at that time Chief Factor of the Hud- son's Bay Company's station at Fort ( larry. This gentleman, though possessing^-great ability as well as great kindness of disposition, was yet trained up from his youth, in the most remote districts of the Hudson's Bay Company, in the nar- rowest of their peculiar beliefs in regard to their position in the country, and in the carrying out of which he at once reversed the liberal policy of his predecessor. The news- paper was placed under a ban, and the advent of Canadians and the possibility of its continuance was looked upon as dark and foreboding. Gold was discovered in the Saskatchewan Valley, near Fort Edmonton, by Timolean Love and James Clover, two If- %v m H i i 1' I i .'I 313 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ■waifs from the stream of minors which had poured into British Columbia from San Francisco, and had found their way to the east side of the Rocky Mountains. The latter part of that year witnessed the inauguration of a Scientific society called thy " Institute of Rupert's Land," of which ('hief Factor MacTaviish was President, and Dr. S ease; and stated that he was willing to abide by the result of a new trial, if a new trial before a jury of the inhabitants was granted. The Hudson's Bay Company, however, llndi ng their dangerous enemy in their power, forthwith consigned him to prison. This occurred early in the day, and before night the inhabitants of the neighborhood, to whom Dr. Schultz had been endeared by his steadfast advocacy of their rights and his intrepid conduct under oppression, immediately collected, and after an imprisonment of four hours he was released by them, after they had torn down the gaol walls and battered in the prison door. The large number who had collected for this purpose were thoroughly excited, and proposed to visit in a body the Hudson's Bay Company authorities, who, from the walls of their fort, had witnessed the breaking in of the gaol, which was only a few yards distant. The Doctor, however, calmed their feelings by proposing to go alone and unattended, to visit within the fort walls the Magis- trate who had submitted him to such an ignominious pro- cedure. This he did, and stated distinctly that he was still willing to underq-o a trial on the charge brought au-ainst him, and to give bonds for the payment of the amount if judgment should be rendered against him. No attemj)! was made to recapture him or any of his friends on this occasion, but later, in the month of January, a General Council vvas held to consider the critical position of the 1 ! 'i ( 322 HISTORY OF MANITOBA, S(?l ml •!■■ n,.v I I Hudson's Bay Company's rule in the country ; a resolution was arrived at to embody a foricated this organization to the Imperial Government, and upon hearing from the Im- perial Authorities that our proceedings were illegal, the organization was broken up. The matter had nothing whatever to Jo with the outbreak or disturbance of 1869 or 1870. This organization was miide simply as a matter of protection for ourselves, as we were outside the government of the Council of As^iniboia, as Governor MacTavish informed me himself." ■esolution d special 3e. Once inion was t they re- id, on the accede to At this n of jury case, and lie specta- ug- voice ; made of 1. made by ulminated it.* The lowed the Ison's Bay m Address eceived an jT, in which jcretary of the receipt they had nt, or even ;tee of Parlia- mpt to form an rt ot the terri- conimu:?icated from the Im- on was broken disturbance of protection for Assiniboia, as HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 838 to set up municipal institutions for themselves without reference to the Hudson's Bay Company or to tho Crown ; at the same time stating to them that Iler Majesty's Govern- ment had no objection to the people of Manitoba voluntarily submitting themselves to rules and regulations which they might agree to observe for the better protection and improve- ment of the territory in which they lived, warning them, however, that the exercise of jurisdiction in criminal cases or to levy taxes compulsory would be wholly illegal. These events were, of course, much discussed in the colony, and public feeling satisfied itself for the present in an all but universal signature of a petition to the Governor in Council of Assinniboia, praying for an alteration in the system of government. This document stated that one ol the principal causes of the Red River grievances was to be found in the fact that they had no voice in the conducting of affairs, and asserted that the Red River people were quite capable of selecting competent persons to assist in making the laws which governed them. It declared the belief that all men possessing common sense have a right to a voice in the Government under which they live, and, for these and many other reasons given, requested that the Council would at once adopt a measure allowing them at least the right to elect Councillors to fill vacancies which occured through death or resignation. UJ t! 324 HI3T0RY OF MANITOBA. i ii-:! THBS^ ■■* CHAPTER XIV. The Crop of 1868 — Famine — Relief— Union wiTir Canada. — Resolutions of Hon. Mr Macdouoall — Debate on ACQuiRiNcr the North- West Territory — Opposition to the Annexation — The Resolutions ADOPTED. The crop of 1868 was entirely destroyed by grasshoppers, and the fall buffalo hunt proved a failure as well as the fall fisheries, so that starvation stared the colony in the face. Under these circumstances aid was solicited in England, Canada and the United States, and a committee, called the " Red River Co-operative Relief Committee," composed of the principal gentlemen of the colony, was formed. The appeal we have mentioned resulted in =€3,000 coming i'rom England, $3,600 from Canada and ^£900 from the States. Wheat and flour were transported on sleighs from Saint Paul, Minne- sota, and death from starvation wholly averted by a pretty liberal supply of seed wheat procured for the inhabitants. As a means of aiding the starving colony, the Canadian Government had, late in the autumn, sent a party of engineers and surveyors to commence construction of the road between the Red River Settlement and the Lake of the Woods. Thus the employment of men and the means of transportation relieved the destitution very much, particu- larly among the French half-breeds, and although the Hud- son's Bay Co. gave their quasi consent to this work being carried on by the Canadian Government, yet, with the exception of making statements to their prejudice, no overt act was committed by them. During the winter of 1 808-69 very little occurred in the colony. Rumors of an approach- ing connection with Canada were discussed ; the people feeling the generous sympathy of the Canadian Government HISTORY OF MANITOBA. and people in their distress, anxiously wished a political connection. The Hudson's Bay Company's officers, however, and those in their interest, were universally against it. They wished to maintain the territory they had held f r two cen- turies still as a great fur-trading reserve. The breach be- tween the Hudson's Bay Company's ollicers and the Directors in England had widened, and mutterings were heard oi' the intention on the part of the fur trade officers of the counuy to arbitrarily cut their business connection and carry on the fur trade themselves, and this disaffection increased the ob- jection which the parties interested had to a political con- nection with Canada. But we must turn from scenes and incidents around Fort Garry to what was transpiring at Ottawa, in order to follow the chain of events which led to the union of this section of the country w^ith the Confederated Provinces. For a number of years the question had been agitated in Canada as to the right of the Hudson's Bay Company to the territory which it claimed as its ow^n exclusive property ; and a counter- claim w^as set up by the old Province of Canada, that at least a very large portion of the country claimed by the Company should properly be included within the boundaries of the Province of Canada, for the reason that it was French terri- tory at the time of the Conquest of Canada, and as such had been transferred to England, and afterwards formed part of the old Province of Quebec. Into the merits of this claim it is unnecessary to enter here ; suffice it to say that the matter attract jd a great deal of attention in the Parliament of the Province, and that, in 185Y, a Commission w^as appointed, of which Hon. J. E. Cpuchon (now Lieut.-Grovernor of Manitoba) w^as Chairman, to examine into and report upon the claims of Canada to this territory. This Commission made out what seemed a pretty fair claim ; but the Hudson's Bay Company at that time was too powerful in England, and the claims of the Province were held in abeyance. The question, however, continued I ! Ill I 326 niSTORY OF MANITOBA. 3! k',' ,. I ill:: IM' ii .5 ft to be ajfitated ; and when the terms of the British North America Act of 1807 \v»'re being settled, Article XI, sec. 140, provided that, " It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and •with the advice of Her Majesty's most Honorable Privy Council, etc , on Address from the Houses of the Parliament of Canada, to admit Rupert's Land and the North-West Territory, or either of them, into the Union on such terms and conditions in each case as are in the Address expressed, and as the Queen thinks lit to approve, subject to the pro- visions of this Act " In accordance with the terms of this section, the Hon. TV. Macdougall, then Minister of Public "Works, at the first session of the Parliament of the Dominion of Canada, intro- duced, on the fourth day of December, 1807, a series of Resolutions on which an Address was to be based, praying- that Rupert's Land and the North-West Territories should be united to the Dominion. ^ a * The Resolutiona were as follows : — 1. That it would promote the prosperity of the Canadian people and conduce to the advantage of the whole Empire, if the Dominion of Canada, constituted under the provisions of the British North America Act, \867, were extended west- ward to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. 2. That colonization of the lands of the Saskatcbewa. , ..ssinniboine and Red River districts, and the development of the mineral wealth which abounds in the regions of the North-West, and the extension of commercial intercourse through the British possessions in America from the Atlantic to the Pacific, are alike de- pendent upon the establishment of a stable Government for the maintenance of law and order in the North-West Territories. 3. That the welfare of the spars: and widely scattered population of British subjects of European origin, already inhabiting these remote and unorganized territories, would be materially enhanced by the formation therein of political io- svitutions bearing analogy, as far as circumstances will admit, to those which exist in the several Provinces of this Dominion, 4. That the 146th section of the British North America Act, 1867, provides for the admission of Rupert's Land and the North-West Territory, or either of them, into union with Canada upon terms and conditions to be expressed in Addresses from the Houses of Parliament of this Dominion to Her Majesty, and which shall be approved of by the Queen in Council. 5. That it is accordingly expedient to address Her Majesty, that she would be graciously pleased, by and with the advice of Her Most Honorable Privy Council, to unite Rupert's Laud and the North-West Territory with the Dominion of II I STORY OF MANITOBA. 327 jh North 80C. 14<), , by und )le Privy ftrl lament )rth-West Lch terms jxpressed, the pro- } Hon. W. the first ada, intro- series of [1, praying . should be and conduce I, constituted [tended west- boine and Red bounds in the ■ourse through are alike de- mintenanco of tion of British unorganized of political ia- those which ;7, provides for Bither of them, in Addresses i which shall it she would be Privy Council, Dominion of Hon. Mr Macdoug^all op»'n('d the debate on the Kessolutions, which continued about one week, in an able speech, in which he spoke of the importance ol embracing- the vast and lertile region within the l)0und8 of the New Dominion ; of the impetus that would be given to immigration by opening up this new country to settlers, and pointed out th*« necessity of a stable form of government bi'ing established before any large amount of immigration covild bo attracted to the territory. In summing up he said : " The position is this — First, that it is desirable that this country should bo transferred from Imperial to Canadian authority. Second, that the control of that country ought to be in the hands of this Parliament, and under the direction of this legislature. Then, if the Company make any claim to any portion ot the soil occupied by our servants, they will come into the Courts to make good their claim, and they will have the right, if the decision is adverse to them, to appeal to the Privy Coiincil." The debate was participated in by over forty members of the House, very full and free explanations and expressions ot opinions being made by both the supporters and opponents of the measure. The arguments in favor of acquiring the Canada, and to grant to the Parliament of Cunadii authority to legislate for their future welfare and good government. 6. That in the event of the Imperial Government agreeing to transfer to Canada the jurisdiction and control over this region, it would be expedient to pro- vide that the legal rights of any corporation, company or individual, within the same, will be respected : and that in case of difference of opinion as to the extent, nature or value of these rights, the same shr.il be submitted to judicial decision, or be determined by mutual agreement between the Government of Canada and the parties interested. Such agreement to have no effect or validity until first sanc- tioned by the Parliament of Canada. 7. That upon the transference of the territories in question to the Canadian Government, the claims of the Indian tribes to compensation for lands required for purposes of settlement, would be considered and setiled in conforniity with the equitable principles which have uniformly governed the Crown in its dealings with the aborigines. 8. That a select committee be appointed to draft an humble Address to Her Majesty on the subject of the foregoing Resolutions. h 328 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. !l Im m^- m it territory may be briefly summarized as follows : — The necessity for a more extended field for colonization, expe- rience having shown that thousands of immigrants yearly passed through Canada on their way to the United States, many of whom could be induced to remain if the Grovern- ment had any suitable lands to offer them free, as the United States had ; the importance of acquiring the territory to pre- vent its being absorbed by the United States, which had just acquired Russian America, and showed a disposition to annex the Red River Territory ; the immense advantage to the whole country of having its territory extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and the moral obligation to provide for the settlers on the Red River a stable form of govern- ment, which they did not j)ossess under the rule of the Hudson's Bay Company. It was denied that the Resolutions implied any acknowledgment of the claims of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the Minister of Public AVorks clearly ex- plained the position of the Government on that point as follows: "In regard to the question of terms, the honorable gentleman had pretended that Government w^as prepared to recognize the right of the Hudson's Bay Company to demand a large sum of money from the people of this country. He denied there was such intention. From the beginning of tLe discussion down to the last hour, the Government of Canada had denied the legal claims of the Hudson's Bay Company to that portion of territory fit for settlement. They proposed to claim this country as being part of New France, as having been ceded to the English Government in 1760, and as having remained in that position from that lime down to the present. As to Rupert's Land, that was an open point — they did not propose to settle that by these Resolu- tions — that would be left to the legal tribunals of Canada, and every British subject would have the right to appeal from these to the highest tribunals of the Mother Country." But although there was much to say in favour of the mea- sure, the Opposition found considerable to advance against HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 329 it. It was urged that the Dominion had already enough ter- ritory, and was not in a position,financially,to warrant the ac- quirement of a tract of country — a large part of which was utterly worthless — involving the expenditure of a sura of money variously estimated by the speakers at from five to twenty millions of dollars ; that the enlargement of the fron- tier of the Dominion l)y more than a thousand miles would be an increased source of weakness in the event of war, and would be apt to lead to complications with the United States, or to war between the Indians of the two countries ; that the establishment of courts, a police force and other necessary machinery of government would involve a much larger out- lay than there was any prospect of receiving an adeq'iate return for ; that the people of Red River country did not v/ant annexation, and that it was highly impolitic to acquire a territory the only access to which at present was through the United States, and the expense of making a road to which on Canadian soil would be very great. With regard to the claims of the Hudson's Bay Company, some of the opponents of the Resolutions held that the Company had forfeited what title it ever had under the charter of 16*70, by never having complied with its terms with reference to colonization and civilizing the Indians, while others held tiiat the charter never was valid, as it had been granted by Charles II with- out the consent of Parliament ; that the Company had therefore no claim, and were not entitled to anything. Mr. Howe pointed out that the capital of the Hudson's Bay Company, which was only «£ 1,000,000 five years ago, had been inilated to twice that amount as soon as it was known that Canada wanted the territory, and the inflated sum of ten millions of dollars was what the Government would be expected to pay ; a sum altogether unreasonable, and more than the country could afford to pay. On the motion to concur in the Resolutions as reported from the Committee of the AVhole, Mr Ilolton moved the fol- lowing amendment : " That, acording to the jn-ovisions of 330 HISTORY OF MAMTOBA. If-:' ' ill;* ■ British North America Act, 1867, an Order in Council found- ed on an Address of the Canadian Parliament to the Queen, praying that Rupert's Land and the North- Western Territory should be united to this Dominion on the terms and in such Address set forth, would have the full force and effect of an Imperial statute, and would bind this House to provide what- ever sum of money might be required to extinguish the claims of the Hudson's Bay Company upon the said territory, and that to pledge irrevocably public funds to the payment of a large and indefinite sum for the extinction of vague and doubtful claims would be alike unwise on grounds of general policy and imprudent in view of the present financial posi- tion of the coUi^try : and that it is, therefore, inexpedient to adopt an Address under the 146th clause of the British North America Act of 1867 until the nature, extent and value of the claims with which the territories in question are burdened, shall be ascertained." After a short debate the amendment was put and lost on a division by a vote of 41 to 104 The Resolutions as introduced and amended by Mr. Macdougall were then adopted, and a select committee appointed to draw up an Address embodying them. i. HISTORY CF MANITOBA. 33 CHArXER XV. The Imperial Gtovernment requires that Terms should BE MADE with THE HuDSON'S BaY COMPANY BEFORE THE Transfer takes place — The Terms finally agreed to — act pasfeed providing a territorial Government — Surveys — Hon. W. Macdougall ap- pointed Governor — Hon. Joe. Howe's visit to the Territory — Mr. Macdougall warned not to enter the Territory — The situation in the Colony— Mr. Macdougall driven out of the Territory. The desire of the Dominion Government to have Kupert's Land and the North- West Territories transferred, in accord- ance with the provisions of the British North America Act, and after that to settle the claims of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany, was not to be so easily attained as had been hoped, nor was it to be attained at all on the terms at first proposed. The Hudson's Bay Company was not at all disposed to allow the transfer to be made until the Dominion Government had aj^reed as to the terms on which it was to relinquish its title, and had no intention of seeking redress in the Canadian Courts — with the right of appeal to the Privy Council — but preferred to have it all stipulated beforehand how much was to be paid, and how it was to be paid ; and the Hudson's Bay Company, having more influence with the British Ministry than the Canadian Government, of course had its way, and eventually forced the Government of the Dominion to make terms. On the fifteenth of May, 1868, Lord Monck sent down to the Dominion Parliament a despatch from the Duke of Buck- ingham and Chandos, then Secretary of State for the Colonie*^., in which he acknowledges receipt of the despatch of 21st December, 1867, forwarding the Address, and states in effect f m 332 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. !i that Her Majesty's Government considered that the Hudson's Bay Company had a j^ood title to something; and that that something and its value ought to be determined and ascer- tained before any change in the existing state of affairs took place. This despatch, so disappointing to the hopes of Cana- dians, was accompanied by letters from Sir Edmund Head — ex-Governor General of the old Province of Canada, and Pre- sident of the Hudson's Bay Company — to the Colonial Secre- tary, in which he strongly urged the claims of the Company and that they should be fully acknowledged before any transfer was made to C-^nada, a view which the Colonial Secretary coincided in by stating in his despatch to Lord Monck that a Bill based on the propositions of the Hudson's Bay Company would be presented to the Imperial Parliament. This despatch was received so late in the session that no action was taken on it ; but later in the year Sir G-eorge E. Cartier and Hon. William Macdougall were appointed by an Order in Council a delegation to proceed to England to settle the terms for the acquisition by Canada of Rupert's Land, and to arrange for the admission of the North- West Territory, with or without Kupert's Land. These gentlemen sailed on the third of October, 1863, and on their arrival in England, immediately put themselves in communication with the Duke of Buckingham, who had already opened negotiations with the Hudson's Bay Company with a view to transferring the territory. Some time was spent in negotiating; the Company, at first, demanding terms which the Commis- sioners could not entertain ; but subsequently modifying their demands so that they could be agreed to. The original proposition of the Company was to the effect that the Com- pany should relinquish its right of government, claim to the land, etc., but retain a royalty interest in the land and mines, as well as a certain reservation for hunting and some trading privileges. This proposition the Commissioners declined, maintaining that whatever arrangement was made must be conclusive, and that all right or title to the land must be HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 33:? absolutely relinquished by the Company. "While the nego- tiations were in progress the Government of Mr. D 'Israeli was defeated, and Earl Qranville became Secretary of State for the Colonies. This caused some delay, and it was not until 18th January, 1869, that negotiations were resumed, and were concluded, as far as the Commissioners were con- cerned, on the 9th March, and the terms afterwards agreed to by the Hudson's Bay Company. These terms were, sub- stantially, that the Dominion Government should pay the Hudson's Bay Company .£300,000 on the surrender of their rights to the Imperial Government, and that the Imperial Government should, within one month of such transfer, re- transfer the same to Canada. The Company retained cer- tain reservations of land in the vicinity of their forts and trading posts, which were under cultivation, and were to have two sections in each surveyed township, which amounts to about one-twentieth of the whole territory. In a pamphlet published in 1879, it is stated, " The Hudson's Bay Company owns about seven mi/lions of acres in the great fertile belt," which shows that, after all, the Commissioners did not succeed in entirely removing the monopoly of the Hudson's Bay Company ; but only varied it from a total monopoly of trade and territory to a partial monopoly of land. The Company relinquished all further title in the land, and all exclusive trading, fishing or other privileges. Government agreeing to respect the rights of the Indians and Half-breeds. The Imperial Government agreed to guarantee the loan of i5300,000 necessary to pay the Hudson's Bay Company, and a Bill was passed to that effect, on condition of certain requirements being complied with by the Dominion Govern- ment. The preliminaries being apparently all amicably settled, there seemed to be nothing to do but to pay over the money and transfer the property — the date of such transfer being fixed for the first of October, 1869. During the session of 1869, an Act was passed by the Dominion Parliament providing a Territorial Government ''mtiffiiim^iMiimim 334 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ';|i ^*i Ir for the country to be acquired from the Hudson's Bay Com- pany ; and in the Supply Bill provision was made for the Government borrowing $1,460,000, under Imperial guarantee, to complete the purchase of the Territory from the Company, and also for an additional loan without guarantee, ot such sums as might be needed for improvements in the Territory. These Acts were passed in anticipation of the actual transfer, so that the machinery of government might be ready when that event occurred. The Act provided for the temporary government of the country to be acquired, and which was to be known as " The North- West Territories," by a Lieutenant- Governor appointed by the Governor-General in Council, who, under direction of the Governor in Council, was to I)rovide for the administration of justice, the peace, order and good government of Her Majesty's subjects and others. The Governor in Council was also authorized to appoint a Coun- cil of not less than seven and not more than fifteen members to assist the Lieutenant-Governor. All laws in force in the Territory at the time of the passa^'-e of the Act, not inconsistent with the British North America Act, or the terms of admission, were to remain in force until amended or repealed ; and all public officers, except the Chief, were to continue in office until others were appointed. The preliminaries being thus all arranged, the Dominion Government lost no time in preparing for the actual transfer, and wishing to take advantage of the summer for surveying the lines of the townships into which it proposed to divide the Red River Settlement, Colonel J. S. Dennis, D.L.S., was, on 10th July, 1869, directed by Hon. "William Macdougall, Minister of Public Works, to repair to the Red River and pre- pare a plan for laying out said townships. Col. Dennis at once proceeded with his work, and, after consulting with the Crown Land Departments of Canada an/, the United States, submitted a report to Mr. Macdougall, in which he not only suggested a plan of survey, but intimated that it was possible that there would be objection on the part of the French Half- hVi th( th( sefia . I HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 335 ; Bay Com- ide for the . guarantee, J Company, ee, ot such e Territory, lal transfer, ready when temporary hich was to Lieutenant- in Council, icil, was to e, order and thers. The int a Coun- m members force in the nconsistent fadmission, sd ; and all le in office Dominion al transfer, surveying to divide .L.S., was, acdougall, er and pre- mis at once with the ;ed States, le not only as p»08sible ench Half- breeds to any survey in their section of the country, until their claims had been investigated and definitely settled by the Do^ninion Government. Mr. Macdougall, however, seem^ . 'A to have been impressed by Colonel Dennis' fears of trouble with the Half-breeds, and, on the twenty-second of September, submitted a memorandum to the Privy Coun- cil, recommending Col. Dennis' plan of surveys. The memo- randum was approved in Council, and an order issued, on the fourth of Octobei, to Col. Dennis to proceed with his sur- veys. Mr. Macdougall does not appear to have consid- d seriously the probability of trouble referred to by Colonel Dennis, and did not submit his letters on the subject to the Council with any recommendation. Owing to a difficulty with the Home Government with re- gard to the paying over of the =£300,000 agreed on to the Hudson's Bay Company, the date of the transfer of the terri- tory was postponed from the first of October to the first of December ; but the Dominion Government still proceeded "with its preparations for taking possession, and, on the twen- ty-eighth of September, an Order in Council was passed appointing the Honorable William Macdougall Lieutenant- Governor of the North-West Territories, at a salary of $7,000 per annum. The Commission which was subsequently issued to Mr. Macdougall was to take efiect after the transfer of the Territory, and the other Commissions for taking oaths, etc , were issued in the same manner. Mr. Macdougall was direct- ed to proceed to Fort Garry with as little delay as possible, and on his arrival placed himself in communication with Mr. MacTavish, the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, as set forth in the preliminary instructions addressed to him from the office of the Secretary of State for the Provinces. By perusing these instructions it will be seen that t' e Cana- dian Government desired to deal fairly and justly by all classes, respect all rights, and gradually, to prepare the way for introducing the judicial, educational and other systems adopted in the older Provinces ; but, unfortunately, the in- >i 336 HISTOKY OF MANITOBA. i ii' habitants of the settlement were not made fully aware of the intentions of the Government, and, the French portion espe- cially, viewed with alarm and distrust the appointment of a new style of government in the selection and composition of which they had not been in any way consulted. They had no confidence in the Canadian Government, and would much have preferred to be left as they were, or, if they had any de- sire for change, the inclination certainly lay more in the way of annexation to the United States, on which they so closely bordered, than to Canada which was so far away and could — at that time — only be reached through American Territory. The Canadians also, while satisfied with Territorial Govern- ment for the present, desired responsible government as soon as possible, such as they had been accustomed to in Ontario ; while a few Americans were entirely opposed to a union with Canada, and advocated an annexation to the United States. Added to this, the resident officers of the Hudson's Bay Company were very lukewarm in their support of the proposed transfer, and while not openly disaffected, were cer- tainly indifferent as to the success of the undertaking. They felt that their joint and individual interests had not been pro- vided for by the Directors of the Company in London, who cared very little for anything except getting as much money as possible out of Canada, and they took no trouble to ex- plain to the people the intentions of the Dominion Govern- ment after the transfer was completed. To understand their feelings in the matter it is necessary to explain that the Hudson's Bay Company's affairs in the North- West were managed by superior officers known as Chief Factors and Chief Traders, who had a certain share of the profits of the Company in lieu of salary ; and that from various causes, such as increased competition, bad management after the death of Sir Geo. Simpson, and low prices, these profits had been reduced to a mere nominal amount. To the dissatisfac- tion consequent upon this was added a rumour that in the negotiations pending, the stockholders in England did not HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 8sr ware of the Drtion espe- atment of a aposition of They had '^ould much lad any de- in the way 1 so closely and could n Territory, ial Govern- lent as soon in Ontario ; a union ;he United e Hudson's lort of the % were cer- ing. They )t been pro- tidon, who uch money ible to ex- n Grovern- stand their that the 5V"est were actors and oiits of the )us causes, t after the 3rofits had dissatisfac- hat in the id did not propose to recognise their right in any division of profit made by the Company, except that accruing to the fur trade, and consequently in the division of any monies re- ceived from Canada, proposed to ignore them entirely. These inland officers, as they were called, felt this to be a great act of injustice, and sent delegates home to remonstrate with the Directors. Their remonstrances were however unheeded, and the officers in question felt that not only were they to be excluded from participation in any portion of their purchase money, but the sale itself, by opening up the country for settlement, removing its isolation, and leaving it open for the free exercise of Canadian energy and capital in the fur trade, was certain to bring to an end the practical monopoly they had so long enjoyed, and to end entirely their hope of getting any share of the profits which had hitherto served them in lieu of salary, — causes of this kind led to the action which they took in encouraging the party of resistance. It will thus be seen that Mr. Macdougall had a very diflB.cult and delicate task to perform in trying to unite these conflicting interests, and satisfy all parties, and his task was not rendered more easy by — to use the mildest phrase — the injudicious conduct of some of his subordinates, and his own misconception of the depth and extent to which the dissatisfaction had spread. The Hon. Mr. Macdougall started for his new post early in October, but did not reach Pembina until the thirtieth of that month. He was accompanied by his family and several gentlemen who expected to become members of the new Council, among whom were Messrs. A. N. Richards (Attorney- General), J. A. N. Provencher (Territorial Secretary) and Captain Cameron. Mr. Macdougall also took with him three hundred rifles and plenty of ammunition, the Government being apparently impressed with the idea that the slightest show of force would be sufficient to check any discontent or prevent any trouble. In this, however, they showed the same want of wisdom displayed throughout the whole V 338 niSTOUV OF MANITOBA. 'I "it w l^ I ■^ 1 t i t ^ ' it • n nogoliatioiis for the transfer, and instead of Mr. MacdouiiaH's three hundred riilt^s friii-hteninu'lhe French IIalf-])nM'ds, thoy only made them mon^ determined not to permit the Cana- dians to (>nter AHsinil)oia and set up a new liovernment until they (th«3 Ilalf-breeds) had been consulted in the matter and i^'uarantees given thoni that their ri'j'hts would ])e respected. rrevnm^ to the arrival of Mr. Maedouu'all, a visit had been paid to the newly acquired Territory ])y the Hon. Joseph Howe, who was then President of the Council, and was shortly after to assume the portfolio of Secretary of State for the Provinces. Mr. Howe did not anticipate any outbreak at the time of his visit, and urged upon the parties whom he saw, the fact that the Territorial Government was to be only temporary, and that a government similar to that of the other Provinces would be established as soon as possible. Mr. How^e has been freely charged with encouraging resis- tance to Dominion authority during his visit, which lasted from 9th October to about 18th ; but this he most emphati- cally denied, and there is no evidence to show that he said or did anything which could be construed into encourage- ment of opi^osition to the peaceful transfer of the Territory to the Dominion. Still, Mr. How^e's mission was an unfor- tunate one, and may be considered as another blunder on the part of the Administration, for he had been himself so nearly on the rerge of actual rebellion in Nova Scotia, and had succeeded so well in forcing " Better Terms " for that Province from the Dominion Grovernment, that any chance expressions of his with regard to the people of the North- West obtaining "their rights," would be construed as ineaning more than was intended to be conveyed. Rumours of hostile movement on the part of the French Half-breeds reached Mr. Macdougall at several points on his way from St, Paul to Pembina, but he paid little attention to them until his arrival at the latter place, where he was met by a Half-breed, who had been waiting some days for Ms arrival, and served with a formal notice not to enter the HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 339 Territory. Disregarding this wariiing-, Mr. Macdoui^all pushed on to the Hudson's ]]ay (\)m])a:iy's post, about two miles from IVmbina, and within the Territory of the North- West, from whence ho sent a despatch to the Secretary of JState, enclosing reports from Colonel J. S. Dennis and others on the condition of the country. Those reports stated that on the 11th October, a surveying party, under ^Ir. "Webb, who were engaged in surveying the base line between Townships 6 and 7, had been stopped in their work by about twenty French Half-breeds, headed by a man luimed Louis Kiel. No violence was used, Riel and some of his followers simply stepping on the chain, and ordering Mr. AVebb and his party to desist, the leader claiming that the property being- surveyed belonged to French Half-breeds, and that they would not allow it to be surveyed by the Canadian Govern- ment ; the surveyors being also notified that they must leave the south side of the Aissiniboine. No arms were seen on any of the party, and only threats were used, but Mr. Webb thought it most prudent to retire as he was ordered. Colonel Dennis applied to the Hudson's Bay authorities and Governor MacTavish and Dr. Cowan had interviews with Eiel, and pointed out the impropriety of his conduct, but without avail, his only answer being that the Canadian Government had no right to proceed with the surveys without the consent of the Half-breeds. The influence of the Church was then invoked, and an appeal made to the Father Superior Lestanc, who was in charge of the Diocese during the absence of Bishop Tache, then on his way to Rome to attend the (Ecumenical Council. The priest declined to interfere, stating that he was afraid of lessening the influence of the Church over the people. The reports also stated that on the 20th a meeting of disaffected French Half-breeds was held at the house of one Joan Bruce, at which it was determined to resist the entrance of Mv. Macdougall into the Territory by force if necessary ; and on the 23nd an affidavit was made before Dr. Cowan by r« fr 340 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. :tii ■r,^ •■' Walton Hyman, of St. Norbert, that an armed party of about forty French llalf-breeds had assembled at the crossing oi the River Sale on the road between Fort Oarry and Pembina, with the avowed intention of turning Mr. Macdougall back if he attempted to proceed to Fort Garry ; and that another party of twenty men, under Louis Kiel, was nearer the border at Sc-atching River, for the same purpose. The reports of Colonel Dennis went on to show that while the English- speaking portion of the community was not opposed to the entrance of the Governor, it was not enthusiastic, and was not disposed to take up arms against the French Half-breeds. Colonel Dennis says : "The attitude of the English-speaking portion of the Colony may, I think, be fairly stated as follows : They say : We feel a disposition to extend a sincere welcome to the Hon. Mr. Macdougall as a gentleman who has been selected for our future Governor. We regret exceedingly that the good name of the Colony should be prejudiced by any such action as that we are told is contemplated by the French Half-breeds. We consider it a most outrageous pro- ceeding on their part and one that we would be glad to see, if possible, put a stop to. At the same time, should an ap. peal to arms be necessary, we could hardly justify ourselves in engaging in a conflict, which would be, in our opinion, certain to resolve itself into one of nationalities and religions, and of which we could hardly, at present, see the termination. We feel this way : We feel confidence in the future adminis- tration of the Government of this country under Canadian rule ; at the same time we have not been consulted in any way as a people, in entering into the Dominion. The cha- racter of the new Government has been settled in Canada without our being consulted. We are prepared to accept it respectfully, to obey the laws, and to become good subjects ; but when you present to us the issue of a conflict with the French party,with whom we have hitherto lived in friendship, backed up, as they would be, by the Roman Catholic Church, ■which appears probable by the course at present being taken HISTORY OP MANITOBA. Ml by the priests, in which conflict it is almost certain the aid of the Indians would be invoked, and perhaps obtained by that party, we feel disinclined to enter upon it, and think that the Dominion should assume the responsibility of establishing amongst us what it, and it alone, has decided on. At the Slime time, wo are ready — should the Council make an ap- peal to th»; Settlement to prevent the gross outrage contem- plated—by a large mounted deputation, unarmed, to meet and escort the Honorable "William Macdougull to Winnipeg, and thus show to the French party, now in arms, that the English-speaking portion of the colony is entirely opposed to the present threatening movement by a portion of the French Half-breeds, — we will cheerfully and promptly res- pond to the call." This being the condition of affairs in the Colony, Mr Mac- dougall determined to remain at the Hudson's Bay post for a few days until he could communicate with Governor Mac- Tavish ; and, accordingly, sent Mr. Provencher forward with a message to the Governor, and instructions to confer with the leaders of the Half-breeds, ascertain what they demanded, and assure them of the intention of the Government to deal fairly and justly by all parties. On the first of November Colonel Dennis and Mr. W. Hallett reached the Hudson's Bay post from Fort Garry, having made a detour across the prairie to avoid the French stationed at Scratching River, and reported that the French were still very much excited and opposed to the entrance of Mr. Macdougall, and that the Go'vernor and Council of Assiniboia seemed disincl' led, or powerless to take any steps to seci^re that gentleman's entrance into Fort Garry. Mr. Provencher was sent back from the barricade under a/i escort and warned that none of his party would be allowed to proceed to Red River. On the second, a party of fourteen men approached the post and ordered Mr. Macdougall to leave, and on the following morning they became so threatening in their demonstrations that he thought it most prudent to retire to United States 342 HISTORY OF MANIT0B4, ;{■!'