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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:

Albemi DistrictHistoricalSociety - Box284, Port Albemi, B.C. V9Y7M7 ArrowLakes HistoricalSociety - Box 584, Nakusp, B.C. VOG1RO AtlinHistoricalSociety - Box 111, Atlin,B.C. VOWlAO Burnaby HistoricalSociety - 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3T6 Chemainus Valley HistoricalSociety - Box 172, Chemainus, B.C. VOR1KO Cowichan HistoricalSociety - P.O. Box 1014, Duncan, B.C. V9L3Y2 District69 HistoricalSociety - P.O. Box3014, Parksville, B.C. VOR2S0 East Kootenay HistoricalAssociation - P.O. Box 74, Cranbrook, B.C. V1C 4H6

Golden and DistrictHistoricalSociety - Box 992, Golden, B.C. VOA1HO Gulf Islands Branch -BCHF - do WilmaJ. Cross, RR#i, Pender Island, B.C. VON2MO KoksilahSchool HistoricalSociety - 5203 Trans Canada Highway,Koksilah,B.C. VOR2CO Kootenay Lake HistoricalSociety - Box 537, Kaslo, B.C. VOG1MO Kootenay Museum & HistoricalSociety - 402 Anderson Street, Nelson, B.C. Vi L3Y3 LantzvilleHistoricalSociety - do Box274, Lantzville,B.C. VOR2H0 Lasqueti Island HistoricalSociety - Lasqueti Island, B.C., VOR2J0 Nanaimo HistoricalSociety - P.O. Box 933, Station A, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5N2 North Shore HistoricalSociety - 623 East 10th St., NorthVancouver, B.C. V7L2E9 NorthShuswap HistoricalSociety - Box 22, Celista, B.C. VOE1LO Princeton & DistrictPioneer Museum &Archives - Box 687, Princeton, B.C. vox iWO Qualicum Beach Historical& Museum Society - do Box 352, Qualicum Beach, B.C. VOR2TO Saltspring Island HistoricalSociety - Box 1264, Ganges, B.C. VOSlEO Sidney & North Saanich HistoricalSociety - P.O. Box2404, Sidney, B.C. V8L3Y3 SilverySlocan HistoricalSociety - Box 301, New Denver, B.C. VOG150 Trail HistoricalSociety - P.O. Box405, Trail, B.C. Vi R 4L7 Vancouver HistoricalSociety - P.O. Box 3071, Vancouver, B.C. V6B3X6 VictoriaHistoricalSociety - do G. Castle, 3145 NorfolkAve., Victoria,B.C. V8R 6H5 AFFILIATED GROUPS Fort Steele Heritage Park - Fort Steele, B.C. VOB1NO The HallmarkSociety - 207 Government Street, Victoria,BC. V8V2KB Nanaimo Centennial Museum Society - 100 Cameron Road, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2X1

Publications MailRegistration Number 4447

Published fall,winter, spring, and summer by the BritishColumbia HistoricalFederation, P.O. Box 35326, Station E, Vancouver, B.C. V6M4G5. A Charitable Society recognized under the Income 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 microformfrom Micromedia Limited, 20 VictoriaSt, Toronto, Ont. M5C2N8 (416) 362-5211 • Fax (416) 362-6161 • Toll Free 1-800-387-2689 - Micromediaalso publishes the Canadian Magazine Index and the Canadian Business Index.

Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORICAL NEWS

Volume 25, No. 1 Journal of the B.C. Historical Federation Winter - 1991-92

,,IliTokl1,‘/,/, Features Page The B.C. Historical News circulates well beyond the province of British Spruce Beer: In Lieu of their Grog 2 Columbia. Subscribers include librar- by Jacqueline Williams ies in England, Scotland, Germany and Australia, plus Harvard, Yale and a From Grain to Golf: The Historic McCleery Farm dozen more universities in the United by Leonard Meyers States. The U.S. Library of Congress The Sinclair Party of 1841 appealed for a complimentary sub scription commencing with Vol. 24 by Richard Mackie No. 1. Recently, too, Memorial Uni- Citizens and Indians; Atlin, B.C. and Juneau Alaska versity in Newfoundland and St. Fran- by ChadJames Mitchum cis Xavier University in Nova Scotia joined a subscriber from Mount Alli- Silver Thaw — Fraser Valley’s Paralysis of Ice 11 son, New Brunswick as subscribers, by Helen Borrell Out-of-province writers have chosen to submit articles to our magazine. mi Pioneer Teachers of British Columbia issue has a story on Spruce Beer from by Jean Barman a Seattle nutritionist, and one on Atlin Robert Burnaby written by a New Brunswick youth when he was studying at the Universi- by Pixie McGeachie ty of Saskatchewan. Coming soon is a Winter in Victoria 100 Years Ago 22 fascinating biography prepared by a by F. A. Harris professor in Florida. We aim to include presentations from Tranquille: Memories of the 1940’s 24 chatty local historians as well as stu- by SybilA. (Nan) MacFarlane dents or serious researchers, to give versity of topics and style. It has been Edward Wilson: A Remarkable Minister 27 suggested that we produce a future edi- by Anthony P. Farr ton on the Cariboo or “Cariboo & The Spanish Discovery of the Gulf of Georgia 30 North.” Who among our readers has a by John Crosse favorite yarn about the Cariboo that would grace our pages? Please send it in soon. Remember, too, that history includes recent events as well as what NEWS & NOTES 33 happened over a hundred years ago.

Naomi Miller BOOK SHELF 34 Kelowna, The Orchard City 34 cOvER,’%çkEDIr / / Review by Kelsey McLeod Ernest Harris of Vancouver shares The Canadian Fur Trade in the Industrial Age 34 (on page 22) an exerpt from his Review by W. Kaye Lamb father’s diary written in Victoria 100 years ago. This was at the time when Early Land Surveyors of British Columbia 35 our B.C. legislature was housed in a Review by R. C. Harris structure nicknamed “The Bird Cages”, a brick building with pagoda-like roof The Coal Coast: The Histoiy of Coal Mining in 36 and a multitude of windows. Mr. B.C. 1835-1900 Harris depicts the buildings in his inimitable style on the cover. Review by Keith Ralston

Manuscripts and correspondence for the editor are to be sent to P.O. Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB 2K0 correspondence regarding subscriptions are to be directed to the subscription secretary (see inside back cover) Printed in Canada by 1 Kootenay Kwik Print Ltd. B.C. Historical News- Winter 1991.92 Spruce Beer. In Lieu of Their Grog

by Jacqueline Williams

Spruce trees, Picea sitchen.sis, a member unrelenting companion of sea voyages. after Christmas sales. All the good stuff of the Pine family, thrive in the humid A simple decoction of the tops, was gone. The majority of the crew suf Pacific Northwest. To the maritime cones, leaves, or even bark and wood of fered from scurvy and desperately need explorers approaching the Northwest these trees, is antiscorbutic . . . ,“ wrote ed effective antiscorbutics. coast for the first time the magnificent James Lind in 1753. Lind was a naval Although there was much misinforma forest of green towering off shore must surgeon who conducted the first con tion in the eighteenth century about have been a welcome sight. For packed trolled trials for determining which what foods were a protection against along with their supply of sea biscuits foods were effective against scurvy. But, scurvy, modern analysis confirms that and salted meat was a recipe for turning few people paid attention to his experi fresh spruce leaves contain adequate the green needles of the spruce tree into mental designs or his results. amounts of vitamin C. Unfortunately, refreshing, nourishing spruce-beer. The Spruce-beer was made popular by that effect diminishes with fermentation brew from the spruce trees can be Captain James Cook, the renowned and most of the spruce-beer was brewed considered the first of the Northwest English maritime explorer who spent with yeast. Still if they drank enough foods to achieve popularity among the three weeks at Nootka Sound, on the the sailors got some vitamin C. Cook European arrivals. west coast of Vancouver Island. Cook and most every ship captain made Alcoholic beverage, especially wine, had completed several successful voyag spruce-beer whenever they planned to was carried on all sea voyages. No naval es of exploration and was a hero among stay in a port. The Pacific Northwest officer would sail without it. On the early maritime explorers. His navi was no exception. Spruce-beer is the Captain James Cook’s voyage to the gation charts were considered state of area’s first health drink. Pacific Northwest coast he began his the art. So when his findings about ef Since the explorers had no idea that trip with 1800 gallons of spirits and fective antiscorbutics for sailors on long fermentation diminished Vitamin C, wine.1 Both officers and crew needed sea voyages was published, everyone yeast which gave the beer its kick, be the tranquilizing effects of alcohol to connected with sailing rushed to emu came an important ingredient. In the provide relief from the exhausting work late his methods.4 journal kept by Captain George Dixon, aboard ship. Unfortunately, by the time In 1772, after his long second voyage an English explorer who arrived at the ships reached the far away to the Pacific Southwest, Cook had Nootka Sound in 1787, there is a note

Northwest shores, there was little written: “. . . y Crew of y Resolution praising a particular yeast. “We bought alcohol left. Spruce-beer which could had been living on fish, Spruce-beer & out a quantity of yeast in bottles, pre be made in a day or two was considered Vegitabales (sic) for upwards of two pared by a Mrs. Stainsby, of London; a good substitute. Months which eradicated every seed of and it would be doing her an injustice

Had an advertising man accompanied y Scurvy, “ whereas the crew of the sis not to say, that the yeast was now found the sailors he would have had no trouble ter ship (Adventure) “had many of her to answer our most sanguine expecta coming up with an irresistible campaign best men far gorn in that disease, .. . for tions, in working the spruce, being to promote the Northwest’s first beer [they] were unacquainted with the equally good as when first brought from and first micro-brewery. “All Natural method of making Spruce Beer.” Had England.”6 This was quite an accom Ingredients, Old World Formula” there been a brewery, it could not have plishment for yeast in those years was would have stood out in bold print over asked for a better endorsement. not very stable and was easily effected by a frosty bottle of beer. Looking Scurvy, a nutritional deficiency disease heat and motion. Both were hazards of longingly at the beer would be a group caused by a lack of vitamin C could dec early voyages. Commercial yeast did of tired, bearded sailors surrounded by a imate a ship almost as fast as enemy can not become available in North America grove of lush, green pine trees. non. For Northwest Maritime explorers until 1868. The name spruce-beer originates from who would be away from their home The ship’s cooper, the crew member the anglicization of the German port for several years, the problem was responsible for making and repairing ‘cprossen-bier” which is beer made from especially serious. Although they began casks and barrels, was employed in su sprossen (or sprouts), the buds of fir the trip with what seemed like adequate pervising the brewing. Some ships set trees.2 Prized by sailors since the six supplies, by the time they anchored in up their brewery on board ship; others teenth century, spruce-beer was thought the Pacific Northwest the ship’s stores on shore. At Nootka Sound, George to be an effective cure for scurvy, the resembled a department store the day Vancouver felt the task would be easier

B.C. Historical News. Winter 1991.92 2 on the beach. He wrote: “Opposite to flavorings. There was no need to make a quick where the Vessels lay a low Point of In The Dutch method, “Two hands of “medicine.” Also, the settlers arrived Land run out, where there was an excel cuttings of the pine” were added to with new and better brewing methods. lent run of Freshwater. . . And there be twelve gallons of water. After the mix And commercial breweries were begin ing plenty of Spruce Pine here a party ture cooled, yeast and sugar were added. ning to sell beer. The First Northwest from each ship was sent on shore to “In order to take away the resinous Beer would only be preserved in history brew Spruce Beer.”7 The implement for taste put a pound of sugar amongst books. brewing was usually a large copper pot. it,”13 suggested the eighteenth century Statements from other explorers and cook. crew members attest to the beer’s popu The beer was stored in hogsheads larity. “The people were allow’d to (very large casks) or barrels. The author This Seattle basedauthor has written five books “. . on bow to eat well with a healthfid die4 and she drink freely of it in lieu of their Grog”, of the article described it as . clean specializes in Northwest frod history, much of noted Vancouver.8 “Really pleasant, re and brown like common beer, has an which has been published by the Washington freshing, and healthy drink, it bubbled agreeable taste, and when pourTd out of Historical Society, and tasted rather like champagne”, re a bottle into a glass mantles like ale. called a member of Cook’s crew after The French, on the other hand, added adding rum and brown sugar.9 pine cones and roasted grains or bread FOOTNOTES Alejandro Malaspina, leader of the to their brew of cuttings and water. Spanish politico-scientific voyage to the They believed that the cones contained 1. J.C. Beaglehole (ed), The Voyage ofthe Resolution Pacific Northwest coast in 1791, was so a gum which made the beer more nour and Discovery 1776-1780, Hakluyt Society, impressed with the ability to make beer ishing, and that the roasted grains made Cambridge. 1967, p. 1494. Kenneth Carpenter, History of Scurvy and from pine needles that he wrote to the the beer more palatable well 2. J. The as as more Vitamin C, Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, Spanish Royal Navy, “a useful method nourishing. The bread also gave the 1986, p. 229. learned of beer from making pine nee beer a brownish color like malt. Indian 3. Ibid. p. 229 dles which we called Sapineta, the same corn and barley were the best, but rye 4. Ibid. pp. 76-80. as the French.” He undoubtedly add and wheat would do.15 5. iC. Beaglehole (ed), The Voyage of the Rnnlution ed lots of sugar for Malaspina strongly After the boiling process “. . . the liq and Adventure, 1772-1775, Halduyt Society, believed in the antiscorbutic powers of uor is poured into a vessel thro’d a sieve Cambridge, 1961, p. 955. sugar. So did Cook for that matter. of hair clothe, to prevent the burnt 6. Captain George Dixon. A Voyage Round the World, Alas, they were both wrong. bread and corn from mixing with it. George Goulding Publisher. London. 1789. p. 151. On the other hand, John Boit, an Then some sirrup is put into the wort to 7. Edmond S. Meany (ed.), A New Vancouver Journal American officer, had to make his crew make it palatable, and to take away the On The Discovery of Puget Sound, University of drink the brew. “Make the people use taste which the gum of the tree might Washington Press, Seattle, 1915, p. 7. Spruce tea, boiled the we leave behind.”16 8. Ibid,p.7. from boughs In 24 hours the beer Beaglehole, The Voyage of the Resolution and took on board, for that purpose and al was ready to drink. 9. Adventure, p. 114. though not very palatable, I believe is an Spruce-beer continued to be popular 10. Don Alexandro Malaspina and Don Jose Dc excellent antiscorbutic.”11 And John until around the 1850s. Although rath Bustamente y Guerra, Politico-Scientific Voyages Meares reported that he “made a er than take a chance on finding the Round the World, (translated by Carl Robinson, decoction of the latter [juice of the pine proper pine trees, explorers either in 1934), Madrid, 1885. p 118. tree] which was extremely nauseous, and cluded essense of spruce among their 11. Frederic W. Howay (ni), Voyages of the Columbia to very difficult, though very much dilut staples or else purchased it from the the Northwest Coast 1787-1790 and 1790-1793. Da ed, to keep on the stomach. Boit trading posts that were beginning to ap Capo Press, New York. 1969, P. 25. and Meares apparently were making the pear. The essence was a concentrated 12. John Meares, Voyages Made in the Years 1788 and beer without allowing it to ferment and blend of spruce cuttings and was put up 1789, Logographic Press, London, 1790, p. XX. without sugar or rum. in bottles. Directions for making 13. Sylvanus Urban, The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Cook and the other Northwest mari spruce-beer were included as noted by Chxonide, Volume XXII, London, 1752, time explorers left no specific recipes for Pp. 399-400. Ross Cox, an early Northwest explorer. 14. Ibid. 399. producing p. spruce-beer but fortunately “1 brought from Ft. George a few bot 15. Ibid. p. 400. for us, others left detailed instructions. tles of essence of spruce, and by follow 16. Ibid. P. 400. In 1752, The Gentleman’s Magazine ing the printed directions made 17. Ross Cox, The Columbia River or, Scene, and and Historical Chronicle, an English excellent beer, which in the warm Adventures During a Residence of Six Years on the publication printed a Dutch and French weather I found a delightful and healthy Western 5ide of the Rocky Mountains, Henry method for preparing spruce-beer. The beverage.”17 Colbum & Richard Bentley, London, 1832, p. 70. recipes give us clues to many versions of Fortunately for the forests and future this popular beverage. The Northwest generations, spruce-beer finally lost its coopers, I am almost certain, added popularity. As the age of exploration their own special techniques and ended, scurvy was no longer a problem.

