In Search of Slumach

B. C. Prospectors -- a site worth visiting.

2012-01-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

A reminder to keep visiting the Nicholson family's B.C. Prospectors Web site regularly. The producers are R.W. (Rob) Nicholson (the veteran) and the next generation of Nicholsons--Cathy, Cory, Scott and Stacie!
The site is growing and growing and all kinds of treasures are hidden on those pages. Nice to explore al those veins!

Something interesting near Addington Point

2012-01-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

Greg writes: "Looking back at the theory of Louie Bee being killed by Addington point the diggings that I found three weeks ago are within one km of this area. Not at all saying this is Slumach's gold mine but I am saying that prospecting was done very close to this point and not on the Sheridan hill side like most look at. Can't say the exact location only that it is very close to the X on the old post."
Click here to see some pictures.

Wikipedia update

2011-12-22T10:48:00.000-08:00

I've rearranged and partly rewritten the text of the Wikipedia article "Pitt Lake's Lost Gold Mine" to improve readability. Please do visit the page (click here). Comments and suggestions for improvement most welcome.

July 16 Presentation pictures

2011-12-15T18:02:00.000-08:00

JPG images of the Powerpoint presentation at the Maple Ridge library are now on the Slumach Web site. To reduce the size of the file it's presented in three parts. Click here and start looking!

Special Collection Vancouver Public Library

2011-12-15T17:23:00.000-08:00

Good news. The Slumach research collection, properly catalogued, is now in the vault of Special Collections on the 7th floor of the Central Branch, 350 West Georgia. For most of us there is no need to go to VPL to do research since all these documents are also available in digital format on the Slumach Web site, but what if there is no Web site anymore? The move of the paper version of collection to Special Collections at VPL assures that the information remains available for interested researchers. Thanks to management and staff of VPL, and in particular Kate Rusell, assistant manager for accepting the collection. Click here to see the description of the collection. The books, videos etc. that are part of the collection have not been catalogues yet. More boxes will be added to the four that are listed now.

They found Gold ... but where?

2011-12-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

Daryl presents a smorgasbord of discovery shots on his latest video "The Treasure of the Golden Mountains," that ends up in the Power House of Stave Dam with Beethoven sounding in the background. Click here!

B. C. Prospectors

2011-12-06T15:19:00.000-08:00

Welcome back in the digital world, Rob Nicholson. Yes, two years after closing his old Web site Nicholson is back with a great new one! Click here to go to the site and you'll read:

Welcome to B.C. Prospectors, the website dedicated to British Columbia's prospecting and mining history. In addition to historical references, intriguing legends and specialized mining reports, B.C. Prospectors also provides research and consulting services to independent parties.

Niftyniall

2011-12-04T20:24:00.000-08:00

No idea who he is other than, as his profile says, he lives in Coquitlam, and his interests are focussed on environment and history. In his profile is a list of his blogs (more than two dozen) with some interesting information for instance: Pitt River, Upper Pitt River, Pitt Lake and more. Check it out!

Official Travel Now

2011-12-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

Crom2000 (you know who that is) is rather upset about the use of his free video by Official Travel Now, presenting it as if it is one of their own. Click here to read or join the discussion. I see Exxotica Booty Girls presented by OTN as well. Indeed, not the right company for a serious treasure hunting report.

Wikipedia

2011-12-02T20:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, the Slumach and Pitt Lake's Lost Gold Mine articles in Wikipedia have been neglected for quite some time and a clean-up was overdue. That has been done now, including adding required in-line references. Have a look.

There is some doubt lingering about the "notability" of the articles but with the new references in place let's hope that they will not be removed.

10 Deeember: The "notability" tag has now been removed from the Pitt Lake's Lost Gold Mine article but not yet from the Slumach article. "Notability" in the Wikipedia community means it should be verifiable: it should have reliable third-party sources and it should be "worthy of notice."

Slumach's Gold now an e-book!

2011-11-08T23:35:00.000-08:00

Do you have an iPhone, iPod, or iPad? A computer, perhaps? Do you want to read that famous book Slumach's Gold: In Search of a Legend but find it hard to put your hands on a copy? You are in luck! The book is now available worldwide through Apple's iTunes. Click here for the link!

The Powers of Slumach

2011-10-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

Joanne Peterson recently discovered--thanks-- that Wayne Suttles in his book Coast Salish Essays (p. 79) mentions that according to Old Peter Pierre, a Katzie man named [Slumach] had obtained a warrior spirit, a "timber giant," as his guardian spirit "and could therefore perform great feats of strength." Suttles refers to Diamond Jenness's The Faith of a Coast Salish Indian (p. 61) for that information.
Click here to read what was said about that on this blog in 2007.

Mike Collier's "Curse of the Lost Gold Mine" to be screened on Sunday November 6th

2011-10-21T20:08:00.000-07:00

As part of Vancouver's 125th Anniversary, the City of Vancouver Archives will be celebrating our city's history with a screening of film and video from our latest acquisition, the records of Yaletown Productions, Inc. Yaletown Productions is a Vancouver-based film production company that produced many works shot in Vancouver in the 1970s and 1980s, including tourism and documentary films about the city, Expo 86, and British Columbia.

Reservations only! When: Sunday November 6^th, 2011 / Doors: 12:30 PM / Screening: 1:00 PM / Vancity Theatre at the Vancouver International Film Centre – 1181 Seymour Street (corner of Seymour and Davie)

For more click information click here.

Fire Lake

2011-10-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you'd like to visit the Web site of the B.C. Floatplane Association and look at the entry about Fire Lake. Click here. For more about Fire Mountain mining read Daphne Sleigh's book People of the Harrison.

