by Debra Komar
“mix with their country wives”: Cited in ibid., 158.
“old concern”: Cited in Van Kirk, “Women and the fur trade,” 13.
“Pray keep an Eye”: Ibid.
“disposed of”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, January 3, 1830, B.135/c/2, HBCA.
“The Govr’s little tit bit”: William Sinclair, letter to Edward Ermatinger, August 15, 1831, AB 40 Er 62.3, Ermatinger Papers, British Columbia Archives.
“the unmarried men”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.
125 “scaling the Picquets” and “dusky maidens”: Cited in Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxiv.
“the real cause”: Cited in John McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to Governor and Committee, November 18, 1843, E13/1, folio 159-178, HBCA.
“All the Ill Will”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844. This policy enforcement led Hamar Foster to wonder whether McLoughlin had refused to allow Kannaquassé and Heroux to bring their women into the fort because “he felt he should exclude all women except his own, or because the Iroquois’ marriage had not been approved by Simpson?” (Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 179). The evidence gathered after his death suggests the latter to be true. During his deposition, Kannaquassé was asked: “did you ask permission of the deceased to take wife?” A: “yes, the deceased said you shall not have permission before Sir George Simpson’s arrival” (Kannaquassé’s deposition). He was also asked: “Did you ever haul up women into the Bastion,” to which he replied “no.” This claim was refuted by others, including Phillip Smith, who testified that Kannaquassé “disliked me greatly…for having informed against him when attempting to bring women of bad character into the fort by the portholes of the bastions, for which he was punished” (Phillip Smith, deposition before James Douglas, May 22, 1843).
“for giving away his clothes”: Francois Pressé, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843, E13/1, folio 228-229, HBCA.
“Mr. McLoughlin summoned”: Ibid.
“for allowing his wife”: Oliver Martineau, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842; corroborated in Kakepé’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.
“brought a woman”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“gave the woman 4 yards”: Thomas McPherson’s deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“opened the Fort Gate”: Charles Dodd, deposition regarding the murder of John McLoughlin Jr., August 1842, with an addendum November 9, 1842.
126 “a loose woman”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“to spend the night”: Ibid.
“pilfered from the Store”: McLoughlin Sr.’s letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.
“Mr. John turn[ed]”; “running after” and “goods from the”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
McPherson suspended: Thomas McPherson, deposition before James Douglas, April 22, 1843.
“McLoughlin did not”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before James Douglas, May 1, 1843.
“turning Thomas” and “dine with the men”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.
127 “was of the fox-hunting type”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 16.
“a short stout man”: Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 86.
“personal insult” and “too filthy”: Ibid.
“a female of notoriously loose character”: Ibid., 88
“If Dr. McLaughlin”: Roberts, “Recollections of George B. Roberts,” 16-17.
“The parson bawled”: Ibid.
128 “employees stand”: Morrison, The Eagle & the Fort, 88.
Thursday, April 21, 1842 — Dawn
129 Rolled the body face up: George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842.
“carried on a plank”: Charles Belanger, deposition before Donald Manson, August 13, 1842, with an addendum from August 25, 1842. The use of planks is noted throughout a number of depositions. The only exception was Phillip Smith, who claimed to have carried McLoughlin by the feet into the house (Phillip Smith, deposition before Donald Manson, August 11, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842).
“the body bled”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.
“was washed away”: Ibid.
“hands and front”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843, E13/1, folio 234-235, HBCA.
Blood ritual stricken from official record: Ibid.
130 “washed them in”: Ibid.
Three Kanakas prepare the body: Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843, E13/1, folio 256-257, HBCA. Okaia claimed he was one of three who washed and dressed the body, although a dozen men claimed to have been in the room at the time.
“stripped, washed clean”: George Heron, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with an addendum August 25, 1842. See also Kannaquassé’s narrative.
Belanger shaves McLoughlin: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum August 24, 1842, in which he said, “I saw Belanger shave the body.” Kannaquassé also noted that “Belanger shaved and assisted to dress it” (Kannaquassé’s narrative).
“tore the shirt open”: Kanakanui’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842.
“attempted to tear”: Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843.
“threw the body on”: Kanakanui’s deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842; corroborated by Okaia, deposition before James Douglas, June 2, 1843.
“saw Pierre strike”: Kakululkulu, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842, E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA.
“strike it on the face”: Powkow, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842; corroborated by Anahi, deposition before James Douglas, May 18, 1843.
“the head by the hair”: Kakepé, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842. Almost identical testimony was given by Okaia, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842 (E13/1, folio 1-63, HBCA), and corroborated by Kanakanui, deposition before James Douglas, May 10, 1843.
“While you were living”: Simon Aneuharazie, deposition before Donald Manson, August 22, 1842, with an addendum August 24, 1842.
