-----r---= MEMBER SOCIETIES Member Societies and their secretaries are responsible for seeing that the correct address for their society is up-to-date. Please send any change to both the Treasurer and Editor at the addresses inside the back cover. The Annual Return as at October 31st should include telephone numbers for contact.

Members’ dues for the year 1990 - 91 were paid by the followingSocieties:

Alberni District Historical Society - Box 284, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y7M7 Arrow Lakes Historical Society - Box 584, Nakusp, B.C. VOG1RO AtlinHistorical Society - Box ill, Atlin,B.C. VOWlAO Burnaby Historical Society - 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Bumaby, B.C. V5G 3T6 Chemainus Valley Historical Society - Box 172, Chemainus, B.C. VOR1KO Cowichan Historical Society - P.O. Box 1014, Duncan, B.C. V9L 3Y2 District69 Historical Society - 625 Pym Road, Parksville, B.C. V9P 1B6 East Kootenay Historical Association - P.O. Box 74, Cranbrook, B.C. V1C 4H6 Golden and District Historical Society - Box 992, Golden, B.C. VOA1HO Gulf Islands Branch -BCHF - do Wilma J. Cross, RR#1, Pender Island, B.C. VON2M0 Koksilah School Historical Society - 5203 Trans Canada Highway, Koksilah, B.C. VOR2C0 Kootenay Lake Historical Society - Box 537, Kaslo, B.C. VOG1MO Kootenay Museum & Historical Society - 402 Anderson Street, Nelson, B.C. Vi L 3Y3 Lantzville Historical Society - do Box 274, Lantzville, B.C. VOR2H0 Lasqueti Island Historical Society - Lasqueti Island, B.C., VOR2J0 Nanaimo Historical Society - P.O. Box 933, Station A, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5N2 North Shore Historical Society - 623 East 10th St., North Vancouver, B.C. V7L2E9 North Shuswap Historical Society - Box 22, Celista, B.C. VOE1LO Princeton & District Pioneer Museum &Archives - Box 687, Princeton, B.C. vox iWO Qualicum Beach Historical & Museum Society - 444 Qualicum Road, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1B2 Saltspring Island Historical Society - Box 1264, Ganges, B.C. VOSI EO Sidney & North Saanich Historical Society - P.O. Box 2404, Sidney, B.C. V8L3Y3 Silvery Slocan Historical Society - Box 301, New Denver, B.C. VOG1SO Surrey Historical Society - 8811-152nd Street, Surrey, B.C. V3R 4E5 Trail Historical Society - P.O. Box 405, Trail, B.C. Vi R 4L7 Vancouver Historical Society - P.O. Box 3071, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3X6 Victoria Historical Society - Box 5123 Stn. B., Victoria, B.C. V8R 6N4 AFFILIATED GROUPS Fort Steele Heritage Park - Fort Steele, B.C. VOB1NO The Hallmark Society - 207 Government Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V2KB Nanaimo Centennial Museum Society - 100 Cameron Road, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R2X1

Publications MailRegistration Number 4447

Published winter, spring, summer and fall by the BritishColumbia Historical Feder& on, P.O. Box 35326, Station E, Vancouver, B.C. V6M4G5. A Charitable Society recognized under the icome Tax Act. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Institutional, $16.00 per year; Invividual(non-members), $10.00; Members of member Societies — $9.00; For addresses outside Canada add $4.00. Financially assisted by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture, through the British Columbia Heritage Trust and British Columbia Lotteries. Back issues of the British Columbia Historical News are available in microform from Micromedia Limited, 20 Victoria St, Toronto, Ont. M5C 2N8 (416) 362-5211 • Fax (416) 362-6161 • Toll Free 1-800-387-2689 - Micromedia also publishes the Canadian Magazine Index and the Canadian Business Index.

Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. ______

BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORICAL NEWS

Volume 25, No. 2 Journal of the B.C. Historical Federation Spring - 1992

Features Page Readers will be shuffled on these pages from Rogers Pass to Tahsis, Two Attorney’s General 2 Victoria to Nelson, Chemainus to by Bernard Webber Kelowna, and up the coast to Franz Biberstein: Painter of the Canadian Rockies 4 Loughborough Inlet Summertime Peter coastal navigators will appreciate the by C Merrill dilemma described in “Perigean Tides” West Coast Carpenter 8 while the ordinary motorist will be by Eleanor Witton Hancock astounded at the 17 hours travel time taken in 1917 over a route which today The Kootenay District Zinc Rush 12 takes 55 minutes. Our sincere thanks by EdwardL. Affleck to the contributors of these diverse To Nelson by Car in 1917 15 pieces. by Henry Stevenson The only constant in our lives is Change. Change of address usually The Barn with a Social Life 18 means that the subscriber has moved. Gray Creek 19 Recently, however, Canada Post has by Bruce Paterson made numerous adjustments. Parksville and Qualicum residents John Christie Goodfellow’. Historian 22 have “graduated” from a downtown by Margaret Stonebcrg post office box to a street address. Not a SingLe Wheel Can Turn 22 And our Honorary President, situated by A. Stephen Brewer in his home for 20 years, was assigned a different Rural Route and Postal Living History at Fort Steele 24 Code. by Naomi Miller SO, if you have a change of address be The Lone Scout of Chimu-Nesu 25 it self imposed or designated by by Toyo Takata administration, please notify Nancy Peter (address inside back cover). The Perigean Spring Tide in Loughboro Inlet, Post Office still has postcards to July 1792 28 simplify this notification. by Nicholas A. Doe

Naomi Miller NEWS & NOTES 32 BOOK SHELF 33 The Journal of Duncan McGillivray 33 Review by George Newell A Country So Interesting: The Hudson’s Bay Co. and Two Centuries of Mapping 33 St Anthony’s Catholic Church, Fort Review Frances M Woodward Steele, was built in 1897 for less than Noticias de nutka: An Account of $1000, and is still in use today. A Nootka Sound in 1792 34 priest would come from nearby St. Eu gene’s Mission to give services. One Malaspina & Galiano: Spanish Voyages to notice read, “Mass at 10 am SHARP. the Northwest Coast 34 Now that we have Standard Time no Reviews by Barry Gough tardiness will be tolerated.” This Was Our Valley 35 photo courtesy ofMartin Ross, Fort Steele Review by Frank Leonard

Manuscripts and correspondence for the editor are to be sent to P.O. Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB 21(0 Correspondence regarding subscriptions are to be directed to the subscription secretary (see inside back cover) Printed in Canada by Kootenay Kwik Print Cranbrook, B.C. 1 B.C. Historical News 5piing 92 Two Attorneys — General: A Glimpse Behind the Scenes

by Bernard Webber

IThis tern was written prior to the October 17, members of cabinet capability were at net at the time. In that statement, Mr. 1991 election when the provincial Liberals became the official opposition party. Since then Cohn Gabel tracted to the idea of coalition. One by Hart said that the CCF (Now the NDP) mann, not a lawyer, has been appohnted Attorney- General in the N.D.P. Government.] one, Liberal ministers resigned their had been invited to participate in the A few years ago, in 1988, there was portfolios in the cabinet. As they did government but “was not disposed to much public discussion about whether a so, Mr. Pattullo picked up the vacated join a government of the kind contem non-lawyer could be Attorney-General portfolios. That is how he became At plated... “ Harold Winch for the CCF as though such a circumstance would be torney-Genera!. argued that any government needed an establishing a precedent. Actually, a The House was eventually called to sit alert and well informed opposition to non-lawyer and a Premier to boot had on 4 December, 1941. The “Journals keep it on its toes. Duff Pattullo, hold been Attorney-General of British Co of the Legislative Assembly of the Prov ing to his principles, refused to join the lumbia in 1941. ince of British Columbia” for that day coalition but continued resolutely to sit The facts were these: A provincial gen (there being no Hansard then) record in the House as an unreconstructed era! election had been held 21 October, that five Reports or documents were Liberal. 1941. Afterwards, no political party had presented to the House by “the Hon. Those were the days when Members of an absolute majority of the seats in the Mr. Pattullo (Attorney-General)”; and the Legislative Assembly, of whatever Legislative Assembly. The Liberals who the Public Accounts for the preceding stamp, usually respected each other, ob had controlled the previous administra fiscal year were presented by “the Hon. served the social courtesies, and, apart tion held 21 seats under the leadership Mr. Pattullo, (Minister of Finance); and from politics, were genuinely concerned of T. Dufferin Pattullo, the M.L.A. for the Annual Report of the Department about each other’s welfare — which is Prince Rupert and still Premier. The of Education was presented by “the not to say that politics did not have its Conservatives held 12 seats with their Hon. Mr. Pattullo, (Minister of rough and tumble edge. One poker- leader being R.L. (Pat) Maitland, the Education).” playing foursome consisted of Duff Pat Even the dogged Mr. Pattullo could tullo, Harold Winch, Harry Perry, first M.L.A. for Vancouver — Point Grey. The Co-operative Common not stem the tides of change. No one (Minister of Education), and Sam Guth wealth Federation, (CCF) held 14 seats amongst his natural supporters believed ne, CCF Member for Cowichan under Harold Winch, the first member his Cassandra-like warning that eventu Newcastle. for Vancouver East. The Labour mem ally coalition would destroy the parties Certain things were simply not done ber, Tom Uphill of Fernie, completed associated with it. Ever since, the pro in the clubbable atmosphere that pre the then 48 seat Legislative Assembly. vincial Liberals and Conservatives have vailed then. One of the Ministers occa Between the election and December 4, found nothing but heavy going in Brit sionally imbibed not wisely but too well 1941, the Legislature did not sit but a ish Columbia. . Finally, on that day, (4 and as a consequence was sometimes ab minority cabinet continued under Duff December, 1941), Duff Pattullo accept sent from the House for days on end. Pattullo. One can only speculate about ed the inevitable and read a statement to Everyone knew what was happening. what went on behind the scenes in the the House in which he, first, recognized No one said a public word about it. meantime. From the date of the elec that a recent Liberal Party convention in Cohn Cameron (CCF, Comox), bril tion, there had been talk of a coalition the province had opted for a coalition liant, a wit, but a chronic mischief, once government, possibly representative of government; second, stated that he re rose in his place to ask in disingenuous likely be all three major political parties in the leased his cabinet ministers from any vein when the Minister would province. It was wartime and some be ties of loyalty to himself; and, third; an recovered from his (pause) “indisposi lieved or at least argued that a govern nounced that he had asked the Lieuten tion.” John Hart, straight-faced, replied confidently ex ment of all the talents was desirable, the ant-Governor, W.C. Woodward, to call in like manner that he his seat at better to fight the war. upon Liberal John Hart to form a new pected the Minister to resume Duff Pattullo thought otherwise. He administration. The House was then the next sitting of the House on Mon wanted to carry on with a minority gov adjourned until 8 January, 1942. day next. Cohn did not have to be told ernment. As he was likely the wiliest ‘When the House met again, John the answer. He knew, as we all did, that provincial politician of his day, he might Hart, now premier, announced the his leader Harold Winch was helping equilibrium. have been canny enough to make it names of the four Liberals and three the Minister regain his House, I went one work. However, more and more Liberal Conservatives who constituted the cabi As a novice in the

B.C. Historical News Spring 92 2 day to see Pat Maitland, the new Attor Again I had nothing to say. I knew that ney-General, an eminent Conservative Mr. Farris had been Attorney-General lawyer, about constituency business. in a previous Liberal administration and His was a spacious and elegant office on was even then a Senator at Ottawa. the main floor of the L.egislative Build What has since puzzled me is how Mr. ings, facing front over the lawn to the Maitland found the minuscule etching statue of Queen Victoria. I was the in the first place. I wonder if it is still youngest member of the House, still there. somewhat in awe of eminences like an Attorney-General. He sensed my ner vousness and made things easy for me. After we had finished our business, I was Bernard Webbe, a long time resident of Osoy looking at the framed pictures of all pre oos, was M.LA. frr the Simifisameen ridingfrom 1941 to 1945. He is a past president of the vious Attorneys-General which at that Okanagan Historical Sodety. time ringed the Minister’s office just above the level of the picture rail. The last of these pictures was that of the Hon. T. Dufferin Pattullo, K.C., LL. D. Pat Maitland saw me looking at the pictures. I had heard that he sometimes had a short fuse, but as he contemplated the picture of the recent Premier cum A GEMFROM THEARCHIyES Attorney-General, I thought he was about to go off like a firecracker. “What do you think”, he asked “of anyone oth On one ofhis visits to er than a lawyer being Attorney- the Provincial General?” At that time, I had not Archives, Bernard thought about the matter but I gathered Webber examined a that in the corpus of Mr. Maitland’s be ‘- _4 liefs few things could be more reprehen devotional sible. He said that it had always been Commonplace Book assumed that the A-G. would be a law yer but that requirement had not been which had an obscure .. written into the Constitution. pocketput there by - “What, moreover, do you think of a SirJames Douglas. - non-lawyer being created both a K.C. 2h- and an LLD.?” Again, I had no opin 7” ‘.f:Eii The goodgentleman ion. He said that it was because it was was in the habit of stated where it counted that any person writing notes to on being appointed Attorney-General, J. -. automatically received a K.C. and an himse(fwhile in LL.D. This accounted, much to Mr. church. The papers Maitland’s displeasure, for the incongru notedfavorite hymns ity of Mr. Pattullo, certainly not a law yer, thereafter being permitted to record and theological those honorific letters after his name. statements as well as There was a coda to my interview with excerptsfrom the Mr. Maitland. Warming to his Liberal attack, he beckoned me over to one of works ofwriters he the greatest windows of his office over admired looking Victoria’s Inner Harbour. “The Schemefor livingfor a labouring man “— shown here one of “What would you think about the vani was ty of a man who would etch his name the entries. Also written in SirJames’ spidery handwriting are the on a window with the diamond of a proceduresfor making a canoe. Any reader wishing to obtain a copy of he wanted to know. He pointed ring?” this ‘Manner ofMaking a Canoe” should send their request to the to the name “J.W. de B. Farris” neatly but inconspicuously etched on the lower editor with a stamped se(faddressed envelope. left hand side of one of the windows.

3 B.C. Historical News .Spring 92

B.C. News- Historical 92 Spring 4

by rested an painting, oil some immense

class. for Castal bought his bride home. their

room, was attention his immediately ar

h third the in figure full life the of studies and first the he that of one was things

When Krieger walked the into living

in continuing and to class second the els painting the Park and gaged Castalia of

home his of boss, Charles Bennett.

live from mod heads sketching portrait en become just had Krieger needed.

land lic had to office, invited been the

academy, the training by down laid he the buy to overcoat new enough just

young the of pub employee Milwaukee

of course rigorous the follow to ued dollars. be would for That thirty-five

1926. It Elmer a year the Krieger, was

he contin years tures. more two

For 30 inches, 18 size copy, canvas on oil by 2

sculp Roman and Greek classical of happy be an he provide to and would

Historical County Society. Milwaukee

plaster from casts charcoal in osketch to

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sketch

of courtesy photo

he learned the where in Antikenklasse, still he room. original his Yes, had

lodgings.

