Excerpts from Bob Hougham’s Diary- 1909

April 10^th

Arrived at Lloydminster 10:55 AM, Saturday night, April 10, 1909. Secured a room at the Alberta Hotel. Got a shave $.25 worth and was quite disappointed to learn that the McManns had given up the hotel.

April 11^th

Found out that the former proprietors of the hotel were still in town, so I looked them up and goes to call on Fergus in the afternoon, also in the evening.

April 12^th

“Bright and Fair.” Nil! Snowing like a blizzard and colder as an Iceberg. Went in the hole $10.35 for groceries at Camerons & Cummings. Bought ammunition and bread ($1.80). Met Ben (Mudge) in town this PM. He will take out my groceries for me. Spent the PM and evening with Fergus and told them good-by – for it was me for the homestead.

April 13^th

Paid my hotel bill $2.50 and with a pioneer smile, and a half pint of rye, two biscuits, a can of beans and $.39, I took up the trail a foot for my shack on the river bank, a distance of 32 miles to the north and east. Arrived 7:20 at the cabin of Mr. Howard’s worn completely out. After I had a good supper, my cousin Bill (Whitney) and I came on over to my shack. When after we had put to right the little things that had been misplaced during my absence of three months, we turned in and stayed “put” till 9:00AM the next morning.

April 14^th

After breakfast, Bill & I went over to Fernando Howard’s and helped him thrash out seed oats. Picture Bob swinging a flail as they used to do in the “oldin days.” It was quite a novel experience. But believe me! The novelty has long since warn off, and as some stories go stale, so it is with threshing. Bill spent the night with me again, and by the way, I spent all but nine cents of my money, twenty-five for meat and five for milk.

April 15^th

One year ago today I filed on my claim. Helped Mr. Fernando Howard thrash again today. Ben, Elsie & Benjie (Mudge), with the Sidwells, drove through this PM.

April 16^th

Billy helped me cut my barn logs today. We had to quit about 3:30 PM on account of snow storm. Bill went over to Ben’s for tonight. I walked over as far as Howard’s and bought back a sack of groceries that Frank brought out from town for me.

April 17^th

Bill came over this AM and we finished cutting my barn logs. Had a big feed at noon to celebrate the occasion. Dinner “Al la” over the table. Roast chicken and dressing, rare Roast Beef, Gravy from chicken stew and dumplings & Gravy, hot biscuits with coffee. This PM we went over to Flanders to stay all night and will start for town in the morning. Borrowed $2.00 off Sarah.

April 18^th

“Fine” this morning. Left Flanders at 7:00AM and made town at 4:00PM. I went to the hotel. Got on my togs, dodged street cars and autos, went up church Street to No.23 and turned in. I also spent the evening there. There is a little bank clerk in Lloydminster who would like very well to cash my cheques for me, then beat my time. We’ll see!

April19th

Paid hotel bill $.75, got new watch crystal, $.25, hair cut $.30, meat $.15, seeds $.30,

Stamps $.10 and borrowed a nickel off Bill and bought a postcard that I sent to “Bea.” Gosh! If she only knew that I had to borrow the money to send that card with, she would love me no more. Got a dandy letter from her, also one from Mother, Olivette & Ida. Went in debt again $2.50 for window. Told Fergus good-by, ate dinner and took up the trail again about 2:00 PM. Dinner at the Indian shack and reached Flanders at 10:30. Bill and I, with the North Star for a guide, went across the prairie to his tent- reached it at midnight.

April 20^th

Breakfast at 10:00. Ben came out, roughed up his neck feathers, and told me that I had not done the square thing by him in cutting his logs for the barn last fall- just because he found them covered up with snow and in the brink. He says he won’t trade work with me any more “a-tall-tall” and I told him I didn’t give a damn if he didn’t, and he went off “very vexed” at me, asking that God’s Blessings follow me all the days of my life, but hoping that it would never catch up with me. Am glad he still owes me for oats. We cut half Bill’s house logs this PM. He is writing letters, while I am having a case of stomach ache. Too much raisin doesn’t agree with me; and you sure would have laughed to see bill take that pie out of the oven and drop it on the floor.

