The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-03-08

q whisky runner only name, ana IN
tho Klondike rush that seething min
ing camp Of Dawson was as safe AZ
IN eastern hamlet. During the regime
Of the riders of the plains Canada's
western domain passed from q country
Of tribal conflict through the railway
stage, when our first great transcon-
tinental was thrown across the prairie
without provoking strife with the orig
inal owners Of the country, to tho pc
Rod Of peaceful settlement and tho up
building Of modern cities, and In these
varied stages the famous force adapt
ed itself to the conditions without loss
In effectiveness or Of the sincere 70
gard Of the complex population.
Won thc indian.
In dealing with the Indian tribes the
Royal Northwest Mounted police did
invaluable service. They won not only
the confidence Of Indians In Canada.
but also Of the fierce Sioux whe sought
refuge in Canada after the Custer
massacre. They made treaties and
kept them.
When Pie-a-Pot, a warlike Cree
chief, came south with his band and
held up the construction Of the Cana
dian Pacific, a sergeant and constable
Of the police arrived, entered the hos
tile camp, arrested the old chief sur
rounded by his braves, and landed him
in Jail. He was a good Indian after
wards, keeping his treaty during the
halfbreed outbreak in 1885.
The most famous international case
was that Of Sitting Bull. the noted
Sioux chief, who in 1875 had wiped out
the command Of the brilliant, impetu-
Gus Custer. Chiefs White Eagle, Little
Knife, Black Moon, and finally the no
torious Sitting Bull. crossed the line.
Including their families nearly 1900
fierce Sioux were in Canadian terri
tory, and to see that they did not use
Canada as base against the United
States or inflame our own Indians
there were in that area only 200 police.
Inspector Walsh rode alone into Sit
ting Bulls camp and read the riot act
to him. Surrounded by his braves the
fierce Sioux threatened the inspector,
who placed his revolver at the Chiefs
head and told him plainly that If there
was trouble there might be new in
spcctor in the police but there GER
tainly would be a new chief Of the
Sioux. When, finally after years Of
constant watching, Walsh prevailed on
the Sioux to surrender to the United
States authorities, Sitting Bull gave
Walsh his war bonnet in recognition
1T the "bravest man he had ever met"
Even during the rebellion in 1885 the
great tribes remained true to the po-
lice and only few Joined with the
MetiS under Louis Reil. 1t was the
respect that the Indians had for the
"scar]et and gold" that saved western
Canada at that period from gravest
disaster.
Deeos OF Individual. Bravery.
It was not alone in keeping the In
dams in check that the police showed
bravery and tact. Col. Sam Steele, who
commanded the Strathcona Horse in
South Africa, rose from sick bed,
faced and arrested the ringleaders Of
several hundred Infatuated armed rail-
way strikers in the Rockies.
But it was in the long patrol of the
terrible North that the best traditions
of the force have been preserved.
They plunged into these unknown
wastes, hundreds Of miles, sometimes
alone, sometimes in pairs, facing an
arctic winter to rescue the unfortu-
nate or capture the wrongdoer. Deeds
were done that. if in other fields, would
have won the highest decorations.
Many won through, but others sleep
in that Northland waste. martyrs to
duty. On the Fort Resolution and
Dawson patrol. in 1911. Inspector Fitz-
gerald and three companions lost their
lives. Fitzgerald falling to arrive at
his destination, Dempster was ordered
to find Fitzgerald with instructions :
Bear in mind, nothing is to stand in
your way until you get in touch with
this party" Dempster started into
! the wilds Of the terrible arctic winter
and, hundreds Of miles from the post
Of civilization, found Fitzgerald's COM
panions lying together, with hands
crossed and faces covered. Fitzgerald
had cared for his comrades until they
died, and even after death. Then he
pushed on, but was found with diary
and mail bag under his body, protect
ing it to the last. In his pocket was
found his will, written with q charcoal
stick, leaving everything to his mother
! and concluding: "God bless you all
! F. ]. Fitzgerald, R. N. W. M. P"
He, like many others Of the force
had paid the penalty of the arctic pa
troll. 1t took Inspector French two
years and an arctic patrol Of 5000
miles to investigate the murder Of Red