In the days of the
Red River Rebellion
Life and Adventure in the Far West of Canada (1868-1872), By John McDougall
Contents
Chapter I.
Primitive transport—The "buckboard "—New country—Edmonton—A pioneer
parsonage—Housebuilding—Fishing—A race for noble game----A birthday
feast—A motley company
Chapter II.
Winter sets in—A visit to Edmonton—The "Ponthira antelope"—I secure a
superb train of dogs —A run to Vlotoria—A Jolly company—Representative
Indian types Aristocrats of the plains—Watch-night service An accident—
Home again
Chapter III.
A trip to Rocky Mountain Fort—A tenderfoots bewilderment—"The hills of
God"—Tact of the Hudson's Bay Company—A wolverine's cunning
Chapter IV,
A big hunt planned—Tragic death of Maskepetoon - District meeting at
Victoria—Jacob Bigstoney - Rev. Win. Lacombe—Jacob's skill In tracking—
A strong temptation—Consecrated to the Ministry—Wars and rumors of war
Chapter V.
We start for the big camp—Varied diet—My first breech-loader—A scare —A
wonderful scene—A "great lone land "—Clerical costumes—Exciting buffalo
hunts—Struck by lightning—Charged by two buffalo bulls—A battle
royal—Changing conditions—Unerring instinct of Indian guides —Our camp
rushed by a buffalo herd—Loss of our only waggon
Chapter VI.
The "fall hunt"—A brutal murder—My horse poisoned—"This is the way to
do it!"—Father's abbreviated musket—Samson's dash and skill as a buffalo
runner—Bob and I do some scouting— The silence of Nature's solitude—A
hair-raising adventure —I make new acquaintances
Chapter VII.
Visiting Hudson's Bay posts—A lonely journey—I encounter a solitary
traveller—Importation of liquor—circulating a petition—An Irish priest's
objections—Governor Archibald's proclamation —Prohibition In the
Territories
Chapter VIII.
Rebellion in the Red River Settlement—Reil seizes Fort Garry—Attempts to
induce the Indians to revolt—Visiting the tribes to preach loyalty—
Indians remain firm—Outbreak of smallpox— Massacre of Blackfeet near
Edmonton—The post Invested by avenging force—Narrow escape of a party of
whites—A bonfire of carts and a feast —Wolseley crushes
rebellion—Terrible ravages of smallpox—Heartrending scenes—The writer's
attack and cure—Awful mortality among French half-breeds
Chapter IX.
An autumn hunt—.Spirit of the pioneer—My friend Susa gets a bath—Our
camp entered by a war party—My brother David's pluck—Best meat in the
world—Homeward with loaded carts—We get serious word from the
Mission—Father and sisters down with smallpox—A camp of the dead—Arrive
at the Mission—Find father recovering—Strict quarantine Into an
ice-hole----Narrow escape from drowning—Mother's heroism in fighting the
scourge
Chapter X.
Indians in sullen humor—Another hunt organized— A dubious Quaker—My
fingers badly frozenApou and I In luck—My endurance Is tried—A visit
from the Chief Factor—I am sent on a difficult and dangerous
mission—Indians gathering in a big camp—Rebellion being fomented— Packet
brings news of Franco-Prussian war—A priest's superstitious folly and
its results New Idea of prayer—Gifts of tobacco--Arrival at Hand Hills
Camp
Chapter XI.
Interview with the head chief—Spirit of rebellion rampant—Sabbath
services—A terrible storm— Big gathering of Indians—Exhorting loyalty
and order—Good impression made Distributing gifts Return trip—Rejoicings
at success of mission—Recognition of service by the Hudson's Bay Company
Chapter XII.
