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MAUUAIUT McN Al C;HT< >N 
 

OVERLAND TO CARIBOO 
 
 AX KVKNTFUL JOURNKY OF ('ANAI)IAX 
 
 PIONKKHS TO THK (JOLI) FIKLDS OF 
 
 imiTISH COLUMlilA IN 1S(}2. 
 
 BY 
 
 MARGARKT McNAUGHTON, 
 
 W'i/t of one of fhe Pionctrs, 
 
 83litb portraits :inb Illustrations. 
 
 TORONTO: 
 WILLIAM BRIGGS 
 
 WESLEY HIILI)IN(}S. 
 
 C. W. COATES, Montreal. S. F. HULSTIS, Halifax. 
 
 , 1896. 
 
Kntkkkk iMTonliiiK' to Ai-t of iho rurliiiiiu-iit of Caiiiula, in the yi'ar ont- 
 ihoiisaiid ci^'ht hiiridr.'il anil ninct.v-siv, Itv Wii.mam hitittON, at the 
 I)c|iartint'nt of Anri(v>lture. 
 
THE PR -PERT Y OF 
 
 SCARBORO 
 
 PUBLIC L13.TARY. 
 
 pri-:facI':. 
 
 TiiLs book is not merely a desiriptioii of the adven- 
 tures of ji party of in«'ii who crossed the phiins of 
 hiitish North Aineiiea (known then as tlie Hudson's 
 r.ay Territory) in 18(32, hut it is intended to show 
 the possibilities of that vast re«,Mon, for many years 
 so little known to the civilized world, and scai-cely 
 less a terra inror/tiifa to the Canadian Uovernnient 
 and people. 
 
 Since this journey was accomplished many wonder- 
 ful ehan<(es have taken place, many curious events 
 have come to pass. From the Atlantic on the east 
 to the Pacific on the west the Canadian Pacific Kail- 
 way is stretched ; and today the perilous journey, 
 which once occupied five ami a half months, can be 
 
 ,j>r 
 
I 
 
 VI 
 
 PREKACK. 
 
 accoin{)lisli(Ml, si.rroundod witli every comfort and 
 convenience, in *ive or six days. 
 
 Th(^ intrepid j)ioneers of whom I write were the 
 first to cross from Canada to Britisli Columbia over- 
 land, and their coura<i;e and perseverance deserve 
 to be recorded in history, even l)rietly as it may be. 
 The company numbered one hundred and fifty, most 
 f»f them youths "gathered together from difi'en'nt 
 parts of Eastern Canada. Many of them had been 
 tenderly reared and well educated. They left their 
 homes, scmie of them to perish on the journey, and 
 others to open up and develop this country. They 
 crossed the north-western part of the continent of 
 America from Foi't (Jarry (now the city of Winni- 
 peg), and braved the dan<(erous I'apids of the Fraser 
 River. 
 
 Part of the company reached Quesnelle Mouth, 
 Cariboo, in the months of September and October 
 of the year 1862. Of the one hundred and fifty 
 who formed the expedition, there were some who 
 never reached Cariboo. They separated from the 
 rest of the party at the headwaters of the Fraser 
 
PRKI ArK. 
 
 Nil 
 
 River, ami, after »'iuluiirii,' untold liardsliips and 
 HiiHerini,', i-eaclied Tort KaniIonj)s. 
 
 .Many <»f that liravr l)and have lon^' since passed 
 ov( • U) the ^'reat niajurity ; some of thnn have left 
 the t;oiintry; others havr flMed, or are rilhn<,', hoiiour- 
 ahle iMtsitions in their country's service. It is to 
 them, ami to sucii as them, \v«' owe the jU'osperity 
 and |)roi,'i«'ss of liritisli Columhia today. 
 
 I had also projtoscd to i,'ivc a sketch of the eailv 
 iiistory of Carilxjo, hut I find it is wortiiv of a 
 s(!parat(^ Noiume. C'aiihoo is famecl ijie world over, 
 
 aiul, as the Premiei-, in a speech delivered on a 
 recent occasion, said, '* ('aril)oo is the father of the 
 Province, and its wondci-ful resources are only he«^in- 
 nin»^ to he developed.'" 
 
 " 'riie lieiLflits l»y <j;\r;a men iciKlicd junl kept 
 Were not attiiiiied liy sinMcn flii^'lit, 
 lint tlu'V. \\ liilf lln'ir cuinpiininns slt-pt, 
 U'oie toiliiii; iipwaid in the iiiLrlit." 
 
CONTILNTS. 
 
 CUAITKi: I. 
 
 TlIK .Jul KNKV T(» KnliT (i.VKUY. 
 
 Thf staitirij,' of the Overliiml Kxpclit ion A fiainlii- 
 K'lit ("<.inpiiiiy~At St. Paul— Arrival at (iroi'^jc- 
 t„un-\'isitc.l hy (J(,vetii.)r Dallas-rp tliu Kr<l 
 liivcr on the Hist steamer -Reach Fort (Jarrv — 
 I'emiiiicaii Ke.l River Settlement -An idle threat 
 I'urchasin^ outfits Red Rviver earls Kreii<h- 
 Catiailian voyageurs 
 
 rAiiK 
 
 M» 
 
 CHAPTER ir. 
 
 Wkstwakd Ho! 
 
 Leaving Fort ( iarry -White Horse IMains Organi/a- 
 tion into eompanies-Oider of march — Reautiful 
 scenery— A plucky woman -P(.rtage la Prairie- - 
 riie Little Saskatchewan— Crossing the Assiiii- 
 hoine— Fort Ellice— A runaway ox and jin accident 
 —Deserted hy the guide- Hufliilo sighted - Dis- 
 comforts of travel -Fort Cailton - Fort Pitt - 
 Fatiguing travel Expert l.ridge l)uil.leis . 
 
 •Mi 
 
1 1 
 
 xu 
 
 CONTEXTS. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 In tiik Hkart ok thk Continent. 
 
 PAOE 
 
 Fort Edmonton — An ingenious artill(!rynmn— Im- 
 promptu concerts— St. Albert's— Oxen trailetl for 
 horses -Extrjiordinary fei'tility of soil -The Sas- 
 katchewan valley St. Ann's V^oracious (lot's — 
 A ludit-rous spectacle —Kindness from Roman 
 Catholic nuns Hospitality ui Mr. Colin Frasei- - 
 Bagpipes -A grateful ])i'iest — Cutting roads - 
 Coal in sight -Kiiulinga volcano — A lonely grave 
 — Fii'st view of the Rockies— Into the great 
 Leatherhead I'ass 'u) 
 
 CHARTER IV. 
 The Expedition Entek.s tin-; Rocky Mointains. 
 
 Sublime scenery — Migiity forces of nature Ten miles 
 in a day — An api)alling thundei-storm — A perilous 
 pathway — Whitefish Lake— Crossing the Atha- 
 l)asca on rafts — The "height of lan<l "' — The Fiaser 
 River — Extremities of hungei — Toasted lariat 
 rope 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 The McMiCKiNi! Party Descendinc; the Eraser. 
 
 At Tete Jaune Cache— Tia<ling with Indians — The Ex- 
 pedition divides — Eraser River party constructing 
 rafts — The Hotilla stai-ts down the river — In the 
 (Jrand Canyon — Into the rapi<ls — Thiough a whirl- 
 pool — An appalling i)rospect Narrow esea])e — 
 Disaster tt> the Toronto party— A (uinoe wrecked — 
 
■A 
 
 TAOK 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 The (Jodeiich parly capsi/.i'd — Tragic dratli of Mr. 
 Holtertson — Another nuutr strikes -Mr. Carpenter 
 and Mr. Leader drowned — A singuhir piesentiinent 
 —At Fort (ieorge — Sad death of Mr. l*iiters(»n— 
 Part V arrives at CarilxHi 
 
 Xlll 
 
 r.\(»K 
 
 55 
 
 CHAI'TKK VI. 
 
 AMVKNTrUKS OK TIIK SVMINCTON PaKTV. 
 
 (Jaunt and fainisheil travellers — I'lactical sympathy of 
 the Indians — Dead salmon lining the liver hanks — 
 The Shuswap Indians— The \\'hitl»y ])arty wrecked 
 -Canoes to the rescue — I'each Fort (ieorge in 
 famished condition — At(^uesnelle Fort Alexandria 
 —On to Victoria KKi 
 
 73 
 
 CH APT Fit VII. 
 
 TtiK Tiio.Mi'soN KivKii Fxi-KDirroN. 
 
 A weary niarcii —Cutting loads —Six miles a day — 
 Peach the Thomj)son River— Kafts and "dug- 
 outs" — Mr. Strachan drowned — A noldiT sacrifice — 
 A desperate situation — Timely res,ue Arrival at 
 Kamloo|(s — First white child in Kainloops — Mr. 
 Frank Pemherton drowneil — Chanjfes since IS02 — 
 Kemarkalile progress of the West — Sj)lendid pros- 
 ])eets of Hritish Columltia 11") 
 
 CHAPTFK VIII. 
 
 liKHiKAI'HKWL SkKT<HI:s OK SoMK OF Tl(!; OVKFtLANDKHS. 
 
 Thomas Mc.Micking — ArLliil)ald McNaughton -Rohert 
 H. McMicking— .lohn Howron — George C. Tunstall 
 — John Fannin John A. Mara- -James Wattie — 
 William Fortune— A. L. Fortune ...... 131 
 
xiv 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 " (fOLDEN Cariboo. 
 
 TAOK 
 
 Discovery of gold — Influx of miners— Some leading 
 " claims" — Kxtrtaordinary yields— Fifteen hundred 
 ounces of gold for six days' work — Hilly Barker 
 "sti'ikes rich pay" — Disappointetl speculators — 
 Drowning disaster — High wages and expensive 
 living— The Hist piano carrie<l into Barkerville — 
 Sixtv miles cm men's backs— Camels tried as 
 freight-carriers — Varying fortunes of the "gold- 
 seeker" ' 149 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Extracts from Sawney's Letters and Cariboo 
 
 Rhymes. 
 
 From Letter No. L — From Letter No. 3. — Waiting 
 for the mail — Cariboo song: "The Rough but 
 Honest Miner " 163 
 
 m 
 
PAOK 
 
 I 
 
-4$^ 
 
 > 
 
 o 
 
 \ 
 
"- l^o 
 
 n-C- r ri - . - 
 
 Y OF 
 
 SCARBJRO 
 
 PUBLIC L 
 
 ARY. 
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 o 
 
 ("nv nv VrcToKiA ..... 
 
 ('\KM!(M» (Jol.K KsroKT IN 1S(VJ . 
 
 'I'm: Stkamkk " Intkknationai. " 
 
 FoKT (iAKkV IN \H&2 
 
 Kki> I^in kk Cakt 
 
 KoKT (Jakky in IST.'i ..... 
 (Jl.lMI'.^KS OK THK SasKA'Ii IIKW AN HiVKK 
 I)(»(i-THAINS FKOM PKA« K IvIVKK . 
 Kl>M(>NT(»N IN 1S!M ..... 
 
 I'kcknt Vikw <»k Ki»m<»nt()N 
 
 HiMsuNs li.w (j»Mi'.\NYs Post, L.\kk St. Ann 
 
 H.\TH Cascadks, Rocky .Mot NTAiNs 
 
 (^iKSNKLLK Forks. C.\kii!oo 
 
 Vikw ok \.\i.k ...... 
 
 Ft KM) Station ...... 
 
 Fkask:r Rivkk, two milks ijki.ow I..ytton 
 \'lKW OK <,M;i:sNKi,i.K ..... 
 
 (JOVKKNOK SkYMOIK Al>l»kKSSIN< i I'lIK InDIANn 
 
 Lillookt, in iSd-i .... 
 
 \t 
 
 KaMI.OOI'S IN IHIi'i. .\NI» 1*1, AN OK TIIK I'KKSKNT TOWN ll!l 
 
 Town ok Ka.mi.ooi-s in ISW 
 
 r.\iiK 
 
 •21 
 
 •J.) 
 
 41 
 V.) 
 
 (io 
 
 SI 
 Hli 
 
 H{\ 
 
 US 
 
 111 
 
 114 
 
 121 
 
XVI 
 
 '-'•^^'l' OF il.UsT 
 
 H.\Tl()\s. 
 
 C; 
 
 TV OK Wissiv 
 
 ('. l\ \i 
 
 ';<; IN I Six J 
 
 Sta 
 
 HON, Van 
 
 ii;\\ Wkst 
 
 <'<>r\ KK 
 
 MINSTKIi 
 
 H 
 
 M{KKK\n,|j.; ( 
 
 VvN Wis 
 
 Soi TM F 
 
 > » \i<;i{(M., ,s isfj.j 
 
 Kl-K AM. I 
 
 «»'NT Cr.AI 
 
 M. 
 
 NK\|{ Sr.VM.Kv 
 
 
 12") 
 127 
 
 I itn 
 
 KJ2 
 
 i7;i 
 
 176 
 
 Mau,;akkt M<\a, ..htun 
 TiK.MAS M(-.M„.K/N,; 
 ^AH.MnuM, .M.\a,<;mTon 
 HOKKKT li.KNS MrMMKiv,; 
 
 <i'-;<'K.;K Cmkistik T.-nstu-i. 
 •John Fannin 
 
 ''""' Anmkknv M.vka, ,.;x-.\i.i.. 
 
 .J A. MRS W'attII; 
 
 William Fokti nk 
 a. l forti'ne 
 
 /'Wj/i//spii rr. 
 
 I.S7 
 
 141 
 
 I4.S 
 
 l4.-» 
 
 147 
 
 148 
 
 '« 
 ^ 
 
127 
 
 I .*) '» 
 
 l.-iJ) 
 
 U'yJ 
 Uu 
 IT.'i 
 1 70 
 
 i 
 
 n 
 
 Si 
 
 :ii 
 
 Ml 
 
0\'HRLANU TO CARIBOO. 
 
 CHAl'TKK I. 
 
 if. 
 
 jorRxnv TO fort carry. 
 
 'YWK Overland KxiMMlition ol' I<S«;2 w.is fomposcd 
 of coinp.mit's oailuMcil from \arious parts of 
 ( >iitai'i() and (^)nt'l)t'c. The ineiflcnts of tlic .joui-- 
 ncy wliieli I am abont to relate refer cldetly to 
 llie exjM'rienees of tlie (^)ueenston and Montreal 
 parties, tlie first of whieh started out on tlie 
 2.Srd of April and the latter on the oth of May 
 followino-. Kor the fact, of mv nai-rative I am 
 indeljted to the diai'ies and recollections of Mr. 
 Thomas McMickin^^ of the (^)ueenston company, 
 and Messrs. ( Jeoruc C Tunstall and A. Mc- 
 Nau<;hton. of the Montreal contin^'ent. 
 
 Before leavin*^' Montreal, the party from that 
 city noticed an advertisement in the papers to 
 
 
 ■I 
 fl 
 
 ?! 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 20 
 
 ()vi;iii..\\h TO <Ai!(iio(). 
 
 the {•\\\'i'X tliit a sti'iiic (•()iii))iui\' callt'tl ''I'lic 
 liritisli Ainci'icji ()\rrlaii(l 'I'raiisit C()ni]>ai)y," 
 uikIcp tilt' iiiaiia;;('iii('iit of Major Siinw, was to 
 lir »'stalilislic(l to ('(tiiNcy |»ass('ii;^«'rs IVoin St. 
 Paul, Mimifsota, to ( 'aiil»oo. Tickets wrrc t<t l)c 
 sold at rcasoiial)!*' I'atcs. ami tlw staiir-coaflK's 
 
 to Im' Hrst-cl.' 
 
 liUt wlicii St. I'aul 
 
 were to he nrst-class : Mit when .>t. I'aui was 
 roacln'fl, uotliin;;' was known there of this com- 
 )>any. No such line ol" coaches had ever existed, 
 and there was no likelihoofl that one would he 
 estahlished. Misled hv these ad\ ert iseme/its. 
 L'iehteen Nounii' men had left Kneland, whej'e 
 the IVaud had also heen |ierjK trated, and at the 
 time ol" the arrival ol* our pai'ty were in St. 
 l*aul. some ol" them without sullicient means to 
 <;'u I'ai'theiv The lew who could do ,so I'eturnecl : 
 others took emi)l()\-mcnt in the citv. and two. 
 I>ushin;;' throueh t(j British Columbia, reached 
 C'ai'ihoo, whei'e thev al'tei'wai'ds amassed a 
 comfoi-tahle fortune. The fraudulent com])any, 
 which had its head otlice in Lon<lon, KnL;laiid, 
 was ]>rosecute<l, and an amount I'ecovered from 
 it that was considere<l suthcicnt to compensate 
 these men for the losses sustain*. < I. 
 
■MHItNKV TO Four OAUIiV 
 
 •Jl 
 
 sr. I'AII, TO OKOltCliroWN. 
 
 When tlio scvcivil partit's nl" the ( >\ itImikI 
 K\[M-(litii»M rraelit'd St. Paul, tlwy jmrcliasrd 
 tickets IVoin tlic l)<tuiltaiiU Stajic ( 'oiiipanv t'<>r 
 ( iroi'LTt'towM, a small st'ttlcincut on tlic Ivcd 
 
 II. I!, en. S STKA.MKK / 777; A .1 /7".\ .1 /, I i|S< H Ai;< : I N< ; 
 KKKKMIT AT I OKI' tiAUKN. 
 
 (i 
 
 Uiver. Tlieiv thi'V t'ouinl the stranirr Infer- 
 indloiiol in eoui'sc ol* constnictioii. Tliis was 
 
 the Hrst sti 
 
 to Fort ( larrv, aii<l tl 
 
 le 
 
 ne nrst steamer to iini to l^ort uarry, aii< 
 tirst tliat evei' l]oat('(l on the Rrd River. 
 
 Ahout six weeks after the party left St. Paul 
 
 .ft 
 
 it 
 
22 
 
 OVKKI.AM) To < AKIMOO. 
 
 11 trn'il>l«' iiiassiKriT of wnincii uikI cliiMrcii t<M»k 
 place, aii<l, it was (^riicrally hflicvrd, liad not 
 Mir ()\ri'latnl I»aity Immii well anin'd it \vnul«l 
 lia\(' iiH't tin- saiiH' latf. 
 
 AKinv.M- AT <ii:o|{(ji:t(»\\\. 
 (invcrnor Dallas, ol' (lie HikIsmm's Vmv Cum- 
 
 « 
 
 ])any, witli liis raiiiily. \ isitcd tlic t'ain|»s of tin* 
 ('X])l()rrrs at ( J«'()rn('to\vM, «iivin;f tlwin iinich val- 
 ual)l«' iiil'oiinatioii aliout tlic country. He also 
 ofFcrcd his protection to tlie paj'ty on tin- Hu<l- 
 son's IJav ConinaiiN's Te ritoi*\', which otier was 
 ;,n*aterully accepted and the ])i'oniise laithlully 
 kept. I'he camps had to remain over a week at 
 ( Jeorm'town waitini*' U)V the steamer, and dinin<i' 
 that tim<' parties tVijm difierent ])oints were 
 comiiii;- in, all desirinii' convevance, so that wlien 
 the Infernutlonal was ready nearly one hundred 
 and tif'ty men enua«red passai;e upon her. After 
 a short run it was found that the steamer would 
 not answer lier lielm, but collich'd with the trees 
 on the banks, knockin*^ down her smoke-stacks. 
 Wlien tlie funnels were repaired, slie a<(ain pro- 
 ceeded on her trip, but the crew were obliged to 
 
 IL 
 
.lolKNKV To loKT <i.\KI{V 
 
 2:i 
 
 .Ix 
 
 slioVf IhT ItnW oH' tln' slim*' at cvriy Im'IkI ul' tin* 
 livt'i*. 'I'lic srcond «lay <»ut t\u' captain caiih' to 
 
 tl 
 
 If CO 
 
 iicliisioii tliat it woiiM take soinr time to 
 
 icacli Koi't (Jarrv, ami so put tin* passcii^^cis on 
 rations ol' two meals a dav. 
 
 The 24tli ol* May, hcinj^thc (Queen's l>iitli<lay, 
 was cclrlnatcd i)y liavin;^ a special dinnei*, and 
 tlie health ol* Her Most (Jracious Maii-stv was 
 pi-opose(| in true and loyal style. 
 
 The wii'e of the (lovernor, her maid and pij)cr, 
 were also passene«'rs on this adventurous trip. 
 ( )ne day Lady Dallas was heaid lamentin<;" to 
 Bishop Tache the slow ])ro;j;ress that was l)ein«^ 
 made, and also how tired she was of the hard 
 fare, eonsistin*,^ chiefly of poi-k and heans, which 
 was alxmt the extent ot* the larder on hoard 
 the Infenidtional. 
 
 
 f 1 
 
 ARRIVAL AT FORT OARRV. 
 
 After a scrii's of mishaj)s Foi't Garry at last 
 was reached. As the steamer entered the Assini- 
 boine, a salute was tired in honour of the occa- 
 sion. This was answered by a volley from 
 every riHe on l)oard the I n tar national. Nearly 
 
 1 B 
 f 
 
11 
 
 24 
 
 nVKFfLAXi) TO ('AJ{I|.(,(, 
 
 tlH'wI.ol. .list rict was i„vs.ntt<,,n,vt Imt, n.ul 
 
 tli<' 'lay iiiark-«'<l a iic 
 
 w cm in til.' histoiy of tlu- 
 
 H<'<l Hivci' S.-ttlnnoiit. 
 
 At Fort (lany tl.c rxpclition ,,in-cl.as..l 
 »"»-s^'s, <,x,.n a.Hl K,..l |>iv., carts; also provi- 
 sions, whid. consisted elnVfly or iH-nnnican an.] 
 """■• ''^^^•' ''•^^^^''■' •"••'•><' <-^t Fort (;a.rv. was of 
 excellent .|uality. hut .iMrkan.i (.oars,..* 
 
 A hnVr, Inscription of the n.akin.- of p.Mnn.i- 
 ^•'•^•» »"^vl)c ,,not..,l here as or possihi. interest 
 tn the ,va.ler. It was ^na.le IVon. the ll.sh ni' 
 tlie Imtfalo an.l was vrvy nntritious. '• As soon 
 '•IS the ani.nal is kill.^l the l.an th^sh is sepa- 
 mted IVoni the lai an^l eut into strips, which 
 
 aiter heinn- roast,..! over the tire, are tl.oronuhlv 
 'JncMn the sun. Th.. m.-at. I>,.in<, ],y this Hn.e 
 v^'i'.v hai-,1, is spr..a,l out .h, th.. skin of the 
 |Nninal an.l lH.at..n with Hails until ,,uit.. tin... 
 Thr Fat is then n.elt...!. an.l ahout sixty p.>un.ls 
 1'onre.l into a I).-.- oontainino- al.out fort v p.)un.|s 
 •>nean n...at. Tl... fat an.l l,.an an- th..n th.,- 
 r<)u.^-hiyunxe,l an.l left t..eo.,l. when all isrea.lv 
 »■<>'• use. It h<.e.Mn..s v..ry har.l; in fact, it has to 
 he cut with an axe. " 
 

 t 
 
 m 
 
 , 
 
 f, t 
 
 Hi 
 
 i 
 
 ! 5' 
 
 ( , 
 
 ii 
 
 111 
 
 i !! 
 ( i 
 
joi;hney to fokt riAUUV. 
 
