To Big Bend

EN – ROUTE TO BIG BEND [From Our Special Correspondent]

                                                                                    Yale, March 12, 1866

            as you are aware, we left Victoria on the Enterprise on Tuesday, 6^th inst., at 9 a.m.  After a rough passage during which many of the passengers paid their tribute to old Neptune, we arrived at New Westminster about 7 p.m.  The day we arrived a poor fellow was brought to the Royal Hospital who had lost both his feet from freezing at Similkameen (Rock Creek); not being able to obtain sufficient medical assistance before his arrival at New Westminster he was in a horrid state.  There are half a dozen cases of frozen fingers and toes at present in this town, none however very bad.  The steamers Reliance, Lillooet and Hope were announced to leave New Westminster on Wednesday, 7^th inst. at one p.m., the first two for Yale and the latter for Douglas.  The fare on the steamers leaving the trip before us was 50 cents, but a combination having been effected between the steamboat owners it was put up to $5 on this trip.  All three got off about the time appointed, the Hope taking the lead, followed by the Reliance, the rear being brought up by the Lillooet, on which was your correspondent.  A motley crowd we were – white, brown, and black – miner, packer and trader: some bound to Big Bend, some to Cariboo, some (Chinese) for the Fraser, and a party of eight for Kootenay.  Before reaching Langley our pilot, Capt. “Delaware,” was taken very ill, and after arriving at the above place Capt. Fleming decided to return to New Westminster for medical assistance; so around we went and astonished the Stumpites by suddenly appearing before them.  In a few minutes we started up river again, running until some time in the night when we struck a snag which came up through our forward starboard guard tearing away some of the planks, but fortunately not injuring the hull of the vessel.  The next morning (8^th) we again started, and had not proceeded far when we overhauled the Hope and about the same time came in sight of the Reliance which appeared to be aground.  On coming up we found her sure enough, with her nose well up in the sand.  It appears that about half a mile below she was struck by a snag about midships starting a plank letting the water in freely.  She was immediately run into the bank and some of her freight taken by the Hope and landed at the mouth of Harrison river, and some freight and passengers by the Lillooet (already heavily freighted), the balance of her freight and passengers was left on board for the Onward which was to leave New Westminster on Thursday the 8^th instant.  We soon started up river again, going all day at a slow rate, finding from the extreme low stage the utmost difficulty in “making the riffle” at the various bars – on one of which we were four hours in getting over.  At daylight the next morning we puffed ahead again and presently reached Murderer’s bar, where, after several vain efforts to pass, we tied up to the bank, taking out some freight to lighten her, when the Onward came up, and being of lighter draft she passed without much difficulty.  After lightening the vessel we tried it again, and had nearly got through, when the wind, which was blowing very strong, coming with sudden fury turned her head, and away we went hard and fast aground.  All efforts to get her off proving unavailing, the passengers were landed and footed it to Hope, the baggage being sent on by canoes.  We stopped all night at Hope, and the next morning came on to Yale in canoes.

            No teams have left here yet for up-country, but the first one of the season will probably leave today or to-morrow, as the snow is rapidly melting.

            Accounts vary as to the quantity of supplies at or near Big Bend; but they all agree that the numbers of men going in will make them scarce before more can be got there – consequently it behooves all starting early to take some with them.  Moreover, parties coming any time within one or two months from the present should be provided with at least double the amount of money put down in the published tables as being required, besides grub for one or two months.  As an instance I will give you the exact amount it cost on this trip to get from Victoria to Yale: Fare to New Westminster, $4; dinner, $1; bed and meals at New Westminster, $2; fare on steamer to Yale, $5; meals to Murderer’s bar, $4; meals at Hope, $2; total $18, without counting meals in Yale, and sleeping in our own blankets at Hope and on the steamer.

            Most of the passengers who have preceded us (by the Active, etc.) have gone on; I understand, however, that a large number of them expect to work a month or so on Wright’s wagon road.  Out of the number who left with us on the Enterprise, I do not find above fifteen or twenty who will be able to go straight through.  As to whether it is too early yet it simply amounts to this – for those who have no more cash to spare than the Chamber of Commerce tables set down as the amount required it is certainly at least six weeks too early; but as to getting through, from what I can learn it can be done pretty soon, but of course it will be expensive and a “hard road to travel.”

            A man has just come in from Cache Creek who reports that about 200 men are there, mostly working on the road.  Kamloops and Shuswap Lakes are frozen over and the snow on French Creek is five feet deep.  About eighty of the men at Cache Creek came down from Cariboo, about eighty are Chinese, and the remainder came from this way.  Wright has all the men he wants at present.

            We leave here probably to-day, and I will write you again in a few days.

                                                                                                                        W.E.O.