Notes

 

 

Whenever possible, quotations were drawn from the original source material, and the spelling and punctuation were faithfully replicated. In some cases, quotations derived from secondary sources have modernized the language and sentence structure to make the text palatable to today’s audiences.

There was tremendous variation in the spelling of surnames throughout the historical documentation, as well as in subsequent popular accounts. The spelling used in each individual’s first deposition or witness statement was taken as the standard.

Preface

9 Condition of the body and burial: Details were taken from BBC News reports on September 12, 2012 (“Richard III dig: ‘Strong evidence’ bones are lost king,” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-19561018) and February 4, 2013 (“Richard III dig: DNA confirms bones are king’s,” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-21063882).

    DNA confirmation of identity: Nick Britten and Andrew Hough, “Richard III: Skeleton is the king,” The Telegraph, February 4, 2013, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9846693/Richard-III-skeleton-is-the-king.html.

    Identification as biohistory’s sole focus: A few investigators have pushed the boundaries of biohistory, casting new light on the health and lifestyle of past notables, such as questioning the origins of insanity in artist Vincent van Gogh (J.R. Hughes, “A reappraisal of the possible seizures of Vincent van Gogh,” Epilepsy and Behavior 6, no. 4 [2005]: 504-10) and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer (J. Jentzen et al., “Destructive hostility: The Jeffrey Dahmer case. A psychiatric and forensic study of a serial killer,” American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 15, no. 4 [1994]: 283-94), or determining whether lead poisoning was the cause of Ludwig van Beethoven’s deafness—Russell Martin, Beethoven’s Hair (New York: Broadway Books, 2000).

    Identification of Mengele: See, for example, M.E. Rogev, “The medicolegal identification of Josef Mengele,” Legal Medicine (1993): 115-50.

    Tentative identification of the apostle Luke: C. Vernesi et al., “Genetic characterization of the body attributed to the evangelist Luke,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 98, no. 23 (2001): 13460-63.

10 Investigators misuse DNA testing: In 2004, a team of medical ethicists looked at the unbridled growth of biohistory and were disturbed by what they saw (see L.B. Andrews et al., “Constructing ethical guidelines for biohistory,” Science 304 [2004]: 215-16). Chief among their concerns was the common practice of testing for testing’s sake, and the study concluded that “historical analysis is undertaken for commercial considerations or mere sensationalism.”

Wednesday, April 20, 1842 — Midday

15 “Indian Wife”: This expression appears frequently throughout the documentation; see, for example, Dr. John McLoughlin’s letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844, D 5/10, Hudson’s Bay Company Collection in the Provincial Archive of Manitoba (hereafter HBCA).

    “Quatkie’s daughter” and “McLoughlin’s wife”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter (McLoughlin Jr.’s wife) before Donald Manson, August 29, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA (hereafter “Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter”).

    “I have had all the troubles”: McLoughlin Jr. to John Work, February 14, 1842, E 13/1, folio 110-111, HBCA.

    “I have had scarcely any rest”: McLoughlin Jr. to John Work, December 2, 1841, E 13/1, folio 108-109, HBCA.

    “situated…among a horde”: The comment was attributed to George Simpson and was taken from “Remarks on the depositions taken by John McLoughlin Esq, by James Douglas Esq & by Donald Manson, Esq, respectively and on various letter declarations and regarding the death of John McLoughlin Junr at Fort Stikine on April 21, 1842. In the handwriting of Edward Hopkins, 1844,” E13/1, folio 368-377, HBCA (hereafter “Remarks on the depositions”).

    “attempted to scale”: From the entry for June 21, 1840, in the Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, B209/a/1, HBCA. Although the journal is marked 1842, it includes entries from the fort’s creation dating back to 1840.

16 Destruction of the bridge and capture of the chief: Recounted in Hamar Foster, “Killing Mr. John: Law and jurisdiction at Fort Stikine, 1842-1846,” in Law for the Elephant, Law for the Beaver, ed. John McLaren, Hamar Foster, and Chett Orloff (Pasadena, CA: Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society, 1992), 152 (hereafter “Killing Mr. John”).

    “Mr. John has bad white men”: From an “Indian report” received by Chief Factor John Work, cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 149.

    Kannaquassé’s repeated assassination attempts: Described in a statement given by one of Fort Stikine’s clerks: Kakepé’s deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1842, E13/1, folio 197, HBCA.

    “to poison McLoughlin”: Nahua’s deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843, E13/1, folio 246-248, HBCA.

    “would do no such thing”: Ibid. In his deposition, Pierre Kannaquassé freely admits asking Nahua and other Kanakas to poison McLoughlin. All refused. See Kannaquassé’s deposition taken at Nisqually, July 15, 1842, with two separate addenda from July 16, 1842, E13/1, folio 89-103, HBCA (hereafter “Kannaquassé’s deposition”).

    Needed to await McLoughlin Sr.’s decision regarding punishment: Nahua’s deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843. Nahua claimed he told John Jr. of the threat and that McLoughlin “beat Pierre” and said “he would tell his father, who would punish him properly.”

    “I am still amongst the living”: McLoughlin Jr. to John Work, December 2, 1841, original emphasis.

    “all that does not trouble me”: Ibid.

17 “the Blue devils”: Ibid.

    “I do not know what to do”: McLoughlin Jr. to Roderick Finlayson, February 26, 1842, cited in W. Kaye Lamb’s “Introduction” in E.E. Rich, ed., The Letters of John McLoughlin from Fort Vancouver to the Governor and Committee, First Series, 1825-38, vol. IV (London: Hudson’s Bay Records Society, 1941), xxxvii.

    “was always trying to catch”: Charles Dodd’s deposition regarding the murder of John McLoughlin Jr., August 1842, with an addendum from November 9, 1842, E13/1, folio 124-126, HBCA.

    Beat the guard for sleeping: Kannaquassé’s narrative regarding the murder of John McLoughlin Jr., July 1842, E13/1, folio 82-89, HBCA (hereafter “Kannaquassé’s narrative”).

    Nahua does not bring breakfast: Nahua’s deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843. Nahua would later testify he had left the fort without permission to fetch water.

    Details of the day’s weather: From two sources. The first is the fort’s journal entry for April 20, 1842, which reads: “Weather cloudy with several showers of rain. Wind moderate from south east.” The second source is the narrative of Quatkie’s daughter, which noted that the day was “very rainy and cold.”

18 “a little English”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 189.

    “every night before he went”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter.

I: “Lamentable Deficiency”Chapter One: L’Enfant Terrible

21 “l’enfant terrible”: Burt Brown Barker, The McLoughlin Empire and Its Rulers (Glendale, CA: Arthur H. Clark Company, 1959), 107 (hereafter The McLoughlin Empire).

    McLoughlin Jr.’s birthplace: Ibid., 38. The only means of narrowing down the location is his father’s correspondence. McLoughlin Sr. was stationed at Vermilion Lake in 1811-12. On March 22, 1812, he sent a letter from Vermilion Lake; however, on August 12, 1812, he wrote from Fort William. (Barker also considers Lac La Pluie a remote possibility as John Jr.’s birthplace.)

    “proud giant” and “such a figure as I should not”: From the entry for McLoughlin Sr. in “The Character Book of Governor George Simpson, 1832” (hereafter “Simpson’s Character Book”), reprinted in Glyndwr Williams, ed., Hudson’s Bay Miscellany 1670-1870, Publications of the Hudson’s Bay Record Society 30 (Winnipeg: Hudson’s Bay Record Society, 1975), 176.

    “Stature tall. Hair white”: Eloisa Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin, Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company possessions of the Pacific Slope at Fort Vancouver,” volume 1, B-12, (1887): 25, MG 29 C15, Bancroft Collection, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) (hereafter “The Life of John McLoughlin”).

22 “he had a rapid way of speaking”: J. Quinn Thornton, “Oregon History,” volume 1: 10, MG 29, C15, Bancroft Collection, LAC.

    “tolerably well” and “a good deal of influence”: Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 176.

    “My father was very quick tempered”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 11.

    “ungovernable Violent temper”: Simpson’s Character Book, 176.

    “stubborn, irascible”: John S. Galbraith The Little Emperor: Governor Simpson of the Hudson’s Bay Company (Toronto: Macmillan, 1976), 100 (hereafter The Little Emperor).

    “was well known for his use”: Ibid., 45.

    “what he said must be so”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 23.

    “I think he required those about him”: Ibid.

    “Right off he cooled down”: Ibid.

    “the lords of the lakes and the forests”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 18.

23 McLoughlin Sr.’s birth details: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 23.

    McLoughlin Sr.’s petition to practise medicine: Reproduced in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, plate #10.

    “behaved honestly, he possesses talents”: Ibid., plate #11.

    McLoughlin Sr. pushes soldier into the mud: Peter C. Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness vol. 2 of Company of Adventurers (Markham, ON: Penguin, 1987), 206; and Dorothy Nafus Morrison, The Eagle and the Fort: The Story of John McLoughlin (Portland, OR: Western Imprints, The Press of the Oregon Historical Society, 1984), 4 (hereafter The Eagle & the Fort), among other sources. All Dr. McLoughlin ever said on the matter was: “It was entirely my own want of conduct that I came up to this Country. It was not a matter of Choice but of Necessity on my part” (from an unidentified letter, cited in Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 3).

    McLoughlin Sr. dispatched to Kaministikwia: Dr. McLoughlin to Simon Fraser, July 1, 1808, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 147-48.

    “his sad Experiment”: Cited in Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 15.

    “giving full legal status”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 38-39. It bears noting that Dr. McLoughlin had taken a prior “country wife” before Marguerite, with whom he had a son named Joseph (Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 18). Although details are scant, it is assumed the first wife died while Joseph was very young.

24 Dr. Simon Fraser’s biography: From his last will and testament, probated June 28, 1844, and reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 294-95.

    “on account of the habit”: Simon Fraser to John McLoughlin Jr., January 12, 1836, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 218-20.

    “I blamed your mother for this”: Ibid.

    “corrupted the morals”: Ibid.

    “a very poor letter writer”: George Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” volume 1, A-83, (1878): 66, MG 29, C 15, Bancroft Collection, LAC, with original emphasis.

25 “I am so situated”: Dr. McLoughlin to Simon Fraser, March 15, 1825, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 175-77.

    “I feel very much obliged”: Dr. McLoughlin to Simon Fraser, January 2, 1823, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 173-74.

    Three years without a letter: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 108.

    “You are perfectly at liberty”: Dr. McLoughlin to Simon Fraser, September 14 1823, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 174-75.

26 “a frail child”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 44.

    “my object is not to give her”: Dr. McLoughlin to Simon Fraser, March 15, 1825, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 175-77.

    “the Girl cannot be a nun”: Simon Fraser to Dr. McLoughlin, April 20, 1827, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 182-84.

    Invoice of £80 for tuition: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 45.

    “never at ease with a problem”: Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 153.

    “a filthy irregular place”: Attributed to George Simpson, cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 32.

27 “meet any drafts necessary”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 45.

    Simpson’s daughters in Scotland: James Raffan, Emperor of the North: Sir George Simpson and the Remarkable Story of the Hudson’s Bay Company (Toronto: Harper Collins, 2007), 118 and 148 (hereafter Emperor of the North).

    No relationship with daughters or mothers: Ibid., 50.

    “been taught to be afraid”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 128.

    “was never fully a parent”: Ibid., 202.

    “the offense of absenting himself”: George Simpson to Simon Fraser, March 14, 1828, reprinted in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 186-87.

    “flew into a violent passion”: Ibid.

    “instead of showing the least contrition”: Ibid.

    “to collect his Books”: Ibid.

    “the poor Schoolmaster was quite horrer”: Ibid.

    “keep him another Week for £500”: Ibid.

28 “Up to the time the first complaint”: Ibid.

    “him a Seat in our Counting House”: Ibid.

    “I have never been so grossly deceived”: Ibid.

    “full of wise and kind counsel”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 110.

    Their entire relationship reduced to letters: In his letters, Dr. McLoughlin often belittled his son over petty offenses. For instance, he took the boy to task for his penmanship, noting: “Your hand writing is not such as it ought to be considering your age and the time you have been at school (it is very inferior to your sisters writing) which is certainly owing to yourself and shews you did not apply as much as you ought.” Dr. McLoughlin to John Jr., February 1, 1830, quoted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 190-91.

    “could not go further with him”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 109.

    “I cannot complain of your son”: Simon Fraser to Dr. McLoughlin, April 20, 1827, quoted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 182-84.

Wednesday, April 20, 1842 — Dusk

29 The details of the day’s work schedule: come from Kannaquassé’s narrative as well as Kannaquassé’s deposition.

    The evening’s weather: described in William Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, E13/1, folio 216-219, HBCA.

    McLoughlin Jr. orders the squaring of logs: Louis Leclaire’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    Measurements and work schedule: William Lasserte’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    “five Indians from Tako”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter, along with every other deposition taken. The lone point of consensus among the men was that there were “five Indians from Tako” in the fort that night — every deposition taken agreed on this point, right down to the language used.

    Simpson plans to close Tako: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 158.

    “considered improper”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter.

30 “went out of the fort”: Nahua, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843.

    Nahua burst into tears: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842, with addendum from August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA. Pressé recalled the cook was “crying while Mr. John was beating him.”

31 The diet at Stikine: Stikine relied on the aboriginal groups for provisions, and numerous references can be found in the fort’s journals and correspondence of the men’s complaints regarding their repetitious and limited diet. See also Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 151.

