CHAPTER XX. DOMINATION OF THE NORTHWEST COAST BY THE 1821-1826. - CHILKOTIN-BABINE- FORTS ESTABLISHED - ALEXANDRIA-THOMPSON WE have seen that notwithstanding the restoration of Astoria to the United States authorities in 1818, the subsequent claims of congress, and the pretensions of United States trappers and traders, the Hudson's Bay Company as successors to the Northwest Company since 1821 are absolute masters of the situation. That the vital issues of occupation were not sooner precipitated, was owing no less to the wise and benignant rule of John McLoughlin than to the strength of the adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay, and the weakness of their opposing fur-traffickers. We have noticed the founding of the establishment on McLeod Lake in 1805, those on Stuart and Fraser lakes in 1806, that of Fort George at the junction of Stuart and Fraser rivers in 1807, besides others at different times in various localities; and we have followed Fraser and his hardy crew down the Tacootche Tesse of Mackenzie to its mouth in 1808. Communication between the Columbia and Fraser rivers was not opened until 1813, and the year following saw merchandise from the lower posts on the Columbia ascending the upper portion of the Fraser. KAMLOOP, ALEXANDRIA, AND CHILKOTIN. 461 Fort Thompson, named for the famous Northwest Company's astronomer, and later called Fort Kamloop, was then built at the fork of Thompson River. It was a return party with their outfit brought over from the Columbia who in 1821 established Fort Alexandria, so called in honor of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, on the Fraser at the precise point where that explorer turned back in 1793.1 Chilkotin as an outpost of Alexandria was occupied about the same time as a clerks' station.2 Since 1810 1Sir Alexander Mackenzie 'came to the spot on which the fort was built, and was dissuaded by the Indians from following the course of the river to its mouth.' Cox's Adv., ii. 361. Here the navigation of the Fraser is begun by the northward-bound brigade. Wilkes' Nar., U. S. Explor. Ex., iv. 479. It was the residence of a chief trader. Anderson's Hist. Northwest Coast, MS., 98. A large number of horses were kept here. Finlayson's Hist. V. I., MS., 67. 2 Wilkes' Nar. U. S. Explor. Ex., iv. 479, places the fort on the Chilkotin branch of Fraser River in latitude 52° 10', while on Trutch's map it is located nearer 52° 20' 11 winter trading excursions had been made to Babine Lake, and in 18223 a permanent post was planted there no less for the purpose of obtaining a regular supply of superior dried salmon, than for the procuring of furs.* The Beaver Indians who inhabited the Rocky Mountains where Peace River flows through them, were a well fed race, and hence bold and warlike. In the autumn of 1823, Guy Hughes and four men were killed at Fort St John for wife-lifting, as stealing women from the natives was technically termed by the fur-traders. Much alarm prevailed at all the posts within a radius of five hundred miles. The establishment was soon deserted. Likewise Fort Dunvegan was abandoned the following year in consequence, but was reëstablished some time afterward by Mr Campbell. It was never known positively who did the killing, although a chief called Sancho had been greatly enraged against Mr Black, the officer in charge of the fort, for taking from him one of his wives a few days prior to the revengeful deed, and had even fired shots at the canoes of Black and Henry as they took their departure from the fort. The natives thereabouts manifested the most friendly feeling at the time and subsequently, although three or four of the St John Indians held themselves aloof forever after. When Governor Simpson passed St John in 1828, the buildings were entire, nothing about them having been molested. But we may be sure the Sabine sport was never again attempted in that region.5 The oldest officer of the Hudson's Bay Company I have had the pleasure of meeting was John Tod, born at Leven, Scotland, in 1793. With other young recruits he enlisted at Glasgow under the Red River 8 Following Stuart, Anderson, Northwest Coast, MS., 99, gives the date of this beginning 1823, and calls the post Fort Kilmaurs. It is known as Fort Babine to-day. It was located near the north-east end of the lake. Stuart's Notes, in Anderson's Northwest Coast, MS., 236. 5 McLeod's Peace River, 16, 85. JOHN TOD IN NEW CALEDONIA. 