Lac La Biche - History - Religious Communities

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Life at Lac La Biche

William E. Traill, the author of this letter, was at this time the Factor at the Hudson's Bay Company trading post at Lac La Biche. Born in England, Traill was trying to make fast money in Canada to take him back to Europe. In these letters and reminiscences, Traill discusses the ups and downs of life at Lac La Biche.

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Letters of WE. Traill 1874-1881 (Part Three)
Edited by Edward J. McCullough and Michael Maccagno

This is the last of three articles consisting of the letters and reminiscences of W.E. Traill at Lac La Biche. These deal with the period from the winter of 1878-1879 to the summer of 1881. Previous parts have appeared in the Spring 1990 issue of Alberta History (1874-1875) and the Summer 1990 issue (1875-1878).

Winter 1878-1879

[Received Katie's] very welcome and interesting letter of 11th November [which] came to hand only yesterday [February 15, 1879]. I also got one from dear Mother without date but evidently written on or about Christmas time. These letters have been very long in reaching me. I also got the two books ... [Christmas presents] [Unfortunately] ... all the kind and endearing messages to my darlings would never be delivered... God has taken from us two of our darling children, Katie, the delight of my heart, and our sweet little Harry. They were taken from us within ten days of each other.

Dear mother seems to have almost a forecast of the loss that has befallen me when she says in wishing us happy Christmas, etc., "One hardly likes to be so long ahead of times and dates in this uncertain life." Truly one "knows not what a day brings forth." How different was our Christmas to that... pictured for us. Oh, how different. My darling Katie just lain in the cold grave. My darling wife on a bed of sickness & at death's door and myself watching over my darling Harry watching for his last breath. Walter by far from out of danger; only poor little Willie who could be said to be out of danger and he like a little orphan as neither his mother nor I able to care for him. Had it not been for the great kindness shown us by the Sisters of Charity, I know not what I should have done. They nursed my darling wife and children and cared for poor little Willie as if he was their own - in fact, Sister Youville calls him her grandson. She showed the greatest sympathy with us in our bereavement. She had been attending on Harriet and my dear Katie but was obliged to go to the Mission to look after things. She told us to send for her if any one was worse. When she bid little Katie good by the dear child said to her; "Why are you in such a hurry?" - the last words she ever spoke to her. When she came again it was to see my darling a corpse. She loved my darling Harry as her own child. When he died she said to Harriet, "Dear Mrs. Traill, I shared your love for that child, now let me share your grief,'' and she was sincere. He was the only child that would ever go to her and not seem afraid of her.

I will try and tell you of this very severe trouble that has come upon us. On December 12th, my darling Harry, who had been ailing for some time, was attacked with the Scarlet Fever which had been in the neighborhood for some months. On the night of the 14th, Willie & the dear Katie were attacked; on the following morning Harriet was very suddenly taken ill. I was obliged to send for the Sister Superior at the nunnery who came at once and rendered every assistance in her power. We had the greatest difficulty in keeping Harriet from choking; the children too got rapidly worse and I thought I would have lost them all at once. I slept with my darling girl all the time. She did not seem to be in so much danger as her brothers till the morning of the 18th, when she rapidly grew worse and, before night, I saw that she was to be taken from us. The baby also was at that time very low indeed, though he lived for several days after.

My darling girl was so very good throughout her illness, never giving any trouble but taking the medicines without a murmur, never failing to thank me. Dear, dear child, it was very touching the forethought and tenderness she evinced. She cried nearly all the first night that dear little Harry took ill. Little did I think they were so soon both to be with their savior. The evening of the 18th, she was very delirious although she always knew me. Her dear Mother was too ill to render her any assistance. Shortly before her death, when the death film was on her eyes, I asked her, "Do you know me my darling?" She replied, "Don't ask me that again - of course I know you." Dear child, it was the last words she said to me.

We feared to tell Harriet but she perceived it at once and was quite resigned. She did not, however, fully realize the dread reality at that time. At the same time, my darling Harry was lying at death's door. The Sister Superior came to me and told me that we must have him moved into the next room, as he had but a few moments to live and that she would not answer for the result on the Mother who was in great danger.

