Volume 1

EXPRESS—DEATH OF HUGHES. 275
Apr. ^th. My man finished two new carts and made a
wheelbarrow. nth. The North West Annual Winter
Express arrived from Athabasca. L'Hiver hamstrung his
young wife to prevent her gossiping about ; the rascal cut
the tendons of
both heels, and made several gashes across
the wrist, while she attempted to defend herself. 12th.
Express off for Leech lake, with William Henry and four
men. Men making blockhouses, i^th. Dreadful snowstorm.
2jd. Ice broke up in Red river.
May 1st. Great banks of snow still lying on the edge
of the woods. This certainly has been the most extraordinarily
cold and stormy weather I have ever experienced on
Red river, ^th. A deluge of rain ; our stores flooded, and
the property damaged, ^th. M. Langlois and Lambert
came with a cart for the remains of the deceased Boriif to
bury at the fort, being a particular of his relations \sic\ gtJi.
Buffalo grazing in abundance westward, nth. Boats arrived
from Grandes Fourches— Mr. Crebassa. i^tJi. Sowed potatoes,
i/j-th. One of the H, B. boats off, taking 40 pieces for
me to the Forks ; sent one of my boats also, with the first
trip of 122 bags of pemmican. I sowed three quarts of
oats. i8th. Mr. Miller off with all his H. B. people.
Mosquitoes very numerous. 2^d. William Henry arrived
from Leech lake, with a cargo of sugar. Indians all
camped. Pishaubey arrived with Washegamoishcam in
two wooden canoes from Pelican river [branch of Red
river], with 300 beavers and 40 prime otters. They had
seen Sioux repeatedly, but always avoided them. 26th.
Assiniboines arrived and camped. 28th. Red Lake Indians
arrived—Grand Noir and his son-in-law, the scoundrel who
killed one of our men last spring, at Red lake—an American
named Hughes. The Indian came on purpose to kill
George Simpson, who was in charge. Hughes, who was
standing by the door, saw that the Indian was inclined to
do mischief. He therefore caught up a tent-pole and
gave the fellow a blow on the head, which staggered him ;
but the Indian, on recovering himself, shot Hughes dead.