Slumach[1] was an elderly Katzie First Nations man hanged for murder in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, in 1891. Baptized moments before his death he was given the first name "Peter", a name never used in his lifetime. His unmarked grave is in St. Peter's Cemetery in Sapperton.[2] He is remembered today because of his alleged knowledge of the location of the Pitt Lake gold deposit that is often referred to as "Slumach's Gold."[3]
Slumach entered written history in September 1890, when he shot a “half-breed” known as Louis Bee or Louie Bee at what is now known as Addington Point on the west shore of Pitt River, opposite Sturgeon Creek.[4] Bee and his wife Kitty may be the persons recorded in the 1881 Canada census as “Lewey, indigenous, 27 years and Kitty, indigenous, 40 years, at Cowichan.” There is no other information about Bee.
Bee was shot from the shore as he was sitting in a canoe with “Seymour”,[5] a fellow fisherman. There were no other witnesses to the murder.[6] The motive of the murder had probably more to do with liquor rather than, as some have suggested, gold. Both Bee and Seymour had before done hard labour for selling liquor to First Nations people.[7]
Slumach eluded capture for several months but, with winter approaching, surrendered to authorities.[8] Efforts to show that Slumach acted in self-defense failed, and so did the defence's efforts to postpone the trial until the spring, speculating that the elderly man would die in captivity of natural causes and would be spared capital punishment. Slumach was sentenced to death and he was hanged in January 1891.[9]
Contemporary newspapers reported the hanging in detail.[10] The Vancouver Daily World commented: “There was much sympathy for Slumach among those who witnessed his execution. It was thought that the Government might, with just clemency, have extended a reprieve to him, for he certainly would not have lived very long in confinement, and the fact that he never ran across law and order in any shape until the latter years of his long life made many hope that he would be allowed to finish his career in the confinement of the penitentiary.”[11] There may have been feelings of sympathy for the old man at the hanging, but there is only one request for clemency on file and in the time preceding his execution the newspapers and their readers seemed indifferent about Slumach's fate.
Pitt Lake goldedit
Many years after his death, stories surfaced that Slumach had discovered rich gold deposits at Pitt lake, and died without revealing the location. Pitt Lake's Lost Gold Mine and Slumach are the topic of numerous newspaper and magazine articles, transcript of most can be found on the Slumach Web site, as well as books and three television documentaries.
Notesedit
^Slumach is now the most common spelling. An “Indian Census” of 1879 shows his name as Slum.ook. Some contemporary court records show his name as Slumah or Sumah. Newspapers spelled his name in a variety of different ways.
^Fred Braches,"Murder on the Pitt River," The News, Maple Ridge BC, 27 April 2010.
^Daily Columbian, New Westminster, BC, 26 April 1882 and Daily Colonist, Victoria, BC, 10 June 1887.
^"Starved Out: Slumach, the Notorious Murderer of Louis Bee, Quietly Surrendered and in Now in Jail," Daily Columbian, 25 October 1890.
^Bench Books 1864-1964, Vol 597, page 19 page 21-28, M.W.T. Drake, Supreme Court, New Westminster - November 1890, etc. and BC Attorney General, Inquisitions and Inquest 6/91 January 16, 1891, Slumach, an Indian Hung by the court.
^For instance "Paid the Penalty: Slumach, the Murderer of Louis Bee, Pays the Penalty of his Crime," Daily Columbian, 16 January 1891.
^"Hanged at Royal City," Vancouver Daily World, 16 January 1891
External linksedit
Slumach, contains transcripts or copies of all sources and references.
December 18, 2023
slumach, elderly, katzie, first, nations, hanged, murder, westminster, british, columbia, canada, 1891, baptized, moments, before, death, given, first, name, peter, name, never, used, lifetime, unmarked, grave, peter, cemetery, sapperton, remembered, today, be. Slumach 1 was an elderly Katzie First Nations man hanged for murder in New Westminster British Columbia Canada in 1891 Baptized moments before his death he was given the first name Peter a name never used in his lifetime His unmarked grave is in St Peter s Cemetery in Sapperton 2 He is remembered today because of his alleged knowledge of the location of the Pitt Lake gold deposit that is often referred to as Slumach s Gold 3 Contents 1 Biography 2 Pitt Lake gold 3 Notes 4 External linksBiography editSlumach entered written history in September 1890 when he shot a half breed known as Louis Bee or Louie Bee at what is now known as Addington Point on the west shore of Pitt River opposite Sturgeon Creek 4 Bee and his wife Kitty may be the persons recorded in the 1881 Canada census as Lewey indigenous 27 years and Kitty indigenous 40 years at Cowichan There is no other information about Bee Bee was shot from the shore as he was sitting in a canoe with Seymour 5 a fellow fisherman There were no other witnesses to the murder 6 The motive of the murder had probably more to do with liquor rather than as some have suggested gold Both Bee and Seymour had before done hard labour for selling liquor to First Nations people 7 Slumach eluded capture for several months but with winter approaching surrendered to authorities 8 Efforts to show that Slumach acted in self defense failed and so did the defence s efforts to postpone the trial until the spring speculating that the elderly man would die in captivity of natural causes and would be spared capital punishment Slumach was sentenced to death and he was hanged in January 1891 9 Contemporary newspapers reported the hanging in detail 10 The Vancouver Daily World commented There was much sympathy for Slumach among those who witnessed his execution It was thought that the Government might with just clemency have extended a reprieve to him for he certainly would not have lived very long in confinement and the fact that he never ran across law and order in any shape until the latter years of his long life made many hope that he would be allowed to finish his career in the confinement of the penitentiary 11 There may have been feelings of sympathy for the old man at the hanging but there is only one request for clemency on file and in the time preceding his execution the newspapers and their readers seemed indifferent about Slumach s fate Pitt Lake gold editMany years after his death stories surfaced that Slumach had discovered rich gold deposits at Pitt lake and died without revealing the location Pitt Lake s Lost Gold Mine and Slumach are the topic of numerous newspaper and magazine articles transcript of most can be found on the Slumach Web site as well as books and three television documentaries Notes edit Slumach is now the most common spelling An Indian Census of 1879 shows his name as Slum ook Some contemporary court records show his name as Slumah or Sumah Newspapers spelled his name in a variety of different ways Baptism and interment records 1891 Slumach s Gold In Search of a Legend Rick Antonson Mary Trainer Brian Antonson Heritage House 2007 BC Attorney General Inquisitions and Inquests 50 90 September 9 1890 Louie Bee Shot by Slumach of Harrison as the records show Fred Braches Murder on the Pitt River The News Maple Ridge BC 27 April 2010 Daily Columbian New Westminster BC 26 April 1882 and Daily Colonist Victoria BC 10 June 1887 Starved Out Slumach the Notorious Murderer of Louis Bee Quietly Surrendered and in Now in Jail Daily Columbian 25 October 1890 Bench Books 1864 1964 Vol 597 page 19 page 21 28 M W T Drake Supreme Court New Westminster November 1890 etc and BC Attorney General Inquisitions and Inquest 6 91 January 16 1891 Slumach an Indian Hung by the court For instance Paid the Penalty Slumach the Murderer of Louis Bee Pays the Penalty of his Crime Daily Columbian 16 January 1891 Hanged at Royal City Vancouver Daily World 16 January 1891External links editSlumach contains transcripts or copies of all sources and references Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Slumach amp oldid 1115829759, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
