Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1865
| dc.contributor.author | O'Reilly, Peter | |
| dc.contributor.author | Vancouver Island Local History Society | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-04-06T17:03:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-04-06T17:03:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1865 | |
| dc.description | Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1865. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01907, Box 1, File 9. | |
| dc.description.abstract | DIARY SUMMARY JANUARY No significant diary entries. FEBRUARY No diary entries. MARCH No diary entries. APRIL Peter O'Reilly and his traveling companions leave New Westminster for Wild Horse Creek in the East Kootenay - arrival at "Sooyoos" (Osoyoos) by month's end - procures horses from John Haynes. MAY The group travels east to Rock Creek, follows Kettle River before turning south to cross Columbia and Spokane Rivers (Washington), Lake Pend Oreille and Kootenay River (Idaho), before re-entering British Columbia - north to Joseph's Prairie (Cranbrook), then the mining area of Wild Horse Creek - Peter immediately starts working as Gold Commissioner one month after departing New Westminster. JUNE Purchases cabin to be used as office and searches for suitable buildings for jail and constable's quarters - miners begin leaving Wild Horse Creek for other prospects at Elk River (BC) and Coeur D'Alene (Idaho). JULY "Fearful commotion, awake half the night from the row in the town.", American miners celebrate Independence Day July 4th - a three hour fishing trip yields 57 trout for Peter - a week-long illness requires three doctor visits. AUGUST Trout fishing and duck hunting - miners leave for the Blackfoot Valley (Montana). SEPTEMBER Blackfoot Indians steal horses and drive them across Rocky Mountains - negligence by a constable results in escape of three prisoners from jail - Tommy Ellis arrives for a visit - Peter writes his twentieth letter to his wife "Carry". OCTOBER Peter and five others depart Wild Horse Creek for New Westminster. NOVEMBER Route through the mountains covered in snow - arrival in New Westminster after 18 days and 401 miles of travel. DECEMBER At home in New Westminster - Christmas Day spent with Joseph and Julia Trutch, Tommy Ellis, and others. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/21899 | |
| 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 - 1865 | |
| dc.type | Other |