The New York herald., 1870-01-15

vet the people OF Minnesota have not participated In
the difficulties across the border although their SYM
pathies are almost without exception with the
new provisional government; but their memo.
rles or the massacre OF 1862 are SO keen,
and their hatred Of the Sioux Is SO intense that
upon the first alarm OF Indian depredatlons hun
dreds or armed MinlesOtans would rush TO the Red
River settlements and engage In war OF extermlna
tion against the savage lugitves from Justice The
newly elected Governor OF the State and all the
bers OF the Legislature are in favor OF sending all
needfu aid to Red River If the Indians are melted
against them, and there Is no doubt that the first
Sioux warwhoop would bring to Fort Garry regi-
ment or Americans. The sioux consider themselves
SAFE from American vengeance in the Red River
country, and II they Thought that the Dominion gov
ernment would not chastlse them they would fail
upon the settlements In moment for the sake OF
punder. 1t remains to be seen how Tar Canadian or
Hudson Bay Company's agents have tampered with
them.
Notwithstanding the proximity OF the scene Of
operations to the United States borders the character
OF the country involved IN this difficulty seems TO be
very imperfectly understood. The Red River ques
tion includes the whole or
RUPERT'S LAND,
comprising all that territory extending between the
Dominion or Canada and the Rocky Mountains, from
the northern boundary OF the United States 10 the
Arctic Ocean. II includes about 1000 600 square
dow land. The remainder or the territory is occu-
pied by lakes forests and impossible tracks Of snow
and ice. The history OF the Hudson Bay Company's
occupation OF this territory since 1870 by virtue OF
charter from King Charles the Second, ana OF Its
Nsw in s asu yenG a ony r
mains TO give description OF that section which
has suddenly sprung iu.0 no!ies sga j known as
THE RED RIVER COUNTRY,
This part Of Ruperps Land was ceded 10 Lord sell
kirk IN 1871, and was designated as lollows:-
All that tract Of land territory bounded by imaginary
shores Of Lake wnp a. ons a%o 's de-
grees thirty north latde and thence running
through the said lake. strike
latitude M w sn due o west 70 the yhss s
river the Assnneone then due south from that point Of
rannsg Into nudsoas Bay from .hSse Of he
n then he IN e 81 he wnspea r1s s the @
by such river the principal branch Of the waters
stream waters the middle OF the several
through which they now 70 The mouth Of the Winnipeg river
Lake Winnipeg, to the place OF beginning.
In 1872 the first coonists, consisting Of several
Scotch families, reached Red River, but met by
large party Of half breeds and Indians the SER
vice OF the Northwest Fur Company, and warned not
TO establish permanent settlement, The c2lonsts,
conducted by these Indians proceeded to the post
OF the Hudson Bay Company at Pembina, where
they passed the winter in buffalo skin tents. In May,
1873, the emlgrants returned to a place about two
miles below Fort Garry aud there commenced their
agricultural labors. In the iall OF the year they
again sought refuge at PemDina, ana in the follow.
Ing season made another attempt to plant them
selves permanently on the banks OF the Red river
at their original place of settlement During the
summer, however, their houses were burned by the
wandering half-breeds and when, In 1916 the main
body or emgrants arrived from Scotland they found
poverty and aespondency prevailing. The new ar
rivals with supplies OF all kinds gave new life
TO the little colony, but in 1916 q serious
conflict took place between the settlement
and tho native employees OF the Northwest Colony,
IN which many were KILLED on both sides and the
settlers dispersed. Shortly atterward Lord SelkirK
arrived with one hundred disbanded soldiers COM
posed chiefly OF Germans, French and SWISS and
recalling the scattered Scotch settlers, the colony
was re-establlshed- In 1918 several French Canadian
families. under the guidance OF TWO priests arrived
In the country, and IN 1870 Catholic church was
erected. The union OF the Hudson Bay and the
Northwest companies in 1921 gave peace TO the col
ony, and 1t commenced to grow win rapldity. In
ls4S 1t numbered over 5000 people, and upon
the opening or the Northwestern States ana
territories Of the United States emigration flowed
into the Red River country over the American bor-
Ger and formed settlements at various places, in-
Guiding Oak Post, White Horse Plains and Prairie
fortage along the Red and Assinnlbone rivers. The
prlncpel OF these are on Rcd river, between the
mouth OF Rat river and Lake winnipeg.
me hed river OF the north rises IN Ottertai lake,
| ~ Minnesota, and flows In westerly course for
some distance after which 1t winds to the north In
latltude 40 deg. min., and passes through vast
prairles In an exceedingly tortuous channel the
plains not being over TWO feet above the water in liza
ordinary stage In June In latitude 48 deg 23 min.
80 sec. belt OF timber sets In and continues with
some Interruptions, along Its banks to Pemblna.
In latitude 40 deg Al min. IL sec. the level
| Of the praires is thirty feet above the river.
The stream receives some important ulbptsyiel N,