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GABRIEL DUMONT. I!The Noted French Breed and Fighter in Fort Benton.HIS MISSION IS PEACEFUL.He Accepts the Situation at Ba-toche, but Believes the Half-breeds are Deprived of Their Bights-He Will Go to the Paris Exposition.!Itt1ii1i1ttJ31S9V.atisftaePh\-ea►-ea6rn-a*hg0Ley)--aoi-hsroi-Ql-u.h1taL--nyA8- Gabriel Dumont, the noted lieutenant under the late Louis Riel, and well known throughout the Northwest territory as a zealous advocate of the rights of the half-breeds and as an excellent organizer and courageous fighter, arrived in this city two or three days ago. The rumor having gained currency that he came down from the Northwest territory for the purpose of organizing a force of half-breeds and Indians to incite another revolt among the Batoche Crees, a River Press reporter sought Dumont to ascertain the truth or falsity of the report.Dumont is a man apparently about fifty years of age. He stands five feet eleven, has broad shoulders and a large body, and weighs 233 pounds. He wears a full beard and long hair, both of which are slightly sprinkled with gray. His face is square and massive; his eyes black and piercing; his forehead broad and retreating, his head large and supported by a short, thick neck. When in repose hiscountenance is expressionless, save a certain grimness, for which the hard lines wrought in his features by years of toil and disappointments are responsible. His smile is pleasing, and his laugh, though not loud, is hearty and assuring.The bluest of the blue blood of the Cree, Chippewa and Assinniboine princesses, enlivened and fired by a French cross, flows through the veins of Gabriel Dumont. He speaks the French, Cree and Chippewa languages fluently, but his knowledge of English is so limited that he demands the services of an interpreter and keeps one with him, as his business now-a-days throws him more or less among English speaking people. Mr. Napoleon Neault, a bright young Frenchman, who has been with him since 1885, accompanied Mr. Dumont to this city, and it was through him the River Press reporterconducted his interview with Mr. Dumont.In answer to a question Mr. Dumont said he was born in Manitoba, in ia38, where he lived during the earliest years of his childhood, when, with his parents, he moved to the Saskatchewan country, where he has since principally resided. W as with Riel when the latter was captured at Batoche and an officer under him. Since Riel’s capture and execution he has passed much of his time in Montreal and New York city.Mr. Dumont exhibited several gold medals and a heavy, magnificent watch and chain, all presented to him by his friends and sympathizers at Montreal and New York as slight testimonials of their high appreciation of his faithful and courageous services in behalf of the half-breeds of the Northwest territory.“Mr. Dumont,” said the reporter, “it is said by some that you are down ip this country for the purpose of raising and organizing a force of Indians and half-breeds to aid the Crees at Batoche in another uprising against the Canadian government. Are you willing to state whether there is any truth in this report?”Mr. Dumont first smiled and then laughed as the intrepreter repeated the question to him. “There is no truth in it,he replied, “when I was at Montreal a few weeks ago I made arrangements with a Parisian gentleman whom I met there to furnish him with 100 half-breeds and Indians and 120 Indian ponies for exhibition at the Paris exposition which opened the first of this month. My object in coming to Montana is to complete my selection of men and horses.”“Did you find your men?”“Yes, I filled the company with Cree* and half-breeds that I found on Milk river.“When do you propose to leave ^*ith them V9“Just as soon as I hear from Paris. I cabled to that city yesterday for further information concerning matters in connection with the outfits If the reply is favorable I shall start over the Manitoba with the company in a few days. If not I shall not take the {all number, but I expect to go anyway.”“Do you think the Batoche half-breeds will create any further trouble with the Canadian government?”“Not with my consent, answered Dumont. “While I believe that the Canadian government is unjust to them I do not believe redress for their wrongs can be found in bloodshed. Time and a fuller consideration of their just demands will, I think, work out a satisfactory conclusion of the whole matter.“Now, Mr. Dumont, one more question,”said the reporter. “Do the half-breedfarmers on the Saskatchewan irrigate their crops?”“No sir. Grains of all Rinds, corn, po tatoee and other vegetables are grown inthe Saskatchewan without irrigation. Nograin was grown in that portion of the North weet territory befere 1870, but sincethen crops have been Drettv ranerallv
Newspaper Details
Fort Benton River Press
Fort Benton, Montana, US
Wed, May 22, 1889
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA 07 May 2020
Other Publications Near Fort Benton, Montana
The Benton Weekly Record
The Benton Record
Fort Benton River Press
