Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 14 October 1864, CO 305:23, no. 11617, 348.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (transcribed) (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (7), Other documents
(1), Marginalia (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Kennedy forwards correspondence regarding
two separate Indian outrages upon white menat Barkley Sound. The correspondence includes a deposition detailing
Information received from Chief of the Clay-o-quot Indians relating to the burning of theas well as reports from Admiral Denman.Kingfisherand massacre of the Crew,
No. 85, Separate
14th October 1864
Sir
1. I have the honor to transmit the papers named in the margin
relating to two separate Indian outrages upon white men. I will
confine myself to an outline of these cases, the particulars and
details of which are disclosed in the accompanying documents.
Admiral Denman, 7th September 1864.
Governor Kennedy, 7th September 1864.
Admiral Denman, 10th October 1864.
Admiral Denman, 14th October 1864.
Governor Kennedy, 14th October 1864.
Governor Kennedy, 7th September 1864.
Admiral Denman, 10th October 1864.
Admiral Denman, 14th October 1864.
Governor Kennedy, 14th October 1864.
2. In the early part of 1862 information reached Victoria thata
a
Mr Bamfield, who had been appointed by my Predecessor in 1859 as an
Indian Agent at Barclay Sound, had lost his life by drowning, and
though there was a strong popular belief that he had been murdered I
cannot learn that any steps were taken to ascertain the truth.
a
Mr Bamfield, who had been appointed by my Predecessor in 1859 as an
Indian Agent at Barclay Sound, had lost his life by drowning, and
though there was a strong popular belief that he had been murdered I
cannot learn that any steps were taken to ascertain the truth.
3. Shortly after my arrival in this Colony circumstances came to my
knowledge that left no doubt in my mind that Bamfield had been murdered.
4. I
4. I instituted inquiries both here and in the neighbouring
American Territory which established the identity of the murderers.
After a conference with Admiral the Honorable J. Denman he sent H.M.
Steam vessel "Devastation" with the Superintendent of Police and
succeeded in capturing some of the murderers who are now awaiting trial.
5. The second case is more serious and more lamentable. The
"Kingfisher," a small trading vessel of 16 tons left this harbour on
a coasting voyage about the 8th June last.The
The owners, Messrs
Stevenson and Wilson were highly intelligent and respectable
Englishmen who with a Fort Rupert Indian formed the Crew.
The owners, Messrs
Stevenson and Wilson were highly intelligent and respectable
Englishmen who with a Fort Rupert Indian formed the Crew.
6. Rumours reached Victoria that this vessel had been seized and
plundered, and the crew murdered by the Ahouset tribe of Indians at
Clayoquot Sound on the north west coast of this Island.
7. I consulted with the Admiral on the subject and the result was
the expedition of whichI
I now transmit the report dated 10th October
1864.
I now transmit the report dated 10th October
1864.
8. The last communication from Admiral Denman dated 14th October
brings the narrative up to that date, from which you will observe
that three of the Indians implicated in the murder of the Crew of the
"Kingfisher" are now in custody.
9. I feel confident that the forbearing yet firm and effective
proceedings taken by the Admiral in the latter case will be productive
of the best results.
10. The natives on this coastwill
will require constant and regular
supervision till they are impressed with the danger of breaking the
law, and the certainty of punishment. It is all the more necessary
as several cases of white men being attacked or murdered have
unhappily been allowed to pass by unredressed and which has
encouraged the Indians in bolder courses.
will require constant and regular
supervision till they are impressed with the danger of breaking the
law, and the certainty of punishment. It is all the more necessary
as several cases of white men being attacked or murdered have
unhappily been allowed to pass by unredressed and which has
encouraged the Indians in bolder courses.
11. Mr Hankin who is so well spoken of by Admiral Denman in his
report dated 10th October is a Gentleman to whom I have lately
given temporary employment in theColonial
Colonial Secretary's Office and
knowing his experience on the coast I offered his services to the
Admiral. Mr Hankin was recommended to me by Captain Richards under
whom he served in the Royal Navy. I hope to put Mr Hankin in a
better position when a suitable opportunity offers.
Colonial Secretary's Office and
knowing his experience on the coast I offered his services to the
Admiral. Mr Hankin was recommended to me by Captain Richards under
whom he served in the Royal Navy. I hope to put Mr Hankin in a
better position when a suitable opportunity offers.