•! i i 1 1 j territory. "We cannot do better than give Mr. Macdougall's own account of this proceeding, taken from his report to the Secretary of State for the Provinces, dated 6th November : " The next diy (Tuesday) about five o'clock in the afternoon, fourteen horsemen were seen approaching as from the direc- tion of Fort Garry, It was soon evident that they were armed, and moving rapidly forward. As they approached, they slackened their pace and dismounted at the gate of the stockade which surrounds the post, with their guns cocked and in military order. In a few minutes two of their num- ber demanded an interview with me. They left their arms with their comrades at the gate, and were at once admitted. I invited them to a seat, and asked them what they wished to say to me. They replied that they had been sen. to tell me that I must leave the North-West Territory — I must go back before nine o'clock to-morrow morning. I asked them who had sent them with this message ? They said, ' The Committee — the Grovernment.' I asked, what Government ? Tuey said, ' The Government we have made.' I asked what they were instructed to do if I declined to go back V They said, ' They did not know, they had no order.' I told them I was sent to assume the government of the country under the Queen of England, and by her authority, and I could not obey the orders of their Committee. I, at the same time, pro- duced my Commission under the Great Seal, and handed it to the Captain for his perusal. He evidently could not read it, but the parchment and the seal seemed to convince him that it was what I described it to be. He handed it back,, saying that if his leaders had s?en that he thought they would not have opposed me— they did not wish to take up arms against the Queen. He added that I ought to have come on as far as the barricade, which I might have done without molestation. I told him, in reply, that I was going on as fast as I could when I was stopped by a written order from his Committee, which I handed him to read. He read it, and he remarked that lie was not present when it was 4 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 34» written, but admitted that it came from the National Com- mittee, whose oiders he obeyed. Ilis companion having' left the room, he seemed impatient to end the conversation, and rose to retire. I had asked their names, which they gave without hesitation as Lepiiie and Lavallee. They were very^ respectful in their bearing, and seemed ashamed of the ])usi- ness they had in hand. I sent out to ask them if they would eat, which they said they would hi glad to do, and I accord- ingly ordered some pork and bread and tea to be given to them. Hearing of their remarks to one another that if thev had known I was coming- to represent the Queen as well as the Government of Canada, and that I was not sent to inter- fere with their religious or private rights, they would not have joined the insurgent party, and having observed the effect of the Great Seal upon the Captain of the band, I resolved to send for the whole party, and explain my position and authority to them in the same manner as I had done to the two leaders. They replied to my invitation, that they were tired, and that some of their party had gone to the villag-e and could not see me until the morning. About six o'clock the same evening Mr, Provencher and Captain Cam- eron made their appearance at the post, escorted by six horsemen, who had conducted them all the wty from River Sale. These gentlemen had not been il lowed to go beyond the barricade, or to hold any communication with the authorities at Fort Garry. Mr. Provencher's report of his mission and its result is enclosed herewith. About eight o'clock on the morning of AVednesday, the third instant, loud talking- was heard at the g-ateway, and on going out I found the rebel party, with their arms in their hands, drawn up in a half circle, gesticulating fiercely, and threatening that, if we were not off by nine o'clock, they would not answer for our lives. I found that they had made a prisoner of Mr. Hallett, who went out to repeat my invitation of the evening before, and that he was then tied to a cart, and not allowed to speak to any of my party. Seeing their temper, and think- n m 344 HISTORr OF MANITOBA. Ill kii i» f* .1 'Hi'- ^1 ing it would not be prudent to give them an excuse for any further outrage, I ordered the horses to be harnessed, and we drove away from the Hudson's Bay Company's post towards Pembina, escorted by a party on foot. "When I had reached the post which had been set up to mark the 49th parallel, the Captain of the band stopped and addressing me in French, said, 'You must not return beyond this line,' pointing to the boundary monument. He further remarked that he did not know me as Governor, but only as Mr. Macdougall. As three or four persons had joined us on the way, but had no other connection with us, I asked if they also were inter- dicted from going on. He shrugged his shoulders, and said he did not know ; he would not prevent them, but perhaps they would be stopped at the River Sale. I then drove on, and my escort returned to the Hudson's Bay Company's post." *?»«<- HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 34S CHAPTER XVI. Opposition in the Colony to a Union v/itii Canada- Bishop Tache's objections — The first Steamer on Red River — The Meeting at River S.4le— Apathy OF the Hudson's Bay Company's Officers— Stoppage of the Mails — Occupation of 1'ort Oarry— The In- surrection assumes formidable proportions— Riel SUMMONS A Convention — Mr. MacTavish issues a Proclamation— Meeting of the Convention- -Pass- age OF A " Bill of Rights." While the negotiations for the transfer of the Territory were progressing, the subject naturally attracted a good deal of attention in the Colony, and by no means met with general approval ; the objections coming chiefly from the French Half-breeds, led by the Catholic Priects, and, at a later period, from the resident oflB.cers and employes of the Hudson's Bay Company. The priestb seemed to dread innovation, and feared that any change from the existing condition of things would weaken their influence, and injure the good work they were doing. In 1868 Bishop (now Archbishop) Tache published a very interesting little book entitled " A Sketch of the North- West of America," one of the main purposes of which appeared to be to show that the country was not nearly so fertile as it had been represented ; that the winters were very long and cold, and the summers very short and hot, and that it was not an attractive place for settlers. The worthy Bishop evidently thought that the Red River Settlement was well enough as it was, and did not advocate any change. After giving a brief sketch of the Colony, and alluding to the proposed annexation of Rupert's Land to the Dominion, he says : " Offspring of Rupert's Land, it will follow its mother 346 HISTORY OF MANirOBA. }i and be ruled by the influences \vhich affect hiT. Yet, although not quite free, the child has acquired certain rights ; it posseses or occupies lands for which it has not always paid ; it has cultivated them w^i+h its labor. True — the labor has not always been great ; but we speak of a child of the desert. It commands indulgence ; it presumes to hope that here the foreigner shall not be preferred ; that in the great and wise plans matured by the Mother Country and Canada^ its eldest brother, its past history may not be entirely disre- garded. In the Colony itself there is nervousness and uneasiness about the future. Some who hope to gain by any change, are clamorous for one ; others dwelling more upon the system of government than upon its application, would like to try a change, certain that they would never return to the primitive state from which they desired to escape ; a greater number — the majority — dread that change. Many are very reasonable ; the country might gain by the change, and it w^ould certainly obtain many advantages which it now lacks ; but the existing population would certainly be losers. As we love the people more than the land in which they live, as we prefer the well-being of the former to the splendor of the latter, we now repeat that, for our population we very much dread some of the promised changes." The worthy Bishop had needless fears, for the "splendor" of this great country will not destroy but build up both his Church and his people by whom he is rightfully beloved. From his standpoint, at that time, it was only natural to write as] he did ; and our reference to the matter to-day is in no spirit of ill-feeling. If the Bishop undervalued the fertility and habitability of this great country, it is no more than other good men have done before and since. In his case it is to be regretted, not censured. We might observe, however^ that the fears of the Bishop of St. Boniface wereA'cry similar to those entertained by the French Canadians in Quebec. They dreaded P]nglish immigration, from the fear that it HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 347 would sweep away their peculiar institutions, supplant their language and interfere with their religion. This has always been the fear of French Catholics, and the experience of nearly a century and a quarter in Quebec has failed to entirely satisfy them that the English have no designs on either their language or religion, other than that which the regu- lar course of events must produce. The French language is to a great extent falling into disuse in Winnipeg and other centres of Manitoba, and will probably continue to do so as trade and commerce increase ; for almost the entire bulk of the immigrants settling in this country is English speaking, and, of course, the English language is gradually superseding the French in business circles. As to the Catholic religion it is as freely enjoyed as it ever was under Hudson's Bay Company rule, and better protected. The objection on the part of the French Half-breeds of Red River, in the first instance, to the transfer of the territory to Canada was confined to this dread of change, and the Archbishop— who speaks for the whole French element — frankly confesses that he is quite content with things as they are and does not desire any alteration, although he admits that it might be to the advantage of the country. So fearful, indeed, is he of innovations that he is almost comically earnest in his endeavors to persuade outsiders that the Red River Territory is a good place for them to keep out of ; and even so important an event as the appearance of a steamer on the river is regarded distrustfully by him, and after sketching the fortunes of the first steamer, the Anson Northup, which arrived from St. Peters in June, 1859, and her successor, the International, launched at Georgetown in 1862, up to the season of 1868, seems rather pleased than otherwise that up to that time the undertaking had not been successful, and concludes his account as follows : " Such has been the experience of eight years ; the steamer {Internationa/} could not ply during half the time, and during the other half she was a complete failure. The result has slightly n 848 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. ?f ^ U disappointed bright hopes and money making schemes. Now, the idea of a steamer on Red River does not cause the enthusiasm which it excited at first. Wealthy people and merchants, taught by experience and disappointment, fear uncertainty. Poor people are decidedly against steam navi- gation for the following three reasons : 1st. The Red River abounds in fish and supports a great number of the necessi- tous. It is well known that steamboats are not skilful in the art of pisciculture. 2nd. "Wood is very scarce on the banks of Red River, yet it is very much wanted there, and the fire canoes make war against the fuel on the banks, as against the food swimming in the water. 3rd. Land carriage from the United States hither, is an abundant source of profit to the land owners of the colony, who thus employ their horses and oxen ; but the running of the steamer deprives them of this advantage, and all the money paid for cartage from St. Cloud to G-eorgetown goes into American pockets." Such objections sound puerile enough in cur ears, but they are gravely urged by the Archbishop, in his conservative desire to have things remain as they were, as reasons why " Poor people are decidedly against steam navigation." It will thus be seen that a strong feeling was growing up amongst the French against the change ; nor can the feeling amongst the English be said to have been very strongly in lavor ol it, as it was proposed to be made. They wanted to escape from under the incubus of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany ; but they (especially those who had emigrated from Ontario) wanted to have a voice in the management of their own affairs, and they were greatly disappointed when they found that the Canadian Government proposed sending up a Government " all ready made " to take the place of the Hudson's Bay Company. They felt as if they were getting from under one dead weight to place themselves under another, and they were not very enthusiastic about the cb ange. The feeling of the French Half-breeds may be briefly ex- HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 34J> pressed as this — that they questioned the right of the Do- minion Government to take possession of what they con- sidered their country, without their consent The first exhibition of this feeling was shown in the stoppage of the surveyors, Snow and Webb, alroady referred to. Shortly after Mr. Howe's visit, the opposition grew stronger, and a meeting of French Half-breeds was held in the vicinity of River Sale, and a " Council " formed, of which a French Half-breed, of Scotch descent, named John Bruce, was Pre- sident, and Louis Kiel Secretary. The avowed object of the Council was to prevent the entry of Mr. Macdougall and his followers until " Terms " had been made ; and for this pur- pose the barricade was thrown across the Pembina road and guarded, at first by a force of about a dozen men, which was increased in the course of a fortnight to about one hun- dred. After the arrival of Mr. Macdougall, and his repulse at the frontier, the Council held daily meetings, and their purpose began to take more definite shape. As they were only about nine miles from Fort Garry, these proceedings were well known, and gave much alarm to the Canadian residents there and in its vicinity, who were amazed at the utter apathy shown by the Hudson's Bay authorities ; and one Walton Hyman, a tanner, whose tannery was only a short distance from this barricade, made an affidavit on the 22nd October, 1869, before Dr. Cowan, stating the facts that had come to his knowledge, in the hope that this informa- tion would arouse Governor MacTavish to the gravity of the situation, and induce him to take some action to prevent any opposition to the entrance of Governor Macdougall. Although this information was positive and circumstantial enough — even supposing, which would be supposing a great deal, that the authorities had no previous knowledge of what was going on so near the Fort— still Governor MacTavish and his Council remained inactive, and allowed the insurgents to perfect their schemes without interruption Nor can the plea of want of power to put down the rising at this time be 350 iif HISTORY OF MANITOBA. i!f; urged, for liiel had less than one hundred men, poorly armed, while the authorities had, in addition to the ordinary con- stabulary of the country, numbering about forty men, thirty or forty pensioners of the Royal Canadian Rifles, liable to do special service, and a forci^ of 300 special constables sworn in a short time before. The only things apparently wanting- to enable this incipient rebellion to be nipped in the bud were, a display of superior force and a desire to do so, but these Groveinor MacTavish and his advisers never showed until the rebellion had gained such headway that it was be- yond his power to control it without appL^aling to arms, a course which would, in all probability, have led to much bloodshed and serious loss of life. This doubtful neutrality has laid the resident officers of the Hudson's Bay Company ojien to the very grave suspicion that they secretly en- couraged the insurgents in their unlawful acts, in the hope that an armed opposition to the acquirement of the territory by Canada would lead either to an abandonment of the scheme, or to an ofler ot " Better terms," in which some pro- vision would be made for them for what they would lose by the transfer of the country. To say that Governor Mac- Tavish and his advisers openly encouraged the insurgents is perhaps going a little too far, but that they did receive great encouragement from their inactivity is simply stating a fact. This inactivity seems all the more inexcusable and inexplicable when it is remembered that when the Governor returned from England in the summer, after an unsuccessful attempt to induce the Directors in London to allow the resi- dent officers a share in the =£300,000 paid by the Canadian Government, he passed through Ottawa and had several interviews with Ministers, wno asked him if he was in a position to transfer the territory peacefully, as stipulated in the contract, offering to send up 300 of the Canadian Rifles, then available, if he anticipated any trouble. To this the Governor replied most positively that he was qui.e able to carry out the terms of the contract without assistance, and HI3T0RV OF MANITOBA. 3Sl •yet when fii'iy doteimined raon could have prevented any trouble, and he liad about live hundred at his command, we find him unable to do anything but advise Hon. Mr. Mac- dougall to remain at Pembina, and make himself and the Government he represented look ridiculous. About this time the mails, which had to pass over the Pembina Road, were stopped and examined, and all letters giving any true account of the condition the country was in were suppressed, while all letters intended for parties in the Settlement suspected of being favorable to Canada were also stopped. This was mostly done at liivicre Sale by the insur- gents, but it was also suspected that letters were opened and examined in the Post Office at Pembina, of which a strong annexationist and great friend of the insurgents was Postmas- ter. On account of this tampering with the mails great in- convenience was experienced in obtaining anything like cor- rect information as to what was occurring in the Settlement, and Hon. Mr. Macdougall was forced to lesort to all sorts of expedients, and employ only the most trustworthy persons he could find, to get any letters from himself to Governor MacTavish, or any other person, taken into Fort Garry, while even greater difficulty was experienced in getting any information conveyed to Hon. Mr. Macdoug'all. About the same time that Hon. Mr. Macdougall was driven back to Pembina by Kiel and his followers, it began to be rumoured that the insurgents intended to take posses- sion of the Fort, and the authorities were duly informed of the fact in ample time to have made preparations for its de- fence, had they felt so disposed, but they paid no att-^ntion to the warning. Sergeant James Mulligan, at that time Chief of Police at Fort Garry, states, in an afiidavit taken subse- quently, that he " urged upon Dr. Cowan, the Chief Factor in charge of Fort Garry, the danger in w^hich the Fort stood, from the intention of the insurgents to seize it, ; and request- ed him to call upon a portion of the 300 special constables and the pensioners to defend it." Fort Garry was a ^trong 352 HlsrORV OF MANITOBA. ! I f i , :' stone fort, bastioried mid defended by tiiirtccn six-pounder guns, was amply .supplied with ammunition and provisions and had in it also 300 Enfield rifles, so thai if Governor Mac- Tavish had only ciosed the gates, he could, at least, have held the place against any force that the insurgents could possibly have brought again^-t him, if he was afraid to do more ; but even this he failed to do, although he and Dr. Cowan were warned by other parties than Mulligan that the place would be taken '>ossesbion of. Not the slightest precaution was taken, the gates were not closed, cannon not in position, and yet th-^ Governor and Chief Factor knew that a body of men had been in possession of the Pembina Road for ten days, and had threatened to occupy the Fort ! On the after- noon of the second of November, Kiel, with about 100 men, came down the road from Riviere Sale, entered the open gates, and immediately proceeded to billet themselves in the various houses within. Dr. Cowan, the officer in charge of the fort saying, ' "What do you want here with all these armed men ? " Riel replied, "We have come to guard the Fort" " Against whom V" asked Dr. Cowan. " Against a danger," Riel answered. This was all the explanation given and seemed to satisfy the Chief Factor ; and Riel and his followers were left in undisturbed possession. The force being housed, next fed, and proceeded to arm themselves with Enfield rifles in place of their own shot guns, closed the gates, set a guard, placed the cannon in position, and for the first time since its inception the rebel- lion became formidable. The insurgents had now possession of nearly all the cannon in the settlement ; were abundantly supplied with small arms and ammunition ; had all the provisions and other stores of the Hudson's Bay Company, more than enough to last them all the winter, and it became evident that if they pleased to hold possession of the Fort until spring they could do so, fo^ there was no force in the settlement able to dislodge them, and it would be summer, or perhaps later, before any force could arrive from Canada. HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 885 pounder )vi8ions, lor Mac- st, have ts could io more ; , Cowan lie place recaution position, k body oi . for ten the after- LOO men, the open tros in the charge of all these iuard the Lgainst a on given and his id to arm )wn shot ;annon in ;he rebel- lossession [undantly all the ompany, t became the Fort ■ce in the summer, Canada. In short, the insurgents were now "masters ofthc situation," and held the position which ought to have been occupied by the loyal i)arty, and which they would have occupied but for the supineness — to use no harsher term — of the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company. Governor Mac- Tavish's explanation of the capture of Fort Garrj', as con- veyed to the Hon. Mr. Macuougall in a letter dated l»th November, is certainly a remarkable production when we consider that the Hudson's Bay Company was still the dc facto government, and that he, as the Chief Officer, was supposed to protect the property of the Company, if nothing more. He says : " Excepting in one respect — but th".l, 1 am sorry to say, a serious if not in a formidable Lense — little change, as far as we can learn, has. since my last, come over the arrangements or the spirit of these people ^ ^ ^. The occurrence to which I have alluded in the preceding para- graph as being serious is this, that on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 2nd inst., a number of these daring people suddenly, and without the least intimation of their intention to make such a move, took possession of the gates of Fort Garry, where they placed themselves inside and outside the gates, to the number in all of about one hundred and twenty, and where, night and day, they have constantly kept a pretty strong armed guard. On being asked what they meant by such a movement upon the Fort, they said their object was to protect it. Protect it from what ? they were asked. Their answer was — from danger. Against what danger? they were asked. To this question, they replied that they could not now specify the danger, but that they would do so hereafter, and obstinately took up the positions they have since kept in spite of all our protests and remon- strances at such a bold and high-handed proceeding. On coming into the Fort, they earnestly disclaimed all intention of injuring either person or property within it, and it must be allowed that in that respect they have kept their word ; but it is an inconvenience and a danger next to intolerable, W m • ' ,i:fc,ai I ; ? '.)' niPf^ Hi (;{ 3S4 IIISTORV OP MANITOBA. to have a body ol" armed men, oven with professions of peace towards ourselves, forcibly billeted upon an establishment such as this. Their intentions in coming to the Fort they have never definitely expressed, nor have they yet specified the danger from which their presence was meant to protect the place. "NVe are, therefore, left in some measure to con- jectures, and by these we are strongly led to believe that you were expected to come to the Fort, and that by thus having previous possession of the gates, they felt that they would be sure of keeping you out.' The extreme simplicity of the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company in being *'led to believe" that the objct of Kiel in taking possession of the Fort w as to keep Mr. Macdougall out, is certainly refreshing— especially as he had been informed ten days before that the capture of the Fort was intended for that very purpose. Headquarter?: being thus removed from Riviere Sale to more comfortable quarters, the Councils were resiimed, and on the sixth of November Kiel proceeded to the village and directed Mr. "Walter Bow^n, proprietor of the Nor'- Wester, to print him a Proclamation, and, on his refusing to do so, immediately made him a prisoner, placed a guard over the ofiice, and caused the Proclamation to be printed under the supervision of Mr. James Ivoss^^. The possession of Fort Garry * PCDLIC NOTICB TO TUB I.NHABITANTB OK RCPCRl's LAND. The President and Repredentatives of the French speakinf; population of fluperi's Land in Council (the invaders of our rights being now expelled), already aware of j'our pympathy, do extend the hand of friendship to you, our friendly fellow inhabitants ; and in so doing, ao hereby invito you to send twelve represen- tatives from the following places viz : — St. John's 1 lleadingly 1 St. Mary's 1 St. Clement's 1 St. Paul's 1 St. Margaret 1 St. James 1 Kildonan 1 St. Andrew's 1 St. Peter's I Town of Winnipeg 2 in order to form one body with the above Council, consisting of twelve members, to consider the present political state of this country and to adopt such measure* as may be best fitted for the future welfare of the same. HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 335 f peace *hment Tt they [)ecifie insurgtjuts that they assumed the inspection of goods coming from the United States, and seized all gur.) and ammunition, thus obtaiunig a number of double and single buffalo hunting guns, the loss of which was severely felt when the settlers attempted resistance. At this time W. B. O'Donohuo joined the movement and assumed the duties of Treasurer, collecting the four per cent, imposed on all merchandise which had been always levied by the Hudson's liay Company. O'Donohue was a very valuable accession to the insurgent ranks, as he had been educated for the priesthood, possessed considerable intelligence, and at that time occupied the responsible positions of teacher in the Roman Catholic School at St. Boniface, and private tutor to the children of Governor MacTavish, whom O'Donohue did not hesitate to charge with being the instigator oi the rebellion.* On receipt of Governor MacTavish's letter informing him of the capture of Fort Garry, the Hon. Mr. Macdougall wrote 'o that gentleman, urging on him that until the actual trans- A meetin);; of tbe above Council will be held in the Court House at Fort Garry, «Q Tuesday, the i6th day of .Voveaibur, at which the invite J representativej will Attend. By Older of the President, LOUIS RIEL, Secret'»ry. Fort Garry, 6ih November, 18G9 • In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Commons, dated 2(jlh February, 1875, Mr. O'Donohue says : " I make the following statement of facts, which I can prove most conclu- aively : '' The insurrection was advised by Governor William MacTavish who, with other officers of the Hudson's Bay Corapauy, aUo aided and abetted it from its inception up to the very hour it ceased to exist. That Riel was in constant communi -ation with Governor MacTavish, and on many occasions under his instructions. That he, Governor MacTavish, fully recognised the Provisional Governnieat. That Donald A. Smith, on arrivini? at Fort Garry, recognised the Government also in my own hearing, and with Governor MacTavish, was Riel's adviser during his stay in the Fort, and after the departure of b>th of these from tbe country, Kiel continued to hold counsel with John MacTavish, who then represented the Uudsoa's Bay Company.' I ' I 1 ( «: 3S6 HliSTORY OF MANITOBA. u H ''Mi !^ ^if fer of the territory took place the Hudson's Bay Company- was the only govern oient, and that it was his duty, as Governor of that Company, to issue a Proclamation calling on the insurgents to disperse, and to take such other steps as may be necessary to insure the peaceful transitr of the territory, as agreed on in the contract, when the time for that transfer came. To this remonstrance from Mr. Mac- dougall Governor MacTavish paid no attention, and matters were allowed to remain in statu quo, as far as any attempt to put down the insurgents was concerned. The capture of Fort Garry and the seizure of all arms shewed plainly to the Canadians that the insurgents meant to establish a govern- ment by iorco, and they, therefore, drew up an address to Governor MacTavish, which was largely signed, calling upon him to issue a iOclamution calling upon the insurgents to lay down their arms. This address was presented on the 12th November, but it was not until four days after — the very day of the meeting of the Convention called by Kiel — that the Governor at last issued his tardy Proclamation, re- citing the unlawful acts which had been committed, and charging all those engaged " immediately to dispcxse them- selves and peaceably to depart to their habitations or their lawful business, under the pains and penalties of the law."^ The Proclamation was a very weak production, not worth insertion here, and seems to have been purposely held back by Governor MacTavish until the day of the meeting of the Convention, in order that the English portion of the people might partly commit themselves to the movement by elect- ing delegates to attend. The English were unwilling to appear in any way to sanction the acts of Kiel and his associates ; and were only induced to send members to the Convention by the circulation of a rumor that the result ot the meeting would be an abandonment of their position by the insurgents, and the extension of an invitation to Hon. Mr. Macdougall to enter the Settlement in peace. The English-speaking portion of the community was ex- 1 HISTOUY OF MAXIT03A. 357 )mpany luty, as calling jr steps : of the Lime for ^r. Mac- . matters tempt to ,pture of ily to the , govern- ddress to iing upon rgents to d on the ifter — the by Kiel— lation, re- itted, and icsri them- or their the law." lot worth held back ing of the the people bv elect- illing to il and his lers to the result ot losition by In to Hon. y was ex- tremely loth to pay any attention to the Proclamation of " The President and Representatives of the French-speaking popu- lation of Rupert's Land " issued by Riel on 6th November, inviting them to send delegates to the Convention to be held at Fort Garry, on 16th ; but partly induced by the hope that they might be able to influence the Convention to some good purpose, they finally agreed to send delegates, and repre- sentatives were chosen. =♦*= The Convention met in the Court House, which was guarded by 150 armed men, and all the members were present, except one English delegate who became so much alarmed at the display of force around the building that he returned home. To this assembly the Pro- clamation of Governor MacTavish was read, the insurgent portion seeming to regard it as a weak show of authority, -and the English members regarding it as a farce. Thereid- * The following is a list of the members elected : BNQUSH HRUBIRS. ■Town of WinnipeK j g-p'o'LoaT"- 'Kildoaan » > James Ross. St. John's Maurice Lowman. St. Paul's Dr. Bird. St. Andrew's Donald Ouna. St. Clement's ~ . Thomas Bunn. St. Peter's Henry Prince. Iiu'Un Chiet of the Saulteiix 8t. James' Robert Tait. Eeadingly Wiiliam Tait. St. Ann's Qeo. Ounn. J'ortage-la-Prairie m John Oarriocb. VMXCH MKMBIRI. ( Francois Daupbinais. ^t. Francois Xarier ... -j Pierre Poitraa. ( Pierre Lariellier. St. Boniface W. B. O'Donobue. o^ V!*«i f Andre Beaucbemin. °^- ''"*^ i Pierre Paraoteau, Sr. Q» v^.K„-f ^ Baptiste Towron. ^'- *o^^"^ 1 Louis Lacerte. •St. Anne's f Charles Noltn. 1 Jean Baptiste Perreault. John Bruci, President. LoDis RiBL. Secretary. ?r 'I I ; I 863 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ing of the Poclaraation and the protests of the English mem- bers against the show of force concluded the first day's- business, and nothing beyond talk was accomplished on the following day. The eighteenth and nineteenth being the days appointed for holding the Hudson's Bay Company's Quarterly Court, the Convention adjourned until the twenty- second, in order that the room might be used for its legiti- mate purpose. The Court met, disposed of some criminal cases, but, singular to say, no reference was made to the acts of lawlessness committed by the insurgents. On the 22nd November, the Convention again assembled,, and after debating all day on the advantages, or otherwise, of an union with Canada, nothing was arrived at. One English member finally proposed that the French should lay down their arms, and then both sides of the population would be on equal footing to discuss matters ; and suggested that Mr. Macdougall should be allowed to enter the Terri- tory, so that all could place their grievances before him and seek redress. On this Eiel rose excitedly and said that Mr. Macdougall should never enter the Territory, either as a private individual or as a G-overnor. That broke up the meeting for that day. On the 23rd, Riel and party seized the books and records of the Council of Assiniboia, and, on the meeting of the delegates that day, threw off the mask and declared the intention of the French members to form a Provisional Government. The English delegates declaring that that was a question they could not discuss without consulting their constituents, it was agreed to adjourn the Convention until 1st December. Up to this period Riel and his followers had made a pre- tence of respecting the authority of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany as a governing power, and the Hudson's Bay Company took the equally strange course of assuming that they were overcome by force, without ever having made the slightest attempt to put down that force ; but on the 24th, Riel no longer kept up the farce of pretending to respect the author- 1, ilW HISTORY OF MANITOBA. r>» ity of the Hudson's Bay Company, but going to the oiiice of Mr. Koger Goulet, Collector of Customs imder the Hudson's Bay Company, took posession of all books, papers, cash and due bills. On the same day he attempted to take posession of a quantity of goods belonging to the Canadian Govern- ment, which were stored in the premises of Dr. Johix Schultz, and placed a guard over the store ; but the guard was enticed away while Kiel was at lunch and the store locked, and although Kiel brought out two field pieces and pointed them at Dr. iSchultz's house, threatening to knock it down if the stores were not given up, the Doctor remained firm, and Kiel, anxious to avoid firing the first shot, was content to let the goods remain where they were lor the present. Shortly after this an elfort was made to induce the French to agree to a middle course, that of allowing the Hudson's Bay Company to rule until matters were arranged ; and to appoint a Committee which should represent all shades of opinion, to conter with Mr. Macdougall at Pembina. As Kiel was anxious to induce the English delegates to attend the adjourned Convention on 1st December, so as to give a color of unanimity to his contemplated assumption of supreme power, he pretended to agree to this proposal, although, at the same time he was industriously circulating reports among his own party, calculated to still more incense them against Mr. Macdougall and the Canadian party. Tn order to be sure of a majority in the Convention it was attempted to pack a meeting held in Winnipeg, but a number of Canadians having got in, and Kiel, finding that the peace party was likely to obtain a majority, had the lights put out, and the next day, a special meeting was called by Mr. A. G-. B. Bannatyne, to consider first who were to be entitled to vote, and then discuss other matters. This special meeting decided to exclude most of the Canadian votes, and the insurgent element of the town, composed of the majority of the Americans and those in the Hudson's Bay Company's interest, had things their own way. 1 - I 360 HISTORY OP MANITOBA I' ill fg ; ' 'm ml' On the first of December the adjourned meeting oi dele- gates took place, and the English delegates soon found that their pacific proposals of the interval were to be disregarded, and that the French had prepared a list of matters they wished the English to agree to, and on their dissenting to the principal points in it, the French, who, with the two Erglish delegates from the town of "Winnipeg who were in their interest, were in a majority, passed what they called the " Bill of Rights."