 27 
 
 i:. 
 
 The peiiiiiiican cost tlu' truvfllcrs sixteen 
 
 cents per pound at Fort Gjirry. 
 
 Since this eventful iournev the nohle butijilo 
 has been wjintonly shiu<,^litere(l l»y thousands, 
 and now only a few domesticated lierds remain 
 of the myriads which once roamed over tlie 
 <;'reat Xortli American plains. Many thousands 
 were slaughtered for mere sport, oi' for their 
 hides or tongues, which last were considered a 
 <lelicacy. Heaps of Ijones and skulls may still 
 he seen througliout the vast prairies and along 
 the routes of the Canadian Pacific Railway. 
 
 Even the Indian himself seems doomed to 
 a similar extinction, and boards the railway 
 trains offering for sale the horns as relics of the 
 nol)le animal that once was the monarcli of the 
 plains, and the chief support of his ancestors. 
 
 However much sentiment niay lament the 
 extinction of the buffalo, and the picturesque 
 lord of the soil over which he roamed, yet their 
 disappearance seems to be the inexorable tribute 
 exacted by the advancement of civilization. 
 After all, the present aspect of the great 
 Canadian Xorth-West is ample compensation 
 for so regretful a sacrifice. 
 
 m 
 
 ill 
 
 
 ' f 
 
 ,*f 
 
28 
 
 OVKItr.AN'I) To (Aiunoo, 
 
 THE HKI) UIVEU SETTLEMENT. 
 
 The population of the UimI Hivci* Settlement, 
 then entirelv untler the i^overnnient of the Hud- 
 son's Bay Conn^inv, was about ten thousand. 
 Mr. McTavish was the otiieer in eliaim' ot Fort 
 (Jarry in 18G2. 
 
 The C()inpan\' of travellers spent Sunda}' at 
 the Fort, wlu're s])eeial seivices were held hy 
 the Rev. John Black, Pi'eshyterian minister, and 
 the Rev. Ml'. Corbett. of the Church of Kny'land. 
 The sermon by Mr. Black was one to be i-emem- 
 beiv<l, an<l produced a deep impr<'ssion upon the 
 minds of all who heard it. Tiie text was from 
 Revelation iii. 18: "1 counsel thee to buv of me 
 ii'old tried in the tiri', that thou mavest bi; rich." 
 
 A small weekly ne\vspa))er, callecl the Xor- 
 Wrstcr, was publishe<i at Fort (Jarry, and a 
 few days after our company ari'ived there, a 
 voluminous description was ^iven of the party 
 and the ])ro[)os(jd expt'dition to British Col- 
 undjia. There was also a notice to this effect : 
 " We, the undersi(;jned chiefs of the different 
 tribes, hereby nive notice that we shall impose 
 
 ' 
 
.JOUILXEV TO FORT <;AKKV 
 
 29 
 
 j¥\V 
 
 I 
 
 a tax on all parties oi'ossin^- over oui" laiuls. IT 
 tlu' said tax he not |)ai<l, \v«' shall rai<l and 
 ])lun(k'r tlic eanips.' Tlim rollowod the names 
 oi' sL'Vt'ral Indian cliirfs. 
 
 Tlic nu'ii (){' the ('X])t'(lition were "•tcath' 
 amused, knowing' tVom wliencM- this emanate(j, 
 and of course took no notice ol' the threat, l»ut 
 resolved to take everv i)recaution against anv 
 attack which mi^ht he attempted. 
 
 In the meantime every(»ne was making' ])ii'- 
 paration for the lon^- joui'iiey which was U he 
 undertaken. Scai'cely an hour ])asse<l without 
 the arrival of some exulting" J«'hu, di'ivinn' his 
 ])urchase, in the shape of an ox and cart, into 
 the enclosure. The lied Ki\t'r cart was a pon- 
 derous ati'air. Not a ]>article of iron entered 
 into its construction. The n\ heels were very 
 cundjersome in proportion to the size of tlie cart, 
 and were not protected ))y tires. A send-circul.ir 
 awning was considered in<lispensal)le to shield 
 the occu]»ants from the tiei'ce rays of the 
 sun, and serve<l also as a jH'otection from the 
 rain. From ei^ht to ten pounds steiliiiL!" n\;is 
 paid for an (jx-cart and harness complete. 
 
 Il 
 
 ■Mii 
 
 H 
 
 i ( 
 
 
30 
 
 OVERLAND TO (AKIHOO. 
 
 Indian lod^^es wore numerously scattered over 
 the plains which skirted the villaL,'es, and many 
 stranu'e scenes were witnesse<l, all new to the 
 eastern Canadians. 'I'he natives, who were expert 
 
 
 - ^i^^^^l 
 
 ' /--x;'V' j::^^mf^ 
 
 H; ^ 
 
 
 L- 
 
 ' ^''?'■' ■ ■■■•■ 
 
 ^1 ^ "^ 
 
 
 A HKI) HIVEH VMiT. 
 
 horsemen, would dash past them at full wallop, 
 their Ion*;' lariats trailing after them in the 
 dust, throu^di which the forms of the riders 
 were scarcidv discernible. In fact so ac'reeablv 
 did the time pass, that many of the young men 
 were loath to leave Fort Garry. 
 
.lorUXEV TO FOIIT (JAUKV. 
 
 ;u 
 
 ^\i\ Oeorov Tunstall, one of tlio Montreal 
 party, speaks of tlie interesting- chats he liad 
 with old French-Canadian voya<r('urs, who had 
 left Montreal when youno; ii„.n. Th.-ir remem- 
 brance of the city w.-nt back sometimes over 
 thirty years from that time. He was amnse<l 
 by their exclamations of surprise, "CV.s/ // pos- 
 slhle?" when he informed them that the ancient 
 Ffochela^rji contained a T)oi)nlation of nearlv one 
 hundred thousand souls. 
 
 : < it 
 
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 'J 
 
 f 1 
 
 i:; 
 
 ! ( 
 
 I 
 
 THE PR -PIRTY OF 
 
 SCARBORO 
 
 PUBLI 
 
 
 ::arY. 
 
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 ri 
 
 :ht 
 
y- ~. 
 
CIIAI'TKIi II. 
 
 i'li 
 
 V. —. 
 
 WESTWARD HOI 
 
 <>\ the ai'tci-nooii of tllr L>ii(l (,r .luilr tlic cm.iii- 
 pjiiiy Icl't Fort (iany t'oi- Wliitr Horsr Plains, 
 tlu' place at wliicli it was aiTaiiovd to on-ani/r. 
 Ninuty-six eai-ts, drawn hy hoiscs an<l oxen, wnc 
 collected for the jomnev. eaeli eait earrviiK-- a 
 l*>Jid of eiolit liundied pouiHls. A oujd.- named 
 Charles llochette, a hall'-hreed, n'cotniiiende'd hv 
 Hishop Tache, accompanied tlw.'m. The vanguard 
 reached White Hoise Plains on Wednesdav tlu; 
 4th ol' dune, and it was decided to move on 
 slowly for a short distance farther, to a point 
 where their oui.l,. assjnvd them water was 
 to be had in plenty: hnt they uei-e ol.lioed to 
 travel eleven hours without rest, food (ji- water, 
 and all suffered much fj-om thirst and faticue 
 i>eFore they called ,i halt at Long Lake. This 
 
 M 
 
 i 
 
 ! "' JI 
 
 m 
 
 > > 
 
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 \ 
 
 11 
 
 
nii 
 
 :u 
 
 OVKKLANI) TO ( AKimJO. 
 
 r 
 
 wjis thf first of the inany w<'ai'V davs, wrcks 
 and iiiontliH to be H]M'!it on this advontuiouH 
 journoy. The water of Loii^ Lak<» was so ini- 
 puru as to be ahiiost unfit for use. Before usin^ 
 it was strained throu<;h clotlis, whieli jirucess 
 but partially made the li((ui<l (hiidvable. 
 
 (»KGANI/IN(J THE COMPANIES. 
 
 Tlie companies were now organized, and Mr. 
 Thomas McMickin(^^ of Queenston, appointed 
 captain. This (gentleman certainly acijuitted 
 himself well in this responsible position. His 
 patience and ^ood jud<^ment were often tested 
 to the utmost. He was assisted in his dutii's by 
 a comnnttee, consistin^^ of Messrs. W. X. C. 
 Thompson, Hutchinson, James Wattii', Joseph 
 Halfpenny, Phillips, Fortune, Simpson, Hrokle- 
 bank, Hough, Urlin and A. C. Ho])ertson. They 
 had to take great precautions against attacks 
 from Indians, else the latter would have stolen 
 their goods and animals The camp was arranged 
 in the form of a triangle, with the carts placed 
 in rows on each side, and the animals tethered 
 inside the enclosure. The tents were pitched on 
 
WKSTUAKh ll»>! 
 
 85 
 
 21 
 
 111*' (nitsiMc, ami six iiini ]>la('r<l on oimrd, two 
 hcinii' stuti<)iit'<l on rjicli side ol' tin* triaiii:!*'. 
 
 At liail'-jwist two o'clock cNcry i;ioniin<;' thu 
 caiii|) was ai'ouscd, mikI wms uii<I«'I' wmv l>y three 
 llaltiiiii' lor l)ical<rast, tlic\' started a^iaiii a( 
 seven, and called a halt t'oi' dinner at two in the 
 at't«'rnoon. Then as the order ol' " Evei'v man 
 
 4 
 
 to his ox" rane- out aeain, off the\' wouhl <!o 
 over the elastic turf. The a\ ci-aee j-ate ol' sj>ee(l 
 was two and a hall' miles an hour, and te!i houis' 
 niairh was accomplished each time. It was an 
 inspirini;' si«^ht to view the tiain from a distance, 
 windine- its way round pictures<|ue lakes, or 
 slowlv extendine- out on the lovelv landscape, 
 iiorjieous with wild ilowei's of everv liue, their 
 l>rilliant lieads peepini;' out from the luxuriant 
 jjrass. Away towai'<ls the elimmerinu' horizon, 
 far as the ey»' could reach, si Iveiy lakes sparklecl 
 under the sun's ravs, their mareins adorne<l 
 with clum])s of trend)lino' aspens, furnishing- a 
 scene of beautv seldoiu sur])assed in anv land. 
 Thost; who ha\'e travellcMl this route sav that 
 lanj^ua<j;e is totally ina(UM|uate to ^^ive any 
 
 ' *I 
 
 m 
 
 ' » 
 
 I 
 
 t ■ 
 
 iV 
 
 
 

 I' 
 
 36 
 
 n\ KKI.ANh In ( witlhon. 
 
 conception ol' tljc \}is(iirss Mn<l tli(! astonisliin;,' 
 l)('jiut\' ami IVitilitx' ol* tin* pi'airir. 
 
 '* And this uiir lifo, rxfiupt from pultlic Imiiiit, 
 Fiiuls tongues in trous, soriiionH in stoncH, 
 Itooks in tiiu rnnnini; brooks, 
 And good in overytliing." 
 
 'I'lir laUcs and ii\('is al>oun<l witli nivi-iads nl' 
 water- low I, i'eniarl\al>Ie lor tlieir si/e and the 
 l)riiliancy ol' their |»lnina<^'e. The atinos|»liei-e is 
 so ]>ure and lnvicini;" that one can endure much 
 rati«i:ue witliotit sutt'erino- I'roni lano-uoi- and de- 
 hilitv. 
 
 At six o'cIocIn in the eNcnino-, the shout ol' 
 "Cainj) ahead I " proclainu'd to the company 
 that the welconu' hour ol' rest was niolj. "'he 
 cai-ts were ))Iaced in ord(3r, and tlie tires hia/ed 
 and crackled under the pots, sen* lin<; forth a[)[)e- 
 ti/in*;' odours, which nnist have been especially 
 pleasino- to the hunorv travellers. A few son<jfs, 
 and sometimes the sweet strains (^f the violin, 
 would enliven the solitude for a short time, but 
 the weary soon souoht repose in slund)er. Tlie 
 sentinels moved amonof the tents with noiselesh 
 
 / 
 
J 
 
 \vi:sT\v.M!i> im: 
 
 37 
 
 troul, l)Ut Im'Tuit Inlio- t||t> (Mltstrrtt'lu'd rnrilis nl' 
 sniiic (il* tlu'sc \N ateliers t<'stiti<'<| tluit , on cicdmi' 
 li\- lati'i'Mc, tlu'\' Ii.'hI r.illcii midrr tlic sootliiiiiT 
 iiilliU'iici' of • tii't'fl natiiic s swrct rcstoiTi-," in 
 Spitr nt' tljc prohfllilr JHn\iiiiit V of ( li'iU'lHTnUS 
 s}iV}i;^n'S. All sl«'|)t snuiidly. 
 
 
 ■) 
 
 A I'l.r* KV WOMAN. 
 
 A man named Schuheit, with liis wife and 
 tln-ee clnldi'en, had joined the paity at Knrt 
 (Jarry. Schuhert was a (J«'rman, and his wife 
 a native of Belfast, hvland. How admiraMe 
 must have Im'cii the courayc of the woman who, 
 in such circumstances, and with the care of 
 three youn^' children, ventui'cd on this lone- and 
 arduous iournev. Who can tell what she 
 endured ? No douht he)' lieart often (|Uailed, 
 hut with tru(^ motherlv instinct she would for<ret 
 her own sufl'erines in jn'otectine- and cond'oi'tine- 
 her cliildren. 
 
 The ]»arty ])assed Portage la Pi-airie, one of 
 the Hudson's i5ay Company s tradin*;' posts, 
 on the Oth of dune, and camped the followine- 
 ni^iht at Soft IJivei-. 1'hev alwa\s i-ested on 
 
 I 
 
 ?1 
 
 It' 
 
U8 
 
 OVKIU.ANI) To r.MJIP.OO. 
 
 Sunday. This was done ])y special ae-reenient ; 
 they had hound themselves to rest on tlie 
 Sah))atli, and tlie rule was s(*i'U])ulously ohsei-ve(|. 
 A ])ortion of the day was set apai't for pi-ayer 
 an<l ])rais(!, and the service was e-(>nerally con- 
 ducted ]>y Ml'. James Kohinson, of (^)ueenston : 
 hut on this fii-st Sunday it was led })v Mi'. A. L. 
 Fortune, of the Huntin^'don part}'. It nuist 
 indeed have heen a touchin<4" si<;ht to witiu'ss 
 tliese men all e-athered toiivther, eai'uestlv ask- 
 ino- Divine protection on their journey, and 
 imploring that blessin^^s be showered on the 
 loved ones at home. 
 
 What a wonderful bon<l of unity ! Surel}' 
 the arm of the Almii:^ht3' letl them, and the 
 anj^el of His ])resence saved them, even as He 
 had led the children of Israel throu<;h the 
 wilderness in the davs of old. It is such men as 
 these who have ever left their im])i'ess on every 
 high enterprise and in every country. 
 
 " Lives of great men all reunixl us 
 We ran make our lives sublime, 
 And, depart inj^, leave behind us 
 Fi>otpiints on the sands of time. 
 
 i 
 
WKsTWAUi) no 
 
 .so 
 
 .< 
 
 " F'oot prints that perhaps another. 
 Sailing o'er life's solemn main, 
 A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, 
 Seeint^, shall take heart cagain." 
 
 THE LITTLK SASK AT( 'HKWAN. 
 
 On tlie lltli ot* June the tru\ t'lk'is ivaclu'd the 
 Little SaskutcheWiin, a ])raneli of tlie Assini- 
 boine. Tliis river was f(mn<l to be about forty 
 feet wide, and its banks from thirty to forty 
 feet hi<(h. Its course lay through valleys of 
 surpassing beauty and fertility as far as the eye 
 of the travellers could reach. This stream was 
 forded on the following day, and then a halt was 
 called for dinner on the margin of a small lake, 
 the water of which was found to have a taste 
 somewhat resembling Epsom salts. This lake is 
 about two miles loni; and one nnle wide. Tiie 
 salt ])iue]iased by the party at Fort Garry, they 
 were informed, was pi'ocured fi'om this region. 
 
 The travellers camped tliat night at Shoal 
 Lake, a beautiful sheet of water abounding with 
 fish, and wliicli is connected with another small 
 lake that feeds the Assinibtnne. The following 
 day they dined on the banks of the Arrow River, 
 
 
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 ill 
 
 ! r '. 
 
 i 
 
 ell 
 
 if 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 ! 
 i 
 
 li 
 
i 
 
 40 
 
 OVKHKANl) TO ("AHlIiOO. 
 
 and e}im[)('<l in tlic valley west of l>ii<l-tail Hi\ cr, 
 aiiotluM' branch oi* tlic Assiniltoinc. lU'avei" 
 Creek could l)e seen tlu'eadino" its wav between 
 Iiills of etiiial altitude. To the lij^ht were the 
 waters of the (^)u'Ap]M'lle conniiinelinu- with 
 tliose of Lon^ Hivei-; to the left the waters of 
 the Assiniboine W(-und their tortuous wav 
 throu<»h the valley below. 
 
 The descent to this river was steep and rocky. 
 Tlie crossin^^ was effected in a lary-e scow, which 
 was (b'awn from side to side bv means of a raw- 
 hide rope stretclied across the stream and made 
 fast at both ends. This scow was the pi-operty 
 of tlie Hudson's Hay Com]»any, and was ca])able 
 of cai'rvin*'' an o\ and cart at one trii). The 
 current was verv stron<»', so that the crossine' 
 p)"Ocess was slow and ]a])ori()Us. 'J'he last ])oat 
 was towed acr(>ss with a feeling' of intense relief. 
 
 AUHIVAI. AT KOHT KLIJCi:. 
 
 Fort Ellice was i-eached on the eveninj*' of the 
 12th of June. Mr. ]\IcKav was the othcei' in 
 
 « 
 
 charge at that time, and he was most kind and 
 oblio^in^' to eveiy mendjer of the ])arty. Tlie 
 
 <! 
 
 71 
 
 
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 y. 
 
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ill 
 
 )l' 
 
 ■j. 
 
 7, 
 
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V i; 
 
 I 
 
WESTWARD IK) ! 
 
 48 
 
 I 
 
 lu'xt <lay, Ix^iiio- Suixbiy, was spent in fani|). An 
 Indian missionary at tlic Kurt at that tinu; 
 |)i"('a('lu'<l in Ml-. McKay's liousc to the asscniid*'*! 
 company. 'I'hc I'ollowin^- day it rainrd iiiccs- 
 santlv, and the time of the eniorced lialt was 
 devoted to the rej)aiiin<j^ of carts and liarness 
 and other necessary work. Some time was also 
 spent in makin<;" a<lditional purcliases for tlieir 
 onttit. 
 
 It was now fully two weeks since the company 
 left Fort Garr}', the route taken beint^^ due west. 
 From this point they were to travel in a north- 
 westerly direction. They had a very steep hill 
 to descend after leaving Fort Ellice, and several 
 accidents occurred, one beinor rather sei'ious. An 
 ox, ])ecoming unmanageable, I'an down the liill, 
 di-aij^iiini^ his owner with him, and the wheels of 
 the cart passed over the man's hea«l. J)r. Steven- 
 son dressed his wounds, and in a few days tlu^ 
 injured man was almost well again, though his 
 unruly beast, " Buck," was destined to lay him 
 low on another occasion. The company crossed 
 the Qu'Appelle River in the same manner as they 
 had crossed the Assiniljoine, but at this crossing 
 
 rl 
 
 "«, 
 
 V' 
 
 'i 
 
 Mi 
 
 * .1 
 
44 
 
 OVKULAM) TO rAIUP.OO. 
 
 tlici'c w.'is a Ix'ttcr scow. Tlic Hudson's Bay 
 Company were paid Hfty cents for caeli am'nial 
 and cart carried aci-oss. Tlic next day tlicy 
 made a lont;' drive ol' thirty miles, and campe(l 
 that niii'l.t on (Julch Creek, a trilmtai'V of tlie 
 Qu'Aj)pelie. On the f'ollowin<^ mornin*^ tlie 
 ouide did not take his place as usual, and on 
 en(|uiry it was Toinid tiiat he had borrowed a 
 <;un, together wit'i other useful artich-s, and 
 (h'campeil in a southwani direction. 
 
 A KAnHM:ss cirmE. 
 
 Their suspicions had heen aroused some days 
 previous, Init they did not like to show their 
 distrust, thinkino- he would not desert them. 
 Ni^ht came, however, and as no t;uide api)eared, 
 they were then certain he had played them false. 
 Not knowini;- what mi<j;'ht follow, they ])ut on an 
 extra watch that uit;ht, in case the treacherous 
 man mii;ht return with Indians to rob and 
 uiui'dei' them. The ])arty afterwards discovered 
 that this was the third time this i;uide had pi'r- 
 fovmed the sami' trick. While at Kort (iarry it 
 was t >ld them that Uochette was a had character, 
 

 W EST W A HI) ho: 
 
 45 
 
 but as ho wjis so lii<rlilv I'ceoiimK'ndccl l)v Bislion 
 'rac'lic, tlicy tli<)ii<jjht lie had cither hci'ii slandcicfl 
 or tliat tin; parties who (lecriecl him were mis- 
 taken in the man. Tins circumstance, of couise, 
 created a <;ood (h'al of indignation and an.\iet\ 
 l>ut fortunately the trail was suHicieiitlv distinct 
 to enable the travellers to reach Fort Carlton in 
 safety. The C(juntry traversal tin- next few 
 days consisted of open j)lains, intersjx i-se(l here 
 and there with small lakes. Most of the water 
 was mineral or alkali, and the lakes weic sim])ly 
 alive with ducks. They also [)assed a deserted 
 post of the Hu<lson's Bay Com[)any amon<^ the 
 Touchwood Hills. 
 
 On the 2oth of June alternate woods and 
 streams were passed. The orass here was most 
 luxuriant, and evidently was the haunt of herds 
 of huft'alo: but althou<;*h th«'re was exidence of 
 their presence at a recent period, none of these 
 animals were seen by the travellers. Dr. 
 Symino'ton's [)arty, and others a few days 
 later, saw nianv herds. 
 
