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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmAs en commen^ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaltra sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon Ie cas: Ie symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", Ie symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de rAduction diffArents. Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant Ie nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 PRICE 10 CENTS. N N S fS N S N IS N S N S. S S !S N S N? S S S S ^IS S S S S V fS S N V!S=-.S S .H ^.' A PRAIRIE TRAGEDY \i The Fate of Thomas li r The Atactic Explorer Read before tlw U'lslor'uul dud Sclt'iiJljIt' Socletifof Maaitoba. (Transaction No. 26.) -B-^ ft m ■it-' .^'' ^\ ZMZO-i^I^X'X-XTJI^. EX-PRESIDENV, v^ 1 3>T :tT I r n: o , G. C. MORTIMORE, PUBLISHER, 188: % l**M». A TRAGEDY OF THE PLAINS. THE FATE OF THOMAS SIMPSON, THE ARCTIC EXPLORER. At a mectino oF tlu- Historical Soeioty, on tlu' evt'iiino- of 23rcl lU'coiiiber, l<S8(), JNir. Alex. McArtluir read tlu' tullovvinvMntorft.-tinff paper on tlie above subject. CHAPTER 1. Tlic story I liave undcrtakciii to toll yoii to-niLjlit, althouu'h not altoi;('tl)er of a pleasant character, is deeply interestinijf. It is a tale of brilliant achievement endinu" in sadness and iU'Ld(>ct. I have lonu' felt that it was due to the memory of Tliomas Simpson that the circum- stances under which he met his death sliould be re-con.sidered and a verdict ren<len'd in accordance with thf truth. 1 know of no task which comes so appropriately within the scope of this society. A resi- dent of Fort Garry, it was from here he set out on the explorations which he so successfully conducted in the Arctic Seas, and it was from here he set out on that other journey wiiich ended so soon and so trag- ically — ami it is here his remains fimnd rest. Let me take you for a moment to the scene of that tragedy. It is about three days journey to the south of us, on the wide j^lains now forming the eastern part of Dakota, and the time is day set — that long twilight which near the sununer solstice linuers lonixest of all on the unbroken horizon of the ])rairie and almost merges in the equally long day-spring. A party of live trjivehirs are arranging their camp for the night. All the accessories of prairie travel surround them. Their horses are grazing near by. and a cart for the outiit occupies the con- tre of the cainp. All are armed with guns and pistols, for the Sioux are on tin', warpath. Rut within thiMnsclves nre olcineiits more dan- gerous than th(! tomahawk of the savages ; for but two of tlie five ever leave that spot aj^fii'i; ff>i' three it was their last camping ground Of what happened that fearful night but one of the two survivors has ever told us. He was with the others pitching the tent when he he heard the report of a gun. On turning round he saw Simpson shoot, fiist John Bird and then Antonio Leuros, senior. Bird fell dead; Leijros had time to «>'ive his son a last embrace. x\ecordln<>- to tlie wit- ness, Simpson then spoke for tlie first time, asking if the witness knew of any plot to rob him (jf his papers, to which a negative reply was given. He was told then that his life was safe, in which assurance he place<l little confidence, for he took horse and Hed, accompanied by Legros' son, leaving Simpson alone with the dead. Of Simp.son this wMs the last s(M'n alive. Next morning ther( happ('ne(l a sequel to the fr.igedy, and the traveller's deail body was IouikI lying beside the others. But betoi'e ee.iiuirinn- into tliese events it will interest you to know something of Simpson's story up to tliis time To bi'ing my paper within the limits of space and tinui usually accorded such pi'o- ductions, I must pass ov(n' many intei'esting Inci'lrnts of a university career, as well as thosi^ more thrilling chapters of aecidents and e-^cape-i attendant on y\rctic exploration. CHAPTER II. Thomas Snnpson was born \n the Higldands oi' Scothuid, his father beiuLT pari.sh school master in the town of DiuL-wall, and for a long time its chief magistrate. At an early age the lad was sent to Aber- deen University, where he carried everything befon,' him, finishing his course by gaining the highest prize in the gift of the Senate — this not in one branch of learning, but for excellence in all. Thomas (' ii'lyle has made us all familiar with the econcmiy of a Scottish University, and it will not surprise any one to learn that the highest expen.se for any one year was under £30 sterling, or $14(). Disliking the medical profession and fearin.; his own (jualifications for the ministiy, he was for some time considering what course he should pursue when fortune tem[)tt'd him to try ti>e service of the Hudson's Bay tj)nipany. Mis cousin, afterwards Sir George Simpson, was then goveiaior of the C(Mn[)any's territories, and repeated offers of a position decided