Chapter II: Part 2

At that time the whole territory was known as Oregon Territory. The country was also known as Columbia District, and when the boundary line between Canada and the United States was established, the part to the north of the line was named British Columbia District, and still retains this name in the Company's organization.

In order to stock the newly established farms, the Company sent men south for sheep, cattle and horses, and I believe that it was on this account that Posts were opened at Umpqua and San Francisco Bay in 1824 or 1825, and operated until 1832, when they were abandoned and there is nothing in the records to indicate that the Hudson's Bay Company ever afterwards claimed one foot of soil in or around San Francisco.

In fact, there is information that would make it appear that the San Francisco Bay Post alone was closed in 1832 and Umpqua not until a later date, as a letter written by Sir George Simpson to Captain J. Sheppard, R.N., dated 28th May, 1849, mentions Umpqua as being still in existence. Sir George said the names of Posts west of the mountains were at that time:

_American Territory, South of 49°_

Fort Colville,
Flat Head House,
Fort Okanagan,
Fort Nez Perces,
Fort Bois,
Fort Hall,
Fort Vancouver,
Fort Umpqua,
Fort George,
Fort Nisqually,
Cowlitz Farm.

_British Territory, North of 49°_

Victoria,
Simpson,
Langley,
Hope,
Kamloops,
Thomson,
Alexandria,
George,
Fraser,
St. James,
Connolly,
Kilmaurs (Babine),
McLeod,
Chilcotin.

Europeans employed at these posts numbered six hundred, besides hundreds of Indian laborers.

There were seven vessels employed in the service:

3 barques, carrying goods to and from Europe,

1 steam vessel
1 brig
1 schooner
1 sloop

In order to take care of the Russian American Company's and the H.B.C. Posts' requirements, large farms and dairies were necessary, and suitable land was plentiful between the Puget's Sound and the Columbia River. When the negotiations between the Hudson's Bay Company and the United States government were under way to settle the Oregon dispute, the Company claimed 160,000 acres of land as being farmed and grazed by them.

There has undoubtedly been a tendency on the part of historians and newspaper writers to confuse the Company's Oregon land claim with the lands at the H.B.C. San Francisco Bay post, but there is absolutely no connection.

H.B.C. Aided Wilderness Wanderer

The following letter of appreciation was recently received by the Company from J. P. Burns, an engineer who met with misfortune in the wilds of British Columbia:

"_Because of a serious accident last fall I was compelled to call
at one of your trading posts situated at the junction of the Dease
river and Liard, run by Mr. F. J. Bass. Mr. Bass did all in his
power for me at a time when I was almost destitute and in a very
low state of health owing to a broken bone in my right foot and a
bad wound on my right side. I wish you would thank Mr. Bass for
his hospitality and hope and trust that the Hudson's Bay Company
will long remain and prosper in regions where engineers and dogs
struggle for life and civilization._

_Yours faithfully,
J. P. BURNS._

PAS MOUNTAIN POST NEWS

By ALEX HORNE

The excitement which always prevails during the breakup around this Reserve was perhaps of a more serious nature this Spring than previous years.

Usually the Carrot river on the banks of which the Post is situated, overflows every other second year or so, but this time the flood proved to be a record.

The ice broke up on the 23rd of April and started going out on the 26th. During that day it travelled well.

As it was the first breakup I had ever witnessed, the sight was most interesting and fascinating. Some of the blocks, I estimated, were perhaps ninety by thirty feet and eighteen to twenty inches thick. These huge blocks were to cause us a considerable amount of discomfort before the day was over.

Towards evening it was noticed that the ice was travelling very slowly on the east bend of the river. As the river flows directly south past the Post and then takes a turn east, our view for over a mile is fairly good. We watched with strained eyes and beating hearts, for already the water was rising. Ah! yes, it was only too true, there was a jam!

Soon the water was coming over in front of the house. Immediate action was necessary. Canoes had to be attended to, boards, posts, boxes and barrels moved to a place of safety.

Very soon the water was making a noise like a waterfall and sweeping everything before it. In a short time the sidewalk was trying to pilot its way through the garden gate. A cord of wood made an effort to follow suit but did not succeed. That night the roaring waters sang us to sleep.

All day the ice and driftwood kept going by. At 7 o'clock in the evening the Post was completely surrounded by water and a canoe was for the next few days to be our only mode of travelling.

Towards twilight the last of the ice and driftwood passed. We gave a sigh of relief and were about to retire when our attention was attracted by a noise in the bush on the opposite bank of the river; on looking, it was no little surprise to see a birch bark, and three Indians come into sight. From the conversation, we gathered that the country for miles around was under water.

Many cattle belonging to the Indians in this Reserve were drowned, also an old house was carried away and where it once stood we have now a small creek running from the river to a muskeg.

STANLEY POST (SASK.) NOTES

The last of the freighters reached here on April 18th, on their return trip to Prince Albert, having delivered all the freight for Lac du Brochet Post at South Deer Lake. The season being late, they had to work night and day, under adverse weather conditions.

One big snowstorm lasted a day and a night, and the wind was terrible, the track being covered up a few moments after it had been opened. The rain and the soft weather we had in March formed a hard crust on the deep snow, which was very bad for the horses.--Thos. Bear, Post Manager.

Buying Everything in Sight

By P. H. GODSELL, _Fort Simpson_

The article by Mr. Forbes in connection with the London Auction Sales calls to mind a rather amusing incident that occurred when I once attended a H.B.C. fur sale at College Hill, London.

Being young, I took a keen interest in everything, especially in the actions of the auctioneer.