    “brackish water”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 152.

    Fleury carried to his room: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with addenda dated August 23 and 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    “became very noisy and”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, E13/1, folio 200-204, HBCA.

    “my lad [mon enfans]”: William Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    McLoughlin Jr. ties Fleury to the bed: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.

    “Mr. John did this without anger”: Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843, E13/1, folio 248-251, HBCA.

32 McLoughlin Jr. slaps Fleury: William Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “got intoxicated”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, entry for September 4, 1841, recorded by Roderick Finlayson.

    McLoughlin Jr. slaps Lasserte: William Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, and before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842.

    “staring him in the face”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 188.

    “Do you wish to kill me”: Kannaquassé’s deposition, corroborated in William Lasserte’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842.

    “fore entering his room”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “We spent the evening in”: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, E13/1, folio 220-221, HBCA.

Chapter Two: Reckless Deeds on Distant Shores

33 “I have written my friends”: Dr. McLoughlin’s letter to John Jr., February 1, 1830 in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 190-91.

    “I do not know what to do”: Dr. McLoughlin, letter to Simon Fraser, March 19, 1826, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 177-79.

    “purchasing an Ensigncy for him”: Simon Fraser’s letter to Dr. McLoughlin, April 20, 1827, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 182-84.

34“too infirm to control”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 97.

“I do not expect to see”: Sister St. Henry, letter to Simon Fraser, June 17, 1835 (translated from the original French), reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 213.

    “he would fall from excesses”: Sister St. Henry, letter to Simon Fraser, May 11, 1835, (translated from the original French), reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 210-11.

    “The best thing that can be”: Simon Fraser’s letter to Dr. McLoughlin, April 20, 1827, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 182-84.

    “boys of mixed blood”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 109.

    McLoughlin Jr. sent to Paris: Ibid., 111.

    “young as you were”: Simon Fraser’s letter to McLoughlin Jr., January 12, 1836, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 218-20.

    Dr. McLoughlin learns of McLoughlin Jr.’s departure: From the postscript of John McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to Simon Fraser, October 26, 1831, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 191-92.

    “did not know John’s age”: Cited in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 108, paraphrasing Simon Fraser’s letter to Dr. McLoughlin, April 20, 1827.

    “I spent the winter very gay”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to John Fraser, May 18, 1832, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 192-93.

    “I have been to the Kings”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to John Fraser, February 24, 1833, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 196-98.

36 “I am received in the first”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to John Fraser, February 18, 1833, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 196.

    “I have learned to fence”: Ibid.

    “I have been attacked and called”: Ibid.

    “I shall always endeavour”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to John Fraser, August 8, 1833, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 199.

    “Ah what can be the cause”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to Simon Fraser, February 24, 1833, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 196-98.

    “Alas can I ever cease”: Ibid.

    “I have passed the examination”: Ibid.

    “I do not like to say much”: Ibid.

37 “the gesture angered John”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 115.

    “very considerable” and “very very rich”: John Fraser, letter to McLoughlin Jr., August 1833, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 201-2, with original emphasis.

    Back rent owed by McLoughlin Jr.: I.H. Trudeau, letter to Simon Fraser, April 29, 1835, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 207.

    “having been deceived”: Connet Confectioners, letter to Simon Fraser, June 1, 1835, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 211-12.

    “all expenses made by your nephew”: Ibid.

38 “I was much affected on Learning”: Dr. McLoughlin’s letter to John Fraser, February 14, 1836, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 220-22.

    “Is Junior so destitute of feeling”: Ibid.

    “I respect myself too much”: Ibid.

    “incorrigible”: Simon Fraser’s letter to McLoughlin Jr., January 12, 1836, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 218-20.

    “I am convinced you are depraved”: Ibid.

    “You must know that you are illiterate”: Ibid.

39 “spending freely for a man”: Dr. McLoughlin’s letter to Simon Fraser, February 4, 1837, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 232-35.

    “go to Montreal to resume”: Ibid., original emphasis; Dr. McLoughlin refers to the postscript of a letter McLoughlin Jr. had written to Mr. Epps, administrator at the medical school, on November 21, 1835.

    “when he made this most impudent”: Dr. McLoughlin’s letter to Simon Fraser, February 4, 1837.

    “Conducts himself as a Gentleman”: Ibid.

    “any sum…under”: Ibid.

    “for my Uncle’s negligence”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Fraser, March 25, 1835, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 205.

    “squandered”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Fraser, June 23, 1835, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 213-14.

    “It is certainly very strange”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to Simon Fraser, June 15, 1835, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 212.

40 “Do not disappoint me”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Fraser, February 14, 1835, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 204.

    “Who is then to pay my”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Fraser, June 23, 1835, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 213-14.

    “I think my father himself would”: Ibid.

    “Will you be so kind”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to John Fraser, August 28, 1835, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 217.

    “make a little money”: Ibid.

    “such heavy debts”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 155. Although this is a highly credible source, Foster offers no citation to support the claim, and I could find no independent source to verify it.

    “John has written me”: Dr. McLoughlin, letter to Dr. Simon Fraser, February 16, 1836, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 224.

    McLoughlin Jr.’s physical resemblance to father: Dr. McLoughlin’s letter to the Governor and Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company, November 20, 1844, reprinted in E.E. Rich, ed., The Letters of John McLoughlin from Fort Vancouver to the Governor and Committee, Third Series, 1844–46, vol. VII (London: Hudson’s Bay Record Society, 1944), 48-93.

    “concerned about the increasingly limited”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 155.

41 “made it my study”: George Simpson, letter to Andrew Colvile, May 20, 1822, cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 63.

    “I am convinced”: Ibid.

    “racist attitude toward non-whites”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 191.

    “an enlightened Indian”: George Simpson, letter to Andrew Colville, May 20, 1822, in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 63.

    “a little too much addicted”: Cited in John S. Galbraith, “The little emperor,” The Beaver 40, no. 3 (1960): 22.

    “prone to act on them”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 124.

    “thoughtless, dissipated and depraved”: Cited in Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 154.

    “They look upon me”: Cited in Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 199.

    “qualified to cheat an Indian”: Entry for Donald McIntosh, Simpson’s Character Book, 188.

    “bits of brown”: Cited in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 229.

    “his bit of circulating copper”: Cited in Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 158.

    “Japan helpmate”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 69.

    “washerwoman”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 202.

42 “Father of the Fur Trade”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 259.

    “rather imposing mien”: Malcolm McLeod, ed., Peace River: A Canoe Voyage from Hudson’s Bay to Pacific by Sir George Simpson in 1828 — Journal of the Late Chief Factor Archibald McDonald (Hon. Hudson’s Bay Company), Who Accompanied Him (Edmonton: M.G. Hurtig, 1971), 27.

    “red-headed magpie”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 221.

    Simpson’s salary: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 289.

    “a gorgeous cloak of red Scottish”: Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 60.

    “unsung, unlettered and uncouth”: Peter C. Newman, Empire of the Bay: An Illustrated History of the Hudson’s Bay Company (Markham, ON: Penguin, 1989), 112 (hereafter Empire of the Bay).

“penchant for speed”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 31.

43 Simpson’s speed records: Raffan, Emperor of the North, establishes this fact beyond any shadow of doubt.

    “moccasin telegraph”: Ibid, 94.

    “little to commend”: Cited in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 186.

    “had the exact same complaints”: Ibid., 191.

    “his caprice, his favouritism”: John McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service in the Hudson’s Bay Territory, Volumes I and II, 1849, ed. William Stewart Wallace (Toronto: Champlain Society, 1932), 389 (hereafter Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service).

    Simpson’s edicts were final: Those signed to the HBC realized the walls had ears, and one misstep could prove fatal: “the clerk knows that if he is heard to utter a word of disapprobation, it is carried to the ears of his sovereign lord and his prospects of advancement are marred for ever” (McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 386).

    “know better” and “their assent”: Ibid., 334.

Monday, April 25, 1842 — Nightfall

45 Simpson’s personal bagpiper: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 237.

    “don his beaver topper”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 140.

    “The stillness that prevailed”: George Simpson, letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 27, 1842, E 13/1, folio 79-80, HBCA.

    “filled with apprehension”: Ibid.

    “a scene which no pen”: Ibid.

46 “hurried into eternity”: Ibid.

    “to make me believe”: Thomas McPherson’s letter to John Work, Esquire, April 21, 1842, B.223/b/29, folio 21d, HBCA; also in E13/1, folio 82-83, HBCA.

    “superficial investigation”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 48.

Chapter Three: The Honourable Company

47 “left behind a legacy of alcoholism”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 5.

    “a man of intense loyalties”: The quotation is attributed to historian Hugh Trevor-Roper, cited in Newman, Empire of the Bay, 33.

48 The use of liquor and trade goods to curry favour: noted in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 74. The rumour of mixing poison in tobacco is reported in Rosanna Seaborn, “Old-time company tactics,” The Beaver, Outfit 292 (Spring 1962): 52-53.

“proud of having so many”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 21.

    “scourged the poor Indians dreadfully”: Ibid., 13.

    Outbreaks coincide with ship arrivals: Ibid.

    “all the Indians”: Ibid., 21.

    “Between you and me I have”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to Simon Fraser, October 5, 1818, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 169-71.

    HBC and NWC almost bankrupt: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 61.

    “sheer manpower” and “ability to make”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 16.

    Wintering partner: A wintering partner (or “winterer”) was a shareholder in the NWC who participated in a pelt-sharing program that equally divided profits among all participants. The partners were required to spend two out of every three winters in-country, actively trapping, in order to remain eligible for profit sharing.

49 “one of real affection”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 46.

    McLoughlin’s transformation from employee to shareholder: is described in Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 153. The employee participatory scheme awarded chief factors two shares each, while chief traders held a single share. Company regulations stipulated that only chief traders were eligible for promotion to factors, while any salaried clerk could be made a trader. The Company had no compulsory retirement, and a “dead man’s shoes” offered the only real prospect for promotion to chief factor (ibid., 164).

    Fort George not to Dr. McLoughlin’s liking: McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to Simon Fraser, March 15, 1825, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 175-77.

    “the country was not worth a war”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 49.

    “with unorthodox methods”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 141.

    “too firmly in his own incorruptibility”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 285.

    “very Zealous in the discharge”: Simpson’s Character Book, 176.

    “I always heard that my Father”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 20.

    “were afraid of him”: Ibid.

    “a very bustling active man”: Simpson’s Character Book, 176.

50 “a disagreeable man”: Ibid.

    “an island of luxury”: Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 61.

    “the New York of the Pacific”: Attributed to Whitman, cited in Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 85.

    “There was no society”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 5.

    “One thing occurs to me”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 40.

    “that this country should not be inhabited”: Thornton, “Oregon History,” 5.

    Beaver skins a finite resource: Even with its monopoly, the fortunes of the Hudson’s Bay Company in Rupert’s Land were on the wane. Over-trapping had depleted the stock near Montreal, and the Company had no choice but to move west into uncharted territory. Worse still, the market for Castor canadensis had bottomed out. “Once considered the world’s most valuable fur” (Newman, Empire of the Bay, 14), the beaver had fallen out of favour. A beaver hat was de rigueur, the only means a rakish man had to combat the elements. But fashion is fickle, and the Company needed to change with the times. They ordered their trappers to expand operations to include bear, deer, mink, and marten. This in turn changed the trading culture, which had operated for decades with the beaver skin as its de facto currency. The HBC had built their trade empire on trade, and a beaver pelt could be exchanged for a blanket or gun or a predetermined allotment of tobacco, sugar, or liquor. Diversification meant the skins of other animals, such as the highly prized ermine, had to be converted into units known as “made beaver” (Raffan, Emperor of the North, 214).

    McLoughlin Sr. never drank spirits: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 45-46.

51 “a convert to Catholicism”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 77.

    “they kept Sundays”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 7.

    “a British subject”: Thornton, “Oregon History,” 5.

    “a gentleman of large heart”: Ibid.

    “neither more enlightened”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 315.

    “as ignorant of Christianity”: Ibid. Not everyone agreed. While George Roberts recognized the Company did a “disservice” to their aboriginal charges by “Baptising indiscriminately,” he stopped short of saying the HBC leaders “were all the vilest of the ill” (“Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 17).

    “The Indians came and asked”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 4.

52 “the HBC settled such incidents”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 147.

    “as matters of corporate discipline”: Ibid.

    McLoughlin Sr.’s rule was absolute: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 7.

    “It is strange”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 9-10.

    “You see the Co.’s chiefs”: Ibid., 14, original emphasis.

    “My father’s method”: See Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 12, for both the quotation and the accompanying story.

    “the punishment was always”: Ibid., 14-15.

53 Selkirk’s land grant: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 117.

    Selkirk’s only visit to Red River: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 138.

54 “overburden of self-importance”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 122.

    “a stern proclamation”: Ibid., 123.

    Walked into an ambush: One of the more colourful second-hand accounts of the Seven Oaks attack can be found in McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 369-72.

    “damned rascal”: Cited in Newman, Empire of the Bay, 123.

    Grant shot Semple: George Simpson, in his Character Book (210), absolved Grant — whom the HBC later hired and employed for years — of all wrongdoing in the massacre, writing that Grant was “a generous Warm hearted Man who would not have been guilty of the Crimes laid to his charge had he not been drawn into them by designing Men.”

