The Huron Expositor, 1980-12-04, Page 11f41 Gold fever the lure of nuggits as big as marbles,- of
easy riches that could be located with luck and a tin pan. It
vias gold fever that would litre men and to California in the
fasow'io!the treacherous Klondike many 'years later.
Rabeil7GOVei1oCK Owneror Harpitrhejr's general store
in his later years was one young man who succumbed to
0 lure of gold.. But unlike many Who left familiar territory
proRpoiforilia gold fields. Govenlock recorded his 4ory.
in fascinating detail. `
Govenlock autt his family emigrated from Scotland to
MKiIIopTownship in 1834, where his. mother died only
three days after they reached their future home.
atnilyoliad 'ali.eady—lbSt a daughter, who died as they
andedjR:Canada, and was buried on Gros Isle in the St.
Lawrence channel, ,
The: GOVeplocks laid' claim to 300 acres of land, and
Robert's father erected a sawmill on the Maitland River,
but it was not a very profitable investment, 'as the spring
floods ,often took the dam away." .
Until he was 21 years old, Robert stayed 'borne and
nridoultiegly worked hard - both at the mill and in clearing
-
).0•• °
• ',!2.7*. fL..
111111.1r,V la 11116 • lirWvc" UMMIEMP
NINSIANOW
t
p HURON COUNTY CHRISTIVIAS BUREAU'
(Co-ordinated by Family and Children's
Services of Huron County '
pi requests your support for Christmas /80
"a Donations of toys, games, gifts, new
;and°good used clothing can, be left at -
your local depot.
LOCATION - former Dutch Store, Seaforth
.N Next to Anstetts Jewellers
'„ • DATE -
December 10,
12, 13
Imam maw
kW- --kl;PAVAVAVA.ViiMM:
TIME -
9-11:30 a.m. 1
1-4:00 p.m. •
viola micii
STRATFORD FAIRGROUNDS
Phone 271-5130 • Box 204
Presents
TEENAGE HEAD
With special guest
Guitarist, David Bendetli_
FRI. DEC. 5 8:00 P.M.
$6.00 advance $7.50 at door
TICKETS AT: Music -Tracks
Shoppers Record & Tape Mart
, Coliseum
Si. Marys -M & M Variety
Woodstock -Records On Wheels
(co
4
Year's Eve
D CE
Dec. 31st
SPONSORED BY
SEAFORTH BEAVER OLDTIMERS
Dancing 9 till? (Disc Jockey)
Smorgasbord meal by Mrs. V. Miller
AT SEAFORTH 60MMUNITY CENTRE
$20.00 per couple
TICKETS AVAILABLE:
Jack IVfclicsiain
Ron Driscoll
Bob Beuttenmiller
BENMILLER INN
:LE
CLOSED.
DECEMBER ltst TO DECEMBER 12th
INCLUSIVE
FOR RENOVATIONS
REOPENING
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13th
SPECIAL HOURS FOR
THE HOLLOW
OPEN SATURDAY & SUNDAY. DEC. 6&7
T411 -:R T1)5.1'41.11 CHANCE (112 PPolivilORNI*. PRONE ;24-2191
For reservations phone
524-2191
Benmiller
Inn
Am.h Nestled in Benntilier. Ont.. just 7
kilametres east of Goderieb an Huron
County Road 1. just off Highway 8.
At.
Serenilip
by Alice Gibb
' the land. He recalled later, "there was plenty ofwild game
then, as it was an unbroken wilderness for hundreds of
•
miles to the north, so we procured lots of furs of all kinds."
One daY MfiiraY Anderson, a London pioneer, Emile to
the Govenlock homestead to purchase furs and sell timothy
seed to local farmers. He asked Robert to join his company
and Sell stoves and tinware. Robert bought a teant and
wagon of his own, left home for the first time, and worked
for the London businessman for the next two years, (feting
a bit of everything from buying furs to selling stoves. In his
autobiography he recalled, "I have bought as much as one
thousand dollar's worth of furs in one day from Indian
traders."
By this time, Govenlock had 30 acres of land cleared on
-his own farm, but then rumours of the instant wealth in the
California gold fields started trickling north. Who could
blame -a -man for-wanting-toJeaVe-the-backbreaking-work-of--
clearing land for those shining nuggets there for the
finding. Robert's father tried to persuade him not to go,
but finally, literally, gave him his blessing - the two men
knelt down and prayed together after the rest of the
family retired for the night.
Now getting to California in the 1850's was an entirely
different matter than it was after the opening
of the West. The first step was to tackle New York, and
there Govenlock used letters of introduction from his
former employer to some Of the city's more influential
men. He hoped one of these men could.use their influence
and book a- passage for him on a ship travelling by way
of the Isthmns of Panama. Finally, for $150, he secured
passage on a clipper ship which' was lo sail around the
Cape Horn to California. -
GOING NOWHERE
The 40 or 50 steerage passengers, including other
Canadians, went to the shrip day after day, and day after
day were met with another excuse why the boat couldn't
sail. Passengers' finances were running low, and they
appealed -to both the British and American consuls. Finally
one day the vessel was tied up at the wharf, and the owner
caole on board,, a white-haired elderly lady named Smith
decided to take matters into her own hands.