I studied my catalogue and notes closely and when a lot would be called by the auctioneer invariably raised my head and _looked him in the eye._

As I was leaving the sale room at the termination of the afternoon sale I passed Mr. Ingrams and Mr. Randall. They remarked that I must feel very well satisfied with my afternoon's business, as _I should be the owner of almost every lot that was put up_.

It was not until then that I learned that by even such a small sign as a direct look a lot would be knocked down by the broker, and that I had to all appearances bought everything in sight!

As They Were

We begin in this number publication of a series of "Youthful Portraits" depicting present-day H.B.C. employees as they appeared at a "tender age." It appears that considerable interest will be demonstrated by our readers in trying to discover familiar likenesses in these quaint old photographs.

McKay Post Manager Dies

_B. F. Cooper Served H.B.C. Thirty-Seven Years in North_

B. F. Cooper, an old timer and Hudson's Bay fur trader, died at Fort McMurray, May 28th, after an illness of some weeks. Mr. Cooper was an Englishman, an old "blue-coat school" boy, brought up in London. Instead of moving in the limelight of politics Mr. Cooper chose the quiet and lasting work of pioneering on the frontier posts of the empire and for thirty-six years had been a trusted and faithful servant of the Hudson's Bay Company, in charge of the Fort McKay post.

A few weeks before his death, an urgent message was sent to Fort McMurray for medical help and immediately the Company chartered a motor boat to bring Mr. Cooper from McKay. He was given every possible care.

The funeral took place on Sunday, May 29th, in the little Presbyterian church at McMurray, the coffin being covered with the Hudson's Bay flag and borne by Hudson's Bay men, C. C. Sinclair, J. Cunningham, L. Lane, G. Petty, H. Porter, Captain McLeod, Ed. Jones and J. Sutherland. The little church was crowded with people who followed to the cemetery the remains of the respected old timer whose only relative present was a son of sixteen years. Mr. Cooper leaves a wife and seven children. His record with the Company follows:

Date Capacity Post

1884-1885 Clerk N.D. Office, Winnipeg
1885-1887 In charge Fort Ellice
1887-1895 In charge Touchwood Hills
1895-1899 Accountant Chipewyan
1899-1904 Clerk in charge Fond du Lac
1904-1905 Clerk Onion Lake
1905-1912 Clerk Fort Smith
1912-1914 Post Manager Chipewyan
1914-1921 Post Manager McKay

Tried for North Pole by Balloon

_H.B.C. Was on Lookout for Ill-Fated Andree Polar Party, 1896_

By H. M. S. COTTER

While I was stationed at North West River Post on the Labrador coast in 1896, the government of Norway and Sweden sent out an arctic expedition in a polar balloon to make an attempt at reaching the North Pole.

The Company, anxious to lend a hand to the success of this scientific exploration to the top of the earth, despatched to its many far northern posts drawings of the balloon like the illustration shown, accompanied by the notice:

"In the summer of 1896 a balloon (an object like that shown on
the drawing) may be seen floating in the air. This balloon will
convey a party of three Swedish scientists who have been making
explorations towards the North Pole by these means.

The Government of Sweden and Norway has requested that the
explorers may receive all possible assistance. Natives should
therefore be told that the balloon is not a dangerous thing, but
merely a mode of conveyance in the air just as a ship is in the
water.

Natives should be told to approach the people in it without fear
and to give them all the help in their power.

If the balloon is seen only, the natives should be told to
communicate the day and hour, the direction and time it was
visible, and the direction of the wind.

If the people arrive, having lost the balloon, the natives to be
told to give them all possible assistance.

It is requested that the travellers may be supplied with passport
and all necessary official documents, the names being:

Mr. Solomon August Andree, aged 42; Dr. Nils Gustaf Ekholm, aged
48; Mr. Nils Strindberg, aged 24."

According to instructions, I informed all the Indians to be on the lookout for the balloon.

Early one morning an Indian rushed into the store to say he had heard an awful "ringing of bells" away up in the heavens and was sure it was the balloon passing.

I could see or hear nothing, but the native persisted in his story. I told him it might have been Andree ringing the breakfast bell. I could only get him calmed down by giving him some tobacco. Probably that was all he was after.

Traces of Andree were said to have been found at Cape Mugford, Northern Labrador, but no positive proof was ever obtained.

Another story came from Ft. Churchill to the effect that an Eskimo had found some clothing supposed to have been from the balloon, but these were said to have been left behind by Mr. J. B. Tyrrell on one of his expeditions.

WHAT HAPPENED AT FORT SIMPSON, N.W.T. DURING WINTER, 1921?

_From entries in the Post Journal by Manager A. F. Camsell_

Jan., 1921

1--The usual reception was given the Indians this morning and a
Dance will take place in the evening till 12 p.m.

5--Mail arrived from Liard this evening; they were ten days coming
down.

8--Mail arrived from Providence at 10 a.m.

10--Mr. P. H. Godsell with Robbillard, driver, and two Liard men
left for Liard this morning. Mr. Godsell goes to Liard on an
inspection trip. The mail left yesterday for McPherson.

12--Five men and two trains of dogs arrived from the south this
afternoon en route to the Norman oil fields to stake claims.

13--Tony Neis and a party of oil men arrived from the south
this evening en route to the Norman oil fields to stake claims;
Corporal Doke and Constable Brackett of the Mounted Police also
arrived and are to be stationed at Norman.

17--Clear and cold, 38 below.

22--Mr. T. W. Harris and W. George left for Norman this morning in
connection with the staking of claims below Norman.

28--Inspector Godsell returned today from a trip to Liard.

Feb.

2--Wind North. Mr. Godsell, Mr. Jackson, clerk, Robbillard, W.
Sibbiston and John Hope, forerunner, left for Good Hope this
morning with two trains of dogs. Wind North.

