The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-06-16
PIONEER SETTLERS.
Account of a Trip Across the
Plains Twenty Years Ago.
"Reminiscences OF the Gold Fever I'm
British C0iumbIa-A Forecast of
the Mineral Wealth of That
Country.

Two men named w. A. Mickle and Johr
SAuu,ltrSon. who have been in the city fol
the past week. left a day or two ago fol
CALGARY where they intend settling for &
time at least, uutil the G.. p. r. penetrates
the Rockies, where they may possibly re-
Sune their former occupation of miners IN
the rich lie dis supposed to exist IN the
Kootenav and Columbia river districts.
Mr.. Micklc first came t, the Northwest In
1862 exactly Il years ago, he and party
of six Canadians and fifteen Americans,
having spent the Queens Birthday in
what was then known as Fort Garry.
THEY TRAVELLED FROM ST. PAUL.
to here with mule teams and wagons ana
spent "a week in the place, which was then
nothing more than .nere hamlet, WIN
hut a handful of white men other than the
Hudsons Bay officials inhabiting it. Dr.
Schultz kept trading post or store, IN
which he ran opposition to the HUDSON
Bay Company. They next started on their
westward march across the plains with
their mule teams and outfit, the objective
point being British Columbia. The attrac-
ton was the Cariboo gold fever which
broke out The year before. There were no
settlements in the West at that time, not
even Portage la Prairie, and the journey
had to be made bv the trails to the differ
ent Hudson Bay posts, with the assistance
of half breed guide, who escorted them
safely
AsFAR AS EDMONTON.
The route by which they accomplished
the trip was by way of Fort Ellice, the
Touchwood Hills, Fort Carlton, Fort Fit
and Edmonton, camping out whenever
night overlook them. Notwithstanding
that this was the fist pioneer white set
tiers expedition across the plains with
horses and wagons, it was not in any way
moested by the Indians, who viewed the
party with considerable curiosity On
reaching Edmonton they traded OFT their
wagons for native ponies, and packed
them and the mules for the trip across the
mountains for their ultimate destination.
They first proceeded to Lake st. Anne,
thence across the country to the Athabasca
river. which they followed into the noun
tains, crossing them through the Yellow
head Pass. They left their gaide at Ed
monitor, and had to pilot their way for the
remainder of the journey with the assist
ance of Indians. They found the
ATHABAsCA HEAVILY -1MBERED
with spruoe.il IN the
mountains they struck the head waters OF
the Fraser and North Thompson rivers in
British Columbia, and strange to relate,
the sources of those streams were in close
proximity to the headwaters of the Atha-
basca. The watershed was struck at this
point, the water in the latter stream going
eastward, and those of the other rivers
southwesterly on the Pacific slope. The
trail first brought the party to Tete Jaune
Cache on the headwaters of the Fraser.
In this locality was found some fine timber
of the spruce, pine and cedar varieties, all
of which were of Immense size. The party
NlflISt "ihS oN"AA oAAN
North Thompson to Kamloops, where they
located, this being at the junction Of the
North and South Thompson rivers; the
other wing in which was Mr.. Aickle went
down the Fraser to
THE MOUTH OF THE qUEsNEL.
which enters it at this point. The first
mentioned contingent took the stock with
them, as they intended to go into farming,
the other having mining in view, had no
use for the horses. Mr.. Mickle and his
men made the trip down the Fraser in
canoes, which were made out of the native
cedar at Tete Juane Cache, After spend
ing few days at the forks of the Fraser
and Quesnel, they started by trail for Car
iboo, where they arrived on the eighth of
August, having left Fort Garry the previ-
GUS 24th of May. Mr.. Miekle reports the
placer diggins very rich in gold, and while
few O.. those who rushed to the Cariboc
mines met with disappointment, yet many
he amongst the number, did remarkably
well.
THE LACK OF coMMUNIIccATIoN.
with tie outer world, to bring in the prop
er machinery, rendered it next to impossi'
BILE to thoroughly works the mines, yet
considerable wealth was amassed in the
primitiye fashion in which the mineral had
to be got out. Mr.. Mickle subsequently
visited his home at Essex, Ont, via SaE
Francisco, where he got married and again
immigrated to his new home on the west
side Of the Rockies. Having acquired
something In mining he next resolved te
deYote his time to agricultural pursuits
and located in the Nicola Valley, where he
was successful in raising stock, which he
brought across t.ie Crows Nest Pass anc
sold to advantage at Fort Macleod. He
sent his family back to Ontario three years
ago, and it was not until the other day
he again met them, having arrived one
day
BEFORE THEM FROM CALGARY.
He has since returned to tho latter nj AZ.