“were all crying”: Okaia, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842.
“white blood”: Kanakanui, deposition before Donald Manson, August 24, 1842.
131 “was customary in Canada”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.
“I do not know”: Kannaquassé’s narrative and deposition.
“till daylight”: Oliver Martineau, deposition before Donald Manson, August 23, 1842.
“I was told”: Benoni Fleury, deposition before Donald Manson, August 19, 1842, with addenda dated August 23 and 25, 1842.
“to move out” and “go down stairs”: Narrative of Quatkie’s daughter.
“quarrelled about who”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 182. According to William Lasserte’s deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843, Heroux “appeared determined to usurp the command of the establishment,” and everyone was acting as if they were in command.
Nothing was accomplished: Fort Stikine Journal, 1842. According to the entry for April 21, 1842, written by Thomas McPherson, there was “no trade this day.”
“up all night”: Ibid.
132 “I am afraid that”: Thomas McPherson, letter to John Work, April 21, 1842.
“Now Mr. John is dead”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.
“I see we must”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.
II: “A Skin for a Skin”Chapter Eight: Casus Belli
135 “to be much the best account”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxiii.
“bored by his captivity”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 162.
136 “agreeing to murder”: Kannaquassé’s depositi
on.
“care for killing”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxiv.
“that he had himself”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 163, paraphrasing a similar passage from Kannaquassé’s narrative.
“dejection of mind”: Kannaquassé’s narrative.
“put his foot on the neck”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to Governor Pelly and Committee, June 24, 1842, in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 74-76.
“Cowardly wretch”: David McLoughlin, letter to John Fraser, March 19, 1843.
“such a dunce”: Ibid.
“there is a mystery”: Ibid.
137 A discrepancy of £10: McLoughlin Sr., letter to Governor Pelly and the Committee, June 24, 1842 (in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 74-76), as well as countless other references in subsequent letters.
Researchers have undertaken audits: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxviii.
“however badly McLoughlin”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 166.
“almost in the same state”: Letter from Dr. McLoughlin to the Governor and the Committee, November 15, 1843, E13/1, folio 134-158, HBCA. In a letter David McLoughlin wrote to John Fraser, dated March 19, 1843, he noted: “The Wine which was sent to him, allowance for the year, was found almost complete.”
“whom the men Made believe”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, April 12, 1843 (Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51), reiterating prior comments made in his letters to Simpson and the Committee.
“I did not see the deceased”: John Rowand, letter to McLoughlin Sr., March 11, 1843.
“having seen Mr. John”: As recounted in John O’Brien, statement regarding the death of John McLoughlin Jr., June 4, 1842.
“he never saw Mr. McLoughlin”: Ibid.
“without [McLoughlin] tasting a”: Ibid.
“Indians do not view”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to the Governor and Committee, October 31, 1842.
“to screen the drunkenness”: Ibid. McLoughlin Sr. cited numerous other corroborating witness accounts, which are all recounted in a protracted discussion regarding John Jr.’s scant use of liquor in Appendix A in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, 356-58.
138 “When we Examine”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.
“If it is fair”: Ibid.
“In consequence of this”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, April 12, 1843, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51.
“Finlayson saw Mr. McLoughlin”: John O’Brien, statement regarding the death of John McLoughlin Jr., June 4, 1842.
“Capt. Cole was flogged”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.
139 “every advantage of insulting”: David McLoughlin, letter to John Fraser, March 19, 1843.
“remote from civilization”: Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 36.
“summary disciplinary action”: Ibid.
“all the troublesome characters”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.
“Is it surprising”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to the Governor and Committee, November 18, 1843.
“hearing what kind of Indians” and “it was not safe”: John Rowand, letter to John McLoughlin, March 11, 1843.
“had full confidence,” “he would do well,” and “had found Everything”: John McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844. McLoughlin revisited this complaint repeatedly, as in a letter to John Fraser, dated April 12, 1843 (in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51), in which he groused that Simpson chose to “leave my Son the only Officer at the place Where there is the most Danger on the N W Coast, and which Sir George Simpson would not have done so if my deceased sons Good Conduct had not given us the Utmost confidence in his abilities.”
“heard from the Natives”: John Work, letter to George Simpson, May 1, 1842.
140 McLoughlin knew of the plot against him: In his letter to Simpson (February 1, 1844), McLoughlin Sr. recounted his interview with Saix’s son, who claimed to have told John Jr. that “four of his men wanted to Employ him (Saixs Son) to murder the deceased.”
“were in the habit”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.
“had heard Heroux state”: Antoine Kawannassé, deposition before James Douglas, May 8, 1843.
“there were three men”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to John Fraser, April 12, 1843, in Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 249-51.
“men at the fort”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 174.