463 banner of Lord Selkirk. After serving at several eastern stations, he was appointed to New Caledonia, whither he proceeded in 1823. This region was then regarded as the Botany Bay of the Hudson's Bay Company's territories so far as residence was concerned. Mr Tod attributes his appointment to that then undesirable region to one Taylor, a servant of Sir George Simpson's, an arrogant fellow whom all the officers hated, and whom Tod had mortally offended. One day after a quarrel with the menial, Simpson sent for Tod. Taylor was the messenger. "Sit down, Mr Tod," smilingly said the governor. "I have to inform you, my dear sir, of a new appointment by the governor in council.' "Ah, indeed!" returned Tod, "where to, may I ask?" "New Caledonia," replied the governor. "The very place of all others I should like to go to," exclaimed Tod, who was determined that no sign of disappointment should cloud his beaming Scotch countenance at that juncture. With Tod came Stuart. Peter Warren Dease was then in charge at McLeod Lake, and him Tod relieved. Filling that post nine years, he returned east. Tod related many adventures to me which I have not the space to give. He once set London agog by parading through its streets a shock-headed American in all his native habiliments. After long and faithful service in the company, an accusation of habitual drunkenness was reported by Governor Simpson to the London council, but the charge was finally dismissed." By order of the Rupert governor, Simpson, an expedition was directed northward from Astoria in 1824, for the purpose of discovering by sea the mouth of See Douglas' Private Papers, 1st ser., MS., 80–2; Tod's New Caledonia, MS., passim. Before the occupation of New Caledonia, Norway House was the Siberia of the company, where refractory men and headstrong officers were sent for probationary cooling. Applegate's Views, MS., 11; Saxton's Or. Ter., MS., 12. Fraser River, finding a situation for a fort, and ascertaining the possibilities of navigation upon that stream. The country along their route between the Columbia and Fraser rivers was to be carefully examined. The expedition consisted of James McMillan, commander; Thomas McKay, F. N. Annance, and John Work," clerks; and thirty-six French Canadians, Kanakas, and Iroquois. Instead of taking the Cowlitz River route to Puget Sound, the one commonly adopted at a later period, it was determined to enter that sheet by way of the Chehalis. Embarking on the 18th of November in three boats laden with arms and ammunition, besides flour, pork, pease, oatmeal, grease, rum, butter, sugar, biscuit, and pemican, the party proceeded to Baker Bay, where they landed, and to avoid the danger of doubling Cape Disappointment, made the portage by way of a small lake and creek to Shoalwater Bay, which they reached on the 20th. Carefully noting their course, and bringing within the range of their acute observation every object of To none of the Hudson's Bay Company's officers is posterity more indebted than to John Work, whose journals of various expeditions, nowhere else mentioned, fill a gap in history. Irish by birth he entered the service of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1814, served for eight years on the eastern slope, crossed the mountains to Astoria, where we find him embarking in the present expedition in 1824. He planted at Colville the first farm west of the Rocky Mountains. In 1828 he journeys from Fort Vancouver to Okanagan, in 1831 he visits the Missouri River, and in 1834 makes a trip southward from Fort Vancouver. For fourteen years next following, he is in charge at Fort Simpson. From clerk he rises to the positions of chief trader and chief factor. In 1857 he is made member of the council of Vancouver, which position he fills to the day of his death, in 1861, at which time he was also member of the board of management of the western department at Victoria. Mr Work was a man of strong rather than graceful physique. His mind like his frame was constructed for practical use and endurance, rather than for beauty or brilliance. Yet that strict integrity which commanded respect was no more prominent a characteristic than the kindly disposition which won all hearts. Near the residence of the family at Hillside, Victoria, stands to-day a spacious log-house in which was peacefully and pleasantly spent the latter part of a useful life, whose earlier portion was fraught in no small degree with privation and peril. It was Mr Work's request that this log-house should be preserved. Mr Work's Journals, for which I am indebted to Mr Finlayson, comprise 240 pages of most interesting detail without which a complete history of the Northwest Coast could not be written. Allan, Rem., MS., 13, calls Work a kind-hearted and generous Irishman who often amused his associates by his murder of the French tongue. Mr Work calls it Grey's Bay. |