35:
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conviction, the defendant was expelled from the district. Law enforcement erected a cabin, then jail, collected government tariffs, and maintained the peace. Dave
Griffiths, prospector and storekeeper, who settled a mile away, stayed for 50 years. Some of the apple trees he planted continue to produce fruit. The fireplace and chimney base at his residence remain standing.
42:
211:
A nearby contributory creek, which was the water source for a brewery operation, became
Brewery Creek. The product was consumed in the numerous saloons that sprang up. The Dore, Cuddy and Fisher, near the mouth of Brewery Creek, would prove to be the richest claims. By May 1864, 150 prospectors were
244:
In 1865, a decline was evident. Falling demand meant supplies were overstocked. However, the Wild Horse valley remained capable of supporting 600 miners, creating an opportunity for the
Chinese. About 100 Caucasians and 20 Chinese stayed the winter. A post office, initially called Kootenai, existed
223:
In 1865, the snow melt flooded the creek and half the summer was wasted. Only a third of the 1,500 miners were gainfully employed. Most left on news of better prospects elsewhere. Those who stayed used water supplied by the ditch to flush the
Fisherville bench, which yielded exceptional recoveries.
248:
In June 1866, John Boles Gaggin arrived as assistant to O'Reilly, but was made redundant that
November. After a lengthy illness, he died the following May and was buried in the cemetery. By fall 1866, Caucasian numbers had dropped, but the Chinese had risen to 300. Caucasians continued to dwindle
215:
During an argument in late July, Tommy Walker shot off the thumb of
William "Yeast Powder Bill” Burmeister, who returned fire killing Walker. When Gold Commissioner John C. Haynes and Constable Harry Anderson arrived a few days later, a formal jury was convened. The evidence insufficient for a
219:
By late summer, the population was an estimated 700. Most departed before the winter but some stayed, including
William Young, the constable. When heavy snow prevented the delivery of supplies, a chronic food shortage developed. The 8-kilometre (5 mi) Victoria ditch was excavated.
292:, which attracted thousands, but again later became primarily Chinese. In 1901, nine individuals returned to China each with $ 15,000. Claims were then worked intermittently for almost two decades before a revival in hydraulic mining 1919–1925.
199:. Various versions exist regarding the members of two parties arriving the following spring, but Bob Dore and Jack Fisher are two of the key players staking claims. The tent community was called Fisherville and the towering peak later became
212:
working the main waterway. The two general stores struggled to keep up with demand and charged high prices. Most supplies came from the US, linked via the only practicable trails. However, that year, a glut made beef the cheapest food.
224:
Dore installed the first hydraulic plant, his claim producing $ 521,700 over the first three years. As the ground was progressively worked, cabins in the way were moved, demolished or torched. That year,
34:
309:
Later blank crosses are the only markers in the main cemetery. Tommy Walker's grave, outside the cemetery, has a headstone. The
Chinese cemetery is separate.
69:
956:
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1866–1899 near the Wild Horse camp. The adjacent land was good for agriculture. In 1866, enough wheat was grown to satisfy the local flour demand.
321:
866:
151:
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In 1887, Chief
Isadore and 25 warriors sprang a murder suspect from the jail, but the prisoner was returned to custody and found not guilty.
263:
in 1870, making
Galbraith Bros the most significant traders in the district, having stores at Perry Creek, Joseph's Prairie (later called
119:
156:
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899:
225:
200:
195:
In late 1863, a group led by Joe Findlay collected either large gold flakes or abundant nuggets when panning at the mouth of
228:
was appointed gold commissioner at Fisherville. A camp called Wild Horse was created closer to the new activity. Halfway to
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After a lull, claims were being worked with a new vigour from 1884, with the population steadily increasing each year.
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were staked. In 1889, Skookum Joe discovered a significant gold quartz ledge, which he revealed to George Cowan.
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each season and Fisherville became known as Chinatown. A Chinese presence remained over the following years.
