Writings about Pitt Lake gold always mention a letter allegedly written by a dying American prospector named Jackson, who, so the story goes, found the treasure, but for health reasons was not able to return to harvest the remainder of “untold riches.” All publications cite only part of the letter perhaps because the journalist and authors had no access to a copy of the entire text or because the owner was reluctant to share the content in full. Among the few who by their saying had a copy of the letter were Hugh Murray in New Westminster (interviewed in 1939) and Vancouver man named Cyril Walters, a sign-painter (mentioned in newspapers in 1950). Both these copies have disappeared.
Imagine my pleasure to discover the existence of a transcript of one of the copies. This transcript was made by Arthur Wellesley (Dick) Carter, neon-sign maker, probably around 1940 and there are reasons to believe that it was transcribed from Murray’s copy. But there is also a connection with Cyril Walter, the other owner of a copy. Carter and Walter were both signwriters. It is believed that they worked together for a short time and remained friends. On at least one occasion Dick Carter joined Cyril Walter on his yearly trek to the Pitt Lake mountains.
Today, Richard James (Jim) Carter of West Vancouver is the custodian of the Pitt Lake papers of his father and he generously allowed me to copy the transcript of the Jackson letter his father made and to share the full text of this unique document on the Web site.
That will happen soon.
Photo by A.W. Carter.
3 comments:
When can I read all about it?
Hydrolics: Sorry to keep you in suspense. Any day now. Keep visiting.
Still waiting. Would love to give it a read. tnx
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