Updates Web site

2011-10-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

The following two additions, pending for some time, are now on the Web site:
William (Bill) F Cull 1928 - 2011
Lost Gold & Murdered Maids, Cavalier, July 1958.

Thank you Darren Gosselin <> Welcome Cary Blackburn

2011-10-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

Farewell to my buddy Darren, a Slumach aficionado, who has been so generous with his time and knowledge helping us first to build and then to maintain the Slumach Web site. His work, family, and the presidency of the Ruskin Slo-Pitch just don't give him the leisure to work any longer as a Web designer. Thanks very much, Darren, for all you did!

Welcome to Carry Blackburn, president of Hurricane Web Design Ltd, who has agreed to do the maintenance for us from now on.

Congratulations to the new Knight of the Ibex Round Table

2011-09-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

We’d like to welcome our new Knight of the Ibex Round table, Rick Antonson from Canada.

Rick is President & CEO of Tourism Vancouver and has been an ambassador for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic & Paralympic Winter games. Rick is the co-author of Slumach's Gold, In Search of a Legend and in 2008, he published his third book, To Timbuktu for a Haircut; A Journey Through West Africa. Rick is regularly invited to speak all over the world on the topic of travel. His personal journeys have taken him on a four-by-four adventure with his wife Janice and a guide traveling from Lhasa, Tibet across the Himalayas to Kathmandu, Nepal. He has circumnavigated the northern hemisphere by train with his sons Brent and Sean over five trips which included North Korea. More recently he joined an expedition to the summit of Mount Ararat, and travelled to both Iraq and Iran. Rick’s passions include traveling, writing and baseball.

Images and text: http://www.ibexexpeditions.com

John Clarke and Shel Neufeld

2011-09-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

On top of Katzie Mountain Adam and Evan found an ascent note from 1971 and 1999 by John Clarke (shown here) and photographer Shel Neufeld. To learn more about John Clarke here are two links: WIKI and WILDED. For more about Wild Art photographer Shel Neufeld and his work go here.

The Expedition: Adam and Evan

2011-09-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

Go here to see some stunning pictures and a read Evan's notes about their fabulous trek of last month.

Cavalier July 1958

2011-09-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE for the earlier posting about the magazine of July 1958 with the article "Lost Gold and Murdered Maids" by Thomas P. Kelley. The copy of the Cavalier of July 1958 arrived and the text will soon be available on the Web site. Shown here a second drawing illustrating the article. Don't forget to click on it to enjoy all the details. Do you see that knife?

Sasquatch -- the sequel

2011-08-27T22:32:00.000-07:00

Go here to read more about the hairy humanoid!

Jackson, Shotwell & Harrington

2011-08-25T08:21:00.000-07:00

The first mention of Jackson (given name Walter) was by Wilbur Armstrong in 1915. The receiver of the letter was given as Andrew Hall. Armstrong was close to the creator of the Jackson letter and probably the author of the letter.
In 1925, Purkins revived the story--obviously still circulating among prospectors--using the name Shotwell for the author of the letter and the discoverer of the bonanza.
Not until 1939 did the story find it's way to the press again, this time with the name Jackson as the letter writer and the discover of the gold. His full name was now John Jackson rather than Walter Jackson. Shotwell (and some others) became the recipient of the letter and did or did not follow up on it, reportedly none with any success.
In 1973 Charles Miller introduced a man called Harrington to the legend as a companion to Shotwell. Coming out of the mountains they turned up at Ruskin in 1911 with a pouch of gold nuggets. The men proceeded to Seatlle where Shotwell died shortly after his arrival in the usual tradition of the legend.

Note: This Harrington not to be confused with Cog Harrington of Boston Bar who was born in 1913. Warning: There is no historical evidence that Jackson, Shotwell, Harrington, Hall, and any other players in the Jackson story ever existed. Believe at your own risk.

Report on Adam's and Evan's famous walk about

2011-08-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

Adam's report on the legendary Harrison-Pitt trip is out. Click here to read and see it all.

Prosser diggings

2011-08-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

A great video from Daryl Friesen. Click here.

The Trek

2011-08-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

Just a note to say that Adam and I got out from the trip yesterday and our two partners who turned back also got of safely on the 12th as planned. We are just starting to sort through the videos and pictures.
Evan

Is the sasquatch out there?

2011-08-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Reports about the sasquatch seem to go hand in hand with the quest for Pitt Lake gold. Click here to read an interesting story in The News (Maple Ridge) of today: an interview of Jason Ericson, a member of the Big Foot Field Research Organization. The illustration is by Arlet deVisser.

Daryl Friesen about William F. Cull

2011-08-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting William Cull at the Witch of Endor pub back in 1991 when I first really started tracking people down who had searched for the mine. He was very hesitant to share the location of the tent-shaped rock but I managed to get the general area. He was also the inspiration for something I wrote called "the prospectors philosophy." It's below as well as the line he said in our conversation that inspired this. Anyway, since he has passed away, I thought maybe someone would find this interesting.

You see, we prospectors are a dying breed. The world doesn't function around us anymore like it used to back in the gold rush days. The people who care for you can't understand. What in the world would make you want to risk your life to look for gold? They don’t understand the dream, but in the old days everybody understood.
You didn’t have to worry about your wife leaving you or your friends scorning you because you wanted to find the gold. Everyone was doing it. Everyone dreamed of the day when they would be the one to strike it rich. For all it represented freedom, but what does it mean to people today? I’ll tell you, a big house and a nice car. People don’t see that prospecting is so much more than just finding the golden score. It’s not seen as a building block for freedom. It’s been twisted and messed up to the point of being stuck on a scratch-and-win ticket.That is what is left of the prospector’s dream in today’s world. All the people around you don’t understand, they can’t see the freedom and the hope it brings you when you chase the dream. They just think you’re dreaming, but we know the truth, don’t we? .

