THE SCARLET RIDERS
(By A. W. Packard.)
ROUNDING UP CATTLE RUSTLERS LIFE IN THE SUB-ARCTIC SILENCE
11. It is when a recruit graduates ffom ft divisional post (mentioned in the preceding article) to outposts of "detachments," us they are called, that he is up against the "real tiling" in tho frontier work of tho E.N.W.11. l'olico. Incidents aro not lacking cvon in thwe supposedly civilised times which go to show that the work of tho "tnountio" is sometimes hazardous. It was only about eighteen months ago thai; (fie mounted police finally succeeded in breaking up and bringing lo justice the last of the large organised bands of cattle-rustlers, who operated 'on a big and daring scale in South-Western Saskatchewan, along the international bonier. The gangs worked in unison with cattle thieves across tho border in Montana, and the gamo whb to drift the stolen stock from Canada to the U.S.A. and vice-versa. The country on both sides of the border is very rough and broken, comprising as it does what are known as the "Bad Lands" of Saskatchewan and Montana. It is mostly given over to ranching. Along tho rivor brakes the country is lightly timbered, and it abounds with doep nnd inaccessible ravines ("coulees"), to which the outlaws were wont to retreat. Much of it is quicksand country, and terrific blizzards sweep its length and breadth in the winter time. So, apart from the dangerous and lawless nature of their quarry, the very "lay-out" of tho country which tliev traversed made the undertakini a ris!;y one for the police. The Scarlet Riders invariably paok a gun on their hip, and the fact that when occasion demanded they did not hesitate to use it was a material factor in bringing the outlaws into a state of subjection.
Gun-Play of tho Mounties. During (he last three yoars there was quite a bit of gun-play in South-Western Saskatchewan, ia which mounted police figured. There was tlie case of Buck Murphy, a border cattle rustfer,_ who w«s mortally wounded by a moufflie named Angus at Sliauimvon- Shooting from the hip, the redcoat stopped his man with a running shot at about fifty yards. Then, again, it was Trooper Archer, of Shaiinavoii DetaclinK-nt, who fell pierced by a .45 bullet, disoharged from a Coltg at point-blank range by a desperado who happened to be quicker on the draw than the redcoat. Two other mounties ynve chase and cornered the fugitive, who thereupon turned the gun on himself and died by his own hand. In. the Moose Jaw district, two tough characters, "roadagents," who were captured by the mounted police, caught their escort unawares, beat him senseless and niarto ft get-away. They took to tho brush country, and when, a small possee of mounties camo on the scene, the fugitives opened fire on the police. Taking his life in his hands, Corporal Paddy White rushed their position, and after exchanging several shots with the two .outlaws, ehot one of them dead, and. "drew a bead" on his companion. The remaining outlaw capitulated. Again in 191b Sergeant Mundy and two other Scarlet Eiders spent woeks on the trail m the Bad Lands after the Anderson-Sparks gang of cattle thieves, ajul before they landed Ihoir men (who were the kings of tho Soutiharn Saskatchewan outlaws) they figured in enough gun-play and advonhvrl to fill a four-reel "Wild West drama for the "movies." It Sometimes Happens. These are merely a few of mnny incidents in tho daily routine of the "Eiders of the Plains," and they happe:v<l
in only ono small corner of the territory policed by the B.N.W.M. Police. The ' most relentless enemy ot the Force is the extreme cold, and more tiian one mounted policeman has been frozen to death on the long trail. South of Maple Creek Saskatchewan, ranchers still tell of the dTamatic death of a trooper some few years back. This is a longer story. The sun never shone brighter on tho snow-clad Cypress Hills than on the morning that this trooper pulled out of the Maple Creek barracks on his last long ride. Over everything was a coverlet of unrelieved white, for it was midwinter and the Snow King reigned. Lhe cold was 35 degrees bslow zero, and the keen frost gave to tho air that glorious sense of exhilaration and physical wellbeing that is typical of the Canadian North-Western winter. There was no wind, and as the trail was frozen hard the trooper's transport in the shape of a cutter (a sledge on eteel runners) and his team of "bronchos" easily maintained a twelve-mile-an-hour clip. He wason his way to the log-cabined Inst End Detachment which is picturesquely situated on the White Mud river,, m an immense coulee, where tho big 76 ranch yearly winter some ten thousand head of cattle. Most of the Southern .Saskatchewan ranches have their winter headquarters on the sage brush flats and timbered coulees of this river, and its name is- familiar to cowboys in many round-up camps. Un arrival at his destination he was to deliver some important dispatches. Th? morning of
