nus- C-0-i^JtJL^e^jC

THE SELKIRK SETTLEMENT

AND THE SETTLERS.

ACONCISK HISTORY OF THE RED RIVER COUNTRY

FROM ITS DISCOVEEY,

Including Information Extracted from Original Documents Lately Discovered and Notes obtained from

SELKIRK SETTLEMENT COLONISTS.

By CHARLES N, BELL, F.R.G-.S.,

Honorary Corresponding Member of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Hamilton Association, Chicago Academy ot Science, Buffalo Historical Society, Historian of Wolseley's Expeditionary Force Association, etc., etc.

Author ot "Our Northern Waters," "Navigation of Hudson's Bay and Strait," "Some Historical Names and - Places ot Northwest Canada,' "Red River Settlement History,"" Mound-builders in Manitoba." "Prehistoric Remains in the Canadian Northwest," "With the Half-breed Buffalo Hunters," etc., etc.

Winnipeg :

PRINTED Vf THE OFFICE 01 "THE COMHERCIA] ," J klftES ST. BAST. issT. The EDITH and LORNE PIERCE COLLECTION of CANADIANA

Queen's University at Kingston

c (Purchased primj^arm Pkra Qplkctiaru at Quun's unwersii/ oKmc J GfakOurwtt 5^lira cImst- >• T« Selkirk Settlement and the Settlers."

By CHARLES X. BELL, F.R.G.S.

II [STORY OF II B Ti: IDE. Red River settlement, and stood at the north end of the Slough at what is now About 17.'>Red River valley. After 1770 such a place in the fall of 1815, when the English merchants and traders of arriving in this country. He states the Montreal sent fur traders, with assortments that it was an old post of called of goods, into the country west of Lake Hudson's Bay Company, and had been Ft. William. The chimneys still stood, in Superior, but it was not until the year 1 7! Hi that they, with the Hudson's Bay Co., a ruined condition, in 1815. Both the rival established permanent posts on the Red and fur companies also had trading posts at the west Assiniboine rivers. It is not clear, from Netley Creek, below Selkirk, on the available records, why the trade of side of the Red River. these districts was neglected, but it was A third fur company, called the presumably because the North Saskatch- X Y Company, numbering amongst ewan and Athabasca rivers afforded a suffi- its partners Sir Alexander Mackenzie and ciently extensive field for the force of ad- Edward Ellice, competed in the fur trade venturers engaged in the fur trade. Cer- on the Red and Assiniboine rivers, between tainly from the year 1796, both the Hudson's 1800 (perhaps a year or two before) and Bay Co. and the Northwest Co. had several 1804, when an amalgamation took place be- regularly supplied posts on the Red and tween it and the Northwest Co. Assiniboine rivers, though some of them In 1804 a large number of "freemen," or were abandoned from time to time, and re- discharged employees of the different fur- built in the immediate neighborhood, as was companies, found their way to the vicinity the case at Pembina and the mouth of the of the trading-posts on the Red and Assini- Souris. For instance, at Pembina in 1796 boine rivers, a small settlement also Peter Grant erected a fort on the east bank being made by them on the Pembina of the Red river directly opposite the river, at the place where it issues from the mouth of the Pembina river. In 1798 the Pembina mountains, then called the Hair post was on the south bank of the Pembina Hills. These freemen were nearly all of at its confluence with the Red and was French extraction, being cither Canadians under the charge of Charles Chabollier. or the issue of French-Canadian fathers and Again in 1801 Alexander Henry built a fort Indian women. It has been claimed that on the north side of the Pembina, a few the first white woman who arrived in the hundred yards from the deserted post on Red River country was a French-Canadian, the south side. These were all forts of the Madame Lajimoniere, who came to the Northwest Co. Northwest from Three Rivers, Quebec, in On Sept. 28th, 1803, Alexander Henry 1806. I have found in the unpublished left an assortment of trading goods with journal of Alexander Henry, an officer of another officer of the Northwest Company the Northwest Company, a record of the at the Forks, which place was situated at fact that in 1807 an Orkney uirl, disguised the point between the Red River and the as a boy, who had followed her lover out Assiniboine, on the north side of the latter. from the Orkney Islands, gave birth to a The next spring a large return of fur was child at Pembina. But Henry speaks of shipped from this post to Fort William, on the wives of some of the Northwest Com- Lake Superior. It was not until 1806 that pany's officers residing at the posts on the a fort of any considerable size was erected Red river from 1800 to 1806 in such terms at the Forks, when at that date the North- that it implies that they were not of Indian west Company built Fort Gibraltar, which blood, so that investigation may yet show was in after years the centre of very great that white women were here prior to the interest to the Selkirk settlers. above-mentioned two. The Hudson's Bay Company claim that After the establishment of Fort (Gibraltar they had a trading post on the Red River in 1806, it would appear, from the slight as early as 1796, and there is every reason amount of data available, that quite a num- to conclude that such a fort was in existence ber of French-Canadians and Metis settled at a very earlv date in the history of the on the Red river and erected dwellings, 1 111. Selkirk Settlement and the Skttlers. where their families resided during the win- became anxious that their faces should be ters and when the men were absent in the turned to some colony of the empire. On service of the Northwest Company. I ean May "24th, 1799, on the death of his father, find DOthicg regarding the operations of he succeeded to the earldom of Selkirk, his the Hudson's Bay Compauy for some six brothers having died before that date, years after 1808, but it is likely that the last in 1797, when he took the title of they continued to trade on the two rivers as Lord Daer and Shortcleugh. they, like the Northwest company, had From the time Selkirk visited the High- posts on both streams when the Selkirk lands to 1802 he was striving to carry out colonists arrived in 1812. some scheme which would bring relief to This leads us up to the date when matters the peasantry there. After much corres- in England were shaping themselves tend- pondence with the British government re- ing to the formation of a colony on the garding the coloni/.imj of a large tract of banks of the far-distant Red river, which land in the island of St. John, since named afterwards resulted in a vast amount of Prince Edward Island, he succeeded in a trouble and considerable bloodshed before practical manner in carrying out his pro- the colonists were allowed to settle down ject. In August, 1803, 800 selected emi- quietly to agricultural pursuits and in grants were landed at the colony, where, permanent abodes. though meeting with very many

LORD SELKIRK. difficulties, they eventually suc- Thomas Douglas, fifth Earl of Selkirk, ceeded beyond their most sanguine Baron Daer and Shortcleugh in the Scotch expectations, their descendants to-day num- peerage (1771-1820), was the seventh and bering many thousands of the population of youngest son of Dunbar (Hamilton) Douglas, the island. the fourth earl. Born at the family seat in Lord Selkirk, after personally superin- Kirkcudbrightshire, on the 20th June, 1771, tending the placing of the colony, (which he was educated at Edinburgh university, he revisited the following year) undertook associating there with Sir Walter Scott, an extended tour through the United States who in future years was a firm and stead- and Canada. Letters are on fyle in the fast fiiend. Archives Department at Ottawa which show As early as 1792 Selkirk interested him- that he was endeavoring to establish self in the state of the Highland peasantry, settlements in Upper Canada as far west who were frequently evicted from their as the Sault St. Marie. In 1803 he homes and forced to emigrate. He proposed to the Government of Upper found, during a lengthened journey amongst Canada to construct a wagon road these people, that the country was fast be- from his colony of Baldoon, in Kent county, coming pastoral, and the conviction was to Toronto, at a cost of over £40,000, if the forced upon him, that emigration was the government would give him a grant of cer- only hope left to the Highlanders, and with tain crown lands at points along the road; the true instincts of a British subject, he but the government would not a^ree with The Selkirk Settlement \m> the Settlers him as to valuation of the lands, and the written and published by John Halkett, a project fell through. Selkirk wrote a Dum- relative of Selkirk, is given a very differ ber of works on "The necessity of a more ent version of this decision by these same effective system of national defence,* 1 '\Par legal authorities, and nmeh mon favorable liamentary Reform/ 1 etc. The first-named to the Hudson's Bay Co. The former seems ran through two, and the last through three to he the most authentic. These ominous editions. held that the company could exclude all persona from residing on the lands SELKIRK TURNS His ATTENTION To THE granted to them, and not already settled RED RIVER. there. But they were of opinion that the During Selkirk "s visit to Montreal he company could not dispossess the Canadians had heen received and entertained by of the posts already occupied by them when the resident partners of the Northwest they had been '20 years in quiet possession. Pur Co., who took every opportunity of They could not prevent people from using paying him attention. They afforded him the navigation of Hudson's Bay or the navig- a very full insight into the management of able rivers, or where they have been accus- their fur trade. It was written in 1817, by tomed to pass for the purpose of transport- Edward Blliee (who, then a partner of the ing themselves and their merchandise, nor Northwest Co., afterwards became a di- to prevent travellers from using wood and rector of the Hudson's Bay Co.) that Sel- water, or pitching their tents. The com- kirk's enquiries were more extended than pany could not maintain aright to an exclu- was usual in the case of foreign visitors, sive trade. They had certain powers to act but that they little expected that their con- in administering justice. fidential communications to a person ex- These opinions were given by Samuel pressing his admiration at the result of Romilly, G. S. Holroyd, W. M. Cruise, J. their exertions, and his sincere friendship Scarlett and John Bell, but on the other and thankful acknowledgments to them- hand the persons interested in the North- selves, should have awakened the west Company received opinions more spirit of self-interest, which subsequently favorable to them from equally eminent became so apparent, and still less did they authorities. suppose they were placing means in the Having extended his purchases of Hud- hands of a commercial rival, to be applied son's Bay Company stock to the amount of first in opposition to their trade, and after nearly £40,000 (the whole amount at that the failure of that experiment in an at- time being about € 100,000) he at once tempt to effect the ruin of their establish- asserted his controlling influence and re- ment. placed several members of the committee Lord Selkirk went to England and began by his relatives and friends. The general to arrange for the carrying out of a grand conduction of the affairs of the company project which would give him a control of immediately improved, but it was not for the management of the Hudson's Bay Com- some time apparent what was the final ob- pany. Ellice states that Selkirk ject of his lordship. In May, 1811, a gen- communicated his ideas to a gentle- eral meeting of the shareholders was called man "long interested in the Northwest and those in attendance were informed that Company, and to whom the public are the Governor and committee considered it indebted for a description of the country beneficial to their general interests to grant and of his own voyage and discoveries." to Lord Selkirk, in fee simple, about 110,- This was most probably Sir Alexander 000 square miles of territory in the Red Mackenzie, the discoverer of the Macken- River valley, on condition that he should zie River. This gentleman went into the establish a colony on the grant, and furnish, scheme without any definite object further on certain terms, from among the settlers, than a re-sale of the acquired stock at an such laborers as were required by the com- enhanced price, when their management of pany in their trade. Several shareholders the company's affairs had resulted favor- present (it is asserted by Ellice that ill of ably. Owing to bad management the stock them) protested against this grantto Selkirk, of the Hudson's Bay Co. had fallen from though it is significant that not less than '250 per cent to between 50 and 60; and no two of the dissentients were men who were dividend had been paid for years. Large avowed agents of the Northwest Company, blocks of stock were purchased, but owing and Mr. Halkett writes that two of these to disagreement the two associates parted persons had purchased their stock only and Selkirk retained the bulk at least of forty-eight hours before the meeting, their the acquired stock, if he did not hold it object being to embarass the Hudson's all. Lord Selkirk immediately obtained Bay Company so that the Northwest opinions from some of the highest legal Company would gain an advantage. authorities in England as to the powers pos- The boundaries of the district granted to sessed by the Hudson's Bay Co. under their Lork Selkirk under these circumstances charter of 1670. A full statement of these were as follows: opinions is contained in the reports on the "Beginning at the western shores of Lake Ontario boundary question to the Canadian Winnipeg at a point on 52' 50' north lati- House of Commons in 1880. In a book tude, and thence running west to Lake "

The Selkirk Settlement and the Settlers.

Winnipegoosis, otherwise called Little his longcherished and difficult undertaking of Winnipeg; thence in a southerly direction transporting, to the banks of the Red river, through said lake, so as to strike its west- a large number of men, women and children. ern shore in latitude 52 ; thence due west The magnitude of the operation would have to the place where the parallel 52° inter- appalled any less resolute person than sects the M'estern branch of the Red river, Selkirk, but he had experience in emigra- otherwise called the Assiniboine river; tion, and was provided with means to carry thence due south from that point of inter- on such a formidable undertaking. section to the heights of land which separ- His lordship then issued an advertise ate the waters running into the Hudson's ment or prospectus which would, Bay from those of the Missouri and Missis- in this age of land advertisements, serve as sippi rivers; thence Li an easterly direction a model. It describes the quantity and along the height of land to the sources of cheapness of the lands, and points out that the River Winnipeg, meaning by such last- if handled by what is in modern days named river the principal branch of the termed a "syndicate," they would bring waters which unite in the Lake Saginagas; hundreds of thousands of pounds by retail- thence along the main stream of those ing in small lots, at an advance price, to waters, and the middle of the several actual settlers, but owing to its remoteness lakes through which they flow, to the the whole tract is offered for the lump sum mouth of the River Winnipeg, and thence of £10,000. The titl* is stated to be unex- in a northerly direction through the middle ceptionable, but the situation such that im- of Lake Winnipeg to the p^ce of begin- mediate settlement must not be looked for, ning, which territory is called Assiniboia. and that reason is given wjiy the price de- Certainly this was an extensive and val- manded is so low. It is proposed, as an uable free gift, which cost the company, alternative, to form a joint stock company, twenty-five years later, some £25,000 to re- with a capital stock of £20,000, which will gain possession of. It must, however, be sell land to actual settlers at reasonable fig- borne in mind that an enormous outlay of ures. No Americans are to be accepted as money was necessary before the land would be settlers, but special inducements are offered of any direct value, though the idea appears to people from the highland of Scotland, to have been entertained by Lord Selkirk and some parts of Ireland, so that they will that he could sell the lands in England for a not be lost to the Empire by emigration. lump sum. This is indicated in the terms Religion is not made the ground of disquali- of the prospectus which he prepared, and to fication, an unreserved participation in some extent circulated, though the asser- every privilege is to be enjoyed by Pro- tion has been made that it was not intended testants and Catholics without distinction, for general circulation, but was composed and it is proposed that in every parochial only for the edification and information of division an allotment of land shall be some friends. made for the perpetual support The shareholders who were opposed to of a clergyman of that persuasion which the the grant, in their protest took strong ex- majority of the inhabitants adhere to. The ception in detail, on the following general joint stock company must undertake to pro- grounds: There was no adequate consider- vide settlers with passage to the colony at ation stipulated for between the company moderate rates, £10 being mentioned as an and the earl. The land granted comprised estimate. Time accomodation is to be 70,000 superficial miles, containing about allowed to settlers who would likely be 44,000,000 acres of the most valuable arable asked ten shillings per acre for the land, or land, and constituted no inconsiderable a rental of one shilling per annum in per- portion of the company's capital stock. petuity. The cultivation of hemp will be That if it was necessary to sell the encouraged as well as the growth of fine land it should have been advertised. wool, the plains affording a fine grass for That the Earl was not sufficiently bound to pasturage, possessed, in a natural state, by settle the grant and that it would be diffi- no other part of British America. The cult to people "a region 2,000 miles from fleeces f om ten or twelve sheep will pay any seaport, and out of reach of all those for the rent of 100 acres. After ten or aids and comforts which are derived from twelve years the returns to the shareholders civil society." That no reason could be may be expected to increase rapidly. "The seen for the grant but the endowing of amount to which the profits may ultimately Lord Selkirk's posterity with an immensely arise seems almost to baffle imagination up- valuable landed estate. That private on any principle of calculation which can traffic would ensue between the Indians and reasonably be adopted." the settlers, to the injury of the company's Agents were sent to Ireland and the interests, and the settlement would become Highlands of Scotland to engage a number an asylum for deserters from the traders. of servants, some for the Hudson's Bay This protest was signed on the 30th May, Company's service, and others to labor in 1811, by Wm. Thwaits, Robert Whitehead, the colony; these were engaged for a term John Inglis, John Fish, Edward Ellice and of three years and to be sent ahead of the Alex. Mackenzie, but nothing resulted from settlers to prepare for their reception. it, and Lord Selkirk proceeded to carry out They were each to receive, at the expiration The Selkirk Settlement and the Settlers.

of their contracts, 100 acres of liunHree of Arctic Ocean, erected a fort at Sturgeon cost. Lake, an expansion of the Saskatchewan, The Hudson's Bay Company appointed where ever since the company has main- Mr. Miles tftacdonnell, formerly captain in tained an establishment. When the Mon- the British army, to be governor of the treal traders shortly after this time visited district of Assiniboia, at some point in the Red and Assiniboine rivers, they found which the Bettlement was to be formed, and many French half-breeds, who claimed that Lord Selkirk also nominated that gentleman the country belonged to them as successors to direct the settlers and look after their of their Indian mothers. The traders were and his interests. compelled to pay tribute before they were In the summer of 1811 the party, number- allowed to barter. In 1781 some traders at ing about 90 persons, of both sexes and all Portage la Prairie, while preparing their ages, gathered from Ireland and the north wintering houses, were attacked by the 01 Scotland, were waiting at Stornoway, in Crees and Assiniboines, but with the loss of the Island of Lewis, ready for embarkation three men they drove off the Indians, kill- on the ships of the Hudson's Bay Company, ing fifteen warriors and wounding many which were sent annually to the posts on others. The post was hastily abandoned. the shores of Hudson's bay. The year before the Indians, during a drunken squabble with the traders, as- THE NORTHWEST COMPANY. sembled at the Ka^le Hills, on the Sas- After the conquest of Canada, in 1761, katchewan, had forced the whites to fly, the fur countries to the west of Lake after several on both sides had been killed. Superior attracted the attention of Montreal The smallpox appeared in 1781 amongst the merchants, and traders, in a few years, Indians all over the Northwest, and began to penetrate into the almost unknown thousands of the natives perished during wilds of the western forests, prairies and that and the succeeding year, completely lakes. From the days of the intrepid pio- ruining the fur trade, and though they had neer La Verandrye, the fur trade had been been reduced to two parties the traders suf- '•farmed out" by the French authorities, fered great loss. In 1778 a trader named but with the departed rule vanished the re- Peter Pond represented a joint stock com- strictions to the fur trade. Many of the pany and traded in the Athabasca country voyageurs and employees of the persons with such success that he could find trans- trading in the interior under the French port to Lake Superior for only one-half of licenses, remained on the plains of the Red his furs the following spring, but relying and Saskatchewan rivers, in the districts on the honesty of the natives he left the where the trading posts had been situated, balance stored in his wintering house, having become so accustomed to the wild where, on his return the next season, he savage life, and attached to the Indian found them intact. His success led, in women with whom they lived, that they 1783-4, to the formation of the original preferred to adopt the customs and pursuits Northwest Company, the merchants in- of the Indians to returningtotheirold homes etrested dividing the stock into sixteen on the St. Lawrence. McKenzie informs shares. Some traders, not satisfied with us that for some years after the conquest their allotment, formed another company, the Indians west of Lake Superior were in which was interested Alexander Macken- compelled to go down to the posts of the zie. These two interests competed for the Hudson's Bay Co. at the Bay to obtain trade, and rivalry led to such hostile con- their supplies of manufactured goods, the duct that the result was murder and vio- trade from Canada being suspended. It lence, which terminated in the union was not until 1766 that the first trader, un- of the companies in July, 1787. der the new order of affairs, arrived at the The gross venture in 1788 amounted Kaministiquia river. The next year Thomas to £40,000, covered by 22 shares. Curry pushed into the interior, with four In 1798, a new arrangement was entered canoes laden with goods intended for the into, the number of shares being increased Indian trade, and managed to reach the to 42, but some of the old partners were Saskatchewan, from whence he returned dissatisfied and formed a new company the following spring with a large quantity called the X V, of which Sir Alexander of fine furs. Within a few years a number McKenzie and Edward Ellice were the chief of traders were competing for the furs se- members. The rivalry between these cured by the Indians of the Saskatchewan companies, from 1798 to 1804, was very and Athabasca, which trade had, for some, great, especially on the Red and Assiniboine years previously, been carried to York rivers, but in the latter year an amalgama- Factory on the Hudson Bay. The Hudson's tion was effected. Alexander Henry, in Bay Co. were compelled to take action, and his unpublished journal, on the 1st January, for the first time since their arrival in the ISOo, writes at Pembina, where he was the Bay, in 1670. after securing their charter, resident agent of the Northwest company, they established a post in the interior. "It was high time for amalgamation, as On their account in 1774, Samuel every Indian on the river was a chief, and Hearne, who afterward explored goods were given gratis, except silver north from Churchill to the works, strouds, and blankets. All the "

The Selkirk Settlement and the Settlers.

