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MEMBERS’ DUES for the current year were paid by the following Societies: Alberni District Historical Society Box 284, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M7 Alder Grove Heritage Society 3190 - 271 St. Aldergrove, B.C. V4W 3H7 Arrow Lakes Historical Society Box 584, Nakusp, B.C. VOG1RO Atlin Historical Society Box iii, Atlin, B.C. VOWlAO Boundary Historical Society Box 580, Grand Forks, B.C. VOH1HO Bowen Island Historians Box 97, Bowen Island, B.C. VON1GO Burnaby Historical Society 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3T6 Chemainus Valley Historical Society Box 172, Chemainus, B.C. VOR1KO Cowichan Historical Society PC. Box 1014, Duncan, B.C. V9L 3Y2 District 69 Historical Society Box 1452, Parksville, B.C. V9P 2H4 East Kootenay Historical Association P0. Box 74, Cranbrook, B.C. Vi C 4H6 Gulf Islands Branch, BCHF do A. Loveridge, S.22, C.i 1, RR#i, Galiano. VON1P0 Hedley Heritage Society Box 218, Hedley, B.C. VOXiKO Kamloops Museum Association 207 Seymour Street, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 2E7 Koksilah School Historical Society 5203 Trans Canada Highway, Koksilah, B.C. VOR2C0 Kootenay Museum & Historical Society 402 Anderson Street, Nelson, B.C. Vi L 3Y3 Lantzville Historical Society do Box 274, Lantzville, B.C. VOR2HO Nanaimo Historical Society P0. Box 933, Station A, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5N2 North Shore Historical Society 1541 Merlynn Crescent, North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 2X9 North Shuswap Historical Society Box 317, Celista, B.C. VOE1LO Okanagan Historical Society Box 313, Vernon, B.C. V1T 6M3 Princeton & District Museum &Archives Box 281, Princeton, B.C. VOXiWO Qualicum Beach Historical & Museum Society 587 Beach Road, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1K7 Salt Spring Island Historical Society 129 McPhillips Avenue, Salt Spring Island, B.C.V8K 2T6 Sidney & North Saanich Historical Society P0. Box 2404, Sidney, B.C. V8L3Y3 Silvery Slocan Historical Society Box 301, New Denver, B.C. VOG iSO Surrey Historical Society Box 34003 5790- 175th Street Surrey, B.C. V3S 8C4 Trail Historical Society P0. Box 405, Trail, B.C. Vi R 4L7 Vancouver Historical Society P0. Box 3071, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3X6 Victoria Historical Society P0. Box 43035, Victoria North, Victoria, B.C. V8X 3G2

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SUBSCRIPTIONS I BACK ISSUES Published winter, spring, summer and fall by British Columbia Historical Federation PC. Box 5254, Station B Victoria, B.C. V8R 6N4 A Charitable Society recognized under the Income TaxAct. Institutional subscriptions Si 6 per year Individual (non-members) Si 2 per year Members of Member Societies $10 per year For addresses outside Canada, add $5peryear Back issues of the British Columbia Historical News are available in microform from Micromedia Limited, 20 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2N8, phone (416) 362-521 i, fax (416) 362-6161, toll free 1-800-387-2689. This publication is indexed in the Canadian Index published by Micromedia. Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Publications Mail Registration Number 4447. BRITISH COUJM Financially assisted by () Bdtih Coiubia Historical News Journal of the B.C. Historical Federation Volume 30, No.4 Fall 1997 EDITORIAL CONTENTS

Questionnaires, forms and check lists arrive FEATURES intermittently for our magazine. Each is duti fully filled out and mailed back to the sender. Dr. George Sanson 1862 - 1916 2 One such form comes from Ulrich’s Interna by Esther Darlington Directory. Professor tional Periodicals Lake Outing 6 Bartholomew found an unusual bit of B.C. his Pitt 1906 tory, wrote it up, and mailed it to us using the by Mary De Zwart address found in Ulrich’s. This is the first sub A Chinese Secret Society in the Cariboo 9 Australia. we had mission from (Previously by Erin Payne articles from authors scattered across U.S.A. and one based in London, England.) Alderman Corey’s Autograph Collection 14 byAdam Waldie Miss Esther Paulson, R.N., was Director of East Kootenay Health & Welfare Services 1935-1938 17 Control when your editor joined Nursing forT.B. Esther Paulson her staff in 1951. The two were reintroduced by through an alumni gathering a couple of years Murder at Christmas Hill: Sir James Douglas and ago. When Miss Paulson heard references to the Peter Brown Affair 22 Wasa and Cranbrook, memories of her years in the East Kootenay bubbled forth. The good by Lindsay E. Smyth lady was persuaded to put these memories on A Balloon Mystery: B.C. and Manitoba 1896-97 27 paper. Helen Shore, a nursing classmate of editor Naomi, turned written words to typed by Robert E. Bartholomew font - and we are pleased to present this look A Trip Through the Fraser Valley by Interurban 29 back at health and welfare services in the by Ken Broderick 1930s. (p 17) Was There a Spanish Invasion 31 We are approaching the season when the by Winston Shilvock keeps at home. weather and early darkness us NEWS FROM BRANCHES 33 For many this is the ideal time to sit down and type that favorite historical yarn or neat re NEWS and NOTES 35 search so that it may be shared with other readers of the B.C. Historical News. Please BOOKSHELF make this the year that YOU send in that tidbit Indians at Work: 1858-1930 37 of B.C. history to the Editor, Box 105, Wasa, Review by Brian Gobbett B.C. VOB 2K0. Kimsquit Chronicles 37 Naomi Miller Review by Leslie Kopas Bright Seas, Pioneer Spirits: the Sunshine Coast 38 COVER CREDIT Review by William McKee The Sunshine Coast: From Gibsons to Powell River 38 Mary Leah De Zwart did considerable research Review by Kelsey McLeod la while expanding on information in a young A Most Unusual Colony: Vancouver Island 1849-1860 39 dy’s diary of 1906. The Home Dressmaker page in the Vancouver Daily Province of July Review by Donna fran Mackinnon 16, 1906 gives readers a glimpse of the slim 0-Bon in Chimunesu 39 waisted, richly ornamented garments that were Review by Phyllis Reeve fashionable. Note the gloves considered also in Your Shorts 40 and hats. Thank you to Mrs. De Zwart for show Cactus ing us what the heroine, Jessie McLenaghen, Review by Susan Stacey may have worn during her summer visit to Van Ladner’s Landing ofYesteryear 40 couver. Review by Susan Stacey Manuscripts and correspondence to the editor are to be sent to P0. Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB 2K0. Correspondence regarding subscriptions is to be directed to the Subscription Secretary (see inside back cover).

Printad in Canada by Kootenay Kwik Print Ltd. Dr. George Sanson by Esther Darlington

There is little on the surface that indi despite a severe bout of rheumatic fever the work-a-day world after graduating cates the complexity of Dr. George during his high school years, he was not from the University of Toronto. The Sanson’s character. And certainly little deterred from his aim. In fact, there was Canadian Pacific Railway was complet in the strong, handsome features of this evidence of a single-mindedness in ing the last lap ofthe track through Brit tall, burly, outdoors kind of man, that Sanson’s character from his youth. An ish Columbia and hired Sanson as a hints of the quality of his skills. Skills, interesting story related by Sanson’s company doctor. He was stationed at by all accounts, that were formidable daughter Margaret, about her father and Donald, B.C. When the job was termi enough to have qualified him to practice a neighbourhood girl named Jennie nated about a year later, Sanson drifted in a large, sophisticated city anywhere. McDonald supports this view. into the Okanagan country and settled The fact that Sanson chose to spend the One afternoon, as Sanson was seated in the town ofVernon where he quickly greater part ofhis working life in an area beside his father on the veranda of their set up a practice. He had only been in where climate and terrain was often harsh home, Jennie walked by. Sanson said to Vernon a few months, when he met a and unforgiving, among a tough, hardy his father, “Some day, I am going to colleague named Williams. Williams had people, most of them illiterate, reveals marry Jennie McDonald when I have just returned from a sojourn in the more about the man than meets the eye. become a doctor and set myself up in Cariboo country and he was full of tales Sanson’s story begins in the agricultural practice somewhere”. about his adventures. Intrigued, Sanson community ofPetrolia, Ontario, in 1862. A surprising prediction from a lad of impulsively offered Williams his practice, His family had been in Canada since the 17 about a little girl of 10! and made off for the South Cariboo. It early days of that century, and had origi The startled older Sanson peered down was a decision he never seemed to have nally come from Scotland and France. at the girl walking by, a stare that fol regretted, despite a remark, much quoted Sanson’s father raised thoroughbred lowed Jennie for years, for she told her in later years about the town ofAshcroft horses. children about it. and its boiling summers, where Sanson It isn’t known why Sanson chose a “I always wondered why old man practised for 30 years. That “Only a piece medical career, but it seems to have been Sanson used to stare at me like that.” of brown paper separated Ashcroft from a goal he established early in life, and Sanson was immediately introduced to hell”. The interior plateau of central British Columbia was still, largely, a vast, unsurveyed wilderness when Sanson ar rived there in 1886. Despite the fact that Hudson Bay fur traders had traversed the area by horse and canoe since the earliest part of the century, and gold seekers had flowed into the country since 1858, roads were the roughest of wagon trails, and the links between towns were tenuous and difficult. After the railroads were built, pioneers came in a steady stream looking for land for ranching and farming. Towns began to mushroom along the Cariboo Road. Ashcroft, on the terminus of the Cana dian Pacific Railway for points north through central British Columbia’s Cariboo plateau, became a thriving hub of transportation and supply. In 1885, the town was desperate for a medical D, George Sanson (left) with 1?. George Ward; oumer ofthe Central Hotel, Asbcroft (right) and twofriends after a good dayc hunt -1913. doctor and sent a delegation to Victoria Photos courtesy of the Ashcroft Museum. with a petition to the government to help

2 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 them find one. Unfortunately, there was marriage. centrated femininity on Carson Moun little the government could do. The few Sanson used a horse-drawn sleigh in tain prodded Sanson to finally seek the doctors who were available preferred the winter, and buggy in summers. He al wife of his dreams. He’d been living in more populated centers on the coast. ways lavished great care on his horses, Clinton for 8 years when he decided to When the boyfaced Sanson stepped off because his life literally depended upon “Go back East” to Petrolia for a visit. He the train at Ashcroft in 1886, he must them. Years after Sanson’s death, a group gave no indication of his intent. When have been viewed by the grateful popu of teamsters reminiscing about the early he returned a few weeks later with a bride, lace with slightly less appreciation than Cariboo roads which the doctor had trav everyone in town was surprised. She was, the Second Coming. elled, told tales of landslides, and of course, none other than Jennie Sanson looked over the three main washouts, spoke of the “tilt” or cant on McDonald. towns of the South Cariboo, Clinton, to the roads between Ashcroft and Clinton, Jennie was now 25, hovering close to the north, and Lillooet and Ashcroft in that caused sleighs, wagons and cars to what was considered “old maid” in those the south. With an eye, perhaps on fu slide perilously in the winter into days. Sanson himself was 32, well past ture plans, he chose Clinton as his town snowfilled ditches. The famous “20 Mile the average age of marriage for men of of residence. He later said he chose this hill” was particularly dangerous in those that day. It was more than a little remark town because it was less dusty than early days. able, in fact, that a girl described as be Ashcroft. Situated on rolling hills at a Though Sanson’s first years in the ing “The belle of the ball”, and “Loving higher elevation, Clinton’s summers were Cariboo were undoubtedly arduous and a good time” by a devoted younger sis cooler and greener than the other towns. difficult, there must have been compen ter, should still be “available” when Founded in 1858, Clinton was born af sations. One of them was the unique Sanson returned to Petrolia. But there is ter the building of the Cariboo Road by empty beauty ofthose lonely mesas along some explanation. Jennie was the oldest Col. Moody’s regiment of Royal Engi the Fraser and Thompson Rivers. And daughter in the McDonald household. neers. By the time Sanson had a house when it was possible for him to do so, There were many children, and a mother built on a knoll overlooking the town, Sanson slipped away to fish and hunt who “Loved to gad”. From the time when Clinton could boast ofhaving two black gamebirds. His favorite fishing spot was she was 13, Jennie had mothered the smiths, a handsome court house, red Pear Lake, near Clinton, where he an brood. Beatrice, or “Trix”, Jennie’s brick school house, general stores, gled for cutthroat trout. He didn’t eat the younger sister, told Jennie’s children af Chinatown, and numerous saloons. fish himself, but gave it away to neigh ter their mother’s death, that Jennie had Lillooet, on the Fraser River, had be bours. been “The only mother she had ever come a thriving mining center for nu The lengthy journeys from town to known”. Family commitments may have merous ventures that had blossomed in town over the formidable winding trail delayed marriage for Jennie and made the surrounding mountains. The largest over Pavilion Mountain to Lillooet from Sanson’s return to Petrolia a timely one gold mine was at Bralorne, with a sizable Clinton, and along the Cariboo wagon for them both. working crew at the time Sanson arrived road of the Bonaparte and Hat Creek IfJennie felt apprehensive about mov in the Cariboo. valleys, were punctuated by rests at sev ing to a frontier town thousands of miles Sanson established offices with living eral stopping houses along the way. Cole from Petrolia, there is little indication of quarters in all three towns. In Ashcroft, McDonald’s rambling frame inn on the it in a photograph taken of the couple he chose a low, rambling bungalow on edge of the wild meadows of Hat Creek, on their honeymoon. Jennie looks calm, Brink Street, only a block away from the and Hat Creek House, where meals were even resigned. Yet the transition from her hurly-burly of freight wagons and served on white linen covered tables, and home in Ontario to the rugged frontier blacksmithies, and the peaked roofed at the top of Pavilion Mountain in the atmosphere of Clinton could not have Ashcroft Hotel with its red brick chim home ofthe Carson family, Sanson found been an easy one. And the character and neys, where he would spend a good deal comfort, ease, and fine meals, step-danc temperament of the man she scarcely of his leisure hours with cronies in the ing guests, good conversation, and a few knew, a man dedicated to his profession, years to come. popular tunes of the day rendered on the accustomed to life as a bachelor, with all In Clinton, he hired a capable piano. In the Carson home, Carson’s the corresponding freedoms, was prob carpenter, Bill Higgenbottom, to build a pretty daughters probably vied for his ably not the best introduction to matri bungalow with gingerbread trim on the attention. Eliza Jane Carson had financed mony for either of them. porch. A little creek curled pleasantly the education of her Sons and daughters The first evening in Clinton together below the house. Sanson ordered a stable by hand churning thousands of pounds may have established the realization in to be built to accommodate his numerous of butter from her dairy herd, which her Jennie, that her husband’s loyalties and horses and dogs. He was very fond of husband shipped to merchants to the priorities were already firmly fixed. animals. They were his closest north in his freight wagons. Sanson startled her by suddenly an companions in the years before his Perhaps the presence of so much con- nouncing after supper, that he must leave

3 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 the house. developments in the South Cariboo, in doubtful that his evenings were lonely. “I have to go down to Harry Horan’s cluding an agricultural enterprise being He spent many hours with cronies tucked and fetch the dogs”, he declared. “Dogs?” built above the Thompson River at a cozily in the lobby of the Ashcroft Ho thought Jennie. “He must have two”. place called Walhachin. He also noted the tel, where he played cards, gossiped, and When Sanson returned with five joyful discovery of valuable copper deposits in speculated on business ventures. Week canines vying for a place under his hand, Highland Valley, a wilderness valley ends were spent hunting and fishing, or Jennie was amazed. above Ashcroft. Sanson and other busi curling with his Ashcroft friends, Jack George Sanson’s dedication to his pro nessmen of Ashcroft and Cache Creek Walker, George Ward, who owned the fession was always paramount. If he re had invested some money in developing Central Hotel in Ashcroft, and Postmas ceived a message that some one was sick the ore deposits. ter, T.J. Richards. He was a witty, gre in some remote spot, regardless of the It is amazing, in fact, that Sanson garious man who liked to tell stories time or the weather, he answered the call. found time to answer the calls of his pa about his more colorful patients. One evening, in the dead of night dur tients, when he was involved in so many One of them, a nurse whom he em ing a snow storm, Sanson was called out interests, including an attempt to become ployed occasionally in his Ashcroft of to see a sick man living between Clinton a member of the Provincial Legislature, fice, more out of pity because she was and Lillooet. Seeing her husband putting in 1909, when he ran as Conservative elderly and needed the money, than be on his coat and getting ready to leave, candidate against Charles Augustus cause he needed her, helped herselfto one Jennie cried out in protest, saying, “The Semlin, and lost. He was also an inter of his shirts. Sanson had been to Van squaw man wouldn’t pay him anyway”, ested member ofthe newly formed South couver where he had purchased several but Sanson replied quietly, that he had Cariboo Historical Society, His daily life new shirts. One of them went missing, “Taken an oath”. was packed with activity, and his and he blamed the Chinese laundry. But It is unlikely that Jennie was the kind enthusiasms never seemed to have one day, his elderly nurse assistant be of woman who allowed herself to brood flagged, though, by 1910, it was appar came ill and he was called to attend to over her husband’s prolonged absences ent that the years had taken their toll. In her. When he went to examine her, he from the family home in Clinton. She a photograph taken in Ashcroft that year, found his shirt. She was wearing it un proved herself to be an extremely re he looked ten years older than his age. der a jacket which Sanson later described sourceful, capable pioneer woman, Despite her resourcefulness and giving as having been, “Tied up with bailing throwing herselfwholeheartedly into the nature, the lonely, demanding, life of a twine and secured by safety pins”. role of homemaker in the little commu rural country doctor’s wife may have Though Sanson was able to see hu nity. She learned to bake bread, can and hardened an already spartan streak in mour in most situations, his feelings ap preserve, pickle and make jams. And she Jennie. When Sanson urged her to buy pear to have run too deep in matters involved herselfin all community events. herself “Some natty outfits”, perhaps re closer to home. He seems to have as When local native Indian characters came alizing Jennie needed a morale boost sumed the traditional role of authoritar around asking to do small jobs, she hired from time to time, and maybe, too, be ian father with his children. Though he them and became a friend. cause he wanted to see his attractive wife “Never raised a hand” to them, his tem Jennie and George Sanson had been look prettier, Jennie ignored the sugges per was quick and his sarcasm could bite married for two years when their first tion. She clung stubbornly to a practical to the bone. He teased his daughter, child was expected. Jennie returned to wardrobe that bordered on dowdy. When Margaret, unmercifully about her height. Petrolia for the birth ofa son they named Sanson noted enthusiastically, with great ‘When she wrote away for a package of Campbell, after Sanson’s good friend, detail, the clothing worn by women he patent medicines which she would have Duncan E. Campbell, a Victoria phar had seen getting off the train at Ashcroft to sell to qualify for a free photo album, macist, who later married Jennie’s sister, Station and suggested Jennie get herself Sanson found out about it and lectured Beatrice. one of those big hats with feathers, she her severely, asking what would people By 1900, Sanson realized his practice remained unmoved. Jennie appears to think about, “The only daughter of the in Clinton was shrinking. Ashcroft, on have travelled very little during her 15 only doctor” selling patent medicines. If the other hand, was keeping him more year sojourn in Clinton. there was humour in George Sanson’s than busy. He was spending increasingly She clung to a turban-style hat which heart when he spoke, Margaret Sanson longer periods in Ashcroft. He was also Sanson particularly hated. One day, as failed to feel it, 75 years after the inci travelling to Victoria and Vancouver she walked across the room wearing it, dent. Yet Sanson’s best friend, Duncan more frequently for professional reasons. Sanson rose from his chair and tore the Campbell, the Victoria pharmacist, was His family couldn’t have seen much of hat off her head and threw it into the famous for his manufacturing of such him. fire. patent wonders as, Campbell’s Sarsapa In 1908, he told a reporter with the Though Sanson had to spend many rilla Blood Purifier, a Rose Leaf face pow Victoria Colonist about the economic evenings away from his family, it is der, and a Japanese Hair Tonic!

