Southern Cross Free Trappers

Here we are at last – welcome to another read; now to explain the hiatus of printed news while lots of stuff has been happening – well, I have had some time-out to enjoy a special visit from one of my four sons. He normally resides overseas in Poland with his wife and two boys. Catching up after a ten year absence and meeting my younger grandson (9y.o.) for the very first time was wonderful, while his older brother has returned to Australia for tertiary studies. Family reunion took priority over Trapper doings.

Now then, after placing our previous Newsletter on the web we were rather chuffed to receive word (and photographs) from “Red Dog” in Western Australia and from two correspondents in the U.S.A. We’ve included a few lines from each to introduce readers to their excellent photos which we happily display in our gallery pages.

Terry “Red Dog” Weston writes:

Hi Trappers, one and all, Thank you for your continuance of sending me the newsletter. But to add to your current article on the Endeavour; when she came back to Fremantle here in the West, in November/December of 2011 and Departed for the world sailing championships on January 2012, I was fortunate to get on board for a sail off Fremantle and out to sea for a day.

Members of the Perth Muzzle Loading Club were present to witness Endeavour’s launch back in 1993, making lots of musket smoke and a little mayhem. We created our uniforms correctly and especially tailored for each of us of the 1800 Royal Marines, almost identical to the Marines with Capt Cook. I have attached some pictures for your perusal and insert on the newsletter.”

Jim “Sloe Bear” Douglass from Idaho also forwarded several photos he most recently took of Sweet Lake (Bear Lake) shrouded in mid-winter’s blanket. Also included were a couple of summer scenes featuring some mule deer that Jim calls his “Boys of Summer”. Regarding the Rondy’s of 1826, 1827, Jim has his own theory of the actual site location and submits some pertinent thoughts:-

I read with interest the article on the 1826 rendezvous here in Cache Valley (Willow Valley). I have read this account many times and still follow my feelings that the rendezvous was here in the northern part of the valley, just because of the Bear River being close by. If you go all the way to the southern end of the valley the Bear River is 15 to 20 miles from where the other site would have been. Going by what it takes to get supplies to a rendezvous the old timers would have sought the best and quickest way to deliver their goods which would have been by canoe on the river.”

Then, seeking a rather large round ball mold, I contacted Cannon Mike in the U.S. after coming across what turned out to be a 15y.o. old advert on the web. Mike has retired from cannon making but was very helpful and did not disappoint. He also shares a few photos from cannon shoots and of a Rondy of several years past; the tipi (interiors) belongs to his friend from Canada. Mike now prefers to play with cars and meets many Aussies and Kiwis at the Bonneville Salt Flats each year.

Additional photos from Red Dog, Sloe Bear and Cannon Mike can all be found on our gallery pages for January 2013. They add a new dimension to our regular Caveat camp scenes and we thank them each for sharing their experiences.

Cannon

Members will notice an emphasis on cannon appearing in our news and I’m sure all will approve. Grub-Box John’s feature of the 1827 Sweet Lake rendezvous carried the following line: “Jedediah Smith arrived at the rendezvous on July 3rd from his trip to California, and he was saluted by the firing of the cannon.”

Well now, several of your committee thought this a grand thing. Consider if you will a possible anniversary shoot each 3rd July. What do you all think? Should we have an annual “Salute to Jedediah” cannon weekend early each July? And, although seldom celebrated here in Oz, except by re-enactors – it’s almost Independence Day!

Seymour Alternate Farming Expo

Once again the Trappers supported Bob Ellis’ Bojo Canvas products at the Seymour Expo. Trapping beaver, otter and other fur bearers was, after all, the precursor to intensive farming of mink etc., so it’s quite appropriate that we re-enactors illustrate an early example of alternate primary industry.

The Expo is a wonderful opportunity to present a side of the shooting sports not often seen by the general public – arms and accoutrements of the black powder era, together with displays of antique traps, knives, tomahawks, foofaraw and such. Of course the backdrop of a massive 22 foot tipi, a covered wagon, and canvas tents together with appropriately attired club members helps to draw a fascinated and enquiring crowd.

Jim Walker was again the primary help to Bob in erecting all that canvas and assisting with the 28 foot long tipi poles. Jim also ferried in several hawk blocks and the all important gun rack to which our Public Place Permit was attached. Glen Mitchell once again set-up his exceptional visual display unit and ably assisted Bob and Jim over the weekend. Guns on display were provided by Bob and Jim and included Bob’s favourite conversation piece – the massive 2 bore flinter.

On Saturday, John Sultana and Michelle Barraclough put in a full day assisting with the constant stream of enquiries. Both Michelle and John dressed in fine examples of period costume and drew much interest from our visitors with many compliments on their appearance and overall effort.

Best wishes to Owen who has given invaluable assistance over past years and is currently recuperating from heart surgery. Thanks to Bob, Jim, Glen, Michelle and John for making the effort; thanks to Lyn Gray for catering, support and assistance.

History of the Fur Trade Rendezvous. Sweet Lake Rendezvous 1828:

Continuing with Grub Box John’s précis.

As the mountain men gathered for the 1828 rendezvous at the south end of Bear Lake, some degree of excitement had gone. There would be no supply train this year since the supplies had been brought out late in the fall by Sublette and Jackson. The supplies, valued at about $20,000, had reached the mountain men in November, but most trappers had not received them until early spring. Some did not obtain supplies until the summer rendezvous. But even without the supply train, the mountain men still anxiously awaited the rendezvous.

A group of trappers under the direction of Robert Campbell, enroute to the rendezvous from Flathead country, had a run-in with the Indians just a few miles north of the rendezvous site.

…the Indians, who proved to be Blackfoot warriors, advanced, but were repulsed with the loss of several of their men killed, they would, no doubt, have ultimately succeeded in cutting off the whites, had they not have been so near the place of rendezvous, where, in addition to 60 or 70 white men there were several hundred Indians friendly to them, and the enemies to the Blackfoot’s…

Daniel Potts at the rendezvous site recorded the following…

a party of about 100 Blackfeet mounted, attacked 30 odd of our hunters with their family’s this engagement last for upwards of three hours when a couple of our men mounted two of their swiftest horses dashed through their ranks of their horrid tribe where the balls flew like hail and arrived with express at the camp in less than one hour a distance of more that sixteen miles. In this we had one man killed and two wounded one child lost. That of the enemy six or eight killed and wounded…

The rendezvous was held during the first part of July. Since there had been no supply train, it was up to the owner to get the furs back to St. Louis. This would be added work for the partners but would also mean higher profits. Ashley had been paying $3.00 per pound for beaver in the mountains, but now the partners would receive $5.00 per pound in St. Louis. The furs accumulated at the rendezvous represented 70 packs, consisting of; 7,710 pounds of beaver, 49 otter skins, 27 pounds of cestrum and 73 muskrat skins, Sublette sold the furs in St. Louis. They brought a total of $35,810, so after paying Ashley for the supplies, the firm had a surplus of $16,000.

Also arriving at the rendezvous was Joshua Pilcher and Company, supplied by the American Fur Company, with their few supplies. They had uncashed their supplies at South Pass and found them destroyed by water. They did succeed in salvaging some supplies and at the rendezvous were fortunate to trade for 17 packs of beaver.

The exact location for winter quarters is not known. But it probably was around the Big Horn and Powder River. It is known that David Jackson and Thomas Fitzpatrick had gone north to Flathead Lake for the winter and that Jedediah Smith was spending the winter at Fort Vancouver with Hudson’s Bay officials.

William Ashley in a letter to Governor Miller of Missouri on Dec 24, 1828, cited some interesting figures in regard to the fur trade…

the party of American hunters in that region, formerly in my employ consisted of about one hundred men, the proceeds of their labour, during the four years before mentioned exceeded two hundred thousand dollars, notwithstanding repeated heavy losses by Indian depredations…

During the same period of four years, from the best information I could obtain, the Hudson Bay Company has had employed in the same business and upon the same territory claimed by the United States west of the Rocky Mountains, about six hundred men, and we may reasonably suppose their success to have been equal to the one hundred in my employ, should that have been the case, the proceeds of their business in the course of 4 years, has exceeded twelve hundred thousand dollars…

Ashley also made some comments on the number of deaths which occurred during the preceding years….he (Sublette) reports the loss of eight of his party killed by the Indians last year and four missing who no doubt have been also killed. I have recently heard of the loss of eight men destroyed in the same way who together with 19 others have accompanied Mr Smith down the river Rio Colorado of the west… According to Ashley’s figures 39 people had been killed.

This figure is wrong, however. Smith had lost ten men to the Mojave Indians in 1827 which Ashley could have known about and fifteen to the Umpqua’s in 1828 which he could not have yet had word on. Eleven other men had been killed for a total of 36.

Thus with the close of 1828, plans were being prepared that would culminate with Sublette bringing the supply train to the mountains in the spring. Also the trappers who were scattered throughout the mountain were actively trapping the streams and rivers and making plans for their annual festival in the mountains.

In the next issue Popo Agie – Pierre’s Hole Rendezvous of 1829, watch yer top-knot, Grub Box John.

Membership Subscriptions due

A reminder to Club members of our annual subscription drive. See your hard copy newsletter for details and please pay early to ease our Treasurer’s book work.

Odd Spot

(Melbourne’s The Age newspaper Feb 28, 2013) “British police stormed a man’s home because his Facebook profile picture included a toy mortar. The Tewkesbury man posted a snap of an Action Man figure, unaware there was a toy mortar in the background. Five officers arrived after a tip-off.” Good gracious!

For Sale

If you know anyone looking for a quality flinter, George Mohr has several for sale. Also good bags, horns, maybe other stuff depending on what people want or need. George is thinning out his collection.  No garage sale stuff! Contact George direct. flintlockpirate@westnet.com.au

Thanks to Johnny Cooper of Tennessee for notice of the video “Martin’s Station Rifle Project TEST”. A most interesting insight to that special gun making enterprise.