"When We arrived she was running up and down the
deck with her white hair hanging loose and flying in the
wind. I shall never forget the sight. When _she saw us
coming, she sprang to the wharf and grabbed Taylor (the
owner) by the hands and demanded her money back."
When the owner's excuses didn't meet Mrs. Smith's
approval, she and some of the other female passengers
tore off all his clothes "and went at him with their finger
nails until they did not leave one inch of solid skin of his
body." As someone.said, there's,nothing like the fury of a
woman!
Eventually the government seized the ship, and the
passengers, who were at least getting their board. stayed
on. Finally the passengers hired a lawyer named Moody,
who seized the stores on board the vessel to repay the
passengers. But his fees came first, and as Govenlock
points out, "A lawyer is a refined gentleman who rescues
your property from your enemies and keeps it himself."
A WHALING SHIP?
When it became obvious the clipper ship's owner was
never going to solve his financial problems and actually set
sail, and with Govenlock desperately in need of cash, the .
• young man considered signing on for a three-year tour of
duty with a whaling ship. Fortunately before Offing pen
_to paper. he talked to some sailors who'd just returned
Song
sheets
are free
here
Just in time for those
Otristruas parties. the Huron
Expositor is offering song -
sheets to Mr readers. free of
charge
Produced by the BOtiewater
Regional 'Newspaper Net •
work. the four page song
sheets are available in our
office while they last.
Miler Well
DRILLING,
W.D. Hopper I
and Sons
4 MODERN ROTARY
RIGS
Neil 527-1737 .
Dud 527-0828
Jim 527-0775
•
front, ah oceangoing stint and discovered th,-/ "were all
over . scurvy." That was enough to make Govenlock
,\reconsider - and shortly after he found a sailing, vessel
bond for Galveston, Texas. The capti n, who nicknamed,
him "Scotty", liked the young man and sold him passage .
' for SO,
'The trip to Galveston was anything but enjoyable - the
ship was tossed about in the Gulf of Mexico for 40 daTs,
and many tunes the hands were sure their ship was. lost.
•Robert Govenlock landed with exactly 75 cents in his
pocket, but undoub iedly felt being back on dry, solid land
compensated for his poor financial state,
• Govenlock worked on some local farms, pulling cotton
and husking, but the heat made him conclude it was too
hot for aity white man to work. ,.The slaves did all the
•;Work." But with a few dollars in his pocket again, and his
McKillop homewseven months behind him , Govenlock
started heading west towards the gold fields.
Govenlock's transportation west was a job as a teamster
on a government wagon train. The 100 wagons, pulled by
mule teams or oxen, were heading out to settle a boundary
--dispute-between Texas--and-fvfexico:Govenlock found he
was unpopular with many of his fellow drivers not only
because he was a "Northerner" but also because he was
from Canada, a country where the abolitionist (anti -slavery
movement was already gaining strength.
Robert's adventures on the wagon train we're equal to
anything dreamed up by Hollywood screenwriters. Some
of the Mexican workers on the train plotted to cut the
throats of the teamsters some night and escape with the
stIpplies. Fortunately the train's interpreter overheard
_their plot and the plan Was abandoned. Another danger
wa the rivers, at that time of year, in high flood, and the
men often had to make rafts to ferry the wagons across and
swim the cattle alongside.
WILD TURKEYS
But if the trip was hazardous, there were also some
enjoyable moments. The wild game was plentiful - on one
hunting trip alone, Govenlock shot 15 deer and -a number
of wild turkeys. "I shot one turkey and.he`was just as much
as 1 could carry. When I held himby the legs over my
shoulder, his head touched the ground."
The wagonmaster, who'd become a friend of
Govenlock's, was shot in an argument with a teamster and
died a slow and painful death eight da)is later. But despite
,the internal problems with the rough meh working on the
train, the teamgters faced another problem outside -
Indians. '
"The Indians were always around, watching us. One
night one of them tied his horse to a shrub and then tried
to creep in among our fat cattle in order to stampede them
and run them off to the mountains, but our guard saw -film.
called another man, and then ran over to where the Indian,
vas." ,
The guards killed the Indian and after, Govenlock notes,
the teat -inters were paid $50 for the Indian's scalp and the
same amount for his saddle by the American government.
Later, however, another band of Indians did manage to
slip into the camp at night and get away with 18 of the
train's fat cattle.
"We were very careful after this, and doubled guards
were stationed. Orders were passed that we were to shoot
anyone seen round the camp after night, at the second
call to stand."
There must have been many a night when Govenlock fell
asleep beside his wagon, wondering why he'd eser decided
-to leave the relatively peaceful life in McKillop to work his
way to the gold fields of California.
Next weer:,?vfore adventures, as Govenlock reaches the
Rio Grande.
eaceASSNOMMA arele*
Merry Xmas and
Happy New Year
from the Centenaires
GAMES TO REMEMBER
SUNDAY, DEC. 14,1980 2 P.M.
