by Debra Komar
“made an attempt to rise”: Captain Cole, deposition before James Douglas, May 7, 1843.
“to prevent his rising”: Kakepé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842.
“as if determined”: Okaia, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842.
“upon it with his whole force”: Captain Cole, deposition before James Douglas, May 7, 1843.
174 “Urbain had no gun”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.
“seized the deceased’s rifle”: Charles Belanger, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1842, E13/1, folio 194, HBCA.
“broke the rifle”: Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1843. In an earlier deposition, Cole claimed that Heroux had picked up McLoughlin’s gun and tried to strike him in the head with it but hit the railing instead, breaking the stock (Captain Cole, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842).
“the door of the men’s house”: Kakepé, deposition before Sir George Simpson, April 27, 1842, E13/1, folio 69-81, HBCA.
“a noise as if a musket”: George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.
“saw Mr. John’s rifle”: Ibid.
175 “Was his rifle loaded”: See, for example, George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.
“heard it was”: Louis Leclaire, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.
“When he first came out”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum from August 26, 1842.
Chapter Twelve: The Judas Goat
177 “attempted to use a dirk” and “prevented by snatching”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before George Blenkinsop and Sir George Simpson, June 26, 1842.
“because I told the other Kanakas”: Joe Lamb, deposition before Donald Manson, July 26, 1843, E13/1, folio 196, HBCA.
178 “Fleury began soon afterwards”: Kakepé, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843. Powkow concurred: “Fleury who was very drunk beating his wife severely” (Powkow, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843).
“been a very wasteful expenditure”: John McLoughlin Sr., letter to the Governor and Committee, September 1, 1843, E13/1, folio 131-133, HBCA.
“Deliver the following goods”: List of goods given to Fleury’s wife by John McLoughlin, 1842, E13/1, folio 198, HBCA.
“If their [sic] is no Blue Regatta”: Ibid.
179 “goods given to Fleury’s wife”: Ibid.
“habits”: Attributed to Finlayson, cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 165.
“an extremely proper young man”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 165.
“The only thing”: Roderick Finlayson, letter to John McKenzie, May 1843, B.134/c/55, folio 348-351, HBCA.
“the deceased’s attachment to women”: Ibid.
“in having sexual relations”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 165.
“troubled me”: Finlayson’s letter to John McKenzie, May 1843.
“Mr. McLoughlin, tho’ he was my master”: Ibid.
“the deceased’s good Conduct”: Ibid.
180 “All hands in the Fort”: Ibid.
“the general opinion”: Ibid.
“appetite for women”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 166.
“allegations surfaced”: Ibid., 165. Such allegations were not restricted to the Heroux household. Pierre Kannaquassé said, “Lasserte was excited against Mr. John on account of a suspected intrigue which he carried on with his wife” (Kannaquassé’s narrative).
“met Mr. John near the door”: Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843.
“On seeing me”: Ibid.
181 “wife or Antoine’s wife”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“I think Urbain’s hatred”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“put him with the men”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.
182 “The reason he gave”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843.
“Can any man Blame my son”: McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.
“men were not hung in Canada”: Joe Lamb, deposition before James Douglas, May 19, 1843.
“that we had nothing to fear”: Ibid.
183 “as the life of the people”: Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843.
“that Mr. John’s Father”: Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843.
“was never punished”: Ibid.
“that he thought”: Ibid.
McPherson launches second phase of his scheme: Thomas McPherson, second deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.
“prepare the paper”: Ibid.
“it was a good paper”:: Nahua, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843.
“the paper contained”: Joe Lamb, deposition before James Douglas, May 19, 1843.
“merely to please him”: Anahi, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843.
“[I] cannot read”: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
184 “kill McL”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.
“Mr. McLoughlin then took”: Ibid.
McPherson reinstated: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“McPherson destroyed the petition”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843.
“room in the night”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843. Although this specific quote referred to a similar instance with Charles Dodd, McPherson was describing a pattern of behaviour he began with McLoughlin.
Between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m.: Benoni Fleury, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843.
“Every Canadian and Iroquois”: John McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, April 12, 1843, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51.
“told Sir George”: Ibid.
“did it of my own accord”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
185 “highly unusual”: George Heron, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, E13/1, folio 206-209, HBCA.
“[He had] never gave us rum”: William Lasserte, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“There was a light”: Ibid.
“The porch was dark”: Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843.
“the men would drink”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“gave Heroux any rum”: Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843.