 The weather at this time was hot and 
 oppressive, and the moscpiitoes swarmiMl in 
 
 H 
 
 lb 
 
 ] \ 
 
 M 
 
 I a. :■ 
 
 !'■ 
 
 ^1 
 
40 
 
 OVEKLANl) TO CAllllMH). 
 
 |i 
 
 iMVriads, cnusiiicr hotli inan and beast the utmost 
 torture. Few people know the exasperating^ 
 annoyance and discomfort that this persistent 
 pest is able to inHict on its ludpless victims. 
 Against the probable treachery of the denizens 
 of the plains the travellers felt themselves al)le 
 to fi^ht successfully; the wild beasts would 
 have only afforded them so much sport ; but 
 the moscjuito, with its relentless bite and its 
 irritatin*^ war-son<,^ caused the stron^^est heart 
 to (juail. Men have been driven frantic, and 
 animals liave fallen through sheer exhaustion, 
 tortured to deatli by these blood-thirsty insects. 
 
 But to return to our travellers. They found 
 it very difficult to procure water in this re<^ion, 
 owin<j to the saltv con<lition of the lakes, and, 
 for lack of a better j)lace, had to encamp one 
 ni^dit on the bank of a sulphurous lake. 
 
 The fati<^ues of the journey were now bein<^ 
 felt, and the patience of the men and the 
 docility of their beasts were strained to the 
 utmost : Ijut Sunday's rest generally left them 
 refreshed and in a better frame of mind to 
 face the toils of the coming week. The iien 
 
NVKSTWAKI) llo! 
 
 47 
 
 ' 
 
 were more incliiied to look at t\\v hrij^ht si<h' 
 of tliin^i's, and to contemplate the I'utiire with 
 •greater hopefulness. Tlnis the trouhh's and 
 trials of caeh succee<lin<; week were met in a 
 cheerful frame of min«l. 
 
 AT FORT CAHI/roX. 
 
 The leaders found the trail to Kort Carlton 
 well marked, and on their arrival there ])ur- 
 chased more huttalo meat They had a<^ain to 
 cross a hranch of the River Saskatchewan, and 
 remained a short time at eacli of the six successive 
 forts on the way to Fort Pitt. A lar^e numlx'r 
 of wolf do^s were prowlin^^ ahout these places, 
 and they proved <lisa<4reeal>le company to the 
 " Overlanders." Thev were precisely the same 
 as those used by travellers in the Arctic re<;'ions, 
 and were well trained to their work. These (lo<;s 
 were considered indispensable for the pur[)ose of 
 travel between the diifei'ent posts <lurin(^ the 
 long winter; but the poor animals were half 
 starved during the sunnner months, and now 
 they were making night hideous with their 
 melancholv howlino's. 
 
 ■ i\ 
 
 
 i\ 
 
 
 '1' 
 
 '4 
 
 
 ■M'l 
 
4.S 
 
 n\ r.i!i..\\i» lo ( Ai:ii'.(M». 
 
 
 (Ill tlif J'»lst ol* .hiiif (lie ti'jiNt'llcis rcacln(l tllf 
 south l)r;iii( li i>r till' Li'ir.it Uixcr SaskatclH-wjiii. 
 Ilcrr tlii'V t"nuii<l a Itoat. tin- |»rn)iiTt y ol' tin- 
 llu'lson's May ( '<»iii])aiiy, aii<l witli it tln-y (raiis- 
 ]M)rtc(i tlirii' ^ckmIs and aiiiiiials across. Kirst 
 thi'y iiiiliariK'ssctl tin* horses ainl oxrii. then 
 iiiiloa<H'«l the cat'is. took the wheels otl" ami in 
 this manner were ahle to take across six carts at 
 a t ri|). 
 
 Mr. IJoitert Kelso, ol" Acton, was nearly 
 <lrouneil at this place while at teinjitin^ to swim 
 the horses a"ross the riser: l»iit Mr. Strachan 
 ami .Mr. Iiei<l swam <Mit to the I'e.sciie, ami l»y 
 <|uickly resort in.;" to the usual treatment of the 
 (Irownini''. he was successful I \- resuscitated. 
 
 (•ii.\i;.\("n:K ok tiik coiNTitv. 
 
 The country traxt-rsed in apjtroachin;;' l'\)rt 
 Pitt was I'ound .somewhat diMereiit from much 
 of tliat p.issed o\-er hefore. heini;' hrokell and 
 hilly, and alouniliiiL;' in running' streams. 'I'lie 
 'I'hickwood Hills hatl heeii )>assed ou the ord, 
 and tlh' Lum])y Hills ou the 4th of .Inly. Much 
 of the land was covered with straw I terries. 
 
•J>. 
 y. 
 
 11, 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 u 
 
 ' H 
 
 ■i.i 
 
52 
 
 ()Vi:i{LAXI) TO r'AHIIUK). 
 
 tlic iii;ir;j^iii of tlic river jis possililr; tlu'ii several 
 men wouM swim across the river, one carrvinir 
 a coi'd attached to a i'<»})e, wliich was fastened to 
 the tree. I)\- liauliiii>' on this roix' thev would 
 ptill tile ti'ee across and then fasten the lo^ on 
 each side of the stream. Tree after tree they 
 continued to di-aw across, until the hrid*;'!' was 
 made the width i'e(|uii'ed : tlieii cliop]»in<.'; down 
 small trees, they [)hiced them across the supports, 
 and thus formed a hri*!^*' somewhat after the 
 st\'le of the old-time Canadian cordurov road. 
 
 These hridi^'es enahled the horses and oxen 
 and the carts U) pass oxci-. and it was with no 
 small measui'e of ji>y that the com])any reached 
 tlie ci'ossinn' of the Saskatchewan op[)osite Fort 
 Edmonton, on the 21st of duly. Here the Union 
 dack was dis]»layed from the tali llan'statt' as a 
 mark of respeet on their arrisal. The distance 
 from Fort V'\t{ to l''ort Kdu'.onton is one hundi'cd 
 and ninet\' miles. 
 
 li 
 
 ih:: h: 
 
 z)/' 
 
 -;-:[Y OF 
 
 S'^ A FvB3 i vCj 
 
 PU BLI 
 
 
 "!AFvY. 
 

 M 
 
 ^ I 
 
 Ml 
 
 n 
 
 ) ^1 
 
 II!, 
 
I' . 
 
 an 
 
 i 
 
(^HAPTEK III. 
 
 JN THE HEART OF THE 
 CONTIXENT. 
 
 .Mr. JiRAZKAr was the clerk in char_o-e of Fort 
 Edmonton at that tinit'. Tl.o pilorinis encamped 
 on a grassy sloi.c within full view of the Fort, 
 and here tliey remained a few (hiys until a })()at 
 could be procured to ferry th.Mn across: all the 
 Huds(jn's Bay Company's boats had been swept 
 away with the late floods. Those ])leasant days 
 were profitably spent reposing- their weary 
 bodies after the arduous toils of the ] ast month. 
 What a contrast they presented to the smai-t- 
 lookino- company who had left Fort (Jarry. 
 Their chjthes luul not be«'n dry for eleven days, 
 and were hanging on them in tatters. Their 
 coarage, however, was not diminished, and with 
 hopes still high they were detennined to push 
 
 'I. 
 
 :li 
 
 ! i'l> i 
 
 Hi 
 , HI 
 
 *. '■• 
 
 
 
 -m 
 
56 
 
 OVERLAND TO CARIBOO. 
 
 on and finally ovciconie all the obstacles of the 
 journey. 
 
 A salute was tii-cd IVoni a cannon on tlieir 
 a])proach to the Foi't, and the piece was fired in 
 a manner I would not rcconnneud to artillery- 
 men of our day. A halt'-l»re»Ml deliberately 
 
 VIKW (»F KDMONTON. 
 
 stationed himscH' a few vards off, and fired his 
 musket ])rimini;' into the " touch-hole," and ban*;' 
 went the caunon uitlKnit any accident, amid 
 the cheers of the whole crow*!. 
 
 At Fort Edmonton the travellers received 
 every mai'k of attention and kindness from Mr. 
 Brazeau, and, in acknowledgement, gave a 
 
 i 
 

 f. 
 
 IN THE HEART OF THE CONTINENT. 
 
 57 
 
 ! 
 
 course of tlire<» concerts. The pcrtoriners were 
 (IressLMl to represent jis nearly as possible a 
 troupe of ne<^ro niinstivls. Some of theni pos- 
 sessed tinely trained voices, and the concerts 
 were much appreciated l)y the <;ood peoph' of 
 Edmonton, amoni; wlujm the memory of this 
 pleasant time linuers to the present. Tlie old 
 residents still speak of the short stay of the 
 party of pioneei's on that occasion, and the 
 happy time they had. 
 
 ST. ai.hert's. 
 
 Our travellers also tra<led a good deal at St. 
 Albert's, a small place nine miles from Edmon- 
 ton, where a Roman Catholic Mission was estab- 
 lished. The settlers were mainlv half-breeds 
 from St. Ann's who had I'emoved to this place. 
 Herti the party sold the <^reatei" nund)er of theii* 
 carts, and exchan<^ed oxen for horses, as three 
 hundred and tifty ndles had to be traversed 
 before the Rocky Mountains could be reache<l. 
 There being only a trail, the horses wei-e used 
 as pack-horses. 
 
 It surprised the travellers exceedingly that 
 
 
 
 i\ 
 
 
 J' 
 
 m 
 
 ill 
 
 i 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 
H 
 
 58 
 
 OVEKLAXI) TO CARIIiOO. 
 
 w 
 
 
 ill 
 
 
 only a small portion of lan«l was cultivated by 
 tli(! Hudson's Bay C/onipany, cithoi' at Fort 
 Edmonton or at St. Albert's, and especially as 
 the settlers seeme(l to set so lii^h a value upon 
 Hour. Little attention was ^iven to af^riculture, 
 altliou<i^h the soil was most fertile and tlie 
 climate well adapted for the ^rowin(^ of wheats 
 From one field of ten aei'es there were reaped 
 four hundred bushels of prime wheat, and this 
 had been <^rowin<i^ year after year for thirty 
 years successively, without the application of 
 fertilizing^ ai<ls. Barley yielded fifty bushels 
 to the acre : potatoes, and all other I'oots, <jjrew 
 most luxuriantly — from one field of five acres 
 fifteen hundred bushels of potatoes were taken. 
 
 THE SASKATCIIEWAX VALLEY. 
 
 The strano'ors thou^^ht that the Saskatchewan 
 valley was beautiful beyond description. Theii- 
 eyes beheld with admiration wide fertile plains 
 destined to become the homes of many thou- 
 sands of people. Vast beds of coal were evident 
 in that re<^ion, extendinc^ for several hundreds 
 of miles in a north-easterly direction. Gold 
 
IN THE HEART OF THE CONTINENT. 
 
 50 
 
 also existt'<l, and in most of tlio streams colours 
 were found. Fourteen men remaine«l behind at 
 Foi't Edmonton to prospect, and did not readi 
 Hi-itish Columbia until the follo\vin<^ vear. 
 
 After a<ldin^' to their outfit and buyiuo- pro- 
 visions, the route by which to proceed was 
 now li.. problem. Some mend»ers of the pai'ty 
 advised the Leatherhead Pass: others the Cow- 
 dunj;" Lake, or Jasper, as beint;* the shortest 
 route to Cariboo: but they finally decided to 
 try the first-named pass, especially as the ^uide, 
 Andre Cardinal, had passed over the road 
 twenty-nine times between Tete Jaune Cache 
 and Jasper. They paid this guide fifty dollars 
 in cash, an ox and cart, one hundred pounds of 
 Hour, ami some groceries. 
 
 On Sunday, the 27th, a seruion was preached 
 by the Rev. Thomas Woolsey at the Foi-t, in 
 the morning, and another at the camp in the 
 evening. The company left Fort Edmonton 
 two days later. 
 
 i|i 
 
 '-(■ 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 •■I 
 
 I ; 1 (I 
 
 !H i 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 J 
 
 k 
 
I 
 
 it. 
 
 \ 
 
 60 
 
 OVERLAND TO CAHinOO. 
 
 ST. ANNS IS HEACHKI). 
 
 The roads lu^tween Kdinoiiton and Lako St. 
 Aim's wore almost iiii])assal)I«'. Fallen trees, 
 lo<j;s, swamps, and every kind ot* obstacle strewed 
 the path. However, St. Ann's was reached 
 
 
 Jl. J{. CO. S POST, I.AKK ST. ANNS. 
 
 (Fi/tji niili'K iiortli-ursf nf Eihiioiitoit.) 
 
 two days ai'tei* leavinf^ Edmonton. This is 
 a tra«lin<^-post of the Hudson's Bay Company. 
 The heaiitit'ul lake from which it takes its nanu^ 
 abounded with fish, which v^ere greatly appre- 
 ciated ])y the hun<(ry travellers. St. Ann's 
 contained a small church, and also an establish- 
 ment consisting of four nuns from tlie CJrey 
 
t I , 
 I- 
 
 IS THE IIEAIIT OF THK CONTIXKXT. 
 
 01 
 
 ■j! 
 
 Xiinnciy in Montreal. Thcs*' drvot*'*! wonirn 
 Iwul consented to eke out their existence in tins 
 <lesolate spot. They wei'e youner and heautifnl, 
 and appeared happy, hein;^ <laily, indeed hourly, 
 enc^aj^ed in pert'orniin;^" iiniunierahh' kindly 
 deiids for those around theni. The half-hreeds 
 restricted their ao-ricultui'.d iaboui's to the eul- 
 ti\ation of small patches of potatoes. They 
 seemed to s;)end tln^ lonii* summer in sini'inj'" 
 and sleepin<4', until the commencement of the 
 huntin*^ season, when they deserted the \illa<j^e 
 to enjoy the I'ecreation of slau;;'hterin<j^ the 
 buffalo. The \volf-do<rs in this as in other 
 places we)"e a so\irce of threat annoyance. The 
 poor brutes wen; almost wild from hun<ijer, 
 their owners durini»; the sunniier <rivin;j; them 
 oidy enou<;h food to keep them in existence : 
 conse(iuently they de\oured everythini^ edi})h' 
 within reach. Lar<;e pieces of penniiican wi>ul<l 
 disappear every ni^^ht. J'lie <1()<4S even becaiae 
 so Ijold that they would bound into the tents 
 and seize any focjrl within reach, and be off' 
 again before the astonished inmates were able 
 to prevent thern from carrying away tlie food. 
 
 ■ ♦ 
 
 » , 
 
 
 ■ ' * 
 
 ^i! 
 
I' -'I 
 
 Vi 
 
 1 
 
 62 
 
 OVEKLAND TO CARIIiOO. 
 
 So voracioiiH indi^td wen; thcv tliat even tho 
 rawliidt' lariats, with wliicli t]\v party t<!thert'<l 
 their aniinalH, were tjjnawt'd away hy the poor 
 
 l'aiiiisliiii<^ hcasts. 
 
 FllArTKjUS OXKX. 
 
 A most hi«licr()us spectacle presented itsetk* 
 when the aniiMals were un<ler<,n)in(^ the process 
 of beinji,' loaded for the start from St. Ann's. 
 AH that day the camp presented a busy scene, 
 the men barterin^j; away trunks, valises, and 
 articles of clotldn^jj for ornamental buckskin 
 suits, moccasins, and saddle-ba^s. They had 
 no difficulty in exchanging horses for ox3n, 
 but the most of the men preferred keepin<^ 
 the latter, as being the more useful animal for 
 travelling through the swamps. The oxen, 
 however, had a decided objection to the un- 
 wieldy bundles tied on tlieir backs (and the 
 owners were by no means expert packers), 
 which they indicated by running oti' at full 
 speed, kicking their heels in the air, and strew- 
 ing the ground with a variety of poty, blankets 
 and pro'-isions. 
 
 \ 
 
 
 m 
 
M 
 
 r" v! 
 
 I\ THE HEART OF THE CONTIXENT, 
 
 g:] 
 
 \ 
 
 Our of tlu' Ottawa ]'arty rcccivcMl a kick on 
 
 tl 
 
 w jaw w 
 
 liicli sent him on liis l>ac*k. while Mi- 
 
 MoiTow, ol* tlic Montreal ]»arty — the man who 
 was VMM over at Fort Elliee — was I'oolhai'dv 
 enoutrli to trv and stop his runawav ox, the 
 headsti'onii" " Huek," hv clineinu" to his hoi-ns. 
 and for his etinrt received the imprint of a hoof 
 
 on 
 
 his f 
 
 ice 
 
 This last accident compelled Mr. Morrow to 
 r<'main ])e]iind at Lake St. Ami's. Mr. Mc- 
 Xauf^hton, of the Montn'al party, stayed witli 
 liim for eleven days, attending' him nntil ho 
 was a))le to travel, when both followed with 
 J)r. Svminf^ton's companv, which arrive<l at St. 
 Ann's a few days after the others had left. 
 
 Durinff their stay at tlie Fort the two voun<^ 
 men received miicli kin(hiess from the sisters of 
 tile Roman Catliolic Mission. The ladies were 
 deli<»hti'd to meet anyone from their nativ(» 
 city, and they importniuMl Mr. McXane-h- 
 ton to tell them all the latest events, standinj^' 
 around and ea*;erly listening to every detail. 
 When he left St. Ann's they said they would 
 ever pray for him. 
 
 ii 
 
 I i 
 
 ■ i 
 
 ■ i ; 
 
 t 1. 
 
 m 
 
 in 
 
 I n 
 
 ■«H 
 
w 
 
 04 
 
 OVKKLANI) TO ('AKriMK). 
 
 iM 
 
 \m 
 
 ^ 
 
 ;'.! 
 •.!>: 
 
 IIOSIMTAMTV OK MH. COMN KIIASEU. 
 
 Mr. Colin Frascr, tlic Ihnlson's Hav Kaetor at 
 the Fort, was very liospitaMf, ami oiitci'taiiu'd 
 tln'iii in Imh own liousc, loancfj tlicni tishinir- 
 tackle, hooks, etc., and hcin;^^ a trnr Hi<(lilaiul«'r, 
 play»'<l the l»a<^j)i[)('s I'or tlicni in tlir evening. 
 Many attbct to sneer at the music ol' the hair- 
 pipes, hut to hear them amon<( the mountains 
 and hills, with the echoes reverln'ratino- around, 
 the music is hoth insj)irin<^ and heautil'ul. Tlu; 
 pipes have led the ])rave Highlanders on to 
 victory in many m hard contested hattle, and at 
 the sie<j;e of Luck now was it not the pipes wliicli 
 Jessie Brown heard in the far distance, and 
 sprinj^in^ to her feet cried, " Dinna ye hear 
 them! dinna ye hear them!" thrilling" every 
 heart with the welcome news that relief was at 
 hand. Mr. Fraser had two tinedookinii' dauii'h- 
 ters, hut they were as shy as youn*^ fawns, and 
 ccnild speak only the Cree lant;uage. 
 
 The priest in chart^e of Lake St. Ann's Mission 
 had a box of homo'opathic medicines, and on 
 the ai'rival of Dr. Symington's party w^as very 
 
IN TiiK iiKAirr or Tin; coNTiNKNr. 
 
 
 anxious to kimw Imw to use tlirin. Tlic priest 
 couM not spcaU l''i( iicli, l»ut Mr. .Mt-N.-mehton, 
 kiiowiii;;; Frrncli W'-II, ;ictc"l ;is iiitcrin-ctiT. so 
 tlic ililliciilty WIS ()\ crcniiit'. mikI tlir o-ood uricst 
 was able altcrwards to iiiiiiistrr to tlir wants of 
 liis people, l)otli l)o<lily Mini spiiitnally. lie after- 
 wards presented tlie |)oetor and Mr. McNannli- 
 ton witli a l)UL*i<et of milk, as an expression of 
 gratitude for tlie si'iN'ice ren<'ered. 
 
 •!i! 
 
 A DIFFICl I/r TltAII,. 
 
 Tlie trail from Lake St. Ann s was sncii as to 
 
 Iwifilu <lescriptioii. Six axemen were continually 
 
 ahead, cuttin^' a roa<l tlironuli the dense hrush. 
 
 The wa\' was I'endei'ed almost im])as.sal»le Itv a 
 
 succession of swamps, l)oi;s and morasses, into 
 
 whicli the animals said\ up to their bellies, and 
 
 t', s frecjuently necessitated an innnediate 
 
 •'^ inoval of the ])acks to a ))lace where tli«' 
 
 ground was tiiiner. The whole company became 
 
 disorii'anized. Individuals now ami ai-ain d«;- 
 
 taclied themseKes fi'om the main body, and set 
 
 up tlu'ir tents in s\/amps, whei-e they ha<l a 
 
 lively time of it in tlie mud, while othei-s would 
 5 
 
 'i III 
 
 11 ^ 
 
 m'' 
 
 Hi 
 
 
GO 
 
 OVERLAXI) TO rAIlIIiOO. 
 
 ? 
 
 n' 
 
 |)\ish on j)orHevei'iiii(ly tliroufrh the iiiiiv. Tlie 
 vjin^u.ird, led by Captain AhiMickin;^', ciicanipcd 
 on tlie 4t]i of Aumist at the Lake of Manv Hills. 
 Here Mi-. \V. Sellai's, ( f Huntin<,nlon, overtook 
 them, lie Iwiviny' waited for Di'. Svniino-ton's 
 ]*arty which brouo-jit letters from Fort (iarry 
 for some of tlie com])anv. 'I'liev also hi-on^'ht a 
 copy of tlie Toronto Glohc, which was the last 
 intellijj^ence received fi'oni the outside woi'ld 
 until they reached the end of their journey. 
 
 COAL IN SIGHT. 
 
 The Pendtina and McLeod Rivers were foi'ded 
 within three days of each other. A .'.cam of coal 
 a])out eiifhteen feet thick protruded from the 
 l>aidvs of the Pend)ina River, ;;n<l was visible 
 down the stream as far as tlu' eye could reach. 
 The value of this mine, if of the kind suitable 
 for connnerce and within the reach of civiliza- 
 tion, would indeed be incalculable. 'i'he coal 
 was used for fuel, and burned brilliantly in the 
 camps. 
 
 A thick smoke bcinj'' \isible ovei- the l)i'ow of 
 
^ 
 
 IN THE I?F:AIIT OF THE CONTIXENT. 
 
 67 
 
 m 
 
 /a- 
 ml 
 lie 
 
 ol' 
 
 the liill, a few of tlie men ascended to it, and 
 discovered tliat tliev were standing; on what 
 seemed to be n voh^ano, th<; crater of wluch was 
 choked hy stones and (h'hiis, which were con- 
 stantly tumbling' in. The smoke was issuinii- 
 through the surface of the <rround, which was 
 (juite hot, and snrchari^«'d sti'ono-Iy with esca])- 
 in^ jj^as. 
 