Indians wore scarlet coats and had large the fort, and the amuse ments were partici- kegs and flasks." pated in by the united population. To give A manuscript inventory of the Northwest some idea of the number of persons housed Company, now in the archives of the Man- within the walls of such a fort as I have itoba Historical Society, shows that the described I extract from Henry's journal company had for principal posts, in the that at the White Mud River House, on the year 1798, throughout the country west of North Saskatchewan, in 1810, the North- Lake Superior, the following situations: west Company had 28 men, 35 women and Grand Portage (Lake Superior), Fort 72 children, 135 in all, while their neigh- Charlotte (9 miles west of Grand Portage) bors of the Hudson's Bay Company number- Pembina River, Rainy Lake, English River, ed 85 souls. It is interesting to note that Upper Fort Des Prairies, Fort St. Louis, amongst the above-mentioned Northwest Cumberland House (the three last on the people were to be found the names of Le Saskatchewan), Fort Dauphin, Swan River, Pierrie, Cardinalle, Succier, Dumont, Des Athabasca, Churchill River, Red River, Noyer, Nadeau, Deschamps and Parenteau. Lake "W innipeg, Slave Lake, and several I believe all these names are to be found posts in what is now Minnesota. The total amongst the French Metis of to-day. amount of the inventories amounted to When Lord Selkirk began to arrange for £44,819. the planting of a settlement on the banks It is to be noticed that the Assiniboine, of the Red River, the partners jf the though called so by the Indians from Assine Northwest Company, resident in England, (stone) and boine, or poille (Sioux Indian), protested against such a course, and was known to the early French traders as placed every obstacle in their power in the St. Charles, and to the Hudson's Bay the way of his Lordship, to prevent the Company and Northwest Company employes carrying out of his scheme. They acknow- as the Upper Red River. The Selkirk ledged that they had purchased Hudson's settlers refer to the river as the Osnaboine. Bay Company stock within forty-eight hours There were a large number of trading posts of the general meeting at which the governor on the Assiniboine at the beginning of the and committee announced the bestowal of present century—many more than on the the land grant of Assiniboia to Lord Sel- Red River. kirk, and admit it was done as a means to This, then, was the condition of affairs on give them an opportunity to protest against the Red River. The Northwest Company the grant. They claimed that Lord Selkirk's had a number of posts, their employes being object in forming such a colony on the Red principally French Canadians and French River was to break up their fur trade and half-breeds, and were opposed in the fur intercept them in their passage from Canada trade by the Hudson's Bay Company, who, to the Athabasca and Pacific coast. They in the words of Henry, always followed denied the rights of exclusive trade ad- and never led them. Their traders were vanced by the Hudson's Bay Company, and scattered over the Northwest from Lake the legality of the charter of 1670, holding Superior to the Pacific where the adven- that the French had possessed the country turous McKenzie had led them. They, fol- before the conquest, and that after 1761 lowing in the footsteps of their French pre- all British subjects came into possession of decessors and extending their territories, the privileges enjoyed by the French traders. claimed by right of discovery, the privi- They then, after obtaining legal opinions, lege of trading in the land that had re- like Selkirk, from eminent British mained for long years in their undisputed authorities, informed both the British possession. The Hudson's Bay Co. while Government and the Hudson's Bay Com- claiming the whole of the lands to the head pany that they were determined to waters of the streams flowing through any maintain their rights and possessions, connections into Hudson Bay, had never while they did not acknowledge the power ventured to make good their claim by es- of jurisdiction or exclusive rights claimed tablishing trading stations in this vast by the Hudson's Bay Co., and would not do country. At the date the Hudson's Bay Co. so, until they received from the government sent Mr. Hearne to build Cumberland "a distinct intimation that these rights House, their first inland post, the Montreal were recognized and admitted by govern- traders were in full possession of the interior ment, and they would resist any attempts trade, while a period of forty years had to seize their property or persons, or to dis- elapsed since the French Canadians under possess them of their trade, under these LaVerandrye had planted their forts on pretences. Lake Winnipeg and its tributary streams. This was the position assumed by the Though rivals in trade the officers and men Northwest Co. when the first party of the of the two companies were on good terms; Selkirk settlers gathered at Stornoway, in in many cases, on tie Saskatchewan, one July, 1811. enclosure surrounding the buildings THE COLONY GOVERNOR. of both, only a fence or wall separating the portion assigned to each. Documents published by the Canadian Dances and other jollifications were given archives office, inform us that Miles Mac- by the presiding officer in either division of donell, who was appointed by Lord Selkirk —

lilt Si.l.kiKK SlTlllMlNT V\l> THE S IT TU.K->.

as (iovernor of the colony, was born in In- and the soldiers were ejected from the verness, Scotland, in 1767. Be in after ship without the recruits. McKenzie then years served m ensign, in America in the awaited the arrival of the collector of cus- (Tang's Royal Regiment of New fork, re- toms and claimed some of the men, but was turning to Scotland in 1788, where be mar- not allowed to take them. On this vessel ried. In 175*4 he was appointed lieutenant Were men from Glasgow, Ireland, and a few in the eeoond battalion OX Royal Canadian from Orkney, numbering in all 70. After Volunteers, to which his lather, John Mac- mustering the passengers the collector of donell, Speaker of the Assembly of Upper customs (whose wife was an aunt of Sir Panada, had been gazetted as captain. Two Alexander McKenzie) read the clause of years later he received his commission as the Emigration Act regulating the provi- captain, and from 1800 to 1802 was sta- sions for passengers, and a public declara- tioned at Fort George (Niagara). On the tion made, that if any were unwilling to go reduction of the force he lived in Glengarry, abroad they might go to the shore. Several part of his correspondence being dated at said they were not willing —many went Cornwall. Some of his grandchildren are over the ship's side into McKenzie's boat now residing at Brookviile, Ont. He died one party ran away with the ship's boat, at Point Fortune on the Ottawa in 1828. but was brought back —one man jumped Tli is was the man chosen by Lord Selkirk into the sea and swam for it until he was to undertake the difficult task of superin- picked up by the recruiting boat. The tending the removal of the colonists to the revenue cutter's boat was likewise engaged prairies of the Red River Valley. His ex- in taking the unwilling, and to cap the perience in the wilds of Canada served him troubles of Macdonell, the collector took in good stead later on. ashore a number in his own boat. Mac- Lord Selkirk, in 1810, wrote to Canada donell could not see clearly if the fact of urging him to proceed to London, where he the men bjing indentured servants excluded would give him an appointment, the nature them from the action of emigration act, and of which he could not then communicate. so refrained from following them to compel Capt. Macdonell went to join his lordship them to reship. He blamed Mr. Reid, the and was immediately placed in charge of collector, for all the trouble, and claimed die expedition. that person was influenced in his conduct by Sir Alexander McKenzie and other in- THE COLONISTS EMBARK. terested persons of the Northwest company The colony servants and employes had resident in England. assembled at Stornoway to the nnmbei of ARRIVAL AT YORK FACTORY. 125, having been engaged in Ireland, the Highlands of Scotland, the Orkneys, Glas- At length on the 26th July the ships set gow and Loudon. Most of these persons sail for York Factory, Hudson Bay, with were engaged as clerks and mechanics for 105 persons engaged for colony work and Lord Selkirk and the Hudson's Bay Co.'s for the fur trade of the Hudson's Bay Co., service, and it must be understood that, as 90 of whom were workmen and 15 clerks a rule in the after proceedings the Com- Some of the Irishmen were tur- pany's business matters and those of Sel- bulent during the early part of the kirk's colony were kept entirely distinct voyage, but the men from Glasgow gave from each other. the most trouble of all. The voyage cov- The followinginformaticn is extracted from ered 61 days and Macdonell writes that it letters of Capt. Macdonell to Lord Selkirk, was the longest ever known, stormy which have only been made public within weather on the ocean being followed by fine this month. mild weather with moderate winds when A great deal of difficulty was experienced the bay was entered. The ships' captains in getting the people on board the ships, were incompetent, and the Edward and which were the Prince of Wales, the Eddy- Anne was wretchedly fitted for the voyage. stone, and the Edward and Anne. Mac- The colonists experienced fairly good health donell had to apply to the captain of and were drilled with arms, few of them the convoy for a party of marines, and it knowing how to fire off a gun. The effects was necessary to go through the ceremony of the deserters at Stornoway were auc- of having some impressed and put on board tioned off, and brought £27 sterling. that man-of-war, which was to accompany Messrs. Auld (superintendent) and Cook them to Hudson's Bay. One man had en (governor at York Factory) afforded the listed with a military recruiting party, but party every assistance on their arrival and he was taken from the soldiers and shipped. informed Macdonell that a great number of Five absconded, and were not recovered. the Hudson's Bay Company's officers and While the captain of the Edward and Anne men were interested in the success of the was on shore making his clearance from the colony, and were looking forward to joining custom house, a Captain McKenzie, who it on their retirement from the service. had been agent for the Hudson's Bay Com- Orders had been sent to Red River to se- pany at Stornoway the year before, boarded cure provisions for the people on their arri- the vessel with a recruiting party and gave val there in the following spring, the season ealisting m>.uy to soma of t.ie men, buo hs being too far advanced to allow of their go- The Selkirk Settlement \m> tiik Settlers.

ing on that autumn. Macdonell had foreseen buildings of Fort Garry. A few years after, this delay. News had been received that the Northwest Company took possession of the Red River had overflowed its banks in nine cannon stored in the warehouse of the spring, a circumstance said to be a new Lord Selkirk at what was termed the experience in that country. "Government House," which a few months later became Fort Douglas. These cannon ARTILLERY. played a very prominent part in the history

Two old iron swivel guns had been taken of the Selkirk settlement from 181 1 to as from the stores of Lord Seaforth at late a date as 1S70, when Riel, as President Stornoway, but Capt. Macdonald, not of the Provisional Government, commanded satisfied with them, asked for some "sound the situation largely through being in pos- brass pieces," 3-pounders, with carriages, session of them. They are now scattei'ed, etc., complets. Without doubt these guns most of them being in the custody of private were sent, and transported to Red river, for individuals who use them to adorn their carriages in a state of decay and bearing lawns, or have consigned them to the that date are still to be seen about the old lumber heaps of their back yards.

iELKIRK GRINDSTONES. THE FIRST GRIST MILL. WINTERING AT YORK FACTORY. The stores intended for the settlement This first party of colonists was sent from were placed in the York Factory warehouse, York Factory over to the Nelson River, and mention is made by Macdonell of the near Flamboro Head, where huts weie grindstones, some of which had, by an erected for their accommodation, and a new error, been left on board the ships. It is winter road cut out, reducing the distance very probable, hewever, that the old- from 28 to 23 miles. The rations issued fashioned grindstone now in possession daily comprised from one to two pounds of of the Manitoba Historical society, a cut of venison, when obtainable, and a pint of which is herewith shown, was one of the oatmeal, with an occasional allowance of identical stock landed that year. Each half is pease, barley and molasses. Bacon appears about two feet in diameter and an inch and on the requisitions drawn on the York a half thick. One stone being placed on the storehouse, but it was not used where other, the primitive handle was grasped by fresh meat was procurable. Scurvy soon the operator and the upper stone turned appeared, and on the 21st January, 1812, round smartly, as the grain was poured into 23 men were down with it, but the exten- the hole in the centre about the pivot pin, sive use of spruce juice almost entirely re- the flour produced gradually working out- moved the evil. ward between the stones. While a slow By the 26th October the people moved and laborious process, in comparison with into the houses, which were built of logs, the roller system of this day, many a bushel with clay and moss-covered roofs. Plenty of wheat was, by the exercise of patience of boards were obtained from an abandoned and muscle, run through this old-fashioned house of the company on the opposite or mill, and furnished a strong and wholesome southern side of the Nelson River, not far food to the colouists. from Flamboro Head, so that comfortable Tin. Selkirk Settlement vm» the Settler hunks and floors were constructed, Tun An Irish priest from Killala named fenees were erected, for a couple of miles in Bourke was the only clergyman with the extent, on each Bide of the river, with snares party, but he returned to Ireland, from placed in them for the purpose of catching York, after spending the winter with Capt. leer, which, however, did not arrive that Macdonnell, who considered that while he fall as was usual, but in March and April might make a good recruiting agent for the a very Large number were captured in the colony in Ireland, did not think "he would snares, thousands crossing the river in the ever make a convert to the Catholic reli- early part of May. Supplies of provisions gion." Macdonnell was anxious to have a were hauled on sleds from York Factory priest sent out, who would be well recom- each week, and, though the weather at mended, but makes no allusion to supplying times was most severe, no accidents from a Presbyterian minister for the people of freezing happened. Macdonnell had hired that denomination, and who were expected a man named Will Finlay at York in the to be in the great majority in the future autumn, he being a discharged company's colony. •ervant. This man gave a great deal of In writing Selkirk from York, Macdon- trouble to Macdonnell, for he instigated nell presses on His Lordship the necessity of some of the turbulent ones to resist all having martial law established in Assini- authority and to refuse to do any work. boia, for, "within the tract all traders must On New Year's day some of the Irishmen take out a license, which may answer a made a violent attack on the Orkneymen, good purpose with the Northwest Co." He three of whom were so brutally beaten that proposed to organize a company of fifty their lives were despaired of for a month men at the first outset, the troops to be afterward. The trouble arose from the fact mounted so as to act as infantry or cavalry that a pint of rum had been served out to as the service might require. each individual with which to celebrate the It is probable that the number of this day. first party under Macdonnell has heretofore In February Finlay, who would not obey been over-estimated by historians, for^whilc orders and refused to do any work, was most writers on the subject mention 70 as removed to a hut built for the purpose the number, it is stated by Macdonnell in a of confining him in, but on the first night he letter to Lord Selkirk, dated 4th July, 1 812, occupied it thirteen men of the party as- at York Factory, " 22 is my portion out of sembled and burnt the hut to the ground 49, all that are effective of last year's im- amidst wild shouts of defiance. portation. The people are so fluctuating The insurgents were summoned to appear that I cannot yet send a list of my party. before Mr. Hillier, a magistrate who accom- A man of one nation is prejudiced against panied the colonists, and Capt. Macdonnell. going with one of another. I shall go on Nine of these people were Glasgow men and with any number, take possession of the the remaining four were young Orkney lads tract and hoist the standard." He left on who had been induced to join them. At the 5th July for the Red River. the examination they refused to submit to ARRIVAL AT RED RIVER. the authority of the magistrates and con- It was about August or Sept., 1812, that temptuously walked away, claiming that these pioneers arrived at the Red River and they were not being treated according to the began the erection of dwellings and store- promises made them by the agent at the houses on the west bank, about three- time of engaging. These malcontents were quarters of a mile north of the mouth given the choice between starving and haul- of the Assiniboine; previous to which, ing their own provisions from York Fac- however, Governor Macdonnell ordered tory, and were notified that they would be all his people to assemble, and read his com- sent back to Scotland for trial. In the mission as Lord Selkirk's representative and spring they obtained possession oi firearms, governor. Kllice writes that a salute was but Mr. Auld, the superintendent of the fired at the Hudson's Bay fort in the neigh- Hudson's Bay Company ejected them from borhood, the Indians assembled looking on the fort, and refused to give them any pro- in silent wonder. visions until they surrendered their arms Though every exertion was put forth to and submitted, which they did shortly after, prepare for the approaching winter, it ap- and being separated went to work, and it pears that some of the party were compelled was decided 1iot to return them to Scotland, to live with the freemen in the neighbor- as their reports would have the effect of hood, and the North-West Company's em- preventing the-enlisting of men for the ser- ployees rendered great assistance to them, vice. furnishing goods and provisions for their Four new boats were built at York during support. In the spring of 1813 Governor the winter, after the batteau pattern, Macdonnell also procured from the North- though much difficulty was experienced in Westers, potatoes, barley, oats, garden getting the Company's people to depart seeds, four cows, a bull, pigs, fowls, etc., from their regular models, which Macdonnell articles which the traders could ill afford to claimed were not nearly so good, being only spare, though at each of their posts on the 22 feet in the keel, while his were 28 feet Red river a quantity of vegetables were long. raised for their own use. lit The Selkirk Settlement and the Settlers.

