“ If the gentlemen in Winnipeg doubt the truth of the statement that there is trouble with the Indians here, and refuse to believe the reports of men who tell what they see because they are not in accord with official wishes, they had better come up and and learn for themselves. It is pleasant travelling before the rainy season sets in.
Poundmaker is ready to effect a settlement with the Government. The murders and depredations that have brought sorrow to so many homes are in his eyes but trifling matters compared with securing from a deluded Government a few more advantages for himself. ”

“ In spite of a lavish expenditure of money, and a faithful desire on the part of the Government to put them in a position to be selfsustaining, no matter at what cost to the country, the Indians have proved themselves to be fully as savage and unreasonable as they were before the attempt to civilize them was made. Untamed and untamable they turn on the hand that fed them with a blind fatuity that seems to say Providence has decreed their disappearance and that they should give place to another race, just as the buffalo of the past have given place to domestic cattle. ”

“ John Delaney, farming instructor of Frog Lake, was from Ottawa, and was one of the first lot of instructors who continued in the service of the Department. He was looked upon as having been successful in civilizing and humanizing the band of miserable wretches amongst whom he labored so diligently. That they killed their best friends first shows them to be utterly depraved and not to be trusted in anything. ”

“ Round after round was fired from the big gun, while volleys peeled forth from the little ones, but the Half-breeds and Indians who were ambushed in the buildings in the right and in the bluffs on the left poured in such a deathly flank fire that it was realized that in order to dislodge them from the position they held would cost too many valuable lives, and it was decided to retire. A number of civilians had already been brought down, while Con. Gibson had dropped dead with a bullet through his breast while passing ammunition to the big gun, and several police had already been wounded. ”

“ Blood stains the soil, and the air is thick with the smoke of desolation. Nearly a score of our citizens have been slain without a moment's warning by ingrates whose interests they guarded as carefully as they did their own, and whose hands were daily opened in charity to the men they looked upon as unfortunate and to be pitied. ”

“ It has always been the boast of this district that taking their numbers all through their horses and cattle were better bred than in any other district on the Saskatchewan; the people were generally well off, and made improved stock a specialty in their system of farming; but to-day they are not owners of a hoof. They are afoot and the marauders mounted; their dairies are bare while their herds are being ruthlessly slaughtered by the thieves. ”

“ MONDAY, 6.—John Longmore got in from Pitt this morning. He brings no news other than that the police intend to hold the fort as long as a man is left.
The Bremners and Sayers in the upper settlement refuse to come in, alleging that they are safer there than in barracks, but very anxious for news as to what is going on here.
Barrack square put in good shape, a large tent erected for use of women and children of Taylor settlement, and boards nailed on top of stockade to strengthen it.
All the captured cattle are being driven to Poundmaker's, where the grand stand is to be made. ”

“ The petted Indians are the bad ones. The Stonies have been treated as being of a superior race, and are the first to shed the blood o their benefactors. Poundmaker has been petted and feted, and stands in the front rank as a raider. Little Pine, bribed to come north and kept in comfort, hastens to the carnage. Big Bear, who has for years enjoyed the privilege of eating of the bread of idleness, shows his gratitude by killing his priests and his best friend in cold blood. ”

“ The officer who first organizes and puts in the field a company of scouts composed of men selected from this district will have one that will not take a second place to any that can be got together in all that makes such a body effective. With a thorough knowledge of the country and the haunts of the Indians, they excel in the use of the rifle and the management of horses, accustomed to roughing it on the plains, and laughing at difficulties that would break down other men, they can "rustle" for themselves and may be depended on to do good service. ”

“ The fall of this place is a terrible calamity, as iot involves the rate of nearly fifty people; for taking everything into account there is but little hope of their escape or rescue. Even if they did emark on a raft under the safe-conduct of a chief, it by no means follows that they would be allowed to escape with their lives. The opportunity of killing a lot of defenseless as they ran down the narrow places in the river without endangering themselves is one that perpetrators of the cold blooded atrocities at Frog Lake would not allow to pass. ”

“ One of the shots passed through Mr Smart's shoulderblade and travelling upwards came out of the mouth, cutting the jugular vein in its course and causing instant paralysis if not death. His horse was also hit and started on the run, he apparently holding on the pommel of the saddle, but after it had run a couple of hundred yards or so he fell off, and although spoken to by his comrade made no answer. White immediately turned to barracks and gave the alarm, when a waggon and a strong guard were sent out to bring the body. ”

“ Shortly after we got home Commissioner Irvine arrived with ninety-five police, including Inspectors White-Frazer, Saunders and Drayner, and twenty-eight additional specials from Prince Albert, bringing our force up to three hundred men. It is rumored that nothing further will be done until the arrival of the reinforcements from Winnipeg, which is indeed the wisest course, as the rebels have possessing of the part of the country surrounding Duck Lake, which is admirably adapted for guerilla warfare such as comes natural to the natives. ”

“ In the town itself, or that part of it lying south of the Battle River, there is only enough left to remind the sufferers of their once comfortable homes, and to recall the fact that many things of peculiar value are irretrievable lost and can never be replaced. ”

“ But in one brief day their hopes were blasted;instead of being the masters of peaceful and happy homes they were at one blow bereft of everything but manhood—reduced from a condition of plenty to one of absolute penury; houseless, homeless and penniless. ”

“ They want you and the children to go into camp and it may be for the best that you should, for heaven only knows how this will end. If the police force in the fort cannot get off the Indians are sure to attack it—so they say—and will burn it down. I am really a at loss what to sugest for the best. For the time being we might be save with the Indians, but hereafter it is hard to say, for provisions will be scarce after a short time and we may suffer in that way. ”