=i«= This Bill being passed, the English, after making another ineffectual attempt to have a conference with Mr. Macdougall, retired to their homes, feeling that they had only been called together to give a color of unani- •BILL OF RIGniS. 1. The right to elect our own Leg'slature. 2. The LeKialature to have power to pass all laws, local to the Territory, over the veto of the Executive, by a two-thirds vote 3. So Act of the Dominion Parliament (local to this Territory) to be binding on the people until san^.ioned by their representatives. 4. All iSheiiffi, Magistrates, Constables, &c., Ac, to be elected by the people— a free homestead and pre- emption law. 5. A portion of th) public lands to be appropriated to the benefit of 3«.-bools, the building of the roads, bridges and parish buildings. 6. A guarantee to connect Winnipeg by rail with the nearest line of railroad — the land grant for such road or roads to be eubjeet to the Legislature of the Territory. 7. For four years the public expenses of the Territory, civil, military ani muni- cipal, to be paid cut of the Dominion Treasury. 8. The military to be composed of the people now existing in the Territory. 9. The French .' English language to be common in the Legislature and Council, and all ■ documents cad Acts of the Legislature to be published in both languages. 10. That the J . : of the Superior Co'jrt apeak both French and English. 11. Treaties to ue concluded and uitified between the Government and several tribes of Indians of this Territory, calculated to insure peace in future. 12. That all privileges, customs and u.^nges existing at the time of the transfer be respected. 13. That these rights be guaranteed by Mr. Macdongall before he bo admitted into this Territory. 14. If he have not the power himself to grant them, he muit get an Act of Par- liament passed expressly securing us the rights: and iii.til such Act be obtained, he must stay outside the Territory. 15. That we have full and fair representation in the Domiiiion Parliament. i r aai niuai- „he transfer te admitted ict of Par- e obtaiaed, HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 361 mity to proceedings which they remonstrated against, and which they, in common with the loyal portion of the French population, saw, might lead to the gravest consequences. 3C2 HISTORV OF MANITOBA. I 1 i'E *-1 i (J : . 1 i \'! ■ 1 1 ' ' '' ' . ' i ■ 1 I 1 CHAriER XVII. Action of the Canadian Government— Mr. Macdougalt^ ISSUES TWO Proclamations— The mission of Colonet> Dennis— Its failure— Affairs in "Winnipeg — Cap- ture of Dr. Schultz — Declaration of Indepen- dence — The Rebel Flag -Arrival of the Canadian Commissioners. The news that Mr. Macdougall had been prevented from entering the Territory caused the greatest excitement in Canada, especially in Ontario, and the wildest rumors were for a while current. The Government set itself promptly to work to calm the agitation of the Half-breeds and to endeavour to effect a peaceful transfer of the country. Telegraphic communi- cation ■'^'^as opened with the Colonial Office immediately on receipt of Mr. Macdougall's letter of 31st of October, advising the Secretary of State for the Colonies that he had been stopped at Pembina, and the Home Office kept fully advised of events as they occurred. Steps were also taken to send parties who were supposed to have some influence with the French Half-breeds to reason with them, show them the ex- tent of the position they were assuming, and tell them that Canada had no intention of infringing on any of their rights and priviliges. For this purpose "Vicar-General Thi- bault, who had spent over thirty years in the North-"West, and Col. DeSalaberry were invited, and accepted a mission to the North-West to calm and appease the portion of the community which was excited. At the same time overtures were made by the Government to Mr. Donald A. Smith, Chief Agent of the Hudson's Bay Company at Montreal, to undertake a Special Commission to the North-West, '.vhich he accepted, and left Ottawa on 14th December, 1869. The HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 36? )OUGALT-. powers given to Mr. Smith were very large, and he ^Yas commissioned to enquire into all causes of grievance and re- port as to the best means of removing them. His commission ran : — " Now know ye, that having confidence in your honesty, fidelity, and integrity, we do, by these presents, nominate,, constitute, and appoint you, the said Donald A. Smith, to be our Special Commissioner, to enquire into the cause, nature, and extent of the obstruction offered at the Red River, in the- North-West Territories, to the peaceable ingress of the Hon. William Macdougall, and other parties, authorized by our Governor-Greneral of Canada to proceed into the same ; and also to enquire into the causes of the discontent and dissa- tisfaction alleged to exist in respect to the proposed union of the North- West Territories with the Dominion of Canada ; and further, to explain to the inhabitants of the said country the principles on which the Government of Canada intends to administer the Government of the country, according to such instructions as may be given to you })y our Governor in Council in this behalf; and to take steps to remove any misapprehensions which may exist in respect to the mode of Government of the same, and to report to our Governor Gen- eral the result of such enquiries ; and on the best mode of quiet- ing and removing such discontent and dissatisfaction ; and also, to report on the most proper and fitting mode for effecting the speedy transfer of the country and Government from the authority of the Hudson's Bay Company to the Govern- ment of Canada with the general assent of the inhabitants." At the same time that these gentlemen were being despached^ a Proclamation was issued by the Governor-General, on the authority of the Colonial Office, offering amnesty to all those who immediately dispersed; and it w^as hoped that this Proclamation and the presence of Mr. Commissioner Smith would have the effect of restoring order, »and allowing the transfer to be peaceably made, and that Mr. Macdougall would be allowed to enter the Territory. While these steps towards a p*?aceful solution of the difficulty • I'i I 38 i HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ^1 l^ were being taken in Ottawa, everything in the colony and on the frontier betokened war. Mr. Macdougall, on being forced to retire from the Territory, took up his residence at Pembina, whore he remained about six weeks. His position was peculiar and embarrassing. Hampered with his own family as well as the members of his staff and proposed new Gov- ernment, he found himself with about twenty persons in his party, and scarcely accoramod£.vioi; for one-third of that num- bt , with winter comiu; '; i .d difficulties of returning to St. Paul daily increasing. To thv must be added the humil- iation of being kept hanging about ..he borders of the Set- tlement, while the authorities made no effoit to assist him, and Governor MacTavish contented himself with advising him, like Micawber, to wait " for something to turn up." Becoming convinced at last that he need expect no help from the officials ot the Hudson's Bay Company, and believ- ing that the transfer would be made on the first of Decem. ber, and his commission as Lieutenant-Governor thereby go into effect, he commenced making preparations for that event, with a view to calling ( n the loyal portion of the pop. ulation to put down the insurgents, either by a show of force, or by actual strength of arms if necessary He was kept well advised of the state of affairs in the Settlement* and felt well assured that as soon as he could issue a Pro- clamation as the representative of Her Majesty, fie loyalty of the Canadians and English Half-breeds would assert itself' .and the French would hesitate to offer armed resistance to the representative of the Queen, where they did not scruple to attempt to scare the Hon. Mr. Macdougall. Although aware of the surrender of Fort Garry — for it can be called nothing else — by the Hudson's Bay authorities, he still had hopes that the insurgents would lay down their arms when there was any show of force and authority against them. In this, however; events proved that he was mistaken, and the Settlement very narrowly escaped a most disastrous war of creeds and races. HISTORY OF MANITOBA, 36r. On the same eventful ]st of December on which the Con- vention re-assembled at Fort Garry and ultimately passed the "Bill of Rights," Mr. Macdouirall, acting on the suppo- sition that the transfer to Canada had been made on that aay, issued a Proclamation announcing his appointment a» Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories. Mr. Macdougall has ])i}in\ blamed, and with some justice, for precipitancy in issuing this Proclamation before receiving information that the Territory had been transferred to Canada, and it was certainly unfortunate that he so far committed himself without sufficient information, for it so happened that the Territory had not been transferred, and Mr. ' .> '- douorall had no more Ic^al right to issue a Proclamation tiiav Mr. Kiel had, and the insurgents knew that he had ^ o' the power and laughed at the Proclamation and its prom .ij-ai ir. There is no reason to doubt that Mr. Macdougall was quite- honest in issuing his Proclamation, and believed .by straining a point, he had the right to do so, for when he left Canada the first of December was the date agreed on for the transfer, and although he had not received official information that the .£300,000 had been paid and the transfer made by the Hudson's Bay Company, neither had he received any" intimation that negotiations had been suspended. On the same day that he proclaimed himself Governor of the North- West Territories, Mr. Macdougall issued a Com- mission to Col. J. S. Dennis, as his Lieutenant and " Conser- vator of the Peace," authorizing him to raise, arm and equip troops, &c , very extensive powers being given him, as may be gathered from the following extract from his commission : "Know you, that reposing trust and confidence in your courage, loyalty, fidelity, discretion, and ability, and under, and in virtue of the authority in me vested, I have nomi- nated and appointed, and, by these presents, do nominate and appoint you, the said John Stoughton Dennis, to be my Lieutenant and a Conservator of the Peace in and for the North-West Territories, and do hereby authorize and 36 i " W»iw »«'^^»v-v-....-.|v- HISTORV OF MANITOBA. 371 t as Scouts on a generally attributed to Stuttsman, Ihe Postsmaster of Pem- bina, whq was a rabid Annexationist and a great friend of Kiel's. On the 10th of December the Hag of the Provisional Government was unfurled over Fort Garry in place of the Hudson's Bay Company's Ihig. This new ilag was the I'rench Fteiir de lis on a white ground to which the Shamrock was afterwards added. AVith reference to this flag, Archbishop Tache in his evidence before the Select Committee of Parlia- ment on the North-West Territory, 18th April, 1874, said : " There was no British Hag used in the country for some time jirevious to the movement. "When the Hudson's Bay Company did use a Hag, it was not the liritish ilag proper, it was a ' Union Jack,' with the letters ' H. B. C For two years, probably, previous to the movements, there was no British ilag hoisted in the country, except the Hag of Dr. ■Schultz, a ' Union Jack,' which had the word ' Canada ' upon it, and it was considered a party flag. Mr. Kiel considered that if one man in the country had a right to raise a Hag of his own, the same light extended to other men. The flag used by the Provisional Government was the French flag with the ' Fleurde /t.s',' to which was afterwards added the Sham- rock, so there was never any such thing as taking down the British Hag at all, about which so much has been said. On account of the letters ' II. B. C on the Hag, it was considered the ilag of the Company. It used to be the practice to fly this Hag on Sundays, but for some months before the troubles this practice had ceased, and as far as I know this Hag was not hoisted at all for some months Schultz's Hag was, as I understand, hoisted in opposition to the Hudson's Bay Company." The hoisting of the rebel Hag by Kiel gave great offence throughout Canada, and his real design began to be suspected, — which w^as plainly absolute Indei endence or annexation to the United States. Kiel's position now seemed secure. He had in close confinement a body of men who, though few in number, he had feared very much ; by misre- l>l il^^^^9 372 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. presentation be had got rid of Colonel IJcnais and Hon. Mr. Macdougall, and he now turned his attention to the admin- istration of affairs. John Bruce retired from the Presidency, which Kiel assumed ; O'Donohue was continued in his office of Treasurer; Lepine was made Adjutant-General and Ban- natyne was given charge of the l^ost-Office Department. Councillors were appointed who were in daily session, and a large stock of trading and other goods belonging to Dr. Schultz was taken possession of, under a formal edict of con- fiscation passed by the " Council." Guards were continued in the village of Winnipeg, but, apparently fearing the slum- bering feeling of the English natives — or, perhaps, still hoping to gain them over to the support of his Government — Riel did not interfere at this time with the English Parishes. Strong efforts were made also at this time to get the neigh- boring Indians to join the insurgents, but this totally failed, principally because the foresight of Mr. Macdougall had caused hi .n to authorize Joseph Monkman, an English Half- breed of great influence among the tribes, to visit their camps, explain the position, and urge them to remain loyal to the Queen. This task Monkman so faithfully performed that not one f^lngle Indian joined Kiel's standard. Eiel was now at the head of a Government and began to feel the nt^ed of an organ in vhich to expound his views, and on the 22nd of December, purchased from Mr. ^Y. Caldwell, the proprietor. The Red River Pioneer, a journal which had hitherto been published in the interests of the Hudson's Bay Company. Of course Riel needed funds with which to make this purchase, and on the same afternoon he seized a sufficient sum from the Accountant of the Hudson's Bay Company. On Christmas Day John Bruce retired from the Presidency, but still remained a member of the Council. On the twenty- sixth Vicar-General ThibauU. arrived at the Fort, the other Commissioner from Canada, Colonel DeSalaberry, having decided to remain a few^ days at Pembina ; and on the twenty- seventh Mr. Donald A. Smith, Special Commissioner, reached HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 373 -the Fort, having left his papers at Pembina until he was sure of what kind of a reception he would meet with. His reception does not appear to have been an enthusiastic one, judging from his report to the Secretary of State for the Provinces, dated 12th April, 1870. He says : " The gate of the Fort we found open, but guarded by several armed men, who, on my desiring to be shown to Governor MacTavish's house, requested me to wait till they could communicate with their Chief. In a short time Mr. Louis Riel appeared. I arinounced my name ; he said he had heard of my arrival at Pembina, and was about to send oft' a party to bring me in. I then accompanied him to a room occupied by ten or twelve men, whom he introduced to me as members of the ' Provisional Government.' He requested to know the pur port of my visit, to which I replied in substance that I was connected with the Hudson's Bay Company, but also held a Commission from the Canadian Government to the people of Red River, and would be prepared to produce my credentials so soon as they, the people, were willing to receive me. I was then asked to take an oath not to attempt to leave the Fort that night, nor to upset this government, legally esta- blished. This request I peremptorily refused to comply with, but said that, being very tired, I had no desire to go outside the gate that night, and promised to take no imme- diate steps forcibly to upset the so called ' Provisional Government,' * legal or illegal, as it might be,' without first announcing my intention to do so . Mr. Riel taking exception to the word illegal, while I insisted on retaining it. Mr. O'L'onohue, to get over the difRculty, remarked ' That is a.s he (meaning myself) understands it,' to whioh I rejoined, ' Precisely so '. The above explanation, I am more particular in giving, as it has been reported that I at once acknowledged the Provisional Government to bo legal, Neither then nor afterwards did I do so. I took up my quarters in one of the houses occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company's Officers, and from that date until towards the close of February, was ^ 37t HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ■.n Tirtually a prisoner within the Fort, although with per- mission to go outside the walls for exercise, accompanied by two armed guard", a privilege of which I never availed myself. The state of matters at this time in and around Fort Garry, was most unsatisfactory and truly humiliating. Upwards of sixty British subjects were held in close confine- ment as ' political prisoners ; ' security for persons or pro- perty, there was none ; the Fort, w4th its large supplies of ammunition, provisions, and stores of all kinds, was in the^ possession of a few hundred French Half-breeds, whose leaders had declared their determination to use every effort for the purpose of annexing the Territory to the United States ; and the Grovernor and Council of Assiniboia were powerless to enforce the law." So closed the year, darkly enough for the solitary little- settlement in the wilderness, but ere another year elapsed it was to experience great changes and the foundations be laid for that marvellous growth which has characterized it for the past ten years, and w^hich is fast making it one of the most flourishing portions of the Dominion. ^y^j»iiiW'^'wtiji^>**^' 't'.*»''r^'>,-V'^-y:"'> (."flff/'M HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 375 with per- ipanied by er availed id around miliating. se confine- s or pro- inplies of as in the^ is, whose ery effort e United )oia were ary little- elapsed it IS be laid I it for the -he most CIIAITER XVIII. Inactivity of juk Canadian CoMMis>iioNi:Rs — Kiel's Official Or(}an — Escape of Prisoneiis— Mass Mket- IN«— Escape of Dr. Sciiultz— The Convention — The second " Provisiqnal Government" fo^imkd — Appointment of Deleikites to Canada — The IJising AT Kildonan — Captutieofthe Portage Detachment — The first Blood Spilled — Major Boulton con- demned to Death— M. Smith electioneers for Eiel — Dr. Schultz' 500 mile tramp on snow-shoes. The first event of importance which occurred in the settle- ment in the year 1870 was the arrival of Colonel DeSalaberry at Fort Garry on the 5th January ; but even then, though all the Commissioners had arrived, no steps were taken to farther the object of their mission. Mr. Smith in his report says : " On the 6th January, I saw Mr. Eiel, and soon come to the conclusion that no good could arise from entering into any negotiations with his ' Council,' even were we to admit their authority, which I was not prepared to do ; " the Com- missioner, therefore, contented himself with biding his time to get an opportunity to address the people, and meanwhile, as Mr. Smith says, they " had frequent visits in t' Fort from some of the most influential and most reliable n in the settlement, who gladly made known to tht ^jeoplo generally, the liberal intentions of the Canadian Gov ;ment, and in consequence one after another of Riefs C< mcillors seceded from him, and being joined by their frie] - and by many of their compatriots and co-religionists who had throughout remained aloof from the insurgents, they determined no longer to submit to his dictation." This took some days to accomplish, and it is noticeable that The New Nation, the official organ of the Provisional Gov vument, 376 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. raado no nu'iition of Mr. Smith as a Conimi.ssioner, but mere]}'' suid " 1). A. Smith, iLaq , General Mananer for the Honorable Hudson's Ijay Company in Canada, arrived at Fort Garry last week. He comes to assist Governor MacTavish during- his illness in the management of the Company's aftairs." AVith reference to this paper, T/te JVeir Nnfio/i, the first Jiumber of which appeared on the seventh of January, 1870, we would state that it was edited by an American named Ivobinson, and strongly advocated Annexation to the United States PS the ultimate destiny of the Red River Territory. In the leading article headed " Our Policy," which appeared in the first number, the aim and object of the paper is thus clearly stated ; " Something as to our policy will })e expected from us in this number, and we proceed briefly to define our position. In common with the majority of this settle- ment we regard the Hudson's Bay Company's Government as obsolete, and never to be resuscitated. The Dominion Government by its criminal blunders and gross injustice to this i)eople have for ever alienated them , a)id by their for- feiture of all right to our r.^spcct, will prevent us in future frorr. either seeking or permitting its protection. The Imperial Government w^e consider to bo too far distant to intelligently administer our affairs. Th'3 question arises, then, what form of Government is best adopted for the development of this country? And we reply, unhesitatingly, that the United States Republic offers us to day that system of Government which would bett promote order and progress in our midst, and open up rapidly a country of magnificent resources. But in our present dependent position, we cannot obtain what we need in that direction, and hence we will hold it to be our duty to advocate Independence for th'-; people of Red River as a present cure for public ills. Our annexation to the States will follow in time and bring with it the advantages this land so mueli recjuires." This tone w^as continued until the return of Bishop Tachc to the HISTORY OF MANITOBA, 877 oner, hut er for the irrivL'd at lacTavisli ompany's the first ary, 1870, .11 named le United litory. Ill appeared n- is thus expected to define is settle- /ernment )oniinion iistice to their ibr- in luture m. The istant to n arises, for the tatingly, t system progress ^•niiicent e cannot we \vill for th'i s. Our ns" with his tone to the colony, when the paper was suspended for two weeks, and on its reappearance, under new management, it was much more temperate in its style, and even tried to be loyal— but made rather a poor attempt at it. On this same seventh of January, arrangcniients were made for the return to Red River of liishop Tache, who was ill Rome attending the G^lcumenical Council. When it was known in Ottawa that the troubles in the settlement were likely to prove of a serious nature, it was felt by the members of the Government that the Bishop was the one man who had most influence over the French Half-breeds, amongst whom he had labored most faithfully for over twenty years, and an enquiry was made by the Hon. Mr. Langevin, Minister of Public Works, through his brother, the Bishop of Rimouski, who was also in Rome, to know whether Bishop Tache would be willing to return. To this enquiry His Grace replied in the affirmative, and on the seventh a tele- gram was sent from Ottawa gladly accepting '; services, and the Bishop left Rome as speedily as possible. On the ninth of January a number of the prisoners who had been captured at Dr. Schultz's house escaped from the Hudson's Bay prison, which was outside of the Fort Garry walls. Amongst these were Thomas Scott, Charles Mair and "W. T. Hymaii. Although the night was intensely cold and stormy, Scoii and Mair succeeded in making good their escape to Portage la Prairie, but Hyman lost his way, and, wandering on until his feet were frozen, took refuge in a house whose owners informed Riel, and he was speedily recaptured and brought back to the more secure prison inside the Fort Garry walls, where Dr Schultz end others were confined. Seven of those who attomx)ted to escape were r'^cai)tured. To return to Mr. Smith : After he had been nearly three weeks in Fort Garry, Riel approached him on the subject of his mission, and requesti.'d to see his Commission, as he want- ed to see whether he had authority to oiler or accept any 378 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. teims from the French iralf-br('e(ls.=yf Mr. Smiili iiifoimed him that his Commission had btvii lelt at Pombina. but oli'ered to send a I'riend for it and other papers, provided he was given an opportunity of speaking to the people. To this Riel consented, and the messenger was despatched ; but Kiel endeavored to get possef^sion o!' the papers before they reach- ed Mr. Smith, who was kept a close prisoner, and not allowed to speak to any one while his messenger was away for his pai>ers. On ^he arrival of th*' papers it was, after some dilTiculty, agreed that a public meeting should be held on the nineteenth, at which the papers should be produced and read. At the hour appointed upwards of one thousand persons had assembled, and, as there was no building large fuough to accommodate them, the meeting was held in the open air, and lasted five hours, although the thermometer was twenty degrees below zero. A large proportion of the audience were composed of English Half-breeds who came in the belief that the Commissioners would at once insist on hoisting the British flag, and the release of the prisoners, whose close and crowded confinement was already inducing sickness and disease amongst them. In this hope, however, they were disappointed, hud the time of the meeting was mostly occu- pied by frivolous objections raised by Riel and the reading of a portion of the documents. With regard to the hoisting the iiag, Mr. Smith says : " At the commencement of the meet- ing I requested the Chairman and those near him to begin by insisting that all arms should be laid down, and that the iiag then Hying {F/eur-de-l is and Shamrock) should be replaced by the British ensign . This they thought would come better at an after-stage ; but the opportunity of doing so now lost, never recurred." Mr. Smith neglects to state why he him- self did not renew the demand for the hoisting of the British iiag and the release of the prisoners. The reading of the • Compiled from Hon. D. A. Smith's Report. HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 37* papers, Queen's rroclamation, iS:c., not beinn- completcc! before night set in, the nriv?eting was adjourned until noon the next day, when even a larger number was present than on the previous day. On the documents all being read, Kiel moved, seconded by Mr. Hannatyne, "That twenty repre- sentatives shall be elected by the Engiish population of Red River, to meet twenty other representatives of the French population, on Tuesday, the 25th inst , at noon, in the Court House, with the objeci of considering the subject of Mr. Smith's Commission, and to decide v/hat would be best for the welfare of the country." After some slight objection to the motion as implying a doubt of Mr. ^Smith's Commission, the motion was carried. Many of those who had attended the meeting were puzzled at the Commissioners not insist- ing on an answer from Riel and his Council, as they alone represented the insurgent element ; and many thought they saw in Riel's proposition — seconded as it was by Governor MacTavish's brother-in law (Bannatyne) — only a desire to gain time, and win over the English Half-breeds if possible. Riel's attention was momentarily diverted from the pro- IX)sed meeting of the convention by the escape from prison, on the night of Sunday, 23rd, of Dr. Schultz, the man of all his political prisoners v/hom he most cordially hated, and whose liberty he most feared. A short time after the cap- ture of the Doctor and his party, so great was Riel's fear of his making a dash on the guards with the rest of the prison- ers, that he ordered Dr. Schultz to be placed in solitary oon-^ finement, and strongly guarded. The prisoners had all waited through weeks of weary confinement for the arrival of the Commissioners, believing that their first act would be the request for the liberty of British subjects confined with- out cause ; and when the mass meeting was held under th(^ very walls of this prison, without the slightest indication of interest ou the part of the Commissioners for their release, all hopes ceased, and Dr. Schultz — who had for some time suspected, from the whispering of the guard.^, that the fate 380 HISrORV OF MANITOBA. afterwards raetod out to Scott was determined upon lor him — resolved to attempt escape. J:)unday nig-ht heiii'jf intensely cold, with drifting siiow, was chosen as likely to enable him to elude pursuit if onct* his prison could be breached. A small s'imlet and penknife — which had been conveyed to him by a \sty stop, and, with a malediction on the whole of them, made an example of a much respected Half-breed, named William Hallett, by iron- I ffippWW'WMiK' HISTORY OF MANITOBA. til 111 ibr him • intensely to enable eaihed. A nveyed to 11 y secret- hours of ufficiently > robe b<»(l, iner court S injuring' icy path arry wall, dilliculty uter wall, to be re- ift, formed from his •s through ed settle - :ept Kiel's 3 showed were al- vho safely 3out day- of of Mr. pe o^ his of hcrse- and, after falo robe, )ther pri- Schultz's -tisfactioii d, with a aple of a :, by iron- ing him, hand and foot, and placing him in the part of the prison from Avhich Dr. I^^chultz had escaped. The Nevr Nation in mentioning- the escape, says : " It appears the Doctor was conUned in an upper room of oneof the buildinus at the Fort, closely attended by a uuard. On tl.*e evening in question he requested the u'uard to retire from the room whilst he chanued his clothes. The y-uard beinu- gone (he Doctor cut his robe into strips, and having by some means procuied a large gimlet which ho inserted in the; wall below the window sill, he fastened the line to it and let himself down to the ground. Two strange cutters were seen about the Fort late in the night, which led to the supposition that his escape was effected with the knowledge of some outside parties. Be this as it may, certain it is that the redoubtable Doctor is once more «'njoying his daily rations, without having his potatoes probed by a bayonet, and is permitted the luxury of a clean shirt-collar without the ceremony of an examination for letters in cipher. " The Convention of English and French delegates met in Fort Garry Court House on 25th January, and remained in session, with an adjournment of two days, until 10th February. No business w^as transacted on the first day on account of the absence of three of the French members, but on the second all delegates were present, and the election of officers took place.=^ Judge Black was unanimously called Thfi following is a lid of the members of the Convention : — FnitNcn Rephesicntatives. fM. Tbibert. St. Paul's \ Alex. Pnjfce. ( Maquer Birston. ot. Francois Aavter.. ^ „• .> 7 „ ' ( I'lerre roitrns. St-Cbarle, {^f^o'S, f W. B. O'Donohuf. 8' ""»"«= L'S™. \ Louis IScLniid". Ex(ii,i8:i Rkphkskntativks. St. Peter's \ ^^I" "s!i°J=^'^°^' { ibos bpence. w» r>i„.„„ «'= f Thomas Bunn. bt. Clements \ »,..„ M^v^^r.;^ ( Alex. McKenzio, rJud^e Black. St. Andrew's \ D. Gunn, Sr. ( Alfred Boyd. St. Paul's Dr. Bird. L-;i,i„„„„ fJohuFrazer. ^'^^^^^^ I Jno. Sutherland. ,^ISih- .%. s^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) # .'^Z <■ ^ :/ /. 1.0 I.I 1^ IIIII2.2 li U 2.0 1.8 1.25 ,.4 |..6 < 6" »» V z Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTEk.N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4501 ^ 3S2 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ■Tff! ^ '•t i III" ll"' 1 •) i' if fi: i ! I' to the Chair, and Messrs. W. Coldwell and Louis Schmidt appointed Secretaries ; Messrs. Ix)uis Kiel and James Ross agreeing to act as interpreters. On the third day a Com- mittee, consisting of Messrs. Thomas Bunn, James Ross, Dr. Bird, Louis Riel, Louis Schmidt, and Charles Nolin, was appointed to draft a " Bill of Rights," which was to be submitted to Mr. Smith, he having agreed to examine it, and fetate how far, in his opinion, ihe Government of Canada would be disposed to grant the demands made. The Com- mittee reported the Bill of Rights on the 29th, and it was taken up, clause by clause, and discussed with great elabo- rateness until the 5th Feb., when it was finally adopted, and the Convention adjourned until one o'clock on Monday, *7th, when Mr. Smith was expected to give his answers to the demands of the Bill, the Secretaries having been instructed to furnish him with a copy by eleven o'clock on Monday morning. At the time appointed Mr. Smith gave his reply to the " Bill of Rights " and concluded by inviting delegates to go to Ottawa, and consult with the Government. Ilis speech, as reported in the Neiv Nation, concluded as follows : *' I have now —on the part of the Dominion Government and as authorized by them — to invite the appointment by the residents of Red River, to meet and confer with them at Ottawa, of a delegation of two or more of the residents of Red Li3t of the Membera of the Conyeatiun— Continue i. French RtruKSK.NTATivKS. «♦ viA^} i Louis Rill ^*-V"**^ •• 1 A. Besuchemin. C P. faronteau. St. Norbcrt i V. Larouche. ( B. Towron. D .:„♦«, <■««„»/.» f Louis Lncerte. Po.ntetoui.ee |p Delorn.e. y^oL. n ,:-♦ f Fra- Nolin. '0*''P«'°* Ic. Nolin. Pi A. Orouette Geo. Kiyne. E.NGLISH RePRESK.NTATIVES. St. John's James Roes. «'■•"-■ iKti-Ji'^i. '"•^'"1"? {Tu:&L St. Mary's K. McKencie. St. Margaret's W. GuaimiD^s. ^» > --I. f Geo. Guna. ct. Anns ■in u..«»«. ( u. opence. Winnipeg Alfred 11. Scott. • ' HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 883 River — as they may think })est — the delegation to confer with the Government and Legislature, and explain the wants and wishes of the Red Hiver people, as well as to discuss and arrange for the representation of the country in Parliament. On the part of the Government I am authorized to offer a very cordial reception to the delegates who may be sent from this country to Canada. I myself feel every confidence that the result will ])e such as will be entirely satisfactory to the people of the North-AVest. It is, 1 know, the dt'sire of the Canadian CJovernment that it should be so." On the eighth the question of sending the delegates was taken up by the Convention ; but it was soon found that this was intended to involve more than at first appeared, for Riel, Ross, O'Donohue and others urged that it was neces- sary to recognize and re-organize the Provisional Govern- ment before the delegates were appointed. This was rather more than the English delegates had bargained for, and they contended that they had not the power to vote on that ques- tion without first consulting their constituents, holding that the Hudson's Bay Company was the only legal Government in the country until the transfer had been made. A long and animated debate ensued, and two of the delegates, Messrs. Sutherland and Fraser, withdrew to consult with Governor MacTavish. On re-entering the Convention, Mr. Sutherland said : " In order to clear away my own doubts, I went with Mr. Fraser to see Governor MacTavish I asked his opinion as to the advisability of forming a Provisional Government. He replied, ' Form a Government for God's sake, and restore peace and order in the settlement.' " This reply of the Governor's had considerable influence on the English delegates and, after some further debate, it was agreed to appoint a Committee " to discuss and decide on the basis and details of the Provisional Government which we have agreed is to be formed for Rupert's Land and the North West Territory." This Committee reported at the evening session of the ninth, recommending a Council of i ' ; it ■■ t' 884 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. twenty-four members, twelve French and twelve English, and suggesting the names of candidates for all the officers except President. This was afterwards filled up by the nomination of Kiel, and after some discussion the report was adopted. The following is a list of the officers so elected : Pkksident Louis Rich JiDr.B OF ScruKME CoL'iiT Janics Rosp. SiiBRiFF Henry McKennj. CoRONKR Or. Bird. Postmastsr-Gbskhal. A. 0. B. Bannatjno. „ f John &'utherland. Collectors of Ci-stoms j ^^^^^ y^,^,^^ Secretary ok Statk Thomas Biinn. Assistant-Skcretary of State Louis Schmidt. Secretauy of the Treasury W. B. O'Uonohue. The New Nation in announcing those elections, says ; " The confirmation of Louis Riel as President of the Provi- sional Government of Rupert's Land by the Convention, was announced amid salvos of artillery from the Fort, and the cheers of the delegates. The town welcomed the announce- ment by a grand display of fireworks and the general and continued discharge of small arms. The firing and cheering were prolonged until late in the night, everyone joining in the general enthusiasm. As the result of the amicable union of all parties upon one common platform, a general amnesty to political prisoners will shortly be proclaimed, the soldiers remanded to their homes to await orders, and everything be placed upon a peace footing. Vive la Ripublique.'' After the adoption of the report appointing officers of the Provisional Government, Riel ordered that Governor MacTavish, Dr. Cowan and Mr. Bannatyne, who had been prisoners (?) should be given full liberty and promised that all the prisoners should shortly be released. On the tenth a ballot was taken for delegates to Canada, and resulted in the election of Rev. M. Richot, Judge Black and Alfred H. Scott, the only objection being to the latter, as it was urged that at least one Half-breed should be in the delegation. In dismissing the Convention, Riel made a characteristic speech, 'I ii HISTORY OF MANITOBA 386 in concluding which he said : " The first Provisional Govern- ment assumes the full responsibility for all its acts. As to the prisoners, I not only repeat to you the assurance I gave yesterday, but will at once state that all the prisoners are to be released — some in one way and some in another. A few will have to leave the country, as men considered dangerous to the public peace, if left here •\t large. But the hardships in their case will not be very great as they are single men. One other^ William Hallett, will be released, after giving full guarantees. In respect to Dr. Schultz, the position is this — he is exiled forever, and if found in the country, is liable to be shot. All his property, also, is confiscated. But here again, I would remind the Convention that the first Provisional Government assumes all the responsibility of these acts. For the support of the present Government I would further say that it is at least desirable— and 1 should request it — that if anyone sees Schultz in the country, he should report it. Mr. A. Lepine will receive orders to administer the oath of allegiance to the prisoners who are to be released, as he is in charge of the Fort. As for Schultz, as I said, his goods are confiscated ; and in this way some of those to whom he is indebted will be provided for." Having accomplished his purpose of getting the endorse- ment of the English Half-breeds to his Provisional Govern- ment, Kiel was not in a hurry to keep his promise with regard to releasing the prisoners, although a few of them were given their liberty. This delay, and the harsh measures adopted towards Dr. Schultz, made the people of the English Parishes begin to fear that Kiel did not mean to keep faith with them, and that more oppressive measures might be adopted towards the remaining prisoners, many of whom were known to be suffering from scurvy and other diseases, caused by the fetid air of the crowded rooms in which they were penned, with- out fire, although the winter was very severe, and the ther mometer frequently ranged from twenty to thirty degrees below zero. The sufferings of these unfortunate men during^ Y in il if :'(( % I i !: l' M i ' 1 '' ' 1 i il rl' i u 1 , t>^i ^ 386 HISTORY OF MANITOBA, their confinement were most intense, and many of them con- tracted diseases from which they never fully recovered.