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EARLY in the winter I made a
trip to the Rocky Mountain House, visiting Stoney and Cree camps en route,
and also finding a goodly number of people at the fort. These visits to the
wandering camps and isolated Hudson's Bay posts were much appreciated; they
were events in the life of the people. Many were the questions asked us. We
never assumed knowledge that we did not possess; what we knew we told, and a
large measure of confidence which became mutual was thus created. Both going
and coining on this trip I called at Pigeon Lake. Reaching this point on the
return journey, my Indian boy companion failed to show up. I was not
surprised at this, however, for my hour of starting was three a.m., and at
that hour a furious snow storm was raging. I did not even wake up the
household of the missionary, but went out alone, and all day into deep snow
and trackless roads my good dogs and self made our way to Edmonton. On our
outward journey one of the dogs my boy was using had hurt his neck, and, the
wound festering, we were obliged to leave the poor fellow to follow us up.
On our arriving at Pigeon Lake the dog did not make an appearance, and the
conclusion was that the wolves had caught him in his weak state and killed
him. However, when we reached Edmonton, going out to feed my dogs, I was
delighted to find this fellow with them, and took him with me the next
morning. Here also I was doomed to a solitary journey. Again deep snow and
no trail, but my noble fellows breasted it gallantly, and I followed on
snowshoes. We camped east of Sturgeon River, in a dry clump of trees, and I
unharnessed my dogs and began making my lonely camp. I say lonely, for I
confess that I do not like to be altogether away from the rest of humanity.
Down came the snow, the storm increasing with the night. The wind whistled
and moaned and groaned and shrieked through the trees and woods, and one
could imagine all sorts of sounds. I set to work vigorously clearing away
snow and chopping wood and carrying it in for the night, and by and by had a
good fire and a camp comfortable enough for the few hours I hoped to spend
in it. I had fed my dogs and looked after poor Snap, the sick one, and a
lonesome feeling was settling upon me when I heard something like "whack,
whack," coming with the north wind to my ears. I listened keenly and thought
I heard chopping, and said to myself, "Here is someone about to camp short
of me," so I put my supper away, and placing the tea-kettle closer to the
fire started on the run through the deep snow to stay the benighted
traveller, if I could, and invite him to my camp. I was running eagerly in
anticipation of company when I heard a strange sound like "crunch, crunch,"
and then like silent ghosts in the thick darkness a train, of dogs glided in
and about my legs, almost tripping me up so quietly had they met me. If
there were any bells on their harness the thickly falling snow had muffled
them. I looked for some man to come in sight, but no one appeared, and as I
stood and wondered, again came the strange "Crunch, crunch" sound, and I
peered into the dark, stormy night and listened intently. This was becoming
mysterious, and now I saw something that sent my heart into my throat, for
surely here was "the giant of all the ages." Looming into view there came a
strange big creature which broke through the bottom of the dog-sleigh road,
as also the light new snow, and with stately, heavy steps approached. But by
this time I was behind a clump of willows (one bound had brought me there),
and thence I peered out to behold this wonderful creature that in colossal
size so much surpassed anything I had ever seen. All at once it flashed upon
my memory that I had overheard the storeman at Edmonton saying that they
expected an ox up from Victoria, and I began to think this must be the ox;
but whoever saw so tall an ox as this? Then I recognized the figure of a man
(who, by time way, was a big fellow) riding on the ox, and saw he had a
buffalo robe belted around him; and as he had given me a strange, queer
fright I thought it was my turn to startle him, which I did by giving a
quick, Sharp yell. This made the ox jump and throw the man into the snow,
and then we recognized each other and were mutually glad, for he also was
alone and had been reluctant to camp. The whacks I had, heard were of his
whip coining down on the robe and the ox's ribs. We exchanged news, sang a
hymn and had prayer together, went to sleep, and at three o'clock next
morning each went his way, and by evening I had made home and was no more
lonesome. About this
time free trade was importing more intoxicating liquors than usual, and some
deeds of lawlessness and violence occurred. In consequence an agitation was
begun at Victoria looking to a petition, the same to be forwarded to the
Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories (there being as yet no
province of Manitoba), asking that the importation and traffic in
intoxicants be stopped. The Hudson's Bay Company had discontinued their
traffic in such in the interior for some years. Several meetings were held,
the petition was drawn up, and I was asked to take it out to the camps and
obtain the signatures of chiefs and leading men. The first large camp I came
to was near Battle River, where I found the Indians in a state of
excitement. They had had some fights with the Blackfeet and some horses had
been stolen, and at the time of my visit they were exercising great care
over both stock and camp. I remember saying to them that they were different
from my people, for we would either make our enemies fight to the death or
sue for peace, and if the latter it must be permanent. I further said, "You
call this your country, but even now in the dead of winter you dare not
sleep in quiet. No," said I, "not until a stronger power friendly to you
comes upon the scene will you really own a bit of land and live at peace
with other men." This gave me a text to explain the government of our
country and English law and reserve life, and many of my audience expressed
a longing for the coming of the same.
At the proper time I had all the chiefs and head
men assemble, and read to them the petition; but while I was doing this, who
should come in but the Irish priest, the Rev. Mr. Scollen, who asked me for
the petition, and having read it wade a violent attack upon it. He wound up
his harangue by telling the assembled Indians that it would be impudence and
out of place for them to sign it, that the Government would not listen to
any such arrangement, and that he hoped they would not make fools of
themselves by having anything to do with it. This gave inc my opportunity
and I took it. I explained the lawless and ungoverned condition of the
country, and warned them that the cupidity of the reckless and bad white men
would bring to pass here in our fair Saskatchewan what was now going on
south of us near the border, and that this petition was to save trouble and
life. In my turn I closed by hoping they would show their wisdom and
prudence by signing this petition even to a man.
Then a leading Roman Catholic, an old man of
wide influence, took the floor and backed me up strongly. He expressed pain
and surprise at the stand that his priest had taken, and eulogized me as the
true friend of the Indian, expressing the desire that his should be the
first name on the petition from that camp. Down went his name, and all
followed his example, whereupon the priest, calling us all fools, retired to
his lodge. The whole
Indian and half-breed population, and indeed practically all the whites as
well, joined with us, and Lieutenant-Governor Archibald gave us a
proclamation which enacted total prohibition in our western country. And as
this was the general feeling, the law was most religiously observed, so that
for a time we had profound peace from the trouble and sorrow caused by
intoxicating drink. |
