The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-11-18

near the opening which led to the ecaAold
He responded to the Latin prayers with a
full and clear voice while on his Bonded
knees. When the moment came for him to
rise to have his arms and hands pinioned,
he kept looking up, slowly repeating his
prayers. He then walked through the con-
traeted opening and down the narrow stair
way, with his face turned away from the few
civilians and soldiers who stood about the
opening. When he was TO take his place on
the trap the Deputy Sheriff asked II he had
anything to say. He turned to his con-
fessor Pere Andre, and inquired: shall
not say a few words NO" quickly re-
piled the priest in French, make this your
last sacrifice. and you will be rewarded"
Riel turned and remarked in English, Il
have nothing more to say. There was
some delay in adjusting the moose. but Riel
did not remark upon it, ard as the white
cap closed over him, he was heard distinctly
repeating his prayers. During the night Pere
Andre urged upon Riel not to attempt an
address upon the scafold. and suggested
that reprieve might still be on its way, but
this idea strenuOusly repealed. He said he
knew his hour had come, and that he was
not only prepared. but that he would not
have it any other way, as nothing but the
alternative OF prison for life awaited him,
and TO him death was preferable 10 that.
OuTlIlE ne duuTcc>tu a u HIS
mother and to his sister, which touched upon
the affection he bore them. Pere Andre
will 90 to Winnipeg with his remains,
within a few DAYS. His body was inferred
to-day under the scafOld. He prayed almost
continuously during the night. He directed
a prayer to his friends in the nited states,
where he declared most of them were, and
again for his friends in Quebec. He prayed
for his lawyers. speaking of their efforts in
his behalf and of their going to England for
him. The attending father told him it was
his duty TO pray for his enemies. He re-
piled. THAT is so" and at once began so
pray in English for the Premier of Canada,
but in his PRAYER he asked that the Govern
ment might soon be relieved from his rule. He
partOOk of light repast at II O'Clock. eat no
breakfast which caused him 10 show at one
time this morning some signs of faintness,
but afterward he 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 culver as the drop fell, and his death
was pronounced an easy one. During the
early hours of the morning he gathered up
all his papers which covered mis- desk, en-
bOdying supposed visions which he had
seen and his prophecies, and asked the priv
ilege from the officer of the
guard To destroy them. This was
allowed him. and gathering them
fire and thrust them i'm. watching them I'M
I'll the flames had devoured them. He then
returned To his cell and to his deyOtiOnS. Ii
would be difficult at this time to gauge the
sentiment created in the Northwest as TO
Riel. The half-breeds are unusually silent
upon the topic. \ majority OF the resident
population believed he deserved death and
this is undoubtedly specially true in Mani
tOba. Here where he was tried there was
some expression of sympathy for him.
and at times the declaration that he
was right in his demands. as
they had nearly all, since been granted to
the halt breeds. The execution of Riel. is
to he followed at Battleford by the hanging
Of ten Indian Chiefs. for atrocities COM
mitted during the recent rebellion. and in
each instance for murders committed. This
will close the book of criminal procedure
growing out OF the Northwest war, as other
persons convicted were for prison sentences.
The eXecutioner OF Rel was a man namad
Jack Henderson. whoiwas a captive of Riel's
in the rebellion of 1870.
Rev. Mr.. McWilliams, who assisted Father
Andre in his attendance upon Riel during
his last hours, and who was a classpate OF
the rebel at Montreal College in 1860, is Of
the opinion that Riel was insane, and so ex-
pressed himself 10 a representative OF the
Associated Press to-day. In this belief he
addressed a letter last Monday to the Cover
nor General of Canada, citing
his firm conviction and saying
that while he deemed Riel a
dangerous person, and one who should be
confined for life, according TO his belief. Ii
sentence OF death was carried out his blood
would be upon the head of His Excellency
Lord Lansdowne and his immediate advis-
ers. He addressed similar letter to Sir
John A. Mcdonald, Prime Minister OF Cana
ia. bev. Mr.. McWilliams has
IL. Il.
the past ten days which serves as a partial
index 10 his character and his claim to being
a patriot and likewise a prophet. RiePs
handwriting is bold and moderately regular.
He handed Father McWilliams the following,
November :, four hours before he heard Of
his respite:
RE6rNA JAN. y. ". z. Nov ..
On nc lth OF November. 1855, il was revealed to
me- "YOur death Is reprieved: there are ten law
yers.' On the 9th in the.morning. il was said to
me from above: THE Council viii meet Tuesday
on your Indictment
Signed LOUIS "DAvfD' RIEI.
These happenings transpired as he indi-
Gated in his paper. All letters are signed
Louis David Rel the word David invari-
ably being quoted. The following letter
was written, the reverend gentleman said,
while Riel was laboring under excitement:
REGINA Jan. Nov. .. ISIS
am mOsk acknowledging toward you. my God
for having fulfilled the prophecy which YOU never
lgnace BOurget. that Won would not abandon me
on account oi the mission which y1u have gOodly
given nae Ia fulfill in all pOint>
Signed LOtT> "DNyiD REL.
The following was written the same day
REGINA jan. Nov. .. ISIS.
For assisting to alleviate the wrongs of my
country am TO be. hut will not say il. for hav
ing attempted To- better the condition OF the PEG
Pile at large : aboi iginee. American
and prophet, VIII lose my temporal life.
ISignedi LOTS pawn kIEI.
At 80 o'clock this morning he wrote the
following:
Rev. 4. A. McWilliamS:
Ny good thanks for assisting me in diheren
ways, principally by your prayers.
LoCIs "DAvID" RtEI.
NOvembes l6. 1SSj.
Twenty minutes before he went to thu
scafiOld he wrote the following, in French
Of which a close translation is given. Thi
was his final missiye and is in clear bolC
hand:
What there j. too presumptuOus in my writing
] must say Oy these presents that subordinate /
entire TO the good pleasures OF my God. 10 th'
doctrines OF the church. and to the inalible doc
trnes OF the supreme POntii. die Catholic. anS
in one only true iaith
Sgned LOTS "DAVID" RlI.
Regina Jail. Nov l6. lSS5.
Father McWilliams declares he never wit
al