Hardisty arrived
with his precious documents. Meanwhile, the Loyalists had made Riel's
men prisoners, and when Riel attempted to interfere, Pierre Laveiller, a
loyal French half-breed, put his loaded pistol to the Dictator's head,
and threatened his life. Sixty or seventy of the Loyalists escorted
Hardisty and his papers to Mr. Smith in Fort Garry.
[Illustration: Train of Huskie Dogs, Fort Garry, north gate
(Governor's entrance still standing), Toboggan with Hudson Bay trader
IN FORT GARRY PARK, WINNIPEG Permission Steele & Co., Winnipeg]
Now in possession of his documents, the Commissioner called a general
meeting of the people for January 19th, and one thousand men appeared on
that day in the Court Yard of the Fort. As there was no building in
which they could assemble, the meeting was held in the open air, with
the temperature 20 deg. below zero. The people stood for hours and
listened to the proceedings. Commissioner Smith then read the letter of
his appointment, and also a letter from the Governor-General, which
announced to the people that the Imperial Government would see that
"perfect good faith would be kept with the inhabitants of the Red River
and the Northwest.
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