WHAT HAPPENED AT FORT SIMPSON, N.W.T. DURING WINTER, 1921?
From entries in the Post Journal by Manager A. F. Camsell
Jan., 1921
1—The usual reception was given the Indians this morning and a Dance will take place in the evening till 12 p.m.
5—Mail arrived from Liard this evening; they were ten days coming down.
8—Mail arrived from Providence at 10 a.m.
10—Mr. P. H. Godsell with Robbillard, driver, and two Liard men left for Liard this morning. Mr. Godsell goes to Liard on an inspection trip. The mail left yesterday for McPherson.
12—Five men and two trains of dogs arrived from the south this afternoon en route to the Norman oil fields to stake claims.
13—Tony Neis and a party of oil men arrived from the south this evening en route to the Norman oil fields to stake claims; Corporal Doke and Constable Brackett of the Mounted Police also arrived and are to be stationed at Norman.
17—Clear and cold, 38 below.
22—Mr. T. W. Harris and W. George left for Norman this morning in connection with the staking of claims below Norman.
28—Inspector Godsell returned today from a trip to Liard.
Feb.
2—Wind North. Mr. Godsell, Mr. Jackson, clerk, Robbillard, W. Sibbiston and John Hope, forerunner, left for Good Hope this morning with two trains of dogs. Wind North.
19—Mail arrived from the South today, 20 days behind schedule time.
23—Clear and fine. Mr. Conibear and two sons arrived from Smith with two trains of dogs to stake claims at Norman.
25—Clear and mild, thawing in the sun for the first time this season. Norwegian arrived from Rabbit Skin River with a good bunch of furs.
Mar.
2—Most of the oil prospectors left for the south today after recording their claims here.
12—Mr. Harry McGurn arrived with the mail from the North last night. Mr. Wada and party accompanied him from Wrigley.
18—Mail arrived from Providence today, 18 days behind time. This mail will do down as far as McPherson.
30—Cloudy and thawing. H. Camsell and W. Johnson went for a moose across the river this morning. Two airplanes arrived this morning at 11:30 a.m. from Peace River. They were one hour and forty minutes travelling time from Providence.
Apr.
1—W. Johnson, H.B.C. engineer, making propellor for airplane.
5—One of the airplanes started for Norman this morning and met with an accident in starting, smashing the prop. and damaging one of the wings.
15—One of the airplanes took a trial trip with a new prop. this afternoon and appeared to give satisfaction.
18—W. Johnson left this morning at 2 a.m. with two trains of dogs and supplies for work on the S.S. Liard at Spence River.
22—Wind North and snowing most of the day. Both airplanes are now ready, and they will be leaving for Peace River as soon as the weather is favourable.