River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-08-08
q" WH00P UP"

W HUUR UF.
Up to 1867 the Canadian Northwest
was almost an unknown land, inhab-
tied by wild Indians, scarcely less wild
trappers, a few wandering gold-seek-
ers and more providing whisky traders.
What is now a partially settled coun-
try, traversed by the Canadian Pacific
railway. was then the hunting ground
of nearly forty thousand red men
Crees. Blackfeet. BlOOds. Piegans, As
siniboines and other aboriginal tribes,
few Of whose members have ever seen
a white man. except the ubiquitous
trappers aud whisky traders afOre-
said.
After acquiring this immense terri
tory 5y purchase from the Had
sons Bay company in Is59, the Cana
dian government Incorporated il
with the Dominion in 1870. and
that famous force known as the
Canadian Northwest mounted police.
This was done for the purpose OF not
only aiding in the settlement of the
country, bu' also OF suppreSsing the
whisky traffic and protesting the In
dians fron Tho unFtineipled dealers in
that destructive cOmmodity-theSe
cOnscienceless rogues. mostly Montana
men, having been long in the habit. of
selling the vile stuff 10 the savages at
an enormous profit and impOverishing
their ever-thirsty customers by taking
payment therefor in horses and furs
at prices fixed by themselves. thus re-
ducing whole tribes to absolute beg
gary and rendering them exceedingly
dangerous foes 70 eivilizs .on-
30 zealOusly did the police perform
their duties that by and by mum Der
Of the most desperate traders. harassed
beyond endurance, formed themselves
into a sort OF joint stock company and
built what they considered a secure
place of refuge in the heart OF the In
dian country and far away from the
usual range of the mounted police.
The structure these men erected was
situated in deep gorge contiguous TO
Old Mans river. in the midst of most
dismal surroundings. aud about one
hundred miles north Of the boundary
line between Montana and Assiniboia
The cunningly concealed building.
thoroughly and artistically put to-
gether. was worthy of better than its
intended purpose. Indeed, il stands
to-day the strongest and most subsian-
tial fort in the Canadian northwest,
and still bears the suggestive name,
"Whoop Up bestowed by its founders
during the first nights registering rev.
elry within its walls
Making this stronghold their base of
operations. the whisky dealers for
some time pursued their nefarious
trade with impunity, amasSing riches
for themselves while utterly democrat
izing and shamelessly rObbing their
red-sIinned customers But at last a
rumor Of their fiendish work reached
the commandment of police, who decided
to send strong force, with a couple
OF light field guns, TO discover the fort
II possible. capture its occupants and
destroy all contraband wet goods
found therein.
Early IL the spring these troops set
out on their adventurous march. one
so full of hari>hips aud peril that it is
surprising a single man was left to tell
the st0yy; but that all survived its
manifold dangers is little short of
marvellous Their route lay for a
thousand miles over unknown plains.
deserts and mountains, and through
regions inhabited by warlilSe savages.
of whom they knew nothing aud who
were equally ignorant of them and
their benefcent designs. Neither Off
GERS nor men had any idea of the hId-
l.. IL -
them knew was that il lay within
sight of the Rocky mountains and
about a hundred miles from the north
ern edge Of Montana description
scarcely more definite than would be
one stating that a ten acre island
sought for 10y a navigator was situated
somewhere in the Pacific ocean,
IL was impossible to procure capa BILE
guides: and looking lor that particular
gorge. invisible from a distance of two
hundred yards, was nearly as hopeless
a task as searching for a cambria
needle in mountain of straw.
The result was as might have been
fore>ceu; After months of weary wan
dering and strange experiences. the
eNpeditionary force. though then
within sight of the Rocky mountains.
became practically lost on the vast
plain, without a single guiding elew 10
its objective point There was. how
ever. no danger Of its members starv-
ing. as the whole country was literal
" swarming with buffaloes. autelopes
and deer, while in some of the rOugher
localities the terrible grizzly bear
roamed uniiSputed lord of the wilds-
The bewildered police frequently
saw Indian camps in the valleys, but
before they could reach them every
tepee and redskin would disappear; for
these unframed Savages had never seen
or heard Of the relocated. heavily
armed stranger who had thus uncere-
moniously invaded their country. The
scarlet uniforms, the shining brass
cannous. mysterious weapons and long
train Of wagons excited their fear and
suspicion. Individual warriors would
sometimes ride in wide circles around
the force, b1t none could be induced
20 stay for palaver; nor woulo any
ever approach within half mile; and,
knowing every intricate pass as they
did. not one could he captured.
After many days of fruitless search.
the commanding officer decided 10 fire
signals of distress in the hope of at
tracing some wandering white men
who might be able to put him on the
right track 80. beginning one morn
ing, cannous were discharged during
the daylight hours. and At night the
heavens were lighted mp by rockets
and blazing freballs- All the Indians
for miles around were frightened half
- death by the booming of the great
guns aud the streams of fire shot into
the air by the mysterious visitors, to
whom they now attributed supernat-
ural powers; but in 50 far as bringing
IN a guide was concerned the signals
were wasted. Therefore. nothing more
was attempted in this line till after
another week Of useless marching.