The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-18

EMbEh 1S, 100
scanold not to make a speech. This was
owing to the earnest solicitation of both
the priests attending him. He DISPLAYED
an inclination at the last moment to make
an address, but Pere Andre reminded him
OF his promise, and he then arose and took
THE LAST SACRAMENT.
The scaffold had been erected within a
contracted enclosure Immediately in the
, rear OF the guard-house, and the only view
of which was through a window immedi-
ately under the rafter. The last sacrament
was taken by the condemned man within
the guard-house proper, and near the open.
ing which led to the scaffold. He responded
to the Latin prayers with a full, clear voice,
while on his Bonded knees. When the mo-
ment came to rise and have his hands
and arms pinioned, he kept looking up,
slowly repeating the prayers. He then
walked through the contracted opening and
down the narrow stairway with his face
turned away from the few citizens and SOL
| diers who stood about the opening. When
he was about to take his place on the trap,
a deputy sheriff asked if he had anything to
say. He turned to his confession, Pere
| Andre, and inquired: ''Shall l not say a
lew "orus! NO, quickly responded tHe
priest. make this last sacrifice and you
will be rewarded"
Riel turned and remarked, II nave moth
ing more to say" There was some delay
IN ADJUSTING THE MOOSE,
but Riel did not remark upon it, and as the
white cap closed over him he was to be
heard distinctly praying. During the
night Pere Andre urged upon him not to
attempt an address upon the scaffold and
suggested that a reprieve might still be on
the way, but this idea Riel repealed. He
said that he knew his hour had come and
that he was not only prepared, but that he
would not have it any other way, as moth
ing but the alternative OF prison for life
awaited him, and death was preferable.
During the night he addressed a letter to
his mother and sister, which touched upon
his affection for them. The addressed CO.
dicil of. his will, specified that he desired
his body to be laid beside his fathers in St.
Boniface, at Winnipeg, with the request
that he be carried out. Pere Andre is 60
ing with the remains within a few days.
His body was
UNDERNEATH THE SCAFFOLD
to-day. He prayed almost continually
during the night, employing the written
prayers of the church, and he again prayed
extempore in both French and English. He
directed Il prayer to his friends in the
United States, where he declared that most
of them were, and again for his friends in
Quebec. He prayed for his lawyers, speak
ing OF their going to England in his behalf.
The attending father saidit was his duty to
pray for his enemies. He replied, "That is
So" and at once began praying in English
for the Premier of Canada, but in his obi
CATION he asked that the Government
might soon be relieved from his rule. He
partook OF a light repast at IL o'clock and
ate no breakfast, which caused him to show
at one time signs of faintness, but he after
ward completely recovered from this, and
displayed no effort in mounting the ladder
which led to the attic OF the guard house
ON HIS WAY TO THE sCAFFOLD.
There was barely a culver as the drop fell,
and his death was pronounced an easy one.
During the early hours OF the morning he
gathered up all the papers which covered
his desk, embodying the supposed visions
he had seen and his properties, ard asked
the privilege from an officer OF the guard to
destroy them. This was allowed, and he
carried them to the open stove and threw
them in. watching until the flames devoured
them. He then returned to his cell and his
devotions.
the public feeling clearly in the North West
as to Riel. The expressed views are almost
entirely unfavorable to him, and the half.
breeds are unusually silent upon the SUBJ
ject. The majority OF the resident popula-
ton believed that he deserved death, and
this is undoubtedly the case in Manitoba.
Here, where he was tried, there were SOM
expressions of sympathy for him, and at
times there were declarations that he was
right in his demands. as they have nearly
all since been granted. With the
HANGlN OF TEN INDIAN CHEFS.
for atocricies committed during the recent
rebellion, lin each case for a murder COM
mitted) this will close the book of criminal
proceedings growing out OF the North West
rebel on. as the other persons convicted
were for prison sentences, all Of which are
now being served out. The executioner OF
Riel was q man named Jack Henderson,
who was a captive of Riel in the rebellion
OF 1870. Rev. Charles N. McWilliams, who
sss5stsd Fa st. si1e 1 Andre a.. in his ATTENDANCE
in 1860, is firm in the belief that Riel was
insane, and so expressed himself to the rep
resentative ofthe Associated Press to-day.
In this belief he addressed a letter last
Monday to the Governor General OF Cana
da, citing his firm conviction that while he
deemed Riel a dangerous person and one
who should be confined for life, he expressed
the view that if the sentence OF death was
carried out his blood would be upon the
head OF his excellency, Lord Landsdowne
and his immediate advisers. He addressed
a similar document to Sir John A. MacDon-
aid, Prime Minister Of Canada. Rev. Mr..
McWilliams has in his possession a series
of
LETTERS WRITTEN BY REL,
within the past ten days, which serves as a
partial index to his character and his claim
to being a patriot, likewise to a prophet.
Riel's handwriting is bold and moderately
regular. He handed Father McWilliams
the following note four hours before he
heard OF his respite:
REGINA JAIL. N. w. T.. November Q.
On the 4th of November, 1885, it was
revealed to me, "Yor death is reprieved;
there are ten lawyers" On the 9th, in the
morning, it was said to me from above:
1.-The council will meet on Tuesday on your
Indictment LOUIS DAVID" REL.
These happenings transpired as he indi-
Gated in his paper. All the letters are signed
david" Riel. the word David" being in
variably quoted. The following letter was
written, the reverend gentleman said, while
Riel was laboring under excitement:
REGINA JAIL, November 9, 1885.
am most acknowledging towards you
my God, for having fulfilled the promise
which you never fully made to Inc through
! your beloved servant, 1gnace Bourget, that
YOU would not abandon me on account OF
the mission which you have goodly given
| ME to fulfill in all points.
LOUIS "DAvID" RIEL.
OTHER SPECIMENS.
The following was written the same day:
REGINA JAIL, November 8, 1885.
For assisting to alleviate the wrongs OF
| my countrymen ] am to be -, but |
| will not say it, for having done all l could
| to better the condition OF the people at
large as an aboriginal, as an American and
as a prophet, will | lose my temporal life?
LOUIS DAVID" REL.
About 7:3O o'clock this morning he wrote
the following:
Rev. C.. 4. Nc Wilhams: My good thanks
for assisting ME in different ways, princi-
pally by you prayers.
LOUIS DAVID REL.
November 16, 1885.
Twenty minutes before going to the
scaffold he wrote thus glowingly in French,
of which a close translation is given. This
was his final missive and is in a close, bold
hand:
What there is too presumptuous in my
writings I must say that by the presents |
subordinate it entirely to the good pleasure
of my God, to the doctrine OF the church
- l.