April 21^st

Cooler today. Bill and I finished cutting his house logs before dinner. This PM I went over to Howard’s and carted home my two windows and put them in. It makes my shack look like a house now. There is still about six inches of snow on the level, and “tis so cold that one’s hands will stick to any metal out doors. “How’s that for spring weather?”

April 22^nd

Made two trips over to Howard’s and carted home a sack full of groceries each time. Made boxes and planted my cabbage & tomato seeds. Still cold.

April 23^rd

Was doing my breakfast dishes this AM when Flanders drove in, bringing my friend Mr. N. E. Apple from St.Paul. I was sure glad to see him and he sounded glad to get here. Brought a good outfit with him. Did a big washing, scrubbed the floor and put the cabin straight again. We went over to the ice and saw bear tracks. Big ones, and fresh. Also found an old sluice box. Came back. Walked over to Ben’s and back and was ready to return when I retired.

April 24^th

Left my shack at 6:00AM. Walked every step of the way to town. Took an hour for dinner at the Indians and arrived here at Lloyd, 3:45. The trail was sloppy. Met Uncle Porter (Westgate) the first thing. He seemed jolly – glad to see me and we have been having a time ever since.

April 25^th

Sunday again. Still cloudy and cold. Wrote a letter today. Went over to see Fergus this evening and had a most delightful time. Tell you what, she’s a winner.

April 26^th

Uncle Porter and I bought all our supplies today. Ben came in with the team and we are loaded, ready to pull out in the morning. Apple came in with the fellows, bag and baggage, from my shack. Saturday night, he had an attack of heart failure and nearly died. Poor chap. He has got to right home again. The air is too light. He left me some jam and stuff, and I gave him two dollars, and that was every cent he had besides his car fare. Spent the evening with Fergus.

We dribbled in home tonight, about 8PM, wet, hungry, tired, but happy to get back. Gee, but my shacks in a mess. Took the team clear back to Mr. Howard’s, put them out and came back (12:30). Port was to have done the dishes, but I found him sound asleep, so I did the dishes & turned in at 2:30.

April 27^th

Chased all over the country, trying to locate Port. Didn’t find much to suit him (“in the way of modern, unforested, fine leveled fields and wire fences”), yet I think his choice is the poorest of any- river bluffs and rock. Billy is over to spend the night. Took me three hours to clean up my shack today and putting it to right again.

April 28th

Came to town in six hours today. Port filed on the N.E. ¼ 18-53-25. Don’t think he’ll like it at all. Mr. Howard and I did all we could to stop him, but to no use. Had to tell Fergus good-by tonight for she goes to Edmonton the middle of the next week.

April 29^th

Got a dandy letter from Mother this AM. Also a dandy joke on Port. Last night when I came in he went down to the office and wrote a letter. Now our room is on the third floor, No. 15. Well when he came to bed he forgot to climb the second set of stairs, and went down the hall and into the room below ours. He noticed the light was not burning and that the fellow was on the front side of the bed. He supposed it was me and piled in and didn’t find out different till the morning. Hauled out Canoe today. Also, all my seed potatoes.

April 30^th

Billy spent the night with us again last night. He and Port moved Port’s stuff over to his claim. I was sick in bed this PM and had to get up and get supper for the fellows. Billy is over again to spend the night.

May 1^st

Spring started today, with a fine sun and a warm south-east breeze. Most of the snow has gone. Have spent a good share of the time in bed with my cold. Baked today with good success. Wrote a letter to Olivette, also.

May 2^nd

It was a beautiful warm day today, and I was so knocked out that I had to spend the first part of it in bed. Feel quite well tonight. I walked over to Mr. Howard’s and got my mail, and a letter from Cousin Emma, one from Ray, and one from Valora. Burned my fire guards this PM. Wrote a letter to Ida tonight.

May 3^rd

Am feeling just a little better today. Did my washing this AM and grubbed brush all PM. Harry Flanders was over for awhile this evening.

