1860-11-01
THURSDAY
Wet morning. Held court at
11- OC. In office making up
accounts – Luard writing letters
Str Moody arrived – but no letters fr
home. Jno Caraher lodged information
against an Indian for threatening to shoot
him – Crow arrested on Capias at
the suit of Griffin of Yale – took
bail for the amt with £10- extra
for costs – £77-8-6 in all. Moberly
came in from the trail
1860-11-02
FRIDAY
Up at 5 – Luard went to Yale in
the Str Moody & almost busy in
office. Reported to H.E. the state of
Similkameen trail the miners
with reference to the charge on
Pack animals of 3 – the death
of Robt Cooper – Sent in Collectorate
Monthly statements to Gosset &c &c
Steamer left for New W M – at 2 –
Edwards & Molony left in her for Australia
spent the evening at Pringles
[overwritten text]
Constable Summerville
proceeded to W Minster
in charge of Prisoner
Galagher
1860-11-03
SATURDAY
Hard frost during the night
water frozen in the bed room. Ladner called
with reference to his Brother in laws land
at the Similkameen. Bunbar’s express
left for Rock Creek – Perfected Power of Attorney
for Popper – Moberly Paid for 20 acres of
land on the Whatcom trail Amt £5-
Luard arrived fr Yale. Settled my private
account with him. Posted No 16 to
Mamsey enclosed to the Capt
1860-11-04
SUNDAY
Wet morning up at 7- Read – Service
did not commence till 12- which was
held in Deitz store – Holy Communion
only 3- remained. Collection $1.50 –
Str Col Moody arrived – but no mail
Constable Summerville returned
from W Minster – Walked with
Luard – Did not [deletion] go to evening
service – Collection $1.0 – Eight
attended. Capt Irving, Anderson Dewdney
Moberly Gombertz & Charles spent the evening
1860-11-05
MONDAY
Up at 6- very wet morning Luard & my
self went to Yale in the Moody – Met Glennie
& the daughter & of course Dewdney on board –
arrived at ¼ to 10- – two hours & three quarters
Heard of the Poor Arthur Buie’s death
by drowning in the Cañion. Walked to
the Bluff with the Glennies &c – spent
the day rest of my time with Sanders. Bernard
elected Purser & Jemmison Capt of the new
boat. Recd from Elliot $10- my rent for [left blank]
The boat
was full of Rowdies on her return.
1860-11-06
TUESDAY
Wet morning – Str left for West Minster at
9 – Pringle went in her – wrote to Burnaby.
Paid a round of visits with Luard Mrs
Charles Pringle & Glennies – Dewdney
rode out with the fair ones. Walked
with Luard & Charles to Glennies new
house which is now all but complete
Called to see the Buies – who are poor
fellows in great tribulation – Glennie
Dewdney & Moberly spent the evening.
[overwritten text]
Constable Cregie
& Summerville went
to Union Bar arrested a [miner]
for selling whisky to
an Indian [illegible]
afterwards escaped
1860-11-07
WEDNESDAY
Very wet day – In house making
up accounts. Dewdney Moberly
& Gompertz called – Luard mended
my whip & made himself generally
useful. Paid Landvoigt £19-6-7
due him on acct of Boston bar
trail – Luard Dewdney & myself
dined at the Fort.
1860-11-08
THURSDAY
Tremendous storm of wind & rain
during the night. Cregie left for Yale
to arrest the man who escaped from
him at Union bar on Tuesday, & succeeded
cleverly. Held Court & fined him $50-
Elliot arrived from Yale – Steamer
expected but did not come. Very
fidgetty all day about my letters
which I hope will come.
1860-11-09
FRIDAY
Steamer arrived at 7- AM & went on to Yale but no mail.
Kelly on board but did not see him
Recd from Capt Irving $2.50
Crown Rent. Disgraceful accounts
of the proceedings in the Police court
at Victoria. Cary brought up by Langford
for obtaining money under false pretenses
King committed to Jail for 3 months for
assault on Alston. Stormy & wet day.
