Baptiste Demarest

Baptiste Demarest, a French-Canadian, was working for Mr. Waddington’s advance camp in the spring of 1864. Stationed two miles ahead the main camp, he was trailblazing with the other members of the crew: William Brewster, James Gaudet, John Clarke, and a Homathco Indian boy known as George.

The advance camp was attacked by Tsilhqot’in warriors on the morning of April 30, 1864. Unlike the others members of the camp, Demarest’s body was never found. During the inquest done by Chartres Brew, footsteps were found leading toward the river. It was believed that Demarest jumped in and drowned.

Secondary Sources

Hewlett, Edward S. “The Chilcotin Uprising: A Study of Indian-European Relations in Nineteenth Century British Columbia.” MA Thesis, UBC, 1972.