4 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 The Sanson children were precocious tion oftheir education had to be resolved. Neighbours noticed him sitting in his and spirited. Jennie Sanson must have Jennie and George Sanson may have de garden for hours, his painful arm had her hands full. When she caught bated the question. There were no high propped up on a chair. He must have had Campbell trying to make his sister drink schools in the area at that time. Most ample time to think about his life, and some rubbing alcohol from a bottle his children dropped out ofschool after three worry about his son. Finally, he wrote to father kept in the livery stable, she or four years, though many stayed to Jennie advising her that he was going to spanked them both. Campbell liked to complete the primary grades to grade 6. see his Victoria colleague, Dr. Jones, imitate the “slap happy” people he saw In 1909, when Margaret was 11, Jennie about the pain in his arm and chest. reeling out of the town’s numerous sa decided she and the children would move That summer bode ill for the town, as loons. He was 5 years old when he no to Victoria. The decision may have been well as for Sanson. Margaret Sanson was ticed a shotgun left imprudently lying quite painful for all. The house in visiting her father that summer, was chat against a tree stump in the front yard of Clinton was boarded up, and finally, sold. ting in the yard with a friend, when they the family home by one of his father’s Sanson moved into the Brink Street noticed a commotion on the roof of the cronies, named “Boy Doxide”. Campbell house in Ashcroft. And Jennie Sanson Ashcroft Hotel. Men were chopping a took up the rifle and invited his sister and the children moved to Victoria. hole in the roof, and as they did so, smoke Margaret to watch “The big smoke” it Sanson’s cronies and animals must have began to billow out. In a couple ofhours, could make. He went into the stable, become even more important to him af the hotel burned to the ground. Winds climbed up on a chair, and withdrew ter his family left the Cariboo. He had whipped the flames through the rest of some shotgun shells from the pocket of received a beautiful pair of matched the business section. Margaret was his father’s hunting jacket. Loading the Hamiltonian bays from his father as a quickly put on the train to Victoria, and rifle, as he’d watched his father do, many wedding present. These faithful animals not long after, Sanson followed. times, he went out to a gully that ran served him for many years. He was ex Dr. Jones operated on Sanson. He alongside the house, taking Margaret traordinarily fond of Tommy and Dick found an advanced and incurable can with him. Campbell then ordered and called them his “Boys”. cer. As Sanson lay dying in the Royal Margaret to help him lift the rifle, as it After Jennie and the children left the Jubilee Hospital, a young nurse came to was so heavy The little boy fired the gun. Cariboo, or perhaps earlier, Sanson had relieve Sanson’s regular nurse. She was The blast brought a terrified Jennie and begun to experience an ache in his chest Sybil Parke, of Cache Creek, whose great her sister Trix out of the house. Sanson, and arm. Some time before, Sanson had uncle, Philip Parke, had founded the in the meantime, had been chatting with experienced a traumatic accident on the Bonaparte Ranch in 1862. Sybil Parke’s a group of men nearby. Upon hearing Ashcroft bluffs. He was using only one entry into nursing school had been the blast, one ofthem quipped, “Sounds of his horses, Dick, at the time. Dick helped by Sanson; when the girl wished like somebody’s taking a shot at your shied at something on the bluffs, perhaps to enter before the age of 18, the required kids, Doc”. a falling rock. Horse, rider and buggy age for entry. Sanson urged the Hospital Sanson turned whitefaced to Boy went over the cliff Sanson sustained a to bend the rules. Now Sybil Parke sat Doxide and muttered darkly, blow to his chest from a broken shaft. beside her benefactor’s bedside, and heard “That was your gun Doxide, and if The horse recovered from the fall, but him speak nostalgically of his hunting anything’s happened to my kids, I’ll turn Sanson was never the same after the ac and fishing days in the country he loved. it on you!” cident. They were his last words. A half hour “We’re shootin’ cats and chinamans” Meanwhile, in Victoria, young later, George Sanson died. He was 54. piped little Margaret Sanson, as she saw Campbell Sanson enlisted. He was un everyone approach. But she took one der age, but because he looked older, he Esther Darlington now lives in Cache Creek en look at her father’s anxious face, pointed was accepted. He was sent to France. As joying outdoor activities as well as having time a finger at her brother and yelled, the long lists of the dead and wounded to add details to the research she has already “He nearly shot me dead!” came back to Canada, George and Jennie done on the lives ofCariboopioneers. Campbell Sanson made his son promise not to Sanson experienced anxious hours wor Sanson, now in a nursing home in Victoria, keeps in touch with this lady in Cache Creek. use the gun again, and said he would get rying about him. But Campbell Sanson Campbell a rifle on his 10th birthday. A survived the war, with nothing more se SOURCES rious than duodenal ulcer. He distin promise he kept. a Interview, S. Parke, Cache Creek, 1985. Campbell taught Margaret to read be guished himself for bravery and received Interview, M. Sanson, Victoria, 1984. Halfway to the Goldfields, A History of Lillooet, L. Harris, fore she entered school. At 13, Campbell a medal. J.J. Douglas Ltd., 1977. was large for his age, and though a bright By mid-summer, 1916, George Walhachin, Catastrophe or Camelot, J. Weir Hancock House, 1984. lad, he wasn’t an exceptional student at Sanson’s condition could not be ignored. A History ofVictoria, H. Gregson, J.J. Douglas, 1973 school. The usually social, outgoing doctor now Ashcroft Museum Ashcroft Journal As the children grew older, the ques seemed to prefer his own company. Looking Backward, by Margaret Sanson, 1984.

5 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 Pitt Lake Outing 1906 by Mary DeZwart

Picture ofthe Beaver and the swinging bridge on the Fraser Rive, c. 1906 Photos courtesy of Vancouver Public Library. No.6938.

In 1906, Jessie McLenaghen, age Kootenay Branch of Canadian Pacific the Princess Victoria to the Empress of twenty-two, her sister Jen, a year younger, from Kootenay Landing to Nelson. Jessie India. She commented on the remains and chaperones Mr. and Mrs. Hendry found the trip enjoyable but the people of the Hudson Bay steamer The Beaver travelled by train from Portage Ia Prairie were “very stiff”. She and her party got which had sunk in 1888 at the entrance to Vancouver for a six-week summer holi off the boat at the Nelson city dock and to Coal Harbor. (This was reputedly be day. The diary which Jessie kept during went to the Queen’s Hotel for dinner. cause the skipper had to make a U-turn her trip provides an interesting social They enjoyed it fairly well except for the to get his supply of liquor and had mis commentary and window into past reckoning: “When it came to settle up judged the turning arc - not that Jessie events. In the following excerpt, Jessie’s found we were charged 25 cents each way would have had any comment whatso keen interest in water vessels leads to an for bus and 50 cents for dinner. I can tell ever on the use of alcohol). almost eye-witness report of a long for you nothing slow about Nelson” (July 3, On July 21, Jessie reported her own gotten boating tragedy, as well as Pitt 1906). nautical excursion in her diary, an out Lake excursion days gone by. Once the vacationers had reached their ing to Pitt Lake sponsored by the Ladies Train travel in British Columbia in summer home at 1352 Bidwell Street, Aid of St. Andrew’s Wesley Church on a 1906 included the S.S. Moyie which Vancouver, Jessie recorded every activity sternwheeler also named the Beaver. The transported train passengers on the of the Canadian Pacific steamships from day-trip cost Jessie 50 cents. Like the

6 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 other sternwheeler on the Fraser River, sion was given on behalfof Ladies’ Aid the Transfer and the Favorite, the Bea ofWestley Church. Reached Westmin ver was available for charter when she ster in about three quarters of an hour was not on her thrice-weekly run from but it was hustle for the boat, giving New Westminster upstream to B[AUTI1UL no time for a view of the town. Seats Chilliwack and way points. The sec were not available for all the crowd so ond Beaver was the first steel-hulled I seated myself on floor deck. Shortly vessel built in British Columbia, pur Pitt Lake after Mr. Baker came round and fixed chased by Canadian Pacific Navigation us up a very comfortable seat out of a Company for transport on the Fraser Tht’ St’arner flarn’;na lii leave life preserver. He went for Mrs. Baker Bracknia ii -J*r wharf at I’) a. River. Jessie and her party first caught in. vii M.tnlav nrxt for Put and we had to rise to make room for the tram to New Westminster to get Laki, recuriilgig Ill rt-aeh Xt—v her and my thoughtlessness played me to the boat. On this particular day the \Vetni1iister at 6 i’m quite a trick as I unthinkingly arose New Westminster Daily Columbian I)oi,t faI t the n’te letting my purse go to the fishes. Im reported that three extra cars had to be iIt(h1i \I its ani ich(, ‘ agine my consternation when I first put on to accommodate the crowd. beheld it floating on the water and in The Beaver was so crowded that Jessie flaket icnh•, a I Lii ‘ugh Tim— it Miss Hall’s ticket and my own. How had to fix herself a seat on the floor lied iinihtr f nit—al— can be ever nothing is so bad but might served. be until space on a life preserver became worse as I happened to have no money available. Tickets, 75 Cents. in it. Mr. Baker said he would fix it The boat travelled under the Fraser alright for me. Told me I could tell the On Sale at Office of River swing bridge which had been cer conductor he would get mine from my F. HART & CO., LTD. emoniously opened by Premier J. hubby at the back but I didn’t seem to Richard McBride on July 23, 1904. fancy passing off as a married lady. We People had been petitioning the Do Western Steamboat Co., Ld. sailed on The Beaver first through the minion and Provincial governments for Fraser River and then branched offinto a bridge as early as 1880. Trains from the Pitt River leading to Pitt Lake. the south ran into B.C. for thirteen This ad appeared in the Daily Columbian -July26, 19O6 Shortly after we left Westminster we years before there was a bridge across passed through a large swing bridge. the Fraser to take them to New West deck of the ill-fated tug were seen to be How easily they seem to sway it round! minster and Vancouver. The million-dol hurled through the air as the vessel fell Along the banks of the Fraser are dikes lar bridge had a railway level and an into fragments and in about ten seconds to hold the water back and then on the upper deck supposedly just wide enough she had disappeared beneath the water” other side are large meadows. The farm for two wagon loads of hay to pass. The (“Burrard Inlet”, July 22, 1906, p. 2.). ers were busy hay-making arousing sight of the hayfields along the Fraser All those below deck drowned, includ memories of Old Ontario. We wind this made Jessie nostalgic for her childhood ing the wife of a prominent investor, an way and that so that we seemed to dodge home near Perth, Ontario. English oyster-bed specialist, a small boy the sun. The mountain scenery magnifi On the same day that Jessie and her on a holiday with his father, two un cent where you find one peak behind the party travelled to Pitt Lake, a boating named Japanese firemen and one un other. Saw as many as seven peaks seem tragedy took place off Brockton Point in named Chinese cook (“Chehalis cut in ingly in a group. Burrard Inlet. The excursionists on the half”, July 21, 1906, p. 1). Neither the Before passing into the Pitt River we S.S. Beaver heard the sad news upon captain nor the engineer went down with pass through another swing bridge al their return to New Westminster. The the ship, the latter rescued by the light though much smaller than first. The Princess Victoria, a crack C.PR. steamer, house keeper at Brockton Point. No muddy water of the Fraser now changes was fighting her way out against the tide blame was attached to the Princess Vic into the clear water of the Pitt. and had failed to notice the Union toria, with her captain firmly denying We got quite hungry about 4:30 and Steamship Company’s tug Chehalis un that the Chehalis had been cut in two. ate our lunch which of course was get- til a collision was imminent. The acci Excerpt from the diary ofJessie ring rather heavy for carrying. We dent was horrific even by modern day McLenaghen. 1906 reached Bridal Veil Falls about six and standards, witnessed by people both on July 21. Three weeks today since we disembarked for an hour which was spent the wharf and in Stanley Park, with the left home. How time flies. For today we very enjoyably. The Falls were lovely but Princess Victoria literally splitting the have planned a trip to Pitt Lake. Rose at water supply was less than usual. Jean Chehalis in two. The British Colum nine. Had dinner at 10:30. Caught the thought she would like to take a bath and bia Weekly reported that “those on the tram at one. A very large crowd. Excur that very unceremoniously as she lay full

7 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 ___

length on the water and rocks and quite floor. This gave rise to a good deal of Jessie and her sister stayed on in Van inconsiderate of her white dress. mirth for a few minutes. couver until August 20, 1906. In her di The trip home was much more enjoy I failed to mention the sad news which ary of that day she wrote, “We go away able than the other as the sun was well reached our ears on reaching Westmin with pleasant memories of kind treat on its downward path. We got quite in ster. The Princess Victoria going at the ment which we received from perfect timate with Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Brown rate of thirty-six miles an hour ran into a strangers.” who had just returned from England. small boat which was struggling against The sunset was the most beautiful I had the tide in the Narrows. It split the boat The writer is a teacher in Kamloops who shared a part ofJessie MeLenagbenc diary in VoL 29 ever seen, the water adding to the beauty in two causing the death of nine people, No.3. Words will not describe it. several being prominent citizens of city We reached Westminster in the and who were out for the day pleasure- gloaming and the town looked beautiful seeking. REFERENCES situated as it is on the side of a hill. Just We reached Vancouver about five min Burrard Inlet has its first big tragedy. (1906, July 22). British before entering the harbor we passed the utes to ten so we girls hustled to the stores Columbia Weekly, p.2. Central Prison for B.C. to do some shopping. We found, though, Chehalis cut in half today by Princess Victoria (1906, July 21). Vancouver Daily Province. p. 1. Of course it was rush for the car as that merchants here are not so punctual Downs, Art. (Ed.) Slumachs gold: in search of a legend. some were certainly having to stand. We as our Eastern ones on closing at ten. I Surrey, B.C. Heritage House Publishing. were quite fortunate in securing a seat. bought a treat of bananas and the house McLenaghen, Jessie. (1903-1906). Unpublished personal An old lady seated herself with me and furnished a box of plums. Just as we fin diaries. [in possession of Frances Mitchell, West Vancouver, B.C.] then Mrs. Brown came in and no seat to ished it started to rain. Concluded Mr. Pearson, John. (1970, October 18). Down by the river. The be found. Mr. Hendry gave up his seat Brown was not a very trust-worthy Columbian. p. 18. for Mrs. Brown and he found a seat with prophet of B.C. weather. We rode home Picnickers from Vancouver (1906, July21). Daily Miss Hall and Jean while we shared our on car and were ready for supper. Put the Columbian. p. 5. Turner, Robert 0. (1977). The Pacific Princesses. Victoria, seat with Mr. Brown. Just after we got fire on and had bread and butter, bananas B.C.: Sono Nis Press. started Mr. Brown lost his balance and and cream and tea all of which we thor Turner, RobertO. (1984). Sternwheelers and Steam Tugs. was nearly measuring his length on the oughly enjoyed.” Victoria, B.C. Sono Nis Press.

Canadian 111sforical Associafion Cerfificafes of Merif for Regional 111sfory

The Regional History Committee of The 1996 awards were presented to: the Canadian Historical Association Alicja Muszynski, Cheap invites nominations for its “Certificate Wage Labour: Race and of Merir’ awards. Two awards are Gender in the Fisheries of given annually for each of the five British Columbia. Canadian regions, including British (Montreal and Kingston: Columbia: (1) an award for publica McGill-Queen’s Press, 1996). I tion and videos that make a signifi cant contribution to regional history 2. Anne Yandle, Vancouver and that will serve as a model for Historical Society, British others; and (2) an award to individu Columbia, Historical als for work over a lifetime or to Association/Federation. organizations for contributions over an extended period of time. Nominations accompanied by as I much supporting documentation as possible should be sent no later than 15 December 1997 to Di: Mary-Ellen Keim, History Programme, Univer sity of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, B.C. V2N 4Z9

8 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 The Chib-Kung Tang in Barkerville: The History ofa Chinese Secret Society in the Cariboo by Erin Payne

The study of a secret society in any ruled at the time by the home-grown one associating with it. To the Manchus, social setting is a challenging endeavor. Ming empire. The Manchus, as these the most repugnant aspect of Triad ide The absence ofinformation inherent in conquerors were known, established the ology was that the organization was not its secrecy makes research difficult and Ch’ing dynasty, which lasted until Sun based upon the acceptance oftraditional time consuming. In the case of the Chi Yat-sen’s Republican Revolution of beliefs, nor traditional pillars such as the nese Triad organization which operated 1911.2 The Triad organization was family, clan, village or guild, but rather in Barkerville between 1862 and 1947, formed by Han Chinese soon after the an eclectic group of disfranchised men the problem is exacerbated because the Ch’ing dynasty was established, and was making their own personal choice to be dominant white society of the time had directed from the outset by the motto: a part of something potentially great.’° little or no interest in Chinese matters. “fan-Ch’ing fu-Ming”, meaning “Over Dynastic China in the nineteenth cen For example, no effort was made by the throw the Ch’ing and restore the Ming”.3 tury was under enormous social, eco Cariboo Sentinel to understand or re Jean Chesneaux, a prominent French nomic and political distress, incurred by port upon Chinese cultural events in historian of Chinese secret societies, sug contact with Western powers. The Barkerville, much less a fringe group like gests that the tradition and ideology of Opium War with Britain, which lasted the Tang. But to the extent that material societies like the Triad reflect a religious, from 1839 to 1842, was a tremendous does exist for the active period of the political and social dissent from the es catalyst in the growth ofTriad organiza Triad in the Cariboo, it is an important tablished order.4 The Triad society was tions. After China’s loss in the war, her window into understanding the Chinese not anti-Confucian per Se, even though markets were forced open to all arms of community in Barkerville. In China, it confucianism was the dominant philoso British industry, and tens of thousands was a politically motivated anti-establish phy of Chinese society and the Ch’ing of Chinese lost textile and manufactur ment organization that also provided a rulers.5 They interpreted the meaning of ing jobs to the machines of Lanark and degree of social assistance to poor Chi Confucianism differently from the Sheffield. The dislocation and unemploy

nese, as demonstrated by its attractive Ch’ing rulers - the Mandate of Heaven ment spawned by these modernizing ness to those devastated by social (an ancient Confucian concept legitimiz forces spawned numerous rebellions hardship in southern China in the nine ing rule) did not empower the govern against the Ch’ing government.11 teenth century) In the Cariboo, despite ment but rather the people, who had With increasing poverty and warfare changes reflecting the different social and withdrawn the Mandate of the Ch’ing.6 at home, many Chinese joined Triad or economic conditions, the Chih-kung In addition, the secret societies were ganizations because they blamed the Tang also provided social assistance to the strongly influenced by a Taoist sense of Ch’ing government for losing the war. Chinese community It provided an arm personal salvation. They were also deeply They also began to look abroad for a bet of authority that could protect the Chi influenced by Buddhist millenarianism ter life. Although emigrating from China nese man from white racism, and from and awaited the coming of Maitreya and was formally illegal until 1868,12 news windows left open in English law to per the new cosmic era.7 of gold strikes in California lured thou mit racism. It also assisted Chinese men The social objectives of the Triad are sands of Chinese men to San Francisco in realizing their financial goals and re demonstrated by what Chesneaux calls in the early 1850’s. In 1858, news of an turning home, and protected them from their “mutual-aid character”, their sense other gold strike on the Fraser River lured each other where existing laws were an of group solidarity and “utopian egali thousands more to North America, as inadequate reflection of Chinese values. tarianism”.8 The Triads called for “strik well as experienced Chinese miners and The society’s origin is deeply rooted in ing the rich and aiding the poor”9, and businessmen from the United States. By the ethnic struggles between the settled their dedication to robbing the aristoc 1862, there were numerous Chinese men agricultural Han of central China, and racy and government agents, and their settled on Williams Lake in the Cariboo the warlike Man peoples of the north anti-establishment ideology generally, of British Columbia. east. In 1644, for the second time in 500 made them a stench to the ruling But life in North America had its own years, foreigners from the north swept Manchus. The Triad was made illegal problems. Virtually all of the Chinese down and conquered the Han peoples, with harsh penalties for members or any- who came to Gum Sahn (meaning “Gold

9 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 cisco, and the first Chinese to come di rectly from China were also from the Triad hot spot of Kwangtung province, and both groups moved rapidly into the Cariboo after Billy Barker’s discovery of gold on Williams Creek on August 17, 1862.17 The Hung Shun T’ang was the native Triad branch ofthat province, and the T’ang may have been co-founded in Barkerville by Hungmen from San Fran cisco and China in that year or the next. Unfortunately, the exact date of the T’ang’s establishment is difficult to pin point. Almost all ofthe local material col lected on the Hung Shun T’ang in Barkerville (or Chih-kung T’ang as it was later renamed), is from the Chih-kung T’ang in Mouth Quesnelle or Forks Quesnel, and almost no material exists from the Barkerville organization.’8 Building No. 84 in the townsite dates only to 1877,19 and although no other site of meeting has survived, we know from longtime Barkerville resident Bill Hong that the main hall was sold in 1932 and demolished in 1948.20 The fire of 1868 may have destroyed evidence of earlier Hung activity Ying-Ying Chen, in her archaeologi TheBarkervills CheeKung Tong building still sits in the Historic Thwn. Thispicture was taken c. 1960. Courtesy Barkerville Historic Town P639. cal study of building No. 84 for Simon Fraser University, suggests three reasons Mountain”)’3 were men seeking a fortune mining after enduring an expensive voy why the Hung Shun T’ang was estab to return home to families with. Very few age.15 They were also without the sort of lished — and very early on.21 First, most women came, since mining was men’s social contacts necessary to make money of the Chinese miners who came to work, and immigration laws and head except as expendable and exploitable Barkerville were poor and illiterate and taxes further helped to make Chinatown manual laborers. Even once obtained, did not speak English. They would have a bachelor society)4 Accumulating riches their wage was small when compared required the assistance of English speak and returning home to support devas with that of white laborers, and though ing Chinese merchants. The need ofthese tated families was the single most impor a high wage when compared to southern two groups to communicate with each tant objective of the Chinese men. China, the cost ofliving was proportion other would have facilitated the estab Barring their success in this mission ally high. Just as there were numerous lishment of a Hung chapter.22 were two primary obstacles. First, the political, social and economic advantages Secondly, there was a strong desire in land was dominated by the “foreign dev to being a member ofthe Triads in China, most men to return to China as soon as ils” who had helped to bring devastation Chinese immigrants to the Cariboo had they became rich, and buildings of the to China in the last generation. The Eng similar reasons for establishing a chapter Chih-kung T’ang in other Cariboo set lish language was unintelligible, the cul of the Triad in North America. tlements are decorated with slogans such ture was strange, and the British As a result of these hardships, and the as: “return to the East with honorable government and legal system did not rec current popularity ofthe Triad in China, riches”.23 Even the Chinese miners who ognize them as important newcomers. a branch known as the Hung Shun T’ang would never return alive, and were bur Moreover, justice was often far from the was established in San Francisco in the ied in the Chinese graveyard like the one place it was most needed, as white set early 1850’s by Chinese from Kwangtung in Stanley, were later exhumed and sent tlers often took advantage ofthe Chinese. and virtually governed the Chinese back to China.24 Their strong attachment Secondly, the Chinese men were poor there.16 The first boat load of Chinese to their homeland and ambition to re and found it difficult to get outfitted for miners to Victoria was from San Fran- turn stimulated their desire to maintain

10 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 a high level of cultural continuity with board turned out to be the rules of the stripes. China, which membership in a secret Quesnel Forks Chih-kung T’ang, and are Regulations of the T’ang society would help facilitate. probably similar to the rules operating 3. A member who bribes outsiders to Thirdly, and perhaps most impor in Barkerville. plot against his opponent in a dispute, tantly, the Chinese in Barkerville, as else The purpose in forming the Chih thus causing physical harm to another where, were not welcomed by whites for kung T’ang is to maintain friendly rela member, will be sentenced, upon evi political, economic and psychological tionship among our countrymen and to dence, to losing both ears. Intercession reasons. This had the effect offurther iso accumulate wealth through proper busi by members will not be permitted. lating the Chinese community and giv ness methods for the benefit of all mem 7. Since the establishment ofthe chap ing them reason to form their own social bers. Thus, those who do mental work ter in this town, the regulations of the institutions like the Hung Shun T’ang I and those who do physical work are de T’ang have been based mainly on the Chih-kung T’ang.25 Racism in voting their strength to this common constitution of the Chih-kung T’ang Barkerville was likely an everyday expe goal. supplemented by regulations adapted to rience for the Chinese. The Cariboo Rules of the T’ang suit local conditions. It has been decided Sentinel simply ignores the Chinese in 3. In case of disagreement on matters that the regulations should be in writing and around Barkerville unless the issues affecting the T’ang, a meeting will be on a board and should hang in the Hall of mining licenses are addressed. In the called. All ceremonial procedures must in order that they may be known to law courts, discriminating sentences on be followed. Instruments for punishment members. the basis of race or culture was norma must also be displayed. The officers will 8. All money received by the T’ang is tive. Down in Lillooet, Judge Cox stated be seated in order. No noise will be al for conducting T’ang affairs. However, for the record in a case that involved a lowed. Justice, not personal favour, will those members who are old or sick, or Chinese man: decide who is right and who is wrong. who have suffered disaster caused by ei I wish it to go forth now that 7. Ifany member makes trouble in the ther natural calamities or accidents, and Chinamen are coming here in brothels or gambling house and if com who have no means nor anyone to look great numbers that they must plaints have been made to the T’ang, he after them, may receive care from the not use deadly weapons, if they will be brought back to the T’ang for T’ang. do their punishment will be very severe punishment without clemency 9. Members who are either newly ar

heavy - the least I will give them 13. Members, no matter whether they rived in this town or just back from the will be six months imprison are living in town, in mining areas, in mining area and who have no way of ment in the future; if there is ports, or in cities must maintain fair prac finding a place to stay may register with another such case I will inflict tices in business. Anyone who uses an the chapter. Accommodation for sleep the heaviest punishment.” (Sept. advantageous position in business to op ing and two meals will be provided. Be 2, 1865, p.1) press our countrymen will be brought yond this the member must take care of The T’ang could permit the Chinese back for punishment in accordance with himself Members should not stay longer to try their own cases and present a the constitution if a complaint is made than necessary28 united front against white racism and and evidence presented. As one can readily see, a high degree xenophobia. 20. Any dispute or mutual suspicion of self government was of great impor

The need for a society which provided among members should be settled in the tance . Although the death penalty does social cohesion was also a necessity from T’ang in accordance with reason. Those not seem to have been practiced as it was the beginning of the Gold Rush. Mem who persist in quarrelling with one an in China, (since the T’ang had no au bership in the T’ang seems to have been other or who appeal to the courts either thority to implement it under English a way to enjoy large Chinese social gath create more trouble and expense or dam justice), they were prepared to lop off an erings where friends could be made and age friendships. ear or administer stripes ifnecessary The business deals struck. Bill Hong recalls 21. Members who come to the T’ang T’ang was prepared to mediate disputes that behind the main hail was a large pig for settlement of a dispute will be heard between Chinese men, and appealing to roaster that could cook an entire pig in without prejudice. Right and wrong will the English courts was strongly discour just one-and-a-half hours.26 Little more be assessed by the T’ang. Any criticism aged (Rule 20). This may be because the was known about how the T’ang in of the T’ang outside the meeting will Chinese desired to appear as peaceful and Barkerville was addressing social needs diminish the prestige of the T’ang. industrious as possible, and not incite the until a major discovery was made in 1961 24. Criticisms must only be made in whites to racial abuse. It is also likely that in Quesnel Forks by a Park Ranger the T’ang meeting. Anyone who makes the Chinese community, led by the T’ang searching for artifacts in the main Chih criticisms behind the scenes or utters tried desperately to make a strong front kung building — a 10 foot long board slander against other members outside to the white community; a bulwark to inscribed with Chinese writing.27 The the meeting will be sentenced to 21 discourage them from attack.