Luard ready to leave – but the Str did not
go down.
1860-11-10
SATURDAY
Up at 5- Luard left for Westminster
in the Moody at 6- taking with
him the Cols horse. What a nice
fellow he is & how I shall miss him
Settled with Elliott for steam boat share & lent
him $100 – for which I took his I.O.U. balance
of old acct due by E. the amt of which we could
not recollect. E. Left for Yale with Floyd. Recd rent
from Chinaman $15- for Octr. Walked with
Charles who afterwards dined – Gompertz
spent evening.
1860-11-11
SUNDAY
Fine morning – Up at 7- Read – No service
Pringle at Victoria – The Caledonia
arrived having been 3 days from West
Minster – Wrote letters – walked
with Gompertz, & spent a most
uneasy day cannot help being
uneasy at not hearing from home
for as long a time. Went to the
Fort in the evening
1860-11-12
MONDAY
Fine morning – Paid Teague Constable
salary &c in full for Octr – also Constable
Cregie salary house account, & all
demands to this day. Satcher arrived &
dusted skins. Thompson & party returned
from the Boston Bar trail & brough in
all the tools &c – inventory taken by Const
Summerville – Paid Thompson & Party
in full ($ [left blank])
1860-11-13
TUESDAY
Up at 6 – heavy rain – Str Caledonia left
for Westminster at 8- AM. In office
making up accounts nealy all day
Called on Mrs Pringle & had a long chat
ordered some fire wood for her – paid
Mrs Charles a visit – Gompertz dined
bough[t] my winter stock of beef at
$0.20- per lb – 100 lbs.
The most incessant days rain
I ever remember.
1860-11-14
WEDNESDAY
Rained all during the night – In
office – but fidgetty & could not do
anything. Walked with Thompson
to see Ninds lands, decided not doing any-
thing to it this fall. Str Fort Hope
arrived – being her first trip – Ballows
Express – lost to my great disappointment
no mail. Elliott arrived from Yale
Sat up till late with him having
a high wa wa –
1860-11-15 *
THURSDAY
Str Hope made a run to Yale. Kelly
& Sanders returned in her. Elliott left for
England for which we are all very sorry.
Sent hy him a bundle of skins directed
to the Capt & Wrote by him to Mamsey – No 17
St Moody arrived with mail Nos 16 & 17
from dearest Mamsey, & one from the Capt –
with reference to investing for E. C. Knox. a lot of
letters, & not the least acceptable one from H.E.
granting me an extra £100 per an. Pringle
arrived, & spent the evening.
1860-11-16
FRIDAY
Sanders slept on board the Moody & left
for Yale. Str returned & left again for N.W.
at 2 P.M. Walked with Gompertz,
Glennie & daughters rode with
Mrs Edney. Dined at the Fort
1860-11-17 *
SATURDAY
Went down the river with Cregie to
collect mining licenses – but were
unsuccessful – seized – China men
ictas – did not get back till 6 P.M.=
Buie called – Pringle spent the
evening –
1860-11-18
SUNDAY
Hard first during the night – up at 7
Read – Service at 11- only 6-
attended – room very cold. Walked
with Pringle & the wife – dined early with
them. No evening service –
Walked with Charles – Chinamen
called about their things which
were seized yesterday.
1860-11-19
MONDAY
Hard frost – Steamer Moody arrived
at 11- reported the breaking down of the
Hope – Got my hay up 1½ ton @ $30.
freight $10- per ton paid Charles for
it all. Glennie & daughter called, walked
with them, & were gracious to a degree –
Wrote to the Bishop about his land
& horse – Spent the evening at the Fort.
Hard frost.
