by Debra Komar
6 “Plan of Fort Stikine showing spot where John McLoughlin Jr was killed.” Courtesy of the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives at the Archives of Manitoba, HBC B.209/z/1, Stikine Miscellaneous Documents, 1842-1845, N-4247.
7 Portrait of Frances Ramsay Simpson. Courtesy of the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives at the Archives of Manitoba. HBCA Album 10/82, image N-6459.
8 Portrait of Sir James Douglas, circa 1863. G.R. Fardon, photographer. Courtesy of the British Columbia Archives, image A-01232, call number HP 002656, accession number 193501-001.
9 Map of Fort Stikine, showing the location of the key players at the time of the fatal shot. By author.
10 Lateral view of human torso and head, showing bullet trajectory and wound track. Image by author, modified from image numbers 17, 134, 135, and 273 included in Gray’s Anatomy by Henry Gray, first published in 1858.
11 Positional relationship between Heroux and McLoughlin. By author.
Notes
Whenever possible, quotations were drawn from the original source material, and the spelling and punctuation were faithfully replicated. In some cases, quotations derived from secondary sources have modernized the language and sentence structure to make the text palatable to today’s audiences.
There was tremendous variation in the spelling of surnames throughout the historical documentation, as well as in subsequent popular accounts. The spelling used in each individual’s first deposition or witness statement was taken as the standard.
Preface
9 Condition of the body and burial: Details were taken from BBC News reports on September 12, 2012 (“Richard III dig: ‘Strong evidence’ bones are lost king,” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-19561018) and February 4, 2013 (“Richard III dig: DNA confirms bones are king’s,” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-21063882).
DNA confirmation of identity: Nick Britten and Andrew Hough, “Richard III: Skeleton is the king,” The Telegraph, February 4, 2013, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9846693/Richard-III-skeleton-is-the-king.html.
Identification as biohistory’s sole focus: A few investigators have pushed the boundaries of biohistory, casting new light on the health and lifestyle of past notables, such as questioning the origins of insanity in artist Vincent van Gogh (J.R. Hughes, “A reappraisal of the possible seizures of Vincent van Gogh,” Epilepsy and Behavior 6, no. 4 [2005]: 504-10) and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer (J. Jentzen et al., “Destructive hostility: The Jeffrey Dahmer case. A psychiatric and forensic study of a serial killer,” American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 15, no. 4 [1994]: 283-94), or determining whether lead poisoning was the cause of Ludwig van Beethoven’s deafness—Russell Martin, Beethoven’s Hair (New York: Broadway Books, 2000).
Identification of Mengele: See, for example, M.E. Rogev, “The medicolegal identification of Josef Mengele,” Legal Medicine (1993): 115-50.
Tentative identification of the apostle Luke: C. Vernesi et al., “Genetic characterization of the body attributed to the evangelist Luke,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 98, no. 23 (2001): 13460-63.
10 Investigators misuse DNA testing: In 2004, a team of medical ethicists looked at the unbridled growth of biohistory and were disturbed by what they saw (see L.B. Andrews et al., “Constructing ethical guidelines for biohistory,” Science 304 [2004]: 215-16). Chief among their concerns was the common practice of testing for testing’s sake, and the study concluded that “historical analysis is undertaken for commercial considerations or mere sensationalism.”
Wednesday, April 20, 1842 — Midday
15 “Indian Wife”: This expression appears frequently throughout the documentation; see, for example, Dr. John McLoughlin’s letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844, D 5/10, Hudson’s Bay Company Collection in the Provincial Archive of Manitoba (hereafter HBCA).
“Quatkie’s daughter” and “McLoughlin’s wife”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter (McLoughlin Jr.’s wife) before Donald Manson, August 29, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA (hereafter “Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter”).
“I have had all the troubles”: McLoughlin Jr. to John Work, February 14, 1842, E 13/1, folio 110-111, HBCA.
