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,

the ponies were under the water and sometimes the carts were. Eventually all reached the shore but the wagons were never recovered. With the scow lightened the men managed to get the wheel working again. The scow headed properly to the current and got safely to shore. As the centre of activities moved on Clark's Crossing became quiet. As the rebellion quietened down, the people in the east wished to have the bodies of their relatives brought to their homes. The men killed at Fish Creek had soldier-like been buried in their boots. By the time the bodies were dug up the weather had become hot. When' removed from the ground some hay was bound round the bodies with ropes and then some poplar poles tied with ropes were placed lengthwise of the bodies, which were then placed in wagons and started for Saskatoon,-two or not more than three in a wagon. The poles of course were to keep the bodies in position. At Saskatoon the bodies were soldered into tin boxes and the long journey to Moose Jaw taken. At Moose Jaw the cases had be opened. My brother had this task and the bodies were taken over by the embalmers and placed in caskets before being shipped to Winnipeg or other eastern points. If we only knew, I think most of us would prefer that the bodies of those dear to us remain where they fell in a soldier's grave. I soon tired of the monotony of line repair. My friend, Frank Clark, was going to Moose Jaw to be married to Miss Blackley and asked me to go with him. He at this time was carrying the mail to Batoche and farming between times. I left my job and we started for Moose Jaw. Miss Blackley had started with her brother and Miss Dulmage who was going to Brandon. A few hours previous to our arrival at Moose Jaw we caught up with them a few miles from the city, so made one party on arriving there. Next af- ternoon the knot was tied in the Presbyterian Church and the following morning the happy pair took the return trail. I remained in Moose Jaw working there. In August the father of Fred Smith arrived and was look- ing for someone to take him to Saskatoon for a visit to his son. I con- tracted to drive him up, reaching Saskatoon in four days and immediately turned round to return to Moose Jaw. This was early in September. Ar- rived at Beaver Creek one cold morning a slight rain falling, lying on the trail I found a man helpless and stiff with pain and cold. This was Robert Wilson, of Beaver Creek, father of Russell Wilson and J.R., and Archie Wilson. At this time he lived alone, the boys working in Moose Jaw. He had started out with his team and wagon and the line had caught under the tongue. He had walked out on the pole intending to loosen it: the team bolted and he was thrown under the wagon and the heavy wagon passed over his hips, leaving him helpless. With the help of some boxes from the house I finally got him hoisted into the democrat and to the house where it took some ingenuity to get him into bed. After getting him as comfort- able as possible the task was to track the team. They were finally found a mile or two away, fast in the bottom of the creek where they had tried to climb a cut bank and failed. The team was taken back home and I settled down to a course of nursing. rubbing with what lotion he had in the house and such like waiting for some person to pass on the trail so as to get 'word to his sons in Moose Jaw. In a week Mr. Trounce came along and carried' the word. A week later Russell arrived to care for his father and I was free to resume my journey. Early that winter I returned to Saskatoon to put in my time on the' homestead. W. Horn's brother came from England to visit him and we three spent one of my most pleasant winters in Saskatoon in the old dug- out on the homestead. Geo. Horn was a most pleasant and interesting man. Every evening there was something to do, either go to a singing class which he started in Saskatoon (Sol Fa system) or, if at home the evening spent in reading some interesting subject, or he would get a subject for a debate, he taking one side against Will and myself on the other, we to choose which side we would take. In fair argument he always beat us. No evening was ever dull or spent in moodiness which so often becomes the trouble where a few men live together with nothing to do to interest them. George Horn returned to England in the spring of '86. My summer after putting in a small crop was spent in Battleford, working as a carpenter, Page 35

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