Gut Shot! A Good Read! He said…

(But definitely not for the squeamish)

Not everyone will have the stomach required for this brief story from Grub Box John. On June 6, 1822 Alexis St. Martin, at the fur trading post on Mackinac Island was accidentally shot with a musket at close range. The charge of the musket shot left a hole through his side that healed to form a fistula aperture into his stomach.

William Beaumont, a US Army surgeon stationed at a nearby army post, treated the wound. Although St. Martin was a healthy 20-year-old, he was not expected to recover due to the severity of his wound. Beaumont explains in a later paper that the shot blew off fragments of St. Martin’s muscles and broke a few of his ribs. After bleeding him and giving him a cathartic, Beaumont marked St. Martin’s progress.

For the next 17 days, all food he ate re-emerged from his new gastric fistula. Finally after 17 days, the food began to stay in St. Martin’s stomach and his bowels began to return to their natural functions. When the wound healed itself, the edge of the hole in the stomach had attached itself to the edge of the hole in the skin, creating a permanent gastric fistula.

There was very little scientific understanding of digestion at the time and Beaumont recognized the opportunity he had in St. Martin – he could literally watch the processes of digestion by dangling food on a string into St. Martin’s stomach, then later pulling it out to observe to what extent it had been digested. Beaumont continued to experiment on St. Martin off and on until 1833.

Alexis St. Martin allowed the experiments to be conducted, not as an act to repay Beaumont for keeping him alive, but rather because Beaumont had the illiterate St. Martin sign a contract to work as a servant. Beaumont recalls the chores St. Martin did: “During this time, in the intervals of experimenting, he performed all the duties of a common servant, chopping wood, carrying burthens, etc. with little or no suffering or inconvenience from his wound.”

Although these chores were not bothersome, some of the experiments were painful to St. Martin, for example when Beaumont had placed sacks of food in the stomach, Beaumont noted: “the boy complained of some pain and uneasiness at the breast.” Other symptoms St. Martin felt during experiments were a sense of weight and distress at the scrobiculuscordis and slight vertigo and dimness of vision.

(“dangling food on a string” Just the thought makes me feel I’m gonna puke! Primitive fishing might never be the same. Ed.)

1830’s meet 1930’s

The Labour Day holiday weekend event was something entirely new for us. The Trappers would host a Sunday barbecue for members of the Austin 7 car club. We were most enthusiastic to display our 1830’s style camp, firearms and accoutrements, trade blankets and etc., and, with equal enthusiasm, the A7 folks would happily show off their marvelously restored little cars of approx 1930 vintage.

Unfortunately the extremely hot weather and recent dry spell meant that we must cancel plans to give the car folks a few shots of muzzleloader ball and black powder. The weather may have also been responsible for low numbers attending – from both clubs. On Sunday, nineteen Austin 7 members arrived in nine grand little cars but only nine pilgrims camped over the weekend to represent the Trappers.

Our visitors were Rob & Ivy Davis, Graeme & Bev Logan, Michael & Helen Shegog, Ted & Val Thompson, Robert, Janne & Fiona Humphreys, Len & Carol Kerwood, Ilona Booth & Margie Rosevear, Don & Jessie Smith, John & Joan Shiells. Trappers camping over were Bob Ellis, Ian Convey, John Sultana and Michelle Barraclough, Justin Fletcher, Chook Fowler and Jim Walker, plus Gary and Jenny Baker of the Frontiers Living History Group.

Everyone enjoyed a simple sausage sizzle luncheon of venison snags supplied by Glenn Gee while John Sultana, Gary Baker and Jim Walker slaved over the gas barby. As noted, the weather conditions destroyed any hope of our traditional campfire cooking. Our guests showed much interest in our tents and tipis, our clothing, arms and general paraphernalia.

The A7 folks were all keen participants in our 1830 activities. Their ladies lined up to compete in the hot sun for a rolling pin throw, a moccasin “gum-boot” throw and both men and women were very keen to try their hand at the knife and hawk block and at primitive archery. It really was a wonderful day. I wonder if we can arrange to have them re-visit us in the cooler months when we can safely burn some black powder.

A number of chores from the working bee list were completed, providing easier access through farm gates and improving our rustic facilities. It was great to see Justin arrive in his recently restored FJ Holden Ute adding even more motoring interest to the weekend. Thanks also to Justin for the fine guitar playing and sing-along on Saturday night – we do appreciate this entertainment. See our gallery page for more photos of this camp and the Austin 7’s.

What’s Next?

March 29th to Apr 1st Easter – from Friday to Monday at Bernard’s Cache, Caveat. Our 2nd Hershel House split-the-ball Shoot – rocking chair position, plus new comps. “Wanna see it again?” Murray will be giving his usual demo on “running ball” by campfire. Michelle has donated some lovely time pieces to be won by skilled, lucky or devious shooters. All shoots are fun shoots and “Don’t ya wanna have fun no more?”

April 27th / 28th ANZAC weekend (Note the 25th, ANZAC day is the Thursday).

June 8th, 9th, & Mon 10th Queen’s B’day – Winter Quarters – Bernard’s Cache.

July – A possible “Salute to Jedediah Smith” cannon shoot.

August – Attend Beechworth’s Ned Kelly Festival. Tent display and dress 1880 style.

Spring R’voo – W’end of 3rd Sunday i.e. Sat 14th – Sun 15th Monday 16th September at Bernard’s Cache. (Note Sept 2013 has 5 Sundays again)

Quotable quote

“There is no purpose in studying history unless the lessons of the past are to influence present policy, and present policy can only have a basis in lessons of the past.” C.S. Forester

Now that the New Year festivities are over, and, as we begin to plan our re-enactments for the year, so we also commemorate an historic period favoured by many living history re-enactors – the French and Indian Wars of the eastern settlements.

This year is the 250th anniversary of the end of the Seven Years War, truly a world war, but also known by various other names depending on the particular theatre and the combatants. Students of American history know the conflict as the French and Indian War 1756-1763. Yet the antagonists were really the French and the British, with various Indian tribes supporting one or the other and sometimes fighting both.

The Treaty of Paris (1763) was supposed to settle land issues of the time between the French and English but did little to appease the native Indians. Much blood would continue to be shed in the Appalachian Mountains and to the immediate west all the way to Ohio and the Mississippi, in a subsequent conflict known as Pontiac’s War.

Some Australians may not know that it was a perceived threat of what was to become the Seven Years War that drew James Cook to the Royal Navy, or the fact that Cook actually served in that war. At the age of 18, Cook was drawn to a life at sea. He apprenticed in colliers and other coastal ships in the U.K., learning his seamanship, eventually being offered a command. In 1755, aged 27, he volunteered for service in the Royal Navy, when Britain was re-arming in preparation for the likely coming war.

Cook’s career advanced rapidly and during the French and Indian War he served as master of HMS Pembroke (pictured). In 1758 Cook took part in the assault capturing the Fort of Louisbourg, after which it was razed by army engineers. In recent years it has been partially reconstructed to create a living history museum. Cook also took part in the siege of Quebec. But it was his surveying and cartography skills, mapping the Saint Lawrence River during the siege, which allowed General Wolfe to make his famous attack on the Plains of Abraham in 1759 – a British victory, albeit short-lived.

Cook spent the latter years of the French and Indian War skilfully mapping the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador aboard the American built schooner HMS Grenville.

After the war, the British Admiralty and the Royal Society engaged Cook for three substantial voyages of British overseas discovery. Cook is credited with being the first to circumnavigate New Zealand and the first to chart the entire east coast of Australia in 1770; thus it can be acknowledged that Cook creates a link between Aussie living history re-enactors and North American combatants in the French and Indian War.

Captain James Cook, aged 50, met an untimely death by spearing at the hands of the natives in Hawaii, in February 1779.

Mark these Events on your calendar of “must do’s”

Feb 15th/16th/17th Seymour Alternate Farming Expo – Our three day annual “Show and Tell” in conjunction with Bojo Tents – We dress up for the public, exhibit the tools of the trade and our fun-loving hobby interests to the general community. Our chance to show the world that the black powder shooting sports is all about having fun and camping out in the great outdoors. It’s excellent publicity for all shooting sports and sweet nostalgia for all firearms enthusiasts!

What’s needed are Trappers prepared to don the funny clothes and spend a few hours manning our display. Please contact Bob Ellis to join the roster for Friday, Saturday or Sunday, or all three days – if you can. Bob will have limited complimentary entry tickets for the Expo. Free entry tickets for those prepared to dress pre 1840 style. Phone Bob direct on 0412 368 034 or after hrs on 03 5796 2753 – if you can help out.

March 9, 10 & 11th “1830’s meets 1930’s”. Labour Day holiday weekend camp. We’ve invited members of the Austin 7 car club to witness our primitive black powder experience, joining us at a campfire luncheon on Sunday 10th March. A truly primitive camp at Bernard’s Cache during which, for just a few hours, we take a giant 100 year leap forward, visited by the Austin 7 club dressed in their best 1930’s style.

No modern camping, no modern mules (4WD’s), only Austin 7’s on the Painted Pony Plains. Camps to be open to visitors’ inspection; Trade blankets on display; rifles, knives and hawks on display; cannon capers etc. rolling pin throwing comp and more. Campfires and powder burning will naturally depend on fire restrictions and weather.

Alternative cooking (gas barbecues) will be available all weekend in the event of summer fire restrictions. The funny cars will be visiting on the Sunday only, leaving the Saturday and Monday when we hope to achieve some of those working bee chores that always seem to crop up. Farm gate repairs and firewood gathering come immediately to mind.

March 29th to Apr 1st Easter – from Friday to Monday at Bernard’s Cache, Caveat. Hard to beat Easter for great camping. We’ll be ready for some serious black powder burning; well all except for Murray – he’ll most likely have to run some ball in camp.

April 27th / 28th ANZAC weekend (Note the 25th, ANZAC day is the Thursday). Can anyone get that Friday off work and make a four day weekend of it. Why not squeeze in an extra camp this year. Try mixing a Stone’s Mac with Caveat nights and song!