"The truth is: you’re living and they are the ones that are dreaming. Their search for the big car and the nice house. Ha! Illusions I tell you, brought onto their brainless minds by a media machine. How I wish I could chase after it still, but the fight’s over for me, lad. I’ve got a bad ticker, you see."

THE LINE ABOVE WAS SAID BY BILL CULL.WORD FOR WORD.

William F. Cull In Don Waite's book The Fraser Valley Story

2011-08-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

William F. Cull

2011-08-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Don Waite alerted us to this small obit in the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows. Another early Pitt Lake Gold searcher gone. In his book The Fraser Valley Story Don wrote in 1988:

"…William F. Cull, a mailman from New Westminster, contacted me about the lost mine. He stated that he had become intrigued with the legend in the late 1950s from reading newspaper clippings and, as a result, had made several trips by helicopter into the remote wilderness. On one trip, Cull spent 10-12 days exploring and discovered a very weathered pick and shovel hidden in the crevice at the base of a tent-shaped rock, near the top of the divide between Pitt and Stave watersheds. Clearly visible on this rock was the letter ‘J.’ Cull concluded that the letter had been carved with the pick left by the original owner of the tools. Unfortunately, he had gone too early in the year and there was still ice on the creeks and several feet of snow on the higher elevations. Cull told me that he planned to charter a helicopter to go in again once the snow melted; he invited me along for the trip. In June 1975, my father and I were deposited beside the tent-shaped rock. Unfortunately the snow was still too deep and we found nothing. "

Brian and Rick signing books at Virgin YVR

2011-08-05T21:53:00.000-07:00

The Antonsons were hard at work this Friday from 10:00 to 2:00 at Virgin Books at YVR selling and signing their bestselling Slumach's Gold (more than 8,500 copis sold!) and Rick's fabulous book To Timbuktu for a Haircut.
Click here to see more pictures!

From a poem by Peter Trower

2011-08-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sunlight pulling up stakes

in late afternoon--

peeling back from the peaks--

letting shadows slat down

into the scree-shattered valleys

of old Slumach's broken land

where once he stalked wild as the cliff goats--

found the mine no man would strike again--

toted out the gold that fired a legend--

drank himself deranged in New Westminster--

took a white whore for his woman--

slew the man who sought his secret--

died with it in the Queen's gallows

leaving just his angry ghost to prowl

those devil's clubbed wastes luring

greedy unwary searchers to disaster

etc.

(From "On Pitt Lake Dike" in A Ship Called Destiny)

Epic Trip

2011-08-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

Daryl and I went in with Adam, Evan and his two friends today to Fire lake. Never realized what a long drive that is--almost four hours and over 200k each way. We have some great shots and moments already, so the blog will have some action in two weeks or so. It was an amazing day to sit overlooking Fire mountain and Fire lake and have the Terrarosa in the back ground. We will keep you posted when we hear news.

Greg

War on Terra! Going in and bringing it out!

2011-08-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, it was a great evening, and a big thanks to Don and Tina for having us over...thats what this is all about, bringing everyone together, and sharing in the journey...Myself and Evan are lucky to have everyones support and help in research, and our trip that we take across the glaciers is all for everyone involved in this mystery, you may not be with us on the climb, but we bring you with us through all mountains and glaciers in our hearts and minds! Thanks!
Adam

All present at the LMPL Society meeting

2011-07-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

4th meeting of the Lost Mine of Pitt Lake Society

2011-07-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

TINA and DON were the gracious hosts of the 4th meeting of the "Lost Mine of Pitt Lake Society" that met for the first time in 1987 at Don's. Many secrets were shared and approaches discussed by the members. Good advice from Willie to approach the gold walking backwards to avoid being destroyed by the curse. It will make stumbling on the gold so much easier. It seems likely now that someone in the group photo made by Don will find the bonanza shortly.
For snapshots of the proceedings click here. Not visible on the pictures is all the wonderful food offered. It had to move to the margins once serious map-reading started.

A new picture (1958) of Slumach squandering his fortune

2011-07-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

"When John Slumach got tired of a dame, he made her as hard to find as his phantom mine. Fortunately two buoyant babes, his victims Susan Jesner and Molly Tynan, in death stopped him before he made the town a no-woman's land!!!" Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Dowsing for Aurum and Argentum

2011-07-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

My friend Dick sent me this map of the Sturgeon area dowsed by Mundy McRae, who died in 1987. Mundy was a renowned mineral dowser.
Au on the map is gold and silver Ag. Dick would like Mundy to be proven right and he'd like to hear about any findings in the marked areas. Click on the map to enlarge.

Northern Mysteries

2011-07-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

In 2007 Daryl Friesen put a video on You Tube in which he and T.W.Patterson talk about the lost mine of Pitt Lake. It's fun to look at but the story is entirely fictional. Daryl says that the video was done by Northern Mysteries back in 2005. Click here to have a look. Thanks to Claus for re-discovering it. Click on the picture to have a closer look.

Book signing at Virgin Books, Vancouver International Airport - August 5th.

2011-07-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

Rick and Brian Antonson are doing another signing of Slumach's Gold !
This time they're off to YVR...the VIRGIN BOOKS AND MUSIC store at the domestic terminal from 10:00 am-2:00 pm on Friday August 5th. The airport can now be easily reached by Canada Line...no parking, no driving!
Rick will also be signing his other fabulous book To Timbuktu for a Haircut. Commented one reviewer: "....this guy can write and this is a truly impressive travel essay." Another one commented: "There are lots of fascinating and humorous moments in this man's travels to keep the reader at least occupied for a couple of nights intensive reading."

Harrison to Squamish!

2011-07-17T16:52:00.000-07:00

Evan and I [Adam] are departing on August 3rd for our 2011 expedition.

