NARRATIVES OF SASKATOON

1882-1912

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direction to explore, while Messrs. Lake and Grant went north (3). The exact location of Clarke's Crossing in township and range having been ascertained, it was decided to be too far north and not central for the Company's lands, notwithstanding the ferry's activity at that point, so that recommendation of the southern explorers was finally examined and selected as the central location, and camp was opened there for such time as was deemed necessary. Mr. Hamilton and Robert selected their locations and began work, building a house (which still stands, 1003 in which they lived till late in the year, when they went to Prince Albert until spring. Mr, Eby went to Prince Albert after locating, and returned in the ensuing year, and has lived continuously here ever since. He was joined by his family later on in 1883, and all have remained identified with the settlement for the greater part of the time since (4). Mrs. Eby died in 1901. Mr. Hamilton died in 1885, and Robert now (1903~ lives in Winnipeg together with the mother and brothers who had joined them here in 1883. They were all inclined towards scientific and professional callings, and left the struggling settlement in 1889. Of those officially mentioned, Messrs. Livingston, Tur- ver, S. W. Hill and 0. M. Rose have gone to their reward. The rest still survive. The opening of 1883 was to the Company and agents one of anxiety and speculation as to the results of the settlement venture. The commi~ sion had selected a name, after Saskatoon. berries, which seemed oppr~ priate and attractive, and Saskatoon was launched on the world, a place to (3) Mr. John N. Lake was Commissioner and head of the expedition. and was charged to select the 2,000,000 acres and fix the town site in their midst. Mr. S. W. Hill was a farmer sent out to advise him. Their course can he followed in Lake's diary presented to the University by his heirs, They arrived at "The Telegraph Crossing," the Clark's Crossing of that day on the hank of the South Saskatchewan hard by the present Ciarkboro, on July 28th, whence they both went south to Moose Woods, On the way back they camped "on the river" on Aug. 1st. Mr. Lake's statement on page 16 is that they "camped on the hill over the river thinking then It was a fine spot for a town." As they had not been able to talk to White Cap, the Sioux chief at Moose Woods, for lack of an interpreter, Lake returned from Clark's Crossing with a half-breed, Sayer by name, who knew the language. He thus got the Information he wanted. According to a statement by Lake he was told that the land was good, and so determined to take the 2,000,000 acres north of Moose Woods. According to a second statement White Cap assured him that this was the only point on the river where the banks were low on both sides. The reference is to the region about Idylwyld. A com- manding position on the hill and an easy crossing for a bridge seem to have been the determining factors in the choice of this spot for the town site, Hill and Blake, the surveyors, were sent back from the Crossing to make a detailed exploration, while Lake went north to Prince Albert and Canton, according to his diary, "to get information about timber, soils, crops, capa- bilities of the country, frosts and seasons." The entry of August 18 runs: "Whilst I was away at Prince Albert Hill and Blake made full examination of Moose Woods and surroundings." On the 19th Hill was sick and was sent home via Prince Albert and thence by steamer down the Saskatchewan to Winnipeg. The entry runs on: "Broke camp ,at 7 a.m. and all the rest started for 10 base. Grant and I without any dinner, Camped at 2 p.m, Mlnnetonka,is the name of our camping place, the finest we have ever had. Sec. 29, Twp. 36, R. 5 (Aug.) 20. Preached at 11 a.m. to 10 persons, 4 of whom came 3 miles on foot. Text: Heb. 11-12, 13. Good time, feel very sick." This would be the Sunday on which the Saskatoon berries were brought to Lake's tent which led to the name Saskatoon displacing the proposed Minnetonka. In a statement prepared for the Historical Asso- ciation in 1923, Mr. Lake says: "While lying in my tent one Sunday after- noon, one of the chain bearers brought me a handful of beautiful red berries, I asked him the name (for they looked like red currants). He said they called them Saskatoons. In an instant I remarked: 'Arise, Saskatoon, Queen of the North.'" (4) Peter Latham's name should be added. He is spoken of in the Minutes of the Temperance Colony, Pioneer's Society, as "the first settler." The four probably took their lands this year, Latham signing for his first. Page 10

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