226

Lord Sclkirk's C(lonists.

no danger is feared, the animals are kept, on
the outside. Thus, the carts formed a stroll,,
barrier, not only for securing the people and
the beasts of burden within, but as a place of
shelter and defence against an attack of the
enemy without.
There is, however, another appendage be-
longing to the expedition, and to every expe-
dition of the kind; and you may be assured they
are not the least noisy. We allude to the dogs
or camp followers. On the present occasion
they numbered no fewer than 542; sufficient of
themselves to consume no small number of a.P.i-
ma.ls a day, for, like their masters, they dearly
relish a bit of bufftlo meat.
These animals are kept in summer as they
are, about the establishments of the fur trad-
ers, for their services in the winter. In deep
snows, when horses cannot conveniently be used,
dogs are very serviceable to the hunters in these
parts. The half-breed, dressed in his wolf cos-
tume, tackles two or three sturdy curs into a flat
sled, throws himself on it at full lenh, and gets
among the buffalo unperceived. Here the bow
and arrow play their part to prevent noise; and
here the skillful hunter kills as many as he
pleases, and returns to canp without disturb-
ing the band.
But now to our camp againmthe largest of its
kind perhaps in the world. A council was held

Off to tl( Buffalo.

227

for the nomination of chiefs or officers for con-
ducting the expedition. Two captains were
named, the senior on this occasion being Jean
Baptiste Wilkie, an English half-breed brought
up among the French, a man of good sound
sense and long experience, and withal a bold-
looking and discreet fellow, a second Nimrod in
his way. Besides being captain, in common with
others, he was styled the great war chief or head
of the camp, and on all public occasions he
cupied the place of president.
The hoisting of the flag every morning is the
signal for raising camp. Half an hour is the
full time allowed to prepare for the march, but
if anyone is sick, or their animals have strayed,
notice is sent to the guide, who halts until all is
made right. From the time the flag is hoisted
however, till the hour of camping arrives, it is
never taken down. The flag taken down is a sig-
nal for encamping, while it is up the guide is
chief of the expedition, captain. are subject to
him, and the soldiers of the day are hi. messen-
gers, he commands all. The moment the flag is
lowered his functions cease and the captains and
soldiers' duties commence. The)" point out the
order of the camp, and every cart as it arrives
moves to its appointed place. This business usu-
ally occupies about the same time as raising
camp in the morning, for everything moves with
the regnlari of clockwork.

Off to the Buffalo.

229

At eight o'clock the whole cavalcade broke
ground, and made for the buffaloes. When the
horsemen started the buffaloes were about a
mile and a half distant, but when they ap-
proached to about four or five hundred yards,
the bulls curled their tails or pawed the ground.
In a moment more the herd took flight, and
horse and rider are presently seen bursting up-
on them, shots are hard, and all is smoke, dust
and hurry, and in less time than we have occu-
pied with a description a thousand Carcasses
strew the plain.
When the rush was made, the earth seemed to
tremble as the horses started, but when the ani-
mals fled, it was like the shock of an earthquake.
The air was darkened, the rapid firing, at first,
soon became more and more faint, and at last
died away in the distance.
In such a run, a good horse and experienced
rider will select and kill from ten to twelve buf-
faloes at one heat, but in the case before us, the
surface was rocky and full of badger holes.
Twenty-three horses and riders were at one
momentall sprawling on the ground, one horse
gored by a bull, was killed on the spot, two more
were disabled by the fall. One rider broke his
shoulder blade, another burst his gun, and lost
three fingers by the accident, another was struck
on the knee by an exhausted bu]|. In the even-
ing no less than 1,375 tongues were brought into

Lord ,,'lkirk's Coloists.

camp. When the run is over the hunter's work
is now retrograde. The last animal killed is the
first skinned, and night not unfrequently, sur-
prises the runner at his work. What then re-
mains is l,t and falls to the wolves. Hundreds
of dead buffaloes are often abandoned, for even
a thunder:;torm, in one hour, will render the
meat useless.
The day of a race is as fati-ming on the hunter
as on the horse, but the meat well in the camp,
he enjoys the very luxury of idleness.
Then the task of the women begins, who do
all the rest, and what with skins, and meat and
fat, their duty is a most laborious one.
It is to be regretted tlat much of the meat is
waste(1. Our expedition killed not less than 2,-
500 buffaloes, and out of all these nade 375 bags
of pemmican, and 240 bales of dried meat; 750
animals should have made that amount, so that
a great quantity was wasted. Of course, the
buffalo skins were saved and had their value.
Our party were now on the Missouri and en-
camped there. A few traders went to the near-
est American fort, and bartered furs for ar-
ticles they needed.
After passing" a week on the banks of the Mis-
souri we turned to the West, when we had a few
ra.ce, with various success. We were afterwards
led backwards and forwards at the pleasure of
the buffalo herds. They crossed and recrossed

Off to the Bufl'al,,.

231

our path until we had travelled to almost every
point of the compass.
Having had various altercations with the In-
dians, the party reached Red River, bringing
about 900 lbs. of buffalo meat in each cart, mak-
ing more than one million pounds in all. The
Hudson's Bay Company took a considerable
amount of this, and the remainder went to sup-
ply the wants of the Red River Settlement for
another year.

234

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

chimney planted against one wall. Inside is but
a single room, well whitewashed, as is indeed
the outside and exceptionally tidy; a bed oc-
cupies one corner, a sort of couch another, a
rung ladder leads up to loose boards overhead
which form an attic, a trap door in the middle of
the room opens to a small hole in the ground
where milk and butter are kept cool; from the
beam is suspended a hammock, used as a cradle
for the baby; shelves singularly hung held a
scanty stock of plates, knives and forks; two
windows on either side, covered with mosquito
netting, admit the light, and a modicum of air;
chests and boxes supply the place of seats, with
here and there a keg by way of easy-chair. An
open fireplace of whitewashed clay gives sign
of cheer and warmth in the long winter, and a
half-dozen books for library complete the scene.
Our hosts feel so "highly honored to have
such gentlemen enter the house "--these are
their very words--that it is with the greatest
difficulty they are forced to take any compensa-
tion for the excellent meal of bread, butter, and
rich cream which they set before us, and to
which we do ample justice.
This was not the only interior we saw; we had
before called on the single scientific man of the
Settlement, Donald Gunn, and later in the day
are forced by a thunderstorm to seek shelter in
the nearest house; where we are also warmly

What the tar Gazers Saw.

2:5

welcomed and the rain continuing, are glad to
accept the cordial invitations of its inhabitants
to pass the night. This is a larger house, but
only the father of the family and his buxom
daughter, Susie, a lively girl of eighteen or nine-
teen, are at home, the others being off at the
other end of their small farm, where they havc
temporary shelter during the harvest.
We have each a chamber to ourselves in the
garret, reached in the same primitive method
a before mentioned--and are shown with a dip
of buffalo-tallow to our rooms. The furniture of
these consists of a sort of couch, with buffalo
skins for mattress and wolf skins for sheets and
coverlet, a chest for a seat, a punch-bowl.of wa-
ter on a broken chair for a washstand, and a torn
bit of rag for towel; while a barrel covered with
a white cloth serves as a centre-table, and is be-
sprinkled with antique books. Among those in
his chamber our naturalist discovers one which
appears to be a catechism of human knowledge
containing, among other entertaining and in-
structive information as an answer to the ques-
tion, "What is a shark ? ' the highly satisfactory
reply that it is "An animal having eighty-eight
teeth."
The wants of the Colony were few, the
peasantry simple and industrious, and their lot
in life did not seem to them hard. The earth
yielded bountifully, and in time of temporary

What the Star Gazers Saw.

237

are heavy, straight beams, between which is
harnessed an ox, the harness of rawhide
(shaga-nappi) without buckles.
Everybody makes for himself what he wishes
in this undifferentiated Settlement. We return
in tatters. Not a tailor, nor anything approach-
ing the description of ofie, exists here, and a
week's search is needed to discover such a being
as a shoemaker. A single store in the Hudson's
Bay post at each of the two forts, twenty miles
apart, supplies the goods of the outside world,
and the purchaser must furnish the receptacle
for carriage. For small goods this invariably
consists, as far as we can see, of a red ban-
danna handkerchief, so that purchases have to
be small and frequent; not all of one sort, how-
ever, for the native can readily tie up his tea in
one corner, his sugar and buttons in two others,
and still have one left for normal uses. How
many handkerchiefs a day are put to use may
be judged from the fact that the average sale of
tea at Upper Fort Garry is four large boxes
daily--all, be it remembered, brought by ship to
Hudson Bay, and thence by batteaux and por-
tage to the Red River.
The caravan by which we and a number of
others were carried back to civilization was a
stylish enough turnout for Red River. It was
supplied b.v McKinney, .the host of the Royal
Hotel of the village of Winnipeg. Three large

238 Lord Selkirk's Colonists.
emigrant wagons, with canvas coverings of the
most approved pattern, but of very different
hues, drawn each by a yoke of oxen, convey the
patrons of the party, with the exception of a
miner, who rides his horse. The astronomers
take the lead under a brown canvas; a theologi-
cal student for Toronto University, a gentle-
man for St. Paul, and others follow under a
black canvas full of holes; and the third wagon
with a cover of spotless purity, conveys the la-
dies of the party and a clergyman. Behind
them follow not only half a. dozen Red River
carts, with a most promiscuous assortment of
baggage, peltry, and squeak, but also a stray ox
and a pony or two; a number of armed horse-
men, and for the first day a cavalcade of friends
giving a Scotch convoy to those who were de-
parting. The astronomers at length reached
St. Paul, when they declare their connection
with the world again complete, after an absence
of about three months, during which they had
travelled thirty-five hundred miles.

CHAPTER XXIII.

APPLES OF GOLD.

Shakespeare's play of "As You Like It" is
an eulogy of the flight from the highly formal
life of city life to the simplicity of the forest and
the retirement of the plains. Even in the ban-
ished Duke, there is a strain of oddity and
quaintness. Not many years after the middle
of last century, a Detroit lawyer fled from the
troubles of society and city life to the peaceful
plains of secluded Assiniboia. liarrying, after
his arrival, a daughter of one of our best na-
tive families, and on her death, a pure Indian
woman, he reared a large family. The poetic
spirit of Frank Larned was never repressed,
and we give, with some changes, to suit our pur-
pose, and at times some divergence from the
views expressed, scenes of the Red River Set-
tlement, in which he, for more than a genera-
tion, dwelt.

ONE JTOPIA--SELKIR:KIA.

That brave old Englishman, Thomas More--
afterwards, unhappily for his head--Lord High
Chancellor of England--wrote out, in fair La-

240

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

tin,--in his chambers in the City of London,
over three centuries ago--his idea of an Utopia.
This, modest as are its requirements, has yet
found no practical illustration, even among the
many seats of the great colonizing race of man-
kind.
The primitive history of all the colonies that
faced the Atlantic--when the new-found con-
tinent first felt the abiding foot of the stranger
--from Oglethorpe to Acadia, reveals, alas! no
Utopia. It remained for a later time,--the
erlier half of the present century, amid some
severity of climate, and under conditions with-
out precedent, and incapable of repetition,--
to evolve a community in the heart of the con-
tinent, shut away from intercourse with civi-
lized mankind--that slowly crystalized into a
form beyond the ideal of the dreamers--a com-
munity, in the past, known but slightly to the
outer world as the Red River Settlement, which
is but the bygone name for the one Utopia of
Britain--the clear-cut impress of an exceptional
people living under conditions of excellence un-
thought of by themselves until, they had passed

away.

THE UTOPIAN COLONY.

A people, whose name in the vast domain, was
in days by gone, sou'ht out and coveted by all.
Unknown races had rested here and gone away,

242

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

other than themselves. A people whose un-
checked primal freedom was afterward
strengthened by the light hand of laws that con-
served what they most desired; whose personal
relations with their rulers were of such primi-
tive character as to make the Government in
every sense paternal; the petty tax on imports
attending its administration one practically un-
felt!
A people whose land was dotted with schools
and churches, to whose maintenance their con-
tributions were so slight as to be unworthy of
mention. The three separate religious denom-
inations, holding widely different tenets--else-
where the cause of bitter sectarian feeling,--
was with them so unthought of as to give
where all topics were eagerly sought--no room
for even fireside discussion. Side by side, "up-
on the voyage," as they termed their lake or
inland trips--the Catholic and the Protestant
knelt and offered up their devotions--following
the ways of their fathers,--no more to be made
a subject of dispute than a difference in color or
height.
The cursings and obscenities that taint the air
and brutalize life elsewhere, were in this quaint
old settlement unknown. Sweet thought, pure
speech, went hand in hand, clad in nervous,
pithy old English, or a "patois" of the French,
mellowed and enlarged by their constant use of

Apples of Gold. 243
the liquid Indian tongues, flowing like soft-
sounding waters about them, their daily talk
came ever welcome to the ear.

AN ARCADIA.

Where locks for doors were unknown, or,
known, unused, where a man's word, even in
the transfer of land, was held as his bond--hon-
esty became a necessity. Lawyers were none.
Law was held to be a danger. Still the im-
portance attached by simple minds to an ap-
pearance in public, the amusing belief cherished
by some, that, if permitted to plead his own
case, exert his unsuspected powers, there could
be but one result, brought some honest souls to
the Red River forum, with matter of much mo-
ment, "the like never heard before." None
can read the quaint, minutely-detailed record of
these "causes celbres" that shook the little
households as with a great wind, without a
smile, or resist the conviction that no scheme of
an English Utopia can safely be pronounced
perfect without some such modest tribunal to
afford vent for that ever-germinating desire
for battle inherent in the race.
Their manners were natural, cordial, and full
of a lightsome heartness that robed accost with
sunshine,--a quietude withal--that rare quality
--that irked them not at all--one gathered from
their Indian kin-folk. Their knowledge of each

244

Lord Sclkirk's Colonists.

other was simply universal--their kin ties al-
most as genera]. These ties were brightened
and friendships reknit in the holiday season of
the year, the leisure of the long winters, when

ALEXANDER ROSS
Shert and Author.
Came to Red River Settlement in 8z5 from British Columbia.

Dil in x86.

the far-scattered hewn log housessmall to the
eye--were ever found large enough to hold the
welcome arrivals,--greeted with a kiss that said,

246

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

A LAND OF PEACE.

Foverty in one sense certainly existed; age
and improvidence are always with us, but it was
not obtrusive, made apparent only towards the
close of the long winter, when some old veteran
of the canoe or saddle would make a "grand
promenade" through the Settlement, with his
ox and sled, making known his wants, incident-
ally, at his different camps among his old
friends, finding always before he left his sled
made the heavier by the women's hands. This
was simply done; few in the wild country but
had met with sudden exigencies in supply, knew
well the need at times of one man to another,
and, when asked for aid, gave willingly. Or it
may be that some large-hearted, jovial son of
the chase had overrated his winter store, or un-
derrated the assiduity of his friends. His re-
course in such case being the more carefully es-
timated stock of some neighbor, who could in
no wise suffer the reproach to lie at his door,
that he had turned his back, in such emergence,
upon his good-natured, if injudicious country-
man.
This practical communismnborrowed from
the Indians, among whom it was inviolable--
was, in the matter of hospitality, the rule of all,
--a reciprocation of good offices, in the absence
of all houses of public entertainment, becoming

Apples of Gold.

247

a social necessity. The manner of its exercise
hearty, a knitting of the people together,--no
one was at a loss for a winter camp when travel-
ling. Every house he saw was his own, the
bustling wife, with welcome in her eyes, eager
to assure your comfort. The supper being laid
and dealt sturdily with, the good man's pipe
and your own alight and breathing satisfaction,
--a neighbor soul drops in to swell the gale of
talk, that rocks you at last into a restful sleep.

How now, my masters I
cady?
Early and universal

Smacks not this of Ar-

marriage was the rule.

Here you received the blessings of home in the
married life, and the care of offspring. There
were thus no defrauded women--called, by a
cruel irony," old maids"; no isolated, mistaken
men, cheated out of themselves, and robbed of
the best training possible for man. This vital
fact was fi'aught with every good.
On the young birds leaving the parent nest,
they only exchanged it for one near at hand--
land for the taking; a house to be built, a wife
to be got--a share of the stock, some tools and
simple furniture, and the outfit was complete.
The youngest son remained at home to care for
the old father and mother, and to him came the
homestead when they were laid away. The
conditions were all faithful, home life dear in-
deed.

250

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

sense whatever of inferiority, unfrayed by the
trituration of the average book, their powers of
apprehension--singularly clear--had full scope
to appropriate and resolve the world about
them, which they did to such purpose as to mas-
ter every exigence of their lives. Seizing upon
the minutest detail affecting them they mastered
as if by intuition all difficult handiwork, making
with but few tools everything they required from
a windmill to a horseshoe.
Their real education was in scenes of travel
or adventure in the great unbroken regions
sought out by the fur trade, their retentive
memories reproducing by the winter fireside or
summer camp pictures so graphi c as to com-
mend themselves to every ear.
The tender heart and true of the brave old
knight, Sir Thomas More, put a ban upon hunt-
ing in his Utopia. Alas and alack for the way-
ward proclivities of our Utopians, predaceous
creatures all, hunting was to them as the
breath of their nostrils, for to them, unlike the
sons of Adam, it was given--with their brothers
resting upon the tranquil river--to lay upon the
altar of their homes alike the fruits of the earth
and the spoils of the chase.

THE BUFFALO HUNT.

What pen can paint the life of the "Chas-
seurs of the Great Plains," tell of the gathering

Apples of Gold.

251

of the mighty Halfbreed clan going forth--each
spring and fall--in a tumult of carts and horse-
men to their boundless preserves, the home of
the buffaloes, whose outrangers were the grizzly
bear, the branching elk, the flying antelope that
skirted the great columns, the last relieving the
heavy rolling gait of the herds by a speed and
airy flight that mocked the eye to follow them,
scouting the dull trot of the prowling wolves--
attent upon the motions of their best purveyor
What a going forth was theirs I this array of
Hunters, with their wives and little ones; this
new tribe clad in semi-savage garniture,
streaming across the plains with cries of glee
and joyance; the riders in their "travoie" of
arms and horse equipment--the vast "brigade"
of carts and bands of following horses, kept to
the cavalcade by those reckless jubilants--the
boys--seeming a part of the creatures they be-
strode. The sunshine and the flying fleecy clouds,
emulous in motion with the troop below: what
life was in it all; what freedom and what
breadth !
And as the sun sank apace and the guides and
Headmen rode apart on some o'er-looking
height and reined their cattle in, the closing up
of the flying squadron for the evening camp, the
great circular camp of these our Scythians
proof against sudden raid crowning the land-

252

Lord Selkirk's Colot,ists.

scape far and wide, seen, yet seeing every foe,
whose subtle coming through the short-lived
night was watched by eyes as keen as were their

When reached, their bellowing, countless
quarry: the plain alive and trembling with their
tumult, what tournament of mail-clad knights
but was as a stilted play to this rude shock of
man and beast--carrying in a cloud of dust that
hid alike the chaser and the chased, till done
their work the frightened herds swept onward
and away, leaving the sward flecked with the
huge forms that made the hunters' wealth! And
now! on: fall prosaic from the wild charge, the
danger of the fierce elee!--drifting from the
camp the carts sppear piled red in a trice with
bosses, tonoes, back fat and ju]cy haunch, a
feast unknown to hapless kings.
We but glance at this great feature, that fed
so fat our Utopia, leaving to imagination the re-
turn, the trade, the feasting and the fiddle when
lusty legs embossed by "quills" or beads kept
up the dance.
The outcome of the "Plain Hunt" was not
only a wide spread plenty among the Hunters
on reaching the quiet farmer folk upon the riv-
ers, but also the diffusion of a sunshine, a tone
of generous serenity theft sat well on the chiv-
alry of the chase--the bold riders of the Plain.

Apples of Gold.

253

THE SUMMER PRAIRIES.

Beneficent nature nowhere makes her compen-
sations more gratefully felt than in the summer
season of our Utopia of the north, where the
purest and most vivifying of atmospheres hues
with a wealth of sunshine the great reaching
spaces of verdure covered with flowers in a pro-
fusion rivaling their exquisite beauty. Green
vaving copses dot the level sward, and rob the
sky line of its sea-like sweep. The winding riv-
ers, signalled by their wooded ban.ks, upon
which rest the comfortable homes of the dwell-
ers in the "hidden land" guarding their little
fields close by where the ranked grain standing
awaits the sickle, turning from green to gold
and so unhurried resting. The shining cattle
couched outside in ruminant content or cropping
lazily the succulent feast spread wide before
them; the horses wary of approach, just seen in
compact bands upon the verge; the patriarchal
windmills--at wide paces--signalling to each
other their peaceful task; the little groups of
horsemen coming adown the winding road, or
stopping to greet some good wife and her gos-
sip-going abroad in a high-railed cart in quest
of trade, or friendly call. And as the day
wanes, the sleek cows, with considered careful
walk and placid mien, wend their way home-
ward, ])earing their heavy, udders to the house-

25-1:

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

mother, who, pail in hand awaiting their ap-
proach, pauses for a moment to mark the feath-
ered boaster at her feet, as he makes his part-
ing vaunt of a day well spent and summons
"Partlet" to her vesper perch hard by.
O'er all the scene there rests a brooding
peace, bespeaking tranquil lives, repose trim-
med with the hush of night, and effort health-
ful and cool as the freshening airs of morn.

L ENVOI.

Longfellow--moving all hearts to pity--has
painted in "Evangeline" the enforced disper-
sion of the French in "Acadia." Who shall
tell the homesick pain, the vain regrets, the look-
ing back of those who peopled our "Acadia"?
No voice bids them away; they melt before the
fervor of the time; hasten lest they be 'whelmed
by the great wave of life now rolling towards
them. Vain retreat, the waters are out and
may not be stayed. It is fate l it is right, but
the travail is sore, the face of the mother is wet
with tears.
This outline sketch proposed is at an end; we
have striven to be faithful to the true lines.
There is no obligation to perpetuate unworthy
"minutiae." Joy is immortall sorrow dies! the
petty features are absorbed in the broad ones;
those capable only of conveying truth.
The Red River Settlement in the days ad-

Apple's of Gold.

255

verted to is an idyl simple and pure: a nomadic
pastoral, inwrought with Indian traits and
color; our one acted poem in the great national
prosaic life. When the vast country in the far
future is teeming with wealth and luxury, this
light rescued and defined will shine adown the
fullness of the time with hues all its own. The
story that it tells will be as a sweet refresh-
ment: a dream made possible, called by those
vho shared in its great calm, "Britain's One
Utopia--Selkirkia."

,- ,. ?.
CHAPTER XXI.

PICTURES OF SILVER.

Lord Selkirk's Colonists never had, as we
have seen, a bed of roses. Adversity had
their steps from the time that they put the first
foot forward toward the new worldmand Stor-
noway, Fort Churchill, York Factory, Norway
House, Pembina and Fort Douglas start, as
we speak of them, a train of bitter memories.
Flood and famine, attack and bloodshed, toil
and anxiety were the constant atmosphere, in
which for a generation they existed. Higher
civilization is impossible when the struggle for
shelter and bread is too strenuous. Though the
ministrations of religion were supplied within a
few years of the beg.inning of the Colony, yet
the Colonists were not satisfied in this respect
till forty years had passed. It was a genera-
tion before the Roman Catholic Church had a
Bishop, who held the See of St. Boniface in-
stead of the title "in the parts of the heathen."
It was not before the year 1849 that  Church
of En.g]and Bishop arrived, and it was two
years after that date when the first Presbyter-

258

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

part of his recompense for his long journey, a
priest to be the guide of himself and family.
Father Dugas says: (See printed page 2.)
"Lord Selkirk before his departure had made
the Catholic colony on the Red River sign a pe-
tition asking the Bishop of Quebec to send mis-
sionries to evangelize the country. He pre-
sented this petition himself and employed all his
influence to have it granted.
"Though a Protestant Lord Selkirk knew
that to found a permanent colony on the Red
River he required the encouragement of reli-
gion. Should his application succeed the mis-
sionarie, would come with the voyageurs in the
following spring and would arrive in Red River
towards the month of July. This thought alone
made Madame Lajimoniere forget her eleven
years of loneline,, and sorrow.
"Before July the news had spread that the
missionaries were coming that very summer, but
as yet the exact date of their arrival was not
known. Telegraphs had not reached this re,on
and moreover the voyageurs were often exposed
to de|ays.
"After waiting patiently, one beautiful morn-
ing on t]e 16th of July, the day of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel, a man came from the foot of
the river to warn Fort Douglas and the neigh-
borhood that wo canoes brining the mission-
aries were coming up the river, and that all the

Pictures of Silver.

259

people ought to be at the Fort to receive them
on their arrival.
"Scarcely was the news made known when
men, women and children hurried to the Fort.
Those who had never seen the priests were
anxious to contemplate these men of God of
whom they had heard so much. Madame Laji-
moniere was not the last to hasten to the place
where the missionaries would land. She took
all her little ones with her, the eldest of whom
was Reine, then eleven years old.
"Towards the hour of noon on a beautiful
clear day more than one hundred and fifty per-
sons were gathered on the river bank in front
of Fort Douglas. Every eye was on the turn
of the river at the point. It was who should
first see the voyageurs. Suddenly two canoes
bearing the Company's flag came in sight.
There was a general shout of joy. The trader
of the Fort, Mr. A. McDonald, was a Catholic,
and he had everything prepared to give them a
solemn reception. Many shed tears of joy. The
memory of their native land was recalled to the
old Canadians who had left their homes many
years before. These old voyageurs who had been
constantly called upon to face death had been
deprived of all relious succour during the long
years, but they had not been held by a spirit of
impiety. The missionaries were to them the
messengers of God.

Picturcs of 5'ilvcr.

261

of the Colony. A large room in one of the
buildings of the Fort had been set apart for
them, and it was there that they held divine
service. M. Provencher invited all the mothers
of families to bring their children who were un-
der six years of age to the Fort on the followin,a"
aturday when they would receive the hapl,i-
ness of being baptised. All persons above that
age who were not Christians could not receive
that sacrament until after being instructed in
the truths of Christianity.
"When M. Provencher had finished speaking
the Governor conducted him with M. Dumoulin
into the Fort. Canadians, Metis and Indians
feeling very happy retired to return three days
afterwardS.

"There were four children in the Lajimoniere
family, but only two of them .ould be baptised,
the others being nine and eleven years of age.
On the following Saturday Madame Lajimo-
niere with all the other women came to the Fort.
The number of children, includin,o, Indians and
Metis, amounted to a hundred and Madame La-
jimoniere being the only ('hri,tian woman stood
Godmother to them all. For a long time all the
children in the colony called her 'Marraine.'
"M. Provencher announced that from the
ne.'t day the mi,ionaries wou.d be.in their
work and that the settlers ought to ben at the

262

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

same time to work at the erection of a home
for them.
M. Lajimoniere was one of the first to meet at
the place selected and to commence preparing
the materials for the building. The work pro-
gressed so rapidly that the house was ready for
occupation by the end of October.
"Madame Lajimoniere rendered every as-
sistance in her power to the missionaries."

HARGRAVE S TALE.

With a few changes we shall allow an old
friend of the writer, J. J. Hargrave, long an
official of the Hudson's Bay Company, to give
the tale of the Church of England in Red River
Settlement. "As we have seen, the Rev. John
West came from England to Red River as
chaplain of the Hudson's Bay Company. One
of his first works was the erection of a rude
school-house, and the systematic education of a
few children. Chief among the names of the
clergymen, who came out from England in the
early days of the Settlement, after Mr. West's
return, were Rev. Messrs. Jones, Cochran,
Cowley, McCallum, Smedhurst, James and
Hunter. William Cochran is universally re-
garded in the Colony as the founder of the
En.]ish Church in Rupert's Land, and from
the date of his arrival till ]849 all the principal
ecclesiastical business done may be said to

264

Lord Sclkirk's ColoJists.

time held in the Court House at Fort Garry,
and in the autumn of 1868 Holy Trinity Church
was opened in Winnipeg.

A SELF-DENYING APOSTLE.
After many disappointments the cry of the
Selkirk Colonists for a minister of their own
faith reached Scotland, and their case was re-
ferred to Dr. Robert Burns, of Toronto, who
was further urged to action by Governor Bal-
lenden, of Fort Garry. In August, 1857, the
Rev. John Black, then newly ordained, was sent
on by Dr. Burns to Red River. He was for-
tunate in becoming attached to a military ex-
pedition led by Governor Ramsey, of Minne-
sota, going northwest for nearly four hundred
miles, from St. Paul to Pembina.
Leaving the military escort behind, in com-
pany with Mr. Bond, who wrote an account of
the trip, Mr. Black floated down Red River in
a birch canoe, and in a three-days' journey tl!ey
reached the Marion's House in St. Boniface. It
is said that it was from Bond's description of
this voya.o-e that the Poet Vhittier obtained the
information for the well-known poem.

THE RED RIVER VOYAGEUR.

Out and in the river is winding
The banks of its long red chain,
Through belts of dusky line land
.\nd gusty leagues of plain.

Pictures of Silver.

265

Only at times a smoky wreath
With the drifting cloud-rack joins--
The smoke of the hunting lodges
Of the wild Assiniboines.

Drearily blows the north wind,
From the land of ice and snow;
The eyes that look are uneasy,
,d heavy the hands that row.

.knd with one foot on the water,
.,.knd one upon the shore,
The kngel's shadow gives warning--
Theft day shall be no more.

Is it the clang of wild geese?
Is it the Indians' yell,
That lends to the voice of the North wind
The tones of a far-off bell?

The Voyageur smiles as he listens
To the sound that grows apace;
Well he knows the vesper ringing
(f the bells of St. Boniface.

The bells of the Roman Mission
That call from their turrets twain;
To the boatmen on the river,
To the hunter on the plain.

266 Lord Sclkirk's Colonists.
Even so on our mortal journey
The bitter north winds blow;
And thus upon Life's Red River
Our hearts, as oarsmen, row.

Happy is he who heareth
The signal of his release
In the bells of the Holy Citym
The chimes of Eternal peace.

In the afternoon of the day of their arrival
the party crossed from St. Boniface to Fort
Garry, and the missionary well known as
as Rev. Dr. Black, went to the hospitable shel-
ter of Alexander Ross, whose daughter he af-
terward married. Three hundred f the Sel
kirk Colonists and their children immediately
gatliered around Mr. Black, and though inter-
rupted for a year by the great flood which we
have described, erected in the following year,
the stone Church of Kildonan, on the highway
some five miles from Winnipeg. With the help
of a small grant from the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany, the Selkirk Colonists erected, free from
debt, their church which still remains. Two
other churches were erected by the Presbyter-
ians, and beside each a school. Forseveralyears
before the old Colony ceased Mr. Black con-
ducted service in the Court House near Fort
Garry, and in 1868, with the assistance of Cana-

Pictures of Silver.

267

dian friends, erected the small Knox Church
on Portage Avenue, in Winnipeg. This build-
ing, though used, was not completed till after
the arrival of the Canadian troops in 1870.

EARLY RED RIVER CULTURE.

Strange as it may seem, the isolated Red
River Colony was far from being an illiterate
communit.v. The presence of the officers of the
Hudson's Bay Company, the coming of the
clergy of the different churches, who established
schools, and the leisure for reading books sup-
plied by the Red River Library produced a peo-
ple whose speech was generally correct, and
whose diction was largely modeled on standard
books of literature. Mrs. Marion Bryce has
made a sympathetic study of this subject, and
we quote a number of her passages:

SCIENTIFIC WORK.

The duty laid upon the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany officers and clerks of keeping for the bene-
fit of their employers a diary recording every-
thing at their posts that might make one day dif-
fer from another, or indeed that often made ev-
ery day alike, cultivated among the officers of
the fur trade the powers of observation that
were frequently turned to scientific account, and
we find some of them acting as corresponding
members of the Smithsonian Institution in

Pictures of Silver.

269

LITERARY CLUBS.

In addition to libraries we find that at a later
date in the history of the Settlement, literary
clubs were formed. Bishop Anderson and his
sister, who arrived in Red River in 1849, were
instrumental in forming a reading club for mu-
tual improvement, for which the leading maga-
zines were ordered.