Draw on a Christmas fruit basket
donated by Nash Restaurant
FRIDAY, DEC. 19, 1980 8:30 P.M.
Door prize of 1 dozen red roses
donated by Hildebrand's Flowers,
Seaforth
SUNDAY, DEC. 21, 1980 2 P.M.
Draw on 2 halves of a pig
Donated by Dave Preszcator
also SANTA CLAUS WILL BE THERE
TUES. DEC. 23, 1980 8:30 p.m.
Door prize on a dried flower
arrangement
Donated by Scott's Flowers
Noisteiet
Optimist Club Building
FOR ENT
any night in December
$50
Phone Keith MacLean
527-0025
•
•V -t2.elsif..
.Cau, 1_er
..1.1.4.1-1.v.09!st•PcP,9$1.7foRt..P.,P.90.10.0R.•••14..•1980 11
News
BY JACK EISLER
On Dec. 21 the Legion
will be lading its annual
Christmas party • for the
children and of course this
always means a visit, ;for
, Santa •Claus.
There will be a short
program proceeding the arri-.
val of Santa and we are in
need of talent from local
•thildren. Amy member hav-
ing children who would like
to take part in a Xmas
concert, please contact Barb-
ara Scott. This includes all
members. More on times at a
later date. It will depend on
how busy ,Santa is.
Last week I neglected to
put the winners of Grey Cup
draw. They are as follows.
First quarter was Bill Fritzley
of Goderich, 2nd quarter
Murray Rebel of Douglas
Point, 3rd quarter Gloria
Glanville of Egmondville,
each winning 525. The 5500
winner was Wilfred Tremeer
of ERmondville.
• Egmondville
Correspondent
CAROLE GEDDES
527-0844
Kendall Marie Schenck,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Brent Schenck. grand-
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Geddes and great
granddaughter of Mr. and
Mrs. James Cameron, Sarnia
was baptized on Sunday at
Egmondville United Church.
Brent and Sheila 'entertained
their families during the
afternoon of the baptism.
Other children baptized at
Egmondville Church in-
cluded: Scott Murray. son of
Mr. and Mrs. Murray Hen-
derson; Everett Brandon,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph
Smith; Lisa Ann. daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. John Bennett:
Kevin Nathan. son of Mr.
and Mrs. Gerard Meidinger;
and David Wayne Butt. son
of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Butt.
Congrattitoloa,go out to
Frank phitiips our bar
steward, on his recent award.,
of Citizen ,Of the Year for the ,
Town of Seaforth, W 111 tbe""
Legion" are well avvare of his
contribution not only to our'
e
branch,, but to th,, town
:itself, A niost deserving
tribute T6, a tieq-eitizen aria
r '
,cornade
checking thosick board
we find several comrades
still in hospital,
COMMERCIAL
HOTEL
-
THIS WEJS TERTAINIVIENT
Wednesday to Saturday
and Saturday Matinee 4 p.m. 1o6 p.m.
Jirri Reit and Wildfire -
NEXT WEEK'S ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday to Saturday
and Saturday Matinee 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Ron McLeod
FINE FOOD
FINE ENTERTAINMENT
•
Think Summer
this Christmas
•
Give Blyth Summer Festival
SUBSCRIPTION VOUCHERS
Each package good for
4 admissions
Adults $18 Senior Citizens $16
Children WI
ORDER FROM Blyth Summer Festival
Box 291, blyth, NOM1H0
or at the following outlets
Graham's General Store
Mary's Sewing Centre
Campbell's of Goderich
Lampman's Ltd
Kitchener Chamber of Commerce
(King St E 1
Basically Books
Theatre London
Lockhart Furniture
The Huron Expositor
Stephenson's, Festival Square
Waxworks Boutique
Bayfield
Clinton
Goderich
Kincardine
Kitchener
Listowel
London
Mitchell
Seaforth
Stratford
Wingham
CHOOSE FROM LATE MODELS — MANY LOW MILEAGE — MANY GOOD SECOHD CARS!
1979 4 w.dr. F150
1979 Oldsmobile wagon
loaded
1978 4 w. dr. Blazer
1977 4 w. dr. F150
1977 F100 pick up
GoingAo?
FORD
1977 LTD 11 2 dr. h. top
1977 Cougar XR7
1976 Duster 6 cyl. automatic
1976 Datsun 710 automatic
1975 F150 pick up
Here is the
Camper
for you
a Sales
• Stifitke
• .1.6ititing
Doity kontais
220 MAIN STREET,
SALES DEPARTMENT OPEN:
8 a.m. till 8 p.m.
except Friday 8 a.m. - 6 _p.m.
Sie,e
6Ps 6
,
'lb() •
•
Pefry *7. Cre.e
96$1. slop
°fos 6)
p
-
"Your Satisfaction is
our First Concern"
SEAFORTH
mpTolis LIMITER
SOUTH-SEAFORTH 527-1010
SERVICE AND PARTS DEPARTMENT OPEN:
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 5:30 P.M.
41111111011111111*-
„tlx•t^