19--Mail arrived from the South today, 20 days behind schedule
time.

23--Clear and fine. Mr. Conibear and two sons arrived from Smith
with two trains of dogs to stake claims at Norman.

25--Clear and mild, thawing in the sun for the first time this
season. Norwegian arrived from Rabbit Skin River with a good bunch
of furs.

Mar.

2--Most of the oil prospectors left for the south today after
recording their claims here.

12--Mr. Harry McGurn arrived with the mail from the North last
night. Mr. Wada and party accompanied him from Wrigley.

18--Mail arrived from Providence today, 18 days behind time. This
mail will do down as far as McPherson.

30--Cloudy and thawing. H. Camsell and W. Johnson went for a moose
across the river this morning. Two airplanes arrived this morning
at 11:30 a.m. from Peace River. They were one hour and forty
minutes travelling time from Providence.

Apr.

1--W. Johnson, H.B.C. engineer, making propellor for airplane.

5--One of the airplanes started for Norman this morning and met
with an accident in starting, smashing the prop. and damaging one
of the wings.

15--One of the airplanes took a trial trip with a new prop. this
afternoon and appeared to give satisfaction.

18--W. Johnson left this morning at 2 a.m. with two trains of dogs
and supplies for work on the S.S. Liard at Spence River.

22--Wind North and snowing most of the day. Both airplanes are now
ready, and they will be leaving for Peace River as soon as the
weather is favourable.

The Englishman and The "Grizzly"

_A Bear Story With a Stinger_

By C. H. FRENCH

Leaving Wrangell, Alaska, for Telegraph Creek, British Columbia, in the spring of 1914, I overtook an Englishman who intended to spend the summer in the interior of British Columbia, and after enjoying a big game hunt in the fall would return to civilization.

Before we had got far up the river, night overtook us, making it necessary for the "gas" boat on which we were travelling to tie up for the night. The beach on which we landed was a sandy one that would permit of walking along the shore for some distance; so my friend, the Englishman, started out to stretch his legs.

Not far up the beach there commenced a large piece of low, swampy country and just before coming to it my friend caught a glimpse of what he thought was a large grizzly bear going speedily through the bush. Wasn't the Englishman excited! A few well-directed spider-like movements landed him back on the launch. After his struggle for breath was over we learned the exciting news. We agreed that our friend should be allowed to do all the execution, while we kept in the background in order to help out should the brute attack.

Guns were made ready and a stealthy advance was commenced. At length the rifle of our friend went to his shoulder and bang! In a moment the monster was dead.

By this time it was quite dark, so we made haste and prepared to drag the game to the launch to be skinned. Finally, after tugging and working with all our strength, with perspiration pouring off our foreheads, we concluded the carcass was too heavy to be handled by only six ordinary men.

A suggestion was then made to run a line from the boat and attach it to the hand capstan and haul him along in that way. This scheme was tried and after working hard (putting more grease on the gears every ten minutes) our enthusiasm began to wane and before another half hour had passed it was decided to leave the monster where it was until daylight, when it would be skinned where it lay.

We were up bright and early the next morning and while breakfast was being prepared the hunting and skinning knives were ground and sharpened to a fine edge and fit to cut the toughest hide or even to shave with.

Breakfast was finished and we trooped off to where lay the king of the forest (especially the low-lying swampy fringed forest) and after coats were thrown off and sleeves rolled up to above the elbows the operation of skinning was ready to commence.

Our friend the Englishman was naturally anxious that the job be a neat one, as he certainly was anxious to have that hide mounted, especially on account of its large size and its being the first specimen of big game killed by him in Cassiar, and he suggested that we wait a few minutes longer until it was full daylight.

At last the light of the rising sun commenced to show brightly in the east until it ended in one great burst of brilliant glory which held us as in a trance admiring its beauty.

Finally we turned to the animal and the work of skinning. One glance in the improved light was sufficient to show that there was something wrong, and that our grizzly bear was not a bear after all.

But what was it? Owing to my years of experience the matter was referred to me, and after making a close examination I was able to announce with surety that the supposed grizzly bear was _only a common, everyday Stikine River mosquito_, of perhaps a little greater size than is usually encountered.

It was then up to everyone to remark that they were sure from the first that it was not a bear. But the climax was reached when the Englishman _expressed surprise that we had any doubts about what the animal really was_ right from the start, because he had killed it _only to get the stinger_, which, he was told, made an excellent golf club.

Pigeon Trap

In the June issue I note a reference to the pigeon trap at H.B.C. Calgary Gun Club.

As a devotee of the gun myself, and without any wish to presume to dictate to Mr. Chamberlain or any member of the Gun Club, I would respectfully draw his attention to the fact that the practice of shooting live pigeons sprung from traps has received severe condemnation; so much so that it is contemplated to discontinue the "sport" at Monte Carlo, Biarritz, and many other fashionable resorts. Also the British parliament intended to set the seal of its disapproval on this pastime by an Act which would render it prohibitive.

_The Times_ of April 27th, 1921, says:

"_A standing committee of the House of Commons, over which Mr.
Hodge presided, yesterday considered the Bill introduced by Sir
Burton Chadwick to prohibit the use of captive birds in all
shooting carried on under artificial conditions._

"_Sir Burton Chadwick moved a minor amendment to Clause 1, which
renders any person concerned in shooting of captive birds liable
to a maximum fine of £25, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding
three months or to both._"

Again on May 27th, _The Times_ reports:

"_We are able to state on high authority that the directors of the
Casino at Monte Carlo have decided to abandon the use of living
birds in the pigeon-shooting competitions at Monte Carlo._"

_John McMurray, Chief Accountant's Office, Winnipeg_

Old Fur Trader Ill

Joseph Sinclair, 83, a former H.B.C. fur trader at York Factory and in the Saskatchewan district, was admitted to the Winnipeg General Hospital on April 21st. Mr. Sinclair is suffering from cancer, a rodent ulcer on the face. He has had an attack of pneumonia while in hospital, but recovered and according to his physician is doing as well as could be expected.

