|
Another
oportunity has arived by which I can send you a fiew lines and it
is my cincere hope that thay may find you enjoying the blessings
of health which is one of the gratest blessings I have never been
in better health in my life thanks be to the Father of the wandrer
for all his mercies to me I can say to day his ways is pleasantness
and all his paths are peace Though I am now more than 3000 miles
from my native land in the wilds of the Hudson Bay territory a land
(illegible) with dangers (illegible) every tribe on earth in time of war amongst 2 tribes the black
feet and the Crees yet I am lead home again to the class room amongst
Parents and Friends by a sermon From the Rev.Thos. Woosley a Weslean
Misionary who has spent 7 years teaching the wild and all most untamable
Indians he after service he brought 4 brethren or so to his bead
room we being the onley 5 out of 150 belonging to his church though
fiew in number we ware nevertheless hartly and kindley receved by him and
gave us the privilage of ocuping his rudly constructed and humble
room in which I now ocupie a seat while I endeavor to wright to
those in my one native land he has taken our names to report in
the Christian Gardian he tells us of his travels through the Indians
during his 7 years abode amongst them dangers seen and un seen perils
by day and knight dangers which I have not space to pen to you but
when I return to my one native land I shal relate to your astonishment
--- he preachs this evening on the campground —I will now
tel you the form which we adopted to travel (illegible)
about 150 every 2 provided their selves
with one oxe and cart or more if thair means allowed them but one
is sufisant for too men each man provides 200 lbs of flour 50 lbs
of pemican -- that is Bufflow meat choped up dried and the tallow
mixed and milled in to bags maid of the skin of 2 bushel bags one
of which will weigh 224 lbs this is very disgustfull loocking food
mixed with the hare of the animal and grass it has been maid by
Indians on the planes and choped up on the ground acounts for its
bad appearance never the less you must take it (illegible)
to cross the planes you may bring some
dried ham but it wont keep long 3 or 4 lb of tea each some dried
apples some suger some ginger or peperment it is good for giving
bad water a flavour which we met in abundance stagnate and salt
lakes and some time none good or had each cart brought a water keg
we kept it filled with
water this is onley required in the commencement of the journey
we find to mutch in the later part the things we provide ( illegible
) at the highest figer from 8 lbs to 10 lbs starting for an oxen
cart with out a nale nor a bolt of iron of any sort on it the harness
without a buckel or a stitch in it it been made solely of green
buflow skin our cart covred over with cotton on a piece of raw hide
tied to the oxes horns as a ranes to guide him and a stick in our
hand for a whip we mounted the carts and went a days drive a distance
of 30 miles to a place called White Horse planes Thair we camped
for half a day formed our selves into companeys the each companey
went by the name of the place the party was from ours was the Ottawa
company each man was of librty to join what companey he liked and
each companey formed a captain and the captain of evry company met
in the eavening after camping and maid rules for the next days travel
we camped in a sircle carts close to gether and tents out side pitched
our tents at 6P.M. if we found water let our cattle out untill sundown
tuck them in to midle of the ring til morning but a centry of 6
men (illegible) for the knight. Our
companey was composed of 11 men which I repsent in the ring it increased
to 21 men 11 carts in all were 100 carts we hired a half breed to
guide us (illegible) Indians (illegible) we came to Carlton house
at about one quarter of the distance to Edmington our guide left
us stole a duble barl gun to kill game we nevr saw him since we
ware alone than with out a guide on a baren trackless land we must
go on. to go back is ucless our party tuck the lead the rest in
the rare struck a norwesterly course (illegible) after 7 days hard travling
through a very rough prarie we saw the banks of the Saskatchewan
in 4 hours we gained the fort hired a nother guide who brought us
faithfully to Edmington house hear we have to hire another guide
to take us to Jaspr house whare we shal have to get another to take
us to caraboo. Hear we have to abandon our carts and pack our animals
to cross the mountains we traded guns old close carts for more horses.
Money is no use hear. We can take our oxen across the mountains
and down the Frasur on to caraboo (illegible) It
will take us 30 days yet to Caraboo.We
(illegible) 6 weeks (illegible) this fall som will go no further than hear. The Ottawa men staie
hear the (illegible) remain hear too I am going William and John Halpenny together
4 more men liked joined our party so out of 21 of the Ottawa party
thair onley 8 going over the mountain. Thair is all of some companeys
going over. I think about 50 shall remain in the Saskatchewan -those
staying are chiefly city men the trip is too hard for any one but
a stout robust person. We some times had to waid through 3 or 4
feet of water for a distance of 50 or 60 rods -ford rivers and creeks.
The mornings is very cold hear some days we ware (illegible) coats mostly all
day thair is no large trunks here the principal wood is poplar and
willow in some places so thick that you could not go through it
and some places miles without a twig. The ground is strewed with
Buflow carkus and bones. Your ears sometimes (illegible)
with wolves following our tail to pick up crums whare we camp.
Thay are large white (illegible)
looking -I shot some of them. The black snake and the adr are
the onely reptiles we saw the aders are plenty in Minesota but not
in the HB Teratory. I killed one with a club some shot them we saw
som Antilope the Buflow (illegible)
in large drove of 1000 or more you must shoot the leader then thay devide until the train pass.
I wish I could hear from you I cannot tell you to (write) to me
for I dont know yet whair I shal bee you need not Espect a letter
from me untill I reach caraboo and I dont know when that shal bee.
