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

Carlton and Cameron's at the forks of the trail about 35 miles from Prince Albert. At Carlton another conveyance branched off west to Edmonton, via Battleford, Fort Pitt, Saddle Lake and Fort Saskatchewan. It was good travelling to make Prince Albert in seven days. The trail was through very fine country, except over the great Salt Plain. This was a stretch of about twenty miles of barren alkali land without trees or verdure, many ponds of brackish water scattered along. It was a dreary waste without shelter and the crossing was dreaded in winter. There was only one place where water fit to drink could be had and the supply was scanty. During the winter of 1882-3, the stage ran once in three weeks, its arrival in Prince Albert was an event in that burg. The stage which branched off at Carlton for Edmonton took another ten days to reach its destination. The next year I think it was, Leeson & Scott, of Qu'Appelle, got the contract. They held it for many years, transferring the starting point to Swift Current to serve Battleford and Fort Pitt, and to Calgary for Edmonton after the C.P.R. reached Calgary. When the Regina to Prince Albert railway was opened (1890), the starting point for Battleford was transferred to Saska- toon. When this last change was made the Battleford folk considered that they were quite in touch with civilization (meaning the railroad), it being less than half the drive from Saskatoon that it was from Swift Current. The greater part of the drive from Swift Current to Battleford was very uninteresting. The first spell to the river, the land is rolling, with very little vegetation. Bunch grass here and there and cactus; the soil a heavy clay. We used to think it would never be cultivated and now it is well settled all through that stretch of country and is producing heavy crops. There was a stopping place at the river, the "Russell House; Meals at All Hours." It was not half bad for the times; it was built partly of logs and partly of lumber. Sometimes in the late fall and in the spring we would stay here for days at a time. This occurred when the ice was forming, sufficient to prevent the ferry scow crossing but not strong enough to carry any weight. After a good cold night, the ice would be tested first by a man crossing; if he found it strong, after spreading sand on the ice, one horse at a time would be led over; then the wagon would be drawn by ropes. Once in the spring I had a little adventure. The ice had been running for about twenty-four hours; there were only a few cakes of well-. rotted ice coming down. I got a flat-bottomed boat and crossed the water to the other side and landed on blocks of ice along the shore. I was jump- ing from one cake to another thinking they were all anchored on the bot. tom, when one on which I landed on just a little from the centre canted up. Down I went into the icy cold water.. Didn't I just cling to that block for dear life I Gradually I climbed on it and, taking care to step right on the middle of the other blocks, I got to land. It seems this ice was floating in a pocket of water formed by a tongue of land stretching down the river quite a distance from the shore, and was all afloat. Here I was with my clothes wet up to the waist, and a cold wind blowing. I had crossed with the intention of going to a ranch about three miles off to try and hire a team and wagon to take us on to Battleford at once. The ferry would not be running for a few days yet. Off I went on the run to keep up the circulation. When I arrived at the house, my clothes were frozen hard as sheet iron. Not stopping long enough to let them thaw out, after making a deal for the team and wagon, back I started for the river again at a jog trot. I was more careful this time on the ice and got over without mishap. I took off my wet clothes, hurried myself into dry ones, and was not a whit the worse of my dip. After climbing the bank the land for a long distance was gently rolling, soil similar to what has been passed over, however with more vegetation. After three hours' drive a stop was made for midday meal at a spring. The next spell was to "Devil's Gulch." This station was a dug out in a big ravine. The earth had been excavated in the bank and thrown down-hill, then some lumber arranged to make the roof. There were four bunks built against the wall. When there were more passengers than filled the bunks, all the "furniture", consisting of a table and some benches, were put outside and the overflow lay on the floor. This place was warm, being well shel- Page 48

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