Tag: B.C. History

Incendiary 30 Apr 1875 Omaha, Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Incendiary 30 Apr 1875 Omaha, Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Mar 18, 2023 | , , , ,

Altogether there is trouble ahead and I would not for anything go through the same terrible muddle and uncertainty that I did on The Intercolonial for any money so intend to have it out this summer ..

One thing very certain is that it will be impossible for any one having self respect to stay on the line if Fleming is Chief Engineer –

The Govt already sent him and act independently of him – so that he will insist on us doing things that he has not power to back us up in – neither has he the will when it comes to push —–

Mr Selwyn the Chief of the Geological survey is here – he says that young Dawson – son of the Professor in McGill College Montreal – comes out in July to take charge of the Geo. survey in B. Columbia which will last for a lifetime he says Dawson is an exceedingly worthy young man and I could get Tom with him if I would consent to let him go for his keep and a mere nominal salary of $20 a month to begin with – this is what we are going to reduce beginners wages to on our work —

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New Westminster, B.C. 27 May 1885 Marcus Smith letter to wife

New Westminster, B.C. 27 May 1885 Marcus Smith letter to wife

Nov 17, 2022 | , , ,

May 27th 1885,
My dear wife
                     When you read the enclosed clippings respecting the reported battle at Eagle hills you will understand how anxious I was and how glad to receive your telegram –

Of course as the report came from the New York correspondent of a San Francisco newspaper and as it stated there were 19 Englishmen and 21 Canadians killed – a distinction not likely to be made and as there were probably not 19 Englishmen in the whole of Otter’s forces. there was an air of improbability about it – but at the same time as the capture of a number of waggons and teamsters was confirmed which would take place near the E(a)gle hills I thought Otter would have made a dash to recover them as the troops at the time would be short of provisions. Besides as you will gather from my letter of three weeks ago respecting Otter’s battle of May 2nd – I was afraid he was ambitious to distinguish himself even at the expense of heavy losses of men as he never had any experience in active warfare which requires judgement and caution of a different kind from mere drill

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Kamloops, B.C. 17 May 1885 Marcus Smith letter to wife

Kamloops, B.C. 17 May 1885 Marcus Smith letter to wife

Nov 10, 2022 | , , ,

My Dear Wife, I have been up the line for a week and on my return yesterday (saturday) evening received your letter of the 2nd instant together with a number of newspapers mostly “weekly” which were very acceptable as they give a great deal of news about the position of the troops and other details which are not telegraphed here or copied in the newspapers. The latest telegram we have had was General Middleton’s official account of the battle at Gabrielle’s crossing on saturday the 9th inst. In which he had driven the Rebels from their position with very small loss of troops – 1 killed and 6 wounded – he concludes that he expects next – day – (sunday) to clear the Rebels out of Batoche

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12 Mar 1871 Dalhousie, N.B. 3-pg Marcus Smith letter to his son Tom

12 Mar 1871 Dalhousie, N.B. 3-pg Marcus Smith letter to his son Tom

Sep 8, 2022 | , , ,

Dalhousie N. B.
12th March 1871
My dear Tom,
Mamma has been sick but is now quite well and is very anxious to have a letter from you – she wrote to you some weeks ago and enclosed a 1 dollar bill and some postage stamps if you have received this you should have written to mamma to say so – even if it were a very short letter you should always write when you receive money or anything of importance as those who send it are always anxious to know if it has been received.

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Headquarters C.P.R. B.C. Aug 19, 1881 Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Headquarters C.P.R. B.C. Aug 19, 1881 Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Dec 3, 2021 | , , ,

“..I hope he [Tom] now has time to improve himself and instead of reading trashy novels he will get some Harper’s standard publications. They are very cheap – his biographies are only 75 cents each – so that if he only got one or even two a month it would not hurt his pocket much – I suppose Arthur will be going back before you get this – I hope he will do as well this year as last – I suppose all the big girls are away from home and left you and Clarice alone – tell the sprat she must write to Papa –

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Matthew Baillie Begbie signature on piece

Matthew Baillie Begbie signature on piece

Apr 14, 2021 | , , , ,

“Upon BC entering Confederation in 1871, Begbie became its first chief justice. He guided the judicial system of the province to an era of considerable sophistication, displaying characteristics unexpected of a Victorian judge: espousal of the rights of Chinese and native people; a lifelong interest in progressive law reforms and a tendency to take the side of the “little man.”

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Clinton, B.C. 14 Nov 1874 2.5pg Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Clinton, B.C. 14 Nov 1874 2.5pg Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Apr 10, 2021 | , , ,

I could get through easily and give a decided Report if I were Chief Engineer-but with Mr. Flemings perpetual alterations and non committals combined with the political forces in the back ground I expect to have a hard time of it- I have a good mind to give in my Report pure and simple and not submit to any alterations and let them suppress it altogether if they think fit…I am weary weary and long for rest. I have been travelling every day and many nights since I left you in May..So excuse my writing more, it is late and I am tired travelled 60 miles today in an open wagon- thermometer to zero.

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