3 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1991.92 From Grain to Go.’f The historic McCleery Farm

by LeonardMeyers

Mary McCleery FitzgeraMMcCleery photo courtesy of City of Vancouver Archives

Today golfers on the McCleery Golf was not on their agenda. They soon 1882 another wing was added making it Course shout “Fore!” Over a hundred saw the potential and promise in this even larger. years ago, Fitzgerald McCleery might favored corner of the new world. The new farmhouse was the first have said to his young daughter Instead, they joined their uncle Hugh substantial building to be erected within

Theodora, “Go fetch the cows — and McRoberts who, on the 24th of April, the present city of Vancouver. It was mind the manure.” 1862, had pre-empted 160 acres of land demolished, despite many protests, in It is interesting to speculate how many on the north side of the north fork of 1956. The new house was a rambling, golfers, young, middle-aged and older the Fraser River opposite Sea Island two-story structure with a wide realize, as they play the lush fairways, (known as McRoberts Island at the verandah, dormer windows, and it also that they’re treading on one of the most time). served, in its heyday, as a way-station for historic pieces of real estate in what is On the 26th of September, 1862, dignitaries travelling from Victoria to now the city of Vancouver — the historic McRoberts transferred his land to New Westminster — the capital of B.C. old McCleery farm at the foot of Fitzgerald McCleery, and on the at the time — and for meeting settlers Macdonald Street overlooking the north following day Samuel McCleery took farming around Ladner (Eburne) on Sea fork of the north arm of the Fraser up an adjoining 160 acres. The Island, such as Hugh Magee, William River. McCleery brothers set about and built a Shannon, William Catchpole, Henry It took some 70 years after the arrival small cabin on the Fitzgerald farm not Mole, and Mr. Gariepy in the early of Captain George Vancouver in 1792 far from the banks of the Fraser River. 1860s. and his subsequent explorations around The modest little home was to become The McCleery brothers also built the Point Grey and Burrard Inlet before the popular centre of communal life in first road, or trail, best described as a white settlers began to arrive. Two of the new district for its sparse settlers. bridle path, from their farms to New the more familiar settlers were the In this cabin the first divine service Westminster. Referring to the wooded McCleery brothers, Fitzgerald and was held. A wash basin served as the trail hacked out laboriously with axes, Samuel, and later John. Originally the collection plate. It was affectionately machetes, etc., an entry in the McCleery two young brothers left Northern referred to as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, diary read: “Measured trail, May 1st, Ireland, arriving in what is now and it was used as a school after 1873 1863, upon completion.” Vancouver via the Panama Isthmus to when the McCleerys built a much larger The trail was wide enough for a horse seek their fortune in the Cariboo gold farmhouse on higher ground below the to pass. But not adequate enough to fields. But the bonanza gold largely present South West Marine Drive and accomodate a buggy over rough terrain, eluded them. But returning to Ireland east of Macdonald Street. Then, in and lacked bridges over creeks and

B.C. Historical News-Winter 1991-92 4 ravines. It was later named River Road. Matthews envisioned the large fork of the Fraser from inundating the Today this major thoroughfare is known McCleery farmhouse to be restored and golf course. There are also drainage as South West and South East Marine turned into a museum similar to the ditches adjacent to the course, the bane Drive. It still winds around largely Irving House in New Westminster. of errant golfers who lose golf balls in following the original alignment laid out But he was thwarted. The Parks the murky waters in the ditches. by the McCleery brothers without Board was aware of the Major’s plan. It This is a far cry from the early days on benefit of a land surveyor through dense had instructions to convert the farm the farm when Theodora went to school forests, underbursh and uneven terrain, into a public golf course in accordance and, in fact, elsewhere, from her home a major undertaking with primitive with the McCleery family’s wishes, and in the “Garden of Eden”, as the original hand tools and a horse for the heavy sent a bulldozer in the dead of night to farmstead was jocularly referred to, via a work. demolish the historic old house to make small boat when flooding occured. Fitzgerald McCleery and his wife way for a fairway while Matthews slept. Fitzgerald McCleery evidently owned Mary had two daughters, Theodora Next morning, when Mr. Matthews the first horse in the district. He noted (later Mrs. Harry Logan), and a younger became aware of what had transpired in in his diary, “The Frenchman got the one, Margaret Elizabeth who was to the night, he was livid and denounced horse.” No other details. Was it a swap? become Mrs. Robert Mackie arid who the nocturnal knock-down in a letter to Or a purchase? Or a gambling debt? lived for years on the old farm almost city council as “wanton, wicked The McCleery brothers also acquired until the historic farmhouse was vandalism!” cattle which they brought in from demolished in 1956. In lieu of a McCleery museum, a Oregon and landed at Steveston. The Mr. Logan, on the other hand, lived collection of historic McCleery artifacts first butter churned in what is now for years in the second McCleery house and memorabilia is on display at the Vancouver came from their situated north-east of the old one in the Vancouver Museum on Chestnut Oregon-bought cows. They also owned vicinity of present day McCleery Park at Street. the first dog in the comunity and called

49th avenue and Marine Crescent. It Years earlier, the McCleery brothers it — you guessed it — “Fido.” was built in 1891. It overlooked the had reclaimed all the land contained in Apart from the McCleery name new McCleery Golf Course, the Fraser the golf course from the Fraser River. It perpetuated in the golf course, to flirther and the Vancouver International Airport was approximately five feet below sea commemorate the early pioneer family across the River. It was Mrs. Logan level at high tide. They demolished and their historic farm, a small who, after World War Two decided not beaver dams which tended to flood their triangular park at 49th Avenue and to let the historic old family farm be land; and the McCleerys were the first Marine Crescent is also named after subdivided and covered with residential settlers in the district to resort to dyking them. On a large boulder mere feet subdivisions. She sold the farm to the in order to reclaim and farm their land. from the south side of 49th is affixed a City of Vancouver with the stipulation They erected farm buildings, carried out bronze plaque which bears the following that the Vancouver Parks Board would fencing, and generally prepared the land inscription: build a public golf course on the land for growing produce, crops, raising McCLEERY PARK. This park which for the future benefit and enjoyment of livestock, etc. marks the N.E. corner of the Fitzge the people of Vancouver and, at the Today a modern system of dyking, rald McCleery farm is dedicated to same time, preserve the heritage of the dredging and pumping keeps the north the McCleery brothers, Fitzgerald, Samuel, and John. The land was historic farm and the McCleery name for posterity. And once again the McCleery farm became a centre of communal and recreational life for the citizens of Vancouver. There arose an interesting sidelight to the sale of the old farm and farmhouse to the City of Vancouver. The two McCleery daughters, Mrs. Logan and Mrs. Mackie were great friends of the late city archivist Major J.S. Matthews. Mrs. Mackie, on one occasion, brought the Major a large bouquet of tulips, forget-me-nots and lilacs, all grown on the McCleery farm. Mr. Matthews was very historically minded, especially where the McCleery settlers and farm were concerned. The McCleery brothers were considered the Historic McCfeeryfarmhouse at 6750 Macdonald demolished in 1956. — photo courtesy of City of Vancouver first settlers and farmers in the area, and Archives

5 B.C. Historical News . Winter 1991.92 pre-empted September 26, 1862 and two symbolic stone parapets, one bear block west of Macdonald Street, be farmed until 1956. The homesteader cabin ing a bronze plaque commemorating tween 45th and 49th also bears the pio and later family homes were centres of pio the original pioneer family and their neer McCleery name. But very few who neer community life. This monument erect ed in 1985 by the Kerrisdale Historical farm. It reads: traverse it, one can be sure, have any Society and Friends. These stones from the foundation of idea who McCleery was after whom it Alongside is a cement flagpole base the old McCleery farmhouse mark an was named. historic site. Near here in 1862 the with the inscription McCleery on one first cabin was built by Fitzgerald side, which appears to indicate that the McCleery and Samuel McCleery Leonard Meyers is a freelance writer who has second McCleery house was, at one Irish imigrants. The golf course, sold several hundred articles and sketches to over time, situated nearby. opened in 1959 is dedicated to the thirty newspapers and magazines. He has been a original farmstead. resident of Vancouver most ofhis life except frr Also between the golf clubhouse and fiveyears in the Royal Canadian Navy. the putting green there were constructed A short two-block long street one

The Sinclair Party of1841

by Richard Mackie

In November 1839 Governor George 2 James Birston 1 Wife, 3 Children established Metis community. Most of Simpson of the Hudson’s Bay Company 3 John Cunningham 1 Wife, 1 Child these overlanders remained in the Willa 4 John Tait instructed Duncan Finlayson, governor 5 Julien Bernier 1 Wife, 2 Stout Boys mette and became American citizens. of the company’s settlement of Assini 6 Horatio Calder 1 Wife, 7 Children This list of members of the first over boia (Red River), to assemble a party of some grown up land migration in British territory will 7 William Flett 1 Mother 4 Children Scottish and French Metis to emigrate 8 John Spence 1 Wife 4 Children be of interest to social historians and ge to the Columbia River. Simpson had 9 James Flett 1 Wife 4 Children nealogists. A list of members of James two main reasons for doing so. First, he 10 John Flett 1 Wife 2 Children Sinclair’s second overland party of 1854 11 David Flett 1 Wife 1 Child, hoped to strengthen the company’s — was published in the Washington His [one of the dec’d Jno Bird]

extension the British — presence torical Quarterly in 1916. and by 12 Joseph Klyne lWife - on the Columbia in the years before the 13 Toussaint Joyal 1 Wife 4 Children settlement of the Oregon boundary. 14 Francois Gagnon 1 Wife 5 Children Second, he hoped to create an overflow 15 Bapte RheIle 1 Wife 1 Child Richard Mackie is a graduate student in the 16 Pierre St. Germain 1 Wife 5 Children history department at the University of British valve for Red River’s rapidly-growing 17 Charles McKay 1 Wife 4 Children Columbia. population, which in 1837 Simpson 18 Francois Jacques 1 Wife 4 Children BIBLIOGRAPHY placed at about 5000. These people put 19 Alexr Birston 1 Wife 4 Children 20 Gonraque Zastre 1 Wife 6 Children John V. Campbell, ‘The Sinclair Party — An Emigmtion a great strain on the company’s provi Trapper Overland along the old HBC Route from Manitoba to the sions, particularly pemmican and other Pierre Larocque 1 Wife 3 Children Spokane Country in 1854,’ Washington Historical Quarterly, 21 Vol. 1916), 187-201, buffalo products. 22 Louis Larocque 1 Wife 3 Children 7, No.3, Guly James R. Gibson, Farming the Frontier: The Agricultural By the spring of 1841 Finlayson had 23 Archd Spence 1 Wife 7 Children Opening of the Oregon Country, 1786-1846, (Vancouver: put together a party of twenty-three In November 1841 Chief Factor University of British Columbia Press, 1985). twenty-two women, and seventy- D. Geneva kant, West of the Mountains: James Sinclair men, James Douglas led these emigrants and the Hudson’s Bay Company. (Seattle: University of five children for the crossing. Led by north from Fort Vancouver to the Pu- Washington Press, 1963). James Sinclair, they left Fort Garry on 3 get’s Sound Agricultural Company’s Juliet Thelma Pollard, ‘The Making of the Metis in the Pacific Northwest,’ Ph. D. thesis. University of British June 1841 and reached Fort Vancouver farms at Fort Nisqually and at Cowlitz. Columbia, 1990. by the end of October. They travelled (The PSAC was the Hudson’s Bay Puget’s Sound Agricultural Company, Miscellaneous Papers, via Whiteman Pass and Sinclair Pass, agricultural affiliate or sub 1850-1858. Hudson’s Bay Company Archives. Winnipeg. F. Company’s 26/1, ft. 2. and descended to Lake Windermere and however, sidiary). Within months, Grorge Herman Sprenger, “The Metis Nation: Buff1o Canal Flats. some of these settlers had left Cowlitz Hunting Versus Agriculture in the Red River Settlement, A precise list of the heads of house 1810-1870,’ in Bruce Alden Cox, editor, Native Lands, Native and Nisqually for the fertile valley of the (Ottawa: University Press, 1987), holds has been located in the Hudson’s People, Carleton 120-135. Willamette River, a tributary of the Co Irene M. Spry, ‘The Metis and mixed-bloods of Rupert’s Bay Company’s Archives in Winnipeg, lumbia south of Fort Vancouver. By Land before 1870,’ in Jacqueline Peterson and Jennifer S.H. here for the first time Brown, The New Peoples: Being and Becoming Metis in and is published the summer of 1843 all but five of the North America, (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, in full detail. Red River migrants had settled in the 1985). 95-118. List of Emigrants for the Columbia.TM Willamette, attracted by the superior ag WilliamJ. Bats, ‘From Red River to the Columbia,’ The Beaver, (Spring 1971), 50-55. 1 Henry Buxton 1 Wife, 1 Child ricultural land and by the presence of an

6 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1991.92 Citizens and Indians. Atlin, British Columbia andJuneau, Alaska

by ChadJames Mitcham

In the early day in the gold mining consolidate power by policies that were towns of Atlin, British Columbia and directed towards suppression and Juneau, Alaska it was an accepted fact assimilation of Native Tlingit Indians. that the recently-established white In pursuing this policy of ‘directed residents were citizens and the longtime acculturation’ Natives were denied residents, the native people, were not. rights that are fundamental to the That this was so, is underlined by TO THE American bill of rights — to life, liberty numerous statements which appeared in and freedom. the newspapers of the day in both It had been the Natives who, in search communities. Some of the references to AIES of supplemental material gain, put up the difference in status of the two their tents near the new white groups are blunt: others are subtle. community — moving from their Studied together, however, they provide traditional villages up the Taku River us with interesting and sometimes MI babies, Indians except4 and along the nearby sea coast. Soon shocking insights into the accepted -1asànd after establishing their new village, these relationship between whites and Indians ed, born- -in- aboriginal inhabitants were informed by at this time in these settlements in the Treadweilin 9O8 if you white newcomers that they had no Pacific northwest. will call at my storc you will rights to the land or the gold that was The two neighboring (by northern receive free of charge a solid being extracted.4 During the late 1880s standards) communities chosen for this gold finger ring, twin babies the strict policy of assimilation or study — one Canadian, one American — diamong ring, triplets or ‘directed acculturation’ used by are seventy-five air miles apart, and both more make your sclcction. American legislators was in response to were founded on the gold which was the perceived threat to the white mined nearby. Both had adjacent IIAMONDS minority by the Tlingit majority. Indian towns inhabited by Tlingits Nevertheless, as late as 1904, according (mostly of the Taku tribe). Therefore, it There are nincty=six for to the Alaska Geographic Society’s is clear that there are certain basic your inspectionfrom smail research, Chief John of the Taku tribe similarities. Some of the differences, est size to four karatz. was told that he did not enjoy squatter’s brought out in the paper, can be rights to a tract of land on the attributed to the differences between waterfront within the corporate Canadian and American laws. Slore npposic Bach old.. Frmil St. boundary of Juneau, which he had Among the blunt and obvious occupied only after the town was mentions of the gulf between citizens M. 6. Beltzhoover established (in 1880-8 1). Appeals to the and Indians are comments such as the Land Office and Congress upheld the following: “Citizens and Indians ruling. 5 It is somewhat ironic that the enjoyed themselves to the fullest mark” much cherished American ideals of (in The Atlin Claim’s account of In Juneau at and shortly after the turn equality and rugged individualism were, Coronation Day sports in 1902), 1 and of the century the white population apparently, legally impossible for the the headline in The Douglas Island numbered no more than 3,000 whereas Tlingit ofJuneau. News in 1907: “CANADA’S ONLY the Tlingit Indians in the vicinity were Juneau was the base from which the INDIAN CITIZEN: Skookum Jim, estimated at 5,000 to 6,000. The fact Atlin gold strike (in 1898) was Klondike Discoverer, Rewarded by Gov that white settlers were so outnumbered launched, 6 and, as had been the case in ernment, Takes Advantage of his by the Native population should be Juneau, Tlingit Indians set up a camp Freedom.” 2 This same Alaska newspa accepted as a major shaping factor in alongside the new white community per ran the following advertisement in Juneau’s subsequently repressive policies almost at once. One difference, 1908. and prejudicial climate. As a minority, however, between the situations in the the whites of Juneau sought to two gold-based communities was that in

7 B.C. Historical News Winter 1991.92

B.C. News-Winter Historical 1991-92 8

to sold on them appeared

it

Indian Town 1897. near Juneau, photo courtesy State Historical Library. Abeka

and the the liquor who whites

both the Indians who bought

of they did, so. names When

do were Indians to forbidden

buy liquor. to were allowed

only under citizens discussion,

the In period during Canada,

abuse. of alcohol because

had law brushed with the

on focus who Natives those

to they anachronisms, tended

colorful and quaint

as merely villages Indian

in the Tlingits adjoining

the did not view Juneau

and of Atlin When citizens

sense.

a used usually in is disparaging

and Taku silent among are Indians” unknown listed new land the a by peopled in origin, terminology whites’ Indian

newspaper “four

frw 20, (October A 1906) ago short years an Atlin was word which, of a Algonquian although

named. in Similarly, the same the to ments ‘march of civilization’. as were to referred “squaws”, “bucks”

returning are hunters white when and vague impedi incomprehensible the The gang.” accompanying women

are years over instances scores the of in a only as considered way, general seems very the be “money in plentiful to

names are No there given here, though and large, the

native be to seem people suits,” buckskin embroidered that

and

10

in Indian have hunters town.” arrived focuses on topic. almost By every other of persons manly fine some examples

1906,

the told reader that is “some The ignored. The Claim, newspaper, that “the noted their on bucks displayed

of 20, Atlin for Claim The October seems population been to have generally Claim for Atm The correspondent

in column instance, Events” “Local the In early Atlin’s days the Indian shop. the to Teslin-Atlin The trail

For are not names mentioned. usually in as used was Juneau.

it

cousins Atlin Atlin along into walked

—

are, they When are recorded. however, mining, labor or was

not Indian needed

like Tlingits, inland their Indians

—

goings native and comings people’s the by at gold was the first extracted placer 1900 of a In Teslin band August

of of any few the very ventures, mining in Atlin, tolerant. Moreover, because she cherished.”

in Tlingit being Indians the employed and were, they more consequently, and of despair “a which fright picture

in is Since

of no evidence Atlin there in the that degree did, Juneau whites did Mrs. he Smith told, as got and was

of march the civilization.

feel did to not threatened community boy still. to now The frightened stand 8

is progress This shovel. and and pick

Atlin . the in Thus, Indians. white . “in tone” savage a him him and ordered

of echo to resound blast, the the mountains 5.000 80 some and only whites, about and Smith shook him, ran after caught

The of highways industry. are streams to be There people. reckoned were being Mrs. foiled, at Angry away.

and the few lakes Today Indians... stray the far Atlin native outnumbered whites but on ran he film, boy a Native capture

to She wanted pictures.

