The Scarlet Force Collectors Newsletter, Winter 2011 Issue

THE SCARLET FORCE COLLECTORS (1873 to Present)

Founded by Robert Henderson, in December 1997, with the encouragement of
Bill MACKAY, then an RCMP Museum director
Wayne CLINE, of Marway Militaria Auctions
Brett HENDERSON - Collector
Tim POPP - Collector
The late Paul RATUSHNY - Collector
Lynn SPRING - Collector

Edited in England by:-

Windy Gale,
"Sandiville", 178, Hayes Lane,
Hayes, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EL
United Kingdom

Email ; Use "contact us" button above
Website address:
http://www.thesfc.mezoka.com

Please note the change of our website address as from September 1st 2010

A quarterly publication in a "Newsletter format," both on-line and by normal postal mail, for the collecting fraternity whose interests evolve around the memorabilia, artifacts, history and information relating to the ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE and their predecessors, including those Police forces incorporated into the R.C.M. Police. Normally published on March1st, June 1st, & September1st, December 1st. each year.

Annual Subscription fees;
A. On-line members anywhere in the world £5.00(Sterling), $10.00 Can. or $10.00 US, or its local equivalent.
or
B. Members requiring paper printed copies mailed to them anywhere in the world (except Europe):-£15(Sterling), or its nearest local equivalent.
or
C. Members requiring paper printed copies mailed to them within Europe:- £11.00(Sterling) or its local equivalent.

Prospective enquirers wishing to join should contact the Editor either by email or by normal mail and all enquiries about items within the Newsletter should be sent to the Editor for forwarding to the appropriate member. Scarlet Force Collectors Members, themselves, can get details of other members from the Membership lists published twice yearly. If you have items which you would like to add to our website or which you think we would be interested in then please contact the Editor as shown above for assistance.

ACTIVE FORCE SECTION

A slightly more formal picture of the new Commissioner

A NEW COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE FORCE, ENDING MONTHS OF SPECULATION; here is the announcement as presented by CBC News

LONG-TIME MOUNTIE CHOSEN AS NEXT RCMP COMMISSIONER
By Alison Crawford, CBC News

Bob Paulson, the RCMP's deputy commissioner for federal policing, will succeed William Elliott as commissioner, CBC News has learned. (Tara Brautigam/Canadian Press)

     Prime Minister Stephen Harper has gone back to the ranks of the Mounties and has chosen Bob Paulson as the next Commissioner of the RCMP, CBC News has learned.  The official announcement is expected Wednesday(Nov.23RD).  Currently working out of RCMP national headquarters in Ottawa, Paulson is the Deputy Commissioner heading up federal policing.

     Paulson, who served with the Canadian Forces and trained as a jet pilot before joining the RCMP 25 years ago, spent most of his policing career in British Columbia.  He led several high-profile murder and organized crime investigations and is widely regarded as an excellent major crimes investigator and biker gang expert.

     Paulson, 52, rounded out his career after his move to Ottawa in 2005.  He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner and oversaw national security criminal investigations, as well as contract and aboriginal policing. In November 2010, Paulson benefited from the disharmony in the upper echelons of the RCMP when Commissioner William Elliott turfed out Raf Souccar as Deputy Commissioner overseeing federal policing and hand-picked Paulson to take his place.

     Popular with frontline officers who see him as someone who respects and rewards hard work, Paulson is also considered to be someone who gets things done without getting mired in internal or external politics.  That quality was seen five years ago when Paulson, then a Chief Superintendent, investigated how former Deputy Commissioner Barbara George handled allegations about the RCMP's pension and insurance funds.

New RCMP commissioner(Obviously using an earlier photo -SFC Editor)

Paulson also has experience with the partisan atmosphere on Parliament Hill.  He has testified before several parliamentary committees, including one in 2008 that was investigating the then-foreign affairs minister Maxime Bernier's careless handling of sensitive documents.

     Those who know Paulson say he's self-confident and a somewhat gruff straight shooter who pulls no punches.  Sources say the government chose Paulson because he has a reputation for enhancing performance, shaking up units, doing more with less and motivating change.  Unlike other recent prime ministerial appointments that have drawn criticism for the chosen person's inability to speak French, Paulson is fully bilingual.

     The process to select a new commissioner has been long and drawn out.  Nine months have passed since Commissioner William Elliott announced his intention to step down and try something new.  As the first civilian to lead the force, Elliott was a controversial appointment from the outset. But it was his hot temper and confrontational management style that caused a group of senior Mounties to file complaints.  Initially, Elliott said he would move on by the summer.  However the selection panel, which included former Commissioner Bev Busson and retired senator and former Conservative solicitor general James Kelleher, did not start interviewing candidates until early October.  Elliott begins a new job with Interpol at the United Nations on Monday.

     Paulson will have his work cut out for him.  Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says one of the first things he plans to bring up with the new commissioner, are concerns about how the Mounties handle sexual harassment complaints.  Paulson will also have to oversee a growing rift over the possible unionization of the force, deal with calls for a more transparent and accountable internal disciplinary system, continue work on recruiting more women, aboriginal people and visible minorities to the RCMP and work on improving the Mounties' public image, especially in British Columbia, where there have been a number of high-profile cases of officer misconduct.

     Several observers also hope Paulson will continue what Elliott started in terms of applying public pressure on the government to set up a board of management or civilian oversight of the RCMP.

NEW RCMP SPECALIST BADGE
By S.F.C. Member Don Klancher

The RCMP recently approved a Specialist Badge for the URT (Underwater Recovery Team).
The following information was found on a RCMP web site.

      The team is voluntary, with each member having to serve their normal, every day policing duties at their detachments. Upon receiving a callout, the members will mobilize and travel to the dive site. Each member is a highly trained diver with specific training for police related dive types.
      In order to become a member of the URT, the diver must first possess an open water dive course from a certified agency and have attained a minimum of 25 hours of logged bottom time. The candidate can then become an understudy on the team, where they have to pass a pre-selection course that is physically demanding, testing the divers swimming and diving abilities. Once the candidate passes this course, they go on to the Underwater Recovery Team Induction Course, which is a three-week course designed to teach the member specific, police related diving techniques. The candidate can expect long hours, and lots of different types of dives. Typically, 18-20 divers from across the country are trained each year.
The badge, approximately 57 mm (2.25") in diameter, has the image of a diving helmet woven in perma-gold thread. As near as could be determined, was first issued in late June, or early July, 2011.

UNIQUE DETACHMENT COIN

Also submitted by Don Klancher

This unique coin was produced for Kamloops City Detachment in Kamloops, B.C.  Don was informed that only 200 of the sequentially-numbered, silver-coloured coins were produced by the Officer in Charge of the Detachment.

     The idea behind the program was that the Officer in Charge may present a coin to an individual who has made a noteworthy contribution with regards to the RCMP.

Needless to say, with such a limited production, this coin will be highly sought by collectors.

COLLECTORS SECTION

THE FORCE IS REPRESENTED YET AGAIN ON CANADIAN CURRENCY
With the kind permission of the author of the next two articles and with the help of CANADIAN COIN NEWS we are able to bring you news of a new RCMP related coin for your collection

CANADIAN COINS OFTEN GET THEIR MOUNTIES
RCMP has been featured on a number of issues over the past 40 years
By Bret Evans
     If Canada's coins are meant to portray Canadian symbols, it should come as no surprise that members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have had a prominent place on our commemorative coinage.  The modern RCMP was formed in 1920 by the merger of the Royal North West Mounted Police, formed in 1873, and the Dominion Police, founded in 1868.