the brilliant stu- dent to embark iii the fur trade. In consideration of his attainments and age three of the five years of api)r<Miticeshii) were remitted and he began work as secretary to the governor. With him he ti-avcslled from post to post for some time, until he .settled down .is accountant at Fort Garry. The company, besidtjs its charter, had a license to trade beyond its own tt^rritories, and the period for which the imperial Government e Sioux )re dan- ive ever 11(1 urvivors rvlien he Siiiip.soii ell tlead; tlie wit- iss knew ply was ssurancr iiied l>v ).s()ii this .'1 to the sidi! till' t you to ring my nch ])ro- iivcrsity 1 ('<L'a|)t'< l-'ath er 1' a long to AIm'I-- shing his -this not rlyle has jy, and it • any one rot'essioii For so;i)e tempted s cousin, »mi)any's liant stu- ainuients (1 and he IUmI from t at Fort eyond its /ernnient __3_ irranted that license was ahout expiring. In order to strengthen their hands when ap|)lying for a renewal, the authorities of the company de- cided to spend sonie money in exploring the Arctic coast, and young Simpson was asked to undertake this arduous work. For the first time in his life he had something before him suitable to liis energetic, ambitious nature. The desk and its <legrading • Irudgery was to be left behind, and he was to enter a Held on which so many of Britain's sons ha<l won distinction. He was to find scope for those faculties which enabled him at the university to lead hundreds of his fellow studiMits. He would now have an opportunity of measuring himstilf with the Parrys and Franklins of Arctic fame. We are all so familiar with the story of Arctic research that it is needless to go over the ground again. I will tell you very briefly what our traveller set out to do and what he did. It is just half a century ago that the plan of this exploration was settled. At that time larue pf^lioiis of the northern coast of our conti- nent were unexplored. England's l»est sailors, the Crooks, Beecheys, Parrys, Franklins, Rosses, and many others all tried and all failed to follow th(! coast from the Atlantic to the Facitic. The northwest pas- sage remained undiscovered. The Mackenzie Rivi^r, you know, flows into the Artie Ocean and divides the northern const into al>out equal parts Froni its mouth westward Fraidvlin and Richardson explore<l the coast as far as Point Turn Again. Admiral Beechey from Pehring Straits reached Point Barrow; between those two points the shore was unexplored. Simpson's first duty was to trace and define this unknown territory. If you look again a. the mouth of the McKenzie and carry the eye eastward to the mouth of the Coppermine you cover ground already in 18."36 explored and laid down on the maps of that tune Exploration from the Atlantic showed a defined coast line to within seven degrees of Back's Great Fish River. It was to devolve upon Simpson to explore the intervening gap. The distance covereil l)y the Gulf of Boothia and by Boothia Falix itself, but sup[)osed erroni.'ously to be open water, also remained to be explored, but tins was not inclutled in Simpson's first instructions. The important duty was laitl upon him of complet- ing the discovery of the northern coast of America. In accomplishing this it was then generally supposed he would discover the long looked for northwest passage All that was expected of him he did. He left Fort Garry in the winter of '3()-':i7, and travelled on foot the whole way to Lake Athabasca, over 1200 miles. Here he found Mr. Dease, a chief factor, who was nominally the head of the expedition. The win- ter was passed here, and next spring the party descended the McKen- zie in open boats, coasted along westwardly until they reached Frank- lin's furthest and entered on the work proper of the expedition. From here a successful journey was made to within a short distance of Point Barrow when further progess was barred by ice. Taking a few inon witli hiin and a small oiled canvas canoo for crossini): streams, he set out on foot for his westerly- destination. A deep inlet running south as far as the eye could reach, again arrested his progess, but fortunate- ly some Ivskimo were met with and a woman s boat (Oomiak) l)orrowed, in which Simpson, taking three or four men, after a tortuous course made Point Barrow, and our traveller had joined the coast from the Mcd^enzie to the Pneific. Returning in the short Arctic svunmer of six weeks, the party reached a spot on Great Bear Lake selected as winter head- quarters. CHAPTER III. In the spring of '.'iS, the expedition again started foi the coast, this time crossing overland to the Coppern.ine llivcr and descending that impetuous stream to its mouth. To their intense disappointment they found tlie coast ice bound, and after attempts in various ways to make headway the season closed and they returned moodily to winter quarters. In the following spring, that of 18:3!), they were more for- tunate. The sea was