The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-08-03
"WHOOP UP"

UP 70 1000 INC tduduiau NoEtuWcot
was almost an unknown land, inhab-
tied by wild Indians, scarcely less wild
trappers, few wandering gold-seek-
ers and more prowling 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 mem
Crees, Blaclxfeet, Bloods. Picgans, As
siniboines and other aboriginal tribes,
few of whose members have ever seen
white man, except the ubiquitous
trappers and whisky traders afore-
said.
After acquiring this immense terri
tory by purchase from the Hud-
sons Bay company In 1859, the Cana
dian government Incorporated it.
with the Dominion in 1870, and
not very long afterwards organized
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, but also of suppressing the
whisky traffic and protecting the In
dams from the unprincipled dealers in
constituencies rogues, mostly Montana
men, having been long in the habit of
selling tho vile stuff TO the savages at
an enormous profit and impoverishing
their cyer-thirsty customers by taking
payment therefor In horses and furs
ut prices fixed by themselves, thus re-
ducing whole tribes TO absolute beg
gary and rendering them exceedingly
dangerous foes to civilization.
30 zeaiousiy did the police perform
their duties that by and by a number
of tho most desperate traders, harassed
beyond endurance, formed themselves
into 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, and about one
hundred miles north Of the boundary
line between Montana and Assiniboia.
The cunningly concealed building,
thoroughly and artistically put to-
Ccther, was worthy of better than its
intended purpose. Indeed, it stands
to-day the strongest and most substan-
tial fort in the Canadian northwest,
and still bears the suggestive name.
4sWhoop Up bestowed by its founders
during the first nights registering rev.
slry within its walls
Making this stronghold their base of
operations, the whisky dealers for
some time pursued their nefarious
trade with impnnity, amassing riches
FOR themselves while utterly democrat
5zinQ and shamelessly robbing their
red-skinned customers But at last a
rumor of their fiendish work reached
the commandment Of police, who decided
to send a strong force, with couple
OF light field guns, to discover the fort
if possible, capture It's occupants and
destroy all contraband wet goods
found therein.
EARLY in the spring these troops set
out on their adventurous march, ono
40 full OF hardships and peril that IL Is
surprising a single man was left to tell
the story; but that all survived its
manifold dangers Ia little short Of
marvclous. Their route lay for n
Thousand miles over unknown plains,
deserts and mountains, and through
regions inhabited by warlilxc savages,
of whom they knew nothing and who
were equally ignorant Of them and
their bcnehcent designs. Neither OH
GERS nor men had any idea Of tho hid
den forts exact locality; all any Of
them knew was that II lay within
sight Of the Rocky mountains and
about a hundred miles from the north
crn edge Of Montana-a description
scarcely more definite than would DO
ono stating that ten acre island
sought for by n navigator was situated
somewhere In the Pacific occanI
IL vas impossible to procure capable
guides; and looking for that particular
gorge, invisible from distance OF two
hundred yards. was nearly as hopeless
a task "a searching for cambric
needle In mountain OF straw.