The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-02
THE LAST OF RIEL
The Rebel Leader Hanged in the
Northwest Territory.
Exhibiting Remarkable Firmness on
the Scafold.

Particulars Of the hanging Of Louis Riel,
the leader of the late rebellion III Manitoba
are given in the following dispatch from Re
gina, Northwest Territory:
Louis Riel was hanged at the barracks Of
the mounted police force, near this city, for
high treason against the queen Of Great
Britain at 1928 o'clock this morning. At a
mile from the barracks mounted patrols chal-
lenged all persons and compelled them to
disclose written passes. Two other
lines of guards were stationed at points
nearer the post, and here the same pre-
cautions were observed. No one was per-
mitted to enter the guard room until o:l2
o'clock. The scene presented then Was that
of Riel OH The scaffold with Pere Andre and
Father McWilliams with him, celebrating
mass. Reil was on his knees, wearing q loose
WOO en- %surtout, gray trousers, and q wooden
shirt. On his feet were moc:asiEs. He received
the notice to proceed to the s,alfUld in the
samo composed manner shown on the pre-
ced;ng night on receiving the warning of his
fate. lis face was full Of color, AMI he ap-
peured to have complete self-possession, re-
spending to the service in a clear tone. The
scaffold had been erected within q contract
Ell Enclosure Immediately in the rear OF the
guard house, and the only view of it was
through a window Immediately under a
rafter. The last sacrament was taken by
the condemned man within the guard-house
proper, and near the opening which led to
The scilfold.
When the moment came for Riel to have
his arms and hands pinioned he kept looking
up, slowly repeating his prayers. He then
walked through the opening and down the
narrow stairway with his head turned away
from the few civilians and soldiers who stood
about tho opening. Wien he was OK OUT to
take his place OF the trap the deputy sheriff
asked if he had anything to say. He turned
to his confessor, Pere Andre, and inquired:
'Shall l not say a few words?" "No,'
quickly replied the priest in French, "make
this your last sacrifice and you Will be re-
warded.n Riel turned and remarked in Eng
lish, 81 have nothing 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 heard distinctly
repeating his prayers. There was hardly a
CULVER as the drop fell, and his death was pro-
nounced an easy one.
In the night Pere Andre urged upon Riel
not to attempt an address upon the scaffold,
and suggested that q reprieve might still be
on its way, but this idea Riel strenuously re-
PEELED. He addressed a letter in the night to
his mother and to his sister which touched
upon the affection he bore them. He added
q codici! to his will specifying that he desired
his body to be laid by the side of his fathers
in st. Boniface cemetery, at Winnipeg, which
request will be carried out He prayed almost
co ltinuously in the night. He directed q
pray to his friends in the United States,
wi ere lie declared most OF them were, and
aga.n TO. his friends III Quebec. He prayed
for his lawyers, speaking of their efforts in
his behalf and of their going to England for
him. The attending priest told hmm it was
his duty to pray for his enemies. He replied:
chat is so, and at once began to pray in
English for the premier OF Canada, but he
asked that the government might soon be re-
lieved from his rule.