We plan to go across the Terrarosa Glacier to the Stave Glacier, up the Misty Icefields, snowcap, back down to the upper Pitt, then up the Mamquam to Squamish.

We have an option of exiting out at the Pitt River Hotsprings where a friend’s jet boat will pick us up (a pretty wicked ride), but we may push on further to exit out off the Mamquam.

This years trip will be 16 nights, 17 days that myself and Evan will be out for always looking out for the gold that we will bring back for you guys! This years trip will be the third expedition, making the “Adam and Evan's Terrarosa Trilogy” complete!

Adam

Click here for the story and pictures of their 2010 expedition.

Mission Accomplished

2011-07-17T16:29:00.001-07:00

Golden Dreams

2011-07-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

A cutting from the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News of Wednesday July 13th about the 1897 mini gold rush in from Pitt Lake to Harrison Lake. Click on image to enlarge. To read Williamson's Diary click here.

Garry N. McIsaac

2011-06-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

In the fall of 1983 a joint CKVU/Province team set out to find the Lost Creek Mine. A series of articles in The Province by Jon Ferry followed the team on their arduous trek. From the first article in the series:

Among with them was a man blessed with glittering gold mining expertise and psychic powers dating back at least a dozen years. He is Abbotsford prospector Gary McIsaac, who pinpointed what he believed to be the mine after examining aerial maps of the Pitt Mountain area. McIsaac, 40, also said he witnessed a vision of Slumach standing by the tent-shaped rock that marked his glory hole. “There was a cave, you could actually see an Indian standing by the cave and he had a tomahawk in his hand.”

Why did we not hear from McIsaac since then? He died in September 2005 in a remote part of the Alaska. His greatest passion was gold mining. He would spend months at a time on the rugged coastline of Alaska prospecting for gold. For his obituary go here.

Thomas Clive Atkinson

2011-06-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

T. C. Atkinson, barrister and police magistrate, New Westminster, defended in the Slumach case. Click on the picture to read his obituary. The cutting is from the Victoria Colonist of 15 July 1897.
His brother-in-law, Frederick Robertson Glover was editor of the Columbian and City Clerk in New Westminster. After Thomas Atkinson Esq. died in 1897, his wife of ten years Mary Atkinson (Ellard) went to live with her sister Ada Glover and brother-inlaw Fredrick Glover who resided in New Westminster. (1901 census). The 1911 census shows that Fredrick and Ada had moved to Vancouver and he worked as a Manager for the railway and resided in Hastings Park. Mary never remarried and died in 1945 in Vancouver. (Information courtesy Ms. Atkinson)

Page Views

2011-06-18T16:33:00.000-07:00

The blog now shows a counter (bottom of righthand column). There were more than 10,000 page views since the blog was born in May, 2009. Of those more than 6,000 were viewed in Canada followed by viewers in Germany (abt. 900), the US (abt,. 800), the Netherlands (abt. 700). There were also visitors from Australia, Russia, Belgium, the UK, South Korea and Switserland. I know, other Web sites get that traffic in a day or less, but still...it's nice to know.

Nika memloose, mine memloose

2011-06-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

As from 1941 newspaper articles reported that suspicious prospectors. unsuccessful in the hunt for the bonanza, said that the Lost Creek Mine was cursed and that the gold better be left alone.

Not before 1951, sixty years after his death, the curse became known as “Slumach’s Curse" after an interview with Squamish Chief August Jack Khahtsahlano who also will have provided the Chinook words alleged spoken by Slumach. The chief added that Old Slumach's ghost guarded his mine and that it would be death to a white man to find it.

Rick Antonson: Doctor of Laws, honoris causa

2011-06-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

From Capilano University Newsroom
Rick Antonson is President & CEO of Tourism Vancouver, which represents more than 1,000 member businesses and is responsible for the market development of Metro Vancouver as a convention, incentive, and leisure travel destination. An accomplished writer, Mr. Antonson is co-author of Slumach’s Gold, In Search of a Legend. In 2008,Dundurn Publishing of Toronto published his third book, To Timbuktu for a Haircut; A Journey Through West Africa. He is invited to speak worldwide on the topic of travel and regularly comes to Capilano University to speak to its Tourism and Outdoor Recreation students.

Tony Revisited

2011-06-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

I just found out that in October last year there was a lively discussion in Germany about Lennartz's failed expeditions in search of adventure (or gold) in our mountains on something called Omega Force Survival Group (Survival & Bushcraft). The correspondence is in German and too lengthy for a translation but click here to go there if you are interested.

Interested in prospecting the Harrison?

2011-06-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

No one has given us a better summary about the history of mining in the Harrison area than Daphne Sleigh in her book The People of the Harrison. A year or so ago I was gathering newspaper articles for research and publication when Adam P. showed me the chapter "Harrison Mines" that had escaped me.

The 1897 mining hysteria that hit the Harrison had its echo in the area between the Stave and and Kanaka Creek where dozens of "prospects" were registered as claims. John Williamson's 1897 Diary that I transcribed, annotated and published as one of my first Whonnock Notes, tells about these activities.

The included registration stubs of the claims (only for the Stave and Whonnock area) show an approximate location for the claims and in most cases it will be a impossible to find where the prospectors--mostly inexperienced and with no capital for development--staked their claims.

Some of those 1897 claims, however, continued to be worked and are mentioned in Charles Miller's The Golden Mountains. They are still a source of fascination for todays explorers and prospectors.

Talk at Maple Ridge Public Library

2011-06-02T21:36:00.000-07:00

Slumach and the Pitt Lake Gold Mine
Saturday, Jul 16th
1:00pm-2:00pm
Award winning local historian Fred Braches will be talking about the history and legends surrounding Slumach and the Pitt Lake gold bonanza as well as the current efforts to find it using new discoveries from historic records.
Note: a little misunderstanding here. I've not discovered anything that could help you find the gold--but it would be fun to see you at the talk!

