MEL REBELLION CENTENNIAL RIVER EXPEDITION
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3 « ••'• at /ffitf i tut* AN INTRODUCTION Twenty—five years ago I first visited Batoche and realised Western Canada had a history. School had taught me that history was something found in Europe, United States and possibly if you could stand the boredom, Eastern Canada. Everybody believed that Canadian History was dull.
I was touched by what I saw at Batoche. The church, the graveyard, the river valley and the rows of trenches. Here men had lived and died for what they believed. Since that time I have visited hundreds of historic sites and have become fascinated with the rich cultural heritage we have in Western Canada.
This project was an attempt to make people more aware. The souvenir publication is the final chapter and is being published and distributed Dn the 100th Anniversary of the hanging of Louis Riel.
One hundred years ago, the Illustrated War News recorded the events (with prejudices, of course) and we have decided to use newspaper clippings to tell our story as wel 1.
It was a most interesting project. There were disappointments but overall it was a great success. We resurrected the romantic sternwheeler and gave it a new use as a modern recreational craft. Without a doubt, yau will see more of these on our rivers and lakes in the future.
And if the worst occurs and there is no spin-off, at least there is the satisfaction that 150 of these booklets arts now across Canada. Maybe one or two will survive until the bicentennial and someone will be inspired to try it all again. I wish I could be there. It was a great trip.
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THE STEAUEKMARQU1S POLIHO Oft A SrtALLOW |H T11E SASKATCHEWAN. TABLE OF CONTENTS An Introduction 1 The North West (Riel) Rebellion - A summary 5 The Project Evolves 7 Ship's Log - Gait Discovery 1 - 1985 35 Diary - Gait Discovery 1 - 1985 41 Batoche - Illustrated War News 52 Moose Jaw's "The Peacock" 56 Logbook of the S.S. Peacock 57 Diary of a Soldier - 1885 67 Descendents 77 Gait Sternwheelers' Summer Voyage 82 Riel Under Guard 84 The Soldiers Return Home 85 Honor Roll - North West Field Force -1885 97
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The second Riel Rebellion broke out in the valley of the South Saskatchewan where a number of Metis had settled following an earlier rebellion in 1869 at Red River now Winnipeg.
To these people the building of the CPR was a serious threat. Many had made their living transporting goods by cart across the prairies. The railway promised to take this away. Another source of income had been the hunting of buffalo but by the 1880s the herds were gone and their farms were all that was left. But government surveyors were crossing the praires paying little attention to Metis squatters who felt they would soon be dispossessed. Their cousins, the Indians had recently been granted reserves but those with a mixture of both white and Indian blood seemed unable to fit into either world. They saw white settlers coming into the country, and in some cases receiving title to parts of their farms, and they were panic-stricken. Representations were made to the Canadian Government: but it failed to understand the seriousness of the situation.
In 1884 the Metis sent a delegation to Louis Riel who was teaching school at St. Peter's Mission near Great Falls, Montana. He had led the Metis in their earlier struggle at Red River and he accepted their invitation to help his people again.
Setting up his headquarters at Batoche north of Saskatoon, by the spring of 1885 he had given up trying to get action by constitutional means and had set up his own government. On March 26, a detachment of North West Mounted Police sent out to nip the rebellion in the bud was defeated by the Metis under Gabriel Dumont at Duck Lake. There was fear there would be a general Indian uprising; the Indians did massacre most of the whites at a Hudson's Bay Co. post near present day Lloydminster. The NWMP had to abandon a number of forts and whites were forced to take refuge within the stockades of Fort Battleford.
The Duck Lake disaster caused the Canadian Government to finally act. and a -force of 4,000 men under General Middleton was • organised and rushed to the west .by. the newly built CPR. :.1;;_......
Middleton divided his troops into three columns: the main force detrained at at Qu'Appelle, and pushed northwest towards Batoche: a second column under Col. Otter, proceeded north from Swift Current to relieve Battleford; a third column under General Strange, marched north from Calgary to. Edmonton. Otter was the first to reach his objective. After relieving Battleford he was checked by a band of Crees under Poundmaker at Cutknife Hill. Middleton was held up by the Metis at Fish Creek but on May 12 defeated Riel's mam force at Batoche. Meanwhile General Strange had reached Edmonton and was closing in on Big Bear and his Crees Riel was captured a few days after the fall of Batoche and on July 2 with Big Bear surrendering, the rebellion was over. In the fall of 1885, Riel and other leaders of the rebellion were tried at Regina on charges of high treason and found guilty. Riel was hanged at Regina in November 18e5 and is buried at St. Boniface (Winnipeg)
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The West " THE PROJECT S TA RT S OCTOBER 13,1982
Sternwheelers to follow Oldman route
Lethbridge residents will be tran Medicine Hat to receive her machinery, "How the stern wheel is propelled is sported back 100 years on July 1, 1983, to shipped from Pittsburgh by rail, Haig of no consequence," Haig said. "It could the day when sternwheelers navigated said in a prepared statement. be anything from a bicycle chain to a the Oldman River between Lethbridge A Missouri River steamboat man, dog-propelled treadmill." and Medicine Hat. Captain Todd, had been brought to Coal In addition, the crafts must conform Bruce Haig, president of the Whoop- banks to build a boat for use on the to federal safety standards and must Up Trails Heritage Foundation, today Oldman River, which was shallow like carry 25 pounds of coal. announced the Gait Sternwheeler Cen the Missouri. All entries will get a certificate and tennial Re-enactment, an event in which The boats are expected to arrive in prizes will be awarded for the most modern-day sternwheelers will float Medicine Hat on July 3, in time for the unique design, the most authentic de down the river along the same route used town's own centennial July 4. sign, the smallest craft to finish, the by early boats to transport coal to the Haig said the foundation's steering largest craft to finish and the best team CPR in.Medicine Hat. committee has set a limit of 25 boats for costume. July 1 has been chosen, even though it the trip and anyone wishing to join must A J100 entry fee will be charged. For was 100 years before July 2 that the hull register by Dec. 31. more information, contact Haig at 328- of a boat was launched at Coalbanks Each craft must have a working stern 382Sror write to U15 8tb Ave. S. (renamed Lethbridge) and floated to wheel, he said. Lethbridge.
Announced on the River run 100 ANNIVERSARY finds one r of the start of While it looks like'no'one is interested in re-enacting the route sternwheelers na GALT MINE #1 vigated between Lethbridge- and Medicine Hat nearly 100 1 r years ago, organizers aren' which determined the giving up. "We received one official SITE OF LETHBRIDGE registration so far."- said' r Bruce Haig, president of the Whoop-Up Trails Heritage. Foundation. "The deadline was to have been Dec. 31,' but it's been extended till whenever. The event is July. r 1, so we still have time." Interest expressed The foundation is spon-. soring the Gait Stern sternwheeler pla wheeler Centennial' in an Re-enactment, an event in which modern-day stern Ifiterest has been shown already in the wheelers will travel the Old- Gait Sternwheeler Centennial Re-enactment man River along the same; scheduled for the July 1 holiday next sum route used by the early coal r mer, organizer Bruce Haig said Thursday. transports. Two groups have called him because they Haig said a meeting is want to get involved, he said. , planned for in the new year Haig. president of the Whoop-Up Trails Heritage Foundation, announced the re-en though no date has been actment Wednesday to commemmorate the set. - ::. :'.::'z 100th anniversary of the first time a stern "On the surface, it looks wheeler floated down the Oldman River like there's no interest, '•"'• — from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat. Haig said. "But I've spoken to people_who said they?:-.-.— >.- Next summer, modern-day; home-built were interested. Even if we sternwheelers will travel from Lethbridge don't have the re-enact to Medicine Hat. ment, we will do something •• For more information, contact Haig at to commemorate the ... 328-3824. event." - • • •'- r
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FOUR MONTHS
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, Gopher wheeler Centennial Re-enactment, an event in Broker (Charlie Shepherd), Gravelbar Special wich modern-day sternwheelers will travel the (William Kientopp), Coulee Queen ("Charles. Oldman River along the same route used by early Magrath"), Voyageurs (Jim Sawers), Wild Rose'(Alan coal transports. King Jr.) and Noble Lady.( Nobleford Lions Club). ' 10
THERE ARE MONTHS OF WORK WORK WORK
FROM THE PAGES OF THE PAST and Miller Machine Works at 1108 Ford submitted. On Canada Day,. the three comes the reconstruction of the Coulee Street (since renamed) by Charles "pioneers" will pilot the craft dressed in Queen, one of several sternwheelers Magrath (left). Elliott Gait and Jerry Potts period costumes as their famous which will travel the Oldman River to (rear). The event, sponsored by the namesakes. ••-- • Medicine Hat from Lethbridge July 1. The Historical Trails Society, has nine entries craft is being constructed at the Attridge to date, although applications can still be _Jt«»kl nfOlO W ANDREW VAUGHMI _ ., . Sternwheelers THE 11 being sought The Gait Sternwheeler Re-enactment, a three day raft race from Leth bridge to Medicine Hat held last summer to com EXCITEMENT memorate the 100th anni versary of the launching of the sternwheeler Bar oness, will become an annual affair. Nine boats took part in the 1983 trip and a crowd of several hundred watched the opening of the race July 1. BUILDS The original crews and a number of other interested persons have formed the Gait Stern fu^llS* wheeler Society. The society has re-named the race the Gait Stern wheeler Challenge and have issued a challenge to the people of Medicine Hat to see if their entries can best the rocks and shallows of the Oldman River. Membership in the society is open to anyone interested in the event. Meetings of the society are held on the third Thursday of each month, in the lecture hall of Ihe Kate Andrews building at the Lethbridge Commu nity College, at 7:30 p.m.
Awards chosen for boat trip The city will contribute bronzed and inscribed miners picks and shovels to a special July histori cal sternwheeler trip from Lethbridge to Medi cine Hat. City aldermen have approved spending $100 on the mementoes to be displayed at the Gait Museum and Medicine Hat Museum. A Gait Sternwheeler Centennial Re-enact ment is being held on Look back in time July 2 to commemorate the launching of the first "Elliott Gait," left, and "Jerry Potts" BrucAHaig, president qf the Historic of the three stern gather coal from the coulees in TcalLs Society, says ^$surRpi$ed_ at wheelers from Coal preparation for their historic trip down the quality .of entries in the trip to banks. the Oldman River July 1. The two celebrate the". 10pth .anniversary of Sponsored by the His local characters, who declined to give toric Trails Society, the thQ.fjrst, trip.by,area|.stepiwheeler on event will have a fleet of their real names, have been working the.Oldman. Eleven-entries in the at least ni);e such boats with "Charles A. Magrath" since anniversary-trip will meet at 8 a.m. leave Indian Battle Park February to build a sternwheeler with July 1 on the Oldman at Indian Battle close to the site of the a paddle that actually works (it's original mine operation Park and travel to Medicine Hat. and travel to Medicine powered by a motorcycle engine). Hat. 12 Finances needed to keep hull of an idea afloat By BRYAN GOULDING thousands of dollars just for the 1, a distress call was sent out. It Of The Herald July I trip. It would be a shame if it wasn't long before the SOS was What was born as a one-time turns out to be a one-time experi answered as Peter Wagner offered thrill may mature into a series of ence." his services. Again, it will be a adventures if Bruce Haig and local The sternwheelers are enter expensive venture as $500 is sternwheelers have anything to taining the idea of making the trip, needed to cover Wagner's cost. say about it. or one similar, an annual affair Haig said the cost was not bud Haig, president of the Historic and Haig has taken that thought geted for as it appeared a pilot Trail Society which is sponsoring one step further. boat was going to be offered at no the July 1 sternwheelers expedi "The Oldman River lends itself cost. The group is looking for a tion from Lethbridge to Medicine to an exciting concept with its pilot sponsor. Wagner may be Hat, says this may be the start sandbars and difficult areas," reached at 328-3414, or Haig at 328- of something big. The future, Haig said. 3824. though, depends upon local finan While he is optimistic and To help commemmorate the cial support. enthusiastic about the July l trip, 100th anniversary of the coal If recently-offered support may he sees sternwheelers as an excel movement, the mayors of Leth be used as a guide, Haig has ample lent way of promoting the 1985 bridge and Medicine Hall will- reason to smile. Lethbridge Centennial. receive, from the sternwheelers, An expensive proposition, stern- The July 1 expedition will follow gifts emblematic of their respec wheeling received a boost in the the original Gait sternwheeler, tive city's involvement 100 years arm this week as Alan King, who Baroness, which carried coal from ago. had planned to accompany nine Lethbridge to Medicine Hat. Haig other sternwheelers on the July 1 would like to see sternwheelers Lethbridge Mayor Andy Ander jaunt, ran into financial difficulty duplicate the feat of other Haig son will receive a guilded pick and and was faced with possible dry sternwheelers, which were leased Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Grimm docking of his craft. by the Canadian Government dur will receive a guilded shovel as Keith de Armond, president of ing the Riel Rebellion and used as coal was picked here and shov Century 21 Gold Door Realty and troup ships as far east as Lake elled there. Joyelle Home Centre Ltd., is keep Winnipeg, Manitoba. The boaters, slated to leave ing King's dream, and his boat, "What belter way to publicize Lethbridge at 8 a.m. Friday, hope afloat with a donation of $750 so our Centennial?" he said. to make Medicine Hat three days King may complete his stern Aware that financial aid will be later. They intend to camp at the wheeler. necessary, he is confident it will Taber Provincial Park the first "It takes a tremendous amount come, and with good reason. night and on private land near of money to get the vessel ready," When it appeared sternwheelers Bow Island the second night before Haig said. "People have spent wouldn't have a pilot boat for July arriving in Medicine Hat Sunday.
PREPARING FOR FRIDA Y'S start of their trip 21 and Joyce Wells ofJayelle Homes-Centre offer down the Oldman River are Alan Dow and Alan encouragement. Kina I'm boat), while Keith de Armond of Cenlurv mi in .". /*-iii~«.v.>»rf***T r\r~?iii i if— 13 Sternwheelers leave at 8 W Canadl Day festivities in Lethbridge Events throughout the day, all sched shine," said Dennis Jobe. "No one can begin'early with the 8 a.m. launch of uled for Henderson Lake, include be disappointed in the rain." sternwheelers re-enacting the historic dances by a number of ethnic groups, a The children's street festival was trip to Medicine Hat. performance by the Royal Canadian moved today from the Bowman Arts The start 'of the three-day journey Legion Pipe and Drum Band, a flag Centre and public library grounds to takes place on the Oldman River at the lowering and.sunset ceremony and fire Gilbert Paterson School because. :6f High Level Bridge. works display at 10:30 p.m. overnight rain, and festivities tomor At noon, sport parachute jumpers will row will be moved from Henderson touch down at Allan. Watson School. And Canada Day celebrations won't Lake Park to the Exhibition Pavilion if The official start to the day occurs at be mired if it rains Friday, an orga things get too damp. 12:30 p.m. in Henderson Lake Park with nizer said today. The forecast for tomorrow calls for a Mayor Andy Anderson and various dig high of 22, mainly cloudy conditions and nitaries attending. "We're going to go for it rain or a 40-per-cent chance of rain.
