Those Earlier Hills by R. M. Patterson

Author:R. M. Patterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-926971-43-8
Publisher: Touchwood Editions
Published: 2011-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

The Strangest Man I Ever Knew

The Beaver, Spring 1956

The Finlay River.

Governor George Simpson kept a “Character Book” in which he recorded, under code numbers to which he had the key, his opinions of the officers of the Hudson’s Bay Company—opinions that had considerable bearing on their chances of promotion or otherwise. One hopes, for the peace of mind of those concerned, that this book was kept under lock and key—for in its pages no holds were barred and the well-known “graciousness” of the Governor was laid aside; the irritability of the moment was given free play and, consequently, many of the judgments recorded proved later to have been hasty and unjust. In the case of Samuel Black, the explorer of the Finlay River, the dice were loaded against him before ever the Governor took up his pen.

Not for nothing did Black receive, sometime in 1821 from his old associates and partners of the North West Company, a ring on which was engraved, “To the most worthy of the worthy North-westers.” By his mere presence at Fort Chipewyan in the early months of 1821, Black had kept Simpson, the newcomer to the fur country, perpetually on the qui vive, waiting for the attack that never came. Simpson’s men would have been aware of this and he himself would always remember, and hold against Black in the years to come, the alarms and perplexities of that first winter at Fort Wedderburn. And so it is with this in mind that we find Simpson writing in his Character Book of 1832 regarding Black:

No. 11. About 52 years of Age. The strangest Man I ever knew. So wary & suspicious that it is scarcely possible to get a direct answer from him on any point, and when he does speak or write on any subject so prolix that it is quite fatiguing to attempt following him. A perfectly honest man and his generosity might be considered indicative of a warmth of heart if he was not known to be a cold blooded fellow who could be guilty of any cruelty and would be a perfect Tyrant if he had power. Can never forget what he may consider a slight or insult, and fancies that every man has a design upon him. Very cool, resolute to desperation, and equal to the cutting of a throat with perfect deliberation; yet his word when he can be brought to the point may be depended on. A Don Quixote in appearance ghastly, raw boned and lanthorn jawed, yet strong vigorous and active.

Has not the talent of conciliating Indians by whom he is disliked, but who are ever in dread of him, and well they may be so, as he is ever on his guard against them and so suspicious that offensive and defensive preparation seem to be the study of his Life having Dirks knives & loaded Pistols concealed about his person and in all directions about his Establishment even under his Table cloth at Meals and in his Bed.

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