Gold Mining in British Columbia 1897: Peril in the Mountains and Trains Through Agassiz

Gold mining was in full swing in Agassiz and Harrison Lake in British Columbia in the 1890s. Thousands of prospectors arrived hoping to strike it rich, while local residents continued on their daily lives and adapted to changes.

This post explores the dangers and changes experience by gold mining in British Columbia. Agassiz and Harrison Lake were no exception to the dangerous and the ever changing landscape of the small town of Agassiz.

Lost in the Snow: Mr. John Brown and the Risks of Gold Mining in British Columbia

As surveyors like Captain W.S. Jemmett work to map the mountains surrounding Harrison Lake, prospectors rushed to locate promising claims and to strike it rich. Among them was local businessman and hopeful miner, John R. Brown, who set out independently to search of mines and leaving his party behind.

Mrs. Mary Caroline Agassiz, Mr. John Brown, and Mrs. Luella Agassiz Brown

When Brown failed to return, concern went out on his own search, leaving many behind. When he didn’t return with to his group, they feared the worse as the terrain was challenging and still covered in snow. He was reported missing, however Mrs. Agassiz, would not risk her daughter, Mrs. Luella Brown, finding out until anything was confirmed.

Historical Context: Population Growth and Community Strain During the Harrison Lake Gold Rush

As gold mining activity intensified around Harrison Lake in the 1890s, the small farming community of Agassiz, British Columbia experienced rapid population growth and increasing pressure on local services. Newspaper columns such as the Harrison Lake reports and the Agassiz Brief document how mining speculation, transient prospectors, and economic optimism reshaped daily life in the Fraser Valley. These accounts reveal how even residents not directly involved in mining felt the effects of the British Columbia gold rush through rising demand for housing, transportation, supplies, and domestic labour.

Laundry & Domestic Labour Services

May previously complained about how hard the boys were on their clothes, and that she is “doing the washing again now, as the Chinaman did it so disgracefully badly, some of the last week’s he did came back dirtier than they went.” May was not alone in her dissatisfaction of the available laundry services in the area. Hopefully new laundry services would arrive to give May and other women in the community a break on some of their domestic labour.

Train Services

The Canadian Pacific Railway was an essential service to connect those in Agassiz as far as to the eastern coast of Canada and as close as Vancouver or up the Fraser Canyon and the Okanagan. Weather conditions and slides often caused train delays which May frequently discusses in her letters

In the April 24, 1897 edition of the province, Mr. Bostock’s letter to the editor informs the readers of the paper that the Canadian Pacific Railway is willing to increase services to Agassiz and hopes that it will be well used my many.

TO THE EDITOR: I Have this morning received a letter from Mr. Shaughnessy agreeing to put on a train on Saturdays between Agassiz and Vancouver, which will leave Agassiz on Saturday Morning an return from Vancouver to Agassiz on Saturday evening for the benefit of settlers in that part of the Fraser Valley. Mr. Shaughnessy has agreed to do this although he is of the opinion that the service will involve loss to the company.

I have written to Mr. Shou, of Vancouver, who first brought this matter to my attention, enclosing him Mr. Shaughnessy’s letter, and I will be much obliged if you can take this matter up in the paper and point out to people that in a case of this kind they should try and meet the railway and co-operate with them to make this service a success.

HEWITT BOSTOCK
Ottawa, Ont.

The addition of a Saturday train service improved transportation access for the Wright family, strengthening their connection to the Agassiz railway station and reducing the time required for everyday errands and supply runs. The Harrison stop also provided direct access to Harrison Lake and Harrison Hot Springs, making social visits to friends such as the Farrells, MacPhersons, and Goodfellows more convenient and reinforcing Agassiz’s role as a regional hub in the Fraser Valley during the 1890s.

The Wrights frequently mention the sound of passing trains in their letters, as their home at Hamereley’s Ranch – or as they called it – Hazeley Ranch, was located directly beside the railway tracks. It served as an everyday reminder of how closely rural farm life in Agassiz, British Columbia was tied to rail transportation.

May often notes in her letters how late the trains are and keeps her family in England well informed of delays that may impact their letters. Events such as slides and train crashes are also relayed in her letters.

May’s Letter to Mother – April 3, 1897

May’s letter to Mother talks about the drought and worries about flooding, socializing with her friends and stamp collecting. She recalls a new experience to her mother that few have had the opportunity to try.

Hazeley
Agassiz, B.C.
April 3, 1897

My dearest Mother,

We have had a fine warm week & Cecil has been ploughing every day; Mr. Gibson has been sowing timothy where the clover was hilled by the water last year, & Harold has been harvesting it, Mr. Gibson owes the boys several days work in return for some teaming they did for him. Captain Cholmandeley shipped a car load of cattle on Monday & turned the rest on to the prairie so we have nothing more to do with them, it has been most convenient as they went the very first day it was possible to plough. I went up to Mrs. Jemmetts on Tuesday afternoon and stopped the night.

Connie and Edith came to see me yesterday afternoon, if it is fine to-morrow I shall go to the springs with Harold, as the roads are meant to be fairly dry soon. I will enclose some six cent stamps that Leonard Bentley gave me, some one may like them & he is collecting, but has very few England ones, perhaps you could send me a few for him, there always seem such quantities of different English ones we get at home.

We are very short of water as the well has been very dry for about a month, we have to get drinking water from the other house & washing water from beyond the stable. Some people are predicting another flood as the spring is so late, they say the river has never been so low at this time of year, but no one can tell.

I had a new experience the other night, Harold & I walked up from the mail after tea & met one of the section men at the Post Office, he said a hand car was just going down the line & would give us a life if we liked, so we came all the way back on it, it isa very funny feeling as the car is only a small platform with handles to work it, & it goes very fast, it felts so funny going at that pace in the dark.

Mr. George is still away. I have some cooking to do, so I had better go and do it as it is getting on for tea time.

Your affectionate daughter,

May Wright