The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-12

Almighty God for His great mercy, and the
clemency He has put in the hearts of His people.
am thankful for this eight days more to live
Riel Tells why He Rebelied.
Regina Special to New York Herald.
Riel was kept close prisoner in his little cell,
which, by the way. is the first on the right hand
side when you leave the guard-room to enter the
central building on the south side of the bar
racks, which is the Regina prison for the time
being. The rebels cell is six and half feet by
four and a half, lighted by the usual prison
grating. 1t contains the prisoners bed, made
up of three twelve-inch boards in width. 1t is
about six feet in length This bench is attached
TO the north side of the cell by hinges so that in
the daytime ii is raised upward and fastened to
the wall by hook. By this means so much
space is saved for pacing purposes" during
daytime. The bedclothes are folded together
every morning and thrown into corner Of the
cell.
Riels Fwriting-desk is hinged onto the west
side of the little cell, the same as his bed, and
when show you three large manuscript books
filed with visions" manifestations" and rodo
nontade, together with table presented to Rel
by his mother, and few Roman Catholic pray
err books, you have the cell of the rebel half
breed, Louis Riel
am the first correspondent who has sue
ceeded in interviewing the prophet" since he
got inside the Regina prison walls While
effected almost daily communication with him
by means of an arrangement almost perfect in
itself, had not been able to stand before him in
his cell, face to face, and take from his lips his
unminced opinions regarding:
First-His reasons for raising the late REBEL
ion.
Second-The reason of its sudden collapse.
Third-The legal proceedings instituted
against him.
Fourth-His ideas and opinions on certain
persons and things in general.
1t was o'clock when the iron wicket leading
from the guard room to the prison proper noise
lessly opened on its well-oiied hinges, and
walked inside, quickly turned to the right, and
dozen PAGES took me to the cell of the con-
demned rebel
Riel exhibited little surprise on beholding his
visitor With the cordiaity of a hot-blooded
prisoner he warmly shook my hand.
Now, Mr. Riel," said l. though you have
often been asked this question before, perhaps
you will tell me candidly your reason for raising
the late rebellion?"
enough, answered Rel. II am sure some of my
good friends outside did it for me. But there is
something yet to be gathered / do not think
raised the late war, but advised the starving
half breeds to stand up for their rights shame
fully denied them by Sir John"
''You deny, then, that all this bloodshed has
been caused by your
II do had never supposed a drop of blood
need be shed. I thought it would be cheaper for
the government to come to terms with me- The
government did not do so, and my counsel-no
matter what they say now-expected good terms.
Now, my counsel are wise, and am a fool in the
eyes of idiots"
ION what conditions did you leave the United
States with the half breed deputation to come to
BatochaP
1.-THE deputation told me they were in a bad
state and were sure they could get good terms
from the government if they only had the right
kind of leader They offered me friendship a
home and plenty of money if / came back with
them. Nolin, who swore 80 hard against me,
was the loudest trying to get me to Batoche.
However, he treated me we'll after 1 got thers"
ut is a wonder to me you did not think and
hesitate over coming back to Canada for the
purpose of exciting the half-breeds aganl"
II did think. l asked the Spirit to advise me.
He said, There is fish under the rock I'll
anguie sous rocheJ. and / was to haul it out.
We all went to confession and prayed After
that the Spirit told me to go. | couldn't refuse"
What is the spirit, Mr.. Riela Have you seen
ito"
''Yes, frequently. It is man eight feet high"
SIS it true you offered to leave your people,
the half breeds Of Saskatchewan to fight out
their own battles if you got large sum of mon
ey from the governmentW
1T is lie," cried Riel. ''The government
hunted me from friends and home like wild
beast Sir John never paid me what he prom
ised, and did not deserve the treatment got.
1t is the duty of the government to release me
now and give me 100000 There was nothing
to prevent me going with Gabriel to the States
after we had lost Batoche. The spirit told me
to have courage, like King David, who suffered
as did"
SIS il true you were assisted in raising this re-
tellion by the Hudson Bay Companyl"
Il have told you did not raise the rebellion.
We hated the Hudson Bay Company more than
Nhnx, ILL -
but their day is short. You will find some of
their dirty tricks there" pointing to a book of
manuscripts.
''In case you die. you intend these manuscripts
shall be publishedf'
YES. may die but will rise again after
three days"
'"Then it is all the same to you whether you
die or notgp
mot altogether If die God must raise me
from the dead, and l do not want to put him to
the inconvenience of working miracle for me"
"You did not make a very good stand at Ba
toche against General Middleton"
Poor fellows! They couldn't make stand
against anything. They had neither food.
you told DR.. Willoughby at Batoche, last
winter You would rule the Northwest or perish
in the attempt"
II may have said so. don't think did,
though. Wllloughby and Welsh were fright
ened as trapped coyotes"
Why did you allow your men to attack Major
Cro2ier at Duck Lakel"
Il did not allow them. Neither did they attack
Crozier; Orozier Is good man. but he fred
- first. / could have Prince Albert. Carlton Rat.
tleford, etc. taken, and the whites massacred If
liked. What was to prevent me taking Saska-
toonY stopped bloodshed in place of shedding
1t. hope st. John will repent, though
what do You think of the legal proceedings
In your easel"
Il am very thankful to my Quebec friends for
thinking o. me, but they are fghing the devil
on his own reserve. The heretcs want .Riel's
blood 1''''
What's your opinion of the three advocates
they sent you up2a
w ell DO not wish to say anything against
them. Poor fellows. they did their best. They
didn't understand my case at ALL If Lemienx
could speak English like me, he might be able
to get along. Fitzpatrick thinks he is as tall as
the Spirit, but he is two feet less Greensbields
made me sick. j am glad he was mt To ona
side. However, L thank them from my heart. y
What do you think about the decision of the