May 4^th

Tried to snow today, but didn’t succeed. Put out my wash this AM, and finished scrubbing my shack. Grubbed brush this PM. Went over to Ben Mudge’s and settled with him. Am just $28.00 and a saddle blanket worse off than I thought I was. Got three letters, Sara R, F. T. Griffen, Winnipeg, and one from Apple, (OK@ St. Paul). Wish I were home tonight to help make life miserable for Clara.

May 5^th

Grubbed brush today. Went over to Howard’s this evening. Frank is going to take supper with me tomorrow night and will talk prospecting in the evening.

May 6^th

Beautiful day again. Went for a little hunt before dinner, but had no luck. Chopped wood and cleaned up my yard this PM. Frank came over for supper, spent the evening and stayed all night.

May 7^th

Chopped a pile of wood this morning for about an hour, and have been grubbing bush the rest of the day. Quit at 7:30 and am pretty tired. If I remember correctly, this is Fergus’ birthday and I haven’t even written her a letter.

May 8^th

Another beautiful Sunday. The ice broke out of the river at 5:00 PM. I went down and watched it pile up. Great masses of ice cakes jam the banks and nearly dammed the river. I was down two hours and the river raised about 20 inches while I was there. Killed a duck, also. He is stuffed fuller than a tick and is sizzling in the oven. Saw cranes by the thousands today. Had a little better success with my baking today.

May 10^th

I lost a day. Rain. So May 9 will have to be left out of this book entirely. I grubbed bush hard all day today. Uncle Port came over today and started work on my land. We drew up the contract on the other page. Ben came from town and brought me three letters- one from Mother and two others.

May 11^th

Was too tired last night to write in this book, so will do so this morning. Yesterday I grubbed bush hard all day and finished the three acres north of my field. My cabbages are coming up nicely. Snow is still to be seen across the river, in the ravine and it freezes quite hard each night, yet the days are beautiful and long, the crocuses have been in bloom for over a week. Made two trips down to the river and I am over to Mr. Howard’s after some potatoes.

May 12^th

Chopped some wood. Made a trip over to Mr. Howard’s to get some oats for Porter’s team. Got my mail. A card from Valora. Hauled in a jag of wood.

May 13^th

Chopped wood and grubbed this AM. Was in bed all PM with the pain between my shoulder blades. Wrote to Aunt Jennie. Set bread and am ready for bed.

May 14^th

Burned off my place. All OK this morning. Billy came over for dinner and this PM we launched my canoe and went over to the Pipestone fishing, but had no luck. Rained. Quite a shower. Am going over to Billy’s to help him with his house tomorrow.

May 15^th

Billy carried mud all day, while I mudded his shack. We finished, and I walked over and found Porter sick in bed with a headache. Howard butchered today and he gave me a piece of liver. He also measured his oats and found that he wouldn’t have any for me. So I go to town after them. Port finished harrowing.

May 16^th

Did my two week’s washing and baked today. Also wrote to Mother. Killed five blackbirds at one shot and had them in a stew for supper. I tell you, they were fine. Billy and Porter stay here all night and start for town in the morning. Had fine bread this time.

May 17^th

Uncle Port and Billy started for town this morning. I felt so punk that instead of working I went canoeing. There was quite a strong wind in the east, so I rigged up a sail out of an old carpet, and the way I went up river wasn’t slow. Waves were running about 2 feet high and I was going about six miles an hour even up stream. Went as far as (Fort) Pitt, and fished, but had no luck on the way back. I picked up enough drift lumber to pay for my day’s work. Got back at 2PM and had to go to bed again with that “Bloody Pain in my back.” Got up at 8:30 and went up to Ruby’s and borrowed her cat. He has caught 5 mice in less than one hour.

May 18^th

Rained most all day, and I stayed pretty close. Went over to Howard’s. They gave me a nice chunk of pork chops. I darned socks for about two hours and wrote to Gladys.