     The Mounties enforce federal law throughout Canada. In many provinces and municipalities, including all three territories, the RCMP also serves as the sole police force.

     The Dominion Police was formed to protect the Parliament Buildings. Its role expanded to include such duties as guarding politicians, running a fingerprint bureau, and policing parts of Eastern Canada. At the time of merger, it had 969 members.

     The North West Mounted Police were formed to police the Northwest Territories, which then included most of Western Canada.  Although organized along the line of a cavalry regiment of the British army and permitted the military red uniform, it was called a police force to avoid antagonizing both natives and Americans.

     The initial force, commanded by Commissioner George Arthur French, was made up of 309 officers and men.  By the early 1900s, the force's mandate had been extended to include the North.  As the role continued to expand, the force amalgamated with the Newfoundland Rangers in 1949, although that province retained the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

     The RCMP was, on the basis of service in the First World War, given status as a regiment of dragoons by King George V.  As such it has the singular distinction of being a police force allowed to display battle honours.  Today the RCMP has more than 28,000 members.

MOUNTIES ON COINS
     Appearances on circulating coins have been scarce.  However, in 1973 a circulating 25-cent piece was issued to commemorate the centennial of the force.  Designed by Paul Cedarberg, the coin shows a member of the Musical Ride, mounted with a lance, on the reverse.  The inscription simply carries the dates 1873 and 1973.  The coin also saw a redesign of the Arnold Machin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.   A small number of the 135 million coins struck were done using the older portrait from the previous year, resulting in the famous "Large Bust" variety.

The same year saw a second commemorative coin for the RCMP centennial.  Also designed by Cedarberg, the cased silver dollar of that year shows a Mountie on horseback.  A total of 904,000 coins were minted on .500 silver. (lower right hand coin in the group of four shown below)

    In 1973, Toronto artist Stewart Sherwood created a $200 gold coin showing a Mountie and horse.  The .916 Fine coin had a mintage of 11,000. (upper right hand coin in the group of four)

     A silver dollar was struck in 1994 marking the 25th anniversary of the last dogsled patrol by the RCMP.  Designed by Ian D. Sparkes, a total of 68,000 Numismatic Brilliant Uncirculated (NBU) and 178,000 Proof coins were struck. (central coin in lower two)

     A Mountie on horseback appeared on a 1997-dated $50 gold bullion coin.  The 10-sided coin contains one ounce of .9999 silver.  In a never repeated move, the Royal Canadian Mint inscribed the coin with a guarantee that the Mint would pay $310 for the coin any time up to Jan. 1, 2000.  From then, the price was the same as the Gold Maple Leaf coin.  A total of 13,000 were produced.

     In 1998, another silver dollar was struck, this time for the 125th anniversary of the founding of the force.   Designed by Adeline Halvorsen, it was unveiled in Ottawa in January of that year.  In addition, the Mint commissioned a huge ice sculpture of the coin, which was on display in downtown Ottawa that winter.  The Mint struck 81,000 NBU and 131,000 Proof versions.(see page from SCF Newsletter Summer 1998 below)

    A coloured $75 gold 14 karat coin was issued in 2007 showing the Musical Ride, with the Mountie in the foreground in colour.  Designed by Cecily Monk, it was part of the Canadian culture subset of the Vancouver Games series.  The coin has a diameter of 27 millimetres and a weight of 12 grams.  The mintage was 8,000 coins.
(Upper left hand coin in the group of four)

     Finally, no mention of the RCMP would be complete without a nod to the 1969 series of banknotes.  The $50 of that series shows the dome formation from the Musical Ride.  The note was issued with several modifications until the series was replaced by the "Bird Backs" in 1986.

Also an earlier item that my attention was drawn to but up until not used, and depicts a female Member on a coin (SFC Ed.)

First 25 Cent Canadian Coins for January 1990

     Forgotten by most citizens and collectors in general is the fact that a female RCMP Member was included in the design.  Also featured was a totem pole, an aboriginal and a cowgirl.

     The pattern by Peter Ka-Kin Poon of Aylmer, Quebec, was selected as being one of 12  from a choice of 30,000 entries made by Canadians entering a competition.  The remaining designs were used for a once a month issue of commemorative quarters during the year.    The original intent was to strike 12 million of each coin design, produced from nickel.  Individual coins in silver were also produced in a display case.

Editorial reminder ; in our early years we carried this then current item with its illustration of the unveiling of the ice sculpture on p.14 of the Summer 1998 issue of the SFC Newsletter

HELP FROM AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE
     In the last issue I mentioned a sword that had been shown on e-bay but which I had been unable to download any pictures to show you.  Just after the issue had been published I received an email from an Ed Mason who had been a member some years ago but had since dropped out of our ranks.  But it would appear that he does look at the website and seeing my apology for being unable to show you a worthwhile illustration of the sword, he then sent me a complete set of photos.  For that I am very grateful and from the selection that he sent I have reproduced the one that I felt was most significant and to which I referred in the last issue.  I understand that it finally sold for a heck of a lot more than I could ever afford so perhaps it is a good thing that I did not get the "I wants"  this time.

So here is the engraved part of the sword with the initials of the NWMP and the crest above it.
Courtesy of Ed Mason.  Thank you Ed.

    I have also learnt from Ed that the initials engraved elsewhere on the sword were E.A. and that there is a chance that it might have been made for Sub-Inspector Edwin Allen who served with the NWMP from 1874 for four years before taking his discharge.  If this sword is his, then his main claim to fame is that he was on the Great March West and he accompanied Walsh when he first called on Sitting Bull.   He is also referred to in the book we previewed recently about Frontier Life in the Mounted Police -the story of Surgeon Richard, Barrington Nevitt.

A MARK OF MILITARY SPLENDOUR
Sam Browne solved his problem and created a symbol.
By Strome Galloway
(Certainly everyone who is serving or has served in the RCMP is familiar with that article of dress, the "Sam Browne."  How many hours have we spent polishing it to a sheen, only to have the polish crack when we buckled it on.  How many of us modified it with electroplated brass and with hooks similar to the style now in use to protect the polish, hoping the sergeant major wouldn't spot the alterations.  And how many of us idly speculated, while we polished and sweated away, where in the world the name "Sam Browne" came from.  Well, here is the answer. Ed.RCMP Quarterly)

     When an unknown native warrior slashed off a British officer's left arm during an Indian Mutiny skirmish, he created the condition that led to the invention of the most famous belt in the world - the Sam Browne.  The polished Sam Browne was a symbol of authority and a mark of military sartorial splendour for more than four generations of British, Dominion and colonial officers.

      Captain (acting major) Samuel Browne commanded the 2nd Punjab Cavalry during the Indian Mutiny, the revolt by the Bengal native army in 1857/58 that was crushed but led to the transference of the government of India from the East India Company to the Crown in 1858.  In those days, a sword was worn on slings and grasped in the left hand to keep it from dragging on the ground.  After losing his arm in hand-to-hand fighting at Seerporah in 1858, Capt. Browne found this impossible, so devised a leather harness to hold the sword in place and support its weight at his side.  And the Sam Browne belt was born.