Volcanic Brown and ??

2011-05-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

This picture from the holdings of the Maple Ridge Museum and Archives seems to show Volcanic Brown with an unknown couple. Does anyone know who those two are?

Added June 8: Rob Nicholson thinks that the woman could be Flora Averill as he remembers her face from an Averill family portrait. Her husband was a dentist in Grand Forks. I sent a message to the Grand Forks museum people asking if they could help solve the puzzle. fb

Added June 18: The photo may have been when Flora and George paid a visit to “Volcanic” Brown at his “Sunset” mine, Copper Mountain, in the Similkameen in which she had a financial interest.

Transcripts of News Papers & Magazines

2011-05-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

You'll find them all on the Slumach Web site: Newspaper 1800s, Newspaper 1900s and Publications 2000.
These transcripts are now available in a printed format with in addition the book reviews of Slumach's Gold, and a list of Slumach books and Videos.
Copies of the 125-page book have been donated to the New Westminster Public Library (Special Collections) and the New Westminster Archives (Irving House) and of course the Vancouver Public Library (Special Collections).
I'l gladly sell a copy of the ring-bound book to anyone interested at the printing cost ($15.00) plus mailing. Just send an e-mail to webmaster@whonnock.ca or to my personal one if you have it.

Forbidden Fruit

2011-04-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

ClubTread.com's forum guidelines do not permit topics that include prospecting, gold panning, etc. Unaware of the rules someone was "just curious" to get stories and advice from people who have been in the mountains north of Pitt Lake. Click here The amusing discussion closes with the recommendation to buy Slumach's Gold, In Search of a Legend.

Note: I think that ClubTread has removed the discussion from their site. (Saturday 30 April)

Murder on the Pitt River

2011-04-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Today's Maple Ridge News includes an article about the location of the murder of Louie Bee. Click on the image to read it.
It is "old news" for regular visitors to this blog but still...

Few attempt it; even fewer complete it.

2011-04-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

To all of you adventurers and prospectors experienced or not (Canadian or foreign):
Purchase Gerald M. Chicalo's enjoyable e-book The Fool's Gold Route--Squamish to Coquitlam BC You'll meet all our heroes from Slumach to the sasquatch. This is just a great read! Buy it for less than you pay for a tall latte at Starbuck's. Click here to purchase.
Note: Just discovered a video--same source similar content--for those who would never dream buying a latte anywhere or prefer the visual. Click here. Second on the list starting with the same picture of the cover. Still I prefer the written text.

My God, it's a GOLDMINE!

2011-04-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

The Antonson brothers - always on Slumach alert -came across a cinematographic jewel called Slumach's Gold $. Click here and enjoy Slumach's story at its briefest. It's item 4 on the list last time I looked.

Slumach Papers to Vancouver Public Library

2011-04-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

The Slumach Papers (including books and DVDs) collected over the last few years will now be part of the holdings of Special Collections of the Vancouver Public Library. The photograph shows Assistant Manager Kate Russell and Fred Braches at the loading dock of the VPL where the records were delivered this morning. In the near future all these records will be accessible there to anyone researching Slumach and that elusive Eldorado. Of course, transcripts of almost everything in the collection remain available on <slumach.ca>

Swan-e-set gathering

2011-04-09T11:33:00.000-07:00

All have now been identified. Thanks all who helped.

First Meeting of the "Lost Mine of Pitt Lake Society."

2011-04-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

Donald Waite sent me the following:
Did you know that in April 1987 the inaugural meeting of the 'Lost Mine of Pitt Lake Society' took place at the residence of Don Waite at #311 - 11933 - 223 St (Garibaldi Apartments)? A big 24" x 30" sign was posted on the main entrance welcoming everyone. About 8 to 10 people attended. Here's who I can remember:

Danny Scooch, died of stomach cancer
Vic Loffler, died of stomach cancer
Two fellows from Hope area
Len Werner - geologist
Mike Boileau
Bob Nicholson

I can't think of any others.
Loffler brought some topographical maps and a 3D magnifier.
It was an interesting evening.

Could you help me find the names?

2011-03-31T10:11:00.000-07:00

In May of 2009 a group of us came together in the Swan-e-set longhouse for a feast offered by Cyril Pierre and his relatives and friends. The event was recorded on this blog on 17 May 2009. Click here. For the sake of history it would be very interesting to record the names of all shown on the photograph.
Click on the picture to enlarge. Could you do me a favour and e-mail me a who-is-who as you remember it? Click here for the email address to use, or if you have my personal e-mail address please use that instead. Thanks.

Stir crazy!

2011-03-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Greg sent some pictures and a tale about exploring the Prosser mine. Click here to go down with him into history. They'll go back to pick up the rest of the gold. It was just too heavy.

Winter Prospecting in BC

2011-03-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

From Daryl Friesen a fun video of winter prospecting and a lost gold canyon "somewhere in British Columbia." Don't miss it. Click here!
Left: picture of the gold in the highbanker after an hour prospecting.

Alexander Koning--house, techno and techouse.

2011-03-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

The catalogue of Alexander Koning's brand "Trancentral" includes a LP titled "Slumach's Ghost." Of course I had to add it to the Slumach collection and ordered a copy. No lyrics--just music described as "a mixture of house, techno and techouse." If you want to get an idea how that sounds just Google Alexander Koning and enjoy. Or click here.

Tillie Malcolm

2011-03-12T15:21:00.000-08:00

Another picture from Factual Detective Stories of March 1942. This one said to be of a lady called "Maisie Livinski." The picture is later used by C.V. Tench for "Tillie Malcolm," one of the female victims in his Slumach drama.