If we get gold in the head waters of the Fraiser we will stop for
a time on it and go down (illegible) our oxen will be food
for us. I will endeavor to conveigh to you a faint idea of the maners
and customs of the Hudson Bay inhabitants. Thar is 5 forts from
fort Garry to the rockey mountains. Ecepting fort Garry/James past
Carlton House Fort (illegible) and Edmington House
the Jasper House is in the rockey mountains. It we expect to see
in 10 days time. The mastrs and other officers of those posts is
Scotch the servents are Half breeds and Indians whites and others
mixed together. In one bead are men (illegible) and taring flesh of
any discription it may be dogs or cats or badgers or Buflow eather
killed or dead by accident. It is Imitereal all is eaten without
salt or flour raw or (illegible) Thair
bead is a buflow robes all spread down to together on the ground
squaws Indians halfbreeds halfbreed wimen and children together
with Scotlands degraded sons all misced up together. Some of the
forts is rudley constructed with mud and small poplar walled found
with trunks (illegible) end to the north a 16 feet to keep the Indians out in time of
war thay have some small canon in the side of this wall. Thair is
some dozen or more of miserable houses perfumed with roten skins
and putrified flesh which is imposable to describe. These houses
are inhabited by the above named people and not less than one hundred
and fifty dogs at each fort. Those thay kill and eat some times
in winter thay use them for drawing slaighs post to post .Hear thay
are preparing to kill some on next Wensday. It is a general thing
to asemble to gether and have a feast on dogs flesh. Thay soo no
grain escept a little hear more for curosity
than any thing else. Thay all live by hunting. Thay are a lasey
carless indolent set from head river to the rockey mountain. I mean
the rout through states in Millwalkee detroite st Pauls and maney
other towns and vilages I past through on Sunday they were busey
shops open tin smiths and evrey other smith and carters hamering
and driving boats lading and unlading and church bells ringing.
O what a discord between the church bell chimes and the cracking
of the whips and swaring of men and tumult of business on Sunday.
Hear I must cease for it is imposable for me to discribe
the way the Sabath day was violated in the states during my brief
and fleeting pasage across it. What I have saw is without exadgeration
to mee Canaday seems to be a liley be cide a thorn in that
respect now doubt thair towns are grand thair fields fertile thair
prairies romantic and butiful. The Lord has gave to them a butiful
land parts which seems like a paradise. But the air is ringing with
oathes and blasfamy of vile man. The red river settlement and hudson
Bay teritory is drunk in sin. Those Indians and halfbreeds knows
(illegible) nor times no better from thair pale faced brethren I think I
must cess writing before I burn the poor Misionary candle to a snuff.
I have gave you a faint glance
at what I have saw for the past three months nor space will
not admit me to go further though I (illegible)
would wright un till morning for while I write I fance I am
in my own native land telling to a tender mother or a kind Father
or a loving sister or some of my youth full companions to which
to be remembered and tell them if I shall never meet them
on earth I shal meet them in the land of the pure and holey whare
the gold shal never rust and the wearey are at rest I need not mention
them seprate remebr me to all So Father Mother Sisters good night
I must retire to my tent and cot on home tomorrow start for the
mountain. Write to Fany tell her I am well and will write to her
as soon as I get another oportunity which will be from the other
side of the mountain. I
am yours dutifully and affectionately untill death Joseph
T. Halpenny To
his Parents sisters and Friends PS
I will write to boys sepratley when I get to the end of my jorny
so that I can recieve an answer from them the RWT Woolsey has 10
dogs to draw him about. Remember me to Mrs. Thompson in particular
and David H. J.T.H.
please
excuse my bad spelling to any misteks place them in harmony if you
can we
pased over battle ground recently fought trampled over the graves
allso (illegible) across the disputed ground camped among the indians
I presented a chief my knife which he received and gave me his in
return they are astonished when they see my sword John
Halpenny wishes to be remembered to his Parents and brothers and
sisters and friends let them know that he is well and hopes thay
are enjoying the same blessing William
H is likeways well he writes a letter home now the Misionary taks
our lettrs down the saskatchewan David
Byrs is well he comes across the mountain with us the mountain is
easy to cross thair is a gorg through it our guide says we wont
know we are in the mountain at all till we are over we are going
to the Athabaska pass J
T H Green
Lake B.C. September 22, 1862 C.W.
(illegible) Dear
Friends, I
gladley imbrace another oportunity of sending you a fiew lines hoping
thay may one day reach you (illegible) sincerely hop thay
may find you all enjoying the blessing of health as do all inquiring
friends. I (illegible) was better in my life thanks be to the
giver of all good. (illegible) to one I have landed
safe in the land of (illegible)
the sultry planes in crossing the fleeting (illegible)
swimming some times
hanging to an animal (illegible)
to make a raft when to (illegible)
was forced to (illegible) bridges. We made eleaven of the latter in one weak (illegible) with continual rain for 11 days near the ( illegible ) with
out ceasing which cause a continual travling through wet (illegible) feet to 4 and sometimes 5. I was forced with many others to (illegible) watch in my cap and then it (illegible) . But never
ceased to keep time it being the onley one crossed the mountains
safe out of 3 dozen. I cant attempt to give you more than a mere
out line of our trip (illegible) that we were longer crossing the (illegible) mountains than we imagined we should bee. We ware 4 weeks in
the mountains sometimes up in the clouds some down in the swamps
or a rise snow or ice continually for 5 weeks.Water falling for
hundreds of feet rushing from the snow down to laks or rivers with
a mightey noise (illegible) seldom or never been seen by the Indians it bein hid in the
clouds. One of those A young man from Godrich a surveyor named Robison
and me climed to the haith of 1500 feet (illegible) and when thair it we apeared to be no neare the top than when
(illegible) ground. The cattle
in the valey apeard to us no larger than a small dog each one tuck
his one cover I tuck the trail of a grisley Bear he the rocks this
track was through little srubs and moss (illegible)
the rock. These I had to cling to if I let go I was dashed
to pieces. At a haith of 500 feet I came to a hole in the rock hear
the bare was in at the time for his track on (illegible) whare he draged his selfe in and over this hole I must go or
go back thes animals clime to the highes peacke of the mountains
whare no human being can clime. I went across the mouth of the whole
and on a fiew yards furthre and Robinson shouted for me to help
him down to me he being 20 feet on my left higher than me. My cover
was left at french cut in the Rocks al the way up on a water
(illegible) dry. Hear I had to help him down. I had to cling to the rocks
with one hand and lift him with the other the harder and if I ever
had having a brode sholde and strong arm save him thair { but it
was onley for a short time he sunk foreve in the fraiser river after
crossing the mountains}. He came to the top of the first bend brave
after he got into the trench with me neathe him no me dare venture
any further no other person would attempt it it tuck us 1 hour and
50 minutes to go up. --- we came to the head of the Fraiser River
we had to mak rafts to com down to caraboo. We brought down a yoak
of cattle belonging Wm. J. and J.T. Halpenny and David Byer (illegible) 1 horse and a share in another those 2 animals we sent from
the headwaters to the Origon trail by partys who tuck all the animals
around. Those partes will not reach (illegible)
never see them those
we brought down on the raft (illegible) and
the other we killed and sold part of it (illegible) we (illegible) near starved to death
had it not been for our (illegible) . We had nothing for 2 weeks
but Beef some eat horseflesh some eat skunk porcupine or any thing
thay could get. Had it not been for the Indians many would die of
hunger (illegible) . Hankerchiefs for fish I thank god I
have not yet known yet what it is to be hungry yet when I ( illegible
) though I have paid 8 cents per lb for flour 90 c. for bacon beens 75 salt 1$ rice 75 suger
90 thea 3$. Tobac 3$ to 3-50 to this (illegible) I have paid no attention for I have not yet commencd to use
it nor does not intend to. This is at caraboo further down the Fraiser
I have paid $1-50 for each meal it has been $3 in the spring it
is now (illegible) cheap. The men from canada flocked hear in the spring run away
down to Victoria an some home in conequense of the price of provisions
.No man can work the mines hear exept he has some capital surfis
diging is (illegible) out you must then sink 40 to 50 feet to the bead rock then
you may (illegible) the bar it lies in.
