#john bruce

Andy Billups sketch by John Bruce

John Bruce, with Louis Riel, send a letter to Québec newspaper Courrier de Saint-Hyacinthe on 6 October 1869, declaring that surveyors from Ontario “disregarded the law of nations” by working in Red River under the name of “an alien authority.” Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Flippin, John Merton”Let me down easy, Jesus, let me down easy” wuz John Flippin’s pray'r fer t'las acoupla weeks o'his'n life. Gawd answeret at pray'r wen John Merton Flippin peecefullee passet frum thishere earth ta his'n Heevenlee Trayler un Saturdee, Januree 3, 2015, at...

On a personal note I want to justify my reason for posting this. I've noticed people tend to avoid this part of T.E.'s life, but I don't see the problem or shame in acknowledging it. Some biographers, wrongfully, have taken this information and misconstrued it, turning T.E. into some sort of deviant. He was one of the most self-less, kind souls and I believe this small aspect of his life was simply one way that the trauma he suffered during the war manifested itself.  T.E.'s brother Arnold, who found out about this immediately after his dead but did not publicize it, rightfully said "it's not a thing people can understand easily". I find the lengths which T.E. went to (creating a fake Uncle, etc) in order to be sure no one would find out are quite remarkable. He also chose Bruce very wisely, as he seemed to be very gullible and unintelligent, yet trustworthy enough to keep it a secret. If anything, this part of his life only fortifies my interest and admiration for a wonderfully complex individual. He was no saint. Only a true human being with faults like the rest of us.