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ANCHORS A WA F/M */ %3 One of 11 sternwheelers sets its waved farewell to sternwheelers. THE BIG DAY course Friday morning in the Oldman hundreds of others said hello (left) to River as the commemorative journey sport parachutist landing at Allan to Medicine Hat begins. The boats Watson School Friday. The event will trace the route of the original craft was one of many Canada Day ARRIVES .Baroness which carried coal from celebrations which marked the Lethbridge to Medicine Hat. Boaters country's 116th birthday under were to camp in Taber Provicial Park mainly sunny skies. Crowds gathered . . Friday and on private land near Bow in Henderson Lake Park for the, ,-•<« Island today before completing the majority of activities. journey Sunday. While hundreds Herald pholos by OANNY RiEDtHL'BER " 14 r ...BUT ONLY THREE MAKE IT ALL THE WAY
MONDAY, JULY 4, 1983
COLLEEN KELLY-JANSEN of ' waits for one of the sternwheelers to' 'entire journey, had changes made Lethbridge washes her shoes in the arrive in Medicine" Hat. Voyageurs, -during the trip to increase its South Saskatchewan River as she one of the three crafts to make the efficiency. MOOC™ MM NO-* WW WE ARRIVED 15 COLD
WET &
ENTHUSIASTIC
Three days of 'sjfcs^P't'-'''' ' for sternwheeler A re-enactment, of-the sternwheeler ing their way down the river when the era ended in Medicine Hat Sunday after ceremonies took place and one, the Cou actually riavB.to:pSsK the boat 11 had to three days, 254 kilometres and an unfor lee Queen, did not arrive until late Sun-, turn aroundrEntrahfajlsQ had to' pay a gettable adventure for those involved. day night. $100 fee to encourage, only'those com Nearly 200 people faced rain and wind Friday night, the Coulee Queen djd_ mitted to rnaking the trijrtb enter: to line the banks of the South Saskatche not make it to the Taber Provicial Park The small boats, \vi&a variety of flo wan River to cheer on the first arrivals campsite. Its adventurous occupants tation devices,had imaginative' power of the stern-wheeler flotilla. were forced to spend the night on the plants, including one with a motorcycle "1 wouldn't have missed doing this sandbars. engine. trip for the world but I wouldn't do it "One fellow's motor conked out again for a while either," said Norman three-quarters of a mile from the start Sogard, crew member of the Gopher and he rode for 10 miles until we could Broker. get another motor to him," said Robert The Voyageurs, The Noble Lady and Webber, official photographer for the THE the Coulee Queen were the only three trip and a documentary film maker. crafts of the nine that left Lethbridge He was. towed by a bigger sternwheeler Friday which were able to complete the until the boat towing the craft became GALT entire journey. hung up on a rock, a.t which point Elza Oddly enough, the Voyageurs became Tudor, commander. of the Peewee, more efficient with each paddle that began rowing his craft.''" STERNWHEELER was smashed. Under the command of Tudor went through two motors dur Jim Sawers", crew members removed ing the trip. He was the only one making paddles from the steernwheeler to the journey-who didn't have a working improve its capabilities. sternwheef. Haig said the outboard CHALLENGE Four boats were unable to travel motor could not compete with the stern through a section of river just north of wheelers for.durability. Coaldale, which is only about five centi At the ceremonies, Haig presented IS BORN metres deep in places. Mayor Ted Grimm with a gold-plated Large boulders and difficult sandbars shovel, bags of coal, a letter from made the rugged journey similar to the Mayor Andy Anderson of Lethbridge conditions of 100 years ago. "Part of the and-a set of special coins. problem, and part of the beauty, of the Haig hopes the trip, made this year to trip was the wilderness. It was as rug commemorate the centennial of the Thursday meet ged as I expected," Bruce Haig, presi launching of the Northwestern Coal and 0< dent of Historic Trail Society of Alberta Navigation Co.'s first steamer on July forpqats ^^3 said today. > 2,1883, will become an annual event. . . A meeting of persons interested in the Gait "I was impressed with the durability Haig stressed this year's trip was not Sternwheeler Challenge of the sternwheelers. People didn't intended trrbe a race but rather a cele wiUbe held at 7:30 p.m. expect to see the quality of craft which bration of a bygone era and said the Thursday in Room 198 of participated," he said. idea could be developed in one of two the Kate Andrews Build- The Wild Rose and the Tadpole l ways. - . ing at the Lethbridge made about five miles before they were "One idea is to have a boat go from Community College. forced to pull out. Medicine Hat to Lake Winnipeg as the Spokesman Bruce Haig They had to be hauled from the river original stern wheelers did and the said he hopes representa- and transported by truck to a deeper other idea is to make the Lethbridge-to- '"TtlveVirom Medicine:Hat'""•"• part of the river. Medicine Hat trip an annual event," he "will attend the session.- Two of the original nine starters were said. "It could be developed as a race i-...-..vi • -Tugchallengegretfout" ' forced to abandon the trip only a short and timing points could be set up along of this summer's stern distance from the start after one boat the route with a prize going to the boat wheeler re-enactment experienced mechanical problems and with the best average time." '~Y..\:. Sternwheelers — the craft that played Al berta rivers more than 100 years ago wer saluted over the July 1st weekend at the se cond annual Gait Sternwheeler Challenge trip from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat. Ten boats were entered in this years' com memorative trip organized by the Gait Stern wheelers' Society which celebrated the sternwheeler and the 101st anniversary of the sailing of the Baroness Burdette-Couns, the first boat of the Northwestern Coal and Navi gation Company which carried coal from Lethbridge to Dunmore, near Medicine Hat for use by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Steve Poncsak manocuvers the sternwheeler Katherine Stout along the 280 km route to Medi cine Hat on the Old Man River. This year entries were received from Nobleford. Fort Macleod. Pincher Creek. cake in the shape of a sternwheeler was Coaldale. Iron Springs and Lethbridge. Ac presented. The event received assistance from cording to Society president Martin Dickson the local Canada Day Committee this year. the boat owners had spent many months and many thousands of dollars preparing their The following day when "the river was craft for the event. An 11th entry, the Funky higher than last year there wasn't the problem Dory, however, had engine failure the night with shallow water", the group's accompany before departure and had to be withdrawn. ing jet safety boat had an engine fire near Vauxhall and it had to be pulled ashore. That night the crews camped on the land of farm Before they left Medicine Hat the boat, er, Bob Laidlaw, near Bow Island. Rubie Queen, received the Society's Lord Das Boot, piloted by Fred Hveldt, before it Mayor's Trophy for being the largest craft — was withdrawn because of mechanical failure. il weighed about 2 200 tonnes. The trophy, The following day, eight of the craft reached Medicine Hat — two of them. Das an engineer's telegraph, was presented to skipper Bob Beckett. The boat was named af Boot and Prairie Schooner were hauled ter Rubie Crescent in Nobelford. where it was ashore earlier because of mechanical build. problems. Photographs: Darlene McLean Completing the list of craft in this year's 260 km journey were: Coulee Queen (pilot, El Mr. Dickson said the whole trip had been liott Gait, a.k.a. Martin Dickson); Gopher very successful and plans for next year were Broker II (Norm Songard), The Voyageur already going ahead. Also next year it is (Jim Sawers), Noble Lady (Nobleford Lions' hoped to have a sternwheeler journey from Club). Prairie Schooner (Orley Killoran). Fort Lethbridge to Batoche, near Saskatoon, from Macleod Queen (Jim Burger). Das Boot (Fred -April 28 to May 12 to. commemorate the Hveldt). Custom Queen (Dennis Wood) and 100th anniversary of the Battle of Batoche Katherie Stout (Steve Poncsak). named af and the Northwest Rebellion when stern ter an early pioneer in the Coaldale area. wheelers carried troops and supplies to quell- Each boat had a crew of about four people. an uprising of Metis led by Louis Riel. and there was an accompanying road crew to help out where necessary. Averaging"80 The Gait Sternwheelers' Society'meets on km a day the boats were hit by strong winds * theThjrd Thursday of each month. Member Launching the Rubie Queen II. are. left to on the first day although they all reached ship is five dollars. For further' information right: Bob Beckett. Hank Bennick. Byron Taber Provincial Park safely for the first night's write: Box 818. Lethbridge. Ab T1J 3Z8 or Steffenson. Piiul Belanger. a bystander. camp. Taber Mayor Van Van Orman wel telephone-Mr, Dickson at Lethbridge. Richard Albutt and Ken Lemon. comed the party and a special Canada Day 329-88S8, •-.. '• •,.. .,..;. ... \rxr :.:•-'.!. I THE BARONESS The original Elliot T. Gait and Charles A. Magrath, two of Lethbridge's founding fathers, probably wouldn't recognize a hamburger as a real meal, but their modem day impersonators seem quite happy with the fare at Wafly Lee's Cafe. Gait and Magrath are making promotional appearances in Lethbridge this week to generate interest in the Second Annual Gait Stemwheel Challenge, June 30 to July 2. Gait and Magrath will be displaying their boat this weekend at Centre Village Mall. AND HER FRIENDS ARRIVE BARONESS COUTTS, Charles A. Magrath beside Coulee Queen JBLarger event . steaming up ON By DAVE WELLS "A person could actually build a of The Herald boat for about MOO," says a Leth Last summer a band of local adven bridge resident who competes under turers set out on the Gait Stern the alias of Elliot T. Gait, son of a wheeler Re-enactment. father of Confederation and a found Now the Gait Sternwheeler Society ing father of Lethbridge. TO is making plans for a bigger and bet Gait and other society members ter event June 30 to July 2, hopefully always dress and act as historical fig including a challenge between Leth ures while making public appear bridge and Medicine Hat boatmen. ances. Gait's boat, the Coulee Queen Nine boats of various designs and Captain Charlie Shepherd's entered the inaugural event, a three- Gopher Broker, are on display this day cruise from the High Level weekend at the Centre Village Mall. Bridge over Lethbridge's Indian Bat Society members will show the film BATOCHE tle Park to the Trans-Canada High of last year's trip and provide infor way Bridge in Medicine Hat. mation about this year's journey. There the adventurers, garbed in Gait emphasized the trips are tum-of-the-century apparel, pre "family affairs." June 30th boaters sented Medicine Hat Mayor Ted will camp at Taber Provincial Park, Grimm with an' engraved brass- while the second night's camp is at plated shovel, symbolic of the coal the confluence of the Oldman and mining industry. Bow Rivers near Bow Island. The purpose of the re-enactment Gait hopes Medicine Hat residents Historic trio was to commemorate the 100th anni will provide competition for Leth versary of the Baroness, one of the bridge racers this year. sternwheeler riverboats used in 1883 "We'd like to issue an invitation to to haul coal between Lethbridge and the people of Medicine Hat to see if needs binding the rail lines in Medicine Hat. their entries can best the rocks and shallows of the Oldman River," says A local sternwheeler applied for a grant to the As evidenced by the crowd of sev Gait. boat company will soon National Parks Centen eral hundred who turned out for the begin seeking funding for nial Citizens Committee launching ceremonies July 1, the Sternwheeler society meetings arc the construction of four Toronto, a group which event was a resounding success. It held at 7:30 p.m., on the third Thurs vessels to travel in 1985 to attempts to raise money resulted in a 30-minute documentary day of each month in the lecture hall from corporate sponsors. of the Kate Andrews building at the the historic headquarters film of the three days by film-maker of the Riel Rebellion. • The sale of new boats, Robert Webber. Lethbridge Community College. the grants and sponsor Last fall, the original crews and a Anyone interested in further infor Sternwheelers West, ship arc needed to build number of other interested people mation on the Gait Sternwheel started by local historian ana run the four stern formed the Gait Sternwheeler Society Society can contact members of the Bruce Haig and a partner, wheelers for' the 1985 and plan to make the trip an annual society lis weelc.at Centre Village will also be going on the • event, says Haig. affair. Mall, or by phoning Martin Dixon, road in February and 329-6675, or CharUe Shepherd, 328- March to promote possi Haig said the proposed Membership in the society and race 5183. ble sales of the boats. trip would also coincide participation is open to the public. with the centennial of the Haig says the group national park system, in plans to display a stern Canada., of which Batoche wheeler at Calgary and is part. ;-,!• r •-. Edmonton sportsman's As '-well, the- stern shows. That boat was wheeler event would tie entered by Haig in last two Quite different his July's Gait sternwheelers torical figures together, centennial re-enactment says Haig. Riel was try from Lethbridge to Medi ing to •preserve Western cine Hat. Canada as it was and Sir The boats would sell for Alexander Gait was aim about $26,000, he says. ing to promote the West. "The more you can build Apart from investment the cheaper it gets." in the" sternwheeler com The Alberta-based His pany, Haig is an historical toric Trails Society is pro researcher with .the moting the river trip from Alberta Historic Medicine Hat to Batoche Resources Foundation. in Central Saskatchewan,, Such boats, which were the heaquarters of Louis' replaced by trains, have Riel's famous rebellion. tremendous • potential, Haig says the trip would says Hait. occur, in the spring, 100, • "Sternwheelers were years after, the federal developed'for low water government leased such conditions.- We proved boats to carry troops and last July that that was the supplies needed to quash only type of boat that the upruing.. could go - to . Medicine Sternwhc-elers West has Hat" 19 ^P^^^^Jfr^rM^''=^ Riel Rebellion: >j^iy?? Society to recreate the Lethbridge-Batoche trip By WES KELLER bridge and Medicine Of The Herald Hat. The Historical Trails The other endorse Society plans to com ments he.needs are Can memorate the Riel ada Post and the Depart Rebellion's Battle of ment of Transport — the Batoche by taking four post office because .the sternwheelers from society will be charging Lethbridge to the site to convey letters to their next year. point of mailing, and the In addition, it will post transport department specially stamped enve because the boats will be lopes to mark the occa used to carry passen sion on its 100th anniver gers. sary in May, 1985. The posting of mail at The trip from Leth Batoche isn't tbe central bridge to the point where purpose of the trip. Haig the Canadian Metis is a. former school leader.met his Waterloo teacher who used to take in 1885 will take 10 days. his students on fieldtrip s Tbe cost of having a let so they could "discover ter delivered and posted the' trails rather^ than there, exactly 100 years readirig.books^-and his from the historical date, society is ^.trying" to will be $2. The cost of retrace routes followed going along as a passen by the Western settlers. ger hasn't been set but Last year's .stern enquiries are being wel wheeler junketUq Medi comed. cine Hat was a tracing of the routes followed by The sternwheelers are the boats when they car the focal point of the ried coal from the Leth event. They were signifi bridge mines of Sir Alex cant in Riel's defeat a ander Gait. This one is century ago. Originally "the next step," the re- used as coal carriers enactment of events from Lethbridge to the HtaMftiott after the takeover of the railway at Medicine Hat, sternwheelers by the they were pressed into HAIG AND LETTER: READY FOR 1985 Canadian government service as troop carriers about the trip. "It's a still some minor prob after they had fallen into by the Dominion govern disuse. ment for the final battle. real fine idea." lems to be ironed out but the trip is positively on Thacker said the for the beginning of May A century after his society will be "helping The envelopes from the defeat at Batoche, Riel is 1985. He has the experi Batoche postings could Westerners understand ence of the Lethbridge- become collectors' items being recognized in some history from a Western Medicine Hat stern quarters for the Western perspective." if Haig's plans work. Canadian hero he was wheeler voyage of Can They will be pre-stamped instead of being den He said it's "only an ada Day 1983 behind him, with two. sternwheelers J. ounced for the traitor he 1867 Central Canadian and says he has won the and the 32-cent symbol, was not. Lethbridge MP view" that Riel was a endorsement of people but that will be flanked Blaine Thacker says. traitor. "He found him such as Thacker, Heri with the location "of the self in the position of tage Canada, Alberta historic battle "and the "To my mind he was opposing the interests of Historical Resources, envelope marked to the elite of Ontario and of both Lethbridge school- prove-that it arrived at the second of our West districts, city council, the ern heroes, second to the the Roman Catholic Batoche on the 100th Church." cliamber of commerce, anniversary of the event Red River Settlers," said and the mayors of Leth .Tnacker when asked Haig said there are by sternwheeler.