comp.iratively open, and Ifaek's River safely reached. x\s in the former case it devolved upon Simpson to complete the journey, . hich he did on foot. The expedition returned by way of the Coppermine and Great Bear Lake to the McKenzie, and here Simpson wrote a narrative of the expedition while waiting foi" the freezing up of that river. On the 2nd Decembei' he left Fort Simpson with dogs and reached Fort Garry on the 1st Fehi'uary, a distance of of 1910 miles in sixty-one days, many of whieli were spent in en- forced delays at the company's forts on tlie way. S.'mpson tr.ivclled most of the way if not all on foot. He was (K'e[)Iy disappointed on liis arrival here to find no letters from the; e )mpa'iy in fjonilon. He had olferetl to go (.>ut again to lead an expedition to eompletf tliesevtm degrees of unexplored coast from Back's River east, but no reply readied him. The company had accepted his otier and wrot"' to that (^tl'ect.but Sir George Simp.son took measures which resnitvd in its never n^'ich- ino' its destination. The .same mail contained otlii-r news of ititerest to him, but which it was his fate never to know. On the receipt of the intelligence of the success which attended his first year's work, the Royal Geographical Society awarded him its gold medal, and the British Government bestowed on him a pension of ,£100 sterling per annum. His later discoveries exceeded by far those of IS-'lT, and had he reached home they would no doubt have gained hini fresh honors and renown. But his race was run ; his last journey ended. Instead of honorable recognition and well merited fame his portion has been, with regard to his remains, contumely and neglect; witli regard to his name, defamation, and his memory, oblivion. Let us see if we can make out how it all happened. th re cl in P' S( b( jams, he jig south Irtunafce- prrowed, "se nifuh' L(;Konzie X'ks, the ler hoad- le coast, scendino- jintment ways to o winter lore for- r sat'i'lv complete b}' way and here i' for the Sini{)son stance of it in en- liM.V('lled )i:ited on Ion. He tlie Severn y readied etFect.but liY nvich- itercst to •t of the •ork, the and the rlhig per I had lie nors and istead of een, with lis name, nake out CHAPTER IV. I shall have to arjk you to return with aie to the ghastly camp (m the prairie. It is the following morning, and the sun is two hours high. A party of five are riding up from the south. With them is rvivors of last night's tragedy. These men have come one oft! le su from a larger party with whom Simpson travelled for a couple of days, leaving them to push ahead. The evidence as to the events of this ni(»rning comes from only and one of these is also the sole witness as to three of these six mei )rece( the events of the preceding night. So that out of eight possible wit- nesses we have the evidence of only three. This I wish 3'ou to keep in mind, as it has an important be;iring upon tln" view of the case which I have adopted. These witnesses were Jaiucs Bruce, Robert L')i>-;i,n and James Flett. The iirst named gave his evidence before Mr. Sil)loy (now General Sibley) at St. Peters, on the Upper Mississippi, on the l.']th July, 1840, a month after the date of the tragedy. R. Logan gave his evidence before Alex. Ross, J. P., at Red River, on the 14th October, 1840, and Flett on the 11th of the same month and year, be- fore John Bunn, magistrate, but where the affidavit does not say. The evidence is most contradictory, but I ask yon to follow it as closely as you can, and I will be as brief as justice t(j the subject will permit. Bruce, who with young Legros, left the cam[. that night, says they lost their way, and instead of a two hours' ride they took all night reaciiing the main camp. He twice me»itions that he reached this camp. On going back to the deserted camp live men went with him. On arriving' there .someone called Simpson bv name, but there was no response, and he saw Simpson lying in bed on the opposite side oi the cart to where he was. Then he sa\s the report of a gun was heard, he does not say by whom, and the whistling of a ball in the air. A I'e- mark was made that Simpson must ha\'e shot himself, but again we are not told by whom. He and the I'est of the pa)"ty then made a cir- cle round the cart to a.scertain whether Simji.son could be seen to move. Nothinrj was seen, however, but a do<>lyin<>' beneath the cart. He and the rest then "C'ontiinied to call on Simpson by name, and receiving no reply they lired at the said dog and drove him away. They then dis- charged their guns at the top of the c irt with the intention of alarm- ing tlie said Simpson if still alive. The witness then asked one of the party '.o go up with him to the cart, and the witness found that Simp- son had shot him.self througli the head. He was quite dead." The bodies of all three wc^re interred in the same grave. He further de- pones that Simpson at no time showed symptoms of insanity. Now let us see what Robert Logan, jr., has to say. " Early on the morning of the 15th, about sunrise, just as we had left our encamp- ment, **■»«• two riders came after us at full s])eed, the one riding Simpson's horse, tlie other Legro's." Remember, the previous witness — 6- said tlmt Ik* roilf into llic cam])— tliis oiu; that tlicy luid lin^kuii np tlu! caiiij) and were iii iiiotioM. "After riding al)Out tlin^o liour.s tlicy caiiH! to tlu* fatal spot. Tlicy cullud out to Simpson several times, but recciN'cd no answer. Tbcv distinctly saw Bird's do*; sittinii' near tlie cart by the bodies. 