The New York herald., 1870-07-24
r E D r v e r.
LIFE AT FORT GARRY.
AFFAIRS IN THE SETTLEMENTS.
-~~~.~~>-~-~~~~~~~~~~~
What the Canadian Expedition
Has to Encounter.
~o~~<~~S~~~~~~.~S~>~--->-
AN INDIAN WAR IMPENDING.

FORT GARRY, July 1, 1870.
"Grim visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled
GeHti In the Northwest Territory, and the excite
ment OF the past six months at Fort Garry has been
succeeded by the utmost quiet. Winnipeg Is just
now the dullest place imaginable NOT even the
ghost of warlike rumor nits through the Red River
region now adays, and everybody has subsidized into
a sort OF apathy, awaiting the Ralvanism Of the Ca.
madam expedition and Governor Archibold's new
rcganae. All talk Of resistance to Canadian autho-
rty has ceased and to-day, the anniversary OF Do
minion confederation. Is being celebrated In winni-
peg bv the display Of the Union Jack and reckless
consumption OF nsede-gun whiskey.
PEN PICTURE.
Perhaps the reader can be enabled to picture in hls
nfnds eye the scene to-day in this remote country,
scene which has been repeated daily for some
Hme ana which will characterize this section for
many hot, weary weeks to come. Imagine q
turbld. crooked stream, about three hundred
feet wide and moving n0rthward between steep
clay banks from thirty to fifty feet high for Red
river The Assinnibone river, not quite as large,
but great deal muddier, flows into Red river from
the west, and afcng both streams thin strip of
small poplar and willow trees marks their winding
course through the broad nat prairie. On the bluff,
at the junction Of the two rivers stands Fort Garry
Its yellow walls shining in the sun, It's cracked
round bastons leaning tipsy over threatening to
1a In the xt storm that s0ftens their ciayey foun
Cations, ana the Provisional governments white
nag, with lis shamrock and neur de As, and the
Union Jack Tying from separate STATS above the
blaek-roofed buildings within the fort sun.
burned French haf-breed, In double breasted blue
frocK coat with brass Buttons, blue pantaloons
secured at the waist by gaudy red and yellow
eash; low, black felt hat ana moccasins
stands guard at the gateway of the fort with
Ans against the old round peaked top sentry box,
and discussing the situation With his comrades
equatted upon few square stones ON the opposite
Side Of the entrance Down the bank, in front OF
the fos II an cid rope ferry across the ASSN
and few rods below is similar ferry across Red
river few battered sc0ws and large sharp bowed
portage boats lie high and dry on the Steep muddy
Hlope of the river bank, affordfng shade ana CON-
1oft to dozen wx!lowing snorting hogs, and
RAPIDLY going to pieces In the fierce summer SUM-
Across Red river opposite the fort stand the catne.
Oral. the convent, the bishops residence aud other
edifces belonging to the Catholic Aiissioa Of
st. Bontface The buildings are OF stoac
Some are painted white, with green blinds
and with numerous shade trees neat fences,
and flower gardens, the mission forms very pretty
tsctures Looking back beyond the tort, the white
houses OF winnipeg make q neat village apparently
half mile out on the plain. but really touched by
the river, which winds around that way. Still
further on tho tower Of the Episcopal cathedral and
the roofs OF the English settlers are visible among
the treetOps along the river while east west north
and south there stretches the vast prairie, dotted
here and there close at hand, with the conica tents
and carts, and cattle Of traders nom the Saskatche-
wan, the buffalo plains and the gold fields OF the
Rocky Mountains. A scorching sun pOurs its fiery
heat upon all, and the thermometer mounts to over
a hup So
in the hot, rarined atmosphere, assume all the
fantastic illusions OF the mirage.
INSIDE OF FORT GARRY
There is an appearance OF military rule. Six brass
Geld pieces, three and six Founders, and few
small cohorn mOrtars stand just inside the gateway
with few piles Of old rusty shot and unlOaded shell
between them The first building approached is
two stories high and Is occupied by The provisional
government Halt dozen ofderlies, all dressed
like the sentry at the gate stand sit the little
porch and IN the hail. and the door family OF
swallows peer down from their nest Of mud under
tho caves. The public apartments OF the estab-
ltshment are elegantly furnished with Governor
McDougaa's furniture and the dining room and Gull.
nary department. are abundantly supplied with Hud-
Bon Bay Gompany's property.
There is considerable fDrmaty observed In the re-
cepten Of visitors, the President being dicult Of
access to most persons and interviews being gene
rally conducted by his subordinates. The other
buildings within the walls used principally as
HtorehOnses and quarters For the guards. At one
ettle OF the headquarters is the Hudson Bay Com
Pany's store, sort OF suffers establishments. and
back OF headquarters Is the two story building used
ns prison during the winter: Passing about nity
yisitor comes to high plank fence, which ne has
probably mistaken for an outer wall, but which Is
really partition through the centre OF the tort. A
door In the fence admits him into the private grounds
pr the fort. where the families OF the Hudson Bay
hnd very cool this hot weather and the gardens are
full of flowers and iourishing vegetables Still fur.
ther on, back Of the gardens, are the walls OF the
Tort, with platform extending around for troops to
letand on, and cannon in the bastlons. There
hre not many visitors % Of the l.,o., fort A
government make brief calls upon PRESIDENT Rie
pr upon Mr.. D0noghue and occasionally two or
three gentlemen pay visit to the Hudson Bay Com
paay officers back in their private quarters where
;fxcsllent wines. rare old brandy and good cigars
aepSs on Se Was
library and numerous late publications. including
the illustrated and daily Journals oil New York and
hour, refreshed by the cool breeze that comes in
threugh tho shaded windows and forgetful OF the
p0"' OIL" '''';ri THE Hfe's; TOWN OF WINNIPEG
ts lndescrlbably dull It's three stores, two hotels
pnd half dozen restaurants. with one tailor, one
shoemaker one ttnsmith, one gunsmith, one car
penter shop and half blacksmith monep0lize the
business, all OF which might at the present time be
very comfortably conducted by one ablebodied man,
excepting perhaps that OF the saloons. During the
Gay the place is very quiet. Everybody keeps within
doors out OF the scorching sun, and vany endeavors
to keep the blood from emuatipg the torrid condi-
tiOn of the thermometer Towards evening, as the
ann and the cool night wind OF these northern
latltdes relieves the oppressive heat the streets be-
i5in to swarm with Indians halfbreeds and doga,
and the cattle and horses come in from the prairie,
brin4ipg myriads OF mosquitoes. The saloons srs
crowded until late hour, and the Place resouDds
with the b0isterous drunken jargon OF the PLAIN
hunters and river freighters. Daylight lasts u21l
nine p NJ, and II the WIND is stiff one can sit out
doors without being devoured by mosquitoes, but
generally people are driven early TO the shelter Of
their beds and mosquito bars One OF the most coml.
cal scenes to be Witnessed is the spectacle OF half
dezen persons in the billiard saloon dividing their
time between drinks into punching the balls about
ana fighting the mosquitoes. man will nave what
he cenceives to be rather difficult carrom to exc
Cute. Just as he Is on The point oi making
the shot, and his eye has caught the. exact
angle, his cue Will fly up with an
oalh and slap-slap-slap goes MS hand,
snnihating two or three insects at each blow.