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| Journal Thomsons River February 1843 [Journal kept by Chief Trader John Tod]
Clear & very cold. took a ride to the guard & was agreeably surprised at meeting M.rOgden & the Rev.d Demerse with four men & thirty horses from Alexandria The news from N. Caledonia I am sorry to state are of a tragical nature by a fatal misunderstanding between our people at the Babines & the natives, the person in charge there, William Morwick, was shot dead inside the Fort by an Indian, and altho the latter soon after met the fate he so justly merited, (being shot by one of our men at the Fort gates) it is much to be apprehended that this lamentable event may lead to further blood shed on the part of the natives_ The weather is at present very severe, more so than it has been at any time during the whole course of the winter_ It is intolerable the annoyance to which we are at present subjected in consequence of the immense coud of Indians who are now congregated about us_ Men, women & children starving of hunger & cold have flocked in upon us from all quarters evidently for no other purpose but to see & hear the priest_ poor deluded creatures! they do not know how little good he can do them The weather continues very severe M.r Demerse continues the focus of a crowd_ M.r Ogden purposes leaving us on Monday_ M.r Cameron as usual on the other side with the men who are grooving the frame of the dwelling house. Intensely cold_ at present there are not less than four hundred Ind.ns about us_ Clear & very cold with a strong piercing wind from N.W. Weather continues the same_ about 9 O'clock A.M. M.r Ogden accompanied by the priest Demerse took his departure hence for Colvile_ Francois Beaudoin, the man who has been in the Kitchen all winter having a wife & family in Montreal to whom he was desirous of returning requested permission to go out with the Express, and having got Octave Martele from N. Caledonia to take his place I willingly acceeded to the poor fellows request. he has accordingly accompanied M.r Ogden & Martele is now in the Kitchen No change in the weather_ The people on the opposite side proceed but slowly with the frame of the House_ The cold weather still continues_ The frame of the dwelling house is now ready to put up_ After breakfast all hands with the assistance of a few Ind.ns commenced putting up the frame of the dwelling house & by the evening the whole was completed_ Gave M.r Cameron notice to start tomorrow for OK.n with the acc.ts in the evening horses were hobbled for the journey_ M.r Cameron accompanied by Martele (who was soon tired of the Kitchen) and three Ind.ns set forth on the journey for OK.n. They take with them four hundred Salmonfor the use of that Post and, besides the horses for the loads & the saddle, they take also a few marons to drive a head. The weather still severe_ the Sunday however is now so powerful there is always a slight thaw at noon_ Wind North, the quarter from whence it has blown for the last month, and as cold as ever. The men commenced filling up the Frame of the dwelling House, but there being only three at work, there progress is consequently slow_ The weather begins to get milder_ still the wind Keeps at the north Ignace has been confined for the last eight days to his lodge with sores in his left thigh_ Consequently there are only W. Swanson, Fallerdeau & Douliet employed at the building_ Simon Gale, another sickly subject, is in the Kitchen Clear & cloudless with a warm Sunday shine_ Men as yesterday Altho' sharp during the night, at noon the heat of the Sunday caused a considerable thaw_ Men as before_ Ignace does not get better_ Slight frost during the night, but much warmer at noon than usual_ The mares dropping their Colts and one of our Cows had a bull Calf last night_ The horse guards moving off for the purpose of collecting roots_ Men at work as usual_ Swans & other water fowl making their appearance Rather warmer than usual, the wind however still Keeps at North. The fine weather appears now to be set in. to day there was a general thaw. our whole band of horses were brought from the North Side the river, where they have passed the winter. Warm weather_ Three, say W. Swanson, Douliet & Fallerdeau are all we can muster to work at the buildings_ Ignace still confined to his lodge, from what I suspect to be venereal_ A band of horses driven into the enclosure & Lolo employed part of the day branding & cutting the young Stallions_ Clear with a warm sunshine in course of the day_ The snow has all disappeared from the valley, but the hills in the neighbourhood still partially covered_ Seventeen young horses cut since yesterday_ Slight frost during the night, but warm during the day_ The ice in the north river opposite begins to get weak_ Warm sunshine, but the continuance of Northerly winds makes it invariably sharp during the night_ The state of the ice renders it unsafe to cross opposite, it is however, as strong some distance above as in winter A storm of wind N.W. which has started the river ice_ Flocks of water fowl_ Three of young horses that were cut a few days ago died last night_ The men crossed the river in the evening with a canoe to get their rations for the ensuing week_ The walls of the dwelling house completed_ Warm weather_ all quiet_ The men resumed work joined now by Ignace who has recovered of his late indisposition_ A Gale from the South.d Rained a little during the preceding night_ Nothing particular Stormy_ The buildings advance, but slowly_ Employed a few starving Ind.ns, men, women & children, to clear & clean a potatoe patch, at the new buildings, in which it is intended to plant say about eight or ten Kegs potatoes as soon as the weather becomes more mild. Cold raw weather, with the wind at N.W. Three men putting on the roof of the new dwelling house, the other Ignace dressing the roofing sticks. Weather still cold. Men as before
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