National Republican., 1885-11-21
A PRISONER OF RIEL.
How Capitol Hin Man Escaped Death
ut Fort Garry.

at Fort Garry.
A reporter for the REPUBLICAN, had a
conversation last evening with Il. II. Burr,
gentleman who was awhile imprisoned at
Fort Garry, Manitoba, by Riel and his half
breed rebels.
The gentleman, now q resident Of Wash
ington, was trading with the Indians,
previous to 1868, on our northwestern
border, and In the fall OF that year estab
llshed himself at post on the Red river.
The Hudson Bay Company then claimed,
under their charter from the crown, the
right, not only to maintain trading posts,
but Of selling or retaining the lands
throughout the region now known as Mani
toba. The British government, desiring
undisputed title to the land, gave the com
pany $4,000 for rights Of domain claimed
the corporation to retain their trading
posts, &c.
1t was the settled policy, It seems, of the
Hudson Bay Company to encourage en-
ployes-French, English, or Scotch-to in
termarry with the native tribes, and In this
way the company expected to control in
some measure the friendship aud trade of
the Indians This will account for the
large number OF half-brceds in the north
west to-day. IL was the interest OF tho
company, also, In order to keep up the sup
ply Of furs, to discourage immigration.
After the title TO the lands was rclinquished
by the Hudson Bay Company II was bruted
among the French half-breeds that they
would have to pay again for their farms
as the English government had bought and
turned over to the Canadas all the lands
obtained from the original proprietary
company. This misunderstanding was the
real cause Of the half-breed rebellion. The
English and Scotch half-breeds were always
satisfied that the government would not
deprive them of the ownership in the lands
Religious differences, too, had much to do
in fomenting trouble; the French being
Catholics, and the other half breeds Protest.
ants-those Of English blood keeping up
connection with the Episcopal church, and
the Scotch half-breeds being Presbyterians.
Where the Catholic mission was estab-
lished, opposite Fart Garry, the French
half-breeds had settled In large numbers.
Below, on the Red river, was the Scotch
boiue river were both English and French
half. breed settlements. There was not
much intermarrying practiced between the
different settlements, on account of race
prCiudices.
Riel and his "adiutant general" Lepino
(abctted, It is believed, by Bishop Tache
and other French Catholics), began the
succeeded in capturing, with but little
opposition, the forts and posts of the Hud-
son Bay Company. With the arms and
stores thus obtained they held ont for some
time, as is known, against the loyal inhab-
itants.
The English and Scotch half-breeds made
an attempt to capture or retake Fort Garry
by surprise, but failed in their project. Riel
and his French half-breeds at the fort agreed
to truce with their half-breed enemies
outside, but treacherously took advantage
Of the lull to capture the party. Scott, who
was a prominent leader among the English
and Scotch half-breeds, was ignominlously
put to death by Riel. The body of the
brave Canadian was buried las his comrades
were led TO suppose) in the fort in their
presence-to overawe the prisoners evidently
but in reality the coffin was filed with
stones and the body Of Scott was, by Riel's
orders, taken secretly down to the river,
weighted, and sunk therein. The bad treat
ment of the English and Scotch half-breed
prisoners made Fort Garry for two months,
TO them, seem In its horrors like the verita-
Bile "Black Hole of Calcutta"
The trading post Of Mr.. Burr was first
invaded By armed English and Scotch half
breeds in their march against Fort Garry,
and he was taken prisoner and carried
along, as 1t was feared by this party he
might prove spy for their French enemies.
lie was released Just before the men were
themselves made prisoners, but he had
hardly returned to his trading post when
the French, in their turn, arrested him. He
was then taken to the fort, and probably
escaped death by convincing Riel and his
followers there Of the risk they ran, II he
was maltreated, in having the Americans
also for their enemies.
They were expecting aid from the Fenians
in the United States at that time. The willy
half-breed leader thought 1t the better policy
to release the American trader, and SO to-
day he is alive to explain the ms and outs
of this half-breed rebellion.
Riel, Mr.. Burr AYERS, had for q long time
been disturbing element After he es-
capped from Canada and came over our
border, claiming to be an American citizen,
he mustered his party of outlaws at the
Montana polls, and they deposited about
100 fraudulent votes. Then when Ricl, as
the leader In this outrage, was sought by
our authorities he escaped into Canada,
where on Monday he met his just deserts
on the scaffold.