11 B.C. Historical News - FaIl 1997 It is also interesting to observe how the in a preamble at the beginning. Nowhere when Chinese men were faced with rac T’ang asserts itself where the prevailing is the Triad slogan “Overthrow Ch’ing ism, injustice, a language and cultural white society was a poor reflection of and restore Ming” even mentioned. In barrier, poverty and loneliness. While Chinese values. The closeness ofthe fam stead, the emphasis is on the need for local conditions necessitated some ily unit in China was sorely missed in money and greater financial accountabil changes, the Triad at home and abroad the Cariboo, and where the elderly would ity within the T’ang, suggesting accusa had important similarities: the very hu have normally been cared for by the tions of embezzlement and the abuse of man tendency to cling to the familiar in younger generation, the T’ang would power. That this sort of thing could have times of stress, and to create order out of provide assistance. For those who were occurred should come as no surprise since chaos at all costs. old and poor and could not work, a col Triad organizations in San Francisco were lection was taken up to send them home involved in placing captured Chinese The author wrote this essayfor History 407 at to China. Those who had been beset by women in indentured sex-servitude in University of Northern British Columbia in calamity or disaster could also appeal to brothels, and smuggling opium.29 Prince George. His professors are Mary-Ellen Keim and Robin Fisher. He did extensive re the T’ang for help (Reg. 8). In a society The T’ang in Barkerville evidently had search and some archaeological work at where a family’s hospitality to strangers a roller coaster existence as membership Barkerville Historic Thwn. was a social responsibility; the T’ang be fluctuated with the Chinese population, FOOTNOTES came a surrogate family, lodging not only determined in part by mining technol 1. Jean Chesneaux, Secret Societies in China In the T’ang members from other communi ogy and immigration laws. Just after the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Trans. by Gillian Nettle (1.ondon: Heinemann Educational Books, ties, but also new arrivals from China new building was built in 1877 it went 1971), 30. 2. David Chuenyan Lai. Land of Genghis Khan. Western (Reg. 9). into decline until the early 1880’s. By Geographical Series, Vol. 30. (Victoria: University of It is instructive to compare the essen 1885 there were over 40 Chih-kung Victoria, 1995), 49. 3. Jean Chesneaux, Secret Societies in China’s Historical tial drift of the initiation ceremony as T’ang chapters in the province,30 and Evolution” in Popular Movements and Secret Societies developed in China, with the Rules of that same year Barkerville, enjoying some in China 1840 - 1950 ed. Jean Chesneaux (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1972), 6. the T’ang found in Quesnelle Forks as resurgence, became the Chih-kungT’ang 4. Ibid., 3. developed in the Cariboo. The first and Headquarters for the Cariboo.3’ After 5. Fei-Ling Davis, Primitive Revolutionaries of China: A Study of Secret Societies of the Late Nineteenth most obvious difference is that member approximately 1890, the T’ang was in Century (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1971), 12. ship with the T’ang in the Cariboo, steady decline with a brief interruption 6. Guillaurne Dunstheimer, “Some Religious Aspects of Barkerville included, was not as much of in the early 1930’s. It is reasonable to as Secret Societies,” in Popular Movements and Secret Societies in China 1840-1950, ed. Jean Chesneaux a secret as it was in China. In fact they sume that membership may have (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1972), 24. built their meeting places in public from dropped after the Republican Revolution 7. Chesneaux, “Secret Societies in China’s Historical Evolution,” 5. at least 1877, and posted signs on the of 1911 eliminated its political motiva 8. Chesneaux, Secret Societies in China, 6. outside declaring it to be the Hung Shun tion. 9. Ibid. In 1945, the Chih-kung T’ang 10. Ibid. T’ang (or Chih-kung T’ang as the case Congress met in New York to change the 11. Anthony Chan, Gold Mountain (Vancouver: New Star Books, 1983), 35. may be), as demonstrated on building name of the organization to Chih-kung 12. Ibid., 42. No. 84 in Barkerville. On the inside they Party, and the Barkerville’s branch fol 13. Richard Thomas Wright, Barkerville (Duncan, B.C.: ‘Winter Quarters Press and Friends of Barkerville and posted the rules of the T’ang, something lowed suit. In 1947 the name was Cariboo Goldfields Historical Society, 1993), 55. probably not practiced in China (Reg. changed again, but this time Barkerville’s 14. Ibid., 57. 15. Chan, 47. 7). It is of little surprise that they were branch did not follow suit, suggesting 16. Ying-Ying Chen, Building No. 84 A Symbol of the secretive existence since few that it had been abandoned in Early Chinese Freemasons in Barkeryille B.C. Vol. 1 less of their in the (Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, whites cared what they were doing any terim.32 The absence of a large Chinese May 1992), 188. l7.Wright, 24. way. population in Barkerville, coupled with 18. Lai, Translation and Analysis of the Chee KungTong The second major difference is that the the increasing success of the Chinese in Material, July 1989 (Barkerville Historic Town R.l.C. Files: Chinese), 10. activity of robbing the rich is completely white society, and the establishment of a 19. Chen,i. abandoned in the Cariboo. Instead, good strong Chinese family base, reduced the 20. Bill Hong,.. .And So . . . That’s How It Happened (Quesnel, B.C.: WM. Hong, 1978), 191. behavior outside in the community is a social need for the Chih-kung T’ang. 21. Chen, 185-6. for those who T’ang Chih-kung 22. Ibid., 185. must, with stiff penalties The Hung Shun / 23. Ibid., 186. cause trouble in brothels or gambling T’ang was formed in Barkerville as a re 24. Hong, 69. 25. Chen, 186. houses (Rule 7) and give a bad name to sponse to the difficult social and eco 26. Hong, 191. the T’ang. The T’ang now depends upon nomic conditions that faced the Chinese 27. Stanford M. Lyman, W.E. Willmôtt, and Berching Ho, “Rules of a Chinese Secret Society in British Columbia,” legitimate business endeavors (Rule 6, community there. Just as its parent or Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 13) and member’s dues to fatten its cof ganization flourished as Chinese society 27 (pt.3 1964): 530. 28. Lyman, Willmot and Ho, 535-539. fers (Rules 23). Also unlike the initiation experienced the trauma of warfare and 29. Stanford M. Lyman, “Chinese Secret Societies in the mid-nineteenth Occident: Notes and Suggestions for Research in the oaths from China, there is no direct men modernization in the Sociology of Secrecy,” Canadian Review of Sociology tion of religion, but only some proverbs century; so did the T’ang in the Cariboo andAnthropology 1(1964): 97.

12 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 30. Chen, 195. Historic Town R.I.C. Files: Chinese Societies. University Press, 1988. 31. Ibid., 196. Davis, Fei-Ling. Primitive Revolutionaries of China A Lyman, Stanford M. “Chinese Secret Societies in the 32. Ibid., 207. Study of Secret Societies of the Late Nineteenth Occident: Notes and Suggestions for Research in the Century. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1971. Sociology of Secrecy.” Canadian Review of Sociology BIBLIOGRAPHY Hong, Bill. ... And So. .. That’s How It Happened. and Anthropology 1(1964): 79-1 02. Chan, Anthony. Gold Mountain Vancouver: New Star Quesnel, B.C.: WM. Hong, 1978. WE. Willmott, and Berching Ho. “Rules of a Chinese Secret Books, 1983. Kelley, Perry. The Chi-KungTongin Barkervilk. Summer Society in British Columbia.” Bulletin of the School of Chen, Ying-Ying. Building No. 84: A Symbol of the Early 1980. Barkerville Historic Town Rl.C. Files: Chee Kung Oriental and African Studies 27 (pt.3 1964): 530-539. Chinese Freemasons in Barkervile B.C. Vol.1. Tong. Stanley, TimothyJ. “Schooling, White Supremacy, and the Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Lai, David Chuen-Yan. “The Chinese Consolidated Formation of a Chinese Merchant Public in British May 1992. benevolent Association in Victoria: Its Origins and Columbia.” BC Studies 107 (Autumn 1995): 3-27. Chesneaux, Jean, ed. Popular Movements and Secret Functions.” BC Studies 15 (Autumn 1972): 53-65. Stanton, William. The Triad Society. Hong Kong: Kelly and Societies in China 1840-1950. Stanford: Stanford Chinese Translation Contract-Phase I. August Walsh Ltd., 1900. University Press, 1972. September 1988. Barkerville Historic Town R.I.C. Files: Unsettled Accounts. Quesnel Mouth [Jan 1881]. Barkerville Secret Societies in China In the Nineteenth and Twentieth Chinese. Land of Genghis Kahn Western Geographical Historic Town RI.C. Files: Chee-Kung Tong. Centuries. Trans. by Gillian Nettle. London: Series, Vol. 30. Victoria: University of Victoria, 1995. Wickberg, Edgar. “Chinese and Canadian Influences on Heinermann Educational Books, 1971. Translation and Analysis of the Chee Kung Tong Chinese Politics in Vancouver, 1900-1947.” B.C. Studies Collections for a Spirits’ Altar in Victoria (?) Stanley [1886]. Material. July 1989. Barkerville Historic Town R.1.C. 45 (Spring 1980): 37-55. Barkerville Historic Town R.I.C. Files: Chee Kung Tong. Files: Chinese. Willmott, WE. “Some Aspects of Chinese Communities in Con, Harry, et al. From China to Canada: A History of the Leung, Dr. SW, Jr. Warden. “Chinese Freemasonry” A British Columbia Towns”, B.C. Studies I (Winter 1968- Chinese Communities in Canada. McClelland and Report Given to Fellowship 1.odge 137, Volumes I &2 69): Stewart in association with Supply and Services Canada, (1942): 1-8. Barkerville Historic Town R.J.C. Files: Wright, Richard Thomas. Barlcerville. Duncan, B.C.: Winter 1982; reprinted 1988. Cheekungtong. Quarters Press and Friends of Barkerville and Cariboo Cook, Les. An Outline of the Establishment and Functions Li, Peter S. The Chinese in Canada. Toronto: Oxford Goldfields Historical Societj 1993. of Chinese Tongs or Societies in B.C. 1968. Barkerville

Okanagan Historical tion of the Annual Report, the OHS has and is nearing its 75th Anniversary, a special other concerns/activities: publication with the working title, “The Best Society of the OHS” is nearing completion by Jean - The proprietorship of the Fairview Lots north of Oliver, where a new information Webber of Osoyoos, a former Editor of the The OHS has from its inception in 1925 Reports. been keeping the written history of the kiosk was erected this year;

Okanagan, Shuswap and Similkameen - the administration of the Father Pandosy areas of Interior British Columbia. The Mission, one of the most significant heritage Hedley Heritage Society driving force behind the creation of the sites in the B.C. Interior;

Okanagan - wide society was Leonard This community group with 41 local mem - watch dogging such locations/sites as the Norris of the Vernon area who, as its first Brigade Trail and historic transportation bers and about 60 former residents is president and editor, put out the First routes through our region; registered as “Hedley Heritage, Arts & Crafts Report of the Okanagan Historical Society.” They are a hard working group of - input B.C. Parks plans for Fintry [on the Society. Denis Marshall of Salmon Arm, our people who are setting up an Archives in a Westside of Okanagan Lake] which includes current editor has just delivered the 61st new location, offering tours of the town and heritage buildings and other remnants of a Report to the printers. cemetery, and running a gift shop during the most colorful story; The Report is ready by mid-autumn, just in summer. One member keeps the cemetery time for pre-Christmas promotion. An - responding to such matters of concern as neatly groomed and weed free. last year’s proposed closure of the Provincial individual purchasing a copy of the Report The members of this organization actively Archives; becomes a member of the OHS for the lobbied to keep the Mascot Mine buildings. ensuing year. A large of percentage a year’s - a summer picnic held in conjunction with Their plea was heeded by Bill Barlee, then printing is mailed directly to repeat readers; the Boundary Historical Society; this year the Minister of Heritage, as the buildings Because the collection represents the held in the Manager’s Gardens at the were saved and stabilized. Now the commu principal historical reference for the Summerland Research Station. nity awaits development of a gondola lift Okanagan Region, many educational In observation of the Okanagan Historical which will turn the old Mascot into a major institutions, Canadian and International keep Society’s having published its 60th tourist attraction. The Report of the Okanagan Historical Report Society in their reference stacks. [“While the Society is 72 years old, there were some years - as during the Depression and the War Years when no report was printed.] The Okanagan Historical Society has grown considerably in number of Branches as well as in number of active members. Each of the OHS’ seven Branches, Salmon Arm, Armstrong-Enderby, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, Similkameen and Oliver-Osoyoos, contributes articles and is responsible for the Dr. Adam Waldie is shown sale of the Reports in that community. here at the BCHF Conference Each Branch operates independently of the speaking to Vera Rosenbluth. parent body in scheduling meetings, special Dr Waidie’s illustratedarticle onAlderman Corey appears in events. Representatives from each make up this issue. Waldie knew the the Okanagan Historical Society Executive Corey family when he was a Council which meets February, May (AGM), siu’kntatUBC. July and October. In addition to the publica Photo courtesy of Melva Dwyer.

13 B.C. Historical News - FaIl 1997 Alderman Coreyc Autograph Collection by Adam Waldie

elected under the old ward system, this Mayor Gerald Gratton (“Gerry”) was changed in 1937 and subsequent McGeer at the time of Vancouver’s elections were “at large.” It is difficult to Golden Jubilee celebrations which coin say how active he was in his union, but cided with the opening of the New City he was always considered to be a defacto Hall at 12th and Cambie. For two representative of labour on City Coun months McGeer orchestrated receptions cil. There is record that along with two for various visiting dignitaries, culminat well known trade unionists of the era’ ing with the unveiling of the statue of he did appear before the Vancouver Captain Vancouver by Sir Percy Vincent, Trades and Labour Council as a strong Lord Mayor of London.2 advocate of public ownership of trans Two years later he was a guest along portation and energy utilities. with Alderman Halford D. Wilson, In his earlier years he was an avid hiker Chairman of the Airport Committee, and outdoorsman, but as he settled into aboard the inaugural flight of Trans his own home in West Point Grey he Canada Airlines Lockheed Lodestar serv became very involved with community ice between Montreal and Vancouver.3 Henry Lyman Corey horticultural activities. He grew prize In 1939 Corey was involved with the rest chrysanthemums, gladioli and roses, of of the City Council in the ceremonies Henry Lyman Corey, gentleman, was ten judging in local flower shows. His welcoming their Majesties on the first a linotype operator by trade, and for the home was his castle, and in it he kept a Royal Tour, and at the same time at last ten years of his life was a very popu modest collection of fine china and ori tended the official opening of the New lar Alderman of the City of Vancouver. ental rugs. His interest in civic politics Vancouver Hotel, and the Lions Gate He won five out of the six elections he grew out of his activities with a ratepay Bridge. contested, topping the polis in each ers’ association in Point Grey, largely With the outbreak of World War II event. A solid tradesman by day, he was dedicated to the preservation ofone-fam Corey, along with several other aldermen, a skilled, patient and dedicated civic serv ily residential housing. He was a persist enlisted in the local militia units, requir ant after hours. He did not drive a car, ent advocate of a national code of ing two nights a week parade and train but travelled on the streetcar system, building standards, but his advocacy was ing, and two weeks Army camp at Vernon whether going to or from work, or at strongly opposed by the Vancouver Real every summer. Corey had become a tending a civic function in formal attire. Estate Board and the Property Owners’ member of the Reserve Battalion of the Born on a farm to a United Empire Association. He repeatedly urged a dis Seaforth Highlanders. During this time Loyalist family in the Eastern Townships tinctive flag for Canada, voting rights for he was Deputy Mayor when MayorJ.W. of Quebec, he attributed his early inter wives ofcivic property holders, and meas Cornett was absent for a considerable est in politics to watching his father por ures to prevent foreclosures on homes of period of time. ing over the parliamentary reports in the citizens on relief who could not afford In the summer of 1996, fifty years af weekly Montreal Standard. In his early to pay their property taxes. In many ways ter the death of Alderman Corey, his teens his father died, and he went to he was a man ahead of his time. daughter, Ruth Corey Wilkins, donated Oklahoma to live in the home ofan older At various times in his career as alder to the Vancouver City Archives a collec brother who was in the printing business. man, he was the City’s representative on tion of five leather-bound red scrapbooks He apprenticed as a linotypist and fol the Parks Board, Art Gallery Board, His and three smaller items containing clip lowing his marriage to Gertrude Huskey torical Monuments committee and the pings and memorabilia accumulated dur from Texas the couple moved to Vancou Public Library Board. At the time of his ing his terms ofoffice. One ofthese items verin 1911. death one of the newspapers remarked is a small autograph album of the sort He joined Local 216 of the Vancouver that the City of Vancouver had lost its that most schoolgirls carried at that time.4 Typographical Union, and worked for “ambassador ofculture to the City Hall.” There are approximately 85 signatures the Vancouver Province from 1915 till In his first term as Alderman, 1936- in this little album, but the list reads like his death in 1946. While he was first 37, he served under the flamboyant a Who’s Who of the era. Some of the

14 B.C. Historical News - FaIl 1997 names speak for themselves: Crown Prince Olav of Norway, Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor General of Canada, Percy Vincent, Lord Mayor of London, WL. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister, R.B. Bennett, former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, William Aberhart, Premier of Alberta, Hon. C.D. Howe, Minister ofMunitions and Supply, Angus Maclnnis, CCF Leader, E.W Hamber, Lt. Governor of B.C., A. Wells Gray Minister of Lands, Nellie McClung, writer and early Cana dian feminist, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy(!) Gerry McGeer, Mayor of Vancouver, Archbishop Ailler dePencier, Dr. Lyle Telford, CCF Mayor ofVancou ver, Hon. H.G. Perry, Speaker of the Legislature, Hon. H.H. Stevens, Minis ter of Trade and Commerce in the R.B. Henry Lyman Corey shown here during Militia training at Vernon - c. 1940. Bennett government, Norman Rogers, Photo courtesy of his daughter, Ruth Wilkins. senior Canadian diplomat later killed in a wartime plane accident, Brigadier-Gen eral H.G. Crerar, leader of the Canadian /97Cii Army in WWII, Hon. Ian Mackenzie, Minister of National Defense, Air Mar rae. shal WA. Bishop, WWI Ace and head of the RCAF in WWII; Wing Com mander Percy Gibson, leader of the “Dambusters,” Max Baer, world heavy weight boxing champion(!), Earl ofAth Margaret Florence McNeil, April27, 1886, was the first baby born in the City of Vancouver after its Incorporation. Mayor T4ford set out to find her whereabouts when be became mayor, and when be located her lone, Governor General of Canada, and in Portland he entertained her royally aswest ofthe City of Vancouve, Normally he did not wear his robes or his wife, Alice-Mary, daughter of Queen chain ofoffice, but be seemed quite happy to do so fshe were being entertainedL Ifshe were indisposed and Victoria, and Gracie Fields, the famous could not make the trip be would haveflowers and afine meal sent in to her home. English war-time songstress, who lived in Vancouver with her husband early in WWII. Do people still collect autographs? Gracie Fields, extremely popular English wartime singer who, with her l,g.sband spent some time in Vancouver ACKNOWLEDGEMENL in the early part ofthe Wa, We thank the Vancouver City Archivesfir allowing us to share some ofthe autographs with our readers. The Editor:

FOOTNOTES

1. George Bartley and Parmeter Pettipiece. See Leier, Mark Red Flags and Red Tape, University of Toronto Press, 1995.

2. David Ricardo Willianis, McGeer’s biographer, refers to him as ‘The lmpressario of the Golden Jubilee, Mayor Gerry, Douglas and Mcintyre, Vancouver, 1982. 3. One of the other passengers on this flight whose autograph also appears on the souvenir program was none other than G.W.G. McConnachie, later to be founder of Wing Commander Percy Gibson was leader of the RAF Dambusters who led an intricate Canadian Pacific Airlines. bombing mission which knocked out the Mohr Dam, crippling the heavy industry in the Ruhr 4. Vancouver City Archives Document #AM 1268, 609 valley and leading to an earlier collapse ofthe Nazi war effort. F7, 609 F8.

