The Clan Fraser in Canada Part 7

Then here's to the mothers who bore us, my men; To the s.h.i.+eling that sleeps in the breast of the glen Where the stag Drinks it fill From the rill By the crag-- Are you ready?

3

All ready?

Fill your gla.s.s to the maid you adore, my boys; Wish her health, wish her wealth, long life, and all joys; Full measure (May it swim To the brim) Of pleasure-- Are you ready?

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All ready?

And here's to the country we live in, my lads; It is here we have struggled and thriven, my lads?

G.o.d bless it, May Beauty And Duty Possess it-- Are you ready?

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All ready?

A Fraser! A Fraser forever, my friends; While he lives how he hates, how he loves till life ends; He is first, Here's my hand, Into grand Hurrah burst-- Are you ready?

SIMON FRASER.

DISCOVERER OF THE FRASER RIVER.

The life-work of the discoverer of the Fraser River ill.u.s.trates the pioneer spirit which animated the early settlers of Canada. There was the pluck, the love of adventure, the endurance, the prompt response to the call of duty, the expansive idea which kept abreast of ever opening possibilities, and the rare tact displayed in new, embarra.s.sing and important transactions. Simon Fraser was in many respects a great man and one of whom his clansmen may well feel proud. His grandfather was William Fraser, of Culbokie, whose wife Margaret Macdonell, of Glengarry, was the possessor of the famous _Balg Solair_ in which was stowed away a ma.n.u.script of Ossianic poetry, which figures in the dissertations on the authenticity of MacPherson's Ossian, and regarding which the following interesting pa.s.sage occurs in the correspondence of the late Bishop Alexander Macdonell: "I myself saw a large MS. of Ossian's poems in the possession of Mrs. Fraser of Culbokie, in Strathgla.s.s, which she called "_am Balg Solair_" (a bag of fortuitous goods). This lady's residence being between my father's house and the school where I used to attend with her grandchildren, at her son's, Culbokie House, by way of coaxing me to remain on cold nights at her own house, she being cousin to my father, she used to take up the _Balg Solair_, and read pieces of it to me. Although a very young boy at the time, I became so much enraptured with the rehearsal of the achievements of the heroes of the poem, and so familiar with the characters, especially of Oscar, Cathmor, and Cuthchullin, that when MacPherson's translation was put into my hands in the Scotch college of Valladolid in Spain, many years afterwards, it was like meeting old friends with whom I had been intimately acquainted. Mrs. Fraser's son, Simon, who had a cla.s.sical education, and was an excellent Gaelic scholar, on emigrating to America in the year 1774, took the _Balg Solair_ with him as an invaluable treasure. On the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, Mr.

Fraser joined the Royal Standard, was taken prisoner by the Americans and thrown into jail, where he died."

William, of Culbokie, and his wife Margaret Macdonell had nine sons. Of these, Archibald and John fought under Wolfe at Quebec. John settled at Montreal, and became Chief Justice of the Montreal district. In 1774, or more probably in 1773, Simon left home, and settled near Bennington, Vermont. Here his son, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1776. His mother and her family came to Canada after the death of his father (as stated above), and settled in Glengarry. Simon was the youngest of the family. He was placed in school in Montreal, where he resided with his uncle, the Chief Justice. In 1792, at the age of sixteen, he became an articled clerk with McTavish, Frobisher & Co., to the North-West Fur Trading Co., which had its headquarters in Montreal. In 1802 he became a partner, and subsequently went out to the far North. In 1805 he came down from Fort Athabasca to Fort William, and was then nominated to cross the Rocky Mountains, to extend out-posts and form trading connections with the Indians. He responded at once to the call. He said he would undertake the expedition provided they gave him a sufficient outfit. This the Company were only too glad to do. It was a very hazardous undertaking. He crossed the mountains with thirty men--clerks, axemen, guides and interpreters. He soon found himself in a wild and desolate region. As he went on he built block-houses, and took possession of the country in the name of the King. In 1806 he discovered the river which takes its name from him. He discovered many rivers and lakes which he named after different members of the Company. He traced the Fraser river to its source, and met many different tribes of Indians, some friendly, others hostile. At one time they met different tribes who were very friendly and made a great feast for them; they killed their _fattest dog_ for him, which of course he feigned to eat; but at the same feast the chiefs held a council and decided to put him to death, which the interpreter, who understood their language, told him, and they stole quietly away. He first named the river now known as the Fraser river, the "Great River," and called the place "New Caledonia." Here he left some of the party, and crossed westerly into the open country, and built another house near a lake, which he called Fraser's Lake. He was now with four men in the midst of Indians who had never before either seen or heard of the "pale face." On the border of this lake he witnessed an Indian ceremony. He was brought by the Indians to where they had a large burying-ground, where one of the Chiefs of their tribe was being buried. An immense number of warriors were a.s.sembled, and after a most solemn and impressive ceremony, Mr. Fraser was invited by signs to approach the grave. He did so, and gave immense satisfaction by engraving his name on a post which had been planted over the remains of the departed warrior. In July, 1807, he received fresh supplies from the North-West Co., who at the same time urged him to trace with all possible speed the "Great River" to the Sea, they being apprehensive that the Americans would get ahead of the British in that quarter, as in the previous year 1806, Captains Lewis and Clarke had gone down the "Columbia," and were extending American authority along the western coast of America, and Astor, on the part of the Americans, was also looking anxiously towards the northern section.

The North-West Co. therefore urged Mr. Fraser to spare no expense in achieving the object of their desires.

Mr. Fraser built another trading-house on the "Great River" in 1807, and reached the Ocean in July, 1808. He remained but a short time there on account of the hostility of the Indians.

