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DAV1D PURVIS S RESIDENCE
DAVID PURVIS
A.G.BROWNING.K.C.
A. G. BROWNINGS RESIDENCE
JOHN FERGUSONS RESIDENCE
JOHN FERGUSON
ES1OENT& OF NORTH BAY BOARD OF TRADE 1694- I9OB,
NORTH BAY
THE GATEWAY
TO
SILVERLAND
BEING THE STORY OF A HAPPY, PROSPEROUS PEOPLE,
WHO ARE BUILDING THE METROPOLIS
OF THE NORTH
BY
ANSON A. GARD
Author of "The Yankee in Quebec," "The Wandering Yankee,"
"The Hub and the Spokes," "The New Canada,"
"The Pioneers of the Upper Ottawa,"
"The Last West," Etc., Etc.
THIS BEING HIS ELEVENTH CANADIAN BOOK
TORONTO
THE EMERSON PRESS
1909
UORTH YORK PUBLIC LfBRAKY
MAIN
A LIST OF CANADIAN
BOOKS
By ANSON A. CARD
The Yankee in Quebec. 50c.
Uncle Sam in Quebec. Out of Print.
The Wandering Yankee. 75c.
How to See Montreal. 25c.
The New Canada Out of Print.
The Hub and the Spokes ; or, Ottawa
of To-day Out of Print.
The Pioneers of the Upper Ottawa-
Out of Print.
Ottawa, the Beautiful Capital. 25c.
The Last West. 25c.
The Real Cobalt. 50c.
Silverland and Its Stories. 50c.
My Friend Bill; a Novel
If you cannot find these in your local
book stores order from
THE EMERSON PRESS
TORONTO ONTARIO
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of
Canada, in the year one thousand nine hundred and
nine, by ANSON A. CARD, at the Department of
Agriculture.
PRESS OF
THE HUNTER-ROSE Co.
LIMITED
DEDICATION
BOOKS are often dedicated with little or no meaning
to the words of their dedication simply words con
veying nothing" of the heart of the writer. I would not
have this such a book. In dedicating it to the Board of
Trade of North Bay, I would have every word to count up
to its full strength and meaning, for to the kindly mem
bers of that Board is due the book itself. To them is due
the initiative, and with the few others among my kind
patrons its fruition. Few others," since nearly every
man of enterprise and town-love is a member of this pur
poseful Board of Trade. It is with reason that I say
purposeful. Little of good to this rising young city by the
Lake the Gateway to untold millions of wealth but that
good has been brought about or forwarded by these men.
Many such bodies think out a benefit to their city, start
it going, and if opposition is to be met, to carry it through,
the opposition is not met and the benefit is not carried
through. With these men, years of opposition but spurs
them on to more years of untiring work; the gaining of
their aim is their only stopping place.
If in the story of North Bay I shall have preserved
some of the early history of the town and told of its up
building, no credit must be given my pen, since the work
is due alone to these upbuilders. And so to them, with a
heart full of love to North Bay, I dedicate "The Gate
way to Silverland."
ANSON A. CARD
March 25, 1909.
To Public Libraries
These three books in one are to be sent to
Public Libraries, into every part of the world, that
every part of the world may know of a wonder
fully rich country, until recently almost wholly un
known, save to the Indian, the hunter and the trap
per. It is a beautiful land, that New Ontario, and
it has been well told in these books. We want
many peoples to know of that land and its wonders
and its beauties- -they are well worth knowing.
To that Library which can show the most
readers of this volume by January 1st, 1910, we
will send a beautiful 8x16 flag (the flag to be of
the country of the winner), and in one of Mr.
Gard s subsequent books will be given a special
chapter on the town or city in which is the Library.
Special terms will be given to all Libraries
wishing extra copies of the book.
We will shortly publish one of the most novel
novels ever printed, under the title of " Old Hi
Manders, the Forester." It is by this same author.
It will be of special interest to the old men of the
Order of Foresters. The scene is laid in New
Ontario, Canada, and holds the reader from pref
ace to finis.
THE EMERSON PRESS,
Toronto, Ont., Canada.
NORTH BAY
THE GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
DID you ever drop into a town, and on the first look about
feel that you were in a city ? " No ? " Well then you ve
never been in North Bay, on the very edge of New On
tario the gateway to one of the most marvellous countries in
the world marvellous by reason of its mighty resources of
fabulous mineral wealth. Yes, there is "City" written all over
this "Gateway," and you cannot but see it. You can see it
in the permanent improvements, substantial churches, fine
school houses, public buildings, business blocks and private
residences. But you may best see it written in the faces of
the men who have literally cut it from the primeval forest,
and dug it from the rocks that lay along the shores of the
beautiful Nipissing.
Location
And where is this " Gateway ? : Take your map of
Ontario, and find Lake Nipissing, about where is seen the
narrowest part of the Province. It lies half way between
Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River. Look now along its
north-easterly border, and there is North Bay. It is 226
miles almost north of Toronto, and 243 miles a little north-west
of Ottawa. By a map to be found in this book its location
may be seen showing its relative position to other points.
Lake Nipissing
The lake upon which it lies is a beautiful sheet of water
some 90 miles long, and in its widest part about 20 miles
across. It has a number of rivers entering it from many
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
directions, and has as its outlet the now famous French River.
Famous" not only for its having been the great highway for
the Recollets, and Jesuit Fathers, and the early fur-traders, but
for its charm for the wise tourists who have found and realized
its beauty. Of the lake and the river I shall have more to say
in the proper place. Both are destined to be much in the
minds of all Canada in the near future, for up one and across
the other is soon to be run the Georgian Bay Canal, on its
way to Montreal.
Down the various rivers that enter the lake comes annually
600,000,000 feet of timber. Part of this is turned into lumber
at the mills around its borders, but most of it goes to mills
outside, by way of the French River to Georgian Bay, to the
south-west, and to the east through Trout Lake, the Mattawa
River to the Ottawa, down which to the mills below.
Trout Lake, here mentioned, lies just east of the town
about four miles. It is the highest point between the two
water systems Georgian Bay, and the Ottawa River
and it is 666 feet above sea level.
Where is now the town, which is forging ahead so fast that
it must ere long be a city in fact as well as seeming, was in 1881
an unbroken forest the hunting ground of the remnant of a
once mighty race of people. In July of that year the right-of-way
for the great Canadian Pacific Railway was started to be cut.
In 1882 came the first permanent settler.
It is often a question: "Who was the first?" With North
Bay there is no question as to the pioneer resident, for all agree
that William McFarlane built here the first house. It wasn t a
beautiful house, but it was "home" to many another of the
pioneers. It was more than home. It was in the McFarlane
house where was held the first religious service. Nor was it
denominational, for all creeds were made welcome to use it
as a meeting-place. Is it any wonder that William and his good
wife were the loved of all? They remained residents, and only a
few years since passed away at a ripe old age.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 3
Pioneers
The McFarlanes were soon followed by Alex. Doyle, Wm.
Parks, Wm. McDonald, D. J. McKeown, Edw. Brownlee,
George Snyder, . Whitnall, Col. J. J. Gregory, John McLeod,
John McPherson, Jas. Shatton, John Hill, Henry Bray, Fred.
Cornish (the engineer who brought in the first supply train),
and others, whose names will later appear. These were followed
by B. M. Mulligan, from the Quyon, on the Ottawa River, M.
Brennan, A. McCarrie, John Robertson, R. Bunyan, J. W. Rich
ardson, John Stockdale, and others who remained too short a
time to have fastened their names in the minds of those who
remain. And yet so new is the town that one of far recent date
might well be classed among the pioneers.
As I would have this to be a reference for the future, I sought
out the names of the early ones from as many sources as possible.
Chancing to run across an old map of Widdifield Township
(of which, for years, North Bay was but a part), I found thereon
marked (by Mr. A. Cowan, who for 14 years has been collector of
taxes,) the following pioneer names.
Names from an Old Map
F. Carter, A. McDonald, J. T. Lovel, R. Rankin, R. Hunter,
S. Robinson, H. Marleau, R. Gorman, J. Robertson, P. Bourke,
A. McNab, J. Mcllvaney, J. McNulty, F. Bouley, W. and F.
Sache, A. and A. Sequin, F. House, Wm. Doran, M. Angus, R.
Connelly, G. Holmes, A. Mclntosh, J. A. and James Carmichael,
J. Nelson, R. and D. Howitt, T. Knight, O. Garvin, Wm. Mitchell,
P. Kinsella, T. Hogan, T. McDonald, E. Norman, J. Fowler, J.
Pasmore, H. Mooney, M. Shannon, J. Overholt, M. Kennedy,
G. Rancier, A. Taylor, J. Gilmore, A. Depencier, Wm. and J.
Ellis, A. Latour, D. McBeth (present Reeve, having held the
office for many years), J. Lindsay, J.Hutton, J. Lees, D. Delaney,
. Metcalf, of the Metcalf addition, E. T. Lonsberry, Rev. E.
T. Bridgeman, A. R. and J. McLeod, J. Anderson, J. Harrington,
4 GA TEW A Y TO SIL VERLA ND
G. Carmichael, J. J. and R. Jessop, C. W. Thompson (for many
years Township Clerk), J. Martin, A. Laflaire, T. Fischer, D.
and G. McKenzie, C. Kensella, G. Streeter, J. McNaughton, T.
Robinson, C. A. Deaks, C. Riddler,T. Morrison, H. Marsh, Wm.
Hogg. (Other names of the early ones will be found elsewhere
in this chapter).
Widdifield Pioneers
The pioneers of the township, as distinct from North Bay,
-long a part of Widdifield began coming in in 1884 some may
have been here even earlier, but I could gather no data, and so
start with the names as I collected them, with the years of their
arrival. Some may have been missed, but with the aid of the
Times, I gathered all I could. Many of these are also in the
"Old Map" list, but in no order of arrival.
ARRIVALS IN 1884.}. McNaughton, the Riddels, W. Jink-
enson, F. Carter, Arch. McCallum, G. W. Bartlett (now Superin
tendent of Algonquin Park), John Bailey (pioneer of Four-Mile
Lake Settlement) came from Bruce County with his father Thomas,
R. B. Jessop, Robt. Bartlett, J. Turgeon, J. P. McLeod.
ARRIVALS IN 1885. George N. Holmes, Jas. and Geo. Lidiatt,
George McGraw, Sr. and Jr., W. Byers, Stephen, Samuel and
Thomas Robinson, Alex, and Rora McLeod, Thomas Hutchison,
J. Hill, Jas. Andersen, the Swede.
ARRIVALS IN 1886. Duncan McBeth (the present Reeve), A.
G. McNabb, Oscar Nicks, A. McEwen, Thomas, John and James
Carmichael, Ed. Williams, Geo. and J. Price, B. Gratton, J. B.
Lalonde, J. R., D. and G. McKenzie, Thomas Culbert, Mrs.
R. Hewitt.
ARRIVALS IN 1887. Alex. Gibson, Jas. Bell, John Brennan.
ARRIVALS IN i888.--Thomas Hogan, Geo. Rancier, W. H.
Dorcey.
j
No DATE. Charles Thompson, the first Municipal Clerk;
T. B. Smith, Robt. Hunter, Wm. Sache, Arthur Brothers, Wm.
McLean, John Carmichael, Clerk.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 5
Selection of the Site* Name " North Bay "
I have given the names of the pioneers even before I have
told you of the selection of the townsite. But, you see, they came
in so fast, at the start, that few even thought of it as a town, and
none who ever dreamed of its becoming the city of its destiny.
And yet it was named almost before any number had come.
There wasn t any naming committee nobody suggested "Let s
call it North Bay." And thereby hangs an incident. I will
wager that no other town was so thoughtlessly named as was this.
One day a young man who has since been so much to the place
-wishing to order a keg of nails for the first house, stood, pad in
hand, wondering how he might designate the camp to which
to send it. Looking out over the bay that comes in from the lake,
he hurriedly wrote: " Send it to North Bay," and North Bay it has
been ever since, although the same man often tried to have it
changed. That was before the place had become so widely
known that a change was wanted. Now, name plays no part, for
this live town has made its own identity.
EARLY HISTORY
In writing the history of an old town, one must depend upon
the memories of the oldest citizens, and they too often give tradi
tion for facts. And then the newspaper plays so little part with
the early history of the towns started long ago. Now, in this age
of progress, the newspaper man is often seen following the sur
veyors. This might be said of North Bay, for in a short time after
the first real work had been begun, we find Stewart Huntington
opening a printing office, and the next year giving to the people
The Nipissing Times, which was later changed to The North
Bay Times. To this latter I am much indebted for valuable data.
In a series of articles, begun in its columns April 2, 1896, are con
tained so much of interest that, by the kind permission of Editor
N. Phelps, I shall make selections for this volume, fitting them in
along with data gathered from other sources, making the while
comments to fit the present.
While work had started on the right-of-way in July of 1881,
bvlt little was done until the following year, when it was cleared
of its timber, work begun on the roadbed, and some scoop-roofed
sheds erected.
As before given, Wm. McFarlane s was the first private resi
dence. In November John Ferguson built the first shingled
house. In December of the next year 1883 the C.P.R. built
what has ever since been known as "The Company Row," to
be seen near the station.
First Stores
Early in 1883 Wm. McDonald started the first general store.
He later took over the post office from John Ferguson, who was
the first postmaster, and ran it up to this 1908 year, when
he was succeeded by his son, the present incumbent. After him
Wm. C. Caverhill and Edw. W T alsh opened stores. Walsh sold
6
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 7
to George Fee, one of the present proprietors of the Mackey
House.
About this time stone quarries were opened on Main Street,
west of Ferguson street, for the railway s building material.
These old quarries may yet be seen behind the buildings along
the north side of Main. This necessitated the building of more
houses rude log structures.
All of the first improvements were made on a lot taken up by
John Ferguson, and upon which lot is now the business part of
the town. In 1884 T. and W. Murray laid out a town addition
on their property to the west of the Government road, and on
which is now some of the finest residences in town. To Thomas
Murray, North Bay is greatly indebted. He was, about that
time, the Provincial member of Parliament for North Renfrew,
and as Nipissing had no member he had charge of it, as well
as his own district. He got for the town the Recorder s office,
the jail, and to him is due the Government Road to the far north,
into a country then a wilderness, with none but Indians, trappers
and timbermen, now having a population of possibly 25,000
inhabitants, with large towns, and with a mining industry opening
up that is destined to equal or surpass any other in the Dominion,
if not the world. This road was constructed to Lake Temis-
kaming, some 85 miles, but has been little used since the opening
of the T. and N.O. Railway. Mr. Murray, unlike John Fer
guson, lost faith in his holdings, sold out and left others to benefit
by his labors. He had built many residences, a number of stores,
and the Pacific Hotel possibly the finest at the time in the north
country. Had he held on for one year longer he had realized a
large fortune. The Murray Addition is largely owned by Mr. John
Bourke, North Bay s first Mayor.
Some More Firsts
Jas. Agnew w T as the first school teacher.
The first school-house stood on the rear end of the Baptist
Church lot. Rev. Silas Huntington was the first preacher.
B. W. Coyne was the first resident Superintendent of the
8 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
C.P.R. u Barney " was the most popular that ever filled the office.
His returns to town are veritable ovations.
The first real jail still stands on George McGilhV lot opposite
the Cecil Hotel, and George was the first barber in town.
John G. Cormack was the first druggist, with his store in John
Bourke s "Flat Iron." J. G. came from Pembroke came poor,
lived one of the most honored, and died one of the wealthy men
of North Bay.
Dr. A. McMurchy was the first physician. He is still in town,
in active practice.
The first church was the Methodist. It is now The North
Bay Times Building, and the Times (then The Nipissing Times]
was the first newspaper, with Stewart Huntington owner and
first editor now owned and edited by N. Phelps. It started April
ist, 1885. Phelps took it over April ist, 1890.
James Worthington was the first magistrate.
John Doran was the first Stipendiary Magistrate, followed by
his most popular brother, the late Wm. Doran.
John Ferguson built the first frame house in town his present
pretty residence, on Mclntyre street. John was also the first
postmaster.
A. G. Browning was the first lawyer in North Bay 1888.
George Fee was the first Reeve of Widdifield Township 1885.
John Bourke was the first Mayor of North Bay 1891.
The Traders was the first Bank March i8th, 1895.
The first marriage was that of John Cochrane, an Algonquin
Indian. The wedding breakfast, served at the McFarlane House,
was an event.
The first white child born in town was a son of John G. Camp
bell, now of McDougall s Chutes Matheson. The first child
born in town and still here is Duncan, son of John Ferguson.
Alex. Dreany chopped the first tree on the "right-of-way" for
the C.P.R. , June 28th, 1881, four miles east of the station. Alex,
is still in town, one of its features. He reared six railroad
sons all living but one four of them conductors.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 9
Robt. Carter, still in North Bay, was with the exploring party
that came up in 1882 to spy out a route from Gravenhurst to
Nipissing Junction for the Government road, now the Grand
Trunk. Thos. Wilson and one Burford were others of the party.
"It was a trip I shall never forget," said Robert; "the woods,
rocks and sw 7 amps were almost impassable in places, and all the
way was rough."
Among the first to come with the C.P.R., and who are still
living in North Bay, were: John Ferguson, D. J. McKeown,
George Fee, Jas. Fallon, Jas. Lindsay, Jas. McCluskey, Jas.
Mcllvenna, John Lavary, Thos. Reynolds, Lott Britton, I.
Phillips, and a number of others.
"Barney" says: "A lot o firsts, and yet you ve left out one
more important than all you ve given!"
"What s that, Barney ?" says I.
"Why, you haven t said: North Bay ranks First in the
country."
"Self-evident facts don t need to be said," says I.
"Oh! I see!" says "Barney."
Burning of the Steamer Fraser
Every community has had its one great tragedy. That of
North Bay was the burning of the steamer Fraser. On the yth
of Nov., 1893, the Fraser, which was owned by Davidson and
Hay, lumbermen, was going from Callander to the French River
with supplies and men for the lumber camps. The day was a
perfect one, the sun shone out in all its autumnal splendour,
not a ripple moved the placid lake, as the boat, drawing a barge,
passed on toward its destruction. As it was nearing the Manitou
Islands, out from town a few miles, the cry of fire was heard
to break the stillness. Why, or how, nobody seems to know,
but twenty-one of the men were burned to death, and the mystery
remains to this day a mystery, why, with boats upon deck and a
barge following, that more were not saved.
10 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Widdifield Organized
In 1885 the Township of Widdifield was organized. It was
surveyed by Alex. Niven and named for Dr. Widdifield, Sheriff of
York County. At that time there were so few voters that to
secure the required sixty, they had to borrow twenty of the good
friends of Ferris the bordering township to the east. The
Statutes say: "You must have sixty voters to organize a town
ship." But the Statutes do not say from where these must come,
so Widdifield might be said to have been incorporated by Ferris.
Reminds me of the time, out in Kansas, when we of Wichita
Had to Borrow Voters from Indian Territory
wanted to make it the county-seat. \Ve were neck and neck
with Park City, and every vote counted. That was in the old
freighting days, and fortunately right in the height of the freight
ing season. Great trains of wagons were passing to and from
the Indian Territory to the south, and every wagon had a driver
and every driver had a vote, at any rate they had that day, and
Wichita became the county-seat. "Legal? 3 Oh, what s legal
ity in pioneer days? Nawthin! Suffice it that Widdifield
organized and made George Fee the first Reeve, and C. W.
Thompson first clerk.
NORTH BAY ORGANIZED. ITS MAYORS
TO DATE
While on the subject of organization, I shall continue on to
1891, when we find North Bay grown to a place of too much
importance to depend upon a township organization. John
Bourke, a large real estate holder, was elected as the first Mayor.
That office has since been filled as follows: 1892, Wm. McKenzie.
They liked William so well that they put him back the next year,
and again in 1903 and 1904. He is at present in charge of the
Customs for Nipissing. Besides these, he has filled many other
offices. In 1894, Richard Bunyan, a prominent merchant, was
elected. He was followed, in 1895, by the late Dr. J. B. Car-
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 11
ruthers, whose name I have found very often in my search. Next
in order, for 1896, was the leading dry-goods merchant, M. Bren-
nan. A popular railroad man T. N. Colgan filled the office
in 1897 and 1898. Then came one of the best known lawyers
in the north country, J. M. McNamara, for the years 1899 and
1900. We come now to the late J. G. Cormack, for 1901. Mr.
Cormack was the town s first druggist, and one of its most
popular men, if I may judge by the frequent occurrence of his
name in church and municipal affairs. He was a large holder
of business property. The well-known hardware merchant, J.
W. Richardson, was Mayor for 1902. In 1905 came another hard
ware merchant one of the largest and most successful in the
retail line in Canada David Purvis, who filled the office for
1905-06. He has since retired, and is devoting his time to litera
ture and church work. He was the first president of the North
Bay Board of Trade, which position he filled for many years.
In 1907 Wm. Milne, a lumber mill man, was chosen, and again
placed in the chair for the present year.
The first City Clerk was J. G. Cormack. In 1897 the pres
ent Clerk, Mr. M. W. Flannery, went into the office, which he
has since held continuously.
Nipissing Made into a District
On March 23rd, 1889, an Act was passed admitting the Dis
trict of Nipissing for representation in the Local Legislature,
and John Loughrin, of Mattawa, was elected the member. In
1896, J. B. Klock was elected the first member for the Dominion
House.
It is\ now represented by H. Morel in the Local, and by Charles
McCool in the Dominion House (I am writing this prior to
October 26th).
Incorporation of North Bay
On April 7th, 1890, an Act was passed by the Ontario Legis
lature, incorporating the village of North Bay into a town, the
Act taking effect on the ist of January, 1891, when it was separ
ated from the Township of Widdifield.
12 GATEWAY TO SIL VERLA ND
w
Early Magistrates
Mr. Wm. Doran, who succeeded his brother John, was ap
pointed Stipendiary Magistrate on March 3rd, 1885; Stipendiary
Registrar in 1887, and Local Master of Land Titles in 1889. The
Judge was a remarkable man, if one may be guided by the volumes
of praise heard of him. He was one of the strong characters of
the town.
The first Magistrates appointed in the District were John
Bourke, D. J. McKeown, J. G. Cormack, Wm. McDonald,
Colonel John J. Gregory and John Ferguson.
Log Jail
The first jail was built of logs. As it was not built until
1886, they must have been very law-abiding. It was found to be
insecure, as see: "The two prisoners got hungry and grew tired
waiting for the constable to bring their dinners,, kicked the door
down and walked out. Seeing him coming, they came back and
gave him a lecture on the waste of time going for a fellow s
dinner. "
List of Officers in 1896
There were, in 1896, the following in the offices: Judge, J. A.
Valin, appointed March i 3 th, 1895; Sheriff, H. C. Varin, ap
pointed March 4th, 1895; County Crown Attorney, A. G. Brown
ing, B.A., appointed Feb. i9th, 1895; Local Registrar, T. J.
Bourke, appointed May 2nd, 1895. All of these are still in the
offices, as, unlike with us, they may remain as long as they behave
well, and as that is characteristic with Canadians, they usually
die in the "harness." I did hear some politicians say on the
platform, that this was not characteristic. But they were speak
ing of elective officers, and just before election time, when you
know the politician is liable to say a whole lot o things besides
his prayers, and especially so if he has been out a long time.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 13
Newspapers
Stewart Huntington set the first printing press going in North
Bay. Started in a tent. "What s that?" Now what do you
think the fellow to my left says ? " Stewart must have been intent
on doing the town s printing at home." It just cost him a " treat "
all around for that served him right! But about Stewart.
This was in 1884. April ist, 1885, he started the Nipissing Times,
which he conducted until April ist, 1890, when he sold out to
Norman Phelps, the present owner, who changed the name to the
North Bay Times.
The Despatch was the next. Its first issue was Feb. 25th,
1892 G. R. Osborne editor and proprietor now publishing
The Picayune, of Penetanguishene, Ont. After many changes,
it was taken over by G. H. Newton, in 1901. These changes were:
First, C. R. Osborne; next, --. York; then E. A. Newton took it
in 1897 and, as above, it was taken by his brother, the present
owner.
In 1905, The Tribune was started by a company, and is being
managed and edited by A. G. Davie.
The Times is Liberal, the other two Conservative in politics.
Later: ^ The Despatch and The Tribune have consolidated and
the name is Despatch-Tribune, with G. H. Newton manager.
To the old files of both Times and Despatch I am indebted
for many pictures and facts. I have depended more upon the
former, since it had several years the start, but the editors of each
have been remarkably obliging in "digging" for "The Gateway."
Business Directory in J896. Dates of
Arrival in Town
In one of the Times articles was a business directory of the
town, showing who were here at that date. As names always
give interest to a local book, I shall include this directory, espe
cially as it is not a long one. John Ferguson, real estate, builder
and capitalist, came in 1882. T. and W. Murray, builders
14 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
real estate, saw mill owners, with John Bourke, manager. Purvis
Brothers, who came from Barrie in 1888. They get a long para
graph, as: " The leading hardware dealers of the north."
Wm. McKenzie, furniture 1888. D. Mclntyre, grocer-
1884. He is now Town Supervisor. L. Chapelle, tailor 1894.
R. J. McDougall, barber 1895. J. E. Gilmour, tailor 1892.
Mrs. E. Lynch, grocer 1893. C. A. Netdeton, druggist 1895
(now the store of A. C. Rorabeck). Syer and Co., bakers 1895.
M. Brennan, dry goods and merchant tailor, " one of the Pioneers."
Halpenny and Co., gents furnishings, boots and shoes 1892.
Miss A. Edwards, millinery 1891. Turner and Co., meat deal
ers 1894. A Henderson, grocer 1895. The Misses Dickey,
dressmakers 1894. Wm. Parks and Co., flour and feed 1882.
A. Torrence, general store 1894. J- T. Lovell, sewing ma
chines 1889. Mrs. J. Doran, dressmaker 1887. G. E. Pay and
Co., grocers, fruits 1892. W. Pardiac, dry goods 1895. J. W.
McDonald (now McDonald and Hay), hardware 1892.
Rankin, grocer, flour and feed 1888 for himself since 1890.
Mrs. Evans, millinery 1896. R. Bunyan and Flannery, gen
eral dry goods, "Pioneer." B. M. Mulligan, liquors and cigars,
came early, but started business in 1892. John Blanchet, grocer
1884. J. Detler and Co., dry goods, etc. 1890. John Dunlop,
boots and shoes 1891. John Ryan, harnessmaker 1895. The
Despatch, started Feb. 25th, 1892, G. R. Osbourne, proprietor.
Traders Bank, incorporated July 2nd, 1885, in Toronto, with
three branches. On March i8th, 1895, the North Bay branch
was opened the first bank in town with L. P. Snyder as Man
ager, and Chalmers and Little as assistants.
Medical Fraternity
Dr. A. McMurchy, surgeon for the C.P.R. 1882. Dr. J.
B. Carruthers 1886.
Legal Profession
A. G. Browning, B.A. 1888. J. M. McNamara 1888.
P. A. C. Larose 1893. H. D. Leask 1894, now Junior Judge
for Nipissing.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 15
Hotels
Of the hotels the writer gave much data. The Pacific was
built by T. and W. Murray, in 1886, at a cost of $20,000. Man
ager, T. Meagher. The Mackey House, built by Geo. Fee and
J. J. Mackey, proprietors. Here was then ( 96) to be seen one
of the finest collections of stuffed animals in the country. It
took first honors at the Chicago World s Fair in 1893. Queen s
Hotel, built by Edw. Lynch, was begun June, 1890, finished
March loth, 1891, Edw. Lynch, proprietor. The Winnipeg,
built by Alex. Doyle in 1886, David Kidd, proprietor. The
Windsor, built in 1891, J. A. Crawford, proprietor. The Atlantic,
built by Alex. Centaloy, no date. This hotel was destroyed by
fire on Sunday morning, October nth, 1908. Dr. McMurchy s
and H. Trelford s residences were also destroyed in the fire.
Of the Grand Union is said: "This house is situated on the out
skirts of town, at the west end." As it is now away down town
the growth of North Bay may be seen. Built by John Flannigan.
Salem Desjardins, manager. M. Brennan built the North Bay
House, and Wm. Park the Lake View.
More Directory
The third of the articles had a continuation of the town s
directory. P. J. Finlan, grocer 1895. Finlan went to Cobalt,
and was among the fortunate ones. He was elected Mayor of
Cobalt. Mclntosh and Hill, butchers, and meats 1892. N. D.
Thomas, books and stationery 1894. T. W. Deegan, boots
and shoes 1886. Richardson and Co., tinsmiths 1886. R.
Ellis, harnessmaker no date. Ed. Long, "Pioneer painter."
Miss A. L. Keena, millinery no date. Wm. Hogg, saw mills
1885. H. Tippet, contractor and builder 1888. Miss Richards,
dressmaker 1892. A. F. . Heyworth, cigars 1894. W. A.
Martyn, mason and builder no date. W. Martin, insurance
no date. D. St. Pierre, barber 1883. D. H. Barr, tailor -1889.
E. W T . Ross, jeweller, and photographer 1888. J. H. Marshall,
bricklayer no date. W. J. Parsons, general store 1887, now
16 <;ATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Crown Lands Agent. M. Brown, boots and shoes 1894. W.
C, Taylor 1887. "North Bay could ill afford to lose such a
skilled and useful citizen" (went away in 1897 and returned in
1908). Miss E. O. Fenson, ladies furnishings 1893.
Moore, sash and doors no date. H. A. Aubry, wagon-
maker 1895. S. L. Brown, manufacturer of refrigerators-
1887.
There were in 1896 the two express companies, ]
Canadian, of which D. J. McKeown and J. R. Brown were
respectively agents.
MAKING OF MAIN STREET
"For a number of years we got about town as best we could,"
said the old citizen. "Main Street was a rocky, stump-covered
way that is where it wasn t quarry. You see the C.P.R
stone quarry right across where now is the business part of town.
In 1885 an enterprising young Frenchman came here from below
Ottawa somewheres. He said he could make a street out of
rocky stump-covered way if he only had a team, and Ferguson
said to take his team. He took it and pulled stumps and blasted
rock all that summer, and filled in the quarry, and made things
look like a real town street. Say, that French boy he was only
23 was a hustler. He s still at it, made money too, got a lot
houses and some farms. Great place up here to make money,
if you re a hustler!" This French boy, who has doubled his age,
has cleared many another street of the town.
If You re a Hustler
North Bay is full of hustlers, that s why it has become the solid
town that it is. They have electric lights, gas and an extensive
water system, soon to be increased by a million and a quarter
gallon reservoir, at a 200 foot elevation on the heights above
Trout Lake, from which the supply is taken.
With miles of sewers laid, miles of concrete sidewalks put
down, and more projected, North Bay surely has the air of pros-
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 17
perity. I have noted more new buildings under construction than
any town I ve seen in Ontario. This improvement includes
residences, business houses (eleven stores in two city blocks are
under way), and public buildings. And yet remark this to a
North Bayan and he will tell you: " Say, you should see us when
we get a building gait on ! Why we re doing nothing now. This
is only like a building boom in some of the other towns around.
For us we don t count this keeping the help between seasons ."
Yes, North Bay is starting in to build a city, and it takes hustlers
to do that.
BOARD OF TRADE STARTS
The North Bay Board of Trade was started on Sept. yth,
1894. Officers for 1896: President, D. Purvis; Vice-President,
J. G. Cormack; Secretary, D. J. McKeown; Treasurer, W.
Martin. Councillors, A. G. Browning, R. Bunyan, John
Bourke, L. P. Snyder, Wm. Doran, M. Brennan, J. M. Mc-
Namara, T. Darling, T. N. Colgan, J. Deegan, and Drs.
McMurchy and Carruthers. The Times comment was most
prophetic, for it said: "With the above gentlemen as the moving
spirits, the future prosperity of the town is a foregone con
clusion." Such comments are but natural, but here is an
instance of the words proving true, for to the Board of Trade
North Bay must give great credit for its position among the
progressive towns of Ontario.
Public Library
The Public Library, was organized August 313!, 1895, w ^h
A. G. Browning, B.A., President; J. M. McNamara, Vice-Presi
dent; and Miss Begg, Librarian.
This library was greatly due to the efforts of D. J. McKeown
of the C.P.R., and L. P. Snyder, Manager of the Traders Bank.
Where Town Started. Some " Firsts "
There were in these articles other points of interest, but the
data gathered will fit into place in special chapters, or headings.
18 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Later, while "prospecting" in this same "mine," I ran upon
these "nuggets":
"The first clearing of the town site was commenced upon
John Ferguson s lot, No. 20, in Concession D., on the 2ist day
of August 1882, and upon this lot the main part of the town is
at present situated."
" The first steel of the C.P.R. was laid here in October of 1882."
" Thomas Walsh built the first frame house, for John Fer
guson."
CHURCH HISTORY
A town hardly gets fairly started, in this great upper country,
before the good folk begin planning for church work. Even
before means are available for meeting-houses, services are held
in some of the primitive shacks. In writing this history of the
churches it has been very difficult to get full data, in some in
stances, as too little care was taken at the beginning to save the
records. Others, however, have been most careful, and could
therefore aid me in the work. I can give only that which each
could furnish.
Methodists
The first church service was held by Rev. Silas Huntington,
in Wm. McFarlane s home, even before the roof was on. It is
told how that while the good man was preaching, a rain storm
came up and thoroughly immersed him and he a Methodist!
The name of Huntington is a familiar one in the valley of
the Ottawa. I ran across this same Rev. Silas, when writing of
Aylmer, P.Q., where he was located in 1856. The many stories
told of him and his sons, Sam, Stewart, and Wesley, would fill
a book good readable stories too. But this is not a biography.
Wonder if they were of the branch to which belonged my own
dear old great-great-grandmother, Phoebe, great-great-grand
daughter of Simon, who came over to Connecticut in 1633?
Shouldn t wonder, as his Simon s descendants numbered
nearly 3,000 in 1863. No "Race Suicide" among us Hunting-
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 19
tons. But about Rev. Silas. In 1884 he built the first church in
town. It is now occupied by Norman Phelps, as the North Bay
Times Publishing Plant. The second church was built in 1887,
and stood near the site of the present fine brick edifice, at the
corner of Ferguson and Mclntyre streets. This last was dedicated
May iQth, 1907.
After Rev. Huntington came Rev. J. D. Ellis 1886; Rev.
Wm. Pyke 1888; Rev. John Webster 1889; Rev. A. Hender
son 1892; Rev. Wm. Blair 1895; Rev. E. J. Hart- -1898;
Rev. W. J. Stewart 1902; and then came the present pastor,
Rev. A. P. Addison 1906.
Roman Catholics
The first services were held, tis said, in the same McFarlane
house which answered for all purposes in those early days. Others
claim that the first Mass was celebrated in the Company s house
on the lake front, at which the Hon. R. W. Scott (late Secretary of
State) was present. It was celebrated by Father Cote.
The first church still stands on Main Street, a half-block west
of Ferguson Street. It was used until Dec. loth, 1905, when
it was deserted for the great stone edifice begun March 3ist,
1904, and dedicated with much ceremony Dec. i7th, 1905, at
which were present as visitors: Bishops O Connor and Lorraine,
and Fathers Tiffin, Cote, Crowley, and Lataulippe.
The building committee were: Bishop Scollard, J. M. Mc-
Namara, H. C. Varin, Richard Bunyan, and John Blanchet.
The architects were Johnson and Angus (Angus in full charge).
Contractor I. Taillefer & Son. Cost, $42,721, up to furnishings,
all told, $65,000.
The first priest was Father Nolin, a missionary, followed by
Father Cote, and then Father Sinnott was here for a time. The
first regular priest was Father Bloem, who later went to Saratoga,
New York, and his place was taken here by his brother
Eugene, who was killed on St. Blaise Festival Day, while boarding
a train. His death was mourned by all, irrespective of creed,
and his memory revered, for he was beloved. He was followed
20 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
by Father Scollard, who was made Bishop of the Sault Ste. Marie
Diocese, and then came the present in charge, Father O Brien.
Later: After the above was written I found an interesting
paper with added facts. The first church was but a small chapel,
which was shortly after enlarged. My good friend, Bishop
Lorraine of Pembroke, performed the ceremony, and blessed the
bell. In a few years it was again enlarged.
In this same paper I found an account of the dedication of
the new church (1905). The music was in charge of Mrs.
Schingh, Miss K. Laronde, organist, assisted by singers, Mesdames
Lauvin, Blanchet, Paulin, Miss Kellman, and Messrs. Berti,
Dupont, Scollard, St. Pierre, Gauthier, Poulin, Baudette, Audette
and Villeneuve.
The beautiful windows, representing Bible scenes, w r ere all
donated by (i)The C.M.B.A. Branch 64; (2) The English Ladies
of the Sacred Heart and the Catholic Order of Foresters. Those
of the body of the church by (i) The Young Ladies Society;
(2) Miss H. McMahon; (3) The French Ladies of the Sacred
Heart; (4) Mr. and Mrs. M. Brennan and family; (5) John
Blanchet; (6) John Shields; (7) Bernard M. Mulligan; (8) The
Teacher and Pupils of the Separate School and Mr. and Mrs.
Daniel Donovan. The majority of the Stations were also do
nated, the late Mrs. Crawford and the late Mrs. Holland being
among the donors. A great number of presents were received,
some of which were from Mrs. D. J. McKeown, six golden can
dlesticks and crucifix; the French Ladies, altar cloth of gold;
the Sodality, the sanctuary lamp, etc. One of the beautiful
side altars was the gift of Mr. P. Bourke.
Anglicans
In 1882 the noted Anglican Missionary, Rev. Foster Bliss,
came into this district. He was the very first of that church
to come . He went to Sturgeon Falls, where he built a church.
On Aug. i5th, 1883, he held service here in the C.P.R. engine
house. Records show that fifteen people were present. On
Mar. igth, 1884, W. E. Bagnell opened a subscription list to
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 21
build a church. On May 6th, 1884, was the first funeral in
North Bay. It was that of Richard Bray. John Ferguson
gave the land for the first church, which was called St. Michael
and All Angels. The altar ornaments were gifts from England,
through Miss M. A. Fleming. The bell was given by W. Harris,
of Ottawa, and as of local note, the altar lamp was the gift of
W. C. Caverhill.
Rev. (now Archdeacon) G. Gilmour, known over so wide
a range, took charge of what was then the Nipissing Mission,
on Sept. 2nd, 1885, and remained until Sept. 8th, 1891, when
he gave the charge to the Church Wardens, Wm. Featherstone
and Newton Williams. He had reduced the debt to $620. A
church was built in Callander in 1890.
In 1892 Rev. A. J. Young took charge. In Aug., 1895, a
new church was begun and opened Aug. loth, 1896, by Bishop
of Algoma, Edw. Sullivan, D.D., D.C.L. The name of the
church was changed to St. John the Divine. I wondered at
the change, and asked. It seems that the old name was not
fitting in those early days to North Bay. Rev. Young left Nov.
3oth, 1897, and was followed by Canon Burt, who remained
till 1898. Rev. A. J. F. Cobb came Oct., 1903, and remained
till May, 1906, when came Rev. C. E. Bishop, M.A., the present
Rector and Rural Dean of Nipissing. He has been most effi
cient in lifting the large debt which had hung over the church
for twelve years, and on Feb. i2th, 1908, consecrated it, and
burned the mortgage amid great rejoicing.
Presbyterians
I had found all the church history to that of the Presbyterian,
and there I had to stop. No one could give me any definite
data. Bethinking me of the "mine" in which I had found so
much, I went again to "digging" in the North Bay Times, and
there was not only that which I sought, but bits of things I had
been hunting for in the town history. I would include these
"bits" in this history of the Presbyterian church, were it not
that I would have all see them, so I shall give them in the "world
ly" part of the volume.
22 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
The first church was built in the spring of 1884, and as usual
the lot was given by John Ferguson, to whom nearly every church
is indebted for the gift of its lot. Building Committee: B. W.
Coyne, John Ferguson, David Inches, Wm. McDonald, Harry
Trelford, Stephen Allan, John Robertson, John McLeod.
Rev. Wm. Hewitt was the first in charge. He was here till
Oct., 1888, when Rev. J. M. Goodwillie came.
David Inches and A. J. McDonald were the first elders.
At first the only seats they had were planks set on nail kegs.
But in 1886 the Presbyterians of Pembroke got rich enough to
discard their old seats for new ones, and gave the old to this
church. The gift was a God-send, even if it did come through
Pembroke.
A Nail-Keg Stool
And just here I must include a bit gathered elsewhere. At
first they had no organ, but wanting one for a special occasion,
borrowed one from John Ferguson near by. "We ve got an
organ, but what will we do for a seat?" asked Mrs. B. W. Coyne,
the first choir director. "Here, take this," said Miss Anna
C- -," and carried over to the organ a nail keg. In 1887 they
got an instrument of their own stool and all. It was paid for
by the Ladies Aid Society, organized that same year by Mrs.
B. W. Coyne, who was its president. Others of the society were:
Mrs. Dr. J. B. Carruthers, Vice-President; Miss Nellie Hewitt,
Secretary; Miss Anna Cormack, Treasurer; Mrs. J. G. Cormack,
Mrs. John Ferguson, Mrs. Hewitt, Mrs. H. Trelford, the Misses
Ferguson, Mrs. A. J. McDonald, Mrs. Wm. Parks.
The original church grew too small, and in the late eighties it
was extended. Building Committee: A. G. Browning, Dr. J.
B. Carruthers, J. G. Cormack, F. S. Harrison, H. G. Reid, Harry
Hughes, Wm. McKenzie, Robt. Rankin, T. W. Turner.
July 6th, 1893, Rev. J. W. McMillan took charge, and re
mained till Oct. 6th, 1895. In Nov., 1895, Rev - Thos. Mac-
Adam came, and on May igth, 1896, was inducted as the regular
pastor. He stayed till Oct., 1898.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 23
From that to Mar. 2yth, 1899, there was no minister in charge,
but on that date came the present pastor, the Rev. G. L. John
ston, through whose efforts the church has not only grown in
numbers, but a beautiful new edifice has replaced the old
one.
Building Committee for the new St. Andrew s: First Chair
man, J. G. Cormack. He died and his place was filled by Dr.
J. B. Carruthers, who in turn was also called shortly after. Robt.
Rankin became the third chairman, with assistants: A. G. Brown
ing, John Ferguson, J. H. Hughes, Thos. Wallace, David Mel
ville, H. G. Reid and Wm. McKenzie.
The corner-stone was laid Monday, Aug. i5th, 1904. Prom
inent visitors: Rev. John Garrioch and Rev. J. A. Macdonald,
editor of the Toronto Globe, "who noted the advance of North
Bay from the days when the school-house had to answer for
church as well as school. He spoke encouraging words to us
in our agitation for the construction of the Georgian Bay Canal,
and he a Toronto man. Remarkable!"
Things put into the corner-stone box next day: (i) a small
Bible, (2) history of the church to date, (3) last annual report
of the church, (4) religious papers, the Presbyterian Record and
The Presbyterian] secular papers, Toronto Globe, Mail and Em
pire, North Bay Times, and The Despatch.
Mrs. J. G. Cormack laid the stone with a silver trowel.
John Ferguson and Thos. Wallace passed the plates and
collected $2,050.00.
On Sunday, May 2ist, 1905, the new church was dedicated.
The services were conducted by Rev. Geo. M. Milligan, D.D.,
pastor of Old St. Andrew s Church of Toronto. Rev. R. M.
Carkner, pastor of the Baptist church of the town, conducted
the Scripture reading. $800 were collected that day, and during
the following week the Ladies Sewing Circle held a fair and
added $200 to the fund.
This church has a fine pipe organ. The first meeting of the
Presbytery was held in this church on July i2th, 1898, at which
delegates were present from twenty points in this Mission field.
24 GA TEW A \ TO SIL \ KRLA ND
Baptists
The Baptists were latest to organize in North Bay, and even
after a small beginning in 1887, it was not until 1892 that real
work was begun. In February of that year (1892) W. J. Mill, N.
Phelps, and a few ladies met and organized a Sunday School,
of which Mr. Phelps was the Superintendent. They rented
the Blue" school-house, and in July organized or rather re
organized a church with ten or twelve members. Rev. J.
Webster preached for a time, but the first regular minister was
Rev. W. L. Palframan, who was in charge from 1892 to 1895.
Though last to organize, they were first to build a permanent
brick church, which they did, completing it in 1894. Up to
that time only frame buildings had been erected. Incidentally,
all five now have fine substantial stone or brick structures. The
next minister was the Rev. E. J. Stobo, who was here from 1895
to 1898. Then followed occasional ministers up to 1900, when
Rev. L. H. Thomas came, and remained till 1905, when Rev.
R. M. Carkner took charge, and is the present incumbent.
Lutherans
The Lutherans have held occasional services for some years,
but they have no church building.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army have here a well-organized corps, and
are most active in the work.
SCHOOLS
In another place I have touched upon the early school history,
but must give more in detail the rise of the schools from the
"Little Log House," with no system, up to the present, with a
system unsurpassed in the upper country, with buildings that
would be a credit to a great city. So much is being done for
education that North Bay might well be called "The Athens of
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 25
the North." It has two fine Public, one large Separate School,
a High School, and just now is under construction one of the
most beautiful Normal School buildings I have seen in Canada.
It is to cost $60,000. This is paid for by the Province of Ontario.
As showing the excellence of the School System, and the
brightness of the North Bay children, at the closing of the term,
last June, 29 pupils entered for examinations for the High School,
and 29 passed 13 of them "with honors."
It must become an ideal centre, for its morals are such that
you can t get a Sunday paper, even on Monday morning.
History: John Ferguson gave an acre of ground for the first
school. Again, as elsewhere, this stood at the rear of the lot upon
which is now the Baptist Church. This acre was cut down to a
half acre by the subsequent purchaser of the farm lot upon which
stood the " Old Log." Later, Ferguson built "The Blue School,"
at a cost of $2,750, and gave it with an acre of ground for the
"Log" and its half acre.
James Agnew was the first teacher. The first School Trustees
were: Wm. McDonald, so long postmaster; Col. J. J. Gregory,
who figured largely in those days; and J. A. Singleton, who was
connected with the C.P.R.
Separate School
The next was the Separate School, built on Priests Hill in 1887.
This was followed by The Central, in 1891, and then Wallace
& Son built the East Ward School, in 1899.
The Separate School building growing too small, a fine large
house was erected in 1906.
The first Separate School Board were: M. Brennan, Geo.
Fee and Oscar Legros. The present Board are: M. Brennan-
who has been a member and the Chairman during the 21 years
of its existence; B. M. Mulligan, P. Bourke, E. Geauthier, D.
St. Pierre, and J. Blanchet.
The present Principal is Mother Julien; Assistants: Sisters
Helen, Faustina and Magdelene, and Misses S. McKee, M.
Judge, A. Gregory, D. Marceau and Mile. Dubois.
26 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
High School
The High School was built in 1904. Its first Board were:
David Purvis, A. G. Browning, D. J. McKeown, J. M. Mc-
Namara, Dr. A. McMurchy and J. M. Detlor. Its present
Board are: J. M. McNamara, Chairman; A. G. Browning, Sec
retary; D. J. McKeown, Dr. G. W. Smith, Dr. A. McMurchy
and Jas. Halfpenny.
The first Principal, J. B. McDougall (at present the School
Inspector for the District of Nipissing); second, J. M. McKinley;
the third and present, A. R. Girdwood.
Public Schools
The Central and East Ward Schools are practically one, and
under Principal W. M. Bradley; Vice-Principal, J. B. Stewart.
Assistants: Misses A. S. Sheppard, J. Davidson, E. Arnold, E.
M. Stephenson, Mrs. C. Cairns, Misses V. Davidson, I. Foster,
A. Williams and K. Bartlett. Kindergarten: Directress, Miss D.
Beanlands; Assistant, Miss M. Munroe.
MUSIC
Most Canadians are musically minded, many have musical
ability, and some of them excel in the art to a high degree. Some
of the choruses of the great cities have few superiors upon the
continent, and the Mendelssohn Choir, of Toronto, possibly excels
any other this side of the Atlantic, and has few equals abroad.
Through the efforts of Dr. Charles A. E. Harriss, Canadian music
is being recognized and made more than national. Through his
untiring efforts the whole Empire will yet recognize Canada as one
of the musical lands of the world. Several of his productions have
been presented in England his symphonic choral work, Pan, being
produced before King Edward, who afterward commanded him
to his royal presence. Dr. Harriss is trying to create a musical
spirit as broad as the Empire. This year, in London, he gave a
concert in the Royal Albert Hall, before an audience of close to
ten thousand Empire musical supporters.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 27
The tour he made in Canada in 1903, with Sir Alexander
Mackenzie, Principal of the London Royal Academy of Music,
as Conductor, was certainly the beginning of a new era in higher
class music in the Dominion. Following close upon that tour,
Choral Unions sprang up in all the larger places and in many of
the smaller cities and towns. The Doctor is just now in Canada
again, with the Sheffield Choir.
In 1907, North Bay fell into line, and to-day the North Bay
Choral Union has few equals in the towns of Canada. It was
organized by such musical spirits as F. A. York, E. H. Young,
and others. Mr. York was its first conductor. Their concerts
have already attracted wide attention, Mr. Harold Jarvis, the
renowned Canadian tenor, who assisted at one of the concerts,
being almost extravagant in his praise of the work of the Union.
His commendation is much reason for my opinion. I have not
heard them. But I did hear the children of the town, in a trained
chorus, and in judging the older by the younger singers, I could
not be extravagant. Why, those children more than one hun
dred of them seemed to sing as one voice, so well timed was the
music they rendered. The spirit with which they sang was de
lightful to hear. Again, I cannot but judge of the musical ability
of the Union, when I see the class of music they chose for one of
their concerts. Upon the program I find such composers as
Handel, Mendelssohn, Pinsuti and Gounod. And still again, I
must judge of them by the excellence of some of the town s Church
choirs, in which are many sweet, strong and well-trained voices
of the Union.
At their recent annual meeting the following officers, active
and honorary, were chosen: Patrons, Judge and Mrs. Valin;
Hon. President, the Mayor; Acting President, N. J. McCubbin;
Hon. Vice-Presidents, A. G. Browning, K.C., Wm. McKenzie and
Sheriff H. C. Varin; Acting Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Fred. Weegar,
Mr. A. G. Davie and Mr. J. Smith; Secretary, Mr. E. H. Young;
Treasurer, Mr. A. W. McPherson; Librarian, Mr. R. J. Reaume;
Conductor, Mr. W. I. Johnston; Executive Committee, Mrs.
E. S. Senkler, Miss A. Begg, Mr. C. P. Chamberlain and Mr. I.
Santary. Membership, 160.
28 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
SPORTS AND AMUSEMENTS
Like all the northern towns and cities, North Bayans are
lovers of amusement. They have a very large ice skating and
hockey rink and a roller skating rink the latter now used as a
summer theatre. They have built a $50,000 opera house, which
was opened by "The Three Little Maids Company" on Septem
ber yth, 1908.
There is here a fine half-mile trotting track. Must tell you
of a "meet" I attended while in town. Some of the best horses
in the circuit were there, shops and business houses were closed
and they made of it a gala day. You have been thinking of
horse racing in a new country as a wild affair. Say, it wasn t
half as wild as the old time camp-meetings we used to have in
Urbana. Everybody seemed kindly bent towards his or her
neighbor. There was no noise or roughness, and I don t believe
there had been any betting had not that Andrews from Haileybury
dared me to "go the cigars on the bay." As the bay was away
behind, I "took" him then went round to the "booth," and got
the cigars owing to the wonderful speed shown by the bay on
the home stretch. That Andrews knew all the time that P.
Bourke s "Grade Pointer" was one of Canada s fastest, and just
"took me in," because I m so innocent at a horse race.
Apropos of "Grade Pointer." I had not thought to find, in
this upper land, a relative of "The Champion of Champions."
But so it turns. That Champion was " Angus Pointer," a brother
of "Grade," a North Bay mare. Oh, I tell you, they have lots
of surprises for us up here!
You think of a new country as one given wholly to chopping,
grubbing, plowing, and building. Not so. The people of New
Ontario either have the time or they take the time to make life
worth while. It s not all work and it is a good bit of play. They
come long distances to each other s picnics, and thus there is
a wide acquaintance among the towns and communities.
North Bay may be called a show town. The Royal Theatre
(the name of the beautiful opera house) and the "Vaudiyite"
run continuously, and both are crowded nightly, and both give a
good programme, with usually good talent.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 29
ORDERS AND SOCIETIES
North Bay has its quota of Orders and Secret Societies. Some
date back to the early days, "when there were hardly enough of
us to form a baseball nine," as one old citizen said.
Following is a list of the various fraternities with their officers.
" Only a lot o names," say you. Yes, but it is "the lot o names"
that gives a book a lasting value. Years to come, as the grand
children scan this list, many an one will say: "Ah, see, grandpa
was an officer here s his name." Only a "lot o names," but
much joy they will some time give, and so I give them here
not for you, but for those who will be here when you are " only
a name.
I shall give the Orders, not in their priority, but as the informa
tion was collected. I did not succeed in getting all of them,
but this was from no lack of effort.
Masons
The Masonic Order was organized by W. W. Cross.
Officers: W. I. Johnston, W.M.; N. J. McCubbin, I.P.M.;
R. L. Dudley, S.W.; A. H. McMullen, J.W.; Gerald C. Thomp
son, Chap.; W. A. Griffin, Secy.; W. H. Thomas, Treas.; W. A.
Martyn, organist; Fred. Milne, S.D.; A. O. Laing, J.D.; Thos.
Peacock, S.S.; Jas. Beath, J.S.; H. J. McAuslan, I.G.; J. J.
Owen, Tyler; W. H. Milne, D.O.C.; Auditors: C. E. Cole-
man and G. A. McGaughey. Sick Committee: S. Weegar, Geo.
W. Lee and A. C. Rorabeck. General Purpose Committee:
I.P.M., W.M., S.W., J.W., and Secy.
Independent Order of Oddfellows
Officers: J. W. McCallum, Jr. P.G.; W. J. Fasler, N.G.,
J. M. Marshall, V.G.; D. Watson, R. Secy.; J. W. Deegan;
Fin. Secy.; Gerald C. Thompson, Treas.; J. Armstrong, Warden;
H. Chamberlain, Con.; F. I. Wharram, I.G.; T. Rigby, O.G.;
J. J. Owens, R.S.N.G.; A. Caley, L.S.N.G.; W. J. Moore,
R.S.V.G.; T. Annessley, L.S.V.G.; S. R. Pollard, R.S.S.; R.
Clarke, L.S.S.; and Rev. C. E. Bishop, Chaplain.
30 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Ancient Order United Workmen
Officers: I. A. Kinsella, P.M.; Norman Phelps, M.W. and
D.D.G.M.; H. S. Campbell, Rec. Secy.; G. A. McGaughey,
Fin. Secy.; Wm. Ferguson, Foreman; A. W. Barton, Overseer;
Wm. McDonald, Guide; Dr. A. E. Ranney, Med. Ex.; G.
Faught, I.W.; J. Byers, O.W.; Trustees: T. Rickett, J. W.
Sewell, and J. W. Richardson. Membership 150.
Knights of Columbus
The Knights are very strong in North Bay, having a member
ship of 300. They started here in 1905. It is Council 1007.
Officers: John Loughrin, G.K.; P. McCool, P.G.K.; Rev. T.
J. Crowley, D.G.K.; D. J. McKeown, Chan.; Rev. A. F. Kelly,
Chap.; J. W. Smith, F.S.; T. M. Mulligan, R.S.; M. W.
Flannery, Treas.; J. J. Shields, W.; D. S. Lyons, I.G.; S. E.
Brennan, O.G.; Trustees: J. F. Devine, A. Brown, and W.
Obrey.
Independent Order of Foresters
This Order has a membership of 94.
Officers: J. W. Parsons, C.R. and C.D.; A. C. S. Begg,
V.C.R.; Wm. McKenzie, R.S.; F. Biggs, F.S. and Treas.; J. W.
Sewell, O.; Jas. McCreight, S.J.C.; E. W. Root, Organist;
F. Williams, Sr. W.; J. W. Banks, Jr. W.; R. Rankin, S.B.;
E. W. Ross, Jr. B.; Dr. A. McMurchy, C. Dr.
Catholic Order of Foresters
Officers: D. Stephen Lyons, C.R.; M. Doyle, V.C.R.; D. St.
Pierre, P.C.R.; Dr. G. W. Smith, Treas.; M. W. Flannery, F.S.;
E. C. Rheaume, R.S. The Order has a membership of 163.
Started 1893.
Orange Association
Officers: H. E. McKee, County Master; B. F. Moore, County
Secy.; W. J. Bailey, P.C.M.; A. Dreaney, C.D. of C.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 31
District Lodge: B. F. Moore, D.M.; J. Dickey, D.D.M.;
S. A. Kinsella, D.D. of C.
Scarlet Chapter: J. McCauley, W.M.; E. Rutledge, D.M.;
Rev. E. C. Bishop, Chap.; J. S. Depencier, R.S.; W. Irwin, F.S.;
J.W. Sewell,Treas.; F. T. Bailey, D.C.; R. W. Walker, Lecturer.
North Bay is a centre of Orangeism for a district of 150 miles.
The County has 25 local lodges, and two District Lodges, and
has a total membership of 1,000. It was started here June 26th,
1889. J. W. Richardson was the first Master.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
This is said to have been the first Order or Society regularly
organized in North Bay. The first officers were: J. Scott, Master;
Jas. Fallen, Sec., and Jas. Mcllvenna, Treas. The present I
failed to get.
Charter members, with the above, were: Wm. Boucher, E.
Jarvis, P. Cormody, J. Wallace, O. Barnhart, M. McLeod, C.
Mclntyre, D. Burns, Lott Britton, I. Phillips, and J. Nelson.
They first met in a room in "The Company Row." Of these
members, O. Barnhart and C. Mclntyre were killed in wrecks.
And here is an odd coincidence: These wrecks were within eight
miles of each other. Mclntyre had just taken out a life insur
ance policy. As he was handed the policy by the Treasurer, Jim
Mcllvenna, he turned to his wife, who had accompanied him to
the meeting room, and said: "This is for you when I am gone."
"And a long time I hope I will have to wait for it," said she.
Her hopes were not realized, for he went direct to his engine
and never came back alive.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Officers : Wm. Hallandale, Chief Engineer; Henry Trelford.
First Engineer; John Nelson, Second Engineer; Thos. W,
Turner, First Asst. Eng.; Jas. T. Lindsay, 2nd Asst. Eng.;
John Mcllvenna, 3rd Asst. Eng.; Ed. Jarvis, Guide; Geo.
Pask, Chap.; W. J. Roach, Del. to G.I.D.; W. R. Boucher,
32 (GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Rep. Leg. Board and Chairman of Local Grievance Com.; Jas.
T. Lindsay, Ins. Secy.
The District covers from Chalk River to Sault Ste. Marie,
and to Cartier on the main line of the C.P.R.
Membership, 70.
From this there sprung the Brotherhood of the T. and N.O.
Railway. Of this branch the officers are: F. Morgan, Chief
Eng.; Neil Currie, F.A.; J. T. Wilson, Ins. Secy. Board of
Adjustment: J. T. Wilson, W. H. Thomas, and W. Ross.
Sons of England
Officers: G. Northway, Pres.; G. De Meza, Vice-Pres.; G.
Mitchell, Treas.; T. K. Burt, Secy.; A. F. Jackman, Chap.; Dr.
A. E. Ranney, Physician; W. Howard, First Committeeman,
and H. E. Cusworth, Inner Guard.
Re-organized August 6th, 1906. Membership 40.
Sons of Scotland
One might think that the Sons of Scotland were running a
town of their own in a foreign land, from the number of these
Sons who have been at the head of affairs in North Bay. See
the list of Mayors taken from this Society: Wm. McKenzie, for
four years; Dr. J. B. Carruthers, and J. G. Cormack, each for
one year, and now Wm. Milne is in his second year. It was a
Son of Scotland John Ferguson* who started the town and
put in 26 years of energy in its upbuilding, having been Reeve,
and is now the President of the Board of Trade. Robert Rankin,
the last Reeve of North Bay, is a "Son," as is Jas. Lindsay, a
former Councillor.
Camp Kintail was organized Dec. isth, 1890.
Officers: W. C. Webster, Chief; Jas. Duncan, P. C.; J. McL.
Daly Chieftain; Rev. G. T. Johnston, Chap.; Dr. A. McMurchy,
Phys.; W. Beath, R.S.; P. J. Bell, F.S.; A. R. White, Treas.;
J. Gillies, Mar.; R. Forsyth, S.B.; J. McArthur, S.G.; H.
Allan, Jr. G.
Membership, 100.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 33
Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital
One of the most beautiful features of those portions of Can
ada where they give more thought to the well-being of their
people than they do to mere money, you find that almost the
first matter they attend to is to build a hospital. Cobalt has one
or more, the enterprising and most public-spirited Mayor in
this north country Clement A. Foster, of Haileybury, whose
unique career reads like fiction has given 22 acres for one,
shortly to be built, while at New Liskeard, five miles north of
Haileybury, we find the Lady Minto Hospital that would be a
credit to a large city.
The ever-generous folk of North Bay have not been behind.
When they saw dawning the great city that must here arise,
they bethought them of the sick and afflicted, and built upon a
commanding site on Priests Hill, at the rise of the hills at the
north edge of town, a beautiful and most conveniently arranged
house as a memorial to their late beloved Queen Victoria.
It is connected with the Victorian Order of Nurses, founded
by the good Lady Minto, wife of the last Governor- General.
Its officers are: Wm. Martin, Sr., President; C. C. Begg,
Vice-President ; F. H. Campbell, Secretary; and George Hutche-
son, Treasurer. Executive Board: Mesdames A. G. Browning,
G. Leach, N. Phelps, G. L. Wetmore, H. M. S. Detlor, Drs.
G. W. Smith and Edgar Brandon, and Rev. C. E. Bishop.
Doctors and Lawyers
Barristers A. G. Browning, M. G. V. Gould, G. L. T.
Bull, W. H. Warke, G. A. McGaughey, Jas. McCurry, J. M.
McNamara, E. S. Senkler.
Physicians W. J. Bell, E. Brandon, A. McMurchy, A. E.
Ranney, G. W. Smith.
Dentists R. L. Dudley, W. C. Wickett, - -. Mackenzie.
THE FRENCH RIVER
I had often heard the words "French River," but had about
as much notion of what they stood for as the man in the moon
has about Will Kervin s House Boats. Now, guess you, what
3
34 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
they stand for? Give it up? And why not? Of course you
will! You d naturally think that "River" meant a stream of
water. In this case it means nothing of the kind. It s water all
right, but there is so much of it in depth, and so wide that nothing
short of " an island-filled lake," would begin to express what
this magnificent thing is like.
You may imagine my surprise that morning I got aboard
jolly old Captain McCaw s Hazel B., and started angling
south-westerly across the Nipissing from the North Bay wharf,
through those five tree-embowered islands that sit so cosily, a
few miles from town. "What islands are these?" you ask the
Captain, and he tells you: "The Manitou Islands. And the big
one, there to the right, is so hanted that the Indians will never
sleep on it."
"Tuk by th Dutch frum Pennsylwayny
You pass more islands say 21 miles from town and the
surprise begins right here. You ask: "Captain, when do we
enter the river ?"
"Why, mon, do ye no ken thut thus is the ruver? The
islands ahl aboot ahr un the Frunch."
"This is no river. This is another lake, wide and island-
filled!" I could not but exclaim.
"Ut s the Frunch ahl the saim."
"Say, Captain, what s the matter with you Canadians, any
how? You stick your lakes into your rivers, and your rivers
into your lakes, until a poor unsophisticated Yankee never can
tell just where to get off," and I looked for all the world like I
was hurt over it. But the old Captain came up smiling, with:
" Tis thus way. We hev so monny lakes ahl aboot thut
we hev to cawl som o thum ruvers, an thus is wan o thum! An
do ye ken, we ll soo be hev n to change th naim? :
"No," says I, "and why? Is not French a good enough
name?"
"Ut was til ut was tuk be th Dutch, an noo Frunch and
Dutch wull nae be gang tugither."
GA TE WA Y TO SIL VERLA ND 35
Then I said: "Give it up! Tell me the joke."
"Ah, yer a stranger? De ye nae ken thut th ruver is tuk
be th Yankees frum whut ye cawl ut Penn-syl-wa^-ny ?
Awl th hooses frum th intrance t th falls o th Beeg Shawdare
ahr tuk be th foinest lot o Yankees as uver cum intill Canada,
and neerly ahl frum Penn-syl-wa^y-ny."
And sure enough, the whole way along could be seen, peeping
out from the forest-covered islands, our own Stars and Stripes,
alongside of which floated the Union Jack, in as happy fellowship
as those good Pennsylwaynians with the Canucks, into whose
country they are made so welcome. "Little Pittsburg" would
not be a misnomer for a good part of the river, for the greater
city has certainly contributed the larger number of the cottagers
along the way. And each year the numbers grow. I might
stop right here, and not tell you anything further about the French.
The mere fact that some of the best people of that city of million
aires have pronounced this stream (?) "All Right! 1 is proof of
its charm.
The Kervin House Boats " Hotel in the Water "
Not far from the entrance we passed in sight of a hotel sitting
out in the water, for all the world like a Gatineau Point house
when the two rivers get high in spring. I wonder why they built
a hotel out there in the lake-river, and ask the Captain, and he
laughingly tells me that it is one of the Kervin House Boats, of
which they have a number in the French, and in a part of the
lake they call the West Arm.
"The Shamrock 5 and the "Long Distance 1
Invitation
It wasn t long until we came to another house boat, away
over to the right. It was moored beside a beautifully shaded
island. And I ask if that is another of the Kervin Boats, and
he says it is, but that John Ferguson has it for the summer. And
then I mind me that I have a long-distance invitation to visit
that house boat. "Long distance," and the longer the distance
36 GATEWAY TO S1LVERLAND
the more effusive the invitation sometimes up here in Canada.
But this was not one of the times. The steamer goes over and I
get off, spend an all too short afternoon winding in and out among
the islands and narrow branches of the river with a jolly party,
in the naphtha launch of the house boat, and regretfully leave
when the Hazel B., all too soon, returns from its trip further down
the river.
Many Flags
Must tell you of the many flags that floated from that boat.
There was, of course, the Union Jack, the regular Canadian flag,
and for the pretty little Yankee from Boston the Stars and
Stripes, and all flying from an Irish house boat the Shamrock.
But I couldn t see why a Chinese flag should be among the number,
for the cook was French, and not from Hong Kong. I asked:
What s your Chinese flag for ? "
: My what!" exclaimed my host.
: Your Chinese flag, there at the lee end of the boat."
: That? Why, man, that s my grand old Scotch flag." And
then I say, : Oh! : as apologetically as I know how, but I m
afraid I ve not been forgiven yet for my wrong guess.
We get into the launch and are soon flitting up among the
islands toward the Big Chaudiere Falls, at a rate that made me
ask if all the rocks had been dug this season. As we didn t hit
any, the crop must have been taken in.
One place we passed between rocky banks, so close together
that it looked like this might have been the river I had imagined
the French to be.
Indian Writing on the Rocks
On a rock, along that channel, they pointed out the Indian
writing of which I had so often heard. Further back than we
know, the Indians used to write their hieroglyphics on the rocks,
in certain places, and I had gotten to see one of the places. It
is quite plain, after all the years since it was painted there.
a
a
a
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 37
Porcupines a-Plenty
Ever see a porcupine? I never had until that afternoon.
When we got back to the Shamrock, we were surprised to find
two of them visiting Boss and the pup. Not until we came up
and said: "Sic im, Boss!" did those two " pen -holders " start to
run. One of them went up a pine tree and the other climbed a
bush. Boss made for the former, but quickly returned with
enough quills in his nose to have stocked a country school. Now
I d often heard about that " quill" business, but had always
thought of it as a "fairy tale." It is no "fairy tale," and I can
prove it by Boss.
The French River Habit
That was my first visit down the French. After that I got
the habit and went as often as I could spare the time, and every
time I found new interest in the marvellous what shall I call
it? They call it a river, and the maps call it a river; Champlain
and the Jesuit Fathers called it a river. But well, go see it
for yourself and then name it for me. Almost until you reach
the Big Chaudiere Falls, many miles down, there is no one place
where you can see the two banks at the same time. It is three
miles wide at some points some say four. It has big islands,
little islands, long islands, and no two look alike, making the
scenery varied and very pretty. No wonder we find people
coming here year after year a famous Buffalo lawyer has missed
but the World s Fair year in the past fifteen to fish and to
hunt, and to idly float about in canoes, and enjoy life as would
not be so possible at any of the fashionable summer resorts,
where all there is to do is to dress and to eat, and comment upon
the "guys" at the "next table."
Hay Fever Sanitarium
Some come here to be rid of hay fever. "When I can stand
it no longer, I hurry up to the French, and life is soon again
worth living," said one who can surcease nowhere else.
38 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
The French a Recent Find
No wonder the French River is so little known, for it is but
a few years since the first "outsider" camped along its banks
or pitched his tent upon its islands. In 1897 J onn Hall came
here from Cleveland, Ohio, and went " away down by the Little
Chaudiere." He has been coming every year since to camp.
He is still the "furthest down." Big, generous Hall! I call
him Colonel, and the title is fitting. He has built an extra cot
tage that he may have friends near him "rent free" doubly
fortunate friends, for he is a host worth while.
One Saturday afternoon I went down on the Hazel B. to see
the Little Chaudiere the limit of the run and met the "Col
onel." I knew him at once he s that sort. "Get off! Get
off, and stay over Sunday!" I stayed, and now mark that visit
among the happy ones of my Canadian sojourn. We fished
the rest of the afternoon and all the evening. My eyes! what a
fisherman the Colonel is! And the fishing paraphernalia! Yes,
"paraphernalia." No other word would be fitting for the store
full of tackle he has at his camp. More tackle than is carried
by many a well-equipped tackle shop. His variety is said to
be unequalled by any other sportsman. We fished all evening,
and caught 39 "big fellows," of which four were my catch.
"Luck?" I can t say what it was, but while we both threw in
our lines at the same hole, he caught them fast, while I sat there
watching him do it. I told him that he had them trained to
"show off" for company. "What did we want with so many
fish?" Why, bless you, we only came away with our needs
for supper and next morning s breakfast. All the rest we threw
back into the water. If there is anything that will make the
Colonel angry it is to see sportsmen (?) catch and keep more
than their possible needs, and leave the fish to rot on the bank.
"That s why," said he, "the streams up here are being fished
out. Far more are wasted than are used. I never keep a single
fish that I do not need for myself or my friends." He s always
thinking of his friends. And his friends can never forget him.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 39
Hall River A Discovery
Near his camp is an arm of the French. The map shows it
as an arm. But one day the Colonel set out with an Indian to
investigate, and traced an unknown stream up through many
windings, lakelets, past little falls, and numerous swamps, for
more than 25 miles. And so was discovered Hall River.
The Little Chaudiere Falls
I visited the Little Chaudiere Falls, near Hall s, and saw
some of the dams which have recently been put in by the Gov
ernment to keep the water at a uniform height. The falls are
more of a rapids than falls, as there is no great tumbling of the
water, and no abrupt break in the current. The scenery all
about is very picturesque and very wild. The river divides
some eight miles above. The other and far larger branch goes to
the south, and the two surround a great island of 42,000 acres,
and then join to the west to flow on to Georgian Bay.
The Big Chaudiere Falls
On Monday morning I went w r ith the Maginni family the
Colonel s friends from Pittsburg to visit the Big Chaudiere
Falls, and to take the Hazel B. back to North Bay.
Oh the beauty of these rapids! They .call them falls, but
again it is a misnomer. While there is no abrupt break, yet
the grandeur of the scene may be imagined when one thinks
of a broad river being forced through a gorge so narrow that I
easily tossed a ten-pound stone across to the further bank.
Here is to be placed one of the three locks for the canal. Think
of it! Only three locks to connect two great bodies of water,
thus forming nearly 100 miles of the proposed highway.
An Indian Burial Ground
Not far from the Chaudiere is a quaint Indian burial ground
of the Dokis band. They take good care of it, and at certain
seasons decorate it with trinkets. As one visitor said: "Like
unto the decorating of a Christmas tree."
40 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
As above, I made many trips down the French. Sometimes
with few fellow-passengers, at other times with many aboard,
but always came back with a new store of "copy."
" I Haint Got No Edication"
Canoes could ever and anon be seen coming out from the
cottages, to get and deliver letters, and take back the "groceries"
from the little steamer. One day I asked one of these canoe-
men: "Whose cottage is that?" pointing to the one he had come
out from.
"Mr. O n s," said he.
"What are his initials?" I asked, as I had thought to give
the "Directory of the French," before I found the number too
large.
"I don t know," said he, "I haint got no edication."
"Well, what do they call him?"
"Them as knows him familiar calls him Ed., and the rest
of us just Mister," and then he went away with his "groceries"
and his letters.
Names on the French River Directory
As I said, I started to gather the names of the cottagers along
the French River, but when I had put down the following, I
stopped and gave it up: Allison, Bragdon, Barker, Coen, Cunning
ham, Ferguson, Griffith, Heyworth, Hunt, Haines, Hutchison,
Harcourt, Hall ("Colonel" J. B., the first cottager), Hale, Hemp-
heil, Johnson, Jacobs, Laing, Leach, Marshall, Norris, Rolling,
Reynolds, Shepherd, Whitehead (the Bishop of Pittsburg), Young.
There is the Solid Comfort Club, with possibly 200 members;
the Bison Club, with a large number, and the many Kervin House
Boats, with their numerous guests. The French River is becom
ing so famous that the islands all the way up are being taken and
built upon, growing more valuable every season, as the beauties
of the French are becoming better known. I was so impressed
by the spirit of the river the good feeling shown, "Canuck"
toward "Yankee," that I found that feeling running along in
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 41
song crude, but expressive of the love we hold toward these
good folk of the Northland:
On the French in the Northland far away,
We ll pass full many a summer s day;
And hunt and fish, or idly float,
In light canoe, or the dancing boat;
And watch the sail o er the glist ning stream
At night we ll sing neath the pale moon s beam.
Then Ho! for the French with its beautiful isles;
Then Ho! for the girls with their rippling smiles;
Then Ho! for the Northland far away!
And when the days of summer s done,
And the Autumn s come with the Autumn s sun,
We ll fold our tents and southward flee,
Still singing, each: a Oh, the North for me!"
Oh sing of the land where the two flags float-
Where the "Stripes" may fly from the dancing boat
Where our " Stars," and the emblem of England s pride,
May fly together, side by side.
Then Ho! for the North, with its people true!
Then Ho! for the French, with its waters blue!
To thee, oh River! we ll come again!
To thee, oh River! Good-bye! Good-bye!
We ll come again when the swallows fly.
Eagle s Nest
Somebody is sure to point out to you "The Eagle s Nest."
It is in the top of a great pine, back from the southerly bank
of the river. Then they will tell you about that "other one"
that some vandal cut down and destroyed. Of course it was
far larger than this one. Things destroyed are always superior
to that which remains. But this one looks like a whole wagon-
42 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
load of dirt in the top of a tree. Many eagles are seen, flying
above the river. They make the cottagers feel " quite at home,"
since so many of them claim the eagle as their emblem.
The Fish Hawk and the Crane
One evening when we were coming back, and just before
we left the French to enter the lake, I saw an odd sight. You
see the Captain and Bill Boucher had been vieing with each other
as to which could tell the biggest fish story, when some one, point
ing ahead, called our attention to something that beat both of
them.
At first we saw two or three hawks sailing round and round.
As we got nearer we saw a dark object in the water. As we
approached, this object arose with great difficulty. To our
surprise it was an enormous crane, and carried in its bill a large
fish (the Captain said it was a foot long, and Bill said eighteen
inches, which shows their relative powers in the fish line). It
arose slowly and was getting off toward the shore in fine order,
when one of the hawks made a drive for it, scaring it into drop
ping its well-earned prize. At that the hawk whirled and seemed
fairly to drop through the air. Hardly had the fish struck the
water when it was picked up by the bird and borne away, the
crane slowly following.
"That beats me," said both old rivermen. "Never saw a
crane catch a fish in deep water before." But for them I d have
thought that it was a way the French River cranes had of get
ting supper.
If Cap or Bill ever tell you this story, believe them. I ll
vouch for its truth. "What? Who ll vouch for me?" I won t
need it, for I ll not be here. But the story is as I have told it.
Brule, the First White Man to See the French.
Champlain came 1615
It is thought that Etienne Brule was the first white man to
see the French River. He is said to have been here in 1613.
Much wrong knowledge (?) maintains about when Cham-
plain came to this part of Canada. 1613 was the first time he
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAN D 43
got anywhere near, and then he came only as far as Allumette
Island, across from where is now Pembroke. He left Montreal
May 27th, and with Nicolas Vignau, whom he calls "the most
impudent liar that has been seen for many a day," came up to
Allumette, where he was kindly treated by an Indian chief called
at times Tessouat, at others Le Bourgne. He would have come
further, and asked of the chief four canoes and eight men. At
first Tessouat promised to furnish men and canoes, but recon
sidered and then refused, claiming that he loved Champlain
too dearly to allow him to go and be slain by the Nipissings,
who, he said, were sorcerers, and who would surely poison him.
Vignau had told Champlain that he had been on "The Great
Northern Sea" (Nipissing Lake), and had visited the Nipissing
Indians. He had, as a matter of fact, spent a winter with Tes
souat, but had never been any further west. When he claimed
to have visited this lake (Nipissing), the chief grew very angry,
and called him as many kinds of a liar as a modern politician
who didn t like what his opponent said about "that dredge con
tract."
Wanted the " Liar " for Only a Few Minutes
He begged Champlain to let him have Nicolas for only
a few minutes, and he assured him he would never lie again.
When closely pressed, Vignau admitted that he had never been
to the marvellous country that he had so graphically described.
He may have been all that both Champlain and the chief called
him, but it must be admitted that he was a good guesser, and
you will all say so when you see this land of beauty.
Champlain returned to France and did not come back to
Canada until 1615, spending the year of 1614 trying to interest
his countrymen in his enterprise.
First Mass Ever Said in Canada
Early in the spring (1615) he set sail from France and reached
Quebec at the end of May. He brought with him four Recollets
of the Franciscan Order. These were: Fathers Joseph le Caron,
Jean Dolbeau, and Denis Jamay, and a lay brother, Pacifique
44 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
du Plessis. On reaching Quebec they erected an altar and
celebrated the first mass ever said in Canada.
Champlain and le Caron came to Montreal. Here the Al-
gonquins and the Hurons persuaded the former to help them
in their wars against the Iroquois. He at once returned to Que
bec, and with twelve Frenchmen came right back to Montreal,
only to find all of the Indians gone and le Caron with them.
This was in the height of summer, says Champlain. With
two large canoes he set out to follow le Caron and the Indians.
The famous Etienne Brule came with him as interpreter.
Champlain Visits the Nipissing Indians
Passing up the Ottawa they came to the Mattawa River, up
which they came to Trout Lake, thence to Lake Nipissing, on
the north shore of which they found the Nipissing Indians, with
whom they visited for two days. These were the very Indians
against whom Tessouat had \varned him. Of them the Jesuit
Fathers years after said: "A race so beset with spirits, infested
with demons and abounding in magic, that we look upon them
as sorcerers."
Champlain Goes Down the French* Subsists
on Berries
He had not yet caught up with le Caron, but crossing over
the lake he started down the French. By this time his Indian
canoemen had eaten up nearly all of the provisions. It was
on this trip that he learned that "an Indian can subsist upon
what would starve a mouse, and yet could put a hog to the blush
in an eating contest." They were compelled to pick and eat
blueberries and raspberries, which grew, as now, in great abund
ance.
Champlain Meets a Band of Strange Indians in
Full-Dress Suits of Tattoo
One day he met 300 Indians. They were strange to him.
He couldn t tell them from their dress, for they had none, save,
possibly, their tattoos, which were very fine specimens. And
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 45
yet Champlain says they were very proud of their one adorn
ment their hair, of which he says: "Not one of our courtiers
takes so much pains in dressing his locks." They were very
friendly, and said that Lake Huron was not far away. Passing
along down the eastern border of this lake he reached the In
dian town of Cahigua, now Orillia, where is said to have been,
at that time, 30,000 Indians.
Goes to New York with the Hurons to Fight
the Iroquois
He went with the Hurons far down into New York State,
beyond Lake Oneida, to fight the Iroquois, but instead of fol
lowing his advice they ran away. It has been claimed that if
the Hurons had won this battle that it would have changed the
whole political feature of the continent. But this is such a
large IF, and so little behind it, that it is but an idle thought,
not worthy the entertaining.
Jesuit Fathers
Wish I had space to tell more of the Hurons, who once roamed
this country. How in the early 3o s of the fifteenth century
those noble Jesuit Fathers came right past here to work among
this unfortunate tribe, w r ho were doomed to practical extinction
at the hands of their terrible foes, the Iroquois, and how, in their
zeal, the Fathers, one after another, laid down their lives in the
cause. I wish I had the space, but I have not. Be our creed
what it may be, we must accord to .these martyrs all honor for
the good they aimed so unselfishly to accomplish. Of the six,
(De Noue, Brebeuf, Garnier, Jogues, Lalement and Daniel),
most of them gave up their lives, not far to the south of Lake
Nipissing.
Cross Point
To the east of the entrance of French River is what is called
Cross Point, from its being the burial place of a number of mis
sionaries who were coming to preach to the Indians. I could
46 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
get no data as to this, but tradition says that these missionaries
were drowned some 150 years ago. I wonder to what tribe
they were going, since the Hurons were extinct at that time,
so far as to this part of Canada. One can get so much of tra
dition. And this leads up to some
TRADITIONAL INDIAN BATTLES
The man-who-knows has told me of numerous Indian battles
that were fought in the vicinity of North Bay. Ever hear of
the time the Iroquois ambushed the Hurons down there by
Golden Bay, on Trout Lake?" (a few miles south-easterly from
town).
"No," said I; "I only know a little about the early istory
of this country only things collected from Parkman, the Recol-
lets, and the Jesuit Fathers. They should have known of these
things, but they forgot to put in about that fight. Tell me about
it."
" The Bones the Dugois Found "
"Well, the Hurons were either coming up or going down,
and they met the Iroquois, who were also either coming down or
going up, and one of the worst fights you ever saw took place
at this point. It was an awful fight! The Hurons were all
wiped off the face of this part of the earth. Yes, it was a terrible
battle!"
"How was this known?" I asked, for I do so like
the "how" of things.
"How was it known? Why the Dugois on whose farm the
battle took place have found all sorts of relics of battle relics
of stone, and iron, and bones. My, the bones the Dugois have
found!"
" Yes, but how do you know that the Iroquois did
off ?"
"How! Why, man, don t you know that the
won? Now, if they always won, they must have won this time
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 47
I m telling you about." And I had to admit that he was right.
He even agreed to take me down some day and show me the
place, but his proofs were quite sufficient, and I told him so.
But, on the quiet, I m awfully put out at Parkman, the Recollets
and the Jesuit Fathers for not telling me about that fight ! What s
the good of history, anyhow, when a modern layman can tell you
about battles, fought in the days of the historians who were here
at the time? You just can t depend on them that s all!
Battle of Sturgeon River
Then that other man-who-knows told me about the battle of
Sturgeon River, when about 1,000 Hurons did the "wiping off."
His was even a more graphic description.
" The Hurons were smarting under their many losses in battle
with the Iroquois, ,and hearing from their scouts that a band of
these awful savages were coming up the Sturgeon, lay in ambush,
and when they got well into the mouth of the ambush swooped
(he said swooped, I m sure that was the word) down upon them
and didn t leave a man to tell the tale. It was an awful slaughter!
The river ran red with bel-ud!"
" It must have been ! " said I. " But when did this fight occur ? "
"When? Over a hundred and fifty years ago. I got the
story from an old Indian, whose great-grandfather had told him
that his grandmother remembered it well."
Now, there it is again! A thousand Huron warriors in,
say 1750, when the Jesuits have left word that in 1650 there were
so few of the tribe left that they took them all down to Quebec!
And yet, had you heard - tell this, you d just have to con
clude that the Fathers didn t know what they were writing about.
My eyes the things you can hear if you only listen !
Fortified Islands
There are, however, indications that lead us to think that
somebody must have done some fighting at the mouth of the
West Arm. Westerly from where the French River leaves Lake
Nipissing are two islands, where may be seen crude fortifications,
48 (rATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
as though built by some tribe in the old days. But these may
have been put up after the Hudson Bay Company had started to
use this route to the Northwest, which was years after (1670)
the Huron s had almost ceased to be a people.
French River Used as a Sailing Route
In 1862 Renaldo McConnell, Sr., of Aylmer west of Ottawa-
used part of the proposed canal as a sailing route. The story is
not without interest, as showing the devices resorted to in the
early days of lumbering in this upper country.
Renaldo had a camp on Lake Temiskaming at Pimicon,
and wishing to bring supplies from Toronto he put them aboard a
little sailing vessel which he brought up through the lakes to the
mouth of the French River, and by the vessel, boats and portages
passed up to Lake Nipissing, thence via Vause Creek to Trout
Lake and across to Pimicon by means of a string of little lakes.
His crew was made up of French-Canadians and Iroquois Indians.
At Geo. Harvey s store, a mile below Vause Creek, they first got
to drinking, and then to fighting. " They fought all night, till
broad daylight and went to work in the marnin ." Broken heads
a number; casualties none. I may be wrong, but I give this
as the first time the Georgian Bay Canal (to be) was used as a
sailing route.
One, on looking at this French River route, can hardly realize
why it has not been utilized long ago. In the whole distance
from Nipissing to the Bay, there will need to be but three locks,
and they, with the river improvements, would not cost over ten
million dollars one-tenth of the whole.
This could be done in a short while, and could be made a big
money-maker, while the rest and more intricate parts were being
completed.
I m afraid that a former old president of the Montreal Board
of Trade was not the only one who hadn t learned his geography
lesson. This old gentleman one day, while passing through
North Bay, was approached by a prominent citizen and called
to account for Montreal s lack of interest in the canal project
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 49
(that was before Montreal had gotten awake to her great oppor
tunity now she s awake). "Why should you be so urgent?
Isn t North Bay on an open route to the Great Lakes already?"
He and a number of others lost sight of the French River entirely.
A politician could not have been more dense.
Alex. Dupond, still living above Mattawa, was in the Mc-
Connell crew, and in the "Indian fight" at Vause Creek. "I
mind it well," says Alex.
Lord Strathcona s Last Trip down the Rivers
In 1865 Sir Donald A. Smith (now Lord Strathcona) made
his last bark canoe trip up the French, through Nipissing,
Trout Lake, and down the Ottawa to Fort William on Lake
Allumette.
A FEW INDIANS REMAIN
Where there were once as many as 30,000 Hurons alone, there
are now so few Indians left, all throughout this country, for
nearly a hundred miles around Lake Nipissing, that one agent
can look after them.
Nipissings
While the Hurons all left, or were taken away by the Jesuit
Fathers along about 1650, a few of the old Nipissing tribe (which
Touseat, the Chief who entertained Champlain on Allumette
Island, in the lake of the same name, in 1613, on his first trip up
the Ottawa called sorcerers and magicians, and dangerous to
visit) are still to be found here, on their reservation, which begins
two miles west of North Bay and runs on west to near Sturgeon
Falls.
It would seem that old Chief Touseat s fear of them was
general, for even the Iroquois never molested these "Medicine
men" (as to them they were known) while exterminating the
Hurons.
