into the south-west part of the territories where the warlike
Blackfeet confederacy had its centre. At each of these points, as at
Prince Albert, the few Mounted Police that were on duty became a literal
tower of strength. At Battleford, Inspector Morris, with his few men,
organizing also a home guard, guarded nearly 400 women and children who
sought refuge inside the stockade. And Constable Storer, riding out
alone from that stockade, when all the wires were cut, though pursued
for 60 miles, carried the dispatch to the relieving column at Swift
Current. At Fort Pitt, in the Big Bear country, Inspector Francis
Dickens, son of the famous novelist, with a mere handful of men, one of
whom, young Cowan, was killed by the Indians, and another, Loasby, was
wounded, held that Hudson's Bay post until the factor and his family and
employees gave themselves up to the Indians, when Dickens, having no
farther object in staying there, dropped down the river to Battleford
and took part in the fight against Poundmaker. And away in the
south-west, where the whole region was charged with the electricity of
revolt, the masterly hand of Superintendent Cotton, a cool, courageous
and diplomatic officer, ably assisted by Inspector Antrobus and Surgeon
Kennedy, was able to restrain the most dangerous of the Indian tribes in
the West. Superintendent McIllree commanded at Maple Creek and Medicine
Hat, and kept a constant eye by scouting parties on the Cypress Hills
region, and Inspector McDonnell's services at Wood Mountain were of much
value. Superintendent Deane was in charge at headquarters in Regina, and
did a great deal of important work in recruiting men and using his
influence for peace amongst Indians, such as Chief Pie-a-Pot and others.
Northward, in the Edmonton country, where there were great numbers of
Indians, amongst whom Riel and Big Bear had runners, that experienced
soldier, Inspector A. H. Griesbach, "the father of the Police Force," as
he was often called, accomplished tasks of first importance by holding
Fort Saskatchewan, where many settlers took refuge, and by assisting
with the organization of the Edmonton Home Guards, as well as patrolling
the whole region round about. No one who knew the situation as it really
existed at that critical hour, could ever dream of apportioning honours
differently to men who were actually in action and those who stood guard
over helpless settlers, or prevented by determined diplomacy the
upri