* As time passed, without Kiel fulfilling his promise to release the prisoners or any effort being made by the Commissioners to effect that purpose, a deep feeling of indignation pervaded the country, which culminated in the rising of about eighty men at Portage la Prairie, among whom were Thomas Scott and Charles Mair — both escaped prisoners —who came down to join a force raised by Dr. Schultz, with the object of releas- ing the prisoners by force. On the 15th February this force arrived at the parish of Kildonan, where they were joined by about six hundred men, under Dr. Schultz. The church, school, and manse of that parish being taken possession of, the leaders and principal men from each party met, and decided at daybreak to send a messenger to Kiel, demanding the instant release of the prisoners, or to prepare for attack. This expedition of action was thjught desirable, because the forct, though large, was hurriedly raised and imperfectly armed, and a sudden dash, while their number and arma- ment was unknown to the French, was thought the most likely to succeed. The despatch of the messenger was fo)« lowed by the immediate release by Kiel of the remainder of the prisoners, who were told to say that Kiel was anxious for peace and good will ; and now that he had released the * To give some idea of how they were treated, we make eome extracts from a letter which appeared in the Chatham Banner from Mr. G. D. McVicar, one of the piisoners taken in Dr. Schultz's house. He says : — " On arrivini; at Fort Garry we were received by volleys of musketry, and imprisoned in three rooms. In theso rooms we were packed so close that we had to break the windows to keep from fiuffocatioa. In one there was a bed and table, and in that room the pour fellows found themselves in the morning in a position something like the following:— Seven on the bed, two uuder it, two under the table, and the remaining space literally packed with human beings. One man slept all night hanging on the bed-post. We were here fed on pemican and tea. • * • After this thirty-eight rote8tation8 of friendship, could now do nothing more than continue to eat the Hudson's Bay Company's pemican and drink their rum — a cost to that Company which was thought to serve them right. Messages were also received from Mr. Donald A. Smith, and others, advising the force to disperse, as their purpose was accomplished, and, accordingly, the force under Dr. Schultz departed to their homes to the northward, while the smaller party, under Major Boulton, prepared to return to Portage la Prairie. Though counselled to beware of treachery on Kiel's part, they did not leave for home until the following morning, 17th, by which time Kiel had received information that the larger party had gone home, and, as Captain Boulton incautiously took the road which led quite close to Fort Garry, Kiel sent out a body of horsemen, under command of O'Donohue and Lepine, and captured the whole party.* • The names of the captured parties were as follow : — Fhom Portaor la Pil Government Council, Boiilton's life would bo spared, and the prisoners released. Mr. Smith, in his character of Canadian Commissioner, strongly urarod this course, and ultimately the meeting adopted it, and the delegates to the Ctmui'il were subsequently elected. At this same meeting Dr. S'chultz was requested to proci^ed to Canada, if he could, and represent to the people there the real state of affairs, and the coercion which had been used to make them have anything to do with' the Provisional Government. As all the roads leadiuff to Minnesota were jealously guarded by Riel, Dr. Schultz wa.«^ compelled to attempt to reach the head of Lake Superior by traversing the little known country between the head of Lake Winnipeg and Lake Superior. Fortunately he had as com- panion an English Half-breed named Joseph Monkman, who had been commissioned by the Hon. Mr. Macdougall to see the bands of Indians east of the Ked Iliver, and read to them his instructions which thanked them for abstaining from any participation in Riel's movement, and assured them that though he was not in power, the opening of Spring would see the Queen's power reinstated again. Dr. Schultz left the mouth of the Red River with this faithful and intelligent guide on the 21st February, and, to elude the parties on snow-shoes which were sent by Riel to intercept him, struck across the frozen end of lake Winnipeg to the mouth of the river of that name, where, alternately following the course of that stream, or deviating to some distance, they reached its head waters. From here they struck across over Whitefiih Bay, on the Lake of the Woods, to an arm of Rainy Lake whence they turned more eastward, following Rainy Lake, and then to the Southwest, over the then un- frequented and unknown country of Northern Minnesota to the head of Lake Superior. Where Indian Camps could be found they were visited, and Riel and Queen's authority gravely and sensibly discussed. In not one case had the loyalty of the Indians been affected, and they all seemed to feel that the Great Mother's arm was long and strong, and ii m tl'f! f! i ; W'- HI !■ J HISTORT OF MANITOBA. that Riel and his Government would, to use their own expression, " Pass away like the mist before the sun." Though the travellers had little to give them in return, they invariably shared their own scanty supply, and often gave a guide from camp to camp. Over weary miles of snow-covered lakes .' over the water-shed between Rainy Lake and the Lakes of the Laurontian Chain; ovor the heii^ht of land between Kainy Lak«* and Lake Superior ; through pine forests and juniper swamps, these travellers made their way, turning aside only when^ wind-fallen timber made their cour8<» impossible. Often saved from starvation by the woodcraft of Monkman, their course guided by the compass, or by views taken from the top of some stately Norway pine, they found themselves, after twenty-four weary days of travel, in sight of the blue, unfrozen waters of Lake Superior. They had struck the Lake not far from its head, and in a few hours presented themselves to the astonished craze of the people of the then embryo village of Duluth, gaunt with hunger, worn with fatigue, their clothes in tatters, and their eyes blinded with the glare of the glittering sun of March. There they heard for the first time of the terrible event which had occurred since their leaving ; that, while Kiel had released Major Boulton when the English sent their delegates to his Council, yet he held the others with even a tighter grip, and that, he had, for some fancied insult, placed Thomas Scott,, ironed hand and foot in the prison from which Dr. Schultz escaped, and, on the fourth of March, led him out to a death as horrible, perhaps, as was ever suflered on this Continent. m HISTORV OP MANITOBA. 393 leir own CHAPTER XIX. The dark crimk of the Uebkllion. The Murder of Thomas Scott.— The Mock " Court Martial." Its SECREl'ARY'ri ACCOUNT OF IT. — Mr. SmIT'*.< ACCOUNT OF HIS EFFORTS TO SAVE ScOTT'S LIFE. — UEV. GEORGB Young's account of how Scott was butchered— Mysterious disappearance of the body. — The Uekjn of Terror. We come now to the one dark crime, the one !oul murder which disfigures the record of the lied River Rebellion, and hands down the name of Louis Riel to posterity as that of a cowardly assassin, who wreaked his private spite and ven- geance on a helpless prisoner, whom he had illegally de- prived of his liberty. The murder of Thomas Scott was a cool, calm, deliberate assassination without even the shadow of the excuse of expediency to palliate its heinousness, and it is a poor compliment to our system of administering law, that the perpetrators of this crime should be at liberty to-day. For the other illegal acts which he committed, Riel had some slight show of justification, inasmuch as he and his followers claimed that Canada had bought the people of Red River like so many sheep, without consulting them in any way or guaranteeing them protection for their lives, liberty and property ; and the amnesty which was subsequently granted by the Imperial Government for these offences, was a tardy acknowledgment that "someone had blundered" in negotiat- ing the transfer of the Hudson's Bay Company's rights in the North-West without consulting in any way the inhabi- tants of that country ; but, for this foul murder of Scott, there is no excuse, no palliation, no justification ; it was simply a wanton, wilful exercise of despotic power, prompt- ed by a spirit of personal revenge and a desire to strike iiiii !| f-!: IIP! «?1 1 V*'hi! II i* 394 HISTOUY OF MANITOBA. terror into the hearts of thosa loyal people in the settlement, who still doubted Kiel's authority to rule, in spite of his " Provisional Government." It must, in fairness and justice, be admitted that a larg-e portion of the storm of wrath and indignation which swept over the Province of Ontario at the perpetration of this crowniiii? crime of the rebellion, owed its origin to the fact that Scott was a Protestant and an Orangeman, while Kiel was a Catholic, and his chief adviser O'Donohue, an avowed Fenian ; but, althouo-h party-political and religious feeling had something to do with the excitement, still there was a very general thrill of honest indignation at the cold blooded murder of a man whose only crime was that he was loyal to his Queen and country and would not acknowledge the authority of an usurper. Although the ruse of Kiel in sparing the life of Major Boulton on the condition that the English parishes returned delegates to the Provisional Government, had been success- ful, and the efforts and influence of Commissioner Smith had the effect of getting delegates elected, still Kiel felt that the English element did not give him a hearty and cordial sup- port, and finding that he was unable to " rule by love " he seems to have determined to " rule by fear." From the time of the first arrests he had been in the habit of threat- ening to execute some of the prisoners, unless they took the " "Oath ofTCllegiance to theProvisional Government ; and after the rising at Kildonan he seems to have made up Ms mind that " an example must be made " to deter the English from any further attempts to dispute his authority. Having spared Major Boulton he cast about for a suitable victim, and soon found one in the person of Thomas Scott, a young- Canadian who had taken part in the defence of Dr. Schultz's house, and been captured at that time but made his escape, and was again made prisoner when Major Boulton's party was taken on its return from Kildonan. On neither occasion was Scott taken " in arras." Scott was one of the Canadians ''J'^ttmrn^-'-^ir^ : ii HISTORY OF MAVITOBA. 295 u ttlomeiit, of his d justice, rath and ntario at ebellion, tant and bis chief ilthou^h to do thrill of )f a man leen and y of an of Major returned success- mith had that the dial sup- ove " he 'rom the )f threat- took the ■ md after "is mind English Having- "' rictim, I young- chultz's ! escape, I's party jccasion nadians in Dr. Schultz's house, but he did not surrender with them ; for when Riol's troops surrounded the house on the evening before the surrender, Scott and Hallett went up to the Fort, unarmed, to ask Kiel to allow the women and children, who were suffering considerable hardships, to be removed from the house. Instead of granting the request Kiel arrested the messengers and put them in prison, from which Scott subsequently escaped, never having taken any oath to the Provisional Government. On the second occasion of his arrest, — on the return of the Portage party from Kil- donan — all the arms were stowed away in the bottom of the sleigh, so that none of the party could be said to be " in arms," for although they had arms with them they were not available for use. Kiel owed Scott a grudge because the latter had once put him out of a saloon in Winnipeg, when Riel was drunk and making some insulting remarks, and also because he was one of a party which stopped at the house of one Coutu, which Riel was known to be in the habit of frequenting, and enquired for him, on the night that the Portage party came down to Kildonan. Besides this Scott was known to be enthusiastically loyal and not only refused himself to recognize Riel's assumed authority, but encouraged others to do so also, therefore he was a fit subject for Riel to wreak his vengeance on. Having determined on his victim Riel ordered a " Court Martial " to try Scott, and he was accordingly tried oil "the evening of March third. The presiding officer of the Court was Adjutant-General Lupine, and the other members of the Court were G. Ritchot. Andre Nault, Elz6ar Goulet, Elzear Lajemoniero, Baptiste L6pine and Joseph Delorme. At this so called trial, Riel was witness, prosecutor and Judge ; and the pretended evidence was taken before Scott was brought into the Court. The proceedings wore in French, a language which Scott did not understand ; and he was not allowed an opportunity to make any defence. He was accused of having taken up arms against the Provisional Government, after having 1 ; i nm 398 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ,»■ r taken an oath not to do so, — which oath he never took — and also of striking one of the Captains. The story of the mock trial was so clearly told by Joseph Nolin, at the trial of Ambroise Lepine that we cannot do better than reproduce it here. He said : " I was Secretary of the Council ; on the evening of the third of March the meeting was for the pur- pose of trying Scott, to examine what evil he had done I Scott was not present at the examination ; there were some witnesses examined who saw what Scott had done ; Hiel was one, Ed. Turner was another, Joseph Delorrae was another ; I think there were others ; these witnesses were examined by the Captains who composed the Council ; while the witnesses were examined, Scott w^as not present ; the witnesses were sworn by me ; I do not remember what evidence was given ; Scott was accused of having rebelled against the Provisional Government, and of having struck a Captain of the Guard ; there was only one who made a speech, viz., Kiel ; I remember he spoke against Scott ; after the evidence Scott was brought before the Council ; Kiel asked me to read to Scott what had passed before the Council ; I did not read anything, as I had taken only notes ; then Kiel explained to Scott himself the evidence which had been given before the Council, in English ; he was then condem- ned to die ; Riel told Scott before he left the room that he must die ; after Riel had explained the evidence to Scott, he asked him if he had anything to say ; Scott said something ; I do ilot know what ; Riel did not ask him if he had any witnesses ; no written accusation or charge w^as given to Scott ; the taking and giving of evidence, the bringing in of Scott, the speech of Riel, his explanations to Scott, the decision of the Council and con- demnation were all done within two or three hours ; the Council commenced its sittings between seven and eight o'clock, and concluded their labors at one sitting ; I took some notes in pencil of the proceedings ; the notes in pencil I refer to were notes of the evidence ; the next day I tran- Pl ')^.^- HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 39T ok — and he mock trial of oduce it on the he pur- 1 done.* ?re some le; Uiel me was es were ; while nt ; the r what rebelled struck a made a tt ; after il ; Eiel 'ouncil ; i ; then ad been ondem- hat he ' Scott, 't said 3t ask ion or n,5 of :el, his i con- 3; the eight took pencil tran- scribed these notes ; I gave them to the Adjutant-General ; the first motion for death was moved by Gr. llichot, seconded by Andre Nault ; Goulet and Delorme voted yea, along with the mover and seconder ; Lajemoniere voted that it would be better to exile him ; Baptistc Lepine voted nay ; Ambroise (the prisoner) said, ' The majority want his death, and he shall be put to death ; ' Eiel explained to Scott his sentence ; Eiel asked Scott if he had no request to make, if he wanted to send for a minister ; I do not know what answer Scott made to Eiel ; Eiel said if he wanted a minister, if he was at the Stone Fort he would send for him ; Eiel said he would take his shackles off, and would send him to his room ; he would have pen, ink and paper to write ; he told him the next day he would be shot ; Scott was then taken to his room ; Scott was handcuffed when taken before the Council." Scott was at first incredulous when told by Eiel that he was to be shot at ten o'clock on the following morning ; but, finding that Eiel was in earnest, he sent for the Eev. Geo. Young, the Methodist Minister at Winnipeg, who had fre- quently visited the prisoners in the jail, and that gentleman, together with Commissioner Smith and others, endeavored to turn Eiel from his foul plan, but without avail, the latter declaring boldly that Scott must die. Mr. Smith in hia report says that he first heard of the intention to shoot Scott from the Eev. Mr. Young, about eleven o'clock on the morn- ing of the fourth of March, and that he requested that gentlemarrto intercede with- Eiel while he did the same with Father Lestanc. That Mr. Young being unsuccessful, he saw Eiel personally. The following is his own account of the interview : " Governor MacTavish was greatly shocked on being informed of Eiel's purpose, and joined in reprobating it. Pero Lestanc consented to accompany me, and we called on Eiel. When we entered, he asked me, * What news from Canada ? ' The mail had arrived the preceding day, and I replied, ' Only the intelligence that Bishop Tache will be ^here very soon.'' I then mentioned \m 11 '(■■■, •i]r !i,. 398 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. what I had heard regarding Scott, and before Kiel answered, Pere Lestanc interposed in French words, meaning * Is there no way of escape ? ' Kiel replied to him, * My Eev. Pere, you know exactly how the matter stands ; ' then turning to me, he said, ' I will explain to you ' — speaking at first in English, shortly after using the French, remarking to me — ' You understand that language.' He said in substance that Scott had throughout been a most troublesome character, had been the ringleader in a rising against Mr. Snow, w^ho had charge of the party employed by the Canadian Government during the preceding summer in road making ; that he had risen airainst the ' Provisional Grovernment ' in December last, that his life was then spared ; that he escaped, had again been taken in arms, and once more pardoned, — referring no doubt to the promise he had made to me that the lives and liberty of all the prisoners were secured — but that he w^as incorrigible, and quite incapable of appreciating the clemency with which he had been treated ; that he was rough and abusive to the guards, and insulting to him, Mr. Rial ; that liis example had been productive of the very w^orst effects on the other prisoners, who had become insubordinate to such an extent that it was difficult to withhold the guards from retaliating. He further said, ' I sat down with Scott as we are doing now, and asked him truthfully to tell me, as I would not use his statement against him, what he and the Portage party intended to have done with me had they succeeded in cai^turing me, when they surrounded iUoutu's housed' to which he replied, ' We intended to keep you as a hostage for the safety of the prisoners.' I argued with Kiel, And endeavoured to show that some of the circumstances he had mentioned, and especially the last, were very strong reasons to urge why Scott's life should not be sacrificed, and that, if as he represented. Scott was a rash, thoughtless man, whom none cared to have anything to do with, no evil need be apprehended from his example. I pointed out that one great merit claimed for the insurrection was that, so far, it If! It' fi' m 'y^itit^^^^-^s 4H HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 399 mswered, ' Is there I'ere, you ig to me, English, e— ' You hat Scott had been id charge it during lad risen iber last, id again rring no ives and ; he was lemency ugh and iel; that st effects iinate to e guards ith Scott tell me, t he and lad they ■ i^outu's you as a ith Riel, mces he y strong led, and jss man, ril need hat one io far, it had been bloodless, except in one sad instance, which all were willing to look upon as an accident, and implored him not to stain it, to burden it with what would be considered a horrible crime. He exclaimed ' We must make Canada respect us.' I replied, ' She has every proper respect for the people of Red River, and this is shown in her having sent Commissioners to treat with them.' I told him I had seen the prisoners some time back when they commissioned me to say to their friends at the Portage, that they desired peace, and 1 offered to go to them again and reason with them, should that be necessary. On this he said, ' Look here, Mr. Smith, Mr. Scott, the representative, went to see the prisoners at my desire, and on asking them whom they would vote for as Councillor, if they were permitted a choice outside of their own body, Thos. Scott came forward and said, ' My boys, have nothing to do with those Americans.' And when I remarked * This is really a most trifling afl'air, and ought not to have been repeated,' he said ' Do not attempt to prejudice us against the Americans, for although we have not been with them — they are with us, and have been better friends to us than the Canadians.' Much more was said on both sides, but argument, entreaty, and protest alike failed to draw him from his purpose and he closed by saying, ' I have done two good things since I have commenced : I have spared Boulton's life at your instance, and 1 do not regret it, for he is a fine fellow ; I pardoned Gaddy, and he -«howed his gratitude by-escaping out ^f the bastion, but I don't grudge him his miserable life, and now 1 shall shoot Scott.' Lepine, the Adjutant-General, who was President of the Council of Seven, which tried Scott, — and five of whom, Riel told me, ' with the tears streaming from their eyes, condemned him as worthy of death,' a sentence which he had confirmed— now entered, and in answer to Riel, said •He must die.' Riel then requested the Rev. Pere Lestauc to put the people on their knees for prayer as it might do good to the condemned man's soul. Referring to Pere Lestanc ■lii Sli, I' ^ . 5 ^!i..''' ^ ";;'i^ lit ff] 400 HISTORY OF MANITOBA and making a final appeal, unnecessary here to repeat, I retired." Finding that entreaty was in vain, the Rev. Mr. Young applied himself to preparing the mind of the unfor- tunate man to meet his terrible fate. He spent the time ■with Scott, being engaged in constant prayer and religious conversation. Shortly after midday, on the fourth of March, Scott was summoned to execution. He was calm and pre- pared to die. He requested time to bid his fellow-prisoners farewell. This was granted him, and he took final leave of those who had shared in his captivity. Being bound, he was conducted outside of Fort Garry, and made to kneel in the snow a short distance from the walls of the Fort, where he was shot, like a dog, by a party of six, under command of Adjutant-General L6pine, the whole party, it is said on good authority, being drunk at the time. Scott's last words were, '• I am ready," and immediately after, Lepine gave the sig- nal, and the unfortunate man fell, pierced by several bullets He uttered an exclamation as he fell, and, on approaching he body, it was found that life was not extinct. Some one in the crowd spoke up, saying, *' Put him out of his misery, " and one of the party, named Guilmette, discharged a revolver at his head. The body fell forward on the left side, and was soon after put into a rude box and taken into the Fort. There have been a good many sensational reports pub- lished as to the death of Scott, but the following evidence, given by. the Rev. George Young at the trial of- Ambroise Lepine, for the murder of Thomas Scott, tried at Winnipeg at the Court of Queen's Bench, His Honor Chief-Justice Wood presiding, tells the terrible story clearly and plainly without any sensational coloring. Being sworn, he said : " I reside at Winnipeg, and am a minister of the Methodist Church ; in 1869 and 1870 I resided in the same place ; I was in the habit of visiting Fort Garry generally once a week in the months of January, February and March, to see the prisoners ; there were two parties of prisoners ; the first 'ffMif>mi-"'-ir-t,>:- I '1 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 401 were taken at Dr. Schultz's building, and the other party off the prairie — the first party in December, and the other in February ; I knew Thomas Scott ; he was taken in both cases ; these prisoners were in charge of Kiel and certain officers under him, as I understood ; I obtained permission from Kiel first ; for the first few weeks I invariably obtained permission whenever I went ; subsequently I was not re- quired to do this ; I saw a number of others who were said to be in authority, acting as such ; it was said that under Kiel there was an Adjutant-General and several Captains; the prisoner (Lepine) held the office of Adjutant-General ; I very often saw Lupine during my visits ; he seemed to be in possession of power ; Riel was first styled Secretary, and sub- sequently President ; Mr. Bruce was first styled President ; I do not remember having any conversation with Lepine prior to this date ; I remember the 3rd of March ; nothing occur- red till the evening to my knowledge ; on that evening I re- turned home from the country, arriving home about nine o'clock ; soon after a messenger named Turner came from the Fort, informing me that I was required at the Fort ; I asked by whom ; he said by Riel ; he had sent for m?, as one of the prisoners had been sentenced to be shot, and the prisoner had asked me to be sent for ; I went with him, and, on entering the Fort, I went at once to find Riel ; I went to his room, and was told that he was at St. Boniface and would not be back till next morning ; then I went to see Scott ; I found him in -the corner of a room in the building that had been used as a prison ; he was alone and not in irons ; the door was guarded by a number of armed men ; when I visited him the Saturday before, he was in irons ; thi? was on Tues- day evening ; I asked him if it was in accordance with his wish that I was sent for ; he told me it was ; that he had been called before a Council of war that afternoon, and con- demned to die ; he objected to the trial, as it was conducted in a language he did not understand, but was told it made- no diff*erence, he was a bad man and had to die, and was z t: ' -i ( ii; i; , S '.','■ t i, ir 402 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. sentenced to be shot the next day, at 12 o'clock ; he told me he thought thoy were quite bad enough to do it, but he doubted if they dare do it ; I instructed him the proper course for both of us was to act upon the presumption that it would be done ; the first matters attended to wore to give me the address of his mother and brothers, and place in my hands his effects, all of which were forwarded to them after his death ; having done that there was no further talk on the matter ; all further discourse was relating to his spiritual welfare ; I remained with him a considerable portion of the night, and left him for a time, as he wished to write a letter to his mother ; he was furnished with pen and ink and paper for that purpose ; early in the morning I thought to bring some things to bear in his behalf ; first of all, I thought to sec Mr. Ross, who was then called the Chief Justice under that Administration ; he was not at home ; I then proceeded to see Mr. Bannatyne and others for that purpose ; they all seemed to be exceedingly surprised, and gave me an assu- rance that it would not take place ; that it was only to frighten the people ; I deemed it best to converse with Mr. Smith and told him of it ; he had not heard of it before, and did not believe it possible to be done, and engaged to use all his influence to prevent it ; a Roman Catholic priest named Lestanc came in while I was talking to him ; I asked him if he had heard of the sentence ; he said he had ; I asked him if he would intercede with Mr. Riel for him ; Mr. Smith" suggested that I should go and see M?h Riel myself, thinking I should succeed without further trouble ; in case of failure to send him word, and he would proceed at once ; I went and met Mr. Riel in his room, and asked him if it was true that Scott had been sentenced to be shot, and if it was their intention to carry it into effect ; he said he was sentenced by a Council of war, all the members had concurred with one exception, and it would be carried out ; I asked if Scott had been guilty of any great crime to deserve such a sentence, and expostulated with him, but to no effect ; failing in that "I^M-w*^"^-*' ' HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 403 le told me t, but he per course t it would e me the ny hands after his k on the spiritual ion of the ite a letter ind paper to bring lought to ice under proceeded they all I an assu- 8 only to with Mr. efore, and I to use all ?st named :ed him if sked him Ir. Smith , thinking of failure went and true that was their sentenced [ with one Scott had sentence, ig in that I urged that the execution be postponed at least twenty-four hours ; I wished more time ; he had had but a few hours' notice, and could scarcely realize that he was so near death as that ; upon the question of postponement he spoke of calling the Adjutant-General and discussing with him ; in a few moments the Adjutant General — the prisoner here — entered the room ; Kiel stated my request, and I also spoke of it in their presence ; Lepine, the Adjutant-General, very energetically shook his head, arose and left the room ; Kiel told me it was utterly useless to press t. e matter any further, so I returned to the prison and sent a message to Mr. Smith to notify him of my failure ; Mr. Campbell was my messenger ; I remained with Scott then until he was shot, engaged in religious exercises until we were interrupted by the parties entering the room to lead him out to be shot. Goulet and a man named Nault and others, four or possibly five in all, were the parties who led him out ; when they entered the room Scott was very much excited, exclaiming, " This is horrible, '' " This is cold-blooded murder " ; I advised him not to make such remarks, hoping still that the sentence wo«ld not be carried out ; one proceeded at once to tie his hands behind his back ; the others put a cloth around his head ; that was used to blindfold him — a piece of white cotton ; they put it over his forehead ; until he went out he was not shackled ; I requested them to retire for a few minutes, and they yielded ._to my request]^! then engaged in prayer with him; when they came in, he requested permission to say "good-bye" to" the boys, as he called them, and they granted that request also ; in passing out, he went to each door where the prisoners were, and bade them " good-bye " ; Eiel excitedly complained as regarded the delay (vociferating wildly) in the matter ; I explained to him that I had been the cause of the delay ; he spoke in French ; we passed down the stairs, down which I assisted him, as I was afraid he would fall, his arms being tied, and we were directed to the place ; I did not pay any attention to who directed us, I was too much occupied ; he zj . - H! V W' i :!!f m I'. w. 4M HISTORY OF MANITOBA. passed through the gate ; the sleigh-track at the timo was near the walk ; we were halted at some littlo distance from the gate on the sleigh-track ; as I supposed that this would be the place of execution, I had prayers with him there ; after prayers he asked me to draw the blindfold over his eyes, and if he should remain on his knees or stand up ; I told him it would be better to remain on his knees, and I withdrew from him after drawing the blindfold as he had asked me ; just then I met face to face two persons, whom I asked to interfere — one was Goulet and the other was O'Donohue ; I knew they both spoke English ; Goulet said his time had come, and he must die ; O'Donohue said it had gone very far, but did nothing to prevent it ; during the time of this conversation they removed Mr. Scott from that point a short distance east, and in this place he was shot ; the firing party consisted of six persons ; when they were about to fire upon him I turned away, not witnessing the act ; immediately after firing, heard his voice, and returned ; he had fallen forward, the body lying partly on its side ; there was some indication of life — a slight twitching of the shoulder ; some one said " put him out of his misery," when one of the party took a revolver out of the pocket of another of the party, and put it to his head and fired it ; I then, supposing the man to be dead, entered the Fort ; before and after the firing of the pistol I observed that Scott's coat had been pierced ; I took it that the . bullets had passed through his chest and out of his shoulder ; pas- sing within the gate I met Kiel ; I asked for the body, that I might get it interred ; at first he consented, but very soon recalled that consent ; I met Goulet, and he said I had better get a sleigh ; I said I should be glad to do so if I should be allowed ; at that time the body was in the rough box or coffin ; Nault said he objected ; I then came to town and tried to use some parties' influence to get the body deliv- ered up to them ; I was told that if I would get the Bishop of Rupert's Land to guarantee that it would be buried •| ^1W • :?«>». timo was ance from his would lere ; after I eyes, and old him it withdrew sked me ; I asked to onohue ; I time had e very far, 16 of this nt a short ring party fire upon mediately lad fallen was some shoulder ; tvhen one >f another •ed it ; I he Fort ; irved that le . bullets Ider ; pas- body, that very soon lid I had do so if I the rough e to town ody deliv- ;he Bishop be buried BISTORT OP MANITOBA. 405 quietly and without any demonstration, we should have it ; accordingly, next morning the Bishop and myself waited on Kiel for that purpose ; he told us he was very sorry to disap- point us, but the Adjutant-General, who was responsible for this case, had instructed it to be interred in the walls of the Fort, as ho had a right to dispose of the body ; after the Bishop had left I importuned Mr. Kiel to give me the body, as I wished to write to Scott's mother that day and inform her of the interment of her son's body, as it would be some little comfort for her to know that her son's body received Christain interment ; the answer was, as before, he could not interfere with the case ; he seemed to be very much displeased with the remark that he had a mother left to mourn over him." In reply to His Lordship : " I have no personal knowledge who were Kiel's Council ; Nolin, I knew, was Secretary for Mr. Lepine ; I have obtained passes from him from time to time." In reply to Mr. Cornish : " I should think the firing party distant about twenty or thirty feet ; it did not so impress me at the time as being as far as across the hall ; I do not recollect who commanded the firing party ; I noticed a great deal of blood after the firing on the snow, and I heard his voice shout instantly after the firing, but did not recognise any words ; there were two sounds, one like words, and the other like a moan ; this was previous to the discharge of the pistol-shot ; after this the box was closed ; I have no doubt at all of his death." Kiel's vengeance against Scott was not satisfied with the. taking of his life, but extended beyond the grave, and not only did he refuse to give up the body to the Kev Mr. Young for interment, but it is doubtful whether it was ever interred at all, and the final disposition of the body remains a mystery to this day. After the firing the Rev. Mr. Young asked Kiel for the body and he at first consented to give it to him, but afterwards refused, saying that it belonged to the Adjutant-General and would be buried in the Fort. A hole was dug near the house of Dr. Cowan and j I i\ 4M HISTORY OF MAN'ITOBA. k ■ ,1 a box, supposed to contain the body, deposited in it ; but after the arrival of Governor Archibald, the Rev. Mr. Younc^ obtained permission to have the supposed grave opened in order that the bones might be sent to Scott's friends for interment ; he found the box, but there were no remains inside it, and the inference is that tha body was taken out of the box after it had been conveyed to the bastion and sunk in the river, as w^as stated by Cloulet to John Bruce, and as was currently repoi-ted both at the time and after. Certain it is that the body has never been found, and poor Scott's friends have not even the melancholy satisfactian of knowing where his murdered remains lay, and will, probably, ever remain in ignorance of their whereabouts, unless the waters of the Red River or Assiniboine should some day cast them up. It may be well to note here that in January, 1873, Riel and Lepine addressed a letter to Governor Morris, of Mani- toba, giving their version of the troubles of 1869-70, in which the only reference made to this brutal murder of Scott was as follow^s : " The Indians jf the entire country — those below Fort de Pierre and those at the Portage, who were apparently the most excited — seemed ready to threaten the country with one of their attacks. Even the prisoners who were kept at Fort Garry, having had wind of these plottings outside, and bt?ing encouraged by them, were hurried on to acts of extreme violence. Many of them, notably Mr. McLeod and T. Scott, beat their prison gates, and insulted, and went so far as to strike their-gurairds, invitmg their fellow-prisoners also to insult them. Seeing then that a punishment, long deserved and terrible, could alone restrain these excited men, and finding ourselves compelled to avert evils with which we were threatened by the inhabitants of the Portage cons- piring with Indians — in a word to secure the triumph of peace and order which it was our duty to establish through- out the settlement, we had recourse to the full authority of Government." That was all they had to offer in excuse or extenuation of this cowardly and wanton murder. excuse or ^ li iiiii M -Mm ni HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 407 The brutal murder of Scott had, to some oxt«'nt, the eflect desired l)y Kiel ; the Kiiu'lish Half-breeds seem to liavo become convinced that it would be useless to hav«' recourse to force unless the Imperial or Dominion authorities sent a body of troops to restore order ; and those Canadians ^vho had not already left the settle- ment proceeded to do so with as little delay as possible. The Commissioners appear to have become convinced that after this act of wanton violence, their occupation as peace nej^o- tiators was gone, and Mr. Smith saj's in his report : " After this date I held no communication whatsoever with Riel, except in ref<>rence to getting away from the country, which I was not allowed to leave without a pass. 1 felt that under the circumstances it was not desirable that 1 should remain longer at Red River, but it was not until late in the night of the 18th that Riel gave permission for my departure." Every one who could get away seemed to think the settle- ment a good place to get out of, and those who were obliged to remain were compelled per force to give a sullen and dissatisfied consent to the Provisional Government, feeling themselves powerless to resist Riel and his armed followers The lives of the whole settlement were in one man's hands, for although Riel nominally had a Council, he ruled despot- ically, and grave fears were entertained that he would wreak his vengeance on more of the unfortunate prisoners— indeed it was pretty generally understood that otheT. executions were to follow that of Scott, and probably would have, but for the arrival of Bishop Tache, Daring this reign of terror Riel continued to " fare sumptuously every day " on the plundered stores of the Hudson's Bay Company, and other goods which had been " confiscated "' l)y his orders, and drunkenness and debauchery prevailed amongst the " soldiers" in possession of the Fort. 1 i 1 ' :i i ■ "'1 H :•'■,,• I ^m ■ »! ■ I t ■ ■ '*« I ■i' » ilJ'i K i 'I I 408 niSTORY OF MANITOBA. CHAPTER XX. Bishop Taciie's Mission— A series of Mistakes— Meeting OF THE " Provisional " Parliament— The Delegates LEAVE FOR OTTAWA— HoiSTING THE UnION JaCK — Review of Bishop TachIs's action in promising a General Amnesty. We now turn to the mission of Bishop Tache, who, it will be remembered, had consented by telegraph, on the eighth of Janua-y, to return from Rome. The Bishop made his way as speedily as possible to Ottawa, where he received instructions from the Government as to the nature and extent of his mission These instructions may be briefly summarized as being to assure the Half-breeds of the kindly intentions of the Canadian Government, to invite delegates to Ottawa, and to offer amnesty for past offences, as promised in the Governor-General's proclamation of the sixth December.