Introduction

The Gold Rush

Aboriginal Culture

Chief Isidore

Looking for Gold

Fisherville was an exciting place to be in 1864 and 1865. The little gold mining town was buzzing with people trying to get a pick or shovel into the gold-filled ground. Prospectors had staked claims for 4 miles along both sides of the creek.

Chinese prospectors sluicing BCARS (I-33947)

One of the tools that an experienced gold miner used to work his claim for gold was a rocker. A rocker is a tray with a mesh screen bottom. The tray fits over a larger box that has cleats all along its base or a piece of burlap. Men would shovel gravel from the creek bank into the tray and then pour water over top of it. Then they would gently shake the rocker and the gravel would be washed through the screen. The gold would stick to the burlap or the cleats on the bottom of the box so it was easy for the miners to take out. Other gold miners who were just beginners would use gold pans to look for gold. Panning for gold took a lot more time than using a tool like a rocker.

Fisherville was a rough place where most men wore guns to work and to bed. ‘Claim jumping’ was something that happened often. This was when men would try to steal or look for gold on someone else’s claim. There were no laws at the time so men had to defend their claims with their fists, their tools or their guns. As a result, death was very common along the banks of Wild Horse Creek.

Fisherville Grows		The Town of Fisherville