The post at Kootenay, which is now well supplied with goods for the Winters trade and as Mining Operations have been attended with some success there this season, the result of its trade, this Outfit should prove profitable: especially as it is the principal trading station now in that Mining Camp."

I have the honor to state that in pursuance of your verbal and telegraphic instructions, I left this City [Victoria] on the 13th Ultimo for Kootenay, to enquire into the difficulties existing between the Indians and white settlers, to report to you upon the necessity of sending a detachment of Mounted Police there for the maintenance of peace, and to apprise the Indians in advance, of the object of the force, and that its presence in the district was not intended for any interference except that which might be necessary for the preservation of constituted authority.

It will be remembered, that about two years ago two white Miners were murdered on the trail, not far from Golden City, and that suspicion fell upon two young Indians belonging to Isidore's band named "Kapla" and "Young Isidore" who were accused of being the murderers.

In March last, Kapla was in the Indian Camp at St. Marys, and Mr. Constable Anderson with five or six specials arrested, and imprisoned him in the Provincial Gaol at Wild Horse Creek, on the authority of two warrants, issued by Mr. Wm. Fernie, and Mr. M Phillips two local Justices of the Peace. In a few days afterwards the Chief Isidore with fifteen or twenty Indians of his band appeared at the gaol, and demanded the liberation of Kapla upon the plea that he had been improperly arrested. Upon refusal of Mr. Anderson, the outside door of the gaol was broken in by the Indians when he (the constable) unlocked the cell door, and permitted the prisoner to escape....

I sent a messenger to Isidore to apprize him of our arrival, and on Sunday the 26th he with a few of the principal Indians called to pay his respects, and to state that he would willingly meet us whenever we were ready to receive him. We appointed Tuesday the 28th Ult, and having obtained the services of Francois a Kootenay Indian as Interpreter, assisted by the Revd. L. Fouquet we duly met Isidore, and a number of representative Indians, according to agreement. I then addressed them calling Isidore's attention to the fact that I had visited him last year for the purpose of enquiring into his alleged land difficulties, that I had carried copies of his speeches made on that occasion to the Government, and while they were being considered I was astonished to learn that, notwithstanding his professions of loyalty, that he himself, with a number of armed Indians had been guilty of breaking the law, and had incurred the risk of very serious punishment in forcibly taking Kapla from legal custody. I had visited Ottawa upon this business, and the Government was anxious to hear what he had to say in extenuation of so grave a crime. That he must know that the law would be rigidly upheld, and that no man whether he be a white or Indian Chief would be allowed to interfere with it. That only one man had been stationed here as Constable, because the Government depended on the loyalty of both whites, and Indians to uphold authority, but if this were not enough and it appeared necessary, that the Government were able and determined to fill the district with soldiers, but I was to tell both whites, and Indians that the presence of such a force was merely for the maintenance of law, and order, and beyond this there would be no interference with any one....

Isidore then made the following remarks which were taken verbatim....

You are three Chiefs, I will tell you my heart. You see our body is small. It is not strong and we try to follow the straight road. I know nothing about writing. I have no paper, still I do not forget. Although according to the ways of the white man there was something wrong in breaking the door of the gaol, I thought it was right under the circumstances. I knew on the side of the white man it was wrong to break the door, I did it to keep my people good, to keep them from doing something worse....

Last winter after Mr. Vowell left, the constable arrested one of my people during the winter. Why did he do this? Mr. Vowell has not spoken about it.

I came here to see the Constable, I asked him, what Chief told you to arrest the Indian. He replied that a paper had come to him from below (Victoria) that was the reason.

I said, tell us the name of the Chief the Constable refused. I said to him again, tell us the name, he would not. If you will not tell us the name we will take the man, (prisoner) out of gaol. The Constable said it was not I who has received the paper (to arrest the boy) Mr. Aylmer received it. I said why did you put that man in gaol, he answered you know why I did it, two white men have been killed at Columbia Lakes, that is the reason I arrested him. I said who saw him kill the white men. None of the Kootenays have seen it. If you tell me what white man saw him do the deed all right. If not I will take him out of gaol. He would not answer. I said Mr. Vowell [Indian Agent] does not know, I don't know. If you don't know I will take him out of gaol....