June 8th, 9th, & Mon 10th Queen’s B’day – Winter Quarters – Bernard’s Cache. Black powder burning, sulphur clearing the nostrils, friendly competition, trade blankets, warm sunny days, cool frosty nights, a new moon and a million stars, a blazing fire at our half-face shelter, a tall jar of moonshine and even taller stories and everyone having fun. We have the facilities – Where will you be?

August – Attend Beechworth’s Ned Kelly Festival. Tent display and dress 1880 style. Camp in the Police Paddock; stand about all weekend, drink coffee, observe local bird life, enjoy numerous festivities, chat up pretty tourists, stoke the fire and drink coffee.

Spring R’voo – W’end of 3rd Sunday i.e. Sat 14th – Sun 15th Monday 16th September at Bernard’s Cache. (Note Sept 2013 has 5 Sundays again). Warning! Warning! The year’s events are just about at an end and it’s your own durn fault if you haven’t been at most of our doings. Whatever you’ve been up to – don’t miss our Spring Rondyvoo, Painted Pony Plains, Highlands/Caveat. Well, don’t ya wanna have fun no more?

Christmas Pudding

I wonder if any of you had a bash at making the Hannah Glasse 1774 recipe for a Christmas pudding that Le Reynard shared with us in Vol 41. Quite a few of you, I hope, but I really must apologise for not including the recipe in an earlier edition of the “Traps”. Apparently, Christmas puddings should always be made in the first week in November, that is, according to Cordon Bleu cookery traditions.

A couple of members did enquire about the “missing ingredient” that I mentioned under a separate “Lost & Found” heading. The grog was not part of Hannah’s original recipe, being rather a hint from an experienced cook and pudding maker extraordinaire, to increase the merrymaking and joyful taste of Christmas. That wonderful cook being my dear sister, Irene, who readily accepted the challenge to once again boil a puddin’ in the time honoured calico cloth.

Whilst I promise not to convert “Around the Traps” into a culinary glossy, I believe a couple of photos supporting Le Reynard’s submitted recipe to be most appropriate; and may induce others to “have a go” next November; or perhaps even for Winter Quarters, a winter solstice if you like. In the first photo “our” pudding is seen hanging by its calico stalk in Irene’s pantry.

But of course, the proof of the pudding is in the eating! After a final re-heating on Christmas Day, our pud looked and smelt so absolutely scrumptious it was deemed necessary to guard that traditional fare with a nice original pistol by Tatham & Egg of London, circa 1800 – 1810. Nah, just kidding; the pistol was added to the photo session merely as a prop; and of course there was more than sufficient pudding and brandy custard to share; and all that very plump pud came from just a half-size mix of Hannah Glasse’s listed ingredients.

I feel quite certain that the adage “the Proof of the Pudding” really referred to the amount and quality of fine rum added to the mix; for a generous drop was commonly, albeit often secretly, added to all the best recipes by our grand-folks. Our Grandma used to hide a bottle of rum in her bedroom wardrobe, for it simply would not do for any such bottle to be sighted when gossiping self righteous neighbours visited. How do I know about that secret cache you may well ask? Shush now, and come closer while I whisper – “Irene told me!”

History of the Fur Trade Rendezvous – Sweet Lake Rendezvous 1827

The continuing précis/review of Fred R. Gowans’ book by Grub Box John Sultana

During the fall of 1826, Ashley worked on arrangements with the firm of Bernard Pratte and company to help supply the 1827 rendezvous. By December of 1826, when the arrangements were finalized, Pratte and company had become the western department of John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Company. On March 8, 1827, Ashley advertised in a St. Louis newspaper for fifty men to go to the mountains. Their wages were to be $110 for one year’s service. Consequently, 46 men and supplies, valued at $22,447, left St. Louis on April 12, 1827.

The company also had in its possession a cannon mounted on wheels. This four pounder was the first wheeled vehicle to cross South Pass. The purpose of taking the cannon was probably both for protection of the supply train and for use at the rendezvous. The cannon was taken back with the returning supply train, since there would have been no reason to leave it in the mountains. There is some evidence to indicate that it also made the round trip to the 1828 rendezvous.

While in St. Louis, William Sublette obtained from the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, William Clark, a two year license to trade with the Indians. Sublette also took his young brother, Pinckney Sublette to the mountains with him. Unfortunately, the young lad was killed during his first winter in the mountains. The trappers and Indians gathered at the rendezvous were attacked by the Blackfeet. Daniel Potts records…

A few days previous to my arrival at this place, a party of about 20 Blackfeet approached the camp and killed a Snake and his squaw; the alarm was immediately given and the Snakes, Utaws and Whites sallied forth for battle. The enemy fled to the mountains to a small concavity thickly grown with small timber surrounded by open ground. In this engagement the squaws where busily engaged dragging off the dead.

The six whites immediately advanced to within pistol shot and you may be assured that almost every shot counted. The Snake losses was three killed and three wounded, one of the whites was wounded and two narrowly made their escape, the unscathed Utaws gained accolades for their bravery. The enemy losses are not known, however six bodies were found dead, while a great number where carried off on horses….

Jedediah Smith arrived at the rendezvous on July 3rd from his trip to California, and he was saluted by the firing of the cannon.

The agreement of 1826 guaranteed that to the firm of Smith, Jackson and Sublette, Ashley would provide supplies at the following prices, gunpowder $1.50 per pound, lead $1.00 per pound, shot $1.25 per pound, blankets $9.00 each, beaver traps $9.00 each and quarter rum reduced $13.50 per gallon. Daniel Potts states…There is poor prospect of making much here, owing to the evil disposition of the Indians and the exorbitant prices of the goods.

Bruffee and Scott acting for Ashley purchased the following skins, 7,400 pounds of beaver @ $3.00 per pound, 95 pounds of castor @ $3.00 per pound and 102 otter skins @ $2.00 each. A total of $22,690 was accredited to the Smith, Jackson and Sublette Company for the furs. With supplies costing $22,447 it would appear that the profit was slim. But as mentioned the profit was made in the sale of supplies.

As the supply train descended on the Platte, Hiram Scot, who had taken ill enroute to the rendezvous, became so bad that he was left behind with two companions who were to escort him to civilization. Bruffee promised to wait downstream at the bluffs on the Platte River. Scott and his two companions finally arrived at the meeting spot in deplorable condition. Bruffee was not there, he had moved on. In desperation, Scott’s two escorts abandoned him and left him there by the bluffs to die. Today the location where he was deserted bears his name, Scott’s Bluff, Nebraska.

Bruffee arrived at Lexington, Missouri, on October 1, 1827. Ashley met him there, having supplies valued at $20,000 ready to send back to the mountains. Upon his arrival at St. Louis, Ashley sold the furs obtained from Bruffee to Pratt and Company for $33,270, getting $4.37 per pound, a nice profit of $10,580. The Missouri Observer dated October 17, 1827, placed the value of the furs at $60,000. It would also appear that Pratt and Company made a sizeable profit.

Another event was taking place in the late summer of 1827 which was to have an impact on the rendezvous. Joshua Pilcher, Lucien Fontenelle, W.H. Vanderburgh, Charles Bent and Andrew Drips organized a fur company and left Council Bluffs late in the summer of 1827. They lost their horses to raiding Crow Indians east of South Pass. Out of necessity they cached their supplies near South Pass and wintered on Green River.

The winter of 1827-1828 was very severe. Peter Ogden was snowed in near Snake River, south of present day Blackfoot, Idaho. His records tell that the mountain men were starving to death on Bear River, as they had no supplies. This record agrees with the earlier statement that the supplies sent out by Ashley in October did not find their way to the mountain men until spring. The mountain men were jubilant when spring arrived in 1828 and eagerly anticipated the rendezvous to be held again at Sweet Lake.

In the next issue Sweet Lake 1828, till then – keep your powder dry, Grub box John.

Season’s Greetings to all members and friends; and if I may, I’d like to just mention a couple of Buckskinners in particular, its hello to Brett Masters, Ian Pilcher, Paul Barber, Robert Timms, Keith Burgess, Red Dog Weston, Don and Jan Robinson, Brad Randall of the Hatchie Run Longrifles in Mississippi, John Arthur Cooper of Tennessee, Roger Fisher of the Nebraska Muzzleloaders, Ted Spring of Choctaw, Oklahoma and Jim (Slow Bear) Douglass of Cache Valley, Preston Idaho; all you folks who have contacted us through our newsletter www connection, we appreciate your friendship. We sincerely hope all readers enjoy sharing our adventures, we wish you and your families’ good health, and safe holidays, good shooting sport and a whole lotta fun in the year ahead.

Okay, let’s just load up and at it! I’ll admit I “borrowed” the next paragraph from a 1986 Muzzle Blasts in an article discussing the origins of the gunfighter; rather post 1840! Removed from the original context it’s probably rather meaningless; I just like the expedient and economic good sense of that bygone era of justice. See if you agree!

“The only outlaw who offered opposition was one Joe Pizanthia, who shot two vigilantes entering his cabin in an attempt to arrest him. A mob which had accompanied the posse wrestled a dismounted cannon barrel up to Pizanthia’s door and blew it in, all the while riddling the shack with small arms fire. They finally dragged the mortally wounded gunman out by his feet, hanged him, shot his suspended body to rags, cut it down and tossed it into the inferno created by firing his cabin.”

No procrastinating with politically correct do-gooders, politicians, solicitors or lawyers and such!

Finally, have you all hinted to your partner, wife, husband, lover, the kids and all, just what black powder accessories you’d really love them to pop into your Christmas stocking?

Rondyvoo

A poem by Peter Convey

Rondyvoo time has come again,
Time to pack the mule
With flintlock, powder and gear
Then time to get some fuel.

Out over plains away from sea
Into the hills we go
Old Seymour town ahead will be
And Highlands road I know.

