The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-31
ROIJBIE AMONG TRADERS
REPORT REACHES WINNIPEG OF A
CLASH BETWEEN AMERICANS
AND CANADIANS
ONE MAN FATALLY WOUNDED
Row Arose Over the Loss of the
Indian Trade to the Men on
the Other side of the
Border.

WINNIPEG, Aug SO.-Serious trouble
is reported as having occurred between
the American and Canadian traders in
the fur-bearing country north of Edmon-
TON in the Canadian Northwest The trcu-
ole, brewing for months, eliminated
three weeks ago, when an American,
August Briese, said to have come from
Seattle, Wash, was shot and, it is said,
fatally injured by Canadian half-breed
traders. Several OF Briese's companions
who went to his rescue were fired upon
py the infuriated bslf-breeds, and only
escaped death by fight.
When the news was brought to Ed
monitor, n. w. T., by trader in the en-
2loy of Ross Bros, the most influential
indian traders in the West, Charles Ross,
the senior member, lost no time in laying
the matter before the Canadian North
west mounted police. a large detachment
Of the police was sent to the scene. Word
was also sent to Calgary and other
mounted police stations in that part of the
country to hold themselves In readiness
20 be called upon at any moment
The trouble which eliminated in the
fatal shooting Of BIiese, and woundlng OF
ais companions, arose out Of the alleged
ans of immense supplies of firearms,
blankets and ether Indian necessities.
These supplies, it is thought, were
brought into Canadian territory either
by way of Alaska or by way Of the Arctic
ocean.
While the disturbance to2k place over
three weeks ago, the persons most direct
ly concerned have kept the matter so
quiet that it has been mentioned by no
Canadian paper as yet
The first news to reach the Outside was
brought here by William ]. Tallman, the
pioneer pressed brick manufacturer of
Canada Mr. TaIlman went to Edmonton
TO give an expert opinion on some i'm
mense deposits of clay which the owners
thought would be suitable for the manu-
facture Of pressed brick.
BY chance Mr.. TRliman, whose home
Is IN Reamsviue, Ont, heard the story
At the Leland hotel today he said that
the situation in the fur-bearing country
was, in the opinion of the big merchants,
and traders Of Edmonton, very grave.
According 10 his account, large quantities
Of whisky were brought into the couatry
by Americans, and the liquor was supplied
to the Indians, who, having had most
successful trapping season, were quite
prepared to purchase it. NJ. TaJiman
says that should the Americans not be
=
trade built up by the merchants Of Ed
monitor srd the HudsOns Bay company
with the Indians VIII be ruined. Moreover,
the Introduction of firewater into the
trading operations may, he thinks, re-
suit In the Indians again becoming rest
less and troublesome.
Mr. Tallman heard the story from Fran
els Ccuillard, q half-breed in the employ
Of Ross Pros anj the foregoing is briefly
the substance CT what he said.
Wber Couillard finished his story, Mr..
Roes. who says the half-breed IS thor
oughiy hcns st. at once communicated
with the mounted police, and, McTallman
understood. laid the matter before the
American consUls al Edmonton and Cal
gary, and that they had promised to for
ward the particulars to Washington.
It viii be several weeks before any fur
Their rews of the trouble reaches the out
side The country was ire scene of the
hardships endured by hundreds of argo-
nauts who In 1898 attempted to reach the
Klnpdike by the aiI-Canadian land route.
Mr.. Ross IS firmly convinced that
startling neyrs will shortly be Received
from the fur country.