Jim McConnell's Autobiography 1877 - 1957Canadian pioneer farmer in Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia |
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12. That same year there was an election, and I can remember Odie Blais driving a few of us up to vote at J. Coulter's home just one mile south of where Rosetown now stands. The C.N.R. grade was built and also a grade alongside for side track. We all walked down and looked it over. I took a little hard lump of earth from the grade and mailed it home, stating that it was from the begi nning of the future city of Rosetawn. Now, 45 years later, that prediction of mine has really come true. Rosetown is now one of the most active centres in all that vast area so recently brought under the plow. The six months residence for 1908 now completed, I again took the oxen and wagon and started off, this time by way of Zealandia and the new railway. The C.N.R. had the rails laid as far as Zealandia. Passing Zealandia about sundown, I kept on but could find no water for the oxen. When they got tired, I unhitched and tied them out on the frosty grass to feed. It was too cold to sleep in the open, and I was up and going long before daybreak. Cantinuing along the new well-beaten trail, I came ta Delisle before night and found a farmer who could keep the oxen for the winter. I left for Saskatoan the next morning, and then on to Prince Albert. That night my roommate in Prince Albert was an Engineer from Rouleau, Saskatchewan, Nat Hawkins. As it happened, we were to spend most of the winter together. Next day we found a logging cantractor who was hiring men for bush work up north of Prince Albert. His name was Al Hero. About twelve of us started out, having put our rolls of clothes or blankets on the teamster's wagon. We all walked or ran behind to keep up. At night we came to a stopping place where we got beds and breakfast. As breakfast proceeded, the proprietar began callecting from the men at the door as they went out. My appetite failed me, for by now I was flat broke. I went up to him and told him fra nkly that I had no money. He replied in a loud voice for all to hear: "Well, do yau think because I am a few miles out of town, that I run a free show here?" I offered to try and borrow the money. "Well, see that you do then," he replied. I slipped out and asked Nat Hawkins, and he loaned me the money so I was able to pay my way. This made quite an impression on me. being the only time I can remember not being able to pay for my breakfast.
That night we arrived at the camp. No beds were available so we all
crowded into the eating camp and the cook gave us leave to spread our blankets on
the floor. No sooner had we all laid down when we were asleep for everyone was
so tired tramping and running after the wagon. Next morning we noticed the foreman keeping some of the men as they came from the camp and afterwards sending Two weeks later, one morning early, Hawkins came to me as we were turning out to work. He asked me ta pay him the money I had borrowed. I asked him what was wrong, and he told me that he had been fired. On January 4th on a cold bitter morning, I also was paid off and sent down the road with my roll of blankets and clothes on my back. I began travelling to other camps, and who should I meet but Nat Hawkins. He too had been fired again that morning, so we tramped along toge ther and before night came, we arrived at a larg e camp which was under quarantine for some disease. They could take men in but could not send any men out. We decided ta take our chances here. We got our sleeping bunks and the next marning went to work. Here we stayed until the end of March. Hawkins had same horses running out, and he wanted to get them gathered up, so I decided to go out with him. The boss, Mr. Thompsan made out our time and set our wages at $20.00 a month. It seemed pretty tough for we had been working hard and long hours. The last month we had been putting in nearly eleven hours a day. We got a chance of a ride on a sleigh that was driving down to Prince Albert for supplies.
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