Victoria, B.C. 11 Oct 1872 Marcus Smith 2-page Letter to his wife. Mentions meeting up with Sandford Fleming while surveying for the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Lot 83 in our 16 May auction
Victoria B.C. 11th Oct. 1872
My dear Annie
I got here yesterday in company with Mr. Fleming & party whom I met about 70 miles this side of Tete jaune cache. -the place where I expected to meet him- but he was nearly a week before his time and I was nearly a week behind- being detained by rough country on the long journey I sketched out to you for 100 miles I had no trail not even that of an Indian but through the trackless wilderness through bush and brake swimming lakes and rivers and climbing over rocks.- Mr. Fleming as usual has rushed through like a rocket and we have come here in a fortnight from the rocky mountains to the surprise of everybody he leaves tomorrow on Sunday by steamer for San Francisco- and of course has seen very little of the work but taken away from mine- so I have to go back to the mainland- up Quesnelle lake B.C.- I leave in an hour- but will write you from the 150 miles house (400 miles from here) I fear Tom will never do any good- but let him run and see if he gets strength- as for the girls you had better teach them servants work as all the money we spend seems to be thrown away- I am quite well now rheumatism nearly gone- I fear I shall not be home till after X-mas kisses to all.
Yours ever,
M. Smith
