____________________________________________________________________
A
thoroughly entertaining read. I took a photograph of the
historical marker this year and it now hangs in the Keg in
Richmond Hill Ontario. I was appalled to find that staff of
this large restaurant chain have no idea why they serve ‘Billy
Miner Pie’. It was my simple attempt to remedy a little bit
of that. Your book has done much better. Possibly the Keg
could use a number of copies of your book.
In any case it was good to read of the history, the area and
the people of that time. Since moving from North Vancouver we
have been home many times and travel the area often. I
continue to look for a DVD copy of the Grey Fox as well. I
will be recommending your book to my friends, assuming my copy
will be worn out by those I lend it to.
Dave L.
____________________________________________________________________
Thank you so much for the wonderful gift of your book, it's
been a fantastic read!
As you know, I grew up in The Netherlands and 'historical'
events there are considered to have taken place much earlier
in time. In the area where I was born and raised, civilization
started around 3000 before Christ and official archives and
documents of important events have survived for over 1000
years today.
But although BC history (not civilization!) only goes back
some 200 years, it's not of any less importance. It was
shocking to me to read how hard it was for you to hunt down
information on events that only happened 100 years ago! I get
the impression that historical awareness in BC is on the rise,
but it's unbelievable to me to read how government archives
have been (and are?) treated. History is not only for the
handful of 'history buffs' amongst us, sooner or later in life
we'll all want to know more about 'the olden days'. If
factional information is simply destroyed through negligence,
how will we show future generations how things were and how
will they be able to learn from things we could have done
better?
With English being my second language, it may have taken me a
little longer to read your book, but I can assure you that I
took it up every night for almost a month and had to cut my
reading time off at midnight... Your style of writing grabbed
me and never let go. In my opinion, your book is a fantastic
document that combines documenting facts and story telling in
a most exciting format. I can't even begin to imagine how many
hours of research went into this book and I admire your
persistence and historical awareness.
This book for sure is something to be extremely proud of and I
am looking forward to hearing more about your next project re
the Gold Rush.
It was an honor to meet you both and I am sure we'll meet
again.
Remco W.
____________________________________________________________________
My wife bought a copy of your book for me at the Kamloops gun
show. We talked for a long time about the firearms used by the
miners for your next book at the show. I'm the guy who still
uses an old blackpowder shotgun to hunt deer with.
Well its taken me longer than expected to finish my copy of
your book. Work and family commitments you know.
I
have to say that I found the book an outstanding read. To
think of all that history and goings on in the area we were
in. And not that long ago either. A 100 years, as far as
history goes is pretty recent. While travelling back to the
island on the ferry after the Kamloops show. I had the
opportunity to run in to a real old timer who grew up in
Kamloops. He said he knew one of the fellows that was part of
the posse chasing miner. He saw my copy of your book on the
table I was sitting at. This fellow was as the saying goes
"older than dirt". I only wish I could remember his name. We
talked for a while and he had a lot of interesting stories
about Kamloops in his younger days.
I
find it interesting that Dunn had a Luger pistol. A pistol so
new would be worth a lot of money I would think. The Luger
being in production for a short time, before the story takes
place. Makes me wonder where the money would come from to buy
such an expensive gun.
Anyways thanks again for a great book. And I wish you luck
with your next book. I'm sure it will be as good of a read as
this one has.
Marc S.
Oma Products Ltd.
____________________________________________________________________
Dear Peter, I enjoyed meeting you and Karen at the Calgary
Gun Show in
April , which I attended with a gun collector friend from
Richmond who spent some time with you talking about Miner's
firearms.
The book was a great read. A fascinating story , both from
the history of the people that settled in that part of BC, and
the geographical details , to say nothing of the story of
Bill's escapades . I spent some time in Tulameen this past
summer, and now have more reason to explore the area . I spent
my working years with the HBC Northern Stores , which became
the NorthWest Company in 1987, and have an interest in
Canada's history and pioneers, particularly in the back
country .
Jim B.
____________________________________________________________________
14 March 2009
Hello:
I recently
finished your book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I love BC history and this
just added to my deepening interest. I particularly like the gold rush
history. “Our” history in this province is so young (I think) and it
fascinates me what occurred only a short time ago. I grew up in Surrey and
when the BC pen was closed I would go over and roam around the grounds (once
getting chased by security patrol). Later, after it was slowly getting
demolished, I climbed through a window of the entrance/receiving building
(not the one on the riverfront) and looked around; even climbing up onto the
roof up one of the ladders. I personally think it was a travesty that the
site was demolished like it was but I’m probably one of the few. I’ve tried
several times to find the old Pen graveyard; apparently some of the stones
are still visible. I have a good idea where it is now and hope to get over
soon and find it. I plan to go to the Mission Museum and look about soon
since reading your book.
Thanks for the
great read!
Karen G.
(The writer responded
to Karen as follows:)
15 March 2009
Hello Karen, nice to hear from you and I enjoyed your comments on the BC
Pen.
You will be pleased to know that I am well underway on my research to my
next book. It deals with the very early years of the Cariboo Gold Rush,
pre-Barkerville, and documents the exploits of 4 individuals who either left
personal reminiscences behind, or considerable primary and secondary source
material has been discovered in my research. However, none of them are
recognized by most BCers.
It will take place during 1861-62, the very foundations of BC as we know
it. It concentrates on one creek, Lightning Creek, and one town, Van
Winkle.
So, glad you enjoyed the book, and thanks for contacting me.
Peter Grauer
20 February 09
Hi Peter,
Just finished
reading your book, very impressed with the history and facts that you had
researched for your book, it reads like a very excellent movie script, that
jumps right into your thoughts as it is read, I relived the reality of those
days, and all of the real life characters that opened up this country and
province. My mind was, as on eagles wings, as I read the last chapter
reflecting on all the history and information that had been compiled between
these to book covers.
My
wife purchased the book from your wife at the ... . I have followed
B.C. history with a passion since a young boy. I also had a friend who lived
in Merrit and went to one of Bills old cabins up Hamilton hill towards Otter
Valley / Princeton. It was down a road that turned off to the left
from the highway, the local population that new about this cabin.
Declared it to be were he had hid something in the area from one of the
robberies, I took a photo of the cabin it still had all walls and a partial
roof in the early 70s, even if it wasn't a cabin truly connected to
Bill Miner it was a good day adventure ?
I am also very
interested in Politics and unions in Canada, you have touched on a bit of
this history in your book, have you come across any information on Ginger
Goodwin in your research or read the book published about him? He was
a coal miner from overseas that helped bring in better working conditions in
the Cumberland coal mines of Vancouver Island.
British
Columbia history is far from dry and calm as you have presented, it is rich
and alive with many new historical works, yet to come to life, in Canadian
history.
Thanks
James H.
Hello Karen and
Peter,
It
was a great pleasure to meet you personally at the mall this past weekend.
My wife Guida
and I stopped to have a chat with you, when you showed us the letter and
photograph sent to you from Constable Fernie's daughter.
(Actually, it was Constable Young's daughter. PRG)
We are the
couple who moved to Canada from South Africa and settled in K... 16 years
ago. Living in B... for 12 years, I had the opportunity to hunt the hills
and areas around Monty Lake, Duck Range Road and Robbins Range just to
mention a few of the locations. As you can understand, reading your book
gave me the insight and understanding of what people went through during
that era.
When you have an
opportunity, would you please send us a copy of the picture and the letter.
I would like to keep these as an addition to your book.
I
thank and congratulate you both on an excellent, factual and historical
record you have given to Kamloops. I'm sure your book will be read and
appreciated by many people who know and live in Kamloops, not forgetting
those who have an interest in Canadian history.
Once
again thank you, may you have a wonderful Christmas Season and all the very
best for 2009.
Good
luck with the gold rush writing and am looking forward to reading it as
well.
Regards
Dimas
and Guida C.
Kamloops. BC
17 November 2008
Hi Peter,
I heard you
speak at Sun Peaks last month (water conference), I did not have cash to buy
your book but I did purchase it when I returned home to Grand Forks. This is
one of the best books that I have ever read. Great work, especially since
being an author was not your original line of work.
Thanks
Murray K.
Grand Forks
11 October 2008
What a Great book!!!
I found myself getting up in the middle of the
night being drawn to your book. I was so happy when recently travelling
through Kamloops and filling up on gas (on heading to Vancouver Island for
holidays) that I noted your book for sale at the gas station (Gateway
Truck Stop, Bill Miner's Roadhouse PRG). I was thrilled to purchase it,
as this book had been in my mind for quite some time.
I do note you mention a couple of people in
the beginning of your book that were from Powell River, which happens to be
my home town... and that was a nice surprise to see.
Even though I am not from the Okanagan, I am
married to a family originally from Kamloops and now Vernon, which happens
to be one of the sons of the founders of Armstrong Cheese (which in a way is
a story in itself). Founder Adrien Schrauwen and his wife Kay are now gone,
but I think most people probably remember how good the cheese was before it
was bought out in the 70's by Dairyland/Saputo. Well, that is my opinion
anyway... maybe I am prejudiced?
But now.... I am going to read your book again
as it is calling me. So again, I just want to thank you for what you have
given the public. I certainly can see the work and sacrifice involved in
this great piece of history.
Thank you so much.
Diane S.
(Diane wrote another follow-up email to the
writer:)
11 October 2008
Because I had
travelled through Kamloops, and of course past Monte Lake, many times in the
past, I always thought about Bill Miner. (But the first time I thought of
Miner was on looking at a mural at the Keg Restaurant at Granville Island in
Vancouver many years ago when I use to go there. Someone there told me it
was Miner and a bit about the story.)
So being I had
a long-standing interest in Miner, and while I was at the Coles bookstore
here in Vernon, I asked if they had a book on Bill Miner. That is when I
was told of your book and that I could even order same through the Web.
Being I am
really not that Web savvy (I am over 50 and do not know how to get around
the computer that much), I sort of put it off, and that is why I was
extremely thrilled when I saw the name of Miner at that gas station. Yes, I
believe it was the Gateway Truck Stop. It is not far off from the bottom of
the Vernon-Falkland road then crossing the highway into Kamloops.... there
on right hand side.
When I went
inside to see if a book on Miner was there to purchase I could not find any
and I was disappointed. Lucky for me that it was not too busy at the time
and I asked a store clerk if they had any books on Miner. Of course they
had, and it was in an area behind the main counter. I don't know if I had
missed a sign that may have been displayed about the book.... but if there
was it was not noticed by me.
I think it
would be really neat if they had set up a continuous running movie (snippets
from the Grey Fox or something) that they could display above the main
counter with a notation below the screen stating "books for sale here". But
I expect that would be too much of an expense; but on the other hand it
would be something of interest to watch while waiting to make your
purchases.