Of the Nipissings there are but 258 left. They are comfort-
4
50 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
ably housed, with the conveniences, and many of the luxuries of
modern life, having musical instruments, buggies, etc., and dress
hi the fashion of the day some of the young women even aiming
at the extremes of fashion, "Merry Widows" and that sort. As
one told the writer: "The only difference between them and the
white people is that you could not find a community of 258 whites,
on the continent, to equal these 258 Indians in general good de
portment unless they come in contact with a party known up
here as John Barley-Corn, from the land of the Scotch ."
There are two Chiefs Beaucage and Goulais. They have
two Separate Schools, and two Roman Catholic Churches (all, or
practically all, of the Indians here are Catholics). They origin
ally owned a tract of 160 square miles of land, but surrendered
to the Government three townships 90 square miles which in
cluded all north of the C.P.R. but 1,600 acres, which they reserved
as wood lots. When they surrendered the land they were paid
$24,000 in cash. On the balance they are to get interest on the
money from the lands as they are sold.
Some of them farm, others trap and hunt, but most of the
men act as guides for hunters and surveyors.
The Dokis Band
Down the French River is the remnant of an Algonquin half-
breed band, called and known by the name of the " Dokis Band."
There are but 100, and have but one Chief Alex. Dokis, a very
shrewd man. For 40 years the Government had negotiated
with him for his pine timber, but until this year, all to no pur
pose. Through the wisdom of the Indian Agent, George P.
Cockburn, of Sturgeon Falls, old Alex, was finally induced to
sell. "Wisdom," as it s always wise to take $1,071,000 when it
is offered for timber that may be destroyed by fire, in this day of
the careless white hunter, camper or prospector. This money is
to be put in the bank for the 100, and they will draw the interest
thereon. It was sold on June 24th, 1908. It is estimated to be
-this timber of the Dokis , down the French River 100,000,000
feet, said to be the best pine timber limit left in Canada. Inci-
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 51
dentally, a word about the man who sold it at auction in the Rus
sell House, in Ottawa. He is Peter Ryan. He has got em all
to believe that nobody can get "Peter Ryan" prices for timber
berths, with the result that he has sold about $33,000,000 worth
at a good selling fee thereon. Who said: "What s in a name?"
I guess William hadn t in mind the great timber auctioneer of
Canada, when he asked that question.
The Dokis have neither school nor church, but, being Indians,
they are good and still alive.
The day we visited the Big Chaudiere Falls, about which are
their lands, we stopped at one of their farm houses. The floor was
as white and clean as the proverbial Dutch wife s floor, and the
meal this particular Mrs. Dokis got up for our party was good
enough for an epicure.
I had an interview with old Alex, one day. That is, he sat on
one end of a short log and I sat on the other, and talked and
talked I was in talking trim that day and then asked him what
he thought about it, and he said he didn t know what I was
talking about, as he couldn t understand my mother tongue. I
stopped right there, and so the interview ended. This was one
of the times I refused, abruptly, to continue the conversation.
i
The Way the Name Dokis Came About
You never can tell, but you do hear so many explanations for
the why of things. Some one told me the way the name of
"Dokis" came to be attached to this band, and finally accepted
by them. It is neither French nor Indian, of which two races
they claim blood. "Bill" says he knows it to be a fact. But
do you know Bill? you can t tell, and I won t, further than to
give the story.
"Once upon a time," Bill always starts it that way "the
ancestor of the band was acting as guide for some hunters. They
were out along Georgian Bay. Every time the guide saw a water
fowl, he d call out: Dokis! Dokis! See Dokis ! J He meant to
call their attention to the ducks, of which the bay abounded. At
last the hunters got to calling the guide Dokis, as a nickname
52 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
it was so much easier than his own, which was as full of conson
ants as Welch, as free from vowels as Chinese, and sounded like
the (I refuse to tell you what Bill said it sounded like, as I have
a number of preachers among my friends). He liked the nick
name so well that he took it home and gave it to the whole family.
It not only took quicker than the measles, but it stuck, and
stayed with them as faithfully as a stray dog in a new home.
Sounds all right, eh?" And then Bill shunted off onto the time
that- But say, I must hurry on and tell you about the rest of
the Indians up here, and let Bill tell you the story himself, when
you come up next summer. He will tell it, too, for since Sam
Huntington left, Bill has to do the honors.
The Ojibeways of Temagami Lake
Agent Cockburn has charge, as well, of the 120 Ojibeways of
Lake Temagami, and the 140 of a band of the same tribe at Fort
Metatchewan, on the Montreal River, above Elk City. A good
many of the former live on Bear Island, but have no Government
Reserve. Those at that long-named place, up the Montreal,
have a new Reserve of six miles square. The Bear Island band
have a church, and are very devout Catholics.
The Agent s Story The Lone Cross and
the Yankee
I just knew that Agent Cockburn must have gathered a fund
of stories, going about so much, so, like the little boy, I asked:
" George, give us a story," and George said: "Ever hear about
the Lone Cross, up in Lake Temagami?"
"No, never heard it," said I. "Let s have it."
It s sort o two stories in one, with an explanation of the
name of the lake thrown in."
"Good," says I, "we re going to get lots o things! Go on,
George." I always call people by their first name familiar like,
to be sociable and encouraging; can always get so much more
for the same price. And then George began.
"Well, to start with, there s the Lone Cross away up the
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 53
Lake. But I won t tell you about that till later. Want to tell
you first about the way the lake got its name. Temagami, or
as the Indians say, Temagaming, notice the different ending?
Temagami is only a recent pronunciation. It means Clear
Water/ And now as to the start of that. One time, long ago,
the first white man who came to the lake (somebody said he was
an Englishman. I don t think so, for he was so all-fired curious
to know the why of things. I think he was a Yankee George
thought I was a North Bayer, and was awfully nice about it when
he learned that I was only a transient, and a full-blooded Buck
eye. ) was a curiosity to most of the Indians. One day he
was paddling along and met an Ojibeway hunter. At once he
began to make signs of joy at the meeting, which reassured the
Indian, and they were soon on motioning terms. The white
man, seeing that the Indian had a gun, at once showed his own
powder-horn, shaking it to prove how empty it was, and motioned
that it wouldn t be more than fair that they divide the full powder-
horn of the Ojib., who very kindly started to hand it over. By
some accident or other the horn fell overboard and sank to the
bottom. No quicker than it had started down than the Yankee
followed after, and went down, down to the bottom of the lake.
Now the Ojib., being a patient man, sat and waited for the other
to come back with his powder-horn. But, as he did not come,
he looked over the side of his canoe, and what do you suppose
that Yankee was doing ? "
I had to give it up, and I told George so.
" Why, sir, that blame Yank was sitting on the bottom of that
lake, and emptying every grain of the Indian s powder-horn into
his own; the Indian seeing him as plain as though there wasn t a
bit of water between them. See? Temagami - Clear Water.
Now, if you know an Indian s nature, you may imagine how
angry that Ojib. was when he saw this unfairness. He would
give up half, but to see that fellow sitting there pouring out the
whole business was too much for him, and he was in reality a
wild savage. And you can t blame him, can you? Good
story? See how this clearness of the lake came about?"
54 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Yes, but," says I, all interest, "there is something that is not
yet clear. You ve told about the lake, but you haven t said a
blame word about that Lone Cross up the Temagami. What
was that for?"
" Oh, yes," says George," I forgot, in the excitement of telling
you about that wild savage, to finish my story, and tell you that
the Lone Cross was erected to mark the spot where the Indian
and his friends buried the Yankee, and, contrary to their gen
eral custom, they buried him in one piece!" Now what do you
think of that?
But George thought I was from North Bay and I forgave him.
Later: I told this story of George s to a man on Yonge Street,
Toronto, one day. He listened with beaming attention, up to
the finish lost the point, and quite innocently (fact) said: "It s
all clear to me but one thing: How in - - could that Yankee,
sitting on the bottom of the lake, empty the contents of the Indian s
horn into his own? Why, the powder would get all wet!"
Still later: The most innocent of all was that other Toronto
man who wanted to know the nationality of the Yonge Street
party.
"Where Are the Hurons?"
Some one asks, "What became of the Huron Indians?" As
above, the Jesuit Fathers took all that were left of them to Que
bec, and their descendants are still at Indian Lorette, a few miles
out from the old city, where they eke out life by hunting, guiding,
making snowshoes and trinkets. Others had gone before 1650
-to Northern Ohio, where they became the Wyandottes. These
later went to the Indian Territory, and many have become prom
inent citizens men of affairs. It s all right to be good, but there
is such a thing as being too good for the advancement and better
ment of the world. The Canadian Indians are very devout, but
they are not cutting "much ice."
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 55
THE MAKING OF A COUNTY TOWN
North Bay is the County Seat, and thereby hangs the most
dramatic part of its history. On March i4th, 1895, an e l ec ~
tion was held to decide the location of the seat. Three towns
were in the fight: Mattawa, 45 miles to the east; Sturgeon Falls,
23 miles to the west; and North Bay. The district is 152 miles
from east to west, along the C.P.R., and at that time the northern
limit was Haileybury, which had then but 20 votes. At this
election, North Bay won by 177. Mattawa called first for a re
count, and then for another election. This second trial came off
July nth, 1895. Sturgeon Falls dropping out, left North Bay
and Mattawa in the race. The Falls threw her votes to Mattawa
all but 24 and North Bay, by that, came near losing. She
won by only eight votes, after a fight more bitter than the French
and Indian wars.
"Couldn t Stand a Second Resurrection
In looking over the graphic details in the North Bay Times, I
found many points of interest. While in the first election, Mat
tawa cast 349 votes and North Bay, 458; in the second trial, we
would naturally look for a larger vote, but instead of more, Mat
tawa had 33 less and North Bay 65 less. I asked a good citizen,
"Why this difference?" and he said: "7 guess a lot of the first
voters couldn t stand a second resurrection" I have often wondered
what he meant rather, I did wonder, till another good citizen
got to enumerating the various residences of the voters: "There
was," said he, "the first ward, the second ward, the third ward,
and and the cemetery."
Nearly every old citizen I met was either one of those eight
voters or else he was the one upon whom hinged the result, and
but for him Mattawa would, to-day, be the County Town.
A Long, Wild Race for a Vote
Some of the incidents of the day are really good enough.
Possibly the most dramatic was of a train crew of five. They
left town the night before for Webb wood, 127 miles west. The
56 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
morning of the election found them waiting for the freight from
Thessalon, 88 miles still further west. Wire came that the engine
had broken down and that they must come for the train of 21
cars. They started at 5.55 a.m., "tender" ahead, reached Thes
salon at 7.45, and in ten minutes were pulling out, to make the
run of 215 miles before the polls closed, at 5 p.m. One of the
crew, in telling about it, said: " We could hardly hope to make it,
but there wasn t a one of us but was willing to go the limit trying.
We bit off miles like eatin pie, till the boxes gin to get hot, and
we d have to stop, and stop, to put in fresh brasses, and repack,
and oil, and take on cars one place we added, till we had 28
and stop for water n coal an more brasses and pack n oil, till,
when we got in sight of North Bay, we was all but done out, and
as we swung into town, boxes blazing n coal nearly all gone, we
turned the train over to the boys waiting, and in carriages were
driven on the dead run for the polls, fifteen minutes to the good.
We found, on the count, that we d made the run for nothing, as
we d won by two anyhow, but it was so close that we have, ever
since, sort o felt that that old freight crew did its share in savin
the day." As it takes but a line, you ll pardon me if I name the
crew: Jas. Mcllvenna, Wm. Cavenagh, Geo. Drake, A. Newall,
Geo. Thompson and one passenger they d picked up on his way
home to vote.
NORTH BAY BOARD OF TRADE
"To what do you attribute the solid growth of your town? 1
I asked, after carefully going over North Bay and seeing that
which has made me to feel that here must some day be a great
city, by reason of its situation and proper start.
"To our Board of Trade, if to any one thing," was the quick
reply. And later, in meeting one after another of its active,
purposeful members, I could see why success had so attended
their efforts.
It was organized in 1894, with David Purvis as President.
He held the office for eleven years, up to 1905, when, upon his
election as Mayor, he resigned. He was followed in the office
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 57
by A. G. Browning, who held it for two years, when John Fer
guson was chosen and is the present energetic President.
D. J. McKeown was elected the first Secretary, and is still
in that position. Nothing of any benefit to North Bay but
this Board of workers has actively forwarded it, irrespective of
party.
THE GEORGIAN BAY CANAL
TF the Georgian Bay Canal is built and of that there is no
^ longer any doubt in the minds of those who have given
real thought to the enterprise to the Board of Trade of
North Bay, more than to any other one cause, must be given the
credit. Not a moment, since its inception, in 1894, but its mem
bers have bent all energy with the one aim in view, of seeing
completed this work, which is to be so much to the whole Do
minion. Others might lag and lose heart in the long waiting
for the powers to act. But these men kept the subject alive,
and by delegation after delegation kept the powers from for
getting that there would be no rest until their wishes were grant
ed. For this reason North Bay is looked upon as the centre of
the canal interest.
My book would be most incomplete without a brief sum
mary of the history of this, one of the greatest works that any
nation many times the population of Canada has ever before
undertaken.
r
Alex. Sheriff Makes First Survey
Its inception was away back in the days when the whole
country, through which it will pass, was a wild and unbroken
wilderness, and when little of Ontario itself was settled, save
along the southern borders. Go back to 1830, when we find
at Chats Falls that sturdy old pioneer, Charles Sheriff, with his
grant of 3,000 acres of land, giving work to the poor settlers for
miles around, and instilling into his large family of stalwart
sons his own spirit of enterprise. It was not long until we find
Alex. Sheriff, the eldest of these sons, surveying, at his own ex
pense, the first route for a canal to Georgian Bay. It was un
doubtedly his efforts that first called the attention of the Par-
58
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 59
liament of Upper Canada to the subject, as we find that in 1837
a survey is ordered to be made to determine the practicability
of a navigable waterway to Lake Huron.
Start Made at Chats Falls
And mark the coincidence. From Chats Falls the thought
emanated, at Chats Falls the great Egan started in the early
fifties (I think 1854), to do the first actual work on this canal,
and had he lived he would have gone far toward seeing the work
completed, for he was a man to whom mighty works were as
play.
Again, it was John Egan s Chats Falls canal which doubt
less recalled the attention of the Government to the enterprise,
for we find Walter Shanley commissioned to make a survey
in 1856. He soon had to stop the work, owing to a lack of
funds. The Shanley survey was for a ten-foot canal. Shanley
was a Hoosac tunnel engineer.
T. C. Clarke took up the work in 1859, on the order of the
two provinces. He made his report in 1860. That report
read in part: "Lake Huron to Montreal, 431 miles; 352 of which
way is fit for vessels of 12 feet draft, 79 miles requiring improve
ment, and of this only 29 miles of actual canal. Total fall from
summit to Montreal 646 feet." This same engineer Clarke-
was called upon forty years afterwards, and all the change he
proposed was to increase the dimensions, to suit the growth of
the times. He was as convinced of its feasibility and its na
tional benefit as he was a generation before.
Actual Work Done
Not only w r ere various surveys made, but besides the Egan
work at Chats Falls, we find the Culbute locks being started
in 1872 and finished in 1877. These were little used, owing to
the Canada Central Railway being completed to Pembroke at
about that time.
In 1879 E. P. Bender made an examination of the French
River and Lake Nipissing for the Canadian Pacific Railway.
He reported favorably for a 14 feet draught.
60 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
In 1899 A. F. McLeod, a civil engineer, made an exhaustive
survey of the summit level for the Department of Railways and
Canals. He reported that this section of 21 miles would cost
$5>95,ooo.
The Canadian Pacific s engineer that same year 1899-
made an examination of the French River and Lake Nipissing,
and reported favorably for a 20 feet draught.
In 1900 a complete survey of the French River and Lake
Nipissing was made by J. W. Fraser, C.E., for the Department
of Public Works. His report put the cost of a 20 feet draught
canal along the French at $4,200,000.
In 1902 the late George Y. Wisner, C.E., a man of wide
fame in both Europe and America, estimated that a 20 feet
draught canal, from Georgian Bay to Montreal, would cost
$80,000,000. He was most enthusiastic on the commercial
possibilities of the enterprise.
Most Complete Survey of All
In 1904 the Department of Public Works made by far the
most thorough survey ever made for this great national highway.
It was done so carefully that it is claimed that every foot of the
way is known; the cost of every yard of excavation, every stick
of timber and every bolt required in the locks. All every
thing estimated by the most careful and able engineers.
Such, in brief, is the history of what must be accounted one
of the greatest works of the twentieth century which century
is claimed for Canada. That it is necessary for the fullest ad
vancement of the Dominion no one can reasonably deny that
it is feasible all must admit.
A higher authority than Wisner was not known. See what
he said of this work in the Ottawa Citizen of June 2oth, 1901 :
"There is absolutely no question as to the feasibility of the pro
ject. If the whole territory were under the United States con
trol, the work would be gone on with very quickly." I feel
that I know the pulse of Canada, having watched its beat for
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 61
the past seven years, and I am confident that there is, up here,
a spirit of progress that must drive this and many other great
works to a speedy beginning, and to a completion that would
be a vast credit to my own country, or to any other of the world s
mighty nations.
There would seem to have been a fate that kept back the
building of the canal. Had it been constructed when first pro
posed, it would have long since been of little use, by reason of
its too shallow draught. But the 22 feet of the present
must answer the needs of long years, if not for all time to
come.
An Absolute Necessity
So rapid is the growth of that vast empire out there in "The
Last West" that this canal will soon be an absolute necessity.
When we think of the comparatively small area of that "empire,"
producing already an hundred million bushels of wheat and
millions of other grains; and when we watch the weekly train-
loads of immigrants pouring into that land to become producers
of more millions of bushels, we wonder how those millions of
wheat, and of oats, and of barley, and the herds of cattle of the
boundless pasture lands are all going to be moved to the markets
of the world. True, there are building many railways thou
sands of miles of main lines with more thousands of miles of
branches, like tendrils of the vine but these must soon be in
adequate to carry the production of those ever-increasing busy
workers of the prairies. It is going to take something more
potent than railway lines to carry the product of one hundred
and seventy-one million acres of wheat lands, and that something
is bound to be the Georgian Bay Canal. With its vessels touch
ing at every point around the great lakes, and these vessels
pouring an endless stream of wealth to the sea, will be the consum
mation of the dreams of a Sheriff and an Egan of the past, the
fulfilment of the hopes of the workers of the present, and the
vast benefit of the whole nation of Canada.
62 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
More than a Carrier to the East. Governor-
GeneraPs Address
Earl Grey, the Governor-General of Canada, said in part,
in his able address before the Canadian Club of Toronto: "That
which most requires attention to further Canada s greatness as
a nation is: (i) Lay firmly and securely the foundations of a
future trade with the Orient; (2) perfect your transportation
east and west, and secure to Canada the full benefits of her geo
graphical position; and (3) increase the supply of labor."
What better way to secure to Canada the fulfilment of every
one of these suggestions of this man of wisdom, than to make
possible the very best means of "perfecting your transportation
east and west," to secure "the future trade with the Orient,"
and to "increase the supply of labor," than to build the Geor
gian Bay Canal? It must become more than a carrier to the
east. With a waterway half across the continent, the " trade
with the Orient" from Europe must redound to Canada s bene
fit, in her railways, her rivers and canals. Then the building
of it must, for many years, "increase your supply of labor,"
and bring to the whole country prosperity. For it is a well-
proven fact that that nation is prosperous whose laborers are
kept at work.
Towns and Cities Along the Canal Route
Many important towns and cities will be immediately effected
by the building of this waterway. Not only in the province of
Ontario, but to the west, all around the great lakes, the cities
must feel the benefit of so great a means of reaching the ocean,
while the lands of the whole Northwest must become more valu
able at the loading of {he first vessel.
North Bay will be especially benefited, and that may be
said of all the towns and cities along the whole length of the
canal to Montreal. It will put into Mattawa some of its old
life, add an impetus to busy Pembroke, open a market for the
marble quarries of Portage du Fort, help to feed the great mills
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 63
of Arnprior, harness and set in use the mighty falls at the Chats,
make Aylmer more than a suburb of the capital, and make of
Hull and Ottawa seaports; whilst Rockland and Hawkesbury
must enlarge their mills and add others to do the work that must
come to them by reason of the canal. Then, of all, Montreal
cannot but benefit beyond every other point. The Georgian
Bay Canal will make of it the New York, the Baltimore, and
the Newport News of Canada, for into her harbor must pour
an endless stream of the ever-increasing millions of grain from
the myriad acres of the mighty West, to be here transhipped
to the world beyond the Atlantic.
This is but looking at present conditions. On the building
of the canal great water powers will be made available, harnessed
and set to work, giving employment to tens of thousands of
skilled workmen, and adding value to every acre of farm land
along the way.
Not a Local Enterprise
This is not a local enterprise. It will benefit all of Canada,
as the Panama Canal will benefit all of the United States. It
will add to the wealth of the whole country by reason of the
Oriental trade it must draw, and make Canada greater among
the nations of the world. There should be no sectional feeling
on the subject, for its building cannot but draw the East and
the West in a closer bond of fellowship.
Romance of the Route
Almost 300 years ago 1615 Champlain passed up the
whole length of this waterway, from the Atlantic Ocean to Geor
gian Bay. He might have said of it as he said of the Isthmus
of Panama, when he saw it in 1603: "A canal cut across this
narrow strip of land would shorten the distance to the Great
South Sea by thousands of leagues." This other canal would
shorten the distance more thousands of leagues from Europe
to the Orient.
64 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Up the Ottawa River, and down the French, the Indians
for untold ages passed in their bark canoes, in their warring and
trading expeditions. And after 1670 it was the only route used
by the Hudson Bay Company to the Northwest. They chose
it as the quickest possible route in fact, the only means of get
ting to the Great Lakes, for to have taken the St. Lawrence
River would have been as impracticable as it is now unwise.
What W. S. Hunter Said of This Route
In 1855 W. S. Hunter, an Ottawa artist, got out a
book of pictures. It was "Ottawa Scenery." Its rarity
may be known by the value placed upon it by some of the few
fortunate holders one claiming that $1,000 would not tempt
him to part with his copy. The author-artist gave a description
of the country through which the Ottawa River passes. A map
of this part of Canada is given, and as showing how little was
known of this immediate country by the map makers,
Nipissing, which is long and narrow, is shown as a ragged spot,
like a spatter of ink. But Hunter knew more of the country
than the maker of the map, having passed up the full length of
Lake Temiskaming, and describes the rivers all the way down
from La Blanche (White River) to the St. Lawrence.
Of the route through which will pass the canal, he sai<
" This is the route taken by the officers and voyageurs of the
Hudson Bay Company, in going to the far West, and is the i
and most direct route from Lower Canada, and the
States of the American Republic, to Lake Superior and
Pacific Ocean. This river (he was speaking of the Mattawa
River), Lake Nipissing and French River, directly connect
Ottawa with Lake Huron, and in this direction eventually wil
pass by railroad or canal, the whole traffic between the seaboard
and the north-western United States, and the Great Lakes, and
so ultimately to the Pacific."
W^as Hunter a prophet? He certainly was right as to
railroad. Will he be right as to the canal? To give to this an
affirmative would be no proof of a prophet, for this is an age
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 65
wisdom, and the canal, too, will become a reality. Its com
pletion will mark an epoch that must go down in the annals of
Canadian history alongside the building of the railroad that
binds the Atlantic with the far-off Pacific. And the statesmen
under whom the work is done will have given to the Dominion
an asset whose value no man can estimate, for it will go on bene
fiting through generations yet to come.
i
Things of Interest Along the Way
In the Hunter book is much that is of interest in connection
with the route through which the canal must pass. He was
writing of conditions in 1855. At that time almost the whole
way was wild and primitive. Des Joachim, 50 miles up Allu-
mette Lake from Pembroke, he speaks of as " On the verge of
civilization, for this is the furthest point on the Ottawa River
reached by a mail sack." He advises tourists who are a bit
particular, to go no further up. Think of it! Hundreds of
miles must now be added to the journey before a fair start has
been made into this land of beauty.
More than Commercial
His artist eye saw the charms that must yet make of this
route more than a commercial enterprise. From Colton s
Hotel, which stood at the Des Joachim, he could see: "The
finest view in all Canada; the river runs, in a perfectly straight
line, for forty-three miles south-east, bounded on the north side
by a high mountain chain, partially wooded, and on the south
by a richly wooded and gradually ascending range of hills, re
sembling the palisades of the Hudson River." He tells of the
magnificent rapids and falls along the way, and graphically
pictures the many other charms of scenery that must yet draw
thousands of the lovers of the wild in nature to journey up and
down upon the pleasure vessels that must be a part of the future
fleets.
66 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Beauty of the Island-Studded Lakes
Over Lake Allumette he enthuses thus: "It is studded with
innumerable beautifully wooded islands, the whole scene far
surpassing in grandeur the celebrated Thousand Islands of the
St. Lawrence River." He tells of the miles on miles of wide
expanses of the Ottawa, that will not require the expenditure of
a dollar to make them navigable for deep draught vessels. These
expanses are, in their order, down the river from Mattawa: Lakes
Allumette, Colonge, Chats and Deschenes (then spelled Du
Chene, and also known as Lake Chaudiere), to Ottawa City,
and the Lake of Two Mountains and Lake St. Louis toward
Montreal.
He speaks of the Egan improvement referred to above. Of
it he says: "A canal is being cut through the rocky barrier at
Chats Falls, which will be completed in about two years; this
canal will connect Lake du Chene and Lake des Chats, and will
form a link in a chain of inland water communication connect
ing the St. Lawrence with the waters of the Upper Ottawa, as
far as the great obstruction presented by the Calumet Rapids."
In two years John Egan was dead (he died in 1857), and the work
was never finished.
His description carries the reader down the river, past Ot
tawa, and on to Montreal. It would seem as though he had
in mind the great canal, so graphically does he describe the
way throughout its whole length. And yet he uses no argument
for its building, other than that: "It is the natural highway across
to the Great Lakes."
Great Water Powers" Could Run the Factories
of the World "
Even then, fifty-three years ago, he said of the water powers
of the Ottawa and its tributaries: "This mighty river and its
tributary streams afford water power sufficient for all the fac
tories of the world." He said of the valley of the Ottawa: "It
is a region eight times the extent of Vermont, and ten times that
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 67
of Massachusetts; it is drained by a noble river equal to the
Rhine in its length of course, and to the Danube in magnitude."
Forests A Picture
His picture of the forest scenery is so beautiful, that I must
give it, as all that is left of the mighty forests which he describes
as along the way. No, not all. While the great pine trees have
been long since cut away, there is yet vast stretches of lesser
growth, leaving still much of the beauty of which he thus so
charmingly portrays: "Oh, the glorious forest scenery! Of it
it is hardly necessary to speak, for every one has heard of it.
There may be more beauty of form in the graceful and feathery
palm, more fragrance in the sweet magnolia, the boast of tropic
climes, but whether in the stern and gloomy grandeur of the
pine forests, or in the exquisite beauty of coloring that distin
guishes the hardwood groves, when autumnal frosts have lighted
up their leaves with the splendors of crimson and gold, or a
combination of them all, when the dark foliage of the pines forms
a background to the scarlet maples; but then, truly then, there
is nothing in nature more grand or beautiful, no scene more
lovely, than a Canadian forest in the autumntide."
No, this great work will not be all commercial. From the
pictures so charmingly painted by the artist that I had to extend
my own chapter to include some of them, may be seen what is
in store for the tourist who goes far a-field to hunt out the beauty
spots of earth. Great pleasure steamers will have to be added
to the fleets of grain carriers, for this is destined to become an
other of Canada s many arteries of summer travel. The Sag-
uenay River may have its weird, towering, rocky banks; the St.
Lawrence its lake expanses, falls and rapids; other rivers their
forest-lined borders, and high rolling hills, but the Ottawa has
all of these and, besides, a charm all its own. And so varied are
its features of beauty that one never tires in passing through
them. And one may come, and come again, ever finding here
that which makes glad the heart of the traveller.
In conclusion I am tempted to prophesy that in 1915 the 3ooth
68 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
anniversary of Champlain s coming to Lake Nipissing will be
celebrated at North Bay on the occasion of the completion of
that part of the canal that will connect the town with Lake Huron.
Another and similar world-event will take place that year the
opening of the Panama Canal.
RAILWAY HISTORY
* CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY
THE Canadian Pacific Railway was the pioneer road into
this upper country. As elsewhere, the right-of-way was
started to be cut out, where is now North Bay, in July,
1 88 1, and the steel got into town in the fall of 1882. It is claimed
that Duncan Sinclair surveyed the first line, some time previous
to the coming of the road i.e., his line was utilized.
The road was finished across to the coast in 1885.
First Official Train
The first official train was brought in by Geo. Fee, engineer.
On it came A. Baker, C. W. Spencer, Jas. Worthington, W.
H. Cross, J. Biggar, J. Ridout, Drs. Girdwood and Thomp
son, John Stinson and Dan Dunn.
The first regular passenger train started to run in 1883.
Thomas Reynolds was the first conductor, and is still with the
road. He is one of the prominent men of the town.
North Bay a Divisional Point
This town is a divisional point on the line. Here is one of
their large shops, in which hundreds of men are employed. Here
is an i8-stall roundhouse. It is said to have one of the best
equipped yards along the whole line, having a trackage of nearly
25 miles, extending east and west from the station two miles.
Local Heads of Departments
F. P. Gutelius, General Supt.; Geo. Spencer, Supt.; J. H.
Hughes, Asst. Supt.; F. Taylor, Div. Eng.; H. R. Miles,
69
70 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Res. Eng.; H. Gates Reid, Master Mechanic; J. Burns, Dist.
Mas. Mech.; T. Harris, Div. Car For.; T. Hay, C. Agt.; and
H. J. White, C. For.
Immigrants to the West
This is the great highway to the West, and being, as above, a
divisional point, trains often stop for many minutes while engines
are being changed. This gives the passengers time to break the
monotony of travel, by walking up and down the platform at
the station. It was at the height of western travel that I was
there. Not a day passed but long trainloads of immigrants
were on their way to the far West. It was a study their faces,
their dress, and their manners. From all countries, mostly
from the British Isles, and the north from Norway, Sweden and
from Denmark. There were many of them well dressed and
very few with poor clothing. They were well behaved and
were going, determined to succeed their faces showed that, as
a whole, they were interesting people and will make good citizens.
Harvesters
But oh, the contrast noted in other trainloads that stopped at
the station while engines were being changed! Thousands of
men some said 5,000 were on their way to help in the vast
harvest fields of the great West. Day after day, for nearly a week,
did these trains of hoodlums pass. "Hoodlums," for more
disorderly crowds I had never before seen. All along the way
they left marks of their passing w r recked hotels, overturned
section houses, and a wholesome fear among the people of the
villages \vhere they stopped. It proved a point that I had long
questioned. I had come to look upon the Lower Provinces as
the ideal country of an ideal people. I had met from that land
some of the best I have found in all my sojourn in Canada. But
I find that no land has a perfect people while I had met from
that country some of the best, I have well, these hoodlums
were from the Lower Provinces.
In passing they seemed to look upon the people along the
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 71
way as worthy no respect whatever, and thought to show their
own superiority (?) by manners not to be found among the lowest
caste of savages. This may be severe, but you should have seen
those hoodlums.
One day, shortly after writing the above, some one said:
"Another trainload of harvesters are coming! There ll be wild
doings at the station, but the extra police will be prepared for them
this time."
I went down to see the "doings. " Say, it wasn t a bit o fun!
Neither was it "another trainload of harvesters." It was only a
trainload of heathen Chinese on their way back to China via
the C.P.R., to take ship. One boy policeman out o town
fishing could have kept order at the station that day but then
they were not "harvesters from the Lower Provinces." They
were only heathen and needed no "special police," which reminds
me of that
North Bay Police Force
In this town of 7,000 people two men form the whole police force
Wm. Rayner, Chief, and L. Cusson, Assistant. "There is for
them so little to do, that there s some talk of cutting down the
force , " as one economical citizen put the matter. From this you
may know the nature of the people up here. Nor is it because
they have no snap and go, for they are full of both, but don t
have to break the law to prove it.
GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY
North Bay is reached by the Grand Trunk by a branch from
Toronto, 226 miles almost due north.
This was built by the Government in the early eighties, and
later leased to this company. The famous D Alton McCarthy
was its first President.
A survey has been made by the Grand Trunk to run to the
72 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
northwest to tap the Transcontinental. This will open up a
rich mineral country. This survey starts a few miles to the
west of North Bay.
D. J. McKeown has long been Agent for the C.P.R., and
also for the G.T.R. and for the T. and N.O.
A. F. Brandon is representative for the C.P.R.
The Grand Trunk with its many connections is known as
the Great Cobalt Route.
It is thought by many that this northwestern line will yet be
built and used by the Grand Trunk, instead of going through
northern Quebec, and on to Moncton. These "many" claim
that the Government would save, by abandoning that upper
line, a large part of what the Georgian Bay Canal would cost.
But the "many" say much that fits not into things political,
since politics and business methods are not synonymous.
American Passenger Agents Tour Ontario
In September the American Association of General Passenger
and Ticket Agents held their fifty-third annual convention in
Toronto, and then as guests of the Grand Trunk and the Temis-
kaming and Northern Ontario Railways made a tour through
Lake of Bays, Temagami and Cobalt, along the former, and over
the latter as far north as New Liskeard, visiting the mines at Cobalt,
and taking a trip by steamer up Lake Temagami. They went
home loud in their praise of Canadian hospitality, after first
showing their appreciation of that hospitality by making that
king of hosts G. T. Bell, of the Grand Trunk their President
for the coming year.
I am always glad to see my countrymen coming to Canada.
They can the better appreciate what I write in praise of this land
of beauty.
TEMISKAMING AND NORTHERN ONTARIO
The T. and N.O. Railway starts at North Bay and runs almost
due north to where is building the Transcontinental Railway.
The point at which it reaches that road is Cochrane, 247 miles up.
The history of the T. and N.O. is an interesting one. After a
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 73
long struggle our good friend, Hon. Frank R. Latchford, when,
as Minister of Public Works under the Ross Government, con
vinced the Ontario Legislature that a railway should be built in
New Ontario. The opponents of the scheme said: Why
build a road up there in that land of muskeg and stunted poplar ?
It will never pay. It is unwise," and a lot of other such arguments
used these opponents, who have lived to see a mighty country
opened by this road which the determination of one man made a
reality. No one now questions the wisdom, but many would
selfishly forget the good that this statesman did for his country.
True it was a venture, and yet not a venture, for in the Statute
or Act authorizing the building of the road which Act was
formulated by Latchford in 1901 he refers to the " mineral j:
of that country, having in mind the Edw. V. Wright mines, dis
covered in 1879, and the J. B. Klock lands, on which mineral was
claimed to have been found. But no prophet of old could have
foretold the vast mineral wealth found in the building of this
railway, and the other areas since opened up by reason of its
building.
In 1897 a junketing trip was taken into the country by a
party of aldermen from Toronto. They had a "Good Time,"
got lost in admiration of what Farr had to show them. But
that was all. Nothing came of it.
This is another enterprise toward which the North Bay Board
of Trade bent all its energies, for years, to bring about. Delega
tion after delegation visited Parliament and gave them no rest
until, with the untiring assistance of Latchford, they finally granted
the long said prayers of the combination.
Turning of the First Sod
Surveys were made for the road in 1902, and the first contract
let to A. R. McDonald, of Montreal, on Oct. 3rd of that year.
The first sod was turned by Hon. (now Judge) Latchford, May
loth, 1902. It was a gala day for North Bay. David Purvis,
President of the Board of Trade, had charge of the ceremonies,
so far as the town was concerned with it. Some said: "Oh,
74 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Frank only wants to make political capital!" Others said: "No!
Frank wants to make a railroad! " And so they made of it a gala
day, and the road was started by the Hon. Frank, and is just
now being completed by his successors and good work, too,
have they done.
A Government Road
It being a Government railway, built by the Province of
Ontario, it is under a Railway Commission, which has full powers
to make all contracts.
The first Commission were: A. E. Ames, Chairman; Edw.
Gurney, M. J. O Brien, B. W. Folger, and F. E. Leonard.
The present Commission are J. L. Englehart, Chairman;
A. J. McGee, Sec y-Treas.; Denis Murphy, and Fred. Dane.
Chief Officers, J. H. Black, Supt; G. A. McCarthy, Chief
Engineer; H. F. Macdonald, Acting Accountant; V. T. Bartrum,
Pur. Agent; W. D. Cunney worth, Freight and Passenger Agent;
A. Allan, Master Mech.; Wm. Young, General Roadmaster;
Geo. W. Lee, General Agent; C. L. Ferguson, Paymaster;
Arthur A. Cole, Mining Engineer; and C. B. Smith, Consulting
Engineer.
Wonderland Opened by the T. and N.O.
When this road was projected no one could have foretold
the Wonderland it was to open up. A few villages and sparse
settlements had been pioneered, by way of Lake Temiskaming,
but so little were they known that Farr s pamphlets seemed to tell
of a vague land away off toward the unknown north. But scarce
a year had passed from the date of the contract for its building,
when riches were discovered so vast that the head of a Crcesus
might have been turned by them. From that day till now the
country for nearly 250 miles has been so rapidly filled up by
miners and settlers and town builders, that a journey throughout
its length seems but a journey through an old country. The
silver mines at Cobalt 103 miles from North Bay promise to be
yea are the greatest in all the world, while the lands to the
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 75
north of Cobalt to the end of the line, save occasional mineral
belts, are rich in grain producing qualities. And where were two
hamlets, are now six thriving towns Latchford, Cobalt, Hailey-
bury, New Liskeard, Englehart, and McDougall (Matheson)
Chutes, and a half-dozen or more stations surrounded by busy
farm-developers. Oh! it s a great country that the T. and N.O.
has opened up, and yet hundreds of townships, rich in mineral,
timber and farm lands, lie untouched, and should the Government
wisely extend the line to James Bay, the predicter in his wildest
dreams could not picture the wealth that must be brought in
touch with ready markets.
Picturesque T, and N.O.
I have but spoken of the material wealth. There is a wealth
of beauty, in lake, stream and woodland, to which I cannot do
justice, try as I may. Vast lakes, till recently only known to
the wild Indian, the trapper and the hunter, now teem with the
pleasure yachts and boats of the leisure rich, while beautiful
steamers carry the hurried tourists who are finding in the great
northland that which they once sought in far away Switzerland.
And but say, I ve got to stop right here. Once I get well
started talking about the country up there, along the picturesque
T. and N.O., it s hard to tell when I d get back to finish up the
history of North Bay. I went up last year in May for a month,
and didn t get back till January, and then only got to see part of it.
Some day, when I ve a year to spare, I m going again, as I tell
you it s worth while. A great country and this is the Gateway.
TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILWAY
The Transcontinental Railway, which is building (247 miles
north of here) under a Government Commission, with one of the
most able men of Canada (S. N. Parent, of Quebec, pleasant
memory) as Chairman, has its office for the immediate district
above, in North Bay. I give here the Office Staff, since that is
the road s only connection in town: District Engineer, A. G.
76 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Macfarland; Assistant, J. Aylen; Accountant, C. D. Devlin;
Assistant, W. A. Nelles; Draughtsmen, O. Krumm, W. H. Robin
son, C. A. Everett, W. B. Hutchison, A. Estelle; Sec y, R.
Peachy. Others: Miss A. L. Quinn, R. P. Strickland, and C. A.
Christa.
North Bay is the point to which all supplies must come for
construction work for reshipment, via the T. and N.O. Railway,
for the building of hundreds of the miles of this great National
Railway. As before mentioned, the T. and N.O. is just now
finishing its line to Cochrane, the new town on the Transconti
nental.
A RAILROAD STRIKE
They told me*that a railroad strike was "on" in North Bay.
It was conducted in so quiet and orderly a manner that I had
never known it had I not been told. The men behaved most
commendably, and when the strike was finally settled, most
of them went back to their places as though from a two months
holiday. This, in a railroad town, is most remarkable, and
speaks volumes for the strikers.
RAILWAY BOYS STORIES
North Bay started a railroad town, and a railroad town it has
remained. Some of its foremost citizens came with the road,
and to them the "snap" and "go" of the place is greatly due.
Like all such towns, I find its early history chuck full of good
stories "when the boys had to make their own fun," as one of
the j oiliest of them said, one day, when I asked about " old times"
and the stories of those "times."
Blew Up the Store
"Say," he began, "some of us, I guess, must have been ter
rors. We turned everything into fun. We did then what we d
now tan our own boys for even thinking of doing. You ve no
doubt heard tell of Old Stoney ? It was awful the way we used
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 77
to treat Stoney! I mind one night one of the boys brought in
some fog caps - -you know the kind we put on the rail in case of
danger or wanting to warn trains. We dropped into Stoney s,
where we used to gather of a night big crowds of us. Now, at
that time he had a stove big enough to hold a four-foot stick, and
being cold, he used to have it loaded. This night, I mind, we
did the loading. Everybody was sitting round telling or listen
ing to stories, when Big Bill says to me quietlike Chuck em
in! I says, No, you chuck em, and Big Bill he takes the
caps, opens the stove door and chucks em. Say, you ought o
seen that crowd scatter! They couldn t get out quick enough.
Them caps went off, knocked that four-foot stove galley west and
spread fire chunks all over the floor. Mad say, you ought o
heard Stoney!
"What did he say?" I asked.
What did he say? He said oh, by the way, what do you
want this for?"
"A book I m writing," said I.
: That settles it; I can t tell you what Stoney said. It
would never do to print; in fact, it would melt the type!" and I
never learned.
Mean Tricks Sandy and the Fireflies
It s a downright shame the way some of the boys up here on
the T. & N.O. used to treat the innocent foreigners, during its
construction, who came out to make an honest living. Wait till
I tell you about that young Scotchman. He wasn t used to things
a la Canadian, and, as the boys say, was "oh, so easy." A. R.
McDonald had about 200 tons of baled hay at Red Water Station.
The ground about was a bit low and the fire-flies were thick.
Sandy saw them, and rushing to the office, told Mulligan, the
Chief Clerk, that the sparks from the forest fires were lighting
thick on the hay. Mulligan, like all of his name, was a born
jollier, and taking in the situation, handed Sandy two pails and
said: " Go quick and save that hay!" And all night long the poor
78 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
fellow carried water from the lake. Next morning he came in to
breakfast with: "Chief, I saved er!" Now, what do you think
o that ?
A New Hair Restorative
This same Sandy complained that his hair was falling out.
Ted recommended " two ounces of spruce gum, dissolve in 16
ounces of warm water. Use morning and evening for a week."
Then Ted hurried up the line. Before the end of the week
Sandy had to have his head shaved and start a new crop.
The Judge s Son and the New Brand of
Chicken Feed
A Judge s son from Montreal was about as "easy" as Sandy.
At Boston, now Dane, they had some more hay. This hay was
good and mouldy in fact, it was crumbly with age. Now, the
youth had an eye to making a turn in business, so he told Mulligan :
" Say, Chief, the horses won t eat this hay, and I ve been thinking
it might make good chicken feed."
"Best in the world," said the chief. "Wonder if the boss
would care if I sold it ? "
"No, he wouldn t care, as it s useless as horse feed."
" Then I m going to make a little stake on the side. I ll sell
it to the farmers down the line." And putting up a wagon-load,
he started down the line toward Heaslip, nearly 30 miles, to sell
his "chicken feed." The farmers, "catching on : to the joke,
passed him on from one to another, until he came to one old fellow
who couldn t have seen a joke in a minstrel show, who told the
boy how he d been played for a spring fish, then he drove back
and quit railroading.
FISH STORIES I SAW THE RING WITH MY
OWN EYES
If I were to give you all the odd things the fish up here do,
you d sure say I was "telling fish tails." But, then, the fish are
so many and big that they are liable to do anything.
Being so particular about my stories, I ll give you only a few
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 79
authentic ones. Tom Reynolds was fishing one day, and lost a
valuable gold ring dropped it into the lake off the boat. A
year after Robt. Conning found the ring in a big fish. Tom proved
his property by his initials. I know this to be true, for I saw the
ring with my own eyes Tom showed it to me.
Heard this before? " Don t doubt it. I m not the first
to tell it.
Went About Tagged A Fishing-line Story
A fishing party went down the French River, one day last
summer, from Sturgeon Falls. A young lady of the party, while
sitting at the other end of the boat, carelessly let a big fish come
right up and take her hook, line and a piece of shingle she used
for wrapping the line on. Yes, that fool fish went off down the
river with the whole outfit. He went up and down the river for
eight months with that hook, line and tag the tag with "E. C.
Clarke" written or cut in on the side, and one day, seeing another
hook he, hungering for variety, picked it up. This time John F.
was at the other end of the line and took Mr. Fish in out of the
wet. Here he d been going up and down, summer and winter,
with that line. I didn t see the line, but I did see John F., and
he said it was so.
Colonel Hall and His Trained Fish
Colonel Hall is an ideal fisherman. He never kills or keeps a
single fish more than he wants for his next meal. He may sit by the
hour and fish, but back into the water goes the catch.
Don t know how true it is, but they do say that the Colonel
has his fish trained, so that when he has company they bite and
"show off in great form. I could almost believe this, for one
fine evening the Colonel and I were sitting on a log at his special
fishing waters, down the French, and in an hour we had caught
thirty-six fish. They must have been trained those fish of Col.
Hall s for of those thirty-six fine big fish, only four would risk
my hook, the rest taking his, for they knew he d throw em back
-had done it so often before that they could trust him. But I
80 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
was new to them, and only four would trust me. I threw them
back though, I am that tender-hearted that I didn t want to keep
the poor things. Besides, the Colonel said if I didn t throw them
back that there would be things doing," and the Colonel, you
know, is a large man. Yes, I wanted to throw every one of those
four fish back into the river, and I did it too I m so tender to
ward fish and dumb animals! and especially so when a large
Colonel says I must be.
A 190-Pounder
Some of the stories are big, and so are the fish. John O Neil,
in 1904, caught a sturgeon in the lake that weighed 190 Ibs. It
took three men to land it. So Phelps says.
"That s nothing," says Tom R. "Why, you should hear Sam
Huntington tell fish stories. Heard Sam telling some Yankees,
one day, of a maskalonge he d caught, weighing 23 pounds.
When he went to dress it he found, inside, a pike weighing 27
pounds." I guess everybody is right, for they all tell me: : Say,
you should have come to North Bay when Sam was here."
FUN-WITHAL THEY HAD FUN IN THOSE DAYS
The stories and reminiscences of the early days, when North
Bay was but a few cabins and a promise, would fill a book, and
then some more. Nearly every pioneer I meet there are jiot
many of them left very soon is heard to say: That reminds
me," and often follows a story or bit of reminiscence quite worth
the saving.
The First Concert, Aug. 28, J885
Twas on the Hazel B. I got a few of the old boys to talk
ing. One of them had been here off and on- " since the iron
hit the town," and on this day he had seen the French River
for the first time. As I ve often told you, the Canadian is so
surrounded by beautiful things, that he may live beside what
another might cross the ocean to see, and never once look upon
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 81
it. And especially is this true, if the seeing require an extra
effort. "That reminds me," said Jim, "of the first concert we
had in town. Must tell you. The Mackey House was just
building. Before the partitions were placed, you must know
there was a fair big room. Bill, there, was boss of affairs that
night, stage manager, musical director, bouncer , in short,
Bill was the Poo Bah of that concert all but the singin - -Bill
can t sing, and never could. Things was goin fine. Every one
of the performers was gettin the hand to the echo. Only
one thing bothered Bill. Just down in front where the bald-
headed row would be in a regular play-house, was old Stoney,
enjoying it all to the limit. He was most effusive in his enjoy
ment, so much so that to keep him in bounds Bill kept shaking
his fist threat ningly from behind the curtain. At each shake
of the fist Stoney would move out of range, then Bill d find a
new view and threatened the hands. All this went on till Stoney
got clear over to the wall and couldn t move, another inch. He
couldn t move and yet he wouldn t stop his loud expressions of
enjoyment. Finally he shook a fist back at the Poo Bah of the
night. To Hill wid yees, Bill Bowcher. O won t be moovin
anuther inch far yees an awl yeer Bares so dthare! - and he
didn t."
44 Silas Kept on Preaching "
From "Stoney" to preacher may be a long step, but one of
the circle took the step when another mentioned Rev. Silas
Huntington. " Great old man. I mind one day he was preach
ing down the line in a box car. Two big navvies took excep
tions to his theology, and began making a disturbance. Come,
boys, said Silas, you must not disturb the meeting. But
they persisted. They were sitting opposite, along the impro
vised seats, down toward the other end from the pulpit (an empty
barrel up-ended). The good man started down toward them,
and when opposite collared one in each hand, and dropped them
out the door never once stopping in his sermon, but went right
on as though he wasn t doing things to those two navvies."
6
82 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Must have been pretty strong," I couldn t help commenting.
"Strong?" Why man, he was a giant. Once down to
Merrickville, on the Rideau they tell it for a fact he wrote
his name on the wall while holding at arm s length a 56 pound
weight with his little ringer.
"His son Sam was a chip off the block, only Sam wasn t
much on preaching. He would have been a better novelist,
his imagination was that strong. Say, Sam never once got
stuck in the middle of a converse for the want of facts. No,
Sam went right on talking, regardless."
Let the Car Go Down the Siding
"Speakin o Silas," said another, "do y mind, boys, the
night he was preachin in the car run in on the sidin from the
main line? Y mind how the track ran sort o up hill in the
stone quarry up there where Main street is now? Well, as I
was sayin , the old man was in the middle of his dee-scourse
when all at once the car gin to run down hill, somebody havin
let off the brake. It got to goin faster an faster, but Silas he
never stopped preachin for a minute, but went right on, as
though in the finest church you ll find in town to-day. You
see, the ole man had faith in the boys. He knew they was chock
full o mischief, but he knowed that they wouldn t hurt a hair
o his head, and would have made it warm for anybody else who
did. No, sir, he never stopped, but th car did away down
on the main line, at the aige of town. An when he had finished
and we d all sung th doxology, we got out and walked back,
he never sayin a word bout the ride that was throwed in with
th sermon. I guess everybody in town loved th ole man, re
gardless."
Judge Doran
Somebody mentioned Judge Doran, and I very soon found
that he was another of the early favorites. Story after story
followed his name, everybody being "reminded."
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 83
He Wanted to Join the Masons
After one of the boys got through laughing at something
that had come into his mind, he began: "Th Judge was as full
o fun as the next one, but he d make us pay for it if we went
too fur with our fun. Boys, remember old Henderson, who
wanted to be a Mason? No? Well, the old man used to
wonder what we did o night down to Stoney s. We told|him
that Mulligan an some other o us Masons had lodge meeting
an he wanted to jine, right off, so that he could have fun too.
Well, we told him to come down to Stoney s th next meetin
night an we d netiate him. He was there on time, an th fun
started in wild. It was awful cold outside, but hotter than pep
per indoors, for we d heated th ole stove red. As we wanted
t netiate him proper, an not takin a full suit o clothes on t y
do it, we got him ready, placed him in front o the stove back
wards, an th Master called out, in a tone that would be fine
for a graveyard at midnight an said: Take one step forward.
Now take two steps backwards. Well, sir, when the old Judge
heard about this netiatin next day, he ups an made ev ry one o
us chip in an pay th doctor s bill, and made us keep it up too
until Henderson was clear well and strong again. Yes, th old
Judge liked fun, but he drawed the line on netiatin folks down
to Stoney s, an makin em take too many steps back ards."
IN TIMBERING DAYS
North Bay is in the midst of what was once a great timber
country. E. Varin, father of the Sheriff, took out timber
at Lake Talon, in 1859 ; his depot was at the chute at Boom
Lake, near Mattawa. He died in 1865. His limits were sold
same year to David Moore, who sold to Isaac Moore, and Baxter
Cutler. James Johnson the same year started to lumber at
Amable du Fond. After his death his nephew Robert took
up the business. He was later drowned and his limits were sold
84 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
to Thomas and Charles Smith in 1871. The limits came up to
Trout Lake.
Duncan Sinclair, a surveyor, had a 5 mile limit in which
is now North Bay. It was he who laid out a trial line up the
Mattawa and Nipissing, later taken by the C.P.R. for its present
route.
In 1869 he sold to Edw. V. Wright, who in turn sold to David
Moore, who added a 21 mile limit out of the Duchesney Creek
Indian Reserve. This was in 1870. J. R. Booth later added all
of these to his vast limits.
Two men, now prominent in North Bay, were long in the
employ of David Moore. They are Recorder Chas. LaMarche,
and Sheriff H. C. Varin.
"Atty" Cotton and the Wolf Story
One of the widest travelled men in this country was A. F.
Cotton. He came up with W. R. Thistle to examine timber
limits hereabouts in 1872. From here he went all throughout
the upper country, thence to British Columbia and the Yukon.
Being a surveyor he went with the Transcontinental and is with
them now.
Talking with an old pioneer one day he got to telling about
"Atty. "We all called him Atty, not because he was an
attorney no, he was no lawyer, but no lawyer you ever met
could handle facts with greater ease. Facts never bothered
Atty, if they endangered the Interest of a good story. Ever hear
bout the time he was chased by the wolves on Deshaney Crick ?
Ah, that was a thrilling adventure! He was on skates, had been
out looking over a timber limit. All the country was a dense
forest, as far as the eye could reach there was not a break in the
woods. He was gliding along over the smooth ice when far
through the forest he heard the howl of a wolf. Nearer and
nearer came the sound, till looking up to the left, he saw a half-
dozen gaunt grey wolves waiting for him. But by a great burst
of speed he passed them passed them before they could intercept
his coming. On and on he flew with the hungry beasts following.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 85
He was going so fast that veering to the right a half mile further
on he slid up over a hill, where he found a Frenchman hoeing
potatoes. Quick, quick, said Atty, give me that hoe, and
taking it he drove the wolves back into the water where they
were all six drowned. It is claimed from this that Atty was the
original man behind the hoe . "
"Yes," but, says I, "how could he go right up over that
hill?"
"How? Easy enough. Isn t cotton light? Well he just
blew up. No, a little thing like that never bothered Atty if the
wolves were after him."
He was originally from Ottawa, one of the four Cotton boys
who were famous shots in the old Rideau range days back in the
6o s.
I met "Atty" one night at the Queen s. Lawrence being good-
natured allowed a party of us to sit and listen to him. Hours
flew by as if on wings, and well, it was the one night in North
Bay that I did not retire early and yet very early. I never count
time if I can listen to a much travelled man and that is "Atty."
Blind Pigs Union
A good story has just drifted down the line that is quite worth
while. At one of the towns famous for its temperance stric
tures, Blind Pigs, etc., it seems that the law is not doled out
fairly. At least some of the keepers of the aforesaid B-P s say
that it is not doled out fairly, and they have formed a Union
a sort of a Blind Pig Union, B.P.U., and are demanding of the
favored ones that they too come in and be "pulled." "It
ain t fair," is the way they approach the favored. "It ain t
fair for us to have to stand all this pulling while you sell ten
times as much as we, and never once have to put up a cent."
"Don t we? Say, you fellows are slow! You wait to be
pulled and then pay to help to keep up the Government. We
don t wait No! we start in time and pay to help keep up the
Inspectors. Don t pay! Go wan! You fellows make us
tired!"
86 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
" Must Close. It s Illegal to Sell Whiskey
on Election Day
A still better one drifts in from the same direction. They
do say that a prominent License Inspector went round on last
election day to all the Blind Pigs and said: "Boys, you ve got to
close up, it s not legal to sell when votin s goin on." And they
closed.
Knew He Was an Engineer
. Speaking of whiskey. On a certain railroad up here, the
engineer in charge of the surveyors went round one day to visit
the various camps to see how things were running. He came to
a camp where only the cook was "at home." He asked: "Where
is the surveyor in charge?" "Gone up the line," said the cook.
When the surveyor returned he was told: "An engineer called
to see you to-day."
"Who was it?"
"Don t know. He didn t tell me his name. Didn t say a
word but to ask for you."
"Didn t say a word but that? How in heven did you
know he was an engineer?"
"He wore bad clothes and asked for whiskey."
Wanted to Borrow an Axe
Much is said about the calibre of the boys the Government
sends into the woods to protect the forests from fire. Here is
an illustration to the point. One day two "Fire Rangers" (?)
came to the camp of an engineer who was running a line for a
new railroad.
"Awful glad we found you. We want to borrow an axe,"
said the spokesman.
"What! Want to borrow an axe, and you fire rangers?
Out here without the most necessary implement of your trade?"
"We re new to the business, and we didn t know we d need
an axe. Awful glad we found you. Thanks! We just couldn t
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 87
get on without an axe. Government !! pay you for this. Good
bye. Big fire just over the hill," and they went off at a gait that
would bring them to the "conflagration" in an hour or two.
But the boys must have their summer outing.
Do Game Protectors Protect?
I don t propose answering the question. I shall simply
refer to a few items picked up on my rounds, and leave the an
swer for you to give.
Hunters are allowed to kill, in one season, 2 deer, i moose,
2 caribou. One day, down the French River, a man said: I
know of one hunter who boasted of having killed 80 deer last
season." Another told of having passed an Indian s shack,
near which he saw the head of a recently killed deer, in this, the
middle of summer, when no big game is allowed to be even shot
at. I met a game warden who, in speaking of his experience
with hunters and trappers, said: "Say, I never bother the boys.
If they want to trap a few beaver (beaver are not allowed to be
trapped in any season), I don t bother them."
"Does the Government select men as game wardens whom
they know to be honest and trustworthy, or are they heelers
who must be given a job?" I don t know ask the Government.
They are appointed to see that the game laws are enforced, and
if the game laws were enforced there would not be a scarcity
of big game in a year or two after any new section is opened.
One man down the French said: "When I first came here ten
years ago, I could count in a day as many as 70 deer. Now it
is seldom that I see one in a week." This man, in all that time,
had killed but two deer.
If the Government paid less attention to politics and more
to the real good of its people, there would be many interests
better conserved. But it s not my affair, and yet in much praise
of the good I see, I cannot but drop an occasional criticism of
the wrong, and the so-called protection of game comes under
the wrong, for there is no protection in many sections.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
RJ.P. THEY HAVE A CARE
I have so often remarked the care the people of Canada have
for each other. No matter how poor the fellow, if he take it into
his head to die, the folks will see that he gets decently planted.
And thereby hangs one of the good stories of the town.
One day a citizen passing the hovel of a well-known character,
back in the country a few miles, on looking through the window
saw him (the w.k.c.) lying face down. He tried to arouse him,
but it wasn t his day for being aroused. He would have gone in,
but a faithful dog standing over the body of his master would not
allow it. "Ah, he s sure dead this time!" said the citizen, after
making noise enough to have raised an ordinary "Lazaru^."
Hurrying to town he reported the death and at once set about
collecting money to bury "poor old - Everybody "chip
ped in," as all are very kind, and the undertaker went out with a
coffin for the body. In about an hour the procession (one waggon
and a lot of small boys) came into town the. "body" sitting
astride the coffin waving "its" hat and singing out "Hear ye!
Hear ye! Funeral has been postponed. I love ye all too well
to leave ye so soon in yer grief."
Yes, everybody has a care! These good folk had "chipped
in" for the coffin, and doubtless would have furnished the monu
ment too with "R. I. P. " chipped out, as they do seem to want
all to "Rest in Peace" when once they leave town.
Another version of the story is that the subject of this sketch
has so great an antipathy against "drink" that when they went
after him he refused as he said to be buried by " a lot o drunken
loafers," and so put it off. And now the folks say that next time
they ll send teetotallers. It will not cost so much next time as
they have the coffin on hand.
Bailiff Coleman
Bailiff Coleman Constable Coleman, or as he is better
remembered, just plain " Coleman," was one of the early char
acters of North Bay and vicinity. He was a sort of a village
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 89
Poo Bah. If a man was to be arrested for what he himself had
thought of doing, Coleman would arrest him. If he had not
thought of doing the thing, and Coleman thought he should have
thought of doing it, Coleman would arrest him on general prin
ciples. If he Coleman brought a prisoner to the Squire for
trial, and the Squire was off fishing that day, he d "try" him
himself, fine him, and pocket the fees and costs.
If neighbors were living too peaceably together, and there
was too little doing, Coleman would go to one and tell him what
another neighbor had said about him, and when the fellow was
properly wrought up and said things, he Coleman would
carry the word to the innocent neighbor, who d never thought of
speaking ill of anybody, but now, being maligned for no cause,
would become mad "all through," and well, inside of a few
days there was trouble a heap, and ten to one Coleman would
get busy, arrest the two, "try" the case, fine em both, then
like as not read them a lecture on living together in peace and
harmony.
He always carried the " papers" with him and unlike a plumber,
he never had to go or send back to the "shop" for "tools. If it
was a summons he filled in the blanks and issued it; if a writ, a
pen soon made it ready, and so on. One day, down in Callander,
he found that a railroad employee was about to leave the job
and country. He told Morrison. Morrison says, "Hurry to
North Bay and get out papers, for he owes me $40."
"Don t need to got em here," and inside of an hour or two,
Morrison s claim was safe, and he got his money. In this way
Coleman was a benefit to the community.
They tell a good story on Geo. Fee, who had Coleman serve
papers of ejectment on a squatter on his Fee s land down
east of town. The fellow showed fight, and refused to go. George
being a peaceable sort proposed a compromise, and paid the
tenant $85 if he d go without trouble. He went, then George
found, on a survey, that he d paid the $85 to get the fellow to
get off somebody else s land, as the squatter had not been on
his at all.
90 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Don t know why Coleman left town, but he went quick, one
day, and never came back. Some say he couldn t come back
from Mich., where the State did a little "issuing" on its own
account, and in the end, the one-time North Bay Poo Bah had to
serve a fifteen years term.
Old Jim Hockebonc
"Speaking of characters," said the old citizen, "have you
heard of Jim Hockebone? Haven t? Well Jim mustn t be
skipped. Don t know much about his early history further than
that he was originally from Pembroke an old shantyman and
river pilot. Used to go down to Quebec with rafts of logs. He
took up a lot on Trout Lake, somewhere in the 8os, and lived
there all alone. He made a clearing, built a shack, and farmed
a little. He d work all summer, then in winter would bring
his crop* to North Bay on a sled over the snow and ice, sell
it, then go back to hermiting till next year.
"Poor old Jim was very superstitious, and believed firmly
in ghosts. Why one so fearful of the supernatural should live
alone I never could understand, but alone he lived. In fact,
he would hardly allow any one to visit his lot, for, as he d say,
they want to steal my timber. He threatened to kill a North
Bay man one day, and was arrested, sent to Toronto, where
they kept him for six months. They finally let him out, and he
came home, but soon after died of cancer."
Icetown
Every country has its hermits, some more, some less. North
Bay seems to have had more than its share. Wonder why!
Can t be that in seeking out a lonely place they came here, for
I ve found the town anything but lonely in fact, so much the
opposite, that if one but stay here a while, one gets into the
habit, and can hardly "break away." Went down to Icetown
one day, and was actually lonesome to get back again from that
"loneliville," where the people are so in love with themselves
that a stranger feels himself frozen out. I wondered why, and
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 91
asked a citizen one day: "Why are you people not more cordial? 5
"Why? Well, you see so many of us are from England and
Scotland, and we are a bit clannish."
"Then you ought to have stayed in England and Scotland,"
said I, "and saved Icetown from being looked upon as a town
without a heart," and he got real "riled" at me for being truth
ful. Before I ever saw this city I had a most kindly feeling
toward the people. They were so cordial all those I had met
away from Home and made me like both them and their city.
But when I got there well, they all seemed to be recent arriv
als from England and Scotland -- from the provincial parts
of those lands. They have a pretty city, but one is not given
to like a place for its streets alone. I have loved some old town
with not a beautiful natural feature in it, but with a people so
sweet and congenial that I can never forget the place, and ever
think of it with kindness, and visit and re-visit it with joy.
The Hogmantoria Act
In a new country they have new laws. If the Parliament
neglect to make one to fit the case, the new country is never at
a loss to handle it. However true this may be, I ve run across
an entirely new act, one that I warrant that even you have
never before heard of. But to its application. In the very
early days a prisoner was brought before two local magistrates.
I forget just what the charge was, but it was only some such
trifling offence as burning down a house, stealing a horse or
well, no matter, houses were cheap and horses of the sort that
the fewer one had the better off one was.
Now be it remembered that the magistrates in those days
were not renowned for their knowledge of law, and when this
case came up before the younger of the two, he hurriedly con
ferred with his senior.
"What am I to do?" he asked.
"Fine him five dollars and let him go."
"Yes, but I can t find any act covering the case, and we ve
got to do this thing legal."
92 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
"Oh, go on, fine him!" exclaimed senior, who was busy that
day, and didn t want to be bothered with trifles.
"Yes, but under what act?"
"The Hogmantoria, or the unwritten law, and make it five
dollars and costs." And the " Hogmantoria " it was, with costs
enough to cover the supper for two. Things are different now.
"How different?" you ask.
"I don t know. It s all owing to the amount taken. If
$10, you get two years if thousands well, as I said, it s all
owing to the amount taken. I know one who stole millions,
and he got a high seat in the House, with big "pickings" for
his friends. Moral: Don t be small in your takings; for the
"Hogmantoria" may not cover your case.
That was in the early days. It s different now, which re
minds me of the present
North Bay Justice
I could not but note instances of wise decisions made by
magistrates in cases that came up before them while I was in
town. Some of them were full of nice technicalities that might
have been made reason of extended litigation. But the magis
trates seemed to say by their acts, "We ll decide on this thing,
and then we ll talk over the technicalities afterward." They
did not allow justice to suffer, but Solomon-like let common sense
govern. I would that the world had more North Bay magis
trates, and there would soon be fewer technicalities and more
justice and less litigation.
THE OLD LIGHTHOUSE-KEEPER OF CALLANDER
"Not all of the philosophers are holding down chairs in col
leges. Some of the wise old fellows are found in the most out-
of-the-way places." And when Ticknor said this, I knew I
was going to get a story, and said: "True you are," and then
waited for the story.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 93
"I ve been coming to Lake Nipissing and the French River
for many years fifteen years ago, I think it was when I first
found this delightful summering place. In that time, I guess
I must have met all of the characters of these parts. Of the
number, the most interesting of all was the old lighthouse-keeper
of Callander. He sure was a character a regular hermit in
both inclination and reality, for he saw but few, and cared not
to see many of them. His name was Wessel Steve Wessel.
He had little to do, but did that little well. During the season
when the lake was open for navigation, he never once missed
the lighting of his lamp for eighteen years. Always on duty.
In calm as well as on stormy nights the boatmen were sure to
see the Callander light across the lake.
"The old man had a few cows, but never milked them, and
here was where his philosophy was most marked. Why should
I go to the trouble of milking? he would say. Why bother,
when the calves can do it so much better, and they don t look
upon it as a bother, while getting fat and sleek on the milk.
People work and work and work, and bother and trouble over
things that the calves can attend to so much better. I get
little pay, but enough to live upon. The millionaires gets no
more, and neither of us can take anything along when we go.
The millionaires have worries I have none. I light my lamp
and my duty is done for the night. Men go through life hunting
in all ways for contentment; they spend their days and nights
going up and down seeking in vain for what I find right here
without a care. And thus the old man lived, happy and con
tent, up to three years ago, when he passed quietly away.
"He did his duty in a quiet way few of us will have done
more when our time has come to follow him. I often think of
his philosophy. We struggle for more than we need, and often
in our struggle prevent others from getting what they must have
to exist, and then we wonder why we are not happy. If more
of us would let the calves do the milking, we d find the con
tentment that came to the old lighthouse-keeper of Callander
on the Nipissing."
94 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
" HELLO ! LITTLE GIRL"
"Hello!" she said to me, and I said, "Hello, little girl!"
and then we were acquainted, and after that she always said
"Hello!" as I passed. That was the extent of her part of the
conversation. It was the only word she had yet learned, for she
was very, very young. Only the very, very young girls of North Bay
say hello to me as I pass. And then I met her father and got a
good story a railroad man s story. Oh, such a horrible ^story
it was, showing the terror of a railroad man s life! Yes," said
he, "I m thankful to be alive. I m the only one of the crew.
All the others were killed, down there by Moore s Lake; Jim,
one of the best men I ever knew, the messenger, the baggageman,
a brakesman, and his father all killed, and I m the only one
left. Then the engineer and fireman on the other engine were
killed too seven in all. You see, Jim was the engineer, and^I was
the fireman on a passenger going east. We had the right o way,
and were not thinking to meet anything on our time. But fate
had planned differently. There was another engineer un
lucky man ! He had had two bad accidents and had to have the
third. It was his last. His fate sent him out with a light engine
(engine with no train). It told him that he could make the next
siding if he would go fast, and he threw open the throttle and
came like the wind. What happened, or rather how it happened,
I never knew, when I came to my senses I was in a Pullman with
the doctors standing over me. When the engines met Jim was
at his post faithful Jim! The brakesman had been in a wreck
the week before and had both legs cut off. He was being taken
by his father to Montreal to the hospital. Both were killed.
All seven gone and I m the only one alive. Yes, a railroad man
earns all he gets. He never knows when he bids his loved ones
good-bye, if he will ever see them again." And then he threw
his arms around my little "Hello" girl and kissed her lovingly.
The Wee Little Boy A Life Sketch
Not two blocks away I used to pass another house. It wasn t
a fine house, and the tenant wasn t a rich man and yet he was
a very happy man, for a little face peeped out at him as he went
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 95
off to his work in the morning and greeted him again in the
evening on his return. Then, of a Sunday, the two were out
together, the happy father and the wee little boy sometimes the
mother too was along the whole family, for he was all they had.
Often I d see him at his play the wee little boy. One day I did
not see him, and another day I did not see him, then day after
day I saw no little boy in the yard. A week passed and I saw
white crape oh, so very, very white hanging from the door,
and then I knew. And now I never see any wee little boy playing
in the yard, and a home is desolate, for he was all they had.
Dan A Hero
Not all the heroes die in battle. Every village, town, and
city has its hero. Some of them go through life unknown, un
noted, and at the very end do that which ennobles them for time.
One day I was being told of the beautiful Trout Lake, that lies
some four miles to the east of North Bay, when the citizen to whom
I was listening said: "And here died one of our heroes. The
wife and mother had gone to spend the night to nurse a sick
neighbor. Dan got up early to do the work, first building the fire
before going to feed the stock. Looking out from the barn he
saw his he. me on fire. He rushed back and into the house to
arouse his sleeping children, and through the seething flames he
went and came until all were out but one. By this time the whole
building was a mass of red the neighbors who had gathered
begged of Dan not to go back for, said they, the child is dead by
now nothing could be alive in that! What! leave my
there? and into the furnace he ran. Neither was ever seen
alive again. He gave his life for his child. Dan was a hero.
I never stand upon the site of the burned home but that I feel
that I am on sacred ground."
A Noble Character
The world is not all selfish. There are some noble exceptions
one of them lives here. I like to tell about the exceptions.
It makes the rest of the world a little better to know of them.
96 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
He is humble and retiring he has given his whole life for others.
First he looked after his old father and mother as long as they
lived, and then he brought back and gave a home to his widowed
sister and her family looking after them with all the loving care
that he could have given were they his own. Educating the
children and bringing them up in comfort and refinement-
shielding them from the buffets of the world. He has never
married, but has spent his life for others. Noble man !
To Mother
Not all of the children s stories are sad. Some of them are
sweet and full of real heart life. One evening I had gone to a
home to get a bit of information. No one knows what it is to
hunt out the stories of a town. Neither do you know the real
joy that sometimes comes to me in the search.
At this home were many children gathered. As we went
from piazza to parlor, I noted a wee pup scampering through the
folding doors, and saw the wreck which that wee pup had left
behind. Little Eva running to a ruined box hurriedly picked
it up and ran from the room, and then I heard her crying as
though her little heart would break. For a long time she would
not tell tfie reason of her grief. But the loving mother s " Do not
cry, Eva!" soon dried the tears, and then we knew the why.
To-morrow was mamma s birthday, and little Eva had saved up
her pennies and had had the baker make a beautiful cake, and on
the top place the words, "To Mother," and that awful pup had
found the box, and if you re acquainted with pups you know
the rest. But he had not reached the letters, and when Eva
brought in the wreck and the mother saw those two little words,
her heart was touched, and no cake to her was ever before so
welcome a gift, and gathering to her arms her loved one there
soon was sunshine in the eyes where so recently there had been
tears.
The rest of the children her own and some of their little
friends, could not wait for the morrow, since Eva s gift was known,
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 97
and soon the birthday remembrances were being showered upon
the delighted mamma.
As I saw that beautiful picture I could not but exclaim: : Oh,
how happy you should be! I had a birthday this week, and no
one remembered it."
44 I ll Div oo a Tiss "
At this, one of the little girls looked up and said in oh such
sweet, questioning words: "Didn t oo dit anyfing for oor birfday?
I m so sorry. I m doin to div oo a tiss! " and running across
she gave to me that which many presents could not have made
me so happy in receiving.
No, all of the children stories are not sad, some of them are
sweet, and full of real heart life. Oh how I love the little folk!
MESSENGER BOYS
One of the characteristics of the towns of this upper country
is that you can see the telegraph messenger boys move can
actually see them get over ground as though they were alive.
I remarked the fact that they never loiter by the way to play
"marbles" or to talk about games of ball. No, they always
deliver despatches the same day they reach the office. It s so
different down home. There our boys seem to have everything
in the world to do but deliver their telegrams, until it has grown
to be an adage: "As slow as a messenger boy." You wonder
why this is. I ll tell you. The messenger boys up here are all
girls, and as bright a lot of little creatures as you ever saw. They
start off with a message and never stop a moment on the way,
and never want a half-day off, "to bury their grandmothers."
They re all right!
North Bay Newsboys
While in some of the towns of this country the Newsboy is
only conspicuous by his absence here he is one of the institutions
of the town, and one of the livest. While half the boys in the
7
98 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
place seem to belong to the "Order of Dailies" from Montreal,
Ottawa and Toronto, some half-dozen of them have each a
Weekly, and no one of them in any way interferes with the others
special paper.
In the illustrations may be seen six of these boys. Beginning
at the left they are: Emmett Bunyan, Utica Globe] Roy Herbert,
Buffalo Times; Joe Bently, Chicago Blade and Ledger; Ralph
Drayton, Bujjalo Express; M. Kelly, Buffalo Courier; Harry
Phelps, Toronto Saturday Night; and Gerald Hodson, who is
not in the picture, being too busy delivering his Saturday Evening
Post, which is here a great favorite.
In the back row of the group is Mr. Wm. D. McDonald, the
Postmaster, and the author of "The Gateway." The beautiful
post office is in plain view.
COURTESY TO THE UNITED STATES
The courtesy and beautiful kindness shown toward our coun
try and our flag, makes me feel sad to know that in a single spot,
in our fair land, like courtesy is not accorded the emblem of these
kindly people. If those who show no respect to the flag loved
by Canadians, could only see ho\v they treat the Stars and Stripes,
never again would anything but the utmost courtesy be vouch
safed the Union Jack.
A Martha Washington Party
One Sunday, in the Methodist Church, Rev. Addison gave out:
"On Thursday evening there w r ill be held, in the lecture room,
a Martha Washington Tea Party." I wondered: "Why, have
they a Martha Washington, too?" I went to the entertainment.
Imagine my surprise to find that they w r ere showing all this honor
to our own beloved "Martha"- -Beautiful! Beautiful!! It made
my heart fairly bubble with joy to see all those sweet little girls,
dressed in " Colonial," paying homage to one whose memory we
so revere.
Can I but love these people? Could you? Nor do I love
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 99
my own the less in loving them the respect shown toward my
own is why I love them more.
Go where you may, on lake, river or mountain, and there may
be seen the Stars and Stripes waving unmolested side by side
with the Union Jack. No one to say to its waving, "Nay!"
This recalls an incident that indicates that we too are getting
into like spirit toward their flag. In one of our great cities, " The
Flags of all Nations was being presented to a vast audience,
gathered for a hospital benefit. Various degrees of enthusiasm
was accorded the flags as they were carried upon the stage. When
England s flag came on, there was a momentary silence, when far
down the centre aisle a grey-haired old man arose in his seat and
cried out:
"Give the Grand Old Flag a Hand"
In a moment that vast audience arose and wildly cheered the flag
which with our own stands for all that s good in all the World
to-day. On hearing this incident, I forgot that I was not a poet.
I forgot all else than that I wanted to preserve the incident, and
herald it abroad, that we do not all fail in respect toward their
emblem. The lines below are not given here for any poetic
merit, but to show the spirit that animated their writing:
The people were wildly cheering,
Fore Britain s flag was shown
The flag which had for centuries
From England s ramparts flown;
But the cheering was for another s
And not for British strand,
When a voice cried out from the stillness:
"Give the grand old flag a hand."
Then up sprang those assembled,
And the cheering rent the air,
The children once of England,
But now her daughters fair,
100 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
Saw in that flag an emblem,
So glorious and grand,
That they uprose, and shouting,
Gave the grand old flag a hand.
That flag which had for centuries
Stood only for the right,
Must share the daughter s love-
Must share it here to-night.
And when the voice, far down the aisle,
Cried out as in command,
They rose and wildly cheering,
Gave the grand old flag a hand.
And when again the curtain rose,
The Nations flags waved high-
The flags of all the Nations
Were pointing toward the sky;
But two there were rose o er the rest,
They rose as in command,
And shouting loud that multitude
Gave the grand old flags a hand.
VEGETATION ITS RAPID GROWTH
I have often remarked the rapid growth of vegetation in New
Ontario. One day, in passing R. Bunyan s seed store, I
saw a stock of corn raised by G. S. Souter which, in seven
weeks from planting, had grown eleven feet and six inches.
All throughout town are gardens whose vegetable growth I
have rarely seen equalled anywhere. I saw and measured
potato vines in Thomas Walsh s garden that were over four
feet long, and two hills filled a large pail. I weighed a potato,
grown on one of John Ferguson s farms, near town, that tipped
the balance a few ounces less than two pounds.
One thing that would have once tickled the very cockles of
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 101
my heart was to see how planted or sowed seed could beat the
weeds could actually get started before the weeds could choke
them off. Now, down in Ohio it seems in retrospect we
used to have to begin hoeing corn and potatoes and things, the
very minute the seeds were in the ground, and then in the end
mow the weeds with a scythe in order to gather the crop. Yes,
nothing seemed to grow fast down there but weeds. Is it any
wonder I grew tired of farming and went to book-making ? Had
I lived up here, guess I would have been a farmer yet, raising
big pumpkins, and corn and green things instead of writing about
them. But I m too old to go back to first principles, so must go
on writing green things and of them.
North Bay is too young to have many fine gardens and lawns.
They have all been too busy building a big town. And yet all
over town I saw lawns worthy of commendation, such as those of
Purvis, McKenzie, Whetmore, Browning, Sagadore, Rorabeck,
Beggs, La Marche, Morris, Ferguson, Ranney, Souter, Bishop,
Martin, Lidkea, a number around Worthington and Wyld streets,
and many others worthy of near-mention. Some of them run
specially to flowers, more particularly those of the pioneer post
master, Wm. McDonald, F. Biggs, and others.
A Proposed Plan or Suggestion as Incentive for
Pretty Grounds
In Ottawa, Lady Minto started the citizens to beautifying
their grounds. She did it by offering prizes for the best, and
down to the fourth choice. A committee was appointed and
each year examined and passed upon the gardens and lawns
and at the end of the season the prizes were awarded. It set
the whole city to paying more attention to the growing of flowers
than it had ever before, until now, one might be dropped into
the Capital, and if he did not know where he was he might sure
think that he was in a California city, so beautiful are some
of the flower gardens and well-kept lawns.
The Minto plan had one great drawback. The winner of
102 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
the first prize being an old bachelor, and with little else to do but
tend his garden and run for Mayor, always won out that is, he
won the lawn prize. Others became discouraged and dropped
out, as, said they, " What s the good ? - will win any
how! 1 Now I will propose another plan, and to give it a name
I shall call it
The North Bay Plan for the Beautifying
of Grounds,"
since it will be carried out here for the first time. At any rate
North Bay is offered it. First, appoint a chairman, who in turn
appoints a committee of three disinterested persons, either ladies
or gentlemen, whose duty it shall be to examine and pass upon
the best all-round lawn in town, and also which four others come
next. To the one having the best, a prize (cup or whatever may
have been put up by some citizen or citizens) will be given, or
rather loaned for the following year, to be handed over to the
next successful contestant, the winner, year after year, being
placed upon "The Honor List," and thereafter being ineligible
to ever after compete. In this way, if kept up long enough, all
will have a chance to win. Those upon the honor list will, in
honor, see that their own grounds are always kept up to the
standard. After the first year the " Honor Man " will be the chair
man for the next year, with power to appoint the committee,
placing if he will act the retiring "Honor Man" upon the
committee, which, after four years, will make the committee all
from the list of winners the chairman always being the re
tiring man of the previous year.
Further: In a large blank book will be kept a full record of
the yearly competition, and in that, placed a photograph of
the winner and his home, making it in years to come an in
valuable part of the town s history.
This plan would have been carried out this year had it been
proposed in time, and sure will be looked after next year, the
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 103
committee having already been selected. Of this committee the
Inspector of Schools, Mr. J. B. McDougall, is Chairman for next
year. Mr. Gerald C. Thompson has offered a valuable silver cup
as the prize.
The professional men of a town or city can do much toward
its betterment, in looks as well as in its morals. We ever look
for the best examples from the preachers. Do we always get
them? Too many of them put their flowers into their sermons
and let their grounds run to weeds.
Forestry
Nor is it in the field or garden plants alone where is marked
rapid growth. Here may be seen that which should encourage
Canada to begin at once to reforest her barren hills and wasted
plains. In the beautiful grounds of Mr. David Purvis, I counted
no less than thirteen different kinds of native forest trees, all
growing and thriving in the most encouraging way. At the rate
that the timber land is being denuded it will not be long until
Canada is as barren of forests as are some of our own States.
With the exception of the prairies of the West, very little tree
planting is being done. They are always talking about it, but it
goes no further. If they would use a small part of what is re
ceived for the timber and timber dues, in replanting the denuded
lands, they would do well, as ere long there are going to be large
areas with not enough wood for fence posts.
"What s that?" You thought that timber was worth nothing
up here, just because they gave hundreds of square miles of it
away for practically nothing, and that too, in the very part of
the country where they will soon need it the most ? You say that
is not business ? I wonder who ever said it was. It s not business,
just politics. But as the politics don t belong to me I ve nothing
to say. But somehow I find myself always wanting Canada to
do that which is for her own good, and in looking over the Domin
ion, from east to the "Last West," I see no need so great as
that full attention be given to the conservation of her timber.
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PUBLIC BUILDINGS
The public buildings of a town are the best indications of
the kind of men that town contains. " Oh, any thing will do for
them!" is what the M.P. s and the M.P.P. s often think of a
place. "Why?" Simply because the men of that place are all
political "light weights "they don t count. But there are
other places that get what they want, and they want the best.
And they get it, for they count among men of worth. I m not
going to "size up" the men of North Bay. No! I shall just
tell you that the M.P. s in Ottawa gave them a $50,000 post
office, and the M.P.P. s of Toronto are giving them a $60,000
Normal School.
THE WIDE AREA OF MINERAL
" New Ontario is a bed of mineral." When I first heard that
I could not believe it possible. But the longer I stay in this land
of marvels, the more I am compelled to believe it true. Scarce a
week of my sojourn but I heard of " a new find," until it is no
longer a surprise to me to be asked: " Say, have you heard about
that copper find in township?" Sometimes it is "a
copper find," sometimes " a great bed of iron," " a fabulously rich
strike of silver," or "a discovery of gold that will make em all
sit up and take notice." Nobody knows or ever will know what
is buried beneath the rocks of this " Mineralado."
The Vermillion River District
To the northwest of North Bay some 100 miles, there is a
river I d not, until recently, heard of, that heads at the height of
land, and runs southerly through the Temagami Reserve, and the
townships to the south and enters Georgian Bay.
Two North Bay coal men Lindsay and McCluskey were
told of the riches of that country, and going up found and staked
claims of silver and copper in the unreserved, beyond the Proud-
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 105
foot base line, and other claims of copper and lead in Roberts
just beyond the line from Nipissing, in the Algoma District. A
new railroad is building right through the section that must
make rich these enterprising coal men.
The Grand Trunk Mineral Road
As elsewhere, I speak of the branch of the Grand Trunk
railroad that is to run to the northwest from here, to tap the
Transcontinental road. It has been well named the "Mineral
Line," for it will open up a country rich beyond estimate, and not
only in mineral but in timber, with many valleys of grazing and
farming lands. Oh ! Great is New Ontario !
Tragedies of the Forest
The little stories, pathetic incidents, unwritten tragedies,
of a new, wild country always appeals to me in a strange way.
This great northland is full of them. Scarce a section but has
had that, which, if known, would read like the stories of old
Greece. All about Lake Nipissing have been battles, centuries
and centuries ago, when forgotten tribes of Indians fought to
the death amid the forests, long since turned to dust. No rec
ord remains, no historian was there to preserve to us the deeds
of the heroes of those ancient days, and nothing is left to mark
even the battle sites, save the stone arrows which have been
found around the borders of the lakes.
"In your prospecting, you doubtless find many things that
mark the old?" This is a question I often ask of the men who
travel the woods, in search of timber and minerals. I asked it
one day of James Lindsay, who with his partner, McCluskey,
has long prospected the country to the north-west of North Bay,
for mineral, of which as before mentioned they have made
many valuable finds, of copper, iron, silver and gold.
"No," said Jim, "I have seen little of the old, since time so
quickly blots out and covers up the scars on nature. But I
do run across many things that interest me deeply, pathetic little
things, that only by chance meet my observation.
106 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
The Indian Baby Grave
k One day, far up on the Height of Land near the head waters
of the Vermillion River, I came upon the grave of an Indian
baby. A rude little cross marked it a wee birch bark canoe
lay upon the top. The place was very lonely, and nothing
marked the presence of human hand but the poor little grave.
I later learned that the baby was that of a White Fish Indian
mother. Seven years ago the band was passing the spot when
the baby died. Snow covered the ground. Scraping it away,
they scooped out a grave, and without coffin, wrapped the little
one in a ragged blanket, covered it over and left it in the lonely
wood. It was only the grave of an Indian baby, but I shall
never forget the sad feeling that stole over me at the sight.
The Drowned Indian
"In Osowan Lake is a little island, on which I saw another
grave. It was that of an Indian who had been drowned ten
years ago while crossing on the ice one winter. He was crossing
with his squaw, who recovered the body, drew it to the island,
where with her own hands she scooped out a grave, and marked
it with a cross. All winter she stayed there alone, living on
birds and what small game she could snare. In the spring the
band, passing, found her. Only Indians, but their devotion to
their loved ones is often very touching."
NORTH BAY MILITIA
In 1902 a militia company was organized, and now r has a
force of 35. It is Company G of the 23rd Regiment head
quarters Parry Sound. Col. Knifton in command. Officers
of Co. G: Capt. Wm. Milne; First Lieut., G.W. McDonald; Second,
Lieut. Herb. Wallace; Color-Sergt., J. Kirk; Sergts., T. Lodge, L.
Demazie, and C. Pierson.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 107
LITTLE SWEARING
I could not but remark how little the North Bayans depend
upon the vulgar swearing so prevalent in many places. Most of
them can express themselves intelligently and emphatically
without the big round oaths, which the vulgar man thinks so
necessary. Toronto is called the "Goody-Goody" city, and
yet I have heard more swearing there around a billiard table,
in one night, than I heard in all the weeks I was in North Bay,
which leads up to an incident. There is in North Bay a popular
billiard room. One night a young man, who looked like a "de
cent sort," became angry at a poor inanimate ball, which refused
to do his bidding, and he started to swear at it. The proprietor
went at once to him and said: "Young man, I like your patron
age, in fact I need it, but you ll have to stop that swearing, else
I ll have to do without your patronage," and the proprietor made
no pretence of being a "goody-goody" -nor do I, and yet I al
ways think less of a man who swears to make himself look "big,"
when every oath makes him that much smaller. Don t swear!
