NARRATIVES OF SASKATOON

1882-1912

Genealogy, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Pioneer,Saskatchewan history, Temperance Colony, Temperance Colonization Society, Pioneers,John N. Lake, John Lake, Saskatoon history, Saskatoon Gen Web, Genealogy, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Pioneer,Saskatchewan history, Temperance Colony, Temperance Colonization Society, Saskatoon history, Saskatoon Gen Web

they had come into this desolate stretch, where they were going, and what was the meaning of it all. The women would be getting tired and the children cross. I don't think there was ever a soul that took that trip but Was oppressed with a terrible sense of loneliness upon this wide and bound- less expanse, yet I never heard of a party turning back. When the caravan reached the Elbow they got their first sight of the Saskatchewan River. The settlers had been hearing about the Saskatche- wan since they talked about coming West. Now the waters of the great river were lying before them, a beautiful and refreshing sight. There are few places, if any, where the Saskatchewan impresses you as it does at this point. Here the travellers usually rested for a day. On leaving the valley at the Elbow they were confronted by a hill that was just a one mile haul, and as a rule they doubled up for it. By the time the horses got this far they were playing out, not being used to the prairie or prairie food, and they looked thin and miserable and worn. Each party helped the other, until finally the top of the hill was reached. Then before them was as barren a country as was ever seen; not a bush grew on it high enough for a gopher to hide behind. There was little wood to be had on that stretch, and often no water, and quite frequently it was fire-swept and not any feed to be had. Travellers always had to carry wood for this forty mile part of the journey and commonly they had to carry such water as they could or go without, and when stock was being taken along it took practically two days to make that part of the journey. When they reached Beaver Creek (1) they were always very tired, and the women were glad to stop for a rest. Two babies were born there on caravan trips. It is not known where the name "Beaver Creek" comes from. It seems to be legend in this country. Leaving Beaver Creek they were practically never out of sight of wood or water from there to Saskatoon, and of course hope was rising as they were coming to the end of their journey. It took as a rule about two days for them to come in. They finally came to the river here, taking in all about eight days for the trip, when they had stock along, hut without stock the trip might be made in four days,-about forty miles a day. This is a picture of a mixed company of men, women, children and stock. When the women arrived you can imagine the condition of their clothing and that of the children. It is a splendid fact that these women and men were determined to fnd a home for themselves and their families, and the women folk were standing right with them. After arriving the settling and looking for a home began. (Mr. Gerald Willoughby tells of the following experience on the trail:) In the early part of one winter, (it was about December 15th) Mr. McCordick and I were caught in a very severe storm while returning from Moose Jaw. We struck Beaver Creek just about dark and searched for the Wilson house. We walked a long time but could not find it. By this time I had grown so exhausted that I sat down, but Mr. McCordick, who was a robust man, grabbed me by the collar and said, "You can either get up or I'll let the black blood out of you where you sit." He walked on and I jogged after him. Finally he made some tea and we ate something and started again to search for Wilson's house. After a couple of hours Mr. Mccordick saw a house in the distance. I collapsed completely so that Mecordick had to take me on his shoulder and struggle towards the house. The Wilson boys ran out to meet us and help us into the house. I had fall- en into some holes in the Creek and my clothes were fro'.en. They cut (1) This is Beaver Creek, 45 miles from Saskatoon and in the neighbor- bood of the present Dundurn. Page 19

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