EDUCATION.
But we must now speak of more decided or-
ganization for the promotion of culture in Red
River. The Selkirk settlers had now (1821)
gained a footing in the ]and and the banks of
the Red River had become the paradise of re-
tired officers of the fur-trading companies.
Happy families were growing up in the homes
of the Settlement and education was necessary.
A settled community made it possible for the
churches and church societies in the homeland
to do Christian work, both among the Indians
and the white people, and to these institutions
the Settlement was ndebted for the first educa-
tional efforts made.

COMMON SCHOOLS.

The Rev. John West, the first Episcopal mis-
sionary who arrived, n 1820, and his successors,
the Rev. David Jones and Archdeacon Coch-
rane, as far as the$ could, organized common

Picres of Silver. 271

debted to him for the foundations ]aid. It was
his endeavor after entering on his bishopric to
have a parish school wherever there was a mis-
sionary of the Church of England, and in the
year 1869 there were 16 schools of this kind in
the different parishes of Rupert's Land. This
is bringing us very near the time of the transfer
when our public school system was inau,urated.
Mrs. Jones, the wife of Rev. David Jones,
the missionary of Red River, joined her hus-
band in 1829. She very soon saw the need there
was for a boarding and day school for the sons
and daughters of Hudson's Bay Company fac-
tors and other settlers in the Northwest. A
school of this kind was opened and in addition
to the mis,on work in which she asisted her
husband, Mrs. Jones devoted herself to the
training of the young people committed to her
charge until her death, which occurred some-
what suddenly in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Jones
were assisted by a governess and tutor from
En,land and the Church Missionary Society
gave financial assistance.
Mr. John Maca]lum, who was afterward, or-
dained at l,ed River, arrived from England in
1836, as assistant to Mr. Jones. He took charge
of the school for young ladies and also the clas-
sical school for the sons of Hudson's Bay fac-
tors and traders. He was asisted by Mrs. Ma-
callum and also had teachers brou.aht out from

272 Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

England. He had two daughters who were pu-
pils in the school, one of whom still survives in
British Columbia.
One of the Red River ladies who attended that
school when a very little girl says that the build-
ing occupied by it stood near the site of Dean
O'Meara's present residence. The enclosure
took in the pretty ravine formed by a creek in
the neighborhood--the ravine that is now
bridged by one of o,ur public streets. It con-
sisted of two large wings, one for the boys and
one for the girls, joined together by a dining
hall used by the boys. There were also two
pretty gardens in which the boys and girls could
disport themselves separately. The large trees
that surrounded the building have long since
disappeared. The young girl spoken of as a
pupil seems to have had her youthful mind cap-
tivated by the beauty of the site, and indeed no-
where could the love of naturebe better culti-
vated than along the bends of the Red River
near St. John's, where groves of majestic trees
succeed each other, where the wild flowers flour-
ish in the sheltered nooks and the fire-flies
glance among the greenery at the close of day
and where for sound we have the whip-poor-will
lashing the woods as if impatient of the si-
lence.
Among other schools was one commenced in
the early thirties by Mr. John Pritchard, at one

274 Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

home for the sons of Hudson's Bay Company
factors and traders, so that they might be fit-
ted for the company's business in which they
were to succeed their fathers.

GIRLS  SCHOOLS.

From the death of Mr. Macallum, 1849, there
was a vacancy in the school for girls until 1851,
when Mrs. Mills and her two daughters came
from England to assume its charge. A new
building was erected for this school a little fur-
ther down the river to which was given the name
of St. Cross. This was the same building en-
larged with which we were familiar a few years
ago as St. John's Boys' College, and which has
lately been taken down. Mrs. Mill, . .id to
have been very thorough in her instruction and
management. The young ladies were trained in
all the social etiquette of the day in addition to
the more solid education imparted. Miss Mills
assisted her mother with the music and mod-
ern ]anchorages. Miss Harriet Mills, being
younger, was more of a companion to the
girls, and accompanied them on walks, in win-
ter on the frozen river, in summer towards the
plain, and unless her maturer years belie the
record of her girlhood we ma.  imane she was
a very lively and agreeable companion. In
addition to her regu]a.r school dutie Mrs. Mills
had a class for girls who were beyond school

Pictures of Silcer.

275

age. She also gave assistance in Sunday school
work.
The pianos used in these school had to be
brought by sea, river and portage by way of
Hudson Bay; one of them is still in possession
of Miss Lewis, St. James. The teachers from
England had to traverse the same somewhat
discouraging route in coming into the Settle-
ment. Miss Mills, who came alone a little later
than her mother and sister, traveled from York
Factory under the care of Mr. Thomas Sinclair.
She always manifested the highest appreciation
of his kindness to her during the way, making
his men cut down and pile up branches around
her to protect her from the cold when his party
had to camp out for the night.

CPTER XXV.

DEN INVADED.

The conception of Red River Settlement be-
ing an Idyllic Paradise was not confined to the
writer, whose picture we have described as "Ap-
ples of Gold." It was a self-contained spot,
distant from St. Anthony Falls (now Minne-
apolis) some four or five hundred miles, and
this was its nearest neighbor of importance.
Our astronomers thus describe it as an orb in
space, and the celebrated Milton and Cheadle
Expedition of 1862 looked upon it as an,
"oasis." It was often represented as being en-
closed behind the Chinese wall of Hudson's
Bay Company exclusiveness, nd thus as hope-
lessly retired. The writer remembers well,
when entering Manitoba, in the year after it
ceased to be Red River Settlement, as he called
upon the pioneer of his faith, who, for twenty
years, had held his post, the old man said, when
youthful plans of progress were being advanced
to him, oh, rest! rest! there are creatures that
prefer lying quietly at the bottom of the pool
rather than to be always plunging through the

278

Lord Selkirk's Colotists.

and it is said that the report of this party of
explorers is one of the most accurate, sane,
and useful accounts ever given of this prairie
country.
With all this attention being paid to the
country and with the press of Canada awakened
to see the possibility of extending Canada in
this direction, it is not to be wondered at, that
adventurous spirits found out this Eden and
sought in it for the tree of life, perchance often
finding in it the tree of evil as well as that of

good. ,
Of course, to the modern philosopher the dis-
turbances of these peaceful seats is simply the
symptom of progress and the struggle that is
bound to take place in all development.
But to the Hudson's Bay Company pessi-
mist, or to the grey-headed sage, the greatest
disturbers of this Eden were two Englishmen,
Messrs. Buckingham and Coldwell, who, in
1859, entered Red River Colony, and estab-
lished that organ for good or evil, the newspa-
per. This first paper was called "The Nor'-
Wester." It is amusing to read the comments
upon its entrance made by Hudson's Bay Com-
party writers, both English and French. The
constitution and conduct of the Council of As-
siniboia was certainly the weak point in the
Hudson's Bay regime, and the Nor'-Wester
kept this point so constantly before the people

Eden Invaded.

279

that it was really a thorn in the side of the
Company. The Nor'-Wester, itself, was surely
not free from troubles. The Red River Com-
munity was very small, so that it could not very
well supply a constituency. Comparatively few
of the people could read, many felt no need of
newspapers, and the Company certainly did not
encourage its distribution. It would have been
a subject of constant amusement had the Nor'-
Wester been in operation in the days of Judge
Thorn and his policy of repression. Mr. Buck-
ingham did not remain long in Red River Set-
tlement. Mr. Coldwell became the dean of
newspaperdom in the Canadian West. The
great antagonist of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany, Dr. John Schultz, a Western Canadian,
came to the Settlement in the same year as The
Nor'-Wester--a medical man, he became also a
merchant, a land-owner, a politician, and in this
last sphere held many offices. At times he suc-
ceeded in controlling The Nor'-Wester, at other
times the Hudson's Bay Company were able to
direct The Nor'-Wester policy; sometimes Mr.
James Ross, son of Sheriff Alexander Ross',
was in control, but it may be said that in gen-
eral its policy was hostile to that of the Com-
pany. About this time of beginnings came
along a number of Americans, or Canadians,
who had been in the United States, and these
congregated in the little village, which began to

280

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

form at what is now the junction of Main
Street and Portage Avenue, in Winnipeg. Cer-
tain Canadians in St. Paul, such as Messrs.
N. W. Kittson, and J. J. Hill, began at this time
to take an interest in the trade of Red River
Settlement, and to speak of communication be-
tween the Settlement and the outside world.
The demand for transport led a company to
bring in a steamer, the Anson Northrup, after-
wards called "The Pioneer," to break the Red
River solitude with her scream. The steamer
International was built to run on the river in
1862, and thus the Hudson's Bay Company was
unwittingly joining with The Nor'-Wester in
opening up the country to the world, and sound-
ing the death-knell of the Company's hopes of
maintaining supremacy in Rupert's land.
Until this time of arrivals there had been no
village of Winnipeg. The first building back
from the McDermott, Ross and Logan build-
ings on the bank of Red River, was on the
corner of Main and Portage Avenue. Here
gathered those, who may be spoken of as free
traders, being rivals of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany Store at Fort Garry. Another villag.e
began a few years after at Point Douglas on
Main Street, near the Canadian Pacific Rail-
way Station of to-day, while at St. John's, on
Main Street, was another nucleus. These were
in existence when the old order passed away

282

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

in 1870, but they are all absorbed into the City
of Winnipeg of to-day. The Hudson's Bay
Company, while long attached to its ancient
customs, brought over from the seventeenth
century, has fully and heartily adopted the new
order of things. Glorying in the old, it has
embraced the new, and has become thoroughly
modern in all its enterprises. It has been a
safe and solvent institution in its whole history.
That it has been able to do this is no doubt,
largely due to the enterprise and modern spirit
of its great London Governor, who for years
watched over its time of transition in Winnipeg
--Donald A. Smith--Lord Strathcona of to-
day.
When the regime of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany is recalled old timers delight to think of
a figure of that time who was an embodiment of
the life of the Red River Settlement from its
hero'inning nearly to its end. This was William
Robert Smith, a blue-coat boy from London,
who came out in the Company's service in 1813,
served for a number of years as a clerk, and
settled down in Lower Fort Garry District in
1824. Farming, teaching, catechising for the
church, acting precentor, a local encyclopaedia
and collector of customs, he passed his versatile
life, till in the year before the Sayer affair,
1848, he became clerk of Court, which place,
with slight interruption, he held for twenty

CHAPTER XXVI.

RIEL mS RISING.

The agitation for freedom which we have de-
scribed in Red River Settlement, and the ef-
forts of Canada to introduce Rupert's Land into
the newly-formed Dominion of Canada had, af-
ter much effort, and the overcoming of many
hindrances, resulted in the British Government
agreeing to transfer this Western territory to
Canada, and in the Hudson's Bay Company ac-
cepting a subsidy in full payment of their claim
to the country. This payment was to be paid
by Canada. Somewhat careless of the feelings
of the Hudson's Bay Company officers, and also
of the views of the old settlers of the Colonym
especially of the French-speaking sectionmthe
Dominion Government sent a reckless body of
men to survey the lands near the French set-
tlements and to rouse animosity in the minds
of the Metis.
Now came the Riel Rising.
Five causes may be stated as leading up to it.
1. The weakness of the Government of
Assiniboia and the sickness and helpless-
ness of Governor McTavish, whose duty it
was to act.

286

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

to seize the highway at St. Noebert, some nine
miles south of Fort Garry, and in the true style
ot a Paris revolt, erected a barricade or bar-
rier to stop all passers-by. It was here that
Governor McTavish failed. He was immedi-
ately informed of this illegal act, but did noth-
ing. Hearing of the obstacle on the highway,
two of McDougall's officers came on towar.s
Fort Garry, and finding the obstruction, one of
them gave command, "Remove that blawsted
fence," but the half-breeds refused to obey.
The half-breeds seized the mails and all freight
coming along the road coming into the country.

THE SCENE SHIFTS TO FORT GARRY.

It is rumored that Riel was thinking of seizing
Fort Garry; an affidavit of the Chief of Police
under the Dominion shows that he urged the
master of Fort Garry to meet the danger, and
asked leave to call out special police to pro-
tect the Fort, but no Governor spoke; no one
even closed the gate of the Fort as a precau-
tion; its gates stood wide open to its enemies
who seemed to be the friends of its officers.
On November 2nd Riel and a hundred of his
Metis followers took possesion of Fort Garry,
and without opposition.
Riel now issued a proclamation with the air
of Dictator or Deliverer, calling on the English
parishes to elect twelve representatives to meet

Riel's Rising.

287

the Presidentand representatives of the French-
speaking population. He likewise summoned
them to assemble in twelve days.
McDougall, prospective Governor, on hearing
of these things, wrote to Governor McTavish,
calling on him to make proclamation that the
rebels should disperse, and a number of the loy-
al inhabitants made the same request. The sick
and helpless Governor fourteen days after the
seizure of the Fort, and twenty-three days after
the date of the affidavit of the rising, issued a
tardy proclamation, condemning the rebels and
calling upon them to disperse.
The convention summoned by Riel, met on
November 16th, the English parishes having
been induced to choose delegates. The conven-
tion at this meeting could reach no result and
agreed to adjourn to December 1st. The Eng-
lish members saw plainly that Riel wished the
formation of a provisional government, of
which he should be head.
At the adjourned meeting, Riel and his fel-
lows insisted on ruling the meeting and passe(
a bill of rights of fifteen clauses. The English
representatives refused to accept the bill of
rights, and after vainly trying to make arrange-
ments for the entrance to the country of Gov-
ernor McDougall, returned home, ashamed and
discouraged.
Turn now to the condition of things in Peru-

288

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

bina, from which prospective Oovernor Mc-
Dougall is all this while viewing the promised
land. He and his family are badly housed in
Pembina, and he is of a haughty and imperious
disposition.
December 1st was the day on which the trans-
fer being made of the country to Canada, his
proclamation as Governor would come into
force. But it so happened on account of the
breaking out of Riel's revolt, the transfer had
not been made.
Now came about a thing utterly inexplicable,
that Mr. McDougall, a lawyer, a privy council-
lor, and an experienced parliamentarian, should,
on a mere supposition, issue his proclamation
as Governor. Riel was aware of all the step
being taken by the Government, and so h,. an,!
the Metis laughed a tie proclamation. Mc
Dougall was an object of pity to his Loyalist
friends, and he became a laughing stock for the
whole world.
His proclamation, authorizing Col. Dennis to
raise a force in the settlement to oppose Riel,
was of no value, and prevented Col. Dennis from
obtaining a loyal force of any strength, which
under ordinary circumstances he would have
done.
As all Canada looked at it, the whole thing
was a miserable fiasco.
The illegality of McDougall's proclamation

Riel's Rising.

289

left the loyal Canadians in Winnipeg in a most
awkward situation. One hundred of them had
arms in their hands, and they were naturally
looked upon by Riel as dangerous, and as his
enemies.
Riel now acted most deceitfully to them. He
promised them their freedom, and that he would
negotiate with McDougall and try to settle the
whole matter.
On the 7th of December the Canadians sur-
rendered, but with some of them in the Fort
and others in the prison outside the wall, where
the Sayer episode had taken place, Riel coolly
broke his truce, while the Metis celebrated their
early victory by numerous potations of rum,
from the Hudson's Bay Company Stores, and,
of course at the Company's expense.
Encouraged by his victory and the possession
of his prisoners, Riel, now in Napoleonic fash-
ion, issued a proclamation which it is said was
written for him by a petty American lawyer at
Pembina, who was hostile to Britain and
Canada.
An evidence of R.iel's disloyalty and want of
sense was shown by his superseding the Union
Jack and hoisting in its place a new flag--not
even the French tri-color, but one with a fleur-
de-lis and shamrocks upon it, no doubt the
flag of the old French regime with ad-
ditions. He also took possession of Hud-

Lrd Slkirk's Colonists.

son's Bay Company funds with the coolness
of a buccaneer, and his manner in refusing per-
sonal liberty to people whom he dared not ar-
rest was overbearing and impertinent.
The inaccessibilit: of Red River Settlement
in winter added much to the anxiety. No tele-
graphic connection nearer than St. Paul, some
four or five hundred miles, was possible, even
the regular conveyance of the mails could not
be relied on. Meanwhile the Canadian people
were in a state of the greatest excitement, and
the Government at Ottawa, well-knowing
its mismanagement of the whole affair,
was in desperate straits. To make the sit-
uation more serious the only man who could
deal with Riel and could remedy the situation,
Bishop Tache, of St. Boniface, was absent at
the great conclave of that year in Rome. The
more intelligent French people had no confi-
dence in t.he sanity and reasonableness of Riel.
He was to them as great a puzzle as he was to
the English. It was a gloomy Christmas time
in Red River, and the gloom was increased by
the suspense of not knowing what the Govern-
ment at Ottawa would do in the circumstances.

CHAPTER XXVII.

LORD STRAT:IICONAS HAND.

On Christmas Day, 1870, John Bruce, who
was but a figurehead, resigned his office of Pre-
sident of the so-called Provisional Government
of Red River Settlement, and the ambitious
Louis Riel was chosen in his stead. The Dom-
inion Government had at length, been awak-
ened to the danger. Divided counsels still pre-
vailed. Two Commissioners, Grand Vicar Thi-
bault and Col. De Salaberry, arrived at Fort
Garry, but they were safely quartered at the
Bishop's palace at St. Boniface, and as they
professed to have no authority, Riel cavalierly
set them aside. At this time the American ele-
ment in the hamlet of Winnipeg became very
offensive. Riel's oicial organ, "The New Na-
ton," was edited by an American, Major Rob-
inson. This journal was filled with articles hav-
ing such hed-lines as "Confederation," "The
British-American Provinces," "Proposed An-
nexation to the United States," etc., etc. Or,
a,c'ain, "Annexation," "British Columbia De-
fying the Dominion," "Annexation our Mani-

292

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

fest Destiny." All this was very disagreeable
to the English-speaking people, and highly com-
promising to Riel.
But the real negociator was at hand, and he
not only had the authority to speak for Canada,
but had Scottish prudence and diplomacy, as
well as real influence in the country, from hold-
ing the highest position in Canada of any of the
officers of the Hudson's Bay Company. This
chief factor was Donald A. Smith, whom we
have since learned to know so well as Lord
Strathcona. He, with his secretary, Hardisty, ar-
rived on December 27th, and went immediately
to Fort Garry. Riel demanded of Mr. Smith,
the object of his visit, but received no satisfac-
tion. On being asked for his credentials, Mr.
Smith replied that he had left them at Pembina.
Being a high Hudson's Bay Company officer, he
was quartered in Government House, Fort
Garry. The larger portion of the building was
occupied by Governor McTavish, the smaller or
official portion became the Commissioner's
apartments. Here he was able to observe
events, meet a number of the old settlers, and
obtain his information at first hand. On the
15th of January Riel again demanded the Com-
missioner's papers; he, indeed, offered to send
to Pembina for them, but Mr. Smith declined
the offer. In the meantime the Commissioner
had learned that the Dauphinais Settlement, Iy-

o!

Lord Strathcona's Hand.

and the greatest annoyance was felt at this by
the better citizens on account of his being an
Nation"

American, and because of the "New
continui.ng to advocate annexation.
On the 25th of January the forty

delegates
assembled. Much excitement had been caused
at this time among the French by the escape of
Dr. Schultz, their great opponent. Commis-
sioner Smith addressed the Convention. Riel
vished him to accept the original Bill of
Rights, but Mr. Smith refused to do this. A
proposal was then brought up by the French
Deputies that the proposal made by
the Imperial Government to the Hud-
son's Bay ('ompany to take over their lands be
null and void. This was voted down by 22 to
17. Riel rose in rage and said: "The devil
take it; we must win. The vote may go as it
likes, but the motion must be carried." Riel
raged like a madman. That night, in his fury,
he went to the bedside of Governor McTavish,
sick as he was, and it is said, threatened to
have him shot at once. Dr. Cowan, the master
of the fort, was arrested, and so was Mr. Ban-
natyne, the chief merchant, as well as Charles
Nolan, a loyal French delegate.
On the 7th of February the delegates again
met, and at this meeting Commissioner Smith,
having the power given him by the Dominion
Government, invited the Convention to send

LORD STRAfHCONA AND IIOI:NT ROYAL.
Governor of the Hudson's Bay Corpay

Lord Strathcona's Hand.

299

ied by Major Bulton. The conflict of opinion
was transferred to Ottawa, and the act consti-
tuting the Province of Manitoba was passed.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

WOLSELEY S WELCOME.

Canada's military experience, ever since the
excitement of the "Trent Affair," had been in
dealing with a persistent band of Irishmen, pos-
ing as Fenians, and egged on by sympathizers
in the United States. Now there was trouble,
as we have seen, in her own borders, and though
here again, American influence of a hostile na-
ture played its part, yet it was those connected
with one of the two races in Canada who were
now giving trouble in the Northwestern
prairies. Such an outbreak was more danger-
ous than Fenianism, for to the credit of the
Irish in Canada, it should be said that they gave
no countenance to the Fenian intruders. The
French people in Quebec, however, had strong
sympathies for their race in the Red River Set-
tlement. No one in Canada believed that any
injustice could be done to either the English or
French elements on the banks of Red River, but
Sir George Cartier fought strongly for his own,
and was very unwilling to allow an expedition
to go out to Manitoba with hostile intent. Of

Wolseley's Welcome.

301

the two battalions of volunteers that went out
to Red River, one was from Quebec, but one mil-
itary authority states that there were not fifty
French-Canadians all told in the Quebec bat-
talion. It had been proposed that Col. Wolseley,
who was to command the Red River Expedi-
tion, should be appointed G,vernor of the new
province of Manitoba, but tl is was sturdily op-
posed by the French-Cana(dan section of the

Cabinet, and Hon. Adams G Archibald, a Nova
Scotian, was appointed to tl e post of Governor.
Hampered thus, in so far as exercising any civil
functions were concerned, Col. Garnet Wolseley
was chosen by the British officer in command in
Canada--General Lindsay--to organize this ex-
pedition. Wolseley was very popular, having
served in Burmah, India, the Crimea and China.

302

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

The Ontario battalion soon had to refuse ap-
plications, and from Ontario the complement of
the Quebec battalion was filled up. It was de-
cided also that a battalion of regulars, with
small bodies of artillery and engineers
should take the lead in the expedition. Thus,
a force of 1,200 men was speedily gathered to-
gether and put at the disposal of Colonel Wolse-
leyo Two hundred boats, each some 25 to 30
feet long, carrying four tons as well as fourteen
men as a crew, were built; the voyageurs num-
bered some four hundred men. No sooner did
the Fenians in the United States hear of this
expedition than they threatened Lower Canada,
and spole of interrupting the troops as they
passed Sault Ste. Marie. The United States
also refused to allow soldiers or munitions of
war to pass up their Sault Canal. The rallying
began in May, and though the troops were com-
pel]ed to debark themselves and their stores at
Sault Ste. Marie, portage them around the Sault
and replace them in the steamers again, yet all
the troops were landed at Port Arthur on Lake
Superior by the 21st of June, their officers de-
claring "our mission is one of peace, and the
sole object of it is to secure Her Majesty's Soy-
ereio'n authority." Some time was lost in en-
deavoring to use land carriage' up from Port
Arthur as far as Lake Shebandowan. The dif-
ficulties were so great that the scouts were led

Wolseley's l'elcoc.

303

to find another route for the boats up the Kam-
inistiquia River. In this they were successful;
in all this worry from mosquitoes, black flies
and deer flies in millions, the troops preserved
their good temper, and Col. Wolseley said, "I
have never been with any body of men in the
field so well fed as this has been." (July 10th.)
The real start of the expedition was from Lake
Shebandowan. The three brigades of boats--
A. B. and C.--seventeen in all, got off from She-
bandowan shore on the evening of July 16th; by
the 4th of August Rainy River'was reached, and
at Fort Frances Colonel olseley met Captain
Butler, who had acted as intelligence officer,
having adroitly passed, under Riel's shadow,
and being able now to give the news required.
It was still the statement and belief of Riel that
"Wolse]ey would never reach Fort Garry."
Crossing Lake of the Woods the re,olar troops
were pushed ahead, and on descending Winni-
peg River they reached Fort Alexander and
Lake Winnipeg on August 20th. Here Com-
missioner Donald A. Smith, having come
through in a light canoe, met Colonel Wolseley.
After "a short delay Colonel Wolseley's com-
mand hastened to the Red River, ascended it,
and cautiously approached Fort Garry. It was
still uncertain whether Riel was to oppose the
expedition or not. The troops formed for what
emergency might arise, and two small guns were

304

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

"k,. Wolseley's Welcome. 305

in readiness should they be required. When
Fort Garry was sighted, its guns were mounted,
and everything seemed ready for defence. The
officers of the expedition, as they approached it
were quite ready for a shot to be fired from the
battlements, but there was no movement, Riel,
Lepine, and O 'Donoghue alone, were left of the
Metis levy, and as the 60th Rifles drew near the
Fort the three were seen to escape from the
river gate and to flee across the bridge of boats
on the Assiniboine River. Capt. Huyshe states
that the troops took possession of the fort with a
bloodless victory, the Union Jack was hoisted,
three cheers were given for the Queen and te
Riel regime was at an end. The militia regi-
ments arrived on the 27th of August, and two
days afterwards the Imperial troops started
back to their headquarters in Ontario. Captain
Bu]]er, who afterward became so celebrated in
South Africa, took his company down the Daw-
son road to the northwest angle of the Lake of
the Woods, and thus returned eastward, while
Colonel McNeil left the country by way of Red
River, through the United States. Shortly af-
terward, on September 2nd, Lieutenant-Gover-
nor Archibald arrived by the Winnipeg River
route, and began his work.
The joy of all classes of the people was un-
bounded. The English halfbreeds had been loyal
through the whole of the disturbances. Kildonan

306

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

Church had been the headquarters of the Loyal-
ists in their attempted rally, and after the exe-
cution of Scott, the French half-breeds had
gradually dropped off from Riel, until he and
his two companions formed a helpless trio shorn
of all power.

CHAPTER XXIX.

MANITOBA IN THE MAKING.

Close in the wake of Wolseley's Expedition,
there arrived on the 2nd of September, Adams
G. Archibald, the newly-appointed Governor of
the new Province of Manitoba. His arrival was
greeted with joy, for he was a man of high char-
acter, and of much experience in his native
Province of Nova Scotia. The two volunteer
regiments, the Quebec and Ontario battalions,
were quartered for the winter, the former in
Lower Fort Garry, the latter in Fort Garry.
The new Governor took up his abode in Fort
Garry, in the residence with which our story
is so familiar. The organization of his gov-
ernment began at once. The first Government
Building stood back from the street in Win-
nipeg on the corner of Main Street and Mc-
Dermott Avenue East, of the present-day. The
Legislative Council--a miniature House of
Lordsmof seven members, was appointed, and
electoral divisions for the election of members
to the Legislative Assembly were made to the
number of twenty-fourDtwelve French and

308

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

twelve English. The time for the opening of
Parliament was the spring of 1871. It was
a notable day, for the citizens were much in-
terested in scrutinizing those who were to be
their future rulers. The opening passed off
with eclat. During the first session certain ele-
mentary legislation was passed including a
short school act. There was yet no division of
parties, and a sufficient cabinet was chosen by
the Governor. Thus, institutions after the
model of the mother of Parliaments at West-
minster were evolved and Manitoba--the suc-
cessor of our Red River Settlement--had con-
ceded to it the right of local self-government.
In the year of the first parliament of Mani-
toba it was the fortune of the writer to take up
his abode here. Winnipeg, a village of less than
three hundred inhabitants was in that year, still
four hundred miles distant from a railway.
From the railway terminus in Minnesota, the
stage coach drawn by four horses with relays
every twenty miles, sped rapidly over prairies,
smooth as a lawn to the site of the future city

of the plains.
Since that
passed away.
cart, and the

time well-nigh forty years has
The stage coach, the Red River
shaganappi pony are things of
the past, and several railways with richly fur-
nished trains connect St. Paul and Minneapo.
li, with the City of Winnipeg. More import-

Maitoba i the Making.

309

ant, the skill of the engineer has surpassed
what we then even dreamt of in his blasting of
rock cuttings and tunnels through the Archman
rocks to Fort William, and this has been done
by three main trunk lines of railway. The old
amphibious route of the fur traders and of
Wolseley's Expedition has been superseded, the
tremendous cliffs of the north shore of Lake
Superior have been levelled and the chasm
bridged. To the west the whole wide prairie
land has been gridironed by railways all tribu-
tary to Winnipeg, the enormous ascent of the
four Rocky Mountain ranges, rising a mile
above the sea, have been crossed by the Cana.
dian Pacific Railway. The giddy heights of
the Fraser River Canyon are traversed, and
this is but the beginning, for three other great
corporations are bending their strenh to

pierce the passes
the Pacific Ocean.
after the manner
tertainments than

of the Rocky Mountains to
We see to-day scenes more
of the Arabian Nights En-
of the humble dream that

Lord Selkirk dreamt one hundred years ago.
The towns and cities of Manitoba have sprung
up on every hand where the railway has gone
and these are but the centres of business of
twenty thousand farms whose owners have
come to this land, many of them empty-handed,
and are now blessed with competence and in
many cases wealth. What a vindication of

Manitoba in the Making.

311

Lord Selkirk's prospectus of a hundred years
ago when he said: "The soil on the Red River
and the Assiniboine is generally a good soil, sus-
ceptible of culture and capable of bearing rich
crops." Lord Selkirk's dream is fulfilled, for
his land is fast becoming the grainary of the
world. As the traveller of to-day passes along
the railways in the last days of August or early
in September, he beholds the sight of a life-time,
in the rattling reapers, each drawn by four great
horses, turning off the golden sheaves of wheat
and other cereals. A little later the giant thresh-
ers, driven by steam power, pour forth the pre-
cious grain, which is hurried off to the high ele-
vators for storage, till the railways can carry it
to the markets of the world to feed earth's
hungry millions. When the historian recalls
the statement that the few cattle of the early
settlers had degenerated in size on account of
the climatic conditions, that the shaganappi pony
could never do the work of the stalwart Clydes-
dale, and that nothing could result from the
straggling flock of foot-sore and dying sheep,
driven by Burke and Campbell from far-dis-
tant Missouri, we look with astonishment at
the horses now taken away by hundreds to sup-
ply with chargers the crack cavalry regiments
of the Empire, at the vast consignments of cat-
tle passing through Winnipeg every day to feed
the hungry, and flocks of sheep supplying wool
for Eastern manufacturers to clothe the naked.

312

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

One of the greatest trials of the early Sel-
kirk Settlers was to get schools sufficient to give
the children scattered along the river belt, even
the three R's of education. Kildonan parish
manfully raised by subscription the means, un-
aided by Government help, to give some oppor-
tunity to their children. It is a notable fact
which emerged in the great School Contention
of twenty years ago in Manitoba, that not a dol-
lar had been given to schools as aid by the old
Government of Assiniboia. To-day the glory of
Manitoba is its school system. For school
buildings, school organization, attainments of
the teachers, and efficient school management,
the schools of Winnipeg are probably unsur-
pas,ed in any country, and the same is true of
many other places in the Province. Two Win-
nipeg schools bear the names of Selkirk and Is-
bister. The University of Manitoba, with its
seven affiliated colleges and twelve hundred and
forty candidates in 1909 for its several exam-
inations has its seat at the forks of the Red and
Assiniboine Rivers, and one of the colleges is
on the very lot where Lord Selkirk stood and
divided up their lands to the Colonists.
One of the most continued and aggressive
struggles which Lord Selkirk's Colonists main-
tained was seen in the efforts put forth to
worship God according to the dictates of their
own consciences, and after the manner of their

Manitoba in the Making.

313

fathers. Their perseverance which showed itself
in the erection of old Kildonan Church in the
year immediately after the destructive flood of

1852, bore fruit in succeeding years. They were
always a religious people. No one can even esti-
mate what their religious disposition did in a

314 Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

miscellaneous gathering of people who had, be-
ing scattered over the posts of the fur trader,
been in most cases, without any religious op-
opportunities whatever, before their coming to
settle on Red River. The sturdy stand for
principle which the Selkirk Colonists made cre-
ated an atmosphere which has remained until
this day. The well-nigh forty years of religious
life of Manitoba has been marked by a good
understanding among the several churches, by
an energetic zeal in carrying church services in
the very first year of their settlement to hun-
dreds of new communities. The generosity of
the people in erecting churches for themselves
in maintaining among themselves their cher-
ished beliefs, is in striking contrast to the new
settlements of the United States. In the new
Western States the religious movements fell be-
hind the Western march of the immigrant. In
the Canadian West from the very day that old
Verandrye took his priest with him, from the
time when the first Colonists brought a devout
la)nan as their relious teacher with them,
from the hour when the stalwart Provencher
came, from the era when the self-denying West
visited the Indian camps and Settlers' camp
alike, from the time when the saintly Black came
as the natural leader of the Selkirk Colonists,
and during the forty years of the development
of Manitoba, the foundations have been laid :u
that righteousness which exalteth a nation.

