Colonial Despatches

John McGregor worked as a coal miner for the Hudson's Bay Company.1 According to this letter, he took the Una to mine for coal in Haida Gwaii but found gold instead. After the gold discovery, the local people (probably Haida) claimed ownership of the yellow metal, and, after some conflict, the Una and her crew left the island to avoid bloodshed.

McGregor emigrated from Scotland in 1848 with his relatives, the Muirs, to work as a coal miner at Fort Rupert.2 When McGregor and the Muirs arrived, they found the conditions less than desirable, and, when local officials ignored their complaints, McGregor and Andrew Muir organized a labour strike. In response, George Blenkinsop had the two imprisoned at the fort for six days.3

• 1. Muir, Andrew, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
• 2. Ibid.
• 3. Ibid.