     Introduced as field-service equipment about the time of the Boer War, the belt had two braces or cross straps to support the sword on the left and the revolver on the right, plus an ammunition pouch.  When no revolver was worn, the right shoulder brace was removed and the left brace brought across the chest to the right shoulder.  When the sword was not worn, the leather scabbard holder was usually removed and the belt became little more than an item of eye-catching dress.  The Sam Browne became the alpha and omega of success.  To the young subaltern it indicated that he was, perhaps, starting on the road to becoming a colonel or general.  To the W.O.1 it meant that, in most cases, he had reached the pinnacle of his career.

     Those W.O.1's in possession of a Sam Browne, particularly the regimental sergeant major (RSM) variety, would not tolerate belts without a shine like the countenance of God.

  "Mr. So-and-so," more than one RSM shouted to a second lieutenant, "what is your servant's name, sir'?  Your belt is a filthy sight, sir.  It makes you a disgrace to the regiment, sir.  And. I propose to put your servant on charge, sir, - for being bloody idle.  SIR!"
     When the First World War broke out in August, l914, officers proceeded to the front wearing their swords.  At Mons and First Ypres they went into battle brandishing their naked blades drawn from scabbards hanging from their Sam Brownes.  However, as trench warfare developed, the Sam Browne was replaced by the more practical webbing, and worn only by those not in contact with the enemy.  The shining brass had become an aiming mark for enemy snipers.

     The Sam Browne was nevertheless adopted by the French, Belgian and Italian armies in early 1916 when they abandoned their fancy 19th century uniforms and went into horizon blue, khaki and grey.  American officers crossed the Atlantic wearing a sort of Sam Browne in late 1917, although they did not wear swords.  The belts were for show only to ensure the Americans would not be outdone by their new-found allies.  They were even dubbed "liberty belts."  The German army never adopted the Sam Browne, nor any variant, but between wars, Hitler's "brown shirts" wore a sort of Sam Browne, as did "der Fuehrer."  Thus belted (and booted), they exuded authority.

     Canadian brass abolished the Sam Browne in September, l939, on the outbreak of the Second World War, but soon officers with the 1st Division began sending home for their cross straps.  There were two reasons.  British army officers were still belted grandly in the old style and German pilots parachuted on to English soil occasionally, making fear of spies and saboteurs the vogue and the threat of an invasion possible, so officers were ordered to carry a revolver.  The Sam Browne remained a military utility until the end of the war - at least in the minds of its wearers. The sword was then returned for barrack duty and ceremonial functions and the Sam Browne reverted to its original purpose - a neat and business-like way to wear a sword.

     Today, long since rendered useless by modern warfare, the Sam Browne has all but disappeared in North America as a military badge of honour.  Some of its descendants are worn by policemen and certain civilian functionaries such as commercially-fielded security guards.

     But the belt immortalized the name of Sam Browne.  The captain won the Victoria Cross the day he lost his left arm.  He served with distinction in later campaigns, rose in rank and was knighted to become General Sir Sam Browne.  He died on the Isle of Wight in 1901 at the age of 76, a revered soldier to whom a marble monument is dedicated in St. Paul's Cathedral, London. England.

Reprinted from the August 1977, issue of "The Legion" with the kind permission of the Editor.

Symbol for Law and Order. This carving is fittingly located beside the Hope Travel Information Centre & Museum, which previously housed the RCMP detachment office.  Carved by Pete Ryan in 1993, this statute is just one of many unique works of art on display throughout the community.  Hope receives recognition as one of the leading centres of Chain Saw Art in B.C. 

(Another post card bought when parked beside the statue in 1995.)

For all you collectors of RCMP figurines -I'll bet here's one you have not got in your collection cabinet!

This replica Mountie guards the entrance of the High Country Inn in Whitehorse, Yukon.  Perhaps Whitehorse Detachment have got so used to him that they forgot to tell us!

But then you may have something larger that we have not heard about. Perhaps you would be kind enough to let the Editor know, preferably with a picture!

How about taking, or sending, a photo of others that that are dotted around the country and kindly sending it to your editor for inclusion in the Newsletter.  I personally know of several that my wife and I saw when we visited Canada a few years ago.
Souvenir hunters eat your heart out!  You can't take it home.  "Put it back Dear, before someone notices it has gone!"

The next item was sent to me by an SFC Member who had stored it away safely for many years and thought it might be of interest to our present day readers.  Some of the terms used in the article would not be "politically correct". today but as it was written in 1937 it was perfectly correct then.  To change the terms used for the current p.c. equivalent might well lead to misrepresentation I so have left them as they were originally and changed nothing. I also wonder if the "witch doctor" was a posed photo of the time by a local actor dressed as a "witch doctor" too. Editor SFC.

The Leader Post, Regina, Wednesday December 8, 1937

MOUNTIES WHO GOT THEIR MEN
By James Montagnes

     TWICE beadwork champion of Canada is Supt. T. V. Sandys Wunsch of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  Last year he threaded 50,000 coloured beads into a prize-winning coat of arms of the Dominion.  Superintendent Wunsch knows a bit about "drawing beads" too.  He has broken the world's record for revolver shooting.  Many times has he been Canada's champion with the revolver.

     Patience and exactness netted Wunsch these championships.  Patience and exactness characterise his work as a Mountie.  His rise in rank from a raw recruit in 1911 to his present high rank, two steps from the top.  Those qualities sent him, but three years an Inspector, to solve one of the weirdest murders in Canada's crime annals.

     At remote Fort Liard at the top of British Columbia near the Yukon Territory, Inspector Wunsch and his two men arrived one day in July, 1924.  They had come by way of Vancouver to Wrangell, Alaska by steamer, had taken a river motor launch to navigate the Stikine River as far as Telegraph Creek; and from there had travelled by canoe and on foot, portaged over mountains and braved foaming waters with their supplies for a season, to make the lonely fur post at the headwaters of the Liard River.  They were the first police to hit that region for 26 years.  Not since the Yukon gold rush had a patrol been to Liard.

     Forty Indians were at the post.  Most of them had never seen a Mountie's red coat.  They had seen few white men: the Indian agent, the odd trapper and prospector, the fur post manager.  It took too long to reach that region.  The Mounties had come the quickest way and it had taken them more than a month to make the 1200·mile trip.

     Wunsch states in his official report that the Indians "were annoyed" at the Mountie patrol.  In fact they showed their anger by taking shots at Wunsch and his men on several occasions during the first few days of their stay at the post.  One Indian went so far as to come into their quarters in the fur post.  Revolving slowly on one foot in front of each rifle in the rack, he solemnly touched each gun in turn.  Then he announced. "Your guns are "witched". They cannot shoot now."

     Wunsch called the tribe together that evening.  He told them how Little Jimmy, the Indian, had "witched" their rifles.  Then he asked for the best shots among the Indians to see if they could hit a rock 800 yards out in the river.  One after the other the Indians tried.  None hit it.  Wunsch had seen that their old type guns were not intended for a range of half a mile.  Then he took the "witched" rifles, took careful aim, and hit that rock in the river with each shot.  His two constables did likewise.  Wunsch's "witchcraft" won.

     And then he began to ask questions.  All the information that had come to Vancouver had been that an l8-year-old boy, Atol, had been left to die on the ice two winters before.  That word had come down by way of a trader who had relayed it to the Indian agent.  The agent told the Provincial Police.  They in turn took the case to the Mounties charged with looking after Indian cases.  The boy had died in March, l923.