No, I did not
see the escape tunnel, nor any other notable sites either as I had not read
your book until I got home from holidays and I have not been in the Kamloops
area since.
Sorry for
rambling on, but I tend to do this. When your next book is ready for
purchase, can you put me on a list so I can get it? Hopefully I will still
be in the Okanagan by then as we might be moving to the Maritimes.... but
not sure yet??
Thank you very
much.
Diane S.
(The following individual,
Peter R., requested a book through the writer's web site. A short
exchange of interesting emails took place.)
2 October 2008
Dear Peter,
OK, lets do it. I may be missing
something on the web-site but I can not find an address to send the money
to!!! I would like a soft cover edition.
A
little family history. I was lucky enough to marry into a cabin on a lake.
The lake is Allison Lake on the present highway between Princeton and
Merritt. On one of your maps it looks like the main wagon road went through
Otter Lake but showed a pack-trail that went right by Allison Lake. Did
Miner ever use the pack-trail? It would be interesting to know because the
original road/trail (long moved) went right along the beach and our cabin
is on the beach so it might be true to suppose Miner actually traveled right
through the very space we are sitting in when we are sitting around our
campfire!!! (Does that make sense?)
The property was purchase around
1960 by Ed & Dorene R. who have owned it ever since. The cabin was built in
1962/3. I came into the picture by marrying their youngest daughter, Dawna
in 1981. The cabin is still used by the whole extended R. family. As for
the dedication in the book maybe something along the lines of, "To the
R...'s of Allison Lake" and then anything you like after that... What do
you think? I plan on giving the book to "The Cabin" this Christmas. (Man
I love this stuff)
I was a Vancouver City cop for 30
years so am able to see this story with a little different eye. Even
though, he still strikes me as a lovable old rogue. I can tell you there
aren't many lovable crooks around these days.
So why isn't this book on every
BC Ferry and the Canadiana section of every book store in Western Canada?
It is very well written and professionally done. Do they shy away from self
published pieces???
Enough
rambling for now. I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter
R.
(The
writer replied as follows:)
Hello again,
Peter,
The present
highway between Princeton and through to Aspen Grove really did not get
built until the 1930s. The main wagon and stagecoach road went via the
Otter Lake Valley. If, when you drive north of Allison Lake and try to
visualize a wagon road being built through this very rough country, you will
see that building a wagon road through here in the early days would have
involved too much time and money. Hence they took the easier, even though
longer, route. However, a pack trail did exist through this country. Some
parts of it went through the Missezula Lake country to Aspen Grove. Another
trail would have gone through where the R...'s cabin is located on Allison
Lake. So, … yes, Colquhoun and Shorty Dunn did lead their pack horses
through this way, and Bill Miner and Jack Budd would often use this trail to
go back and forth to Kamloops, Nicola and the Douglas Lake Ranch. It took
some digging on my part to determine the roads that would have been taken in
those days 100 years ago. Also, I think more research could be done to nail
down those pack trails through the Missezula Lake Country.
So, … I think the
extended R... family would be able, on a slightly foggy night, when things
are quiet and the moon does throw a bit of light over the water, … they
would be able to see a man with a light-grey cavalry moustache and a
battered flat-brimmed Stetson with a four-cornered Montana pinch, wearing a
long black duster and riding a black, high-stepping thoroughbred, heading
north towards the grasslands of Nicola, Quilchena, Rockford, Anderson Creek
and Kamloops. Perhaps he knew he was keeping an unintended rendezvous with
BC history. You see, we are not trying to glorify a rather inept American
bandit here, but rather, we are using him to tell the story of BC’s
heritage; a story that is as full of adventure and thrills as any in the
western US. The stories just haven’t yet been told up here. And those
stories seem to have a bit of a unique Canadian twist to them
When an author is
self-published, it is difficult to get their books into such venues as the
BC Ferries. It’s not from lack of trying, but we just do not have any big
publishers behind us. Also, sometimes the quality of self-published books
is less than professional.
We self-published
because we knew that a main stream publisher would have cut our book in
half. And we were convinced that what BC readers want to read is the detail
of life as it was in BC 100 years ago. You can’t tell the detail of this
story without going to 600 pages. And that is not acceptable to the
publishers.
So, it is up to
readers such as yourself to help us get the word out. Word of mouth is a
very strong method of advertising, and the response to our book has been
most encouraging. Particularly from people such as yourself.
So, …, yes, …, I
would be more than pleased to send a book to the R...s of Allison Lake.
Peter Grauer,
Kamloops
(This is
the email thread referred to in my "Journal.' It refers to Maisie
Campbell-Johnson Hurley. I hope you, Dear Reader, can follow it.
See the "Journal" entry for more details. Start at Roberts July 18th
email at the bottom of this thread.)
Peter
I'm not
sure whether you got my last email, but yes I am very happy for you to use
my Armytage-Moore findings on any of your websites.
One further
finding:
The Ellis
Island web site has a ship's manifest showing that John R A Moore, aged 30
years and 10 months, sailed from Liverpool on the SS Carmania on 5th
January, 1907, arriving at New York on the 13th January 1907, in transit to
748 Westminster Avenue, Vancouver. The manifest records his occupation as
Estate Agent, Vancouver as his permanent address, and describes him as 6
feet tall, with dark complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. It also records
he was previously in the U.S.A. in New York in 1906.
It
definitely seems to be him as it fits all the other information. So it looks
like he moved to Vancouver and met Maisie there, and they become engaged
about a year after this voyage. People from 100 years ago could never have
imagined that they would have digital footprints.
Robert W.
Huddersfield
UK
________________________________
From:
Peter Grauer [mailto:pgrauer@ocis.net]
Sent: Thu 7/24/2008 5:00 AM
To: Robert W.
Subject: RE: armytage-moore
Hello Robert,
Thank you so much for the unexpected information on
Armytage-Moore. Fascinating stuff!
The whole Maisie Campbell-Johnson story is most
interesting, as I have met some of her descendants, and learned more about
her and her escapades. However, the Armytage-Moore Connection is a mystery
to them. When I next am in contact with them, I will advise them of your
so-skillful research.
With your permission, I will post it on my website.
The site has become a hotbed for genealogists looking into people associated
with the early history of BC.
How did you come across my site? Did you Google
Armytage-Moore?
Thanks again for the solid information, and best
regards from British Columbia. (BTW, a few copies have found their way to
the UK.)
Peter Grauer
Author of
the award-winning book, "Interred With Their Bones, Bill Miner in Canada,
1903 to 1907." See
www.billminer.ca.
From: Robert
W.
Sent:
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 6:43 AM
To: peter@billminer.ca
Subject: RE:
armytage-moore
Peter
Further to
my email the other day I can now tell you more about John Reginald Rowallane
Armytage-Moore, who was married to Maisie Hurley, and have also found a
photograph of him. He looks a handsome chap. His sister, Priscilla Countess
Annesley, was also well thought of for her looks.
As you
know, JRRA-M and Maisie married in September 1909. By May 1916 he is in the
New Zealand Expeditionary Force sailing from Auckland to Samoa. See
http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/69396.detail
Two years
later on 5th June 1918 he was sailing from Sydney in the Australian 12th
Field Artillery Brigade Reinforcements. He did post-armistice war service in
France and was discharged in England in July 1919. See
http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=212980 and also
http://libapp.sl.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus/NAV/PM/FULL1/2116/432032
which links to his photograph.
The records
also state that before joining up he worked as a real estate salesman, and
the Australian records suggest he was also for a year in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)
in the Matabeleland Mounted Police. I don't know what happened to him after
1919.
As Maisie
Hurley seems to have had 5 children by the date of Centralia riot (November
1919), she must have eloped with Martin Murphy within a few years of her
marriage to Armytage-Moore (unless any of her children were Moores).
I also
mentioned a bit about the Armytage-Moore family background in the previous
email, but did not then know about his brothers Charles and Hugh. Charles
Armytage-Moore seems to have turned out the wealthiest of them all, founding
partner in the London stockbrokers Buckmaster and Moore (which had as a
client John Maynard Keynes, amongst others), and owning an estate called
Winterfold, a Queen Anne style residence with 219 acres near Cranleigh in
Surrey, with a fantastic collection of furniture and art when it was
eventually auctioned off. He died in 1960. The other brother Hugh William
Armytage Moore inherited lands at Rowallane, Saintfield, County Down,
Ireland, and developed them into famous gardens that are now owned by The
National Trust and open to visitors. He died in 1954.
In other
words, JRRA-M came from a highly privileged and wealthy background. Why
Maisie left him (maybe she found him boring), and why he went off
adventuring around the world, and what eventually happened to him, I don't
know, but there are some fascinating stories in all of this.
Robert W.
Huddersfield UK
___________________________
From:
Robert W
Sent: 18
July 2008 13:13
To: peter@billminer.ca
Subject:
armytage-moore
Peter
I have been
looking at your Bill Miner web site and note the queries about JRR
Armytage-Moore, the husband of Maisie Campbell-Johnston. I can supply the
following:
John
Reginald Rowallan Armytage-Moore born 25th March 1876 at Arnmore, County
Cavan. Northern Ireland, to William Armytage-Moore and Mary Elizabeth
Metcalfe. (this comes from a Gascoigne web site in New Zealand. Assuming
this is correct then I can add the following).
He came
from a background of nobility and accomplishment. Close relatives include
his Aunt, Priscilla Cecilia, Countess of Annesley (wife of the 3rd Earl),
his sister, also Priscilla Cecilia, Countess of Annesley (wife of the 5th
Earl) and her daughter Constance Malleson, writer and long-time lover of
Bertrand Russell the philosopher. His family moved in the highest circles of
London and Dublin society.
Parents:
William Armytage-Moore (1806-1883) (sometimes "Armitage-") and Mary
Elizabeth Metcalfe (1845-1932). They married at the British Embassy in Paris
on 8th June 1869. It was a second marriage for both. She had previously in
1863 married Horace Day Lockwood (1842-1864), son of Henry Francis Lockwood
the influential Bradford architect, and later in 1902 married Frank
Hardcastle (1844-1908), industrialist, Conservative M.P. and Lancashire
cricket player.
William
Armytage-Moore managed the Annesley Estates at Castlewellan in Northern
Ireland, and was in fact brother of the Countess of Annesley, Priscilla
Cecilia (wife of the Third Earl). William and Mary's first daughter was also
named Priscilla Cecilia (1870-1941) after her Aunt, and she later married
her first cousin, Lt. Col. Hugh Annesley, the Fifth Earl. She was his second
wife. Hugh Annesley was then 61 and Priscilla 22. They had two children,
Clare Annesley who became an artist, and Constance Mary Annesley who became
Constance Malleson, travel writer, actress (Colette O'Niel), and lover of
Bertrand Russell with whom she held a long correspondence.