May 19^th

Rained nearly all day, so I stayed in doors and darned the rest of my socks. Have 31 pairs all washed, darned and ready to wear. This evening I went over to Howard’s. Port & Bill had returned with seed oats. They had a time getting here. Got stuck 5 times and had to unload. Got a letter from Ken and Mother, and a box of wedding cake. Finished my letter to Gladys and am ready for bed.- 11PM

May 20^th

Grubbed all day and made quite a show. Returned Ruby’s cat, with thanks, this evening and wrote to Ken.

May 21^st

Grubbed all morning. Port came over for dinner and we went over to Howard’s and ran our seed oats through his fanning mill. Got back late and sat ‘till 11:00 PM over the supper dishes, talking of the past, present and future, moralizing and giving each other good advice.

May 22^nd

Port went home this morning. I am baking today. Scrubbed my floor. Washed all of my windows. Raked the yard. Took my usual Saturday night bath. Put up my pictures and went over to Howard’s to see Frank.

May 23^rd

Stayed all night over there at Howard’s. This AM Frank came over with me and we sailed up to Old fort Pitt and fished. Tis too early yet to catch them. We walked over to his shack and looked at his moose head. He sure has it nicely mounted and it was a monster. The trees leafed out yesterday and today saw violets and pea vine in bloom, willows to, and at the same time saw ice cakes on the river and snow all around Old Pitt, in the ravines. Porter starts seeding tomorrow. Tomatoes are just coming up, and the mosquitoes are coming by the thousands, and their companions, to bite already. Frank stayed for supper.

May 24^th

Uncle Porter came this noon and commenced to drill oats. I grubbed brush all morning and went over to Billy’s this PM and got him to come over with me to help cut posts, rails, etc.

May 25^th

Billy and I canoed the river and cut 200 posts today. Coming back, saw two coyotes. I shot at them, but they were on the run and I missed. Tucker gave me a bucket of milk.

May26th

Rained most all day. Bill & I went over to Pipestone. He pulled up about ten pound Pickerel, but it snapped his line. Coming back we caught out of the river, the bottom of an old ferry. Got 8- 2x 10x 16 and five 2 x 4’s. Port came over and is staying all night.

May 27^th

This PM I did Billy’s wash for him. Golly it was rich. Hadn’t washed since he left home. He hasn’t any tub or wash board, so I did it for him. We went fishing for awhile. Scrubbed my cabin and took a bath.

May28th

Yesterday, I went over to Frank’s in the morning & helped him plant his and Ralph’s garden. Stayed all night.

May 29^th

My “birthday” and no body knows anything about it. I wonder if Mother made me a cake, or remembered that it was my birthday? Tom and I drove over to Mr. Howard’s. Had dinner, and after dinner Cliff and I went up on the hills and dug up 200 Red Cranberry Bushes and set them out for Mrs. Howard. Also, planted garden for two hours.

May 30^th

Decoration Day, and another beautiful Sunday gone by. Today Cliff and I sailed down the river in my canoe about seven miles, caught one fish. I go over to Howard’s this evening to help tomorrow with his pasture fence. Wrote to Mother & Father.

May 31^st. June 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th

Helped Mr. Howard all week with pasture fences, setting posts, etc. also the 6^th, 7^th, & 8^th He bought me a lot of letters this time, especially one from Fergus Mc. She speaks tenderly of a little “Yankie boy” who would no doubt like to see her just at the present time.

June 9^th & 10^th

Put in my potatoes and finished planting Mr. Howard’s.

June 11^th

All day today I toiled in Mr. Flander’s cellar. We finished the digging. Tomorrow I go over & help cut logs to finish it.

June 12^th

Today we cut all the logs, hauled them and laid over half of them in his cellar. Got home here at 10 PM and pitched my tent so that I could get a night’s sleep. The mosquitoes are a fright!

June 13^th

For the first time in the young history of “Yankie Bend” we had church today ay Mr. Howard’s. A young man from Toronto is out here, on a mission and 25 were there. Got my mail again. Three letters- from Sara R, Ida 7 Mother.

