Chapter I: Preface: To My Readers

A preface is, as I understand it, an explanation, and maybe an apology, for what follows. If such is the case, I must explain several things contained in these "Reminiscences of Old Victoria" and its pioneers. Had I not been laid aside with the typhoid some eight years ago, it is likely I should not have thought of writing down these early memories, but many know what convalescing after a sickness is--how one longs for something new, something to do. I was at this time at the seaside, and all at once decided to pass my time in writing. Seated comfortably on the beach with my writing pad, I commenced "A British Boy's Experiences in San Francisco in the Early Fifties," and so have continued on from time to time during the last eight years.

I have been much encouraged, by pioneers and friends, to gather the result of these pleasant labors together, and I feel I have succeeded in a very imperfect manner; but, dear reader, consider how little I should be expected to know of book-making; therefore take faults and omissions in the product of my labors _cum bona venia_, for there are sure to be many imperfections. There are repetitions of which I am aware, and have decided to let them stand, as I think they fit in in each case. Had I been a man of more leisure I should not have had to apologize for so many of these imperfections.

I have to thank Mrs. Macdonald, of Armadale, the venerable Bishop Cridge, and Alexander Wilson, for valuable information, and also Mr. Albert Maynard and Reverend A. E. Alston for many photographs to illustrate the book. We all know that a book in these days is nothing without pictures. There are others who have helped me in other ways who will accept my thanks.

With these explanatory remarks, and in fear and trembling, I submit the book to your favorable consideration.

Dingley Dell,
Christmas, 1911.

A SHORT AUTOBIOGRAPHY

All the Fawcetts I ever heard of from my father and mother came from Kidderminster. My father's father was a maltster, and the sons, with the exception of my father, the youngest, were carpet weavers. The family were strict Nonconformists, and produced one or two noted divines of George the Third's day, one of whom preached before that king. There was also a kinship with the Baxters of "Saint's Rest" fame.

My mother was Jane Wignall, whose father was a Birmingham smallarms manufacturer in rather a large way of business, but who through the dishonesty of his partner was nearly ruined and brought to comparative poverty. The daughters, who were all well educated, had to take positions as governesses and ladies' companions. My mother, in this capacity, lived and travelled in France and Spain, and spoke the languages of both countries. In a voyage to her home from Barcelona she was wrecked in the Gulf of Lyons, but through the timely assistance of a Spanish gentleman and his Newfoundland dog, who bore her up, she was brought to shore in little more than her nightdress. I have to-day a letter from the British consul at Marseilles which he gave to my mother, recommending her to the care of other British consuls on her way to England. The Spanish gentleman who saved her life made an offer of marriage, which my mother declined, I think, on account of his being a Roman Catholic. He would not take no for an answer, but later on followed her to England and offered himself a second time without effect. Shortly after this she and my father were married, and on the advice of Rowland Hill, his cousin (Sir Rowland Hill), he took his young bride to Australia. Rowland Hill, being his father's trustee under his will, paid my father his share, with which he took a stock of goods and started business in Sydney.

In 1849 we left Sydney, where I was born, for San Francisco--father, mother, my brother Rowland and myself, in the ship _Victoria_. This vessel my father afterwards purchased and sent to Alberni, or Sooke, for a load of lumber for England, when we all were going with her. The vessel never came back, having been wrecked somewhere near where all the wrecks have since taken place, on the west coast of this island. My father was ruined, for there was no insurance, so he had to start life anew. He came north to Victoria in 1858, where he entered into business until appointed Government Agent at Nanaimo, where he served some years, dying at the advanced age of seventy-six. My mother died in 1863, and at the present writing, in addition to myself, there is one brother in Victoria--Rowland--and another brother, Arthur, in London, England.

The author has completed his fifty-three years in this fair city.