* 0\^' §'» * The following letter from Sir John A. Macdonald clearlj shows the intentions of the Government, and the powers with which it desired to clothe the Bishop: — (Private.) Dbfarthbnt of Justici, Ottawa, Canada, February 16th, 1870. My Dear Lord,— Before you leave Ottawa on your mission of peace, I think it well to reduce to writing the substance of the conversation I had the honor to have with you this morning. I mark this letter " private," in order that it may not be made a public docu- ment, to be called for by Parliament prematurely ; but you are quite at liberty to use it in such a manner as you may think most advantageous. I hope that ere you arrive at Fort Garry, the insurgents, after the explanations that have been entered into by Messrs. Ttiibault, De Salaberry and Smith, wil have laid down their arms, and allowed Governor MacTavish to resume the ad- ministration of public affairs. In such case, by the Act of the Imperial Parliament of last session, all the public functionaries will still remain in power, and the <'ouncil of Arsiniboia will be restored to their former position. Will you be kind enough to make full explanation to the Council oa behalf of the Canadian Government as to the feelings which animate, not only the Gover- nor General, but the wliola Government, with respect to the mode of dealing with [ i' .. . "Ili^HiiiiNii^;^;' HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 409 -Meeting elecvates Jack — fMISINO A lo, it will eighth of e his way received iture and 3e briefly he kindly degates to omised in jcember.* iheintections e Bishop : — ;th, 1870. ce, I think it lOQor to have public docu- I at libertj to explanations Smith, wil ume the ad- I Parliament 76 r, and the on behalf of the Gover- dealin^f with His Lordship left Ottawa on the sixteenth of February, and arrived at St. Paul on the twenty-third, where he received a copy of the Bill of Rights, pass by the Convention at Fort the North- West. We have fully explained to jou, and desire yoa to assure the Council authnritatirelj, that it i» the intention of Canada to grant to the people of the North- West the same free institutions which thej themselves enjoy. Had not these unfortunate events occurred, the Canadian Government had hoped, long ere this, to have received a report from the Council through Mr. Mac- dougall, as to the best means of speedily organizing the Qoverament with repre- sentative institutions. I hope that thev will be able immediately to take up that subject, and to con- sider and report, without delay, on the general policy that should immediately be adopted. It is obvious that the most inexpensive mode for the administration of affairs should at first be adopted. As the preliminary expense of organizing the Govern- ment after union with Canada, must in the first be defrayed from the Canadian Territory, there will be a natural objection in the Canadian Parliament to a large expenditure. As it would be unwise to subject the territory to a recurrence of the bamilia- tio2 already suffered by Governor MrtcTavish, you can inform him that if he organizes a local po'.ice, of twenty-five men or more, if absolutely necessary, that the expense will be defrayed by the Canadian Government. Yon will be good enough to endeavor to find out Monkman, the person to whom, through Colonel Dennis, Mr. Macdougall gave instructions to communicate with the Salteaux Indians. He should be asked to surrender his letter, and informed that he ought not to proceed upon it. The Canadian Government will see that he is compensated for any expense that he has already incurred. In case a delegation is appointed to proceed to Ottawa, you can assure them that they will be kindly received, and their suggestions fully considered. Their expenses coming here and returning, and while staying in Ottawa, will be defrayed by us. You are authorized to state that the two years during which the present tariff shall remain undisturbed, will commence from 1st January, 1871, instead of last January, as first proposed. Should the question arise as to the consumption of any stores or goods belong- ing to the Hudson's Bay Company by the insurgents, you are authorized to inform the leaders that if the Company's Government is restored, not only will there be a general amnesty granted, but in case the Company should claim the payment for such stores, that the Canadian Government will stand between the insurgents and all barm. Wishing you a prosperous journey and happy results. I beg to remain, with great respect, Your very faithful servant, JOHN A. MACDONALD. To the Right Reverend the Eishop of St. Boniface, Fort Garry. 1 i ■I i 410 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. t- 1 : ; ^ i ' t ■■ : f 'H' ■; t 1; ' m- 'ill' ■ 'J - ' El i f' 1 i i L. Garry on the tenth. lie telegraphed the Bill to Mr. Howe, and on the twenty-fifth, received the following reply: *' Proposition in the main satisfactory, but let the delegation come here to settle terms." The Bishop then proceeded on his way and reached Fort Garry on the ninth of March, just five days after Scott had been murdered, and quickly set himself to work to restore peace in the settlement. Bishop Tache has been one of the best abused men in Canada for the part he took in endeavouring to quiet the disturbances in the North- West, and has been called " disloyal," " traitor," and other opprobrious names, because he recognized the Provisional Government, and entered into negotiations with Riel, after the murder of Scott. AVe do not desire to offer any excuse or apology for Bishop Tache ; his conduct, on the whole, was peaceful in its tendency and happy in its results ; but he seems to have become afflicted with that faculty for making mistakes, with the very best intentions, which in turn attacked almost every person connected w^ith Red River affairs about this time The Imperial and Dominion Governments both made mistakes in supposing that the people of Red River would allow themselves to be transferred from one Government to another, w^ithout being consulted in the matter ; the French Half-breeds and officers of the Hudson's Bay Company made mistakes when they thought that a show of armed resistance would frighten Canada from her bargain, and induce her to let the Red River settlement severely alone ; Mr. Macdougall made a mistake when he proclaimed himself Governor of the Territory, without w^aiting to see Avhetlier the Territory had been formally transferred to Canada or not ; the Canadian Commissioners made a mistake when they tacitly acknowledged the " Provisional Government," without any authority from the Canadian Government for so doing ; Riel made a mistake when he ordered the murder of Scott, without taking into account the sure relribution which must follow from both Imperial and Dominion authorities ; and Bishop Tuche *piflilMfc%i>df/ HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 411 Mr. Howe, iig reply: delegation ceeded on larch, just uickly set Bishop j&nada for sturbances " traitor," nized the ions with •e to offer ct, on the s results ; acuity for which in nth Red Dominion that the ansferred consulted rs of the thought ada from ?ttlement when he without formally issioners Iged the from the mistake ing into om both 1 Tache continued the series of mistakes by supposing that the mur- der of Scott did not affect the instructions he had received on leaving Ottawa, and that he was still empowered to promise a full and complete amnesty to the insurgents. That the Bishop w^as honest and earnest in his endeavours to restore peace, we think even his greatest enemies will admit, now that the lapse of time has cooled the heat of party and religious animosity w^hich was very great at the moment ; that in his anxiety to secure that tranquility he overstepped the bounds of his instructions, we believe even his warmest supporters will be w^illing now to allow. The Council of the " Provisional Government," elected in accordance with the Resolution passed at the Convention which closed its sittings on 10th February, met for the first time on 9th March, but beyond a speech from " President " Kiel nothing was done, as only eight French and nine Eng- lish members were present, and the meeting adjourned until the 15th. On that day the " Legislature " re-assembled, and after notices of two motions had been given, Bishop Tache was introduced by Riel, who, in the course of his remarks, said : — ** He felt extreme pleasure in presenting to his Lordship the ■first Legislative Assembly of this country, representing all classes of the people, and in the name of the people represented by the honorable members of this Legislative Assembly he bid his Lordship w^elcome and congratulations on his safe return amongst them." His Lordship, in reply, said that he did not come in an official capacity, but simply to use his exertions to unite all classes and restore peace and order. He intima- ted that the Canadian Government w^as very much dissatis- fied with the actions of Mr. Macdougall — an announcement which was received with cheers — and was anxious to do justice to the people of the settlement. He concluded ty asking for a release of the prisoners, a request which Riel granted, saying that some should be released that evening, and the remainder as speedily as possible. The House re- mained in session until the twenty-sixth of March, when it Hi ^f^ i .'4. *'' ' > ■■ 's t. ■', t'':! 'f-iU' ^) ',, ililill •'1 ■ I- li 412 HISTOUY OP MANITOBA. was *' Prorogued " until the twenty-sixth of April, at which time a committee was to report a " Constitution " for the Provisional Government. During the session, Acts were passed appointing a military force of fifty men, who were to be recruited for two months'service and receive <£3 sterling per month and board ; for indemnity to members, at the rate of ^5 per day ; for regulating the hay-cutting privilege, and for the administration of justice. On the twenty-eighth of March, Kiel addressed a letter to Governor MacTavish offering to give up the property of the Hudson's Bay Company and allow the resumption of busi- ness, on condition that certain amounts should be *' advan- ced " to the Provisional Government in money and goods. The terms offered were finally agreed to, the bulk of the goods of the Company restored, and it was allowed to resume business. There have not been wanting those who claim that this whole transaction was a preconcerted plan between Kiel and the Hudson's Bay Company officials, for the pur- pose of holding the Canadian Government responsible for all loss sustained by the Hudson's Bay Company, under the promise conveyed in Sir John A. Macdonald's letter to Bishop Tache, dated 16th February, 1870, and that this for- mality of releasing the property, making a forced loan, etc., was only adopted as a means whereby to furnish the Com- pany with data on which to found the bill which was after- wards to be rendered to the Canadian Government. Be this, as it may, the little scheme was not successful ; for the con- dition contained in the letter, " if the Company's Govern- ment is restored," was not complied with, and it was so ■evident that the resident officers of the Company were im- plicated in the insurrection, that when a vote of $40,000 was asked from Parliament to compensate those who had suffer- ed loss from the action of the Half-breeds, it was expressly stipulated that not one cent was to be paid to the Hudson's Bay Company, and that Corporation had to bear the loss of stores used, etc., by the insurgents during their ten months at which ' for the ictB Were lo were to ;erlingper le rate of ^e, and for a letter to rty of the 1 of busi- I " advan- tid goods. Ik of the to resume rho claim I between the pur- ible for all inder the letter to this for- loan, etc., the Com- wras after- Be this, the con- Grovern- t was so were im- ),000 was ad suffer- expressly Hudson's e loss of months' HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 41ft occupation of Fort Garry, the cost of which has been estima- ted at .€50,000. Judge Black, Rev. Mr. Richot and Alfred Scott, the dele- gates to the Canadian Government, left Fort Garry about 24th March and arrived in Ottawa on the llth April. They bore with them commissions from the Provisional Govern- ment, and were ofTicially recognized by the Secretary of State for the Provinces on 26th April. The arrest of two of the delegates on a charge of complicity in the murder of Scott,, their release, and the success of their mission to Canada, will be dealt with in another chapter ; we will for the present confine ourselves to the order of events as they occurred in the settlement . With the arrival of Bishup Tache and the departure of the delegates a change for the better began to take place. The prisoners were released, the Hudson's Bay Company resumed operations, and, although Kiel still kept an armed guard in Fort Garry, and held high carnival there on the rum and provisions he had " borrowed " from the Hudson's Bay Company, a feeling of greater security began to pervade the community, especially after it was known that the Imperial and Dominion authorities would send a force of one thousand troops up in the Spring, and that the Civil authority would be peacefully inaugurated by having a military force sufficient to compel submission, if necessary — an extremity, however^ for which the necessities daily grew less. Shortly after the arrival of Bishop Tache the Annexationist Editor of the New Nation left that paper and its publication was suspended for two weeks. On its re-appearance, under a new management, it became " dreadfully loyal," and continued so until the arrival of the troops. On the twenty-second of April, at the earnest request of Bishop Tache, the "flag of the Provisional Government," more commonly known as the " Fenian Flag," was hauled down at Fort Garry and the Union Jack hoisted in its place. This led to a bitter altercation between Riel and O'Donohue, which nearly terminated in blows, and the upshot was that &^LSfciil^^.= ~ 414 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. a flag-pole which was standing in front of Dr. Schultz's house was taken down, removed to the side of the pole on which the Union Jack was hoisted and the Provisional flag also run up, so that the two flags flew side by side — only the pole to which the latter was attached being the taller of the two, it flew highest. Kiel now became demonstratively loyal and had his band play " God save the Queen " every night. On the twenty-sixth of April the " Legislative Assembly " again met and remained in session until the ninth of May, their time being occupied in framing laws for the government of the Territory. On the Queen's Birthday an attempt w^as made to celebrate it ; the students at St Boniface College fired a.feudejoie, races w^ere held, and a grand concert was given in the evening, while many enthusiastic gentlemen got "truly loyal drunk," as the Neio iVa/iow expressed it. On the seventeenth of June Father Richot returned from Ottawa, and, on the twenty-third, the third session of the Legislature was convened to hear his report of his conference with the Dominion Ministry. After his explanations — which includ- ed an assurance that amnesty w^ould be proclaimed before the troops arrived — Mr. Schmidt offered the following Resolution : " That the Legislative Assembly of this country do now, in the name of the people, accept the Manitoba Act, and decide on entering the Dominion of Canada, on the terms proposed in the Confederation Act." The motion was unanimously adopted. After this the country remained quiet, -confic ance began to be restored and some arrivals from Canada occurred. The reign of terror was nearly over, and when the advance guard of Colonel Wolseley's troops arrived at Fort G-arry on 24th August, there was not a vestige of •opposition, Riel and his Council having ignominiously fled as soon as they heard the bugles of the 60th Rifles. AVe now come to a very curious procedure on the part of Bishop Tache, namely, his promise in the name of the Cana- dian Government of complete amnesty to all who had been T Pn w ww ife' tz's house )n which ff also run le pole to le two, it oyal and ght. On y " again lay, their nment of fnpt was 5 ColJesre cert was sntlemen 3d it. On I Ottawa, igislature with the ti includ- d before 3lIowinflr country oba Act, he terms ion Was 3d quiet, lis from ver, and 5 arrived sstige of isly fled } part of le Cana- ad been HISTORY OF MANfTOBA. 418 concerned in the insurrectic .1 ;* and injustice to him, will •The foUowinar is the Bishop's letter to the Secretarj of State, acquainting him with what he had done :-> St. Boniface, Kid Rivir Sittlkubmt, June 9th, 1870. Ho.y. Joseph IIowb, Secretary of State for the Provinces, Ottawa, Canada. Honorable Sir, — I hasten to communicate to you, for the information of His Excellency in Council, a very important promise I have just made in the name of the Canadian Government. I feel all the responsibility I have incurred in takinjf such a step, while on another band I am confident that His Excellency the Qover- nor and his Privy Council will not judge with too much severity an act accom- plished in order to avoid great misfortunes and secure the welfare of the country. In my last despatch, dated on 28th May, I mentioned the satisfaction by the Liberal Bill erecting the Province of Manitoba. I also stated the uneasiness occasioned by the ignorance, whether or not a general and comolete amnesty bad been granted. The two last mails having brought no information on this subject, that feeling of uneasiness has increased to such a degree that it gives apprehension about the maintenance of peace in the country. Some speak of raising a large force to meet and molest the coming troops at some difficult point on their way hither ; and other plans, perhaps still more dangerous, are also afloat. Fortunately, the Provisional Government has so far refused such resources, determined to await the arrival of the delegates. Owing to the good disposition of the Provisional Government, and in order to remove the dangers to which we are exposed, and which it would be too tedious to enumerate, I solemnly gave my word of honor and promise even in the name of the Canadian Government, that th(* troops are sent on a mission of peace ; that all the irregularities of the past will be totally overlooked or forgiven ; that nobody will be annoyed for hav- ing been cither leader or member of the Provisional Government, or for having acted under its guidance. In a word, that a complete and entire amnesty (if not already bestowed) will surely be granted before the arrival of the troops, so that everyone may remain quiet, and induce others to do the same. Personally, I felt no hesitation in giving such an assurance, because what I heard myself from the different members of the Cabinet at Ottawa, and what has been said by them in Parliament, has entirely convinced me that this promise of mine had been already issued, aud that the delegates now on their way back will convey the most satisfactory information upon that subject. Should my views, unfortunately, have deviated from the real tendency of the Government, I humbly beg that my promise will be considered as sacred. It is the privilege of His Excellency to forgive, and if forgiveness be considered necessary, I earnestly pray for it. I dare flatter myself with the idea that I have done something in favor of the Canadian cause in this country ; and I can assure the Government of my willing- ness to contribute, as far as in my power, to its prosperity; but should I have pro- J!!!? 416 HISTORY OP MANirOBV. give his own statement of his reasons for doing so, as given before the Select Committee on the causes of the difficulties in the North-West Territory. After reading the letter given below, he said : " I had the communication described in this letter on the day I wrote the letter, and, if you will allow me I w^ill explain to you the reason. Parties arrived from the Onited States, who had interviews with the leaders of the Provisional Government, and the parties told them that they could not rely upon what had been promised ; that the assurances given would not be carried into execution ; and lijlir m if Im I' I . W 1.; miBed in vain, besides the heart-rending feeling I would personally experience, I would be publicly reputed a deceiver, or as having been wilfully deceived by the Canadian Government. An awful reaction would ensue, and who knows what would be the result. If necessary, I therefore humbly lay my request before His Excellency, It would be very easy to have it largely subscribed to by respectable names, but such an undertaking would have given rise to excitement, and it is my constant en- deavor to quell such a feeling rather than nourish it, as it is the greatest danger to be apprehended. 1 am confident that, although this 18 a personal act, it will be considered the wish of the community at large, and probably granted. It is rumored that Dr. Schultz is coming with a large party of supporters. I am sure that if such be the case, the Government has taken the necessary steps to prevent the collision, which would be the consequence of his return, perhaps with a desire to revenge the past, and renew the cause of by-gone troubles. We are perfectly aware of his former conduct, and it ia not difficult to foresee what he may be in future, if not checked by a proper authority. I easily understand that at a distance my ideas may appear rather pressing, but allow me to say that here ou the spot we are in a position to ascertain the dangers and difficulties which may naturally seem chimerical when viewed from abroad. Experience has already proved that, unfortunately, our apprehensions are not always entirely groundless nor an effort of our imagination. So far it is universally considered as a wonder that nothing wcrse has happened. May the wisdom and liberality of the Government remove what seems to be the last difficulty. I consider this document of such importance that I am forwarding it by a special messenger to Pembina, to secure its prompt delivery into your hands. No doubt you will be kind enough to answer me by the first mail. I remain, with much respect. Honorable Sir, Your humble servant, ALEXANDER, Bishop of St. Boniface. ']p|«iiMi»3ii^:< EISTORy OF MANITOBA. 417 considered the that, in some way or another, tho politicians of Canada, when they took possession of the country, would refuse to be guided by that promise. They told the leaders that the troops were oti their way, and if they allowed them to enter the country, they would control the position, bring the leaders before the tribunals, try them and hang thorn. These representations created a very strong feeling among the leaders, and one or two of them came to my place and reported what they had heard. I repeated the assurances I had given in the name of His Excellency the Clovernor-General. They answered that this was of itself all right, but it was not from the Canadians. Now, the Canadian troops are on their way, they said, and they are under the control of Canada, and as we have given them cause for provocation, if we have not similar assurances from the Canadian Government, they may act in the manner represented to us. My statement before was, that I made the promise in the name of His Excellency the Governor-General, as representative of the Queen, but also added that such were the intentions of the Canadian Cabinet. They had so little faith in the Canadian authorities that I thought they would prefer to negotiate directly with the representative of the Sovereign. Indeed, I had this authority from the terms of the Proclamation, as well as from the letter addressed to me by His Excellency, in which he told me that he was directed by the Imperial Government to issue the Proclamation — and from the conversations I had, both with His Excellency and his Ministers, in which he and they told me that he v/as not acting in the name of the Canadian Government, but as Special Commissioner from the Imperial authorities. I was also furnished with a copy of the telegraphic message from England, upon which the Proclamation was based. The promise, made in fhe name of the Canadian Government on the ninth of June, differed in this respect— that it was made in the name of His Excellency^ and, in my action, I was guided by Sir John's letter of 16th February, but, Tviih the exception of its being made in the AA \n f i ' .'i. H 418 HISTORV OF MANTTOn.V. name of tho Canadian Government, the promise was itself exactly the same as I had made before. I thought it neces- Kary to make it in the name of (he Government of Canada, if the fears to which I have reAirred were to be dissipated ; and I determined so to make it, because I had received information from Father Richot that the negotiations at Ottawa had been closed satisfactorily. Asa portion of the negotiations was to get an entire amnesty, I thought the Canadian Government would not object to the promise being made in their name. The promise which I made on my arrival, in the name of the Governor-General, was equally extensive with that which I described in this letter of 9th June;. All the difference is that the one was made in the name of the Government of Canada, whereas the other was made in the name of the Governor-General as the represen- tative of the Queen. The answer of the Hon. Mr. Howe, dated 2Tth May, to my letters of the 3rd and *7th of the same month, in which I also saw plainly the promise of forgiveness, determined me that there was no risk in making the promise in the name ol the authorities of Canada. 1 had also shown that answer to some of the leaders, and I relied upon it as affording me the basis for giving the promise named in my letter ; for you will observe that Mr. Howe tendered me, in the name of His Excellency, not only his sympathy, but his warm acknowledgment of my services in the cause of peace and moderation." It will be seen by the above that the Bishop took upon him- self to promise in the name of the Dominion Government what the Dominion Government itself had not the power to grant ; that is, amnesty for offences committed against the Imperial authority, in a, pari of the British possessions which did not, at the time the offences were committed, even form a part of the Dominion of Canada. The power of amnesty rested with the Imperial authorities, as was clearly explained to the delegates, during the debate on the Manitoba Bill and by the Hon. Mr. Howe in his answer to his Lordship's ; i '^Immmm' •{^ivt* i- HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 419 letter of the ninth of June. Bnt, even admitting that there was some ground for his Lordship's action furnished by Sir John A. Macdonald's letter of 16th February, still the condition on which amnesty was promised in that letter was not complied with, for it stated that amnesty would be granted" if the Company's government is restored," which was not done ; neither could he make good his authority under Sir John Young's Proclamation of Gth ot December 1869, for the promise of amnesty was then made on the con- dition " in case of your immediate and peaceable dispersion," and the insurgents had neither submitted nor dispersed when the Bishop promised amnesty, nor did they show any disposition to do so ; for, according to the Bishop's own state- ment, they were meditating further acts of violence by pre- paring to attack the expedition then on its way to Fort Garry. Besides, the intense feeling which had been raised in Ontario by the murder of Scott, and the strong debate which had taken place on the subject of amnesty during the discussion of the Manitoba Act in the House of Commons, were well known to his Lordship, and he was too astute a man not to see that the great outburst of popular feeling must have its weight with the Government, and that it could not advocate an amnesty until the excitement had had time to cool down. Indeed, in his own evidence before the Com- mittee already referred to, he said ; " The only reason for de- laying the granting of the amnesty promised by the Pro. clamation of Sir John Young, that I am aware of, has been the excitement existing throughout the Dominion, and spe- cially in the Province of Ontario. This is not merely my own opinion ; it is also the opinion expressed to me by certain members of the late Government. The constant reply which I received when 1 spoke to them on the subject was, that the excitement was so great that the Government w^ould not be sustained if the amnesty was given." Taking these facts into consideration, it is fair to infer that his Lordship, in his earnest desire to protect the people of tha pill "■11 T 430 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. Rod River from the consequoncos ol' their conduct, i.ndiii the hopo ot'e8ta))lishing permanent peace in that country, know- ingly exceeded the limits of his authority, acting under tln^ impression that his promise would so I'ar compromise the Government as to coerce the Ministers into using their inllu- ♦'iice with the Imperial authorities — which was really nil they could do --to obtain the Proclamation of a full and com- plete amnesty, before the arrival of the troops, after which any wild idea of further resistance would be useless, lie knew that the Cabinet was divided on the subject ; that the Quebec Members, led by Sir Geo. E. Cartier, were in favour of an amnesty, and, indeed, that it was very well understood that an amnesty would be urged " by and by," when the popular excitement had abated ; but he was too impatient to await the slow process of time and endeavoured by a coup- (V^lal to accomplish at once what it took years to partially gain. Shortly after giving his promise of amnesty, the Bishop left for Ottawa, " to make certain," as he said in his evidence, " to my own satisfaction, the promise made to the delegates, and report at Ottawa the satisfaction of the people." ' t ■ ■I ( llwiiiinrT' HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 411 CHAPTER XXI. Excitement in Canada over Scott'8 Murder— -Father RiciioT AND Alfred Scott Arrested on their Arrival in Ottaw a— Tried and Discharged— Terms agreed ov by the delegates and the dominion Government — Passage of the •' Manitoba Act" — Provisions of the Act. We have already referred to the anxiety which was felt throughout the Dominion, and especially in Ontario and Quebec, at the threatening aspect of affairs in the North- West at the beginning of the year, and of the feeling of relief which was experienced when it began to be apparent that a peaceful solution might be reached, and bloodshed avoided. Of course, there was much indignation at the summary arrest and imprisonment of British subjects by Kiel, and his high-handed disregard of British authority ; but as long as he committed no greater atrocities than he had already per- petrated, it was felt that the Commissioners who had bean sent up might be able to restore order, or,failing that, a mili- tary expedition in the spring would soon remove all cause of uneasiness. This feeling continued to grow stronger until the end of March,when, on the twenty-fifth, a telegram from St. Paul announced that the news of the murder of Scott had been received there. The rumor was, at first, pretty generally discredited, and when, on the fourth of April, Mr. Mackenzie asked in the House if the G-overnment had received any information of the murder. Dr. Tupper said that his son-in-law. Captain Cameron, had received a letter from Mr. Provencher, at Pembina, which did not confirm the report, and he doubted its correctness, because Kiel had once before hidden a prisoner and reported that he was dead, for the purpose of frightening the other prisoners and the loyal m\ ii f V !:: 1 1'', li Ii- I M ii ' ■ 422 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. portion of the people. The truth of the report was, however, soon proved, and the arrival of Dr. Schultz, Dr Lynch, Mr. Monkman and other refugees from Red River soon put an end to any doubt on the subject, and then a feeling of deep indignation and horror quickly spread throughout the com- munity. An indignation meeting was held at Toronto on the sixth of April, at which Dr. Schultz, Dr. Lynch, and Messrs, J. J. Setter and Charles Mair, all late arrivals from Red River, were present, ana delivered addresses, giving some account of the condition of the country. Resolutions were passed expressive of indignation at the murder of Scott, and calling on the Government to take prompt measures to restore law and order. A resolution was also passed con- demning the policy of receiving any delegates from Riel- A similar meeting was held in Montreal, and very soon *' in- dignation meetings " became the order of the day, and were held all over Ontario ; but, unfortunately, they mostly fell into the hands of political wire-pullers, and were used more as a mean;^ of passing resolutions condemnatory of the Government than for the purpose of expressing popular feeling with regard to the lawless doings in the North-West. Popular feeling now ran very high, and the utmost anxiety was felt as to the probable fate of the other prisoners remaining in Riel's hands, which was not allayed until it was known that they had all been released, and that the delegates appointed by the Convention at Fort Garry had started on their way to Ottawa. Much ill-feeling against the delegates was manifested, in advance of their arrival, by a portion of the press, which endeavoured to lash the Government over the backs of the del>?4ates, and a great deal was written, and spoken at indig- nation meetings, against "treating with rebels," "receiving delegates from the murderer Riel," and so forth. News of the feeling raised in Canada by the intelligence of Scott's murder reached the delegates while they were still in the States, and Messrs. Scott and Richot, who were travelling ( , HISTORY OF MANITOBA 423 together with Colonel de Salabcrry, determined not to ren- ture to pass through Ontario, but proceeded to Ogdensburg, where they crossed to Prescott, and arrived in Ottawa on the eleventh of April. Judge Black, the third delegate, travelled alone and arrived a few days later. For some days before the arrival of Scott and Kichot it had been rumored that they would be arrested at the instance of a brother of Thomas Scott, who resided in Toronto ; and, on the twelfth of April, an affidavit was made by Hugh Scott, before Police Magistrate McNabb, at Toronto, charging Richot and Scott with being accessories to the murder of Thomas Scott, and a warrant issued for their arrest. This warrant was forwarded to Detective O'Neil, Ottawa, and about midnight on the thir- teenth he arrested Alfred H. Scott, at the Albion Hotel, where he was staying. Application was made at the Bishop's Palace, where Father Richot was residing, but he could not be found, and was not arrested. At ten o'clock on the folio win ir morning, the fourteenth, Scott was taken "3 before His Honor Judge Gralt, in Chambers, o^i a writ of habeas corpi(S,Q.nd at the same time Father Richot entered the Court and gave himself up. The Hon. John Hillyard Cameron, Q.C., appeared for the prisoners, and Mr. Lees, County Attorney, for the Crown. Counsel for the prisoners argued that the warrant was wholly irregular, that the Po- lice Magistrate had no jurisdiction whatever as the alleged crime was not committed within his Jurisdiction, and that on the face of the warrant itself it showed that tlio parties tor whose arrest it was issued were thou residing in Ottawa, where he had no authority. Mr. Lees said hi* had only received the case a few minutes before, and was not prepared to argue it then; it was, therefore, postponed until the next day, the prisoners being remanded, but not committed to gaol, they being allowed to go in charge of a detective. On the fifteenth they were again brought before Judge Gait and discharged, his Honor holding that the Police Magistrate of Toronto had no jurisdiction. 424 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. i I ■ l^( h i i yi.iil ii 1 ■ ■ '■ 11 1 :.'\'' ■ ll n' 11 1.1 : ■ 1:11 s ';...: ' t r P5' It bijiuiT' v.':y evident, before the formal decision was given that the Toronto Police Magistrate had no jurisdiction, and that the prisoners would be discharged, Mr. Hugh Scott, who had come to Ottawa from Toronto, had made an- other affidavit before Mr. Police Magistrate O'Gara, of Otta- wa, who had issued a warrant, on which Richot and Scott were re-arrested as soon as released.