Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-01
To emphasize s.hlsl demand ire 4b,.t

To emphasize his demand the chief
leaped down from his pony and thrust the
muzzIe Of his rife into McDouaids stonl-
ach. But the policeman was not fright
ened. He calmly pushed the gun aside
and told the chief and two Of his follow
ers to come inside for 'pow-wow." first
seeing to it that the chiefs stacked their
arms in the yard outside the council
room. Then by sheer force Of personality
he browbeat them into ordering that the
excited braves outside should be dis
persed. When this had been done Nc
Donald explained the law on murder, and
announced while they waited, he would
send three men into the Indian camp to
arrest the murderers. He dispatched the
three constables, who pushed their way
through bowling masses of Sioux sought
out their men, handcuffed them and car
ried them back to the post
Then there is the story of how 300 sui
len Crees, who had fed into the United
States. were escorted to the line by
strong detachment of American cavalry,
under orders to turn over their charges
to force of Northwest mounted police.
The Americans were met by a corporal
and two constables. The American officer
in command surveyed them with amaze
ment, as is related in Ihe Riders of the
. Plains" by A. l. Hayden.
Where's your escort for these IN
dians?' he asked
Were here" answered the corporal
Eyes, yes, l sec. But where IS your
regiment?'
II guess it's all right" said the cor
poral. "The other fellows looking after
the breakfast things"
But are there only foul Of you. them
That's so, colonel, but you see we
wear the queens scarlet
Three men once rode 100 miles in
binding snowstorm to arrest q horse
thief in a settlement of so haf-breeds,
all of whom were bad" and cheerfully
ready to fight il they got chance. But
the three redcoats got their man and car
ried him back to justice. Their report
was summed up in q few words. This Is
a way of the Northwest mounted police.
J Constable j. A. W. O'Neill, on patrol
from Norway House 10 Keewatin for the
purpose of arresting two Indians accused
of murder. Time occupied, four months;
distance Travelled by dog train and ca
noes. $50 miles" That was all.
/ And once sergeant and one constable
conveyed two dangerous lunatIcs hum
dreds of miles over country with which
they were unacquainted in the depths Of
! winter, with every consideration for the
comfort of the poor wretches.
After all, the keynote of the mounted
police is struck in the story of the young
ster. barely more than a recruit, who
was sent across snow-covered praires to
hunt horses that had strayed toward
Pendant dOreille He was overtaken by
a blizzard and several weeks later, when
the SHOWS had melted, a search party
found his body. In his pocket was his
note book, on leaf of which he had
scrubbed:
/ Am trying to push on. Have done my
best" That is the motto of the mounted
police. "Maintiens lie droit' are the
words that encircle the buffalo head on
the coat of arms, but, sanctioned though
they are by colleges of heralds and the
traditions of centuries. they lack the
stirring force of the dying message of
the young constable who had failed,
knew he had failed. and knew, too. that
he had done his best.
ION the 18th inst. 1, Corporal Hogs,
was called to the hotel to quiet disturb
ance. l found the room full of cowboys.
and one Monaghan, or Cowboy Jack,
was carrying gun and pointed ii at me
against Sections 105 and 1e9 of the Crini-
+ nal Code. We struggled. Finally 1 got
+ him handcuffed behind and put him in
side. His head being in bad shape. had
to engage the services of doctor, who
dressed his wound and pronounced |. as
nothing serious. To the doctor Monaghan
said that if hadn't grabbed his gun
there'd be another death in the Canadian
history All of which l have the honor
to report"
Incidentally. it may be remarked that
the prefix Royal LAS been borne by
the corps only since 1904. when 1t was
conferred upon them by King Edward
at the behest of the earl of Mimic, gov
ernor general, and in recognition o. their
services To be royal command Is
the ambition of every organization under
the British flag.
/ There are now $40 men on the force.
charged with maintaining law and order
in the provinces of Alberta and Sas-
katchewan, the Yukon territory and the
Northwest territories. But 1t is hoped
that before long the effective strength
can be increased to 1000 men. Fully that
number is needed to cover the country
within the jurisdiction of the constables.
N. Y. Post.