Letter from Bute Inlet

Daily Chronicle, May 12, 1864.

Town Site – Bute Inlet, May 4, 1864.

To Mr. Waddington – Sir: - I am sorry that I am under the painful necessity of informing you of the sad affair that took place on the 30th of April at the Third Bluff. The men were attacked by the upper Indians in the morning before daylight and were all killed but three, who escaped by swimming down the river. There are two of them badly wounded, but not dangerously. I was at the town site at the time of the affair, but I was informed of it by one of the Indians that was looking for Mr. Brewster, who came down immediately after the accident. I went to the ferry the same day and found there three men. I was to proceed further, but I could get no one to go with me, so they advised me not to go alone or I would endanger my life for nothing, as I could do no good alone. There is still a little hope for Mr. Brewster as he and Clarke were ahead blazing the trail; he may have escaped, but rather doubtful. These three men can give you a better description as they were present. They have robbed the ferry house of all the provisions and cooking utensils and what they could not pack they threw in the river. They cut the skiff to pieces and cut the scow loose, but there was not water to carry it away so I made it fast again. I presume that the upper camp was also robbed of the provisions. I shall remain here with Gage until I hear from you which I hope will be soon.

I, am your obt. Servant,
A. SAMPER

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Mr. Waddington. – This gentleman, whose kindness of heart is proverbial, is greatly distressed a the dreadful news from Bute Inlet, not because of the great pecuniary loss which he has sustained, but because of the fearful sacrifice of life which has attended the outbreak. As an honest, patient, enterprising, self-sacrificing, noble-hearted man, though in the decline of life, yet a model of energy and pluck which men fifty years his junior might well emulate, it is deeply to be regretted that this great misfortune has befallen him; while mourning for those who in the prime of their days and the heyday of health and usefulness have been suddenly cut off by the hands of the red men, who among us but will sympathise with the good old man whose fortune has been spent in an effort to do good to the country which he has made his home.