1869 placed

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Art

was Academy of a in furnished was beard, sparsely living his in artist born Swiss the out waukeean, sought

the to Royal side. ian admitted was He a white elderly dressed, with Mit gentleman young a Drieger, Elmer when seventies his in

gentleman dressed neatly a Biberstein Franz was the Bavar on Lake Lindau to Constance neatly a Street. Biberstein, Wright

crossing nineteen Munich, for off set he of the near house corner rooming cient

the of age At Sütterlin. Johann painter an an to atthe past Miloki Street Club

landscape Swiss rmthe from Solothurn Second along They Biberstein. walked

in training first his Biberstein see received to Kranyecz day One Krieger took

sisters. commission. 1

two had also Biberstein Franz ness. a such to be undertake delighted ably

marble busi later father’s his over took prob would and income little had old,

and sculptor a gust years 76 well-known became that now Biberstein, explained

brother older Au Catholic. artist’s The Kranyecz, Maurice cartographer, The

parents Both were by Lostorf of village to copy. a him paint willing be might

near the from was (Gubler) Biberstein, Biberstein asked he whether personally,

Maria Anna mother, for His churches. artist office the at the rapher knew

floors marble laid and tery monuments cartog a that he when and ture learned

fashioned who ceme craftsman marble pic the to liking a took Krieger inches.

a was 30 skilled Biberstein, Joseph father, by 18 size, of still but ample smaller,

His Switzerland. Canton, Solothurn in painting This was time the Wauwatosa.

village a Nildaus, St. 1850 12, at ruary suburban ie in River Menominee the by

born Feb was Biberstein Franz Joseph park a Park, Castalia private of painting

home. Milwaukee a was It artist. the of side ferent

of their walls the on hung which of are dif a revealed which painting berstein

eleven paintings, Biberstein of collection Bi a saw Krieger colleague, Milwaukee

their cherish Laura Krieger wife his and another of home the at Later, Rockies.

the artist, with meeting his after years Canadian the in particularly landscapes,

sixty-five Today, Columbia. British of mountain painted many had he where

range Selkirk the in Donald Sir Mount h West, the several to trips made had stein

of painting a and landscapes consin Biber Milwaukee, in lived he Though

Wis more some including Swiss artist, Biberstein. Franz named immigrant

by the sketches and paintings other Swiss an was elderly learned, he artist,

of a number buy to an opportunity had The summer, the previous there visited

and sale Krieger estate yecz the managed had to who Krieger, familiar was place

1930 Kran in died Biberstein When The Springs. Colorado near Gods the

memory. from fading and gone now of Garden the of a view landscape, tain

is knew, Biberstein Franz that waukee Moun Rocky a It was davenport. the

old Mil the of much like itself, Park ia over hung size, in which i feet six by four

Merrill C. Peter by

Rockies Canadian

of the Painter Biberstein: Franz The quality of instruction in Munich indicate that he was a student there in itself when William Wehner decided to was good and one of Biberstein’s teach 1881 and 1882. Even after completing produce a panorama of The Battle of ers there was Wilhelm von Diez, a lead his studies there he probably remained Manila Bay, a scene from the recent ing figure in the school of Munich in Karlsruhe for the next three years. Spanish-American War. Wehner en realism. But he wanted to do landscape One of the artists who had worked on gaged the services of Biberstein, Peter, painting, something which received the Sedan panorama was an Austrian and two other veteran panoramists who scant attention in the inflexibly classical named August Lohr. Like Biberstein he had remained in Milwaukee, Friedrich tradition of the Munich Academy. So had studied in Munich and specialized Wilhelm Heine and Franz Rohrbeck. he decided not to go on to the fourth in painting alpine Landscapes. In 1884 The Manila Bay panorama was painted class, but worked instead on the kind of Lohr went to New Orleans to supervise in San Francisco, but proved to be a fi painting that interested him. He the installation of the panorama at the nancial failure when it was exhibited sketched mountain scenery in Switzer Cotton Exposition and there met Wil there in 1900. The panorama craze land during the summers and sometimes liam Wehner, a German immigrant had, it seems, run its course and could visited Italy during the winter. He was businessman in Chicago. Wehner had not be revived. beginning to sell his painting and one an idea: why not bring experienced pan By 1900 Biberstein was back in Mil summer was able to afford a walking orama painters to the United States waukee and was one of the local artists trip to Italy, painting in the Dolomites from Germany and have them paint who met at the studio of Louis Mayer and visiting Genoa, Pisa, and Florence. panoramic battle scenes of the American on October 23 to organize the Society In 1880 an unusual opportunity pre Civil War? Lohr thought it was a good of Milwaukee Artists. The society, sented itself. Ludwig Braun, a professor idea and helped Wehner to establish the composed almost entirely of German of painting in Munich, was looking for Milwaukee-based American Panorama immigrant artists, became an important artists to assist him in a major project, Company. Lohr now started to recruit local professional association. Although an immense panoramic painting which European artists to come to Milwaukee. it tended to promote the esthetic princi had been commissioned by the owners Biberstein was at first hesitant, but ples of Munich realism, there was also a of a newly constructed exhibition build when Lohr wrote again enclosing the certain diversity of approach among its ing for panoramas in Frankfurt am passage money, Biberstein accepted. He members. Otto Dinger’s paintings, for Main. Braun was an experienced war arrived April 14, 1886. example, reflect the graphic clarity of artist who had been witness to the Fran- The American Panorama Company the Düsseldorf school, while the influ co-Prussian War of 1870-1871. The began operations in a specially built stu ence of American tonalism is apparent panorama that he had been commis dio at 628 Wells Street in Milwaukee. in the work of Friedrich W. Heine. Bi sioned to do was The Battle of Sedan The first panorama painted there was berstein’s association with the society on September 1, 1870. The battle had probably The Storming of Missionary provided not only personal contact with taken place just ten years before and the Ridge, which was followed by The Bat other local artists, but also served as a memory of the war was still fresh in tle of Atlanta. Although Wehner’s means of finding purchasers for his both France and Germany. The idea of American Panorama Company went work. His landscape canvasses were a memorializing notable battles of the war out of business in 1887, several succes regular feature of the society’s shows. by means of immense panoramic paint sor firms kept the panorama industry In 1901 Biberstein briefly entered into ings had begun in France. Braun had alive in Milwaukee for a few more years. partnership with another former panora been to the Paris Exhibition of 1878 Many of the artists returned to Germa ma painter, Ernst Julius Peege, to form and had been overawed by The Defense ny or dispersed to other cities in the the Acme Portrait Company, but soon of Paris, a panorama created by a team United States, but Biberstein was one of afterwards went back to working inde of French artists under the direction of those who stayed. pendently. Writing in the Milwaukee Paul Dominique Philippoteaux. Braun In 1893 Biberstein was one of several Sentinel on April 5, 1903, Louis Mayer consulted with the French panoramists Milwaukee artists to be caught up in the had this to report: and quickly learned hubbub the techniques of the World’s Columbian Ex Bieberstein [sic], who has a studio needed for the production of such paint position in Chicago, for which he con above the Milwaukee National Bank, ings. During 1880 and 1881 Biberstein tributed a panoramic painting of the is a landscape artist of rare ability. worked for Braun as one of the team of fairgrounds. Another former panorama He paints scenery from the western artists which created the Sedan panora painter to be involved in the Chicago coast and the Swiss highlands, where ma in Frankfurt. World’s Fair was George Peter, who had he was born. He has lately experi When the job had been completed in been one of Biberstein’s closest friends mented a great deal in photography, Frankfurt, Biberstein found his financial in Karlsruhe and had come to Milwau and has devised a scheme of repro situation much improved and decided kee after Biberstein recommended him ducing portraits on canvas and paint to seek further training. Instead of re to Lohr. 6 After the World’s Fair, Peter ing them with transparent colors. turning to Munich, however, he sought and Biberstein both found employment One of Biberstein’s clients at this time out the smaller academy at Karisruhe, as scenery painters for the German thea was the wealthy railroad official Thomas capital of the German principality of Ba- ter in Milwaukee, but a new employ George Shaughnessy (1832-1928). The den. Records at the Karlsruhe Academy ment opportunity suddenly offered Milwaukee-born Shaughnessy had be gun his career with the Chicago, Mil

5 B.C. Ilistorical News .Spring 92 waukee, and St. Paul Railroad, but later encourage artists to paint in scenic areas was governor ofWisconsin. An updated became president of the Canadian Pacif served by the railway, the Canadian Pa portrait of Frank Whitnall is now in the ic Railway. In an era when the railroads cific provided passes or reduced-fare collection of the Milwaukee County were opening up new scenic areas of the tickets and sometimes even free hotel Historical Society. But despite portrait West to the general tourist, the railroad accommodations. In 1886 O’Brian and commissions, Biberstein continued to companies sometimes offered patronage Forbes were guests at the new Glacier paint and exhibit his landscapes. In to landscape artists who could publicize House Hotel, a chalet-style ledge owned 1913 the Society of Milwaukee Artists the scenic beauty of the areas which they and operated by the railway. The lodge was reorganized as the Wisconsin Paint served. John Fery (1859-1934), an Aus provided access to Glacier National ers and Sculptors, which held frequent trian immigrant artist working in Mil Park and had Swiss guides to lead excur shows at the new Milwaukee Art Insti waukee and St. Paul, had a long sions. Biberstein may, in fact, have also tute. These, of course, provided a con association with the Great Northern stayed there. To enlist the talents of the venient place for Biberstein to exhibit Railway, helping them to publicize the fashionable German-American painter and sell his work. He also benefited scenic grandeur of Glacier National Albert Bierstadt, the Canadian Pacific from the facilities provided by the Mil Park. Shaughnessy must have been even placed a private railway car at his waukee Journal’s Gallery of Wisconsin aware of this arrangement. At any rate, disposal. The railway sometimes com Art, an exhibition room on the second Biberstein was invited to spend two missioned paintings and on occasion floor of the Milwaukee Journal Building summers as Shaughnessy’s guest in the even sponsored one-man shows by art which held quarterly exhibits between Canadian Rockies, where he painted nu ists that it favored. 1924 and 1931. In reporting on the merous scenic views, particularly in the From 1910 to 1920 Biberstein was gallery’s fourth quarterly exhibit, the Selkirk range of British Columbia. Bi one of several local artists who had a Milwaukee Journal reproduced Biber berstein’s visits to Canada must have studio in the Cawker Building at the stein’s Pastureland in the Dolomites, been to the area around Revelstoke on northeast corner of Wells Street and an impressive canvas showing a pasture the main line of the Canadian Pacific. Plankinton Avenue. 10 In 1910 he was and cottage in the foreground with a Time and again Biberstein painted the commissioned to paint a mural for the lake and snow-covered mountains in the area around Mount Sir Donald, show Grays Harbor County Courthouse at background. ing the peak and its surroundings in var Montesano, Washington. The mural, Biberstein’s last years were spent in ious ways. One of these paintings is dated 1910, was painted on canvas and dignified poverty, his modest savings dated 1908, which gives an approximate installed when the courthouse was having been lost in the collapse of a lo idea of when Biberstein visited the area. opened the following year. The work cal trust company. For the last eighteen Following his usual practice, Biberstein was probably painted at Biberstein’s years of his life he did occasional work worked in the field by making oil Milwaukee studio. It shows the landing for Alphonse J. Moroder, in immigrant sketches in color on small composition in 1791 of Captain Robert Gray, an ear woodcarver from the South Tyrol who board panels, usually about eight by ten ly explorer of the Pacific Northwest. engaged Biberstein to paint back inches in size. These were then kept for The Indians depicted in the mural are grounds for his religious groups. Biber reference and used as a basis for larger not dressed like those of the area, but stein also supplemented his meager paintings, which were done on canvas in wear costumes resembling those of the income by growing ginseng in a vacant his Milwaukee studio. One of these Seneca Indians of New York state. On lot. Poverty forced him to part with larger paintings, a view of Mount Sir the opposite wall is a mural by Biber some of the color field sketches that he Donald measuring five by seven and a stei&s former colleague, Franz Rohr kept for reference, though a number of half feet, is now in the collection of the beck. The commission to paint the two these were still in his possession at the Milwaukee Public Library, which re murals probably came through Associat time of his death. ceived it as a gift from Frederick Layton ed Artists, a Milwaukee interior decorat Biberstein had been suffering from a (1827-19 19), an important local philan ing firm which arranged to have chronic heart condition and apparently thropist and art patron. Rohrbeck paint murals for the Brown died in his sleep on July 26, 1930. He Biberstein was not, of course, the only County Courthouse in Green Bay, was found by his landlord in the fur landscape painter to discover and record Wisconsin. nished room at 919 Second Street where the scenic grandeur of the Canadian During the years he had a studio in he had lived the last ten years of his life. Rockies. Among his contemporaries the Cawker Building, Biberstein prob He had never married and had no were a number of Canadian painters ably made much of his living from por relatives in America. Long obituary who received patronage from the Cana trait commissions. Few of these articles appeared the next day in both dian Pacific Railway. To mention portraits can be presently located, English-language Milwaukee Journal only a few outstanding flames, the list though it can be assumed that many and the German-language Milwaukee includes Lucius Richard O’Brian, Mar have been preserved by the families of Herald. 11 Both newspapers recounted maduke Matthews, Thomas Mower his Milwaukee clients. The State His Biberstein’s career as an artist and re Martin, John Arthur Fraser, Frederick torical Society of Wisconsin in Madison called the era of the panorama painters Marlett Bell-Smith, John Collins has a finely preserved portrait of James in Milwaukee more than forty years Forbes, and George Home Russell. To 0. Davidson painted in 1908 when he before.

B.C. Historical News• Spring 92 6 Biberstein’s memory lingers in Wis consin. In 1976 a number of his paint ings were exhibited in a show at the Charles Allis Art Museum in Milwaukee and in 1989 the West Bend Gallery of — Fine Arts in West Bend, Wisconsin in cluded three of his paintings in a show entitled “German Academic Painters in Wisconsin.” To Elmer Krieger, sur rounded by his collection of Biberstein paintings, the artist is an ever-present memory. Nor has Biberstein been for gotten in his native Switzerland. Two early landscapes, both pastoral scenes, are preserved in the art museum at Solo thurn. In Canada, however, Biberstein’s name and work appear to have been completely forgotten. He was, of course, an outsider, a visitor whose paintings of the Canadian Rockies were purchased by customers in the United States. Nonetheless, his work ought to receive at least passing notice in any dis cussion of regional painting in western Canada during the early years of the present century.

Dr. Merrill is a professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. He consulted several Canadian museums, including the Whyte Museum in Banff when preparing this article.

FOOTNOTES 1. For basic biographical information on Franz Biberstein and his brother August, see Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker, Migemeines Lexikon der bildenden Kunstler von der Antike bus zur Mount Sir Donald in the Selkirks ofBritish Columbia, 1908. 011 on paneL 10x8 in. Gegenwart (Leipzig: E.A. Seemann, photo courtesy ofRobert Brue. 1970-1971), vol. 3, p. 596 and Karl Brun, Schweizerisches Kunstler-Lexikon (Frauenfeld: Huber, 1905-1917), vol. 1, p. 126. Further informaiton on “What Happened to the Panorama 1983) and in Allan Pringle, “William Biberstein’s fsmily in Switzerland was Painters?” German Academic Painters in Cornelius Van Home: Art Director, obtained from the State Archive of Wisconsin (exhibition catalog, West Canadian Pacific Railway,” The Journal Solothurn Canton (Staataarchiv des Bend Gallery of Fine Arts, West Bend, of Canadian Art History I Annales Kantons Solothurn). Wisconsin, August 1989), pp. 19-44. d’Histoire de l’Art Canadien, vol. 8, no. 2. The matriculation records at the Munich MilwaukeeJoumal, 6. February 14, 1932. 1 (1984), pp. 50-77. Academy note that Biberstein was accepted 7. Milwaukee Sentinel, October 23, 1900, 10. For a discussion of other artists in the for study there on April 16, 1869 and that p. 3. For a detailed discussion of this Cawker Building, see Peter C. Merrill, he was formally matriculated on April 12, organization and its members, see Gay A. “Milwaukee Artists and Their Studios,” 1870. Donahue, “Society of Milwaukee Artists, Milwaukee History, vol. 12, nos. 3-4 For 3. information on the panorama its 1900-1913.” M.A. thesis, University of (Autumn-Winter 1989), 94-104. Germany and the career of Ludwig Braun, pp. Wisconsin-Madison, 1981. 11. Milwaukee Herald, July 27, 1930. see Stephan Octtermann, Das Panorama: 8. Louis Mayer, “HaIfa Century of Art and Milwaukee Journal, July 27, 1930, City Die Geschichte eines Massenmediums Artists in Milwaukee,” Milwaukee News Section, p. 1. (Frankfurt am Main: Syndikar, 1980). Sentinel April 5, 1903, partS, p. 10 4. Adolf von Oechelhauser, Geschichte der 9. The art patronage policies of the Canadian Grossh. Badischen Akademie der PacifIc Railway and the artists who Bildenden Künste (Karlsruhe: Druck benefited from this patronage are und Verlag der G. Braunschen discussed at lengrh in E.J. Hart, The Hothuchdruckerei, 1904), p. 158. Selling of Canada: The CPR and the 5. For information on the Milwaukee Beginnings of Canadian Tourism panorama industry, see Peter C. Merrill, (Banif, Canada: Altitude Publishing Ltd.,

7 B.C. Historical News -Spring 92 West Coast Carpenter

by Eleanor Witton Hancock

In the spring of 1937 as Nootka in West Vancouver known as the bunkhouse, an eight-man, one-room Sound hummed with canneries, gyppo British Properties. building, 16’ x 32’. The August logging camps and a gold boom at The promoter of the Nootka Island weather, recalls Alder, proved a surprise. Zeballos River, construction of an lumber mill was George Whalen of “Coming from Saskatchewan”, he says export lumber mill began at secluded Vancouver and plans originally included today, “if there was a cloud in the sky McBride Bay on Nootka Island. a pulp mill. George Whalen some years you grabbed your tools and ran! You Nootka Wood Products Ltd. would be earlier was prominent in the pulp mill didn’t want to get anything wet! Well, the first export lumber mill north of industry of the province, Whalen Pulp the second day on the job there, it was Port Alberni on Vancouver Island’s west and Paper Mills Ltd. consisting of three pouring down and here were us, my coast. It would also be North America’s mills, including the bleached sulphite friend and I — we didn’t have any rain first sawmill producing most of its mill at Port Alice on northern clothes; we were soaking wet. And every electricity through a gasification process Vancouver Island. The firm, however, time you’d hit a nail the water would based on the burning of scrap wood. had gone bankrupt and in 1926 its splash back in your face. I was kind of The mill was located 10 miles from assets were purchased by the British wondering whether that was going to be present-day Tahsis which did not then Columbia Pulp and Paper Co. Ltd. a good place to be or not!” exist, its post office designation “Port which was formed to acquire the three Despite the discomfort they reduced Tahsis”. mills. George Whalen, with seemingly costs for the job and were praised by Now retired in Richmond, B.C., unlimited British investment monies, management. This was encouraging in carpenter Alder Bloom arrived from was to die before the opening of Port view of the ostracism prevalent; fellow Saskatchewan in August 1937, seeking a Tahsis and a pulp mill was not built. workers regarded them as “farmers” who change from the Depression-ridden The Port Tahsis operation in a were taking “B.C.” jobs. prairies. Alder was 24. Working at depressed lumber economy, combined Alder’s brother Ed Bloom now arrived McBride Bay for nine months, he was with an approaching world war, was a from Port Alberni and Alder, Ed and present during the completion of the catastrophe for the shareholders — a two others formed a four-man gang and sawmill and the installation of swindle many believed. built a cookhouse, a 26’ x 80’ building. ultra-modern equipment. He saw the Afterwards they built the cold room and first logs arrive in tow from Kyuquot tables and benches for the dining room. Sound, Douglas firs resplendent of the The completion of the handsome virgin rainforest. He watched the first When Alder Bloom and a pal arrived building called for a party and a dance deepsea freighter sail for the United at McBride Bay in the summer of 1937 was held in the dining room, free drinks Kingdom with the results: 1,500,000 the sharp smell of lumber was provided. Happily, the handful of board feet of high grade lumber. Alder everywhere. A small sawmill was women at McBride Bay was Bloom’s sojourn at Port Tahsis evolved cutting for the large one under supplemented by cannery girls, into eight years in the area. His construction, and most of the wharf was including Japanese and native Indian experiences provide a valuable view of finished. Alder had been lucky enough girls, from Nelson Brothers plant across life in Nootka Sound during the to keep working during the Depression. Hecate Channel at Ceepeecee. Alder Depression and Second World War. Repairing grain elevators he’d worked managed to enjoy a few dances. Nootka Wood Products Ltd. was his way up to a construction foreman’s The weather, apparently, was full of incorporated in British Columbia on job. He knew how to set up a 20-ton surprises. One night during a storm, February 1, 1937 with an authorized platform scale, how to install a grain trees began falling from the bluff above share capital of $1,650,000. The parent cleaner, and he’d raised elevators as well the bunkhouses. Alder and others company, British and Allied Investment and put in new foundations; he was gathered up mattresses and blankets and Corporation of London, England, in comfortable with his expertise when he headed for the cookhouse. Two Vancouver was involved in the hired on at Port Tahsis. But when the bunkhouses were damaged that night. construction of the Marine Building foreman put him to work shaping skids At 75 cents per hour, carpenters were (1929) and the Lions Gate Bridge for a bunkhouse he had to confess that earning good wages. Alder began (1938); the Lions Gate crossing served he did not own an adze. banking his pay cheques. There wasn’t as forerunner to the company’s The skids were duly finished, however, a great deal to spend one’s money on in important suburban land development then Alder and his partner built the any case, with no stores or recreation

