13°c Overcast
11°c Cloudy with clear breaks
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Roblin's daughter donates Riel rope
Believed to have been used in hanging of Métis leader
Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press Philippe Mailhot displays the rope and old envelope in which it was stored.
In August 2010, a few months after Duff Roblin died, the former premier's daughter, Jennifer, visited the St. Boniface Museum carrying an important historical artifact.
It wasn't a piece of Roblin memorabilia she was donating -- but a relic dating back to the time of Louis Riel, Manitoba's founding father, that her dad had kept for more than four decades.
Inside an aged envelope lay a tiny clump of rope strands, each no longer than 10 to 12 centimetres. On one side of the envelope was written, "Rope that hung Riel." There was more text explaining how it had been passed on by a Capt. Young in 1885 to J.B. Silcox, a protestant minister, in Winnipeg. On the other side of the envelope were the words: "Given to Duff Roblin on May 6, 1969 by the grandson of J.B. Silcox."
Philippe Mailhot, director of the museum, said Monday the artifact is not yet available for viewing at the Tache Avenue institution, which already boasts the largest Louis Riel collection on display anywhere. But he expects it will be by the next Louis Riel Day on Feb. 18, 2013.
The museum already possesses Riel's coffin, the hood that was wrapped around his head before he was hanged, a pair of his moccasins, a shaving kit and other personal items. It even has a 22-cm piece of hangman's rope that, the story has it, arrived in St. Boniface inside the coffin alongside his body. But the authenticity of the rope has not been well-established.
Mailhot said the discovery of the rope strands is significant because of how they were passed down through the years.
The Capt. Young referred to on the envelope is likely Capt. George H. Young, who commanded the unit that escorted Riel from Batoche, Sask.,upon the conclusion of the Northwest Rebellion, to Regina, where the Métis leader was tried for treason and hanged.
J.B. Silcox was a minister in the Congregational Church and was "not a fan" of Riel, said Mailhot.
"Capt. George Young was a known historical figure having played a known historical role in the events (of 1885)," Mailhot said, adding he was well-placed to have either witnessed the hanging or have access to the rope afterwards.
"Contextually, it holds water for me," he said, of the likely authenticity of the strands.
Jennifer Roblin could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Mailhot said he wants to compare the strands of rope donated by the Roblin family to three small pieces of rope thought to be used in Riel's hanging in an RCMP museum in Regina.
Jodi Ann Eskritt, curator of the RCMP's historical collection unit, said she will help the St. Boniface museum director in any way she can. "I think he's got a pretty good chance that, yes, that is a genuine piece of the rope," she said Monday. At least as genuine as can be determined without DNA testing.
"For those of us who are history buffs... that is very, very exciting," Eskritt said of the latest find. "It is a very unique moment to touch the real thing and to have the real thing."
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 25, 2012 A4
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 30 articles for today)
Several held in gun sighting
8:41 AMWinnipeg police have taken several people into custody after reports of a gun being seen in the North End this ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Doctor charged with sexually assaulting teen at HSC
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- Police searching for suspect who woke sleeping teen
- MTS becomes takeover target
- Teachers vote to donate $1.5M to human rights museum
- City's first urban reserve born
- Evidence ignored in dangerous driving acquital, appeal court told
- Overnight stabbings probed
- Crash victims were good friends, free spirits
- Premier defends PST hike at NDP convention
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Police identify slaying victims
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- City's first urban reserve born
- The end of the credit card?
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Unjust justice: Still no aboriginal court in Manitoba
- Armed forces buys buses from Motor Coach
- MTS becomes takeover target
- Better PTSD treatment for RCMP urged
- Teachers vote to donate $1.5M to human rights museum
- SCU pulls Bill 18 petition
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- City's first urban reserve born
- Accused fraudster fights extradition to U.S.
- Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Fishing for fashion
- City's first urban reserve born
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- North End proud
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.