The BC Adventure 28

4 July, 1922

c/o Campbell's Store

Quesnel Dam,

Nr Williams Lake BC

My own Lovey Darling.

It being now Monday I am writing again for the mail tomorrow. As a matter of fact I expect you will get this the same time as my last, as I hear Seary is still at the Dam, being unable to get a car to go to Ashcroft. So he will be going tomorrow by the same train as this – no, I'm wrong because this won't leave the Forks till Thurs and he will probably find it quicker to go by Ashcroft even now. The
situation is unchanged, except that now there is a rumour that Platt has sold – I think only a rumour as his own party (including Seary) know nothing of it.

The general opinion is that the injunction will be squashed in a few days in which case we can resume work.

We went fishing one day but caught nothing. It appears we were in the wrong part of the Lake, as a lot of fish have been caught in Quesnel Lake. Last night one of the men camped near here got a cow moose weighing about 400 lbs about a mile from here. There is some of it stewing now & it looks jolly good. It comes in very handy just when we are off work – keeps the grub bill down a bit! The mosquitoes have been very attentive lately. We each have a sort of hood erected over our heads at night, made of cheese cloth. They say that in a few weeks they diminish considerably, which will be “bon” for your coming up – if we get started again.

I thought Una must be going to enlarge her family but as no one said anything I thought I must be mistaken.

I don't want you to go lady-helping in any event as I'm sure you'd do too much.

Had a bath in a hole we'd mined out last night, being the Sabbath, but the water was distinctly chillsome.

I'm sorry if I put too many cushions in the boxes. I thought we'd got room for them & packaged the things tight to the best of my apparently meager ability. Pity your dog Buggins isn't here – he'd
enjoy the moose bones. I believe the fare for a dog is somewhere about $1.50 to $2.00. I asked a man who brought a dog up from Vancouver. Whiteywigs must be getting quite grown up! Haven't seen a single cat up in this region. Glad you saw Godfrey as I had him on my mind for a letter & now I can put him off the map.

Now I'll think of what I can tell you in advance if all goes well & you elect to come up. The real staff work comes in getting you from Williams Lake to the Dam comfortable. If I came the 75 miles to meet you from the Dam it would cost another $24 and meals. I could arrange by going to the phone at the Forks for a man to meet the train & bring you straight through to the Dam. The days are long now & even if as with us the train was very late (about 12.30 midday instead of 9 a.m.) you could get through in daylight. It takes about 7 hours, stopping 1 hour for a meal. Then you cross the river (Quesnel River) by ferry at the dam (only about 100 yards) but I would met you the far side of the river. From Vancouver end, the boats leave Union Wharf – not far from the CRR Wharf on Tues &
Friday at 9 a.m. And take you to Squamish where a lorry takes you to the PGE train. Luggage should be checked for Williams Lake at the Union Wharf – except any thing quite light.

On getting to Squamish rail head, if you inquire for a restaurant, a short way from the station (so called) you will find a woman running a nice clean place in a tent. We had some light grub there. You want to take a good tin of sandwich & a thermos. Occasionally the train stops for a meal, which is rough but satisfying & this should be taken advantage of, but the intervals are a bit long. You can get a little book of the words at the office at Squamish Station with a bit of a map & the stopping places marked. There is no sleeper, & we put a portion of luggage in between 2 seats turned to face each other & bagged a spare seat and put on top to bring the 3 seats on one level. Beastly uncomfortable for you, poor old darling 'cuz you're so smooth & soft and feel hardnesses more than coves like us. Take a loose cushion with you. It takes from 9 a.m. Union Wharf till normally 9 a.m. the following day to reach Williams Lake, but as I say they are often late.

The interval represents a snack of lunch, consisting of moose liver & a bit of bacon. Damn good too. Eric favoured it considerably more than bear meat. It is raining now- gently the first inch just after we arrived. I mentioned in another letter that I should be glad if you could bring (if all goes well) some boots. Those old one's gone a bit at the toe that I got up at Alice Arm would do well if they are
getatable, but don't worry much about them as I'll have to get some gum boots I expect & that will save the pair I have in use (officers' ordinance ones). I've had to make shorts of one pair of overalls after mending at knee twice (squatting over a pan) sampling, is trying for 'em) So I've only the chocolate dyed ones to my name. I've not worn them yet but am working in shorts. If any white ones are handy, I could wear them without any dying. My Norfolk jacket (to come back in) & one or two shirts would set me up. But don't go searching turning all the boxes inside out if things don't come to hand. I'd much rather manage as I am, which I could well do by buying a pair of overalls later on if the chocolate ones give out.

The best thing for you would be breeches or overalls to wear when you get in here. Groceries are really rather dear here but it isn't too easy to arrange for forwarding from Williams Lake. If time allowed it would be a good thing to inquire at Williams Lake from the various horse outfits how much a pound they would arrange to bring through stores. The store at the Dam pays on contract 2 1/2 cts but at 5 cts a pound we could save quite a lot. We could then have any consignment addressed c/o the carrier at William lake and arrange for some dumping place at the dam which is about 7 miles from here. For instance, flour at the store is about $11 a hundred. Still, I'm not very certain of Vancouver prices, so don't worry much about it. I'll write you as soon as ever I know whether we are going to be able to go on working here. I anticipate knowing by next Thurs. at any rate, unless there is more behind this injunction business than meets the eye.

Yesterday, on Sat. Eric and I went down to the leads in which we (the padre & I ) have an interest, but I don't think much of their possibilities. I shall go down again tomorrow & spend the day
there digging and panning. I do so want you my darling & if we work on here I think you'd find it novel & interesting, if roughish. One sees an odd woman or two now and again – coming up mostly out of curiously to look at the Discovery Claim. We are camped about 50 yards from Platt's original discovery hole, which is now being worked by a bunch of trappers who got it through a mistake of
Platt's in stake. They have as a matter of fact sold it this last week – where worked – the Channel (sort of tiny creek bed really) is very rich indeed – but I doubt the values when once you get out
of the channels. Probably carry good enough values for Hydrating though.

Will finish this before tomorrow's mail darling

Monday night – just taking this over to the Cabin as a man is going to the Dam early in the morning.

All my dearest love old girl.

for Always your adoring Mark.

PS love to all at Vesuvius and J and C