CHAPTER XXX.

How strange and wonderful is the web of des-
tiny, which is being woven in our national, pro-
vincial and family life, which we poor mor-
tals are simply the individual strands.
How marvellous it is to look into the seeds of
time--yes, and these may be small as mustard
seeds--which are the smallest of all seeds--and
see the bursting of the husks, the peering out of
the plumule, the feeding of the sprout, the
struggle through the clods, the fight with frost
and hail and broiling sun, and canker worm
and blight, the growth of the strengthening
stem, and then the leaf and blossoms and fruit
We say it has survived, it becomes a great tre(
under whose leaves and under whose branches
the fowls of Heaven find shelter. How pass-
ing strange it was to see the seed-thought rise in

316 Lord Selkirk'$ Colonists.

the mind of Lord Selkirk, that suffering hu-
manity transplanted to another environment
might grow out of poverty, into happiness and
content. See his sorrow as he meets with un-
deserved opposition from rival traders, from
slanderous agents, from bitter articles in the
press, from Government officials and even po-
lice officers who strive to break up his immi-
grant parties. Recall the troubles of the Nel-
son Encampment as they reach him in letters
and reports. Think of the misery of knowing
thousands of miles away that his Colonists were
starving, were being imprisoned, banished, se-
duced from their allegiance, and in one notable
case that men of honor, education and standing
to the number of twenty, were massacred, while
he, in St. Mary's Isle, in Montreal, or in Fort
William, fretted his soul because he could not
reach them with deliverance.
The world looked coldly on and said, "A
visionary Scottish nobleman! a dreamer a hun-
dred ears before his time! Is it worth while ?"
while he himself saw a dream of sunshine when
he visited his Colonists on Red River, when he
made allocations for their separate homes for
them, when he pledged his honor and estate
that the settlers might in time be independent,
and when he made religious provision for both
his Protestant and Catholic settlers, yet think
of the unexampled ferocity with which he was

MARBLE BUST OF EARL OF SELKIRK, THE FOUNDER
By Chantrey, obtained by author from St. llary's Isle. Lord Selkirk's seat.

The 'elkirk Ccte.ial.

317

attacked upon his return to Upper Canada, in
law suits, and illegal processes, so that his es-
tates became heavily encumbered, so that he
went to France to pine away and die. The
world failed to see any glamour in him, and care-
lessly said, what does it profit? Folly has its
reward.
Yet the answer. Here is Manitoba to-day, it
is the fruitage of all that bitter sowing time.
Next year Manitoba will be in the fortieth year
of its history. Its people have seen pain, strife
and defeat, they have gone through excitement
and anxiety and patient waiting, and at times
have almost given up the strife. But the pro-
vince and its great city, Winnipeg, are the
meeting place of the East and West, the pivotal
point of the Dominion. The national life of
Canada throbs here with a steadier beat and a
more normal pulse than it does in any other
part of Canada, its dominating Canadian spirit
is so hearty and so sprightly, that it is taking
possession of the scores of different nations
coming to us and they feel that we are their
friends and brothers. This, while it may not
be the noisy and blatant type of loyalty is a
practical patriotism which is making a united,
sane and abiding type of national character.
Again we answer: Three years from now
will be the hundredth year since the landing on
the banks of Red River of the first band of

319

sister nation in the Empire had the West not
been saved to her. The line of possible settle-
ment has been moving steadily northward in
Canada since the days when the French King
showed his contempt for it by calling it "a few
arpents of snow." The St. Lawrence route
was regarded as a doubtful line for steamships,
Rupert's Land was called a Siberia., but all this
is changing with our Transcontinental and
Hud.on's Bay railways in prospect. In terri-
tory, resources, and influence the opening up of
the West is making Canada complete. And, if
so, we owe it to Lord Selkirk and to Selkirk
Settlers, who stood true to their flag and na-
tionality. Very willingly will we observe the
Selkirk Centennial in 1912. "Many a time and
oft" it looked in their case to be one long, con-
tinued and alarming drama, but on the 30th day
of August, the day of their landing on the
banks of the Red River, shall we recite the epic
of Lord Selkirk's Colonists, and it will be of the
temper of Browning's couplet:

God's in His Heaven,
All's right with the world.

Appendix.

19 Christine, his daughter,
C-Y .................. 16
20 George McDonald ....... 48
21 Jannet, his wife ....... 50
22 Betty Grey ............ 17
23 Catherine Grey ......... 23
24 Barbara McBeath, widow 45
25 Charles, her son ....... 16
26 Jenny, her daughter .... 23
27 Andrew McBeath, C-Y.. 10
28 Jannet, his wife, C-Y ....
29 William Sutherland ..... 23
30 Margaret, his wife ...... 15
31 Christian, his sister .... 24
32 Donald Gunn ........... 65
33 Jannet, his wife ....... 50
34 Transferred to Eddy-
stone, H. B. Co ......
35 George Gunn, son of
Donald, C-Y ......... 16
36 Esther, his sister, C-Y. 24
37 Catherine, his sister .... 20
38 Oristian, his sister .... 10
39 Angus Gunn ........... 21
40 Jannet, his wife ..........
41 Robert Sutherland, broth-
er of William, C-Y.. 17
42 Elizabeth Frazer, C-Y.. 30
43 Angus Sutherland ...... 20
44 Elizabeth, his mother.. 60
45 Betsy, his sister ........ 18

46 Donald Stewart ...........

Died 1st Sept., 1813, Churchill

Borobal

Borobal

Borobal

Borobal, Parish Kildonan
Died 29th August

Borobal

Auchraich

47 Catherine, his wife ..... 39
48 Margaret, his daughter. 8
49 Mary, his daughter .... 5
50 Ann, his daughter ...... 2
51 John Smith .............. Kildonan
52 'Mary, his wife ..........
53 John, his son ............
54 Jean, his daughter, C-Y...
55 Mary, his daughter .......
56 Alexander Gunn ........ '58 Kildonan, Sutherlandshire
57 Elizabeth McKay, his

niece, ('-Y ............
58 Betsy McKay, his niece...
59 George Bannerman, C-Y.. 22

Died of consumption, Oct.
26th
Parish of Appin, died 20th
August, 1813, Churchill

324 Appendix.

List of settlers who came with Duncan Cameron from Red
River to Canada, 1815. List prepared by Win. McGillivray, of
Kingston, August 15th, 1815. About one hundred and forty,
probably forty or fifty families, and some single men, arrived
at Holland River, September 6th, 1815.
Made at York (Toronto), September 22nd, 1815.

I. OLD MEN.

Donald Gunn, wife and daughter.
Alexander Gunn and wife.
Angus McDonell, wife and two children.
Neil McKinnon, wife and two boys.

II. SETTLERS.

Miles Livingston, wife and two children.
Angus McKay, wife and one child.
John Matheson wife and one child.
John Matheson, Jr., and wife.
George Bannerman and wife.
Andrew McBeath, wife and one child.
William Sutherland, wife and one child.
Angus Gunn, wife and one child.
Alexander Bannerman and wife.
Robert Sutherland and wife.
William Bannerman and wife.
James McKay and wife.

III. WIDOWS.

Mrs. Barbara McBeath.
Mrs. Jeannet Sutherland and two boys.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sutherland.
Mrs. Christy Bannerman.
Mrs. Jeannet McDonell.
IV. YOUNG
Jane Gray.
Elizabeth Gray.
Esther Bannerman.
Elspeth Gunn.
Jannet Sutherland.
Isabella MeKinnon.
McKinnon.
Catta McDonelh
Elizabeth McKay.
V. YOUNG
John Murray.
Alexander Murray.

WOMEN, UNMARRIED.

MEN, NOT MARRIED.

Appendix. 325

York and Newmarket.
market for the present.
Montreal not included.

William Gunn.
Hugh Bannerman.
Hector McLeod.
George Gunn.
Charles McBeath.
Angus Sutherland.
Thomas Sutherland.
Alex. Matheson.
John McPherson.
Robert Gunn.
George Sutherland.
VI. MENTIONED IN ARCHIVES, OTTAWA.
Miles Livingston.
James McKay.
Angus Sutherland.
John Cooper.
Mary Bannerman (wife of John McLean).
Haman Sutherland.
John Maburry.
Alex. McLellan.
Young people capable of labour generally employed between
The old people are stationed at New-
Some of the settlers who have gone to

List of passengers, chiefly from Old Kildonan, landed at
York Factory, August 26th, 1815. Reached Red River Settle-

merit in same year.
Names. Age.
1 James Sutherland ...... 47
2 Mary Polson ........... 48
3 James Sutherland ....... 12
4 Janet Sutherland ....... 16
5 Catherine Sutherland .... 14
6 Isabella Sutherland ..... 13
1 Win. Sutherland ........ 54
2 Isabell Sutherland ...... 50
3 Jeremiah Sutherland .... 15
4 Ebenezer Sutherland .... 11
5 Donald' Sutherland ...... 7
6 Helen Sutherland ....... 12
1 Widow Matheson ....... 60
2 John Matheson ......... 18
3 Helen Matheson ........ 21
1 Angus Matheson ........ 30

Remarks.
An elder who was authorized
by the Church of Scotland
to baptize and marry

At school
At school
At school

School master

326

Appe dix.

'2 Christian Matheson ..... 18
1 Alex. Murray .......... 52
') Eb Mu y 54
3 James Murray ......... 16
4 Donald Murray ........ 13
5 Catherine Murray ....... 27
6 Christian Murray ....... 25
7 Isabella 5lurray ........ 18
1 George McKay ......... 50
2 IsabcJa Matheson ...... 50
3 loderick McKay ....... 19
4 [:.,,bert McKay ......... 11 At school
5 He, betty McKay ........ 16
1 Donald McKay ......... 31
oj Ky
. ohn Mc a ........... 1
3 Catherine Bruce ........ 33
1 Barbara Gunn .......... 50
2 Win. Bannerm ........ 55
3 Wm. Bannerman ........ 16
4 Alexander Bannerman... 14
5 Donald Bannerman ..... 8 At school
6 George Bannermaa ...... 7 At hool
7 Ann Bannerman ........ 19
1 Widow Gunn ........... 40
') Alex McKay 16
3 Adam McKay .......... 13
4 bert McKay ......... 12
5 Christian McKay ....... 19
1 John Bannerman ....... 55
2 Catherine McKay ....... 28
3 Alexander Bannerman... 1
1 Alex. McBeth .......... 35
2 ristian Gunn ......... 50
3 George McBeth ......... 16
4 derick McBeth ....... 12
5 Robert McBeth ......... 10
6 Adam McBeth ......... 6
7 Morson 5.IcBeth ....... 4
8 Margaret Meth ....... 18
9 Molly McBeth .......... 18
10 Christian McBeth ...... 14
1 Alexder Mathewsoa... 34 Sergeant
2 Ann 5[athewson ........ 34
3 Hugh 'Mathewson ....... 10 At school
4 Angus Mathewsoa ....... 6
5 John Mathewson ....... 1
6 Cathern Mathewson ...... 2
1 exander Polson ....... 30

of

the

passengers

328

James Suther]and
James Sutherland
William Bannerman, father
of lot 21
Donald McKay
John Flett
John Bruce
lobert MacKay
William Bannerman, 5r.
Roderick McKay

Appendix.

Ebenezer Suther]and
Donald Bannerman
Hugh McLean
George Bannerman
Donald Sutherland
Beth Beathen
John Matheson
George Sutherland
Margaret McLean (widow)

ADDENDA AND ERRATA

Page 74.--Andrew McDermott arrived at Red River Settle-
Settlement in 1812.
Page 148.--Fourth line from the bottom, after the word "him"
insert ' ' afterwards. ' '
Page 218.--Add to the title of the cut "and of the other forts
of Winnipeg." 1. Fort Rouge; 2, Fort Doug-
las; 3, Fort Gibraltar; 4, Fidler's Fort; 5, First
Fort Garry; 6, Fort Garry.
Page 264.--Line 10; 1857 should be 1851.
Page 297 and following pages.--" Major Bulton" should be
"Major Boulton.' '
Appendix.--Words ' ' Author's Note" should be, "The author
notes the fact, etc."

'F Bryce, George
5672 The roaantic settlement of

B72 Lord Selkirk' s colonists

PLEASE DO
CARDS OR SLIPS

NOT REMOVE
FROM THIS POCKET

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY

THOMAS, TH EARL OF SELKIRK
The Founder of Red River Colony, :82.
tom copy of painting by Raeburn, obtained by author from St Mary's Isle. Lord Selkirk's seal

" Copyrighted Canada, 1909, by The Musson Book
Company, Limited, Toronto."

PREFACE

T]E present work tells the romantic story of
the Settlement of Lord Selkirk's Colonists in
Manitoba, and is appropriate and timely in view
of the Centennial celebration of this event which
will be held in Winnipeg in 1912.
The author was the first, in his earlier books,
to take a stand for justice to be done to Lord
Selkirk as a Colonizer, and he has had the plea-
sure of seeing the current of all reliable history
turned in Lord Selkirk's favor.
Dr. DoughCy, the popular Archivist at Ot-
tawa, has put at the author's disposal a large
amount of Lord Selkirk's correspondence late-
ly received by him, so that many new, interest-
ing facts about the Settlers' coming are now
published for the first time.
If we are to celebrate the Selkirk Centennial
intelligently, it is essential to know the facts of
the trials, opl)ressions and heartless persecu-
tions through which the Settlers' passed, to
learn what shameful treatment Lord Selkirk
received from his enemies, and to trace the rise

from misery to comfort of the people of the
Colony.
The story is chiefly confined to Red River Set-
tlement as it existed--a unique community,
which in 1870 became the present Province of
Manitoba. It is a sympathetic study of what one
writer has called--" Britain 's One Utopia."

The Romantic Settlement

OF

Lord Selkirk's Colonists

Lord Selkirk's Colonists

CHAPTER I.
THE EARLIER PEOPLE.

A PATRIARCH'S STORY.

This 'is the City of Winnipeg. Its growth
has been wonderful. It is the highwater mark
of Canadian enterprise. Its chief thorough-
fare, with asphalt pavement, as it runs south-
ward and approaches the Assiniboine River,
has a broad street diverging at right angles
from it to the West. This is Broadway, a most
commodious avenue with four boulevards
neatly kept, and four lines of fine young Elm
trees. It represents to us "Unter den Linden"
of Berlin, the German Capital.
The wide business thoroughfare Main Street,
where it reaches the Assiniboine River, looks
out upon a stream, so called from the wild As-
siniboine tribe whose northern limit it was, and
whose name implies the "Sioux" of the Stony
Lake. The Assiniboine River is as large as the

10

Lord Sclkirk's Colonists.

Tiber at Rome, and the color of the water justi-
ties its being compared with the "Yellow
Tiber."
The Assiniboine falls into the Red River, a
larger stream, also with tawny-colored water.
The point of union of these two rivers was
long ago called by the French voyageurs "Les
Fourches," which we have translated into "The
Forks."
One morning nearly forty years a.'o, the
writer wandered eastward toward Red River,
from Main Street, down what is now called
Lombard Street. Here not far from the bank
of the Red River, stood a wooden house, then
of the better class, but now left far behind
by the brick and stone and steel structures of
modern Winnipeg.
The house still stands a stained and battered
memorial of a past generation. But on this
October morning, of an Indian summer day, the
' air was so soft, that it seemed to smell woo-
ing]y here, and throu.a'h the gentle haze, was
to be seen sitting on his verandah, the patri-
arch of the village, who was as well the genius
of the place.
The old man had a fine gray head with the
locks very thin, and with his form, not tall but
broad and comfortable to look upon, he oc-
cupied an easy chair.
The writer was then quite a young man fresh

The Earlir Pcopb.

from College, and with a simple introduction,
after the easy manner of Western Canada, p.'o-
ceeded to hear the sto'y of old Andrew Mc-
Dermott, the patriarch of Winnipeg.
"Yes," said Mr. McDermott, "I was among
those of the first year of Lord Selkirk's immi-
grants. We landed from the Old Country, at
York Fctory, on tIudson Bay. The first immi-
grants reached the banks of the Red River in
the year 1812.
"I am a native of Ireland and embarked with
Owen Keveny--a bright tIibernian--a clever
writer, and speaker, who, poor fellow, was killed
by the rival Fur Company, and whose murderer,
De Reinhard, was tried at Quebec. Of eourse
the greater number of Lord Selkirk's settlers
were Scotehmen, but I have always lived with
them, known them, and find that they trust me
rather more than they at times trust each other.
I have been their merchant, contractor, treaty-
maker, business manager, counsellor, adviser,
and confidential friend."
"But," said the writer, "as having come to
'ast in my lot with the people of the Red
River, I should be glad to hear from you about
the early times, and especially of the earlier
people of this re#on, who lived their fives, and
came and went, before the ,rrival of Lord Sel-
kirk's settlers in 18.12." Thus the story-telling
began, and patriarch and questioner made out

The Earlier People.

13

from one source and another the whole story
of the predecessors of the Selkirk Colonists.

AN EXTINCT RACE.

"Long before the coming of the settler, there
lived a race who have now entirely disappeared.
Not very far from the Assiniboine River, where
Main Street crosses it, is now to be seen," said
the narrator, "Fort Garry--a fine castellated
structure with stone walls and substantial bas-
tions. A little north of this you may have no-
ticed a round mound, forty feet across. We
opened this mound on one occasion, and found
it to contain a number of human skeletons and
articles of various kinds. The remains are
those of a people whom we call "The Mound
Builders," who ages ago lived here. Their
mounds stood on high places on the river bank
and were used for obsexvation. The enemy
approaching could from these mounds easily
be seen. They are also found in good agricul-
tural districts, showing that the race were agri-
culturists, and where the fishing is good on the
river or lake these mounds occur. The Mound
Builders are the first people of whom we have
traces here about. The Indians say that these
Mound Builders are not their ancestors, but
are the "Very Ancient Men." It is thought that
the last of them passed away some four hun-
dred years ago, just before the coming of the

14

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

white man. At that time a fierce whirlwind of
conquest passed over North America, which
was seen in the destruction of the Hurons, who
lived in Ontario and Quebec. Some of their im-
plements found were copper, probably brought
from Lake Superior, but stone axes, hammers,
and chisels, were commonly used by them. A
horn spear, with barbs, and a fine shell sinker,
shows that they lived on fish. Strings of beads
and fine pearl ornaments are readily found.
But the most notalle thing about these people
is that they were far ahead of the Indians, in
that they made pottery, with brightly designed
patterns, which showed some taste. Very likely
these Mound Builders were peaceful people,
who, driven out of Mexi,o many centuries ago,
came up the Mississippi, and from its branches
passing into Red River, settled all along its
banks. We know but little of this vanished
race. They have ]eft only a few features of
their work behind them. Their name and fame
are lost forever.
"And is this all? an earthen pot,
A broken spear, a copper pin
Earth's grandest prizes counted in--
A burial mound ?--the common lot."

Then the conversation turned upon the early
Frenchmen, who came to the West during the

The Earlier People.

15

days of French Canada, before Wolfe took Que-
bec. "Oh! I have no doubt they would make
a great ado," said the old patriarch, "when
they came here. The French, you know, are so
fond of pageants. But beyond a few rumors
among the old Indians far up the Assiniboine
River of their remembrance of the crosses and
of the priests, or black robes, as they call them,
I have never heard anything; these early ex-
plorers themselves left few traces. When they
retired from the country, after Canada was
taken by Wolfe, the Indians burnt their forts
and tried to destroy every vestige of them. You
know the Indian is a cunning diplomatist. He
very soon sees which is the stronger side and
takes it. When the King is dead he is ready to
shout, Long live the new King. I have heard
that down on the point, on the south side of
the Forks of the two rivers, the Frenchmen
built a fort, but there wasn't a stick or a stone
of it left when the Selkirk Colonists came in
1812. But perhaps you know that part of the
story better than I do," ventured the old pa-
triarch. That is the Story of the French Ex-
plorers.
"Oh! Yes," replied the writer, "you know
the world of men and things about you;
know the world of books and journals and let-
ters. ' '
"Let us hear of that," said the patriarch
eagerly.

16

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

A. Native Copper Drill.

B. Soapstone Conjurer's
tube.

O. Flint Skinning Imple-
ment.

D. Horn Fish Spear.

E. Native Copper Cutting
Knife.

Cup found in Rainy
River Mound by the
Author, 884.

MOUND BUILDERS' REMAINS

The Earlier People.

17

Well, you know the French Explorers were
very venturesome. They went, sometimes to
their sorrow, among the wildest tribes of In-
dians.
A French Captain, named Verandrye, who
was born in Lower Canada, came up the great
lakes to trade for furs of the beaver, mink, and
musk-rat..When he reached the shore of Lake
Superior, west of where Fort William now
stands, an old Indian guide, gave him a birch
bark map, which showed all the streams and
water courses from Lake Superior to Lake of
the Woods, and on to Lake Winnipeg. This
was when the "well-beloved" Louis XV. was
King of France, and George II. King of Eng-
land. It was heroic of Verandrye to face the
danger, but he was a soldier who had been
twice wounded in battle in Europe, and had the
French love of glory. By carrying his canoes
over the portages and running the rapids when
possible, he came to the head of lainy River,
went back again with his furs, and after several
such journeys, came down the Winnipeg liver
from Lake of the Woods, to Lake Winnipeg,

and after a while made a dash across the
stormy Lake Winnipeg and came to the Red
River. The places were all unknown, the In-
dians had never seen a white man in their
country, and the French Captain, with his of-
ricers, his men and a priest, found their way

18

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

to the Forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.
This was nearly three-quarters of a century
before the first Selkirk Colonists reached Red
River. The French Captain saw only a few
Indian teepees at the Forks, and ascended the
Assiniboine. It was a very dry year, and the
water in the Assiniboine was so low that it was
with difficulty he managed to pull over the St.
James rapids, and reached where Portage la
Prairie now stands, and sixty miles from the
site of Winnipeg claimed the country for his
Royal Master. Here he collected the Indians,
made them his friends, and proceeded to build
a great fort, and named it after Mary of Po-
land, the unfortunate Queen of FranceM"Fort
de la Reine," or Queen's Fort. But he could
not forget "The Forks "--the Winnipeg of to-
day--and so gave instructions to one of his
lieutenants to stop with a number of his men
at the Forks, cut down trees, and erect a fort
for safety in coming and going up the Assini-
boine. The Frenchmen worked hard, and on
the south side of the junction of the Red River
with the Assiniboine, erected Fort RougeMthe
Red Fort. This fort, built in 1738, was the first
occupation of the site of the City of Winnipeg.
The French Captain Verandrye, his sons and
his men, made further journeys to the far West,
even once coming in sight of the Rocky Mourn
rains. But French Canada was doomed.

2O

Lord Sdl,'irk's Colonists.

Colonists ever appeared on the banks of the
Red River. Some ten years before the set-
tler's advent, the fur traders on the upper Red
River had most bitter rivalries and for two
or three years the fire &ater--the Indian's
curse--flowed like a flood. The danger ap-
pealed to the traders, and from a policy of
mere self-protection they had decided to give
out no strong drink, unless it might be a slight
allowance at Christmas and New Year's time.
Red River was now the central meeting place
of four of the great Indian Nations. The Red
Pipestone Quarry down in the land of the Da-
kotas, and the Roches Perches, on the upper
Souris River, in the land of the wild Assini-
boines were sacred shrines. At intervals all
the Indian natives met at these spots, buried
for the time being their weapons, and lived in
peace. But Red River, and the countrymeast-
ward to the Lake of the Woodsmwas really the
"marches" where battles and conflicts contin-
ually prevailed. Red River, the Miskouesipi,
or Blood Red River of the Chippewas and
Crees, was said to have thus received its name.
Andrew McDermott knew all the Indians as
they drew near with curiosity, to see the set-
tlers and to speculate upon the object of their
coming. The Indian despises the man who uses
the hoe, and when the Colonists sought thus to
gain a sustenance from the fertile soil of the

Lvrd lkb'k's ('olotists.

at this time used horses on the plains. The
horse was an importation brought up the val-
leys from the Spaniards of Mexico. Seeing
his value as a beast of burden, more fit than
the dog which had been formerly used, they
coined the word "Mis-ta-tim," or big dog as
the name for the horse. Their Chiefs were,
with their names tran,qlated into pronounceable
English, "the Premier," "the Black Robe,"
"the Black M,n," while seemingly Mache
Wheskab" the Noisy Man "--represented the
Assiniboine,. The Crees, so well represented
1)y their doughty Chiefs, are a sturdy race.
They adapt them,(,lves readily enough to new
conditions. While the northern Indian tribes
met the Colonists, yet in after days, as had fre-
quently taken place in days preceding, bands of
Sioux or Dakotas, came on pilgrimages to the
Red River. Long ago when the French Captain
Verandrye voyaged to Lake of the Woods, his
son and others of his men, were attacked by
Sioux warriors, and the whole party of whites
was massacred in an Island on the Lake. The
writer in a later day, near Winnipeg, met on
the highway, a band of Sioux warriors, on
horse-back, with their bodies naked to the
waist, and painted with high color, in token of
the fact that they were on the warpath. On
occasion it was the habit of bands of Sioux to
find their way to the Red River Valley, and

The EaJ'lb r People.

the people did not feel at all safe, at their
hostile attitude, as they bore the name of the
"Tigers of the Plains."
With Saulteaux, Crees, Assiniboines, and
Sioux coming freely among them, the settlers
had at first a feeling of de.ided insc'urity.
THE MOITREAL MERCtIAITS AID MEIo
But the fur trade paid too well to be left
alone by the Montrealers who knew of Veran-
drye's exploits on the Ottawa and the Upper
Lakes. Vlmn Canada became British, many
daring slirits hastened to it from New York
and New Jersey States. Montreal became the
home of many young men of Scottish families.
Some of their fathers had fled to the Colonies
after the Stuart Prince was defeated at Cullo-
den, and after the power of the Jacobites was
broken. Some of the young men of enterpris-
ing spirit were the sons of officers and men who
had fought in the Seven Years' War against
France and now came to claim their share of
the conqueror's spoils. So,he men were of
Yankee origin, who with their lrox-erbial
ability to see a good chance, came to what has
always been Canada's greatest city, on the
Island of Montreal. It was only half a dozen
years after olfe's great victory, that a 'reat
Montreal trader, Alexander Henry, penetrated
the western lakes to Mackinawthe Island of
the Turtle, lying between Lakes Huron and

24

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

Michigan. At Sault Ste. Marie, he fell in with
a most noted French Canadian, Trader Cadot,
who had married a Saulteur wife. He became
a power among the Indians. With Scottish
shrewdness Henry acquired from the Com-
mandant at Mackinaw the exclusive right to
trade on Lake Superior. He became a partner
of Cadot, and they made a voyage as Canadian
Argonauts, to bring back very rich cargoes of
fur. They even went up to the Saskatchewan
on Lake Winnipeg. After Henry, came an-
other Scotchman, Thomas Curry, and made so
successful a voyage that he reached the Sas-
katchewan River, and came back laden with
furs, so that he was now satisfied never to
have to go again to the Indian country. Short-
ly afterwards James Findlay, another son of
the heather, followed up the fur-traders' route,
and reached Saskatchewan. Thus the North-
west Fur Trade became the almost exclusive
possession of the Scottish Merchants of Mon-
treal. With the master must go the man. And
no man on the rivers of North America ever
equalled, in speed, in good temper, and in skill,
the French Canadian voyageur. Almost all the
Montreal merchants, the Forsythes, the Rich-
ardsons, the McTavishes, the Mackenzies, and
the McGillivrays, spoke the French as fluently
as they did their own language. Thus they
became magnetic leaders of the French canoe-

Ooup - -
Agent
Atalacoup Kakawistaha Mistawasis
FOUR CREE CHIEFS OF RUPERT'S LAND

The Earlier People.

25

men of the rivers. The voyageurs clung to
them with all the tenacity of a pointer on the
scent. There were Nolins, Falcons, Delormes,
Faribaults, Lalondes, Leroux, Trottiers, and
hundreds of others, that followed the route
until they became almost a part of the West
and retired in old age, to take up a spot on
some beautiful bay, or promontory, and never
to return to "Bas Canada." Those from Mon-
treal to the north of Lake Superior were the
pork eaters, because they lived on dried pork,
those west of Lake Superior, "Couriers of the
Woods," and they fed on pemmican, the dried
flesh of the buffalo. They were mighty in
strength, daring in spirit, tractable in disposi-
tion, eagles in swiftness, but withal had the
simplicity of little children. They made short
the weary miles on the rivers by their smoking
"tabac"--the time to smoke a pipe counting
a mile--and by their merry songs, the "Fairy
Ducks" and "La Claire Fontaine," "Mal-
brouck has gone to the war," or "This is the
beautiful French Girl"--ballads that the- still
retained from the French of Louis XIV. They
were a jolly crew, full of superstitions of the
woods, and leaving behind them records of
daring, their names remain upon the rivers,
towns and cities of the Canadian and Ameri-
can Northwest.
Some thirty years before the arrival of the

26

Lord Selki'k's Coloists.

Colonists, the Montreal traders found it use-
ful to form a Company. This was called the
North-West Fur Company of Montreal. tIa,-
ing taken large amounts out of the fur trade,
they became the leaders among the merchan!.s
of Montreal. The Company had an eneray .nnd
ability that made them about the beinnin,_.."
of the nineteenth century the most infltentil
force in Canadian life. At Fort William and
Lachine their convivial meetings did some-
thing to make them forget the perils of the
rapids and whirlpools of the rivers, and the
bitterness of the piercing winds of the north-
western stretches. Familiarly they were known
as the "Nor'-Westers." Shortly before the be-
ginning of the century mentioned, a split took
place among the "Nor'-Westers," and as the
bales of merchandise of the old Company had
upon them the initials "N. W.," the new Com-
pany, as it was called, marked their packages
"XY," these being the following letters of the
alphabet.
Besides these mentioned there were a number
of independent merchants, or free traders. At
one time there vere at the junction of the
Souris and Assiniboine Rivers, five establish-
ments, two of them being those of free traders
or independents. Among all these Companies
the commander of a Fort was called, "The
Bourgeois" to suit the French tongue of the

The Earlicr P,ople.

27

men. He w(s naturally a man of no small
importance.
THE DUSKY RIDERS OF TttE PLAINS. 

But the conditions, in which both the traders
:nd the voyageurs lived, brought a disturbing
shadow over the wide plains of the North-West.
Now under British rule, the Fur trade from
Montreal became a settled industry. From
Curry's time (1766) they began to erect posts
or depots at important points to carry on their
trade. Around these posts the voyageurs built
a few cabins and this new centre of trade af-
forded a spot for the encampment near by of
the Indian teepees made of tanned skins. The
meeting of the savage and the civilized is ever
a contact of peril. Among the traders or of-
ricers of the Fur trade a custom grew up--not
sanctioned by the decalogue--but somewhat like
the German Morganatic marriage. It was called
"Marriage of the Country." By this in many
cases the trader married the Indian wife; she
bore children to him, and afterwards when he
retired from the country, she was given in real
marriage to some other voyageur, or other em-
ployee, or pensioned off. It is worthy of note
that many of these Indian women became most
true and affectionate spouses. With the voy-
ageurs and laborers the conditions were dif-
ferent. They could not leave the country, they

28

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

had become a part of it, and their marriages
with the Indian women were bona fide. Thus
it was that during the space from the time of
Curry until the arrival of the Selkirk Colonists
upwards of forty years had elapsed, and around
the wide spread posts of the Fur Trading Com-
panies, especially around those of the prairie,
there had grown up families, which were half
Frencll and half Indian, or half English and
half Indian. When it could be afforded these
children were sent for a time to Montreal, to
be educated, and came back to their native wilds.
On the plain between the Assiniboine and the
Saskatchewan, a half-breed community had
sprung up. From their dusky faces they took
the name "Bois-Bruls," or "Charcoal Faces, '
or referring to their mixed blood, of "Metis,"
or as exhibiting their importance, they sought
to be called "The New Nation." The blend of
French and Indian was in many respects a
natural one. Both are stalwart, active, mus-
cular; both are excitable, imaginative, ambi-
tious; both are easily amused and devout. The
"Bois-Bruls" growing up among the Indians
on the plains naturally possessed many of the
features of the Indian life. The pursuit of
their fur-bearing animals was the only industry
of the country. The Bois-Brulgs from child-
hood were familiar with the Indian pony, knew
all his tricks and habits, began to ride with all

The Earlier People.