B.C. Historical News-Spring 92 8 facilities. His brother Ed, by — local people did not always pay their power operated the log turner, auxiliary comparison, made friends among the accounts whereas overseas credits were deck equipment and pumps. The main married people, and while Alder stayed established — until a sawmill was built at power was supplied by burning hog home at night Ed was part of the Zeballos in January 1938, 20,000 feet fuel, one ton per hour, to produce a gas outings to Ceepeecee and Zeballos. of lumber was scowed to Zeballos which operated the eight-cylinder, 1120 Eventually Alder made a trip to almost daily for a few months for hp Crossley—Premier engine. Built in Ceepeecee: construction of the boom town. Nottingham, England the “One Saturday night I got a ride to the No expense had been spared in Crossley—Premier was installed by a cannery and with some friends started to building the mill. McBride Bay boasted factory engineer. Crossley-Premiers explore the place. It was dark, with very two of the three Swedish gang saws to were not new to North America but this few street lights and less people. The be found in British Columbia. But the was the first time this gasification Japanese girls stayed close to their Swede gangs were to prove inadequate process was used in a North American quarters but we could hear a lot of noise for the operation. The head sawing rig, sawmill. The process was estimated to coming from the native village so we instead of a band saw, was a circular require 50 percent less fuel than the wandered over. head rig; further along in the mill were usual steam boiler method; the burning “They were playing one of their native fine trimmers but no re-saw. of bark provided the best results at Port gambling games where everybody sat on The mill had one of the province’s Tahsis. the floor in a circle, pounding out a set first motor lumber stackers, a Ross, but Another North American first for a rhythm and singing a loud but there was no room to store lumber. lumber mill was the installation of a monotonous tune. While the noise was Steep-sided McBride Bay offered little radio telephone. Although radio going on, one guy had a piece of land for building on and the wharf phones were now used in logging polished wood about three inches long could not be extended because teredos camps, B.C. having a large number, that he kept passing from hand to hand consumed the untreated hemlock piles they had yet to be used in the sawmill as rapidly as possible, and at a signal the as fast as they were driven. (The teredo industry. McBride Bay’s unit was singing would stop and a member of the population had flourished through the installed by Vancouver Radio opposite team would indicate what hand dumping of scrap wood and sawdust Laboratories Ltd. and was taller than a he thought the wood was in. If he was into the bay.) With piles 130 feet long man. right, he and his team would win that at the wharfs front, the price of Money was also spent to ensure the round and also get the stick. If not, it creosoting was considered too high. safety of employees. Instead of would remain as before and the singing Scows therefore were used for storing operating with only a safety committee, would start all over again. This was a lumber, increasing costs. If a freighter Nootka Wood Products Ltd. hired a gambling game and I heard later that did not arrive every 10 days, the mill full-time safety supervisor, a move they often played for very high stakes. was snowed in. lauded by the industry. At any rate, I moved to another window The power plant, however, was to get a better look and was shocked to efficient. A 150 kwh engine and see my brother Ed and his pal sitting in generator provided lights, and steam the circle, making as much noise as the rest and having a wonderful time!”

Nootka Wood Products Ltd. began operating in October 1937, producing three million feet of undressed lumber monthly, 110 men on the payroll. The source of the logs was the company’s timber limits, 65 square miles of fir and hemlock in Kyuquot Sound. Fir only was used for lumber at McBride Bay and came by water the 35 miles; the hemlock was cut for Port Alice’s pulp mill. Marketed as “Nootka Pine”, the fir produced an excellent grade of decking, flooring and floor block stock. Timbers 14” x 14” x 60’ were the specialty, the main customer the British Admiralty. Although Nootka Wood Nootka Wood Products Lt€L mill after closure. Gibson tugboat centreforegrouneL Products Ltd. did not wish to sell locally

9 B.C. Historical News -Spring 92 Things seemed to be going fine at first. to build living quarters for the sawmill’s powered by a four horsepower engine Employees were building cabins and Indian employees. While waiting, he out of Dad’s skiff. I did have a small sending for their wives; Alder Bloom undertook private carpentry and built a bandsaw that I traded some work for was building houses for senior staff on floathouse for himselE Fle built a skiff but it was very little help on the heavy an island 400 feet offshore. Access to as well; on the prairies Mr. Bloom material we were working with. Dad the island suburb was by rowboat until always owned a boat, whether he lived was the axeman so he cut and shaped it was decided to build a floating near water or not. the keel by hand. Then we found that walkway. Alder and another carpenter Before long it was learned that the we didn’t have a timber big enough for were given the job of constructing the Indian quarters at McBride Bay would the keelson so Dad went back into the walkway. Working on rolling logs was not be built. There were rumors that woods again and cut down a tree and something new again for Alder Bloom. the mill would close. [The sawmill shaped it with his trusty broad axe and “I had bought a pair of caulk boots closed at Christmas, 1938.] Mr. Bloom adze. such as loggers wore,” he says, “d I was at loose ends. Alder, recognizing an “It was unfortunate that we didn’t was having a fine time on these logs! opportunity in commercial fishing, know more about electricity and picked My partner was grumpy at times and at suggested they build a troller and turn up a small generator, because lights and other times he was singing. For some his father into a fisherman. an electric drill would have been a reason, it bothered him when I moved Nearly two and one-half years were godsend. On the planking I used two around on the logs too fast. He said he devoted to the construction of his hand braces, one with a bit for a didn’t give a damn if I drowned but he father’s 40’ boat, a good-size one. Alder half-inch wood plug, and one for the would hate to see me get wet! One day would go off to a job for a few months, three-inch boat nail. First, I drilled a he was in a good mood and singing a then return with his earnings to assist hole a half-inch deep for the plug, and happy song. I was working with my his dad. Although they were joined by then switched braces and drilled for the back towards him when the singing his brother Rollie Bloom from Port nail. It wasn’t hard but it took time and stopped for a second and then started up Alberni, the project seemed unending. when you remember there were over again. I looked back to see him in the A cove near Port Tahsis known as 5000 nails in the planking alone you can water up to his armpits, struggling to get God’s Pocket was selected and a 60’ get some concept of the time required. back on the logs, but still singing to open boatshed and lean-to workshop We were on the job as soon as it was cover his predicament! I kept on erected. A handful of firs suitable for light enough to see and we worked until working and said nothing!” lumber grew at God’s Pocket. Despite dark. At noon no-one wanted to quit In spring Alder was laid oW He got a feeling guilty about taking timber for work to cook anything so we would job building a logging camp at personal use, John Bloom made a deal keep going until one of us got so hungry Esperanza, near Ceepeecee. The with the Zeballos Lumber Co. to supply that he would have to give in and do the settlement of Esperanza consisted of a several logs in return for some lumber. cooking!” hotel with a beer parlour, and a two-bed By himself, he felled the trees with a When the gumwood arrived at hospital operated by the Shantymen’s falling saw (chain saws were not on the Ceepeecee, 6” x 12” x 12’, John Bloom Christian Association. Much of the market), bucked them, jacked the logs prepared to float it home, unaware it lumber for the hospital had been into the water and towed them behind would not float, He wrestled it to the donated by Nootka Wood Products his skiff the nine miles to Zeballos. edge of the dock and, ropes around it, Ltd. Afterwards he towed home the lumber, pushed it into the water whereupon the Alder next went to Gibson Brothers also in the water. ropes slipped off and the gumwood camp at Sandspit on Tahsis Inlet. Most of the material had to be ordered went to the bottom. The timber Gibsons, legendary for starting in 1945 from “outside” and arrived at Ceepeecee represented nearly two weeks wages for their own export lumber mill — present by steamer, small shipments as they Alder and he dragged for it with a day Tahsis — had acquired old ships to could afford it, mostly fir, oak for the grappling hook. Unsuccessful, he had use as barges for transporting logs to troller’s ribs and gumwood for the stem to order a new piece. market. Alder was put to work cutting and stern. Generally, Mr. Bloom In the spring of 1941 Mr. Bloom was out the deck and insides of a ship. The waited until Alder returned from a job, finishing the cabin. But they still pride of the Gibson fleet was the then they worked on the boat together; needed an engine and gear. Not looking 245-foot five-masted schooner Malahat, he considered Alder project boss. In the forward to another year of scrimping, a Mother Ship during Prohibition. The meantime, to earn extra money, he built Alder was relieved when Ceepeecee’s old girl had been stripped for use as a a simple marine way for local use. cannery manager offered to supply the barge but she was self-powered; she still As the troller took shape, their work engine if the Blooms would charter the had a fireplace in the owner’s stateroom. became a topic of interest in the area; boat to Nelson Brothers for packing dog Alder’s father now arrived at McBride large boats were seldom built in Nootka salmon in the fall. John Bloom would Bay looking for work. John Bloom, 59, Sound, especially under such serve as deckhand under an Indian variously a construction carpenter, store conditions. skipper. owner, grain buyer and elevator repair “The only power machinery that we Because he had worked at the Nootka man, obtained the promise of a contract had”, says Alder, “was a 10” circle saw cannery Alder was permitted to use the

B.C. Histodcal News-Spring 92 10 cannery’s machine shop to install the engine and steering gear. Afterwards he ran the boat triumphantly back to the Pocket. They named her the Thyra B, after Alder’s mother who had died when he was a boy. John Bloom became a fisherman and Alder resumed carpentry. The Second World War was affecting the coast now. Alder worked again for Gibson Brothers, at Tofino where Gibsons were clearing land for the construction of an airport for coastal defense. Then, returning to Nootka Sound, he got a job at the Ceepeecee cannery; here he was in charge of construction, building maintenance, boat repairs and pile-driving. At Ceepeecee, men were leaving to Alder,Flo and Robert (Bob) Bloom 1945. Taken at C.PC join the armed forces. After the photo courtesy Alder Bloom bombing of Pearl Harbour in December 1941 the Japanese were removed from the coast. Bolstering the plant’s than four years in one place and in 1946 to unfamiliar methods, the initial workforce were local women and a he quit fishing, preparing to leave the hostility of co-workers and a harsh number from the Ashcroft tomato coast. For Alder, his wife and small son, climate, he achieved much personal and cannery, among them one Florence the time had come to leave as well. The professional, growth. French from Vancouver. Alder and family, including Rollie Bloom, left * ***** *.* ** Florence were married on October together, planning to settle in some interior location. But canneries and Eleanor IViiton Hancock b a freelance writer 1942. They were married at the now living in Kamloops. She grew up atZeballos Zeballos police station by the town’s boats were in Alder’s blood now and on the west coast ofVancouver Island. soon he was working for Nelson B.C. Provincial Police constable. The SOURCES gold mines were closing at Zeballos, Brothers again, on the Fraser River in some permanently, others for the Richmond. He remained in the Personal interview and correspondence with duration of the war, and the constable business, first with Nelsons, then B.C. Alder Bloom. was in the midst of dismantling the jail’s Packers, until his retirement. Personal interviews with Tom Weilburn, Today he reflects on his experiences manager of Nootka Wood Products Ltd. in cells. The marriage business was brisk 1938. the that day with one couple ahead of Alder on the coast during Depression and Daily Colonist: February 2, 1937; October 21, and Florence and one behind. the Second World war; he is satisfied 1937. John Bloom had never stayed more with the benefits. Faced with adapting The Timberman: November 1937.

Anglican Church Archives A Research Tools Grant has been awarded by SSHRCC for a project INMAGIC software and Rules for Archival Description (RAD) descriptive sponsored jointly by the General Synod Archives, Toronto, and the Ec standards. clesiastical Province of British Columbia and Yukon. Currently under Another goal of the project is to strengthen the Anglican archival way, the primary goal of the project is to prepare and publish the third network in British Columbia. The Diocesan Archivists are the volume in the Records of the Anglican Church of Canada series; vol supervising team for the project and will be meeting twice during the umes on the provinces of Ruperts Land (1986) and Ontario (1990) hav year. Teresa Thompson, General Synod Archivist, is Project ing already been published. The scope of the project includes the Co-ordinator while Doreen Stephens, Archivist of the Ecclesiastical

archives of the Ecclesiastical Province and each of the six dioceses — Province, is providing overall supervision. In addition, the project is British Columbia, Caledonia, Cariboo, Kootenay, New Westminster and benefitting from the earlier work involved in the Ruperts Land and Yukon. Ontario projects. The general office for the project is the Archives of the The award provides for one year funding, the first part of a two year pro Ecclesiastical Province in Vancouver. ject that includes funding for the publishing of the fourth and final guide Mark Epp has been hired as the Project Archivist to prepare the Guide in the series, that of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada (Quebec and to the Holdings of the Archives of the Ecclesiastical Province of B.C. the Atlantic provinces). and Yukon (Anglican Church of Canada). Mark has completed his The guide will be the basic finding aid to the holdings of the Ecclesiasti course work in the M.A.S. programme at the University of B.C. During cal Province and will assist various users including historians, church the course of the Project he will be working in each of the Diocesan administrators, genealogists as well as archivists in identifying and lo Archives, travelling throughout B.C. and into the Yukon. cating materials. The guide is being prepared in database format using

11 B.C. Historical News .Spring 9Z The Kootenay District Zinc Rush

by Edward L. Affleck

nook on Kootenay Lake. This project never materialized, but in the meantime the Canadian Metal Company Ltd., a syndicate of French capitalists who had interests in the Crows Nest coal mines, came upon the scene. The Canadian Metal Company first acquired the Bluebell Mine on Koote nay Lake and the smelting works at nearby Pilot Bay, idled since 1896. Sev eral additional zinc properties were pur chased in the Slocan area. The company began to work the group, stockpiling the ore until the sampler forming part of the Pilot Bay works could be reactivated. On the theory that it was cheaper to haul zinc concen trates to a source of smelting coal than it was to haul coal to a smelter situated on Kootenay Lake (two tons of coal being required to smelt each ton of concen trate), the Canadian Metal Company then erected a large, well-equipped zinc The history of North America is re Co. and thereafter held a virtual mon smelting plant at the Crows Nest coal plete with tales of gold rushes, silver opoly on the refinement of lead in mining town of Frank, Alberta. The booms, and uranium strikes. Zinc ad North America and maintained a strong smelter was designed for a capacity of 60 mittedly lacks the glamour of these oth lobby to insure that lead in Canada en tons of ore in furnaces to convert zinc er metals, so that it is perhaps not tering the U.S.A. faced a stiff tariff. sulphide to zinc oxide, then introducing surprising that the “zinc rush” which Since the lead bullion produced annual coal dust as a reducing agent for the ox buoyed the hopes of citizens of Frank, ly in the Kootenay exceeded the Canadi ide, distilling the mixture, casting the Alberta, Nelson, B.C. and various other an demand, mining men continued to metallic zinc distillate into plates and settlements in the Kootenay and Slocan eye the alluring market for refined zinc saving the residue to recover the silver Lakes areas during the decade leading which existed particularly in Europe. If content. up to World War I has failed to capture the refinement of zinc in silver-lead-zinc The Pilot Bay concentrator was not much of a place in the history of West lodes could only be freed from an eco the only one to be “galvanized” into ac ern Canada. nomic dependence of the refinement of tivity. Smaller mines in the Ainsworth At the turn of this century, zinc was lead, the Kootenay could emerge from Slocan areas started shipping zinc ore to decidedly the “ugly sister” in the low- the shadow cast by the Guggenheim in the Kootenay Ore Company’s small but grade silver-lead-zinc lodes abounding terests and achieve its destiny in the zinc efficient sampling plant at Kaslo or to in the Kootenay District of British Co market. the old concentrator at Rosebery on Sb- lumbia. Zinc content indeed often add In 1904 - 1905 increasing demand for can Lake. At these plants minerals such ed to the problem of refining the silver zinc brought about a dramatic rise in its as iron pyrites, galena and gangue mat and lead content of ores, so that a num market price and revived activity in a ter were separated to facilitate the even ber of smelters levied a penalty on ore number of the mines in the East and tual smelting of zinc ore. with a high zinc content. West Kootenay. For several months the The Federal Government evinced con A 1901 slump in the price of silver District fed on the rumour that the siderable interest in the prospect of Can added to the hard times faced by mining Guggenheim interests were about to ada becoming a major zinc producer men in the Kootenay in the years fol erect a state-of-the-art smelter adjacent and commissioned two prominent lowing the Klondike Gold Rush. In to the idle railway terminal of the Koo American metallurgists, W.R Ingalls 1901 the Guggenheim interests merged tenay Railway & Navigation Co. and Philip Argall, to make a field trip to with the American Smelting & Refining (Great Northern Railway) at Kusko