     The fur post manager at Liard told Wunsch that Indian Big Alec had come to him with the story.  Big Alec denied it, said he was misunderstood.  One after the other the Indians refused to answer questions, or denied any knowledge of the whereabouts of Atol.
     The first clue came from a young girl, Lucy Loot.  That was 11 days after Wunsch`s arrival at Liard.  Falteringly she told how she had found Atol tied up stark naked on the ice in the severe March weather.  His knees had been drawn up under his chin, tied together.  His arms had been tied behind his back.  She had found him at Thirty-Mile Bar, that many miles from the post.  Lucy had untied the boy, had dragged him over to the river bank, had made a fire, had tried to revive him.  She had gone to her half-sister Edie and asked for help to save the boy's life.  Edie told her that she had tied Atol up six days before and left him on the ice because he was the witch who had caused their father's death.  Lucy's three brothers had also told her to leave the boy alone.  But she went back to the woods, where she had left Atol to thaw out by the fire.  Six days exposure was too much.  Atol died that night.  But Lucy did not know where he had been buried.  She thought in a hole in the ground, or through a hole in the ice.

     While Lucy told her tale, her brothers and half-sister skipped camp.  Wunsch followed.  With his two constables and a white trapper, whom he took as a guide and witness should they find Atol's body, Wunsch gave chase.  By canoe they travelled the treacherous Liard River, portaged each sandbar, watched for traces of the Indians.  They must have gone up the river, argued Wunsch.  They must have hit for the scene of their crime.

     At Twenty Mile Bar he found the three brothers.  They were at a loss to explain why they had left camp.  Edie and her husband had hit the woods.  One constable went after Edie.  He followed the meagre trail and found the girl and her husband a few days later. He left them at Twenty Mile Bar, while he went on to tell Wunsch he had located his quarry.

     Meanwhile Wunsch had not been idle.  With Lucy Loot's tale evidently correct he followed the river to Thirty Mile Bar.  Here she had found Atol on the ice.  Wunsch, Constable Martin and the trapper, searched every bush along the river bank, and a good piece of ground on both sides of the river.  Wunsch kept up the search, at last found a spot where wolves had been digging in the river bank, as if after food.  Now he started to dig too.

     He came across two boards.  Next he found a crude wooden cross.  And by now he knew he must be on the right trail, for somewhere in that river bank hole, a body was buried.  He called Martin and the trapper.  Together they hauled out the body of a man in an advanced state of decomposition.  He had been buried with his knees drawn up under his chin, his arms behind his back.  There were no ropes tied about his ankles or arms but traces of them were visible.  They had found Atol.

And to make the fact doubly sure, one of the Loot boys with another Indian came up to Thirty Mile Bar that afternoon.  He was excited.  When he saw what they had found he shouted, "Who tell you Atol buried here?"

     Wunsch and his party buried Atol once more, then started back to Liard.  At Twenty-Mile Bar they picked up the other two Loot brothers and found Constable Neville waiting to tell Wunsch he had picked up Edie.  On the way back to Liard they picked up Edie and her husband.

     At Liard Inspector Wunsch found an interpreter.  He had Constable Neville arrest the three Loot boys and sister Edie.  Then Wunsch himself turned magistrate.  In those remote areas the Mountie has many positions, and the Loots came up for trial.  They all told the same story.  Their old father had been sick, had died.  Indian Big Alec had told them Atol had "witched" their father and had caused him to die. 

  Said Jimmy Loot before Magistrate Wunsch:  "Big Alec tell me three times tie Atol.  He say Atol witch.  Kill my father:  Bad for Big Alec too.  Big Alec say good thing if Atol dead.  My sister Edie tell me she tie Atol because Big Alec tell her tie him for witch.  I see Big Alec kill four his own dogs, two pups and two big dogs.  Every night he kill one.  He put string round dog's neck.  He tell me he dream witch, kill dog because he feel sick.  Then feel better so kill dog.  He say Atol witch.  Burn him when dead."

     And so Constable Neville arrested Big Alec, brought him before the policeman·magistrate.  Wunsch committed him for trial along with the Loots.  Then turning policeman again he set out with his men and their five prisoners for civilization.

     By canoe and portage they made their way through the mountainous country.  At the first trading post, Wunsch heard exaggerated reports.  He heard witchcraft was so rife in the region that the Indians were sure that Atol had talked to him when he found the boy's body in the river bank.  Also he learned that some prospectors who had passed through Liard during the preliminary trials reported fighting between the Indians and the Mounties.  With the reputation of the Force in mind, Wunsch left his two men to bring the prisoners the 75 miles to Telegraph Creek by easy stages.  He, himself, spared no time and made a record canoe trip from the post to Telegraph Creek, to forestall exaggerated reports reaching Ottawa.

     That done, he back-tracked to help his men bring in the prisoners, and led his party by motor launch and river steamer to Wrangell, Alaska, took the steamer there for Prince Rupert, where a judge sat in trial on the five Indians.  Big Alex for instigating the murder, was sentenced to five years imprisonment.  Edie Loot, who actually carried out the murder, received 10 years suspended sentence, and Justice McDonald, who tried the case, advised the Canadian Minister of Justice that Inspector Wunsch had made possible a fair and impartial trial.  There have been no witchcraft cases in north British Columbia since.

     Wunsch learned to know northern British Columbia.  He had done such a good job that for the next six years his patrols were made in that region, to teach the natives, the white trappers and the few prospectors, that the Mounties were there for their protection and help. 

THE LOST PATROL
1911 -Fifty years later -1961
The epic story of the MacPherson-Dawson Police Patrol is one of courage, hardship and devotion to duty.
      The Second and Final part (the first part of this account was carried in the previous issue, Vol. 15 Issue 3Autumn/Fall 2011).  This is taken from the RCMP Veterans annual magazine, "Scarlet and Gold" of 1961 to whom we would like to express our gratitude for its use and to thank the original author for doing such an important job by recording it for posterity in such detail.  This is the remainder of Cpl. Dempster's report:

The following is a copy of my diary:
February 28-  Left at 1 p.m., arrived at Twelve Mile at 5:30 p.m.; weather warm, trail good.
March 1-  Left Twelve Mile roadhouse at 8 a.m., arrived at Power House at 3:30 p.m., and loaded toboggans ready for early morning start.  Ex-Const. Turner froze both feet on March 2; 15 below, warm in the afternoon. Left Power House 8 a.m.; from here to Tombstone the river was badly flooded.  We all got wet and stopped at 10:30 a.m. to change our footwear as our moccasins were frozen stiff.  In p.m. we encountered little water, lower glacier was dry, and for a little over a mile the ice was like glass; it was a slight upgrade and we could make very little headway as the dogs could hardly stand up on the ice.  We had great difficulty in getting over it, and had to cut footholds in the ice with an axe.  It was here that Turner froze his feet, and the frost bite caused him considerable trouble for some ten days, as it caused him a great deal of pain.
March 3-  Left camp at 7:45; was troubled with very little water to-day, trails very good.  The big glacier was very slippery and we had the same difficulty as yesterday.  Camped in the last timber on the Twelve Mile at 4:30 p.m.
March 4-  Zero, light snow fall, cold wind on the Blackstone, cleared up in p.m.  Left camp at 7:30 a.m.  The glacier in the Pass was dry; this was about a mile long and a steep upgrade.  We had considerable difficulty in getting up, and this was also the case on the two glaciers on the Blackstone, very hard on both men and dogs, could not get footing and we lost a lot of time.  Made lunch at Michel's cabin, and camped in the willows, about four miles above Blackstone cache, at 6:15 p.m.  Very little snow along here; moss and grass showing up all along.
March 5--  10 below, windy and snowing.  Started at 7:40 a.m.; lost about an hour getting up the hill, had to cut and shovel out snow and then double up dog teams.  It was a hard pull going over the hills to Christmas cache, where we arrived at 12:25 p.m.  Made dinner and started up Christmas creek at 1 p.m., and made Michel summit at 4 p.m.; trail drifted and very heavy and hard to find. Made first timber on Michel creek, and camped about five miles down creek at 7 p.m.; trail down this creek very bad, drifted full of snow, head of creek very narrow and the snow blows in off the hills.  Men and dogs very tired to-night; the wind was blowing a gale down the creek; no dry wood here.
March 6-  Zero.  Strong wind all last night and this morning.  Trail down to the big glacier very bad, had to walk alongside the toboggans to keep them on trail, snow was crusted and very heavy walking.  It was the same on all the portages.  About 3:30 we got into water about a foot deep, and we all got wet, moccasins frozen and we could not wear snowshoes, so we camped at 4:15 p.m.
March 7--  15 below, strong wind and snow.  Started 7:45a.m.: Trails fairly good, making good time for about an hour and a half, when we struck a lot of water which delayed us for about two hours. Got the sleds in about 18 inches deep.  Stopped for lunch at 11:35, and changed footwear.  Got over divide between Michel creek and Little Hart River, and camped in Martin's cabin on the Big Hart at 4:35 p.m.  Gale blowing from north, snow drifting badly, trail over divide full and very heavy.

March 8--  62 below, cold, clear.  Started 7:45 a.m. trail for greater part of the way to Canyon and Wolf creek was very heavy and sometimes we could not find it.  Between the glaciers also it was very heavy.  On the first glacier above the canyon we got into water about a foot deep, and lost about half an hour.  Camped about 4:30 p.m., on the upper end of the second glacier.