'I'liey tlien moved round to anotlier jjostion, keep- \u<X about till' same distance olK All at once they heard the report of a L^iin in the direction of the doL( and cart, saw the smoke, antl heard the ball whistiinjj;- over our heads. We then," he continues, 'all halted and felt confused, su[)posin(^ that Mr. Simpson had tired at us." They then moved on to another place and halted, tyini;' their horses, and proposed tiriuL;' in the air or over the camp. "Gaubin tired first, Michael Fiicliotte the second shot and by it the dog was wounded, then all the party fired — we all fired twice but saw nothing more, liichotte then mounted his horse and rode swiftly by the camp to see if he cuuld ob- .serve Mr. Simpson." Some others followed. 1 (piote the exact words : "After passing th<' spf)t we all joined again, when Richotte sai<l he saw Simpson lvin<«- as if dead. His body was lyiini' stn.'tched out with one leg across the other, and the butt end of his double barrelled gun be- tween his legs, the I'ight liaiidwith tht; glove oil' directed to the trigger, the left hand with the glove on holding the gun neai" tlie muzzle on his breast. All the head above the nose was blown oil', and we found a white night cap lying ten or fifteen yai'ds off with a hole in it, as if made by a gun shot, and sinyed by tire and some of his hair sticking to it. The five guns and four pistols were at the s[)ot. We turned the bo(ly and found it warm, but no siu'us of life." They then buried the bodies. So far the .second witnes.s. The other witness, Janies Flett, says : "We approached cautiously, and when 20(> yards (009 feet) ofi' hallooed andcrJled him by name, and immediately we heard a shot and I distinctly heard the hissing of a ball, and (Jaubin told me he heard the same. We then made a turn round behind him and separated our- selves and took the horses which were standinu: at some distance supposing he would show himself. We appioichcd t(^\vards his left, and when within 200 yards (still 200 yard.-.) we iited in the direction of the cart. Still not seeing him, Michael Hochette galloped on horse- back close behind the spot but still could not see him. We then ap- proached still nearer by a hollow but still could not see him. Then James Bruce and another crawled along tlie creek and to within 20 yar<ls, when they called out he was dead." Pardon me if again I ask you to note the evidence closely. J quote the words : " We then approached and saw him lying vvith his face downward, near but not on a blanket, which was spread alongside of the cart. ] do not know how many shots were tired, as we did not all lire to- gether. Do not believe any hit him. His eyes were not blown out. 7 i Was other not St t < in tV on e and Isb cult, and vo was int( no\> mei aft( I U>r lea, for as Th wi bei an ch w< lu a- B h V t f I £ _7_ 'K^ur.s they il times, but ig nonr the J'^tioii, keep- 't' I'oport of ['. and JieaivJ <. 'all halted us." They Jiorses, anil ir«t, Michael l»en all the fchotte then lie Could <.(>. X'iCt \V()J-d,s ; ■•^;iid he saw »nt M-ith one 1<'<1 i;ii]i lie- the ti'j(>'>('i- 'i/zle oi, lii.s \\*-' found a ii» it, as if air .stick ino- W'e turned then buried )Ofeet) off J a shot and 3 lie heard arated our- »e distance I« his left, e direction ! on horse- ' then ap- '!"• Then within 20 c-losel}'. J lownward. e cart. J 11 fire to- lown out. Was told one of his hands was u^rasping the barrel of his gun and the other, that is his ri;L,'ht hand, down towards tlu; triu'_<'i', hiit. this 1 did not see, at least do not remember if I did." This closes the evidence. CHAPTER V. 1 cannot pretend to divest mj'self entirely of a -pecial advocacy in this case, but I have endeavored to ^ive you all the evidence whicli on either side has an important bearing upon it. Th omas Sim pson. accurdinu' to this evidence, stands charged first and directly with murder, and st.'condly and indirectly \vith suicide. [s he guilty or not guilty :* We are met at tlie outset with this ditK- culty that all those interested at once accei)U'd all the chariies as ti'ue, V J. O ' and acted accordingly. No projierly constituted authority ever in- vestigated tlie charges, nor did any court ever decide upon tliem. ft was possiljle to have made a thorougii and exhaustive examination into all the circumstances, but tliis was never done. We are compelled now to conii! to