Be a North Bayan, and we ll all like you better!
THE SHEPHERD COLLECTION OF
RARE COINS
It is possible that in North Bay is the rarest private collec
tion of old Greek and Roman coins in Canada. It is that of
Mr. E. H. Shepherd, genial proprietor of the Queen s Hotel.
For years Mr. Shepherd has been picking up these coins, until
he has several hundreds, and many of them very rare specimens,
some dating back more than two thousand years.
Mr. Shepherd has promised to loan the collection to the Niag
ara Historical Association, which association is doing so much
toward concentrating the many things of value to lovers of the
rare.
108 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
NATIONALITIES OF CANADIAN TOWNS
I have been asked about the nationalities of the people who
go to make up the towns and cities of Canada if they are like
our own, of the United States, and if any one nationality pre
dominates in any particular town. After seven years spent
here, I find that there is very little difference, save, of course,
in the Province of Quebec, where in many whole communities,
none but French Canadians are to be found.
Of these happy people I would speak. They appear to
care so little for what we are given to call progressiveness, that
in many places it is almost wholly absent. They are just as
happy, if not more so, in having enough to eat and wear, and to
pay their duties to the Church of which they are almost, with
out exception, devout members as many another people, who
spend their lives rushing after the illusive coin of the realm, only
to spend it again for other illusives. In places throughout Que
bec, had one visited these good folk when Wolfe was here, and
then gone to sleep, to awaken in this century, he would find him
self quite at home mid surroundings so little changed that he
would not miss the loss of time on waking.
Is this an advantage or a disadvantage? We all seek for
the one thing happiness contentment. The happiest people
in Canada are the French. Others rush and spend their money
for things they look upon as for their own good or for the good
of their community. Are the things for good? The one says,
"Yes," and the money is spent the other says, "No," and lets
the "one" go on spending. The one is not happy the other
is, and especially so if the one will spend enough for the good
of the community. Advancement to them is nothing of good,
if the good costs a dollar.
These are the non-progressionists among the race. Until
recent years the outside world has been wont to look upon them
as representative. They are not representative. There is
another part of the race that is moving along, side by side, with
the most advanced of the country. Some of the best lawyers,
1
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 109
certainly some of the most eloquent statesmen, many of the fin
anciers and business men of Canada are to be found among
the French. In music and in literature, in courtesy and in cul
tured manners, this part most truly hold their own. There is
no Parliament in the Dominion not even the great one at Ot
tawa where the speakers so generally excel, as the one in old
Quebec. I refer not to the spoken words I know not the lan
guage but to the eloquence of their utterance, which is so pleas
ing to listen to. Like mountain brook the words flow musically
along, or like Italian singer whose words we may not know,
and still enjoy his song.
Yes, there are two distinct parts of the race. The one is
content with the things of the past, the other is up and moving
with the tide that is bearing Canada right on toward the front
rank among the progressive nations of the world.
Berlin, Ont.
Aside from these of Quebec, there is no town in the Do
minion where any one particular nationality predominates save
one. This one town is unique in more than in nationality. It
is just emerging from its townhood, and has turned into a small
city. Small only so far as to the number of its population. In
progressiveness it has few equals on either side of the line that
divides the two great countries of America; it is so full of push
and go; so up to the most advanced times; so patriotic toward
the country of adoption of its people; so busy at work in its
seventy-two factories; and all its people so bent upon making
theirs the greatest manufacturing centre in the Dominion, that
unique is the one word most fitting when speaking of the little
city of Berlin, whose citizens, like its name, are nearly all German.
Few places of its population have hotels equal to those of
Berlin. The Walper House most certainly would indicate the
great faith of its builder faith in the future of his city. And
yet it is a big dividend payer, because of the ever-increasing
numbers coming to purchase the products of the many factories.
It is claimed, that this namesake of Germany s capital is
just a bit the livest manufacturing town in all of Canada.
110 GATEWAY TO S1LVERLAND
NORTH BAY AN IDEAL MANUFACTURING
CENTRE
With its excellent railroad facilities, great forests of timber,
and water powers that need but the harnessing to run immense
factories, North Bay must yet be the great manufacturing centre
for this upper country. Here should be established manufac
tories for farm implements, furniture of all kinds, pulp and paper
mills to be honestly managed by people resident, and not by
cable from England and, in short, no branch but would find
here an ideal location. This will be especially true when the
canal shall have come, and of that there is not the least doubt.
Trout Lake Smelter
It will not be long until one of the most complete smelters in
the land will be running at Trout Lake, a short distance from
the town limits along the T. and N.O. Railway. It has been
under way for many months. It has been constructed with new
features in smelting, and especially with a view of handling the
ores of Cobalt, which so long tried the inventive brains of many
an old smelting company. It is thought that the Trout Lake
Company have overcome all difficulties and will be able to treat
the most difficult of ores, saving to the mine-owners the valuable
by-products which, till of late, the old companies have claimed
as their own.
This smelter is ideally situated, being so close to the mines
to the north and west, saving, in some instances, more than a
thousand miles of shipment of the ore.
THE OLD PICTURE GALLERY
If it wasn t for the printer I d never publish a single book.
No, you re wrong. I don t mean that at all. Of course he prints
the books, but if he didn t call a halt I d never stop writing, for
along toward the end, after he has caught up with the copy, I
have just begun to hear so many other things that I would write,
that, did he not say: "Not another minute will I wait," I d
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 111
never stop. Some of you might be glad if the writing and not
the publishing went right on. Can t help that, the foregoing
is in type and in form, so will have to stop and let him close
without many a bit I would like to run in.
Old Pictures
I must speak of some of the old pictures, many of which
I have found only now. They are so much a part of the town s
history that to pass them unnoted would be to leave out great
interest to the pioneers, who will recall many a pleasant moment
on looking at these people, houses and scenes of early days.
Look at that group taken at the C.P.R. station in 1884. See
the old man in white beard. It is that of the Hon. R. W. Scott.
He was in North Bay as an adjuster of property between the
railway and the boy that sits at his right John Ferguson the
then owner of most of the town. Just an incident. He had gone
to the first shingled house in town to do his writing. It was
cold weather, and the house was close and the air not the best.
He had but to remark it, when the boy took a book, and well,
there was very soon plenty of fresh air, but that shingled house
had one pane of glass less, and the book was outdoors.
Hon. Scott was here some time, and took much interest in
the pioneers in their struggles to start a town. He attended
the first mass said in North Bay, and when he left the little settle
ment, he left many a friend who still remembers him in kindness.
He is a remarkable man. Starting his political life in 1849,
he went up through the offices of mayor, 1852, of Bytown (now
Ottawa), was long in the parliaments of both Province and Do
minion, Senator, and finally, Secretary of State, and after fifty-
nine years retiring in honor. When King Edward was in Canada,
as the Prince of Wales, in 1860, R. W. Scott was one of a committee
of twenty to entertain him while in Ottawa. Of all the number
he is the only one alive, and still looks but little older than when
he was photographed at the North Bay station twenty-four
years ago. He has kindly written for me the introduction of a
book I am preparing as a memento of that visit of the Prince
112 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
of Wales no one could have done it so well, or the introduction
been so apropos.
To his left, sitting, is James Worthington, who had so much
to do with the building of the railway.
Between them stands a man to whom North Bay is greatly
indebted for many of its early needs Thomas Murray.
There at Worthington s left, in the chair by the window, is
another who has followed the welfare of the town for more than
a quarter of a century D. J. McKeown.
Now, honest, isn t there a lot of old memories in a picture?
See that shack that looks so much more like a sty than a house,
and yet it gave shelter and mayhap comfort to men who blasted
out the rock from the quarry that lay along Main Street. This
shack stood upon the lot where later was built the first Catholic
Church. Dr. A. McMurchy sits to the right, the other one
sitting is W. P. Martin. The tall man at the left is the once famous
Ottawa photographer, R. Ives; the other two, standing, are
E. W. Bagnell and John Burk.
See that other quarry picture, with Robert Patterson, D.
McLeod, and John McMillen. This was taken in 1883. In
the grouping of this picture may be seen the first post office,
when John Ferguson was the short-time postmaster. The
other picture is that of the first railway station the most prim
itive station you ever saw? I warrant "Yes," for they don t
build that kind any more. But twenty-five years ago Canadian
railways were content w r ith anything that would serve the purpose.
They have gone to the other extreme, for no more beautiful
railway stations may be found on the continent than those which
H. W. Angus is designing and the T. and N.O. are building,
away up there, where once we located the polar bears.
"Has anyone mentioned the name of Alec Laffarty to you? :
I could but say, "No, this is the first I have heard his name."
Then I had to hear how Alec came here as a young man, designed
and built many of the railway bridges for the C.P.R., found
that the great Manitou Island was made out of limestone the
only limestone formation in this part of the country which he
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 113
had burned for the lime to make the mortar for the bridges and
railway buildings requiring it, and for the few plastered houses
of those early days; how he later travelled all over the continent,
and finally landed in New York City, where he helped to build
the great subway. Yes, Alec was one of the boys who helped
build the town, and yet I had finished writing my story before
I had heard his name. And so it will be. As many an one will
say, when looking over these pages: "He has not even mentioned
one so prominent in the old days!" I am but a writer, and not
a mind reader, and doubtless will leave out many an "Alec"
whose name I had not heard. This Alec whose picture is in that
quarry group is now with one of the greatest contracting firms in
America Holbroke, Cabot & Daly, of New York.
If "firsts" count, then am I indeed fortunate in being able
to give the picture of the first real house built in North Bay.
There had been other dwellings, but they were only shacks.
This one had real shingles and a chimney, and the doors swung
on "store" hinges, and the window sashes were fitted, and had
in them panes of glass all save the one "the boy" knocked
out with the book, to give Hon. Scott fresh air and a little
porch was built out in front. And, see, there in the same cut
is the one who made it home Mrs. Ferguson, mother of John
Ferguson, who has been so much to the town. This lady was
the sister of the late Duncan Mclntyre, who made his millions
in the C.P.R., and who is justly credited with moving the head
office of the Grand Trunk Railway from London, England, to
Montreal, Canada. Mrs. Ferguson was born in Callander,
Scotland, 66 years ago. From Scotland to County Renfrew,
and then to North Bay, December 26, 1882, taking two days
to make the long trip from that county to this, then wilderness.
It is a distinction to have been the hostess of the first private
residence in what is destined to be the metropolis of the north.
Mrs. Ferguson is still living in the town, hale and hearty, as her
picture, recently taken, will indicate.
I tried hard to find the picture of the first school-house " The
Old Log" -and at the very last moment may find it yet, as hunters
8
114 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
are still scouring the old photograph albums and garrets,
did secure the picture of one of the first lady teachers in that old
house. She was then Miss L. K. Foster, and now Mrs. W. J.
Kellogg, of Desbarats, Ont. That the extreme of fashion was
then followed in North Bay no one dare question. Miss Foster
was a great favorite, and her pupils, grown to man and woman
hood, revere her name even to now.
One day, Mr. Lott Britton was showing some old clippings
(he, like Sheriff Varin and D. J. McKeown, carefully preserves
the old and interesting). One of them told of that first concert,
of which see elsewhere mentioned. This was indeed a find,
for in it are many names. The concert was held in the Mackey
House, on August 28, 1885. Here are those who had to do with
the affair: Mrs. George Leach, Miss Allen, Mrs. J. Scott and
Mrs. Lott Britton. Sam Huntington was stage manager. Those
who took part were: E. Robinson (pianist), J. Hardman, and
Colonel J. J. Gregory and family.
B. W. Coyne was then Superintendent of the C.P.R., and with
T. A. Summerville, had so managed the trains that nearly all
the members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen (it
was given under the auspices of Lodge No. 234) could be pres
ent. M. A. McLeod was also mentioned.
And apropos of B. W. Coyne. Everybody to this day call
him "Barney," and, as elsewhere, his returns to North Bay
are veritable ovations, even though so many years have passed
since he went down into New York State.
I was fortunate in being one of the number who made one
these "ovations," the occasion of a steamer trip down the Freud
River. It was a red letter day to more than to "Barney," and
his good wife and charmingly brilliant daughter.
The good folk certainly know how to greet and treat the
returned friends friends who endured the hardships of pioneer
life, and "Barney" was sure a pioneer. This excursion was more
like a big family outing. Yea, better, for there was no jangling
among that party who went down the French that day.
One day I was given a picture of The Old Blue School."
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 115
I was delighted, for it would bring to many an one sweet memories.
I showed it with pride, as a "find." But imagine the situation
when one who knew gave a hearty laugh at my picture. "The
Old Blue must be found." It was, thanks to Dr. A. G. Mac
kenzie, one of the last teachers, who may be seen in the group.
There were at this time but two teachers: Miss Alexander, now
Mrs. A. Howse, the wife of a prominent merchant of the town,
was the other. When I asked of the one giving me his " Old
Blue School," why he had done so, he studied a moment, then
laughingly said : "Well, did you ever! I forgot. That s an old
farm-house where I used to live." Tried to run in his old farm
house for the " Old Blue." What do you think of that?
You who were good will be pleased to see the kindly face of
Judge Wm. Doran, and the rest of you will have long ago for
given him for what he used to do to you, so you will all be glad
to see him in the "Gallery."
Mr. John Robertson was too much to North Bay, to leave his
face out of the coterie of other day prominents, and so you will
find him in the group too. And there is one of the very first
lumbermen of this upper land of timber the Sheriff s father,
E. Varin.
Then look upon those early church choir pictures. Yes, I
know, dear girls, but if they had seen you as now you dress, they
too would have said: "Get on to the style!" And especially so
had they seen your "Merry" head covering.
They had fun in those days the young folk of the Bay, as
see that jolly party of snowshoers in Gordon, M.P. s, lumber
camp. George was wise. He began years ago to train for the
position by getting in with the young people. I note with pleasure
many a face of my Patrons among that jolly party at Gordon s
bean-board.
Among the old portraits are many of whom I have spoken : Dr.
J. B. Carruthers, J. G. Cormack, Rev. S. Huntington, Father
Bloem, Archdeacon Gilmour, Col. J. J. Gregory, the McFar-
lanes, etc. Another among them is Henry Timmons, once of
North Bay, where he was a small merchant, now a millionaire
116 GA TEW A Y TO SIL VERLA ND
miner of Cobalt, one of the first in the camp, so intimately con
nected with the Larose that it is often called the "Timmons."
Dr. Richard McKnight, North Bay s first dentist. As a
pioneer says: "Very popular for his genial spirits, the life of any
company." He is now in Port Arthur, Ont. He was here in
1889. See his picture in the quarry grouping.
Don t forget such men as L. V. Roarke, the surveyor, who
made so many of the original surveys throughout the District of
Nipissing, now in Toronto on city work. Or fail not to speak
of Dr. W. H. Howey, who was here with Dr. McMurchy in 1884
to 1889, when he went to Sudbury." Of the two last I failed to
get pictures, but speak of them, since many friends will find a
pleasure even in the names, among those who were once so much
a part of the old times.
This picture chapter is more a friendly chat than book material.
But for that matter, many parts of the volume are the same-
the recalling of memories, and preserving of those memories to
those who may in the future see the part played by some ancestor.
Here s a health to them who are dead and gone,
A health to those who are living on;
A health to all who loved the town,
With many a smile with never a frown.
But speak those words, that magic phrase,
And the other men and the other days,
In memory sweet will come again,
Will come again,
Will come again.
GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND 117
THE NEW NORTH BAY
I have told of the old. Let me tell of the New North Bay.
Before coming, I had thought of this town as simply a railway
crossing a roughly built town far off in a wilderness. But look
upon the pictures and you may well imagine my surprise in find
ing, instead, a well-built town, as in an old settled state. Its
residences, business blocks, churches, large schools and public
buildings do credit to the architects who planned them. Its
people are kind, courteous and brimming over with that enter
prise that turns village into town and town into city. Progress
fills the very air. We can close our eyes and in imagination see
growing here a great city; we can watch it creep silently on to
the range of beautiful hills that skirt the limits to the north, swing
ing round to touch the lake to the west, and upon these hills, over
looking the city, see circling avenues, lined with the magnificent
homes of the wise investors. Our prophetic ear can hear the
hum of busy manufactory when the Georgian Bay Ship Canal
shall have come and made of this one of its greatest ports; and
when the three lines of railway shall have been supplemented by
many others which must come. We can well think of North
Bay as the distributing point for the vast mineral lands to the
north and the northwest, which have as yet been scarcely touched,
to become the wonder of the world by reason of their richness.
Nor will the time be long, between imagination and realization,
for even the casual observer can see at a glance the future of this
City by the Lake.
118 GATEWAY TO SILVERLAND
GREAT IS ONTARIO
As may be seen from the accompanying map, North Bay lies
most advantageously to become a great city. This map sho\vs
but a part of the province the mineral portions to the north,
and all of old Ontario to the south. Just now a large area is
under contemplation to be added, extending the province even
beyond far-away Fort Churchill on Hudson Bay, making of it an
empire in extent, and a storehouse of wealth so vast that no one
dare estimate what lies within its limits. Even now, as elsewhere
told, if Ontario were dropped into the United States, it would
cover nearly every State from the Mississippi River on the west,
to the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and from the Great Lakes on
the north to Tennessee on the south. With the added area, but
little would be left uncovered, east of the Mississippi and north
of the Gulf of Mexico. To give full sweep to the imagination,
what a country might here be built! Every requisite for great
ness is present rich agricultural lands scarce surpassed; fruit
growing possibilities that only " Garden will express; timber
limits vast in area; lakes, rivers and mountains, that would
charm the most blase tourist; mineral resources that might sup
ply a world s needs, and water powers to run the machinery of
that world ; and withal a people so chock full of enterprise that
every resource will be utilized to the best advantage. Ah! great
is Ontario, whose present prosperity is the world s wonder, and
whose future no man knoweth.
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NORTH BAY IN PICTURE
THE OLD AND THE NEW
1908
North Bay s $50,000 Post Office Weekly Newsboys
Wm. D. McDonald, Postmaster, and the author, in second row
The " Company Row " in the stump days of 83
John Ferguson Thos. Murray
Hon. R. \V. Scott D. J. McKeown
At North Bay Station, 1884
First Junior B. B. Team North Bay
When "The Old Log " was new
Miss L. K. Foster (now Mrs. W. J. Kellogg), seven years a teacher in North Bay
The Old Blue School
-*r " " >
*-^S i/-- -
North Bay Architecture of 1884
.
Alec. Laffarty
Dr. McKuight
The " Quarry," 1884
First C.P.R. Station
First Post Office
G. H. Newton
Manager Despatch-Tribune
Residence of G. H. Newton
N. Phelps
Editor Times
First Church in North Bay, now r North Bay Times
See page 13
1883
Mrs. W. Ferguson and her early home. First shingled house in North Bay.
1908
John Ferguson s Drawing-Roorn
HENRY TIMMQNS
G^
Judge w- Doran
Thomas ITlurray
John^oberTson
CorrrrELCk
Samuel .A liuntin^tbn
Parks
Presbyterian Choir, 1900
Methodist Choir, 1896
A
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FATHER tUGENt BIDtM
RtV 5IU5 HUNTINOTON
ONTARIO J FIR5T LEQI5LATGRE
CONVENED DEC. 27, 1867
Dl5.SOL.VED FEB. 25, 1S7I
.
W
SIR WM. P. HOWLAND,
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
HON. JOHN S4NDFIELD MACDONALO,
PREMIER AND ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
HON. JOHN STEVENSON, SPEAKER.
MEMBERS
} Anderson, Win Prince Edward.
1 Barber, William Halton.
2 Baxter, Jacob Haldimamj.
.1 Beatty, William Welland.
4 Blake, Ed Bruce, South R.
5 Uiulter, Gco. H Hastings, North R.
>> Boyd. James Preseott
7 Calvin, D. D Frontenao.
8 Cameron, Hon. M.C/ East Toronto.
9 Carling, Isaac Huron.
10 Carting, Hon. John ... London.
11 Carnegie, John Peterboro. West R.
12 Christie, Roh t . . . .Wentworth.
II Clark. Macneil Grenvllle, South R.
II Clemens, Isaac Waterloo, South R.
15 Coekburn, Alex P . .Victoria, North R.
1C Cr>!qu!:otin, \Vm Stormont.
17 Cook, S Dundas.
IS Corhy, Henry Hstings,East R
19 Coyne, John Peel.
20 Craia, James Glengarry.
21 Craiir, William ; ... Russell
22 Code, A Lanark, South R.
23 Crosby, Hugh P ... York, East R.
24 Cumberland Lieut. Col F. W Algoma.
- 5 Curry, Nathaniel Middlesex, West R
2; Evans, James Middlesex, Eajt R.
27 Eyre, John Northumberland, East R.
MEMBERS
28 Ferguson, Lieut-Col. T. R Simcoe.
29 Ferrier, Lieut.-Col Alex. D. .Wellington C.R.
30 Finlayson. Hugh Brant N orth R
31 Fitzsimmons, Wm Brockville.
32 Fraser, Alex Northumberland, West R.
33 Galbraith. D Lanark. North R.
34 Gow, Peter Wellington, South R.
35 Graham, K Hastings, West R.
36 Grahame, Thos York, West R.
38 Hays. W T Huron, North R.
39 Hooper, Edmund J Addington.
MEMBERS
40 Lauder, A. W
4lLount, Win
42 Luton, D
43 Lyon, Robt
44 McColI, Simpson .
45 McColl, Nicol . . .
46 McGill, Wm
47 McKellar, Archibald
Grey, South R.
.. Simcoe, North R.
1^ Elgin, East R.
Carlton.
. . Norfolk, South R.
Elgin, West R.
Ontario, South R.
. Bothwell.
48 McKim, Robt Wellington, North R
49 McLeod, John . ... Dnrhiun, West R
50 Mc -lurrieh, Hon. Jno York. North R.
51 Macdonald, Lteut.-Col.. Hon. J. S . Cornwall.
52 MeDoujfill, Jno. L Renfrew. South R.
.53 Mntchett, Thos .. Victoria. South R.
54 Monteith. Andrew .Perth. North R.
54J Murray Thomas Renfrew, North R.
55 Oliver. Adam Oxford, South R.
56 Pardee, Timothy B
57 Paxton, Thos
.W Perry, George
59 Read Geo . .
Lambtou
Ontario, North R.
Oxford, North R.
. . . Peterboro, East R
60 Richards, Hon. Stephen Niagara
01 Rykert, J. C . Lincoln.
62 Scott, R. W Ottawa City.
Grey, North R.
Monek,
Wcotworth, South R
Bruce, North R.
. Leeds and Grenville.
.Middlesex, North R
Kent.
.Waterloo, North R.
Lennox
Kingston.
..Cardwellt
63 Scott, Thomas
64 Seeord, Goo
65 Sexton, William .. .
tiii Sinclair, Donald . .
67 Smith, Henry D
68 Smith, James S ...
69 Smith, :Tohn
70 Springer Moses . . . .
71 Stevenson, Hon. John
72 Strange, Maxwell W .
74 Swinav!on, Thomas
75 Tett B Leeds South R
76 .Trow. James Perth, South .R.
77 Wallis, John Toronto, West.
78 Wigle, Solomon Essex.
7:i Willi.vns, Lt.-Col., Arth. T. H.. Durham. E R.
80 Williams, Jame M ..., Hamilton.
81 WiUon, James Norfolk, North
S2 Wood. Hon. K. H Brant, Soutt-
83 F .1 Glackmeyer, Sergeant at-Arms.
84 Gil]^/;, Cha. T., Clerk of the House..
Snowshoe Tramp to Geo. Gordon s Camp
Collector Cowan and Widdifield Council
Hudson s Bay Co . Factors, 1873
Donald A. Smith Lord Strathcona, the one at the left in centre
See page 49
^K"**^^^
1. Street Scene 2. Shore Park 3. Priest s Residence
4. Victoria Memorial Hospital
5. Englehart Station (Angus, Arch.) 6. Temagami Station (Angus, Arch.)
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
METHODIST CHURCH
CHURCH OF ENGLAND
INTERIOR OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
INTERIOR OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
First Meeting of the Presbytery of North Bay
Xorth Bay, 12th July. 1898
10. Rev. E. McNab, Moderator.
12. Rev. J. Carswell, Clerk.
1. *W. McKenzie
2. *W. F. Clark
3. *Dr, Carruthers
4. *A. D. Spears
5. Kev. S. Cbilderhose
6. Robert Lillie
8. *J. D. Cockburn
9. A. Sproat
11. Wrn. Seattle, Student
33. Rev. D. Johnston
14. W. Todd
15. D. Teunant
16. Rev. R. B. Smith
17. Rev. W. G. Smith
18. *H. Ferguson, Student
7. tfev. A. Findlay, Superintendent of Missions.
19. Jas. Tookey
20. J. G. Duncan
21. *J. B. MacLeod, Student
22. J. E.Bell
23. Rev. Arch. Mac Vicar
24. Rev. T. Macadam
25. D. M. Grant
26. *LottBritton
27. S. G. Best
28. Rev. T. Davidson
29. *K. Cameron
30. P. Ferguson
^VISITORS
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Residences of
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pane 33
Then Ho! for the French with its beautiful isles;
Then Ho! for the girls with their rippling smiles,
Then Ho! for the Northland far away !
See page 41
8
1 Front St 2 Main Street, showing Bank Buildings. 3 Opera House. -I Kink
.-> Main St. Dixon & Co. s Office. 7 McDonald & Hay s Store
8 J. \V. Deegan s Store. First Automobile in North
Hay, run through from Shelby, Ohio (81<> miles),
by Kx-Maynr Skiles
,
vSCKNKS ALONG SI < >RTSMAN S ROUTE
GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY
\Vhere the fishes sport and the bijj Kame play,
We ll hunt and angle the livelong day,
And \\hfii at last the Summer s done,
And Winter shuts out the Summer s sun,
We ll live o er a^ain the joys we ve h.id
In the far-away North, where all nature is jilad.
Then Ho! for the North \\ifh its people true,
Then Ho! for the Line that will carry us
through,
Then Ho! for the Northland far away !
Along the beautiful Canadian Pacific Railway
See page 69
House Boats
Lake Nipissing, French
River, and West Arm
Splendid Bass Fishing
and Shooting
Private parties can charter house boat ; accommo
dation for large or small parties by day or week ;
guides and boats furnished. Cottages, camping
outfits, launches, canoes, boats, etc., for hire.
WRITE TO
W. KERVIN, CALLANDER, CANADA
C. P. R. and G. T. R. connection
G. N W. Telegraph
and Long Distance Telephone
Everything in the Jewellery line-
Diamonds Wedding Rings
Watches Clocks Silverware
Cut Glass Fine China
Fancy Articles
Dainty and Beautiful
The care of watches a specialty. Official Watch Inspec
tor for the entire system of the T. and N.O. Railway.
Eye testing and glass and spectacle fitting under the
care of a trained oculist.
Come and visit one of the most complete jewellery
stores north of Toronto.
Nortlj lag
Vr
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"vSilverland "
PATRONS OF "THE
GATEWAY"
To have written this book, giving to it the time and care
necessary to hunt out the hundred and one points worth preser
vation of the past and present of North Bay s story, would have
been impossible had not the patrons whose names and faces
I so gladly give below come to the front and said: "Write the
story of our town and w r e will make it possible." They were
withal so kindly in the doing, that I would hand down to the
future their names. The writer will soon be forgotten the
children and friends will ever remember the patrons, for to them
is due "The Gateway."
I had not thought to have included this chapter, but w r hen
one after another so cordially said: "Do your part, I ll do mine,"
I bethought me how I might show appreciation for their kind
ness, and am pleased to indicate it in this way.
In another place I dedicate the work to the Board of Trade.
I might have dedicated it to "My Patrons," for with few excep
tions they are one and the same. Again, I might have dedicated
it to "The Pioneers of North Bay," since so many of these Patrons
have been here a long, long time, and in their sketches so much
of the town s story may be seen.
I am indebted for photographs to Mr. F. A. York, Mr. H. S.
Campbell, Mr. W. Mackie and others, but especially so to Mr.
George Gillespie, for the new pictures, and to photographers
long gone and forgotten, for the old.
I had wondered if my enthusiasm over the people of
North Bay, and for that matter the whole of Nipissing, were
general or owing to my particular appreciation of what I
looked upon as a genial, lovable people. But one day, meeting
a former member of parliament for Nipissing, known for his
own genial spirits I wondered no longer, when in speaking
of them this member said: "When once you come to know
153
the people of Nipissing you will find them so genuine, so
kind, that you cannot but love them." From this I was reassured
that all I have said or could say of them will best be appreciated
bv those who know them best.
ALEXANDER C. AMOS
A. C. Amos was born near Gait, Ont.,
where he was educated and where he was
for a time in the grocery business. Came
to North Bay in 1884 one of the pioneers.
For twenty years he was with the Dominion
Express Company. He has been a mem
ber of the Public School Board for the
past two years, is an active member of the
Board of Trade, and largely interested in
real estate in and about North Bay, in
whose future he has unbounded faith. He
married Miss Annie, the daughter of one of the most prom
inent men who ever lived in the town Mr. J. G. Cormack, the
first druggist. Like her father, Mrs. Amos has been an active
worker in church matters, and also in the preservation of the
things which go to make up the early history of North Bay.
They have five daughters. Mr. Amos, like many another of
the town, is an enthusiastic advocate of the Georgian Bay Canal.
"There is no one thing," says he. "that would go so far toward
making Canada a great nation as the building of this waterway."
H. W. ANGUS AND L. O. CLARKE
I have so often remarked the large num
ber of young men who are making a success
in this great north country. A dozen years
ago the boys had to come down to us to
find a field for their enterprise. But now
they are staying right at home and helping
to build up their own country. "Who did
that?" or "Who is at the head of this or
that enterprise? Ten to one, when you
find him you will see a young man not far
removed from his teens. I was reminded
H. \v. ANGUS
154
of this at Haileybury, where a boyish-looking youth was pointed
out as, not only the Mayor, but the head and front of nearly
every big enterprise in town. "The head and front," for he has
the head capable of carrying out what he undertakes to do.
And his luck, good judgment, or whatever you may wish to call
it, has given him the money to carry it out. This holds good in
North Bay. Its shrewd, capable business and professional men
are either very young or scarce beyond early manhood. " The
father of the town is only a young-looking man. Some of the
finest churches, residences, business blocks and office buildings
were the work of a boyish-looking architect, and that architect
H. W. Angus, who started life in London, Ontario. Many of
his houses may be seen among the pictured residences of this
book, while the \vork on the Catholic church, the T. & N.O.
office building, and the beautiful new opera house would be a
credit to an architect of long years experience. His stations,
seen all along the T. & N.O. Railway, are scarcely equalled for
real beauty and convenience in the land. His partner, Mr. L. O.
Clarke, from the same street of his native city, is possibly the
youngest city engineer in Canada. His work here may be seen
in the miles of sidewalks, sewers and extensive waterworks,
while his field, like his partner s, extends over a large part of
this upper country. In Cobalt, his underground work is very
extensive. Possibly their most intricate undertaking was the
new opera house, already mentioned. It is a nearly perfect
playhouse. Few cities can boast of one more complete. And
incidentally, this is one of the best illustrations of the enterprise
of North Bay s business-men. Not a single one of the $50,000
capital was taken outside of town. That you may not think
of it as but " a big thing for a small town," I shall give
you some of its points. Its stage is 70 feet wide (the building
itself is 80 feet high), so that the largest companies on the road
may find ample room for their scenery, and yet not to be
cramped for space. It is, moreover, supplied with almost
enough of its own scenery to put on most of the ordinary plays.
It is so nearly fireproof that the insurance companies have given
their lowest rate. These young men have not only had full
charge of its construction, but after it was complete they took
the management of furnishing the plays to make of it a good
business venture, and to them much is due the making of North
Bay one of the best amusement towns in Canada.
155
JOHN BOURKE
John Bourke was born in Carleton
County, near Richmond. In 1864 he went
to Pembroke, where he remained until
1875. Shortly after was in business in
Portage du Fort up to 1880, when he re
turned, and remained in Pembroke till
1884, then came to North Bay to take
charge of the extensive business stores,
mills, contracts, etc. of his half-brothers,
T. and W. Murray. In 1905 he purchased
Wm. Murray s interest, and still owns a
large part of the best portion of town in the west end. He
was North Bay s first Mayor 1891 was in the Council five
years, and was on the Separate School Board for two years.
He married Hannah Coghlan, of Allumette Island. Has
eleven children his son, T. J. Bourke, being Clerk of the High
and Surrogate Courts for East Nipissing and the District of
Temiskaming.
PATRICK BOURKE
P. Bourke was born at Smith s Falls,
Ont. After his public school education
he served an apprenticeship as a machinist,
and later went to Brockville with the James
Smart Manufacturing Co. He came to
North Bay in 1886, and up to 1902 was
foreman in the C.P.R. machine shops.
That year he purchased the Grand Union
Hotel, on Mclntyre Street. For nine years
he was a successful Chief of the Fire De
partment, and for the past five years has
been on the Separate School Board. Being a lover of a good
horse, he has collected some of the best blooded stock in the
country, his "Grade Pointer" having become noted over a wide
field. Seeing the need of an Association track, he built and
owns " Grand View," at the northern part of town, where are
held Association races throughout the summer and fall. He
married Miss Elizabeth Mooney, of Prescott, Ont., in 1907
156
DR. EDGAR BRANDON
Dr. Edgar Brandon is very much an
Ontarioan, having been born July 3<Dth,
1878 at Cannington, Ontario County, On
tario. Was educated at the Public Schools
of his town and at the Collegiate Institute
in Lindsay. Graduated in 1902 at Trinity
Medical College first-class honor man-
and at Trinity University in medicine, ad
mitted member of the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Ontario in 1903, part of
which year he was House Surgeon for the
Hospital for Sick Children, 1903 and 1904 on House Staff of the
Toronto General Hospital and Emergency Hospital. The Dr.
is a member of the British Medical and the Ontario Medical
Associations, and has written papers for the latter Association.
His specialties are surgery and care of children. He came to
North Bay in October of 1904. He is on the Queen Victoria
Memorial Hospital Staff and on the Board of Directors, and
is one of the lecturers of the Training School for Nurses, in
connection with the Hospital. He is an active church worker,
being Secretary of the Methodist Board of Trustees. Is inter
ested in the curling and lacrosse branches of athletics, and
also interested in music.
JOHN HOMER BLACK
The ordinary mortal has gotten to look
upon a busy, competent railway official as
cold, exacting and unapproachable. But
the o.m. forgets all these in the presence of
the subject of this sketch, for J. H. Black is
just as genial as he is able, and that is saying
a whole lot He is the sort you like to stop
and talk about, no matter if you are on the
way to the train, or, if writing, have but a
small space in which to confine the life
sketch. From this you must judge the man
of whom I write. Mr. Black was born July 8, 1874, near Smith s
Falls, Ontario, where he was educated. His first appearance
before the public was in a country school, in Lanark County,
157
where he taught from 1893 to 1895. Like R. L. Borden, he
began teaching at 19 years of age. At 22 he took two of the most
important steps of his life married and left teaching to become
a railway man. He married Miss Elizabeth Morrow. His first
positions were that of baggageman and telegrapher with the
.P.R., with which road he remained until 1904. when he came
to the T. and N.O., as general freight and passenger agent. It
did not take the Commission long to mark his executive ability,
for we find him on January i, 1905, the Superintendent of the line,
and to him is greatly due the excellence of this road and the
manner of its running. He has been much to North Bay, whose
Board of Trade often benefits by his mature judgment. In
religion he is an Anglican, and in politics "the good of Canada
first and always." His faith in the future of the great north
country through which his road passes is unbounded. "What
with its mineral lands and millions of fertile acres it is bound
to be, as you are pleased to call it, a veritable marvel-land."
LOTT BRITTON
Lott Britton was born July 10, 1848, at
Studley, Wiltshire, England, where he at
tended the Public Schools. In 1871 he came
to Ottawa, and went the following year with
the famous old Union Forwarding Company,
that ran many steamers up and down the
river, from Aylmer to the limit of navigation.
He was with this Company for three years,
when he went to farming at Westmeath,
till 1879, when he went to the C.P.R., and
after 29 years is still with the road. He was
first with Jas Worthington on the construction of the line. In
1883, when this part of the road was taken over by the Company,
he went as first-class fireman, and in 1888 he was promoted to
engineer. In all the years he has never been in an accident. He
was one of the charter members of the Brotherhood of Firemen
the first society formed, 1884, in North Bay. He married Miss
Mary J. McKenzie, of Rockliffe, Ontario, and has two sons and
three daughters. He is an active Presbyterian. He was instru
mental in having the "Kirk Session" sanction the formation of
the first regularly organized choir.
MICHAEL BRENNAN
V. Brennan was born in County Tip-
perary, Ireland, and as a child he came,
in 1863, to Sheenboro, P.Q. across the
lake from Pembroke. In 1883 he came
to North Bay, and went into the clothing
business, since having worked up to a
large dry goods trade. He has ever been
one of the workers of the town; in Town
Council for thirteen years, one of the early
Reeves, and in 1896 Mayor. He has been
the Chairman of the Separate School Board
since its organization, twenty-two years ago. When the Board
of Trade \vas organized in 1894, he was one of the Councillors.
In religion he is an active Catholic, and in politics one of the
"wheel-horses" of the Liberal party. He married Miss Ellen
McFarland, of Sheenboro. His is another Rooseveltian family
of nine.
A. G. BROWNING, B.A., K.C.
About some men it is easier to say what
they haven t been to, or haven t done to
ward, the building up of a new town, than
to definitely say: "They did this in a cer
tain year, and then they did that the next."
A. G. Browning is one of these men, so that
in writing of him I need but to say, he came to
North Bay in 1888, was appointed Crown
Attorney and Crown Prosecutor in 1 893, a K.C.
in 1908, has long been Chairman and Secre
tary of the Public, and Secretary-Treasurer
of the High School Boards, instrumental in the organization of
the Public Library, and is its President. President of the Dis
trict Agricultural Association, President of the Board of Trade,
a Liberal in politics, and a Presbyterian of the variety that when
once the children got him in as Sunday School Superintendent,
he could never resign they simply \vould not accept his resigna
tion. And, of course, with every public-spirited man here, he has
always been an active advocate of the building of the Georgian
Bay Ship Canal, as he has been an active advocate of
everything that would benefit the town, to which he has
been so much, and for which he has done so much toward
159
making of it a city. Mis. Browning was Miss Jessie Melville.
With John Ferguson and John Bourke he is owner of the
most admirably situated addition to North Bay, right in the
direction of the finest residential part of Priests Hill the com
ing part for rapid advances in values.
RICHARD BUNYAN
Richard Bunyan was born at Pem
broke, from which town has come so many
of North Bay s best men possibly more
than from any other one place. For a
number of years he lumbered with the
noted old lumberman, George Taggart,
on the Kippawa Lakes, and along the
Ottawa River, far up the Caz. In 1884
he came to North Bay, and here he has
ever since resided. He was in the town s
first Council, and during several terms
since. He was the third Mayor, in 1894. For a number of
years was on the Separate School Board. He married Miss
Emma McPeak, of Cobden, Ont. In religion he is Catholic.
His twelve-year-old son, Emmitt, is worthy a line. He is
the most energetic newspaper boy I have seen in Canada. He
is the representative of the famous and most popular Utica
Globe, of which he places over three times as many as any other
one weekly sold in town.
H. S. CAMPBELL
H. S. Campbell, druggist, was born in
Hanover, Bruce County, Ont. Educated
in Wiarton High School, served his drug
apprenticeship in Tillsonburg, Orillia, Pais
ley and Harrison, then graduated 1901-
at the College of Pharmacy in Toronto.
Came to North Bay in 1902 and opened
a drug store on the Queen s Hotel corner,
later removing to his present store on Main
Street, reaching through to Front. He is
active in politics, during the recent cam
paign being elected President of the Young Liberal Associa
tion of North Bay. Had the boys started sooner the whole
political aspect of Nipissing might have been vastly dif-
160
ferent so they claim. Post-election claims are well, I was
once in politics myself, but being a -Republican, we usually
"made good," and so had no claims to make after the votes
were counted. Mr. Campbell is a Presbyterian.
T. N. COLGAN
T. N. Colgan set out on life s trip from
Havelock, Huntington County. The fam
ily removing to Clinton, N.Y., he there at-
* O
tended the Public Schools, and at 20 years
of age began the career of railroading, which
life he has since followed. He started with
the Manchester-Keene Railroad, of New
Hampshire. In 1880 he came to the C.P.R.,
with which he has remained for 28 years.
Went first to Montreal. In 1885 he came
to North Bay, and has long filled the posi
tion of Master Bridge Builder east and west from this place.
He was a member of the first and second Town Councils
1891, 1892 and Mayor in 1897, 1898. Has been on the Public
School Board for the past six years, and chairman of the Board
in 1906, 1907. He is an active Methodist, was a member of the
building committee for the new church, a trustee of the church, and
a member of the Quarterly Board. He married, first, Miss E. A
Hawksby, of New York State; second, Miss M. E. Kerby, of
Sarnia, Ont. He has three daughters. He is largely interested
in some of the best business and residential property in town,
and has great faith in the future of this land of possibilities.
J. W. DEEGAN
J. W. Deegan was one of the earliest in
town. Belfast, Ireland, is his birth-place.
After a few years of school days he was
apprenticed to learn the shoe business from
the foot up. He learned it so well that he
had no trouble in finding work at Halifax,
where he landed in 1880. Here and at St.
John he spent a few months. He also
stopped a while at Truro and Glasgow,
N.S., then came to Toronto and later to
Pembroke for a few months. Odd how
Pembroke figures in the lives of so many of the prominent North
161
Bayans! If they were not born there, they had to sort o work
out an apprenticeship in that town to prepare them for the step
higher on the map. He got here in July of 1883. He opened
a boot and shoe store, but gave it up to go railroading, first going
to British Columbia for a few months. He stayed with the
C.P.R. until 1889, when he started again in the shoe business,
later adding gents furnishings. He was on the Public School
Board for six years, was one of the charter members of the Board
of Trade, and is a member of the present Town Council. He
is prominent in a number of fraternal societies, a Methodist in
religion, and an Independent in politics. He married Miss Mary
A., daughter of B. Robitaille, one of the pioneers of Clarendon,
Pontiac County, P.Q.
J. H. DIXON
J. H. Dixon started a New Hampshire
Yankee and landed a Lakefield Canuck. He
was born at Waterford, N.H., and in 1875
the family came to Lakefield, P.Q. He was
educated at Lachute Academy and at the
Montreal Business College. His first posi
tion was w r ith the Hamburg-American Steam
ship Co. as Wharf Superintendent. For
three years he was a Pullman Conductor on
the G.T.R. He left that for general brok
erage and insurance, which he has since fol
lowed. Came to North Bay in 1905, just about the time Cobalt
was beginning to attract the attention of a narrow circle. He
has followed the growth of the camp until he is now largely in
terested in general mining to the west and north-west in copper,
nickel and iron. Early in 1907 he put in the first private wire,
being a loop of Chas. Head & Co. s New York and Toronto line.
Later he has direct connection with the Montreal Stock Market
over Redpath & Co. s wire. He is the President of the Crown
Jewel Mines, Ltd., and others of the good things in gold, silver,
etc. He is a broker who sticks by his customers, protecting them,
at times, to his own loss. Born in a land of politics, he is taking
an active interest in the affairs political of his adopted country,
being the President of the North Bay Conservative Association.
Believing that the forests, fish and game are great assets of the
162
country, he is taking a deep interest in their preservation, being
the Secretary of the Ontario Forest, Fish and Game Protective
Association. So enthusiastic in everything pertaining to the
welfare and upbuilding of Canada, we would naturally expect
him to be doing his part in the Georgian Bay Canal interest. He
is the Secretary of a Special Committee (appointed at Ottawa
during the recent visit of the delegations from the cities of the
Great Lakes to Montreal) to deal with the publicity and informa
tion about the canal. His faith in North Bay is almost unbounded.
" 7/ ? 5 going to be a great city nothing can stop it, and everything
points to the fulfilment of our dreams, canal or no canal but
canal it s bound to be!" is the way he puts it. He married Miss
Margaret A. Pappin, of Westmeath, Ont. He is a Methodist in
religion.
JOHN FERGUSON
In the summer of 1882, a young Scotch
boy saw the present site of North Bay, and,
rocky and wild as was that site, it appealed
to him. "Its location must draw to it that
which will make of it the great city of the
north country," and so he took up lots 20
and 21, and the wisdom of his choice may
be seen to-day, for upon these lots is growing
a city even beyond his wildest dreams.
Nor was it the site alone; to them who
came to locate is due far more, since many
an old town with better natural advantages lies asleep, with grass
growing in its streets, because of the lethargy of its people.
This youth from old Callander had the right notion of what
goes to start a town. Whilst others might hold their lands at
prohibitory prices, he gave inducements that brought to him
builders; that a school might be opened he gave to the School
Board an acre of ground, and when the "log" grew too
small he built a new house and gave it in exchange for the old;
and scarce a church in town but its lot was his free gift, and to
many of them a goodly subscription. Whilst others lost faith,
sold out and left, he remained and after twentv-six vears, is as
7 v ^
full of energy, and more than ever convinced that he chose wisely
when he said: "Here must be a city!" John Ferguson was
163
born in Callander, Scotland. When a child he came to Canada
with his parents, and settled at Renfrew. He was but eighteen
years old when he came to where is now North Bay, with
the starting of the C.P.R., in 1882. He married Miss Jennie
Fraser McFarlane, daughter of Wm. McFarlane, the builder
of the first residence. He has two sons, Duncan and William,
the former the first child born in town, who is still a resident.
Besides his great success in real estate, he has been connected
with many interests of this country. For six years he was man
ager for the Dominion Mineral Company of Sudbury; was
North Bay s first postmaster; was the town s second Reeve;
was in Town Council for a number of years; has been an active
member of the Board of Trade, and now its President; is the
largest shareholder in the Electric Light Company, and the North
Bay Brick and Tile Company; and largely interested in Cobalt
and Montreal River mining. In writing the early history of
Cobalt, I found him among the owners with A. G. Browning,
another of North Bay s most active men of the Colonial and
the Princess mines. Recently he has become identified with the
fabulously rich silver field of Gowganda, in the Temagami Re
serve, and thinks that it is destined to surpass the Cobalt district
itself. Mr. Ferguson was one of the early magistrates, having
been appointed for District of Nipissing in 1885 and for Dis
trict of Parry Sound in 1889. He might well be called a town
builder. Besides what he has been to North Bay for twenty-six
years, he at one time owned a large part of original Haileybury;
with A. G. Browning owned and laid out Westfort, now a part
of Fort William, and will shortly open up a number of towns
on one of the great railroads of Canada. His faith in New
Ontario is unlimited. "Go where you will," says he, "and
there you will find that which proves this the richest sec
tion in the world. Not long ago I went far above where
any railroad has reached, and marvellous is the only word
that will fit the wealth of the lands in agricultural possibilities,
whilst all the way up, minerals of many kinds must yet be found
in vast quantities. Great is Canada, and New Ontario is its
greatest storehouse!" He has all faith in the building of the
Georgian Bay Ship Canal. "It will be built! The whole
country is beginning to see that no enterprise ever devised
for the Dominion can equal it for the real good of the people of
all Canada! It is not for any one locality it will benefit all!
164
I have made this sketch a long one I could not have made it
less, since the subject has been so much a part of the town s
history from the very beginning down through all its growth to
the present.
JAMES FALLON
James Fallon is another of the many
Pembroke boys who came with the C.P.R.
in 1882. He first went to Chalk River, in
1867. He was the first fireman to come
into North Bay, with Sam Lees as engineer.
In 1885 ne g ot an engine of his own, and
has been continuously with the road ever
since. He was one of the organizers and
first Secretary of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen the first Society to organ
ize in town. He was a member of the
Town Council in 1892. He married Miss Ann McCall, of
Montreal. Two boys and two girls make up the family.
James is a Catholic. Mr. Fallon is another to whom I am
indebted for things early.
CITY CLERK M. W. FLANNERY
M. W. Flannery is another of the Pem
broke contingent who preferred North Bay.
He went to Mattawa in 1883, and to North
Bay in 1887. He went into general mer
chandise with R. Bunyan, as Bunyan and
Flannery, but withdrew in 1893. In 1897
he became Town Clerk and Division Court
Clerk, and has held both offices continu
ously since. He was a member of the
Town Council for two years, and for the
same length of time was a member of the
Separate School Board. He married Miss Alice Bourke, sister
of John and P. Bourke. He has four children. In religion he is
a Catholic.
165
GEORGE GILLESPIE
George Gillespie was born in Little York,
now a part of Toronto. The family re
moved to Shelburne, Ont., and in 1895
George went to Thessalon, and came to
North Bay in 1904. He married Miss
Martha M. Durkee, of Listowel, Ont. Has
five children. In religion a Presbyterian.
Mr. Gillespie has possibly been longer in
photography than any other in Canada, hav
ing spent forty-two years behind the camera.
The excellence of his work may be seen all
throughout "The Gateway" section of this volume. He is an
inventor of a number of valuable things in photography. He is
photographer for the T. and N.O. Railway, whose whole line is a
series of beautiful pictures.
GEORGE E. HAY
George E. Hay was born at Fullerton s
Corners, near Stratford, Ont., where he was
educated at the Public Schools. He went to
California in 1888, and to Montana in 1891,
where he remained until the panic drove
him to Canada in 1893. He came direct
to North Bay, and at once went into the
hardware business with J. W. McDonald.
The firm of McDonald and Hay has grown
up to one of the most successful in all
^^ branches of the hardware line. Mr. Hay
has never aspired to municipal preferment. In religion he is
a Presbyterian.
J. F. HICKLING
He s not a pioneer, but so quickly has he caught the spirit,
oJd take him for a native-so enthusiastic is he on the
y of North Bay-this J. F. Hickling, of Grey County,
ria He was born near Eugenia Falls, where he was
educa ed at the Public Schools. He and his brothers formed
he firm of Hickling Brothers in lumber and mills operat
ing largely at Hickling Mills. They sold out, and J. F.
166
later went into mining. Again the
brothers went into saw-milling in Colling-
\vood, later adding to their business coal,
wood and general lumber. The call of the
mine brought J. F. to the north, while
the brothers continued the business of
the firm. In 1907 he sold his interest
and has since devoted his whole time to
prospecting, not in a small way, but from
the C.P.R. on the south to James Bay on
the north. In his search he found a country
so marvellously rich in gold that one
enthusiastic engineer reports "ten million dollars sure, and
possibly far more." To develop this wonderful deposit it will
take some $300,000. "We ll begin work," says J. F., "as soon
as that amount can be raised." "You should not have to wait
long," said I, "for that Crown Jewel mine up there on the Montreal
River will soon turn that out, if it is half as good as it promises."
You see he is the one who ran upon " J.S. 61," which is the neu-
cleus of the Crown Jewel, of which he is Vice-President and Man
ager. He came to North Bay in the spring of 1908, and bought
out H. B. Nichols, of the brokerage firm of Dixon & Nichols.
The firm is now Dixon & Company. This is an ideal combina
tion, Dixon is a thorough office man, while J. F. s experience in
the field cannot but insure the carrying through of big enterprises,
many of which they have in hand.
WM. KERVIN
Wm. Kervin was born in Simcoe, Ont.,
and came to Callander (a few miles down
the lake from North Bay) in 1890. The
attractions of the beautiful French River
have possibly become more widely known
through this energetic young man than
through any other source. " Will Kervin s
House Boats" at once calls to the mind of
many a lover of summer travel in Canada,
the very top of enjoyment. When tourists
began coming to the French River, a few
years ago, there was a great lack of accommodation. Kervin,
seeing this, was quick to grasp the situation, r and at once set about
167
preparing for the tourists entertainment, by building House
Boats. And now may be seen here and there these " Float
ing Hotels," with their accompanying launches, by means of
which the beauty spots may be sought out by the ever-increas
ing number of pleasure hunters. William is a member of
the Ontario Fish and Game Protective Association. Through
his efforts the American license for hunting was kept down
to $50 a season. But for him it had been prohibitory by
being put at $100. The fifty dollars fee is sending many a
hunting party to Quebec, where it is but $25. Home pro
tection" is all right, in a way, but the question is: Is it
wisdom to keep out parties who will bring into the country
more money in one week than many another will spend in a year ?
These parties rarely get more than their allowance of game,
while some of the "many another" kill game, both in and out of
season, one hunter often killing more deer than a large party of
fifty dollar fee payers. Assisted by the local members of Stur
geon Falls and Parry Sound, Mr. Kervin had the net fishing of
Lake Nipissing stopped, thus saving the lake from being depleted
of fish. "What s that?" Someone looking over my shoulder
says I ve got my history mixed that these two gentlemen did
their utmost to have the lake " netted." This could not be pos
sible. They were sent to look after the good of all, and not a
part, so " the-man-over-my-shoulder : must be in error. We ll
give the gentlemen the benefit of the doubt.
JOHN LAVARY
John Lavary is from St. Charles, P.Q.
Went to Riviere du Loup, and later to school
at Quebec. Came to North Bay with the
C.P.R. in 1882. In 1885 he was made
conductor, and has held the position ever
since. He was on the first train that went
through to Winnipeg. He has had an
almost unique experience, never having
had an accident to his train. John takes
much interest in athletics, and never misses
his deer hunt in the fall. He is one of
the company to whom the town owes its beautiful Opera House.
In religion he is a Catholic.
168
JUDGE H. D. LEASK
Down home we always think of a Judge as an old man.
And if it were the custom, as one wearing a wig. They look to
wisdom, and not to years, up here in Canada. We elect, here
they appoint. The judge is not beholden to the electors, and
being in for a life term is never afraid to decide against a
politician who might be instrumental in leaving him at home
next time. "They look to wisdom and not to years." They
did it here. The subject of my sketch was born in To
ronto, in 1868. He is the son of the late James Leask.
He was educated in the Public and High Schools of Orillia,
graduated from Queen s University in 1888, was called to the
bar in 1891, and immediately came to North Bay and commenced
practice, in partnership with A. G. Browning, K.C., the present
Crown Attorney, and continued practice in the District of Nipis-
sing until appointed, in December of 1903, as Junior Judge of
the District Court for the District of Nipissing.
GEO. W. LEE
Geo. W. Lee was born at White Lake,
Ontario. "George," said I, " where were
you educated?" "Where? In the woods-
when 13 years of age I went to work with
Caiswell & Mackey, lumbermen, and with
them I remained for 13 years, then for two
years was with Barnet & Sons of Renfrew."
He left the life of a lumberman to go with
the C.P.R. at Renfrew, and with that road
he remained for seven years, when he came
to the T. and N.O. He started as Travelling
Freight Agent, and in August, 1907, was appointed General
Agent of the road. Last year he went into municipal politics
and ran for alderman for West ward, heading his ticket at
the election by 74 votes. He is also a most active Conservative
in Provincial politics. He married Miss Bessie Amey, of Canning-
ton, near Toronto, He has two children. In religion he is a
Methodist.
169
JAMES LINDSAY
Among those who came to North Bay
in 1882, for so short a time as not to be
remembered as a pioneer, was James Lind
say, but after going to Pennsylvania for
four years he came back, and has made up
for lost time by remaining in town. James
was born in South Renfrew. In 1886 he
went with the C.P.R., and was with the
road until 1904, when he went into the
coal business with James McCluskey, form
ing the Lindsay and McCluskey Coal
Company, already become one of the largest dealers north of
Toronto. He was in the Town Council for two years, and is
now a member of the Public School Board. The firm are largely
interested in mining properties, in the rich district of Quebec,
along the Temiskaming Lake, and along the Vermillion River,
to the north-west of here. He married Miss Elizabeth Forest,
of Renfrew, and has six children. In religion he is a Presbyterian.
PATRICK McCOOL
Patrick McCool was born in the countv
*
of Donegal, Ireland, in 1860. In 1879 he
came to Canada, to Fort William, P.Q.,
and to North Bay in 1886, to clerk for T.
and W. Murray. As an instance of what
may be done in this country, Mr. McCool
reached town with $8, started to clerk for
$20 a month, and is now one of the rich
men of this district, owning, among many
others, the building in which he started
as a clerk. In 1897 he bought the T.
and W. Murray general stores at Chapleau, which he ran for
five years, when he sold the business, but still owns the property.
Retiring from merchandise he returned to North Bay, where
he has since been largely engaged in real estate and insurance.
Was in the Town Council for seven years, and for a number of
years has been the vice-president of the Board of Trade. He
was on the Separate School Board for several terms. An active
170
politician he has been for the past five years the President ^of
the Liberal Association. He is a cousin of Charles A. Me
he retiring Member of Parliament, who served so efficiently
two e ms and who came within 21 votes of being returned foi
L thfrd me. He married Miss Malvina Landon, of Ch.chester,
PQ and^as a Rooseveltian family of ten. In ^religion he ,s
Catholic LATER: Mr. McCool has re-purchased the Chapleau
business.
JAMES McCLUSKEY
James McCluskey was born in Phila
delphia, Pa. Came to Canada in 1872, 1
Pembroke, first a farmer, and then wer
with the C.P.R. as an engineer,
lowed the road to North Bay in 1883, and
with it remained till 1906, when he formec
a partnership in the coal business with
James Lindsay, of which I have spoken
in the Lindsay sketch, in which is _ also
given his extensive interests in mining
properties in Quebec, the Vermillion River
country, etc. He married Miss Eliza J. Brill, of Pembroke
He has three children. He is an active member of the Board
of Trade. He is a Methodist, in which church he
N. J. McCUBBIN
N. J. McCubbin started at Vaughan,
near Toronto. Went into a general store
in Palgrave and came to North Bay in 1900,
and up to 1905 was with W. J. Parsons
in the Nipissing Stores, when he started
business for himself on Front Street, in
men s furnishings. He is prominent in
Masonry, and takes great interest in music.
At the re-organization of the North Bay
Choral Union he was made President. He
married 1908 Miss Annie, daughter of
the Rev. J. W. Stewart, formerly pastor of the Methodist
here. "N. J." is a citizen of the kind that makes the stranger
like his town.
171
JAMES McCURRY
James McCurry, son of Judge P. Mc-
Curry, of Parry Sound, was born at Guelph,
Ont. Educated at the Public Schools of
Parry Sound, and matriculated at Toronto
University; spent his student life in Bar-
rie, with Hewson and Creswick, graduated
in law in 1894, and began practice in Parry
Sound. He was out of law for eight years,
during which time he followed placer min
ing in northern British Columbia and in
Alaska. Came to North Bay in 1904,
and at once entered into a law partnership with G. A. Mc-
Gaughey, since which time they have been together. He is
active in Liberal politics.
WM. MCDONALD
Wm. McDonald was born at East
Hawkesboro, Ont., in 1838. After leaving
school he spent five years on the lakes, and
on the St. Lawrence to Quebec. He was
for seven years in the hotel business in
Peterboro. In 1869 ne married Miss Mar
garet Duncan, of Lochiel, Ont. In 1876 he
was in the Muskoka Lakes country, and
in 1880 went into general store business in
Mattawa, where he remained till 1883,
when he came, as one of the very first, to
)rth Bay, which was all woods, and then some more. Down
wkere now stands the beautiful offices of the T. and N.O. Railway
he\purchased three acres and opened the first store in town.
With the exception of the one month which John Ferguson
looked after the little mail that came to the settlement, Mr.
McDonald was postmaster down to this spring, 1908, when he
resigned, and is now resting on his laurels. Twenty-five years!
That\he Government appointed his son, W. D., as his successor,
speaks\ a whole lot for his management of the office. He
was tkistee of the first Public School, the old log school.
The otter members were Colonel J. J. Gregory and J. A. Single
ton. H\ was in Town Council for one year. In 1885 he was
made a Magistrate, and as that is a life office he still sits in judg-
172
ment upon the wrongdoers. In religion he is a Catholic.
Mr. McDonald is a Veteran of the famous Fenian Raid of
1866, and holds a medal and 160 acres of land from an apprecia
tive Government for his service. He went from Peterboro,
Ont. He was in most of the battles of the campaign. He was
sergeant of Co. No. 2, in 5;th Battalion.
WM. D. MCDONALD
Wm. D. McDonald, son of the fore
going, was born in Peterboro, Ont. Came
to North Bay in 1883, and with the excep
tion of parts of 1892 and 1893 he has al
ways resided here. Those few months
were spent in one of the most inportant
post offices in the west Brandon, Mani
toba. As above, he succeeded his father,
1908, as Postmaster of North Bay. He
married Miss Elizabeth Harcourt, of Ar
thur, Ont., cousin of the Hon. Richard
Harcourt, late Minister of Education. He is active in several
Fraternal Societies. A Catholic in religion.
JOHN w. MCDONALD
John W. McDonald was born in Perth,
St. Mary s County, Ont. After a Public
School education he went to Paisley in
1875, where he remained till 1892, in hard
ware, when he came direct to North Bay,
and went into the same line. He is of
a hardware family; his father, still living,
has been in the business for the past fifty
years, as are also two of his brothers. He
was on the Public School Board for three
years and in the Town Council one year. As
showing the influence of environment, his son, John Hay Mc
Donald, now at Queen s University, when choosing a subject for
a paper to be read at the close of the year, took that of "The
Georgian Bay Ship Canal." Even the boys are full of the spirit
of this great enterprise, and are preparing to take up the work if
their fathers fail. Mr. McDonald is a Presbyterian.
173
GEORGE A. McGAUGHEY, M.A.
George A. McGaughey, M.A., was born
at Deseronto, Ont. Was educated at High
School of his town, graduated at Queen s
University in 1900, receiving the degree of
M.A., was gold-medallist in Political Science,
graduated in the Upper Canada Law School
in 1903, came to North Bay in 1904, where
he entered into law partnership with J. H.
McCurry, the firm being McGaughey and
McCurry. For three years he was Secre
tary of the Liberal Association of Nipissing.
Active in Fraternal Societies, being Auditor in the Masonic Order
and Financial Secretary of the A.O.U.W. of North Bay. In
religion he is an Anglican.
WM. McKENZIE
Some men, whose names hold high places
in history, have gone through life without the
turn of a hand for their fellows, and at the
end, when they could no longer use it, left
their wealth to endow colleges, build libraries
or to erect great churches as monuments to
their memories. He who has made the lives
of his fellows easier, better lives, has done far
more, and his own life is far nobler! In dis
tant Scotland there were five orphans left to
meet the world alone to-day all five look
upon it as a good old world. There is here a man who will endow
no colleges, build no libraries, erect no churches, but he has done a
far nobler deed, in giving to those five orphans a home, and rear
ing them to honorable man and womanhood. That man is Mr.
Wm. McKenzie, who, for the past twenty years, has been so
much to North Bay. He was born in Vaughan township, in York
County. Later the family removed to Peel County. He went to
the Public Schools of York and Peel, and attended the Rockwood
Academy, near Guelph; also attended the Academy at Owen
Sound. He spent ten years teaching in the Public Schools of
Dufferin and Grey Counties. In 1887 he came to North Bay.
Beginning in a very small way in groceries, he worked up, adding
174
the meat business, flour, feed, and, later, a furniture store, until
he was one of the largest merchants in town. In 1900 he was
appointed sub-collector of Customs of North Bay, then a sub-
office or outport to Ottawa. In 1908 this was made a post, and he
was made Collector over outports at Sturgeon Falls, Sudbury
and Cobalt. He has been North Bay s Mayor for four terms-
1892-93, 1903-04, and in Town Council five years besides. He
has always been an active church worker, being an elder in the
Presbyterian Church and Session Clerk of the Sessions. He mar
ried Miss Jean Wright of Kingston, Ont., and has one daughter.
As above, he gave a home and education to others than his own,
each of whom are well established in homes of their own. Else
where I have mentioned North Bay s pretty lawns I had in mind
some well-nigh perfect ones when I wrote of them, and of these
Mr. McKenzie s possibly headed the list. Here is another in
stance of meagre space to tell of a busy life.
D. J. McKEOWN
Few have been more identified with
North Bay, from its very start, than has D.
J. McKeown, and to him I am indebted for
points of its early history, for, like Sheriff
Varin, he saves the records. He was
born in Montreal in 1846. He has spent
his life in railway interests, first with
the Grand Trunk, with which road he was
connected for twenty years, in Montreal
and Quebec. He came to North Bay in
1883, with the C.P.R. as agent, in charge
of timber shipments for the district. Has been agent ever since
for the C.P.R. Later he became agent as well for the G.T. and
the T. and N.O. railways. Also for a number of years in charge
of the express companies, until their business grew up to a special
agent for each. He also looked after our consulate business up
to the coming of our efficient consul, Mr. E. C. Wakefield.
Mr. McKeown has been Secretary of the Board of Trade
since its organization in 1894, and instrumental in its being.
Incidentally, this Board started with 35 members, and now has
100. With L. P. Snyder, first Manager of the Traders Bank,
he organized the Public Library, transferring to it the C.P.R.
175
library. He has been on the High School Board since its
organization, and is most active in the interest of the school.
He married Miss Aileen Brennan, daughter of James Brennan,
of Merrickville. He has eight children. He is a Catholic in
religion. Largely connected with real estate he has many valu
able properties. To write so busy a life in a few sentences is
one of the tasks of a biographer, but space here admits of but
a brief summary, however much may have been the subject of a
sketch.
JAMES McILVENNA
James Mcllvenna was born in Kilwin-
ning, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1864. In 1876
he came to Brockville, Ont., and in 1881 to
Mattawa, with the C.P.R. In the fall of
1882 he came to North Bay wuth th j
poioneers. Jim is another of the boys who
no\v owns a good bit of "The Wilderness of
1882," as well as a share of two other "Wil
dernesses" of the early days Fort William
and the "Soo." He must shortly be rated
among the successes. He was a member of
the Town Council in 1893, and the Reeve in 1895, the year
that North Bay became the County Town. He is a member of a
number of Fraternal Societies. He was a charter member and
the Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen the
first Society to organize in North Bay when it started in 1884.
He is now an engineer with the C.P.R. He married Miss Ger
trude Landers, of Sudbury. In religion a Presbyterian. Jim is
a good story-teller hunt out some of the best in this volume and
vou will believe mv words.
JOHN M. McNAMARA
John M. McNamara was born in Walkerton, County of
Bruce, Ont. Educated in the Public and High Schools of his
home town, and graduated from the Toronto Law School. He
came direct to North Bay, reaching here Nov. ist, 1888,
and went at once into practice. He has always taken an
active interest in politics, being the President of the Con
servative Association for the District of Nipissing since iqo2.
He was a member of the Town Council for two years-
1897-98 and Mayor for 1899-1900. He is active in church
work, was on the building committee for the new Catholic
Church, has been on the High School Board since its organiza
tion, and is connected with many Fraternal Societies. He mar
ried Miss Annie, the daughter of the late Wm. Doran. Has two
children, a son and a daughter. Mr. McNamara has one of the
largest law practices in the district.
A. A. McINTOSH
A. A. Mclntosh was born in Simcoe,
Ont. Came to North Bay in 1891. Like
so many of the substantial citizens, he was
j
for a time with the C.P.R., but not for long,
when he went into the meat business with
Donald Hill, later adding groceries, with,
now, one of the best trades in to\vn. He
was in the Town Council for two years.
He married Miss Mary A. Hill, a sister of
his partner. He is a Presbyterian. His
partner, Donald Hill, who died in 1904,
was one of those of whom the people have nothing but good
to sav. Mr. Mclntosh is an active fraternitv man, being a mem-
- f
ber of the Masonic and other Orders.
DR. ARCHIBALD McMURCHY
"Dr. A. McMurchy has been one of
the institutions of North Bay," as another
pioneer puts it. He was its first physician.
He came with the C.P.R., whose doctor
he was and still is, a quarter of a century
later. He was born in York County, near
Toronto. He went to the Public School,
the Richmond High School, and graduated
at Queen s University in Arts in 1875, and
in Medicine in 1883. He came at once to
the C.P.R., first to Mattawa as physician
and surgeon. He had charge from Chalk River to Sudbury.
When the road was opened to North Bay he located here. When
the T and N.O started, he was appointed physician and sur-
177
geon as far as New Liskeard. He has been on the Public School
Board for seven years and on the High School Board for four years.
He is a prominent member of many fraternal societies, is a Pres
byterian and a Liberal. "Dr.," said I, in closing the interview,
"there seems to be something lacking in your life." "And
what s that, pray?" said he, wondering. "I don t find you, in
any way, connected with Pembroke, which is so out of the ordin
ary that I must remark it." " Oh, yes," said the Dr., smiling,
"I forgot to say that I taught school in Pembroke, and there
found a Miss Elizabeth Fraser, who consented to become Mrs.
McMurchy." "Ah, that completes the sketch! It does seem
that there could have been no North Bay had there not first been
a Pembroke." "And a fine place, too, it is! And a fine peo
ple!" I ve been there," said I, "and cannot but so conclude,
from the half of its population I ve found here in North Bay."
THOMAS M. MULLIGAN
Thomas M. Mulligan, brother of Ber
nard, was also born at Pontiac. When a
boy he went to clerk at Chapleau, where he
remained twelve years, later going to Ottawa,
where for six years he was with the T.
Lindsay Co. in charge of a department.
In 1904 he came to North Bay and opened
a high-class gents furnishing store, recently
removing to the new Gilmour Block. He
married Miss Willietta Flannery, sister of
City Clerk- Treasurer M. W. Flannery. He
has four children. A Catholic in religion.
BERNARD M. MULLIGAN
B. M. Mulligan was born at Pontiac, on
the Quebec side of the Chats Falls. He
was the son of Hugh Mulligan, long with
the Union Forwarding Co., and in charge of
the Pontiac station when it was a live-
going place, in the days when John Egan
was starting the Georgian Bay Canal at the
Chats the very first work done on this
great government enterprise. Bernard came
t> Mattawa for a time, and in 1885, to North
Bay, for Murray and Loughrin, starting for
178
himself in 1892. He has been a member of the Separate School
Board for the past ten years. He has long taken an active in
terest in the Board of Trade and is its Treasurer. He is a large
owner of residence and business property, of which the Imperial
Bank building is a part. He is a Director in the Opera House
Co. He married Miss Elizabeth Kipp, of Ottawa. He has ten
children. A Catholic in religion, and one of the "wheel-horses"
in Liberal politics. " Barney : is in many other parts of this
book you must know him, however, to recognize the parts. As
one said of him in speaking of pioneer days: " Barney never used
to let folks get lonesome," and that might still be said of him.
JOHN MURPHY
John Murphy entered the world by
way of Westport, Ont. Went to Kingston
in 1890, next to Wellington, where he had
a shoe store, and in 1904 came to North
Bay. From a small beginning he has
one of the largest shoe businesses in the
upper country. He married Miss Eliza
beth O Brien, of Brockville. He has four
children. Living in the Widdifield section
of town, known as "Murphy s Ward," he
is most active in the welfare of that grow
ing part of this future city. He is now in the Township Council
-the first member elected from the Ward and will doubtless
be Reeve next, as John has aspirations. LATER John is Reeve.
J. R. MOFFAT
J. R. MofTat, following what seems to
have been the conventional form, was born
in Pembroke, where he was educated in the
High School, and in 1892 went into the
Pembroke branch of the Ottawa Bank, re
maining there till 1898, when he went to
the branch in Alexandria, Ont., and from
there to Parry Sound. In 1902 he was
made Manager at Maxville, and in 1906
opened the branch in Haileybury, remaining
there during the early Cobalt boom, then
came, in June of 1907, to manage the North Bay branch.
179
In
1903 he married Miss Stella G. Hamilton, daughter of the late
Wm. Hamilton, of Toronto. He has two sons. Mr. Moffat is a
Presbyterian. By way of history: This branch of the bank was
opened in Oct. of 1902, with Wm. Kingsmill as Manager, who
was succeeded by D. McLaren, the predecessor of Mr. Moffat.
THOMAS PEACOCK
Thomas Peacock was born in Hamil
ton, in which city he was educated. He
first studied law, but later preferring bank
ing, went with the Traders Bank, with
which he has been identified for the past
ten years, being now Manager of the North
Bay branch, of which he took charge in
1907. The Traders was the first bank
in North Bay, opening here on March i8th,
1895. As showing the rapid growth of a
bank, properly managed, the Traders was
incorporated July 2nd, 1885, with" three branches, and now has
eighty branches in all parts of Canada, with one of the finest
head office buildings in Toronto. By way of history: L. P.
Snyder was the first manager of this branch. His successors
were D. Muir, H. C. Chalmers, J. H. Stephens (now Secretary
of the Silver Queen Mining Co.), P. H. Wade, and then came
Mr. Peacock.
A. L. OGDEN
A. L. Ogden was born in Toronto.
Was educated at the Upper Canada Col
lege, Toronto, and entered banking with
the Imperial Bank in 1899, for which bank
he came in 1907 as manager for the North
Bay branch. He married Miss Maud
Lightbound, of Montreal. He is an An
glican in religion. Mr. Ogden has always
taken a keen interest in athletic sports
and looks the part. The Imperial Bank of
Canada was incorporated in the year 1873.
Its growth since that date has been steady, and now with an
authorized capital of $10,000,000, of which $5,000,000 is paid
180
up, and a reserve fund equal to its paid-up capital, it stands out
as one of the strongest financial institutions in Canada. It has
seventy-five branches in Canada stretching from ocean to ocean.
The North Bay branch was opened October 24th, 1902, at the
corner of Main and Fraser Streets, which site is now occupied
by the Queen s Hotel, moving to its present handsome office
in the Mulligan Block in February, 1903. The bank does a
large share of the banking business of North Bay and the sur
rounding district.
DAVID PURVIS
Purvis ll do it!" Not because Purvis
is " easy, " but because Purvis is able! When
a delegation has any real work cut out to do,
to meet men of ability on an important
interest to the town, and the question comes
up: Who will do the speaking?" then
conies the unanimous answer with which
I start this sketch. The Board of Trade
asked: Who -will make The Gateway
possible?" The above was the answer,
and by the kindly response of a public-
spirited lot of citizens he made it possible, and if there be any
merit in the work, to him and to them it is all due.
David Purvis was born in 1845, a * Scarboro, near Toronto.
In 1860 ^ the family removed to a farm near Barrie, in which
town with his brothers James and Thomas he later went into
the hardware business, and from a small beginning they built
up the largest retail trade in the Province, with branches in
North Bay, 1888; Sudbury, 1900; and Webbwocd, 1902. It
was in 1888 that David came to North Bay, in which town he
has always taken a lively interest, serving in many positions of
prominence. When the Board of Trade was organized in 1894
he was made its first President, which cffice he held up to 1905,
when he resigned upon being elected Mayor, which position he
occupied for two years, 1905-06. He was in the Town Council
for one year, (was in the Barrie Council for five years, resigning
to come to North Bay). He was a member of the Public School
Board for several years, and was a member of the first High School
Board. When the Hon. Frank Latchford came up to turn the first
sod on the T. and N.O. Railway, he was master of ceremonies
181
for the town, not being a bit afraid that Frank wanted to make
political capital out of the proceedings. He is not a party man,
but one whose interest in his town rises above party. When
the corner-stone was laid for the Trout Lake Smelter, he was the
chairman of the meeting, at which were gathered some of the
great men of all parts of the country.
His faith in the building of the Georgian Bay Ship Canal is
unbounded. "I am as confident," says he, "that it will be built,
as that the men at Ottawa have the great interest of the whole
Dominion at heart! It must be built. The Government have not
made one of the most complete surveys of the route, ever made
for a great work, for any other reason than that they look upon
it as a thing to be." He is in a position to know, having headed
many a delegation to Ottawa to urge its building. And, speaking
of the large delegation that went to Ottawa to interview the last
Parliament, which was joined by many others from the Great
Lakes to Arnprior, he said: "Never before were we so cordially
received by the Premier and the members. We were shown the
surveys by the Minister of Railways and Canals, who was most
enthusiastic on the enterprise."
As elsewhere mentioned, he retired from business last year,
and is giving his time to church work and to his well-stocked
library. I have never heard so able a lay preacher, and in world
information I have rarely met his equal.
W 7 M. J. PARSONS
Wm. J. Parsons was born at Holland
Landing, Ont. Went to Toronto, where
he was three years in dry goods business.
Was in Guelph for a short time in the same
line. Sold out and started for the west,
but seeing North Bay, said: "This is good
enough for me." That was in 1888. He
has been here ever since. Went into
dry goods the Nipissing Stores, in the
large McKeown block. This - - 1908 -
spring he was appointed Crown Land
Agent for the Nipissing District. Was in Town Council for
three years one year chairman of Public Works. He married
Miss Elizabeth Washburn, of Beeton, Ont., in 1892. He is a
182
f
Methodist in religion and Conservative in politics. Active in
Fraternal Societies, being a C.O.O.F., an I.O.O.F., a K.O.T.M.,
an I.O.F., an A.O.U.W., and a Shriner in Masonry. Being
fond of the gun, he rarely misses his hunt in deer season. For
years he was president of the North Bay branch of the Dominion
Rifle Association, and holds a gold medal for the highest score
in shooting. He has a fine collection of gun relics one a double-
barrelled flint-lock pistol with a history. It is supposed to have
belonged to the famous Indian, Tecumseh, as it was found (by
Lieut. Turner) by his side when he was killed at the battle of
Beaver Dam (?) in the war of 1812-13.
ROBERT RANKIN
There is in North Bay an illustration
of the vast good done by that great-hearted
Scotchman, Wm. Quarrier, who started a
poor orphan, to become the great protector
of many another of the fatherless and moth
erless of his country. That illustration is
one of the most active, purposeful men in
North Bay, Robert Rankin, who will with
out doubt be the next Mayor of the town,
for whose best interests he has long worked.
Being left an orphan, Wm. Quarrier gave
to him and his four sisters a home in Scotland, and later found
for him a Canadian home that of another large-hearted Scotch
man Wm. McKenzie, who has truly been to him a father,
rearing him as a son and establishing him among the prominent
business men of the town. After many steps one of which
was taken with the C.P.R. he now has the management of the
North Bay branch of the Whyte Packing Company, Ltd., of
Stratford, whose business of wholesale and retail meats, gro
ceries, flour and feed, extend through many towns and cities
of Ontario. Mr. Rankin has been a Town Councillor eight
years, three of which he was Reeve the last one of the town;
active in Presbyterian work, chairman of the building committee
for the new church, and now chairman of the Board of Managers
of that church. He is a member of many fraternal orders and
societies in short, a man that counts. He married Miss Eliza
beth McKenzie, sister of Mr. Wm. McKenzie. He has three
183
children, two sons and one daughter. His faith in North Bay
lias made of him a large property holder. When others lost
faith and sold out, they found in him a buyer, largely to his gam
since the phenomenal advance in values. He is an active mem
ber of the Board of Trade, and like many another of that body
his great aim is to see built the Georgian Bay Ship Canal.
LATER: Mr. Rankin is Mayor, made so by acclamation.
DR. E. A. RANNEY
Dr. E. A. Ranney was born at George
town, County of Halton. He was edu
cated in the Public Schools of his home
town, and graduated M.D.C.M. at Trinity
University, and also at Trinity Medical
College F.T.M.C. He went in 1901 to
take charge of the Muskoka General Hos
pital, where he remained a year, and came
to North Bay in 1903. He was Medical
Health Officer in 1904 and 1905 for the
town and also for the township of Widdi-
field, and Jail Surgeon since 1905. He married Miss Ethel
Calvert, of Toronto, and has four children. The Dr.
of flowers, as may be seen by his yard about his East Mam
Street home.
J. \V. RICHARDSON
J. W. Richardson was born at Forest,
County of Huron, Ont. He went first
with G. F. Marter, ex-M.P.P., of Graven-
hurst, in general merchandizing. From
there he went to Winnipeg, in hardware.
He married Miss E. A. Hill, of Winnipeg
Came to North Bay in 1885, and started
as tinsmith, and gradually worked up to
a large hardware business. He was for a
number of years in the Town Council,
- - two years on the Public School Board,
and in 1902 was elected Mayor. He is active in many Fraternal
Societies, a friend of the workingman, in whose
never idle when there is occasion. He is a live Method)
184
E. W. ROSS
E. W. Ross was born in Orillia, Ont.
Came to North Bay in 1888, and went at
once into the jewellery business the pioneer
in the trade which he has built up to fine
proportions, and with a beautiful store.
He married Miss Louie Carruthers, niece
of the late Dr. J. B. Carruthers. He was
on the Public School Board for one term.
Is a member of many Fraternal Societies,
and an active Presbyterian, of which church
he is Secretary and a Trustee. His beau
tiful home, corner of Worthington and Wyld Streets, may be
seen among "The pretty homes of North Bay." The lawn I
must instance to those who would confine beauty with an un
sightly fence. Mr. Ross has followed the Rochester, New York,
no-fence plan, so much admired by every visitor to that city.
EDWARD H. SHEPHERD
"E. H. Shepherd" is a name well known
to the traveller in this north country, and
always brings to mind one of the best known
and most popular hotels in New Ontario-
the "Queen s," of North Bay. Mr. Shep
herd was born in Arundel, Sussex County,
England, where he was educated at the Wai-
burton Schools. He later went into the
navy, on H.M.S. Caledonia and Resistance.
He came to Canada in 1875, first to Toronto
and in 1886 to Niagara, in which latter place
he took much interest in municipal affairs, was in the Town Coun
cil for a term, and in 1895-96 was Reeve, from which he retired
to come to North Bay in 1896. He bought out Edward Lynch s
interest in the Queen s Hotel, which he has since greatly enlarged
and improved, extending it to Main Street, along Eraser Street.
He married Miss Alice Nichols, of Gloucester, England, and has
three sons and four daughters. Harry is manager of the hotel,
Edward with the T. and N.O. Railway, and Oswald at Trinity
College. There is possibly no other family in the country who
185
have received a higher education in music than have the Shepherds.
As elsewhere, Mr. Shepherd has one of the largest private collec
tions of rare ancient coins in Canada, having spent many years
gathering them. Some men are born hosts they could make a
guest feel at home in a cabin. That is why once a guest at the
Queen s, always a guest, when business or pleasure brings him to
this little city by the lake. Mr. Shepherd s faith in the town is
shown by the large number of houses he is
putting up pretty well-planned homes.
"The Cap Sheaf," says Mr. Shepherd,
enthusiastically, " will be the building of the
canal. Once it starts nothing can hold back
the growth of North Bay, and so confident
am I that it will come, that I am going right
along with my building enterprises." It is
this spirit that is bound to make of this
town a great metropolis. Mr. Shepherd and
son Harry are largely interested in mining
properties in Algoma copper and the silver
HARRY SHEPHERD f J , f , r T^J^ fU
Manager, Queen- s Hotel lands to the north of here. The Redpath
Company of Montreal have their private
wire in the Queen s office, where much business is done in stocks
by the firm of Dixon & Company. The Queen s has been the
popular hostelry for mining men going up and down from Cobalt
since the opening of that famous camp.
DR. G. W. SMITH
Dr. G. W. Smith was born at Almonte,
Lanark County, Ont., where his parents still
reside. He was educated at St. Mary s
Separate School and in the High School of
his native place. Was graduated in medicine
from the University of Toronto, and for a
short time was a house surgeon in St. Mich
ael s Hospital in that city, and afterwards
was resident surgeon to the Ottawa General
Hospital for a period of one year. His
coming to North Bay was occasioned by the
building of the T. & N.O. Railway, he having acted as medical
attendant to that road during its early construction days. When
186
the railway was completed to New Liskeard he returned to town
and has since acquired an extensive practice. The doctor has
every confidence in the future of North Bay and is regarded as an
enterprising and public- spirited citizen. He is a member of the
Arena Rink Co. and of the Opera House Co., and is Medical
Health Officer for the town, a member of the Hospital Board and
of the Hospital Staff, and also of the High School Board.
H. H. THOMPSON
H. H. Thompson was born in Brantford,
Ont., in which he was educated in the
Public and High Schools. Went to British
Columbia for two years, returned and, at
twenty-one years of age, he started in the
grocery business, sold out and, in 1904,
went travelling for D. S. Perrin and Co.,
wholesale confectioners, of London, Ont.
In autumn of 1907 he started a large grocery
business in the Ferguson Block, and is fast
working into one of the largest trades in the
country, doing a big tourist supply business, having a large part
of the French River trade. Married Miss Emily Gilmour, of
Brantford. Mr. Thompson is a Methodist.
JAMES A. THOMAS
James A. Thomas is another illustration
of the successful young men who are doing
so much to build up this great north country.
As proof that it is grit and push that make
more for success than money, this young
man came here with $200, and, after eleven
years, has a big store full of everything in
the w r atch, clock, jewellery, cut class, china,
and silverware lines; also carries wall
papers, stationery, musical instruments, sport
ing and fancy goods. Mr. Thomas was born
in Lindsay, where he was educated in the Public Schools, and the
Collegiate Institute. He married Miss Dora Banks of Durham,
187
Ont., in 1904, and has one daughter, which is said to be the only
one in town I haven t yet secured the opinions of some others
of the successful young men, whose "pets" are much in evidence
almost any hour of the wheeling day. I sometimes think that North
Bay even beats Haileybury the two claiming the " Baby Car
riage" as their coat-of-arms. Mr. Thomas is a Methodist. The
North Bay store of Thomas & Co. is one of two; the other, quite
as large, is at that enterprising town Bracebridge, in the Muskoka
country.
GERALD C. THOMPSON
Gerald C. Thompson was born 1880-
in Orillia, Ont. When a boy he is not
much more yet he went to Honolulu,
which he considers one of the most beautiful
cities in the world. Here he remained two
years. Returning to Canada, he spent a
year at the Canada Ophthalmic College in
Toronto. In 1902 he came to North Bay,
and started, in a small way, in the jewellery
business, building up a trade that certainly
looks good. It is not my purpose to make
business comment in this chapter, nor will it be, to say that the
Thompson display window would be a credit to Toronto s pretty
jewellery windows. He is Deputy Grand Master in the Order
of Oddfellows, and a Shriner in Masonry. He is Official \\ atch
Inspector for the entire system of the T. and N. O. Railway. As
wedding rings and marriage go "hand in hand," it is quite natural
to find him an issuer of marriage licenses. And apropos of
licenses. While with us, some public official must issue them-
here in Canada any one may be appointed, or given the right.
He married Miss Christina Leckie, of Toronto. In religion he is
a Presbyterian. Mr. Thompson is certainly public-spirited
When he saw the writer s suggestion for the beautifying of Norl
Bay s lawns, he said: "I ll donate the cup, and make it worth
competing for." It is such spirit as his that makes
vancement of a town.
ixx
ROBERT WALLACE
Robert Wallace was born in Toronto.
He went to Hillsdale, Ont., in 1858, and in
1888, came to North Bay. Going at once
into contracting he has to his credit the
building of nearly one-third of the town,
few firms in Ontario doing more to build up
the Province than R. Wallace and Son.
Among their larger contracts were the
Queen s, North Bay and Cecil Hotels, the
East Ward Public School, the Methodist
Church, the Mulligan, Richardson, Purvis,
Wallace, etc., blocks. Mr. Wallace was in four Town Councils.
He married Miss Jennett Hill, of Hillsdale, Ont. Has eight
children. In religion he is a Presbyterian.
H. C. VARIN
In 1859 E. Varin came up into this coun
try among the very first lumbermen, with
limits as far as Trout Lake. His son, H. C.