 The McLeod Kiver, a tiibutjiry of the Atha- 
 basca, has so rapid a current that it may be 
 likened to a sheet of foam as it surm's alon<j-. 
 Even with a coui)le o\' ix'rsons on one horse's 
 
 :'ii« 
 
 back, the force of the cui'rent was so yivat that 
 the animal could barely hold its footing;' while 
 fordini*' shallows of onlv three feet of watei*. 
 This stream they crossed with much <lithcidty 
 and even (hmij'er to man and beast. 
 
 On the (Sth of August the cam}) was set on 
 Butlalo-duniX River, a tributar\' of the Pend)ina. 
 The trails here Nxcre in a t« ii'ible condition, Ivinir 
 through swamps, ()\er which the men can-ie»l the 
 packs on their shou'dei's, sonu'times beini;' Jilmost 
 mired in the mud. 
 
 ■i ' « 
 
 1 *■ 
 
 iil 
 
 m 
 
()8 
 
 OVEKF.ANI) TO CAU'IMX). 
 
 At noon on tlin 9tli ol* August onr travellers 
 camped at Iloot IvInci-, the ])oiiii IVom whieh, on 
 a eleai* <lay, tlie Hi-st view ol' tlic Koeky Moun- 
 taijis can Ite ()l)taine(l. On the following- <lay 
 tliey came n])on a solitarx' i-i-axt'. On in\esti- 
 j^'ation they I'oun'l wi'itten on a ti'ee near l)y 
 tliesi^ words: " Hei'e He the mortal remains of 
 James Doherty, who die<l when passin^^ throuo-ji 
 these wilds in 18()(). " What thouiihts must liavo 
 tilled tlieii' hearts while lookini;' on tliat lonely 
 <;'ra\'e. What toils, hardshijis and suflerin*;" this 
 man nnist ha\e endiire<l lu'loi-e succund)in<:^ to 
 the I'ell destrovei' in this desolate si)ot. 
 
 Far awa\' in the civili/ed world somelnxlv 
 watche(] and waite<l in \ain For the son, ]iusl)an<l 
 or father, wlio wonld ne\'ei- rvduin. Did tliey 
 ever learn Ids fate :* Would thev e\er know 
 liow lie died, or whei'e :' Uut the iiiants of the 
 forest waved theii- hi'anehes o\-er liis head, and 
 the tears of these stranu'ers fell <rentlv on the 
 ti^rave of James Dohertv. it was a saddening" 
 scene. 
 
 ; I I 
 
IX THE IIEAIJT OF THE COXTIXENT 
 
 09 
 
 »«! 
 
 lie 
 
 l(r 
 
 " I hear it now, and o'tr and otT, 
 Eternal greet in!j;s to the dead ; 
 And ' Ave, ave, ave ' said, 
 ' Adieu, adiou,' for evermore. 
 
 " The higli Muse answered, ' NN'lierefore Ljriovo 
 Thy hiethreii with a fruitU'Ss tear '. 
 Al)ido a little loUL!,t'r here, 
 And thou shall take a nohlor leave.' " 
 
 FII{ST VIEW OF THE IKM'KIES. 
 
 It was on tin I'Uli jd' xViio'iist tluit nuf trjivcl- 
 h'l's had tlu'ii' first \ low ol" tin- llockv Mountains. 
 Altlioiiu'li yi't Olio liun(lro(| inijos away, thoii- 
 (lai'k outlines w<-ro ])lain]y \ isihh,; I'ar al>oV(' tho 
 liori/(jn. 'I'iio hjl'ty peaks, coxcrocl wltli snow, 
 could 1k' seen standinii" out in bold reliel' ao^iinst 
 the Itlue sk\-, tlasliiii*'' and seintillatiiii:" in tlie 
 ii'lowinii' ra\'s ol* the settino' sun, and jji\in«!' the 
 ap))eai"ance of tleocy clouds in tho distance. 
 
 The whole [)arty were enraptured while ;^a/ino- 
 on this suhlinie scone, and, w IiatoNcr trouhles and 
 
 dano'ors Were \et in store h)r the]ii,tlie\- were 
 williiio' to wcleoino tlie elian'"'e. so wearv were 
 they <►!' the monotony ol' endless [tlains, streams, 
 
 Mill 
 
 i\ 
 
 X 
 
 
 11 1' 
 
 I 
 
 fit 
 
 m 
 
 lit 
 
I I 
 
 70 
 
 OVEIH.AXI) TO TAliinoo. 
 
 liills aiwl s\v;uii])s. All weic willinii' to lace anv 
 daiiiiCf tluit would ^'itlit'i- tcniiiiiatr or vai'V the 
 toils ol' the ioin'UL'W 
 
 On the 19th of Auii'iist lIh' iiuide hud to find 
 a new trail, so they camped on the i'ol lowing" 
 day on the banks oi* the Athabasca, a bcautii'ul 
 stream, which taUes its rise in the mountains 
 and is supplied by the springs and the melting- 
 snows. This river was apparently navii^able i'or 
 boats ol' considerable si/e. At'tei" travellin*!' ;donu; 
 its banks i'oi- a lew davs, the\' arri\ed at a sixjt 
 whei-e those who had })rece(led them had con- 
 struct<Ml raits wherewith to cioss the ii\-er. A 
 rait was soon made, and, crossing in safety, the}' 
 entei'ed tlie oreat l^eatherhead l*ass. 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
f 
 
 M 
 
 H 
 
 IfATII <AS< AUKS. Ko( KV McrNTAINS. 
 
 id 
 
 .; ! J. 
 
 I 
 
 f. 
 
 i 
 
 
 : i 
 
 r 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 

 V__^ 
 
THE PR.PEP.TY OF 
 
 SCARBORO 
 
 PUBLI 
 
 
 .-^ARY. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE EXPEDITION ENTERS THE 
 ROCK V MO UNTA INS. 
 
 'I 
 
 ill 
 
 III 
 
 n 
 
 Thev wt'i'u now in the Rocky Mountains, Hur- 
 roun(l('<l Itv ncaturo in hw i-randcst forms. A 
 sii»]it at once sultliiiiely i;Tan<l and awc-inspirin«»" 
 o-rcotcd the view. The passes in t\\v Rockies 
 are most extraordinary — tlie t^laciers : tlie tor- 
 rents and cataracts rushino; tlu-(ni<di them ; the 
 lol'ty peaks of the mountains, covered with 
 eternal snow, piercino- the clouds and over- 
 wliehninj;' the (jhserver with tlieir vastness, 
 especially when lookii<;- npon them for the first 
 time. 
 
 MA.IKSTIC MOUNTAIN I'KAKS. 
 
 Overlooking" their campin<;-<;round a stupen- 
 dous rock arose perpendicularly to the height of 
 about one thousand feet above the waters of the 
 
 -.■ i 
 
 H 
 
 'ii 
 
 ( 
 
I I 
 
 I 
 
 74 
 
 OVKUT.AND TO CAIUHOO. 
 
 Athabasca, }m<l (lircetly ()j)i)osit(' AFouut LMC()iiil)e 
 r<'ar<Ml its I'oeky licad. At a still ^^rcator eleva- 
 tion hehiiid them, Mount Ma^nu'tte lifted its 
 cold and d'ajiixv e''*tfs, t< ve inu' pronfllv a))ovo 
 the rest. Lookin*^^ ;p\v;iivi, the eye ecjuld dis- 
 tinctly ti'ace the dn!' ivin '■ta'^cs or helts ol" 
 vegetation, tVom the spruce trees at the base to 
 the mosses and licliens of tlu' fro/en Arctic, 
 aljove which shone peaks covered with pi'r- 
 petual snow. Two of the party ascended the 
 cliffs to the left of the cani[). When they were 
 near the top they were scarcely discerni))le, and 
 tlieir loudest sliouts were barely heard l)v those 
 who remained Ijelow. HuiiC fissures and clefts 
 wi're observed in every direction, fi'in^e I with 
 stunted spruce trees. These concealed the tor- 
 rents that dashed down with <]eafenini;" roar, 
 well calculated to appal the bewildered beholder. 
 On examining" and comparinu- these apparently 
 confused and disoivlered masses on opposite sides 
 of the river, a strikiii<i' similarity was obsei've<l 
 in many particulars, both as to the order of the 
 strata and their thicknes.s — indeed, their whole 
 «^'eolo»^ical sti'uctur(! revealed such a correspond- 
 
 i 
 
t 
 
 
 
 EXPEDITION ENTERS THE Moi'N'TAINS. 7') 
 
 iiiil saiin'n(.!ss that i\\v most casual oliscrver 
 couM not fail to hr coiiviiic'cd that at sonic 
 period of the worlds history thrsc liad hccn 
 eontij^iious portions of the earths ei'ust : while 
 the present disrupted condition (jf these hu^^e 
 masses of rock, and the violent convulsion to 
 which they evidently had heen suhjec^ • i, 
 convevc'<l to the nnn<l sonw faint idea of t-hc 
 possible power of theii' internal tii-c ti e 
 miii'htv aiicncv throuijh which these changes 
 ai'e believed to have been eti'ected. The i 'li- 
 tative and pious mind will natui'ally I'ise to the 
 contemplation of that almij^hty an<l infinite 
 Beini;" who has made all the powers subservient 
 to His divine will. 
 
 As the season advanced, the davs became 
 much shorter, and climbin*^- over hills and wind- 
 rows of fallen trees was most fati^uin^ to 
 both man and ])east. About ten miles (jf dis- 
 tance was considered an average day's work. 
 To add to their anxieties, provisions wei'e be- 
 coming- exhausted, and oame ju this region was 
 very scarce. Even chipmunks were consideied 
 (juite a luxury— and a man nnist be \ei\- hungry 
 Indeed bef(jre i-esortin^" to a diet nl' chijdiiunks. 
 
 I 
 
 
 H: 
 
 ffil 
 
 » .9 
 
 % 
 
7G 
 
 OVERLAND TO ('AlUlUX). 
 
 
 THUNDKKSToltM IN THE MOl'NTAIN'S. 
 
 A tci'riltlc! tliundci'stoiMii w.s rncoiintcivd on 
 tho 18tli of Au^'ust, tlio efirc't ol* wliieh was 
 greatly lR'i<;litt'ne(l })y the nearness of tlie party 
 to what appearetl to l)e a conflict of tlie ele- 
 nients. A lieavv l>lack cl(»n<l slowlv tloatecl 
 across the zenitli, slnittinn^ ont all li^ht and 
 enveloping- them in complete darkness. Then 
 came Hash after Hash of liiihtninii', illuminatini^ 
 tlie snrroundii.o" ohjects foi* an instant, while 
 forked streaks of (|uiverin<4' li^ht Hashed alon;;' 
 tlie cloud or darted from peak to peak, to }je 
 succeeded by oven deeper darkness than hcfore. 
 Close on these \ivid Hashes followed deafening- 
 peals Ol thundei", which i'everl)ei'ated a<;ain and 
 a^ain from all sides of the natural amphitlieatre. 
 Such a scene of teri'itic grandeur was produced 
 as left an indelible impression on the nnnds of 
 all who had the pi'ivile<^e of witnessin<4 it. 
 
 One of the worst portions on their trail lay 
 alono- a nari'ow pathway with a perpendicular 
 wall of rocks on one side, and a steep declivity 
 down to the ed^e of a precipice several hundred 
 
KXI'KDITION KNTKUS TIIK MorNTALNS. 
 
 77 
 
 
 f«'t't deep oil the otluT. A sini;l(' ])IuTi<lrr, one 
 I'also st«'p ol' citlicr iiuui <»r beast, jukI iiotliiii*^ 
 could possil)ly save citlicr tVom instant dcsti-uc- 
 tion. Haj)pily all passed oxci- in safety, ^^ivin^; 
 thanks to the Oiver of all ^ood who had merci- 
 fully preserve<l them, and who, they l>elie\'ed, 
 would lainjj' them in safety to their iourney s 
 end. On the to}) of this mountain they could 
 see Jasper House (another station of the Hu<l- 
 son's Bay Company), a picture of loneliness in 
 the valley opposite. At this ])lace the Company 
 tra(h' with the Shuswaps. Aftt'r cro.ssin<,^ the 
 mountain they calli'd a halt at Whitetish Lake. 
 
 w urn: FISH i.akk. 
 
 This lak(! is sin-rounded hy Russian Jack, 
 Black Mountain, and Smith's P(3ak. On the 
 2()th of Au<;ust the })arty a^ain crossed the 
 River Athabasca: but rafts bad fii'st to be built, 
 on wliich to float the L;oods and animals across. 
 The I'iver at this [)oint is \-ery swift, and about 
 one lunidrtid yards wide and twenty feet deep. 
 Here were found <^^ood pros|)ects of ^old, whicli 
 vvoidd vicld on an averaee from tlnve to four 
 dollars a day. 
 
 
 
 i* 
 
 • 'If 
 
 iM' 
 
 I *.M 
 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 i 
 
 >'li( 
 
 i 
 
 1 ( 
 
 
 J 
 
 i 
 
 l 
 
 
 1 
 
 * 
 
 1 
 
 ii 
 
 
7s 
 
 (►VKIILAM) TO ( AiniKK). 
 
 On the I'nllowiii^ (lay tln-y passc^l tlic I'uins 
 ol* llriiiy's House, a (Icscitc*! tradiii^-post of 
 llic HinlsonM IJjiy (Nnn]>any. From tliat point 
 they lollowed (lie fiver until tliev stiMick the 
 liejidwaters of tlie Fi'aser Kivi'. Theii' pi-o;^resH 
 across tile Ma<|uette Hi\(r was \ery slow on 
 account of the <(uanlity <»f fallen timltcr, and 
 also the fre(|Uency with whicli they liad to 
 ford tlie stream. One moi'nin<( they crossed tin; 
 Ma(|U('ttr' IJiver ei^ht times. They wouM 1)0 
 travellin;^ alone- its hanks, when imexpectcdly 
 they would ai'rive at w spot impossihle to make 
 way throuijfh. Nothiiiii' remainc(l ])ut to ci'oss 
 aoain to the opposite side : then in a shoi-t time 
 would come a place that was as impassal)le as 
 tlu' last, and so a<4ain they liad to cross to the 
 o])posite side. 
 
 The water was extrem*dy cold, yet the njen 
 had to wade throueh the stream, which proved 
 very tryiiifjj hoth to tlie patience and strenetli of 
 tlie weary and almost famishini>- traveUers. At 
 noon on the 22nd of Au<:just the party crossed 
 the Maijuette Rivei*, and set up their tents 
 on the sliores of Moose Lake. They had now 
 
 7 
 
 ! 
 
i;.\im:ih'ih)N' kntkks tin: moin tains. 
 
 7!i 
 
 passtMl tli«' Ih'inlit of ImikI. oi' <livi<lin;^' I'idn;*' 
 l)('t\v<'('Ti tlu' strt'Miiis that Mow cast and tlinsr 
 wliicli llnw west nl' tlu' KocU \' Mountains. Tlic 
 wcatlicr in tlic vallry ol' tliis elevated region 
 was mild and warm, tli(»u<,di on the summits ol" 
 tlie surrounding" ))eal<s lay stupendoiis piles ol' 
 .snow. Tlie atmosphere was cleai*, ltri;;ht and 
 exhilaratinii'. Shortiv alter passiui; the dividin<r 
 I'idm' the wearv trav(dlers came U]>on the loui^- 
 looked Tor, mighty Fraser, sti'ikin^ it at a ])oint 
 where it could l)e ci'ossimI at a sin;.;le step. 
 
 ;] 
 
 1^' 
 il 
 
 H 
 
 TMK FUASKU lUVKK. 
 
 The Fi'aser is the most im|)oi-tant ri\'er in 
 Ih'itish Culumhia, and Mows entir«'lv throujih 
 the Province, entering;- the (JuH* ol' (J(M)rn;iaa few 
 miles nortli of the intei-national houndarv line, 
 at 49 latitude and about 122 40' longitude. 
 The c<jurse thrctu^^hont is neai'ly parallel with 
 that of fhe (\)lund)ia Rivei*. 'i'he main or 
 central bivmch takes its rise 'n the Hockv 
 iMoiintains in latitude 53 45' north and lon<ii- 
 tilde 118' west, thence meetinii- with the lii\iero 
 do Mette, a trilaitaiy of the Athabasca, which 
 
 
 
 Ml 
 
 • \ 
 
 \i 
 
so 
 
 ()Vi:i{LANI) TO CAKIBOO. 
 
 at'tt'rw.'U'ds unites with tlie Peace River in its 
 couj'se towards the Arctic Ocean. A Few miles 
 from its source tlie Eraser River entei's CownhniiT 
 Lake, a beautil'ul slieet of wnter some nine miles 
 in length : tlience witli rapid current it Hows to 
 Tete .Jaune (/ache, ahout six hun(h'ed and tliirty 
 miles from tlie sea, where the limit of canoe 
 navi(;ati()n is reaclKMJ. Ahout three hundred 
 miles lower down tlie stream it is joined hy the 
 Cranlserry Fork, a tributary tlowin*^ from the 
 south between Tete Jaune Cache and Fort 
 George. An im})ortant l)ranch falls in from 
 Lakes Stewart .'ind Fi'aser. Quesnelle River, 
 issuin<; f}om a lar^v lake of the same name, 
 flows into the Fraser one huiKhvd miles lower 
 <lown. Fortv miles below, on the left bank, is 
 Fort Alexandria. At Lytton, about one hundred 
 and eiHitv nules from the sea, the Fraser River 
 is joined by the Thom))son River, a large tribu- 
 tary flowing eastward. Yale, a small town at 
 the head of steamboat naviuation on the l(3wer 
 Fraser, is fiftv miles farther down, and New 
 Westminster, the chief city of the mainland of 
 British Columbia, is about one hundred miles 
 
■fT, 
 
 iMi 
 
 m 
 
 ■■''•V- 
 
 J 
 
 i 
 
 

 m 
 
 h 
 
 I 
 
 
 EX1*KF)[TI()\ KNIKItS TIIK .M( )l NTAI NS. .S3 
 
 from \;\\i\ IJrtwccn Lytton .•iml V.-ilc tlu' 
 Ki'asci- lvi\('i- Hows tlii'ouiili sonic ol' the ^I'aiMlcst 
 scciiui'v ill the w'orM. 
 
 TIIIJKATKNKI) WITH S PAR VATloX. 
 
 Wut to return to our tr.-i\( 'Hers. At this |)oint 
 of their joui'ne\- the fri'd for animals was of so 
 
 HM 
 
 VIKW uF ^ ALi;. 
 
 1; 
 
 jioor a (|uality tliat two or three of the o\ n 
 lia<l to he ahanfloneil e\t ry day. The journe\ 
 ha<l heeii mueli lon"'er than was orieinalh' 
 ant icijtated. They excn were runninL^' sjiort of 
 jti(t\ isions, aii'l now it wouhi a|»]»eai' t hat star\a- 
 tiun stared them in tlie face. Hearts h'ss hrm 
 
 1 "I' 
 ', Ml 
 
 i 'HI 
 
 '. !' 
 
84 
 
 (A'EllLAXF) TO ('A K I BOO. 
 
 mif^lit have n;iveii way to <l»'spair. They were 
 as yet only at the sunitnit ol' tlic nioiintains, and 
 tlie hist of tlie pcininican was eaten, so tliey 
 kilh'd an ox and (h'ied tlie meat over the tire, 
 Indian fashion. Many of tlic ]>arty sutiered 
 greatly from hun^^ci* ])efore they i-eaehed Tete 
 Jauni! Caclie. 
 
 < 
 
 LARIAT HOI'E AS A DKLHACV. 
 
 'Po sucli exti'emity were they (h'ivcn that i\n 
 old hoi'se tliat liad Ijeen h'ft on the ti'aii was 
 shui^htered and converted into food for tlieir 
 use. PV'W thing's tliere are hut lia\t' a humorcjus 
 side, and an inci(h'nt is ivhited of a younfj^ man 
 of tlie party who, after inhalin<:; tlie sni<dl of the 
 horse Hesh while heiiiii' cooked, resolved to trv 
 some other food, and was discovered in the act 
 of toastinn; a piece of lariat ro])e I This not very 
 appetizin<i,' delicacy was actually eaten to appease 
 his hun<jfer. Jjariat ro})e is made from the hide 
 of the buti'alo, hut tlie toujjfh morsel does not seem 
 to h.jtve done the vounj'' man anv harm, foi" he is 
 still .sialw.o't and stron^-, successfully tilling- one 
 .;f lire r .vsponsihlt' po' itions under the (jovern- 
 
 ( 
 
 ^ 
 
ill 
 
 >0 
 (' 
 
 III 
 
 is 
 
 1- 
 
 i 
 
 Expedition* exters the MorxTAixs. 85 
 
 iiiont of British Coluinl»ia. After partjikin<^ of 
 tliis sti'an^o foo<l, 1r' inmlv the pliilosopliit'al 
 remark that lie coiiM uiKh'rstand now, and 
 cease(l to i)e surpriscfl at, Esau selHni;' liis birth- 
 rio'lit for a iim*ss of ))()tta<^e. 
 
 Moose Lake is the source of a small creek 
 which a little farther on attains the ma<'"nitu<le 
 of a I'iver ilowin^^ in the direction of the tj^reat 
 K! Dorado The paity were apprised hy the 
 hla/es on the tnu's that this was the celehrated 
 Fraser River. Every day as they advanced 
 the stream becanu' lar^^'er, its })anks higher and 
 more ruiiucd. As they followed its wintlinu' 
 course, ever and anon an openint;" atfbrdrd the 
 travellers a view of tlie torrent below, i-ushini;' 
 onward with irresistible fury over boulders ul 
 rocks at the base of lofty mountains. ( at 
 cataracts tund)lin«^ into <lark abys.st^s tillcl tlie 
 behohlers with revi'rential awe. 
 
 Much the same I'oute was I'ollowed d;, ifter 
 day, and man\' streams of vei'v cold water were 
 forded. 
 
 
 J'' L 
 
 ■■IP 
 
 \ 
 
 n 
 
 I ., 
 
 t . 
 
 k\ 
 
 \ t 
 
I 
 
 ¥ • 
 
 FIKl.I) STATION. 
 
i 
 
 Ml 
 
 ■'I 
 
 CHAI'TKIJ V. 
 
 T///-: McMICK/XC IWR/'Y I^/iSC/'XP- 
 
 /x(; fill': I'KAs/'iR. 
 