12. I cannot conclude without expressing my obligations to Admiral
Denman and those under his command for the cordial manner in which
they have aided me in this matter.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
We have already received this account of the seizure of the "Kingfisher" & Murder of her Crew from the Admiralty. The Papers are in Circulation.
We have already received this account of the seizure of the "Kingfisher" & Murder of her Crew from the Admiralty. The Papers are in Circulation.
VJ
19 Decr
Mr Fortescue
I send on today (although minuted by me on Saturday) the Admiralty letter in which we first received
Admiral Denman's report of his proceedings.
I send on today (although minuted by me on Saturday) the Admiralty letter in which we first received
Admiral Denman's report of his proceedings.
The upshot is that in the case of the murder of a European named
Bamfield, some of the Indian murderers are now in custody and
awaiting trial, and that in the case of the murder of the Crew of the
"Kingfisher", three of the Indians implicated in it are also in custody.
Wars are doubtless to be deprecated, but unless we could chastise
repeated murders on the part of the Indians, it would soon be time
for us to abandon these Countries to their aboriginal Inhabitants.
It seems to me therefore that we have every reason to rejoice at the
promptitude and vigor of the measures which have beentaken
taken on this
subject in British Columbia and now in Vancouver Island, and that
their success is the best and most gratifying proof of their having
been well designed.
taken on this
subject in British Columbia and now in Vancouver Island, and that
their success is the best and most gratifying proof of their having
been well designed.
TFE
19 Decr
Acknowledge with approval—recognizing the absolute necessity of
protecting peaceful traders by inflicting condign punishment upon
natives guilty of such treacherous acts of murder & robbery as those
committed by the Ahusett tribe.
Add that in this case there is no appearance of the outrage having
been provoked by anything except the opportunity of plunder. But
express a hope that the Govr will lose no occasion of
impressing
upon traders & others the impropriety & folly of irritating the
natives, as is sometimes the case, by violent & contemptuous language
or conduct (see Commander Pike's letter).
impressing
upon traders & others the impropriety & folly of irritating the
natives, as is sometimes the case, by violent & contemptuous language
or conduct (see Commander Pike's letter).
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Copy, Deposition detailing "Information received from Chief
of the Clay-o-quot Indians relating to the burning of the
'Kingfisher' and massacre of the Crew," no signature, no date.
Kennedy to Denman, 27 September 1864, expressing satisfaction at
the conclusion of the expedition, and asking that Pike be sent to deal
with the outrage committed against the crew of the Kingfisher.
Denman to Kennedy, 10 October 1864, undated newspaper clipping
containing an account of his expedition to Clayoquot Sound to
bring to justice those accused of the murder of the crew of the
Kingfisher.
Statement of , 5 October 1864, regarding the
sinking of the
Kingfisher and the murder of her crew,
including the names of the perpetrators and the actions taken by
them, signed by Denman, J.P. Coode, J.W. Pike, W.E.L Veale, P.J.
Hankin and the mark of the Indian witness.
Copy, Hugh Robert Stewart, Senior Lieutenant, to Captain J.P. Coode, 8
October 1864, reporting on his expedition to capture the chief of the
Ahouset Indians, including a list of articles believed to have
belonged to the crew of the
Kingfisher found in the Indian village at Cypress Bay.
Denman to Kennedy, 14 October 1864, undated newspaper clipping
advising that he had returned to Victoria with "two of the murderers
of the late crew of the Kingfisher and one other man who was present
at the murder and whose deposition I have already sent to you."
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
Denman to Kennedy, 27 September 1864
I beg to inform your Excellency that the Devastation has returned
to this Port having brought back Three Indians guilty of the Murder of
the late Mr Bamfield.
I enclose a copy of Commander Pike's letter of proceedings which
shows the report of the Murder of the "Kingfisher's" Crew &c to be too
true. The refusal of the Tribe of Ahusetts to afford redress renders
severe measures indispensable but in making the necessary example I am
anxious that thereshould be
should be the least possible effusion of blood, and
I request to be informed of Your Excellencys views with respect to the
question of accepting the aid of the Clay-o-quot Indians as well as on
the subject in general.
should be the least possible effusion of blood, and
I request to be informed of Your Excellencys views with respect to the
question of accepting the aid of the Clay-o-quot Indians as well as on
the subject in general.