* On the sixteenth an- other application for a writ of habeas corpus was made before Judge Cralt, and the nineteenth fixed for hearing the argu- ment, the prisoners being allowed to go under police sur- veillance as before. On that day the Hon. John Ilillyard Cameron, Q.C., counsel for the prisoners, appeared in Cham- bers before Judge Gait, and said that he had no grounds on which to ask for the discharge of the prisoners, as it was clear that they could be indicted, and that the Police Magis- trate had the right to issue a warrant and hold an examina- tion. The writ was therefore discharged, and the prisoners re-committed for trial. The preliminary examination was commenced before Police Magistrate O'Gara on the 21st, and attracted a great deal of attention, the Court Room being- crowded to excess with Members of Parliament, and every- body else who could squeeze in, and a large crowd assem- bling outside. The utmost order, however, prevailed. The Hon. John Hillyard Cameron appeared for the prisoners. Mr. Lees, County Attorney, for the Crown, and Mr. Boulton * The following is a copy of the warrant, omitting formalities : — M hereas, — Information has this dny been laid before the undersigned, one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace, in and for the City of Ottawa, in the County of Carleton, for that there is reason to suspect some person or persons, to informant unknown, on the fourth of .March last past, in land out of Canada, to wit, at Fort Garry, in that part of British North America known as the North-West, or Red River Territory, did feloniously, wilfully, and with malice aforethought, kill and murder one Thomas Scott ; and that one Richot, known as Father Richot, and Alfred H. Scott, both of Fort Garry, aforesaid, but both being now in the City of Ottawa, in the County of Carleton, aforesaid, and both l)9ing British subjects, did advise md abet the said person or persons unkn^n'n. in the said murder and felony, contrary to the statutes in such crt«e made aua inovided, upon these is this gene- ral warrant issued for their arrest." HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 428 for the private prosecution. Judge Black was the first wit- ness examined, and testified to having known the prisoners in Fort Garry, and also being acquainted with the deceased (Thomas Scott) ; but he was not in Fort Garry on the day of the murder, and knew nothing at all about it except from hearsay. William Dreever deposed that he was one of the prisoners taken on the seventh of December, 18G9, but he was released, and left the Territory on the twenty-second of February, 1876, a week before the shooting took place ; had met Alfred Scott in Ottawa, and been told by him that he (Scott) was present at the shooting of Thomas Scott, but he did not say anything' more ; witness had seen Alfred Scott in Fort Garry, but did not remember ever having seen him in arms, nor did he know whether he had taken an active part with those who had risen against the Crown ; knew Father Richot, but could not say, from his own knowledge, that he had taken any active part in the rebellion. Frederick Davis, detective officer, Ottawa : Had heard Alfred H. Scott tell the Mayor and others in the Albion Hotel, Ottawa, be- fore his arrest, that he (Scott) had seen Thomas Scott taken out and shot ; he had seen Scott put in his coffin, but not af- terwards, and did not believe the story about his being aliv;; in the coffin ; was not one of the crowd who attended the shooting, but could not resist the temptation to follow and see it. Charles Garret, one of the prisoners taken at Dr. Schultz's, deposed, that he saw the shooting from the win- dow of his house, which was about eight or nine hundred yards off ; did not see either of the prisoners at the shooting ; saw Alfred Scott several times with Kiel, but never saw him take any part with the insurgents ; saw Father Richot apparently taking an active part in directing the insurgents around Dr. Schultz's house, but could not say whether he was urging them on, or advising them to go away. Archibald Hamilton, who had also been a prisoner, had not seen the shooting, and had never seen either of the prisoners exercising any authority amongst the insurgents. Major m I 426 HISTORY OF MANITOBA Boulton deposed that he was in prison at the time the shooting, and did not see it ; saw Alfred Scott while in prison, but never knew him exercise any authority ; never saw Father Richot until after his release from prison. At this point Mr. Boulton, counsel for the private prosecution, moved for a demand that he may have time to secure the attendance of Dr. Schultz, Mr. Mair, Mr. Young (a son of Rev. George Young), and other witnesses who had lived in the settlement, and could prove that the prisoners had taken an active part in the insuiTection. The Police Magistrate said they were not trying the prisoners on a charge of rebellion, but on a charge of cuiaplicity in a murder, and unless counsel could say that these witnesses could give any evidence on that point, he could not grant any delay. After a little legal sparring between counsel, Mr. Hugh Scott, brother of the deceased, was sworn, and deposed that a son of the Rev. Greorge Young, who was then in Toronto, had told him that he was present at the shooting of Thomas Scott, and that both the prisoners took an active part aiding and abetting in that murder. Opposition to a delay was then withdrawn, and the case postponed until the twenty- third, the prisoners being admitted to bail in $2,000 each and two sureties of $1,000 each. On the case being called, on the twenty-third, Mr. Lees, County Attorney, said that, after consultation w4th the counsel for the private pros- ecution, they had determined to withdraw the charge. Hon. Mr. Cameron said he had no objection to the case being withdrawn ; but a charge had been made against his clients of complicity in a murder, — from all they had heard a murder of a very barbarous character, — and they must be unconditionally discharged, because there was no ground on which to proceed against them. What he v»^ould like to have understood was that they were discharged because there was no further evidence to be called. Mr. Lees said he had been informed by the counsel for the private prosecution that he did not wish to call any more :iiimmmM^f^. •I HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 42T M witnesses, and the Crown had no more to call. The Magis- trate then ordered the prisoners discharged, as there was no case against them. As soon as the delegates had been discharged by the Po- lice Magistrate, they were formally recognised by the Secre- tary of State for the Provinces, Hon. Joseph Howe, who re- ceived and put them in official communication with Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George E. Cartier, with whom they hid already had informal interviews. The demands of the insurgents were explained and an understanding arrived at which was mutually satisfactory at the time, but which gave rise to much question afterwards, for at least one of the delegates, Father Richot, stoutly maintained that a gen- eral amnesty was promised, while the Ministers as firmly declared that, although the subject was frequently men- tioned, their invariable answer was that the power to grant an amnesty rested entirely with the Imperial Government, and that tlie Canadian Government had no power to grant it. Meanwhile Parliament had began to get impatient at the delay of the Government in bringing forward any measure with regard to the North-West, and at its reticence with re- gard to the military preparations known to be in progress, and several times the Premier was questioned on these sub- jects, but as often put the matter off, promising that the Government would give the House all necessary information as soon as possible. On the sixteenth of April, the report of Mr. D. A Smith, Commissioner, was printed, but it contain- ed very little information that was not already known through the newspapers, and from the refugees who had come to Canada ; and the House had almost lost all patience when, on the second of May, Sir John A. Macdonald intro" duced the Manitoba Act. The Bill, as originally introduced' provided for the formation of a small Province, to be known as Manitoba, out of a portion of the North- West Territories, as soon as they should have been transferred to Canada ; the boundaries, however, differing a little from those finally 488 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. \m >■ .' ■ ' t !< W adopted. It may be proper to remark here, that, as first proposed, the intention of the Ministry seems to have been to erect an almost exclusively French Province, as the large English-speaking settlement of Portage la Prairie, with about five hundred families, was not included in the limits of the Province ; and Sir John A. Macdonald said that it was pur- posely omitted that it might form the nucleus of an " Eng- lish Province." This question of nationality lay at the root of the whole trouble in the North- West. The French Half- breeds, led by the clergy, were well enough content to con- tinue as they were with the English Half-breeds, but they dreaded an influx of English-speaking population from On- tario, as certain to put them in a minority and destroy their political importance ; and in their efforts to " keep out the En!?lish," they were supported by their fellow-countrymen in Quebec, who w^ould have been pleased enough to have a French Province created to the North-West of Ontario, shut- ting that Province out from further growth, but did not re- lish the spread of English emigration there, as it would im- pair their political influence in the House of Commons. Ontario, on the other hand, was determined that sectarian- ism should be kept out of the territory about tr be acquired, and that all nationalities and all creeds should have equal rights, and no more. The French element in the Cabinet was very powerful, and it was, doubtless, out of deference to the opinions of that element that the Bill, as originally proposed, was so framed ; but it was immediately felt that the House was not inclined to pass any such sectional act, and it was, therefore, amended, as we shall see. On the introduction of the Bill, Mr. Mackenzie attacked the policy of the Government in withholding the purchase money, which it was said had been done that Greo . Britain should transfer the territory peacefully ; but now it was found that an expedition was necessary, and the Imperial Government would orJy pay one quarter of the expense. He objected to the number of representatives in the Com- "pHlii^M^^^''^^^' HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 32!> as first ive been he large th about 8 of the t^as pur- II •' Eng. the root :h Half- ; to con- ut they 'om On- uy their out the itrymen have a 0, shut- not re- uld im- mmons. ctarian- quired, 3 equal Cabinet iference ginally lit that lal act, ved the irchase Britain it was nperial cpense. Com- mons allovvcd by the Bill, which was out of all proportion for so small and thinly peopled a Province. Hon. William Macdougi.U severely criticised the conduct of the Govern- m^nt in .lot paying over the purchiise money at the time agreed on, which he held to have been the cause of all the subsequent trouble, ay had it not been for the doubt of his authority he felt confident he would have been allowed to enter the territory after his proclamation of first of December. He then called attentiv>n to the curious fact that the bound- aries were so arranged as to exclude Portage la Prairie, \\iO\ some two thousand English population, while the line was taken fifteen minutes out of its direct course to embrace a settlement marked '* Roman Catholic Mission." Sir John A. Macdonald said that Portage la Prairie was left out at the desire of the people there that it might form the nucleus of a British Province, but was met with some expressions of incredulity. The Bill was then read a first time On the third, Sir John asked the House to dispense with the even- ing sitting, on account of a Cabinet meeting ; and on the fourth he announced that some alterations had been made in the boundaries, so that Portage la Prairie was included, and the quantity of land reserved for the Half-breeds increased from 1,200,000 acres to 1,400,000. The population was increased by the change to 17,000, and corresponding altera- tions were made in the money clauses. The existing Customs duties were to be continued for three years ; and the waste lands vested in the Dominion Government instead of in the Local Government, as in the other Provinces. The second reading of the Bill was to have taken place on the sixth, but just before the meeting of the House on that day Sir John A. Mticdonald was taken suddenly and alarm- ingly ill in his office, and the second reading was postponed. On the following day, Sir John still continuing too ill to be moved from his office, the Bill was taken charge of by Sir George E. Cartier, and the second reading moved. On the reading of the twenty-seventh clause, reserving 430 HISTORY OP MANITOBA, m t rfi: 1,400,000 acres of land for the Half-breeds, Mr. Ferguson moved that the clause be struck out, as it was altogether too much for a population of 14,000 ; besides which, the twenty- sixth clause vested all the wild lands in the Dominion Government, and, therefore, the twenty-seventh clause was not necessary. Sir G-eorge E. Cartier, in defending the clause said that the land policy had been the most difficult ques' tion to settle in framing the Bill. After some further dis- cussion, Mr. Ferguson's motion was put and lost by a vote of 37 for, to 67 against. On the motion to concur Hon. Mr. Macdougall, in the shape of an amendment, introduced an entirely new bill. The new bill was founded on that of the previous year, and pro- vided a Territorial Government, to consist of a Lieutenant- Governor, a Council of Irom seven to fifteen members, and a Local Assembly, to be elected by all the male whites who had been residents of the country one month ; any person, one of whose parents was white, was to count as white. No land to be reserved, except for school purposes ; any actual settler to have the right to take up a quarter section. The boundaries of the new Province to be the same as of Assinniboia, and its name " the District of Assinniboia." In support of his amendment he said, that he did not think the circumstances of the country would demand, for two or three years, such elaborate legi&lation as the Government Bill proposed. After some discusion the amendment was lost, only 11 voting for it, and 120 against. A number of other amendments were moved at various stages of the Bill, but were all rejected. On the 27th clause, leserving 1,400,. 000 acres for Half-breeds, being reached, Mr. Mackenzie moved that the following be substituted for it : " Tha^ whereas it is expedient to appropriate a portion of such un- granted lands for the families of Half-breed residents, it is hereby enacted that the children of such Half-breeds resident in the Province shall be entitled to receive a grant of not more than 200 acres each, on attaining the age of eighteen li!. ^llmtMmm^ffy^^ srguson her too wenty- minion se was clause t ques- ler dis- a vote le shape . The lid pro- Ltenant- s, and a es who person, ite. No ' actual The as of a." In ink the two or rnment nt was aber of he Bill, L400,. ckenzie That ich un- ts, it is •esident of not ighteen 1. HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 431 years, in such mode, and on such conditions, as the Governor in Council may from time to time designate." Sir George E. Cartier observed that there were over 10,000 children in the Province, which would require even a larger grant than that asked if the amendment was carried. Mr. Mackenzie's motion was then lost, 37 to 80. On the motion for the third reading, Mr. Mackenzie said he did not intend to offer any further opposition. The Opposition had endeavoured to amend the most objectionable features of the Bill, and having failed in that, they threw upon the Government the full re- sponsibility of passing the measure as it stood. They had declined from first to last to accept any amendment, except the one forced on them by strong expression of the opinion of the House at the outset ; but, believing that it was neces- sary to have some Bill pass, to have some form of Govern- ment established in the Territory, he did not ask for the Bill to pass on division. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. The Bill, as passed, contains thirty-two clauses, and pro- vides for the creation of the Province of Manitoba out of that portion of Rupert's land, &c., bounded by 96° west longitude, SO'* 30' north latitude, 99° west longitude, and the boundary of the United States, to take effect from the day on which Her Majesty, by order in Council, shall annex Rupert's Land and the North-West Territories to Canada. The provisions of the North America Act, 1867, not applied to other separate Provinces alone, are made applicable to Manitoba. It was to be represented in the Senate of the Dominion by two Members, till it has, by census, 50,000 people, then by three, when it has 75,000, by four. In the House of Commons by four Members, until next census ; after that, according to the fifty-fifth section of the British North America Act. Voters same as for Legislative Assembly. Any voter might be elected Member. There was to be a Lieutenant Governor and an Executive Council, to consist of five persons, the seat of Government, till otherwise determined, to be at Fort / y '• f i 432 HISTOUY OF MANITOBA. •■•?! 1 'IB [ ; . fti'' 1 W;j i iji Hii |. (jrarry. The Legislature consisted, besides the Lieutpuaut Gov Tiior, of a Le«rislativo Council and Lei^islative Assembly. Tht* former to consist of seven Mem)>ers for four years; afterwards twelve, to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Her Majesty's name, he also appointing the Speaker. Quorum, a majority. Speaker to have vote and casting vote. The J^egisiativ*^ Assembly to consist of twenty-lour Members ; the Lieutenant Governor to organize the districts within six months. A bond fide householder for one year before election, twenty-one years of age, and a British subject, might vote. For the lirst election, having been a householder at any time within the twelve months was sufficient. Must vote in division where he is resident at date of the writ. For first election the Lieutenant Governor might issue the writs to whomsoever ho thought fit, and prescribe the forms, &c., of proceeding. Duration of assembly, four years. The right to legislate respecting education could not affect any existing right respecting denominational schools. An pppeal to the Governor in Council was granted to th^ minority. In case proper legis- lation was not enacted, or decision of Governor in Council was not executed, the Canadian Parliament might make remedial laws. The English and French languages are to be used in the Ijegislature and Courts. Interest was to be alloA^ed to the Province upon $4*72,000 per annum, it having no debt, and a subsidy of $30,000 per annum, and eighty cents per head, increasing till its population reaches 400,000. The Customs duties, then liable in Kupert's Land, were continued for three years. Such laws relating to Cus- toms or Inland Revenue, as the Governor in Council might declare, should be applied to the Province. The ungranted lands were vested in the Crown for Dominion puposes. 1,400,000 acres were appropriated for the resident Half-breed fu,milies, the Lieutenant Governor to set apart and apportion them under regulations to be made by the Governor in Council. Grants in freehold by the Hudson's Bay Company * )llHMiiif' ii¥>Si!jl'i"'i- HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 433 t'utonaut jrifslative s for four outenant ting- the voto and msisc of organize loldor for a British been a iths Avas sident at Governor : fit, and ration of especting [especting rernor in >per legis- 1 Council ^ht make es are to pas to be tinum, it lum, and n reaches rt's Land, g to Cus- cil might ngranted puposes. [alf- breed apportion irernor in Company before eighth of March, 18G0, were conlirmcd ; if in less than freehold might be converted to that at dosire of the owner. Titles by occupancy under the Company, in parts where the Indian title had been extinguished, should, if required, be also converted by grant. Peaceable possession in such parts gave a right of pre-emption. These rights to be ascer- tained and adjusted by the Liouteiumt Governor, under re- gulations to be made by the Governor in Council, who should also settle mode or form of grants. The Lieutenant- Governor of Manitoba was to be also Lieutenant Governor of the North-West Territory, &c., and the Act of the previous, session, except as herein altered, was extended to them. BB 434 HISTORY UF MANITOBik. i!:'»'i' r f r ,1 , 1: 'I 'i CHAITEU XXII. A MiMTAiiY Expedition to Red Riveii determined on— The Terms ON •viiicii the Expedition was sent— IMlKPA RATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION — TlIE MlLITiA C(;NTI\aENT. — IIOW IT WAS DRAFTED— COLONEL AVOL- SELEV APPOINTED TO COMMAND TlIE EXPEDITION— TlIE Stoppacje of THE '-Ciiicora" — The Progress of the Troops from Prince Arthur's Landing to Ked River— The arrival at Fort G-arry — The Flight of Riel. As soon as the CJovoriiment became convinced that the lied Kiver rel)ellion was likely to assume grave proportions, preparations for sending a force to the Settlement, if necessary, on the opening of navigation, were quietly pressed forward, and were in quite an advanced state before it was generally known that any preparations were being made at all, and long before it was positively decided that an expedition would be absolutely necessary. The news that Hon. Mr. Macdou- gall had been stopped at Pembina on 31st October, 18C9, was telegraphed to Earl Clranville on 23rd November ; and on the 2 5th another telegram was sent from the Governor General saying that the Canadian Government declined to accept the transfer of the Territory until order was restored and peaceable possession given, and asking that the Procla- mation of the transfer, which it had been agreed should be made on the first of December, should be postponed. After some little negotiation this was agreed to, and both the Impe- rial and Dominion Governments set themselves earnestly to work to restore order, as already related in a preceding chap- ter. Whilst endeavouring in every way, however, to peace- fully settle the troubles by the negotiations of Commissioners, representations were made by the Dominion Government to the Imperial authorities that the interposition of the military '^llmtHKKlil^imii^m'im >v: ED OX — 1 SENT— MlMTU EL ^V0h• •N— The 1 OF THE UlVER— )K Kiel. that the .portions, L^cessary, Ibrward, enerally all, and n would Macdou- ?69, was ; and on overnor lined to restored Procla- ould be Alter e Impe- estly to 5 chap- ) peace- sioners, ment to nilitary IlISTORV OF MANFTORA. ■might be necessary, and, on the 5th March, 1870, Earl Gran- ville telegraphed to Sir John Young as follows: — " Iler Majesty's Government will give proposed military assistance, provided reasonable terms are granted Ked Kivcr S(»ttlers and provided your Government enable Her Majesty's Government to ])roclaim the transfer of the Territory simul- taneously with the movement of the force." These terms were -accepted, and Lieutenant-General Sir James Lindsay was sent out to take command of the forces. In order to facilitate the operations, and to obviate the delay which would necessarily arise if tln^ arrangements between the two Govern, ments were conducted })y telegraph or despatch, Earl Gran- ville commissioned Sir Clinton Murdoch, who was on his way to Washington, to consult with Sir John Young as to details, and thus save time ; as it was determined that if the troops had to go to Ived Kiver the* must bo back in time to return to England before the winter set in, in accordance with the proposed withdrawal of the troops. In the instruc- tions to Sir Clinton, Earl Granville said, "Troops should not be employed in forcing the Sovereignty of Canada on the population, should they refuse to admit it," and this instruc- tion was thoroughly adhered to, so that it was only after arrangements had been very nearly completed with the ' Delegates, and there seeraer" to be every probability that Canadian authority would be quietlj'' acknowledged, that final consent to the use of the Imperial troops was given. On the same diiy (23rd March) that instructions were is- sued by Earl Granville to Sir Clinton Murdoch, a letter v <.s addressed to the War Office by the Colonial Secretary, ou the subject of the proposed expedition, in which the follow- ing paragraph occurs : " General Lindsay will consult Sir J. Young with regard to the selection of the force itself, and of the officer who is to command it, on whose firmness, pru- dence and judgment much may depend. The selection of the officer will be still more important if, as is possible, the Canadian Government should desire him to act as the first ii Il''^ im 1 ^ HISTORY OF MANITOBA Ci , Lieutenant-Governor of the district." General Lindsay arri\\ a in Canada on the 6th of April, and at once put him- self in communication with the Crovernor-General, and the composition of the force was agreed on. At iirst it was pro- posed to send 200 to 250 regulars, and about 700 volunteers, the Dominion Government paying three-fourths of the ex- pense ; but, on the recommendation of General Lindsay, and with the consent of the British Government, the number of regulars was increased to 390, the Canadian Government paying the expense of all over 250. The increase was con- sidered necessary, as it was determined to leaA'e small gar- risons at Thunder Bay and Fort Francis to guard the stores which would be kept at those places. On the 23rd April Earl Granville sent the following telegram to Sir John Young: "On the following conditions troops may ad- vance : — L Jlose to be authorised to pay i;300,000 at once, and Her Majesty s Government to be at liberty to make transfer before the end of June, IL Her Majesty's Government to pay expense of British troops only, not exceeding 260, and Canadian Government the rest, sending at least 500 trained men. IL Canadian Government to accept decision of Her Majesty's Government on disputed points of the Settlers' Bill of Rights. IV. Military arrangements to be to the satisfaction of General Lindsay." On the fourth of INlay instructions wepi sent to Sir John Eose to pay over the .€300,000 to the Hudson's Bay Com- pany (which was done on the eleventh), and on the sixth a telegram was sent by Earl Granville to Sir John Young that the troops may proceed. Meanwhile everything was being prepared for the intend- ed expedition. Early in the winter instructions were given by the Department of Public "Works to Mr. S. J. Dawson to get everything in readiness so that operations could be com- "WrnKSmmmmMmm^' HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 43"? menced as soon as navii^ation opened. It was decided that the route followed should be that formerly adopted by the North-West Company before its amalgamation with th'* Hudson's Bay Company, by way of Lake Superior, Lake Shebandowan and the lakes and rivers to l''ort G-arry. This route had not been used for traffic for a long while, but it had been carefully examined during the previous year by Mr. Dawson, with a view of opening- communication with tho North- AVest through Canadian territory, and a road from Fort William, on Thunder Bay, to Lake Shebandowan had been laid out aiid more than half completed, while, at the other end of the route, the G-overnment surveyors under Mr. Snow had laid out a road from Winnipeg to the North- West Angle of the Lake of the Woods, and this was, also, in course of construction. Early in January contracts for building one hundred boats, suitable for lake and river navigation, were given out to various boat-builders throughout Ontario and Quebec, and the work was pushed rapidly on during the winter. The boats varied in length from 24 to 33 feet, with a breadth of beam from 6 to 7^ feet, depth from 30 to 35 inches, and were capable of carrying from twalve to fifteen men and their outfits, and from 2| to 4 tons of freight ; and it being afterwards found that a greater number \/ould be required, forty additional boats were ordered. Work on the Thunder Bay road was also pushed forward as much as the season and the nature of the locality w«^uld permit, and the bridges completed as far as possible. As it was feared that the insurgents might attempt to tamper with the Salteaux Lidian.i, through whose territory the expedition would have to pass, a trusty agent was sent from Fort William to Fort Francis to endeavour to keep up friendly relations with that tribe. A largo number of voyageurs were also engaijed to manage and navigate the boats, and arrangements made for moving the force to Thunder Bay as soon as navigation should be open. Grave apprehensions were entertained as to the practicabil- 438 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. It,! !; r I ii ' ii ' ity of sending- a large body of troops by the proposed route, which, for a distance of two hundred miles, had never been traversed by any vessel larger or stronger than a bark canoe ; and the chief officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, who were supposed to be well acquainted with the country, had declared it to be impracticable for their boats. So general was this opinion as to the character of the route by Lake Superior, and so firmly fixed had it become, that the Impe- rial Government on two occasions sent troops by way of Hudson's Bay to Fort Garry, as already mentioned in this history. This belief was not, however, shared by Colonel Crofton, who commanded the expedition of 1846, and in his testimony before a Parliamentary Committee in England, in 1857, he unhesitatingly pronounced in favor of the route from Fort William to Fort Garry in preference to the route from York Factory, saying that he had been over both, and he considered that it was far easier to take troops by the former than the latter. Mr. Dawson, also, was very confident as to the practicability of the route, and the result showed that he was quite correct in his assertion that troops could be taken in t^.^t way without any insurmountable difficulty. On the sixteenth of April an Order in Council was passed providing for the raising, arming and equipping of the militia force which was to form part of the expedition. This force, it was determined should consist of two battalions of 350 non-commissioned officers and men each, one to be taken from Ontario and one from Quebec. It was proposed to take A^olunteers from each of the seven Military Districts, the men all to rendezvous at Toronto, proceed thence by rail to Collingwood, and from that point embark for Thunder Bay by the steamers Chicora and Algoma, which had been chart- ered by the Government for that purpose. The men were furnished with a complete outfit and a free kit. The inten- tion in having one battalion from each Province was, doubt- less, that the French Canadian Catholics of Quebec might be equally represented with the English Prot-istants of Onta- I I HISTORY OF MANITOBA 43» rio ; but this design failed on account of the reluctance of the French Canadians to volunteer. The French Canadians were generally opposed to any expedition at all, and refused to join it from the fear that they might be called on to fight their compatriots in Red River. The French Canadian Mem- bers of the House, as a general thing, were opposed to an expedition, thinking it an unnecessary display of force for no purpose, as the French Half-breeds in the Settlement would offer no resistance to the authority of Canada if they were fairly treated ; and the people of Quebec generally determined that, if they could not prevent the expedition, they would, at least, nci. take part in it ; and so the Quebec battalion was Tery slow in forming, and had, at last, to be filled up with discharged men from the Royal Canadian Rifles and volun- teers from Ontario, =^ As early as the eleventh of March an Order in Council was passed authorizing the purchase of provisions for the pro- posed expedition, and Lieut,-Colonel "Wiley, of the Militia • The following return of drill, jiade by Assistant Brigade Major James P. Macleod, on 23rd June, 1S70, gives the aationaltj and religion of both battalions :— Nationality. Ist Batt, 2nd Batt, 79 29 1. English , 2. Irish 3. Scotch 32 4. Born in Canada of^ 1st 2nd Batt, Batt. (a.) English parents 55 61 (b.) Irish " ! 65 20 (c.) Scotch " 45 15 — — 165 5. Born of English-speaking Canadian parents ..- 40 6. Born of French Canadian parents 3 7. Foreigners, but naturalized British subjects 3 8. British subjects, but of foreign parents 4 74 52 21 95 21 77 3 18 3o5 362 Rrligion. 1, Protestant - 330 236 2. Roman Catholic 25 126 355 362 440 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. :-i 't* , 'J I*- Department, was entrusted with this duty, which he per- formed so well that by the twelfth of April he had made arrangements for having the waggons, horses, oxen, hay, &c., provided, and had made contracts for the supply of Hour, pork and other articles needed for the expedition. As soon as it Avas settled that Imperial troops would form a portion of the <^xpedition, if it went, Assistant Controller Irving was sent from England to take charge of the Control Department, and arrived in Canada on the fifteenth of April. On the twenty- second tenders for supplies were advertised for and contracts awarded on the second and third of May. On the eleventh of April, in his llrst communication to the Governor General, General Lindsay had suggested the name of Colonel IVolseley, Deputy Quarter-Master-General in British North America (now Major General Sir Garnet "Wolseley, K.C M.G.), as Commander ot the Forces, which recommendation was accepted and Colonel "Wolseley appointed. He left Montreal on the fourth of May, and went through to Collingwood to inspect the preparations for embarkation there, and to pro- ceed to Thunder Bay, for which place some of the stores and provisions had already started. Everything connected with the expedition was now being pushed forward with the utmcst rapidity ; volunteers were being enrolled, equipped and dulled at Toronto ; stores and provisions were being collected as rapidly as possible at C^ollingwood, and on the 3rd of May the steamer Algoma left for Fort "William with a cargo of stores and 140 voyngeun^ and workmen to go on with the road from Thunder Bay to Lake Shebandowan. It will be as well here to briefly sketch the ror 'e to be followed to reach Fort Garry from Toronto, the whole distance being about 1,150 miles. The first 9-1 miles from Toronto to Collingwood was to be done by rail ; from Collingwood to Fort William on Thunder Bay, Lake Superior, 534 miles, was by steamer ; from thence to Sheban- dowan Lake, 48 miles, by the road which Mr. Dawson had partly completed ; and from Lake Shebandowan, by way of IMMHiP^i^im HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 441 numerous lakes and rivers, and over forty-seven portages, a distance of about 470 miles, to Fort Garry. The task was a difficult one and could only be accomplished by pluck, per- severance and hard work. The most difficult portion of the route was the forty-eight miles intervening between Fort William and Lake Shebandowan, and it was here that the great delay to the expedition occurred. The Commander of the expedition tri<'d to blame the Dominion Government for this delay, even going so far — anonymously — as to charge the Minister of Public Works (Hon. II. L. Langevin) with attempting to prevent the expedition by not having the road completed ; but Mr. ,T. S. Dawson, Superintendent of the road, and many others who accompanied the expedition, laid the blame on Colonel "Wolseley, who would not carry out the programme as originally made out, but varied it by having the boats dragged up the Kaministiquia River instead of completing the road, and then having the boats taken over it by waggon to Shebandowan Lake. Most of our readers are doubtless aware that Collingwood is situated on Lake Huron, and that Fort William is on Lake Superior, the two lakes being connected by the St. Mary River, w^hich forms part of the boundary line between the State of Michigan and the Dominion. The river is navigable except in one place, where there is a canal, on the American side, two miles and a half long, and all vessels passing from one lake into the other have to jyo through this canal. On account of the unfriendly feeling existing between the United States and Great Britain, and the open sympathy shown by the former for the rebels in the North-West, it was antici- pated that vessels carrying troops or munitions of war might be stopped at the Sault, — although the Americans had been allowed during their rfbellion to transport troops as well as warlike material through our canals — and arrangements were partially made for a portage road opposite the canal, by which the troops could march across and meet the steamer at the other end of the rapid, she having, in the meanwhile, gone 442 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. through tho canal. The first steamer to arrive, the A/f^oma, was allowed to pass through without question, and proceed- ed on her way to Fort William, but did not return to Collingwood, as it was thought most prudent to keep her on Lake Superior in the event of any trouble occurring at the canal. The wisdom of this arrangement was soon shown, for when the Chicora arrived at the Sault, on the eleventh of May, she was refused permission to pass through, and her stores, &c., landed on the British side of the river, w^here they had to^be portaged about three miles and re-shipped for Fore William in the Afg-oma. This unfriendly act of the United States authorities caused considerable inconvenience and some delay, but could not materially check the progress of the expedition ; the voi/ageum and w^orkmen brought up by the Chicora at once went to work to improve the portage road and build a small wharf for convenience in landing, and in a short time the goods were taken across. It had never been intended to attempt to take any troops, arms or ammu- nition through the canal, but only provisions, &;c., and nothing else w^as on board at the time the Chicora was refused admittance. On the fourteenth of May the first detachment of troops, consisting of Companies 1 and 4, Ontario Battalion, left Toronto for Collingwood, under command of Colonel Boulton, and, about 9 p.m. the same evening, embarked on the Chicora for Fort William. On arrival at the Sault the troops, stores, &c., were landed on the British side, and the Chicora taken over to the canal empty, but w^as again refused admittance. Cleneral Cook, who commanded the American troops stationed at the canal, was polite, but very decided in his refusal. He said to Colonel Boulton, " My instructions are absolute, nothing whatever connected with the Red River expedition can pass the canal. I must, there- fore, absolutely refuse to let the Chicora pass through." The vessel, therefore, returned to Collingwood, and the troops under Colonel Boulton formed a camp at the Sault to i HISTORY OF MANITOBA. be on hand to assist in portaging stores, &c., from the Chicora to the Afgoma. At the same time more vessels were chartered to compensate for the time lost at the portage, so that the passage of the troops, &c., from Colli;igwood to Fort William may be delayed as little as possible. As soon as it became known in Ottawa that the Chicora had been stopped on her first trip, Sir John Young laid the circumstances of the case before Sir Edward Thornton, the British Minister at Washington, and he represented to the American Grovern- ment that no attempt had been, or would be, made to pass troops or munitions of war through the canal, and that the expedition was purely one of peace, and that vessels ought not to be prevented from taking ordinary freight. On this representation the embargo was removed, and the Chicora and other vessels were afterwards allowed to pass through the canal without trouble, the troops being landed on the British side and marched across the portage. Considerable^ valuable time had been lost, however, and this was the first check to the progress of the expedition. On the 8th of May the Algonia arrived at Fort William with a portion ot Mr. Dawson's voi/ageurs and workmen, who went into camp about four miles from Fort William where the terminus of the road to Sheband®wan was, and soon got to work on the road, fresh arrivals constant augmenting the number. On the 21st May Company G, of the 60th Rifles, left Collingwood in the Chicora, Colonel Wolseley and staff also going on the same trip. The Sault was reached on the 2.:Jrd, and the camp above Fort William on the 25th, this being the first detachment of soldiers to reach this point. Up to this time the camp had been desig- nated as Government Landing, but Colonel Wolseley, on his arrival, gave it the more euphonious name of " Prince Arthur's Landing" as a compliment to the Duke of Con- naught. From this date (26th May) to 21st June, the troops continued to be transported from Collingwood, the last Com- panies reaching Prince Arthur's Landing on the latter date. 414 HISTOUr OF MANITOBA. !.' Pi During- this month somo progress had been made in getting a portion of the stores, &c., from Prince Arthur's Landing part of the way to Lake Shebandovvan, but great dilliculty had been experienced in getting the boats over the road. For the first few days the weather was fine. Two Companiesof the 60th were sent forward to work on the road on the 28th May ; the first line of waggons with supplies started for Kaminis- tiquia Bridge, and some boats were also forwarded on waggons. So far, all was going well, but on the 4tli of June it commenced to rain and rained nearly a week, and that t'ntirely altered the complexion of affairs ; portions of the road became so heavy as to be almost impassable ; only light loads could be taken, and the horses began to show signs of distress, partly caused by ill-fitting collars, and partly from an insufficiency of food — they