Other
children of William Armytage-Moore and Mary Elizabeth Metcalfe/Lockwood
were:
Ethel (Ettie)
Kathleen Armitage-Moore (1871) who married Percy French the Irish composer
and entertainer, but she died in childbirth at the age of 20.
Hugh
William Armytage-Moore (1873)
Charles
Armytage-Moore (1880)
I know very
little about these last two, nor what happened later to John Reginald. I
wonder whether he became distant from his family because I have not been
able to find any announcement in The Times (London) about his marriage to
Maisie in 1909.
My interest
is that my wife is a direct descendant of Constance Metcalfe Lockwood, John
Reginald's half-sister, daughter of Mary Elizabeth Metcalfe and her first
husband Horace Day Lockwood. John Reginald also had half-siblings from
William Armitage-Moore's first marriage.
Robert W.
Huddersfield UK
27 May 2008
Hello Peter,
You've
written a fabulous book, "Interred With Their Bones." This
history is a foot-print in the dust, mud and snow of all those hills where I
have had the great fortune to wander and make my own life. Princeton
to Kamloops to Westwold; all the quiet meadows, lakes, streams and forest
hills in between; truly a magnificent part of the world.
Once, as
kids in the Princeton hills in the sixties, we found a rusty old
hexagonal-barreled twenty two, down on the Jack Budd lot; rusted and the
barrel bent from some gone-by wreck; but it fueled our imagination of Bill
Miner's day. We rose a few chuckles from that great old rancher Karl
Freeding who owned the Jack Budd lot and the Reith place for so many years.
As we came trudging up the dusty summer trail touting our new found
treasure, (he said to us) "Where you two off to? To rob
a train?"
Many years
later I dug that rusted twenty-two out of the blacksmith shop scrap iron and
cut the barrel up to make bushings for some haying equipment repairs.
I have a
copy of a book of poetry written by G.W. Winkler titled , LONELY TRAILS by
THE PROSPECTOR printed by a Victoria printing and publishing company
GW Winkler
was a Hedley old timer and I believe the same individual mentioned in
association with Billy Dunn.
This
collection of GW Winkler's poems captures a sense of a quieter Similkameen
and Okanagan gone by.
John V.
(The writer replied to John as follows-)
2 June 2008
Hello John,
Thank you for your very positive comments on my book.
I wrote it with people like yourself in mind; people who wanted to know what
the real story about Miner was, and who wanted to know more about that world
100 years ago. Also, you have a way with words yourself, and your love of
our back country comes through in your email to me.
I was pleased to see your references to Jack Budd and
to the Reith family. They were intriguing connections with that time in the
distant past.
As for George Winkler, he is deserving of some
attention himself. He also left personal legacies behind, some of which are
in his fonds in the BC Archives. I had the privilege of going through
them. The photos in my book of the Princeton Sports Club, Hedley City and
the town of Princeton are from his collection at the BC Archives.
I have never seen any of his poetry, but apparently he
was well regarded by his peers. My research tells me that this was one of
his connections with Shorty Dunn, the other being prospecting, of course.
Both he and Shorty would attend "poetry salons" in Mrs. Allison's place,
where they would all read their poetry to each other. I will keep my eyes
open for a copy of that little book of his that you mention. BTW, George
Winkler has a brother or other relatives in the area that create some
confusion. One was Anton Winkler.
I have attached some Winkler info from my database in
case you are interested. Some is a bit confusing, as I did not follow up on
further investigation as it was not pertinent to the story.
"Winkler was a prospector and mine owner in the
south-central interior in the early decades of the 20th Century. By 1923 he
was living in Victoria, where he was interviewed by the Victoria Daily
Colonist. In 1966 he was interviewed by Cecil Clark on a lost mine in the
Okanagan country."
"Rec'd phone call from Helen Martens (Museum
curator) in Hedley 3 Dec 2001. They have a photo of Jack Budd as an old man
crossing the street with a cane. With regards to George Winkler, she thinks
he is related to Anton Winkler in Hedley. (brother?) Maureen Dirksen
(Campbell) is a great niece? of George Winkler. She lives in Cawston close
to Keremeos. She is the great grand daughter? of Anton Winkler. I called
her, and she is no relation to this George Winkler."
I have never visited Jack Budd's place, but perhaps I
will the next time we are in Princeton.
Thanks again for your welcome email. Keep spreading
the good word about my book, as it is self-published, and all the sales are
the results of the efforts of my wife Karen and I.
Regards,
Peter Grauer
(The
following correspondence was from a retired RCMP member now living in the
Cariboo. The writer most likely met him when he was stationed in
Revelstoke in the early '60s and the writer was returning in the summers
from UBC. Little did either of us realize at the time that the Bill
Miner Affair would have our paths cross almost 50 years later.)
(Mike's
grandfather played an important role in the Bill Miner affair. He was
a junior BC Provincial Police constable in Princeton at the time the Ducks
robbery was being investigated. He has passed down to us, through the
BC Archives, some very detailed and valuable Bertillion descriptions of Jack
Budd and Tom Arnold. His story will be added to the "Journal" section
of the website shortly. PRG)
3 February 2008
Peter.
You have written a wonderful
book! It brings back memories for me that go back over 50 years.
I have resided or been stationed as a policeman in almost (with one
exception) all of the areas you have included: Enderby, Kamloops, Penticton,
Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Williams Lake, Victoria and points in between.
I have kicked most of the dust you have so aptly described, and never really
thought much about the history mixed up in that dust. It brings back
memories, for me, long forgotten, of riding my bike as a kid on the old
Enderby Road to Westwold and all the adventures we had in between. I
haven't heard the name "Glen Emma" for 50 years, but I remember the night
that I and two hundred other Army Cadets from Vernon spent most of the night
attempting to put out a grass fire at the top of Glen Emma that was started
by an Officer Commanding with an errant flare gun. He was attempting
to signal our night attack on a machine gun nest and had obviously never
been advised that when firing flare guns in grass country, particularly in
the hot summer months, one should always point the gun in a vertical, rather
than a horizontal, direction. ....
I stumbled upon the Douglas Lake
ranch (and was) impressed with the beautiful little river crossing at
English Bridge. Little did I realize that I would stumble across your
book some two months later in a museum in Hedley. ... As I read
the book, I could immediately picture, in my mind's eye, those exact
locations you were referring to. I don't ever recall reading a book
that I felt so connected to in terms of knowing and identifying the
geographically described areas, the police investigative procedures and the
court milieu and processes. It was all extremely accurate, in my opinion.
You have certainly done your homework.
Mike H. Williams Lake.
3
January 2008
I
enjoyed your book and became acquainted with the area around Kamloops as
we moved here from North Vancouver two years ago. We are familiar with
the area around Cache creek as we have been staying at Pavilion Lake a
number of years and hunted in the area.
I
did notice in your book at the time of the Mission robbery you mentioned a
name of F Hutchison. This could have been the name of my Great Uncle Fred
who owned a Corner Grocery in Maple Ridge on Dewdney Trunk Road and one
of the main cross streets.
I
also noticed that Mr. Fernie married a lady with the last name of Lyle.
This is my Grandfather's name on my mothers side. They came from Prince
Edward Island around the Summerside area. I know that some others of his
family did come West during that time frame.
Thanks
again for writing such an entertaining read.
(2 January 2008. The following interesting email was recently
received from the Wells/Bowron Lakes area. My response and the
following reply are also included below. PRG)
30
Dec 2007
Dear Peter
Your book, “Interred With
Their Bones” is as inspiring as it is a historical wonder. Both my husband
and I took great joy in reading it and learning more about the history of our
Province. I took even more joy in learning how you formatted your extensive
historical research into a book. For years I have agonized and wondered how
to put all my own research together. I have been researching the history of
Bowron Lake Provincial Park for some 30 years now. Actually in the 70’s and
80’s I didn’t realize what I was doing…. just thought I was collecting and
storing a bunch of old papers and memories. But in 1990 my husband and I
realized our dream of owning land at Bowron Lake, and since then my collection
and research has been getting serious. Each year I get more and more people
visiting my “collection” and they keep urging me to put it together into a
book. I think now that I have an idea of how to do this, thanks to you, I
should give it a start. One of the things I agonized about was how to relate
to a reader that there can be many different variations of one event, as each
source has his or her own unique memory. I am not the one to say which
variation is correct and which is not and your approach of penning open and
honest comments throughout your book have inspired me. Thank you.
Now to get down to
business, you yourself mentioned Bowron Lake twice in the book. I wonder if I
may be bold enough to ask more about this. Chapter 10, Kamloops Country, page
131; you include a poem composed by Fernie. You wrote, “Fernie’s poem was
written close to the time that Shorty Dunn penned his own Paean to the Cariboo
in 1896.” The Poem continues:
Goodbye
to Cariboo
Farewell
to far Chilcotin and goodbye to Tatla Lake.
The
thoroughfare that Waddington was not allowed to make
And
hunters out at Bowron Lake, who dares the grizzlies’ fang,
And
trappers at Chilanko Forks, and Cowboys at “The Gang”.
I
am wondering about your having dated this poem, which uses the name “Bowron
Lake” as being written around 1896? The Bowron Lake country was known as “Bear
Lake” and “Bear River”
from approx. 1862 until a name change in 1914. The Victoria Colonist of April
14th, 1914 reported:
“Now
Bowron River. – By a happy combination of circumstances, the Geographical
Board of Canada, acting on the advice of the Provincial Government and its
representative in this province – Mr. W. Fleet Robertson, has been able to
perpetuate the memory of one of British Columbia’s foremost pioneers – the
late Mr. John Bowron. The Geographical Board is making constant effort to
eliminate those place names that overlap in this province, and in its
investigations to this end it discovered that there were a number of Bear
rivers. One river so named, which runs from the head of Portland Canal, it was
decided could not be otherwise than perpetuated, seeing that it became fixed
in historical documents arising out of the work of the Alaskan Boundary
Commission. But the Bear river, which runs from Barkerville to the line of the
Grand Trunk Pacific, and is a tributary of the Fraser, will hereafter been
known as Bowron river. Old-timers in the province will recall that John
Bowron was for many years, gold commissioner at Barkerville. Beside his
career while in that post he had other claims for distinction, inasmuch as he
had the honor, with Mr. R. B. McMicking, of this city, of making the trip
overland through the Tete Jaune Pass. The late Mr. Bowron and was known the
lengths and breadth of the province, and his recognition of his place in the
pioneer life in the country on the part of the Geographical Board of Canada
will it elicit hearty commendation from all classes in British Columbia.”
