Part 3

With the passing of the famous old firm of Nesbitt, the London fur market lost one of the best-known consignment houses in the world. This house was particularly happy in its connection with the American trade and enjoyed the confidence and respect of the best American firms. When the Nesbitt firm was forced to liquidate in order to save as much as possible for its clients, it was felt that the London market had lost one of its landmarks and was, to a certain extent, weakened in its uphill fight to regain its leadership in the fur trade.

By taking over the warehouses and offices of the Nesbitt Company and announcing its willingness to accept consignments of fur skins, the Hudson's Bay Company carries on where Nesbitt Ltd. left off. H.B.C. will now be in a position to hold its auctions on its own premises.

The London market will be made all the stronger by the entrance of the Company as a consignment house, as it will naturally follow that the class of goods consigned will have to be up to a fine standard and will only be accepted from reputable and first-class firms.

By taking the lead in the London market, by setting the standard for all the trade, both in goods and in business principles, by inducing the best firms to send their best goods to the London market, by eliminating speculative bidding and by having great financial strength and sound business methods back of it, the Hudson's Bay Company has once more proved its ability to come through all kinds of trials and tribulations with flying colors.

Impressions of the Store Managers' Conference

By F. F. HARKER

Being comparatively a newcomer with the Hudson's Bay Company, judging by the long records of service of other managers present, I felt deeply moved by the cordial spirit of comradeship shown me by my co-partners.

I was greatly impressed by the frank way we were received by the Canadian Advisory Committee.

The conference was a remarkable one in many ways. It created a precedent, insofar that it was the first time in the history of the Company that managers of the many H.B.C. stores were gathered together for consultation, advice and mutual benefit.

I feel that this conference will prove the forerunner of an era of singular prosperity to the Company and of increased efficiency throughout the Company's stores.

Humorous Extracts from Some Official Letters

Written in all seriousness and not in the least intended to be humorous

By C. C. SINCLAIR

In an official letter from an outpost manager the activities of the opposition were reported upon as follows:

"_The opposition ain't raisin' no 'ell._"

By which it was assumed that the outpost manager was holding his own.

"_Dear Brother and Fellow Superior:_

"_I have spent a lonely and dissolute_ (meaning desolate) _winter, owing to the loss of two good hunters and a beloved wife._"

* * * * *

"..._The canoes you sent up last fall arrived safely. Everything was in order with the exception of one or two destitute items in the displacement._"

* * * * *

"_I am very thankful for the increase of salary accorded to me by the Commissioner. Now that I have my new eyes_ (meaning glasses) _I am able to see better, and my new teeth help me to masticate my food better, which aids the "deegestion" and keeps me in better health so that I can do more work now. Now I think I am capable of taking charge of a much larger Post than the one I am at._"

* * * * *

"_I could not make my cash agree with the books, but it agrees now, because I made an entry 'To cast to cook the account, $60.00.'_"

* * * * *

"_I am sorry that I caused you so much worry last fall when I wrote you that I was at death's door and asking you to send my successor, as I expected soon to enter the pearly gates._

"_I am sorry to say I recovered soon after and the black suit I asked for to be buried in was not required. I had no mourning envelopes on hand, so I blackened the edges of an official envelope with ink, to advise you befittingly of my approaching demise._"

* * * * *

"_Hereafter I am to receive my instructions from Fort ----. I am sorry to leave you. We have differed sometimes about the orders issued from time to time, but I have endeavoured to carry out the instructions when I thought they were for the good of the post._"

* * * * *

"Some Reputation"

In looking over an old Hudson's Bay wharf with a view to repairs, the contractor remarked:

"Well! the piles are so badly eaten away, I'm hanged if I know what keeps the wharf up."

A bystander promptly replied:

"Nothing but the Company's reputation is keeping up that wharf, sir."

Suggestion Competition--Labrador District

In connection with awards made in the 250th Anniversary Suggestion Competition (Fur Trade department) it is to be noted that H.B.C. men in Hudson's Straits and Ungava (Labrador District) were without the opportunity of participating, owing to their extreme isolation in the far north.

First word of the competition was conveyed to these men by the Company's supply ship in August, 1920. With the landing of the supplies and preparation of the annual accounts, there was no opportunity for the men to write out their suggestions before the sailing of the supply ship on her homeward voyage. Since that time there has been no communication whatever with these posts.

It is regretted that owing to the short time between the receipt of the instructions regarding the competition and the date by which replies were to be in Winnipeg it was impossible for northern Labrador posts to participate.

FORT McMURRAY NEWS

_The H.B.C. motor tug_ "Nechemus," left McMurray for the north on May 12th, laden with horses and wagons together with the season's first shipment of freight for FitzGerald.

_The H.B.S.S. "Fort McMurray"_ sailed on May 13th on her second trip, bound for FitzGerald with a hundred and twenty tons of supplies for the northern posts. Passengers on the steamer included: J. G. M. Christie and wife, who are going to McPherson and back. Mr. Christie is a retired employee of the Company and is looking forward to renewing old acquaintances with H.B.C. men along the Mackenzie. Mrs. C. C. Sinclair, with Miss Sinclair, are going down to McPherson, and will join Mr. Sinclair, Manager of Athabasca-Mackenzie District.

Bishop Lucas, of the Anglican diocese of Mackenzie, was on his way to the land of the Midnight Sun. The bishop spent the winter in the old country, and is bound for his headquarters at Chipewyan.

H.B.C. Fur Trade Post on San Francisco Bay, 1824

_Company Did Not Own Million Acres of California Land, as Reported, but Had Two Fur Posts and Farms, Closed in 1832-49._

By C. H. FRENCH

_NOTE.--In a leading Western Canadian newspaper we read: "It is not commonly known that at one time the Hudson's Bay Company owned a million acres of land in California surrounding the present site of the City of San Francisco. The importance of the great harbour now known as the Golden Gate was not recognized and the area was sold for one dollar an acre."_

When in 1824, shortly after the amalgamation of H.B.C. with the Northwest Company, the fur brigades under Sir George Simpson swept to the verge of the Pacific, north, west and southwest, the flag of H.B.C. was carried far down the California coast. One new fur trading establishment was planted by the Company at the Golden Gate San Francisco Bay; another was erected at Umpqua, not many miles to the northward.

Up to 1820 the only fur post on the Pacific coast between Sitka, Alaska, and southern California was Fort George. This post had been first opened by Astor of New York, but was taken over by H.B.C. at the time of the amalgamation with the Nor'westers. Meanwhile it had been re-christened "Fort George" by Captain Black of H.M.S. "Raccoon" in 1813.

From Fort William at the head of the Great Lakes came Dr. John McLaughlin, James Douglas and John Work, ordered by the Company to Fort George to take charge of the newly created Western Department of the H.B.C. fur trade. Dr. McLaughlin was in charge, James Douglas was accountant and John Work was what might be termed an explorer.

Dr. McLaughlin was a versatile man, but leaned towards the development of farming and stockraising, while John Work's only interest was in fur trading.

In 1824 they arrived at Fort George and at once mapped out plans for development of their department.

It was decided to abandon Fort George because the farming possibilities of the neighbourhood were not so promising as those of the country further up the river. A new site was selected just below the Willamette River, and the construction of Fort Vancouver (Washington) was commenced.

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.