-— :'U MEETINGS Boat trip discussed The Historic Trails Society's Batoche Stern wheeler trip will be dis cussed at a public meet ing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the lecture theatre of the Kate Andrews Build ing. Lethbridge Commu nity College. MEETINGS Sternwheeler meeting set The Historic Trails Society will hold a public meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Room'198 of the Kate Andrews Building at Lethbridge Community College. The meeting will be to assess public interest BRUCE HAIG AND TOP PRIZE '[ in the society's plans to travel from Lethbridge tq Batoche, Sask. in 1985. CLn>U_£ r 1885 group wants regiment revived By WES KELLER Riel's forces outnum ment Historical Associa The objective of the Of The Herald bered those of the North tion of Alberta came lo commemorative unit is to The Lethbridge group west Mounted Police SO to the attention of Haig in a participate with others in that wants to sail lo I, and the Ottawa govern letter from Cap! William perpetuate the memory of Batoche nexl year in ment authorized forma Partridge, adjutant of the the drills, ceremonies and sternwheelers on the tion of special militia 92nd Winnipeg Light traditions of the elements IWth anniversary of the units to augment the Infantry (commemora of the Alberta Field Force defeat of Louis Riel is police. tive regiment!. and of that period in supporting organization The special forces, of Alberta's history. of a commemorative unit But it dovetails with which the 92nd Winnipeg Haig's interest in history, "It is hoped other com of one of the regiments Light Infantry was a part, that helped defeat him. the resurrection of the munities of Alberta will defeated and captured sternwheelers and the form- commenioraiive- Batoche is on the South Riel at Batoche. He was desire to revive interest in units and march into Saskatchewan River near executed in Regina six Riel. one of the most con Saskatchewan for the Prince Albert and is the months later. troversial figures in centennial re-enaciment site chosen by Riel for his The Historical Trails Canadian history. in 198S." says Partridge headquarters in the sec Society of Alberta, The 92nd was a short in the letter to Haig ond Northwest Rebellion. headed by Bruce Haig of lived unit, although it was Some of the Alberta He had relumed from Lethbridge, has chosen assimilated ..icto.. the... ""^ mentioned arc the exile in ihe United States, the Batoche centennial as world-famous Royal Win Rocky Mountain Itang- mustered a force of the second stage of re- nipeg Rifles prior to the ers, the Alberta Mounted Indians and Metis, enacting the history of the First World War. As the Rifles. Steele's Scouts and- declared that Saskatche sternwheeler, a major 92nd. it fought the rebel-, the police artillery at Fori wan had ceccded from means of transport for the year when it worked with from Lethbridge to Medi lianas part of the Alberta Macleod -There .Hi'i- Confederation, and special troops and thcir the Gait Sternwheeler cine Hat. Field. Force .commanded., others, lie says. but_ planned to capture Prince equipment. Society in its retracing of The interest of the by General Thomas Bland apparenUy ' history" It took the first step last the route of the coal boats doesn't record them all. - r Albert Gentlemen of the Regi Strange of Glicchen 22 The Lethbridge Herald QltJf Peter Scott, Ecfior^ **'*/- 1 • § - :•'•>% '•-' """ BRUCE HAIG WITH INTREPID STERNWHEELER Militia to remember Riel By JENNIFER YVORLEY problems that still exist today that monies will take place and a camp Of The Herald caused the rebellion." set up. The Alberta Field Force will McRae added that the event is be led by Commanding Officer A. The Alberta Field Force is plan being called a commemoration B. Mottershead of Edmonton who ning a march of horseman and rather than a celebration because will portray the original Command Infantry units next year in com bad feelings still linger with the ing Officer General Strange. memoration of the 100th anniver native people. Honorary Colonel of Brigade sary of the Riel Rebellion's Battle of The Alberta Field Force hopes to George LynchnStaunton of Leth Batoche. duplicate as many events of 1885 as bridge has also proposed to come Representatives of the Alberta possible and plans to spread them with the force in 1985. Field Force from Calgary were in out over the course of the year, said Travels will continue nine miles Lethbridge Saturday to promote the Captain Bill Partridge, adjutant of to the north and east to French march, scheduled to begin in the 92nd Winnipeg Light Infantry man's Butte, where the second to Edmonton Sept. 15, 1985 and finish commemorative regiment. last fight of the rebellion took in Saskatchewan at Frenchman's To get things started, it is trying place. Butte, just north of Lloydminster, to arrange with the CPR the resur Lt. Col. Tom Crkvenac. com about one month later. The march rection of an old railway coach to manding officer of the 92nd Winni is being scheduled later than the transport members of various peg Light Infantry, said trie 1985 original trek to avoid the inconven groups to Calgary. Once there, they march is one of many activities of iences of snow and mud. will march to the site of Fort Cal the Alberta Field Force. Major Doug McRae, officer com gary for a "kick off" ceremony. Other plans include the establish manding of the Steele's Scouts Com Groups will continue on to ment of a permanent regiment at memorative Troop Association, Edmonton to begin the march — Fort Calgary where students could said detailed plans of the march - some on horseback, some by pri be hired each summer to give dem to be as historically accurate as vate vehicle and with luck, some by onstrations. There has also been a possible — will be worked out in the sternwheelers. proposal to trace the route of Sam next few months. Bruce Haig of Lethbridge has Steele from Fort Macleod. to Fort It is hoped that participants will announced plans by the Historical Steele in 1987, the centennial of Fcrt have the opportunity to pass a cere Trails Society to take sternwheelers Steele - monial peace pipe with natives a! from Lethbridge to the Battle of The Alberta Field Force encqur-_ three or four Indian reservations Batoche site, just north of Saska ages and is •'willing" to"'assist" any"" r the march plans to pass through, toon, next May. The Alberta Field group wishing to form a commemo McRae said. The peace pipe to be Force has offered lo lend its rative unit and march into Saskat used was donated to the Steele's "moral" support to the proposed chewan for the centennial--react-'-• Scouts troop by Mary Dover, colo trip. ment in 1985.: ------'-- '• nel and chief of the troop and grand With the march underway, Units formed to date include the- daughter of Colonel Macleod. groups will proceed east from 65 Carabiniers de Mont Royal, the "If we can get access to the Edmonton until they arrive at Fort N.W.M.P. Artillery Unit of Fort reserves, we hope to have a cere Pitt, near Lloydminster, in Saskat Macleod, Steele's Scouts and the mony. . with the hope of solving the chewan — where the bulk of cere 92nd Winnipeg Light Infantry' w Woman plans Batoche trip A " At least one woman is ever" and the overall Despite the small num defeat of Riel at 'his likely to be among a Leth nature of the group made ber at the meeting a Saskatchewan head bridge contingent that it so. "committee (or logistics" quarters — and the trip is arrives in Batoche by "It's a good cross sec- was formed because on whether or not the sternwheeler a century lion and a working everyone had an interest committee is able to SLOW after the fall of Louis group," he said. in Batoche and was ready obtain grant funding. Riel Haig said the first to go to work Haig said an applica Brenda Perkins of group that met to plan a The group is scheduled tion to the National Parks Southland Insurance was sternwheeler trip to Medi to arrive in Batoche, near Centennial Committee for among "a small but cine Hat last year com Prince Albert. May 12, the grant hasn't been START enthusiastic" crowd of prised mostly mechanics 1985 — 100 years after the rejected. about 10 at the first public and inventors but this one meeting in preparation had business people as for a trip that coincides well. with the Riel centennial and the 100th birthday of the national park sys tem First captain registers The 10 might not seem impressive but Bruce Haig, chairman of the committee sponsoring the trip, said the presence of a for 1985 trip to Battcne woman "for the first time By WES KELLER of The Herald The. first "sea captain" to register for an historic voyage that some might call a pilgrimage, to Louis Riel's last-century head quarters at Batoche, is a Lethbridge mortgage bro ker — and a woman to boot. She doesn't have her boat yet. She's lacking the money to build it and two crew members to sail it, but Brenda Perkins of Southland Insurance has - City,likes paid the qualifying $100 to race a sternwheeler to Batoche next year. bo at? trip ' Perkins and the two _ Efforts by the Historic crew members she does Trails Society of Alberta have are members of the lo send four stern Historic Trails Society, a wheelers from Medicine city organization headed Hat to Batoche, Saskat by former schoolteacher chewan were endorsed by- Bruce Haig. The society is city council Monday. dedicated to re-enacting the treks of the pioneers Council's non-financial who settled of the West. support of the 1985 trip, to . Perkins, a native of commemorate a similar Manitoba, is no stranger m trip 100 years earlier as to inland waters or stern part of the Northwest wheelers, but the race to BRENDA PERKINS SET TO SAIL Rebellion, will help the Batoche will be the lon group obtain funding. gest she has ever taken. wheeler farther than Translating the design sternwheelers that Bruce Haig, local stern Emil Gundlock, her busi Medicine Hat. of Perkins' sternwheeler started their careers car wheeler enthusiast, says ness partner and the engi Perkins might shock into a seaworthy craft is rying coal from "Coal the group needs such sup neer for the trip, says it historical purists if she going to cost S10J000 plus banks" to Medicine Hat port in its application to might even be the most achieves her aim of win labor ($50,000 or more were used in the cam the National Parks Cen- difficult. ning the race to Batoche, according to Gundlock if paign but because city tennial Citizen's Commit but she and Gundlock say the labor is hired). Work founder Sir Alexander tee Inc. Gundlock said the South their crafl will-be the best is to start in August. Gait's life was closely That group is being Saskatchewan River to sternwheeler ever to ply Some of the money will aligned to that of Riel. asked to locate four spon Batoche might seem the waters of the South come from sponsorship, "They shared an inter sors for each of the boats peaceful when viewed Saskatchewan River. some from the sale of to pay for half the bill of from the ground, but if " The trip is supposed to est in the West," says miniature sternwheelers, •• Brue'eHaig, the'-president-• the vessels, costing a total looks a little more diffi end exactly, on the. .lOOth and .some from the pro SKO000. Such contribu cult when seen from the anniversary of the fall of of the society. The. only ceeds of a service by . difference between them tions should help the air. Riel at Batoche, a worthy which history buffs, can society find other corpo The voyage is even historical event, ..'..but was that Riel wanted to - have .envelopes posted .in preserve a Western-way-: rate funding, says Haig. more of a challenge for women couldn't have Batoche un the anniver Aid. Ed Martin called the competitors because commanded vessels into of life and Gait wanted tc sary of the fall of Louis modernize the area. the venture a good it is expected to take at battle in Ihe last century Riel. project, and said the cit\ least io days, whereas — or even sailed on them. The Riel commemora Haig says the voyage is would be in order to Perkins and about 10 Women were bad luck for tion is significant to Loth-. as.much.in .recognition of endorse it. others who will enter have the men-of-war in those bridge, the society says,... the. Lethbridge, centennial' never sailed a stern- not onlv because the as of the Riel era. 24 r m IWUl »OK Anchors aweigh /W1- ^/Tf Crewmen launched their sternwheeler the Sternwheeler Challenge July 1. The Ruby Queen for the first time Thursday night at competition, from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat, Park Lake. About 12 people from Lethbridge commemorates the 101st celebration of and Nobleford have been working on the boat, launching the first sternwheeler on the Oldman captained by Bob Beckett, since last October River. The 40-ft. sternwheeler is estimated to be and plan to enter it in the annual Gait worth about $10,000. Nobleford takes honor The Lord Mayor's Trophy was presented to slernwheeler to finish the Sternwheel Nobleford mayor Henry Lindstedt Saturday by Challenge, a trip (torn Lethbridge to Medicine Noble Queen II captain Robert Beckett The Hat via sternwheel. This year. 10 v.tern.wheels trophy is presented tc the mayor of the left Lethbridge lor the three-day event on the community which oroduces the largest July 1 weekend, of whir h eight finished ' r r Nine boats will head to the Hat Nine entries have <{Jeen for the Gait Stern- coal each as coal trans sternwheelers finished Called the Gait Stern received to participate in wheelers Society, event port sternwheelers did 101 the journey last year. wheelers Challenge Lord this year's Gait Stern organizers. years ago, the fleet will Participants won't be Mayors Trophy, the wheeler Challenge three- stop its first night in worried about low river award will be held by the day trip from Lethbridge Haig says the boats, all Taber to join in a celebra conditions and will press mayor of that community to Medicine Hat, says an of them paddlewheelers, tion organized by that on to Medicine Hat. until next year's race. event spokesman. will leave at 8 a.m. June town's Canada Day com "That's the way it was The English term "Lord The fleet includes six 30 with a send-off from mittee. historically." Mayor" is being used new boats, says Bruce Mayor Andy Anderson. »The second night will Haig says a model of a because money to finish Haig. handling publicity Carrying 25 pounds of have the group stop in telegraph clanging sig Gait coal mining a cen Bow Island, says Haig. nalling system, used on tury ago came from Eng The trip is a co-opera large boats connecting land, Haig says. tive venture, not a com pilot houses to boiler feed petitive race, he stresses. ers, will be given as a tro About 200 model stern Participants will try to phy to tbe committee wheelers