A small party of colonists arrived at landed at Churchill on the 13th August York Factory in the autumn of 1812, and after an eventful voyage, during which worked through to the settlement the next fever raged on board. They were sent year. There was a strong spirit of insub- up the Churchill River about fifteen ordination exhibited by these people miles, where log houses were erected on the voyage to York Factory and a con and to this place during the winter their spiracy was entered into to seize the vessel rations were drawn on flat sleds from the and sell her in some foreign country. The fort. Owing to some disagreement about captain armed his men and with the assist- hunting grouse, which were abundant during ance of some cannon loaded with grape shot the winter, Mr. Auld, the officer of the subdued the uprising. Most of these emi- Hudson's Bay Company, demanded and ob- grants were engaged as laborers and ser- tained the locks from the guns owned by vants, and came from Scotland and Ireland. the colonists, and they were unable to lay Several families were in the party. in stores of these birds. Finding, on their arrival at the settlement After a severe winter the larger portion on the Red river, that it would be impossi- of the party were sent to York Factory, ble to provide provisions for them during leaving Churchill in April. All their pro- the following winter, the colonists were sent visions and baggage had to be drawn by up the Red river to the mouth of the Pem- themselves on sleds, snowshoes be- bina, where, on the south side, they erected ing in general use. At York huts and enclosed them with palisades. they arrived, after suffering ter- This place was named Fort Daer, after Lord ribly, and were then established in huts, Selkirk, who wa.s Baron Daer. Here they after which time, the spring opening, they had their headquarters, though many of obtained an abundance of fresh venison and them were forced to join with the plain feathered game,upon which they principally hunters engaged in killing buffalo to supply subsisted until they started on the voyage the trading posts. The hardships endured up the rivers to Lake Winnipeg and on to by some were extreme, and as they were not the colony settlement, after having been provided with horses the stalking of buffalo joined by the remainder of the party, con- for their subsistence was a dangerous and sisting chiefly of elderly persons who had precarious mode of hunting. been carried by boats from Churchill to The journals of the Northwesters, at the Y^ork later in the spring. various posts, contain many notes of the The population of the settlement supplies and assistance afforded to even the was now about two hundred, and employees of the Hudson's Bay Company in anothei addition was made to it the early days of this country, and it may the next year (1815), the circumstances well be imagined that the colonists, unac- relating to which will be dealt with later customed to the life and climate and not on, as it is here necessary to notice the properly clad in suitable garments, suffered first occasion on which the Northwest Co. intensely. In reviewing fairly the events and Governor Macdonnell came into con- that succeeded this generous conduct of the flict. Northwesters, it will add to one's percep- On the 8th of January, 1814, Macdonnell tion of the true situation, if these acts are issued a proclamation, which, after reciting not lost sight of, for many outrageous the fact that the Hudson's Bay Co. had charges have been preferred against the ceded to Lord Selkirk the territory of people of the Northwest company. Assiniboia, and that his Lordship had duly The colonists who wintered i*t Pembina appointed Miles Macdonnell to be gov- returned to the colony in the spring and ernor of the same, continued as continued their efforts to cultivate the follows: "And whereas, the welfare clearings near the bank of the river. Much of the families at present forming of what is now open land or prairie, was at settlements on the Red River within that date covered with timber or scrubby the said territory, with those on bushes. There seems to be no doubt their way to it, passing the winter at Y'ork that Lord Selkirk, or his managers, were or Churchill Forts, in Hudson's Bay, as somewhat negligent in not providing horses also those who are expected to arrive next for the settlers to work their forms. Horses autumn, renders it a necessary and indis- were to be had in plenty from the Assini- pensable part of my duty to provide for boine and other Indians, for the North- their support. In the yet uncultivated westers for fifteen years previous had state of the country, the ordinary resources obtained and regularly used horses at their derived from the buffalo and other wild ani- establishments, and the free hunters were mals hunted within the said territory, are equally well supplied. The colonists were not deemed more than adequate for the compelled to break the ground with hoes requisite supply; wherefore it is hereby or- and clear away the scrub as best they dered that no person trading in furs or could. provisions within the territory for the In the early part of this year (1814) a Honourable Hudson's Bay Com- large number of emigrants sent out by Lord pany, the North-West Company, Seiki' k the previous summer, arrived at or any individual or unconnected traders or the Red River settlement. They had been persons whatever, shall take out any pro- Tm Selkirk Settlement and the Settli rs. ii

visions, either of flesh, dried meat, grain or Spencer, who had been appointed sherill by vegetables, procured or raised within the Governor Macdonnell, and the detachment said territory, by land or water carriage, for was sent to the plain south of Pembina, one twelve months from the date hereof, near Turtle River, where a band save and except what may be judged neces- of Freemen had accumulated a sary tor the trailing parties at this present quantity of pemican and dried meat. within the territory to carry them to their When this armed body arrived on the scene respective destinations, and who may on (it will be noticed that no attention was line application to me obtain a license for paid to the fact that this place was in the the same. The provisions procured and United States) the Freemen were disposing raised as above shall be taken for the use of of these provisions to some traders in the the colony, and that no loss may accrue to service of the Northwest Co. A Mr. War the parties concerned they will be paid ren and Michael Macdonnell had charge of for by British bills at the customary rates. the Selkirk people, and they at once order- And be it hereby further made known, that ed their men to fix bayonets and load their whosoever shall be detected in attempting muskets with ball cartridge. This done to convey out, or shall aid or assist in con- they by force seized the provisions and took veying out, or attempting to carry out, any them to the Selkirk Settlement. provisions prohibited as above, either by Again on the 5th of June Sheriff Spencer, land or water carriage, shall be taken into with an armed force, proceeded to custody and prosecuted as the laws in such Brandon House, an establishment of cases direct, and the provisions so taken, as the Northwest Co., and after cutting well as any goods or chattels of what down some palisades entered the fort, broke nature soever, which may be taken along open the doors of the warehouse and seized with them, and also the craft, carriages and 605 packages of pemican and other provis- cattle, instrumental in conveying away the ions, the product of the past season's hunt, same, to any part but the settlement on Red which it was intended to transport to Lake River, shall be forfeited. Winnipeg and elsewhere to feed the voya- Given under my hand at Fort Daer, geurs from the vast inland districts en route (Pembina), the 8th day of January, 1841. to Fort William. [Signed.] Miles Macdonnell, It was for these acts of violence, the first Governor. which occurred in the district, that Gov. By order of the Governor. Miles Macdonnelland his sheriff, John Spen- [Signed.] John Spencer, cer, were afterwards arrested and sent down Secretary. toCanada for trial under a warrant issued by A. N. McLeod, a justice of the peace for To understand what would be the effect the Indian Territory, and a partner of the of the carrying out of the terms of this Northwest Company. proclamation to the Northwest company, A few weeks after the seizure of the pro- it is necessary to be aware of the fact that a visions, the traders of the Northwest Com- large number of hunters were kept at their pany began to arrive from the detached Red River and Assiuiboine posts, to capture posts, only to find that no rations remained buffalo and make the dried to accompany their brigades of boats to Fort meat and pemican which was shipped to William. Instead of asserting their su- Lake Winnipeg to provision the army of periority by force of arms, they quitely boatmen engaged in carrying out to Lake conferred with Governor Macdonnell, and Superior the produce of the winter's trade agreed to return during the next winter any throughout the whole vast country west and quantity of provisions he would then give north, extending even to the Pacific ocean, them to enable them to proceec to Lake and also to return the incoming crews in the Superior. Macdonnell accordingly handed autumn to the upper stations. This supply over some of their own pemican, and of provisions once cut off the fur trade of they went on their journey to the the Northwest Company would be destroyed great gathering of the Northwest Company, or carried on only at and immensean ruinous which took place annually at Fort William. expenditure of capital. Certainly the Northwesterns restrained Governor Macdonnell took immediate their natural feelings in a wonderful man- steps to follow up his proclamation by seiz- ner in acting so moderately as they did ing provision stores of the Northwest Com- under the circumstances. pany, and trouble ensued which led to open antagonism between the rival interests. TIIK NORTH WESTERS DETERMINE TO RESIST.

THE TROUBLES COMMENCE. At the annual meeting of the partners at The proclamation of Governor Macdonnell Fort William, it was decided to resist all was posted throughout the district and also future attempts of Gov. Macdonnell in inter- notices of it served on the officers in charge rupting the trade of the Northwest Com- of the posts of the Northwest Company. pany, and evidently they also arranged a On the loth March, 1814, a party of men scheme which, if successfully carried out, at the Selkirk establishment was detailed would break up the Selkirk colony by to enforce the provisions of the proclama- depopulating it. Duncan Cameron was tion. Arms were served out by John sent to take charge of the Northwest Go's :

12 The Ski. kirk Settlement and the Settlers. interests at Ft. (Gibraltar, on the Red River, strange that from the moment and Alexander McDonell was despatched in they arrived at York Factory this tale of a like capacity to Brandon Brandon House the Indians attacking them had been dinned and the Qu'Appelle river establishments. into their ears, first by the servants of the Arriving in August, 1814, at their posts Hudson's Bay Co. (as written by Governor they learned that in June, Gov- Macdonnell himself), and at this time by the ernor Macdonnell had sent a party Northwest people. The truth is, that the of "J."> men, armed with muskets Indians were almost from the first extremely and bayonets, up the Assiniboine river, one friendly to the settlers, hunting for them and day's journey from the colony, where, in later on offering to fight for them if neces- expectation that the Northwest Co. would sary. send down provisions by boats, they camped GOVERNOR MACDONNELL ISSUES PROCLAMA- and planted a loaded cannon on the bank TIONS. to force a surrender of the stores. They But Cameron was not allowed to thus succeeded a few days afterwards in seizing entice away the colonists without resistance 90 sacks of pemican, the property of the from Governor Macdonnell, who closely North Westers, and in capturing some em- guarded the interests of his noble patron. ployees, who were taken as prisoners to the On the 21st of October, 1814, two months settlement, but soon released. On this oc- aftei Cameron's arrival, Macdonnell issued casion some of the Selkirk people refused to and served the following notice:

SELKIRK STEVE, OF RAWHIDE, FOR CLEANING WHEAT act as constables, giving as a reason that "District of Assiniboia. the North Westers had saved them from "To Duncan Cameron, acting for the North- starving after their arrival at the settlement, west company at the forks of the Red and they Mere not going to make such a river poor return. "Take notice that by the and on DUNCAN CAMERON. authority the behalf of your landlord, the Right Hon. Duncan Cameron was, as I am informed Thomas, Earl of Selkirk, I do hereby warn by a Selkirk settler still living, "a fine old you, and all your associates of the Northwest gentleman," much liked by the settlers. company, to quit the post and premises you He at once af cer his arrival ingratiated him- now occupy at the forks of the Red river self with the Selkirk settlers, invited them within six calendar months from the date to dine with him, and during the winter, by hereof." promises of lands and employment for them Similar notices were served an the other in Canada, he succeeded in inducing a Northwest Company's officers in charge of number to consent to abandon the colony, posts, and a very bitter feeling engendered in and accept the offer made by the Northwest consequence. Towards spring several col- Co., of a free passage. It is alleged that he lisions took place between the men of the also frightened the settlers by pretending two companies, each side claiming to be that he had information that the Indians innocent of the charges made by the other. would attack them during the next summer it they remained. It was a hard THE SETTLERS SEIZE SELKIRK'S CANNON. trial for the settlers, and it is Duncan Cameron had arrested Sheriff Tiik Selkirk Settlement and the Settlers. 13

Spencer in the autumn and sent him clown to era Canada, where many of their descend- Rainy Lake, and on the 3rd April, 1815, ants may now be found, residing principally during the temporary absence of Miles Mac- in the counties of Elgin and Middlesex. donnell from the settlement, he notified After their departure the Northwesters Archibald McDonald, who was acting for so worked on the fears of the remaining the governor, to hand over to the settlers settlers, numbering about fifty, that they the cannon "which had already been em- became discouraged. Lord Selkirk's ployed to disturb the peace of his Majesty's friends have stated that their horses were loyal subjects in this quarter," not with a stolen, cattle driven away and their persons view of making any hostile use of them, but threatened with violence, so that about the to place them out of harm's way. He had 26th of June (181")) most of them embarked by this time seduced the majority of the in their boats and proceeded down the Red settlers from Gov. Macdonnell, and on River and across Lake Winnipeg to Jack leaving this matter to them, the next morn- Fish River (now Norway House) where they ing they broke open the Selkirk warehouse remained until August, when they were and forcibly took possession of the nine joined by Colin Robertson and twenty voy- cannon stored there, and drew them on ageurs sent by Lord Selkirk from Montreal sleds to Fort (Gibraltar. On Gov. Macdon- to assist the colonists. nell's return, which was shortly after the SOME COLONISTS RETURN. seizure of the cannon, he issued a warrant They returned to their old home on the to search for and recover the stolen pro- 19th August, when they found that most of perty, but Cameron would only permit

Y0/?6tff#%C

KEY. 2. H. B. Co's store, or perhaps fort. In use prior to arrival of Selkirk colon- 1 . Fort Rouge—built by LaVerandrye about 1736. ists in 1812. The Forks— built by Northwest Company 3. Government House of the Selkirk Col- about 1803. ony, afterwards (in the fall of 1815) Fort Gibraltar—built by Northwest Com- it was named Fort Douglas. 1812- pany about 1806. 1826. Destroyed by Lord Selkirk's 4. The last Fort Garry built by Governor agents in 1816. Rebuilt by Christie in 1835 36. Northwest Company about 5. Stables bailt for model farm about 1840. 1817; occupied by H. B. Co. 6. Grove of trees beside present residence of after amalgamation with Ex-Mayor Logan, where Governor Northwest Company in 1821 Semple and his party were buried and on April 18th, 1822, its after the Seven Oakes tragedy in name was changed by Sir Geo. June, 1816. Simpson, the H. B. Co. gover- 7. Hudson's Bay Company's fort partly nor, to Fort Garry. built by Peter Fidler in 1817, and fin- Fort Garry, a new tort built by ished by James Sutherland in 1819. Governor Pelly, but destroyed It was situated between McDermot by the great flood of 1826. It and Notre Dame street east, a few was rebuilt by Governer Pelly hundred yards back from the bank of in 1826, and afterwards was the Red River. It was in use cer- used as buildings for a model tainly in 1821, Joseph Bird being the farm. chief factor in charge. The Selkirk Settlement \m« the Settlers. L5

until such time aa they could pay oil* their made for their reception at Athabasca, indebtedness on this score. About seventy- they were reduced to the utmost extremity two persons embarked at Stromness on for food, and while searching for provisions

hoard the I hil low, which set sail on June seventeen out of a party of eighteen 17, 1815, in company with two ships of the Starved to death. The survivors of the Hudson's Hay Co., all the vessels being main body, in many cases, owed their lives under the caie of a sloop of war to protect to assistance rendered by the North them from the French privateers. The Westers. colonists were accompanied by James SEIZURE OK DUNCAN CAMERON. Sutherland, who, previous to their Colin Robertson took an active part in departure, had been an elder in the scenes enacted in the settlement during the Established Church of Scotland, the winter of 1815-16. and had been duly licensed to marry, bap- In October Robertson made a prisoner of tise, and perferm the duties of a preacher Cameron and took him to Ft. Douglass, at and spiritual guide to the colonists. He the same time taking possession of Ft. (Gib- remained at the settlement for two or three raltar. The charge laid against Cameron years and removed to Canada. Landing at was that of having enticed away York Factory on the 18th August, they the colonists in the early part of immediately after set out on the arduous the summer. Having detained him voyage of some 700 miles to the colony, as a prisoner for some days, and searched which place they reached on the 5th of his fort for the cannon and arms taken by November. the colonists from Fort Douglas the pre- GOVERNOR SEMPLE. vious spring, he was set at liberty. Gunn, With this last-mentioned party of settlers in his history of Manitoba, informs us that came Robert Semple, who had, under a new on this occasion Cameron was horse- arrangement for conducting their busi- whipped while a loaded pistol was held to ness in the territories, been ap- his head. pointed governor in chief by In the early part of March, 1816, Govenor the Hudson's bay Co. He was from all Semple left the settlement on a tour of in- accounts a most amiable man and a warm spection of the posts of the Hudson's Bay friend of the colonists, whose interests he Co., situated in the interior, and did looked after to the best of his ability under not return until some time in June. the distressing circumstance that provisions were scarce and difficult to obtain. The CAPTURE OF FORTS CIBRALTAR AND PEM- colonists were again compelled to proceed to BINA. Fort Daer (Pembina) to winter, and on their As soon as Governor Semple disappeared, arrival there found that the buffalo were far Colin Robertson, as acting governor, began distant. Many of them proceeded on over to work mischief. On the night of the 17th a hundred miles during the early winter to of March, 1816, he headed an armed party the locality where the Freemen and Indians from Fort Douglas, and broke into Fort were hunting the buffalo. A miserable Gibraltar, where, on entering the master's winter was passed by the poor people, who, house, he found Duncan Cameron and his of course, were of little service in their new clerks. Making prisoners of them all, Rob- occupation of running the bison. Once ertson proceeded to remove everything in more the Metis and Indian extended their the establishment down to Fort Douglas, hospitality to the suffering colonists. the furs afterward being sent to York Fac- Colin Robertson had been selected by tory. On the 19th of March more men and Lord Selkirk to organize an expedition to cannon were placed in the Northwest the Athabasca in 1815, and that gentleman fort, and, the winter express from proceeded to Montreal and secured a large the interior posts arriving, it was number of voyageurs to accompany him to seized and the letters opened by Robertson. that remote district, which was outside the Finding it to be too much trouble to guard bounds of the territory claimed by the so many prisoners, the Selkirk people lib- Hudson's Bay Company as their exclusive erated most of the Northwest Co. 's servants, preserve. The object of this move was to who, at this most inclement season, had to compete with the Northwest Co. in the fur seek out friends amongst the Freemen on trade of those regions, and if possible ruin the plains to secure a living. them. This once gained, the fur trade of Three days after this assault at Fort Gib- the whole Northwest would practically be raltar, another armed body of the Selkirk left in their hands. Colin Robertson, how- people captured Fort Pembina, taking about ever, only accompanied his brigade as far ten prisoners and a very large quantity Lake Winnipeg, where he met the Selkirk of provisions. At Pembina quantities colonists evicted by Duncan Cameron and of potatoes and other field vegetables his men. He at once returned to the Red were cultivated yearly by the Northwest River with the colonists, as mentioned Co. for the use of their posts, their fields above, leaving the Athabasca expedition to having been first cultivated in 1801. The proceed oh its' way. Of this ill-fated ex- prisoners taken here were sent in bonds to pedition it is only necessary to say here Fort Douglas. that no preparation having been Later on, in April, an attack was made I.i The Selki&e Settlement and the Settlers.

on the Northwest Company's fort at the at York Cameron was placed on board ship ( )u'Appelle River, but Alexander v McDonel, for England, but owing to the lateness of who was in charge, gave the beseigers such the season had to be taken back to James a hot reception that they retired in bad Bay, where the crew wintered, but proceed- order. ed to London in the next summer (1817), Though the Northesters had ottered no where he was set at liberty, without trial, violence during these aggravated attacks neither party desiring to take the case into of Robertson, Alexander McDonel, an English court on account of the position always known in the country as "White of affairs at that time. Cameron afterwards Headed McDonel," sent word appealing to returned to Canada. the distant posts, urging the Northwesters to come to his assistance. He was aware INSTRUCTION OF FORT GIBRALTAR. that the guns of Fort Douglas commanded In the early part of April the Selkirk the Red River and his ultimate capture, authorities razed Fort Gibraltar to the

A SELKIRK CANNON, SINCE KKMOUNTED. with that of all his provisions and furs, ground, carrying away the timbers to Fort would follow an attempt to descend the Douglas to strengthen that establishment, Assiniboine from Q'uAppelle, and perceived and fire was set to the remains. To-day, that it was only by procuring a large force in the river bank, at the point between the of men to assist him that he could carry his Red and Assiniboine rivers, where Fort produce through to Fort William in" the Gibraltar stood, may be seen the charred spring. After gathering a party wood, ashes and debris of the burnt fort. together he turned the tables In April, also, the colonists returned by on Robertson by capturing some river from Pembina, and began the cultiva- Hudson's Bay Co.'s boats, laden with furs tion of their patches of cleared land. It and pemican, as they descended the Assini- has been frequently referred to that while boine. Messengers carried news of this the colonists were but poorly supplied with event to Fort Douglas and Colin Robertson agricultural tools, using i,he hoe instead of started for York Factory in a boat, taking the plow, that care had been taken by Sel- with him, as prisoner, Duncan Cameron. It kirk to send along cannon and muskets in may be here mentioned that on their arrival abundance. .