B.C. Historical News Spring 92 12 British Columbia to investigate the pos by the standard roasting method carried of East and West Kootenay. sibilities of zinc ore mining in the Prov on at Frank could not, having regard to The Ingalls-Argall Commission, how ince as well as methods of treating the the quality of zinc concentrates and the ever, proved to be a discordant voice ore. prevailing wage, freight and coal rates, crying in the wilderness, as the B.C. The 1905 year closed on a high note, be carried on competitively against U.S. Government had now been bitten by with more activity in the base metal and European smelters. The Commis the zinc producing bug. A group of mines of the Kootenay than had been sion also expressed doubt that sufficient Coast capitalists who had originally in witnessed for haifa decade. Pending the zinc ore could be mined and concentrat vested in the Kaslo & Slocan Railway activation of the Frank Smelter, zinc ed in the Ainsworth-Slocan mining divi and who had an interest in the Kaslo concentrate was sacked at the Kaslo sions to warrant full-scale development Kootenay Land Co. as well as in a num sampling plant, loaded on the Kootenay of a zinc mining industry. It noted the ber of Slocan mines, formed the Canada Railway & Navigation Company’s tremendous amount of zinc ore availa Zinc Company, lobbied successfully for sternwheelers I(a.slo and International ble in the Sullivan Mine at Kimberley, a $10,000 advance from the Provincial and transferred at Five Mile Point to ore but regretted that the refractory charac Government and commenced in 1907 cars for a long trip via U.S. railways to ter of this ore was such that zinc extrac to build a new zinc smelter at Nelson, the zinc smelter in Bartlesville, Oklaho tion by traditional methods was almost B.C. Electric smelting of zinc was to ma which had access to cheap Kentucky hopeless. The Commission then turned save the day, and the well constructed, coal. its attention to the prospect of electric well-equipped smelter of the Canadian 1906, however, introduced a few sour smelting of zinc ores in British Colum Metal Company at Frank would hence notes into the Canadian zinc industry’s bia and sounded a very faint note of en forth stand as a monument to all that song of rapture. First the U.S. Customs thusiasm in making the following was wrong with traditional zinc smelting determined that the product of a zinc points: methods. concentrator did not constitute “crude 1. Electric smelting would never dis To-day the south shore approach to mineral” and promptly slapped a heavy place coal-fired smelting of zinc where the Nelson bridge towers over the Lake duty on such concentrates entering the the electric power is generated from side Park parking lot which now occu U.S. for smelting. This ruling was re coal. pies the site of the Canada Zinc scinded the following year, but by that 2. Electric smelting might be, in the Company smelting works. In 1908, time the 1907 financial panic was well future, economically conducted at plac however, the long narrow building con underway and mines which had sus es where very cheap hydro-electric pow structed of 2” x 10” planking flanked by pended production in the face of the tar er was available. a tall thin exhaust stack one hundred ten iff could not secure refinancing to re 3. Aside from the question of power feet high assumed a commanding posi open. cost, certain peculiar and serious metal tion on the lakeshore at the eastern lim The second sour note was sounded lurgical difficulties in electric smelting its of Bogustown. Enthusiasm waxed when the Canadian Metal Company had not yet been satisfactorily large throughout the Nelson communi discovered that the low grade of concen overcome. ty, chastened by the recent wind-up of trate shipped from Pilot Bay to Frank, 4. It was unlikely that electric smelting activity at the copper-lead smelting combined with the high price of coal of zinc ores could ever be profitably car works of the Hall Mines Smelter now ($2.00 per ton at the pit head) made the ried on in the zinc-producing districts standing idle on the bench across Cot- smelting of zinc at Frank uneconomic. In the face of falling process for silver and lead, the company decided to dis mantle the sampler at Pilot Bay and to reassemble the works into a more effi cient reduction plant on the Bluebell site, now renamed “Riondel” in honour of the company’s president, Count Ri ondel. Under the deft supervision of Samuel S. Fowler, construction on this new plant was begun in March, 1907 and was completed in the late spring of 1908. The new plant proved to be highly efficient in separating lead con centrate for shipment to the smelter at Trail, B.C., but a decline in the price of zinc postponed indefinitely any further activity at the Frank zinc smelter. The third sour note was sounded by the Ingalls-Argall Commission, which Canadian Met.al Co.’s Concentrating Planj Blue Bell Mine, Kootenay Lake made it fairly obvious that zinc smelting

13 B.C. Historical News .Spring 92 tonwood creek, and more than one Nel and the furnaces cold. The Snyder Federal Government proceeded to in son citizen of modest means subscribed Electro-Thermic Process apparently had stall improved equipment in the plant, to shares in the Canada Zinc Company. not overcome aLl the “metallurgical dif placing George C. Mackenzie, Chief of The Canada Zinc Company’s smelter ficulties” which Ingalls and Argall had its Metallurgical Division in charge as of was to be an electric smelter utilizing the warned about. Edward Dedolph, a tal October, 1913. Once again the citizens new Snyder Electro-Thermic process. ented assayer at the Kootenay Ore of Nelson looked forward to full-scale The process would require ample elec Company’s sampling plant in Kaslo, did production at the plant the following tric power, but was not some of the low succeed in producing electrolytic zinc in spring. All work was abruptly terminat est-cost power in British Columbia now the plant, but highly explosive zinc ful ed, however, early in 1914, when Mr. available from the nearby Bonnington minate was a by-product. When 1909 Mackenzie issued the following report: Falls hydro-electric power plant of the vanished into history without a sign of experimental work at Nelson has West Kootenay Power & Light Compa renewed activity, the Nelson City been discontinued, it being regarded as ny? Freight charges would be modest, Council offered to make available, free conclusively settled that an electric zinc because concentrate from the Kaslo and of charge, power from the City’s origi smelting furnace so small as one ton of Riondel reduction plants could be nal hydro-electric power plant on Cot daily capacity is a commercial impossi barged down Kootenay Lake to the lake tonwood Falls, idled since the opening bility, while the satisfactory develop shore smelting site. (The difficulties en of the City’s new Bonnington Falls ment of a larger furnace is regarded as countered by the C.P.R during 1899- plant in 1907. This offer was not taken too doubtful to be undertaken at Nelson 1900 in working barges through the up, but the old hydro-electric power Procter narrows were conveniently for plant was “borrowed” during 1910 by Thus ended Nelson’s hopes of becom gotten). Snyder would provide the solu Andrew Gordon French, a prominent ing a world centre for the production of tion to smelting low-grade concentrates metallurgist. French conducted his first zinc. Twelve months later, an insatiable and Nelson would become the zinc cap experiments on the premises of J.O. war-time demand for zinc resulted in tial of the world! Let Trail lead with Patenaude, Nelson jewelry manufactur the addition of an electrolytic zinc refin lead and Grand Forks conquer with cop er, then moved to the Old Cottonwood ery to the smelter works at Trail, the per; Nelson would zoom with zinc! Creek hydro-electric plant. He installed electrolytic process having been evolved The Canada Zinc Company plant, a small experimental electric furnace at out of the work of the Frenches by a built under the supervision of A,C. Fer the Cottonwood Falls site, and with the team of scientists backed by the Consoli neau, consisted of a McDougall roasting help of his son, Thomas French, con dated Mining & Smelting Company furnace, 14 feet in diameter and about ducted a number of experimental runs and the Anaconda Copper Mining 25 feet high, having a capacity of about there. When the French process Company of Great Falls, Montana. The 25 tons of ore per day, and an electric showed some signs of promise, father story of Cominco’s protracted litigation furnace with inside dimensions of 34TT x and son were invited to continue their with the Patenaude/French interests 54” capable of treating about 15 tons of work in the well-equipped research facil which arose out of the development of roasted ore per day. The electric furnace ities of the Consolidated Mining & this process as well as the story of the was equipped with carbon electrodes, Smelting Co. at Trail. Thomas French 1910-11 mining rush triggered around the electric arc formed between the elec carried on there his father’s work, subsi Nelson by A. G. French’s claim to have trodes serving to generate the heat re dized by a grant from the Provincial found substantial traces of platinum in quired for smelting the roasted ore. The Government. dykes of the Granite-Poorman mine near products of the process were: (a) slag By 1912, the Federal Government, fed Blewitt belong to other chapters of Nel and matte, run off through an iron up with the shifting U.S. tariff policy on son’s mining and smelting history. A spout (b) lead, collected in the bottom Canada’s zinc ore exports, had also be lingering symbol of Nelson’s aspirations of the furnace and ladled out of a lead come an active participant in zinc smelt to become a world leader in the zinc well, and (c) liquid metallic zinc con ing experiments in Nelson. W.R. market vanished in January, 1935 when densed on the cool sides of the furnace Ingalls was commissioned to conduct the long idle Canada Zinc Smelter was jacket and drained out through perforat experiments at McGill University in razed to make way for a parking lot op ed carbon blocks. Several trial runs were Montreal. After obtaining successful la posite Nelson’s Lakeside Park. made in the late fall of 1908, with F.T. boratory runs there he came out to Nel Snyder, technical consultant, in atten son to conduct experiments on a larger dance. On the basis of these runs, the scale at the Canada Zinc plant, which E.L “Ted” Affleck grew up in Nelson. He be process was pronounced economically by this time had passed into the hands came a Chartered Accountan4 working out of Vancouver and has recently retired in that city. feasible but in need of some small ad of the B.C. Government. Results at He has written several books on Kootenay history. justments to iron out a number of me Nelson were sufficiently promising to chanical and electrical problems which cause a major U.S. mining and smelting BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. British Columbia. Report of the Minister of Mines. had been encountered. The citizens of company to seek to acquire the Nelson 1908-1914. Nelson confidently awaited the com plant and continue the experimentation 2. Geological Survey of Canada. Annual Report on the mencement of full-scale production in there, but the B.C. Government balked Mineral Industries of Canada. 1905. 3. Minnesota Historical Society. Corporate files of the the spring of 1909. It was not to be. at yielding the title to a foreign concern. Kootenay Railway & Navigation Company. The doors of the smelter remained shut The U.S. concern withdrew, and the 4. Nelson Daily New,.

B.C. Histoilca! News Spring 92 14 To Nelson By Car In 1917

by Henry Stevenson

Hazen Everett Stevenson opened a blacksmithing business in Nelson, B.C. in August 1911 in partnership with Hereford Butchart. It was a viable en terprise which provided both partners with a reasonable income until 1916 when a recession forced them to close the shop. Hazen had married Jennie Peterson, a Swedish immigrant girl in March 1914. A year later a daughter, Margaret, was born and in April 1916 a son Henry ar 1913 Ford model Ttouring car, same vintage as the car myfrmily made the six day tripfrom Granum, Alberta to Nelson via Idaho é Wabington (the only avaiiable road between the two two towns in rived to complete the family. Hazen 1917). Price ofFord new was $600.00 it was 5psngi 4 tyL 20 HP. was offered a black-smithing job at Gra num, Alberta, which he hastened to ac cle to be in good condition, especially venting completion. But there was a cept. The Stevenson family moved to the low gear and brakes. (Transmis road to the Waterloo ferry about ten the prairie town where they intended to sions on the Model T Fords were trou miles upriver. It took less than an hour make a new home. blesome at the best of times, and these to reach the ferry where they would During the summer of 1917 Henry were not the “best of times.”) cross over to the east side of the Colum was taken critically ill. Evidently the al Next day saw the Stevenson family on bia River. The Waterloo ferry was a kali in the prairie water was burning the the road again travelling through Col small raft type of contrivance with an lining of his stomach. The only thing ville then over a dreaded section of the overhead cable to guide the craft. The the toddler could digest was beaten road known as the “Seven Sisters’!, a se cable was anchored at each shore; tri white of egg mixed with milk. The doc ries of narrow stretches of sandy road pods held the cable in place. Another tor stated, “It’s back to mountain water bordering the Columbia River. Fortu cable device was attached to twin or the graveyard.” Two days later the nately everything went in their favor sheaves in tandem running on the over Stevenson family loaded their belong along this stretch of roadway. At head cable. Another smaller cable was ings into Hazen’s 1913 Model T tour Northport, Washington, they checked attached to the two ends of the vessel ing car and started on their way back to through the U.S. Customs and pro and run through the twin sheave unit; Nelson. Following the only roads that gressed on up to Waneta where they by shortening one end through a winch connected Granum to Nelson took crossed the United States-Canada bor and lengthening the other while adjust them south to Fort McLeod, then west der and could proceed to Trail, B.C. ing to the pressure on the hull from the through Crows Nest Pass to Cranbrook. Evening was closing in so they stopped current the ‘drift Ferry’ was pushed The road surface in Alberta consisted of overnight at the Arlington Hotel. In across the river. black prairie clay turned to gumbo by Trail Hazen was offered a job at the The travellers were shocked when they heavy rains. On the west side of the smelter; a job that would pay $4.00 a landed at the eastern shore. No one had Rockies the road surface changed to day. He refused the offer because the told them that there was no road up the gravel and was very rocky in spots. deal stated that this was $2.00 per day river bank to the bench at least 40 feet Travel was slow and flat tires a problem cash and $2.00 in Consolidated Mining above the river. Their Model T was the but they pressed on. Crossing the Cana & Smelting stock. He felt that he first automobile to make the crossing. da-United States border at Kingsgate would require more than $2.00 a day to Prior to that day the only traffic had they drove through Bonners Ferry, Ida feed, clothe and house his family. (In been pedestrians and the occasional ho stopping for the night at Rathdrum. retrospect, the CM&S shares could horse. The steep bank (sloping at about The next day (their fourth on the road) have, in time, become a small fortune.) 35 degrees,) was more than the 20 they reached Spokane then turned north The Stevensons were up early next horsepower vehicle could navigate. But through Deer Park. At Chewelah, morning, leaving Trail on the last lap of Hazen’s motto was, “Don’t give up; Washington, Hazen had to repair the their journey to Nelson. It was day six there’s always a way to beat the impossi transmission bands in the car because he and they were eager to get home. Ha- ble.” Hazen climbed to the top of the was warned that there were treacherous zen was told that the road to Castlegar bank to survey the situation. He found roads ahead that would require the vehi was not open due to a rock bluff pre a large pile of fence posts and an audi-

15 B.C. Ihstoncal News -Spring 92 (.y They made it to Brilliant and shortly

,&!1Ab thereafter encountered another obstacle. There was no road between Brilliant S and South Slocan. The only river cross ing seemed to be the railway bridge.

P4. MO Hazen had to get to Castlegar, so he cut the wire fence, drove through, then re paired the fence, and was driving up to

rr - — - — - the tracks when a railway section fore I AA U A. man arrived on the scene. The CPR man was somewhat hostile accusing Ha- zen of trespassing on CPR property. He also warned that a train was due to pass LI over at any moment. The man quickly climbed onto his handcar and headed for Castlegar. As soon as the handcar was out of sight the Stevenson Ford edged onto the ence of Doukhobor farmers. They Peter (the Lordly) Verigin halted them, bridge. At that moment the train ap probably expected to see the ferry return denying passage over the bridge. Veri peared from Brilliant. Hazen had the car to the west bank. None of the gin was the first Doukhobor that Hazen thought the section man was bluffing, onlookers could speak English, but Ha- encountered who could speak English. but was able to back out of the way. zen used sign language to obtain a group He said the car was too heavy for the Once the train had passed the family of helpers carrying fence posts down to bridge; no automobile had ever crossed was loaded aboard and the car made a the car. A corduroy was created, the car it. Hazen explained to him that the car bumpy crossing of the Columbia River jacked up then the engine revved and was not nearly as heavy as a team of on the CPR bridge. When the first made a run up the hill. When the car horses and a wagon. Verigin was ada roadway came into view below the rail stopped Jennie rammed a post between mant; his mind was made up. While way Hazen drove down the bank, cut the spokes of the wheel to prevent it they argued a horse drawn wagon load the wire fence, put his car on the road, rolling back. This process was repeated ed with logs came over the bridge. Ha- repaired the fence and drove into Castle several times until the car eventually zen asked Verigin to instruct the husky gar where the family had lunch and re reached the top of the bench. driver to lift one wheel of his wagon. fuelled the vehicle. While Hazen and Jennie were busy The teamster tried in vain, then Hazen Close to Castlegar he drove onto the working the car up to the crest, a group asked him to lift the rear wheel of the small ferry powered by a one cylinder of Doukhobor ladies took turns caring car. That same man lifted the car with engine and they were taken over to Rob- for Margaret and Henry. little effort. Verigin was now con son. From here there was a road to Nel Now that they were on the Ootische vinced, but insisted that the lady must son following the original pack trail up nia flat, onward travel posed no trouble carry the children across. When Hazen Pass Creek, down Goose Creek where as farm roads were fairly well main drove the car over Verigin volunteered the bridge at Crescent Valley crossed the tained. On arrival at the Doukhobor to carry Henry across while Jennie fol Slocan River. When they reached Bon Bridge that crosses the Kootenay River, lowed with Margaret. nington Falls darkness was overtaking them, so Hazen fired up the acetylene headlights. It was 10 p.m. when the party reached Taghum. The dreaded Taghum Hill was an obstacle. The road up the hill was narrow with many curves

including a switchback - and their gaso line supply was getting low. Model T Fords had a gas tank situated in such a position that a low gas supply would not flow to the engine while climbing a steep hill. To alleviate the problem the vehicle was turned around and driven uphill in reverse gear so that fuel could flow readily to the engine. The difficul ty that night was the pitch black dark ness when back up lights had yet to be Castlegarfrrry on Columbia river - crossing to Robson. This picture taken about 1924 invented. Hazen again had to improvise. He re

16 B.C. Historical News - Spring 92 moved the kerosene tail lamp from its bracket, opened its hinged door, lit it with a match, then handed it to Jennie instructing her to walk up the hill ahead of the car holding the light behind her. In that manner the car was backed all the way to the top of the hill. At the crest of the hill Hazen turned the car around to make a conventional final lap into Nelson. At 11 p.m. the Stevenson family could see the beautiful lights of Nelson after six days on the road from Granum. The final stretch from Trail had taken 17 hours. It had been a very trying trip for Jennie with her two wee children (15 months and 2 1/2 years old), and for Ha- zen who ‘fought’ the Model T Ford over prairie gumbo, rocks, gravel, mud, sand, railway ties, and one blessed bit of pave ment (in Spokane.) Thisfamilyportrait taken in 1917 shows Hazen Stevenson Henry Stevenson grew up in NeIon, ran a ma standing beside Margaret chine shop ti’ere and is now retired in that Koo tenay centre. He enjoys recording his memories andJenny Stevenson holding for othei to reacL 1. young Henry on her lap.