15 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 Viscount Athione, Governor General ofCanada whose wife, Alice Mary, was a daughter ofQueen Victoria. q ‘1 Max Baer. World heavyweight boring champion who G.G. (“Gerry”) McGeer. Theflamboyant Mayor ofVancouver whopromotedthe building ofthe defrated Max Sc/smelling. New City Hall at 12th and Cam/tie in the depths ofthe depression. Manypeople though this was in the suburbs at the time, andfelt the design andfitrnishings were too richfor the City which was still sufferingfrom the effects ofthe depression. Tbeformal opening coincided with the 50th anniversary ofthe Incorporation ofthe City, in 1886, and the coming ofthe railroaA

Air Marshal WA. “Billy” Bishop. Wrld War I ace and head ofthe RCAF in WWIL

Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy: a verypopular duo in the heyday ofradio. Bergen was an expert ventriloquist and Charlie McCarthy the puppet-like foil on his knee, with whom be carried on a very humorous dialogue. 7u L/(C’. 3’ C,’ 2-7: Lord Tweedsmuir, afamous British author whose name wasJohn Bueban. Receiveda title when he was named Governor General ofCanada. He was thefirst Percy Vincent, Lord Mayor ofLondon. At the invitation ofMayor Gerry McGeer, be and his commoner to be appointed to the Vice Regal office. entourageparticipated in thefunctions of the Golden Jubilee celebrations ofthe City of Vancouver Accompanied by a large entourage, be visited the BelLs in 1936 andspecifically be unveiled the statue ofCaptain George Vancouver which was commissioned Coola Valley and travelled by horseback up into the for the occasion andplaced on north-facing the steps ofthe New City HalL plateau and lake country which is now called Tweedsmuir Park.

;4//74 2 Crown Prince Olav of Norway. Wartime residents of Vancouver may recall that a squadron of Alderman Henry Lyman Corey, 1885-1946. Blackburn Shark torpedo bombers belonging to the Royal Norwegian Air Force was stationed at Popular Vancouver CityAlderman collected Jericho early in the wai who the memorabiliafor thefive scrapbooks and the signatures L.. in the autograph book. /-

3.,5 —

WL Mackenzie King, Canaddc wartime Prime Minister who refused to send Canadian conscrepti overseas fthey did not wish to go. They were given the option of staying in Canada on non-combatant service. Identfled by a whiteflashing on theirforage caps, they were nicknamed ‘Zombies. “Although isispolitical decisions were unpopular with the military and with the many Canadians ofstrongpro-Britisb sentiment,c his compromisesprobably kept Quebecfrom opting out ofConfederation in World War IL

16 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 East Kootenay Health é’ W4fare Service 193538 by Esther Paulson

The 1930s decade is remembered (2) Child Welfare Branch services op mainly for the widespread economic de erated under three acts, (a) Infants Act r pression with the resultant aftermath of for the protection ofchildren, (b) Adop unemployment, low wages and income, tions, (c) Unmarried Parents, known as poverty and hardships prior to WWII in the UPA Act. 1939. Despite these conditions, signifi The professional staff for the Health cant progress was being made in B.C. to Division and the social agencies were expand and develop programs and re based in the urban areas of Vancouver sources for health and social work serv and Victoria. Obviously, trained profes ice on a province-wide scale. sional staffwould be required for the ex The instigator and leader was Dr. tension of health and social services to George M. Weir, elected in 1934, on a rural districts throughout B.C. A new platform to introduce a system ofHealth venture, known as the Welfare Field Serv Insurance. As Minister of Health and ice, (WFS) was proposed in 1935 for this Welfare, he combined the two portfolios purpose. under one ministry to facilitate expan Laura Holland, then Superintendent sion and coordination ofservices for these of Child Welfare, was delegated respon two closely related areas of concern. sibility to plan, organize and recruit staff Dr. Weir recruited well qualified pro for the generalized WFS service. She was fessionals and by 1936 special divisions a registered nurse as well as a social were established for the diagnosis, treat worker and a recognized leader in estab ment and prevention of major health lishing the legislation and services for problems, for example, Child Welfare. Posed by a road marker on one ofher summer trips (1) Division of Tuberculosis Control I met Laura Holland at the Annual up the vall under the leadership and organization of Meeting of the Registered Nurses Asso Dr. WH. Hatfield. Tuberculosis was the ciation in 1935 where I had given a re sis. She said an orientation period for the leading cause of death with highest inci port on Private Duty Registries. After new appointees would be arranged be dence among young women - ages 19 to graduating in 1928 as a registered nurse, fore assignment to a district. I wrote the 25. Many student nurses in that age I had changed from private duty and examination and was one of a small group contracted the disease. hospital nursing to enrol in the public number selected for the new Welfare (2) Division ofVenereal Disease Con health nursing course at the University Field Service. trol of British Columbia. On completion of The orientation program included (3) Mental Health Division under Dr. the certificate course in 1934, there were time with the Health Division and social A.L. Crease. Institutional services were no openings in public health nursing and agencies for observation and instruction extended to include psychiatric histories I resumed private duty nursing again. and a week in Victoria. We were accom for new admissions and reports for pa Miss Holland approached me and asked panied by Laura Holland as supervisor tients discharged to local communities. if I would be interested in a new service for the WFS. There we met department Expansion of social work services in of combined public health and social heads, Dr. Harry Cassidy, Director of 1936 evolved from existing legislation work. I was, of course, more than will Health and Welfare and Dr. George and resources that included: ing to consider a full time position, de Davidson, Superintendent of Welfare, (1) Mothers’ Pension Act, introduced spite having only elementary preparation two professionals recruited by Dr. Weir in the 1920’s decade, provided financial for social work. Miss Holland explained to develop his vision of MediCare for assistance for the families when the that applicants would be required to pass B.C. The Provincial Secretar Mr. RW. breadwinner (father) had died or was a written examination, and suitable ap Walker explained about the Destitute, incapacitated due to illness or injury plicants were to be selected on that ba Poor and Sick (D. P and S.) work - a fund

17 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 for the Blind (CNIB) which provided traffic officer, I had to demonstrate my assistance for children and adults with competence (and nerve) for Sergeant impaired vision. The Welfare Field Serv Andrew Fairburn, who was in charge of ice was indeed to be a generalized serv the East Kootenay detachment. He se ice. lected a narrow bench road near Fort On completion of the orientation pe Steele where I drove forward and in re riod of four months, I was assigned to verse around the bends and curves until the East Kootenay District, located be he was satisfied I would not drive “over tween the Rockies and the Selkirks, ex the bank.” Thanks to the Provincial Po tending from the International Border in lice for my accident-free record and to the south, the Alberta border at Crow’s the Wheeler Garage whose mechanics Nest and Field, and included the cities took pride in keeping my car in prime

of Fernie and Cranbrook, north to condition - free from breakdowns or tow Invermere, Golden and Field. ing service on the roads. Somewhat overwhelmed, I left New The roads were gravel with only fif Westminster by train on Saturday No teen miles ofblacktop in the Radium Hot vember 25, 1935 and changed to the Springs area. There were hazards in all

Kettle Valley line at Port Coquitlam. The seasons - snow and ice in winter, mud, route was dominated by high trestles over water and deep ruts in spring thaw break deep canyons from Hope through up and thick dust from passing traffic in Princeton and Grand Forks to Nelson. summer and autumn. After a three hour stop in Nelson, from I did not wear a uniform. A ski suit Frank - in Cranbrook, wearing clothes donated by 9 p.m. to midnight, I arrived in and warm clothing in winter and a suit, ofprominent citizens widows Cranbrook at 9 a.m. on Monday Novem dress or slacks in other seasons was more administered by the Provincial Secretary ber 27, 1935 in bright sunshine after a appropriate for the work and travel by that provided financial assistance for the heavy snowfall. car and on foot up steep trails or in the needy people, mostly elderly men who The government agent, John Kennedy, wilderness and isolated locations in that were, in terms ofthe fund, destitute, poor had been a strong supporter for the Wel large district. and sick. Despite that bleak inference, fare and Field Service worker in his dis Coordination of the various services they were independent veterans who had trict. He had an office prepared for me was common practice in the Welfare worked as loggers, miners, trappers or in the Court House/government build Field Service. A first visit might be to a railroad workers when the railroad was ing, a frame structure across the end of tuberculosis patient referred by the trav extended into B.C. in the later 1880s. the main street. The office was on the elling chest clinic and waiting at home Mr. Walker had met some of these pio ground level and had bars on the win for a bed in one of the three tuberculosis neers and was interested in their welfare. dows, having been the jail and former hospitals at Tranquille, Vancouver or Vic In contrast to the D.P and S services premises of the Provincial Police. The toria. Supplies would be provided from for the elderly would be our responsibil salary was $125 a month with mileage a stock carried in the car. Instruction was ity for the well being and protection of for the use of one’s personal car. I did given on infectious disease precautions, children. Our supervisor, as former Su not have a car and was dependant on both personal and domestic, and in perintendent of the Child Welfare public transportation, augmented by use proper use and disposal ofpaper hankies, Branch for B.C., recognized the need for ofa government car arranged through the bags and sputum cups and sterilization comprehensive orientation in the speci government agent in Cranbrook, Fernie, of dishes and care of bed linen. If the ality so vital and far-reaching as the de Invermere and Golden. The public trans patient was the father and breadwinner, velopment and potential of children portation included a jitney service oftwo then an application for Mother’s Allow through childhood and teen years into return trips a week between Cranbrook ance was completed and sent to the cor adult life. She arranged for intensive in and Golden - and train service on the rect department. struction on the legislative Acts for child branch line - Kootenay Central. Fernie A similar routine applied for patients protection, adoptions and Children of was reached by train or Greyhound bus. referred from the Mental Health Divi Unmarried Parents, followed by super Such mixed travel facilities were inad sion. A psychiatric history would be done vised practical experience with Child equate for my work and after a few and an application for Mother’s Allow

Welfare agencies. months I acquired a car - a 1936 ance completed as indicated. The orientation period also included Chevrolet. The Provincial Police taught Children and adults with impaired vi instructional visits to non-governmental me to drive and after some intensive in sion were referred by the CNIB or by agencies, such as the Canadian Institute struction by Constable John Henry, the school teachers. An eye test would be

18 B.C. Historical News - FaIl 1997 done and a report submitted, particularly sion because of a break in the residence if the patient was unable to pay for the requirement of twenty continuous years examination or eyeglasses. The CNIB in Canada prior to applying for the pen arranged for examination by the Eye Spe sion. Frank felt that he was entitled to cialist, Dr. A.E. Shore, from Calgary He the Old Age Pension and refused to ac made periodic visits to the East cept the equivalent amount of twenty Kootenays, driving the Crow’s Nest road dollars from the D.P and S. Fund de to Michel and Fernie, north to spite Mr. Walker’s approval and urging Cranbrook, Invermere and Golden and him to do so. I met him when he was in returning to Calgary by the Kicking hospital, diagnosed with terminal can Horse Pass border at Field. Now sixty cer. He refused to remain in hospital or years later, his daughter, Helen Shore and to go to the Provincial Home at I are friends and associates in the His Kamloops, the only facility outside of tory of Nursing Group. Vancouver, for single men. I drove him The work was interesting, stimulating home from hospital and helped him with and demanding, exhausting at times a simple procedure for changing and dis when combined with driving on hazard posal of surgical dressings. He was me ous roads or on foot in isolated areas. ticulous in his personal habits and Naturally there was an element of stress housekeeping and managed very well. He involved, helping people who were sick, gave me a snapshot of himself When I handicapped with physical disabilities or commented on his smart appearance, he mental problems and economic worries. said he was wearing “dead men’s clothes.” Poverty was especially acute in the 1930’s The widows of men, some of them Esther Paulson poses beside her 1936 Chevrolet. She was taught to drive by a Provincial Police depression era. We were fortunate in hav prominent citizens of Cranbrook, do Constable, andput many miles on it before she ing Laura Holland as supervisor. Her nated their husband’s clothes to Frank. was transferredfrom Cranbrook in 1938. expert counselling, knowledgeable guid Emmy was a bent little person who had ance and warm, friendly presence was arrived in the East Kootenay in the 1890’s plan and moved to a cabin near much needed and appreciated. and lived an adventurous lifestyle, herd Cranbrook. As anticipated during the orientation ing cattle and breaking horses. When I Two trips were made, one with the program, I enjoyed meeting the D.P and heard of her, she had become mentally Game Warden Ben Rauch, to help me S. applicants described by Mr. Walker, confused and physically unable to live bring as many ofher personal effects that having known older friends of my par alone in her primitive cabin in the vicin could be packed in my car, a coupe, along ents who were hardy pioneers with simi ity then known as Rock Lake. with Emmy and her three-legged dog, a lar backgrounds. One of them had gone I visited Emmy and submitted a psy faithful companion. Emmy showed a to the Klondike Rush in 1898 and sur chiatric history and report to the Mental gleeful and childlike pleasure and inter vived typhoid fever in a tent. The pio Health Division. An alternate plan was est in this move to a new home. neers I met in the Kootenays arrived at also suggested, that accommodation be The cabin had basic essentials, such as the turn of the century, or earlier, when found where the railroad was extended across Canada her adjust to B.C. and the coast in 1885. They ment to liv worked as loggers, trappers, prospectors, ing in a miners and railroad workers. They lived different area in primitive cabins on their mining could be ob claims or homesteads in isolated locations served and or within sight and sound ofthe railroad. supervised. They were usually willing to talk about Dr. Crease their early life and experience. They were agreed that the senior citizens of the 1930s, and such a free Frank and Emmy were typical of these spirit would hardy, free-spirited pioneers. not adjust or Frank lived in a snug cabin, built of be happy in railroad ties, in the Cranbrook area where an institu he was well known and respected. He had tion. Emmy GovernmentAgentJohn Kennedy with the Public Works Truck which was used to move been disqualified for the Old Age Pen- agreed to the Emmyfrom Rock I.ake (now Lazy Lake) to close to Cranbrook.

19 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997

20

B.C. News Historical FaIl 1997 -

1990’s, In most the communities, even

Emmyc cabin at Rock Lake, 1936 c. near Wa,ta.

creeks. wells or

and woodpiles water

supply carried from

:•“‘“

housing, primitive outdoor

privies, ‘f’ if ‘

•“4 .. — ‘.‘,

r dependence in isolated locations with

and aging maintained mobility and in

with the and limitations infirmities of

The 1930’s senior of coped the citizens

and equipment.

continuation for the of service cultural

that such justified benefits their approval

the water from The CNIB well. agreed

wood also brought the stove for and fresh

well as practical, as because the friends

pointed out benefits, the hidden social

to obligated notify the but CNIB,

hit tunes younger the their of years. felt I

torian early and the of years - century

music records and of the songs from Vic lowance. The local food agreed store to doctors, Dr. Green and Dr. McKinnon

had friends come to visit bringing their Emmy was content a spending with be al to done his vision restore and local

could hear music and laughter. Two administered the S. D.P and cheque cabin. and Shore Dr. had could said nothing

Swedenborg! of On ing a return visit, I of Emmy’s and furniture belongings. plan and I determined to return to his

only he was that the in interested writ ment to for truck a the remainder bring S., of Mr. was opposed course, that to

his enthusiasm lack of and explanation ranged the Public with Works Depart to fer the Provincial Kamloops. Home in

service from the CNIB Despite earlier. was concerned for welfare. her the He local ar hospital with possibility of trans

had I obtained “Talking the Books” had known many Emmy years for and Well-meaning friends had taken to him

and he returned home. Kennedy, government the who agent, blindness and both tremor hands. in

that such would blunders not happen Another made trip was - Mr. of with physical because to due limitations

What house? S. then? Mr. me assured tea I had to with her the celebrate event. S. a presented Mr. problem different

to the rope of well to instead the out having 45th decided was birthday! amazed her it and amused.

What minded. to if were he follow the turned the next had day, she cake, a baked Emmy cinema, was fascinated, both

to concentrate not be and absent store of provisions food. re I When and see taken a to at movie Western the local

cerned and welfare his warned for him to make bed up the unpack and the style small and independence. keep her When

was guidance. I skeptical still and con got the fire going helped I while Emmy to was adjust able Emmy to life her new

made some and some alone with my - settled. Mr. Rauch fuel in brought the orders and the least were bit erratic.

arrangement and return several trips were bed and stove, table. her We get helped her charge purchases if alert and me to

Mr. S. try eager to was

the innovative

vehicle pulled to had be horse. a by Out

indicate direction the the

three routes. for

Motorists exchange a to hints negotiate on bow of muddy It road stretch the possible is near Yahk. closest

one, frames, with two and to three knots

Ropes attached were to the spikes in door

cabin from to the facilities. the outdoor

a and evolved plan extend to ropes guide

Sup’t of the Public consulted Works were

necessary The Government Agent and

obvious ideas that practical skill and were

of well woodpile, and outhouse. was It

the route the to usual facilities outdoor

functional and safeguarding especially -

possibilities of safe his making and cabin

hospital in to to allow time the explore

S. D.P and services. agreed to He remain

Mr. S. was known through to the me

pendence of pioneers. elderly

were with familiar the stubborn inde rural areas, have housing wirh modern conveniences for sanitarion, light, heat and water. Accessible transportation is usually available to facilities for medical care, shopping, recreational, spiritual, social and intellectual interest and activi ties. Aids to mobility, on foot with walk 4 ers and on wheels with motorized wheelchairs and scooters. Yet, the pre dominant concern of government and N 4. • --<<---< citizens is for affordable housing and per sonnel for delivery of adequate and safe HOME CAPE, especially for senior citi zens to reduce the cost of prolonged stay in hospitals for continuing care. Near Radium Hot Springs.

Field - Golden Highway. 1938-39. Cranbrook - Fernie when tbe tunnel was neza Now that I am an elderly senior citi zen, the sturdy and courageous pioneers are my role models in maintaining mo Miss Paulson was an official Canadian delegate bility and independence to live a near at the International Congress ofNurses meet Columbia (1951-1953) and is now an active normal lifestyle. My three years with the ing in Rome in 1957. She was an honoredguest member ofthe History ofNursing Profrssional Welfare Field Service are now an adven at the ICN meeting in Vancouver inJune 1997. Practice Group. This lady was a RegisteredNurse, public health turous and nostalgic part of a 41 year nurse, Director ofTuberculosis NursingforBrit Thepictures all were takenfrom Miss Paulsoilc career in the nursing profession and pub ish Columbia (1943-1966), Past President of photograph album compiled while she was here lic service. the Registered Nurses Association for British in the East Kootenay.

21 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 Murder at Christmas Hill: SirJames Douglas and the Peter Brown Affair by Lindsay F. Smyth

Quite rightly, the Canadian people some blankets and muskets, Douglas as ious to proceed without delay, the Gov take great pride in the fact that their sumed that their sole motivation was “the ernor was forced to await the return of country was settled without recourse to desire of plunder.”1 the Beaver from a trading voyage to the the endemic Indian wars which charac Perceiving that there could be no secu North Coast. During the interim he con terized the opening of the American rity for life and property in the Colony tinued negotiations with the leaders of West. Nevertheless, there were a number under the present state of affairs, Doug the Cowichan Confederacy Optimism of occasions when the stern imposition las resolved to teach the indigenous in over a promise by the chief to give up of British justice over what were then habitants that they could no longer live the offenders soon faded when it became commonly referred to as the “savage na beyond the pale of British Law. Accord known that they had been overruled by tions” might easily have provoked a san ingly, upon learning that one of the sus the friends and relatives of the two guinary war of the races. pects resided at Cowichan, and that the wanted men. One of the most notable of these other had fled to Nanaimo, he cut offthe Force was now the only resort. Con myriad tragedies pertaining to the red sale of ammunition to the implicated cerned that he might not return from man’s collision with civilization com tribes, then sent word to the chiefs that such a dangerous mission, Douglas re menced on November 5, 1852, when a unless the fugitives were immediately sur quested Dr. J.S. Helmcken to rush for shepherd in the employment ofthe Hud rendered, he would send an armed force ward his planned marriage with the son’s Bay Company arrived at Fort Vic to seize upon them “in whatever place Governor’s eldest daughter, so that there toria with the chilling intelligence that they may be found.”2 The answer was a would be someone to care for his family his co-worker, Peter Brown, had been refusal, together with an assertion that the in the event that he was killed. murdered. A young Orkneyman who murdered man had insulted the wives of After further delays attributed to in came out to the Colony of Vancouver the two young braves, “and had merited clement weather, the expedition finally Island the previous year, Brown had been his doom.”3 got underway on the morning of Janu residing together with the informant, It was a trying hour for the fledgling ary4, 1853. In addition to the 130 blue- James Skea, at a sheep station at Christ Colony ofVancouver Island, with an im jackets and marines under Lieutenants mas Hill, located some four or five miles migrant population currently consisting Sansum and Moresby, the force was sup north of the Fort. of little over 200 souls. Douglas called plemented by a dozen or so members of

Taking personal charge of the investi upon Captain Augustus Kuper ofthe vis the colonial militia - the Victoria gation Governor James Douglas pro iting warship Thetis to provide the nec Voltigeurs. Dressed in traditional ceeded with haste to the scene of the essary support to mount a punitive voyageur garb consisting of tassled caps, crime, where he found the deceased ly expedition, keenly aware that any action blue blanket capotes, and buckskin trou ing in a pooi of blood, having been shot resulting in overt hostilities would initi sers, the French-Iroquois mixed-bloods twice through the chest. Suspicion fo ate a war of revenge, and the imminent belonging to the militia were designated cused at once upon two young natives departure of the man-o’-war would leave to act as scouts, and as a personal body who, together with their wives, had paid the Colony in a defenceless state. For their guard to Governor Douglas. a “friendly” visit to the station earlier that part, the pioneer settlers were greatly Two days later the expedition arrived morning. As one of the men had been alarmed, fearful that the populous and at Cowichan Bay where it was known previously employed at the same place, warlike Cowichans might ultimately an that one of the suspects, named Squeero, there appeared to be little cause for alarm nihilate them. remained in the vicinity Still hoping to when Skea had driven the sheep out to As the uncharted waters off the east prevail upon the native leaders to surren pasture, leaving Brown alone with the coast of the Island were deemed unsafe der the culprit quietly “and without re visitors. The atrocity had been discovered for a large sailing frigate, it was decided course to coercive measures,”4 Douglas at midday, when the shepherd returned that the HBC steamer Beaver would tow requested them to attend a conference to find his companion sprawled lifeless the troops aboard the schooner Recov aboard the Beaver. Should they refuse, before the door of their hut. It being evi ery, together with the launch, barge, and he declared in no uncertain terms, he dent that the assassins had carried away pinnace from HMS Thetis. While anx

22 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 i ar.. • r

N N “75ttrw$. •tN M .