The Vanished Buffalo Herds of North America

_Kingly Race That Once Roamed a Continent Almost Wiped Out for "A Dollar a Hide"; Straggling Survivors Carefully Guarded_

By W. E. ANDERSON

About the year 1879 a party of Metis hunters came to the plains southwest of the present situation of Regina, Saskatchewan, to hunt buffalo. The party consisted of the father, a man then on the elderly side of middle age, but who had been in his youth a noted buffalo runner and Indian fighter; his wife, a heavy half-breed woman of some fifty years; and his daughter, a girl of about seventeen of a comely and attractive appearance.

The father, according to his custom, followed the chase on horseback, the old woman, seated amongst robes and camp baggage, drove the creaking Red river cart, whilst the young girl was in and out of the vehicle like an eager young spirit of the prairie.

That season there were very few carts which came to the plains after buffalo. The great herds that used to blacken the country to the rim of the horison had thundered away into the limbo of the lost, and all that was left of them was a few stragglers that still haunted some of the more remote valley bottoms.

The halfbreeds had strange and superstitious ideas about the passing of the buffalo. They could not believe that they had gone never to return. It was only yesterday that the plains were black with the shaggy herds. Their trails and wallows were still to be seen everywhere.

This particular Metis hunter believed that they had gone to some new pasturage, and that if they could be found the hunting would again be as good as in the days of yore.

So for a period of years he led his family up and down the plains. One season they wintered at Wood Mountain, another they wandered as far north as Ile a la Crosse, then again at the Milk River; but in all their wanderings they found none of the vanished herds.

One winter they came to Fort Edmonton, and there the mother who had suffered for years from goitre, and was doubtless wearied with much wandering, lay down and quietly died.

Towards the close of the winter there came to the Post a Touchwood Indian who had been in the Slave River country as a dog driver for a Hudson's Bay officer. He told the halfbreed hunter that in the northern country of the lakes and rivers he had heard strange tales of great herds of buffalo. He had actually seen some himself. They were larger than the old-time buffalo of the plains, and their coats were longer and silkier.

The old hunter brightened at the news. Here at last was the word of the missing herds; making a company of travel with an Iroquois river man, they penetrated through labyrinths of waterways to the region of the far north.

There is no doubt but that the old hunter had been misled by rumors of the herd of wood-buffalo which had existed for many years in the Slave River country, and which are today carefully protected by the Northwest Mounted Police patrol.

The original area over which the buffalo ranged began almost at tide-water on the Atlantic coast. It extended westward through a vast tract of dense forest, across the Alleghany mountains to the prairies along the Mississippi, and southward to the delta of that great stream.

Although the vast plains country of the west was the natural home of the species, where it flourished most abundantly, it also wandered south across Texas to the burning plains of north-eastern Mexico, westward across the Rocky mountains into New Mexico, Utah and Idaho, and northward across a vast treeless waste to the bleak and inhospitable shores of Great Slave and Hudson Bay.

Vast herds of bison seemed to clothe the prairies in a coat of brown. They roamed the country around the headwaters of the Qu'Appelle river in tens of thousands.

Catlin has given some idea of the enormous numbers of bison that were killed during the first half of the nineteenth century. In 1832 he stated that 150,000 to 200,000 robes were marketed annually, which meant a slaughter of 2,000,000 or perhaps 3,000,000 bison. So great was the destruction that he prophesied their extermination within eight or ten years.

The death knell was struck when the construction of the Union Pacific railway was begun at Omaha in 1866. Prior to the advent of the first transcontinental railway the difficulties of marketing the results of the slaughter served as a slight check on the rate of extermination. The destruction began in earnest in 1876 and was complete four years later. The facility for shipping out the hides over the new railways was the cause of the rapid disappearance of the buffalo.

In the United States, buffalo hunters grew prosperous shooting down the animals for "a dollar a hide."

While the accompanying map is approximately correct, the feeding ground was necessarily subject to food material. In such years, for instance, as the grasshoppers spread devastation over large tracts of the Northwest--when for miles and miles not a blade of grass could be seen--it is only reasonable to expect that the buffalo changed his regular stamping ground.

William T. Hornaday, the naturalist, estimated, January 1st, 1908, the number of wild bison in the Rocky Mountains at 25, and the number in Canada at 300. About 130 are captive in Europe, and 1116 in the United States, bringing the total number of pure bred bison up to 2047. A large herd is under the protection of the Canadian government in the park at Wainwright, Alberta. The more notable American herds are found in Corbin's game preserve, New Hampshire; in Oklahoma; in the Yellowstone national park; and on various private ranches in the western part of the United States.

FAMOUS H.B.C. CAPTAINS AND SHIPS

(Continued from the June issue)

By H. M. S. COTTER, Cumberland House

The "Pelican" once scraped the sunken ledges near Cartwright, but no H.B.C. ship has left her "bones" to rot on that iron-bound shore.

Little is known of the wrecks that do take place on this coast, but I have heard of appalling disasters amongst the hardy fishermen. On the Nova Scotian coast, collision with ice and subsequent loss of life is not infrequent. Every year there are wrecks of some kind. Ocean-going steamers have been forced ashore and become total wrecks. And so it is remarkable that H.B.C. ships have never met with disaster, especially considering their many ports of call.