March 9--  50 below, cold, thick fog on glacier.  Started at 8 a.m., encountered water on glacier.  Made upper canyon portage at 9 a.m. and from there to upper glacier trail very heavy.  Upper end of this glacier badly flooded, and we had to circle round a great deal to avoid the water.  Across the divide from Wolf to Forrest creek the trail was full and very heavy.  We have now come to the end of old trail.  Camped at 5:20 p.m. about two miles from the glacier on Forrest creek.
March 10-  15 below, windy in p.m.  Started 7:45 a.m., heavy breaking trail down Forrest creek most of the way, made Little Wind at 2:15 p.m., was good going to the portage which we made at 3:15 p.m.  Breaking trail across portage very heavy, camped 4:45 p.m., at lower end of the portage.
This is the last camping place for some distance.  Gale blowing up river to-night.
March 11-  35 below, strong wind, foggy.  Started at 7:40 a.m.; encountered little water on upper end of glacier.  During the afternoon we had a great deal of trouble with water.  Ice flooded all over, and had frozen but not strong enough to carry sled.  Lost a lot of time, had to go through water several times.  Gale blowing up river all morning and it was bitterly cold.  Camped at 4.30p.m.
March 12--  42 below, cold, foggy.  Started at 7:40 a.m., pulling over bars part of time, and part of time good going.  Struck an old trail about 9:30 a.m., probably the trail of the Fitzgerald's party.  We could find it only in places; was doubtful whether it was police trail or an Indian trail.  It was impossible to follow it as it was flooded over, but we could pick it up on the bars towards the mouth of the river.  Made the Big Wind at 2:05 p.m.  Stewart and myself went up the Big Wind for some distance crossing and re-crossing the river from bank to bank trying to find traces of a trail, but without success.  Came back and proceeded down the river.  Came across trail again and followed it back until we lost it in a flooded part, and then followed it down and lost it again.  At 4:45 p.m. we pulled across river to some timber to camp and found one of their old camps for which we had been looking all day.
March 13--  45 below, clear, thick fog over open water.  Started at 7:40 a.m.  Picked up an old trail in places, but was not able to follow it.  It went around the river instead of going over portage.  Going in places was good, but a great deal of it was over crusted snow which was bad for the dogs' feet.  Passed another of Fitzgerald's night camps about four miles distant from the other one.  Camped at 5:30 p.m., about seven miles below Deception.
March 14--  30 below, cloudy, light, snow.  Left at 7:45 a.m.  Had a little very good going, but mostly very heavy.  Picked up trail a few times, but were unable to follow it until we got to the lower end of the river this afternoon, when we were able to follow it fairly well.  We passed three of the Fitzgerald's night camps; they are not more than five miles apart.  The number of his night camps in so short a distance indicates, I think, that he had returned north.  Crusted snow very bad on dogs' feet and we are unable to make good time.
March 15--  15 below, clear in a.m., cloudy and warm in p.m.  Started at 7:25 a.m.  Trail very heavy all day.  Saw part of an old trail at the mouth of the Big Wind which is hard, and we could distinguish an old snowshoe track which was headed down the river.  Trail lead to mouth of Mountain creek instead of taking portage.  It is about three miles further to go around than to take portage.  Camped about four miles up creek at 5:20 p.m.
March 16--  Zero, cloudy; started at 7:45 a.m., reached the cabin at 9 a.m.  In it I found cached a toboggan, wrapper and seven sets of dog harness which I have no doubt were cached here by Fitzgerald's party on their return trip to MacPherson.  In cabin also we found the paws of a dog cut off at the knee joint, also a shoulder blade which had been cooked and the flesh evidently eaten.  In a corner there was also a little dried whitefish.  The trail all the way up the creek was very heavy, weather warm, snow soft.  Camped at 4 p.m. at the foot of the Big Hill.  Dogs too tired to go to-night.  I went to top of hill after making camp to break trail and make it easier.  All the way up the creek the trail was drifted full.
March 17--  5 above, cloudy, windy on hill.  Started at 7:45 a.m.: reached top of first hill at 9 a.m.  Made Caribou Born river at 4 p.m.: trail to-day was full and very heavy.  Camped at 5:20 about 3 miles up the north fork of the river.
March 18--  12 above, cloudy; started at 7:40 a.m.  Trail up the Caribou very heavy, river very crooked and heads  nor-nor' west.  Went up to near a large lake and turned to right and started over divide; there is no big hill.  Leaving Caribou river we travelled nor'east by nor' the greater part of the time, then kept a little more to north.  Had great difficulty in finding trail.  This section of country new to all of us.  It has been up and down hill all afternoon.  The country covered with small spruce.  Made Trail river at 5:45 p.m., and camped at 6:30 p.m.  Hard day; dogs and men very tired.  Think route we followed today much longer than going over the mountain. . .
March 19--  15 below, cloudy; snowing all afternoon.  Started at 7:40 a.m.  Trail down Trail river very heavy; camped at 5:15 p.m.; about 5 miles from Peel river.
March 20--  13 below, clear; started 7:40 a.m.; trail heavy most of the day.  Made Colin's cabin and camped at 6:15 p.m.  Found two packages in cabin, one apparently mail and other containing dispatch bag marked R.N.W.M.P.  Evidently cached here by Insp. Fitzgerald to lighten up his load.
March 21--  25 below, cloudy a.m., clear in p.m.  Reached portage at 10 a.m., at 11:45 a.m. found tent, tent poles, and stove alongside trail in the middle of a lake.  Reached Peel river again at 2:15 p.m.  At 3 p.m. about two or three miles below portage found a toboggan and two sets of dog harness.  All ground lashings had been cut off.  Trail led into bush and on following it we found bodies of two of Fitzgerald's party, one, that of Constable Kinney, whom I knew, and the other I concluded to be that of Constable Taylor.  The latter had evidently committed suicide by shooting the top of his head off.  Evidently starved to death.  Found camp kettle half full of moose -hide cut in small pieces which had been boiled for a stew.  Camped at 5:45 p.m.  Covered bodies before we left them to proceed on our journey.
March 22--  23 below, cloudy, cold, raw wind from nor'-west.  Started at 7:25 a.m.  At 8:30 I found an indistinct trail leading to the bank.  While feeling for trail at the foot of bank, found a pair of snowshoes.  Climbed bank, which was a high cut bank, and on going into the bush a little way found bodies of Inspector Fitzgerald and ex-Constable S. Carter.  Latter had evidently died first, as he had been laid out, hands crossed over breast and face covered with handkerchief.  He was lying on his back.  Inspector Fitzgerald was lying on his back on the spot where there had formerly been a fire.  Body partially covered by two half blankets.  A blunt axe with a broken handle was lying near; there had been a good deal of tramping around as though getting firewood.  Covered bodies with brush and proceeded on our way and arrived at MacPherson at 6 p.m., and notified Corporal Somers and Constable Blake of the fatalities.
March 27-  Getting out supplies for return trip; loaded toboggans for early start.  Assisted Corporal Somers preparing coffins and bodies for burial.
March 28--  Funeral of Inspector Fitzgerald, Constables Kinney and Taylor and ex-Constable Carter at 3 p.m.
March 29-  Corporal Somers making out reports, etc., and did not get ready for me to pull out until about 3 p.m., and as it was very stormy we did not start to-day.
March 30-  Left at 7:30 a.m., for return to Dawson.  Camped about five miles below portage at 5 p.m.  An old Indian came along and stayed for the night.
March 31--  10 below, fine, clear, south wind.  Started 7:10 a.m.  Found an old toboggan, wrapper, and old set of canvas dog harness in an old Indian encampment on seven miles portage.  Think these had been left by Indians.  Camp was a short distance off the trail, and about eight or nine miles south of where we found Constables Kinney and Taylor.  In the afternoon we found another place where Inspector Fitzgerald had camped, about five miles from Colin's cabin, and about seven miles from the other one.  There was nothing here but one set of dog harness.  There had been plenty of wood cut and there was quite a lot left over.  Camped at Colin's cabin at 4 p.m.
April 1--  15 below, clear, fine.  Started at 7:10 a.m.  Camped at 4:30 p.m., about seven miles up Trail river.  I searched every place that looked like a camp but found nothing.
April 2--  17 below, clear and fine, windy at times.  Started 7:10 a.m.; trail rather heavy.  Camped at 4:45 p.m., over the first hill on the portage from Trail to Caribou river.
April 3--  21 above, gale blowing, snow from southwest.  Started at 7:15a.m.  Had to face a snowstorm all morning.  Trail filled up and very hard to find; snow beating into eyes made them very sore.  Made Caribou River at 11:40a.m.  In the afternoon snow was wet, trail filled up, sleds dragged very heavy, making slow going.  One of my dogs bitten in the leg and was unable to work him today.  Camped at 5:45 p.m.
April 4--  17 above, blowing and snowing, very hot and wet.  Left at 7:15 a.m.; trail heavy and hard to follow, going very slow all day; it has been very disagreeable all day.  Made Mountain creek, and camped at 6 p.m.
April 5--  10 above, snowing a.m.; fine p.m.  Started 7:20 a.m.; trail heavy going slow.  Deep water on the glacier.  Camped at 5:20 p.m. on Peel river.  Turner and myself troubled with sore eyes, possibly caused by blinding snowstorm we had to face coming over the mountain.
April 6--  12 below, clear, fine. Started at 7:30 a.m.  Could not find old trail up Peel.  Camped at 5 p.m.  Have to repair snowshoes every night.
April 7--  12 above.  Cloudy, fine.  Left at 7:30 a.m., heavy trail all day, a great deal of time breaking trail, could not find old trail; a lot of snow has fallen since we passed this way.  Fyfe and Stewart fell through ice several times; river very treacherous.  About five miles below Deception it is split up into several channels and they are all open; had to turn back and take a big rounding to get by.  Tried to make the Hungry creek but could not do it; camped at 5:40 p.m.
April 8--  13 below, fine.  Left at 7:30 p.m.; trail heavy, lots of water; broke trail across portage as river was open around.  Camped at 5:30 p.m.
April 9--  2 below, light north wind, misty.  Left at 7:15 a.m.: going today better than it has been for some time.  Camped at 5:40 p.m.
April 10--  31 below, strong south wind.  Left 7:20 a.m.; met party of Indians; camped 5:40 p.m., about five miles up Forrest creek.
April 11--  40 below, fine day.  Left 7:20 a.m.; trail heavy up Forrest creek and over divide.  Camped at 6:20 p.m.
April 12--  22 below, cloudy.  Left 7:20 a.m.; fairly good going.  Camped on Michel creek at 6 p.m.  Made several portages to avoid water.
April 13--  12 below, cloudy, snowing in p.m.  Left at 7:30a.m.; heavy trail.  Camped at 7 p.m., in willows at cache of Christmas creek.  No wood here, and did not get supper until 10 p.m.
April 14--  12 below, thick mist, snowing all day.  Left at 8:15 a.m.  Had no trail over to Blackstone. Found letter from Waugh and party informing me they had gone other way.  Made Michel's cabin at 4 p.m., and camped for night.
April 15--  10 below, fine a.m., snow in p.m.  Started at 6:10 a.m. and made an effort to reach Power House, but going too heavy; very hot in afternoon.  Camped at 5:30 p.m.
April 16--  Very warm all day.  Left camp at 5:20 a.m.  Made Power House at 9 a.m.  Tried to get Dawson office of Yukon Gold Company to report to officer commanding my arrival, but was unable to get any one.  I left word with the man in charge for him to report if he could get any one on the telephone, and proceeded to Twelve Mile roadhouse, where we arrived at 7 p.m.

April 17-  Left Twelve Mile roadhouse at 6:40 a.m., and met team, and arrived in Dawson about 10:30 a.m., the balance of the patrol arriving at about 1:20 p.m.

GENERAL REMARKS
   I omitted to remark that at Colin's cabin where I discovered the dispatch bag and mail, we also found a lot of dog bones, showing they had eaten dogs at this place.

   I also omitted to state that Inspector Fitzgerald had evidently hung a snowshoe up on a limb as a sign, for early in March a party of Indians passed this place and seeing the snowshoe took it off the limb, and I do not know what became of it.  They thought the snowshoe had been left there by Corporal Somers, who had been there in the winter making a cache of fish.

