Lesson 5

Evidence Set

Excerpt From Pamphlet, Salt Spring Island

By Rev. Wilson, 1895

"Some of the first white settlers intermarried with the Indians, and thus has arisen quite a little colony of half-breeds."

Photos:

Susannah Trage: 045.jpg

Mary Ann Gyves: 044jpg

Lucy Sampson: 026.jpg

"Salt Spring Island"

The British Colonist, August 23, 1860

The latest news from this settlement states that it is progressing rapidly in all the elements of prosperity. Nearly, or quite seventy settlers, reside on the island. The crops look well. The chief cause of anxiety in that quarter is a feeling of apprehension that the northern Indians may commit some depredations on their return to their northern homes. But there is little danger of this, as one of H.M. gun-boats will cruise around and watch the stealthy movements of the natives.

"Protection For Livestock"

The British Colonist, March 27, 1867

Mr. Maxwell, from Salt Spring Island, related a doleful tale of the state of affairs there. Five years ago he placed on this farm hone hundred and fifty head of cattle. Since then he has sold only fourteen heard, and today he counts only the original number that he imported -- the increase having been systematically slaughtered by Indian and white cattle thieves Mr. Greavy, of Plumper's Pass, told a similar story in the Police Court the other day. All the settlers on the Islands have suffered in a greater or less ratio. Protection for stock there is none. Mr. Maxwell says that within the month he has discovered the remains of five of his finest beeves and that small stock are shot without number and their carcasses carried away for sale or consumption. Is there no remedy for this great evil? We may legislate to prevent the importation of livestock, but how are our farmers to supply the local demand if this illicit slaughter of their herds is to continue? At present, law is a mockery on the East Coast. Farmers who have invested their means to live here are at the mercy of marauding savages or white villain who .... take a fancy to replenish his .... at the expense of this man who has gone forth to 'subdue the wilderness', that has lain waste for untold centuries. These men paid Government for the lands on which they have located and should and must be protected from the depredations of villains who are, drawing, as it were, the very life's blood from the agricultural districts. The 'strong arm of the Government' must make itself felt soon, or there will be terrible work on the East coast. The settlers have been patient and forbearing for many years; but they cannot submit any longer to have their farms invaded and their property wantonly destroyed or carried off to support a pack of fellows too lazy to work. We are admirers of law and order; but there are times when even the most law-abiding citizen may be excused if he takes matters into his own hands and metes out that punishment to evil-doers which the law prescribes, but which its officers are too weak or inefficient to enforce.

http://web.uvic.ca/history-robinson/archives/newspapers.html Source: British Colonist, 27 March 1867.

The Indian Nuisance at Salt Spring

A correspondent writes us from Salt Spring Island to state that himself and family while walking across their their farm a few days ago, observed a canoe a short distance from shore, from which was presently fired a gun, the ball whistling unpleasantly near their heads. In view of this outrage, and the bloody murders that have occurred recently on the Island, our correspondent thinks the locality must be abandoned, unless the strong arm of the Government is put forth and the savages made to feel its weight. These East Coast Indians are about the worst on the Island. They have been a pestilent nuisance from its earliest settlement to the present time, and have destroyed more whites than all the other tribes on the coast put together -- not excepting the Chilacoatan [sic] nuisance at Bute Inlet in 1864. They defied H.M. ships sent against them, but were only punished after a stubborn engagement with the gunboat Forward., five years and a half ago Since ... was administered their open courage has cowed, and they have resorted to cowardly assassinations to revenge themselves for fancied wrongs. A reservation for those rascals is needed to keep them in check.

Source: British Colonist, 2 March 1869

The British Colonist, March 13, 1869

...

Were the Fleet withdrawn, portions of our coast would be rendered uninhabitable. The Indians could afford to laugh at any force the Local Government might send against them and from many of the outlying districts we should have settlers deserting their farms and stock to seek shelter in the more thickly settled communities from the depredations of the redskins. Even with the present efficient Naval force on this station, has anyone forgotten the series of shocking murders and outrages which have lately occurred on the East Coast of the Island? Were the number of war-vessel stations reduced, the number of outrages would become perfectly appalling. We hope that the strictest inquiry will be made at once into the circumstances attendant upon this last tragedy and that should it appear that the savages have murdered the passengers and crew, a punishment commensurate with their crime will be visited upon them.

Source: British Colonist, 13 March 1869

Newspaper sources from Ruth Sandwell's Salt Spring history website: Who Killed William Robinson?

web.uvic.ca/history-robinson