    “the dead were stripped”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 124.

55 “like a kilted messiah”: Cited in ibid., 125.

    “piddling lord”: Cited in Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 178.

    “receiving, relieving, comforting”: Cited in Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 27.

    Burning documents in the stove: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 179.

    Sent to Canada for trial: There is some disagreement as to where the trial was held. Newman (Caesars of the Wilderness, 170-80) contends it took place in Montreal while Morrison (The Eagle & the Fort, 29) reports the trial was held in York, the capital of Upper Canada (now Toronto).

    “was taken lifeless”: Cited in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 41, although the original source is unclear.

    “a haunting fear of death”: Ibid., 43.

    McLoughlin Sr. never at Seven Oaks: Morrison claims the doctor was in a canoe, en route to Red River, when the massacre occurred (The Eagle & the Fort, 26).

56 Jury deliberated forty-five minutes: Ibid., 29.

    “not guilty”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 39.

    Traders kill twenty-three men: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 287. However, Dorothy Nafus Morrison, whose two biographies paint McLoughlin Sr. in a near mythic light, takes exception to the claim. In The Eagle & the Fort (59), she writes: “But when one of his expeditions killed a large number of innocent natives, he was so angry that he blocked the promotion of its leader.”

    “placate the Company’s death squads”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 287.

    “a skin for a skin”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 5.

57 “a tour de force”: Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 166, with original emphasis. Williams was quick to point out, in Simpson’s defence, that the book was written during a period of great emotional turmoil surrounding the death of Simpson’s son (ibid., 156) and should be viewed accordingly.

    Victims identified by number: Ibid., 156. The book was not even officially listed in the HBC archives until 1923, and Simpson’s exercise in character assassination remained a historical curiosity until 1935, when archivist Leveson Gower discovered the key to the coding system among George’s private papers. The cracking of the number code and a discussion of its significance can be found in the introduction to Simpson’s Character Book in Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany.

    “a readiness, almost an eagerness”: Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 154.

    “has such tact”: The quotation is cited in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 162, and is loosely attributed to Lord Selkirk, although in his footnote on page 443, Raffan raises concerns the attribution is in error.

    “Damning & Bitching”: Quotation attributed to Simpson, cited in Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 161.

58 “an outstanding example”: Alan Cooke, “Review of John S. Galbraith’s The Little Emperor: Governor Simpson of the Hudson’s Bay Company,” Archivaria 30, no. 2 (June 1977): 124-25, although Glyndwr Williams cautioned that Simpson’s pathologies were “a matter for the psychologist rather than for the historian” (Williams, “Introduction” to Simpson’s Character Book, in Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 162).

    “a perfect Hypocrite”: Williams, “Introduction” to Simpson’s Character Book, in Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 195.

    “firmness and decision of mind” and “a weathercock”: Alexander Simpson, The Life and Travels of Thomas Simpson, the Arctic Discoverer (London: Richard Bentley, 1845), 80.

    “it is his foible”: Cited in Galbraith, “The little emperor,” The Beaver 40, no. 3 (1960): 22.

    “had unrivalled opportunities”: Cooke, “Review of John S. Galbraith’s The Little Emperor,” 125.

    “one of the best-hated”: Ibid., 124.

    “despised”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 23.

    “plausible and full”: A. Simpson, The Life and Travels of Thomas Simpson, 40.

    “severe and most repulsive master” and “guilty of many little meannesses”: Ibid., 80.

    “a bastard by birth”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 140.

    “non-conjugal relationship”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 28.

    Simpson’s birth and early years: The date has caused discord among prior biographers. No birth records survive, and what documentation remains is contradictory. In the Canadian census of 1851, Simpson’s age was listed as fifty-five, suggesting a birth year of 1796. His obituary in the London Times noted he was sixty-nine when he died, but his tombstone puts him at seventy-three. Historian John S. Galbraith suggests 1787 was most likely his year of birth and it seems as good a date as any (Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 11-12). As for the place of the blessed event, the possibilities include Dingwall — Dale Terrence Lahey, Fed by Their Wings: The Descendants of Sir George Simpson (Guelph, ON: Datel Publishing, 2003), x — and the parish of Loch Broom — Arthur S. Morton, Sir George Simpson: Overseas Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company (Toronto: J.M. Dent, 1944) — both in the Scottish Highlands, north of Inverness. All agree Simpson spent his formative years under the care of his aunt Mary in Dingwall, where he received an adequate if uninspired education. Also in attendance in the same two-room schoolhouse was Duncan Finlayson, a boy four years Simpson’s junior, whose “private conduct & character” Simpson considered “models worthy of imitation.” Duncan, “a highly upright honourable correct” lad, would become a childhood friend and lifelong colleague (all quotations from Simpson’s Character Book, 186-87).

59 “where his talents soon advanced”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 383.

    Simpson traded in sugar: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 44-45.

    “sufficient promptness and determination”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 22.

    “chosen for his courage”: Cited in ibid., 24, although the original source was not credited.

    “did not allow consideration”: Ibid., 17.

    “no background or demonstrable skills”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 139.

    “an authority combining the despotism”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 333.

    “the North-West Company had previously”: Ibid., 388.

    “heir apparent”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 139.

    Simpson ignores the conditions of his post: George Simpson’s letter to Mr. Pooler, February 23, 1820, cited in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 62-63.

    “the ultimate absentee landlords”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 205.

    “with the lordly hauteur”: Ibid., 140.

60 “despotic”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 238.

    “as if we had been”: Ibid., 33.

    “clothed with a power”: Ibid., 333-34.

    “acting as uncrowned king”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, xx.

    “more absolute”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 386.

    “his role in Hudson’s Bay”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 185.

    “the slowness of the communications”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 247.

    “old and useless men”: Attributed to George Simpson, cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 60.

    “parsimony of a very”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 360.

    “economy so ill-timed”: Ibid., 243.

61 “mangeur du lard” — a “pork-eater”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 211.

    Simpson wins over all but Dr. McLoughlin: John S. Galbraith believed Simpson should not have claimed all the credit. The NWC factors were, after all, men of business, and their economic interests were better served by conglomeration, even under Simpson (The Little Emperor, 54-56).

    “in the art of getting his way”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 56.

    “sham”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 334.

    “could outvote me”: Attributed to George Simpson, cited in Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 154.

    “The Committee received”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 385.

62 “tidbits and wine”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 230.

    “Hudson’s Bay sauce”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 166.

    “Clothes that had once”: George Simpson, Fur Trade and Empire: George Simpson’s Journal Entitled Remarks Connected with the Fur Trade in Course of a Voyage from York Factory to Fort George and Back to York Factory, 1824-25, with Related Documents, rev. ed., ed. Frederick Merk (Cambridge, MA: Belknap, 1968), 23, original emphasis (hereafter Fur Trade and Empire).

    Simpson dressed like a voyageur: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 168.

    “a Radical” and “would be a troublesome man”: Simpson’s Character Book, 176.

Thursday, April 21, 1842 — Midnight

65 As recounted by Thomas McPherson: McPherson’s account is an amalgamation of statements, including his deposition before Sir George Simpson on April 26, 1842 (E13/1, folio 69-81, HBCA) and his letter to John Work on April 21, 1842, as well as statements made by other witnesses that mirror McPherson’s version of events.

    “half-seas over”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 53. Claims of McLoughlin’s intoxication come from McPherson’s deposition before Sir George Simpson, April 26, 1842: “on the 20th it was perceived about One Clock P.M. that Mr. McLoughlin was the worse of liquor, as the Day advanced he became more so; toward evening he became very drunk.”

    “I fell to bed”: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with addenda dated August 23 and 25, 1842.

    “became outraged and thrashed”: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.

    “flew at Lasserte”: Ibid.

    McLoughlin Jr. strikes Lasserte a second time: Ibid., and corroborated by the testimony of Phillip Smith, who swore McLoughlin began beating Lasserte “repeatedly.” Phillip Smith, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842, E13/z, folio 189-190, HBCA.

    McLoughlin Jr. grabs Aneuharazie by the throat: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum from August 24, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

66 “became outrageous”: William Lasserte, deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.

    “there is a danger near me”: Pierre Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “appeared particularly irritated”: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “take care of yourselves”: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, corroborated by William Lasserte’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.

    Fleury passed out cold: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.

    “They have wounded me”: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842, with addendum from August 25, 1842.

    Kanakas: Kanakas were low-level HBC employees of Hawaiian heritage.

    “Aux arms, aux arms”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “You also want to kill me”: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842.

67 “any bad intention”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “his rifle fell”: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842. Thomas McPherson, in his deposition before George Simpson, reversed the order of events, saying: “Mr. McLoughlin fell when his Rifle went off.”

    “succeeded in extricating”: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842.

    “in dread for my life”: Ibid.

    “The first Canadian”: Ibid.

    Seven or eight shots in quick succession: Ibid.

    “seriously alarmed”: Ibid.

    Canadians: National, cultural, and tribal affiliations are difficult to categorize retrospectively. “Canadians” (as it is used throughout the text) referred to those of European or mixed European/aboriginal descent. Identities such as “Canadian” and “Kanaka” are defined in greater detail on pages 99 to 100.

    Leclaire hides in the smithy: Louis Leclaire’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.

    Heron hides in the toilet: George Heron’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    Martineau hides and sleeps: Oliver Martineau’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

68 “was walking about the floor”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, E 13/1, folio 210-215, HBCA.

    McPherson the only sober man: In a letter written to John Work on April 21, 1842, McPherson claimed: “All hands and himself [McLoughlin] were drunk except me.”

    “About 9 P.M., [McLoughlin] called”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.

    “thought he saw a person”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “to see who it was”: Ibid.

    “apprehensive of Mr. McLoughlin’s violence”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.

    “1½ Gallons” and “began to fight”: Thomas McPherson’s letter to John Work, April 21, 1842.

    “ran out of the House”: Ibid.

    “Mr. McLoughlin, who”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.

    “search of Urbain and Lasserte”: Ibid.

    “for what object”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “went around in the Gallery”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.

69 “ran down into the area”: Ibid.

    “3 shots were fired”: Ibid. In a later deposition before Donald Manson on August 20, 1842, McPherson revised his statement, saying he heard three shots: “the first was fired about half a minute before the second.” The third shot was fired “a few seconds” after the second. “The first shot was fired from the NE Breastwork.” The other two were fired from the SW corner of the main house (E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA).

    “the ball passing through”: Charles Belanger, deposition before Donald Manson, August 13, 1842, with an addendum from August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    “one of those Shots”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.

    Location of McLoughlin’s body: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842.

    “lying on his face”: Charles Belanger, deposition before Donald Manson, August 13, 1842.

    Shot through the chest: Thomas McPherson’s letter to John Work, April 21, 1842.

    “he did not even say”: Ibid.

    “We do not know”: Charles Belanger, deposition before Donald Manson, August 13, 1842.

    “some said it was”: Ibid.

    “I do not know the very man”: Thomas McPherson’s letter to John Work, April 21, 1842.

    “the fatal shot”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxi.

Chapter Four: Dickson’s Folly

71 “air of command”: Elizabeth Arthur, “Dickson, James,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7 (Toronto/Quebec City: University of Toronto Press/Université Laval, 2003), http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/dickson_james_7E.html.

    “covered with huge whiskers”: Ibid.

    Dickson’s prior association with the US military: Ibid.; see also Grace Lee Nute, “John McLoughlin, Jr., and the Dickson filibuster,” Minnesota History, 17 (1936): 444-47; “James Dickson: A filibuster in Minnesota in 1836,” Mississippi Valley Historical Review 10 (1923): 127-40; and “Documents relating to James Dickson’s expedition,” Mississippi Valley Historical Review 10 (1923): 173-81.

    Dickson’s grandiose plan: Grace Lee Nute, in her introduction to “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” Minnesota Historical Bulletin 4 (1921): 351-439. The article includes a full transcription of the diary (hereafter “The Diary of Martin McLeod”).

72 “to aid the cause”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 229.

    “half-breeds”: Ibid., 228.

    “Quixotic career”: “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” 354, original emphasis.

    “quite sanguine of success”: Ibid., 359.

    “movements at Buffalo”: Ibid., 360.

    “Remained one day at Toronto”: Ibid., 356.

    McLoughlin Jr. enlists: Sister St. Henry, in a letter to John Fraser, July 11, 1836 (translated from the original French, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 227-28), wrote that four days prior, John Jr. had “left for Montreal in order to meet a Gentleman who one thinks is called McKenzie who has been in the N. West service, this person is now in the Texan Army, he promised a commission to John.”

73 “Secretary of State” and “Brigadier General”: From the footnote in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 227.

    McKenzie’s death: Ibid.

    “encountered many interesting anecdotes”: McLoughlin Jr. to John Fraser, September 1, 1836, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 228-29.

    “Crossing the lakes Erie and Huron”: Ibid.

    “courage and resourcefulness”: Ibid.

    “For the devotion”: Ibid.

    “McLoughlin and his men”: “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” 360.

    “Rambled through Detroit”: Ibid., 362.

74 “saw some of its curiosities”: Ibid., 363, original emphasis.

    “his unwashed followers”: Ibid., 365.

    Killed oxen worth $150: McLoughlin Jr. recounted the details of the sheriff’s pursuit in a letter to John Fraser, who in turn repeated the account in his letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 13, 1837, reproduced in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 235-38.