In 1908 I was a passenger on the "Pelican" (Captain Alex. Grey) bound for Fort Chimo, Ungava. From the time we left Quebec till we passed Cape Harrison, North of Hamilton Inlet, Labrador, we had enjoyed fair weather. But the clouds and rising sea denoted a change.

We were then standing off the coast nearly twelve miles and steaming at about seven knots. The wind kept veering between N. and N.E., finally blowing straight down the coast about north. We stood farther out to sea. At nightfall it was blowing half a gale with rain coming down--and mist. Our speed then was not more than three knots and gradually getting less till about 2 o'clock in the morning when the wind increased to a living gale, screeching and howling through the rigging and stopping all progress. It was then decided to run for shelter, but the nearest harbour was forty miles south, a place named _Webek_. Captain Grey had been in this harbour only once, about twenty-five years before, and no one else aboard had ever anchored there. They turned the ship and we came scudding south in the blackness of night, then lay-to till dawn, and picking up the land approached at half speed.

To give some idea of the gale outside, when we finally came to an anchorage about 8 o'clock in the morning, the swell was so great in the harbour with the continued violence of the wind that we kept steaming to the anchors to prevent dragging and as the sailors say we were rolling "like maggots in an oak apple." Several fishing schooners had run in the day before and even in shelter the crews had abandoned some of the vessels, as they were dragging their anchors and in imminent danger of going ashore.

The Captain was on the bridge all night. For hours he stood in the bow of the boat hanging in the starboard davits peering through the gloom and mist, looking for landmarks and the harbour entrance. He had on a black sou'wester and oil-skin coat and great long sea-boots. His face was streaming with the rain and spray--a gigantic, picturesque figure, and on this particular morning, unusually silent.

When the ship was snug and safe he came off the bridge, and all he said was, "Aye, aye, a little wind," and then he turned in.

The entries in the log were quite commonplace--all in the day's work, as it were--and one would never glean from them that a ship and cargo worth a quarter of a million had been safely brought to a haven of refuge through exceptional seamanship and courage.

It was in 1894 that Captain Grey in the "Erik," when near Resolution Island at the entrance of the Straits, ran into an iceberg. It happened at night in a thick fog. The ship was moving slowly at the time and before the lookout saw or could give warning she had poked her nose into the 'berg. Her long bowsprit of pitch pine was crumpled up like so much matchwood, and the gear attached to it and one of the catheads was carried away.

Masses of ice came thundering down on her forecastle head, doing much damage to the woodwork. In the meantime the lookout sprinted aft, the watch below came tumbling up on deck and made for safety. The ship was put astern and hove to till daylight. They steamed up next day close enough to see a hole as big as a house which they had punched in the side of the 'berg. All the damage to the ship fortunately was done above the water line.

When the "Erik" returned to Rigolet in October she was sporting a dinky little jib-boom made from one of the spare spars carried on deck for just such an emergency.

Mr. John Ford, a passenger on his way to Georges River Post, told me he never saw Captain Grey more cool or collected. He gave orders as if nothing unusual were taking place. And at breakfast next morning all he said in reference to it was, "Aye, aye, a little ice."

F. T. C. O. Notes

Ralph Parsons, district manager for Labrador, left St. John's, Newfoundland, June 1st for inspection of fur trade posts in his district, including Cartwright, Rigolet, Northwest River and Davis Inlet. Mr. Parsons will later board the H.B.C. supply ship at Grady, off the Labrador coast, and proceed north to the Hudson Straits section of his district.

_L. Romanet_, fur trade general inspector, left Vancouver at the end of May for inspection of posts in the British Columbia district. He will return in August.

_T. P. O'Kelly_ was to go on Company's business with the "Lady Kindersley," which was scheduled to sail from Vancouver for the Western Arctic, June 28th.

_W. R. Mitchell_, post manager at Fort Churchill, left Winnipeg June 17th for his station, going via The Pas and York Factory.

_John Bartleman_, district manager for Keewatin, left Winnipeg June 20th for his regular summer inspection trip of fur trade posts.

_The Company has engaged_ twelve apprentice clerks in Scotland for service at H.B.C. fur trade posts in northern Canada. The party of young men sailed from Southampton June 15th on the "Corsican" for Montreal.

_J. J. Barker_, district manager for Saskatchewan, left Prince Albert June 18th on summer inspection trip. He will return August 1st.

_Mrs. Owen Griffith_, wife of the post manager at Albany, James' Bay district, was in Winnipeg during June visiting her mother, Mrs. Allan Nicolson.

KAMLOOPS, B. C. STORE NEWS

_Miss Smith_, of the ready-to-wear department, returned June 1st after two weeks' vacation, part of which was spent with her mother and sisters at Barriere.

_Mr. Madill_, of the shoe department, made a short visit to Calgary to meet Mr. Purves, manager of shoe department of Winnipeg Depot.

_Miss Weatherby_, of the dry goods department, is on a two weeks' vacation trip to the coast cities.

_Mrs. Munn_, wife of our grocery manager, who has just undergone two very trying operations in Vancouver Hospital, is home again and we are pleased to note her marked improvement.

_Harry Campbell_ is the latest addition to our grocery staff and is welcomed by all.

Who is it? Send your guess to the Photograph Editor, _The Beaver_ and watch for the name next month.

_Mrs. L. G. Mayer_, wife of the post manager at Great Whale River, was visiting relatives in Fort William during June and has returned to the post. _Nixon, our esteemed_ checker and shipper, is a recognized expert in all matters pertaining to horticulture. When the North Kamloops May-Day committee was making preparations for their celebration this year and wanted something very special in the way of flowers for the May Queen's crown they appointed Mr. Nixon a committee of one to grow flowers for this purpose and to make the crown.