June 14^th

Went over to Bert Howard’s this morning and was going up the river in my canoe to the “Sun Dance” about two miles from Hewitt’s, bur the river looked too swift for easy paddling, so I came back. Did up my washing & cut wood till night. Went to Bill’s and got Tucker to come down tomorrow and disc my potatoes for me.

June 15^th & 16^th

Went up the river to Sun Dance. Came back as far as the landing. Stayed all night there. Walked to town and back as far as Steven’s, stayed all night and came home today. There is great “gold” excitement down the river about 100 miles. This PM, Cliff Howard & I start in my canoe for that place.

(To Mother)

Dear Mother, Cliff and I are starting on a rather dangerous trip.

The water is very high.

June 17^th

We launched the canoe at Bert Howard’s at 4PM, with a good grub stake and a west wind. We strung out five yards of canvas for the start. We had a very exciting ride and a most delightful one that afternoon. About 8, we stopped and got supper on a sandy little island in the center of the river, where the river was narrow. At this point, the river flows through a narrow gorge and on either bank the Buttes run up for a good many hundred feet. Some of them are covered with fine timber. Others are bare and rocky, but on the whole, more beautiful scenery I have never seen. After we made about ten miles more. Climbed a Butte and camped on the top of it, out of the way of mosquitoes, where there was a nice breeze. We were about 35 miles from home.

June 18^th

Today we had a lot of fun. A coyote was out in the river, on a sand bar, hunting for ducks. He didn’t see us until about 200 yards of him, and he struck out for the mainland, “poka tumpa.” We paddled hard and headed him off, and killed him with the paddles and 22. At noon we reached the Englishman’s River, a very beautiful place, and certainly fine for fishing. I shot a fish and a big one ran away with my line. We started on about 5:00 PM. Killed a big badger and the same way that we killed the coyote. We reached the ferry, 7 miles north of Paynton. At night when we camped, 75 miles of our journey, thus far, has been without sight or sign of civilization, and it was the most glorious scenery all the way.

June 19^th

Cliff Howard and I walked to Paynton & back. This morning the gold brown there didn’t look good to us. We started on at 12 o’clock, and passed two more ferries that afternoon. About night it commenced to rain. We went hunting a place to camp, saw a smoke ahead and made for it. It was the camp of two half breed men, the wife of one and the mother of the other. Later, this old woman proved very good to us. We camped by their fire and cooked over it, bunked under the canoe.

June 20^th

In the morning we found ourselves under four inches of water. Blankets and grub soaked. The old lady, Mrs. Cardinal, by name gave us a bannock and we made out a very good breakfast. This AM, her son was sick and she gave Cliff & I each a dollar to help the other man build a raft of logs to take to the mill at Battleford. Rained all day Sunday and we were wet. The old lady told us when we reached Battleford to go to her shack on the river banks and make ourselves at home; and we did it and were sure glad to get under cover, even though our blankets & chuck were wet.

June 21^st

We slept till noon today, and after going about old Battleford a bit, we found that we could earn $7 per thousand feet for all the drift logs we could deliver at the mill. We bought an ax and auger, and 50 feet of rope, and paddled back up the river 4 miles. Started to build a raft & then camped for the night on an island. A colder, wetter more disagreeable night I’ve never spent. The wind blew and the rain beat through our blankets and we tried to sleep through it all.

June 22^nd

The wind blew so today and the river waves were so high that Cliff and I barely made the main land where we camped till about 5:00 PM when the wind went down we finished our raft and took it to within a mile of the mill. We tied it securely and got into the canoe and started for Battleford. Just at the mill, where the river is the swiftest and deepest, we had an accident, which might have proven very serious, and which gave Cliff & I another chance to battle with the current for our lives. We were turning in along side a large raft, which was tied from the canoe, furthest out from the water, to a tree on a steep bank as we passed under the rope. Cliff reached up and took hold of it to lift it up over his head and he couldn’t let go of it in time. The canoe was swept out from under him and upset. I was in the stern and of course upset with the rest of the junk. The canoe righted itself by chance and we both clung to it and were swept towards the raft. We put forth every effort of mind and body to keep from being from being swept under the raft which would have been a sure death had we gone, for the raft was nearly 200 feet long. We slowly dragged our wet selves onto the raft where we sat for some little time before anything could be said. That makes the second time the river had tried to number Cliff and I among its many victims. When two-thirds of our body is under a raft, with him a hold of a slippery end of a log, to pull one’s self up against a current that runs 10-12 miles an hour, takes a whole lot of the kinks out of one’s arms and back, and throws another half hitch in our love for life.