1897 Alaska photo Juneau, courtesy Akcka Libcary. State Htorical take Indian to Town Juneau’s

E. Mrs. to Smith, Elmer went

a white woman, News, Island

to Douglas The according

1899, in August example,

Atlin For Juneau papers. and

the in everywhere apparent

is an attitude Such themselves.

like beings human ‘real’

as rarely curiosities — quaint

as by whites seen often were

they Juneau, either or Atlin

in citizens as not regarded

were the native Since people

by names. their identified

not the list on people only

the They are in town. arrivals court records and frequently in the newspapers as well. Typical of such reports is the following, taken from The Atlin Claim of August 4, 1906. In The Police Court Johnnie Anderson and Charlie Jackson, Teslin and Telegraph Creek Indians, respective1y, appeared before Magistrate Fraser Monday morning on a charge ofhaving been drunk and created a disturbance at Discovery [seven miles from Atlin on Pine Creek] on Saturday last, The charge was and Anderson, whose proven Ta/eu River Indian C4mp 1897. photo courtesy Alaska State Historical Ljbrary. second offense this was, wasfined $25 and $650 costs, while draws attention to the fact that deaths The number of Indian criminals Jackson paid afine of$10 and $5. last year exceeded births by 25%.” The punished was 1,469. Jas. Clark, proprietor of the Ha Way article was based on the annual reports Tlingits in Juneau, until the serious House, appeared the same day on a charge by Indian agents, who reported to the and dramatic decline of their population of having sold intoxicating liquor to the commissioner of Indian Affairs. The soon after the turn of the century, were above Indians, ana pleading guilty, was statistics pertained to all Alaska. The without a doubt victims of repressive ordered to pay a fine of$100 and $650 reader can also see that assimilation of legislation and racism. From 1880 to costs. the native Indians of Juneau and 1900, their overwhelming population The liquor laws were different in elsewhere was a definite goal of white numbers, in comparison to the white Alaska than in Canada for the period administrators. Indian agents reported minority, had, it seems, led to repressive 1899 to 1908. According to the Alaska that: legislation in these first twenty years of Geographic Society, it was not until The entire Indian population is the existence of this city. Although in 1909 that an Act of Congress was 2979O5 of which number 95,679 wear Atlin, the sparse numbers of Tlingits led approved which made selling citizens’ dress, while 31,923 wear a to more tolerance for the native people intoxicating liquors to natives of Alaska mixture ofIndian and civilized clothing. than in Juneau, there seems never to a felony. There were many unpleasant Those who can read number 42,597 have been an assumption by whites that episodes caused by the unlimited and 53,314 can carry on an ordinary the native people were their equals. In amounts of alcohol dispensed amongst conversation in English. There are both communities, despite their positive Juneau’s Tlingits. One these is of 25,236 dwelling houses builtfor Indians. contributions — such as guiding miners, recorded in The Douglas Island News of April 4, 1900. The article is entitled “He Sought Vengeance” and is a description of a drunken fight in Indian Town. This was not an isolated instance. Indeed, glaciologist Muir’s contention that the Tlingits had been nearly “whiskied out of existence” by the time he visited the vicinity of Juneau and the mouth of the Taku River in 1880, ‘ is substantiated by the horrifjing 1. ‘ statistics published in The Douglas Island News on March :xa 4 28, 1900. The article is entitled ‘lndians Are Passing Away” and Atlin Indians outside crow house (about 1918) photo courtesy Brian Burke— Atlin Historical Society

9 B.C. Historical News. Winter 1991.92 surveyors, and hunters, as well as took command of the situation and 6. For a full account of this discovery see W.W. Bilsland’s article, “Atlin, 1898-1910: The Story bringing in to market constant and gave warning (in Tlingit) that the white of a Gold Boom,’ British Columbia Historical reasonably priced game, fish and berries community’s hospital was in danger. Quarterly, Vol. 16, No B-4, 1952, pp. 125-129. — the Tlingit Indians received little (The fire, by the way, as the reporter 7. Ibid. credit. stated, was so out of control because the 8. The Aim Claim, September 3, 1904, It would appear, then, that, no matter city water works did not extend to the 9. The Douglas Island News, August 2, 1899. 10. The Aim Claim, August 11, 1900. what sort of effort the Tlingit residents Indian settlement.) 11. Muir, John Travels in Alaska, Boston, of Atlin’s Indian Village and Juneau’s As a result of this woman’s actions, the Houghton Muffin, 1915. Indian Town made to be good citizens, Douglas Island newspaper a week later 12. In the course of his reminiscences in The Cassiar Courier (Vol. 1, No. 3, January 1977), they remained on the sidelines — reported that the Indians were “just like Johnnie Taku Jack mentioned being excluded excluded from the public schools 12 and white people”! From this comment, from Atlin’s public school when a church most of the other institutions used one can only conclude that the reporter school, run by an Oblate priest, Father Allard, closed about a year after it had opened. This regularly by whites. Even when their had never thought so before — and left John nie Jack with, he said, the equivalent of contributions were heroic, these clearly conceived of this as a new point a grade three education. What happened to Johnnie Jack, of course, happened to his contributions tended to be reported in of view for the majority of his white classmates as well, brackets and the heroic individuals readers as well. Only very gradually In the Juneau/Douglas district, Native schools, unnamed. For instance, in a devastating over the ensuing years did more white mostly run by the Presbyterian Church, seemed less threatened with closure (since it must be fire in Atlin when, according to the citizens adopt this view. remembered that the American Community was headlines of the Claim of June 3, 1905 a more established one than its neighboring Canadian counterpart). In February 1900 The — “Atlin Had a Narrow Escape from Douglas Island News reported that in the Total Destruction” — the Indians’ Chad Mitchum is a native ofNew Brunswick “Native School” there were students of all ages: contribution is reported thus: “Needless who lived and worked in Atlin, B.C. for over a one woman of about fifty-five, two girls of year. This paper was prepared while be was twenty, one of eighteen, one of thirty-five — as to say, everybody in the town (including studyingfrr his M.A. in Histoi’y at the University well as a “large attendance of scholars between all the men from the Indian village) ofSaskatchewan. eight and fifteen years of both sexes.” worked hard and stayed at it.” However, supposedly because these church NOTES schools existed, the Indian children in Juneau, In The Douglas Island News of as in Atlin, were not allowed into the ordinary March 14, 1900, there is a lengthy 1. The Atm Claim, August 16, 1902. public schools. According to the Alaska account of an Indian woman’s heroism 2. The Douglas Island News, May 8, 1907. Geographical Society researchers (in the table of 3. Ibid., August 26, 1908. significant dates in the Native People’s history during a fire in Juneau’s Indian Town 4. Drucker, Philip, Cultures of the North Pacific at the back of the book on Alaska’s Native which seemed likely to spread to the Coast. San Francisco, Chandler Publishing People) in 1902 “school boards of the public schools at Juneau and Ketchikan refused to white community and threaten the Company, 1965, p. 215. 5. Alaska’s Native People, The Alaska Geographic admit Native Children on the grounds that hospital. The woman is not named. Society, Vol.6, No. 3, Anchorage, Alaska, Native schools were available to them.” The reader is told, however, how she 1979, p. 292.

CHEMAINUS MEMORIAL The cemetery monument is centred by a plaque which discretely describes the demo lition of the Japanese portion of the ceme tery. ‘In 1942, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War in the Pacific theatre, all persons of Japanese origin were forcibly removed from the west coast of British Co lumbia. Shortly after this there was a dese cration in this cemetery. All Japanese gravestones and other markers were re moved by person(s) unknown. Although nothing was done about this at the time, of late some of the gravestones have been found. These have been incorporated into this monument which is dedicated to the ERECTED BY: Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation; District ofNorth Cowichan Munici pal Office; St. Micbaelc Anglican Church; B.C Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Churches Federation; memory of the Canadians, and others, of Families ofthe DeceasecL concerned individuals and groups; Japanese Canadian Memorial Japanese origin who were buried in this Monument Committee. place.”

B.C. Historical News. Winter 1991.92 10 “Silver Thaw “ — Fraser Valley ‘s Paralysis ofIce

by Helen Borrell

“Trees, power lines and roofs crashed down; pistol and cannon-like sounds ac companied the crashing and the freed ice-sheaths. It was like a battlefield, with crashing transformers providing awesome fireworks displays.” Thus Murdo Maclachian, of Chilli wack, B.C., described the ice storm which, in the last week of January, 1935, paralyzed Vancouver and the Lower Fraser VaLley. Through January, 56 years ago, the cli j mate of the normally mild Pacific Northwest plunged to nearly zero, Fah renheit. “Ice Breakers in Fraser” was the headline of The Vancouver Sun, on Fri day, January 18, 1935. Next day: “Coldest Weather in 26 Years; 4.3°F in Frost sheathedpower lines and branches near Chilliwack,January 1935— photo courtesy of Vancouver.” On that Saturday, an un Chilirwack Arcfves known enemy — a blizzard — barraged the Lower Mainland. During Sunday, gency reserves of community spirit. January24, 1935. “according to E.B. Shearman, local Do “Girl Heroines of Storm” were Vancou The rain which flooded down during minion meteorologist, the greatest accu ver’s telephone operators. When the Monday, January 21, froze before reach mulation” (of snow) “for a short period, Monday morning shift girls were tramp ing the ground, and covered everything in 38 years” ‘ closed streets and roads. ing for miles through the snow-clogged with ice sheaths which thickened until In the country, some snow piles became streets, the Sunday night shift stayed telephone and electric power wires, or solid ice. In Vancouver, on Monday, overtime, coping with a hurricane of chard trees, and many roofs — mostly street cars were marooned; some duty- calls. The phone company chiefs barns, garages and storage sheds col conscious employees trudged laboriously brought free meals and found hotel lapsed from the weight. This was the to their jobs in stores and offices, and all rooms for those who could not get “silver thaw”, truly a battlefield, as Mur Monday night 400 B.C. Electric em home conveniently. Phone service was do Maclachlan called it. ployees shovelled snow and managed to maintained within Vancouver; but long The Fraser Valley’s electricity was get most of the city’s street railways distance calls, as well as out-of-town gone; so was its contact with the outside open. On Monday, B.C. Electric offi train service, had been paralyzed by the - no telephone or telegraph service, no cials requested the public to “do your disaster in the Fraser Valley. trains or B.C. Electric Interurban; snow cooking after 6 P.M.”. Power lines “Silver thaw Marching on the Coast; banks and dangerously slippery ice on from two central electric power plants Huge Loss Already from Storm. ‘Silver the town streets; and the farms (which had collapsed, and repair crews could Thaw’ Brings down all Wires. Deep then covered most of the Valley) were not get to them, through the snow Drifts Block Roads.” Those were the imprisoned by the roads’ barricades of drifts. But, during Monday night, “Mi headlines of The Vancouver Sun, Tues snow and ice. raculously, two circuits came back, day, January 22, 1935. “Chilliwack Iso Luckily, farmers always have to be righting themselves as they cleared their lated”, a city unto itself. “Light, Power, more self-sufficient than city folks. weight of snow. Gangs were able to get Transport and Communication Services “Storm’s Fury Cannot Break Valley out to the scene of the trouble, Disrupted; City a Tangled Mass of Spirit” a Vancouver Province writer re though horses and sleighs were forced to Poles and Wires as Ice Causes Break ported, after a trip on January 23. Fras replace the usual motor trucks.” down.” That was the headline of the er Valley farmers, he said, stock up their Such are the “average person’s” emer Chilliwack Progress, (a weekly), on fuel supply in the autumn. But that

11 B.C. Historical News- Winter 1991-92 winter put the old woodpile to a severe osene heater upstairs in the bathroom to of which were permanently damaged. test; many farmers had to cut more fuel. keep the pipes from freezing, and a Ice-burdened roofs of barns, garages and Most of them had a good store of fruit, wood and coal heater. That 1935 win storage sheds collapsed; but before they vegetables, flour and meat. However, ter we moved beds, cots, etc. down into could start the long, wearisome repairs, Murdo Maclachlan recalled, it took the dining-room, shut off all but the farmers faced a new, immediate nearly a week to get the main roads kitchen, and ‘camped out’ in there. A emergency. plowed, so that horse-drawn sleighs mad dash up the frigid stairs to the “January Wettest Month Ever” (in could haul supplies. He was a teacher at semi-warm bathroom was an adventure Vancouver’s history) — Vancouver Sun Chilliwack Elementary School, and in itseW front page, January 24, 1935. More stayed in town during the weekend of ‘We were running out of coal-oil for rain had fallen since the “6.49 inches of the blizzard. On Tuesday, for four ex the lamps, so my father bundled up one rain; 18.5 inches of snow” announced hausting hours, he slogged the five miles morning, took the coal-oil cans in hand, on Wednesday. The melting ice and to the farm where he lived with his and set out over the fields for Eden- snow were flooding the Fraser Valley; mother, brother and sister. “Every few bank, in Sardis. What a trip! Not only some dairy farmers were milking their yards I would slip on the icy surface, or drifts but also the thick crest of ice cows from rowboats. Friday’s and Sat crash through the sheath and have to which broke through as he trudged over urday’s warm Chinook winds ended the clamber up again . . . I arrived home to the snow. He returned cold and ex deep freeze — and brought floods. find everyone safe, warm and comforta hausted, but with the necessary “Sumas Reclamation Area Becomes ble.” This was true of many farm fami supplies.” Lake Once More when Flood Waters lies, because they used coal, wood or “I have never forgotten Bob McEach Rise” — Chilliwack Progress, January sawdust; very few depended on oil, gas ren, who usually collected the milk cans 31, 1935. In 1926, Sumas Lake had or electric stoves. Radios were battery from the farms by truck, coming right been drained, to provide about 30,000 operated. So the destruction of the elec across the fields, over drift-covered fenc acres of fertile farmland, to which set tric power lines, though it caused great es and all, with the milk cans on a tlers came in the next few years. In the inconvenience, didn’t freeze these self- ‘stone-boat’ (flat, wooden, heavy sled disastrous week of January 21, 1935, contained farms. Folks had to be used for hauling stones from fields) blizzards volleyed snow across the U.S. resourceful! pulled by a big, white work horse! He boundary, piling it against the Nook- Mrs. Betty Rogers, a member of the made sure the milk got delivered.” sack dyking system in Washington. Chilliwack Museum and Historical So Its trucks grounded, the Valley Milk When it thawed, the deluge broke these ciety, was six years old at the time of the Producers Association could not collect dykes and backed up across Sumas Prai 1935 ice storm, and her family of six the milk. The dairy farmers poured rie, on which water was also rushing people lived 1-1/2 miles east of Sardis, what they could into bathtubs and other through its broken north side dykes. Fraser Valley. Their large house had a containers, skimmed off the cream, and On Saturday morning a washout threw living-room fireplace and a wood and had to throw the surplus milk away. down a B.C. Electric 34,000-volt power coal range in the kitchen. In a hard Fruit growers saw the loads of ice tear line and put the Sumas Pumping Sta winter, such as 1935, we put a little ker down branches in their orchards, some tion out of action. The Chilliwack Progress reported: “Line foreman Bruce Gleig and his crew

• . . drove their truck as far out onto the flooded highway as was possible, pro cured a boat, and set about the hazard ous task of stringing a rope across the washout, through which the water was running at terrific speed. On the second attempt the crew got the rope across, and then succeeded in repairing the power line.” The staff of the Progress deserved great praise for keeping every one informed, despite their own electric failure. They took turns in pumping a long disused foot treadle press, on which the compositors laboriously set type by hand, letter by letter, working under gasoline lamps. Bruce Dixon, Dyking Commissioner for Sumas, directed the mass refugeeing of the settlers, from Friday midnight all Flooding near Chilliwaek —January 1935— photo courtesy of Chilliwack Archives through the dark early morning of Sat-

12 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1991-92 urday. To quote Chilliwack Progress, February 7: “He had warned many of the settlers .. .some stayed. Jim, Pat and Dave Beck made heroic efforts to Coulda Been Wrse(B•ut Not Much.); warn the people in the dead of night, jcip. roR DVRN GooD WL. uP travelling on horseback from house to TAKE T’’O ..O TI4RE ,% — :‘ scisc O) MIU OSZ.V 5NOW : ri: fEt OF I house. Those poor people, awakened in - -. $ S Coi.D wVr44 wMD TIT Fou.oW’, FT WELL So’j.D f VW. I%OI the early hours of the morning by a rap MOTY Tb WHOI.E -. CoG CA ‘Nt.. AU. ovr!R VNCOQ’1 (0 i.4d) on the window or door, were told they .I4eN 59flJ’4K..E. W.t.L. Wrr T,Me, if must leave their homes at once. h DRI’4ING Rfl4 AJD EP.VE I WITh ‘NtT FE.T I nie wv Those who had second storeys in their A Nf Crl9tV F&L. IN A 1. Wot A ‘otQ iD LO0,C .. .. . houses hurriedly piled their most treas •—————--—.. ThE TRRIL off ‘Q3 ured possessions there, while those not / 14A0 t4OT)41N6 ON Th TtIL 0F t”ONOR’ MOQ)I so fortunate have lost everything. The OVI!R GRNVILLf. 5R.D(! removal of stock was hampered by the .‘N*MDLR ‘j treacherous condition of the roads.” ,c iye Typical of many was the experience of “• “\ the Walter family, pioneers on Sumas Prairie; the father had a 56-acre tobacco farm. His son Rudy, then seventeen, re called: “We heard that the Sumas River fi.c(Yv1J was about to overflow; Dad had the

team of horses all hooked up and har - — nessed, and the wagon ready. Just at midnight, everybody was told to get out. Dad excitedly hooked that team onto

the wagon, everyone piled in, and off we Ia went down a barely passable road. The T TPON 4 . W$ r1.DT A LONG horses sank to their waists in snow.” Ar $UNOR’ NI G)-%1.’?F.’ Walter, then fifteen, recalled: bL CL W. mm “The fvIZ T4OUGHT Ao’JV families moved out to the mountains, wroN t4UbtR. FOq,vr’. roughly a mile and a half away. We b stayed in a hunting lodge, and ate only TW4 %b bread and corn flakes. When we were allowed to return to the farms, six weeks later, the furniture was under water and so was our car. When we picked up a chair, it fell apart.” Tobacco, which the Walter family Vancouver Sun, Tuesdiy, January22, 1935frontpage cartoon grew, is dried by hanging the leaves on laths. The flood had carried away these ed: “Fortunate people in the district vided relief supplies; the Board of Trade piled-up laths, and young Rudy and Ar willingly took the refugees into their was authorized to receive and disburse mm remembered having to collect about homes. When this source of accommo cash donations. Its directors, co 2,000 of them, after the flood waters dation was filled, shacks, vacant houses operating with the Municipal Council, were pumped out. But the Walters were and hunting lodges were comman also arranged financial help to farmers hardy pioneers. “Within weeks, after deered. Stock was driven long distances who lacked funds to rebuild barns the flood,” Armin said, “we were again to barns of friends.” Mr. Eddie then which had been wrecked by the “silver

purchased large quantities of food, rely — planting tobacco” — and before then thaw” the disaster which had battered they had hauled out the hay that had ing on Government help. The minister all of the Fraser Valley. The smallest not been under water, to feed the cows of Public Works promptly authorized loss, fortunately, was of human lives. that had been rescued. Mr. Eddie’s rescue work, and promised For three days, after the telegraph, tele Government aid for the refugees. The day after the flood — Sunday, Feb phone and electric wires had collapsed The staffs of the three Vancouver daily ruary 3, 1935 — “representatives of prac under the festoons of ice, Chilliwack’s tically every organization in Chilliwack” newspapers appealed for donations of only contact with the world was given (Chilliwack Progress, February 7) “met clothing, blankets, supplies for the flood by two amateur radio operators. Earl to plan relief measures for those left victims, and large donations soon ar Streeter moved his transmitter and re homeless and penniless.” Henry Eddie, rived at their hastily opened depots. in ceiver into the Chilliwack Telephone of in charge of the relief operations, report- Chilliwack, the Community Chest pro- fice, to be worked by its emergency

13 B.C. Historical News. Winter 1991.92 ______

power; and Jeff Bradford brought his Chilliwack Progress Mrs. Betsy Rogers. (Chilliwack Museum and Historical Socie battery operated set to the studios of [Thursday weekly]: january 24, january 31. February 7, ty). Letters in reply to my advertisement for information about 1935. Front page news reports. Chilliwack’s the storm. radio station, CHWK. Liv Other reference sources: ing on snacks of food and brief naps, Rudy and Armin Walter, (Rudy Walter, now a resident in Sac 1935 Staff of Chilliwacks Radio Station CHWK dis, B.C.) (Armin Walter, now resident in Aldergrove, B.C.) they sent their station calls to unseen lape recordings of their experiences during this ‘Fraser Valley Storm and Floods; January20 to 26, dmater. voices of ham wireless operators in Van 1935.” Souvenir booklet, published in response to couver and other centres, getting needed many requests, of the “Emergency Bulletins” issued by Many thanks to Mrs.Judy Mayers. Coquitlam, B.C., who in CHWK stakE during that week Now in the Chill vited the Walter brothers and others who had memories of the news of the storm conditions, which the 1935 storm to meet meat her home, where they raped accounts wack Library, 45860 - 1st Avenue, Chilliwack, B.C. staff of CHWK printed as Emergency of their experiences. Murdon Maclachlan (former radio broadcaster) 45650 Bulletins on its hand operated duplica Marshall Avenue, Chilliwack, B.C. Mrs. Jim Bowman, Chilliwack Archives, 9291 Corbould Street, tor, under little circles of candlelight. An excellent and detailed account of the 1935 storm Chilliwack, B.C. The emergency work crews who, dur and flood. Photographs, reproduced from those in the Archives. ing many exhausting days, cleared the roads, repaired the dykes, and put the Sumas Pumping Station back into ac tion, expected no awards except know ing that the farmers were soon able to return to their homes and their own re CENTRE OFLOOD. . DAMACU building. Train and phone services were Srvr . soon linking the Fraser Valley’s centers 1 with Vancouver and the rest of Canada, • while the B.C. Electric and B.C. Tele phone repair crews laboured to rebuild power the farming districts. ““ the lines in , Some remote farms had no electricity p for several months, Murdo Maclachlan , wrote; but, on these farms, the folks relit “ii their kerosene lamps and cooked on the wood stoves. Murdo Maclachlan ended his account CAUWM1 thus: SARO’% “One of the most important conse FAflOUI 4 • quences of the storm was the subsequent Cm,UINI ‘ice-proofing’ of new Valley construc I ...

tion: power poles, lights, building struc 7’ tures. There have been lesser ice storms . I— since 1935, but, fortunately, they have produced proportionally less damage be cause of the ‘proofing.” _5

.5’ .L. HtEf’iWY 8RE K FOOTNOTES AND LYN0 My warmest thanks to the several long-time residents Fi.000ED REJ of the Fraser Valley who vely helpfully tape-recorded their own memories of the 1935 ice storm and flood. I they couldn’t all be quoted in one magazine regret that line Is where (he major damagi waa d.n. h th. rocost (I..d. 124 article, because of lack of space. torrni In (he Upper FCSMI Valley. omas rrasrl. uftered m% from the flood., with telegraphic, rail and road r.mmuaIiUp&.c4Ia(IK’ The writer is a retired secretary, now doing voL Is. (ha highway 4T0m the ansi kolating many communIties. A ‘h., bt.aka unteer work and researching a variety ofsubjects area of (hr praltl. are ..hawn by the arrow •s the map. with a view to writing more articles.. VANCOUVER SUN, January 29, 1935 BIBLIOGRAPHY _epage Newspaoers: Map of Flood Damage 3 TheVancouver Sun: January 18, 19,21-24, 1935; Front page reports, plus additional news items. The Vancouver Province: january 21-24, 1935. Front page Vancouver Sun, January 29, 1935. Map offtaod damage —page 3 and additional news reports.