I
know that this article refers to Bowron River and not Bowron Lake, but I have
always been under the assumption that both names where changed at the same
time. After reading your book, I realized that this may be an erroneous
assumption on my part, so am wondering if you have more information with
regards to the date of the renaming of Bowron Lake itself. John Bowron (1837
– 1906) first came to the Barkerville area in 1863 and remained at until 1906,
when he moved Victoria and died shortly there after on September 6, 1906 at
the age of 69. Despite the name change, and although the area was officially
named the Bowron Lake Game Reserve in 1925, and Bowron Lake Provincial Park in
1961, it is still affectionately referred to as Bear Lake and Bear River by
many of the remaining old-timers.
Chapter 29, Afterward, page
551, you wrote about William Fernie. Here you wrote, “true
to his love of the West, and the outdoor life he led hunting, fishing and
writing, he assisted and was instrumental in getting the Bowron lakes set
aside as a provincial wilderness Park. John Bowron and was one of the Fraser
River Overlanders, and it was through the Fernie family’s friendship with
Bowron’s daughter Lottie that he became involved in the project.”
Would
you be kind enough to disclose to me where I may find more information about
William Fernie’s involvement with the formation of the Bowron provincial
wilderness park. I am going to assume that in your passage here, you meant
the “Bowron Lake Game Reserve”
as the Provincial Park was not established until the 1960’s, long after
Fernie’s death. I have information of other prominent Victoria officials,
such as fisheries Commissioner John P. Babcock and Chief Justice Hunter, as
also being instrumental in the formation of the Bowron Lake Game Reserve in
1925, and would welcome more information on this subject.
I thank you for your time
and consideration and for any help you may be able to offer me. My husband
and I also thank you for producing such a wonderful historical document in the
form of your book, “Interred With Their Bones” and look forward to any new
endeavors that you may have forthcoming.
Yours
Sincerely,
Sandy P.
Bear River
Mercantile, Wells, BC
(I responded to Sandy as follows:)
1 Jan 2008
Hello Sandy,
What a welcome email you sent. I am so pleased that my book might have
inspired a reader to follow up on work that they are undertaking.
As you can assume, I was faced with a wealth of detail, and my quandary was
how to give it to the reader without hopelessly confusing them. I’m glad to
hear that you feel I might have achieved that goal. You see, I was convinced
that what people wanted to read was what life was really like 100 years ago.
With regards to your questions about William Fernie. Daphne Fernie (the lady
in the photo with me at the back of the book, and William Fernie’s daughter)
was the one who supplied me with a copy of the Chilcotin poem. She advised
that it was composed upon his leaving that area to take up his homestead just
north of Kamloops. Without doing too much research into the origins of the
Bowron Lakes, I accepted the assumption that the poem must have been composed
prior to the turn of the century. However, with your additional information,
I have to now assume that Fernie composed the poem sometime after he left the
Cariboo, and obviously after Bowron had died and the lakes had had their name
changed. I would now date it to after Fernie returned from overseas during
the First World War. He had kept next to him throughout that conflict a book
of poems by his friend Robert Service, and Fernie greatly admired Service and
the other great poets.
Daphne also told me of her father’s involvement in the formation of the park.
She took great pride in this fact, and was enthusiastic in her telling of it.
If Fernie had a fault, it was a great shyness and modesty. He always remained
in the background and let others gain the glory when it should have been him
that was recognized. For instance, refer to the photo in my book on page
193. Fernie characteristically puts himself almost out of the photo frame.
This is despite the fact that of all the individuals in the photo, it was he
who was most responsible for Miner’s capture. In Daphne’s relation of her
father’s involvement with the lakes, she did not elaborate too much, and I
didn’t pursue it. (Sorry.) Below is the small portion of the transcript of
the tape recording including that reference.
Daphne: He was a fisherman,
but I'm sure you wouldn't know what kind of gear he would use as a fisherman.
Peter: Was he a fly
fisherman?
Daphne: Yes. He liked to
go out on the lake in a boat and catch fish. Fish lake … He had a pet lake up
Face Lake.
Peter: F A C E?
Daphne: Yes, it's up behind
the Corn…, the Cherry Creek. And he used to go camping in there … quite a big
lake. Used to blaze his trail, one short, one long, one short.
Peter: That was his blaze?
That was his blaze and for
going up in the mountains …probably so we'd know the way. He used to have a
packhorse.
(Terry) Cue: He was
instrumental in protecting one of those lakes wasn't he? (Terry Cue was the
two sisters’ guardian when we first met with them. Subsequent to this
interview, we became quite close friends with Daphne, and Cue was no longer in
attendance.)
Daphne: The Bowron Lakes.
He really worked on that. He knew Lottie Bowren.
So, I’m sorry, Sandy, that I don’t have more information for you on Fernie’s
involvement. But knowing him like I do through my research, I am confident
that he probably did play a rather important role.
Again, I’m so pleased you both enjoyed my book. Where did you pick it up?
As for my next endeavour, I am trying to determine whether there might be
enough information out there to do a detailed book on the first years of the
Cariboo Gold Rush, 1860 to 1863. In the gold fields, it will concentrate on
Van Winkle and Lightning Creek area and story (BB – Before Barkerville).
However, the story will cover much of BC’s interior at that time. Some of the
people I ran into in the Bill Miner story will also make an appearance. I
have met some very interesting characters in my research, and perhaps there is
something about the gold rush that I can follow up on. People seem to love
the detail in the Miner book, and some have told me that it’s the detail that
puts them right back to that time 100 years ago in BC’s southern interior.
Regards,
From Peter in Kamloops.
(Sandy responded to my reply as follows.)
2 January 2008
Hello Peter,
Thank you so much for your
response to my e-mail and for your shared information regarding my inquires on
Fernie. A little information is certainly better then none. Still, you have
opened up many more avenues for me to look into – during my next visit to the
Victoria Archives I will have to look for fonts regarding William Fernie to
see if I can find anything about his involvement in the formation of the
Bowron Lake Game Reserve. I still have a lot of work to do at the Archives,
they are a real treasure and invaluable to our Provinces History. I also
thank you for all your references and footnotes as listed in “Interred With
Their Bones, Bill Miner in Canada, 1903 to 1907”. These also give me many more
avenues to explore. From my experience it seems that many history writers,
write the stories but neglect to list their sources of information. This is
unfortunate for other researches that strive to expand on works of their own,
but I’m sure you are already well aware of this.
I bought your book as a
Christmas Present for my husband, at Coles Books, during a recent shopping
trip to Prince George. Your next endeavor sounds quite worthwhile. I
know there are already a lot of writings in that subject area, but a
comprehensive and detailed account, such as what you provide, would really put
the whole picture together. I assume you might find yourself in the
Barkerville Archives some day, and hope that while in the area you may find
the time to come out to Bowron Lake to pay us a visit. I have some research
pertaining to the Stanley/Van Winkle area. Having been raised in Wells, my
interests actually lie in the area from Wing Dam to Keithley Creek / Likely,
the places I’ve tramped around since I was a child. So I have collected other
material besides my Bowron Lake stuff and your welcome to come see what I
have. As far as posting my e-mail on your website, you are quite welcome to
do so, this e-mail also, if you like.
Sincerely
Sandy P.
3
December 2008
Is anything
known about Bill Miner's family? My grandmother's maiden name was Miner.
She would NEVER talk about any of her family or background. There
were only these pictures of her uncles (below). A long time ago I'd heard
of Bill Miner, gentleman bank robber, and always wondered if there was any
connection.
After my
parents’ death, I ran across these old photos. Compare pics of Bill Miner
with Joe & John. Same nose, same chin, moustache, ears, deep set eyes... I
think the pic of Joe in the second pic really resembles the one of Bill.
The following pic from Wikipedia sure seems like a resemblance to me.
I saw on one website that the family
(Bill's) was involved in mining
http://outlawbillminer.com/main.html.
My grandmother’s uncles were also involved in mining. (see pic
below). With the family resemblance and background, it sure makes me
wonder. . We are from Iowa but it seems they all did some moving around.
Des Moines,
Iowa
(I responded to Owen to tell him that,
while his photos were interesting, I rather doubted that any were of the
Bill Miner we know. I am reluctant to post them here as I do not
have his permission to do so. Also, I advised him that the web URL
that he gave me is riddled with error, and almost useless as a source of
any type of information on Bill Miner. The site merely perpetuates
the same old myths and half-truths that have been around since before Bill
Miner died. The only thing the site does have to say is that Bill
Miner's spread of his own propaganda was very effective and still alive
and well today. PRG)
(On 21 November 2007, I
received the following query about a Detective Scott mentioned in my
book as being involved in the Mission robbery of the CPR.)
I am
reading the Bill Miner book and discovered on page 47:
"The group also included Detective Scott,
City Officers Hartney and Deptford,......"
I
believe this is my Grandfather who was promoted to Detective on Sept
15 1904. The Posse was constituted on Sept 11but I think it would be
quite possible that he was "acting" prior to official promotion (at
the magnificent sum of $840 p/a - no raise in pay from 1st Cst.)
Det.
Scott is not mentioned in the index so I assume at this point that he
takes no further part in the book. Also Grauer may have only had his
surname from an article and if not mentioned further, did not follow
up on given name etc.
Would it
be possible for you to email him regarding any further information he
may have and at the same time, asking if he would wish any background
from me.
Greg Scott
(I emailed back to Greg
advising him that the information I had on Detective Scott was limited to
what I had included in my book. He replied as follows:)
23
November 2007
Peter
It
is funny this story did not come down through the family as his son (my
father) spent 46 years with the CPR and one of his daughters married a
long serving CPR employee. I can remember as a child sitting on his knee
(died 1951) and being told stories of the old days including the storming
of the Komagata Maru. I have emailed out to the rest of the family to see
if they know anything.
By
way of background, I am a volunteer researcher at Touchstones Nelson, also
a museum board member, Chairman of the City of Nelson Heritage Commission
and have written the weekly history column in the Nelson Daily News for
the past 5 years as well as several stories for November 11 issues etc.
27 September 2007
Hi Peter,
Greg Scott,
here in Nelson, has done some research on Chief Young. (See the "Author's
Journal" for more on Constable Young.) He is away until next weekend, I
believe. Young was an accomplished artist/painter, as well. I am sure there
is information to be shared. I was browsing through the Provincial Police
records and came across several items related to Young when he was a
Constable. I will go back and write them down!
What exciting
experiences you have had through your events! I am not surprized this book
has touched a cord. There are far more tentacles out there then we realize.
It really is fantastic-makes readers out of non readers and arm chair
historians out of those who think Canadian History is so dry.
I have to pass
along a compliment to you. I loaned my copy of your book to a friend. She
said "I can tell by the way he writes that he is a good, nice man." It is
not often a writer can portray their own sense of self in a book and still
come out with an outstanding book-you did!
I will be at
the archives on Thursday and will ask Shawn about a picture of Young. There
must be something there. I will also head back into the Police records and
see what I can find for you and his Granddaughter. I like that connection!
I hope someone is talking to the daughter!