a decision on the inijierfect an<l contradictory state- ments of the.se witnesses and some oth(.'r few facts which transpired afterwards and which 1 will lay before you. As to the charge of murdei', let us narrate some significant inci- ih.'nts which are not mentioned by tlie witnesses. Simpson's party, on leaving the main body, travelled very ivipidly, making as much as forty-five and fift\ -live miles a day. This is shown on a map he made as he went along. Then they turned on their tracks for two days. The reason alleged for this retrogratle movement was that Simp.son wished to return to Fort GaiTy, but it also transpired that there had been a dispute aljout the horses. Each traveller owned his own hor.se, and they complained that their horses were over driven. There is no chance of ever finding out the real I'eason for this return march, but we may be sure it was no choice of Simpsons. Simpson's diary would have explained it, 'out it disappeared for ever, nor were the witnesses asked any questions about it, Of this we may be sui'e, that neither Bird nor Legros, sr., were shot without previous words. There must have been .serious disagreement between Sim])son and these two men. With weapons in their hands is it likely Simpson alone made use of them. It is further unlikely that young Legros would have seen his father shot without making an effort to j)rotect or revenge him. It is utterly uicredible that witlumt a word a man of Siuip.son"s tried cour- age would send these two men to eti^rnity. To me it is clear, too, that in the melee Simpson was seriou.sly wounded. One of the two survivoi-s mounted Simpson's hor.se and rode away with it. Would he have dared to do this if Simp.son were capable of preventing him i Only two things could have prevented — 8— hiin : tlio want of a loaded weapon or physicjil weakness. In tlie next place WG are asked to V)elieve that Simpson lay down and went to sleep l)(!side Ids vietims. It' Ik; murdered them in coM hlood and in posses- sion of his faculties, could he have done this ? On the other hand, if he were hereft of his faculties, is it the act of a man sulfei'in<; from a dis- ordered hniin to icmain (piiet in the same s{)()t and actually go to sleep ? The first attack of insanity particularly, is accompanied by perturbed but determined volition which is exercised in the direction of constant action and movement Horses were at his side ; were he insane he would li.'jve ridden after or from those who had just left him. Now, whether fatally wounded or not, he was certainly unable to prevent the abduction of his horse. The events of the next morning bear this out. He was cmIUmI. but did not ]'ei)lv. He was dead or dyinLr. So far the chai'ge of murder. Next morning he is charut.-d with suicide. Upon what evidence:' It is neeessary here to tell you that some years l)efoi''' this, Simpson incurred the hatred of a large cl.ss of the connnunity by punishing one of their innnbe'* for repeated inso- lence an<l atuiovance during business houi's. The aflair made a great noise. A considerable body of this man's friends esj)()usetl his cause, ijatlierinii: around the fort, dancing a war dance and demanding that Simpson b(^ ilelivered up to them. The governor a[)peased tiem \>y presents of rum and tobacco, and a promise to sei.d the accountant away. Some of the.se men were in the ])artv i-oinu' across the plains. It is po.s.sible that among the shots fired so n'('l<le.ssly tliat morning one was not aimed at the cait, or oxer it. One took eflerton the j)oor dumb animal watehinLr by the body oF his lat(Mnaster. Jn the nromiseuous fir- ing, who could tell whetlu'i- another shot did not take effect on S;m[)- ."on ? The evidence as to the fb'ing agrees only in one particular, t^iat it was of th(^ most senseless kind. Bruce says they all fired at the dog and drove it away. The bodies were close to^ethei': it would be -'range if a .shot did not strike one of them Tlu'ii Ihuee says they all tir '<! at the top of the cart. lUit Login says (laubin fire(l the first ■hot and Klchotte the .second, hitting the dog with it. Then all the naiiy tir-- ' '"■vice. Flett says nothing about single shots but that tiiiy h.vd in ill' ■ •• ction of the cart, but not all togi'ther Simpson's body lay '><:si.l< '.i.e cart, and it is not likely itescaicd in the fusilaile. I.n! v o'c tdd that before this general firing l)egan the rei)ort of a ii ,1 • ;; liv'ard and a ball whi.stling in tlu' air, and on the strength of this we are asked to believe that Sim])s()n shot himself. The evidimce a> to tins single shot is the only important point in which the three witnesses agree, and we must accept it as true. A shot was tired, but by whom / Not by Sinntson, He was \niable to move, and if not (lead in all likelihood unconscious. That shot came frnni beyond the camji. 