having been put on cavalry rations, which was not enough for them considering the heavy work they had to do. On the 16th June, out of a total of 129 horses 63 were sick, and about this number con- tinued unfit for work for some time, although there diet was changed, and they were given as much as they could eat, and the services of a veterinary surgeon obtained. The weather continued rainy and the road bad, and it was at this time that Colonel Wolseley determined to try to effect a passage for his boats by the Kaministiquia River. This river runs from Lake Shebandowan into Lake Superior, a ■distance, by its course, of over seventy miles, and falls over 800 feet — that being the difference in level of the waters of the two lakes. Some of the falls are very fine, one being about 120 feet high ; and the river is full of rapids for the greater part of its length. It had always been considered as too wearing on boats to drag them up such a course, and the river was generally regarded as impassable ; but Mr. Mc" Intyre, Hudson's Bay officer at Fort William, persuaded Col. Wolseley that boats could be taken up the river, and that officer despatched Captain Young with six boats, and a number rf voyageurs and soldiers to attempt the passage. pHHKi^ HISTORY OF MANITOBA 44» The boats were towed round from Prince Arthur's Landincir to the mouth of the Kaministicjuia early on the morning of the 4th June, and after eight days of incessant hard work, the party managed to force their waj up the rapids, by means of poling, portaging and dragging thi? boats, and reached Mata- win Bridge (about forty-five miles) on the twellth. It having been demonstrated that boats could be sent up ])y this route Colonel AVolseley ordered that all the boats remaining at Prince Arthur's Landing should be taken that way; accord- ingly 101 boats were so taken up between the Cth June and Gth July, a large number o^voyageurs and troops being enga- ged in the work. Mr. Dawson energetically protested against taking the boats by this route, as it would knock them to pieces and render them unfit for the heavy work they had to undergo ; but he was overruled and the boats were taken that way, and did get very much damaged so that a body of carpenters had to be sent forward to repair them as they reached Lake Shebandowan. The delay of the expedition occurred between Thunder Bay and Lake Shebandowan, and was, according to Mr. Dawson, mostly caused by his voyngeurs being taken off the road to drag the boats up the river, which they knew to be unnecessary, and many of them becoming disgusted and leaving. Colonel Wolseley, on the other hand, claims that the expedition would not have got through in time for the regu- lar troops to return in the fall had it not been for the adoption of the water route ; and that the Dominion Govern- ment was entirely to blame. Towards the end of June it began to be feared that the expedition would have to be abandoned, so slow was the progress, and so small appeared the probability of the regular troops being able to return in time to embark for England before winter set in ; but, on the 29th, General Lindsay visi- ted Thunder Bay, and new energy seemed to be infused into the undertaking. On the 5th of July headquarters were removed to Matawin Bridge, where a large quanticy of 416 HlSTORV OF MANITOBA. stores was by this time collected, and the 16th was fixed as the date of the departure of the first bri^^ade of boats from McNeill's Landing, Shebandowan Lake, the point of iinal departure. The work was iiard, and rendered all the more 80 by the freijuent rains, — it rained on twenty-three days between the 1st of June and the 16th of July — but the men performed it willingly and cheerfully, and were in excellent spirits at the idea of fai ly starting, for, onco on the lake, they knew that their progress would be more rapid, and their lile more pleasent than it had been while engaged road-making and transporting stores The start took placii at nine o'clock on the evening of the 16th of July. After the first detachment had left the embarkation con- tinued rapidly, day alter day, until the 4th of August, when the last of the troops embriked, and only about one hundred and fifty ro/zd^c/trs were left to take the n\serve supplies to Fort Francis, and f» company of the Quebec Battalion, whioh was to remain at Frii je Arthur's Landing to guard a small redoubt which had been erected there for the protection of the stores loft at this point. Two of the four seven-pounder guns were also left there. This company remained at Prince Arthur's Landing until the return of the regulars, when they also went back to Quebe(^ The whole number of men embarked at McNeill's Bay, according to the return of Deputy Commissary Meyer, was 1,431, of whom 92 were officers, 1,051 non-commissioned officers and men, 274 voyus^eum and 14 guides. As the region through which the expedition was to pass was almost w^holly destitute of anything in the way of food (except fish), and there was no means of obtaining supplies of any kind after the expedition left, everything that was needed, or that it was thought might be needed, had to be taken with it, and Colonel VVolseley admits that this was done for all his disposition to xind fault with the Dominion Government, saying : " Every probable, indeed almost every possible, contingency had to be thought of and provided for ; and it muy be confidently asserted that no INHMHiw^' HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 44T expedition has ever started more thoroughly complete or better prepared ibr its \vork." It is needless to ibllow the expedition in detail through its j'ourney by water and land to Fort Garry — sulhce it to say that the route followed was not more arduous than many other canoe or boat routes are, and that the men, although hard-worked at the portages, and sometimes at the oars, had a tolerably lair time of it, and, as the weather was fair most of the time, enjoyed the journey well. The record of one day's routine taken from " A Narrative of the Red Iwiver Fxpedition," which appeared in BlackwnofVs Magazine for December, January and February, 1870-71, and which wo' generally supposed to have been written by Colonel >Volse- ley, will give a pretty accurate idea of all. " At the first daylight (occasionally long before it) the reveille was sound- ed, followed quickly by the cry of ' Fort Garry' from every tent or bivouac fire. This was the watchward of the force, as ' Arms, men and canoes ' ( arma vimmque cuno) was the punning motto adopted for us by our witty Chaplain. Tents were struck and stowed away in the boats, and all were soon on board and working hard at the oar. We halted for an hour at 8 a.m. for breakfast, and again for another hour for dinner at 1 p.m., and finally, for the night, about 6 or 7 p.m. It was surprising, after the first week's practice, to see the rapidity with which the men cooked ; they quickly became most expert at lighting fires, cutting down trees, &c. The sun soon burnt them a dark color — indeed, some became nearly black — the reflection from the water having a very bronzing effect upon the skin. The wear and tear upon the clothes was excessive — carrying loads on their backs tore their shirts and coats, whilst the constant friction of rowing- soon wore large holes in their trousers, which, being patched with canvas from the bags in which the beans or other pro- visions had been carried, gave them a most motley appear- ance. Leading a sort of amphibious life, they were well nicknamed the * canvas-backed ducks.' This constant pull- 44H HISTORY OF MANITOBA. inij was very monotonous iniiploymont ; hut wo liad a goal to reacli, and all I'dt that ovt'iy stroko of tho oar hrought us nearer to it. The lonijj portages were most trying to the men, and it is very questionable wh'jther the soldiers of any other nation would or could have c:ono through the same amount of physical labour that fell to our lot daily." The advanced detachment under Colonel Fielden reached Fort Francis, situate on the right bank of llainy liiver, on the 4th of August, having accomplished 208 miles in nineteen days ; and, as the last detachment had left McNeilFs Land- ing by that time, the Expedition was spread out to a length of over 150 miles. There were seventeen portages in this 208 miles of an aggregate length of three miles seventy-six chains, and at these the men had constructed, or improved, the roads, so that the troops following would have much less trouble and be able to move more rapidly. Fort Francis was, at that time, a small collection of wooden buildings, surrounded ])y a palling, and occupied by a Half-breed agent of the Hudson's Bay Company. The country, for about a mile on each bank of Rainy Iliver, is fertile, but the only part under cultivation was a small portion adjoining the Fort, where the soldiers found peas, potatoes and onions growing, and arrangements had been made for supplying them with fresh meat here, which was a very agreeable change after three weeks of salt pork and biscuits. Colonel Wolseley arrived at Fort Francis with the advance detachment, which he had overtaken on 29th July, and was joined there by Captain Butler, of the 60th Regiment, and Mr. Joseph Monkman, a Half-breed, who had both come from Red River Settlement. Captain Butler had been sent by Creneral Lind- say to Pembina, and had made his way to Lower Fort Garry, visiting some of the loyal portions of the Settlement, and left on the 24th July to meet Colonel Wolseley. He re- ported the people in the Settlement still very uneasy. Riel and his followers continued in possession of Fort G-arry, and the loyal inhabitants were anxiously awaiting the arrival of Wmmmm'^M^--'^ HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 449 the troops. Whili' at Priiicc! Arthur's Landing Cjloncl Wolseley had sent a I'rochimation to the chi*'!' oflicer of the Hudson's Bay Company and to the Roman Catholic and Protestant Bishops. This had been made pul)lic, and reliev- ed the fears of a portion of tlie inhabitants, who felt a little nervous about the coming of the troops. '* Mr. Monkman had left Thunder Bay in June, and gone into the Settlement by way of Fort I'rancis and the North-West Angle of the Lake ot the Woods, and commenced his return on 20th July The report of both gentlemen was to the effect that it was very uncertain whether Kiel would offer any resistance or not. He was extremely anxious on the subject of an amnesty, and Bishop Tache had gone to Ottawa to urge on the authorities that a Proclamation of amnesty should be issued, and as long as this matter was in abeyance it was doubtful whether Kiel would show fight or run away while he had a chance. Under these circumstances Colonel Wolseley had * The foUowinf; is a copy of the Proclamation aa it appeared ia tho New Nation of the twenty-third of July. The paragraph commencing " Courts of Law," Ac., was subsequently omitted : — To THB Loyal Inhaiiitants op Manitoba : Her Majesty's Government having determined upon stationing some troops amongst you, I bare been instructed by the Lieutenant-General Commanding iu British North America to proceed to Fort Garry wi th the force under my command. Our mission is one of peace, and the sole object of the expedition is to secure Her Majesty's Sovereign authority. Courts of Law such as are common to every portion of Her Majesty's Empire will be duly established, and justice will be impartially administered to all races and all classes, the loyal Indiana or Half-breeds being as dear to our Queen as any others of her loyal subjects. The force which I have the honor of commanding will enter 'your Province representing no party, either in religion or politics, and will afford equal protection to the lives and property of all races and of all creeds. The strictest order and discipline will be maintained, and private property will be carefully respected. All supplies furnished by the inhabitants to the troops will bo duly paid for. Should anyone consider himself injured by an indi- vidual belonging to the force, his grievance shall be promptly enquired into. All loyal people are earnestly invited to aid me in carrying out the above mentioned objects. G. J. WOLSELEY, Colonel, Commanding Red River Force. CC iiA^4M 450 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ;ii. to be prepared for any emergency, and to be ready either to "jxo forth on an errend of peace" or to flight for the main- tenance of law and order, it necessary. Colonel AVolseley remained at Fort Francis until the lOth, but the different detachments moved forward as they arrived, the first under Colonel Fielden, arriving at 10 a.m., and leaving at 3.30 p.m. on the 4th. Som.e of the voyageurs taken on at Shebandowan had proved incompetent ; these were dismissed and replaced by some brought up the Winnipeg by ]..ieutenant Butler and Mr. Monkman, and some obtained from the Hudson's Bay post. All surplus stores were dis- charged here, and an hospital established, (although there was, fortunately, no sickness,) and left as a reserve, and one company of the Ontario Battalion remained as a guard. The field-oven was set to work here, and the men greatly relished a supply of soft bread, as a change from the " hard tack " rations they had been having for over two weei.s. " From Fort Francis, 1h»^ expedition had before it 131 miles of unbroken navigation, ei\ding at Eat Portage. First, Rainy Eiver, winding for sixty-seven miles with a gentle current through forests of the most luxuriant grow^th, broken here and there by slopes of green sward, where the Indians of former times had practised the ait of cultivation so long for- gotten to their descendants, and then the Lake of the Woods, whe-"e the course lay for sixty-four miles further, through islands, which, although the lake is large, afford sheltered channels where the stillest breeze is hardly felt." ^ The journey to Kat Portage was accomplished without accident or special incident, and Colonel Fielden arrived at the Port- age on the £th, and was met by a party from the Red River Settlement which had come up the Winnipeg in six boats of the Hudson's Bay Company to meet the expedition. This l^arty was under the guidance of the Rev. Mr. Gardiner, and their arrival was most welcome, not only as an evidence of * S. J. Dawson's Report, page 21. HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 481 active sympathy in the settlement, but because the party had brought up a number of experienced guides to the river, in which the expedition was rather deficient. The third and most toilsome part of the journey was from Ivat Portage, at the outlet of the Lake of the Woods, down the Winnipeg River to Fort Alexander, at the entrance to Lake Winnipeg, a distance of 149 miles, in which there are twenty-five portages, with an aggregate length of three miles six chains. The difi'eience in level between the Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg is 840 feet, and the river is very broken and rapid for the greater part of its course, but wi^-h good guides is tolerably safe It was long used by the North- West Company, and more recently by the Hud- son's Bay Company ; and although the expedition had hard work at some of the portages, and were in a little danger in running some of the rapids, it reached Fort Alexander with- out mishap. " The journey down the '\\ iiinipeg lliver can never be forgotten if once made. For the first fifty miles there are numerous islands -so much so that the river is a succession of lakes, or as if there were four or five rivers running side by side, uniting here and there only to separate a few miles lower down. At some points it is, however, contracted into one or two comparatively narrow channels, where the great rush of water resembles a magnificent mill- race. The passage of such places is always more or less dangerous, particularly if small islands or large rocks divide the rapids into several channels, crossing one another before they meet in the boiling cauldron ot foaming water below. Numerous were the hair-breadth escapes ; in many instances the lives of boats' crews seemed held in the balance for some moments — more awful for those who waiched the scene from the bank than for the soldiers actually in the boat. Provi- dence — a noble term, which this war in France has taught newspaper writers to sneer at — watched over us in a remark- able manner ; for, although we had one or two boats wrecked on this mighty river, and many more were for CC} 452 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. I I- minutes in imminent danger, the whole force reached Lake Winnipeg without any loss of life." =^ The leading brigade of boats reached Fort Alexander on the 18th, and proceeded no further until the arrival of the other brigades containing regulars. By Sunday, 2 1st, all the regulars had arrived, and, after attending Divine Service in the morning, embarkation took place at 3 p.m., and about fifty boats con- veyed the companies of the 60th, the Artillery and Engineers down the river to Lake "Winnipeg. At Fort Alexander the force had been joined by Mr Donald A. Smith, of the Hud- son's Bay Company, who accompanied it on the remainder of its journey. The troops passed the night on Elk Island, and started at 5 a.m. on the 22nd for the mouth of the Eed River, which was reached by the fastest boats about noon. It was hoped that Stone Fort would be reached before dark, but at sunset it was still eleven miles distant, and the expedition halted for the night, camping on the right bank of the river. Every precaution had been taken to prevent any information of the arrival of the expedition reaching Riel, and with such success that he had not the slightest idea the expedition was so near him. The boats started again at 3.30 on the morning of the 23rd in a drizzling rain, which continued all day and made their journey very uncom- fortable. The people along the banks of the Ked River now began to know that the expedition had arrived, and it was greeted with discharges of musketry as it passed along. Stone Fort was reached at 8 o'clock, and here a good break- fast had been prepared by the Hudson's Bay Company officials, and was keenly relished. After breakfast the boats were relieved of all superfluous stores, only four days' rations being left, and the advance on Fort Garry was recommenced. As the expedition was now fairly " in the enemy's country," and it was still thought probable that Kiel would show fight, 1871. Narrative of the Red River Exp^diiion.'' —Ulackwool t Magazine, February, HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 453 preparation was made, in the event of his disputing the passage of the river, to give him a warm reception. The two seven-pounder guns were placed in the bows of two boats, and an advance guard proceeded along the shore about a quarter of a mile ahead of the boats. The company of Captain Wallace was detailed for this purpose, and was mounted on such ponies as could be procured, and, failing those, in country carts, presenting rather a ludicrous appear- ance. This company had orders to prevent any persons passing up the river, but not to interfere with those coming down, and many who came down to meet the boats were .surprised, and a little angry, to find they could not return ; but it could not be helped. Colonel Wolseley had informa- tion that up to noon it was vaguely rumored in Winnipeg that the boats were in the river, but that Kiel discredited the report altogether, not thinking it possible that they could have reached there so soon, and it was important to keep him in ignorance as long as possible. The boats continued on up the river all day through the rain, only halting an hour for dinner, and stopped for the night about two miles below the English Cathedral, about six miles by land and nine by water from Fort Garry, camp being formed on the right bank. About nine o'clock the drizzle turned to a heavy rain which continued all night, converting the prairie into a sea of mud, so that, next morning. Colonel Wolseley had to aban- don his idea of advancing by land and keep to the river until Point Douglas was reached, about eight o'clock, two miles from the Fort, where the troops were landed. "The troops were disembarked on the left bank, and formed up in open column of companies. A few ponies that were brought by the inhabitants were useful in mounting the Colonel and his ■ staff, and two country carts were used for drawing the guns, which were limbered up behind them A line of skirmishers was thrown out about 400 yards in advance of the column, which immediately commenced its move in the direction of the village of Winnipeg, in column of fours, the 60th Rifles 454 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 3 leading, Artillery and Engineers next, and a company of 60th Rifles as rear guard. In this formation the columa passed over a small creek, and keeping outside the village, wheeled slightly to its left, and advanced on the Fort, having the Assinniboine Iliver on its right flank, and the village on its left. Some half-dozen loyal inhabitants, mounted on horseback, accompanied the column, and were useful as scouts and guides. The latest information obtained in the village was to the effect that Kiel and his party were still inside the Fort, that the gates were shut, and that they intended resisting the troops. No flag was flying from the flagstaff' in the Fort, and there was no sign of life visible ; everything looked grim and frowning, and the gun mounted over the gateway that commanded the village and the prairie over which the troops were advancing, was expected momentarily to open fire. But the hopes of the troops were doomed to disappointment. On nearing the Fort some of the mounted men were sent forward to ascertain the state of affairs ; they were followed by three of the Staff", and soon returned, having ridden all around the Fort and found the gate opening on the bridge over the Assinniboine River wide oj)en. The troops were marched in by this gateway, having stopped and detained three men who were making off' up the Assinniboine River. The Fort was found to be emptied of its late 'lefenders, Riel, Lepine and O'Donohue having ridden off* he Red River about a quarter of an hour previously. ; e troops then formed line outside the Fort, the Union J, .. was hoisted, a royal salute fired, and three cheers were given for the Queen, which were caught up and heartily re-echoed by many of the civilians and settlers who had followed the troops from the village." ^ The " errand of peace " had been accomplished. Through 600 miles of " rocks and water " the gallant little expeditionr had manfully made its way, overcoming difficulties of nature * Colonel Wolseley's Official Journal, 24th August, 1870. mmmm^mmm^^ HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 455 which may well have deterred less bold and persevering- men ; disheartened at times,dispirited and confused by rumors of recall, with the elements warring against them and but little save a sense of duty to cheer them on, the men had still heartily, cheerfully, and willingly undergone all the trials and privations of that arduous advance ; and now stood ankle-deep in the mud, A'ictors without firing a shot, con- scious that they had accomplished the object of their mission, that rebellion had lied to hide its diminished head, that peace and order would be restored, that the insult to the British Hag was wiped out, and that it once more replaced the rebel banner which for ten long w^eary months had floated over Fort Garry .The condition in w^hich everything was foand was miserable in the extreme. The rain still continued, and it being impossible to find a spot free from mud on which to pitch tents, the troops were accommodated, in the best manner possible, in the buildings of the Fort, lately occupied by the Company All inside the Fort was in confusion and gave evidence of hasty flight, the " President's " unfinished breakfast being on a table, and " Adjutant-General " Lepine having departed in such haste that he had forgotten to take with him a pot of pomatum with which he wa^ wont to oil his moustache. Bishop Tache had arrived on the previous day, accompanied by Messrs. M. A. Girard of Varrennes, and Joseph Royal, of Montreal, who came up to fill positions in the new Government, and Kiel and some others had inter- views with him on the night of the 23rd. It was then the intention of Kiel to remain, but as soon as he heard the bugles of the Sixtieth, his courage failed him and he crossed the Assiniboine to Bishop Tache's, afterwards going to St- Joseph, Minnesota. The militia were only a short distance behind the regulars, and arrived in a few days in good health and spirits. One of the most noticeable features of the expedition was that not a life w^as lost in any way, and that there was an almost entire absence of sickness. This is, to a great extent attributable to the fact that, after the expedition 466 HISTORY OF IfAXITOBA, left Shebandowaii, no spirits of any kind were allowed. There had been two canteens at Princt' Arthur's Landino- when camp was first formed there, one for the regulars and one for the militia ; the latter was (dosed at the request of Mr. Von Nostrand, Stipendiary Mag-istrate, it ])eing contrary to law to sell spirits in the vicinity of Public Works, but the other was kept open. From the time of embarkation to the arrival at Fort Garry, no spirits could be obtained, and the good health of the troops may, in some measure, be fairly attributed to that cause. Colonel Wolseley in his report to the Military Secretary, dated 26th September, say : " From first to last there was a total absence of crime ; and I may add of sickness also. Never has any body of men on active service been more cheerful or more healthy. This has been one of the few military expeditions where spirits have form- ed no part of the daily ration, and where no intoxicating liquor was obtainable. I consider that ihe above-mentioned happy results are in a great measure to be attributed to this fact ; a large ration of tea was issued instead, and I found that the men worked better than I had ever seen soldiers do upon any previous occasion where rum formed part of their daily allowance." The position of Colonel Wolseley on his arrival was a diflioult one. The purchase money for the North- West had been paid over t) the Hudson's Bay Company (11th May) ;' the Order in Council transferring the territory to Canada had been passed (i3rd June), and the Hon. Adams G. Archibald had been appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the New Province (20th May), but he bad not arrived, and Colonel Wolseley found that there was no Civil Government, no provision having been made for anv interregnum between the. over- throw of Kiel and the installation of Governor Archibald. He had no civil authoritj-, and to have proclaimed martial law would have been most injudicious, especially as there was not the least semblance of resistance, and not a shot had been fired except those of welcome to the troops. IMany of I tMiMmmi HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 4&7 those who had suffered iraprisoiiment or other wrongs at the hands of Kiel and his followers were anxious for revenge* and endeavoured to persuade the commanding officer to issue warrants for the arrest of Kiel and others ; but he, wisely, refused to assume any civil power, and held that the Hudson's Bay Company was the only civil authority, until the arrival of Governor Archibald. A few arrests had been made when the troops arrived, but the prisoners were ordered to be released. On the twenty-seventh two companies of the Ontario Battalion, under command of Major Wainwright, arrived, having been wind bound for thirty-six hours on Lake Winnipeg, and after that the other brigades came up rapidly. The period of arrival being so much later than had been expected at the time the expedition was planned, no time was lost by Colonel Wolseley in having the regular troops start on their return to Canada, so that they might be in time to embark for England, and two companies started on the return voyage on the twenty-ninth, the others following rapidly, so that the last company of the 60th left Fort Garry on the firfit of September, some going by boats, and some by Mr- Snow's road to the North-West Angle of the Lake of the Woods. Peace and order seemed to be perfectly restored, as far as the military could effect it, and Colonel Wolseley tele- graphed General Lindsay, on 29th August, that he sa\v no necessity for detaining the regulars, and therefore sent them back. Lieutenant-Governor Archibald arrived about half- past eight on the evening of the second, having followed the route of the expedition, but had been detained in the Lake of the Woods. A royal salute was fired in his honour next morning, after which the Royal Artillery and Engineers left by boat, and Colonel Wolseley started for the North-West Angle of the Lake of the AVoods, where he met the returning expedition, and accompanied it part of the way back to Montreal, which place was reached by the last of the regulars on 14th October. The militia battalions wintered in Fort 4C8 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. !!■' ■;, Garry, Lieut. -Colonel Jarvis, of the Ontario Battalion, being" left in command. So ended the Eed River Expedition- Necessitated by the distracted state of the country it execu- ted a warlike journey lor a peaceful purpose, which being accomplished the Imperial troops connected with it with- drew, and left the militia to assist the civil authority, if necessary, in maintaining order: bu', fortunately, no such necerity arose, and that l /!- e . >o was withdrawn in the spring. Too much praise i •;»». be accorded to Colonel Wolseley for the able mannei .1 w'-'^h he led his troops through a difficult and dangerous couutry ; and no small amount of the success of the expedition was due to his per- sonal example and untiring zeal ; and it is to be regretted that he did not confine himself to the very able Official Journal of the expedition, which contains, beyond mere mili- tary details, an immense amount of useful information per- taining to the country, but saw fit to write an unofficial ac- count,=* in which he animadverted very severely on the conduct of the leading public men in Canada, and laid himself open to the suspicion that his strictures were mainly caused by pique at the action of the Government of the day in appointing a civilian as Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba instead of following the advice of Earl Granville and appointing the Commander of the Expeditioi;. • " Narrative of the Red River Expedition," in Blackwood'' s Magazine for December, 1870; January and February, 1871. 'i ' il, \ iHMiHliii^ HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 45* CHAPTER XXIIl. Arkival of Lieut.-Governor Archibald— The Advan- tage OF Kiel's Flight — Governor Archibald's Con- ciliatory Course — The Death of Goulet — Why Regular Troops should have been left at Fort Garry— A Census taken — Immigration— Land Troubles— The "Fenian Raid" — A Contemptible Fizzle — Arrest of •' General " O'Neil and iw Release by U.S. Aut^ orities— The Sp:cond Expedi TioN to Red River — Offer of $5,000 by the Ontai- > Government for the Arrest of the Murdeuep^ >f Scott — Riel Assisted by the Dominion GovERNarEN -: TO Leave the Country. The position of Colonel Wolseley was rather peculiar, as we have already stated, on account of his not being invested with any civil authority, and he was, doubtless, very glad to be relieved from responsibility by the arrival of Lt.-Gov. Archibald, on the 2nd of September. The arrival of the Lieutenant-Governor had been purposely delayed until after that of the troops ; and he had, moreover, lost a day looking for the terminus of the road from the North-West Angle of the Lake of the Woods, it having been arranged that he should land there and be escorted by a party of the citizens, to be sent out by Bishop Tache to meet him, to Winnipeg by the newly made road ; but his guide could not find the landing place, and it was as well he did not, for the Bishop, who only arrived at Fort Garry the day before the troops, had not been able to raise an escort to meet him, and so he would have found no one at the landing. The new Governor was kindly, but not enthusiastically received. The French element was greatly dissatisfied that the amnesty which they had been led to expect had not been proclaimed, and it needed all the ■,\.t Df^ 460 IILSTOKV OF MANITOBA. "i •ifefl''^^! 1 f ■ :- I power and iiilluonce of IJishop Tache to porsuade them to quietly submit to the now order of things without the pro- rlamation of the amnesty, which they were told was only postponed, but would certainly be granted. The Canadian or "Loyal " party was equally dissatisfied. Many of them had suffered much at the hands of Kiel, and clamored for reprisals in the way of arrests and imprisonments, which the Government just coming into power did not see its way clearly to make ; so that Governor Archibald had a very difficult task to perform in attempting to alUliate two distinct classes, neither one of which could be thoroughlv conciliated without giving oflence to the other. Added to this, some immigration had already commenced, but it was mostly of a partizan character, those who came from Ontario joining the Canadian party in its demand for the punishment of those who had been in rebellion, whilst those who were from Quebec supported the French party in its cry for amnesty and a general forgetfulness of the past. Between the two extremes the Governor tried to steer impartially, and that he was roundly abused by both sides is one of the best evidences of his success ; and the peaceful establishment of law and order, and the restoration of public confidence is another. Of course, those who had suffered were anxious for the punishment of Kiel and his followers, and warrants for the arrest of Kiel, O'Donohue and Lepine for the murder of Scott, were applied for to Colonel Wolseley ; he, however, having no civil authority, could not act, and recognized the Govern- ment of the Hudson's Bay Company, under the management of Mr. Donald A. Smith, as the only legal authority, pending the arrival of Governor Archibald. Mr. Smith, very prudently, declined at first to issue a warrant, tearing that any attempt at punishment in the then temper ol the people — disappoint- ed and angered at what they considered the duplicity of the Canadian Government in promising amnesty, and then tak- ing forcible possession of the country without granting it — would lead to fresh troubles ; and, although warrants were HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 461 only were subsequently obtained, the parties wanted had had time to- make good their escape to the Unitt'd Stat<'s. There is no doubt but that the flight of Kiel was the best thing that could have happened for the peaoe of tlie country ; and this opinion was fully held by Governor Archibald, for, in a letter to Sir George E. Cartier, dated the day after his arrival (8rd September, 1870), he says : " It is, perhaps, the best solution of tho question that these men have taken to iiight. Their presence here, in the meantime, would have been a source of incessant trouble. Warrants lor the apprehension of the three men who have fled were applied for and obtained, and have been placed in the hands of constables. Of course, while feeling runs so high as it does at present, an attempt at arrest (if they had remained) would have been met by resistance, and in the end we would perhaps have had to call in the military, and we would have had a world of trouble, which the absence of these people enable us to escape. I do not know whether Bishop Tache will take the same view, but I hope he will." Again, writing on the tenth, he says : " I have seen a good deal of Bishop Tache, who assures me of his support in the views I am acting on ; but he is very nervous about the amnesty, and he is evidently fretting at the delay in what he thinks is sure to come. He says there is great uneasiness in the French population, and fears the consequences of any attempt to arrest the trio (Kiel, O'Dono- hue and Lepine), against whom warrants were procured before I arrived. I thought it right to press on him that the surest way to avoid any such collision is that the parties should not be found within the jurisdiction. I have no doubt that any attempt to arrest would be met with a desperate resistance, which might involve a great many of the population, while, so far as I can learn, there is no dis- position to proceed against any person but the three men who were considered in a peculiar manner to be chargeable with the death of Scott. I have explained to the Bishop that, even if there were an amnesty to-morrow, it Avould not save MS IIISTORV OF MANITOBA. i t these parties from possible attempts on their lives, which might be attended with consequences as fatal as the attempt to arrest, and, therefore, under the present circumstanc(\s, in the interests of the community, in the interests of the French Half-})reeds, and in the interests of the parties themselves, it would be better that they should not ])e found in the territory.'' On the day following his arrival the Governor had inserted in the New Nation (then the only newspaper in the Province) a notice that he would hold a levee on the sixth instant, at which his Commission, &c., would be read, and on that day he was waited on by the Catholic and Protestant Bishops and Clergy, and a number of leading business men and farmers ol' the Settlement. The first impression made by the new Governor was good, and although the Opposition press tried to lash the Dominion Government over his back by accusing him of partiality to the French, yet his course, on the whole, was highly judicious, and the best possible to re-establish order on a permanent basis. His attention was at once turned to having a census taken so that electoral divisions could be made and an election for the Local House held at once, as it was desirable that the Jbrm of Responsible Government provided for in the Manitoba Act, should be inaugurated as speedily as possible. Pending the election and in accordance with the instructions given him by the Secretary of State for the Provinces, under date 4th of August, he appointed two members of the Executive Council, leaving the other offices vacant until after the elections. The two gentlemen so appointed were Hon. Alfred Boyd, Provincial Secretary, and Hon. M. A. Girard, Provincial Treasurer. The following extract from Governor Archibald's despatch to the Secretary of State for the Provinces, dated 17th of September, will give his reasons for the appoint- ments : •' Thinking it was now time to organize a Govern- ment, and that I had become sufficiently acquainted with the people to form some idea of the material out of which this lMmMlfti»M' HI.STURV OF MANITOBA. 