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

blacksmith help and other small jobs, returning in the fall to Saskatoon. In '84 John Stewart came to Saskatoon to start a blacksmith shop, leaving his family in Regina, these he brought to Saskatoon in '86 and his daughter in later years became my wife. Geo. Horn in the fall of '86 returned to Saskatoon bringing with him his brother-in-law, Capt. May, a retired naval officer, his sister, the wife of Capt. May, and her son Charlie. With them also came the Pendygrasse family. I had by this time built a small log house on another part of my homestead, where my present house now stands on 22nd street and the winter was spent there with Fred Keyworth for a companion. Many had arrived in Saskatoon by this time and a few had gone away, the Fletcher family, the Smith and Lusk families, Dulmage family, W. Bate, the Geo. Garrison family. Fraser Robinson, Trounce family, Ernest and Charles Coster, Blackley family, Simeon Lasher, and a few others whom I cannot now recall. In the summer of '87 Capt. May made a trip to Medicine Hat to bring down a scow of lumber for his house on the homestead. Up to this time he had lived in the Grant house. With him he took Fred Keyworth and one or two more whom I cannot now recall. They built their scow at the Hat, loaded it with everything that would be necessary in the erection of a good house and started the long journey. After many exciting experiences, like getting into wrong channels, stranding on sand bars, they arrived at Saskatoon with a lot of experience gained but no wish to try it again or put their experience to a further test. Early in the summer of '87 I heard that the Superintendent of Govern- ment Telegraph lines, Hartley Gisborne, was at Clark's Crossing. I jumped on my horse, bareback and rode the eighteen miles without coat, only over- all, shirt and hat, in the hope of being able to get some work. He was go- ing to Humboldt telegraph station to lay out a new line to Saskatoon and asked me to go as help. Next morning we started, I just as I was, no saddle and few clothes. My job was to ride along the line and count poles. He kept the trail with his team, we reached Humboldt that night at dusk a sixty mile ride, then the return was made next morning. The teamster kept the trail, my horse following his rig. The Superintendent surveyed out the new line with me as helper. When about half way back to Clark's Crossing we ran short of provisions and the teamster was despatched to the Crossing to get fresh supplies, bread especially. While at the Crossing his horses strayed away. We remained at camp surveying a difficult piece of line. After a day or two we had eaten all the supply of food except canned salmon and oatmeal until our stomachs refused to accept the in- sipid mush. We felt we were facing starvation with no strength to start and walk when the teamster arrived with the welcome food I arrived back at the Crossing' a few days later and left with a good fat government cheque in my pocket, with the intention of staying for a few days at my old friend's, Frank Clark, halfway to Saskatoon. I had first to manoeuvre so as I could see him before approaching the house and get him to fetch a needle and thread, as I was hardly presentable in ladies' company. After spending some time in the stable with the help of needle and thread I felt more at my ease and was made welcome by Mrs Clark. Working through the bush in running lines had been hard on clothing. Later in the season I had a soft job on the line building crew, being the only one who knew where the new line was to go. My job was to stake out where the holes were to be dug each day for the new poles. I could take all day or do it in an hour or two as l liked, the rest of the time was my own. Pleasant times were spent in this work. We were only a bunch of young fellows and full of fun and the days passed quickly. In November I decided to go to Prince Albert and spend the winter working on the new barracks being built. Just when ready to start my brother sent word that he was married and wanted me to send a team to Moose Jaw to bring them to Saskatoon as he intended joining me in farm- ing. I sent Fred Keyworth to Moose Jaw with the team and left for Prince Albert, spending the winter of 87-88 working there. I returned to Saska- toon in the spring and put the crop in with my brother's help. Dry seasons still followed and the crop did not return seed. The winter of 1839 was, Page 36

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