Hair thair is no use in a man coming hear that cannot work at any
thing. Not clerks not townsmen nor traidsmen but sutch men as can
swing a wooley cradle or chop (illegible) . Not that thair
is any ploughing or cradling in B.Columbia for I have not seen grain
Enough to keep a threshing mill for 2 days working for a distance
of 700 miles along the fraser nor a farm I would take as a gift.
It is all hills mountains rocks exept some (illegible) of poor land. I
mean that a man that can work on a farm is the man best suted for
this country for he genrley can doo any thing to be (illegible) but let no one that you can help come to the Overland
rout thay may never reach hear. The glasfords and all the ottawa
men staid in Saskatchewan we left them at Edmington. I have my doubt
of thair loock thair out of 100 I can onley
as yet for 60 landed in caraboo. We left some making rafts an canoes
those in canoes will never reach hear. Thair was 2 canoes come with
us back was lost 2 men drawnde we tuck 19 men from a reck of thair
raft we never (illegible) a with I acted as (illegible) thos men behind does not under stand (illegible) thair chances is poor thay may come through. Thair is
(illegible) canyuns
to come through I cant say no more about the rout I have not (illegible) but if ever I reach my one native land I will be able to unravel
a long tail. We gave Wm. Halpenny some money to go 60 miles up further
to pay the license for a claim it being onley 5$ and stak it off.
John Hand David Byrs and I are working on the roads for 40$ per
month I Have not mutch to do onley to stand at the dump and show
them whare to empty the loads. Thair is 200 men in sections along
the road. My camp is 27 all Canada me but 4. Thay offered us 57$
to work on Sunday I am sorey to say all my country men except John
Byrs and mee volentared. Sunday is no more respected than Monday.
Hear all work gambling and drinking is seen to a grate extent. Whiskey
25 cents per glass it is paid as read as one cent they have not
seen my 25 cents nor never will. Thair is no doubt gold in abundance
hear but fiew finds it in comparison to them that does not. It takes
6 or 8 men to work a claim right. We intend to try next spring if
Will can find a claim to suit. I have not wanted money since I left home I done a good deal
of trading with Indians in the plains I trade my rifle for a horse
my handkerchief I maid
3$. Each of many things I did not want turned in 5 times its value
and the day I hired with the company I had 15$ left. I have some
gold dus a sample of which I will send you. It is small though some
future day I hope to send you more. I
rote aletter from Edmington to you send no word if you get it. It
is getting dark I must cease not half satisfied for when I wright
I fancy I am home but if the lord spares me for a nother year I
shal see those that are dear to me again. Thair is thousands returning
home from this country but I must give it a fair trial before I
give up in dispair. Remembr me W. Freeman the Holmes and evry one
that inquires for me. Tell them I will wright to them the first
opertuity. I am sending this in the morning by dalight by a man
going down an I have onley 1/2 an hour to wright this. We are in
the bush an no candle so excuse my bad spelling and writing.Tel
them to wright me directing your letter to Westminster British Columbia.It
may be that I will be in Victoria Vancouver befor I can get a letter
from home but I must go down through Wminster and can make it all
right. Tell any of the boys that is coming out hear to wright home
soon and I will have a share bearth in my cabin for them. 2 months
is a long as thay can work on this road in consequence of frost
and snow. It freese and snows hear now we were so far north on the
plains. We had onley 2 1/2 hours of night. Wright soon as posable
tell about evry thing. I must wright to Fany soon John and William
is well and wishes to be remember to thair Friends Byrs too I heard
from W.Woods he was well when the person saw him. I dont know whare
he is. Fairburns is well and dooing well all is well I am yours
until death J.T.Halpenny
Victoria November 16, 1862 I
have now a safe oportunity of sending you a fiew lines by a canadian
who came across the K Mountains with me and is now returning home
disgust with the far famed Gold regions. I have saw many strang
seens many strang faces of evry nation sence I saw yours. I have
came from the head waters of the Fraiser to the mouth a distance
of 1000 miles. Crossed the Pavillion mountains 3 times the Baskards
once all so (illegible)
over the Geogian Gulf
and a wide scope of the Pesific Ocean and saw all the viliges towns
and citys in British columbia and Vancouver Island. I am now in
Victoria one of the larger citys in this least wild and extensive
country it is about the size of Prescot. Onley no so good buildings
here. West Minster is not so larg as Medcalf situated in the edg
of a wild woods whoes trees mesures from 5 to 8 feet across the
stump. High mountains rocks uncountable with out 100 acres of evin
soil, no farming, no whare for to farm sutch true discription of
West Minster and vicinity. Duglis Tillote Yail Hope and Tilton are
all on the banks of the Fraiser and has been hudson Bay Forts. Are
all small miserable places none any larger escepting Tilloote than
Billings Bridge nore is thair any Farming Country about Victoria
though it is called by the papers hear a farming locality. Thair
is no doubt a few acres hear and thair in Valies between the mountains
good land but thiar is not a grist mill of any kind in British Columbia
Caraboo nor Vancouvr Island nor never will. I believe all the food
of evry discription comes hear from Origan and California this country
is Overrun with people hundreds going to California and many to
Canada. Many more would go if thay could go. California is the best
place for many for it is a farming country but hear thair is nothing
dooing out cide of town. Bording houses pays best hear mines (illegible)
cabins and bords them
selvs. You can bord yourself as cheap as Canada. That is in Victoria
but British Columbia is from one doler to $1-1/2 per meal, Caraboo
2 and (illegible) . Thair is plenty of gold in
Cariboo no doubt but it is onley one out of 100 can find it thair
is onely 3 months of sumer thair and it is rainey wether mostl.y
You want about 5 or six hundred dolers at least to find any gold.Hear
you must sink a hole from (illegible) to 60 feet and line it like a well in the first place. Then
you must shifel under ground untill you find the lead and fiew strike
it and those who strike it gets abundence of it no doubt and those
are the onley claims that are publishe an those who do not strike
it is not mentioned. I have a claim on the far famed Williams Creek.
