No. 69

With reference to my despatches noted in the Margin

*

I have the honor to state that the Chilicoten Chiefs Klatsassin and
Telloot, with three of their followers, who had taken an active
part in the late massacres of white men, were executed in the
village of Quesnel Mouth on Wednesday the 26th of October,
at 7th o'clock in the Morning. The High Sheriff informs me
that there were "about 250 present, all of whom were well conducted
and the whole proceeding was marked by a proper sense of order
and decorum."

2. The Murderers had been tried in the most formal manner
and the Judge's minutes considered by me in Council. The Evidence
against the prisoners was conclusive. Though defended by Counsel
they acknowledged their guilt. The Judge asked what their law
was against Murderers. They said, "Death." I directed that
Klatsassin should be allowed to hang himself, in accordance with
the wishes he had expressed when giving himself up, but at the
last moment he preferred to die like the others. A Minister of
religion attended the Murderer's during the last few days of
their life. They admitted the justice of the sentence passed
on them and died with the utmost calmness.

3. On the scaffold Telloot, an old man, addressed the
Alexandria Indians who were present. He said his last prayer
was that they would make peace with the Chilicotens and urge them
to cease fighting with their native neighbours and the whites.

4. I had requested Mr Justice Begbie to enquire of
Klatsassin why he gave himself up. The Judge visited the
prisoners after sentence had been pronounced and put the question.
It appears that Klatsassin had some hope that I was still with
the Volunteer forces, and probably the protection I afforded
Ulnas led him to hope for some mercy. But he admitted that his
case was desperate. He had no flour. He could not hunt. He
had no fish. He could not light a fire.

5. Two of the prisoners though stated by Klatsassin to be
murderers were acquitted. Another effected his escape while on
his way to New Westminster for trial.

6. The calamities growing out of the massacre at Bute
Inlet and the subsequent rebellion are not over yet. Unfortunately
 for himself and people Anaheim, the Chief who commands the
Chilicotens from the summit of the Cascade Range to near Benshee
Lake, did not give in his submission until the fish and fruit
season was over. Our Volunteers did their work well, and now
Anaheim's followers, men, women, and Children are reported to
be starving. I enclose a correspondence which has passed between
Rear Admiral Denman and myself on the subject. You will observe
that I am sending up flour to feed our late enemies.

7. Mr Ogilvy the Gentleman I am despatching on this mission
possesses an intimate knowledge of Indian Character, and has,
I believe, Indian blood in his veins. He was second in command
of Mr Cox's force after the death of Mr McLean. He thinks
the step I am now taking will have a most beneficial effect on the
mind of the natives.

8. I may mention in this, the closing despatch I sincerely
trust, on the subject of the massacres that I am, on the advice
of the Executive Council, presenting to Mr Brew and Mr Cox
respectively, handsome pieces of plate, of considerable intrinsic
worth, as a recognition of their Services in the suppression of
the late insurrection.