Liberty, July 1956

2011-03-12T13:40:00.000-08:00

In December I posted an item about the July 1956 issue of "Liberty" being offered for sale for only $150 less 5 cents. Click here to read it again.
The good news is that I have a photocopy of C.V. Tench's article "The gold mine murders..." thanks to the clippings folder at New Westminster Public Library.
The bad news is that the illustrations are completely washed out (see sample).
Pray, if you own or know anyone who has copy of that precious issue or just a better reproduction of page 33 of the article with these pictures will you let me know?

Eric Grainger

2011-03-10T20:51:00.000-08:00

In August 2008 I posted an item showing that C.V. Tench reused the picture he first claimed to be that of another person to be Slumach in a later article. He used that picture first in an article under his own name in a pulp magazine called Factual Detective Stories of March 1942. Click here to refresh your memory.
This evening, going through that same issue of the magazine I came across an article by a "Jack Lunter" about the murdered Macleod brothers titled "Hoodoo Gold." The author (probably C.V. Tench) claimed that the picture (shown here) is that of Charles Macleod. Of course this is also our own Constable Eric Grainger from Tench's Slumach sagas.

Facebook

2011-03-02T10:25:00.000-08:00

Someone in Turkey has started a Facebook Community Page about Slumach and one about Slumach's Gold. The Slumach one contains information from Wikipedia. The Slumach's Gold one has no content yet. Is this guy serious or is it just a physhing expedition?

Addington Point - That's where it happened.

2011-02-28T09:48:00.000-08:00

Following is a summary of the witness statements at the Inquisition, Disposition and Assizes, all of which can be found on the Web site under "Legal Records" and "Transcripts from Legal records."

Seymour went in a canoe with Louie Bee from Lillooet Slough, the place where they were living since the end of the fishing season on Pitt River, to look at their sturgeon lines. They went from Lillooet Slough up about two miles, and finding the lines there without bait, they went a bit further along the shore to look for some dead salmon. Then they heard the rapport of a gun on the opposite (west) shore that is on the left hand side going upstream, and Louie Bee proposed to go across the river—about a quarter mile. Slumach appeared at “about the elbow of slough.” Note that Seymour calls Pitt River a “slough."

After the murder Seymour walked downriver and across the railway bridge to his camp.

Measured from Alouette River, approximately two miles would have taken Seymour and Bee right to where Sheridan Hill is, and going up a short distance more they would have heard Slumach’s gunshot coming from Addington Point across at the elbow of Pitt River.

Said Aunt Mandy to Mike Collier in 1978: “You know where Sturgeon Slough is? This point on the west side of Sturgeon Slough across the Pitt River, the corner before you turn north to the quarry, that’s where it happened, just a little west of the corner.”

The Wandering Prospector

2011-02-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

Daryl Friesen, who as always is looking for treasure, made a video titled The Wandering Prospector that brings back the warm days of summer rather than the icy glaciers. There is mystery out there and Daryl gives us that feeling throughout this production. Have a look by clicking HERE

Pitt River country? Not the Fire Mountain area?

2011-02-03T18:10:00.000-08:00

From Rob Nicholson this little piece in the Report of the Minister of Mines, 1933 in Victoria. Click on the picture to enlarge. Pitt River country and Fire Mountain: perhaps there were two discoveries, the Slumach/Jackson (Pitt River) find and the Brown & Brown (Fire Mountain) find. Ahhh, sweet dreams. Thanks Rob.

Prospectors Meeting

2010-12-31T12:58:00.000-08:00

Adam snapped some pictures at a get together last week with Greg, Daryl, and a couple of their friends. They met to talk about gold and treasure and showed their harvest of 2010--evidence it seems that there is gold up there and not just a little. Click here to see the pictures.

Terrarosa Glacier 12-day Expedition

2010-12-26T16:53:00.000-08:00

Click here for a day-by-day video record of the 2010 expedition into the Terrarosa Glacier area, home of the beautiful Fire Spire peaks and legends of lost gold. The area is as beautiful as it is mysterious.

Full trip: Evan (Sydney, Australia), Kevin (Rosedale, BC), Adam (Agassiz, BC).

Day support by Kerry (Chilliwack, BC)
Three day support Ron (Chilliwack, BC)

Lennartz 2010 moved to Web site

2010-12-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

Recent posts about Lennartz's 2010 expedition and also Rob Nicholson's "defence" writing have now been combined in a pdf file on the Slumach Web site. Click here to have a look.

More explorations in Them Thar Hills

2010-12-10T15:40:00.001-08:00

From Daryl Friesen come two interesting videos about his 2010 explorations in the wild country in company of persons known or unknown, It seems that he hit paydirt! Click on the titles to go to the links: Seekers 2010 and Secret Diggings

Terrarosa Videos

2010-12-07T20:12:00.000-08:00

Adam and Evan put together the following two videos of their 2010 Terrarosa expedition. Writes Adam: "This is what a Terrarosa Expedition is supposed to look like...rather than playing in the lowlands and bush [and] then getting [too] tired to walk out." Click on the following links to see the videos.
Part 1 -- Terrarosa Glacier Expedition; The Fire Spires
Part 2 -- The Lost Gold Mine

Liberty

2010-12-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

Google "Slumach" on the Web site and you'll find a posting dated 11 November offering for sale Liberty - Canada's Young Family Magazine of July 1956" Containing an article with the title ... "The Gold Mine Murders of Nine British Columbian Women - John Slumach, a full -blooded Salish Indian, was hung for the crimes."
The asking price for the old magazine is $149.95 CDN. For one moment I thought to have found something new though the price was prohibitive. Fortunately the text of the article written by C.V. Tench is already part of the collection. You can read the gruesome details when you click here.