As Ever,
Pat
25
September 2007
Mr. Grauer, I had the pleasure of
meeting you at the Salmon Arm fair, and purchased a hardcover copy of your
book there. As I live in Mission, I went to the Celebration of Community at
Heritage Park September 15 to see you again. I was there at about 6:30 PM and
didn’t see you. (We had left by that time.) It may very well be
that you had left by then, or hadn’t arrived yet. At any rate, I did attempt
to see you again!!!. I finished reading your book last night, and it was
an intensely satisfying book. I only wish it was longer. Your research was
exhaustive and the illustrations were well chosen. If I related every facet of
your book I enjoyed, this would be a very lengthy e-mail. You have produced
something very important and very valuable. Your book will occupy a prominent
place on my shelf, and will be read many times. If you choose to write any
more books on the history of BC, I will be first in line to purchase them!
After finishing your book, I was excited to see the bonus book companion
section of your website, as well as the research sources. I was glad to see
these because I would like to read as many of the references as I can. I just
find the history of BC so interesting. I can not adequately express my
appreciation of your hard work. Feel free to contact me at any time. I enjoyed
our last conversation immensely.
Brandon K., Mission
(Mary Spencer was the
Kamloops photographer who took the famous photos of the train robbers, the
posse and the Royal North-West Mounted Police. Karen and I were
contacted by some of her relatives from Ontario and the Lower Mainland this
summer. We met them one afternoon for coffee and conversation, and they
are very pleased to see the renewed interest in Mary as she takes her place as
one of BC's premier early female photographers.
David G., whose email is
attached below, is a long-time fan of Mary Spencer's. He lives in
Summerland where Mary and her sister settled after leaving Kamloops. The
home they built still survives and is visited by Heritage Tours on a regular
basis. Let's hope that Mary and her sister eventually have their final
resting places in Summerland suitably marked.)
20 September 2007
RE: Mary Spencer Up-date
Dear Peter,
I hope your summer has been going well.
There are a couple things to tell you about. In the summer I hosted a cemetery
tour in Summerland. These are ALWAYS the most popular heritage tours (you
figure that one out !?!)
Anyway one of the grave sites is Mary
Spencer. So I am sending you a photo. This is Peach Orchard Cemetery in
Summerland. The cemetery looks over Okanagan Lake. When people die they ALWAYS
want a view lot (you figure that one out too ?!?!) Anyway Mary is buried
in a unmarked grave. Her grave is just below the three green stone/glass grave
sites. One site is for Mary and one for her sister Isabelle.
Also buried in this cemetery is her
uncle George Spencer (which is a marked grave site)
Anyway just before the tour a family
member from Ontario contacted us asking where Mary Spencer was buried. Of
course, without any hesitation I was able to tell the person. Anyway, the
family is thinking about putting up a tomb-stone.
That’s all I got Peter, but I figured
you might like to know
Sincerely
David G.
14 September 2007
Hello Peter, missed you in Revelstoke, ... .
I belong to the book club here, when it was my turn to recommend a book I
chose yours. Not only because you were from Revelstoke, but also as a
history lesson for the new comers to Revelstoke. (Some have lived here for
30 years or more.)
Must tell you it was a huge success. We could not get enough copies
from the library, some of us had to borrow from someone we knew and the
others, after hearing our rave reviews, went ahead and read it from the
library.
I was to go to your book signing while you were here, ... and somehow
we got our wires crossed so missed you .
What was so interesting for me is I have been to some of the range lands you
mention. My former husband's family was from Falkland & Westwold and
my son lived on Rosehill. It was interesting to learn it always was
Rosehill.
Thanks for the good read and what fun the research must have been.
Hello to Karen, take care, Mary O., Revelstoke.
(Mary O. was a former classmate of mine from Revelstoke High School,
graduating class of 1959.)
11 September 2007
Hello Peter,
Let me begin by offering my apologies if this is the
umpteenth time someone has asked about touring around the Bill Miner related
spots of interest. I have always had an intense interest in ‘re-tracing’
the steps of events I consider of interest. This may be mundane and
uninteresting to most people, especially when the locations/buildings/etc.
have changed or disappeared. Like many other people you have probably
encountered, I have a strong interest in seeing the events unfold as if I was
looking through the eyes of the person who originally created the events (like
Bill Miner).
Some years ago, I retraced the steps (literally the
steps) that my father and my uncle took to escape Nazi Germany into
Switzerland. A few years later, that same uncle and I retraced the routes
that my grandfather took as a door to door salesman in the period 1920-1939.
He had a specific route for each day of the week and the route never varied.
My uncle had to accompany him during summer vacation so he was able to
describe houses along the route, who lived there, what they encountered, etc.
Needless to say, my uncle had a great memory. In retracing those steps, we
had to deal with streets now intersected by highways, rerouted parts and the
sprawl of urban highrises into the rural countryside. Those five days were
fantastic. I recorded my uncle’s entire commentary enroute onto cassette for
future use, as well as some intermittent video.
Which brings me to your book. I purchased a copy at the
Quilchena Store on September 1, 2007 while staying at the hotel with my wife.
I was immediately drawn to the possibility of learning what the area was like
100 year ago and what it would have been like for Bill Miner and other
notables you wrote about. I am only 33 pages in and can see that you are
going to give me some great insight. I have driven through many of these
places like Quilchena and Aspen Grove not knowing the colourful history, but
now I am intrigued. I am very interested in the October 13 bus tour mentioned
on the web site. However, I think you will probably tell me that taking such
a tour after I complete the book will be much more rewarding than before. Any
thoughts on whether such a tour may be repeated in the future? Regardless, I
can already say with certainty that I will spend some time over the coming
years poking along back roads and various towns re-tracing some of the events
that I will read about in your book.
Thanks in advance for the enjoyment that will give me.
Lee Z., Edmonton, AB.
(My reply to Lee is as
follows:) Hello Lee, Certainly no apologies are necessary. I like
to hear from readers regardless of the reasons. Your story is especially
poignant. The ability to see in your mind’s eye what happened in certain
locations and with people that are no longer with us is a characteristic of a
discerning reader and observer with a keen sense of what our mutual past holds
for us. This ability has seen many of the readers of my book contact me
to tell me how they are travelling the roads of southern BC and the Fraser
Valley re-tracing the steps taken by that inept American bandit over 100 years
ago. Their emails and phone calls are always exciting to receive.
With regards to the bus
tour, I really would recommend that you take it after you have read the book.
So much happened in the places that we will visit that it would substantially
limit the experience not having read the book. Preliminary interest in the
tour tells me we will have to run another one in the spring with a bigger bus.
I have attached a scan of the recreation program advertising. For your
interest, the building I am standing in front of is the old Pratt homestead
where Paul Stevens climbed into bed the night of the train robbery. Let
me know your thoughts upon completion of the book.
Peter Grauer in Kamloops
6 September 2007
Hi Peter, Hope you
remember me; I met you and Karen at Government House this spring. I just
wanted to let you know I just finished reading your book. I found it very
informative and interesting. I look forward to reading more updates on your
website. On page 552 you talk about the Fernie family-Mary and daughter
having a tea house in Metchosin. Do you know if it still exists today under
different owners? I would be interested from a history point of view to go
look at it. Hope all is well with you and Karen. Suzan
L.
(No, unfortunately I
never did get to see Daphne and Mary's famous tea house at Metchosin.
If any readers have photo or comments, please let me know.)
(Our new-found friend in South Africa, Cor van der Merwe, has continued
his correspondence with us. He has completed my book, and has the
following comments to make. I have added my comments in italics.)
28 August 2007
Dear Peter,
Good morning, I
trust you are well on that side of the world. You will remember that I
contacted you recently while I was halfway through Interred...
Just to say
that I finished your fascinating book last night, and what a wonderful
experience it was! Thank you so much for creating this marvelous read with
all that interesting and almost-long-forgotten information.
A few things
about the book:
1) I think
your title is very apt - the secrets of Bill Miner and co., and I am sure
that of many other people went to their graves without anyone ever finding
out. It is lamentable but simultaneously adds to the stuff that legends are
made of.
2) I really
enjoyed the fact that you were able to include so many bits and pieces of
information from the old timers and local collectors/museums etc. The
photographs I particularly enjoyed - as you know, a picture is worth a
thousand words... We are fortunate that so many of those people like Daphne
Fernie and others lived on into their 90's or even 100 years old. It is
always sad when those old people die because they are our last link with a
world long gone, and the last connection with people who lived in those
times. I felt the same when my formidable grandfather died in 2001 - he was
born in 1909, and my last link with the old timers of the previous century
(19th Cent). After having read the book, I wonder if my grandfather, for
example, was ever aware of Bill Miner, and who knows - maybe he even saw
that WANTED poster that was also sent to SA?
(Yes, it was a
little known and obscure fact that Miner's wanted posters were distributed
throughout the British Empire of that day, and South Africa was then part of
the Empire. So, Cor's grandfather may very well have seen a copy of an
old Miner wanted poster.)
The people who
lived from the middle of the 1800's well into the 1900's particularly went
through interesting times as they came from the midst of the Victorian era
into the modern era, from basically "nothing" to electricity, cars,
telephones etc.
3) I now
realize how fortunate I have been to have passed through B.C. only in
September 2006, and not earlier, since it seems that your book was still
about to be printed only a few months earlier (in April?). In other words,
I almost missed out on the whole affair!
4) On the
other hand, I would love to have read your book before I travelled through
that area, in order to be informed of all these events about Bill Miner, and
to have had a better understanding of the lives there a 100 years ago. I
think I would have looked with different eyes to towns like Kamloops etc.,
and made a more concerted effort to visit the museum and the area associated
with Miner. The best will be to visit again! I grabbed my photo album and
looked at my pictures of those areas again, this time in a much different
light. (One picture was of a street in Merritt with sign boards overhead,
showing the directions to Quilchena, Kamloops, Kelowna etc), as well as the
old hotel.
5)
Interesting that Fernie's (?) estate in later years was called "the Kloof".
Do you know where that name comes from? I wonder if he didn't perhaps pick
that up during his time in South Africa, since "Kloof" is an Afrikaans word
meaning something like "ravine" or "valley". In fact, there are some
streets in Cape Town called "Kloof Road" or "Kloof Street" - the one just
around the corner of where I live. Do you perhaps know?
(Indeed
the Kloof that Fernie named his ranch house after was named after that
Afrikaans word for valley, as his family's home then overlooked the whole of
the Thompson Valley just west of Kamloops. Boer War veterans of those
days formed a lasting attachment to southern Africa, as is borne out by Col.
Sam Steele's "Forty Years in Canada," which details his service with the
South African Constabulary.)
6) Without
splitting hairs, there was one or two occasions where a possible mistake (I
think??) in the book attracted my attention: e.g. at the beginning of the
prison sentence of Bill Miner in the B.C. Penitentiary in New Westminster
you refer that "before the month was out" he would have escaped. But Bill
only escaped some year and a half later on? Or did I miss something?