A True Fish Story

By GEO. R. ROBSON, Esquimalt, B.C.

If one chanced to be in the neighbourhood of the Naas river in the early spring of the year, when the bolachan (candle fish) run begins, he could not fail to notice the large number of ducks gathered in the bays and the eagles perched on almost every tree skirting the beaches, all on the watch for the coming feast.

Sit down for a while and notice what is going on. Ah! there is a fishhawk darting into the water of the bay. It is up again with a fish clutched in its talons; see, there comes an eagle in full chase rapidly overtaking the hawk which is now soaring up and up. It is useless; the eagle soon rises above and swoops down on the osprey. The fish abandoned and falling is followed by the eagle and caught before it reaches the water. So it goes on day by day while the run continues.

At Nelson one Sunday afternoon when walking towards town, looking towards the lake I saw a hawk rise with a fish, and sure enough an eagle just starting in pursuit. (I pointed them out to my wife and children who were with me.) They were coming in our direction, flying low.

Thinking the eagle might be driven off, I gathered a few pebbles, and when the birds were almost above us threw them and shouted loudly. To my surprise the hawk dropped the fish and both birds wheeled about and flew in the direction of the lake. The fish fell in the brush about a hundred feet away. I ran to the spot; there was a fine trout wriggling in the grass. Jack Gibson, the drug store man, had appeared on the scene and called out, "What have you got there?" "Oh, only to-morrow's breakfast," I replied.

Gets Wheelbarrow-full of Aluminum Pans

Miss Smith, manager of the ready-to-wear department, who is leaving shortly to be married, was the guest of honor at a kitchen shower given at the home of Miss Stella Cozens by the lady members of our staff and friends, who represented in almost every instance former members of the staff.

The shower consisted of aluminum kitchen utensils in a wheelbarrow decorated with crepe paper and flowers, surmounted by two kewpie dolls dressed as bride and groom.

After lunch was served and everybody felt happy and comfortable, Miss Dougans gave a little exhibition of acrobatic skill.

MONTREAL

* * * * *

_H.B.C. Eastern Buying Agency News_

The following buyers for the new H.B.C. Victoria store were in the East during June:

Miss J. Murdock.
Miss A. G. McLaren.
Mr. Hunter.
Mr. Gordon.

_Miss F. O'Grady and Mr. Frankish_, from the Winnipeg retail branch, were with us June 17th, and Mr. Thomas Ross, of the Winnipeg Depot, also spent a few days in Montreal.

_Miss Kate Currie, of Vancouver_, recently paid us a visit and is now en route for home.

WINNIPEG

_Retail Store News_

_At a recent meeting_ of the managers and buyers of the store two of our associates were honored for their service records. Miss F. Smith had just attained ten years' service, all of which was given in Winnipeg store. Mr. Roland Hoccon had just completed twenty years in the Company's employ.

In the name of the Governor, Mr. Sparling commented upon the creditable records of both Miss Smith and Mr. Hoccon, and presented Mr. Hoccon with a twenty-year bar to his long service medal.

_Tom Johnson_, of the men's clothing department, was a busy man during the week of June 1st. Tom is a hard working member of the Manitoba Football Association and was on the reception committee from Manitoba to welcome the visiting aggregation of Scottish football experts.

_Everyone regrets_ that we are losing Miss Netta McEwan, who will occupy an important position in the new Victoria store. Miss McEwan's pleasing personality has won her many friends during her years of association with us and we are, frankly, jealous of Victoria store.

_Suppose Mr. Saalfeld_ would probably like to present us with a crate of retired eggs--one at a time--for saying so, but it just occurred to us that an advertisement of the following character should be productive of considerable business during the summer months:

"_The Beauty Parlors announce for Wednesday a sale of stylish new
moustaches. These will be made up for two simoleons, in color
desired to match any facial decoration scheme--waxed, fitted and
attached free of extra charge. Line forms on the left!_"

_Miss Kandie, Miss Garnier and Miss Girourd_ have all left us, amid showers of confetti, during the last little while. Object, matrimony.

Who is it? If you "have a hunch" send in your guess and watch for name in the August issue.

Listening-in at an H.B.C. Dance!

(Imaginary Scraps of Desiccated Conversation Collected at a Company Dance).

"_I have just two left open."
"Say, isn't he lanky!"
"Who is that dressed in Copen?"
"There--I've lost my hankie!_"

"_Hear that saxophone whine!"
"Who's your friend, may I ask?"
"Have yu tried the grape-vine?"
"Whew! This three-step's some task!_"

"_Now, you take a pace back."
"See here--when do we eat?"
"Like a sea-going hack--
"Stepped all over my feet!_"

"_Such a long intermish!"
"Do you wish lemonade?"
"She's like Dorothy Gish."
"Yes, that's imported Jade._"

"_I could fox-trot all night."
"And never grow weary!"
"M-m-m! My face is a sight;
"Slip me your puff, dearie._"

"_There's those two, cheek to cheek!"
"Ho! See that man bowing."
"Now, don't jump when I speak--
But your ears are showing!_"

"_'Home, Sweet Home!'--You live far?"
"Why you're really so kind,--
But then Art. bro't his car;
I am sure you won't mind._"

--_From_ "Piebald Pomes and other Atrocities" by the Akoond of Swat.

Joe Scott Tends Goal Against All-Stars

By T. REITH

Joe Scott was pleasantly surprised when he received a handsome gold watch fob bearing the following inscription:

_Presented to Joseph Scott by his admirers in Hudson's Bay Store
for splendid display as goalkeeper against Scottish All-Star
Football Team,_

_Winnipeg, June 9th, 1921._

Joe is an esteemed member of our delivery department and was honored by Manitoba footballers in being chosen to keep goal for Manitoba against the visiting Scottish stars.

