Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-17
RIELDIES WHILEPRAYING
EVEN HIS ENEMIES INCLUDED
IN HIS SUPPLICATIONs.

this morning, (mOuntain time II dis
played an inclination at the last moment
to make an address, but Pere Andre re-
minded him OF his promise and he then
rose and walked toward the executioner,
repeating his prayers to the last moment.
The final words escaping bis lips being
-HGrc5 JeSei. He died without struggle.
Not to exceed twenty persons were per-
mitted within the confines of the barracks
to witness the execution, and it was GER
tainly performed with decorum and dis
patch. His body was taken by the coroner,
and the verdict usual to all State eXecu-
tlons was rendered.
WHERE THE sCAFFoLD STOOD.
The scaffold for the execution had been
erected within contracted enclosure i'm
mediately In the rear Of the guard house
and the only view Of it was through a
window Immediately under a ratter. The
last sacrament was administered to the
condemned within the guard house proper
and near the opening which led to the
scaffold. He responded to the Latin
prayers with a fun and clear voice while
on his bended knees. When the moment
came Tor him to rise to have his hands
and arms piniOned he looked up slowly,
repeating his prayers.
GOING TO THE sCAFFOLD.
He then walked through the opening
and down the narrow stairway, with his
face turned away from the few civilians
and soldiers who stood about the opening.
When he was about to take his place on
the trap deputy Sheriff asked If he had
anything to say. He turned to his con-
fessor, Pere Andre, and inquired, ''Shall
| not say few wOrdsY'
"No," quickly replied the priest, in
French, ''make this your last sacrifice,
and you will be rewarded" Rlel turned
and remarked in English, 81 have nothing
more to say"
ADJUSTING THE MOOSE.
There was some delay in adjusting the
moose, but Riel did not remark upon it,
and as the white cap closed over him be
was to be heard distinctly repeating his
prayers. During the night Pere Andre
urged upon Riel not to attempt an ad-
| dress upon the scaffold, and suggested
that reprieVe might still be on its way,
but this idea Riel strenuously repelled.
He said he knew his hour had come, and
that he was not only prepared, but that
he would not have it any other way, as
| nothing but the alternative of prison for
| life awaited him, and to him death was
| preferable to that.
A LETTER TO HIS MOTHER.
During the night he addressed letter
! to his mother and to his sister, which
touched upon the affection he bore them.
He added cOdicil to his will specifying
that he desired to his body to be laid by
the side Of his father's, in st. Bonface
cemetery, at Winnepe0, which request
will be carried out. Pere Andre Will go
there with Riers remains within a few
! days. His body was inferred to-day un-
derneath the scatfold. He prayed almost
continuously during the night, using the
prayers OF the church, and then again
praying extempOre in both French and
English.
PRAYING FOR HIS FRIENDS.
He directed prayer for his friends in the
United States. where, he declared, most
of them were, and again for his friends in
Quebec. He prayed for his lawyers,
speaking of their efforts in his behalf and
Of their going to England for him. The
attending priest told him it was his duty
to pray for his enemies. He replied,
THAT is So" and at once began to pray in
English tor the Premier of Canada, but in
his supplcation he asked that the govern
ment might soon be relieved from his rule.
EATING BUT sPARINGLY.
Rie psrtoOk Of light repast at II
O'Clock last night. He ate no breakfast
this morning, which caused him TO show
at one time some signs of faintness. but
he afterward completely recovered from
| this weakness, and it appeared TO require
no effort in mounting the ladder which
| led to the attic Of the guard house and his
way to the scaffold.
DYING EASILY.
There was barely quiver as the drop
| fell, and Riel's death was pronounced an
easy one. During the early hours Of the
morning be gathered up all his papers.
which covered his desk, EN- bodying sup
posed visions he had seen and his prOphe-
| sizes. aud asked the privilege from the
officer of guard TO destroy them. This
was allowed him. and gathering them to-
gether, he carried them TO an open stove
fire and thrust them In, watching them
until the flames had devoured them. He
then returned to his cell and his deyo-
! tiOns.
SENTIMENT OF THE PEOPLE,
II would be difficult at this time to
guage the sentiment clearly in the North
west as 10 Riel. The expressed views are
almost entirely unfavOrable 10 him, and
the halt breeds are usually silent upon
the topic. The majority Of the residen [
population believed he deserved death,
and this is undou btedly especially true in
Manitoba. Here where be was tried
there was some expression of sympathy
for him. and 10 times declaration that
he was right IN MS 0emduua. As lueY nan
nearly all SINCE been granted TO the half
breeds.
TEN INDIANS TO HANG.
The execution is TO he followed at
Battleford by the hanging of ten Indian
chiefs for atrocities committed during the
recent rebellion. aud IN each instance for
murders committed. These last execu-
mons will close the book OF criminal pro-
cedure growing out Of the Northwest war,
as the other persons convicted we're given
prison sentences, al Of which arc now be-
ing served. The executiOner OF lfiel was
a man named John Henderson. who was
acaptive Of Rlel's Ia the rebellion OF 1870.
THE FEELING IN OTTAWA.
OTTAWA. ONT, Nov. 16.-ine news OF
Riel's death was received quietly here.
The Protestant Conservatives are cOnsid-
erably elated. however, over what they
term their triumph. A large number Of
them waited on the Premier aud Hon.
Mackenzie BOrvel Minister Of Customs,
concentrating them on the carrying out
OF the sentence of the court. Among tue
French Canadians, who are In q large
minority here, there Is a deep feeling Of
dlsnleasure, which may break out into
open hostilities on the slightest provoca-
ton.
EXCITEMENT AT MONTREAL
MONTREAL. NOV. i6.-There was con-
siderable excitement among the Flench
Canadian citizens here when the news Of