G. Stuart Brown's Quest for the Lost Canyon

2010-12-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

Rob Nicholson, Don Waite and Daryl Friesen kindly agreed to have letters they received from Stu Brown and the text of other letters Brown wrote combined in an e-book. Click here to read, download a print a copy for your own use.
If you have a letter or a copy of a letter missing from the collection please share and let me put it in the book as well.
A printed copy of this book found its way into the Terrarosa area, See photograph above.

Lennartz 2008 expedition report

2010-12-04T16:22:00.000-08:00

Anton Lennartz's "Verluchtes Gold" appeared on the Slumach Web site quite some time ago, Now, thanks to Rob Nicholson, a new chapter could be added, this one dealing with Tony's 2008 expedition and disputable rescue. Click here to read the German version or else click here for a translation in English. Note that the pictures are only on the German version. These stories and other references to his Canadian exploits are no longer available on Tony's own Web site.

Rick and Brian Antonson at COLES in Abbotsford

2010-12-04T16:04:00.000-08:00

Saturday December 4th

2010-11-11T21:16:00.000-08:00

WARNING: Rick and Brian Antonson will be signing the Slumach AND Timbuktu books at Coles in Sevenoaks Mall in Abbotsford on Saturday December 4th from 1pm-4pm !!! Writes Brian "We'll see how many folks might still want a bit of "gold" for Christmas stocking stuffers!!!!"

Note: More than 8,000 copies of Slumach's Gold sold so far.

Use and misuse of the back country

2010-10-29T23:19:00.000-07:00

Quads may not be everyone's favourite toy to explore the back country but read THIS and be impressed. I was!

there is gold in them thar hills!

2010-10-23T20:21:00.000-07:00

This summer's exploring of the area behind Harrison Lake did produce some interesting quartz samples hacked straight from a vein in the rock face of the Terrarosa. Adam Palmer and Evan Howard allowed taking a picture of one of the most promising pieces but for obvious reasons they are not ready to tell where they found it until they have made a solid survey of this promising area next year. Hope springs eternal in the human breast... Click on the picture for a closer look.

Brian Antonson at Mission

2010-10-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

Today, at the Mission library authors from Mission presented many golden tales but none of their stories was as tall as what Brian Antonson had to tell. The picture shows Brian just minutes before he shared everything he knows about tent-shaped rocks and where to find the the gold! In the crowd were the faces of Donald, Sheena, Adam, Helmi and Fred. Sadly missed were Daryl and Greg and of course (as always) the enigmatic Rob Nicholson.

... a little stream...

2010-10-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

A veteran explorer of the area, now beyond climbing mountains, sent me a map with the note: "I marked a little stream that I noticed came out from under ground and also disappeared under ground again..."
Click on map to enlarge and see the marked area. The creek is just west of Terrarosa Lake. Has anyone been there? Any ankle-deep gold?

A significant honour for Slumach's Gold

2010-10-15T16:18:00.000-07:00

Alan Twigg’s latest book The Essentials: 150 Great BC Books and Authors (Ronsdale Press) identifies authors, such as Alice Munro, Earle Birney and Eric Nicol who have enjoyed outstanding careers but it also included numerous other authors and books that have played an important role in BC's history, and among these is Slumach's Gold.
Last week Rick Antonson received a note from Alan Twigg saying “you're one of the 150, and 100 of them are deceased...".
Writes Rick: “..and sure enough there it is: "Rick Antonson et al" is the heading and then it has all three of our names (each of which is in the index as well, along with Slumach's Gold). Fred's website is referenced (but not given). He [Twigg] writes that while there are many books about 'gold' and British Columbia, "one of the most venerable is Slumach's Gold..." It is about the 1972 edition though he mentions the redone 2007 book too. Very nice.”

Lennartz Rescue

2010-09-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

Lennartz Rescue 2010 
From a anonymous admirer

Twas dat lure of duh Slumach’s Gold 
Dat made ol’ Lennartz so Mighty and Bold 
A Mighty and Fearless Survival Instructor was HIS claim 
As he headed out in search of riches and fame 
Up the mountain to where he had been BEFORE 
But das fear set in AN-DUH he couldn’t go anymore 
Complaining and whining, “Mine feet’s is so sore 
I is so scared and just can’t go on anymore”
 ”I are wet and tired and so very very cold 
I can’t remember what I should have NO-DUH “ 
” HELP ME!! – HELP ME!! “; The Rescue call went out
 Indiana Lennartz AGAIN needed help to get out  
Search and Rescue helicopters came in just like before
 In 2008 when das wilderness man’s feet’s GOT-DUH sore 
Visions of riches and fame may have danced in his head 
But the CRAZY ol’ bugger should have just stayed in bed  

Guiding Service -- Click on image to enlarge

2010-09-13T12:09:00.001-07:00

Meet Brian Antonson!

2010-09-12T21:39:00.000-07:00

Authors Celebration
Saturday, Oct 23rd
1:00pm-4:00pm
Celebrate creative words and the wizards who write them - authors! The Mission Library invites you to meet our talented Mission writers. All are welcome to this free event.

Brian Antonson, co-author Slumach's Gold, will be one of the authors celebrated at this event. Entrance is free. Grab your chance to rub shoulders with celebrity!

You can not miss it!