will soon being assist each other com represented by the lar going on sale locally as N0RTHC0TE AT plete the trip. Three gest entry. souvenirs for the event. MEDICINE HAT-1885 I fc^fc*^. r ^B^f^^^^S^^l^S^sl^^& 2ffe'-i:'": l--^ " Eight of 10 craft complete trek 26 9°^\( KtfY Sternwheeler Challenge 'easier than last year' By JUDY PARSONS of The Herald Despite strong winds and low water, eight of 10 sternwheelers which left Lethbridge Saturday completed the three day trek to Medicine HaL Bruce Haig of the His toric Trails Society says the Sternwheel Challenge went well and "was easier than last year." r The Custom Queen from Lethbridge arrived in Medicine Hat first. Other that made it were the Rubie Queen II from Nobleford, which won the Lord Mayor's Trophy for the largest boat to finish, the Coulee Queen from Lethbridge, the Noble Lady from Nobleford, the Voyageur from Leth bridge, the Gopher Bro ker from Taber, Kath- erine Stout from Nobleford and the Fort MacLeod Queen from Fort Macleod. Das Boot from Leth bridge and the Prairie Schooner from', Pincher Creek didn't finish. r "When I first.started I had no idea it Would get this big," says Haig. "I thought there would be rafts with little toy stern- wheels. They're getting bigger and better." Haig says improve ments have been made to the sternwheelers since last "year. "One had wheels on the side of the boat. The the ory was, if it hit a sandbar it would just run over it." RUBIE QUEEN IN FRONT OF NEW MEDICINE HAT CITY HALL He says there was another one with a sort of was fixed and managed to He hopes to leave by elongated pipe with a pro make it to Medicine Hat. April 28 next year and peller running the oppo The safety boat never arrive in Batoche May 12, site way the boat was even made it because of the lOOth anniversary of going. The idea here was engine problems. the battle. if the crew saw a rock or Historically, the boats sandbar coming this pro "The wind was very bad. I was worried some left from Medicine Hat peller could push the boat but Haig says if there's to one side. of the smaller boats would blow over. They didn't but enough water the -event::- "It's get a lot of people I guess some of the lighter will begin in Lethbridge. interested and it could go boats had trouble keeping a long way yet," he said. off the sandbars." He says there will be a The challenge was not campaign to get the pub- ; without problems. One Haig is now putting his lie involved by offering to sternwheeler called the efforts into promoting a carry mail on the boats up ' Voyageur, the most effi re-enactment of the use of the river where they will cient craft last year, had sternwheelers to haul be stamped with a com to be towed back to Taber troops to the Riel Rebel- memorative seal and then FRED ITVELDT ADDS after a shaft broke but it mailed from Batoche'." "FLAG TO DAS BOOT WE TRIED & TRIED TO BUILD MORE HM*) pholo by SANDY tOU£Y BRUCE HAIG, President of the Historical the Lethbridge Centennial Society, and 'Elliot Trails Society, Brenda Perkins, captain of one of Gall', head of the Gait Sternwheelers Society the boats. Deborah Chenery. co-ordinator of stand aboard the Centennial Queen. Pony^xplress may start trip when boats head to Batoche The sternwheeler trip to Batoche Riel Rebellion, a turning point in Andrews building at Lethbridge next year in commemoration of the the development of the West. Community College to work out the fall of Louis Riel might begin with a All the boats might not be able to problems for the trip. stagecoach or pony express mail start their 1.140 kilometre (700- To date Brenda Perkins is the run to the juncture of the Bow and mile) river voyage from Lethbridge only captain entered for the trip, Oldman rivers. because of water levels in the Old- but she doesn't have her boat yet. man, a news conference was told Costs of the trip are to be offset par The trip, a brainchild of the His Monday. toric Trails Society of Alberta, will tially with income from letters -coincide with the Lethbridge cen And that won't be the end of the posted at Batoche after bejpg taken:, tennial, and is touted as being sig water problems for the sailors who up the river by sternwheeler for a nificant to the history of the city set aside April 28 to May 13 for the fee of $2.50, but only eight of those because the lives of Riel and Sir historic trek. They'll have to figure have been ordered by supporters. Alexander Gait, the founder of out how to sail through the Gardiner The slow start to the organization Lethbridge, are related in history. Dam near Saskatoon. of the voyage doesn't,- however, Bruce Haig, the sternwheeler daunt the organizers. Haig said The sternwheelers are the more organizer who turned the helm for efforts are being made to publicise significant because they figured the trip over to Elliott-Galt-reincar- the event nationally and interation- both in the mining that led to the nate Martin Dixon, S3id there'll be a ally, a search is on for descendants' establishment of the city and the series of meetings every third of the people who travelled the transport of troops to put down the Thursday night at 7:30 in the Kate route during the uprising. 28 LOUIS RIEL Canada1QJ IKXOKI acta CAPTAIN BRUCE HAIG, WITH CAP, WELCOMES GUESTS TO CENTENNIAL QUEEN Trip wasn't all thatoact*7 By SANDY TOLLEY Ruby Queen II, I spotted the Cen Haig and Nibb were giving free of The Herald tennial Queen in the distance car rides to friends and visitors at Park Although I am not fond of water rying several passengers. Beau Lake. At least 15 people piled on and tend to get sick on boats I drove chemin offered me a ride but I board on every trip. Haig is trying out to Park Lake Sunday for a ride courteously declined and told him to publicize the trip to Batoche and on the Centennial Queen, a three- my assignment was to sail aboard encourage people to build a boat year-old sternwheeler. the Centennial. and take part in the venture. Beauchemin, along with Centen I told myself it wasn't going to be nial's crew, Bruce Haig and Ed The Centennial Queen can travel that bad. After all, it was a warm Nibb, plan to enter the stern up to seven miles an hour, carrying day and all I had to do was sit on wheeler trip to Batoche next year a load of 5,000 lbs.. Just the right the boat. I spotted a boat coming speed for me. ;inland. Since I assumed it was the in commemmoration of the Louis Centennial Queen, I began taking Riel Rebellion. The trip, originated I enjoyed my voyage across.-the pictures. by the Historic Trails Society of lake. Although the wind made the Alberta, will coincide with the water choppy, the Centennial The water was choppy and the Lethbridge centennial. Queen was steady and sure. boat was swaying from side to side. Only one group has officially Despite an occasional splash and There were no passengers. I registered for the trip in April. the wind ripping army halr,"l could breathed a sigh of relief. I wouldn't Emil Gundlock of Warner, Brenda understand why so-many "-people- have to go after all. It was Perkins and Bern Schue, both of take to boats and dream of a trip obviously too rough for the driver, Lethbridge, have paid the $100 such as the one next year. let alone a greenhorn like me. entry fee for their sternwheeler However, while Ray Beauchemin (not yet constructed), Southland The Centennial Queen won my- of Lethbridge docked this boat, the Express. heart and my confidence.- - - - 29 - COMMEMORATIVE LETTERS GREW k GREW 18 — Friday, January 18. 1935 22 — Friday, March 6. 1985 Centennial Centennial Trek to Batoche Trek to Batoche The Historic Trails Society, to commomorato tho The Historic Toils Society, to commemorate Itie part played by Lethbridge in the 1885 Riol Robollion !>art played by Lethbriclqr in :ne l 805 Riel Rebellion will on-. Will on April 28, 1985 April 28, 1985 Launch a modern day Sternwheel to Travel (1000 km) by way of Oldman and Launch a modem day Sternwheel to Travel South Saskatchewan Rivers. (1000 km) by way of Oldman and South Saskatchewan Rivers. to BATOCHE (NORTH OF SASKATOON) to BATOCHE Letters will be part of tho cargo and will bo stamped (NORTH OF SASKATOON) at that spot 100 years after the battle, plckuo envelopes at Eaton's. Sears, Woodward's and Letters will he part ot the cargo and will be stamped Stubb's Pharmacy. Cost $2.50 per onvolopo. Alter ai mat spot 100 years alter the battle pickup tilling out letter, please return to one of tho above envelopes at Eaton's. Sears. Woodward's and stores. ,meH2S8?^.WJ4*Z2*&ZZ:j Stubb's Pharmacy Cost S2 50 per envelope. Alter tilling out letter, please return to one ot the above stores - • """ASIAI V4n?fl9t i*ea BUT "Tv"" -- -t|S »Z/. a TOk*.7/tTn— ^T^S/laW^-j " ^g^P^^IlL —^=r , Jfa BaflflBP '*S*T*"*"" -*-. »" ^v, *^fef»3^*iv^S'^S Ll|H fc&s. S^^Vi'.lffti ^W*W .^'~»-" VJ^1*! 3*2£S?§§? "^^a^^inS"»** SETS IN Too big for tub This sternwheeler won't get for the trip in 1985. Haig. head of Bruce Haig to Batoche, and it's too the Batoche Sternwheelers, is big to play with in the tub, but it hoping to attract the adventurous does serve as a model for those for the journey to Batoche, Sask., wishing to design their own cratt from Lethbridge. Our Captains wa-f-fled and wavered as they had 100 years before. There were those who wanted to make the trip during the summer when weather conditions were expected to be better, and those who wished to be historically accurate and arrive on the anniversary date of the Battle o-f Batoche. A third group just ran out o-f steam. HeiaW onolo Charting their course Bruce Haig, centre, of the Historic Trails Society looks on as Dennis Wood, left and Norm Briscoe take a look at the course their 24-foot boat will be taking on route from Lethbridge to Batoche April 28th. The two men will be part of a crew for their captain Steven LaCroix and will be one of a number of crafts to make the journey which is sponsored by the Historic Trails Society to commemmorate the 100th anniversary of the Riel Rebellion. 31 GO .fHBttftB' MUST ^•BOlRft Herald pl»lo CREW MEMBERS NORMAN BRISCOE, LEFT, VERN SCHEU, FRANCIS CROOK AND BRUCE HAIG They're off to Batoche By DAVE MABELL could prove more successful than the originalI voyagevfcy . "His of The Herald torically, the boats never did catch up to each other," leaded with 614 comtr.emorative letters and manned by a he notes. crew of five from Lethbridge. a centennial voyage to "They spent more time on the sandbars than off them." Batoche is set to sail. The river through Medicine Hat is reported reasonably Adventurer-historian Bruce Haig and fellow-travellers high just now, Haig says, so sandbar interruptions may be leave today for Medicine Hat, where they'll launch their less of a. problem. smaller-thanplanned craft. They expect to be greeted by Haig expects to make about 80 kilometres progress the citizens at Empress, Outlook and Saskatoon en route to first day — to ominously-named Drowning Ford — and Batoche, site of the decisive battle of the Riel Rebellion 100 hopes to make it to Batoche around May 9 to 11. Slowing years ago. their progress, apart from Gardiner Dam and the weir at Though three Lethbridge sternwheelers were ordered to Saskatoon, could be winter ice as well as low water. steam to the Metis headquarters during the uprising, Haig Lake Diefenbaker has reportedly broken up, he says, but says just one nine-foot Alberta rubber boat will make the the boats will have to pick their way through channels trip this year. separating large ice floes. "It's not a sternwheeler," Haig admits. "We just couldn't Their voyage will be monitored by Saskatchewan resi get enough interest in that." dents near the historic river route, and news Of their "even- Instead, a £3,000 inflatable boat will be launched into the tual arrival at the small Metis settlement, will eventually be South Saskatchewan River from Medicine Hat, and the sent around the world through tW'RKhl-Haig-s party- is - crew will have to take turns riding the river and driving a carrying. supply vehicle. Lethbridge voyageurs expect to be joined Last-minute interest in the commemorative-mail deli-' Saturday by a second vessel entered by students from Medi very almost doubled in the last few days, Haig says, and the cine Hal. specially-cancelled envelopes will be well-protected from' A meet is planned at Saskatchewan Crossing, Haig says, water in case the travellers encounter any unexpected and if all goes according to schedule the trip from there adventures. 32 Weather 'couldn't be better' for Batoche-bound travellers Excellent weather conditions greeted the river-trav some sandbanks and rocks, the crew has been able to elling group en route to Batoche this morning. They navigate around them. were about 3.2 kilometres downstream from Medicine "It's progressing very well." Hat. The group began its journey today from Gait Island, "It's a very beautiful trip," said Real Topping, one of about eight kilometres upstream from the Gas City five men on the one-boat expedition, in a telephone and Topping said it hopes to reach Drowning Ford, interview from near Medicine Hat. "Weather condi about 93 kilometres downstream from Medicine Hat, tions could not be better. We hit it very lucky." to finish today's stretch of the journey. The Centennial voyage, which will carry 614 com The nine-foot Alberta rubber boat has experienced memorative letters, is expected to reach Batoche, the no mechanical problems so far, he said. River condi site of the decisive battle of the Riel Rebellion, between tions are reasonable, and although the craft has met May 9 to 11. fti*t */ff U/jft Historic trek runs smoothly HILDA (Special) - Under desolate bluffs and a hot sun, Batoche-bound river adventurers from leth bridge made good speed Thursday on their historic voyage. "We've got 65 to 80 miles in so far," says spokesman Bruce Haig. But neither he nor his crew of volunteer sailors know exactly how many miles have passed beneath their rubber boat, now north of this village on the Buffalo Trail. Highway 41. Nor how many sandbars or rocks. "We must have hit stones 500 times," he says, but fortunately today's out- boardmotors don't break a cotter pin everytime that Batoche boat,^^ happens. Though water is not too low, "the river is hard to pilot." As well, "It's very hard to see on the map where you are." With high banks on either side, and sand covered 60 miles bars and other features changing year to year, naviga tion involves a certain amount of guesswork. —Reach Lemsford Ferry So Haig says he's not sure whether the voyaguers Wildlife and fauna are- will reach Saskatchewan Crossing in time for a sched being extinct. And (he reached Lemsford Ferry teeming teeming along wildlife and fauna are in Saskatchewan," said uled rendezvous with a second craft. A group of high the route taken by the school students from Moose Jaw were to meet at the teeming on both sides of Topping. "We covered early explorers, One of the the river." some 60 miles Friday and western Saskatchewan point to join the run to historic five men on the one-boat Batoche. the trip is progressing Centennial expedition to The nine-foot Alberta very well." Thursday's run passed through barren land used for Batoche said .Friday. rubber boat, which left army training, populated only by nesting birds and "We counted hundreds Sand Point, to Lemsford" Carrying 614 commem "antelope all over the place." of Canada Geese," said Ferry, Sask., is conduct orative letters, the expe The crew hopes to reach Empress — last Alberta Real Topping. ing the Centennial voy dition has. targetted town-on the river — later today and then press on "They're far from age :; -.-•- ..