HMS THETIS came to the Pacific coast in 1852 topreventAmerican minersfrom annexing the Queen Charlotte Islands after a rich gold discovery there. The Captain of the THETIS on the 1852-53 cruise wasAugustus L Kuper Photo courtesy ot the B.c.A.RS. #A-00271. would then be under “the painful neces presenrs for the tribe, beside his pistols cally painted with red ochre, decked with sity of assuming a hostile attitude,”5 and and cutlass, the use of either to depend loin-ropes of shells which met their deer marching against their villages with the on circumstances. Then, guarded by the skin leggings, and clattered with every forces under his command. The chiefs Canadians and marines, he and Lt. movement as they leaped from the ca replied that they would meet the Gover Sansum advanced to the front and noes.”7 nor at the mouth of the Cowichan River waited.”6 James Douglas describes the long line the following morning, promising to Soon the melancholy boom of war- ofwar canoes as having “a very imposing bring the murderer with them. drums was heard off in the distance, and appearance as they pulled towards us,” “Day broke wet and sullen,” Lt. as Morseby further relates, “far-off cries the hideously painted occupants “chant Moresby says of the events which tran resolved themselves into war-songs, as a ing their warlike songs, whooping like spired on January 7, “but in order to gain fleet of large canoes paddled furiously demons, and drumming on their canoes a choice position we made an early start round a bend ofthe river and headed for by turns with all their might.” Although and landed our forces, anchoring our our position at full speed.” The young it was now obvious that the warriors were boats so that their guns dominated the gunnery officer estimated the Indian spoiling for battle, the iron-nerved white situation. A small tent was pitched for force at about 230, “their height exag chief cooly lit the pipe of council and the Governor, where were deposited gerated with head-plumes, faces terrifi began to smoke, watching with feigned

23 B.C. Historical News - FaIl 1997 Raising his hand in sign of peace, ful surrender of a criminal by this most Douglas began to address those who were warlike tribe-marked “an epoch in the sworn to defend the criminal to the last history of our Indian relations which extremity “Hearken, 0 chiefs,” said he. augurs well for the future peace and pros “I am sent by King George, who is your perity of the Colony.”4 friend, and who desires right only be Having successfully accomplished all tween your tribes and his men. Ifhis men that was desired at Cowichan, on Janu kill an Indian, they are punished. Ifyour ary 9 the expedition proceeded north young men do likewise, they must also ward through Sansum Narrows, suffer. Give up the murderer, and let there determined to capture the second suspect be peace between the peoples, or I will implicated in the murder ofPeter Brown. burn your lodges and trample out your Douglas’ Indian “secret service” had in formed him that the man’s name was For a moment there was stunned si Siam-a-sit, and that his father was head lence. “Then a chief lifted his spear and chief over one of the villages located up advanced a step, all the warriors bran the Nanaimo River. Anchoring off the dishing their weapons and rattling their river delta that same evening, the Gov loin-ropes, till the noise was as the crack ernor once again invited those Indians ling of a forest fire.” About this time “connected with the murderer” to attend Squeero himselfappeared, “armed cap a a council aboard the steamer. pie,” and when the excitement died down According to Moresby’s account: “The a little the chiefs began to protest his in tribe had agreed that the culprit should nocence, reiterating the plea of provoca be given up on the following morning, tion that had already been put forward. and in the early dawn the canoes came Douglas in reply “promised a fair trial stealing slowly down the current, the and due acquittal if their case were paddles striking the water in time to a

proven” — and so the “great powwow” rhythmic wail, the head-plumes white, began.11 and no war-paint, all these being signs James Douglas - 1863 Pholo credil SCARS A-01228 Over the course of the next four hours of a peaceable intention. At the mouth indifference as they came rushing up the the heated debate raged back and forth ofthe river they came to a standstill, and slope “in the state of the wildest excite as Douglas endeavoured to inculcate the not an inch farther would they venture ment,” their demeanour so hostile that principles of British justice, while pro until the Governor had publicly prom the marines could hardly be restrained claiming that henceforth British Law was ised them a safe return. from firing a volley amongst them.”8 to be the law of the land. “All this time “The object of this demand was soon Astonishingly enough, despite the fact we were kept in suspense with the pleas clear, for the chiefs immediately boarded that they were well armed with HBC ure of seeing the long barrels of the In us, and without the man we sought. muskets, the Cowichans also withheld dian guns peering over the rocks and “An angry palaver ensued, and doubt their fire. Displaying a knowledge oftac stones at us,” Lt. Moresby goes on to say, less they would have been detained as tics that alarmed the British troops, they “and you can fancy how our men longed hostages but for the precaution they had took possession ofthe higher ground and to get at them for we all thought the talk taken. completely outflanked them. “I desired would end in nothing.”2 At last, to eve “However, there was no choice but to to move our men,” Moresby recalls, “but ryone’s surprise, “the murderer was sur let them go, detaining their fur robes as it would have been ticklish work just rendered, and in somewhat striking pledges of surrender on the following then, and permission was refused.”9 fashion, for the warriors all sank to the day.”5 Evidently bewildered by the Governor’s ground, the culprit alone remaining About this time it was learned that, as stoicism, at the last moment before a standing and abashed.”3 at Cowichan, the young warriors had collision the warriors faltered in their It was conjectured that the Cowichans pledged themselves to defend their com advance and stood before him, glaring were “amenable to reason” as a result of rade. Accordingly, it occasioned no great ferociously. Three chiefs, each bearing a their desire to maintain vital trade rela surprise when, on the morning of the spear, stepped forward to confront the tions with the Hudson’s Bay Company, 12th, 15 canoes arrived bringing a quan fearless leader of the King George men, under whose auspices Vancouver Island tity of furs which the tribes offered as as the British were yet known despite the was first settled. In his dual role as chief reparations for the killing, in accord with fact that Victoria had ruled the Throne agent ofthe Company, Governor Doug Indian custom. They were made to un for the past 15 years. las was jubilant, professing that the peace- derstand that no such compromise would

24 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 be accepted, and as they had not kept but silently a heavy sliding-door was never to see more. It was strange to hear terms and delivered up the suspect as pushed up, and at this wordless invita ‘Tous les Bourgeois de Chartres’ and promised, Douglas detained the father, tion we entered upon one of the strang ‘Malbrouck’ awaking the echoes of the hoping by this step to induce the surren est scenes imaginable. We stood in the Indian roof and startling the frosty si der of the son. middle of the great lodge, and the early lence! Satisfied at last, warm and dry; we After two more days of tedious nego twilight had fallen, so that the chief illu slept till morning broke. tiations it was again agreed that the man minant was the flicker of several fires, At daybreak on the 15th the Com should be given up. He actually came off which sent their dancing light and mander-in-Chief led his men further in a canoe to within close proximity of shadow over the dusky interior. As our upriver to the main village, “consisting the vessels, but on seeing the formidable eyes accustomed themselves, we saw the of many large houses and containing all figure ofGovernor Douglas approaching silent Indians standing in the gloom of their stock of winter provisions.”17 This to meet him, Sian-a-sit bolted for shore the wide lodge, massively formed as it was the village over which his hostage, and vanished into the forest. was, roofed and carved, with something Siam-a-sit’s father, was the principal chief; His patience exhausted, Douglas or majestic in its simplicity and perfect ad Perceiving that the inhabitants had taken dered an immediate advance towards the aptation to its purpose. their most valuable property and fled, villages, but the boats had scarcely en “Four of us only had entered with the Douglas assembled the few Indians he tered the river before their progress was Governor, yet they laid down their arms could find and then delivered his final arrested by the shallowness ofthe stream. and listened sullenly while he repeated ultimatum - unless the murderer was This was a serious setback, as he was his demand. Then one replied in their given up he would burn their villages and counting upon the intimidating effect the guttural dialect.’ destroy their supply of provisions.! cannon they carried would have upon the “It is well,’ he said, ‘it is well. But what Simultaneously it was learned that the natives. Nevertheless, the troops were can the old men do? The young men have fugitive was hiding near a small village a landed without delay, despite an attempt hidden our brother. They have taken him few miles to the north, at what is now by the Nanaimo warriors to scare them far away, and our eyes have not followed Departure Bay. The Voltigeurs were at away “noise with and bluster.” their track. We cannot do what we once despatched in the pinnace with a John Moresby, in a highly readable vol would, for the young men are strong and party ofseamen, to see ifthey could catch ume of reminiscences entitled Two Ad we are weak.’ him. As fate would have it, a few inches mirals, thus describes the events of the “This brought us up all standing. It was of snow had fallen the preceding night, 14th: evidently true, and the Governor him making ideal conditions for tracking. “The expedition immediately started, self was nonpiussed. The winter night, Discovering a fresh trail where the fugi the Governor and Canadians taking the with an icy splendour of stars and frost, tive and his friends had fled into the for head of the column; and after an hour or was closing in, and there was nothing for est, the “half whites” raced in pursuit, two we found ourselves in a beautiful it but to bivouac and await events. soon arriving at a recently abandoned open valley leading to a formidable stock “Our men were brought into the lodge, campfire. “Their Indian blood leaped at ade enclosing an unusually large Indian and under the influence ofJack’s genial the sight, and, like sleuthhounds, they lodge. stockade The was built of split ce ity even the Indian reserve thawed. followed the tracks, until one single trail dar, about 20 feet high, firmly sunk in Standing apart at first, they soon gath separated from the others.”8 the ground, and well braced together, ered round the fires, and supplemented Led by their Sergeant, Basil Battineau, with-loop-holes for guns between the in our pork and biscuits with a welcome the Voltigeurs traced the man’s footprints terstices. A spacious platform ran round supply of salmon and potatoes. Bushels to a stream - subsequently named Chase the inside about 6 feet from the top, and ofthe latter were cooked by heating large River on account ofthis incident - where this manned was by armed warriors. stones red hot in a pit and covering them they temporarily lost the trail. It was soon “Lieutenant Sansum was for immedi with mats, when, after filling the pit with regained, however, when the trackers ate attack, but the Governor refused, potatoes, water was poured in, and the agreed that their quarry had fled up knowing that if we got the boats up, the steam confined with skins and mats over stream, occasionally swimming in a des place might be taken without bloodshed. all. Oh, the comfort, the abundance of perate attempt to avoid leaving sign. The Accordingly I was sent back to make the that meal, after the fatigues of the day! It fugitive very nearly escaped, in fact, for attempt, and after several hours’ hard stands preeminent in my gastronomic evening was falling and Sgt. Battineau tracking officers by and men in the icy memories, and when it was over grog was was about to abandon the chase when he water, we got into the main stream and not wanting, and the pipe and song went heard a sound of a flintlock musket snap abreast the stockade. round, our hosts joining with their deep as it missed fire, coming from a nearby “Watchful eyes had followed our every guttural where they could, and the Ca pile ofdriftwood. “the scout followed the movement, and intense anxiety was at nadians singing the songs their ancestors direction of the sound, but in the dark once apparent. Not a word was uttered, had brought from the France they were could not see the Indian, who tried a sec

25 B.C. Historical News - FaIl 1997 ond shot at him when the priming only number of Indians assembled to witness 11. Ibid.: 130-31. 12. Moresby to Father, Feb. 4, 1853. Ms., PABC, EIBIM8I. exploded, but the flash exposing his hid the white man’s terrible revenge, which 13. Moresby, John; Two Admirals, op. cit.: 131. ing place, he was immediately discovered, Douglas calculated would “make a deep 14. Douglas to Tod, Jan. 7. 1853. Private Papers. op. cit. 15. Moresby, John; Two Admirals, op. cit.: 13 1-32. knocked down and handcuffed.”9 impression on their minds, and have the 16. Ibid.: 132-34. The young chieftain was taken 17. Douglas to Barclay, Jan. 20, 1853. Letter reproduced in to the effect ofrestraining others from crime.”24 British Columbia Historical Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 3 stockade on Nanaimo River, where the Describing the final act, Moresby says: (1942): 205. 18. Moresby, John: Two Admirals, op. cit.: 134. main body of troops were then ordered “Neither of the murderers appeared to 19. Walbran, J.T.; British Columbia Coast Names, The to withdraw without inflicting further care one bit for death; they walked un Library’s Press, Vancouver, 1971: 197. 20. Moresby, John; Two Admirals, op. cit.: 135. damage. “It was pitiful enough to see the concernedly to the gallows and stood at 21. Ibid. splendid wild man captive among his least ten minutes on the 22. Bayley, Charles A.; Early Life on vancouver Island, scaffold with Ms., PABC, E/B/B34.2:8. own people,” Moresby recounts. “What out a limb trembling or the least appear 23/ Pearse, Benjamin W.; Early Settlement ofVancouver they felt I know not. What they evinced ance of fear.” While the on-looking Island, Ms., PABC, E/B/P31: 13. 24. Douglas to Barclay, Jan. 20, 1853. op. cit.: 205. was the stoical indifference of their tra braves remained stoical and quiet, when 25. Moresby to Father, Feb. 4, 1853. op. cit. 26. Moresby,John; Two Admirals, op. cit.: 135. dition. Not a sound was uttered, not a the drop fell and Squeero and Siam-a-sit 27. Douglas to Tolmie, Jan. 26, 1853. Microfilm, PABC, A/ look showed pity or anger as we closed were launched into eternity, the native 1360/3. prisoners round our and set off on the women “uttered the most mournful yells ...... return march.”2° and cries it has ever fallen to the lot of . ‘ A After resting to observe the Sabbath a men to hear.”25 . . jury composed of officers of the Royal The piteous sequence came when . “fly . Navy and the HBC was impanelled, and Siam-a-sit’s aged mother tottered to her . on the morning ofJanuary 17, 1853, the dead son’s feet, kissing and clinging to Counfry first formal trial in what is now Western them, and imploring that the fatal rope . worfhy . Canada convened on the quarterdeck of might be given to her. “And when her . of the Beaver. Upon examination the pris prayer was granted,” Moresby concludes, . a fufure . oners confessed the “whole particulars” “she put it round her neck and pressed it . . of the crime, and as it was clearly ascer to her lips, whilst her tears ran in tor . . . should be . tained that the story regarding their vic rents, and some ofour own eyes were not . . “26 . tim’s attempt to violate their wives was a dry . inferesfed . fabrication, they were condemned to be Immediately afterwards the expedition . . hanged that same afternoon. returned to Victoria, where Governor lfl ifs past . Several chiefs were invited to attend the Douglas subsequently expressed his con . . trial, while Siam-a-sit’s mother and wife viction that “the Almighty disposer of . in canoes “beating events . remained alongside, favoured the just cause, and the . their breasts and tearing their hair with land is now cleansed from the pollution ‘II. Kaye Lamb. . an abandonment of grief very touching of innocent blood.”27 ...... to witness.”2’ Indeed, the mother was so distressed she implored the court to take her husband the head chiefand hang him This’ writer spends his summersprospecting near Christmas Gift instead, “as he was old and could not live Telegraph Creek and winters in Victoria ‘pros Subscriptions long, the other was young, and one for pecting” in the B.C. Archives. send a subscription to a one was Indian law.”22 When these ef FOOTNOTES friend or relative at $12 per forts proved unsuccessful she made a I. Douglas to Barclay, Nov. 5, 1852. 1,etters to HBC on year within Canada, $17 to speech “upbraiding the tribe for not fol the Affairs ofVancouvers Island Colony, PABC, A/Cl an address outside lowing her advice or raiding Victoria and 20/Vi2A: 104. 2. Douglas to Yale, Nov. 8, 1852. Quoted by). Strickland the country. getting possession of all the guns, pow in Vancouver Daily Province, May31, 1947. 3. Moresby, John; Two Admirals, John Murray, London, der, and blankets in the store, before the 1909: 127. Mail your cheque to: white men should increase in number.”23 4. Douglas, James; Diary entry for Jan. 6, 1853. Private The B.C. Historical News, Papers of Sir James Douglas (2d 5cr.) Original in Towards sunset the prisoners were con Bancroft Library, University of California. Subscription veyed of Protection 5. Douglas, James; Quoted in B.A. McKelvie, Tales of to the south end Is Conflict, published by The Daily Province, Vancouver, Secretary, land - subsequently named Gallow Point 1949: 60. 6985 Canada 6. Moresby, John; Two Admirals, op. cit.: 129. - where the troops were formed up in a 7. Ibid.: 129-30. Way, Burnaby, hollow square round the place of execu 8. Douglas, James; Diary entry for Jan. 7, 1853. Private Papers, op. cit. BC V5E 3R6 tion, ready to quell any last moment at 9. Moresby, John; Two Admirals, op. cit.: 130. tempt at rescue. Simultaneously a large 10. Ibid.

26 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 A Balloon Mystery ofB. C. d’ Manitoba 1896-97 by Robert F. Bartholomew During the nineteenth century, an in probable the aerial voyagers might be suing a northerly course.”4 The location tense popular interest in balloons and driven southerly” and stray onto Cana described in Vowell’s dispatch would have ballooning captivated Europe and North dian terrain.2 The balloonists waited until place the sighting about 100 miles up the America. The most spectacular and am mid-August, at which time they aban Skeena River, some 500 miles north of bitious ballooning exploit of this period, doned their attempt due to poor weather. Victoria. At the time of the observation, was the heroic attempt by Swedish sci However, the isolated communities in local residents were unaware that Andtee entist Salomon August Andree to reach northern Canada did not know that had not begun his voyage.5 the North Pole.1 In the early 1890’s, dis Andree’s expedition was cancelled, and The following day, August 13th, more cussion of such a trip was met with con they remained on the lookout for his fa details of the dispatch became public, siderable press skepticism, but as the mous balloon. being revealed that it was dated July 3rd, scientific reputation ofAndree was con The reports of phantom balloon was sent from Hazelton, involving the siderable, he was eventually able to ob sightings began on the afternoon ofJuly observation of a boy who reported see tain sufficient funds in 1893 to undertake 1st, 1896, when numerous residents in ing a semicircular black object near the the journey. Such a voyage to this vast, the city of Winnipeg, claimed to see a setting sun, which soon disappeared uncharted territory, was considered to be balloon flying rapidly in the distance.3 about 40-feet above the timber line. The one of the last great adventures left on Several residents expressed the view “that dispatch, sent to Superintendent Vowell earth. Meticulous planning went into the it was Andree’s balloon,” but they were by Indian Agent R.E. Loring, concluded trip and building the balloon, the Omen subsequently informed that the latest re by noting that “the boy’s description of (meaning Eagle). Andree’s plans made ports had it that Andree had not even the balloon and its actions leaves no headlines around the world from 1893 left. Once this was realized, there was doubt as to its reality, and is no doubt until he and his two crewmen froze to some discussion that the sighting could Andree’s balloon expected to have left death in 1897 without ever reaching the have resulted from a “toy balloon sent Spitzbergen for the north pole” on July Pole. up in honor of the Confederation holi 1 st.6 A second dispatch was also revealed But this is only part of the story. In day.” The press report concluded by not in the same press account, sent by In 1896, the year before his death, Andree ing that, “Whether miniature or real, the dian Agent Loring to Superintendent and his crew had travelled to Danes Is passage ofthe mysterious balloon caused Vowell, dated July 10th from Hazelton. land on the northwestern tip of a good deal of talk among citizens last He wrote that Ghali, chief of the Spitzbergen, where he had constructed a night.” Toy balloons were also known as Kitspioux, observed a balloon-like object giant building 95-feet long and 100-feet “fire balloons” during this period. These while trapping with a group of Indians high, to shelter the balloon from the items were quite popular and commonly on Blackwater Lake, above the head wa harsh elements, so that it would be in sold at shops which dispensed fireworks. ters of the Skeena on the evening ofJuly excellent condition prior to the attempt. They were comprised ofpaper with can 3rd. He stated that the object was Andree had originally intended to make dles attached near the mouth and made brightly illuminated and was travelling his polar expedition in 1896. On June buoyant through the generation ofheat. almost due north. Agent Loring also 30th 1896, he had the balloon installed On August 12th, a sensational story noted that the Indians living along the inside the structure, and he and the crew appeared in the press, discussing an ap Skeena “were made aware that they were waited for favorable weather conditions parent sighting of Andree’s balloon, as a liable to see during the beginning of this under which to ascend. The attention of telegram was received by the government month, a balloon going north, and ofthe the world focused on Andree, and gov office in Ottawa on August 11th, from purpose of its occupants, etc., and to re ernments with territory in the polar re the Superintendent of Indian Affairs in port to me anything noticed by them of gions, were asked to inform their citizens British Columbia, A.W Vowell. It stated: that description.”7 of the event and render any assistance to “Credible information received by Agent In late September, Englishman J. the aeronauts should they later land Lomas from two Indian parties, separated Melville Stoddard who was hunting with there. The Canadian government and by long distance at time of observation, two Indians between Cross Sound and Hudson’s Bay Company publicized to that the Andree balloon had been sighted Mackenzie Bay at about the same time Native Canadian peoples, that “it was in latitude 55.15, longitude 127.40, pur

