The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-11-05

dpouV 20 Of OV WlleS 10 white Horse
Plains these are the main settlements
those above Fort Garry belonging to
the breeds and the Indian villa ees
which extend 10 miles below the lower
fort, both on Red River, are of little
Importance or account in an agricultu-
raj point Of view, they farm but little,
have no wind mills and depend entire
ly upon the chase Of buffalo, and on
their occupation as voyagers to York
Factory, on Hudsons Bay, to Montreal
&c, in the annual brigade Of boats.
All the back level country. a vast
extent of prairie remains in its original
state, natural pasture covered for
the greater part of the year with cat
tie and also furnishing the inhabitants
with sufficiency OF coarse hay for the
support Of their herds during the win
ter.
AS I passed up by land to Pembina,
! found the grass cut in places along
the river bank, for the whole distance
to the line, the huge stacks starting in
bold relief upon the smooth and naked
prairie, reminding one of farms near
by the buildings and fences Of which
We're invisible; to these stacks the peo-
pie often drive their cattle during the
winter, and feed them there, themselves
residing in lodges or rude log huts.
The two principal churches Protest
ant and Catholic, the lower fort, the
gaol, the company's chief buildings,
the Bishops residence, and the houses
OF some retired officers of the fur trade,
and other principal citizens are built
OF stone which is brought from a con-
siderable distance up Red River. The
generality Of the settlers dwell in frame
and log houses of one story, rooted
with wooden slabs, bark or shingles,
those along the cares being pointed
after the Canadian fashion, and many
are also thatched with straw. They
are for the most part washed or plas-
tered externally and are neat and COM
Portable. Scarce man, but possesses
a horse, and even the poorest families
have cow Or two. A great abun-
dance Of English goods are imported
both by the company and by individu-
ais in the company's annual ships to
York Factory and disposed of in the
colony at moderate prices. Labor is
dear, and produce of all kinds sells at
a higher rate than could be expected
in such secluded place.
The bulky nature of such exports as
could be furnished, the long and dan
gerous navigation to Hudson's Bay, or
Montreal, or over to their nearest mar
ket on the upper Mississippi, the St.
Peters or St. Paul, seem to preclude
the possibility Of that colony rising to
commercial Importance, very soon at
least.
There is very prevalent mistake in
the public mind, to the effect that Lord
Selkirk arrived in and founded the COL
ony in person, in 1912. The fact is
he did not arrive till 1917, and never
wintered there; he visited St. Peters a.
cross the prairies-then down to New
Orleans-returned to Canada, visited
the south of France for his health, and
died there in 1920. The colony then
reverted to the Bay Company in 1925;
but was held till 1885 by Lord Sell
kinks heirs.
Miles Mackdownell was appointed
the first governor in 1912; and built a
fort on Red River. Quarrels soon
broke out between the colony and the
North West Company's servants; faults
on both sides; finally the colony was
assaulted by party of Bois Brules or
half-breeds, (the name signifies burnt
wood, connected with the N. W. Com
pany, on the 18th Of June, 1916; and
Gov. Semple and % colonists were
killed. The affair has been styled "a
brutal massacre, " murder most FOUL"
"an assassination,'' etc., by different
writer's who have spoken Of it; the bois
brules have song commemorative Of
the event, to this day. The scene oc-
CURED about mile below Mr.. Alex.
Ross present house, and two miles be-
low Fort Garry. His house stands on
the site of old Ft. Douglass, which was
built in 1812-13-14, and since des-
troyed and merged into the lower fort
Garry or stone Fort 90 miles below
The bodies Of the killed were inferred
upon the spot, and afterwards removed
to one Of the church-yards. The peo-
pie had all been driven from their homes
the previous year, and again returned
when this melancholy event occurred
From this time civil war was carried
on between the servants of the two
Companies; both appealed to the Gov
ernor Of Canada, and to the British
ministers; and at length the evil was
remedied. After an eyentful history,
on1 <ro,h1oo Al