issionary, Rev. C. E. Whittaker, conducting the service in
the presence of Mrs. Whittaker, nine white men and the native residents.
Dempster says finely here: "Even though the funeral was held in the most
northerly part of the Empire, away in the Arctic Circle, hundreds of
miles from civilization, I am glad to be able to assure you that
everything was done in connection with the last sad rites that could
possibly be done under the circumstances, and I am sure that the
relatives and friends of the deceased will be glad to know that it was
possible to have Christian burial services read by an ordained minister
of the Gospel over the bodies of their loved ones." The honours were
duly paid also by their comrades, for there was a firing party of five,
Somers, Blake, Dempster, Fyfe and Turner, to give the farewell salute at
the graveside. In the solitude of the vast Northland the rattle of that
musketry would not carry far in one sense, but it awaked echoes in
hearts that understood in far places of the Empire.

When Commissioner Perry sent his final report on the matter he voiced
the feelings of all when he wrote: "Their loss has been felt most keenly
by every member of the Force, but we cannot but feel a thrill of pride
at the endeavour they made to carry out their duty. I cannot express it
better than in the following extract from a letter addressed to me by
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan: 'While the
occurrence brings deepest sadness to all, we feel that such an event
gives greater lustre and enduring remembrance to the splendid Force.'"
And Inspector Sanders, then at Athabasca Landing, who knew the men well
and had received a report from Corporal Somers, wrote a statement to the
Commissioner, in which these fine sentences occur: "It would appear that
Inspector Fitzgerald was the last to succumb, and that he and Carter
would probably have made Fort Macpherson had they not heroically stood
by their stricken and weary companions. The pathetic attention evidently
paid by Inspector Fitzgerald to his dead companions was in keeping with
his brave and manly character."

Memorial services were held in Dawson and other places, and at the
service in Dawson Governor Alexander Henderson said: "They did not fall
in the shock of battle, but, none the less, they all died nobly in the
discharge of their duty and in the service of their country."

The members of the Mounted Police Force raised a large amount for the
p