27 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 the sightings occurred, told journalists several days between the last week ofJuly ing a triumphant return.’9 Coinciden that he and his Indian companions at first and August 3rd, several sightings of a tally, at this time there was much press became convinced they were looking at “mysterious balloon or pillar of fire” were speculation that Andree may have already a balloon, possibly Andree’s. However, recorded in Victoria, British Columbia, reached the North Pole and be heading when he viewed the distant object including three women camping at back, although he planned to trek back. through his binoculars, it became evident Sidney, who watched it drift northerly The last report was by William Graham that the “balloon” was an unusually over Salt Spring Island. 12 On early Sun of Honora, Manitoulin Island in Lake shaped cloud, and it eventually dissi day morning, August 1st, three young Huron, who stated that on September pated. Stoddard noted that the Indians men camping near Goldstream also re 11th at 10 pm, he and several neighbours did not use the binoculars, and remained ported what appeared to be a brilliantly observed an illuminated object change steadfast in their conviction that it was glowing balloon. colours from red to white to blue, which Andree’s balloon.8 On August 5th at Douglas, Manitoba, was also seen at nearby Gore Bay. Mr. The 1897 Sightings several residents observed an illuminated Graham suggested that the object was Andree’s second and final attempt to object about 11 pm, swaying in the sky Andree’s balloon.20 reach the North Pole transpired on July and “resembling the shape of a massive It should be emphasised that almost 11, 1897, when he ascended from Danes balloon.” It was travelling northward, certainly no one could or would have Island. The exact details of his demise disappeared after 45 minutes, and was been able to fly in a balloon above were not known until 1930, when sail assumed to be Andree’s balloon.13 Dur Canada at this time, particularly under ors visiting ‘White Island, discovered the ing the early morning hours of August the observed conditions. Firstly, most expedition’s remains, including undevel 6th, two firemen on the Victoria city balloons that were in use were tethered oped film and notes describing the trag brigade, observed a bright aerial light to a rope and used for show purposes. A edy that befell them. Sixty-five hours hovering above Discovery Island for over so-called “free-flying” balloon travelling after taking oW Andree was forced to land two hours, moving in a general westerly in such northern regions, and at night, just 300 miles from his departure point direction. At one point, the pair thought would have been almost certainly sui after Arctic drizzle formed an ice coating they could discern “a dark body outlined cidal, and have required considerable in on the balloon. He and his crew died on behind the circle of intense light.”4 vestment of time and money, and no the arduous trek back to civilisation. When the observation was denounced as attempt was ever recorded. However, it was not until 33 years after the likely misperception of a toy bal So what were people seeing? The most the event that the world learned his fate. loon,’5 several local residents wrote in to likely explanation comes from main In the days and weeks after Andree and support their claims.16 On August 8th, stream theories of social psychology. his crew sailed into oblivion, his wherea at 12:30 am, a family residing on the Human perception is very fallible and bouts again became the subject ofintense outskirts ofWinnipeg, also thought they subject to error. The eyes and mind do press discussion, and those living in saw Andree’s balloon shining a bright not function like a video cassette recorder. northern countries were told to keep a light as it disappeared to the northwest The brain interprets information as it is watch for his balloon. after 45-minutes.’7 On August 13th at received. A major influence on our per The first sighting of the 1897 episode about 9 pm, “a very bright red star sur ceptions depends upon our mental out was reported in Northern British Colum rounded by a luminous halo” was ob look or frame of reference at the time of bia by Rivers Inlet fisherman W.S. served for about 15 minutes by the event.2’ This is clearly evident in dis Fitzgerald, who was salmon fishing with thousands ofVancouver residents, swiftly puted referee decisions during closely a companion on the morning of July traversing the southern sky This followed fought sporting matches or in trying to 10th. At about 2.45 am they spotted a a sighting by several prominent citizens judge distances across lakes. Within “great balloon-shaped body” that was of Rossland, who watched it hover for highly ambiguous situations such as peo “powerfully illuminated” floating about some time before fading from sight to ple scanning the night-time skies for an a mile above a mountain range, when “all the south.’8 imaginary but plausible balloon, “infer at once the thought burst upon us that it In September, there were two final re ence can perform the work ofperception was a balloon and none other than ports. The first occurred on the evening by filling in missing information in in Andree’s.”9 The light appeared to drift of the 17th at about 6 pm, as several stances where perception is either ineffi southwesterly for about two hours, when farmers residing near Souris, Manitoba, cient or inadequate.”22 This is not to it faded out of sight.1° On July 12, sev “distinctly saw a balloon floating over suggest that the phantom balloon wit eral residents of a nursing home at them at considerable height” travelling nesses were fabricating stories, hallucinat Kamloops, British Columbia, reported southwesterly. It was in sight for 5 min ing or had vivid imaginations. a similar illuminated object “fluttering” utes and the farmers were certain that a Most-modern-day reports of unidenti for over two hours before disappearing flag was protruding from the top of the fied flying objects are simply the result to the southwest.” Over the course of vessel, suggestive that Andree was mak of redefining a tangible object at a dis

28 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 tance, such as stars and planets, or a Va- riety ofother natural phenomena, reflect 1ITIf.IJ (OLUID[fl .I.IIfTO.1I(1II. T.ATIOH TOUR ing the observer’s expectations.23 The Phantom sightings of Andree’s balloon appear to be a classic example of this process.24

Or were they seeing UFOS? - The Editor.

The author grew up on a farm on the Cana dian - US bordersoutbofMontreaL He is now on staffat theJames Cook Universily ofNorth ens Queensland in Townsvilte, Australia. S.

FOOTNOTES LT.C. RoIt (1966). The Aeronaurs: A History of Ballooning 1783-1903. London: Longmans. p. 152. 2. “Can it be Andree? British Columbia Indians saw a

- S. balloon. . . The explorers driven far our of their course.. .5 “ S Manitoba Morning Free Press, August 12, 1896, p. 1. 5 - ;“ ‘ 3. “A mysterious balloon. Where was it from and whither C--. - bound?” Manitoba Morning Free Press, July 2, 1896, p.4. BCHF tour group at the Nikkei Memorial Centre in New Denve, May 2, 1997 4. “Can it be Andree. . .“ Manitoba Morning Free Press, Photo courtesy of Ron Weiwood August 12, 1896, p. 1. 5. Ibid., p.1. 6. “It was no dream. The ghostly balloon seen by 1’•cI! Winnipeggers,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, August 13, 1896, p.2. 7. Ibid., p.2. 8. “Was only a cloud. How a balloon story originated in the mountains,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, Seprember 28, 1896, p.3. 9. “That pillar of gre,” Victoria Daily Colonist, July 18, 1897, p. 5; “Aerial mystery. The wonderful sight witnessed by two fishermen,” Manitoba Free Press, July 20, 1897, p.1. 10. “Aerial mystery...” Manitoba Free Press, July 20, 1897, p. 1. 11. “What is it?” [editorial], Daily Colonist, July 20, 1897, p.4. 12. “Victoria news,” Daily News-Advertiser, August 3, 1897, p.5. 13. “Again the airship. Can Andree’s balloon be visiting these parts,” Manitoba Free Press, August 9, 197. p. 3. 14. “That light in the air,” Victoria Daily Colonist, August 7, 1897, p.7. 15. “The ruddy moon. Late hours prove too much...” Victoria Daily Colonist, August 8, 1897, p. 2. 16. “That morning mystery,” Victorian Daily Colonist, Picnic lunch at Sandon, May 2, 1997 showing some oftheparticipants on the BCHF bus tour out ofNelson. August 12, 1897, p.6. Photo courtesy of Ron Welwood 17. “Another aerial visitor,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, August 10, 1897, p. 5. 18. “News of the province (Rossland),” Daily News- Advertiser, August 15, 1897, p.6. 19. “A balloon again. This time seen over Souris,” Manitoba Free Press, September 20, 1897, p. 8. 20. “Another Andree mystery,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, September 28, 1897, p.4. 21. Buckout, R. (1974). “Eyewitness Testimony.” Scientific American 231, pp. 23-31. 22. Massad, CM., Hubbard, M., Newston, D. (1979). “Selective Perception of Events.” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 15, 5 13-532. 23. Bartholomew, RE. (1989). UFO Lore; A Social Psychological Study of a Modern Myth in the Maldng. Stone Mountain; GA: Arcturus Books. 24. I am grateful to Professor Thomas E. Bullard, Department of Folklore, Indiana University at Bloomington, who provided the author with the press accounts used in this article.

Ken Butl.i one ofthe chiefconservators giving a conducted tour ofthe S.S. Moyie. On thefar left isJack Morrisformer Mayor ofKaslo who has worked with the Moyie restorationforyear.c Photo courtesy of George Thomson

29 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 A Trip Through the Fraser Valley by Interurban by Ken Broderick

My first lesson in finance occurred on got. rose up. “I am selling my farm.” some the same morning as our trip, on the That area ofBurnaby was one that our hungry and disgruntled homesteader had Interurban, through the Fraser Valley and father had finished logging and subdi mentioned. Our father had become ex along Sumas Lake to Chilliwack. We (my vided in 1908, shortly after leaving the tremely interested. His mind, I am sure, mother, my two sisters and two broth Yukon Telegraph and with only a few immediately placed this specific farm in ers) were staying, for a few weeks, at a business ventures in between. the middle of his dream. lodging house on Cassie Avenue, near During the Vancouver land boom that, “How much?” he asked and made a Imperial in Burnaby, which was owned like a forest fire, raged from the early deal for the first price mentioned. Now, by a family named Krause. Our mother 1900’s until 1912, Belcarra was subdi here we were in Burnaby, selling off the had given each of us four children, a coin vided as far as Whisky Cove; Savary Is last of his holdings, the few houses and and had sent us off to a corner store well land, offLund, was surveyed into 50 foot lots that were his last chance to return to known to my older siblings. She kept the lots and narrow canyons on the North Vancouver and a business of his own. baby with her. Shore had been sold to eager buyers. He He could not leave his job, so our Upon arrival at the store, the two girls had a Real Estate office on Park Street, mother, completely unversed in business, and my older brother had, in turn by age, now Commercial Drive, in Vancouver. was delegated to sell off the remaining made their choices. He became a Notary Public and Land houses and to return, with the cash, to “I’ll have one ofthose and two ofthose Surveyor. During those intoxicating the disillusioning muskeg farm near and one of those and one of those and years, our father had sold lots and built Rocky Mountain House. Real estate deals three of those and three of those,” my and rented houses, some ofwhich he still take time to make and complete, so we older sister said. owned in 1921, the time of which I am were left, kicking our heels, in the board I’ll have two of those and one of those writing. I don’t believe the excitement of ing house on Cassie Avenue. and two of those,” said my other sister. those years ever died within him. Our mother was a light hearted, gre “I’ll have one ofthose and one ofthose A series of deals based, in most cases garious and caring person who always and one of those,” said my older brother. on bad judgement, but at times just bad made loyal, lifetime friends in our many The lady who owned the store handed luck, had left him as a spare board teleg ports of call. When we were living on a over those purchases. rapher with the C.PR. farm at Peardonville, near Abbotsford, “I’ll have one of those and three of Our family of seven had lived in ac where I was born, she had made close those and two of those and two of those commodation as cramped as a railway friends with the Buchanans, a neighbour and three of those and one of those,” I boxcar perched on the shoulder of Ca ing family. Having kept up a correspond said. thedral Mountain. But now, we lived in ence over the years, she knew that they The store lady, contemptuously, took a grand, rented house in Rocky Moun now lived at Edenbank, near Chilliwack. one small candy out of a jar. “You’ll have tain House, Alberta where he was sec She decided to make the long journey one of these and that’s it!” she said. ond trick telegrapher. In the quiet of his by Interurban. The Interurban was sim I howled! I was being robbed. My sib four p.m. to midnight shift, he was able ply two cars, each about twice the length lings shooed me out ofthe shop and gave to occupy his quite brilliant mind with of a streetcar, hooked together and me that first lesson in economics. the schemes that would return to him, manned by a motorman and a conduc “I,” said my oldest sister, the brain, he was quite sure, the wealth that had tor. While we were down at the local whose lofty logic had always stumped been, so many times, almost within his store, she had been preparing for our everyone, “had ten cents.” “She,” point grasp. departure. ing to my other sister, “had five cents.” He was a farmer at heart and always Shortly after, we were at the McKay Pointing to my older brother, she de had a garden. The old farm house we Interurban Station, and she was loading claimed, “He had five cents.” She let all were living in was placed on several acres her little army aboard. In those days, a this sink into my almost seven year old of land so he had, not only a huge gar man would have preferred to have been mind, “You,” she pronounced, “had one den, but a cow and should have been seen barefooted than bareheaded and, as cent! You get one candy. One little content. our mother boarded, every man in the candy!” It was a lesson that I never for- His old, romantic concept of farming car would have removed his hat and held

30 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 it in his lap while there was any lady on night after a long day concluding real The Interurban tracks turned east board. I do not remember this happen estate deals, taken his trotters and hooked within feet of the border and followed ing at this time, the excitement ofboard them to his buggy to make a fast, and the high ground that formed the south ing is my only memory, but this exact futile, run along the Yale Road to his farm ern shore of the lake, running through incident occurred in Calgary a few years at Peardonville, to find as he had feared, Upper Sumas, Arnold and Vedder Cross later. My mother and I boarded a 3,000 day old chicks dead under cold ing. The sight of that beautiful lake with streetcar, the seats ofwhich were entirely covers and the hired man asleep. Sumas Mountain in the distance remains filled with men. As soon as my mother The Interurban climbed the hill from in my memory. It seemed to me that the boarded, every hat came swiftly off; the South Westminster, passing many sta Interurban clattered along high above its man occupying the first seat arose and, tions such as Scott Road, Newton and shores for hours. with a little nod, offered it to my mother. Sullivan before stopping at Cloverdale. I Then, we were past the lake and into As the tram arrived at stop after stop, likely fell asleep there for I remember the trees alongside of the mountain, to other women boarded and, in each case, nothing more ofthe trip until we reached turn north at Vedder Crossing until, at a man rose from his seat and offered it to Abbotsford. Edenbank, only a few miles from the lady. Finally, there was only one man Shortly after Abbotsford, with the Chilliwack, we left the train and were met still seated and, when another lady Interurban running south towards the by the daughter of our friends. She boarded, he stubbornly remained seated. American Border at Huntingdon, we got loaded us into the farm wagon to trun When she walked down the aisle to stand our first glimpse of Sumas Lake. At that dle slowly down the road to the farm beside him, he pretended he did not see time, the entire valley from Sumas house where we were to visit. her and looked everywhere but in her Mountain south to the high land along direction. In a short time, he became the border, was a large lake. It extended, The author is retired and living in North Van aware that every person in the tram was in length, from the Vye Road, just south couvei staring at him, some of the men obvi of Abbotsford, through what is now ously angry It was too much for him and, Yarrow and to the Vedder river, which REFERENCES finally, with very poor grace, he stood up had created it. Not too long after our trip Transit in British Columbia by Brian Kelly and Daniel Francis and offered his seat to her. in 1921, the lake was diked and drained The Fraser Valley by John Cherringron. In but a minute, we passed a triangu to create land for a Soldier Settlement lar lot that was covered by a clutter of project. chicken coops. These chicken coops had been constructed by our father in 1910, in another ill-fated venture, on this lot at the corner of Kingsway and Imperial and were, in fact, still there in the 1950’s. The seats of the old cars were ofrough cane and chafed our young bottoms as the two creaky cars jolted and bucked their way down the steep 12th Street hill into New Westminster. At the other end of Columbia Street, the trams swung onto the railway bridge. This bridge, built in 1904, carried the Great Northern Railway. The Great Northern, at that time, had two lines running into Vancouver from Washing ton State. One was from Sumas, through Aldergrove and the other was from Blame through White Rock. The Intrerurban shared this bridge. At the southern end of the bridge, the Interurban turned west along the Fraser, stopping at South Westminster, where Pictograph (Indian Rock Paintings) in a Hedley Cave 14.1 milesfrom Keremeos. Takenfrom pictograpbs the ferry to New Westminster had been. in the Interior ofBritish Columbia - 1968 Wayside Press. Courtesy of John Corner - from his book. It was from the livery stable at this ferry that our father had, in 1916, late one

31 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997

32 1997 Fall News B.C. Historical -

1790. along armour their last with pressure the Nootka a and man the However, in

to men a slaughtered were at terest white despised settlement established and

the a to battle, bloody sharp, her a made After protect valley. in attempt final

1779, Creek as came Keremeos the down of they in ending Spain exploration

page. See previous the on illustration

force attacked in hostility; them Indian voyages disastrous After northern three

and by the disease winter duced necessary during north. was farther

re been had on hi numbers their decisive area hold knowing Pacific the action ment ofAgriculture.

Depart is the for inspector retired a Corner and was movements intruders’ the maintain to lowed she if that her realized

1968. found in out came book ings

hisfirst since

fol had Indians Similkameen that Island The Spain Nootka Vancouver on

Paint 50 book Rock Indian his additional with

area slaves. their the tured of muscles their in were flexing

version revised a of ingfor of publication the

cap had area the in and they arrive where Russians 1774 until British the when arrang currently is TISH BRJ He COLUMBIA.

to OF westward INTERIOR PICTOGRAPHS southward steps THE IN and wasn’t It Bay. far as their Francisco San as north

to book earlier his mission

drawingfrom the use retraced the in and but Spring building log only Diego others, several later and

John Okanagan of grantedper Corner Landing

large a at eethey Here a in Kelowna. wintered San mission 1769 In built Spain

Acknowledgement:

today’s near village Indian an past just for stage expansion. western

to Lake Okanagan set followed they and America north the eastern divided Spain in Kelowna. his zens’ borne from publications

senior and newspaper citi local a to column Turning Penticton owhere to now. is east and 1763 Britain until Great when after

a history contributes still He years.

many for

moved then carriers as act to and oners made was northward explore to attempt

of Okanagan Wn tidbits collected has Shilvock

pris Indian several took for intruders The coast no Spain, session Pacific the of

area. into south the their 1513 pos took from and in came Panama of mus * ****

and ever. a main ever for mystery and horses riding clothes “metal” the wearing Isth From crossed Balboa time the

re the probably will legend Indian ing men white several arrived, Men” George century. 18th the of middle the

surround story true the but wonderment “King the century, before 18th California to history in go the must in back

cause to nMill on continue will Creek of middle the htabout that telling legend a why and when we discover To north.

uktfound musket The rusty and logs rotted have Similkameen the of The come Indians far this Spaniards that have could

o sure. for know never we’ll but Spaniards Olalla to Keremeos. and show tend able, speculation, lssome plus

likely quite were This men of group around Valley Similkameen the in found avail are facts What Valley. Okanagan

century? mid-18th the in Ocean has cific been which sorts of a does of record exist a the invasion and Spanish of mystery

Pa the from 300 etand nent miles about there However, archives. Spanish any the and started myth called imaginations

conti American North up far this in found the been has ever exploration such log re was building old the announced,

hydoing they were What were who at they? attempt an of record no that strange find the when and was ish-type musket

Keremeos, near buried and slaughtered it’s true, is hypothesis second 1902 the up If Span ancient an in turned he

were they and Kelowna, near winter sea. by made attempts being similar with site the near land his plowing was farmer

they did ot and south the come did conjunction from in Spain for territory to the a When doggo. lay years matter that

men white If one. to reason this believe lay by claim and land explore to sent men 40 next the for plus and Indians) several

good there’s so siderable truth of element of troop a more or, likely, 25, (about northward ing vicinity the in few inhabitants

con a contain eed generally legends Indian prowl soldiers renegade of a group been among aroused was the Little interest

dogs. with them together guarded and have could came, they to why As it several horses. and men

captives their chained Spaniards usually 1863. in found were which housed have to building enough large

by dogs. guarded roped herding logs Indians rotted the for right about be would log ancient an of the remains decaying

and headgear Spanish This apparent 1795. 1769 wearing and iebetween time stumbled he on searching when gold for

horsemen a showing cave, secluded of some probably was Valley Okanagan Creek Mill it now is along what wandering

the on wall painted Indian the to pictographs, come did Spaniards if that deduce Boucherie was In Isadore year that

are however, What found, can been has we history of bit little this From explained.

found. been Pacific. the in ownership sive satisfactorily been never has research,

has not site the day this To Keremeos. exclu Spain’s forever ending British, the prolonged and intense despite which,

and Olalla between somewhere grave by over taken was Nootka 1795, March, a mystery created that area Kelowna

an unmarked in weapons, and in buried and mounted Britain Great from the in made was a 1863 In discovery

Shilvock by Winston

Invasion? Spanish a There Was NEWS FROM BRANHES

Alder Grove Heritage Society The Annual Christmas Dinner is very popular which housed diesel generators in Port as is a summer outing. Alberni, was torn down and moved brick by This youthful organization has been very brick and beam by beam to Qualicum Beach. busy. Their Museum of Telephones was The City of Victoria has completed “the brick B.C. Hydro has donated a collection of early opened in June 1996. They have catalogued project” which means that a visitor to electrical household appliances for display in a collection of photographs, participated in downtown may now walk the perimeter of the former power house. the Langley Heritage Advisory Committee, early Fort Victoria as outlined with bricks. conducted a Christmas Carol Challenge for A portion of the display therein is a Youth, and had a series of speakers including Boundary Historical Society paleontological collection owned by local their MLA who talked on the history of B.C.’s Residents and members of Grand Forks and resident Graham Beard. parliament buildings. Greenwood expect a very busy summer as both communities celebrate their respective A major addition to the archives held here are Arrow Lakes Historical Society centennial anniversary of incorporation. photographs from the estate of the late Senator McRae (1874-1946). The Museum in Nakusp has registered a great increase in visitorship since it opened Nanaimo Historical Society President Gavin Halkett told of the regular Trail Historical Society with regular hours from May 4 to September The museum here is looking for a new home 28, 1996. Two students in the Secondary programs plus the special ceremonies conducted every 27th of November as as space to store or display recent donations School Work Experience Program were is extremely cramped. involved for 30 hours each. PRINCESS ROYAL DAY. Members have been assisting a group The Archives Committee is indexing early A simple but highly successful mode of fundraising has been a book raffle each preparing a book on Trail’s Heritage 1895- newspapers and cataloguing the oral 1945. histories collected by Milton Parent during 25 month. Attendance at each meeting averages years of interviewing. The Archives recently 45 people - out of a registered 85 members. Kootenay Museum Association acquired 10 School Registers covering Cowichan Historical Society The planning for and presentation of the Galena Bay School from 1912 to 1946 (the BCHF 1997 Conference was but one of entire time the school was open.) Their museum and archives have prospered with over 2,500 volunteer man hours, several major undertakings by this organiza Retired nurses are compiling a history of successful fund raisers such as Bingo and tion in Nelson’s Centennial Year. On March local health care, while a retired tugboat two Casino nights, an admission fee during 18 they provided flags and bunting for the re skipper is working with archivists as well as the summer, a Heritage House tour and a enactment of the presentation of letters patent (1897) from Lieutenant-Governor oldtimers in log - booming and transportation Summer Fete. from rivers to the various sawmills. Dewdney to Nelson City Council. They have Priscilla Davis, curator of the Cowichan Valley provided displays for the Capitol Theatre, Vancouver Historical Society Museum, has been appointed to the Board of cooperated with the Opera Troupe, and This organization has established or im Directors of the Royal British Columbia produced a paperback publication 100 DAYS; proved liaison with other community groups Museum in Victoria. 100 YEARS in conjunction with the NELSON including Heritage Vancouver, the Jewish The Cowichan Historical Society had to DAILY NEWS. Historical Society, the B.C. Genealogical assist the Canadian Legion restore the list of Princeton District Society, Black History Month Coalition, names on the cenotaph. The stone was & Museum Vancouver Heritage Advisory Committee and sandblasted, a process which made the Society the Southeast Vancouver Discovery Project. monument sparkle .. .but deleted the names This group has recruited the mayor and The Historical Hotline has been used by not listed thereon. councillors as member of their society. This only curious individuals, it has yielded calls has opened many doors and gained access from the Vancouver Sun and City Hall. Surrey Historical Society to city records. Vice This Society now has a page on the World President Kathleen Moore invited delegates come “The Ken Pugh of the Canadian Geographical Wide Web as part of the Vancouver Corn mu to to Fastest Growing City in Canada” for the B.C. Historical Survey worked in the Princeton Museum nity Network. We are all interested in learning cataloguing the fossil collection here as part Federation 1998 Conference April - how widely this page is consulted. 30 May 3. of the Canadian Inventory. Guest speakers included Dr. Phil Nuytten, She wryly noted that, Princeton joins with Sedro Wooley, Washing underwater biologist and inventor of the despite a petition that the Peace Arch be recognized by Canada ton, to publish and distribute tourist bulletins. underwater gear - the Newt Suit. Post on its 75th Anniversary, this was Princeton hosted the B.C. Naturalists Victoria Historical Society rejected in favor of Canadian Tire’s 75th Convention in May 1997. birthday. President Shirley Cuthbertson noted that District 69 Parksville there are 28 Heritage related societies in This organization has requested essays from This branch of our provincial historical Victoria with contrasting appeal to potential high school students wishing to apply for the federation took its name from the geographi members. She named the Heritage Tree Surrey Historical Society bursaries. Society, the Heritage Garden Society and the cal area they served, namely School District Canadian Costume Museum and Archives as Qualicum Beach Historical & 69. With recent School district amalgama tions is the number still examples. There are also several small Museum Society applicable? museums. This society is very proud of their second District 69 Historical Society has 100 members. Volunteers, plus paid staff, keep Their guest speakers are, for the most part, building - a brick and steel structure similar to writers of recently published history books. their first “home” for artifacts. The building, Craig Heritage Park open during the tourist