29

the skill of a desert ranger, were familiar with
fire-arms, took part in the chase of the buffalo
on the plains, and were already trained to make
the attack as cavalry on buffalo herds, after
the Indian fashion, in the famous half-circle,
where they were to be so successful in their
later troubles, of which we shall speak. Such
men as the Grants, Findlays, Lapointes, Bel-

legardes, and Falcons were
managing the swift canoe,
plains on the Indian ponies.

equally skilled in
or scouring the
We shall see the

part which this new element were to play in
the social life and even in the public concerns
of the prairies.

THE STATELY UDSOIIS BAY COI:PAIIY.

The last of the elements to come into the val-
ley of the Red River and to precede the Col-
onists, was the Hudson's Bay Company--even
then, dating back its history almost a century
and a half. They were a dignified and wealthy
Company, reaching back to the times of easy-
.going Charles II., who gave them their charter.
For a hundred years they lived in self-confi-
dence and prudence in their forts of Churchill
and York, on the shore of Hudson Bay. They
were even at times so inhospitable as to deal
with he Indians through an open window of
the fort. This was in striking contrast to the

The Earlier People.

31

been built some sixty years before. Evidently
both companies felt the conflict to be on, in
their efforts to cover all importants parts, for
they called this Trading House Fort Gibral-
tt, r, who,e name has a decided ring of the war-
like about it. It is not clear exactly where the
Hudson's Bay post was built, but it is sad to
have rather faced the Assiniboine than the Red
River, perhaps near where Notre Dame Avenue
East, or the Hudson's Bay stores is to-day. It
was probably built a few years after Fort Gib-
raltar, and was called "Fidler's Fort." By this
time, however, the Hudson's Bay Company,
working from their first post of Cumberland
House, pushed on to the Rocky Mountains to
engage in the Titanic struggle which they saw
lay ahead of them. One of their most active
agents, in occupyin.g the Red River Valley, was
the Englishman Peter Fidler, who was the sur-
veyor of this district, the master of several
forts, and a man who ended his eventful career
by a will made--providing that all of his funds
should be kept at interest until 1962, when
they should be divided, as his last chimerical
plan should direct. It thus came about that
when the Colonists arrived there were two Trad-
ers' Houses, on the site of the City of Winnipeg
of to-day, within a mile of one another, one
representing a New World, and the other an
Old Vorld type of mercantile life. It was plain

32 Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

that on the Plains of Rupert's Land there would
come a struggle for the possession of power,
if not for very existence.

CHAPTER II.

SCOTTISH DUEL.  '

Inasmuch as this tale is chiefly one of Scot-
tish and of Colonial life, the story of the move-
ment from 01d Kildonan, on the German Ocean,
to New Kildonan, on the Western Prairies--we
may be very sure, that it did not take place with-
out irritation and opposition and conflict. The
Scottish race, while possessing intense earnest-
ness and energy, often gains its ends by the
most thoroughgoing animosity. In this great
emigration movement, there were great new
world interests involved, and champions of the
rival parties concerned were two stalwart chief-
tains, of Scotland's best blood, both with great
powers of leadership and both backed up with
abundant means and strongest influence. It
was a duel--indeed a fight, as old Sir Walter
Scott would say, "a l'outrance"--to the bitter
end. That the struggle was between two chief-
tains--one a Lowlander, the other a Highlander,
did not count for much, for the Lowlander spoke
the Gaelic tongue--and he was championing
the interest of Highland men.

" A Scottist Duel."

35

beautiful St. Mary's Isle, near the mouth of
the Dee, on Solway Frith. On his visits to the
Highlands, it was not alone the Highland
straths and mountains, nor the Highland
Chieftain's absolute mastership of his clan, nor
was it the picturesque dressmthe"Garb of old
Gaul"--which attracted him. The Earl of Sel-
kirk has been charged by those who knew little
of him with being a man of feudal instim.ts.
His temper was the exact opposite of this.
When he saw his Scottish fellow-countrymen
being driven out of their homes in Sutherland-
shire, and sent elsewhere to give way for sheep
farmers, and forest runs, and deer stalkin,
it touched his heart, and his three Emigration
Movements, the last culminating in the Kil-
donan Colonists, showed not only what title and
means could do, but showed a kindly, and com-
passionate heart beating under the starry
badge of Earldom.
Rather it was the case that the fur trading
oligarchy ensconced in the plains of the \ est,
could not understand the heart of a philan-
thropistof a man who could work for mere
humanity. Up till a few years ago it was the
fashion for even historians, being unable to
understand his motive and disposition, to speak
of him as a "kind hearted, but eccentric Scot-
tish nobleman."
Lord Selkirk's active mind led him into va-

36

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

rious different spheres of human life. He
visited France and studied the problem of the
French Revolution, and while sympathizing
with the struggle for liberty, was alienated as
were Wordsworth and hundreds of other
British writers and philanthropists, by the ex-
cesses of Robespierre and his French compa-
triots. When the Napoleonic wars were at their
height, like a true patriot, Lord Selkirk wrote
a small work on the "System of National De-
fence," anticipating the Volunteer System of
the present day. But his keen mind sought
lines of activity as well as of theory. Seeing
his fellow-countrymen, as well as their Irish
neighbors, in distress and also desiring to keep
them under the British flag, he planned at his
ow expense to carry out the Colonists to Amer- '
ica. Even before this effort, reading Alexander
Mackenzie's great book of voyages detailing the
discoveries of the Mackenzie River in its courage
to the Arctic Sea, and also the first crossing
in northern latitudes of the mountains to the
Pacific Ocean-- he had applied (1802), to the
Imperial Government, for permission to take
a colony to the western extremity of (anada
upon the waters which fall into Lake Winni-
peg." This spot, "fertile and having a salu-
brious climate," he could reach by way of the
Nelson l.iver, running into Hudson Bay. The
British Government refused him the permis-

" A Scottish

3q

tion at times reached bloodshed, and financial
ruin was staring all branches of the fur trade
in the face.
It was the depressed condition of the fur
trade and the consequent drop in Hudson's
Bay Company shares that appealed to Lord Sel-
kirk, the man of many dreams and imaginations
and he saw the opportunity of finding a home
under the prairie skies for his hapless country-
men. It requires no detail here of how Lord
Selkirk bought a controlling interest in the
Hudson's Bay Company's stock, made out his
plans of Emigration, and took steps to send out
his hoped-for thousands or tens of thousands
of Highland crofters, or Irish peasants, who-
ever they might be, if they sought freedom
though bound up with hardship, hope instead
of a pauper's grave, the prospect of indepen-
dence of life and station in the new world in-
stead of penury and misery under impossible
conditions of life at home. Nor is it a matter
of moment to us, how the struggle began until
we have brought before our minds the stalwart
figure of Sir Alexander Mackenzie--Lord Sel-
kirk's great protagonist. Like many a distin-
guished man who has made his mark in the
new world, and notably our great Lord Strath-
cona, who came as a mere lad to Canada,
Alexander Mackenzie, a stripling of sixteen,
arrived in Montreal to make his fortune. He

4O

Lord Selklrk's Colonists.

was born as the Scottish people say of
"kenn't" of "well-to-do" folk in Stornoway, in
the Hebrides. He received a fair education and
as a boy had a liking for the sea. Two part-
ners, Gregory and McLeod, were fighting at
Montreal in opposition to the dominant firm of
McTavish and Frobisher. Young AlexandeT
Mackenzie joined this opposition. So great
was his aptitude, that boy as he was, he was
despatched West to lead an expedition to De-
troit. Soon he was pushed on to be a bourgeois,
and was appointed at the age of twenty-two to
go to the far West fur country of Athabasca,
the vast Northern country which was to be the
area of his discoveries and his fame. His en-
ergy and skill were amazing, although like
many of his class, he had to battle against
the envy of rivals. After completely planning
his expedition, he made a dash for the Arctic
Sea, by way of Mackenzie River, which he---
first of white men--descended, and which bears
his name. Finding his astronomical knowledge
defective, he took a year off, and in his native
land ]earned the use of the instruments needed
in exploration. After his return he ascended
the Peace River, crossed the Rocky Mountains,
and on a rock on the shore of the Pacific Ocean
in British Columbia, inscribed with vermillion
and grease, in large letters, "Alexander Mac-
kenzie, from Canada, by land, the Twenty-

"A b'cottis] Duel. '

on the south side of the boundary line between
Canada and the United States. The Nor'-
Westers are frantic; but the fates are against
them. The duel has beun! Who will win?
Cunning and misrepresentation are to be em-
ployed to check the success of the Colony, and
also local opposition on the other side of the
Atlantic, should the scheme ever come to any-
thing. At present their hope is that it may
fall to pieces of its own weight.
Lord Selkirk's scheme is dazzling almost be-
yond belief. A territory is his, purchased out
and out, from the Hudson's Bay Company,
:bout four times the area of Scotland, his native
land, and the greater part of it fertile, with
the finest natural soil in the world, waiting for
the farmer to give a return in a single year af-
ter his arrival. A territory, not possessed y :
forein people, but under the British flag! A
country yet to be the home of millions! It is
worth living to be able to plant such a tree,
which will shelter and bless future generations
of mankind. Financial loss he might have; but
he would have fame as his reward.

CHAPTER III.

ACROSS THE STORMY SEA. '

Oh dreadful war l It is not only in the deadly
horror of battle, and in the pain and anguish
of men strong and hearty, done to death by
human hands. It is not only in the rotting
heap of horses and men, torn to pieces by
bullets and shell, and thrust together within
huge pits in one red burial blent. It is not only
in the helpless widow and her brood of dazed
and desolate children weeping over the news

that comes from
come so hideous.
the time of the

the battlefield, that war be-
It is always, as it was in
Europe-shadowing Nal)oleon

when for twenty years the wheels of industry
in Britain were stopped. It is always the de-
rangement of business, the increased price of
food for the poor, the decay of trade, the cut-
ting off of supplies, and the stopping of works
of improvement that brings conditions which
make poverty so terrible. Rags! A bed of
straw; a crust of bread; the shattered roof;
the naked floor; a deal table; a broken chair! A
writer whose boyhood saw the terror, and want,

46

Lord Selkirk's Coloists.

had the true vision; and he had as few others
of his time had, the power to plan, the inven-
tion to suggest, and the skill and pluck to over-
come difficulties, but the carrying out of his in-
tent brought him infinite trouble and sorrow.
His prospectus, offering the means to the pov-
erty-stricken people of reaching what he be-
lieved to be a home of ultimate plenty on the
banks of the led River, was an entirely worthy

document. His
will be freemen.
sidered in their
that was that

first point is, that his Colonists
No religious tenet will be con-
selection. This was even freer
of Lord Baltimore's much-

vaunted Colony, on the Atlantic Coa.t, for Bal-
timore required that every Colonist should be-
lieve in the doctrine of the Trinity. Then, the
offer was to the landless and the penniless men.
Employment was to be supplied; work in the
employ of the Hudson's Bay Company, or free
grants of land to actual settlers, or even a sale
in fee simple of land for a mere nominal sum;
free passages for the poor, reduced passages
for those who had small means, food provided
on the voyage, and the prospect of new world
advantages to all.
But the poor are timid, and they love even
their straw-thatched cottages, and it needs ac-
tive and decided men to press upon them the
advanta'es which are offered them. The Emi-
-ation Agent is a necessity.

"Across the Stormy Sea."

47

The fur traders' country was at this time well
known to many of the partners. It was by em-
ploying or consulting with some of these fur
traders that Lord Selkirk obtained a knowledge
of the Western land which he was to acquire.
Years before the Colony began Lord Selkirk
had been in correspondence with an officer who
belonged to a well known Catholic family of
Highlanders, the Macdonells, who had gone to
the Mohawk district in the United States before
the American Revolution, and had afterwards
come to Canada as U. E. Loyalists. One of
these, a man of standing and of executive ability
was Miles Macdonell. He had been an officer
of the King's Royal Regiment of New York,
and held the rank of Captain of the Canadian
Militia. This officer had a brother in the
North-West Fur Company, John Macdonell,
who, more than ten years before, had been
in the service of his Company on Red River
and whose Journal had no doubt fallen into t]e
hands of his brother Miles. He had writte:
"From the Forks of the Assiniboine amt ]ted
Rivers the plains are quite near the banks, ad
so extensive that a man may travel to the
Rocky Mountains without passing a wood, a
mile long. The soil on the Red River and
Assiniboine is generally a good soil, susceptible
of culture, and capable of bearing rich crops."
He goes on to state, "that the buffalo comes

48

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

to the fords of the Assinboil, besides in the.,e
rivers are plenty of sturgeon, catfish, goldeye,
pike and whitefish--the latter so common tliat
men have been seen to catch thirty or fory a
piece while they smoked their pipes." To reach
this land of plenty, which his brother knew so
well, iles acdonell became the leader of
Lord Selkirk's Colonists. He arrived in Great
Britain in the year for the starting of the Col-
ony, and immediately as being a Roman Cath-
olic in religion went to the West of Irel:d
to recommend the Emigration scheme, obtain
subscriptions of stock, and to engage workmen
as Colonists. Glasgow was then, as now, the
centre of Scottish industry, and it is to Glas-
gow that the penniless Highlanders flock in
large numbers for work and residence. Here
was a suitable field for the Emigration Agent,
and accordingly one of their countrymen, Cap-
tain Roderick McDonald, was sent thither. The
way to Canada was long, the country unknown,
and it required all his persuasion and the power
of the Gaelic tongue---an open Sesame to an
Highlander's heart--to persuade many to join
the Colonists' bank. It required more. The
Highlander is a bargainer, as the Tourist in
the Scottish Higllands knows to this day. Cap-
t,n Roderick McDonald was compelled to
promise larger wages to clerks and laborers to
induce them to join. He secured less than half

"Across thv Stormy Sea."

49

an hundred men at Stornowaywthe trysting
place--and the promises he had made of higher
wages were a bone of contention through the
whole voyage.
Perhaps the most effective agent obtained
by Lord Selkirk was .a returned trader of the
Montreal merchants named Colin Robertson.
He had seen the whole western fur country, and
the fact that he had a grievance made him very
willing tc join Lord Selkirk in his enterprise.
One of the Nor'-Westers in Saskatchewan a
few years before the beginning of Lord Sel-
kirk's Colony, was "Bras Croche," or crooked-
arm McDonald. He was of gentle Scottish
birth, but his own acquaintances declared that
he was of a "quarrelsome and pugnacious dis-
position." In his district Colin Robertson was
a "Bourgeois" in charge of a station. A quarrel
between the two men resulted in Colin Robert-
son losing his position, and as we shall see he
became one of the most active and serviceable
men in the history of the Colony. Colin Rob-
ertson went among his countrymen in the Island
of Lewis and elsewhere.
And now as the time draws nigh for gather-
ing together at a common port, the Stromness
(Orkney), the Glasgow, the Sligo and the Lewis
contingents to face the stormy sea and seek a
new untried home, a fierce storm breaks out
upon the land. Evidence accumulates that the

5O

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

heat and opposition of the "Nor'-West" part-
ners--Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Inglis and El-
lice---shown at the general meeting of the Com-
pany, were to break out in numberless hidden
and irritating efforts to stop and perhaps ren-
der impossible the whole Colonizing project.
Just as the active agents, Miles Macdonell,
Capt. McDonald and Colin Robertson, had set
the heather on fire on behalf of Lord Selkirk's
project, so the aid of the press was used to
throw doubt upon the enterprise. Inverness is
the Capital of the Highlanders, and so the "In-
verness Journal," containing an effusion signed
by "Highlander," was spread broadcast
through the Highlands, the Islands, and the
Orknes, picturing the dangers of their jour-
ney, the hardships of the country, the deceitful-
ness of the agents, and the mercenary aims of
the noble promoter.
Before Miles Macdonell had cleared the coast
of England, he wrote to Lord Selkirk: "Sir A.
(Mackenzie) has pledged himself as so decid-
edly opposed to this project that he will try
every means in his power to thwart it. Besides,
I am convinced he was no friend to your Lord-
ship before this came upon the carpet."
No doubt Miles Macdonell was correct, and
the two Scottish antagonists were face to face
in the conflict. We shall see the means supplied
by which the expedition will be harassed.

"Across the ,_qtor,y Sea."

51

And now the enterprise is to be set on foot.
For nearly a century and a half the Hudson's
Bay Company ships have sailed yearly from the
Thames, and taken the goods of the London
merchants to the posts and forts of Hudson
Bay, carrying back rich returns of furs. Some-
times more than one a year has gone. In 181.1
there was the Commodore 's ship the "Prince
of Wales," with cabin accommodation and such
comforts as ships of that period supplied. A
second ship, the "Eddystone," chartered for
special service, accompanied her. These two
were intended to carry out employees and men
for the fur trade, as well as the goods.
It must not be forgotten that there was some
want of confidence between the trading side of
the Hudson's Bay Company and that which
Lord Selkirk represented, in the Colonizing en-
terprise. Also at this time the laws in regard to
the safety of vessels, the comfort of passengers,
or precautions for health were very lax. While
the records of emigration experiences of Brit-
ish settlers to Canada and the United States
are being recited by men and women yet living
in Canada, the want of resource and the neglect
of life and property by Governments and offi-
cials up until half a century ago are heart-sick-
ening. So the third ship of the fleet that was to
carry the first human freight of Manitoba
pioneers was the "Edward and Ann." She

52

Lord Selkirk's Coloists.

was a sorry craft, with old sails, ropes, etc., and
very badly manned. She had as a crew only
sixteen, including the captain, mates and three
small boys. It was a surprise to Miles Mac-
donell that the Company would charter and
send her out in such a state. The officers came
down to Gravesend from London and joined
their ships, and somewhere about the 25th of
June, 1811, they set sail from Sheerness on
their mission, which was to become historic--
not so historic, perhaps, as the Mayflower--but
still sufficiently important to deserve a centen-
nial celebration.
The fleet was, however, to take up its pas-
sengers after it had passed Duncansby Head,
on the north of Scotland. But the elements on
the North Sea were unpropitious. Sheerness
left behind, the trio of vessels had not passed
the coast of Norfolk before they were driven
into Yarmouth Harbor, and there for days they
lay held in by adverse winds. On July 2nd
they again started northward, when they were
compelled to return to Yarmouth.
In company they succeeded in reaching
Stromness, in the Orkney Isles, in about ten
days. Here the "Prince of Wales" remained
and her two companions sailed-down to Storno-
way on the 17th.
And now, with the storms of the German
Ocean left behind, legan the opposition of the

"Across the ,b'tor,y

53

"Nor'-Westers." The "Prince of Wales"
brought her contingent from the Orkneys, and
on July 25th Miles Macdonell writeg that after
all the efforts put forth at all the points he had
125 Colonists and employees, and these were in
a most unsettled stae of mind.
Some dispute the wages offered them. One
party from Galway had not arrived. Some are
irritated at not being in the quarter of the ship
which they desired, and some anxiety is evident
on the part of Miles Macdonell because large
advances of money have been given to a num-
ber and he fears that they may desert. The ex-
penses of assembling the settlers have been
very heavy, and now opposition appears. Sir
Alexander's party are doing their work. Mr.
Reed, Collector of Customs at Stornoway, was
married to a niece of Sir Alexander Mackenzie,
and as collector he throws every obstacle in the
way of Macdonell. He has also taken pains to
stir up discontent in the minds of the Colonists
and to advise them not to embark.
Further trouble was caused by a. Captain
Mackenzie--called "a mean fellow "--who
proved to be a somin-law of the Collector of
Customs Reed, and who went on board the
"Edward and Ann," recruited as soldiers some
of the settlers, himself handing them the en-
listing money and then seeking to compel them
to leave the ship with him. Afterwards, Cap-

"Across the Stormy Sea."

55

might seize the valuable cargoes being sent out
to York Factory. Accordingly a man-of-war
had been detailed to lead the way. This had
caused a part of the delay on the East Coast

of England, and when
British Isles and some
northwest of Ireland,

fairly away from the
four hundred miles
the protecting ship

turned back, but the sea was so wild that not
even a letter could be handed to the Captain to
carry in a message to the promoter.
The journey continued to be boisterous, but
once within Hudson straits the weather turned
mild, and the great walls of rock reminded the
Highlanders of their Sutherlandshire West
Coast.
They saw no living being as they went
through the Strait. Their studies of human
nature were among themselves. Miles Mac-
donell reports that exclusive of the officers and
crews who embarked at Gravesend, there were
of laborers and writers one hundred and five

persons.
Of these there
ward and Ann."
representing the

were fifty-three on the "Ed-
Two men of especial note,
clerical and medical profes-

sions were on board the Emigrant Ship. Father
Burke, a Roman Catholic priest, who had come

away without the permission of his
was one.

Miles Macdonell did not like him,

Bishop

but he

56

Lord Sclkirk's Colonists.

seems to have been a hearty supporter of the
Emigration Scheme and promised to do great
things in Ireland on his return.

When'he reached
not leave the shore
their homes on the

York Factory, Burke did
to follow the Colonists to
banks of Red River. He

married two Scotch Presbyterians, and while
somewhat merry at times had amused the pas-
sengers on their dreary ocean journey. More
useful, however, to the passengers was Mr.
Edwards, the ship's doctor.
He had much opportunity for practising his
art, both among the Colonists and the em-
ployees.
At times Miles Macdonell endeavored on ship-
board to drill his future servants and settlers,
but he found them a very awkward squad--not
one had ever handled a gun or musket. The
sea seemed generally too tempestuous in mood
for their evolutions. As the ships approached
York Factory the interest increased. The "Ed-
dystone" was detailed to sail to "Fort Church-
ill," but was unable to reach it and found her
way in the wake of the other vessels to York
Factory. It seemed as if the sea-divinities all
combined to fight against the Coloni,ts, for
they did not reach York Factory, the winter
destination, until the 24th of September, hav-
ing taken sixty-one days on the voyage from
Stornoway, which was declared by the Hud-

"Actor's' the 8tor,y b'ca. '

5'7

son's Bay Company officers to be the longest
and latest passage ever known on Hudson Bay.
Then settlers and employees were all landed
on the point, near York Factory, and were shel-
tered meantime in tents, and as they stood on
the shore they saw on October 5th, the shps
that had brought them safely across the stormy
sea pass through a considerable amount of float-
ing ice on their homeward journey to London.
For one season at least the settlers will face
the rigor of this Northern Clime.

CHAPTER IV.

WINTER OF DISCONTENT.

The Emigrant ship has landed its living
freight at Fort Factory, upon the Coast of
Hudson Bay--a shore unoccupied for hundreds
of miles except by a few Hudson's Bay Com-
pany forts such as those at the mouth of the
Nelson River, and of Fort Churchill, a hundred
miles or more farther north. It was now the
end of the season, and it will not do to trifle
with the nip of cold "Boreas" on the shore
of Hudson Bay. The icy winter is at hand,
and all know that they will face such tempera-
tures s they never had seen even among the
stormy Hebride,, or in the Northward Ork-
hers. Lord Selkirk's dreams are now to be
tested. Is the story of the Colony to be an epic
or a drama?
I was by no means the first experiment of
facing in an unprepared way the rigors of a
North American winter.
In the fourth year of the Seventeenth Cen-
tury De Monts, a French Colonizer, had a band
of his countrymen on Doucher's Island, in the

A Winter of Discotcnt.

59

Ste. Croix River, on the borders of New Bruns-
wick. Though fairly well provided in some
ways yet the winter proved so trying that out
of the number of less than eighty, nearly one-
half died. The winter was so long, weary and
deadly, that in the spring the zurvivors of the
Colony were moved to Port Royal in Acadia
and the Ste. Croix was ven up. This was
surely dramatic; this was trac indeed. But
in the fourth year of this Century, the Tercen-
tenary of this event was celebrated in Anna-
polis .and St. John, as the writer himself be-
held, and the shouts and applause of gathered
thousands made a great and patriotic epic.
Again four years after De Monts, when
knowledge of climate and conditions had be-
come known to the French pioneers, Samuel
de Champlain wintered with his crew and a
few settlers on the site of Old Quebec, on the
St. Lawrence. Discontent and dissension led
to rebellion, and blood was shed in the execution
of the plotters. Hunger, suffering and the
dreadful scurvy attacked the founder's party
of less than thirty, of whom only ten survived,
and yet in July of 1908, the writer witnessed
the grand Tercentenary celebration of Cham-
plain's settlement of Quebec, and with the
presence of the Prince of Wales, General Rob-
erts, the idol of the British Army, a joint fleet,
of eleven English, French and American first-

6O

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

class Men-of War, with pageantry and music,
the Epic of Champlain was sung at the foot of
the great statue erected to his memory.
In the Twentieth year of the Seventeenth
Century, a company of very sober folk, came
to the shore of the Atlantic Ocean in a trifling
little vessel the "Mayflower," and brought
about one hundred Immigrants from the British
Isles to Plymouth Rock to build up a refuge
and a home. What a mighty song of patriotism
will burst out when in a few years the United
States hold their Tercentenary of the landing
of the Pilgrim Fathers.
And so we see the first Selkirk Colonists
landed on the Hudson Bay numbering at the
outside seventy, a number not greatly different
from the French and Pilgrim Fathers and called
on to pass through similar trials in the severe
winter of Hudson Bay. Their experience has
been less tragic than that of the other parties
spoken of, but in it the same elements of dis-
comfort, dissension and disease certainly
present themselves. However distressing their
winter was, the dramatic conditions passed
away, in a short time we shall be engaged
in commemorating the patience and the hero-
ism of these settlers, and in 1912 we shall sing
a new song--the epic of the Lord Selkirk
Colonists.
But to be true we must look more closely at

A Winter of Discontent.

61

the trials, and sufferings of the untried, and
somewhat turbulent band, on their way to the
Red River.
York Factory as being the port of entry for
the southern prairie country was a place of some
importance. As in the largest number of cases,
other than a few huts for workmen, and a few
Indian families, the Fort was the only centre
of life in the whole re.on. Two rivers, the Nel-
son and the Hayes, enter the Hudson Bay at
this point--the Nelson being the more northerly
of the two. Between the two rivers is really
a delta or low swampy tongue of land. On the
Nelson's north bank, the land near the Bay
is low, while inland there is a rising height.
Five or six different Sites of forts are pointed
out at this point. These have been built on dur-
ing the history of the Company, which dates
back to 1670. In Lord Se]kirk's time the fac-
tory was more than half a mile from the Bay
and lay between the. two rivers. Miles Mac-
donell states that it was on "low, miry ground
without a ditch." The stagnant water by which
the post was surrounded would be productive
of much ill-health, were there a longer sum-
mer." The buildings of the Factory were also
badly planned, and badly constructed, so that
the Fort was unsuitable for quartering the Col-
onists. Besides this, Messrs. Cook and Auld,
the former Governor of York Factory, and the

62

Tord Selkirk's Colonists.

latter chief officer of Fort Churchill, having
the old Hudson's Ba: Company's spirit of dis-
like of Colonists, decided that the new settlers,
being an innovation and an evil, should have
separate quarters built for them at a distance
from the Fort.
Poor Colonists! Miles Macdonell is wearied
with them in their complaining spirit, berates
them for indolence, and finds fault with their
awkwardness as workmen. To Macdonell, who
was a Canadian, accustomed as a soldier and
frontiersman to dealing with canoes, boats, and
every means of ]and transport, the sturdy,
steady going 0rkneyman was slow and clumsy.
The inexperienced new settler thus gets
rather brusque treatment from the Colonial,
more a good deal than he deserves.
Accordingly it was decided to erect log dwel-
lings for he workmen and the settlers on the
higher ground north of the Nelson River. Sev-
eral miles distant from the Factory itself,
Sl, ruce trees of considerable size grew along
the river, and so all hands were put to work to
have huts or shanties erected to protect the Col-
onists from the severe cold of winter, which
would soon be upon them, although on October
5th Miles Macdonell wrote home to Lord Sel-
kirk: "The weather has been mild and pleas-
ant for some days past."
The erection of suitable houses, that is home-

64

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

dance around the Encampment--checked the
disease, wherever the obstinacy of the settlers
did not prevent its use, for says Macdonell,
"It is not an easy matter to get the Orkney-
men to drink it, particularly the old hands."
A smouldering fire of discontent that had been
detected on board the ship on crossing the
ocean now broke out into a flame. The Irish
and the Orkneymen could not agree. In Feb-
ruary the vigilant leader Macdonell writes:
"The Irish displayed their native propensity
and prowess on the first night of the year, by
unmercifully beating some Orkneymen. Too
mu.] strong drink was the chief incitement."
This antipathy continued to be a difficulty even
until the party arrived at Red River.
There are signs in his letters, of the con-
stant strain on Miles Macdonell arising from
the difficulties of'his position and the wayward-
nes of the Immigrants. At times he consults
with the Hudson's Bay Company's officer, Mr.
Hillier, and at others thus unbosoms himself to
Messrs. Cook and Auld. "In this wild, deso-
late and (I may add) barren re.on, excluded
at present from all communication with the
civilized world, intelligence of a local kind can
alone be expected. Could we join in the sent-
inel's cry of' All is well,  although not affording
great changes, it might yet be satisfactory in
our i.olated condition. We have as great variety

A Winter of Discontent.

65

as generally happens in this sublunary world,
of which we here form a true epitome, being
composed of men of all countries, religions and
tonoes."
Plainly Governor Macdonell feels his lur-
dens l However, the culmination of this
ficer's troubles did not reach him until a seri-
ous rebellion occurred among his subjects--so
mixed and various.
A workmanWilliam Finlay--presumably
an Orkneyman, who had been regularly em-
ployed by Miles Macdonell when the scurvy
was bad in Mr. Hillier's camp, refused to obey
he health r%olations, his one objection being
to drink this spruce decoction. He was imme-
diately dropped from work. A few days af-
terward supposing the matter had blown over,
Macdonell ordered him to work again. Finlay
declined, whereupon, though under engagement
he refused to further obey Macdonell. The
Governor then brought him before Mr. Hillier,
who like himself, had been made a magistrate.
His breach of law in this, as in other matters
being" brought against Finlay he was sentenced
to confinement. There being no prison at
York Factory it seemed difficult to carry out
the sentence by his being simply confined with
his other companions in the men's quarters.
Accordingly the Governor ordered a single log
hut to be constructed, and this being done, in

66

Lord Selki'k's Colonists.

it the prisoner was confined. Not a day had
entirely passed when a rebellion arose among
some of his compatriots--the Scottish contin-
gent from Orkney and Glasgow--and a band
of thirteen of them surrounded the newly built
hut, set it on fire and as it went up in smoke
rescued the prisoner.
The men were arrested and were brought be-
fore Macdonell and Hillier, sitting as magis-
trates. This was about the end of February.
The rebels, however, defied the authorities, de-
parted carrying Finlay with them and get-
ting possession of a house took it defiantly for
their own use. During their remaining so-
journ at York Factory they subsisted on pro-
visions obtained at the Factory itself and car-
ried by themselve, from the post to the encamp-
ment. Governor Macdonell, meantime, decided
to send these rebellious spirits home to Britain
for punishment, and not allow them to go on
to Red River.
The possession by the rioters of some five or
six stand of firearms, was felt to be a menace
to the peace of the encampment. An effort
was made to obtain them by Macdonell, but
"the insurgents," as they were called, secreted
the arms and thus kept possession of them. In
June on the rebels being very bold and being
unable to get back across the Nelson River
from the Factory for a number of days, they

A Witttet" of Discottent.

