L. HUBBARD
died here 18th October, 1903, and
will be brought out by
T. BLAKE, DUNCAN M'LEAN and G. ELSON.
Came on a little farther this evening. The boys yet do not hardly
think I can find the rest of the things. Of course, I'm not sure
myself; but I can try any way. We have our cache five different
places, some 4 and 8 miles apart.
March 21st. - The boys were surprised to-day. When we came to the
first cache I told them that we left some things there; but they
looked at me and told me, how could I tell and no marks to go by.
But they wouldn't refuse. We dug down to the ground, 8 feet, and
just came on our little bundle we had left. The next was the same,
and the next, till we got everything we had thrown away, only one
bag yet with lots of films in. I remembered that I had hung it up
by a little strap, on a little stump in some swamp, and the trees
scattered. I thought I really could not guess at that place, and
told the boys; but we went on any way, till I thought we came to
the place. No tree near, only just a plain. At last we dug down a
piece any way. When we got down a piece we started to feel around
with our feet, and just came on the stump, and the bag still on.
Mr. Blake says, "I have been trapping now ever since I could, when
only a boy, and I think I know a little about travelling in the
bush now; but I could never find anything like you, and did not
miss one place, but came right on it every time. I would never
believe any one could do that if I did not see it myself."
Duncan said the same, and besides nothing to go by.
March 22nd. - Started back from the camp for Grand Lake. Each man
has a big load, for we have picked up lots. Duncan very bad with
snow blind.
March 23rd. - Snowing heavy, and rime on our to boggans makes heavy
travelling. Some places the river bad to travel, on account of
rapids where it isn't froze. We have some times just a narrow
bridge of ice to go on, as no other way we could go, for the rough
steep mountains on each side.
March 24th. - Drifting and snowing very hard. Only travelled part
of the day. Got to Allan Goudy's house.
March 25th. - Snowing heavy. Got to Cape Corbeau. All very tired.
March 26th. - Stormy to-day and snowing very hard, and our toboggans
so heavy we could not get on at all, and had to leave our loads and
walk empty to the post. Late when we got here at Mr. Blake's house
at the rapids, 3 miles from the post. Will get dog team in the
morning and go back for our loads.
March 28th. - Duncan M'Lean and I took dog team up Grand Lake this
morning and got here again this evening with Mr. Hubbard's body and
the things we left behind in the fall. We dressed him the best we
could and laid him in the coffin the men at Kenemish had made for
him, till we are ready to start on around the coast.
When I was up in the bush, Mr. Wallace has a letter from Dr. Cluny
Macpherson. As soon as he heard the sad news of Mr. Hubbard, he
has started from Battle Harbor to come to Northwest River with his
dog team to help us. When he got to Rigolette, Mr. Fraser has just
been at Northwest River post, and told him we hadn't yet the body
of Mr. Hubbard out from the bush, and besides when he left Battle
Harbor his little child was sick, and a team of dogs brought him
news that his child was getting worse. So then he had to turn back
from Rigolette, and sent a letter to Mr. Wallace to guide us on our
way, from Rigolette to Battle Harbor, from the time we may leave
Rigolette all along, giving full account where we could get men and
teams, and when we got at a place what man to ask for, and gave all
the names of the places, and the names of the people we are to
enquire for, and the best places to stay at nights, and besides
tells of a steamer to come to Battle Harbor about the first of May.
It was hard to get dogs and we were long getting started. In
February I was up at Muddy Lake. Wednesday, Feb. 24th, I went from
Muddy Lake to Goose Bay at John Groves. He asked me if we got dogs
to help us around the coast and to take Mr. Hubbard's body. I said
that we did not yet find teams that could take us around or even as
far as Rigolette.
Thursday, February 25th. - I got to Northwest River.
Sunday, February 28th. - Mr. Wallace and Mr. Bently arrived from
Kenemish. Then I told Mr. Wallace what John Groves had told me,
that he could help us with his team as far as Rigolette any way,
and that he had a good team of dogs.
Friday, April 8th. - Lots of teams from Muddy Lake. Edward Michline
also arrived. He has been at Goose Bay a few days ago, and tells
me that his brother-in-law John Groves said, that if Mr. Wallace
would ask him to help him along, he could go as far as Rigolette
with his team of dogs, as at the time he did not have very much to
do and he could have time to go to Rigolette and back before he had
any particular work to do for himself. Then I told Mr. Wallace
about it, what John Groves has said.