“I have had scarcely any rest”: McLoughlin Jr. to John Work, December 2, 1841, E 13/1, folio 108-109, HBCA.
“situated…among a horde”: The comment was attributed to George Simpson and was taken from “Remarks on the depositions taken by John McLoughlin Esq, by James Douglas Esq & by Donald Manson, Esq, respectively and on various letter declarations and regarding the death of John McLoughlin Junr at Fort Stikine on April 21, 1842. In the handwriting of Edward Hopkins, 1844,” E13/1, folio 368-377, HBCA (hereafter “Remarks on the depositions”).
“attempted to scale”: From the entry for June 21, 1840, in the Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, B209/a/1, HBCA. Although the journal is marked 1842, it includes entries from the fort’s creation dating back to 1840.
16 Destruction of the bridge and capture of the chief: Recounted in Hamar Foster, “Killing Mr. John: Law and jurisdiction at Fort Stikine, 1842-1846,” in Law for the Elephant, Law for the Beaver, ed. John McLaren, Hamar Foster, and Chett Orloff (Pasadena, CA: Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society, 1992), 152 (hereafter “Killing Mr. John”).
“Mr. John has bad white men”: From an “Indian report” received by Chief Factor John Work, cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 149.
Kannaquassé’s repeated assassination attempts: Described in a statement given by one of Fort Stikine’s clerks: Kakepé’s deposition before Donald Manson, July 24, 1842, E13/1, folio 197, HBCA.
“to poison McLoughlin”: Nahua’s deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843, E13/1, folio 246-248, HBCA.
“would do no such thing”: Ibid. In his deposition, Pierre Kannaquassé freely admits asking Nahua and other Kanakas to poison McLoughlin. All refused. See Kannaquassé’s deposition taken at Nisqually, July 15, 1842, with two separate addenda from July 16, 1842, E13/1, folio 89-103, HBCA (hereafter “Kannaquassé’s deposition”).
Needed to await McLoughlin Sr.’s decision regarding punishment: Nahua’s deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843. Nahua claimed he told John Jr. of the threat and that McLoughlin “beat Pierre” and said “he would tell his father, who would punish him properly.”
“I am still amongst the living”: McLoughlin Jr. to John Work, December 2, 1841, original emphasis.
“all that does not trouble me”: Ibid.
17 “the Blue devils”: Ibid.
“I do not know what to do”: McLoughlin Jr. to Roderick Finlayson, February 26, 1842, cited in W. Kaye Lamb’s “Introduction” in E.E. Rich, ed., The Letters of John McLoughlin from Fort Vancouver to the Governor and Committee, First Series, 1825-38, vol. IV (London: Hudson’s Bay Records Society, 1941), xxxvii.
“was always trying to catch”: Charles Dodd’s deposition regarding the murder of John McLoughlin Jr., August 1842, with an addendum from November 9, 1842, E13/1, folio 124-126, HBCA.
Beat the guard for sleeping: Kannaquassé’s narrative regarding the murder of John McLoughlin Jr., July 1842, E13/1, folio 82-89, HBCA (hereafter “Kannaquassé’s narrative”).
Nahua does not bring breakfast: Nahua’s deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843. Nahua would later testify he had left the fort without permission to fetch water.
Details of the day’s weather: From two sources. The first is the fort’s journal entry for April 20, 1842, which reads: “Weather cloudy with several showers of rain. Wind moderate from south east.” The second source is the narrative of Quatkie’s daughter, which noted that the day was “very rainy and cold.”
18 “a little English”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 189.
“every night before he went”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter.
I: “Lamentable Deficiency”Chapter One: L’Enfant Terrible
21 “l’enfant terrible”: Burt Brown Barker, The McLoughlin Empire and It
s Rulers (Glendale, CA: Arthur H. Clark Company, 1959), 107 (hereafter The McLoughlin Empire).