     The bodies of Constables Kinney and Taylor were found on the left limit of the Peel River, about 35 miles from MacPherson.  The bodies of Inspector Fitzgerald and ex-Constable Carter were found on the right limit of the Peel River about 25 miles from MacPherson.

     In conclusion, I wish to draw your attention to the splendid manner in which Constable Fyfe, ex-Constable Turner and Indian Stewart performed their work.  I have been over this patrol several times, but I think this trip was the hardest I ever made, and certainly it was the most disagreeable. The men worked with a will, and gave me every possible assistance.

I have the honour to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
(sg.) W. J. D. DEMPSTER, Corpl.
Reg. No. 3193, in charge of Relief Patrol."

The following extracts have been taken from various reports and letters concerning the tragic patrol:
To the Commissioner from Supt. G. E. Sanders, O.C.
"N" Division:
"It would appear that Inspector Fitzgerald was the last to succumb, and that he and Carter would probably have made MacPherson had they not heroically stood by their stricken and weaker companions.
  The indescribable sufferings which this unfortunate party must have undergone in their desperate effort to return to their starting point, is terrible to contemplate.
  The pathetic attention evidently paid by Inspector Fitzgerald to his dead companions was in keeping with his brave and manly character."

To the Commissioner from Cpl. J. Somers, in charge of Fort MacPherson Detachment:
"On Constable Taylor was found a small beadwork fire-bag, containing $32 in cash.
  Constable Kinney had no other effects but the watch.  His feet were swollen to almost twice their natural size, and the big toe of the right foot was badly peeled to the raw flesh.
  The bodies of all four were in a terribly emaciated condition.  The lower ribs and hips showing very prominently.  The stomach of each had fallen inwards.
  The flesh of all was very much discoloured and of a reddish-black colour, and a thin skin seemed to have been peeling off.
  All the outer clothing was very badly torn and much scorched by fire, the socks, duffles, mitts and moccasins being in the same condition.
  There is no doubt in my mind that with the exception of Constable Taylor, they had died from starvation and extreme cold."
"The following is a list of rations and dog feed taken by the party :-

     To Lt. Col. Fred White, C.M.G., Comptroller R.N.W.M.Police, Ottawa, Ontario, from A. Bowen Perry, Commissioner:
"The first entry in the diary is on December 21, 1910, and the last is on February 5, 1911.

The entry of January 17 reads as follows:

"Twenty-three below.  Fine in a.m., with strong S.W. wind which turned to a gale in the evening.  Did not break camp; sent Carter and Kinney off at 7 a.m. to follow a river going south by a little east; they returned at 3:30 p.m. and reported that it ran right up in the mountains, and Carter said that it was not the right river.  I left at 8 a.m., and followed a river running south, but could not see any cuttings on it. Carter is completely lost and does not know one river from another.  We have now only ten pounds of flour, and eight pounds of bacon and some dried fish.  My last hope is gone, and the only thing I can do is to return and kill some of the dogs to feed the others and ourselves, unless we can meet some Indians.  We have now been a week looking for a river to take us over the divide, but there are dozens of rivers and I am at loss.  I should not have taken Carter's word that he knew the way from the Little Wind River.

            "The entries in the diary are not very full, but some are very suggestive of the hardships that they were undergoing; the trail was exceptionally heavy and they were breaking through ice, getting wet, and the cold was intense.

  On January 24, it says: "killed another dog; and all hands made a good meal of dog meat."
  On January 26 -"The going was very heavy in deep snow and the hands and dogs getting weak."
  January 30 -"All hands feeling sick, supposed to be from eating dogs' livers."
  January 3l -"Skin peeling off our faces and bodies and parts of our bodies and lips all swollen and split.  I suppose this is caused by feeding on dog meat; everybody feeling the cold very much for want of proper food."
  February l -"Killed another dog tonight.  This makes eight dogs we have killed, and we have eaten most of them and fed dried fish to the dogs."
  February 3- "Men and dogs very thin and weak and cannot travel far.  We have travelled about 200 miles on dog meat, and have still about 100 miles to go, but I think we will make it all right, but will have only three or four dogs left."
'February 5· - (The last entry). "Just after noon I broke through the ice, and had to make fire; found one foot slightly frozen.  Killed another dog to-night; have only five dogs now, and can only go a few miles a day.  Everybody breaking out on the body and skin peeling off."

     Corporal Dempster's reports show that the unfortunate men had wasted to shadows.  All were strong, powerful men, and in the best of health and condition when they left on their ill-fated journey.  That they have lost their lives is greatly to be deplored. It is the greatest tragedy which has occurred in this Force during its existence of thirty-seven years."

     "Their loss has been felt most keenly by every member of the Force, but we cannot but feel a thrill of pride at the endeavour they made to carry out their duty, and their gallant struggle for their lives."

A DOUBLE ENCOUNTER
By ex-Sgt. Wm. Hill, Reg. No. 6058

     In the fall of 1930 I was stationed at the Macklin Detachment in Saskatchewan.  Early one morning a phone call came from a farmer living some seven miles east, reporting that the school teacher had been molested during the night and that the suspect was last seen heading south towards Primate.  The school was situated on the south side of the road about seven miles east and the farmer lived about 300 yards further east.  The teacher, Miss Campbell, with a younger sister, occupied a small cabin several yards from the school.

     Late in the evening there was a rap at the door and the caller indicated that he was a friend.  Miss Campbell was somewhat sceptical and instead of opening the door peered through a window and saw a strange man.  After awhile the man went away but returned about two hours later and tried to force entry into the cabin.  Failing in this attempt, he secured a large piece of firewood and smashed the windows, hoping to get in that way.  Both Miss Campbell and her sister threw pepper in the man's face, which blinded him temporarily.  They tried to use the telephone but found that it was not working and suspected that the wires had been cut.  Another two hours had passed when they again heard the man moving about, this time on the roof, where he tried to block the smoke stack and force them outside.  His efforts in this also failed because of the broken windows which allowed ventilation. 

     At daybreak the farmer was about tending his cattle and the suspect had evidently abandoned his efforts and was seen heading south.  The girls told the farmer what had happened during the night, and promptly reported to the Detachment.

     With a good description of the man, I headed for Primate, aware that a train was due to pass through there very shortly, I arrived just in time to make the arrest as the man had just purchased a ticket for Moose Jaw.  He was very small in stature, in fact below average, used several aliases and had a lengthy criminal record.  He admitted his guilt and was boastful of his unusual behaviour, proving that he was a pervert and a dangerous person to be at large.  He appeared before the Police Magistrate, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering with intent to commit an offence, and was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary at Prince Albert.

     Some four years after this incident I was stationed at Radisson Detachment.  It was the winter of 1936, very cold with plenty of snow.  Hired teams were very difficult to engage unless arrangements had been made well in advance.  About 1:30 on a January morning I received a phone call from a woman who appeared to be in a highly nervous state, saying that a man had threatened to shoot her husband.  Because of bad weather conditions the phone connections were not very clear.  However, I managed to get enough information to enable me to locate the farm in question.  I promptly contacted Tom Tapley, who owned a team and cutter, and we started out for my destination twelve miles northeast of Radisson.

    We headed north six miles until we came to a school house, then turned east.  We had passed the school only a short distance when I noticed a man walking towards us.  We stopped and asked the way to the Rhine's place, but he did not know.  On questioning him as to who he was and where he was going at that time of night, he failed to give a satisfactory account of his presence in the area.
I suspected that he had something to do with our call, so took him into custody.