*--; — "..,_ Saskatchewan •• Landing- towards Saskatchewan river crossings near Leader for today and hopes to and Eston. The crew plans to reach Batoche,' the site of the arrive at Diefenbaker Haig isn't worried about not making the scheduled decisive battle of the Riel Lake by -Sunday,- meet with the Moose Jaw group, which would push off Rebellion, between May 9 ahead of the Lethbridge crew if necessary. One hun and 1.1. So far. Topping said the dred years ago, the historian notes, the three Leth- weather has co-operated, I bridge ships sent to the Riel Rebellion site were "It's our fourth day on and no serious problems separated by up to three weeks. the river and we've have been experienced. Haig and crew to reach Batoche Thursday, May 9, 1985 A3 'sometime today' Bruce Haig of the Historic Trails Association says he expects his raft and crew lo reach Batoche, Sask. Haig reaches Batoche sometime today Haig and his group is retracing history by raft Bruce Haig and his fel arrive in their homemade ing the old sternwheeler route to Batoche. the scene of low rafters have reached sternwheeler. the Riel Rebellion Batoche, Sask. just before Haig says that should the 100th anniversary of stir up a little more inter Haig, in an interview from Saskatoon Tuesday, said final charge of militiamen est since they have been the group met up with a group of students from Moore against the rebelling on CBC radio every morn Jaw who are also taking part in the trip after leaving Metis. ing since they began their Outlook in the morning. Haig, in an interview trip. from Batoche Wednes "We were able to pass them." he said. "On the He also says that group open water we could . . got a better grip on things." day, said the group arrived aboard their raft may not be able to make He also said they couldn't make very good time in the morning under a the whole trip in the water between Batoche and Saskatoon because the river was beautiful sunny sky. because of low river full of sandbars. levels — but will arrive in He says they camped Batoche Sunday one way The crew nas over 650 pieces of mail which will Tuesday night at' Fish or another. bo stamped a: Batoche by special arrangement with Creek — also of historical The 1,000 km trek is Canada Post. significance because sponsored by the Historic that's where government Trails Society. Haig says everyone on the trip is healthy and in forces also camped for 13 BRUCE HAIG good spirits Haig and his crew are days 100 years ago while days visiting local histori carrying about 650 pieces waiting for the stern cal sites. of mail which will be spe wheelers to bring medical Sunday, the anniver cially marked at Batoche supplies. sary of the Riel Rebellion, by Canada Post to com Haig says the group a group from a Moose Jaw memorate the centennial will spend the next few High School is expected to of the rebellion. ,/•• Batoche centennial About 150 people — mostly Metis — gathered left is an old church which.has been rebuilt by at Batoche Saturday for a memorial service to the park service. A rectory adjacent to the honor the dozens of men who died 10O years church briefly sheltered families during" the final ago in a bloody conclusion to the North-West battle of the rebellion May 9-12, 1885. The Rebellion. The old Batoche townsite, which sits turnout Saturday was fewer than expected. A in a valley overlooking the South Saskatchewan Red Cross tent and display station had been_set River, now is a national park. The only building up in anticipation of more than 1,000 visitors. 4 **;: ^A.^ -i*~: : :»««&* ww:^ ..aS.-***' BATTLE OF FISH CREEK-1885 - SHIP'S LOG 35 AND GUEST REGISTER HAMKK O F YACHIcfT 1 Rr r><^. if < otA HOME I-ORT OH YACHT CLUB ITi^ov'vc. ~">Vo>v'U S>ocic~ry d\ \A\(>cvirx, OWNED / SHIP'S LOG DEPARTURE WEATHER OKBTIMATIOH */«. ^ - 54.Vj- 1^ U'C-uJ rj-73't' >.Cc. H^_ C-'t \^L-U 9rf..rtMt, *~OfVi .!) rtt/ S^tt. IL rtc«»u t^« 2. -V ,vt- -I I-HI h ~vX ')• A u. fcv-i ^o«.k ih He? <« SIA. •' M U/ 'Ucxy "\ CrtaL' »5V»»«4>^ /•*i*Ay t Jf n i 7/-JV*-, F^~* .<< /• ?«w _Lo_! _ " a *\l/ Cr«o k-T'p/}.*, '"T 7 S.-o." ^ 0»^i» a-? J. • LC-M/F-QHI /=AAA) r.fffy tier JVA'V *1 X 0 %7iJ i/ctt&r. im*-*»*o M44ft J ULMJLBSM t£M£ /• 4&At- imiM &£M± io%A tM uml h/iy /// £&£! rHAML /to^; fflfct ['PtM/to/i/ {MM. ~HM>u?-Ufr I- £*v^ J=w^~ SHIP'S LOG ARRIVAL DEPARTURE WEATHER OC*TIN*TIOM /i./y etfikti. uz si £iJ- '! £IM fc>) Q g^y - ififa, ' jgEMMtf 36 GUEST REGISTER CAME ABOARD AT Tn t^ZW) rxa- Qu Lt4iA (O^r-y ,/ i / / 0 Cl ly>n /•> Q GUEST REGISTER ADDUCED CAME ABOARD AT •V Clt..j>r:C,- /r,^^- ksL-tLTcCr^AA^A (ZZt^i^y , A^f £4w- ^^ CT -C-^-Q* jjmwff o4w/f~* MMuM^^i/c•;•._ !^Z^ -^ j3^3cWL4-f/fic ^t-thcXlQ.^y, ^ ^•*-^ -5Y- "7 57 •rr--'. .«*s- GUEST REGISTER ADDREGO CAME ABOARD AT .^LskyZ. '.•.^-o^n. .2=ii.•- i - , Jfe 7- Jflfc&l. ^Y^1 j£k* AiWl JQdti ? &2/UM- iZL /fae.u , &&& T _£ Bm •: -. ^ ^ Q&na^r A ^^ l ^^ZfiU^Z^r^ •^—c^.. <-' 7 gngk 9 J^ML&2d^<_£ _ «d£gz£l M-t. 074*2*^ f I F CREW REGISTER ADDREGO CAME ABOARD AT /U &1 U* <~ VOL. I. No. i). TUHONTO. SATURDAY, MAY D. 1885. 15 CENTS PER COPY. 39 VviaafiEflL-piBr fei^fe^Stfif - ,-.^paS^W«Pli!^iiWfe^>3 ^ • Mas 'JKN. MIDDI.KTONS EXPEDITION BY RIVER - 40 I r fish Creek " r r April £4,1*% 41 The Voyage o-f Gait Discovery 1 These notes and observations are dedicated to my instant special -friends united in the objective o-f this special project which brought us together. A few weeks ago we were strangers: Now, we are accepting each others' strengths, weaknesses and idiosyncracies. Bruce Haig Norm Briscoe Francis Crook Vern Scheu Real Topping Day 1 April 30th To Medicine Hat: Bruce, Norm and Vern travelled early, leaving at approximately 9:30 a.m. by van and jeep. They attended at the Medicine Hat Post Office and arranged to have the mail date stamped. They contacted media personnel, got last minute food and other supplies and obtained information as to a suitable access to the river for our official departure point on May 1st. Following completion of my testimony at a civil trial in Lethbridge and dismissal by the trial judge, Francis picked me up at home and we left to join the advance party at the Frontier Motel in Medicine Hat at 5 p.m. By 6 p.m. we located an access point some 4 miles upstream on the Saskatchewan River, The remainder of the evening was spent in preparing our sleeping accomodations re: tents and planning for an early departure on May 1st, Bruce Haig and Vern Schew being chosen as the two who would begin the trek. Day 2 May 1st Call came at the unscheduled time of 5 a.m. Bruce had been kept awake part of the night by the gossiping geese on the river bank sand, Vern's bedding was too short and hard. Norm's was too uneven. But good spirits and - humour prevailed as we ate our porridge and hot coffee which was a speciality of the house by Norm. 42 By 7:30 the boat was shoved away from the shore and r Bruce and Vern were on their way. At 8:30 we intercepted them underneath the Trans Canada Highway Bridge, they had taken about 1 hour to travel 5 miles and every thing was performing well. -^-i^ //i£ h-~J-7 We said goodbye at 8:45, hoping to rendezvous later that evening at Drowning Ford or Rapid Narrows some 60 miles downstream . By 11:30 we had concluded that it was impossible to reach Drowning Ford as it formed part of the Suffield Military Reserve. We had also found a trail approaching Rapid Narrows from the southwest. Unfortunately, the van was not capable of manoeuvering the trail and as it carried most of the supplies, we turned our attention to finding an alternate approach from the southeast. Norm was left at the river with a marker, while Francis and I travelled back to the main road with his truck the very rudimentary rock strewn 6 miles. The next 3 hours were spent in exploring all possible avenues. We asked directions which sometimes- appeared contradictory and unfailing with the familiar parting comments, "You can't miss it." Well, you can! "A road" to a farmer or local may not -be conceived.. as a road at all to a city dweller. By 3:30 we had found a way! Our equipment was approximately 1 mile from the south east banks of. Rapid Narrows. The one mile distance could only be travelled with the Suzuki jeep. 43 We rejoined Norm. The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent waiting by the river. But Bruce and Vern never came ! Worry for their safety was not predominant in our minds as the river appeared quite safe. They had good safety equipment, some food and sleeping wraps. We wondered instead if the distance we had hoped they could travel, some 67 miles from the Trans Canada Bridge was too much Were they at Drowning Ford not knowing we could not get to them? Or were they kidnapped by the media, hungry for news as they went through Medicine Hat? We finally concluded that possibly tired, they may have stopped at some wayside farm by 9:30 p.m. and were comfortably tucked in, cared for by a diligent farmer's daughter! Day 3 May 2nd At 6 a.m. Francis got up and proceeded to the river bank ledge. Nothing. After a breakfast prepared by Norm, we all went down again to our ledge vantage point and waited, waited, waited. At 11:a.m. we went back up to base camp for coffee. From a distance of approximately 3 miles we kept a constant eye on the south west. Suddenely Norm yelled from 50 ft away "Here they come!" There they were in the far left hand river curve in the now familiar orange coloured boat. Norm immediately started preparing a meal, while Francis and I jumped into the jeep and headed towards the river. As we approached the river bank some 50 ft above the base, we could see that Bruce was worried that his jeep would tumble over the edge. They where alive, well and smiling, although hungry and thirsty. "Did you bring food?" were their first words. They where immediately transported to base camp- for a hearty meal and a very pleasant reunion where problems of both river and road crews where told and retold. . . The next goal was set: Sandy Point some 40 miles downriver at the intersection of Highway 41 north some 16 miles from Empress, Alberta. With the first check point at an old ferry crossing 16 miles south of Bindloss. -Norm and Francis where installed in the boat with food, tent, r 44 r sleeping bags and food - in c Lessons of the night before! We watched as they maneuvered the boat through Rapid Narrows which were completely docile and ran a distance of some 300 ft. They waved goodbye as they disappeared at the next river curve. «a teg* !\ \ \ -/••' / V i l\ ( -' S i •j s 1 . ^W\'f\l/, i \.', V \ -•• f 11ttrf\ fn n/ L i ! !A Bruce and Vern then followed the lead truck out a maze of primitive trails over a distance of some 10 miles, through coulees, pastures and a 20 mile gravel road to Highway #41. A first stop "was made by the ground crew at Hilda. There where no services. Then on to Schul-er- for—water,. fuel, groceries and 1 beer each at the local hotel. Then is was on to the old ferry crossing 6 miles west and 8 miles north through 2 texas gates. At the river we found the yellow flag marker left by Norm "and Francis who appeared to be makeing good progress. We then headed as fast as possible for Sandy Point arriving there at approximately 8 p.m. Norm and Francis where sitting down at a picnic table chewing on a. familiar baloney sandwich and waiting for a chance to blurt, "What kept you?" It was the end of another beautiful day without any major problems encouraged by the 100 river miles now behind us. Sandy Point is a pleasantly developed public campground with good facilities located on the banks of the river in a deep quiet valley. I / / v.. : / t' /III! »( I , V. rf X 4fi"g%W< / / m^j JR. mk \w Day 4 May 3rd Real and Francis where chosen to maneuver the next estimated 62 miles to Lemsford Ferry, Saskatchewan^ •• —• • The boat departed at 7:45 a.m. Within seconds we were hung up on our first sandbar 100 yards down river from.the bridge. Nothing serious! The boat drew only 4 inches of water, and with the help of the current and some encouragement with the oars, our little orange craft soon 46 found its way to deeper waters. The day was beautiful, very little wind, bright sunshine and blue sky. The river banks were full of life of all kinds, including rattle snakes, still fortunately unawakened from their winter slumber. Canada geese abounded, as did white pelicans (with black tipped wings)-, deer, beavers, ducks, which from their perch or safety points seem to be perplexed at our presence. At the juncture of the Red Deer River the river splits into several channels. We picked the right channel along high banks, which are usually the best. It was the worst and we where delayed about 1/2 hour. We arrived at the Estuary Ferry at noon and stopped for lunch and a 1st crossing on the river by ferry for Francis. The ferryman was quite pleasant and was keen to answer any and all questions. Francis turned out to be an excellent motor operator and at 6:45 p.m. we arrived at our destination at Lemsford Ferry where our companions where waiting having arrived there at noon. Another pleasant evening was spent at the campground and at dusk Vern decided to invest in a bar of soap and use the river as a bathtub. Did he do a good job? No one will know, as he lost his bar of soap. •> 6 IA uf"*1 47 Day 5 May 4th Up by 6:30, Norm and Vern-volunteered to operate the boat. The checkpoint was Lancer Ferry with the target being Saskatchewan Landing. The sun rose weak and the weather was threatening to be much cooler. Away they went. The ground crew drove to Lancer for supplies. In the process Real presented a pin to the store clerk and even pointed to her where it was to be worn. Bruce and Francis objected! The wind came up and the weather turned real nasty and cold with heavy rain. By 11:30 the ground crew was back at the 1st checkpoint. The boat lay on a flat muddy bank on the opposite side(north side) of the river. There were white caps all over the river, now wide and deep. Norm and Vern were found drenched and shivering having sought refuge in the ferryman's cabin. Just as the storm approached, Vern gouged the side of the rubber boat with a knife he was using to make shoelaces out of rope. Placing his finger on the hole, they made shore, applied a patched and set out again in the storm. If that was not enough of a problem, now the engine didn't want to work. But they made i t. . : . The weather forecast was ominous with more to come.. The river widens as it approaches the south west end of Lake Diefenbaker. Following a brief meeting, a decision was made not to proceed further and to move on to Cabri near Saskatchewan 48 Landing. Most everything was wet. Clothes were muddy and dirty. Two rooms were rented at the old Cabri Hotel. Real went to bed while Vern, Francis, and Bruce had a long beer. There was a discussion on fate while Norm did his washing and drying in a dryer that didn't work. Fortunately, the Captain declared a free evening. Real and Vern held a mouth organ party spiked with rum and everyone arrived in time to see Vern do the jig. * hc^ji v/c '^*-^<3 Day 6 May 5th Up by 7 a.m. but the weather was dreadful. There were waves on Lake Diefenbaker reported at 10 to 12 ft. A small craft warning was in effect and the temperature around 34 F. The decision was made to travel to Saskatchewan Landing by road to meet the Moose Jaw group. After breakfast in Kyle 12 miles to the north of Saskatchewan Landing we returned to find the 2 teachers and 6 students with their beautiful replica sternwheeler which was no match for the fury of the lake. . . The group all moved on to Elbow at the northerntip of Lake Diefenbaker adjacent to Gardner Dam. The evening was spent in a cheap motel. 49 Day 7 May 6th The sun was shining and again the wind was down. Due to a low flow of water a decision was made to launch the boat at Outlook some 20 miles north. We arrived at approximately 8:30 a.m. on the wrong side of the river. We then joined the Moose Jaw group who where in the process of launching the "Peacock". The Peacock left at approximately 1 p.m. A defective spring in our Evenrude 9.9 h.p. delayed us considerably and we soon found out that there was no outboard motor service in Outlook, despite the hussle and bussle of an otherwise busy looking town. The motor was repaired and at 3 p.m. a new crew consisting of Bruce and Vern headed northward with an unclear meeting place somewhere 20 miles downstream. The groundcrew soon found out that access to the river was again extremely difficult. An access was found at the Sioux Reservation through 1 mile of knee-deep mud where the Suzuki jeep again proved its worth. Norm, Francis and I waited by the river in vain for 3 hours and at 8:30 concluded once again that our comrades were destined to sleep alone with minimum gear by the river somewhere. Sad, but a fact we had gradually become accustomed to. The ground crew then headed for Saskatoon and arriving in full darkness with the van and jeep in tow decided to camp on the outskirts of the city. Day 8 May 7th Again up by 6 a.m. we maneuvered the vehicles across the river over the Victoria bridge and descended to an excellent "slip" just southwest of the bridge. We waited and at 11 a.m. our faithful_little orange boat, once again appeared around the southeasterly curve of the river along with a tired but otherwise fit crew. Vern headed for his parents home... .only. .a_f.ew blocks, away, while we proceeded to pull the boat and equipment out of the water and transfer it to a new launch site in the northeast part of the city, past the railway bridge and adjacent weir. ... ._:.