Varin, the subject of this sketch, who w r as
born in Ottawa (then Bytown) in 1849,
came to these parts in 1863. He drove from
Ottawa, a trip then requiring six days,
owing to the narrow roads and the s:reat
o O
amount of teaming. This trip was simply
to visit his father s camps. His father died
in 1865 an d his limits were sold to David
Moore, with whom H. C. went, and remained until 1874, when
he returned to Ottawa, where he stayed until 1881, then came to
Bonfield and opened a general store. On March 4th, 1895, he
was appointed Sheriff for Nipissing, and came to North Bay,
where he has since resided. He married Mrs. Salina Robaittaill,
widow of A. Groulx, of Ottawa. He has six children; his son is
his efficient Deputy. Mr. Varin was Reeve for Bonfield for seven
years. He organized and was the first President of the Agri
cultural Society of Bonfield. He was the instigator of the schools
of that place, and had them going even before the Government
had sent the money for their maintenance. He was also instru
mental in the opening of Government roads. He has always
189
been active in Church matters, being on the building committee
of the new Catholic Church in North Bay. The Sheriff is a
collector of relics of the early days. Once coming up the Mat-
tawa River he found on an island one of Champlain s swords,
at least it had upon it the great man s name. To this pioneer 1
am indebted for many of my most valuable bits of the early his
tory of the country round about the Bay. He does what all
should do, he keeps records of events as they transpire.
THOMAS WALLACE
Thomas Wallace was born in Toronto,
and was educated in the High School of
that city. The family later removed to
Medonte Township. He went to Wye-
bridge, where he began the manufacture of
harness, first on a small scale and later for
the trade, building up one of the largest
businesses in Ontario. Sold out and went
into general merchandise. In 1899 he came
to North Bay, and opened a store in the
same line. On the starting of the T. and
N. O. Railway, he went into contracting for railroad ties, and
furnished 140 miles of the road. When silver was discovered in
Cobalt he acquired interests in a number of valuable claims-
the Silver Leaf, Silver Hill (now a part of the great Larose Mines),
etc. In 1906 he retired from general store and contracting. He
has recently opened a mining broker s office in the Ferguson
Block, with private wires to Toronto, and connected with Cobalt,
New York City and other points. He married Miss C. C. Ed
wards, of Wyebridge. He has six children. His son, J. M.
Wallace, is a leading mining broker in Toronto, and another-
Herbert is a broker in Cobalt. Mr. Wallace is a Presbyterian,
which leads up to a good story, which I shall tell and then be
forgiven afterwards. One day, in the Queen s Hotel, a fellow
came up to the writer and unsteadily balancing himself, wanted
to know: " Skuze me, mister, but ain t you (hie) Tom Wallace?
"No," said I, "I m not Tom Wallace." "Ain t you (hie) Tom
Wallace? sfunny, I ve bin dodgin y all day. Tom s awful on
drinkin an I wus frade y d lecture (hie) me fr takin too much!
Shure y ain t Tom? Shake. I m awful glad y ain t, fur Tom
an I belong to (hie) th same church!
190
SILVANUS F. WEEGAR
Silvanus F. Weegar was born in North
Williamsburg, Ont. He was educated in
the Public Schools. " Fred s" life has been
so varied that it would take a volume to tell
it, and then there would be some. From
home he first went to clerk for an uncle in
Morrisburg, then with the Passumpsic Rail
road of Vermont. He next went into the
theatrical business with the famous Glass-
ford Sisters. Growing tired of travel he
went into the stationery business in Ottawa.
But the "call of the road" was too strong and he became business
manager for the Cecil Brothers, Spirit Exposers, then joined S.
Draper s Uncle Tom s Cabin Co., and finally took charge, for a
year, of the Cole s Circus newspaper work. He next went to
Carleton Place and took charge of the first restaurant opened by
the C.P.R. That was in 1882. For fourteen years he was at
Calumet, and in 1898 came to North Bay, where he has since
resided. On September Qth of this year he was made Police
Magistrate, by the Ontario Government, for North Bay, and next
for Widdifield and Ferris Townships. He has already become
the fear of evil-doers. He handles cases so rapidly that he might
be called " The Col. Denison of the North." He married Miss
Annie Croskery, of Perth. He has four children. He is a live
Methodist, and prominent in fraternals, an Oddfellow, and a
Past Master in Masonry. At his Silver Wedding, celebrated in
1907, the list of those who remembered the occasion with
gifts, included the "Who s Who" of not only North Bay, but
many other places as well.
191
First House and First Child in Cobalt
This picture was taken of one of the first shacks built in
Cobalt. It stood where now stands the Hunter Block. The
little one seen in the picture is that of the first child born in
Cobalt. She is Annita Cahill. When I heard the mother speak
ing to her as "Annita," I asked: "Where did you get that
name?" " In the very early days of the camp, a commercial
man came up from Montreal. He brought with him a novel,
and loaning it to us, we saw the name, and liking it, called baby
Annita after the character." " What was the name of the
novel?" I asked. " My Friend Bill," said she. " Ah, indeed!"
said I, a bit proud. " And so I named the first child in Cobalt."
" How so?" she asked, in surprise. " Well, you see, My Friend
Bill is my own book my first attempt at novel writing."
One never knows where one s mind children will be found but
to meet them, whether in the great city or in some far-away min
ing camp, is a peculiar pleasure.
The others in the group are Annita s mother, grandfather,
and "Uncle Tom" Tom Cahill, so widely known "up the
Montreal."
192
THE REAL COBALT
THE STORY OF
CANADA S MARVELLOUS SILVER
MINING CAMP
BY
ANSON A. GARD
Author of "The Pioneers of the Upper Ottawa," "The New Canada,
"The Yankee in Quebec," "My Friend Bill, 5
"The Last West," Etc., Etc.
TORONTO
THE EMERSON PRESS
J908
A LIST OF BOOKS BY THE
SAME AUTHOR
The Yankee in Quebec
Uncle Sam in Quebec
The Wandering Yankee
How to See Montreal
The New Canada
The Hub and the Spokes ; or, Ottawa
of To-day
The Pioneers of the Upper Ottawa
Ottawa, the Beautiful Capital
The Last West
My Friend Bill; a Novel
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of
Canada, in the year one thousand nine hundred and
eight, by ANSON A. GARD, at the Department of
Agriculture.
PRESS OF
THE HUNTER-ROSE Co,
LIMITED
PREFACE
DID you ever think that the first you read is the last the
author writes? We never know what a book is to be,
and cannot know until it is. As Patrick would say
" we never know what we are going to write until we have
written it."
In May of 1907, Cobalt to me was a name now it is a
reality, and, believe me, "reality" may well be placed in italics.
If I am an enthusiast on the subject, it is with reason, and I am
honest in saying, that the most glowing accounts of it but feebly
convey what Cobalt really is. Even during the months I spent
in the camp, prospect after prospect turned to mine, and mine
to shipper. I passed the Gillies Limit with a "calcite" jest, only
to find it a "shipper," after the jest was in printed page.
That is the one advantage of a Preface you can take it back
before the book reaches the hands of the critic, and thus discount
his sting.
Two days ago, Feb. 28th, the most famous mining law suit of
the Camp was ended. For years "The Lawson Vein" was in
litigation. It passed from court to court (see page 30), through
many tedious trials. But this ends it, and I have got to record
the ending even it I have to put it in the "Beginning." Tom
Crawford lost and John McMartin won.
I trust that no one will get the impression that I think all of
the 949 Coleman claims and the hundreds outside will become
mines. That would be impossible, and I would wish no one to
be misled. I do say that there are many great mines in Cobalt,
and many more prospects that must yet become rich shippers.
I have named of each a very, very few. Some of the richest I
iv PREFACE
have but hardly noted in passing some of their owners being
so modest that they wished not to be mentioned. Like the
Quakeress, modest and humble and enormously proud of it.
I am indebted to so many for courtesies and favors, that a
bare list would turn Preface into a long chapter, and they must
take the " will."
To the newspapers and journals I owe much, especially so to
The Silver City News, of Haileybury, and The Canadian Min
ing Journal, of Toronto From the columns of both I gained
much valuable data. You too are indebted to this great Mining
Journal, for many of the beautiful illustrations are here through
the kindness of its people. It was their wish that the Camp
which already owes it so great a debt should be shown as it is,
and nothing so illustrates as pictures of the real.
In subsequent editions (which must follow, since the first is
all but gone before it leaves the press), many new features will
be added. New pictures, other mines, a fund of stories and
incidents of the Camp; and sketches of other characters who
have figured in its early history and subsequent growth. No
features of more interest will be than "How it was Discovered"
and " The Rapid Successes of Cobalt," in which will appear many
discoveries, incidents and biographical sketches, familiar to the
old (?) timers. In short, the most interesting features of any
book again letting Patrick tell it "are the things not in it."
They will be in the next, if the readers of this will but add in
dividual mine incidents to my already large collection of the
general camp life. With many a " thank you" to Cobalt, and
to that great Northland, and with sweet memories of a delightful
sojourn among their kindly people, I am,
Most sincerely,
THE AUTHOR.
TORONTO, March, 1908.
THE REAL COBALT
WHEN I read the story of " Aladdin and His Wonderful
Lamp," I believed it, from which you may judge how
young I was when I read it. It was a great disappoint
ment when I found it wasn t true, and ever since it has been
harder and harder to convince me of the truth of anything
wonderful until well, when I read about Cobalt and the
marvellous "finds," I simply set it all down to the credit of
the man who had a mine for sale a mine he didn t want,
and who sat up nights to devise language sufficiently strong
to get it off his hands. But as time went on and I saw
impecunious friends changing from rented cottages to fine resi
dences of their own, from simple Cobalt dividends, I was com
pelled to accept as truth the stories of this twentieth century
Wonder. And now, after months of visiting in and around this
veritable Land of Silver, I want to tell you that only a few of the
scattering facts have been told of what is to be found in this land
of marvels. "Only a few" a library on the subject would but
touch the "Calcite" of the vein! You may doubt my words
I won t blame you if you do I doubted this story myself when
I heard it, and not until it had been told and retold me by the
many could I grasp and accept it as a fact.
I shall start my own story of "The Real Cobalt" by relating
how a company of men, organized with a capital of $25,000 of
"air," have succeeded. They did all in their power to place
the stock, but to little purpose. Finally, by selling dollar shares,
on the instalment plan, they sold less than $8,000 worth, and
with this small capital have developed a business that has become
the marvel of the financial world.
I will not make it a long story. Each dollar share has pro-
THE REAL COBALT
duced in dividends, from sales, $95, and their real value can only
be known by long development of the many rich mining claims
of the fortunate holdings.
The company of which I speak is the most unique in all the his
tory of the mining world. Before Cobalt was even dreamed
of, a number of business and professional men and farmers, in
and around New Liskeard, Ontario, formed
The Temiskaming and Hudson Bay Mining
Company,
and sent prospectors into the far north to seek for minerals of
any kind. They organized in the early spring of 1903, and after
prospecting for a whole year, found nothing worth mentioning,
and still they worked on, spending thousands of dollars to prove
the value of New Ontario s mineral possessions. To them the
Government owes a debt which may never be determined. In
the spring of 1904, when but little of the value of Cobalt camp
was known, the prospectors of the company went down from
New Liskeard and took up eleven claims in what has since proven
to be one of the very best parts of all the district. Had they
but followed the precedent of 1903, and the custom of to-day,
they might have had thousands of acres instead of the 380 which
they have since so honestly prospected, and which have been
proven of such fabulous richness. But while a few new men
staked large areas of accidental finds, the many members of
this company, who had long sought for mineral throughout the
great north, staked but the eleven claims.
In the fall of 1906, they sold the 58 acres just south of the
limits of Cobalt to the Silver Queen for $810,000 nearly $100
for every dollar invested, and nine of the eleven lots left, one of
which has developed into a claim so fabulously rich that its real
value cannot be determined. It was in June of this year (1907)
that they struck on this lot, a wide vein of solid silver, and in
September another was discovered that is the wonder of all the
camp.
THE REAL COBALT 3
The early history of the "Hudson Bay" is so full of incident
that one might write of it a volume of intense interest. As
stated above, the stock was sold on the instalment plan, and to
ward the last of 1903 the collector had his own troubles in getting
in the few cents per share. It is told that one day he was given
a pan of hot water from the hand of an irate woman who had
before told him to "Never let me see you again." Another
subscribed for 200 shares, went home and, regretting the act,
refused to make even the first payment. It is said that she had
another regret later on. A man had a fire down east, and lost
a small fortune, so discouraging him that he came to Cobalt
to make a new start. Meeting another discouraged one after
he got here, he was induced to take 200 shares of "Hudson Bay"
"at your own price." He had a few dollars less than $100
and took the shares. His first dividend was $18,400. He has
since been heard to say that he was glad he got burned out down
east. Being a wise man he still holds the whole of his shares.
These are but a few of the many incidents that are told about
the lucky and unlucky investors of this wonderful company s
stock. Possibly the most unlucky person was the woman whose
husband refused to give her ten dollars to buy 100 shares of the
stock. A man was leaving town and thinking so little of the
"Hudson Bay" that he offered to sell to her his certificate for
ten cents a share. Think of it! I will warrant that never in the
world s history could $20,000 have been made inside of a year
for a ten dollar investment.
Besides their valuable holdings in Coleman, the company
have a rich galena claim near Grassy Lake, in the Larder Lake
district, which they are developing, and which promises well.
It does seem that everything this company touches turns out to
be good. What is remarkable, not a single man in all the pro
moters of the company was a mining man or knew anything
about mining. No wonder it has been called "The Lucky
Hudson." What its stock will yet be worth no one dare guess,
since the dividends alone have made many a poor man rich.
The officers are all New Liskeard men, no one of whom receives
4 THE REAL COBALT
a salary the company being run, possibly, more economically
than any other in the whole camp. These officers are: President,
George Taylor (formerly of London, Ont., of. which city he
was three times Mayor), a hardware merchant; Vice-President,
Angus McKelvey, a lumber man. Directors: T. McCamus,
lumber and mill man, who, with the vice-president, holds large
timber limits; D. T. K. McEwen, a leading lawyer in the Cobalt
district; John Grills, Crown Land Agent of the Temiskaming
District; D. M. Ferguson, capitalist; Dr. B. Field, the leading
physician of the district; Adam Burwash, long the Indian Agent
for the various tribes of the Temiskaming and Abitibi Lakes;
S. S. Ritchie, farmer; W. E. Ritchie, farmer; and John Dunkin,
contractor. Sec y-Treasurer, F. L. Hutchison, accountant.
The main offices are in New Liskeard.
We like to read of the success of the worthy poor I do at
any rate. I m going to tell you of the family of father, mother
and six sons who had worked long and hard in this northland,
and after years of struggle had saved enough to invest $1,300 in
the shares of the above company. While others grew tired
waiting for dividends, they held on to their stock, for they had
faith in it, and are to-day worth $260,000. I have verified the
story and know it to be true.
This is but an instance, in this Aladdin Land, where poor
men of less than four years ago are now justly rated many times
millionaires. I visited the mines of some of them and have
walked along veins of silver for long distances, as in places this
valuable metal needed but to be merely uncovered, dug from
its bed and shipped to produce in one instance $126,000 for
a single carload of ore.
"See that!" said a man to me to-day. That" was a tele
gram telling the result of a car shipment. :; $92,000 was the
burthen of that telegram, and the man showing it manifested
as little interest as he would have once shown over the sale of a
small order of drugs the selling of which he gave up to go into
mining only a year or two ago. From no knowledge of mining
he has become one of the best informed in the camp; and start-
THE REAL COBALT 5
ing with but a small capital, his interests extend over a wide
range. Sudden riches too often change the "good fellow" into
the unendurable cad it has not changed "Bob," and we delight
in his success.
Later. This company have since turned out nearly one-half
million dollars worth of silver, and as this goes to press the rumor
is that they have struck an "ore chute" with millions in sight.
The Mother Lode Theory
Those conversant with silver values elsewhere cannot realize
the richness of this district. $100 to $150 ores, to them, are
high values; while here it runs as high as 22,000 ounces per ton.
For this reason it is justly claimed that this is the richest silver
camp in the world, and the only question is: "Will it last?
Since coming to Cobalt I have made it a point to gather from
as many sources as possible the impression on the mother lode
theory.
While many think it an absurd one, others make it seem
most feasible that the silver has been forced up from below.
If this be true, then the permanency of the district is assured,
and the hidden wealth of Cobalt must run into the fabulous.
The advocates of the theory claim, that deep as have the shafts
been sunk, that the surface has scarcely been scratched to pro
duce the hundreds of tons already shipped from here, and that
many holdings now looked upon as worthless, are underlaid
with fortunes only waiting the enterprise of the holders who are
not afraid to go dow T n after the wealth.
This does not mean that all of the "holdings" are valuable.
Some of them whose owners have spent fortunes telling the
public how "good" they were, will never be other than worthless.
These owners went on the principle that the public is easier
"worked" than mines. I ve visited water-filled holes in the
ground, and by comparing old issues of the daily papers with
the locations of those holes, I found that I was gazing upon
"The greatest, the richest, the most wonderful proposition in
6 THE REAL COBALT
the whole Cobalt camp; now steen cents, bound to go up to a
price we dare not name." The "price" never went up, and
the holes are no further down, for the owners were satisfied
with what the public gave them, believing true all that the owners
had claimed in their advertisements.
This is why really valuable stocks are now so low. The
public spent the money getting nothing in return which could
now be placed to an advantage which may never again be
offered. I know mines whose stocks would be good invest
ments at three times the price at which they can be bought for
to-day not one or two, but many of them, for they have the value
and inside of a very few months will prove it.
There are brokers who will make doubly sure that what
they offer is good; there are also other brokers dealers in
"gilded bricks" but "that s another story "
My desire is to tell you of "The Real Cobalt"; to hunt
out the facts which, however fabulous they may seem, will yet
be facts, for I shall verify every story, and tell you of properties
which I have found to be safe to recommend.
I might give you whole pages of big rock words telling you
of the Laurentian formation, the Keewatins, the Diabase, the
Conglomerite and but then, as it would in the end, all be to
you a conglomeration of words, you would know no more about
the matter than you did before would know no more about
it than the geologists themselves, whose knowledge of this dis
trict seems to have begun and ended with the names of the rocks.
This may be hard on the geologists, but I m telling you the
"Real." I asked a successful prospector: "What is the differ
ence between a geologist and the man who finds silver?"
Vast. The geologist looks for it where it ought to be; we
look for it till we find it."
It wasn t a geologist but a blacksmith who discovered the
silver in Cobalt. Many stories are told of how Larose, the
Hull blacksmith, found that which has made so many millionaires
and which is to make so many more millionaires.
One of these stories has it that Larose threw his hammer at
THE REAL COBALT 7
a passing fox missed the fox and struck a nugget of silver.
Subsequent events proved that even had he got the fox he
wouldn t have been a match for him in ways that are credited to
Reynard.
I ve met a number of people who might have had " that mine."
One man told me that one of the Herron boys once came to him
with some copper which he said he found where later silver was
discovered by Larose. "He offered it the claim to me for
$200, but my partner said, to Hull with it! " wicked partner
but he was prophetic, for to Hull it went, but didn t stay.
COBALT LAKE AND ITS
SURROUNDINGS
AS I shall from time to time speak of the various mines, let s
sit down in the office of the Cobalt Lake Company or
better still, let s get out in that naphtha launch in front of
the office and I ll point out to you where are some of the prin
cipal mines. We will take this as the viewpoint, for the " Cobalt
Lake" seems to hold the "centre of the stage.
Now listen while I tell you things. The lake runs along the
railroad, or as it was here first, the railroad comes into town from
the south along its west bank. The lake is like a long, high-top
boot with the foot at the south end, across which the railroad
cuts, leaving the severed toes on the west side of the track. The
lake is long and narrow, and contains 53 acres. Cobalt built-
up Cobalt lies along the west side of the railway. \Yish I could
incidentally describe the town, but I can t it s that mixed up.
It hasn t a whole street. It has a "square" just to the west of
the depot. "Square" in name only, for it runs as it pleases,
with streets running out two to the north, one to the west, and
that one which runs down along the track to the south.
"Main" Street has so many names that it s all owing to the
man you ask, who can tell you where it is. I asked the Mayor
and he said he didn t know but then he s only been here four
years. Like "Broadway," New York, so called because it is so
narrow, "Main" Street, Cobalt, is so called because it runs off
to the side, toward the east. I could once have jumped across it,
it s that narrow. Two waggons might pass abreast, if one went in
front, as Patrick would say, but would sure lock wheels if they
w r ent together. None of the roads are worked. Nothing seems
to be "worked" in Cobalt but the people, and that keeps every-
8
THE REAL COBALT 9
body busy. They told me, before I came, that there was no
water in Cobalt. It s all wrong. The day I landed there was
lots of it, but it was all worked into the soil and got into your
system over the tops of your shoes. This was uncomfortable
for those who do not like water and I met more of that kind in
one week than I saw in New York City in seventeen years not
in Cobalt, as one must take water or go dry in this temperance
town unless but that is also "another story," which you may
hear told the second day after you land. One of the O boys I
met must have heard it the first day. He seemed so happy.
Said he d found a small menagerie up Main Street. He had
only a vague notion of the animals, and all that he could remem
ber was a little pig, and it was "blind" -poor thing! He wanted
me to go see it, but I m so tender-hearted that I cannot endure
to look upon affliction, even in an animal, and I refused. Next
time I saw him an hour or two later he couldn t have seen a
pen of "pigs," he was that "blind" himself. I don t know, but
some one said he was "paralyzed." And incidentally I ve never
before seen so many cases of "paralysis" in a healthy camp as
in the Cobalt district, covering a distance of twenty miles. Some
days the sound man is the exception. Newton, Kansas, in the
Seventies, had more, and the difference was that in Newton
they used powder guns to do the "shooting"; here they use
superheated uncompressed "air" -lots and lots of it, and so
full of "sulphur" that "His Majesty" might start a new "camp"
with the output.
And yet Cobalt, notwithstanding, is unique in the mining
camps of the world. No intoxicants are allowed, by law, to be
sold; it has fine schools, many churches, and is fast coming out
of the chaos of its earlier years.
But about Cobalt s topography, of which it has so great a
variety stumps predominating. You start up one street with a
waggon, and you ll have to go around through some other street
or you ll never get there, unless you go cross lots. The Gov
ernment sells and takes out of one of its towns all it can
possibly get and then leaves the town in the mud. It, or they,
10 THE REAL COBALT
as you choose, has taken out nearly two million dollars from
sales of lots and mining rights in and around Cobalt, and has
returned towards street improvement the munificent sum of
two thousand dollars.
Governments are the same the world over. They take from
them who need help the most and give to the localities where
votes are most needed to the party no matter which in power.
The Wichita Congressman
I am reminded of an instance in my own country. A member
of Congress from Wichita, Kansas, asked for $20,000 to make
the Arkansas River navigable from Arkansas City to Wichita.
He had been very kind in voting for his brother members pet
schemes and of course got the twenty. He spent the money
(SOME of it) in sticking in, along the banks, cottonwood brush.
His party papers praised him, while the opposition papers were
so glad to have so much money come into the community that
they said nothing about it, and the rest of the country never
heard of it. "Was his scheme successful?" you ask. Oh, yes,
very, very successful. He went in next time with a largely in
creased majority, but I could have waded across the river just
as easy as I could before. All parties and all Governments are
the same. But that does not change the fact that Cobalt should
be given a part of the wealth taken from it by the powers that
be. Same with Latchford and Englehart, but I ll let them
do their own talking.
Locations of Principal Mines
About two blocks back from the station (Cobalt s), the steep
hill begins, and to get up you must drive sideways or not reach
the top, on which so many of the great mines are located. Yes,
right in town. See those shaft houses? Let s count those
within a half mile of the station. Begin there at the south end
of town, and count them in their order. Townsite, with the
Silver Queen just below; power-house of the Cleveland-Cobalt,
THE REAL COBALT 11
with mines a mile and a half to the west, to which com
pressed air is piped from here; City of Cobalt, Nancy-Helen,
Buffalo, Coniagas, Trethewey, the many mines of the great Temis-
kaming and Hudson Bay Company, and others to the north
and west, just beyond the hill, out of sight of where we are sitting.
So much for the town and mines along the west side of the
lake. Now look to the north of where we sit in front of the
Cobalt Lake Company s office, and we ll count those in near
view. There s the Larose, surrounded by the Chambers-Fer-
land ; the O Brien, to the east ; the Right of Way, the strip
running down along the railway; the Nipissing, just here to
our back; the next, joining the "Nip" on the south, is one of
the best known of all, by reason of its great value and much
optioned early history, the McKinley-Darragh. This brings our
vision to the south end of the lake and up to the railway, beyond
which, to the west, I have already named the mines in sight.
Now, there, have you the "lay of the land" in mind? Before
coming up to see for myself, I could never get Cobalt and its
mines fixed rightly. I d look at the map and still it was all
hazy. But sitting here and looking around with the lake as
the centre, it is so plain that I wonder that I should not have
seen it all before.
I wondered if it were hilly, and if so, how hilly. The west
and east are both a high ridge, in places running down to the
lake s edge, while to the north and south is a valley through
which the railway passes on an easy grade.
The mines of note, about which you hear so much, lie mostly
in the district named around the lake. But many others are
scattered in all directions save to the south. The Gillies Limit
shuts off mining in that direction.
Gillies Limit
A report says that the Government was offered $15,000,000
for the Gillies Limit. I do not believe it. I have too high an
opinion of the wisdom of the men who run it. They may make
errors in management, but their judgment would not allow them
12 THEjREAL^COBALT
to refuse an offer far above the value of a thing, and that sum is
far above what this tract of country is worth. Just now they
are putting its value to a test, by sinking a shaft. Although far
down, they have, besides the shaft, sunk only money. They
have, tis true, found some
Calcite
which leads up to the story of the tenderfoot who, shortly after
his arrival, asked in all simplicity: "Which is the more valuable,
calcite or silver?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Why? Well, I hear so much about calcite that I have
come to look upon it as the most valuable of minerals. Every
body tells me: I ve struck a splendid calcite vein, and he s
prouder over it than any one I ve seen after shipping a car of
silver ore that has brought him a hundred thousand dollars.
Yes, calcite must be most valuable!" He later learned some
things, and calcite s real worth was one of the things.
You, too, no doubt, want to learn some things, so let s talk
about some of the mines. We won t talk of all of them. I ve
seen a lot of them that would come under the definition of the
man who said: "A mine is a hole in the ground with a liar on
top." This is more true than elegant. I could appreciate the
fact one day when I went hunting for a wonderful mine (?)
which a newspaper, in a big edition, had lauded to such a height
that I expected to find a great plant with a hundred men bag
ging rich ore. Among my pictures you may see what I found.
The Liar Wasn t There That Day
A friend had asked me to go and look over the property and
tell him if the newspaper story were all true. It took me over a
month to find where the thing was located. Even the men I
met on an adjoining claim could not tell me where it was. I put
in the afternoon as I was determined to find it. Finally, I
found some men chopping wood in a clearing. I thought it was
THE REAL COBALT 13
a chopping bee, but instead, they told me that I had discovered
the " mine about which so many great things had been said
in praise. I didn t want to lose the afternoon, so I took a photo
graph of a water-filled hole. I was sorry that the rest of the
"mine" wasn t there. It may have been as well that "he"
wasn t, as I was not in the best of humor after my long tramp
through the briers, weeds and holes, hunting for "him" and
"the hole in the ground." The company said they d like to
have me visit their mine and tell you about it. I have done so.
I have even given you a photograph of it.
"Zay Got Ze Good Education"
It is the real mines about which I mean to tell you. Mines
which are being honestly worked. They are not all "shippers"
yet, but as a French woman, at a little country soft drinks cabin,
said to me one day, as I asked, pointing to a nearby mine, that
had closed down: "Why did they close?"
"Zay finds ze silver, now zay want find ze buyer." Pointing
to another which had also closed, I asked: "Did they find the
silver too?"
; No, but zay got ze good education." Same with the mines
of which I shall tell you. They may not all have found silver,
but they have good indication. The French soft drinks lady had
innocently told a truth that many a mine-worker will too sadly
appreciate, as the claims up here are not all silver mines, as I had
thought they were before I came. Yes, I thought you could find
silver lying loose about the whole country. You can t, though,
and must be content to find it after much hard work, good man
agement, and a good bit of outside money.
Do you think that it is found by simply digging into the
ground? I did. I thought that you only had to dig and blast
at random. Not so. You first hunt till you find a vein and
then go down. You may find it near the top, as a few have
done, or you may have to go down a hundred or more feet, and
even then fail to get other than "ze good education." Men have
14 THE REAL COBALT
spent their last dollar, given up, heart-broken, and later learned
the sad fact that one shot more would have made their fortune,
which reminds me of
The "Other Foster s" Story
"An Irishman," said Foster (who starting in Ohio has been
in possibly every mining camp on the continent, finally turn
ing up in Cobalt), "out in Colorado had a gold claim. He
used to work this claim until his money gave out, then mine for
others until he had another stake, when he d go back to his
own. Well, he finally gave up in disgust, and abandoned the
claim. Another took it up, and in just two feet struck a fab
ulously rich vein, and at once had a great mine. Later, the
Irishman, on seeing what he had lost, said: Oi ve moined for
forty years, and if Oi moine for a hunerd more, Oi ll niver,
niver, stap in a shaft till Oi ve gan two fate further. "
THE COBALT LAKE MINING
CO., LIMITED
WE will begin right where we sit to talk of the real mines.
It will be like talking of the folks down home, since
it may be called a home mine so many Ottawans
are there in it.
I have never before noted the absolute necessity of a company
being run with scrupulously honest care as since coming to Cobalt.
An honest, wise and careful directorate can take a mining prop
erty, which had been passed over by hundreds of prospectors,
and bring it out one of the great successes of the camp, whilst
a first choice may be purposely managed to death.
Not until the latter part of 1906 was the lake that lies along
the east side of built-up Cobalt looked upon as of enough value
to stake, while prospectors had gone miles away to take up claims
which have long since been abandoned as of no value. When
Cobalt Lake was offered for sale by the Government, it dawned
upon so many that beneath its waters lay a vast deposit of silver,
that $1,085,000 were bid for it, and that too by some of the best
business men in the country, who figured that with the greatest
mines in the district surrounding it, this deep basin must con
tain fabulous wealth. Others said: "It may contain silver, but
lying beneath a deep lake, it will not pay to go after it." These
latter had not taken into account the men at the head of the
purchasing company. Men are they to whom the difficulties
of the "others" are but ordinary business propositions. And
so it is being proved. They chose a manager who knew but to
accomplish, and a mining engineer to whom the sinking and
drifting under a lake was a simple thing.
15
16 THE REAL COBALT
Depth of Cobalt Lake
The first thing to do was to find the depth of the lake and the
formation of the bottom. This they learned and made a chart
of it. This chart shows the depth for every 66 feet to be about
forty feet of water, and a deposit of about the same down to the
bed rock.
Having a shore line extending back 33 feet from high water
mark, they began sinking shafts, first by hand and later by the
most approved machinery; with compressed air power for driv
ing the drills, they have sunk one after another until they have
now started on the seventh shaft. These, in their order, have
reached 20, 48, 20, 162, 100, 106, 20 feet, and north shaft 70.
Having sunk, they purpose drifting and making a network
of tunnels all throughout far below the bottom of the lake,
just as though it were but ordinary ground. From shaft No. 6
they will go under the south end of the lake, to catch the valu
able veins known to run out from the McKinley-Darragh mines,
and by tunnels connect the other shafts, catching veins on the
way.
They Have Found It
The "Others" said: "We could have had that lake, but we
did not want it." They would like to have it now! Yes, they
are honest enough to admit their error. And why not? Even
while getting ready to mine, so much silver has been dug that
the value has been proved, and yet the great ore bed has scarce
been touched.
The Indians Knew
Long years ago the Indians used to tell how that they found
their silver trinkets beneath the water. They would never say
where that water lay. They had a superstition that misfortune
would follow should they give its hiding place. From the casual
description given by wandering bands, many think that Cobalt s
M
THE REAL COBALT 17
location was known to them, and doubtless from this very lake s
borders came many of those trinkets, for scarce had the company
begun work along the east shore when silver was found.
A Diversion of the Camp
Last winter, I am told, it was one of the diversions of Cobalt
to cross on the ice, every few days, to see some new find made
by the company, as the work went merrily along. Among the
finds are fine samples of "wire" silver that are beautiful enough
to enthuse the breast of other than an Indian. But what is a
greater proof of a body of ore, lying far beneath the lake, is the
continual finding of great masses of melted silver, as though in
the aeons ago, this metal, having filled the surrounding crevices,
had poured in residue into this deep depression, from which a
wise engineering skill is to wrest it for the enrichment of those
whose faith is strong enough to await the proof.
Cobalt Lake Mining Co. Officers
The officials of the Company are the following: President,
Sir Henry M. Pellatt, of Toronto; Vice-President, George F.
Henderson, of Ottawa; Secretary-Treasurer, G. F. Morrison,
Toronto. Directors: Hon. Frank Latchford; Thomas Birkett,
ex-M.P.; Gordon C. Edwards; D. B. Rochester, Managing
Director (all of Ottawa); Britton Osier, and Major J. A.
Murray, of Toronto; and J. H. Avery, of Detroit, Mich.
Engineer in charge of work, E. L. Fralick, Belleville.
The Plant
The Cobalt Lake have one of the most complete plants in
the district. The buildings are large and well built. These are
an office, dining-room and kitchen, bunk-house that would be a
good model for many a hotel. In the spacious power-house
are two 100 horse-power boilers, a i5-drill air compressor, from
2
18 THE REAL COBALT
which run out pipes to convey the air to all parts of the mines.
A private electric light plant furnishes light to the buildings
and mines.
History of the Mine
When Cobalt s history shall have been written, no chapter
will compare in uniqueness with that of the Cobalt Lake Com
pany. See the rapidity of its formation. On November 22nd,
1906, the first official announcement was made by the Govern
ment that the lake would be sold, and that the tenders would
close on December 2oth, less than one month away. There
was no time for any sort of an organization among capitalists, so
a popular syndicate was formed and when the subscription lists
were collected it was found that almost 700 had subscribed
an average of about $1,800 each the larger number, of Ot-
tawans. At the first meeting of the subscribers, Messrs. Geo.
F. Henderson, Thomas Birkett and D. B. Rochester were
appointed to deal with the matter, the last-named of whom had
been active from the start, having long known of the property.
These gentlemen went to Toronto, where several hundred thou
sand dollars had been subscribed. At a conference with Sir
Henry Pellatt and Britton Osier, the two syndicates were united,
and the amount thought to be necessary to bid in order to secure
the property was decided by each of the conferees writing an
amount upon a slip of paper. When these slips were collected
and an average struck, the sum was found to be $1,085,000,
which was bid and the lake secured.
The company was quickly formed, capitalized at $5,000,000,
of which $4,000,000 was to be issued at once, and each sub
scriber given three shares for each dollar of his subscription.
It was decided to issue $400,000 of treasury stock for devel
opment work and other necessary purposes. Most of this was
taken up at 85 cents a share by the members of the syndicate.
To do this, not a line of advertisement was necessary.
When the 85 cents were bid, it was all a vague prospect-
now, months after, when the property is showing greater values
THE REAL COBALT 19
than were looked for, the stock has dropped to a point so far
below, that to buy at present prices is like gathering money in
with a shovel. Remember, as you read this a few months hence,
that "I told you so." I speak with all confidence, for I have
gone down to see.
Later. No. 4 shaft, that started in nicolite, has run into
native silver, showing up to 925 oz. The first shipment has just
been made (Jan. 1908). It was 50,828 Ibs. of high grade ore.
THE CITY OF COBALT MIN
ING CO., LIMITED
SILVER has a way of intruding itself into all sorts of un-
looked for places. One of the future great mines of the
camp lies beneath the City of Cobalt itself, and for that
reason the name of the company was well and appropriately
chosen and called The City of Cobalt Mining Company, Ltd.
The company may be "Limited," but from indications, all over
the 40 acres the mineral is in almost unlimited quantities. A
shaft is being sunk at the southern part of the property, and
already three well-defined veins have been struck while sinking
the shaft, and fifteen veins have been found upon the small part
partially prospected. Its value may be known by the producing
properties adjoining. It is touched and bounded on the north by
the great Coniagas; the west by the famous mines of Buffalo,
Nancy-Helen and Cobalt Townsite; south-east by the first find,
the McKinley-Darragh; south-west, by the Silver Queen; east,
by one of the greatest silver propositions in the world, the
Nipissing, and still another whose value was placed at more than
a million dollars by some of the best business men in the Do
minion, The Cobalt Lake, whose showings continue to prove the
wisdom of the men who paid the million. Then to the north
east is the widest known of all, being the second discovered,
the Larose, with ten millions of value blocked out, and being
shipped in fortune lots one car reaching the sum of $126,000.
Amid these surroundings, "The City of Cobalt" need but
to go contentedly along, paving the way for the stored-up fortunes
that lie waiting to be dug out and carried away for years to come.
The company are in no hurry. They are getting ready in the
most thorough manner possible, the mine foreman, W. J. Donald-
20
THE REAL COBALT 21
son, being a miner of long experience in Alaska and British
Columbia, and being most practical, he is sinking one of the
safest and best shafts in the camp. Everything shows permanency.
"No gophering for The City of Cobalt," says W. J.; "when we
start to ship, we will keep at it, with no danger of running short
of material, which we will be able to mine at the least possible
expense."
A mere glance at the list of officers will prove to those who
know them, that every dollar will be fully accounted for to the
stockholders. These officers are: H. H. Lang, President and
Managing Director; First Vice-President, R. F. Shillington;
Second Vice-President, W. F. Powell. Directors with the above:
A. J. Young, ex-Mayor P. J. Finlan, Milton Carr, B. W. Ley-
son, Newton J. Ker, J. Glendening, J. Stevenson. W. H.
Lewis, Secy.-Treas. ; W. J. Donaldson, Mine Foreman.
The history of a mine is ever of interest to me. The City
of Cobalt has its history. It was discovered and organized by
Mr. H. H. Lang, an Ottawa man, who does not look like he had
been interested in mining for twenty-one years in Nova Scotia,
British Columbia, and for a time in Los Angeles, California.
He came to Cobalt in March of 1905, and seeing the vast pos
sibilities, set men to work prospecting. Cobalt being vested in
the Railway Commission, it was sold in town lots by them. As
these lots carried mining rights, Mr. Lang bought 41, and later
acquired the mining rights of much of the rest of the town site.
He at once interested many other Ottawans, who could not
but see the great value of Mr. Lang s holdings and the com
pany was at once organized, with the capital placed at $500,000,
which, considering the property, is very low.
Later. The City of Cobalt has become a shipping mine,
with some of the richest ore in the camp. Mr. Lang, its Presi
dent an -Managing Director, is now Cobalt s Mayor. Cobalt
makes history so fast that one must rush to keep up.
THE NANCY-HELEN MINES,
LIMITED
"We could ship ore now," said Mr. J. F. Black, General
Manager and Director of the Nancy-Helen Mines, Ltd. "We
have sacked three carloads of good ore taken from our shaft,
but we do not purpose beginning to ship until we can keep right
on, and to get ready as we are getting ready takes time," and
when I saw what was meant by "getting ready," I did not wonder
that it should take time.
So many of the mines, in their rush to get to shipping, in
order to make a "Good Impression" on their stockholders and
the public, start before they are ready, and then the manage
ment wonder that their mines should lose their good name when
shipping is stopped to do what should have been done before
they started to send out the few cars sacked.
Like The City of Cobalt, the Nancy-Helen is "right in town,"
their shaft and numerous well-equipped buildings adjoin the
first-named mines on the west, and lie between "The City of
Cobalt" and the Buffalo.
Here is what Manager Black calls "getting ready." They
have an Sp-foot shaft, a large shaft-house, rock, power, and
hoist houses; large cook and dining, and bunk houses, stable
and other buildings. They have just installed and started
running a 100 h.p. Weber Producer Suction Gas plant, together
with a Rand 6-drill compressor, steam hoist, air drills, etc.
There are few mines in the camp that have made the thorough
preparation that has been made by the Nancy-Helen. This is
because the Black Brothers, in their long experience in the Sud-
bury mining district, learned that the only way to mine profitably
was to first have installed the most approved equipment. No,
22
THE REAL COBALT 23
I am wrong in that "first." I should have said that the first
thing necessary to mine profitably is a good mineralized property.
That the Nancy-Helen surely has, in its 43 acres^in the very
heart of this fabulously rich mining district. Looking from
the office there may be seen these great mining properties-
most of them immediately adjoining. The Buffalo, Trethewey,
Coniagas, City of Cobalt, Larose, Nipissing, McKinley-Darragh,
Cobalt Lake, Right-of-Way, etc. More than a dozen well-
defined veins have already been located, and while sinking the
shaft three rich veins were struck, from which the three cars
of ore now ready sacked were taken. This ore runs from $600
to $900 per ton, and is getting richer as the shaft is being sunk.
He Lacked the Twenty
Mr. J. F. Black has had some interesting experience in
Cobalt. He came shortly after McKinley and Darragh located
their now famous mine, which at the time they valued at a trifle
of $20,000. " Why didn t you take it ? " I asked of J. F. " Why ?
Well, I was like the barefoot Irishman who said he could buy
a pair of boots for a quarter, but he didn t have the quarter.
Same here, I didn t have the twenty. Later I got a ninety-day
option on it at $150,000, and beginning work, soon had out five
carloads of ore. I got a Chicago firm enough interested to send
a mining expert (spare the term) to look at the property. He
came, looked wise, examined the five cars of ore which I really
don t believe he knew from common rock saw the hole from
which we had taken the ore, and then after looking wise again,
he w r ent back to Chicago and reported that he had seen a "fair
showing," but that he could not advise the purchase, as he was
afraid the "thing" would not hold out. The "thing" went
into a company inside of three months at $2,500,000, and the
stock has since sold at a price to indicate a value of $10,000,000,
and only recently they have struck another immense vein of
rich ore. Yes, I have regretted several times since, that I hadn t
the $20,000, but then as the Nancy-Helen continues to grow
24 THE REAL COBALT
richer and richer, I guess I will, in the end, have little reason
to worry over the fortune I might have made over there," and
he pointed at the derricks of the McKinley-Darragh that were
lifting out the rock at the new vein.
Later. The Nancy-Helen has been added to the list of
shippers, and has put in many improvements. The shaft is
down over 100 feet and much drifting done.
SOME OTHER LAKES
E VE looked over the great mines that surround Cobalt
Lake, now let s take a run out through and around
the lakes that lie to the east and southerly from Cobalt.
PETERSON LAKE
Just over the hill to the east, and within the limits of the
Nipissing s 846 acres, is a three-leafed lake named Peterson,
after August Peterson, a Swede pioneer. When the Earle syn
dicate bought the Nipissing property, they thought they owned
this lake, but they were mistaken, and it became a separate com
pany, selling for $240,000, and afterwards capitalized at $3,-
000,000. This lake reaches a bit beyond the Nipissing s east
ern limit, and touches the Nova Scotia, another of the well-
known mines discovered by Murty McLeod and a Mr. Wood-
worth. To the east of the Nova Scotia is the Airgoid, one of
the many W. S. Mitchell properties.
GIROUX LAKE
To the south of Peterson is a beautiful lake called after
Fred Giroux, an 1895 pioneer, whose story is worthy a passing
word, as showing what it was to be a pioneer of the wilderness
of thirteen years ago.
Fred and his father, Peter Giroux, came to Haileybury from
the valley of the Gatineau. They came to find and locate land.
They were told that all the land but two lots was taken up, but
going to see John Armstrong, the Crown Land Agent, at New
Liskeard, they learned a different story. Little of the land was
25
26 THE REAL COBALT
taken, although a very few were trying, by all sorts of means, to
claim "everything, and the lots adjacent thereto." The Girouxs
took each a claim, but it cost Peter his life. He was set upon
and beaten so terribly that in a few weeks he died "of heart dis
ease" as the verdict stated. After his death some one made
application for his lot. In the affidavit for cancellation the
"some one" swore that "Fred" Giroux was dead. Fred at once
denied the statement. Said he never was more alive since he
was born, and the "some one" had to be content with one lot
less. It is said that Fred had things made very interesting for
him because he wasn t dead. But he could not be driven out.
He took up lot 12 in the second concession of Bucke, on part of
which is now North Cobalt. Peter Giroux took up the lot on
which afterwards were located some of the famous mines of
the camp, the Green-Meehan, Red Rock, Cobalt-Contact,
the Hunter, the Stellar, and several others. Fred discovered the
Strathcona on lot 10 of the second concession of Bucke, which
he sold for $25,000. Thus his pluck in not being scared off has
made him one of the successes of the district, and is living re
tired and in comfort.
CROSS LAKE
Cross Lake is the longest of all the lakes of which Coleman
township has so many. It starts near North Cobalt and runs
angling to the south-east some three miles. It is long and nar
row. A little steamboat plies its full length, by which many
of the mining properties are reached. From the steamer may
be seen the Colonial, the Violet, the Watts or King Edward, the
Victoria, and numerous others. About a mile south from its
southern point is a rich "nest" of mines and promising prop
erties, of which the Temiskaming is the "nest egg," the greatest
surprise of the camp. Starting on a little calcite vein, it has
run into fabulous wealth, even since I first reached the camp
in May.
Here are the Lumsden mines, the Coleman Development,
the Beaver, the Rochester, etc.
THE REAL COBALT 27
KERR LAKE
Next to Cobalt Lake for rich surroundings are Kerr and Glen
Lakes. They lie to the south-east of Cobalt one mile east and
one mile south to take the exact angle.
Around Kerr are the Drummond, Jacobs or Kerr Lake,
Silver Leaf and the famous "Lawson vein."
Around this little sheet of water clusters so much of wealth
silver and human that I might write of it a volume of intense
interest, if I but told the simple facts. Here it was, upon its
eastern border, where went out the life of one who had made a
whole world happy. It w r as here where dear Dr. Drummond
spent the last days of his life, and there in that cottage, on the
very crest of the hill, he breathed out a last good-bye to the sor
rowing thousands who had so learned to love him.
Drumtnond s Prophecy
Following is the last verse penned by the Doctor. It was
written the day he was stricken with the illness from which he
died a few days later. It was written to Judge W. Foster, of
Knowlton, P.Q.
Note the prophecy in the letter. Were he living to-day, he
would see the beginning of his prediction, as the riches of Co
balt Camp is proving greater with each succeeding month of
its development.
Drummond Mines, Limited, Giroux Lake Post Office, via Co
balt, Ont., March 3ist, 1907:
My Dear Judge,
From far-off wild Temagami,
Land of the silver gnome;
My warmest greetings go to thee,
Among the hills of Brome.
28 THE REAL COBALT
We were among the first of the pioneers to come to this dis
trict of silver, cobalt, nickel, copper, and arsenic, and have done
fairly well, and still "playing the game." We are not a stock
company, save among ourselves, and are not selling shares, only
ore, of which we have shipped a good many carloads since be
ginning operations. The camp as a whole has provided in sil
ver over $6,000,000 worth, which is not bad for a piece of country
practically shunned by even the Indians only a year or two ago.
To-day, however, the Cobalt region has no reason to complain
of its obscurity, for its reputation is world-wide.
"Wild cats" flourish, of course, and I wish the Government
would proclaim an "open season" for these destructive animals,
without any limit to the number killed. North of us lies a ter
ritory which, in the opinion of geologists, is soon to yield us
gold, and perhaps particularly copper galore.
This century certainly belongs to Canada, and the whole
railway trail to James Bay w r ill see, in a few years, the smoke
of concentrators and so forth rising up over the land, hitherto
supposed to be barren of anything save a few trees of miserable
dimensions.
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) W. H. DRUMMOND.
The stories of the discoveries of the mines around Kerr Lake
are too much a part of the camp to leave out. One of these stories
connects the old with the new the very first of long ago with
the present.
A Mining Family the Wrights
It was E. V. Wright who in 1879 discovered the first mine
in this upper country. Mr. Wright had long been connected
with the lumber business, and while looking after his interests
in the vicinity of Lake Temiskaming, ran upon mineral six
miles north of Ville Marie, on the Quebec side of the lake. For
years his sons, E. C. and Marty, used to come up with their
THE REAL COBALT 29
father, first to see the mine and later -to work it, thus gaining
a knowledge of mining that later stood them in such good stead.
A good story is told of the day the Ottawa boys were starting for
The North- West, or Riel Rebellion
The day they were leaving the Union Depot Mr. Wright,
E. C. and Marty were at the station, to come up to the mines.
An old apple woman, seeing the two little boys among the sol
diers, and thinking that they were going to fight, said: "Wurra,
wurra, phat koind o mithers musht ye buys hev, ter lit ye be
goin to th war!"
This was in 1885. Mr. Wright and the boys went with the
soldiers as far as Sturgeon Falls, where they started across through
the Temagami country to the Temiskaming Lake. The coun
try was a vast wilderness. No trail which they could take, and
yet without guide they came through with their canoe, reaching
Temiskaming without mishap. Mr. Weight s knowledge of
the woods is that of the born guide.
Like Father, Like Sons
In the spring of 1903 the son, E. C. Wright, came to Hailey-
bury to take charge of a sawmill. It was in August of that
year that McKinley and Darragh made the first Cobalt discov
ery, followed a month and two months later by the discoveries
by Larose and Herbert (the Nipissing mines). E. C. being on
the ground, took a deep interest in the finds, and writing his
brother Marty, so interested him that he too came up, in 1904.
Starting out to prospect, they came over to this lake, where the
indications showed that mineral must be found. They were not
long in making two of the great discoveries of the Cobalt camp.
The Drummond and Jacobs
Marty discovered the great Drummond mine, and a few days
later, in September, E.G. found the Jacobs. These discoveries
made both men comparatively rich, and repaid them for the
30 THE REAL COBALT
years spent in the old days gaining a knowledge of mining in
the rocks of this far north country.
Marty, seeing the vast unused water-powers of the Montreal
River, and knowing the uses to which they might be put, applied
for the greatest one of all the Notch, almost at the very mouth.
The Government being convinced that he was well conversant
with hydraulics, and that he would properly develop the power,
granted him a charter for this wonderful fall, where the whole
river passes through a gorge so narrow that it can be harnessed
and utilized at a minimum of cost.
The brothers have many other interests in the country where
they came as poor men to take their place among the " Successes
of the Camp."
The Silver Leaf
The name "Silver Leaf is known wherever the fame of
Cobalt has reached. It lies on the westerly side of Kerr Lake.
Its history is one of the best stories of the camp. It was staked,
thrown out, staked again, throw r n out, and not until the most
lucky man of the whole camp made on it a discovery, was it
looked upon as anything but barren rock. By persistent pros
pecting it finally promises to become one of the good things of
Cobalt. I sincerely trust so I got in at 31.
We now come to the last of the four claims that surround
Kerr Lake. By reason of the vast wealth spent in the many
law courts, through which it has passed, and the phenomenal
rise of the man who discovered it,
44
The Lawson Vein "
has few equals in the silver stories of the world. On the very
surface, there by the road-side, leading to the Jacobs or Kerr
Lake, may be seen a wide vein of solid silver. So rich is it that
even in this camp of wonders the oldest world-miners stand in
amazement, as they exclaim: "We never saw the like before!"
I m going to let an old miner tell the story of this rich find.
THE REAL COBALT 31
One day while sitting around a prospector s tent, just across
from the Haileybury railway station, listening to the mining
stories of a lot of prospectors, who had here collected from al
most every mining country of the world, and after each one had
told of the wonderful finds of some far away land, this prospector,
who had always sat silent while the stories of other camps were
being reeled off, broke in with: "Talkin bout accidentals, let
me tell you, y don t have to go into yer Death Vallies to get
blowed up, en starved crazy, t find good stories bout strange
deescoveries. Y ve herd of th Lawson Mine? Ever hear th
fax bout its discovery? Never? Well, twas this way, in s
few words as I can tell it, as I haint much on story tellin . Four
men with two names formed a prospectin company. They d
never knowed each other fore they got to this country. They
jist sort o drifted natchurly tergether and started to hunt fer
leads. There was Murty McLeod, of the Ottawa Valley, an
John McLeod, of out in West Ontario somewhere, an Donald
Crawford, of Acton, Ontario, an Tom Crawford, of Renfrew.
They hed only two names between em an yit they were no
more relation than we are.
"They d hunted an hunted, till one day Murty, while snoopin
round, struck the goods struck the pure stuff, an then they
set up a holler which haint done soundin yit. Y may guess
they hed reason fer hilarity if y ever stood on the big vein o
solid silver thet Murty found thet day out there by Kerr Lake.
"They staked it in Tom Crawford s name, an Tom he ups
an sells out the hull thing to a feller by th name of Lawson
H. S. Lawson for $250. Yes, millions fer a measly $250.
The other three wouldn t stan fer it, an went an put a injunck-
shun ter stop the sale. Then the fun started. It s gone thru
three courts each one decidin thet all four hed an ekel interest.
The other three sold their chances t the Larose Mine Company.
Clark and Miller got mixed up somehow, and are in for a pos
sible one thirty-second of Tom s one-fourth. My eyes, but it
was a conglomeration! It ran in the courts fer two an a half
year, an I guess haint thru yit. It wus worth millions an yit
32 THE REAL COBALT
when things wus th highest they coodn t do a thing but jist law,
an law, an law. Yes, I guess yer don t hev to git out o Cobalt
t find as good accidentals as y can find in all th hull wurld,"
and the quiet prospector went away back and sat down on a
log by the tent flap.
Of course you will all want to know about Murty, you who ve
never been here the rest know him already.
Murty McLcod
The name of Murty McLeod is so identified with Cobalt
that to think of the one is to recall the other. Coming from
Bracebridge, Ont., to New Liskeard, a thriving town ten rriles
north of Cobalt, in 1902, he was among the first to appreciate
the importance of the discovery of silver, and from the poor man
of 1902 he is to-day one of the rich men of the Cobalt camp.
The McLeod Discoveries
are among the most important of the whole district. He it was
who discovered the now famous Lawson Vein; in July of 1904,
with George Glendenning, he discovered the first silver outside
the immediate mines around Cobalt Lake, on what became the
Colonial mine; with Marty Wright he prospected around Kerr
and Giroux Lakes, where Marty discovered the Drummond
and he the near-by Silver Nugget; and in October, with Mr.
Woodworth, he discovered the Nova Scotia mines. His knowl
edge of Coleman stood him in good stead knowledge gained
while helping make the survey of the township.
Mr. McLeod is connected with many of the mining companies.
He is President of the Hudson Bay Extended, which, with the
Clear Lake Mining Company, forms the Cleveland-Cobalt Min
ing Company. He is President of the Prince Rupert Mining
Company; director of the Brooks-Hudson Silver Mining Com
pany, and with interests in many other companies. He holds
one-tenth of the City of Cobalt, one of the great mines.
Not only is he interested in mining, but in many other things.
Kerr Lake Mines, and E. C. Wright, their Discoverer
The lower picture is of the Drummond Mine, and its discoverer, Marty Wright. It
was Mr. E. V. Wright, father of these enterprising young men, who made the first dis
covery of mineral in this north country, "The Wright Mines," in the Province of Quebec,
across Lake Temiskaming from Haileybury now the home of E. C. and Marty were
discovered nearly a third of a century ago. They are to be reopened and worked by the
Larose Co., who have recently acquired them. It was in the cottage, that may be faintly
seen in the clump of trees, where the loved Dr. Drummond died, early in April, 1907.
See page 28
Photos by Boiart & Stokes
THE REAL COBALT 33
He is President of the Galoska Mercantile Company, President
of the Macgladery Hardware Co., with stores in New Liskeard
and Englehart; and a large owner of coal lands in British Col
umbia.
Unlike so many men of wealth, Mr. McLeod takes an active
interest in the welfare of his town. He has long been a member
of the New Liskeard School Board, and to him much is due the
high standard of education in his town. Already New Liskeard
has a $20,000 public school building, and is shortly to have a
fine High School.
His success is but one of the many instances of what has been
done in this country of successes, where men have come with a
determination to do their part. Many have grown rich by ac
cident; Murty McLeod has grown rich by wise judgment and
indomitable push. Coming with no money, he did whatsoever
his hands found to do. He worked on the North Road as a day
laborer, and, as above, he helped on surveys at anything that
presented itself to turn a dollar. To such as he wealth is a bless
ing not only to himself, but to the community of which he is
a part.
Every mining camp has its figures who stand out when its
discoveries and doings become history. Cobalt has its figures,
and its history would be most incomplete without the name of
Murty McLeod of New Liskeard.
GLEN LAKE
Now let s go down the road a short distance southerly, as
Kerr and Glen Lakes are quite close together, and visit among
the mines that surround the latter. Here are the Cobalt Central,
out of which "Big Pete" made a fortune, the Bailey, the Uni
versity and one of the most famous and the best equipped of the
whole district, the Foster.
The day we visited this mine the Foster we had so timed
the hour that we reached there for dinner. Not so much for the
3
34 THE REAL COBALT
meal, but to see how it was served, as we had heard so often
about " that little railroad that runs from the kitchen right through
the whole length of the long dining-room, carrying dinner for
eighty to a hundred men." I ve never seen a better equipped
road from track to rolling stock. And the freight! "Gee whiz,"
as Leo would say, "that dinner!" No wonder the Foster can
have its pick of the miners! Everybody likes "good eatin ,"
and the miner is no exception. "It pays," said Mr. McDonald,
the manager. "Feed men well and they will work well." When
I reach the age of reason, and quit writing, I shall apply for a
position at the Foster. "What can I do?" "Why, help handle
the freight on that little railroad ."
Here is just where will fit the very best story of my collection.
I had thought to reserve it for my second edition, but I will not
keep it from you "too good to keep."
ROMANCE OF THE CAMP
THINGS romantic always seem to occur away off at the other
place. We cannot look upon them near by with the
natural eye as when we read of them, and see them
through the eye of the romancer. For this reason there is
occurring in our midst, every day, that which if told of some
far-away place would have all the qualities of fiction. Then,
again, real-life things never seem to fit. It s only in fiction
that we look for everything coming out right in the end. But
there are exceptions, and I m going to tell you of one of these
exceptions, right here in the Cobalt Silver Camp right here
on the border of Glen Lake.
The story is of a young man who has figured largely in the
early beginnings of Cobalt. He was a mining engineer a grad
uate of a Michigan college, putting himself through with his
pen and by teaching district schools. After graduating, he
went into many of the western mining camps. Somehow a fate
drove him along from one to the other, for scarcely had he been
well located when a "strike" would come and drive him on to
the next. Being a Canadian, and hearing of the wonderful
things of Cobalt, he came to find for himself the truth or error
of the marvellous stories of the riches that lay hidden in this upper
country. He reached here in March of 1904. He worked upon
a claim he had staked during the remainder of that year and
all throughout 1905. His money giving out, his father, a dentist,
sent him $50 a month. Growing tired of hearing of no results,
the father said: "Give it up and come home." He had reared
the boy and yet did not know him. "Give up? Never! 3 And
that winter he went to a near-by village and clerked for a hard
ware merchant. Spring had scarce chased away the snows of
winter when the youth was again at work upon his claim. He
35
36 THE REAL COBALT
had never lost faith in the good pay that was leading him on
to fortune. His pluck and perseverance made his father think
that "The boy must have reason for his perseverance," and the
$50 per month was renewed. This, as above, was the spring
of 1905. Later the father came to see what was being done
with the money. He found his son, and an English workman,
hard at work trenching, and incidentally he (the son) was the
first one to try this means of finding veins. Now it is general.
" Tis an 111 Wind That Blows Nobody Good "
The black flies, which have made so many good Sunday
School boys forget what their teachers told them, must have
been as active in 1905 as they are this year. At any rate, they
drove the father out of camp very early one morning. He wan
dered down to the edge of a little lake upon the claim, and while
picking along its border, came upon a strapge formation, which
he carried back to camp. The minute the English workman
saw it he cried out, "Hits the bluddy bloo m! r while the son
exclaimed: "At last! Father, you have found our fortune!"
And so it proved, for by autumn the boy who had clerked in a
store, rather than give up and go home a failure, could have
bought out a hundred such stores.
That was not all. An adjoining claimholder had failed to
find mineral and had abandoned his holding. Immediately it
was restaked by the widest-known man in the camp a man
whose death has since caused more than one nation to mourn.
He, too, failed to find paying mineral and gave it up. By this
time the whole camp believed that there was silver on that oft-
staked claim, and on Monday morning, following the Saturday
of its abandonment, there were a half-hundred prospectors
looking for enough to stake on. Forty-nine of them did not
know that silver lay beneath a pile of brush hard by. The
fiftieth one did know, but said not a word until his men came
running in with "She s staked!" That brush -pile flew in several
directions, and the discovery stake was firmly planted. The
THE REAL COBALT 37
fortunate one was the youth of whom I am writing. For this
he and his men (for he has ever remembered the boys who helped
him win his fortune) received $135,000. Incidentally the claim
was capitalized for five million dollars, and has become one of
the most famous in all the camp. The vein was but a "stringer,"
and running out, no other of much value has since been found,
save a far-extending and generous "public," many of whom
might paper their dining-rooms with the stock, and thus get
some use of it.
Later. It s goin to be a good un after all.
$84 to Take Out the First Car
One incident more: After the discovery was made by the
father, that early morning, there was yet much work to do before
shipping ore was reached, and during the time the first car was
being dug and loaded, the young man had but $84 for incidentals
to run the camp. But when once that car reached market, his
financial worries ended and since that time well his only
worries are how to wisely employ the results of his good fortune.
Many of you already know of whom I have been telling,
while still more have heard parts of the story of the success of
Clement A. Foster
of the famous Foster Mine, about which so much is heard
wherever stocks are sold. Mr. Foster is not in any way now con
nected with the mine. He sold at a time when the public s faith
was strongest.
He sought another mine of wealth. Looking about, his eye
naturally fell upon the marvel of this northland Haileybury
three years ago a little country village, with summer communi
cation by the lake steamers, and in winter shut away from the
world till the melting of the ice in spring brought round the
boats again.
It was little part of wisdom to see that the village must become
a thriving city, and yet no one could have reasonably predicted
the rapidity with which has come the realization. From a few
38 THE REAL COBALT
houses scattered here and there among the stumps, Haileybury
has spread far up and down along a magnificent hillside, and has
grown and is growing so fast that one cannot get out of hearing
of the music of saw and hammer. Where at first stood one-story
"shacks" now stand blocks running up to three and four-story
modern business buildings, while fine residences, whose archi
tecture would beautify any city, are seen building all throughout
the town. The very air is permeated with a progress that is
truly wonderful, and I speak with reason when I call it the "Mar
vel of this Northland."
It was to Haileybury that Mr. Foster came to seek his next
mine of wealth. He was quick to note that its "calcite" days
had passed and the pure metal lay ready to be garnered. Know
ing that vast quantities of lumber must be needed for the building
of the future city, he set going a great sawmill, and knowing
that the boundaries must be widely extended, he looked about
to see in which direction the town must naturally grow. Again,
it was little part of wisdom to determine in which direction it
must extend, with a stretch of land lying to the north already
practically laid out with natural terraces, rising from the lake
on the east to the railway on the west. It was here he purchased
340 acres, and has laid out the finest addition in the town. It
is- so situated that every building erected may face the lake a
rare and almost perfect condition. The lake shore will be
beautified with a wide tree-embowered boulevard running the
full length of his grounds. One can already see in mind the
magnificent summer homes of the rich of many cities, who will
come to enjoy these ideal sites, overlooking the broad Temis-
kaming.
Unlike so many men whom fortune favors, Mr. Foster thinks
of those who are in need of generous care. He has already given
22 acres in the south of the town for the hospital which will
shortly be built for Haileybury and surrounding country, and
doubtless he will do more than his part toward its erection.
In concluding this "Romance of the Camp," to round it out
as only in fiction do we look for like rounding out where two
THE REAL COBALT 39
years ago this young man had to eke out existence as a plain
clerk, he is now the Mayor of the town, doing herculean work
for its advancement. He has already secured for it a High School
and during his regime, Haileybury will doubtless be made the
judicial centre of a wide district, while he is planning many
things for giving it a permanency that will stop short of
nothing but the making of it the city supreme of this whole
northern country.
Nor did his good fortune stop when wealth had poured
into his coffers. Another had been watching his career, and said
"Yes" to life s most romantic question, and now seconds him
in every effort toward making Haileybury a social centre. No
good work is ever proposed that Mrs. Foster does not do her
part. Her beautiful home is thrown open for literary and musical
circles, and the young people of the town have naught but good
to say of her.
Could fiction excel this story? Could the romancer plan one
more perfect? "This is the exception right here in the Cobalt
Silver Camp right here on the border of Glen Lake."
A CLUSTER OF GOOD ONES
I HAD been in and around Cobalt more than two months
before I knew personally of some of the most promising
mines in the whole camp. Meeting an Ottawa friend
one day, he asked me to come out to the district in the south
east corner of Bucke township, to the south of North Cobalt.
It is now a pleasure to say that I accepted the invitation and
went, for I shall ever remember that visit as the most enjoy
able of any I made, by reason of the much kindness shown me.
It reminded me of that day in old Virginia, when caught in
a snowstorm, I was snow-bound among a lot of most delightful
people at a little cross-roads. The kindness there was the
same, but with the difference that I here found men of wide
travel. There was R. W. Edey, the mining expert, long with
the Clergues of the Soo, who with Ed. Mohr, also of the Clergues,
are now connected with the Hiawatha Mining Company. Near
by was George Dawson, of Montreal, long in the Klondyke,
who with his brother are finding good things at the Ruby Silver
Mine. The famous Red Rock Mine, and the equally famous
Green-Meehan, are just to the east and adjoining the Ruby.
At the latter I found Manager Charlie O Connell, of California,
who seemed at once my friend when he spoke of Dr. Drummond.
It was to Charlie that the Dr. sent his last poem. It was signed
the very day he was stricken. Just to the north and adjoining,
is the Hunter Mine, known locally as the Latchford, from Hon.
Frank Latchford, its president. Here I found M. P. Powers,
the manager, going with his men to dinner, which meant that
my dinner was ready too, for in all this district hospitality is so
general that one might think himself in "The Valley of Vir
ginia."
40
THE REAL COBALT 41
The next mine to the east is the Stellar, with H. G. Watkins,
of Kingston, an old Frontenac miner in charge my good friend
J. F. Black, also of the Nancy-Helen, manager. Not far away
I found George Fillion, manager of the Cobalt-Contact, justly
elated over one of the most important finds made in the whole
district. It was free silver, and quite near the surface. From
here I turned to the north to find the Argyle. Passing up the
lake shore, I was surprised to hear my name called by some
little berry-pickers. I went up along the side hill, where I found
a number of the little children whom I had seen that day at the
Sunday School picnic at the Old Mission, down the lake. To be
remembered by the little ones is ever a real pleasure, and to
strengthen the friendship I stopped and helped them fill their
remaining empty bucket. It is these occasional stops through
life that make for lasting memory stops to help the little ones
fill the "remaining empty bucket." Not far away I came to
the most beautifully located mine in all the country the Ar
gyle. It lies high above the lake border. The camp is as pretty
as a well-planned summer home.
From the Argyle I returned by way of the Hunter, and other
mines, to my starting point.
His Compass Was Wrong
On my way across to some of the other mines I heard a man
calling, as though in great distress. I went to the voice, and
found a lost man one of the most lost fellows I had ever found.
He was almost frantic. Never before had I seen a Philadelphian
so excited. "Really, Mr., I do think I had gone out of my mind
had you not come in time. I ve been going since noon, and I
just thought I never would get out of these awful woods."
"If you are addicted to the habit of getting lost," said I,
"you should never go into the woods without a compass."
" Compass? Why, bless you, I have a compass, but every
time I turned around it went wrong, and I got lost all over again.
I never in my life saw such a fool compass as this one," and he
42 THE REAL COBALT
showed it to me. It sure was a good one. I couldn t but think
of the fellow who fell out of a canoe, and trying to swim was
near drowning and called lustily for help, when a man on the
bank yelled at him to "stand up," which he did in less than
three feet of water. Same with my lost man, he wasn t a hun
dred yards from the road that would have led him back to the
camp from which he had started, and to which he was praying
to be returned. He seemed to think that he was still in Phila
delphia, for he offered to pay me $5 for finding him. But I
told him this was Canada where they find people as a pas
time, and refused his "five." He seemed disappointed, which
showed how scared he was.
THE NORTH COBALT MINING COM
PANY, LIMITED
Over in that "Nest of Good Ones" is one especially promis
ing. It is rich in native silver and, what is peculiar in the district,
it is free from cobalt. This is owned by the North Cobalt
Silver Mines Company. It was discovered by "i John Mc-
Mahon, of Haileybury, who had so much faith ;in his find
that in selling, he took a good part of the price in the stock
of the company. His wisdom is being shown in the rich
ore now being bagged and stored for the rise in silver. This
is one of the companies with a well-filled treasury, and can
hold the product until price warrants shipment. It must shortly
be added to the list of shipping mines, as under the wise man
agement of H. E. Jackman, a practical mine man, of Rochester,
New York, it grows richer with depth. It has a well-equipped
plant, good substantial buildings, and is being increased by the
instalment of new and up-to-date machinery.
The officers of the company are: President, Mr. Joseph D.
Qualey, of New York City; Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. Ernest K.
THE REAL COBALT 43
Henderson, New York City. Directors: J. D. Qualey, E. K.
Henderson, John J. Welch, of New York City; Louis D.
Webster, of Chicago, and Fred. A. Day, of Haileybury, Ont.
Mr. Qualey, who gained his knowledge of mining in Mexico,
is one of those genial characters so popular in the mining camp
a sort of a Charlie Gifford, McMartin Brothers type the kind
that makes you glad you re alive. The kind that makes you
like to stop and talk about them, and then go on thinking better
of this cold old world. That s the kind of man is Joseph D.
Qualey.
Mr. Day, one of the leading young lawyers of the Cobalt
district, is the attorney as well as resident director of the com
pany. The mine is on part of the north-east one-fourth of the
north half of lot 13, in concession i of Bucke township, just a
mile north of the Coleman and Lorain line, and a little south of
east of the North Cobalt station on the T. and N. O. It is
the furthest north, of the producing mines, in the Cobalt district
possibly because of its much development.
HUNTER COBALT SILVER MINING
COMPANY, LIMITED
In this immediate vicinity, in fact joining the North Cobalt
Company, just mentioned, is another that is bound to become
one of the good ones of the camp. It was staked before the
township of Bucke was laid out, so that the lines of the 40 acres
cut into the Green-Meehan, North Cobalt, the Cobalt Company,
the Big Ben, ten chains from the rich Cobalt-Contact, and but a
short distance from the Stellar. We find it thus adjoining a
shipper, and others which must shortly be added to that much-
desired list. It is held under a direct patent from the Crown. It
is locally known as the Latchford Mine, from its president, the
Hon. Frank Latchford.
It lies a short mile due east of the T. and N.O. Railway, at
44 THE REAL COBALT
North Cobalt, and is in lots 13 and 14 in the first and second
concessions of Bucke township, two miles north-east of Cobalt,
and a little over a mile south of Haileybury. From this it may be
seen that its situation is most excellent. It has one of the best
sets of buildings in the district, consisting of a large two-story
sleeping camp; fine two-story dining camp, with cook camp in
the rear; a 16 by 24 office; blacksmith shop, powder house, boiler
house, ice house, stables, storehouses, etc. Both sleeping and
dining camps are covered with metal siding and shingles.
The assays show from $8.50 up to 1,258 oz. in silver and
carries high values in gold. One assay by the famous R. H.
Hersey, of Montreal, yielded $29 in gold, and another by Mr.
Connor, of the Geological Survey, gave $28 per ton in gold.
The officers and directors of the company are : President,
Hon. F. R. Latchford, K.C., ex-Attorney-General of Ontario;
Vice-President, W. Lake Marler, late Manager Merchants
Bank of Canada; Sec.-Treas., J. J. Heney, of John Heney &
Son, coal merchants; all of Ottawa. Superintendent: M. P.
Powers, of Haileybury.
Its head office is at 19 Elgin Street, Ottawa.
The capital stock of the Hunter is $1,000,000, with $250,000
in the treasury.
When I visited the mine in the early autumn, I found Mr.
Powers busy trenching, sinking shafts, and drifting. No. i, or
the Powell shaft, was down 60 feet. From this level, drifts were
in, north and south, 62 feet; No. 2 shaft was down 53 feet on a
large vein of calcite, cobalt and native silver. From the 5o-foot
level of this shaft drifts were in 30 feet; No. 3 shaft was down
64 feet. Only a little drifting was done from this shaft, and that
simply to tap the vein which had left the shaft at the 5 7 -foot level.
From the vein in this shaft calcite was found 14 inches in width,
and when the calcite is replaced by the native silver, as they have
all reason to expect, the values must be great. Several tons of
ore have since been sacked, and the Hunter must ere long join
the shippers.
THE REAL COBALT 45
THE STELLAR SILVER COBALT COR
PORATION, LIMITED
I had seen some of the beautiful samples from the Stellar
before I visited the mines cornering the Green-Meehan, to the
north-east, so that I wasn t surprised to have Captain H. G.
Watkins say: "See that, and that, and that," as he pointed out,
on the sorting table, fine specimens of native and wire silver and
argentite, which are now the product of this valuable mine.
The Stellar lies in Lot 14, in the first concession of Bucke, and
comprises some over forty acres.
It was little risk and no surprise when pay ore was struck,
for the Stellar lies adjacent to the Cobalt-Contact, due south, and
adjoining; the Latchford, or Hunter, adjoining on the west; the
Green-Meehan, as before said, is cornering on the south-west, while
in all directions, and near-by, are many other good ones. But
this contiguity is outweighed by the valuable material the Captain
is bringing up from another point, or direction, not on the compass
i.e., from below.
They may have it on the surface, but it won t go down," is
almost a stereotyped phrase of the camp croaker. The Stellar has
gone to some trouble to make this said pessimist say that of some
other mine. With a diamond drill, a depth of more than 200 feet
has been reached. Here a vein was found 3 ft. and 9 inches in
width, and rich in native silver. This same vein, on the surface,
was but one foot in width. This shows conclusively that the
values not only go down but get better as they go. Several other
veins were struck by the drill, at depth, and all of them good.
The company have a steam plant at work. It consists of a
twenty horse boiler, a 5 x 5 steam hoist, and a steam drill. Camps
have been built, consisting of dining-room, bunk house, black
smith shop, stables for the teams, etc.
The management is under the direction of Mr. J. F. Black,
who is the President and General Manager, and as in my mention
of the Nancy-Helen, he is also Managing Director and part owner
46 THE REAL COBALT
of that mine as well. He is one of the most practical and best
equipped mine men in the district, having long been connected
with the great Sudbury mines.
Only a few of the 1,000,000 $i shares were placed upon the
market, and these are practically held by friends of the officers.
The Stellar is an instance where "it pays to keep a good thing
in the family."
The officers, besides Mr. Black, are Joseph Morin, Esq.,
Vice-President, and Charles McCrea, barrister, Solicitor for the
company.
The bankers are the Traders Bank of Canada.
THE HIAWATHA COBALT SILVER MIN
ING COMPANY, LIMITED
The Hiawatha, in Bucke, is a connecting link between Cole-
man and the mines to the north-east. It corners on to the north
east of Coleman, and again corners on the Ruby, which connects
it with the Red Rock, Green-Meehan, Stellar, Hunter, North
Cobalt, etc. It is known on the older maps as the Ranger prop
erty. It was discovered by R. W. Edey, a well-known mining
man of Ottawa.
Much development work has been done on the Hiawatha,
in the way of stripping, trenching, and a number of shafts sunk.
Assays show it to be one of the promising mines of the district.
Of it, G. Fillion, the late efficient Superintendent of the Cobalt-
Contact Company, said: "I saw exposed several ledges of calcite
and quartz, running from four to five inches in width, and the
leads seem to be free from the walls, and the cobalt and silver
present in smalltite form. The veins are all true fissure, and
any one of them may make a valuable mine."
The rock is beautifully stratified and it is thought that the
ledges go down to an indefinite depth. The good ledges of the
Ruby and Red Rock lead directly into the Hiawatha.
The capitalization of the company is $1,000,000. As little as
THE REAL COBALT 47
possible of the stock was placed upon the market, since the
directorate are conducting it upon a business rather than upon a
stock manipulating basis.
They have good, substantial camp buildings.
The officers and directors of the company are : President,
Lt.-Col. Norreys Worthington, M.P., Sherbrooke, Que.; Vice-
President, J. A. Seybold, Ottawa; Managing Director and Sec.-
Treas., W. M. Ogilvie, B.Sc., Ottawa; G. M. Brabazon, M.P.,
Portage du Fort; Stillman F. Kneeland, State Advocate
General of New York, New York City; Superintendent of Field
Operation, R. W. Edey and E. R. Mohr, Mine Foreman, both
of Ottawa.
THE CENTURY SILVER MINING COM
PANY, LIMITED
When one has been in the Cobalt district for months, visiting
from mine to mine, one can somehow tell the good claims at
sight. As soon as I looked over the Century s corner lot I was
convinced that the superintendent had chosen wisely when he
selected it, and as I have watched the manner of his development
of the work, I am more convinced that its worth will shortly be
demonstrated, and that it will soon be among the great pro
ducers of the camp.
This excellent property lies in the very north-east corner of
Coleman Township, with the second claim one lot removed to
the west. On both of these properties are many well-defined
veins some twenty discovered by John Bock, the former
superintendent, and S. Sager. On lot No. i, a shaft being sunk
is now down over fifty feet, following a heavy calcite vein and
two smaller veins, each carrying silver values. On lot No. 2
they have gone down 37 feet on an i8-inch vein, which shows
silver values up to $100 per ton. The vein matter consists of
calcite and conglomerate stringers occurring in a contact of
diabase and grey granite. Besides the silver there are traces
of cobalt and bismuth, with some smaltite showing.
48 THE REAL COBALT
The indications at the depths now reached point unerringly to
the near presence of the precious metal itself, and experienced min
ing men are enthusiastic as to the values evidently close at hand.
The Century lies in the great mineralized belt, in which are
found the Larose, O Brien, Nipissing, McKinley-Darragh,
Buffalo, Trethewcy, City of Cobalt, and many others to the
south-west, while a short distance to the north-east are the Red
Rock, Green-Meehan, Stellar, Cobalt-Contact, North Cobalt, etc.
Too many of the mining companies have stripped their prop
erties bare of timber. The Century is carefully saving all the
timber, of which it has abundance of the choicest in the whole
camp, which must become of value as the work goes on, for
buildings and fuel. It has already erected commodious houses
-bunk-house, dining-room, blacksmith shop, etc.
The management of a mine has far more to do with its suc
cess or failure than is generally thought. What might have
proven a good one may be managed in starting in such a
way as to discourage a company into abandoning it, while a
wise manager could have readily brought out its true worth. I
have in mind an instance, not far to the south of the Century,
which might be well to give, as showing what may be done. It
is, moreover, most interesting, since it pertains to one of the
successes of the Cobalt camp. The surface showed almost no
indications of mineral. The company sunk a 5o-ft. shaft on a
calcite vein, drifted for a distance, but found no pay ore. A
very unusual thing was then done the shaft was sunk 25 feet
deeper, and another drift run under the first along the hanging
wall of the vein. At a point about 100 feet from the shaft silver
was found sticking from the side of the vein. Here a shot was
put in and ore of astounding richness was revealed. The vein,
now two feet wide, was taken out for the distance of ten feet
along the strike, to a height of ten or twelve feet above the level,
and from this small space $90,000 of silver was taken one of the
richest carloads of ore shipped from the camp. That was but
a short time ago. Since then $300,000 worth of silver has been
taken out and the mine proven to be one of vast richness. This
THE REAL COBALT 49
is not a fairy story told of some far-off country; I know, per
sonally, that it is true.
It is the management of the Century that makes me feel
that the best will be brought out, and to instance it as one of
the best prospects in the district. And right here I would
mention a fact worth the attention of all superintendents,
not only of mines, but all works where labor is employed.
I have found the mines where the men were treated with
the most kindness to be the ones where the work was done
for the least money. That may account for the results
shown at the Century, for superintendent and miners work
with an interest that is really pleasing to note. The com
pany is favored with a competent superintendent, an experienced
mining man, under whose wise and economical management
the progress of the work is assured. He allows no indication
of hidden riches, however slight, to slip by, but by painstaking
care, combined with a personal kindly interest in the well-being
of the workmen, follows up all advantages gained. It is due to
no accident, therefore, that one of the surprises of the work is
that such good results have been accomplished at so compara
tively small an outlay, and that the prospects should even at
this early date be of such promise as to warrant the highest
hopes of the Century Company and all concerned.
The officers of the company are all successful business men
of Buffalo, N.Y. Dr. H. N. Miller, the President, is a well-
known physician, and a level-headed man of large affairs. Vice-
President, Mr. Charles Lantaff, a prominent merchant; Secretary,
Mr. George Laws, of the Bryant & Stratton College; Treasurer,
Dr. Whytock; Directors, the above named gentlemen, together
with Mr. A. C. Hynd, Mr. J. W. Keeley, and Mr. Charles W.
Bradley. Mine Superintendent and discoverer of the claims,
Mr. S. Sager, of Buffalo.
50 THE REAL COBALT
PORTAGE BAY
To the west of Cobalt is a district called Portage Bay, from
a bay that comes into Coleman from the Montreal River. While
much prospecting has been done and a number of promising
claims are there, no shippers have yet been discovered. Still
it is almost a certain thing that with depth, good will yet result,
as all indications prove the presence of mineral.
Wide Area of Silver, Gold and Copper
A friend cut out of a newspaper the map of Coleman Town
ship and, sending it to me, commented upon the extent of the
mineral district, saying, "Why, I am surprised! I had no thought
that the area was so great! 3 That friend must have had a sur
prise indeed when I replied: "Coleman To\vnship would be but
a little black spot on the map of the known mineralized district
of New Ontario, while the undiscovered, and yet almost certainly
mineralized parts, must run into the tens of thousands square
miles of area."
In this immediate district around Coleman, Lorain to the
east, Bucke and Firstbrooke joining on the north, and the Tema-
gami Reserve across the Montreal, are all full of good prospects,
with a number of shipping mines in Bucke, while in Hudson, the
second township to the north, the Brooks-Hudson Company
have sunk a number of shafts, which prove that copper is there
in vast quantities, and with further work will have large shipping
mines. South of Lorain, along Lake Temiskaming, what is
known as "THE UNSURVEYED," is just now attracting much
attention, by reason of recent discoveries of silver that run far
up into the hundreds of ounces. In the spring there will doubt
less be a great rush in that direction. Other districts to the
north and north-west are rich enough to warrant special notice,
which I shall give in extended detail.
THE REAL COBALT 51
CASEY MOUNTAIN MINES
One of the promising districts outside of Cobalt proper is
in Casey Township, not far from the upper end of Lake Temis-
kaming, where the White River enters the lake. Some months
ago David Williamson, a California miner, was going up the
White River in the little steamboat, when up about five miles,
on looking to the west, noticed a high elevation of rocky land.
He got off the boat and walking about a mile west of the river,
he came to what is known as Casey Mountain. His long experi
enced eye saw at once that he had made a valuable discovery.
The result was "The Casey Mountain Mines Company, Ltd.,"
with a capitalization of $250,000, with the following officers:
R. G. Williamson, Toronto, President; James Thompson, Have-
lock, Ont., First Vice-President ; H. A. Wood, Peterboro, Ont,
Secretary and Second Vice-President; D. A. Reid, Brandon,
Man.; David Williamson, California, Superintendent.
They have nine forty-acre claims, on which they have already
found ten true fissure veins from 2 to 8 feet wide, on one of which
they have sunk a shaft. At 60 feet they began drifting to the
west, and in the forty feet of a drift I saw three well-defined
cross veins, which run from 2 to 4 feet. They have already found,
rich cobalt, nickel, and good assays of silver.
The plans laid out by the superintendent are to drift 100 feet,
sink 100 feet, thence back and raise up to meet the main working
shaft. While thus blocking out, he will always have free circula
tion of air. This plan will be carried along throughout all the
work, the object being to get the ore by overhand stoping instead
of underhand. By this plan very little dead work will have to
be done throughout the whole mine.
This promises to be one of the good mines of the country.
Later. The shaft is down 108 feet and is rich in cobalt.
They have about 15,000 tons of ore blocked out, which will run
$25 to $3 5 in values. Just as this goes to press word comes that
a very rich vein has been struck at no feet another case of
"two feet further."
PENSE TOWNSHIP
SITTING in a theatre one evening, I heard two men be
tween the acts talking about some rich finds they had
recently made. Their conversation was more interesting
than the play, and at once I was all attention. When the
curtain was rung down and the orchestra had played God Save
the King, with which all well-regulated theatres close in
Canada, I asked of the men, "Where is the new mining
district of which you were speaking ? "
"In Pense Township."
"And, pray, where is Pense Township?" I asked.
"Across the lake north from Haileybury, then up the White
River, through Harris, Casey, and Brethour Townships. All
told, some 25 miles. It lies along the Quebec line and is the
last surveyed township toward Larder Lake, from which it is
distant some 20 miles south."
"How is it reached?" I asked, as I was so interested that I
would visit it.
"Easy enough. Take the boat at Haileybury, get off at
Pearson s Landing, and and-
"Well?"
"Then walk."
I did. Must tell you about thai trip, a^ it was one of my
most interesting experiences, by reason of the many agreeable
settlers I met up the White River.
The little boat was the most unique affair I d ever travelled
upon. It was loaded with everything from cows to dynamite.
The passengers were a cosmopolitan lot. The newspaper man
from Boston; prospectors on their way to Larder Lake, via
Toms Town; sawmill men on their way to mills along the river;
settlers and their wives returning from shopping and business
trips to Haileybury; and and well they were all there on
52
THE REAL COBALT 53
that little boat going up the White River, which has almost as
many mouths as a large family. We d start up one, find it
blocked up with logs, then go up another till we d come to a boom,
and then come back and take still another, only to find it blocked
by both boom and logs.
Our Little Captain and His Log-Climbing
Steamboat
The captain finally said "things," rang for a full head of
steam, and believe my "Geo. Washington pen," he ran right
through, or over, boom, logs and all an acre of them. "What?"
The very question that Cobalt man asked when I told this to him.
Yes, I have the photograph, but it came out too dim for a good
cut, and I want nothing but the best for you. You see that
captain wouldn t stop at anything, once he set his head, and
rang for log climbing steam. W 7 ish I had space for the stories
those settlers told me about "Our Little Captain," as they call
him. "Ours," for he was that obliging. "Why," said they,
"he d stop and run over to the bank, to take our eggs down to
market, and bring us a spool o thread next day." I saw him
run jam into the bank to let a passenger on. "Why, Cap," said
I, "you might have struck a rock!" "Aw, go wan! I know
the bank!" Guess he must have from the many prow prods I
saw along the way.
The teachers up that way are the kind I so used to love;
why, they let out school on the very slightest provocation. One
we saw had "let out" to come down to see our little boat come
in. I tried to "take" her and the scholars, but one of the boys
"moved," and it s a waste of "copper" to give you the picture
of the other little chap.
Pearson s Landing
I was sorry when, along towards noon, we reached Pearson s
Landing, we d had that jolly a time coming up.
Know Jack Pearson ? Didn t know but you did everybody
54 THE REAL COBALT
%
seemed to know Jack, used to live in Toronto, where he left off
selling things to come up here to run the hotel, store, and now a
little post office of his own, just to oblige the neighbors who
used to have to go down to Judge, three miles below, for their
newspapers and advertisements for new seed potatoes. Great
potato country, and the new variety men know it.
Thought I recognized a brother in Jack, and asked: "Are
you a Mason?" "I am," said he, at which his little girl ran
in to her mother, and in disgusted surprise asked: "If papa is a
Mason, why has he been running all over the country hunting
for one to fix that old smoky chimney?"
"Why Does Papa Sell Him Coal?"
The children s stories of this northland will rank with the
best for brightness. In one of the towns "papa" sells coal.
