The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-07


breeds, he had to accept compromise
leave with them all the loose cattle, and
get back those absolutely necessary for
drawing the wagons and carts.
This was the best arrangement possible
under the circumstances; and yet, to
those who did not see our Elk" the con-
cession might seem humiliating and shame
full. But what else could be done? And
the humiliation was only just begun. No
sooner had they got the ''loose cattle {"
aforesaid, and slaughtered theln-some
eighteen or twenty in number-than they
made a demand for the valuable goods
with which the wagons were laden The
plot was thickening. A crisis was evil
IDENTIFY approaching. When Indians have
the power, their request is tantamount to
an imperative order which you can refuse
Or disobey only at your peril We all felt
this as soon as they asked for our goods.
Mr.. Kittson gave them some, thinking to
appease them, but it only seemed to in
tensify their barbaric lust of plumber On
Thursday, the 18th inst, we had to expe-
rience the full blast of savage tyranny and
caprice. The bitter cup of humiliation we
drank to the dregs. The negotiations
about the goods were renewed Long ha-
rangues preceded the robbery To all the
speeches of the painted chieftans, Mr..
Kittson had but one answer, and it was
this-"The goods are not mine, cannot
give them. They do not belong to any in
our party and no one can therefore give
them. And if we cannot give them, you
have no right to take Them
After great deal more of parleying. Mr..
Kittson told the chiefs that he was in their
power, and that he would offer no further
opposition. The goods were there at their
service, and they might do as they pleased
but, as he had already told them, he could
not give them. The chiefs then hesitated
for moment, and said that they would
not plumber; but that they wished Mr..
kittson to hand over the goods to them. so
that their conduct might not be branded as
that of pillagers and highwaymen. He,
thinking they really meant what they said,
again firmly protested that he had no right
or power to give up the goods, and that he
would not; but, if the Indians would have
them in spite of all his circumstances, ap-
peals and protests, they could please them
selves. At this point, some OF the rabble
shouted out that all negotiations were over,
and that all were now at liberty to help
themselves. The chiefs restrained them
with the greatest difficulty, and repre-
sented to Mr.. Kittson that if he did not
at once give up the goods worse might
follow, and general plumber be the result,
which would leave them not an animal or
bale OF goods, and perhaps endanger life.
At the same moment, great noise, wrang-
ling and confusion began among the teem-
ing masses that surrounded the conference
ground. So at length, as there was no
shift, he babe them go forward in their
work. And they did go to work with
vengeance! Chests of tea, kegs of sugar,
boxes Of tobacco, bales of dry goods, &c,
&C., were tumbled out of the wagons, and
opened Fine black cloth capots and
trousers blankets, white and green-cloth,
fine and coarse, red and black-and vast
variety OF prints, muslins, delaines, &C.,
were flying hither and thither, amidst
general hallooing and .jollifcation. Oh the
wantOn destruction and waste. Pieces of
silks, and cassimeres, and muslins, were torn
in bits of a yard or so in length, and used as
rolls OF the finest scarlet red cloth, were toru
up in tathom pieces and scattered among
the rolling and tossing masses who eagerly
t1Ocked for their shares Whole boxes of
tobacco seemed like so many plugs. Chests
of tea and barrels of sugar seemed but like
so many pounds. The whole seemed like
a dream-too outrageously shocking to be
true, and even when their own good and
much beloved Bishops goods were being
pillaged they quietly stood by and allowed
it to go. Priests gowns and nuns hoods
and other sacred vestments were appropri-
ated by the Red Lake Indians, and only
very few there were to enter a mild pro-
test. How could they have the face to re-
monstrate when they themselves had en-
couraged and abetted the whole affair? In
the case of the holy vestments, when few
Half-breeds disapproved of taking them,
the Red Lakers said" HO, we don't care
for priests or nuns-bring those things
here, we will take them and take them
they did. And on went the solemn farce
until the game was played out, and the
greed of plumber was satiated. When they
had helped themselves to their hearts con-
tent, Clley generously allOWeu us 10 start,
which we did on Friday the 18th Messrs.
Panl, Bannatyne, Coldwell, McDermott,
W. Inkster, and Bishop Tache are among
the principal sufferers. After leaving the
Grand Forks the party pushed forward as
hard as they could, and reached Pembina,
Wednesday the 18th, and Fort Garry on
the 22d. / have no more to add, except
to express my high opinion of the manner
in which Messrs. Kittson and Murray man
aged all along.
The New York Times has the follow
,o,,4 A. LIZ La44lo IL DlAo4nl;.ro ln