'I'he cii'ciiit mad<' by these men cut through a slight hollow Just below the baid\ of the creek. That shot came fi'om there. To have come from Simjjson's gun wi; would have to believe that lying on the — 9- ■xt ep la- lie )\V, lit lis ground he could reach the trigger of a flint lock, and that fired in this horizontal direction and blowinj; otF his skull it would cliau<:e its course and fly over head and whistle as it went No importance need be attached to the story of the ^un being <een between Simpson's legs. Bruce, who had the greatest interest in ascertaiiiiiig Simpson's fate, and who would have noticed it at once, says not u word about it Re- member I am not charging these ujen witl) any intention of telling un- truths. Only one says he saw it there. But his evidence was four months old. He may have seen it and it may have been placed there, or hearing repeatedly that it was there he might easily confuse imagin- ation with sight. These men all went on across the country to the Mississippi ; they were in ccmpany with others who ha<l not been witnesses to the events t'lit uiorriing. Day after d ly that topic would be discussed. At least three languages were spoken in the camp — French, Indian, English, Someone speaking in French might be rehitinjij the story to a friend who knew that language indiflerently. Or it might be told by an English speaking member of tlie party in very bad French to one who spoke only Indian and French Witli every care, and with only a desire to elicit the truth, we all know how often a coroner's jury invest- igating a matter on the spot, and within a few ndtnites of the occurr- ence, Mnd where the medium ol" communication is a language familiar to all, listen to evidence completely ccmtradictory. There were very apparent ways of settling whether Simpson had shot himself, but we are not told that any of these were adopted. One of the most important points we have not a shre<l of evidence about. What was the C(m<lition of the firearms ? Simpson used a double- barrelled gun that night, firing two shots from it, and it is implied he used it next morning- firing one shot. Was the gun loaded in one barrel when the returning party found it i* It is in evidence that the guns and pistols were lying on the grass, but this J attach little impo>tance to; they were placed there after the party came up; but why did not the magistrate ask whether the other guJis and pistols were loaded or unloaded. This information could have been got ; for some one, before putting these weapons away in the carts, nuist have exjunined them. Again, while we are told that Simpson was shot in the head, no question was asked as to whether he was shot elsewhere. Why were not Gaubin, who is alleged to have fired the first shot, and Richotte, who fired the second and wounded the d(.g, why were not these important witnesses examined ^ The evidence would have been decisive, but no effort was ever made to obtain it. It again occurs to one to ask why none of the party returned to Fort Garry to tell the news of the tragedy ? Bird's poor limping dog bore the first tidings of disaster to the settlement at Red River. Three days travel would have taken them back, and they might be sure their trouble would be rownided. sifted. —10— It would have been possible to liave the matter thoroughly CHAPTER VI. Let us now look at such evidence as may be considered somewhat clenr. When these men came up to the camp the only sign of life was Bird's dog. Simpson was seen by no one to move. No one saw him make a sign or heard him utter a sound. It is next pretty certain that . le party shouted and called Simpson by name. Can we suppose Simpson to have been asleep that he returned no answer ? Is it reasonable to sup- pose that he would have remained inactive hearing all this noise and seeing the excited horsemen galloping round him like wild Indians ? We may consider it established, too, that Simpson was dead when the party mustered up courage to examine the body. There are state- ments about the body being warm, and blood dry and wet visible. If this can be depended on, he must have been wounded the previous night and ajjain the next morninjj. There is no evidence as to when Lejjros died. He fell or laid down about two minutes after he was shot. Is it possible that his death and Simpson's could have happened from any attempt on his part to take revenge on Simpson after the other two went away ? Can we, in the face of all this, say that the case was one of suicide ? Charity forbid ! If any guiltless member of that party, on viewing Simpson s body, concluded that he was shot in the promiscuous tiring, we can easily imagine his horror on reflect- ing that he unwittingly took part in it. More than one maj' have had that feeling. At any rate all their future conduct showed a desire to hush the matter up. No one returned with the news. Only one made declaration of the facts on arriving at their destination. The body was hastily buried with the other two, and some one abstracted the diary. This desire, unfortunately