We travel the gorges and ridges
Beside running creeks a delight
Down the valleys and ford the bridges
And the gravel road in sight.

To Bernie’s place and all its trimmings
Tall timbers and boulders the main
Now there’s a clearing in the distance
T’is the Painted Pony Plains.

We pull into camp tired and dry
I holler a greeting shout –
“What’s on the spit pilgrim?”
“Grown particular” is answered out.

Camp is set and a billy on
While on the ground I do recline
With eyes closed and mind drifting along
I reflect on trapping times sublime.

South Pass Caveat

Jim Walker following in the trail blazing manner of his mountain man name sake (Joe Walker) was the first to discover a new South Pass route to Bernard’s Cache. We are grateful to Andrew Shaw for cutting a new track; enabling Buckskinner mule drivers to avoid those nasty stretches of boggy wagon ruts where even “only in a Jeep” (or a Transit van) one might wallow and flounder.

A Christmas Pudding

Le Reynard forwards a page for the season, something for all re-enactor foodies – a recipe by Hannah Glasse, 1774

Ingredients: —
1 Pound of suet chopped fine (500g)*
1 Pound of Currents (500g)
1 Pound of Raisins (500g)
1 Pound of Plain Flour (500g)

1 Pint of Milk (2 Cups)
8 Eggs
Crumbs of a Penny Loaf (2 Cups)

½ Nutmeg grated (2 Teaspoons)
1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon*
1 Teaspoon of beaten Ginger*
½ Teaspoon of Salt

Place on the stove top your boiler with the water and bring it to the boil. While it is doing this you can start to mix the ingredients.

Beat eggs and ½ the milk together and gradually add the breadcrumbs and flour, then add suet, spices and fruit and the remaining milk. Mix all together until thick, the consistency of really thick porridge is about right.

Place mixture into a pudding cloth*, tie off at the top of the pudding mixture and put it into some boiling water*, cover pot with a lid and simmer for 5 hours. Occasionally check the water level and top up if necessary.

NOTES –

• Packet suet works well and is available from all good supermarkets.
• Cinnamon is optional; I add it because I like it.
• Powdered Ginger is OK to use if fresh is not available.
• I place my cloth inside a Pudding Basin, so any deep bowl would suffice; it not only helps keep the shape but minimizes the risk of the pudding burning on the bottom.
• Calico makes an ideal Pudding cloth; about 1 metre square is ample. When the water has boiled, soak your cloth in it and then sprinkle some flour over the cloth. This forms a kind of seal and also makes getting the cloth off the pudding a bit easier.
• The water level should only come about half way up the side the pudding.

Be careful when taking out the pudding it will be very hot, so leave it to cool down a little before taking off the cloth. Pull down the top part of the cloth and then turn the pudding upside down on a large plate and take off the rest of the cloth; then serve it up to the table with lashings of custard and cream. For something more impressive, pour a tablespoon of brandy over the pudding and light it for a flambé effect.

You will note the recipe lacks sugar. I have found that the amount of dried fruit used makes up for this absence. The recipe is from “The art of cookery made plain and easy” by Hannah Glasse. Copies of this 1774 book are available from Amazon Books for about $15.00.

I am sure a pudding made to this recipe will delight those prepared to “give it a go”. It should make a fine addition to any Christmas feast. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

May you all have a safe and extremely Merry Christmas; Lisa and I hope to see you all soon – around the rendezvous campfires in 2013. Le Reynard

What’s Next?

Well, first things first, y’all need to gets one of them fancy wall calendars for 2013 and then circle all our rendezvous dates. Those among you who have to answer to a boss, other than the call of the wild, need to then make early application for leave to avoid those sneering comments “Where the hell you been? Don’t you go to Rendezvous no more?” Go on, mark good these dates:-

Feb 15th/16th/17th Seymour Alternate Farming Expo – Our annual static display in conjunction with Bojo Tents – We exhibit our fun-loving hobby interests to the general community. It’s a family fun-loving expo and excellent publicity for us and for all sporting firearms enthusiasts! Contact Bob if you can spare an hour or three helping to erect tents or man our display.

March 9, 10 & 11th 1830’s meets 1930’s. Labour Day holiday weekend camp.

We’ve invited members of the Austin 7 car club to witness our primitive black powder experience, joining us at a campfire luncheon on Sunday 10th March. A truly primitive camp at Bernard’s Cache during which, for just a few hours, we take a giant 100 year leap forward, visited by the Austin 7 club dressed in their best 1930’s style.

No modern camping, no modern mules (4WD’s), only Austin 7’s on the Painted Pony Plains. Camps to be open to visitors’ inspection; Trade blankets on display; rifles, knives and hawks on display; cannon capers etc. rolling pin throwing comp and more. Campfires and powder burning will naturally depend on fire restrictions and weather.

March 29th to Apr 1st Easter – from Friday to Monday at Bernard’s Cache, Caveat.

April 27th / 28th ANZAC weekend (Note the 25th, ANZAC day is the Thursday).

June 8th, 9th, & Mon 10th Queen’s B’day – Winter Quarters – Bernard’s Cache.

June 29 to July 6th 2013 – The 11th Millmerran Open Rendezvous. Celebrating 20 years of black powder Rendezvous at Captain’s Mountain Millmerran, Queensland.

August – Attend Beechworth’s Ned Kelly Festival. Tent display and dress 1880 style.

Spring R’voo – W’end of 3rd Sunday i.e. Sat 14th – Sun 15th Monday 16th September at Bernard’s Cache. (Note September 2013 has 5 Sundays again)

Book review – History of the Fur Trade Rendezvous

John “Grub Box” Sultana continues to review by précis chapter by chapter of Fred R. Gowans’ book Rocky Mountain Rendezvous: The History of the Fur Trade Rendezvous 1825-1840.

Willow Valley Rendezvous 1826

A supply train under the command of William Ashley left St. Louis on March 8, 1826, with 26 men bound for the 1826 Rendezvous.

Jedediah Smith and Robert Campbell with 60 men and 160 mules had left for the mountains in late October or early November of 1825 with $20,000 worth of supplies. They had sent word back to Ashley that they were having troubles and that they were snowed in on the Republican Fork and needed more mules, having lost one-third of the herd. Between 20 and 30 men also deserted because of the horrible conditions.

The exact location of the rendezvous in Willow Valley is impossible to determine since none of the participants of the 1826 festivities left any information pertaining to the location. The north end of Willow Valley must be considered as a possible site as Weber and his men spent the winter of 1824-25 in this location. This location was picked by Weber because it could provide his men with ample supplies of food, water and shelter. It was not uncommon for the mountain men to hold their summer rendezvous and winter quarters at the same location because of its natural setting.

James Beckwourth leaves the following description of the rendezvous:-

“The absent parties began to arrive, one after the other. Shortly after, General Ashley and Mr Sublet came in, accompanied with three hundred pack mules, well laden with goods and all things necessary for the mountaineer and the Indian trade. It may well be supposed that the arrival of such a vast amount of luxuries from the East did not pass off without a general celebration. Mirth, song, dancing, shouting, trading, running, jumping, singing, racing, target-shooting, yarns, frolics, with all sorts of extravagances that white men or Indian could invent, were freely indulged in. The unpacking of the medicine water contributed not a little to the heightening of our festivities.”

According to Robert Campbell the rendezvous lasted only a couple of weeks, however Daniel Potts states that the men celebrated the 4th of July by firing their guns and making toasts. It would appear that the rendezvous was much longer than the two weeks since Ashley was still on the Bear River as late as July 18, 1826. If Ashley were right in assuming that he arrived on May 15th and if he were still on the Bear River as of July 18th, he was in the area of the rendezvous for almost eight weeks.

On July 18th, 1826, on the Bear River, after leaving the rendezvous, Ashley sold out his interest in the fur company to Jedediah Smith, David Jackson and William Sublette. Ashley was probably enroute back to St. Louis when the transaction took place. The terms of the agreement gave the new owners Ashley’s merchandise, which was to be paid for with beaver at the 1827 rendezvous. Ashley was either to pay $3.00 per pound for beaver at the 1827 rendezvous or take the furs to St. Louis for the owners and get the best price available there. However, Ashley would charge $1.12 per pound for transportation charges.

With the agreement in hand and the firm of Smith, Jackson and Sublette owing him $7,821, Ashley returned to St. Louis by route of South Pass and the Platte River, arriving at St. Louis in late September. The value and amount of furs brought to St. Louis by Ashley is recorded at 125 packs worth $60,000. This would indicate that each pack was valued at $480.00. This is very close to the 1825 value per pack. There is one reference to the 1826 catch weighing 12,000 pounds.

The fall was spent by the mountain men trapping in both the north and central Rockies. As the streams began to freeze over the mountain men started for their annual winter gathering. Winter Quarters was again in Willow Valley. In March the mountain men left Willow Valley and returned to the business of trapping, hoping to have an excellent catch to take to the rendezvous at Bear Lake that summer.

Next issue, Sweet Lake Rendezvous 1827. Keep your powder dry, Grub box John.

For Sale

British Bell Tent, 11’6” dia, 18” walls, 8’6” O.A. height, 12 oz unproofed canvas, brand new – Bargain priced at only $500. Contact Bob Ellis 0412 368 034.

Found!

Missing ingredient to Hanna Glasse’s fine recipe – 21st century Big Sister recommends the addition of at least two generous tablespoons brandy or rum. For medicinal purposes only, of course.

A couple of Reminders

Our welcome to camp at Bernard’s Cache occurs through a long enduring friendship between Jim Walker and the Shaw family. Members are not to make ad hoc visits to the farm as our access is granted via Committee arrangements for scheduled rendezvous events or planned working bees only. Please respect these courtesies. Farm gates may be locked at other times.

Firewood: whilst there is more than ample firewood available on the farm, it is not there for the taking. We are welcome to cut fallen timber during working bees for all our campfires and cooking whilst at rendezvous. Please contact your local wood merchant if you require wood for home fires.