-.-_ .._.". At 1:15, Norm and Francis again waved goodbye in the >0 hope of meeting that night at either Hague or Fish Creek with a first checkpoint at Clarkboro Crossing. Bruce was fed (somewhat) and Mrs. Laplante of the post office undertook to process our 1000 odd pieces of mail by May 9th. Vern was picked up at his parents and we again headed north, first on #11 then easterly to Clarkboro Crossing where we crossed to the east side of the river and received the message that all was well and that our crew had passed that point at 3 p.m. By 5:15 we were at Hague Crossing and where we were told by the ferryman that they had passed at 4:30. We were closing in on them. Darkness was starting to come as we reached the Fish Creek area. We actually passed them! We waited on the river bank at the location of the original Fish Creek village. But they landed some 5 miles up river at the Fish Creek Battlesite. Darkness fell and a quick look at Gabriel Bridge proved futile. Once more our pal's where destined to sleep what we came to call "on the river". There was no rain and the temperature quite mild. We also came to realize that once on the uncharted river, there are few, if any signs, of roads or villages. It is another world all together. Day 9 May 8th Up by 7 a.m. watching! By 7:30 our orange craft faithfully appeared around yet another curve carrying our friends. Breakfast was prepared, and knowing that we only had some 16 miles to travel Bruce arranged to take an hour to visit the monuments and graveyard at the Fish Creek Battlesite. By 10 a.m. the boat was ready as Francis and I undertook to travel the last leg of our trek. By 10:45 we passed Gabriel Bridge and by 11:00 the distant spire of the white Batoche church could be seen. A class of school children waved to us high above the eastern bank. Further down at the edge of the river small blue ribbons had been tied to trees to indicate the approach to the old Batoche Ferry site. At- the., next... turn. two -men appeared on the river edge as we approached and I recognized my two brothers Edgar and George. We stopped briefly to say hello and Edgar got in the boat with us to travel the last few hundred yards to dock at the old ferry site. Our objective some 510 miles from our departure point at Gait Island 9 days ago had been reached. We made it! 51 To the rest of the crew, who put up with me. Thank you, for a beautiful trip! Real 861 LETTERS FOLLOWED THE' ^ HISTORIC ROUTE Ptriuaaio IT AND PUBLISHINO OOKPANT. Or TORONTO. VOL. I. No. 10. TORONTO, SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1885. 15 CENTS PER Con-. *!$t!3m8EB6&&,i •- now THE ROYAL GRENADIERS GOT THEIR DINNER BEFORE BATOCHE. (fro** . ibuK ry »«' Sp«w,l jriwi. M'. r. IT. c««; r BATTLE OF BATOCHE MAY 9 TO 12 • 1885 r 104 54 PLAN or POSITION AT BATTLE OF BATOCHE, May 12*1885. '\!5??\''. _ SCALC 20 CNAINZ • I INCH. From. a. sketch made hu Sffesirj. JBurrofi and, J)enmjy of tlic Sui-rcy}r3'JrttcU.igeri£c Cor/is. r " Explanations r . Enemy's Rifle FUs * Oar" c£& dcr X!t. Midland jSatt- 2... Grenadiers • 3...90& Beat- .', 4:...5iwctjors' Scour's . 3...3oultan.'s Scouts ;"': A.^IIcuse- shelled. 6ti qusi' on le. of our • £ ffous& ftvLcSv contained , Troops sh-erm as culranci '• * ;i".- ord&r- ao comjntjicement, of fn.q*i*>em.en£,. •.;•'.• •'•:'' ':'••(- r r r 56 MOOSE JAW llv TKISH BRAYNE 01 Tht Herald Tho Centennial sternwheeler trip to Batoche. Sask.. to commemorate the part played by Lethbridge in the I88S HIGH SCHOOL Riel Rebellion, begins April 2a. Although plans ot organizers tor dozens of entries were not realized, two boats, one from Lethbridge and the other from Moose Jaw will make the trip. The entries are Norman Briscoe and his crew of six from Lethbridge and stu dents from the A.E. Peacock High School in Moose Jaw. Sask., who will begin the historic route at Saskatchewan Landing, about a km north o( Swift Cur rent. A third potential captain, Emil Gund lock of Southland Insurance, said this week he and his crew decided against entering a boat In tbe 1,000 km trip because ot the time of year. "U you're going to lake two weeks off from your job you may as well do it in good weather," Gundlock said this week. The boat trek Is sponsored by The His toric Trails Society. Organizer Bruce Haig says a tentative starting point is Gait Island, about six miles out of Medi cine HaL The boat cannot travel from Lethbridge due to low water levels in the Oldman River. Haig says he's disappointed with the tack of interest, from the public in the historic voyage but is encouraged by the IDterest and work going into the project by the Pet body High School students. There were four sternwheelers In the original voyage, beaded for tbe Saskat chewan Landing with supplies for troop*, and null. Tbe sternwheelers, 100 years later will also carry mail. So far, 250 correspondents are taking advan tage of a unloue ocoortunlty to buy a commemorativ* envelope to be carried as part of tbe cargo. Tbe envelopes can be purchased at Eatoni'i, Sears, Woodward's and Stubb's Pharmacy. Lethbridge writers ' are corresponding with people u fir' awayas Australia, India, and Nigeria u well as their friends and fi rr.fUcs la Can- sds and the UJ5. Haig says be hope* more people will lake advantage of tbe mail service and says letters will be stamped at post offices along the route. Tbe post office al Batoche closed In 198], but Half says Canada Post Is trying to reintroduce a Batoche stamp for tbe occasion. Irs the meantime, nine male and one female Moose Jaw students are ham mering away at their miniature look- alike sternwheeler. a replica of the ves sels used in 1883. Construction started in February on the S.S. Peacock and the team is also building a kayak lo take along on the trip. The boat is built from plywood with the ends butted together. According to. specifications from the students, the ends were then stitched together with soft wire. to. be removed after the boat is completed and nbreglassed. The bottom is a "double chine" con struction, neither round nor square and there are two faces to tht bottonrand the aide. ... Ribs and arches create a stronger tr,p deck and the cabin has a rounded frame work looking like the balconies on the upper deck of the cabins of the original r Setf^ slemwheelers. The S.S. Peabody will be powered by an eight h.p. gas engine, which has a pul ley running to the paddle wheel to turn it and cost is estimated at taoo. • Students, who are finding lime is against them, are working after School and on weekends under tbe supervision of woodworking teacher David Boorah who will also captain the shortened trip. It is expected to take about a week, I arriving in Batoche May 12 — 100 years after the final baltle r 57 R.H. BOUCHEN, MCM0.MS- G.A.STEWART, MO.MC Principal Vice-Principal ALBERT E. PEACOCK TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL Telephone 693-4626 145 Ross Street East, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan S6H 0S3 MAV 13, 19&5 LOGBOOK OF THE S. S. PEACOCK BATOCHE EXPEDITION - Ro.gli>toA o<$ Dieto May ' S5 Vavid Boonah - Ma&t&i WanAon ?fiank - Chief, EnQ4.no.QA. Ctlii Talbot - Otew Member Fiad Cave. - Cum Membe/t Lynn McKojimy - Cnoxo Member Cathy BolangoA - Dtew Membe/t Cathy Wadham - Cnoio MomboA Tiovofi Hagan - Gtew) MembeA LAUNCH VATE Mac/ 2nd, 79S5, P£axvton Lake, Moa6t> Jaw LAUNCHEP - J 612 tm. Sttong wb\dt>, dl^lcutty -in mano.u\JOAlng- ^allo.d to neApond [Tlmo* HeAa£d, CHAB to heJbn, ioll aioxy to mind. P'tuznt fan. launch] Reduction i>o,al leaked, termi nated tfvial &on. Investigation. BeaAlng minting $H,om reduction gear. MAV 3 79S5 \lo.plac.qA n.o.dacXA.on gear, increased fio.v6, increased laidth o] paddles to 5-3/4". Also -uicreased length o£ " mailer. MAV 4 79S5 High minds cancelled 2nd tAlal nan. Rain shomers all day. MAy 5 79S5 0S37 hrs. Vtpaftt Poacock. Windy! Windy! Pay l II15 hrs. Eat at Suil$t CarAent. Gas ap. 1220 Saskatchem-an Landing - found Lethbridge party loolilng for ' as. (Rlvo-x - White&apA) 1302 On load to Kyle, Lethbridge patty lolll pick up their boat - meet at Gardiner. 58 r S. S. PEACOCK LOGBOOK Page 2 r 1537 hrs. Gardiner. Vam, rain, rain, rain. Checked boat, covered gear with tarp. Changed *rom summer attire to storm gear. Waiting for other party to rendesvous. Will seek shelter {/torn mind - Vouglas Park? 1S20 Pitched tent in Provincial Park, raining. 1S40 Cook up! Hot food for everyone. 1910 'Con^lab' mlth other group. Let ters to Elbow for cancellation tomorrow. Plan to avoid river. downstAeam o$ dam due to shoals. Plan to launch at Outlook. Will contact C.B.C. tomorrow at 0745. 1910 All crew turned in, Raining! MAV 6 1985 "For Those In Peril On the Sea" Vay 2 0525 Lynn gone for jog. Vail, cool. 0730 Breakfast finished. Clearing up camp. 0755 Phoned C.B.C, C.H.A.8, Peacock. 0S4& Broke camp for Outlook. Leaving park, weather cool, overcast. 1021 Outlook. Check out ramp access, muddy. Checked the high school. [Al Jensen - TeacheA). 1035 Looking for Mew Holland Dealer ship - Tow? 1407 Launched In river with the aid oi tAactor - WO CHARGE.' J 510 Underway downriver having enter tained CBC cameAa crew with our r technical adjustments!! 1520 Using transmission oil heavily, - very hot running. Warm and sunny. Many sandbars to negotiate. 1530 On the bank with road cr.eio - make camp Food, Food! Work on trans mission to line up with drive chain. 7 miles downstream o^ Outlook. S. S. PEACOCK LOGBOOK Page 3 MAV 6 1985 day 2 1830 hrs. WarAtn into Outlook for trans mission oil and new belt. Transmission looks good. Boat appears to be making some water. 2048 Sun down. Making hot drinks be fore turning in. MAy 7 7 9*5 Pay 3 0530 Wake up. 0700 Cleariiig camp. Windy, sonny. Wind fo.om SE could cause pro blems. Cool! 0720 Departed camp. 0900 Added transmission oil, many sandbars. Wading, pushing, and being blown to Saskatoon. 1005 CRASH! Allen screio loose on shaft bearing. Paddle climbed over stern, demolished guard rail. Stopped engine, pat ashore on sandy spot for repairs. 1025 Repairs finished. Taking on hot drinks and some food. Sunny, wind behind as. Wo sign 0$ shore party. Should make good progress. 1040 Underway once more - we must be nuts, Grade 9 does not look so bad lrom here! 1205 Stopped for adjustment [Allen Screws work loose) 1225 Shore party - Interesting shoreline, lixttrestbig terrain - SOLO beaver pond and their handiwork, very im pressive. Windy and warm. 1305 Underway again. 1308 Met shore party at Indian burial : site. Met Gas Proese' sister. 1334 Underway another 8 miles to meet • shore party again [At Ideal Camp Site-only one-for miles) 1830 Put ashore, made camp In sand - good place to moor boat. Contact ed iarm 1/4 mile away - shore party 2 miles downstream. r 60 S. S. PEACOCK LOGBOOK Page 4 MAY 7 1985 1848 lirs. Broke camp, put o^ in boat. Vay 3 1950 Mo shore party - portage, portage, portage! 2040 Beached, sand all around. 0^ once. more. 2200 Still no shore party. 8 miles away? 2230 Made camp in dark. Warm and windy. " 2250 Hot meal, secure boat, turned In. Warm, but very windy. We are warm In sleeping bags!! Where Is that shore party. P.S. They too were in their sleeping bags. W.B. 2040 hrs onioards was windy and entailed pitching 2 tents in high winds, pitch darkness. Fred's axe and handle parting company, making decent stakes impossible. Wire pegs do not hold well in sand! I my 8 1985 Vay 4 Warm night. Woke 0615. 0645 hrs. Inspected boat - high S dry! Water r dropped. Getting breakfast. We are low on gas, will liave to portage oat o$ the backwater. 0800 Water still dropping - no hope orj moving. 0915 2 Cathys and myself 0&i into the bush to seek others. Ride tyiom In dian after 3 mile walk. Phoned Peacock. Farmer kind enough to take us to accesses to river looking for "Land Gang". | 1210 Contacted shore party, now some heave ho! Emptied boat, removed paddle, portage approx 100 yds. - seemed like 100 miles. Moved all gear aboard. Current with as, wind against as - could be dl^icult. 1400 Veparted shore creio - 2 miles to camp. 1525 Landed at camp site - out o{ gas- ran on a prayer and a song! - Easy going. Mow where is Fred and the girls - they should be here with the truck!! Boy are we hungry. • 61 S. S. PEACOCK LOGBOOK Page 5 WAV 8 1985 Vay 4 1600 hrs. Boys talking about preparing scallops - sounds good. Warren gone In search o^ Fred. Good progress today - 2 miles. (Fred was detailed to bring the truck foom bash troll with the 2 Cathys) 1650 Fred Is back - got lost by taking wrong troll. [Sold he will never listen to women again). 1730 All cleaned up, oil changed - engine checked. Approx. 20 miles to Saskatoon - looks better should ran faster. 1948 Pumping up air beds - iire going. Boat snugged doion for night. Hearing coyotes. Many geese around. MAV 9 1985 Pay 5 Pleasantly cool night. Oat o& the sack at 0630. 0815 Started o&& - Fred, CU^, Trevor and Mr. Frank. 0910 Stopped on shore to check set screws In bearing. 0925 0$tJ again. 1020 Shore stop - checfe set screws and add gear oil. On again by 1045. Made adjustments to steering mechanism. 1200 Stopped for lunch - sandnxiches, water and luke warm iced tea. Checked rear end and top up gas tank. 1230 The journey continues. Making good time. Saw a beaver and numerous geese. 1335 Stopped on shore for ^b\al check o{, the day. Record time with only a ten minute stop. 1420' Spotted Saskatoon, CW bridge and the shore party. Making oar way care&ully around dead trees In river. 62 S. S. PEACOCK LOGBOOK Page 6 MAV 9 79S5 Pay 5 1430 hrs. Pocfee.d for the day. Just missed a large submerged rock with the sternwheel. It was close. We made it in good time. Favorable winds all day. 1640 At the "V". 7730 . ShoweA over at the "V" - we are all human again. Mow some food. 1855 All crew fod and watered - less mutinous! I 7 922 Boat 'all ship shape and Bristol fashion' for tomorrow. r 2100 Turning in for the night. MAV 70 7985 Pay 6 0600 Rise and shine. 0645 CBC live {rom nearby phone. 0775 Breakfast. 0800 Vepart site for Saskatoon. 0910 Arrival at launch ramp - waiting for CBC TV. Unload gear for haul ing out. Cool, overcast. 1030 Loaded boat at Mendel Art Gallery. r 1035 Washed up ourselves, ready for road. Looks good! 7 252 All crew fod, watered at Rosthern before moving on to Batoche via Clarks Crossing Ferry. 7335 At Batoche. Wo ramp into the river! 7 520 Checked {erry access for launch - not so good. 7 545 0^ to campsite In Rosthern. 7555 Found Provincial Park - making camp. 1730 Cooking meal (in groups). 2000 Made trip into Rosthern to phone - Fred Cave's father need not drive up Sunday. Plan to spend day to morrow visiting Fish Creek, Fort Carleton, Vuck Lake. Mosquitoes are bad here. S. S. PEACOCK LOGBOOK Page 7 MAV 7 7 7 985 Pay 7 0716 Rise and sltine. 0830 Clean up breakfast dishes. Sunny, warm, heavy deio. 097 2 Vepart campsite for Pucfe Lake, Fort Carlton. 0935 Arrived Pucfe Lake. Museum tour, Jailhouse observed. 1020 Left Pucfe Lafee for Fort Carlton. 1036 Fort Carlton - sunny, warm, a real treat after our weeks exertions! 1111 Stopped at monument to {,irst battle- site o& General Crazier and the Metis (Ambush) 1115 Mow for a boatrlde - see what boat ing Is all about! 7 723 Waiting at {terry to cross to Batoche. 1201 At East Village, Batoche. Church ser vice In progress. 1235 Contacted Medicine Hat party. 7245 0^ to Fish Creek Battleground. 1310 Fish Creek - should be called "Mos quito Creek" - ioere beaten o^ by their attacks! 1320 Turned tall and left for Rosthern Camp. Relaxing at camp, mosquitoes are ravenous! Camp fairly crowded. VERY LITTLE ORGAMIZEP AT BATOCHE - MOST PEOPLE ARE PISAPPOIWTEP - EXPECTIWG FAR MORE THIS WEEKEMV. LESS TOMORROW, HEMCE OUR VEPARTURE EARLV SUMVAV. MAy 7 2 7 985 0775 R^se and.Sltine! Vail, cool. 0930 Loaded, ready to depart for Moose Jaw. r /? TtCMJICAL mit/idr* r I COI.ONKI. OTTER'S ISKKiAPK .Vl'I'HOAI'llINCi 1*11K SOI'TII SASKATCHEWAN ' r 65 IJ > I Z u Hi /a-^' - >^ -U. / MBit. I J..