CANADIAN "MOUNTIE”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20002, 29 July 1939, Page 2

CANADIAN "MOUNTIE”

SERVICE IN- MIDDLE-WEST *v * 1 \ --t EXPERIENCES RELATED “COWBOY.”'. DAYS GONE k Theii'tirring days of the Wild West in CaS'ad'a are no more. The only toucfh vo£ those iccwiboy 'days is seen to-day- in the rodeo shows of the prairiS’ cities, according to Mr. .Frederick Shannon, a '.Canadian who served 3i year's with the R'oyal Canadian Mouns|d Police. Mr. iShaiinon, who hails from New Brunswick, Iras settled in Opctiki and pays .regular visits to Gisborne. As a clevSF expchept'Of American toasketb'all he>has Come into some prominence in the activities of the Gisborne Y.M.C.IL.-.A,'. . Signing uo with the celebrated mounted p'oTice force irr Oitowa, Mr. Shannon trained 'at Regina, in the middle-west. From there he Was ■posted; to various detachments of 'the force Ytnd served in many centres on .the prairies. Chatting with a Herald representative. )Mr. Shannon Said that the prairies covered probably 1800 miles from Cast to west end extended from the United States’ Iborlder away into Ihc northern region's. Originally much of these expansive plains, were token u-n by ranches, but to-day large areas were 'being 'occupied for agriculture. However, repeated droughts in seme localities were operating against the success of grain-growing. Ranching was still carried on, but. Was now more Confined to the foothills of the Rocky Mountain's, where the Duke, of Windsor had his ranch. On the Prairies Farmsteads ca the prairies were often scattered over a wide area and to overcome the expense of erecting telephone lines the farmers used the fence lines. It; was a common thing to see -a special set cl wires erected over a, gateway "to "av’oi’d 'obstruction. Although the prairies were so wide, the days of difficult communication were over and in most districts good roads Lad been provided. This was true for -the greater p’art of the year, but When, the country was frozen over in mid-winter, motor travelling was only possible on the main roads'. Mr. Shannon said that he was often ■asked if the Royal Canadian Mounted Police still .retained its horses of world renown. The position‘ twas that comparatively few mounts were used now, these being retained specially for mounted police work in controlling large cr;o;wds in the cities. ■ All detachments to-day 'were equipped with mc-tor cars to facilitate quick transport. The farce originally gained its reputation Ca the ’Nor.h-'West Mounted Police, but in 1904 the King conferred upon the service the nsme o'f the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which had been given the work of policing the whole of Canada. Supplementary police forces were provided in. the larger centres by the local bodies of those communities. Life in the Service

Life in 'the service was much 'the same as that in any police force of the Empire. The 'highlight of Mr. Shannon’s experience -wish the mounted police occurred while he was stationed at Regina. ’Discontent culminated in a riot in 1935 and 'a clash with the rioters 'resulted in the death cf a police -officer., About 300 mounted policemen, together with 70 or 80 city policemen, were called out to quell the rioting. The disturbance attracted Targe numbers into the streets and the mounted men were given, instructions to clear the. thoroughfares. They did so toy sweeping everyone before them. The excitement lasted for three or four hours.. Asked about the 'Red Indians, Mr. Shannon said there were probably still between 80,000 and 100,000, hut they were mainly located in numerous Indian, reserves and lived a more or less separate life from that of the general community. In seme eases these .Indians 'to-day were still living in their wigwams of birch ‘bark and maintained, many of their ancient customs. The North American Indians, although afforded the opportunity, had net responded to -modern education. They had remained a 'backward people and were a striking contrast to the Maoris.