Edward Mosely

Edward Mosely (or Mosley) was one of three survivors of the attack at Bute Inlet. A native of England, he came to Vancouver Island from California in June 1863.

Mosely was sleeping in a tent with Joseph Fielding and James Campbell when the Tsilhqot'in warriors attacked. His two companions were shot, but Mosely was saved by a tent pole that fell on him, creating a shield. He managed to crawl from the tent to the river without being noticed by the attackers. On his way down to the river, he saw an aboriginal woman and children carrying goods from his camp site. At the river, he met Petersen who was severely wounded and whom Mosely helped reach the ferry nine miles away.

On the following day, Philip Buckley joined Petersen and Mosely at the ferry where they learned of the death of the ferryman Tim Smith. The three survivors were helped by two French-Canadians and five aboriginals who had heard about the events. The three men were taken to the town site at Bute Inlet and given canoes to travel to Nanaimo. They arrived in Victoria on May 11 aboard the steamer Emily Harris.

In Victoria, Mosely gave a detailed account of what he had witnessed which was published in the Daily British Colonist on May 12, 1864.

Secondary Sources

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