Licences: This might be a good time to check your firearms licence for renewal date. And while about it, as we are re-enacting an historic era, members should have the endorsement of “Performing Arts and Re-enactments” listed under “Reasons” on your Category A&B Longarm Licence. It’s one more reason to be able to own firearms.

If your licence does not mention this “reason” please contact the Secretary for an official Club letter addressed to Registry requesting this added endorsement. Licensing may charge a small fee for doing this at other than renewal time.

Hardening a Frizzen

Have you ever been to a club shoot weekend, targets are out, a razor sharp flint firm in the cock jaws and you’re rearing to shoot your very best, then suddenly find your frizzen simply will not spark? You curse fluently but to no avail! Well it happened to me recently, but I remembered reading somewhere that many trappers solved this problem readily with good old do-it-yourself knowhow, so I decided to give it a go.

Firstly I built up the fire and while it was getting good and hot I removed the frizzen from the lock. I then wrapped the frizzen in about 6 layers of thin leather and placed the package in a tin. I used an old baked bean tin that just happened to be on hand and hammered the opening flat to form an air tight seal.

With a good base of red-yellow hot coals the tin was placed on top of the coals. The fire must be kept well fuelled and very hot while the tin remains in the fire for 1½ hours. After the hour and a half had passed I removed the tin from the fire and plunged it into a bucket of cold water until the tin was stone cold. I then removed the frizzen from the can, cleaned it with steel wool, oiled it and fitted it back onto the lock.

Then, for the moment of truth, and with the lock refitted to the rifle I eased the cock into full-cock position, touched off the trigger and was rewarded with more sparks than a recent Guy Fawkes Night. Beautiful big fat sparks rolling in the pan! So, if you should lose your spark, try this DIY remedy, ’cause it really works. Peter Convey

The Trapper’s toast……“To the fur trade in all its branches.”

Australia’s first White Hunter

In 1786 an Irish gamekeeper and poacher, John McEntire, was sentenced in Durham England to 7 years transportation. Some two and a bit years later he was one of over 700 first fleet convicts to land in Sydney Cove. Not long after arriving, Governor Phillip realised he had a problem in feeding the population of the fledgling colony of about 1,000 people with the meagre stores at his disposal.

Phillip needed people to hunt and fish to supplement the rations, consequently he appointed a West Country fisherman/smuggler, one William Bryant, in charge of fishing in the harbour, while John McEntire was appointed official hunter and issued a 2nd model Brown Bess. On the 3rd. March 1788 it was recorded that McEntire shot the first emu in the colony “at a considerable distance”. Noted author, Chris Hall suggests that considerable distance for a Bess might be anywhere between 40 and 100 yards.

Despite the best efforts of Bryant and McEntire, together with those appointed to assist them, there remained a shortage of rations and the majority of the fish and game went to the colony hospital. Later two other convicts were appointed to assist McEntire, they were John Randall and Patrick Burn and many a meal of wallaby or kangaroo was provided by their hunting skills.

This hunting and fishing by the colonists began to impact on the food supply of the local natives, mainly those of the Eora tribe. McEntire, Randall and Burn operated as a separate unit, though occasionally acting as guides for other temporary appointed groups. Native hostility increased in late 1790 and aggressive natives made hunting difficult and dangerous.

The Eora disliked McEntire especially, on account of his skill as a hunter in slaughtering animals, which had been dedicated by their ancestors for the Eora use alone. At one time the Eora set a camp dingo onto McEntire who immediately shot it. This was taboo among the Eora as only initiated males were allowed to kill a dingo and McEntire was not an initiate. (He was not missing a front tooth) The Eora prepared to punish him; a “carradhy” (medicine man) named Pemulwuy applied himself to the task.

On the ninth of December 1790 McEntire, Randall, Burn and the sergeant in charge of the convict hunters entered the hostile territory of the Botany Bay area on a hunting expedition. They settled down in a hide of boughs and went to sleep. Early in the afternoon five natives including Pemulwuy creeping towards them awakened them. The sergeant was alarmed but McEntire said don’t worry I know them. He then approached the Eora without his musket and was speared in the side by Pemulwuy.

Randall and Burn gave chase whilst the sergeant broke the spear shaft and helped McEntire. Randall and Burn returned unsuccessful after a chase of several hours. The party carried McEntire back to Sydney, where the surgeon removed the spearhead.

McEntire appeared to recover from his ordeal and was actually walking around the hospital when he suddenly died on the 20th. January 1791.

The surgeons performed an autopsy and found pieces of stone and shell from the spearhead inside the lobe of the left lung. Right up to his death McEntire adamantly denied harassing the natives and stated that he had only fired on them once and that was in defence of his life.

Thus was the passing of Australia’s first white hunter. Governor Phillip was extremely upset with the murder of his main provider and insisted on disciplining the Eora, sending expeditions to exact revenge, but that’s another story. Ian Convey
References used:
1. “Australians Vol. 1. Origins to Eureka” by Thomas Kenneally.
2. Australian Shooters Journal Sept. 1969 “Brown Bess Sharpshooters” by Chris Hall.

The Cooktown Cannon

E.W., a “Traps” subscriber from Perth, Western Australia shares with us a keen interest in all things muzzleloading and forwards this photo taken on his travels in far north Queensland. The cannon is located in pleasant park grounds near the mouth of the Endeavour River. The inscription on the wall behind reads:-

On April 10th 1885 the Cooktown Council carried the following motion “A wire be sent to the Premier in Brisbane requesting him to supply arms, ammunition and a competent Officer to take charge of same, as the town is entirely unprotected against the threat of a Russian invasion.” This gun (cast in 1803 in Carron, Scotland), three cannonballs, two rifles and one Officer were sent.

Can you believe it? – Just three cannonballs! Three! Three piddling cannonballs against a threatened Russian invasion- harrumph. Shades of our current Australian Labor Party Government defence budget, eh?

A very Merry Christmas to All.

Our Traditional September Rendezvous weekend.

Rain, showers and more solid rain; that was the weather pattern leading up to September’s Rendezvous at Caveat. Yes, we’ve just come through our wettest few months for many a long year. About ten years in fact, this is why we hadn’t previously seen it so damp underfoot at Bernard’s Cache. Oh, the camp area was perfect as usual; it was just the farm paddock access tracks that caused a few minor concerns, especially for the 2WD owners.

All that rain had caused us to cancel earlier working-bees planned. for the erection of a second toilet and a separate urinal. So Friday was the scene of feverish toil and bustle to complete these amenities before removing 4WD mules, digger, trailers and all mod tools; then donning the funny clothes to turn back the time zone to pre 1840 to fully immerse in re-enactment of the wonderful black powder era.

By mid-afternoon Friday we could estimate a record roll-up of Buckskinners and pilgrims from a diverse period leading up to that 1840 mark. In all we had 22 adults plus a couple of youngsters and a total of 15 camps under white canvas. We had expected, and should have had a few more roll up, but I guess the damp rot had set in after the recent rains and quite a few regular pilgrims were sadly missing. Don’t ya wanna have fun no more?

Mind you, there was no shortage of fun, music and merriment all weekend long. The walls of the open-faced-shelter bulged as folks drew together for warmth around the roaring fire each evening. Ian entertained with guitar and song nightly. Of course he was ably assisted by a chorus of “tuneful” voices on renditions of our favourite standard folk songs.

On Saturday morning the Trade Blankets were laid out early and some high quality plunder was bought, traded or just plain drooled over and wish listed. Following morning tea Ian and Peter did their stuff, setting up devious targets for the days shooting competitions, whilst Bob Ellis led unsuspecting hunters through our famous Mountain Man Hunt competition.  To enter the latter, contestants must pay with a quality vegetable, placed in the cane basket with the turkey plate. Winner takes basket, plate and all!

Somehow the idea that the Hunt winner should cook up a feast of vegies for the whole camp has slipped us by, again! It might have been Club president, Ian Convey, if a wooden spoon winner was needed to stir the pot.

Anyhow, to restrict the event to a reasonable duration there were only five stations to be shot plus two beaver traps needing attention. Points were scored for sighting the game, an addition point for scoring shots, and or checking and resetting the traps. The ability to make fire without using the flintlock rifle was an added point, one which, this year, all participants scored. Each entrant was timed in case of equal top scorers.

Just as well, as it turned out! Hunt times ranged from the quickest at just 4mins 42sec to the slowest at 11mins 50sec. The slow one being Paul (Le Reynard) Sly our regular contributor of real-life hunting stories; while the mean average was a little over 8 mins. The two high scorers, equal on 9 points, were runner-up Mark Pountney at 9mins 14sec and the winner, Charlie Timma, at only 6 mins 43sec. Congratulations to Charlie on a fine win.

Other shooting challenges conducted on Saturday arvo were a balloon shoot at 20 yards, with elimination shoot off at 30 yards and final at 40 yards, won by Murray; a Rabbit’s eye shoot at 25 yards also won by Murray; Balloons with suspended clays at 55 yards won in just two shots by Peter Hawkey. Then our newest longer range challenge “Buffalo Head” shoot. This new target made up by Peter Convey was set up at ranges varying from 85 yards to 100 yards, and proved no trouble to our winner Jenny Baker, outscoring all the men using her sweet little .32 cal Squirrel rifle.

As winner, Jenny was given the privilege to draw from the hat of Buffalo head contestants the lucky winner of the double curl original powder horn kindly donated by George Mohr. And the winner – none other than the target maker, Peter Convey!

The day’s competition was wound up with lots of fun at the Knife & Hawk block with a large gathering of contestants. Yours truly flunked out straight after two failed practise throws. Most folks did much, much better. Charlie Timma won the Hawk using his full size axe, while Lyne Gray won the Ladies Knife throw and Bob Ellis the Men’s Knife.

After a camp-oven roasted feed, and as the cooking fires died down when everyone gathered about the open-faced shelter, Ian announced it was time for a few awards. Prizes were handed out to those winners already mentioned above, generally these were either a hand-thrown period style crock, filled with local “Rusty Gun”, or a block of Cadbury “Moose Droppings”, both meant to be shared with all the runners-up, from first to last, so everyone becomes a winner at Rondyvoo!