K Mill I \| I \ I \\ l>

This was the state of affairs up to the It is difficult to get at the exact truth ot middle of June, 1816, when a most deplor- what followed this meeting of the rival able and atrocious act was committed, traders. A host of affidavits are on record which again broke up the colons and Bent a made by men on both sides, who, while score of mea to their graves. agreeing in bhe main particulars, disagree as to details. However, herewith is given a rill KILLING OF GOV. SIMPLE AND TWENTY version of the affair emanating from each side. \l E N The first is an affidavit made by John On Governor ftemple's ret win to Fort Pritohard, Who had been in the service of Douglas, from visiting the inland posts of both the X Y and Northwest companies, the Hudson's Bav Co., in Jane, 1816, he but in 1816 was a resident of the Selkirk again assumed the direction of affairs, which settlement. He was the father of the Rev, had been temporarily managed by Colin S. Pritchaid, and grandfather of the Rev. Robertson. That he did not altogether ap- Canon Matheson, of this city. prove of the management during his "On the afternoon of the li)th of June, absence is learned from the testi- 1816, a man in the watch-house called out mony of an eye-witness, yet liv- that the half-breeds were coming. The ing, in the pmson of Donald Murray, who governor, some other gentlemen and myself informs me that Robertson was in great looked through spy-glasses, anil I distinctly disfavor with the Settlement and Hudson's saw some armed people on horseback pass- Bay Co. officials, and when, on hearing of ing along the plains. A man then called the probability of an attack by the North- out, 'They (meaning the half breeds) are westers, he started for York Factory in a making for the settlers,' on which the gov- boat, taking Duncan Cameron, a prisoner, ernor said, 'We must go out and meet these he insultingly hoisted a pemican sack as an people; let twenty men follow me.' We ensign instead of the British Hag, which proceeded cown the old road leading down was the usual one used on such occasions. the settlement. As we were going along we Word was received at the settlement that met many of the settlers running to the fort, !' the Northwesters were determined to de- crying, 'The half-breeds ! the half-breeds stroy both it and the settlers. On the 17th When we were advanced about three quar- of June, Peguis, chief of the Swampy In- ters of a mile along the settlement, we saw dians, residing in the district about the some people on horseback behind a point of mouth of the Red river, waited en Governor woods. On our nearer approach the party Semple to offer the services of his men, seemed more numerous, on which the gov- some seventy in number, to assist in ernor made a halt and sent for a field piece, protecting the colonists. This proffered which, delaying to arrive, he ordered us to assistance was declined with thanks by advance. We had not proceeded far before Semple, who did not foresee the occurrences the half-breeds, on horseback, with their of the succeeding two days. faces painted in the most hideous manner, Alex. McDonel sent a party of about sixty and in the dresses of Indian warriors, came Canadians and half-breeds with a few forward and surrounded us in the form of a Indians, mounted on horseback and bearing half moon. We then extended our line and some provisions, across by land from the moved more into the open plain, and as Assiniboine, to the Red river, the route they advanced we retreated a few steps followed taking them along the edge of the backward, and then saw a Canadian named swamps, about two miles out on the prairie Boucher ride up to us waving his hand and from Fort Douglas, and from that point calling out, "What do you want?" The gradually drawing nearer to the main high- governor replied, 'What do you want?' To way, which is uow the northern continua- which Boucher answered, 'We want our tion of Winnipeg's Main street, until it fort.' The governor said, 'Go to your joined the latter at a spot known as "Seven fort.' They were by this time near each Oaks,'" on account of seven oak trees grow- other, and consequently spoke too low for ing there, within a hundred yards or so me to hear. Being at some little distance a hi tli of a small coolie, now called Inkster's to the right of the governor, I saw him take creek. One half of the Metis had arrived hold of Boucher's gun, and almost immedi- at the coolie and passed on to Frog Plain ately a general discharge of fire arms took (Kildonan church prairie), taking two or place, but whether it began on our side, or three settlers prisoners to prevent their that of the enemy, it was impossi- riving the alarm, when the remainder were ble to distinguish. My attention was then discovered by a sentinel, placed in the directed towards my personal defence. watch tower of Fort Douglas, with a tele- In a few minutes almost all our people were scope. He immediately gave an alarm, and either killed or wounded. Captain Rogers, Governor Semple left the fort with a small having fallen, rose up again and came to- party of company's servants to intercept wards me' when, not seeing one of our party the Metis, whom he met at Seven Oaks as who was net either killed or disabled, 1 they arrived at the highway. Semple had called out to him, 'For God's sake give by this time, been joined by some of his yourself up !' He ran towards the enemy for servants and officials, so that he arrived on that purpose, myself following him. He the scene with about 28 companions. raised up his hands, and, in English, and —

18 Selkirk Settlement wi> the Settlers.

broken French, called for mercy. A half- The man named Boucher, mentioned by breed (son of Col. William McKay) shot Pritchard in his affidavit, was taken as a him through the head, and another cut open prisoner to Montreal, and while there made his belly with a knife with the most horrid the following declaration, on the 29th Ang., imprecations. Fortunately for me, a Cana- 1810, before a justice of the peace: dian (named Lavigne), ioining his entreaties "Voluntary declaration of Francois Fir- to mine, saved me (though with the greatest min Boucher, accused on oath of having, on

difficulty) from sharing the fate of my friend the 1 9th of last June, killed at the colony at that moment. After this I was reserved of the Red River, twenty-one men, amoiur from death, in the most providential man- whom was Gov. Semnle, says: 'That he ner, no less than six different times on my did not kill any person whatever; that he way to and at the Frog Plain (the head- was sent, four days before the death of Gov quarters of these cruel murderers), 1 there ernor Semple, by one of the partners of the saw Alexander Murray and his wife, two Northwest Company, Mr. Alexander Mc- of William Bannerman's children and Alex- Donell, from Portage la Prairie, to carry ander Sutherland, settlers, and likewise provisions to Frog Plain, about three leagues Antony McDonnell, a servant, were prison- lower than the fort at the Forks of Red ers, having been taken before the action River. That he and his companions, to took place. With the exception of myself, avoid being seen by the Hudson's Bay set- nc quarter was given to any of us. tlers, passed at a distance from the Hud The knife, axe or ball, put a period to the son's Bay fort. That, with a view of existence of the wounded; and on the bodies weakening the Hudson's Bay party, the of the dead were practiced all those barbar- Bois- Brutes wanted to carry away some of ities which characterize the inhuman heart the Hudson's Bay settlers —and, assisted by of the savage. The amiable and mild Mr. the deponent to interpret for them in Eng-

Semple, lying on his side (his thigh having lish , they went and carried one off. That, been broken) and supporting his head upon as they proceeded towards Frog Plain, they his hand, addressed the commander of our observed a group of Hudson's Bay people enemies, by inquiring if he was Mr. Grant; upon which a certain number of the men in •and being answered in the affirmative, 'I the service of the Northwest Company, am not mortally wounded,' said Mr. Sem- called Bois-Brules, joined the deponent ami ple; 'and if you get me conveyed to the his companions. That these, thinking the fort, I think I should live.' Grant promised Hudson's Bay people meant them harm, (be- he would do so, and immediately left him cause they advanced with their muskets in in the care of a Canadian, who afterwards their hands) the Bois-Brules wanted to fire told that an Indian of their party came up on them; but the deponent opposed their and shot Mr. Semple in the breast. I en- doing so. That at last he advanced alone treated Grant to procure me the watch, or to the Hudson's Bay party to speak to even the seals, of Mr. Semple, for the pur- them, and came so near Governor Semple, pose of transmitting them to his friends, that the latter took hold of the butt end of but I did not succeed. Our force amounted the deponent's gun, and ordered his to twenty-eight persons, of whom twenty- people to advance; that they, not one were killed and one wounded, the obeying him, and the deponent saying governor, Captain Rogers, Mr. James that if they fired they were all dead men. ,,r Mte, surgeon, Mr. Alexander McLean, Governor Semple said that they must not settler, Mr. Wilkinson, private secretary to be afraid, that this was not a time for it, the governor, and Lieutenant Holt, of the and that they must fire. Immediately the Swedish navy, and fifteen servants were deponent heard the reports of two muskets killed. Mr. J. P. Bourke, storekeeper, was fired by the Hudson's Bay people. That at wounded, but saved himself by flight. this moments the deponent threw himself The enemy, I am told, were sixty-two from his horse, still holding the mane, and persons, the greater part of whom were the that the horse being afraid, dragged him in contracted seivants and clerks of the North- this manner about the distance of a gun west company. They had one man killed, shot, where he remained. That, from the and one wounded. The chiefs, who headed moment when he was thus carried away by the party of our enemy, were Messrs. Grant his horse, the firing became general between and Fraser, Antoine Hoole and Bourrassa; the people of the Northwest and the Hud- the two former clerks and the two latter son's Bay. That the tire was begun by interpreters, in the service of the Northwest those of the Hudson's Bay. That the men company." in the service of the Northwest Company The above declaration and the following were about sixty-four in number (of whom are published in a book entitled "State- thirty were at the beginning of the firing,) ment respecting the Earl of Selkirk's set- assembled for the purpose of taking the tlement, etc.," written by Selkirk's rela- Hudson's Bay fort by famine. He is un- tive, a Mr. Halkett, a director of the Hud- certain, by whose orders, but supposes it son's Bay Co. committee, and it is from this was by the chiefs, that is, Mr. McDonell, source that most historians have drawn Mr. Grant, Antonie Oulle and Michael their information relating to the Selkirk Bourassa. That he heard Mr. McDonell *ide of the case. enjoin them to avojd a meeting with the "

Thk Selkirk Settlement ind phb Settler* Ifl

Hudson's Bay people. That after the firing Bois- Brules with them to explain the posi- was over he saw Bols-Brale namec1 Vas- tion of affaire, ear near Governor Seotple, then wounded The colonists at first refused to agree to in the knee and the arm, who the terms of capitulation, and Sheriff Me- was taking care of him, and Donell, who was in charge of the settle- 1 ho, notwithstanding, had taken his belt or ment, decided to hold to the fort as long as sash, his pistole and Ids watch, and after the men were inclined to protect it. In the wards carried them away. That he him- morning, however, after they had more self bad at the moment saved one Pritohard fully considered their situation, the settlers from being killed, and also Francois Des- concluded to depart, and after several visits ohamps and several other Brnlea wanted to of the sheriff to the Metis camp an arrange- kill him. ment was agreed on. Many of the settlers are of the opinion HOW THK INDIANS ACTED. that the first shot tired was by Lieut. Holt, A number of Indians under Reguis were whose gun went off by accident, thus pre- camped on the east side of the river and cipitating the conflict. took no part in the troubles, but their sym In all '21 persons were killed, the remain- pathies were plainly with the colonists. ing eight escaping into the woods, which at They went out the morning after the en that time extended from the highway to gagement and brought in the bodies of the the river bank, and making their way to killed, or as many as could then be found, Fort Douglas, one or two swimming the for a small number, 1 am informed by ]\cd River and passing up the east side eye-witnesses, were concealed in the until opposite the fort. It is to be noticed heavy brush in the vicinity, as that only one actual settler was wounded men had crawled into killed. thickets and there died. Mrs. Kauf- At the fort all was confusion, the settlers man, who yet lives in Kildonan east, in- -men, women and children — crowding forms me that she saw the Indians bring in into the houses within its walls. Mr. the dead bodies to Fort Douglas with carts, Bourke managed to regain the fort with the and that Governor Semple and the doctor cannon and a small remnant of the men he were buried in board coffins, and the others took out, and the tale they told struck wrapped up in blankets, the whole number terror into the hearts of all, who expected being interred in one large grave in a grove an attack would be made immediately by of trees on the south side of the creek the Northwesters. ah anxious night was southwest of the fort, and quite near the passed, but no attack came, the Bois Brules spot whereon now stands the residence of having a wholesome dread of the cannon ex-Mayor Logan. She says the body of one possessed by the colonists. man was naked, the clothes having been John Pritchard had been taken as a pris- stolen before the Indians found it. Mr. oner to the camp ground of the main body Donald Murray also informs me that when of the Metis, which was situated where the the burial took place, Chief Regins stood Kildonan ferry landing now is, I am in- near by, with the tears streaming down his formed by Mr. Donald Murray, whose face, and he repeatedly expressed his great parents had also been taken prisoners on sorrow at the sad occurrences taking place. their farm, two lots above that point, on Donald Murray states positively that all the morning of the tragedy. He begged these bodies were removed, some yeais of Cuthbert (irant, the leader, to be allowed after, to St. John's church graveyard, but to go to Fort Douglas. After obtaining he is not now able to locate the site of their permission from Grant, he met with a re- reinterment. He remembers distinctly that fusal from the rest of the party; but after on the morning the settlers handed over the giving a promise to return, and agreeing to fort to the metis, all the ammunition for bear a message to the fort people that they the cannon was carried down to the river must leave the next day for Lake Winni and thrown into the water from the end of peg, he was allowed to depart, (irant ac- a boat moored in the stream. companied him as far as Seven Oaks, where the bodies of the killed lay upon the ground, TORT DOUGLAS CAPITULATES AND THK COL- but as it was after nightfall when he passed ONISTS DEPART. there, he was spared the sight of the horrible An inventory of the Hudson's Bay Co. s scene. property being taken, Cuthbert Grant gave Arriving at Fort Douglas, he informed the a receipt on each page, worded as follows: settlers that the Metis demanded that the "Received on account of the Northwest colonists should depart, and had promised company by me, Cuthbert (irant, clerk for that if all pnblic property was given up to the Northwest company, acting for the X. them, they would give a safe escort to the W. company."' people and allow them to take all their per- In two days all was ready, nnd the col- sonal effects. Two other parties of North- onists, to the number of nearly two hun- westers were daily expected to arrive in the dred, embarked in their boats and once Red River, one coming from the Saskatche- more started for Jackfish House, at the wan and the other from Lake Superior, and north end of Lake Winnipeg. It would ap it would be necessary to send some of the pear that more or less plundering of the 20 The Selkirk Settlement and the Settlers.

effects of the settlers took place before their westers without any more success than the departure. English partners of the Northwest Co. had On reaching the neighborhood of Netley met with from the British government Creek, the exiles and'their escort of Metis when they had petitioned against the ac- met about one bundled Northwesters, under tion of Lord Selkirk in the Red River coun- the command of A. N. McLeod, a partner try, his lordship proceeded to raise a force of the Northwest Company, who had just of men, trained to arms, which he intended arrived in a number of canoes to convey to Assiniboia. At this time sev- from Ft. William to assist Duncan eral regiments of mercenaries, which had Cameron and Alexander McDonel, been recruited in Germany and the evident intention being to retaliate for other- continental countries, were being dis- the taking of the Northwest forts during banded in Canada, the American war being the paevious winter, and to evict the colon- closed, and there taking place a large re- ists and destroy the settlement. McLeod duction in the number of troops serving in was a justice of the peace for the Indian Canada. Lord Selkirk enlisted in his own territories and had also been gazetted a service at Montreal 4 officers and 80 men major in the British army in 1814, when of the De Meuron regiment, and at Kings- commanding a corps of voyageurs raised by ton 20men of the Watteville regiment. These the Northwest Company during the Ameri- men, fully armed and clothed in the uni- can war. He issued warrants and subpamas forms of the British army, were reinforced for Pritchard, Bourke and three others, all by more than an equal number of voya- of whom were taken down to Fort William, geurs. (-unn is authority for the statement that Lord Selkirk was appointed a justice of the Northwest partners spoke kindly to the the peace both for Upper Canada and the colonists and urged them to go to Canada, Indian Territories, and a bodyguard of a offering them a free passage, but the major- sergeant and some soldiers of the 37th ity of the disheartened settlers had resolved Reyiment was allowed him by the Governor to return to Scotland and overruled the de- after a statement that he expected an at- sire of a minority to accept the proposition tempt would be made to assassinate him. of the Northwesters. After a short deten- That doubts were entertained by the tion at Netley creek the colonists re- authorities as to the use his lordship inten- embarked and proceeded on to Jackfish ded to make of this detachment may be liver (Norway House), where they arrived learned by an examination of the ordei a safely, remaining there until the winter, given to the soldiers, one part of which when, after Lord Selkirk's successes at Fort reads as follows: "You are particularly William in 181(3 and the capture of Fort ordered not to engage yourself, or the party Douglas by his people in the spring of 1817, under your command, in any dispute they returned once more to the Red river. which may occur between the Earl of Sel- Leaving the posts on the Red and Assini- kirk, his engagees and employees, and those boine rivers in tne hands of their people the of the Northwest company, or to take any partners of the Northwest Company started part or share in any affray which may arise on their return to Fort William, out of such disputes. By such interference and on their way down the Red river on your part you would not only be disobey- met the partners and brigades from the ing your instructions, but acting in direct north. These people had reached La Bas opposition to the wishes and instructions of de la Riviere (Fort Alexander) only to find the government, to the countenance, sup- that no provisions had arrived from Pem- port and protection of which each party has bina or Brandon House, and they at once an equal claim. The Earl of Selkirk has startrd for the Red river to discover the engaged to furnish the party under your cause. command with provisions during the time Lord Selkirk had not been idle this of your absence. You are on no occasion spring, and at,. an even date with the de- to separate from your party, but to return struction of the colony, was taking active with his lordship, and on no account to steps, in Canada, to reinforce his people in suffer yourself or any of your detachment to the Red River country, but his movements be left at any settlement or post in the must be described at length. Indian country." All being in readiness, this formidable LORD SELKIRK CAPTURES FORT WILLIAM. body started via Toronto, Lake Simcoe and In the autumn of 1815 Lord Selkirk and Georgian bay for the Red River settlement his family arrived in Montreal, where he some time in .June, ISP!. was placed in full possession of information A month before this date Miles Mac-don concerning the dispersion of his colonists nell, the ex-governor of Assiniboia, who had, at Red River during the previous summer, as a prisoner, been sent down to when Duncan Cameron had induced IdO of Montreal by the Northwest partners them to accept a free passage to Canada and in the summer of 1815, had preceded driven the remaining 40 to Jackfish River. Lord Selkirk, with several canoes belonging After bringing the matter before Sir Cordon to the Hudson's J£ay Company, and pushed Drummond, the governor of Lower Canada, through to thojjtterior, arriving at Lake and urging him to interfere with the North- Winnipeg shorter after the Semple tragedy. The Selkirk Settlement ksu rm Settlers

Scene of the Seven Oaks Fight, ^^^ ^^^w^>

6orv \/)ry2^0 Lcrr^Jd^

[AUTOGRAPH'S from Original Documents New in Mr. Hell's Possession.] 22 The Selkirk Settlement ^M> the Settlers.

