Chapter 30

SOME COLORED PIONEERS.

Here is an interesting little story to early residents of over fifty years ago that may be recalled for their edification. It would be interesting to present residents to know that in 1858 Victoria had a larger colored population than she has to-day, although with now three times the population. This is how it happened, and thereon hangs the tale:

Before the rush to the Fraser River gold diggings and in California there was an act passed through the Legislature of that state making it compulsory for all colored men to wear a distinctive badge. This called forth indignation from all the colored residents of California, and resulted in a meeting being held in San Francisco, delegates from all parts coming. At this meeting, after the matter had been fully discussed, it was decided to send a delegation of three, representing the colored residents of California, to Victoria to interview Governor Douglas, to know how they would be received in this colony. The delegation, consisting of Mifflin W. Gibbs,--Moses, a barber, and another, met Governor Douglas and received such encouragement that they returned and reported favorably. The result of this was that eight hundred colored persons--men, women and children--emigrated to Victoria during 1858 and 1859.

What induced me to write this matter up was the resurrecting of a newspaper cutting, evidently from the Victoria _Gazette_, for which I am indebted to Mr. Newbury, collector of customs, and which is given verbatim:

[Portrait: Samual Booth.]

"Application for Citizenship.

"We have copied the names and occupations of the persons who have made application to be admitted to the rights of British subjects within the past few days, and give them below. They foot up fifty-four in number--fifty-three are colored and one white.

"_Victoria Town._

"George Henry Anderson, farmer. William Isaacs, farmer. Fielding Spotts, cooper. James Samson, teamster. Richard Stokes, carrier. John Thomas Dunlop, carman. Nathan Pointer, merchant. Augustus Christopher, porter. Isaac Gohiggin, teamster. William Alex. Scott, barber. Mifflin Wister Gibbs, merchant. William Miller, saloon-keeper. George H. Matthews, merchant. Robert Abernethy, baker. Henry Perpero, gardener. Thomas Palmer Freeman, storekeeper. Stephen Anderson, miner. Edward A. Booth, water carrier. William Grant, teamster. Henry Holly Brenen, cook. Samuel John Booth, caulker. Joshua B. Handy, restaurant-keeper. William Brown, merchant. Timothy Roberts, teamster. *William Copperman, Indian trader. Matthew Fred. Monet, fruiterer. John Baldwin, greengrocer. Stephen Whitley, laundryman. Charles H. Thorp, ship carpenter. George Washington Hobbs, teamster. Willis Carroll Bond, contractor. Elison Dowdy, painter. Archer Fox, barber. Robert H. Williamson, blacksmith. Randel Caesar, barber. Fortune Richard, ship carpenter. T. Devine Mathews, carrier. Robert Tilghman, barber. Charles Humphrey Scott, grocer. Thomas H. Jackson, drayman. Ashbury Buhler, tailor. Archer Lee, porter. John Lewis, porter. Thorenton Washington, carpenter. Lewis Scott, carpenter. William Glasco, teamster. John Dandridge, no occupation. Adolphus C. Richards, plasterer. Fielding Smithers, messenger. John E. Edwards, hair dresser. Paris Carter, grocer. Augustus Travers, porter.

[*] Footnote: White.

_"Victoria District._

"Richard Jackson, gardener. Patrick Jerome Addison, farmer."

The names will be familiar to many of our old-timers, but, strange to say, of this list only seven families are represented to-day: That of F. Spotts, farmer; Nathan Pointer, M. W. Gibbs, William Grant, Samuel J. Booth, Paris Carter and Gus Travers.

As they were promised equal rights with the whites by Governor Douglas, they proceeded to claim these rights in various ways, which was resisted by the American residents, who formed a large majority of the residents of Victoria then. It has been told by Mr. Higgins of the colored people who had reserved seats in the dress circle of the theatre, and of the indignation of the Americans who had seats next to them; several colored men went into Joe Lovett's saloon and called for drink. Joe Lovett refused to serve them. The colored men brought the matter before Judge Pemberton, who decided that Lovett was in the wrong, and must serve them; but that he might charge them $2.50 a drink if he wished. An American and his family occupied a pew in Victoria District Church, and one hot Sunday the sexton showed a colored man into the pew. The American left the church and wrote a very indignant letter to the _Gazette_ on the insult offered to the American people by such a proceeding. This called for a reply from the Rev. Mr. Cridge in defence of his sexton. Also Mr. Gibbs wrote a very caustic letter, in which he handled the gentleman without gloves. This Mr. Gibbs, after leaving Victoria, rose to a high position in the United States, having been appointed minister to Hayti. He kept a grocery here on lower Yates Street in connection with Peter Lester. Many of these colored people returned to the United States after the Civil War was ended. The fire department was modelled after the San Francisco department, and was composed principally of Americans. On the formation of the hook and ladder company several colored men sent in their names for membership. All were black-balled. As they saw by this that there was a dead-set made against them, they then decided to form a volunteer military company. In this they were encouraged by the Hudson's Bay Company, who lent them muskets. This move on the part of the Hudson's Bay Company was supposed to have been made on the promise of the support of the colored military in case they were required to maintain order.

On the installation of Governor Kennedy, later on, this volunteer company stated they were going as a guard of honor. This, I believe, was discouraged by the press, but they put in an appearance with a band of music. In reply to an address, Governor Kennedy advised them to disband, as they were illegally organized, there being no authority for their organization. This was a great disappointment to them, as they had been to the expense of uniforms and band and drill hall; in addition to which they had been drilling for months, and now all for nothing. But there was nothing for it under these circumstances but to comply, and so the colored military were disbanded. They were succeeded by a company of white volunteers, who wore white blanket uniforms trimmed with blue. They used to drill on Church Hill in the evenings, and were a great attraction. This was the beginning of the volunteer rifle movement, which was eventually merged into the Canadian militia. I was one of the riflemen so merged.