command of this district, located
at Fort Saskatchewan, which is in close touch with Edmonton. General
Strange, commanding the Alberta Field Force and several companies of
Militia, together with our own men under Superintendent Strong and
Inspector Dickson, are on the way to relieve this post. Inspector
Dickson, I understand, has successfully made the crossing of the Red
Deer with his nine pr. gun, a quite remarkable feat I assure you.

"But, gentlemen, you see the position in which we are placed in
this section of the country. From the Cypress Hills here away to the
southeast, westward to the mountains and down to the boundary-line,
you have a series of reserves almost completely denuded of Police
supervision. True, we are fortunate in having at the Blackfoot Crossing,
at Fort Calgary and at Fort Macleod, companies of Militia; but the very
presence of these troops incites the Indians, and in some ways is a
continual source of unrest among them.

"Every day runners from the North and East come to our reserves with
extraordinary tales of rebel victories. This Fish Creek business has had
a tremendous influence upon the younger element. On every reserve there
are scores of young braves eager to rise. What a general uprising would
mean you know, or think you know. An Indian war of extermination is
a horrible possibility. The question before us all is--what is to be
done?"

After a period of conversation the Superintendent summed up the results
of the discussion in a few short sentences:

"It seems, gentlemen, there is not much more to be done than what we
are already doing. But first of all I need not say that we must keep our
nerve. I do not believe any Indian will see any sign of doubt or fear in
the face of any member of this Force. Our patrols must be regularly
and carefully done. There are a lot of things which we must not see, a
certain amount of lawbreaking which we must not notice. Avoid on every
possible occasion pushing things to extremes; but where it is necessary
to act we must act with promptitude and fearlessness, as Mr. Cameron
here did at the Piegan Reserve a week or so ago. I mention this because
I consider that action of Cameron's a typically fine piece of Police
work. We must keep on good terms with the Chiefs, tell them what good
news there is to tell. We must intercept every runner possible. Arrest
them and bring them to the barracks. The situation is grave, but not
hopeless. Great responsibilities