The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-06-09

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history. While much damage has been
done the building from All historical
standpoint, the main building, which is
made of hewn oak timber, is still un-
touched, and the rest can be restored,
and if protected, would remain an inter-
national and historic landmark for gen.
erations to come.
1t was constructed on what was then
considered British soil by wealthy half
breed named Paul Larond, some fifty
years ago, after the manner of the early
pioneers Of Acadia. Later the place was
known as Huron City, three miles north
from Pembina, and around il and the old
Hudson Bay fort, now destroyed, which
stood near, cluster all the stirring events
since confederation, in 1867. While the
old buildings and the city of Huron have
gone into oblivion, this historical log
cabin still stands secure. Itwould take a
volume to tell its history if all the facts
were known.
A few facts will be eofuniversal interest.
This building was the first hotel in
Manitoba, opened in 1870 by David Sim
clair, now millionaire in the diamond
fields of South Africa. 1t was the first
regular customs in Manitoba, from 1871
to 1874, and the first telegraph and post
office, opened in 1872 in charge OF the
late F. F., Bradley. In 1870 the Hon.
VIM. McDougal, first lieutenant COVER
nor of the Northwest, was met here by
armed halt-breeds and turned back from
a foot hold on British soil. Lord Dufer-
in visited this point in his tour to the
west in 1873, and Capt. Butler. author OF
the Great Lone Land, found shelter here.
Major Young, now of the city of Winni-
peg, was in charge of the customs in this
old building. The late Bishop McCrae
of Saskatchewan held the first English
church service here with the heroes sol
the Wolseley expedition. Captain Cam
eron, since distinguished in the service OF
the British Empire, and Captain Wheat.
on, now brigadier general of the United
States army operating in the Philippine
Islands, enjoyed pioneer life under this
roof.
The building was captured by generals
O'Neil and O'Donohue and their 100
armed followers in the fall of 1871 and
remained in their possession for short
time. The tragic events surrounding
the death by suicide in Winnipeg at the
time of the trial of Lord Gordon who in
1874, robbed J. Gould in New York and
sought safety on British soil with his
many thousands, are associated with
this old building, and the part that the
famous detectives Hoy and Keegan, and
Ex-Governor, of Minnesota, and Fletcher
played, are matters of history.
The famous Louis Riel made this house
a retreat in the early days with Lepine
and Dumont of Fish Creek and Batoche.
Captain Armstrong, formerly deputy
sheriff of Ottawa and connected with the
arrest and trial of Darcy McGee's as
sassin, became the first sheriff of Manito-
ba during the first rebellion. He is now
living here in his old age and is especial
ly ANXIOUS to preserve the old building
for posterity, and David Wright, receiver,
George Allen and William Mills, of the
customs, also old veterans, are much in
terested as we'll as all the citizens. but
what to do is the question. They await
public sentiment. Some suggest giving
the building to the Winnipeg exhibition
but old-timers say mo, /" it would DESTROY
its historic value to remove it. The best
suggestion seems to be, for all to unite
and inaugusate an international park
along the banks of the Red river on this
historic and beautiful ground. Three
railways seems to converge at Emerson,
the c. P. R., Great Northern and North
ern Pacific, and if Manitoba. Minnesota
and Dakota come together here, it would
serve to strength our growing brother
hood, and line of international parks
from ocean to ocean successfully in
augurated would be a fitting close Of this
nineteenth century. Emerson awaits
suggestions what to do with the old log
cabin on the banks Of the Red.-Free
Press.