- yertr-ccK oTn A,, /^Wt, / ///<-"// r«Ci JaJV/ • £ •-A [' "rSji^-r "S'-VatafaVrt'WavJ • 66 DIARY OF A SOLDIER 67 In 1S85 as the Riel Rebellion broke out, Robert K. Allen was working as a civil servant in Winnipeg. He joined the 90th Battalion Ri-fles and took part in the battle of FISH CREEK and the final charge at BATOCHE. The diary he left behind gives us a rare glimpse o-f the life of the ordinary soldier. In later years Robert Allan resided in Ponoka, Alberta where he operated a hardware store. In 1920 he moved to Edmonton and resided there until his death in 1942 at the age of eighty. April 9, 1885 - Stopped at TOUCHWOOD HILLS and camped. Some Indians came in for a paw-wow. Major Boswell ordered us within our lines. Was allowed to go to see Indian pow-wow. Shook hands with an old chief. They got some provisions and left. April 11, 1885 - Marched about eighteen miles. In some places the mud was knee deep. April 12, 1885 - Dry country now. Prairie set afire by men lighting their pipes. Could be seen for miles. Not a tree in sight. No wood, so could not have tea. April 13, 1885 - Reached Humbolt at 5. My legs were never so stiff and sore in my life. When I lay down I could hardly move to get up again. April 17, 1835 - CLARK'S CROSSING. Still no trees. One of the captains wanted to make a fire last night, not feeling well, and had to pay a teamster $1.00 for a stick of wood. Everyone down on teamster. I believe we have marched 200 miles since leaving FORT QU'APPELLE, and 86 miles from PRINCE ALBERT. April 18, 1885 - There was a man had dinner with us from the Saskatchewan Temperance Colony (SASKATOON) by the name of Fred Kerr. He says Riel sent word down there to get ready to meet their God for he is going to come and clean them all out. SASKATOON is about 15 miles away and has about 40 houses. ..„„_, April 20, 1885 - I believe Crozier of the Mounted is to come down and meet us at BATOCHE CROSSING. .That isr-.wher-.e: we expect trouble. April 21, 1885 - Picket from No.1 Company fell" asleep last night. He was placed .under arrest. Telegraph-wire cut and about 100 feet taken away. April 22, 1885 - Up at 5 a.m., march at 6. We-will know the Mounted Police and the Prince Albert volunteers by. :signals. They will raise their hands to the top of their head three times, we shall signal back with right hand. 68 April 24, 1885 - Had a good bed in a haystck while off duty. Ran into some rebels and firing started immediately. Two wounded. Rebels took refuge in bush where it ws impossible to get at them. Brought cannon to bear which apparently did a great deal of damage. No dinner, just hardtack on field. Many wounded, at least two will not recover. April 25,1885 - FISH CREEK. Went through some of the rebel's houses. Sent word to my brother that I am all right after yesterday's skirmish. Buried our dead this afternoon. Some still on the field. All the breakfast we had was bannock and pork, the hardtack has run out. Walked over the field later to see the dead and wounded. The most horrible sight I have ever seen. Later we were marched out to bring in two more dead. The 90th man's tunic, sidearms and belt had been taken away, the A Battery man was undisturbed. General Middleton read the burial service for the nineth man to die. May 2, 1885 - The papers are in with the mail, and an account of the fight. The Sun and Free Press had a fair account of it, but the Times labelled it "A Defeat". Terrible uproar in camp, and the reporter, George Ham was afraid to show himself. May 3, 1885 - Nothing but slapjacks for breakfast and they weren't cooked properly. Nothing but dough. Had to cook them over again myself. May 5, 1885 - Just up when the steamer "Northcote" arrived with two barges in tow , bringing the Gatling gun and provisions. Volunteers asked to carry stones and erect crosses for our dead. I carried the stones. The "Northcote" is being made into a man-of-war. They are making her bullet proof by boarding up the sides with three ply wood, and putting matresses across the windows. On the march tomorrow to GABRIEL'S CROSSING. May 9. 1885 - Reached BATOCHE at 8.30 a.m. Set fire to a good many houses. A nice church here with a priest and two nuns. Our cannonis shelling the Indians down by the river, and making themn scramble up the bank. Went to the doctor to have my badly blistered heels treated. He told me not—to walk today, but I did. (The battle continued for three days. ) ijByv,. ) May 12, 1885 — ...we heard a cheer from the._Midlands who a. _ _ were advancing down the river. -The -had --rushed forward -....-.- across the graveyards to some rifle pits the-enemy had left. - We hear the enemy tricked them, as they fired from across- -'•- the river and two Midlands men rolled over.; We were told to stand to our arms, and in half an hour were called out.,... We joined the Grenadiers and all made a-grand charge ..through the enemies rifle pits, never stopping until BATOCHE was taken. Came through terrific fire but the boys were determined to go right through, and cheering, we went on. 69 The enemy did not leave their pits until we were right on them. These pits extend about two miles along the river bank. Frazer was shot through the head CAPTAIN FRENCH of the scouts was upstairs in a house and shot in the chest. May 19, 1885 - PRINCE ALBERT - Arrived here about 11. When we were about three miles from town we formed up, with our band in front of the Grenadiers bugle band. When we arrived the Mounted Police were formed up with their band to meet us. 200 police and 4 companies of volunteers. We were dismissed right away and made a bee line for the river. A tougher looking crowd would be hard to find, but the application of soap and water and the brushing of our uniforms made a great change. May 25, 1885 - Arrived at FORT CARLTON. We were allowed to go ashore and inspect the ruins, but it is late and dark, although we saw it pretty well from shore (The fort had been burned during the rebellion.) Slept in the engine room where I was roused at 3 to go on board the Baroness. Will have to sleep in the hold. The place is crowded; there is water and the air is foul. May 28, 1885 - They are asking for volunteers to stay here at BATTLEFORD after we leave. Had a swim in the river and did some washing. Went to the police camp. They do not fare as well as we in food. They tell us they came by way of FORT PITT and found some of their dead that had been mutilated, also a priest and a woman's body. All had been thrown in a slough. This was done by Big Bear's men. They have McLean and his daughters. He was the Hudson's Bay factor at FORT PITT. May 31,1885 - The General has taken the troops that have been with him all along - 90th, 10 Grenadiers, Midland battalions, C School and two Gatling guns. The Queen's Own were left behind to garrison Battleford. They are very put out, as they had only one company at the front and are very anxious to go. They would not give us a cheer, but remained in their tents while we marched. June 1, 1885 - On board the Marquisenroute to FORT PITT. We are crowded for sleeping room and I made my bed under the cook's house which is raised two and a half feet above the floor. Some slept with the horses. .-. The... .cook, has-been- making pies all day and selling them for twenty-five' cents each. he had about fifty when someone^stole the_whole lot. Have no sympathy for him. June 3, 1885 - A parade this morning with sidearms. The parade is to inspect our boots. If they are good enough we walk home, if they are not we go in the boats. The- boys put on the worst shoes that could be found, old rubbers,: overshoes, moccasins etc We go by boat to FORT PITT. June 13, 1885 — We were served bad pickled corn beef for two 70 days. The boys got mad today and had a funeral to bury it. Officer of the day tried to stop it but could not. June 16, 1885 — The steamer Baroness came up the river with parcels for the 90th and Grenadiers. There was a company of Midlands on board and they opened the boxes and stole the contents. There was a good deal of whiskey in the private boxes. June 22, 1885 — The Midlands came in but did not get a cheer on account of opening the boxes. I hear they are coming to clear us out tonight. The McLean family and all of Big Bear's prisioners came in last night at 3 a.m. Mrs. McLean is alive and all are well. The McLean girls had a pretty bad time of it, carrying packs and at times the little ones while they waded through water. The Indians travelled about ten miles a day. (Mr. and Mrs. McLean with their nine children were captured at FORT PITT and spent 70 days as prisoners. Mrs. McLean was pregnant but survived despite the hardships.) June 25,1885 - Steamer went up to Frog Lake to bring in Strange's men. Sports in the evening, horse racing, and wrestling bareback on horses. The McLean family attended. It seemed strange to see three or four females among so many men. June 27 — Reviewed this morning. There was a mistake in prsenting arms, but most of the men got through it very well. 92nd came in, and a very tough looking crowd they are. One man had a pair of drawers on for pants. No doubt they had a hard time of it. June 28 - Saw General Strange today and was surprised. He looks like a farmer that might be driving oxen. Wears a slouch hat and sash. July 2, 1885 - The "Baroness" came down the river this morning... Orders are that we go on the boats tomorrow. The General in his orders said that he had to thank the troops under him for bringing to a successful end what would probably be his last campaign. Our band serenaded the 65th this evening. After the concert there was a cook's parade. Each battalion got all the pots and pans, bugles, and anything that would make a noise. Hoisted .old barrels, boxes and pants up on poles and went to the different lines to make a racket. Our officers tried to keep the boys from joining, but didn't manage to keep them all back. July 7 1885 - Just passed Fort Carlton. Made Telegraph Coulee where there are two companies of Fusiliers guarding provisions. They leave for home tomorrow. - We took some provisions, lime juice and 300 pairs of pants,: but we will not be served with them until we get to Winnipeg. July 8, 1885 - On Marquis below PRINCE ALBERT. 71 mm Pciu««io i- me ontp TRINTIHO AND rt> nusnt.sa COMPAUT, or Tono.Nro, VOL I. No is TORONTO. SATURDAY. JULY I ITS. iSS.i. 10 CENTS !>*». Cory U AIX ANT ATTACK OS Hit! IIV.All* HANI' IIV A II AM'I'I I. lit fmr.-CTKIl WI.IOK I'NUKIl I VNWmil ••* '•' '' •---*---^fcv - \ •\;--Vr-.*v-.'*-. BATTLE OF CUT KNIFE CREEK A" BATTERY IN THE Tt>l!CI!W««»i» HIU3-STU0K IN A SKOW.BAJ.K 74 r^^^/fi^Z^- rat LaTt carr HIENCII rasvaiuxa os THRU OF KJIITE cirs WARRIORS IO sirRRr.iUER is~ ;-,-. m K^r^:'-l-.-."'..r.-;;--~'y'r^;,-r,.- >-v^:-::iav.'''''-':'*',',.'''>i*.'^'': • iln i-an-^-r.rT--*-Ttt*rrr. OAi-TURK OK WHITE OAI' ASD HIS IIANH IIY THF. nOVKNOaOESKKAI.-S BODV (lUAttD. rrrs IOOTINO or Tire OID TOWS or BITTLEFORD .S~ r-«. id --/wri js& -r /^-^.ti^H^aa 4-/W85 TUB HKLIKF OK UATTU;Kui:l> " 76 & /> «~- •• •••- -^ •'. ^v^«&5':i.'' •ZSgaW" r 5W... •S- #{*»»' -" ::•*.:»>«•<: ! ^-^^C^C^^V^-C^^.:^- SKETCHES KROJI UA'iTI.EE0l:l) AND VICIStTV. (1) Fori Oil". Il.tllrfnrd. (?) Thr Ifo>piu! T **** Although my grandfather did not serve under Major—General Middleton, he did serve under Colonel Wolsey in the Red River Expedition of 1871 which was also a peace keeping force related to the rebellion. — Elaine Rogerson, Calgary, Alberta **** My husband is related to Louis Riel through his mother's family. — Toni Allan, Calgary, Alberta **** Corporal Arthur Ralph Moody of the North West Mounted Police was present at the Battle of Batoche. His daughter, Mrs. Emily (Moody) Bibby, of Westlock, Alberta gave me the following facts: A. R. Moody was born in Birmingham, England in 1861 of a military family and fought in the Crimean War. He came to Manitoba and joined the North West Mounted Police in 1881 and was possibly a member of the detachment that was defeated at Duck Lake. He told his daughter that he talked to--two women Mho had- been kidnapped and released by Indians. He took Metis prisioners to Fort Battle-ford. He served under Sam Steele, and at the latters death, wrote his obituary. He married at nearly forty and died in 1938. ,-_»».. - -. •_-, •.-,- . .-• ...... — Katharine Farnham, Edmonton, Alberta .,.,.-. . **** There must be many descendents of ;.those, .who served at Batoche in this area, but I was able to trace but three. They are Mr. R.S. Smart of Port Hope and W.H. Barrowclough and P. Wi 1 1 iams-Arnoldi o-f Toronto. 78 — Charles D. Wallace, Port Hope, Ontario **** I have found a number of descendents in our area. Mr. John Galbraith of Oshawa is the grandson of Major General George Sterling Ryerson, medical doctor with the 10th Battalion Royal Grenadiers, Toronto under Lt. Col. Grassett. Dr. Ryerson attended Louis Riel just after he was captured. Mr. Ross McComb of Newcastle, Ontario is the grandson of Pvt. George McComb of the R.C.R., Wolsey Barracks, London, Ontario. Descendents of William M. Crawford, a wheel driver for one of the Winnipeg Field Battery guns under Major E. M. Jarvis are Mrs. Arthur Davidson of Downsview, Ontario; Mrs. Hugh Couch of Oshawa, Ontario; and Mrs. Sylvia Schultz of Whitby, Ontario. Mr. Lawrence McMurtry of Oshawa and Mrs. Dorothy Spry from Toronto are the son and daughter of Col. Sgt. T. Herbert McMurtry "C" Company, Midland Battalion. Mr. Arthur Kirkby of Oshawa is the great-grandson of Constable Moore, N.W.M.P. who was one of the escorts who took Louis Riel from Batoche to his trial in Regina. — Norah A. Herd, Archivist, Oshawa & District Historical Society. **** I have a great interest in your project as my grandfather, Dr. John Willoughby was one of the first settlers of Saskatoon, captured by Riel and the first witness called at his trial. His loving wife Helen was appalled when Regina raised a monument to Riel in the late '60s. She passed away in 1973 at 101 years of age but the memory of her and her descendents lives on. Many of the streets in Saskatoon are named after her children, Helen, Hillard - — Dianne El 1iott—Wi1loughby, Napean, Ontario **** ...... My wife's father served with the Midland Battalion at the Battle of Batoche and we are considering visiting- the.-area: thi s year. - . — A.J. Tilton, Willowdale, Ontario 79 **** I noted with interest the article which appeared in the "Citizen" a few weeks ago. My grandfather, the late Brig.-Gen. Charles F. Winter, fought in the Riel Rebellion. As a matter of fact, I have some typewritten notes of my grandfather's observations of the meeting between General Middleton and Chief Poundmaker in the latter part of May, 1985. — Patricia R. Winter, Ottawa, Ontario **** My grandfather, George Ryerson, was the medical officer with the Royal Grenadiers during the Rebellion of 1885. He personally sewed together and made the first Red Cross flag flown in Canada, during this occasion. — John D. Galbraith, Oshawa, Ontario **** My husband's great grandfather was David More who was with the Militia Guard for General Middleton. He was barn in Renfrewshire, Scotland in 1B84 and died at Beausejour, Manitoba in 1904. A fairly complete family history is available. — Mrs. Kathleen Spence, Redcliff, Alberta **** Two of my great-uncles fought in the Northwest Rebellion. William McMichael and Joseph Starr as well as distant cousins, Victor and Thomas Driver were those involved. It appears that Victor and Thomas were in the Morden Company as privates in the 91st Battalion of Winnipeg. — Margery A. Kapas, Surrey, B.C. **** Joseph Bateman, a second great-uncle sailed^for Canada^at --- age sixteen in 1860 with his brother James Bateroan: and; topk, :i ~ L. _:_!: part in the Riel Rebellion in 1885. He worked as a carpenter in Calgary after his-wife .died in childbirth..i n^; . Si •.. Ontario but in 1912 left to become one of the first•settlers in the Two Rivers district. _ --- ••— ••- ..,._.-,_,- — Allan Lock, Beaverlodge, Alberta- .