Thair is gold in it if I can onely get gold anough to get it out.
I am determin to try though like thousands I may not sucseed it
is 600 miles from hear to Wm. Creek. I can say without hesitation do not come
hear to farm if you doo you will be sorey if you come hear to mine
you may strike it and very likely yo may not.Tel no clerks no city
gentlemen com in fact too many has come if evry third son of the
(illegible) gentlemen in Canada
are sawing wood scraping streets and many other nasty jobs.A man
who come hear must turn his hand to evry thing.. Do not beleav evry
thing yo read about this country too the best of my knolede I will
sen true acount it is the most wicked country in the world cursing
gambling drinking and some times shooting. I have saw some killed
some dead an walked over gravs as unconserned as I have through
a potatoes field at home. Many Indians maid drunk by whits and kill
each other nor can I say half what I want to say. I cannot dwell
any longer hear this is my forth letter home I have
so none yet. I hav the offer of $4 per day to work at James (illegible) or $3 a thousand for making shingles. I have never known what
it is to want money yet thanks be to him who feeds the ravins in
the skys I shall not want. I am bording at Methesdist house. thair
is a fine class hear I can loock on my distant home in the skys
and say thair is not a shaid of truble (illegible)
across my pease full
brest onley I long to see my old friend again if God spares me untill
next fall I hope I shall meet you all again as well as I left you.
Remember ...
Vancouver Island, Victoria December
16, 1862 Cousin
Hand,
Opportunity favours me with a fiew moments to send you a
fiew lines by steemer Sanfrancisco it onley stays 3 hours in harbour
and 2 of them is allready past which leave
me onley one to wright and post it. I cannot give you a full
account of our trip
in this letter I will
briefly mention that is
allmost imposable to come to this country by that way an those who
are not helthy hardy and strong need not attempt
it. If thay do thair bones shal most likley lie bleaching
on the allmost boundless plains or otherwise in the foming waters
perhaps on the snow clad peaks of the rockey mountains. Not
only those but hundreds of other risks too numerious to mention
togather with the readman of the forest who is ever ready to bury
his knife into the bosome of the white man I have had them in a
crowd around me thair left hand extended out
to shake hands with me the knife drawn in the right hand I allso
brandish a glittering blade about 2 feet long in my right hand an
with my left grasp the hand of the wild man. I may hear state not
bostlingly that thair were not meny in our larg company of 150 men
would do it. Each company had a captain to transact thair busyness.
I represent the Ottawa forty
for this reason I had to wair
the sword which caused the Indians to wonder and gather around any person that had
them and for this reason very fiew wore them. Thair
has been a number of the Overland party lost how many I cannot state
as thay all did not take the same course on this side of the mountains.
I with 60 others came down the Fraiser the balance of the party went
down the Thompson. Thair was
some the latter lost. I have not herd how many nor until
latley of how many on the Fraiser. The reason is I was first down an onley saw 2 sink beneath
the waters of the mighley
Fraiser. 3 of the party behind met with the same fate which makes
5 lost on the Fraiser namely J.Peterson of Toronto formerly of England
A. Robinson Godrich Capenter Brown Penwarden
from Toronto or vicinity I think. I forgot to state that
Peter Glasford and Waldo Cooper Wamsley Bettiman and McKnab of Ottawa
did not come further than Edmington a Hudson Bay Post a distance
of 300 miles from the R. Mountains on the west cide. Thay remained
hear intending to prospect the Saskatchewan river. Of thair sucksess in procuring gold on the stream I
have my doubts however we
got the coulor thair but more abundantly Shavcake, McKloud and many other streams in the rockey mountains. Our
supplies of food was allmost escausted some living and (on? ..Ed.) 2 meals of
fresh beef which soon
reduced to one. Some not (illegible) some in a state of starvation killing and eating any animal thay could
find. Skunks ware the
mos numerous 2 or 3 being killed every day and eten with a good relish.
Some of our horses die from fitague the ware (illegible) . we
with some others had some (illegible)
though thay ware redused
to fourty we killed them devided them amongs the most
needy which no daubt saved many from actual starvation and
death. Caraboo
is undoubtly a rich gold country but a man without
money cannot posably obtain it without
at least 5 o 6 hundred dolers to commence with and then
ten chanses to 100 if you can find it in one season. You have onley 3 months to work. You must endure
continuous rains. The gold does lie nerer
than 60 or 70
feet of the surface. You must pay from $2 to $2.50 for the (illegible)
everything in the line of food.
