The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-11-19
BEFORE THE HANGING.
An Interesting Talk with LOuisRiel While
in Prison-What Riel Has to Say About
Himself.

Himself.
! A correspondent OF the New York Herald
at Regina says: Rel was kept close pris-
oner 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 barracks
which is the Regina prison for the time be-
ing. The rebels cell is six and hall feet
by four and 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 little cell by hinges, so that in the day
time it is raised upward and fastened to the
wall by hook. By this means SO much
space is saved Tor ''pacing purposes"
during daytime. The bedclothes are
folded together every morning and
! thrown into a corner OF the cell.
Riefs writing desk is hinged on to the
west side of the little cell, the same as his
bed, and when | show you three large
manuscript books filled with visions"
manifestations" and redomontade, to-
! gether with Il bible presented to Riel by his
mother, and few Roman Catholic prayer
books, you have the cell OF the rebel half
/ breed, Louis Riel The scaffold is at the
! extreme south end OF the prison, enclosed
by a board fence nine ieet square. 1t was
| on this scaffold that Connors, the Moose
| jaw murderer, was executed on Friday,
July II, for the brutal murder OF his chum,
I Henry Molaski. 1t was + o'clock when
! the iron wicket leading from the guard
room to the prison proper noiselessly
opened on its well-oiled hinges, and |
walked inside, quickly turned to the right,
and IL dozen PAGES took me to the cell of
the condemned rebel Riel exhibited little
surprise on beholdins his visitor. With
the cordiality OF IL hotblooded prisoner he
/ warmly shook nlN sand.
Now, Mr.. Riel, " said |, Though you have
often been asked the question before, per-
haps you will tell me candidly your reason
for raising the late rebellion?"
''If did not answer the question of+e',
enough, answered Riel, 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, shamefully denied them
by Sir Ohm"
You deny, then, that all this bloodshed
has been caused by you"
Il do. lhad never supposed that a drop
Of blood need be shed. | 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 Tool in the
eyes of idiots"
son what conditions did you leave the
United States with the half-breed deputa-
tion to come to Batoche?'
The deputation told me they were in a
bad state and were sure they could get good
terms from the governmental ii they only had
the right kind OF leader. They offered me
friendship, Il home and plenty OF money
if l came back with them. Nolin, who
swore so hard against me, was the loudest
trying to get me to Batoche However he
treated me well after | got there"
'It is a wonder to me that you did not
think and hesitate over coming back to
Canada for the purpose OF exciting the half
breeds again?'
81 did think. I asked the spirit to ad.
wise me. He said, There is fish under the
rock and l was to haul it out. We all went
to confession and prayed After that the
spirit told me to GO. l couldn't refuse"
What is the Spirit, Mr.. Riel? Have you
seen it,"
"Yes, frequently. It is a man eight feet
high
"Is it true you offered to leave your
people, the half-breeds OF saskatchewan to
fight out their own battles if you got
lilTSe SuIu vi lliOHey from lue government!
at is a lie!'' cried Riel. 1.-The govern
ment hunted me from friends and home
like a wild beast. Sir John never paid me
what he promised and | did not deserve
the treatment got. 1t is the duty of the
government to release me now and give me
500, 900. 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 SUI
fered as did"
SIS it true that you were assisted inrais-
ing this rebellion by the Hudson Bay COM
pany?"
Il have told you did not ase the REBEL
ion. We hated the Hudson Bay company
more than the government. They are vii.
lians and robbers, but their day is short.
You will find some OF their dirty tricks
there" pointing to book OF manuscripts.
"In case you die you intend these manu-
scripts shall be published?'
''Yes. | may die, but will rise again al
ter three days"
Then it is all the same to you whether
you die or not?'
"Not altogether. II die God must raise
me from the dead, and l do not want to
put him to the inconvenience of working
miracle for me-"
Batoche against Gen. Middleton"
Poor fellows! They couldn't make a
stand against anything They had neither
food, clothes, arms, ammunition, nor
the fear Of God"
"You told DR.. Willoughby at Batoche
last winter you would rule the Northwest
or perish in the attempt"
81 may have said so. / don't think did, |
though Willoughby and Welsh were fright |
ened as trapped coyotes"
why did you allow your men to attack |
Mai. Crozier at Duck Lake,"
II did not allow them. Neither did they |
attack Crozicr. Crozier is good man, but |
he fired first. | could have Prince Albert, |
Carlton, Battleford, ETC.. taken and whites
massacred if | liked. What was to pre-
vent me taking Saskatoon? l stopped |
bloodshed in place of shedding it. l hope
Sir John will repent though"
"What do you think OF the legal proceed
ings in your case?"
II am very thankful to my Quebec
friends for thinking of me, but they are
fighting the devil on his own reserve. The
heretics want 'Rie's' blood"
What's your opinion of the three advo-
Gates they sent you up?"
"Well, do not wish to say anything
against them. Poor fellows, they did their
best. They didn't understand my case at
all. If Lemieux could speak English like
me he might be able to get along. Fitz-
'atrick thinks he is as tall as the Spirit,
but he is two feet less. Greenshelds made
me sick. am glad he was put to one side.
However, | thank them from my heart"
What do you think about the decision
OF the privy council?"
Il knew what would be the re-
suit. The Spirit told me Sir John
was laughing at the English bulls all
the time they were trying poor half
breed that committed crime. Icould
not expect mercy from John Bull no more
than the Irish could. If could speak five
hours at my own trial or be allowed to de-
lend myself | would not be here to-day"
you spoke very hard against Arch
bishop Tache, Judge Dubuc, Sir John A.
Macdonald and others on your trial. Would
you repeat what you said OF them again?"
No answer. Rel nodded mysteriously,
and became wrapped in thought. Sudden.
ly he jumped up in a very excited condition
and gesticulated wildly.
''They are all knaves!' he ried. II did
not tell the whole truth about them. But
will say nothing. The archbishop sent
inc II cross but it was not very lucky, for l
~ nnI two ri v1,~, - -. l