67

were forced by Mr. Auld, then at York Factory,
to give up their arms and submit or else have
their supplies from the Factory stopped. Tley
were thus compelled to submit and on the re-
ceipt of a note from Mr. Auld to Macdonel],
the latter wrote a joyful letter to Lord Se]-
kirk to the effect thaat the insurgents had at
length come to terms, acknowledged their guilt
and thrown themselves upofi the mercy of the
Hudson's Bay Committee.
This surrender made it unnecessary to send
the body of rioters back to England for trial.
During the months of later winter Governor
Miles Macdonell was specially employed in
building boats for the journey up to Red River.
He introduced a style of boat used on the rivers
of New York, his native State. These, how-
ever, he complains, were very badly constructed
through the clumsiness and lack of skill of the
Colonists and Company employees, whom he
had ordered to build them.
Now on July fourth, 1812, Governor Mac-
donell, his Colonists, and the Hudson's Bay
officials--Cook and Auld--are all gazing wist-
fully up the Nelson and Hayes Rivers, and we
have the postscript to the last letter as found
in Miles Macdonell letter book, sent o Lord
Selkirk, reading, "Four Irishmen are to be
sent home; Higgins and Hart, for the felonious
attack on the Orkneymen; William Gray, non-

68

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

effective, and Hugh Redden, who lost his arm
by the bursting of a gun given him to fire off
by Mr. Brown, one of the Glasgow clerks."
(Signed) H. MacD.
The expedition left York Factory for the in-
terior on the 6th of July, 1812.

CHAPTEI V.

FIRST FOOT ON RED IIVEI BANKS.

The weary winter passing at Nelson En-
campment had its bright spots. Miles Mac-
donell in the building erected for himself, on
the south side of the Nelson River, kept up
his mess, having with him Mr. Hillier, Priest
Bourke, Doctor Edwards, and Messrs. John
McLeod, Whitford and Michael Macdonell, of-
ricers and clerks. Those Immigrants who took
no part in the rebellion fared well. True, the
scurvy seized several of them, but proved
harmless to those who obeyed the orders and
took plentiful potations of spruce beer. With
the opening year a fdr supply of fresh and
dried venison was supplied by the Indians. In
April upwards of thirty deer were snared or
shot by the settlers. Some three thousand deer
of several different kinds crossed the Nelson
River within a month. "Fresh venison," writes
Macdonell, "was so plenty that our men would
not taste salt meat. We have all got better since
we came to Hudson Bay."
But as in all far northern climates the heat

7O

Lord Sclkb'k's Colonists.

was great in the months of May and June, and
Governor and Colonists became alike restless
to start on the inland journey.
The passing out of the ice in north-flowing
rivers is always wearisome for those who are
waiting to ascend. Beginning to melt farther
south, the ice at the mouth is always last to
move. Besides, the arrival was anxiously
awaited of Bird, Sinclair and House. By con-
tinuous urging of the dull and inefficient work-
men to greater effort, Miles Macdonell had suc-
ceeded in securing four boats--none too well
built--but commodious enough to carry his boat-
crews, workmen, and Colonists.
Though Macdonell sought for the selection of
the workmen who were to accompany him to
Red River, he was not able to move the Hud-
son's Bay Company officials. Two days, how--
ever, after arrival of the Company magnates
from the interior his men were secured to him,
and he was fully occupied in transporting his
stores up the river as far as the " Rock "--the
rapids of the tIill River which here falls into
Hayes River. For a long distance up the river
there is a broad stream, one-quarter of a mile
wide, running at the rate of two miles an hour
through low banks. The boatmen have a good
steady pull up the river for some sixty miles,
and here where the Steel River enters the
Hayes is seen a wide, deep, rapid stream run-

First Foot on Red Ri'cr Banks.

71

ning about three miles an hour. The banks of
this river are of clay and rising from fifty
to one hundred feet, the clay of the banks is so
smooth and white that a traveller has compared
them in color to the white, chalk cliffs of Dover.
Thus far though it has required exertion on the
part of the boatmen, a good stretch of a hun-
dred miles from the Factory has been passed
without any obstruction or delay. Now the seri-
ous work of the journey begins. The Hill River,
as this part of the river is called, is a series
of rapids and portages--where the cargo and
boat have both to be carried around a rapid; of
decharges where the cargo has thus to be car-
ried, and of semi-decharges--where a portion
of the cargo only needs to be removed.
At times waterfalls require to be circuited
with great effort. A high mountain or elevated
table-land seen from this river shows the rough
country of which these cascades and rapids are
the proof. Here are the White-Mud Falls and
other smaller cataracts. To the expert voy-
ageur such a river has no terrors, but to the
raw-hand the management of such boats is a
most toilsome work. The birch-bark canoe is
a mere trifle on the portage, but the heavy
York boat capable of carrying three or four tons
is a clumsy lugger. The cargo must be moved,
the non-effectives such as the women and chil-
dren and the old men must trudge the weary

72

Lord Selkirk's Colo.tists.

path, wrying from a few hundred yards to sev-
eral miles along a rocky, steep and rugged way.
When the portage is made the whole force of
botmen and able-bodied passengers are re-
quired to stand by each boat, pull it out of the
water, and then skid or drag or cajole it along
till it is thrust into its native element again.
To the willing crofter or Orkney boatmen this
was not a great task, but to the Glasgow immi-
grant, or the lazy waiter--on--fortune this was
hard work. Many were the oaths of the of-
ricers and the complaints and objections of the
men when they were required to grapple with
the foaming cascades, the fearful rapids and the
difficult portages of Hill River. Mossy Portage
being now past the landing on a rocky island
at the head of the river showed that the first
"Hill Difficulty" had been overcome.
Swampy lake for ten miles gives a compara
tive rest to the toiling crews, but at the end of
it a short portage passed takes the be]eaored
1,,rty into the mouth of the Jack Tent River,
Day after day with sound sleep when the mos-
quitoes would permit, the unwilling voyageurs
continued their journey. Ten portages have to
be faced and overcome as the brigade ascends
the rapid Jack Tent River, covering a stretch
of seenty miles. The party now find them-
selx-es on the surface of Knee Lake, a consider-
able sheet of water, but a comparative rest after

First Foot on Red liccr Baks.

73

the trials of Jack Tent River. The lake is fifty-
six miles long and at times widens to ten miles
across.
But there is trouble just ahead.
The travellers have now come to the cele-
brated Fall Portage. It is short but deterrent.
The height and ruggedness of the rocks over
which cargo and boats have to be dragged are
unusually forbidding. The only consolation to
the contemplative soul, who does not have to
portage, is that "The stream is turbulent and
unfriendly in the extreme, but in romantic
riety, and in natural beauty nothing can exceed
this picture." High rocks are seen, beetling
over the rapids like towers, and are rent into
the most diversified forms, gay with various col-
ored masses, or. shaded by overhanng hills--
now there is a tranquil pool lying like a sheet
of sil'er--now the dash and foam of a cataract
--these are but parts of this picturesque and
striking scene.
But Fall Portage was only a culmination, in
this fiercely rushing Trout River, for abox'e it
a dozen rapids are to be passed with toilsome
energy. After this the party is rewarded with
beautiful islets, and the lake for a length of
thirty-five miles lies in a fertile tract of country.
It was formerly appropriately called Holy Lake,
and as a summit lake suggests to the traveller
abiding restfulness. To the traders on their

74

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

route whether passing up or down the water
courses, it was always so. After the long and
tedious voyaging it was their Elysium. lot
only are the sweet surroundings of the lake

ANDREW McDERMOTT ESQ.
Greatest Merchant of the Red River Settlement.
Came to Red River Settlement in a8x3. Died in Winnipeg in 88x.

most charming, but the Indians of the neighbor-
hood have always been noted for their good
character, their docility and their industry.
A short delay at Oxford House led to the con-

First Foot on l;cd Rit' ' Baks.

75

tinuation of the journey over what ws now the
roughest, most desolate, and most trying part of
the voyage. On this rough passage, perhaps
the most distressing spot was "Windy Lake,"
it small but tempestuous sheet. The voyageurs
declare that they never cross "Lac de Vent"
without encountering high winds and very often
dangerous storms. Again "the Real Hill
Difficulty" is encountered above the lake at the
"Big Hill" portage and rapids--one of the sud-
den descents of this alarming stream. Those
coming toward Oxford Lake run it at the very
risk of their lives, but the painful portages im-
press themselves on all going up the "Height of
Land," which is reached after passing through
a narrow gorge between hills and mountains
of rocks, the sream dashing headlong down
from the mile-long Robinson Portage.
This region is an elevafed, rugged waste, with
no signs of animal life about it. It is the terror
of the voyageurs. This eerie tract culminates
in the ascending "Haute de Terre," as the
French call it--the dividing ridge between the
waters running eastward to Hudson Bay and
those running westward and descending to meet
the Nelson River, on its headlong way to Hud-
son Bay as well. The obstacle known as the
"Painted Stone" being passed the Colonists'
brigade was now on its way to the inland plain
of the Continent.

76

Lord Sclkirk's Colonists.

The portage led from this string of five
small lakes to the head waters of a trifling, but
very interesting stream called the" Echimamish
River." A doubtful but curious explanation has
been given of the name. On the stream are
ten beaver dams;which ever of these filled first
gave the voyageur the opportunity to launch
in his canoe or boat and go down the little run-
way to Black Water Creek. It was said that in
consequence it was called "Each-a-Man's"
brook, according as each voyageur took the wa-
ter with his craft first. The way was now clear,
down stream until shortly was seen the dash-
ing Nelson River, or as it is here called, "The
Sea River." When this was accomplished the
Immigrants had only to pull stoutly up stream
for forty miles or more until Norway House, the
great Hudson's Bay Fort at the north end of
Lake Winnipeg was reached.
The weary journey--430 miles from York
Factory--was thus over and the worn out, wea-
ther beaten, ragged, and foot-sore travellers had
come to the lake, whose name, other than that
of Red River, was the only inland word they
had ever heard of before starting on their
journey.
It was the first standing place in the country,
which was now to have them as its pioneers.
There is no turning back now. The Rubicon
is crossed. Thirty-seven portages lie between

First Foot on Red Ri,er Banks.

77

them and the dissociable sea. For better or for
worse they will now complete their journey, go-
ing on to found the Settlement which has be-
come so famous. .
The appearance of Norway House with its
fine site and evidences of trade cheered the Col-
onists, and the sight of a body of water like
Lake Winnipeg, which can be as boisterous as
the ocean, brought back the loud resounding
sea by whose swishing waves most of the set-
tlers, for all their lives, had been lulled to sleep.
It is a great stormy and dangerous lake--Lake
Winnipeg. But for boats to creep along its
shore with the liberty of landing on its sloping
banks in case of need it is safe enough. The
season was well past, and haste was needed,
but in due time the mouth of the river
--the delta of Red Rivermwas reached.
Now they were within forty or forty-five miles
of their destination. At this time the banks
of the Red River were well wooded, though
there was open grassy plains lying be-
hind these belts of forest. There was only one
obstruction on their way up the river. This
was the "Deer," now St. Andrew's Rapids,
but after their experiences this was nothing, for
these rapids were easily overcome by track-
ing, that is, by dragng the })oats by a line
up the bank.
Up the river they came and rounded what

78

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

we now call Point Douglas, in the City of Win-
nipeg, a name afterwards given to mark Lord
Selkirk's family name. They had completed a
journey of seven hundred and twenty-eight
miles, from York Factory to the site of Winni-
peg-and they had done this in fifty-five days.
Now they landed.

THE RED LETTER DAY OF THEIR LANDING WAS AUGUST
30T, 1812.

At York Factory the Colonists had met a
Hudson's Bay Company officermPeter Fidler--
on his way to England. He was the strx-eyor
of the Company and a map of the Colony of
which a copy is given by us marks the Colony
Gardens, where Governor Miles Macdonell
lived. This spot they chose, and the locality
at the foot of Rupert Street is marked in the
City of Winnipeg. A stone's throw further
north along the bank of Red River, Fort Doug-
las was afterwards built, around which circles
much of this Romantic Settlement Story.
This spot was the centre of the First Settle-
ment of Rupert's Land and to this first party
peculiar interest attaches.
There can only be one Columbus among all
the navigators who crossed from Europe to
America ; there can only be one Watt among all
the inventors and improvers of the steam en-
gine; only one Newton among those who dis-

First Foot on Red River Banks.

79

cuss the great discovery of the basal law of
gravitation.
There can be only one first party of those who
laid the foundation of collective family life in
what is now the Province of Manitobamand
what is widermin the great Western Canada of
to-day. There may have been not many wise
men, not many mighty, not many noble among
them, but the long and stormy voyage which
they made, the dangers they endured on the sea,
the marvellous land journey they accomplished,
and their taking "seisin of the land," to use
William the Conqueror's phrase, entitles them
to recoition and to respectful memory.

CIIAPTER VI.

THREE DESPERATE YEARS.

Pioneering to-day is not so serious a matter
as it once was. To the frontiers' man now it
involves little risk, and little thought, to dispose
of his holding, and make a dash further
for two or three hundreds of miles across the
plains, hVhen he wishes more land for his
growing sons, he "sells out," fits up his com-
modious covered wagon, called "the prairie
schooner," and with implements, supplies, cat-
tle and horses, starts on the Western "trail."
His wife and children are in high spirits. When
a running stream or spring is reached on the
way he stops and camps. His journey taken
when the weather is fine and when the mosqui-
toes are gone is a diversion. The writer has
seen a family which went through this gypsy-
like "moving" no less than four times. At
length the settler finds his location, has it reg-
istered in the nearest Land Office and calls it
his. With ready axes. the farmer and his sons
cut down the logs which are to make their dwel-
ling. The children explore the new farm lying

"Th,'cc Desperate Years."

81

covered with its velvet sod, as it has done for
centuries; they gather its flowers, pluck its wild
fruits, chase its wild ducks or grouse or go-
phers. Health and homely fare make life en-
joyable. Subject to the incidents and interrup-
tions of every day, which follow humanity, it
seems to them a continual picnic.
But how different was the fate of the worn-
out Selkirk Colonists. The memory of a
wretched sea voyage, of a long and dreary win-
ter at Nelson Encampment, and of a fifty-five
days' journey of constant hardship along the
fur traders' route were impressed upon their
minds. The thought of fierce rivers and the
dangers of portage and cascade still haunted
them, and now everything on the banks of Red
River was strange. On their arrival the flowers
were blooming, but they were prairie flowers,
and unknown to them. The small Colony houses
which they were to occupy would be uncomfor-
table. The very sun in the sky seemed alien to
them, for the Highland drizzle was seen no
more. The days were bright, the weather warm,
the nights cool, and there was an occasional
August thunderstorm, or hailstorm which
alarmed them. The traders, the Indians, the
half-breed trappers, and runners were all new
to them. Their Gaelic language, which they
claimed as that of Eden, was of little value to
them except where an occasional company-ser-

82

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

vant chanced to be a countryman of their own.
They were without money, they were dependent
upon Lord Se]kirk's agents for shelter and
rations. The land which they hoped to possess
was there awaiting them, but they had no means
for purchasing implements, nor were the farm-
ing requisites to be found in the country. Horses
there were, but there were only two or three in-
dividual cattle within five hundred miles of
them.
If they had sung on their sorrowful leaving,
"Lochaber no more," the words were now
turned by their depressed Highland natures
into a wail, and they sang in the words of their
old Psalms of "Rouse's" version:

"By Babel's streams we sat and wept,
When Zion we thought on."

They thought of their crofts and clachans,
where if the land was stingy, the gift of the
sea was at hand to supply abundant food.
But this was no time for sighs or regrets.
The Hudson's Bay traders from Brandon
House were waiting for expected goods, and
Messrs. ttillier and Heney, who were the Hud-
son's Bay Company officers for the East Win-
nipeg District, had arduous duties ahead of
them. But though the orders to prepare for
the Colonists had been sent on in good time,

Lord S,lkb'k's Colo,ists.

the information of the French Canadians.
There was an officers' guard under arms; colors
were flying and after the reading of the Patent
all the artillery belonging to Lord Selkirk, as
well as that of the Hudson's Bay Company,
under Mr. Hillier, consisting of six swivel
ons, were discharged in a grand salute.
At the close of the ceremony the gentlemen
were invited to the Governor's tent, and a keg
of spirits was turned out for the people.
Having made such disposition as we shall
see of the people, Governor Macdonell went
with a boat's crew down the river to make a
choice of a place of settlement for the Colonists.
A bull and cow and winter wheat had been
brought with the party, and these were taken
to a spot selected after a three da),s' thorough
investigation of both banks of the river for
some miles below the Forks. The place found
most eli;ible was "an extensive point of land
through which fire had run and destro),ed the
wood, there bein.a' only brnt wood and weeds
left." This was afterwards called Point
Douglas.
He had, as we shall see, dispatched the set-
tlers to their wintering place up the Red River
on the 6th of September, and set some half-
dozen men, who were to stay at the Forks, to
work clearing the ground for sowing winter

"Three Desperate Years."

91

tlers were on the older Company for supplies
and assistance this was nothing less than an
act of madness.
By proclamation, on the 8th of January, 1814,
Macdonell forbade any traders of "The Hon-
orable Hudson's Bay Company, the North-
West Company, or any individual or uncon-
nected trader whatever to take out any pro-
visions, either of flesh, grain or vegetables,
from the country.
The embargo was complete.
In Governor Macdonell's defence it should
be said that he offered to pay by British bills
for all the provisions taken, at customary rates.
This assertion of sovereignty set on fire the
Nor'-Westers and their sympathizers.
Not only was this extreme step taken, but
John Spencer, a subordinate of Macdonell was
sent west to Brandon House, found an en-
trance into the North-West Fort at the mouth
of the Souris River and seizing some twenty-
five tons of dry buffalo meat took it into lis
own fort.
It is quite true that Governor Macdonell ex-
pected new bands of Colonists and thus justi-
fied himself in his seizure. It is to the credit
of the Nor'-Westers that they restrained them-
selves and avoided a general conflict, but evi-
dently they only bided their time.
No breach of the peace occurred however,

92 Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

before the return of the Colonists from Pem-
bina to the Colony Houses. The settlers oc-
cupied their homes in the best of spirits, and
began to sow their wheat, but they were still
greatly checked by the absence of the common-
est implements of farm culture. Had Lord
Selkirk known the true state of things on Red
River, he would never have continued to send
new bands of Colonists so imperfectly fitted
for dealing with the cultivation of the soil.
The founder's mind had been fired, both by
tle opposition of Sir Alexander Mackenzie
and by the successful arrival of his two bands
of Colonists at the Red River, to make greater
efforts than ever.
This he did by sending out a third party in
all nearly a. hundred strong, under the leader-
ship of a very capable man--Archibald Mac-
donald. This band of settlers in 1813 were
bound on the ship Prince of Wales for York
Factory. A very serious attack of ship fever
filled the whole ship's crew with alarm. Sev-
eral well-known Colonists died. The Captain,
alarmed, refused to go on to his destination,
but ran the ship into Fort Churchill and there
disembarked them. Further deaths took place
at this point. In the spring there was no
resource but to trudge over the rocky ledges
and forbidding desolation of more than a hun-
dred miles between the Fort Churchill and

"Three Desperate Years."

93

York Factory. Only the stronger men and
women were selected for the journey. On the
6th of April, 1814, a party of twenty-one males
and twenty females started on this now cele-
brated tramp. At first the party began to
march in single file, but finding this inconven-
ient changed to six abreast. Unaccustomed to
snowshoes and sleds the Colonists found the
snowy walk very distressing. Three fell by the
way and were carried on by the stronger men.
The weather was very cold. A supply of part-
ridges was given them on starting', and the
l)arty was met by hunters sent from York
tory to meet them, who brought two hundred
partridges, killed by the way. York Factory
was reached on the 13th of April. This band
or' Colonists were superior to any who had
come in the former parties. Many of them, as
we shall see, did not remain in the Colony. A
list of this party may be found in the Appendi.
After remaining a month at York Factor)', on
the 27th of May, this heroic band went on their
way to Red River, and reached their destina-
tion in time to plant potatoes for themselves
and others. Comrades left behind at Church-
ill found their way to Red River. Lots along
Red River were now being taken up by the
settlers, and here they sought to found homes
under a northern sky. Old and new settlers
were now hopeful, but their hopes of peace

94

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

and happiness were soon to be dashed to
pieces.
The arrival of the third year's Colonists pro-
voked still greater opposition. Feeling had
been gradually rising aamst the new. settlers
at every new arrival. The excellence of the
later immigrants but led their opponents to be
irritated.

CHAPTER VII.

FIGHT AND FLIGHT.

The year 1815 was a year of world-wide dis-
aster. Napoleon's Europe-shadowing wings
had for years been over that continent and he
like a ravenous bird had left marks of his rav-
ages among the most prominent European na-
tions. The world had a breathing spell for
a short time with Napoleon a virtual prisoner
in Elba, but now in March of this year he broke
from the perch where he had been tethered and
all Europe was again in terror. The nations
were thunderstruck;the alarm was deepened by
the appearance of Olber's great comet, and in
their superstition the ignorant were panic-
stricken, while the more religious and informed
saw in these terrible events the scenes pictured
in the Apocalypse and maintained that the bat-
tle of Armageddon was at hand. The epoch-
marking battle of Waterloo in June of this
year was sufficiently near the picture of blood
painted in the Revelation to satisfy the
credulous.
But in a remote corner of Rupert's Land,

96

Lord Sclkirk's Colonists.

where the number of the combatants was small
and the conditions exceedingly primitive the
comet was alarming enough. The action of
Governor Miles Macdonell in the beginnin
of 1814, in forbidding the export of food
from Rupert's Land and in interfering with the
liberty of the traders, Indians and half-breeds,
who had regarded themselves as outside of law,
and as free as the wind of their wild prairies,
produced an open and out-spoken dissent from
every class.
The Nor'-Westers took time to consider the
grave step of interrulting trade which Gov-
ernor Miles Macdonell had taken. Immediate
action was im])ossible. It was four hundred
miles and more from the Colony to the great
emporium of the fur trade on Lake Superior.
The annual gathering of the Nor'-Westers was
held at Grand Portage, the terminus of a road
nine miles long, built to avoid the rapids of
the Pigeon River which flows into Lake Su-
perior some thirty or forty miles southwest
of where Fort Villiam now stands. This con-
course was a notable affair. From distant
Athabasca, from the Saskatchewan, from the
Red River and from Lake Vinnipeg, the trad-
ers gathered in their gaily decked canoes, to
meet the gentlemen from Montreal, who came
to count the gains of the year, and lay out
plans for the future. Indians gathered outside

98

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

for his success would strike at the very exist-
ence of our trade."
The two men chosen at the gathering in
Grand Portage were well fitted for their work.
Most forward was Alexander Macdonell. On
his journey writing to a friend he said: "Much
is expected of us .... So here is at them
with all my heart and energy." But the mas-
ter-mind was his companion Duncan Cameron
who, as a leader, stands out in the conflicts
of the times as a determined man, of great
executive ability, but of fierce and over-bear-
ing disposition. The Nor'-Westers, having
planned bloodshed, all agreed that Duncan
Cameron was well chosen. He had been a lead-
ing explorer and trader in the Lake Superior
district and knew the fur traders' route as few
others did. His well-nigh thirty years of ser-
vice made him a man of outstanding influence
in the Company. Moreover, he could be bland
and jovial. He had the Celtic adroitness. He
knew how to ingratiate himself with every class
and possessed all the devices of an envoy. His
appearance and dress at Red River were not-
able. Having had some rank as a U. E. Loy-
alist leader in the war of 1812, he came to the
Forks dressed in a scarlet military coat with all
the accoutrements of a Captain in the Army.
He even made display of his Captain's Com-
mission by posting it at the gate of Fort Gib-

Fight and Flight.

99

raltar. Of the Fort itself he took possession
as Bourgeois or master and laid his plans in
August, 1814, for the destruction of the Selkirk
Colony. Cameron then began a systematic
course of ingratiating himself with the Colon-
ists. Speaking, as he did the Gaelic language,
he appealed with much success to his country-
men. He represented himself as their friend
and stirred up the people of Red River against
Selkirk tyranny. He pictured to them their
wrongs, the broken promises of the founder,
and the undesirability of remaining in the
Colony. He brought the settlers freely to his
table, treating them openly to the beverage of
their native country, and completely captured
the hearts of a number of them. Those, friends
of his, he made use of to carry out his deep
plans. On the very day of the issue of the ra-
tions, he induced some of the Colonists to de-
mand the nine small cannon in the Colony
store houses. The request was refused by
Archibald Macdonald, the acting Governor. The
settlers then went forward, broke open the
store housees and removed the cannon. Mac-
donald now arrested the leading settler, who
had tao.n the field pieces, whereupon Cameron,
like a small Napoleon, incited his clerks and
men, to invade the Governor's house and re-
lease the prisoner. This was done, and now it
may be said that war between the rival Corn-

Fight ad Fbight. 103

of more than a thousand miles. By the
end of July they had gone over the dangerous
Fur traders' route and passing over four or
five hundred miles reached Fort William, near
Lake Superior. But their journey was not one-
half over. Along the base of the rugged shores
of Lake Superior, through the St. Mary's River,
down the foaming Sault and then along the
shores of Georgian Bay, they paddled their
way to Penetanguishene. From this point they
crossed southward to Holland Landing, which
is forty miles north of Toronto, and arrived
at their destination on the 5th of September.
It is hard to find a parallel for such a jour-
ney. They were a large body, made up of men,
women, and children, continuously journeying
for eighty-two days, through an unsettled and
barren country, running dangerous rapids, and
exposed to storms with a poorly organized com-
missariat, and under fear of pursuit by the
agents of Lord Selkirk, to whom many of them
were personally bound. In the township of
West Gwil]inbury, north of Toronto, near Lon-
don, and in the Talbot settlement, near St.
Thomas--all in Upper Canadamthey received
their ]ands. Half a century later, in one of
the townships north of Toronto, the writer had
pointed out to him a man named MacBeth
weighing two hundred and fifty pounds, of
whom it was humourously told that he had

104

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

been carried all the way from Red River. The
explanation of course was, that he had been
brought as an infant on this famous Hegira
of the Selkirk Colonists.
The finishing of Cameron's work on the Red
River, was handed over to Alexander Macdon-
ell. The plan was nothing less than that the
settlers remaining should be driven by force
from the banks of Red River. The party led
by Macdonell was made up of Bois-Bruls, un-
der dashing young Cuthbert Grant. On their
agile ponies they appeared like scouring Huns,
to drive out the discouraged remnant of
Colonists.
Each remaining settler was on the 25th of
June served with a notice sined by four Nor'-
We,ters, thus:
"All settlt, rs to retire immediately from Red
River, and no trace of a settlement to remain."
(Sioed) Cuthbert Grant, etc.
Two day. after the notice was served the be-
leaguered settl,rs, made up of some thirteen
familie.--in all from forty to sixty persons,
who had remained true to Lord Selkirk and
the Col,nymwent forth from their homes
as sadly as the Acadian refugees from
Grand PrS. They were allowed to take with
them such belongings as they had, and in boats
and other craft went pensively down Red
River with Lake Vinnipeg and Jack River

Fight ad Flight.

105

in view as their destination. The house of the
Governor, the mill, and the buildings which the
settlers had begun to build upon their lots were
all set on fire and destroyed.
The U. E. Loyalists of Upper Canada and
Nova Scotia draw upon our sympathies in their
sufferings of hunger and hardship, but they
afford no parallel to the discouragement, dan-
gers, and dismay of the Selkirk Colonists.
Alexander Macdonel]'s party of seventy or
eighty mounted men easily carried out this work
of destruction. There was one fly in the oint-
ment for them. The small Hudson's Bay
House built by Fid]er still remained. Here a
daring Celt, John McLeod, was in charge. See-
ing the temper of Macdone]l's levy McLeod
determined to fortify his rude castle. Beside
the trading house of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany stood the blacksmith's shop. Hurriedly
McLeod, with a cart, carried thither the three-
pounder cannon in his possession, then cut up
lengths of chain to be his shot and shell, used
with care his small supply of powder and with
three or four men, his only garrison, stood to
his gun and awaited the attack of the Bois-
Bruls. Being on horseback his assailants
could not long face his one piece of artillery.
It is not known to what extent the assailants
suffered in the skirmish, but John Warren, a
gentleman of the Hudson's Bay Company, was

CHAPTER VIII.

NO SURRENDER.

The crisis has come. The Colony seems to
be blotted out. The affair may appear small,
being nothing more than the defence of the
smithy, with one gun and the most primitive
contrivances, yet as 1Hercutio says of his
wound: " 'Tis not so deep as a well, nor so
wide as a church door; but it is enough."
The plucky McLeod, with three men held his
fort and though the dusky Bois-brul6s on their
prairie ponies for a time hovered about yet
they did not dare to approach the spiteful lit-
tle field piece. The Metis soon betook them-
selves westward to their own district of Qu'-
.ppelle.
The danger being over for the present, John
McLeod began to restore the Colony buildings
and even to aim at greater things than had been
before.
One of the most discourang things in con-
nection with the Selkirk Colony was the long
sea voyage and the difficult la.nd-ourney neces-
sary, not only to gain assistance, but even to
receive information from the founder in

CHAPTER VIII.

NO SURRENDER.

The crisis has come. The Colony seems to
be blotted out. The affair may appear small,
being nothing more than the defence of the
smithy, with one gun and the most primitive
contrivances, yet as Mercutio says of his
wound: " 'Tis not so deep as a well, nor so
wide as a church door; but it is enough."
The plucky McLeod, with three men held his
fort and though the dusky Bois-brul6s on their
prairie ponies for a time hovered about yet
they did not dare to approach the spiteful lit-
tle field piece. The Metis soon betook them-
selves westward to their own district of Qu'-
Appelle.
The danger being over for the present, John
McLeod began to restore the Colony buildings
and even to aim at greater things than had been
before.
One of the most discouraging things in con-
nection with the Se]kirk Colony was the long
sea voyage and the difficult land-journey neces-
sary, not only to gain assistance, but even to
receive information from the founder in

108

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

Britain for the guidance of the officers in Red
River settlement. This being the case McLeod
could not wait for orders and so as being tem-
porarily in charge of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany district at Red River, he planned a fort
and proceeded at once to build a portion of it.
Fortunately across the Red River in what is
now the town of St. Boniface, he found the
freemen who were willing to help him. He im-
mediately hired a number of these and began
work on the new fort.
Somewhat lower down the Red River than
the Colony gardens he selected a site on the
river banks, now partially fallen in, where
George Street at the present days ends. Here
McLeod began to erect a Governor's House,
having confidence that the founder would not
desert his Colony. Along with this important
project, expecting that the Colonists xvould
return, he turned his men upon the fields of
grain--small, but to them very precious. The
yield in this year was good. He also erected
new fences and cured for the settlers quanti-
ties of hay from the swamp lands.
McLeod states in his diary--of which a copy
of the original is in the Provincial Library in
Winnipeg--that Fort Douglas was on the south
side of Point Douglas, so called from Lord Sel-
kirk's family name, and which McLeod has
some claim to have so christened.

110

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

Wester emmissaries, the founder immediately
sought for a competent successor to Macdo-
nell, and determined to send out the best and
strongest party of settlers that had yet been
gathered.
He appointed, backed by all the influence of
the Hudson's Bay Company, a retired officer,
Captain Robert Semple. The new Governor
was of American origin, born in Philadelphia,
but had been in the British army. He was a
distinctly high-class man, though Masson's es-
timate is probably true--" A man not very con-
ciliatory, it is true, but intelligent, honorable
and a man of integrity." I-le was an author
of some note, but as it proved, too good or too
inexperienced a man for the lawless region to
which he was sent.
It would have been almost useless to de-
spatch a new Governor to the Red River set-
tlement unless there had also been obtained a
number of settlers to fill the place of those so
skillfully led away by Duncan Cameron. Lord
Selkirk now secured the best band of Emi-
grants attainable. These were from a rural
parish on the East Coast of Sutherlandshire in
Scotland. They were from Helmsdale and
from the parish of Kildonan and the noble
founder afterwards conferred this name on
their new parish on the banks of the Red
River. The names of Matheson, Bannerman,

No Surrender.

111

Sutherland, Polson, Gunn and the like show the
sturdy character of this band whose descen-
dents are taking their full part in the affairs
of the Province of Manitoba of to-day. Gov-
ernor Semple accompanied this party of about
one hundred settlers, and by way of the Hud-
son Bay route reached the Red River Settle-
ment in the same year in which they started.
They joined the restored settlers, whom Colin
Robertson had placed upon their lands again.
With Governor Semple's contingent came
James Sutherland, an elder of the Church of
Scotland, who was authorized to baptize and
marry. He was the first ordained man who
reached the Selkirk Colony. The influx of new
and old settlers to the Colony, and the imper-
fect preparations made for their shelter and
sustenance led to the whole Company betaking
itself for the winter to Pembina, where at Fort
Daer they might be within reach of the buffalo
herds. Governor Semple accompanied the set-
tlers to Pembina, though Alexander Macdonell
had charge for the winter. In October of
1815, as the settlers were preparing for their
winter quarters, the authorities of the Colony
thought it right to seize Fort Gibraltar, and to
retake the field pieces and other property of
the Colony, which the "Nor'-Westers" had
captured. This was done and Duncan Cameron
who had returned was also taken prisoner.