B.C. Historical News”Winter 1991.92 14 Pioneer Teachers ofBritish Columbia

by Jean Barman

During the three decades following For some females, teaching, as one of Elizabeth Sylvester’s background paral British Columbia’s entry into Confeder the few occupations open to them, satis leled that of Jeannette Mebius. Her fa ation in 1871 the province was distinc fled a less tangible need to do something ther, Frank Sylvester, had arrived in tive in possessing legislation mandating more constructive than staying home Victoria six years after Charles Mebius that schools be established wherever a between schooling and anticipated mar at the time of the transition from a fur dozen or so children could be gathered riage. Those early teachers seem to fall trade outpost to a gold rush colony. together BUT no provision whatsoever into five principal categories: (1) girls Among the thousands of newcomers of to train the men and women who were just out of schooL, (2) young people de 1858 were numerous Jewish merchants expected to teach these children. To be termined to get ahead, (3) females who simply brought their goods north come a teacher it was only necessary to forced to fend for themselves, (4) men with them from San Francisco, where pass a knowledge-based examination in need of ready cash, and (5) experi many had been provisioning California’s given annually in Victoria. Even a grade enced teachers. Space does not permit gold rush a decade earlier. Frank Sylvest as low as 30% merited a teaching certifi us to detail the many personal stories er acted as business agent for his broth cate good for one year! garnered by our research, but the fol ers-in-law in San Francisco but within Who were the teachers serving these lowing character sketches tell of individ the year he disposed of the small store newly created schools? My research uals typifying each group. he constructed in Victoria and left to try started with official records of the pro Girls just out of school. his luck in the goldflelds. He had re vincial Department of Education to de It was commonplace for a young girl turned to business in Victoria when he termine teachers’ names, job locations, just out of school, aged 16, 17 or 18 to met his future wife who had arrived in dates and salaries. I went to the manu intrepidly make her way to the frontier 1862 with her family via the goldfields script census for 1881 and 1891 which to take charge of a crude one-room of Australia and then California. told me something about individuals school. Many of these had only Grade Frank and Cecilia Sylvester married in teaching in these two years including VIII education as there were no high 1869 and became parents of 5 girls and birthplace and ethnicity, religion and schools until 1876 in Victoria, 1884 3 boys, all of whom were encouraged to age. Then early in 1988 I sent a letter New Westminster, 1886 Nanaimo, and obtain as good an education as had each to the editor of community newspapers 1890 Vancouver. Indeed the provincial of their parents. Frank had reputedly around British Columbia requesting in regulations permitted female teachers to won first prize for literature in the New formation on early teachers. Upwards be as young as age 16, whereas young York City schools, and Cecilia had by of a hundred replies were received from men could not enter the occupation un chance followed to Victoria the head generous people who not only passed on til they reached 18! mistress of the private French-language recollections of fathers, aunts or grand Two of Charles Mebius’s daughters school in which she had studied in San parents who had been teachers but became teachers. Mebius came to Brit Francisco, Madame Pettibeau in Victor shared photos, family histories and ish Columbia in 1852 in the employ of ia. According to the eldest daughter, diaries. the fur trading Hudsons Bay Company, Elizabeth, the children were expected to British Columbia was a fragile entity but by the time of his marriage eight make good use of their schooling “By with some 10,000 settlers (mostly male) years later he had established himself as going to work as soon as they were alongside 35,000 indigenous people a cooper or barrel maker. Lucy was just able.” Thus, as soon as Elizabeth com when it entered Confederation in 1871. 17 when she began at Nanaimo in pleted her education at the best Victoria In 1872 some 20 teachers were em 1884. Despite harsh realities such as private school of the day, Catholic St. ployed. Not until the completion of the having 70 pupils enrolled in her class Ann’s Academy, she looked to one of transcontinental railway did the arrival within three years of starting out, she re the few socially acceptable occupations of settlers raise their population to sur mained a teacher there until her death open to women, took the annual pass that of Native Indians. By 1901 in 1925. Jeannette Mebius became a teacher’s examination at age 17 and was the population offered employment to teacher in 1889 fresh from winning the soon in a classroom in the Cowichan 600 teachers. Governor General’s Medal for top aca Valley. Two years later Elizabeth re B.C.’s pioneer teachers were essentially demic performance at Central High turned to teach at the Victoria boys’ self-selected. The motivation which led School in Victoria. Jeannette would school until her marriage at age 34. Her these individuals to go into teaching was eventually marry, but by the time she position at the Victoria boys’ school was principally economic. Teaching ac did she had taught well over a decade at taken by her younger sister Louisa who quired much of its appeal because it did half a dozen schools across Vancouver remained there until she retired. Louisa not require any period of preparation. Island and the interior. had commenced teaching at the some-

15 B.C. Historical News. Winter 1991.92 what older age of 23, and had moved finances permitted he enrolled at olic convent from her Ontario home, annually between a number of frontier McGill. John MacLean then practiced decided in 1888 to join her brothers al schools. medicine in the Kootenays until his ready in the west. She answered a news Typical of newcomers to British Co election as an MLA. He became a cabi paper ad for a teaching position in lumbia following the completion of the net minister then premier on the death Hope, British Columbia. She was met railway was Carrie Ogle. In the late ofJohn Oliver in 1927. at the railway station at Yale where she 1 880s the Ogle family moved from Ne It was not only young men who used and all her worldly goods were loaded braska up to the Fraser Valley to open a teaching to get ahead. Margaret Burns, into a canoe and transported down the general store and operate the local post daughter of a provincial school inspec Fraser River by two Indian guides. Jan office. Fifteen year old Carrie received tor, determined to achieve the medical et was undaunted by frontier condi permission to stay behind with an older career which circumstance had denied tions. Within two years she stopped sister until she finished school. A gradu her father, taught for almost a decade, boarding (the general rule for unmar ation program still held by her daughter but only in order to finance her studies ried females) and set up house on her attests that Carrie was awarded honours at the San Francisco School of Osteopa own. in Latin. Carrie took the examination thy and earn a medical degree. Clara Starret, “nurtured in a cultured for B.C. teachers, then taught at a near Comparable were Thomas and Belle atmosphere in Victoria”, to quote her by school. Four years later, however, Wilson, a married couple who taught granddaughter, taught briefly before Mrs. Ogle’s illness forced Carrie to across the interior during the 1890s marrying in 1885 “in the face of her come home to help in the family store. while also doing home studies and sum parents’ objections.” Their concerns Carrie optimistically renewed her teach mer courses at Portland Medical Col may have been well founded: Clara not ing certificate every year until she lege diligently earning their separate only took the unusual step of continu married. medical degrees. They first practiced ing to teach for a year after her marriage Young people determined to get ahead. medicine along the remote north coast. but on the birth of her fourth child left Many viewed teaching as a stepping In 1909 they moved to Vancouver her husband to teach in the very remote stone toward what they really wanted where they had a joint medical practice Norwegian coastal settlement of Bella out of life. To the reasonably well edu while raising two sons to become doc Coola on a hastily arranged temporary cated young man or woman desirous to tors, and a daughter a nurse. Indeed certificate. get ahead, teachings’ immediacy of ac teaching was often used as a stepping Men in need of ready cash. cess made it particularly attractive as a stone to other professions. Men, be they young, middle-aged or fundraiser. Thus young John Tolmie Females forced to fend for elderly, at times felt the same desperate went from a first job at the B.C. Sugar themselves. need for cash as the widows and or manufactory to the relative comfort of a Married women in British Columbia phans in the previous category. Teach schoolroom in order to finance medical as elsewhere were seldom deemed suita ing offered ready employment to those school. So did George Dockrill, teach ble to be in the classroom; the excep prepared to undertake the challenge. ing first in Ontario then in New West tions rising either out of trustees’ John McMillan had commenced train minster before heading to Dalhousie desperation to secure a teacher or the ing for a minister at the behest of his Law School. Arthur Proctor also farmed equal desperation of married women parents in New Brunswick. He had part time to save up even faster to quali forced into paid employment. Fanny graduated in classical languages from fy as a medical doctor. Garfield King, Richards had married at 17 but a year the provincial university and had a stint who became a leading Vancouver law later, in 1871, found herself a widow at the University of Edinburgh. John, yer, taught at Lac La Hache then at with a baby son. Her father, who had home on holiday, married and shortly Langley during the last years of the nine come north from San Francisco to begin thereafter followed his father-in-law out teenth century. one of Victoria’s earliest newspapers, west. This aborted his family’s plans for John Duncan MacLean was a Man- had fallen on hard times. Fanny taught further studies. Once in Vancouver timer, the son of a Prince Edward island at Hastings Mill School, a logging set McMillan turned to teaching ‘as a farmer. His early goal of obtaining an tlement that would eventually become means of survival’ to support his grow advanced education was cut short by his the city of Vancouver. First boarding ing family. After three years he quit father’s demand that he assist the family and then living on her own in a cottage teaching and in 1894 opened a small economy by teaching school. At age 19, behind the school, she soon struck up grocery store on East Hastings. Bad ec John left home, working his way west by an acquaintance with a young accoun onomic times forced him back into the stopping to teach awhile on the prairies. tant serving as a trustee for a neighbour classroom, this time on the North Shore He then tried to make his fortune in ing school who, according to his so that he could also “shoot a deer in Vancouver and in the Kootenays before biographer, “made a point of discussing the backyard and get a salmon in the financial difficulties again turned him to educational matters with the young wid bay in a few minutes.” teaching, this time in the boomtown of ow as often as possible.” Later, as the el Raffles Purdy was the son of English Rossland. However as John himself de egant Fanny Springer, she went on to stone carvers but could not, according scribed it, “Schoolteaching in a mining “set the social tone for the inlet” into to his daughter, “see himself chipping town in those days was not particularly the next century. away at a bit of stone or wood, so he lucrative, so I decided to make the Janet Wilson, orphaned at the age of took up teaching.” In the early 1880s plunge” to become a doctor. As soon as 13 and thereafter despatched to a Cath promotional literature attracted him, his

B.C. Historical News. Winter 1991-92 16 sister and brother-in-law, first to Ne braska in the United States and then to Victoria. There Raffles purchased a sail ing sloop on which he loaded his family and all their worldly goods and headed for Salt Spring Island. Like so many other arrivals during these years, what Purdy and his relatives sought was land of their own on which to farm. Soon lo cal trustees were pursuing Raffles to teach since they had such trouble keep ing lady teachers “as they were in great demand by the single men.” So Raffles took on the school for what he thought at the time was a handsome salary. At the same time he pre-empted land, planted an orchard and raised stock. Raffles Purdy continued his dual role for a dozen years until financially able to pursue his love of farming full time. Scottish-born Alexander Shaw, who had gone to work at age 14 to support a widowed mother, eventually emigrated first to Ontario then to British Colum bia. By then aged 50 with a ninth child on the way, he worked as a telegraph op erator in Yale before taking up farming on Gabriola Island. Finding the local school closed he took matters in his own hands. He wrote off to Victoria for the necessary high school texts on which the teachers’ examination was based, studied in the evenings, and then next summer rowed off to Victoria and took the quali ing exam himself. Reopening the local school, Alexander quickly discovered the advantage of having a cash income, so next summer took along two of his sons and they too passed the examination. Alexander Junior taught only one year Raffles Augustus Robert Purdy -Born May Z 1861; died Nov. 16 1935. School teacher ofSalt Spring lslandfrom 1884- 1897 teaching allgrades. on Gabriola, John continued in Nanai mo for over two decades. For his part, ferred to work the land, but as he was university, but when he emigrated to Alexander Sr. soon became bored with a the only qualified teacher in the com Ontario (with a wife and seven children) combination of farming and teaching so munity he was soon forced back into he studied at Queens University. In he headed for Nanaimo to begin a com the classroom. His diary reveals a bored British Columbia he served for a few pany to provide electricity. ‘When it reaction to his duties: “Sometimes I feel months as principal of Victoria High went insolvent he simply went back to painfully for some other kind of work.” School before being appointed a school teaching which he once again combined Outside teachers were hired from time inspector based in Nelson. Then, when with farming, becoming the local post to time but Ivor returned to the class the first provincial Normal School was master and serving as lay preacher. room intermittently until he was ap being organized, William Burns was Only deafness at age 75 finally forced pointed Indian Agent in 1909. thrust into the role of principal. Burns Shaw out of the classroom. A gentleman who had a tremendous worked very hard in organizing the Experienced teachers. influence on education in this province courses of study, administering the du Young Ivor Fougner had graduated was William Burns who arrived in Vic ties of building and maintenance staff at from a Minnesota normal school and toria in 1892. This experienced teacher the various properties associated with taught two years before heading west in had worked for many years in England the program, and contending with a suc 1894 with a party of fellow Norwegians at a private school run by his father, but cession of Superintendents and politi to begin a colony on a British Columbia all the while he yearned to study mcdi cians. He continued until 1920 when a fiord. At Bella Coola Ivor clearly pre cirie. His father forbade him to go to debilitating illness forced him to resign

17 B.C. Historical News- Winter 1991-92 Pioneer teacher (1895-1909) andfirst secretary ofthe Norwegian colony ofBet/a Cooks, Ivor Fougner is shown here in his bacbekr’c quarters at the age of 78. This dedicated teacher and her pince-nez spectacles supported cratic, credentialized, and sex- of teachers in 1924 received the Good by a little chain. Miss Lawson was the differentiated vocation. Citizenship medal awarded by the Na epitome of the Victorian-Edwardian Sons of British Columbia. spinster.” tive The writer is a profrssor at the University of The Lawson sisters arrived from Prince By the end of the nineteenth century British Columbia. Her most recent release is .Th Edward Island in 1890 when their fa the vast majority of teachers were young West Beyond The West; a history ofB.C, Univer ther became editor of the Victoria Colo girls just out of school, but juxtaposi sity of Toro nto press - 1991. nist newspaper. Maria had already tioned against them were a growing SOURCES taught for 20 years and continued to do number of long term or career teachers. Data from: Beatrice Cooke Joan Modrall so until she was able to work as a full- Particularly important in changing the Gwen Morrice Don Munro journalist. Young Fanny taught character of teaching were many indi Ernest C. Harris Mary Inglin time Margaret Njcbolls Mu0 Fougner only briefly until she married. Ellen viduals with academic credentials who Gladys Greig John Tolmie served in British Columbia as a career were coming to dominate the most pre T.J. Trapp Dr. Robert E. Burns teacher. One pupil remembers her °sit stigious and highest paying jobs. The Janet Pederson UI Mcintosh Douglas Harker Ruth Burnett ting or standing ram-rod straight in a relative freedom of entry into the occu John McMillan Albert Charles Young suit coat above a long skirt below which pation, and even job selection, which The First Fifty Years: Vancouver High Sdaools 1890-1940 high laced leather footwear disappeared had characterized the era of B.C.’s pio Memories Never Lost: Stories of Pioneer Women in the somewhere up the calf Her hair was al neer teachers had largely disappeared as Cowichan Valley Gabriola ... June Lewis-Harrison an increasingly bureau- The People of by ways piled high on the top of her head teaching became Portraits of the Premiers ... by SW. Jackxnsn