Said the one and only Jimmy McMenemy: "We won with ease, but there is one consolation left for the home boys, and that is that they are the best team we have yet opposed.

"Your goalkeeper, Joe Scott, is a worthy custodian. Facing a blinding sun and having to handle a lively ball, he put up a great game between the sticks. I thought that some of his saves were particularly fine."

WHOLESALE DEPOT

_Miss Rose Paradis_, late steno star, was our first "June bride." Rose was married at Sedan on Wednesday, June 8th.

_Miss Maude Poole_, who came out from England, joining the staff of steno stars, was our next "June bride," being married on Saturday, June 11th, to Mr. L. Keeble, of Winnipeg. The wedding took place at St. Luke's church, Fort Rouge, at 4 o'clock. The girls of the staff presented Miss Poole with an electric table lamp as a token of their appreciation.

_Poor Bobby_ (Miss Gow) is on the sick list and is unfortunately compelled to miss the first part of the tennis season. Bobby was one of our enthusiasts last year.

_Miss Fairbanks_ is another unfortunate one on the sick list.

_Football_--The team in the Commercial League are still going at a great gait--Government Telephones and Eaton's Wanderers being beaten 2-1 and 1-0, respectively. To date the Wholesale have played four games, winning two and drawing two.

_Tennis_--Like bears awakening after the winter's sleep, so the long evenings and fine weather is luring the tennis fans on to the courts. The latest converts are Miss Kellet, Miss Vusom, Miss Smeaton and Bill Paul. All members of the staff are welcome and we wish that more would come out and take advantage of the courts.

_Quoits._--The Wholesale section of the depot are going to try for the quoits championship this year. Many are coming out for practice games, and as one remarked the other night, "Watch our smoke."

Modern Canoes for Northland

A carload of modern Peterboro canoes will go forward shortly from Edmonton to Fort McPherson, at the mouth of the McKenzie River, for distribution among the northernmost posts of H.B.C.

This modern type of canoe is being shipped in to take the place of the old time birchbark, and this summer will see them being paddled by Eskimos and Indians who hitherto have never navigated anything more modern than a kayak or birchbark canoe.

The new canoes weigh but forty pounds each, although twelve feet in length. They are intended especially for the requirements of the lone hunter. There are twelve canoes in all going to the far north in this shipment, including the various types and sizes from the big cruiser to the trapper's craft.

LETHBRIDGE (Alta.) STORE NEWS

An enjoyable time was had on May 24th at the club house on Henderson Lake by the members and friends of the Hudson's Bay Athletic Association of Lethbridge.

Baseball, boating, music and dancing provided entertainment for the large crowd. In the afternoon a presentation of a knife and fork cabinet was made to Mr. Charles Briggs, who recently took unto himself a wife. The presentation was made by Mr. C. H. Fair on behalf of the management and staff.

_Miss Reeves_ attended the Gossard corset demonstration at Calgary recently.

_Mr. W. Thomson_, who recently arrived in Canada from Scotland, and who has served overseas with the Imperial Army as French and German interpreter with the army of occupation, is now manager of the house furnishings department. Mr. Thomson has had a number of years' experience in Glasgow.

_Mr. Charles Briggs_ has been transferred to the managership of our grocery department.

_Miss Patterson_ left for a short visit to Vancouver where she has undergone an operation and we are pleased to know that she is progressing favorably and able to enjoy the scenic wonders of the coast city.

_Mrs. Mars_ is now back with us after a short illness.

_Mr. George Burns_, manager of the shoe department, is on the sick list, but we hope to see him back in his department shortly.

GENERAL OFFICE (WINNIPEG) NEWS

The publicity department removed June 8th from York Street to the executive offices at 208 Main Street.

_T. H. Irvine_, caretaker, was heard talking to himself, chuckling, and saying something about a "prize bairn." Mrs. Irvine is doing well, and Thomas Henry is the name of the fine new baby.

_Colin Urquhart_, whose retirement was reported in our issue of December, 1920, was a visitor last month. He looked the picture of health.

_Miss Peggy Boyle_ and Mr. W. A. Wylde, of the chief accountant's office were on holidays from June 13th to 27th.

VANCOUVER

Watch These Ball Players From Now On

By L. A. KEELE

Out of four games played the team has yet to win a game, but the boys are trying hard and with a little co-operation and support from the rest of the store staff the ball team will yet be seen in the form of a championship contender.

All games are played immediately after the close of business and it is hard to expect the boys to be on hand and ready to play at a moment's notice. However, that is one of the hardships they are working under and if the supporters of our team will have patience until the team gets into its stride they will see the team win ball games.

Support the team. Come out to every game; let the boys who are playing know that you are behind them. Make a noise when you are there and don't let the players think that the whole crowd is rooting for the other team.

City senior baseball is good and any team that can make good in the league are ball players.

In view of the fact that this is the H.B.C. store's first attempt to field a team in the city league, and all other teams have the rest of the city to choose from, whereas the H.B.C. team is being confined to store boys, we have a very formidable aggregation.

No Skirts for This 4200-Foot Climb

By A. HUMPHREYS

A party of five of the younger set--Misses E. Martin, L. Geach, V. Fairhurst, A. Humphreys and M. Phillips, started out for a hike up Grouse Mountain on a Sunday in June.

After an enjoyable ride on the ferry they boarded the car for the mountain, started to climb about ten o'clock and reached Mosquito Creek (2000 feet) about noon. There camp was struck. The climb was continued to the summit, which was reached about 4 o'clock.