Ian had just one more award to present. Every couple of years Ian has made a special “President’s Award” to one deserving member. This has been a one year’s subscription to Muzzleloader magazine made possible by courtesy of Bill Scurlock and the wonderful folks at Muzzleloader Publishing. This time Ian’s award was presented to Bob Ellis, in appreciation of the tremendous work done to improve our rendezvous facilities (toilets and shower block), for the comfort of all attending events at Bernard’s Cache. Bob received a well deserved round of applause on presentation.

Next, the final raffle tickets were quickly snapped up. One hundred tickets at one dollar each netting a quick 100 bucks for the club coffers. Donated prizes consisted of a demijohn whisky jug (empty), a beaut little eight sided priming horn (it shines), a canvas water bucket, a solid cast iron bean pot and a pewter mug – (it truly shines); while winning ticket holders chose in turn until the blanket was bare – a signal to start quaffing some of that rusty gun (liqueur musket) to lubricate the vocal chords ready for the sing-a-long that continued late into the evening.

On Sunday morn we swiftly attended the business of our AGM, winding it up in just on a half hour. Next, Cam Cowled had fetched a trio of long bows, arrows and some natty targets for a primitive bow shoot, while a few others moved back to the shooting area for some black powder plinking. Generally everyone was having laid-back Sunday morning fun. Peter Hawkey followed his bee direct to the hive by winning the archery shoot and the large bucket of golden honey kindly donated by Cam.

But some folks have to work. Don’t ya just hate it when the first camps start to break as pilgrims ready to go back home for another working week? I do! I even gets all melancholy just trying to tell the story for Around the Traps. But, there’s not much left to tell. There were only those muddied farm tracks left to negotiate, now we wouldn’t let that spoil a good weekend, would we, eh Matt?

Special thanks to Jim Walker for track clearing and cutting an ample supply of firewood for all camps. Thanks to Ian Convey, Peter Convey and to Gary and Jenny Baker for the photos in this edition and on our gallery page for Sept 2012. You can see more of the Baker’s photos at the Frontiers Group website https://sites.google.com/site/frontiershistory/home

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous: The History of the Fur Trade Rendezvous 1825-1840 Book Review by John “Grub Box” Sultana

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous by F.R. Gowans gives a brief history of the fur trade rendezvous from 1825 to 1840. I would like to present an abridged version of each chapter which looks at each rendezvous in this period.

Randavouze creek 1825

William Ashley left Fort Atkins on November 3, 1824. Their route was up the Platte river to its south fork, up the south fork to Cache la Poudre, west to Pacific creek, and down the Big Sandy, to their destination at the Green river. They arrived there on April 19, 1825. While descending the Green river, Ashley cached his supplies at three different locations. What follows is a list of the different supplies carried but what is of interest is what and how much was carried, for example 150 lbs. of tobacco, 200 lbs. of coffee, 130 lbs. of sugar, 150 lbs. of gun powder, 120 lbs. of lead not to mention such things as ribbons tools and beads.

Minnie Maud creek also known as Nine mile creek was the farthest point south to which Ashley travelled. Here he left the river and travelled north to the Duchesne to the Strawberry river and on to Red creek, where he met Etienne Provost who was trapping out of Taos. Shortly after Provost left Ashley, where he travelled to the Great Salt Lake, to trade with the Euteaw Indians before rejoining Ashley a few days later. Both Ashley and Provost arrived at the rendezvous site on June 29^th or the 30^th.

James Beckwourth described the rendezvous as follows;

On arriving at the rendezvous, we found the main body of the Salt Lake party already there with the whole of their effects. The general would open none of his goods, except tobacco, until all had arrived, as he wished to make an equal distribution, for goods were then very scarce in the mountains and hard to obtain. We constituted quite a little town, numbering at least eight hundred souls, of whom one half were women (we must assume Indian) and children. There were some among us who had not seen any groceries such as coffee or sugar for several months. The whisky went off as freely as water, even at the exorbitant price he sold it for. All kinds of sports were indulged in with a heartiness that would astonish more civilized society.

According to his journal, Ashley left the rendezvous site with 50 men on July 2, 1825, and started for St. Louis. Therefore, the formal rendezvous lasted only one day. However, the mountainmen who gathered at the specified site had waited for several days for Ashley to arrive. Ashley’s journal contains some interesting facts about the 1825 Rendezvous, for example prices for the trading goods were as follows; Coffee $1.50 per pound, Sugar $1.50 per pound, Tobacco $3.00 per pound, Blue cloth $5.00 per yard, Scarlett cloth $6.00 per yard.

There seemed to be standard prices for each item but often the prices would vary in dealings with different people. For example, sugar varied from $1.00 per pound to $2.00, tobacco sold for $3.00 per pound but sold to some for $2.00. Ashley usually paid $3.00 per pound for beaver (it is interesting to note that beaver was sold by weight not by the individual piece like other furs). Some mountain men received only $2.00 per pound of beaver these were the men who worked for Ashley and may have been the agreed rate at the time of employment. A free trapper on the other hand received $5.00 per pound.

On July 2, 1825, the trappers loaded the fur packs on the horses and started for the Bighorn River by way of South pass. Ashley took 20 men to dig up a cache of 45 packs left probably by Jedediah Smith in 1824. They arrived on the Bighorn on August 7, 1825. There they constructed boats and loaded their furs for the descent of the Bighorn and Yellowstone rivers. Ashley and his company arrived at St. Louis on October 4, 1825. It was on this trip down the Missouri that Ashley took into partnership Jedediah Smith to replace Andrew Henry who was quitting the life. Thus the Ashley-Henry Company was dissolved and the Ashley-Smith Company organized.

The value of the furs which Ashley brought into St. Louis varies according to which report is used. Different newspapers estimate the number of packs from 80 to 100 and the value from $40,000 to $50,000. In a letter to the American Fur Company, O.N. Bustwick stated the total weight at 9,700 pounds, packed in 100 packs with a value of $48,000. Atkinson’s journal also mentions 100 packs. From a random sampling of 21 packs the average number of skins in each pack was 32 and the average weight of each pack was 52 pounds. Therefore the average weight of each skin was 1.64 pounds, worth $4.92 at $3.00 per pound.

Because of the hard winter, the mountainmen removed to Salt Lake Valley sometime during the winter and situated themselves in two camps at the mouth of the Weber and Bear rivers. James Beckwourth estimated the encampment at 600-700 men including Indians. Peter Skene Ogden was told by some Snake Indians on March 24, 1826, that they had spent the winter with Americans. The Indians numbered about 20 lodges.

In the next chapter we look at the rendezvous of 1826 and how big money is made and spent all in one day. Until then keep your powder dry.   John “Grub box” Sultana

Warning! A Rendezvous you might wish to avoid:

According to the website of Nelson’s Navy UK http://www.nelsonsnavy.co.uk, in the late 18th and early 19th century the Impress Service covered every port in Great Britain. Each major port had a captain in charge, known as the Regulating Officer, and the chosen base headquarters was called the Rendezvous. (I didn’t know that!) Having set up the Rendezvous, the Regulating Officer would hire some of the local hard men as gangers to form the Press Gang to forcibly recruit hands for service in British warships.

We have recently become aware of a number of Old Salts showing interest in trapper doings, to which we feel impelled to give the alert, lest Free Trappers be invited to a rendezvous they didn’t want, and find themselves pressed into King George’s service.

What’s Next?

Feb 15^th/16^th/17^th   Seymour Alternate Farming Expo – Our annual joint static display in conjunction with Bojo Tents – We exhibit our fun-loving hobby interests to the general community. It’s excellent publicity for all fun loving firearms enthusiasts! 

March 3^rd/4^th     Time Line Fair, first time at new venue – Kryal Castle, Ballarat.

March 9, 10 & 11^th     1830’s meets 1930’s.   Labour Day holiday weekend camp.

We’ve invited members of the Austin 7 car club to witness our primitive black powder experience, joining us at a campfire luncheon on Sunday 10^th March. A truly primitive camp at Bernard’s Cache during which, for just a few hours, we take a giant 100 year leap forward, visited by the Austin 7 club dressed in their best 1930’s style.

No modern camping, no modern mules (4WD’s), only Austin 7’s on the Painted Pony Plains. Camps to be open to visitors’ inspections; Trade blankets on display; rifles, knives and hawks on display; cannon capers; etc. rolling pin throwing comp and more.  Campfires and powder burning will naturally depend on fire restrictions and weather.

March 29^th to Apr 1^st Easter – from Friday to Monday at Bernard’s Cache, Caveat.

April 27^th / 28^th ANZAC weekend (Note the 25^th, ANZAC day is the Thursday).

June 8^th, 9^th, & Mon 10^th Queen’s B’day – Winter Quarters – Bernard’s Cache.

August – Attend Beechworth’s Ned Kelly Festival. Tent display and dress 1880 style.

Spring R’voo – W’end of 3^rd Sunday i.e. Sat 14^th – Sun 15^th Monday 16^th September at Bernard’s Cache.  (Note Sept 2013 has 5 Sundays again)

Plews for shoes – Trivia.

Having a senior day, I was in the local shoe store for some new winter slippers. I like the fluffy lambs-wool moccasin type for winter nights. Found a pair the right size and asked the price – $40.00. “Forty dollars!” I exclaimed. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before I’ll sell my shoes for forty dollars” I heard my incoherent muttering.

Funny thing, I had a difficult time explaining my raving to the store keeper, shoes rhyming with plews, and all. The sales lady was still shaking her head as I left with my purchase. But, hasn’t everyone watched Charlton Heston in The Mountain Men? At least twice, well, maybe three or four times? Say, it’s a good night for a DVD!

A few thoughts fired at Random.

