Squamish Times Today

An article so far unknown to me about the legend of the lost creek gold mine has turned up. This article written by Rose Tatlow was published on the fifth page of the Squamish Times of 2 October 1984. Click here to see the issue. 

The lovely illustration "Sasquatch with Indian Girl” is one of the pictures shown in the article. 

Slumach’s Gold

Aunt Mandy (Amanda Charnley), Peter Pierre’s daughter, told Donald Waite in 1972 that Slumach sold the equivalent of a half a ten-pound sugar bag of gold to a storekeeper in New Westminster for $27. Click here to read the interview.  It was the only gold Slumach took out according to Aunt Mandy’s story.
Gold weighs 18 times more than sugar and half a 10-pound sugar bag full of the stuff would have weighed  90 pounds  or about 40 kilograms. Unbelievable.
Based on the gold price of $18.94 per troy ounce (31 grams) of that time these $27.00 would have been the value of not more than 44.33 grams. The shopkeeper would have paid less than that of course. The amount of gold Slumach would have sold him would have been within reasonable limits--say 100 grams. That of course if Slumach ever found and sold gold at all!

Map of the Upper Pitt River – 1940

Courtesy Danny Gerak, Alvin BC

 

Click on image to enlarge. 

To the rescue of Volcanic Brown

 The Volcanic Brown rescue party, 1928. Left to right: Herman Gardner; B.C. Provincial Policeman: Spud Murphy; Alvin Patterson, after whom Alvin is named; Caleb Gardner; Harry Corder. – Roy McMartyn (provided by Harry Corder)

This picture and caption appear in many books and articles with writings about Volcanic Brown. It is a fascinating picture but the caption needs two corrections. The real year of the rescue of Robert Brown was 1926 – not 1928 and the surname of Herman and Caleb Gardner is correctly: Gardiner. The two Gardiners and Alvin Patterson lived in Alvin.
Harry Corder, or Henry Gordon Corder, was a fisherman. He died in 1983 and his is grave is at the Maple Ridge cemetery. Donald Waite knew him personally and visited him many times.
The first name of “Spud” Murphy of the BC Provincial Police was Eugene. He is one of the man searching for Volcanic Brown in 1931/1932. Aroung 1935 he lived in Port Hardy.
Harry Corder provided the photo that came from LeRoy McMartin (not Roy McMartyn). LeRoy played a prominent role in the search in the mountains for Volcanic Brown in 1931/1932.
The names of none of the people shown in this picture appeared in the newspapers at the time of the rescue. Mentioned in the newspaper are:  “Constable George Elliott”, “A. McMartin, trapper from Hammond” or “Fire Ranger McMillan.” “A. McMartin” suggests that either LeRoy or one of his brothers James or George from Hammond helped in the 1926 search. George F. Elliott was stationed in Mission. McMillan has not been identified yet.

Where the gold is

So you wonder where your best chances are of finding gold in the Lower Mainland?
The New Westminster Registry offices recorded the following number of claims registered in 1902  by area:

Sumas and vicinity     23
Stave River                 18
Harrison Lake             10
Chilliwack                    9
Whonnock                    9
Pitt Lake                      7
                                 -----
Total                            76

Lost Pitt Lake Mine Society

Members of The Lost Pitt Lake Mine Society met recently to review the program for this summer’s search for hidden treasure. A low snowfall and early thaw may open a unique opportunity to explore more than one location of interest. From left to right: Fred, Adam, Daryl. Evan, and Don.

Meet Brian Antonson at Port Coquitlam on May 3rd, evening

Brian Antonson will be the guest speakers for PoCo Heritage at Leigh Square, at the Outlet, 2253 Leigh Square, Port Coquitlam on May 3rd from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. 
Brain will speak about Slumach’s Gold, the book he co-authored with his brother Rick and with Mary Trainer, and the experience of writing it.  
Adult beverages and nibblies will be served. Admission by donation. The proceeds go to PoCo Heritage. 
Heritage at Leigh Square is Port Coquitlam’s new multi-use heritage facility.