McPherson enacts his plan: Had McPherson actually wanted to save McLoughlin that night, he could have. “Smith saw Heroux Load his Gun to kill the deceased and that he (Smith) never told the deceased of it” (McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844). Smith did tell McPherson to warn McLoughlin to stay in his room, but McPherson did not relay the warning (Thomas McPherson, second deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842).
“who carried a lantern”: Powkow, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843; corroborated by Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843.
186 “to fire two blank shots”: Oliver Martineau, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843, E13/1, folio 240-241, HBCA. That Martineau had two guns loaded with blanks suggests some degree of premeditation.
“I saw Heroux”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843.
McPherson continues to break into the chief trader’s room: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
McPherson’s possible forgery: Although handwriting samples are available for both McLoughlin and McPherson, a handwriting analysis of this note is not possible as the document contained in the HBC archive is a copy, handwritten by another man and included in the packet of depositions sent by Simpson to McLoughlin Sr.
187 “If ever men deserved”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 168, citing Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xli, who in turn was citing Archibald Barclay’s letter to Simpson, with original emphasis.
“Thomas McPherson…I firmly believe”: George Simpson, letter to Deputy Governor and the Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company, January 5, 1843.
Thursday, April 21, 1842 — Midday
189 LeClaire makes the coffin: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842 — entry for April 22, 1842.
“My friends, pray do not”: Charles Belanger, deposition before James Douglas, May 2, 1843.
“McPherson gave the men”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 182
The weather on April 23: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, entry for April 23, 1842.
“The men were employed” and “the corpse was carried”: Ibid.
“the salute of a gun”: Ibid.
“the men drank another dram”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.
McLoughlin’s wife returns to her village: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter.
190 “five black bear skins” and “Several canoes arrived”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, entry for April 23, 1842.
Chapter Thirteen: Endgames
191 “divine Service” and “on the rising ground”: Entry S2, of Harriet Duncan Munnick, Catholic Church Records of the Pacific Northwest, vol. I & II: Vancouver (1838-1856) and Stellamaris Mission (1848-1860) (St. Paul, OR: French Prairie Press, 1972), 25; see also Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 193, and Bryn Thomas and Linda Freidenburg, A Review of Data Pertaining to Cemeteries, Human Remains, Burials and Grave Markers Associated with Fort Vancouver and Vancouver Barracks, Clark County, Washington, Short Report 543, Archeological and Historical Services, Eastern Washington University, January 1997 (revised August 17, 1998).
Paul Fraser was a trader at the McLeod Lake outpost from 1845 to 1848 (see “McLeod Lake Post, 1845-1848,” M-1530, Hudson’s Bay Company Posts fonds, Glenbow Museum). Despite repeated searches, I could find no biographical data to show any familial relationship between Paul Fraser and Dr. Simon Fraser. However, his presence at McLoughlin Jr.’s funeral suggests some familial tie.
“Stikine remained open”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 180-81.
“beavered out”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 14.
“the posts were not remunerative”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 7.
192 “a very fine” and “quite a Mechanical Genius”: Simpson’s Character Book, 225.
“from constant Desk Work” and “a rising man”: Ibid.
“a wretched place”: Cited in Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 112.
“shot himself”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 42.
“indulged in a torrid affair”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 256.
McLoughlin Sr. blames Simpson for everything: McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to the Governor and Committee, November 10, 1844, cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 171.
“collapsed under the strain”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 181.
“glass-covered coffin”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 257 (footnote).
“Sir George Simpson’s visit”: McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to Governor Pelly, July 12, 1846, cited in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, 171.
193 “he would no longer”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 181.
“I found women & children”: McLoughlin Sr., quoted in Thornton, “Oregon History,” 6.
“Dr. McLoughlin furnished”: Thornton, “Oregon History,” 6.
“generous treatment”: Ibid., 8.
“to destroy” and “every effort be made”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 351.
194 “overawing the natives” and “a travelling circus”: Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 292.
“rebuked him sharply”: Thornton, “Oregon History,” 6.
“Gentlemen, I have served”: Ibid.
“threw up his commission”: Ibid., 7. McLoughlin did not share his turmoil with his adult children. As his daughter Eloisa later recalled: “Towards the last something happened, I do not know what; I could not learn what it was. [Simpson] was against my father in something and my father was very angry about it. It was just about the time my father left; he got angry and left the company.…I know it was something my father was angry about that he left the company for the time” (Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 24).
“I have Drunk”: Cited in Raffan, Emperor of the North, 349.
195 Simpson wanted McLoughlin Sr. to pay outstanding debt: Thornton, “Oregon History,” 6-8.
McLoughlin Sr. never paid the debt: Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 149.