Lasqueti Island Reviews Its History by Elda Copley Mason

The Spaniards left considerable evidence of their explora tions in the Strait of Georgia. Place names like “Lasqueti” show the hand of Spanish map makers. Francisco de Eliza was in command of an expedition in 1791 which set out from Nootka to continue the exploration of the Fuca Strait and other waterways. (See “Spanish Discovery” by John Crosse in Vol. 25, No. 1) Narvaez in the Santa Saturnina ex plored the Strait of Georgia up to about Cape Lazo (near the present site of Comox.) Eliza subsequently made up a chart of the whole area; it shows an outline of Lasqueti and some of the surrounding islets, and the larger island of Texada to the east. To commemorate the visit of the Spaniards to these waters two hundred years before, members of the Lasqueti Island Historical Association gathered with friends at Squitty Bay Marine Park on June 15, 1991. There they unveiled the plaque shown here. It is situated atop a small cliff that af fords a lovely view of the bay and Sabine Channel with Tex ada Island in the background. Later, residents and visitors assembled at the Lasqueti Community Hall. School children gave a presentation (ar ranged and written by Patricia Forbes) of the unique history of the island, commencing with the Spanish period. Many descendants of original settlers were introduced represent ing the families of William Jeffreys, William Curran, Charles Susan Page, Duboi,c Laursen, Darwin, Darwin and others. It was a happy celebration allowing res Edgar and Elda Mason (Copey) unveiled this plaque on beha(fofthe idents past and present to review the history of island 150 or so people our gathered to participate in the historic event. with a Spanish name.

17 B.C. Histoiical News .Spring 92 The Barn with a Social Lfe

by Bruce Paterson

Constable’s barn, as illustrated, still wash house, pig sties, and machine and were active in local organizations stands at Alice Siding 3 miles north of sheds. There was the family home, a such as the school board, reclamation, Creston. It evokes memories of its house for hired help, a dairy, honey and the fruit growers’ association. functional role on a multi-faceted farm house, ice house, chicken house, root They had a big home on the hill above and as the venue for many lively dances cellar, smoke house, greenhouse with a the barn; the four-roomed gardener’s over the years. The barn was built in potting sheds a blacksmith shop, and a cottage near the north hayshed being 1912-13 by Reed and Mather, two workshop. Mr. and Mrs. Constable occupied by the eldest son and his new English journeymen carpenters. It enjoyed entertaining and held private wife until just before the war. The farm featured details such as an attractive dances in the barn when it was awaiting was sold in 1944 when all the boys were pigeon cote atop the roof, a cement the next crop of hay. Locals looked away from home involved in some way floor sloped to carry liquid waste away forward to attending these parties. in the war effort. The hired man’s from the horse & cow stalls, a loft Wedding celebrations also happened house was moved elsewhere. The big floored with 1” x 3” tongue and groove there. When a dance was to be held house burned during renovations. The fir imported from the coast, and two here the piano was moved from the old barn was left alone with its driveways at one end. One driveway family home on the hill, by wagon in memories. housed platform scales used to weigh good weather or by sleigh in winter. It ********** livestock, hay or produce for marketing; was histed through the trap door into the other ran under a large trapdoor to the loft, using four blocks and tackle. Bruce Paterson is a biology teacher at Prince Charks Secondary School in Creston. He has the loft. The floor above the driveway was at a prepared a series of ‘Kootenay Cameos ‘ carefrl Guy Constable arrived in the Creston higher level than the main floor above drawings with written histories of old buildings, Valley in 1904 where his uncle, Hubert the horse stalls. This gave the orchestra which appear monthly in the Kootena Review Mayhew, had bought the Kootenay a stage, and visitors a seating area away and will soon be collected into a book. mining property known as Alice Mine. from the dancers. The horses would be Constable deliberated carefully then turned out of their stalls and that area decided to stay and develop the mine sluiced down. Guests walked through CRESTION& and surrounding property .. . rather the horse stall to the stairs up to the loft. DISTRICT than go to Brazil to oversee other family Music for dancing was provided by investments. This was a major Mrs. Constable and other musicians. In IIJIORICAL undertaking requiring not only drilling the 1930s a small orchestra played here soaw and working the mine, but also and at Hunt’s Hall in Kitchener, a few constructing an aerial tramway to miles east of Creston. Mrs. Constable Proudly announces that the convey ore down the mountain, a played piano; Mrs. Lister, violin; Gerald concentrator, bunk houses and auxiliary Craigie, drums and sometimes joined by mortgage on their museum buildings. It also involved arranging the Lacey boys and Ronald Stace-Smith has been paid off. with the CPR to build a spur line to the on other instruments. During the concentrator on the benchland below Depression years the Alice Siding A burning of this mortgage the mine. This piece of rail line was Community Club held dances to, was held at their annual given the name Alice Siding — hence the hopefully, finance the building of a name of the community today. The community hall. Admission was 10 meeting on March 29, 1992 mine ran intermittently until about per person. The youngster collecting 1920 when the machinery was sold, the this fee was also to urge guests, “Be Creston now has an rails removed, and buildings put to careful with your smokes.” archivist, Mrs. Dolly other use. Consideration by visitors in an era when Constable expanded his farming, using almost everyone smoked kept the old Kaetler, working in the material from the concentrator to add barn safe. basement of the Town Hall new buildings such as three haysheds, a Constables raised a family of four boys

B.C. Historical News. Spring 92 18 straint assault, caucus members were that day that the party executive con That end came despite what appeared caught off-guard when it was launched. vened an emergency meeting of its pro to be growing public support for both Things got worse, not better. vincial council in the basement of the the Coalition and for its militant’s calls When rank-and-file members of the 1WA hall on Commercial Drive. Only for a general strike. By fall, when the Coalition had begun talking about a one item of business was on the agenda: Socreds met at the Hotel Vancouver for general strike in early July, the New Solidarity. their annual party convention, those Democrats included in their number be If the party’s rank-and-file had been militants were able to muster more than gan to demand a prominent role for unsure about why their leaders were 50,000 people to march past the hotel, their party within that organizational ef maintaining such a low profile, it soon Garr says, “shouting and shaking their fort. Whatever else was going to hap became painfully apparent to them, as fists .. .“ Heady and, for the Operation pen, though, that was not. one after another of those leaders stood Solidarity I NDP leadership, frightening It is not clear, and will probably never to explain the position the NDP found stufE be clear, exactly when the party’s role itself in. The council delegates were As if this wasn’t bad enough, Opera within the Coalition was first discussed bluntly told the NDP could not be asso tion Solidarity’s leaders were faced with by either’s leaders. The intertwining of ciated with a call for a general strike for the disturbing visibility of posters, the B.C. NDP’s leadership with that of the very simple reason that general which advised the province to “Prepare the B.C. Fed was so complete that it is strikes were designed for the sole pur for the general strike,” in the marchers’ doubtful even those involved really pose of toppling governments — and the ranks. And the marchers’ loudest and know: B.C. NDP, in that summer of 1983, most persistent chant — “Socreds Out!

The president of the B.C. NDP was could not afford to have Bill Bennett’s Socreds Out!” — could only reinforce ex also an WA local president and a B.C. government toppled: actly the message the leadership least Fed vice-president; another B.C. Fed * The party, council was reminded, wanted to deliver. The situation was vice-president was also vice-president of had no leader. Barrett had reject ugly. It would get uglier. the party; Kube, along with other B.C. ed earlier calls for him to stay on At midnight on 31 October, the Fed officers and functionaries, had run in that capacity, and did so again BCGEU’s 35,000 members struck the several times as an NDP candidate. at the council meeting. He went state. The escalating public-sector strike These people, and others like them, on to warn that it would be politi the Coalition had demanded had be wore so many hats that it is probable cal suicide for the NDP to go into gun. On 8 November, jitst more than a the first time the question about the an election as crucial as the one a week after the BCGEU had walked out, NDP’s role in the Coalition was raised general strike might force without most of the province’s teachers and edu was as someone looked at himself in the a known, trusted leader. cational support staff joined the govern mirror while brushing their teeth one * Nor could the party afford an ment workers on the picket lines. morning in July. When they began election financially, provincial Things were clearly getting out of hand. talking to one another, it is doubtful treasurer Roger Howard said. If that was the perception of the prov anyone will ever know. The NDP was in debt, to the ince’s government, media and popula What can be deduced is that they de tune of more than $750,000, for tion at large, it was also the perception cided, very early on, that the B.C. NDP the campaign it had run in May. of many of the leaders of British Co was not going to play a major role in the There was simply no way the par lumbia’s private-sector trade unions. Coalition. It was into this firm decision ty could raise the money needed When the teachers walked, the private- that the rank-and-file party members to mount another campaign. sector union leaders could no longer ig found themselves running headlong as No, the last thing the NDP — and, nore what was being done, ostensibly in the call for a general strike escalated. therefore, its Operation Solidarity ally — their name. NDP leaders were willing to tell their could afford to provoke in the late sum “Suddenly,” Munro recounts, “we rank-and-file — and anyone else who mer of 1983 was another general elec started to realize that all of us.. .were in

.. . would listen — that the party’s place was tion. Clearly, this perception was not trouble The next day, I met with in the Legislature, not in the Coalition. new on 16 August: it had informed the TWA negotiating committee and . .1 and not on the streets. But the lead these men’s and women’s decisions was given my marching orders: . .. ‘Go ers were less immediately forthcoming from the very beginning of the anti- stop it’.” about why, exactly, that was so. For Restraint fight. “Stopping it” might no longer have many members of the party whose first The leadership’s strategy — neither en been possible for Kube, who was still re leader, James S. Woodsworth, had been dorsing nor repudiating a general strike luctant to abandon his dream of “a a leader of the 1919 Winnipeg General publicly, while privately ruling it out al wide-ranging co-operative movement

Strike, it was beginning to get more together — was a careful one, and one between unions, all unions, and the than a little confusing. that worked just as they intended it to. poor and dispossessed” of British Co By 16 August the cries within the For the Coalition, with its members’ in lumbia. Now he was being told, by the NDP for a role for the party in the Coa creasing calls for just such a strike, it most powerful trade union in the prov lition and its plans for a general strike was a strategy which made a tragic end ince, to kill what he saw as the fragile could no longer be ignored. It was on inevitable. nucleus of just such a movement. The

23 B.C. Historical News .Spring 92 question was not only “could he,” but 1983, workers at the province’s Crown union.” “would he”? corporations were joining the BCGEU It was all over but the shouting. As it turned out, he didn’t have to. and education workers on the picket Three days later, Munro was on his

The night after the teachers and support line . . . and the Operation Solidarity way to Kelowna, where the meetings staff went on strike, Art Kube was re executive was winding down an all- with Bennett did not go smoothly. In moved from the, stage, both figuratively night meeting, called immediately after the end, all he could get Bennett to and literally. At a Solidarity meeting in Kube’s dramatic collapse in New agree to were three of Solidarity’s five New Westminster the evening of 9 No Westminster. demands, and those only tenuously. vember, he broke into tears, suffering a “Everyone,” recalls Munro, “was there It wasn’t much. But it was all the complete physical and emotional col We all felt that we were heading 1WA leader could get. . . the Kelowna lapse at the podium. Kube, and his for insanity and had to get a settlement. Accord was a reality. And the Solidarity troublesome dream, were out of the So at about four or five in the morning Coalition was history. way. we agreed on a package (of demands to The stage could now be set for what be presented to the government). The author is a graduate student of Canadian the Operation Solidarity leadership “Then . . . the question was asked: history at the University of British Columbia where is writing a Master’s thesis on American knew needed doing — the Coalition, Who was going to be the spokesman be VietNam War objectors who moved to British with all its embarrassing clamour for a that would shut the thing down?. . . It Columbia between 1965 and 1975. A employee general strike, could be shut down. It was agreed that I was the only guy who of the B.C. NDP from 1980 to 1986 he spent didn’t take long. could do that job — ride out the political the decade beftre that as a newspaperman in the As the sun came up on 10 November storm and still survive in my own Lower Mainland and on Vancouver IslantL

Living History at Fort Steele

In 1961 traffic passed through Port racks, sleeping on straw filled mattresses passenger wagon as well as to browse Steele, down the dusty Main Street past a laid on cots or bunks framed with peeled through the various buildings. Wonder few neglected old buildings. A handful of poles. They dine in the Sergeant’s Mess ful smells waft across town from the bak residents scattered in the remaining hous and use outdoor toilets (plus modern ery; the building was a reconstruction and es on the plateau above the Kootenay Riv washroom facilities.) These youngsters its brick oven (15 feetx 15 feetx 8 feet) is er defied the definition that theirs was a view several aspects of our history. They wood fired and capable of producing 250 ghost town. The pleas of three local citi pan for gold: recreate Mountie life in Loaves of bread at a time. Next door the zens were heeded by the B.C. Govern 1887 including chinking Log walls with International Hotel expects to open its ment that year and the village was mud; do household chores such as churn dining room to the public. The Tea designated as a Historic Site. Slowly vital ing butter, doing Laundry on a wash Room upstairs in the Wasa Hotel will ity was injected into the coLlection of board, or watching a cow being milked; continue to serve through the 1992 sea buildings and gradually they became a they attend class in the old schoolhouse son and give a great view from balcony creditable display area with full time staff where arithmetic is done on a slate, and tables. Backyard gardens are maintained some seasonal workers and a corps of vol recess given to carrying wood in for the and some even hold chickens, geese, unteers in costume. Major changes were woodbox; they may participate in Laying ducks or piglets which are very appealing thrust upon the planners and restorers of rail track and ride a hand car, or Learn to patrons. Some days there will be dem Fort Steele when the main road was re about the traditional life of Kootenay In onstrations of horse farming, or perhaps routed in 1965. Several buildings had to dians. Many young have been so en hose reel races, or ladies riding sidesaddle, be moved from the right of way to vacant thused by their stay at Fort Steele that or fiddlers playing on the bandstand. lots “downtown.” Gradually buildings they inspire their parents to visit during History does come alive in Fort Steele! were stabilized, theatre productions of the summer holidays. Extensive archives contain documenta fered during the summer (in a tent at first Visitors during July and August appre tion of the gold rush up the Wild Horse, then in the Wild Horse Theatre), horse ciate the ambiance created by costumed the boom years of ‘The Capital of the drawn vehicles graced the streets, Ker staff and volunteers, horse drawn trans Kootenays’ (1896-98), microfilmed news shaw’s store offered pioneer style goods portation and street scenes recreating a papers from several communities, a large for sale, and tourists were treated to good moment back in the 1890s. Living histo collection of historic photos, letters, jour ies baked in wood-fired stoves by volun ry street scenes were introduced in 1981, nals, minute books and other material teers garbed in dresses reminiscent of the and have developed to become Fort valuable for researchers of East Kootenay 1890s. Steele’s most popular program. Each history. The Prospector, published Teachers soon realized the potential of sketch, carefully researched, depicts an ep weekly from 1895-1905, now may be this Heritage Town for giving students a isode from Fort Steele’s history, and is seen on photocopied pages. The serious taste of Hands-on History. Programs portrayed by clever actors and actresses historian can arrange to access the ar were started in 1974. Recent figures show every 20 minutes between 10 a.m. and 5 chives 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday to Fri that 4000 B.C. students come each year, p.m. (often with a humorous twist.) Hol day year round while the casual visitor plus 600-700 Calgary 5th graders. As idayers frequently extend their stay to be can experience Living History daily dur part of the education program children able to watch the complete series of street ing the summer season. may stay overnight in the Mountie bar- scenes, take a complimentary ride on the

B.C. Historical News- Spring 92 24 The Lone Scout ofChimu—Nesu

by Toyo Takata

Above is reproduceda photograph oftheJapanese Boy Scout troup ofChemainus, together with H. L RavenbilL Auistant-Cornmissionerfrr British Columbia. Left to rigb4 standing; H T RavenhilL L Sadafusa, M Izumi, L Taniwa, K Izumi, T Kawabara, patrol leader; S. Isoki, patrol leader; S. Okada £ Izumi, T Okada, T Yoshida, G. Kawabara committee. Sitting, back row: M. Sahata &out T Kawabe, committee; H S. Yosbida, Corn.; S. E. Yosbida, Scout Master; G. Nakashima, treasurer; B. Okada, Corn.; N Yoshida Scout. Sittings front row: Okinobu, committee; Rev. F. 0. Robatban, president; T Yamasbita, secretaly.