(illegible)
not saw any places where
a half dozen of farms could be procured together
BV.Columbia ore yet in Vancouver
Island it mountainous rockey in the (illegible)
tel no person come in the (illegible)
JTHalpenny
(
No date or location ) Thair
is no chance to clerks hear. Thair is not one store to evry hundred
clerks in this town. Thair is people hear from all parts of the
world in thousands. Hear some in (illegible)
many retunrning home to thair native land or California time
is said to be better in summer time. Sutch is a faint glance of
the state of things hear so you can pas your comments at your leasur
at home in Canada the pride of the british dominions wher I want
advise many that thinks of coming to this country to remain. ----
I am painting at present. I had $4 per day in a joiner shop but
I cut my hand badley with the saw which leaves me unable to work
at that business so I went to sign painting sutch as I can do with
one hand. I pay $6 per week for my bord this with the doctors buill
comes high but I feel thankfull as yet that I am able to meet them
all. I have got a claim on Williams creek. John is hear working for $1-50 per day.
Charles Amore is hear doing nothing nor maid nothing. Bradley is
hear working in a carpinter shop. William Wood I have not seen I
herd he was in Origon. Fairburn paid $1000 for a claim got onley
$1000 out of it which did not pay for thair bord. I did not see
the McKaters but herd they maid nothing and again I saw some that
maid a pile but thay had a pile to commence with. This is without
esadguration.
Remember me to Mr and Mrs Thompson (illegible) and all Enquiring friends. Yours truley
J.T. Halpenny P.S.
I never shal forget Mrs Thompsons kindness to
me together with yours which I hope soon to repay JTH wright
soon direct your letter to Vancouver Island Victoria Vancouver
Island, Febuary 13, 1863 Dear
Father, I
do not know that I send anything that would interest you in this.
Thair is 2 men of my acquaintance
going home to canada
and kindley offers to cary my letters. I have onley receved
one letter from you sense I left home dated November 15 wrote by
mother Ellen and Alicia and Fany Tomkins. Those letters are a treasure
to me when ever I feel lonesone ore alone I read them all over and
over again and feel sorey when I come to the end. When you write
to me write a long letter dont mind apologising for mistakes write
it any way I can read it. I read that part wrote by my mother with
a feeling I cannot express. Dont doubt my capibility of apriciating
the affections of a mother and more espessaly one sutch as mine.
Martha nor Sarah sent me not a line but I know thay have not for
got me I have not forget aney of you. I wonder does Sarah sing that
little piece she promised she would sing for me while away. I allso receve a letter From Mrs. Thompson
and David and Wm. Freeman all of which I answered and sent by a
man going home. I was very sorey hearing of Mr. Freemans barn being
burnt but all things worked together for good for them that love
me saith the Lord. I did not receive R. Holmes letter. Thair is
hardley any thing doing hear at preasant. Thair is a fiew gets a
days work now and then at $1.00 and 25 cents per day. Some time
men get $1 and 1/2. Thar will be better wages when the spring opens.
I for get to say that men have to bord thair selvs at that wages.
Bord hear and find your own bead close are $6.00 per week. Some
board a little cheaper by renting a cabin. One 8 feet sqair cost
six dolers per month and find your own stove. Coal $20 per ton wood
$6 per cord. You must build your own chimley pay your own taxes
so that the cabin comes very little cheaper than the bording house.
I am stoping at the Overland Resturent formerly kept by Mr. Bohem
who is now gon to canada. I sent you some lettrs by him. I think
mentioned him in the letters it is now kept by 2 o the men that
came across the plains with me.Thay keep a nice house alowing no
liquer nor gambling in the house. I think it is the onley house
that prohibits sutch in Victoria but thair is any amount of musick
playing in this house. While
I am writing thair is 2 (illegible) 1 flute 1 banjo 1 tamburien
playing all around me in the room. So you will escuse my bad writing
and spelling for it is Imposable to write whair thair is sutch a
noise. I have seen the Ottawa Citizen with 2 of my letters published
in it if I thought thay would have been published I would have done
them more justice but the onley mistake is see in them is that of
Edmington house in it is Eddington. We have heard in this town that
the Indians of Minisota have destroyed 800 whites together with
a party coming here after us. Thay maid a rush on us on the read
river sounding the war hoop and firing some guns but on (illegible) our boat thay saw we
were fulley prepared for them becids a good numbre of us thay retreated.
Revolvers and rifels astonish the Indians in this country at least
on the plains. I will endeavor to give you the names of the tribs
I have been amongst sense I left home on the east cide of the Rocky
mountains. The Chippways Crees Suzeo Assynbayns bloods stone blackfeet
Rocky mountain Raingers and many others. I forget on this side of
the mountain the Sewswaps Northrens Cost Indians flathead Indians
Belacoola I. (Island -editor) Ballabala I.Queen Shortet I. Victoria
I. and maney others I do not remember but I am going to take the
names of all the tribes as I go up the country as I meet them. I
have kept nots of evry thing sence I left home. It is an Almanac
for the Overland boys.The editor of this paper in this town wanted
to get it from me but I am determined to bring it home when I go.
I have been at allmost evry thing sence I came hear carpintering
building brick chimleys making fence painting lettering sines building
a warf rafting on an (illegible) of the pesific Ocean lettering buisness cards lathing at this
I cut my finger with the saw. I had a big job of it and I was in
a great hurry it beeing near dark I tuck a bunch of laths to saw
them across one of them sprung out and (illegible)
the saw on my finger. I was for 2 weeks (illegible) with it it cost me a considerable for the doctor to dress it
4 times. It is quite well now. I was going up to the roads with
the man I worked for last fall he wanted me to go with a gang of
choprs but the river frozed over and we cant go until it braks up.
I am now working on a warf with some Ottawa men Charley Amo Bradley
Reed Sims Brown he being the contracter. John Halpenny is working
at a fence at preasant. Hear William Woods in a saw mill David Byrs
making a dam at duglis William Halpenny cutting wood in Caraboo.