One morning "mamma" was combing the little five-year-old s
hair, when getting the tangles out she pulled a bit too hard, when
the little one said: "D- - it, mamma, you hurt!" "Why, Neta,
where did you get that word?" "Bridget uses it every day
when you ain t here." "Do you know where little girls go
who use such words ? " " No, mamma, where do they go ? " " To
the bad place, where the bad man burns them all up!" "Is
that so! Then I wonder why in the d- -1 papa sells him coal!"
Was surprised to meet Toronto s Street Commissioner, Jones.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. "Visiting," and there he
was Mrs. Pearson s father. My eyes, the variety of people I
do meet up here, building up this great country.
I Waded
That night at the theatre the men told me that to reach Pense
from Pearson s Landing that I d have to walk. They were
wrong. I waded. Say, you ought to see some of the Govern
ment roads! They dig ditches on either side of a narrow strip
of muskeg, and where it is too bad they lay little eight-foot poles
THE REAL COBALT 55
across and call them "corduroy roads." The "narrow strip"
is made more so by the "mill races" that cut in on either side
after a rain. With so much land to use, I do wonder that they
make the roads so narrow. They seem to be trying to u run
things on the cheap." Some of the older roads are good
where the settlers have taken to road-making themselves.
Part of this particular road was so bad that I had to "take
to" the piled-up stumps along the road-side to get through at all.
I reached the Brethour Mills in time to go to bed. Apropos
of these mills, I found many of the men from Hanover, the home
of Tommy Burns, the world s champion heavyweight. The
boys had many good stories to tell of him, and are naturally
very proud of the prominence he has brought to their town.
"We had a better man than he, if he had only trained. He
could always best Tommy in the early days. He went into
contracting and sawmilling, while Tommy took to another sort
o " mills," and has made both name and money. Geo. Reegan
is the other. He is now the manager of the Brethour. That s
why we re here."
$7,500 in Eighteen Days
It was at these mills I saw the Englishman W T ilson, who,
later, quit work, struck it rich in a mining claim, got $7,500,
and spent them in New Liskeard in just eighteen days. He
did not spend the dollars, he threw them away. He d burn a ten
dollar bill merely to prove to the gaping crowd that he had
"money to burn." He would pay a cabman, who had driven
him a short distance, thirty dollars. He bought watches and
jewellery for the children whom he had known around the mill.
He would get "insulted" if "Lorna" would offer to give him the
nine dollars change of a ten bill. He would buy fine clothes
for the boys himself wearing the same old prospector s suit.
"I don t need em. They all know I m rich." They didn t
know it long. In eighteen days he was glad to borrow a dime
from those who had been given his dollars. Men of his class
56 THE REAL COBALT
are confined to no district. I found him away up at the Brethour
Mills.
The Lame Guide
Next morning I got a guide and we started for Pense three
miles above the mills. Pete said, as we started out: "Now, I
can t walk very fast, I m lame." Say, did you ever try to follow
a Brethour cripple? Next time I went to Pense I hired a small
boy. I didn t want to have to keep up with "no cripples." I
could hardly sleep that night, I was that tired and Pete as fresh
as when we started out.
But now about Pense: From Pearson s Landing to the very
edge of that township, the land was so level and farmlike not
the remotest sign of rock that I was sure I was on a "wild-
goose chase," or, in this case, on a chase for "fool s gold." But
when we got across the line the change was as marked as was
possible to be. Where most of Harris, Casey and Brethour were
ideal for farming, Pense was all rocky. I don t believe it has
one clear farm. All up hill and down, with "up" predominat
ing ideal-looking mineral land, and heavily timbered in places,
and all fairly well timbered where the rocks were not too close
to the surface.
I sure would have been lost a dozen times but for Pete, who
seemed to know every part of the ground. A creek he called
it a creek Otter Creek runs through angling, was a rushing
river that day, with but a great tree bridge to cross to the north
and westerly side, w r here much development work is going on.
As we passed along, Pete would point out the various claims.
"Here is George Reegan s lot," as we came to one that looked
as though a few shots would turn out the goods. "George has
several good claims." Going over to where a shaft had been
started, he said : "This is one of Armour Doonan s and A.
Perkins lots. An assay from this shaft showed well in copper
and $6 1 in gold. They being among the very first to prospect
Pense, had their pick of the best and I guess they picked them.
They are farmers down in Brethour, through which we just
THE REAL COBALT 57
passed. They were struck by the formation of the rock of Pense
and did much prospecting before there was any excitement.
Now most of the good claims are staked. Another Brethour
farmer one of the pioneers John Wilder, has also been busy.
He has gotten hold of a number that promise well. He has one
in Pense, two in Brethour, down near the mineralized part of
Casey, and two good ones in Abitibi." I could not but note,
when I first came to New Ontario, that many of the good mines
had been discovered by farmers. "Jack" Hummel, one of the
discoverers of "The Dr. Reddick," was from Brethour. From
a poor man he reached wealth in one quick bound. Samuel
McChessney, whose farm residence near New Liskeard is one
of the "show" houses of New Ontario, found a mine in Coleman.
The Campbell-Thompson Mines
A man by the name of Campbell, of Chicago, owned a Veteran
claim in Pense. Mr. J. C. Thompson, of London, and his nephew,
Fred. Thompson, of New Liskeard, finding on it a great showing
of mineral, got in communication with Campbell. It resulted
in a company to develop it. They had not proceeded far when,
from assays shown in Chicago, an offer of $100,000 was made
and refused for it, and big development works were started.
Already they are sinking two shafts and have done much trench
ing. The Thompsons have a number of other good claims in
Pense and have great faith in its becoming one of the big mining
camps of the district.
The James Veteran Lot
Possibly what will prove one fully as rich as the " Campbell,"
lies immediately north of this claim. It is a Veteran lot; south
half of No. 5, in Concession 4. It belongs to W. A. James, a
Grand Trunk engineer, who bought it, as he said, as " a flyer."
If indications go for anything it certainly will be a good one.
58 THE REAL COBALT
The Pioneers
When I get into a new district, I always want to record and
preserve the names of its pioneers, for in writing of an old coun
try I am glad to find the names of the early ones written down
by some thoughtful recorder.
This is a new country, up along the White River the oldest
inhabitant coming to it but a few years ago, Among the very
first were the families of Judge, Keys, Roberts, the Bolgers,
the Gibbons, John Bucknell, who was the first to discover cobalt
in these parts. His find became "The Casey Mines," to be
mentioned further along; Armstrong, a few families of Jones,
but no Browns, with only a few Smiths; Wilder, Bristow, the
Doonans, O Brien, Broderick, Penman, Perkins, Moore, Ellis,
Gouge, Pierson, Sheedy, Little] ohns, Cannon, the Gannons,
Reed, Breen, Coutts, Hummel, John Schmidt, "who digs part
of his potatoes in the fall, the balance in the spring."
I later visited that country in winter. Ah, that s the season
these people have their fun! Distance counts for naught, if the
fiddler is to be at the end of the journey at the home of some
hospitable friend. Great sleighs, holding twenty-five or more,
start out, with everybody singing: "And we won t come home
till morning," and they don t! Ah yes, winter is the season, up
the White River. Few old people live up there, and young
folk will have their fun.
CASEY MINES
AS showing the values in Casey Township, another mine in
this locality has recently been sold in London for $1,000,-
ooo. It is the Casey Mine, discovered on the John Bucknall
farm. He was the first man to discover cobalt bloom in
this section. This was followed by the discovery of silver by
W. S. Mitchell, one of the most enterprising young men in the
whole Cobalt district. Mr. Mitchell, a representative of a great
banking house of London, came to Canada two years ago, and
has already become identified with some of the most valuable
properties in Northern Ontario. He is one of the few who are
never satisfied to follow in the track of other prospectors. He
must ever lead. He and his unique band of prospectors were
the first to find mineral outside the beaten track. He found
gold in Playfair Township a month before Dr. Reddick made
his famous discovery at Larder Lake. His Townsite Mine, in
Cobalt, was the first Cobalt mine to be listed on any of the great
exchanges of London, New York, etc. They were first to dis
cover silver in Casey, and among the first to discover silver in
the surveyed part of James, up the Montreal River. The story
of the hardships of his band of prospectors, while up this wild
river, is a most entertaining one, as may be seen further on in
my own story of this young man.
He is a great organizer. It was he who organized the Elk
Lake Silver Mines, Limited, with large holdings in James.
Another of his enterprises is the Oposatica, and Chibogamoo
Exploration Company, now exploring the mineral lands of
the Province of Quebec. His Airgiod Co. has among its mem
bers some of the most prominent Scotchmen in Canada many
being members of the Dominion, Parliament, Senators, and suc
cessful men of affairs.
59
60 THE REAL COBALT
Mr. Mitchell has other valuable properties in Coleman,
not yet organized.
Being a resident of Haileybury, he is taking a most active
interest in the upbuilding of this Wonder City of the North,
which such as he are making to grow with marvellous rapidity,
as may be seen in my chapter on "Haileybury."
Mr. Mitchell s Montreal River Finds
As above, Mr. Mitchell s party were among the first to pros
pect, successfully, in the surveyed part of James.
By reason of the personnel of the men composing this party,
it is doubtless the most unique among prospectors of New Ontario.
There were Jack Munroe, who once made matters so interesting
for big Jim Jeffries; Joe Acton, champion lightweight wrestler
of England; Jack Hammell, the cosmopolitan humorist, and
clever writer; Tom Saville, "The White Indian," a noted guide;
and Mose, "The Hungry Indian." Later the party was joined
by surveyor Charles Fullerton, of New Liskeard, and Neil Sharpe.
The Diary of the Two Jacks
I was shown the diary kept by Munroe and Hammell. In it
was a graphic account of their first trip up the Montreal. It
tells of the hardships they endured while searching for silver
claims. While Munroe gives the serious side, HammelFs sense
of humor crops out in every line, making his part of the "log" a
most entertaining chapter. He might be half starved and yet
could laugh at poor Hungry Mose s Oliver Twist-like calls for
More! More! 3 He might be all but frozen and yet smile at
Neil Sharpe s frozen ears taking out the stings with his
laughter.
It was in the dead of winter. On the last day of December,
1906, they ran out of provisions. Latchford was the nearest
point at which they could replenish their store and Latchford
55 miles away! The tossing of a penny decided who should
THE REAL COBALT 61
make the return trip. These were sent by the penny: Jack
Munroe, Acton and Saville, leaving Jack Hammell to look after
Mose-the-Hungry .
As soon as the return party had gone, Hammell took up the
diary. He started in with a resolution to begin the year with
out drinking. Next day he writes: "Am still on the water
waggon." Munroe said afterward: "No wonder, for we had
taken what little there was left."
Jan. i: "Been chasing six-hour-old moose tracks all day.
First I lost the Indian, then lost my fool self. Somebody had
side-tracked the scenery. Think I must have walked 1,000 miles
before I located the camp."
Jack did a bit of snowshoeing one day. "Crust just hard
enough to let you break through and enable your shoes to sneak
underneath, so as when you go to lift your foot you bring a ton
of crust along with it. As for going down the hills, I generally
slide them. To-day I flopped and then dived them. First your
feet break through, then the dive starts. I am champion acro
batic hunter. Oh, if only the 42nd Street bunch could see me
now, they sure would laugh! This woods life is the only life!
Great for people with strong backs and weak minds!"
A day or two later Jack laments: "No food in sight yet!
If the boys don t soon come we ll have to stew up the moccasins
and snowshoes. Indian says, Him hungry! That Indian is
always hungry! Can t blame him, though, to-night have
almost forgotten how to eat, myself. Oh for a look in at Del-
monico s with the boys! This woods life is so different No,
can t blame the Indian!"
From famine to feast I Munroe and party got back the next
morning, and Hammell is said to have got off the " water waggon "
before nine.
Munroe takes up the diary, and tells of the hardships of the
55 miles return to Latchford for supplies. They ran out of all
food but a little bannock (Indian bread), which they had to
divide up between the three.
62 THE REAL COBALT
The Squirrel Chase in the Cabin
One night they stopped in an old lumber camp in which a
squirrel had located. After a long chase around the big room,
Jack caught it. The other boys claimed that Jack called lustily
for them to "come quick and help me hold it." But the boys
do say lots o things about big, good-natured Jack. The only
thing they could get to cook it in was a tobacco can they found.
A little corn meal very old was also found, and with it and the
squirrel, a tasty broth was made. For the squirrel they cast
lots for the parts, and sat down to a contented feast.
44 Shou Me the Mon Oo It Me With a Brick ! "
At another time, when the whole party were together, they
\vere sleeping in a lumber camp with a dozen or more lumber
men. It is the custom, in very cold weather, to sleep in their
clothes boots and all. To preface this story I must tell you
that Tom Saville had a dog that had a \vay of crawling in among
the sleepers to keep warm. He crawled in with Jack Hammell
this night as Jack thought. Jack was sure of it, for he could
feel the dog s hair rubbing against his face. Now Jack did not
object to the dog sleeping with him, providing he slept at the
"foot," but he drew the line at "the head," and especially his
head. "Get out, you beast!" said Jack, and emphasized it with
his fist. Imagine his surprise at having Joe Acton jump up,
with a loud yell, and as he pranced around the cabin over the
sleepers, wanting to know: "Wough, hl m it! Oo it me?
Shou me the mon oo it me with a brick!" But everybody was
asleep, and Jack Hammell was snoring loudest of all, for he
respected Joe s reputation of being able to look after himself.
Joe related his night s experience next morning, and was sur
prised that nobody should have known of it. "Didn t you ear
me, Jack? W y, you were right next me! :
"Never heard a sound! I sleep tight when once I start,"
said Jack, with the faintest sort of a smile.
THE REAL COBALT 63
The weather was bitter cold along about Jan. i3th. The diary
says: "Very cold. Neil s face froze several times. We had to
watch each other all the while to keep from freezing."
Many Valuable Claims Staked
With all their hardships they returned with many valuable
claims staked. Some of them will turn out to be great mines,
as the work already done indicate wonderful things to come.
That was but a few months ago. They were among the
pioneers of many thousands of prospectors who have gone into
the Montreal River country. Where was then a wilderness, is
now a busy camp, with towns springing up, and before the year
is out, much of the valley from Latchford to the height of land
will be looked upon as an " Old Camp," so rapid follows improve
ment in a mining country.
I must not leave out one of Jack Hammell s best. It s one
that the boys tell on him. It happened just before they returned
from Latchford with the supplies. He and Mose were down to
the bottom of the "barrel," and were both pretty hungry for
meat. As they sat around exchanging experiences, Jack started
in.
Jack Makes a Good Shot
"Oh, I didn t tell you, did I? Well, Mose hasn t spoken to
me all day, just because I batted him one with a hunk of tree.
It was this way: I goes for a pail of water this morning, and,
coming back, I spies a big, voluptuous partridge right up in a
tree, just in front of the tent, so I calls to Mose, Hey, Mose,
says I, soft like, grab something and come quick, there s a great
big partridge up this tree. It s meat for us, if you re a good
shot. So Mose he grabs a stick of wood and steps out of the
tent. Now be careful, I tells him, and don t breathe heavy,
and when I counts three, let loose at him. Old Mose he sets
himself. You d have thought he was gettin ready to fight a
grizzly by the look on his face. But somehow things didn t go
64 THE REAL COBALT
just right. Old Mose he couldn t hold himself, for when I got
to the Two count, it was all off. Mose couldn t wait any longer.
He just had to take a swash at him, and me, Mr. Simp, not want
ing to be out of it, took a clout at him on the fly. Missed him,
of course that is, the bird, but not the shot. No, Mose he
grabbed it right below the belt. Well, you should have seen
that Indian s face the hurt look he threw at me! He imme
diately sat down and commenced hugging himself with both
hands. He wouldn t even notice me. In fact, it was some
little time until. I could get Mose to sit up and take notice to any
thing. Finally he stopped loving himself, got up and sauntered
away, muttering something about some people being poor
shots, which was an injustice to me, for if ever a man made a
pretty shot it was me, with that hunk of tree. It just goes to show,
though, how dense some Indians are. They never seem to look
at things in a broad-minded light. Sometimes I think that Mose s
mind must be bad, otherwise he wouldn t mind a little thing
like that."
Later. Poor Mose is dead died late in the fall shortly
after my trip up the Montreal, of which I shall tell you further
on. I met Mose at Elk Lake City. I had thought him the
typical, high cheek bone, tall, blanketted and well, the picture-
book Indian. He was so different that I could scarce believe
that the well-dressed boy I saw at Elk Lake City was the same
as he of whom I had heard so much Poor "Hungry Mose-!"
Hungry no longer.
Coomstock Lode to be Surpassed by Cobalt
But to return to Mr. Mitchell. He has made a deep study
of the situation in the Cobalt Camp. "Look at that," said he,
during one of my interviews with him. "That," was the United
States Mineral Report. The particular part to which he called
my attention was the world-famous Comstock Lode of Nevada.
"Now see," said he, "up to 1900 there was taken out $203,636,-
062.84 of silver. It took 40 years to take this out, and they had
to go down 3,300 feet to get it. The greatest year was 1874
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THE REAL COBALT 65
the fifteenth from its start in 1859 when the production was
$21,780,922.02. Now follow. This will be equalled, in 1909,
by the Cobalt district, the fourth year after machinery was in
stalled." I could scarcely realize this, but when he showed
what is being taken out from the mines now shipping, and
with such mines as the Cobalt Lake, Nancy-Helen, North Cobalt,
and a dozen others, now almost ready to start in as big shippers,
I had to admit the correctness of his prediction. Only to-day,
I visited a mine, and watched the men bagging ore at the rate of
a carload every twenty-four hours. Marvellous! And again,
wonderful, this story of Cobalt and its fabulous wealth of silver.
Later. They struck a rich vein in the Casey, just as this
goes to press, that runs 5,300 ounces of silver.
THE IMPERIAL LARDER LAKE
AMALGAMATED MINES
This Company, with head office in New Liskeard, Ont.,
whose low capitalization and large holdings of 43 well-selected
claims, in the rich parts of the Larder Lake district, and in the
townships of Boston, .Catherine, and Harris, must become one
of the successful mining enterprises of the country.
It has had assays of $1,354 in gold, with good showings of
copper and silver, in their township claims. Its capitalization is
but $250,000, with shares at par $i. Only enough of which
will be sold to develop the properties, and not run as a stock
jobbing enterprise. The high standing of its officers and direct
ors is a guaranty of honest management.
I have not seen their other holdings, but I have visited their
mine in Harris Township, and from it judge the carefulness of
the company. These are in the joining concessions to the Casey
Mines, recently sold in London for $1,000,000, and the $5 par
shares of which have already reached above $7. The forma
tion of the rock in exactly the same as the Casey, and is growing
richer as they go down.
The officers and directors are all successful business men
of New Liskeard, and have gone into the matter as an honest
business enterprise : President, George Weaver, Real Estate
Agent and Mining Broker, and Vice-President of the Temis-
kaming Telephone Co., Ltd.; Vice-President, R. G. Zahalan,
hotel proprietor; Secretary-Treasurer, G. W. Weaver. Directors:
Frank Loudin Smiley, Barrister ; Henri Loudin, Business
Manager; J. H. O Brien, Contractor; W. J. Yates, Merchant;
and W. E. Kerr, Government Inspector of Roads.
Solicitors: Harrman and Smiley. Bankers: Imperial Bank
of Canada.
66
ELK CITY THE NEW
COBALT
THE district around the new town that has sprung into exist
ence within the past year, on the banks of the Montreal
River, or, by reason of the widening, Elk Lake, in the
Township of James, is well called The New Cobalt, by reason of
the wonderful richness of its mineral found wherever real work
has been done in search of it. Some of the claims show native
silver upon the very surface, and most of them that have been
well prospected are proving the right of the district to the name.
It is so recent, that a residence of less than one year makes
a man a pioneer. But recent as is the district, there is hardly a
lot that has not been staked, and on which work has not been
done.
A New York doctor, while hunting for big game in the sum
mer of 1906, discovered native silver, just east of James, in Tud-
hope. His find is turning out very rich. This discovery set the
eyes of many toward the country, and yet but little was done
until in the late fall and winter, when a small army marched up
the river. It was even more difficult to get there than after a
steamboat line had been started, although, as the boys say, it
was almost as fast, but then the boys are given to say a whole
lot besides their beads.
Elk City is 53 miles from Latchford, and 25 miles from
Earlton, on the T. and N. O. Railway. Being destined to be
come an important point, many roads are aiming toward it-
waggon roads, later to be followed by one or more railroads, since
it is on the line into rich mineral fields beyond. It must become
the great distributing point for a wide country up and down the
river. Owing to the width of the Montreal, which, at Elk
67
68 THE REAL COBALT
City, narrows down to 352 feet, this is the only place for miles
where a bridge can be thrown across. It is on a Veteran lot of
160 acres, owned and laid out by W. F. Greene, A. Klinginsmith
and J. E. Cook. The site is ideal, and has been laid out to the
very best advantage. The lot being in the centre of the miner
alized belt that crosses James, the north part is soon to become
an active mining camp, as all indications show that these lucky
young men can do a big mining business "right in town" an
industry to start on, almost before the town hall is up.
Already a number of substantial buildings have been erected,
and many more planned for the spring, which promises to be a
busy one. All of the claims held by men or companies of means,
will begin work as soon as the snow is off, and a large number
before that time. I have seldom found so enthusiastic a district.
"We ve got the goods and we re goin to show em what s in
James," say the enthusiasts. From what I saw, as I visited
among the various camps, this will not be hard to do. In fact,
some of them have already proved what is there.
The Mitchell, the Munroe, Saville, Hammell
and Hackett Claims
Elsewhere I have spoken of the properties held by W. S.
Mitchell and his unique company of prospectors. They have
claims in many parts, in fact, in almost every district from Cole-
man to Abitibi, to the north, and along the way from Latchford
to Smythe, to the west. Here their claims are among the best.
On the "Munroe lot," a short distance easterly from Elk Lake
City, I saw a vein that was opened up for 500 feet, and so straight
that one might have killed a line of birds sitting along its edge,
if the bullet would carry. This is one of the remarkable things
noted in this whole district the straightness of the veins. On
this claim native silver has been discovered.
THE REAL COBALT 69
THE MOOSE HORN MINE
To the northeast, a short mile, I visited the Moose Horn Mines.
Locally they are better known as "The Gilford Mines," from
Charles Gifford, one of the best known men in this, as well as
in the Cobalt district, where he was long connected, as manager,
with the Victoria Mines.
The story of his coming to James is an interesting one. Sit
ting in the Victoria Mines office with the late Colonel Charles
Turner, one day, the Colonel said: "Charlie, I ve got some of
the best claims in the whole of James Township, up the Montreal
River. I know, for I have prospected them carefully." With
out ever seeing them Gifford bought them then and there
bought them under six feet of snow. He had know r n the Colonel
so long, that when he said: "I know they are good," he believed
it, and took them at the price offered. He believed that they
were good, but little did he dream how good they were little
did he think to find native silver showing on the very surface,
and with well-defined veins showing all over the property.
Early in July he came up with his two partners, his brother
George and James Garvin, and set to work at once erecting a
commodious camp, and putting a large force of men to stripping
and sinking shafts. I was there in October. I could scarce
believe that in so short a time so much work could have been
done. But when I watched the admirable system under w r hich
the work was being prosecuted, I then saw how it had been ac
complished men and managers working together with one
object in view, the bringing of the mine up to a high standard,
and that they are doing.
With 217 acres to develop, they thought to best forward the
enterprise by putting it in a company hence the Moose Horn
Mining Company, with Dr. A. H. Perfect, President; Dr. Henry
Beatty, Vice-President; J. H. Charles, Secretary-Treasurer;
and Directors: Alfred Gillies and L. L. Anthus; Charles Gifford is
General Manager.
Mr. Gifford has had a wide experience. Born in New York
70 THE REAL COBALT
City, he has been in all the mining countries of the west, from
Mexico to Alaska, and looks upon this as one of the greatest
camps in all the wide range, and with a future which no man
dare predict.
THE MINERAL BELT
While the mineralized belt of the Montreal River country is
not yet fully known, its best showing has been found to centre
in James Township. Beginning in about the first mile in Tud-
hope (joining James on the east), and in the third concession,
it runs a little northwesterly, taking in a part of Smythe (to the
north), and passes on beyond James into the Unsurveyed, to the
west of James. Little has been found in the southerly part,
and yet it is claimed that with depth, mineral must here be dis
covered. It is too early to even attempt to define the areas of
silver lands, since so many new places are showing value that
even the "barren" rocks of a few months ago are now promising
great things. Beginning in Coleman, and on both sides of the
river, in the Portage Bay district, a number of good finds have
been made. After this section has been passed, we find little
until the Maple, or Skull Mountain country, has been reached,
and even here only a few of the claims have been proved of value.
One company of prospectors staked over 3,000 acres, and had
all of the claims thrown out but about ten. And yet in this Skull
Mountain district are some great things. For one of these an
offer of $300,000 has been refused, while the Mitchell and other
holdings are said to be most promising. To the north-west of
James, around Hubert, Bloom, and Calcite Lakes, some good
finds have been made, while the richness of the Silver Lake
properties, in the Unsurveyed, just west of James, places them
among the very best in the district.
THE REAL COBALT 71
JAMES TOWNSHIP SILVER MINES COMPANY
It may be owing to the greater amount of prospecting done
in James that makes the name of "The New Cobalt" seem so
fitting. It is without a doubt a safe proposition, almost any part
in and north of the third concession, and, as above, even the
lower part may yet prove good on proper development. Directly
west of Elk City two miles, the James Township Silver
Mines Company has two claims upon which much development
work has been done, and which assay high in silver, chalcopy-
rites, peacock, copper or bornite, and aplite, carrying silver, not
to mention good showings of cobalt bloom, galena and smalltite.
Sixteen well-defined veins have been uncovered and as work
goes on, new ones must be found since these lots lie in the best
portion of the township, west of the river.
The officers of the Company are: President, A. Klingin-
smith; Vice-President, J. J. Anderson; and W. F. Greene,
Secretary-Treasurer and Managing Director. Directors: B. N.
Law and Edward Gillis. The main office of the Company is in
the Temple Building, Toronto.
Here is one of the good stories of the camp. It is of a near
by claim.
Inspector Irwin Makes a Great Find
A prospector had gone up into James, and after he had come
real close to his last dollar, without finding anything, he was
about to give up, when Inspector Roland Irwin happening along,
one day, when the prospector was away, and picking around
the mouth of the shaft, ran on to a vein that set the whole camp
wild with delight, and went far to bringing the army of other
prospectors into James.
A. H. McDonald
Immediately south of and joining the James Township Silver
Mines Company s lots are two of the properties of A. H. Me-
72 THE REAL COBALT
Donald, who is finding so many good things "Up the Montreal."
These properties are not only in the best part of the camp, but
like the lots above mentioned, assay well in silver, galena and
copper. Just west, and adjoining, is possibly the best claim
in the district (the one Irwin found), by reason of the big find
of silver, made in the early days of the camp. The story of this
find is one of the stories they like to tell you up there.
Besides these two claims Mr. McDonald has a number of
lots in the Unsurveyed, about Silver Lake.
The foregoing are but instances of what is being opened up
in the great mineral section of the Montreal River. One can
hardly imagine what is in store for that country, since the com
paratively little work already done has show r n it to be so wonder
fully promising.
THE MONTREAL A RIVER OF GREAT BEAUTY
A year ago so little w r as known of the Montreal River, that one
never heard it mentioned other than a way to reach the silver
lands along its banks. "Up the Montreal," meant nothing of
beauty, while I have rarely passed along so charming a stream..
I chose for my trip the month of October, the loveliest of all
the year. The early frost had yellowed the leaves of the annual
shedding trees into a thousand shades of colorings, and these,
interspersed among the spruce, the balsam and the pines, formed
giant bouquets whose changing beauty was ever and anon re
marked by my fellow-passengers the practical miners and
prospectors on their way to their various camps along the river.
A clinging snow had fallen the night before, and hung in delicate
whiteness upon the trees, festooning the branches of green, turn
ing them into a painting more beautiful than the brush of man
had ever attempted. The great red sun changed to golden,
and as we crept along in the little steamer, in snail-like speed,
it melted the white into green again, turning backward the dial
of the seasons.
I could not but think what this river will be when it may be
THE REAL COBALT 73
traversed by swift-moving steamers. As it was, even the slow-
moving freight boat was endurable with so much of charm all
about.
A Unique Race
Did you ever note the inborn propensity to race in all of us?
I have, and that day recalled many of the stories told of the old
racing days along the Mississippi. We had hardly gotten fairly
started from Latchford, when, on looking back, we saw a small
craft leaving the dock. It wasn t the black raking craft of the
piratical type, but a light grey, built for swift movement. We
could ever keep in the lead, save when we would near a portage.
It was at such times that the little craft crept to the fore, and by
the time we had made the portage, and had taken another steamer,
the little grey had left us to catch up, which we would ever do
if the run was long enough between portages (of which there
were three in the 53 miles). Each time as we would creep along,
the excitement would become intense. "We re gaining. W T e ll
catch her yet. See, see, she s scarce a half-mile ahead!" "Pile
in the wood, engineer!" "Cap, think we ll beat out?" These
and many other questions and exclamations enlivened the way
all along to Elk City. Oh, it was great that race! Did
we beat? you ask. Oh, yes; beat by a full quarter of an hour.
But with reason: One of the men broke his paddle, and thus
handicapped, the little Fredericton canvas canoe lost the race to our
swift-moving ( ?) steamer. Oh yes, an exciting race, that one up
the Montreal, that bright October day against the little "canvas."
The Drownings in the Montreal
While passing through Mountain Lake a widening of the
Montreal one of the passengers told of the drowning of a pros
pector while coming down from James Township. From this
the subject of too many unnecessary drownings in the North
country came up, which leads me to write the following:
Scarcely a week but I hear of one or more deaths by drown
ing often careless drowning. Men start out in a canoe who
74 THE REAL COBALT
know nothing about handling it. They may have a smooth water
knowledge of a canoe or boat, but when they go upon the rough
lakes or foolishly attempt to run a rapid in these wild rivers, they
might well be called "At Sea" -and literally at sea, so far as
safety goes.
There is so much danger to the prospector that I have given
no little attention to the subject of canoeing upon the lakes and
rivers of this country. Too many think that all they need select
is a thing that is propelled by paddles, and that s a canoe. I
thought that myself until, upon much inquiry, I found that some
canoes are far safer than others, and I thereupon began to find
what one was the safest of all. I asked of the returned pros
pectors from Larder Lake, Lake Abitibi, the Montreal River,
and from all parts, wherever canoes were used. Now, while an
occasional man had his favorite, and by long experience had be
come an expert in its use, I found the general opinion was that
for safety, strength, ease of handling, and all round excellence,
the very best in this country is one made at Fredericton, N.B.,
by Chestnut and Son. More people know it as the "Canvas"
canoe, from its being canvas covered. Its advocates were so
enthusiastic that at first I thought they must have an interest in
the company. But as the number grew, I knew that it must be
the canoe and its excellence itself that accounted for the general
praise accorded it. Were it a waggon, a buggy, a carriage or a
car, to run on dry land, I d hesitate to give space to any particular
make. But it is something so much more important vitally
important that I should be doing the intending green prospectors
a wrong, did I not tell them all I can that will tend to their good
-tend to their safety, and nothing that I can think of is of so much
importance as to how best prepare for a trip over the lakes and
wild rivers through which they must pass in their search for the
silver and gold that brings them to this northern country.
THE REAL COBALT 75
What the Late Edward Hanlan Said
When the late "Ned" Hanlan, the long time champion of the
rowing world, was in Haileybury at the recent great regatta, I
had the pleasure of a long interview with him. He was a most
entertaining character, having the pleasing ability of telling the
things that have interested him in his many trips around the world.
Having in mind the many cases of drowning that have come
to my notice (one occurred near by, during his visit. It was one
of the foolish drownings. Three men and a dog tried to go over
the lake with a heavy loaded canoe. The lake was very rough,
and their canoe upset. Two were picked up by a passing steamer,
but the third lies at the bottom of a deep channel while I yet
write of it). I asked him how best to act when a boat or canoe
upsets. " Never try to get upon the bottom of the upturned canoe
by going to the middle. Always go to the end, bear it down and
climb on as you would get upon a horse s back. If more than one,
then ride it double. It will thus hold till help comes. It s all
but impossible to climb upon the bottom by going to the middle
of the canoe."
If this page save but a single life, then I am ten thousand
times repaid, and Chestnut and Son are welcome to all I have
said of their Canvas, for I feel that they have merited the words.
One day, shortly after I had written the above, I chanced to
meet H. B. Munroe, all around mining man, who has probably
had as much canoe experience in this upper country as any other
in it. He is a warm advocate of the "Canvas," strongly urging
its adoption by the novice. He thinks it the best canoe made. " It
is next to impossible to swamp it," says he, "and I ve had experi
ence in every dangerous lake up here. I ve seen so many drown
ings, by reason of poorly constructed canoes, that I would, if I
could, have a law passed prohibiting their use, and make the use
of some such canoe as you have recommended, compulsory. This
would save many a life. Yes, I look upon Chestnut s Canvas as
the best to be had."
76 THE REAL COBALT
Pioneers of the Montreal "
I found so much of interest "up the Montreal," that I have
nearly ready a little book with the above title. It will contain
a careful paper on the minerals of the district, written specially
for the work by the best informed mining engineer on that coun
try Mr. W. E. MacCready, of Haileybury, who has made a long
and careful study of the mineral resources of the river.
The booklet, aside from this, will be very light just little
things to recall to the minds of the boys the days and nights they
spent Fighting Flies in James." Apropos of the style of its
lightness and the flies themselves, I shall herewith give a few lines:
The Kinnedys were there in fource amang the pioneers,
The sthouries tould me bout the flies quite druv me into tears.
They tould me bout the black wans, about the sandflies too,
And the billions ov muskatos that ate ahl night ov you.
The pesky craters nare wud take their luttle boite in turns,
But pumped the pizen into ye a-filling ye up wid burns.
And whin the rosy sun got up, and ye whiffed the arly dawn,
Ye d hope an pray, wid ahl yer stringth, ye d foind the divils gan.
Yer hopes an prayers wus answered, nat a wan o thim wus buzzin ,
But ivry wan hed bruthers, an aich o thim a cuzzin.
Af the nite wans ye thought wickid, the day wans they wus wurse,
Yer moind floys back to Agipt to Agipt and its curse.
I m sure the good Recorder wull grant ye lisenced claims,
And niver count the things ye sed whoile foighten flies in James.
Each of the pioneers will get his one or more lines. There
will be a carefully drawn map with a key, showing the holders of
the various mining lots in and about James. A few full-page
half-tones of river scenes will brighten the booklet. Then Leo s
"I ve got something good in James" will make you sit up and
take notice. In short, it will be one of those trifle books, inter
esting only because you knew it all before.
McDOUGALL CHUTES
McDOUGALL CHUTES is on the T. and N. O. Railway,
204 miles north of North Bay. It is one of the coming
mining centres, with some of the mines of great promise.
It takes its name from an Indian family descendants of an
early Scotch Hudson Bay factor. It lies along the west side of
Black River, and to the east of the railway. There is a very
pretty fall just across a little bay-like formation of the river, from
the town. McDougall Chutes might be said to have started in
1906. But little was done, however, until this year (1907), al
though George Johnson, Walter Monahan, the Transcontinental
Railway, John McChessney and some others, had built here as
early as 1905.
The town is building up without as yet having been laid out
into streets.
The Colonel and the Orderly Town
I was surprised to find McDougall Chutes one of the most
orderly places on the whole line from North Bay to "the end of
steel," which "end" is five miles north of McDougall. Of course
I asked the why, only to be told: "Say, I guess you haven t yet
met de Colonel!" "What Colonel?" "Why, The Colonel-
Colonel James McCully, the provincial constable of this dis
trict. To him much is due the order you remark." I later met
the genial Colonel, and at once saw the reason of the statement.
"I can keep em all straight but the Bishop . But then he d
get full on Black River water," said the Colonel with a twinkle.
His district covers all the country north of Englehardt, and
for 20 miles on either side of the railway certainly a big area
for one man to keep clear of that wily animal known in New
Ontario as the "Blind Pig." But they all say that the Colonel
is " the one man " who can do it.
77
78 THE REAL COBALT
Rivers of the North
One of the surprises of this country is its great river system.
I have never seen one so well watered with brooks and lakes every
where. A brook which one might step across turns into a navig
able river in a remarkably short distance. The Black River,
for instance, heads at the Height of Land, and twenty or thirty
miles away, at McDougall Chutes, we find a steamer carrying
freight down to where it joins the Abitibi River fourteen miles
below. The Abitibi Lake is emptied by a river of the same name
which flows westerly from the lake for 25 miles, thence northerly
for nearly 200 miles, where it empties into the Moose River, to
flow on to James Bay some 40 miles to the north-east. All the
way along are fine lakes and rivers unnamed and unmarked.
It is well said that nobody know r s what is in this country of mar
vellous things. Development is so rapidly going forward that
the untrodden wilderness of January is a cultivated field before
the summer has passed, and towns have sprung up and great busi
ness is done where so recently the moose and his wilder fellows
were supreme!
Romance of Gold Island
When the mineral history of New Ontario shall have been
written, one of its most interesting chapters will be "The Find of
the Two Swedes" "Swedes" as all reports to now have called
them. As usual, the first writers of things get matters mixed.
Victor Mattson and Harry Bannala are Finns, whose story, briefly
told, is this: They came from Finland to Port Arthur, Canada,
in 1896; prospected in the Sudbury district for years, making
but one good find in all the time; came to Cobalt this
spring, and worked in the mines for seven weeks; left
for Abitibi, first carefully examining a map of the upper country.
In looking over the map they noticed a large lake almost directly
west of McDougall Chutes, some 25 miles. Up to that time it
was practically unknown, although it covered and touched a half
dozen townships. To this lake the Finns went (instead of to
THE REAL COBALT 79
Abitibi), because it was unknown. They first prospected the
shores, and not finding any value they began to look among the
many islands (it is said that there are fifty of them) for they
knew not what, but anything that might be hidden away among
the rocks. They finally reached one which proved so rich in gold
that they at once named it Gold Island. Staking five claims upon
the island and the nearest shore, they started for McDougall
Chutes, with only the map to guide them. Here meeting Silas
Gibson and Alex Stirling, of the firm of Gibson and Stirling, post
masters and general storekeepers, and telling of their rich find,
so interested these two enterprising young merchants, that it
was proposed that they return to Night Hawk Lake with Gibson.
The proposition was accepted. When Silas reached the island
and saw what the Finns had to show him, all the Aladdin stories
of old flashed into his mind, making him believe that it was all a
dream. But when, after two days spent in uncovering a 75-foot
dyke, and picking samples of pure gold nuggets, he had to be
lieve as true what lay before him. He returned to McDougall
Chutes, laid the facts before some capitalists, and now 15 men
are at work, and as soon as the waterways are frozen, machinery
will be taken in and installed, and a large force of miners set to
sinking shafts and drifting.
When I first heard of this discovery I set it down as one of
the many fairy tales one must listen to in a mining camp. But
seeing the samples, and talking with the workmen, who are most
enthusiastic as they go down in rich pay rock, I found it very
easy to accept as fact the stories told of it. That vast wealth
awaits the fortunate Finns, and those who are interested with
them, is proven by the assays of thousands of dollars per ton,
that have been made from the samples taken from "The Island
of Gold."
Silas Gibson is of the well-known Gibsons of the Gatineau
Valley. He and Mr. Stirling came to McDougall Chutes in
May last. Besides this fortunate strike, they are interested in
a number of other mining claims, which once they counted as
good, but seem now but insignificant holdings. It may well be
80 THE REAL COBALT
said: The finds of to-day often dwarf the great things of yester
day. Good fortune does not always pass, un-noting, those merit
ing the choicest favors. This is an instance which you will agree
if ever you meet these two young merchants of McDougall Chutes.
John McChessney
John McChessney is another whose mining claims around
McDougall Chutes are worthy of special note.
Mr. McChessney was one of the first to go to this thriving
village. He was long connected with The Veterans Locating
Association of Toronto. He has doubtless selected more Veteran
lots than any other in this north country. It was in August of
1903 when he came up from "the end of steel," which was then
at about where is now Englehardt. Later he built the first frame
building, and ran the store now owned by Gibson and Stirling.
He also built the log house used for a time as a hospital, now
owned by Walter Monahan.
When the Transcontinental Railway was preparing to build
the section in the Abitibi Lake country, a tote or cadge road had
to be cut through from New Liskeard to the lake 150 miles.
Mr. McChessney was the one who cut it through. He had been
over the line before, going by canoe with goods for the Indians.
From New Liskeard to Abitibi there are 90 portages of from 200
feet to one-half mile each.
The Indians Had Never Seen Horses Before
Mr. McChessney was the first to take horses through to
Abitibi. He tells of the excitement among the Indians when they
saw these curious animals for the first time.
His knowledge of the country, gained while going through
out the townships looking for land for the Veterans, stood
him in good stead when mineral was discovered. He knew
where to go. He had seen the formations that meant gold, silver
or copper, and knowing this began prospecting in what he thought
to be the best localities. That his judgment was good is proven
by the claims he selected.
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THE REAL COBALT 81
Munro Township
Mr. McChessney went into Munro Township ten or
twelve miles to the east of McDougall, where Burwash and
Barnet have since made their great discovery. Here he and
his partner, Isaac Jenkins, took up six choice claims. It was not
like the "tenderfoot" going about putting in stakes with no
knowledge of the formation of the rocks, for Jenkins had spent
years in South Africa s mines and in the mines of British Col
umbia, from which he came on hearing of the great wealth of
this country.
Besides the six claims in Munroe, Mr. McChessney has a half
interest in a working mine right in McDougall Chutes, which
promises big results. In the unsurveyed country, at the Height
of Land, he has three claims, which show gold, silver and copper.
An assay from one of these, taken at 12 feet, gave 34 per cent,
copper, 250 in gold, and 3 ozs. of silver. The one in the village
assayed $9.60 in gold, 3 ozs. silver and 12 per cent, zinc blend.
In Abitibi Lake he owns the mining rights of 15 islands and
7 claims on the main land.
His good fortune will please many an old Veteran who has
profited by his judgment.
Walter Monahan
It was Walter Monahan, one of McDougall s early citizens,
who first found gold in Munroe, where he has located some of the
choice claims, assays from which show the wisdom of his selection.
He has, in all, eleven claims, from which he has taken ordinary
samples that run from $16 to $50 per ton, while some run high
enough to satisfy even a Law.
Mr. Monahan came to McDougall s from Huntsville, in the
Muskoka Lakes country, in June of 1905, and has done and is
doing his part to build up this enterprising town, whose future
promises much, owing to its admirable situation.
Mr. Monahan has charge of a land company in this locality,
and is doing much toward locating settlers.
6
THE LAROSE MINES
" V/ OU VE been looking for it all the way through? Been
1 looking for the Larose?" I knew it all the time. It s
just a way I have of saving some of the good things for
the last. Say, if you could but see this great mine, with its
millions of wealth in sight, you would sure wonder how I could
have kept back the telling so long. Why bless you, this very
thing is indicative of the camp itself. It started out well, so
did I, with the Hudson Bay. I shall end well, so far as the
thing I m telling goes, and as to Cobalt, it is proving its
richness to be so far beyond expectation, that it hardly seems
the same camp. The thousands in the expectation of 1903
have long since grown into millions of realization. In the case
of the Larose, in these early days, of 1908, millions of value
are blocked out, and to be mined at leisure. In 1903, where
was but little reason for hope of more than ordinary gain, is
now the riches of a Croesus. This, too, after thousands of
tons of ore have been shipped more than from any other
mine in the district, one car returning $126,000, and during
1907 nearly 100 carloads were sent out.
If Cobalt had but one mine, and that the Larose, it would
still be reckoned among the rich silver camps of Canada. For
this reason its history is so much a part of the country that to
write of it in less than a w r hole volume to itself, is a real task.
To the casual relater, the Larose was the first mine discov
ered. J. H. McKinley and Ernest Darragh had found mineral
a month before, but, as I have said, they kept it so quiet that it
was not known at the time Fred. Larose found it in September
of 1903.
It was on September 2gth that "Fred. Rose" signed the ap
plication for the discovery made by him on September
83
84 THE REAL COBALT
1903. His application stated that he had found mineral at
Station 113 on the T. and N.O. Railway, about 1,300 feet north
of Cobalt Lake (then Long Lake). His discovery was copper.
This application was sworn to before H. McQuarrie, a notary
of Haileybury. It was signed by "Fred. Rose" and Duncan
McMartin, who staked the claim, and together staked a number
of other claims rumor says that they were first to discover
what afterward became the great Nipissing mines.
John and Duncan McMartin, two brothers from Glengarry,
were contracting on that part of the T. and N.O. Railway which
passes Cobalt. Larose, from Hull, P.Q., was their blacksmith.
All the way along from Mud Lake had the brothers encountered
rock vast cuts of rock and yet no mineral was noticed until
they had passed where now stands the station at Cobalt about
a half mile north.
Incidentally, there are no more popular mine owners in the
camp than these Two Men from Glengarry. Great riches often
make of good men veritable cads, and you are tempted to regret
that they have been smiled upon by Fortune. In these two
brothers we find the sort one does so like to stop long enough
to commend Fortune for her selection the elder known as " The
King of Cobalt," and Duncan, the younger, doubtless the next
M.P. for Glengarry.
Some one has suggested that John might follow his name
with a K.C. (King o Cobalt); and still another, that plain
" Mr." preceding it would be more distinctive, since the late
deluge of K.Cs.
They took in three partners from Mattawa, Ont. Henry
and Noah Timmons, and D. A. Dunlop. Buying out Fred. La-
rose, they formed a close corporation, with the capital placed at
$5,000,000 an instance of a seemingly high capitalization prov
ing very low in comparison to actual values.
No "Strictures," Just a Few Facts
I have been told that I shall not be allowed to "pass stric
tures" on the Government. I shall not do so. Wouldn t do
THE REAL COBALT 85
it for the world and an interest in the Gillies Limit. Oh, no, I
shall not pass one. Neither shall I pass a Fact if I see it along
the way. Too many Facts are passed unnoted for the good of
this great upper half of a great Province.
Fact No. i. The application made for the 40 acres of the
Larose property was dated as above on September 29th,
1903. The company went to work on the development of the
mine, and were not long uncovering a fabulously rich vein. This
vein ran across the railway. It was in plain view, and so re
mained for over two years. During all that time nobody ever
intimated that it was not a part of the Larose. All at once the
Government, seeing so much wealth lying along their road, said:
"Now we own the surface right-of-way, guess we better take
the mineral down below," and they took it, and sold it to J. P.
Dickson for $50,000, and J. P. paid for it in the first two cars
shipped. The Government had not up to that time made
any reservation. But a little thing like a "reservation" never
seems to faze them if they want to "reserve" as an afterthought.
Like John Sherman or was it Horace Greeley ? who said: "The
way to Resume is to Resume." Here "The way to Reserve is
to Reserve," no matter when the "Reservation."
Fact No. 2. The Larose Company made a number of dis
coveries on lands to the east of their mine. These were honest
discoveries. Applying for the lands they were refused. Suit
was brought to compel the Government to grant the application.
It was suggested that they employ a certain Toronto lawyer to
conduct the case for them. He was employed. The case was
set for trial; witnesses were brought from a distance at great ex
pense to the company. The case was postponed. It was set
for another date, and witnesses were again called. Again it
was postponed. It was set for trial for the third time, and the
witnesses called to attend. Another postponement. By this
time the expenses had run up to $50,000. You are now asking:
"Was it wisdom for the Government to incur so great expense?"
Why, bless you, what need they care so long as somebody else
paid it? No matter if the payers were some of their own citi-
86 THE REAL COBALT
zens! Citizens! Why, in New Ontario, rank foreigners are
shown more consideration. That s not a "Stricture" just a
little Fact!
"Was the case set for the fourth trial?" I knew you d ask
that. Oh, no. There was an easier way. The Government
just stopped bothering about trials, and handed the property
covering some 200 acres over to the O Briens (I m saying noth
ing against the O Briens). And there you are. Yes, without
trial, settled a case that involved millions of value.
Oh, it s easy if you know how! And they do know how, up
here. "Is that all? Did it close at that?" Say, you must
hear the rest of the story. As I told you, they do know how to
"Reserve." In this instance, the Government just reserved a
one-fourth interest in all that great property, and are to-day
getting one-fourth of all the ore mined upon it. "What right
had they to it, other than of that of any other mine about which
there is a question?" Now, see here, you will have to ask a
wiser than I, or any one else in New Ontario. I don t pretend
to know neither does anybody else in the camp.
There Would Have Been No Cobalt
Here is another fact which is not generally known, even in
the district, or if known, not fully appreciated. But for this
great company, there would have been no Cobalt, so far as the wide
public is concerned. It would have been another Sudbury, or
another Yukon, with a few of our Americans owning the whole.
Didn t know that, did you? Am I telling secrets? Then I
am simply writing " The Real," as I promised to do at the outset.
Did the Government know this? Did it know that the very men
who had "done" our country were here after Canadian indus
tries? Ask your men who represent the greatest Octopus in
the world. They can tell you but will they? "Not loyal to
my own country, to speak thus?" Wrong again. I am loyal
to my own. So loyal, in fact, and so appreciative of its interests,
that I would decry the men who have so long enriched themselves
at my country s expense, and will decry the men who are help-
THE REAL COBALT 87
ing them grow rich at yours. These men from my country have
been helped to get what you could not. Now, who is the loyal
one I or he, or they, who would favor another country rather
than benefit the masses of their own ?
Enough of this for the present the rest I shall reserve for
another time another time when I shall have more space to de
vote to the subject.
Fred* Larosc Well Treated
Before I came to Cobalt, I had heard so much about how
the Larose Company had wronged Fred. Larose, that I thought
so ill of them that I had purposed to pass unnoted even so great
a mine. But when I looked into the early history of the camp,
and learned the uncertainty of things when the purchase of
Larose s interest was made, I saw it in a very different light.
This interest was purchased at a time when nobody knew if
the whole camp would be worth the $30,000 paid the black
smith. We hear very little about the thousands of dollars that
have since been paid for claims which have proved of no value.
Nobody thinks to berate the men who have paid $50,000 aye, an
hundred thousand dollars for simple prospects that have been
a total loss to all but the lucky sellers of the worthless lands.
When that purchase was made, the shaft on the discovery was
down but a very few feet, and scarcely no value showing. When
the $50,000 or $100,000 were paid, the camp had proven its value.
The Larose Company risked what to them was then a fortune
a fortune on a bare possibility. It turned out well, and it has
been the pleasure of many to say ill of the fortunate purchasers.
Too many would rather say of a fellow-man: "We re sorry for
the poor devil! 3 than: "We re delighted at his great success."
We can ever know the mental calibre of a man by the size of
his bump of envy.
I have carefully investigated the manner of this company s
later purchases. They bought the controlling interest in the
University, paying a fair price for the stock; when the holders of
the Lawson vein were at their wits end to know how to retain
88 THE REAL COBALT
their rich claim against the men who would have taken it from
them, it was John McMartin, the President of the Larose, who
came to their rescue and made them men of wealth; and so on
down through their purchases of the Princess mine, the Fisher
and Epplett, the Silver Hill, the Cochrane and the old E. V.
Wright mine, over in Quebec. Whilst others had acquired hun
dreds of acres of enormously valuable holdings for a bare $i
per acre, these men paid thousands for their properties. And
just here, and incidentally, I must remark a notable fact.
Men, in the early days of Cobalt, made a few thousand dollars
by being very shrewd. Some of them were exceeding shrewd,
but they devoted so much time to trying to take from honest
holders, honest holdings, that they let their own properties slip
away for the few paltry thousands, whilst the very men whose
lands they would have taken, on simple technicalities, are now,
in instances, worth millions. It is the best illustration I have
ever seen, where it pays to be square.
The Riches of the Larose A Second Comstock
Lode
To speak of the enormous riches of the Larose Mine is like
telling you that a busy mint has vast stores of silver. No one
who has not seen its veins of silver one of them (No. 3) traced
for 1,000 feet can form any conception of what lies in the prop
erty in the original 40 acres and the "J.B. 4," that joins it,
yet barely prospected.
From the 70 foot level, drifts have been run out more than
1,000 feet; over 700 feet on the 200 foot; and work starting from
the 300 foot level. They are proving that the pessimists were
wrong when they said: "It s a surface camp."
The Lawson, the University, and Others
T| On or before March first, work will be resumed on the cele
brated University; the fabulously rich Lawson vein; the Fisher
and Epplett, with its i8-inch calcite lead, in the vicinity of the
THE REAL COBALT 89
famous Temiskaming; the Princess near the McKinley-Dar-
ragh which promises to be another of the great mines of the
camp, shipments .of ore having already been made that runs
over 4,000 ounces to the ton; and on the Cochrane, another in
the Temiskaming locality. In a few months every one of these
will be busy camps, for the Larose people never do things in a
small way. If what they will do may be judged from what they
have already done, then I may well repeat: If Cobalt had but
one mine, and that the Larose, it would still be reckoned among
the rich silver camps of Canada, yea, of the world, and one would
be safe in predicting that it will be a second Comstock Lode.
COBALT CANADA S WON
DERLAND
HOW TO GET THERE
THE first question one asks when hearing of a new place is
"How do you get there?" I asked this when I used to
hear, in Ottawa, of the silver land of New Ontario. I
knew, as you know, that Cobalt is away up somewhere in the
north. That is all I knew.
I went to the Canadian Pacific station in Ottawa and asked
for a ticket to Cobalt, and the train did the rest, It was in the
middle of May, that charming month for travel. One needs but
sit in one of the palatial cars of this great road and glide through
beautiful changing panorama, not once noting the passing of
time ever and anon looking out upon rapidly growing towns
along the way. Oh it is delightful !
I am ever interested in the towns along the way, each with
its own individuality.
There was the live town of Carleton Place, then Almonte
with its busy mills. It was to Almonte the Prince of Wales
now the good King Edward was driven from Arnprior while on
his memorable visit to Canada in 1860, and Arnprior with its
vast lumber mills, sixteen miles away, where again we reach
the Ottawa River, which we had left at the Capital. Seventeen
miles beyond is the beautiful town of Renfrew, with its well-
laid streets, miles of concrete sidewalks, and its varied indus
tries. Cobden, whose life went out when the old Ottawa River
boats no longer ran the upper river, is another sixteen miles
a\vay. Onward nineteen miles and we have come to the great
lumber and manufacturing town of Pembroke. Here my mind
90
THE REAL COBALT 91
ran back to that day three years before when I started from
here to go up Lake Allumette on that jolly 5o-mile trip to Days-
Washing (spelled Des Joachims) with Captain Murphy. Sweet
memory, that day three years ago!
At just 198 miles from Ottawa we come to Mattawa, once
the livest, busiest town in all the north. It may not be what
once it was, but it has given to other Canadian towns, men who
have made those other towns. I later visited Mattawa, and
found those who were left, a charming people, genial and cour
teous. It is here that the Mattawa River enters the Ottawa,
which at this point turns toward the north, to run in tumbling
rapids to Lake Temiskaming, 39 miles away. Along the eastern
bank of the Ottawa runs a branch of the C.P.R.; it passes
Lumsden s Mills, or Temiskaming, where it connects with a
steamer line whose boats run up the lake for nearly 100 miles,
and goes on a few miles north-easterly to the beautiful Kippiwa
Lake, with its 600 miles of indented shore line. At Temis
kaming is the popular summer hotel the Bellevue, and the great
mills of John Lumsden, of Ottawa.
NORTH BAY
Beyond Mattawa, some 45 miles, we reach North Bay,
destined by reason of its advantageous situation to become a
large city. It was a result of the Canadian Pacific Railway
nothing in the early 8o s, now a business and railway centre
of many thousand people.
North Bay is 244 miles a little north of west of Ottawa. It
lies on the north shore of Lake Nipissing at its eastern ex
tremity. The Nipissing is but a spot on the map of Canada,
and yet it looks here to be a great lake as it goes out of "sight to
the west. Its waters flow west to the Georgian Bay through
the French River, and the Ottawa carries a part of it to the east,
through the River Mattawa; the lake is fifty or more miles in
length.
So full of lakes is this great north, that the "little ones"
don t count, and thus many a charming sheet of water is never
92 THE REAL COBALT
heard of until one by accident runs across it. This is why
Canada is well called "The Land of Surprises." No preconceived
notion of it will fit the situation. One must see it to know
even a little bit about it. This of the eastern half the grandeur
and the sublimity of the western may never be painted, and cannot
be told. Through the length of both runs this great railway,
through varied and ever-changing beauty, each year becoming
better known and more popular as a tourist road.
THE TEMISKAMING AND NORTHERN
ONTARIO
At North Bay begins the Government railway, the T. and
N.O., and here is where passengers from the east and west
change to go to Cobalt, which lies 103 miles to the north.
This railway is the consummation of the Hon. Frank Latch-
ford s dream. For years he worked for it, session after session,
when in the Provincial Parliament as Minister of Public Works,
He w r as finally successful and before he went out of power he
saw trains running to the north for more than 100 miles. The
Whitney Government took up the work and are pushing it
rapidly on toward James Bay, many hundreds of miles toward
the North Pole. From a small beginning it promises to be
come one of the most important in the country, by reason of the
vast forests and millions of acres of farming lands that will be
made available by it, not to mention the thousands of square
miles of mineral lands which may be made practical for mining.
What was once called "The Land of the Muskeg and Stunted
Poplar" will yet be found rich in mineral and a very garden in
productiveness. Along its line are growing up prosperous
towns, many destined to become cities by reason of the vast
wealth that lies around them.
It is well called "The Picturesque Temiskaming," for here
and there all along the way are lakes and rivers with magnificent
falls pouring down through deep defiles of the hills.
Lake Temagami is in a forest reserve of 1,400,000 acres.
It in itself is one of the most beautiful lakes in the north, and
THE REAL COBALT 93
besides, this vast reserve contains innumerable other lakes and
many rivers. The Montreal, with its endless interest, bounds
its northerly edge. It is reached at 72 miles from North Bay,
at Temagami Station. Here a number of lines of steamers
connect and carry the tourists far up and around its borders.
It is so full of islands they do say nearly 1,300 of them that
the scenery is kaleidoscopic in its beauty. Many hotels are here
and there along the way, private residences peep out at the
passing steamer through vistas on the islands, palatial yachts flit by
with merry parties from the hotels and cottages, and but it would
take a book to tell you about it, and I m on my way to Cobalt
on the T. and N. O.
Beyond Temagami, and a few miles before reaching Cobalt,
we cross the Montreal River at Latchford, named for the Hon.
Frank. Here are big lumber mills. It is from Latchford
that the mining country of the Upper Montreal River is reached
by steamer, or if you are in a hurry, by canoes.
We now come to the end of our destination, Cobalt, as before
said, 103 miles from North Bay, and 347 miles from Ottawa.
It has been a pleasant trip, fine scenery, and many bright
travelling companions, all intent on " what we ll find when we
get there." Enough of them had been there before to point out
the places of interest along the way, and to tell the " tender
foot" what to expect when he got there. Elsewhere I have
told you of some of the more important places along the line
of the road.
It is one of the pleasures of the writer to meet old friends in
new places. When in Pembroke in 1904 I was indebted for
many courtesies to W. D. Cunningworth, who was then with the
Canada Atlantic. I had lost trace of him and had often wondered
where he had gone, but coming to the far north I found him
an active part of the T. and N.O. Railway line. The Commis
sion certainly deserve credit for its selection for the road s man
agement. From its genial young manager, J. H. Black, down
through the office force, the young men are wideawake and
efficient, At North Bay a fine office building of stone is being
94 THE REAL COBALT
erected; its stations are models of beauty, especially those of
Temagami and Englehart the latter rarely equalled, for size,
in places less than a large city. The roadbed is well laid, the cars
are remarkably well built, after the latest models, and manned
by a train force, from conductors to brakemen, whose courtesy
is most pleasing. "Why so efficient"? I asked, and was told
than " J. H. will have nothing less." The road is now com
pleted to McDougall Chutes, 204 miles from North Bay, and
regular trains will shortly begin running beyond Englehart,
the divisional point. From McDougall Chutes to the crossing
of the Transcontinental Railway it is some over 40 miles, and
for this portion of the line the contract is let and work is pro
gressing rapidly.
The great Transcontinental, under the wise supervision of
our good friend S. N. Parent, Chairman of the Dominion Rail
way Commission, is rapidly going forward. At the crossing,
east and west, a section 150 miles in length is being cleared, and
the roadbed being graded. It is a vast undertaking, since to
get material for the roadway and supplies for the army of men
and the hundreds of horses requires great generalship. Were
the T. and N.O. completed to the crossing it would be but com
paratively easy, but to overcome the 40 miles of a gap may
require the blasting out of the rock along the bed of the Abitibi
River, that steamers may carry down the material and supplies.
So silently move the vast works of this great upper country
that one must see to realize their magnitude.
WHERE TO STOP WHEN
YOU GET THERE
TO the stranger it is ever a question, " Where shall I stop
when I get there?" What hotel will best entertain me?
After months of sojourn I feel that I can answer these
questions, if you are seeking the best in the various places you
may visit in the north while on business or pleasure trips.
Beginning at Temiskaming, at the foot of the lake, is the
Bellevue; at Ville Marie, the Bay View; at Haileybury, the Mata-
banick; at New Liskeard, the Canada; at Murray City (North
Temiskaming), at the head of the lake, The King of the North;
and at Englehart, on the T. and N.O., is the King Edward. It
is a pleasure to speak of them as hotels. One may safely say:
"Here is where to stop when you get there."
THE BELLEVUE HOTEL, LUMSDEN S MILLS
Possibly the widest known hotel in New Ontario is the Belle
vue, at the foot of Lake Temiskaming, at Lumsden s Mills.
Built by the late Alex. Lumsden, when he owned and ran the line
of lake steamers, it has long been a popular summer resort for
people from Canada and the United States. Being near to
beautiful Lake Kippiwa, it is noted as a centre for fishing and
hunting.
It is reached from the Canadian Pacific railway at Mattawa,
by a 39-mile branch of that railway, which runs the distance
along the east side of the Ottawa River. Under the manage
ment of Mr. Freeman I. Daniels, it is made both home and
hotel. After Mr. Lumsden s death, the Bellevue and the vast
lumber interests of that successful man were taken up by his
son John, who has become one of the most prominent business
95
96 THE REAL COBALT
men in this upper country. He took up the lines wheer his
father laid them down, and is carrying on the great business
with an energy seldom seen in the sons of the rich. From the
200 square miles of timber limits on the Kippiwa and the Quinze
Lake country, he is taking out vast quantities of lumber. He
is known as "The J. R. Booth of the North." He has recently
gone into high-class farming and stock raising. I visited his
stock farm on the west side of the lake, opposite the Bellevue,
where may be seen some of the best horses and cattle in Northern
Ontario, from whose Agricultural Fairs he carries away many
premiums. He has also gone into mining, having acquired no
less than six valuable mining claims in the Cobalt district, with
an interest in 12 more. Some of these are in the immediate
vicinity of the Temiskaming mines south of Cross Lake, and
being in the same formation, must prove of great value.
THE BAY VIEW HOTEL, VILLE MARIE, QUE.
Down the Temiskaming Lake and 12 miles across from
Haileybury, on the Quebec side, is one of the oldest and quaintest
villages in this upper country. No one thinks of missing a visit
to it, for if one do, one is asked so many times: "Have you been
to Ville Marie?" that one must go once in self-defence, and
after that as a habit. It is so different from all other places you
have seen! There is here a "natural" grotto, built by the good
fathers three or four years ago, to which many religious pilgrim
ages are taken from points around the lake. There is in Ville
Marie a hotel which, for neat architectural beauty, surpasses all
others. It is by the famous A. Durand. It is the Bay View
kept by H. Landreville, known as "Henry the Strong Man,
from his unusual strength of arm. It is claimed that even "Big
Pete," whose giant strength is proverbial, cannot withstand him
in "arm bending," and yet his manner in the entertainment of
his guests is as gentle and courtly as possible. He makes them
feel that it is a real pleasure to look after their every
comfort.
The Bellevue Lumsden s Mills. See page 95
The Bay View Ville Marie. See page 96
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King- of the North. P. and R. Gibbons, Proprietors See page 117
King- Edward. H. I. Kert, Proprietor. See page 99
THE REAL COBALT 97
THE MATABANICK, HAILEYBURY
Long years ago the Indians were wont to hold their annual
meetings at some central point to make their plans for the com
ing year. They ever chose places not only for convenience, but
for beauty of situation. These meeting places \vere called
"Matabanick." Where is now the charming town of Hailey-
bury was a famous Indian gathering place. To it the red man
came up the Temiskaming Lake from the south, down the lake
from the north, across from Quebec to the east, and over the
divide from the wilds of the Montreal river to the west.
When David Hammond built the first hotel in Haileybury,
he wisely chose this beautiful name, and called it the Mata
banick, and through three buildings, each growing larger, the
Matabanick has ever proved a "meeting place" for the travel
ler, the tourist and all who seek for the best in hotel convenience
and home-like good cheer "the comforts of an inn with the
luxuries of the modern hotel."
Its situation is ideal, overlooking the broad Temiskaming,
from which it may be seen far up and down and across.
In the spring of 1903, Mr. A. Ferland came up from Mat-
tawa and purchased the original, building, which was burned
in 1905. Mr. Ferland sold the site to Messrs. F. Chaput and
E. Edmonds, who at once erected a new house, and this in turn
was swept away in the big fire of Aug., 1906. Mr. Ferland
joined the two enterprising young men, and the present great
building was started and opened September 28th, 1907. In
beauty, convenience and situation it would be a credit to a city.
Mr. Chaput is from Chapeau, on Allumette Island, near
Pembroke, from which he went to Sudbury, where at the Ameri
can he got his hotel experience. Mr. Edmonds came from To
ronto, from which he went to Detroit, and later to Barrie and
Sudbury, from which latter city he and Mr. Chaput came to
Haileybury. Later. Mr. Ferland and Mr. Edmonds have pur
chased Mr. Caput s interest, and the latter is now manager, and
a good one he is genial and obliging.
7
98 THE REAL COBALT
In New York City it is a comfort to say: "I stop at the Wal
dorf-Astoria." In Toronto "The King Edward." In Hailey-
bury "I and my friends put up at the Matabanick."
THE CANADA HOTEL, NEW LISKEARD
One of the pleasant memories of my stay in New Ontario
will ever be, what may well be called, my home life. It was
only by chance that I found my way to J. A. Lawless s Hotel,
The Canada, in New Liskeard. From May to November it
was my home. I might go into many parts in search of infor
mation, but ever returned to room 31 as a place of real rest.
So many hotels are simply a stopping place. You come and go,
forgetting and forgotten, when once you pass from the door.
Not so with the Canada, for, from the time George Kennedy
meets you at the station, with his jolly: "This way for the
Canada!" to Vizena s genial: "Come again! - you are a guest
in its fullest sense.
J. A. Lawless, though reared on a North Renfrew farm, is
a born hotel-keeper. At nineteen he was given his first license,
and is the only man in Ontario who holds two hotel licenses
the National of Peterboro, and the Canada. Starting in Cobden
he went first to Ottawa and afterward to Toronto, where
he fitted out the first apartment house in that city the St.
George, which he left to manage the Lambton Golf Club House,
and thence to the National, as above. Being largely engaged
in mining in the Cobalt district, and being offered the Canada,
he purchased it, and at once set about enlarging it to its present
91 rooms capacity 91 sleeping rooms with commodious office,
great dining-room, baths, etc., making it a hotel that would
be a credit to a city. But large as it is, his wide and growing
circle of patrons will leave few vacancies.
The Canada was New Liskeard s first hotel. "Big Pete"
(I. Farah) once came here on a hunting trip, and seeing the
need of a hotel, built and ran this house p up to the spring of 1907.
It has ever been a popular stopping place, first with the hunters
THE REAL COBALT 99
and landseekers, and later with the mining men, and now with
the tourists and commercial men, among whom Mr. Lawless
has so many genuine friends.
When one has spent months in and about a hotel, coming
and going, one naturally carries away many names of those
who ve sat round the board day after day names and faces of
those one would remember always.
There was "Doc," and "Jim," and "Samson,"
With "the Broker," "Bert," and "Mac";
"The Captain," too, was round the board,
And "the Colonel" from Lahdah Lac;
"Sir Richard" from Old England,
And "Billy" from the Soo.
I was happy at the Canada
That summer wasn t you?
(The King of the North will be found under head of Murray
City.)
THE KING EDWARD, ENGLEHART
As I have mentioned elsewhere, I have never seen so cosmo
politan a country as the mining district of New Ontario. Some
interesting characters are among the number men who have
made a success of life others were born failures, and will keep
it up to the end. Among the former may be noted H. I. Kert,
of the King Edward Hotel of Englehart, so widely and favor
ably known by reason of his courtesy and enterprise. He came
from Poland, when a boy, to New York City, next to Montreal,
then to Sudbury, and in 1890 went to Mattawa.
It was in Mattawa where his ability was first remarked and
appreciated. He was for nine years a member of the School
Board. He was two years a member of the Town Council.
When he became a councilman the town was paying 9 per cent,
for money. This he had reduced by one-half. So valuable
were his services looked upon that his going away was the re
gret of all classes.
He left Mattawa to go with the T. and N. O. railway, with
100 THE REAL COBALT
which he was connected as a supply contractor. In this he
was so successful that on the advice of those prominent in Gov
ernment circles, he built the beautiful King Edward hotel in
Englehart. Here he took an active interest in the town s up
building, expending much money in its benefit.
He is interested in a number of good mining claims in Co
balt and the Abitibi Lake district.
Mr. Kert is rearing a family of sons who have inherited his
rare ability. Edward, at fourteen, often takes full charge of
the King Edward, conducting it in a manner that would do
credit to one far beyond his years. Mr. Kert is connected with
some of the prominent families of New York City and Montreal,
the famous Dr. Weinburg of New York being a cousin.
Few in Englehart take so lively an interest in the welfare
of the town as the landlord of the King Edward. After the late
election for the first Mayor and Council (Jan., 1908), Mr. Kert
gave a banquet in their honor, which would have done credit to
a city. It was at the banquet where I analyzed the why of
Englehart s rapid growth. Men there were, who sat round
the board, who showed, by speech and conversation, abilities
rarely found outside a large city. They were filled with the
spirit of progress, and if this new town does not speedily take
its place among the best in this upper land, then I greatly mis
take in placing men in their proper niche.
HAILEYBURY
THERE is a beautiful town of some 3,000 inhabitants five
short miles north of Cobalt, on the T. and N.O. It lies
upon a gently sloping hill from Lake Temiskaming west to
the railway, four blocks back from the shore. Scarcely a part
of it from which cannot be seen the charmingly beautiful lake
which stretches across to the Province of Quebec, five miles away
to the east. It surely is an ideal site, and is being built up with
rare taste, by a people of culture and refinement seldom found
in a new town. It was one of the great surprises to me when
I first looked upon it. I had long heard of Haileybury, but the
picture formed by the name, was that of a rough mining village
of small, unpainted houses, inhabited by a rough element, and
a few uncultured people who had "struck it rich," bought good
clothes and got an organ. Instead I found a city a city in all
but in size. The people are charmingly hospitable, educated
and cultured to a high degree in music and the arts. The college
and university men are so common that they do not count.
Haileybury has a fine school system, shortly to be improved
by a large high school. It has many churches, which are well
attended, and with ministers of ability, much good is being
done. So law-abiding is Haileybury that two policemen, fine
specimens of stalwart manhood, with little to do, keep perfect
order. The same may be said of both New Liskeard and Cobalt,
the former with two, and the latter with three of a police force.
Its hotels are far above the standard for like size towns, the
Matabanick being unequalled, for size and appointments, in any
town in Canada, while it has a club house, the like of which is
hardly to be found on the continent. The membership of this
club, nearly 500, is unique, being made up of men from every
mining district in the world.
101
102 THE REAL COBALT
Its architecture may be judged by the pictures of residences,
business houses and public buildings which I give. Its name
was taken from an English college town.
First Settlers
"Who was the first to come"? is a question the writer always
asks about a town of which he- is- writing. I asked it about
Haileybury. Its long history runs back into the vague, to the
time when it was "a coming out place," as here the shore of the
lake changes from a rock-bordered edge to level landing for boats
coming up the lake.
While many came and went the Indians for unknown ages
the voyageurs for years, and later the Hudson Bay traders, it was
Mr. P. T. Lawlor who first took up a permanent residence here.
Mr. Lawlor was so much identified with the early history of
the town that I must needs give a passing word to his memory.
Born in Russell county, Ontario, in 1857, he came to Temis-
kaming in 1885, and to the site of Haileybury in 1887. Here he
took up that part of the place now known as Lawlortown, to the
south of the business portion. He became a councillor when
Bucke township was made a municipality. He was also one of
its first school trustees. When Haileybury was incorporated he
was chosen its first Mayor. He was Mayor when he died in May
of 1907. He lived to see his land change from an unbroken
wilderness into a thriving town. His business ability was remark
able. When a town is started, shrewd business men often induce
lot owners to share with them their lots for the promise of helping
to bring a railway to make valuable the residue. Shrewd men
could not induce him to share, and he left to his family a rich
inheritance.
In a western town it was once said: " The best business man
in town is a woman." This might be said of Haileybury. One
more gifted in business that counts, than Mrs. Lawlor, would be
hard to find; she is ever watching for industries that will add to
the growth of Haileybury. She gave bringing inducements to
one of the largest and most complete brick-making plants in New
THE REAL COBALT 103
Ontario, ready to start with the opening of spring. And when
a big foundry would have come, she was first to offer
inducements to bring it. The typical business woman is
too often cold, calculating, austere, save when selling something;
Mrs. Lawlor is as gentle-mannered as she is capable, and as
kind as she is able; and, like her husband, ever ready to do
her part when her town s interest is in question.
Builders of Haileybury
Not until mineral was found in nearby Cobalt was there any
remarkable growth in the town. From that date, 1903, is marked
a rapid increase. It was to Haileybury that some of the great
mine owners came to reside. It is here we find Colonel Hays,
President of the Trethewey; the Timmons Brothers, and D. A.
Dunlop, of the Larose; C. A. Foster, of the Foster, and President
of the Green-Meehan; A. Ferland, of the Chambers-Ferland;
Matt. Murphy of the Devil s Rock, R. Shillington of the Temis-
kaming, H. H. Lang and Wm. Lewis of the City of Cobalt, Wm.
Powell and Cyril T. Young of many interests, W. S. Mitchell of
the Casey Mines, the Townsite and numerous others; the Wright
Brothers, E. C. and Marty, discoverers of the Drummond and the
Jacobs mines, and the latter the owner of the charter for the
Montreal River Power Company, destined to become a great
factor in the future of the mining industry. Many of these have
here built beautiful homes, changing the crude village into a
veritable city of taste, for if we may judge by the late Christmas
numbers of the newspapers, Haileybury, before the advent of
the silver men, was not much but "a coming out place." From
these Christmas numbers we cannot but conclude that it was
they who " laid" Haileybury.
Timber and Lumber Interests
Not only is Haileybury a "silver city," but one of
timber and lumber as well. Here are Howard Dunbar,
Clement A. Foster, the Little Brothers, A. J. Murphy,
104 THE REAL COBALT
while the E. B. Eddy Co., and J. R. Booth, have each a
resident representative, S. D. Briden for the former and M. S.
Hennessy for the latter. It is thought that for many years
there will here be a timber supply for the various companies.
The town has the double advantage of the railway and the lake,
for bringing in and carrying out the supply and finished product.
Mayor Clement A* Foster
In the above, both in mining and in timber and lumber, may
be seen the name of Clement A. Foster. He is Haileybury s young
Mayor, chosen for the second time by a majority that looks as
though he had been the only one in the field. He is one of the
results of the camp. Coming a poor man, scarce beyond boyhood,
he worked up through and against many difficulties, to a place
among the few great successes of the Cobalt district. That
which would have turned the brain of many another boy, has but
solidified and made a man, capable and substantial, of the boy
Foster. Both he and Mrs. Foster are giving to Haileybury their
best efforts towards its permanent growth he in a business way
Mrs. Foster in a social way not the heartless way of so-called
empty society, but in the advancement of the musical, the literary,
the artistic progress of the town, the way that counts for good-
the way that leaves no heartburnings.
Needed Power
What the town requires is a cheap and sufficient power for
manufacturers, and this it could have from the Montreal River,
at the mouth of which thousands of horsepower need but to be
harnessed and transmitted, to make of the town a busy hive of
workers.
Trolley Line
It needs, too, a trolley line to connect with nearby towns, power
for which it might have from the same source as for its factories.
It is well for any municipality to safeguard its interests in giving
charters for trolley and power lines, but it is no part of wisdom
THE REAL COBALT 105
to "safeguard" both away from the municipality. Get it. Get
them, either or both would be too valuable to keep out on trifling
terms.
Later. A charter for a trolley line is about to be given.
It will be a boon to the camp, and means the building up of
the whole distance between Haileybury and Cobalt.
Hospitals
As showing the heart of the people, I must cite the hospital
work done in these upper towns. In New Liskeard is one of the
finest hospital buildings The Lady Minto of any town its size
in the country. Haileybury will soon have a fine hospital,
Mayor Foster having donated a twenty-two-acre site for it.
Cobalt has a good building to shelter and care for its ill and in
jured. Even McDougall s Chutes had a hospital almost before
it had any residences; this for the railway workmen while the
road was building. Besides the public hospitals, there are a
number of private ones, Dr. Field, of New Liskeard, having a
well-appointed one.
Whether these good people need hospitals more than do we
in the States I cannot say, but our towns of like size cannot com
pare with those of Canada when caring for the sick and afflicted
is in question.
Music
With so many people of city culture it is not surprising that
we find here so many who excel in music. I have attended enter
tainments, whose only talent was local, that would rank high in
any community. The names of Mrs. W. H. Train, in Haileybury;
F. A. York, in North Bay; and Mrs. C. A. Wismer, in New
Liskeard, stand justly high among musical directors. To them
very much is due the well-trained choruses of these towns.
The town has an excellent cornet band, which under the
efficient leadership of J. Walter Marriott, has grown from six to
twenty members. This leader is a good illustration of what these
northern towns have to draw from. Marriott is from Leicester,
106 THE REAL COBALT
England, and for more than eight years was a member of the
Tenth Regiment Band. It is an interesting story that Walter tells
of his Egyptian campaign, " when Kitchener fought the wild hordes
of the Soudan."
It is well worthy a passing note of remark the excellence of
some of the Salvation Army singers. I have never heard so sweet
voices among those of any other country as here in the far north.
And apropos of the Army in the various towns. It is composed
of a most excellent class of workers and they are doing much
real good. They are assisted by all classes and creeds, show
ing the high respect in which they are held.
He Had Sung with Carl Rosa
As indicating the cosmopolitan crowds that find their way
into a mining camp, I must give you a pathetic incident,
which came under my notice one day in aHaileybury hotel, where
a strolling harper and a good one he was was entertaining the
crowd. He had been playing for some time, when he struck up
" The Heart Bowed Down." At this, a tramp-like fellow, who had
been listening intently, arose and sang the words. Often had I
heard that beautiful song, on many stages and in many lands,
but never before had I heard it more beautifully rendered than
by this wreck of a once noble singer. At the close I called him to
one side and asked, "Who are you, and with whom have you
sung?" for I knew he was no ordinary man. He looked at me,
and feeling that I w r as honest in my inquiries, gave me his name
and said: "I have sung all over the world with the Carl Rosa
Opera Company." Then, "Say, Mr., if you ever write of this,
don t give my name. Don t give my name, my friends don t know
where I am, they don t even know that I am living, and I m so far
down, I don t want them to know." Some of the people tried
to reclaim him, for there are many kind hearts in this northland.
But it was all to no purpose. They clothed and made him look
again the cultured gentleman that he was by nature. One of the
churches took him into its choir, and for a time his solos were a
feature. Such music may never be heard again in this upper
THE REAL COBALT 107
country. But it was only for a time only for a time. He went
back to drink and drifted away, no one knew whither. During his
short reclamation he was one of the most refined men I have ever
Sfc t
met. His magnetism was such that in a short while he had drawn
around him a host of friends friends who would have done
everything for him. But it was no use he drifted away, and was
again lost to all who had grown to love him.
I later learned that he belonged to a great family in a European
city, and that he had told me the truth about his Carl Rosa
campaign.
Athletics
Haileybury excels in many of the games and sports, but it
can t play hockey, while New Liskeard, a town five miles to the
north, along the lake shore, has possibly the best hockey team,
for the size of the town, in the world. This team plays as near
perfect hockey as I have ever seen the game played. I am told
that last winter, when they had beaten all local teams, that the
Victorias from Ottawa were brought here to play them. They
went back to the capital good subjects for a change of name.
The manager of the Canadian Soo brought here a professional
team, and only won by a single point the manager saying that
"If I had the New Liskeard boys for one month, I could meet
any hockey team in the world." One cannot realize that such
perfection of play could be possible in so small a town.
Athletic Bankers and Lawyers
The above was written before the bankers and lawyers played
their game. I must therefore modify "Haileybury can t play
hockey." Yes, modify it a whole lot. Some of them can play
hockey. The bankers and lawyers are among the "some."
The umpire said it was a one to one game. It would have been
a two to one, were it not that the lawyers carried their everyday
practice into the play. They are so used to getting smoothly
through close places, that they shot the puck clean through the
mesh of the net without the umpire ever seeing it so the lawyers
108 THE REAL COBALT
say. The bankers say that the claim is an overdraft on fact and
refuse to cash up.
Your notion of lawyers is that they are anything but athletic.
The Haileybury variety differ from your notion, and may be
known by the " One to One" with young men who are proverbial
as among the best in physical manhood the bankers.
Apropos of the legal profession of the town twelve of them.
They rank high in ability, and are fine specimens of men, strong,
young and mentally and physically able. This may be said of
the clergy and medical men as well.
Haileybury a Judicial Court Town Perhaps
Efforts are being made to have Haileybury the Court Town
of this upper country. Now, all but the small cases have to be
taken for trial to North Bay.
Capital of the New Province
Those who have a way of looking into the future, have made
of Haileybury the capital city, when New Ontario shall have been
made a separate province. They make"of New Liskeard and
Haileybury one great city, with the capitol buildings on that
magnificent site that lies between the two.
These seers of division may be but idle dreamers, but when we
think of Ontario being as large as the twelve states that lie between
the Mississippi River, at Illinois, and the Atlantic Ocean, it cer- .
tainly seems a most sensible move, and especially so when Old
and New Ontario differ so in conditions and products. New
Ontario will become one of the richest mining countries in the
world Old Ontario is rich in farming, fruits and dairying. If
this great upper half had not men capable of conducting the
affairs of state, it might be well to have its mining interests
managed by the dairymen, fruit growers and farmers of the south.
But it has men most efficient in many things, and some do go so
far as to say that they could even make mining laws mining laws
that they themselves could understand after they had made them.
THE REAL COBALT 109
They would, at least, make them in their own interests, and in
a way that mine owners could not, on technicalities, lose both
money and mines. But I was telling you about Haileybury.
Newspapers
The newspapers of the town are quite up with the times.
The Haileyburian was the first started. I mind with what
interest we used to read the brilliant clippings from this crisp
paper. It was copied far and wide in the early days.
The Silver City News is devoted to mining news almost
exclusively, keeping a staff of men among the mines, throughout
the district, collecting everything of note to the outside mining
world.
New Liskeard has two excellent newspapers. It was in this
town where Roberts, a surveyor, started the first paper in the
upper country. This was the short-lived Gazette. The Temis-
kaming Herald was the next. It and The Speaker will rank with
any in the Dominion for the size of town. The latter is so
much up-to-date that each week it gives a full page of " Buster
Brown for the children. And apropos of this conception of
Outcault s, it is the most popular of its kind in Canada.
In Cobalt, The Cobalt Nugget, a bright, newsy paper, is the
only one in the town, with The Mining News to start very shortly.
Each of the papers of the three towns got out most creditable
illustrated Christmas numbers The Herald giving both half
tone and line-cut work, having employed a special artist for the
latter. Oh, yes, the Press of this far north country could give
many a pointer, on excellence, to some of the large city papers!
Teddy Bear and His Island
Speaking of R. F. Outcault and his " Buster Brown," reminds
me that another is here who has made and is making glad the
hearts of millions of little ones. On a beautiful island, in Lake
Temiskaming, and but a short distance from Haileybury,
Seymour Eaton spends his summers, in a most picturesque cottage
110 THE REAL COBALT
that stands on a point of the island. I used often to see him
during the summer, and was most entertained with the story of
his " Teddy Bears." The cottage was built by Brown, of Wanna-
maker & Brown, of Philadelphia. His was the island. He came
years ago, before civilization had become prevalent, but when
white shirts grew fashionable he sold his island and went away
to far-off Abitibi. How long he will find that a pleasing solitude
is hard to tell, with the railway bearing toward it and the gold-
hunters pouring in.
Haileybury a Summer Resort
So many places of interest may be reached from here that
each year more and more pleasure-seekers are finding the ad
vantages here offered. Across the lake to the north-east is
Murray City, 15 miles away. In another chapter may be known
what is to be seen there. Ville Marie, 12 miles down and across
the lake; the old fort and mission, 3 miles further, and the famous
Notch, at or near the mouth of the Montreal, some miles below.
The Devil s Rock
Three miles south, down the lake from Haileybury, and on
the same shore, is The Devil s Rock, a high bluff that rises sheer
up, hundreds of feet, from the lake. It is truly bold and pictur
esque one of those sights one goes far to- look- upon "and wonder
at what Nature can do with its rocks.
Years ago it is said that Dr. Bell, the famous geologist of the
Dominion Government, when passing this rock for the first
time, remarked that mineral must here be present the formation
being perfect. But being a geologist he did not find it. They
seem always to know where it should be, but it is left to be found
by the patient prospector. In this instance, the prospector was
once almost as famous as the Dr. himself but in another line
a more popular line. "You boys whose hair is just beginning to
turn a little silver, all remember that Cornwall lacrosse player
whose prowess with the stick carried his name across the con-
THE REAL COBALT 111
tinent that splendid fellow, Matt. Murphy. It was he who
found the mineral which Dr. Bell said "must be here." He
found it on three claims, turned them into a strong company (of
which Jackson Booth of Ottawa is President), and has since been
its general manager and resident director.
The stranger passing the rock at night might get the impres
sion that it was well named, were he not told that those flickering
lights came from the candles of the miners, who are running drifts
in from the water s edge. Thousands of dollars are thus saved
by not having to sink shafts down through the hundreds of feet
. of rock. Having drifted in to catch the veins they will on these
veins now grown rich go down to reach the lodes which they
are now confident lie below.
Matt s old love of athletics is being renewed. He ever takes
an interest in honest sports. The rink managers are giving to
Haileybury a cheerful winter.
The Beauty of the Far-North Girl
It is truly a beautiful sight to sit in this great rink and watch
the youth and beauty of the town glide round and round to the
music of an excellent band. Ye who know but the sallow faces,
can little conceive of the ruddy, health-glowing beauty of the far
north girl; cultured and active, she moves upon the ice with an
inborn grace that is truly pleasing to look upon.
A Cosmopolitan Town
Haileybury is many towns in one. Here are Ottawans, To-
rontonians, and from points all down the line, while one could
well think that Mattawa had been depopulated that Haileybury
might be. From there came the Timmons Brothers, the Fer-
lands, Dohertys, Dunlops, Capt. W. A. and A. H. Rimsbottom,
Dr. Haentschel, Joseph Bell, P. A. Ferguson, John Rankin, Mrs.
Edwards, Mrs. Dr. Jackson, and many others prominent. It
was Mattawa from which came the obliging and efficient Mining
Recorder for the Temiskaming District, Mr. Geo. T. Smith.
