The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-08-12

the Hudsou Bay Company.
The latter corporation whose charter ds-
ted book to the reign Of CHAsLKs the Sec
ond, in 1910. bad not yet extended their e.
Adjustments into this region, and the North
West Company enjoyed an undistarbed
monopoly Of the lucrative trade. which the
Frencb had resigned into their hands. Their
dream Of exclusive dominion was, however,
soon ended.
Ia 1905 Lord SELKIRK, . benevolent but
impracticabIe Scotchman, and member Of
The Hudson's Bay Company, who had pene-
trated into this region, was 20 struck with its
beauty and fertility, and the mildness Of its
climate, that he conceived the project OF
planting colonies here whose growth should
compensate the British crown for the recent
loss Of the United Colonies, and he wrote
several tracts, urging the superiority Of this
region, for the British emigrant, over any
portion Of the United States. Ia 1871, be
succeeded in obtaining for colonization a
grant of land on the Red River from the
Hudson bay Company, which was, at the
same time, aroused, by his representations,
10 the necessity ofextending their jurisdiction
over n country so rich in furs, and of secur.
Ing its trade to themselves.
In the Autumn Of the following year, a
small detachment Of emigrants. whom Lord
SgLKrRE had collected from the highlands
Of Scotland, after long and tOisome
journcy--which must have been terrible in
the vast solitudes through which il led them
and 10 which 1t led--arrved on the banks
Of the Red River. near its confluence with
the A@inebon. There they commenced
building houses, when their work was
stopped by u party Of men in the service Of
tho Northwest Company--who, disguised
in Indian costume, ordered them 10 desist.
Frightened by their menaces, they were in
duccd to take refuge at Pembina. Their
guides, m savage in disposition ms in their
assumed dress, tyrrannized without mercy
over the aiIrghted colonists, robbing them
ollwhatever they most priced, and found a
cruel sport in the alarm they caused the
mothers by pretending to run of with their
children. Several Of the more delicate died
under the shock OF this inhuman treatment.
The winter having been passed in tents at
Pembna, they were permitted to return to
the colony in the Spring. Their abors
seemed about to be rewarded with an abun-
dant harvest, when il was destroyed by
birds. The next winter was again passed at
Psmbina, and when they returned to their
settlements in tho Spring, they were in a
condition of atjeet poverty,
"l,y the month OF September, isis, says
Mr.. NEiLL, "the number OF settlers was ahou,
two hundred, and the colony was called
Kildonan, after the old parish in Scotland, in
which many were born with increased mum.
bcrs, all seemed an@picous. Houses were
built, mill erected. and imported cattle and
sheep began TO Craze on the unduiating plains.
But avarice and jealousy followed them
even to these solitudcs. The Northwes,
Company never looked with favor on the
growth of the settlement, which was regard.
ed ~ scheme OF their rivals Of the Hudson
Bay Company, to dispossess them Of the
lucrative posts which they occupied in the
ncighborhood and in the summer Of lsll,
Duncan Cameron and Malox Mcdonnell
were appointed al meeting OF the partners OF
the Company TO concert measures TO stop
the progress OF the colony. In pursuance
of this design. Cameron who spoke Gaelic
with tiucncy ar,iully insinuated himself into
the confidence OF the liighanders. and with
out cvincing direct hostility TO the plans Of
Sclkirk. gradually sowcd the SEEDS OF disaf
fiction in the settlement, which in the Spring
Of 1915 eliminated in the desertion of
HuiHvti W tHt tpiVtilstS w tEt VuaIlcES w
the Northwestern Company. whose employ
tea in the meanwhile had broken open the
storehouse OF the colony and carried away
their field pieces. Endeavors were also
made to excite the minds of the Indians
against the settlers
A numerous attack was made by the
Northwes, party on the Governors house,
who was Seized and carried I'll to Montreal
by Cameron. Mcdonnell followed up this
outrage with series of aggrcssions or the
settlers. Prosecuted TO extremity, they
were again forced TO abandon their homes
About this time. says Mr.. Neil, toward
the latter part OF the pleasant month Of
June, two Ojibwa Chiefs arrived with forty
braves and offered TO escort the prosecuted
braves with their property to Lake winni