    “an ignorant brute”: “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” 364.

    “the person who talk[s]”: Ibid.

    “his squaw” and “some excellent Salmon”: Ibid., 367.

    “Some savages”: Ibid., 379.

    “Such is the manner”: Ibid., 390.

75 “The coat must be red worked”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Fraser, October 11, 1836, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 230-31.

    “already prepared”: “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” 359, original emphasis.

    “endeavoured to persuade”: Ibid., 393.

    “casting lots to eat each other”: Ibid, original emphasis.

    “Out of Provisions”: Ibid., 414.

    “Dog’s meat excellent eating”: Ibid.

    “Since I last wrote you”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Fraser, August 8, 1837, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 239-41.

    “long living on corn and pork”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to John Fraser, October 11, 1836, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 230-31.

76 “The more I think on”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to John Fraser, July 29, 1838, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 241-42.

    “a man such as your Dixon”: John Fraser’s letter to McLoughlin Jr., April 16, 1837, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 238-39.

    “join your Honorable Father”: Ibid.

77 “Trail of Tears” and “civilized tribes”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 156.

    Simpson offers jobs to Dickson’s men: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 229.

    “By detaching them you will”: Cited in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxvii.

    “got a letter from Gov. Simpson”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Fraser, August 8, 1837, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 239-41.

    McLoughlin Jr.’s job title and salary: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 157; Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 47.

    McLoughlin Jr. had not been paid by Dickson: John Jr. told John Fraser, who in turn told McLoughlin Sr. John Fraser, letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 13, 1837, reproduced in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 235-38.

    “chose to keep him”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 157.

    “Dickson’s disordered mind”: “The Diary of Martin McLeod,” 352.

    “the invasion ended in”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 229.

78 “made a laudatory speech”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 229. Grant was one of Dickson’s last remaining officers.

Monday April 25, 1842 — Full Dark

79 “Mr. McLoughlin was in the habit”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.

    “addicted to the Bottle”: George Simpson’s letter to Robert McVicar, September 26, 1820, cited in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 111.

    “was exceedingly violent”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.

    “the worst of all those”: McLoughlin Jr.’s letter to John Fraser, October 11, 1836, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 230-31.

80 “could not get them to work”: Ibid.

    “before I get to red river”: Ibid.

    “McLoughlin in other respects”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.

    “Simpson’s penchant for early starts”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 334.

    “The business of the post”: George Simpson, letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 27, 1842.

    “Ledger books and post journals”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 145.

81 “because it confirmed his views”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 124.

    “had simply reverted to type”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, .

    “this dreadful act”: George Simpson’s letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 27, 1842.

    “I have no Doubt”: The words are attributed to George Simpson, repeated in Dr. McLoughlin’s letter to Governor Pelly and the Committee, June 24, 1842, reproduced in E.E. Rich, ed., The Letters of John McLoughlin from Fort Vancouver to the Governor and Committee, Second Series, 1839-44, vol. VI (London: Hudson’s Bay Record Society, 1943), 74-76.

    “shot a man in cold blood”: Simpson’s Character Book, 195.

    Siveright’s career in the HBC: From a footnote in Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 195.

    “he was more influenced”: Simpson’s Character Book, 195.

    “in self defence”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxi.

82 “attract much unfavourable attention”: Ibid.

    Simpson’s suspect hiring practices: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 175.

    “he had access to”: Ibid.

    “perception was everything”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 312.

    HBC’s perspective: Hamar Foster (“Killing Mr. John,” 159) later summarized Simpson’s conundrum: “Neither the company nor its monopoly were popular.…rumors of how harshly it treated both the Indians and its engages were common. If one of its clerks had so abused his men that they had killed him in self-defense, a trial in Canada would be (what today is termed) a public-relations disaster.”

    “In the whole case”: George Simpson’s letter to Governor Pelly and the Committee, June 21, 1844, reprinted in Rich, ed., McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, xvi-xvii.

    “Neither by this course”: Ibid.

    “conveniently antiseptic solution”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 160.

    “Mr. [Charles] Dodd, chief Mate”: George Simpson’s letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 27, 1842.

83 “a respectable young man”: Ibid.

    “Notwithstanding the melancholy”: George Simpson’s letter to Charles Dodd, April 27, 1842, E 13/1, folio 77-78, HBCA.

    “McPherson and Smith, who”: Ibid.

    One final threat at Stikine: In his April 21, 1842, letter to John Work, McPherson claimed “now we are in danger from the Indians of this place as they want to attack the Fort when they heard [McLoughlin] was killed.”

    “the Indians, who are collected”: George Simpson’s letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 27, 1842.

    “The indian interpreter Hanaga Joe”: George Simpson’s letter to Charles Dodd, April 27, 1842.

    “he had been guilty”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, iii.

    “to be forwarded to Canada”: George Simpson’s letter to Governor and Committee, July 6, 1842, reprinted in Glyndwr Williams, ed., London Correspondence Inward from Sir George Simpson, 1841-1842, vol. XXIX (London: Hudson’s Bay Record Society, 1973), 162.

84 “had done all that”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxi.

    “Mr. McLoughlin’s private”: George Simpson’s letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 27, 1842.

    “a ring from the” and “gave to the woman”: Powkow, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843, HBCA E13/1, folio 242-243.

    “this ring was afterwards”: Ibid.

    “Mr. McLoughlin’s conduct”: Cited in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxi.

86 “His violence”: George Simpson’s letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 27, 1842.

    “Heroux’s conduct”: Taken from McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844, in which he cited Simpson back to himself.

    “no legal steps against”: George Simpson’s letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 27, 1842.

    “their conduct throughout”: Ibid.

    “remarkable for its callousness”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 160.

    “harsh and tactless”: Glyndwr Williams, Highlights of the First Two Hundred Years of the Hudson’s Bay Company (Winnipeg: Peguis Publishers, 1976), 64.

    “even if the details”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 48. Lamb also described the letter’s tone as “definitely unsympathetic and, considering the circumstances, the wording is frequently harsh in the extreme” (Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxi).

Chapter Five: “A Sink of Pollution”

87 Stikine’s location: Ernest Voorhis, Historic Forts and Trading Posts of the French Regime and of the English Fur Trading Companies (Ottawa: Department of the Interior, 1930). Voorhis noted that Stikine was located on a flood plain four miles from the mouth of the Stikine River.

    “had not been”: George Simpson, Narrative of a Journey Round the World, 1841-1842 (London: Hudson’s Bay Record Society, 1847).

    “an Establishment two hundred ft. square”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “Tide very high”: From the entry dated March 28, 1842, in Fort Stikine Journal, 1842.

    “The slime that was”: Simpson, Narrative of a Journey.

    “a hell upon Earth”: John Rowand’s letter to McLoughlin Sr., March 11, 1843, printed in Appendix A in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 355-56.

    “The water was not”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 13.

88 “Civilized World”: In a letter to Simon Fraser, February 24, 1840, Dr. McLoughlin refers to life outside the HBC outposts as “the Civilized World.” Letter reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 244.

    “It was a miserable”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 13.

    Fort Tako: also appears in documents as “Taco” and “Taku.” Fort Tako was built near Stephen’s Passage (Voorhis, Historic Forts and Trading Posts). According to Roberts (“Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 7), “The Russians permitted the building of Tako still further north — the rent was paid in wheat — butter & East side Otter.”

    “landlocked harbor”: Voorhis, Historic Forts and Trading Posts.

89 The eleven-day standoff: Peter Skene Ogden’s adventures are recounted in Newman, Empire of the Bay, 141-42.

    McLoughlin Sr. tries to infiltrate Stikine: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 299.

    Simpson goes to Russia: Ibid., 300. According to Galbraith (The Little Emperor), HBC Governor Pelly accompanied Simpson to Russia, a fact overlooked by some biographers and historians, because Simpson’s account of the trip rarely mentioned the presence of his boss.

    “an extraordinary looking”: Cited in Alice M. Johnson, “Simpson in Russia,” The Beaver 291 (1960): 4-12. The quotation appears on page 11.

    “stupid to a degree”: Ibid.

    Two thousand otter skins: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 304; Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 149.

90 “Indian trouble”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 151.

    “HBC would need”: Ibid.

    “a big hogs head”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 13.

91 “We are in it”: McLoughlin Jr. describing his experiences in Fort Vancouver, in a letter to John Fraser, March 15, 1840, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 244-45.

    “are as attentive and”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, October 24, 1840, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 246.

    “a good disciplinarian”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxx.

    “no half-breed ever”: Ibid.

    “a more sober”: William Rae’s letter to McLoughlin Sr., April 20, 1843, E13/1, folio 189-190, HBCA.

    “it must have been”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 48.

    “I believe he is”: David McLoughlin, letter to John Fraser, April 7, 1842, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 247-49.

    “was kind and indulgent”: Phillip Smith, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842.

    “too young and hot headed”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 22.

    “he had not been”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 14.

    “congenial and competent”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxx.

92 “Mr. Finlayson, who I am sure could not tell a lie”: John Work, letter to George Simpson, May 1, 1842, D 4/7, HBCA.

    “formed a favourable opinion”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 153.

    “at each stop, Simpson”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 342.

    “Simpson’s favourite trader”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 144.

    “left John to govern”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 48.

    “I am sure that all this comes”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to Roderick Finlayson on December 2, 1841, cited in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxviii.

93 “a poor soft half”: McLoughlin Sr. to the Governor and London Committee, June 24, 1842, reproduced in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 74-76.

    “McPherson was not a fit person to act as second”: John Rowand’s letter to McLoughlin Sr., March 11, 1843.

    “soft and dull”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “knew McPherson to be a lazy Sleepy Drone”: Ibid.

    “will never answer the purpose”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Work, October 2, 1841, E 13/1, folio 295, HBCA.

Tuesday, June 28, 1842 — Dusk

95 “The Dr. never smoked”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 32.

    “Brandy was placed”: Ibid.

    Other HBC employees knew before McLoughlin Sr.: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxviii.

96 “Poor john”: David McLoughlin, letter to John Fraser, March 19, 1843, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 246-47.

    “he should Leave”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “the chary way”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 7.

97 “the depositions were a tissue of lies”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, ii.

    “many had a motive”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 174.

    “some of the most”: Ibid.

    “Finlayson also showed”: John O’Brien, statement regarding the death of John McLoughlin Jr., June 4, 1842, E13/1, folio 84, HBCA.

    Lasserte not deposed, saw shooting: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843. He stated: “It was a clear moon light night and I could see both Mr. McLoughlin and Heroux distinctly.” When later asked why he had not “informed against Heroux,” Lasserte replied: “I had no opportunity of information against him before Sir George Simpson, during his short stay at Stikine, as I was not examined by him but I have given Mr. Manson all the particulars of the murder” (William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843, E13/1, folio 252-253, HBCA). Lasserte added two additional comments: first, that he did not say what he had witnessed “before Urbain Heroux was removed from Stikine as I feared the man.” Second, “I also think that Pierre Kannaquassé was an abettor of the murder” (ibid.).

98 Kannaquassé would only identify the killer to Simpson: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    Manson, McNeill, Lee: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 162.

Chapter Six: An Underhanded Complement

99 “these men had been sent”: McLoughlin Sr. to Governor Pelly and the Committee, February 1, 1844, reprinted in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Third Series, 39-42.

    “Our people here are”: David McLoughlin, letter to John Fraser, March 19, 1843.

    “a somewhat volatile”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 149.

    bois brûlé: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 370.

    “confused tribes with clans”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 150-51.

100 Dividing the complement into three groups: As an anthropologist, it pains me to do this, but to apply labels retroactively would be to artificially introduce a concept that was meaningless at the time, and is misleading now.

    “They had lived apart”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 175. The source of the internal quotations was not specified.

    “a general comingling”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 9.

    “a good deal of the Indian”: Simpson’s Character Book, 190.

    “inclined to form leagues”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 175.

    “the most numerous”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “by no means in good humour”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 152.

    “cheerful” and “probably not the best judge”: Ibid., 151.

101 “very humble indeed”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, from the entry dated Friday, June 19, 1840.

    “came to the gate”: Ibid, entry for Tuesday, March 29, 1842.

    “given to them”: Ibid.

    “threatened to kill someone”: Ibid.

    “doing so to see”: Ibid.

    “would have made”: Ibid.

    “No one at Stikine”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 152.

    “At Stikine the Indians”: McLoughlin Sr. to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “the bad quality” and “you may push your finger”: Donald Manson, letter to Dr. John McLoughlin, September 3, 1842, E13/1, folio 292-294, HBCA.

    “the natives also complain”: Ibid.

    “I think it my duty”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Work, March 3, 1841, Judge Howay Collection, Library of the University of British Columbia.

    Surrounded the fort with pickets: Ibid.

102 “We require men”: Ibid.

    “I am here left”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, from the entry dated Sunday, October 3, 1841.

    McLoughlin Jr.’s letters grow desperate: In a letter McLoughlin wrote to John Work (March 3, 1841), he lamented, “If no exchange of men takes place, I shall not be able to do more than half of the work.…if it is in your power to remove some of the useless hands, I should be very thankful.”

    “the more I see”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Work, June 3, 1841, Judge Howay Collection, Library of the University of British Columbia.

    “new pickets”: Ibid.

    Trade was brisk: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, from the entry for Monday, June 15, 1840.

    Metis: Metis is “an elusive term” used to describe people of mixed European/aboriginal heritage (Newman, Empire of the Bay, 120).