Thair is no communication to cariboo by lettre in winter time. I
hear some times from him by some (illegible) men who seen him, He
has taken a claim for us. We intend going up in the spring. Thair
is a great maney sorey for coming hear .I am not sorey yet I am
determined to see if thair is aney thing in Caraboo for me first
and then I will be satisfied to go home. It may be I shal have to
come down broak like thousends how ever I would like to see you
all next winter if posable. I would not live in this country by
any means. It is the most profain place I ever hear of. Tel aney
of the boys who talk of coming hear not to come without at least
ten or twelve hundred dollers. In fact I would not advise them to
come at all this season thay can erin as mutch and more money at
10 or 15$ per month at home than thay can hear exept thay had money
anough to prospect a claim in caraboo and that is onley one chanse
again 100. Please escuse this scrible I onley hope that it will
find you all in good helth as I am at preasant thanks be to the
giver of all goodness who has guided me safe through many daingers
and who will guide home at last to heaven. Thair I hope to meet
you all if not on earth. Remember me to James and Mary Ann Ellis
to Mr. Freemens and Hardys McKenzees B. Homes and David. Remember
me to all tell them all to write me lettrs from home are chearing in a straing land. John wishes to be remember
to all. My complemetns to Mrs Thompson and David uncle William and
family though far from you all let me whisper good knight your affectionate
but distant son.
Joseph T. Halpenny to
his respected Father and mother and sisters at home Seeder
Hill V.T. November 29 1863 Dear
Friends I
am now in the visinity of Victoria after spending the sumer in Caraboo
without securing mutch benefit by it further than they. Prospects
are encuraging so mutch so that I am induced to spend
another sumer in Caraboo. The miners had all stoped work and laid
over thair claims untill next season we wair the last to give up
work. On lower Williams Creek the reason why the Frost binds up
the stream and it is imposable to work without water --- Our claim
is looked on as a claim that will turn out a rich mine when we reach
the bottom which I hope we shall test airley in the spring. I closed
the books for this season before I left W.Creek and our espences
for Incidentals and others ware $14000. I was elected Secretary
of the company shortley after I became a member of the Bearer Co.
I am going to spend another season in Caraboo and after wheather
sucksessful or not I will bid fair well to British Columbia and
Vancouver Island. I will seek the home of sivilised. On my way from
Caraboo I seen 4 Indians hung they being some of a partey who killed
nine white men at a trail called the River trail at Bridge creek.
I saw a man with this troth cut he was yet alive but unable to speak.
At Tilloot I heard a Rober sentenced to death for the murder of
(illegible). This along with severl othres crimes of smaller dementions but
nevertheless horiable in one trip from Caraboo as for leavling pistols at each other it is nothing hear.
It is an evrey day acurance
among a serten class sutch as gamblers and so on ---- I have
had the pleasure of frequently keeping in company with Laughlin
Tayler in Caraboo. He told me he had been over three quarters of
the world amongst the sailors and solgers and miners in California
Newzeland Australie and other plases. And so wicket
place as Caraboo he never seen. I am now at Seeder Hill a
distance of 5 miles from Victoria. I am building a trashing mill
for a member of parliment. I am likley to remain hear all winter
he has other jobs he wants me to do I am my owen boss and has a
nice shop all to my selfe. I left John William and Chapman Fred
Bradley Dan and old Mr. McArther all well John intended to come New
WestMinster January 12, 1866 Dear
Friends Last
knight I received too
letters from you one dated June 25 and the other August 17th the
first I have received since the one I received last winter dated November 1864. That is only once a year I hear from home
that is not as often as I would wish to hear. But nevertheless I
know you have sent more than those to me but the fact is I have
not received them and the onley way I can acount for
it is that I am never verrey
long in the one place and cannot tell whair
I may bee in a month from hence.
I have sent 3 letters home last sumer and was wating an answer
to send again however
I am verrey thankfull for those I have got and hope you will continue
sending them more numerous than ever that I may be able now and
then to find one as I wander along on my roving but unsukessfull
mishion. Now I will tell you my transactions sence I sent you my last
letter. I was then at the mouth of the Quisnell river from thair
I went to caraboo in order to work a while in a claim and return
home in the fall.While I was thair thair was a ritch claim struck
on the sumit of the mountain aposit Ritchfield. A man who bee a
partner of mine in all my mining performance was thair when the
found the gold and imediatley staked ought 4 claims numbering my
name amongst them and indeed I was pleased to find that I was the
posesor of a claim on the top of a hill whair the water could not
truble me and more fortunit still joining a ritch claim. We went
to work faithfully at it sunk a shaft found the bead rock but not
a couler of the precious mettle then we ran drifts (or tunels) through
it but no gold thair. We spent our last doller loocking for mor
the sertain gon loocking for the unsertain which every one counted
sertain but all bitterley disapointed and I more disapointed than
aney one deprived of seeing the home and friends I long so mutch
to see deprived of the treasure I longed to carey home to you and
which I cannot find curage in myselfe to go home without. It is
hard if one who is said to have a braive and courageous hart to
be defeated and disapointed in the object nearest to my hart that
is to carey back to my home and my parents and sisters something
that would make them stand on the saim platform with some of those
who esteem them selves more highley than nature has destined them.
However it is a long road that has no turn I am not discuraged yet.
Let me remain hear untill next fall. I may be away for the big bend
of the columbia River before a week. Thair is a new gold field I
mean to try it if the lord spares me to reach thair and when I get
hom if I doonot suceed I will not acuse my selfe of not making the
gratest effort I new and if I never suceed I will always be thankfull
to my heavenley Father for his unspeakable mercie un to me in this
land of straingers. John Halpenny went out to the big bend last
fall and is winterring thair he has taken up claims thair. William
H. Is stoping hear I have never seen Robert Holmes yet but I understand
he is gon back to silver city. Thair is not much dooing hear. I
forgot to tell you how I got down to New Westminster. I went to
work on a bridge and urned a nough in a short time to bring me hear
and to keep me hear a while. When we came to yale the steemer had
stoped runing and we had to hire Indians to bring us in a canoe
to hear. Thair was eight of we ran through ice all the first ariving
at harrison about one hour after dark after a cold day and and dangerous
50 miles of Fraisour navigated . Started next morning maid 30 miles
finding our selves sorounded by ice floting crushing and braking
carreying us whair it pleased then we longed to bee on terrafirma
this we acomplished after one long hour toiling and braking through
acres of foming ice with our little craft cut through in his bowes.