It was an unforgettable “homecoming” Japanese in the sawmill town attracted sawmill at Royston and the logging op— for the 83-year old Japanese Canadian. by job opportunities at the Victoria erations at Fanny Bay were guilty of ex On August 10, 1991, he was honoured Lumber and Manufacturing Company. ploiting their own people in the same at the Festival of Murals unveiling cere Old timers who worked at the mill manner. mony at Chemainus, a town from might remember the elder Yoshida as During the more than a quarter of a which he was exiled 50 years ago. “Henry Ford”, the driver of the Model century that Japanese Canadians repre For Shige Yoshida, it was a crowning T converted to haul trailers loaded with sented a sizable chunk of the work force, moment as he stood proudly before the lumber around the yard. no labour disruption or strife to speak of new mural appropriately titled “The Aside from the business owners and occurred at Victoria Lumber. Even at Lone Scout which portrayed him in three or four fishermen all the Issei (first the height of the depression, no one suf uniform as he appeared in the 1930’s. generation Japanese who immigrated to fered extended layoffs or shutdowns The assembled dignitaries, local and Canada) and Nisei (second generation, which were prevalent elsewhere. When provincial, as well as representatives of Canadian born children of Issei parents) a Nisei lad left school, he was reasonably Japanese Canadian associations, paid male workers in Chemainus either assured of a mill job though it was hard tribute to his dedication and achieve worked directly for or were on contract ly his prime choice. Relations among ment. He was inducted as an honorary assignment to Victoria Lumber. The workers, which included Chinese and member into the regional Baden-Powell Company was more than content with East Indians, were, by and large, Guild, an organization of retirees from its Japanese Canadian employees who harmonious. the Scouting Movement. were industrious, reliable and coopera One problem the Issei could not cope Victoria born Shige Edward Yoshida tive. Moreover, the mill benefited by with was Chemainus itself: It was be was six when his family moved to the policy of paying them the “Oriental yond their ability to pronounce it prop Chemainus after a stint in nearby Lady- scale” whereby they earned 20 percent erly. They had no difficulty with smith where his father failed his brief less hourly than Occidentals performing Duncan or Nanaimo, but Chemainus business fling as a poolhall proprietor. the same task, but it should be pointed was a tongue-twisting disaster. The so The Yoshidas were among the earliest out that Japanese enterprises such as the lution was to give their own phonetic in-

25 B.C. HstoHcaI News -Spring 92 terpretation such as in the case with Poh Tareesu (Port Alice) and Shah toroo (Seattle), and so Chimu-nesu was adopted. Life in Chemainus or Chimu—nesu evolved around its community centre. It was a rough, multi-functional struc ture that served as a meeting place, a church, a school, a theatre and as a mo vie house. Funerals and weddings, along with receptions, were held there. Both Buddhist and Christian services were conducted periodically in the building by visiting Japanese clergy. Af ter regular public school, Nisei children took Japanese language lessons in its classroom. At least once yearly, those with musical and theatrical aspirations would stage a variety performance for Shige Yosbida returned to Chemainus on August 10,1991 to be present at the unveiling ofthe newest the community’s entertainment. mural. photo courtesy ofChemainus Festival ofMurals Society. One activity that was not allowed at camping trips. Yoshida applied to join of the United States to share in the the community centre was ballroom the First Chemainus Troop. Accep scouting experience. dancing. By Japanese community stan tance seemed a simple matter but he Yoshida promptly applied to become a dards, Chimu-nesu was considered to was told to wait. Finally, the answer Lone Scout by correspondence. Soon be neatly structured and disciplined came, “The troop is filled up.” afterwards, he was transferred to the Ca where the Issei elders ruled with a firm Yoshida was not deceived by that hol nadian Branch and for five years he per hand. They ruled that western dancing low explanation. He knew why he was severed alone, studying, training and was immoral much to the disappoint rejected. Nor was he prepared to accept taking tests. Finally, in 1929, he ment of the young people. The bolder the decision without protest. For young achieved his goal by passing the seventh Nisei drove 12 miles down the highway Shige had already experienced rank big degree tests which were the highest at on a Saturday night to mingle with their otry and he had fought back. One tainable. This enabled him to receive Duncan counterpart where the commu morning, when he was attending Chem the Warrant of Appointment as Scout nity held a more tolerant attitude. In ainus Public School, all students of master which granted him the right to later years, however, the fathers were Asian background were placed in a sin organize his own troop. persuaded to yield to the growing rest gle, segregated room. As the eldest of With the full blessing of the commu lessness of their young. eight or ten Nisei pupils, Shige felt that nity heads, the new Scoutmaster in For sport and recreation, hunting and it was his responsibility to take charge 1930 launched the Second Chemainus fishing were close at hand. Occasional and led the under aged strikers out of Troop. Although it began with a mere ly, the settlement planned a picnic at the classroom. Parents supported his eight boys, the unit had the rare distinc the beach or on a nearby island accessi action. Negotiations followed with the tion of being composed entirely of boys ble by fishing boat. With skilled in Japanese consul from Vancouver play of Japanese extraction, the only such structors and eager athletes, its judo ing a role. It was resolved by returning outfit in the British Commonwealth. squad was claimed to be the best on the Chinese and Japanese children to Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Vancouver Island. Chimu-nesu’s pride their proper classes. The issue was Boy Scout movement, aware of this and joy were the Nippons, their entry closed forever. unique outfit, corresponded with Scout in the Chemainus Baseball League. That happened a few years before the master Yoshida and sent congratulatory Though the Nippons never captured boy scout incident. Yoshida, therefore, messages on the Troop’s anniversaries. the championship, they were competi while disappointed, remained undaunt The two met at a Scout Jamboree in tive and even won over white fans with ed. It was a challenge, not a defeat. But Victoria. their hustle and fair play. They also he wondered about the scouting ideals The Second Chemainus Troop proved competed against other Japanese Cana of equality and good citizenship. to be extremely active, meeting regularly dian community teams such as from By coincidence, Yoshida was the local to improve their skills, participating and Royston, Coombs and Hillcrest. distributor for a long defunct publica competing with other troops, including Shige Yoshida in his youth was not a tion, The Chicago Ledger, whose pub the First Chemainus Troop, in the ball player. Nor was he keen about lisher was also the founder of the Lone Cowichan perimeter, and attending Boy judo. His fascination was with scouting Scouts of America. This movement Scout Rallies. They were cited for their and he enjoyed listening to his Cauca provided an opportunity for boys on re zeal, ability and efficiency. One scout, sian friends discuss their meetings and mote farms and in inaccessible regions Bill Isoki, was awarded a medal and

26 B.C. Historical News - Spring 92 Certificate of Merit for rescuing a friend son, relaying information and orders Japan. The Yoshidas joined the trek to from drowning. In time, the unit ex from the authorities to his people. He Southern Ontario as did most of the panded to include Rover Scouts and lived away from the camps and while he evacuees from Chemainus. They estab Cubs. had a telephone, camp homes did not. lished their new home in Toronto Then the bombs fell on Pearl Har Moreover, since his car had been confis where they raised three daughters and a bour. Chimu-nesu, like dozens of simi cated, any new information that Yoshi son who now lives in Texas. In 1984, lar B.C. communities, was stunned and da received, he disseminated by riding Shige and Sue Yoshida celebrated their confused. Within hours, the Japanese his bicycle from camp to camp, house Golden Anniversary. They remain very language school was ordered closed, to house, during daylight hours because active within the seniors group of To judo was banned and one Issei, a stal of the curfew. And at least on two occa ronto’s Japanese Canadian community, wart of the colony, was arrested and in sions, orders to prepare for evacuation the largest such enclave in Canada. terned by the RCMP although he was came through only to be rescinded Of the 300 expelled from the Vancou never charged. In a matter of days, Jap which meant more pedalling. Adding ver Island milltown 50 years ago, at least anese Canadian fishermen such as Bill to his burden was that his wife, Sue, was half survive. Though most of the pio Isoki were instructed to pilot their fish expecting a child at any time. Fortu neer generation are gone, Torizo Yama ing craft under escort across the Strait of nately, their daughter arrived in good shita, 91, living at his birthplace, Georgia to the Fraser River where the time, healthy and without complicating Wakayama, Japan, is the eldest. Kunii boats were impounded and sold by auc the situation. chi, 90, and Yukie Fukumoto, 85, of tion shortly thereafter. The fishermen The worst was yet to come. On the Toronto who marked their Diamond were forced to return to Chemainus at eve of departure, Shige’s brother, Toki (60th) Anniversary, are the most senior their own expense. Though they tried Yoshida, found a stranger in the front ex-Chimu-nesu couple. to carry on behind a mask of business- room. The latter brazenly admitted Though most resettled in Ontario in as-usual facade, activities such as scout walking in without knocking to see cluding Toronto, Hamilton and Thun ing seemed irrelevant amid the chaos what he could take after the occupants der Bay, they are spread across Canada. and uncertainty. left. On April 21, 1942, Chimu-nesu Others live in the U.S., including Ha Officials of the Victoria Lumber met died. Its inhabitants, together with oth waii, and in Japan. But none has re with the Issei and Nisei representatives, er Japanese Canadians from the Cow turned to resume his or her life in Shige Yoshida among them, to assure ichan district, from babes-in-arms to the Chemainus. the latter that there would be no dismis elderly, were corralled on the Chemai However, forty came back from across sals and that the mill would continue to nus docks to board a steamer, en route Canada and Hawaii to attend the un operate as usual. Though there were to exile. Shortly thereafter, vandals rav veiling and to share in the Buddhist- likely some fellow employees who held aged the Japanese section of the Chem Christian rites dedicating the Memorial mixed or strained feelings towards ainus Cemetery, toppling and breaking Monument erected at the site of the them, no open hostility was expressed or headstones and bulldozing the grounds. once-abandoned Japanese cemetery. displayed. It remained abandoned and forgotten Most were family members of the 35 The settlement was resigned to the in for over 40 years. deceased buried there, 1906-1941. evitability of a forced exit. But when, to After a few days’ confinement at Van Among them, the Yoshidas’ infant son. where and under what conditions? In couver’s Exhibition Park, most Chemai Representing the group, Bill Isoki of mid March of 1942, men classified as nus bachelors, including former scouts, Toronto, whose younger brother is Japanese nationals or enemy aliens were packed off to a Northern Ontario among those interred, said in his ad (born in Japan and not possessing Cana roadcamp in one of the bleakest sections dress: “We have today witnessed the rec dian citizenship) were ordered to assem of what was to become the Trans onciliation of past mistakes and ble at the railway station. Affected were Canada Highway. Yoshida and his fam injustices with the present need to live some 30 Issei, including heads of young ily were sent to Tashme, B.C., a deten in peace and harmony.” families. For the wife of Torizo Yama tion centre housing 2,200 exiles 14 Beyond the mural unveiling and the shita, left with four children, eldest 12, miles east of Hope. There, Yoshida, as gravesite dedication, it was truly a “day the youngest an infant, it was the most a worthy youth project, proposed the of reconciliation” as long-time residents despairing moment of her life as she formation of both the Boy Scout and turned out, some with musty class pho watched her husband climb aboard the Girl Guide groups. The suggestion was tos to seek and to renew 50 years of lost train bound for Nanaimo. From there, heartily endorsed by both the authori friendship. “The Lone Scout” himself they were to be ferried to Vancouver en ties and the residents. It was so success was greeted eagerly by those who re route to exile to road-building camps ful that the First Tashme Boy Scout membered. It was, indeed, a memora near Jasper, Alberta. Troop numbered 200 strong at its peak, ble “homecoming”, as if Chimu-nesu The loss of these men thrust the re the largest troop in the British had been restored, at least in spirit. sponsibility of community concerns Commonwealth. upon the Nisei to assist families whose The Troop, along with Tashme, was Mr. Takata was born in Victoria, evacuated to Sandon and Slocan, then moved to Toronto. He fathers had been banished and to boost short-lived as the detainees moved on, was editor ofthe English edition ofthe NEW CA morale among the despondent. As a generally eastward across the Rockies, NADIAN newspaperfbr severalyears. He is past Nisei leader, Shige Yoshida acted as liai though some chose to be repatriated to president of tire Japanese Cinadian Cultural Centre and has been active in other community affairs in Toronto. 27 B.C. Hlstoiical News .Spiing 92

Historical News B.C. Spring 92 28

Juan Georgia

and Fuca, de

for of night 3rd example, the morning / h 4th, the of

at irregular intervals about two three or

ratio is

often enhanced. The of night Straits of flood the actually as the being

Perigean Spring tides Such Tide. occur

areas, in and passage narrow hind. ways, this Consequently the identify we can

explorers interesting an was example a of

strength

lunar the of tide, coastal in but not as wich, hours be we eight today do

The that tide so “incommoded” the

retically, solar is the only tide the 46% as time of hours 16 being ahead Green

move hzher to ground.”

significant a makes contribution. Theo the in Alaska 1790s, reckoned he his

completely drenched befire could re they

tides;

main

cause the of Sun the but ing also coasts the British of Columbia and

so suddenly, them person every that got

Moon, The

is as known, well the is Captain Whilst survey Vancouver was

than they expected (sic) rushed upon

not to the

make

last such mistake! a their work.

the which Tide, risen had hzher much so

can

for vouch

that fact the

they

Moon, the were are ie extra given do to time

roused from repose their flowing the by of

of mats

green soft, the sea-grass, author

forces,

by enhanced ls passage close the of

of middle the were night hastity they

site especially welcoming because

to of

“dwell”

sky the in h lunar the and

tidal

island place their of in fir rest; the but

Spanish and charts. If

they

this found

Earth’s

axial

rotation,

Moon the appears

any disturbance

by upon a

pitching small

lands there marked are on both rotation

British in is

same the as direction the

fling and

thought

themselves from secure

50°32’N); (125°32’W, small two creases, is and

the because

onsorbital Moon’s

this “in

they arm

stopped eve— second the

the camped mouth near Gray of gee. As Creek its so, does velocity orbital it in

returned

the to

ships writes he that: possibility htJohnstone that Swain and Earth the than closer at normal is peri

12th, July

day the

and Johnstone Swain there is few campsites; therefore good a elliptical, so by that Moon the swings

corded

the

event. diary a In for entry

and sides, lotno almost There islands. torts are the orbit, Moon’s making more it

zies,

the

expedition’s naturalist, re also Loughborough Inlet deep, is has the steep Sun’s the Sun, dis field gravitational

passing

the

meridian.

Men Archibald night. because when the Moon with aligned is

pected be to

low, Moon the as then was taken been have so surprise by that The winds. the of rise accelerated is tide

by ed”

tide flood the they had ex which our as tides 8hcentury 18th should friends when accompanied by onshore strong

5th,

the of the “incommod were crew such of keen ciated observers Moon the and major with flooding, particularly

night,

i.e. the the of night t)morning 4th) years also I Perigean ago. was puzzled owhy to as Tides Spring often are asso

Inlet. Vancouver that that records tidal same as conditions pertained 200 pronounced.

5th,

day,

the

examining

Loughborough my under passage approximately very the circular, nearly less is effect the

and

they the spent the of whole next thought, interesting be try to time to but Sun, orbit because Earth’s the is

the

entrance

the to Channel, Nodales of tion Island: usual. Vancouver I would, There it similar a is fetfor effect the

as 4th July

that

was a they day the

passed which day, involve will a its circumnaviga contribution the to larger is tide than

this must been have on of the evening ing planning I trip am aesome make to Earth. the Because Moon the closer, is

camped the for We night. that know 1792 July of tides stems a from point Earth the to kayak around its in orbit

Inlet. rough

They the entered and inlet My detail. its in all own in interest aligned, the and Moon the closest its at is

Channel ro the to L.oughbo of entrance day’s almost is ously, cycle tidal never repeated the Moon Sun, Earth and are

Yaculta the

Rapids and Corde the along

of so tide many level an the Spring each that occur Tides simultane

when, —

two The

boats way their made through factors Many into go determining and tides solar the synchronised. are Perige

them a with enough upisfor supplies week. rapids. usual because, a for the days, lunar few

the explore They mainland coast. took of ing on either tides the or full the of side new moon. larger are They than

the in Chathamc cutter launch to and marked a is there difference tim the in Spring occur Tides a is there whenever

Captain Vancouver’s reckoning), out set Johnstone the to north, less Strait the of that and waxings Moon’s wanings. and

3rd Swain, on July (by who Tuesday, Georgia to south, the and those tially of noon at out the in the regard summer

by led James Johnstone Spelman and between tidal the fact of waters of Strait the least at that is tide the par always

yond. last The expeditions these of was and Rapids Dent transition a are point White of okbeachgoers Rock delight the in

stone Strait, open the and be Pacific apparently not that noticed h Yaculta the Moon the and (M2); home my in town

lay that inlets the between them, John- of unusual the height they tide, had also actually is (P1:K1) greater that than of

maze rb the probe and of channels narrow ers as napping” by “caught principal tidal were of the h Sun the it component

explorers the set boats to out small in tidal only Not forces. eastern of tip the were Island, explor the Vancouver

in From Desolation Island Sound. here suggest, mologists places, may triggered be the by h pivot the near at point south

Teakerne the near Arm Redonda West ly earthquakes pending tides which, seis some In some open the of ocean.

