Lovers of the Horse 57 



torical in Caiunla. 'V\w R.X. W.M.I', naturally bore tlie brunt of the campaign and 

 acquitted itself well; officers and men reflecting the greatest credit on themselves and 

 on the country. 



The end of the rebellion left the Mounted Police with greatly increased responsi- 

 bilities. First, there was the pacification of the half-breed settlements and the Indian 

 tribes which had been in revolt. Seconal, the sense of security hitlieito enjoyed bv 

 the white settlements had to be restored, and third, provision had to be made for the 

 enforcement of the law in new settlements and mushroom frontier villages, which 

 sprang into existence as a result of the comj^letion of the C.P.R. 



Stejjs were taken to increase the strength of the force, G08 recruits joining during 

 the year 1885, and to re-arrange the distribution of the work. In the midst of this 

 process or reconstruction the visit of the Governor-General, Lord Lansdowne, did 

 much to allay excitement and to emphasize the fact that law and order had been re- 

 stored throughout the Territories. 



Writing at the end of 1885 from Prince Albert, which had been the centre of the 

 disaffectcfl district, and where, since his promotion, the commander, Supt. A. Bowen 

 Perry, rejjorted : "The half-breed ijojjulation is quiet, and the feeling amongst them, 

 to a great extent, appears to be that of regret for the past troubles. Very few will 

 acknowledge that they took up arms of their own free will, claiming that they were 

 persuaded and forced into the trouble. 



"They are now entirely dependent on Government assistance. 

 "I have seen the priests of the different half-breed missions and they all tell a 

 piteous story of starvation and want among their people. The Indians are very quiet 

 and peaceable." 



In 1886 Lawrence V»'. Herchmer, Esq., succeeded Lieut.-Col. A. G. Irvine, as 

 Commissioner, and that year the work in connection with the erection and repairs 

 of l)arracks, hitherto done by the Police themselves, was handed over to the Depart- 

 ment of Public Works. 



During the years immediately succeeding the rebellion, there was a marked develop- 

 ment of the patrol system. Log cabins with stables and corrals were built at con- 

 venient places along the frontier, to afford shelter to the men in bad weather, and 

 some full-blooded Indians were en<jao;ed as scouts, doine verv cood service. 



The men of the force at that time were of exceptionally fine physique, the average 

 height being 5 feet 9^ inches; chest measurement 38| inches, the Commissioner aiming 

 to make the standard very high, so that it might be hard to enter and easy to leave. 



In 1889 Lord Stanley, then Governor-General, visited the Northwest. During 

 that summer an extraordinary drought was very hard on the horses, and the patrols, 

 imder Superintendent Perry, had to travel on one day 40 miles, and on the next 42 

 miles without water. Great credit was considered due Supt. Perry for the splendid 

 condition of the horses on arrival at Regina. 



During 1889 nuich interest was taken in rifle shooting and many improvements 

 were made in the force and in the method of working. 