B.C. Historical News-Winter 1991-92 18 Robert Burnaby

by Pixie McGeachie

By the middle of the last century, Christmas Day, 1858. They hastened glowing reports of abundant natural re to Fort Victoria where Burnaby and sources and fertile settlement lands in Bushby found shared lodgings for $5.00 Canada’s far west began drifting back to a month or $4.00 a month each if bed Britain with increasing enthusiasm. In ding was supplied. vestors, adventurers and those looking Shortly after arriving in Victoria, But for opportunities to homestead headed naby presented a letter of introduction — in growing numbers for Vancouver’s Is given to him by the British Colonial land and New Caledonia. The names of Secretary, Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton many of these pioneers have been per — to Governor Douglas who, on Febru petuated on geographic sites throughout ary 22, 1859 appointed him as secretary what is now known as the Province of and aide to Colonel Moody who was British Columbia. Robert Burnaby was about to oversee the laying out of dis one of those pioneers. trict lots so that the lower mainland of Robert Burnaby, after whom the Mu what is now British Columbia could be nicipality is named, was one of those opened up for settlement. One of Bur who came looking for business opportu naby’s first jobs was to prepare lists of nities and stayed to become involved in these lots which were to be sold by the molding the future of the infant colo Robert Burnaby government, in Yale, Hope, Douglas (at nies. He has not come down in history photo courtesy Burnaby Historical Archives the head of Harrison Lake) and Queens- as a colourful pioneer yet research re after setting up an office in Victoria. borough (New Westminster). veals him to be one of those quiet but Later, after the death of Henderson in By August, 1859 finances in the Pacif invaluable men whose dedication to the 1865, he started up his own real estate ic Colonies were strained and Governor development of his adopted land and his and insurance business. During his stay Douglas ordered the dismissal of all ci response to affairs of social conscience in Victoria, he managed not only to fill vilians working for Moody. The Colo make him worthy of note. his life with many adventures but also to nel did his best to keep Burnaby as his Burnaby was educated in England at gain a reputation as a level-headed legis aide but to no avail. Burnaby then de St. Paul’s School and Christ’s Hospital lator and moderator. cided to team up with Walter Moberley until he was about 14 years of age when Journey to Victoria (of future C.P.R fame) to do some he entered the civil service in the comp Robert Burnaby began his journey prospecting for coal around Burrard In troller’s office of the Custom Depart from England to the west coast of Cana let. They had a few adventures but ment of Her Majesty’s Government in da in early October, 1858. He arrived found only small evidence of coal London. In his work he would have in New York where, quite by chance, he deposits. had the opportunity to get first-hand re met Arthur Bushby, who later became The two men parted company and ports of world commerce and geographi the son-in-law of Governor James Burnaby returned to Victoria to set up cal development. News of the 1858 Douglas, and Charles John Riland, who the commission merchant business and Fraser River gold discovery must have was to become a magistrate at Langley to make his home. In February, 1860 excited his imagination. At the same and lessee of the Hudson’s Bay Compa he helped organize and became chair time, he probably heard his brother, ny’s farm there. man of the British Columbia and Vic who was with the Royal Engineers, dis As the three men boarded the Moses toria Navigation Company which cussing the imminent departure of Engi Taylor on the next leg of their journey, operated until 1863. In the same year neers who were going across an ocean they found themselves joining Colonel he also formed the Queen Charlotte Is and a continent to open up a new land R.C. Moody, officer commanding the land Mining Company but so many of great promise. detachment of Royal Engineers sent out tools and supplies were stolen from the When Burnaby was 30 years of age he from England to assist in opening up mining site the operation could not went into partnership with an old the land and also in maintaining order. survive. school friend, Edward Henderson, to The following trip by ship to Aspinwell In 1863, along with other business form the firm of Henderson and Burna then by the Panama Railroad and finally men, he started the Antler Bedrock by Commission Merchants. Henderson by the steamer Sonora was not entirely Flume Company Limited with opera was to run the London office and Bur comfortable. The travellers were greatly tions in the Carihoo. Only $307.50 naby was to look after the firm’s interest relieved to arrive at Esquimalt on worth of gold was found to offset an in-

19 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1991.92 vestment of $68,000 so the company quent, at least one of the most lucid ject of sending out young women from disbanded in 1866. Burnaby should not speakers in the House.” England so that they might find repecta be faulted for his apparently ill-advised Although he never married, Robert ble employment in the Colonies. business ventures but rather commend Burnaby enjoyed a busy social life. He On October 31, 1862 Burnaby attend ed for his unflagging vision of what the sang fairly well, had a good sense of hu ed a meeting called to formulate plans to untried land, so full of natural resources, mour and a gentlemanly approach to all honour the 21st birthday of the Prince could yield. matters. With these attributes, he was of Wales. He proposed the first resolu Although not officially part of the gov in constant demand socially. He also tion: “That being loyal and patriotic ernment of the Pacific Colonies, Burna participated in amateur theatre and was subjects of Her Most Gracious Majesty by was asked to chair a number of chosen president of Victoria’s Amateur Queen Victoria, it is the spontaneous meetings regarding legislative changes Dramatic Association for 1863. and unanimous opinion of this meeting, and social reform. With the resignation Before he left England, Burnaby had that a public demonstration should take of James Cooper, Member for Esqui been active as a Freemason. When he place on Monday the 10th of November malt, from the Assembly in October discovered that the Masonic organiza to celebrate the auspicious event of the 1860 Burnaby was pursuaded to contest tion did not exist in the Pacific Colo coming of age of His Royal Highness for the vacant seat. For some reason, nies, he instigated the founding of the the Prince of Wales.” Amor de Cosmos, editor of the British First Victoria Lodge which was officially During his time in the House of As Colonist, spared no opportunity to edi formed on Monday, August 20, 1860. sembly, Burnaby seems to have gained torially run Burnaby down and, several When the second Lodge was formed in nothing but respect for his gentlemanly times before the election day, pointed New Westminster on June 24, 1862, conduct — both in and out of the House loaded exclamation marks at him. under the name Union Lodge, Burnaby — and his ability to express himself However, when the dismally wet elec was the Installing Master. He was high diplomatically. tion day saw 33 voters turn out to elect ly esteemed by his fellow Freemasons Edward Henderson died in 1865 and Burnaby with a majority of five ballots, and was subsequently presented with a Burnaby found it necessary to return to de Cosmos finally gave up and offered Past District Grand Master’s jewel. England. Feeling he might be absent for grudging approval: He also took an active interest in the some time, he resigned his seat for Es “At the conclusion, Mr. Burnaby, in a Church of England and attended St. quimalt and was replaced in the House neat speech, reiterated his determination John’s Church in Victoria. In January, by Dr. John Ash. to act independently as the representa 1861 when Bishop Hills called a general Even after returning to London, Bur

tive of the district ... . were we to judge meeting of all Anglicans, Robert Burna naby had the Colonies’ welfare in mind him for his speech, he evidently is a man by is reported to have given “. .. a clear and so he attended a meeting of promi

of some ability — an article very scarce in and concise speech”. nent merchants and officials who Obstructive ranks. Should he carry out As a member of the newly-formed strongly favoured the union of the two the opinions he has expressed, we may Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Bur Pacific Colonies. They took their reso have occasion to congratulate the coun naby backed the Chamber’s petition for lution to the secretary of state for the try on his election.” a gold escort from the Cariboo and was colonies and most likely were a strong In July, 1863 Burnaby stood for re appointed chairman of a committee to influence on the subsequent decision to election and succeeded in keeping his petition for the installation of a light at bring about the union. seat. By this time he had gained a great the entrance to Victoria Harbour. He Back to Victoria deal of respect for his speech making, his was also one of the large gathering of Robert Burnaby arrived back in Vic fair mindedness and his sense of hu gentlemen who met to formulate plans toria aboard the steamer Del Monte on mour. Wilford A. Harris, who pur for the Pacific Colonies to be represent March 26, 1866 with authorization to chased the British Colonist from Amor ed at the Industrial Exhibition held in make a proposition on behalf of the de Cosmos, had this to say about him: London, England in May 1862. He Royal West India Mail Company to “Mr. Burnaby, although with less Par suggested: place a direct steamer service between liamentary experience, is a much more Let specimens of our mineral Panama and Victoria. Two months lat practical representative than Mr. Frank wealth be sent to the exhibition. Noth er, he was appointed Foreman of the lin, and shows a greater aptitude for Co ing will advance our interests as much as Grand Jury at the Assizes. lonial politics. Unlike most of the sending home palpable, unmistakable On January 8, 1867 a mass meeting Members, who draw most of their polit lumps of truth (Laughter). It is to min was held in Victoria to try to resolve the ical inspiration from the Mother coun erals that we are indebted for our tricky question as to whether the capital try, Mr. Burnaby is to a great extent free present prosperity.” of the now united Pacific Colonies from that serious defection of striving to Previously, in March 1861 he had should be Victoria or New Westminster. adapt the cumbrous and complicated been asked to chair meetings set up to Burnaby again gave a good example of system of things in England to a country discuss the advisability of running a his ability to speak with clarity and

in its infancy . . . On general matters steamer from Victoria to San Francisco. humor. Mr. Burnaby is disposed to be much Seemingly into all matters of social con The Colonist reported: “Mr. Robert more liberal than his commercial con science, he had also become involved in Burnaby moved the second resolution as

freres, and is, if not one of the most fre the London Emmigration Society’s pro- follows — That in the opinion of the

B.C. HMorical News. Winter 1991.92 20 meeting, Victoria is the most suitable As a member of the Legislature he was In 1959, Miss Bessie Choate, who was place that can be selected for the Seat of noted as one of our clearest-headed pub then secretary for the newly-formed Government, and that its selection for lic men, and as a citizen he is respected (1957) Burnaby Historical Society, de that purpose would meet with the con and beloved by all. We wish Mr. Bur cided to search out Robert Burnaby’s fi currence of the majority of the inha:bi naby an early restoration to health and a nal resting place. She corresponded tants of the Colony, whether they reside speedy return to the Province.” with the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Eng on the mainland, or on the Island. Burnaby was not able to return. For land seeking information and saying

He was opposed to political agitation — four years more his paralysis progressed that she was about to travel to England it had been the curse of the colony in until he became completely helpless. to find Burnaby’s grave. The Lord the past. .. . If New Westminster and On January 10, 1878, at the age of 49, Mayor replied that nothing was known Victoria continued to pull in opposite he passed away. The Freemason’s about the Burnaby family. His curiosity directions, they would be like the two Grand Lodge report for 1878 paid him was aroused, however, so he placed the men who went to the law about a cow; tribute: “In knowledge of the English story of Miss Choate’s quest in the local it was carried to higher tribunal, and fi Ritual, Burnaby has never been sur papers and had asked for any reievant nally the litigants lost all their money, passed by any Brother in the Craft in information. and the cow was sold for costs (laughter) this Province. His kind and courteous On her arrival in Leicester, Bessie

•• . Trust the government as long as bearing whilst presiding over the Craft Choate was surprised to find an enthu they will carry out the wishes of the peo and his liberality and goodness of heart, siastic welcoming committee complete ple. If they fail, let the people unite and endeared him to all who came in con with photographers and reporters. Since oppose them (prolonged applause and tact with him. May he rest in peace.” it was thought that the grave could be laughter).” Robert Burnaby was buried in the found in the churchyard of Emmanual In 1866, Burnaby took another stab at Emmanual Church cemetery, Anglican Church in Loughborough, mining development by joining a com Loughborough, England. His grave Bessie Choate, accompanied by several pany which secured 20,000 acres of land marker in the form of a stone cross is local people, searched the overgrown ce on Moresby Island but this venture was still there — a distant memorial to a man metery — but to no avail. Just as the dis not successful. who gave his best for and left his name appointed group was leaving, Miss It was not until 1872 that he decided in his adopted land. Choate spied a clump of old lilac bushes to have a home built for himself in Vic While not a well-known historical fig at the back of the church. Thrusting toria. The Colonist deemed this event ure, Burnaby has received more geo aside the growth, she found two large important enough to note: “A very graphical recognition than any other stone crosses. The marble slab at the Large and Substantial Villa is being con pioneer of British Columbia. Sites bear base of one of them bore the name of structed for Mr. R. Burnaby by Messrs. ing his name include: a municipality, a Robert Burnaby. The headstone, pro Hayward and Jenkinson, on a lot near park, a lake, the hill on which Simon tected from the weather was remarkably the corner of Fort and Moss Streets. Fraser University sits, a street in Van white and undamaged. The outward apppearance and style of couver, a shoal at the entrance to Bur Bessie Choate brought the good news the building are remarkably pretty.” rard Inlet, a mountain range in of her find back to Burnaby. Since then But Burnaby was not to enjoy his new Mckenzie Sound as well as an island the grave and marker have been pre home for long. His health began to fail and a strait in the Queen Charlotte served and many Burnaby officials and and by 1873 had deteriorated to a point Islands. other citizens have visited the site. As a where he had to retire from all his activi Burnaby’s Grave Located result of all the interest generated be ties. His friend and former political col tween the Municipality of Burnaby and league, Dr. Helmcken, wrote: “Burnaby, Loughborough, the two locations de my former brother, had become para clared themselves sister cities in 1986. lyzed. Poor fellow what a change — from a pleasant mirthful active honest The writer is a keen historian who is curiendy little fellow — talented and full of the presidsnt ofthe Burnaby Historical Society. business Greatly concerned about him, Burna BIBLIOGRAPHY by’s friends The Reminiscence, of Doctor Sebastian Helmdten arranged for him to return edited by Dorothy Blakq Smith to Woodthorpe, England where his The Journal of Arthur Bushby.. edited by Dorothy Blakey Smith mother still lived. He travelled aboard Histosy of Buenaby and Vicini by George Green the Hudson’s Bay Company’s bark, The Early History of the Burnaby Family. . . by Waiter MacKay Draycort. J.P., Fellow of American Institute Lady Lampson, under the kind atten of Geneology tion of Captain James Gaudin. Robert Burnaby. . . by G. H. Slater (firo. G. Hoffis Slater. Victoria-Columbia Lodge, No. 1, B.C.R) The press noted his departure: “Mr. Dictionary of Canadian Biography Vol. X, p. lii Burnaby has been a resident of the Prov Masonic Bulletin (Robert Burnaby) . . by G.H. Slater British Columbia Biographical Volume Ill. .. by Howay and ince since 1859, and has been promi r’ ii i Scholefield ‘ J Simon Fraser Utiversity microfilm files of the nently connected with the mercantile \ _\ 3c a British Colonist and the Carlboo Sentinel and productive interests of our country. August 1859— February 1878.

21 B.C. Historical News Winter 1991.92

Historieai B.C. News- 1991-92 Winter 22

fires. to vulnerable The in Anglican went the opposite direction diary he when entry “On states: Sunday four last

design, were also structures and wooden employment in construction work. AG Japanese from boaters The drowning.

The churches, Gothic in though border to Seattle where he found memorable when rescued they three

1890. in were scarce. Em went of south the maritime was outings particularly

Dunsmuir and occupied his Victoria by widow of h brothers the found that jobs January. in of One their Victoria

Craig castle,

Darroch, Robert by

In built of spite favorable AG’s

impression gone rowing on Lake Ontario but not —

mansions. An exception was the was stone Hotel a tide. mud-flat low at in year had they sometimes Hamilton

more affluent citizens wooden 1891 were the future of the site Victoria Empress During harbor. previous the

ornate the even 1893 of homes Victoria’s 1898. was and in completed boat a In and for go row and in around

their towers, pillars, and bay-windows Rattenbury’s stone structure began in of One their pastimes was a rent to

the osswere houses built wood. of With Bird Cages’! Construction of deal of sunshine.”

English town. Unlike England most of in Oriental design, locally ‘the as January known mild extremely is and good a

was Victoria from far a being of clone an and wood brick buildings, vaguely that n AG and for wrote: “Weather

in However spite of hs similarities these legislators collection a in assembled of noteworthy. were weather always is :The

of reminiscent England. In 1891 built. British Columbia’s in diary his recorded but he items felt

homes and gardens that Francis Rattenbury, were not had yet been make not vacation. Gdid AG daily entries

names, and residential streets with Empress Hotel, both designed months by sort a of enjoyed winter

Victorian buildings, mostly British with present Parliament Buildings the and Pandora Street and for two next the

business compact of solid section Two familiar Victoria landmarks, the The had brothers lodgings at 80

of century existence Victoria had black a residents. wharf. Met Em there.”

principal seaport. After nearly a half and Asians Japanese and a other 1891, morning, 4, few January the at outer

as 12,000) B.C.’s city and Chinatown, largest mostly male. There “Arrived in were on Victoria Sunday

up-and-coming Vancouver (population and was shoreline a there able was populous this to make diary entry:

and not been yet displaced had by an an extensive harbor the area along days 10 to the complete AG voyage and

was as then, the now, provincial capital well. The Songhees native occupied still required loading, for the Danube took

a Victoria, 20,000, of with population from many 19000 origins European other as time the of cases. extra Because

coast. birth by or British there a on descent cargo were salmon totalling canned of

brought later, them to Canada’s west While most the of population at were other stopped several canneries taking

they boarded the six that, train days heterogeneous than more an English city. freighter than passenger vessel,

30, On Pacific Railway. 1890 April much Victoria was the On more south Danube, the journey

the by recently completed Canadian street-cars. for electric Victoria.”

Canada, 1890 east to linked now from west in acquired its Victoria had manager The first and embarked I returned

they decided Hamilton see to more There of were, as automobiles no but yet, Danube wrote: steamer “The arrived.

After year one and working living in and hand-carts, horse-drawn. 1890 on was However 24, he December

a was friend already where established. vehicular traffic, except a named wheel-barrows Carlo, as companion.

was Hamilton, destination dry Ontario, when and muddy he when entirely wet. All alone was only with dog, a

from emigrated England. of Their The streets made of dusty were wood. For week some time this of year. the

his and younger brother, Also Em, most had Victoria’s of AG sidewalks on stayed were last care-taker as until the

of spring 23, 1889 the In AG, 1877. in aged death his congregation the and until fishing season when ended it

genial.” was member Douglas of a of kept He record a the events throughout

English is and city the 27.” Episcopal climate Church more Sir and James

is nice a place an like Victoria much rector the was came Reformed this 4, of Victoria on here June July left —

was scenery grand beyond 1870s

In description. the B.C. Edward 1860. Cridge Rev. I of north Victoria. miles 600 —

on days We train. were six The iron the England from plates shipped of in Cascade the River, Packing Co., Nass

2600 a B.C., journey. after mile of rainstorms. train was It built position. pre-fabricated in am I writing this store the

our reached “We destination, noisy but exception Victoria, during fireproof stated: my “I shifted geographical have —.

keeping more for had the than been iron year: a B.C. but His an 1890 27, early church for was diary July entry

made diary the this entry Harris and in he stone cannery churches brick were on in the erected River Nass northern

7, 1890 May 1869. Arthur On in burned George down secured cathedral job a Later salmon store-keeper as a at

by Harris E.A.

