Page 71 - All About History - Issue 56-17

Lawmen of the Frontier

northwest On the head
Mounties used to
wear spiked helmets,
again modelled on a
moUnted poLice cavalryman’s, but it was
replaced by the light
brown ‘ranger hat’ that is

years active: 1873-present jUrisdiction: originally the pacific northwest, now all over canada familiar today.
inFamoUs coLLars: the macLean brothers, Louis riel, ernest cashel

The Northwest Mounted Police food supplies were stopped, they Sturdy jacket
(NWMP) formed in 1873 and were endured months of starvation before Originally based on the
called a police force to sooth surrendering to the US Army at Fort uniforms of English
cavalrymen, the red coat
American fears about troops Buford in July 1881.
is still standard uniform
building up on their border. But the Domestic problems included the
for Mounties.
then governor general of Canada McLean brothers: Allan, Charles
made no bones about what was and Archie. They terrorised British
expected of them: “While nominally Columbia in the late 1870s, stealing
policemen, the men will be dressed anything they could. Captured after
in a scarlet uniform and possess murdering two men, including an
all the characteristics of a military NWMP officer, they were hanged at
force.” Modelled on the British Army New Westminster in 1881.
cavalry and Royal Irish Constabulary, With the McLean crisis over,
the NWMP were a disciplined another almost immediately began Shooting gun
Commonly thought
paramilitary charged with securing — the Second Riel Rebellion in
to be a rifle, the gun
the Northwest Territory for settlers. 1885. The NWMP helped crush the
slung across the saddle
Tough policing was seriously uprising and Louis Riel was hanged is actually a carbine, a
needed. Canada bought the on 16 November 1885. Other notable shorter, lighter weapon
Northwest Territory from the collars included horse thieves James chosen for convenience
and speed. Mounties
Hudson Bay Company in 1870 but Gaddy and Moise Racette, both
have also always carried
the region’s isolated wilderness of whom were hanged in 1888 for handguns — while today
meant it was essentially lawless. murdering a NWMP constable. they favour automatic
This culminated in the Cypress Hills By far their biggest challenge was pistols, revolvers were
regulation issue.
Massacre of 1873, which saw a party the Gold Rush. In 1895, gold was
of drunken traders and hunters discovered in the Klondike region
kill at least 20 Assiniboine natives, of Yukon. Thousands came seeking
claiming they had stolen a horse. their fortunes and criminals soon
To get to the Northwest Territory, followed. But the NWMP enforced
300 NWMP officers and men the law and customs duties, expelled
endured a gruelling, two-month, undesirables and gold rush far
1,300-kilometre march across more peaceful than what California
untracked prairie in 1874. The NWMP experienced in the 1840s.
early activities included ending Ironically, policing the gold rush
the whiskey trade and enforcing saved the NWMP. Its disbandment
agreements with the First Nations was being discussed at the time,
people. The Great Sioux War of 1876 but glowing reports saw the plan
saw many Native Americans flee to deferred and then abandoned
Canada and the NWMP policed their entirely. The NWMP endures as the
stay. By 1879, many had returned Royal Canadian Mounted Police,
home, but some refused. When better known as the Mounties.
Suitable
footwear
The black trousers and
boots remain part of
Mountie uniform, though
spurs are now seldom
worn and horses are
rarely ridden.

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