463 I I could bo formed, I hav<» chost.Mi a man ropivsenting oach s»'ctiou of the population here, and appointed them meml)ers of my Executive Council. Mr. Alfred Boyd is a merchant of good standing here. He is a man of fair iihilities, of considerable means, and very popular among the English Half-breeds, He was chosen by the parish of St. Andrews (the most populous parish in the Settlement) as a delegate to the Convention last winter. "While highly esteemed among the English party, he is not obnoxious to the French. I have appointed him Provincial Secretary. Mr. Marc Ama- ble Girard is a French-Canadian from Varennes, below Montreal, who has recently removed here. He is a Notary by profession, has been Mayor of Varennes, and is a gentle- man of some property, and of good standing, and seems to be the nominee of the French party. I have appointed him Provincial Treasurer." On the 13th September an event occurred which caused much excitement, and threatened for a moment to disturb the peace of the Settlement ; but a prompt investigation of the circumstances of the case, and the evident dispo- sition shown to administer even justice, soon calmed the excited feelings of the people, and order was restored without any difBculty. A man named El/(^ar Coulet, who had been one of lliel's Councillors, and a member of the " Court-Martial " which condemned Scott to death, made his appearance in a saloo'i in AVinnipeg, was recognized and chased by a man who had been imprisoned by Kiel, and some volunteers belonging to the Ontario Battalion, and in trying to swim acres - the Red River was drowned. No Coroner had as yet been appointed, and, in the absence of Dr. Bird, who had been Coroner under the Hudson's Bay Government, Governor Archibald ordered an investigation to be held before two magistrates, Messrs. Robert McBeth and Samuel Hamelin, and appointed Mr. H. J. G. McConville, a Montreal lawyer newly arrived in the Settlement, to con- duct the case. The examination lasted many days, owing to 1»»- 464 HISTORY OF MANITOBA the difiiculty in getting witnesses to testily, and in obtain- ing a clerk to take down the evidence, the general impres- sion amongst the French being that the investigation was to be used as a sort of Star Chamber, to obtain information on which to base a series of general prosecutions. It would appear from the evidence that the ends of justice were made somewhat subservient to necessity in this case, for there was no doubt but that the death of Goulet ^vas caused by these three men — who belonged to the Canadian or " Loyal" party— but it was felt that in the excited state of public feeling to have made atii/ arrest would, in all proba- bility, have precipitated a conflict between the two nationa- lities and religion'^ which would have been far more disas- trous than the rising of the previous winter ; it was, therefore, deemed more expedient to defer any action in the matter until popular feeling should have become more quiet. The fact was that the short-sighted policy of the G-ladstone Government, in its haste to withdraw the troops from Canada, of immediately recalling the regulars and leaving the volun- teers as the only military force in the Province, was already beginning to bear evil fruit. The French Half-breeds did not consider that they had ever rebelled against British authority ; but on the contrary, that they had only asserted their rights as British subjects to a voice in the management of their own affairs by resisting the encroachment of Canada on those rinhts, and that thev would not have obtained those rights had they not taken up arms against Canada. They laid down their arms when they thoug^ht that the object for which they had been taken up was accomplished, brt th'^ presence of Canadian troops amongst them, and the delay in proclaiming the amne-ty, made them feel that they were being treated as a conquered people, and there was a very decided inclination amongst them to again take up arms and " fight it out." To regular British soldiers there could not have been any objection taken ; and it was hoped that the portion of the GOth which was sent up would have been allowed, at least, ^:^mmm^ HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 465 to remain for the winter ; but no amount of representation on the part of the Canadian G-overnment could convince the Gladstone Ministry that the interests of peace would behest served by allowing the regulars to remain a short time at Fort G-arry until order was perfectly rest ored, and they w^ere taken back to Quebec to spend the winter there to no purpose, when their presence would have been of great advantage in the North-West. It must be remembered that the majority of the volunteers w^ere Protestants, and a large proportion of them Orangemen who made no secret of their desire to " avenge the murder of poor Scott ;" that they had neither the training nor steadiness of regular troops, and that many of those who had been imprisoned by Kiel and obliged to submit when they had not force enough to resist, were very anxious to avenge their wn-ongs and incite the voluniv^ers to a rupture with the French party now that the English party was the stronger of the two. The majority of the volunteers were quiet and orderly, but, unfortunately, there were some turbulent spirits amongst them, and as grog-shops were altogether too numerous in Winnipeg, there were sev- eral " rows," so that, after the death of G-oulet, Colonel Jarvis thought it more prudent to stop the leave of the Ontario Battalion for a w^hile, and prevent their going into Winnipeg at all. Meanwhile Kiel, O'Donohue, and a number of their fol- lowers, had established themselves at St. Joseph, just across I le boundary line, and were secretly plotting for another rising after the winter had set in, and no help could be expected from Canada. A meeting of about forty of the disaffected was held at River Salle — Avhere the first opposi- tion to Mr. Macdougall had been planned — on the night of the 17th of September, four days after the death of Goulet, at which Eiel and Lepine were supposed to have been present ; but, although threats were freely indulged in, and a company of volunteers was sent to the frontier to protect it against the threatened raid from St. Joseph, no rising took place, and 466 FISTORY OF MANITOBA, hi U the winter passed in peace and quiet. After a little while the volunteers and the inhabitants began to get on better terms with each other, although the correspondents of some "^Canadian newspapers — especially the Nouveau-Monde and 'Globe tried their best to spread ill-feeling by exaggeration ^and misrepresentation of the conduct of the volunteers on the one hand, and ridiculing and belittleing the French Half-breeds on the other. After the volunteers got fairly settled in their winter quarters, an amateur dramatic asso- ciation was formed, and gave several very creditable enter- tainments, while a minstrel troupe and a few balls and parties tended to make the winter pass pleasantly, and to place them in familiar intercourse with the people, so that by the spring, when they were disbanded, or taken back to Canada, there was a much better feeling than there had been immediately after their arrival. It was not desirable that the volunteers should do police duty, and it had been intended to form a body of mv)unted police in Canada and send it up after the expedition. The project was abandoned, and an attempt made to raise a local force ; but vhe response to Governor Archibald's call for men was so meagre, and the terms demanded so exorbi- tant, that it was found impossible to do anything in that ijS*Sh HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 467 } while better dF some \de and ;eration jers on French t fairly LC asso- i enter- 11s and and to so that back to ad been police lounted [1. The raise a id's call exorbi- in that .ed from Elussars, division :ing the numera- iid com- an exact 1 July — LOse who te, being houses ' roaming w"ed the population to be 11,963, of whom 1,565 were whites, 558 Indians, 5,757 French Ilalf-breeds, and 4,083 English Half- breeds. Religions were divided — 6,247 Catholic ; 5,716 Pro- testant. Nearly the whole population were British subjects there only being sixty-two citizens of the United States, half of whom had been born in Canada and had became natural- ized. Of the 1,565 whites, 7 47 were born in the North-West, 294 in Canada, 69 in the United States, 125 in England, 240 in Scotland, 47 in Ireland, 15 in France, and 28 in other countries. Immediately after the completion of the census, writs were issued for the local election, which was held on the 30th December, and passed off very quietly, a number of the candidates being elected by acclamation. The following is a return of the members elected. Those marked ^ were returned by acclamation : — St. Boniface, West L. Schmidt.* St. Charles H.J, Clarke.* St. Clements ....Thos. Bunn. St. Francois Xavier,E....P. Breland. St. Francois Xavier,W..J. Royal.* St. James E. Bourke. St. Norbert, North J. Lemay. St. Norbert, South P. Delorme.* St. Paul Dr. Bird.) St. Peters T. Howard. St. Vital A.Beauchemin* Winnipeg.. D. A. Smith. Baie St. Paul J. Dubuc* Headingly J. Taylor. High Blutf J. Norquay.* Kildonan J. Sutherland. Lake Manitoba A. McKay.* Poplar Point D. Spence. Portage la Prairie F. 0. Bird. St. Agathe Geo. Klyne. St. Andrews, North... .\. Boyd. St. Andrews, South .,E. II. G. Hay. St Anne J. McTavish.* St. Boniface, East M. A. Girard.* The Legislative Council was appointed 15th March, 1871, when the following gentlemen were called to that body : — Hon. F. Dauphina'3. Hon. Colin lakster. " Donald Gunn. " J. H. O'Donnell. " Solomon Hamelin. " Francis Ogietree. Hon. James McKay, {speaker. The Executive Council was appointed on 10th January, 1871, when the following gentlemen accepted office : — Hon. Marc Amable Girard Treasurer. " Thomas Howard Provincial Secretary. " Henry James Clarke, Q C Attorney-General. " Alfred Boyd Minister of Public Works and Agriculture. " JMaes UcKa/ Without office. 9m 466 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. Nothing of very striking importance occurred during the winter beyond a few disturbances with the volunteers, which, were not of a serious nature ; and the impartiality with which Governor Archibald made appointments, and the fair- ness with which he recognised the claims of the French Half- breeds, caused him to grow in popularity, and tended tO' restore feelings of peace and security. With the spring came an influx of immigrants, the first arriving on the 29th of April. About the 1st of May such of the volunteers as desired to settle in the country were discharged from service, and a grant of land made them ; those who did not wish ta remain were returned to the Province from whence they came — all but two companies, about eighty men, who were kept to guard the Fort, and to assist the police in maintain- ing order if required. During the summer the land question very nearly caused trouble, but through the exertions of Governor Archibald the danger was averted. The new immigrants were, of course, very anxious to obtain land^ and, quite naturally, wanted to get the best without any regard as to whom it belonged to ; the Governor was not in a position to grant any lands so speedily, for the Indian title had first to be extinguished, and the Half-broed reservation under the Manitoba Act set apart, before the Gc v~ ernment could determine wha^ lands it really had rt ts- disposal to give to actual settlers. This took some tiine to accomplish. The Indian Treaties were not concluded until July ; and it was about the same time before the surveyors got fairly to work, and a Land Office was opened in Winni- peg. Meanwhile some of the new-comers had grown impa- tient and squatted upon whatever land they took a fancy to,, which vvas resented by the French Half-breeds, who claimed some oi' xl\f lauds so occupied, and for a while a collision seemed imtn'^ent. The greatest danger of a collision occur- red ai-. liiviir' (u-x Islets de Boif, which a body of French Halibr^ei^" Hp J .selec ud. as a site for their farms, and put up some eHcloFurew, A party oi" immigrants from Ontario took J^ilb HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 469 possession of this site, staked off the ground, put up huts, and, as if to add insult to injury, changed the name of the river to the Boyne. The French Half-breeds at once held a meet- ing, and determined to drive out the intruders by force ; but U-overnor Archibald, hearing of the matter, sent for some of the leaders, and by threats and entreaties induced them to abandon their threatened attack, and something like peace was restored. Some of the new immigrants and a portion of the volun- teers from Ontario seemed determined to provoke a collision with the French, and lost no opportunity of irritating them and abusing the Governor for his alleged partiality towards them. Some of the volunteers did not hesitate to declare that thev had taken an oath before leaving Ontario to avenge the murder of Scott, and to shoot any Frenchman who was in any way implicated in his death ; and as a sort of challenge to the Catholics, an Orange Lodge was formed, and the 12th of July celebrated by a procession, with party badges, tunes, &c. About this time Kiel returned to his home, and was warmly welcomed by his old friends. He had been spoken of as a candidate lor the House of Communs for Provencher, but had been persuaded that his election would be useless as he would either be shot or expeliod from the House. After the return of Kiel and the affair at Riviere aux Islets de Bois, the temper of the French began to get ■ len. They recognized the fact that the large immigratic rom Ontario would soon sweep away their political major , and that the Province would be ruled pretty much as th ■ new- comers pleased, without any regard for them ; and ihey be- gan to grow uneasy at the long delay in proc .uaing a general amnesty, which no argument coald persuade them it was not in the power of the Canadian Grovernraent to grant. Several meetings were held in the French parishes, and the subject of another rising in the fall was discussed. Meanwhile, the irrepressible " General " O'Neill wa- again meditating a " raid " on the pocket-books of the confiding 470 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 'S- I' ■■' servant girls of New York, and followed his usual game of planning another " invasion " of Canada, this time selecting the far away Province of ^lanitoba, the warm receptions he had received in Upper and Lower Canada on his previous visits in 18C6 and 1870 not encouraging him to try either of those Provinces again. At first sight his plan seemed to savor more of temporary success than either of his former efforts ; for he was almost certain of receiving a friendly re- ception from the French Half-breeds, while it was doubtful whether the English Half-breeds were so much in love with Canada as to fight on her behalf, and the bulk of the volun- teers having been withdrawn, there was really very little materiul from v;hich he need expect a vigorous resistance. Added to this he had an ample supply of men within easy distance, for there were two railways under construction in Northern Minnesota at the time, on which several thousand men, mostly Irishmen, were engaged ; and these, together with the nondescript cL'ss generally found hovering about the frontier towns of the West, and the S(^um of the large cities, gave him an abundance of men for his purpose. Of arms and ammunition he had a fair supply, for the United States Government had l.iidly returned w^iat had been seized by their troops after the last raid. With circumstances so much in his favor, it is not surprising that O'Neill was titsily persuaded by O'Donohue to fry one more invasion of ^'..nada, and the rumours of Fenian concentratiojis of men and arms near Pembina and other points on the frontier, began to be current in Manitoba during September. The " head and front " of this new move was W. B, O'Donohue, Iliel's ex-Treasurer ; and he claimed that the at- tempt was not intended as a Fenian movement at all, but was simply meant as a continuation of the rebellion of 'GO-VO, and that Kiel, Lepine and the other leaders were cognizant of what was intended, and were prepared to lend their assist- ance to the movement. In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Commons, dated St. Paul., 26th February, .'/''■::■■, ^i Uii" III! lit'i rir'i' HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 471 1875, O'Donohue says ho could prove, amongst other things, " That tlie so-called " Fenian raid " is a misnomer, as Fenian- ism had nothing whatever to do with it. That it was simply a continuation of the insurrection inaugurated in 180'.^ and' with the same avowed intention, and by the same parties, & fact which the then existing Government of Manitoba was cognizant of for months previous to the so-called " raid." That my part in it was simply that of an agent of the people, holding a commissioji authorized by a resolution of tho Council held atlaKivere ^Saile in September, 1870, over whicli Council L. Kiel presided. This commission I hold, signed by the officers, both civil and military, and of the late Provi- sional Government of the French party ; and also a copy of the resolution authorizing the commission, as a proof of which I have in my possession the minute book of the Council.'" On the other hand, Governor Archibald, Bishop T;) ;he and others testified to Kiel's opposition to the raid, and his exer- tions with his fellow-countrymen to deter them from assist- ing it. The evidence, however, we must admit, seems to us a little partial, and there does not appear to be any reasonable grounds for doubt but that Kiel favored the movemei.t at first, and that it was only aTter the raid was over, and the brave O'Neil had for the third time sought safety in the arms- of an United States Marshal, that Reil suddenlv remembered his loyalty and offered his services, and those of some two hu7idred Metis to Governor Archibald. The " raid " took place on the 5th of October, and was a more contemptible fizzle than either of its predecessors. At half-pa;:;t seven, o'clock in the morning " Generals "' O'Neil, Curley and Don- nelly, and O'Donohue, with thirty-five followers, appeared at the Hudson's Kay Company's post at Pembina, which they took possession of, but immediately afterwards a squad of United Stutes troops under Colonel AVheaton arrived at the post and captured ail the " Generals "' and ten of the " army,'"^ the balance, led by O'Donohue, showing to what good service stout legs can be put when craven hearts prompt the run- li 4T3 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. niiig. t'fi I So ended tlio " raid." Not even a blank cartridge was wasted, nor was there the slightest opportunity lor the most gushing reporter to get up even the mildest " sensation " report of it. O'Donohue lelt in such a hurry when he heard that the United States troops were coming that he Vorgot to take his cloak and overcoat. He was taken prisonei* shortly after on the Canadian side of the line by some Half-l reeds who, eit. : r through ignorance or design, took him into United States territory and surrendered him to Colonel "Wheaton, who promptly discharged him, as he had been captured in Canadian territory. The prisoners went through the farce of an examination before United States Commis- sioner Spencer, and w^ere liberated as speedily as possible, on the plea that there was no evidence that the oftence charged --breach of the neutrality laws — had been planned in Min- nesota, O'Neil, finding that the United States oflicers really meant to do their duty promptly this time, saw that it was useless to make another attempt, and shortly after returned to the East. As to the preparations made to repel the invasion, had it become serious, wo may say that Governor Archibald had been aware of O'Donohue's design for some time, and had been making very strong efforts with the Catholic clergy to induce them to use their influence with Riel and his fol- lowers to unite with the Grovernment in its efforts to repel the invaders ; and had also issued a proclamation on the 3rd of October, setting forth the danger wuth which the Province was threatened, and calling upon " all our said loving subjects, irrespective of race oi religion, or of past local differences, to rally round the flag of our common country," and to assemble at once in the different parishes and enroll under local offi- ers. The Canadians and English Half-breeds responded very promptly to this call, and about nine hundred men were speedily enrolled ; but the French held back, and it w^as only on the btli— after he had heard of the capture of O'Neil & Co., bv Colonel Wheaton— that HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 473 Governor Archibald was informed that some two hundred of the Metis had assembled at St. Bonitace, across the Red Kiver from Fort Garry, and desired to offer their sevvic^es. He crossed the river in company with Hon. Mr. Royy.l, and M\as introduced to the leaders, amongsJ: whom were Kiel and Lepine, shaking hands with them and thanking them for their tenderiid service, which was accepted, and about fifty of them were detailed to act as scouts, but. of course, there was nothing for them to do, as the would-be raiders had been already dispersed, or captured by Cclonel Wheaton. Governor Archibald held, in his report of the raid, and in his evidence before the Select Committee in 1874, that at the time Riel offered his services it was not known that the raid was at an end ; that their »vas still intense excitement, and that another attack from the way of St. Joseph was momen- tarily expected ; and that Kiel's offer of assistance was made in good faith, as he could not possibly have known the precise state of affairs, which was, that the leaders having been captured, the raid had collapsed. "With all due deffer- ence to Governor Archibald, there is no evidence to show that Riel did not have efficient scouts as well as the Gover- nor ; that he was perfectly well aware of the fact of the raid having failed ; and that he had held back so that he and his followers could be at liberty to join the raiders if they succeeded in establishing themselves in the territory ; or if — as was the case — the raid was frustrated by the United States troops, then he could offer the Governor his services just when they would not be needed. The effect of the news of the raid in Canada was to cause a second expedition to be hastily fitted out, to take the place of those volunteers who had been recalled during the summer, and an Order in Council was passed on the 12th of October, providing for the immediate despatch of 200 men to reinforce the two service companies in Fort Garry. It was well known before the expedition left that their services would not be needed to fight the Fenians, as 474 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. '1 (If there was no probability of the attack being renewed, but it M'^as sei'ii that the force left in the Province was two small, and that a larger body of men Was needed until order should have been perfectly restored and the local militia thoroughly organized. For the latter duty Lieittenant-Colonel Osborne Smith, Deputy AdJutant-G-eneial of Militia, commanding Military District No. f>, was ordered to proceed to Manitoba, by way of Pembina, at once, to take command of the new military district to be formed, and also to meet the expedi- tion at the North-West Angle of the Lake ol the Woods. The expedition was formed on the same basis as the previous one (except that there were no regulars), 100 men being taken from each Province, — and it is worthy of notice that far more than the necessary number volunteered in each district, so that good selections could be made, and so promptly was this done that in five days after the Order in Cotmcil had been passed, the officers commanding the several military districts reported that their contingents were ready, and were being forwarded to Collingwood at once, at which place the whole force, with the necessary military stores, equip- ment and supplies for the expedition was concentiated by the 20th. On the following day, at 4 o'clock p.m., the >vhole force, with most ot the supplies, embarked on the Clu'cora for Thunder Bay, itnder command of Captain Thomas Scot^ (now member of the House of Commons for Selkirk), the senior officer of the expedition. It reflected great credit on the Militia Department that, in very little more than a week from the date of the Order in Council, the men had been gathered from all parts of Ontario and Quebec, armed, equipped, supplied and started on their journey. The remainder of the supplies, horses, &c., left Collingwood in the steam'er Manitoban on the same daj^ and the two steamers arrived at Thunder Bay on the 24th. The route pursued was the same as that of the first expedition, but, the road from Thunder Bay to Shebandowan Lake being finished, the transfer of troops, stores, &c., was made in thirty-four ■■■' 'M^^^^t^ niBTORY OF MANITOBA 4Tft hours, instead of more than six weeks, which it took Colonel Wolseley to accomplish the same distance. The first l)rij^ade of boats left Shcbandowan at 1:30 p.m. on the 27th, and the remainder on the following day. The winter set in unusually early this year, and the expedition had to fight its way through a succession of snow-storms, cut channels for the boats through ice two inches thick, wade through half-frozen mud and water, dragging the heavy boats after them down the shallow rivers, where there was frequently not enough water to float a laden canoe, and bear the utmost exposure to cold, with the thermometer often nearly down to zero. The hardships to be endured and the difiiculties to be ov^^r- come were much greater than t^^oseofthe previous expedition ; but the men bore with and overcome them with the utmost good will, larghing at the most serious obstacles, and man- fully fighting onwards, every man seeming to be alive to the great importance of getting through quickly, and reaching Fort Garry before the winter finally closed in. The expedi- tion arrived within twelve miles of the North-West Angle of the Lake of the Woods on 12th of November, when the ice became so solid that there was no hope of advancing further by boats, and the flotilla was put into winter quarters and the men marched across the ice to the road to Fort Garry. Colonel Smith had joined the expedition at the mouth of TJainy River on the 11th and led it into Fort Garry, which place was reached at mid-day on the 18th, the distance from the North-West Angle of the Lake of the Woods, 110 miles, having been marched in four days and a half, and the whole journey from Collingwood to Fort Garry made in twenty- eight days, without the loss of a man, or a serious accident of any kind, in spite of the most trying weather. Colonel Smith says in his rej)jrt, " From first to last the weather was of the roost unfavorable nature ; rain, snow, intense cold, and violent gales alternating in rapid succession, presented all the obstacles that the commencement of the winter season in these high latitudes oflers to the progress of troops." The IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) /. ^ ^ <^ 1.0 I.I 14^ 128 |2.5 |50 ■^™ ■■■ ■^ 1^ 12.2 •« 136 li tu am lb 140 1.25 1 1.4 1.6 Photogr^hic Sciences Corporation «v ^1 iV ^■ ■I*' Hi J: , I it 476 HISTORY OP MANITOBA Red and Assiniboine rivers were both frozen over before they were reached, and the men marched across them on their way to the Fort. Three Half-breeds were arrested for participation in the attack on the Hudson's Bay Company's post at Pembina on the 5th of October, and tried for treason at the Quarterly Court opened at Fort Grarry on 17th of November, 1871, Judge Johnson presiding. The men tried wereR. Villeneuve, the evidence against whom was not very clear, and who was found " not guilty " by the Jury ; Andre Jerome St. Matthe, in whose case the Jury failed to agree ; and Oiseau L'Enten- dre, who was found guilty and sentenced to be hung on the 24th of February, 1872, but was pardoned. The result of these trials, added to the arrival of the volunteers, served to convince the French Half-breeds that playing at treason might prove a dangerous game, and no attempt at further disurbance was made during the winter. With the new year came another cause of danger, not from an unexpected source, which for a moment created great excitement and threatened to be the means of a fresh outbreak. It will be recollected that both in the House of Commons and in the Ontario Legislature the Opposition had endeavored to pass a vote of censure on the Dominion Grovernment for not en- deavoring to bring the murderers of Scott to justice ; and, also, that the Government of the Hon. John Sandfield Mac- donald had been defeated in Ontario and a new Ministry formed by the Reform party under Mr. Blake. The cry for vengence on the murderers of Scott had been made to do good party duty during the elections, and to the bitter sec- tarian feeling thus engendered was partly due the defeat of the Government. On his accession to office, on the l7th of December, 1871, Mr. Blake did not lose much time in bring- ing the subject of Scott's murder again before the House, and on the 18th of February, in Supply, an appropriation of $5,000 was voted to be ottered as a reward for the arrest of the murderers of Scott. The County of Middlesex also ±^ HISTORY OP MANITOBA. 477 offered a reward, and it was expected that these rewards would lead to an attempt to cause the arrest of the parties principally concerned in the murder of Scott. The fact that Riel and L6pine were allowed to reside quietly at their homes, without any effort being made to punish them, was made the occasion of violent attacks on Governor Archibald and the Dominion Government by the Opposition press of Ontario, which, for party purposes, and to secure the Orange vote, clamored for the punishment of these men, well know- ing at the same time that an attempt to arrest them would lead to civil war in the Province, where the great bulk of the people regarded them as heroes and patriots, and deeply resented the endeavors of Ontario to regulate the affairs of Manitoba, while that Province enjoyed Responsible Govern- ment, and nineteen out of tw^enty-four of the members of its Legislative Assembly were in favor of letting by-gones be by-gones. But, unfortunately, party spirit is sometimes so unreasonable that it is quite willing to throw a whole country into the horrors of even a civil war and bring ruin and destruction upon thousands, provided a petty party triumph can be temporarily gained. By far the greater portion of the agitation in Ontario for vengence on the mur- derers of Scott was a party political movement from begin- ning to end, and that it did not cause a war of races and creeds throughout the Dominion was no fault of the party leaders, but was due to the policy of keeping off premature action until " time, the great curer of evils," had calmed excited feeling and obliterated much of the asperity which existed during the years immediately following the troubles of 1869-70.=*^ The feeling of the French Half-breeds on receipt of the * ''Time, the great carer of evils, will soon calm down the apprehensions of these engaged in the rising, and all will go well with jou, especially if Riel and those directly implicated in Scott's death submit to a yoluntary exile.."— Extract from a letter from Sir John A. Macdonald to Governor Archibald, dated 1st November, 1870. 478 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. ml 4 I': - ,'■' ['' I' til:'.!,; I J: ,' ■ ''11 if: il intelligence that rewards had been offered for the capture of Kiel and Lepine was most intense, and meetings were again held for the purpose of advocating resistance should any attempt be made to arrest them. The temper of the people and the condition of the affairs in the Province, is fully ex- pressed in the following extract from a letter from Lt.-Gov- ernor Archibald to Sir George E. Cartier, under date 24th February, 1872 : " I have had a rather anxious time since the intelligence arrived of the rewards offered by Middlesex County Council and the Legislature of Ontario. Intense ex- citement prevailed for a while among the French Half-breeds. On the point of blotting out the past, there is little or no division among them. Even those of them who did not side with Kiel and " the men of the movement," as they are called here, look upon the question of punishment of the offenders as one of race, and would consider an attempt of the kind on any of these people as an attack upon the whole. I had learned privately, through the instrumentality of the police, that immediately after the arrival of the telegraphic news, meetings were held in each French parish on the subject, and that there was but one feeling among the people on the subject. They determined that the parties to whom the re- wards were directed should remain m the country, and that the people should protect them by an armed force against any attempt to arrest them. I fear very much that had the attempt been made it would have lead to serious blood- shed. Happily the feelings of the great body of the English people of this country have so changed that it is difficult to find a Magistrate who does not hesitate to issue warrants which may lead to fatal consequences ; and several Justices, who were themselves sufferers at the time of the troubles, and who a year ago were urging all kinds of vindictive pro- ceedings, have refused to issue warrants now. I am not aware whether any warrant has actually been issued up to this moment. The difficulty is not among the people of the country, but among the small band of lawless men, idlers HISTORY OF MANITOBA. 479 ;ure of ! again ,d any people lly ex- t.-Gov- e 24th } since idlesex snse ex- ■breeds. 5 or no not side e called ffenders kind on I had B police, c news, subject, s on the the re- nd that against ad the blood- Inglish cult to arrants ustices, oubles, live pro- am not up to of the idlers and roughs who infest the taverns of Winnipeg. These men have no influence except for mischief, but they might light a flame it would be hard to extinguish. For a few days I felt the danger was extreme. The only possible way to avoid a serious outbreak was to get rid of the two men whose pre- sence in the country formed the pretext for the action of the roughs at Winnipeg." We have said that the action of the Ontario Government was not altogether unexpected ; and steps had been taken by the Dominion Government to render that action innox- ious as far as disturbing the peace of Manitoba by attempt- ing the arrest of Kiel was concerned, by providing for the withdrawal of Kiel and Lepine to the United States for a while, until the excitement had blown over. It seems curious that the Government of the Dominion should not only connive at, but actually assist, the escape of criminals from justice, while the Government of one of the Provinces should see fit to offer a reward for the apprehension of those same criminals ; but it must be remembered that the circum- stances were peculiar in every respect. The Dominion Gov- ernment was a Coalition one, the main strength of which was the French Conservative Members from Quebec — or, to be more exact. Sir George E. Cartier, who represented that party ; the Quebec Members were almost unanimously of opinion not only that no prosecutions for anything arising out of the troubles in the North- West should take place, but that the Imperial Government should be urged to grant a complete amnesty for past offences ; on the other hand, a number of the Ontario suppor- ters of the Government were Orangemen, who not only opposed the granting of an amnesty, but were urging that the ringleaders of the insurgents should be tried for the murder of Scott. To conciliate these conflicting opinions so as to maintain the Government was no easy task. To ad- vocate the granting of an amnesty was to lose the support 483 HISTORY OF MANITOBA. I ') ; M>'\ *■' ' of the Ontario Members and court certain defeat ; * to initiate criminal proceedings against Riel and his followers was to alienate the Quebec members, and, probably, precipitate a war of religion and races in which the French and Irish Catholics of all the Provinces — for a war of this kind could never be confined to Manitoba once it broke out — would be arrayed against the Protestants, and the ultimate result of which would be the destruction of the country. To avoid both these difficulties Sir John A. Macdonald adopted a temporising policy, dealing with the amnesty question as one which was impossible at present, but would be satisfac- torily settled " by-and-by ;" and simply taking no action in the matter of prosecutions, and when other parties proposed to do so, furnishing the means for Riel and Lepine to disap- pear for a while until the excitement had subsided. On the morality, or immorality of this policy we make no comment, contenting ourselves with stating it. It served its purpose for the time, but, even as a mere party measure — leaving morality and justice out of the question altogether — it is very ques- tionable whether it was the most judicious which could have been adopted, or whether it would not have been bet- ter to have asked the Imperial Government to proclaim a partial amnesty — such as was afterwards granted — and have left the question of punishment for the murder of Scott en- tirely to the Courts, and the action of private prosecutors if they desired to take any. That would, at least, have con- ciliated one party, and the Government would have been stronger on its appeal to the country in 1872, when it was so weakened that it only needed the coup de Grace of the Pacific Scandal to drive it ignominiously from office in 18*73. * "When I gpoke to Sir John A. Macdonald on the subject he never denied that the amnesty had been promised, but he said ' No Uovernment could stand on that question,' I told him there had been promises of amnesty frequently, and he did not deny the statement. He repeated that no Government could stand that would endeavour to procure the amnesty." Archbishop Tach6 before the Select Committee, April 18, 1874. it ; * to initiate [lowers was to , precipitate a tich and Irish lis kind could out— would be imate result of try. To avoid aald adopted a ty question as )uldbe satisfac- icr no action in parties proposed Lupine to disap- ibsided. On the ike no comment, ed its purpose for -leaving morality it is very ques- as which could t have been bet- it to proclaim a •anted— and have •derof Scott en- ;e prosecutors if least, have con- ^rould have been 2, when it was so de Grace of the •om office in 18*73. ibject he never denied rernment could stand on aesty frequently, and he _iment could stand that Tach6 before the Select HISTORY OF MAKITOBA 481 As the case stood, however, when the Ontario Government olFered its reward, there was no other course to pursue than to induce Riel to run away again, as he had done once before, and so save further trouble. Negotiations had al- ready been entered into between Archbishop Tache and Sir John A. Macdonald, before the Proclamation of the Ontario Government, for the withdrawal of Kiel from the Province on account of his being spoken of as a candidate for the House of Commons from Provencher at the General Elec- tion, and it was thought that his presence would cause trouble ; but the offer of the reward hastened his departure. Archbishop Tache left Manitoba on the 2.3rd of September, 1871, and, consequently, was not in the Province at the time of the Fenian liaid. He proceeded to Canada, and while there had several intei'^iews with Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George E. Cartier, who urged him to use his influence with Kiel to induce him to leave, which he finally con- sented to do, on condition that something was given Riel to support him, as he was a poor man and had a mother and three sisters dependent on him. This was agreed to, and Sir John sent him a draft for 11,000. The Archbishop re- turned to St. Boni"ace on the 16th of January, 1872, and shortly after opened negotiations with Riel for his depar- ture. Riel pretended reluctance to leave, and wanted better terms than the Archbishop could offer him. Before the question of his leaving had been decided, information was received that a reward had been offered by the Ontario Gov- ernment, and Lieutenant-Governor Archibald at once open- ed negotiations with Archbishop Tache to get Riel and Lepine out of the way. After some little haggling it was decided that they should have ^1,(500 each to go, and provi- sion should be ma.'e for their families during their absence, which was not to be less than a year. The money (jGBOO stg.) was advanced by Mr. Donald A. Smith, of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the men went to the United States, thus EE 482 HISTORY OP MANITOBA. I? I' removing any cause of immediate anxiety on the ground of arrest. The I*rovince then h\psed into a state ol' qui<'tude. We have now filled our allotted space for the history of the Province since 1835. It was the original intention to bring the records down, not only to the close of the Ked Kivor troubles, but to i\ni present date giving the reader a sketch of the progress of civil government, and the develop- ment of the industries and institutions of the Province. These matters are left for a second volume which it is the intention of the writer to prepare and publish in the near future. ',! . M THE END. w he ground of of quietude, he liistory of il intention to ;e of the Red £^ the reader a 1 the dev<'li)p- the Province. Iiich it is the I in the nc-ar