2010-09-07T16:26:00.000-07:00

I found the Tent shaped rock just about were everybody said it would be: just north of the head of Pitt Lake. Probably a two or three day walk, just like Jackson describes it in his letter. So exact that I am surprised that no one has discovered it before. It is a huge rock about the size of a smaller home standing all by itself in a field of rubble that must have been a landslide long ago. The area now is covered with vegetation on top of the loose boulders making it a very hazardous climb to the tent shaped rock. I can see why Jackson would have picked this rock. You simply can't miss it. I know people always say that but you can not miss this if you are in the right area. (The discoverer, a veteran in the field, prefers to remain anonymous until he has had a chance to do some more exploratory work in the area. )

I found Slumach's Lost Gold Mine....on Vancouver Island

2010-07-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

Rick Antonson, alerted through Google found the following conversation on the treasurenet forum starting with a message by Hmmm telling about his find and much more. Hmmm may have found gold, says Brian Antonson but he doubts that it could be Slumach's because it's "...an awful long paddle from Vancouver Island says he. Click here for the link and judge for yourself.

Back from Sasquatch Country

2010-07-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

Evan and Adam are just back and already the pictures and a report are on clubtread telling us about their fabulous 12-day trek. They explored the north-west and south-east headwall of the Terrarosa Glacier, the Sloquet Valley, Stanford Creek, climbed all the Fire Mountain spires and the reconnoitred the upper and the lower reaches of Terrarosa Lake.

Adam writes: "12 days on the Terrarosa Glacier is as good as gold for me.."

Evan: "It was a heck of a trip. but we didn't find any gold. What we did find was some of the most beautiful country anywhere in the world and that was worth more then anything to me."

Although both Evan and Adam deny finding any gold, it's clear that if they have found anything, they'd rather not tell us.

Authors of Mission

2010-07-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

The Fraser Valley Regional Library in Mission BC has invited the authors of Slumach's Gold to be part of their celebration of the Authors of Mission. Brian Antonson has accepted the invitation also on behalf of his co-authors Mary Trainer and Rick Antonson. The event is scheduled for October 23. Details to follow!

2010-06-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

Five intrepid explorers had a great get together yesterday to discuss the next step in the quest for Slumach's Gold but could not agree on where to find it. From left to right Don, Greg, Fred, Adam, and Evan. Thanks to our wonderful hosts: Sheena (who took the picture) and Adam.

New Videos by Daryl Friesen

2010-06-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

In the last few months Daryl Friesen has been very busy creating videos. It was a ton of work, so please look at them all, leave a comment here or send a message to Daryl's e-mail: dfriesen@direct.ca. Just click on the following titles:

Gold Diggings in the Golden Mountains

The B25 Bomber Expeditions

A Mad Search for Something

A Search for Adventure

Glimpses

PROPOSED HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS

2010-05-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

STAVE RIVER, LAMONT CREEK, FIRE LAKE/UPPER FIRE CREEK and TIPELLA CREEK, SOUTHWESTERN B.C.

Evan H., who lives in Australia, writes me as follow:

I have just been reading some things on then net and came across plans by the company Cloudworks. They want to put in a intake station for hydro power on the Upper Stave River.
What I was reading is the AOA (archaeological overview assessment) of the area. It list the culturally significant site in the area that they are proposing to build this. The areas are give a medium to high archeology rating. Click here to read the assesment.
I do not at this time know all of the facts, but from what I can make out is that some capitalists want to destroy some pristine and stunningly beautiful wilderness to capture and sell energy that I believe can be obtained without this destruction. (wind, solar etc.)
I wanted to see you know of anyone I could contact who may know the area from a historical/cultural standpoint.

I don't know anyone. If you do. please leave a comment? Evan will be back in BC roaming through the mountains in July.

PS: Someone has suggested that ALL of these proposals will disappear because of Gordon Campbell's announcement that the Site C dam in the Peace country is going to be built because Site C will provide so much surplus power for British Columbia for the long term forseeable future there will be need anymore for smaller hydro projects.

Please vote for Bruce (Tiller's Folly songwriter/singer) in Vancouver Seeds 10 Contest

2010-05-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

Tiller's singer/songwriter Bruce Coughlan has entered 3 songs in the Vancouver Seeds 10 Contest.

Bruce was a finalist in Vancouver Seeds 4 back in 1988 (please, don't do the math) and appeared on the compilation under the name "Romeo" (who was he kidding?).

This years contest has reached its primary voting stage. Please take a moment to show your support (you can vote once a day). Visithttp://cfox.supernova.com/ and look under "B" for Bruce.

Thanks

The Ghost of Louis Bee -- In Search of Slumach's Gold

2010-04-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

Click here for the lyrics of the great “Chatham Reach” song of Tiller’s Folly, virtuosic ambassadors of song, kindly supplied by Laurence Knight.

The B.C. Prospector Magazine

2010-04-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

With R.W. Nicholson's Web sites gone you may wonder how to get an archival copy of an issue of Rob's classy B.C. Prospector Magazine. All three issues are now ready for download at the site. CLICK HERE to go to the page where you can find the link to the pdf files of the magazines! Here is also where you'll find issue No. 4, that's bound to come some time soon!

Plans for a Pitt Lake Documentary

2010-03-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

Scott Nicholson is planning to do some documentaries on prospecting and mining in the Pitt lake area. He has convinced his father R.W. (Rob) Nicholson to go with him--if Dad is feeling well enough--to film on the actual sites Rob refers to in his book Lost Creek Mine.
They hope to get to the Fire lake mine area and some other spots too. Writes Rob: "Actually looking forward to doing that as it will be done via chopper and not on foot. It should be a fairly good documentary. The finished product will probably not be ready until the fall sometime as editing does take more time than the filming itself.”

Chatham Reach -- Lower Pitt River

2010-03-21T13:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sheryl MacKay, host of CBC's North by Northwest I could at last find that elusive song about Slumach's mysterious gold. The song is called Chatham Reach and it is on Tiller's Folly's latest CD "Stirring Up Ghosts." Click CBC Radio 3Go and in the right-hand colums MUSIC you'll find the song. Thanks also to Ron Sutherland who took the trouble to tell me that the song was played on North by Northwest a few weeks ago.