, 1885-11-17
REL.
Hanged for High Treason
Against Queen Victoria.
Precautions which were taken
to Prevent Rescue.
He Dies Bravely, Praying for
Friends and Enemies.
R l..
Riel Meets His Fate.

racks of the mounted police force, neal
this city, for high treason against the
queen Of Great Britain, at S:23 O'Clock
this morning, mountain time.
The same extraordinary ~precaution
against the possible escape of Riel or the
intrusion into the barracks by unauthor-
lied persons, was observed again this
morning. At a mile from the barracks
mounted patrols challenged all persons,
and compelled them to disclose written
passes; two other lines of guards were
stationed at points nearer the post, where
the same precautions were again observed.
No one was permitted to enter the guard
rooms until $40 o'clock. The scene pre-
sented then was that of Riel on the scat
fold, with Pere Andre and Father McWil-
liams with him, celebrating mass. Riel
was OIL his Bonded knee, wearing a loose
wooden s%urtout, gray trousers and wooden
shirt. On his feet were moccasins, the
only feature of his dress that partook of
the Indian that was in him. He received
the notice to proceed to the scaffold in the
same composed manner shown the pre-
ceding night on receiving the warning OF
his fate. His face was full of color, and
he appeared to have complete self-rosses-
sion, responding to the service in a clear
tone.
The prisoner decided only a moment
before starting for the scaffold not to
make a speech. This was owing to the
earnest solicitation of both priests attend
ing 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 walked toward the
e%xecuuoner, repeating his prayers to the
last moment, the final words escaping
him being, 'Merci, Jesu." lie died
without a struggle. Not to exceed twenty
persons were permitted within the con-
fines of the barracks to witness the execu-
ton, and it was certainly performed with
decorum and despatch. His body was
taken in charge of by the coroner, and a
verdict usual to all state executions was
rendered
During the night Riel addressed a letter
10 MS mother and sister, which touched
upon the affection he had for them. He
addressed a codlcil to his will, specifying
that he desired his body to be laid beside
his father in st. Boniface cemetery, at
Winnipeg which request will be carried
out fere Andrea going there with his re-
mains within a few days. His body was
inferred underneath the scaffold to-day.
lie prayed almost continuously during the
the night employing the written prayers
oil the church, and he again prayed ex-
tempore IN both French and English. He
directed a prayer to his friends in the
United States, where he declared the
most OF them were, and again for his
friends IN Quebec. He prayed for his
lawyers, speaking Of their efforts in going
to England in his behalf. The attending
father said it 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 obligation
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 m some signs of faintness, but he
aiterward 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, cmbodying supposed visions he
had seen and his prophesics, and asked
the privilege from the officer Of the guard
to destroy them. This was allowed, and
gathering them together he carried them
to the open stove and thrust them in,
Watching until the flames devoured them.
He then returned to his cell and his devo-
ton.
1t would be difficult at this time to
judge the public feeling clearly in the
Northwest as to Riel. Expressed views
are almost entirely %uniavorable to him
and the half-breeds are usually silent on
the subject A majority of the resident
nopulation believed he deserved death
aa5 ~ = ~
a'u '"'S - u~"uVuo'eu'y lhe case IN NAM