Barkerville Quesnel & the Cariboo Gold Rush

Gold was the element that turned British Columbia's interior plateau from an
unknown wilderness into a region of thriving settlements and frenetic activity.
As news of its discovery fi ltered to the outside world, adventurers, opportunists
and suppliers from around the globe converged on the region's new towns or
built even newer ones close to their claims. Van Winkle, Swamp River, Antler
and many more settlements sprang up, only to fade quickly when the glitter ran
out. But two towns were vital enough to survive: Quesnel, at the confl uence of
the Quesnel and Fraser rivers; and Barkerville, where many of the richest strikes
were made. Th is is their story, and the story of one of the most romantic episodes
in western Canadian history - the Cariboo Gold Rush.
Gordon Elliott fi rst wrote this classic account of the Cariboo's early history
almost fi fty years ago. Revised and reissued in 1978, it is off ered here once again,
this time with a new forward by Blanca Schorcht. Elliott was one of the fi rst
staff hired by Simon Fraser University when it opened in 1965. Nearly 40 years
later, he continues to serve as Professor Emeritus of English at SFU. Elliott has
spent many years combining his interest in history with considerable writing,
research and editing skills, providing assistance and furthering the study of
British Columbia history, with works including Klondike Cattle Drive and British
Columbia: A Centennial Anthology.