for Simpson's memory, jumped with the views of the company. It was inexpedient to investigate the matter. Had they been convinced that it was a case of insanity an<l suicide, the remains would have been sent for and an inquest hehl at once. Nothing would have come of it. But if it was a case of justifiable murder so far as the first night went, and a case of murder or manslaughter next morning, the com- pany had a delicate and serious duty to perform. They had no troops to maintain order in the settlement. Should some of tiiose who fired so carelessly or studiously in the direction of Simpson's body that morning have been fouml guilty of his death, the company would have a civil outbreak on their hands. They would reason: It is all ovc^r ; wc cannot restore the dead to life ; the evidence is conflicting ; we will let the matter drop. In carrying out this policy they cared nothing "i -11 thoroughly d somewliat fe was Bird's make a sign ,t le party Simpson to able to sup- lis noise and ild Indians ? id when the 'c are state- I visible. If he previous as to when iter he was ve happened 3n after tlie iay that tlie less member he was shot Dr on refiect- ay have had d a desire to ily one made e body was the tliary. ed with the the matter. uii<l suicide, leld at once. e first night ng, the com- ad no troops se who firi'd H body tliat would have is all over; mg ; we will ired nothing lor the good name of their unfortunate servant ; nothing was done that year, and it was only when reports reached them in the autumn of next year that wolves had dug open the grave that they went through the form of sending a coroner down for the body. This official stated that decomposition was too great to make any examination, and he there- fore had no report to make. The funeral was left to the charge of the company's carpenter, find that there might be no unpleasant revival of the subject no mark was placed over the grave.. This was in accordance, I am sorry to say, with the wishes of the governor. It was no part of his plans that his relative should eclipse himself. He gave the command of the expedi- tion to a senior officer who had no qualifications as an explorer. When the Board at home gave 8im}»son authority to continue his discoveries alone, the governor sent them out in a roundabout way, and in tlie meantime, without telling him that he had authority to go north again, called him to London. His letttrs and papers were retained for over three years, and when his brother at last got them, all Sir George's letters to the traveller were abstracted. Indeed, Sir George ma<le an efi'ort to suppress the narrative vvlr.cli Simpson had complettMl on the McKenzie. He wrote the secretary in London that he wished it re- served for himself, to be incorponited in a work he had it in contem- plation to publish at some future time. The first memoir written by his brother Alexander was left in the company's office in London, and it was conveniently missing when wanted. I have performed my task imperfectly if I have not convinced you tliat at least a verdict of "Not proven" should be returned to the charges of munler and suicide. To n)y own mind the evidence carries the conviction which would justify me in giving the much stronger verdict of " Not guilty." The contradictory nature of the evidence ; the fact that no report of his <leath was carried back to Fort Gany; the apathy of the participants in the events ; the careful procrastina- tion of the company; the carelissness of the investigation, if such it could be callefl, all point to a <lread of other revelations. And a review of all the facts strengthens this belief. If we are to find him guilty we nmst believ(^ that a perfectly sane man, without a word, sent two fellow beini>.s into eternity. That he was allowed to «lo this although both of them were armed, a; ^ that two others, one of thi'm the son of one of the victims, stood by with arms also within their reach ; that these two were allowed to depart in })eace, and that Simpson stood by an<l saw his horse taken away by one of them ; that he retired to rest besid*' the bodies of his victims ; that his mind was so little disturbed by the awful events which took place that he lay there until the sun was two hours high next day ; that he made not the slightest ertbrt to escaj)e, altlumgh there were other horses within reach ; that the approach of mounted men shouting and galloping around him did not rouse him ; that, ambitious and proud, he had no desire to vin- —12— (licate liis conduct to thetn. We must believe, too, that he had delib- erately arniML^^cd for his own suicide by placing his gun in a suitable position, and that his arjTi was lonir enough to reach to the trigger of the old fashioned flint-lock gun. To consider him guilty we must also believe that in the wild irresponsible firing which took place that morn- ing no shot by accident or design was low enough to extinguish such slight spark