• Consider whether you are using more powder than necessary for just plain plinking.
• Use greased patches for hunting, spit dampened patches are fine for range plinking.
• Seat ball firmly on powder, do not pound or bounce ramrod on ball. Use the same steady pressure to seat ball on each loading.
• Who the heck is Random anyway?
• You must be able to see the rear sight clearly, i.e. without any fuzzy double edges.
• When hunting, don’t take offhand shots if there is an alternative of using a tree trunk, log or stump etc. to help steady your aim. Squeeze the trigger – don’t jerk it!
• Has anyone actually met Random? After the shot, always pause, holding you sights on the exact aim point, until the ball strikes the target.

More Trivia

A “Factoid” from George – “Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.” Now I’ve heard talk about loose attachments!!!

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Bullock Creek Scout

The flood waters of these parts had finally receded and the ground was fast drying out. I felt it was high time for a little scouting of some of my favourite hunting areas to check for erosion damage and see how the floods had affected the local small game population.

A particularly favoured spot in the past has been the confluence of the Bullock Creek and the Box Creek. From this junction it becomes the Pyramid Creek. This area has always been a good spot to put up a few rabbits, bag a few ducks (in season) and to despatch any unwary foxes.

After a short drive of a little over an hour, I pulled up at the property access gate next to the Bullock Creek, donned my hunting pouch, powder horn, game bag and a water bottle, threw my bed roll over my shoulder, made ready “Precious” (my flintlock fowler) and strode off along the eastern bank of the creek, following it down stream.

There was plenty of fresh growth feed about and I had hopes that a rabbit or three might dart out of the lignum bushes; but after ten minutes of walking nothing was to be seen. I continued my fruitless hunt along the eastern banks of the creek until I arrived at a small man-made bridge that spans the creek. Crossing this bridge, I settled down in a comfortable position behind some bushes cradling Precious across my knees, took out my simple tin whistle and blew a few shrill notes.

After a couple of goes of sounding like a distressed/wounded rabbit I waited to see if an orange furry head might pop up. After about 15 minutes and blowing a couple more distressed rabbit cries – still nothing. Then, just as I was about to head off to try somewhere else, a pair of grey teal flying some distance to my left caught my eye. I watched them briefly and then they cupped their wings and dropped down low to land.

I did wonder why they landed at that spot, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, then I remembered from some old aerial maps drawn prior to the floods (Every primitive hunter should know about aerial maps; Ed.) that an old stock dam was in that area, which of course was now full, from all the recent flood waters.

Scanning the ground, a clump of trees near where the duck put down seemed the best direction from which to stalk up on them. Going in a wide arc I was able to position the trees between myself and the ducks. After 15 minutes of walking hunched over, I was finally at that little clump of trees. I paused for a few moments to straighten out my back, before crawling on my stomach the last 20 metres over flat ground, so that I could get within range for “Precious” to do her job.

Finally, I was in position to take the shot! As I raised myself upright, the pair of teal saw me and started to lift of the water. I quickly brought “Precious” up to the shoulder swinging with a small amount of lead on the front bird. I touched off with a small puff of smoke, followed almost instantaneously by a huge white cloud in front of me. The load of 1¼ oz of No.2’s went on its way.

Immediately I heard some splashing in the water and after the smoke had drifted quietly away from in front of me there in the water were two teal. It seems that as they took off they were so close to each other that they were both inside the shot pattern. With the aid of a gentle breeze and long stick I was able to retrieve the two birds and put them in the game bag.

Pleased that I was able to bag some game, I returned to the group of trees. Here I gathered up some kindling, dried leaves and grass and started a small fire with the flint and steel kit I keep in my knapsack. Soon I had a cheery little blaze going, so I poured some water into my small tin kettle and placed it next to the flames to boil.

Five minutes later a good rolling boil was happening and I poured some of the water into a small tin cup, with some cocoa powder and some sugar, and soon had myself a nice cup of chocolate.

I then mixed some rolled oats and sultanas with the remaining water in the tin kettle and my breakfast was complete. I sat down and enjoyed my surroundings for the next half an hour or so. When my meal was finished I went over to the dam and washed my utensils, carried some water back to the remains of the fire and poured it over the coals, just to make sure that everything was safe, packed away my equipment in the bed roll and proceeded onwards to check the remaining area for any signs of rabbits.

I walked on, to an area that had previously had a lot of warrens with plenty of fresh scratching, but this time there was simply no “sign” anywhere. It would seem that where the flood waters had lay the deepest and the longest, time had reduced the rabbit population dramatically.

Eventually I came up to the main irrigation channel which meant I could go no further, so with sore feet and a little disappointed, I headed back the Bullock Creek/Box Creek junction and followed the left hand bank of the Bullock Creek back up stream towards my vehicle.

As I rounded a bend, a small flock of teal took off in front of me. But I was caught out day dreaming a little bit and my reaction was a trifle slow. My hurried shot was well behind them. Oh well, more for next time, I guess.

After that I did not bother to reload “Precious” as I was not that far from my vehicle. Ten minutes later I was back at the Ute and took off my boots much to the great relief of my feet. The leather had shrunk a little bit and things were getting mighty uncomfortable after a few hours of walking.

While finishing off the last of my drinking water, I felt a little disappointed that the rabbit population had not “bounced” back sooner after the floods. Given time they should quickly return to their old numbers as always. On the brighter side though, it is always satisfying to put a brace of ducks into the freezer so they can be enjoyed later in the year. See you round the traps, Le Reynard.

From the Club President:

Gidday! The Trappings are a trifle thin since our last posting. Thanks must go to Paul for his Bullock Creek hunt story. We could certainly use more input from members. Thanks to those members who paid subs in time to meet the ALHF payment. ALHF membership cards accompany this newsletter and should be carried at all our events.

Members voted for a change of venue for our September Rondy this year. Bernard’s Cache was the “almost” unanimous choice! It’s obvious that the work done on our open faced shelter, pine-log shower block and the permanent ablutions facility greatly influenced the choice. A special thanks to Bob Ellis for design drawings of our amenities and the continuous planning and works at Caveat. There was also a voting bias to the more central Victorian location of Caveat.

The next event is our Spring Rondy and a Buffalo Shoot at which we’ll have our AGM. We will have our usual Mountain Man hunt, entry via a quality vegetable in the basket; winner gets all, plus the basket and a turkey plate; winner then cooks vegetable stew for the entire camp. No kiddin’ – well perhaps!

Peter Convey will be introducing our very first Buffalo shoot and there’ll be more shootin’ challenges and some very nice prizes. George Mohr has kindly donated an original double curved powder horn prize for one lucky shooter. No doubt Smokey Jim will see to an ample supply of firewood. Come and camp all three nights. Ian Convey

Events

September 15th – 16th Spring Buffalo Shoot Rendezvous – Our annual Rendezvous for members and invited guests on the weekend of the 3rd Sunday of September. Keeping up the tradition! Camping is available from Friday 14th thru to Monday 17th.

Non members wishing to experience the Free Trappers shining times should contact any committee member for official invite, site directions and camping guidelines.

Annual General Meeting – 10.30am Sunday 16th September at Bernard’s Cache.

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So, how did the nutcase in the theatre in Denver kill and injure so many people in the USA where so many people have the right to carry weapons? Colorado has the concealed carry permits of many other American states. Someone should have been able to nail the bastard, BUT Denver and suburbs (where the shootings took place) have gun controls which do not allow concealed carry. No doubt the nutter knew this.

Perhaps less gun control was the answer—not more gun control. If it had been Wyoming or Montana, I suspect the “Joker” would have resembled a well ventilated Swiss cheese before he could have done such huge damage. George Mohr

“Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave.” Andrew Fletcher 1697

“The man who has lost his liberty has lost almost everything already.” C.S. Forester 1899-1966

June 2012, Winter Quarters

– and another fabulous time was had by all who came. The Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend was in fact our 8th Winter Quarters in the Highlands/Caveat region of Victoria’s Great Dividing Range. Hardly seems like yesterday when, as a newly formed group, we first camped on that south facing slope of Andrew’s farm at Highlands. Then, in spite of the winter deluge of that very first evening and the chilly winds that followed we returned there again the very next winter. We were rewarded with a full weekend of delightful winter sunshine.

We have now experienced the last six Winter Quarters at Bernard’s Cache, a rather more secluded and protected hidey hole with a gentle north facing aspect. A few timid souls seemingly avoid our winter camps, but I have to tell ya, they are among the best of times, and, the weather does tend to favour the bold. Clear, cold nights bring hardy folks together around roaring campfires to exchange personal news, stories, a drop of shrub to lubricate the throat and improve the stories, and a further drop to encourage the vocals for a sing-along under the starry brilliance of the Southern Cross.

The weekend actually started on Thursday, when Bernard on tractor snigged several logs of dead and dry Long-leafed Peppermint, dragging them close by to our camp site. Of course Jim was there too, with trusty petrol axe converting those logs into manageable fire wood for all. Thanks to Bernard & Judy and to Jim also.

By Friday evening we had the makings of a tent-town of A frames, wall tents and one tipi, with many cooking fires driving off the light, barely noticeable mist – the last of a recent cold front. Apart from morning frosts, that was about as damp as we would experience for the entire weekend. In fact Sunday, Monday and Tuesday provided warm sunshine and honest rolled-up shirtsleeve conditions.

By noon Saturday we had twelve camps of white canvas – a marginal increase on last winter. Attending this year were Cam Cowled (our newest member), Ian Convey, Murray Convey, Ron Davis, Bob Ellis, Chook Fowler, Tom Jefferies, John Morland, Paul Sly, Jim Walker, Glen Mitchell (Sunday only) plus our regular camping guests, Jenny and Gary Baker from the Frontiers Living History group.

Bob put in a grand effort working a whole day on our gentlemen’s urinal amenities. Cameron spent satisfying time getting acquainted with his new flinter. Both Paul and Tom made hunting forays along the creek and dams enjoying the exercise and nature walk but with no opportunity to make meat. Tom’s dessert dumplings didn’t quite meet his usual standard either. Just as well Bernard and Judy visited Saturday evening or we might all have starved. I jest, but somehow everyone managed a slice of Bernard’s damper with Judy’s homemade jams and lashings of fresh cream which were all wolfed down.