1860-11-20
TUESDAY
Cold morning – Str returned fr. Yale
& left again almost immediately for
N. W. Minster. Paid assessment on
shares on the Greenwood lead for Nind
& self $26- Recd $20 – rent for
Begbie – Had long wa wa with
Chisholm about my lots. Pringle called
fussy as usual – Gompertz dined
who get very confidential – & told me
of his engagement at home –
1860-11-21
WEDNESDAY
Hard first – Unpacked my large
box & aired all my clothes, went
out with Charles to McCalls
lake to look after ducks but
did not see one – Dined with
Gompertz. Indian arrived fr
Lytton with letter fr Ball & memorial
to H.E. praying for a reprieve of sentence
of death in the case of an Indian
sentenced at last assizes for the murder of
a Chinaman
1860-11-22
THURSDAY
Very hard frost – Gompertz called early
to enquire of what lots he could cut
timber I walked with him & pointed out
L25-B2. Wrote some letters & remained
in office for the rest of the day.
Tea & spent the evening at the
Fort.
1860-11-23
FRIDAY
Hard frost. Str Fort Hope arrived at
11- Express, but as usual the mail
left behind. Woolsey arrived on route
to Douglas to assist Gaggin, he
remained dined & slept Pringle & Gompertz
spend the evening – Called on the Glennies
found Mrs looking very ill. Called
on Coe with reference to his preemption
Woolsey & Gompertz dined.
1860-11-24
SATURDAY
Str. Fort Hope arrived from Yale
& left immediately for N. W. The Str
Moody arrived at 11- English Mail but
no letter – 2 papers from the Capt
a heap of afficials –
Remained in house all day –
1860-11-25
SUNDAY
Slight thaw up at 7- Str Moody left for N. W. – read Service
at 11- – only 6- attended – The Hope
arrived at 2- & proceeded to Yale
Walked with the Pringles –
The Yale Boat arrived at 6- being
her first trip. Jemmison Capt – Service
at 7- 10- present – Collection $2.75-
Gompertz & Capt Jemmison spend
the evening. Posted No 18- enclosed
to the Capt.
1860-11-26
MONDAY
The Yale left for Yale at 8- O.C. In
office most of the day – Pringle called
but could not make up his mind whether
to go to the Consecration at N W or not
Str Hope arrived fr Yale & proceeded
to N. W. Rode with Gompertz to see men
chopping his wood afterwards to Dallas
lake.
1860-11-27
TUESDAY
Le[f]t in the Str Yale for Harrison river
to investigate the robbery by Indians of gold dust
&c – also the sale of whisky – Reached
Glennons at 2- P.M. & found the whole circum-
-stances had been exaggerated – & but little or no
evidence. Sent Const Cregie in persuit of the Indians
took a canoe & went out “ducking”, &
killed three – having missed as many
more. – Slept at Glennons, very heavy
rain during the night.
1860-11-28
WEDNESDAY
To my delight the Str Moody came up
at 8- AM got on board & reached
Hope at 3½ – rained nearly all day.
Letters from Gosset – requiring all the
dust in hand. Recd official map
of Hope from Luard – Pringle & Glennie
had a row the day before about and old
saddle – the former as usual acted very
uncivily – Dined with Gompertz
Anderson spent the evening with us.
1860-11-29
THURSDAY
The Hope arrived at 7- & went on
to Yale. The Moody left at 10- Pringle
went down in her. Sergt McCall &
party arrived fr Similkameen via
Lytton & brought [left blank] oz of gold dust.
Wrote to Gosset but could not get a
trust worthy person to send the dust
by. Wrote Luard – Robinson fr Similkameen
called about keeping the trail open
during the winter.
1860-11-30
FRIDAY
The Steamer Yale arrived at 8½
Cregie returned in her fr Harrison River
Tremendous wet day In house preparing
my accounts for Gosset – Wrote to H
Excellency, dined at the Fort.
Machell shot a pr of ducks –
Horse could not be found & remained
out all night in the rain. Gompertz came
in the evening with the cares of the world on his
shoulders.
Back to Peter O’Reilly’s 1860 Diary
Peter O’Reilly’s 1860 diary has been transcribed by volunteers and staff of the Vancouver Island Local History Society and is for informational purposes only. Researchers interested in this diary are advised to consult the original document housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, found in MS-2894, the O’Reilly family fonds.