 Tm; \ ;miju;ir(l, led liv Mi*, 'riionins .McMickiiSir, 
 arrived at T(Hr .lautu' ('aclic on ;!i!' 27th of 
 Au;4'nst. Here tlu-y I'ouimI a caiii)) of Shuswaj) 
 Indians, and IVnn tlit'in ohtaincfl di'icd salmon 
 and lu'n'N' cakes in exchaii<'«; Tor {iiiiniunition 
 clotliinn', liandkei'elnets, needles, ihi-ead, and eNcn 
 niatclies. 
 
 After trading' w itli the natixcs and olitaininu," 
 food, the ])arty held a consultation as to how to 
 |)r(»ceed. The L;ui<le had I'aithfidly pei'fornie(l 
 this part of the journey, and knew nothin*;" 
 heyond tile ( ache, to which j)oint it was he h.id 
 |»r()niisi'(l to e'uide thetn. He snoke to the Shus- 
 waps who were encamped there, hut they had 
 nexcr heard of ('ai'ihno. All the iid'oi-mation 
 
 <^ I 
 
 !| 
 
 
 ,« Mil 
 
 : I 
 
 ill 
 
.S8 
 
 OVEULAND TO ( A l{II{( »<>. 
 
 tlicy could ;4'ivt' was tiiat tlu-y li;ul licaid that 
 if the Frasor Kivci' was crossed, and tlit* iihmui- 
 taiiis aii'ain travci-scd, i\u'y would, in I'oui'tccu 
 days, ccjUM' t<» a wide I'oad. Tlic Indians, nioic- 
 o ')', said tliat licl'oic this road could he rcaclic*! 
 the snow woidd he a loot dccn: Ix-siilcs. tlicv 
 had no conce])tion when' the road led to. 
 
 'J'his was \ci'V inea<*;i'e and uncertain intoi'ina- 
 tion. so the company came to the conclusic^n that 
 it must he a road used for packing animals fi'om 
 Oj'co'oii to C'arihoo. As the ])ai'ties wei'e runnine- 
 short of ])rovisions. time was now Ix'coiuiiiLC a 
 sei'ious matti'i', an<l evci'V da\s dela\' meant 
 possible sbii'vation. The In<lians assured them 
 that if they went down the Krasei- IJi\ei-, after 
 ten da\'s the\' would come to Kort (leoi'ec; hut 
 that the i'i\-er in that <lii'ection was full of ia[)ids 
 an<l \erv daiieerou-. 
 
 \m 
 
 TIIK coMI'AW |)|\II)i;s. 
 
 Finally it was decidetl that the men wlio 
 were hest sup|)lied should <j;o oNO'lainL and 
 tiy to find the road these Indians spoke of. 
 and so. if po.ssihle, reach ('arihoo. ShouM they 
 
MMi<KiN(; PAirrv nKsrKNDlNc; THK IUASKU. S!) 
 
 fiinl it iin]M)ssil»l(' to ])1'0('('(m1 tlirou^li the iiioun- 
 t.'iiiis, tli»'\- were resolved to l)uiM a caMii, kill 
 
 I 
 
 tlie aMiiiiaJs Tor food, ami so try to li\e tii'-on^li 
 tln' wintei'. Ahout tweiitv pei-sons aei'eed to "o 
 oN'ei'laiid : tile rest detei-milie(l t(» et) down the 
 Frasei' Hiver. takiii'i" with them some of the 
 animals as securitv aeajnst starvation. The 
 remaiiider ol' the animals w'ei'e to e-o across the 
 country towai'ds the headwatei-v (d* the I'ivei- 
 Thompson Messrs. Fannin. Thomjjson, Pitman. 
 an<l A. ]j. Koi'tune, of the 4^)ueenston ])arty, 
 Nolunteered to take this iast route; so tlu'V, 
 toii'cther with Mi-. and Mrs Sehuhei't and their 
 family, crosst-d the mountains aeain to tlu' 
 Thoin))son l\i\er. 
 
 The Frasei- IJiNci' parties now made ready to 
 start, some eonsti'uctine' ivifts, others makin;^- 
 canoes. Some of the I'afts were I'orty feet lonn' 
 and «'iehteen feet wide. lashe(l tirinlv to<i"<'tlici- 
 to ])re\('nt their ca])sizin;^' The Indians were 
 \ er\' e'lad to evehane'c canoes for horses. The 
 company had only a few tools, wliieh were hy 
 now almost \vorn out, so that the jji-oi^ress o 
 the woi'k was I tut slow. 
 
 
 .#^ 
 
I>0 
 
 OVKIU.ANI) To rAKII'.on, 
 
 i 
 
 ii ! 
 
 TiiK SI Alt r Down riii: i |{asi:i{. 
 Tlir ■ Scarljoroiio-li " i-jil't \v;is tlic first i-c-hIv. 
 
 At tlll't'C ill the attrniooii of tll«' Ist of Sc])- 
 tciiilMT its j)}iss('iiu(>i-s, tjikiiii;' an atll-ctioiiatc 
 t'arcwt'll ol' their conipaiiions. jjrocctMlcd up 
 tlir stirain and «'iiil)arkr<l. Tlit' stroii'i' cui'- 
 rent soon swcjtt tlwin alti'cast of tlic (•.•niocs 
 ami tlic cainj). Hrrc the l><)ys all leaped to 
 tlieii- feet and ea\<' tlie raftsmen tliiv(> lieailv 
 cheers, which were \ ociferoiish' retuineil. The 
 Indians lookecj on with soi-rowful faces, and 
 were hear<l to exclaim : " l*oor w liite man no 
 more!" 'I'hi'ce other rafts left the same day, 
 the "Ottawa," the " lIuntino(ion;' and the 
 " Nia<;'ara,'' and all swept <lown with the cui- 
 I'cnt from davliu'lit till dark. 
 
 The mornin»js and evcnines, as tl»e\' ])i-o- 
 cccded, i»rcw ver\' col<l. l)nt this was ami)lv 
 compensated for l>y the scenery, which pre- 
 sented a movino- panorama of hcaiity and 
 i^randeur. The rafts were stroiiiilv constructe<|, 
 and each had a railinji' around it. to which the 
 animals wvw, tie(l. Tlie meals were cocjked and 
 served without landinjj'. 
 
i 
 
 M .MI< KI\(i I'AIMV |)i:s("KNI)IN(; TIIK ri{Asi;|{. !l| 
 
 ScM'i'jil IMjtids wri'c J)assr(| oil tilt' i')i]\ ctl' 
 S('j)triiil)ri'. Tln-y mIso ii()tict'(| that IVnm lliat 
 datf tilt' cunt'iit nl" tlic imvci- hrcaiin' iiiucli 
 swit'tor ill its tlow. 
 
 I\ rili; (MJ.WI) CANViJN. 
 
 Ilavinii' tloatcil <I()\vn stiu'aiii now t'oi" five <Iavs 
 without aiiN' niisliai), the vosajicrs naturalK' 
 lu'^an to coiiuratulatt' tlirinscK rs on lia\ inn- 
 taken tin* rivt'T, when suddcnlv all wn-e stai'tlrd 
 Ity a loud noise, and the look-out slioute*!, 
 " Hreakr'i's aheail!' Some of the I'afts had 
 barelv time to jcaeh shoic and make last. 
 'J'hey had ari-i\ed at the (jlrand Rapids. 
 
 The " SeaihoroULih " was the tii'st to ti'V the 
 cauN'on, dashinii' throueh the sureiim" iMUi'ents 
 that appeared like an immense sheet of spray. 
 In niid.sti'eam was a lar^^e roek, to sti'ike which 
 would have heen instant destruction. l>y strain- 
 inj." at the oars with all theii- mieht, and after 
 an awful .sus])ense of a few moments, hut which 
 seemed hours, the dan^'er was |)asse(l, and the 
 fi'ail .structure was aj-ain threadiiiii- its wav 
 amid the shoals which ohstructed the intricate 
 channel. 
 
 . 'I 
 
 
 
 I'd 
 
 
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 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 V- 
 
 /. 
 
 
 // -*'>i^ 
 
 ^/< 
 
 1.0 
 
 1.1 
 
 l^|28 |2^ 
 
 ■so "^^ H^H 
 
 ^ ^ |2.2 
 
 H: 1^ 110 
 
 i^ 
 
 
 11*^11'-^ '-^ 
 
 
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 6" 
 
 ► 
 
 V] 
 
 
 ^^# 
 
 / 
 
 # 
 
 T 
 
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 Hiotographic 
 
 Sdences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) •72-4503 
 
 
 '^ 
 
92 
 
 OVERLAKD TO CARIBOO. 
 
 THllOU(;H A WHIRLPOOL 
 
 . 1 1 
 
 i ; 
 
 'SI 
 
 ii!. 
 
 At tlic loot of tlic canyon was a wliirlpool, 
 anil into tliis the raft was drawn. The men 
 ehin<»: to the raft : the animals, fortunatelv^ were 
 tied to the railing*. Round and round the craft 
 was whirled. At the first plunge those on the 
 shore could see onlv the horns of the o.\en, but 
 the raft heino- very wide, the suction was not 
 great enough to submerge it entirely, and, to 
 the relief of the anxious watchers, it emerged 
 safelv from the anijfrv vortex. 
 
 All the rafts had eventually to run the rapids, 
 
 as there was no means of escape. The banks of 
 
 the river on both sides wei'e rocky and i)recipi- 
 
 tous, bounding a nari'ow channel through which 
 
 vast volumes of water wei'e rushinii- and dashinii' 
 
 over the sharp rocks. No wonder the prospect 
 
 appalled the stoutest heart : but by the goodiiess 
 
 of Divine Providence all passed through in 
 
 safety. 
 
 A NARROW ESCAPE. 
 
 At two of the canyons the voyagers were able 
 to make a portage, thus lightening the rafts, 
 
 M 
 
 V l; 
 
M'MICKINU PAKTY DESCENDING THE FRASEK. 9'5 
 
 
 wliich, witli ten mni left to steer them, sljot 
 (lownw.anl like Jiii arrow. Hei'oie tlieiii, on the 
 rij^ht, w is ji rockv reeF, Uirainst wliieh the t'uri- 
 oUH Hood was «la.shin<^ the water int<j foam : 
 while on the left was an eddyin*^^ wliirljMxjl. 
 The first to try the passa<;'e {;;ra/ed th«' roek, 
 tearinjjf awav the rowloeks, then iilided in 
 safety down to tlu; vd'h' l)elow. 'I'lu^ <^auntlet 
 had a^ain })een safely run, and eveiyone was 
 sur|)rised at the issue. 
 
 An involuntary cheer hurst fiom the throats 
 of tlu' men who had faced <leath so hravelv in 
 unknown channels, and every eye was moist 
 with tears as tliey enu'r^red from so perilous 
 a situation. S(j intense was the anxietv of 
 the moment to the onlookers that cheer upon 
 cheer re-echoed alon<; the hank, relievin<j the 
 
 ai 
 
 ixious hearts that liad heen struno" to tin 
 
 »g 
 
 utmo.st tension. 
 
 All the rafts passed safely, hut those who 
 attempted the rapids in canoes were not so 
 fortunate. 'i'hree of tlu' Toronto ])artv, Messrs. 
 Paterson, Carrol and Mackenzie, had hd't 'iete 
 Jaune Cache in a canoe. In this Wirht craft they 
 
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 iir 
 
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 hi 
 
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 An 
 
94 
 
 OVERLAXI) TO <"Aini{'H). 
 
 I 
 
 hi! 
 
 ill 
 
 naturally made nuicli faster pro^^ress, an<l rcaclicMl 
 the (iraiid ('anyon two days before tlie arrival 
 of tlu» tirst raft. The crew of the latter were 
 surpi'ised at eatcliin;^ up witli tlieir coinpauions, 
 and were dismayed to learn tliat an acci<lent liad 
 
 .1, h 
 
 Inch tliev liad lost 
 
 •th 
 
 occur 
 
 barely escaping with their lives. Tlie canoes, 
 containing their tents, clothing, provisiims, tools, 
 and even the coats they had been wearinj^, ha<l 
 all been daslied upon the rocks and cai'ried away. 
 Hei'e the poor fellows had Ix'en for two whole 
 <hiys without foo(l or the means of ]>roeurin^- it, 
 lookiuii' all the while with lonjiinif eves foi* the 
 I'jifts, which seemecl to them an iiiti;i'minab!e 
 time in coming to their rescue. 
 
 Mr. Paterson, of the party, a y«>un<^ Kn^lish- 
 man, had bi'en suffering from a sore throat, and 
 this was nmch at^irravated by tlie exposure. 
 
 This spot was the scene of oHier disasters 
 to the vovaiifers. A canoe containin<r ]\Ir. Mc- 
 Xau<;hton, of the Montreal ])ai"ty, and nine 
 othei's, was wrecked here. They struck U]»on a 
 hi<l(h'n rock, which split the canoe almost in 
 two : fortunately they were near the shore. 
 
 m 
 
 It 
 
f 
 
 M MICKINfi I'AKTV l)ES( "ENI)i\(J THE FRASER. 95 
 
 and )>y ra])i<l p{i<Mlin<^ j^ot into shallow water 
 Itcforc it filled ami sank under them. 
 
 SAH I)IU)W\L\fi ACCIDENT. 
 
 Two eanoes fastened toii'ether, and carrvinj; 
 Messi's, Douii'las, Rohertson and Robert Warren, 
 of the (Joderich party, experienced even a wors<' 
 disaster than the others that lia«l pi-ecede<l tlu'in. 
 'i'hey had harely I'eaehed the rapids when they 
 were suddenlv eui^jfht in one of the swirls 
 and ca]>size 1, throwin<:^ the oeeupants into the 
 water. Mr. H()])ertson, l»ein<^ an <'Xpert swinniici-, 
 sti'uek out foi" the shore, at the same time 
 advisino- the others, who eould not swim, to 
 elinii' to the canoes, which were lolliii"; over and 
 oxer in the mad waters of the rapi<ls. How- 
 ever, bv efforts born of des])air, thev succet'ded 
 in maintaining^ their *^rasp, and when they 
 reache<l the surface thev watclied theii* fi-iend 
 Robertson manfullv struiitdinii' ajiMinst the 
 strong' currejit. He spoke a<;ain, and encoui"a<^ed 
 his companions to hold on, <'vidently feelin;; 
 morr (Mjiiceiiitfl foi' thrir safetv than for his 
 own. \t length the current carried the cancjes 
 
 ■:': 
 
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 i'.f 
 
 f 
 
 t'ii 
 
 II; 
 
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 : tr. 
 
96 
 
 OVKIil.AM) TO CAUinoo 
 
 to a .shoal, or l»ar, in iiiidstirani, ami naturally 
 tlieir Hi-st tliouiilit was oC Me. |{olH'i-ts(ni : lnit to 
 thvAV jiiMcr ami liorroj'lic w.^s nowhere to he seen. 
 He had heen swept under the sur«;in;;' tori'ent. 
 eitluT havinu- ])een .seized with erani)) oi- had 
 struck his hea<l on a sh;»r|) roek. Poor Kohert- 
 .son, so ))i-ave and so sti'on<;", .so kind and unsel- 
 fish, was no more: he liad passed in silence to 
 the i»i*eat hevond. OF him it couhl trulv l)e .said, 
 "Mankind lost a friend, and no one ^ot rid of an 
 eneniv." 
 
 Mr. Hohertson's tra«;'ic death was deeply de- 
 plored, for he ha<l won the esteem ;in<i respect of 
 all the party by his kind and manly disposition. 
 The timelv arrival of the Huntini'-don raft 
 saved the rest of the men fi'om a terrible death, 
 as thev certainly would .soon liave i)erished on 
 tlie bar had not the rescuer.s arrived in tinn' to 
 succour them. 
 
 Mr. Carpenter, of Torcjnto, and Mi'. \\ Leader, 
 of Huron, wei'e al.so drowned at this canyon, 
 under similar circum.stances. The manner in 
 whicli Mr. Carpenter met his death wa.s excoe<l- 
 
 •penl 
 
 ingly sad. When tlie Toronto party, to which 
 
 ii 1 
 
M'MI(KIX(J PARTY DESCKXIUXti THE KRASER. 07 
 
 k'l-. 
 
 [oM, 
 
 ill 
 
 ilmI- 
 
 icli 
 
 
 he l>el()M^tMl, arriv»'(l at tin* (.'unyoii they first 
 walked <lo\vii tilt' hank an«l inHpccttMl the place. 
 'I'he party consiste*! oF four men, viz., Messrs. 
 F^l< teller, Haii<leoek, Carpenter ami Alexander. 
 Kletelier an<l Haiideock a;;reed to portaj^e the 
 ^^oods, while ( 'ar])ent«'r and Al'.xander were to 
 run the eanvon in the eanoe. AH bein««- rea<lv, 
 they pushed ott' Mr. Alexander in the how. 
 When in niidstreani the eanoe struck a rock 
 and capsi/e<l, throwing" hoth nn'ii into the water. 
 Mr. Carpenter appeared stunned, and made no 
 rtfort to save himstdf, but sank immediatelv. 
 Mr. Alexander, however, bein(( a ^ood swimmer, 
 struck out tor the shore, but, in the excitement 
 oF the moment, swam for the opposite side, and 
 landed safely. After restin^^ lie walked to the 
 e<l^e of the river, knelt down and lifted his soul 
 to (lod, then plunoin*;- into the foaming current, 
 l)attled his way across in safety. 
 
 A SINUTLAR IMtESENTlMENT. 
 
 Mr. Carpenter's companions had observed 
 that when he was exploring the canyon he took 
 out his note-book and madt' a memorandum 
 
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 OH 
 
 OVLUI.AN!) TO ("Aini'.OO. 
 
 tli('i*<'in, tlicn curci'ullv n'tunuMl it to liis iimcr 
 ])()ck('t, and tins coat lie Irl't on tlic lunik Iwloiv 
 attt'inptiii^' to run tin- r{i))i(l. His sorrowiul 
 companions opened tlu- nolc-ltook, and found tliis 
 rntiv: " A)i"iv('(l at (Jrand Caiixon ; ran tlic 
 
 ■t ' 
 
 ■'. 
 
 
 FHASKH HIVKH, TWO MILKS BKLOW LYTTOX. 
 
 can von and was di'ownt'd."' Mi', ('ari)enter left 
 a wife and child in Toronto, and was a man of 
 ^a*eat promise. This sin<^ular incident excited 
 u\nch wonder and speculation. Did the danfjer 
 which lie was <!;oin<ij to risk make such an 
 jm))ression on his mind that it amounted to 
 
 iH 
 
 K. I 
 
MMICKINC l»AI{TV l)i:S( KNDINii TMK FKASKK. !)0 
 
 t\ 
 
 left 
 n ol' 
 ted 
 
 an 
 1 to 
 
 a p'cs.MitiiiHint :* The poor man was stn'cly 
 attiiet»'(l witli scnr\ w tlirou'di hcinix unal^lc to 
 cat tli«' jM'iimiican. wliich was tlir only meat 
 |n*oi*ural)l<' on tlir lon^r Jouiih'V. Tln-ou^^di li\ - 
 inii' almost entirely o!i tloni' lie was reduced 
 •in stri'ni;th so much that when exertion was 
 needed to save his life, ovcrc<nne hv weakness 
 he sank, another victim ol' the cold, cruel 
 wat«')'s ol* the Frascr Hivci*. It is a rare occur- 
 renci' tor even a yood swinnner to he save(l if he 
 falls into its deadly eml)i'ace: the curn'ut is 
 very swift, and the watei- so icy that cramp 
 almost always sei/es the unfortunat<' one. 
 
 Innnediately after passini:' the canyon the 
 channel widened, an<l the swiftiu.'.ss of the cur 
 rent diminished perce])tihly, the stream hecom- 
 ino- (juite smooth : indeed, lulled into a feeling- of 
 security by the treficherous calm, the voyau'ers 
 floated alon^ all ni^^ht, peacefully sleeping in 
 their ii»norance of dan<:er, an«l hlissfully un- 
 conscious of the awful destruction that mi<dit 
 instantly have overwhelmed them. Tlio next 
 mornint;' they ])erceived that the rafts were mak- 
 ing; rapid prooi'ess— indeetl, their motion was 
 
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 M 
 
 
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 100 
 
 OVKIILAM) TO rAIUIloO, 
 
 increasiii;; jit an alariiiinj^ rat«'. Tliis put tin* 
 iiu'M on tlu' alci't, and in a voi*y sliurt spacr of 
 time tlicv ai'i'ivrd at a stretch of rapiils ahont 
 til'ti'oii miles in lon^^tli. Altliouirli tiic channel 
 was much wider than in the (Jran<l (jinyon,yet 
 it was full of Ja^^^^ed rocks, any one of which 
 would hav<' torn the raft to pieces had they 
 been so unfortunate as to riui a<'ainst it. In 
 the darkness of the ni^dit one raft struck on a 
 sunken rock, ))ut its crew mana^^e*! to pull it 
 oti* without much damage. The passa«;e of the 
 rapids was made without other mishap than 
 this, and the party reached Fort (Jeort,^.' in 
 safetv'. 
 
 FOUT (JEcUUiE. 
 
 On arrival at Fort (ieor^e it was found that 
 Mr. Eustace Paterson was in a verv critical 
 condition. He was teniU'Hy removed from the 
 raft to the Fort, where, after restin*^ foi* a 
 while, lie seemed to rally. Every attention 
 possibk' was given him by Dr. Stevenson, but 
 the fi^reat exertion and constant exposure of 
 the lon<j^ journey had been too much for his 
 
 * 
 
I. :: ' 
 
 at 
 
 ;al 
 
 w 
 
 lis 
 
 M MH KIN'(5 PAUTV DKSCENIUNfJ TIIK FHASKU. lOl 
 
 Htr«'U<rtl>. »in<l 1m' <li«Ml on tin* «'V«'inn<r «>1' tlu' 
 saiiH' <lav that tlirv arrived at Fort (Irorjrr. 
 
 A .small canor was ol)taiiU'«|, ami tlu; ImmIv 
 of EustacM' Patrrson placrj therein ami rcviT- 
 t'litly c'onsit^ncd to tlio <lu.st hy iiis sorrowiiij;' 
 fompaiiions. Tin* dangers and trials thry had 
 all horni' hnivfly to^^i'tlier niadr a hond ol" 
 art'cction ho deep an<l stron*;- that they mourn«'<l 
 his loss as thou<;h ]w had Ix'en a hrotluT. Mr. 
 Patcrson was the son of an cmim'nt solicitor 
 in London, Kn^land, and his last irstin^-placM* 
 is still pivscrvt'd. The Indians pay j^rcat rcvt'r- 
 rncc to tJM' dead, and they still ])oint out at 
 Fort CJt'oi'i^c the ^ravc of the younj^ Kn^lisli- 
 nian. 
 
