River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-04-09

Inc map IL Is Iurbner WeSD Cuah orU va Appellt
places did not demand an apportionment of
land at the time. The st. Laurent district,
the seat OF the present uprising, was among
these sections.
THE AGITATION AT ST. LAURENT
About ten years ago, however, the settlers
of this district began to wake up to the fact
that they should receive some consideration,
and asked to be placed on the same footing
with regard to homesteads and lands as the
half breeds of Manitoba Later dominion
surveyors were sent into the country to lay
out the lands Here the same difficulty was
met as in the Red and Assinaboine
river districts. The half-breeds accord
ing to their French custom, had laid
out their farms in parallelograms
along the banks of the Saskatche-
wan and it's branches, and the surveyors
were of course compelled to destroy this ar
rangement. The people earnestly protested
They also renewed their claims for grants of
240 acres per capita, and from that time to
this the agitation has been kept up. Various
complications have arisen in the meantime,
and complaints have been made of delays
and arbitrary acts on the part OF the govern
ment Riel was again called upon for
counsel and advice. He was visited in Mon
tana, where he has been living, by depu-
tation of the half-breeds, and in response to
their appeal Went into the St Laurent
country The half breeds, in the meantime,
had laid their grievances before the domin-
ion parliament at Ottawa. Last September
they held meeting at st Laurent, at which
they adopted a bill of rights, of which the
following is the substance
First, the subdivision into provinces of the
Northwest territories; second, the half breeds
to receive the same grants and other advantages
ak the Manitoba half-breeds; third, patents to
be issued at once to the colonists in possession;
fourth, the sale of half million acres of domin-
ion lands, the proceeds to be applied to the es-
tablishment in the half-breed settlements OF
schools hospitals and such-l1ke Institutions
and to the equipment of the poorer half-breeds
with seed grain and implements; NTH, the
eryation OF 100 townships OF swamp land Tor
distribution among the children of alf-breeds
during the next 100 years; sixth, grant OF at
least ST 900 for the maintenance OF an 1nstitu-
tion to be conducted by the nuns in each half
breed settlement; and seventh, better provision
for the support of the Indians.
The last item, it is said, was inserted by
Rel in order to please Poundmaker, an In
dian chief who has made common cause
with the half-breeds. The bill of rights ap-
parently asks for a good deal more than
the rebels have any idea of obtaining, but it
is said that Monsignor Grandin, the Roman
Catholic bishop of that region and most of
the English speaking settlers are in favor of
it Since RieFs presence in the Saskatche-
wan country he has been actively at the
head of the movement for rights, and under
his leadership the forces have organized and
the present rebellion has been engineered
The events of the conflict are still fresh in
the memory of all
THE PRESENT REBELLION
The rebellion war started in the early
part of last week At first the do
minion government professed to con-
slider the instruction as of no i'm
portance. but the cutting of the telegraph
lines and the threatening uprising of the
Indians all through the Saskatchewan terri
tory as well as the Imminent danger In whlcn
the Canadian Pacific railroad is placed has
thoroughly aroused them, and troops are
being rapidly hurried to the front by special
trains as fast as they can be prepared TO take
the field. The exact strength OF RiePs forces
is not known. 1t is said TO be composed of
500 to /, 800 men, armed with Remington
and Winchester rifles, and Gen. Middleton
who is TO command the government troops
declines to advance to the front with less
than l 500 men. The first troops left VIM
nipeg for the scene of the rebellion on Thurs
day of last week They comprised six COM
panies of the Nineteenth battalion, in all 270
men; to these are to be added the regu-
lar mounted police already on the ground,
and several military companies organized by
the settlers residing in the section where the
rebellion is in progress The troops, however,
are at Qu'Appelle, waiting for reinforce
ments The first regular battle between the
rebels and the police took place last Thurs
day afternoon. Ten civilians Of Prince Al
bert and two policemen were killed and four
civilians and seven constables wounded
fight at Duck lake, on Friday, resulted in the
killing and wounding of thirteen policemen
and volunteers and the death of forty rebels.
Fort Carleton was also destroyed on the 2Ith
by Col Irvine, of the police force, to prevent
its falling into the hands of the rebels Vol
unteers are being called for by the govern
ment. and are responding in large numbers
As fast as equipped they are being pushed
to the front, and 500 men at least Will be
ready to leave Winnipeg for the scene OF
war In a few days
THE INDIANS AT BATTLEFoBD.
Winnipeg Special: The following was re-
ceived this morning.
Battleford, March 31.-All residents in town
and settlers in the neighbOrhood have moved
their families into the barracks. Several nun
dred Indians came down from Poundmakers
reserve Yesterday, raiding formers houses on
their way, and are now in possession of the
Methodist school, helping themselves TO
what they want. They, profess peace, but
their actions belle their words. Ihree
police and ten Prince Albert volunteers
and as many mounted, and forty-one rebels are
known to be killed. The Indians who are on
the south side of Battle river want the Indian
agent to go there and see q en- but ne Will only
consent to a conference with the chiefs on mid
die grounds TIE Crees and Stones OF the
Eagle hills refuse to join in the disturbance
The following was received at Qu'AppeIe
at l l o'clock to day:
Members of the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth com.
panies, Nineteenth battalion. under command OF
Mai Boswell, arrived 81 Fort Gu Appetite at
o'clock this afternoon, and Immediately went
into camp. Col Herchner, Of the mounted po-
lice, has left Regina for Edmonton, via swift
Current, taking with him seventy police. warden
Bedson intends to arm III his Transfers ana pas
sent for $40 Peabody rifles and ammunitiom
company of eighteen scouts, organized ana COM
manded by Capt. julius French. did good service
in the march to the fort.
company of thirty scouts, under com
mand of Frank Oslor and George W. R
White, is being organized here TO patrol the
country along the international boundary TO
prevent supplies and arms being sent IN
from the states also to report any move
ment on the part of the American Indians
toward Joining with the Canadian redskins
All the land guides employed by the COM
pany are TO be mounted Gen. Middleton
approves of the scheme,
TIE NORTHWESTERN INDIANS.
There are 50, 900 Indians-Crees, BLACK
feet, few Sioux renegades, fewer Beavers
and Assinaboiues-in the three districts
named above and of these 5000 are armed
fighting men. How many of the 5000 viii
Join in an outbreak, il there is an outbreak.
is O question the government is anxious 10
have answered Probably half; but as they
are scattered all over most difficult country
which they know thoroughly and the troops
don't, il may prove repetition o. Ine costly
and vexatious Chief Joseph ana olutIng bIlI
pursuits with the woful difference that the
Indians. retreating or advancing, can strike
undefended settlements where they can noid
a holiday of rapine, murder ana de-
struction. This. of course, Is the gloomy
side of the pieture. Ii is one the govern
ment is regarding as possible, but hoping I'M
probable If the Indians do not pursue ti1e
outbreaks made the destruction OF the hlel
insurgents Is q question OF comparatively