Execution of Riel.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1583, 16 December 1885, Page 2

Execution of Riel.

[Per Mail Steamer] . After a reprieve of eight days, Louis David Biel, leader of the Canadian halfbreed rebellion, was hanged at Begin* on the 16th November, at 8 a.m. Ex. traordinary precautions ware taken against any demonstration of his partisans at the scaffold. He was accompanied to hit death by P«re Andr« and Father McWilliainß. At the request of the former he made.no SDeech to the few soldiers and civiliana who were admitted to see the execution. The final words that escaped him as he turned off were "Mercy, Jesu," His face was full of color, and he died completely galf-poi-seßsed. His executioner wag a man named Jack Henderson, who was cap* tured by Kiel m the rebellion of 1870. The body was temporarily interred at the foot of the scaffold. Some hesitation was felt by the Government m transferring it to Winnipeg, as Kiel desired, as a half-breed demonstration was feared lat the funeral. When the news of the execution reached Quebec the excitement was almost beyond restraint. Flags were draped with mourning emblems, and many men donned crape. At night pangs of students and their friends paraded the streets shoot-ing 1 "Glory, Biel," and cursing Orangemen. Handbills wW« distributed to all passers-by, calling on them to assemble at a mass meeting, and bills were headed " Biel hanged, L'intamine consommee." "Triumph of Orangemen over Catholics and French Canadians." The City Council of Mon* treal adopted a resolution to adjourn " as a protest against the odious violation of the laws of justice and humanity m the | execution of Biel." About eight thousand citizens and a greatly many student! burned the same night an effigy of Sir j John Mac Donald m front of Queen Victoria's statute. When the Premier 1 /* ef. figy had been partly burned, a party cut it down, with the remark, " There goea a cursed serpent." The Queen's statute was blackened and disfigured by smoke. The news of 'Kiel's fate was received quiety m Ottawa. The protestant Conservatives were considerably elated, however, over what they term their triumph. A large number waited on the Premier and the Hon. McKenzie BoweU, Minister of Customs, congratulating them for carrying out the sentence of the Court. The former comrades of Biel, m th« school he attended at Montreal,, resolved to wear mourning for a month out of respect to his memory. A fund will bm established for the support of Madame Kiel and her family. The French-Can-adian students, together with some quarrymen *nd others, numbering 800, paraded the streets on the 18th. Th» quarrymen carried axe-handles, clubs, and thigh bones. They shoved people from the inside of the walks, frightened horses, and committed aggressive acti. It was thought at one iime they would attack the Salvation Army HalL They threatened the office of La Minerve. A detachment of the 6th Fusiliers were under arms at Dominion Square awaiting events, particular}- if the burning of Colonel Stevenson m effigy was attempt* cd. The demonstration was the result of information which the students of Victoria University had received during the day, that the students of McGill University (English) intended to burn Kiel m effigy oh the Champs de Mars. A Begina despatch: of4j;9th November I says Bid's body was buried at Dak m a 1 vault under the Church of the Immacu- | late Conception m that place. ~