The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-01
CANADA,s MOUNTED POLICE.
The Guardians of the Peace in the
KIOndike Mining District.

hlOnO1ke Mining OlstFIcts
San Francisco Chronicle.
That even in the most remote spots in the
world over which l44es the flag of a civil
lied nation there should exist the perfect
administration of justice and an enforced
regard for personal rights is one of the
triumphs that the nineteenth century can
boast of as it's own. And no government
in the history of the world can lay claim
to having carried this marvel of executive
foresight to such a degree of perfection as
that of Great Britain. The trite saying
that "if you tread on an Englishmans toes
in the Cannibal islands there will be war
ship round the corner next morning" is
something more than a jest, and it is equal
ly true that, no matter how far removed
from the seat Of government human being
may be, if Great Britain owns the soil on
which he lives and tolls he may rest as
sured that to whatever country he owes
his allegiance, his rights will be rightly
protected and his crimes swiftly punished
Here and there among the mass of matter
that has been written concerning the Won
derful klondike mines brief illusions have
been made to the fact that little body of
mounted police has been patroling the dis
trict ever since the excitement began, keep
ing strict order and preserving among tie
constantly swelling populations of the va
rious camps as peaceable conditions as can
be found IN the heart of any civilized COM
munity. And in all the speculation con-
corning the future of the locality, its prob
able immense growth and the fear of starry
ation sickness and death, no fear has ever
been expressed that Anything in the nature
of laWlessness or crime may get the upper
hand and run rampant or that property
rights and safety OF person will be in the
least danger.
Vigilantes are unknown in this northern
and snoWbound Eldorado Though the eX-
Iortf Low how, 10
founded by the Canadians on British pre-
cedent, are in the main responsible for this
feeling OF security, the men who undertake.
their enforcement are, after all, entitled TO
a good share of the credit, for good laws
lily enforced are worse than useless. The
Northwest mounted police of Canada,
body whose wonderful discipline and brav-
cry have given the Dominion food for most
of her later literature, are the officers in
whose hands has been placed the carrying
cut of these laws, and at this time, there
fore, something concerning that organiza-
ton and its internal workings should be of
interest.
The Northwest mounted police, whose
scarlet tunic is the symbol OF law and or
der in the Northwest were organized when
were one of Sir John Macdonald's inspira-
items, and after his return to power in 1878
they always remained under his own eye
The nucleus of the force was got to-
gether at Manitoba in 1878. They originally
numbered three hundred, but by. their cool
Eess and pluck at critical periods they ac-
and lawless whisky traders to a state OF
order. The police built posts and protected
the white settlers and the surveyors, who
had already began pareeling out the coun-
try and exploring the route of the Canadian
Pacific Railway In 1877 nearly the whole
of the little force was concentrated on the
southwestern frontier to watch and check
the six thousand Sioux who sought refuge
ir. Canada after their defeat and massacre
of Custer and his little comms nd on the
Little Big Horn. 1t was through the eff
forts of the mounted police that the Sioux
were finally induced 70 surrender peace
ably to the United States authorities in
1SS0-S. After the outbreak of the half
breeds under Louis Riel in 1885 the force
was increased to one thousand men, their
The Northwest police, like the royal Irish
nstabulary, on which r. was modelled, is
in the eye of the law, purely civil body
It's officers are magistrates, the men are
constahles. But so far as circumstances
will allow, its organization, internal econo-
my and drill are those of cavalry regi-
ment and when on active service in a mill
tary capacity the officers have army rank
The affairs of the force are managed by a
distinct department of the government ct
ottawa, under the supervision of a Cabinet
minister. The executive command is held
by an officer styled the commissioner and
ranking as lieutenant colonel. The assist
ant commissioner ranks with a major and
after three years service as a lieutenant
colonel Ten superintendent, with cap
tains' rank, command the divisions. with
about thrty-ffVe inspectors Subalterns,
who correspond to lieutenants. The medical
Stan consists or a surgeon, nVe assistant
surgeons and two veterinary surgeons. The
noncommissioned officers are as in the ar
my, while the troopers are called con-
stables
The rank and file are not exeelled by
any picked corps in any service, A re-
cruit must be between twenty-five and for
ty-ive years old, of good character, able
to read and write English or French, ae-
tive, well built and of sound constitution,
The physique is very fine, the average of
the whole thousand being five, feet nine
and half inches in height and thirty-eight
and half inches around the cnest.
There has always been an unusual pro-
portion of men of good family ana eduea-
ton in the service. Lots of young English
men who came out to try their hand at
farming in the far West have drifted into
the police, as also many well-connected
Canadians. Waits and strays from every
where and of every calling are to be found
in the ranks The roll call would show
many defaulters If no man answered to
any name but his own. There is at least
one lord in the force and many university
graduates. The officers pay is not large,
ranging from 2400 a year to the commits
sioner to 81. 900 to the inspectors. with, of
course, quarters. rations, fuel, etc.
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PLACER MINING.