Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - November 15, 1975, Winnipeg, Manitoba New Leisure Winnipeg free press saturday november 15, 1975 it happened Here just 90 years ago tomorrow. Nov. 1g, 18s5. Louis Kiel Leader of the oils people in two rebellions was hanged in the North West mounted police Barracks in Retina. He met his death Wilh dignity and resignation. It is not the purpose of his column serve As a vehicle for a discussion of the pros and cons of hit Case but rather to present briefly a few of the interesting facts As reported in the free press in the Days and weeks following the execution begin Ning nov. 17 the Rubel Leader Mih to his Fate with courage the doomed Man s prayer for his greatest enemy a Gina nov. The morning of the Day fixed for Kiel s execution Dunne Clear Anil Calm Ivilo a frosty keenness in Iho air. As Tow fatal hour grew nigh the sir around the Barracks increased slightly the needed preparations being quickly and quietly completed. About 8 o clock the prisoner was summoned by Deputy sheriff Gibson from his sch where he had spent the night chiefly in prayers and devotions with his confessor Rev. Father Andre. Mass had been celebrated by the Lalier assisted by Rev. Father me Williams and the last sacrament had been administered to the doomed Man. Supported by the two priests and preceded by the Deputy sheriff Hie walked steadily across the guard room and climbed the ladder which led to the gloomy i at the Back of the building. Around the door was u up a guard of 20 police under command of inspector while Fraser. Sheriff Chapleau or. Jukes Coroner Dodds and he jury were also in attendance. The condemned Man wore an appearance of unshaken fortitude and firmness although his face was Pale and his look Earnest. He was dressed in a Black coat Woollen Shiri and Collar Grey Tweed pants and moccasins. His head was uncovered. When Ricl and the priests reached the doorway they Knelt Down and engaged in prayer. Father Andre recited he Litany the prisoner making the responses in a firm and unbroken voice. The masked Hangman stepped Forward to Pinion the prisoner who prayed incessantly during the operation at one stage sifting his hands heavenward and saying father i am when the Pinio Ning had been completed rid and the fathers proceeded towards the scaffold he prisoner walking with steady step and repeating in French the declaration do i put my As he took his place on the platform Kiel exclaimed i ask forgiveness of ail men and forgive All my father me Williams repeated if lord s prayer As the White Cap was placed on the prisoner s head and the noose . The Hangman s work was cleverly per Omu a and within two minutes Kiel s heart had ceased to beat. Or. Jukes reported that have Felt no pain whatever. The body was placed in a wooden coffin which was nailed up and placed temporarily in the burying ground attached to the Barracks pending the relatives obtaining permission to have it re moved to St. Boniface. The Hangman was Jack Henderson of Winnipeg who had been one of rial s prisoners at the time of the red River uprising. On orders by the Deputy sheriff the rope was destroyed according to the newspaper account. Following the execution the free press correspondent had a Long talk with father Andre who slated that Ricl had spent much of the night in prayer not for one moment gloomy his Lan Guage and bearing such that even the guards expressed the priest persuaded him not to attempt to make a speech from the scaffold features by Edith Peterson although Ricl held out fora Long Lime pleading it was his duty to Tell that he was a Prophet and would Rise from the grave in three lie wished to speak of the two rebellions but the priest asked him not to and instead to Pray for his friends and relatives also his enemies. Tic was oven persuaded to Pray for sir John a. Macdonald his greatest asking god to forgive his sins to help him give him Wisdom and Justice and when the Lime comes to Lake him Ricl then added i Don t wish sir John any evil. I have prayed for him but i Don t think he for me.11 As the hour for his execution approached Hie had said he wished to make a statement regarding the execution of Scott. He said that he believed Hie shooting of Scott was not a crime but necessary to save the lives of hundreds of father Andre was on the Point of asking what had become of Scott s body when the sheriff appeared at the door and summoned Kiel to the scaffold thus leaving unsolved the mystery thai has plagued historians Ever since. The rebel Leader had spent much of his time in prison writing predictions fur the future also a defence of his conduct in leading the