Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-11-26
THE LAST ACT.
Riel Hung at Regina, N. w. T., In
the EARLY Morning Hours.
Sketch Of His Life.

Louis Rlel was hanged at Regina, N. W. T.,
S:23 o'clock, mountain time on the morning OF
Nov IL. He died without n strug ge.
The scaffold had been erected within con-
tracted Enclosure Immediately in the rear of the
guard house, and the only view OF II was
through window Immediately under rafter.
The last sacrament was taken by the con-
demned man within the guard house proper and
near the opening which led TO the scailoid He
responded TO the Latin prayers with full and
clear voice, while on his Bonded knees When
the moment came for him 10 rise TO have his
hands and arms pinioned he Kept looking up,
slowly repeating his prayers. He then walked
through the contracted opening and down the
narrow stairway with his face turned away
from the few civilians and soldiers who stood
about the opening.
There was some delay In adjusting the
moose, but Riel did not remark upon il, and as
the white cap closed over him he was 10 be
heard distinctly repeating his prayers, the last
words heard being, ''Merci, Jesu.n
There was barely culver as the drop fell,
and his death was pronounced an easy one.
The execution was managed by Jack Hendcr-
son, who wa q captive of Rers in the rebel
lion of 1870.
1t would be difficult at this time to give
clearly the sentiment in the Northwest as to
Riel. The expressed views are almost entirely
unfavorable To him, and the half-breeds are
unusually silent upon the topic A ina ority
OF the resident population believed
Riel deserved death and this is
undoubtedly specially true in
Manitoba. Here, where he was tried, there
was some expression of sympathy Tor him.
in his demands, as they had nearly all since
been granted To the half-breeds
The execution OF Riel is TO be followed at
Battleford by the hanging of ten Indian
chiefs for atrocities committed during the
recent rebellion, and in each instance for muir.
ders committed. This Will close the book Of
criminal procedure growing out OF the north
west war, as other persons convicted were for
prison sentences, all of which are now being
served out
We append brief sketch of the career Of
this most remarkable man.
Louis Riel, the organizer of the late rebel
lion, as also that OF 1859, had a remarkable
career lie was native Of Manitoba, Ill years
of age, of French and Indian ancestry He
was educated and well qualified by nature aud
habit to lead men. Ia lSj9 he placed himself
at the head of the French hal-bregds 10 resist
the Canadians after their purchase Of the ter
ritorial rights Of the Hudson bay company.
He established a provision government at
Fort Garry, being himself chosen president
with a council of ~ members, selling the
property of the Hudson bay com
pany The rebcl government adopted a bill
of rights, the feature of which was n demand
for representation in the Dominion parliament
and for local legislature. They were con
Cetlcu ny lut HdHllODd utl III MAY, lStb. hlci
held possession Of the country from Oct, lsf6,
till August "a, 1870 when the t0sh rides, un.
der Col. Wolsecy, and a force Of militia cntsr-
edWinnipeg. The appearance Of this military
force dissolved the provincial government and
Riel fed a number OF English settlers had
previously undertaken 10 resist Riel's author.
ity, but they were summarlly suppressed, and
one of them Thomas Scott OF Ontario, was
shot by Rels orders, an act that has virtually
| made Riel an outlaw from that day
to this. When the ienians, under
O'Donahue, proposed to invade Manitoba
a few months later, Riel came out again to tie
surface, this time as loyal and offered his
services to Gov. Archibald to resist the in
vaders. In 1873 he was elected one OF the
Manitoba representatives In parliament and
| went to Ottawa to take his seat. He was
sworn in by the clerk, but was expelled from
the house. and left the country. His last re-
bellious exploit e 70 well known TO need rep
etition.
| The political effect of the execution Is an
interesting problem. The detection of the
French vote will mean a change of 43 members
from the conservatives TO the liberals, suifi-
cient number 10 depose the present conservative
ministry unless it gets enough liberal votes 10
offset the detection. On the question of Riei's
hanging 1t will be almost sure to get most VI
the - Ontario liberal votes.