He immediately returned to Lake Superior, chief partner of the Northwest Company. and in the latter part of duly met Lord Lord Selkirk had no sooner encamped Selkirk with his force near Sault Ste. Marie. than cannon were landed and pointed at His Lordship at once decided to push on to Fort William, while a demand was made Fort William, the stated original intention on Wm. McGillivray, who was in charge, having been to reach Assiniboia via Fond for the release of John Pritchard and others du Lac (Dulr.th,) Red Lake and down the of the Hudson's Bay Co. 's people then in Red River, a route frequently followed by the fort. These were immediately allowed the Northwesters in the -early days of the to depart, McGillivray stating that he did fur trade, but this would have been impos- not hold them as prisoners, but that two sible with the boats passed by Lord Sel- other persons whom he had arrested were on kirk, and it is most probable that he had their way to Montreal for trial. always intended to seize Fort William, and From Pritchard, Nolin and others of his the present position of affairs afforded an rescued people his lordship procured the excellent pretext. details of the events which happened Before leaving Sault Ste. Marie his lord- at the settlement, and he issued a warrant ship wrote Sir John Sherbrooke that he in- for the arrest of Wm. McGillivray. tended to interfere as a justice of the peace, SELKIRK ARRESTS THE and arrest the perpetrators of the outrage. NORTHWEST PART- NERS. If he had heard of the action of his own people in the Red River country during the This warrant was served the next day on preceding spring, when they destroyed the Mr. McGillivray in the fort, and without forts of the Northwesters, seized their per- hesitation he went over to the Selkirk sons and provisions, and erected batteries camp, accompanied by K. McKenzie, of cannon on the banks of the rivers to pre- another partner, and Donald McLaughlin,' vent the passage of their boats, he care- the party being received at the Fori Wil- fully omits any mention of them in his com- liam landing by a guard of 20 soldiers, and munications to the Canadian authorities, on their arrival at the Selkirk landing thev The Northwesters at Fort William, in the were met by the soldiers of the 37th Regi- early spring, had received intelligence of ment under arms, who conducted them to the seizure of their provisions and destruc- Lord Selkirk. When one remembers the tion of forts (Gibraltar and Pembina, and instructions given to the men of the 37th A. N. McLeod was despatched with about Regiment, it seems that this was a very ir- (JO men in light canoes to protect their in- regular proceeding; but Selkirk's object terests in that quarter and carry in provis- clearly was to impress on the Northwesters ions to supply the brigades from the north. the idea that he was acting with the assent As before related, this party arrived immedi- of the Canadian Governor. ately after the killing of Semple and his McGillivray s friends offered bail, but men. McLeod evidently sympathized with were informed that they also were prisoners Cuthbert Grant in the way he had managed charged, like all the partners of the North- affairs, for he made presents to the Metis west Company present at the annual meet- who had been engaged in the fight. ing of 1814, with being responsible for the On the 12th August (181H) Lord Selkirk troubles at Red River. Warrants were arrived at the Kaministiquia and passing up issued for the arrest of other Northwest the river he encamped on the east side half officials, the mode of executing which are a mile above Fort William. best described by two officers of the De The Northwesters were busily engaged Yleuron regiment, who had left Montreal in in making ready for the interior the outfits May on leave of absence with McLeod and of goods intended for the winter's trade. other partners of the Northwest Company, The Northwesters claim to have had to witness the occurrences that would fol- fully 500 men collected there at that low Lord Selkirk's advent with his armed date, the post being tne great meeting force, so that the authorities would receive point where the brigades arriving from an impartial account from disinterested per- Montreal landed their merchandise and re- sons. ceived in return the bales of furs brought AN ACCOUNT J'.V WITNESSES. down from the interior posts, which were "Charles Brumby, lieutenant in His Maj- strung along in lines reaching to esty's Regiment de Meuron, and John Theo- the Pacific. Fort William itself con- dore Misani, also lieutenant in the same sisted of a score of well regiment, respectfully depose and say: That constructed houses used as officers', clerks', in the beginning of May last, they left and men's quarters, messrooms, stores, pow- Montreal, in company with Messrs. Alex- der magazine, workshops, etc., etc., trie ander McKenzie, Archibald Norman Mc- whole being surrounded by a palisade fully Leod, and Robert Henry, on a journey to If) ft. in height with a watch tower over the the Indian Territories in North America, gate, it was built in 1803, when the com- that being arrived at the distance of about pany moved their headquarters from Grand fifty miles from the forks of the Red river, Portage, which place was in the United in the Indian Territories, on the 23rd of States south of the international boundary. June last, in the morning, they met a num- It was named after William McGillivray, a ber of persons coming from that place, III'. M'.I.KIKK Ml' I i Settler.* 23

among whom were several of the colonists in the second : that on their landing near ol the settlement of Lord Selkirk, who in- the gate of the hut a person of the name of formed them that a battle had been fought MeNabb and another person of the name of between the colonists and the half-breed Allen, both of whom had come in the said Indians, at the distance of a mile and a half boats, approached the gate of the fort with below the fort on tin- place of residence of ('apt. D'Orsonnens, who was armed with a Robert Semple, Esquire, agent o\ the Hud- sword and pistol, and there spoke to seve -al son's Bay Company (called by them. Gover- of the partners of the Northwest Company, nor Semple), at the forks of the Red river. who stood at the gate; that some words and they understood this battle was fought passed between them, and thes'i deponents on the 19th o\ the said month: that the dl - heard some of the Northwest Company say; ponents proceeded until they reached "Yes, but we cannot admit so many people the place where they understood that in the fort at once." '1 "hat one-half of the the said Robert Semple had a post gate was then shut partly. That immedi- or establishment, and there saw a number ately on uttering the above mentioned of Indians (called half-breeds) and other words Cant. D'Orsonnens called to the men Indians assembled there; and that the de- in the boats, "en evant, aux amies, vites!" ponents remained there but a few hours, upon which the men in the boats jumped and returned to Riviere aux Morts (Xetley out, and, with muskets and fixed bayonets, '"reek. Ed.), situated at the distance of rushed into the fort, a bugle at the same about 54 miles from the said forks of the time sounding the advance: that a number lied River. 00 their way back to Fort Wil- of the men (voyageurs) in the service of the liam, that on their arrival at Riviere aux Northwest Co., who stood near the gate, Morts they saw John McDonald, who was ran towards their encampment; that these Striving from his wintering grounds, and deponents observed several of the soldiers also Simon Fra/.er, who arrived in canoes: dragging Mr. John McDonald towards the that these two persons could not have been boats, swearing at him, and usiny violence, coming from Red River, if they had come and heard him cry out, '"don't muroer me." by water from that quarter; and that the That these deponents entered the fort, saia John McDonald gave these, deponents where they saw Mr. Allen, and asked him directions to take some of his provisions on the cause of such proceedings, who answer- their return to Fort William, at a place he ed that all would be soon explained, and pointed out to them; that they also met at that the person who had ordered these the same place John McLaughlin, whom measures would answer tor the conse- they had left at Fort William when they quences, or words to that effect; that a few passed it: that they met John McGillivray minutes afterwards, Capt. Matthey arrived in Lake Minipic (Winnipeg. Fd.) on the with a reinforcement of soldiers, which the "27th day of the said month, as they were deponents conceived to have been called for going to Fort William, coming, as it ap- by the sound of the bugle; that there were peared to these deponents, and as two pieces of cannon in the fort, which the he informed them, from his winter- soldiers planted in the square, and pointed ing quarters that the several at the gate, and this armed persons above - named appeared to party was immediately in possession be entirely ignorant of what had of the fort, as no resistance whatever was taken place at the forks of the Red River offered them; that the deponents did not see on the I Oth of June, and these deponents any of the persons in the fort armed at the verily believe that they were not, and could time it was so taken possession of by the not have been at that place at the time; said armed party; that on the same day the that these deponents were informed that partners of the Northwest Company who the persons concerned in the Northwest were in the fort, nine in number, were ar- trade generally received their provisions at rested, and the deponents sawr several of a place called La bas de la Riviere, that is, them conducted as prisoners out of the tort the entry of the River Winipic, and that with a guard, and they returned about the reason of several of them going up the eight o'clock in the evening, and the next river as far as the Riviere aux Morts was day thev were put in close confinement, their disappointment in not receiving their with sentries over them; that on the even- provisions at the usual place; that when ing of the 13th the troops marched out of these deponents left Montreal, on the 1st or the fort, after having been assembled in the "2nd of May last, they saw Mr. William square by the sound of the bugle, with the MeCillivray at that place, and they found exception of '20 men under the command of him at Fort William on their return from Lieutenant W. Craffenreid, who remained Red river, where they arrived on the 10th in the fort as a guard for the night; that of July last; that on the 13th day of sentries were posted in several places, ami August the deponents, being at Fort Wil- the place had the appearance of a military liam, saw two of the boats that had come post; that the next morning Captain the preceding day with a party of men Matthey returned to the tort with a number under the Earl of .Selkirk; that these two of armed soldiers, and told Mr. \V m. Mc- boats were full of soldiers; that D'Orson- Gillivray on his arrival that he had brought neni was in the first boat and Lieut. Fauche a reinforcement, as they understood that The Selkirk Settlement and the Settle]

the gentlemen who had been arrested the hands. No outfits were allow- preceding day, instead of confining them- ed to be taken into the selves to their own rooms, had been going interior. Two clerks were nominated by about, and that arms had been preparing, or the Northwest partners to look after their words to that effect; that a short interests; but Selkirk gave them no satis- time after the Karl of Sel- faction, and finally refused to confer with

kirk appeared to take command ; them. One of these clerks, named Vanders- and some days after, he took his quarters in luys, afterwards made affidavits of what a house formerly occupied by the gentle- transpired, and I am informed by an old men of the Northwest Co., and some of his settler that some years after he came into people were also quartered in other apart- collision with Mr. Halkett, brother-in-law meuts and buildings within the fort. That of Selkirk, who wounded him with a pistol the deponents also understood that on the in Montreal. following days the books and papers of the Lord Selkirk's friends have written a Northwest Co. had been seized and searched, great deal in attempting to prove that he and saw at one time, Mr. Allen, Mr. Mc- was most careful in keeping within the law Nabb, Mr. McPherson and (apt. D'Orson- in all his proceedings, but no explanation nens, searching for papers and sealing up is given of the use he made of the soldiers trunks in different rooms. The deponents of the 37th Regiment who had received also saw some of the soldieis employed in such 3trict orders to remain neutral at all making gun carriages in a workshop, form- times and in all situations. erly used by the carpenters and men of the NORTHWESTERS SENT AS PRISONERS TO Northwest Co. That on the 22nd of Aug- MONTREAL. ust a canoe arrived from Montreal with dis- On the 18th of August Lord Selkirk patches, that the papers or despatches the placed the prisoners in charge of Lieut. men brought were taken away from them, Fauche and shipped them off to Canada. and tne canoe searched; that some of the Unfortunately, when nearine; Sault Ste. things in it were placed in charge of a Marie, one of their boats was swamped in a soldier of the 37th regiment, one of the squall, and nine persons, out of the twenty- bodyguard of the said Earl of Selkirk; that one it contained, were drowned, K. Mc- it appears to these deponents, that from the Kenzie being one of the lost. Arriving at taking of the fort, as above mentioned, un- York (Toronto), the Governor directed that til the time the deponents left it, the trade the prisoners should be taken to Kingston, and business of the Northwest Co. was en- where the Attorney-General and judges were tirely stopped: that the deponents under- then on circuit. At Kingston the judges stood the Northwest Co. were not allowed directed them to be taken to Montreal, and to send any goods or furs out of the fort, on arriving there they were all released on nor could they employ the men in their ser- bail. The crimes charged against them vice, some of whome were destined to go were no less than high treason, conspiracy into the interior of the country with goods and murder. and ammunition for the natives, and to sup- Lord Selkirk, after the departure of the ply their different trading posts; others to partners, fitted out canoes belonging to the go down to Montreal with furs and other Northwesters with property found in the articles for exportation, as the deponents fort, and having seduced some employes and understood." coerced others, sent them inland to the (Signed) Charles Brumby, Lieut. Hudson's Bay Company's posts. Theodore Misani, Lieut. WARRANTS ISSUED FOR ARREST OK SELKIRK. Sworn at Montreal the 16th of Sept., 1810. Win. McGillivray, after his release on arrest of Sel- Lieut. Fauche, one of Selkirk's DeMeu- bail, secured warrants for the others, for ron officers who returned from Ft. William, kirk, Capt. Matthey, and some the and which came under his notice, entirely their high-handed acts in seizing North- agrees with that given above. west Company's property in Upper Canada (Fort William being within Canada and far THE NORTHWESTERS PROTEST. east of the Indian territories.) A deputy- The partners of the Northwest company sheriff with a posse was sent up to Fort being confined as prisoners, signed a solemn William, and arrested Selkirk and the other protest to the acts committed by Selkirk persons named in the warrants, but they and his armed associates, the persons sign- called in the ever-ready De Meurons, who, ing being Wm. McGillivray, Kenneth with fixed bayonets, turned the tables by Mackenzie, .John Macdonell, John Mc- making the law officers prisoners, and after- Laughlin, Hugh MeGillis, and Daniel wards ejected them from the fort. Selkirk Mackenzie. It is needless to say that no refused to recognize the warrants, and went attention was paid to this protest. Lord on seizing all the establishments of the Selkirk took possession of all the stores and Northwesters about Lake Superior, and merchandise of the Northwest company as went so far as to take possession of the a means to destroy their business which he goods and furs stored in the post at Fond now had the means of doing, the chiefs du Lac (Duluth), which being on American of the company being in his soil, had paid the U. S. customs duties. 'he Selkirk Settlement and the Settli us. 20

Here, also, prisoners wok- made and taken they would be protected by the DeMeuron to Fort William. soldiers. A few colonists started at once on snow shoes SEIZURE OF RAINY LAKE POST, for Fort Douglas, and arrived before the warm spring sun broke np the One party of Selkirk's men, under com- Lee on the rivers and lakes, but it was not 01 Fuller went inland to Rainy Lake mand until dune that the main party arrived on to the Northwest I o.'s post there (now Fort the site of their former homes, when they Francis) and demanded its surrender, but were joined by Lord Selkirk and his men was in charge, drove them otL Dease, who from Fort William. Selkirk then sent ;m officer and band of De Meurons with two eannon to invest the TIMES OF SCARCITY. plaee, the offioer informing Dease that if he To find food for such a large number of did not surrender he could not be answer- people taxed the energetic Selkirk, and the able for the conduct of his soldiers. Run- river was largely drawn on for the fish it ning short of provisions Dease had to cap- contained, and from all accounts the poor itulate and his post was turned into an colonists had a very hard time of it until establishment of Lord Selkirk, who removed the small quantity of seed they planted in some of the buildings across the river to the the spring brought forth a harvest, which Q. S. side, apparently not feeling safe on this year was an enormous one for the acre- the Canadian side, which was the territory age under crop. But the demand of Upper Canada. This fort was the key to exceeded the supply, and in the the whole Northwest Territories and its autumn the settlers were again possession fully deprived the Northwesters compelled to leave the settlement and pro- of any chance of carrying on their trade ceed to their old time winter quarters at from Lake Superior. Pembina, in order to be within reach of the This state of affairs continued during the buffalo. During the winter many of them winter. Lord Selkirk remained about Lake were forced to travel on foot to the Mis- Superior, the Northwesters held Fort Doug- souri Coteau in search of food, the buffalo las and the Red river posts, and the Selkirk having disappeared from the country bor- colonists wintered at Jack Fish River at dering on the Red River. the north end of Lake Winnipeg, but in the AT LAST THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT INTER- early spring a general activity was mani- FERES. fested by all parties. Notwithstanding the frequent appeals S THE DE METROS ADVANCE. made to it in England by the partners of In February (1817) Lord Selkirk, from the Northwest Company, and in Canada by his headquarters in the Northwest com- Lord Selkirk, the British Government had pany's Fort William, despatched Capt. invariably remained passive, and seemingly D'Orsonnens with a large band of his sol- declined to interfere between the rival in- diers fully armed and equipped, to the terests, or declare the legality or illegality Red River, the expedition going by way of of the claims of either party. The North- the Rainy River, Lake of the Woods, and westers notified the Government that they from the Northwest Angle striking across held the claims of Lord Selkirk as illegal, the country by land in the direction of what and would resist to the utmost, by force if is now known as the Dawson road, but ar necessary, any attempt of his lordship to riving at a point on the Red River some interfere with their trading operations. distance south of the entrance of the As- After calmly reviewing the whole circum- siniboine. Following down the Red River stances of the proceedings at Red River, the party diverged to the west and came cne must arrive at the conclusion that to the Assiniboine in the neighborhood of neither party can be wholly blamed for the St. James' parish, where they made scaling dire results of the actions of the chief ladders and prepared to assault Fort Doug- officials on either side. Governor las, then occupied by the Northwesters. Miles Macdonnell, assuredly acting under Taking advantage of a wild stormy night, the instructions of Lord Selkirk, annoyed the leader, guided by friendly Indians and the Northwesters in their trade, and fol- whites, marched to the fort and quietly lowed it up by acts of violence to the per- placing the ladders in position scaled sons and property of people employed by the walls and quickly overpowered the Northwest Co. The Northwesters re- the occupants. All the princi- senting this, retaliated. The crowning act pal inhabitants were made prisoners of the whole disturbance, the killing of and the others were turned out to shift for Gov. Semple and his men, without doubt themselves, which they did by going to the was the result of chance. The North- ten*s of their friends, the freemen, living westers were under orders to pass at a dis- along the banks of the Red and Assiniboine tance from Fort Douglas, and were doing so rivers. when Semple foolishly went out with a The fort taken, news was dispatched in party inferior as to point of numbers, and all directions, and the exiled colonists at rashly brought on the conflict. Semple Jackfish river were informed that they evidently belieyed he was in the right and might return to their homesteads, when that the Northwesters were interlopers in The Selkirk Settlement and the Skttlers. the country, while on the other hand the many persons they returned to Canada and Northwesters had occupied the country and made an exhaustive report. had spent great sums of money in exploring BELKIBB EXTINGUISHES THE INDIAN TITLE. and opening up the fur countries, reaching Before Selkirk left the settlement he held to the shores of the Arctic and Pacific, a meeting with his colonists, when he gave years before the Hudson's Bay Co. at- as free grants the lands which tempted to follow them, as the Cana- had been improved by the settlers. dians had followed in the footsteps of the He also settled his De Meurons French, who, to certain distances had pene- in the neighborhood of Point Douglas, and trated forty years before the Hudson's Bay so disposed them that on an alarm being Co. had ventured to establish a single post given they could be assembled for offensive inland from the shores of the Bay. The and defensive purposes. Company laid claim by a lately-discovered Promises were made to the colonists, interpretation of a royal charter a hundred some of which were never kept, but whether and fifty years old, while the North- through the neglect of Lord Selkirk or his westers held by right of inability to carry them out is not very clear. discovery and occupation. At last the Im- One grievence long held by some of the set- perial Government were forced to recognize tlers was the breaking of his promise that a the situation, and on February 6, 1817, Presbyterian clergyman should be sent out at the very date when Selkirk was sending to them. His lordship had never, it ap- his armed forces from Fort William to Fort pears, taken any steps to extinguish the In- Douglas the Governor-General of Canada was dian title to the lands he had acquired from instructed in the following terms: the Hudson's Bay company, and now, "You will also require under similar pen- chiefly through the influence of Chief Pe- alties the restitution of all forts, buildings guis, he managed to collect together the or trading stations, with the property which head men of several petty bands of Indians, they contain, which may have been seized who claimed the lands along the Assini- or taken possession of by either party, to the boine and Red River as their hunting party who originally established the same, grounds. Though some of these were com- and who were in possession of them pre- paratively new-comers, for their residence vious to the recent disputes between the was of but a few years' date, their claim to two companies. You will require also the the land was undoubtedly good by right of removal of any blockade or impediment by conquest and occupation. On the 18th of which any party may have attempted to July, 1817, the Indians assembled and con- prevent the free passage of traders or others veyed to his lordship "all that tract of land of His Majesty's subjects or the natives of adjacent to Red River and Assiniboine the country with their merchandise, furs, river, beginning at the mouth of the Red provisions and other effects, throughout the river and extending along the same as far lakes, rivers, roads and every other usual as the Great Forks, at the mouth of Red route or communication heretofore used for Lake river, and along the Assiniboine river the purpose of the fur trade in the interior as far as Muskrat river, otherwise called of North America, and the full and free Riviere des Champignons, and extending to permission of all persons to pursue their the distance of six miles from Fort Douglas usual and accustomed trade without hind- on every side, and likewise from Fort Daer, rance or molestation." v (at Pembina) and also from the Great Forks, COMMISSIONERS ARE SENT TO RED RIVER. and in other parts extending in breadth to the distance of two English statute miles Col. Coltman and Major Fletcher were back from the banks of the said rivers, on appointed by the Governor-General of Can- each side," the consideration being that proceed to the fur countries to see ada to Selkirk should deliver annually, on the 10th that these instructions were carried out and October, to the Saulteau and Cree Indians secure full information regarding the acts of at The Forks of the Assiniboine and at both parties. Portage la Prairie, respectively, one hun- arriving at Fort William in the early On dred pounds of good tobacco. This deed summer the Commissioners found that the was signed by five Indians, Lord Selkirk, had been arrested and impris- sheriff, who Miles Macdonnell, Thomas Thomas, James oned by Lord Selkirk when he attempted to Bird and five others. serve a warrant on him, had, on the depart- This business attended to, his lordship ture of his Lordship for Red River, seeured took his departure tor Canada via Minne- release and officially taken possession of his sota and overland. the place and returned it to the Northwest IN CANADIAN COURTS. Co. This sheriff afterwards sued Selkirk THE for damages and was awarded £o00 dam- Much discussion had taken place in ages. Arrived at the Red River they im- Canada over the troubles in the fur coun- mediately executed their commission by tries during 1816-17, the Montreal papers compelling each party to restore to the being the common medium through which other the property and forts taken by force writers ventilated their views on the situa- during the disturbances. After collecting tion. On Selkirk's arrival in Upper Canada information and taking depositions from from the Red River country in 1817 he I'm Selkirk Settlement vm> the Settlers.