     While questioning him further he suddenly said: "You're Mr. Hill; you remember me from Macklin?" I immediately recognized him as the man who had molested the school teacher in that town.  I knew directly that he was the man I was looking for and asked him what had happened.

     His story was that the government was paying $5.00 to any farmer who would take in an unemployed man for the winter months.  Since he was in this category he was sent out to the farm of Joe Briant.  The family were very religious and the hired man attended their meetings regularly during the two months he was with them.  They had two children, ages four and six years.

     A week before this latest incident, a .22 rifle belonging to the farmer was missing.  The hired man was never suspected, and his quarters were upstairs, away from the rest of the family.  On this particular Saturday the farmer had gone to town to dispose of a load of wheat.  While he was absent, the hired man entered the kitchen and told the woman that he had had a peculiar dream during the night, in which he was to rub his arms with burnt paper and the mystery would be revealed.  He proceeded with the performance, and in doing so exposed the words "I love you".  The woman received quite a shock and for a few moments was at a loss what to think, aware that her husband would be gone for sometime.  However, she soon recovered her composure and decided to humour him, praying that her husband would soon return.  Presently he arrived and the woman told him what had transpired during his absence.  They decided they would try and get rid of the hired man at the first opportunity.

     Later that night, when the household had retired, the hired man came downstairs and laid something on a table.  He called to the man of the house to get up and read what he had placed on the table.   n a large piece of cardboard was written: "I am giving you ten minutes to get out, I am going to climb in with your wife, remember I have the gun."  The front door was securely fastened for the winter and the only way out was through the kitchen where the hired man was sitting holding the rifle. Both the man and woman dressed quietly, forced open the front door and ran to their nearest neighbour to phone the police.

     When I reached the Rhine's farmhouse with the suspect, we returned with the Briants to their home.  The children were sleeping and had not been disturbed.  I took the piece of cardboard as evidence.  The rifle could not be located; the suspect had thrown it in the deep snow just before I had picked him up near the school house.  It was later found - loaded, but had not been fired for sometime.

      The accused confessed that the lettering on his arm was done with a piece of soap and that when it was rubbed over with burnt paper the printing showed up.  He pleaded guilty to both charges, theft of a rifle and threatening to shoot.  His sentence was three years on each charge in the penitentiary at Prince Albert.  His real name was Nick Buckon, and his career of crime started in Ontario, where he had been convicted of smuggling Chinese into the United States.

The above account appeared in the RCMPVA magazine Scarlet and Gold in its 52nd Edition in 1970
to whom I should like to express my thanks for its use here.

DI-VERSIFICATION CORNER

SCARLET AND GOLD
By Alan R. Schwab, November 28th. 1972

In Victoria's reign from Britain came,
To tame this land so bleak and cruel,
British troops of famous name,
To mete out just and kindly rule.

No small and easy duty then
'Twixt Pioneer and Indian strife,
But a task for bold, courageous men
By serving law and saving life.

So, in those wild and savage days
Maintaining law and peace,
That Force was soon to earn men's praise,
The North-West Mounted Police.

Oh! Land of Maple Leaf and Clover;
Oh! Gold and Scarlet, Royal Blue,
For honour famed the whole world over,
Our Nation's fond salute to you!

CURRENT WANTS

Our former editor and founding member, Rob Henderson is trying to locate a copy of the 30th Edition of Scarlet and Gold for 1948.  He has been to Depot and their copy at the Heritage Centre is, not surprisingly, still bound together so he cannot scan or photograph the article called "Death by Hanging, - the story of murder in the Medicine Hat Prisoner of War Camp" by S.T. Woods properly without getting poor areas near the crease at the binding edges of the pages.  So if anyone out there has a copy they would be willing to part with or loan to Rob please get in touch with him at his home address or by email to homefront@sasktel.net or via the Editor if in doubt.

TAIL PIECE

SOMETHING SURPRISING THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE OLD BRITISH BOBBY.
Met. History (taken from the Oct/Nov issue of "THE JOB", the Met's own newspaper),
BOBBIES WEREN'T ALWAYS UNARMED
Officers used to carry swords and cutlasses, although using them carried repercussions.

     London's police are famous the world over for not carrying guns, but that doesn't mean that they've never been armed.  For more than half the Met's history, officers carried cutlasses and swords.

     Back in 1829, the Met swords had a 33-inch sweeping blade.  By design they were an extremely effective slashing sabre, as used by British Light Dragoons and Hussars in the Battle of Waterloo.  These were first distributed to the Bow Street Horse Patrol and later adopted across the burgeoning police service.  They were used until 1868 when a new sword was designed; it was the same weapon that was carried by the Light Cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo.

     There is very little record of officers inflicting injuries with their weapons, not least because they would probably be sacked if they did.  Unbeknown to most criminals, it was also normal for the blades to be kept blunt.

    The Met swords were for use in pubic order situations where (constables) were at such a distance from each other to preclude a ready mutual support by springing the "rattle", (rattles were used before whistles were introduced in 1865).

     According to Police Orders from 12 January 1832: "The police constable will be given to understand distinctly that the sword is put into his hand merely as a defensive weapon in case his life should be in danger and if he shall use, or even draw it for any less weighty cause, he shall be called to strict account and probably dismissed."

    But it wasn't just because there was a calmer attitude to blades in those days.  London was a dangerous place 170 years ago.  According to a report about "H" Division in 1840: "There were plague spots where herded together the vilest and lowest of the criminal fraternity, men, women and children could be found.  The police did their best, but there were places where, if an officer dared to walk alone, he carried his life in his hands and where double patrols were the merest precaution.  Far into the night pandemonium reigned.  Street fights in which belts, knives and bludgeons were used were no uncommon occurrence.  Time and time again police were assaulted."

     In 1885 the Met started to cut back on the number of cutlasses used -4,713 were scrapped and 728 were left out on Division.  Swords were last used operationally in 1910 and were officially withdrawn from use for most ranks in 1928.  Some senior officers can still get them for ceremonial purposes.  If you'd like to see them, they're on display at the Met. Historical Collection at ESB.
By Neil Paterson, manager of the Met Historical Collection.

(A quick explanation of terms used in the above article for our Canadian readers -"Officers" refers to "police officers" not just commissioned ranks,- all policemen are referred to as "police officers", regardless of rank.  Similarly in England all policemen, whatever their rank, hold the "office of Constable."

  "H" Division was and still is the Division which takes in the East End of London which in those days consisted largely of the docks and poorest working classes including a large "immigrant population".

"The Bow Street Horse Patrol" was a very early attempt to provide constables in an otherwise lawless environment and was centred around the Bow Street Magistrates Court area of Central London.

"ESB" is the Empress State Building at Earls Court in West London where a lot of the "office work and administration of the Met. is now based to relieve the pressure on New Scotland Yard and other office buildings in Central London which cost enormous sums annually to rent.)

This issue of the Newsletter has been purposely kept a little short because the Membership Lists have to be added to the preceding pages for the members requiring their Newsletters by post, as opposed to on-line. To make this issue any larger would undoubtedly push it well over into the next price range for shipping in different parts of the world.

So may I take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to our  Members and readers, from the
Editor of the Scarlet Force Collectors Newsletter, and thank you for your continued support.