112 THE REAL COBALT
This town has been more to Haileybury than any other one.
Many of the finest residences are the homes of Mattawans, and
I sometimes think that the cordiality of Haileybury may be
attributed to the people from that hospitable little place down the
Ottawa, where hospitality is so proverbial.
In concluding this necessarily brief sketch, I cannot more
heartily, more accurately do so, than in the words of a lady
of much culture and wide travel, who, in speaking of the towns
of the north, said: "I found Haileybury, Ontario, one of the most
delightful places I have visited. Its people are charmingly
cordial, and the sort you like to have charmingly cordial toward
you. They make you love both them and their town, and in
going away you carry with you kind remembrance of many acts
of genuine courtesy."
Along- the Picturesque T. and N. O. Railway
See page 92
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MURRAY CITY
(North Tcmiskaming)
SOME cities boast of their manufacturing facilities; some,
of the rich farming lands surrounding them; others of
beauty of situation, with scenery of forest and stream.
Still others of their healthfumess. Rare, indeed, is found one
that can boast of them all.
When my eye first caught sight of Murray City, the balmy
June morning I crossed the lake from Haileybury, I could not
but exclaim: "Here is the ideal site for a great metropolis!"
As the little steamer plied its way from lake into river, the high
banks extending for miles far up to where river turns from north
to east, I was charmed with the scenery; when later I visited
the mighty rush of water down the fifteen rapids, the unused
power appealed to me as I saw the future uses to which they
must be put for manufacturing; looking at the rich fields, which
lined the way, I saw agricultural possibilities that would have
made glad the heart of an Illinois farmer; and still later, when I
found that the only doctor in town had gone to seek his fortune
among the mines of northern Quebec, I could not but feel that
here was a veritable health resort. "Rare, indeed, is found the
one that can boast of them all," but here I had found "the one,"
as surely twas an ideal site for a great city that burst upon our
view that morning as we steamed up the Quinze River.
"Where is the site that commands so much enthusiasm?" I
knew you would ask that, and I had my answer all ready.
Lake Temiskaming is a magnificent inland sea, more than
seventy-five miles long, and in places six to eight miles wide. It
is one of the chain of lakes of which the Ottawa River is made up.
It is the greatest of the many. It begins at the south, at a place
with many names: "The Long Soo," "Temiskaming," and
8 113
114 THE REAL COBALT
" Lumsden s Mills." It ends, or possibly more properly begins,
at what might well be called "Ideal City," of which I am writing.
It lies between the Provinces of Quebec, on the east, and On
tario on the west.
An Indian Reserve
Murray City is in a 60,000 acre Indian Reserve. It lies in the
Province of Quebec and not far from the west line.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Adam Burwash, the Indian
Agent, who came up here, a third of a century ago, from Lachute,
in Argenteuil. He was one of the pioneers of this north country.
I asked him of the Indians of whose welfare he has to look after.
"How many are there in the reserve"? I asked. "Of the old
families there are but three left: the Wabis, the Masinikijeks,
and the Matawsens. Of these there are 220 people. I might
mention Coquana, one lone member of a once great family.
When he is gone and he is now very old the family will be
extinct."
" Do they own the land, these few people" ? " Yes, in a way,
but they cannot sell, save through the Quebec Government,
which decides, when an offer is made, if the price is proper."
Mr. Burwash lives on the east side of the river, across from
the town, where he is laying out into town lots his 200 acre farm,
in anticipation of the great boom that must be when the Canadian
Pacific Railway comes up from Lumsden s Mills. The wise
ones have already begun to take up lots, which, owing to the
magnificent situation, overlooking river, town and lake, must
become most valuable the minute the road reaches here on its
way to strike the great transcontinental, 100 miles to the north.
Originator of a Great Mining Company
Mr. Burwash was the originator of the now famous Hudson
Bay and Temiskaming Mining Company, whose one dollar shares
are now held at as high as $300, since the great find of September
9th. Few companies, in all time, have equalled the success of
the Hudson Bay, whose originator had never made any pretence
THE REAL COBALT 115
as a financier. From a poor man he has within a few short
months become one of the wealthy men of the land. In the hands
of such as he, money is a blessing.
The Real Heroes of Canada
To Mrs. Burwash, the cultured wife of the Agent, much is
due the building of the fine hospital at New Liskeard. She it
was who called its need to the attention of Lady Minto after
whom it was named: "The Lady Minto Hospital" who at
once set about securing a grant that made its building possible.
All throughout the country this good woman is known. Many
a sick room has been brightened by her cheery presence. She has
ever been the friend of the pioneer friend when there was most
need.
"The real heroes of Canada," says she, "are not they who
shoulder their rifles and go to battle, but the pioneer wife and
mother, who endures hardships and privations which would try
the bravest hearts. Talk about the builders oAhe Empire! It
is not the men whose names find place in history, but these grand
women who go with their husbands into the wilds of the forests,
there to suffer and often die, far from home and loved ones, back
at the Front. These are the heroes! All honor is due their
noble lives." As I listened to her enthusiastic words in behalf
of the pioneer women, I could not but think of the vast good that
a little of the rich man s money could do, in sending trained nurses
to the various backwoods sections, where many a woman dies
for want of meagre care.
One day, while passing a cabin, in a far backwood, the man
with me said : " See that little house " ? Several unkempt children
were playing around the yard as we passed. The man continued:
"Last winter the wife and mother died under most distressing
circumstances." I later learned the circumstances. The husband
was away. A neighbor passing, was hailed by one of the little
children, who, crying, said: " Oh, mister, my mamma said she was
going to die, and now she won t talk to us" ! He went in and
found the woman unconscious. He secured help, but it was too
116 THE REAL COBALT
late. Two lives had gone out, in that backwood cabin, when a
few dollars of the worse than wasted wealth of the idle rich might
have saved both.
Could they who are ever looking for fads on which to spend
their money see here a need, they surely would give heed to a
suggestion to send trained nurses to lessen the hardships of the
pioneer women of this north country, where, to get a doctor, is
often an impossibility. Incidentally, doctors have to go, at
times, as far as forty miles, into sections almost impossible to
reach and to their honor be it said, they seldom refuse the call
of the pioneer.
Old Friends in New Places
I am ever meeting old friends in new places. No matter
where I go, some of the boys have gotten there first. Almost
the first one I met, r at Murray 7 City, was John Foran, who used
to do my engravings, when at the head of the Federal Engrav
ing Company, on Elgin Street, Ottawa.
"Happy"? repeated Jack. "Why, I wouldn t change for
two farms. Never knew what real living was until I came up
into this free, clear, bracing air!" And he looked the "Happy
Jack." Of course the fact of his r having^acquired no end of
good mining claims would naturally tend to make him feel on
good terms with all the world.
A Great River with a Deceiving Name
" Jack," I asked, pointing to a broad stream that flowed by
the town, "what river is that"?
"That," said he, "is the famous Quinze," but you d never
have believed it when you heard it pronounced. It s just like
you went to say "Has" with a "C" instead of an "H" Cas. It
means the Fifteen River, fifteen falls, which I referred to before,
and which gives it a possible right of being pronounced any old
way, because of the greatness of; its unused - power,
Just to think of it! In going eighteen miles it drops 270
THE REAL COBALT 117
feet. Some time it will drop to a purpose, and then you will
not have to be told where Murray City is to be found.
Thomas Murray, the Many Times MP.
No wonder Thomas Murray quit Renfrew politics to buy here
and start a city which must sometime become one of the great ones
of Canada. Its situation, as I have said, is ideal for a vast
manufacturing centre, besides being a distributing point for a
great area of back country.
To refer to Thomas Murray is but to mention a name too
familiar in Canada to need any introduction. You who have
followed Canadian affairs know of his eight years in the Domin
ion Parliament, and his twelve years service as member in the
Ontario House.
Mr. Murray is not a novice at town building. He it was
who saw the future of North Bay, and, with John Ferguson,
started this enterprising city towards the position it must hold
among the great ones of Ontario. " Great" by reason of its situa
tion, and the enterprise of the people who have since come to
it. It was Thomas Murray who secured for North Bay its
Court House and other public buildings, and had the back coun
try opened up by roads.
Besides his interests in Murray City, he will shortly start
to build a town at the mouth of the Montreal River, which, by
reason of the wonderful power, soon to be harnessed by two
great companies, must become more than town. It too must
become a city of factories. And not only that, but the beauty
of the site will attract those who are ever looking for ideal summer
homes.
" The King of the North "
Murray City is fast becoming a summer resort, for what
with the magnificent lake, the river of many falls, so full of beauty
spots, and the pure air of this northern clime, it is attracting
many from our own country as well as from Canada. The
Temiskaming Navigation Company s steamers make daily
118 THE REAL COBALT
trips to this point throughout the season, bringing many tour
ists and pleasure-seekers.
The Gibbons, R. and P., saw here the need of a hotel, and
have built "The King of the North." They built for the pros
pector, the traveller, the tourist and the hunter built as they
thought large enough for them all, but once the beauty of
the situation of Murray City is known abroad, the "King"
must be enlarged again and again to accommodate the many
who will come to see and enjoy.
The River of Rapids
I could not but think this the day I went up the Caz River,
to look upon sights and scenes nowhere else to be found in the
world. To^tell you of this river of rapids would convey but
little of.ihejreallgrandeur of the scenery. So swift and seething
the watersUhat great bodies of foam, like floating ice blocks,
reach from the first rapid two miles away to the landing near
the hotel.
These rapids, in their order, were given me by the famous
river man, Ben. McKenzie: First Chute; Second Chute; The
Devil s Chute; The Island, which is two miles long, is made up of
a number of nameless rapids: Pipestone, so called from the stone
the Indians used in making their pipes; Little Pipestone; The
Kayha, Indian for hawk; The Cypress; The Maples; and The
Head. There are others but they are small and nameless.
The Devil s Chute
Here is what I wrote the day I sat upon the great rocks over
looking the Devil s Chute. It will but feebly convey the en
thusiasm I felt in the presence of so much that was beautiful.
It must be seen to be appreciated.
"The third rapids is called The Devil s Chute. If strength,
power and awe make the name, then it is well named. But if
beauty, grandeur, and inspiration be taken into account, then
it is Godlike. Would that my "Ideal" could convey to you
THE REAL COBALT 119
what lies before me this bright June morning! To the left,
some three hundred yards away, the tumbling waters come into
view from the east, at the bend of the river, and sweep, a rolling
rapid, round a basin to my very feet, where they break into an
incline of forty-five degrees, down which the whole Ottawa
pours, a mighty mass, through a narrow gorge, and falling into
a roaring caldron, churns into a cloud of mist as the waters
foam and sweep away to the rapids below. The grey titanic
rocks on which I sit, as I pen these lines, add to the grandeur
of the scene. Looking in all directions around, upon the ver
dure-clad hills, is a picture so magnificent that one might cross
a continent to gaze upon.
"Wait! Wait! A boylike spirit comes over me. I will
go up the rocky bank and roll into the rapid one of those great
logs that have caught and hold their feeble tenure in the eddy,
then return and watch it plunge down the chute. Quick! It
is off ! But long before I can get back it has shot through and is
tossing in the caldron like a feathery thing."
So little is all this appreciated by the people, that to reach
this chute I had to pick my way through the underbrush along
the river bank, and when I would return, by way of the hill
above, I had to hold my camera in my teeth as I pulled myself
up the steep ascent by catching hold of small stems that grew
along the side. But the enterprising Gibbons boys purpose
having a path made, by means of which their guests may easily
find their way to the Chute, which when known will draw vast
numbers to see and enjoy its beauty.
The Indian Church
There is at Murray City one of the quaintest little churches
I have seen in Canada. It is Catholic, under the wise care of
Father Laniel. I attended it while there, and more devotion
I have seldom seen than was manifested by the Indians, who
make up the larger party of the congregation. Some of them
have good voices and joined heartily in the singing of the
services.
120 THE REAL COBALT
Hunters Supplies
Murray City is on a direct line to the great hunting grounds
of the north. Here the hunter is wont to fit out for his expedition.
The house of Murray & Foran, as well as J. P. Ranger, keep
every requirement for hunter, fisher and tourist. No one intend
ing to go for moose, for fishing in the lakes, toward the Height of
Land, or for mere pleasure, need bring an outfit, as all may
here be had on most reasonable terms.
Incidents by the Way
On the way over to Murray City, there were three priests
that morning on the steamer. I always make it a point to meet
and know the good fathers. I m ever sure to find in them good
travelling companions. This morning I was specially fortu
nate, for one of them proved to be the famous Father Fafard,
O.M.I., of Albany, James Bay, the priest who made the 500
mile snowshoe trip from Albany to Murray City last winter.
He told me of that trip, jokingly saying, "I came for my health."
Now what do you think of that! Five hundred miles through
a trackless wilderness, with the thermometer on friendly terms
with fifty below! Well, for mine, I ll take the health prescrip
tion witn 490 miles off, and that in the good old summer time.
Fifteen years ago he was stationed at Murray City, then
North Temiskaming, and from here went to his present home in
the far north.
He was full of pleasing reminiscences, and could tell a good
story. When passing Wabis Point he told of
Big Wabi, the Indian, Who Followed the Way
of the White Man
" Chief Wabi," began the father, " was certainly one of the char
acters of the country. I asked him one day: Wabi, how do
you get on so well ? How I get on? I tell you. One tarn it
was Little Wabi, little eat, big work. I see white man, I follow
he s way. Now, little work, big eat, Big Wabi.
THE REAL COBALT 121
"To give his conception of the ways of the white man he
told of how he had succeeded in following those ways: I sit
in cabin, on day. White man came along. Hay very scarce
that year. White man he say, "Wabi, got any hay?" I say,
" Yes, three ton." "How much"? "Fifty dollars ton." He pay
me, and I have heap money. Nuther man came along, and he
say: "Wabi, got any hay?" I say, "Yes, three ton." "How
much"? "Fifty dollars ton." He pay me and I feel big rich
man. Nuther man came along. Hay very scarce. Every
body want hay, but nobody want hay till winter tarn. He say:
"Wabi, got any hay"? I tell him same as before, and he pay
me. What? Oh, yes, same old hay! Sell him three tarn,
and have beeg, beeg money. Winter tarn come long. Ver cold
winter! Cattle eat all grass, then stan round and get ver thin
and poor. I feel ver sorry for cattle, and then I feed em white
men s hay. White men come after while and all say: "Wabi,
want hay." I look ver sad, and say, " Cattle "eat it up. Hay all
gone! 5 White man no get mad. He used to it! I have
seldom heard a more apt illustration."
Besides "health" Father Fafard had come to have printed
some books in the Cree language. He was about to return to
Albany. This time by canoe.
Incidental Meetings
These meetings are the pleasures of travel the incidental
meetings. Which reminds me of the three young prospectors who
got on the steamer at Murray City to cross to Haileybury. They
were just returning from months of prospecting in northern
Quebec. They had three bags of samples, and reported great
finds. Two were from British Columbia, and one, a doctor,
from a Quebec town. Once knowing a very prominent man
who had lived in that same town, but who had died some years
ago, I naturally asked of the doctor if he had known him. " Oh,
yes, I knew him well. Fine man he was too!" "Yes," said I,
"and a fine lady, his wife!" "Right you are there," said he
smiling. "I know, for she is my wife now." Little world this!
122 THE REAL COBALT
The doctor had read a number of my books, and we were at once
friends. An author s readers always have a peculiar interest
to him. They ever seem nearer.
This was my first trip to Murray City. All throughout the
summer I have many times gone across the lake. Some times
alone, but oftener with pleasant parties from Haileybury. The
Temiskaming is surely a most delightful pleasure lake. It has
many places for a day s outing, all along, and around its charm
ing shores, from Murray City, at the north, to Lumsden s Mills
at the south, where lake again turns to river, to flow in tumbling
rapids through more lakes, and on down, for hundreds of miles,
to Join the beautiful St. Lawrence at Montreal. Sweet mem
oriesthis summer spent in the far north!
TORONTO -THE QUEEN CITY
WHEN I had finished my work in the north country, with its
vast mineral wealth; had seen its broad areas of timber
and rich farming lands; when I had looked upon its water
falls, destined to furnish power for mighty works; when I had gone
up and down its rivers and lakes, through beauties yet to be
found by the spying tourist; when I had collected my manu
script, feebly telling of a few of the things to be seen in that land
of wonders, I felt that my months spent among such kindly
people, and amid so much that was pleasing, had been the most
enjoyable months of my life. And now I am off for the Queen
City, which I am to see for the first time.
On my way from Cobalt to Toronto I learned the* location
of many a town whose name alone I had known. One must
see to know location.
From North Bay I went by way of a branch of the Grand
Trunk Railway, whose ever-growing system is reaching into every
nook and corner of the Dominion. Muskoka lakes always
seemed away off towards Georgian Bay, but in a vague way.
Passing through Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, by which these
marvellous lakes are reached, I could see the picture clear and
distinct, never again to be vagued in location. Then The Lake
of Bays was but a name passing Hunts ville the name and
location became real and fixed identities.
From North Bay to Toronto are a score of towns, and two
score of stations, in the 226 miles of distance.
Along this branch are South River; Sundridge, from which
is reached the new and very rich copper country, 16 miles to the
west; Burk s Falls, with its mills; Scotia Junction, where is crossed
123
124 THE REAL COBALT
the old Canada Atlantic Railway, now an important branch of
the Grand Trunk; Huntsville, as above, from which is reached
the charming summer resort of The Lake of Bays; Bracebridge,
a beautiful town of 3,000 people, from which you can get into the
famous Muskoka lakes to the west; a short distance, Graven-
hurst, with its widely known sanatorium for consumptives.
This is another entrance to the Muskoka. Twenty-five miles
further along, on the north shore of Lake Simcoe, we come to
one of the best known towns in Western Ontario, Orillia, made
so by its live, wideawake people, w r ho are sparing nothing to
bring its name and manufacturing advantages before the business
world. Near by is one of the great asylums of the province a
beautiful building three miles to the south. Barrie, with its
retired farmers, is some twenty miles below, and the railroad
town of Allandale, near by, both on the western arm of Lake
Simcoe. Bradford, Newmarket, and Richmond Hill are the
names familiar of towns we pass before we reach Toronto.
This is but a hurried run through one of the most marvellous
lake countries in the Dominion, which means in the world.
Tens of thousands of people yearly come to visit these lakes,
not only from Canada but from many parts of our own country
and Europe, and as they become wider known, more tens of
thousands will pass here their summers rather than go far to
visit less of beauty.
I Had Heard of It Before
Before coming to Canada in 1901, I had heard of Toronto,
when I got to Canada I heard of Toronto, when I met
people from that city I heard of nothing else. I grew to
thinking that Toronto must be IT now I know it for I ve
been there.
A kindly people have a beautiful city made so by the greatest
civic pride I have ever met with in any country unless it be
Virginia in their love of State. The people are as loyal to their
city as the Virginians to their State,^and as kind and courteous
to the stranger. I once met a round-the-world traveller from
THE REAL COBALT 125
Australia. I asked him, "What is the most beautiful city you
have seen"? "There are two, Honolulu and Toronto." From
this and all that I had heard in praise of the Queen City, I was
prepared to like it and I do. Ask of any one you meet for a
direction and he will stop and direct you, often going out of his
way to do so, and that cheerfully.
I was in the greatest church in the city one night. It was
crowded to the doors. The minister, after preaching a beautiful
sermon, invited all strangers to tarry and meet in the lecture
room that they might become acquainted. I tarried. Now,
I m going to make a criticism. I did want to meet that preacher
to meet and know him and some of his people, for I was lonely
that first night in the city. I tarried. The lecture room was
crowded. Where was the preacher? Where were his people?
Before I left I had learned that all had gone their way, leaving
the "strangers" to get acquainted. I never after went into that
lecture room. I could meet and know the strangers outside
of it. That s all aside from the coldness of its churches now
so general in all large cities Toronto is ideal.
Toronto a Tourist City
Nobody thinks of coming to Canada without including in
the tour Toronto. For this reason hundreds of thousands have
come, seen the city, and carried its famed beauty into every
land.
There is not only much to please and interest the tourist or
passing traveller, in the city itself, but in every conceivable
direction there are places worth visiting by trolley, by steam
cars and by steamboat. From all I can gather from those who
have spent summers here, these people are all a committee of
one, and the duty of that committee is to see that not a soul
leaves town without carrying away a good opinion of its beauty
and the kindly hospitalities of its people. I may speak from my
own knowledge next summer but if their summer hospitality
may be judged by their winter courtesy, my opinions are already
formed.
126 THE REAL COBALT
The Queen and Her Brilliant Satellites
Within a radius of 120 miles of Toronto are many prosperous
cities and large towns. Hamilton at the very western point of
Lake Ontario, with a population of 60,000, is 39 miles south
west. It is reached by the C.P. and the G.T. railways, as
are most of the cities and towns named. Brantford, with 20,000
people, lies directly west of Hamilton ; a little northerly of Brant-
ford, and westerly from Toronto, are a number of the busiest
manufacturing centres in the Dominion Brampton (22 miles
from Toronto), Guelph (48 miles) Gait (57), Berlin (63), Brant-
ford (63), Stratford (88), Woodstock (88). On a wider circle
westerly of Toronto and north from Lake Erie, are St. Thomas
(122), and the beautiful city of London (115), with its 52,000
population. To the north-east are Peterboro (76 miles), a busy
city of 15,000, famous for one of the greatest lift-locks in
the world, and Lindsay (69) not far away. Besides these are
scores of other places of interest, such as: Port Credit, Oakville,
Dundas, Burlington, 1 * Milton, Cooksville, Streetsville, Acton,
Weston, Woodbridge, Aurora, Markham, Uxbridge, Port Perry,
Whitby, Oshawa, Georgetown, and but "too numerous to
mention" many of them with great paper mills, agriculture
implement manufactures, etc. When I think that once I knew
but* the names of Toronto, Hamilton and London, and then
find this corner of the province so full of such places of note as
the " foregoing, I feel it an imperative duty to name them, that
my readers may not be"as ignorant of their . existence as I was
before I came to Canada.
Toronto is so near our country that it seems like one of our
own cities. As the bird flies, and the steamers run, it is but 27
miles, across Lake Ontario, to Niagara-on-the-Lake, 14 miles
from the Falls. By rail to Niagara, via St. Catharines, another
important city, it is much farther, by reason of having to go
around the head of the lake.
THE REAL COBALT 127
One and the Same in Courteous Entertainment
Its people are so like our own, that you never could tell
them from citizens of the same country. It is delightful to
see the kindly manner in which they receive and entertain those
from across the line. Even now, two of our prominent public
citizens are in Toronto Wm. Jennings Bryan, from Lincoln,
Nebraska, and Mary Church Terrell, from Washington, D.C.,
and were they from Canada or from England they could not re
ceive more attention than these charming people are paying them.
You all know of Bryan how many of you know of one of the
most wonderful women in America? It has been my pleasure
to listen to her lectures here, she having been brought by that
progressive man, J. W. Wilkinson, of the World, to deliver the
series.
If ever you, of any country, have the rare opportunity of
hearing Mary Church Terrell s lecture on Harriet Beecher
Stowe, avail yourself of the privilege, and you will thank me
for telling you. It is one of the sweetest, most beautiful tributes
to a great character that I have ever listened to. Her language
is pure, her subjects charmingly chosen, and delivered in oratory
that moves and sways like gentle zephyrs in a tropic forest.
It was at one of these lectures that I was impressed by the
why of Toronto s place among the great cities of Canada. Its
people have confidence in themselves. They believe and feel
that they can do things just a little better than can those of any
other city, and in believing and feeling it, put forth the effort to
accomplish. The lecture was before the teachers of the city.
It was a rainy day, a very rainy afternoon, and not too many
were there. I remarked to one who had taught the present,
and one or two of the past generations of Torontonians, that I
was surprised that more had not availed themselves of hearing
one so gifted. "Gifted! Why, bless you, we have as good
every week." "Indeed!" said I. "You are fortunate. Pray,
and from whom?" "Ourselves," said she. "Why, I am to
read a paper myself next week" and I m to go hear her. See-
128 THE REAL COBALT
ing a young lady among the number, I asked were she a teacher,
and she said she was. Noting my glance of surprise about the
lecture room, she being very quick of intuition, said: "Oh, these
are the rainy day girls, the younger set are too afraid of water,"
and I was reassured of all I had heard of Toronto s pretty school
inarms.
With Toronto s ideal situation, with her people so full of
civic pride, with her educational, artistic and musical advan
tages, and amid such surroundings, is it any wonder that I find
the charming Queen all, and more than I had been led to expect
before coming? Is it any wonder that I am in love with her?
Come ye who have never seen her, and answer the questions.
I had thought to tell you all I wished to say about Toronto
in one little chapter I couldn t tell you all did I write a library.
But in the next edition of " The Real Cobalt " I shall make
you think that it is "The Real Toronto" of which I am telling.
I have already been called to account for not bringing "The
Colonel" with me. I m going to send for him, and you will
know what we both think of "The Queen"; and later she may
be booked in along with others of Canada s great ones Quebec,
Montreal, Ottawa of which we have been pleased to write.
I am always sorry when I reach the end of a book I am
writing. So many of those I have known, while collecting its
material, I may never see again our paths are so divergent.
And yet, the one great compensation is, the remembrance that
we have met.
SILVERLAND
AND ITS STORIES
By
ANSON A. CARD
Author of "The Yankee in Quebec," "The Wandering Yankee,"
The Hub and the Spokes," "The New Canada," "The
Pioneers of the Upper Ottawa," "The Last
West," "The Real Cobalt," "The
Gateway to Silverland,"
etc., etc.
TORONTO
THE EMERSON PRESS
1909
A LIST OF CANADIAN
BOOKS
By ANSON A. CARD
The Yankee in Quebec. 50c.
Uncle Sam in Quebec. Out of Print.
The Wandering Yankee. 75c.
How to See Montreal. 25c.
The New Canada Out of Print.
The Hub and the Spokes ; or, Ottawa
|of To-day Out of Print.
The Pioneers of the Upper Ottawa-
Out of Print.
Ottawa, the Beautiful Capital. 25c.
The Last West. 25c.
The Real Cobalt. 50c.
The Gateway to Silverland North
Bay. 50c.
My Friend Bill; a Novel
If you cannot find these in your local
book stores order from
THE EMERSON PRESS
TORONTO ONTARIO
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of
Canada, in the year one thousand nine hundred and
nine, by ANSON A. GARD, at the Department of
Agriculture.
PRESS OF
THE HUNTER-ROSE Co.
LIMITED
FlRSTSAOOrt
CON I
I
OF TOWNSHIP OF
O/XOH,
G 1 1, L / 1 s T/MBA BERTH
OF TOWNSHIP OF
Shippers in Capitals
INDEX TO COLEMAN MAP
Aberdeen Cobalt 223, 224
Anderson, H 29
Amalgamated Cobalt 75
Anderson, A 118
Argentite Mining Co., 177, 308,
381, 405
American Silver King 226
Allison Hughes, et a 1 255
Albert 275
Airgiod Cobalt 301
Abitibi Cobalt 476, 623, 833,
834, 835, 836, 857, 858, 890, 892
Alexander Mining Co 511
Arnold, O. M 573, 829, 831
American Cobalt Silver. 708, 709, 710
Auger 389
B
Black 634
Black Rock Mining Co., 933, 934, 935
Brown, R. H. C. B 11
Bilsky, S 263, 264, 429
Burwash 107
British American. .111, 112, 127, 128,
316, 318, 460, 659
Bo^ey 129
BUFFALO MINES LTD 196
Bonsall 204, 205
Bownell, D. W 245
Boisvert 276
Boisvert, Joseph 328
Beverly Mine 340
Bailey, J. B 359
Baker, 407
Broun, Riggs and McLaren 452
Barrett 461
Bailey Cobalt (Powell). 295, 296,
504 510
Brown. .548, 549, 641, 642, 643, 644
Baruch, N 570
Badger Mine 607, 608, 609
Bidgood 636, 637
Braunlet, T. A . . . . 699
Beaver Mining Co 718
Bayliss 899
Collins 515
COBALT CENTRAL (Dennis) 35, 36,
37,71,84,85,152 153,164,206,208,
271, 488, 489, 505, 600, 729, 801, 802
Jolcman Syndicate 1, 234,
236, 553, 647
Cobalt Bullion 199
^olfinan Buck Syndicate 5
Aharon Mining Co., Ltd., 6, 7, 8, 9
^hainbers-Eerland . ..48, 49, 167, 170
2o\v, W. C 66
_ A ok, J. Y 31, 32, 810
Cobalt American 58, 63, 64
2ob;vlt Merchants 68
2ooke 180
Cooke & Kennedy 860
~urry 33, 88
^ITV OF COBALT MINING CO. 193
Cobalt Monarch 43, 44, 122, 123,
124, 235
Cobalt Silver Hills, Ltd 52
Commonwealth Mining Develop
ment Co 231
2emury Mining Co 59, 61
NOTE: If
Canadian Pacific Cobalt 90, 891,
895, 910, 911
Clear Lake 51
Combs 232
Cobalt Union Mines 253, 254, 332, 333
Cromley 110
Campbell (J.) Syndicate. .. .779, 839,
840, 898
Cobalt Development 158
Coniagas (J. B. C ) 165
COLONIAL 73 174, 189
COBALT LAKE MINING CO. . 192
Cleveland-Cobalt, 200, 201. 273, 277
Canada Consolidated. . .238, 240, 241,
243, 447
Culver 293
Cobalt Silver Prince 300, 388
COBALT SILVER QUEEN, 306, 307
Chaudiere Mines, Ltd... 3 12, 313, 314
Capital Cobalt 319, 320
Canadian Central 363, 378
Cartwright 350
Cruikshank 380
Coleman Cobalt 399
Chapin 486
Cobalt Silver Mountain Mining
Co 512
Crawford 517
Chisholm 561
Cobalt Certainty 564
Craig 571
Cobalt Nugget 595
Cobalt Merger 597, 610
Cody 598
Cobalt Gem 611
Clinton 612, 859
Cobalt Combine. . .653, 665, 670, 769,
848, 849, 852, 853, 854, 900,901,
906, 907
Cobalt Portage Mines 671
Chester 721
Cochrari 724
Coleman Development. .726, 728, 761
Columet 727
Cuthbertson 744
Clements Syndicate, Ottawa 745,
746, 747, 748
Cobalt Chief 749, 786, 788, 789
Crawford, A. E 792, 825
Columbus Cobalt 803
Cobalt Bonanza (Shoy) 872
Campbell, N . 884
D
Donaldson Bros.. .93, 94, 95, 96. 146
213, 246, 342, 351, 358
Donaldson, G. A 330
Donaldson, H. L 331
Dufferin Cobalt Silver. .335, 353, 354
^ Donaldson T. G 338
DRUMMOND. .. .396, 493, 494, 496
Davis Silver Cobalt. 502, 503, 599,
601, 712
Devine, M 518
Duchess Cobalt . 806
Dreany, W. J 813
Duncan 855
E
Evans 15, 16, 17, 18, 103, 104,
105, 250
Eastern Cobalt Mining Co 79
Enright, Wigle and Ross (Dis
pute) 406
any errors, please notify Emerson Press,
Empress Cobalt 410
Enright 402
England s Premier Cobalt 431
Evans and Healey 482
Esperanza Mining Co 690, 691,
692, 693
Eureka 817
Finlan, P. J 10
Frost, W. G 248
Farley 257
Farah, 1 387
FOSTER COBALT 509
Fink 676
Ferguson and Black 883
G
Green Rock Mining Co 77, 78
Goodwin 157
Gordon Colonel 186, 187, 287,
288, 298, 299, 390
Glidden, H. P 198
Gates, W. H 202
Gordon Cobalt 310
Gillies, J 357
Gifford 433, 720
Greer 443, 445, 446
Goodman 535, 630
Gillies 620
Groulx 677
Gillies Cobalt 714
Gans 725
Grey Cobalt 732
George, T 743
Green, W. R 947
Graham 37, 374
H
Hicks 107
Hennessy 1 79
Heckles, C, F 256, 327
Hylands, T 3 3. 6 7, 628
Hylands 815, 880
Hough 347
Harris, et al 50 1
Hassett, M 521
Huronian 527, 578, 580, 581
Haskins 629
"H. S. 3." 734
"H. S. 4." 735
Herman, J 816
Iroquois Cobalt Mining Co 731
IMPERIAL COBALT 227, 228,
24 /, 249
Interprovincial Minin Co 425
Ida May 700
J
Jackpot Cobalt 62, 194, 458, 568
Johnson, A 115, 116,
117, 214, 215, 216, 470
Jessup, C. W 119
Johnson, Matilda 222, 258
Jankower, D 323
Jacobi, Don H. & Co 54 .541,
542, 543
"J. B. 8." 592
"J. B. 27." 593
Jumbo Mining Co 652
Jones 921
Toronto
IAP
Empress Cobalt 410
Enright 402
England s Premier Cobalt 431
Evans and 1 U aley 482
Esperanza Mining Co 690, 691,
692, 693
Eureka 817
Finlan, P. T 10
Frost, W.G 248
Farley 257
Furuh. 1 387
F( )STER C< )HALT 509
Fink 676
Ferguson and Hlack 883
Green Rock Mining Co 77, 78
Goodwin 157
Gordon CHonel 186, 187, 287,
288, 298, 299, 390
Glidden, H. P 198
Gates, W. H 202
Gordon Cobalt 310
Gillies, J 357
Gifford 433. 720
Greer 443, 445, 446
Goodman 535, 630
Gillies 620
Groulx 677
Gillies Cobalt 714
Gans 725
Grey Cobalt 732
George, T 743
Green, W. R 947
Graham 37, 374
H
Hicks 107
Hennessy 179
Heckles, C, F 256, 327
Hylands, J 3 3,6 7, 628
Hylands 815. 880
Hough 347
Harris, etui 501
Hassett, M 521
Huronian 527, 578, 580, 581
Haskins 629
"H. S. 3." 734
"H. S. 4." 735
Herman, J 816
Iroonois Cobalt Mining Co 731
IMPERIAL COBALT 227, 228,
24 /, 249
InterproviiK-ia] Minin Co 425
Ida May 700
Jackpot Cobalt 62, 194, 458, 568
Johnson, A 115,116,
117, 214, 215, 216, 470
Jessup, C. W 119
Johnson, Matilda 222, 258
Tankower, I) 323
Jacobi, Don H. & Co 54 , 541,
542, 543
"J. B. 8." 592
"J. B. 27." 593
Jumbo Mining Co 652
Jones 921
Toronto
SIR HENRY PELLATT REGINALD PELLATT
NORMAN MACRAE
(Members Toronto Stock Exchange)
Pellatt & Pellatt
Stock Brokers and
Financial Agents
Cobalt and Other Stocks and
Bonds Bought and Sold on Com
mission on Toronto, Montreal and
New York Stock Exchanges
Orders May be Wired at Our Expense
CORRESPONDENCE INVITED
401-410 Traders Bank, Building, Toronto
Cable Address "PELLATT
INDEX TO COLEMAN MAP
K
Kingsbury 184, 291, 292
Kidd, D 262
KING EDWARD 286
Klyne 348
Kerr Lake .... 397, 492 (Crown
Reserve) 495, 507
Kirk and Kane 455
Kortash 463
Kellock and Moore 545
Keaney 616, 617
Keewatin Mine 619
Kenning (Dobson) 926
L
LAROSE MINEvS 7? (J. B. 4),
169 (J. S. 14)
Lake George Cobalt Silver Min
ing Co 159, 309
Lumsden, J 203
Lacas 252, 503
LITTLE NIPISSING 383, 950
Lowe 409
Lemay, W. P 439, 450
Lake, Lewis and Ross ^40, 441
Leskes, Louis 481
Large 499
LAWSON MINE 508
Lumsden Mining Co 577, 716
Larose Merger, 602, 603, 604, 605, 613
Lombard Cobalt Mining Co. . . 276,^
Lemieux 550
M
VfcFarland 42, 707
VIondoux
VIorrison, W 28, 143, 144, 145,
484, 514
VIorrison 881, 882, 875, 876, 877
VlcBride 60
Vlagee 72
Manchester Cobalt 135, 136
VIcNeil 181
vlcDonald 182
vlarsh 183
vlcCullough 217
Montana Cobalt 233
tfaloney 251
vfichael, G. L 289
vf cKinley-Darragh 304
tfilkie 326
Malcolm, F. S 329
McMillan and Johnson 341
vlcDonald, A 344
McMillan 377
McLean 393
vlcLelland 913
Montreal River and Bay Lake
Mining Co 773, 775, 845
tfarsh, W. A 436, 437
tfohawk Cobalt, No. 3. .456, 576, 579
Mohawk Cobalt, No. 4 638
dartin 461
-lay, H. P 465
/IcKnight 483
loore, C. H 546, 547, 558
vIcGinness, A. T 559
rlontgomery 587
dcCormick 590
*f cPhillips 654
tfailer, Norman 694
vlcDonald, D. R 711
vtontreal Cobalt 736. 737, 819
.lills , 763
McPherson, Dr 818
McDonald (Cale) 918
McConnell. R. N 925
N
NIPISSING. ..47, 50. 166, 191, 282,
283, 384. 400. 401
National Cobalt Mining Co. .477, 478
NANCY HELEN 195
New York Cobalt. 225
NOVA SCOTIA 303
Northern Discovery Co 403
Newberry, C..413, 414, 472, 473, 474
New England Cobalt Silver Min
ing Co., Ltd. . 147, 317, 466, 467,
530, 531, 574, 575, 896, 897
Norton 562
Niagara Silver Cobalt 632, 696
Nevada Exploration 811
Nonsuch Cobalt 873, 919, 920
North Star Mining Co 922, 923
O
O BRIEN 171
O Brien, J. B 190
O Connor, A 451
Ontario, Quebec and Cobalt 454
Old Chap 498
Ontario Development Co. 946, 948, 949
P
Post 38, 39, 80
Powell 76, 487
Prospect Development Co 261
Pauli 297
"PRINCESS" CLarose Merger). . 305
Powell and Murray. . 325
Powers, S 336
Powers, M 337
Peterson Lake Mining Co 385
Pomerelle 658
Prince Silver Co 717
Philadelphia Cobalt 22, 723
Patterson 805
Progress 807
Peverly, Jno 812, 856
Pierce 894
Q
Queen Alexandra Mining Co. ... 185
R
RIGHT-OF-WAY 168
Rowell 462
Rothschild Mine 713, 924
Rochester Cobalt 715, 730
Railway Reserve Co 796
Renkel 294
Schoepflin. .. .91, 141, 260, 534, 767,
768, 784, 830, 908, 938
Smith, C 556, 557
Smith, J. B 25, 26, 27
Silver Bird 53
vSwan, S. A 538
"Sixty-Seven " 54, 55
Silver Nine 138, 139,371, 372
Silver Heels 1 62
Silver Cliff 188
Shepard 229. 230
Shillington, A. T 265
Silver City 274
Steindler and Clinton 355, 356
Somers 360, 361
Southern Belle. . , 379
St. Louis 392
Silver ross 395
Silver Horn 493
St. Paul Cobalt Mining Co. .434 435
442, 459, 740, 741, 742, 757, 758 ,
797, 798
Savage 435
SILVER LEAF 490, 491
Silver Bar 513
Six Hundred and Six ("666 ),
N.Y 523, 524, 525, 583
Shamrock Silver 606
Stanley, J. A 624
St. Anthony Cobalt Mining Co.
Ltd.. 682, 683, 684, 685, 687, ( 88
689, 750 to 756. 780, 781
Silver Lion 698
Sargison 774
Silver Crown 790, 794, 795, 828
Sullivan 808
Smaltite Mining Co.. . .820 (L^O. 5)
821 (H.S.7), 822 (H.S. 8), 864 to
871, 886, 887, 888, 915, 916. 917,
927 to 930
Sloan 850
Schutt 874, 885
Sutherland 535
T
TEMISKAMING AND HUDSON
BAY. .45, 46, 197, 278, 279, 280, 382,
402, 404
Trethewey, W. J., No. 1 , 56, No. 2, 272
TRETHEWEY cr. B. 7) 74
Taberner, W. W 160, 161
Toronto Cobalt 163
Tweed 2S9
TOWNSITE MINING cb . . 28i
Tiffany Cobalt. 290. 832
Trudel-Powers 334
TEMISKAMING MINING CO "
~, 621, 622, 719
inompson 931 932
U
United Silver Co., Ltd. 154
UNIVERSITY . . . . .I 591
V
Violet 172
Victoria 284
Verner, W \\\ \ 464
Viceroy Mining Co 516
Van Vlickt. \ 532
W
WATTS 285
Webster, A. R 339 346
White Silver 386/506; 596
Williamson and Marks 394, 497
Warner 393
Webster , .. . . 439
Woodrow, F 625
Wattling, C. A . .680, 681 i 686
Westbrook, R 6 95
Wright an 1 Columbus. ......] 804
Weetlaufer-Hylands 814^ 879
Water Power vocation . 823
Y
Youngsto-n Silver Mining Co... 40
41, 349
Yeagley 648
York, W 893
TH
PREFACE
a gratification to write a book full of enthusiasm,
and then find, when ready to send out the second edi
tion, that you have not even touched upon the real
condition of the subject! I did feel, at times, that I was a bit
extravagant in writing of the wonders of the Cobalt camp. But
I only scraped a few of the top surface rocks away. Since that
time the folks up here have been busy going down into the depths
after the "goods." And what is best of all, they found them
when they got down. And are finding them, and will go on
finding them in such vast quantities, that one could not exag
gerate no matter how extravagant one might write of that camp
of wonders.
I told of other camps, just a touch here and there, of what
they were finding, miles and miles away from Cobalt. People
said that I had drawn upon my volume of Aladdin in telling of
some of these other camps. But go along up the Montreal
River with me and see for yourselves what they have found
since I wrote of that section, and not one of you will but laugh
at the tame descriptions I gave in the first edition.
In this I shall but add a few of the things written and left
out of the first, add words about some of the great mines, tell of
new discoveries in the old, and touch upon some of the new
camps, and give you a few stories picked up among the boys.
I cannot but touch upon any part of the whole a library alone
could tell all that might be written of the mineral districts of
New Ontario, and by the time that library was in print so many
iv P RE I- ACE
new districts would have been found, that another library would
have to follow to keep the world in touch with the progress of
that country.
Look on page 6 of the first edition, and read this: "7 know
mines whose stocks would be good investments at three times the
price at which they can be bought for to-day not one or two, but
manv o) them, for they have the value, and inside of a very few
months will prove it." When I wrote those words Crown Re
serve was going begging at ten cents a share to-day it is selling
readily at almost $3 a share, and I would not be surprised to
see it reach that price before this is in print, for they have mil
lions of ore blocked out and in sight. The Nipissing stock has
gone from $6 to $11, and the wise folk are getting in before it
goes back to $25, as it is bound to do inside of six months. After
I wrote that Temiskaming and Hudson Bay stock was worth
$200 a share, it went away down to nearly $100, and then flew
up to nearly $300. Cobalt Lake stock was 10 cents, and went
to 20 cents a share in less than a month after the book was on
the market, and will rush to double that the minute they strike
the McKinley-Darragh vein, and that will not be long. But I
must not tell you all this in the Preface, else I ll have nothing
but "The Stories of the Camp" to tell you later, and hasn t
Jarvis done that already?
In writing a book of this nature, where the giving of facts
plays so large a part, it is impossible to bring the facts down to
date, since each one must be written as conditions exist at the
time of its collection, so that what might have been correct in
November, may not be exact in March. Therefore, look upon
what vou read with the date of its writing in mind.
SILVERLAND
AND ITS STORIES
HOW IT HAPPENED
I WANTED to tell you before, how it all happened, but things
kept rushing along so fast that I didn t have the time for
more than just an occasional "happen," and so lest they get
away from me again, I shall begin this edition with a recital of
the history of some of those mines which have become world-
famous. Many people thousands of them in many lands-
have a very personal interest in Cobalt mines, and would like
to know something more about them than the amount at which
they were capitalized.
THE McKINLEY-DARRAGH MINE
"The very first" must be said of the McKinley-Darragh
Mine. J. H. McKinley and Ernest Darragh found silver in
August of 1903 one month before Fred. Larose found the "La-
rose," and two months before Tom Herbert discovered the
Nipissing." They had a tie contract with the T. and N.O.
Railway, and were one day passing where men were blasting
rock. They noticed the peculiar color, and the weight of some
that they picked up made them think they had found something
worth while. And when later they found "flakes of some sort
of a mineral," they took it down to Ottawa and asked one of J.
R. Booth s head men to help them get the claim (on which they
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
found it) properly staked. Anderson only smiled at their faith,
but kindly assisted them to get their papers fixed up and recorded,
The first assay showed no sign of silver only bismuth. But
Assayer Milton Hersey, of Montreal, did better for them, finding,
in samples sent him, 4,000 ounces of silver to the ton. They
had the claim surveyed, and then went to work in the most primi
tive way to " develop" the claim.
The floating of this property would make great mining his
tory, if all the stories told be true. Smith came within an ace
of placing it to a millionaire from Montana. He even got him
up from New York, right onto the ground, and do you believe
it, he turned it down as no good. "It wasn t like the stuff he d
been used to out in Colorado." Then Black, from Sudbury,
got an option on it, dug out several carloads, sent to Chicago
for a capitalist to send his mine engineer up to see "the most
wonderful proposition ever." The engineer came, admitted
that they certainly had dug a lot of it, but he didn t believe "it"
would go down, and he told the millionaire not to invest. As
the "millionaire" was offered it for a song, he has never gotten
through talking about how little mining engineers know of mining.
Then, again, another man either bought the McKinley-
Darragh or didn t buy it, or well, he s been crazy ever since. I
would wager he didn t buy it. I fear had it been offered to us
and we had turned it down when we had had the amount to buy,
: us" would likely now be in the crazy house lamenting our
unwiseness, instead of simply talking about others misses at a
fortune. Why, bless you, that mine is so rich that surrounding
companies won t be happy till they "strike the McKinley-Dar-
ragh vein." (The "Cobalt Lake" are liable to strike it at any
time, then watch the "Lake" stock boom.)
As before said, this was the first discovery, but so little was
said about it that both the Larose and the Nipissing were known
by the public before the McKinley-Darragh was even heard of.
SILVEKLAND AND ITS STORIES 3
THE LAROSE MINES
The story of the Larose Mine has been so often told that it
would seem like telling you of the Wolfe and Montcalm fight,
and yet as this book is for "lands far distant," I m going to tell
it again, not for you who already know it by heart, but for those
who will read here of Cobalt for the first time and there may
be such.
Fred. Larose was a Hull blacksmith. He was working for
the contractors who had the section of the T. and N.O. Railway
that passes through this Cobalt country. One day, finding a
heavy stone, and seeing that it had an odd look, showed it to
Duncan McMartin one of the McMartin Brothers, contractors
who, recognizing in it something valuable, joined Larose, and
on September 29th, 1903, signed an application for the discovery
made by Larose September i5th, 1903. (This I have previously
mentioned, but as subsequent editions may not include the first,
I shall repeat it.) The application stated that mineral had been
found at " Station 113 on the T. and N.O. Railway, about 1,300
feet north of Cobalt Lake (then Long Lake)." The discovery
was copper. The application was sworn to before H. McQuar-
rie, a Notary of Haileybury. They not only staked this, but
other claims some of which they did not get, as when other
parties restaked them, they thought the finds of so little value
that they paid no attention to them, and so let the restakers
keep them.
This is generally looked upon as the original discovery. But
(as above), the month previous August J. H. McKinley and
Ernest Darragh had made a discovery of silver at the south
end of Cobalt Lake, while getting out ties for the road.
Duncan s brother and partner, John McMartin, became
interested, and later they took in with them three men from
Mattawa Henry and Noah Timmons and D. A. Dunlop. The
Timmons Brothers had spent many years in search for mineral,
all throughout the north, but unsuccessfully. These five bought
4 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
out Larose s interest, paying what was to him a fortune. This,
too, at a time when it was not known that there was any great
value in the property. Some have thought that they should
have paid him more. These "some" have never a word to say
about the men who have sold "wildcats" for a fortune. I ve
never heard one of them say: "The money ought to be refunded,
because it was not as good as the buyers expected." In min
ing, men must take risks. The many lose the McMartins
won.
They ran the mines as a close corporation until this (1908)
year, when it was put into a company, and capitalized at $7,-
500,000, with shares at $5. It started at par and at once went
up, up till it is now selling briskly at $6.80, and should reach $10
before summer.
With the original claims they put into the new company
others which they had acquired the University, Princess, Fisher
and Epplett, Silver Hill, the Cochrane, and the old E. V. Wright
mine, over in Quebec.
Besides these they own all but a small block of the Violet
Mine, the story of which is most interesting.
The Violet Mine -
Charles S. Hanes, of Windsor, Ont., was among the early.
He located many of the good claims of Cobalt. Some of these
were for friends. Edward Scully, of Windsor, had him locate
three 4o-acre lots. Two of these were to the west, and one to
the east of the railway. In those times the locater had sixty
days in which to prospect, and if he found value could pay $i
per acre, and thus get possession. One Holmes, of Bay City,
Mich., and John McKay, of Detroit, looking over these three
lots, said that the two on the west side were all right, but that
they would not give ten cents for the one to the east. Scully,
hearing this, threw up the worthless (?) lot, and so notified the
Government. A Pittsburg man by the name of Handy, not hav
ing the same opinion as the two men from Michigan, began
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 5
prospecting, shortly before Scully s sixty days were up. He
made a discovery, and the minute Scully s time was out, he made
application for the lot and got it. Hanes in the meantime had
heard of the discovery, and rinding it, hurried to Haileybury to
claim the lot for Scully. But he was too late by a very few min
utes. He (Scully) at once started a suit to recover it, and ran the
case through all the courts of Canada, but lost in every one.
Handy sold for $250,000. This is a short story of the Violet
Mine 40 acres of a mine, not yet a shipper, sold for the same
price as the Nipissing, with its 846 acres of proven value!
The Princess Mine
Another of the Larose properties is interesting by reason
of the men who have, from time to time, been connected with
it. Sir Wm. Mulock once owned it, and sold it to John Ferguson
and A. G. Browning, K.C., of North Bay.
THE NIPISSING MINE
A French-Canadian Tom Herbert was working for J. R.
Booth, cutting timber on the Booth limit, upon which so much
of the Cobalt silver has been found. He quit to go to work on
the railway which about this time was building along this divi
sion. He went back to the Booth camp to get his time check,
when, on this trip, as the story goes, he made his first discovery
(many are the stories as to how he made his subsequent discoveries.
I may sometime give you some of the best of these stories, for
they would make splendid reading would make a bald-headed
man s hair curl) upon what afterward became the great Nipissing
Mines. Taking his time check to Haileybury, he showed his
silver samples to A. Ferland, who was then the landlord of the
old Matabanick hotel. Ferland became so interested that he
went with Tom to see where he had marked "Ze spot where he
had ze reech silver foun." This was on October 22, 1903.
6 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
Per land and Herbert (pronounced He Bear) were shortly
joined by the following: W. C. Chambers (who had the contract
for building the railway from Mud Lake to New Liskeard, passing
through this section, and whose sub-contractors and their em
ployees discovered so many of the valuable mines), R. A. Gal-
braith, Divisional Engineer, and W. B. Russell, Chief Engineer
of the T. and N.O.
At this time one man might take up 320 acres, but these five,
either being ignorant of that fact, or too generous to take advantage
of it, only entered 160 acres each. After they had entered the
846 acres, Tom Herbert got busy and discovered mineral on every
one of the lots, which proves that of all the discoverers of Cobalt,
Tom He Bear was king. He, a woodsman, and railway navvy,
could give cards, spades and the joker, and then beat the mining
doctors to a standstill. My eyes ! but Tom was smart when it came
to finding a mineral which up to now he had never heard men
tioned, save in small coins. Toward the last he got so expert
that he could find it any old place but this belongs to the stories
I am to tell you some other time, when you want your hair curled.
Incidentally, while 320 acres might then be entered, this
was first cut to 40 acres, and later to 20 in Coleman township;
40 acres in all other districts may yet be taken up.
Herbert soon grew tired of being a mine-owner, and sold his
interest to his partners. He wanted to sell to others, but that
he learned he could not do, that is, he was told he could not do.
But this too belongs to the stories yet to come sometime.
The next thing was to have the land surveyed. Again the
question of " Where s the money?" Robert Laird, a Haileybury
surveyor, proving a "good angel," came to their relief and did
the work for a fifth interest. Later, like Tom, he preferred a
certainty to a prospect, took $1,000 and ceased to be a holder of
Nipissing. ; He has frequently regretted his lack of faith.
Ferland took samples of the "rock" to New York, showed it to
E. P. Earle, of 31 Nassau Street, who seeing in it value, got in
negotiations and later bought out the holders. He paid $250,000
for the 846 acres, and that he might be sure not to lose his money
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 7
went to work and dug out of a hole, not so big as a house, $3 50,000,
and then started the Ni pissing Mines with a capitalization of,
at first, $12,000,000, which was later reduced to $6,000,000-
par value $5 a share.
The company have been blamed for running the stock
" beyond all reason." It was not the company at all. When the
public saw such vast riches coming out of "49" they took it
out of the company s hands and drove it, yes, fairly drove it, up
to $34.50 a share. And then when the Guggenheimers came into
the field, and at first, like the public, looked upon the property
as " worth the money" only to reconsider, it started down as fast
as it went up. But I m going to tell you that the public of those
wild(?) days were closer to the value of Nipissing than are the
buyers of to-day, as Tom Herbert s discovery is a vastly rich mine:
As proof, see the reserve on September i, 1908 $1,162,000. This
too after paying large dividends.
I would not look upon a man as wild, who said: " Nipissing
stock will be $25 a share before another year has passed."
THE CHAMBERS-FERLAND MINE
The Chambers-Ferland was one of the early properties, but
until recently little has been done towards its development. It
lies in a peculiar way, almost surrounding the Larose Mine, and
contains about 125 acres. It, as its name implies, is mostly
owned by W. C. Chambers and Arthur Ferland the one who
played the largest part in the discovery of the Nipissing. It is
capitalized at $2,200,000 par $i.
Their rights were long contested, but they finally got a deed
from the Government, who exact a royalty of 25 per cent.
They have but recently started to ship, but having one of
the best locations they are already turning out large quantities
of high-grade ore. The stock is bound to become very valuable.
8 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
THE TRETHEWEY AND CONIAGAS MINES
The Trethewey and Coniagas Mines were doubtless the first
to be discovered by a man who knew a discovery when he saw it.
All up to him had been "tender feet" -very, and their finds
accident. W. G. Trethewey had mined all throughout the
west, and had finally gone into Edmonton real estate at a time
when it paid to get into Edmonton real estate to make money,
and I guess W. G. made it all right. I used to listen to him
talk, down in Montreal, how it was "the greatest town in Canada,"
and I got to advising all my friends to "buy Edmonton lots,"
till they d run on sight. Later it was a gratification to hear them
say: "Oh, that I had listened!" Next time I saw the name of
"Trethewey" was attached to a Cobalt mine, but never thought
of its being W. G. s find. But to its discovery as told by himself:
"Yes, I had a chance to sell my Edmonton Addition, sold and was
going back west when I met an old friend, an analyst, who told me
about Cobalt. I came up to Haileybury, then down to where is
now a thriving little city. I tell you it was wild enough then!
I hunted all about the east side of the lake; nobody thought of
the west side being worth prospecting. But one day went over
to the hill behind where is now the town and walked almost
direct to where is the Trethewey. (That was in early May
of 1904.) That was sure a lucky afternoon. I did not leave the
camp, on the east side (was tenting on what became the O Brien
Mine), until 4 o clock, and from that till dark I discovered the
Trethewey and the Coniagas, went back to camp for an axe,
then returned to my discoveries and put in discovery stakes at
both.
"I was afraid that the boys seeing me with the axe might
want to follow, so I gave them to think that I meant to cut a tree
near by, but once I got out of sight I only touched the earth
occasionally. Anyone seeing me would have sure thought I was
in a hurry. And I was, for those two finds did look good to me.
With Alex. Longwell I put in the proper stakes next morning, after
assuring myself that no one had been there before me."
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 9
"They told me that you were the first to put in a steam plant.
Is that true ?" I. asked.
Yes, if what I put in might be called a plant. It was not
a large affair, but it enabled me to get out and ship the second
car of ore that left Cobalt. It was shipped on October i, 1904."
After taking $600,000 worth of ore he sold out in the autumn
of 1906.
The Trethewey is one of the great mines of the camp the
Coniagas is also fairly good in spots. Both have immense
plants, and are most carefully managed.
(Alex. Longwell, here mentioned, was the discoverer of the
Buffalo.)
THE O BRIEN MINE
The mine is mine!" said two, after Neil King had discov
ered (?) silver on the land adjoining Larose and the Nipissing
on the east east of the north end of Nipissing. The "(?)
because the Larose claimed that King did not make a discovery,
but that their own man had made valuable finds. As the history
runs, King claimed to have made his find in Nov., 1903. He
was another of the railroad s workmen. He sold the 160 acres
which he had taken up, to Mr. J. O Brien for, it is said, $206,000.
The property lay idle till May of 1905, when T. Culbert began
its development for O Brien. In less than a month he had dug
out a $65,000 car of ore.
The Larose people made claim to it, by reason of prior
discoveries made for them by Anson Cartwright. The case
was postponed, from time to time, for nearly two years, when
the Government quietly handed it over to O Brien, without even
the semblance of a trial. Gave it, but reserved 25 per cent, of
the output a way it has of settling matters when two fail to agree
on a settlement. They later felt so sorry about the matter that they
paid the Larose $130,000. If the Larose was entitled to $130,000
the mine would seem to have been wholly theirs. But they
don t follow any set rule up here, save to get a big per cent.
10 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
on disputed claims, vide O Brien, Hudson Bay, Chambers-
Ferland,etc.
The value of this mine may be known from the Government s
receiving about a quarter of a million dollars last year for their
one-fourth share. It is not a company.
THE BUFFALO MINE
When Charlie Dennison failed to get the Kerr Lake property he
was offered a claim right at the west edge of Cobalt village for $8,000.
He took it, then went back to New York quick, for, as he said:
" Lest I get stung again! " It was named Buffalo, and capitalized
at $1,000,000 par $i, with $3.65 now bid for it. It shipped last
year 1,241 tons, and this year nearly 1,000 tons, much of which
was concentrates. It has one of the most complete plants in
the camp. The Buffalo was discovered and staked by Alex.
Longwell, an engineer with R. W. Leonard.
Many good stories may be heard in connection with nearly
every mine in the camp. Most of them are told you by the
fellow who "Might have had that mine for a trifle." The
Buffalo is no exception. "I wanted a friend to go in with me
and buy a claim just over the brow of the hill, to the west of
Cobalt," said Mr. H. C. Rees. "We could have gotten it for
$5,000. He only smiled at my faith and said: No, I ve got to use
the money to buy a house. He bought the house has it yet,
and Dennison bought the claim has it yet. The house may
still be worth the thousands he paid if in the right part of his
town Dennison s Buffalo may be worth as many millions.
Odd how true, The saddest of all, etc., " and Rees did look the
part.
This mine has paid in dividends almost a quarter of a million
dollars, has nearly a mile of underground work done, and a
concentrator handling 40 tons of ore a day. It is one of the
best managed mines in the list, for Jones knows hbw.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 11
THE COLONIAL MINE
The Colonial is only worthy of note by reason of its high
capitalization, $5,000,000, and its history. It was discovered
by George Glendenning (a prominent figure among the early
discoverers of the good things about Cobalt) and a man from
New Liskeard. The latter, one of the four who discovered the
famous Lawson vein. "Famous" by reason of its vast riches
and its long and many lawsuits, "tall swearing," etc.
Upon the Colonial was discovered the first silver outside the
immediate Cobalt district. Since that first discovery but little
has been found.
It shipped about one carload last year and nothing this (1908).
The property was sold by Glendenning to John Ferguson
and A. G. Browning, two of North Bay s capitalists, and N. A.
Timmons, who in turn sold it to the organizers of the Colonial.
THE LAWSON VEIN
Possibly the most spectacular discovery in the whole camp
was the find of the Lawson vein. It was on the 4o-acre claim
that touches Kerr Lake on its south-west corner.
I have told it before, but will repeat the facts, as the first story
will not appear in subsequent editions.
Four men went prospecting in the early days of the camp.
There were two Crawfords and two McLeods, all poor as church
mice, some of them now rich, so far as simple money goes,
and knowing nothing about mining. One day they stumbled
upon a vein of almost pure silver, right on the surface. The
vein is to this day one of the great shows of the country. Three
of the men let the fourth one take the claim out in his name, with
the understanding that all should share equally. This fourth,
not appreciating values, sold it to H. S. Lawson for $250. The
others put on an injunction, and then started the most bitterly
fought series of lawsuits ever known in Canada over a silver
12 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
mine. It went through court after court, and was finally settled
on February 28, 1908. Mr. John McMartin, President of the
Larose Company, having bought out the three, fought the battle
to a finish.
To this day the value of the mine is not known, but no one
places it below several million dollars.
THE DRUMMOND MINE
In the spring of 1963 the son of E. V. Wright, of Ottawa,
the original finder of silver in this north country, came to Hailey-
bury to take charge of a sawmill. As in the McKinley-Darragh
sketch, the first discovery of silver in Cobalt was made in August
of this year 1903; a month later the Larose Mines were staked,
and in October the Nipissing was found. The son, Edw. C
Wright, hearing of these, sent for his brother Marty, who came
up early in the spring of 1904. They started out from Hailey-
buryone morning, and coming to a lake (Kerr Lake), which has
since proven to be the richest lake in all the world, E. C. found
a good show of mineral upon the claim touching the lake on the
east. This he staked, and later sold to the Drummond Brothers,
one of whom, the idol of more than of Canada, was the late
lamented poet, William H. Drummond, who died early in April,
1907.
This mine has since proved fabulously rich. It is a close
corporation, and therefore not capitalized.
THE KERR LAKE MINES
The brother, Marty, discovered a good prospect to the south
of the same lake, and joining the Drummond on the west. As
told in the Buffalo sketch, he offered it to Charlie Dennison, who,
going -out from Haileybury to see it, broke through the ice jusl
before coming to the claim, and was so disgusted with that part
of the camp that he turned right round and to Haileybury returned,
S1LVERLAND -AND ITS STORIES 13
saying: "Let some other dupe buy it." One Jacobs proved to
be "the other dupe" and has been awfully rich ever since. It
was first the Jacobs Mine, but was changed to Kerr Lake.
Capitalization, $3,000,000 par $5. The Wright Brothers are
still in Haileybury. They have recently opened a large mining
brokerage business.
As showing how little the mine engineer knows of a mine s
value, Milton Hersey, the king of em all, once owned an interest
in the then " Jacobs," and when the $17,000 car of ore was taken
out, this great authority said "She s pinched," and sold his hold
ings sold for $9,000 what is now worth more than $100,000.
Young J. A. Jacobs had more faith and held on but he wasn t
a mining engineer and hadn t any more sense than to hang on-
and it is claimed that he is glad he lacked the sense, for the lack
has brought him many dollars. Incidentally, the Jacobs history
is interesting. In the sixties the father came to Canada from
Russia. From nothing but grit, good judgment and honest
purpose, he was soon on the road to fortune and never left it till
he "arrived." His son, J. A., got into the Cobalt game quite
early. Phenomenal luck got up alongside, and from a few
thousand dollars, it has pushed him up to the guessers say
four millions. He owns most of Kerr Lake mines, Peterson
Lake (224 acres), which is being leased to many companies,
and largely interested in the Nova Scotia, not to mention whole
blocks of Montreal business and residence property. This at
35 what will he be by the time he reaches the "Osier" limit?
NOVA SCOTIA SILVER MINING COMPANY
A month after the Wrights had discovered the two above
claims, a Mr. Wood worth, and a New Liskeard man, found
silver on the claim that touches the east arm of Peterson Lake
and it became the Nova Scotia, one of the great properties of the
district. It was capitalized at $2,000,000 par $i. On Novem
ber 9, 1907, it was selling very slow at 21 cents. To-day, a year
14 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
later, it is active at 75 cents. It shipped last year 244 tons, and
almost the same so far this year. The company have leased 30
acres of the Peterson Lake property adjoining on the west.
The man Gates who has figured so largely up the Montreal
River, in James township, was once a part owner of the Nova
Scotia .
THE FOSTER MINE
The most fiction-like discovery in all the camp was that of
the Foster Mine out on Glen Lake. The story may be found on
page 35 of the preceding part of this book, and will be in all
subsequent editions, so that I shall not give it here.
It is capitalized at $1,000,000 par $i. It is one of the mines
whose stock has not advanced with the rise. The wise ones are
watching it with eyes wide open, for as they say: It may jump
any day and get out of sight before we can get in, for they cer
tainly have the goods in the Foster."
THE COBALT SILVER QUEEN, LIMITED
I will warrant that no other mining company of the promi
nence reached by the Silver Queen was ever more smoothly started,
more cleverly conducted, or so quickly put upon a solid footing,
with nothing to start on. True, thousands of mining companies
had done the same thing before. Men without money had found
a prospect, and in a short time were shipping great carloads
of ore that ran into the thousands of dollars. Those who in
January were wondering how they would meet : that ten-dollar
rent bill," in March were living in their own palace, and touring
the country in their sixty horse-power automobiles all the fol
lowing summer. But these, I should state, to be accurate, had
done it in dreams, and always woke up to the same old grind.
But here is a case where ten men made good beyond their wilder
possible dreams. I m going to tell you about them, for it s one
of the best stories of the Cobalt camp.
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 15
It was early in March, 1906, that ten gentlemen got together
and decided to organize a holding company. They subscribed
$200 each, and got out a charter for what is now known as the
Cobalt Consolidated Mines Limited. Out of the $2,000 thus
raised a charter was paid for, together with various other ex
penses incidental to the organization of a company. It was not
long before negotiations were brought about with the Temis-
kaming and Hudson Bay Mining Co. (the first corporation to
do business in the Cobalt district). The T. & H.B. Co. had
acquired quite a large acreage, 58! acres of which was situated
near the south end of Cobalt Lake. Two of the members of
the Cobalt Consolidated interviewed the directors of the T. &
H. B. Co., with the result that the Cobalt Consolidated agreed
to organize another company with a capital of $1,500,000. This
company was organized, and was named the Cobalt Silver Queen.
The T. & H.B. Co. deeded to the Cobalt Silver Queen 58!
acres above mentioned, and took in payment therefor 1,425,000
shares of stock. Contracts were entered into between the two
companies whereby the Cobalt Consolidated was to sell some
of this stock for the T. & H.B. Co., for which they were to re
ceive a commission. The management of the property was
turned over to the Cobalt Consolidated. They immediately
began the erection of a fine plant, and were one of the first in
the camp to have a plant in operation. A little later on another
contract was entered into between the above companies, giving;
the Cobalt Consolidated Mines the privilege of purchasing the
interests of the T. & H.B. Co. in Cobalt Silver Queen. The
property was thoroughly developed, and ore taken out and
shipped, and in the fall, with a strong market and the record
that the mine had made up to that time, sufficient stock was sold
in 30 days to pay the T. & H.B. Co. $810,000 for their interest
in the Cobalt Silver Queen. It might be added that the Cobalt
Consolidated were enabled to retain enough of the 1,425,000
shares so as to own control of the Cobalt Silver Queen, which
control they hold to-day.
This is a remarkable story, because it shows that with
16 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
$2,000, gotten together early in March, 1906, these ten men were
enabled to buy and pay for a property worth at least two million
dollars, to satisfy all debts and claims, and all this in less than
a year.
It might be as well to give the names of the original
ten associated with the Cobalt Consolidated: Lt.-Col. John I.
Davidson, Frank L. Culver, Robert W. Gordon, P. S. Hairston,
Alfred J. Young, J. H. Stephens, W. D. McPherson, D. F. Hul-
bert, W. H. Kier, J. W. Smith. Two of the gentlemen men
tioned are no longer connected with the Cobalt Consolidated.
It was perhaps as much the sale of this property as anything
else that made the T. & H.B. Co. so famous, that made its
shares, the par value of which was $i, go as high as $300 per
share. It was the money that they received from the sale of
this property that allowed them to pay such enormous dividends,
.and made rich men out of the original holders of Temiskaming
and Hudson Bay Co. stock.
Let me give you an illustration of how the Silver Queen
run in an emergency, i.e., the rapidity with which the company
does things when things have to be done quickly, and incident
ally, the perfection of management.
One Sunday the large plant was burned to the ground,
manager, not being at the office, the wires were set in motion
and he was located in New York City. He, knowing the policy
of the company, which is to do quickly what is to be done, with
not a single thread of red tape, wired back: Drills must be
running in six days." Telegraphing the insurance adjusters
to meet him on Wednesday morning, he and they were in Cobalt
on time, and at ten minutes to noon, the same day, the matter
had all been adjusted, and one minute after, a large force of mer
were at work clearing away the debris, and by Friday night
the foundation was in, ready for the superstructure, and that,
too when the trees were standing in the woods on Wednesday,
UK! had to be felled, hewed and hauled for the work. Their
own power having been destroyed, they had to pipe power from
Cobalt, over 2,000 feet away, and in a little less than the six
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 17
days the drills were at work, and in a short time the new, and one
of the most complete plants in the whole camp, was running
again as though nothing had happened. Oh, I tell you some
of the mines are run with an almost perfect system, and the
Silver Queen is one of the number!
In January, 1907, an initial dividend of 8 per cent, was paid,
and in May, 1908, the mine was placed on a regular dividend-
paying basis, paying 3 per cent, quarterly, with the promise of
bonuses where possible. This was no empty promise, as a 2
per cent, bonus was added to the May dividend and 2 per cent,
to the August dividend, making 13 per cent, for the year, or 21
per cent, so far on the capitalization, and the mine not yet three
rears old. Not a bad record for the Queen, is it?
THE CITY OF COBALT MINES
"\Yhen the Government laid out the towns along the T. &
N.O. Railway, at the suggestion of Judge Frank R. Latchford,
then Minister of Public Works for Ontario, the lots of all the
towns were reserved, so that lots as well as the mineral that lay
beneath Cobalt belonged to the province. H. H. Lang now 7
Cobalt s Mayor interested others, and they secured a large
number of these valuable town lots. Later such noted men as
Thomas Birkett, of Ottawa, came in, and "The City of Cobalt
Mining Company 3 was organized and capitalized at $500,000.
It became a shipper in 1907. Its stock last year could have
been bought as low as 80 cents it is now lively at $2.70.
It has recently largely increased its machinery plant.
It has shipped this year almost 900 tons of ore.
Later: The capital of the company has just been increased
to $1,500,000, and the new stock is up to 68 cents. Prediction:
City of Cobalt will follow the lead of the Temiskaming, which,
you may remember, had hardly increased its capital when the
stock started at about 30 cents and went up to where it is now.
18 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
THE SILVER LEAF MINE
Somebody staked a claim out by Kerr Lake, couldn t find
any value, let it go, and Dr. Drummond staked it, hoping to
meet with better success, but he, too, failed to find value. Clem
ent A. Foster and some of his men from the near-by Foster
Mines, went over and found enough to induce capitalists to
put up $135,000. They wanted something big, so they capital
ized it at $5,000,000 par $i. Its stock has been one of the
features of the camp. For a long while people were wild I
was myself but as time went on, with nothing of value, war
ranting the capitalization, being found, people said: We and
not the stock have been sold."
THE RIGHT-OF-WAY MINE
J. P. Dickson was connected with the Railway Accident
Insurance Company down in Ottawa. One day he heard that
there was a little strip of land through the great Larose Mines.
It wasn t a wide strip only as wide as the railway s right-of-
way. He came up and looked at it. Not that he knew a thing
about silver, save when coined into the few dollars he was earn
ing at the time. But he would risk the lack of knowledge, and
so came and looked it over, went back and set his friends to
thinking it worth while. At first Smith, for the Government,
said the price was- -, then raised it to $50,000. Some said this
was to put "J. P." out of the notion of accepting the offer. If
so, he didn t know "J.P.,"who came up smiling, with the cash,
which Ottawans quickly put up, capitalized a company at $500,-
ooo, and called it the Right-of-Way. The stock started at 15
cents per share par $i at which the lucky ones got it. The
very first two carloads of ore brought $52,000. After that the
stock didn t seem to know just where to stop. It went up some
days a dollar at a time, till it got to $10, then $12, but finally
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 19
returned to reason, and is now a big dividend-payer at $4 asked
and $3.50 bid, and will pay big dividends so long as their Larose
vein holds out after that well, they may find another. The
company has a large and well-equipped plant.
"Watch the Bird Soar "
Speaking of stocks "soaring." During the wildcat boom
days, one of the companies used to run a whole page ad. The
burthen of the ad. was "Watch the Bird soar!" Later on, one
of the heavy investors said: "I did watch for that blame Bird
to soar. // didn t soar, but / am."
THE COBALT LAKE MINING COMPANY,
LIMITED
Right east of Cobalt town is a lake containing 49 acres. It
is bounded by the town, as above, on the west; McKinley-Dar-
ragh on the south, the great Nipissing on the east, and by the Right-
of-Way on the north. Being a lake it could not be entered in
the regular way. Several thought it could be, and took the
dive, but paid dearly for the "bath." The Ontario Government
put it up for sale and accepted bids. It was bought by a large
syndicate, mostly from Ottawa and Toronto, and the Govern
ment realized for it $1,085,000. A company was at once organ
ized, and the capital placed at $5,000,000 par $i. Of this
3,929,166 shares have been issued.
One of the most complete plants was at once put in, and work
has been pushed forward under wise management, and many
shafts have been sunk. Just now there is great expectations of
big results as soon as the veins of the McKinley-Darragh are
struck at the south end of the lake, and the veins of the Larose
at the north end have been found.
The company has shipped 204 tons of ore.
It was of the Cobalt Lake that the gifted Allan W. Horwood
so expressively wrote for the Toronto Saturday Night the lines
that run thus:
20 S1LVERLAND AND ITS
Down on the lower levels, four hundred feet from light,
Where we see the stars above Us, by day as well as night;
There in the steaming clamor of pumps and crashing drills,
Where the air is sharp with arsenic, and the dripping water
chills.
We are feeling north and westward, for the veins of Right-
of -Way ;
We have struck McKinley-Darragh, and the hope of Trethe-
wey ;
Shall we find the Silver Centre, in the midst of Cobalt s flood,
Neath a hundred feet of water, and forty feet of mud ?
Is it there ? The heart of Cobalt, from whence the silver stream
Filled up the faults of Nipissing and the veins of Silver
Queen,
In the days when all was covered with ice, a steel blue plain,
And the earth beneath was writhing, up to the sun again ?
Then were the faults made virtues, by the silver upward
driven,
And there has lain for ages what the jarring blasts have riven.
Is it there ? The kernel of Cobalt, bought with our toil and blood,
Xeath a hundred feet of water and fortv feet of mud?
a
tt
tt
a
tt
it
THE LITTLE NIPISSING MINE
Little Nipissing is a tract of 38 acres and lies south of Silver
Queen, north of one of the great Hudson Bay claims, west of
the lower part of Nipissing, and is separated from the McKinley-
Darragh to the north-east by a small plot owned by the Larose
Company. Its location is ideal for great values.
It was put into a company, capitalized at $650,000, of which
stock to the amount of 200,000 shares was sold at par, and then
practically abandoned by the seller, who used almost no part of the
money to protect his credulous purchasers. It was later taken
over by a company whose moving spirit is S. D. Maddin (known
in the camp as "Lucky Maddin," by reason of the good fortune
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 21
that attends nearly everything that he touches), and it is needless
to say that it is being made a mine, for " Lucky" depends not upon
chance in any of his undertakings. His almost phenomenal
judgment makes him choose well, and this he follows up with
honest work. He always reminds one of the late Sam Bingham,
of Ottawa, whose good works still follow him. The Little Nipis-
sing is one of the safe things of Cobalt. Its stock is now 50 cents
a share, and may be one dollar before summer.
It was for this company that the first lease in Cobalt was
taken. As elsewhere told of, it was taken from the Peterson
Lake Company, and already great values are being bagged.
This lease property will soon be among the shippers, while the
work being done on the main 38 acres must soon make of it a
producer, as it grows richer as the shafts go down.
THE TEMISKAMING MINING COMPANY
One of the big things of Cobalt is the Temiskaming Mines,
a bit over three miles almost south-east from Cobalt. It was
for a long \vhile only a bare prospect. The surface showed
nothing but some calcite, but they kept honestly at work on this
vein. They went down 50 feet, and then drifted for a distance.
Finding nothing, they came back to the shaft and went down
25 feet deeper, making the shaft now 75 feet. Again they started
to drift, going 113 feet. At this point they could see silver a
little. They stopped drifting and put in a shot, and a wonderful
sight that shot presented to the patient workers! From that
day they have done nothing but get rich. The first carload
brought over $90,000. The company was first capitalized at
$1,000,000 par $i. A year ago the stock was selling at 80 cts.
Since then the capital was raised to $2,500,000 par $i. It
started along about 30 cts., then did nothing but go up until
that double and a half stock has gone to $1.80. In the mean
time they have taken out hundreds of thousands of dollars worth
of ore. To be near the Temiskaming adds great value to even
a prospect.
22 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
THE VICTORIA SILVER COBALT MINES,
LIMITED
One of the mines that you are going to hear a good deal about
in the near future is the Victoria, joining the Nipissing on the
east, and bounded on the other three sides by Nova Scotia on
the south, Watts on the east, and Colonial on the north.
It looks lonesome there among mines capitalized, three of them
six millions, and the Nova Scotia $2,000,000, while it, as good
as any of them but Nipissing, with a capitalization of only one
million dollars par $i. It is not yet a shipper, but may be
almost before this book reaches you, for great developments
are being pushed night and day as fast as Captain John Har
ris, the one who developed the Larose, can drive them. This
is one of the properties on \vhich has been spent more in devel
opment than on the newspapers. $125,000 have been as care
fully used by the company as though handled in a private enter
prise, and yet nothing has been spared to get results. The main
shaft is down 245 feet, and three others \vell started, and 1,000
feet of drifting has been done. Only recently values have been
struck, that run from 1,100 to 2,000 ounces. In the develop
ment work large quantities of concentrates have been piled up
to be handled when they put in their concentrator, as they pur
pose to ship nothing but the high-grade ore.
In the spring they start to ship, and thereafter the Vic
toria will go into the list of the big shippers, since they have
proven that they have high grades in large quantities. This
means that the Victoria must soon become a dividend-payer.
Adjoining the Nova Scotia, a series of fine veins has been un
covered, two of the best converging into one strong vein, well
mineralized.
This is one of the mines where like the Hudson Bay all
the money goes into development, none of the officers being under
salary.
The Victoria was claimed by two Russell and Rothchild,
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 23
but coming to a settlement sold to the de Agueros and other
capitalists of New York City, who organized and called it the
Victoria. Charles Gifford was its manager during its early
development days.
THE WATTS KING EDWARD MINES
Here is a case of the tail wagging the dog. The King Edward
with 25 acres, a capitalization of $6,000,000, and producing
nothing, has acquired 800,000 of the Watts 1,000,000 shares,
with 40 acres, and, well I m at a loss to know how to unravel the
situation. The Watts is said to be enormously rich but, you
try and tell us where its shareholders are going to get off with
but a fifth of the stock to call their own.
The Watts owed the King Edward $98,000 a year ago; this
year it owes $83,000. It shipped $118,000 worth of ore during
last year (1908), put in a $12,000 plant, reduced its debt $15,000
to the King Edward $27,000 from $118,000 leaves $91,000.
Some of the Watts shareholders, who paid from 75 cents to par
for their stock, even go so far as to say, now that the shares have
gotten down to 30 cents, that they can t follow the figuring. But
then, some folk never can understand things. Be all this as it
may be, the Watts is a mighty rich mine, and if it can ever get
upon a square, level basis, can do its own "wagging." But
can it get on that basis? Yes, when human nature changes
and man refuses easy money.
THE SILVER CLIFF MINE
Even the cooks find things up here in Cobalt. J. R. Booth
had a lumber camp out on Cross Lake, at the north end of the
lake, just a mile and a half due east of the Cobalt railway station.
Above the camp a high cliff arose. One day the French cook
washed up the dinner dishes and then went out to take a smoke.
Looking up at the cliff he saw something that attracted his atten-
24 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
tion. It was a vein of silver. His conception of values not being
at all like the cliff, high, he sold to Hennessy for a song, and let
Hennessy sing it. Now, Hennessy being a deep bass singer,
pitched the tune at $200 fifty dollars cash and a promise for the
balance.
The name seeming fitting they organized a company and called
it the Silver Cliff. It is. said to be a fairly good claim.
THE CROWN RESERVE MINE
I saw it when I visited the Drummond and Kerr Lake Mines,
but it was only a lake, nearly the whole of the 23 acres under
water. Nobody thought of it then as a silver mine. But say, if all
the water of that lake had been taken out and weighed, it wouldn t
pull down the scale, if the silver, mined and in sight, were in the
other bucket. And to think that I didn t get "in" when it was
going begging at ten cents a share, and all since I left the camp.
The trouble was, I could not believe possible the stories I heard
about "Colonel Carson s Mine." And yet, these stories were
nursery tales, told to amuse the small children, when compared
with the real Crown Reserve, out there in Kerr Lake.
When the Colonel and some friends paid the Government
$178,500 for a lot of water, the public said they had "lost their
heads about that Cobalt business, and should be put into the
house where they keep beetles." But when he got to finding
almost solid silver and shipping small cars at $90,000 per, then
they said "The Colonel is a genius."
My eyes! the riches around that little corner! You see,
there s the Drummond on the east, Kerr Lake Mine to the south,
the Kerr Lake Majestic to the north. (This company is just
starting. Capital $1,500,000, par $i now selling at 50 cents-
and, mark my word, it is a safe buy at par, for it looks as if
it is going to be one of the best in all the camp). Why, if there
wasn t a thing in the whole camp but this little corner, Cobalt
would figure on the mineral maps of the world as one of the big
mining districts, little in area but great in output.
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 25
When I told about silver running up into a few thousand
ounces, the folks down home said: " Yes, you tell it well!" and
you should have seen the look and heard the way that sentence
was emphasized. I wish they could all see that nugget the
Ontario Government bought of the Crown Reserve. It ll be
safe for me to tell this, for the nugget can be seen. It is over 30
inches across and weighs nearly a ton and has about 14,000
ounces of silver in it. And this is not a " pi eked" piece, for that
33-inch vein runs as high in places as 15,000 ounces. But
what s the use! I didn t "get in" when it was going begging
at ten cents, when it s now running up towards three dollars,
and may reach well, they have, in sight, $8.00 per share values.
Guess, you, where it will reach.
Capitalization $2,000,000 par $i .
Later: I knew it was rich, that lake I ve been telling you
about. But, honest, I didn t think it was quite so rich. A
recent shipment of three tons has netted the company $33,000.
Think of it, 22,000 ounces to the ton! And we might but you
know about, "The saddest of all, etc.," so we ll have to let it go
at that. More shipped in last three than in the first nine months
of 1908.
How It Happened
The history of the Crown Reserve is quite worth telling. So
just listen how some mortals get on in this world.
Colonel J. Carson, one of the most popular military men
in Montreal, came up to Cobalt in the winter of 1907, looked
about for good investments. He found a number of places where
his money would have been gladly accepted. With the accumu
lated offers he went to Toronto and laid them before lawyer Ziba
Gallagher, who, looking them over, said: " Colonel, there is not one
good thing in the lot. Why don t you get up a syndicate and
buy the Kerr Lake property? The Government is going to put
it up next Wednesday (that was on Friday), and if you hurry you
may get your people together in time." Now, if there is one thing
above all others that the Colonel likes, it is to hurrv. He went
J
26 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
back to Montreal, and by Tuesday night he had found his syndi
cate and was ready on Wednesday with $17,850, the required ten
per cent, of the $178,500 which they were to bid. The bid was
made and accepted. The balance was raised at the required time
and they got this mass of silver worth so many millions that not
one of them dare risk a guess as to the number of millions.
Nobody then knew but they were literally throwing their
money into the lake. Here is an instance of one of the syndicate,
a Toronto glove manufacturer. He was told to put his money
in the deal. "I have none to spare. I have it all in my
business."
"Yes," said the friend, who knew the family affairs of the
glove maker, " but your wife has some." He went home to dinner,
told his wife, who said, "I ll risk $2,000 in it."
"Now mind, " said the wise husband, "if you put it in and
lose it, don t ever mention it."
"Agreed!" and into Crown Reserve went the $2,000, for
which she got 60,000 shares.
The stock jumped away up to 10 cents, and she sold 30,000.
Good! Money back, $1,000 profit and 30,000 of "velvet,"
which, the other day, was selling at a price that meant $90,000 of
value. Then, in a short time, she will get a dividend and bonus
of $4,500. Wise wife! And never once has she said, " I told you
so." Others who have wives of their own ask: "Wonder what
she would have said had the Colonel s Lake-o-silver turned out
to be a wildcat?"
Lord Roberts Got a Sample
When Lord Roberts was in Montreal, and hearing so much
about Cobalt, he intimated that he would like to have a sample
from the camp to take back to show the folks at home. Now
be it remembered that had "Bobs" intimated that he d like to
take the whole camp, he might have had it, so popular is he in
Canada. As he wished for only a sample, they must give him
the best, and so they gave him a small piece of the Crown
Reserve.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 27
"The Riches of That Little Corner "
When I exclaim, "My eyes! The riches of that little corner,"
it is most assuredly with reason. Not only are those named
vastly rich in silver, as proven by the shipments made, and the
millions of ore insight, but other claims all about are most promis
ing as the developments go on.
And right here will fit one of the great stories of the camp,
as showing
How a Wildcat Was Tamed
Just north of Kerr Lake the Coleman Cobalt Company had
a 3o-acre lot. They prospected it carefully, sank a shaft 100 feet,
and not finding any silver stopped work and gave up all hope
of finding value. About that time a unique character of the
camp happened along and said: "Give me a lease on your lot
and I will work it honestly and may possibly find what you have
missed." "Take it! Take it!" He took the lease, told the
facts to a Detroit friend who w r as up visiting Cobalt, who in
turn told the facts to one of Detroit s millionaires, who said: "I
believe I d back your friend for a few thousands." A telegram
sent the lessee scurrying to Detroit. He met the millionaire,
who remarked, careless like, "That property looks real good to
me. Here, take $5,000 and when you have used it in your hunt,
come back and get more if you need it."
The lessee, with a happy heart, returned to the camp and at
once set men to prospecting. The original shaft had been sunk
on the south-east corner. He took his men to the extreme north
west corner and before $100 had been spent they struck silver
so rich that an offer of $100,000 was refused.
The Unique Character of the Camp
Some men seem to be born lucky. We often call it "luck"
when it s nothing in the world but good sense, honest purpose,
and lots of grit. In August of 1905 a man came to the camp
28 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
from Detroit on an excursion. He got so excited over the wonder
ful prospects of Cobalt, that he forgot to go back home when the
excursionists returned, and he just stayed on and on, the folks
writing, "AVhen are you coming back?" He could not tell, the
lure of the mines held him month after month, and he never
could decide to go back. Finding everything taken up. and
seeing good prospects abandoned, he bethought him to get leases,
and became the first man in the camp to lease ground. In the
boom days a Toronto broker started a company, took up a claim
near McKinley-Darragh mines, capitalized it at $650,000, sold
$200,000 worth of the stock at par, and when the slump came
quietly left the camp with his money. The subject of this sketch,
believing that the property was good, took the matter up. and
to-day the Little Ni pissing is one of the good things of Cobalt.
Again, believing that Peterson Lake, which contains 224 acres,
was underlaid with mineral, he went to the Peterson Lake Mining
Company, and from them took the very first lease taken in Cobalt.
