The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-27
EXECUTION OF LOUIS R1EL.
He Meets His Death Like !. Brav. Man,
and Declines to Make speech Upon
tho GalloWs.

tho Gallows.
All efforts having failed to secure q fur
ther respite, Louis Riel vas executed at
Regina, N. W. T.. Monday, the 10th inst.
At last it appeared thathe had given up all
hopes Of escape from his terrible fate, and
had made up his mind to die bravely. He
did not retire the night previous at all,
but remained up, praying most OF the time,
and conversing with Pere Andre. He
went over the events OF the two rebel.
lions, and said, while he admitted having
made mistakes he always had the good OF
his people at heart and he could die with
clear conscience. About IL O'Clock he took
his last meal on earth. Before passing out
on the scaffold, q signal was given aud the
party stopped. The priests and Riel
knecled to pray. Riels clear voice could be
heard above that OF the priests, repeating
the prayers OF the Roman Catholic church
used in cases Of death. The litany was re-
to an end. The priests repeated the pray
srs slowly as il to prolong the
life of the poor man every moment
they could. But ut last the end came
and the party rose from their knees. Riel
looked cal, around. His eyes were OBJ
served to be moist, and some fnncied they
heard n sob escape from him, but he soon
stifled any feeling Of weakness he might have
felt, and moning up that courageous and
manly bearing which lie always possessed.
he said firmly, in French, ''Gentlemen,I am
Deputy Sheriff Gibson, the hanginln ap-
pcared from the gloom OF the corridor. He
was masked, and presented IL repulsive
spectacle, us his black eyes could be seen
through small npcrtures in the mask,
cleaning through.
HE HAD A GRuDGE.
His name is Jack Henderson, and hc is
the same who hanged Conncrs. He owed Il
special grudge against Riel having been im-
bellion in 1870, and lie pleaded as IL par
ticular favor to be allowed to hang his old
enemy. lie carried in his hand some straps
with which, under the direction OF Gibson, hc
bound Riel's hands behind his back.
While this net was being performed, Riel
gazed through the aperture ut the fatal
moose, which, suspended from heavy
beam. was dangling before him. A slight
shudder seemed -, shake him for an in
stant, but that was all, and the next mo.
ment he stepped firmly out OF tho building
he repeated Ave Marias.
As Riel stepped upon the trap he con-
tinued to ejacuate: "In God | put my
trust" Before the hangman adjusted the
white cap, Sheriff Chapleau stepped up to
Riel and said: Louis Ricl, have you any
thing to say before the sentence of tho
court is executed upon you?"
For IL moment Ricl was silent; then to tho
great surprise Of all, he answered in firm
voice. "No." lie was told he would have
two minutes to pray, and he repeated the
Lords prayer. lie invoked the aid OF Je.
slls, Mary, Joseph and the other saints.
Father Andre and McWilliams stood faith
fully by him and to thcircxhortations to
stand firm, Rel said lie was not afraid
to die. 81 believe in God to the last" he
said. '.ycs, to the very last" DIR. Jukcs
shook hands with him, when ho thanked
the physician for all he had ever done for
him. The rope w;ts now adjusted by the
lideous-looking llangman, who also drew
the white cap over Rcls face. Then Faith
cr McWilliams was asked to repeat the
Lords prayer. Hecommenced in slow and
measured tones. The suspense was terrible.
and could not last much longer. Wren the
words, "Lcad us not into temptation"
were reached. deputy Sheriff Glib
son nodded to the hangnan, who
kept his eyes fixed on him. With
II slcdge hammer he struck the bolt. which
shot back into it's socket. and as n conse-
quence shot Louis Riel, the leader OF the
hali-brecds and whose name will ever live in
Canadian history, into eternity. The drop
was nine feet, and the victim fell with ter
ribls fcrco, 30 that his neck was broken in
stantly.