Dingley Dell,
December 20th, 1911.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER. PAGE

I. The Experiences of a British Boy in San Francisco
in the Early Fifties 11
II. Theatrical Memories 20
III. My Boyhood Days in Victoria 26
IV. Victoria's First Directory 38
V. Some Recollections of Victoria by One who Was There in the Sixties 57
VI. A Little More Street History 68
VII. The Victoria _Gazette_, 1858 73
VIII. Victoria in 1859-1860 84
IX. Fires and Firemen 92
X. A Siberian Mammoth 100
XI. Mrs. Edwin Donald, Hon. Wymond Hamley, Hon. G. A. Walkem 109
XII. The Consecration of the Iron Church 115
XIII. The Iron Church Again 121
XIV. Its Departed Glories, or Esquimalt, Then and Now 124
XV. Old Quadra Street Cemetery 129
XVI. Pioneer Society's Banquet 144
XVII. Victoria District Church 149
XVIII. Christmas In Pioneer Days 153
XIX. The Queen's Birthday Forty Years Ago 159
XX. Evolution of the Victoria Post Office 166
XXI. Fifty Years Ago 170
XXII. Forty Years Ago 174
XXIII. The Late Governor Johnson 178
XXIV. A Trip to a Coral Island 181
XXV. A Victorian's Visit to Southern California 183
XXVI. An Historic Steamer 199
XXVII. Colonel Wolfenden--In Memoriam 203
XXVIII. The Closing of View Street in 1858 206
XXIX. Mr. Fawcett Retires from the Customs 212
XXX. Some Colored Pioneers 215
XXXI. John Chapman Davie, M.D. 220
XXXII. The Beginning of the Royal Hospital and Protestant Orphan's Home 226
XXXIII. Victoria's First Y. M. C. A. 229
XXXIV. The Late Mr. T. Geiger 234
XXXV. Roster of the Fifty-Eighters 237
XXXVI. More Light on Closing of View Street 240
XXXVII. Bishop Cridge's Christmas Story 244
XXXVIII. Christmas Reminiscences 258
XXXIX. My First Christmas Dinner in Victoria, 1860 263
XL. Evolution of the Songhees 283
XLI. Victoria the New and the Old 288

ILLUSTRATIONS

Fort Victoria, 1859, Showing Fort St. Gate
Government Street, Looking North
Government Street in 1860
S. E. corner Government and Yates Streets, 1858
Lady Douglas
Sir James Douglas
Edgar Fawcett
Hon. Wymond Hamley
George Richardson
George Hills, D.D.
Henry Wootton
Capt. John Irving, Sr.
Quadra Street Cemetery
A Group of Early Legislators
Fort Street, Looking East
Yates Street, Looking East
Fort Street, Extending Through the Fort
Old View of Government Street
Government Street Before the Removal of the "Old Bastion"
Wharf Street, From Corner Fort Street Northward
Craigflower, Showing School, 1858
First Bridge Over James Bay, 1859
Government Buildings, 1859-60
May Day Parade, Hook and Ladder Company, May 1st, 1862
Hon. Sir Richard McBride, K.C.M.G.
Old View of Douglas Street, Iron Church in the Distance
Showing Inside of Fort from Wharf Street, 1859
Hon. Amor De Cosmos
William P. Sayward
Thomas Harris
Bishop Garrett
First Methodist Church
First Bridge Over the Gorge, Victoria Arm
Forty Years Ago, Queen's Birthday, Beacon Hill
Colonial Hotel
H. B. Co.'s Steamer _Beaver_
Part of View Street, 1859
Victoria District Church, 1859
Hon. Senator Macdonald
Lt.-Col. Wolfenden, I.S.O., V.D.
Wm. Leigh
John Chapman Davie, M.D.
Edgar Fawcett
Captain "Willie" Mitchell
Hon. Dr. Helmcken
Gov. John H. Johnson, of Minnesota
Samuel Booth
Rev. Edward Cridge, 1859
Venerable Bishop Cridge
Bishop and Mrs. Cridge at their Golden Jubilee
A Park in San Bernardino
Songhees Indian Reserve
Bastion--S. W. Corner of Fort

SOME REMINISCENCES OF OLD VICTORIA