We abandoned it and took to the woods making from 3 to 8 miles a
day untill we reached hear. It took us 5 days to travel 30 miles.
We had to stop at indian houses. Thay treated us verrey well. This
route was through the grate sumass district of which you must heard
something about. As for me I hope I shal nevr be catched in it a
gain. Thair is 3 or 4 degraded white men thay call Farmers living
on salmon and potatoes. Fread Bradley was all through these performances
with me after all we are all hear and all well thanks be to him
who gides the wandrer. I am rejoiced to hear you are all well and
verrey glad that Martha and Sarah is still at school. Listen to
me my 2 sisters you are nobley imployed. Keep to school dont waist
a moment folishley dont get tired of learning never fancey you are
too old to learn or to big. Learning is one of the greatest gems
the best fortune. I would not give a good education for the best
township in Gloucester. You may think that is a foolish asersion.
Not so while you have learning you can neve want that is rather
a (scratched out) boys maid about me not returning home on
acount of (scratched out) what (scratched out) thay
wair maid to understand that (scratched out) I was at home and more than that I could (scratched out) not at home to (scratched
out) but thair is one thair that can (scratched out)
this is anough to say on this subject it a delicat matter to (scratched
out) it is able to make (scratched out) but I want (scratched
out) but let this sufise for the preasants let me add that I would think
little about my home if the union of sutch a (scratched out) keep me from it or remove for
a moment the affection that is in my bosome for my Father Mother
and Sisters. Now a line to my dear mother whome I have never lost
sight of through my wanderings. Let me do away with my boyish timidities
that yet lingers around me in espressing my full sentiments of my
mind in this respect. Mother it is nearley 4 years since I parted
you. The time I remember well I have been absent in the bodey but
with you with my hart I am with you and talking with you every knight
but alass waik up to find my selfe far far away and it is my most
solem prair to my hevenley father this knight that I may be with
you before he pleases to call one of us home to the land whair thair
is no sorrow. I have the fiew lines you sent me by your one hand
I remembr your advise I have kept it and may god inable me to do
so untill the end may he guide and protect all of you parents sisters
and friends.
Joseph to his dear and respected mother Ellen
I have sent a fiew lines to my mother I have not room hear to say
all I want to say in my next I will send a line to my father. You
say I dont mention the McKenzees I thought I remember them all.
Remember me to them and Every one you think. Well of I am verey
thankfull to Margret for the note she sent me in companey with yours
and as I have not room hear I will send her one directed to her
selfe. I wish thair may be some line some word that you and her
may enjoy your selves over.
Joseph Halpenny to his parents and sisters hoping this may
find you all enjoying helth and hapiness as I am well at preasant
thanks be to my Redeemer P.S
Direct your next letter to New
WestMinster P.O. B.C.
Joseph Halpenny New
Westminster, B.C. March
11th 1866 Dear
Friends I
am hear yet in my last letter I said I was soon going to big bend
but the river closed this with a heavy fall of snow prevented every
one from going up. Navigation is now open the steemers runing to
yail so I am going to make a start next week fully determined to
mak one more effort to realise something in the mines if thair is
any thing in them. Thair has been nothing doing in this town if
I may call it a town but the press hear has the assurance to call
it a City. Every 3 or 4 houses built together is called a city.
This name for insignificant bits of mining camps appear big to people
far away. I think I might saifley say that all the towns in this
coloney including Vancouver Island put to gather would not make
a town as large as Ottawa City. John Halpenny arived hear last week
and I am sorey to tell you the poor fellow was forced to toter a
long on crutches.He went to big bend last fall took up a claim sunk
down 11 feet found a little gold anough to encurage them to sink further. Thair provisions run out and they had
to quit and come down to shuswap lak for provisions and be fore
thay could return the winter set in frost and snow verrey sevear.
So much so that John and one of his companions got thair feet frozen
badley. John has lost all the toes of his right foot the left feet
is perfectly well. We got him in to the Hospital he is getting along
as well as can be expected for the time.It is the opinion of the
doctor that he will allways be a little lame. Thair is going to
a big rush to big bend this season and likley a big rush back again.Thair
is not enough provisions thair now cannot be got thair to suply
the number of men suposed to be thair.The nearist point that provisions
can be packed by animals to the mines is a distance of fiftey miles
from this place. To it has to be packed by men. John says he has
seen gold found in 2 or 3 places thair so thair is sertenly gold
in it but as to the quantity no one can tell. Tell the boys not
to be too much excited about big bend yet for thair is no telling
any thing about it yet more than thair is some gold thair but the
question is, is thair a nough to pay is thair any extent of gold
baring ground thair. This question will be decided this summer and
not sooner.Let the boys keep cool untill then take no notice of
nusepapers. Goss put up by steem boat men merchants speculaters
of all kinds. Let them wait untill thay hear from som reliable athority
sutch as a privat letter from a friend or some thing of that sort
then if they say come come by all means. I have not any thing further
that would interest you at preasent but as soon as I go up country
I will likly be able to wright some thing more. I am perfectly well
at preasant thanks be to the giver of all goodness to me. It is
my grates wishes that this letter may find you all the same. This
letter though small in sise and words few and poorley arranged nevr the less it bares back to my native
land parents and sisters and friends my kindest wishes any best
respect and purest love. Remember me to all dont let them say he
did not mention me and me I will mention no names for thay are too
numerous but remember me to all who you think cares about knowing.
William is well and wished to be remembered to you all all so John
wishes the same. Hear I must conclud for the preasant and believe
me to be your affectionate son and brother Joseph
Halpenny Dear
friends at home
Time has swept fastly by cence I sent you a letter -allmost
five months. forgive me it was not carlessness.nor has fleeting
time born with it the fond recollections of parents and sisters
with that dear old home which I long for to see and will if the
lord spares me. (illegible)
you ask why am I silent so long.) I shall tell you the truth
and the truth onley that I might wright to you I was wating for
some better news to send you than I have been sending. I was on
french Creek all sumer in big bend I prospected faithfully sunk
three shafts to the bead rock and found no gold. then I went
a building houses and putting in machinery in claims the
grater portion of this work I had to take what is here called bead rock . That is to
take your pay when it comes out of the claim at home it would be
called giving time for payment.
