The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1885-11-18
LOUIS RIEL.
The Leader of the Half-breeds Ex-
ecuted at Regina Yesterday
at 8:23 a. m.
He Goes to the Scaffold Smiling and Meets
His Fate Like q Man-Exc1te-
mentin Canada Over the
Execution.
sneclal to the River Press.

Special to the River Press.
REGINA, November 16.-Louis David
Riel was executed on a scaffold at the bar
racks OF the mounted police force, near
this city, for high treason against the
queen Of Great Britain, at 1923 O'Clock
this morning, mountain time.
The stirct privacy of the prisoner was
broken down for the first time yesterday
when representatives of the press were
permitted to visit the prisoner in company
of the high sheriff and the commandant
of the mounted police. This was on the
occasion of the formal announcement that
his death warrant had arrived. The
charm Of Riel's manner was nndeniable.
He anticipated what the sheriff would say
in his own greeting: "Well, you have
come with a great announcement; | am
glad" He spoke slowly, but very dis
tinctly, looking at the sheriff with a reso-
Lutte eye and without tinge of braggadO-
clio. He rallied the sheriff when the lat
ter suggested that he should not speak too
long on the scaffold. ''You think [ will
speak too long; that / will be unnerved.
Oh, no! at the last moment | will be firm"
There was trace of French in his accent,
which cid not lessen the charm Of his
speech. His beard was dark brown, neat
" trimmed, and his hair was brushed back
from his high forehead with tendency
to curl, in contrast to the straight hair of
his Indian progenitor. While it has been
charged that he showed lack of spirit on
the battlefield or in the presence of dam
ger, no one would urge it against him in
witnessing the nonchalance in his bearing
and his suayity of speech in acknowledge
ing the fiat Of his doom. II have only
this (striking his breast) to leave, and this
/ rendered to my country for fifteen years
and am willing to give it now." The
prisoner decided only a moment before
starting for the scafold not to make
speech. This was owing to the earnest
solicitation of both priests attending him.
He died without struggle, and not to ex-
ceed twenty persons were permitted With
in the confines of the barracks to witness
LlG 6AGCuLlOu3 WHlNAL was CCA b1sA my pCA~
formed with decorum and dispatch. His
last words were, "Merci, Jesu."
MONTREAL, November 16.-There was
considerable excitement here when the
news Of Riel's execution was received.
French Canadian students to the number
of 500, carrying the tri-color, marched
through several streets giving vent to
cheers for Riel and denouncing Sir John
Macdonald. Flags are at half mast in
many places, and there will likely be
demonstration tonight.
QUEBEC, November 16.-The excite
ment here over the execution Of Riel is
intense.
ST. PAUL, November 16.-A Winnipeg
special to the Pioneer Press says: Jack
son, Riel's lieutenant, who had been con-
fined in lunatic asylum, escaped across
the line and wrote letter to his sister
from st. Vincent, asking her to write Sir
John Macdonald begging to shoot him
jackson )and spare Riel. His escape was
not discovered until to-day.
3-$GmDS- " @aHs------