Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-19

How He was Guarded-oharm Of
Manner nnd Eleunnnn of Speech. .

/
REGINA, NV. II. Nov lie. Louis David Riel
was executed on the scaifold at the barracks
of the mounted police force near this city
! for high treason against the Queen Of Great
Britain, at S.2S O'Clock this morning, noun
tain time.
THE DEATH WARRANT.
REGINA, N. W. IT,, Nov. l5.-The special
messenger bringing the warrant signed by
the encouragement Of Canada, directing
the execution OF Louis Riel, arrived here on
u special train at 8 o'clock tonight. Riel
received the formal intelligence at Q o'clock
| tonight In his cell In the guard room OF the
mounted police barracks, three miles west
| Of this city.
Riel who had been conversing with the
| surgeon OF the post, arose and welcomed
the Sheriff in hearty and thoroughly UNI
restrained way. His voice was modulated,
and he displayed no signs of excitement.
His initial greeting was: ''Well and 80 you
i have come with the great announcement
/ am glad" Sheriff Chapleau replied that
the death warrant had come.
Riel, continuing in the same CHEEKY way,
said; II am glad that at last am to he rt'-
| leased from my suiferings." lie then broke
| of in French, and thanked the sheriff for
his personal consideration. He proceeded
/ again in English: II desire that my body
shall be given to my friends to be laid in
| st. Bonifaee." This is the French cemetery
acoss the Red river from the city of Wlnni-
/ peg.
The sheriff asked him II he had any
wishes to convey as to the disposition OF his
| personal estate or effects. "Mon cher" re-
| Piled he, 81 have only this" touching his
i breast above the region of the heart. "This
gave to my country 10 years ago, and 1t is
/ all have to give now"
| He was asked as to his peace OF mind
and replied, 81 long ago made my peace
| with my God, and am as prepared now as
/ can be at any time. You will find that
had a mission to perform. l want you to
| thank my friends in Quebec for all they
have done for me-" He continued, in reply
| TO another question, 81 am willing TO CO."
He closed by saying to Sheriff Chapleau
as he held out his hand to him in parting:
"Adieu, mon ami" His eye was clear and
| uniiinching, and his bearing throughout
| was such as to evoke sense Of admiration
| by the absence OF any tremor OF excitement
| Pere Andre his spiritual advisor, then adj
| vanced, and he was left with him TO cele-
| brate mass.
REGINA, N. w. T., Nov. lG.--Riel has
been confined in the guard room of the
| Canadian mounted police barracks, whose
head quarters post is located on the open
prairie three miles west of this city ever
since the conclusion of his trial here in
the month of July. His trial and sen.
tence occurred in this city, which is the
capitol of a vast territory stretching north
as far as Alaska west to British Column
bia, and known as Northwest Territory.
The territorial council meets here, and it
is likewise the official residence of the
resident lieutenant-governor and other
high appointive officials. The leader of
the Metes or half-breeds in their two re-
volts against the authority of the Cana
dian government has been kept under the
closest surveillance bya force Of mounted
police stationed here. The latter are q
very snowy body of men of mounted
troops, wearing the scarlet jackets, blue
trousers and fur caps of the British dra,
goons. Ever since the denial OF the I'm.
perial council of Great Britain to gran,
an appeal on behalf of Riel to overturr
the verdict rendered against him, the
espionage has been more strict thar
ever, both TO guard against the escape
of their state prisoner and to prevent any
attempt at rescue which might be made
, by his countrymen in Canada or over thu
American border. Ninety men were tol(
I off for this duty Saturday night, and las
night even this number was increased
r videttes occupying commanding points
/ mile from the barracks and double Gordon
| about the camp proper. The prison o
i Riel is long wooden structure one stor,
in hight with n long slantiug roof ant
f small windows under the ewes gratet
with iron. The two reliefs of the guar,
occupied the rooms in the front portiol
= of the building, while six sentinel
: paced up and down continuously outsid
y the structure. Another sentinel paced i
l. front of the cell of the condemned hall
| lao cd lnl C
: far that the officer of the guard was con
Il PEELED to visit and certify that he ha
= visited his prisoner each quarter of u
i, hour. Never was captive more jealousl
=, guarded, and possibly never was captiN
y during the full period OF his imprisol
"a ment less in need of watchmen in h
= outward department.
- Whatever his character may have bee
n in the field as n martial leader Of h
Of countrymen, in prison he has fallen liti
Is short Of religeuse. His time has bee
ia devoted assiduously to prayer. Evt
in when given his constitutional on the opt
ground adjoining the guard room for {
os hour each morning, he has paced bat
IL and forth with his hands casped togeth
in front, his head bowed with praye
RS issuing from his lips, voiced either i'll Il
p French or Indian Cree tongue. Soc
On after his capture by the Canadian troop
y, he professed throw off his allegiance
W the Roman Catholic Church, and took Il
~, guise of aprophet claiming to see visio
nd and forte ling events. Latterly as L
ms fate seemed more surely sealed he h
he sought the comfort again of his origin
faith, and his constant and almost on
he companion for the past two weeks Ii
" been Pere Andre from Fort Albert clio
u IL to the scene of the rebellion. Il
le- churchman's visits have been twice dali
te, and in his absence Riel was fl
Ter quently kneeling Mt his couch
prayer. The remainder of his til
ny has been spent in writing out predictio
hg of the future, and defense of his co
g. duct in leading the half-breeds twice
"a. war. These papers have all been c
Ia trusted to Pere Andre, aud will doubt,
he be produced mt some time in the futui
Jut although the prelate refuses to surrend
'ill them now. No one, no matter what
credentials, was permitted topass throu
~ the guard room to see the prisoner in
Icb cell, and the immediate friends of the &C
on demned man even did not see him, thou
les no restriction was placed on them.
ny. received few days ago letter from
on aged mother which affected him visib
ms but at no other time during his coniii
az NJ ment did he show any signs of that wei
az ness which was imputed to him after
ic,e capture by Canadian scouts.
it'll The strict privacy of the prisoner "
ov- broken down for the first time yesterd
am when the representative of the Associat
nat Press was permitted to visit the prison
Lhd in company of the high sheriff and co
nd mander of the mounted police. This v
, IL on occasion of the formal announcemC
lille that his death-warrant had arrived I
Up charm of the rebels manner was unde
ok able. He spoke very slowly but very d
ery tinctly looking at the sheriff with re
lutte eye and without tingc of bragg
ore docio. He rallied the sheriff when
IN latter suggested that he should not spe
for too long, "You think l will speak /
is long, TINT will be unnerved. "Oh, Il
Ign Mt the last moment will be firm"
Ion There was trace of the French pat
oW in his accent, which did not lessen
',th charm of his speech. His beard wa
mo-. dark brown, neatly trimmed, and his Ii
was brushed back from his high forehe
nd, with tendency TO curl in contrast to |
sed straight hair of his Indian progenito
non His nose was slightly roman and his 81
,olu dark, but not swarthy. Looking ut h
,cra and his manner, il was easy TO discern
!, or influence he had with his people. ]
the address was that of the skilled COURT
, or and his college training had never
will serted him in the perfection and grace
the his speech, all the more remarkable
risn contrast to that of his followers.
icy While it has been charged that
The showed lack of spirit on the battle ii
,es- or in the presence of danger, no ,
un- would urge it against him in witness
tina | tha noucbnlanpn Of his bao opl