The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-10-14
HrItish Columbia

Our dates from Y lct0ria, Vancouver Is
land, are TO August q, and from Fort
Hope, Frazer's River, 20 August %. The
principal item Of news IL the threatened
breaking out Of a serious war between the
Indians and the miners. Ever since the
white men have invaded the Frazer River
country, they have been made TO submit TO
various ann0yances aud Outrages from the
savages. These have become more and
more frequent and unbearable, and lately
not "a few white men, who have been caught
at a distance from the large camps. alone or
in small parties, have been murdered To
protect themselves, the whites at Fort Yale
enrolled INTO two or three companies. and
started out into the Indian country TO fight,
or awe the savages into making peace. A
few days after they had left Fort Yale,
Aug. 49, report reached that place that
one of the companies had been surprised, az
night by a large body OF Indians, and all
but one or two had been nhumanly butch.
cred.
This news created immense excitement
among the miners all along the banks Of the
river, and in Victoria, when the account of
the massacre reached there. The miners
held meetings, memoriazed the Governor
ior arms, organized comI anies, and prepared
themselves for war Of determination.
Many were disposed TO censure the Hudson
Bay Company, and the most serious diff
cuities were apprehcnded all round. While
matters were ia this posture, news came in
that the account OF the wholesale massacre
Of the white company was untrue.
The companies that had started out had
found the Indans peaceably disposed, and
had succeeded in effectng treaty with
them. While one Of the companies was
subsequently camped ont for the night with
their new Indian frlends war party Of
savsges, who had not heard Of the treaty
returned and seeing the whites around the
camp FIRE, discharged a volley al them, which
killed the captain, one Graham, and his first
Lieutenant, outright and wounded several
Of the men. The friendly Indians AT the
camp succeeded in signal2ing the attacking
party TO dcsist, when explanations were
made, and sorrow expressed for the mistake.
This was the foundation for the story Of the
massacre. Since the formation OF the treaty
no outragcs had been committed. But as
the presence OF the miners on the bars and
banks OF Frazer's River, interfere with the
salmon fisheries, which are the chef Deepen
clcs Of the sayagcs for food. it is certain
that serious difficulties must hereafter be
continual between them and the miners
The mining news from Frazer River
is still unsatisfactory. The river at latest
accounts, was too high to allow OF protita
ble working by the majority Of the miners.
Some dry diggings' have been discovered
near Fort Yale, but what is their richness
or their extent is not yet known here. Con
siderable excitement had also prevailed at
at ' ctoria concerning some reported gold
discoveries on Vancouver Island, Northwest
of Victoria. and distant from that place
from five to twenty-five miles. As many as
thousand people had rushed there and
staked of claims but the latest accounts
represent the whole thing as humbug
Gold was found in minute particles, but not
N sufficient quantity to pay the diggers.
Business was very dull at Victoria, and
property there had greatly deprecated in
value. 4 few Of those who went up 10
Frazers River. and q large number OF those
who proceeded no further than Victoria and
Nottingham Bay, have returned 10 Calior-