^. 
 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 11.25 
 
 Iti|2j8 M2.5 
 Ui 1^ 122 
 
 lU 
 
 140 
 
 
 2.0 
 
 
 H 
 
 ^ 
 
 7. 
 
 
 # 
 
 /^ 
 
 '/ 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sdences 
 Corporation 
 
 93 WKT MAIN STMIT 
 
 WIUTH.N.Y 14SM 
 
 ( 71* ) •73-4503 
 
 4^ 
 
 ? 
 

 % 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Instituta for Historical IMicroraproductiont / Institut Canadian da microraprodiictions hiatoriquas 
 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 origins! copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically unique, 
 which may alter any of the images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 v/ 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 I I Covers damaged/ 
 
 Couverture endommagie 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaurie et/ou pelliculAe 
 
 □ Cover title missing/ 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 I I Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes g6ographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black}/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 Reli4 avec d'autres documents 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 Lareliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distortion le long de la marge intAriaure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas AtA filmies. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supplAmentaires: 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une irvige reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la m^thode normale de f ilmage 
 sont indiquAs ci-dessous. 
 
 Th« 
 toi 
 
 I I Coloured pages/ 
 
 D 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqu* ci-dessous. 
 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommag^es 
 
 Pages restored and/oi 
 
 Pages restauries et/ou pellicul6es 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxe( 
 Pages dAcolordes, tacheties ou piqudes 
 
 Pages detached/ 
 Pages ditach^es 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Quality of prir 
 
 Qualiti inAgale de I'impression 
 
 Includes supplementary materii 
 Comprend du materiel supplimentaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 I I Pages damaged/ 
 
 I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 
 fy] Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 
 I I Pages detached/ 
 
 r~~l Showthrough/ 
 
 I I Quality of print varies/ 
 
 I I Includes supplementary material/ 
 
 I I Only edition available/ 
 
 Th« 
 poi 
 of 
 filH 
 
 Ori 
 be( 
 the 
 sioi 
 oth 
 firs 
 sioi 
 or i 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errnta 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont At* film*es A nouveau de fapon A 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 The 
 she 
 TIN 
 whi 
 
 Mai 
 diff 
 enti 
 beg 
 righ 
 reqi 
 met 
 
 
 10X 
 
 
 
 
 14X 
 
 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 2ex 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12X 16X aPX 24X 28X 32X 
 
 
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Unlvsrtity of Saskatchewan 
 Saskatoon 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 L'exemplaire filmA fut reproduit grAce h la 
 gAnArositA de: 
 
 University of Saskatchewan 
 Saskatoon 
 
 Les images suivantes ont AtA reproduites avec ie 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettetA de l'exemplaire filmA. et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 32X 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. Ail 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams Illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 Les exemplalres originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprimAe sont filmte en commenpant 
 par Ie premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 derniAre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par Ie second 
 plat, selon Ie cas. 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, '•'<