McLoughlin Jr.’s birthplace: Ibid., 38. The only means of narrowing down the location is his father’s correspondence. McLoughlin Sr. was stationed at Vermilion Lake in 1811-12. On March 22, 1812, he sent a letter from Vermilion Lake; however, on August 12, 1812, he wrote from Fort William. (Barker also considers Lac La Pluie a remote possibility as John Jr.’s birthplace.)
“proud giant” and “such a figure as I should not”: From the entry for McLoughlin Sr. in “The Character Book of Governor George Simpson, 1832” (hereafter “Simpson’s Character Book”), reprinted in Glyndwr Williams, ed., Hudson’s Bay Miscellany 1670-1870, Publications of the Hudson’s Bay Record Society 30 (Winnipeg: Hudson’s Bay Record Society, 1975), 176.
“Stature tall. Hair white”: Eloisa Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin, Governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company possessions of the Pacific Slope at Fort Vancouver,” volume 1, B-12, (1887): 25, MG 29 C15, Bancroft Collection, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) (hereafter “The Life of John McLoughlin”).
22 “he had a rapid way of speaking”: J. Quinn Thornton, “Oregon History,” volume 1: 10, MG 29, C15, Bancroft Collection, LAC.
“tolerably well” and “a good deal of influence”: Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 176.
“My father was very quick tempered”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 11.
“ungovernable Violent temper”: Simpson’s Character Book, 176.
“stubborn, irascible”: John S. Galbraith The Little Emperor: Governor Simpson of the Hudson’s Bay Company (Toronto: Macmillan, 1976), 100 (hereafter The Little Emperor).
“was well known for his use”: Ibid., 45.
“what he said must be so”: Harvey, “The Life of John McLoughlin,” 23.
“I think he required those about him”: Ibid.
“Right off he cooled down”: Ibid.
“the lords of the lakes and the forests”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 18.
23 McLoughlin Sr.’s birth details: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 23.
McLoughlin Sr.’s petition to practise medicine: Reproduced in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, plate #10.
“behaved honestly, he possesses talents”: Ibid., plate #11.
McLoughlin Sr. pushes soldier into the mud: Peter C. Newman, Caesars of the Wilderness vol. 2 of Company of Adventurers (Markham, ON: Penguin, 1987), 206; and Dorothy Nafus Morrison, The Eagle and the Fort: The Story of John McLoughlin (Portland, OR: Western Imprints, The Press of the Oregon Historical Society, 1984), 4 (hereafter The Eagle & the Fort), among other sources. All Dr. McLoughlin ever said on the matter was: “It was entirely my own want of conduct that I came up to this Country. It was not a matter of Choice but of Necessity on my part” (from an unidentified letter, cited in Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 3).
McLoughlin Sr. dispatched to Kaministikwia: Dr. McLoughlin to Simon Fraser, July 1, 1808, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 147-48.
“his sad Experiment”: Cited in Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 15.
“giving full legal status”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 38-39. It bears noting that Dr. McLoughlin had taken a prior “country wife” before Marguerite, with whom he had a son named Joseph (Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 18). Although details are scant, it is assumed the first wife died while Joseph was very young.
24 Dr. Simon Fraser’s biography: From his last will and testament, probated June 28, 1844, and reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 294-95.
“on account of the habit”: Simon Fraser to John McLoughlin Jr., January 12, 1836, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 218-20.
“I blamed your mother for this”: Ibid.
“corrupted the morals”: Ibid.
“a very poor letter writer”: George Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” volume 1, A-83, (1878): 66, MG 29, C 15, Bancroft Collection, LAC, with original emphasis.
25 “I am so situated”: Dr. McLoughlin to Simon Fraser, March 15, 1825, reprinted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 175-77.
“I feel very much obliged”: Dr. McLoughlin to Simon Fraser, January 2, 1823, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 173-74.
Three years without a letter: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 108.
“You are perfectly at liberty”: Dr. McLoughlin to Simon Fraser, September 14 1823, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 174-75.
