The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-05-23 00:00:00

THE RISING IN CANADA.
CAPTURE OF RIEL.

A Sunday's telegram from Winnipeg was as
follows : Since the capture of Batoche General
Middleton has had. scouts constantly scouring the
country for miles around for the purpose of appre-
hending Riel. On Friday three of these scouts en-
along a trailEalasoßter.
A scout, recognising him, approached, saying " I am
surprised to see you here." Riel replied, " I was
coming to give myself up. My wife and family are
across the river.' Other scouts were then seen ap-
proaching. Riel, becoming afraid of being shot, begged
his captors to take him to General Middleton's camp.
General Middleton gave orders to all his men
to keep to their tents when Riel was brought in,
fearing that he would be shot, as many of the
enraged soldiers had sworn to shoot him if ever
they caught sight of him. Riel was taken quietly to
General Middleton's tent, appeared unconcerned, but
begged not to be shot. He looked careworn and
anxious, and was shabbily dressed. His beard and
hair were long and unkempt While talking with
General Middleton he rolled. his eyes about with the
look of a hunted man. Evidently he was in constant
fear of violence from the soldiers. He said he had
passed two nights since the battle on the bluffs near
the place where he was found. He declared that all
he wished was a fair trial. He preferred a civil to a
military trial. He believed the rebellion would not
be without result, as the Government henceforth
would be more willing to listen to the grievances of
the halfbreeds. He was glad his books and papers
left in Lis flight from Batoche had been taken, as
they would show that he was not the actual
leader of the rebellion, but that it had been
encouraged by people of good standing around Prince
Albert. Riel has the appearance of a fanatic. When
told that he would not be tried by martial law he
drew a long breath and said nothing. A moment
later he repeated that he was not the leader of the
Rebellion. He then uttered a prayer. made the sign
of the Cross, asked if his family would be killed with
that, pointing to the Gl-atling gun, saying he hoped
nobody would have to suffer on his account. He
then began to pray again. He spends his time thus,
alternately talking in a wandering manner and prav-
ing. According to law he will have to be tried in the
district where he was captured, and cannot be taken
to Winnipeg or Ottawa. It is thought that the Go-
vernment will send a special judicial commission to
try him. He will be tried for treason, which is a
capital offence, but owing to the jealousies existing
between the French and English factions in Canada,
serious complications may arise if he be sentenced to
death. The province of Quebec is certain to sympathise
with him and protest against his death, while Ontario
aud Manitoba will cry for his blood. One fourth of
the inhabitants of the Dominion are of French descent,
and one third are Catholics. All these sympathise
with Riel, who, they say, was driven into rebellion by
the refusal of the Government to recognise the
grievances of the half-breeds. Their feeling was
shown in Montreal. When the news of Riel's capture
arrived the English element made great demonstra-
tions of joy, declaring that Riel's life must be taken.
The French threatened that if this were done they
would raise the whole province against the Govern-
ment. The question will be a critical one for the
Macdonald Ministry. News from Battleford shows
that the rebellion, so far as the half-breeds are con-
cerned. has ended. They are giving up their arms
and telling the Indians that the war is over. The
latter are likely to give considerable trouble before
they are quieted, but the end is not distant.
Renter's ,enegram from Ottawa, dated Tuesday,
states that the transport service between Swift
Current and Battleford has been suspended, as the
Indians are reported to be on the trail for the pur-
pose of plundering supplies. According to later in-
telligence, Colonel Otter's march from Battleford
against the Indians, with the object of rescuing the
factor, Mr. 11‘Lean, and the severe blow which he
administered to them in the subsequent fighting have
prevented many of the Indians from joining the
rebels.