, 1858-10-22
The Red River settlement.

Those who may be disposed to despond
ency in viewing the present condition OF
this Colony will do well to read and ponder
upon the history of the Red river settle
ment, which we condense from Harpers'
Magazine. Now, that settlement, though
practically shut out from the rest Of the
world, contains population Of nearly G,0O0
souls, eleven places Of public worship, pro-
iusely supplied with clergy, (inclndhg two
bishops a citadel of formidable strength
and large size, several large two story stone
houses with modern conVeniencies," a
dozen mills, ever SO many model farms,
stocked with fine cattle, and provided with
all the modern implements Of agriculture,
ono or two manufacturing establishments,
a courthouse with Recorder at 81 900 a
year, aGovernor, staff, and an imposing
body of mounted police. Yet before at
tanning this condition Of prosperity its in
habtants passed through years of suffering,
an account Nof portion of which will be
found below Victoria Gazette.
Forty-fve years ago, the most powerful
potentate on this continent was Thomas
Douglas, Earl of Selkirk. He was the
chief Of the Hudson Bay Co. At that
time the great fur country was disputed by
rival companies, the Hudson Bay Co. and
the Northwest Co. Their charters were
distinct, and so were their territories. But
there was not room for both. Every man
in the Northwest knew that one of the
two must perish, aud those who measured
the respective strength Of the rivals, said
confidently that the Hudson Bay Co. was
doomed. Thomas Earl of Selkirk, made
up his mind that it must conquer, and that
the Northwest must go to the wall.
Examining with the eye Of a soldier the
country where the war was to be carried
on, he saw that two grand essentials were
wanting to his success-physical strength,
and basis of operations. To supply both,
he obtained from the Company and from
various.Indian tribes claiming to hold do
minion over the territory, grant Of land
in the neighborhood Of Red river, tribu-
tary of Lake Winnipeg, WHICH joins the
lake about one hundred miles northwest Of
Fort William, and made arrangements to
transport thither colonists from the Scotch
Highlands. Accordingly, in the summer
of 1912 the first brigade" Of colonists
were transported to the Red river. The
settlers were to have hundred acres Of
land each, to be paid for in produce (the
payment was afterward remitted); they
were to have a minister Of their own per-
suasion; they were to enjoy the rights Of
British subjects; and they were guaranteed
market at their own doors for all their
produce. But no sooner had they arrived
than band of Northwesters, disguised as
Indians, bore down upon them and took all
captive to Pembina.
After living there on charity during the
winter, they returned 10 Red river in the
spring. A years peace enabled them to
break the ground and rear shelter. In
1915, the Northwesters were opon them
again. This time there was resistance.
Accordingly the Northwesters burned down
the Colonial House, took the Governor
prisoner, and killed his aid. Then more
fighting; and finally the brief mandate from
the Northwest headquarters "All settlers
to retire Immediately from the Red river,
and no appearance Of a colony to remain" >"
A command executed to the letter. Three
hundred miles over the wilderness the High
landers were sent in exile, and their houses
burnt down.
Nothing discouraged, the Hudson Bay
Co. sent strong force to escort the exiles
back to the settlement. A new brigade
arrived just in time to help them rebuild
their houses The Northwesters changed
their tactics. They too hired Gaels, and
sent them to Red river, with instructions
to seduce the colonists to leave the place.
The Highlanders, proof against corruption,
could not resist the old familiar sounds Of
the Gaelic. They deserted in droVes. De-
population menaced the settlement. The
Earl Of Selkirk calmly prepared to import
more brigades.
At last, in June, 1916, matters came to
crisis. News reached Governor Semple,
at Red river, that body Of 300 horsemeu,
war-painted and heavily armed, was ap-
preaching the settlement. In a rash mo
ment, be armed himself and twenty y-seven
others, and marched out to parley At o
short distance from the enemy he halted,
and consulted bis aids. At that moment q
ball from the enemy struck q man by his
side. A volley followed, twsnty-one Of the
twenty-eight, including the Governor, were
shot dead; the other seven escaped, wound
ed. The visitors marched into the settle
msnt, sacked and burned the houses, car
ried of all that was worth stealing, and
drove out the cOlonists, warning them that
they would be hunted down and shot like
wild beasts if they appeared there again.
1t was some consolation afterward TO the
survivors Of the ruthless attack to discover
that tweuty-six out Of the sixty-6Ve North
westers who fired on Governor Semple,
psrished violently within short period.
Then the Earl Of Selkrk acted. He was
in the country. He had brought with him
from Europe 4 battalion Of Swiss mercena-
ries Of the Dalgetty stamp, men who were
called De Meurons from an old Colonel Of
theirs, and who feared neither God, man
nor beast" With these he marched direct
ly on Fort William, the headquarters Of