I worked in this way untill November the weather
was getting cold and people commenced going down. But
I (illegible) when I went down to go home I tryed to collect some money. I could
not doo it every one complained of hard times and verey little gold
comming out so I must keep on doooing something. A man who owed
me for putting in his pumps asked me if I would buy an intrest in
his claim I told him I would if I got a good bargin. I bought the
claim for five hundred dollers after all espences was paid and allowing
me 10$ per day for taking charge of the claim as thay wair not very expert miners themselves. On
those conditions I took charge and commenced runing a tunnel at the end of four weeks we struck gold.Worked
on for 3 days longer and tuck out $300. Then the frost forsed up
our pumps and we could work no longer.
So we must quit untill spring. This is the first claim I
have ever had that I found gold in it is time after nearley five
years faithfull serching. I have spaired no pains incountered every
thing endured all the hardships of a miners life. Spent nothing
foolishley disapointed in all most everything up to the time we found the gold. and
then I was disapointed I was in hopes the weathe r would have kept
fine untill we would have taken out some more or at least for another
week so that I would have been able to have sent some home this
is what has kept me from writing so long I wanted to
send something or go home. This is all I have being trying to acomplish
and could not suckseede but the way seems britr. I hope that another
sumer will finish my wandering
and with the helpe of the lord see you all ere another winter pases I am afraid to make promises.
It is hard if thay cannot be ful filled but I have a resolution
formed and (illegible)
firmly to meet you all next fall if god is willing. William
Halpenny is still in big bend prospecting. he did nothing untill
late in the fall. He had no money and I had to keep him untill he
got work which was not easley to be had. He was living with me I think for three
months before he got anything to do. It costs considerable to keepe
a man for that lenght of time hear. I had to pay from $2.00 to $1.50
per lb. for bacon $2.50 for tea,
from $1.00 to 50 cents per lb. for flour
and every thing elce in preportion.
I have had considerable work to do since I caim to this country
but thair is no use in complaining -it is hard to see a friend want in a straing land. Big bend is a rough mountainous country
half incircled by the Columbia River. On going in the spring we
each took 100 lbs of provisions a distance of 60 miles over the
highest peeks of some of those mountains we judged the snow was
from 30 to 100 feet deepe. Thair was a grate number was forced to
leave thair load behind. I left Seamore with 20 stout loocking men.
Onley 5 of us brought our loads through so you may judge that I
am not yet mutch the worse of the mountain life. Coming out over
those mountains thair was seven of us in companey. In one day we
tryed to cross over one of those bald mountains a distance of 7
miles in order to get into the thick woods on the other cide of
the summit to stop overknight. Comming up towards the top the snow
had fallen about 10 feet deep and still kept poring down thicker
and larger than I have evr saw. We had no track. som began to get tired and stay behind. The
stronger ones kept in frunt braking the snow and incuriging them
on -for to stop thair was onely to perrish it soon git dark and
seemed posable and not yet across tossing through that dept of snow
thay commenced stay behind -we commenced to get further
and further apart soon we could only hear a faint respond to our
call and latter not a sound. It get allmost jet black the man in
frunt threw him selfe down declaring he could not
see nor could go no further thair was
3 of us and 4 behind I cannot tell you the sensation that
crept over me at those words. To remain thair was sertain death
and was a sroud of snow. I must
never see parents sisters nor friends any more.
Those wair my thoughts at that moment when I started to the frunt
and asked them if thay could follow me. Thay was both Englishmen
thay said thay would follow me untill thay would fall to rise no
more and kept limping through the snow. I fancy I get stronger and
could keep on untill daylight now and then thay would ask me not
to go so fast. Finally one of them said he could go no further.
I toild him I thought I saw the woods a head he called again a litttle
further and we tumbelled through some srubery. Never was brush more
welcome a fiew (illegible)
furthre on we wair in the woods but on going to make a fire we found that the men be hind had the axe
and matches. This was still fearfull -we loocked for a big tree
to shelter us from the falling snow when one said I am chilled allmost
to death I cannot stand it mutch longer we may as well stop under
any tree we meet. I went a little distance from him and saw a light
-told them -they said it was imposable no one had been over since
the snow fall. I went to
the place and found a nise fire down 10 feet in the snow a large
tree for a roof and snow for a walls not a brees could come thair.
The fire was fresh and lively nevr was fire more welcome
to human beings. We never could find out how the fire came
thair I have not spaice here to describe it minutley but after we
wair warmer I went back. The
others would not come with me to find the 4 behind. The night became
lighter so I could see our tracks. I found the 4 standing in a lump
3 trying to hold up one thay wair glad to see me and said thay would
try to walk to camp if I would carry him. Thay wair holding up -he could hardly speak when
I get him on my back -still he kept trying to curse and swair
let me down -I might as well go to hell now as any other time. We
got all to camp the next day got to (illegible) built a boat
crossed the lake a distance of 100 miles. I saw John Halpenny in
Westminster on my way down -he is well -he is a little lame and
I feel he will always be so. Thair is grait rumers hear about gold
being found in Canada let me know if it is true for I have lerned
to know that thay half of a gold storey is a nough to beleave tell me what thay fenians is dooing. I would lik to have been
with the brave fellows that met them when thay came to Canada. Let
me know in purticular how you are all getting along. Give my best
respects to David Halpenny the next letter I send will be to him
remember me to Mrs. Thompson Mr and Mrs Ellis and all friends and
nabours. I sent a letter from big bend to Alex MacKenzie I have
got no answer to it yet. I wish he would send me a letter tell me
how Mr and Mrs Houston and whair
thay are. I supose you need hardley remember me to aney of
my old companions most likely by this time thay have forgotten me
remember me to Fanny and Abraham tell me how thay are. Now I must
bid you good bye for the preasant hoping that this may find you
all in good helth which god in his tender mercys had kindly bestowed
on me.
Joseph Halpenny to his parents and sisters |
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