I won't hide from you Chief what I then said "Look over the land, how many white men have the Kootenays killed. Look at this place there is the blood of a Kootenay. It is the white man who spilled it, we have seen this with our own eyes.

The white man (murderer) went down below for trial, we thought he would be killed (executed) the White Chiefs said so, not long after he returned. Another white man struck and killed an Indian. Mr. Vowell here asked, was the Indian in the white man's house? Yes.

I don't know how long ago on the prairie (at Fort McLeod) white men killed two Indians because they thought the Indians had fired the prairie. Three white men have killed four Indians, all this I told the Constable (Anderson). There are other cases of Indians being killed. I do not speak of. The Indians have never forgotten it....

Col. Herchmer and I arrived at Golden City on the 5th Instant, where we saw the Mounted Police in camp ready for the march up river. They are a fine body of men under the command of an efficient officer Major Steele, and I have no doubt their presence in Kootenay will have a salutary effect in the preservation of law and order, and increasing the respect of both whites and Indians therefore.

Excerpted from The Prospector newspaper, December 29, 1900.

There was a large gathering of the Masonic fraternity in Fort Steele on Thursday evening. The occasion being the installation of officers of the North Star Lodge, A.F. & A.M. P.M.W. Bro. W.R. Ross, installed the following Brothers for the ensuing year.

Immediately after the business of the evening was concluded, the visiting brothers, and members of North Star Lodge assembled in the spacious hall, adjoining the lodge room to partake of a banquet which had been prepared by wives and lady friends of the members.

THE BANQUET
The banquet was all that could be desired nothing seemed to have been omitted; and every one present were loud in their praises for the good things presented by the ladies.
After the edibles were dispatched speeches were in order.

P.W.M., Bro. Ross acted as chairman and toast-master, and in brief but appropriate remarks proposed "The Prosperity of North Star Lodge," which was responded to by W.M. Bro. J.D. McBride.

Short and pithy speeches were made by Bro's Harvey, Galbraith, Grez, Nelson, Grace and Elton.

Bro. R.L.T. Galbraith proposed the health of "Bro. John Grassick."

Bro. Grassick in responding, spoke of many things of interest to the craft.

"Our Visiting Brethren" was responded to by Bro. Donald McKay.

"The good health of P.M.W. Bro. Procunier," was responded to by W.M. Bro. McBride and Bro. Galbraith.

"The Ladies" responded to by Bro's Ross and McKay.

This event will be long remembered by the visiting Bro's and members, as being a pleasant and most instructive evening and closed with the Junior Warden's toast "Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part, Happy to Meet Again."

I was glad to know Aunt [Dent?] is in her own home again. I expect the little girls are all looking good. What about Cousin Donna, Tell me - I am glad Mary Staples is well & Ada and Alice.

Now I must cease as it is getting on to bed time, Give my love to father, Mother/Willie and all the family. Meanwhile Uncle James joins with a big share for yourself.

I remain your aff Aunt [Maria?]

Dear Mother,
Enclosed find a P.O. order for fifteen dollars, which Jim and I send as a Xmas present to you. I wish it was more. Jim has been steadily getting better for a long time now, with only an occasional back turn.

Have only time for a short note, you owe me a letter anyway. The children are very well, and anxious for Xmas, but I'm a little afraid that Santa Claus won't be able to get along over those mountains and these dreadful roads.

A big thaw came two weeks ago and carried out the Elk River Bridge over which all the traffic goes so we haven't had much custom work to do. It is now rebuilt and the thermometer is down to twenty below zero. Our house is warm, and we have lots of good wood at the door. But the men in the mountains, working at the Railroad, are having a terrible time. Dozens of poor wretches go through here every week.

The children are enclosing a dollar of their own money for Aunty Jane to buy herself a present, as there are no shops here, or they would buy her one themselves. They have earned it mudding up the cracks between the logs, and piling wood in the yard for papa. They are hoping very hard to go home to N.S. next summer but I am afraid it will not be easy to get away.

Have a nervous headache, so will be able to write very little. I think anxiously about you and Jane in the cold weather.

The pencil marks are baby's writing.

With love to all, from all the family. I am your loving daughter Annie

My Dear People,
And I am so glad to think that there are three of you there now. I wrote a few days ago, but I hate to see mail go without writing. We have had another big downpour of rain, rained nearly every day last week, but yesterday and today have been very fine.