A
peace mission to Rocky Mountain House —A Dutchman for travelling
companion—Call at Pigeon Lake Mission—Difficult travel—An obstinate
pack-train boss--A Blackfoot scalawag—At the Mountain Fort—Interview
with Indian chiefs—Homeward bound—A runaway couple Receive word of my
wife's death—Hastening homeward—A new breech-loader—A mission
established at Edmonton—Father's narrow escape from drowning—We lose our
buckboard —Floating down the Saskatchewan
Chapter XIII.
Down the Saskatchewan to Fort Canton by skiff— Fort Pitt—Noted Indian
chiefs—A lonely camp and a solitary wolf—A celestial battle —David
brings his bride to Victoria—News from the outside world—To Edmonton in
a spring-waggon—My wonderful crop of potatoes—A severe attack of the
mumps—A visit from father— Two typical westerners—The White Mud
Settlement
Chapter XIV.
Missionary Conference at Winnipeg announced—District - Meeting moves me
to Pigeon Lake—A "migratory church "—A hunt organized—We fall in with
Black- feet and Bloods—A time of great anxiety—Friendly overtures—My
visit to Solomon's camp—Good feeling established—A chief with Quaker
instincts —Our party divides—We fall in with a Sarcee camp—I make
friends with Chief Bull Head—Relief at meeting with large hunting party
of our own people—A glorious buffalo run—Attack of fever— Off for
Edmonton
Chapter XV.
Visit at Edmonton—Starting for Conference—" Eight hundred miles to do
shopping "—Travelling expenses —Buy a fine horse—On the fringe of
settlement—Arrival at 'Winnipeg—Missionary Conference
opened—Distinguished deputation—Entertained by Sir Donald A Smith—Rev.
Wm. Morley Punshon's lectures and ordination sermon—I am ordained— Dr.
Moore and Dr. Cochrane—Ann appointed to a new mission—Government survey
party arrives in Winnipeg—Dr. Grant's "Ocean to Ocean "—Affectionate
tribute to my father
Chapter XVI.
Conference over, I leave on a visit to Ontario—Dr. Punshon—Passing the
Customs—A stubborn Jehu - Northern Railroad at Moorehead—Take steamer at
Duluth—Revisiting scenes of my boyhood—Collingwood—Craigvale—Toronto—College
education denied—My second marriage—Westward bound - Seasickness—A "wild
and woolly" town—Heading off a steamer—Down the Red River—Dr. Bryce-----
Westward rush begun—A merited rebuke
Chapter XVII.
Arrival at Fort Garry—Kindly received by Rev. Geo. Young and wife—Mr.
Marshall—Wife and self start out alone on our long journey—" The steady
jog"—A lordly Irishman—"Give him a terrible pounding for me "—A prairie
fire—Meet with a party of fugitive Sioux—Participants in the Minnesota
massacre—Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Audey.-."You will do for the North-West,
Mrs. McDougall"
Chapter XVIII.
A half-breed's lingo—Origin of languages—Half way to Edmonton—Chief
Factor McMurray—A bitter storm —First house at Batoche—Duck Lake and
Fort Carlton—Fortunate meeting with my old friend, Jack Norris—Neche
stuck fast in a creek—Another mishap—Winterwith a vengeance—Bannock-
making —Buried in snow—Camp-fire cheer—Sufferings of our
horses—Brilliant night.scene—Neche's simplicity—" The man with the sharp
axe "—My wife nearly frozen—Sandy McDonald, hero —A plucky
exploit—Little Bob's plight—Narrow escape from freezing—Changing camp
during the night—Overcome by cold and exhaustion—My wife's anxious
night-watch—Arrival at Fort Pitt
Chapter XIX.
Welcome at Fort Pitt—Flat-sleds and snow-shoes— - Norris and party
arrive—A unique incident—On to Victoria—Sandy accompanies us—Order of
march— Little Bob clear grit—A friendly French half-breed —Arrive at
Victoria—David a proud father—A run to Edmonton and Pigeon Lake—A
welcome visit from father—Christmas at Edmonton—Home at last—Unique
bridal tour—My wife a heroine— Au revoir
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