-.;:..., ':—,-_. ;,.,: tttt My great-grandfather was Private James Alexander Barclay. He came from Glasgow, Scotland to Kingston, Ontario in 1881 80 and worked as a blacksmith before joining the forces. He was with No. 2 Company, York and Simcoe Provisional Battalion and worked as a farrier shoeing soldiers' horses. As a result of the his service he received a land grant at Qu'Appelle. In the early 1890's the family moved to Lethbridge. — June Cowie, Barons, Alberta **** I was born in Bellevue, Saskatchewan - 4 miles from Batoche. As a young boy I was fortunate in visiting, on several occasions the site of the rebellion, trenches, memorial burial sites etc. guided by my grandfather, Louis Philippe Chamberland, whom as a young man in 1885 was involved in the rebellion and at one time taken prisoner. — Real Topping, Lethbridge, Alberta **** My grandfather served in the rebellion in 1885 and I am trying to find out more about him. I have his picture in uniform and the Glenbow Museum thinks it may be the uniform of the Hussar Division but they are not sure. I do not know where he joined but I believe he was in the southern region of Ontario or Quebec at the time. — Kristy Cheesman, Turner Valley, Alberta **** My great-uncle, Alfred Smith was in "B" Division under Major Jarvis during the Rebellion. He did patrol duty between Wood End and Willow Creek under Inspector McGibbon. Later, he took up a homestead in Alameda, Saskatchewan and returned to Ontario in 1893. — Dorothy Reid, Stony Creek, Ontario **** My grandfather's eldest brother, Thomas Van Malder, was with the Ontario militia during Wolsey':s_;1870.expedition to Red River to put a stop to the first Riel Rebellion. **** ---** — Sandra Dobbie, Don Mills, North York, Ontario **** r?s* My great-great-uncle. Colonel A.T.H. Williams of. Port Hope,. Ontario was the man who (according to family tradition) was the "hero" of Batoche because he led the charge-against 81 Riel. There is a statue of Colonel Williams near the rivet- r in front of the old municipal building in Port Hope. — Jane McDowell, Oshawa, Ontario • **** According to oral family tradition my husband's paternal grandmother's second oldest brother, Richard "Dick" Brown was a "red-coat" in the Riel Rebellion. Since I found him as a 13 year old boy on the 1871 census, I suspect it was the rebellion of 18B5 I would be interested in learning more about his military career... and have so far been unable to learn where or when he died. — Jean Rhiness, Haileybury, Ontario **** A.H. Scouten was at the Battle of Batoche. One remark he made was that they were ordered to take a double ration of black tea so if they ran short of supplies, they could survive on strong tea. — Mrs. Robert Scouten,' Benito, Manitoba SniiVKNili NUMIIKU.] TIIK CANADIAN PICTORIAL * lI.I.USTKATK.n WAIt KKWJ5. «0 w ^^^^^mmf3iSS«S8H ! MUKI1KK OF THE Put KM IS AT Flux; LAKE 82 Sternwheelers plan June trip By DAVE MABEI.L Guide for the first recorded paddlewheel A new ship now in final stages of con Of The Herald trip from I-ethbridge to Batoche since the struction. Spirit of 85 will also taking part Colorful sternwheeler ships from Leth army-ordered one 100 years ago is Norm according to Dennis Wood, spokesman for bridge will be part of Riel Rebellion 100th Briscoe, who reached Batoche a few days its owners. As well, a smaller vessel they anniversary commemorations in Saska ago as part of the Riel Rebellion commem sailed last year as Custom Engine may toon and Batoche this summer. orative mail run from Lethbridge. He'll be make the trip under direction of its new Three paddle-propelled riverboats will able to guide the ships past the worst of the owners. be leaving here June 28, according to Gait sandbars and other barriers, Beauchemin Sternwheeler Society spokesman Ray expects, based on knowledge gained in the trip just completed in a small craft by a They'll be feted this year by citizens Beauchemin, with a fourth — and possibly along the looping riverway, including resi more — joining as well. crew led by Lethbridge historian Bruce Haig. dents of the Saskatchewan towns of Eston Taking advantage of the South Saskat and Beechy, both focus of historic celebra chewan River system's brief period of The annual high water peak of late June tions as well. And once they reach Saska high water, the shallow-draft vessels will toon, they'll be part of the madcap river r reach Saskatoon in advance of that city's and early July is the only time boats as large as the sternwheelers can make it race that draws thousands to Bessborough Riel Days voyageur races on July 7. Then Park on the day before annual Pioneer they'll continue downstream to take part down the South Saskatchewan, Beauche Days begin at the exhibition grounds. in events at Batoche marking the culrnina- min points out. tion of the 188S rebellion. He'll be at the helm of the largest, the After the ships lay over almost a week in Also paddling back to Batoche, Beau 33-foot-long Ruby Queen II, one of 11 boats Saskatoon, crews will cast off in time to chemin adds, will be canoe crews from as that sailed from here to Medicine Hat last reach Batoche on July 15, the start of cen far away as Winnipeg, travelling via Lake summer. Also back for another run, he tennial events at the scene of the Canadian Winnipeg, Grand Rapids and The Pas, says, will be the Stella Maris and possibly military's only recorded naval defeat on Man. the Katherine Stout. the prairies. E3 GALT r STERNWHEELERS' - SUMMER VOYAGE r The Stella Maris enjoying a warm day on Diefeuhaker Lake: r 83 fc Low water trouble for boat run S.ndbars have wreaked the Grimm Mauser in 1983. as a gift for Leth the bust of the Indian Medicine , J same sort of havoc with the Call The event had also been planned bridge Mayor Andy Anderson from Man Medicine Man to the crew of r>n\ Sternwheelers Society's run to Ba to commemorate the original Mayor Ted Grimm in recognition another sternwheeler that "got ft v toche as they did with the original North Western Coal and Naviga of that city's centennial year beached" near Taber. They had t steamboat service on the Oldman tion Company steamboats that car "I moved down there lo take up driven in to Medicine Hat lo re River and the South Saskatchewan ried coal from Lethbridge to Medi my vigil, to watch for their ap ceive the award on behalf of River in the early 1880s. cine Hal in IM3 and \IM, and the proach." Sauer said "I waited for Mayor Anderson, Kambeiti said. Of the four boats that were to role of the sternwheelers in ferry the longest lime I was there til ing soldiers and supplies to Ba The Fort MacLeod sailed arrive in Medicine Hat at 3:30 after 5" through Medicine Hat around 11:30 Monday afternoon oo their way to toche during the Riel Rebellion of IKS. Sauer said only two boats goi p.m., and another sternwheeler re f* Batoche, only two eventually made anywhere near the district One portedly made it through about six X it through the. said Terry- Kam- At 3:15 p.m. Aid. Ken Sauer sternwheeler. the Fort MacLeod, hours after that, she said .S beiti. secretary' of the Canada Day brought out his lawn chair and was stuck on a sandbar about IS Another three boats that left ;j> Committee. started wailing on the south shore kilometres west of Redcliff Lethbridge Saturday and were only- "^ The Calt Sternwheelers Society of the South Saskatchewan River "The other was having difficulty supposed lo go as far as Medicine "W had organized the boat trip in part just below Lions Park. Sauer was even further back than that " Hat apparently never reached the hoping tu give crew members a set 7 to celebrate Lethbridge': centen- Kambciti said at 8 30 p.m., dur city, Kambeiti said. KSnial. anr! with that in mind crew of Medicine Hat pins as weli as ing the street dance at Lions Park "One took four hours to get four r ^ members had hoped to present a present them with a bust of the In during which the band Wild Wood miles (6.t kilometres), so they just centennial plaque lo Mayor Ted dian Medicine Man, done by Jim entertained, city officials presented quit," she said. Sternwheelers r AT This point local newo reports scrape along cease. Caugh t in the worst drought in decades, the mystery remains. "Elliot Three of the Gait Sternwheelers Socie sident of the 6alt ty's riverboats are still headed toward Gait," pre Batoche, though not without interruptions Sternwheeler Society reported they had in their voyage caused by shallow spots problems but did not elaborate. When and sandbars in the South Saskatchewan asked what the Gait Sternwheeler River. Challenge, fr om Lethbridge to Medicine Ray Beauchemin, trip coordinator and Hat will inv olve in -five years time, he captain of the Rubie Queen II, said the ly runs o-f 30 or 40 boats. Catherine Stout left Eston at 7 this morn predicted year ing and is on her way to Saskatchewan Landing. "We have come to a turning point. "The Stella Maris will meet us at This year was particularly bad with the Elbow, Sask.," Beauchemin said from drought. The -first three years saw Saskatchewan Landing. "They're going to truck it there." larger and larger boats but I ' see a As for the Rubie Queen II itself, Beau trend towards smallness - a boat that chemin said, "We iost our hull (near will go no.matter how low the flow.". Redcliff), and we're on our sub-hull now." The original sternwheelers were He explained that he had built the hull developed over a 50 year period for-the to have two sheet-metal layers separated by styrofoam. low water conditions of the Upper Beauchemin said residents of Eston Missouri .,,River. Ffpr.: the :next 100 years held a welcoming party for boat crew the craft spread around the world. The members Wednesday night, and fed them old boats -have • -largely- died out, but- a hearty breakfast this morning at 5. hope-fully, their spirit will remain, as The Spirit of '85 dropped out between participants attempt to preserve their Bow Island and Medicine Hat, having suffered too much damage to the centre hi story in "'the annual '.GALf.^STERNWHEELER. beam down the keel. CHALLENGE....;";?.:" ~ ' "The South Saskatchewan River be tween Bow Island and Diefenbaker Lake doesn't even offer lubrication, it'v so shallow," Beacherain observed, "it's nothing but sandbars and rocks." r 84 r RIEL UNDER GUARD LOUIS RIF.L TAKING HIS DAILY CONSTITUTIONAL AT ItEOINA THE 85 SOLDIERS RETURN HOME S «»««.«vf ' uxcmon OITEJI Ttt oof.flcur'ii »DI ODHD. cDttus*' a » i*7Tii nu«iiH'w *t TWitm npviuf in.T.jv* r fSE ®MMM:WM$ PfGfG&iAL 86 h""°" •' T1" "Rn" PBBmsro AND ronustiiso ooarpa.Tr, or TORONTO. VOL. I. No. 17. TORONTO. SATURDAY, JULY 25Tn, 1885. 16 CENTS PER COPT. UKCKITION W Tll-K VOKK AND SIMCOK PROVISION A I. ItATTAl.ION AT RARRIK - «UK: cltlll::" RECEPTION OK TUK7TU BAtT. KUSII.KKILS, Al MlNDUN. ON'T r... *•«<«" /.--»-J •,. ~-t-.; ••. -»». r ..." ;tl Uirtimooii Street, looking touib 11) Tli, Oreo; Hoc* (3) On.cr ul llun-Iaa and Ui;hmoud Sum* CaJ.,1..; .->lr>.-- (5) Iaiwia Arcfc ('.) 11m Drill Sl.t.i 88 i«W Wiri'tMaaTifl r fiHHSJ , TYPICAL SPECIMENS WHI- ' Till-111K: ItKOKI'l'IOLKCKI'TluN DKIJUKATIUNHK<;0UATIuN&a ll) The Gtabt building. 26 is 28 King Si. East, Toronto (*-') Pteiui*;* ,.f M.-^.-,. A II Iii.\,.:> is Son. 3DS KIMS SI u'-*- "tV»*!«t.j sttj "llwl- qimrtit. " of Mr. It. McOonncll. wholesale ikalcr in cuan tic., *U is la Kiutj Si i-'-.-i. Turu (t) I'uMniiui" uilkvuf il..- S.i> ;J Uruliam 1: C>..). St. Ja-'uc. St. Montreal. (S) Tho VictoriaTea WUICIIUUK. S3 KingSt. East. Torunlu. [OjlkuJ ollko «l Mi~r«. ElUa P-o«er« L Co. Coal «n-l Wood Merchant*. 22 King St WwV aURCB Of THE trrn BATT. RIFLES, " VOLTIGEURS DE QUEBEC." UP YONCE STREET. ON SUNDAY EVENING, JULY IS. !>«.• sx*t<* lr«,/.,«, AH>*tt. ' -' '. ' I V" ..'. I .. THE MIDLAND BATTALION LEAVING THE UNION STATION. TORONTO. TO ACCE1T THE HOSPITALITY OF THE (TTV. 1 I I RECEPTION OF THE 12TH BATT, YORK RANQERS. AT PARKDALE. I MARCH OK TUB HALIFAX PROVISIONAL BATTALION TO LUNCH AT THE ALlilON HOTKL. TORONTO. /V— . S4a«** If -« ./— ,«-. JrtaW. :-:>*--. r W mm J -^a^SSk, Jim, v.- : ~^gg&§8 THE CITIZENS' ARCH. MAIN STREET. OPPOSITE THE CITY HALL. ** -.4 v if * • jjl I 5sFs£^Jr3t^*W-U par" THE GALLANT NINETIETH MARCHING ALONG MAIN STI'.e THE RECEPTION AT WINNIPFG 92 GRAND MD*- '"NSTItATlON IN MONTREAL JULY 2iir. (U Seme on Plate} \hlUfi put (I) Tht PjKUCbllle Uujilny Oil Mount Royal, OBSEQUIES' OF TEE LATE LT.-COL. A. T:H. WILLIAUB, MJ>. (1) Arriral ot the remeloi at Owen Socnd—from a photograph by XL-. Wn- -a' waiting-room of the CP.R. railway lUtion at Owen Soand—from a aietoh. (3) Tho funeral proceiaioo peaiin; 'to the com alary—from a photograph by |1L-. Ed Hamly. f*) Portrait of tho deceeaed oflioor, by Top ibuto from the l»diea of Port Hope," . prepared by it r. J , . 94 |iIJIi;,\|)K ITNI'.l.'Al.S ill MM i ItOYAI. G 1; UNA III I'M* (il Fianl TriliuK ifettMrafcnl l« !'.,..„ (Si K* ihrHnwe t»l TV P..-j»i i:,.-,„.l,. - l-U.., .«•.- lliri. I.:' (Mien, ill Tlw !.-.t- u. }f*irat..FlMeul RECEPTION OF TICK GSrir I1ATT.. MOUNT ROYAL RIFLES. AT MONTREJU- [1) Tho nuuxh through Notre D«.rne Street (2> Tlie »cctw ia St J-now Street, i<»Vin;; KOMI. THE €m$MMM& aPlCfORIAL 96 Poatauaa at Tmt ORIP PRINTING AND PUDUBHTNO COHPAifT, 07 TORONTO. Vou I. No. 16. TORONTO, SATURDAY, AUGUST 1ST, 1885. 15 CENTS PZR Copy. \ RECEPTION OF THE SHARPSHOOTERS OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S FOOT GUARDS ON THETR RETTTXS TO OTTAWA. STTIPIPLEII^IEIISr'T- HONOUR ROLL 97 or THE OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN COMPOSING TIIK NORTH-WEST FIELD FORCE wnicasurpKESs^D THE RF.nrrrxio.v OFIP- RtTtfit.SCrz:—Killed in ft**.ion * tirled in kctioa t Deserted : Tpr. T Conn)*/ Tp'. W. r.lto. T.U.S J. U. Cr»p*r CHI. W.W.U Pi*. P. A. He ,»-Md lUlf T. II.Mv D. »l II *.-L I". V.ll^g.tla. •*. II. thkkftCfcei P... .1 11.11 n». c, v.i lie. J. ». Ctfiiera lie. I). .Imith . IU. A. Clen-Uaolr.. lit T. Ii*#d «. L.t-i IL uliWe HIIBaaai <:••.•.> r. j. S....IK, C|-L IL V>ll.* N. lK Ptft. A. iMupbu.ar Pt*. ClUon "a" ooirr.tr, ntu l*U W. Tl.ur.l ;1r. II Po-cll •*r" CbbtPaKfl. » . J i.. J. Trr. W. Ela-ii l*W. W. J. IWnd J. M.nit!-•'*• T. Uels-'IC* J. H.IJK.W Swlli.u ritta Tl.-r.lva. J. It ILJU-. A. «It soft c Metianwe it. Bluff Mil Kr'Ii U. LVJ.I) W. K«kb COL La tier P. U.tliain Sh-IJ wU. Jl.t'.....- W. C.nl»Hr IA ll-l— HOKTH-'WEST 3vnoxj_isra?Er) POLICE. HKAD(iUARTKI.3. UKfilXA. -;.,,.-{ «I *">!•** JUurt—Caoan. J- a Irrlaa; Carl**, a C.ir- ,. T. J. 0.U-.-, P. O. CrlUdV. ft J. Ilrart*/, R.B. Jaa**, W. A. J*ek-^.., IL Jacks*".. 5lk(.'*.*4«l Ci'ift'/.—I ii* p. T. Oo-lln-; lloap. S. Sgp> L.^- f, Craftbr: Issshav J. ll-».t.0.B. U-fl.it, Cr.***, J. Oulhne. U. Onll.rb, It S. (.:.«!---i. W. 11. J .-.^-.. IV. U. K^-l ll I. .t. . IL UBsfts, I'. II. T. P«n-. ; Coua J. Kenn;, E. IL Pu.-L«. O. a*B<*, M II •' ?••'." I "••'. ''• IL r..-J.'i. 1*. L-.i i'r -,~K ; CU|*i, P. Oaod*lA, W. T. HUbbaa*. W, r, K- 11 »!••«. larill*. II. UWIb. J. A I-.-.., T. ..-•.... II. II. C P. ;-.;---.i. W. U. Siration. C *L SaSref. -v\ *• Brallh-UU. J. A. Urt-.U-ftt, P. IL llMKsrrUitoN. 11/. n -,-.. j,... Il.ae*. J. H ••.-- H.nlit. U.U.-Uurch/, J. U.l-Kall. J. u-.-Ui». tv, 5Wi..rJ.l r...-" C„,, -...',; K, Uuorft; Coa. B-lrbLC H.*"•»--•*. C. Loaua-.be. C. kL ^aWa. W. bft»h. J. C ll*rt*tft**.P. llf la*. 0. K. 11*11. R. Hcth. WeNs-r, W. .V HISTORIC TRAILS SOCIETY OF ALBERTA 100 years after the Northwest (Riel) Rebellion we are attempting to 1115-8th AVE. S. record the n.in.es of th?-living descendants of participants. If you LETHBRIDGE. -ALBERTA can help, please contact us. CANADA til 1P7 • Sashal cBawa n Landing I MEDICINE HAT e . "t^*^r|c xrr"' *"-fflty a* *•*—•*i Proja ^•J0! • % On July 2, 1883, Sir Alexander Gait, a Father of Confederation Since the original sternwheelers were never able to master the and founder of Lethbridge, launched the first of three Gait mine changing water conditions, they appeared to be doomed to the scrap sternwheelers on the Old Man River. The boat was carrying a load heap. When the Northwest Rebellion broke out in 1885 the three boats of coal on its way to the new Canadian Pacific Railway head at - the Baroness, Alberta and Minnow were taken over by the Medicine Hat. The river had never been kind to boats and low water government and used to carry men and supplies down the South conditions were said to provide "lubrication rather than flotation." Saskatchewan to the centre of activity, Batoche. It wasn't really surprising that by 1885 the boats had been abandoned On April 28,1985 a fleet of modern day sternwheelers will leave in favour of a narrow-gauge railway. for Batoche. This letter will be part of the cargo and will be stamped One hundred years after the first launching, nine modern at that spot 100 years after the battle • a fitting tribute to a major sternwheelers left the old mine site. Three managed to retrace the event in Canadian History. complete route. This event has now grown into the annual Gait Sternwheeler Challenge, held on Canada Day Weekend.