Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Higgins, John to Cardwell, Edward 7 September 1864, CO 60:20, no. 8399, 343.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Higgins asks about the
particularson the
sad massacreof road workers at Bute Inlet as well as
any information that will allow [Higgins] to believethat his son, Clifford Higgins, was among the deceased. Blackwood minutes to Elliot that there is no mention of Clifford Higgins in any Colonial Office documents. Elliot instructs Blackwood to draft a response stating that Cardwell has
received no official information on the subject.
Higgins to Secretary of State
Aden Terrace
Stoke newington Green N
7th Sepr 1864
To His Excellency
The Secretary for the Colonies
Stoke newington Green N
By a private letter I have just received from a gentleman at
Brockville Canada West, who is aware of my having a Son in Van Couver
Island British Columbia, I am furnished with the following extract
from a Toronto newspaper,
By the arrival of HM Surveying Ship Beaver we have a full
account of the melancholy but not unexpected murder of Alex
McDonald & several of his party, while on their way through from
Benti[n]ck Arm to Fort Alexandria on the Fraser river, on the 17th
May last.
My son's name Clifford Higgins is among the number murdered.
I beg your Excellency may inform me with any particulars you may
have relating to this sad massacre, whether the body was recovered &
any information that will allow me to believe the above mentioned
Clifford Higgins was my son.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
We have no infn abt Clifford Higgins. In a local newspaper (in 6010) the following is said. "Abt 15 miles above the point where Brewster's party were working Alex Mcdonald, with 7 or 8 men, was engaged in cutting the trail from Benshee Lake, to meet Brewster's gang, & it is feared that this party too, have fallen victims."
We have no infn abt Clifford Higgins. In a local newspaper (in 6010) the following is said. "Abt 15 miles above the point where Brewster's party were working Alex Mcdonald, with 7 or 8 men, was engaged in cutting the trail from Benshee Lake, to meet Brewster's gang, & it is feared that this party too, have fallen victims."
Clifford Higgins is stated by the Father to have been one of
Macdonald's gang, & to have been murdered.
We have no Authority for this statement, though it may
nevertheless be true.
ABd
7 Sepr
I think that the
best answer will be under the circumstances,
that Mr Cardwell has received no official information on the
subject. Draft.
best answer will be under the circumstances,
that Mr Cardwell has received no official information on the
subject. Draft.
TFE
8 Sep