“I destroyed the paper”: Thomas McPherson, deposition before Donald Manson, August 20, 1842.
141 Search of the fort reveals nothing: Donald Manson, letter to John McLoughlin Sr., September 3, 1842.
“we cannot find the paper”: John McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.
“impossible to convict”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xlii, original emphasis.
“In my opinion”: Donald Manson, letter to John McLoughlin Sr., September 3, 1842.
“in order to secure the principal”: Ibid.
“and perhaps might be inclined”: Ibid.
Manson orders six prisoners sent to Fort Simpson: Ibid.
“distinctly told me”: Letter from George Simpson to Deputy Governor and the Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company, January 5, 1843 (B223/b/29, folio 23-28d, HBCA), citing McLoughlin’s prior letter.
142“had no desire”: Ibid.
“at a British post”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 149.
Historic Tudor statute: Ibid., 172-73.
Canada Jurisdiction Act: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 73.
“other Parts of America”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 148.
“the sort of case”: Ibid., 173-74.
“might prosecute the case”: Ibid., 159.
“Instead of conducting”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844, repeating comments made in a letter dated March 20, 1843.
143 “If the Deceased”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.
“the Best proof”: Ibid.
“put me off”: Kannaquassé’s deposition.
“be allowed to make”: Simpson’s Character Book, 219, entry for Alexander William McKay.
“If you Sir”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.
“vacillating, unsteady and arbitrary”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 333.
“untimely End”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to Governor Pelly and the Committee, June 24, 1842, in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, Second Series, 74-76.
“insisted, with fanatical perseverance”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxviii. Chief trader John Tod thought the blame was shared equally between Simpson and McLoughlin Jr., saying: “They are to blame, I think, placing the young man in a situation for which his well known propensities rendered him so totally unfit” (from a letter by John Tod to James Hargrave, March 15, 1843, cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 180).
144 “Simpson’s capacity”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 192.
“blood hounds”: Simpson’s Character Book, 222, entry for Thomas McKay.
“bruisers”: Simpson’s Character Book; see for example the entry for Antoine Hamel on page 215, or for George Linton, page 216.
“a necessary evil”: Simpson’s Character Book, 222, entry for Thomas McKay.
“I have, as you know”: Originally from a letter by George Simpson to McLoughlin Sr., June 21, 1843; quoted back to him by McLoughlin Sr. in his letter to Simpson, February 1, 1844.
“become all at once”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 177.
“I never saw a man”: Cited in Galbraith, The Little Emperor, 45. The man struck was Thomas Taylor, Simps
on’s personal servant and the brother of one of Simpson’s native mistresses. Taylor was smacked for bringing a “leud [sic] woman” into the outpost (ibid., 212).
“on at least two”: Cited in Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 177.
“the principles of honour”: McLean, Notes of a Twenty-Five Years’ Service, 335.
“writing for Effect”: McLoughlin Sr., letter to George Simpson, February 1, 1844.
“washed his Throat”: George Simpson, letter to John George McTavish, August 1831, B.135/c/2, folio 74, HBCA.
145 “until I gave him such a pounding”: Ibid. Curiously, although Simpson saw alcoholism as an unforgivable sin, he did not consider mental instability to be grounds for dismissal. Chief trader George Barnston, a Scotsman with more than twenty years of service, had a long history of depression, sometimes falling into such “a gloomy desponding turn of mind” that Simpson feared “he would commit suicide in one of those fits” (Simpson’s Character Book, 231). Although it was “evident that he is of unsound mind at times,” the Governor continued to “feel an interest in him” (ibid), eventually promoting him to the rank of chief factor.
“The Big Doctor”: J.E. Harriott, in a letter to James Hargrave, December 2, 1842, reproduced in G.P. De T. Glazebrook, ed., The Hargrave Correspondence, 1821-1843 (Toronto: The Champlain Society, 1938), 415-16, original emphasis.
“making each new fragment”: Lamb, “Introduction,” in Rich, McLoughlin’s Fort Vancouver Letters, First Series, xxxv.
“had lost both his self-control”: Barker, The McLoughlin Empire, 49.
“a number of new facts”: Foster, “Killing Mr. John,” 161. Foster also highlighted the irony that “it was the elder McLoughlin who pried most of this information loose, motivated as he was by grief and, possibly, by guilt over not having sent his son an able assistant when Finlayson was transferred.”
Chapter Nine: Prior Bad Acts
147 George Simpson and Thomas Simpson’s early years: Raffan, Emperor of the North, 311.
“Perfectly correct”: Simpson’s Character Book, 228.
“Secty and Confidential Clerk”: Ibid., 227.
“considered one of the most finished scholars”: Ibid., 228.
148 “Entre nous, I have”: A. Simpson, The Life and Travels of Thomas Simpson, 78.