On
2 October 1862, John White, a British subject born in Ireland, gave a statement of the circumstances
which led to his detainment in the village of
Kithrahtlah. According his account, he left
New Westminster in July with four Americans named
William Fullard,
Baker,
Charlie, and
Adams. They embarked on a canoe trip, stopping for a First Nation guide in
Nanaimo before continuing on to
Stikine River. After passing
Fort Rupert, White overhead a conversation between the four men indicating their plans to rob
him then
do away with him.
1 The next day, White noticed them making signs to each other in the canoe and handling
their knives. They then landed on an island, but White refused to go any further with
them, so the men left him there with only his clothes and a little flour. Two days
after, three First Nations men came along, robbed White, and then brought him into
their canoe. Later, they landed on a beach, and one of them shot White while he was
making a fire. White ran and hid from them in a bush for several days, after which
he crawled back to the beach where he met a First Nations couple. These individuals
brought White into their house, gave him food, and treated him very well. John stated
that
they saved my life and did everything in their power for me except give me up
.
2Commander Pike, who landed in
Kithrahtlah on
3 October, received White from the First Nations that had been caring for him. He also took
upon himself to award the couple, a man by the name of
Quoshawahl and his wife,
Aylash, $15 for their humanity in rescuing White and providing him food and shelter for
more than six weeks.
3