Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-06-28
The Red River Of the North.

1t lies in latitude $50 north, about
the same as Great Britain. But it is
much colder, and in the neighbor-
hood of the great ice house of the
continent. The Red River flows
through il northward, empties into
Lake Winnipeg, and the latter finds
its outlet into the Hudson Bay. As
tho southern part of tho continent
became settled, all wild animals that
could endure the climate aud despis-
cd civilization, moved northward and
farther west The excess and accu-
mutation Of fur bearing animals at
tracted the attention of English cap
italists, and early in the present cen
fury the Hudson Bay Fur Company
was organized. This company en-
listed ia It's service Indiana and half
breeds, IL owned boats, vessels, ships,
and kept large military forces sta
tioned at various forts, so as to pro-
tect its trade. This company wed
with Russia in supplying Europe
with furs. Frightful stories about
savage races, ferocious bears, eter-
nal barriers of ice, and Zaharras of
flying snow were circulated, so as to
prevent intrusion and competition
by other organizations. The object
of the company was fur it was in no
sense a missionary society. 1t sub
dued the natives by arms, or culti-
waited their friendship or involved
them in bloody wars Of extermina-
ton when their territory was needed
for the white bear, the marmot or
the fisher However, in the year
1920, or about that time, humane
man, Lord Selkirk, member of the
company, visited the country and
determined to introduce colony
which should test the fertility of the
soil and the kindness of the climate
in the raising of whatever eatable
vegetables and grain would grow
there.
For some reason or other, he went
to the mountains of Switzerland TO
drum up his emigrants. The constit-
uents of this first company are now
widely scattered, and very few of
them reside whore Selkirk planted
them. Louis STRAIN, long q resident
Of Prairie du Chen, was one Of the
pioneers ho was but boy at that
time, and came over with his father,
Frederick STRAIN. Mr.. Sherman,
icweller in Galena, was one Of the
company; Mrs. Psugnette was an
other. Sell1irk died about the time
the emigrants reached Red River.
There were the cold acres, 100 acres
to each person, no limit to the land,
but uninhabited, except by rowing
nbu pdluJOu ndN S@SSps LUZ buh1lO
had gone to warmer pastures that
fall, and they had nothing to cat.
They fished and killed what they
could, and appealed to the charity
Of tho Indians, and stray agent OF
the company in his dog sled would
bring them a scanty supply. They
passed terrible winter that seemed
to be endless. Spring appeared, the
rivers thawed, but the ice dams far
Their north backed the water and
flooded the country they fed south
ward in tho spring, glad to escape
from the icy prison that so long con-
fined them. But further trial, under
more favorable circumstances, has
shown that the soil is inexhaustible,
producing hay, oats, wheat and po-
tatoes equal 10 any farther south.
The colony has increased in wealth
and population, and broken the des-
potism Of the Fur Company. 1t de-
sires to throw off the Canada rule,
and from present appearances, it is a
more inviting field for the Fenians
than the dominion in the south.