Since then no less than eleven leases have been taken by himself
and others on this property alone.
His next lease was of the one with which I started this sketch,
to the north of Kerr Lake. Since that time he has taken a num
ber of others, and among the number the famous, some would
say "notorious," prospect "Silver Bird," and firmly believes
that with honest development that great values will be found, since
it is in one of the best parts of the district. He has not only this
claim, but has as well 140 acres surrounding it.
So successful has he been and so absolutely honest in all his
dealings that capital comes to him by the mere intimation that
he will accept it.
That it is not for the sake of money alone that he is working,
may be seen when we know to what purpose he is to devote a part.
At his home is a famous Boys Home, where hundreds of poor
boys have been taken from the streets and reclaimed from bad,
purposeless outcasts and made young men of trust. Seeing this
he aims to devote a large part of his Cobalt profits to the estab
lishing of a like home that he too may be instrumental in helping
the boys.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 29
Got More Applause than the Saint
A good story is told about his first stroke of fortune. But
to preface the story I will say that he has taken a lively interest in
the home already established, and mentioned above, where the
boys all love him dearly, and are ever watching his career. This
home has a Patron Saint. Well, as soon as he made his first
good stroke, he hurriedly telegraphed the fact to the priest in
charge of the home. Back came this answer: "Boys wild with
joy. They cheered loudly both for you and our Patron Saint-
and, and I m quite safe in saying it a bit louder for you than
for the saint."
Later: Since writing the above, Mr. Maddin (yes, it is S. D.
Ma ddin- -" Lucky Maddin" of whom I ve been telling you)
has been to work upon his plan for helping the boys, to build
them that home, and will shortly have a company organized upon
a most unique plan, possibly nothing even a little bit like it ever
known in a mining company, and that it will prove a success
and a great big success is an absolute certainty, for this man
has a heart as big as himself, and he is throwing it all into the
work of getting that home. But to the plan: "It is proposed
to organize a company with a capital of $500,000, divided into
500,000 shares, par $i. 200,000 shares of this stock are to be
placed in the treasury, and the first lot of 100,000 shares is to
be sold for development purposes at ten cents per share. Every
dollar of this will be used for the development of the property
and making it valuable.
It must be agreed by all subscribers that 25 per cent, of all
profits derived from the undertaking shall be used for some
charitable institution, each subscriber to designate how such
percentage of his profits shall be used." Then for his part he
says: For myself I desire to use a large portion of my profits for
the establishment of an Industrial Home for Boys, where
homeless boys can be taken and cared for and be trained to be
come good, useful citizens, and above all, labor for the honor
and glory of God, and the benefit of mankind." Now, if the
30 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
owner of all the vast wealth of not only Cobalt but the myriad
worlds of the uncounted universes don t prosper an undertaking
of this kind, with so lucky a man behind it, then there is little
use in trusting in anything. "Ask and ye shall receive." Say,
that "Maddin Home" is going to be built, and a whole lot of
other institutions are going to get their share out of Cobalt!
It just can t help appealing to all who would benefit the helpless
among our fellows. Lots o folks would do a world of good .if it
didn t cost them anything! Here s a chance for all such, for there s
going to be big profits to divide.
Later: The St. Anthony Company has been organized.
Honors Thrust Upon Him
Only recently a company was organized, and thinking that
Maddin was as good-natured as he is lucky, elected him as its
president and manager,, without even consulting his wishes.
Meeting a friend one day, the friend said: "Well, I m a stock
holder in your new company."
"What new company?" asked "Lucky."
"Why, the -. Yes, I bought 10,000 shares just
because you are at the head of it."
"Never heard of it," said Maddin in surprise. He got busy
at once, and found that he had to stay at the head to protect
his friends. Looking into the situation he saw the company
lacked 850 days work to get title, and those 850 days work to
be done in short order. To work out the intricate, quick, is
one of his strongholds, so without delay he had a small army of
men picking and digging like sappers and miners in front of
the enemy in war time. That, too, with the thermometer at
degrees below zero. He and his "army" may be seen among
the pictures further on.
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 31
THE COBALT CENTRAL MINE
An Assyrian by the name of Farah, better known as Big
Pete," came to New Liskeard long before there was any thought
of silver in Cobalt. Being always wide-awake, as soon as the
camp started he began looking around. He went out along
the west side of Glen Lake and found what became "The Big
Pete" Mine. Others made a claim for it, but a bright young
lawyer of New Liskeard proved too much for the claimant,
and Farah got what was the nucleus of the Cobalt Central Com
pany, to which company he sold at a price which made of him
a rich man. It is told that he found silver that ran to 22,000
ounces to the ton, which is not far from pure. The Cobalt
Central was capitalized at $5,000,000 par $i, and started to
acquiring other claims until they now have nearly as much land
as the Nipissing, counting one 40-acre leased lot over 800
acres. Some claim that the capitalization is too high, but when,
one thinks that one of the most active mines in the camp is capi
talized at the same on 45 acres, it is not too high, and especially
as many of its claims are in good locations, and some in very
good locations.
It has shipped nearly 300 tons, and is preparing to mine on
a large scale.
THE FARAH CLAIM
The nucleus of the Cobalt Central the "Big Pete" was
only one of the many good things taken up by one of the most
successful men in the Cobalt mining district K. Farah, a sketch
of whom I give elsewhere who, being here at a time when he
might select some of the good things, proceeded to select them.
One of them is already a shipper, but a still better one he re
tained better if location count for values. Before real mining
work has been done we must judge from what prospecting has
shown, and by the location of the property. Prospecting has
32 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
developed the fact that the Farah has great surface showings.
But what would be an even better indication of that value becom
ing permanent, and in paying quantity, is the position it occu
pies. Take a map and see how it corners. On the north-west
it touches the Nova Scotia, with its neighbor just above, the
Victoria; on the south-east is the great Druminond Mines; on
the south-west it corners with the Coleman Cobalt, upon which
"Lucky" Maddin has so recently found such big values; and
to the south, through the rich Kerr Lake Majestic, and you
find that "Nest o good things" that "Little Corner in Silver,"
as they call it, where are Crown Reserve, Kerr Lake, the Law-
son Vein, etc., etc. This should be a full warrant for believing
the Farah is destined to become one of the big things of the
future.
I have wondered that this claim were not long since one of
the big shippers, and doubtless would have been developed
and made such, but for the multiplicity of things this man of
affairs has to look after. Keep your eye on the Farah, and then
some time tell me how close I have here been to a correct pre
diction about this claim of the "Man with the Gold Touch."
Later: "The Big Pete No. 2" has just been organized with
a capitalization of $2,000,000. Keep your eye on The Big
Pete," for it will sure be one of the great mines of the camp.
THE CENTURY MINES
In the very north-east corner of Coleman is one of the good
prospects of the district. It is that of the Century Silver Mining
Company. Much work has been done and promising values
have been shown. Its situation is such that they must make of it
one of the good mines. They have three 2O-acre claims in this
corner section of land; upon two of them they are sinking shafts,
one of which is down nearly 100 feet, and will shortly start drifting
to the east and west, with showings that give great encourage
ment. Capt. Stewart, formerly in charge of the Battle Island
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 33
claim near by, is in charge of the work and feels confident that
he is not far from the "native." Ed. Mohr, of the cornering
Hiawatha, is the mine foreman.
To write of this locality brings up the most pleasant mem
ories. When tired out with the worries of the week I used often
to hie me away to the Century or some other near-by camp for a
quiet, restful Sunday. To hear of great values being struck,
and they are bound to be found, for they are there, will seem a
personal joy to me.
THE BADGER MINES COMPANY, LIMITED
Just as the foreman asks: "Is that all? Have you any more
copy?" one of the finest equipped plants in the Cobalt camp
is turning on steam and the great machinery is set going by
the touch of a little child s hand.
On Monday morning, February 8th, 1909, Constructing
Engineer Baird gave the signal, and three little girls, daughters
of Mine Manager Smith, one at the throttle of the ten-drill com
pressor, one at the hoist and one at the dynamo, turned on steam
for the first time, and in a moment all the machinery of the big
plant was in full motion, without a hitch of any kind.
Just three months to the day, from the beginning of work
on the foundation, the great engine was running as smoothly
as a Waltham watch.
The name of "Badger," as applied to a Cobalt mine, may
be seen here by many of you for the first time. This is a com
pany with so much money to develop its rich property that it
did not need to say a word until it was ready to turn on steam.
When it was organized in November, 1908, with a capitaliza
tion of $2,500,000, there was scarce an interim between the
organization and its going, for within four days 250,000 of the
750,000 one dollar shares of the treasury stock was underwritten
by some of the most careful financiers who have yet invested
in Cobalt mining stock. This alone speaks volumes for the
3
SILVKKLAND AND ITS STORIES
safety of the Badger as an investment. With a full treasury
they set about building one of the best mining plants in the
country. Long before the organization, Mr. Charles H.
Bunker, now the President of the company a Chicago capi
talist, had developed a mine almost ready to enter the shippers
list, and with the installation of machinery the Badger might
shortly begin paying dividends. "Where is the Badger?" If
you know the camp, you will realize the fact when I tell you
that it is in the best part of the Cobalt District. To the north,
one claim lies between it and the Kerr Lake Mines, which is
one of "That Little Corner in Silver" composed of the Kerr
Lake, Crown Reserve, Drummond, Coleman, Cobalt and the
Kerr Lake Majestic, which alone, as before said, would be a
great silver district if there were not another mine in the coun
try. Then to the south, through the narrow way of one twenty-
acre lot, is the Temiskaming Mines, so rich that it is one of the
shows of Cobalt. But the Badger does not need to boast of
"being near" anything. It has found large quantities of good
shipping ore, even while development was going on, and its 83
acres are so well mineralized that, when fully developed, cannot
but be rated as one of the great mines of New Ontario.
With scarce a word about the company, the stock has gone
up to 60 cents per share. But now with the plant in full running
order it must fast run up to par, and at that be a splendid in
vestment, for with enough cash in the treasury to carry on the
work for two years, without drawing on the output for a dollar,
it must become a dividend-payer almost from the start.
This is one of the properties which I feel that I am doing you
a favor by advising you to get in while the shares may be had,
and before they get up to where they will so shortly go when
shipments begin. And that shipments must soon start, no one
who has seen their big calcite vein the largest in all the Cobalt
district has the least doubt. The main shaft follows this big
vein down 225 feet. (Another shaft is down 150 feet.) And
now with the installation of the great works, this, and the many
other veins, will speedily be developed. Even during develop-
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 35
ment, before the installation of the plant, much high-grade ore
was taken out, showing the Badger to be one of the big things
of Cobalt.
The offices of the company are in the Traders Bank Build
ing, Toronto.
THE BEAVER MINE
The Beaver is the best known prospect in the camp. Real,
conscientious work has been done upon this property, and as
sure as to-morrow s sun, it is going to become a mine a great
mine. It s very location would make it such. Don t be one
whit afraid. If you hold any stock in it, lay it away, and you
will be rewarded. If you have no stock in it, and can get some
at the low 7 price at which it is going, waste no time in acquiring
all you can carry. Lying as it does adjoining the Temisksming,
and so near the Badger, it is bound to make good. Get in and
stay in, and you ll be a winner.
THE GIFFORD MINE AND THE GIFFORD
EXTENSION
The Gifford Mine is one of the recent additions. It lies
adjoining the Beaver on the east, and its south-west corner
touches the Temiskaming. Already much work has been done
upon the property, and it is looked upon as very promising. Its
capitalization $150,000 looks lonesome among a lot of mine>
that run from one to seven millions dollars. The Gifford Ex
tension lies the length of one lot away from the Temiskaming,
to the south. It consists of 50 acres, and is capitalized at $350,000.
This was the property of Frank Burr Mosure and Fred.
Calverley, two of the widest known newspaper men in the north
countrv.
BUCKE TOWNSHIP
BUCKE TOWNSHIP, to the north of Coleman and Lorain,
is proving that with depth there are rich values. Here are
numerous good prospects, and shortly will be developed
some shippers. Some large sales have recently been made to men
whose long experience has turned them into careful investors.
THE RUSS PETRE MINE
The Russ Petre is an illustration of how a mine may be man
ipulated out of existence. It was a "great mine" up to a certain
point, and when it was found to be good it became "no good,"
with everything "pinched out." Being "ripe" it was "picked 1
at a song, and then, strange to relate, ore was found where before
none could be found(?) and under another name some body
will make a whole lot of money.
Some money sweetens all the air with its delicious fragrance.
Some other money "but that s another story." I don t like this
other money, I couldn t sleep well o nights with it under my
pillow.
AGAUNICO MINES DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
Bucke Township is "making good" and, remember, "I told
you so." And this is especially true of the south-east portion,
just north of Lorrain. Sort of a corner, with boundaries like
this: South, by Lorrain; west, by the Coleman and Lorrain line
extended north into the third concession; thence east to the
Lake (Temiskaming) and following down the lake to Lorrain.
In this corner there are yet to be some of the big mines of the
camp. It took them a good while to realize that, to get the true
36
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 37
values, they must go deep for them. Several of the companies
are seeing this necessity and are making preparations for a cam
paign which will shortly show results that will surprise the wise
acres who have been saying things about that "corner." As
elsewhere, diamond drilling has proven that rich ore lies at depth.
A new company has just taken over the Warner, or Temiskam-
ing Cobalt Mines property, that lies along the lake, south of
Haileybury. Besides this 46-acre lot, they have the 152 acres to
the south, and will begin to develop the property in a way that
will bring big results.
This is the Agaunico Mines Development Company. Don t
waste any time trying to pronounce the name. Like the Co-ni-
ag-as, it is formed of the initials of several minerals, "and is pro
nounced Ag-au-nee-co (gold-silver-nickel-cobalt). That is the
way the name is pronounced, but more important is what S. W.
Gilbert pronounces the property itself.
When it was offered to a number of Chicago capitalists, they
would not entertain the proposition until it had been thoroughly
examined and passed upon by an expert mining man. Gilbert
was chosen and, after a minute examination, made a most ex
haustive report, which convinced the capitalists that they were
getting one of the best of the camp. He divided it into four
"belts." Belt No. i extends the length of the property, over a
mile. In it he estimates silver values running up to 5,000 ounces.
Belt No. 2, he calls the "Cobalt Belt." Not only did he find
cobalt, which he believes continues the entire length of the
property, but gold, which is verified by the Government Statistics.
Belt No. 3. "This belt, he believes, has good rich ore, equal
to that found on any other property in the Cobalt District."
Belt No. 4. "Contains the same grade of ore as in No. 3."
Mr. Gilbert is most enthusiastic over the property and em
phasizes the fact that, "It compares most favorably with the best
dividend-payers in the district and, with continued development,
should rank with the leading producers."
I give his words as carrying more weight than those of a lay
man, however many mines this layman may have visited during
two years "loafing" around among them.
38 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
The company being a new one, I called at their office, at
1323-4 in the Traders Bank Bldg., in Toronto, to look over the
list of officers and directors. All were strange names but two.
But as these two were D. K. Martin, the President, and D. B.
Rochester, of Cobalt, Managing Director of Cobalt Lake Mining
Co., I was convinced that the rest were all right. So much for
good Martin-Rochester reputations. And especially was I con
vinced that the company was in safe hands, when I saw that the
most of the others were well-established and highly-rated Chicago
business men.
The capitalization of a company indicates but little. It is the
number of shares left in the treasury that counts for most, for the
safety of the shares as an investment. While the capitalization of
the Agaunico may seem at a glance as large, it is, instead, small,
for of the 5,000,000 one dollar shares, 3,500,000 are left in the
treasury for development purposes if needed, or retired if not
required.
Miller Lake and Gowganda Properties
Besides the 198 acres in Bucke, they have nine claims in the
Miller Lake and Gowganda Districts. One of these claims is a
fraction immediately adjoining one of the rich Mann lots, on the
east, and the Milne lot, on the north. This latter sold recently
for $120,000, and has a native silver find within 60 ft. of the
Agaunico line. The four lots north of Bloom Lake are close by
no less than five native silver finds, while their Miller Lake claims
are in the vicinity of some of the best in the district. All of these
claims will be highly developed as soon as work can be done to
advantage, for the company purpose to prosecute the work on all
of their holdings as it should be done; the men composing the
company mean to follow a plan that cannot but prove successful.
A large plant is being installed upon the Bucke property,
which, added to the buildings left of the Warner Mines after the
fire of last summer, will make it one of the most complete in the
district. This plant includes a 125 horse-power boiler, six drills,
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 39
and a live air compressor, large steam hoist, and such other
necessary machinery.
The Canadian representatives of the Agaunico are Martin
and Thomas, of the Traders Bank Building, Toronto, to whom I
can commend you for courteous treatment in anything pertaining
to the Cobalt camp. And as a suggestion, secure from them a
copy of the booklet issued by the Agaunico, which has been pro
nounced the most artistic ever issued by a Cobalt company.
STELLAR SILVER COBALT CORPORATION
The Stellar, cornering on the Green-Meehan, of which I
wrote in the first edition, after having been shut down during
the depression, has again started up, and Mining Engineer Phillips,
in a recent report, confirms all I had said of it, and adds much
more to its prospects. Several shafts are being sunk, supplement
ed by diamond drilling, of which President J. F. Black is a firm
advocate. Many new veins have been uncovered, and some fine
native silver has been found.
The more I learn of this corner of the camp the more I am
convinced that it will yet be one of the great producing sections.
Only recently some large sales have been made of properties in
the vicinity of the Stellar. And that, too, to men who are most
prominent among the successful of Cobalt. A. M. Bilsky, largely
interested in the Nova Scotia, has just purchased the North
Cobalt Mines, two lots to the north-west of the Stellar, paying for
it a large price, which Bilsky is not given to do unless there is
great values in exchange. The Warner, near by to the east, has
also been sold for a good figure. In fact, within a short time this
section has attracted the attention of capital as it has not before,
since the great boom. Unlike in those days, when anything
"went, "the men with the purse are not opening it without know
ing a whole lot of good about the property into which that purse
is to be emptied.
I am speaking at much length about this "Corner," as I was
40 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
called to account for what was said in the first edition. The
time is not far off when I shall be able to say: "I told you so,"
when speaking of the "Nest of good ones." And the Stellar will
be among the first to give me reason.
NEW DISTRICTS
THE CROWN JEWEL MINES, LIMITED
NEW companies are being organized, and work is being
started in many new districts. Some of them are with
reason, others where the only hope of success is through a
credulous public. To the investor I cannot too strongly urge the
wisdom of first asking: "Will the company work me or will it
work the property?" Then ask: "What have the promoters to
offer?* Given a good district and an honest management-
one that will use the money subscribed for their stock and your
chances of finally owning a part of a good mine are good, for
there are some great mines yet to be opened up in the near future.
I have long contended that had Thomas A. Edison gone on
with the work upon his property up the Montreal River, some
six or seven miles above Latchford, on the south side, that he
would have made of it one of the big silver mines of the country.
But he was not hunting for silver. He was after the cobalt.
Just when he began to find it in big quantities he found a metal
that served his purpose better, and he stopped short off and
left the mine, even after finding big silver values. Others have
gone into the district and, like Edison, found good showings of
silver. Besides the Edison, there are here the Prince Rupert,
Silver Bell (for which, as a bare prospect, $86,000 were refused),
and the Lagree. Joining the Prince Rupert on the south is a
property- J.S. 6i : -which is said to equal anything in the
locality. This is owned by the Crown Jewel Mines, Ltd. They
are working it, and have already found seven well-defined veins,
in solid diabase formation, with cobaltite and calcite cobalt
bloom showing in profusion.
This claim lies along Trout Lake, with an excellent way out
to the river, a mile away. The lake shore is very high 180
41
42 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
or more feet and into which the company purpose drifting
to catch all but a vein that runs from 14 inches to 4 feet in width.
This lies too far back, and will be sunk upon. It is at a contact
of slate and diabase, and is thought to be very rich.
The company have accommodation for thirty men, also
the necessary blacksmith shop and other buildings.
They purpose driving the development with all speed.
Besides this valuable property the company have three others
on Net Lake, along the T. & N.O. Railway, four miles north
of Tema garni Station. They lie in the immediate vicinity of
working mines, and are within a half-mile of the railway, a spur
from which will cross the property, greatly cheapening the load
ing of ore.
These claims carry iron and mispickle ore (iron, gold and
silver, with some copper). There is one dyke 126 feet wide
and paying values can be shipped right from the surface.
The honesty of purpose of the company is seen in the capi
talization, which is but $350,000.
That the properties are good I have no doubt, and that they
will be carefully developed I am most confident, since they are
under the management of the vice-president, J. F. Hickling,
who has spent years in this north country studying the best
systems of mining to get results.
They have secured the services of Captain L. H. Mattair,
one of the most reliable mining engineers in the camp.
Mr. J. H. Dixon is the president of the company, and looks
after the finances from his North Bay office.
From the above, the two important questions are answered.
The property is good, and will be honestly developed.
Later: The company has just acquired three claims in
James " Up the Montreal," one of which has an eight-inch vein
carrying native silver. This must sure develop into one of the
early shippers, adding to the assets of the Crown Jewel, and
making its shares a safe investment.
Much of the success of a company depends upon the careful
management of the company. Not alone the outside work,
SILVER LA NO AND ITS STORIES 43
but the man in the office must have had long training in the mat
ter of shares and stocks. In this the Crown Jewel is fortunate
in having a Secretary who has served years in a brokerage office,
where the proper handling of details means success or failure.
Secretary-Treasurer C. H. Lambert
Mr. C. H. Lambert, who set out from Acton, Ont., when a
child, and when but a boy went to Montreal, has spent the years
since in learning all the intricacies of the handling of stocks,
until he might be rated an expert, which, added to absolute
honesty, makes of him an ideal Secretary-Treasurer for which
this company should congratulate itself.
You may have noted the fact that I often seem to go out of
my way to say a word for one specially worthy. I do it that
the example I give may incite other young men to see how ability
and honest purpose count in the make-up of the business world.
Here is an example I could not let pass without noting. Mr.
Lambert has not only made a success in learning how, but he
has made a financial success, which shows judgment in the selec
tion of investment. When this proposition was presented to
him, he looked it over carefully, and without hesitation went
into it with both service and capital, and in the end his judg
ment will have served him well, for the Crown Jewel, with its
many good properties, is bound to prove a big success.
Later: The Crown Jewel has grown into such rapid prom
inence, with its added properties and big possibilities, that it has
been reorganized and capital raised to $1,000,000, and will shortly
be listed upon many exchanges.
THE SILVER EAGLE MINE
On Trout Lake and in the immediate vicinity of the fore
going Crown Jewel, and adjoining the Edison Mine, is the
property known as "L.O. 60," or "Silver Eagle." Its discovery
post is but a few feet from the offices of the Edison. It is
44 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
largely owned by John Ferguson, of North Bay, a well-known
capitalist, long identified with this mineralado once part
owner of the Colonial, also the Princess and others in the
Cobalt camp, and just now largely interested in Gowganda.
Mr. Ferguson also controls the hematite iron properties at
Matachewan, as well as the group of Algoma copper properties
known as the "Algoma Copper," in the Township of Porter,
and which is so highly thought of by the Geological Survey De
partment of the Dominion. All of these properties are in the
British Dominion Mines Company, Limited, with one million
dollars capitalization, but which is a close corporation, not a
share of stock having been issued except to directors.
The Silver Eagle is looked upon as one of the most promis
ing things in its locality. It lies upon Trout Lake, with a road
out to the Montreal River a short distance away.
MAPLE, OR SKULL MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Off to the north-west, beyond Park Rapids, on the Montreal
River, is a district known as Maple Mountain (its real name is
Skull Mountain). Here are the White Brothers Mines, the
Maple Mountain Mines, the Owen Enright, and other proper
ties. Keep your eye on this district, for it will make good -in
fact is already good, but will grow better, as the big works started
are bound to make it one of the great camps.
SOUTH LORAIN
OR
"THE UNSURVEYED"
JUST as I predicted on page 50, first edition: "South Lorain,
along Lake Temiskaming, and between the lake and the Mon
treal River, in what is known as The Unsurveyed, is just now
attracting much attention, by reason of recent discoveries of silver,
that run into the hundreds of ounces. In the spring there will,
doubtless, be a great rush in that direction." Little did I think
when I wrote those words how great the rush would be, and far
less did I dream of the richness of the district that awaited the
lucky prospector; and some of them were lucky so-called.
Fred Day
But where, like Fred Day, Armour Smith, "Young" Jowsey,
and some more of the boys who found several of the "good
things," it might not be called "luck." Be it as it may, South
Lorain has a number of most valuable claims. If either the
"Day" or the Keeley- Jowsey- Woods had been in Coleman,
about Cobalt, it would take millions to buy it. And yet, either
is just as rich as had it been in Coleman, in the "Nip" section.
The latter "the Keeley" has already been sold for more than
was paid for the great Nipissing, with all its 846 acres, and fabu
lous richness. The "Fred Day" is held at something under a
quarter of a million, and would be cheap at that price, as it
shows all sorts of good, from almost solid nicolite to native silver
and that too within a few feet of the surface.
45
46 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
H. Armour Smith
The "Montgomery," which joins the Day on the west, is also
very promising. It has been the cause of much litigation. This
claim is one of the incidents of the camp. It was staked by
Montgomery for some one else, and by the latter recorded, which
was illegal the one staking must record. It was later staked by
one of the widest known young men in the Cobalt District which
term covers all districts in the country, when spoken in a general
way. I refer to H. Armour Smith, about the first American to
come into camp, from New York City. Many of the boys around
the Produce Exchange will better know him as "Uncle Cornelius
Smith s Armour." I mind him well, away back in the early
nineties, when Beall and some others of us made a beautiful
residence park out of "Uncle s" Yonkers farm, and called it
"Armour Villa Park." Years pass, and away up here in far
North Canada, I find the boy grown up into one of the successes
of the camp. But about his claim next to the "Day." After
many lawsuits (which one must go through in this country of the
indefinite, before one really knows where one stands), he has gain
ed his case. For that matter he won out in all the others. Up
here, it means but little to say "I gained my suit." All this
will be changed when the law-makers grow wise to the fact that
for the good of the country they must make it possible to con
clude, without having to try the same suit in as many Courts as
the defeated one may choose to carry it to. Of that, more anon.
Armour has interests in a number of other good properties, be
sides owning outright five, in the vicinity of the " Keeley- Jowsey-
Woods." Just east of, in fact joining the "Day," he owns a
half interest in the "Smith-Olive." He has been what the boys
call lucky. The boys misname the thing. Luck, so-called,
may help occasionally, but when you see a man going right along,
skipping the bad and picking the good, then you have to call
it something else. I have named the thing "Good Judgment,"
and H. Armour Smith goes right along picking the good, till it s
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 47
got to be that a claim with his name on the discovery post means
that you are sure to find it a good claim. In a short time his
very best properties are to be put into a company. Watch for
it, for it s going to prove a winner that company.
H. Armour does sometimes meet with what might well be
called bad luck. He had an option on the McKinley-Darragh,
in the very early days. He brought a Colorado multi-millionaire
miner to look it over, with the object of getting him interested
in the camp. The multi-millionaire, judging Cobalt conditions
by what he knew of Colorado, couldn t see "a bloomin thing"
in it, and went away disgusted, never to return, thus missing
an opportunity of adding several more millions to his bank account,
and H. Armour didn t make the quarter of a million which he
would have made had the multi-millionaire known less about
Colorado and more about Cobalt, for the option was for a very
low figure.
Bert Smith He of Big Deals
Later came "Bert," a brother of Armour, who has just com
pleted the largest deal conducted in the Gowganda. It was the
selling to English capitalists the Dobie and Reeve claims
for $500,000. To these were added the Hull, Kipper and Fair-
burn claims at another $100,000, and in a short time others will
be taken in, bringing the total up to $800,000. One never
knows where " Bert Smith will stop when once he gets going.
He it was who put through one of the biggest automobile deals
ever made.
Mark Harris
Possibly the first to do anything on a large scale in South
Lorain was that live hustler, Mark Harris, of Buffalo. He was
not only the first large operator in that district, but has long been
identified with the whole of the camp. Just now he is placing in
England a large number of some of the best properties in South
Lorain.
Later: As predicted above, Armour Smith has completed
his plans and the "Smith Lorain Syndicate," with a $300,000
48 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
capital English capital has been formed, with about nineteen
picked claims as acreage, which means something good a-coming.
$40,000 will be expended in the development as soon as spring
opens.
John Jowsey
The story of John Jowsey is one of the interesting inci
dents of the camp. He is from Eardley township, up Lake
Deschenes, a few miles from Ottawa. I mind, when writing
of that country, I used to see him with his brothers working away
on a little farm. His father the well-known Captain Jowsey,
of the 43rd of Ottawa died when he was a child. His mother
kept the large family together and reared them up sturdy workers.
When Cobalt and for miles around had been hunted over as with
a fine rake, John came up to try his fortune. Not finding anything
within miles of the town, he went with Charlie Keeley, an old
miner, and Woods, to the limit of Coleman, and then over
into South Lorain. Here they staked the claim which has brought
them fortune $300,000 and still have a number said to be
quite as good. One had thought that "Jack" had gone wild
with joy, but instead he did not even let the family know of his
luck until the claim was sold and the money safe in bank, then he
wrote in a matter-o-fact way, and said that he had not come up
for nothing, but had done fairly well, and as proof, he enclosed
to his mother a cheque for several thousand dollars. Good for
tune has not changed rrim in the least. He is the same sturdy,
purposeful boy. Such as he are deserving, and not one who
ever knew him but was delighted at his success.
Besides the Day, the Keeley- Jowsey-Woods, the Smith
Syndicate, and the Harris properties, there are very many others
that will be added to the shippers this coming season.
Hudson Township Proving Good
In the first edition I told you that Hudson Township would
prove rich. The Brooks-Hudson has begun work again, and
good assays are showing that I was right in my prediction. This
township lies to the west of New Liskeard, and the second town
ship north of Coleman .
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 49
Out Around Portage BayWest Coleman
The part of Coleman that lies west of Cobalt is also going
to prove that what I said of "values at depth" was correct.
Some diamond drilling has been done and native silver found.
This will mean that what has been looked upon, by many, as
worthless territory, will yet turn out rich. Those who have not
needed a foot-stove will yet be repaid for their patience and their
faith, for values are there.
CASEY MOUNTAIN MINES
Up in Casey Township, to the northeast of New Liskeard,
much has been found during the past year. Owing to the money
market the Casey Mountain Mines Company have not prosecuted
their work, further than to prospect their many claims. It would
seem that, knowing the immense value of their holdings, they
would rather wait and go slow than to sell their stock at a price
that would bring them capital for development. On the adjoin
ing claim to the south, two Swedes have been at work on one of
the Bolger lots, and have found a good showing of native silver.
The vein is 4 feet wide, containing calcite carrying big values.
An electric road has been surveyed through this section, to run
from New Liskeard to Murray City. This will pass right through
the Casey Mountain property, giving fine shipping facilities.
In their prospecting, several new veins have been uncovered,
some of them showing rich cobalt bloom almost on the very
surface.
That whole district is proving values. Almost directly south
of the Casey Mountain Mines is the Bucknell property, known
as the Casey Cobalt, a $1,000,000 company, par $5 per share,
which was floated in London, and the shares have reached as
high as $7.50. This is a shipping mine. It has but one claim,
while this (Casey Mountain) Company has eight claims at one-
fourth of the capitalization ($250,000 par $i), which makes of
it one of the safest propositions of the whole northern camp.
Work is being resumed as this goes to press.
4
"UP THE MONTREAL
THE Montreal River District has grown in richness and
greatly widened since I wrote of it in my first edition. Not
only have a few of the mines about Elk City been proven of
value, but far to the west and north-west silver has been found
that promises well. So well, in fact, that the Government pur
pose to at once extend the Charlton branch of the T. and N.O.
Railway to Elk City, and later on to the west and south-west,
to the C.P.R.
THE MOOSE HORN MINES
When I wrote of the locality of Elk City, I spoke particularly
of the Moose Horn Mines that join the town to the east, and
told of the silver being found upon the surface. I felt confident
then that these mines would prove very valuable, but hardly
could I have expected to tell of the high run of ore now being
found, under the management of the man who developed the
Larose Mines at Cobalt.
In July of this year the control was taken over by the Vic
toria Syndicate of New York, headed by M. E. and J. W. de
Aguero. They purpose giving the Moose Horn the same aggres
sive management that is making the Victoria so remarkable a
success. A comprehensive plan of development, drawn up by
Captain John Harris, of Cobalt, is being worked out, new shafts
are being sunk one down 125 feet, with drifts from the 7 5 -foot
level and a complete equipment, compressors, air drills, etc.,
installed, with an 8o-horsepower boiler to supply power. Even
as the work of development goes along, ores running from 3,000
up to 13,000 ounces to the ton are being bagged, and shipping
will begin in a very short time.
When the railway reaches here the Moose Horn will have
50
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 51
far greater shipping facilities than all but of a few of the Cobalt
Mines, since the road will cross directly through the property,
thus saving long waggon hauling. Even without the switch,
which will be upon the property, the haul to the station would
be a short one, since the mines are, as above, immediately ad
joining Elk City.
Charles H. Gage, Chief Engineer of the Salt Lake Smelting
and Refining Company, is even extravagant in speaking of the
Moose Horn. He visited the camp and then wrote of it thus:
"I have personally examined Mr. Gifford s property on the
Montreal River in James Township, known as the Moose Horn
Mining property, and positively state it is equal to and even
superior to most of the Cobalt mines, when they have the same
development work done. This property is beyond the specu
lative stage. It is a positive investment without any trimmings."
Then as to the permanency of the mines, a disinterested
examiner, who knows the science of mining, wrote to the man
agement: "Your grandchildren will not have exhausted the
wealth of Moose Horn."
Capt. Harris, in his report to the company, says: "At about
25 feet down Shaft No. C the vein widens to one inch of calcite,
in some places showing almost solid silver." And further that:
"I believe that the Moose Horn Mine can be made a paying
proposition from the very start." He having been one of the
most expert managers in the early days of Cobalt, this would
seem most valuable. "I must say there is as good showing of
silver on the Moose Horn property as any of the Cobalt mines
at the commencement, and for the same amount of work hav
ing been done."
Here is another instance where I can take a genuine pleasure
in saying: "I told you so."
52 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
AMONG THE PROMISING CLAIMS OF JAMES
Among the claims of James Township that promise good
are the Mother Lode, the Big Six, Elk Lake Discovery, the
Nichols, three lots recently taken over by the Crown Jewel,
making their holdings almost 300 acres; the Devlin, Owen-
Spence, Downey, Myers-Ellis, the Kidds, etc. And over the
line in Smythe, to the north, are the Cragg properties, which are
said to be among the best in that township.
A number of these have already running plants, and others
are shortly to put in machinery, now that they have gotten be
yond the experimental stage.
Just across the line, in Tudhope, to the east, are several
very fine properties, such as the Ross-Bailard, the Harbeck (Dr.
Harbeck, of New York City, was the pioneer of the whole dis
trict), the Holland, and the Toledo- Ohio Syndicate that has
recently taken over the Bradshaw claims in the Sixth Concession.
There is little of Tudhope, except the few lots that join James,
that may be called good.
THE OTISSE MINE
The Otisse Mine is worthy more than the brief mention
given it elsewhere. Worthy by reason of its prominence in the
mining world. It has recently been listed on the various Ex
changes of Canada and on the Curb of New York. It was dis
covered by Sam Otisse, and Sam knowing a good thing when
he sees it, and having his pick, in the early days took this since
famous forty acres. As it lay in the unsurveyed part of the
Temagami Reserve, near Silver Lake, a mile and a half west
of the James line, he was not confined to already marked lines,
but could hunt out a lot of good veins and then stake around
them. And that is exactly what Sam Otisse did. That is why,
on this Forty, there have been uncovered no less than 22 veins,
and on a large number of these fully fifteen native silver
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 53
may be seen quite plainly. Seven of them are very rich, and are
all strong leads. They run parallel to each other. So strong
upon the surface that mining experts claim that they must run
to depth.
No wonder that the Otisse is one of the sensational mines of
the whole of Silverland. Now see, the seven veins might be
cross-cut by a trench of less than 300 feet. And these seven so
rich that shipping can almost be begun at the surface.
A Niagara Falls mining expert, who went up specially to look
over this property, came back such an enthusiast, that he could
compare it to nothing short of the fabulous "Lawson Vein."
He also said that "If the Otisse lay alongside of the Nipissing,
at Cobalt, that the stock instead of being sold at 60 cents per
share, would sell at $2 to $3 per share. It is surely a remark
able mine."
One of the best plants in the Montreal District is being in
stalled, and by the opening of navigation shipping will be started
on a large scale.
THE WILLET SYNDICATE
Just to the south of James, in Willet Township, and not far
to the west of the Montreal River, is a section which is going
to be on the "list" within a comparatively short time. Ask of
any of the boys who know that whole country "like a book,"
and the answer invariably is: "Say, that s all right, the goods
are there!" Only recently a syndicate was formed to promote
good properties "Up the Montreal," and in looking about, heard
of six claims in a compact body in this locality, and by a careful
investigation were so pleased with these properties that they
at once closed with the owner, and possibly before you will be
reading this a company will have been formed and development
work being pushed on a large scale. Those who know the prop
erties best were the first to start the underwriting with substan
tial subscriptions.
The rock formation is the proper Diabase and Gabbro, much
54 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
broken and fissured wherever the numerous outcrops occur
through the general soil-covered surface.
The veins are Applite and Calcite. Already seventeen veins
have been located, running from 2 to 24 inches in width, and
the vein material and surface indications consist of Galena,
Cobalt, Cobalt Bloom, Copper and Smalltite, with excellent
showings of Native Silver.
Much stripping has been done, and two shafts have been started
upon one of the claims.
In determining the values in a new locality one must judge
by what others in that locality have done to make capital bid
for their holdings. By this rule, that of the Willet Syndicate
is a pretty safe proposition. The owners of the Floyd, just two
claims to the east, have refused $150,000 for their interests,
while the owners of the Lucky Godfrey (three-quarters of a mile
away) just sold at $750,000. Then besides, others, such as
the Durril, the Tichbourn, and the Jamieson, have been sold
at big figures.
It is a well-known fact that the best part of James saving
possibly the Moose Horn locality lies immediately to the north
of this section of Willet. For all these reasons it is safe to write
thus enthusiastically of the Syndicate s holdings in the Town
ship of Willet "Up the Montreal."
The above Syndicate was formed by the Canadian Finance
and Securities Company, an organization with offices in the
King Edward Hotel, Toronto. It is but one of a number of suc
cessful promotions that have recently been made by this company.
GOWGANDA
I WAS not in Cobalt during the great boom. They do say that
it was a bit lively at its height, but if more so than the excite
ment over Gowganda, around this midwinter holiday season,
then it was indeed lively. To buy or not to buy? That s the
question, whether tis better to say "no" when diabase is offered
at $5,000 per, or wait two days and beg the same with one fat
cipher added to the end and mayhap in the end find it dear
with figures all reversed. Great fortunes have already been
made and more are being made, in many instances, on the faith
in judgments poor at best.
If you are going to buy, see either through your own eyes or,
what is better still, through the eyes of one who knows formation
when he sees it. That many of the claims are good and wonder
fully valuable has already been proved, but they cannot all be
good, else silver would be used for scrap.
The Mann Brothers
When the Mann Brothers, from Kearney, on the old Canada
Atlantic, beyond Scotia Junction, went up to the new country,
they were assisted by Ryan and Murphy, of the same little village.
When they go into the next camp they will not have to ask odds
of anybody. When they sold three claims for $250,000, it set
the boom aflame. People said: "Anybody who would pay that
price for three lots away off in that wilderness, must indeed have
lost his head." At first the folks didn t know that Clement A.
Foster, one of the clearest-headed youths in the whole north
country, was chief among the syndicate that paid that quarter
of a million, else they would have reserved their decision, since
it is patent, up here, that Clement A. rarely makes an error in
judgment. % And that he did not this time may be known from
55
56 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
the fact that what the Mann Brothers sold for $250,000 would be
jumped at by many a capitalist for a cool million, and then con
sider himself most lucky. One of the many veins is so rich, that
instead of going to the trouble of estimating how many ounces it
runs to the ton, they just call it silver and let it go at that. One
tenderfoot, when he saw it, wanted to wager that it would run
" twenty-five thousand ounces to the ton." Both "they" and
the tenderfoot may "see big," but this vein I m telling you about
is from a half-inch to two and a half inches wide, and looks for
all the world as though some giant prospector, in prehistoric
days, had melted pigs of pure silver and, to amuse himself at the
noon hour, taken his kettle-like ladle and poured full these seams
in the earth. Nor is this an isolated instance of rich veins. These
Mann claims are cris-crossed with them, which leads up to another
instance of
" The Foster Luck "
It does seem that anything that "young Foster" touches
turns out just right, for since his good fortune in the Foster Mine
(yes, he is the same of whom I told you in " The Romance of The
Camp," -the one for whom the Foster Mine of Cobalt was
named) his luck has never left him. If he buys Haileybury land,
the town stops growing in the other directions, and " comes his
way," as does everything else into which he goes. But I started
to tell you of "another instance." Just west of one of the three
Mann claims, the owners of the lot started to uncover six rich
veins. They trenched up toward the Mann s line and then
stopped. Well, you know, all this country up there is in " the
unsurveyed." That is, the townships have not yet been run off
regular, and each staker must pick out his lot as best he can,
starting from some lake or other well-established thing, and lay
it out by compass, and later a surveyor is brought up and he
surveys it accurately. Well, as I was telling you, the neighbors
to the west trenched those six rich veins up to the line of the Mann
claims and then stopped. But when the surveyors had finished
their work every one of the six was on the Mann lot, a full chain,
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 57
adding to it, in these veins alone, more than the Foster Syndicate
had paid for the lot. Now what do you think of that? Could
anyone help being a millionaire with such luck ? The syndicate
will shortly put their holdings into a company, and if you can get
any of the stock before it is all snapped up, you too may share in
the proverbial " Foster Luck," for the company can start to ship
right from the surface.
The Richness of Gowganda
The richness of this marvellous country may be known from
there being, already, no less than fifty claims upon which native
silver has been found almost right from the surface. Not in all
Gowganda, for there is a whole lot of it as "hungry" as "Poor
Mose," of pioneer fame, and to many of the boys a pleasant
memory. A diabase ridge runs north and south, to the west of
the lake, and to get outside of this ridge means that if you find
silver it is by a freak that happened to get over your way. But,
my eyes, that Ridge! Take a map and look at the native silver
"spots," and you ll sure think that the country has the measles.
To many the name Gowganda or Gow Ganda, meaning Big
Pickerel covers or includes all the new discoveries to the north
west of James township. But instead there are a number of other
well-defined localities, such as Bloom Lake, Lost Lake, Miller,
especially Miller, around which are being made some rich finds,
even this winter Everett Lake, Obushkong Lake, and numerous
other lakes. By lake is the only way to designate locality up
there. But then, as so often said, or intimated, the country is
so lake-covered that the common-place naming of many of them
would show that there are more lakes than names.
"Bert" Smith
As elsewhere mentioned, the largest deal put through in the
Gowganda district was conducted by " Bert : Smith, so well
known in and around New York City. So far it has reached
00,000, with $200,000 shortly to be added. This was the sell-
58 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
ing to English capital of the Dobie and Reeve, and the Hull,
Kipper and Fairburn claims. They are wonderfully rich in
native silver. As the Syndicate has unlimited capital, these
properties will be developed to the limit. Already, a great plant
has been ordered, and will be installed as quickly as possible.
Supplies for the coming season are on the way to the camp.
As showing the enormous quantities of these supplies, the one
item of condensed cream amounts to more than $700.
The Syndicate has a great property and, fortunately, a man
capable of managing big things.
TOWN OF GOWGANDA
For some time after the many finds of silver were an assur
ance that Gowganda Lake was going to be a great mining centre,
it was a question, "Where will be the town?" as town there must
be. But it was finally settled that the point at the north part
of the Lake and east of the north-east arm should be the place,
and then building started in so fast dead of winter as it is
that Wichita, Kansas, in its palmiest days, was no circumstance
to that new burg there in the upper edge of Silverland. Mush
rooms, out in the old Ohio orchard, after a spring rain, couldn t
keep up with Gowganda the mushrooms stopped coming long
before we had half enough, while the town goes right along
seven days of the week, and the boys only lament is that there
are not more days.
"What kind of houses are they building?" Now, see here,
you don t want to be asking any leading questions like that.
They suit the boys, and isn t that enough? I m going to have
Grant Rice or McFadden send me down some photographs,
and if they get here in time you ll see for yourself.
By way of permanent history I shall give a few of the Firsts.
Dr. J. P. Russell was the first doctor. He had hardly got well
settled when up comes an undertaker. "What you doing here?"
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 59
the citizens asked. "What am I doing? Nothing, just fol
lowing the profession, that s all."
Ever tell you about the time Col. Rogers was in London,
on his way back from the South African war? Oh, yes, now I
mind! I told you in "The Hub and Spokes/ but you ve for
gotten, so I ll repeat it, as it is too apropos to leave out.
The Colonel Follows the Medical Professions
On the way up from South Africa some of the Canadian
boys came via London. Nothing was too good for them. They
were shown everywhere by the big folk of the big city. Lord
Knowswho had Colonel Rogers in charge. As they were going
from one sight to another, Lord K. was saying: "You ah a wun-
derful people, you Canidians. You always have money (he
didn t know em all). I suppose you are all engiged in busi
ness and the profashions. I would judge you were a profash-
ional. May I ask what profashion you follow?"
"Well," said the Colonel, in a dignified manner, "I am
engaged in a number of things, but I mostly follow the medical
profession, me Lord."
"Ah, and which School?" animatedly, "the Eclectic, the
Homeopath, or the Allopath?"
"All of them. All of them, me Lord, but mostly the Allo
path," and in an undertone to himself, "because there are more
of that profashion" From this you may know what the Col
onel is, besides being one of the best fellows in all Canada.
The first real hotel was Hotel Gowganda. Code and Code
were the first surveyors. McFadden and McFadden first law
yers. J. A. Montague, M.E., first assayist. The Royal Bank
was the first to open I was just going to say "its doors." Can t
say it that way, as it did its first business from the top of a stump
-the "doors" not having yet arrived in camp.
There are a whole lot of other "firsts," but I cannot wait
for data.
60 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
The Road from Wigwam Built by Prospectors
The prospector is so much faster than the Government that
most of the first roads into a new country are built by him. He
built the road into Gowganda from Wigwam Lake, seven miles
to the east.
The First Claim Stakers
Many may have been missed, but the following are the names
of some of the first to stake claims in the Gowganda: Anderson,
Armstrong, Baldwin " Baldy of old James pioneer days ;
Boyd, Bowen, Brennan, Bruce, Burns, Church, Cole- John
Y." of Cobalt; Dobie, Davis, Fairburn prospector of many
camps; Gordon, Hamilton, W. D., who found the rich vein
on the Hudson Bay property; Hassett, Geo. A. Herron, Hear-
sey, Hodgins, R. S.; Hull, Kale, Kipper, Labrick, Logan, Mann
Brothers, Robert and Charles; Hugh Murphy, Fred. A. Mc-
Intosh, S. C. McLaughlin, Montgomery, Meen, Jack Munroe,
Milne, Mclntyre, Morrison, Murray, O Kelly, "Doc Pullis,
another of the Montreal River boys of pleasant memory; Pin-
nell, Geo. Rayner, Reamey, Reeve, Regan, Shane, Shields,
Saville the famous "Tommie," one of the earliest in the coun
try; Taylor, A. and W.; Turnbull, Walsh, Sr. and Jr.; Thor
Warner, Webster. There are doubtless many others, but the
foregoing were all I could collect, and of them I could secure
but few first names, since in a mining camp first names are sel
dom heard.
Although but a few months have passed since the first claim
was staked, yet many of the boys have become known over a
world-wide range, by reason of the marvellous richness of some
of their discoveries.
Running through the list you may see the discoverer of the
"Armstrong Fraction," that cost $200 to stake and work, and
sold for $100,000 cash; the discoverers of the " Dobie and Reeve,"
which Bert Smith put into an English Syndicate at $500,000;
Fairburn, who has followed many camps, with his partner,
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 61
Anson Cartwright (the real discoverer of the O Brien Mines of
Cobalt); Geo. A. Herron, the staker with party of 34 claims;
Robert and Charlie Mann, of Kearney, Ont., whose "Mann
Brothers" lots sold to the Foster Syndicate for $250,000, and
are now worth easily a million dollars, as they are enormously
rich in silver; Jack Munroe, the widest known prospector in all
the camps; Milne, whose Forty claim, east of the Mann claim, sold
for $120,000; Mclntosh and McLaughlin, the discoverers of
the now famous "Bartlett Mines"; O Kelly, said to have found
the first silver; Pullis, and Baldwin, whose "working option"
near the Mann s is so valuable; Tommie Saville, the "White
Guide," so well known throughout the far north; and doubt
less there are many other famous ones among the number, but
this must suffice, save an incident which is so illustrative of the
camps of Silverland that I must give it, even at the risk of being
a bit personal.
The Grub-Staked
So many stories have been told about the " Grub-Staking of
the Mann Brothers, that the correct version cannot but be of
real interest. Most of the stories have it that Ryan and Mur
phy were old fellows, well-to-do, up there at Kearney, on the
old Canada Atlantic Railway. Instead they are only young
men, not rich, and had to work as well as the rest of us. The
four boys made an agreement that while Ryan and Murphy
should work for wages in the older camps, the two Manns should
go to the north and prospect the two wage-earners to furnish
the means for the prospectors to live, and then all to share and
share alike. This makes the story a far better one than had it
been the usual way of the rich old fellows staying at home, and
with a pittance of their wealth supplying enough for the others
to eat, and then get half of a great fortune. Now all four of
these boys jump from little to much. Good story? Well,
yes. But Silverland is full of them, and I have space for so few.
62 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
The Sleigh Road from Sellwood
A word must be given about the builders of what is called
the Sleigh Road from Sellwood the terminus of the Canadian
Northern to Gowganda. This railway company had the
work done, but of more importance are the men who "smashed"
the road through in so short a time that it will ever be one of
the wonders of Gowganda history.
These men are W. J. Cowan "Big Jim" and A. C. Mac
kenzie "Big Archie." In a few weeks they have cut and
cleared a road smooth enough and broad enough over which
to transport enormous boilers, engines, and great mining ma
chinery from the railway to the mines about the Gowganda
Lake. The work of these men did not end with the building
of the road, for even now they are transporting passengers, sup
plies, and machinery with the same regularity as if it were a rail
way instead of a sleigh road they were using as the means of
transportation. All of this requires hundreds of horses, specially
constructed sleighs, and great sleds to haul the heavy machinery.
And this, too, when the road will be of little use after the ice
of spring breaks up. Much of the road is built over the ice of
the lakes along the way. But then, by the latter part of summer
the steel will be into the camp, around the lake, and the Sleigh
Road will be but a memory.
LATEST FROM GOWGANDA
After the above was in page I met a young Gowgander, who
gave me so much of interest about the town that I must needs
include it. "Press is waiting!" "Oh, hang the press! I m
going to get in Gowganda history if the whole printing house
has to wait!" and I am, so there!
First cabin was built by R. S. Code. This was headquarters
for bank managers Wheaten of the Royal, and Logan of the
Commerce also first lawyer s sleeping quarters.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
63
Hugh Mullen was the real first hotel-keeper with his "King
Edward."
Dave Conroy brought in first drove of cattle for his "Supply
Store." Stewart first meat and grocery store.
Stanley Code from New Liskeard started first feed store^
adding "general supplies" later.
"Wilson s Restaurant" was a pioneer; "Baxter s Hotel"
was one of the signs. "R. S. Hodgins owns the town or at
least he staked the six claims on which the town sets."
Names about town: Geo. Linklater, Thos. Barrett, Church
Henderson, Ewan Cameron, Morrison of the Royal Bank,
and Gallagher of Bank of Commerce; Charles, son of Judge
O Connor, from the Soo. Then there s Frank Sikorski, the
pioneer cook; "Paul Bunyan" and his blue ox, the town log
hauler; Cap. Smith, the contractor; and H. Hamilton Wilson,
whose permanent address is Basutoland, South Africa.
From here on, Grant E. Rice, in his Gowganda Weekly, and
A. W. Law, in his Tribune, must take up my work as historian.
Both papers should be started in a very short while, since both
have been getting ready to start for a long while. "Here s your
copy now let the press go on!"
RAPID SUCCESSES OF THE
COBALT CAMP
THE public seldom hear of a man until he has climbed up
toward the top above the heads of the struggling, surging
masses; and as he sits complacently in the limelight, this
same public too often look not upon the man but the position he
holds.
Every successful mining camp has developed its small bat
talion of lucky ones, but I will warrant that never before was
there a camp where there were so many who have sprung from
poverty into riches in so short a time as in Cobalt. Other dis
tricts have covered wide areas of country, while the list I shall
give below, dug their wealth within a circle whose diameter
is not five miles. A few might have to stretch the string a bit,
but those within a half-mile of the post office would far more
than even the distance.
From Poverty to Riches
One after another is pointed out with: "See that man? Well,
he was almost too poor to get here," or, "He came to camp with
but a very few dollars." Then the "pointer "--some knowing
citizen will often comment upon the "pointee." It has not
turned his head, as you must have noticed." And I have, with
some rare exceptions, for which exceptions you can t but feel
a little sorry.
You ask the knowing and most obliging citizen to point
out or name some of the successful, and if you are as fortunate
as the writer, you will find his list most accurate, even if far
smaller than you will later gather as you go about through the
camp.
64
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 65
"Two brothers left a little country store to join two railroad
contractors also two brothers. Their bank account would not
have paid for the digging of a single car of ore to-day their
mines are worth millions of dollars.
" Two tie cutters were at work one day when they saw some
odd mineral. Picking some of it up, they took it to a man who
knew, and well, they quit cutting ties. They were satisfied
with a few hundred thousand, and let their successors develop
a mine which has since reached a value counted by the selling
price of its stock of $7,000,000.
" A man who had wandered all over the west, and as far north
as Yukon, heard of this country, came up, found two of what
have proven great mines. Later he took in his brother (you ll
notice that this is sort of a brothers camp), mined $600,000
of ore, sold the two mines, and then he moved down on Easy
Street up close to the big houses, and stopped roving.
See that hotel going up down there ? (I did couldn t
help seeing it, as tis the biggest and finest in this upper country.)
Well, its builder came here very little removed from a poor
man, went down in the woods and started to stake the biggest
mine in the camp to-day, and while he did not make much out
of it, yet that little was to him a fortune, or was till he began
counting what his big lot of claims, that have since proved so
valuable, were worth. He can t figure it out since the stock
of the company into which he and his partner put them is going
up so fast that he has to make a recount every day to two. It s
over a dollar now, and they do tell me that it s going to five.
"There goes another Success. He failed in 1905, came up
here, found a good one, sold it for a million, and still has left
interests in a number of others of the camp good ones, too.
5
66 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
"A young druggist sold his little store in a city down the river,
came up to look about, and now has enough money to go into
politics, and get elected to Parliament. Incidentally his mine
is one of the phenomena of the whole camp. If anybody have
a claim within a mile of his, they advertise the fact in all the
papers, and it s a pretty safe bet that they ve got the goods too.
" There are exceptions to all rules. Two college professors,
of the mining branch of a Wisconsin Institution, came over to
Cobalt and struck pay dirt, and are so rich that the Carnegie
fund will never know them in their old days." Here I stopped
him to ask: "Why do you say, There are exceptions to all rules ?
"Why? Didn t I say: "Two college professors from the
mining branch of an institution made a discovery?" Yes, it is
claimed that they found the silver without having some black
smith to show them how to find it.
"A glove travelling salesman, thinking that this new country
might have some stores to handle his goods, came up to see he s
here yet, and is the Mayor of the town, with interests enough to
make him a millionaire, the way his stocks have been going up lately.
"A poor office clerk got tired of working a pen, heard the
Government had a little strip of land that it didn t need, came,
saw the strip, went home, talked it over with the folks, raised
$50,000, bought it, and the first two carloads taken out, more than
paid for it. The friends who bought the stock for 15 cents a
share got to buying real good horses to show at the fall fair, as
soon as the stock got up to $10 a share. That spoiled the happi
ness of a lot of the other folks down around home. They wanted
to get 15 cent stock too, so they mortgaged their houses, paid a
dollar a share in a near-by claim and it wasn t but a short time
till they even went the clerk one better, for they had ten cent
shares. They ll be all right yet if they can hang on, for the
mine is bound to win out can t help it!
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 67
"Two more brothers came up from Sudbury, looked about,
saw a good thing right in town, some more of the silver-bottomed
town lots, and are now quite out of conceit with Sudbury.
"A father and son, two Frenchmen, came to the country in
1895. They brought along $8 lest they might need it to get
established. The old man died of heart disease after getting
a terrible beating for coming, but the son stayed, took up land,
and is now living a quiet, retired life in a near-by town.
" I might keep this up all afternoon. I ve only told you about a
few of the many who came poor, and who are now from well-to-
do to millionaires. What is remarkable, throughout the whole
district, is the very few who came bringing much money. Those
who have been the most successful started with little besides
good common -sense and a whole lot of the sort o grit that counts."
"Does everybody make money?" asked a fellow (in new suit
of khaki, carrying a prospector s outfit), who had just gotten off
the noon train, and who had stood with wide-open eyes, listening
to the Aladdin stories of the old citizen.
"No, young man, I am sorry to say that all don t make money.
I came up, looked about, but there were so many good things
that I didn t know what to pick up until some one else had it.
They offered me Hudson Bay shares for a dollar one fellow
who had bought some and found his sox too thin to keep his
feet warm, said if I d only take his hundred shares I might have
them for a song, and he d let me sing it myself, as he was sick of
the camp and wanted to leave. Fool that I was, I told him I
wasn t in voice that day. No, said I, I m saving my wealth
for a good thing. I later proved myself to be the good thing
by putting it into Silver Bird. Since then I have spent most
of my time wishing that I had sung for that poor fellow with
the cold feet, and let him go home happy. He went home
unhappy, as he couldn t find a buyer. As soon as the Silver
Queen bought 58 acres of this company s property, paying for
68 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
it $810,000, Hudson Bay was cheap at $100 a share, and is now
worth anything you can get it at up to $200."
(Later: It has paid $135 a share in dividends, and nobody
knows what to ask for it under $300, for what originally cost a
dollar, or less) .
Later I found that the old citizen had but told of a few of
those who came poor and who can now write their names where
the paying teller will honor it up to big figures.
Must give a few more, since all do so like to read of the suc
cessful.
Ten men put into a pool $200 each $2,000. They sent one
of the number to Cobalt to find something good. The Hudson
Bay Company having more than they needed offered to sell the
syndicate 58 acres for $1,000,000. Now, with $2,000 in 1 hand
this proposition would have staggered the ordinary emissary.
But this one quietly said: "It looks good. I ll take the 58."
He returned to Toronto, and soon a company was organized,
capitalized $1,500,000 $i par, and sold the stock so fast that in
a few weeks they had paid $810,000 (the million less the agreed
discount) and owned a mine that is valued at two million dollars.
An Asiatic came to the north country with but little, found a
Cobalt claim, sold it for $300,000, and is to-day one of the largest
owners of various industries in the land of big things.
Another from the same country in Asia reached Haileybury
with not one cent left when he landed, went to work on the roads,
got a little start, and when the Gowganda rush started, he with
nine others made up a pool of $100, sent a prospector up, and in
a short while they sold the claim he staked for $100,000 $1,000
for every dollar they had put in.
In this same Gowganda, far up the Montreal River, sat four
men. They had prospected long and were tired. They sat
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 69
on the shore of a beautiful lake and talked of their long search
for wealth. One of the number had prospected for twenty years
unsuccessfully. Two of them arose and said: " We ll try once
more," and set out. The other two wished them good luck.
" Same to you," and they were on their way. That very afternoon,
August 4, 1908, strange but true, the one party found silver at
3 o clock, and the other two found silver at 4 o clock. To-day all
four are very rich men. Now, were this in fiction, you would
think it a well-planned story, but "Oh, how impossible!" Ask
of any one who has been in Gowganda and they will tell you the
names of the men, and that the story is a true one.
One more story, but of a different style. This one will be
fully appreciated by many a greedy prospector in the Cobalt
camp. Two men staked a claim, and very shortly after were
offered $200,000 for it. They refused and wanted a quarter of a
million. They were greedy. They hold that claim yet, and would
jump at an offer of $5,000. Offers too numerous to mention
have been refused, which now would be accepted if but a tenth f
or even a twentieth part of the one refused. Big offers are still
being made, but they are not reckless offers, for the whole country
is full of Missouri men, and they have to be "showed."
CHARACTERS OF THE
CAMP
CHARACTERS peculiar to the mining camp are not absent
in Cobalt, and some of them are here to be found in
more robust form than may be seen in any other. As a
proof that Cobalt is one of the richest silver districts in the
world, and that the great capitalists have found it out, is the
presence of
The Spy
It is a well-known fact that more than one rich man or firm
of men of wealth have here their paid spies. He is no ordinary
man whom they choose to do their work. He may be ordinary
from a moral standpoint, but in ability he is wonderfully gifted.
I know of one who is the peer of the men for whom he works. A
combination of circumstances has brought him to his present
occupation, but he is still a man of great ability, and can work
his way into almost any mine in the wide district, and can know
as much about it as the manager himself. He makes his daily
report and the far-away capitalist knows the stock of just what
property to beat down to a buying point. The spy does his work
at this end while his employer does his manipulating at the other.
Often the best mine in the camp may be beaten down to the
lowest position on the list. This, too, by men who would be
rated as honest and respectable citizens. They have less care
for the rights of others than had Rob Roy of old, for Rob did
sometimes give thought and other things to the poor, while these
moderns would feast off their ruined friends, and give thought
to naught but their own personal gain. These men would destroy
and lay waste a whole country if by the destruction they might
themselves profit.
70
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 71
The Agitator
The man whose only gift is a glib tongue is here in full bloom.
He is here under the guise of a friend of "The dear workmen."
He talks himself hoarse, nightly, running over the same words-
words devoid of thought.
(Later: He didn t stay long, and has never returned.)
The Wildcat Man
Someone has said, "Get money honestly if you can, but get
money" This "someone" might have had Cobalt in mind
when he said it. There are those who have handled "Wildcats"
so long, that the three words at the front of that sentence would
not be recognized if they were met running down the pike. Mil
lions of dollars have here been won and lost on that "animal."
I do think that the man who first called the selling of a fake, or
worthless thing, a "wildcat," did the beast a wrong. The poor
cat gives to him who captures it its hide, while the seller of the
fake thing takes "hide" and all. What is a "Wildcat?" you ask,
when used in mining parlance. A man may sell a mining claim
on which there is no mineral showing, and yet sell it honestly,
as the rock formation may indicate values. But when neither
locality, nor rock formation (or, as is too often the case, where
there is no rock at all) indicates the presence of values, and the
seller knows the conditions, it is one of the wildest sort of cats
that he sells to the credulous buyer. Every such deal put through
hurts a camp, and makes an honest transaction harder and harder
to carry out. I know of a stretch of country where there is not
so much as a rock in sight for miles, which has been snow-staked
and sworn to as having mineral discoveries. And what is worse
still, the " discoverers (?)" are finding "suckers" enough to take
the swamp lands off their hands. Later these credulous "fish"
will cry down the whole country just because they were foolish
enough to bite at a metalless "fly." The broker or lawyer who
knowingly foists upon the public a worthless thing is a "Wildcat
72 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
Man." But then the dear public like him and will follow him
when it would turn away from an honest dealer. I know one of
these men who has put through more than a hundred such com
panies, and the public come up smiling every time he has a new
one to " touch" them with. Yes, the people like to be "touched."
They like to hear the purr of the cat, and the " wilder" the "cat"
the happier and more soothed they become, as they listen to the
music of the purr.
Advice: Know the claim, or what is often as good know the
men behind the claim, if you would not be divorced from your
money. There are brokers whose very name stands for honest
dealing. In the hands of such you are safe. These men are
in the business for good both yours and their own.
The untutored, small monied man is not the only "easy
mark." A prospector, up here, found a valuable claim. He took
it to where money was piled up in high stacks and tried to sell it.
He asked for it a poor little ten thousand dollars, but the men
behind the "stacks" only laughed at him and told the office boy
to "show the guy out." He was not given a chance to tell if his
claim was in Cobalt or Kamchatka. The poor fellow was
discouraged, and took his cut-up spirits, and his claim, to a friend
in the city, who smiled when he heard the small price asked for
so much value. "Let me have the matter to handle," said the
friend. He went to the same man, and offered the same claim
for fifty thousand dollars. He was invited into the private office,
and later to dinner at the most expensive place in the city, and
before the day was over the sale was made. It turned out well,
and the buyer made a fortune. He might have made forty thou
sand more had he been a wiser man, and had looked more to real
value than to big figures.
The Claim Jumper
He is in every camp. He is here in large form, from the
preacher on his summer vacation down to the grafting politician,
and all stages between. He is not a pioneer, but waits until a
district has been proven by men who have endured the cold of
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 73
winter and the terrible flies of summer, when he drifts in and
takes up claims on all possible pretexts, and by tall swearing
or "pull" often wins out against the man who had pioneered his
way into the far-off forests to honestly stake his find. I say
"preacher," for I know of four of the "cloth" who went into a
good mineralized district, and did what they could to jump
claims. A good story is told of one of them who jumped a claim
and then went to a near-by camp for dinner. He was so ashamed
when he learned that his host was the rightful owner of the claim
that he slunk back to his pulpit, to preach against the little wrongs
which are his " stock in trade." This is no fairy tale, but a fact
which you may verify in James, where the jumper is so much in
evidence.
The Boys Blew Up His Camp
A prospector staked a claim, broke his leg and had to spend the
time in the hospital when he should, by law, have been doing his
prospecting work. His time ran out and his claim was jumped
by a man whose prominence would have made you think such an
act an impossibility for him to be guilty of doing "you wonder
why they do it, but they do." The jumper brought his camp
outfit and a big lot of provisions, as he was rich. He meant to
go right to sinking shafts and brought with him a big lot of dyna
mite. Piling everything up at the camp he went away, leaving
no one to watch it. The near-by prospectors knew not why the
real staker had so suddenly disappeared, but still they felt that
it was for a good reason, so that night there was a great explosion in
the jumped camp. When the jumper came next morning, it
occurred to him that it might not be safe to work in a locality
where dynamite went off by spontaneous combustion (?), and
picking up a few of the scattered pots and skillets hied him away
to a less loyal camp. Later the real claimant came limping in
and telling of his accident gratefully thanked the boys for looking
after his interests while he was away. How did it happen ? I ll
tell you if you promise not to tell I had to promise. When
the jumper left that evening the boys got together, selected their
74 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
best marksman, who struck a box of the dynamite the first
shot. You may guess the rest. The Government should make
jumping claims a crime, as now it is morally one. By so doing
somebody s life may be saved, for somebody s going to get shot
one o these days. The boys won t stand it always, and some
say the limit is all but reached now.
The Swearer
At first it sounds awful to hear him, the swearer, but it seems
to be so necessary to his very existence that after a little while
you overlook the failing. He usually knows that he don t amount
to anything, and thinks that by swearing big cuss words that it
will make even his little self seem bigger and more prominent, and
for this you don t count it against him even as you would not
count a wrong against a young child.
At first I say it sounds awful to hear the big swear words,
but after a bit one begins to analyze the why of it all. The good
Sunday School boy starts out on a prospecting tour, through
some of the far-away townships. He strikes the mud and says,
soft like, " Dog-on the mud!" He reaches the woods, and as he
picks his way through the underbrush, with flies, black and sand,
and mosquitoes eating at him, night and day, he forgets all about
what his teacher told him down home, and the little "Dog-ons"
fail to express his bitten feelings, as he puts to blush a western
ox-driver. He is how headed straight for that place below,
if ail that the preachers say may be relied upon. Next he makes
a discovery and starts for the recorder s office, where he first swears
that he has found "mineral in place." This "swear" is nothing
to be compared to what he says when the Inspector tells him
that he has only found a bit of "float." The air now becomes
blue, and he hies away to some saloon or hotel corridor and
joins the ranks of the "steadies." Thereafter you may hear him
damning everything in the heavens above and the earth beneath
with the same ease as once he "laid me down to sleep."
It is said that every ill has its compensation. The framers of
the mining laws in their efforts to make as hard as possible the
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 75
lot of the boys who go out to seek for mineral, and incidentally
to make Ontario one of the richest Provinces in the world, have
finally evolved the limit, thought out by no other makers of
mining laws in the world. These makers, sitting around their
warm stoves, say: "Boys, you ve got to do your assessment work
in the dead of winter, or lose your claims. Yes, we re going to
give the claim jumper a chance to come in and take up any claims
on which you have not done your work." That s what the mining
laws wise ones say. And the boys say well, I shall not tell you
what they say. But it keeps them warm, and all the air around,
as they do their assessment work in the dead of winter and
there s the compensation. And you really can t blame them.
Eh?
The Wise Man
The man who made things has taken up his residence in this
district. There is not a subject but he can tell you, down to
the little details, all about it. I have wondered, not a little,
why he should have remained poor with so much stored-up
wisdom, but poor he is, and if he don t hurry, he will end with
the same amount of money in his clothes. He knows all about
the various formations of the rocks, and why he arranged them
that way, and can tell you just where to "sink" for the best
results. I have asked him why he doesn t "sink," but he is
ever too busy telling others where to put in the "shots," to do
any of it himself. Strange that he has not been discovered by
the mine men who are spending so much wealth looking for what
this man of wisdom could so readily point out to them. But
these men o money keeping on shooting, while this bundle of
wisdom stands at the mouth of the shaft looking hungrily down.
He may never have been within miles of a new camp, but ask
him about that camp and you will get more data (his data) than
from the man who discovered it. Ask him if the silver values
will hold as the shafts go down, and he will tell you positively all
about it and why; ask him about a claim which has been taken
into court for settlement, and he will, offhand, let you into the
secret as to which of the contestants will win out. Foolish men
76 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
to fight over a question which this Solomon would settle for the
price of a dinner. I wanted to know from him one day why he
had not come up and found the Larose. He said that he was
too busy down home, but had known all along that silver must
be found in this district, and was not surprised when he heard
of the discovery, but was surprised that the blacksmith should
have sold out so cheap, when he might have held on and had
his share of the millions. He said but why speak of it, when
you have so often heard him say it!
Some one to my right says I m wrong, and tells me: "This
is not a character peculiar to the mining camp." Guess he s
right.
He to my left says: "I know that man well. He used often
to come to our camp along the Wabi. He knew, or ever risked
a guess upon, all subjects. One day we were speaking of cobalt
bloom, when he remarked: "There is no mistake about it-
regular indigo red." At another time he ran across some slate,
when he said: "B George, Miller s right, for once, in his map
ping. He said slate was here." He was not a believer in book
rocks: "It s all theology, and based on guessing, pure and sim
ple." His own knowledge was certainly simple, if not pure.
Incidentally, "He to the left," a surveyor, has had much
experience in this north country.
Hadn t Lived All His Life Yit
"One day while passing through a dense woods," said he,
"I came upon a small cabin, with possibly an acre clearing
around it. Jn the doorway stood a pig; some chickens looked
out the window from their perch upon an improvised bedstead,
while a typical backwoodsman sat in the yard whittling a stick.
"Good day," said I. "Fine day."
"Yep."
"This your house?"
"Yep."
"That your pig in the doorway?
"Yep."
SILVERLAND AND ITS S7VRIES 77
" Those your chickens in the window?"
"Yep."
"Do this clearing yourself?"
"Yep."
"Build the house?"
Yep."
Lived here all your life?"
Nop, not yit."
Still another savs: "I had him with me last summer that
wise man you have been talking about. His knowledge cov
ered every point. Said he had started being wise at the early
age of three, and had kept it up. He could do everything he
said better than anybody else. He was the best prospector
in the country. Could beat em all making a camp-fire; nobody
could touch him when it came to making bannock bread; he
could carry a bigger load than an Indian; could shoe a horse to
beat a trained blacksmith; could sharpen miners tools better
than the man who made them; could strike a hammer better than
the best; could walk more miles in a day than Weston himself;
could find a vein to beat Miller, the trained geologist; in short,
there was nothing that he could not do."
"Where is he now?" I asked, as I wanted to meet one so
wise and able.
"Where is he? Oh! he went to the Poorhouse."
"Poorhouse! Why there?"
"Too lazy to do any of the things he could do so well."
The Joliette Frenchman and His Asbestos Mine
An excursion came up to Cobalt from down around Joliette,
P.Q., last summer. When the excursionists went back home
they spent the rest of the season talking about the wonderful
Cobalt. They were still talking it over in the fall when Joe
Moore was up there. Must let Joe tell of old Narcisse Boudreau
and his asbestos mine.
78 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
Yes," said Joe, "I had gone up to see Narcisse to find how
he liked Cobalt, and if I could get him interested in a certain
mine in that camp, knowing that he had seen it. Well, Nar
cisse, said I, how you like Cobalt? How I lak her? Oh,
she s fine. Very fine. My, she s a grate mine dat! No, guess
I no buy. She s very fine for nudder feller. Me, I m too ole
fer mine! Say, I ever tole you bout dat mine wat I have?
" No, Narcisse, you never told me. What kind of a mine
is that mine of yours?
" Oh, you kno wat she is! Make em hot, and red lak wite
fire an never burn up.
"You don t mean asbestos, do you, Narcisse?
" Oh, you guess her first tarn! Yes, dat wat she ees, azbestus,
dat s wat she ees.
" Where is your mine, Narcisse? asked Joe, as asbestos-
good asbestos is scarce, and Joe wanted to know about this
mine of Narcisse s.
" Oh, she s way up dare, two, tree, fo hunderd mile. Joe
hasn t been able yet to locate it from the description. He wanted
to know: Narcisse, why don t you develop the property?
" Got no money fer dat. Tak beeg lot money fer open mine.
" Well, why don t you form a company?
" Wy I don t form company? Well, furst ting hav t get
dem, wat yer call em, dem directore; an next ting hav see Gouv-
ernment bout chart, an den wen I git um all redy to go, I have
lie like L an I m purty ole man, me.
The Boy Who Ran Away From Home
If you can name a phase of character not found in a mining
camp you will have more time to search than I have had. They
are all here here in the extreme. I used to read in the Sunday
School books about the bad boy who never would go to school,
and who ran off from home, and whose end was too sad to con
template. They used to tell me that there was no exception
to this sad fate. But one day, while sitting in a company at a
hotel in Cobalt, the exception was pointed out. I at once be-
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 79
came interested and asked to be told his story, which I shall
give, even at the risk of spoiling many a "Good Boy" tale of
the "Bad Boy s" fate.
"Want to hear the story?" and of course we all did. "Well,
Dan, as I shall call him, as that is not his name, could never
get along with his father. The two were so alike that they could
not agree on anything, so Dan ran off, joined Forepaugh s cir
cus, became an engineer on a steamboat, ran a railroad engine
for a time, but he was too reckless, and got laid off permanently.
It is told of him that he once ran Fanny Davenport from Cin
cinnati to Cleveland in time to break the record. He was, among;
the rest, a Texas cowboy. Well, I guess he was an * all-round
in his young days. Finally his father died and he had to start
in on a new role. It was entirely out of his line, but he said
he d try it, just to see what it was like. The new role was that
of being a millionaire. He took to it right from the start. If
his father was clever enough to make the millions, Dan was
clever enough to not only keep but add to them, and he is prov
ing a far shrewder man than ever his father was. Where the
senior sawed a million feet of lumber, Dan is turning out ten
times as much in the same mill with perfected machinery.
Where the father had thousands of miles of timber limits, Dan
has reduced those limits to hundreds of miles, and is using the
money to good advantage in other lines. Just now he is a large
owner of good mining claims, and will sure become one of the
big men of the camp, as his judgment is phenomenal when it
comes to picking winners. Yes, Dan is breaking all records.
His daring experiences in the circus, on the steamboat, at the
engine throttle, and his cowboy life, in no way have lessened his
wonderful abilities, but have made them, if possible, even more
acute. What would daunt another is to Dan but a simple play,
and he is moving up the ladder two steps at a time, and you will
see him at the top long before the millions of * good boys have
even started." When I later made inquiry, I learned that all
that he had told us was true. One does hear so many things
in a mining camp, that one must verify to believe what one does
hear.
80 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
Riches Do Not Change Character
Cobalt has made many millionaires, but it has changed few
characters. The liberal poor man is the liberal rich man. The
only difference is that he can now do the good he once wished
to do. The " near poor is often made more so w T hen he is
blest ( ?) with riches.
One of these latter was recently riding on a train when the
newsboy passed along with " Bananas Ripe Bananas!"
" How much a dozen?" asked the rich one.
"Thirty cents!"
"Give me three."
And taking them, divided them with his seat-mate. One to
himself, one to his friend, and the third he broke in two, for he
was going to make the division a fair one.
Can such as he really enjoy wealth? Is the world going to
be made better by reason of his good fortune ?
No man is rich who strives alone for self,
No man is rich whose one lone aim is pelf.
The food he eats, the clothes he wears,
Relieves not others wants nor cares,
And in the end, when all is done and said,
His light goes out, and name and man are dead.
Great is Science!
Science never was one of my strong points, but when I see what
it has done for Cobalt I must join in to praise where once I
had smiled at its inefficiency. Scarce had the uneducated French
blacksmith discovered silver in Cobalt when the scientist came
along, and in burning words, so technical that none but his class
could understand their import, made a glowing report, verifying
the blacksmith s discovery. Looking over the field he said that
it extended a mile in area. Later, when other discoveries were
made around the edges, the great man extended his lines, taking
in an area of six miles, and still later, when prospectors with a
Peary turn of mind began to find things up toward the ice land, he
grew honest and admitted that he didn t know a - - thing about
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
81
it During this time he was writing books, reports, and telling
the papers the only kind of rock formation in which minerals
might be found, from time to time adding another rock to the
list, until well, no wonder he admitted that he knew nothing
about the subject, for mineral has been found in everything, and
in every place where he said it wasn t.
And no wonder, for Cobalt is unlike any other camp. It
is sort of a freak but again it is unique, the freak is more wonder
ful when viewed upon the outside canvas Cobalt s vastness lies
within and grows larger and greater the longer you look at it.
No brush could paint upon canvas, or pen upon paper, the real.
I ve tried it, and find I know even less about it than the scientist
himself and that s an admission.
BIG PETE, THE MAN WITH "THE GOLD
TOUCH"
In every mining camp there are al
ways some figures who stand out prom
inently by reason of their good fortune,
luck, or whatsoever it may be called.
One of the first names you hear when
you reach Cobalt, and mayhap before
you come, is that of K. Farah. But
if I should write this sketch under
that name not one in a hundred would
recognize the man about whom it was
written. When I give you the cogno
men by which he is known here,
and throughout the country where mining is a chief subject,
then^you will exclaim: "Oh, I ve heard of him often!" Yes,
"Big Pete" conveys more than simply a name. At once your
mind connects it with "The man with the gold touch."
He is not only "big" in size, but all his undertakings are big
82 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
too. Others may fail to carry through some great project, which
later he will pick up and make of it a phenomenal success.
He is a Syrian, from Mount Lebanon, near Damascus. He
came to America in 1893, during the Chicago World s Fair.
From Chicago he came to Ottawa, where he became a dealer in
wood in a small way.
He came to New Liskeard with a hunting party in 1899.
Seeing here the need of a hotel, he built the Canada. When
silver was discovered in Cobalt he at once became interested in
mining. The "Big Pete" Mine was one of his first claims.
As showing the good fortune which ever attends him, he was soon
taking out ore that assayed over $13,000 to the ton. New York
capital, seeing this, offered for the claim $300,000, which he
accepted, and the "Big Pete" Mine was the nucleus of the Cobalt
Central, one of the promising great properties of the camp.
He owns many other claims in Coleman, one of which is
thought to be the equal of any, the "Farah," mentioned elsewhere.
He owns large timber limits, and a big sawmill at Charlton,
and much of the townsite of this promising town, near Englehart.
He has many valuable mining claims in the Abitibi Lake Dis
trict.
Much is due to him for the rapid growth of New Liskeard,
much of which he owns and most of its water front property.
He installed the electric lighting system, and has recently acquired
the electric lighting system of near-by Haileybury, running both
from his great water power plant at New Liskeard, whose water
supply is also sent through the mains by means of this same power
plant, which is said to be the finest in its construction of any
other in the country.
W T hen the town failed to secure the needed money to install
the waterworks, he went to Toronto, and in one day secured
0,000.
Believing in the growth of Ottawa, he has purchased $80,000
of its well-located business property.
His phenomenal success has not been acquired. He in
herited it, belonging as he does to one of the great Syrian fam-
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 83
ilies, long connected with the Government one of his uncles
being a prominent pasha.
In a brief sketch one can give but a meagre notion of what this
man is destined to accomplish among the builders of this great
land of big enterprise, and yet, I have given you enough to make
you want to follow the career of one who is called "Big" by
reason of accomplishment.
M. ABRAHAM
In this same town of New Liskeard is another from Syria,
whose history reads like a romance. He came to America in
the 90*5, went to the far North-west, and later hearing of this
country, came up Temiskaming Lake to Haileybury, long before
the railroad was built. The morning he came up he lacked ten
cents of enough to get his breakfast. Work was not then as
plentiful as later, and he had difficulty in finding anything to do,
but finally got work on the Government roads then building to
the north from New Liskeard. He took up a farm lot, which he
later sold for $125. This he put into a little stock of stationery
and opened a small store in this, then village. He prospered from
the first, for he was a careful business man. He opened a second
store, long after, in Cobalt, when it had grown to be a considerable
town.
One night, sitting talking of Gowganda, with a party of the
New Liskeard boys, some one proposed that they form a pool
and send a prospector up to stake a claim. The prospector was
sent, the claim was staked, a wee bit claim, only 8 acres. It proved
valuable. It was M. Abraham who conducted its sale. No
one knew its value, but "Mike" is a good guesser, and put the
price at $100,000, and got it, too. Since that his stores are only
small assets, and require but little of his time, most of it being
taken up with "mining matters." M. Abraham may well be
rated among the "successes of the camp."
COBALT A COSMOPOLITAN
CAMP
THAT Cobalt is a cosmopolitan camp may be seen in any
collection of men whom you may meet in the towns, in the
woods, or any place throughout the wide district where
mineral is being sought. I could not but note this fact one even
ing when having to wait for a train at the Haileybury station.
Just to the west, in the Farr Edition, may be seen a large num
ber of prospectors who have spent the summer in tents.
The evening I went over there were gathered, at one of the
tents, men from all parts of the world. As we sat talking I began
asking: "Where are you from? And you, and you?" Here
are the countries whose representatives sat around the circle:
Minnesota, Alberta, Saskatchewan, California, British Columbia,
Belfast Ireland, Australia, Ohio, England, Quebec, and Ottawa.
No two were from the same country, province or state, unless I
be counted. In that case, two were from Ohio. But that must
be expected, since it is so natural for Ohio to "go" the rest of the
world " one better."
Many of the men had spent their lives in prospecting in various
countries. There was the Englishman, who had been in nearly
every mining country in the world. Others, too, had seen most
of them. All agreed that of the number, Cobalt is unique.
"Never saw anything like it," was the unanimous verdict.
I found these men of all lands so entertaining, that I used often
to allow trains to pass while I listened to their stories of other
mining camps.
Bret Harte s " Dow s Flat "
"You ve often read Bret Harte s poem Dow s Flat ," said
the old Englishman. "I knew the hero of the poem well.
Bret drew on his poetic license a good deal, but the main points
84
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 85
of the story are correct. You mind how he started to dig for
water and struck gold, and became a very rich man. He was
but an instance of the poor man who has grown rich by accident."
Donald Ross in Death Valley
"I didn t know Donald Ross, but often used to hear them tell
about him in the west. Want to hear the story?" Of course
we all wanted to hear any of his stories of the mining life, and
cried out, "Go on, give it to us."
"Well, in 1867, Donald, and two other sailors, deserted their
ship at San Francisco, and struck out for the head of Kern River,
in the Sierras. They lost their way and wandered through the
Tehachapi Pass into the Mojave desert. They thought to find
gold here, but failing, went over into Arizona. Here they found
themselves in the country of the Apache Indians, and \vere happy
to get out alive. They reached Fort Whipple, where they bartered
their gold dust, which they had collected before the Apaches
had discovered them, and the three set out for a new goldfield
some two hundred miles to the north and west, through a desert
country. They had one pack mule to carry their supplies.
Not having compass, map or beaten trail, they soon went astray
and wandered into the southern rim of Death Valley. In two
days the mule died of thirst. Next day one of the men died
and the other became crazed and ran off into the desert, never to
return. Ross was now alone. He became unconscious, and
when he came to himself he was in the camp of a band of Pah
Ute Indians. As soon as he could again travel, an Indian led
him to the Sierra divide, and pointing down the San Joaquin
Valley, over the Tulare Lake, said, There, and left him. I
will not prolong the story, which I know is true, but will tell you
of the vast wealth of gold upon which he came, not an hour after
the Indian had set him adrift. He gathered from the sand as
much as his pockets would hold and set out for San Francisco,
where, telling his story, so interested men of capital that he
finally sold out for a quarter of a million of dollars. Strange,
but he got back to Scotland even before the ship from which he
86 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
had deserted. He went away poor. He returned rich. Wonder
how I ll get back to old England poor as I left it, or rich?"
And, saying something to the prospector who sat beside him, he
left the circle and went down into Haileybury, carrying a basket.
It may have been wrong, but I asked of the man beside him
what he had said, at the close of his story. "Nothing of note.
He but asked of me the price of a loaf of bread. He has not
been playing in luck of late, but that is nothing. As long as any
of us have a stake it belongs to all. No, we had never known
him till a week ago. What matters it! The purse of a true
prospector is the purse of the camp, and all may use it so long as
it contains a penny."
The Captain, the Burro, and the Explosion then
Gold
Hardly had the old man left the circle, when the Californian
cleared his throat and started in. "Talking of a tough time.
Did I ever tell you of how Captain George Wells blew up a
fortune ? No ? Well, it was like this : The Captain had served
in the Union army, and in 1872 found himself in New Mexico,
after having made several good strikes elsewhere. On reaching
Albuquerque he found himself penniless. Here a hotel-keeper
by the name of Murphy agreed to grubstake him if he would go
to Sandia Mountains along the east bank of the Rio Grande
River, and prospect for gold. Murphy had heard that in the old
Spaniard days, the Indians had been made to work the mines in
the mountains, and how that after 2,000 of them had perished,
the rest revolted and killed their oppressors, then destroyed all
signs of the mines, and left them forever. Wells, being a practical
miner, did not put any faith in the tradition, but, being in a des
perate condition, accepted, put his outfit upon the back of a
little burro, and to the Sandia he started. For six long hot
weeks he went on and on, till finally his supplies coming near to
an end, he resolved that he d go back a failure. The Captain
had with him a lot of blasting powder, and a very strong magnify
ing glass. The glass he used to start a fire. Before giving up, he
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 87
went to the top of a high hill to look once again over the scene
of his failure. He had hardly reached the top when he heard an
awful explosion. Hurrying back, he could find no vestige of his
poor, faithful burro, and his load. All had been blown to atoms.
The terrible heat of the sun had been focussed through the glass
and exploded the powder. He was a great swearer, but words
failed to express his feelings, and he said not a word. He took
his revolver and was about to end it all by blowing out his brains
when, chancing to look down into the hole made by the ex
plosion, his eye caught sight of what made him exclaim, Gold,
by the Gods of War! The tradition is turned into truth, and
Murphy s a nabob! And so, centuries after, the lost mines were
re-discovered and the Captain was once again a rich man."