112 Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

114

Lord Selkirk'8 Colonists.

The new Governor, however, unaware of the
real state of matters in Rupert's Land and prob-
ably ignorant of the claim of Canada to the
West, and of the force of a customary occupa-
tion of the land, procured with high-handed
zeal a further reprisal. Before Colin Robert-
son had gone to conduct Cameron to York Fac-
tory the Governor and Robertson had discussed
the advisability of dismantling Fort Gibraltar.
To this course Robertson, knowing the irrita-
tion which this would cause to the Nor'-West-
ers strongly objected. For the time the pro-
posal was dropped, but when Robertson had
gone, then the Governor proceeded with  force
of thirty men to pull down Gibraltar, which was
done in a week. The stockade was taken down,
carried to the Red River and made into a
raft. Upon this was piled the material of the
buildings, and the whole was floated to the site
of Fort Douglas and used in erecting a new
structure and fully completing the Fort which
John McLeod had begun. The same aggressive
course was pursued under orders from the Gov-
ernor in regard to Pembina House which was
captured, its occupants sent as prisoners to
Fort Douglas, and its stores confiscated for the
use of the Colony. The spirit shown by Gov-
ernor Semple, it is suggested, had something of
the same treatment as that given to the Colon-
ists by the official classes in England against

No Surrender.

115

which Edmund Burke burst out with such ve-
hemence in his great orations.
Governor Semple's course would not satisfy
Colin Robertson nor would it have been ap-
proved by Lord Selkirk. The course was his
own and fully did he afterwards pay the price
for his aggressions.
The last acts of Governor Semple as the re-
port of them was carried westward and re-
peated over the camp fires of the Nor'-Westers
and their Bois-brulSs horsemen and voyageurs
caused the most violent excitement. The Metis
claimed a right in the soil from their Indian
mothers. The Indian title had never been ex-
tinguished and afterwards Lord Selkirk found
it necessary to make a treaty and satisfy the
Indian claim. The Nor'-Westers were also by
a good number of years the first occupants of
the Red River district. The Canadian discov-
ery of the West by French traders, the daring
occupation by Findlay, the Frobishers, Thomp-
son, and Sir Alexander Mackenzie all from
Montrea| even to the Arctic and Pacific Oceans,
seemed strong to Canadians as against the un-
defined and shadowy claim to the soil of Lord
Selkirk and his officers.
Certain signs of coming trouble might have
pressed themselves upon Governor Semple. He
had eyes but he saw not.
The Indians, it is true, with their reverence

116

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

for King George III., and showing their silver
medals with the old King's face upon them,
were disposed to take sides with the British
Company. This may have confirmed Semple
in the tyrannical course he had followed, but
had he studied the action of the free traders
it might have opened his eyes. Just as certain
animals of the prairie exposed to enemies have
an instinctive feeling of coming danger, so these
denizens of the plains felt the approach of trou-
ble, and with their wives and half-breed chil-
dren betook themselves--bag and baggage--to
the far Western plains where the buffalo runs,
and remained there to let the storm blow past,
to return to the "Forks" in more peaceful
times.
Lord Selkirk, Lady Selkirk, with his Lord-
ship's son and two daughers, were on the other
hand drawing nearer to the scene of conflict, as
they came to Montreal in the summer of 1815.
In the spring Lord Selkirk started westward
to see the vast estate which he possessed, but
alas! only to see it in the throes of division, of
excited passion and of bloody conflict, and to
face one of the greatest catastrophes of new
world Colonization.

CHAPTER IX.

SEVEN OAKS MASSACRE.

Semple's course is on trial. Self-assertion
and dictation bring their own penalty with
them. That so experienced a leader as Colin
Robertson, who had been in both Companies,
who knew the native element, and was ac-
quainted with the daring and recklessness of
the Nor'-Wester leaders, hesitated about de-
molishing Fort Gibraltar should have given
Governor Semple pause. Ignorance and inex-
perience sometimes give men rare courage. But
while Semple was self-confident he could not be

exonerated from
rashness.
Undoubtedly the

paying the price of his

Governor knew that the

"Nor'-Westers" after their aggressiveness dur-
ing the yea.r 1815 were planning an attack upon
Fort Douglas and upon the Colonists. Letters
intercepted by the Governor acquainted him
with the fact that an expedition was comin,
from Fort William in the East to fall upon the
devoted Colon)'; also a letter from Qu'Appelle
written by Cuthbert Grant, the young Bois-

118

Lord Selkirk's Coloists.

bruls leader, to John Dugald Cameron, stated
that the native horsemen were coming in the
spring from the Saskatchewan forts to join
those of Qu'Appelle, and says the writer, "It
is hoped we shall come off with flying colors,
and never to see any of them again in the Col-
onizing way in Red River."
The evidence in hand was clear enough to the
Governor. He expected the attack, and as a
soldier he took action from the military stand-
point in destroying the enemy's base in level-
ling their Fort Gibraltar. But on the other
hand there was no open war. The forms of law
were being followed by the Nor'-Westers, whose
officers were magistrates, and who held that by
the authorization of the British Parliament the
administration of justice in the Western Ter-
ritories was given over to Canada. The de-
cision afterwards given in the De Reinhard
case in Quebec seems against this theory, but
this was the popular opinion.
Thus it came about that among the Hudson's
Bay Company fur traders, who were somewhat
doubtful about Lord Selkirk's movement, and
certainly among all the "Nor'-Westers," who
included the French Canadian voyageur popula-
tion, Governor Semple's action was looked upon
as illegal and unjust in destroying Fort Gib-
raltar and appropriating its materials for build-
ing up the Colony HeadquartersuFort Douglas.

Seven Oaks Massacre.

119

As the spring opened the wildest rumours of
approaching conflict spread through the whole
fifteen hundred miles of country from Fort Wil-
liam on Lake Superior, to the Prairie Fort,
where Edmonton now stands on the North Sas-
katchewan. The excitement was especially high
in the Qu'Appelle district, some three hundred
miles west of Red River.
As the spring of 1815 opened, all eyes were
looking to the action of the "New Nation" on
the Qu'Appelle River as the Bois-bru](.s under
Cuthbert Grant called themselves. As the whole
of these events were afterwards investigated
by the law courts of Upper Canada, there is
substantial agreement about the facts. The
first violence of the season is described by
Lieutenant Pambrun, a most accurate writer.
He had served in the war of 1812 and gained
distinction. On entering the Hudson's Bay
Company service he was sent to Qu'Appelle
district. In order to supply food at Fort Doug-
las Pambrun started down the river to reach
the Fort by descendin the Assiniboine with
five boat loads of pemmican and furs. At a
landing place in the river Pambrun's convoy
was surrounded and his goods seized l)y Cuth-
bert Grant, Pambrun himself being kept for five
days as a prisoner. While in custody Pambrun
saw every evidence of war-like intentions on the
part of the half-breeds. Cuthbert Grant fre-

120

Lord Sclkirk's Colonists.

quently announced their determination to de-
stroy the Selkirk Settlement; in boastful lan-
guage it was declared that the Bois-bruISs
would bow to no authority in Rupert's Land;
in their gatherings they sang French war-songs
to keep up the spirit of their corps. There was
a ring of growing nationality in all their ut-
terances.
A start was made late in May for the scene
of action. Their prisoner Lieutenant Pambrun
was taken with them and the captured pemmi-
can was carried along as supplies for the
journey.
On the way an episode of some moment oc-
curred. On the river bank a band of Cree In-
dians was encamped.
Commander Macdonell addressed the redmen
through an interpreter to incite them to action.
A portion of his address was:
My Friends and Relations,--"I address you
bashfully, for I have not a pipe of tobacco to
give you.... The English have been spoiling
the fair lands which belonged to you and the
Bois-bruls and to which they have no right.
They have been driving away the buffalo. You
will soon be poor and miserable if the English
stay. But we will drive them away, if the Im
dian does not, for the "Nor'-West" Company
and the Bois-bruls are one. If you (turning,

Oaks Massacre.

121

to the chief) and some of your young men will
join I shall be glad."
But the taciturn Indian Chief coldly declined
the polite proposal. As the party passed Bran-
don House Pambrun saw in the North-West
Fort near by, tobacco, tools and furs, which had
been captured by the Nor'-Westers from the
Hudson's Bay Company fort. When Portage
la Prairie was reached--about sixty miles from
"The Forks "--the Bois-bruls calvalcade was
organized.
The half-breeds were mounted on their prairie
steeds and formed a company of sixty men un-
der command of Cuthbert Grant. Dressed in
their blue capotes and encircled by red sashes
the men of this irregular cavalry had an impos-
ing effect, especially as they were provided with
every variety of arms from muskets and pistols
down to bows and arrows. They were all ex-
pert riders and could equal in their feats on
horseback the fabled Centaurs.
Down the Portage road which is a prolonga-
tion of the great business street of Winnipeg
running to the West, they came. On the 19th
of June, 1816, they had arrived within four
miles of the Colony headquartersFort Doug-
las. Here at BoggT Creek, called also Cat-Fsh
Creek, a Council of War was held. Some im-
portance has been attached to their action at
this point, as showing their motive. That they

122

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

did not intend to attack Fort Douglas has been
maintained, else they would not have turned off
the Portage Road and have crossed the prairie
to the Northeast. There is nothing in this con-
tention. The plan of campaign was that the
Fort William expedition and they were to meet
at some point on the banks of Red River, before
they took further action. Showing how well
both parties had timed their movements, at this
very moment those coming from the East under
Trader Alexander McLeod, had reached a small
tributary of Red River some forty miles from
Fort Douglas. That they at present wished to
avoid Fort Douglas is certainly true. Governor
Semp]e and his garrison were on the look-out,
and the alarm being given, the party from the
forth. Was it to parley? or to

Fort sallied
fight?
The events

which followed are well told in
the evidence given by Mr. John Pritchard, who
afterwards acted as Lord Selkirk's secretary.
Mr. Pritchard was the grandfather of the pre-
sent Archbishop Matheson of Rupert's Land.
His evidence has been in almost every respect
corroborated by other eye-witnesses of this
bloody event:
"On the evening of the 19th of June, 1816,
I had been upstairs in my own room, in Fort
Douglas, and about six o'clock I heard the boy
at the watch house give the alarm that the

Seven Oaks Massacre.

123

Bois-bruls were coming. A few of us, among
whom was Governor Semple--there were per-
haps six altogether--looked through a spy-
glass, from a place that had been used as a
stable, and we distinctly saw armed persons go-
ing along the plains. Shortly after, I heard the
same boy call out, that the party on horse-
back were making to the settlers."
"About twenty of us, in obedience to the
Governor," who said, 'We must go and see
what these people are, ' took our arms. He could
only let about twenty go, at least he told about
twenty to follow him, to come with him; there
was, however, some confusion at the time, and
I believe a few more than twenty accompanied
us. Having proceeded about half a mile .to-
wards the settlement, we saw, behind a point
of wood which goes down to the river, that the
party increased very much. Mr. Semple, there-
fore, sent one of the people (Mr. Burke) to the
Fort for a piece of cannon and as many men as
Mr. Miles Macdonell could spare. Mr. Burke,
however, not returning soon, Governor Semple
said, 'Gentlemen, we had better go on, and
we accordingly proceeded. We had not gone
far before we saw the Bois-bruls returning to-
wards us, and they divided into two parties, and
surrounded

half-circle.

the settlers

us in the shape of a half-moon or
On our way, we met a number of
crying, and speaking in the Gaelic

Se,e Oaks Massacre. 125

language, which I do not understand, and they
went on to the Fort.
"The party on horseback had got pretty near
to us, so that we could discover that they were
painted and disguised in the most hideous man-
ner; upon this, as they were retreating, a
Frenchman named Boucher advanced, waving
his hand, riding up to us, and calling out in
broken English, "What do you want? What
do you want?' Governor Semple said. 'What
do you want?' Mr. Burke not coming on with
the cannon as soon as he was expected, the Gov-
ernor directed the party to proceed onwards;
we had not gone far before we saw the Bois-
bruls returning upon us.
"Upon observing that they were so numerous,
we had extended our line, and got more into the
open plain;as they advanced, we retreated; but
they divided themselves into two parties, and
surrounded us again in the shape of a half-
moon. ' '
"Boucher then came out of the ranks of his
party, and advanced towards us (he was on
horseback), calling out in broken English,
'Vhat do you want ? What do you want ?' Gov-
ernor Semple answered, 'What do you want?'
To which Boucher answered, 'We want our
Fort.' The Governor said, 'Well, go to your
Fort.' After that I did not hear anything that
passed, as they were close together. I saw the

126

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

Governor putting his hand on Boucher's gun.
Expecting an attack to be made instantly, I had
not been looking at Governor Semple and
Boucher for some time; but just then I hap-
pened to turn my head that way, and imme-
diately I heard a shot, and directly afterwards
a general firing. I turned round upon hearing
the shot, and saw Mr. Holte, one of our officers,
struggling as if he were shot. He was on the
ground. On their approach, as I have said, we
had extended our line on the plain, by each tak-
ing a place at a greater distance from the other.
This had been done by the Governor's orders,
and we each took such places as best suited our
individual safety.
"From not seeing the firing begin, I cannot
say from whom it first came; but immediately
upon hearing the first shot, I turned and saw
Lieut. Holte struggling." (Several persons
present at the affair, such as a blacksmith named
Heden, and McKay, a settler, distinctly state
that the first shot fired was from the Bois-
brulSs and that by it Lieut. Holte fell).
"As to our attacking our assailants, one of
our people, Bruin, I believe, did propose that
we should keep them off; and the Governor
turned round and asked who could be such a
rascal as to make such a proposition? and that
he should hear no word of that kind again. The
Governor was very much displeased indeed at

Seven Oaks Massacre.

127

the suggestion made. A fire was kept up for
several minutes after the first shot, and I saw
a number wounded; indeed, in a few minute
almost all our people were either killed or
wounded. I saw Sinclair and Bruin fall, either
wounded or killed; and a Mr. McLean, a little
in front defending himself, but by a second shot
I saw him fall.
"At this time I saw Captain Rodgers getting
up again, but not observing any of our people
standing, I called out to him, 'Rodgers, for
God's sake give yourself up! Give yourself up !'
Captain Rodgers ran toward them, calling out
in English and in broken French, that he sur-
rendered, and that he gave himself up, and pray-
ing them to save his life. Thomas McKay, a
Bois-bruls, shot him through the head, and an-
other Bois- brulSs dashed upon him with a knife,
using the most horrid imprecations to him. I
did not see the Governor fall. I saw his corpse
the next day at the Fort. When I saw Captain
Rodgers fall, I expected to share his fate. As
there was a French-Canadian among those who
surrounded me, who had just made an end of my
friend, I said, 'Lavigne, you are a Frenchman,
you are a man, you are a Christian. For God's
sake save my life! For God's sake try and save
it! I give myself up; I am your prisoner.' Mc-
Kay, who was among this party, and who knew
me, said, 'You little toad, what do you do here ?'

Seven Oaks Massacre.

129

rounded the Fort and have shot everyone
who left it; but being seen, their scheme had
been destroyed or frustrated. They were all
painted and disfigured so that I did not know
many. I should not have known that Cuthbert
Grant was there, though I knew him well, had
he not spoken to me."
"Grant told me that Governor Semple was
not mortally wounded by the shot he received,
but that his thigh was broken. He said that he
spoke to the Governor after he was wounded,
and had been asked by him to have him taken
to the Fort, and as he was not mortally wounded
he thought he might perhaps live. Grant said
he could not take him himself as he had some-
thing else to do, but that he would send some
person to convey him on whom he might depend,
and that he left him in charge of a French-Cana-
dian and went away; but that almost directly
after he had left him, an Indian, who, he said,
was the only rascal they had, came up and shot
him in the breast, and killed him on the spot.
"The Bois-bruls, who very seldom paint or
disguise themselves, wer.e on this occasion
painted as I have been accustomed to see the In-
dians at their war-dance; they were very much
painted, and disguised in a hideous manner.
They gave the war-whoop when they met Gov-
ernor Semple and his party; they made a hide-
ous noise and shouting. :[ kaow from Grant,

130

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

as well as from other Bois-brulSs, and other set-
tlers, that some of the Colonists had been taken
prisoners. Grant told me that they were taken
to weaken the Colony, and prevent its being
known that they were there--they having sup-
posed that they had passed the Fort un-
observed.
"Their intention clearly was to pass the Fort.
I saw no carts, though I heard they had carts
with them. I saw about five of .the settlers
prisoners in the camp at Frog Plain. Grant
said to me further: 'You see we have had but
one of our people killed, and how little quarter
we have given you. Now, if Fort Douglas is
not given up with all the public property instant-
ly and without resistance, man, women and child
will be put to death.' He said the attack would
be made upon it that night, and if a single shot
were fired, that would be a signal for the in-
discriminate destruction of every soul. I was
completely satisfied myself that the whole would
be destroyed, and I besought Grant, whom I
knew, to suggest or let them try and devise
some means to save the women and children.
I represented to him that they could have done
no harm to anybody, whatever he or his party
might think the men had. I entreated him to
take compassion on them. I reminded him that
they were his father's country-women and in his
deceased father's name, I begged him to take
pity and compassion on them and spare them.

Seven Oaks Massacre.

131

At last he said, if all the arms and public
property were given up, we should be allowed to
go away. After inducing the Bois-brulSs to al-
low me to go to Fort Douglas, I met our peo-
ple; they were long unwilling to give up,.but at
last our Mr. Macdonell, who was now in charge
consented. We went together to the Frog Plain,
and an inventory of the property was taken
when we had returned to the Fort. The Fort
was delivered over to Cuthbert Grant, who gave
receipts on each sheet of the inventory-signed
"Cuthbert Grant, acting for the North-Wet
Company." I remained at Fort Douglas till
the evening of the 22rid, when all proceeded
down the river--the settlers, a second time on
their journey into exile.
"The Colonists, it is true, had little now to
leave. They were generally mployed in agri-
cultural pursuits, in attending to their farms,
and the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company
in their ordinary avocations. They lived in
tents or in huts. In 1816 at Red River there was
but one residence, the Governor's which was
in Fort Douglas. The settlers had lived in
houses previous to 1815, but in that year these
had been burnt in the attack that had been made
upon them. The settlers were employed during
the day time on their land, and used to come up
to the Fort to sleep in some of the buildings in
the enclosure. All was now left behind. The

132

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

Bois-bruls victory being now complete, the mes-
senger was despatched Westward to tell the
news far and near."

CHAPTER X.

AFTERCLAPS.

The Seven Oaks affair was the most shocking
episode that ever occurred in North-Western
history. The standing of the victims, including
a Governor appointed by the Hudson's Bay
Company, his staff men of position, the unex-
pectedness of the collison, the suddenness of
the attack, the destruction of life, the cruelty
and injustice of the killing, and the barbarous
treatment of the bodies of the dead, by the Bois-
bruls war party, fill one with horror, and re-
mind one of scenes of butchery in dark Africa
or the isles of the South Sea.
This is the more remarkable when it is con-
sidered that so far as known in the whole two
hundred years and more of the career of the
Hudson's Bay and Nor'-Wester Companies not
so many officers and clerks of these two Com-
panies have altogether perished by violence as
in this unfortunate Seven Oaks disaster. No
sooner was the massacre over than the Bois-
bruls took possession of Fort Douglas and
were under the command meantime of Cuth-

134

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

bert Grant. There was the greatest hilarity
among the Metis. This bew Nation had been
vindicated. About forty-five men under arms
held possession of the Fort. The dead left up-
on the field were still exposed there days after
the fight and were torn to pieces by the wild
birds and beasts. The body of Governor Semple
was carried to the Fort.
Word was meanwhile sent to Alexander Mac-
donell the partner who had brought with
him the Qu'Appelle contingent and had waited
at Portage ]a Prairie while Cuthbert Grant
with his followers, chiefly disoised as Indians,
had gone on their bloody work. Macdonell on
receiving the news showed great satisfaction
He announced to those about him that Gov-
ernor Semple and five of his officers had been
killed; and becoming more enthusiastic shouted
with an oath in French that twenty-two of the
English were slain. His company shouted with
joy at his announcement. Macdonell then went
to Fort Douglas and took command of it. But
what had become of the Eastern Company
from Fort William? Of this a discharged non-
commissioned officer, Huerter, of one of the
mercenary re,aiments which had fought for
Britain against the Americans in the War of
1812 was with them, and ves a good account
of the journey. We need only deal with the
ending of the expedition. Coming from Lake

Afterclaps. 135

Vinnipeg they reached Nettly Creek two days
after the fight at Seven Oaks, expecting there
to get news from the Western levy and Alex-
ander Macdonell. But no news of that Com-
pany having reached them they started in boats
up the Red River to reach the rendezvous
agreed on at "Frog Plain," the spot where
Kildonan church stands to-day. From this
point they expected to meet with their Western
reinforcement, and to move upon Fort Doug-
las and capture it, as Governor Semple had
done with Fort Gibraltar. Their commander
Archibald Norman McLeod was the senior of-
ricer and would later take command.
They had on the 23rd of June gone but a
little way when they were surprised to meet
seven or eight boats laden with men, women
and children. These were the fraoznent of the
Colony which had refused to go with Duncan
Cameron down to Upper Canada. They had
been sheltered in the Fort during the time of
the fight and now were rudely driven away
from the settlement, according to the announce-
ment of Cuthbert Grant.
McLeod ordered the convoy of boats to stop
and the Colonists to disembark. Their boxes
and packages were opened, including the late
Governor Semple's trunks, and examined for
papers or letters which might give important
information to the captors. The Western levy

Afterclaps. 137

Leaving Fort Douglas McLeod with his of-
ricers and the Bois-bruls all mounted, made an
imposing procession up to the site of old Fort
Gibraltar. Here Peguis, now the chief of the
Saulteaux who had shown such kindness to the
settlers was camped, and to him and his follow-
ers McLeod showed his great displeasure. The
Indian always loved the British-man, whom on
the west coast he called, "King Shautshman,"
or King George's man.
The Indian is taciturn, unemotional, and cau-
tious. He knew that the Bois-brulSs had as-
sumed their garb and committed the outrage
of Seven Oaks, and therefore the tribe were un-
willing to be under the stia being thrown
upon them. When McLeod had failed in his
appeal, he laid many sins to their charge. They
had allowed the English to carry away Duncan
Cameron to Hudson Bay, they were a band of
dogs, and he would count them always as his
enemies if they should hold to their English
friends. Peguis, who was  master diplomat,
looked on with attention and held his peace.
It was now about a week from the time of
the massacre. Huerter, the discharged solider
spoken of, rode down with a party from the
Fort to the field of Seven Oaks. He saw a
.number of human bodies scattered on the plain,
and in most cases the flesh had been torn off
to he bone, evidently by dogs and wolves.

138

Lord Selk,irk ' s Colonists.

Far from discouraging the talkative half-
breeds, whose blood was up with the sights of
carnage, McLeod and his fellow-officers ex-
pressed their approbation of the deeds done,
and the Bois-brul4s became boisterous in detail-
ing their victories. The worst of the whole,
old Deschamps, a French-Canadian, who mur-
dered the disabled even when they cried for
quarter, drew forth as he detailed his valorous
actions to Alexander MacdonelI, the exclama-
tion, "What a fine, vigorous old man he is!"
On the evening of this Red-letter day of the
visit to the Indian encampment and to Seven
Oaks, a wild and heathenish orgy took place.
The Bois-bruls bedecked their naked bodies
with Indian trinkets and executed the dance of
victory, as had done their savage ancestors. The
effect of these dances is marvellous. By a con-
tagious shout they excite each other. They reach
a frenzy which communicates itself with hyp-
notic effect to the whole dancing circle. At
times men tear their hair, cut their flesh or
even mutilate their limbs for life. The "tom-
tom," or Indian drum, adds to the power of
monotonous rhythm and to the spirit of excite-
ment and frenzy.
To the partners McLeod and the others, how-
ever much in earnest the actors might be, it
afforded much amusement, and gave hope of a
strength and enthusiasm that would bind them
fast to the "Nor'-Wester" side.

140

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

the song of his race and helped to keep up the
love of fun among the French people of the
Red River. It was reminiscent of victory and
also a forecast of future influence and power.
Various versions of Pierre Falcon's song
have come down to us celebrating the victory of
Seven Oaks. We give a simple translation of
the bard's effusion:

PIERRE FALCON'S SONG.

Come listen to this song of truth!
A song of the brave Bois-bruls,
Who at Frog Plain took three captives,
Strangers come to rob our country.

When dismounting there to rest us,
A cry is raised--the English!
They are coming to attack us,
So we hasten forth to meet them.

I looked upon their army,
They are motionless and downcast;
So, as honor would incline us
We desire with them to parley.

But their leader, moved with anger,
Gives the word to fire upon us;
And imperiously repeats it,
Rushing on to this destruction.

Afterclaps.

141

Having seen us pass his stronghold,
He had thought to strike with terror
The Bois-bruls ; ah I mistaken,
Many of his soldiers perish.

But a few escaped the slaughter,
Rushing from the field of battle;
Oh, to see the English fleeing!
Oh, the shouts of their pursuers!

Who has sung this song of triumph ?
The good Pierre Falcon had composed it,
That the praise of these Bois-bruls
Might be evermore recorded.

CHAPTER XI.

THE SILVER CHIEF ARRIVES.

The scene changes to the home of the founder
of the Colony. The Earl of Selkirk is living
at his interesting seat--St. Mary's Isle, and
letter after letter arrives which has taken many
weeks on the road, coming down through track-
less prairie, across the middle and Eastern
States of America and reaching him via New
York. These letters continue to increase in
being more and more terrible until his island
home seems to be in a state of siege.
St. Mary's Isle lies at the mouth of the Dee
on Solwy Frith, opposite the town of Kirk-
cudbright. Here in 1778 Paul Jones, the so-
called pirate in the employ of the Revolution-
ary Government in America, had landed, in-
vested the dwelling with his men, and carried
away all the plate and jewels of the House
of Se]kirk. The Old Manor House of St.
Mary's Isle, with its very thick stone wall on
one side, evidently had been a keep or castle. It
was at one time given to the church and be-
cme a monastery, then it was enlarged and ira-

The Sil'er Chief Arri'cs.

143

proved to become the dwelling of the family
of the Douglasses, which it is to this day.
But now the far cry from Red River rever-
berated across the Atlantic. The startling suc-
cession of events of 1815 reached the Earl one
after another. It was late in the year when
he made up his mind, but taking his Countess,
his two daughters and his only son, Dunbar,
a mere boy, and crossing the ocean he heard,
on his arrival in New York, of the complete
destruction by flight and expulsion of the peo-
ple of his Colony. About the end of October
he reached Montreal, but winter was too near
to allow him to travel up the lakes and through
the wilds to Red River.
The winter in Montreal was long, but the at-
mosphere of opposition to Lord Selkirk in that
city, the home of the Nor'-Westers, was more
trying to him than the frost and snow. His
every movement was watched. Even the ave-
nues of Government power seemed by influen-
tial Nor'-Westers to be closed against him. An
appeal to Sir Gordon Drummond, the Governor-
General, could obtain no more than a promise
of a Sergeant and six men to protect him per-
sonally should he go to the far West, and the
appointment of himself as a Justice of the
Peace in Upper Canada and the Indian Terri-
tory was grudgingly given.
The active mind of his Lordship occupied the

144

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

time of winter well. He planned nothing less
than introducing to the banks of Red River a
body of men as settlers, who could, like the re-
turned exiles to Jerusalem, work with sword in
one hand and a tool of industry in the other.
The man of resource finds his material ready
made. Two mercenary regiments from Switzer-
land which had been fighting England's battles
in America had just been disbanded, and Lord
Selkirk at once engaged them to go as settlers,
under his pay, to Red River. From the com-
manding officer of the larger regiment these
have always been called the "De Meurons."
From these two regiments--one at Montreal
and the other at Kingston--he engaged an hun-
dred men, each provided with a musket, and
with rather more than that number of expert
voyageurs started in June 16th, 1816, for the
North-West. The route followed by him was up
Lake Ontario to Toronto, then across country
to Georgian Bay and through it to Ste. Sault
Marie. At Drummond Island, being the last
British garrison toward the West, he got from
the Indians news of the efforts of the Nor'West-
ers to involve them in the wars of the whites.
The Indians had, however, resisted all their
temptations. Lord Selkirk again overtook his
party and passed through the St. Mary's River
into Lake Superior.
Here a new grief awaited him.

The Silver Chief Arrives.

145

Two canoes coming from Fort William
brought him the sad news about Governor
Semple and his party being killed at Seven
Oaks, as it did also of the second expulsion of
the Colonists. Lord Selkirk had been intending
to go west to where Duluth now stands and then
overland to the Red River.
He now changed his plans and with true Scot-
tish pluck headed directly to Fort William.
Here assaults, arrests and imprisonments took
place. It "is needless for us to give the de-
tails of this unfortunate affair, except to say
that he seizure of the Fort brought much trou-
ble afterwards to the founder.
Moving some miles up the Kaministiquia
River Lord Selkirk made his military encamp-
ment, which bore the name of "Pointe De
Meuron. '
Plans were soon made for the spring attack
on Fort Douglas.
In March, steathily crossing the silent path-
ways for upwards of four hundred miles and
striking the led liver some where near the in-
ternational boundary line, the De Meurons came
northward and made a circuit towards Silver
Heights. There, having constructed ladders,
they next made a night attack on Fort Douglas,
and being trained soldiers easily captured it,
and restored it to its rightful owner, Lord
Selkirk.

146

Lord Sclkirk's Coloists.

On May day, 1817, Lord Selkirk, with his
body gard, left Fort William and following the
water-courses arrived at his own Fort in the
last week of June. Fort Douglas was the cen-
tre of his Colony, and there he was at once
the chief fiore of the picture.
None of the Se]kirk Settlers' descendants who
are living to-day saw him in Fort Douglas, but
a number who have passed away have told the
writer that they remembered him well. He was
tall in stature, thin and refined in appearance.
He had a benioaant face, his manner was easy
and polite. To the Indians he was especially
interesting. They caught the idea that being a
man of title he was in some way closely con-
nected with their Great Father the King. Be-
cau,e of his generosity to them in making a
treaty, they called him "The Silver Chief." He
was the source of their treaty money.
It ix said that some of the last party to reach
his Colony had seen him at Kildonan in Scot-
land, where he had visited them, and encouraged
them in their departure for the Colony.
His first duties were to the unfortunate set-
]ers, who had been brought back from Jack
River.
Lord Selkirk gathered the Colonists on the
spot where the church and burial ground of St.
Jo]m's are still found. "The Parish," said he,
"shall be Ki]donan. Here you shall build your

The Silver Chief Arrivcs.

