Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-11-27
RiEL'S GRAVE.
The Neglected Resting-Place of the Half
Breed Leader in the Northwest Terri

The Neglected Resting-Place OF the Half-
Breed Leader in the Northwest Terri
tory.
No visit to this interesting region is
complete without crossing over Red
river from Winnipeg to the suburb Of
ST. Boniface, the home of Archbishop
Tache. There are two men of Winni-
peg who, by their personal merits and
long course of wise actions for the
benefit of this region, have become
pre-eminent in their influence over the
people of the Canadian Northwest.
Sir Donald A. Smith, whose Winnipeg
home is at Silver Heights, on the banks
of the Assinibolnc, was ior many years
the head of the Hudson'S Bay Company
in this country and his influence over
the people in the wide domain extend
ing from the boundary 20 the Arctic
circle and from the great lakes west
ward to the Rocky Mountains has been
very marked. Archbishop Tache,
whose province extends over the same
wide territory is the revered spiritual
adviser of the French ard Indians, and
also a sage counselor for the whole
country. These two men for a long
period have been reliance of the Gov
erHment in dealing with these remote
peoples, and they were mainly instru-
mental in settling the original troubles
in Manitoba which resulted in its being
made Canadian province. Riel very
properly objected to some suggested
modes of settlement, because, as he
said, the people of this region desired
to be equal to and not subordinate 10
Canada; they did not wish ''to be the
colony os a colony" Crossing over
the substantial bridge spanning the
Red river between Winnipeg and st.
Boniface, the attractive cathedral is in
full view. The river sweeps grandly
around from the west to the north, and
on the edge of the outer bank is road.
A plain white fence borders this
road, with foliage behind it. from
among which stands up the
cathedral Of st. Bonifacc, with
its tall, shining, Uncovered spire,
a reproduction of those seen on the
lower st. Lawrence. Above this is the
large, square academy building. which
is a school of the Sisterhood of Gray
Nuns from Montreal, and adjoining il
is their convent. Below the church.
embosomed in trees, stands the modest
residence of the Archbishop, low,
square-roofed house, yet comfortable
in its appointments. st. Boniface Col
lege is behind. The buildings are con-
structed of the crcam-colorod stone
found near by and which is used so ex-
tensively in Winnipeg. The church is
hui n1 in 10
succeed the original church then burnt.
1t has famous chime of bells, first sent
out from London to the old church, de-
stroyed when the church was burnt, |
the fragments collected and sent back
to London for recaSting, again sent out, |
and, after meeting various mishaps, |
finally safely brought overland by OK
teams from st Paul, on the Mississippi |
river. They are known here as "the
travelling bells of ST. Boniface. But |
the most interesting part of the place
is the grave of Ricl in the church yard. |
1t is fat grave inclosed by a plain
wooden fence, with cross, also of |
wood, stuck in the ground and bearing |
the words .'Louis David Riel, with |
ont mark. His widow, who recently |
died, is inferred alongside without any !
mark, and, in fact, the graves show no
evidence of any care being taken of
them The death of Ricl by the eX-
trcme penalty of the law, while still a
cause of great irritation among the |
French of Lower Canada, has proba-
bly, ended all prospect of French half
breed domination in any part of the
Northwest, where the English rule. |
mainly through the instrumcntality of
the Canadian Pacific railway, has now |
established its supreme authority
Winnipeg Cor. London Times.