#southesk alberta

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"MAN MURDERED BY INDIANS WAS A FINE SPECIMEN," Toronto Star. June 5, 1912. Page 6. --- Constable Davies of the R.N.W.M.P. a Splendid Example of Young Englishman. ---- SHOT DOWN ON TRAIL --- Went to Arrest Indians and Was Killed - Three Men Arrested. --- Special to The Star. Ottawa, June 5. - The story of the murder of Constable Frank W. Davies near Southesk, Alta., by three Indians whom he tried to arrest; is another illustration of how well young Englishmen can serve the Empire even when engaged on such an ordinary vocation as that of a constable, of the mounted police.

He came out from London, England, some five years ago and started farming at or near Wadena, Sask., but evidently soon tired of that task, because in April, 1909, he applied for admission into the Mounted Police and was sworn in on the 9th of that month. Then he gave his age as 25, and stated that his next of kin was his father, Walter Davies, of 25 Roma road, Hampstead, London. There is not a mark against his record, and he is reported by the controller as having been a most efficient member of the force.

Davies was one of those young Britishers who play the game like men. They know their duty and do it even if death be the reward.

Prior to starting out on what has proved to be his last case he had been around the town joking and talking to the boys with whom he was a universal favorite. Just at dusk a terrified Indian hurried into the town. He located the constable, and, in broken language, told him that two Indians and a "breed" had shot several times at him, at the same time pointing to bullet holes in his hat, coat sleeve, and in a bundle of blankets he carried. The officer immediately started after them and that was the last seen of him alive.

His murderers took his gun, cartridge belt, and horse, and continued on their way south-east.

Mounted Police Corporal Johnston, of Bassano, alone arrested the three men, who are now being held for the murder.

[random-anthropology]

This happened back in 2006 but I’m preparing to visit some of these artifacts as part of my thesis research. I’m finding it fascinating to learn how these items were made by First Nations and Métis women, collected by a Scottish earl, kept in Scotland for over a century, and then brought back to Canada by a Canadian Museum with the support of the First Nations and Métis communities.

I’m hoping the Earl’s “detailed journal” includes some details about the women who created these works of art. 

Photos of the artifacts can be found here: https://framsociety.ca/southesk-collection/