APPOINTED TO THE CHARGE OF FORT GEORGE--MURDER OF MR. YALE'S
MEN--MYSTERIOUS LOSS OF MR. LINTON AND FAMILY--ADVENTURES OF LEATHER
PARTY--FAILURE OF CROPS--INFLUENZA.
In the beginning of September, Mr. Ogden arrived from Fort Vancouver,
and I was appointed by him to the charge of Fort George, whither I
proceeded forthwith. Mr. Linton, my predecessor, was directed to wait
the arrival of the party sent to Jasper's house for a supply of
leather, ere he took his departure for Chilcotin, an outpost of Fort
Alexandria.
Fort George was established a few years ago, and passed through the
bloody ordeal ere yet the buildings were completed. The gentleman in
charge, Mr. Yale, had left his men at work, and gone on a visit to
Fort St. James, where he only remained a few days; on his return he
found his men had been treacherously murdered by the Indians during
his absence. Their mangled bodies were found in one of the houses,
with one of their own axes by their side, which evidently had been the
instrument of their destruction. The poor men were in the habit of
retiring to rest during the heat of the day, and were despatched while
they slept.
A great change has come over this people since that time; they are now
justly considered the best disposed and most industrious Indians in
the district. The situation of the post is exceedingly dreary,
standing on the right bank of Frazer's River, having in front a high
hill that shades the sun until late in the morning, and in the midst
of "woods and wilds, whose melancholy gloom" is saddening enough. Yet
it has its _agrémens_, its good returns,--the _ne plus ultra_ of an
Indian trader's happiness,--its good Indians, and its good fare; the
produce of the soil and dairy.
Poor Linton had remained with me till late in autumn; when the cold
weather setting in with unusual rigour, the ice began to drift on the
river, rendering the navigation already dangerous; and no accounts
having been received of the leather party, he determined to embark for
his destination without further loss of time. He, alas! had already
waited too long. Having occasion in the beginning of winter to send
down a messenger to Fort Alexandria, I was surprised to see him two
days after enter the fort, accompanied by one of Mr. Fisher's men, who
brought me the melancholy tidings of Mr. L.'s death, part of his
baggage having been found by the natives among the ice. Eight souls
had perished, no one knows how; Mr. L., his wife and three children,
an interpreter, his wife and one child.
Some suspicions attached to a disreputable family of Indians who were
known to be encamped on the banks of the river at the time; but it is
more probable that the catastrophe occurred in a rapid not far from
this post, as a dog which the party had with them came back at an
early hour the day after their departure. This misfortune threw a
gloom over the whole district, where Linton was much beloved, and his
death, so sudden and mysterious, made the blow be felt more severely.
Before this sad intelligence reached us, the safety of the leather
party had become a source of deep anxiety. They had been expected in
October, and no accounts had been received of them in the month of
December. Having forwarded Mr. Fisher's despatches to head-quarters, I
received orders from Mr. Ogden to proceed to Jasper's house, in order,
if possible, to obtain information regarding them; which I eagerly
obeyed, setting off with five men, and sledges loaded with provisions,
drawn by dogs. We had not proceeded far, however, when we met the
truants all safe and sound. Their non-arrival in the fall was
occasioned by the winter setting in unprecedentedly early.
They experienced the utmost difficulty in crossing the Rocky
Mountains, from the great depth of snow that had already fallen; and
when they reached the heights of Frazer's River, they found the ice
beginning to form along its shores. They persevered, however;
sometimes forcing their way through the ice, sometimes carrying the
canoes and property overland where the passage was blocked up by the
ice. But all their efforts proved unavailing, for they were at length
completely frozen in.
Their prospects were now most disheartening. Their remaining
provisions would only suffice for four days on short allowance, and
they had a journey of fifteen days before them, whichever way they
should direct their course. Some of the men yielded to despair, but
the greater part cheerfully embraced Mr. Andersen's views. Those only
who are unacquainted with the Canadian voyageurs will deny them the
possession of qualities, of the highest value in this country--ready
obedience to their superiors, patience of fatigue and hardship, and
unyielding perseverance under the most trying difficulties, so long as
their leaders show them the way. Mr. Anderson having secured the
property _en cache_, determined to return to Jasper's house, in order
to procure at least a part of the much wanted supply of leather. On
their way back they had the good fortune to light upon a stray horse,
which they converted into provender: they also shot a moose deer; and
thus providentially supplied, they suffered little from want.
On arriving at the post, they found to their sad disappointment that
nothing could be got there, except some provisions; it was therefore
necessary to proceed to Fort Edmonton, at least 400 miles distant,
with but one intermediate post. They succeeded in reaching it, though
in a most deplorable condition, half starved and half frozen, none of
the party being provided with winter clothing; but they were most
hospitably received by the kind-hearted bourgeois Mr. Rowand; and,
after remaining a few days to recruit their strength in this land
overflowing with fat and pemmican, and receiving their supplies, they
set off on their return, and reached their destination without
accident.
Farming on a small scale had been attempted here by my predecessor,
and the result was such as to induce more extensive operations. I
received orders, therefore, to clear land, sow and plant, forthwith.
These orders were in part carried into effect in the autumn. Four
acres of land were put in a condition to receive seed, and about the
same quantity at Fort Alexandria. Seed was ordered from the Columbia,
and handmills to grind our grain. Pancakes and hot rolls were
thenceforward to be the order of the day; Babine salmon and dog's
flesh were to be sent--"to Coventry!" The spring, however, brought
with it but poor prospects for pancakes; the season was late beyond
all precedent; the fields were not sown until the 5th of May; they,
nevertheless, promised well for some time, but cold weather ensued,
and continued so long that the crops could not recover before the
autumn frosts set in, and thus our hopes were blasted. The farm at
Alexandria had not much better success, owing to the neglect of the
good people themselves;--not having enclosed their fields, the cattle
destroyed the greater part of the crops. Here, however,
notwithstanding the failure of our grain crops, we had abundance of
vegetables and a large stock of cattle, so that our fare was far
superior to that of the other _exiles_ in the district.
Mr. Ogden returned from Fort Vancouver about the usual time, and was
mortified to find that our grand agricultural experiment had so
completely failed. He, however, had brought a supply of flour
sufficient to afford each commander of posts a couple of bags, and
thus the inconvenience arising from our disappointment was, in some
degree, obviated.
From his first arrival amongst us, Mr. Ogden evinced the most earnest
desire to ameliorate the condition of his subordinates in this
wretched district, and all felt grateful to him for his benevolent
intentions. To Mr. Dease, however, the praise is due of having
introduced this new order of things: he it was who first introduced
cattle from Fort Vancouver; it was he who first introduced farming,
and recommended it to others.
Late in autumn, the natives being all about the post, the dread
influenza, that had made such fearful havoc among the Indians in other
quarters, broke out here also. The poor creatures had a great deal of
confidence in my medical skill, from the circumstance of my having
saved the life of a boy who had eaten some poisonous root, when
despaired of by their own mountebanks.
On the present occasion I tried my skill on one of the subjects best
able to bear my experiments, by administering a strong emetic and
purge, and causing him afterwards to drink a decoction of mint. He was
cured, and I afterwards prescribed the same medicine to many others
with a like success; so that my reputation as a disciple of Æsculapius
became firmly established.
Having last year applied to the Governor for permission to visit
head-quarters, for a purpose which will be noticed hereafter, I
received a favourable answer, and, in the month of February, set off
for the depôt of the district preparatory to my departure, where I
remained for a month in company with Mr. Ogden and several
fellow-scribes.