 Fort (U'or^e is a Hudson's Hay Ccjuipany's 
 station of considerable inipoi'tancc. Here dried 
 salmon and other necessaries were procure(l 
 from the Indians. Mr. Charles, the resident 
 Fact(jr, was absent when the parties airived, 
 havin«( ^one to Quesnelle Mouth to obtain 
 supplies for the wintei*. After waitin*^ a day 
 lon<jfer than they inten<led for Mr. Charles, and 
 he not putting' in an api)earance, the party 
 
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 102 
 
 OVKHT.AN'U To (A I! I MHO. 
 
 start«'(| nir.iin <m tlic dnv Inllnwiiij'-, t.'iUiiiL'' 
 aloii^ ail liKJiaii ;^ui<l<' tn pilot tiirin tliinu;;li 
 tlnr rapids, wliicli wcrr icpnilcil to !»• \»'ry 
 <iaiii:<'roiis Im'Iow Kort (tcoriic 'I'lic lirst caiivcui 
 was rcaclicd tirtt'cii miles Ik'Iow tlir Kort. and 
 round iniU'li easier to navi;"}!!!' tliaii niaii\' ol' 
 those that had already heen jiassed. 
 
 As our travellers eaiii«' nearer ei\ili/ation 
 they saw miners at work on tlu^ bars of the 
 Kraser lliver. This was also an intimation 
 that th«'V were drawini?' near to the minine' 
 flistrict, to reacli wliieh had cost them so much 
 toil and (binder. After passin<;' throu^di several 
 canyons, tlie first |)arty arrived at Quesnelle 
 Mouth, Cariboo, on Thursday, the Mth of Sep- 
 tt'iidier, 1.S02. 
 
I 
 
 TH.r: pn-n^rvry of 
 SCARBOP.O 
 
 PUBLIC L!3."^ARY. 
 
 (MIAI'TKK VI 
 
 - i. 
 
 m 
 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ADiiixn'Riis OF run sYM/\(;ro\ 
 
 JWRTY. 
 
 0\ tlu' (ith of Scptcinlter Dr. Symiii^rton's 
 piu'ty jirrived tit 'IV'te Jauue C.iche, being eU'veii 
 days behind the others. Thi.s party had suffered 
 even greater privations than had those who pre- 
 ceded them, and on their arrival at the Taclie 
 tlu'ir gaunt, faniisheil a])p('arance so excite*! 
 tile i)itv of the Indians that, inal<in<^ simis to 
 the travellers that they would piocurc food, 
 they took their canoes down stream and re- 
 turne<l in the evening laden with salmon, which 
 was indeed a luxui'V to the halt'-famislu'd men. 
 
 Twentv-l'our matches i)urchased a vei'v lai-jij; 
 salmon. Dr. Svmin^iton and Mr. McNauiih- 
 ton carried the fish From the canoe by a p(jle 
 thrust throuiih its i»ills, and althouiih the ends ot* 
 
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 ii 
 
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104 
 
 OVEllLAXI) TO C'ARIHOO. 
 
 IM 
 
 
 the pole rested on tlie men's shouMei's, tlie tail 
 of the salmon trailed on the o^ronnd. So fine a 
 specimen seldom now finds its way np to this 
 point in the Fraser River. The fish was a oreat 
 treat to the hunt^ry voyagers, uxovv especially as 
 they had heen on extrenu'ly short rations For 
 some weeks. 
 
 I)E.\D SALMON. 
 
 The Indians procured the salmon seven miles 
 below the Cache, and there dea«l fish were to he 
 seen linint^ the bank for miles. At this season 
 of the year the salmon ascend the Fraser River, 
 and are easily caught, either with spears or by 
 wading into the w^ater and throwing them on 
 the bank or into a canoe. It seems to V)e an 
 accepted theory t!i it the salmon ascend to the 
 streams in which they have been spawned. 
 When they had worked their way up the liver 
 to the point just referred to, many of the fish 
 were nearly dead, their fins worn off, an<l holes 
 in their sides, caused by the jagged rocks in the 
 canyons. Still they kept on ascending, until 
 they either died or reached their own stream. 
 
 At Tete Jaune Cache the travellers also 
 
ADVEN'TntES OF THE SYMINGTOX rARTV. 105 
 
 ¥< 
 
 I 
 
 so 
 
 saw a ])ivss, somewhat i"t'seinl)liii<^ a wino-j rcss, 
 wliic'h the Indians nse<l for cruslnn<; l)eiTies. 
 The juice of the berries was eauolit in trou<]j]is, 
 and tliis tlie Indians poured into hottles made of 
 the liides of animals, and (h-ank it as a winter 
 beveraw. '^I'lie crushed berries they made into 
 cakes. 
 
 Tlie Indians also had loni"' sheds fille<l with 
 shelves, on which they spread the berries to dry. 
 The (h'ied berry cakes were found very palatable, 
 and made an excellent substitute for bread. 
 These Shuswap Indians showed trreat humanity 
 and kindness to the travellers, and certainly 
 seemed advanced in civilization. The Symington 
 company found on arrival that all the different 
 parties ahead of them, except the Wliitby con- 
 tinoent, had left th(" Cache. This latter party 
 liad killed their oxen and almost ccmipleted 
 their rafts, so that thev wcue a})le to leave the 
 Cache the day followiiiii' tlie arrival of the 
 Symington party. With many <^oo(l wishes and 
 a partino- cheer, the new arrivals watelu'd their 
 friends ])assino- out of si<;'l:t, lon<,nn;;" to follow in 
 their wake: but ere another day ha<l })assed 
 
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100 
 
 OVEULANt) To (WRIIUK). 
 
 they all liad reason to rcjoici' tluit tlicy IijkI not 
 •lone HO. 
 
 • ■ 1 
 
 ■I'. 
 
 > 'J all' 
 
 
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 !i; 
 
 E 
 
 THE WHITHY PARTY WUErKKD. 
 
 The Wliitl)}" pjii'ty had ^oiu' about seven nn'les 
 below the C^aclie, when they came to a place 
 where the waters (liveroe. Here thert' was a 
 discussion as to which side to take, and it was 
 decided to take the ri<i^ht. After proceed i no- a 
 short distance, they approached a lari^e rock in 
 midstream, which they came upon so suddenly 
 that, unable to steer out of its way, the}' struck, 
 and everything was washed off the rafts — pro- 
 visions, clothing, money, tools : indeed, every- 
 thing they possessed, even to the coats that had 
 been laid aside as they worked their unwieldly 
 craft. The sudden shock knocked off* the man 
 at the helm, Imt he, being an expert swinnner, 
 reached the shore in safet\'. The rest of the 
 men were left clinging to the raft, which was 
 wedged upon the rock in a slanting ])osition. 
 Their hearts were tilled with dismay, for they 
 were lookino' death in the face, but they held on 
 with desperate tenacity and waite<l for rescue. 
 
ADVEXTUUKS OF THE sYMlXfJTOX PARTY. 107 
 
 Mcanwlnlo tlie iiuin w1m» lia<l reachiMl t]u> 
 shore rctiiriitMl to tlic camp at 'IV'tc Jauno 
 ('aclit', walking- and erawliii<^ as ])vs{ ho could 
 tlnou;;h tlu' underbriisli. Tlic eompany, as was 
 natural, were horrified to liear of the accident 
 and of the perilous position in which their 
 friends were ])laced. They innne<liately sent oti' 
 two canoes with men to the rescue. Tlie 
 wrecked raftsmen were found all alive, tliout»h 
 much exhausted and chilled from exposure. 
 They returned with them in safety to the camp. 
 
 The Symington part}', though short of food, 
 generously offered to share everything with the 
 others as long as they needed it, or while tliey 
 had anything to share. Of course the \Vhitl)y 
 party had to construct canoes, but the axes and 
 tools being all in use, they contrived to work by 
 night, so that no time was lost, they working- 
 while the others slept. Though with scarcely 
 enough food to sustain life, these heroic men 
 toiled perseveringly, felling large trees and out 
 of them makinii' can(jes, for thev well knew that 
 life dependerl upon their exertions. 
 
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108 
 
 OVERLAND TO OARmoO. 
 
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 The parties detoriiiinecl tl\ey sliould leave Tete 
 Jaime C'aclie in canoes, )>elieving them safer than 
 rafts. When everytliint^; was ready they started 
 on their journey with stout hearts, knowin^j not 
 the dantrers aliead, but prepai'ed to meet tliem 
 as l)est they could. At this season of the year 
 the salmon wei-e very })lentiful near the Cache. 
 This fact }ia<l indeed been their salvation, as the 
 whole party must have perished from hunfijer 
 if it had not been for these salmon. The men, 
 by wading in two or three feet of water, could 
 catch the fish and throw them into canoes. 
 Some of these salmon were nearly dead after 
 coming hundreds of miles from the sea in their 
 ascent of the river, and were hardly fit for food ; 
 still the men were very thankful to get them. 
 The next day, after leaving the Cache, not a 
 salmon was to be seen. 
 
 This party encountered the same obstacles 
 and dangers that had beset their companions, 
 but no lives were lost. On the ninth day after 
 leaving Tete Jaune Cache they found two empty 
 canoes floating down the stream, which tliey 
 recognized as belonging to the Goderich party, 
 
ADVEXTURES OF THE SYMINGTON PARTY. 100 
 
 a 
 
 er 
 
 and thcv luiturallv tV'ared tlie worst for tlicir 
 late companions. Tlie foUowini"- dav tliev 
 arrived at Fort (ieoroe, wearv and sore, and very 
 mudi exhausted from want of proper food. 
 
 The Fort Geoi<(e Indians came down to the 
 shore, and j^azed with every mark of profound 
 amazement upon tlie emaciated countenances 
 and lon<^ uidvempt luur and heards of the 
 vovaii;e?'s. For five days they had subsisted on 
 a small supply of dried mountain sh«'ep, a little 
 tea, and a very few dried l)erries. Tliey traded 
 their clothing with the Indians foi- food, and 
 had it not been for the succour <;iven them by 
 the latter and by the residents of tlie Hudson's 
 Bay Company's posts which they passed on their 
 way, this eventful journey would never have 
 been .iccomplished, an<l a cruel death from 
 starvation would have been the fate of these 
 adventurous men. Tlu^y all heard with deep 
 sorrow of the sad deaths of Messrs. llobertson, 
 Carpenter and Paters<jn. After leavino- Fort 
 George they passed safely throu<»-h all tin; 
 canyons and reached Quesnelle Mouth on the 
 4th of October. 
 
 \A\ 
 
 >'■ 
 
 i>: 
 
 4* 
 
 IP 
 
 '(■■•ii 
 
no 
 
 OVERLAND JO ('A HI IKK). 
 
 ,i 
 
 li . 
 
 f, 
 
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 (^rKSNKIJ.E. 
 
 Tlic town of (j)ii('siu'l]t' at this time consistcfl 
 of lour or five liouscs, and was one of the juiii- 
 (•i|»al ])la(*(>s oil tlir roa<l IVoin N'it'toi'ia to 
 Uai-kci-Nillo. KIoui" was fil'ty criits a. ])OUii<l : 
 Itacoii, «'i;:;lity cents a pound ; Ijcans, i'i<rlity cents 
 a ])ound : and all otlxT necessaries of lifr at the 
 same lii<^h rate. Meals, consisting' of ln-ans ancl 
 hacon, cost two dollars an<l a half. The winter 
 was now drawinu^ near, and the miners were 
 C(>min«r «l<»wn from IJarkerv ille. some sixtv miles 
 farther up, to avoi<l what they thought would 
 he a Siherian winter. 
 
 Some of the miners were well ])leased with 
 their pros])ects in tlie mines, whih' otiiers wer«> 
 veiy much discouraged, and con.se(|Uently sjioke 
 dis])ara<;'ino;ly of the countiy. 'Pus re])()rt was 
 rather disheai'tenini;' to the ti'avellers, after 
 their terrible toil was ahout ended, and when in 
 full view of the land of jj^old. A nivat many 
 "castles in the air" were demoli.shetl. Some of 
 the ]>artv consoled them.selves hv reniai'kino; 
 that they would reach Victoria in a coujde of 
 days, u]»on which a tall American miner, 
 
as 
 
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 ill 
 
 I 
 
 of 
 
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 kcr, 
 
 
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 ^4 
 
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ADVENTURES OF THE SYMINMJTOX PARTY. 118 
 
 relieviii;r his mouth oF a Ijirjjfu " (|ui(l " of tobacco, 
 calinlv informed tlieiM tlicv wcnild luivi; to '* lioof 
 it over three hiiinU'ed mih's Hi'st." Tliiswastar 
 from eiicouraj^iii^ to ])ersons who had walked 
 ail the way from Fort (larry to Yellow Head 
 Pass. 
 
 Nevertheless, our travellers emharked once 
 more, and floated down to Alexandria (then con- 
 sidered the lowest point of navij^ation on the 
 Fraser), where they stepped ashore, |)rofoundly 
 thankful to the ^a'eat Creator, who had pre- 
 served them in the midst of so many dan<;ers. 
 Thus terminated this i)ortion of the Overland 
 Expedition of 18(32. 
 
 At Fort Alexandria they heard that they 
 were still over live hundred mih's from Victoria. 
 Here -they sold their canoes and everything 
 else except what they could carry on their 
 })acks. Some of the men took work on the 
 Cariboo road, which the Government was then 
 constructin<if ; but the most of the company 
 made their way to Victoria, passing through 
 Lillooet, thence to Harrison Lake, and from 
 that point by steamer to Victoria, returning to 
 Cariboo in the spring of 1<S()8. 
 
 if; 
 
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 VI. 
 
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I I 
 
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 mi 
 
 THE THOMPSON RIV/iR PARTY. 
 
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 73 
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 y. 
 
 'J'llK lollowinjj' is a \)\'\A account of tlic advcn- 
 turcs of thosr wlio went down l»v tin- Tlionii)- 
 
 soii Kivci 
 
 'I'lu' party left 'IV'tc .Iaun«' Caclu' on tlie 1st 
 of Scptcinltci", and crossed to tlir south side of 
 tlic Frascr Rivci-. On the followinjj" inoi'nin<;" 
 tlit'\' he^ian their wear\' niarcli southward, 
 accompanied by a Sliuswap Indian wlio had 
 ai»'reed to sliow tlie'ii tlie trail to the head- 
 waters of tlie 'rhonn)son River. Andre Cardinal 
 also accompanied them as interpreter. 'I'l 
 
 first tw(j di 
 
 ly 
 
 after lea\ ini*' the Fi'aser th* 
 
 le 
 
 ■y 
 
 found a ^oo<l road, hut after that time th<^. 
 Indian was unahle t(» lind a trail, so they cut 
 their way throu<^h the hush, which was very 
 dense. Finding- their ^uide of no further use. 
 
 •'1 
 
 * 1 
 
tl 
 
 IIG 
 
 OVEULANI) To CAKlHoo. 
 
 li ' : ! 
 
 If 
 
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 '■ • i 1 
 
 
 H ri ' .i 
 
 1 i 1 
 
 1 ii 
 
 tlu'V scut liini Iwick, un<l tiustc*! to tlie skill of 
 Andn* (\inliiuil, who hitlicito ha<l ])n»V('«l hiiii> 
 svW to he H most laitlit'iil pilot and ^ui<lt'. 
 
 Tlicv toilrd aloni:' I'or al>out two wct'ks, Ik^nv- 
 iii^- and cuttiii;;' out a path foi' tln'iiisrlvus, hut 
 i)roi;i'i'SH('d vcTv slowiv.as duriiii-that time tlu'V 
 could travel on an average oid\' sonic fi\c or six 
 miles a day. At lcn;;tli they reached tlic north 
 hranch ol' the Thompson Hivei*. Oidy those who 
 have liad the e.\j)erience ol* making a tiail 
 thi-ouiih hea\ ilv tind)ercd country can form anv 
 conce))tion ol' the stu]>endous diHiculties these 
 men cncountenMl. 
 
 AFLOAT ON Tin: TIIO.MI'SOX IIIVKU. 
 
 'I'he Thompson Hivei' a|)peared so dan^vrous 
 that the pai'ty thought it would he impossihic 
 to navi<;ate it in sal'ety, so they attem[)ted to 
 cut their way tln-ou_nh tlie hrush ; Ijut tindin;;' 
 it an almost impenetra))le Junf,de, throu^di which 
 procrress could he made very slowly an<l only 
 with infinite lahour, they decided to take their 
 chances on the river, thou<^h it seemed that 
 almost certain death awaited them. They were 
 
TIIK TltOMI'SoN' niVKK I'.MtTV. 
 
 117 
 
 oils 
 1 to 
 
 als(» ('()iii{M>llt>ii rcliK'taiit ly to nliMiiiloii tiirii* 
 aiiiinals. Il<>rt\ at tlir noitli la'aiidi of tli<' 
 'riioiiipson KivtT, tlu'V luiilt lal'ts ami "<liio- 
 (Mlt caiKM'S, liut al'tt'l' laillicliill;;,' nut nii tlh' 
 rixrr tlu'V la'ocrctlctl with iiiucli (lillicultN', as 
 tilt' cliaimrl was ln'okcn in soiih' placrs, and 
 ill others full ol' (|i'irtw<M)<l. throunh which 
 they had to cut a |»assan«'. After nimiini;' like 
 this for seven days, duriiin' which four of the 
 pai'ty, MesHi's. 'riioni|»son, Fannin, Ha;^ili and 
 \V. Fortune were stuck upon a ' snai;' ' for two 
 davs and iii<;hts without a morsel of food, tliev 
 at len;;th I'eaehed a Ion;;; stretch of inipassahh' 
 I'apids. Here another sad accident happened, 
 and the brave and kind-hearted Strachan lost 
 his life. He was drowned while atteiiij)tin;^' 
 to swim ashore to <;<'t help for his comj>anions 
 who were eliniiiiii:- in mid-stream to a ruck 
 aii'ainst wliicli their raft had l>een dashed to 
 pieces. 
 
 The othei's of the party were rescued fi-om 
 their perilous position ahout an hour later l)y 
 Mr. Andrew Hah's, who took them ofl' in his 
 canoe. The sh(jck of the collision and the peril 
 
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 118 
 
 OVERLAND TO CARIBOO. 
 
 tt 
 
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 of tlu'ir position lia<l Itccii awl'ul. For a full 
 hour they were force*! to cliii<^ to that rock, 
 surrounded hv the ra<dni>: toi'rent, knowini;: that 
 any moment they mi<^dit bo swept ott' and 
 dashecl to pieces in the rapids below. They 
 lost everything;', but were thankful to escape 
 with theii* lives. 
 
 AIJIIIVAL AT K AM LOOPS. 
 
 The i)artv were aoain obliiied to make a 
 portage of ei^ht miles, which they accom[)lishe<l 
 with much <litficulty, and havint>- i-eached the 
 foot of the rapids, were under the necessity of 
 consti'uctinii" another set of rafts before thev 
 could proceed farther. While buildin<i; these 
 rafts, a ])arty of miners came up the river on 
 a prospectino- tour, and from these men they 
 obtained much valuable iid'ormation. Thev 
 had only proceeded about forty miles with the 
 new rafts when they a^ain approached I'apids, 
 which proved impassable: but from this point 
 they found a ^"ood Irail to Fort Kandoops, a 
 distance of one hundred and twenty miles, 
 which place they reached on the 11th of 
 
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120 
 
 OVERLAND TO CAKir.OO, 
 
 I I 
 
 Octolx^i'. Tlui pai'ty lia«l indeed a luird cxjjL'i'i- 
 eiiec, jind must li}i\(i perislicMl from Innioi'i-, cxcu 
 wlieii near Kaml()o])s, liad tliev not fortunately 
 
 come 
 
 \ipoi 
 
 1 a Held of pjjtatoes 
 
 I I 
 
 'Die end of tliis wearv niai'cli l^'ouoht relief 
 an<l rest, wliieli the party sorely nee(|ed. A<;ain 
 within the precincts (A' civilization, th<'y appre- 
 ciated fully tlie privilege of obtainin*;' the maiiy 
 necessai'ies which thev wei'e denied on a journev 
 toilsome, dan^ei-ous, an<l full of adventure. 
 
 .Mrs. Schubert passed throu^li all the ex])eri- 
 ences of this lon^' journey, and sIiowcmI the most 
 remarkable endurance and ener^iy. She had 
 the care of three youn<»' children, and in all the 
 dangers and disasters which the party under- 
 went, she and hei' children came throut^li safe 
 and sound. The dav following' their arrival at 
 Kandoops, Mrs. Schubert oavo bii-th to a daui^di- 
 ter — the fii'st white child born there. 
 
 Ml'. Frank Pend)erton was drowned on the 
 Thom])son River, about twenty miles above 
 Kainloops, and his tiv(^ companions narrowly 
 escaped a similar fate, but were saved by the 
 timely eH'orts of two Indian lads, who hap])ened 
 
TlfK TirOMPSOX IJIVEi; IVMJTV 
 
 121 
 
 lo 1)0 near tliciii wlicii tlit'X' were tln'owii into 
 th«' water. 
 
 Six li\('S ill all were lost in the Kiasci" mihI 
 the 'IMioiiipson i"i\rrs. Notliiii^ shows luoif 
 strongly than tliis the uii])aiall('lt'(l liaidships 
 which the Overland |»arty <'n<luit'(l. 'rinse iiicii 
 
 ife 
 
 at 
 
 fh- 
 
 Iv 
 c.l 
 
 KAML(>OI>S IN 18!m;. 
 
 ha«l left theii- homes full of hi'i«;ht hopes I'oi' the 
 future, with the prosjx'ct of a loni;' life liefoi-e 
 them. Thei!- earthly career w;is hrouii'lit to nii 
 end in the attem))t to reach the wealth oi' the 
 competency which they no douht thought neecs- 
 saiy, and for the ohtaininii' of which they sacri- 
 ficed their lives. 
 
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 122 
 
 OVERLAND TO CARIHOO. 
 
 It is ('{ilculatcMl that the party travelled at 
 least three thousand five hundred and forty- 
 
 seven miles, hut nii 
 
 my 
 
 think the distance was 
 
 much greater than this estimate. That the 
 
 journe 
 
 as 
 
 )lished shows what it 
 
 pos- 
 
 acconi^ 
 sU3ie tor n»an to overcome. A <;reat deal or tlie 
 countrv traversed was indeed a " lone land," but 
 it was found to be valuable in its a<j;ricultural 
 ca[)acity, an<l with mineral resources practically 
 illimitable. There is a u'lvat future in store for 
 such a land. 
 
 THEN AND NOVV. 
 