26 “a frail child”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 44.
“my object is not to give her”: Dr. McLoughlin to Simon Fraser, March 15, 1825, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 175-77.
“the Girl cannot be a nun”: Simon Fraser to Dr. McLoughlin, April 20, 1827, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 182-84.
Invoice of £80 for tuition: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 45.
“never at ease with a problem”: Williams, Hudson’s Bay Miscellany, 153.
“a filthy irregular place”: Attributed to George Simpson, cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 32.
27 “meet any drafts necessary”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 45.
Simpson’s daughters in Scotland: James Raffan, Emperor of the North: Sir George Simpson and the Remarkable Story of the Hudson’s Bay Company (Toronto: Harper Collins, 2007), 118 and 148 (hereafter Emperor of the North).
No relationship with daughters or mothers: Ibid., 50.
“been taught to be afraid”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 128.
“was never fully a parent”: Ibid., 202.
“the offense of absenting himself”: George Simpson to Simon Fraser, March 14, 1828, reprinted in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 186-87.
“flew into a violent passion”: Ibid.
“instead of showing the least contrition”: Ibid.
“to collect his Books”: Ibid.
“the poor Schoolmaster was quite horrer”: Ibid.
“keep him another Week for £500”: Ibid.
28 “Up to the time the first complaint”: Ibid.
“him a Seat in our Counting House”: Ibid.
“I have never been so grossly deceived”: Ibid.
“full of wise and kind counsel”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 110.
Their entire relationship reduced to letters: In his letters, Dr. McLoughlin often belittled his son over petty offenses. For instance, he took the boy to task for his penmanship, noting: “Your hand writing is not such as it ought to be considering your age and the time you have been at school (it is very inferior to your sisters writing) which is certainly owing to yourself and shews you did not apply as much as you ought.” Dr. McLoughlin to John Jr., February 1, 1830, quoted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 190-91.
“could not go further with him”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 109.
“I cannot complain of your son”: Simon Fraser to Dr. McLoughlin, April 20, 1827, quoted in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 182-84.
Wednesday, April 20, 1842 — Dusk
29 The details of the day’s work schedule: come from Kannaquassé’s narrative as well as Kannaquassé’s deposition.
The evening’s weather: described in William Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, E13/1, folio 216-219, HBCA.
McLoughlin Jr. orders the squaring of logs: Louis Leclaire’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.
Measurements and work schedule: William Lasserte’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.
“five Indians from Tako”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter, along with every other deposition taken. The lone point of consensus among the men was that there were “five Indians from Tako” in the fort that night — every deposition taken agreed on this point, right down to the language used.
Simpson plans to close Tako: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 158.
“considered improper”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter.
30 “went out of the fort”: Nahua, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843.
Nahua burst into tears: Francois Pressé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842, with addendum from August 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA. Pressé recalled the cook was “crying while Mr. John was beating him.”
31 The diet at Stikine: Stikine relied on the aboriginal groups for provisions, and numerous references can be found in the fort’s journals and correspondence of the men’s complaints regarding their repetitious and limited diet. See also Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 151.
“brackish water”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 152.
Fleury carried to his room: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with addenda dated August 23 and 25, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.
“became very noisy and”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, E13/1, folio 200-204, HBCA.
“my lad [mon enfans]”: William Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
McLoughlin Jr. ties Fleury to the bed: Benoni Fleury’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842.
“Mr. John did this without anger”: Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843, E13/1, folio 248-251, HBCA.
32 McLoughlin Jr. slaps Fleury: William Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“got intoxicated”: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842, entry for September 4, 1841, recorded by Roderick Finlayson.
McLoughlin Jr. slaps Lasserte: William Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, and before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842.
“staring him in the face”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 188.
“Do you wish to kill me”: Kannaquassé’s deposition, corroborated in William Lasserte’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842.
“fore entering his room”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“We spent the evening in”: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843, E13/1, folio 220-221, HBCA.