Volume 1

ARRIVAL AT WINNIPEG—DEATH OF V. ST. GERMAIN. 249
Au£: i6tJi. Reached Bas de la Riviere: our provisions
all expended. lyth. Off. i8th. Terrible weather on the
lake—wind, thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain ; not a
mouthful for the men.
Aug. igth. Arrived at Forks. Heard of the death of
Venant St. Germain at Panbian river, where he was shot
by one of our men, Joseph Rainville, in July last, entirely
by accident. The deceased summered at Portage la
Prairie ; he visited Panbian river, and while arranging his
saddle climbed up into a sort of half garret over the men's
bedrooms in the Indian hall, in search of some necessary
material. Just as he was descending Rainville came in;
they had been much given to play and joke with each other.
Rainville said, in a jocular manner: "What would you say
if I were to bring your carcass down like a bear ? " The
other retorted in a like manner, knowing R. was a miserable
marksman. The latter took down his old gun, then
hanging in the room, where it had been since last winter,,
and taking aim, pulled the trigger. To his astonishment
the gun went off ; and the ball entered St. Germain's left
side below the ribs and came out on the right side under
the arm. He came
*'
down very composedly, saying : You
have killed me " —which was actually the case, as he expired
in about four hours. This young man was an
apprentice clerk and son of Joseph St. Germain of Isle
J^sus near Montreal.
Our Indians have been at war all summer toward the
Sioux country, but always unsuccessful. A party is now
arriving from Panbian river in canoes, returning homeward
to Lake Winipic ; 20 men arrived to-day, and plagued me
for liquor.
Aug. 20th.
Lambert and England' off for Panbian river.
23d. Payet arrived in a light canoe to inform me that the
brigade was at Sault a la Biche [present St. Andrew's rapids
in Red river] awaiting my orders, having been desired to
'James England is listed as voyageur N. W. Co. after the fusion of 1804,
English r.