“ This company is run on military principles, and besides doing daily drill takes a share of garrison duty. The proficiency in drill which these men have attained in the short time since their enrollment reflects the highest credit on the industry and ability of the men and the energy of the officers.
The "Home Guards" consists of the citizens and settlers whom circumstances have forced into the barracks. They are exempt from drill, but do a full share of guard and other duty, and are always on hand when any real work is to be done. ”

“ But while punishment must be meted out to the Indians what shall we say to those white men and nominally civilized Halfbreeds who have instigated this rising? On them rests a fearful responsibility, and on them the penalty must lie. Those who, knowing better, incited to these murders and devastations, put themselves on a level with the savages in all save their animal courage, and [so] their light was greater so must their punishment be exemplary. ”

“ On Wednesday the police reached Battleford, bringing with them arms and ammunition.
The prisoners number nearly fouty of all ages, and include Rev. Charles Quinney and wife and Instructor Mann, wife and family.
Another Victim. We have to-day to add one more to the list of casualties in the unrighteous and unprovoked uprising that is now spreading ruin and desolation over our land. Frank A. Smart, one of our bravest and best citizens, last night rode out on a self-imposed duty as night patrol, and to-day lies in the quit of the grave, treacherously shot from behind by a lurking foe. ”

“ At the Point of Woods he saw several hundred Indians encamped on the swift current trail. They where mostly mounted but comparatively few well armed. It has been often said that it was the intention of the savages to go south and as soon as they had collected all the plunder to be had, and the gathering referred to is probably the first meeting at the rendezvous.
Telegrams received from Swift Current reported the departure of the long promised troops. People here becoming very impatient, more on account of the danger to Pitt than their own. ”

“ Two men came down the trail waving a white handkerchief, and Major Crozier and Joseph McKay, interpreter and guide for the force, went forward to parley with them. "Who are you?" the Major demanded through the interpreter. "Crees and Half-Breeds," the spokesman replied; adding "what do you want?" "Nothing," the Major answered; "we only came to see what was wrong. You had better go back," he added; whereupon the Indian snatched for McKay's revolver, which appeared to be the signal agreed upon, as at the same instant several shots were fired by the rebels from behind the hill. ”

“ Little Poplar, a non-treaty Indian has been liberally supplied with provisions and other necessaries and thus enabled to spend all his time in travelling up and down the land plotting mischief and preparing for this season's carnival of ruin. The petted Indians have proved the bad ones, and this gives weight to the old adage that the only good Indians are the dead ones. ”

“ He was a man of great linguistic attainments, speaking more than half-a-dozen of the Indian dialects besides being able to read, write and speak English and French with equal fluency. He was of mixed blood, his father who was interpreter and guide for the United States troops on service in Minnesota during the massacre of 1863, being a Sioux half-breed [.] He was killed in ambush by Indians while leading troops to the relief of a beleaguered garrison. The subject of this notice married a native women three years ago. ”

“ They have, in the wildest and most unprovoked manner, and with circumstances of the basest treachery, begun a was of desolation such as has never been equalled in the history of Canada, and having declared that they prefer fighting to being fed, the country must accept the challenge and follow up the war until the miserable wretches shall be placed beyond the power of doing any further harm. ”

“ Malloy, telegraph operator at Clarke's Crossing, who under peculiarly trying circumstances has stuck to his post through all the difficulties and dangers of the spring. To liove in a place that has a name but only two houses, and with neighbors few and very far between, is by no means a sinecure, especially where there [is] danger of a visit from hostile Indians.
Riel's advice to the Indians, that the way to become better off was to kill all the farming instructors and agents savo [red?] a good deal of the dynamite policy. They have acted on it in every instance that they could. ”

“ Of all the fair farms that covered the land but few remain—some of these lie under the guns of the fort, while the others are held by men in alliance with the Indians; for on no other grounds can their owners hope for exemption from the universal ruin. ”

“ TUESDAY, 31.—The Indians, aided by their Half-breed brethren, finished the loading of their carts, waggons and pack-horses, and went in a camp in a bluff two miles and a half from town, driving all the loose horses and cattle before them. ”

“ It is with a heavy heart that I take up my pen this evening to record the doings of this most eventful day of the year, as least to us who reside in the North-West. Eleven men who were in this morning in the full enjoyment of health and vigor have to-night crossed that bourne whence no traveller returneth, yielding up their lives in defence of their homes and constitutional government, while several more are languishing on beds of pain. ”

“ The men who went for the bodies were covered with twenty rifles and searched to see if they were armed, and it is fortunate they were all civilians or they would not have been allowed to return. Riel regrets that he was not able to find any dead police on the field, and if any police fall into his hands they may prepare for a most terrible fate. ”

“ They come!" and at once he church bell pealed out an alarm and every thing was bustle and confusion, men shouting, women running, children screaming, and dogs barking. After an hour or so it was found to be a false alarm, as the patrol had brought in word that the heard the Indians were killing cattle about twenty miles up the river, and it turned out the next day that they were some of the Prince Albert Sioux who went to the Pocha settlement to ask the English Half-breeds as to the course they should pursue during the trouble. ”

“ James Bird and family and Peter Hourie came into barracks. They reported having met at Bird ́s place a small party of Indians on their way south. They were overburdened with their children and plunder, and travelled slowly, abandoning cattle an goods in their haste to get away, and expressed themselves as afraid of being pursued.
THURSDAY, April 2 - THe telegraph line having given out, Const. Henry Storer and James Bird left for Swift Current with despatches announcing the murder of Payne and Fremont and the situation generally. ”