I have desired Commander Pike to wait upon you and supply any
further particulars you may wish to ascertain.
Pike to Denman, No. 23, 27 September 1864
I have the Honor to report my arrival at this anchorage and that I
have on Board for delivery to the proper authorities Three Indians of
the Ohyat Tribe named Such-kool, and the
principals in the Murder of Mr Bamfield in Barclay Sound.
Having in obedience to your Orders left Esquimalt Harbour on the
evening of the 17th instant, at daylight on the following morning Icalled
called at Neah Bay, Cape Flattery, and there obtained a Clay-o-quot
Indian as Pilot and Interpreter who has been of very great service
during the cruize.
called at Neah Bay, Cape Flattery, and there obtained a Clay-o-quot
Indian as Pilot and Interpreter who has been of very great service
during the cruize.
I also received information of the persons concerned in the Piracy
and Murder committed on the sloop "Kingfisher" by the Ahoset Indians in
Clay-o-quot Sound.
At 1.30 P.M. on the same day I called off Cape Beale but finding
both Villages deserted proceeded round the Cape and anchored in
Bamfield Creek.
At night I landed at the House of the Chief and as he had hidden
himself andwould
would not come forward I seized his Canoes and took his
daughter as a hostage.
would not come forward I seized his Canoes and took his
daughter as a hostage.
I found the Indians fully prepared for resistance some Three hundred men being under
arms at the Numakamis Village and that they had received information that the object
of our visit was to arrest the Murderers of Mr Bamfield.
On Monday afternoon Mr Smith left in his Boat with two Indians
and his Assistant to pull round to Numakamis—when near the Village he
was surrounded by Twelve large Canoes containing 60 or 70 armedIndians
Indians
who seized Mr Smith's Assistant and took him on shore.
Indians
who seized Mr Smith's Assistant and took him on shore.
Immediately on Mr Smiths return on board I weighed and
proceeded to an anchorage about 1000 yards from the Numakamis Village
when upon the Ships appearance Mr Smiths Assistant was at once sent
on board in a Canoe.
On Wednesday morning I obtained one of the Tribe as an Interpreter
and through him and another whom I had seized as a hostage endeavoured
to restore confidence to the Indians.
By degrees I got them to come off to the Ship andthey
they pledged
themselves to give up the Murderers of Mr Bamfield.
they pledged
themselves to give up the Murderers of Mr Bamfield.
They stated that their being under arms was owing to the threats
of the Master of the Schooner "Surprise" that when a Man of War did
visit them she would at once open fire upon them.
On Wednesday morning a large portion of the Tribe came alongside.
I managed to allay their alarm and excitement and to restore confidence
among them. I spoke to them about their general behaviour to the White
Traders lately, telling them that while we weredetermined
determined to punish
them for any crime we were at the same time ready to protect them
against any injustice.
determined to punish
them for any crime we were at the same time ready to protect them
against any injustice.
They complained much of the behaviour of the Traders to them
saying that frequently any wrong they did was provoked by the bad
language used towards them and in some cases by their being pushed and
struck by the men in the Trading Schooners.
They all begged that I would bring this matter to the notice of
His Excellency The Governor and request him to issue a warning to theMasters
Masters of Trading Vessels visiting them to be more circumspect in
their Language and behaviour to the Indians when Trading with them.
Masters of Trading Vessels visiting them to be more circumspect in
their Language and behaviour to the Indians when Trading with them.
The Interpretors information regarding the Murder of Mr
Bamfield is that an Indian named held Mr Bamfield by the
hair of the Head another named stabbed him in the right
side and a third named Sutch-kool stabbed him in the left side and back
of the neck. The instigated him to the murder and
appropriated Mr Bamfield'sproperty
property.
property.
They buried the body in the bush at the back of the House but
about 10 days before our arrival (having heard that information of the
Crime had been given to the authorities at Victoria) they disinterred
the remains and sunk them in the Sound.
The three men , , and Sutch-kool were seized
and brought on Board for conveyance to Victoria but the Chief who
proposed the Murder , hid himself in the woods near Cape Beale
and could not be found.