    “neither work, understand”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, April 12, 1843, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51.

103 “who has been taught”: Kakepé, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843, E13/1, folio 232-233, HBCA.

    “a Sandwich Islander”: Kanakanui, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    “a half fool”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, from the entry for Monday, June 15, 1840.

    “a half-breed and passable”: Ibid, entry for June 13, 1840.

    “Pressé had been dismissed”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844. According to Foster, Pressé had been “turned out of the Southern Department” of Rupert’s Land for trying to shoot a man at Moose Factory, although the exact details were unclear (“Killing Mr. John,” 161).

    “a smart lad”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, from the entry for June 12, 1840.

    “a good man”: Ibid.

    “a half fool”: Ibid.

    “Blackguard…who”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 161.

    “appears to be”: Oliver Martineau, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842.

    “the most Criminal”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

104 “Ill Nature and Bad temper”: Ibid.

    “getting into difficulties”: Ibid.

    “the ferocity that”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 12.

    “they do not pay”: Ibid.

    “the most uncouth, savage”: Ibid., 119, although McLean was not describing the Iroquois of Stikine specifically.

    “a good man before”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, entry for Monday, June 15, 1840.

    “Pierre Kanaquassi [sic] is”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “a blackguard”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, entry for Monday, June 15, 1840.

    “one of the Greatest villains”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to the Governor and London Committee, June 24, 1842, in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 74-76.

    “appears to have been”: From George Simpson, Remarks on the depositions.

    “addicted to liquor”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 161.

105 “Heroux was tried”: Letter from Dr. John McLoughlin to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “He would fly”: Ibid.

    “savage looks”: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843.

    “Heroux’s dress was remarkable”: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “a good man”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, entry for June 13, 1840.

    “As a Body the Canadians”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

106 “a very steady pains taking man”: Simpson’s Character Book, 199.

    “a queer looking fellow”: Ibid.

    “Work might draw negative”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 165.

    “I shall be obliged”: McLoughlin Jr., letter to John Work, February 14, 1842.

Thursday, April 21, 1842 — Midnight

109 Kannaquassé’s account is a compilation of his various statements, including his narrative regarding the murder of John McLoughlin Jr., July, 1842, and his deposition taken at Nisqually, July 15, 1842, with two separate addenda from July 16, 1842. His account is augmented with quotations from eyewitnesses whose version of events corroborate Pierre’s testimony.

    “elevated”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “made no secret” and “was heard several times”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843, E13/1, folio 226-227, HBCA.

    “at the foot of the stairs”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842.

    Lasserte sees Kannaquassé waiting to shoot: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843.

    “McLoughlin would certainly”: Ibid.

    McPherson provides liquor: Benoni Fleury, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843.

    “Mr. John had ordered”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    Kannaquassé pours drink down his shirt: Ibid.

110 “maltreating”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843.

    “killing Fleury”: Louis Leclaire, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.

    “struck Urbain in the face”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum from August 26, 1842 (E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA), and repeated in subsequent depositions.

    “I never received a blow”: Ibid.

    Heroux warns McLoughlin and leaves: Ibid.

    “It would be well”: Ibid.

    “to come down”: Joe Lamb, deposition before James Douglas, May 19, 1843, E13/1, folio 236-237, HBCA.

    “heard someone jump down”: Ibid. Lamb’s story was corroborated by Simon Aneuharazie, who “saw someone jump from the gallery to the ground near the end of Urbain’s house.” It was Urbain Heroux. Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842.

111 “insolent refusal”: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “appeared in a violent rage”: Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843, E13/1, folio 222-225, HBCA.

    “gun standing against”: George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.

    Heroux hides a gun: Ibid. Heron had found the gun by accident earlier that night. Curious, he had “examined it and found it loaded.” Uncertain why it was there, he left it in place.

    “saw Urbain taking aim” and “but the gun appeared”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum from August 26, 1842.

    Sandwich Islanders asleep in their barracks: Powkow, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    “seize Mr. McLoughlin”: Kakepé, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843.

    McLoughlin orders the Kanakas to shoot Heroux: Powkow, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842.

    “his wife refused”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “his shirt was torn”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter.

    “Heroux had fired”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “continued walking about”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

112 “Urbain wants to kill me”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842.

    “I will shoot him”: Ibid.

    “he would never be happy”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843. Although not present in the room, Lasserte testified that he “heard Heroux say if he Mr. John said anything to him, he would shoot him like a dog” (William Lasserte, deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842). Heroux’s threats were not the only ones levelled at McLoughlin; Pressé said that the best way to restrain McLoughlin was “to send a ball through his head” (as recounted in Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843). Pierre Kannaquassé often said that McLoughlin “would never die by any hand but his” (also recounted in ibid).

    “was aware of everything”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “a demented sort of”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 163-64.

    “kill me if you can”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “does not come soon”: Cited in a letter from McLoughlin Sr. to Governor Pelly and the Committee, October 31, 1842 (reprinted in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 82-90), and based on John Jr.’s wife’s statement, in which she tells of her husband “taking me by the hand [and] said “You will not see me again. I am going to be killed by Urbain Heroux” (Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter). In his deposition, Pierre Kannaquassé stated that McLoughlin told his Indian wife “he was to be killed that night.” In Kannaquassé’s narrative, he stated that Kawannassé told him that McLoughlin said to his wife, “I am going to die tonight.’”

    “Never mind”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “that if he wished”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    Their support made McLoughlin cry: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, in which he stated McLoughlin “was crying bitterly.”

113 “Smith & Simon”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “I must bring”: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “losing all patience”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “as soon as it was loaded”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “a stout bludgeon”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “looking suspicious”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842.

    “were in irons”: Ibid.

    A non-existent enemy: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842.

    “the reports of more than fifteen shots”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “but not finding it”: Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843.

    “each a shot, apparently”: Captain Cole, deposition before James Douglas, May 7, 1843, E13/1, folio 230-231, HBCA. This is corroborated by Anahi, who watched as Heroux “fired a shot in the air.” Anahi watched as McPherson, Kawannassé, Smith, and Martineau did the same thing (Anahi, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843, E13/1, folio 244-245, HBCA).

    McLoughlin falls and rifle fires: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum August 24, 1842.

    “especially Lesserte [sic] and Urbain”: Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843.

114 On McLoughlin’s command: Ibid.

    A dozen shots from the gallery: Phillip Smith, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842, in which he testified that he heard “about 12 shots were fired in all.”

    “stop, stop, stop”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “walking cautiously”: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “weeping loudly”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “saw Urbain”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “Urbain stepped back”: Ibid. A number of people saw Heroux fire the fatal round. Lasserte saw Heroux step forward from the corner of the house and discharge his gun at McLoughlin (William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843); Kakepé was positioned at the end of Heroux’s house, with a clear view of the platform. He saw Heroux “standing by the front corner of the house and saw him fire off his gun” (Kakepé, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1842); Antoine Kawannassé “saw heroux distinctly when he fired the shot which killed Mr. McLoughlin, he wore a red woollen cap on his head at the time” (Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843). Kawannassé detailed Heroux’s second gun (Kawannassé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum from August 26, 1842). Thomas McPherson later corroborated the existence of a second, hidden gun in his third and final round of depositions before James Douglas (April 22, 1843): “I saw a gun there that did not belong in that place.”

    “a very loud report”: Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843. Many men insisted that the fatal shot was unusually loud: “a very loud report” (Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843); Nahua also heard a “very loud report” (Nahua, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843); as did Anahi (deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843).

    “lodging in the Carpenters”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842. The story was corroborated by Charles Belanger in all of his depositions. George Heron claimed “the bullet lodged in the carpentry door after passing through the body” (George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842).

    “immediately fell forward”: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “noise of a heavy body”: Kakepé, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1842.

    “quite naked”: Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA. Naked might be something of an exaggeration. George Heron saw Captain Cole coming out of his house “with his trousers unbuttoned” (George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842).

    “Urbain a few paces off”: Captain Cole, deposition before James Douglas, May 7, 1843.

    “lying wounded”: Ibid.

    “the murderer walked”: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “retreated a step or two”: William Lasserte, deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842, in which he claimed to have been standing between the kitchen and bathhouse “and I being intimidated [by Heroux], retreated behind the bath for a few minutes.”

    “saw a man laying”: George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.

115 “come on from the corner”: Captain Cole, deposition before Sir George Simpson, April 27, 1842, E13/1, folio 69-81, HBCA.

    “and place his foot”: Ibid. That Heroux came forward, put his back to the wall, and pressed his foot into McLoughlin’s neck comes from Captain Cole’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842. Others concur: “I saw Heroux with his foot upon the deceaseds neck and on asking him what he was doing with his foot there, he said I am doing nothing and took away his foot” (George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842); Powkow also saw Heroux with his foot on McLoughlin’s neck (Powkow, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842); Kannaquassé reported seeing Heroux come forward from the corner and put his foot “savagely on his neck as if to complete the act should the ball have failed in causing death” (Kannaquassé’s narrative). Kanakanui testified that Heroux rushed “with vindictive fury upon the victim who was still breathing and extinguished the feeble remains of life by treading upon is neck” (Kanakanui, deposition before James Douglas, May 10, 1843, E13/1, folio 238-239, HBCA).

    “as if to finish”: Kanakanui, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842.

    “still breathing”: Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1842, E13/1 folio 195, HBCA.

    “struck him a severe blow”: Ibid.

    “Get up now”: William Lasserte, deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842.

    “lying on the left side”: Kakepé, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843.

    “Mr. John is asleep”: Phillip Smith, deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    “hurra for my gun”: William Lasserte, deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842.

    Heroux orders Pressé freed: Ibid.

    “I do not know”: Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1842.

    “I suppose it was”: George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.

    “it could not have been the Indians”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

116 “wrested”: Kanakanui, deposition before James Douglas, May 10, 1843.

    “He who killed him”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “He who killed him will not hesitate”: Ibid.

    “You have killed the master”: Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1842.

    “No, it was not I”: Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842. Over time, the wording of the exchange evolved. First, Cole swore that Heroux said: “the master is dead, do not say it was me” (Captain Cole, deposition before George Simpson, April 27, 1842). The words cited here are from his second round of depositions. In his third, Cole testified that Heroux “told me not to say that he had killed him” (Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1843). Cole claimed to have been frightened and intimidated by Heroux, who made him promise he “would not divulge the secret” (Captain Cole, deposition before James Douglas, May 7, 1843).

    “in a furious manner”: Nahua, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843.

    “had better take care”: Ibid.

    Kawannassé in the gallery: In his last deposition, Kawannassé swore that, immediately after Heroux shot McLoughlin, the killer looked at him in the gallery and threatened to “murder me if I informed against him” (Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843).

    “kicked the body”: William Lasserte, deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842.

117 “he would not carry”: Ibid., a translation of the original French: “Quand on tue un chien on le laisse là.”

    “painted himself with the blood”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to Governor Pelly and the Committee, June 24, 1842, in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 74-76.

    “It was the blood”: Ibid.

    “some of the men”: Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843.

    “the fatal shot had been fired by one Urbain Heroux”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, i. In a later deposition, Antoine Kawannassé told HBC officials: “A good many shots were fired immediately before Mr. John’s death, I do not know exactly how many but, the last shot was the one fired by Urbain Heroux,” adding adamantly, “on this point I feel satisfied that I am correct” (Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843).

Chapter Seven: Tight Reins and Loose Women

119 “Horny Boys’ Club”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 13.

    “for residence here among”: J. Quinn Thornton, “Oregon History,” 5.

    “took their meals alone”: Morrison, The Eagle & The Fort, 66.

    Infanticide by country wives: Sylvia Van Kirk, “Women and the fur trade,” The Beaver (Winter 1972): 4-21, reference on page 14.

120 “were not enlightened”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, x.

    “the White Fish diet”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, November 12, 1822, reprinted in R. Harvey Fleming, ed., Minutes of Council, Northern Department of Rupert Land, 1821-31, vol. 3 (Toronto: Champlain Society for the Hudson’s Bay Record Society, 1940).

    “She is an unnecessary”: Ibid.

    “If she is unmarketable”: Ibid.

    “disgustingly indecent”: Simpson’s Character Book, 175.

    “over intimacy” and “indiscreet amours”: Simpson’s journal entry for March 26, 1825, reprinted in Simpson, Fur Trade and Empire, 127.

    “off the Ears of an Indian”: Simpson’s Character Book, 207.

    “in the heat of passion”: Ibid.

    “Almost every difficulty”: Simpson’s journal entry for March 26, 1825, reprinted in Simpson, Fur Trade and Empire, 127.

121 “short-term, potentially”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 178.

    “Fourteen or fifteen of the men”: Cited in Laura F. Klein, “Demystifying the opposition: The Hudson’s Bay Company and the Tlingit,” Arctic Anthropology 24 (1987): 101-14, quotation on page 111.

    “these matrimonial connections” and “a useful link”: Ibid.

    “afforded the Stikine Tlingit”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 179. Also see Klein, “Demystifying the opposition.”

    “petty coat politicians”: Cited in Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 262.

    “I must beg”: George Simpson’s letter to Charles Dodd, April 27, 1842.

    Abandoned women: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 262.

    “The Company’s practice”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 180.

    Simpson looks for a wife: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 165.

122 “A wife I fear”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 5.

    “Would you believe it?”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, December 26, 1829, B.135/c/2, HBCA.