Metis people in the two uprisings according to father Andre who had Boon Ricl s constant companion during the last few Days of his life. Bui the evening after the execution the priest had burned All the papers in the cell except the writings about the two rebellions he slated in the interview. The immediate disposition of the body was a Mailer of concern. It was considered unwise to leave in even temporarily in the Barracks burying place for fear it would be stolen As had the remains of t women executed a Short Lime before. So father Andre suggested placing it in the crypt beneath the Liny Catholic Church in Regina where in would be Safe until Laken to St. Boniface. Moro on that next week the Saga of our Saskatchewan trip continues oct. 10 the weather is Cloudy Windy and mighty Chilly. The Weatherman had promised Sunshine for today but he was wrong again. We shopped in Yorkton this afternoon. My wife says there Are some Lovely dress shops i la have to take her word for it. However 111 mention Iho Price of shot in one sporting goods Rullel. Shot size used in reloading trap loads was for a 25-Pound bag. You la note the difference in Price Between Yorkton and Regina Only . And Winchester Shol is available. Get 11 skies Are still Cloudy i returned to Don Feivor s farm for More Duck Hunting and enjoyed the afternoon Silling on a Muskrat watching the Birds Fly Over. The Sandhill cranes kept up their incessant Gritty babble. A flight of geese passed Over but or. Belvoir does t allow Goose shooting. I Hare no quarrel there. I would rather have u Grain fed Mallard any Day As a table Bird. The Muskrat amused me for much of tin afternoon. Ii took a dim View of me ils House for a Creekside Arm chair. It continually swum close by and when i moved in Dove with a great splash. Several limes when i failed to observe its nearness. I was Grealy startled. From the muskrats viewpoint this May have evened mat ters. Presently the evening descended and night closed ils dark hand Over the land. It had been a warm and enjoyable afternoon studying wildlife. My wife had spent the Lime in the car Wilh books writing letters and trying to gel pictures of the Bird flights. There has been Little Good photo Graphy weather since the beginning of our trip. Oct. 12 the weather is still Cloudy but no rain has fallen for 48 hours. We spent the afternoon visiting the local museum on Highway a Wool of Yorkton on the Yellowhead Highway. Along with a Fine display of old farm machinery. The museum depicts Pioneer Days. There s a German dining room an ukrainian Kitchen an English parlor and a swedish bedroom. Many Early styles of dress arc shown including wedding gowns. Old automobiles Are there and Fine displays of ukrainian easter eggs Indian relics weapons of War ice Ces and an original Birc bark Canoe. A full sized mounted Buffalo guards the backdrop. Just inside the Entrance Are souvenirs and free Coffee. I purchased a couple of cookbooks. One contains More than 90 wild game recipes some of them of Indian origin. If you Are Ever in the Yorkton area Don t miss the town s museum. Yorkton is advertised As the treasure ciu.--4 City and with Good reason. In a few Days tin re. You ii discover Many treasures Good eating Hern. We went to the thanksgiving dinner served smorgasbord style in the privately owned Motel. Roast Turkey Wilh All the trimmings and Mulli col Ord jollies made it a festive occasion. The meal s like a count re fowl supper. Oct. 13 the morning broke Shell Pink and Fuh div burst with Brillian Sunshine. Bui the ski signs 4i Tad for More bad weather and the following morning the prediction came True. Oct. M More than Halpan Inch of Snow covered the car when we woke this morning the first of the season in this area. Headed for Hegina. The Highway was dry by now and the recent san Fuh offered no travel Hazard. In the que App Che Valley a great Deal More Snow had fallen but the Road had been cleared by plows. The Valley must be Saskatchewan s greatest Scenic attraction. This fantastic rift in the Earth s surface leaves one awed ils Beauty and immensity. La Regina we stayed in the Carousel Motel arc explored Many Fine stores during our stay. One sporting goods store was Selling Winchester shot for a bag. This is a Mctier Price than in to Tinnina where freight Rales arc lower. Short no Liis the new Argosy Hunting a Mial contains something for every Hunter a tech Bear Birds even ballistics and How to select Cartridge. This is a comprehensive annual inc ibid ing an article on Bunting Shoi Tum slugs which a controversial subject in this column some months ago. The editorial director. Clare Conley. U y on the stands now ;