found awaiting him four charges, made Unaware of the surprise that awaited against him by the partners of the North- them, the Northwesters arrived at the port- west Company. These won' for having age and made preparations to cross over stolen eighty three muskets at Fort \\ il- it. The soldiers then made prisoners of five liam; the forcible taking possession of Fort partners of the Northwest Company, be- William in 1816; an assault and false im- sides a large number of the junior officials prisonment of tlif deputy sheriff; resistance and voyageurs. The othcers were Angus to legal arrest. The magistrates dismissed Shaw, J. G. MeTavish, J, D. Campbell, the nrsl charge and accepted bail for his ap- Win. Mcintosh and Mr. Frobisher. The pearance to answer for the others. Com- first two were sent to England; Campbell missioner Coltman had taken bail from Sel- was forwarded via Moose Factory and the kirk to appeal' at Montreal, but the courts Ottawa River and Montreal, while Fro- there changed the trial to Upper Canada. bisher and some of his men were kept in In September, ISIS, his lordship was tried confinement at York Factory until October, at Sandwich on a charge of "a con- when they managed to escape, and finding spiracy to ruin the trade of the an Indian canoe, started for the interior, Northwest Company," on which occasion reaching. Lake Winnipeg in safety, but a disagreement arose between the grand without arms or provisions. They suffered jury and the Attorney -General, John Bev- so dreadfully from exposure and hunger erley Robinson, on the latter's claim of a that poor Frobisher died in misery in No- right to attend the grand jury and examine vember. The remainder of the party, leav- the witnesses. The trial never came oft' ing the body unburied, after a few days' and Selkirk left for England. After his travel, reached a Northwester's fort at departure a true bill was found at York and Moose Lake. were given against him of €500 for verdicts PROGRESS OK THE SETTLEMENT. the imprisonment of Deputy-Sheriff Smith, and floOO for the false arrest and imprison- The Northwesters' Fort Gibraltar could ment of McKenzie, one of the Northwest not be restored to them by the commission- Co. 's partners, at Fort William. It is ers, for the simple reason that it had probable that the Northwesters brought been totally destroyed, in 1816, great influence to bear on the authorities in by Selkirk's men, but after

Canada to prevent the trial of some of the Governor - General's proclamation their employees, but several of those was enforced the Northwesters went to charged with crimes were actually tried by work and speedily erected a new fort bear- jury before Chief Justice Powell, at York, ing the old name and occupied it until the in October, 1818, but verdicts of "not coalition of the companies in 1821. guilty" were rendered. At Fort Douglas, and lower down the Selkirk's death. Red River, the Selkirk colonists began to till the ground and erect new dwellings. On his return to England, in 1818, Lord Many of the De Meurons crossing the river Selkirk seems to hive become broken down to take land on its east side. in health, and crossed over to the In 1818, when there was every prospect continent in search of rest, and of a bountiful harvest, the grasshoppers ap- a milder climate than England peared and destroyed the crops, leaving the affords, but he never recovered from the colonists in a state of despondency, which effect of the troubles encountered in Amer- was not lessened by the arrival of some ica. He died on the 8th April, 1820, at French families from Lower Canada, ac- Pau, in the south of France, surrounded by companied by two priests, as the more per- his wife and daughters. sons there would be to feed the greater the NAVAL OPERATIONS ON LAKE WINNIPEG. difficulty in obtaining provisions. Once Even after the trials in Canada in 1818, again, in the autumn, the people made their the Northwesters were arrested by force in way to Pembina, in search of that never- the fur country. In 1818 William Williams failing resource to them—the buffalo. By was sent out from England to Red River as this time the colonists were more versed in an official of the Hudson's Bay Co., winter- the manner of chasing the "wild cattle of ing that year at Cumberland House, on the the plains," and in consequence of the near Saskatchewan. The next summer he ap- approach of the animals to Pembina an plied his knowledge of naval operations (he abundance of food was obtained. had been a sailor) to the fitting out of a In 1819 the Canadians settledat Pembina, small schooner for service on Lake Winni- while the colonists returned to the peg. Arming the vessel with cannon, and settlement at the Forks, where, though manning it with the ever-ready DeMeuron they sowed and planted, they reaped not, soldiers, left by Selkirk as peaceable tillers for the grasshoppers bred early and soon of the soil, the new governor proceeded to devoured all the green herbage, so that no Grand Portage, at the mouth of the Sas- alternative offered but to travel up to katchewan river, which he took possession Pembina, as they had so often done before. of, so as to seize the brigades of the North- Almost in despair they settled for the west Co., as they arrived from the interior, winter on the banks of the Pembina, but en route to Fort William. during the ensuing winter they secured 28 I'm. Selkirk Settlement wi> the Settlers. plenty of provisions, saving enough to take tion the route to Canada was abandoned for back a supply of pemican for consumption the transport of goods, all the business of during the seeding time at the settlement the company being done by way of Hudson's in 18*20. But the plague of locusts still was Bay, and so it was, that the Canadians, upon them, and during the winters of 1820- 40 years after, knew little or nothing of the 21, and 1822-28, they were forced back to Red River country or its people. The com- Pembina. The last season, however, they pany practically ruled the Northwest under saved part of their crops. Sir George Simpson, until his death about 1860—though in 1835 a council was chosen COALITION of the rival companies. from the people resident in the settlement. In 1821, chiefly through the efforts of He was a man of great tact, and managed Edward Ellice, (afterwards the Rt. Hon.), admirably the affairs of a colony, composed the Hudson's Bay and Northwest Com- as it was of English, Scotch, Irish, French, panies consolidated their interests under Metis and Indians, with their conflicting in- the title of the first named, securing from terests. He annually made the voyage to the British government, on 6th December, Red river from Montreal in a bark canoe 1821, certain exclusive privileges or trading propelled by the paddles of a large crew of rights, in the Indian Territories, which trained and hardy voyageurs, and on one included all the lands to the occasion continued his journey by passing

SIR GEORGE SIMPSON. north and west of the Hudson's Bay over the great prairies of the Northwest territories in British North America, for a and the Rocky Mountains, across Behring's term of 20 years. It may here be said that strait, through Russia in Asia and Europe, before the expiration of this period, namely and on to England, from whence he sailed in 1838, this license was superseded by one back to Montreal—the first man to pass for a further term of 21 years, dating from around the world north of the equator. 1 838. It was when the second license was SWISS IMMIGRANTS. about to expire, and a renewal was asked for, that the Canadian government pressed In the autumn of 1821 a party of immi- a claim for the Hudson's Bay Territories, grants from Switzerland arrived at York and contested the legality of the company's Factory. They were induced to leave Eu- charter, sending representatives to England rope in the hope that they would make for that purpose, the agitation being kept quiet, steady and peaceable settlers, but on up from 1857 to 1869, when the transfer their arrival in the colony, in the early took place. winter, after a very arduous journey at an In 1821 the means of both companies were inclement season, it was found that most of nearly exhausted through competition and them were rather of the artizan class than extravagance, and both parties welcomed a agriculturists. On the flyleaf of a church termination of the strife. After the coali- register kept by the Rev. John West, and I'm Selkirk Settlement vm» the Settlers. 29

now on deposit in the English Church ar« Btruoted, oocupied Fort Gibraltar, and it ehives, is a memorandam that 171 colonists will be interesting to notioe here that the left Europe for the settlement in 1821, and marriage register of the Rev. John West, six children were born on the voyage, leav- under date of April IS, 1822, contains an ing a total of it;. Next year eight of these entry of the solemnization of a marriage, left for Canada or the United states, and George Simpson attesting as witness, at fourteen were dead. Nearly all these peo- Fort Gibraltar, the next six entries made ple left the country four years later. being of marrisgeB at Fort Qarry, one of which was witnessed by Simpson, while a \ M.W Q0\ KKNOK. star is placed opposite the first entry, From the date of Sample's death in drawing attention to a foot note, 1816, to 1822, Alexander McDonell was, which reads that Fort Gibraltar when cironmstances permitted, acting as is "now named Fort Garry." Without

governor of the colony. In 1 S2*J Captain doubt, on that date Simpson changed the Bulger entered on the duties of the gover- name to remove any feeling of resentment nor's office, George Simpson (afterwards Sir still existing amongst the Northwestern George) being the governor-in-chief. element at the occupation of it by the new company.

Intkkior Fort Garry, 1875.

In 1822 Mr. Halket, a relative and execu- Nicholas Garry, a member of the Hud- tor of Lord Selkirk, visited the colony and son's Bay Company's Council, visited the enc eavored to arrange its affairs, but the country about this date, his name appear- continual trouble experienced by the settlers ing, with that of Simpson, as witness to the made this an almost hopeless task. He, marriage of Thomas Isbester with Mary however, managed to ameliorate their con- Kennedy at Norway House on the 12th of dition somewhat by throwing off one-fifth of August,' 1821. their debts. An arrangement was made BUFFALO wool COMPANY. whereby goods were sold at the following advance on invoice cost: First 33' was While Gov. Bulger acted as governor of added, then this value was increased bv 58 the colony many schemes were entered into per cent., *o make the retail cost to the con- by the settlers, such as the formation of the sumer. "Buffalo Wool Company." The wool of the FORT GARRY 8 ORIGIN. buffalo was to be utilized for domestic pur- The Hudson's Bay Company, as recon- poses and export, while the hides of the 30 The Selkirk Settlement and the Settlers.

animals were to be tanned. It is sufficient compelled to fly in haste to the to say that it was a failure, the concern Little Stony Mountain. Their winding up, with a loss of over .$12,000, in houses, which were almost invariably the year 1825. erected on the first or lower bank of the Red Even in 1823 but few plows were in use, river, were washed away. The previous the hoc being the common implement used winter had been a very severe one, the free- in farming operations. Gov. Bulger, re- men residing about Pembina losing many of presenting tho Selkirk heirs, met with some their people by exposure and starvation, opposition from the fur-trading authorities notwithstanding the efforts of the colonists of the Hudson's Bay Co., who prevented to supply them with food, under the direc- the settlers from trading horses, leather and tion of Donald McKenzie, the head officer provisions from the freemen, but on a pro- of the Hudson's Bay Co. Now it was the per representation being sent to England turn of the colonists to suffer, as had often these restrictions were removed, though been the case before. Not until the flood trading in furs was considered a species of reached to sixteen feet over usual high high treason, when indulged in by the water mark did the raging waters show any colonists. sign of abating, and though the torrent first GOV. PELLY. surged over the river banks on the 2nd of Gov. Bulger resigned in 1823 and was May, it was not until the middle of June succeeded by Capt. R. P. Pelly, the fur that the waters receded to below the level interests being watched over by Donald of the banks of the stream. Nearly every McKenzie. possession was scattered and ruined, and the The company now issued, as a circula- wretched people met to consider what course tory medium, notes of the value of one they should pursue. Finally the Scotch and pound, five shillings and one shdling. It French decided to begin anew the erection may be said that silver coins were unknown of houses, with the intention of remaining in the country until troops arrived in 1846. in the country, but the DeMeurons and Soon after Capt. Felly's advent a large Swiss, almost to the last individual, deter- band of cattle was brought into the coun- mined to leave the settlement. On the try and sold to the colonists. An experi- 23rd June, assisted by the Hudson's Bay mental farm was started at Hayfield on the company's officials with provisions, 24.3 east side of the Red River, about three persons siarted for Fort Snelling in the miles above the entrance of the Assiniboine, neighborhood of where now stands St. Paul, but, like the Buffalo Wool company affair, Minnesota. They arrived in safety at their gross mismanagement occurred, and it journey's end, after passing through the proved an utter failure after a sinkage of lands of the warlike Sioux, and many of $10,000 was made. their descendants are to-day among the the first red river cart. most prominent and prosperous of the West- ern States. At this time the famous Red River cart The colonists who remained set to work was in common use. I find in an unpub- with a will, and, while some erected new lished journal of a fur trader that the first dwellings, on the highest bank of the Red cart ever used on the Red River plains was River, others sowed what little seed had made in the Northwesters' fort at Pembina been preserved. The harvest was a gener- in 1801, when the wheel was a solid block ous one, and the following winter was of wood, about three feet in diameter. passed by the people in enjoyment of an The next year an improvement was made abundance of provisions. in the wheels, as announced in the following paragraph I have extracted from the manu- THE COUNCIL OF ASSINIBOIA. script referred to : "They (the carts) are For some years after matters in the colony about four feet high and perfectly straight, were very quiet, the harvests being good the spokes being placed perpendicularly and provisions in plenty. It was in 1835 without the least bending outwards, and that Sir George Simpson became the presi- only four in each wheel; the carts will carry dent of an executive body known as the about five pieces (450 pounds), and are government or council of Assini- drawn by one horse." Little improvement boia. This council was composed was afterwards made in these primitive car- originally of the governor of Rupert's Land, riages, and even to-day an occasional cart, the governor of the Selkirk colony (who drawn by an ox or a horse, may be seen was also a chief factor in the Hudson's Bay parading the main business street of the Co.), the Roman Catholic bishop, two capital of the Canadian Northwest. clergymen of the English church, several G unn informs us that in 1825 iron was retired officers of the company, and a few worth four shillings a pound in the settle- residents of the colony. ment, and it cost £4 sterling to get the iron- MISSIONARIES. work of a plow. In 1820 the Rev. John West arrived in THE GREAT FLOOD. the settlement from England to serve as In the spring of 1826 the Red river over- chaplain for the Hudson's Bay Company, flowed its banks, and spread over the coun- and immediately visited * the company's try for a great distance. The settlers were posts throughout the country, marrying and I'm i Selkirk Settlement \ni. phj Settlers.

baptizing the people. The first entry in settler''. Resides an experimental farm, one the baptism register, which is still in exis- of these was the growth of flax, but while tence, is dated September !», 1820, being the plant grew well, and abundant harvests that of William, son of Thomas and Phoebe were gathered, the result of the venture

Bonn. He administered the rite of baptism was. i failure, on account of scarcity of on 239 occasions before the olose of L822, laborers and absence of skilled workmen. and during that time married 54 couples. The next undertaking was the formation The clergyman's fees were, for marriages, f> of "The Tallow Company"' in 1832. Nearly shillings; for burials. 2 shillings and 6 pence, 500 head of cattle were secured in the set- and for certificates, 2 shillings and *> pence. tlement and placed under the care of herd- In the autumn of 1823 the Rev. D. Jones ers who were inexperienced and incompetent,

replaced Mr. West, with the title of assist- with the result that 1 1 1 animals were lost ant chaplain, hut after August IS, 1825, he during the first year. Though the investors assumed the title of chaplain. The registers had been promised great profits from the contain entries made by George Harbidge, hide and tallow export trade, none appeared, missionary school- master. In 1825 the Rev. and the company was broken up in 1834. W. Cookran arrived in the settlement, and In 1833 a joint stock herding company shortly after settled at the rapids, in St. was formed with a capital of IT, 200. Two Andrews parish, Mr. Jones at the time re- men were sent to Missouris for sheep to siding at what is now known as St. John's, start a ranche, but owing to personal dis- though it then formed a part of Kildonan. agreement between them they pushed on to It was not until the 28th of October, 1853, Kentucky to make their purchase. Some