HMS and anchored in Chatham were by dire accompanied in fashion, warnings of twice im dai sympathy with the

tain HMS Vancouver’s Discovery ships ly Perigean large to Spring have Tides

been water swap n forth, and back see-saw

1792, late In In Cap June a times early and recent year. July times, particular their of because length tend shape, and

Nicholas by A. Doe

Perigean Spring Tide July 1792 (Julian Day 2375759.8). Sun, by the gravitational Figures 1,2, and 3 show the astronom anomalies of the Earth, Figure 3: Sun & Moon Declinations ical conditions for these two days. and by the other planets Degrees Figure 1, records the angular distance of the solar system. The Ju’y 3,d PSTJrdy 4th PSi between Sun and Moon. An angular average time between _N 20 distance of 00 corresponds to an eclipse close approaches to the of the Sun, and an angular distance of Earth, perigee, is 27.5 10 180°, to an eclipse of the Moon. The days in contrast to the Figure shows that there was a full moon 29.5 days between new 0 on the night of the flood, (July 3rd or full moons. Conse 2300 PST), but an eclipse was missed, quently perigee seldom -10 as it often is, by a few degrees. coincides with a new or Figure 2 plots the distance between the full moon, but as Figure -20 Earth and the Moon. Distance is signif 2 shows, on the night of icant because the closer the Moon is to the flood it did. In fact 611 6/6 6/11 6/16 6/21 6/26 7/1 7/6 7/11 7/16 7/21 7/26 the Earth, the stronger is the lunar tidal perigee came just 1 hour Month/day 1792 (ET=OO:OO) force, so much so that each 1% decrease before full moon, a very unusually close co- the time of month when the Moon’s Figure 1: Phase of the Moon incidence. declination is at its most northerly (posi Figure 3 shows plots of tive) value and it is lunar mid-summer. 180 the Sun’s and Moon’s At other times, the Moon appears very declinations. The decli low on the horizon, even at midnight. nation of a heavenly This is lunar mid-winter. 135 body is one of those in Figure 3 shows that at the time of the timidating terms that is flood, it was lunar mid-winter. This is 90 actually fairly simple. It no surprise as the path of the Moon is is the latitude on the sur never more than five degrees from that face of the Earth at of the Sun (the ecliptic) and consequent 45 which the body appears ly, the lunar season is always the oppo directly overhead. Thus, site of that of the Sun at fiji! Moon, and if the declination of the the same as that of the Sun at new 0 Sun is zero, it appears di 6/1 6/6 6/11 6/16 6/21 6/26 7/I 7/6 7/11 7/16 7/21 7/26 moon. However, the high positive and Month/day 1792 (ET=OO:OO) rectly overhead at noon negative declinations of the Sun and on the Earth’s equator. Moon had two effects on the tide on the in distance results in a 3% increase in This is the time of the night of the flood. Firstly, because the force. Most of the variation of distance equinoxes. In the (northern) spring line joining the Moon through the cen is a consequence of the Moon’s approxi time, the declination of the Sun slowly tre of the Earth to the Sun, was strongly mately elliptical orbit around the Earth, increases until it reaches a positive maxi tilted with respect to the equatorial and I say approximately, because the mum on mid-summer’s day. The Sun plane, the levels of the two daily tides smooth predictable curve beloved of is then directly overhead at noon on the were appreciably different. This may mathematicians is constantly perturbed Tropic of Cancer at latitude 23°27’N, have contributed to the element of “sur in a very complicated manner by the and because the northern half of the prise”. The other effect was that be Earth is tilted towards the cause at the peaks of the declinations, Figure 2: Earth-Moon Distance Sun, it gets warmer there. the rate of change of declination is zero, The Moon goes all of the orbital motion was directed in I E-3 AU 100Ys km through exactly the same exactly the same direction as the Earth’s July 3rd PST I July 4th PST cycle as the Sun, except axial rotation, thereby maximizing the 28 that it does so once a effect of the increased velocity due APOGEE 420 to month instead of once a the approach of perigee. The increased year, and the angles are a velocity prolonged the length of the ti little different and not so dal day by 12 minutes at the time of the :c”N constant. Probably every flood, three minutes of which was, by PEF4GEE one has noticed that my calculations, attributable to the fact I sometimes, particularly that the Moon had reached its most 2.2- 1330 during the winter, the southerly declination. Twelve minutes Moon appears very high may sound insignificant, but when the 2 in the sky, rising in the tide on a gently sloping beach is rising at 6/1 6/6 6)11 6/16 6121 6)26 7/1 7/6 7/11 7/16 7/21 7/26 north-east and setting in Month/day 1792 (ETDO:OO) a rate of several vertical feet per hour to the north-west. This is wards one’s campsite, it does not seem

29 B.C. Historical News .Sprlng 92 Figure 4: Tides Loughborough Inlet & Desolation Sound phy, the highest tide of on Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew the day at Redonda Bay based on the timing of the tide at Am Feet 20 immediately followed the bleside Beach in West Vancouver! It July 3d July 4th 1792 lowest, whilst at Heydon was a long way to go to see surf sweep R,dondo Boy THI FLOOD De,olobon Sound Bay in the inlet, the re ing up to the saLaL at the top of the 15 verse was true. beach. For those interested in Calculating the delay between the 10 the relative contributions tides at different places is not quite as of various components of straightforward as it may seem. Because the tide that night, I have the pattern of the rise and fall varies 5 plotted in Figure 5 the from day to day, and from location to semi-diurnal (i.e. twice location, any comparison based on the daily) and diurnal (i.e. timings of a particular point in the cy 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 once daily components) cle, high high water (HI-lw) for exam Pacific Standard Time of both the solar and lu ple, is likely to give a different answer nar tides. The Moon’s from a comparison based on the timings diurnal and the Sun’s of say low low water (LLw). What we diurnal and semi-diurnal need is a comparison method that in Figure 5: Components of the Tide components contributed cludes all of many cycles, not just one Feet equally to the “incom particular point. Heydon Bay - Loughborough Inlet 4 THE FLOOD modity”, while the Engineers have long since had the so

Moon’s semi-diurnal lution to problems of this sort — what component contributed they do is to look for the peak in the as much as these three cross-correlation function of the two components together. patterns. This sounds terribly technical, I The next morning, all but in fact is quite simple. Imagine you four components were had two rolls of film each of which had close to their minima, been exposed to a light whose intensity and the tide was within varied with the height of the tide at the fl inches of being as low as two separate locations. The clear patch it ever gets. es on the films would correspond to low

12 15 18 21 0 3 6 9 12 During their passage tide. The pattern of light and dark Pacific Standard Time through the rapids, John- would be different on the two films, but stone and Swain had to find a best match, you could lay the that way at all! moved from the waters of the Strait of films together, hold them up to the Figure 4 shows the tide that resulted Georgia to those more akin to the open light, and then slide one strip of film from these particular alignments, and coast. They sure enough, shortly after midnight at had obviously 0054 Local Apparent Time (0121 PST), observed the Figure 6: Tidal Stations - Vancouver Island (see there was a tide exceeding 15 feet in tides of the Figure 7) British CoImnl,io Loughborough Inlet when the Moon Strait quite HBYDON BAY /°° was 13° past the meridian (i.e. past due closely, for it is ADA south). The next morning at eight, the a general rule 1 \ ® JJ 20 ,olJ,. (d,0.) 4 tide sank to the lower low water level for there that B92XINDA BAY large tides. Spring Tides At Redonda Bay, near where the ships are low when were anchored, the evening tide on the the Sun or 3rd peaked between six and seven Moon are due o’clock, which would be a good time to south. Howev make camp. Unfortunately, in Lough er, on the open 3j is borough Inlet the tide at this time had coast it is very OCEAN already been ebbing for several hours different. and it began to flood again a little more The author than an hour later. The evening ebb first became may not have been obvious because the aware of this af evening low tide in the inlet was much ter planning a P0,1 R,ofre,,@ OPjyj4;ç > higher than the morning low tide. It is very unsuccess ° ful trip to see also interesting to observe in Figure 4 o ow... Boy 0 BIg Boy ©Whok0010, Boy that, because of differences in topogra the tidepools /

B.C. Histoilcal News Spring 92 30 Figure 7: Tidal Delay - Vancouver Island the ends of the rapids. As shown in Figure 7, Johnstone and Minutes (late on Tot mo) Hours Swain in a short journey, had moved 300 Desolation 5iund, EDOIWASAY Comox6’ Pt Atkinson from a tidal region where the presence ‘Q Whaletown Ba,’ 270 signalled low ‘ Tsawwassen :8. of the Moon due south, Yaculta Rapids’ Campbell Riv r tide to one where, the tides being a sub 240 P; Big Bahe Fulford H. 9: 4 Seymour Dent Rapids Narrows stantial fraction of a 13 hour semi- 210 - diurnal tidal day earlier, it signified al Upper/Lower Rapids most exactly the opposite. 180- 3 Could the flood have been foreseen? 150 Ioughborougti Inlet won Bay Vicorta Most certainly yes. The movement of 0 the Moon was closely observed by Cap 120 / 2 Sooke tain Vancouver, which he used almost 90 “11) exclusively for fixing his longitude. The 0 see Figure 6 (4i .:Port Neville unusual alignment of Sun and Moon at 60- - Ii (3) perigee was not only tabulated in his 30 i) , Alert Bay Port Renfrew Nautical Almanac, but exaggerated, as Cape Scott Tofino ‘12’ Tot Ino noted in Figure 8. The series of tidal 0’ - : b 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 rapids obviously marked connecting % Distance from Tofino (clockwise) points between substantial bodies of wa ter. Possibly everyone was too busy to notice: the expedition lacked the pres over the other until the maximum and fall of the open ocean; when it is ence of a professional astronomer, and amount of light could be seen through high tide at Tofino, it is within an hour as Vancouver remarks in his Journal on the two films. The offset of the two and a half of being low tide in the films is then a measure of the time delay Strait. hearing the news of the death of the as tronomer William Gooch, who was to between the two patterns. Consequently at either end of the Strait, have Using a computationally equivalent water pours in and out continuously joined the expedition in August 1792: technique, I have plotted in Figure 7 the through the narrow confines of the Gulf relative time delay between the tides at and San Juan Islands to the south, and “. .. we had little leisure frr making such Tofino and the various points around the Discovery Passage and Desolation miscellaneous observations as would be Vancouver Island shown in Figure 6. Sound Islands to the north. The back very acceptable to the curious, or tend to The picture that these calculations paint and forth flow along the Strait of Juan the improvement ofastronomy” is as follows. Envisage the Strait of de Fuca is fairly evenly distributed, but Perhaps we should add “. . . or keep the Georgia as an inland sea whose level ris through the narrow channels of the crew c bedrolls dry ‘ es and falls with little variation in the north the flow becomes, almost literally, timing of the tides around its shores. precipitous, with no let up in the pow The rise and fall of this inland sea is erful and turbulent currents that result The author is an engineer living in White Rock. His interests include sea-kayaking, and 18th cen close to being in antiphase with the rise froth the differing heights of the tide at iury navigational techniques.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS y.IJ. The author gratefully acknowledges the help of Dr. Myles Standish of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasa t .avip1u. zIIsu. rxor.rar. c-br. rar. Y to - dena who supplied an accurate Ephemeris for the D at al: Mid- - . at 0 Moon 1792 + LE-062), and also of Nots. nighL Noon. (DE-118 Mike C Foreman and Fred Stephenson at the Institute of :- Ocean Sciences, Sidney BC who supplied harmonic ‘5 Is M. S. M. S. M. S. M. 8. constants, sample predictions and ocher useful data for the tidal calculations. 16.28 6o.z 6o.4’474’L 471( 2 16.38 16.42 6i. 6 .967 M. - SELECfED BIBHOGRAPHY

ru. 6. ç i6. 46 - 6i. 28 1. z 6 •6.t 3 \r. Doodson, A.T. & Warburg, H.D., Admiralty Manual i6.46 16.5 I. 2 - 1.27 4q61 6l 4 of Tides, HMSO London 1941. Tli. !6. 42 i6. 38 1. 1-7 , 6i. f69l 5 79 Forrester, W.D., Canadian Tidal Manual, Dept. of Fisheries & Oceans, Ottawa 1983. FIGURE 8: Captain ‘ancouver’s Nautical Almanac shows the Moon’s parallax peaking at 6132’ on Lamb, W. Kaye Ed., A Voyage of Discovery to the the night of the 3rd July 1792 (Greenwich time). Parallax is a measure of the closeness of the Moon North Pacific Ocean 1791 - 1795, George Vancouver, to the Earth and was an important figure in 18th century navigational calculations. The tabulated Hakluyt Society, London 1984. parallax is the maximum value that can ever be achieved, a very rare event. The Moon comes this close Newcombe, C.F. Ed., Menzies’ Journal of Vancouver’s twice century, the last time being in 1912. Howeser, on this particular occasion, to us only once or a Voyage April to October Victoria BC the Nautical Almanac is in error: the correct figure was 6126”. 1792, 1923. The average value of lutar parallax is 5703”. At the July 1792 perigee the Moon was 8% closer than Wood, J.F., The Strategic Role of Perigean Spring average, and the lunar tidal forces 251 stronger than average. Tides in Nautical History and North American Coast Also tabulated in the Almanac is the apparent size (semi-diametre) of the Moon’s disc. al Flooding, 1635 - 1976, US Dept. of Commerce, 1976.

31 B.C. Historical News -Spring 92 CENTURY SAM” PASSES CANADIAN NAUTICAL BRITISH COLUMBIA LOCAL Sid Williams, one of the Comox Valleys RESEARCH SOCIETY HISTORIES: A Bib[iojRApIiy most beloved citizens, died September 26, The Canadian Nautical Research Society 1991. He is remembered as a man who will hold its 1992 Conference June 25-27 in For the first time a single listing exists of spread a little sunshine everywhere he St. Johns Newfoundland. For further the thousand local histories that have been went. He worked in Barkerville with Fran details write to: written about British Columbia communi Dowie, and toured with the Barkerville Professor Lewis R. Fischer; Secretary ties. This work is the result of a joint effort Players. During 1958 B.C. Centennial CNRS, Maritime Studies Research Unit between the British Columbia Library Asso celebration Sid, AKA Century Sam, with his Memorial University of Newfoundland, St ciation and British Columbia Heritage Trust. donkey Rosie, appeared in parades, Johns NFLD, A1C 5S7 The two authors have extensive expertise publications and souvenirs. with B.C. topics. Linda Hale has compiled Fredrick Sidney Williams was born in SOCIETY FOR MILITARY bibliographies on Vancouver history, B.C. New Westminster in 1908, and moved to HISTORY women,and Canadian childhood. Jean Bar- the Comox Valley with his family in 1921. 1993 Annual Meeting to be held at Royal mans most recent publication is The West He leaves his wife Lillian whom he married Military College of Canada, Kingston, Beyond the West; A History of British 58 years ago, two children, five Ontario, May 21-24, 1993. Proposals for Columbia. grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. papers addressing the theme of ALLIES & The bibliography is organized alphabetically Sid was a Courtenay alderman from 1942 ALLIANCES should be sent with an by principal author. Each citation includes to 1964, made a Freeman of the City in abstract of no more than 200 words to: author(s), title, subtitle if any, place of pub 1968, Citizen of the year in 1976, and Dr. WA.B. Douglas, Director of Histo,y lication, date, pagination, and at least one received the Order of Canada in 1984. He National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, public location where the history can be was also a school trustee, a founding Canada K1A 0K2. Telephone (613) consulted. The histories are indexed by the member of the Courtenay Credit Union and 998-7044 Fax (613) 990-8579 particular community or communities writ Courtenay Recreational Association, plus DEADLINE FOR BRIEF ten about and by British Columbia’s ten ge participating in many, many community DECEMBER 15, 1992. ographic regions. There are also indexes events. He is most fondly remembered for by author and title. his role as Santa Claus year after year. ZUCCA MELONS & OTHER British Columbia Heritage Twst has dis HERITAGE SEEDS tributed the bibliography free of charge to THE HISTORY OF SIDNEY ON After an exhaustive global search, the principal libraries across B.C. To facilitate VIDEO Grist Mill at Keremeos has found the public access, the 1 96-page bibliography was in loose-leaf Sidney, B.C. celebrated its centennial in evasive “Zucca Melon seed. Zuccas grow published format in an es pecially 1991. The Sidney and North Saanich 60-180 lb. in size, are tasteless, and designed grey and red binder. Historians or others may obtain their Historical Society produced a colorless. The insides were made into two hour copy of the Bibliography at of documentary film, prepared in four 25 year candied peel for fruit cakes. The zucca was a cost $20 an important crop in Keremeos, Oliver and (including tax.) Mail your request, with a periods. The technical work was done by cheque to: volunteers from Shaw Cable Ltd. at Channel Osoyoos areas from 1934-1952. The zucca grew happily in the Heritage B.C. Heritage Trust 11 Community Television. It is a composite Ministry of Tourism and Culture of many stories, interviews, and Gardens at the Mill in 1991. Hundreds of 800 Johnson Street Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 documentation. Copies of this video are people came to celebrate the Zucca Melon Phone (604) 356-1433 being sold for $24.95. Reunion on August 31, and have their WRITE TO: Sidney & North Saanich picture taken beside this wonderful plant. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Zucca would have died completely had Mr. Historical Society Box 2404, Sidney, B.C. The Fall 1992 issue brought back many V8L 351 or phone (604) 656-5458 Swenson from Sandwich, Illinois not adopted it and grown it faithfully for 20 happy memories — ‘Manning of Manning WINN WEIR HONORED years. Every gardener should adopt a heri Park” reminded me of the hiking we did tage plant, and save and share the seed. there in the company of Chess Lyons and Winfred Ariel Weir received the Canada other friends. We knew Helen and Philip Volunteer Award Certificate of Merit for out Heritage seeds are an important, and much neglected aspect of local history Akrigg when we lived in Vancouver. standing contributions to programs in In My mother often told me what a fine vermere and district. The presentation was preservation. There is a growing aware ness that we MUST start saving the seeds fellow Joe Fortes was. He accompanied her made on November 8, 1991 by Kootenay in his boat when she swam from English East M.P. Sid Parker. that are left; the genetic material may one day provide important characteristics for a Bay to the point where the Museum now Winn was very active in the B.C. Histori stands. cal Association for many years, and a prime food crop in the future, or a medicine for a disease. For more information on zuccas, My son, Gregory Bowes, participated in mover in the establishment of the Winder- the Long Harbour Archaeological Dig. mere District Museum. She was a volun historic wheats, heritage seeds and historic gardens contact: My husband and I have trailered south tear with the Canadian Cancer Society for five times and know each place named in 40 years, the B.C. Council for the Family, Cuyler Page The Grist Mili RR#1 Keremeos, “Good Roads Todd.” Our friend, Ted Hart, Provincial Emergency Program, Toastmas has a photo to prove his father was issued ters, Girl Guides, Red Cross, Rotary Club, B.C., VOX1NO or The Heritage Seed Program, RR#3 car licence No. 1 in 1903 (compared with and the annual Christmas pageant. The No. 13 for Bert Todd.) B.C. Historical Federation joins in congratu Uxbridge, Ontario, LOG 1KO Submitted by Sharon Rempel Many Thanks lating Mrs. Weir on receipt of this honor. Stephanie Manson, Victoria