33 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 NEWS FROM BRANCHES season. Other volunteers, led by Paddy writings being edited by Charles Kahn. Alberni Historical held a tea to celebrate the Cardwell are accessioning artifacts and 50th Anniversary of the War Brides, and Certain older buildings on the island are cataloguing archival material. A display “Plywood Girls:’ Each War Bride introduced being honored and labeled with a plaque window in the Community Hall holds chang herself and noted where she had come from. prepared under the supervision of Tony Farr. ing exhibits and Marj Leffler puts articles on The “Plywood Girls”, with support of a history in both local newspapers. East Kootenay Historical photographic display, told a bit about their wartime employment in the Alberni Plywood Kamloops Museum Associalion Association Mill. President Wilf Schmidt drew smiles from This society has resumed its program of listeners when he described the Murder summer outings. In May they met with Alberni Historical is preparing to host the Mystery at the Court House, bus trips “To members of the Windermere & District conference for the B.C. Historical Federation Spuzzum and Back” and told of the new Fly Historical Society in the luxurious Fairmont in the year 2000. Fishing Museum in Kamloops. This Society Hot Springs Lodge for lunch and to hear Atlin Historical Society hosted our 1993 Conference but only Janet Wilder talk on the history of Fairmont. The prizewinning 1995 book Atlin: The Last recently became full fledged members On June 20 they visited Elko. of the B.C. Gold Rush has been reprinted, and is B.C. Historical Federation. We are very selling well. The small northern society is pleased to have you in the “family”. Silvery Slocan Historical Society President Webb Cummings participated in now directing the rehabilitation of the Globe Bowen Island Historians the bus tours of the BCHF delegates, acting Theatre. Built in 1917 following a fire that This organization was formed in 1967. Its as interpreter between his former worksite in destroyed the town core, the Theatre was members have been conducting outreach Sandon and his home in New Denver. The identified as a Landmark Building in Atlin’s tours called “People, Plants and Places.” main thrust of this organization is the 1990 Inventory and Management Plan. They are assembling archives and planning stabilization and restoration of the 100 year Another name is Pillman’s Hall as it later publications about the surprisingly diverse old Bank of Montreal building which houses operated as a movie hall under its owner activities on Bowen Island. their museum. Excitement was aroused builder Edwin Plllman. A central figure in when recent coverings were removed Atlin’s commercial history, Pillman, also a North Shore Historical Society revealing glorious oak panelling in the mortician, tended to drift off to sleep while This North Vancouver based group reaches manager’s office, and the embossed ceiling hand cranking films. The calls of the children out to citizens, and former residents of their was cleaned and restored to the original in the audience would quickly bring his side of Burrard Inlet. Their meeting places attractive blue color. Work is ongoing and an attention back. have changed several times until now they official re-opening scheduled for August 1st. In 1995 the Society began a three year have been allowed to meet in the North Gulf Islands Historical Globe Theatre Project with a budget of Vancouver Council Chamber. Recently they Society $180,000. $150,000 of financial support have assisted the museum in acquiring The 60 members of this society are scattered came from the Heritage Infrastructure considerable old fire fighting equipment. They over Mayne, Galiano, Pender, and Saturna Program with the British Columbia Ministry of have ten newsletters a year. Anyone with a Islands. A new Galiano Museum Society, Small Business, Tourism and Culture. The North Vancouver story to tell should send it however, has signed up 60 people on their Vancouver Foundation gave the Society a to: Newsletter Editor, island. Fund raising plus heritage awareness $20,000 grant to assist with Interior Rehabili Robert Brown, 2327 Kilmarnock Crescent, comes at the Canada Day Jamboree and the tation, and the Community of Atlin must raise North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 2Z3 Lion’s August Festival. Several Gulf Island $10,000. Plans are for a Grand Re-Opening (Phone 604-987-2441). members attended the BCHF conference. on August 1, 1998 in conjunction with Gold Chemainus Valley Historical Rush Centennial Celebrations in 1998. North Shuswap Historical Donations may be made by mail to: The Atlin Society Society Historical Society, Box 111, Atlin, B.C. Delegates from Chemainus were Alex and Two residents of the North Shuswap attended VOW lAO Carole GaIt, formerly of Nelson. They were the BCHF Conference in Nelson and brought voted “the best dressed couple” at the BCHF Lantzville Historical Society greetings from their small group. Research is Awards banquet for appearing in turn-of-the- Members have been collecting information ongoing and a future edition of North century formal attire. on the history of their community for several Shuswap Chronicles should be out soon. years now. This summer History Student Jon Chemainus, City of Murals, has a new mural Roberts is collating and gathering material Burnaby Historical Society dedicated to Chinese pioneers. Burnaby sent 16 delegates to the Confer as he prepares to write the book for this Koksilah School, near Duncan, has its ence, all eager, friendly people. organization. Each summer fundraising restored building open to the public during projects include costume competition and The president reported that recent fund the summer. sales booth during Minetown Days in July. raising has been directed to acquiring computers to better serve their archives. Alberni District Historical Society NOTICE: AND HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY (June 25) to Volunteers within this organization concen BURNABY HISTORICAL SOCIETY trate on working within their extensive Other News from Branches - see page 13 Salt Spring Island Historical archives, opening this to the public on for Okanagan Historical Society and Hedley Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to Heritage Society. This group is sponsoring a publication of the 3 pm. history of their island which is a collection of

34 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 NEWS & NOTES

Canadian Historical Association Trinity Anglican Church in April left the community of Grand Forks in shock. Only two J?ememeriny ai §iench Award weeks before this heritage church, with the Our own Anne Yandle was recognized by a lovely stained glass windows, was open for This spring has been a sad time for the national body. After years of work (always touring in celebration of the Grand Forks Alberni District Historical Society. We have attempting to keep a low profile) Mrs. Yandle centennial. The little wooden church was said farewell to three of our staunchest and received the Certificate of Merit from the dedicated on June 25, 1901, but had its most active members. All were far more than Canadian Historical Association for 1996 for beginnings before that time. enthusiastic workers, they were friends. British Columbia. We are extremely pleased to announce this. Anne extends her thanks to Henry Irwin, Father Pat, paid his first visit to those who nominated her. Grand Forks in 1896 and a lot was secured at that time for a church. The church building Stonebert Fossil Headlined was finished by June 1898, and since that Ketha Adams passed away on March 7th, Princeton paleontological sites have been time regular services have been held there. just short of her 91st birthday. She had come to Port Alberni with her family in 1927. Her carefully documented by our Archivist Plans for rebuilding are in progress. father, Reverend Frank Piffs became the Margaret Stoneberg. Recently she was 1997 BCHF Scholarship Principal of the local Residential School. interviewed by writers for Beautiful British in Columbia magazine. In the Summer 1997 The winner of the 1997 BCHF scholarship is Ketha taught at the same school and then elementary schools in Port Alberni and issue a picture of a fossil highlighted a short Carol Grant Powell, a student at Malaspina Campbell River. She married Frank Adams in item on page 29. This described the item as College. Her essay, “Family Portrait Photo 1942 in ACER STONEBERGAE. When Margaret was graphs: ‘Puffing a Face’ on Mid-Nineteenth- and settled to raise a family here in congratulated she wryly noted that the name Century Nanaimo Childhood” will be Alberni. In the early 1950’s she was instru “Acer” (maple) is incorrect. The fossil shown published in B.C. Historical News and a mental in establishing the Alberni Valley’s first immigrants is a rose leaf, so can scientifically be called cheque for $500 will be presented to her at English language courses for new ROSEA STONEBERGAE. the September meeting of the Nanaimo and was the founding President of the Alberni Historical Society. Sixteen essays were Valley Citizenship Society which gave NB. In that same issue a picture and submitted for the May 15 deadline. The support and guidance to new immigrants and comments on page 16 feature Leo Rutledge, quality of all was high and the three judges hosted welcoming ceremonies when they winner of the BCHF Best Article Award. recommended five, in addition to the win became citizens. Then came the most Robert Randolph Bruce ner’s, for publication in the News. important step from our point of view. Ketha became a founding member of the Alberni Revisions Greenwood WKP Building District Museum and Historical Society in The Summer 1997 B.C. Historical News was Saved 1965 and was elected its first president. She barely off the press when a great-niece It was announced at the Greenwood centen also served as president of the Alberni Valley arrived in Invermere intent on doing research nial that the West Kootenay Power building in Parent Teacher’s Association and was active on her honored ancestor. She documents the Greenwood is to become an interpretive in the founding and early operations of the birthdate of R.R. Bruce as “July 16, 1863 in centre for the mining and smelting heritage of Port Albemni Indian Friendship Centre. For Lhanbryde, Elgin.” She states that Bruce’s the Boundary and Kootenay Region. many years she wrote the column “Katimavik” second marriage was to the widow of ‘R.B. Boundary Historical Society was one of for the Alberni Valley Times. She wrote many Van Home” not William Van Home. R.B. was several signatories to a letter of agreement letters to, and received replies from, world son of the railway magnate Sir William Van for the transfer of the sub station to a political and religious leaders. She spoke out Home. community ownership group. This all brick against dogma and prejudice wherever she found it. When Another caller informed us that while Mr. building was one of six built as part of West asked once about her ethnic Bruce was Lieutenant-Governor of British Kootenay expansion into the Boundary in the background, Ketha replied, “I am a mongrel, Columbia his niece Margaret Bruce served early years of the century and is the only one a mixture of many things - in other words, a true Canadian”. as his chatelaine. Margaret married Wm. still in existence. This type of architecture Hobart Molson shortly thereafter and became from B.C.’s early days is now all but lost. The mother of our new subscriber. R.IR. Bruce agreement of transfer is one of the legacy married Hobart’s sister Edith in 1932. projects of West Kootenay Power and Light Co. to mark its own centennial. Ken & Mary Leemings 60th Mark Mosher passed away on April 29th at Burnaby Historical Society the age of 81. Mark will be remembered for Anniversary his work on many levels. He came to the CONGRATULATIONS! These two were Scholarship Alberni Valley as a two year old with his honored at a small reception at the University George Richard of Kelowna has been family. He left school early and worked in the of Victoria on the occasion of their wedding awarded the $1000 Burnaby Historical woods to help support the family, as many anniversary in June. Ken has been a Society Scholarship to assist him to proceed young people did during the depression. In supporter of BCHF and its Victoria Branch for with fourth year studies at Okanagan 1942 he and his wife Roslyn settled on a much of his life. University College. This mature student farm in Cherry Creek District where they hopes to go on to teaching in the future. The raised 3 daughters. Sadly Roslyn died in Holy Trinity Anglican Church in B.C. Historical News will present his 1978. For the past 18 years Mark shared his Grand Forks excellent research paper on Price Ellison life with his loving companion and fellow The arson attack which destroyed the Holy fairly soon. historian Eileen Stevens. His strong sense of family has been passed on. The memories

35 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997

36

News 1997 Fall B.C. Historical -

and a As Tuesday round. every dales year did. and she what did

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ours makes records area and our in artifacts assisted Port runs train the the along in Note: Editors

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& NOTES NEWS BOOKSH ELF Books for review and book reviews should be sent directly to the Book Review Editor: Anne Yandle, 3450 West 20th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6S 1 E4

Indians at Work: An Informal History of ers (including some Safeway clerks in Alberta in Books about the central coast of British Co Native 1.abour in British Columbia, 1858- 1997), some natives went back ‘early’ and lumbia are few indeed. Kimsquit Chronicles is 1930. RoIf Knight Vancouver: New Star helped to break work stoppages such as the one of the few, truly a product of the country, Books, 1996. 397 pp. $24.00 1913 Fraser River strike. Knight’s central point published at Hagensborg in the Bella Coola val Ignoring the difficulties faced by all nineteenth- is, of course, that native workers responded in ley and written by James Sirois who was born century prairie farmers, Robert Bell, one of much the same way as other wage earners. at Ocean Falls and now lives at Kimsquit at the Canada’s most prominent geologists and scien The final section of Indians at Work exam head of Dean Channel. Sirois wrote the book tists, argued before a Senate Select Committee ines Knight’s thesis within the broader Canadian to show that Kimsquit’s history makes the place in 1887 that for “an Indian to interfere with the context Knight concludes that while there was more than “just another dot on the wilderness ways of the Great Spirit by growing plants, seems considerable difference in native wage labour map.” something they cannot comprehend — they can across Canada, the experience of British Co Kimsquit Chronicles is an informal narra not do it — they will not grow potatoes.” These lumbia was not unique. Instead, the Mohawk at tion of historical events along Dean and Burke comments reflect the Victorian Canadian belief Tyendenaga had, since the 1790s, maintained Channels and their hinterland, beginning with that natives were inherently unable to embrace mixed farms, built local sawmills and grist mills, Captain George Vancouver’s exploration in a settled, agrarian lifestyle, or to make the tran and, in general, established an economy not 1793. The author neglected to mention another sition to industrial capitalism. RoIf Knight’s In much different than that of the Euro-American explorer in the area in 1793, namely Alexander dians at Work, which has been extensively settlers around them. Similarly, among other ex Mackenzie, an astounding oversight consider updated since it was first issued in 1978, repu amples, the Micmac had a long tradition of com ing the prominence of Mackenzie’s Rock in Dean diates this myth. Drawing largely upon anecdo mercial whaling along the Atlantic coast, and Channel just southwest of Kimsquit Sirois ad tal evidence, this self-styled ‘informal history’ natives in Central Canada worked in some re mits in his introduction that he is not a historian. argues that British Columbian natives had “a source industries in the nineteenth century. The value of Kimsquit Chronicles lies in its long history as wage workers and as independ Knight does acknowledge regional variation, excellent photographs, its unique history of a ent producers within a broader economy”, and however, noting that native wage labour was pioneer logging family on the central coast, and that they were not economically marginalized less prominent in the prairies where the economy its detailed description of the development of by the influx of Euro-American settlers. of the family farm did not have much need or the sport fish guiding industry on the Dean River. It was not only during the Victorian era that ability to pay for wage labour, and where the The author is the grandson of Doc natives were seen as unlikely contributors to a farmers themselves provided a seasonal surplus Gildersleeve, a pioneer logger on the central ‘modern’ wage economy. Robin Fisher, in his of labour. coast from 1916 to 1954, who followed the evo award-winning book Contact and Conflict Indians at Work is a lively and provocative lution of logging technology from handlogging (originally published in 1977), argues that after work. Some will disagree with Knight’s unwa to A-frame steampots to railway logging and fi the 1858 gold rush, natives became increasingly vering emphasis upon natives as workers and nally to truck logging. The logging history is irrelevant and even obstacles to the designs of the corresponding lack of attention he gives to largely confined to the Gildersleeve family and Euro-American settlers. Instead of the economic issues of race and ethnicity. Knight concludes their relatives, the Owens family, and written in co-operation that had been crucial during the his study in 1930 arguing that “the Great De the style of a family memoir. An amusing detail fur trade era, relations between natives and non- pression wrote finis to much local and small-scale is Doe Gildersleeve’s moniker evidently assumed natives increasingly became marked by eco enterprise that had developed over the previ when the logger was the attending “physician” nomic rivalry. Knight stridently rejects this view. ous generations”. Yet, as he makes clear, na at the birth of his children at his isolated logging Resource industries were central to the British tives had already retreated from cannery work camps.

Columbia economy and natives were active par — a principal employer of native wage workers Because Robert Draney built Kimsquit Can ticipants in the wage labour opportunities that — and were largely replaced by Japanese-Ca nery in 1901 and hired Arthur Douglas, resulted. Originally from Alert Bay, Charles nadian labourers. Even this single trend de Kimsquit Chronicles has some of its best pho Nowell travelled from Prince Rupert to work in mands further analysis concerning both issues tographs. Douglas photographed whites and the commercial fishery on the Fraser River; later of race and the centrality of the Depression in Indians, but apparently not Chinese or Japa Nowell landed a job as a stoker in a North Van hindering native wage labour. As Knight also nese. Manitou Cannery was built across the bay couver sawmill, worked as a commercial sealer, notes, for example, it was during the 1930s that from Kimsquit Cannery in 1907. Within a cou ‘performed’ at the 1904 St. Louis World Fair, Rose Sparrow took to knitting Cowichan sweat ple of decades the sockeye salmon run was de and acted as a labour recruiter for a cannery. ers for sale in Vancouver. Although it is unfortu pleted, and the canneries closed. Others led a lifestyle that was less transient, but nate that the photographs present in the first The decline of the fishery paralleled the de still dependent in large part upon wage labour: edition are not replicated in the second, Profes cline of the Kimsquit Indians, a branch of the

Ed Sparrow — who seems to have spent most of sor Knight and New Star Books are to be Bella Coola Indians. In 1877 the Royal Navy

— his life between Musqueam and Chilliwack commended for once again making available this shelled the Kimsquit village and destroyed it - a worked as a commercial fisherman, cannery readable and affordable volume. mistake, it was later admitted. Disease, social worker, logger, farmer, and as an employee of conflict, and the decline of the fishery eventu the city of Chilliwack. His wife Rose also held a Brian Gobbett, ally finished the Kimsquit people as an independ variety of wage labour jobs, including the knit Brian is a graduate student at the ent group. Only 24 remained in the 1920’s, and ting of Cowichan sweaters for sale to Vancou University of Alberta they moved to Bella Coola. One of them, ver stores. Like other workers, natives supported Margaret Siwallace, received an honorary Doc their interests through job action, and went on Kimsquit Chronicles. James Sirois. tor of Letters degree from the University of Brit strike along side non-native workers during the Hagensborg, Skookum Press, 1996. 161 p., ish Columbia in 1985. Skeena and Fraser River strikes that marked the illus. $40.00 Box 310, Hagensborg, BC, VOT The second half of Kimsquit Chronicles re pre-Great War era. In addition, like other work- 1HO lates in detail the development of sport fish guid

