St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-17
Rebel Chieftain RieI Says Little and Prays
Much On Being Taken to
Camp.
Many Half Breeds Taken Prisoners While
Their Wives and Babies Set
Up a Howl.
Riel TO be Tried Where He was Cap
tured--W Working the Insanity
Dodge.
Arms Surrendered by the Indians and
aFeeling That the ssBloody''
War Is O,er.
How the Great Rebel Acted.

Special to the Globe.
CLARKE'S CROSSING, May 16.-Riel,
while riding into camp, expressed himself
to his captorS as follows: Il do not think
this trouble will be without result, as the
complaints of farmers will be regarded with
some degree of attention" When told that
his books and papers had been captured he
said: Il am glad. This will show that l
am not the actual ISader of the rebellion.
I have been encouraged by people of good
standing ut and around Prince Albert, who
invited me over from Montana" He asked
whether,-ae would give him fair trial,
civic or martial Armstrong told him he
would be tried by
MARTIAL. LAW.
Riel drew long breath. but said nothing.
He spoke again of not being the head man
in the rebellion, and then commenced pray
Ing and made the sign of the cross. He
asked whether his family would be blown
up with that gun with the crowd. meaning
the Gatling. and then he said he didn't want
to be selfish. and hoped none of the half
breeds would suffer, nor his own family.
He then commenced praying again.
In appearance he is now Il common
half-breed and looks very dilapidated. He
spends most of his time talking in a wan
dering manner and praying. The capture
OF Riel will end the rebellion so far as the
breeds are concerned. 4 band of Indians
coming in from the west to-day to help I,lel
were met by half-breeds who told them that
the war was over. Some of the prisoners
were placed on board the boat to-day. In
parting from their families there were many
pitiful scenes of women crying and holding
up babies for the fathers to kiss. Papers
belonging TO the rebel government were
searched to-day. The minutes show that the
Duck lake fight was
PREMEDITATED AFFAIR,
and that the rebels were thoroughly cog
infant of Gen. ALiddletons movements
from the time he left Qu'Appelle station.
Numerous extracts from Toronto, Winnipeg
and Montreal journals were found referring
to Riel, the strength of Gen. Middleton'S
command, Of the quantity of ammunition
and the amount Of forage on which accord
Ing to the minutes the movement Of the
rebels depended. The rebel loss, as given
IN the official account, was very small at
the Fish creek fight. Dumont admits the
defeat He had over 200 men
engaged there, The troops started on
Thursday morning for Prince Albert, via
Lepine's ferry. Prince Albert has all along
been as safe as Toronto. The report that
Col. Irvine is threatened by hostile Indians
and breeds is now found to have been quite
untrue. Intense indignation is expressed
at his non-appearance. Wednesday night
had been fixed upon by the rebels for al at
tack on our fortified camp. They told the
prisoners they would kill fifty volunteers
and that the rest would run away, and the
war would then be ended. The prisoners
were notified that the next time our guns
shelled the houses they would be shot.
Many recalcitrants are giving up their arms
tonight, and the rebellion, SO far as the
half-breeds go, is
ENTIRELY SQUELCHED.
Chief Justice Wallbridge was asked this
morning what course would be adopted in
regard to the trial of Riel. He replied that
according to law he would have to be tried
in the district or province where he was
captured. He could not be brought to VIM
nipeg or sent to Ottawa. The Dominion
government might issue special commits
sion and send up judges to try him.
Judges from here might be sent,
or special judges for the occasion
appointed, but the trial would have to take
place in the province where Riel was cap
tuTed. Under the present act the judicial
authorities in the district where Riel was
captured have power to try man for his
life, but ali appeal to the Manitoba bench
is provided. He could not be tried by court
martial under the circumstances, as Gen.
Middleton had promised in letter to Riel
that he would be protected until the Do
miniOn government decided on his case.