New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-11-25

| z1H LATE LOUIS RIK1.
APrisse VIC Attended Rssl Duri.x III.
Last Hours Gives Out IntsrsstinE Facts.
WnnREo, Man. Special Telegram, Nov.
17.-Father McWilliams, who spent Sunday
with Rel before his execution. gives some in
teresting details Of the last hours OF the great
chief Of the half breeds Father McWilliams
was classmate with Riel in college at Mon
heal, and talked much about old times with
the condemned man. He says he never
attended q condemned man who wasso fully
prepared to die as was Riel, though until the
last moment arrived he believed something
would happen to save his life. Father Nc
Williams secured many of Rieps papers,
among which was the following:
l have said anything peremptory in my
d0ned and to be received into the bosom Of the
Roman Catholic church, which il the only true
to it, and believe in the infallible dogmas Of
the sovereign pontih.
[Signedl LOUIS DAVID REL
DE- Dodds, coroner, who was standing be-
| low the drop, says:
When the bolt was drawn Riel. who was stand
Ing on one leaf only, shot downward and for
ward MS legs rising as the rope frightened. In
tent. Riel's BODY came violently forward on the
chest. and we distinctly heard crack as the
vertebrR were fractured.
Pere Andre. whose ministrations to the
condemned have been constant during his
confinement, was Interviewed He says it
was Riers custom to read the Bible eyery
day, his mother having sent him Bible.
THE MURDER OF SCOTT.
He detailed the conversation he had with
him short time previous to the execution,
relative to the murder of Thomas Scott dur
ing the rebellion of 1860. Riel said:
have been reproached for the death Of Scott,
but at this day think it was only political
| mistake and by bringing the half breeds to q
Of other lives. think made q mistake. but
before God and my conscience did not commit
crime. Sir John Macdonald Is now committing
me to death tor the same reason I Committed
Scott-bccause it Is necessary for the country's
good. admit that Scotts shooting was mis-
managed. but commanded it because thought
came and said thew could do nothing with him,
Rebellion was the eve of breaking oct all over
the country. but as uoon as Scott was killed 1t
subsided.
Being asked to divulge Scott's place of
burial, Riel said:
=, That's hat mot not my secret: have been pardoned
| In response to query OF Father McWill-
iams Riel said:
I assure you that three weeks before the Duck
Lake fight had no idea of rebellion, but it was
forced Oh me by Gabriel Dumont aud others.
WIZ CAME &uu SalQ G0e people would abandon
me II did not do something to bring the. gov
eminent to terms. had been six months in
| the country and done nothing.
Riel. when asked why, when the rebellion
was first started. he did not act decisively by
attacking Prince Albert and Carlton said.
Il was afraid. for if went there with the
Indians there would inevitably have been q
massacre" l asked why he left all his papers
to be captured, thereby discriminating many.
Riel replied:
During the last three day at Batoche I con-
TESS lost my head. told Pierre Paranteau to
destroy them all. but in the hurry and confusion
he did not do So
AT s a m Rlel wrote letter to the law
yers who defended him saying he was thank.
full for all they had done They had done
everything in their power, and if they had
! failed it was not their fault He also wrote
lette rs to his wife, mother and relatives
Then. kneeling, he prayed extempore for an
hour and half, using the most beautiful
language. He asked that God would give
Sir John wisdom but take him very quickly
to himself Riel laughed as he said this and
that was bad. Riel replied that he could not
do better than wish Sir John in heaven.
Thon, rising, smiling, be said in a reflective
manner that 1t was very strange to see
poor man like himself with all the power of
Canada arrayed against him. ut is not be-
cause am prophet, for they know that
cannot help me in the present positions
Requiem mass was said at 5 o'clock by Pere
Andre and Father McWllliams, Riel then
receiving the sacrament. After mass the
two priests urged HIM not to, speak on the
scaffold, as 1t would excite him. Riel was
very reluctant to foreRo the privilege, say
ing he wanted to let the people know he was
prophet and had mission here. Andre said:
You have mission, and it is to die as beco mes
man and Christian. I have been preparing
| you to die worthily for the last three months.
and now you will not cause my efforts to be in
vain. -
After further conversation. Riel said:
| Father. am in your hands and Will WELD n
your advice feel happy and ready to die Do
not be afraid that will break down | may
pc nervous. but for the last two months have
peen making ready for death, and my courage
| Will not fail