On Thursday morningthe
the 22nd I weighed from Numerkamis and
proceeded through the junction Passage and Seshart Channel and anchored
in Toquot harbour at the Entrance of Pipestone Inlet. Here again I
found the Indians under Arms their faces blacked and ready for
resistance. The Interpreter went among them and reassured them and in
the afternoon the whole of the Tribe came on Board and I impressed upon
them the perils they incurred by any violence offered by them to the
Traders and the certain punishment thatwould
would follow a second offence
of the same kind. The pistol stolen from the "Surprise" was returned.
the 22nd I weighed from Numerkamis and
proceeded through the junction Passage and Seshart Channel and anchored
in Toquot harbour at the Entrance of Pipestone Inlet. Here again I
found the Indians under Arms their faces blacked and ready for
resistance. The Interpreter went among them and reassured them and in
the afternoon the whole of the Tribe came on Board and I impressed upon
them the perils they incurred by any violence offered by them to the
Traders and the certain punishment thatwould
would follow a second offence
of the same kind. The pistol stolen from the "Surprise" was returned.
At daylight on Friday I weighed from Toquat and proceeded out of
Barclay Sound through the Western Channel and entering Clay-o-quot
Sound by the Ship Channel anchored in 8 fms. off the Ahusat village.
On Saturday morning I observed several Canoes full of armed Men
watching the Ship from Base Point and Clifford Point. This and the
information received from a Nootka Indian led me to believethat
that they
were to be found in Herbert or North Arm. I anchored in the evening
off Bawden Bay and searched the village in Matilda Creek having been
told that some of the goods stolen from the "Kingfisher" were secreted
there. The search was unsuccessful but traces were found proving that
the Indians had only recently left.
that they
were to be found in Herbert or North Arm. I anchored in the evening
off Bawden Bay and searched the village in Matilda Creek having been
told that some of the goods stolen from the "Kingfisher" were secreted
there. The search was unsuccessful but traces were found proving that
the Indians had only recently left.
On Sunday morning Eight Canoes full of armed Men were observed
watching the Ship from different points and after some difficultyI
I
managed to communicate with them. After various communications on
Sunday and Monday forenoon their positive and final answer was that
they would not restore the goods taken from the "Kingfisher" would not
deliver up the guilty parties and would not hold any further
communication with he Ship being determined to fight.
I
managed to communicate with them. After various communications on
Sunday and Monday forenoon their positive and final answer was that
they would not restore the goods taken from the "Kingfisher" would not
deliver up the guilty parties and would not hold any further
communication with he Ship being determined to fight.
Their tactics were truly Indian, 50 Men were placed in ambush at
the extreme point of Matilda Creek, 40 were concealed round the
Village, 30 in Bawden Bay and the remainder were a short distance up
Herbert Armand
and every endeavour was made to draw our Boats into these
ambushes.
and every endeavour was made to draw our Boats into these
ambushes.
I am of opinion that this Ahoset Tribe (who number 195 fighting
men) will offer a determined resistence.
That the guilty persons can be taken eventually is certain but I
feel assured that it cannot be done without loss of life and
considerable on their side and possibly some on ours.
The Chief of the Clay-o-quot Tribe has offered his assistance with
men and Canoes and I have brought him to make that offer to His
Excellency The Governor and as it iscertain
certain that nothing can be done
without very severe measures I have deemed it better to return to this
part to receive your further instructions.
certain that nothing can be done
without very severe measures I have deemed it better to return to this
part to receive your further instructions.
I beg to report that I have sent a Copy of this Letter for the
information of His Excellency The Governor.
ear Admiral
Hon. J. Denman
&c &c &c
Commander in Chief
Hon. J. Denman
&c &c &c
Commander in Chief
Other documents included in the file
Minutes by CO staff
This draft requires care.
I have submitted some alterations, not by way of verbal criticisms
or deviations from the objects of the minutes, but in order to render
the draft strictly in accordance with the tenor of the reports on
which it is founded.
TFE
30/12
N.B. Commander Pike reports, at the request of the Indians, their
complaint as they effect: but he gives no opinion or testimony of
his own on the subject. Of course it is highly probable: all I mean
is that we must not appear as if we quoted his authority. Would it
not be better to show what he really does say, & found the
instruction on that? As submitted in annexed separate sheet.
See 4th substitution, submitted for consideration.
TFE
30/12