I was not careful of undertaking the trip. My reasons why - I knew
how long it would take me to go up and back again to Northwest
River. It would take me nearly two weeks. I thought it would be
pretty late when we could make a start on our trip to Battle
Harbor, and would miss the boat that Dr. Macpherson told us would
be in Battle Harbor about the 1st of May. Also I was sure that the
canoe would be crushed to pieces with the weight of the snow, as we
left it in a place where it had a good chance of being crushed to
the ground. If we had put it in some shelter where it would be all
right, or if we had put it on a stage to keep in good shape; but
when we had just taken it out of the river, and just left it along
the open, I knew it could not be safe. I thought it was a piece of
nonsense to try and get it out, and would be only a trip for
nothing. Even then I would be willing to go if it hadn't been so
late. Also I thought it was hardly fair to try and force me to go
any way, because I knew that I wasn't under either of them. I was
hired by Mr. Hubbard on the trip and we had to do all the planning.
It was Mr. Hubbard's expedition, and we had to obey him and try to
help him in all we could while we were yet together. Also Mr.
Hubbard had done and has always left things in my care to which I
thought it would be better for us to do, and has gone by my plans a
good deal, though he was the head of the party. Also what was
belonging to Mr. Hubbard, knowing that I had just as much rights
with some of his things as any one had, and in fact that I had
already done that would be required, and had gotten out everything
that I thought was necessary to be gotten out from the bush.
However at last I said that I would go if I got a dog team. So I
got ready to start to go for the canoe.
Wallace told me, "You see, if when you went up, if you had dug up
the canoe out of the snow and put it up on a stage, you wouldn't
have to go up again."
I said, "I do not have to go up again. It is not long since I had
my trip up there. I think I have done my part."
I was to start Tuesday, April 12th.
Monday, April 1lth. - Mr. Wallace wrote a letter and wrote to John
Groves telling him to be at Northwest River at such a day, about
the time we would be out with the canoe from Grand Lake and Beaver
River. Sent his letter up by Carl Hope.
Tuesday, April 12th. - A pile snowing and we could not go. Mark
Blake and I were to start this morning but too stormy.
Wednesday, April 13th. - Still very stormy and lots of new snow has
been falling, and could not make a start again. I told Wallace and
M'Kenzie that if I could not go off again the next morning I would
give up the trip and not go at all, as it was getting too late.
Thursday, April 14th. - Still stormy and snowing very hard, so that
we could not go again, and gave up the trip.
Monday, April 18th. - Henry and his brother Dan Groves arrived. I
told Mr. Wallace about them and that he could send word by them to
tell their brother John Groves to come right away and help up to
Rigolette.
Tuesday, April 19th. - John Groves arrived and said that he could
not come along with us, as he had now lots of work that he wanted
to do for himself, and besides his dogs were all cut by crust about
the feet.
April 20th. - Getting ready for starting off in the morning.
Getting help from M. Duclos, the French Company agent here.
Sending his man Bellfleur to help me on to Rigolette with his dog
team.
Thursday, April 21st. - Bellfleur and I started this morning from
Northwest River with Mr. Hubbard's body. Starting a day ahead of
Mr. M'Kenzie, as we have a heavy load and the going heavy. Will
take three days to Rigolette. Mr. M'Kenzie will bring Wallace
along with him and Fred Blake his teamster. They will overtake us
on the way, as they have good dogs and no load only just
themselves. Got to Lowlands at 10 o'clock to-night. Bad footing
for our dogs, and had to lead them and break down the snow. We
came 40 miles to-day and our dogs at last played out. Bob Bakie
lives here and does his trapping around here. He tells us he
killed a caribou to-day, a big stag.
April 22nd. - This morning gave our dogs a little rest, and did not
start from Mr. Bakie's till noon. Our dogs are so poor that most
of them are chaffed with the harness, and a mixed team, some water
dogs, some Esquimaux dogs. The water dogs do not stand the hard
work near so well as the huskies, and get played sooner. Before we
started to-day one of the men killed four caribou there. Came here
this evening at Bell Shepherd's.
Saturday evening, April 22rd. - Got to Rigolette. Mr. M'Kenzie
caught up to us just a few miles before getting to Rigolette, and
we got there together.