First Anglican Chtrcr-

that St. John's church was consecrated by 1,475 sheep were purchased at from five to that name. From 1821 to 1830 a large seven shillings each, and the drove started number of retired officials and servants of for Red River. Overdriven and illused by the company became residents of the settle- the carelessness of those in charge only 251 ment, most of them taking up land north of were surviving at the end of the journey. Fort Garry along the Red river. Owing to Having gone through this experience of the attitude of the French Metis to the sheep raising, something else must Hudson's Bay Company, Governor Simpson be undertaken, so, in 1837 Cap- in 1831-34 erected, in the heart of the Eng- tain Cary was brought out from lish settlement, the establishment ever since England by the H. B. Company with known as the Lower or Stone Fort. a full staff of servants, and outfits of the most improved farming implements. The \ SPECULATION MANIA PREVAILS. buildings of old Fort Garry Were utilized as The Selkirk settlers were greatly in debt to farm houses and barns, the farm itself being the Selkirk heirs, and as the market for situated on the lands adjoining, or what are farm produce was extremely limited, they to-day known as the Hudson's Bay Flats. were unable to pay off the existing indebt- From 1S37 to 1S47 the farm flourished to a edness. Several schemes were entered into small extent, but old settlers inform me in the hope that the export of farm produce that the employees engaged there ate the would increase the direct revenue of the bulk of the produce raised, and that the 32 lin Selkirk Settlement and phi Settlers. costly experiment ended in the breaking up unwritten laws, called for by the necessities of the farm, after great loss to the Hudson's of the situation. Chiefs were elected who Bay Company. sternly enforced the rules agreed to by all Some time before, during the existence of who enjoyed the protection afforded by the the experimental mania, the Company im- presence, in the Sioux country, of a semi- ported from England, via Hudson Bay, the military force. Cuthbert Grant, the old celebrated stallion Fireaway, whose de- Northwester, was denominated the scendants are still highly prized by the Red "Warden of the plains." Many an en- River people. counter took place between the Metis and In 1835 the Hudson's Bay Company pur- the Indians, but almost invariably the chased from the Selkirk heirs all their rights latter were beaten with great loss, and they in the colony, with the lands included in finally sued for peace with the mixed the grant made to Lord Selkirk in 1811, bloods. Much trouble arose at times be- the price paid being variously stated at tween the Company and the Metis on from £36,000 to £80,000. account of the fur trading proclivities of LAW MAKING. the latter. The English and Scotch settlers, while In the same year (1835) the council of As- perhaps indulging to a limited extent in siniboia was called together, when Sir Geo. buffalo hunting, were the agriculturists of Simpson explained that the time had arriv- the colony and bowed to the dictum of the ed when it was necessary make laws for the legal authorities moie readily than their government of the population, which had French neighbors and friends. risen to about 5,000 souls. Accordingly, In 1839 Adam Ihom appeared in the the territory was divided into four districts, settlement as recorder of Rupert's Land. in each of which quarterly courts, presided He acted as a judge in the colony and was over by a magistrate, were established. paid by the company until the year 1854, These courts had power to pronounce final when he departed. judgments in civil cases where the debt or damage claimed did not exceed five THOMAS SIMPSON, THE ARCTIC EXPLORER. pounds. Appeals might be allowed at the The next year Thomas Simpson, who had, discretion of the magistrate to a supreme with Mr. Dease, made most valuable ex- court, which was the council of As- plorations from the mouth of the McKenzie siniboia itself. In cases involving river, eastward along the coastline of the claims of more than ten pounds, and in Arctic ocean, when proceeding across the all criminal cases, a jury was to decide plains south of Pembina, en route to Eng- by its verdict the facts in dispute. land to make his report, was either killed The council als'a levied an import duty of by his companions or committed suicide, seven and one-half per cent, on all goods (the actual facts have never yet been brought into the country, and while guard revealed.) His body was brought ing the fur-trading interests, they also back to the settlement and placed an export duty on provisions and live some degree of obscurity surrounds stock, the growth or produce of the colony. the circumstances attending his burial. It A gaol was constructed immediately after is claimed that owing to the strong preju- the passing of these laws, the sum of £300 dices of the Scotch on account of his sup- having been given as a gift to the colony by posed suicide, the remains were not given the fur-trading branch of the Hudson's Bay Christian burial. Having searched the Co. burial register of the St. John's church, I On the 28th April, 1836, the first trial by find therein an entry signed by Win. Cock- jury took place, when one Louis St. Dennis ran, the resident Anglican clergyman, to was convicted of theft and sentenced to be the following effect: "Thomas Simpson, flogged in public. The sentence was at once chief trader, Hudson's Bay Co.'s service. carried into effect, to the indignation of the Oct. 15th, 1841. About 32 years." It was assembled crowd, who expressed their feel- impossible for the clergyman to have made ing by throwing stones at the flogger. the entry without performing the duties of TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES. his office. AN INDIAN HUM;. About this date the Red River people The first execution in Assiniboia were beginning to open up a traffic with took the American settlements on the Mississ- place on the 5th September, 1845, when a Saulteau Indian killed a Sioux, ippi, and several men had established stores who was visiting Fort Garry, by shooting on their own account. Andrew McDermot him, the and Robert Logan, who names are borne by bullet, after passing through the Sioux's body entered that of a Saulteau, also estates and street in the city of Winnipeg who fell dead. The murderer >vas hung a of to-day, were among the most prominent. from scaffold erected over the gaol gate, which Trading in furs was, however, strictly pro- building stood a little to the northwest of hibited. The French were, as a rule, the Fort Garry. Uunters of the country, gathering in great BRITISH TROOPS. camps for the purpose of proceeding to the buffalocountry, situated towards theMissouri Various reasons have been given for the river. The camps were regulated by certain necessity for the presence of British troops i i i\ i Til Si i;iv Sj in i \i ini' iin: M:tti.ki;> :;::

in Assinihoia. It is Likely that the compli- guns and congratulated themselves on their cations arising oal oi the settlement of the victory, Oregon boundary line induced the British AMERICANS PURCHASE INMAN lands. governmen to despatch, vis Xork Factory, The Americans extinguished the Indian the 6th Royal regiment (347 men) under title to the lands along the upper Red river Col. Urofton, in 1846; though it is possible in I Sol, Governor Ramsay, of St. ( Paul, that the insecurity of the Hudson's i;.;\ ',>. Minnesota, visiting Pembina for in their exclusive fur trading privileges that pur- pose. Much disappointment was oaused tin' company to represent strongly experienced by those settlers of the colony who claimed t«> tin government the necessity for the land on the American side of the presence of troops The 6th regiment de- boundary on the grounds of squatters' rights parted in ISIS, ami were suc- when they failed to get their claims ceeded by a force of 70 pen- recognized. sioners the Bameyear,areinforcement coming T1IK FLOOD OK 1852. out the following mmsou. These pensioners A flood, almost as extensive as that whic were commanded by a Major Caldwell, who ruined the settlers in 1826, was experience also acted as govei nor. in 1852, the damage ensuing being much greater than on the former occasion, as the MONOPOLY IN PURS DISAPPEARS. colonists possessed more destructible pro- In the spring of 1849 a serious disturb- perty and the population was vastly larger. ance took place on the occasion of the trial Every assistance was rendered to the suffer- of a French half-breed named Wm. Sayre, ers by the governor and the bishop of on the charge of illegally trading for furs Rupert's Land, the clergy generally doin^ with the Indians, contrary to the laws of all in their power to encourage and help the the land, founded on the terms of the Hud- people. The Rev. John Black had arrived

' - 7- y- iJP

KILDONAN CHURCH. P.EV. JOHN BLAf'K. son's Bay Company charter of 1(570. On the previous year to become pastor to the the 17th May, when the trial took place, Presbyterians, and he labored faithfully the Mais gathered in force. They were then as he did until his death in 1882. armed, and plainly avowed their intention COPRT JUDGES. of resisting the punishment of the prisoner In 18">4 Mr. Thorn was succeeded as clerk if he was found guilty of the charge. No to the court (the position of recorder violence was offered to any person by the having been abolished) by Judge Johnson, crowd, but the authorities recognized that who held the office until 1858, when Dr. Bunn they would be unable to enforce the de- was installed, attending to the duties until cision of the court if it should prove un- his death in 1861. (Jovtrnor Me- favorable to the prisoner, and, although he Wm. Tavish then filled the position for a pleaded guilty, he was allowed to depart, on year, until John Black took over the office. some quibble of his claim to having received permission from an official to trade. The POPULAR AGITATIONS. verdict was received by the waiting crowd As the population of the settlementsettlem in- as an admission by the company that the creased, in like ratio did the difficulties of monopoly in the fur trade was broken, and administering the laws. The most of the with loud cries they tired salutes from their people became dissatisfied with tin form of 34 I III; Ski. K IKK SETTLEMENT and THE SETTLERS.

government existing, which was practically line when hard pressed by the U. S. troops. the creation of the Hudson's Hay Company. On the suppression of the uprising large By the year L867 a considerable trade was numbers of these Indians crossed into As- carried on between the colony and the siniboia, and on the 4th March, 1864, Major United States, where the people, in their Hatch, the officer commanding the Amer- annual trips to St. Paul, had presented to ican troops stationed at Pembina formally them the evidences of the westward march applied to Mr. Dallas, who was governor of of civilization and settlement in the West- the Red River Settlement, for permission to ern States of the Union. cross with his soldiers for the purpose of at- PETITIONS TO IAN ADA. tacking the refugee Sioux on British soil. (rev. Dallas, within twenty-four hours, Petitions were sent in 1857 to the legisla- granted permission, only stipulating that tive assembly of Canada, praying that the no blood should be shed in the houses or Canadian Government would take steps to enclosures of the settlers, but Major Hatch open up communication between Upper never availed himself of the opportunity. Canada and the Red River, via Lake Su- Many American writers have fallen perior, and extend to the settlers the pro- into the error of stating tection of Canadian laws and institutions. that Governor Dallas refused Hatch's The Canadian Assembly took immediate request, but the writer has in his action in the premises, and, as the Hudson's possession copies of the correspondence Bay Company were then asking from the which passeed between the gentlemen to Imperial Government an extension of their the above effect. The truth appears to be license for exclusive trading privileges in that Major Hatch forwarded the corres- the Indian territories, they protested the pondence to Washington, and was immedi- claims of the company and asked that the ately ordered to refrain from crossing the Red River country be handed over to Can- boundary line. During the Indian troubles, ada. Representatives were sent by Canada communication between St. Paul and Fort to England and negotiations were entered into with the Imperial Government. An immense mass of correspondence on this matter has been published by both the Dominion Government and that of Ontario in connection with the settlement of the western boundary of Ontario. It was not until 1869 that an amicable settlement of the question was arrived at. CANADA TAKES POSSESSION. The Hudson's Bay and Indian territories became part of Canada and the Hudson's Bay Company received as an equivalent £300,000, and extensive land grants. Troops were sent to Red River in 1857, the Royal Canadian Rifles furnishing the detachment, which consisted of 120 men. This force left Red River in 1861, via York Factory. THE FIRST STEAMBOAT. An event occurred in 1862 which created great excitement in the settlement. A steam boat of the flat-bottomed build, which had been constructed on the Upper Red River made its appearance at Fort Garry, bearing several passengers of note and a goodly as- SENATOR SCHULTZ. sortment of freignt. The delight of the Garry was almost entirely cut off. Dr. settlers was almost unbounded as they Schultz, in a speech delivered in the Cana- viewed the good ship Anson Northup, the dian House of Commons, described a jour- first steam-propelled craft to ply the waters ney made by him from St. Paul to the settle- of the Red River. ment, when on encountering bands of the SIOUX MASSACRE IN MINNESOTA. Sioux, the explanation that he was a British subject acted as a certificate for free pas- In 1862 the Sioux Indians in Minnesota, sage. Many of the Sioux who crossed to taking advantage of the American civil war, the north of the line never returned to the took to the war path and massacred many United States, though they have never been of the settlers in the State. Great fears recognized by government as other than were entertained by the Red River settle- foreign Indians. ment people that an attack would be made on them, but the Sioux were too wily NEW-COMERS ON THE SCENE. to take such a step, and had arranged In 1863 a change was made in the affairs to retreat across the International of the Hudson's Bay Co., by the sale to a Thus Selkirk Settlement \m> the Settlers. 3fl

new company of all the property and Macdougall announced himself as governor, privileges of the old concern. and issued proclamations, to which no at- Canadians and Americans had arrived in tention was paid. the settlement, principally after L857, when THE RIKL GOVERNMENT. the surveys ami explorations conducted by Meetings were held at Fort Garry and officials of the Canadian government drew elsewhere, guards were placed by the French attention to the country. Numerous ex- to prevent Governor Macdougall and his ploring expeditions had passed through the people from coming into the country, and Northwest en route to the far north from then the French took possession of Fort the time Sir John Richardson descended Garry, Louis Riel acting as their chief. the Meken/ie river. Back, Simpson and More meetings were held, some of them at- Uease, Lefroy and others had made more or tended by representatives of the English- less extended explorations in the speaking people, but the final result was geographical and scientific fields, so that thac Louis Riel formed a provisional govern- gradually information was reaching the ment and ruled the land until the end of outside world of the land that was soon to August, 1870, when General Wolseley be thrown open for settlement under the ousted him from the fort on the arrival of sheltering care of the Dominion of Canada. the regulars and volunteers sent from East- A SHORT- LINED GOVERNMENT. ern Canada, via Lake Superior, for that In 1S67 a provisional government was or- purpose. ganized by Mr. Thomas Spence, the terri- It is beyond the scope of this paper to re- tory embraced in the scheme being that fer in detail to the proceedings of the Riel portion of the present province of Manitoba government, it only being necessary situated about Portage la Prairie, but when to say that the Selkirk settlers, in all cir- the originators sent home a petition asking cumstances, remained loyal to the British for recognition by the Imperial Govern- crown. ment, they were informed that the whole After 1870 the tide of emigration turned proceeding was illegal, and the scheme fell toward Manitoba, and while the country is to the ground. The district mentioned was gradually becoming dotted over with the outside the territory included within the new settlers, none of them are more res- bounds of Assiniboia. No serious attention pected than the old Selkirk settlers and has ever been paid to this movement, the their descendants, and none of them have whole matter being now treated as a huge suffered the trials and hardships endured by joke. the pioneers.

DISTRESS IN THE COLONY. 1 SELKIRK SETTLEMENT SURVIVOR *. A grasshopper visitation took place in The writer has come into contact with 1868 and the people were much distressed many of the original settlers who came out for provisions. A committee was formed with the various parties via York Factory and subscriptions poured in from Great to take up lands on the Red River nnder Britain, Canada and the United States to the auspices of Lord Selkirk, and has se- pay for the wheat and other provisions de- cured much information of a general nature spatched overland from Minnesota to Fort regarding life in the Selkirk settlement in Garry. The Canadian government proceed- the days of its infancy. During this sum- ed to construct a road from Fort Garry to mer I have personally interviewed the last the Lake of the Woods as a means to afford survivors of the original colony who were relief and employment to the settlers, but old enough on the date of their trouble occurred between the French arrival to remember the events Metis and the officials in charge of the that transpired in connection with work. the trouble between Lord Selkirk and the A CANADIAN GOVERNOR. Northwest Fur company. Herewith I give In 1869 the arrangements for a transfer the substance of the information obtained of the Hudson's Bay Territories to Canada from these old people at, in cases, many were concluded and it was announced conversations held with them, and wherever that the Hon. William Macdougall had possible I use their own words. In the case been appointed as the first governor to the of Mr. Murray, who is n wonderfully clear- province about to be formed by Canada. minded and physically active old gentleman, He proceeded to Pembina with a numerous the information, as regards dates and retinue, having great stores of furniture, occurrences given by him, have firearms, ammunition, etc., and on his been compared with original docu- arrival there found that many of the resi- ments in my possession, and with such dents of the settlement, and especially the data as is contained in the official church French, apposed to his entry, the latter registers of St. John's church. In every being very much annoyed that surveys were case his memory has been proved to be being made by Canadian officials, while the singularly perfect, even the most minute people of the settlement had never been details of his evidence being borne out by communicated with by either the Imperial the records. It is then safe to accept his or Canadian governments or the Hudson's statements where contemporary written Bay Company regarding the transfer. Mr. records are wanting, and it is particularly The Selkirk Settlement and the Settlers. —

I'm i. Selkirk Settlement \m> the Settlers noticeable that the other survivors of the by land through the United States. Miles Maedonald finally first settlement, whom 1 have conversed When Governor pres- with, have referred me to Bdr. Murray as left the colony for Canada, [He was ent as as when he signed the In- :h< mk who is the beet authority Living. late 1817, he Canon liatheaon, of St. John's college, dian treaty with Selkirk.—Ed.] where a settler and I went kindly procured for me from his father, afterwards died, young Mr. John Matheson, the particulars to him ami said, "Now, Governor, you given by him regarding certain points of know you have in your possession many panels to Selkirk's grants of history in dispute, or not before recorded, in relating Lord which are of great connection with the history of the settle- land and other matters, value to us colonists. Will you not give ment. them to us before you leave?" "No, Donald," says he, "they were given into my charge, and I must keep them." [The papers referred to are likely those now filed in the Dominion archives office at Ot- tawa. Ed.] 1 remember Governor Semple well. He was a very fine man, one of the best that ever came to the settlement. He was a portly gentleman, rather stout and short. He arrived here in the autumn, and during the winter went west to visit the various posts in the interior, returning in the spring, soon after which he was killed. Whilst at the colony he always lived at Fort Douglas. The Seven Oaks massacre took place near the bridge which is close to where Sheriff Inkster's house stands. The half-breeds were coming on purpose to des- troy the settlement and kill the settlers. fe I, They nad been sent by "White-Headed McDonel," as Alexander McDonel was invariably called. After Lord Selkirk arrived McDonel fled to the States and we never heard of him again. I knew Cuthbert Grant, the leader DONALD MURRAY, OF KILDOXAX, MANITOBA. of the half - breeds at the time of the massacre, well in after years, indeed, My name is Donald Murray; I was born he was quite a friend of mine, and after my at Kildonau, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in marriage often came to visit me at my or about the year 1801. I came to this house. He always spoke quite freely of the plaee in 1815, with Lord Selkirk's fourth intention of the half-breeds to destroy the party of colonists, and I have lived here colony. Had he acted according to his in- ever since. I remember perfectly well Lord tention we should certainly all have been Selkirk's being here in 1817, but I was then killed, but after the massacre of Semple too young to be now able to recall anything and his party, he acted very kindly towards in particular about him personally. us, allowing us to take away all our pro- I employed for many years after perty, or as much as we conveniently could. Michael Lambert, the bugler of the The day after the massacre, the Indian party of DeMeurous that came Peguis obtained leave to bring in all the up with his lordship. 1 rerv.ember, how- bodies in his carts and bury them, which ever, that Lord Selkirk held a great meet- he did. Governor Semple and 19 others ing with the colonists close to the spot were buried near the fort on Point Douglas, where the Kildonan ferry now is, by the close to where Alexander Logan's house church lot. This was after we returned now stands. Pegius was very sorry for the from Jack Fish River, now called Norway death of Gov. Semple. I myself saw him House, where we had taken refuge after the cry like a child as he lowered the body into destruction of the settlement by the North- the grave. This was certainly the morning west men in 181b. At this meeting new of the day after the fight. The statement arrangements were made with all the set- that the bodies were allowed to lie out on tlers as to their lands. Before leaving the prairie for a fortnight, and that they Scotland the agreement was that we should were mutilated and partially eaten by the pay five shillings an acre for our lands, but wolves, is false. Between the years 1820 at this meeting Lord Selkirk gave them to and 1830 the remains of those killed were us free of charge. Some of the arrange- taken up and removed to Sf John's church- ments made at this meeting were, however, yard, but no stone was erected over them never carried out. His lordship and I could not now point out the spot left us in August, going down where they were re-interred. —

AS Tius Selkirk Settlement and the Settlebs.