We have been having such a lot of millionaires lately around the place as thick as hairs on a dog's back, to speak vulgarly. I think I told you before of Broadwood and Dunlop who have been camped here for several weeks, Broadwood is worth over half a million pounds, I believe, but you would never guess it from him, poor man. He and Dunlop come over here very often, everyday or two. Then there is a Mr Wells, from New York, boarding at the hotel. He is a capitalist, looking for investments, and was here last year. He is very friendly and as he is a gentlemanly person in spite of his money, we are always glad to see him too.

Hon J. Lascelles, heir to an earldom was here for two or three days last week. he is the wealthiest man in B.C. Dunlop says but he is a very chumpy sort of person. he stammers badly and for that reason he left England and buried himself at his present ranch near Windermere.

Then two wealthy men from Chicago went up to the mines up the creek yesterday, after being at the hotel for some days. They will stay at the mines for several weeks, and investigate them thoroughly, and Jim thinks there will be a flourishing camp here by next spring at the furthest. Their names are Minsteer and Spence. I believe, but I haven't met them yet.

Mr Phillipps is wildly excited over the state of affairs, and is making up his mind to ask one hundred thousand for his claim. This Mr. Wells is an experienced mining man, and thinks very well of the showing, as far as they have gone, but says that more work will have to be done before there will be any certainty of what is there. However, there is more than one string to our bow, for there is a coal deposit on the South Fork of Elk River, and this Mr Wells is here after that. If it turns out as he expects, he is going to build a railway from Kalispell up to there to pass through here, and we will everlastingly make hay while the sun shines. We miss Miss Dunlop dreadfully, and I rather believe the boys around miss her still more. Jim is Secretary of the School Board this year, and Mr Roo is the new trustee. The Roos expect their two oldest children back from Winnipeg some time soon, and then they will have a flock. Inez Holbrook is still here, it rained so she could not go back last Thursday, and the place seems to be fairly swarming with children, particularly when the young Roos come too, and add their noise to the others. I bathed all four last night when I put them to bed, and found the fourth quite an additional chore.

The wet spell was pretty hard on my poultry, but all the turkeys are still alive, my experience is that they are easier to raise than chickens, the whole thing is to keep them dry and feed them well, and they will eat anything you choose to give them, and are specially fond of porridge scraps.

Mrs. Johnson, at Fernie, sent me "Black Rock", by Rev. Gordon, and some Ladies Home Journals, also some Ledger Monthlies, which is the new name of the old Dewnest Magazine and is only fifty cents a year.

The garden is lovelier than ever, after the rains, we have poppies mignonette and stocks in bloom, and a few sweet peas. The stocks have a lovely spicy perfume, very much like the clove pink. Jim has the sweet peas trained up on wire netting, and it gives quite an air to the place. We have had cabbage for dinner since I wrote last. The heads were as hard as bullets, and Mr. Phillipps had some before that. It is the earliest that we have ever had them.

My carnations have big buds on them, and will soon be in bloom. I do hope they will be pretty, but I don't expect them to equal those beauties of Mag's.

One of our Indian neighbors, Little Joe, is very poorly, he got wet up at the Mission at the recent church feast, and I am a little afraid he will go under, has had hemorrhages. He came to us for medicine the other day, poor creature. (you must know I am physician in general to them all), and his poor feet were soaking wet then. Jim went and got him warm socks and and stout boots and put them on him, for the poor fellow could not stoop without pain. I gave him some very bad-tasting medicine, (which of course made it better) and Jim gave him some money to buy food, so Joe went away cheered up and happy. He has a young wife and two little children, and I think a prospect of a third. Paul is holding religious services at his own house, both yesterday and today. The Stoney Indians are visiting, and he is labouring with them for the good of their souls. They need all his attentions too, all right.

Six or seven wagon loads of settlers effects passed through here one day last week, en route for the Territories, and one of the women was very sour about it. She "hated Canada already". She was a whopper, with a face as big as a pot-lid, so I concealed my feeling, with more or less care.

Dear me. I wish I could see you all, and have a talk instead of this inefficient letter writing. My dearest love to all three of you. Any further word of Allan? and how is Katie getting along? We are feeling very much depressed by the recent bad news from China, and the apparent hopelessness of saving the Legations in Pekin.

Lovingly Yours Annie Tell Sallie I do wish she would be home the year I happen to get there.