Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 30 September 1868, CO 60:33, no. 13646, 415.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Seymour describes the destruction of Barkerville by fire and how the residents of Barkerville have responded to the disaster. In particular, Seymour notes the actions of miners, Chinese Canadians, and Indigenous peoples. Seymour encloses
the Magistrate's account of the fire and of the losses alleged to have been sustained.Rogers’s minute remarks on the increased number of natural disasters in British colonies
for the last two or three years.Granville’s minute describes how to reply to Seymour’s despatch.
No. 114
New Westminster
30th September 1868
My Lord Duke,
Just as I was congratulating myself on the improvement in the
affairs of British Columbia, I hear of the destruction byfire
fire
of Barkerville, the largest of the three towns on Williams
Creek, Cariboo.
fire
of Barkerville, the largest of the three towns on Williams
Creek, Cariboo.
2. The fire broke out in the Middle of the day so no lives were
lost. But property valued at from one to two hundred thousand
pounds has been destroyed. The Banks of British Columbia and
North America have had everything burnt and the Hudson's Bay
Company's Shop has gone. These last were however prudent enough
tohave
have the greater part of their supply of goods kept in a
cellar in the face of the hill behind the town and that has escaped.
have the greater part of their supply of goods kept in a
cellar in the face of the hill behind the town and that has escaped.
3. Barkerville had risen by degrees from a mere mining camp to
a considerable town. But the old plan had been adhered to and houses
grew up on ground
amply sufficient for tents. Crowded
together as they were in a narrow street it is not surprising
that a few hours of conflagrationshould
should have destroyed the
ambitious but frail wooden tenements.
should have destroyed the
ambitious but frail wooden tenements.
4. I enclose the Magistrate's account of the fire and of the
losses alleged to have been sustained.
5. The good conduct of the people of British Columbia, of which
I have often boasted, failed them on this occasion and a large
amount of property was stolen. The Chinese were the principal
offenders. Miners proved not to be allabove
above temptation, but I
have the authority of Chief Justice Begbie for saying that there
has not been a single charge brought against an Indian. This
seems strange and highly creditable to them.
above temptation, but I
have the authority of Chief Justice Begbie for saying that there
has not been a single charge brought against an Indian. This
seems strange and highly creditable to them.
6. The same energy which Cariboo has always shown has led to
the beginning of the erection of a new Barkerville. Before the
cinders of the late houses were cold new buildings were rising on
the former sites. So totally however has the burnt portion been
destroyed that thegreater
greater part of the Magistrate's time is
occupied in tracing with a Surveyor the space on which each
building stood before the conflagration. It is a matter of very
great satisfaction to me the having Mr Brew in charge of the
Cariboo district at this time.
greater part of the Magistrate's time is
occupied in tracing with a Surveyor the space on which each
building stood before the conflagration. It is a matter of very
great satisfaction to me the having Mr Brew in charge of the
Cariboo district at this time.
7. The frosts have already set in. Prospecting is at an end
for this season, as all hands will be engaged in rebuilding
Barkerville. But in the midst of devastation, the Miners are
cheerful and the sceneof
of the evening's recreations has been for
the present transferred to Richfield, a town about a mile off.
of the evening's recreations has been for
the present transferred to Richfield, a town about a mile off.
8. The Government Buildings are there, and in the destruction
of Barkerville, I have only specifically to indicate my regret
at the loss of the Public Library, the Miner's lounge and an
object of my constant solicitude.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Monsell
Lord Granville has only, I conceive to express regret.
Lord Granville has only, I conceive to express regret.
There is something really strange in the succession of Fevers,
Earthquakes, hurricanes & fires which have afflicted
the Colonies for the last two or three years.
Express regret at this great and sudden calamity, join in the
hope that the arrival of goods and provisions will prevent
a dearth, and state satisfaction at the energy and public
spirit which has been
displayed in repairing the injury caused
by the fire.
displayed in repairing the injury caused
by the fire.
G 18/12
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
C. Brew, Magistrate, to Colonial Secretary, 15 September
1868 and 22 September 1868, two reports giving details of the
destruction of Barkerville by fire and subsequent events,
including a list of property lost and stolen.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Granville to Seymour, No. 3, 22 December 1868 expressing regret regarding the destruction of Barkerville and hope for the prevention of death with the appropriate support.