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VANCOUVER - - - - - VICTORIA

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ROGERS’
CHOCOLATES

Phone G-7021 913 Government St.
VICTORIA, B.C.

EVANS, COLEMAN &
JOHNSON BROS. LTD.

DEALERS IN BUILDING SUPPLIES
Telephone: Office B-3105
900 WHARF ST. VICTORIA

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Victoria, B.C.

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SERVICES LTD.
“WE COVER THE ISLAND”

1812 Douglas Street
VICTORIA B.C.

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Telephone E 7511

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VICTORIA, B.C.

Page Seventy-six

before that date on Vancouver Island
. which, in those days, represented
the centre of all British Columbia
activity.
Dossier Grew Fast

During the next five years more
and more entries in the newly-or-
ganized police forces’ journals showed
the activity of Ah-Chee-Wun. Pillaged
wrecks on the shores gave strong 1n-
dication that foul play had been en-
countered. It was rumored that a
mythical savage had taken a leading
part in this evil work.

This strange Indian it was
rumored, was a chief of the Pene-
lakuts, a branch of the Cowichan
Indian tribe. A tall, powerfully built
man, he was reputed to be over 100
years old, but retaining the grace and
vigor of a man of 30 years of age.

Indian lore had it that neither
arrow nor bullet could harm him.
His canoe was the fastest and largest,
and skimmed the water with the speed
of the wind. He could smell his
enemies miles away and his sight was
such that no matter what the obstruc-
tion, all things were apparent to him.
Thus was Ah-Chee-Wun.

His legendary cavern on Galiano
Island was the largest of all caves.
None had seen its entrance. More
venturesome of the braves had fol-
lowed the great man only to see
him disappear in the ground .. . in
the solid rock.

While these stories sound ridicu-
lous today, it was later established
that they did indeed have some
foundation in fact.

By 1863, police records had an im-
posing record of killings against Ah-
Chee-Wun. It was rumored that he
openly boasted of having killed many
Indians and 11 white men.

Three Quick Murders

Matters came to a head when a
John Henley reported to police in
Victoria that his employer, an
American named William Brady, had
been murdered by a band of natives
at Shark Cove on Saturna Island. A
few days later another outrage was
reported from Saturna Island. A
German settler, Frederick Marks and
his married daughter Caroline Harvey,
while camped ashore, had both been
murdered.

These killings caused Augustus
Pemberton, B.C.’s first commissioner
of police, to take immediate action.

Service Since 1840
t

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Victoria Unit No. 12
1001 Wharf Street Victoria, B.C.

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He detailed Superintendent Horace
Smith to “go after” the miscreant.

The gunboat H.M.S. Forward was
pressed into service, and the chase
began. All through the myriad islands
went the hunt.

Waters which are now acknowl-
edged to be the finest sailing waters
in the world were carefully scanned
for the killer. At Kuper Island Smith
found a strongly fortified base, this
included rifle pits and a strong block-
house constructed of logs which could
withstand the battering of the can-
non balls of the gunbat’s armaments.
The reserve was deserted, only a few
old squaws and some dogs remained.

At long last two braves were cap-
tured, and one of them, known as
Stalehum, led a party to where
Brady’s body was carefully hidden
on Saturna Island, at Shark Cove.

More prisoners were gradually
taken, and it was noticed that terror-
stricken glances were made in the
direction of Galiano Island. Smith
knew that a landing party would have
little chance in the daylight from the
towering bluffs if the bandit was
hidden there; he waited until dark,
under cover of the ship’s guns, to land
his party.

Evidence of earlier landings on the
beach was observed, and a tenseness
came over the party as they knew
they approached their prey. They sur-
rounded the opening to a cave. Was
this the fabulous cave of legend?
Smith pondered, then ordered his men
to hide themselves until daylight.

Wonderful View

With one man, Smith worked slow-
ly up a narrow trail. He passed a deep
crevice in the rock, partially hidden
with brush, and as he turned he noted
that the site gave a wonderful view
of the gulf islands. Here, he thought,
was a perfect hideout with a view in
every direction. A slight rustle caused
the superintendent to drop to the
ground, dragging his companion with
him.

With staring eyes they watched the
shrouded crevice they had just passed.

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