Also, a reference to "Burke" where surely it must be "Bourke"? Anyway, I
thought I just mention it, the overall enjoyment of the book, your way of
writing and making it easy to read, the huge amount of research, etc more
than outweigh a possible slip here or there.
(Cor's
sharp eye has, indeed, picked out a few inconsistencies in my book.
Before a year was out, Miner would have escaped from the penitentiary, and
the Burke referred to is indeed Bourke. Other readers have also
pointed out some typo errors, but none of them really interfere with the
historical integrity of the book. That remains as close to historical
fact as I could make it at that time. Perhaps when I was writing the
book, I was struck by the observation that Miner had started plotting his
eventual escape from the BC Pen before he had even been placed behind the
prison walls.)
7) As a
matter of interest - why was Miner branded/wanted as a "sodomite" as
described by the police at one stage (only one reference to it in the
book)? Surely he was heterosexual as proved by his patronage of the
prostitutes?
(Without any reliable primary sources to
answer this question, I have to suppose that the Pinkerton's, whose poster
contains the "sodomite" reference, were expressing their frustration at
their inability to catch Miner. He seemed to be able to slip through
their fingers, and to re-appear in the most unlikely of places. Also,
any man that spends the years he did in San Quentin, 20 years at the last
stretch, would probably be sexually compromised under those conditions.
The Pinkertons would have picked up on this and put it on the poster just to
irk and humiliate him. His affection for women and prostitutes is well
documented, and I have encountered only one reference to his possible
homosexuality outside of prison. Not being a sociologist familiar with
the trauma suffered by ex-cons, I am only assuming it would have a permanent
effect on their psyche. Perhaps bi-sexuality would be a logical
outcome, but I have no background enabling me to deduce this possibility. )
8) I am sure
with the second and third and more prints of your book in future you will
include the other interesting bits that have surfaced as a result of this
first print - e.g. the picture that's on the web of Bill's grave, and I hope
that Ottawa will be more cooperative with their archives this time!
(Further
printings will undoubtedly take place, but whether another edition is
forthcoming is somewhat doubtful. However, I will say that if enough
additional information comes to my attention on any aspects of the Bill
Miner Story, I will add them to this web site as well as trying to get them
into select publications.)
Sorry for the
long email, I hope you have time to read it all. Thank you again for a most
fascinating book!
Regards
Cor van der
Merwe, Capetown, South Africa
This summer my husband and I had occasion to
ride the
Armstrong Explorer - due simply to our interest in old steam
engines and railroads. However, it turned out to be a trip into
genealogy for myself. I am a direct descendent of the Ducks.
I did pick up your book "Interred With Their
Bones" after our trip and have just finished it. I had no idea that Albert
and Edith had any knowledge of Bill Miner so it sure made for some
interesting reading. With your permission I would like to copy off
from your site some of the information you have in regards to statements etc
from the Ducks to add to the family genealogy book.
This past weekend I had occasion to be in Vernon
to pick up my daughter from Cadet Camp. On the way back I took her to
Holmwood. I had been there many times before. She found it very interesting
to compare the picture of Holmwood in your book to what is existing today.
Not much for changes.
Kind Regards,
Tracey F.
14 August 2007
(I had to post the following email to my site as soon as I
received it. It was a great thrill to find it in my email basket this
morning, amid numerous solicitations for stocks, sexual aids and drugs.
It is humbling to me that something that I created should gives such pleasure
to someone half-way around the world.)
Dear Peter,
I traveled
through Canada in Sept last year, spending some time in Vancouver and
visiting those exciting and beautiful places like Banff, Lake Louise and
Penticton. En route from Vancouver to Banff, with a lovely 4x4, we passed
through Sycamous etc., and made stops at Merritt, Kamloops as well
as Revelstoke. And what wonderful countryside it is! I particularly
enjoyed the old type "Wild West" country of Merritt, Revelstoke etc.
Anyway, it was
on our way back, again through Revelstoke that we decided to stop for
lunch. My friend wanted to cut his hair so he went off searching for a
barber while I browsed through a small bookstore (Grizzly Book Store) next
to the "pasta" parlour we ate at. And my eye fell on a black book with the
captivating title "Interred with their Bones". Now me being a history freak
and even more so when it comes to unsolved mysteries and graves of the past,
I was immediately drawn to your fantastic book. The shop lady told me a
little about it, and that you grew up/lives in Revelstoke and hence very
involved in the area. I paid with a smile and couldn't wait to start
reading it. However, it was only until now, in August 2007, that I finally
got through my other books that I had to read and started reading yours.
And WHAT A PLEASURE IT IS!! Having visited that area personally last year
and having a very vivid imagination I can fully identify with and picture
the happening in my mind as they unfold.
I am not done
with the book yet (only at page 220 now), sometime after the Ducks Robbery,
and look forward to finished it asap, although I always hate finishing a
good book because it means I'm done with it (for now). So for now, thank
you SO much for an outstanding book sofar - it is truly a gem and I am
enjoying it thoroughly.
Of particular
interest to me, and possibly to you, are your references to the Boer War,
and places like Potchefstroom, Losberg etc. That being because I am South
African, living in Cape Town, and hence very familiar with the Anglo-Boer
War. It was surprising and fascinating to read and see this "connection"
between your book and where I come from! To think that Constable Fernie and
some others in your book may have seen the same things (e.g. towns) and have
experienced SA like me, a 100 years ago...
I mean, the
chances of picking up YOUR book in a small Canadian town like Revelstoke and
bringing it back to SA!? I wonder if there is anybody else in this country
who also has your book?
One last
question - do you perhaps know a Tante Thea and Uncle Carl in Penticton?
Unfortunately I don't know their surname, but they used to run a German
restaurant in town for many many years.
All the best,
and once again thank you for a most marvellous book sofar!
Regards
Cor van der
Merwe
Cape Town
(9 Aug 2007. Needless to say, the following email, which arrived
last month, generated some excitement on my part and with my wife, Karen.
Michael's grandfather in Kamloops would have known some of the participants
in the Miner affair personally, and one can only imagine some of the
primary, first-hand information he may have acquired. This is another
example of the connections this story and the myths associated with it have
generated amongst ordinary British Columbians. The story of Miner,
generating as it does an interest in the people, places and events of 100
years ago, is such an integral part of the family history of so many of us
in this province. The book seems to have generated a modest renewal of
interest in our provincial history and served as a vehicle to bring forward
all those stories, memorabilia and photographs associated with those events
of long ago. Stories such as Michael's bring a fresh look at those
simpler days beyond the memory of any of us living today.
I will
keep everyone informed if anything further develops with Michael's story as
he tells it below. -PG)
4 July 2007
Dear Mr. Grauer,
I am most grateful for your e-mail message of ..., and apologize for the
absurd length of time it has taken me to respond in kind. June ended up
being a horrendously busy month, with a whirlwind trip to California and the
purchase of a new computer (along with the consequent transfer of all old
e-mails and to-do items!).
I am greatly interested in acquiring one of the hardcover copies of
"Interred With Their Bones", and will gladly send a cheque for $65 ($55 plus
$10 shipping). To what address shall I mail my payment?
... I have followed the success of your book with great interest, and convey
my congratulations for the honour you received from Lt.-Gov. Campagnolo.
Bill Miner has been a subject of particular fascination for me since I
discovered that my grandfather, a high school principal and later a
provincial inspector of schools, was the author of an unfinished manuscript
about Bill Miner's years in Canada. He completed the majority of the book
in the 1940s, assembling sheaves of interviews and primary documents, before
laying the project aside. I suspect that his work as principal of Kamloops
High School, combined with the birth of his third son (my father), left
little time for the undertaking. Some fifty years later, in the early
1990s, I discovered his work and completed the volume, distributing it among
family members.
Since then, fascinating connections have arisen. For example, several of my
great-uncles (on my mother's side) were apparently bathing in the lands
around the BC Penitentiary when Miner escaped. They heard the bell ringing
just before he came crashing out the woods, shared a few choice words, then
disappeared into the brush.
I look forward to receiving your mailing address so that I may submit my
cheque to you promptly. My mailing address is below.
Yours sincerely,
Michael G.
29 June 2007
Peter, I enjoyed meeting you ... in P(rince)
G(eorge) recently and more to the point, immensely enjoyed the
read.
Great background and detail- Having lived
here in BC these past 37 years, it gives me a different perspective on the
area's we have camped and traveled through over the years.
Many thanks for that.
regards frank d
(I continue to embarrass myself and forget people who I meet at book
affairs, as shown below.)
23 May 2007
Hi Peter- an aside to you regarding Bill Miner- went on the website for the
Register of Canadian Heritage places [not sure if my name is correct]. When I
did a place name search using Billy Miner, only one hit- the old Bank of
Montreal Building in Maple Ridge, and it only came up because its a heritage
building that now houses the Billy Miner Pub. I wonder, should the culvert you
mentioned be nominated? A second aside- my Grandpa Garney liked to tell of a
day when he held Bill Miner's horse for him and was given a dime [big money!]
for doing so. He kept a photograph of Miner in the house. Funny how one man
can touch such a large area and yet be relatively unknown outside of the
history books. Jeremy W., Kamloops.
25 May 2007.
Hi Peter- apologies, I should have re-introduced myself- I am one of the
people involved with this BC heritage ride, and we met at Forsters at our
first meeting. Grandpa Garney grew up in the area now Chilliwack, the
family homesteaded there and then branched to Princeton- I think he also had
what is now the Rocking Chair Ranch in Cawston, among other ranches. Had a
large sheep ranch too with Charlie [?] Taylor as well. The Willis family was
one of the pioneering families during the Gold Rush. Abraham Willis ran an ox
train on the Cariboo Road- he was Garney's dad. Grandpa was an older man, was
in the army for WW1- I'll have to get the details from the family album and my
father. I believe the picture is in the book- full front face picture in black
and white. I don't have the book here, I think it went with an in-law, but
I'll see if I can get a copy and give you the page number. W... E... is my
music business- I sing, DJ, MC, and songwrite- my current focus is songs on BC
history, right now on the Gold Rush days where both my familial lines started
in Canada. My great great grandfather was Sgt Mjr John McMurphy of the Royal
Engineers. I have most of his old documents available to me, so trying to
write about that, Abraham, and some of the other characters of the Rush.
Jeremy W., Kamloops.
One month after his last email of the 16th of May, Bruce W. had finished
the Bill Miner book, and had these comments to make.
13 June 2007
Peter
Just a short note to say that I just finished
Interred With Their Bones, Bill Miner In Canada, 1903-1907 and
thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice even writing and I am glad that you published
it on your own as an editor may have cut out some of the necessary and
interesting detail in the name of economy.