37 B.C. Historical News - FaIl 1997 BOOKSH ELF ing on the Dean River, starting from scratch in of the “sunshine coast”, gathered over many the game and confiscated the football. 1954. summers, but also over many windy and wet “You are poor, ignorant Indians,” he told The second half of Kimsquit Chronicles re fall and winter visits. If the authors had intended them. “You think only of playing, of squander lates in detail the development of sport fish guid Vancouver’s bald, depressing summary to grab ing your money and time. The right tool for peo ing on the Dean River, starting from scratch in my attention, it did! ple like you is the pick, the shovel, the axe, the 1954. The introduction clearly places the Secheltpe saw.” (Bright Seas, p. 31) The book needed a better editor, preferably ninsula in its rugged coastal setting, each com This was not the happy summer community one familiar with Canadian orthography and us munity isolated by, yet also dependent upon, that I experienced, but the brutal reality for dec age. I prefer to not have to read about railroads the close coastal mountains, deep inlets and the ades for aboriginal children and their families on and Indian reservations in Canadian publica periodically stormy Strait of Georgia. Reflecting the Sunshine Coast, and Keller and Leslie’s ac tions. (They are railways and Indian reserves.) the profound role that the coastal environment count may, in its small way, help raise aware There are quite a few misspellings of proper has played on human settlement on the penin ness among some residents of that terrible legacy. nouns, and a few errors in geography. sula, the authors begin their study by reviewing At the same time, the authors also look, if only Because I grew up at Bella Coola, I was in the forces of geology, ice-sheets and water that briefly at the more recent pioneering accomplish trigued by the stories behind the names I knew shaped the area, and gave birth to the rich for ments of the Shishalh people in achieving self as a child. The detailed first-hand information est and flora cover that occupied it government, undertaking a determined, well about the central coast and the marvellous pho An interesting chapter then outlines the late planned campaign of land claims, and in the di tographs make Kimsquit Chronicles a book I 18th century surveys by the Spanish and Brit versification of the economic base of their na will keep. ish, which produced the first modern charts and tion. European names for features on the coast, many As I noted previously, the book also provides Leslie Kopas, of which of course already had aboriginal names. an overview of the process of white settlement, Leslie Kopas is the author of No Path but The most interesting chapter for me, however, shipping and other transportation links, and the My Own: Horseback Adventures in the addressed the sad experience of native people development of the logging, fishing, canning, Chilcotin and the Rockies. after the arrival of Europeans in the late 18th quarrying, mining and tourism industries on the century. For centuries, the aboriginal people of Sunshine Coast The introduction to the experi the region had thrived in the mild environment, ence of the natives on the Sechelt Peninsula Bright Seas, Pioneer Spirits; the Sun with its gentle climate, rich bounty of fish, deer, caught my attention the most, on the other hand, shine Coast. Betty C. Keller and Rosella M. bear, berries and other food, as well as easily the accounts of the history of the various resource Leslie. Victoria, Horsdal & Schubart 232 p., accessible sources of wood for canoes, clothing, industries, as well as the story of the improve illus. $14.95 utensils, habitations etc. The arrival of Europe ment in transportation services, both within the As I mentioned in an earlier review of Helen ans brought disease and death, and strangers area and with Vancouver, were also well worth Dawe’s Sechelt, I have a long term interest in who occupied their lands, ancient fishing, trap the read. and numerous connections with the Sunshine ping and even burial sites. This invasion also My only criticisms were minor. While I was Coast, that part of the lower coast that extends brought people who took away their forests and pleased that the authors chose to include a sin from Howe Sound to Jervis Inlet As a result, I fisheries, usually with little or no compensation, gle map of the entire region, I found it far too greedily search for and devour every publica or even a recognition that these ancient com small to be of much use. I believe a few smaller tion that appears, which has anything to do with munities had any claims. These are events that, maps, on the community of Shishalh itself, the the area. Having already enjoyed a number of having occurred across British Columbia, we reserves, the logging camps and booming Betty Keller’s books on various themes, I was have all heard of before; while that knowledge grounds and other details would have enhanced looking forward to settling in for a good read of does not diminish the destruction that occurred, some chapters, and made them more useful to Bright Seas, Pioneer Spirits; the Sunshine it was enlightening for me personally to learn the uninitiated. I also believe that some of the Coast which she and Rosella Leslie had recently more of the specific experience of the Shishalh black and white photos were extremely co-written. I was not disappointed, and would people. Most moving for me was their account “muddy”, and lacking in detail, a pity in a book recommend this little volume to anyone who of the arrival of the Oblate Fathers in the latter on a theme where the visual document could would be interested in a readable summary his half of the 19th century. This process, along with be such an important contributor to the story. tory of the Sechelt area. However, it also pro the creation of the Indian reserve system by the vides a useful picture of the general process of government, forced most of the Shishalh to William McKee, development that occurred on the coast, both abandon their ancient home sites and gather in After living in Ottawa for four years and before and following the arrival of the Europe a new community at Sechelt that was dominated working as B.C. historian at the Canadian ans, and is useful in comparing the experience by the Oblate Order. In that new environment, Museum of Civilization, Bill McKee has just on the Sechelt Peninsula with that in other coastal they were cut off more and more from their tra returned to British Columbia. communities. I also felt the book provided a very ditional culture, and forced to live on the im useful outline of the experience of a local Coast poverished periphery of the mainstream white The Sunshine Coast; from Gibsons to Salish nation, the Sechelt or Shishalh, who oc society. Perhaps the most graphic statement Powell River. Howard White. Madeira cupied the area for thousands of years before summarizing the appalling system that was vis Park, Harbour Publishing, 1997. 127 p., illus. the arrival of Europeans, and who having then ited upon the Shishal was made by Father Paul $29.95 experienced long years of oppression, once Durieu, who founded a very rigid system of con One wonders why a book such as this on the again occupy an important place in the com trol over them, which the authors recorded: Sunshine Coast of British Columbia has been munity. According to Bishop Bunoz (in Etudes so long in coming. I can only conclude that resi Bright Seas begins with a quick glimpse of Oblats), on one return visit, Durieu called a dents of the area now realize the cat is out of the Captain Vancouver’s first impressions of the meeting and learned from the watchmen that bag in regards to this most favoured part of our coast, a “dreary and inhospitable country”, a the young men of the village had bought a foot West Coast, so there is, at present, nothing to statement that caught my attention, since it was ball and were trying to purchase uniforms so lose in spelling out its enchantment. at such odds with my own more positive view they could play the Nanaimos. Durieu forbade Snippets of everything are included: notes on

38 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 BOOKSH ELF native Indian history, history since white people road for the longest road in the world, which der close control. arrived, variance of weather patterns, rainfall and reaches from Terra del Fuego to Lund. The book The reader learns about the women’s at prevailing winds. Countless entertaining anec contains a picture of the Lund residents’ view tempts to bring light and beauty into the cycle dotes chronicling the eccentricities of inhabitants of this. On the sign Highway 101 “End of the of birth and death at the fortand beyond. Draw

- a bit of hyperbole in regards to these people? Road” has been crossed out and “End” replaces ing on each other’s knowledge and what pre As one who knows the area, I do not think so. with “Start”. Typical Sunshine Coast viewpoint! cious items they had brought from Scotland, they And while on the subject of the inhabitants, a worked to accommodate growing bodies and major theme throughout the book is the eccen Kelsey McLeod, changing fashions and provide their families with tricity of the people. Yet, while life styles are Kelsey McLeod is a member of the some semblance of society and education. The spelled out throughout, even the economics of Vancouver Historical Society. ongoing responsibilities to tend the sick and suf the region are not forgotten. fer the trauma of dangerous homebirths, deaths, The introduction gives an overall view of the A Most Unusual Colony; Vancouver Island: and yet another pregnancy fill the days and pro Sunshine Coast, and orients the reader, but the 1849-1860. Maureen Duffus. vide readers with the less glamorous side of his vast area of this coast itself has been divided Victoria, The Author, 1997. 164 p., illus. tory - no less heroic than the work and decisions into four separate sections. Many of the uniniti $18. 95 (Available from Sandhill Book Market going on beyond hearth and home, but certainly ated might think these separate distinctions re ing, #99 - 1270 Ellis St, Kelowna, B.C. V1Y less publicly acknowledged. dundant, but in truth the coastal terrain dictates 1Z4 A Most Unusual Colony is a vibrant and en may aspects of Sunshine Coast life even today. This early history of Vancouver Island from lightening read with interesting images and foot It has imposed countless subtle variances in com the arrival of Scottish immigrants in 1849 to the notes to provide background in just the right munities, which began early-on when access to demolition of Fort Victoria buildings in 1860 amount A word of caution to the reader, how other settlements was by boat only. Even today draws on an impressive range of research ma ever. The fictional aspect of Kate Dalgliesh’s rec dealing with inlets and tides and ferries is a ma terials including letters, diaries, journals, Hud ollections is brought into question with the jor factor of life. You cannot ignore Jervis Inlet, son’s Bay Co. records, Vancouver Island colonial placement of a fake frontispiece just inside the and Sechelt Inlet, and who could ignore an area records, and published histories. It tells the story cover of the book claiming that they were first called Desolation Sound? of two Scottish female inhabitants. One is the published in Edinburgh in 1902. This is fictitious, Part One encompasses the Gibsons area, part newly wed bride of James Yates, whose recol as is the person whose recollections it claims to Two the Sechelt area, part Three Pender Har lections are fictionalized letters she might have present The frontispiece was intended to be an bour, part Four the northernmost section, Powell sent back to her family in Scotland. The other interesting play on material, but ends up being River. side of the story comes from a young girl, Kate an unfortunate distraction to the story. Other Whatever your particular interest is, you will Dalgliesh, whose father answered the HBC’s wise, the author has done an exceptional job of likely find an answer in these pages. Having appeal for settlers to the area. Her recollections portraying the life and times of early colonial grown up in Lang Bay, in the Powell River area, too, are fictional and are supposedly based upon women, ensconced in the political and economic I found it interesting to compare the population her later reading of Mary Yates’ letters. history of Vancouver Island’s earliest days. growth in that area - from nil when Powell River Reminiscences by and about women, though Donna Jean MacKinnon, was founded in 1908, to 20,000 today. increasing, are still rare on the historical land Donna Jean MacKinnon is President of the Howard White arrived on the Sunshine Coast scape. This book goes a long way toward por Vancouver Historical Society in 1950, more than half a century after white traying the early B.C. pioneering experience of settlers first came, but he has done a commend women and children, as well as the domestic 0-Bon in Chimunesu, Catherine Lang. Ar able job of chronicling the early history, and for side of entire families. senal Pulp Press, 1996. 287 pp. Glossary, in good measure has thrown in the odd fact which From Edinburgh through London, and by sea dex, photographs. $18.95 titillates. For example, I was unaware that James to Vancouver Island, writer Maureen Duffus tells Catherine Lang’s portrayal of a Japanese-Ca Shaver Woodsworth, the founder of the Coop the story of how the travellers adapt to more nadian community has won the Hubert Evans erative Commonwealth Federation, was at one than six months at sea. The heartrending ac Prize for Non-fiction, and the choice is likely to time a Methodist minister at Gibsons. count of the settlers putting on their best clothes be widely applauded. In 1991, during o-bon, I have a sense this is but the first volume on in anticipation of arrival in the colony, “I felt pre the Buddhist festival for the dead, a reunion oc the Sunshine Coast’s history. Others must surely pared to face all the company officers who would curred in “Chimunesu”, the town of Chemainus follow on this unique part of our province. come to welcome us” Mary Yates writes, and on Vancouver Island. Nearly fifty years before, The photographs alone are worth the price their anticlimactic welcome is grim foreboding these people had been forcibly removed from of the book. They are beautiful, exceptional, of the primitive circumstances the settlers would their homes, separated from their families, and capturing all the charm of the region. A whimsi face in the months and years to come, begin sent to internment camps far from the coast cal map of the Sunshine Coast covers the first ning on the very first day. Mary Yates calls Fort Lang recounts the story of those terrible times two pages of the book, and a factual map cov Victoria an “ugly unfinished collection of wooden through the memories of individual members ers a similar space at the back. Both are excel structures enclosed by a palisade of high pick of the community, once nearly a third of the lent guides as one cruises through the pages. ets” adding that they were forced to “share space town’s population. I wonder how many more residents will this with no dividing walls in the upper storey of one Perhaps inadvertently, Lang shows not only book bring to the hallowed shores of the Sun of the barracks-like buildings.” Despite this ru the suffering of the Japanese-Canadians, but also shine Coast As I read I could almost hear be dimentary lodging, however, the couple was the reasons why these innocent people were longings being flung into boxes, suitcases, forced to return to the ship for their first night feared by their neighbours. Ties to the Japanese backpacks, in other parts of Canada, indeed in because there were no beds. Such is the sub homeland were strong; many had been born in the world, hear maps of British Columbia rus stance of this book, with enlightening details Japan, went to Japan to find a spouse, returned tling, picture the information lines of B.C. ferries about coping with a trading post unequipped to Japan to die. They came to Canada for eco jammed, hear engines being rewed up in prepa for family life, the power hungry machinations nomic reasons, and more often than not were ration to the trek to Pender Harbour or Roberts of the Hudson’s Bay Co., and Governor James disappointed. As late as 1938, a teenager might Creek. Not to mention Lund, the end of the Douglas’ attempts to keep the settlers’ lives un be sent “home” to Japan; some were trapped

39 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 ______

BOO KSH ELF there for the duration. Canadians of English mulate mental images of the people who han Surprisingly for a small town history, there are descent were willing to fight for an “Old Coun dled the tool. .. Who were they? Farmers, log no photographs. The biographical sketch of the fry” further away in space and time than Japan; gers, Episcopalian ministers, or pickaxe illustrator, Doug Strand, notes that most of the wasn’t it natural to think that Canadians of Japa murderers? It generally drives the purists nuts, archival photographic material on Osoyoos is nese descent might want to fight for Japan? Even but lam really happy with my sense of history.” portraiture and old buildings. Not wanting to if they didn’t want to help Japan, would their Cactus in Your Shorts reads more like a slow the pace of the book with these static im relatives in Japan be hostages? Such are the travel book than a traditional history in that ages, Strand has produced drawings that con horrors of war. As Takayoshi Kawahara remarks, Matheson creates a strong sense of place. Read vey the energy of daily life in the town. “Times change, and war is war. It’s as simple as ers learn that Osoyoos is the only desert valley Cactus in Your Shorts is a very expressive that.” in Canada, an area that had enough fertile soil, guidebook to the personalities and geography Lang is least successful when she attempts to water, and abundant summer heat to make it that have produced Osoyoos. Matheson’s un fill in the blanks in her story with fictional details, ideal for ranching and for growing fruit and veg orthodox historical style accomplishes his pur especially with thoughts and conversations she etables. Its position between mountain ranges pose in portraying how the unique character of could not possibly have known. Occasional may also have contributed to its population this town developed. anachronisms jar, as when a young man in the growth. According to one of Matheson’s inter Susan Stacey mid 1940’s is made to think, “No way is he go viewees, “I suspect a lot of people stayed in ing to build roads in this cold.” Osoyoos because of outright fear of any more Ladner’s Landing of Yesteryear: Two Her Most of the narratives need no embellishment mountain driving m sure that a lot of family itage Walks in the Historic Village. Gwen My favourite is the story of Shunichi the fisher cars simply died after the long mountain trek; Szychter. Ladner, Gwen Szychter, 1996. Gwen man: a vivid account of the island fisheries be the final killer was the last few miles down Anar Szychter, 5122 - 44th Ave. Delta, B.C. V4K fore the war and the forced abandonment of a chist Mountain.” Its proximity to the U.S. bor 1C3 $8.95 way of life, a poignant attempt to relocate to der has produced entertaining community lore Ladner’s Landing of Yesteryear: Two Her postwar occupied Japan, and a return to a home related to the American Indian wars, cattle drives itage Walks in the Historic Village is a guide and career in central Canada. You may enjoy and bootlegging. book of a different kind. It is richly illustrated the scene in which Chiyo and Kaname dance The book is strongest when talking about with photographs of old buildings because au Canadian style at the July 1st celebrations, 1941, events unique to the history of Osoyoos. Many thor Gwen Szychter, an historian who has served a step forward soon to be checked by the night of the anecdotes and jokes, however, seem in on the Delta Heritage Advisory Committee, has mare that would last for years. terchangeable with tales from any number of chosen the historical builtform of Ladner as her The nightmare disturbs all the more for its set Canadian communities. The runaway-wagon- subject. ting in quaint little Chemainus, now more fa hits-the-outhouse type of stories speak of rural Inspired by Michael Kluckner and John Atkins mous for its murals than for its sawmills, salmon experience, but don’t tell the reader anything Heritage Walks Around Vancouver, Szychter has and desecrated graves. unique about what it was like living in Osoyoos. organized two easily followed walks that take Fortunately these are balanced by descriptions readers through the early business and residen Phyllis Reeve, that give a graphic idea of what it felt like to grow tial areas of Ladner, pointing out buildings with Phyllis Reeve has recently edited up in this particular town. Another interviewee an interesting past and explaining what is known A Gabriola Tribute to Malcolm Lowry. recalled that “In the so-called good old days they of their history. The centerfold is a map, clearly let cherry trees grow to maybe thirty, forty feet laying out the walks and labelling the buildings. Cactus in Your Shorts. George Matheson. high, took me a long time to get used to those The 68 page volume is clearly and simply writ Lumby, Kettie Valley Publishing Inc., 1996. G. tall ladders. Real scary. What was even worse ten, and is intended as the first in a series of Matheson, RR2, Site 2, Comp 19, Lumby, B.C. was picking peaches. You’d be up there in those user-friendly books on Delta’s heritage. No foot VOE 2G0 $22.00 trees in one hundred degree heat, covered in notes intrude on the text, but the author’s ex George Matheson’s informal history of that lousy peach-fuzz. Made you itch so bad tensive sources are detailed at the end of the Osoyoos, Cactus in Your Shorts, does a superb sometimes I thought I’d go crazy. Used to carry book for those who would like to continue the job of rendering the character of the commu a bucket of water with me all the time, to douse research. nity while frustrating readers looking for hard myself to cool off and stop the itching.” Ladner’s Landing of Yesteryear should facts. Matheson uses a storytelling format, and The authors of small town histories must work prove valuable both as a reference for Delta his the reader is never certain when the documented with the constraint of having a small cast of char tory and as a guidebook for a tourist outing. episodes end and the fabrication begins. Some acters. Matheson has transformed this drawback of his tales are rooted in archival records, some into a strength, often “revisiting” historical per Susan Stacey, are depicted through dialogues he has created sonalities he has introduced earlier when some Susan Stacey is co-author of Salmonopolis. with historic figures, and some are seemingly story about them will illustrate his current point The Steveston Story authentic stories that end with a “gotcha” The book has the feel of a reunion attended by punchline. These tales flow in a meandering Osoyoosans living and dead. style, not organized by any particular chronol Readers who value politically sensitive vo Also Noted: ogy. cabulary will need to tranquillize themselves All this seems in keeping with the author’s before attempting to read this book. Although Beyond Ladner’s Landing; two heritage philosophy of sharing history through anecdotes. Matheson’s colourful language undoubtedly de walks south of the original village. “I am very fond of history,” Matheson writes in picts the speech habits of Osoyoos residents, it Gwen Szychter. Delta, The Author, 1997. 38. his biographical notes, “but unlike a lot of histo is uncomfortable to see derogatory language in p., illus., maps. &8.95 rians, I am not overly interested in belabouring print Some of the renditions of aboriginal Sequel to her Ladner’s Landing of Yesteryear. my readers with exact dates and statistical mi speech in Matheson’s imagined dialogues are nutiae. If I pick up an antique hammer or pick- embarrassing and language relating to ethnic axe, I don’t really care exactly where it was forged designations should have had much firmer edit my imagination immediately begins to for- ing.

40 B.C. Historical News - Fall 1997 THE BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORICAL FEDERATION - Organized October 31, 1922

Web Address: http://www.selkirk.bc.calbchf/main 1.htm

HONORARY PATRON

His Honour, the Honorable Garde B. Gardom Q.C.

HONORARY PRESIDENT

Leonard McCann do Vancouver Maritime Museum, 1905 Ogden Ave.Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1A3 (604) 257-8306 FX (604) 737-2621

OFFICERS

President Ron Welwood RR #1, S22 Ci, Nelson, B.C. Vi L 5P4 (250) 825-4743 [email protected]

First Vice President Wayne Desrochers #2-6712 Baker Road, Delta, B.C. V4E 2V3 (604) 599-4206

Second Vice President Melva Dwyer 2976 McBride Ave., Surrey, B.C. V4A 3G6 (604) 535-3041

Secretary Arnold Ranneris 1898 Quamichan Street, Victoria, B.C.V8S 239 (250) 598-3035

Recording Secretary A. George Thomson #19, 141 East 5th Ave., Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1N5 (250) 752-8861

Treasurer Doris J. May 2943 Shelbourne St, Victoria, B.C. V8R 4M7 (250) 595-0236

Members at Large Roy J.V. Pallant 1541 Merlynn Crescent, North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 2X9 (604) 986-8969 Robert J. Cathro RR#i Box U-39, Bowen Island, B.C. VON1GO (604) 947-0038

Past President Alice Glanville Box 746, Grand Forks, B.C. VOH1HO (250) 442-3865 [email protected]

COMMITTEE OFFICERS

Archivist Margaret Stoneberg Box 687, Princeton, B.C. VOXiWO (250) 295-3362

B.C. Historical News Publishing Committee Tony Farr 125 Castle Cross Rd, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 2G1 (250) 537-1123

Book Review Editor Anne Yandle 3450 West 20th Aye, Vancouver, B.C. V6S 1E4 (604) 733-6484 [email protected]

Editor Naomi Miller Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB2K0 (250) 422-3594 FX (250) 422-3244 Membership Secretary Nancy Peter #7 - 5400 Patterson Avenue, Burnaby, B.C. V5H 2M5 (604) 437-6115

Subscription Secretary Joel Vinge RR#2 S13 C60, Cranbrook, B.C. V1C 4H3 (250) 489-2490

HistoricalTrails and Markers John Spittle 1241 Mount Crown Rd, North Vancouver, B.C. V7R 1R9 (604) 988-4565

Publications Assistance Nancy Stuart-Stubbs 2651 YorkAvenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6K1E6 (604) 738-5132 (not involved with Contact Nancy for advice and details to apply for a loan toward the cost of publishing. B.C. Historical News)

Scholarship Committee Frances Gundry 255 Niagara Street, Victoria, B.C.V8V 1G4 (250) 385-6353 [email protected]

Writing Competition (Lieutenant Governor’s Award) Pixie McGeachie 7953 Rosewood St, Burnaby, B.C.V5E 2H4 (604) 522-2062

(NOTE: Area code prefixes are effective from October 19, 1996 onward). ______

The British ColumbiaHistorical News Publications Mail P.O. Box 5254, Stn. B Registration No. 4447 Victoria, B.C. V8R 6N4

ADDRESS LABEL HERE

BC HISTORICAL FEDERATION WRITING COMPETITION

The British Columbia Historical Federation invites submissions of books forthe fifteenth annual Compe tition for Writers of B.C. History. Any book presenting any facet of B.C. history, published in 1997, is eligible. This may be a community history, biography, record of a project or an organization, or personal recollections giving a glimpse of the past. Names, dates and places, with relevant maps or pictures, turn a story into “history.” The judges are looking for quality presentations, especially if fresh material is included, with appropriate illustrations, careful proofreading, an adequate index, table of contents andbibliography, fromfirst-time writ ers as well as established authors. NOTE: Reprints or revisions of books are not eligible. The Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Historical Writing will be awarded to an individual writer whose book contributes significantly to the recorded history of British Columbia. Other awards will be made as recommended by the judges to valuable books prepared by groups or individuals. All entries receive considerable publicity. Winners will receive a Certificate of Merit, a monetary award and an invitation to the BCHF annual conference to be held in Surrey in May 1998. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: All books must have been published in 1997and should be submit ted as soon as possible afterpublication. Two copies of each book should be submitted. Books entered be come property of the B.C. Historical Federation. Please state name, address and telephone number of sender, the selling price of all editions of the book, and the address from which it may be purchased, if the reader has to shop by mail. If by mail, please include shipping and handling costs if applicable. SEND TO: B.C. Historical Writing Competition do P. McGeachie 7953 Rosewood Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5E 2H4 DEADLINE: December31, 1997.

There is also an award for the Best Article published each year in the B.C. Historical News magazine. This is directed to amateur historians or students. Articles should be no more than 3,000 words, typed double spaced, accompanied by photographs if available, and substantiated with footnotes where applicable. (Pho tographs should be accompanied with information re: the source, permission to publish, archival number if applicable, and a brief caption. Photos will be returned to the writer.) Please send articles directly to: The Editor, B.C. Historical News, RO. Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB2K0

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