We had the dear little fellow removed. I went out shortly after, expecting to find that he too had breathed his last, but was surprised to find that he was still alive. By this time they had laid out my darling girl and were making grave clothes for my darling boy. Again, I went into the next room and was told that he had taken a turn for the better. He continued to improve and I began to entertain hopes of his ultimate recovery, but the next day his throat began to swell. Walter then took ill and was very ill indeed. He gave more trouble than all the others as he appeared to suffer more. Little Willie was getting better when the dear Katie died. Poor little fellow. He was very ill for 3 days, during which time he did not taste food of any kind; after that he rallied and was no further trouble.

I still had Walter and the dear baby to attend to. They both required the closest attention, Walter being very restless. He did not stand pain well. When I found that Harriet was so bad and had such need of some one with her, I sent a couple of men 170 miles to Fort Pitt for Mrs. McKay. She left Fort Pitt on Christmas morning. Christmas day was particularly melancholy day for me. True, Harriet was somewhat better, but Walter was very ill and that night my darling Harry was very low. I watched by him till after midnight, expecting every moment would be his last, but after midnight he rallied and my hopes were again raised. It so continued till the evening of the 28th. Every night he appeared to be just dying and would then rally and appear so very much better. That evening, just before dark, Mrs. McKay arrived. She was pretty tired, having come from Fort Pitt in 4 days & nights, a distance of 170 miles, in rough weather & no road. She appeared to think my child might recover. Shortly after her arrival, the Sister who I had sent for arrived. She sat with me while Mrs. McKay had a sleep. He appeared no worse that night than usual, so after Mrs. McKay awoke about midnight, I lay down being very weary. About three o’clock, they awakened me to say that my darling child was much worse. He’d taken a sudden turn for the worse. He died in a few minutes after. I am thankful to say I was spared the pain of seeing either of my darlings in convulsions.

It was such a comfort to have dear Mrs. McKay with us at that most trying time. Harriet was still too weak to realize her loss. She was unable to shed a tear for some days after. She did not shut an eye to sleep for four days & nights. Her sense of hearing was remarkably acute. I never saw anything like it. No one could speak even in very low tones in any part of the house or she heard it distinctly.

I trust that I am fully resigned to the Divine will, and I know that my darlings are infinitely happier where they are, but still the flesh is weak and the heart yearns with an unspeakable longing after the dear absent ones. Of the five children born to us, we have only two left now; no wonder then if at times we feel our loss very keenly. Remember, there are no kind friends and neighbors to come in and console us. The burden falls heavier on my dear Harriet, who at the time was so dangerously ill as not only to be quite unable to nurse the dear sufferers, but she was at the time unable to realize the death of her children. She could not weep. She always said that she did not feel that they were dead but that they had gone away on a visit. Now she realizes in all its fullness the sad reality and feels the loss in a two fold degree.

[Mrs. McKay] stayed with us about 3 weeks until Harriet fully recovered. We were greatly rejoiced to see Mr. McKay, who turned up a few days before Mrs. McKay was to part. He spent about 4 days with us and then the worthy old couple returned to Fort Pitt.

Walter has been obliged to remain at home since the middle of December. We cannot part with him now. The house would be unbearably dull. Little Willie is the life of the house. He is very amusing. Sometimes he begins to tell some romantic story and if checked for telling stories he says, "Perhaps it is true, perhaps only."

[February 16th] - Harriet and the children are comparatively well now ... There [remains] a great deal of sickness in the neighborhood, chiefly scarlet fever. There is now not a family that have not had it or have it now. There are the sick in every house; in some dwellings there are only one or two on their feet. There have not been many deaths as yet ... but I fear more will ensue. [Harriet and I watch] with a friend over his sick children ... There are five sick in the house. We hear of sickness in every quarter. We hear thatMrs. Hardisty is very ill. So also is her sister Mrs. [Harrison] Young, from Slave Lake. We are well enough off for grub, but the people around us are living from hand to mouth.

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