“a very generous pension”: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 445 (endnote).
“his word was no longer law”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 50.
“fairly crushed”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 39.
“caused American citizens”: Attributed to Dr. McLoughlin, cited in Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 296.
“saved all I could”: Ibid.
“Father of Oregon” and “a continuous protest”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 50. Newman called him “Oregon Country’s king” (Caesars of the Wilderness, 305).
“I might better”: Cited in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, lxii.
“prized most”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 318.
Knights of St. Gregory the Great: McLoughlin’s knighthood was the lowest of the four classes in the civil order. Fellow recipients include Walter Annenberg, creator of TV Guide, and actor Ricardo Montalban, star of the 70s TV drama Fantasy Island.
196 “at the breast”: From the Apostolic brief, reproduced in the appendix of Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 319.
“in a sort of agony”: Attributed to the “Chronicles of St. Mary’s Academy in Portland” and cited in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 52.
“wilderness administrator” and “a diplomat”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 157.
“harassing service”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 117.
“into theatrical productions”: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 163.
“swath of absolute power”: Ibid.
“a very valuable piece”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 383.
197 “well knowing”: Ibid., 387.
“pontifical sternness”: Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 154.
“determination of blood”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 101.
“my old complaint”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, no date, B.135/c/2 folio 57, HBCA.
“affections of the lungs”: George Simpson, letter to Donald Ross, December 20, 1831, B.C.M. 432, Ross Correspondence Collection, British Columbia Archives.
“fagged Night & Day”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, August 1830, B.135/c/2, folio 73, HBCA.
“arm bared up”: William Todd, letter to George Simpson, 1849, D.5/25, folio 390d, HBCA.
Duncan Finlayson and wife ordered to care for Simpson: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 366.
“enforced intimacy with”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 127.
198 Details of Frances Simpson’s death: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 377.
“Our old Chief”: Edward Ermatinger, letter to James Hargrave, November 8, 1853, cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 189.
“some suspected”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 189.
Canadians thought the land was theirs: Ibid., 192.
199 “I do not think”: From an exchange between Simpson and parliamentary committee chair Henry Labouchere, cited in Douglas MacKay, The Honourable Company: A History of the Hudson’s Bay Company, rev. ed., ed. Alice MacKay (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1949), 246.
“quite disgusted”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, cited in Williams, Hudson’s
Bay Miscellany, 160.
“wretched expedition”: Lord Selkirk, letter to George Bryce, January 20, 1882, MG 14 C15, Bryce Papers, Archives of Manitoba.
“deficient in sound judgement” and “his nerves”: Ibid. Galbraith defended Simpson’s poor showing, saying Simpson had grown accustomed to the deference of politicians and had never before encountered such openly hostile opposition to his ideas (Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 197).
“’Tis high time”: See Simpson’s Character Book, 188, for example.
“I have never been”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 203.
200 “for the Indian Country”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 351.
“dash, vivacity and song”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 204.
“a social triumph”: Ibid., 209.
Simpson delusions: Ibid., 206; see also Newman, Empire of the Bay, 166.
201 Simpson issues bonus cheques: The tale of Simpson’s bonus cheques and the legal debate surrounding his state of mind is detailed in the Montreal Superior Court case file The Rev. John Flanagan, Plaintiff vs Duncan Finlayson et al., Defendants, which is discussed in the American Journal of Insanity 19, no. 3 (January 1863): 249-316.
“a fellow whom nothing will kill”: Cited in Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness, 220.
Tertiary syphilis theory: Frits Pannekoek, “The historiography of the Red River Settlement 1830-1868,” Prairie Forum 6, no. 1 (1981): 75.
“the Caughnawaga Indians”: George Simpson’s obituary, Evening Pilot [Montreal], September 12, 1860.
“The Little Emperor’s light”: Cited in Galbraith, “The little emperor,” in The Beaver 40, no. 3 (1960): 28.
“his own friends will admit”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 388.
Canada purchases Rupert’s Land: Newman, Empire of the Bay, 169.
202 “as if drawn by a dead horse”: Cited in ibid., 16.
Additional Sources
Beattie, Judith Hudson, and Helen M. Bass, eds. Undelivered Letters to Hudson’s Bay Company Men in the Northwest Coast of America, 1830-1857. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2003.
Fogdall, Alberta Brooks. Royal Family of the Columbia: Dr. John McLoughlin and His Family. Portland, OR: Binford and Mat Publishers, 1982.