    “I shall settle my bullocks”: Ibid.

    George’s wedding date: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 253.

    Frances refers to her husband as “Mr. Simpson”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 107.

    “affection-starved”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 376.

123 “a prized but almost inanimate possession”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 270.

    “there is no direct evidence”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 376.

    “overnight, she created”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 161.

    “Indian wives”: James Douglas, letter to James Hargrave, February 26, 1840, Hargrave Papers, Library and Archives Canada.

124 “his disapproval”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 192.

    “had fathered”: Ibid.

    “refused to accept”: Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 160.

    “mix with their country wives”: Cited in ibid., 158.

    “old concern”: Cited in Van Kirk, “Women and the fur trade,” 13.

    “Pray keep an Eye”: Ibid.

    “disposed of”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, January 3, 1830, B.135/c/2, HBCA.

    “The Govr’s little tit bit”: William Sinclair, letter to Edward Ermatinger, August 15, 1831, AB 40 Er 62.3, Ermatinger Papers, British Columbia Archives.

    “the unmarried men”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

125 “scaling the Picquets” and “dusky maidens”: Cited in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxiv.

    “the real cause”: Cited in John McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to Governor and Committee, November 18, 1843, E13/1, folio 159-178, HBCA.

    “All the Ill Will”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844. This policy enforcement led Hamar Foster to wonder whether McLoughlin had refused to allow Kannaquassé and Heroux to bring their women into the fort because “he felt he should exclude all women except his own, or because the Iroquois’ marriage had not been approved by Simpson?” (Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 179). The evidence gathered after his death suggests the latter to be true. During his deposition, Kannaquassé was asked: “did you ask permission of the deceased to take wife?” A: “yes, the deceased said you shall not have permission before Sir George Simpson’s arrival” (Kannaquassé’s deposition). He was also asked: “Did you ever haul up women into the Bastion,” to which he replied “no.” This claim was refuted by others, including Phillip Smith, who testified that Kannaquassé “disliked me greatly…for having informed against him when attempting to bring women of bad character into the fort by the portholes of the bastions, for which he was punished” (Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843).

    “for giving away his clothes”: Francois Pressé, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843, E13/1, folio 228-229, HBCA.

    “Mr. McLoughlin summoned”: Ibid.

    “for allowing his wife”: Oliver Martineau, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842; corroborated in Kakepé’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    “brought a woman”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “gave the woman 4 yards”: Thomas McPherson’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “opened the Fort Gate”: Charles Dodd, deposition regarding the murder of John McLoughlin Jr., August 1842, with an addendum November 9, 1842.

126 “a loose woman”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “to spend the night”: Ibid.

    “pilfered from the Store”: McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “Mr. John turn[ed]”; “running after” and “goods from the”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    McPherson suspended: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “McLoughlin did not”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843.

    “turning Thomas” and “dine with the men”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.

127 “was of the fox-hunting type”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 16.

    “a short stout man”: Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 86.

    “personal insult” and “too filthy”: Ibid.

    “a female of notoriously loose character”: Ibid., 88

    “If Dr. McLaughlin”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 16-17.

    “The parson bawled”: Ibid.

128 “employees stand”: Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 88.

Thursday, April 21, 1842 — Dawn

129 Rolled the body face up: George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.

    “carried on a plank”: Charles Belanger, deposition before Donald Manson, August 13, 1842, with an addendum from August 25, 1842. The use of planks is noted throughout a number of depositions. The only exception was Phillip Smith, who claimed to have carried McLoughlin by the feet into the house (Phillip Smith, deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842).

    “the body bled”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “was washed away”: Ibid.

    “hands and front”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843, E13/1, folio 234-235, HBCA.

    Blood ritual stricken from official record: Ibid.

130 “washed them in”: Ibid.

    Three Kanakas prepare the body: Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843, E13/1, folio 256-257, HBCA. Okaia claimed he was one of three who washed and dressed the body, although a dozen men claimed to have been in the room at the time.

    “stripped, washed clean”: George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842. See also Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    Belanger shaves McLoughlin: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum August 24, 1842, in which he said, “I saw Belanger shave the body.” Kannaquassé also noted that “Belanger shaved and assisted to dress it” (Kannaquassé’s narrative).

    “tore the shirt open”: Kanakanui’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842.

    “attempted to tear”: Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843.

    “threw the body on”: Kanakanui’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842; corroborated by Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843.

    “saw Pierre strike”: Kakululkulu, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    “strike it on the face”: Powkow, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842; corroborated by Anahi, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843.

    “the head by the hair”: Kakepé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842. Almost identical testimony was given by Okaia, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842 (E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA), and corroborated by Kanakanui, deposition before James Douglas, May 10, 1843.

    “While you were living”: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum August 24, 1842.

    “were all crying”: Okaia, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842.

    “white blood”: Kanakanui, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842.

131 “was customary in Canada”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “I do not know”: Kannaquassé’s narrative and deposition.

    “till daylight”: Oliver Martineau, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842.

    “I was told”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with addenda dated August 23 and 25, 1842.

    “to move out” and “go down stairs”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter.

    “quarrelled about who”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 182. According to William Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843, Heroux “appeared determined to usurp the command of the establishment,” and everyone was acting as if they were in command.

    Nothing was accomplished: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842. According to the entry for April 21, 1842, written by Thomas McPherson, there was “no trade this day.”

    “up all night”: Ibid.

132 “I am afraid that”: Thomas McPherson, letter to John Work, April 21, 1842.

    “Now Mr. John is dead”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “I see we must”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.

II: “A Skin for a Skin”Chapter Eight: Casus Belli

135 “to be much the best account”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxiii.

    “bored by his captivity”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 162.

136 “agreeing to murder”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.

    “care for killing”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxiv.

    “that he had himself”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 163, paraphrasing a similar passage from Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “dejection of mind”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “put his foot on the neck”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to Governor Pelly and Committee, June 24, 1842, in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 74-76.

    “Cowardly wretch”: David McLoughlin, letter to John Fraser, March 19, 1843.

    “such a dunce”: Ibid.

    “there is a mystery”: Ibid.

137 A discrepancy of £10: McLoughlin Sr., letter to Governor Pelly and the Committee, June 24, 1842 (in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 74-76), as well as countless other references in subsequent letters.

    Researchers have undertaken audits: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxviii.

    “however badly McLoughlin”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 166.

    “almost in the same state”: Letter from Dr. McLoughlin to the Governor and the Committee, November 15, 1843, E13/1, folio 134-158, HBCA. In a letter David McLoughlin wrote to John Fraser, dated March 19, 1843, he noted: “The Wine which was sent to him, allowance for the year, was found almost complete.”

    “whom the men Made believe”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, April 12, 1843 (Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51), reiterating prior comments made in his letters to Simpson and the Committee.

    “I did not see the deceased”: John Rowand, letter to McLoughlin Sr., March 11, 1843.

    “having seen Mr. John”: As recounted in John O’Brien, statement regarding the death of John McLoughlin Jr., June 4, 1842.

    “he never saw Mr. McLoughlin”: Ibid.

    “without [McLoughlin] tasting a”: Ibid.

    “Indians do not view”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to the Governor and Committee, October 31, 1842.

    “to screen the drunkenness”: Ibid. McLoughlin Sr. cited numerous other corroborating witness accounts, which are all recounted in a protracted discussion regarding John Jr.’s scant use of liquor in Appendix A in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, 356-58.

138 “When we Examine”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “If it is fair”: Ibid.

    “In consequence of this”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, April 12, 1843, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51.

    “Finlayson saw Mr. McLoughlin”: John O’Brien, statement regarding the death of John McLoughlin Jr., June 4, 1842.

    “Capt. Cole was flogged”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

139 “every advantage of insulting”: David McLoughlin, letter to John Fraser, March 19, 1843.

    “remote from civilization”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 36.

    “summary disciplinary action”: Ibid.

    “all the troublesome characters”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “Is it surprising”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to the Governor and Committee, November 18, 1843.

    “hearing what kind of Indians” and “it was not safe”: John Rowand, letter to John McLoughlin, March 11, 1843.

    “had full confidence,” “he would do well,” and “had found Everything”: John McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844. McLoughlin revisited this complaint repeatedly, as in a letter to John Fraser, dated April 12, 1843 (in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51), in which he groused that Simpson chose to “leave my Son the only Officer at the place Where there is the most Danger on the N W Coast, and which Sir George Simpson would not have done so if my deceased sons Good Conduct had not given us the Utmost confidence in his abilities.”

    “heard from the Natives”: John Work, letter to George Simpson, May 1, 1842.

140 McLoughlin knew of the plot against him: In his letter to Simpson (February 1, 1844), McLoughlin Sr. recounted his interview with Saix’s son, who claimed to have told John Jr. that “four of his men wanted to Employ him (Saixs Son) to murder the deceased.”

    “were in the habit”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “had heard Heroux state”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843.

    “there were three men”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, April 12, 1843, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51.

    “men at the fort”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 174.

    “I destroyed the paper”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842.

141 Search of the fort reveals nothing: Donald Manson, letter to John McLoughlin Sr., September 3, 1842.

    “we cannot find the paper”: John McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “impossible to convict”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xlii, original emphasis.

    “In my opinion”: Donald Manson, letter to John McLoughlin Sr., September 3, 1842.

    “in order to secure the principal”: Ibid.

    “and perhaps might be inclined”: Ibid.

    Manson orders six prisoners sent to Fort Simpson: Ibid.

    “distinctly told me”: Letter from George Simpson to Deputy Governor and the Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company, January 5, 1843 (B223/b/29, folio 23-28d, HBCA), citing McLoughlin’s prior letter.

142“had no desire”: Ibid.

    “at a British post”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 149.

    Historic Tudor statute: Ibid., 172-73.

    Canada Jurisdiction Act: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 73.

    “other Parts of America”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 148.

    “the sort of case”: Ibid., 173-74.

    “might prosecute the case”: Ibid., 159.

    “Instead of conducting”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844, repeating comments made in a letter dated March 20, 1843.

143 “If the Deceased”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “the Best proof”: Ibid.

    “put me off”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.

    “be allowed to make”: Simpson’s Character Book, 219, entry for Alexander William McKay.

    “If you Sir”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “vacillating, unsteady and arbitrary”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 333.

    “untimely End”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to Governor Pelly and the Committee, June 24, 1842, in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 74-76.

    “insisted, with fanatical perseverance”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxviii. Chief trader John Tod thought the blame was shared equally between Simpson and McLoughlin Jr., saying: “They are to blame, I think, placing the young man in a situation for which his well known propensities rendered him so totally unfit” (from a letter by John Tod to James Hargrave, March 15, 1843, cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 180).

144 “Simpson’s capacity”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 192.

    “blood hounds”: Simpson’s Character Book, 222, entry for Thomas McKay.

    “bruisers”: Simpson’s Character Book; see for example the entry for Antoine Hamel on page 215, or for George Linton, page 216.

    “a necessary evil”: Simpson’s Character Book, 222, entry for Thomas McKay.

    “I have, as you know”: Originally from a letter by George Simpson to McLoughlin Sr., June 21, 1843; quoted back to him by McLoughlin Sr. in his letter to Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “become all at once”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 177.

    “I never saw a man”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 45. The man struck was Thomas Taylor, Simpson’s personal servant and the brother of one of Simpson’s native mistresses. Taylor was smacked for bringing a “leud [sic] woman” into the outpost (ibid., 212).

    “on at least two”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 177.

    “the principles of honour”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 335.

    “writing for Effect”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “washed his Throat”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, August 1831, B.135/c/2, folio 74, HBCA.

145 “until I gave him such a pounding”: Ibid. Curiously, although Simpson saw alcoholism as an unforgivable sin, he did not consider mental instability to be grounds for dismissal. Chief trader George Barnston, a Scotsman with more than twenty years of service, had a long history of depression, sometimes falling into such “a gloomy desponding turn of mind” that Simpson feared “he would commit suicide in one of those fits” (Simpson’s Character Book, 231). Although it was “evident that he is of unsound mind at times,” the Governor continued to “feel an interest in him” (ibid), eventually promoting him to the rank of chief factor.

    “The Big Doctor”: J.E. Harriott, in a letter to James Hargrave, December 2, 1842, reproduced in G.P. De T. Glazebrook, ed., The Hargrave Correspondence, 1821-1843 (Toronto: The Champlain Society, 1938), 415-16, original emphasis.

    “making each new fragment”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxv.

    “had lost both his self-control”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 49.

    “a number of new facts”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 161. Foster also highlighted the irony that “it was the elder McLoughlin who pried most of this information loose, motivated as he was by grief and, possibly, by guilt over not having sent his son an able assistant when Finlayson was transferred.”

Chapter Nine: Prior Bad Acts

147 George Simpson and Thomas Simpson’s early years: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 311.

    “Perfectly correct”: Simpson’s Character Book, 228.

    “Secty and Confidential Clerk”: Ibid., 227.

    “considered one of the most finished scholars”: Ibid., 228.

148 “Entre nous, I have”: A. Simpson, The Life and Travels of Thomas Simpson, 78.

    “when the Governorship”: Ibid., 52.

    “got the worst of the scuffle”: Ibid., 42.

    “Simpson was forced”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 315.

    Thomas Simpson sent to the far north: In Emperor of the North, James Raffan argues that such a solution “shows George Simpson at his best” (293), prioritizing continued good relations with aboriginal people over his own well-being. I argue it shows Simpson at his laziest, shipping off troublemakers rather than dealing with the underlying problem.

