Phillip Buckley was a Native from Ireland, who had been employed in
Mr. Waddington's road crew that had been attacked in the
Bute Inlet conflict. Buckley was one of three survivors but suffered from extensive stab wounds resulting
from the attack.
On
30 April 1863, just before daybreak, men of the Tsilhqot'in First Nations began their attack on
Mr. Waddington's road crew. Mr. Buckley awoke to two men entering his tent, he then received a blow by the butt
end of a musket to his head. Buckley jumped out of his tent where he was met by two other Tsilhqot'in men and
received several stab wounds from long knives, four in total, one to each loin, and
a severe wound to his wrist. He had collapsed and dragged himself into the bush where he remained for several
hours and fainted due to loss of blood. He dragged himself about 150 feet towards the
Homathko River and regained strength from the water. Buckley then started up the river towards
Mr. Brewster's camp for help. Just before arrival, he noticed several dogs barking and fires burning, knowing
Brewster did not have any dogs in his party, Buckley thus concluded
Brewster's party had also fallen victim to a Tsilhqot'in attack. Buckley then made his way, along the river towards the ferry, along the way never
running into any other member of
Mr. Waddington's crew. Upon arrival at the ferry he met with
Edward Moseley and
Peter Peterson who were other survivors of the
Bute Inlet conflict. The three of them travelled to
Nanaimo and then boarded the
Emily Harris to
Victoria.
Peterson and Buckley were then admitted to the Royal Hospital where they received medical
attention for non-threatening wounds.
At the trial against
Teloot,
Klatsassin, Tappit, Kiddaki, Piere, Tansaki and Tatchasia, for the attack on the road crew,
Buckley was successful in identifying these men in the attack. Buckley stated that
Teloot was the man that originally attacked him with the musket, and claimed that many of
these men had been previously employed by
Mr. Waddington in the road project. Buckley also mentioned that these men had been camping near the road crew, two to
three nights previous to the attack and showed no hostility.