The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-11-24
The PENALTY PAID
FOR TREASON AGAINST THE QUEEN.
Louis Riel Hung by the Canadiah
Authorities According to the
PrOgrammes!Tie Rebel LeadL
or Meets His Fate Unf nchi
ingly-sNO Speech Nlatlc.


or Meets His Fate Unf nchi 81
ingly-sNO Speech Matlc.
REGINA. N W. T.. Nov. 16.-After
the departure OF his visitors, yestetist.
Riel wss left in the sole compsnv Bf bis
spiritual adsisor, Who Performed fhssses
Tor him during the earlv portion OF the
night. The condemned msn then laid
down and appeared to sleep sonndlt, bot
swoke at an early hour this murning and
resumed bis devotion.. ....,,.
The ssme extraordinary precsuiion
against the possible escape of Rel OF
the intrusion into the barracks by rfnau.
'horized persons. was observed again
this morning. Ala mile from the bar
racks mounted patrols cbalfenged all
persons and compelled them 10 disclose
written passes. while two othpt l,hes OF
guards we're stationed at points nearer
the post, where the same precaulions
were again observed.
No one was permitted TO enter the
guard-roOm until 8:l2 O'Clock. The
scene presented then was that of Riel On
the scaffoli. with Pere Andre and Fs4
ther McWilliams with him, celebrating
mass. Riel was On bis bended knee,
wearing q loose wooden surto.t, gray
trousers aud q wcolen shirt On his
feet were moccasins-the only feature
OF his dress that partook Of the Indian
that Was in him.
ON TIE sCAFFaLD. 1,3.
He received the notice to proceed to
the scafioId In the same composed man
ner shown the preceding night on re-.
ceivlug the warning OF bis fate. His
face was' fdll Of color. and be appeared
to have complete self.possession. respon
ding 10 The service in clear tone.
The last sartau1ent was taken by the
condemned within the guard house prop.
er sni tIest the opening which led. to the
scaiold. He responded, TO The Latin
prsyers with full and clear voice while
on bis bebded knees. When the mo.
ment came for hiH 10 rise to have bis
arms and hands pinidned. he kept look
Ing up. slowly repeating his prayera.-
He then walked through the contracted
opening and down the narrow stairway
with bis face turned away from the few
civilians and soldiers who stood about
the opening. When be was about 10
take his place on the trap the deputy
sheriff asked n be had anything to say.
He turned to his confessor Pere Andre
aud inq ,ired: "Shau | not sav q few
words "NO," quickly replied the prizes,
IN French. "Make this your las: sacri
dce and you will be RETARDED"
HE BAD NOTHING TO SAT-
Riel turned and remarked in English,
81 have nothing TO say" There vas
some DELAY 10 adjusting the tUoss, bot
Riel did not remark upon It and a. the
white cap closed over him, he was 10 be
heard distinctly repeausg bis prayers.-
During the night Pere Andre urged M
on R'el not to attempt 90 address on tie
scaffold ami suggested that q reprieve
might still be on It's way, but this idea
Riel strenuously repelled. He said | e
knew bis hour bad come and that he wss
not only prepared hat that he would not
have u anv other way, and as no.biny
but the alternative OF prison for life
awaited him death was preferable to that.
There was barely . qaiver as the drop
fell, and his death was pronounced an
easy one.
The execution OF Riel is to he follow.
ed at Battleford BY the banging of ten1
lndian chiefs Tor atrocities committed
during the recent rebellion and 10 each
instance for murders committed. This
will close the book Of criminal proce.
dure growing out Of the North vest wal.
a. the other persons convicted we're for
prison sentences. all of which are now
being served out. The execution. Of
Riel vas managed ny a man named Jack
Henderson, who was captive of Riers
10 the rebellion Of 1870.
RIEL's SANITY QUEeTIoNED.
Rev Charles McWilliams, who assist.
ed Father Andre 10 his attendance upon
Riel during his last hours and Who vas
a class-mate o. the rebel at Montreal
College in 1860, is firm 10 the belief that
Riel was insane, and 90 expressed him
self to representa- Of the Associa.
ted Press to-day. In this belief he al.
dressed letter last Monday to the Gov
erno! General ~ Canada, citing bis iru
conviction and eavlne that while be-
deemed Riel dangerous person, accor
ding to his belief, II the sentence OF death
was carried out his blood would be upor
the bead Of bis Excellepcy Lord Lsns.
downe and bis Immediate advisers. He
addressed similar document to Sir
John Macdonald, Prime Minister.
Rev. McWilliams has in his posses
sion series Of lstters written by Riei
within the past ten, days, which serves
as q partial index to bis character ard
bis claim I" being patriot and likew |
prophet. R'ers handwriting is bold and
moderately regular He handed Father
McWilliams the following November 3,
four hours before he heard OF his res.
pite:
RtGIsA JAn. Nov SO, the 4,b OF |
November, 1885. it was revealed to me.
"your death 10 reprieved" There are
ten lawyers. On the 9h, 10 the morn.
ing. It was said to roe from above. "The
council viii meet Tuesday on your in.
Signed LOUIS "DAvrD' REL
These happenings trsnspired ss be 10.
iicaied in his paper. All letters are
signed Louis "David" Riel, the word
l.. u Il l.