Some thoughts. The book certainly helped to
discredit the CPR-assisted-escape-in-return-for-the-stolen-bonds theory. I
also hadn't realized that Lewis Colquhoun was, in fact, not guilty and the
third man may have been someone else. A sad end for Colquhoun. It
certainly was a coup for you getting into the privately held Anthony Martin
collection.
Is Frederick Fulton a progenitor of E. Davie
Fulton for there is a strong family resemblance?
Glad to see that you also have disdain for
political correctness.
Bruce W.
When Karen and I were in Victoria to accept
the award from the BC Historical Federation 11 May, we made many interesting
and knowledgeable contacts. An exchange of emails with one of them,
Bruce W., follows.
For what it is worth for the record, I thought
I would clarify which relatives encountered Bill Miner, something which I
talked to you about on Saturday at the Victoria conference of the BCHF.
There is no reason that any of them warrant any mention in a work like yours
as their association was peripheral at best.
The person that I mentioned that you thought
may have been Calgarian W. A. McFoy, was Alexander Galbraith McPhee
(1865-1942) who was born in Ontario and spent much of his life in
Vancouver. In 1904, after coming down from the Klondike gold rush he joined
the CPR's Investigations Department, then in its formative days. In his 28
years with the CPR he served as constable, then as a "plain clothes"
investigator, then as Assistant Inspector, the rank he held on his
retirement in July 1932. He worked on a variety of criminal cases including
the pursuit in 1909 of Bill Miner. (This is probably a reference to
Miner's escape from the BC Penitentiary in August of 1907. PG)
At an early age, Victoria born William Robert
Strachan (1885-1962) became interested in racehorses, and developed into a
highly knowledgeable expert on horses. In his late teens he worked as a
cowpuncher on the Douglas Lake Ranch in the Nicola area, alongside Bill
Miner. He later drove a stagecoach but, because he froze his hands in
particular cold weather, he had a variety of careers after that. He died in
Vancouver.
Ontario born James Archibald Galbraith
(1878-1962) worked for the Vancouver Hardware Company and his job took him
all over British Columbia via stagecoach, sternwheeler, and railway. It was
while he was in Kamloops that he spotted Bill Miner on the street. They
never spoke.
My own father, who never saw or met Bill Miner
but was 10 years old at the time when Miner was captured, remarked that
Miner had garnered a huge amount of public sympathy, probably because he had
scored against the CPR.
There you are. None of these people deserve to
be part of a book on Bill Miner you can see the influence that the
"gentleman bandit" really had.
Good luck with the sales of your book. I am
enjoying it.
Bruce W., Vancouver
(Of course, as always, I rarely, if ever,
remember the people I meet, even on the best of occasions. For this, I
am eternally condemned by my wife as being on unfeeling wretch. The
stimuli that happens during these book sales events, meetings and conventions
are always overwhelming, and blank out my memory processes. At least,
that is my excuse. So I had to ask Bruce who he was.)
17 May 2007
Thanks for your
interesting email, Bruce. I appreciate your following up on our initial
contact. We are continually being overwhelmed with how the story of this
relatively inept and flawed petty criminal has entered into the unconscious
mythology of BC. Everywhere we go, someone comes forward with family
anecdotes from 100 years ago about Bill Miner. It never ceases to amaze us.
... BTW, please refresh my memory as to what position you are in to be
at the BCHF conference in Victoria. Regards, Peter
So, Bruce graciously responded..
Yes it is amazing how this flawed soul pushed
all the right buttons to enter the unconscious mythology of BC. I think a
big factor is that he did one up on the CPR, a "home grown" relief from
trying to make interesting history out of being part of a relatively
uncaring Central Canada and English Empire. He obviously touched a nerve
and gave voice to a certain element in society.
As for me, I was one of the Vancouver
Historical Society gang at the conference with no role in the BCHF. ... .
My most recent publication is something jointly
written with Jean Barman: Leaving Paradise: Indigenous Hawaiians in
the Pacific Northwest, 1787-1898 (Honolulu: University of Hawaii
Press, 2006).
Bruce W.
(Jean Barman's "The West Beyond The West"
was at my elbow when I researched and wrote my book.)
Amazingly, after receiving the emails of the 14th
and 15th of May regarding Maisie Hurley (Campbell Johnston), the following
showed up in my IN basket.
I am looking
to purchase a book, as I am fascinated with all the extra tidbits on my
Great
Grandmother Maisie Hurley. I have a picture of Bill Miner that she had
painted that was amazing.
I had heard
on her way to BC on the train, she ran into Bill and wasn't the least bit
frightened
of him or
his 6 shooter. They became close friends after that, as I have been told.
Have a Great Day! Kerrie H.
I replied to her as follows:
Hello Kerrie,
Nice to hear
from you, especially from a descendant of Maisie Hurley. She must have been
a very special lady, and from the research I have done, could very well have
a book done on her. I know some things about her life, including the
magazine “Native Voice,” her boxing promotions and the heart of her
ancestor. Would love to talk to you about her sometime, and to look at
the painting of Bill Miner. ... So pleased to hear from you. Maisie has
been somewhat of a mystery in some ways. A woman ahead of her time, but
also very complex. PG
Kerrie replied on 24 May 2007.
Hi Peter!
Thanks for
the reply. A story was told that I was actually playing with the heart of
Montrose and thought that I had broken it when it broke in two.
Apparently I was quite upset but found out that a bullet apparently had
split it in half in its travels to Vancouver. Yes she was way ahead
of her time. My mother Moira has a book that my great-great grandmother
Amy wrote over the years that goes into extensive stories of their
adventures, with great concern for Maisie who would break wild horses in
the Nicola Valley. Anyways, fascinating really. have a great day,
Kerrie H.
One of the intriguing characters I ran into in my research, and who
also made it into my book, is Maisie Campbell-Johnston. She was the
young girl in Aspen Grove that Bill Miner built a skating rink for. In
her later years she married a lawyer in Vancouver by the name of Hurley,
and, among other things, was the editor of "The Native Voice." Further
information on her is available in the web site database.
I received the following interesting series of emails regarding her
family.
I would like to buy two copies of your book.
I have been fascinated with the Campbell-Johnston family since finding an
old Prospectus for a mining company about 1969, written by Ronald Campbell
Campbell- Johnston. I think it was the double barreled name that hooked
me although the man himself had to have been a character. You seem to
have a lot of information on his daughter Maisie, who was also a wild
one. There is quite a display at the North Vancouver museum here, which
has a lot of her things.
I have collected quite a bit of information
about RCCJ and have made contact with a great grandson.
.........
Thanks and Cheers
Barry P.
The same day I replied to him as follows:
Hello
Barry, Nice to hear from you. How did you hear about my book, and
that it had Mazie Hurley and the Campbell-Johnstons in it? I too was
intrigued by the Campbell-Johnstons. There is more info on them in the
Vancouver Archives as well as the BC Archives. I was not aware of the
North Van display. I hope I can get to see it. I always thought there
was a good story behind them somewhere. I would appreciate hearing more
about the information you have accumulated. It seems that geologists
are enjoying my book. You are not the first who has contacted me to share
stories and comment on aspects of my book. I did do some research on
mining at the turn of the last century for my book, as it was such an
integral part of life in BC at that time. It seems that everyone had a
mine or was doing some prospecting at that time.
PG.
Barry
replied to my email as follows:
Thanks for the note. I came across your site in a search for
"Campbell-Johnston". I had been aware of the Bill Miner connection with
Maisie, various versions in different accounts. My first encounter with
RCCJ was when I drilled the Taltapin silver or Silver Fox property on
Pinkut Creek near Babine Lake about 1970. Our client was N... C... who
had in her files a prospectus written by RC, which was fabulous in all
senses of the word. Wish I had taken a copy.
RC was also one of the first "engineers" into the G... Coal field. I
have several thick reports on his exploration there. His wife was a
game old gal, accompanying him into very isolated country. She may have
had connections with the owners of the S... smelter.
I also have a little book "Tales of the Totems" written by RCCJ from
accounts written down by his wife.
I look forward to reading your book.
Cheers
Barry P.
26 April 2007
Hi Peter – hope to meet you someday soon.
Great book!
I am an environmental consultant working most
of BC. My work has some archive and heritage elements to it. I recently
found a title to land in Kamloops in the name of William Lewis Fernie, of
Kamloops BC . Land Title # 57831F was issued May 20th 1931 for
the SW ¼ of Section One, Twp 20 Range 18 West of the 6th
Meridian. This is near the corner of Dalhousie and Notre Dame in Kamloops.
There is a tax sale notice on the Fernie title. It was transferred in 1945
to the Gov’t of Canada as part of the military camp holdings in Kamloops.
Also you should note the anecdote in the menu of the Coldwater Hotel in
Merritt. It purports Miner stayed there and stashed things in the dome.
Eric G.
(The author replied to the above email as follows:)
Thanks, Eric, for the interesting information on the Fernie property. I
remember Daphne Fernie telling me about how her father used this part of his
holdings for grazing his imported thoroughbreds. As far as the tax sale
information goes, William Fernie had passed away many years before this
event, and his daughters and wife had moved to Victoria in the early 1940s.
They probably couldn’t find a sale for this property at that time, so left
it to be picked up for a tax sale. Thank you for this information, which I
wasn’t aware of. Any information that people send me that relates to my
book is most appreciated. It adds to our store of knowledge of this period
and the people who were around at the time.
As far as the anecdote in the Coldwater Hotel goes, I am familiar with the
story. However, Merritt was not yet a town in the days that Miner was in
BC, and the dates given were long after Miner had died. But I suppose it
does add some romance to the hotel itself. Thanks for your positive
comment on my book.
Peter Grauer
(In a second email, John comments further: )
Peter -- Thanx for the
personal reply. In my work (I am a geologist with strong landform/map
bias) the scenery and geography of each of the locations in your book
always impress me. I have been driving across BC – all directions, air,
road, coast and rail since I was a kid – in the 1960 window. Now I write
physical reports on properties including the history of ownership. This
has allowed me to write about Campbell Creek, Merritt, and Kamloops.
Living here near ... allows a wondrous connection between your book and
where I have rubber-necked for the last 20 odd – they have been odd –
years. I know you are aware of the Merritt museum. They have the
data on this next point. Merritt did not exist under that name in the
period you describe but the town was there under several other names. (Forksdale
& Midvale.) So… the inference is that Merritt by another name was there
and thriving – parallel to Quilchena but not on the main route from
Kamloops to Princeton which I believe is on the hill side to the east of
Merritt and was used for a rough road auto rally last year. The best
proof of the montage of these towns is the legal surveys of that era.
