Klatsassin was a powerful chief of the Tsilhqot’in First Nations.1 He is described as being tall, stout, with dark brown hair, and a large nose.2
Klatsassin was a purported instigator of the
Bute Inlet Conflict and tried for his involvement in the murder of
Waddington’s road crew, as well as the death of
Alex Macdonald in
1864.
3 He attacked the European workers in the area due to prior mistreatment of his tribe,
including the rape of the women, as well as for slavery of Tsilhqot’in by
Waddington. Klatsassin also lamented the impact of smallpox on his people, which killed nearly
half their population.
4 Klatsassin believed that
Alex Macdonald brought smallpox to the
Benshee area and blamed him for the mistreatment of his kin.
5 It is for these reasons, as stated by
Ahan’s father, that
he had killed the white men at Bute Inlet, and was resolved to kill all the white men he could find
.
6
After the attack on the road crew, Klatsassin and his allies journeyed to
Punstseen to kill
Mr. Manning, a prominent European settler in the area.
7 They murdered
Manning, burnt down his buildings, and destroyed his crops.
8 Klatsassin then recruited more members from surrounding tribes, gaining support from
Teloot, and
Ahan, after threatening them with death if they refused to take part.
9 They were successful in locating
Alex Macdonald who had been in the area. After being warned by
Ahan’s father of the upcoming attack,
MacDonald joined a pack train to return to
Bella Coola.
10 On the way back, Klatsassin had word of their journey and was successful in ambushing
Macdonald’s party.
11 This attack resulted in the death of
Higgins,
Macdonald, MacDonald’s horse, and all footmen.
12 After the attack, Klatsassin claimed the goods from the murdered group and divided
them amongst his followers.
13
After the murder of the
Waddington road crew at
Bute Inlet,
Mr. Manning, and
Alex Macdonald’s party. Two expeditions, lead by
Mr. Brew and
Mr. Cox had been sent to the area to capture the murderers involved in these conflicts.
Mr. Cox and Klatsassin entered negotiations which resulted in Klatsassin and seven of his
followers arriving at
Mr. Cox’s camp at the old Hudson’s Bay Fort on
Chilko Lake at half after eight in the morning.
14 Klatsassin was given the impression that the men would establish a peaceful discussion
to end violence and mistreatment.
15 The men shared tobacco and believed they were safe since Klatsassin and his followers
learned about the
sacredness of the pipe of peace
.
16 Instead the Tsilhqot’in men were forced into a secured building, guarded by the Chief
Constable and later placed on the steamer
Enterprise and taken to
Quesnelmouth.
17 Due to these circumstances,
Judge Begbie believed that Klatsassin had been manipulated into meeting
Mr. Cox and was arrested upon unfair grounds, and described
Mr. Cox as
having two tongues
.
18 Begbie believed that the manipulation may have stemmed from
Chief Alexis who acted as the interpreter for
Mr. Cox and was the chief of a neighbouring tribe.
Begbie also believed that
Alexis had everything to gain from the arrest of Klatsassin and his followers.
Judge Begbie interviewed Klatsassin after his arrival in
Quesnelmouth, and asked Klatsassin if he would have entered
Mr. Cox’s camp knowing the outcome, Klatsassin replied with a
Definitive No
.
19
At the trial, Klatsassin was charged with organizing and participation in murder and
violence against the white settlers in the area. Upon agreement, Klatsassin was permitted
to stand on the scaffold, adjust the rope and jump on his own terms, but at the last
moment he prefered to to be treated the same as the others.
20 Judge Begbie commented that
It seems horrible to hang five men at once, especially under the circumstances of
the capitulation. Yet the blood of twenty-one whites calls for retribution
.
21 In
Quesnelmouth, on Wednesday
26 October 1864, at seven in the morning, Klatsassin,
Teloot, Tappitt, Kiddaki, Tansaki, and Tatchasla were executed for their participation in
the
Bute Inlet conflict.
22
- 1. Orign of Massacre, Daily Chronicle, 29 May 1864.
- 2. Ibid.
- 3. BCA,"Begbie to the Governor of British Columbia Including Notes Taken by the Court at
the Trial of 6 Indians" GR-1372, F142f/16, Mflm B1308
- 4. BCA, "Testimony of Ach-pic-er-mous" Add. Mss - 54 box 3, file 12, Supreme Court of New Westminster
- 5. Ibid.
- 6. Ibid.
- 7. BCA,"Begbie to the Governor of British Columbia Including Notes Taken by the Court at
the Trial of 6 Indians" GR-1372, F142f/16, Mflm B1308
- 8. Ibid.
- 9. BCA,"Testimony of Morris Moss" Add. Mss - 54 box 3, file 12, Supreme Court of New Westminster
- 10. BCA, "Testimony of Ach-pic-er-mous" Add. Mss - 54 box 3, file 12, Supreme Court of New Westminster
- 11. Ibid.
- 12. Ibid.
- 13. Ibid.
- 14. BCA,"Cox to the Governor of British Columbia" GR-1372, F379/23, Mflm B-1321
- 15. BCA,"Begbie to the Governor of British Columbia Including Notes Taken by the Court at
the Trial of 6 Indians" GR-1372, F142f/16, Mflm B1308
- 16. Ibid.
- 17. BCA,"Gaggin to Birch" GR-1372, F623/11, B-1330
- 18. BCA,"Begbie to the Governor of British Columbia Including Notes Taken by the Court at
the Trial of 6 Indians" GR-1372, F142f/16, Mflm B1308
- 19. Ibid.
- 20. Despatch to London Seymour to Cardwell, 23 November 1864, 1374, CO 60/19, p. 386.
- 21. BCA,"Begbie to the Governor of British Columbia Including Notes Taken by the Court at
the Trial of 6 Indians" GR-1372, F142f/16, Mflm B1308
- 22. Despatch to London Seymour to Cardwell, 23 November 1864, 1374, CO 60/19, p. 386.