The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-15
RED RIVER DAYS.

I, Ian little more than hall century since
r,orae Douglas Earl Of elkirk. and his hand
,nihf Scotch followers laid the foundations OF
winnipeg hut some portions ~ 1t look as IL
,h,v lated from rcmoter period. II was at
O.. couc1 ,he Red River settlement. which
,omo It h5ro ill 1881. whom Fort Garry was
tn.r and the fertilization being then the most
I,,r r,ant uuhuilling in the region. gave It's
non...t to tho village which clustered around it.
isir.srtt designation Ia OF moro recent date.
Tnecar,y settlers had n strenuous battle with
winter and famine. ohstrcperous and hostile
sa,nrcs and other elemental and incidental
OPPOSITION before they got their feeble little
twtlotthrough its nfantile disorders and on
ueslfe road ~ growth and prosperity. Though
nonually the private enterprise OF n Scotch
n1No. II was really nm outpost Of the great lTud-
SON Bay Company. OF which Lord Selkirk was
alruprictor and its establishment was mainly
designed 20 oppose the incursions in that re-
rlou Of the Northwest Company. a rival organ
iuton OF formidable oxtent and power. which
he success Of its predecessor had called into
existence. and which had begun to mako ex-
tu-iyo cncroachments upon ts trade md terri
tory Tho young settlement found in the ser
warts OF the rival company and their Indian
Lll's active and imulacable enemies. and the
ttlry OF the first ten years Of their occupancy Of
llc region Is one OF continual hardship and
g. arrangement. Flocks OF wild birds and
Elouds Of grasshoppers destroyed their feeble
irops foods carried away their dwellings: tie
NlnteTs were long and Of terrible severity; their
aboriginal noighbors. though as rule not
nerce or bloodtAirsiy. were on the side OF their
rivals. and nothing but their unyeldng Scotch
lenacity sustained them in the unequal struggle.
In the winter thcy loft the settlement and took
refuge In the friendly Indian camp near Penn
hinn. where an occasional herd of buffalo noun-
ierng through tho snow drifts brought them
transient respite from the immncnce Of famine.
IL the spring they won't back 10 their rude agrl-
culture. and took up their intermitted and. as 1t
seemed. almost hopeless task. Their patron
aided them 10 the extent Of his power. but his
power was limited their situation remote and
he hostility ofthe rival company ncessant and
karrassing. But they finally trumphed. and
Me handsome town. with its outlying system OF
lArms and plantations. its many churches and
schools. and It's various tokens Of prosperity
AID well being Is their trophy. The memory Of
these hardy Scotch pioneers Is entitled to a
share Of such honor as we bestow upon our
Pilgrim fathers who q century and a half before
confronted similar hardshipe and laid broader
foundations Of achievement amid the stern and
Inh' -pitable New England wildernesses.
The town now numbers six or seven thousand
nhubiants. and is scattered over quite an ex-
enied space at the junction OF the Assinib oine
Ind Red Rivers. It's steeples and roofs and the
gray spires OF its wooden fortress rising out OF
HE love solitude Of the prairie. and approa he'd
through such wide. uninhabited wastes. give Il
m aspect - dignity and impressiveness out Of
proportion with Its real magnitude To the tray
tller II appears somewhat a. Lone Khiva on
lhe waste ly the borders Of tho OAus must APP
peat % the Tartar caravan which approaches il
icr1ss th' desert Seen ne We first saw it
AGAINST the blaze ~ sunset. 1t assumes indea-
hii3 and imaginary proportions. lts modest
bu llnS- seem transAgured IN the intense and
Eemlogs s'ow.
Ai'r the sun had gone down however. all
heso romantic and illusory as pcats faded away y.
Al we una ourselves in the twit streets u
tc9Mioftaoio. substantial American town. built
nuih.F Of wood. thoush there were some s,rus-
mres u brick and stone and wearing an uu-
hi-iakable appearance Of thrift and rosperity
Which 10 would have done the old Scotch pi1-
heors. now mostly IA their graves in the old
tirkyarl near the fort. good q see.
Il was appointed that the ceremonies % well
iome 70 Us should 10 solemnizel in tho Custom
lse one Of the largest structures in the
own. Il was worry gray and wsather-baat
Il Il it bore heavier burden ot years than il
pull authenti,ally claim; but it wore above its
main portal. rather laun'ily tho ancient ani
fAF. ~ iron Iltlt WtlU mo 0Hklfe OF the hAl-
I4n'- Bay Company upon it, as "A veteran soldier
nisit wear upon his breast the medal worn
nd lm which attested his old yalor and DO
isrl Il must have witnessed many tumultuous
gatherings and many u heroic drinking bout
in its armoral ensign was set upon It's front.
md It's official state and dignity-token that
sar9u-nls there were under the sanction Of
neutrality-suspicious. by that hcraldic affirm
alton. But it could hardly have sheltered
moro numerous or enthusiastic gathering
han that which welcomed Us. The large room,
down the centre OF which ran a table. whereon
stood "a forest Of bottles inters persed with can
lies. was crowded before our arrival. and among
Ae Oronzed European countenances appeared
cow AMI then one OF dusker hue. showing
HAT even the Indians. Of whom there are many
about the town. were disposed to do the polite
Nlug by Us and take share AZ least In the
lrNklug part Of the ceremonies Their eyes
iplrkl"i az they looked upon the serred array
G. 'ities. some Of them slim and long -necked,
,JnfaiAins choice yintages Of tho Rhine, some
Mort aud squat. and filled with more potent
beverages. stone jugs from Scottish brewerles
tlcIlet TASKS from Flemish vaults aristo-
trIa' silyer-capped and crimson labelled re-
,s.t .es from Proyencal cellars. ami huge
rnsAan,. waxed ana sealed filed at smoky
s'iU7 IN the Orkneys or the Hebridos
I-al r-sll. whereof Douglas. Earl Of Selkirk,
mls' have partaken before he sci sail on his
ai' atlr Us quest amid the unknown wilder
n'7- oi Prince Kuper's Land Such an array
Wa enough o. kindle a sacred Bacchic fire IN
iA' -"a-.ilyn aboriginal heart. commonly
warmed iy ruler taps at private exp cnse; nor
'4.l fail T. impair. glow OF inspiration to
Cur WIZ though We might well d.strust our
A'Hb ~ do full Justice u such extended anl
uanss, preparation.
Iis Consul was in particularly high feather
on iN'"e'aH n. 1t seemed appropri ate that he
iA a.l take the stroke oar so far as oratory was
rael' ana he had no sooner got hold u it
70 DE- ptesied his equality to any forensic
'.~ Nlun In" Unite Of human conjecture
T. "rn' IN at once, IKE gun which had long
l''h loaded, and which only awaited the gent.
u.s. q " rir unl-ihuecs Or the persuasive
Mhi h ~ opportunity to blaze forth in deaf
A. Z "hl inr-- lgins explosion. A sense Of
' magnitude If the Northwest had penetrated
~ lDas lnhion and be seemed determined |
s.' 10 snouii A. MGR b. left 70 the tame in;
\ H-lr'r-, hut O. ut II should shine forth under |