Sunday morning, slow and sleepy, passed with just a smattering of eye-opener sighting shots being made. After lunch Ian organised a couple of shoot challenges which he describes below. After our evening meals we all gathered in the Open Faced Shelter to enjoy the large fire keeping an early frost at bay. Ian produced his guitar, while Tom had brought some home brews; Bob produced his high octane shrub while everyone brought refreshments and well fuelled and lusty singing voices.

During the lulls in the chorus singing Ian cooked up a batch of traditional Indian style popping corn to share with all seated around the fireside, along with the less traditional crisps and wombat droppings (chocolate). All good thirst inducing fodder! Next day while preparing to decamp, many commented that this Trapper’s night had been more than equal to the very best of occasions.

By Monday late afternoon the camp site was looking somewhat deserted with only Tom, Jim and Chook remaining. We three whiled away the dark evening hours in quiet discussion – sitting close to a cheery fire inside the tipi. Next morning a light frost signalled yet another delightfully sunny winter’s day. Chook

Impromptu Shoot at Winter Quarters

For a year or two now several painted wooden serviette rings had been cluttering the walls of our Open Faced Shelter. Why? You may well ask. Well, they were Op Shop store bought as possible targets with a challenge. Being in the shape of ducks (3 of) and pigs (2 of) with centre hole (for the napkin) they were considered cheap targets to blast away, while the largish centre hole would indicate that carefully aimed head shots would be prudent. Here’s Ian’s commentary on the afternoon’s shooting…

“End of Season duck shoot: Targets mounted on stakes at about 20-25 yards. Single projectile only. 1st round all ten shooters have a shot, any position (kneeling being the most popular) the result is three shooters hit a duck each – Murray, Paul and Ron.

They each took the duck’s head off! No damaged meat that way, heh, heh. 2nd round – Ron’s gun fails to go off, Paul just misses by a bee’s whisker and Murray re-kills his headless duck. Murray is the winner and receives a silver tankard donated by Tom.

Meanwhile, Ronnie’s misfire was determined to be caused by damp powder (but how did it become damp?). Ron pulled the ball and dumped in a fresh charge of powder to try drying the bore by firing a blank charge. The rifle was capped and pointed down range. The cap fired the fresh charge and a sausage of mud blew out of the barrel. Ron repeated the exercise but held the gun muzzle straight up, creating a mud geyser resulting in the “Canoe Gun” being instantly re-christened “Mud Gun”.

The next event was the Two Little Pigs shoot, again with ten contestants. The rear and uppermost pig was to be dispatched first. Once again it was Murray and Paul winning the bacon. First Paul took out that hammy boar, and then Murray shot its little pink mate. They then had a shoot off to decide the winner using the “wounded” remains of one of the napkin rings. Paul claimed this win.

The last of our impromptu shoots was a massed volley attack on a thick skinned pumpkin. Bob grabbed his camera and managed to capture the moment of impact of ten round ball bursting that thick skinned veggie wide open. The larger remnants were then stacked up for two more volley firings. Don’t ya wanna have fun no more?” Ian

(Postscript) Murray and I had a bloody great weekend.

Tattler

A certain scribe type person was observed wearing futuristic style spectacles at Bernard’s Cache when it is well known he possesses the correct period style. More effort to detail improves the experience for individual and group alike!

Pine Ridge 25th Anniversary Rendezvous

Twenty five years ago Glen Mitchell invited a group of black powder enthusiasts to camp in primitive style bordering a relatively young pine plantation near his home in Carboor, north-east Victoria. That was the first of several such rendezvous’ to follow in the ensuing years. Some months ago Glen attempted to contact group members from that early period to return to Pine Ridge to celebrate a 25th anniversary.

Contacts had been lost with the passing of time while several of that original group had passed on to final happy hunting grounds. Those Glen had been able to contact were delighted to rendezvous once again to renew acquaintances. Some additional friends were invited to make up similar numbers to those early Pine Ridge rendezvous.

Eddy Benc, travelling over 12 hours all the way from Adelaide was first to arrive spending Thursday evening on his Pat Malone. That all changed come morning and by Friday afternoon the gully between the two ridges was filling with lots of white canvas lodgings of friends old and new, where the new were mostly old also, but everyone knew this was going to be a very special event.

Trade blankets proliferated and some really top plunder was drooled over, bargained for, bartered, purchased or wish-listed. Goodies like powder and priming horns, powder measures, wrought iron tools, fire dogs and candle stands, tents, moccasins, voyager caps, possible pouches, sashes and other apparel and all sorts of other miscellaneous period wares…Traders and buyers all with equal enthusiasm.

Interestingly the very Throwing Block as used 25 years earlier was still in place and intact, however a fresh pine block was brought into use for some Saturday morning knife and hawk practice by Bob, Tom and Chook. All the trade blankets were out on display again receiving some serious interest; some deals done, some new friendships cemented, and the general goodwill and relaxing laid-back atmosphere of primitive rendezvous permeated the entire gathering.

Saturday arvo was scheduled to do some shootin’ and having black powder fun. For general plinking Glen had arranged a half dozen or so iron rabbits. These were set up at ranges varying from 15 yards to 45 yards as you might also come across a live rabbit in the field – well they never just sit there at a measured 25 or 50 yards, do they?
Oh, and then there was the 200 yard gong shoot, but that was stretching things a little on the day, somewhat akin to the truth around certain campfires.

But the plinking seemed to satisfy both rifle and smooth-bore shooters and the sharp crack of rifle and hollow sounding boom of fusil continued at some length. Later on shooters teamed up for a friendly cut-the-stake competition. Only the stakes were more like lumber-yard planks than your average tomato stakes. To even the odds small bores were teamed with larger calibres resulting in one team of four against another of three.

Bob Ellis, Tom Jefferies, Peter Hawkey and John Haskell might have had the edge in numbers but Allan Fox, Charlie Timma and George Mohr were equal to the challenge. After about a half hour both planks looked somewhat like cheese shredders so a drawn match was promptly declared when a rather dry croaky voice announced it was “Beer o’clock”.

But before the guns were retired and swapped for refreshments, everyone lined up for a group photo, and after some initial fiddling with you-beaut-gismo cameras, the pictures got took, then guns got cleaned and put away after which tonsils were oiled. Alan had shared some venison among the camps and no matter how cooked it remains the fare of kings as preferred by pilgrims. Late evening ushered in several misty showers but not enough to dampen the spirits of campfire brags or news from a town.

Sunday morning brought more light misty rain. Don’t ya just hate it when the canvas gets all wetted right when it’s time to decamp? I try to stay on another day – and I did!

Monday morning was blue sky sunny perfect, but there was only him and her and me to enjoy it. Mister and missus Scarlet Robin shared their reclaimed territory to delight my eye as I tried in vain to get a close-up photo of these charming native birds.

Of the original Buckskinners returning to Pine Ridge were Glen and Anthea Mitchell, Eddie Benc, Bob Ellis, Allan Fox, Bruce Kirkwood and George Mohr. Rendezvousing at Pine Ridge for the first time on the weekend was Colin and Myrtle Barrett, Justin Fletcher, Chook Fowler, John Haskell, Peter Hawkey, Tom Jefferies, Shane Nedeljkovic, Kevin and Robyn Norris, and Charlie Timma. Overall, two thirds of those who attended are currently members of the Southern Cross Free Trappers.

Glen Mitchell would like to thank all those who made the effort to attend, especially those from interstate or at longer distances over the mountains; also to those who helped with firewood chores and clearing the many years of undergrowth. Special thanks to Noel Collinson who spent several working-bee days helping prepare the site then couldn’t make it to camp on the weekend due to family circumstances.

On behalf of those attending, warm heartfelt thanks to Glen and Anthea Mitchell for kind invitation, and for making it all happen. Thanks to the extended Mitchell family for allowing access to this wonderful part of the north-east. Just one sad final note – We understand the pines in the area are due to be completely logged next summer; but our memories of the shining times at Pine Ridge will long linger, remaining as solid and as tall as a giant Mountain Ash! Chook

Upcoming Events

July 14th & 15th Ballarat Arms & Militaria Collectors Fair – We’ve attended each of the last three years to spread the joy of muzzleloaders to all them “Jack d’Levers” and new fangled turn-bolt shooters. So, let’s just do it – again! It’s a 2 day Fair but we will be there promoting the black powder sports on the Saturday only.

September 14th – 17th Spring Turkey Shoot Rendezvous – Our traditional weekend of 3rd Sunday of September extended from Friday 14th thru to Monday 17th. Members are asked to vote their choice of camp site between our regular September site at Beaver Creek or at Bernard’s Cache, Caveat. (See separate enclosure to all members.)

Annual General Meeting will be held during our September Rendezvous, as usual.

1830’s meets 1930’s
A 2013 early autumn camp, Labour Day weekend March 9, 10 & 11th 2013. We’ve invited members of the Austin 7 car club to witness our primitive black powder experience, joining us at a campfire luncheon on Sunday 10th March. A truly primitive camp at Bernard’s Cache during which, for just a few hours, we take a giant 100 year leap forward, visited by the Austin 7 club dressed in their best 1930’s style.

No modern camping, no 4WD mules – only Austin 7’s on the Painted Pony Plains. Camps to be open to visitors’ inspection, Trade blankets on display, rifles, knives and hawks on display, cannon capers etc. rolling pin throwing comp and more. Campfires and any demo powder burning will naturally depend on fire restrictions and weather.

2013 Saturday June 29 to Sat. July 6th – The 11th Millmerran Open Rendezvous.
Celebrating 20 years of Rendezvous at Captain’s Mountain Millmerran, Queensland. Rumoured to be the last of the great Captain’s Mountain rendezvous. Don’t miss it!

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