AN INCIDENT OF RIEL'S FIRST RISING.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5121, 16 June 1885, Page 3

AN INCIDENT OF RIEL'S FIRST RISING.

Among the men captured by the rebels during the Canadian* insurrection of 15 years ago was one named Scott. He bad been active and energetic on the loyalist side, and had, it is said, made a personal enemy of Eiel by ignominioußly ejecting him from a tavern on one occasion'in which the latter had spokeu slightingly of the Queen. Scott was court-martialled by the rebels, and his execution was thus reported in the Globe at the time :—" The truth concerning this horrid butchery is almost too revolting for publication; bat I have the most unquestionable authority for the following details: The unfortunate young man was shot by three executioners about 12 o'clock in the day, and while he w»s writhing on the ground a drunken half-breed ran np to finish him with his revolver. This fellow was so drunk, however, that he put his pistol to-poor Scott's head obliquely, and the ball, which struck below the temple and forward of the ear, simply grazed the skull, and came out near the eye. The shot stunned the victim, and he was thrust into the coffin, and placed in the bastion in charge of a halfbreed sentinel. The night was bitterly cold, and while the sentinel was pacing his rounds at 11 o'clock he heard Scott calling out strongly in English. He did not understand what be said, butEiel and others were summoned, and to these Scott said : 'For God's sake either finish me or take me oat of this, for I am freezing.' This was fully eleven hours after the poor fellow had been thrust into his coffin. Here the story breaks off as far as anything is certainly known. Kiel and one other whose name is not known, were left alone with their victim, and the reports of three pistol shots were heard, but on the following day, at noon, the murdered man was distinctly heard muttering incoherently 'in his coffin. Stilt later, when he was buried, his brains protruded through a ghastly breach in bis forehead, and be bore the limp and life like appear* anceofonebut recently dead. Tbis is a horrid story to tell, but it is firmly be-lieved-by the beet informed men in the settlement, It is no wonder that Kiel refused to give up the body to be a ghastly witness against himself and his fellow butchers. I neglected to state that the first three shots took effect in the unfortunate man's body, and that neither they nor the pistol Bhot by the drunken halfbreed were known to be necessarily fatal. Many think they were not. The murder is not talked of in the settlement, as it enrages Eiel to have it referred to. Many half breeds profess to disbelieve the statement that Scott was executed at all."