B.C. Ilistoilcal News - Spring 92 32 Books for review and book reviews should be sent directly to the book review editor: Anne Yandle, 3450 West 20th Ave., Vancouver B.C. V6S 1 E4

The Journal of Duncan herds of buffalo, and at the southern For the reader of British Columbia McGillivray edges of the valuable fur-bearing treed history, both Morton’s writings and Arthur S. Morton. Fairfield, areas, made the post essential to the McGillivray’s journal are valuable doc Washington, Ye Galleon Press, 1989, company’s prosperity in the region. uments. With clarity and in vivid col 200 p. $19.95 (U.S.$). Obtaining supplies of dried meat for ours they establish some of the transport to the posts further north background for the expeditions into This is a facsimile of The Journal of was an important part of the regions west of the Rocky Moun Duncan McGillivray of the North West McGillivray’s duties. tains of such as Alexander Mackenzie, Company at Fort George o-n the The main sources for the meat and Simon Fraser and David Thompson. Saskatchewan, 1794-5, which was the furs were, of course, the native As introductions to the fur trade and originally published, with Morton’s Indians, and the journal is devoted in the initial intrusions of non-natives writings, in a limited edition in 1929. large part to the problems of dealing into the upper reaches of the North F.W. Giesecke of Olympia, Wash. has with them and with extensive Saskatchewan River they are replete added a new introduction to Ye observations, rich in detail, about their with the small incidents of day-today Galleon Press’s edition. The result is a habits. The Indians of the forested life which tell so much about the meet handsome book, well bound and regions to the north and west of the ing of two cultures. finished, and the publishers should be post McGillivray found easy to George Newell thanked for making this work handle, as they were organized into available again. George Newell isa member of the small and weak groups, while those Victoria Historical Society. There are two parts to the book - the from the more open lands to the south, work of Morton (the preface, the “gens du large’, were “so introduction and appendix), and advantageously situated that they A Country So Interesting: The McGillivray’s journal. Giesecke could live very happily independent Hudson’s Bay Company and Two suggests that Morton’s part “should be of our assistance”. He observed that Centuries of Mapping, 1670-1870. regarded as (being) far more “their love of rum is their first Richard I. Ruggles. important”. This is not an idle claim, inducement to industry”, and though Montreal & Kingston, McGill-Queen’s for Morton’s introduction is a lengthy the Indians of the prairies were often University Press, and penetrating analysis of the at conflict among themselves, “yet 1991. 300 p., development of the fur trade into the they never fail to unite against a illustrated. $49.95 valley of the Saskatchewan and of the common enemy”. McGillivray and his “The company that became a advance towards the rich fur-bearing companions feared that their post and country”; “Canada’s first ‘national’ map lands of the upper sources of the river that of the H.B.C. might well at any agency.” These are two phrases and of the Athabasca country. The time be the common enemy, and Richard Ruggles has used elsewhere to Journal, however, has its merits too. conflicts of the previous year, which describe the Hudson’s Bay Company Morton himself writes that it “gives, included the sacking by Indians of and its mapping accomplishments, with a sharpness of outline far beyond nearby trading posts, were fresh in the which the Company considered an the ordinary, the story of a year of life men’s minds. The result, as Morton essential element of its business and trade within a typical North West expresses it, was a “curious mixture of operations. For two centuries this Company’s post”. trust and fear of the Indians”. trading company was employer, This particular Fort George, “a group A similar ambivalence existed in landlord, shopkeeper, law and order, of rough shanties surrounded a by McGillivray with respect to the “oppo and government services for most of stockade”, was situated on the north sition”, the neighbouring Hudson’s what is now Canada. bank of the North Saskatchewan a few Bay post. The two establishments rec .what a field to face the miles upstream from the present ognized their vulnerability in the face imagination, what a number of ideas Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary. It of vastly superior numbers of natives rushes in at once, all for the means to had a fine view of the river. Across a who, at any moment, might decide to investigate a Country so interesting small gully was Buckingham House, attack them. On the other hand, Mor Dr. Ruggles has taken his title from the Hudson’s Bay Company post, and ton observes, “a rigid watch was kept this quotation from Edward Smith to the two posts shared a well which had at each post to see that their own Indi the Committee, March 1825. The book been dug in the gully by Mr. Tomison ans, to whom ‘credit’ had been given is divided into five parts. Part One has of the H.B.C. During the winter of in the form of ammunition or clothing, introductory chapters on mapping McGillivray’s journal, Fort George was did not go with the returns of their policy and records, the explorers and home for about eighty men and about hunt to the enemy house”. McGilliv map makers, field and office methods the same number of women and ray reports with some glee the occa and equipment, and company children. Its situation, on the border of sions when he is able to better in trade procedures in the operation of policy. the prairies, the home of the great the “English”. In the next ten chapters we see the

33 B.C. Histoilcat News -SprIng 92 map of Canada gradually filling in as descriptions for Fidler and Tumor, Malaspina & Galiano: Spanish the various company employees and a list of native persons who Voyages to the Northwest Coast explore more of the country, compile drafted maps. Dr. Ruggles has Donald C. Cutter. Seattle, University their maps, and send the maps and provided good location maps, and of Washington Press, 1991; Vancouver: reports to the Company’s headquarters maps showing the gradual growth of in London. European knowledge of Canadian Douglas & McIntyre, 1991 viii + 160 The story begins with the London territory, plus a graph of types of pp. $34.95 chart makers, 1669 to the late 1720’s, maps in the Hudson’s Bay Company The Spanish years in the history of followed by the initiation of company Archives for various periods. British Columbia and the Northwest mapping, from the late 1720’s to 1754; There are a few minor typographical coast were rich indeed, for they left a mapping rivers and barren grounds errors, but nothing distracting The literary and artistic record that is a inland, 1754-1778; mapping inland major problem is with the plates. considerable legacy of our past. Not from the Bay and over to Athabasca, Sixty-six maps which few people have only do Spanish place names on our 1778-1794; mapping to the Columbia ever seen are reproduced in an charts and maps recall to mind the and behind the Eastmain, 1795-1821; “antique” buff tone. There is no list or momentous late eighteenth century. mapping Rupert’s Land, the table of plates. The only identification, Our good bookstalls carry some gems Mackenzie Basin, and the Arctic shore which does not distinguish between on this score. These two books are 1821-1849; mapping west of the actual and invented titles, plus notable works of high quality. mountains, 1821-1849; Pemberton and cartographer, date and catalogue Moziño was a Mexican scientist who the Colony of Vancouver’s Island, number, appears in the plate section. came to Nootka with the Bodega y 1849-1859; exploration and mapping in If the map is large, the identification Quadra expedition in 1792, two years the Northwest and the establishment note may be separated from the map after the famous Martinez-Colnett of the Company land claims, by a page or more. There is no dispute and the Meares-in-London 1849-1859; and mapping Company information about the size of original aftermath just about plunged Europe land claims and exploring inland maps. Some of the maps are very into war for a distant dominion that routes, 1859-1870. Ruggles talks about faded. Many of the maps are parliamentarian and historian the various men, such as Hearne, reproduced on less than half a page. Edmund Burke thought really Tumor, Fidler, Thompson, and Rae, The result has been to have maps belonged to the native inhabitants and the maps they made, both the squashed against the centre margin, anyway. Mozino’s report has been surviving and the lost, and identifies with half a page or more blank except lauded as one of the most significant information provided by these men for the page and plate number and the ethnographies of the Nuu-Chah-nulth found on commercial maps, brief map identification note. in existence. Its author was born in the particularly those of the Arrowsmith This is not only an interesting book, Americas, and he has a sympathy for firm which became the Company map but I think a very important one, continental as opposed to European publisher. providing the basis for a new look at precepts. Though his scientific zeal is The story of the exploration and the history of British Columbia, everywhere evident in his factum, this mapping west of the Rockies is Western Canada, and our country as a reader was struck upon re-reading this particularly fascinating, as it is the whole. It should be in every library work, which first appeared almost in early “white” history of what is now and school, and in the reference identical form in 1970, that Moziño British Columbia. Ruggles comments collection of every geographer and had a keen eye on the secrets of that there was little cartographic historian, particularly of western imperial structure in that age. He activity in New Caledonia despite. the Canada. notes in his conclusion that Spain fact that the Company men were busy Frances M. Woodward, FRGS would be bled dry by defending in the area since inheriting it from the Frances Woodward is curator of historical remote garrisons such as Nootka, and North West Company in 1821. maps and cartographic archives at U.B.C.s that it ought to concentrate on Part Three of the book is a selection Special Collections Division developing an empire in Alta of sixty-six maps representing the California. Similarly, he thought that various areas, periods and map Spain ought to concentrate on makers. Part Four is composed of Noticias de nutka: An Account of commercial development in the three catalogues of maps: those in the Nootka Sound in 1792 Northern Pacific and throughout that Hudson’s Bay Company Archives, by José Mariano Moziño. Trans. and ocean world, including Hawaii, and those in other archives, and those ed. by Iris H. Wilson Engstrand, with ought to emulate Britain in commer which have not been located. Part a new foreword by Richard Inglis. cial pursuits. He correctly understood, Five is composed of ten appendices, from personal observation, that empire Seattle, University of Washington glossary, notes, biblography and should best flow from commercial pur index. The appendices include lists of Press; Vancouver: Douglas & suits, and that the flag ought to follow people who prepared maps and charts, McIntyre, 1991. Liv + 142 pp. $18.95 trade, and not the other way around. and those who prepared sketches or Most students of Northwest Coast his-

B.C. Historical News- Spring 92 34 tory and anthropology will be attract of Malaspinas account have appeared, rival in 1965 in “the Hope” which was ed to Professor Engstrand’s book for by Mercedes Palau among others, and grappling with the influx of construc its significant native and cross-cultural catalogues of the documents of the tion workers for the W.A.C. Bennett contact. It has an excellent array of same voyage have been published by Dam. But Matheson then weaves ele contemporary illustrations, a the Museo Naval in Madrid. In other ments of her personal story into a vocabulary, a catalogue of flora and words, this is hardly a neglected field. more wide-ranging study of the im fauna, and a superb bibliography of That having been said, what we have pact of the dam on the region. Al primary and secondary sources in this book is the first complete though the authors’ passionate regard apparently not updated in this edition. assessment of the records and for the Peace as their valley bridges the Robin Inglis of the Royal British illustrations of the voyage in so far as secitons, the two works offer different Columbia Museum has written a the Northwest Coast is concerned, the types of pictures. This reviewer, then, delightful foreword to a book which is other magnificent contributions of the will deal briefly with each section in a heritage classic happily in this new Malaspina voyage to the South Pacific turn. edition and ought to be, as is its and Australia lying outside of the Pollon presents a spare outline of some companion work reviewed here scope of this work. Professor Cutter of his adventures during the 1930s and below, in every serious collector’s shelf provides an excellent account of life 1940s from trapper to lime burner to of Northwest Coast books. on board ship, and he provides an sawmill opertor. What makes this ac In 1791 two Spanish corvettes, the excellent summary of Spanish count appealing is his evocative ren Descubierta and the Atrevida, impressions of the Tlingit of Port dering of the people he meets. From a commanded by Captains Alejandro Mulgrave and southeast Alaska and promoter touting northeast coal long Malaspina and José Bustamente de the Nootka of Vancouver, including before Tumbler Ridge, to a general Guerra, as well as two junior officers, Chief Maquinna. His spritely store owner who refused to accept Pol Dionisio Alcala Galiano and Cayetano discussion of the well-intentioned lon’s word that he had fired him the Valdes, who were later to return, in Spanish intentions to have peaceful day before, Pollon draws a series of 1792, on aboard the goletas Sutil and relations, and the disillusionment that portraits which comprise the character Mexicana, visited the Northwest Coast set in in consequence of the of the Peace as much as any geograph on a voyage that has continued to cross-cultural violence that ensued is ic feature. A selectign of the author’s fascinate the inquiring student of well worth the attention of any poems, apparently from a self- regional history and the interested student of native affairs. This work is published collection, reiterate his re reader of voyage literature. In a rich in contemporary drawings, maps gard for his home. While one might collective assault to reveal the and paintings, and contains numerous respect Pollon’s description of these remaining secrets of this quarter of photographs of artifacts from museum episodes as the “annals of history,” America, the vessels mapped portions collections. This book was they reflect rather than explain the eco of the coastline, met certain native commissioned by the Vancouver nomic and social evolution of the peoples, and laid claim to sovereignty Maritime Museum to honour the Peace region before the 1960s. We in the name of King Carlos IV of Spain. bicentenary of the Malaspina must look to what appears to be Contrary to the claim that the expedition. Matheson’s general introduction to Spanish heritage of the Pacific Barry Gough sketch the early development schemes Northwest has been overshadowed by Dr. Barry Gough, a British Columbian, teaches of the Pacific Great Eastern and the Ed English activities, as is claimed on the history at Wilfrid Laurier University, monton, Dunvegan and British Colum dust jacket of this book, it is instructive Waterloo, Ont. bia railway companies which planned to point out that the diplomatic aspects to lay steel to the Peace from Vancou of Spain’s imperial quest were first ver and Edmonton respectively. One published under the authorship of also wishes for notes to fill out the William Ray Manning in 1905, and This Was Our Valley lives of some of the characters that Pol Henry Raup Wagner made distin Earl K. Pollon and lon describes. For example, Neil Geth guished contributions to the carto Shirlee Smith Matheson. ing, the coal promoter who Pollon graphic side of Spanish activities in the Calgary, Detselig Enterprises, Ltd., suggests first recognized the hydro electric potential of the Peace, had an 1930s. In our own times Professor 1989. 375 $17.95 Cutter has made several previous con p. other career in Prince George as a real tributions, as have Christon Archer, This title contains two complemen estate broker and municipal politician. Jack Kendrick, Freeman Tovell and tary works on the Peace River region His defeat by the Grand Trunk Pacific particularly Warren L. Cook, whose centered on Hudson’s Hope. In the there might illuminate his inability to magisterial Floodtide of Empire: first section, Earl K. Pollon presents a interest railways in his Peace coal pro Spain and the Pacific Northwest, series of reminiscences concerning his jects in the early part of the century. 1543-1819 (Yale University Press, 1973) activities, mostly upriver, from 1931 to Pollons concluding stuggle to compel is conspicuously absent from this the mid-1960s. Shirlee Smith Mathe Peace Power contactors to hire local book’s bibliography. Several editions son begins the second part with her ar people leads easily into Matheson’s

35 B.C. Historical News SprIng 92

Spring Historical 92 News. BC. 36

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British Columbia Historical Federation WRITING COMPETITION 1992 The British Columbia Historical Federation invites submissions of books for the tenth annual Competition for Writers of B.C. History. Any book presenting any facet ofB.C. history, published in 1992, is eligible. This may be a community history, biography, record of a project or an organization, or personal recollections giving a glimpse ofthe 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 proof reading, an adequate index, table of contents and bibliography from first time writers 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 sigrnficantly 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 B.C.H.F. annual conference to be held in Kamloops in May 1993 Submission Requirements: All books must have been published in 1992, and should be submitted as soon as possible after publication. Two copies of each book should be submitted. Please state name, address and telephone number ofsender, the selling price ofall editions ofthe book and the address from which it may be purchased if the reader has to shop by mail. Send to: B.C. Historical Writing Competition P.O. Box 933 Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5N2 Deadline: December 31, 1992. LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED WITH POST MARK UP TO JANUARY 31,1993, BUT MUST CONTAINTHREE COPIES OF EACH BOOK. * *** * * **** There is also an award for the Best Article published each year in the B.C. HistoricalNews magazine. This is directed to amateur historians or students. Articles should be no more than 2,500 words, typed double spaced, accompanied by photographs if available, and substantiated with footnotes where applicable. (Photos will be returned,) Please send articles directly to: The Editor, B.C. Historical News P.O. Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB2K0