of life as was left in him. If we are to believe he was insane we must also believe that in.sanity occurs without any apparent symptoms, ami tluit he alone formed an exception to the rule which tells us that early attacks impel the victim to continual action. Neither sleep nor rest is known in the first hours of brain disorder, yet he lay down and slept soundly. To find him guilty we must believe that young Legros had no motive in not returning to see his father's re- mains interred ; that there was no motive in keeping him for ever afterwards out of sight. We cannot believe that a brave and generous man changed his nature in a moment and in the most cowardly man- ner shot his fellow travellers, and that in the most despicable fashion he eluded punishment by suicide. This we cannot believe. Nothing in his character would justify us for a moment in doing so. He was generous to a fuilt. Every letter breathes his attachment to home and relations. He was strongly attached to his family, and with his brother supported his mother in her old age. His chief anxiety in considering the dangers ahead of him was that his mother might be left unprovided for, and in a will he made he devised to her any wealth which his services might be sup- posed worthy of. But she reaped but little benefit from this. The government refused to give her even the one year's pension already due her son, and the Hudson's Bay Company paid but the merest pit- tance as the balance due to Simpson. A word as to his appearance. He was under the average height, broad shouldered, with a frame formed for endurance. His darx brown hair clustered full around his head. There was much merriment in the expression of the eye as well as a look of great kindness. His mouth was small and determined. •W*^ CHAPTER VII. Those, however*, who could take care of themselves fared well. The Hudson's Bay Company, on the strength of Simpson's discover- ies, got a renewal of their license. Their governor in London received a baronetcy and the local governor a knighthood. Notwithstanding all this, he to whom they were indebted for these benefits and honors received the burial of an outcast. His body was allowed to be- come prey for wild anim ils, and it was only when this reached the ears of the governor that orders were given to have his bones picked —13— up on the prairie, and brouglit here for interment. Bigotry added its mite to the contumely of relatives and friends, and burial was refused for what the wolves had left of Thomas Simpson. A grave was dug for him away from those of the good people, and no stick or stone marks the spot. "No man knows his .sepulchre." Within the last few weeks I have seen the carpenter who had charge o^ ihe funeral, but he has no recollection of the spot. Some little clue has been obtained, however, and it may be that some one who was present may yet be found to point the place. The expression of fraternal affection was resented by his superstitious countrymen, and a tablet in brass erected in the church of his native place was torn down and disfigured. Several officers of the Hudson's Bay Company have signified their desire to contribute to a fund for the erection of a monument to Simp- son, and I may say that any one so disposed may send donations to Chief Factor McFarlane, care of the Hudson's Bay Company, Winnipeg, who has consented to act as treasurer for the fund. The Royal Geographical Society will, no doubt, send a handsome contribution. No more justly distinguished and able man is connected with the Northwest, and I am sure I am not astray in appealing to that gener- osity and quick perception of merit so characteristic of our young country to revise the record of Thomas Simpson's fate, the record of his life, and stamp with indelible seal our impression that here was a life for example ; here a brave and noble spirit ; a name and memory traduced and neglected, and to place it in that niche of fame which has .so long been denied it. — Alex, McArthur. DISCUSSION. A brief discussion followed. Dr. Bryce agreed with Mr. McArthur that it would be a laudable thing to make an effort to remove any .stigma from the memory of a noble and worthy man. In answer to Prof. Hart, Mr. McArthur stated that superstitious objections had been made to the burial of Simpson's remains in the church yard, but as a compromise they were interred beside the wall on one side. Mr. K. N. L. Macdonald took an opposite view of the evidence, and believed that Simpson had murdered his companions and then committed suicide, in consequence of a strange hallucination that had taken hold of his mind in crossing the prairie that one of his fellow travellers might report the results of their expedition to the company in England before him. After some further remarks by Judge Ardagh and othaw^ .^M^ tb« passing of a unanimous vote of thanks to Mr. McArthjji'fijii? Wg( exc6K V \ lent paper, the meeting adjourned. tyi~'\- y, '•'<