June 23^rd

We added a few more logs to our raft and took it to the mill without mishap. We had $14.50 worth of logs, so we felt some happy. I cleaned up the canoe and have put it up for sale, in charge of Lawyer Keith. My adverse circumstances compel me to do this very thing, much against my will, for I dearly loved that little of my very own handwork.

Mrs. Cardinal came back overland, night before last, and we have been having a dandy time at her shack. She speaks not English but is just about like a mother to Cliff and I. We furnish the meat for the table and she cooks bannock & tea for us, makes our bed and we are right at home. Then we cut wood for her, etc. We ate our first Pemican today, made of dried and pounded meat, berries & fat. Not too bad eating after we got used to it.

June 24^th

Last night I had my first experience with a pick pocket, or burglar. (Boo) Mrs. Cardinal had taken pity on a half-breed who was all wet, and she let him stay all night long. About two in the morning I wakened rather suddenly and was very nervous “period” I sufficed that something was wrong, so after lying still for a moment, I flipped back the covers over onto Cliff and lurched myself to the center of the room, rather suddenly, and at the foot of my bed was this breed, in crouching position and had my pants in one hand and going through a pocket with the other hand. My movement frightened him so that he said “Hello.” I growled at him and told him that was a large business he was engaged in and went on out the door. When I came back in he was rolled up in his blanket. Cliff made sure that his money was on his person, and in the morning I found not a thing missing from any of the pockets. The breed skinned out before breakfast, and I think was just a little bit more scared than I. Cliff left for home this evening. I am staying. Trying to sell my canoe.

June 25^th

“Canoe not Sold”, remember, mother? Ha ha. So I start for home tonight. Made a trade today, “Dira” - $8:00, beche makan vs - $21.40, “Moosquagan na was a chi ki.” Good trade that sabee? Dira awak nepicha ka on Pooch ki gannaab kessiha nawanchi mooswagan. Good trade that sabee? And attracted not a little attention.

Made a bit with the Dominion Matalic Cartrage Company, General Agent, and he wanted me to advertise a little of his stuff by trying it. So, he gave me $1.25 box of ammunition. Stayed me well kept at the hotel, paid my bill. Had a lunch put up for me the next morning and darned if he didn’t walk out two miles and a half with me Sunday. Told me what a hardy looking chap I was. Thought it a wonder that I would start for a 32 mile walk with a 60 pound pack. Said he would give me $1000.00 for my health (wish he had mine) and on the whole he seemed quite glad that he met me. Of course, I loaded him with a host of experiences, real & imaginary, and had him wishing that he might give up his job and try roughing it for awhile.

June 26^th

Drug on home tonight. Very tired. Found my mail waiting for me. Two letters from Mother, a surprise from Sis, Letters from Fergus and Olivetta.

June 27^th, 28^th, 29^th,

Have been laid up with the stomach ache these three days. Don’t know what’s the matter. I tell you I had a “scare” this morning. Went down the river where I had a line set. Just as I got there, my heart commenced to beat faster & faster, and finally it went almost as fast as I could count. I went down and each beat moved my whole body. I started for my shack, which was a half mile away. Every rod I walked, I became weaker and weaker, and finally made my shack, which was but a blurr before my eyes. I fell into bed, I suppose about 8 AM, and knew nothing till about four this PM. When I layed down, my heart was going about forty knots an hour. But is beating normal tonight. I am quite weak and just a little disturbed about it, for had I been a rod further away, my strength would not have held out.