 Since 18()2 the countrv has <»;reatlv chano'ed 
 in aspect. The plains and valleys which the 
 ( )verland i)arty passed throui'li are dotted all 
 over with towns and cities which souie day will 
 bo populous and wealth}'. Fort Oarry, now 
 known as the thrivin*j^ and prosperous city of 
 WinnijK'o', is the metropolis of the North-West. 
 In 1(S()2 it was but a Hudson's Bay Company's 
 post. Edmonton to-day is the centre of a lar<ije 
 aiifricultural and mininii" district, and is also an 
 important railway point. The town is lighted 
 b}^ electricity, and has within its limits every 
 
 
 

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 -i 
 
 Mi 
 
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 * 
 
 1'^ ,1 
 
 !'■!! 
 
 I i 
 
t 
 
 THE TUOMl'SON lUVER PARTV 
 
 125 
 
 modern iinprovciiiont. Towns liavc sjunn^i' u\) 
 all ulonii- tilt' route, and the shriek ol' the loeo- 
 motive is now heard where onee the wai-cry 
 of the sava^i'e, the howl of the wolf, and the 
 lowin"- of mvriads of hntfalo urccte^l the e.n-. 
 The country is heino- tilled up hy a thrivin;^-, 
 contented, and law-al)idin(j^ jM-ople. 
 
 m 
 
 mNH^ 
 
 mmmfm 
 
 'ifii^V^^^^^^^^^^ffS^ '■■ ,. ^ ;_ 
 
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 ^^ 
 
 -■* <T- »-::5i «.r* 
 
 r. I>. |{. STATION. VANCOU' ".U. 
 
 The j-rowth of the country has been st«'adv 
 and marked since the period wheu the Over- 
 landers came. Our oreat national hi<4hway, the 
 Oana<lian Pacific Railway, had not an advocate 
 then: now there is a daily train to the city of 
 Vancouver and a daily mail to N'ictoria. 'I'Im- 
 population (jf this latter city tluctuattMJ until 
 after the excitement of '02 subsided, when it 
 
 
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 '* ■'] 
 
126 
 
 OVKHLAXI) TO (JAUIIJOU. 
 
 i:l 
 
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 I i 
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 1 
 
 I 
 
 settled to tlio small nuinljcr ol' Itetwecn two find 
 three thousand. The Canadian Pacific I^ailway 
 called into «'xist«'nce the heautil'ul and thriving- 
 city of N'ancouver. 
 
 At the ])eriod nientione(l an iiTc^ular service 
 between V^ictoria and San Francisco was tlu' 
 only means of comnuniication with the outer 
 world. The boats on this route were slow and 
 unsafe. Now there; is a tine line of steameis 
 lejivin^- the ports of Victoria and San Francisco 
 every tenth day. There is also a daily service 
 with all the Sound ports. A tine line of steamers 
 ply bi-monthly from Australian ])(jrts and our 
 own, uniting- the vast Fmpii'e in closci- I'elation- 
 ship by the exchan<;(' of commercial pi'oducts. 
 Three of the Hnest an*' swiftest steamers in the 
 woi'ld brinix e\ei'v fortni<rht the ])roducts of the 
 Orient to our shoi'es, in exchange for Hour and 
 the products of (»ur factoi'ii's. 
 
 The most \ isionary dreamer of that day 
 could not risk to propose or ]n*edict that (he 
 ccjunmniication between London, tli" h.eart of the 
 Fmpire, and Cathay, could oi* wcnild be accom- 
 plished in a few weeks. Then news was still 
 
 
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TJIL TIKKMl'SON UlVKll I'AKTV. 
 
 12!) 
 
 new alter six nioiitlis' tossing* urnuiid tlic Horn ; 
 now till' latest events transpiriiii^' in Knr<)])e are 
 received dailv throiiiih tlie a<renev <»!' eahle and 
 tele;;ra|)liic wire. 
 
 Marks ol' stea<ly advancement are (>l)S('rval)le 
 on evei'v liand. The i>resi'nt vear will usher in 
 a series of devclopnn'nts in o()|d niinin;;- such 
 as scaivelv entered into the dreams ol' tlu; most 
 sanjj^uine ol' the ])ioneers. Vast minei'al wealth 
 has all alon;^" Imtu known to exist in (ncry sec- 
 tion ol' British Cohnnhia, l)ut ca})ital, skill and 
 ener;;y were re(|uired, and the knowle<l<r(; ol' 
 reducini"- ores was verv limited. 'I'hen it was 
 simi)ly placer mininn- wliich hrou^lit the millions 
 out ol' " (lohh'ii Carihoo"; now% hy means ol' im- 
 proved machinery and scientific prucess<'s, wliat 
 was tlien unrevealed wealth is heinjx broui^ht to 
 \\\f\\t. Capital. ener<i;y and intelligcnci^ an^ the 
 cliiei' rtMjuisites I'or the d<'velo[)in^- of a country, 
 and these motive powers ai'e comin;^' i^n-andly to 
 Drove the inexhaustible wealth of this olorious 
 
 Pr 
 
 ovince 
 
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 II; 
 
lit 
 
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 ftj- 
 
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 THOMAS M(MICKIN(i. 
 
( iiAn'Ki; VIII. 
 
 n/ocR.i/'ifn'Ai. sA'/r/c/f/is o/' somh 
 Of riiii "OViiRLAxniiRsr 
 
 TIfOMAS .M( MICKIXO. 
 
 Thomas M('Mi(Ki.\<i was hoiii at 'Juccustun 
 Ilci^^lits, Oiitai'io, ill tlu" year IS27. \\v was 
 ('ducaUMl at Knox ColK'^c, Toronto, an<l tani;lit 
 seliool I'or scvci'al vcars, al'tcrwai'ds ('niiaiiint;' in 
 eonniKTcial pursuits in (^)u('enston. Mr. Me- 
 Miekinii' ioincMl the Ovnland continixcnt wliich 
 l«'t't (^)uirnston on the 2:}r(l of April, 1(SG2, and 
 was elt'cted ca])tain of tln' i!Xj)LMlition wlicn tin' 
 ])arties or^'ani/ol at White Horse IMains. This 
 ])osition lu; tilh'd with honour to himself, and to 
 the ])enetit of all the company. On his arrival 
 in this Province he took up his residence in New 
 Westminster, and was appointed sheritl' in 18Gr>. 
 
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I 
 
 !i 
 
 ii 
 
 \i 
 
 
 M 
 
 'ivi 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 4 
 
 s 
 
 ill i ^i 
 
 132 
 
 OVERLAND TO CARIBOO. 
 
 Mr. McMiekinii' was drowiiud in tlie Fraser 
 RivMT in 18(36. He liad })liin<^^e<l in t(3 ivscuo liis 
 boy I'roni (lrowinn<,^ but the trcaclifrous waters 
 ot* tbe river claimed ])(>tli i'atbei" and son. 
 
 He was a ti'uc Cliristian ;;entlenian, a <4enial 
 companion, a ready writer and speakei", and 
 witbal a man of strong- cliaracter. His ti'aoie 
 itut noble death was lamented bv tlie entire 
 connnunitv, and deei)lv moni'ned by liis nianv 
 Friends. Tlie accc^mpanyino- portrait: is made 
 t'rojn a ])lioto;L;ra])b of Mr. Thomas McMickin<.;' 
 when a student at Knox College, Toronto. 
 
 ARCH I RA LI) M(\ AU( i HT( )X. 
 
 Archil)ald McNau<;hton. postmaster i'or (^)ues- 
 nelle ^^)uth, Cariboo, was born on tlie Kith ol' 
 March, bS-i^i and was educated at Phil]i])s 
 Scliool, Ab)ntreal. He assisted to organize the 
 Montreal ])arty, and left that city to join tlie 
 Overland E.vpedition on oth of ^bly, 18(52. Ht; 
 followed minino- for a nund)er of years in 
 Cariboo, and was afterwards ennaoed in com- 
 mercial pursuits. He was appointed assessor 
 and collector for the District of Cariboo on 
 
i 
 
 )lR'S- 
 
 :h of 
 
 li])s 
 
 tlic 
 
 tlic 
 
 He 
 
 in 
 
 COlll- 
 
 esKor 
 |o on 
 
 AllCHIl'.AI.l),.M.NAl(;ilT(>.\. 
 
 -• :; 
 
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 t« 
 
i:34 
 
 OVERLAND TO OAIUBOO. 
 
 t! 
 
 i\ 
 
 m 
 
 tlui 7tli of Marcli, 1884. In October, 1884, ho 
 entered the service of the Hudson's Bav Com- 
 pan y 1 in 1887, was ap[)ointed niana<ijer For tliat 
 Company in the Carihoo District, and U'ft tlieii* 
 sei'\ice in the niontli of October, 1894. 
 
 Mr. McXan^liton received tlie ai)pointnient 
 of postmaster at Qaesnelle Mouth in 1887. Tliis 
 position he still holds with credit to himself 
 and satisfaction to the (Jovcrnment. TIiq por- 
 trait here shown is from a photo^^raph taken 
 when at the aoe of eiiihteen. 
 
 KOBKRT BURNS McMICKINC!. 
 
 Robert Burns IMcMickino- was born mar 
 Queenston Heights, Ontario, on the 7th of July, 
 1848. He entered the service of the Montreal 
 rele<i;raph Company at the age of thirteen. On 
 his arrival in this Province he enuaiT^'d with 
 the Collins Overland Telegraph Company, then 
 constructing a telegraph line from Behring 
 Straits to connect the two hemispheres. This 
 coujpany was started after the first cable across 
 the Atlantic broke, and was expected to be 
 a failure. Mr. McMicking was Superintendent 
 

 1 
 
 8 
 
 HOHKHT lUKNS M( MICK INC 
 
136 
 
 OVERLAND TO CARIHOO. 
 
 I! 
 
 mi 
 
 • :! 
 
 i ' It 
 
 of the Government tclcorapli lines of Bntisli 
 Columbia from 1870 to 18S0. He inti-odncc*! 
 the telephone into British Columbia in 1880, and 
 the electric light in 1883. In this latter year 
 lie erected a plant in Victoria for street light- 
 ing, the operation of which he still continues to 
 superintend. 
 
 Mr. McMicking built up and still manages 
 the Exchange system in Victoria, the capital of 
 British Columbia. He is also Justice of the 
 Peace for the Province. Our portrait of him is 
 from a photograph taken at the age of nineteen. 
 
 .TOHX HOWROX. 
 
 John Bowron, Gold Connnissioner and CJov- 
 ernment Agent for the District of Cariboo, was 
 born on the 10th of March, 1837, and received 
 his education at the Huntingdon Academy. On 
 leaving school he removed to the Western States, 
 and took up the stud}^ of law; but upon the dis- 
 covery of gold in Cariboo, joined the Overland 
 party. On his arrival, he with others went on 
 to Victoria, and retui-ned to Cariboo in the spring 
 of 18G3. 
 
^•1 
 
 • &■ 
 
 '■% 
 
 rjii 
 
 JOHN UOWHOX. 
 
 .: i 
 
1S8 
 
 OVEULAXD to (^AklliOO. 
 
 ;i 
 
 \Ui 
 
 Mr. Howroii was appoiiitcMl postiiwiskT for 
 l^jirkerville in ISSO, and lieM that position for 
 ten years. Ho was appointed Mining' Reconlei- 
 in 1872. (Jovernincnt A^^cnt in 187."), and (Jold 
 (Joiinniss'oncr in 1883. These ofiices he lias tilled 
 witli cre(lit to himself {ind satisfaction to the 
 (fovernnient. This ])orti'ait is taken from a 
 recent photo_i;i"aph of Mr. Bowron. 
 
 <;i<:i()U(;K ( khistik tuxstalf.. 
 
 (Jeorye Christie Tunstall was Itoi'n in Montreal 
 on the 5th of December, I8:j0. He was educated 
 at Spark man's Academy, Sorel, and at the Lower 
 iJanada CV)llet;e, Montreal. He travelled across 
 the Saskatchewan ])lains to British Colum])ia in 
 1802. The followinir year he proceeded to 
 Cariboo, where he enga<^ed in minino^ for a 
 numl)er of years. He was appointed Govern- 
 ment A<^ent at Kamloops in December, 1879, 
 and received the appointment of Gold Commis- 
 sioner for the Granite Creek (j^old mines in 1885. 
 He was removed in 1890 to the West Kootenay 
 District, with headcpiarters at Revelstoke, from 
 whifji place he was subse(|uently tran!:ferre<l to 
 Kamloops. 
 
'9. 
 
 '5. 
 
 '1 II 
 
 I! -11^ 
 
 ii 
 
 T , . 1 
 
 ^; 
 
 CJEOmiK ClIHISTIi; TUNSTALL. 
 
 ( 
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Mi 
 
 140 
 
 OVKHLAXI) TO ('AKIIiOO. 
 
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 Mr. Tunstall at ]»r('S('nt lioMs tlu- position ol' 
 (JdM (.\)imnissi()iH'i' Tor tlic cnstci'ii ]toi'tion ol' 
 till' N'jilc Disti'ict, cinhriieiii^" tlic Vale, Kninloops 
 Mini SiiinlkMint'cu Divisions, wliich contains sonic 
 of tlio most iiii])ort}int places and most valuahic 
 mineral deposits in IJiitish Colnml>ia. He is 
 also an Assistant Commissioner of Lands and 
 Works, and a sti])eiidiary maeistrate i'or the 
 Pi'o\ince. Tliis pDiti'ait ol" .Mi-. Tnnstall is 
 tak'H IVom a recent photograph. 
 
 .lOHX F.ANN l\. 
 
 .John i'\-innin was horn ol' Irish parents in the 
 villa<j,'e (►I' Kem])tville. Ontario, and was edncated 
 at the Kemptville ( Irammar School. He joined 
 the Overland Kxpe<lition at (^)ueenston, leavin<^' 
 that place on the 'I'Wd ol' Api'il, 1S02, and was 
 one ol' those who eh'cte<l to take the 'rhom])son 
 River route. 
 
 Ml'. Kannin followed miniiii;' i'or a number ol' 
 Vears in Cariboo, iJi<>" Hend and Cassiar. In 
 1S7.S he was appointe<l by the Provincial (Jov- 
 ernment to explore and repoi't on the lads 
 lying between New Westminster and Fort Hope. 
 
 
 II' ; •}■ 
 
i I 
 
 Ml 
 
 ! 
 
 JOHN FANNIN. 
 
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142 
 
 fJVEKLANI) TO CAIUIMX). 
 
 m 
 
 \^ 
 
 
 '1 
 
 t : 
 
 '!li 
 
 11 
 
 'I 
 
 On tli<' r<)lln\vin<]f vcar lie was s(»nt on a similar 
 
 mission to the licadwatcrs (^1* tlic Stiki'cii lii\rr. 
 
 M r. Kalinin was also ('<litor ol* tlic (Joim'f tliiriii<r 
 
 two sessions ol' tlir Lriiislatmc. In IcS.Sli lie was 
 
 appointed Curator ol" the I'rovincial Museum, 
 
 wliieli is ol)taininj4' a coiit inentfil reputation for 
 
 tlu! splendid collection it is maUin;^'. Mr. Kannin 
 
 is a naturalist ol' ackiKtwIediJ'ecl altilitw lie is 
 
 also tile MUthor ol' a " C'lieck List ' ol' tlie hirds ol' 
 
 IJritisli ('oluiiil)ia, and is an associate memKerol' 
 
 tlie ( )rnitliolo;;ical rnion. Tlio portrait here 
 
 (;iv(Mi is from a j)liotoj;rapli taken in tlie year 
 
 1S72. 
 
 .lOMN AXDKKW MAKA, K.\ M.P. 
 
 John Andrew Mai'a was ])orn in Toronto, 
 Ontario, and joined the Overland E.\]KMlition in 
 i-S(i2. H(( j"epresente<l the Kootenay District 
 in the Provincial LeL;islature from ]871 to 
 l87o. At the <i^eneral election held in 1875 he 
 was returned I'or the Yale District, and was 
 re-elected a^ain at the general election hekl in 
 1!S78. He sat in the I'l'ovincial Assembly until 
 the dissolution of the House in 188G. The 
 following" year he was elected by acclamation, 
 
,M 
 
 JOHN ANDUKW MAKA, KX-M,!', 
 
144 
 
 oVKKLANI) Hi <AKII5(M>. 
 
 4 
 
 ,iiii| w Jis ;ils(t iinaiii it'tilllH'fl witlioilt ojtpositinii 
 ill ls!»I. Mr. .Mjiiii WMs S|M'alsri- <>r tlic Lfu-js- 
 iMtivt' Assfinltly IVoin .iMiiiiaiy. INS:!, until iHNii. 
 He cxliiliitt'il ill this capiicity ;j,n<)(| tact ami 
 aliility, ami lia<l tin- riilltst (•((iilidciicc ol' liotli 
 sidrs (>r t ln' llnlisr. 
 
 Ml'. .Maia resides at Kaiiiloops. wlici'c lie is 
 (.iiu;iM(.(| ill laisiiie.s.s. He is also a Justice ol" tlie 
 l*eace lol' the rioviiice. ()ui' poltl'ait of hilll is 
 taken Iroiii a recent jihotnei-ajiji. 
 
 .I.\,MKS WATriK. 
 
 .lames Wat tie was Ixnn in Alierfleeii, Scotlaml. 
 (Ill the "2!>th <>r l)eceiiil)cr, I. Sot); came to Canada 
 with his ]»arents in ls:>S, and joined the llun- 
 tiic'don ])artv with his hi-otlier William in iSO'i. 
 He lel't (\'iril)oo ill iSd."), after ama.ssine- a eon- 
 sideraltle competency in that ])ei-i()d. 
 
 Since lea\iim- Cariln)(> Mr. Wattie lias been 
 cneiiM-cd in husiness in Valleytield, (^)u«!l)ce, and 
 is still stron;;- and hearty. This portrait is from 
 a pliotooraph taken in IS!!'). 
 
 i 
 
 ii 
 
.1' 
 
 JAMKS WATTIK. 
 
 v' \ 
 
 10 
 
J 46 
 
 OVEHLAXI) TO PAHFIUH). 
 
 WILLIAM KOHTLNK. 
 
 Mr. William F<»rtuno, now rt'si<liiii'- at 'i'laii- 
 (|uille, British Columbia, joiiud the Ovci-laml 
 Expedition in l.S()2, an<l was ono of the l>'H"ty 
 who travelled l»y way of the Thom])son Hivcr. 
 He is now a prosi)erous farmei', and lives in lull 
 view of Kandoo])s and of the lliver 'i'hompson, 
 the scene of the perilous adventures t]irou«;h 
 which he ]^assed. '{"his portrait is fi'om a photo- 
 i'ra])h of Mr. Fortune taken in the vear IhO"). 
 
 i !« J 
 
 A L. rORTUXK. 
 
 Mr. A. ]j. Foi'tmie, residin-j' at Enderhv, Hritish 
 Columliia, ioine<l the ()verlan<i Expedition in 
 liS(j2. He was <n\v of the eommittee chosen to 
 assist Mr. Thomas McMickin^' in his duties as 
 captain of that ex])editi()n, and cast his lot with 
 the party who travelled l)v way of the Tlujmp- 
 son River. He is now a prosperous faiiner. Our 
 portrait is from a photograph of Mr. Fortune 
 t^'-e-.i in 1894. 
 
 «f 
 

 H^ 
 
 
 t^ 
 
 ^ - i^- 
 
 - 
 
 '« i 
 
 t« 
 
 i[ 
 
 I 
 
 WILLIAM FOKTINK 
 
 . :| 
 

 u, 
 
 r 
 
 It 
 
THE PR..PERTY OF 
 
 SCARBORO 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARY. 
 
 (CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ''GOLDEN CARIBOOr 
 
 The follovviuor is a I.riof acc<)unt of tho ^rold 
 preduaMl in tho early days of (\.iril,o(,, showino- 
 the extraordinary riclmess oi' the ^oM o-ravH 
 deposits iron, lM(iO to 1805. Tlnsse statistics 
 liave ],een furnished by Mr. John Bowron and 
 Mr. A. MeNauohton. OoM was discovere.l in 
 the Williams (^i-eek J)istrict in ISGO. At once 
 a stream ol' inmn'oration poured in, until in 
 180;^ there was estimated to he from foui- to 
 hve thousand of a population within a radius of 
 tlu-ee miles around Haiierville. This mnnher 
 di<l not vary materially duiino- the two foll«,wino- 
 seasons. The whole population of the district 
 at that time was probably })etween ricrht and 
 ten thousan<l s(Mds. The principal nn'nes work<'d 
 in 18(i0 an.l 18(J2 were the (\jrnish, Steele, 
 
 ^m 
 
 ii 
 
 k 
 
d 
 
 loO 
 
 OVERLAND TO CARIBOO. 
 
 i't- 
 
 ti. I 
 
 Hi 
 
 
 IP 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 'w' 
 
 
 ■ .lis ■ 
 
 ! 
 
 I 
 
 Abbot, Adtiiiis, Point, Ciinnin^lwiin, aiKl Black 
 Jack Company, all situated above tho canyon. 
 Thes«' claims, with a f*?\v others of lesser note, 
 probably produced three millions ot* dollars. 
 
 In the fall oi" lS(j2, the Barker Company, situ- 
 ated below the can von, " struck iiav": «lurini>- 
 the winter following the Cameron Company 
 " struck " it, and before the end of the season 
 of bSG.S the following- claims, situated below the 
 canyon, were all producin<;" <^old, viz., the Bui*ns 
 Tuiniel, Pioneer, Foster, Campbell, Ericsson, 
 ])illar, Canadian, Barkei-, Baldhead, Welsh, 
 Wake up Jack, Aurora, Cariboo. Lillooet, Wat- 
 son, Cale<lonia, (JrizzJy, New York, McLean, 
 Cameron, ^b)ttat, Haby, Wattie, Last Chance, 
 Dead Broke, Forest Pose, Prince of Wales, 
 Bruce, Paidvin, Elliot «.<: Adams. an<l Tinker. 
 Some of these nnnes prove*] astonishingly rich. 
 Pi'obably tive millions (jf <lo11ars in o()M were 
 taken out duriniji' the veaj' PSd.S, notwithstandina" 
 which s(jme of these mines ai'e now, and have 
 been continuously, worked from that date till 
 the present time, an<l yet ai'e piotitable to the 
 owners. 
 
 
 ■y. 
 
ick 
 
 lice, 
 
 lies, 
 
 'ich. 
 
 L'lV 
 
 mo- 
 
 till 
 the 
 
 ■y. 
 
 . ::§ 
 
 til 
 
GOLDEN CARIBOO. 
 