"The Gold Shanty"
Ever hear of the Gold Shanty? asked the Australian,
when the Californian had finished his story of the "busted burro."
Nobody around the circle had heard it, and the Australian began:
"An Irishman by the name of Whalen came out to our country
in the seventies. His wife had saved up a little money, and with
it they bought a few acres, which had on it a pool and a sluggish
spring. From the bottom of the pool Whalen scraped mud and
built a pig pen and a cabin. He and work being total strangers,
he started a drinking saloon rather than become acquainted.
Near by were some mines, around which were a number of Chinese
laundrymen. The Irishman was greatly surprised to find that
the Chinks were his best customers. He was more surprised,
however, when he found that some one had carried away his pig
pen, and that his cabin was growing smaller as time went along.
He sat up nights to watch for the cause, which he very soon traced
to the Chinese laundrymen, who were carrying the mud bricks
away in sacks. This was a greater mystery than ever, but his
wife solved the problem by suggesting that the mud might contain
gold. A pan assay proved that she was right. Whalen shut
up his saloon and went to work on the bottom of his pool, and
88 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
long ago the Golden Shanty had been washed away, and he
returned to the Ould Sod a very wealthy man."
The Prospector s Fever
As these men from all parts of the world told the stories
of the rich strikes in their own countries, I could not but ask,
With so many mines of wealth in your own and your adopted
countries why have you come to Cobalt?"
"Ah, man, do you not know? Do you not know of the
Miner s Fever, that drives us from land to land that makes us
endure the cold of the north, the blizzards of the west or the hot
winds of the southern deserts? Once a prospector always a
prospector. The rich strikes of the north cannot hold us when
once we hear of the finds of some far-away land, be that land in
the burning deserts of the south, or in the mountains beyond the
seas. The call of the mine is siren music that bids us away,
and we strike our tents and are gone, never to return."
As I sat and listened to the stories of these men from all lands
I found myself fascinated by them, and could not wonder at the
power that bids the prospector, Bedouin-like, "Move on, move
on!"
A Passing Thought
As I looked about over that circle, and took into account the
various lands from which they had come, I could not but think
that great indeed must be the mineral weath of this to attract so
many to it. Then again, the stories of the wonderful finds had
been gathered from many lands, while right in the very town,
where were being related those stories, were men, full many of
them, whose successes will be told and retold, in other camps
around the world, with as much wonder-creating interest as any
to which I had listened with so rapt attention. From where
we sat I could have counted more than a dozen beautiful homes
of the "Captain Wells" of Cobalt no one of whom but had
gained his fortune with far less of worry and danger than had he
of Sandia Mountain.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 89
" OR "
"Or" is a much used word in many of the so-called hotels of
the Cobalt District. It has many good hotels. It is not of them
I speak. Too often the good ones are filled to the very "cot-on-
the-floor," and you must take any place you can find. I went
into one of the "Or Hotels" one day. Waitress came for my
order.
"Bread or butter? she asked.
"Bread!" said I, for I d tried the butter before.
"Ham or eggs?"
"Ham," out of respect for old age.
"Macaroni or cheese?"
"Cheese," for I d been there the previous week, when the
macaroni they served made me think that Columbus had brought
over more than he needed and had cached the surplus in Cobalt,
to be discovered by a prospector.
"Coffee 0rtea?"
"Water."
"Can t serve water. That s extra."
"Glad of it," said I. "Glad you have something that s
extra, the rest is bad enough."
"Aw, don t git smart! I mean that you have to pay extra for
water."
"Well then I ll take milk."
"Cow fell into a mine yesterday. Can t serve milk this
morning," and then I said: "Excuse me, I ll wait till to-morrow
for dinner," and went out, not to return.
I never saw a country where one s preconceived notions are
so rudely ruined as this. Just before I came up, I was deeply
interested in the writing of a book on health. One long chapter
in that book was devoted to "Don t eat too much." I could
write that whole chapter in one short sentence: "Come to Cobalt
and stop at an Or Hotel. "
Another chapter in that book was on "Deep Breathing. 3
When I go back I shall cut that chapter out entirely. One
90 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
night rooms \vere so scarce that I had to sleep in one with two
others father and son. The old man kept me awake com
plaining about his health. His heart didn t beat straight, he said;
his liver was nearly dead; his blood was sluggish, and only his
brain was active, he said; and he really didn t think a single organ
played its part in tune. Ah me, thought I, here is an opportunity,
ready to hand! I will tell the dear old soul just how to cure all
his ills. And I up and gave him that whole chapter on deep
breathing. He was delighted, he said, and promised to follow
my advice to the letter, and he up and started in. Yes, he started
in right there, and I never hope to hear another who can follow
advice as that old man, in the other bed, did that night. He
breathed in more languages than I thought were still living, and
every one of them deep and loud. There were two people slept
in that room that night, and both of them were in the other bed.
I haven t delivered any lectures on health since, and I don t
propose to ever again. I m going to let people I meet die of old
age without any of my advice or if I do give any, I ll write it
and mail it to them, it s so much safer.
Up to a Certain Point
I forgot, one day, and told another what a preventive of
sickness deep-breathing was. When he said: " Yes, up to a
certain point deep-breathing is a perfect preventive. Never saw
anything to equal it Mark you, up to a certain point."
"And what point is that?" I asked in surprise.
"Up to the point where you re going to get sick! Now
what do you think o that? Another pet theory " all in the air!
NEW LISKEARD
WHEREVER I go throughout this north country I am con
tinually meeting friends from "Down Front." So often,
in fact, that it has ceased to be a surprise, although
always a new pleasure. I was especially reminded of this the
day I ran across Jack Mulligan, from Pembroke, who has by
his bonhomie become one of the most popular and successful
merchants of New Ontario. He is the same sweet singer as of
old. "Jack Mulligan is going to sing," is always a drawing
card. And that, too, in New Liskeard, where to draw, one
must indeed have ability. Yes, twas a real pleasure to meet
this old-time Pembroke boy, in what I once looked upon as a
far-off land.
Old and New Faces
I found the above sketch long after I had written it, while
looking over the jottings of the north that so accumulate while
gathering material in this interesting country.
It brought to mind his new home, which, in retrospect, seems
to me as an old home of my own, and the memory is a pleasant
one, for New Liskeard has an interest unique. It may not have
the rush and enthusiasm of some of the other towns, but some
how, while the others are rushing and enthusing, New Liskeard
quietly "Gets There," and stays when she arrives.
Here is the home of the famous Temiskaming and Hudson
Bay Mining Company, to which nearly all promoters of mining
companies refer when they want to show what may be done in
mining. As has been so often told, this company started with
a capital of $25,000, of which it issued less than $8,000 of that
capital, and to-day its $i shares are worth possibly $500 each,
for its one working mine is paying dividends that would have
satisfied Monte Cristo himself, and yet they have eight other
91
92 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
rich claims, to develop in Coleman, besides valuable holdings
elsewhere, and especially in the great Gowganda, where they
hold some of the best claims in the district.
Here lives the man and men who discovered the famous
Lawson vein, the Colonial, the Nova Scotia, and many of the
early mines which have since become world famous.
And luck still follows the men of Liskeard. It was here
that the ten men put into the pool $100 and drew out $100,000
from that little eight-acre claim in fabulous Gowganda.
" The Armstrong Fraction," or "The Lucky Ten"
As this will be, in a way, history, I shall herewith give the
names of the fortunate ten. Sitting one night talking over the
one subject, Gowganda, some one proposed: "Why not send up
and have a claim staked?" " Agreed," said another of a number
of the boys who were around the circle. " Let s make up a pool."
"How much?" "Oh! ten dollars apiece for the ten of us will
pay expenses." Reuben Armstrong agreed to go up and stake it
for the $100, which were collected inside of fifteen minutes. In
fact the whole thing from the suggestion to the agreement to go
hardly covered the fifteen minutes. He went, found silver on
the eight-acre fraction, staked, recorded, and in a few days M.
Abraham found a purchaser at $100,000. Is it any wonder
that New Liskeard is called "The town for luck?" Think o
that! $1,000 for every dollar put in! And now for the ten.
They were: R. Armstrong, M. Abraham, S. Ritchie, J. and W.
Taylor, L. Hill, W. Haynes, T. Fulton, A. Zahalan, and E.
David.
Other of the Successes
To give all who have made well out of the mines, or through
mining shares, would include nearly all of the town s directory.
But the following are well worth mentioning: Murty McLeod,
U. S. Grant Early, Will Egan, A. N. Morgan (the clever son of
the famous Dr. Henry J. Morgan, of Ottawa), T. and W. Mac-
gladery, K. Farah "Big Pete," so widely known; F. Haynes,
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 93
C. Walton, Geo. A. Herron, H. Hartman, Binkley Brothers, D.
McCosh, Postmaster; C. Clarke, the famous hockey expert; J.
White, Geo. Bancroft, A. Galasko, and well it s hard to tell
where to stop. All these, besides the chief holders of Hudson Bay
mining stock, who are nearly all of New Liskeard.
To recall many a name among the above lists is to bring back
pleasant memories of a happy summer. I mind me well the
morning George Bancroft started out from the Canada Hotel
(my home during the summer of 1907) with his little pick.
"What!" I exclaimed, "have you caught it too, George?"
" Yes, I ve got to get into the game too. I see the rest winning
out, and I shall win too," and he has, as his many holdings in
Gowganda will attest. I feel confident that had George taken
an inventory that morning, it would have been made in a
very few minutes and taken but little figuring: One pick, steen
cents; one miner s pack, steen more cents, total well, a good
many less dollars than now he has thousands. And he is but an
instance.
But to resume.
Here is the home of K. Farah "Big Pete" elsewhere men
tioned at length, one of the most enterprising and successful
business men in all New Ontario.
A very great pleasure is to look over the hundreds of photo
graphs I took with New Liskeard as the centre of my work each
one bringing up its separate joy. And to look over these I cannot
but recall "young Trull," whose kindness I can never forget.
" Young," for he is the youngest photographer in the country,
and at the same time one of the best. And so patient! If you d
seen the negatives I d often bring to him and expect "good"
pictures, you d wonder at the way he would finally bring out little
gems of work. And he d never look sour and scold, and ask,
"What do you expect from that ?" His motto seemed ever to be,
"Smile and do the best you can." What a jolly good world this
would be if that motto were general !
94 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
Bachelors Hall
Then there was that little back room off " Bachelors Hall,"
where, to while the time away, we oft did gather to talk of other
things than the one topic of mining. So often am I minded of
the Captain, yclept "The Professor," who had laid aside his
switches to become one of the famous prospectors of many camps.
With his stories he was the life of the party. In that shack-
like building lives a man with a library of books of wondrous
value, by reason of their great rarity some of the books I had
seen nowhere else.
The Captain s Stories The Orange Meat The
Dry Well
" What s that? Tell you some of the Captain s stories?
Too many, I m saving them for a special volume.
"Come, give us a few as samples."
"All right."
One Friday morning the Captain met an irate miner leaving
a camp. "Why so angry?" he asked.
"I hev ze beeg reeson for be mad. Zay want geev me what
zat wat zay call ze Orange Meat, wen zay know zis ees ze Friday.
Mistaire, do me look like ze Orangeman?
"And," says the Captain, "I had to tell him, Not the least
bit in the world, and he didn t."
"There was a woodsman used to come down to New Liskeard.
He was a fine workman, but as soon as he had made a few dollars
he would stop work and break for here, and never stop until every
penny was spent, and all his credit gone, and then it was bad
to the woods for his. He came down one day with several
hundred in his clothes. As long as it lasted he was the most
popular boy in town. The boys stood by him to the last cent,
when they "shifted their affections to the other easy mark who
had just drifted in.
"One morning he came downstairs, and called for a nip.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 95
Not even a Little Nip, said the jolly lad behind the bar. An
ye won t be givin me the drenk? Whin Oi hed the hundreds
ye were thet gled to giv me th booze. Oi thot et wus fer mesel
ye gev et. Wull thin gev me the drenk o wather. Not a drop.
Get out. Oh ets refusing me ye ahr? Oi ll go til th wull an
get th wather mesel. And out into the yard he went to the well.
He pumped for a long time before he found that the well was
dry. He stood there, and looking at the pump, in theatric
attitude, thus addressed it: An ye too rafuze to gev me th
drenk? and, turning in disgusted tone, went on: Wull,Oi can t
blame ye. Oi niver patronized ye whin Oi hed th munny. 5
And back to the woods he went."
"Captain," spoke up Harry, the piano man from Ottawa,
"you located that story in New Liskeard? I don t believe it."
. "And why not?" asked the Captain in surprise at any one
doubting his word. "And why don t you believe it ? "
"Why, you said your hero went to the well and found it dry."
"Yes, that s what I said."
"I still don t believe it. There s not a dry well in town."
The Versatile of the Hall
We used to have all sorts in the "Hall." Some ran to stories,
some to song, others to recitation, still others to the incidents of
camp life. It was often a mixed party, in that back room. But
for that matter no gathering of three but it has a cosmopolitan
air; few up in this land who have come from the same place.
Ah, here s Charley Day genial Charlie, from Guelph.
"Come, Day, sing us the Canoe Song you sang the time we went
over to Murray City on that never-to-be-forgotten Sunday to
church." And obliging Charlie sang these dainty words as only
he can sing them:
Canoe Song
Down in the west the shadows nest;
Little grey wave, sing low, sing low,
With a rhythmic sweep, o er the twilight deep;
96 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
Into the dusk of night we go.
And the paddles dip, and lift and slip,
And the drops fall back with a pattering drip.
The wigwams deep of the spirits of sleep,
Are pitched in the gloom on the headland steep;
Wake not their silence as we go,
Little grey wave, sing low, sing low.
"From your perch on high, where the clouds go by,
Little white moon look down, look down;
Neath night s shut lid, the stars are hid,
And the last late bird to his nest has flown.
The slow waves glide, and sink and slide,
And rise in ripples along the side;
The loons call low in the marsh below;
Night weaves about us her magic glow;
E er the last faint gleam in our wake be gone,
Little white moon, look down, look down."
"Only Five Original Stories"
F. Hopkinson Smith says there are but five original stories.
T. Hopkinson was never in Cobalt. He would never have said
it had he been in this district. I do think that I have run across
more men with a story than I have met in any other land. Stories,
too, that would be quite original enough for even a Smith to copy
and sell as original. The bare experiences of some of these men,
from all countries, seem unique.
Reason Why They Want to Get Rich
It is amusing to listen to the reasons why the prospector
wishes to strike it rich. Sitting in this crowd of striving men,
one night, different ones gave their reason why they would like
to find a "sudden rich" hole in the ground. Finally it came
Sandy s turn. "Come, Sandy," I asked, "why are you up
here? Why do you want to get rich ?"
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 97
"Ah, mon, ma haert s desare is ta strake eet reech, thet ah
con gae hame an laird eet over ma muther-in-law, who thenks
a m na gude! A m wurkin haerd to fine the siller, thet ah con
gae hame, buy an attymobillee an druv up an daun a-frunt o her
hoose."
Up to the present writing the only "siller" this prospector
has handled is the little he brought with him, and his prospect
for doing any "lairding" is fast vanishing.
The County Fair
While looking over the large bundle of manuscript which I
had written for the first edition, but too much to use, I find very
much about this town New Liskeard. Some of it is now too
old, as things move and change so rapidly in this land of ad
vancing change. But here is one article that with the exception
of some of the old figures is still apropos. It is of a fair held
here in the fall of 1907.
And incidentally I may say that from North Bay to a point
just below this town, the land is rough and almost wholly unfit
for agriculture. But here begins what is called "the Clay Belt,"
which runs, with a few exceptions of rough mineral strips, all
the way north to as far as settlement has reached, which is prac
tically hundreds of miles, for even at James Bay they claim to
be able to grow good roots and hay in abundance.
Agricultural Possibilities of New Ontario
I was surprised at the mineral resources of New Ontario,
but I was surprised far more at the agricultural possibilities of
this great north country, the day I attended a fair at New Lis
keard. I had watched the growth of grain and vegetables from
the sowing of the seeds to the harvesting of the matured product.
"Matured product!" No! Not matured, for the fair being
held in September, much of the product had to be pulled or dug
before it was matured, and yet I saw potatoes the size and per
fection of which I had not seen elsewhere in Canada; turnips
so large that a rank outsider I saw looking at them asked of
me: "I wonder what kind of punkins them are?" And I could
7
98 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
not smile at his inquiry, for they were much larger than many a
variety of pumpkins grown in older countries; cabbages so firm
and large that they might have taken first premium in any coun
try in the world; celery that would have made glad the heart of
a Kalamazoo raiser of this delicacy; beets that made even the
name respectable; carrots more perfect than I had ever before
seen; citrons so immense that a down south "nigger" expert
would have stolen for a " wattermillion " ; cucumbers that might
have been pulled for long neck squash; cauliflower that a single
one might have served for a hotel menu; and, well, the vegetable
exhibit was so remarkable that I am convinced that all that has
been said about the productiveness of the soil of this upper sec
tion of Ontario does not in any way over-rate its possibilities,
and when, under thorough cultivation, will equal, if not surpass,
any other in the province.
While on this subject I must speak of the rapidity of growth
of vegetation. I saw potatoes, the seed of which were planted
late in June, which weighed 2^ pounds. A market gardener,
who has supplied four of the largest towns in the mining dis
trict with vegetables, came here in March. He had to get his
land in readiness, put up his buildings, and contend with many
difficulties, and yet I have rarely seen a garden to equal his ten
acres of vegetables and flowers. At the fair of which I speak,
he took so many first premiums that his exhibit looked red with
them. Speaking of flowers, I was surprised at the great number
of varieties and the beauty of the specimens exhibited. Some
of the dahlias were like chrysanthemums for size, and were
perfect in color and petal.
You may have been told that corn will not grow in this far
north country. The gardener mentioned above showed some
excellent specimens, while Mr. John Lumsden had, in his big
exhibit of vegetables and grain, some fodder cornstalks that
were over twelve feet long.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 99
The Lumsden Exhibit
I have rarely seen such enterprise as is shown in connection
with these fairs. Mr. John Lumsden, of Lumsden s Mills,
brought a whole steamboat load of fine stock horses, cattle,
hogs, and farm products from his great farm at the foot of the
lake, nearly one hundred miles, to exhibit. Not for the money
premiums, but to encourage the raising of finer stock and the
growing of the best on the farm. His exhibit of horses and
cattle was fine enough for a State fair. To show how it does
encourage, and make the enterprising people of this upper coun
try want to get the best, Lumsden had hardly taken the highest
premium on a beautiful team of heavy draught horses when
"Big Pete" stepped up and said: "I guess, Jack, you d better
not take that team home. What s the price?" A big one was
named, when "the man whose touch is gold" said: "Leave the
horses."
Hon. Frank Cochrane s Interest in New Ontario
This fair was opened by the Hon. Frank Cochrane, Minister
of Lands and Mines. Nobody takes more interest in the good of
this country than he, and the people appreciate the fact. If any
thing is to be opened, from a fair to a , Frank is sent for to do it.
Everybody calls him Frank. Even the children forget the " Hon."
or "Mr." And why not? He makes them forget. I wanted
to take the picture of "The Beauty of the Temiskaming," and
had collected upon the steps of the schoolhouse a large number
of pretty little girls. "Frank" was standing near. He walked
over and took the centre of the group, to the great pleasure of
the children. Is it any wonder that they like him ?
Railway Commissioner Fred Dane was at the fair. He was
one of the speakers of the day, and a good one he is. Said he
had faith in the mines, faith in the agriculture, and unbound-
ing faith in the "Men of the North" who are building up this
part of the Dominion. I was afraid he was going to forget them,
100 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
but he didn t, as he wisely and most courteously closed with:
"And I must not forget to speak of the most important of all-
the pioneer women. I have faith in them. They deserve all
honor for the part they are playing in their encouragement,
their unselfish help toward making this a great and prosperous
country."
/
Wonderful Growth of Farm Products
The Hon. Cochrane, in his opening speech, said many things
of interest on the rapid advance made in Ontario farming and
dairying. Of these he said: "So much is being written of the
mining interest that we are too apt to think of it as paramount.
Not so. In 1905 the mines produced $25,000,000, while the
dairy products were $35,000,000." He spoke of the growth
in agriculture since 1896, which year the farms produced $29,-
000,000 worth. In 1906 they produced $60,000,000 worth.
Few outside of Canada know of the great interest taken in the
country s welfare by the women. Few, even in Ontario, know
that there are 420 women s institutes in the province. Much
is spent toward bringing agriculture up to a higher plane. In
1900 the province spent $209,269 for this purpose. In 1906
this had been increased to $341,073, while more than $500,000
was voted for 1907. Later: $750,000 for 1908.
Roads First, Then Settlers
One of the wisest things said by Mr. Cochrane was on the
subject of roads. "Build roads first, in localities fit for agri
culture and then open up these localities for the settler." This
is real wisdom. It would be best for the province and most
assuredly best for the settler, who would willingly pay a frac
tion more for his land.
He referred to the English newspaper men who are just now
visiting Ontario (later to look at other provinces). He may
have wished to be a bit severe, but he spoke of how one of them
told him: "Do you know, I thought Canada commenced at
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 101
Winnipeg." It is to be hoped that they will not only learn the
facts, but be able to convince their people that Canada is actu
ally larger than the whole of England, including Wales. It
may not be believed by all of their readers, but then that could
hardly be expected.
Rapid Rise in Land Values
This is but a mention. To tell you of all the agricultural
merits of this country would take far more space than I have
to give to them. I must, however, give you a notion of how fast
values are going up in some of the localities. In the foregoing
I spoke of a market gardener. He came in March last. He
located in this town to be near the markets. He then looked
around to find land to rent, and could not get a place nearer
than two miles out, and for this he had to pay $10 per acre rent.
This same land had been taken up by the owner, from the prov
ince, as a free gift. "Free," I say, as all it cost aside from
homestead duties was $80 for 160 acres. $80 for land that
within so few years brings $10 an acre just for one year s rent!
Why, that beats Ohio prices! My eyes, if the struggling workers
of the poor farming countries could but know of what is to be
had up here, as a gift, it would not be long until every lot was
not only taken up, but honestly worked!
One of the best farms in this country belongs to and is
worked by E. F. Stevenson, editor and proprietor of the
Speaker. His exhibit at this fair showed that he is quite as good
a farmer as he is an editor, and that is saying a whole lot.
What the Public Works Department is Accom
plishing in Northern Ontario
A friend showed me parts of a letter from his home in Eng
land. It is so full of text matter that I herewith give the parts.
The few knowing ones may smile at " Elsie s innocent que
ries, but the many are quite ignorant of the real facts. And
why not? This great north country is moving so swiftly along
that one must be right on the ground to keep in touch with the
advance. But to the extracts:
102 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
"I wonder if you have lodgings and how you like them, and
if the houses are painted, and if they have gardens and verandahs,
and whether they have boats on the lake, and what the mines
look like, and whether you have been down one, and whether
the people are all in the mining business, and if there are many
ladies there, and how far you are from the United States, and if
the people speak English, and all about it?" Not getting it all
into the one question, Elsie makes a fresh start, and asks: "Are
there many animals there ? What kinds of flowers and trees grow
in that country? Are the forests dark, and are there any paths
through them? I suppose the railroad must run through one
of them ? Are there many tunnels ? (The girls are so interested
in tunnels this is not Elsie s comment. It s but a long ago
memory of our own). Do they have lights in the railway car
riages ? Also do you have a light in your bunk ? These are
serious items."
Strange notions the English have of this, their most important
colony. Could she and all other "Elsies" but see the beauty
that surrounds "Papa," all throughout this magnificent north-
land, she and they would quickly change their crude concep
tions of New Ontario.
Government Roads
"Are there any paths through the forests?" How many
Canadians could answer Elsie s query? When Dr. Reaume,
the courteous Minister of Public Works Department, told me
that, in the Temiskaming District, there were built and under
construction two hundred and sixty miles of roads,* I could
scarcely believe it possible, and at once ceased to wonder that the
road of some small section of country is not rushed through as
fast as the people in that section think it should be rushed. To
them it is the only one. They forget the miles and miles to be
looked after elsewhere. And yet when a Government Inspector
shows favor to one locality over another locality, then the people
*Now 360 miles.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 103
have a right to complain. I know such sections. Did the good
Dr. Reaume know of them he would be quick to right the wrong,
since his one aim is to do justice to all. The people in the little
section ask: "Why does he not know of the way our Inspector
is doing?" They give no thought to the fact that the Temis-
kaming District is but one of possibly one hundred other dis
tricts, with their hundreds of subdivisions. They forget that
the Minister of Public Works has a country to look after as large
as that part of the United States east of the Mississippi River,
and running north and south from the Great Lakes to Tennessee
all save two of the states. They forget this, and blame him
for the error of some little inspector.
"Are there any paths through the forests?" Why, Elsie,
when you come to Canada you and your English countrymen
you will find a land so full of "paths" that you might spend
years traversing this one province alone. And going as you
might, you could not keep up to the builders of new paths, for
Ontario is doing herculean work in road construction.
FIRST CAR VALUES
BUT to get back to things mineral. Let s look at the enor
mous sums received for single cars of ore and that, too,
when the camp was just starting, and little or no machin
ery installed.
Some one has made a small list of first car values. The first
car from the Larose brought $124,000; Temiskaming, $92,000;
Trethewey, $83,000; Silver Queen, $68,000; O Brien, $65,000;
Coniagas, $45,000; Buffalo, $40,000. Doubtless many of the
recent shipments have run into very high values. The Crown
Reserve is said to have shipped a $90,000 car, and others running
far up.
As indicating the richness of the ores of Cobalt, that which
runs from $50 to $200 per ton is thrown upon the dump, to be
treated later by concentrators, which many of the larger mines
are installing. In the camp, millions of dollars in these low
grades lie in the dumps.
When the Canadian smelters get to running and all of the by
products are saved to the mine owners, still more fortunes will
go to many an one who would have once felt that he was a rich
man had his bank-book shown the value of the piles of rock
which is now not taken into account.
Smelters at Trout Lake, North Bay and
Sturgeon Falls
Large smelters are nearly ready to do business at both North
Bay and at Sturgeon Falls, 20 miles west. The one on Trout
Lake, a short distance from North Bay, is along the T. and. N.O.
Railway, the other on the C.P.R.
The day when the Cobalt ores return to the mine owners their
real value will be a happy day for the whole camp. At first and
104
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 105
for a long while after the shipping from Cobalt began, the smelters
charged prices that reminded one of Jack Shepherd or Rob Roy
times. The difference being that Jack and Rob needed the
money, and sometimes divided up with the poor, the others didn t
need the money and divided with nobody.
Another point is that many a mine, which is now not rich
enough to work, will become of great value when concentrators
are installed and the near-by smelters are set going. But with
all Coleman s vast store, there are a comparatively few of the 949
claims on which even a fine comb could find enough to pay for a
miner s breakfast.
This leads up to
A Warning to Buyers of Cobalt Mining Stocks
The Missouri man is not the only one who either has to be or
should be " showed." After being in the camp for many months
I am ever and anon running across prospectuses telling of prop
erties so vastly rich that I feel that I must have been asleep
while the discoveries (?) were being made, as I had never even
heard the names of the rich (?) mines, nor had I heard of any
discoveries being made in their locality.
Now, these glowing bits of hot air falling into the hands of
distant credulous ones, they would naturally think that they were
reading about a real mine, just because it was in this land of
richness, when the facts too often are like one I saw the other day.
It tells of a claim that lies in a district not known to have pro
duced a pound of value, and yet the distant reader of this prospec
tus would be made to believe that it w r as a veritable Larose or a
Nipissing, just because it lies within two miles of the Larose and the
Nipissing. Yes, my distant reader, be a " Missouri : man by
an honest proxy if not in person.
There are too many really good mines or well-located pros
pects to need waste your often hard-earned money in buying
shares in " paper mines" (of which Cobalt is so full), in the wrong
direction from the post office.
106 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
New Districts Often Full of Wildcats
Again, a new district may be found, a discovery made, and then
the rush. One good find will be reason for hundreds of " valuable
claims" being put upon the market, with no excuses in the wide
world than that they are "close by Quong Low s great find."
Larder Lake
I have been so often asked: "What do you know of Larder
Lake ? " I have to answer : " I don t know anything, and I haven t
yet found a man who does." One told about his prospectors find
ing values running up to $42,000 to the ton. He s now in jail.
The Government can stand a whole lot, but $42,000 was the
limit, and they brought this hot air artist up to a perpendicular.
Think of it! $42,000 in a locality where the few possible mines
would be considered excellent if they would produce $3 to the
ton. An occasional "mill run 1 shows a small "brick." The
:< brick" is taken to some city, put into a window and placarded
as something of an everyday affair. But months pass without
anything more being heard of "mill runs."
Some of the claims may yet prove of value. And well they
should in a district where over 7,000 were staked.
Of all the camps in the world none other has been so produc
tive of guesses. The Government sent one of its best geologists
to Larder Lake and his report was so full of " ?????" that you
might have thought they had sent a school-boy. He hardly made
a positive statement in his whole report. It was chock full of
big rock words, but nobody was any the wiser about Larder
Lake.
Looking at it from a distance, one cannot but think that the
camp has lacked in wise conducting. One manager was so
anxious to get machinery there quick that he had a great piece
taken up by express to the nearest station, where it remained
for months before he got it into his mine. That was over a year
ago and it is not running regularly yet, if even work has not been
stopped entirely.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 107
It would seem to be a "sample" camp. I have rarely heard
of one that could show so many fine samples. I met a big investor
the other day who said: "Let em talk as they please. Larder
Lake is full of Gold Bricks --! got a large one myself."
Later: It looks as though the Dr. Reddick and the Luckey
Boys properties will yet prove enormously valuable, but it will
take great and expensive plants to get out the best results. They
really have the gold. The only question is, how best to treat it
to get out full values.
Brokers and Brokers Promoters and Promoters*
While at it, I might as well get all my warnings into one
chapter. I would far rather" praise than condemn. I don t
like to condemn anything or anybody, but a book all of praise
would be of little value to the investing public.
Yes, there are brokers and brokers, promoters and promoters.
Some of them will treat you with as much honest care as if making
investments for themselves, while others would take your money
knowing that there is not the slightest chance of your ever getting
a little part of it back. Cobalt has had its share, and yet there
have been fewer of the kind who would not leave you the price
of a meal than in other like mining centres. The honest pro
moter will use some of the money he gets, for a bare prospect, to
develop what he has induced the purchasers of his stock to buy.
The other sort will take all he can induce the stranger or friend
-too often his friends to buy, and then leave both of them and
the camp, to spend their money in foreign lands. Some I know
who like the foreign lands so well that they haven t come back
yet, even, too, when they know how anxiously both stranger
and friend are awaiting their return. I mind me when we used
to say of this variety of man, "He has gone to Canada." Now,
it has gotten to be, "He has gone to the States." One I have
in mind who had the very best outlook of any other young man
in all this upper country so bright that he was called brilliant
who beat everybody who trusted him, and then hied him away
to save his the noun which sounds so much like that four-letter
* Any broker whose name is recommended in this book is a safe
man to deal with.
108 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES"
verb. Others used their own name as long as they could, and
when it got too rank started with some other, using the owner
of the "other" at a good salary.
But the good broker and promoter are "still doing business
at the same old stand" and you can bank on their honesty every
day, and these predominate especially of late, the atmosphere
growing too warm for the more pronounced of the other variety.
That s all. I haven t any more "Be carefuls." But mind
what you go into, and through whom you go into, anything in
the mining line.
Advance of Prices" I Told You So "
We men enjoy it quite as much as the women to say, "I told
you so!" In the first edition of The Real Cobalt, I told you how
that I knew of many stocks that would be cheap purchases at
three times what they could then be bought for. For this I was
criticized; some of you said I was talking through a head cover
ing. Now, I want to tell you how true were those words. And
there is never so good a way to emphasize as to give simple facts.
Let s compare things as a proof. I shall give prices then and
now. I shall take two brokers sheets of sales. One in December
when the book was ready for the printer the other for the sales
(or bids if no sales) of yesterday:
December 10, November n,
1907. 1908.
Buffalo $1.00 $3.65
Beaver 25 .56
Chambers-Ferland, that date
nothing bid i .08
City of Cobalt 1.05 2.65
Cobalt Lake 10 .22
Silver Queen 75 I -9
Cobalt Central 25 .63
Crown Reserve, then not known, but
later it was.. 10 2.70
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 109
Coniagas $ 3.95 $ 7.00
Green-Meehan 18 .36
Kerr Lake 4.00 5.10
Little Nipissing .20 .55
McKinley-Darragh 85 1.12
Nipissing 6.90 n.oo
Nova Scotia 17 .81
Peterson Lake 14 .48
Right of Way 3.15 3.90
Silver Leaf .09 .19
Temiskaming .34 i .80
*Temiskaming-Hudson Bay 150.00 275.00
Trethewey .55 1.60
Watts 45 .65
I thought to have given but a few of the mines; instead, prac
tically none of those which I had in mind when "I told you"
are omitted. None are below, many are double or more, some
three, one more than five, another nearly five, and the Crown
Reserve twenty-seven times higher. And these figures are very
easily verified should you doubt the accuracy of the statement.
Installation of Machinery
In an article on Goldfields the writer boasts of the fortunes
made in that camp without the use of machinery. While some
of the big fortunes were being made here there was practically
no machinery in the district some of the means of getting up
the material from the shafts were almost amusingly primitive.
Not until recently did even the larger mines begin installing up-
to-date plants. There was a fear that the camp was a surface
proposition, and few would risk big outlay for machinery. But
now, all throughout the district, is seen the faith the mine owners
have in the depth of their holdings, by the great concentrators,
and machinery of the most approved type. At such mines as
* This started at SI. 00 a share, and even went below. In fact, I
heard of one tired man who offered one hundred shares for ten dollars.
110
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
these may be seen great works, some of them running night and
day. The Larose, Chambers-Ferland, O Brien, Nipissing,
Right of Way, Cobalt Lake, McKinley-Darragh, King Edward,
Victoria, Nova Scotia, Kerr Lake, Drummond, Crown Reserve,
Foster, University (now a part of the Larose Co.), Cobalt Central,
Temiskaming, to the east; and Silver Queen, Townsite, City of
Cobalt, Nancy Helen, Buffalo, Coniagas, Trethewey, Hudson
Bay, in and to the west of the town. And it will not be long until
many others will begin installation of plants.
THE ELECTRICAL ORE FINDING CO., LTD.
Numerous devices have been used in the Cobalt camp- for
finding ore other than with the pick and the shovel, but none
of them had been successful until the Daft- Williams was tried
at the O Brien Mines, under instructions from Mr. M. J. O Brien.
In a report of these trials made by John F. B. Vandeleur, M.E.,
lf~ : !
e / EC TfflCJL &/*? -
- 95 /hs
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
111
O &RIEN MINE.
and Mr. Williams, I find that the instrument indicated silver
at a place where there was no indication whatever to guide the
prospector. The surface earth was removed, and leaf silver
was found at a depth of not over three feet, and the vein has
since proved to be one of their best producers. Even a more
striking instance of the accuracy of the instrument, says the
report, was shown by a test made to locate the Number 26 vein
on the Nipissing property where it was expected to enter the
O Brien. The O Briens had spent much money in trenching
without locating this vein. Permission was given to "earth"
the current from the Finder on the 6o-foot level of the Nipissing
vein, the other pole being placed on the surface. Negative
results from the "resonator" proved that the vein did not con
tinue toward the O Brien property, but, on the contrary, took
a sharp turn to the right, almost at right angle, toward the Little
Nipissing lease in Peterson Lake easterly. Subsequent work
ings on the Nipissing have proved this change of direction to
be correct.
112
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
This Finder is not an experiment, but a proven appliance,
as in Australia and other mineral lands numerous practical
successes are accredited to it. By its use metal deposits, in
visible to the prospector, and often undiscoverable by mining
engineering, are located and traced.
Professor Sylvanus Thompson, D.Sc., F.R.S., B.A., of Lon
don, England, one of the highest authorities on "earth waves,"
was at first sceptical, and went to Wales to see a practical test
of its working of the invention in the lead mines there. In his
report, which was a lengthy one, he said, in conclusion: I,
therefore, venture to believe that this ore-finding apparatus is,
by its very simplicity, destined to perform good service in use
ful fields."
Leo Daft, one of the inventors, was the inventor of the " third
rail system." From this it may be seen that it was no ordinary
man who claims that it is possible to reveal hidden wealth.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
113
STATISTICS OF OUTPUT OF 1908
COMPANY
COBALT
CAPITAL
$1,000 000
SHARES
ISSUED.
750000
PAR
VALUE
$1 00
ACREAGE.
60
SHIPMENTS
(TONS)
DURING 1908. 1
TOTAL
FONNAGB TO
OEC. 31, 1908
DIVIDENDS
PAID OK
DECLARED TO
DEC. 31. 1908
1 500 000
1 461 247
1 00
20
Buffalo Mioes
Cobalt Central
Chambers Ferlaod
1,000,000
5,000,000 -
2 500 000
1,000,000
4,761,500
2311 000
1.00
1.00
1.00
40
owned 770
leased 40
124
492.37
278.97
251 95
2,927.51
356.30
251 95
$297,000.00
95,230.00
City df Cobalt
Cobalt Lake
500,000
5,000,000
500,000
3,929,166
1.00
1.00
99 year lease
41
47
765.78
20294
816.39
202.94
93,850.00
Crown Reserve
Coniagas
Elkhart
2,000,000
4,000,000
1 00 000
1,768,814
800,000
320,000
1.00
5.00
25
23
40
103J
637.96
612.11
637.96
3,512.10
353.762-J80
800,000.00
Foster
Gifford
1,000,000
1 50 000
915,588
400,000
1.00
25
40
20
188.65
701.63
45.799.00
Green-Meehan
1,500,000
1,500,000
1.00
33
135 42
Hudson Bay
Kerr Lake
La Rose Consolidated
Little Nipissing
25,000
3,000,000
7,500,000
1,000,000
7,761
600,000
1,143,368
780,000
1.00
5.00
5.00
1 00
340
57
319"
owned 38
1,110.04
633.49
ROBS
4,931.89
2005
1,252.57
1,166.55
^!299!86
2005
1,024.452.00
840,000.00
Limited)
400,178.80
McKiuIey-Darragb
Nancy Helen
2,500,000
500,000
2,246,937
500,000
1.00
1 00
leaied 10
122
46
1,831.05
"201 67
3,124.96
231 77
357,509.92
Nipissing
Nova Scotia
Otisse
6,000,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
1,200,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
5.00
1.00
1.00
846
owned 38
leated 30
41
3,615.62
.264.08
8,821.98
580.24
2,340,000,00
Peterson Lake
Right of Way
Red Rock
3,000,000
500,000
(COMPANY IN
2.561,820
499,518
LIQUIDATION)
1.00
1.00
208
19
40
40.67
768.10
40.67
943.72
45 71
159,822.27
Rochester
1,000,000
1,000,000
1.00
60
Silver Bar
500,000
500,000
1.00
25
Silver Leaf
5,000,000
5,000,000
1.00
45
18679
242 16
Silver Queen
Tetniscamingue
1,500,000
1,500,000
1.00
58
998.64
1,652.78
315.000.00
now
Temiskaming
Tretheway
University
2,500,000
1,000,000
1,000,000
2,500,000
945,450
100,000
1.00
1.00
10.00
120
43
56
733.97
1,408.53
938.79
2,679.17
61385
375,000.00
?I7,463.50
Watt*
1,000,000
1 ,000,000
1.00
40
250.61
269.61
8
114 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
The foregoing is what was done last year 1908. What
will be done this year is going to surprise the world, since so
many new mines will be added to the shippers in a short time,
while many of the old ones are already showing increased output.
THAT WONDER-WORKER, THE CROWN
RESERVE MINE
There is one feature of last year s shipments that is so mar
vellous that I must call attention to it, as showing the rapidity
of a mine s increase. The Crown Reserve made its first ship
ment for the year in March, when it shipped 6.85 tons, in April
it shipped 20 tons, nothing in May, 22 tons each for June and
July, 27 tons in August, 30 tons in Sept. (now watch it jump),
136 tons in Oct., 208 tons for Nov., and 176 tons for Dec. This
was looked upon as marvellous. But it drops to the ordinary
when we think of what that phenomenal company did in Janu
ary, 1909. Now listen a minute! The original cost of the
property was $178,500. In January its net profit /or the single
month was $175,688.
When a company reaches such phenomenal success, every
body gets to asking: (i Who are they who have brought it about?"
So often we find a company made up of men whose very good
fortune everybody deprecates. But here is one made up of
men whose success is pleasing to all who know them, for they
are big enough to stand prosperity. As see the Directorate:
Colonel John Carson, Insurance Broker; Charles A. Smart, of
the Smart Bag Company; J. G. Ross, a widely known Accountant;
Robert Reford and Wm. I. Gear, of the Robert Reford Shipping
Company; H. H. Lyman, of the Lyman Brothers Drug Co.;
J. R. Laurendeau, A. G. Gardner, D. W. Lockerby, and Jas.
Cooper, all of Montreal; and Ziba Gallagher, Barrister; and
Charles E. Potter, City Dairy, both of Toronto.
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 115
CANADIAN JUSTICE
Speaking of the Montreal River country, when the history of
the Otisse Claim is finally told, it will be one of the most
dramatic of all the various camps, from Cobalt to the Height
of Land. In this history came near being that which might
have proved a very dark page, re Canadian justice. In a suit
that emanated from this claim, one of the most courtly English
gentlemen who has ever come to Canada was branded as a
perjurer. But on the trial to which he was subjected, he was
vindicated "with honor," as the wise judge said at the close of
that trial. Connected with the case was a character so despic
able, that his own neighbors are ashamed to have it known that
he lives on their street. I shall never forget that second trial
the one for which the gentleman was up for perjury.
The judge had but entered when the jury was quickly em
panelled and the case opened by the charge being read to the
prisoner, and the question asked: " Guilty or not guilty?" "Not
guilty!" rang out in such honest, clear tones, that not one
of the twelve men who sat in that jury box could doubt the
words for one moment. And when the vile accuser was called
to the witness stand, and the questions began to be put to him,
not one in the whole court-room but felt that he, and not the
accused, was on trial. His shameful character was laid bare
and he was made to admit that he was the perjurer. He had to
admit deeds that should have made a devil blush with very shame.
The accused had hunted out his life on two continents and laid
that life as an open book before the crowded court-room. Per
jury, forgery, and all the category of evil things, were charged
against him by the press and read out to the jury by his lordship s
ruling. And when they retired, it was to go to the decision room,
only to return as quickly as the foreman could poll their votes.
"What is your verdict?" asked the judge, because it was in the
order of things. He and all knew the answer before the fore
man replied, in the same ringing tones as had the prisoner (?)
at the opening of the trial: "Nox GUILTY!" At that a shout
116 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
went up that even the serious judge could not check, even had
he so wished. The friends of the prisoner prisoner no longer
could scarce get to him for the strangers that crowded around to
grasp his hand in heartfelt congratulation. It was the vindica
tion of an honest man, and not one in that court -room but realized
and rejoiced.
I was surprised to see the comments by the press on the
judge whose judgment sent a gentleman to prison. One of the
caustic comments was, that " It is to be sincerely hoped that
this will remain unique."
It reminded me of the comments on a judge down home.
After a decision he had passed, someone said: " The great error
of his life was in leaving the old farm, for he would have
made a fine farmer, and especially so if he had had a good
foreman, who knew how."
What! You would know the name of one whom all who know
the man are so delighted to see so proudly vindicated? How
natural! The heart of every honest man beats faster, and with
joy at thought of a good man s vindication! I shall give you
the name. It is not that of a stranger, for it is one so widely
known in England, America and Canada, that its bare mention
will recall one of the most charming English gentlemen who has
ever visited this continent,
Mr. Edward Kenyon Stow
When the Baring Brothers failed, this millionaire entertainer
of Royalty went from a palace to an humble dwelling, for he
too went down in the crash. The fortune vanished, but the man
remained. He came to America, and later to Canada, where,
by absolute, honest dealing, he has won the friendship of every
one who has dealt honestly with him, and made enemies of those
whose trickery he has exposed. And yet he is so free from vin-
dictiveness that he has no ill to say of the man who kept him in
durance vile for the term of forty days. But for that matter
he owes to him a wide, extended list of friends among the
men who love justice. As a famous Montreal doctor expressed
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 117
himself, on hearing the result of the trial: "I am glad to think
that the jury exonerated him, not only on his own account, but,
as well, for the honor of our own Canadian courts." Again,
that trial was not only to him a good fortune, but it brought out
the contrast of men as I have never before seen contrast made.
All throughout its length his character shone out clear and bril
liant, while those of his accusers dwindled into such meanness
that no young man present but learned a lesson most valuable
in showing them that the best is the honest way.
Bankers, barristers, financiers and many others attended the
two days trial to offer their testimony to the character of Mr.
Stow. One K.C. came from Haileybury 334 miles north-
leaving his practice, and at his own expense. Such is the love of
justice here in Canada, when there is a possible chance that
justice might miscarry but fortunately for the good name of
the country it did not miscarry in the case of this man, whose
chief characteristic is " absolute integrity," as a learned man put it.
I have dwelt thus at length, for I have seldom found so good
a subject for my pen, and I would set forth the example of one
so full of real worth that others may see the value of true, honest
character, when estimated by those who have a medium of reach
ing the attention of the world. To know such a man as E.
Kenyon Stow is seldom the good fortune of a writer, even though
his acquaintance include thousands. "Strong words?" Yes,
but the subject requires it.
The life history of Mr. Stow would read like a romance.
We find him at 19 years of age in the Argentine Republic, the
owner of a 60,000 acre wheat ranch, the constructor of a castle
in that wilderness, and the builder of a railroad to connect it with
civilization. Not only has he been a great business man, but a
lover and patron of the higher games and sports. He, with a
small coterie of young Englishmen, stood for years at the head of
all polo players in the world, for it was he and they who made
that great sport what it is to-day, and to his efforts alone was
polo perfected in America, where he made the famous Wat erbury
boys invincible for many years.
Yes, strong words. But again the subject requires it.
118 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
U. S. Grant Early
I warrant that few mining countries have developed the high
class of young men that can be found in New Ontario. You
know the sort I mean the kind who, up to a few years ago, used
to come down to New York to take the positions so quickly
offered them when they but said they were from Canada. These
boys are now staying at home and helping develop the mighty
resources of their own country. The Cobalt District is full of
them, and of the number is one whose name takes me back
home to the days when we used so like to grow hoarse hurrahing
for "U.S. Grant." The namer of this "U.S." was an impartial
namer, for he got in a general upon the other side "Early"
and bearing the names of two such generals, is it any wonder
that we find in him one of the successes of the camp ?
Young Early he is still only a boy left school at his home
Huntsville, Ont. and went up to Latchford in May, 1906. Here
he unfortunately got in company with two mining engineers,
who were going up the Montreal River, and asked that he go
along. He went. The only way then to reach this marvellous
country was by the canoe, so they paddled the 55 miles to where
is now Elk City. All the way up the engineers were telling
Grant how to prospect for silver. But when they reached " The
Land of Silver"- since so named they spent two weeks walking
over millions of mineral, and then declared that there wasn t
"a dollar s worth in the whole country," and then they
paddled on to Fort Metachewan, and still finding the rocks all
barren (?) they returned down the river to tell the result of all
their trouble. "Unfortunately," I said. Had he taken a black
smith, a tie-cutter, a railroad navvy, or a prize-fighter, he might
have located some of the enormously valuable claims but a
mining engineer well he took two of them, and I ve told you
the result. He was younger then than now, and would never
do it again.
Like many another, he "went broke," but, being an expert
telegraph operator, he took a position with the T. and N.O.,
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 119
being sent around to the various stations. Later he went with a
broker in Haileybury, and quickly taking up the business, and
being remarkably bright, we might expect him shortly to start in
for himself, which he did, in New Liskeard, where he formed an
ideal partnership with another of the Cobalt successes, W. J.
Egan everybody s genial friend, "Will," so well known in
Ottawa. From a small beginning they have, by square dealing,
built up a clientage which numbers every man whose business they
have once had. They not only make friends, but judiciously
handle the business of these friends.
When Gowganda was discovered they became at once identi
fied with the new camp, and have already put through some of
the big things of that camp, and have many others on the way.
Canoe Race for a Fortune
It would be a safe wager, that the greatest canoe race of
modern times was run between Elk City and "M.R. 1153," a
mining claim lying about half-way between Miller and Everett
Lakes, east of the Gowganda district. It was a race for a fortune.
Dr. Barlow, or one of his men, staked a forty-acre claim on a
discovery. Shortly after, Kilpatrick found mineral on the same
claim and put in his stakes. Both recorded, or went to Elk City
to record. An inspector was sent to determine which of the two
had the better discovery. He returned, and each of the interested
parties prepared for an adverse decision. If both should be
thrown out, that meant: "Which of us can first get back to put
in other discovery stakes?" for, in the meantime, both had made
sure enough discoveries. Kilpatrick and Stevenson his canoe
mate and Smith and an Indian, were to be the contestants.
Canoes were in readiness and all stood upon the bank of the Lake-
River (for the Montreal River is called Elk Lake up and down
from Elk City) waiting for the decision. Word was called from
the near-by Mining Recorder s office: "Both thrown out!"
Inside of thirty seconds the Kilpatrick canoe was off, headed for
the first portage, 14 miles up the lake. Smith was delayed for
a few minutes, for the Indian was not there quite on time. But
120 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
when he did come his long years of skilful handling of the pad
dle soon told in the contest, and before the race was far on its
course they were seen to ibe gaining. The paddles flew faster,
until the two canoes were running side by side. But that was all.
They might catch up, but to gain a foot thereafter proved for
Smith and the Indian an impossibility. And not only that, but
the two white men showed the greater endurance and reached
the portage first. But see! What means this? They leave
their canoe at the lake and fairly fly across the portage. For
the first time it dawns upon Smith that he had not fully prepared
for the long contest. Kilpatrick had prepared, for at the further
end of the many long portages he had had canoes placed, so that
they might not have anything but themselves to carry across,
and that they did so fast that only the high spots were touched.
Swiftly they sped. It is portage and paddle paddle and port
age! Lake after lake is passed as they hurry on toward the
fortune at the end! But what means that, far up along the
course ? Looking to right and left, in the distance, on either side,
can be seen flames and smoke! The forest is on fire! But, un
daunted, they forge ahead. In places, as the lake narrows, the
heat is so intense that they cover their faces to protect them from
the flames. At the end of a long portage they find but the charred
remains of a canoe. Creeping along the sides of the lake, as best
they can, they reach their next canoe. And so runs their course
until they are within three miles of their destination, when they
stop to fire the signal of their coming. That signal is the firing
of five sticks of dynamite, let off at one-minute intervals. The
signal is heard, and in are driven the stakes by the waiting men
at the claim, and as the two tired canoe-men come up they find
that all is now secure, and hurriedly eating the first morsel since
morning it is now ten o clock at night they wait not to rest,
but turn and retrace their course, and next morning are waiting
at the office ready to record.
One unaccustomed to that country can but faintly realize
the wonder of it! The distance covered was between sixty and
seventy miles, with thirty portages to be made, and the time oc-
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 121
cupied only a little over a day. Is it any wonder that this was
looked upon, even in that country of hardy men, as a great feat
of endurance? Few could have done it. Why, Smith and the
Indian were left hours behind.
But, oh, how it paid! Kilpatrick will possibly realize $1,000
or more for every mile of that long race. He has already refused
$50,000 for the claim. "No," says he, "that offer was not even
a little inducement for it."
This is but one of the many interesting, and often thrilling,
stories of that great silverland. Some of the stories will never
find their way outside the camp, for many a miner is so reticent
that he will keep to himself that which would read like the rarest
romance.
" Clarry " Miller, the Youngest Prospector
in the Camp
One of the characters of the whole mining district is little
"Clarry" Miller, son of J. W. Miller, of Elk City. I will war
rant that he is the youngest prospector in Canada. Although
but sixteen years old, and small for his age, he has been a hunter
of mineral almost since he was eight years old. Born in Wash
ington, he has been with his father in the mines of that State,
and at fourteen they went overland to Alaska, walking to and
from Fairbanks, and side trips, sixteen hundred miles. The
story of that long journey is like reading a tale of fiction. Boy-
like, "Clarry" remembers the little things that go to add zest
to the telling. I would that I had the space to relate some of
the incidents of that journey, much of the way through places
where they travelled alone by the compass, and the water-courses;
how their pack-horse gave out, not being able to stand the hard
ships which were endured by this child. At one place they came
upon a family of Indians who had never before seen a white boy.
The Indian mother tried to buy " Clarry," offering as high as
seventy-five cents for him, which amount to her was a small
fortune. These Indians told most graphically in the Chinnuck
122 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
language of the first white man whom they had ever seen.
They told of how he had sung them a song, they even remem
bering some of the words. "It was almost pathetic," said Mr.
Miller, "to see what an event that meeting was to these primi
tive people. Why, they even wanted me to sing them a song,
and you may know how primitive they were, and easily pleased,
when they seemed delighted at my attempt at music." And
then I said, "Yes, very." Ever hear Jack Miller sing? Yes.
Well, then you may know why I said, "Yes, very."
But about "Clarry." When, two years ago, Mr. Miller
left Washington for Cobalt, the boy came along, and has become
an expert prospector, going with his father on his tours through
out James, and lately the Gowganda, where they have found
some of the good claims of that marvellous country. There
is but one thing that has induced him to drop out of the miner s
life for a time, and that is to go to school that he may get back
into it again not as the prospector, but as a mining engineer,
and with his observing nature, this widely travelled boy must
become an expert watch for him, as he is going to be heard
from in this wider field.
I asked Mr. Miller of the prospects for success in this camp,
as compared to the many other countries where he had followed
mining. "Far better than any other I have ever been in," said
he; "I am farther ahead in these two years than in all my life
up to now. No camp in the world can compare to it. And
yet mining has hardly started, when we think of the fields that
will be opened up in the near future."
A Fortune Through Kindness to an Indian
"A pebble oft turns a stream." A party of prospectors went
up the Montreal River to Fort Metachewan, intending to go
farther up, but by one of those strokes of good fortune they met
an Indian guide, who bears the name of two of the world s fam
ous, /Eneas Twain (no relation to Mark), and treating him
with much kindness won his confidence. When he asked where
they were going, and being told their destination, he at once
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 123
said: "Why go up the river? Me show you better place. Oh,
very good place! I hunt often. See white rocks, and every
where heap silver."
The snow was deep and hard, and the lakes were frozen,
so that the party could go straight to the Indian s "very good
place" without making a wide detour. They went with dog-
train. That is, they had everything but the dogs. But that
mattered not, as the prospect ahead gave them more than canine
strength to carry or drag the month s provisions, tents, mining
tools, etc. From the Fort they went in a southwesterly direc
tion, through a beautiful country, passing over many lakes,
until they came to a land where the miner s pick had never been
struck. Here they made camp, and J. W. Sanderson, the leader
of the party a Toronto fruit dealer started off at once to
prospect the Indian s words still ringing in his ears about that
; heap silver." The first thing he did was to get lost. No, not
lost. That he would not admit when the rest of the party found
him next day wandering round a lake. "No, I m not lost, but
the blamed camp is, as the Indians would say, " and from that
to this day that particular lake has been called Lost Lake, and
the one nearest is called Wigwam. And incidentally it was
the Sanderson party (associated with Sanderson were Geo. Dun
can and H. Peters, of Toronto,) that named Lakes Calcite,
Hunt, Sanderson, Leta, Birch, Pike and Bloom, which was not
far away, and at which they staked many claims, for all that
^Eneas Twain had told them was true. Of these claims they
have already sold enough to make them well-to-do, and have
enough left to make of them rich men.
Winter Road Built by the Sanderson Party
It was the Sanderson party and the Shields brothers who built
the winter road from Elk Lake to Bloom and Lost Lakes
built the fifteen to eighteen miles at their own expense, as I see
by the Government report. That s enterprise for you. To
say it quick it don t sound much. But to cut through a wilder
ness an eighteen miles road, with the thermometer dancing
124 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
crisply along between 30 and 60 degrees below zero, is far more
than mere sound. The 60 was on January 3oth. All this,
too, with only a thin tent o-nights between them and the Frost
King.
A Free Hostelry in the Wilderness
The Sanderson Camp on Lost Lake has long been head
quarters for the hundreds of prospectors. This was a God
send for many an one who would have fared badly but for this
free hostelry.
Bill and Jack Talk About Presentiments
A good story comes down the line from the early days of
the Bloom Lake prospectors, about how everybody s friend,
Will Askwith, and a canoe mate were paddling along over the
lake one evening as twilight shadows were fast turning to dark
ness. The two had grown serious the awful stillness all about
had made them so. "Jim," said Will, "what do you think
about presentiments? Ever hear of feeling that something
was a-going to happen, and for the life of you, you couldn t tell
what that something was?"
" Oh, yes, often, but I never took no stock in it. It s only
one of those old women stories that has come down along the
line from the days of superstition. Why do you ask? Do
you feel a queerness?"
"Oh, no, but I was just a-thinking of the stories I used to
hear when I was a kid."
He had hardly said this when he stopped paddling and be
gan digging at his ears. And asked: "Jim, do I look like I was
all right? Is there anything strange about me?"
"Yes, but say. Why, Bill, you look pale, and your eyes
shine like stars. What s the matter?"
"I don t know, Jim, but I m surely hearing things. It
sounds like what you might call heavenly music. 3
" Aw, come off. What do you know about heavenly music ?
Neither one of us is ready for that sort. Get to paddling else
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 125
we ll be left in the dark. But say, Bill. By Jinks, I m hearing
something too, and my hearin s none the best. Do you think
there s anything in them stories we used to hear when we were
kids?"
I don t know, Jim, but I wish it was lighter." And the
two paddled on, listening. All at once the "heavenly music"
stopped, and so did the paddlers. But when "Bake dat Chicken
Pie" greeted their ears, they forgot all about presentiments and
: when-we-were-kids" stories, and struck out in the direction
from whence came the sound, and soon landed at the Sanderson
camp, where they found a jolly party sitting around a grapho-
phone.
This is one of the stories that Crate missed. But it all hap
pened before the wonderful Bartlett mines were discovered by
Mclntosh and McLaughlin.
The pleasure of what often starts as a common-place story
is the unexpected, that occasionally creeps into the story. As
I collected the foregoing in various interviews, while trying to
get at the early history of this particular part of the mining
country, I heard the name of one whose friendship was com
pensation for a long sojourn in Montreal. And compensation,
too, for the one illness I have had in healthful Canada. The
name was that of
Dr. M. Lauterman
My doctor," as the ailing so love to emphasize and you
who know this particular one cannot blame us for the emphasis,
for it s worth being ill if but to know him. I am often accused
or criticized for allowing my heart to guide my pen. Can t help
it, even if I wanted to. If I find one who stands out pre-emi
nently worthy I shall never hesitate to turn pen over to heart and
allow it full scope. Too few in the world who throw ethics to
the wind and write as they feel.
But to the doctor. Asking Sanderson: "Who are in the
company? 1 imagine the pleasure his answer gave me, for "Dr.
M. Lauterman is of the number." And the how of his being
there is a good story in itself, and shows that the appreciation
of his worth is general. And here is the story:
126 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
Early in the spring of 1908 J. W. Sanderson and George
Duncan, fruit dealers with H. Peters, of Toronto, decided to
retire from the company and go prospecting "up the Montreal."
When Mr. Peters could not dissuade them from their purpose,
he agreed to look after the large trade that extended over On
tario while they went to seek the mineral which was making so
many others men of wealth. They went, he stayed, and did
the work which all had been conducting. It proved too much
for him, and his health broke under the strain. An old ailment
developed an ailment that none but the best physician could
cure. But who was the best, now that the great Kingston was
dead? After wide inquiry, he found that another of Montreal,
a specialist of rare ability, was highest recommended. To this
one he went, and that one was Lauterman. He had not gone
in vain, for in a few weeks he returned to his business a well man.
He was so grateful, that explaining the situation and expressing
his desires to his partners, the Dr. was given a fourth interest.
Had he been the ordinary man, this gift might have proved a
loss of that fourth. But the doctor was not the ordinary man.
His connection with large capitalists among his patients all
of whom are friends as well as patients gave him a command of
money that has since redounded so much to their interest, that
already they are fast realizing the wisdom of taking him into
the company. Nor does his acquaintance with capitalists in
clude those of Montreal alone, but it extends into many parts
of the financial world. Almost his first move was to interest
European bankers in their large holdings in the Bloom Lake
country, with the result that a company with a million dol
lars capital is now under way to open, and work, their many
claims. And this includes but a part of their property,
that the rest will be as advantageously placed is not doubted,
since his marvellous ability as a financier has been proven to
their good.
The Dr. is not only capable but he is dependable, and as
honest as he is able. He has but to pass upon a proposition
as good, when capital is ready for the enterprise, the holders of
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 127
that capital knowing that he will not, for simple gain, pass upon
that which is not safe.
It is a real pleasure to see one so worthy reaching the goal
of his ambition while yet a comparatively young man. And
with him that ambition is to be in a position to practise his pro
fession for the love he bears his fellow-men, and not for gain
alone. But for that matter, he has ever followed this course,
as many of the poor of Montreal will attest. His present good
fortune may be but the reward.
This whole story, from start to finish, proves what I set out
to say: It pays to be kind.
E. Wallace Williamson
Among the favorites of the Montreal River Mining District
is E. Wallace Williamson, who was Assistant Mining Recorder
at Elk City until he grew wise and "took to the woods" with
the rest of the boys. But by this time most of "the good things"
of the Miller, Bloom, Lost and the other lakes were all taken up,
and only the edges of Gowganda District left. It was pretty
hard to sit in the office and see, day after day, rich silver finds
recorded, and still keep on sitting in the office. But Wallace
" sat pat ; till the snows got away up almost to the office back
window, then the "fever" struck him hard and, throwing the
"job," struck out for Shining Tree Lake, away out twenty miles
to the west of Gowganda Lake, where as he was one of the
first three he soon staked four good claims, on which there is
diabase galore and as he puts it "just rotten with calcite."
In his party were his partner, Alex. Campbell, of Ottawa, and
their Indian guide, John Dominick. They had to cut a trail
through the dense woods, regular pioneer fashion, for miles of
the way. But it paid, for we certainly found a land that is
going to be heard from in a very short time. To show how
quickly a new district becomes known, we were there only ten
days, but left fifty prospectors hard at work staking claims."
Young Williamson must be rated among the much travelled,
having seen a large part of his own Canada and many parts of
our west.
128 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
George A. Herron
George A. Herron is another of the New Liskeard young men
who have set up their stakes in good ground, and "reaped some
an hundredfold," or more. Like most of the successful boys,
George landed in town and stayed, because he could get no
further unless he had walked. He came from near Charlotte-
tow^, Prince Edward Island. Came in the spring of 1907.
His success was slow 7 until, in last October, when he w r ent to the
Gowganda country, since which time it has been so rapid that
George hasn t had time to stop to count, lest some other get the
pick of the good things of that camp. His faculty of finding the
claims worth while attracted the attention of Mr. E. Kenyon
Stow, of previous mention, and now he is busy hunting out new
sections for this wise man from across the waters.
In all, George and his party have staked thirty-four claims.
Besides the work he has done for himself and Mr. Stow, he has
been connected with a large Ottawa Syndicate, for whom he has
done good work. It has come to this, that when George A.
Herron says a thing is good, his word is taken without a question,
,and when he makes a promise, it is accepted as readily as though
written in blue ink, and sealed with a corrugated red seal. George
.is worth while, for he makes good.
The Firm that Started with $300 and a
Broken Leg
Again reverting to the successful of New Liskeard. Two
brothers reached this town of many successes, and with a small
start they have become very wealthy, with two well-stocked
stores and large mining interests. I must tell you of that start.
One of them had $300, the other had a broken leg, which he had
acquired on the way up from "Down Front." New Liskeardens
have had many odd starts, but this must be rated the oddest of
the number. Somehow, even the worst sort of infirmities revert
to good to these peculiarly successful folk.
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Major M. Lauterman, M.D.
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The King Edward Hotel, Toronto, Ont.
Fire-proof One of the finest equipped hotels on the Continent."
There are many other claims that might have been made
for this great hotel. It is certainly one of the best conducted
on the continent, courtesy being general from bell boy to man
agereven the head-waiter will not refuse to speak to a guest
should he meet him after hours, while the clerks will answer
questions directly at you, rather than over your head, and beyond
you in short they were picked green, and haven t soured in
the ripening.
It is the great rendezvous of the successful mining man from
the north, the meeting place of the many conventions from the
States, the choice of the banqueters of the city, and the home of
the best tourists from all countries.
"Cobalt in Toronto"
The King Edward is so much identified with mining men
that a book on Cobalt would be incomplete without it. Here
have been conducted, and concluded, deals that ran into the mil
lions. There are few of the Cobalt mines but what in some
way, at some time, have been identified with this hostelry. For
this reason it is often referred to as "Cobalt in Toronto."
*Send post card for beautifully illustrated Guest Book
Frank Burr Mosure
Fred Calverley
Grant E. Rice
J. S. Crate
See pages 129-130
In Smythe
"Clarry" Miller (See page 121)
E. Wallace \Yilliumson Shooting a Rapid (See page 127)
ONADA5
TEN
GREATEST
MEN
1. Lord Strathcona, Montreal and London, England. 2. Sir Sandford
Fleming, Ottawa. 3. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Ottawa. 4. Hon. \V. S. Fielding,
Ottawa. 5. Sir Charles Tupper, |Bart., Halifax and London, Eng.
6. Hon. R. L. Borden, Halifax and Ottawa. 7. Goldwin Smith, Toronto.
8. Sir Wm. Van Home, Montreal. 9. Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, Montreal.
10. Wm. Mackenzie, Toronto. See page 132
WHAT THE PRESS HAS
DONE FOR SILVERLAND
FEW realize the enormous work done by the press toward the
development of the mineral resources of New Ontario. From
the first discoveries of the Cobalt District to the present time,
no feature of benefit to the camp but the press has forwarded it.
The first upon the new find is often the newspaper man, going
through hardships that would try the grit of an old miner, that
he may tell to the waiting world that which is of so much bene
fit to know.
No one paper has taken more interest in the country of silver
than has the Toronto World. Almost from the first it has had
Frank Burr Mosure--"The Man on The Spot" at Cobalt,
until he has become one of the institutions of the camp. And
with him, from the first, was his ubiquitous assistant, Fred. E.
Calverley; while J. S. Crate, of the same paper, may be said to
have made the Gowganda the widely-known district that it is
to-day, so short a time after its discovery, and for whom the suc
cessful will do too little if they do not do much, for to his letters
many a man can well credit his fortune. And even now the
World has "Alf ." Pulver " The Man on The Trail "in the Gow
ganda, later to follow up the new districts as the new districts
are discovered.
Many of the other city newspapers have done great work for
the camp in spreading the news of its discoveries and develop
ment. One of the best reports ever made of Cobalt was made
by the boys of the Toronto Globe. Of so much value was this
looked upon that the very large issue was quickly taken up, and
toward the last the price of a bound book was offered for single
copies of the paper.
9 129
130 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
No amount of labor is spared to give what the public want
to know. The Canadian Mining Journal of Toronto has spread
the best features of many camps throughout the Dominion,
before the mining people of all lands, until every district where
mineral is found is known to them in a conclusive way.
But the man who not only gathers his material on the spot,
but prints it in the camps, is our old Ottawa friend, Grant E.
Rice, with his two newspapers, The Montreal River Explorer
at Elk City, and The Gowganda Weekly. This is enterprise.
Almost before the town of this Go\vganda district is located,
Grant is preparing to issue his paper, and being right on the
spot, it should have a very wide circulation among the thou
sands who are and who will become interested in the details of
the camp, as -only a publication in the district can give those
details. Then, Grant has a way of making the dullest of sub
jects entertaining. Not that mining news is dull. Far from
it; therefore, you may look for a very live subject told in a live
way that s the Rice way.
Then there is the Nugget at Cobalt, Silver City News, and
Colonel C. C. Farr s Haileyburian, of Haileybury, not for
getting the Herald and Speaker of New Liskeard. All these
are sending out to the world that which is attracting to their
country men and means to develop the vast resources thereof.
Some of the stories may be hard to realize as true, but go up
there yourself, and you will blame them for being too modest.
Yes, you will have to include the "Colonel" with the rest.
Enterprise of Canadian Newspapers
Even as I am writing this sketch I am reminded of the down
right enterprise of the Canadian newspapers. We think we do
things quick down home, but this illustration will show that we
have no patent on rapid work. The sinking of the steamer
Republic is fresh in the minds of all the world. Here is how the
news was collected and spread by one of the Toronto papers
The Daily Star. I shall give it, since pages in generalities could
not so well prove the statement that the Canadian papers are
of enterprise.
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 131
Among the rescued passengers of the Republic were ten To-
rontonians, and their friends of that city were naturally
anxiously waiting any word from them. As the Baltic on which
the rescued were brought to New York touched the dock, a
staff correspondent of the Star stood at the gang-plank, and
as the 2,000 passengers were coming off, he, by calling out the
names of the ten of Toronto, not only found them, but secured
from them hurried interview s.
Now follows The Baltic touched the dock at 1.15 p.m.
By 1.40 the Star man had found the ten and gotten the inter
views. Running to the first elevated station, he was shortly
on his way to the Postal Telegraph building at 253 Broad w ay.
Here he quickly hired a direct wire to the Star office. It was
now 2 o clock. In exactly thirty minutes a whole column was
telegraphed, set in type, printed, and the boys yelling: "Uxtro!
Uxtrow.! All About the Saved Torontonians!" Now I call
that quick work from the touching of the steamer at the New
York dock to the selling of the news upon the streets of Toronto,
but one hour and fifteen minutes were consumed.
Wonderful Advance in the Making of News
papers in Canada
This leads me to remark the wonderful advance in the mak
ing of newspapers since I came to Canada in the summer of 1901.
The illustrated paper was then the rare exception, and such ar
tistic work as now is seen in the Standard of Montreal, the World
of Toronto, and many others was quite unknown in the Dominion.
Now, to illustrate the ordinary newspaper is so much the rule,
that even many of the country weeklies give a full page of pic
tures in each issue.
Few Then Many Monthly Magazines Now
And still in another branch have I noted a marvellous ad
vance during the past eight years. Then the monthly maga
zines were so rare that few even knew of their existence, while
132 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
now, weekly and monthly publications, other than the news
paper, are growing so fast in number in the many cities from
Halifax to Victoria, that only the advertiser can keep pace with
their arrivals. Some of these are so full of enterprise, and are
being so well supported by an awakened people, that they must
soon become rivals of those of our own old country.
I could not but note this in the recent numbers of a live Can
adian magazine. This publication conducted a voting contest
to determine who are
Canada s Ten Biggest Men
It was a brilliant conception, and so admirably conducted,
and the result so accurate, that not a criticism has been made.
As this book is to be sent to the public libraries of every civil
ized country in the world, I shall not only give the names of the
Big Ten, but their portraits as well, that the far-away reader may
know the names and see the faces of Canada s foremost men.
From left to right the portraits run: Lord Strathcona, without
question, the greatest of them all, High Commissioner for Canada
in London; Sir Sandford Fleming, scientist, able writer, Canada s
greatest Civil Engineer, known throughout the world as "The
Father of the Pacific Cable, and with Lord Strathcona holds a
place in the hearts of Canadians that will long remain vacant at
their going; Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Premier of Canada, and eloquent
leader of the Liberal party; Hon. W. S. Fielding, ablest Finance
Minister that the country has ever had; (as the Hon. Sydney
A. Fisher is the greatest Minister of Agriculture); Sir Charles
Tupper, one of the greatest of the nation s moulders; Hon. R. L.
Borden, the youngest of the number, able statesman, charming
gentleman, and wise Leader of the Opposition; Mr. Goldwin
Smith, "the peer of any intellect now in the world" (as the editor
of the publication rates him), writer and philosopher; Sir Wm.
Van Home, a railway man who has left his mark on more than
Canada, patron of the Arts and encourager of young men in their
efforts to do; Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, a man without a peer
as a railway builder; and Mr. Wm. Mackenzie, whose rapid
S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 133
rise in the railway world must be rated phenomenal. With Mr.
Mann he is doing work that "herculean" will scarce express.
These are they whom the voters counted the Biggest Ten. I
set out to gather a series of the Big Ten in Art, Music, Literature
and Letters, the Professions, the Pulpit, Legal, Medicine, Surgery
and Special Business, etc. But when I had scarce begun, I
found that the task was one to be deferred for the next edition,
since, to be fair and at all accurate, much time would be required
and much assistance asked, from the Morgans of the nation, since
Canada is so full of men of ability who should be accorded a place
among the Tens.
But among the Near Big, I must here include a number who
stand out so conspicuously that the stranger cannot but recog
nize them.
I feel confident that among the Near Big were such men as
Benjamin Suite, the poet-historian of Ottawa, whose work will
place his name upon the lips of posterity a thousand years down
the line. He is one who should have been long since recognized,
instead of some of the little nobodies who were honored "for
long and efficient service," who would have turned heaven and
earth to hold their place in the "service," and whose retirement
caused not a ripple, save that of joy, among those over whom they
had unkindly ruled. Sir James M. Lemoine, Quebec s Grand
Old Man, whom forty great societies of the world have done
themselves honor by honoring, must be placed among the Near
Big. When the walls of that old city shall have crumbled away
to dust the name of this splendid patriarch will stand forth clear
and bright.
When many an one now receiving the huzzas of the populace
will be found alone in "Morgan," the people of the future will
give place to that writer and rate him at his worth, forgetting most
of the thousands about whom he has told, for Dr. Henry J.
Morgan, of Ottawa, is doing more for all of Canada than Canada
now realizes.
The great Canadian sculptor, Hebert, is chiselling out more
than mere monuments to the renowned of his country. He is
carving for himself a name that must remain pre-eminent as long
as the chiselled granite shall stand.
134 SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
When Old Quebec is forgotten and New Quebec is looked
upon as "The Beautiful City," the children will ask: "Who
wrought this beauty?" Then will be heard again the name of
one of the ablest business men that Canada ever produced the
Hon. S. N. Parent, the man who is now crossing the continent
with a great railway line.
The name "Gunhilda" should have a place among the Near
Great, for did she not change a law which finally the Old Mother
land had to follow that the honor of many a family might be
vouchsafed? I mind me well when the name of her talented
husband, Dr. E. Stone Wiggins, was known by more people in
my country than that of any other Canadian.
"As ye did it unto the least of these," said the greatest who
ever lived on earth. He might have had in mind looking into
the far future a man whom many look upon as near the top
of more than the Near Big. In this beautiful Northland lives
a man whose name will be handed down to unborn generations.
He saw millions being spent for colleges and great universities,
and watched the rich erecting hospitals for the sick and afflicted.
But in the much building he saw meagre thought given to the
poor little folk, many of whom went hobbling through childhood
up into a life of unequal advantage. For them he builded the
Sick Children s Hospital in Toronto, and set the example for
many another, in many another great Canadian and American
city, to follow. That is why John Ross Robertson, of Toronto,
is placed by many near the top of more than the Near Big.
One of the World s Greatest Men
Heading the list of that publication s Big Ten, stands a man
who might well be placed far up in the list of the whole world s
Big Ten, for few in all the earth can be rated a greater than
Lord Strathcona. Many give their millions, but no living man
gives so much of heart along with the money as this man of
fabulous wealth. His love for his people has made of him the
idol of his people. And with it all he is so sweet in nature that
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 135
a little child might approach him without a fear. Some men
are great alone to the great. Lord Strathcona stands peer to
any in the world, and yet is modest with it all. His benefac
tions are not confined to his vast donations to colleges, univer
sities and hospitals. All throughout Canada are humble citi
zens who bless his name for his silent benefits, of which he and
they alone know. To write of such a man is a real joy.
Great Men Always Kind
Great men are always kind. Without kindness of heart,
they lack that much of being great. A writer once looked upon
an eminent man as being the just idol of his country. He wrote
of him in glowing terms; he wrote of him in many books, and
always in praise. One day meeting the great one, the writer
of many volumes said: "I have written another book on your
country." It was not a large one, and might have been put
into the great man s pocket as he could have put into his pocket
a folded pamphlet. Said the author, reaching out the small
book, "I would be pleased to have you accept a copy." The
"Idol," turning upon the kindly-intentioned author, said most
rudely: "I can t be accepting things on the street. Bring it to
my office," and left the poor, crestfallen fellow standing there.
It was only a few words the great one spoke, but in those words
a whole volume was uttered. Years passed. The great one s
friends, wishing to have him put before the country, went to the
most famous writer of the country and asked that he write of
him, for, said they: "You alone can do it as it should be done."
To their surprise the famous one refused. He refused, and told
the instance of the great man s rudeness to the kindly-inten
tioned author. The friends went away and asked no other to
write of the Idol. It was but a little thing, but it was far-reach
ing, and has not yet gone its length. He was unkind, and lacked
that much" of being great.
136 S1LVERLAND AND ITS STORIES
What It Means to be "Big"
Did you ever stop to think what it means to be BIG? Did
you ever sit down and figure out how many people must think
of you as of enough importance to place you, not only above
themselves, but above the other folks that live in the country?
If you have, then you must realize that it means a whole lot to
have the millions of a nation to call you BIG. And even then,
are you great, because you have earned the plaudits of your
fellows? Yes, and again no. You are worthy the honors they
have paid you, if what you have done to earn those honors is for
the good of all the people. The man who places party above
nation is not great, no matter the huzzas he may receive while
he lives. The politician is often confounded with the states
man, while he lives, but never after. The memory of the one
is buried with his body the other grows brighter with the pass
ing of time.
The name of good Queen Victoria will be an honored one
ages down the line the name of Lincoln is growing as the years
pass, and already like the good Queen s has burst the bounds
of country and is claimed by a worshipping world. Queen and
humble man belong to all humanity, because they sought to
uplift all humanity.
The contest which has placed the names of ten men above
all their fellows shows that a nation at large, when asked to
name their greatest men, make little mistake. Local pride is
forgotten, and true worth sought out and justly honored. In
this contest, real wisdom was shown in the selection. In the list
are men whose memories will need no chiselled stone, for they
are deeply graven in the hearts of their people, to be told of by
future mothers to their little ones, as they ask: "What did this
man do? And what did that man do?" "He wrought good
for the whole nation!" And that is what it means to be called
great above and by the millions of the people.
SILVERLAND AND ITS STORIES 137
Honor to Lincoln
I cannot close this sketch without doing my little part toward
repaying the Canadians for their beautiful tributes to the name
of Lincoln. Even while this sketch was being written, two of
Toronto s foremost men were speaking of our beloved man from
Illinois. Mr. J. A. Macdonald, editor of The Toronto Globe, in his
eulogy, in Chicago, brings still nearer together the hearts of all
Anglo-Saxon people. Few orations, in all our own broad land,
no matter by whom delivered, can compare with that grand tribute
to Lincoln, paid by a citizen of Canada. And when I listened to
the great preacher, who reminds me so much of Beecher, in looks
and in speech, that I cannot but feel that I am again in old Ply
mouth every time I hear him; when, I say, I listened to the Rev.
Byron H. Stauffer, speaking of Lincoln, in a Canadian church,
in such beautiful language, my heart went out in love to all Canada.
Never had I, in my own land, heard sweeter words spoken in
honor of the name we so revere. It made me happy to think
that, by mere accident, I had written of the birth-place of this
great Canadian preacher the little City of Berlin, in this Ontario.
I am ever noting the little things, and the big things, that are
binding Canada and the States together not in a political way,
but in a heart way. In that we are already together. The other
need never be, for tis better as it is.
The Twentieth Century for Canada
When once I get upon the subject of Canada s men, and her
marvellous advancement, I am lost. This is my twelfth book on
the Dominion, and in each and all of them I have tried to tell of
her men and a little part of her advancement, but I cannot keep
pace either I or the printers are too slow. One of the "Ten"
above has said: "The Twentieth Century belongs to Canada,"
and it looks as though the Men of the North mean to make good
the words. Not only in a few lines of progress, but in all the
lines of progress. And not only in the material branches, but in
music, literature, arts and science. But, say, I must not touch the
subject of the wonder-workings of this great northern neighbor
of ours, lest I fail to find a place to stop, that you may begin.
INDEX
PAGE
AGAUNICO MINES, THE 36
AGITATOR, THE 71
ABRAHAM, M 83
ADVANCE OF PRICES: "I TOLD You So." 108
BUFFALO MINE, THE 10
BADGER MINES, THE
BEAVER MINE, THE 35
BUCKE TOWNSHIP 36
BOYS BLEW UP His CAMP, THE
BOY WHO RAN AWAY FROM HOME 78
" BIG PETE," THE MAN WITH "THE GOLD TOUCH, " WITH PORTRAIT 81
BROKERS AND BROKERS, PROMOTERS AND PROMOTERS HONEST
AND OTHERWISE 107
BILL AND JACK TALK ABOUT PRESENTIMENTS 124
CHAMBERS-FERLAND MINE, THE 7
CONIAGAS MINES, THE
COLONIAL MINE, THE
CITY OF COBALT MINES, THE 17
COBALT LAKE MINES, THE PREFACE
CROWN RESERVE MINE, THE PREFACE 24 and 114
COBALT CENTRAL MINE, THE 31
CENTURY MINES, THE
CROWN JEWEL MINES, THE
CASEY MOUNTAIN MINES, THE
CHARACTERS OF THE CAMP
CLAIM JUMPER, THE 72
COLONEL FOLLOWS THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONS 59
COSMOPOLITAN CAMP, COBALT A, WITH STORIES 84 to 88
1. Bret Harte s "Dow s Flat." 2. Donald Ross in Death Val
ley. 3. The Captain, the Burro, and the Explosion then Gold.
4. The Gold Shanty. 5. The Prospector s Fever. 6. A Pass
ing Thought.
CANADIAN JUSTICE
CANOE RACE FOR A FORTUNE .
CANADA S " BIG TEN "
CANADA, TWENTIETH CENTURY FOR 137
DRUMMOND MINE, THE
DAY, FRED 45
"DEEP BREATHING GOOD UP TO A CERTAIN POINT" 90
EARLY, U. S. GRANT 118
FOSTER MINE, THE
FARAH CLAIM, THE 31
FOSTER LUCK, THE " 56
FROM POVERTY TO RICHES 64 to 69
FIRST CAR VALUES 104
FORTUNE THROUGH KINDNESS TO AN INDIAN
138
INDEX 139
PAGE
bREE HOSTELRY IN THE WILDERNESS ...................... 124
FIRM THAT STARTED WITH $300 AND A BROKEN LEG. .... 128
GOT MORE APPLAUSE THAN THE SAINT ............... 29
GIFFORD MINE, THE .....................
GIFFORD EXTENSION, THE ................... . .
GOWGANDA ..............................
GOWGANDA, RICHNESS OF .................
GOWGANDA, TOWN OP ..................... 58
GOWGANDA, FIRST CLAIM STAKERS OF ...... 60
GRUB-STAKED, THE ........................... 61
GOWGANDA SLEIGH ROAD FROM SELL WOOD ..... 62
GOWGANDA, LATEST FROM ..................... " 62
GREAT is SCIENCE .........................
GREAT MEN ALWAYS KIND .................... 135
How IT HAPPENED .......................... ] j and 2 5
How A WILDCAT W T AS TAMED ............
HONORS THRUST UPON HIM .............. 30
HARRIS, MARK ........................... 47
HUDSON TOWNSHIP ...................... 4g
IADN T LIVED ALL His LIFE ......... . . . . . . . 76
HERRON, GEORGE A ...................... 128
INSTALLATION OF MACHINERY ............... 109
JOWSEY, JOHN ........................... 48
JAMES, AMONG THE PROMISING CLAIMS OF. . . . . . . . . . , 52
THE FRENCHMAN AND His ASBESTOS MINE "Too OLD TO LIE"
KERR LAKE MINES, THE ...................... 12
KING EDWARD MINES, THE ....... 23
LAROSE MINES, THE ............. .........
LAWSON VEIN, THE .................. . 11
LITTLE NIPISSING MINE, THE ...... 20
LAMBERT, C. H .......................... . . . . . 43
LARDER LAKE MINES ..................... 106
LAUTERMAN, DR. M .................. ......
LINCOLN, HONOR TO ..................
McKlNLEY-DARRAGH MlNE ........ . .*. .
MADDIN MINES, "LUCKY" ........ ........... . . . . . . . 27 to 30
MILLER LAKE AND GOWGANDA PROPERTIES 38
MAPLE MOUNTAIN MINES ......... 44
MONTREAL RIVER DISTRICT ....... 50
MOOSE HORN MINES, THE ...........
MANN BROTHERS .................... .....
MILLER, "CLARRY," THE YOUNGEST PROSPECTOR IN THE CAMP 121
....... PRBFACE
NEW DISTRICTS
NEW LISKEARD .............. ........ 91 to 103
(1) Old and New Faces. (2) " The Armstrong "Fraction," or
H^ ^ ^ e r - (3 ? ther {, the Successes - (4) Bachelors
?? TU S h e Captain s Stories, The Orange Meat, The Dry Well
The Versatile of the Hall (7) Charlie Day and His Canoe
Only Five Original Stories. (9) Reason Why Sandy
Wanted to Get Rich. (10) The County Fair. (11) Agricultural
140 INDEX
PAGE
Possibilities. (12) The Lumsden Exhibit. (13) Hon. Frank
Cochrane s Interest in New Ontario. (14) Wonderful Growth of
Farm Products. (15) Roads First, Then Settlers. (16) Rapid
Rise in Land Values. (17) What the Public Works Department
is Accomplishing in Northern Ontario. (18) Government Roads.
NEW DISTRICTS FULL OF "WILDCATS"
O BRIEN MINE, THE |J
OTISSE MINE, THE
"OR"
ORE FINDER, ELECTRICAL
OUTPUT OP COBALT FOR 1908 *- 6
PRINCESS MINE J?
PORTAGE BAY, OUT AROUND.... jy
PRESS, THE, AND WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR SILVERLAND
(1) Enterprise of Canadian Newspapers. (2) Wonderful Ad
vance in the Making of Newspapers in Canada.
1901 Many Monthly Magazines Now.
QUEEN MINE, THE COBALT SILVER
RIGHT-OF-WAY MINE, THE
ROBERTS, LORD
Russ PETRE MINE
ROAD FROM WIGWAM BUILT BY PROSPECTORS, THE
RICHES Do NOT CHANGE CHARACTER
SILVER LEAF MINE, THE
SILVER CLIFF MINE, THE "*
STELLAR MINE, THE
SILVER EAGLE, THE
SMITH, H. ARMOUR ; _
SMITH, BERT HE OF THE BIG DEALS
SOUTH LORAIN ^ 4
SUCCESSES, RAPID 70
SPY, THE 74
SWEARER, THE iru
SMELTERS AT NORTH BAY AND STURGEON FALLS. |<J4
STOW, EDWARD KENYON . \
STRATHCONA, ONE OF THE WORLD S GREATEST MEN
TEMISKAMING MINES, THE 97
"THE RICHES OF THAT LITTLE CORNER ^
TRETHEWEY MINE, THE 27
UNIQUE CHARACTER 4
VIOLET MINES, THE .,.,
VICTORIA MINES, THE , ~
"WATCH THE BIRD SOAR" 2 ^
WATTS MINE, THE
WILLET SYNDICATE, THE ^
WILDCAT MAN, THE 75 .
WISE MAN, THE - - 10 5
WARNING TO BUYERS OF COBALT STOCKS
WINTER ROAD BUILT BY THE SANDERSON PARTY.
WILLIAMSON, E. WALLACE. o~
W 7 HAT IT MEANS TO BE "BIG"