A lively game of snowball was enjoyed by these ardent Alpine spirits, who nothing daunted by the 4200-foot grade, declared they had the time of their lives.

Many of the staff will no doubt want to follow in the footsteps of these pioneer trail-breakers. But girls, side-step skirts and get into riding trousers for this climb!

* * * * *

_Mr. H. Pout_, H.B.C. manager at Vernon, who has been recently appointed to position of merchandise manager at Victoria store, was in Vancouver during June making arrangements for entering his new sphere in the Company's service.

Presentation to Mr. Horne

J. S. Horne, assistant accountant, who has devoted twelve years of faithful service at the Vancouver store, was presented on June 11th with a gold watch and chain as a mark of the regard in which he is held by the staff, the occasion being the transfer of Mr. Horne to the new store soon to be opened at Victoria.

Mr. Lockyer, general manager, made the presentation in the presence of representatives from the different departments of the store.

H.B.C. Cribbage Players Win Baxter Cup

The aggregate scores for the season in the Vancouver inter-club and cribbage association show the Hudson's Bay Company players as winners of the T. S. Baxter cup for single points, while G.W.V.A. has carried off the double championship and with it the cup donated by H. T. Lockyer.

Wholesome Minds

A Few Thoughts for Our Younger Folks (older ones not barred)

_By Mrs. Jack Hawkshaw_

When a young woman's skirt or a young man's trousers show bulging creases over the knees, their owners are living a sedentary life or have never learned to walk correctly.

Stand erect with the upper part of the chest "leading." Breathe deeply, laugh deeply and smoothly. Don't giggle and squirm, girls. Have poise. It is the most wonderful health inspirer on earth. How many of us realize that a flustered mind is the cause of more disease than the inoculation of poisonous germs?

Physicians are coming more and more to see the power of mentality. A great deal of practice of the now-a-days physician is in "cheering up" his patients and routing morbid fears. Every thought has an effect of some sort on the human body. How often an unreasoning fear of a disease will bring about conditions which make for the "catching" of it!

We would have fewer cases of "chronic ailments" if only folks would realize that if it is "chronic" then it can not be very "killing" trouble, else people would not last for years (sometimes for more than half a century) with some affliction that they become so attached to they could not live without.

You know in every community there is the chronic sufferer from insomnia who forty-nine times out of every fifty nights has not "slept a wink." Sleeplessness is his hobby.

By all means let us throw the windows of our minds wide open to the blessed breezes of heaven and rejoice in this "best of all possible worlds." Live vitally, energetically. Really "enjoy your work" and throw yourselves with might and main into play.

And remember, the Hudson's Bay Company, which has existed for 251 years, does not require _you_ to be its Atlas when you go home at night. It will get along quite as well if you lay business aside, out of your mind, and relax and "air your brain" from the fatigues of the day and then come back in the morning full of "pep" ready to give good measure in the service you have sold them.

Some of our young ladies like to do a little bit of homekeeping in their spare time; one we know of has a wonderful little "cabin home" on the wooded shores of Burrard Inlet. On Wednesdays and Sundays she dispenses hospitality to a chosen friend or two.

We heard of a most entertaining "party" held not so long ago. It would appear that the guests foregathered at a rendezvous to be driven to "Ozocomfy" in another young lady's motor car. They all had a wonderful day of it, notwithstanding the fact that the motor tires blew off, and the gas gave out. They pluckily stuck to the game and arrived home after a most hilarious outing.

Leaving for New Posts at Victoria

Those about to leave Vancouver for their new appointments at Victoria Store are as follows: _Mr. Porte, manager_; _Mr. Stanhope, manager, furniture department_; _Mr. Marten, manager, draperies_; _Mrs. Grew, librarian_; _Mr. Stewart, manager, ladies' shoes_; _Miss McLaren, manageress, whitewear_; _Miss Grimason, manageress, ready-to-wear_; _Mr. Wilkinson, manager, delivery_; _Mr. Horne, accountant_; _Mr. McBain, traffic manager_.

The Wild Man

"_Who's the stranger, mother dear?
Look! He knows us! Ain't he queer?"
"Hush, my own! Don't talk so wild,
"That's your father, dearest child!"
"He's my father? No such thing!
Father died, you know, last spring!"
"Father didn't die, you dub!
Father joined a golfing club,
But they closed the club, so he
Had no place to go, you see!
No place left for him to roam,
That's why he's coming home.
Kiss him--he won't bite you, child,
All these golfing guys look wild!_"

EDMONTON

Retail Store Topics

_Miss Vera Solick_ has recently been promoted as assistant to Mr. Briggs in the whitewear section.

_Miss Winnie Campbell_, of the whitewear department, is leaving, to be married. The event will take place the latter part of June.

_Miss A. Lavoy_, of the underwear department, leaves on the 1st of July for the coast, a change being absolutely necessary for her health.

_Mrs. K. Duncan_, our corsetiere, is leaving for Calgary to attend the "Gossard School of Instruction" which is being held in that city.

_Miss Ritchie_, of the transfer desk, has changed her name. Mr. Yuill, of H.B.C. wholesale department, is the cause of this drastic procedure. The whole store staff tenders them their most hearty congratulations.

_Miss Opal Jobe_, recently of the whitewear section, has been transferred to the drug department.

_Miss E. Rudder_, of the library, is once more back in her old place at the stationery counter.

_Mr. Saunders_, of the drug department, is a newcomer and we welcome him to our ranks.

_Miss Lillian Ritchie_, bride-to-be, was the recipient of a linen shower, given June 4th by her friends of the store, at the home of Miss Jennie Jones, Bonnie Doon.