Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-12-03
TINE INDI1Ns EXECUTED.
An Account 0R the massacre for
which They are Hanged.

BATTLEFoRp, N. W. T., Nov. 27.-The
execution of the eight Indians found
guilty of murder at Frog Lake and Battle.
ford occurred at 1927 o'clock this morn
ing. The gallows worked without fric-
ton.
Of the eight Indians hanged this morn
ing seven were active participants in the
horrible massacre at Frog Lake on April
I'D last. The bloody work was began by
Wandering Spirit and afterwards carried
on under his direction until the white
people of the Frog Lake settlement were
almost exterminated. Gin the morning of
the fatal day, according to the most trust
worthy accounts, number of the
Indians of Big Bears band determined to
put stop to the white mans reign and to
| assert their own sovereignty over the land.
This was believed to be consequence of
Riels uprising, the news of the fight at
Duck lake having reached the Indians at
Frog lake only few days previously. Up
to the morning of April Sd no
hostile demonstration had been made,
although there were not wanting
signs of rebellious spirit on
the part of the savages. Early that morn
ing, however, the Indian agent, Thomas
L. Quinn, who was Sioux half-breed
from Minnesota, was aroused from sleep
by Wandering Spirit and his companions,
| who commanded him as the representa-
| tive of the government to increase their
| supplies Immediately. Quinn seems TO
have complied with the order, supply
ing the Indians with beef and
issuing orders on the Hudson's
| Bay Conpany's store for other supplies ;
so far no evil intentions were apparent in
the Indians demeanor beyond that of
| getting even with the government on &C
count of what they considered past
deprivations. A few hours later however,
the hollcwness of their pacific protesta-
tons was abundantly shown. It was
Good-Friday and service was held in
q little church by the Rev,
| Fathers Fufard and Marchand, oblate
missionaries who had left the comforts
of civilization TO minister to the spiritual
needs of the obscure settlement nj Frog
| Lake. While the people were gathered
IN the church, Wandering Spirit marched
in covered with war-paint and CARRYING
hi sWinchcster with an air of insolent
bravadn. But his time for taking revenge
on the white people had not yet come.
Some time after the close of the services
and while the congregation was dispers-
ing, the Indian ringlender proceeded to
the agents house in front of which he
met Quinn and Charles Gouin another
American half-breed. He ordered Quinn
TO go to the Indian camp, and on the
latter asking for reason said "Neyer
mind why, but 60"
Quinn refused and the next moment was
stretched lifeless by bullet from Wan
hnrlnQ SNAInitfo tiH 81
acted upon the already excited Indians as
the smell OF blood to tiger. Young
Gouln was the second victim and John
Delaney who was also n representative of
the government in his capacity of farm
instructor was soon shot down
in cold blood beside his wife.
Gowanlock, the Miller was brutally
murdered in his wife's presence, and the
Two women were soon afterwards buried
10 the Indian camp, where they fortu-
nately found refuge in the tent of the
halt-breed, Pritchard. Dill, Williscraft
ana Gilchrist were killed ms they sought
to escape.
The priests, who earnestly tried to stay
the work of the murderers were them
selves shot down, Father Marchand dying
by the hand of Wandering Spirit. and
rather futard before the rifle of one of
his subordin0tes. The whole affair oceu-
pied only brief period, "lasting," to use
the words of one of the Indian witnesses
at the trial, "only about as long ms it
would take person to smoke pipe"
The only males who escaped were
Quinn. nephew of the murdered agent
and the employees of the Hudson's Bay
Company. The former made his way to
Fort Pitt with the news of the massacre.
The latter owed their safety to
the respect which the name of their
company always carries with il among
the Indians. They with the women can,
tives were obliged to accompany Big
Bears band in all their subsequent wan.
behring's until finally released through the
fundamentally of the friendly Wood
Crees and half-breeds and brought into
General Middleton's camp.