Winter Victoria in 100 Years Ago of us had been out for a row in the Strait of Juan de Fuca when returning to the harbor we saw a boat capsized and as we were near we went to the rescue. We landed them safely — one fellow was very weak, he was going down for the last time when we pulled him out with an

This life-saving incident was offset by another January occurrence that had fatal results. AG recorded: “One day this month a terrible accident happened at the wharf Four men were crushed to death by the wharf giving way and hundreds of salmon boxes falling on them”. Although AG had no personal involvement in this tragedy it is quite probable that the cargo of canned salmon the steamer Danube had recently brought to Victoria contributed to the over-load that caused the wharf to S4fCaricature — sketched on lastpage ofA.G.Harrisc diasy. collapse. Five years later another structural skating.” West Indian arrived from England, 72 failure resulted in an even more tragic The previous winter in Hamilton they days out. Chased by a Chilean disaster. On May 26, 1896 a span of had also enjoyed skating on a frozen warship.” With the completion of the the Point Ellice bridge gave way under Lake Ontario. In a diary entry for Panama Canal in 1914 the long voyage the weight of a car over-loaded with February 1890 he recounted: “We had around Cape Horn would be eliminated holiday-makers, fifty-five people died in some fine skating, on Sundays as a rule, and travel time cut to less than half this worst-ever street-car accident. that being the only day we could get off AG also noted: “The barque Scottish Of course AG had no thought of such it is fun and I think I can skate Bard also arrived.” Sailing ships in an unhappy occurrence when, on better than heretofore. 1891 had not yet disappeared from the January 21., 1891 he recorded in his The weather has been more severe ocean sea-lanes. diary: “To-day we paid a visit to than all the time before. The Another diary entry stated: “Em and I Esquimalt, riding on the electric cars Ice-dealers and Business in Hamilton joined a club for reading, socials, etc.” from Victoria. One warship in port.” have all been lamenting their hard fate However their winter vacation period In spite of these activities there were in not getting ice as usual but was coming to an end. Em found a job days when time seemed to drag. Providence came to their aid and they locally but AG once again prepared to Towards the end of January AG have harvested a good crop of ice off the go north for a second season at the Nass remarked: “Nothing much more of Bay — about 9 inches thick. River cannery. In his diary he wrote: interest this month. Everything seemed The way they cut the ice is to mark it “March 14, 1891 — Left Victoria at 11 fresh for a bit but familiarity breeds off in straight lines from the shore and p.m. .. . arrived Nass River, Thursday, contempt.” (Apparently seeing the Bird then at right angles. Then they bring March 19, at 5 a.m. Five day passage Cages every day was not all that their ice-plow, drawn by a horse which from Victoria. All Well.” inspirational). However he did refer to cuts it through sufficiently for men to another outdoor activity they engaged break it off in large square lumps and in: “We have been out shooting a good then it is floated down channel to the REFERENCES

deal but with poor success. Too many ice-house for storage. Arthur George Harris — Diary (1889-1891) pot hunters here.” Ice-boats are common here. They Derek Pethjck — Men of British Columbia — Hancock House— 1975 Nevertheless they must have glide over the surface like — and with — persevered because later, in February, he the are the Stuart Underhil — The lmn Church (1860-1 985) — Braemar wind and sailed in same way Rooks — 1984 (Review in B.C. Historical Ne by noted: “Had several days duck shooting as an ordinary boat. There are 3 iron Jacqueline Gresko -. 1986_ R.C. Directo,y (1890) this month.” (He does not say with runners, two in front, one behind — what success). which serves as a rudder.” The Canadian Encydopedia - Kurtig — 1988 During February there was a change in None of this happened in Victoria and Ernest Harris shared his fatherr diaiy with the weather and AG reported: “The first the cold snap was soon over. readers in great detail in his book SPOKES part of this month was bright and warm Victoria was still B.C.’s chief sea-port HUTE, Orca Press, 1990. E.A. Harris drew the hut frost and snow during the latter and AG noted the arrival of two ships, cartoon of the “Bird Cages” to iils#trate this memoiy of Victoria c. 1891 — but your editor part. Not severe. We had a little each having some significance: “The SS placed it on thefront cover.

23 B.C. Historical News- Winter 1991.92 Tranquille: Memories ofthe 1940s

by SybilA. (Nan) MacFar/tine

It was November 1942 with Vancou zation that rest, given sufficient time, ver under partial blackout in fear of the was a great healer. The buildings were Japanese who had bombed Pearl Har attractive and set in beautiflil bour eleven months earlier. The new surroundings. song ‘White Christmas’, as sung by Tranquille was the largest sanatorium Bing Crosby, was heard from every ra in the 1940s. Tuberculosis treatment dio station on the dial. And I was on required such a long time in those days my way to Tranquille Sanatorium near that many, many hospital beds were Kamloops for treatment for my worsen needed. There were hospitals for Native ing tuberculosis. people at Miller Bay near Prince Rupert The train left Vancouver at 7 p.m. and Coqualeetza near Chilliwack. Large Mother hired a taxi to take me to the city hospitals had a wing or ward devot Canadian National Railway station. I ed to tuberculosis patients. Veterans of remember the taxi man saying, “They WWII with ‘TB’ were returning from usually don’t send very sick patients to Europe necessitating the opening of a Tranquile; they keep them in Vancou special wing at Shaugnessy Hospital, the ver.” When the train stopped briefly at Jean Matheson Ward. Spences Bridge I peered out the window Tranquille was a large complex set on and saw that the landscape was covered Nan (Stuart) MacFarane about 1944 at a low, fertile bench on the north side of with snow. I considered getting off the Tranquille Kamloops Lake. There were three large train to wander in the snow .. . and greater area in my lungs and now I must patient units and a collection of auxil maybe freeze to death. I was 22 and the be hospitalized at Tranquille. iary buildings creating an almost self- whole world seemed bleak and devoid We were met at 2 a.m. at the Tran sufficient community. The most mod of any future for me. I had been a stu quille Station by a nurse and an ambu ern four-storied Greaves Building had dent nurse at the Royal Jubilee Hospital lance driver. It was very cold and an operating theatre on its top floor. in Victoria, B.C. I had completed two cheerless. Another patient and I were Greaves Building, where I was housed, years and eight months of the three year driven the mile or so from the station, was flanked by the Main Building training period. In those days we then led to the washroom in the which was occupied by women patients, worked very hard. We had only one Greaves Building to undress and change and the Infirmary which housed males. half day off per week. If we worked on to nightclothes. My fellow traveller told Beautifully groomed gardens surround night duty, a shift from 7 p.m. to 7 me that her name was Paula, she was ed these units. Other buildings includ a.m., we were theoretically allowed two pregnant, and a Roman Catholic. Med ed up-patient accommodations known hours off during the night to sleep. ical dictum at that time recommended a as Pavilions for the men and Cottages This time was not always available as therapeutic abortion. Paula told me for the women. There was a store, a the ward was too busy. If the two hours that she would not consent to this. (I Post Office, school room, laundry, Ad were taken, it was usually spent heard later that Paula signed herself out ministrative Building, Recreation Hall stretched out on a wheeled cart in the of the sanatorium a few days after being plus the Nurses Residence. Private Utility Room. I could fall alseep instan admitted and she returned to her homes for physicians, gardeners, and taneously. During the daytime which home.) I crept into my assigned bed farm staff with their families were locat was to be spent sleeping it was often without waking those sleeping in the ed at a discrete distance from the core. necessary to wake up, dress and attend a three other beds. When I awoke after a Treatment started with complete bed lecture from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. In Au rest. Next came the welcome addition restless night I viewed a wintery scene — gust 1941 I entered a tennis tourna Kamloops Lake frozen and covered with of bathroom privileges. Graded exer ment, playing many games on the snow, and a tree near the window cov cise, starting with as little as 15 minutes hospital tennis court during a blistering ered with dead leaves which shook in per day doing handicrafts, was added. hot summer. My partner and I won the the wind making a sound like the rat From this beginning activities are in tournament, but a medical check-up tling of dry bones. creased as the patient’s condition war promotion came shortly after this revealed that I had In spite of my depressed feelings it did rants. An exciting pleural effusion, an early form of tuber not take me long to settle into my new when permission was granted to go to culosis. In September 1941 I was sent environment. There were new things to the dining ball for one, then two, then home to rest. The infection invaded a learn, new people to meet, and the reali three meals per day.

B.C. Historical News- Winter 1991.92 24 Patients were provided with a variety to refer to the condition, referring to mycin (1945), pyrazinsamide (1951), of entertainment at the Sanatorium. their “chronic bronchitis,” “lung condi isoniazid (1952), ethambutol (1968) Radio was available through individual tion” or “asthma.” Patients coming to a and risampin (1971). head sets. Books and magazines were general hospital ward with a broken leg The pace of life quickened as my exer provided on a library cart which made or a stomach ulcer might be ill with tu cise time was increased. My first job the rounds once a week. Classes or tu berculosis. These patients were unwit was taking around the library cart. The toring was provided by a teacher (herself ting sources of infection for doctors, library was fairly well stocked. There a recovered patient) who made rounds nurses, lab technicians and others. As I were some philosophy books, and a in the wards. Occupational therapists progressed in my recovery and was able number of Christian Science books taught and supplied materials for leath to mix with other patients I realized that (which I was told not to take out to pa erwork, knitting and other crafts, the many of the patients at Tranquille were tients). It had books by Thomas Mann time for which was prescribed by one’s connected with the medical field in which were full of life in sanatoria in doctor, gradually increasing from the in their day to day work. Finally on April Switzerland. The rounds made me part itial 15 minutes per day. And, unless 11,1943 legislation created a clause in of the ‘underground telegraph’ es one was cursed with tongue-tied room the Worker’s Compensation Act to cov pecially when disturbing news such as a mates, there was chatter and banter and er medical workers diagnosed after that death in the operating room, a suicide laughter. date. Unfortunately neither my fellow in a vacant room, or a fatal pulmonary Ambulant patients had even more op patients nor myself could qualify for hemorrhage occurred. I remember one tions and activities. Policy dictated, compensation. experience when I had left a book with however, that the sexes be strictly segre (By way of contrast, a tuberculosis a young man in the Infirmary Building. gated in the dining room or in the Rec hospital was a safer place to work than A day or so later he died of a pulmonary reation Hall. (The pervasive fear of the the general hospital. Once a person was hemorrhage. On my return to that staff seemed to be that the patients diagnosed as having tuberculosis he or ward with the library cart, one of the would mingle, then produce tubercular she was trained to use simple procedures roommates quietly handed me the bor children which would become a burden to protect himself/herself from reinfec rowed book — a silent testimony to the on the country requiring social assis tion and others from contacting the tu loss of a friend. tance.) ‘When recovering patients were bercie bacillus. A debilitated or defiant One of the most exciting occasions upgraded to three hours of exercise a non-conforming patient would be was a trip into Kamloops to go shop day they might take on a small job. I placed in a single room and handled ping. First one had to make an appoint opted for the library cart, then typing with extra isolation techniques. Records ment with the Chief Physician in the and filing in the X-ray department, and show that some members of medical Administration Building to obtain a finally acted as assistant in the dental of staff worked at a sanatorium for 25 pass. You had to have a good reason for fice. ,Others were messengers for the years and still showed no evidence (by the trip. The most common reason was store, or worked in the post office. The skin test) of contact with the tubercle “to buy a pair of shoes” as it was accept patient performing these tasks received bacillus.) We who achieved cure by the ed that these could not be bought from remuneration from $5 to $15 per long, slow rest treatment were grateful Eaton’s catalogue. One was admon month. to learn of the discovery of medications ished to not bring back any liquor. At Getting to the dining room three which now control the disease; strepto that time I did not drink alcohol and times a day took a fair amount of effort. It also required careful planning if one was to meet certain other patients in the cafeteria line-up, for once inside the din ing hail (which was in a wing of the In firmary building) sexes were strictly separated sitting at tables for six on op posite sides of the room. The only time when sexes mixed was on Christmas Day. This great occasion when we were allowed table companions of the oppo site sex, was enhanced by the chief cook in glorious whites, circulating then per forming for the entertainment of the patients. Tuberculosis was thought of as a dis ease of the poor, a condition which de veloped because of poor housing and inadequate food. Because of this, many people were too proud to admit having the disease, and would use euphemisms Don Elson, chiefstewar in the patient’s dining room at Tranquille 1943.

25 B.C. Historical News. Winter 1991.92 home. Each cottage had a large heated weather. room, with a sink and a toilet close to Leaving the sanatorium was an emo the entrance, and a large unheated sleep tional experience. There was a certain ing porch protected from the elements fear of leaving the safe, structured envi only by mosquito netting. The fresh air ronment. There was the thrill, yet em concept for healing tuberculosis had barrassment of the final meal in the been disproved but in wartime there dining hail when an announcer would was not enough labour to make changes declare, “Jim/Jane Smith is leaving to in the buildings. We cultivated a toma day. “As Jim or Jane marched out of the to plant or two and called it ‘our gar dining room all other diners would den’. We managed to get a small bang cutlery on their glasses or trays. hotplate from my parents on which we Many left wearing the clothes they had delighted in making cocoa or fudge. worn on admission, some of it no long The cottages were poorly wired and as a er in fashion. I was a patient in Tran safeguard hotplates were banned. One quille for three years. The total time of day we carelessly left the hotplate out my illness was five years, a long time out GLidys Groves Mary Light and Nan (Stuart) and it was confiscated by the nurse who of life when one is young. I did finish MacFarLine dressed in warm clothes togo to bed made rounds in the cottages, “Not to be my nurses training and later I went to in the cottages, on the open porch. returned until the owner is discharged the University of British Columbia and going home.” The next person dis where I earned a diploma in Public had never set foot in a liquor store. And charge claimed the hotplate and mailed Health Nursing. the pass specified that one must be back it back to me. Soon we were making I am now 71 and in good health. by noon for the afternoon rest period. fudge again — but being very careful Tranquille is now closed and lying emp This adventure was eagerly anticipated. about hiding the hotplate every morn ty since its use for 25 years as a home It meant half an hour on the bus to ing. Once we stewed a pheasant on that for the mentally handicapped. Kamloops then a browse around the hotplate, a bird that one of the men had main street which had a Hudsons Bay caught in a snare near his pavilion. The Store and a few Chinese restaurants. only disadvantage of Cottage life was The author lives in Sechelt. Recently she took Finally I was transferred to one of the having to walk to the Main Building to courses in English Literature at Simon Fraser Cottages, one of a half dozen little hous have a bath in the bathtub — pleasant in University which concluded with a aip to es for women who were soon to be sent summertime but a challenge in sub-zero Englend.

II

Greaves and Main Buildings, Tranquille Sanatorium.

B.C. Historical News- Winter 1991.92 26 Edward Wilson. A Remarkable Minister

by Anthony P. Farr

Before the Rev. Edward Francis Wilson arrived on Vancouver Island at age 48, he had already achieved enough to fill an ordinary man’s lifespan, despite the handicap of a club foot. Born in London, England, in 1844, he studied agriculture, went to Ontario as a ‘farm pupil’, switched to theology at Huron College after four days, was ordained back in England, married, and returned to Algoma diocese where he founded and operated one of the first Indian residential schools. Chief Ahbittahwahnuhquud gave him the Indian name of Puhgukahbun, meaning Clear Daylight. During the next 20 years he made four fund-raising trips to England, on one of which he took an Indian chief, Buhlcwujjenene, to the Prince of Wales at the opening of the Bethnal Green Museum. He also journeyed south to New Mexico and west to Alberta to study native physique and culture on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution. He established a second school at Elkhorn, Man., and attended the trial of Louis Riel in Regina. During this time he raised a family of ten children, acted as correspondent for the London

Graphic and compiled an Ojibway — The Wilsons’ house in Victoria, 1892-4 English dictionary and a Wilson family tree spanning 150 years and containing some 200 names. His well-used which they had heard from two former named ‘Barnsbury Grange’ after the old personal King James Bible contains girl pupils who had settled there. “It Wilson home ‘Barnsbury’ in London. seemed perhaps rather a mad thing to While Wilson returned east to hand marginal notes in his own hand — in Hebrew. He also wrote several books do, but we sent two of our children as over control of his Indian school, the and papers on missionary work. an advance guard to spy out the rest of the family settled in. But, his In 1892 the stress of his Indian work country, Winnifred (aged 18) and wife Fanny wrote, “A strange and most threatened Wilson with a second Llewellyn (aged 16)”. They wrote back unexpected change has come over the in September, full of enthusiasm. So spirit of my dream of the balmy and nervous breakdown — he had had one in orders were sent to buy land and build a windless climate of B.C.! I never passed 1880 — and his doctors advised a complete change of scene and rest. He house, cottage and stable in a Victoria thro’ two days of such utter misery as and part of the family tried Texas, where suburb. Wednesday and Thursday; the wood they had friends, but “The heat was too In November the family, plus three was green — and the roots — everything great; besides which it is a foreign servants and a boxcar full of furniture, froze in the house and the wind was country, and we preferred to remain groceries and clothes, contained in 196 terrific; the snow blew in at every crack under the Union Jack.” Their second boxes and packages, moved in three and corner and our heads were nearly choice was British Columbia, about contingents to Wilkinson Road near taken off. All had to wear their outdoor Burnside Road. The new house was things.”