I came out in 1815 with my parents. Two At the farther end, opposite to this gate, brothers of mine had come out a couple of stood the master's house, which was years before us, but they had been sent down larger than the others, ranged down to Canada by the Northwest Co. people each side of the pallisaded enclosure, about before our arrival in the settlement. We four on each side, but I do not remember had a fine voyage out and no sickness among exactly how many there were. There was the people. We left Thurso, as near as I a walk behind, between them and the pal- can recollect, early in June, and landed at isades, and an open court-yard in the York Factory, as I clearly remember, on centre. I think there was also a small August the 17th. We arrived at the settle- powder magazine behind the master's ment I suppose about the end of October. house. I often slept in this fort, and in It was a very cold, snowy fall, and we had a 1818, when I went to Brandon House, I hard and stormy journey up from York. The morning after the Semple murder my father and mother were taken prisoners by the French, as they were working in their field (now lot 25, Kildonan). They had come down from Fort Douglas that morning to work, having been at the fort for some days on account of the reports cir- culating that the French were coming to attack the settlement. They were living in a house which was one of the two erected by my brothers, who had gone to Canada with the settlers led away by Duncan Cam- eron. My parents were kept as prisoners until the next day. I think John Matheson (living at Grass- mere now), George Bannerman, John Poison FIDLER'S FORT. and myself are the only four males alive now 1. Master's House. of the original colonists; but I think there 2. Houses on southwest side. 3. Houses on northeast side. several females surviving. is are yet One 4. Powder Magazine. Mrs. Kaufman, who lives in Kildonan, on 5. Main Gate, facing Assiniboine Point. the east side of the river. [Adam McBeth, of Qu'Appelle, and his brother, both living started from it. I do not recollect that it yet, were infants when they arrived, but had any particular name other than "the should be mentioned as original settlers, and company's fort." It was quite distinct from there may be a few similar eases. Ed.] Fort Garry, and stood at the same time as Fort Douglas was carried away by the Forts Douglas and Gibraltar. I forget just flood of 1826. It stood on the northeast when it disappeared, but it probably stood till the flood of side of the little creek that empties into the 1826, and was then swept Red River near where Mr. Logan's house away, like the remains of Fort Douglas, then owned by Mr. Logan. If now stands on Point Douglas, but its site is you doubt that this now a long way out in the river, or at least fort was there, just find out about a from the present high bank. marriage ceremony I was at in it. I was The Northwest Co.'s fort was called Gib- the only guest from the colony invited when raltar, and stood on the Assiniboine point, the following persons were married by the

Rev. John West : at the mouth of that river, but it has now James Bird, the chief factor, to a daughter all gone into the river a good many years, of Thomas Thomas; I think. I do not know of any traces of Thomas Thomas, a retired chief factor, to Miss any earlier fort, known as Fort Rouge, Monture; and Joseph Bird, a son of James, to a standing near its site. The Hudson's Bay swampy Cree woman. (Rev. Co., however, had a fort which stood close John West's marriage register, now in St. -John's Church, shows these entries, to where Notre Dame street east is and are now. This was the fort which dated at Red RiverColony--Ed.)Ialso remem- Dr. Bryce was unable to locate when he ber Joseph Bird, a half brother of the late wrote his book about the old forts. This Dr. C. J. Bird, who was speaker in the fort was built by Peter Fidler about 1817-18, Manitoba parliament in 1874, built three but he went to Brandon House in the latter York boats there in 1819, and those boats, with one made by a boat-builder year, and it was first occupied by one James who was here then and Sutherland, who finished it in 1819. As whose name I cannot at this call to mind, nearly as I can locate its position, it was moment were taken to York for freight. Just ask old situated between what is now McDermott John Matheson if and Notre Dame streets ea3t, but perhaps he does not remember that his father that nearer Notre Dame than the other. It was worked on fort for Peter Fidler. I re- seeing near the rise in the ground and a few hun- member him. [See testimony of dred yards from the Red river. It was J no. Matheson. —Ed.] about square, the principal entrance facing Fort Garry was built by Governor Pelly exactly to the point between the two rivers. in 1825, but was washed away the year —

TlIK S KI.KIKK SETTLEMENT \M> III SKTTI.KK 39

after by the flood. It was a fine fort, and into the fort and hearing of his departure, stood near old Fort Gibraltar. Directly took their guns and went after him. Some after the flood the Company built houses on joined him, hut others were only half way the Assiniboine west of Gibraltar, and it when the lighting began. Mr. Bourkc was was afterwards palisaded. A French Can- on horseback going after the governor, but adian named Basil, or Jaoko Laurence, took when lie beard the shots he turned back for the contract for the Btookade, which was a a cannon, which he took out, and saved very fine one. some of the people who escaped the massa- After the last Fort Garry (part of which cre. Chief reguis, who had 70 warriors, yet remains) was built by (Governor Christie shortly before the massacre offered his ser- in 1835-36, the old fort on the point vices to the governor for the defence of the was used as the farm buildings, colony, but the governor declined, not and some stables were erected by Captain thinking there was any danger. The Cary north of them, near where the Broad- morning after the massacre, before way bridge now is, at least they were be- Fort Douglas was given up to the French, tween the point and that place. (Cellar wr e took all the ammunition for the cannons holes and burnt plaster may be seen to-day and threw it into the river, from the end of at this place. — Ed.) Capt. Cary had the a boat which was tied to the shore. The celebrated stallion Fireaway there in charge cannon balls must now be in the mud at for the Hudson's Hay Co., and when he left the bottom of the river, quite a long way the settlement he took Fireaway with him from the present bank, as the river is much to the States, having purchased him from wider now than it was then. An Irishman, the company, much to our sorrow. I named Paddy Clabby, saved a fine sword, freighted to York for Capt. Cary during which may have been Governor Semple's, two or three years after 1844. by carrying it down from the fort to the Fort Garry for years was only called river and sinking it in the water, attached "The Company's fort" by the settlers, and to a line, the other end of which was tied to it was not until the last fort was erected one of the boats we started for Jack fish that it was regularly called Fort Garry, river in. In this way the sword was towed though, of course, that was its proper name along unperceived by the French, until it for years before. could with safety be taken aboard. The Hudson's Bay Company used an old Plenty of muskets came out with building, that stood about 200 or 300 the first settlers, but I never yards north of Fort Gibraltar, as a stable. heard of them being served out That was after the companies joined. I do to the colonists. They were stored in Fort not know if they ever had a fort there be- Douglas, and one day, in Governor Bulger's fore, but they used that old building as a time, when I was a constable, I and my stable when they moved up and occupied companion had them all out in the court the Northwest Company's fort about 1821. yard and cleaned them. I have never heard Before we came to the ccuntry the Hud of the colonists being drilled to arms. Two son's Bay Company had a store on the east brass field pieces came out with some of the bank of the Red river, opposite to the settlers. One time when Mr. Halket, a mouth of the Assiniboine, I think on the relative of Lord Selkirk, and a member of property where Mr. N.W.Kittson afterwards the Hudson's Bay Company's Committee, had his trading store. The Company may was out here, he took the wheels of one of have had a fort there, but I only know for the gun carriages, which were of English a fact that they had some kind of a store. oak, iron bound, and very strong, to trans- The abandoned Hudson's Bay Company's port his boat to Lake Manitoba, which lay fort at Selkirk in 1815 was on the east in the route of the trip he was taking. side of the Red river, at the end of the big These wheels were left at the mouth of the island at the swamp. The chimneys then White Mud River, where they rotted away. stood about six feet high. It was called Lord Selkirk was a tall, slender man, Fort William. There was also a small post probably six feet in height. He had never four miles south of Netley creek. before been in the Red River country when In 181 S I saw the company's Brandon I saw him in 1817. House post, which was perhaps a mile or I do not remember ever having heard of more west of the mouth of Souris river, to Lord Selkirk's sending out any reindeer which place I walked one day, and it was from Norway, but he did send out a herd of on the south side of the Assiniboine. The Orkney cattle. Northwest fort was directly across the I remember Duncan Cameron of the Assiniboine from it, on the north side. Northwest Company, who was a fine old The country about the Lower Fort Garry gentleman, much liked by the people, also was called the Red Deer plain. [Called the his brother Reynold, who died at Pembina. same in Henry's journal of 1800, the St. An- In 1816, Colin Robertson did not agree drew's Rapids also being termed the Red well with the officials in the settlement. Deer Rapids. Ed.] They did not like him, neither did the When Governor Semple left Fort Doug- settlers. As he started off with a boat con- las to meet the French he had with him taining fur for Lake Winnipeg, in derision only a few men, but the settlers, coming he hoisted a pemican sack in- 10 The Selkirk Settlement and the Settle stead of a British Hag as was usual. was a back gate on the north side by which This was before the Sernple affair. wood was taken in. The fort stood twenty After the massacre the Northwesters occu- or thirty yards back from the rivers, which pied Fort Douglas, but erected new houses at that time were much narrower than now. at Fort Gibraltar in 1817-18 after Col. Colt- Lord Selkirk gave a free grant of fifty

man, the commissioner, came here. Fort actestoan old French halfbreed named Gibraltar was positively situated on the Joseph Plant, near my place. Plant was very point of land between the rivers, frozen to death near Pembina, iu the winter although the main face and principal gate- of 1820, when a lot of the French, who way overlooked the Assiniboine, There were starving on the plains beyond Pern- —

'iiiK Si- j. kick Settlement \m> rm Skttleks.

liina. started For the settlement. It was people who associated with her. When she mild at first, but began to rain. The wind was at a post of the company, at James (.•hanging its direction brought Bnow and Bay, she was for two years at the Partridge drift, so that they Lost the trail. All per- House, with a man named John Scart, who ished there except a son of Plant, who ran used to find her, 0U his return from hunt- •head to Grande Pointe, Borne miles Bouth ing, sitting by the fire crying; and she did of Pembina. Though he managed to start very little work, appearing to be much a tiro, his olothos Being wet and lio ex- troubled in mind. Alter that she and Scart hausted, he was overcome and died beside were sent inland to Brandon Mouse post, on tin' fire, his body being afterwards found the Assinihoine River, where they occupied near tho remains of the small tire. Another the same cabin in the fort, for in those days son of Plant, who had not been with the a log hut was usually given to each two party, later on sold the property to John men. Scart was the right-hand man of

Sutherland, from whom, a few years ago. I Mr. Goodwin, the master at Bran- purchased it. Old Plant was much liked don House for the Hudson's Bay by the settlers, to whom he was always a Company, and the latter frequently very good friend. asked Scart to his house of an evening to Of course I remember sir (Jeorge Simp- take a dram of grog and consult with him. son well. After I married and had a house, [Henry's unpublished journal contains entry, he often called upon me, and was very kind on L9th of August, 1800, that Robt. Good- ami friendly, though, perhaps, I am the win was in charge of the Hudson's Bay only man who ever defied his authority. Company's boats for Assinihoine river points. This took place one time at York Factory -Ed.] when he was walking arm in arm with Sir One night Scart had been at the master's John Franklin. I wanted a gallon of house until late at night, and on his return whisky which had been promised to me, but to the cabin discovered the true sex of his which he refused to give me. He ordered partner. He at once told the frightened me to go with the boats for the settlement, woman that he would go to Mr. (ioodwin which I refused to do until I got my with the news, but she fell on her knees whisky, telling him that Iwas a colonist and and begged him not to reveal her identity. not one of the Company's servants. We After much persuasion he consented to keep were, however, very good friends afterwards. the secret, and they continued to live to- I think the seasons have changed greatly. gether under the same conditions as before, I can assure you we have had seasons when and it was not for a long time after that she the strawberries were ripe by June 1. Now lost her honor. She was finally separated they are never ripe before July 1. I think from Scart by being sent to Pern we then had far more birds than now, bina to act as cook for the master especially wild fowl and pigeons. I remem- there, who went by the name of "Mad Mc- ber wnen I used to see flocks of pigeons fol- Kay." It was when there that she made a lowing the course of the river, which were discovery as to her condition, and went so large that the front of each flock was out over to Mr. Henry at the Northwest fort, of sight in the north, while the tail was out of and was the next morning delivered of a sight in the south; but they nevei come now. child, to the great surprise of all the people [In 1871, standing on the spot where now is in the country, who had never suspected the junction of Main and Lombard streets, that she was a woman. [Henry's journal I fired into great flocks of pigeons passing contains a note that on the 15th December, overhead and killed numbers of them. —Ed.] 1807, a young Orkney girl, who had I have killed Buffalo at Pembina with a passed as a boy in the H. B. Co.'s knife, having no gun to shoot them. Those service, went to Henry and gave birth to a were hard days for us. child. She had followed her lover out from I commenced freighting to York in 1844. Orkney and he was then at Grand Forks. I was appointed a magistrate in 1852, Ed.] and acted as such tor IS years, when I The girl was sent back to Orkney with retired on account of my deafness. her child. Scart, who always acknowledged I remember perfectly the case of the the above facts, lived for many years after- Orkney girl you have written about, who is wards, dying finally at the Image Plain, mentioned, you tell me, in Alexander below Kildonan. The story was current Henry's journal. Of course I was not in amongst the early settlers, who this country in 1 807 when the affair oc- knew Scart and Mad McKay, and curred, but I knew well the man Scart, this was undoubtedly the first who was connected •with it, and the story white woman who lived in the Red River was common talk for many a year after we country. I knew both Baptiste Lajimonieie arrived in the country. 1 will tell you and his wife, but I never before heard that what I know about it. The girl came out it was claimed that she was the first white from Orkney to James Bay in the woman in this country. I have often won- service of the Hudson's Bay Company, and dered why some person did not write about was dressed in man's clcthes. For years the Orkney girl, and am glad you are doing her sex was not discovered by any of the so. 4*2 i:k Settlement and the Settlers.

ueorgk bannerman, kildonan, The first bricks were made by a man MAN. named Hedger, in the Hats between Broad- the fort. 1 was born in the Scotland Highlands way and small about 180."), and came to Red River with my There was a Indian mound in the parents in 181."). vicinity of Seven Oaks, outside the old road. I remember the time Governor Semple The first mission buildings erected by the and his people were killed by the French. Rev. John West were situated just where The bodies were buried near Fort Douglas the old school house now stands, between the day after they were killed. They were the brewery and the college creek. buried in one grave near some trees, but I A person going to Fort Garry would say never heard that the remains were taken he was going to the Forks, but thinks it was n way from there. I remember Cuthbert a general term applied to all the district near the mouth of the Assiniboine. < i rant, who treated us settlers well, but my memory is not as good as that of Donald Murray, who can give you more information than I can.

JOHN MATHESON, OK RASSMERE, MAX. THE LATE ROBERT MACBETH.

The following particulars were obtained from his son, the Rev. Canon Matheson, of St. John's college: John Matheson was born on October 15, Mr. Robert Macbeth was born in Suther- 1814, in the parish of Kildonan, Sutherland- landshire, Scotland, in 1801. He came out shire, Scotland. He sailed with his parents to the Red River with his parents about for York Factory in June, 1815, and arrived 1815, as colonists to the Selkirk settlement. at Fort Douglas on Christmas day, of the He was a successful trader, and for many same year. He was too young to be aware, years a member of the Council of Assini- from personal knowledge, but can speak boine under the Hudson's Bay Company's definitely on the following points: administration, as well as a magistrate. He His deceased brother was piesent twice was married to Mary Maclean, whom he at the burying of Governor Semple, the last survived 23 years. He died on the 20th time being when the bodies were removed August, 1 880, leaving a family of eight to St. John's from beside Fort Douglas to morn his death : Adam, Alexander, Rob- ohurchyard. ert, John and Roderick, and Mrs. Angus Peter Fidler did build a fort nearer the Henderson, Mrs. John McKay and Mrs. main river than the present one, in the Augustus Mills. vicinity of Broadway, before 18*26, and he knows his father worked for Fidlei J

Illl c;

JOHN POLSON, OF MAN. KILDONAN, were buried in one large grave, on the I was born in 1810 01 thereabouts, in afterwards removed to St. John's church- Kildonan, Sootl&nd, and came out with yard. One body, of a man that was killed Lord Selkirk's settlers in 1815. then, was buried on McDonald's lot, in St. I remember well the seven oak trees Johns, and the grave was oared for a long which gave the name to the locality, where while, but is now plowed over and the site Governor Semple and his men were killed lost sight of. by the half breeds, in l^Hi, and have many There was an Indian burial uioiind on the

southwest side of what is now called Logan's south side of Seven Oaks creek, near tin: crook, and on the property to-day owned trail, but it, by also, has been plowed over. ex-Mayor Logan. There was a clump of ^yhen people spoke of the Forks, in old trees at the spot when the grave was dug. times, they referred to the point of land I do not remember that their bodies were on the north side of the Assiniboine, where a time shot pheasants (grouse) from their that stream flows into the branches. Red. 1 never heard the south side called the Forks. J Governor Semple and some of his people have always lived on this lot, and have 44 I'm Selkirk Settlement wi> the Settlers. never been farther away than Portage la and held a meeting of the settlers. He was Prairie or Pembina since the troubles tall and straight, very lordly in appearance, in 1816. but not strong looking. Before we left

1 remember Fort Gibraltar well, Scotland His Lordship promised us a cow it faced the Red River and the Assiniboine. each, and a plow between two, but after- The rivers were far narrower than they are wards we had to pay for all these things.

now. I think I could have thrown a stone My brother, Selkirk McKay, was born on across the Red River here then. I remem- the way from York Factory, at Painted

: ber that bricks were made at St. John s by Stone, being the first white child born in a man who came out with the Rev. Mr. that colonv. He was called a fter Lord West. Selkirk. 1 knew Cuthbert Grant very well, for he was very kind to us settlers. I remember the stockade fort Donald MRS. KAUFMAN, KILDONAN FAST. Murray speaks of. It was between Fort MAN. Douglas and the Northwest fort. I cannot 1 was born in Caithness, Scotland, in now tell you where it was, for the ground is 180(5, and came out here in 1815 with my all covered with houses, but I think it was parents, who were Selkirk colonists. My near the high ground between the forts. name was Flizabeth (Betty) McKay before I This fort was existing at the same time as the married Wollrich Kaufman, a DeMeuron colony fort and the Northwest Company's soldier, who came up with Lord Selkirk in place. 1817. Winnipeg was always a great camp- Go to Donald Murray, he can tell you far ing ground for the Indians. more than any of us about these things. I saw Governor Semple and his dead [Father Dugast, of St. Boniface, has writ- companions buried in one grave on the ten most interesting notes of the history of south side of the creek near Fort Douglas, Mme. Lajimoniere, a French-Canadian where a grove of trees stood. The gover- woman who arrived at Pembina, from Mon- nor and the doctor were buried in coffins, treal, in 1800, and it has been stated by and the others wrapped up in blankets, the several writers that she was the first white day after the massacre. Mr. Sutherland's woman in the Red River country. The body was stripped quite naked, but it is above evidence proves these statements to not true that they all lay out on the prairie be not founded on fact, and though they for some days. have been made in good faith, it is well they I remember that Lord Selkirk came here should be denied. — Ei>.]

THE f AST OF FORT GARRY.