The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-06-09
THE NORTHWEST.
Gabriel Dumont Says the Recent
Rebellion Was Precipitated
by Clark.
Archbishop Tache Thinks No Effort
will be Made to Save Rieps Life.

WINNIPEG, Man, June S.-Gabriel Dumont,
In an interview at Benton, Montana, blames
Lawrence CLARK for precpitating the rebellion.
de says that he only had 26 men at Duck
Lake, four OF whom were killed. He declares
that Crosier fired first. Gabriel got a severe
scalp wound in this fight At Fish Creek his
force was AZ men. With these he successfully
withstood Middleton and his 6C0. Four half
breeds were killed in this fight. At Batouche
they got out of ammunition for their Winches-
ters, or they could have gained victory there.
Riel was in none of the fights. Damont says
that Riel acted with courage, and that not
single man was killed BY Middleton's cannon
or Gstling gun. They shet too high. He has
Q poor opinion OF Middleton's men as fighters.
Mrs. Deleny and Mrs. Gowanlock, with several
friendly half-breeds. vera brought into camp
at Fort Pitt to-day by party OF scouts, who
overlook them travelling towards Trottle lake.
They escaped from Big Bear Monday, and
were making 6etour to get to Fort Pitt The
ladies say that they have been protected BY
the half-breeds all along, and have suffered no
narGshlps except from constant travel Nc
Lean and the other prisoners are still with the
Indians moving toward Lone Lake. Fury,
West and Fisk, who were wounded in Wednes-
days fight between Steele and the Indians,
were brought to Fort Pitt to-day. A detach-
ment sent out under Major Hughes returned
there to-day. 1t has been decided to uge only
mounted men for the pursuit of the enemy.
The Gatling guns will 60 along.
p4' L AU1j Miuu.s June c-ArcuDl6lOp Iach0,
who passed through this city Saturday, en-
route from Winnipeg to Montreal, said to a
reporter:
The report that left hurriedly for the East
to intercede for Riel's life is false in every par
ticular. do not think any effort will be made
in Riels behalf except to engage good counsel
TO defend him. His language in regard to the
clergy since his arrest has considerably de-
creased the sympathy for him, ami / think
that whatever remsins is rather an opposition
to the government on the part of Liberals than
friendship or sympathy for r el. / do not
THUS the real cause of the outbreak is UNDER
stood. OF course the half-breeds we're indig-
nant that the government was 60 slow in
settling their claims, but the true cause was
this: They felt that they were looked down
upon and regarded and treated with contempt
by the new settlers and by the officials and
people generally. This feeling rankled ter
rlbly aud grew. AT last they took up arms
They did not anticipate that the government
would ever send an expedition against them
They merely expected to have TO cope with
the mounted police. There we're only 250
hslt-breeds concerned in this revolt and sbout
100 Indians at or near Batouche. OF these at
least % were nnarmed, and the others were
very poorly armed. They hoped to defeat the
police, aud thus compel a respect from them
aud force the government to accede to their
claims. believe that Riel is completely in
sane at times, and not responsible for his
actions.