Search just our sites by using our customised site search engine



Click here to get a Printer Friendly PageSmiley

Click here to learn more about MyHeritage and get free genealogy resources

On Western Trails in the Early Seventies
Frontier Pioneer Life in the Canadian North-west, By John McDougall


Contents

  • Chapter I.
    Condition of Red River country—Sublime isolation
  • Chapter II.
    Up the Bow Valley—Visit "Bear's Paw's" lodge—Move into South country—Cross the Big Red
  • Chapter III.
    Push on to Edmonton—Down the Saskatchewan—Call at Fort Ellis
  • Chapter IV.
    At White Fish Lake—Spurious civilization—Back to Edmonton—Buffalo hunt
  • Chapter V.
    Down the Red Deer—"The Dry Rat "—surrounded by Blackfeet—Await developments
  • Chapter VI.
    Clamoring for our blood—Learn some Blackfoot—Leave Blackfoot camp—Down the Bow Valley—Doctor loses his teeth
  • Chapter VII.
    Ford the Bow River—Blackfoot method of catching eagles—"Dry Rat" shoots ducks on the Sabbath— Reach Fort Kipp—Country without government— Cross the 49th Parallel
  • Chapter VIII.
    Cross the Milk River—Down the big Alkali Flat—Fight with buffalo bulls—Reach Fort Benton, terrible blizzard—Take shelter at a ranch
  • Chapter IX.
    Up the Teton—Blizzard continues—Buffalo hunts— Across the Divide into the North country—Cross Tail Creek
  • Chapter X.
    Ford the Saskatchewan—In the Peace Hills—Meet "Muddy Bull"—Ford the Red Deer—Great buffalo chase—Violent snowstorm—Cross the Dog Pond into foothill country—Land a revelation to us— Move Into Bow Valley
  • Chapter XI.
    Determine to build—sawpits erected—Finish our fort— Kept alert all night by Blackfeet—Start for Edmonton—Old buffalo trails our bridle paths
  • Chapter XII.
    Camp in pine forest—Leave Chinook range—Relax our vigilance—New Year's Eve—With friends at Edmonton, cold intense
  • Chapter XIII.
    Bear's Bill—Breaking trail—On short rations—Begin slow march to mountains—Misery delights In company—Spend night in Indian lodge
  • Chapter XIV.
    Reach our fort—Magnificent buffalo hunt—Narrow escape for my life—Saved by a log—Stamping out whiskey trade—Urge Hudson's Bay Co. to extend operations
  • Chapter XV.
    Hear from Edmonton—Prepare for long trip—Again rolling south
  • Chapter XVI.
    Cross the Elbow—What is good for John is god for you—Cross High River—Meet genuine son of Erin —Strike for upper trail along the Mountains— Arrive at Plegan agency
  • Chapter XVII.
    At Fort Shaw—Life in Montana—Treatment of Indians—In Whoopup country—Meet strange character
  • Chapter XVIII.
    Down the Little Bow—Fall in with Indians—Ticklish position—Harangue the Indians—Saved—Horse trading
  • Chapter XIX.
    Scouting - Wonderful instinct of animal life
  • Chapter XX.
    Nearing our fort - Mosquitos worst I ever saw - Brother's wife gives 'birth to daughter
  • Chapter XXI.
    Ran buffalo herd - Meet "Old. Sun " - Become acquainted with "Big Plume" - Harassed by Blackfeet - First news of the Mounted Police - Government decides to establish law and order - Break news to Indians.
  • Chapter XXII.
    Receive my commission from Government - Make ready for long journey - Mishap in river - Trouble in crossing stream.
  • Chapter XXIII.
    Cross the Ghost River - Deliver message to Stoneys - Arrange with head chief "Bear's Paw," to accompany me - Big drunk among Indians - Interview - Chief Crowfoot.
  • Chapter XXIV.
    Strike for Whoopup country - In the great pasture country - Meet Mr. Joseph Healey - Keep Union Jack - floating on our waggon.
  • Chapter XXV.
    Up in the foothills - Visit the fort - What might have been.
  • Chapter XXVI.
    Tribes begin to gather - Hudson's Bay Company decide to establish a fort - Make friends with Indians - My brother returns from Fort Benton - Buffalo abound.
  • Chapter XXVII.
    No word from Mounted Police - Whiskey traders flourishing - Ugly rumors from Old Man's River - Decide to investigate - Encounter violent storms - Fall in with Indians.
  • Chapter XXVIII.
    Make for Pine Creek - Cross the Porcupine Hills - Indian's body cached in tree - Meet Col. Macleod of Mounted Police - Police build fort - Government established without a shot being fired - Reach home again.
  • Chapter XXIX.
    Start for Northern Fort and settlement on bank of North Saskatchewan - Found Mounted Police quartered at Edmonton - Col. Jarvis' marvellous stories - Police adapt themselves to new conditions - Find our cache on the Red Deer.
  • Chapter XXX.
    An unexpected addition to our larder—Help Hudson's Bay men—Travel through great herds of buffalo— Kill a whole herd of buffalo at one run—Buy unique "silk robe" from Stoney Indian
  • Chapter XXXI.
    Back to the fort—Prepare for permanent establishment of mission—Send despatches to Mounted Police at Fort Macleod—First Protestant Church parade of Mounted Police—Taken ill suddenly—Make trying journey for help
  • Chapter XXXII.
    Reach home again—Major Walsh establishes Mounted Police post in Cypress Hills—Meet strange frontiersman—Montana rattlesnakes—One law for Indian and another law for white man
  • Chapter XXXIII.
    At Fort Benton—Steamer comes up the river—Strange scenes on landing—First sight of a silk hat—Start for Sun River settlement
  • Chapter XXXIV.
    A unique storm—Stock stampede—Half a million buffalo in one herd—Surprised by Piegans
  • Chapter XXXV.
    Government fully established—Mounted Police in control of situation—Meet Chief "Bear's Paw "—Good news from the hill fort—Home again

Return to Books by John McDougall

This comment system requires you to be logged in through either a Disqus account or an account you already have with Google, Twitter, Facebook or Yahoo. In the event you don't have an account with any of these companies then you can create an account with Disqus. All comments are moderated so they won't display until the moderator has approved your comment.