256:
183:. The locality, off the Fort Steele-Wildhorse Road, is by road about 7 kilometres (4 mi) northeast of
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In spring 1867, a horse thief murdered Constable Jack Lawson, but some accounts ascribe the year as 1864.
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By 1929, the earlier wooden grave markers were indecipherable and the log houses reduced to remnants.
312:
In 2021, signs were posted to discourage recreational panning, which was damaging the historic site.
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Wild Horse, Fisherville, and Toneyville are identifiable as separate sites.
306:
The mining area was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1996.
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In the 1890s, the adoption of large pump machinery created a revival in
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930:
A history of mining in the East Kootenay district of British Columbia
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259:, wanting to exit the local market, sold the Wild Horse store to
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615:"Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Gaggin, John Boles"
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915:
A history of the Cranbrook District in East Kootenay
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281:In 1888, five quartz claims containing grained
8:
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322:List of ghost towns in British Columbia
271:Mining revival and First Nations unrest
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891:Fort Steele, Gold Rush to Boom Town
261:John Galbraith of Galbraith's Ferry
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14:
16:Place in British Columbia, Canada
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105:
40:
33:
957:Ghost towns in British Columbia
831:"Wildhorse Creek Historic Site"
347:"Fisherville (former locality)"
232:was Toneyville, known for its
171:on the northwest shore of the
1:
665:Fur and gold in the Kootenays
967:British Columbia gold rushes
583:"Kootenai (former locality)"
327:British Columbia Gold Rushes
482:, pp. 45, 49 (35, 39).
54:Location of Fisherville in
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871:www.myeastkootenaynow.com
849:"Fisherville BC Cemetery"
785:. 28 Dec 1901. p. 1.
651:. 1 Mar 1970. p. 11.
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28:
689:. 4 Nov 1897. p. 3.
819:(3): 24 (23). Apr 1974.
179:region of southeastern
888:Miller, Naomi (2002).
714:, pp. 43, 51, 54.
662:Graham, Clara (1945).
85:49.65500°N 115.59417°W
835:www.historicplaces.ca
683:"East Kootenay Miner"
588:BC Geographical Names
352:BC Geographical Names
962:Canadian gold rushes
867:"East Kootenay News"
809:"BC Historical News"
668:. p. 148 (128).
257:Hudson's Bay Company
90:49.65500; -115.59417
927:Hughes, J. (1945).
81: /
894:. Heritage House.
768:, p. 51 (41).
572:, p. 50 (40).
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470:, p. 34 (27).
434:, p. 39 (30).
422:, p. 43 (34).
410:, p. 31 (24).
380:, p. 30 (23).
910:Thrupp, Sylvia L.
726:, pp. 73–74.
458:, pp. 21–22.
230:Galbraith's Ferry
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152:Regional district
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66:Coordinates:
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201:Mount Fisher
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935:archive.org
796:Hughes 1945
766:Thrupp 1929
751:Hughes 1945
736:Hughes 1945
724:Hughes 1945
712:Miller 2002
700:Hughes 1945
649:archive.org
632:Miller 2002
602:Hughes 1945
570:Thrupp 1929
555:Thrupp 1929
543:Miller 2002
531:Miller 2002
519:Hughes 1945
507:Thrupp 1929
495:Miller 2002
480:Thrupp 1929
468:Thrupp 1929
456:Miller 2002
444:Miller 2002
432:Thrupp 1929
420:Thrupp 1929
408:Thrupp 1929
393:Miller 2002
378:Thrupp 1929
366:Miller 2002
207:Mining boom
191:Name origin
185:Fort Steele
165:Fisherville
88: /
76:115°35′39″W
48:Fisherville
23:Fisherville
946:Categories
882:References
169:ghost town
73:49°39′18″N
333:Footnotes
265:Cranbrook
912:(1929).
316:See also
234:brothels
120:Province
175:in the
101:Country
898:
283:galena
140:Region
130:
113:Canada
110:
937:(MA).
922:(MA).
167:is a
896:ISBN
255:The
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