147

church, and that lot," he said, pointing to
the lot across the little stream called Parsonage
Creek, "is for a school." Ite was thus planning
to carry out the devout imagination of the
greatest religious leader of his nation, John
Knox: "A church and a school for every
parish."
Perhaps the most interesting episode in Lord
Selkirk's visit was his treaty-making with the
Indians. The plan of securing a strip of land
on each side of the river was said to have been
decided to be as much as could be seen by look-
ing under the belly of a horse out upon the
prairie. This was about two miles. Hence the
river lots were generally about two miles long.
His meeting with the Indians was after the
manner of a great "Pow-wow." The Indians
are fluent and eloquent speakers, though they
indulge in endless repetitions.
P%o-uis, the Saulteaux chief, befriended the
white man from the beginning. He denounced
the Bois-brul6s. He said, "SVe do not acknowl-
edge these men as an independent tribe."
"L'Homme Noir," the Assiniboine chief,
among other things, said: "We have often been
told you were our enemy, but we hear from your
own mouth the words of a true friend. '
"Robe Noire," the Chippewa, tried in
lofty style to declare: "Clouds have over-

148

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

whelmed me. I was a long time in doubt and
difficulty, but now I begin to see clearly."
While Lord Selkirk was still in his Colony,
the very serious state of things on the banks
of Red River and the pressure of the British
Government led to the appointment, by the Gov-
ernor-Genera,1 of Canada, of a most clear-
minded and peace-loving man as Commissioner.
This appointment was all the more pleasing on
account of Mr. W. B. Coltman being a resident
Canadian of Quebec. Coltman was one man
among a thousand. He was patient and kind
and just. Though he had come to the Colony
prejudiced against Lord Selkirk, he found his
Lordship so fair and reasonable that he became
much attached to the man represented in Mon-
treal and the far East as a destructive ogre.
The Commissioner's report covered one hun-
dred pages, and it was in all respects a model.
He thoroughly understood the motives of both
parties, and his decisions led to a perfect era
of peace, and moreover in the end to the union
of the Hudson's Bay and Nor'-West Companies.
Lord Selkirk's coming was like a ray of sun-
shine to the Colonists, of Red River. Being
of an intensely religious disposition, the peo-
ple reminded him that the elder who came out
in 1815, who was able to baptize and marry, had
been carried away by main force by the Nor'-
Westers to Canada in 1818, so that they were

The Silver Chief Arrives.

149

without religious services. They always con-
tinued to have prayer meetings and to keep up
the pious customs of their fathers. This prac-
tise long survived among them. In repeating
clergyman, Lord Selkirk as-
"Selkirk never forfeited his

his promise of a
serted to them:
word. ' '
His work done

among his Colonists, he left
them never to see them again. He went south
from Fort Douglas to the United States, visited,
it is said, St. Louis, came to the Eastern States,
and rejoined in Montreal his Countess and chil-
dren who had in his absence lived in great
anxiety. One of his daughters, afterwards Lady
Isabella Hope, told the writer nearly thirty
years ago that she as a girl remembered seeing
Lord Selkirk as he returned from this long jour-
ney, coming around the Island into Montreal
Harbor paddled by French voyageurs in swift
canoes to his destination. His attention was
immediately given to law suits and actions
brought against him in the courts of Upper
Canada. These legal conflicts originated from
the troubles about the two centresmFort Doug-
las and Fort Williammwhere the collisions had
taken place. The influence of the Nor'-Westers
in Montreal was so great that the U. E. Loy-
alists of Upper Canada sympathised with them
against the noble philanthropist. Justice was
undoubtedly perverted in Upper Canada in the

150

Lord Selkirk's Coloists.

most shameless way. Weak in body at the best,
Lord Selkirk by his misfortunes, losses and
legal persecution began to fail in health. \Vith
the sense of having been unjustly defeated, and
anxious about his Colonists in Red River, he
returned with his family to Britain to his be-
loved St. Mary's Isle. He sought for justice
from the British Parliament, but could there
get no movement in his favor. A copy of a let-
ter to him from Sir Walter Scott, his old friend,
is in the hands of the writer, but Sir Wlter
was himself too ill at the time to lend him aid
in presenting his case before the British public.
Heart-broken, he gave up the struggle. With
the Countess and his family he went to the
South of France and died on April 8th, 1820,
at Pau, and his bones lie in the Protestant Ceme-
tery of Orthes.
He had not fought in vain. He had broken
down single-handed a system of organized ter-
rorism in the heart of North America, for the
Nor'-Westers never rose to strength again.
They united in a few years with the Hudson's
Bay Company. He established a Colony that
has thriven; he cherished a lofty vision; he
made mistakes in action, in judgment, and in a
too great ol,timism, but if we understand him
aright he bore an untainted nnd resolute soul.

The Silver Chief Arr,i's.

"Only those are crown'd and sainted
Who with grief have been acquainted
Making Nations nobler, freer."

"In their feverish exultations,
In their triumph and their yearning,
In their pasionate pulsations,
In their words among the nations
The Promethean fire is burning."

"But the glories so transcendent
That around their memories cluster,
And on all their steps attendant,
Make their darken'd lives resplendent
With such gleams of inward lustre."

151

CHAPTER XII.

SOLDIERS AND SWISS.

Many Canadian Settlements have had a mili-
tary origin. It was considered a wise, strategic
move in the game of national defence when
Colonel Butler and his Rangers, after the
Treaty of Paris, were settled along the lliagara
frontier, and when Captain Grass and other
United Empire Loyalists took.up their holdings
at Kingston and other points on the boundary
line along the St. Lawrence. The town of Perth
was the headquarters of a military settlement in
Central Canada. Traces of military occupation
can still be found in such Highland districts of
Canada as Pictou, Glengarry and Zorra, in
which last named township the enthusiastic
Celt in 1866 declared that perhaps the Fenians
would take Canada, but they could never take
Zorra. Numerous examples can be found all
through Canada where there is an aroma of
valor and patriotism surrounding the old army
officer or the families of the veterans of the
Napoleonic or Crimean wars.
The sett|emen of he De Meuron soldiers

Soldiers and Swiss.

153

opposite Fort Douglas gave some promise of a
military flavor to Selkirk Settlement. But as
we shall see it was an ill-advised attempt at
colonization. It was a mistake to settle some
hundred or more single men as these soldiers
were without a woman among them, as Lord
Selkirk was compelled to do. To these soldier-
colonists he gave lands along the small winding
river now called the Seine, which empties into
Red River opposite Point Douglas. Many of
the De Meurons spoke German, and hence for
several years the little stream on which they
lived was called German Creek. The writings
of the time are full of rather severe criticism
of these bello-agricultural settlers. Of course
no one expects an old soldier to be of much use
to a new country. He is usually a lazy settler.
His habits of life are formed in another mollld
from that of the farm. He is apt to despise the
hoe and the harrow and many even of the haft-
pay officers who came to hew out a home in the
Canadian forest, never learned to cut down a
tree or to hold a plough, though it may be ad-
mitted that they lived a useful life in their sons
and daughters, while the culture and decision of
character of the old officer or sturdy veteran
were an asset of great value to the locality in
which he settled.
But the De Meurons were not only bachelors,
but they came from the peasantry of Austria

154

Lord Nelkirk's Colonists.

and Italy, they had not fought for home and
.ountry, and their life of mercenary soldiering
lind made them selfish and deceitful. A writer
of the time speaks, and evidently with much
prejudice, against the De Meurons. "They
were," he says, a medley of almost all nations
--Germans, Fren'h, Italians, Swiss and others.
They were bad farmers and withal very bad
subjects; quarrelsome, slothful, famous bottle
companions and read)" for any enterprise how-
ever lawless and tyrannical." A few years
later we find it stated that they made free with
the cattle of their neighbors, and the chronicler
does not hesitate to say that the herds of the
De IIeurons grew in number in exactly the
same ratio as tlose of the Scottish settlers de-
creased.
Some four years after the settlement of the
De Meurons a sunburst came upon them quite
unexpectedly.
Lord elkirk in the very last ?-ears of his life
planned to bring a band of Protestant settlers
from Switzerland. A Colonel May, late of an-
other of the mercenary regiments, accepted the
duty of .a'oing to Switzerland, issuing a very
attra.tive invitation to settlers, and succeeded
in shipping a considerable number of Swiss
families to his so-called Red River paradise.
This band of Colonists, consisting as they did
of "watch and clock-makers, pastry cooks and

and ,'wiss.

155

musicians," were quite unfit for the rough work
of the Selkirk Colony. In 1821 they were
brought by way of Hudson Bay, over the same
rocky way as the earlier Colonists came. They.
were utterly poverty stricken, though honest,
and well-behaved. Their only possession of
value ws a. plenty of handsome daughters. The
Swiss families on arrival were placed under
tents nearby Fort Douglas. As soon as possible
many of the Swiss settlers were placed along-
side the De Neurons on German Creek. Good
Mr. West, who had just been sent out as chap-
lain by the Hudson's Bay Company, in place of
the minister of their own faith promised to the
Scottish settlers, did a great stroke of work in
marrying the young Swiss girls to the De Meu-
ron bachelors of German Creek. The descrip-
tion of the way in which the De Meurons in-
vited families having :oung women in them to
the wifeless cabins is ludicrous. A modern
"Sabine raid" was made upon the young
damsels, who were ctually carried away to the
De Meuron homesteads. The Swiss families
which had the misfortune to have no daughters
in them were left to languish in their comfort-
less tents. The afflictions of the earlier Selkirk
settlers were increased by the arrival of these
settlers. With the Selkirk settlers in their
first decade the first consideration was always
food. Till that question is settled no Colony

156

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

can advance. Prbbably the most alarming and
hopeless feature of their new colonial life was
the appearance of vast flights of locusts or
grasshoppers, which devoured every blade of
wheat and grass in the country. To those who
have never seen this plague it is inconceivable.
Some thirty-five years ago in Manitoba the
writer witnessed the utter devastation of the
country by these pests. Some thirteen years
before the coming of the first Colonists this
plague prevailed. About the end of July, 1818,
these riders of the air made their at-
tack. In this year the Selkirk Colonists
were greatly discouraged by the capture and
removal to Canada, by the Nor'-Westers, of
Mr. James Sutherland, their spiritual
guide. But their labors now seem likely to be
rewarded by a good harvest. The oats and
barley were in ear, when suddenly the invasion
came. The vast clouds of grasshoppers sailing
northward from the great Utah desert in the
United States, alighted late in the afternoon of
one day and in the morning fields of grain,
gardens with their promise, and every herb in
the Settlement were gone, and a waste like a
blasted hearth remained behind. The event was

more than a loss of their crops, it seemed a
heaven-struck blow upon their commumty, and

it is said they lifted up their eyes to heaven,
weeping and despairing. The sole return of

Soldiers ad 'wiss.

157

their labors for the season was a few ears of
half-ripened barley which the women saved and
carried home in their aprons. There was no
help for it but to retire to Pembina, although
there was less fear than formerly for as a
writer of the day says: "The settlers had now
become good hunters; they could kill the
buffalo; walk on snowshoes; had trains of dogs
trimmed with ribbons, bells and feathers, in
true Indian style; and in other respects were
making rapid steps in the arts of a savage life."
The complete loss of their crops left the set-
tlers even without the seed-wheat necessary to
sow their fields. The nearest point of supply
of this necessity was an agricultural settlement
in the State of Minnesota, upwards of five hun-
dred miles away. Here was a mighty task--to
undertake to cross the plains in winter and to
bring back in time for the seeding time in spring
the wheat which was necessary. But the High-
lander is not to be deterred by rocky crag or
dashing river, or heavy snow in his own land
and he was ready to face this and more in the
new worM. And so a daring party went off
on snowshoes, and taking three months for their
trip, reached the ]and of plenty and secured
some hundred bushels at the price of ten shil-
lings a bushel.
The question now was how to transport the
wheat through a trackless wilderness. Up the

158

Lord ,clkirk's Coloist,.

Mississippi River for hundreds of miles the flat
boats constructed for the purpose were pain-
fully propelled, and passing through the branch
known as the Minnesota River the Stony Lake
was reached. This lake is the source of the
Minnesota and Red rivers, and being at high
water in the spring it was possible to go
through the narrow lake from one river to the
other with the rough boats constructed. The
Red River was reached by the fearless adven-
turers who brought the "corn out of EoTpt."
They did not, however, reach the Red River
with their treasure till about the end of June,
1820, and while the wheat grew well it was sown
too late to ripen well, although it gave the set-
tlers grain enough to sow the fields of the com-
ing year. Tlis expedition cost Lord Se]kirk
upwards of a thousand pounds sterling. In the
followin.a" yer the grasshoppers aa'ain visited
the Red River fields, but by a sudden movement
whi'h, by some of the good Colonists was inter-
preted to be . direct interference of Providence
on their behalf, the swarms of intruders passed
away never to appear again in the Red River
for half a century.
The )resen,e of the grasshoppers upon the
Can.dian prairies is one of interest. It is
known that they appeared throughout the ter-
ritory of Red River a dozen years or so before
the coming of the Selkirk Colonists, also during

160

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

cannot be wondered at that such continuous
disasters made the settler whether Scottish,
De Meuron, or Swiss, extremely discontented.
During the period of the scourge, the only re-
source was to winter at Pembina in reasonable
distance from the buffalo-herds. In one of
these years a number of the Selkirk .Colonists
did not return to their farms but emigrated to
the United States. As we shall see in  few
years after the grasshopper scourge the flood
of the Red River took place, when the De
Meurons and Swiss, with one or two exceptions,
disappeared from the Colony and became citi-
zens of the United States.

CHAPTER XIII.

ENGLISH LION

AND CANADIAN
TOGETHER.

BEAR LIE

DOWN

That such violence and bloodshed as that
about Fort Douglas, should be seen by British
subjects under the flag which stands for justice
and equal rights made sober-minded Britons
blush. While Lord Selkirk's agents on the
banks of the Red River may have been ag-
gressive in pushing their rights, yet to the
Canadians was chargeable the greater part of
the bloodshed. This was but natural. To the
hunter, the trapper, and the frontiersman the
use of firearms is familiar. The fur trader pro-
tects himself thus from the bear and the pan-
ther. The hot blood of the Metis as he careered
over the prairie on his steed boiled up at the
least provocation.
But the disheartening law suits through
which Lord Selkirk passed in Sandwich, To-
ronto, and Montreal, reflected more dishonor on
the Canadians than did even the bloody vio-
lence of the Bois-Bruls. The chicanery em-
ployed by the Canadian courts, the procuring

1(i2

Lord ,''clkirk's Colonists.

of special legislation to adal)t the law to Lord
Selkirk's case, and the invocation of the highest
social and even clerical influence in Upper
Canada for the purpose of injuring his Lord-
ship will ever remain a blot on earlier Cana-
dian jurisprudence. Fortunately the rights of
man, whether native or foreigner, are now bet-
ter understood and more fully protected in
Canada than they were in the second decade of
the nineteenth century. Col. Coltman's report,
as already stated, was a model of truthfulness,
fair play and freedom from prejudice, and
Coltman was a Canadian appointee.
So grave, however, were the rumours of these
events happening on the plains of Rupert's
Land, as they reached Britain that the House
of Commons named a committee to enquire into
the troubles. This committee sat in 1819, and
the result is a blue-book of considerable size
which exposes the injustice most fully. The
violence and bloodshed which the fur traders
now heard of far and near paralyzed the fur
trade carried on by both fur companies, and
brought the financial affairs of both companies
to the verge of destruction. Two startling
events of the next year produced a great shock.
These were sudden and untimely deaths of the
two great opponent--Lord Selkirk at an early
age in France, and Sir Alexander Mackenzie,
at his estate in Scotland, he having been seized

Et,glisl, Lion atd Catt(dian Bcar.

163

with sudden illness on his way from London.
The two men died within a month of one an-
other in tle sprin," of 1820. Their pass-
ing wy was surely impressive. It seemed
like an offering to the god of peace in order
that the vast region with its scttered and
thunderstruck inhabitants from Lake Superior
to the Pacific Ocean might be saved from the
horrors of . cruel war of brother against
brother, and a war which might involve even
the cautious but hot-blooded Indian tribes.
Though the two parties were made up of
daring and head-strong men, yet adversity is a
hard but effective teacher.
The Hudson's Bay Company was represented
by Andrew Colville, a warm friend of the house
of Selkirk, the opponents by Edward Ellice, a
Nor'-Wester. It seemed, indeed, the very
irony of fate that Ellice should be a negotiator
for peace. He and his sons the writer heard
spoken of by the late Earl of Selkirkthe son
of the founder--as the bear and cubs. On the
other hand the burly directors of the Hudson's
Bay Company possessed with all the confidence
of the British Lion, and with their motto of
"Skin for skin" were only brought to a state
of peace by the loss of dividends. Much cor-
respondence pased between the o'lce of
Leadenhall Street and Suffolk I,ane in London,
which the two companies occupied, but articles

164

Lord Sclkirk's Coloists.

of agreement were not sufficient
union.
All such coalitions to be successful
circle around a single man.
This man was a young Scottish
had spent a year only in the far

to make a

must

clerk, who
Athabasca
district. He had not depended on birth or
influence for his advancement, was not yet
wholly immersed in the traditions or preju-
dices of either company, and had consequent-
ly nothing to unlearn. Montreal became the
Canadian headquarters of the company, but
now the annual meeting of the traders where
he as Governor presided, was held at Norway
House. The offices in London were united, and
thus the affairs of the fur trade were provided
for and outward peace at least was guaranteed.
We are, however, chiefly dealing with the affairs
of Assiniboia as Lord Selkirk called it, or with
what was more commonly called Red River
Settlement. This belonged to Lord Selkirk's
heirs. The executors were, of course, Hudson's
Bay Company grandees. They were Sir James
Montgomery, Mr. Halkett, Andrew Colville,
and his brother the Solicitor-General of Scot-
land. When the news came of the death of
Lord Selkirk, the mishaps and disturbances of
the Colony had been so many, that Hudson's
Bay Company, Nor'-Westers, Settlers, and
Freemen all said, "That will end the Colony

English Lion and Canadian Bear.

165

now!" To the surprise of everyone the first
message from the executors was one of courage,
and the announcement was made that their first

SEVEN OAKS MONUMENT
On Kildonan Road near Winnipeg.

aim would be to send six hundred new settlers
to the banks of Red River.
The angry passions which had been roused

166

Lord ,elkirk' Coloists.

led the El;sh directors to take the very wise
step of ,eld;ng olt two representtives--one
from each of the old companies to rearran0,'e
all matters and settle all disputes. The two
delegates were Nicholas Garry, the Vice-
Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, and
Simn McGillivray, who bore one of the most
influential names of the Nor'-Wester traders.
They were not, however, equally well liked.
Garry was a courteous, fair, and kindly gentle-
man. He won golden opinions among officers
and settlers alike. McGillivray was suspicious
and selfish, so the records of the time state.
They came to the Red River in 121, and Garry
entered particularly into the arrangement of
the Forts a.t the Forks. The old Fort Douglas
was retained as Colony Fort, and the small
Hudson's Bay Company trading house as well
a.s Fort Gibraltar were absorbed into the new
fort which was erected on the banks of the
Asiniboine between Main Street and the bank
of the Red River. All the letters and documents
of the time speak of Governor Garry's visits
as carrying a gleam of sunshine wherever he
went and it was appropriate that the new fort
built in the following )'ear should bear the name
Fort Garry. This wa the wooden fort, which
still remained in exi.tence though superseded
as a fort in 1850.
At the time of Governor Garry's visit the

Eglis] Lio ad ;aadia, B('ar.

167

population of the settlement may be considered
to have been about five hundred. These were
made up of somewhat less than two hundred
Selkirk Colonists, about one hundred ...De
Meurons, a considerable number of French
Voyageurs and Freemen, Swiss Colonists per-
haps eighty, and the remainder Orkney, em-
ployees of the Hudson's Bay Company. The
Colony was, however, beginning to organize
itself. The accounts of the French settlers are
very vague, an occasional name flitting across
the page of history. One family still found on
Red River banks, gains celebrity as possessing
tlm fir,t white woman who came to Rupert's
Land. With her husband she had gone to Ed-
monton in , and had wandered over the
prairies. In 181]., with her husband, she first saw
the Forks of Red River and wintered in 1811-12
at Pembin, the winter which the first band of
(,olonists spent at York Factory. Lajimoniere
became a fast adherent of Lord Selkirk, and
made a famous and most dangerous winter
journey through the wilds alone, carrying let-
ters from Red River to Montreal, delivered
them personally to Lord Selkirk in 1815.
The Lajimonieres received with great delight
in 181, the first Roman Catholic missionaries
who reached Red River. These were sent
through Lord Selkirk's influence, and the large
gift of land known as the Seigniory lying east

168

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

of St. Boniface was the reward given to the
early pioneer missionariesDProvencher and
Dumoulin, men of great stature and manly bear-
ing. In the year of their arrival James Suth-
erland, the Presbyterian chaplain of the Sel-
kirk Colonists, was taken by the Nor'-Westers
to Upper Canada, whither his son, Haman
Sutherland, had gone in 1815 with Duncan
Cameron. The Earl of Selkirk had promised
to send to his Scottish Colonists a minister of
their own faith. On his death in France his
agent in London was Mr. John Pritchard.
Seventeen days after the death of Lord Selkirk,
Rev. John West was appointed to come as
chaplain to the Colonists and the other Protest-
ants of Red River. Pritchard arrived by Hud-
son's Bay ship at York Factory 15 Aug., 1820,
having Mr. West in company with him.
And now Colville wrote to Alexander Mac-
donell, the Governor of the Settlement: "Mr.
West goes out and takes with him persons ac-
quainted with making bricks and pottery."
Macdonell was a Roman Catholic, but Colville
wrote: "I trust also that by your example and
advice you will encourage all the Protestants,
Presbyterians as well as others to attend di-
vine service as performed by Mr. West. He
will also open schools." As to Mr. West's sup-
port a curiosity occurs in one of Mr. West's
letters written in the following year from York

English Lion and Canadian Bear.

169

Factory. He speaks of an agreement between
Lord Selkirk and the Selkirk Settlers.
"That the Settlers will use their endeavours
for the benefit and support of the clergyman
and shall be chargeable therewith as follows
(that is to say): each settler shall employ him-
self, his servants, his horses, cattle, carts, car-
riages and other things necessary to the pur-
pose on every day and at every place to be
appointed by the clergyman to whom, or whose
flock he shall belong, not exceeding at and
after the rate of three days in the spring and
three days in the autumn of each year."
This is a gem of ecclesiasticism.
Mr. West says: "I find that it is impracti-
cable to carry the same into effect. This is at-
tributable to the distance of most of the settlers
and the reluctance of the Scotch Settlers."
Mr. West had made mention of this to
Governor Garry.

CHAPTER XIV.

SATRAP IULE.

"Woe to the Nation," says a high authority,
"whose King is a child," but far worse than
even having a child-ruler is the fate o
a Kingdom or Principality whose ruler is a hire-
ling. The Roman Empire was ruled in the dif-
ferent provinces by selfish and dishonest adven-
turers, who tyrannized over the people, farmed
out the revenues, bribed their favorites and de-
frauded their masters. Turkish Government or
Persian Rule is to-day an organized system of
and oppression by unscrupulous

Lord Selkirk's two governors, Miles

extortion
Satraps.
Macdonell

and Robert Semple, had been re-
moved, the former by capture, the latter by
death. Alexander Macdonell in 1816 became
acting governor and was confirmed in office
for five or six years afterward. In his re-
gime the Grasshoppers came and did their de-
structive work, but the French.people nick-
named him "Governor Sauterelle," Grasshop-
per Governor, for, says the historian of this de-
cade he was so called, "because he proved as

Sab'ap Rle.

171

great a destroyer within doors as the grass-
hoppers in the fields."
Lord Selkirk had been a most generous and
sympathetic founder to his Scottish Colony.
He was not only proprietor of the whole Red
River Valley, but he felt himself responsible for
the support and comfort of his Colonists. He
had to begin with supplying food, clothing, im-
plements, arms and ammunition to his settler.
He had erected buildings for shelter and a store
house and fort for the protection of them and
their 'o,ds. He had supplied, in a Colony shop,
provisions ,nd all requisites to be purchased by
his settlers and on account of their poverty to
be charged to their individual accounts.
Geore Simpson, who wa. the new Governor
of the United Hudson's Bay Company, was for
two years Macdonell's contemporary, and he in
one of his letters says: "Macdonell is, I am
concerned to say, extremely unpopular, despised
and held in contempt by every person connected
with the place, he is accused of partiality, dis-
honesty, untruth and drunkenness,in short,
by a disrespect of every moral and elevated
feeling."
Alexander los. says of him, "The officials he
kept about him resembled the court of an East-
ern Nabob, with its warriors, serfs, and var]et:,
and the names they bore were hardly less pom-
pous, for here were secretaries, assistant secre-

172

Lord Selkirk's Coloists.

taries, accountants, orderlies, grooms, cooks and
butlers."
Satrap Macdonell held high revels in his time.
"From the time the puncheons of rum reached
the colony in the fall, till they were all drunk
dry, nothing was to be seen or heard about
Fort Douglas but balling, dancing, rioting and
drunkenness in the barbarous sport of those dis-
orderly times." Macdonell's method of reck-
oning accounts was unique. "In place of hav-
ing recourse to the tedious process of pen and
ink the heel of a bottle was filled with wheat and
set on the cask. This contrivance was called
the "hour glass," and for every flagon drawn
off, a grain of wheat was taken out of the hour
glass, and put aside till the bouse was over."
As was to be expected this disgraceful state
of things leel to grave frauds in the dealings
with the Colonists, and when Halkett, one of
Lord Selkirk's executors, arrived on Red River
to investigate the complaints, a thorough sys-
tem of' 'false entries, erroneous statements and
over-charges" was found, and the discontent of
the settlers was removed, though they were all
heavily in debt to the Estate.
It had been the object of Lord Selkirk from
the beginning of his enterprise to give employ-
ment to his needy Colonists. Various enter-
prises were begun with this end in view, but
they were all mere bubbles which soon burst.

176 Lord Selkirk's Colo,ists.

the Selkirk settlers demanded it, but as in
hundreds of other enterprises undertaken by
British capitalists on the AmeriCan continent,
the choice of men foreign to the country and
its conditions, the lack of conscience and
economy on the part of the agents sent out, the
dissension and jealousy aroused by every such
attempt, as well as the absence of the means of
transport by land and sea through the methods
supplied by science to-day, resulted in a series
of dismal failures, which placed an undeserved
stigma upon the character of the soil, climate,
and resources of Assiniboia. It took more
than fifty years of subsequent effort to re-
move this impression.
These experiences took place under those
overnors who succeeded Alexander Macdonel]
--the Grasshopper Governor. The first of
them was Captain Bulger, an unfortunate mar-
tinet, though a man of good conscience and
high ideals. He had a most uncompromising
manner. He quarreled with the Hudson's Bay
Company officer at Fort Garry on the one hand,
and with old Indian Chief Peo-us on the other.
A whole crop of uggestions made by the Cap-
tain on the improvement of the Colony remain
in his "Red River Papers." Bulgers succes-
sor was Governor Pelly, a relative of the cele-
brated Governor of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany. The new Governor lacked nerve and de-

Satrap Rule.

177

cision, and was quite unfitted for his position.
His method of dealing with an Indian mur-
derer was long repeated on Red River as a
subject for humor, when he instructed the in-
terpreter to announce to the criminal: "that
he had manifested a disposition subversive of
all order, and if he should not be punished in
this world, he would be sure to be punished
in the next." The hopelessness of carrying on
the affairs of the Colony apart from those of
the general affairs of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany, was now seen, and on the suggestion
of Governor Simpson, the management was
placed in the hands of governors immediately
responsible to the company. This change led
to the appointment as Governor of Donald Mc-
Kenzie. This old trader had taken part in the
formation of the Astor Fur Company, and was
in charge of one of the famous parties, which
in 1811 crossed the continent, as described by
Washington Irving. Ross Cox says of this be-
leaguered party: "Their concave cheeks, pro-
tuberant bones, and tattered garments indi-
cated the dreadful extent of their privations.
The old trader thus case-hardened faced brave-
ly for eight years the worries of the Colony.

CHAPTER XV.

AND THE FLOOD CAME.

Vith fire and flood some of the greatest catas-
trophies of the world have been closely con-
nected. The tradition of the Noachian deluge
has been found among almost all peoples. Hor-
ace speaks of the mild little Tiber becoming so
unruly that the fishes swam among the tops of
the trees upon its banks. Tidal waves devastated
the shores of England and France on several oc-
ca.sin,. It is most natural that prairie rivers
should exceed their banks and spread over wide
areas of the land. Old Trader Nolin, one of the
first on the prairies, stats that a worse flood
than bat een by the Selkirk Settlers took place
fifty years before, and there were two other
floods between these two. Each year, accord-
ing to the tale of the old settlers, the rivers of
the prairies have been becoming wider by de-
nudation, so that each flood tends to be less.
Several conditions seem to be necessary for a
flood upon these prairie rivers. These are a
very heavy snowfall during the prairie winter,
a late spring in which the river ice retains its

A,d the Flood Cae.

179

hold, and a sudden period in the springtime
of very hot weather, these being modified as
the years go on by the ever-widening river
channel.
The winter of 1825-6 was one of the most
terrific ever known in the history of the Sel-
kirk Settlement. Just before Christmas the
first woe occurred. The snow drove the herds
of buffaloes far out upon the prairies from the
river encampments and the wooded shelter.
The horses in bands were scattered and lost,
dying as they floundered in the deep snows.
Even the hunters were cut off from one
another, the hunters' families were driven
hither and thither, and in many cases separated
on the wide snowy plains. Sheriff Ross, who
wa a visitor from the Settlement to Pembina
in the dreary winter there, describes the scene
of horror. "Families here and families there
despairing of life, huddled themselves together
for warmth, and in too many cases, their shelter
proved their grave. At first, the heat of their
bodies melted the snow; they became wet, and
being without food or fuel, the cold soon pene-
trated, and in several instances froze the whole
into a body of solid ice. Some again, were
found in a state of wild delirium, frantic, mad;
while others were picked up, one here, and one
there, overcome in their fruitless attempts to
reach Pembina--some ha|f-way, some more,

180 Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

some less; one woman was found with an in-
fant on her back, within a quarter of a mile of
Pembina. This poor creature must have tra-
velled, at least, one hundred and twenty-five
miles, in three days and nights, till she sunk at
last in the too unequal struggle for life." Such
scenes might be expected in the valleys of the
Highlands of Scotland, or amid the heavy
snows of New Brunswick or Quebec, but they
were a surprise upon the open prairie. Some
of the settlers had devoured their dogs, raw
hides, leather and their very shoes. The loss
of thirty-three lives cast a gloom over the whole
settlement.
Anxiety had been aroused throughout the
whole Colony. The St. Lawrence often over-
flows its banks at Montreal, the Grand River
at Brantford and the Fraser at its delta, but
the rarity of the Red River overflows led
the people, after their winter disaster, to hope
that they would escape a flood.
This was not to be.
As the Red River flows northward, the first
thaw of spring is usually south of the Ameri-
can International Boundary line at the head
waters of the river which divides Minnesota
and Dakota. In these States the floods are al-
way., in consequence, greater than they are in
Manitoba. In this year the ice held very firm
up to the end of April. On the second of May,

Ad the Flood Came.

181

the waters from above rose and lifted the ice
which still held in a mass together some nine
feet above the level of the day before. Indians
and whites alike were alarmed. The water
overflowed its banks, and still continued to rise
at Fort Garry. The Governor and his famliy
were driven to the upper story of their resi-
dence in the fort, with the water ten feet deep

below that.
The whole
of confusion

river bank for mites was a scene
and terror. Every home was an
alarming scene as the flood reached it. The
first thought was to save life. Amid the cry-
ing of children, the lowing of cattle and the
howling of dogs, parents sought out all their
children to see them safely removed. Parents
and grown men and women fled in fright from
their houses, and in many cases without any
other garments than their working clothes.
The only hope was to seek out somewhat higher
spots more and more removed from the river.
And with them went their cattle and horses.
To those in boats---the stronger and more
venturesome men--the task now came of re-
moving the wheat and oats, what little furni-
ture they possessed and the necessary cooking
utensils.
Blessed, on such occasions, are those who
possess little for they shall have no loss.
As

the waters rose, the lake became wider,

182

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

and the wind blew the waves to a dangerous
height. The ice broke up and the current in-
creasing dashed this against the buildings,
which at length gave way and all went floating
down across the points--ice, log houses with
dogs and cats frantic on their roofs. One eye-
witness says: "The most singular spectacle
was a house in flames, drifting along in the
night, its one half immersed in water and the
remainder furiously burning."
As the flood of waters widened into a great
expanse it became plain that it would be some
time,--if indeed less than several months,--be-
fore the waters would begin to abate, and in
the absence of an Ararat on which to rest, the
setters occupied the rock-bared elevations,
the highest Stony Mount, only eighty feet above
the level, with the middle bluff, little Stony
Mountain and Bird's Hill, east of the river. It
is interesting to know that Silver Heights and
the banks of the Sturgeon Creek near its
mouth, were not submerged and at their var-
ious points the Colonists pitched their tents
and sojourned.
In seventeen days from the first rise, the wa-
ter reached its height, and hope began immedi-
ately to return. On the 22nd of May the wa-
ters commenced to assuage, and twenty days
fterward tle Settlers were able with diffi-
culty to reach their homes again.

