Omaha daily bee., 1885-05-27
TALKING OF HIS LITTLE WAR,

wEsT-PoUNDMAKER OBSTINATE.
WINN1REG, May 26.-The Rev. Mr.. Pit
blade, who was on board the steamer North
cote with Riel after the latter's capture, gives
an interview with the leader which Is as fol.
lows: Riel is described as a cunning, intelli-
gent man. He did not know what the author
tiles would do with him. He,was authorized to
act, he says. by the police md the Hudson bay
authorities, who tyrannized the half breeds
and abused their power. Speaking of the
battle of Batouche, Riel said he had 800 men
engaged, of whom eight were killed and two
wounded. During the fight he was among
the men IN the pit. He spoke of the priests
az opposed to any attempt on the part of the
half-breeds to have their wrongs righted, and
denounced them as tyranicsl, etc. He said
The priests were against him, not because
he rebelled, but because he did not succeed
in helping them. The people forced him &c
fight, and would not let him 60 back to the
mountain. He was on his way to give him
self up to Middleton, he said. when the
scouts captured him. On the subject of his
He declared his opposition to the church Of
Rome, and said its priests had too much to dc
with civil affairs, A council at Bstouche, he
said. adopted a religious creed of distinct doc.
trines which they wished to teach the people.
I'VE believe in a form of church govern.
ment," he sad. "We prefer the episcopal.
We would like to sec a head bishop for the
Dominion, or for the New World, who would
be independent of Rome. We do not think
affairs of church can DO rightly administered
80 far away. This country will nevor be free
until she shakes off Rome"
When asked why he rebelled in order tc
have claims of halt-breeds granted, he said
"We did not rebel. This matter is not re-
b%ellion." He referred to the treaty between
the government and half breeds of Manitoba,
and said as no treaty had been made with hi,
followers they had never transgressed theil
right. They simply defended themselves. They
desired to nave an anlcable arrang smeni
made for their interest. Asked what would
be his answer if charged with treason he sale
that as he was o citizen of the United States
he could not be a traitor to Canada. He sale
he went to the United States OF the ~soiicita
ton of a rich bishop, Tache. He returned
was declared an outlaw, and then went bach
to the states to which he was banished fol
five years. "How much did the Canadian
government give YOU" was asked. ut gave
me $500 }" he murmured.
E6CO to me and to my wife e210." In addition
to his above named defense, If charged with
treason, he said he should rely on his loyalty
while a subject of the English government
He concluded by saying: "Ihave been true t.
the half breeds and have not rebelled agains'
the Canadian Government. 1 have my paper
all right. A citizen of the United States car
hardly be a traitor to the dominion"
Only meagre advices were sent to-day from
Battleford, and they indicate that Pound,
maker does not now feel like surrenderinf
Internationally. Two mail carriers who ar
rived yesterday at the Saskatchewan landing
report SCENIC the trail of a large body of In
dams travelling eastward, and thought to b,
Big Bear and his followers going to join
Poundmaker.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, May 26.-The Evenin,
Dispatch publishes a long special from Winni
peg, givingl particulars of an interview be
tween Riel and the Rev. Pitblade, who &C
%companied the former ON the teamer North
cote to Saskatoon. Riel bitterly denounce
the priests. He says they are selfish an,
meddlesome and caused the present trouble
He had 500 men at Batouche and $50 on tn
north side of the river. He said eight wer,
KILLED and two fatally wounded. Riel say
the half breeds did not rebel; they were no
treated fairly, and hoped for a treaty simila
to the one made with the half breeds of Mani
toba. Riel claims to be a citizen of tn
United States and hence not a traitor to Can
ada. and this, probably, will be his line of de
tense.