the second day out—Hβ nad stayed overj night ut ft deserted . "fihoep-herdor s hut—nil Nature was hushed in that silenco in Hie North-West which is the prelude to blizzard and snow. Came the first soft mnnn of the north wind, and a light fall of snow, at first almost imperceptible. Then, wilhout further warning, one of those blizzards which tire the terror, of Saskatchewan had the whole country in its grip, ihe trooper could not see the trail, and could scarcely distinguish tho forms of his two horses. The team missed the trail; and floundered deep in the snow. Miring the futility of attempting to innlce any headway in the storm, und, the cold having increased perceptibly., the nountie unhitched his horses. Be then turned them adrift, well knowing thai, unlike men, horses will instinctively find some place of sholter if left entirely to Hieir own device*. On foot, he then drifted with the nlnrin in thn hnpe of runninß up against habitation in some shape c.r form. His Last Long Trail. In the meantime I he lioiwb cut across country in another direction. When morning broko at the ilaplo Creek barracks the horse* were found outsirto the police Inrn, ■ iin|i.i,Liunl lor admittance. This siiffjfostefl disaster, bo b lelief party sot out. Alter an extended search Ihej round Ihti deiul body <J '-inir comrade (mowed in under ft liii.yslo.uk. In his Imiid w>ll " nei'viwi rvvnlvi-r, and a build wound in iii« ticiid told l/ow hi> had died. A liriclly-HiTibbleil messngo and I ho circi/msl/iiiiH* in wliieli ho was found went In slww that he had fallen mlmi|> filler liikiiiif refii|(o in the stack. VVhilis 111.1 iiloriii nlill ici|!|'d ho had nwiikenwl In liiul that Iwlli I is li'K* wfro frown Hill'. JIII dud figured Mien Mint ho wan dim to innUo 111" l««l Inivorso, so hi) ittil.iiMnnt.nl tmtiiro .by Mii'mli'iir. This Rlory is told to hliow Unit. Iho 11.N.W.M. IVili'en urn mil line weiillici , l.irdfi. P«trola have to hu Niainlaineil throughout ii'inler and summer to keep law nnd order. Scltlern und nlliern are frequently lest in liliji/.iirdH, mid Mm Scarlet Riders have to go In liiok for them. Destitute settlers, irapporH, prospwlms, oml tho lfe ui'i' liltpwisp ri'spmisilile for much winter piilro))iii|(, 'mil (lie activities of lawless chfirnct.ois—jukl Mm North-West has more Limn a sprinkling (.f this ilkare not coiilined In Him more congenial summer uviitlier. Autocrats All. Tho linwrillnn rode of Mie "Riders of tho Plains" admits of no failure and ncglccl, of duty, and any nets prejudicial to -discipline uro, if detected, punished by imprisonment in tho polico guardroom at the Regina headquarters up U) a term of twelve months. This without recourso or appeal to civil law. The force ie a law unto itself, ,'ind severe punishment is handed out to the troopers for infractions of tho iron regulations. Tho ollimys am also liablo to be couii-mar-tiailed for hches. In tho parts over wliioh thny rido ;ho R.N.W.M, Polico aro vested with a tremendous authority, with plenary powers under all statutes (civil as well art military), the like of which is perhaps unknown elsowhero. A criminal ltiny without, warraut bo arrested,
l-ied, ronvielod, and imprisoned until tho expiry of his wnloiw, and never nt niiv s'l.-igc pass llira'ijfh the hands ol' anybody but nn ollker of tho H.jN.W.jM.|\ Tlii' force maintains also, wherever practicable, ils own ;;aols or "guardrooms" , us they lire officially desigiwted. Those are under a form of military discipline, for the "moiuiteils" are a military force. Monarch of All He Surveys. A man assigned to a frontier detachment or outpost duly is almo.s'- a law 1111to himself. J'hn Union J nek which (lies ovnr his pine-log barracks may bo the sole token of law nnd order nnd constituted authority in the country, and may ho the only visible sign Ihat somewhere thousand.? of leagues away there is a King. To onn Inno man. with only (.he-flag and his uniform to back him, is entrusted tho welfare of hundreds of his fellows. Not only must ho keep down crime in his dominion, but it is his duty to organise and supervise iire-figlitins gangs when prairie or forest fires threaten to devastate the country. Whisky-run, ning and smuggling nlsu liu must stop it he can, and sometimes he is required to pack His Majesty's mail, take tho census in tho land of the Eskimo, relieve destitution, enforco the game laws, nnd convey prisoners and lunatics (and people go mud in the sub-Arctic silence) to the nearest R.N.W.MJ. divisional post. He. tweon times ho must cut his own fuel supplies, ofton hunt his own meat, care for his horses 'where anv are kept), nnd umpire fights in his (log teams. Incidentally he is invariably expected ..■. his "constituents" to plaj the leading role in what passes for "society on tlm Stanislaus." Again at some outposts lie is official registrar of Lite's three great btepping stones. An Attractive Service.
Aβ a permanent profession (lie R.N.W.M. Police is hardly to be considered iiufiov those who aro young and blessed with sound physique and good stamina, an 3 who havo a taste, for adventure and outdoor life, coupled with an inclination to rough ii. iy a speli, tliree years in the service should bring no regrets. A recruit joining now would probably bo assigned to the great NorthWest Territories or the Tukon. The territories are still in their wild, virgin state, nnd include the largdy unexplored and unexploitod Mackenzie River country, llob'ert Service has graphically pictured the Yukon and the vast iwzen wilderness at the back of. it where thero is nothing but polar bears, Eskimos, and men! Little is known about the Mackenzie River country, however, and for years to come it will spell romance and adventure. Many cx-moun-ties are located in this hinterland us prospectors and fur-traders. A's regards tho more civilised parts, it Is intostiPß lo nolo that recently I'.ie mounted police relinquished the enforcement of law and order in the settled portions of Saskatchewan and Alberta. This was brought about on account of tho force having to confine its energies to enforcing the war regulations amongst Western Canada's huge alien population. In the far North-West, however, the mounted police still carry on the work outlined in this article.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 193, 4 May 1918, Page 8
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1,888THE SCARLET RIDERS Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 193, 4 May 1918, Page 8
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