27 B.C. Historical News Winter 1991.92 After Wilson rejoined his family in impassable for vehicles, the trails being monthly newsletter ‘Salt Spring Island March of 1893, times were hard. He coo narrow, and always the liability of Parish & Home: Mr. Wilson s two noted in June “Having no regular finding a fallen tree across the path.” daughters had just alighted from Mr. income now, I have to depend on the The hazards of travel did not deter him Harold Scott’s waggon, having driven evening offertories in our Mission from visiting his flock, and many from the Vesuvius wharE Just ahead of Room (at Barnsbury Grange), and outside it, in all parts of the island. He the waggon was Mr. A. Walter driving drawing water colour sketches of also built a small church at the south in his buggy, also one or two others on people’s houses, for which I get a dollar end, St. Mary’s. His predecessor, the horseback, and one on a bicycle. Just at each.” And in August “I was feeling Rev. Belton Haslam, had obtained the the brow of the steep hill the tongue Of very depressed again, and thought of lumber, and it lay on the beach at the waggon slipped from the neck-yoke, writing to the C.M.S. (Church Fulford Harbour. To move it the 200 and, falling, struck the ground, and the

Missionary Society) offering myself to yards to the site Wilson “called a ‘Bee’. horses — fresh, powerful creatures — work in Japan.” But November found It was held on Easter Monday, March dashed forward, galloping down the hill him conducting Civil Service 26, 1894; there were 5 teams and 16 at breakneck speed. Mr. A. Walter examinations at Victoria City Hall, and men at work, and all was finished jumped for his life; his buggy was his daughters were selling eggs from satisfactorily by 4:30 p.m.” He smashed to pieces, and the horse their developing farm. sketched another church for the area propelled with such velocity that it was Then early in 1894 he got word that south of to-day’s Ganges, at the half way up the Divide before it was the Anglican minister on Salt Spring Cranberry Road junction, but his plans stopped. Mr. Chaldecott, who was in Island was about to leave. On February did not come to fruition until after his the waggon, was badly injured in the 4 he “first set foot on Salt Spring Island, departure for California. back, and, after lying up for ten days in having come over in a small boat from A few weeks before the ‘Bee’, Wilson Mr. Wilson’s house, was sent down to Kuper Island. I wended my solitary way showed his sense of humour, often seen the Jubilee Hospital on the 24th of from Vesuvius Bay up through the in his sketches, when he recorded that April. Mr. Walter had his leg broken in woods to Mrs. Stevens’ Boarding he “called in at F’s to see the old lady, two places, and a doctor was sent for House.” Bishop Perrin in Victoria F’s wife, who was somewhat crazy and (from Duncan). Mr. Robertshaw was offered him the parish of Salt Spring thought to be dying; indeed it was said also badly injured about the face and Island, which he was glad to accept, that Mr. F. had already bought her one arm.” having had no employment for more coffin and had it in his barn.” She On April 9, 1896, Wilson made a than a year. He found a 100-acre farm lasted until April 9, when “old Mrs. F. diary entry in the third person: “To-day for sale and got it for $900 by paying died. Mr. F. had sold the coffin in the he was called to attend Mr. Few’s cash. “There was a rickety old log barn to Perkins for his wife, so bought daughter May at the Divide. . . she was house on the property, with a mud another for the present occasion. Three dangerously ill with brain fever — her chimney, and two or three old apple months later he married another wife; temperature 105 1/2. On the 11th he trees around it. There were no fences, she also died and he bought another called twice to see the child, and stayed and the whole place at that time was coffin for her; three altogether; and later till 2 a.m. and each day after till the Bush and Swamp. I was advised to was sued by the undertaker, as neither 14th, when she took a turn for the burn the old house, but I thought I of the 3 were paid for.” better, pulse down to 102 and temp. would use it. The doors had been left Wilson was in demand as much for his 101, and sleeping quietly.” open, and cattle and sheep had medical as for his pastoral care. On an Sometimes he described himself as evidently been in and out at will.” island with no doctor he had perforce to Father (but not in the clerical sense), as During the next three years the old log minister to sick parishioners, sometimes when he had to endure a bachelor’s house became the elegant dining room sitting up all night with them. when his meal in 1895: “Father visited old of a large, rambling, rose-covered own son Liewellyn ruptured himself Fredison and was regaled with Ladies’ rectory, the third ‘Barnsbury’. In 1895 putting on a wagon wheel, the pudding, which tasted somewhat of the Wilsons had 1 horse, 2 cows, 1 calf, operation was performed by a visiting tobacco.” 8 sheep, 3 pigs, 28 chickens and had naval surgeon with Wilson assisting: We think of vandalism as a modern started on a 350-tree orchard. Wilson Later, when Dr. Baker was practising, trend. But it was a part of life in 1903, was active in the Farmers’ Institute and Wilson was given “the run of his too. When Wilson was staying patented an apple-picking device. medicines” while the doctor was away overnight in a little cabin he had built Frequent functions at his church, St. hunting. He of course attended behind St. Mary’s Church, “My buggy Mark’s, close by Barnsbury, were soon patients free of charge, but occasionally was turned upside down in Roger’s the weddings of his five daughters and received a present, such as a ham or a Creek, Edwards’ store broken into and the baptisms of his grandchildren. bag of oats. the window smashed, and the R.C. Before he got his own buggy, Wilson Barnsbury served as a temporary Priest’s boat stolen. For these pranks, “had the loan of several saddle ponies, as hospital, on occasions such as that Freddy and Alvin Eaynes were arrested many parts of the island were quite described in an 1897 issue of Wilson’s and Freddy imprisoned for 3 months.”

B.C. Historical News- Winter 1991-92 28 Wilson made a list of the numbers of that Canadian postage was reduced house and took an active part in people on the island by nationality, with from 3 cents to 2 cents. A special stamp community and church life. The family “1 Patagonian” at the end. At the top had been issued at Christmas showing split that was the chief cause of their was the majority, immigrants from British possessions all over the world, departure appears to have rapidly Britain. Wilson himself was a staunch and subscribed with the words, ‘We healed. Most of their Salt Spring Island monarchist. So Old Country traditions hold a vaster Empire than has been’. children and grandchildren came to were observed. On Nov. 5, 1895 he 3-cent stamps after this were entirely Santa Monica on visits, some as long as wrote “This evening we had a Guy done away with.” six months; on one occasion 20 family Fawkes and fireworks at the crossroads The end of Wilson’s ministry on Salt members vere there. (now called Central) near the Post Spring Island seems to have been caused When Edward and Fanny returned to Office. About 70 young and old were in part by the break-up of family unity, Salt Spring briefly in 1913 his health present.” And on June 20, 1897 “We though Fanny’s rheumatism and his was failing. His final two years were had special services at St. Mark’s on lumbago were also factors. In the spent in a boarding house at 225 account of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, winter of his 65th year he was driving Quebec St. in Victoria, before he came and on July 1 we erected a flag pole in himself and his horse as hard as he back to his beloved St. Mark’s Church, front of the public hall (Central Hall) usually did making parish calls, when inacoffin,in 1915. and hoisted the Union Jack.” Biddy slipped on the icy road and he Wilson’s personal journal is had to return home. He was implored interspersed with brief notes on to ease up on his work, but rather than FOOTNOTE Alt quotations are from E.F. Wilsons ‘Illustrated international affairs — earthquakes, give less than his best to his ministry he Family Histoty 1868-1908’ and his ‘Home Journal eruptions, assassinations, shipwrecks, chose to cut it short and move to Santa 1891-1909’. inventions, etc. “Nov. 10, 1900: Count Monica, California, leaving the island The writer is a resident of Salt Spring island Zeppelin has brought out a dirigible on a 4-month leave of absence. where be makes his home since retiringfrom the airship” is an example. But an item of However, four months became four bead office ofB.C Telephone Company. He has March, 1899, will make 1991 letter years. written afisil history ofEdward Wibon, Chalice writers weep: “It was just at this time The Wilsons settled into their own In The Wilds, soon to be released by Braemar Books.

4

Wilcon withfour ofhis children at his Salt Spring island shack.

29 B.C. Historical News. Winter 1991.92

B.C. Historical News. 1991.92 Winter 30

The commander at Cove, Friendly Saturnina, which rejoined had The them, hove schooner. to, Santa Saturnina

the in summer 1791. of of guns the longboat; only Santa the worse sailing qualities the than

as Fuca” duty a the for Garrison Nootka made determined a effort steal to off badly to to the have leeward, proving

Bias included of Inside ‘Examine the place harbour the in the Salish when longboat, sagged having centreboard, no

y investigation.

in Bodega Quadra following San year incident an that along very a sailing took The copious river.” 3

eastern end that required reference further in Galiano’s account large the be to whirlpools we that seemed

there at were several channels the the entrance, do we but from “a a strong know made of such which current

whole length. Quimper that anchor reported is placed he his on outside map Pantoja swept tells the to swiftly north.

He first the its sail to was European entered Esquimait Harbour, the for they found being Point themselves

ship, 1 first the made chart Strait. the of Roads. not is It clear he they time the were whether Gonzales round

Quimper, again captured a in British

Barkley and to Sound a and proceeded Royal by and tide Southwesterly, fresh 5

bestowed. The year Manuel following Santa a make Saturnina smaller of survey flood a on the They craft. to sailed

Juan, San name he which the retains Wickaninish Chief detached he force the in under Juan Don Pantoja was

of Strait Juan near Port from Fuca de put and Toilno. into visiting After second This attempt Hare the at with Strait.

Spaniard to the sight entrance had the to therefore forced been turn to the to dispatched about a make with longboat

coastline 5 first the southward. was He and drawing of feet but water. Eliza June, 11th on the she and 14th was

Northwest America to the examine in feet a length, beam with feet 12 of The on Saturnina Santa joined had

Narvaez captured dispatched was a the in tiny

36 shows, was schooner only Nootka language. 2

1789 and month a within arrival of in Museo in manifest had the Madrid Naval they the become familiar with

established an Nootka in outpost at The vessel. Saturnina, Santa as communicate the her although with Salish,

their voyages Nootka. to Spanish The not up keep able been to larger the with expedition could had one no who

into venture the glimpsed on channels San the company the strong with Carlos, a had This of force canoes. Salish

to fearing be not embayed, would Saturnina, completed Santa armed, sailing back longboat, in by driven but was

and Traders, vessels plan longboats. smaller for unworkable a newly the the took Verdia, pilotin, young

European in sailing their visitors Elias. small Eliza from 31, St. Mount 1791. Haro on the found enter to Strait May

islands an challenge for was north head awesome The work and the down coast Spaniards their made attempt first

The coast exploration B.C.’s of and Francisco Don Eliza de its directed was prevented to loss.

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of the Spanish Gu(f The Georgia of Discovery and Pantoja, with the wind freshening, of between 10:30 and 11 a.m. towing Juanita, we were under way. was forced to lower his sails and row to I have been researching the 1791 Eljza Unlike the Spaniards of two hundred the larger vessel. The two then Expedition for three years now, but years ago we were all under engine proceeded with the longboat in tow. John Kendrick’s new book on the power. Near East Point the tide rip They continued thus until sunset.6 Galiano / Valdez Expedition 11, and the caused Fairwyn to veer away, making it Pantoja left the Santa Saturnina to upcoming Captain Vancouver impossible for a crew to be put aboard anchor in Otter Bay, North Pender Bicentennial called for action. In the Juanita. But the Gulf of Georgia was Island, and continued on under an earlier part of this year I put together a opening up fast and it was time to almost full moon. He was within two slide show for the Vancover Maritime disperse. Some wag came on the miles ofActive Pass before turning back, Museum, which was also shown in Port ship-borne radio and announced “We and more anxious to follow Boundary Townsend and on Saturna Island. Elida have now officially discovered the Gulf Passage which he had sighted earlier in Peers’ very successful Sooke of Georgia. The Northwest Passage is the day. Returning to Otter Bay both Bicentennial for the Quimper next”. craft weighed at dawn on the 15th and Expedition put me in mind that Once round East Point the Spaniards proceeded under oars. At 8 a.m. with something similar should be done to had a much more difficult time. A fresh freshening headwind and an ebb tide, celebrate the Spanish discovery of the Northwesterly was blowing down the Pantoja left the schooner to anchor off Gulf of Georgia a year before Captain Gulf and they anchored for the night in Bedwell Harbour while he went in to Vancouver reached these waters. the lee of Patos Island, now in American explore the bay. When he came back Fortunately to the rescue came Gerry waters. Provisioned only for four days the wind had died, but the tide had Kidd, the editor of Boat World, a they pushed on to Sucia and Matia, but turned in his favor. By 2 p.m. they were monthly yachting publication. In his bad weather overtook them on the 18th, into Plumper Sound, where again May issue we published an article and they were forced to take shelter, Pantoja went off in the longboat while ‘Spaniards in the Gulf.’ Coming as it probably in the Barnes and Clark the Santa Saturnina anchored. He got did at the end of the Gulf War, it Islands. This continued for the two far enough to recognize Navy Channel, rapidly caught yachtsmens’ attention. following days. With little food they seen from near Active Pass the previous Bravely we announced that on 15 June turned back. There is an anchor on evening, and he looked into Lyall 1991 we would stage a re-enactment off their chart off Battleship Island, near Harbur. By the time he returned the Saturna Island. To our assistance came Roche Harbor, which can only be wind had died again, and with the Gil Newall, one of Gerry’s columnists attributed to them. The part of the longboat towing, both crews manned and a director of the Council of B.C. chart showing their return route is 12 their oars once more. Yacht Clubs, an organization that, confused. Haro , who questioned the It was fortunate that Pantoja had unbeknown to the general public, has pilots on their return to San Blas, placed dallied in Plumper Sound, for as luck done much to establish marine parks in a different interpretation on their would have it, he rounded the East the province. Gil, whose previous track discoveries to Pantoja and Narvaez, but Point of Saturna Island just about slack record included organising an escort for it is difficult for us to appreciate what is water. The tides run strong at this the royal yacht H.M.S. Britannia, put must have been like in those tiny craft, point, especially during the Spring. together a fleet of 28 yachts, made up manned by seamen from the Tropics, (Modern Sailing Directions warn mostly from Gulf Island clubs, but cold and wet with most of their records mariners that the Point “should be given some from Vancouver and Victoria. soaked. Pantoja is understandably vague a wide berth because of heavy tide rips, Both the Canadian and United States about the conditions they experienced. overfalls and eddies in the vicinity.”) 9 Coast Guard sent cutters, for part of the When the two craft were in sight of the Re-enactment-- 1991 Gulf lies in American waters, and San Carlos four days later, the crews Two hundred years later, in planning a leading the fleet, representing the Santa were so exhausted a boat had to be sent re-enactment we had the benefit of this Saturnina and the longboat, were the across from the headquarter’s ship to knowledge, of which Pantoja was Fairwyn and Juanita of the Vancouver covey Pantoja the last six miles to report oblivious, for he merely records “no Wooden Boat Society. to Eliza. sooner had we passed the point than we It had rained all the previous day, but Today we know that the Northwest saw in the fourth quarter 10 a grand and as we cast off from Bedwell Harbour the Passage lies well over a thousand miles extended canal ... This I named El sun started to break through, and with to the north, but Pantoja had no such Gran Canal de Nuestra Senora del scarcely a ripple on the water we knowledge. After clearing East Point he Rosario la Marinera”. Thus Pantoja proceeded up Boundary Passage to had headed east, apparently still looking discovered the Gulf of Georgia. No Narvaez Bay on Saturna, where the fleet for the fabled route. Visiting Lummi overfalls, no tide rips. was to form up. Juanita was the last to Island recently I could see why he had The Spaniards had passed at High arrive, having come over on B.C. Ferries lost his way. Though neither modern Water, but that was after dark for our and by tow from Browning Harbour. nor Spanish charts show it, the area is re-enactment, so we opted instead to But shortly after 2 p.m. with Fairwyn in bounded by a confused mass of islands round at Low Water. This meant a the lead, flying a flag specially flown and mountains, some of the islands are departure time from Bedwell Harbour from Madrid for the occasion, and flat, some mountainous, some of the

31 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1991-92 4 t’LNO 34 N rIc.AL. i4ULE GU LF OF GEORGIA 5TYNE’

3A’’ R’\ Pros I £ATURNA I. AEZ 5PRNG

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the re-enactment off Saturna was the one in Madrid was prepared at Nootka before her mountains are on the mainland, some departure in 1791. The one cited in all previous on islands. It would have been enthusiasm of everyone who took part. works was after her refit at San Bias in 1793. At impossible for anyone, especially in bad Other than the fuel for the two that time topmasts and additional sails were weather, in the slow moving vessels of coastguard cutters not a single penny of fitted. that period, to know which way to go. public or sponsored money was 3. Page 103 of Kendrick, see 11 below. The yachtmen who sail the 4. Pilotin, the most junior rank of Pilot. Narvaez ‘When the Spaniards tried a third time required. and Pantoja were Pilots, 2nd Class, at the time. they shifted base to Discovery Bay, on Gulf encounter history in the names of These were subordinate to the ‘Officers-of-War’, the Olympic Peninsula, and came up the bays and islands around them. who had to be of noble birth. the Rosario Strait. Narvaez, They responded enthusiastically. The 5. Tidal Predictions for 1791 were supplied by the through Canadian Hydrographic Service, Dept of who was in command on this stage, Spanish Embassy in Ottawa, to show Fisheries & Oceans, Sidney, B.C.. quickly determined that the Northwest their appreciation, donated the flag 6. Spanish vessels operating out of Nootka worked Passage did not lie through Chuckanut Fairwyn had flown off East Point, to the on San Bias Time, which was approximately two There Vancouver Wooden Boat Society. It hours different from our Pacific Standard Time. Bay, and headed up the GulE I have changed Wagner’s figures. places that he discovered was a great day for everyone. were so many 7. Lunar Movements for 1791 came from the in 1791 that it was impossible to hold a Greenwich Observatory, England. bicentennial celebration at each. Where 8. The Santa Saturnina was equipped with 8 oars, he anchored off Point Grey the beach the longboat with 12. It would have been impossible to move the larger craft without two there is a nudist colony. We therefore men per oar. She carried a crew of 22. opted to combine all the discoveries John Crosse is a Marine Historian living in Vancouver. 9. Page 89, Sailing Directions, B.C. Coast, Vol. 1, into one celebration, the discovery of South Portion, 15th Edition, Dept of Fisheries & the Gulf itself. Oceans, Ottawa, 1990. Up until 1791 almost all European REFERENCES 10. Fourth Quarter, Pantoja means the fourth quarter of the compass, between West and contact had been with those parts of General Reference. H.R Wagner, Spanish Explora North. British Columbia which are still tions in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Santa Ana, Califor 11. The Voyage of the Sutil and Mexicana 1792: virtually uninhabited 13, but when the nia, 1933, reprinted by AMS Press Inc., New York, N. The last Spanish exploration of the Northwest Y. 1970. This translation of the Spanish manuscripts is into the Gulf Coast of America, Translated with an Spaniards broke through still only generally available in research libraries. introduction by John Kendrick, Arthur H. Clark of Georgia they entered an area where 1. The Princess Royal. Lloyd’s Register, 1789, lists Co., Spokane, Washington, 1991, price $38.25. over half the population of this province her as being a sloop of 60 tons (Old Measure), 12. Gonzales de Haro had been the Senior Pilot on resides today. Even so, many still do surveyed in Leith, Scotland in 1778, resurveyed the Quimper Expedition and therefore had a 1786, Class Al, Copper sheathed, single deck proprietary interest in the discoveries of the Eliza not know that the Spaniards were here with beams, draft 8 ft. when laden, owners Expedition. Etches & Co.. first, or who they were. 13. The exception of course is Victoria, which the One of the most satisf.,’ing aspects of 2. Two manifests of the Santa Satumina exist. The Spanish missed.

B.C. Historicai News. Winter 1991-92 32 HONGKONG BANK DONATION TO B.C. HISTORICAL FEDERATION which shows accommodations, conference ve nues, and points of interest in Burnaby. Your editor predicts that this map will be a collector’s item. Registration packets will be distributed in late February to member societies. Contact President Pixie McGeachie at 522-2062 for further information.

