The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1946, Blaðsíða 47

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
45
that we left Winnipeg on the seven-
teenth,* which was on a Sunday, at least
it is not correct that we started early in
the morning; we did not leave till about
noon, or later. The number of the flat-
boats, as given, nine is probably correct.
The tenth boat was a York boat. There
the “better-class” people were given ac-
commodation.
The current in the Red River is not
swift, except after a sudden spring thaw,
and in a rainy season, but the river is
very winding and there are three rapids
one worse than the other two. These
rapids are sufficiently dangerous, even
for serviceable craft in the hands of
persons familiar with their navigation.
What then of ourselves! Large stones
'and rocks left no margin of safety.
Nevertheless, due to the marked energy
of a few persons, including two guides
"who accompanied us to below the
Rapids, about twelve miles from Winni-
peg, the flotilla arrived safely at the
mouth of the Red River on the twenty-
first of October. On the same day the
steamer Colville towed us on our way
to Willow Point.
When the Colville was taking us in
tow, its propeller damaged one of the
flatboats, the one to which I had been
allocated. The boat filled immediately,
but all the goods were saved, although
they were wet.
A stiff breeze blew from the south, and
all the select folk moved on board the
steamer, while the rest remained on the
flatboats.
We were dropped by the Colville some
distance off-shore. The captain, perhaps
unduly cautious, would not risk moving
in to the shallows. We were left in a
difficult situation: one flatboat was
water-logged and there was a consider-
able rise to the waves.
Our immediate objective was the inlet
connecting the lake and the so-called
Willow Tarn. We were aided a little by
the breeze, which blew partly on our
* The daily Free Press refers to the
Party leaving on the sixteenth of Octo-
ber, 1875.—W. K.
quarter; otherwise we would not have
succeeded in reaching our objective.
Every effort was now put forth, and
we made our way inshore, on to the
Willow Tarn, and along it, to the isthmus
or gravel ridge. There we passed the
night.
Then all the goods were lugged across
the point, loaded on to the York boat, and
taken to Girnli Bay. This was no small
distance, and the task entailed several
days of hard work.
.Unequal was the effort put forth by
the various members of the group. Some
persons made themselves scarce, while
others were unable to do anything be-
cause of indisposition, which in some
cases may have been feigned. Some
considered the work beneath their dig-
nity. As a result, the task fell to the lot
of comparatively few persons.
While we were moving the goods and
supplies, we were troubled by exposure
to wet.
The flatboats were broken up. The
boards were intended for use in doors
and door-frames; also for the floors in
the homes of the leaders. It soon became
evident that distinction was made be-
tween persons in the group.
No one possessed fishing nets, and
our only means of shelter were some
derelict tents, all ragged and torn, which
Taylor had obtained on loan from the
Hudson’s Bay Company. These became
our first habitation in our promised land,
and into them we moved our cook-stoves.
It was difficult to move along the
shore, on account of the fallen trees that
reached out into the lake, so one had
either to wade out into the water or to
force one’s way through the undergrowth
with its fallen trees in order to travel
from the landing places to the site of the
settlement. This was especially diffi-
cult for those who had children as well
as luggage.
There was no clearing in the woods
where the ents had been set up, but, as a
matter of fact, this was all to the good,
for the tattered tents afforded very little
protection, and one needed the shelter
of the trees. The elect had the best tents;