You might want to speak with legal surveyor John Graham in Merritt. And
there is always the knowledge of the affable author Murphy Shewchuk. I
defer to your previous work however. The command of dates you show is
exceptional. We certainly understand why a hotel would grasp any story
that might add to its marketable mystique, fact, conjecture, folklore or
otherwise.
Eric G.
April 1, 2007
Peter,
Congratulations on doing
such a good job of assimilating so much research. I have just completed
reading your book. You have given me renewed interest in getting back to
work on my family history. My great-grandfather, John S., arrived in
Victoria in 1862, spent time in the Cariboo, then settled in Victoria.
There has been a John S. there ever since - my father resides a few blocks
from the family plot in Ross Bay Cemetery. I have done some research in both
Victoria and the Provincial Archives, but have a long way to go. I
have just retired from a career as a high school English teacher (Armstrong)
and live in Vernon. I don't know if I have any material of interest to you,
but I sure appreciate your references in the back of your book.
Thanks again for the well-researched book! Cheers,
John
S.
(In a second email, John comments further: )
My only comment to improve the book - more
maps would be useful as most readers won't be familiar with our area. I
found myself bookmarking the map on page 20 and used this for a continual
reference. My next task is pulling the Backroad Mapbook off my shelf and
finding all these places to explore once the weather improves.
John S.
March 28, 2007
Hello Peter,
I am currently reading your book with much
interest and fascination. A couple of years ago we purchased acreage
in the ......... area for recreational use (we live in Vancouver). I have
been doing some research and found it is the old .............. ranch, just
off ........... Forest Service Road. It was originally 320 acres but now
is 141 acres. The property has an old road through it and signs of an old
cabin or structure near the lake (rusty stove and an old bed). In addition,
I found that the 'Similkameen Trail' used to go through the property as
shown on the back the original preempt document from 1891 (which I got a
copy from the Merritt Archives). I think it is this old road we see today
and may be the 'pack trail' you refer to in your book. Not sure though.
We would like to preserve some historical
elements of the property and would appreciate any information you have. My
wife and I are both very interested in the historic nature of the area.
All the best, E. P. Vancouver
(Note - Place and proper names have been
removed to protect privacy. PRG)
(The author replied to the above email as follows:)
Hello E.,
Thanks for your intriguing email. I am
aware of a number of cabins around your area that may be associated with
Miner, Allen, Budd, Chisholm et al. However, the ........... property in my
research has only referred to the Miner/Budd cabin. It is rather
special to think that your cabin could have been the one in which Miner
spent the winter of 1905/06. I will have to refer to my research
documents again and see whether more information is contained in them.
By all means give me a call sometime. Evenings after 7 and before 10 would
be best. ........... has always been of interest to me, and I am
presently pursuing more information through his descendants.
Peter Grauer
March 17, 2007
Hi, I liked the book. I really liked the detail. I
have over 700 Canadian and Alaska books, many of them like yours. I have
always been interested in Bill Miner since I have been going to Quesnel
Lake for the last 30 years. Something has puzzled me for a long time. There
is a creek named Bill Miner on the most remote arm (east arm) of the lake
between Kill Dog and Bouldery creeks. I know why Kill Dog and Bouldery got
it's name . I have talked with a friend whose father trapped on the lake in
the 30's and Bill Miner creek was named as far back as he could remember. I
have been to the Billy Miner Saloon in Williams Lake and understand why
a saloon would be named after a colorful character, but why a remote
creek? Bill Miner was not in the area. Can you shed any light on this ???
On page 559, I found it interesting that Jack Budd's daughter , B.L.
Barron, lived in Chico, California (my home town). I have looked in the
Chico phone book and cannot find any connection today for the mail routes
are not the same.
Thanks for writing the book. I really did enjoy it. The photos, maps and
research you have done is appreciated by this reader.
Walt R.(The author replied as follows:)
Hello Walt,
The
only explanation I could come up with for the name Bill Miner Creek would
be that it must have been named by a miner in the first decade of the 20th
C. Many of the Princeton/Nicola/Kamloops miners and prospectors headed up
into that country when the mining exploration petered out in the south
part of the province. Bill Miner was even then a figure of some interest
to ordinary people in the southern part of BC. I found not one iota of
indication that he went any further north than Kamloops, Ashcroft or
Spence’s Bridge. However, I should say that there were rumours passed
down in families that he had been up in that country, but absolutely no
primary source data. As readers of my book know, people were great
travellers in those days, both on foot and on a good through-bred. New
information on Miner that put him in the Cariboo would never surprise me.
He was an interesting individual.
The
trail of Jack Budd is still warm, and information is still continuing to
come in on him. Descendants have been trying to trace his trail up here
in Canada, and I hope to be able to post some of the information on my
website in the future.
Thank you for your positive comments on my book. I tried to use the
detail to put the reader back in that time 100 years ago.
Regards,
March 4, 2007
Dear Peter:
I finished reading your book a couple of weeks
ago. I found it quite interesting and enjoyed learning a little more
local history. You mentioned that Shorty Dunn had worked for Jack Hanna
after serving his time. Jack Hanna was my step grandfather and the
original owner of this painting. I would assume it is the same Jack
Hanna. I was delighted to see his name mentioned. Giving someone a break
would be in character with how I remember him. He was quite an
interesting person and always had some story to tell.
Thanks
John F., Kamloops.
(John came up to Karen and I during "Art in
the Park" in Kamloops in the summer of '06, and told us he had a
contemporary oil painting done of Bill Miner that had been in his family
for many years. The name of Jack Hanna did not come up at that time,
and this incident just confirms again how connections have kept happening
since the book was first published last summer. The interest of BC
residents in their own history, and the connections so many had with the
Bill Miner story continues to amaze us. PG)
March 2, 2007
Hi Peter,
I have just finished reading your book and the
best
descriptions I can use are: superb,
excellent, fascinating, terrific,
etc. Other friends who have read your book
share similar comments.
Thanks very much!!!!!
Ron P., Kamloops.
February 16, 2007
Hi Peter.
I just wanted to commend you on your book. I
know the research involved in a project like that and it's easy to see your
passion for the subject. To say I devoured it is probably an understatement.
It was all very easy to read. And the statements you found from the three
men seem very telling. I always had my suspicions about Colquhoun and never
bought his portrayal when I first saw The Grey Fox. It didn't make sense to
me that a young, respected and consumptive school teacher would leave his
home and family (presumably for both his own sake and the health of others)
only to use explosives and guns to jeopardize the lives of strangers.
But there are still a lot of unanswered
questions and I'm going to see what digging I can do at this end.
But maybe you can offer your
thoughts/speculations on one.
The three statements are fascinating. Were they
taken at the same time in the regular course of activities at the prison?
Both Dunn and Edwards say they make the statements of their own free will.
Colquhoun doesn't. Hmmm. As well, Dunn's statement suggests it was written
by someone else. Was he playing the illiterate just as he had played the
mute in the store?
My guess is that Miner (probably in agreement
with Dunn) made the unusual(?) request in a humanitarian effort to free the
sickly Colquhoun without it actually costing them anything (increased
sentence, legal fees, #3's wrath, etc.). And it is possibly the only reason
Dunn might talk to Miner at all in prison. If it was Miner's first and only
recorded confession, he would have been well aware of that fact, reinforcing
the idea he indeed was a con man with a conscience. So it also seems the
only acceptable con for him was tricking men into thinking he'd shoot them
if they didn't help unload the express car or open a lock box.
Anyway, I won't ramble on any longer, though I
know I could. My thanks. I always like reading books that make me want to
find out more.
All the best
Richard T.
(Richard Turtle is a playwright from Ontario.
He devoured the 600 plus pages of "Interred With Their Bones" in just a few
days. A listing of some of his plays can be seen at
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/TurtleRichard.htm
and a brief bio can be seen at https://www.brookpub.com/richard-turtle-and-peter-moore-m-214.html?osCsid=06c583542)
February 16, 2007
Hello Peter.
I recently finished your book, which I enjoyed
so very much !
It was obviously written after extensive
research, and with a dedication to "getting it right".
I am a Kamloops resident, having lived here for
35 years, and been to so many of the locations described in your book, in my
pursuit of outdoor activities and explorations. Knowing these locations just
adds to my pleasure of reading your book.
Thanks for an excellent book.
I will be recommending it to my friends and
family.
Garry G.
February 8, 2007
Hi Peter, Just wanted you to know that I
finally finished "Interred With Their Bones" and enjoyed it very
much. I am not a fast reader and I do most of my reading in bed, before I
go to sleep. Usually the sleep-bug gets me before I get about half a
chapter read, so I was the better part of a month reading it. I'm no
expert, but I feel the story would make a great movie---better than "The
Grey Fox." The book really brought a lot of B.C. heartland history out,
with reference to many places and people to which we [natives] can
relate. You've put a great deal of time, effort and hard work into the
book, and you must be very proud! I had occasion to speak with Brenda T. a
few days ago, after finding out about her connection to Ducks. She spoke
very highly of "Interred." Good luck in your marketing of the book.
I'm sure you are very busy selling the book,
so I was wondering if you've had time to read "An Okanagan History,"
(The Diaries of Roger John Sugars, 1905 to 1919.
Sandhill Book Marketing.
PG) and as it falls into the same time frame as Roger's diary,
what your feeling is for the book. Incidentally, my first 1800 copies just
sold out and I have my second edition of 500 more. ... I am being given
the opportunity of presenting the books to each (Okanagan school)
library and doing a short reading in front of the students.
All the best to you and your wife, Karen.
May you have a best seller!! John Sugars.
(John Sugars is the son of Roger John Sugars,
and he edited his father's diaries to create a poignant vignette of life
on Okanagan Lake 100 years ago, as well as an enduring legacy detailing
our local interior heritage. PG)
February 3, 2007
I've just finished reading your very excellent
book about Bill Miner . I have a great interest in the stories as I remember
my grandfather Victor S. talking about him. In your book on page 108
the picture of William Dodd's roadhouse is, I am very sure, a picture that I
have of my Grandfathers ranch house. The front porch has been removed in my
photo, but you can see the lighter area that it was attached to the house
with. I would guess I'm about 2yrs old ..muddy pants and all ..looks like
spring time. I'm not sure when he bought the ranch or from who...I do
know from Don Blake's book Blakeburn,..Dust to Dust ...they were in
Blakeburn in the 20's as they are mentioned as residents and my uncle Bill's
picture is in the school photo. Vic was looking after the mine mules
and just going in when it blew up. He was only slightly injured. Bill S. had
the Missezula Lake ranch that you talked about ..but later. ( He passed away
last month in Princeton at 90 yrs.)
I remember up above the ranch at Aspen
Grove an old mine site with a short tailings ramp ...could it be some of
their old diggings ? I used to ride from Aspen Grove to Missezula a couple
of times a year.
Bill B. Westbank B.C.
(The
author and Bill B. are working together to determine the provenance of this
photo from the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives.)