    “not calculated”: Simpson’s Character Book, 184.

    “jealousy of his rising name”: A. Simpson, The Life and Travels of Thomas Simpson, 338.

149 “Fame I will have”: Ibid., 340.

    Thomas Simpson receives the Royal Geographic Society medal: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 318.

    Thomas Simpson’s cause of death: Ibid., 319.

    “committed suicide”: Marjory Harper, Thomas Simpson: Dingwall’s Arctic Explorer (Dingwall, Scotland: Ross & Cromarty, no date), 5.

    “if Simpson had wanted”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 322.

    Thomas Simpson buried in a pauper’s grave: Ibid.

150 Three researchers question Simpson’s culpability: Marjory Harper in Thomas Simpson: Dingwall’s Arctic Explorer, Vilhjalmur Stefansson in Unsolved Mysteries of the Arctic (New York: Macmillan, 1942), and James Raffan in Emperor of the North have openly questioned whether George Simpson orchestrated the attack on Thomas from afar. It is not only historians who feel this way. At the time of the murder, the victim’s brother held George Simpson accountable for the death. He claimed the Governor had driven the victim from HBC service through his “callous disregard for his welfare and sneers at his superior education and intelligence” (quotation from Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 150, although he is referencing A. Simpson, The Life and Travels of Thomas Simpson, 21-22).

    “Mr. Dease’s name”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 240.

    George Simpson represses Thomas Simpson’s achievements: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 323.

    Thomas Simpson’s Fame: Ibid.

    Simpson knighted: Ibid., 4.

    “fed by their wings”: Ibid., 354. Newman (Caesars of the Wilderness, 217) translates it as “I am fed by birds.”

    “It is sometimes pleasant”: Attributed to Baron Modar Neznanich, cited in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 354.

    “The bauble perishes”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 388.

151 Simpson’s investiture envisioned: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 331.

    Queen Victoria’s height: Christopher Hibbert, Queen Victoria: A Personal History (London: HarperCollins, 2000), 61-62.

    “Sir George owes his ribbon”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 387-88.

Chapter Ten: An Irresistible Force, an Immovable Object

153 The war between Simpson and McLoughlin Sr.: Viewing the skirmish from a safe distance, historians have trivialized the duel with lopsided analogies that paint Simpson as the “pawky little bantam” to Dr. McLoughlin’s “grizzled giant” (Raffan, Emperor of the North, 171, paraphrasing Galbraith’s “cocky bantam” versus “proud giant” [Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 77]) or — taking the literal measure of each man — the “Big Doctor” versus the “Little Emperor” (Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 169, who in turn was paraphrasing from Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series).

    “McLoughlin’s loyalty”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 176.

    “the pill without daring to complain”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 387.

    “ludicrously unrealistic”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 48.

    “You are pleased to jest”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 336.

    “the prepossessing manners” and “his cold and callous heart”: Ibid., 383.

154 “Simpson expected to rule”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 77.

    “It is evident Mr. McLoughlin” and “difficult and troublesome”: George Simpson’s letter to Deputy Governor and the Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company, January 5, 1843.

    “I had no power”: Ibid.

    “many worthless characters”: Ibid. Simpson went on to defend his assessment of each man, writing: “Phillip Smith…was described to me…as a steady well conducted man and…I had every reason to believe that he merited the character that was given of him.…Of Fleuri [sic] I have not so good an opinion, and should not be disposed to place much reliance on his testimony if any advantage could arise to him by withholding the truth; but in the present case, I do not see that there is any good reason for doubting his statements.…Of George Heron’s character I know but little, but I have never heard anything to his prejudice; on the contrary, there was an impression on my mind that he was a well conducted man, and he gave his evidence with much clearness. On a close comparison of the evidence of some of these people, it is possible that inconsistencies may be found; but I have no hesitation in again repeating my belief, that the main features are correct.…some of those Whites were anxious to fasten the charge upon an Iroquois named Antoine, who, however, appeared to me perfectly innocent of it.”

155 “became slothful and insolent”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 36.

    “the very dross”: Ibid.

    “If humoured with trifles”: George Simpson, letter to Duncan Finlayson, September 29, 1820, reprinted in E.E. Rich, ed., Journal of Occurrences in Athabasca Department by George Simpson, 1820 and 1821 and Report (Toronto: Champlain Society for the Hudson’s Bay Record Society, 1938), 63-64.

    “to find it is better”: George Simpson’s letter to Deputy Governor and the Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company, January 5, 1843.

    “led [him] to suppose”: Ibid.

    “From what Mr. McLoughlin knew”: Ibid.

    “informed by their servant La Graise”: Ibid.

    “which I afterwards found”: Ibid.

156 “at Least as much”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844, in which he cited Simpson back to himself.

    “Simpson was indispensable”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 182.

    “crime was clearly” and “the charges of habitual intoxication”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 168, who was in turn citing Lamb, “Introduction” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xli.

157 “[The] evidence taken”: Archibald Barclay, letter to George Simpson, September 4, 1843, reprinted in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, xli-xlii.

    “has not been allowed to triumph”: Ibid.

    “the persons placed there”: Governor Pelly and the Committee, letter to McLoughlin Sr., September 27, 1843, reprinted in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 300-310.

    “You have thus”: Ibid.

    Lamb feels McLoughlin Sr. was too personal in his attacks: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xliii.

    “already damned himself,” “saved,” and “lost all sense”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 146.

158 “may be the fabrications”: Governor Pelly and the Committee, letter to McLoughlin Sr., September 27, 1843.

    “that such scenes”: Ibid.

    “Is murder not to be punished”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844. As letters spent months in transit, it was not uncommon for the timing of correspondence to be wildly out of sync.

    “I presume there is no place”: Ibid.

159 “cold brave man”: Quotation attributed to John Sebastian Helmcken, cited in Barry M. Gough, “Sir James Douglas as seen by his contemporaries: A preliminary list,” BC Studies 44 (Winter 1979-80): 32-50, quotation on page 47.

    “Old Square-Toes”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 302; see also John D. Adams, Old Square-Toes and His Lady (Victoria, BC: Horsdal and Schubart, 2002).

    “get on by dint”: Margaret A. Ormsby, “Douglas, Sir James,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 10 (Toronto/Quebec City: University of Toronto Press/Université Laval, 2003), www.biographi.ca/en/bio/douglas_james_10E.html.

    “imperious, penny pinching”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 301.

160 “gentleman of the interior”: Adams, Old Square-Toes and His Lady, 43.

    “mulatto of elegant mien”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 301.

    “furiously violent”: Cited in Ormsby, “Douglas, Sir James.”

    “under watch and ward”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 168.

    “to be a man”: Adolph Etoline, letter to McLoughlin Sr., September 1, 1843, translation from original French in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 329.

161 “I am going”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    Men remanded to McLoughlin Sr.: John Henry Pelly, letter to George Simpson, November 3, 1843, cited in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xlv.

    Wrangel informs Pelly the Russians had no jurisdiction: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 172.

    “more fudge alleged”: Archibald Barclay, letter to George Simpson, November 18, 1843, cited in ibid.

    “If these men cannot be tried”: Ibid.

    “money was the real reason”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 170.

    “the expense involved”: Ibid., 172.

    “worth the trouble”: Ibid.

162 “I am no Lawyer But”: McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to Governor Pelly and the Committee, November 10, 1844, cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 171.

    “the Warrant of a Magistrate” and “until instructions come”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to Governor Pelly and the Committee, November 18, 1843.

    Sent to Canada for trial: According to McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to the Governor and Committee, November 20, 1844, Pressé had been injured and could not make the trip. McLoughlin sent Kannaquassé, Heroux, Lasserte, Kawannassé, Belanger, Captain Cole, Kakepé, Aneuharazie, Fleury, Heron, Leclaire, Smith, Martineau, and McPherson to York Factory as either perpetrators or witnesses. William Spencer accompanied the group, serving as an interpreter (see also endnote 107 in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 190).

    Dr. McLoughlin would prosecute the killers himself: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 170.

    “[If] the prisoners either escape unpunished”: George Simpson, letter to Governor Pelly and the Committee, June 21, 1844.

    “to make up a statement”: Ibid.

    “simply cut off”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 349. McLoughlin Sr. wrote of incurring Simpson’s wrath, “for which my salary of five hundred pound p annum is stopped.”

    Simpson pays the accused men: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 180.

163 “pile upon pile of”: Archibald McDonald, letter to George Simpson, April 27, 1843, quoted in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xliv.

    “I fear the Dr.”: John Tod, letter to Edward Ermatinger, March 10, 1845, cited in ibid.

    “even McLoughlin ran out”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 171.

    “About that time”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 22.

    “Douglas was 17”: Ibid., 24. She also noted that her father “was not so pompous as Sir James Douglas” (ibid., 23).

164 Hopkins’s instructions: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 126; see also the accession notes for Simpson’s Remarks on the depositions in the HBC Archive finding guide.

    “We shall not quote”: George Simpson, Remarks on the depositions.

    “From the forgained”: Ibid.

Chapter Eleven: Putting Flesh to Bone

165 “a fascinating, if somewhat pathetic”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 149.

    “The dispute between the two”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 142. In Caesars of the Wilderness, 294-95, Newman dedicated several paragraphs to the event.

166 “In all fairness”: Willard E. Ireland, “McLoughlin’s letters, 1839-1844,” The Beaver 24, no. 2 (1944): 45-46.

169 “a bullet which”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before George Blenkinsop and Sir George Simpson, June 26, 1842, E13/1, folio 69-81, HBCA. Phillip Smith tells an identical story: “the ball entering between the shoulders near the spine and exiting through the throat above the breast bone” (Phillip Smith, deposition before Sir George Simpson, April 26, 1842).

    “having broken the spine”: Pierre Kannaquassé’s narrative. A similar description is found in the depositions taken by James Douglas of Antoine Kawannassé, William Lasserte, and Okaia. Regarding the gunshot wound, the only dissenting voices belonged to Kannaquassé and McPherson, men whose involvement in the crime casts some suspicion on the credibility of their accounts. Even so, both men described the exact same injury. In his later deposition, Kannaquassé simply reversed the trajectory of the bullet, suggesting “the ball [had] entered at the upper part of the breast a little below the gullet and came out a little below the shoulders” (Kannaquassé’s deposition). McPherson reported the same wound but was uncertain as to the direction of fire: “a Ball having passed through his Body either ent’ring between the Shoulders near the Spine and coming out at the Throat or entring at the Throat and coming out between the Shoulders” (Thomas McPherson, deposition before George Simpson, April 26, 1842).

    “the wounds made by the ball”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “Indian trade” or fuke: The fuke or Indian trade gun used is described in detail in Charles E. Hanson, Northwest Guns (Lincoln, NE: Bison Press, 1956), and S. James Gooding, Trade Guns of the Hudson’s Bay Company, 1670-1970, Historical Arms New Series No. 2 (West Hill, ON: Museum Restoration Service, 2003).

    “the Deceased was about”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, February 17, 1844, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 251.

    Both men of similar stature: Although McLoughlin Sr.’s height was recorded for posterity, his son’s and Heroux’s were not. Both men were described as “big.” At the time that meant near or above six feet in height.

170 Lasserte’s location: Lasserte would later claim (in his deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843) that he was hiding in the blacksmith shop when the murder occurred, but Louis Leclaire — who was hiding in the smithy and whose story never changed over time — did not corroborate that claim. Furthermore, Lasserte repeatedly stated he had actually witnessed the murder, impossible for a man hiding in a closed workshop. In the same deposition, Lasserte also revised his account, saying he was unarmed at the time of the murder, which contradicted his prior statements. Kannaquassé saw Lasserte and noted “the back end of his gun resting on the top rail…in readiness to fire” (from Kannaquassé’s narrative).

    “The night was clear”: Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843. Lasserte claimed he knew Heroux by his “red worsted cap, which he had on” (William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843).

    “in a stooping position”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

171 “Look where the balls”: Louis Leclaire, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.

172 “I examined his arm”: Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843.

    “I heard no report”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “I saw no blood”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    McLoughlin exaggerates injury: Lasserte testified: “I saw Mr. McL after Fleury had torn his shirt sleeve & he complained of having been wounded in the arm by a ball, but there was no appearance of any wound on his arm” (William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843). See also Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843.

    “I saw him tear”: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    No bullet wound to arm: Kawannassé stated: “The deceased had no other wound except the gunshot in the back and the cut on the forehead” (Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843). His testimony was corroborated by Okaia: “I saw every part of the body while washing it and could discover no injury except a cut on the forehead, and a gunshot wound in the upper part of the breast bone near the gullet. Every other part of the body appeared sound and uninjured” (Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843).

    “one of his hands”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843. McPherson concurred: “One of his hands was also a little swelled” (Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843).

    “had hurt it”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

173 “a large gash”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843. Belanger also mentioned “a deep cut on the forehead” (Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843), as did George Heron: “a severe cut in the forehead as if inflicted with some heavy weapon” (George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842).

    “a perpendicular cut”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “from an Indian with”: Recounted in Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “lying on his side”: Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1843. Belanger corroborated the story; immediately after the shot, he saw the body lying on its face “with the rifle under it” (Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843). George Heron concurred (George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842).

    “and with one hand”: Kannaquassé’s narrative. At times, the narrative was written in the third person by the recording officer.