CHEMAINUS MURAL RECALLS THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY Two new murals and a cemetery monument were unveiled in Chemainus on August 10, 1991. Japanese Canadian artists were commis sioned to prepare the murals, one of which fea tures Shige Yoshida, Lone Scout of Chemainus. (See picture page 10.) Chemainus Historical So ciety invites visitors to view the new Murals, and their museum which opened August 17, 1991. We are delighted to welcome the first corporate sponsor for the Federation’s Writing Competition. The Hongkong Bank of Canada responded to an appeal for support by donating $1000 to the capital fund from which our prize monies are drawn. At a time of falling interest rates, this contribution is specially appreciated, and will help maintain the prize structure. The cheque was handed over to Pamela Mar, chairman of the competition, by Mr. Bob Morrison, manager of the Nanaimo branch of the Bank of British Columbia, a division of the Hongkong Bank of Canada. The bank has long shown its interest in our province’s history and culture, and this tangible demonstration of faith bodes well for continued support of historical writing. Bill Brown’s story of his connection with the Navy triggered my memory. My father-in-law, CATTLE DRIVE 91 brought comradeship, relaxation and the late lnstr. Captain Basil S. Hartley, was con nected with Halifax, Kingston, and Esquimalt: TO KAMIOOpS entertainment sponsored by Music ‘91. QuiLchE Participating in the first days of the drive, B.C. Captain Hartley was born May 14, 1867 and It got a little hard to sit tall in the saddle when singer and songwriter Gary Fjellgard wowed the died Dec. 4. 1946. He was a graduate of temperatures reached 38 °C, but afterwards crowd with an impromptu concert. Cambridge University and the Naval College at most agreed it had been a terrific experience. Greenwich. He married Clarissa Phoebe Some 420 riders and 200 cows participated in Sutherland in 1903— she was related to the this four-day Western holiday, July 21-25, open MILITARY HISTORY SYMPOSIUM Duke of Sutherland whose engine, the Dunrobin, to the public, celebrating the 1 00th anniversary is now at Fort Steele. of the provincial Ministry of Agriculture and the The Vnited States Air Force Academy will In 1910, after a spell as Captain on the Canadian cattle industry. The 80 km Drive hold the fifteenth Military History Symposium, H.M.S. Britannia, he was sent to Halifax, on followed the historic Hudson Bay Company “Revolutionary War: Korea and the loan from the British Navy, to help with the es Brigade Trail from Quilchena, near Merritt, to Transformation of the Post-War World,” 14-16 tablishment of the Naval College there, as lnstr. Kamloops. Proceeds amounting to over $7000 October 1992. For further information contact: Captain. The Halifax explosion in 1917 caused went to the Crippled Children’s Fund, the Captain T N. £astle, HQ USAFA/DFH, USAF the transfer of the cadets and lnstr. Capt. Hartley Kamloops Exhibition Association Agri-Fund, and Academy CO 80840-5701 or phone (719) to the Royal Military College in Kingston where the Riverside Coliseum under construction in 472-3230. they finished out their year of training. Then he Kamloops. was transferred to Esquimalt where he helped to Preparations were extensive. The route, set up the Naval College where he became Direc which led through many ranches, was carefully SCHOLARSHIP POST SCRIPT tor of Studies. In 1921 he retired from the Navy, selected, as were the campsites, in order to and in the following years taught Mathematics at minimize the impact on the environment. While John MacTavish, winner of the 1990 B.C. Victoria College in Victoria and also at U.B.C. in some reseeding was later done, the Drive Historical Federation Scholarship, graduated Vancouver. He finally retired and the Hartleys Committee was commended for leaving a from Simon Fraser University and is now took up residence at Deep Cove, near Sidney on garbage-free route. Heading the Committee was studying Law at the University of British the Island. Later on they moved to Victoria — Kamloops cattle buyer Bruce Whyte. Columbia. His wife, Kendal, completed her and he marked the exam papers of the cadets up If you couldn’t ride a horse, you could go by degree in Education and is now a substitute until the time of his passing in 1946. A full Na covered wagon, a means enjoyed by a number teacher in the Vancouver school district. val service was held for him with his Naval Ca of people including three women from France. dets from Halifax Days as pall bearers, one of The $375 entry fee included meals for four days, whom was Rear-Admiral Mengay. feed for horses, entertainment, and admission to BURNABY HOSTS 1992 The Hartleys had two sons — Thos. Sutherland Kamloops Rangeland Days, a three-day event CONFERENCE Hartley, and Basil Shakespear Sutherland Har which followed the Drive. Riders on rental tley, both of whom have been gone for some horses (about 150) paid up to $625. Reserve May 7-10 for the annual BCHF time. A state-of-the-art chuckwagon designed and Conference. There will be speakers, tours, Edythe McClure presided over by Kamloops restauranteur Detlef lunch at Hart House, and visitors from other Bahsen served up hearty meals. Evenings provinces. Fraser Wilson has prepared a map

33 B.C. Historical News- Winter 1991-92 Book SI-lEtI z 2/ ‘74 / /2//,’, 2/’/// ////?, 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 Kelowna, The Orchard City, An and many of those pictures remain un future historians, as well as an index Illustrated History identified. The ones on page 29 are for both the Partners in Progress and Ursula Surtees, Burlington, Ont., one example of this — four polo General sections. Windsor Publications Ltd., 1989. players in one picture, unnamed, un Kelsey McLeod 134 p. $27.95. dated. There is a lawn party, also un Kelsey McLeod isa member of the Vancouver dated, so one is forced to guess the Historical Society. When one has ploughed through this date by the clothing, which is likely book, one has a wealth of information good for testing the extent of one’s The Canadian Fur Trade in the In about Kelowna, but a rather confused knowledge of costume. A more mod dustrial Age. idea of the actual way the city grew. It em photo on page 34 is captioned in takes reflection and re-reading to get a Arthur J. Ray, University of Toronto part —“.. . a construction foreman on. clear picture of the growth process. Press, 1990. 283 p., tables, illustrations, a controversial highway”. What $18.95 paperback, $40.00 cloth. Typical of many places we have first, highway? When? the fur traders, then the missionaries, In Chapter Five everything not pre This book might well have been enti in this case the Oblates, then the earli viously mentioned has been gathered tled The Canadian Fur Trade in the est settlers, the Italian Casorsos being in, and the reader requires real dedica Age of Settlement, as it was settlement, soon engulfed by English and Scottish tion. It is titled “On the Rebound”. rather than industry, that resulted in immigrants. Kelowna appears to have We read of Ogopogo, and a visit by fundamental changes in the trade in been a mecca for the wealthy and in the Prince of Wales, the first doctor, the period 1870-1945 with which it fluential; Lord and Lady Aberdeen the first hospital, when electric light deals. Sir George Simpson, who for a were instrumental in the founding of came to the downtown area in 1909. generation had ruled Rupert’s Land the orchard industry, for instance. We Then comes “a rather sad item” con for its owners, the Hudson’s Bay Com are led through the first World War, cerning the death of a pinto horse, the pany, had kept the West sealed off the Depression, the Second World decline of the tobacco industry, post from settlement, the only exception at War, and the period leading up to to World War 2 housing, visits of Barba the time of his death in 1860 being a day’s rapid expansion. ra Ann Scott and Gracie Fields, shop tiny patch of population in the Red Yet, how a history book can be ping malls. River Valley. Simpson suspected that termed “illustrated” without even one Chapter Six begins with a flowery changes were in the offing, but he map is difficult to understand. Con description of the seasons, and all-in- would scarcely have credited what trary to the obvious opinion of the au allis an excellent promotion of the city happened in the next decade. thor, all roads do not lead to Kelowna, of to-day. It is reassuring to learn that In 1863 a group of British specula and it would be wise to dig out a map Kelowna has followed so many other tors, with exploitation of western land before venturing into these convoluted cities in the purchase of the “Jaws of and natural resources rather than the pages. Life”. fur trade in mind, acquired control of Chapter One is not necessary. The The light at the end of the tunnel in the capital stock of the Hudson’s Bay ice age, and its demise, is well known, this reading is the Partners in Progress Company. In 1867 Confederation and was part of all British Columbia’s section, which gives information about created a greater Canada that extend history, not just Kelowna’s. We do not many of the businesses. It is concise, ed from the Atlantic to the Great Lakes need to be told “Occasionally a grind well-written and contains much back and was clearly anxious to expand far ing sound rolled through the air, indi ground and history of those business ther westward. And pressures were cating the mass of ice was shifting. es. It takes in a wide spectrum, from growing from the west and south. and on and on. the Chamber of Commerce to Western British Columbia was anxious to estab However, it is reassuring to be in Bus Lines, from the law firm of Levin, lish links with Canada, and as the sup formed in Chapter Two that “The Pan Kendal and Co. to Fletcher Challenge ply of free land dwindled in the dosy Mission site is an oasis of peace Canada, Ltd. The section on B. C. Tel United States, Americans wondered if and tranquility.” If ever I visit Kelow ephone details the coming of tele it might not be possible to push the in na I will seek it out. phones not only to Kelowna, but to ternational border farther north. One gets the impression that this city the entire Okanagan Valley. The con Something had to be done about the developed in a rather different way to viction that the city is vital, progres future of Rupert’s Land, and in 1869 that of many B.C. cities. Not many sive and innovative is brought vividly the British Government, acting on be- others, I am sure, featured polo match forward. The pictures are excellent, half of both Britain and Canada, pur es, garden parties, theatre offerings, and well captioned. Perhaps Partners chased it from the Hudson’s Bay croquet, for heaven’s sake, rod and in Progress could be brought out in Company. In 1870 it transferred own gun clubs, etc., during birthing years. separate book form. ership to the fledging dominion, which Pictures are scattered throughout. Finally, this book contains a good immediately created the new Province Unfortunately many are not dated, bibliography that will be valuable for of Maniboba — clearly a step that anticipated settlement. Finally, in

B.C. Historical News - Winter 1991.92 34 1871, British Columbia joined Confed as the man who drove the last spike in sub-title had been ‘The Magazine of eration. One of the conditions of un the transcontinental railway. Four the North”, but this has now been re ion was construction of a railway years earlier, in 1881, the Company placed by “Exploring Canada’s Histo between Canada and the Pacific Coast had replaced the old-style retail trad ry”. Happily The Beaver is thriving.

— a line that, incidentally, would pro ing shop at Upper Fort Garry with a Frequency of publication has been in vide ready access to a wide swath four-story building (at the time the creased to six times a year and circula through Rupert’s Land. largest in Winnipeg) that included de tion has grown to about 40,000. Thereafter changes were thick and partments offering “dry goods, grocer fast. Canadian law became the law of ies, carpets, dressmaking, millinery, W. Kaye Lamb the land, backed up after 1873 by the wines and spirits”. Simpson’s seal had Dr. Lamb is former Dominion Archivist and newly organized North West Mounted been well and truly broken. former Honorary President of the B.C. Historical Police. A series of Indian treaties dealt Over the years there were many Federation. trade Settle with aboriginal right and established a changes in the fur itself. Early Land Surveyors of British reserve system in the southern part of ment pushed it farther and farther Rupert’s Land. Roads, river steamers north, and eventually it centred chiefly Columbia and, finally, railways, made the West in the Arctic. Two world wars dis (P.L.S. group), compiled and edited by readily accessible, and cleared the way rupted the world fur market, to the John A. Whittaker. Published by the for settlement and agricultural disadvantage of London and the ad Corporation of Land Surveyors of the development. vantage of the United States. Fashion Province of British Columbia, 1990. 165 illustrated. For the fur trade — at first virtually played a significant part. The beaver pp., synonymous with the Hudson’s Bay hat disappeared and the lowly musk This handy volume is a well re

Company — the most important result rat was for a time a more important searched compendium of biographical was the end of the Company’s monop source of revenue than the beaver. notes on the compact group of 85 Pro oly and the advent of rival traders. Later muskrat, suitably treated and vincial Land Surveyors (PLS) who Some were individuals, but later arri disguised, would appear on the mar were formally examined and commis vals included substantial partnerships. ket as Hudson seal. At one time mink sioned between 1891 and and 1905. They soon disturbed the old some was used chiefly for coat linings; later Prior to 1891, about 141 Land Survey what paternal relationship that had it would become a luxury fur. ors (LS) were recognized by the seven long existed between the HBC post This is a highly complex story, and Surveyors General. The number masters and the Indians. Supplies had Dr. Ray tells it well but too concisely. would be much larger if all those mak often been provided on credit, and in For this is an important pioneer study ing significant contributions to the ex times of dire need the Company had — the first to make full use of the post- ploration of British Columbia, starting acted as a rudimentary welfare organi 1870 archives of the Hudson’s Bay with Capt. James Cook, were included. zation. Rival traders soon disturbed Company and other sources that have Preparations for the PLS Group be matters further by offering a greater become available recently. The actual gan in 1890, when the Surveyor Gener variety of merchandise, and this text runs to no more than about 175 al, WS Gore, published a list in B.C. pushed the Company further in a di pages, supplemented by a formidable Gazette of the 83 surviving Land Sur rection in which it had begun to move array of graphs, tables, maps, notes, il veyors empowered to practice. after 1870. The sale of 1869 had left it lustrations and a bibliography. In 1891, “An Act respecting Land entitled to one-twentieth of the land in The book cries out for a sequel to Surveyors” came into force, authoriz the so-called “fertile belt” of Southern cover developments since 1945, Two ing those on the 1890 list to continue in Rupert’s Land, and revenue from this very recent events come to mind. In practice. The Act also established a source and merchandising became a 1987 the Hudson’s Bay Company sold Board of Examiners, comprising five major preoccupation. This was per its 178 “northern stores”, thus ending PLS appointed by Tom Kains the new sonified in the rise of Donald Smith, more than three centuries of participa Surveyor General, to conduct formal later Lord Strathcona. He had spent tion in the fur trade. (One newspaper examinations and commissioning, and his early career at trading posts in Lab headline lamented that the Company to exert discipline when required. rador, but even there his interest had had “turned its back on its history”.) The new PLS Commissions were strayed to business and banking. In And in 1990 it stopped selling furs in published periodically in the B.C. 1874 he was appointed the Company’s its retail stores, a move probably due Gazette, and the surveyors’ names first Land Commissioner, and he pro in great part to the propaganda of ani were entered and numbered in the As gressed onward and upward until he mal activists. As one journalist re sociation register, so there is no uncer became Governor in 1889 — a post he marked, ‘The mink stole, once widely tainty as to the members and their held for twenty-five years. He was a coveted, is now as likely to reap hos total number of 85. major figure in the Canadian Pacific tile comments as envious stares.” The book’s cover picture gives an syndicate, and it is ironical that his Change even reached The Beaver, enticing glimpse of surveyors’ activi role in the transformation of the Hud the noteworthy historical quarterly the ties in the mountains about 80 years son’s Bay Company is more or less for Hudson’s Bay Company had pub ago. This crayon and pastel sketch has gotten, and he is remembered chiefly lished for many years. Formerly its been possessed by the corporation

35 B.C. Historical News• Winter 1991-92 Iook Shelf tnit’d / / ,/ //// since at least World War I, and forms a to British Columbia “to write”, his first Overall The Coal Coast on the 19th pleasing introduction to the content of research would be into coal mining in century Vancouver Island coalfields is the book. his adopted province. The resulting a good read. To recreate the events of surveyors’ book surveys the Vancouver Island Keith Ralston lives one hundred years ago, the His coal industry from the early discover Professor Ralston has recently retired from torical and Biographical Committee of ies and abortive attempts at mining U.B.C. s Department of History, where the Corporation consulted every con around Fort Rupert on the north end he taught British Columbia History. ceivable government record, archive, of the Island to its peak period at the museum, newspaper, journal, genea turn of the century when coalfields in MEETING OF THE WINDS: logical society; even the Okanagan both Nanaimo and Cumberland/ A HisToRy ol FAIkLANd Historical Society and the Alpine Club Comox areas were in full production. by Marjorie Selody 1990 of Canada, but it is a sobering thought Newsome doesn’t seem much inter $22.50 fromBox 46, Falkland, B.C. how little record remains of some sur ested in the economic or business his VOE iWO veyors’ lives remains a century later, tory of the V.1. coalfields. What does MEMORIES OF NOTCH HILL even though they were in the business engage him is the conflict over the of making permanent records. The bi half-century between masters and editor Oline Peacock $10.00 Notch Hill Heritage Society, ographical notes vary in length from men. He combines use of primary and Site 9 C.7 RR#1, Sorrento, B.C. VOE 2W0 six lines to nine pages. secondary sources (see Bibliography), Readers may be interested to read of and supplements by some detailed re THE STORY OF THE SECHEI..T plans without dimensions or bearings, search on his own on particular topics. NATION and how one surveyor’s career ended What emerges is anecdotal — a tell by Lester Peterson, prematurely on the SS Titanic. ing, or rather a retelling of some of the 1990, History of the Sechelt Band The case of surveyor and mountain more spectacular crises in the indus $15.95 eer Arthur Wheeler is also remarkable. try. Chapter Two centres around a se Though he was never formally com ries of episodes commencing with the NOW YOU’RE LOGGING missioned a PLS, he attended PLS discovery of coal by the HBCo, the ini by Bis Griffiths, meetings in Victoria, and served on tial clash at Fort Rupert between com 1990 reprint of a 1978 best seller the PLS executive in 1893. pany officers and on west coast logging committee miners, two of $16.95 He founded the Alpine Club of Cana whom were put in chains, before most da in 1904, was eminent in the first of the party fled from their near- photo-topographic surveys of the servitude to the California goldfields. Rocky and Selkirk mountains, and was Chapter Three relates the most famil

Commissioner for British Columbia on iar story of all — the discovery and ex the B.C-Alberta boundary surveys, ploitation of coal at Nanaimo in the 1913-24. early 1850s, the difficult relations of Despite the care in compiling and ed the HBCo with successive parties of ib4Ovin? iting the mass of data unearthed on the miners they recruited in Ayrshire and commissioned PLS, many inconsisten the repeated desertions of members on cies in spelling and punctuation re the Princess Royal party from Staf Semi your chan2e 01 main in the text, and this reviewer fordshire in protest against the compa wklress to: would be pleased to furnish a corri ny methods of payment. genda to interested readers. Inevitably Newsome’s approach Nancy Peter, R.C. Harris means a good deal is said about the Subscription Secretary Mr. Harris, a frequent contributor to a number controversial figure, Robert Dun #7 5400 Patterson Avenue of B.C. magazines, is an expert on early maps smuir, who rose from face worker to Burnaby, B.C. V5H 2M5 and trails of the province, and a former coal tycoon. The author has done president of the Map Society of B.C. some new research on Dunsmuir’s II you have enjoyed this Ayrshire background, and tries to rec ma2azlne, why not ive a i1t The Coal Coast: The History of oncile the (unexamined) tradition that Dunsmuir came from a family of subscription to a friend? Coal Mining in B.C. 1835-1900 $1C.CC inside Canada, $14.CC Eric Newsome, Orca Book Publishers, “coal-masters.” What is lacking is any sense of the dynamics of the coal in to addresses outside 1989, 196 pp., illustrated. ISBN 0-920501-11-7. dustry or the source of those profits Canada. that turned a man multi Paperback $13.95; Cloth $26.95. into a millionaire within 20 years. But New- Send your cheque to ancy. Eric Newsome grew up in a family of some does try to assess whether Dun (address above.) Yorkshire coal miners. It seems natu smuir was unique in his harsh ral that, when he took early retirement relations with his employees, or just as a school administrator and headed typical of the times.

B.C. Historical News. Winter 1991.92 36 758-2828 291-1346 988-4565 826-0451 437-6115 753-2067 988-4565 988-4565 733-6484 825-4743 251-2908 758-5757 748-8397 598-3035 422-3594 442-3865 295-3362 984-0602 (Res:) R9 2N4 1 R9 1 228-4879 V7M 5P4 V7R L 2B9 B.C. (Bus:) lEO B.C. V7R Vi 3S6 3X2 2M5 5Z4 B.C. V8S

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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 significantly to the recorded history of British Columbia. Other awards will be made as recommended by the judges to valuable books prepared by groups or individuals. All entries receive considerable publicity. Winners will receive a Certificate of Merit, a monetary award and an invitation to the 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. Historical News 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 \-