And the Flood Came.

183

:But every disaster has its side of advantage.
During the escape of the Settlers to the heights,
the De Meurons, losing all sense of restraint,
stole the cattle of the Settlers and actually sold
them meat from their own slaughtered cattle.
So intense was the feeling of the Scottish Set-
tlers against the De Meurons that the Selkirk
Colonists chose another situation and moved
to it
Now that the flood was over, the De Meurons
and Swiss became more restless than ever. They
decided to move to the United States. The
Se]kirk Colonists were glad to see them go, and
furnished them, free of cost, sufficient supplies
for their journey. They departed on the 24th
of June, their band numbering 243, and the
sturdy pioneers who held to their land shed no
tears of sorrow at their going.
With remarkable courage and hope the Set-
tlers returned after what was to some of them,
their fourth Hegira, and immediately planted
potatoes and small quantities of wheat and
barley. This grew well and supplied food for
them, and in the next two or three years no
less than two hundred and four houses were
built. The Settlement, now freed from dissen-
sion, had not gone t]/rough its fiery ordeal in
vain. The news of a home for themselves and
their dusky wives and half-breed children, had
spread over the whole of Rupert's Land, and

184

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

now began, what Lieutenant-Governor Archi-
bald, the first Governor of Manitoba, after-
ward spoke of as the floating down the rivers
with their wives and children of the Hudson's
Bay Company officers and men to the paradise
of Red River. The great majority of the em-
ployees of the Company were Orkneymen.
They gradually took up the most of the Red
River lots surveyed, lying below Kildonan, and
forming the Parishes of St. Paul's and St. An-
drew's on Red River, down to St. Peter's In-
dian Reserve and St. James' and Headingly up
the Assiniboine. The French half-breeds who
removed from Pembina and different parts of
Rupert's Land, made the great French par-
ishes of St. Boniface, St. Norbert, St. Vital on
the Red River, with St. Charles, St. Francois
Xavier and Baie St. Paul on the Assiniboine.
And now of Scottish Settlers with French and
English half-breeds, the population of Red
River Settlement had reached the number of
1,500 souls.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE JOLLY GOVERIOR.

Great crises in the world's history generally
produce the men who solve them. Cromwell,
Washington, Garibaldi--each of them was the
movement itself. . wider philosophy may see
that the age or the Community evolves the man,
but as Carlyle shows, it is the man who reacts
upon the community, becomes the embodiment
of its ideal, and is the mouthpiece and the
right hand of the age which prod:e him.
That Andrew Colville, a brother-in-law of
Lord Selkirk, should select a young clerk in
London and send him out to Athabasca to .ee
the great fur-re.zion of the Mackenzie River
District, is not a wonderful thing, but that f-
ter one year of active service this young man
should be chosen to guide the destinies of the
great united fur company, made up of the
Hudson's Bay and Nor'-Wester Companies is
a wonder.
This was the case with George Simpson, a
Scottish youth, who was the illetimate son of
the maternal uncle of Thomas Simpson, the

The Jolly Governor.

187

opinions, was held at Norway House, the old
resting place of the Selkirk Settlers. This
meeting took place in June, 1823; the minutes
of this meeting have been preserved and are
Such items as, that Bow River

interesting.
Fort at the
abandoned;

foot of the Rocky Mountains was]
that because of prairie fires the

buffaloes were far beyond Pembina; that the
Assiniboine Indians had moved to the Saskat-
chewan for food; that trouble with the French
traders had arisen on account of their deter-
mination to trade in furs; that the French half-
breeds had largely moved from Pembina to St.
Boniface; that the trade should be withdrawn
from beyond the American Boundary line; that
the Sioux Indians should be discouraged from
coming to the Forts to trade;and that the com-
pany intended to take over the Colony from
Lord Selkirk's trustees, all came up for con-
sideration.
These were all important and difficult prob-
lems, but the young Governor acted with such
shrewdness and skill, that he completely car-
ried the Council with him, and was given power
to act for the Council during the intervals be-
tween its meetings--a thing most unusual.
The Governor was ubiquitous.
Now at Moose Factory, then at York; now at
Norway House, but every year at Red River,
the Governor saw for himself the needs of the

The Jolly Go'cror.

crossing the Lake of the Woods, so infuriated
with his master's urging that he seized the tor-
mentor who was small in stature, by the shoul-
ders, and with a plentiful use of "sacrs," dip-
ped him into the lake, and then replaced him in
the bottom of the canoe.
It does not fall within the scope of our story
to tell of Simpson's journeys through Rupert's
Land, nor of his famous voyage around the
world, but there is extant an account of his
methods of appealing to the interest of the In-
dians and servants of the company in his no-
table progresses through the wilds. Some
seven years after his appointment Governor
Simpson made a voyage from Hudson Bay,
across country to the Pacific Ocean, namely,
from York Factory to Fort Vancouver on the
Columbia River. Fourteen chief officers, factors
and traders, and as many more clerks had gath-
ered to see the chieftain depart. Taking with
him a lieutenant--Macdonald, a doctor and two
canoe crews, of nine men each, the jolly Gov-
ernor with dashing speed ascended the Hayes
River, up which the Selkirk Colonists had la-
boriously come, receiving as he ]eft the Fac-
tory, loud cheers from all the people gathered,
and a salute of seven guns from the garrison.
The French-Canadian voyageurs struck up
their boating songs with glee, and with dash-
ing paddles left the bay behind.

192

Lord Sclkirk's Colonists.

River Settlement, of whom we speak mor ful-
ly in a later chapter. This double authorship
became decidedly inconvenient to Sir George
on the celebrated occasion when he was cited
in 1857 to give evidence before the Committee
of the House of Commons as to Rupert's Land.
Sir George's experience in introducing farm-
ing into Red River Settlement had been so
troublesome, and expensive as well, that he
really believed agriculture would be a failure
in the West, and so he gave his evidence. Un-
fortunately for him his editor had indulged in
his book, in a pictorial and fulsome description
of the Rainy River, as an agricultural re.on.
Mr. Roebuck quoted this passage and Sir
George was in a serious dilemma. If he ad-
mitted it his evidence would seem untrue, if !e
denied it then he must deny his authorship. He
admitted that the book was somewhat too fla.
tering in its description.
But, take him all in all, Sir George really
stood for his duty and his people. He lifted the
fur trade out of a slough of despond, he was
kind and charitable to the people of the Red
River Settlement, he was a good administrator
and a patriot Briton, and though as his book
tells and local tradition confirms it, he could
not escape from what is called "the w_tc]ery
of a pretty face," yet he rose to the position on
the whole as a man who sought for the higher

The Oligarchy.

195

Gradually the rulership was coming under
the direction of Governor Simpson, though
there was the local Governor who was homo

inally independent.
Even when Governor
it is to be remembered

Simpson was invoked,
that he and his corn-

pany were the embodiment of privilege. But
the Governor was a surprisingly shrewd man.
He saw the aspiration after freedom, of both
Scottish and French Settlers. True, gaunt pov-
erty did not stalk along the banks of Red Rix-er
as it had done in the first ten years of the Col-
ony, but just because the people were 1)ecoln
ing better housed, better clad, and better fed,
were they becoming more independent. The
unwillingness to be controlled was showing it-
self very distinctly among the French half-
breeds as they grew in numbers and dashed
over the prairies on their fiery steeds. They
were hunters, accustomed to the use of fire-
arms and were, therefore, difficult to restrain.
The Governor's policy clearly defined in his
own mind became, for the next ten years, the
,oli.y of the Company. We have seen that the
,/overnor built Lower Fort Garry, and he re-
garded this as his residence, nearly twenty
miles down the river from the Forks, which was
the centre of Fren,_h influence. Even before
doing this in 1831 he had, in the year pre,:ed-
ing this, as Ross tells us, built a small powder

196

Lord Selkb'k's Colonists.

magazine at Upper Fort Garry, and it goes
without saying that rulers do not build pow-
der magazines for the purpose of ornament.
In 1834, as we learn from Hon. Donald Gunn,
who was then a resident of Red River Settle-
ment, and who has left us his views in the man-
us(.ript afterward published coming up to 1835,
a most serious revolt took place among the
Metis. Gunn's account is vivid and interesting.
The French half-breeds were entirely de-
pendent upon hunting, trapping or voyaging.
One hundred or one hundred and fifty men
were required to transfer goods, furs, etc.,
from the boats during the time of open water.
Generally they received advances from the Fur
Company at the beginning of summer, for they
were always in debt to the company. On
close of the open season they were paid the
balance due them. After a few days of idle-
ness and gossip the money would be spent and
want would begin to press them. A new
engagement with an advance would fol-
low. The agreement was signed, and so like
an endless chain, the natives were al-
ways held to the Company's interest. At
Christmas, these workmen received a portion of
their advance, and as is well known, the com.
pany relaxed somewhat its rules as to liql9r
selling at this season. At this Christmas time
of 1834 payments were being made and indu!-

The Oligarch y.

199

Board of the Hudson's Bay Company choosing
the Council of Assiniboia, certainly did smack
of the age of Henry VIII. or Charles I. in Eng-
lish history.
The Council consisted of fifteen members,
viz. : the Governor-in-Chief Simpson, the Local
Governor Christie, the Roman Catholic Bishop,
two Church of England clergymen, three re-
tired Hudson's Bay Company officers, the lead-
ing doctor of the Colony, Sheriff Ross, Coroner
McCallum, and three leading business men, viz. :
Pritchard, Logan and McDermott. It is no-
ticeable that though the French element num-
bered about one-half of the people, that only
one Councillor besides the Bishop was given
them, and this was Cuthbert Grant, now settled
down from the period of his Bois-bruls impul-
siveness to be the Warden of the Plains, with
an influence over the Metis, that can only be
described as magical.
Judged by the methods of representative
government the Council was rather a burlesque.
Sheriff Alexander Ross, though a member
of the Council, says: "To guard against fool-
ish and oppressive acts, the sooner the people
have a share in their own affairs the better. It
is only fair that those that have to obey the
laws should have a voice in making them."
Hon. Donald Gunn, who was not on the Coun-
cil, says: "The majority of the Council thus

200

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

appointed were, no doubt, the wealthiest men
in the Colony and generally well-informed, and
yet their appointment was far from being ac-
ceptable to the people who knew that they were
either sinecurists or salaried servants of the
Hudson's Bay Company, and consequently
were not the fittest men to legislate for people
who retained some faint recollection of the
manner in which the popular branch of the leg-
islature in their native land was appointed,
and who never ceased to inveigh against the ar-
bitrary manner in which.the Governor-in-chief
chose the legislators."
Notwithstanding the writer's perfect sym-
pathy with both of these opinions, it is but fair
to state that the Council of Assiniboia did in

ordinary times do
most beneficial and
Community.

many things which were
helpful to the Red River

Its most distressing failures were in those
things which are very essential. (1) Being a
compromise body it had no power of progres-
sive development, and in the whole generation
of its existence it did practically nothing to ad-
vance the public, intellectual, or moral interests
of the people. (2) Perhaps its most serious
breakdown took p|ace, as we shall see, in the
failure of its judicial system. Executive power
it had none, as seen in the cases where jail-deliv-
ry took place again and again by the friends of

SOUTH AND EAST FACES, 1840
From sketch by wife of Governor Finlavson.

EAST FACE IN I882, ,VHEN FORT ,VAS DISMANTLED
(From paiating in author's possession.)
x Spot where Scott was Executed.

FORT GARRY WINTER SCENES

The Oligarchy.

201

the prisoners boldly extricating whom they
would. (3) But most alarming and miserable
was its failure to act in its moribund days,
when it allowed, as we shall see, a mob to seize
Fort Garry and bring in an era of disorder
which made every self-respecting British sub-
ject blush with shame.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE OGRE OF JUSTICE.

The wild life of the prairie or mountain cul-
tivates a spirit of freedom. When individuals
must become a law unto themselves, when the
absence of steamers, railways, electric power,
work-shops, and mills, throws men on their own
resources, they find it irksome to obey the law.
They regard its restrictions as tyrannical. The
prairie horse becomes free. He must be caught
with the lasso, he needs to be hobbled near the
camp, it is necessary to curb him in his temper,
but in his wild state he can provide for him-
self. He knows the best pasture and seeks it,
he is acquainted with the water courses and
finds them, he returns or not to his stable or
covert at his own sweet will, he fights the wolf
or the bear and protects the colts from the wild
beasts.
As is the prairie steed, so to a large extent is
his master. He is apt to despise civilization,
prefers his buckskin coat and fringed leggings,
and loves the moccasin rather than the stiff
leather shoe.

The Ogre of Justice.

203

With him the idea of sub-division of pro-
perty is not developed. There are no local game
laws. He shoots large or small game, moose
or prairie chicken, whenever he can find them.
He traps on whatever stream he chooses. His
idea of personal property is very liberal. He
is large-hearted and bountiful, divides his find
of game with his neighbors, and his shanty has,
as he says, "a latch hanging outside the door,"
for any wanderer or passing stranger.
This many-sided notion of freedom belongs
to all primitive peoples and societies. Of the
Red River Community the French half-breed
was of the most unsubdued and restive type,
for he followed the ways of the Indians, while
the Selkirk Colonists and their descendants al-
ways professed to be farmers, and hunting was
only their diversion. Moreover, being of Scot-
tish blood, they had been taught to fear God
and honor the King.
We have seen that Governor Simpson had a
plan in his mind for gaining control and pre-
serving order in his own kingdom. His idea
of building fortified stone forts is chiefly seen
in the cases of Upper and Lower Forts Garry.
Fort Garry was, as we have seen, well on the
way to completion by the time of the French
outbreak in connection with Larocque. And
Governor Christie was authorized to go on and
construct a still more elaborate fort at the

ADAM THOM, LL.D.
Recorder and Author. Lived in Red River Settlement 1839-x854.

The Ogre of Justice.

205

Governor Simpson's
so decided.
And the man who

mind when he took a step

had been chosen for this

post was no man of putty. He was a Scotchman
of commanding presence, decided opinions and
strong will. He was a man of rather aggres-
sive and combative disposition. The writer
met him in London long after he had retired
--and this was some thirty years ago, and
though the judge was then upwards of three
score and ten, he was yet a man of force and
decision. A graduate of Aberdeen University,
Adam Thorn had come to Montreal as a lawyer,
and was for a time on Lord Durham's staff. He
had taken high ground against Papineau' re-
bellion, and was known as one of the strongest
newspaper controversialists of the time. He
was a determined opponent of the French-
Canadian rebellion, as he was of rebellion in
any form whatever. Evidently, Governor
Simpson chose a man "after his own heart" for
the difficult task, of introducing law and order
among the turbulent Nor'-Vesters.
The arrival of the new Judge in the Red
River Settlement gave rise to much comment.
The spirit of discontent had strengthened, as
we have seen among the Colonists and Eng-
lish-speaking half-breeds. The Hu_dspn's_Bay
Company__had no_ re-bo_gh_f the land_f-As--
simoia from Lord Selkirk's _heirs. Hitherto

206 Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

it was difficult to find out precisely who their op-
pressor was. Now, though Governor Simpson
sought by diplomacy to evade the responsibil-
ity, yet the explanation given by the Colonists
of the arrival of lecorder Thorn, was that he
had come to uphold the Company's pretensions
adto restrict their liberties. According to
(Ross> he Colonists reasoned that "a manAlace_d
--infecorder Thorn's position, liab]  be turned
out of office at the Company's pleasure, natur-
ally provokes the doubt whether he could at
all times be proof against the sin of partiality.
Is it likely," they said, "that he could always
take the impartial view of a case that might in-
volve in its results his own interests or deprive
him of his daily bread?"
Likewise, on the part of the French half-
breeds, there was the same distrust in regard
to the limiting of the privileges which they en-
joyed, while along with this it had been noised
about that during the Papineau trouble in Can-
ada, the Judge was no favorite of the French.
The French half-breeds, accordingly, became
strongly prejudiced against the new Recorder.
In the year after the arrival of Recorder
Thorn, a most startling and mysterious event--
which indeed has never been solved to the pres-
ent day, happenel in the case of Thomas Simp-
son, who it will be remembered had roused by
his crushing blow on the head of Larocque, the

TIe Ogre of Jstice.

207

rage of the whole French half-breed community.
The case was that Thomas Simpson, with a
party of natives, had been going southward
through Minnesota, ahead of the main body of
sojourners. In a state of frenzy he had shot two
of his four companions. The other two returned
to the main body, and got assistance. He was
seen to be alive as they approached him, a shot
was heard, and then shots were fired in his direc-
tion by those observing him. Whether he com-
mitted suicide or was killed by those approach-
ing, some of whom were French, will never be
known. The fact that he had quarreled with
the French half-breeds, five years before this
event, was used to throw suspicion. The body
of Simpson was carried back to St. John's
Cemetery in Winnipeg, and it is said was bur-
ied along the wall in token of the belief that he
had committed suicide.
What the body of the people had feared in the
tightening of the legal restrictions by the new
laws and new officials, did actually take place.
The French half-breeds were, as we ha'e seen,
chiefly given to hunting. In theory, the Hud-
son's Bay Company possessed all ht.ig rghts
under their charter. A French-Canadian, La-
rant, and another half-breed also, had the furs,
which they had hunted for, forcibly taken from
them by legal authority., while in a third case an
offender against the game laws had been actually

208 Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

deported to York Factory. Alarm was now
general among the French half-breeds. Hith-
erto the English half-breeds had been loyal to
the Company. Alexander Ross gives an inci-
dent worth repeating as to how even the Eng-
lish half-breeds became rebellios. He says:
"One of the Company's officers, residing at a
distance, had placed two of his daughters at the
boarding-school in the Settlement. An Eng-
lish half-breed, a comely well-behaved young
man, of respectable connections, was paying his
addresses to one of these young ladies, and had
asked her in marriage. The young lady had an-
other suitor in the person of a Scotch lad, but
her affections were in favor of the former, while
her guardian, the chief officer in Red River, pre-
ferred the latter. In his zeal to succeed in the
choice he had made for the young lady, this gen-
tleman sent for the half-breed and reprimanded
him for aspiring to the hand of a lady, accus-
tomed, as he expressed it, to the first society.
The young man, without saying a word, put on
his hat and walked out of the room; but being
the leading man among his countrymen, the
whole community took fire at the insult. "This
is the way," said they, "that we half-breeds are
despised and treated." From that time they
clubbed together in high dudgeon and joined
the French Malcontents against their rulers.
The French half-breeds made a flag for use on

T]e Ogre of Justice.

209

the plains called"The Papineau Standard." It
is plain that rightly or wrongly, Recorder Thorn
has a thorny path to tread.

CHAPTER XIX.

A HALF-BREED PATRIOT.

Canada looks with patriotic delight not only
on her sons who remain at home to work out the
problems of her developing life, but follows with
keenest interest those Canadians who have gone
abroad and made a name for themselves, and
their country in other parts of the Empire or
the world. Some of these are Judge Halibur-
ton, Satirist; Roberts and Bliss Carman, Poets;
Gilbert Parker, Grant Allen and Barr, Novel-
ists; R.omanes and Newcombe, Scientists; Gir-
ouard, Kennedy and Scott in the Army, and
many others who have won laurels in the several
walks of life. But Manitoba, or rather Red
River Settlement has also its sons who have
gone abroad to do distinguished service and
bring honor to their place of birth. One of them
was Alexander K. Isbister, most commonly
known as the donor of upwards of $80,000, given
as a Scholarship Fund to the University of
Manitoba, but really more celebrated still, for
the service he rendered his native land. A little
less than thirty years ago the writer met Mr.

A Half-Breed Patriot. 211

Isbister in London and enjoyed his hospital-
ity. Isbister was a tall and handsome man,
showing distinctly by his color and high cheek-
bones that he had Indian blood in his veins. Re-
ceiving his early education in St. John's School,
he had gone home to England, taken his de-
grees, become a lawyer, and afterward had
gone into educational work. He was, at the
time of the visit spoken of, Dean of the College
of Preceptors in London, and had much reputa-
tion as an educationalist. But the service he
rendered to his native land out-topped all his
other achievements. We have already shown
the tendency toward restriction being developed
under Recorder Thorn's leadership, in Red
River Settlement. James Sinclair, a member
of a most respectable Scotch half-breed family,
had obtained the privilege from the Company
to export tallow, the product of the buffalo, by
way of York Factory to England. The venture
succeeded, but a second shipment was held at
York Factory for nearly two years, and thus
Sinclair was virtually compelled to sell it to the
Company.
Twenty leading half-breeds then appealed to
the Hudson's Bay Company to be allowed to
export tallow at a reasonable rate. In 1844 two
proclamations were issued, that before the Com-
pany would carry goods for any settler, a de-
claration from such settler, and the examination

212

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

of his correspondence
in furs would first be
people determined to

in regard to his dealing
necessary. The native
oppose them. They

claimed as having Indian blood, that they were
entitled to aborinal rights. Twenty leading
English-speaking half-breeds, among them such
respectable names as Sinclair, Dease, Vincent,
Bird and Garrioch, demanded from Governor
Christie a defmite answer as to their position
and rights. The Governor answered with sweet
words, but the policy of "thorough" was stead-
ily pushed forward, and a new land deed was
devised by which the land would be forfeited
should the settlers interfere in the fur trade.
Next, heavy freights were put on goods going
to England by way of Hudson Bay, and Sin-
clair, as an agitator, was refused the privilege
of having his freight carried at any price. The
spirits of the English-speaking half-breeds
were raised to a pitch of discontent, quite equal
to that of the French half-breeds, although the
latter were more noisy and demonstrative.
James Sinclair became the "village Hamp-
den" who stood for his rights and those of his
compeers.
It was at this juncture that the valuable aid
of Isbister came to his count .rymen. In 1847
Isbister, with his educated mind, social stand-
ing, and valiant spirit led the way for his peo-
ple, and with five other half-breeds of Red

A Half-Breed Patriot. 213

liver forwarded a long and able memorial to
Earl Grey, the Secretary of State for the Col-
onies, bringing the serious charges against the
Company, of neglecting the native people, op-
pressing all the settlers, and taking from them
their natural rights. A perusal of this docu-
ment leads us to the opinion that the charges
were exaggerated, but nevertheless they showed(
how impossible it was, for a Trading Com-
pany, to be at the same time the Government
of a country and to be equitable and high/
minded." The Hudson's Bay Company answere
this document sent them by the Imperial Gov-

ernment, and so far
some of the charges.
could not be quieted.

relieved themselves of
But the storm raised
Isbister obtained new

evidence and attacked the validity of the Com-
pany's Charter. Lord Elgin, the fair-minded
Governor of Canada, claimed that he, in Can-
ada, was too far away from the scene of dis-
pute to give an authoritative answer, but on the
whole he favored the Company. Lord Elgin,
however, based his reply too much upon the
statement of Colonel Crofton, a military officer,
who had been sent to Red River. Alexander
Ross said of Crofton, on the other hand, that he
was a man "who never studied the art of gov-
erning a people. '
But the agitation still gained head.
The mercurial French half-breeds now joined

214

Lord Selkirk's Coloists.

in the struggle. They forwarded a petition to
Her Majesty the Queen, couched in excellent
terms, in the French language, in the main ask-
ing that their right to enjoy the liberty of com-
merce be given them. This petition was signed
by nine hundred and seventy-seven persons, and
virtually represented the whole French half-
breed adult population.
An important episode soon took place among
the French, usually known as the "Sayer Af-
fair." Of this we shall speak in another chap-
ter. The movement, headed by Isbister, still
continued, and led to the serious consideration
by the British Government of the whole situa-
tion in Red River Settlement. The impatience
of the people of all classes in Red River led to
a new plan of attack. Not being able to influ-
ence sufficiently the British authorities, they
forwarded a petition, signed by five hun-
dred and seventy English-speaking people of
Red River Settlement, to the Legislative As-
sembly of Canada. The grievances of the peo-
ple were given in detail. The reason suggested
for the deaf ear which had been given them by
the British Parliament were stated to be "the
chicanery of the Hudson's Bay Company, and
its false representations."
Isbister, in all his efforts, gained the unfail-
ing respect and gratitude, not only of his own
race, but very generally of the people of the

A Half-Breed Patriot.

215

Red liver Settlement. Ten years after the pe-
tition of Isbister and his friends had been pre-
sented to Earl Grey, a committee of the House
of Commons was sitting to investigate the af-
fairs of the Hudson's Bay Company. It was
a sifting inquiry, in which Gladstone, Roebuck
and other friends of liberty, took part. It,
however, took a quarter of a century to bring
about the union of Rupert's Land with Can-
ada, although, as we shall see, in less than five
years, a measure of amelioration came to the
oppressed and indignant settlers of Red River.
For this the people of Red River Settlement
were largely indebted to the self-denying and
persistent efforts of Alexander Isbister. The old
settlers of Kildonan, the French and English
half-breeds of the several parishes, and their de-
scendants as well as the University of Mani-
toba and all friends of education ought to keep
his memory green for what he did for them, for
as a writer of his own time says," He gained for
himself a name that will live in days yet to
come. ' '

218

Lord Sclkirk's Colonists.

leading men of the Colony, so that they refused
to sit with him in Council. It was the common
opinion that the turbulence and violence of the
pensioners was so great that, as one of the Com-
pany said, "We have more trouble with the
pensioners than with all the rest of the Settle-
ment put together." The pensioners were cer-

2

PLAN OF FORT GARRY

tainly absolutely useless for the purpose for
which they had been sent, that is to preserve
order in the country- The Metis, at any rate,
spoke of them with derision.
In the year following the removal of the
troops the policy of preventing the French

Sayer ad Liberty.

219

half-breeds from buying and selling furs with
the Indians was being carried out by Judge
Thom, the relentless ogre of the law. Four
men of the Metis had been arrested; of these the
leader was William Sayer. He was the half-
breed son of an old French bourgeois of the
Northwest Company. He had been liberated
on bail, and was to come up for trial in May.
The charge against him was of buying goods
with which to go on a trading expedition to
Lake Manitoba.
Possibly the case would be easily disposed of,
and most likely dismissed with a trifling fine,
although it was true that Sayer had made a
stiff resistance on his being arrested. This
violent resistance was but an example of the
bitter and dangerous spirit that was develop-
ing among the Metis.
A brave and restless man was now growing
to have a dominting influence over the French
half-breeds. This was Louis Riel, a fierce and
noisy revolutionist, ready for any extremity. He.
was a French half-breed, was owner of a small
flour mill on the Seine River, and he was the
father of the rebel chief of later years. The
day fixed for the Sayer trial by the legal au-
thorities was a most unfortunate one. It was
on May 17th, which on that year was Ascension
Day, a da.v of obligation among the Catholic
people of the Settlement. It was noticeable

220

Lord Selkirk's Colonists.

that there was much ferment in the French par-
:hes. Louis Riel, who was a violent, but ef-
fective speaker, of French, Irish and Indian de-
scent, busied himself in stirring up resistance.
The fact that it was a Church day for the Metis
made it easy for them to gather together. This
they did by hundreds in front of the St. Boni-
face Cathedral, where, piling up their guns,
with which all the men were armed, at the
Church door, they then entered and performed
their sacred duties. At the close of the ser-
vice, Riel, "the miller of the Seine," n:de a
fiery oration, advocating the rescue of their
compatriot Sayer, who was to be held for trial
at the Court House. A French sympathizer said
of this public meeting: "Louis Riel obtained a
veritable triumph on that occasion, and long
and loud the hurrahs were repeated by the
echoes of the Red River."
And now, under Riel's direction, by a con-
certed action, movement of the whole body
was made to cross the Red River and march to
the Court House, which stood leside the wall of
Fort Garry. To allow the five hundred men to
cross easily, Point Douglas was selected, and
here by ferry boats, said to have been provided
by James Sinclair, the English half-breed leader
of whom we have spoken, the party crossed, and
worked up to the highest pitch of excitement,
stalked up the mite or two to the Court House.

Sayer and Liberty.

221

Though somewhat anxious, the Governor and
Court officials passed through the excited crowd
which surrounded the Court House. It was" ex-

I
I
|
t
I
,

t
I
I
t
I
I
I
I
t
I
I
I

PLAN OF FORT GARRY

South portion with stone wall and bastions built in t/a35.
North lmrtion with wooden wall and stone north gate still standing, built in tg5o.

pected that the Governor would order out a
guard of pensioners to protect the Court, but
he had dispensed with this, and so he, Recorder

222

Lord Sclkirk's Colonists.

Thom, and the Magistrate, took their seats upon
the elevated platform of Justice precisely at
eleven o'clock. Sayer's case was called first, but
he was held by the Metis outside of the Court
room. Other unimportant business was then
taken up until one o'clock. An Irish relative
of old Andrew McDermott, named McLaughlin,
attempted to interfere, but was instantly sup-
pressed. The Court then sent  suggestion to
the Metis that they should appoint a leader with
a deputation to enter the Court room with Sayer
and state their case. This proposal was ac-
cepted, and James Sinclair, the English half-
breed leader, undertook the duty. Sayer was
then brought in, 'uarded by twenty of his com-
patriots, fully armed, while fifty Metis guards
stood at the gates of the Court House enclosure.
An attempt was then made to select a jury, but
it was fruitles. Sayer next confessed that he
had traded for furs with an Indian. The Court
then gave a verdict of guilty, whereupon Sayer
proved that a Hudson's Bay officer named Har-
riott, had given him authority to trade. The
other three cases against the Metis were not
proceeded with, and Governor, Recorder, offi-
cia.ls and spectators all left the Court room, the
mob being of the impression that the prisoners
had been acquitted, and that trading for furs
was no longer illegal. Though this was not the
decision yet the crowd so took it up, and made

Sayer ad Liberty.

223

the welkin ring with shouts (Le Commerce est
libre, vive la libertY) "Commerce is free, long
live liberty."
The Metis then crossed the river to St. Boni-
face, and after much cheering, fired several sa-
lutes with their guns. It was their victory, but
it was one in which the vast mass of the Eng-
lish-speaking rejoiced for the bands of tyranny
were broken. Judge Thom, under instructions
from Governor Simpson, never acted as Re-
corder again, but was simply Secretary of the
Court, and another reioed in his stead. After
this the Court was largely without authority,
and as has been said the rescue of prisoners
was not an infrequent occurrence in the future
life of the Settlement.

CHAPTER XXL

OFF TO THE BUFFALO.

Alexander Ross was a Scottish Highlander,
vho came to Glengarry in Canada, quite a
century ago, joined Astor's expedition, vent
around Cape Horn and in British Columbia
rose to be an officer in the Northwest Company.
He married the daughter of an Indian Chief at
Okanagan, came over the Rocky Mountains,
and vas given by Sir George Simpson a free
gift of a farm, where Ross and James Streets
are now found in Winnipeg. This land is to-
day worth many millions of dollars. Ross was
also fond of hunting the buffalo, and we are
fortunate in having his spirited story of 1840.

BUFFALO HUNTING.

In the leafy month of June carts were seen
to emerge from every nook and corner of the
Settlement bound for the plains. As they pass-
ed us, many things were discovered to be still
wanting, to supply vhich a halt had to be made
at Fort Garry shop; one wanted this thing, an-
other that, but all on credit. The day of pay-
ment was yet to come; but payment was prom-
ised. Many on the present occasion vere sup-

Off to the Buffalo.

225

plied, many were not; they got and grumbled,
and grumbled and got, till they could get no
more; and at last went off, still grumbling and
discontented.
From Fort Garry the cavalcade and camp-
followers were crowding on the public road,
and thence, stretching from point to point, till
the third day in the evening, when they reached
Pembina, the great rendezvous of such occa-
sions. When the hunters leave the Settlement
it enjoys that relief which a person feels on re-
covering from a long and painful sickness.
Here, on a level plain, the whole patriarchal
camp squatted down like pilgrims on a jour-
ney to the Holy Land, in ancient days: only
not so devout, for neither scrip nor staff were
consecrated for the occasion. Here the roll
was called, and general muster taken, when
they numbered on the occasion 1,630 souls: and
here the rules and regulations for the journey
were finally settled. The officials for the trip
ere named and installed into their office, and
all without the aid of writing materials.
The camp occupied as much ground as a
modern city, and was formed in a circle: all
the carts were placed side by side, the trams
outward. Within this line, the tents were
placed in double, treble rows, at one end; the
animals at the other in front of the *.ents. This
:s the order in all dangerous pla_s: but wLen