The new North-west., 1885-12-04
THE NORTHWEST TRAGEDY.
Execution of Eight Indians who Engaged ir
the Frog Lake Massacre.


Execution of Eight Indians who Engaged in
the Frog Lake Massacre.
BATTLEFoRD, N. W. T., Nov. 27, S:35 ..
M, Mountain Time.-The execution of the
eight Indians found guilty of murder at Frog
Lake and Battleford, occurred at S:27 this
morning. The mechanism of the gallows
worked without friction. OF the Indians
hanged, seven were active participants In
the horrible massacre at Frog Lake on the
Sd Of April last. The bloody work was
commenced by Wandering Spirit, and was
Afterwards carried on under his direction
until the white people of Frog Lake settle
ment were almost exteTminated. On the
morning Of the fatal day, according to the
most trustworthy accounts, a number Of
Indians of Big Bears band determined to
stop the white mans reign and assert their
own sovereignty over the land. Early on
the morning of April Sd, the Indian agent,
Thomas W. Quinn, who is . Sioux half
breed from Minnesota, was ordered by
Wandering Spirit and his companions to
increase their supplies Immediately. Quinn
seems to have complied with this order, sup
plying the Indians with beef and issuing
orders on the Hudson Bay Company's store
for other supplies.
1t was good Friday. Soon after the SER
vice IN the little church was concluded, and
while the congregation was dispensing, the
ring leader proceeded to the agents house.
In front Of this he met Quinn and Charles
Gouin, another American half-breed. He
ordered Quinn to 60 to the Indian camp,
and on the latter's asking for the reason,
said, "Never mind why, but CO." Quinn
refused, and the next moment was shot dead
by bullet from Wandering Spirits rife.
The fall of Quinn acted on the already ex-
cited Indians as the sight of blood to the
tiger. Young Gouin was the second victim,
and John Delaney, who was also repre-
sentative Of the government In the capacity
of farm instructor, was soon shot down be-
side his wife in cold blood. Convent Ark,
the miller, was brutally murdered in his
wife's presence, and the two women were
afterward hurried to the Indian camp, where
they fortunately found refuge in the tent Of
half-breed. Pritchard, Dill, Willis, Graft
and Gilchrist were killed as they sought to
escape.
The priests who earnestly endeavored to
stay the work of the murdereIs, were them
selves shot down, Father Marchand dying
by the hand of Wandering Spirit, and Father
Fafard before the rifle of one of his subordi-
mates. The whole affair occupied only 3
brief period, lasting, to use the words Of one
of the Indian witnesses at the trial, "Only
about as long as it would take person to
smoke pipe" The only males who es-
capped were Quinn, nephew of the mur-
dered agent, and the employees of the Hudson
Bay Co. The former made his way to Fort
Pitt, carrying the news cf the massacre. The
latter owed their safety 10 the respect which
the name of their company always carries
with 1t among the Indians. They, with the
women captives, were obliged to accompany
Big Bears band In all their subsequent wan
derings, until finally released through the
instrumentality of friendly Wood Crees and
half. breeds, and brought into General Mid
dleton's camp.
Wandering Spirit, the direct cause of all
the bloodshed at Frog Lake, and the misery
entailed upon the surviving whites, is de-
scendsd from Blood as we'll as Cree ances.
tors. He accompanied Big Bear in his
migration from the Cypress Hills country to
North Saskatchewan. He was . tall, spare
and powerful Indian, with the usual black
eyes and strongly marked features of the
Cree tribe. At the time Of the massacre he
| was An influential member of Big Bears
band, though he did not rank as chief.
He was about so years of age and had O
grown up family.
OF the remainder of the men executed
this morning Bad Arrow and Miserable Man
were jointly indicted for the murder OF
Charles Gouin; Iron Body and Little Bear
were tried for the murder OF George Dill,
one of the last victims of the massacre.
Round-the-Sky, another of Big Bears fol-
lowers, was convicted of the murder of
Marchand. Man Without. Blood belonged
to MoosomIn's band. The crime for which
he was sentenced was killing Bernard Tre-
mont, q rancher living near Battleford. Ikta,
Stoney Indian, was sentenced to death for
the murder of James Payne, farm Instructor
on the Stoney reservation, near Battleford,
on the 30th of March.
After the eight Indians took their places
upon the trap Wandering Spirit and Miser.
able Man addressed the Indians, a large
number of whom were present. They ac'
knowledged the justice Of their sentence and
warned other Indians TO keep clear Of such
troubles. The whole eight then joined in @
death chant to show they did not fear death.
The executioner then drew the caps over
their faces, the priests addressed their part
ing words and offered prayer; In the midst
of which the bolt was drawn and the drop
fell, all dying instantly.