Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1875
| dc.contributor.author | O'Reilly, Peter | |
| dc.contributor.author | Vancouver Island Local History Society | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-03-27T17:03:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-03-27T17:03:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1875 | |
| dc.description | Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1875. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01908, Box 2, File 3. | |
| dc.description.abstract | DIARY SUMMARY JANUARY Travel by sleigh around Victoria due to prolonged snow and low temperatures – ice skating on the upper Gorge – encouraging results from Dr Moss’s examination of Mary O’Reilly’s back - Dr Moss sails for England to join the British Arctic Expedition. FEBRUARY Chinese employees absent while celebrating new year “much to our discomfort” – after 150 days at sea the Lady Lampson arrives from London. MARCH Photos of the O’Reilly children taken – strawberry beds replanted – one ton of oats, two tons of hay, and four tons of coal delivered. APRIL Peter O’Reilly departs for New Westminster, Yale, and Lytton for court – visit to the Cornwalls at Ashcroft – court at Kamloops – visit to the Vernons at Coldstream Ranch and Ellises in Penticton. MAY Peter returns to Kamloops, Ashcroft, Lytton, and Cache Creek for court – visits ailing Arthur Bushby in New Westminster before returning home – death of Arthur Bushby – Queen’s birthday celebrations on the Gorge and at Government House – dinner on board the HMS Repulse battleship with Admiral Cochrane. JUNE Croquet ground prepared and a party held at Point Ellice – Cornwall and O’Reilly family receive vaccinations – Carry (Pinder) Hare gives birth to a son – ball on board the HMS Repulse, “Got home at 4 AM” – USS Saranac sinks in Seymour Narrows after striking Ripple Rock. JULY Court at New Westminster, Yale, Lytton, Kamloops – Peter purchases the “Jackson” lots adjoining the house for $600. AUGUST Peter attends police court in Victoria on behalf of Elliott who is away – Point Ellice property fence and gate in progress – departs for Cassiar gold mining region by steamer to Fort Wrangel (Alaska) – travels by canoe up Stikine River, then to Dease Lake and Laketon where he meets Gold Commissioner John Sullivan. SEPTEMBER Court case load coordinated with Sullivan at Laketon and McDame Creek – travels back to Fort Wrangel – waits for Victoria-bound steamer to arrive – a storm occurs and 70 recently arrived miners are without shelter – Peter arrives in Victoria a week later and immediately treats a sick horse at Government House. OCTOBER Peter learns that Tom Ellis is in debt – wire fence completed – Trutches return from Bute Inlet on board the HMS Repulse – Joseph Trutch sponsors a dance at Government House – Mrs Lethbridge commences teaching Kathleen and Mary at home – Peter goes bird hunting at Langley with friends. NOVEMBER After leaving Victoria, San Francisco-bound passenger ship Pacific collides with another ship off Washington coast, 273 passengers and crew are lost, some known to Peter including John Sullivan – court at Yale, Lytton, Kamloops – a visit with the Cornwalls and hunting – travel hampered by extreme cold. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/21998 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.subject | Peter O'Reilly | |
| dc.subject | British Columbia | |
| dc.subject | Victoria (B.C.) | |
| dc.subject | Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.) | |
| dc.subject | civil service | |
| dc.subject | history | |
| dc.subject | 19th century | |
| dc.title | Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1875 | |
| dc.type | Other |