Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-09-10

IL variety il the auane Of life, as
claimed then james GemnelE, q
former resident Of Montana had q
weEa-se&s0med career. M0nOtomy Of
existence did not a&flicE oar pio-
neexz. They were strangers In q
strange land 20 wEaAeh they mast
adjust themselves or perish. The
c0unfwy was new; they were for
the na0st part engaged In work Of
which they knew Little OF nothing;
surrounded BY hostile Indians. and
intimately associated with men Of
AL classes and types in the en-
forced familiarity Of mining camps
or fFeAgh4ing outfits. Self pEeser-
vazigu became their first law, ) Law
often difficult 80 carry into execu-
kAon. A man needed 10 have re-
maFkabiy thrilling experiences IN
order TO become noteworthy rs was
the case with the subject Of this
sketch.
The Land O Cakes and Harry Lauder
Was his birthplace, from which he fled
at the age of a, filled with the spirit
Of adventure and came to America ex-
pecting 70 make Canada his home. Un-
fortunately for this plan, soon after his
arrival there ne witnessed 30 many
deeds Of oppression that he, like others
with whom he was brought ia contact,
became restless under 1t, and sought re-
dress from the home government. To
bring about an improved condition Of
affairs Sir Francis Head was chosen
governor By the British government
and dispatched TO Canada. According
to Cemmell's report, this new admin
istrator turned out to be more corrupt
and partial than his predecessors. Ills
rule, becoming uncomfortable, Led TO the
rebellion Of 1887, In which Gemmeu
and many Americans took part.
is Sentenced TO Death
Some is rebels, including Gemmell,
were apprehended, tried, convicted, and
sentenced TO be shot. Gemmen, how
ever, was Offered a pardon provided he
would inform on suspected parties who
had not been arrested. This he refused
to do. Through a technicallty, the sem
tence of the 16 was suspended, and
they were sent to London for retrial.
There they were lodged In Newgate
prison.
While imprisoned In London, Gem
nell saw Daniel Webster and Caleb
Cushing, who visited Newgate to inter-
rogate the Americans who were imph-
Gated in the rebellion, and Webster
induced Lord Brougham to defend not
only those who were citizens OF the
United States, but the Canadians also.
The efforts of this distinguished adj
vocate resulted in g change Of their
sentence to life imprisonment IN Van
Dieman's Land.
Thither the condemned men were
shipped, If men they could be called,
Gemmell being at the time of joining
the rebellion but % years Of age. The
voyage was well nigh interminable, and
one long drawn out agony. They were
treated, says Gemmell, with the utmost
brutality, and nearly starved. The
guards having them In charge had
themselves been convicts, and were
chosen because OF their cruel natures.
At length the weary journey enaed,
and the prisoners became members OF
the penal colony then governed by Sir
John Franklin, who was later to meet
his death in the arctic regions. Gem
nell thought him harsh and unjust in
his treatment of the convicts, and it is
quite sure that he shed no tears on
hearing of Frankltn's tragic end.
Watching his opportunity one day
when he was out working under single
guard, Gemmen managed to disarm
him, and took to the bush. In an un-
explained manner, he finally shipped
for the United States, his objective
point being New York city. News of his
escape preceded him, and as the ship
was entering New York harbor, yacht
was seen approaching. 1t bore two
famous editors Horace Greeley, of the
New York Tribune, and James Gordon
Bennett Of the Herald. They took
Gemmell In charge, wined him, and
dined him, and tried to persuade him
to remain In the city entirely at their
expense.
Leaves for Oregon
After the poignant trials he had lately
undergone, it is difficult TO understand
how he could have resisted such q gen.
erous invitation; but surprising the
love of an easy life was the nsistent
desire to be avenged. He hated Great
Britain, and thinking the settlement
Of our northern boundary line might
lead to war, Gemmell started west, in
tending to go to Oregon and take o
hand In the anticipated strife. Before
he had crossed the plains, the boundary
question was amicably concluded
On his way to Oregon, Gemmen met
Jim Bridger, and was induced to Join
him in a trading expedition TO the
Crows and Sioux who were, he says
friends. A notable fact,