 153 
 
 The yield of <^oM from a few of the piiMei])al 
 claims in Williams Creek may he approximately 
 <xiven as follows : 'i'he Cameron, one million 
 dollars : Aurora, one million dollars : Dilla!', five 
 hundred thousand ; Black daek, five hundred 
 thousand : Barker, tive hundrrd thousand ; 
 Ericsson, rive hundred thousand: Caledonia, tive 
 hundred thousand; Canadian, tive hundred 
 thousand; Wake up ,Iaek, three hundred thou- 
 sand : Saw Mill, thi-ce hundred thousand : Moffat, 
 three hundred thousand ; and Rahv, thrcM' 
 hundred thousand. The lon«»-est of these claims 
 is only a few hundi'ed feet in lenoth and one 
 hundred in width. The o()Jd pi-oduct of l.S()4 
 and 18(35 was not materially less than that of 
 1863. The phenomenal o()ld de])osits f(^u.;id in 
 the gravel occupying the deep channels of 
 Williams Creek will be bettei- undei-stood when 
 it is stated that within Uwo nn'les of the len<:th 
 of this creek, and in a width of perhaps one 
 hundred and fifty feet, on an average some 
 twenty-five million dollars of oold have heen 
 produced, showin(( it to have been one of the 
 most remarkable <^old ui-;ivel de|)()sits excr 
 
 \ 
 
154 
 
 (tVKIlL.Wh K) CAllIlioo. 
 
 (liscoN cred. The cljiiiii known as tlu' Burns 
 'I'lniiicl Wiislicd uj) one tliousand and forty-four 
 ounces oro()l(l ill one day, tlic xaluc of wliicli is 
 alfout twcntx -five tliousand dollars. Tins was 
 in the Near i<S(iJi. In INT.") tlir Van Winkle 
 
 « 
 
 Company, on Li;j,litnin;;" ("I'frk, washccl uj) 
 fifteen hunilr<'d ounces of j^oid, as the i-esult of 
 six da\'s' woik. 
 
 Hilly Barker, fi-oui wlioin the town of IJai-kei'- 
 \ille takes its name, took u]» a claim helow the 
 canvou. The other miners made i>ame of him 
 for so doinii', as thev helieved all the o'old was 
 ahove the canvon : but he, aftei' sinkinjj' a shaft 
 sixty feet deep, " struck I'ich ])ay,'" as likewise 
 did the (\imei-on Company a mile heyond. The 
 seNcn pai'tners of the Ahhot claim left Cai'ihoo 
 in iS(j2, with foi'ty-Hve thousand dollai's «'ach. 
 'i'he Welsh claim sank a shaft forty-tivc feet 
 deej), when they found what turneil out to he a 
 ])ocket to the \alue of foui'teeu hun<lred dollars. 
 (Jreat excitement followed, and each nu'inhei' of 
 the mine was ottered sixteen thousand <lollai's 
 to sell his claim. ( )nly on«' acc«'[)ted : all the 
 others refused, thinkini:" the mine was of 
 
 /. 
 
..If 
 
OOLDKX (ARriUM). 
 
 157 
 
 fal)iil()us riclnioss, but, unt'ort'inatcly for tluMii, 
 it proved at'tci-wards to he hut a poor claim. 
 
 The '• Prince iA' Wales" was a very rich mine, 
 l)Ut the unfortunate owners were nearlv all 
 
 ft 
 
 «li-owne(l in the Fraser River, just Ix'low f^ues- 
 nellc Mouth, throu<,di the capsizin^^ of their 
 canoe. Only one man saved his ^^oM, it hein^r 
 tied ui) in his blankets. The rest lies at tlie 
 bottom of the river. 
 
 Wa^es at this time were ten dollars a dav, 
 but food and clothing were veiy expensiNc. 
 Meals, as before stated, cost i^2.;50, and f((.nerally 
 consisted of beans and bacon. The miners as a 
 rule v/ere lib ral, and sometimes spent their 
 money very foolishly. A few of the Overland 
 party, on their way down to Victoria, m t near 
 Alexandria fortv mu!es laden with chamnacne 
 and tea. A })ottle of champagne was sold for 
 an ounce of gold (vahied at not less than sixteen 
 doUars). Potatoes were sold at ninety doUai-s 
 per hundred poun<ls, in 1864. Xails were a 
 dojhir per pound : India rubber boots, fifty dol- 
 lars per pair. Frozen milk was a dollar per 
 pound ; flour, one dollar per pound ; eggs, eight 
 
 <# 
 
I :)S 
 
 nVKKI.Wh IM cAiHhdo. 
 
 <|n||;ll-s |)cr tlit/i'll, ;in<l <'\ rl'\ t IlillLi' else in like 
 
 |»i-(»|M»i't ion. rin' tiist pi.inM to rcjicli IJarkri-- 
 \ill(' w as c-irricd nn iiirii s hacks I'lnni <^)ii<'snt'||c 
 Mouth, a <!istaii('c (»!' sixty miles, ami iVoni that 
 ])oiiit th<' iVciu'lit cost one <lt»llai" per |»oun<l. 
 
 'I'Ih' hilliai"'l tallies in those days cost tlnai- 
 s.niils (»r dollai's : iiiin'or> and lar^e sto\es I'loni 
 li\e to se\en llllinll'ed dollais each. Sonic of 
 tlicse relics ai'e still ill edo(| c(»nditioii aiitl arc in 
 use at tiic ja'cseiit time. ( Mc ciiter|»iisin^' man 
 tried t<» Id'ini'" up his ^oojs on camels hacks, 
 l)iit that was i'ouiid impract .cahh-. as the camels' 
 feet could hot stand tin' roiii^li. hai'<l roads they 
 had to t i"a\'ers '. ()n"cam"l coiild lia\ c cai'ried 
 a loatl ol" s'-\c!iteen hundi'ed pounds. 
 
 These hacts and li^ui'e^ siiow the ^icat ditli- 
 cult ics cncountereil in pn 'ciii'iiiL;,' i'< r mI, to »ls and 
 clothiiie- i'oi' the men wliowo'e de\c|opin^' the 
 (\'n'ihoo e-oM mines. l''oiluiies were made almost 
 in a da\' h\' some, while olhei's toiled and lia\e 
 toilc(l on e\er since, harcly ekiii^ out an exist- 
 ence. Such is the excitement oi Liold miniuii" — 
 one day lull of hopes raised to the hie-hcst ])itch 
 l»y sonic e'ood prospect discovered ; tlie next, 
 
 7; 
 
 ?! 
 • t 
 
Mt 
 
 •I- « li'ii' 
 
 I ■. t: 
 
 tU i 
 
GOLDEN CARIBOO. 
 
 161 
 
 perluips, cast <lo\vn to the depths of despair, to 
 1)6 raised a^raiu on tlie morrow, and so leadin*,- 
 the gold-seeker on like the "will o' the wisp." 
 Mining, however, is a free and independent life, 
 and has a charm which no other oceni)ation can 
 give, for tlie miner has no other man to thank 
 for the gold which his own "toil-worn hands" 
 have brought to the livdit. 
 
 "Now, my eo-matej find hrother.s in oxik', 
 Hath not old custom made this life more swtiet 
 Than that of painted pomp ? A.e not these woods 
 More free from peiil than the envious <;onrt / 
 Here feel we l)ut the penalty of A<lam, 
 The seasons" diHerence ; as the icv fan-' 
 And cimrlisli chi.ling of the wi.ter's wind, 
 Which, when it l)ites and Idows upon my Ix.dy, 
 Even till r ^uink with cohl, I smile and say, 
 This is no Mattery ; tliese are counsellors 
 
 That feelingly persuade me what I am. 
 
 Sweet are the uses of adversity, 
 
 Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, 
 
 Wears yet a precious jewel in his head ; 
 
 And tliis our life, exeuipt from puhlic haunt, 
 
 Kinds tongues in trees, hooks in the running l.ro.ks, 
 
 Sermons in stones, and g.x.d in evcivtliin-^'" 
 
 11 
 
 'HI 
 
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 1 '-' 
 
 M 
 
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 I'.' I 
 
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 r. 
 
 /. ' 
 
 
 V;., 
 
 !il 
 
 ! 
 
THE PP...PZRTY OF 
 
 SCARBORO 
 
 PUBLIC L\Z?IARY. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 >'. -t 
 
 r. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM SAWNHTS 
 
 LETTERS AND CARIBOO 
 
 RHYMES. 
 
 I-.V ./AMi:s AM.KKSON, a NATIVK (.K KIKKSHIRK. S.oTI.AM.. 
 
 |fi| 
 
 
 y. 
 
 SAWXKY'S LKTTKKS. 
 
 Kx-rart/rnn, Ultrr X,>. /, n-rilf,,, Fchnmr,/, l,s'<;/,. 
 Dkar Sawnkv, - 
 
 I sit (loon to wiite 
 A .screed to you l.v eaurrie li.rht, 
 An answer to your freendly letter— 
 I ne'ei- had ane that pleased nie J)etter. 
 Vour letter earn" l.y the Kxpress, 
 Plight shillin's carriage - naethin' less 
 Voudl think this awfu", 'tis nae dooi _ 
 (A drain's twa shillin's here -ahoot) ; 
 I'm sMie if Taniie Ha\ the huddv. 
 Was lieie, wi" his three-legged cuddy 
 He hauls shent him wi' a tether, 
 
104 
 
 OVKKLANI) TO (".\mi5(K). 
 
 J. 
 
 '11 
 
 ■ii 
 
 '11 
 
 m 
 
 M 
 
 HeM beat the Express, faitli a" tlu',,Mtlu'r 
 To speak o't in the truest wav, 
 "Tis Bariiards " (.'aiiltoo Dclav." 
 
 YouM iiiaylti' like to ken what i)ay 
 
 Miners get here for ilka (hiy ; 
 
 Just twa puiid sterling, sure as death — 
 
 It sh(»uM l)e four, at ween us haitii ; — 
 
 For gi'i ye eoont the cost o' livin", 
 
 'J liere's naetliing left to gang and eome on ; 
 
 And shouhl you hide tlie winter here, 
 
 The shoppy buddies *ll grab youi- gear ; 
 
 And little woik ane gets to do 
 
 A" tile laug dreaiy winter thro'. 
 
 Sawney, h id ye your tatties here, 
 
 And neej)s and eairots — dinna speer 
 
 W hat priee -tliL)" 1 could tell ye weel, 
 
 ^'e might think me a leeiiT eiiiel ; 
 
 Xae, lail, ye ken I nevi-r le<', 
 
 Ye a" lu'lieve that fa's frae nu-. 
 
 Neeps ittics, cirrots l»y tlie pun, 
 
 dust ' anil a jienny — tiy for fun 
 
 How !i. .'kle 'twail be for a ton ; 
 
 Aitnieal foui' shillin's, tlour is twa. 
 
 And milk's ni» to lie had ava, 
 
 Foi' at this season o" the year 
 
 There's naething for a I'oo up heie 
 
 To ehew lu'r (;ud on. Sae ye see 
 
 Ye are fai' bi>tter atV than me ; 
 
 1111 
 
 I i 
 
EXTRACTS FU():>I SAWXEV S LETTERS. 105 
 
 •or wliile you're Wiiini an" smit,' at 1 
 
 lianKv 
 
 And suppiti' paiiidgo drooruMl ii 
 The dt'il a .liap o" milk hao I, 
 lint g()l)l)K; (.nic my pai rid_<,'f dry, 
 
 1 flame, 
 
 Of 
 
 coui-sc, I can ,t,^'t huttci' lici( 
 
 Twa sliillin's a pun.l it"s far unre dear 
 Aye, . ■ thing si'lls at a laiiy piicr ; 
 Tea, coflee, snr'ur, hacon, rice. 
 
 Foiii' shill 
 
 in s a pund, and sumetliiMi'- mair 
 
 And e'en the weights is rait her tiui'i 
 Sa*.' much for prices 
 
 An noo, dear Sawnry. naet hing mair 
 I hae to say —yet caiuia liear 
 'J he thocht o" feeiiisliin" my rh\nie, 
 "J'is lil<e we paiiled second time; 
 lint ril no fret u hate"er it seems - 
 Ve ken tiiat I'm ye"ri' truest freend 
 
 •Jkamks, 
 
 J'Jrfrt/i'/s from l.rftiT X<>. ■',. 
 
 Dkaii Sawnkv, Litth- did r tiiink 
 That eighteen sivty-seveii 
 
 Wad see me still in ( 'arihoo 
 A h.owkin' for a li\ in". 
 
 The lirst tua-ycars I spent out here 
 W'vw nae sac ill a\a, 
 
\\l 
 
 I' 'I 
 
 t ; 
 
 ion OVERLAND TO rAIUHOO. 
 
 But lioo I've lived since syiu , my freer), 
 
 There's little tieeil tit l)la\v. 
 Like f(K)t-l)a', kiiockit hack an" fore. 
 
 That's lang m I'cacliing ;ioa], 
 Of feathci- I (lawn l>y ilka wind 
 
 That whistles "twcen eacli ))<>Ie, — 
 K"en sue my mining life has Itccn 
 
 Kor niuny a weary day. 
 (Will that si.n never I'ise for me 
 
 Tliat shines for makin* l\ay "/) 
 'Tis weel foi' us we dinna ken 
 
 The future as tiie past, 
 Ooi" troubles wad he douhlcMl then 
 
 I5y being sae forecast — 
 Unless to us was gi'en the power, 
 
 Like sheltien frae a sliowei'. 
 To seoug lieneeth some fieendly bidd 
 
 Till ilka blast wa ouie. 
 Net man, sae thoehtless an* sae lash, 
 
 Nile doot wad often sleej). 
 An' like the foolish virgins five 
 
 Wad oille.ss cruses kee]), 
 Till waukened l)y the storms o" life. 
 
 Oute late to rin awa', 
 He'd wish the future had lietMi l)lank 
 
 To him us "tis to a". 
 'I\vas my intent to show you a' 
 
 The hardships o' this life. 
 But second thochts hae changed my mind, 
 
 For ve wad tell vt''re wife I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
f 
 
 r 
 
 
 ,0 V .■ , 
 
 
 :^r.^ -^^ 
 
 
 IIIK OLD (AHinOO ilOAD. 
 
EXTUACTS FHOM SAWNEY's LETTERS. U[) 
 
 An' ere .-i wrok or sao was (»uio 
 She'd claik it t(» my mither — 
 
 Puir l)()(lv, wl 
 
 HI wad giiev" hvv li(>ait 
 
 •car, 
 
 Hy adding to her cair. 
 He's Init a coward at the Itest 
 
 Whu troidtlcs canna" 1 
 Vour h'tters, Sawney, arc a I 
 
 An' postage now is less, 
 An' Barnard's "Carihoo IK-I;, 
 Can faiily claim " Kxpn.ss. 
 
 )oon, 
 
 B 
 
 e Mire an' write me everv month 
 
 If nuithin'' l)ut 
 
 canld kah 
 
 To see how mucii hauic ne 
 liead— 
 
 ws is |Hi/.ed, 
 
 \v 
 
 AmN<; ynii m,,; \Jaii, 
 
 Man's life is like 
 
 a medlev 
 
 Composed of many airs, 
 Which make us ghid or make us sad, 
 
 And oft our laughter dares ; 
 K'en .o our hearts have many cords 
 
 And strains of light and sfron<' 
 Whicii make us glad (,r niak.' us sad, 
 
 Like changes in the song. 
 Our smiles and tears, our hopes an.l fears, 
 
 Our sorrows never fail, 
 But evciy heart knows not the smart 
 
 Of waiting foi' the uiail. 
 A toumster from the Beaver I'ass- 
 
 " What news of the Express ? " 
 
170 
 
 OVKRLAXI) TO <AHII!0(). 
 
 'TwHS there last ni^'lit, if I lieiiid liu'lit 
 
 h 
 
 , I 
 
 ^!. ^ 
 
 Twill 
 
 be III to-(|ii\ 
 
 I 
 
 ''liess 
 
 A miner next (m VN'iliiains (,'rei|< 
 
 Arrived tVoiii w interiii^' Sunt li, 
 lie "heard soiiie say 'twinild lie today 
 
 Kxpeeted at the Mdiith." 
 Ihit here etiiiies PdoIc, in h.isl'' as his rule — 
 
 " Hallo : wlial of I lie mail ? "" 
 From him we learn, wilii much concern, 
 
 " .Inst 1 wo days out from \ale."' 
 Oh, waiting' is a wt-aiiness. 
 
 "The Kxpress is at \'an Winkle,"' 
 This makes the face deny the ease, 
 
 And (juiti' removes the wrinkle. 
 A few hoiir.s moi-e a ureat uproar — 
 
 The Kxpress is come at last ; 
 An Hasteiii mail, see hy the hale. 
 
 A.s " Sidlivan "' <,'oes ])ast. 
 AtvI now an eager, anxious crowd 
 
 Await the letter sale ; 
 Postmastei- curst, their wrath was mnsM 
 
 J>y waiting for the mail. 
 " Hurrah," at length the window's up — 
 
 "There's nothing, John, foi' me".'" 
 John knows the face— the letter place — 
 
 " Two hits on that," says he. 
 And many come ami many go, 
 
 In sorrow or delight. 
 While some will say their's " met delay,' 
 
 Whose friends forgot to write ; 
 
 1, 
 
 ^ 
 
c 
 
 i:.\TUA(TS i'lJo.M SAWNKV's MTTKIiS. 171 
 
 All ,iii\i(.iis hiMit. wlio .si.iii-ls ;i|),irf. 
 
 Kvpcrtiint lit ,1 Icticr 
 ^^"'' l'<>|»<'fiil mill. I, l.iii f.MiH t,, liii.l 
 
 Sum.. |,,v,..l ,„!<• still his <l.l.tnr. 
 The (l.iy is [..isscd, th.' ufiir,. .•I,,sr.l. 
 
 TIk' N'Mcrs aiv (Icliv.-iv,!. 
 And some h.ivc ji.\ wiihout .ilh.v. 
 
 While soiiir tuM.I \u,\u's .lie slii\ civil. 
 A swc.ilwMit wf.l-a .[,.,■,,• tVi<.ti,| .I.M.I — 
 
 Or .l.iscr tic is Itiokcii ; 
 Ah ! iiumy ,111 a. •in- th.' h.-ait may take 
 
 l»\ uor.ls th.i" iM'vcr spoken. 
 Hut wh.'th.'i .ro,„l or ha. I the news, 
 
 'J'his haj)|)eiis without fail — 
 "»'"""■ '<'ttcr i-a.l-lh.- fiiv is t;.,! 
 For waiting on the mail. 
 
 An' 11..0, (I,.ar Sawney, " Fare thee weel," 
 
 Tho" we .an fie\('r meet. 
 ^ (""11 hae a hiu share o" my l„>art 
 
 As ye hae .»' this sheet. 
 My fondest hope is hut t.) lind 
 
 Some heart.s as leal an" tni' 
 "Mang Scotland's hills an' S.'otlan.rs .lales 
 
 As friends in ( ariho.). 
 
 
172 
 
 n\ KIU.AN'I) TO CAIUHOO. 
 
 CARIIiOO KHYMKS. 
 
 t. 
 
 
 c 
 
 ., 
 
 "I 
 
 , 
 
 i 
 
 II ' 
 
 ^i 
 
 THK Kou<;if iu;r hoxksi' minkk. 
 
 .1//' "('nsf/ts ill I III All'." 
 
 Sunif li\ Mr. .liiini'H AiiderHnii, at thf Thciiiie Koyul, lUiki'i'villf, 
 r«'liniai'.v l;iili, isiiii. 
 
 The i(»uj,'li liiit lioiH'sl miner', 
 
 Willi toils night and »hi\ , 
 Seeking for th<' yellow gold 
 
 Hid aniang the eluy, — 
 lloNvkin' in the mountain side, 
 
 What does he I hi re '.' 
 Ha I t lie aidd " dreamer's 
 
 liiggin" castles in the air. 
 
 His Nveathei -heaten face 
 
 Anil his sair worn hand.s 
 Are tell-tale.s to a' 
 
 (>" the liaidships he stands ; 
 His head may giow gray 
 
 And his faee fu" o' care, 
 Huntin' after gold, 
 
 Wi' its "castles in the air." 
 
 He sees an anld chainud 
 
 Buried in the hill, 
 FillM fu" o' nuggets, 
 
 Sae gaes at it wi' a will ; 
 
 
 o 
 o 
 
( 
 
 r. 
 
 o 
 
if 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 lil-j'V 
 
4 
 
 I 
 
 ('MUl'.na RFfVMKS. 
 
 For I.iiii,' u.rks ,ni.l iiiotulis, 
 
 l>i'if'tiiii,r lat,. ;„„] ,,,j,.'^ 
 ^'itt ill' out a door 
 
 T" Ills ■•(■astl,. in til,, air - 
 
 "'■ "'i"'--^ liis "pile'- is Mia. If, 
 Ami li(.".s -aiin" lia,(ir l,m'ii fa" 
 
 "'' i"i"^ lii^ 'l''iif uiM iiiitlirr, 
 His tail lire, fivcnls, aii.l a' ; 
 
 17 
 
 llis liciit re 
 
 II Jlllllps \\ i' jov 
 
 At the tlir.clits ,,• iK.ia" there, 
 Aii.-'s iiioiiy a happy iiiinuti' 
 " I5i,--iir ca-sclcs in the air." 
 
 I»iit hopes that promised hi-^h 
 
 111 tlie .spring-time o' the year. 
 Like h'aves (." autimiji fa" 
 
 WIk'H the ft(,sl o' winter's near; 
 Sae his higgin- tumle.s dooii, 
 
 ^^'i' ilka lilast o" care, 
 Till there's n.. -"a staiie left staiiiiii,'" 
 
 <>' Ills ''castle in the air." 
 
 i'ttiliiig and sorrowing, 
 "ll thro" life he g(M.s ; 
 
 '' Ivi'h iiiorniiig .scc> som,. u-ork hegim, 
 Kach evening sees it cht.se.'' 
 
 I'll! he has t he urit 
 
 ''"!!'>■ his "nim-tiim " may !»■ saif, 
 
 J'i'i aiiiijicr year is coiiiin--, 
 W'i' its "castles in the air." 
 
170 
 
 OVERI.WJ) TO CARIBOO. 
 
 Tho" foiluiH- may not smile 
 
 I poll liis liiltoni' lu'ic', 
 Tlicrc is a world abiuu' 
 
 Wlici'c liis pros]K*(l will l)^' clear 
 If he ac(;e[)t tlie oH'er 
 
 ( )" a stake lieyond (■()mi)are — 
 A happy iiame foi- aye, 
 
 \Vi" a "castle in the air." 
 
 Ni:W WKSTMINSTKit IN t-t;_>. 
 
 f- 
 
ft 
 
 mmM 
 
 
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