    “did not appear to be”: Powkow, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843. A similar report can also be seen in Kanakanui, deposition before James Douglas, May 10, 1843.

    McLoughlin’s breath laboured: Captain Cole, depositions before Manson and Douglas; and Nahua, deposition before Manson (August 26, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA). Okaia noted that the deceased “was still breathing” in his deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842.

    “writhing in the Agonies”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, April 12, 1843, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51.

    “made an attempt to rise”: Captain Cole, deposition before James Douglas, May 7, 1843.

    “to prevent his rising”: Kakepé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842.

    “as if determined”: Okaia, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842.

    “upon it with his whole force”: Captain Cole, deposition before James Douglas, May 7, 1843.

174 “Urbain had no gun”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.

    “seized the deceased’s rifle”: Charles Belanger, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1842, E13/1, folio 194, HBCA.

    “broke the rifle”: Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1843. In an earlier deposition, Cole claimed that Heroux had picked up McLoughlin’s gun and tried to strike him in the head with it but hit the railing instead, breaking the stock (Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842).

    “the door of the men’s house”: Kakepé, deposition before Sir George Simpson, April 27, 1842, E13/1, folio 69-81, HBCA.

    “a noise as if a musket”: George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.

    “saw Mr. John’s rifle”: Ibid.

175 “Was his rifle loaded”: See, for example, George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.

    “heard it was”: Louis Leclaire, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.

    “When he first came out”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum from August 26, 1842.

Chapter Twelve: The Judas Goat

177 “attempted to use a dirk” and “prevented by snatching”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before George Blenkinsop and Sir George Simpson, June 26, 1842.

    “because I told the other Kanakas”: Joe Lamb, deposition before Donald Manson, July 26, 1843, E13/1, folio 196, HBCA.

178 “Fleury began soon afterwards”: Kakepé, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843. Powkow concurred: “Fleury who was very drunk beating his wife severely” (Powkow, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843).

    “been a very wasteful expenditure”: John McLoughlin Sr., letter to the Governor and Committee, September 1, 1843, E13/1, folio 131-133, HBCA.

    “Deliver the following goods”: List of goods given to Fleury’s wife by John McLoughlin, 1842, E13/1, folio 198, HBCA.

    “If their [sic] is no Blue Regatta”: Ibid.

179 “goods given to Fleury’s wife”: Ibid.

    “habits”: Attributed to Finlayson, cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 165.

    “an extremely proper young man”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 165.

    “The only thing”: Roderick Finlayson, letter to John McKenzie, May 1843, B.134/c/55, folio 348-351, HBCA.

    “the deceased’s attachment to women”: Ibid.

    “in having sexual relations”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 165.

    “troubled me”: Finlayson’s letter to John McKenzie, May 1843.

    “Mr. McLoughlin, tho’ he was my master”: Ibid.

“the deceased’s good Conduct”: Ibid.

180 “All hands in the Fort”: Ibid.

    “the general opinion”: Ibid.

    “appetite for women”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 166.

    “allegations surfaced”: Ibid., 165. Such allegations were not restricted to the Heroux household. Pierre Kannaquassé said, “Lasserte was excited against Mr. John on account of a suspected intrigue which he carried on with his wife” (Kannaquassé’s narrative).

    “met Mr. John near the door”: Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843.

    “On seeing me”: Ibid.

181 “wife or Antoine’s wife”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “I think Urbain’s hatred”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “put him with the men”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.

182 “The reason he gave”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843.

    “Can any man Blame my son”: McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.

    “men were not hung in Canada”: Joe Lamb, deposition before James Douglas, May 19, 1843.

    “that we had nothing to fear”: Ibid.

183 “as the life of the people”: Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843.

    “that Mr. John’s Father”: Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843.

    “was never punished”: Ibid.

    “that he thought”: Ibid.

    McPherson launches second phase of his scheme: Thomas McPherson, second deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.

    “prepare the paper”: Ibid.

    “it was a good paper”:: Nahua, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843.

    “the paper contained”: Joe Lamb, deposition before James Douglas, May 19, 1843.

    “merely to please him”: Anahi, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843.

    “[I] cannot read”: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

184 “kill McL”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.

    “Mr. McLoughlin then took”: Ibid.

    McPherson reinstated: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “McPherson destroyed the petition”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843.

    “room in the night”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843. Although this specific quote referred to a similar instance with Charles Dodd, McPherson was describing a pattern of behaviour he began with McLoughlin.

    Between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m.: Benoni Fleury, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843.

    “Every Canadian and Iroquois”: John McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, April 12, 1843, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51.

    “told Sir George”: Ibid.

    “did it of my own accord”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

185 “highly unusual”: George Heron, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, E13/1, folio 206-209, HBCA.

    “[He had] never gave us rum”: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “There was a light”: Ibid.

    “The porch was dark”: Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843.

    “the men would drink”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    “gave Heroux any rum”: Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843.

    McPherson enacts his plan: Had McPherson actually wanted to save McLoughlin that night, he could have. “Smith saw Heroux Load his Gun to kill the deceased and that he (Smith) never told the deceased of it” (McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844). Smith did tell McPherson to warn McLoughlin to stay in his room, but McPherson did not relay the warning (Thomas McPherson, second deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842).

    “who carried a lantern”: Powkow, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843; corroborated by Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843.

186 “to fire two blank shots”: Oliver Martineau, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843, E13/1, folio 240-241, HBCA. That Martineau had two guns loaded with blanks suggests some degree of premeditation.

    “I saw Heroux”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843.

    McPherson continues to break into the chief trader’s room: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.

    McPherson’s possible forgery: Although handwriting samples are available for both McLoughlin and McPherson, a handwriting analysis of this note is not possible as the document contained in the HBC archive is a copy, handwritten by another man and included in the packet of depositions sent by Simpson to McLoughlin Sr.

187 “If ever men deserved”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 168, citing Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xli, who in turn was citing Archibald Barclay’s letter to Simpson, with original emphasis.

    “Thomas McPherson…I firmly believe”: George Simpson, letter to Deputy Governor and the Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company, January 5, 1843.

Thursday, April 21, 1842 — Midday

189 LeClaire makes the coffin: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842 — entry for April 22, 1842.

    “My friends, pray do not”: Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843.

    “McPherson gave the men”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 182

    The weather on April 23: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, entry for April 23, 1842.

    “The men were employed” and “the corpse was carried”: Ibid.

    “the salute of a gun”: Ibid.

    “the men drank another dram”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.

    McLoughlin’s wife returns to her village: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter.

190 “five black bear skins” and “Several canoes arrived”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, entry for April 23, 1842.

Chapter Thirteen: Endgames

191 “divine Service” and “on the rising ground”: Entry S2, of Harriet Duncan Munnick, Catholic Church Records of the Pacific Northwest, vol. I & II: Vancouver (1838-1856) and Stellamaris Mission (1848-1860) (St. Paul, OR: French Prairie Press, 1972), 25; see also Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 193, and Bryn Thomas and Linda Freidenburg, A Review of Data Pertaining to Cemeteries, Human Remains, Burials and Grave Markers Associated with Fort Vancouver and Vancouver Barracks, Clark County, Washington, Short Report 543, Archeological and Historical Services, Eastern Washington University, January 1997 (revised August 17, 1998).

    Paul Fraser was a trader at the McLeod Lake outpost from 1845 to 1848 (see “McLeod Lake Post, 1845-1848,” M-1530, Hudson’s Bay Company Posts fonds, Glenbow Museum). Despite repeated searches, I could find no biographical data to show any familial relationship between Paul Fraser and Dr. Simon Fraser. However, his presence at McLoughlin Jr.’s funeral suggests some familial tie.

    “Stikine remained open”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 180-81.

    “beavered out”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 14.

    “the posts were not remunerative”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 7.

192 “a very fine” and “quite a Mechanical Genius”: Simpson’s Character Book, 225.

    “from constant Desk Work” and “a rising man”: Ibid.

    “a wretched place”: Cited in Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 112.

    “shot himself”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 42.

    “indulged in a torrid affair”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 256.

    McLoughlin Sr. blames Simpson for everything: McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to the Governor and Committee, November 10, 1844, cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 171.

    “collapsed under the strain”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 181.

    “glass-covered coffin”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 257 (footnote).

    “Sir George Simpson’s visit”: McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to Governor Pelly, July 12, 1846, cited in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, 171.

193 “he would no longer”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 181.

    “I found women & children”: McLoughlin Sr., quoted in Thornton, “Oregon History,” 6.

    “Dr. McLoughlin furnished”: Thornton, “Oregon History,” 6.

    “generous treatment”: Ibid., 8.

    “to destroy” and “every effort be made”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 351.

194 “overawing the natives” and “a travelling circus”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 292.

    “rebuked him sharply”: Thornton, “Oregon History,” 6.

    “Gentlemen, I have served”: Ibid.

    “threw up his commission”: Ibid., 7. McLoughlin did not share his turmoil with his adult children. As his daughter Eloisa later recalled: “Towards the last something happened, I do not know what; I could not learn what it was. [Simpson] was against my father in something and my father was very angry about it. It was just about the time my father left; he got angry and left the company.…I know it was something my father was angry about that he left the company for the time” (Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 24).

    “I have Drunk”: Cited in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 349.

195 Simpson wanted McLoughlin Sr. to pay outstanding debt: Thornton, “Oregon History,” 6-8.

    McLoughlin Sr. never paid the debt: Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 149.

    “a very generous pension”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 445 (endnote).

    “his word was no longer law”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 50.

    “fairly crushed”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 39.

    “caused American citizens”: Attributed to Dr. McLoughlin, cited in Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 296.

    “saved all I could”: Ibid.

    “Father of Oregon” and “a continuous protest”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 50. Newman called him “Oregon Country’s king” (Caesars of the Wilderness, 305).

    “I might better”: Cited in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, lxii.

    “prized most”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 318.

    Knights of St. Gregory the Great: McLoughlin’s knighthood was the lowest of the four classes in the civil order. Fellow recipients include Walter Annenberg, creator of TV Guide, and actor Ricardo Montalban, star of the 70s TV drama Fantasy Island.

196 “at the breast”: From the Apostolic brief, reproduced in the appendix of Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 319.

    “in a sort of agony”: Attributed to the “Chronicles of St. Mary’s Academy in Portland” and cited in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 52.

    “wilderness administrator” and “a diplomat”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 157.

    “harassing service”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 117.

    “into theatrical productions”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 163.

    “swath of absolute power”: Ibid.

    “a very valuable piece”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 383.

197 “well knowing”: Ibid., 387.

    “pontifical sternness”: Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 154.

    “determination of blood”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 101.

    “my old complaint”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, no date, B.135/c/2 folio 57, HBCA.

    “affections of the lungs”: George Simpson, letter to Donald Ross, December 20, 1831, B.C.M. 432, Ross Correspondence Collection, British Columbia Archives.

    “fagged Night & Day”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, August 1830, B.135/c/2, folio 73, HBCA.

    “arm bared up”: William Todd, letter to George Simpson, 1849, D.5/25, folio 390d, HBCA.

    Duncan Finlayson and wife ordered to care for Simpson: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 366.

    “enforced intimacy with”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 127.

198 Details of Frances Simpson’s death: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 377.

    “Our old Chief”: Edward Ermatinger, letter to James Hargrave, November 8, 1853, cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 189.

    “some suspected”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 189.

    Canadians thought the land was theirs: Ibid., 192.

199 “I do not think”: From an exchange between Simpson and parliamentary committee chair Henry Labouchere, cited in Douglas MacKay, The Honourable Company: A History of the Hudson’s Bay Company, rev. ed., ed. Alice MacKay (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1949), 246.

    “quite disgusted”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, cited in Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 160.

    “wretched expedition”: Lord Selkirk, letter to George Bryce, January 20, 1882, MG 14 C15, Bryce Papers, Archives of Manitoba.

    “deficient in sound judgement” and “his nerves”: Ibid. Galbraith defended Simpson’s poor showing, saying Simpson had grown accustomed to the deference of politicians and had never before encountered such openly hostile opposition to his ideas (Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 197).

    “’Tis high time”: See Simpson’s Character Book, 188, for example.

    “I have never been”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 203.

200 “for the Indian Country”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 351.

    “dash, vivacity and song”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 204.

    “a social triumph”: Ibid., 209.

    Simpson delusions: Ibid., 206; see also Newman, Empire of the Bay, 166.

201 Simpson issues bonus cheques: The tale of Simpson’s bonus cheques and the legal debate surrounding his state of mind is detailed in the Montreal Superior Court case file The Rev. John Flanagan, Plaintiff vs Duncan Finlayson et al., Defendants, which is discussed in the American Journal of Insanity 19, no. 3 (January 1863): 249-316.

    “a fellow whom nothing will kill”: Cited in Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 220.

    Tertiary syphilis theory: Frits Pannekoek, “The historiography of the Red River Settlement 1830-1868,” Prairie Forum 6, no. 1 (1981): 75.

    “the Caughnawaga Indians”: George Simpson’s obituary, Evening Pilot [Montreal], September 12, 1860.

    “The Little Emperor’s light”: Cited in Galbraith, “The little emperor,” in The Beaver 40, no. 3 (1960): 28.

    “his own friends will admit”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 388.

    Canada purchases Rupert’s Land: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 169.

202 “as if drawn by a dead horse”: Cited in ibid., 16.