The Mineral argus., 1885-11-26


time had come.
Supported by the two priests. Riel
walked with steady step from the
cell, which is the first on the right of
the corridor, through the guard room
to the ladder, which he mounted with
out a sign of weakness. Capt. White
the scaflold, consisting Of twenty police.
He was preceded by the deputy sheriff,
supported by the priests. The hour
fixed for the execution was 3 O'Clock,
but it WAS fifteen minutes past that
! the sheriff were admitted to the guard
room. Here was found the prisoner
kneeling on the floor of the upper room
from which he was to step to the gal
lows. II was sad scene. Around
him were gathered number Of
mounted police, Sheriff Chapleau, Dep
uty Sheriff Gibson. press representa-
tives and others. The room, natuIa ally
window, through which the sun, now
rays. Riel walked down the left to the
aperture leading to the scafiold with
firm step. He was not unnamed i'm
WV shSbsSSt utSICc, Out WIN uttu
erect he shot out bold glances as il
body but who could not destroy the
soul. Before passing out ON to the
scaflOld, "a signal was given and the
party stopped. The priests and Riel
kneeled to pray. RiePs clear voice
could be heard above that Of the priest,
repeating the prayers Of the Roman
Enfh.,Its l.,,c..l, r
The litany WAS recited. Slowly but
surely the service drew. to an end. The
priest. repeated the prayers slowly, as
If to prolong the life Of the poor man
every moment they could. But at last
the end came, and the party rose from
their knees. Riel looked calmy around.
His eyes were observed to be moist,
and some fancied they heard sob
escape from him, hut he soon stiflled
any feeling Of weakness he might have
felt. and summoning up that courage
Gus and manly bearing which he al
always possessed, he said firmly, in
French, "Gentlemen, l am ready; do
your work. AT a signal from Deputy
Sheriff Gibson, the hangman appeared
from the gloom Of the corridoy. He
was masked. and presented u repulsive
spectacle, rs his black eyes could be
seen through small apertures in the
mask, cleaning through.
His name is Jack Henderson, and he is
the same who hanged Conners. He owed a
special grudge against Riel, having been
Imprisoned by him during tLe Red river
Rebellion In 1870. and he pleaded as par-s
ticuIar favor to be allowed to hang his old
enemy. He carried in his hand some stral,s
with which. under the direction of Gibson.
he bound Rel's hands behind his back.
While this act was being performed, Riel
sazed through the aperture at the fatal
moose, which, suspended from heavy
BEAM was dangling before him. A slight
'hu'ider seemed to shake him for an instant.
but that was all, and the next moment he
stepped firmly out of the building and ON
% the scafiold. As he stepped out he re-
peated Ave Marias. Father Andre walked
beside him. holding burning candle over
ais head. Deputy SherifGibsOn was ahead.
hen came Fatler McWillian,s, RirI. Andre.
Dr.. Jukes, Sheriff Clapleau. press reporters
mi others. As Hiel stepped upon the tran
ie continued to eiaculalc: I'm God | nut
ny trust Before the hangman adjusted
he white cap, Sheriff Charleau step,,,,l nm
o Riel aud said: Louis Riel, have yo,I
hything To say before the sentence %. the
our, Is executed upon y"u?" For a mo-
llei, hhei was silent; then, to the great
urirlse OF all he answered in "a firm voice
No. He was told he would have two
minutes to pray, aud he repeated the Lords
'rayer lie invoked the aid OF Jesus Mary
osepll and he other saints. Fathers Andre
hd McWiiliams stood faithfully bv him.
'i1 10 'le'r eXh"rialions To stand firm. Riel
aid he was not afraid to die 81 believe i'm
'od to the last. he said, Eyes, to the very
~. Dr. luke shook hands with him.
men he thanked the physician for all he
al ever done Tor him. The rope was now
'iJnsted 10y the misunderstanding hangnun,
no also hrew the white cap over Riels
lee. Then Father McWiiliaIns WAS n.kaI
; repeat the Lords prayer. lie com.
FENCED in slow and measured tones. Th,
lslense was terrible. and could not last
ihch longer When the words Lead ms
OF into temptation were reached, Depuy
herili Gibson nodded tn the hangnan. who
epi his eyes fixed on him. With a sled.
ailncr he struck the bolt, winch shot hark
ITO its socket. and as u consequence ,hnt
oiis Eiei, the leader of the hali-breeis
nd whose name will ever live in Canadian
lstory, into eternity. The drop was nine
et, and the victim iell with terrible force
THAT MS neck was broken Instantly. For
4 instant the body remained still but sud
my the nerves twItched and the knees
ere drawn up to the abdomen This was
peated three times, and the last time IN.
rs slowly straishtened out and remained
gid. la two minutes the heart ceased tn
AT aud two minutes later circulation
'pied; pr Jukes feit the pulse and pro-
'iinccd Riel dead. After remaining half
hour Suspended the body was cut down
III post inorien performed by Dr. Jukes.
q result oi which was as follows:
ne execution was most cleyerlv per-
rhci. From the moment he fell ii,d,;n,,
'ni the nature "i the injuries received Inc
iist have beei entirely without ,ens,,;,u
ie neck was entirely dislocafed from, ,he
me oi the two upper JOINT, of the yert,-
q, T., ,hns iaraiHzins all the lower portion
the body. lie could have felt no nni,,
iatever The circulation ceased in t",r
niite,. an unusually short time. n,
ath could be more niercifui"
Var in the Balkins.
IL, 1,