oing or
coming. But that was not the police way, and so Rose went beyond his
duty. West goes on, "One man, Patrice Dumont, a half-breed, living close
to the reserve, fell ill, as did the members of his family. Dumont, who
was the sole support of the family, died. The rest of the family became
hysterical and Rose had to be there continually. He dressed the body of
Dumont for burial and made a coffin fastened with wooden pegs in the
absence of nails, and as the flies were bad he buried the body next day
with the help of some Indians. The circumstances under which Constable
Rose worked were most trying, as he had to sleep in the same room with
the dead man, while Dumont's children kept crying and clinging round his
neck all night." The children, half-crazed with grief and delirium,
recognized that the big policeman was a friend and very human in his
practical sympathy.

It is evident that the Dominion Government feared that at one time the
whole Mounted Police Force, if allowed, would have enlisted for service
overseas unless their attention was very specially called to the vital
necessity for their presence at home. Accordingly, in 1916, when many of
the Force were renewing the efforts to go overseas, the Premier of
Canada, Hon. Sir Robert L. Borden, than whom there was no one who
understood the world situation better, sent the following special
communication to the Mounted Police Force, "The Prime Minister desires
to express to officers, non-commissioned officers and constables his
very deep appreciation of the patriotic and devoted service which they
have rendered, and of the faithful and efficient manner in which they
are performing their important duties.

"He fully realizes the great desire of the members of the Force to
enlist for overseas service, and he is aware that practically the whole
Force would offer their services at the Front if permission could be
given. This patriotic spirit is entirely commendable; but all members of
the Force must remember that the service they are now rendering to the
Dominion and to the Empire is not less important than that which they
would perform if serving at the Front. Further, it is a service which
can only be efficiently performed by a force which has been trained in
the discharge of the duties it is called upon to undertake. For these
reasons the Prime Minister has found himself unable to consent to the
retirement from the Force of many officers and men who have asked that