Returning he again met numerous and large bodies of Indians speaking several different languages. They a.s.sembled to see the wonderful pale faces who had come among them. An idea of how they regarded white men may be formed from the fact that when hundreds of them were congregated together, at the discharge of a single rifle they would fall prostrate on the ground, so great was their astonishment. Had it not been for Mr.

Fraser's wonderful energy and enterprise, there would not be a railroad to-day from ocean to ocean over British territory.

SIMON, LORD LOVAT.

BEHEADED ON TOWER HILL.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Right Honourable Simon Lord Frasier of Lovat, Chief of the Clan of the Frasers &c.]

No Fraser chief has achieved more notoriety than Simon, the fourteenth Lord Lovat. His enemies avenged themselves for the failure of their nefarious plots against him by supplying, at a cheap rate, the charcoal with which prejudiced historians have blackened his memory. But while his fate is still held up as a warning to evil doers, it has been proved, beyond peradventure, that his character has been much maligned, and that he appears rather as a man of inexhaustible resources, availing himself of whatever means lay nearest to his hand to extricate himself from enormous difficulties and to attain objects which, though of personal advantage to himself and Clan, were as honorable as they were just, and wholly in keeping with the customs of his day. His efforts to secure the chiefs.h.i.+p and the honors of his house, and to extend the power of the Clan, were genuinely patriotic. His Lords.h.i.+p certainly was a man of learning and ability. He was an admirable letter writer, and pa.s.sages in his correspondence show that he had wonderful facility in writing and a capital style.

The picture here given is from a mezzo-tint in possession of Mr. B.

Homer Dixon, from a painting of Lord Lovat, by David Le Clerc, a Swiss who was in England in 1715 and 1716. The picture which is supposed to have been taken in 1715, when Lord Lovat was about forty-eight years old, is marked: "Le Clare, _pinxt_. J. Simon, _fecit_." Although armour had been disused before Lord Lovat's time, it was the fas.h.i.+on at that period for gentlemen to be painted in armour. The mezzo-tint is very rare.

BRIGADIER SIMON FRASER.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BRIGADIER-GENERAL FRASER, YOUNGER OF BALNAIN.]

Among the officers of Fraser's Highlanders were several clansmen destined to rise high in military distinction. Of them few are better known in the Clan than Captain Simon Fraser of Balnain, afterwards Quarter-Master General in Ireland, a post which he quitted to serve as Brigadier-General in Burgoyne's Army in America. He had served in the Scotch regiment in the Dutch service, and was wounded at Bergen-op-Zoom.

He spoke French perfectly and to this accomplishment and his coolness was due his signal service at Quebec, where he saved the transports from discovery at a critical moment before the precipice was scaled.

Smollet relates the incident as follows:--"The French had posted sentries along sh.o.r.e to challenge boats and vessels and give the alarm occasionally. The first boat that contained the English troops being questioned accordingly, a captain of Fraser's regiment, who had served in Holland, and who was perfectly well acquainted with the French language and customs, answered without hesitation to _qui vive_?--which is their challenging word--_La France_; nor was he at a loss to answer the second question, which was much more particular and difficult. When the sentinel demanded, _a quel regiment_? the captain replied, _de la reine_, which he knew by accident to be one of those that composed the body commanded by Bougainville. The soldier took it for granted this was the expected convoy (a convoy of provisions expected that night for the garrison of Quebec), and, saying _pa.s.se_, allowed all the boats to proceed without further question. In the same manner the other sentries were deceived; though one, more wary than the rest, came running down to the water's edge and called, _pour quoi est ce que vous ne parlez pas haut?_ 'Why don't you speak with an audible voice?' To this interrogation, which implied doubt, the captain answered with admirable presence of mind, in a soft tone of voice, _tai toi nous serens entendues!_ 'Hus.h.!.+ we shall be overheard and discovered.' Thus cautioned the sentry retired without further altercation."

At the time of the Revolutionary War, Brigadier-General Simon Fraser was second in command of the British army, under Burgoyne. He fell at Saratoga under circ.u.mstances which prove his great ability as an officer. The American historians say that General Burgoyne had lost his head, and the American General Morgan perceiving it, called two of his best riflemen and said: "You see that fine fellow on the white horse? It goes against my heart to do it, but you must pick him off, or we lose the battle." They watched their opportunity, shot General Fraser, and the Americans won the day.

The picture here given is said to be a good likeness. It has been produced from a mezzo-tint in the possession of Mr. B. Homer Dixon, Toronto.

SECOND ANNUAL GATHERING.

"Three triumphs in a day; three hosts subdued in one: Three armies scattered like the spray, beneath one common sun."

The second Annual Gathering and Dinner of the Clan Fraser in Canada was held on the 25th day of February, 1895, that date having been selected in honor of the Scots' victory at Roslin on February 25th, 1303, when the army was commanded by Sir Simon Fraser, the patriot (p. 48). The place of meeting was the Rossin House, Toronto. The gentlemen were accompanied by lady friends, a departure from the custom generally observed on similar festive occasions, that contributed greatly to the pleasure of the evening. The committee in charge of the arrangements was composed of Dr. J. B. Fraser (Chairman of Programme Committee), Professor W. H. Fraser, Messrs. G. B. Fraser, R. L. Fraser, Alexander Fraser (Fraserfield), Alexander R. Fraser, W. P. Fraser, Andrew Fraser, Alexander Fraser (MacFhionnlaidh), Chairman; and W. A. Fraser, Secretary. Those present were Rev. Dr. Mungo Fraser, Hamilton; Mr. W.

Lewis Fraser, New York; Mr. Donald Fraser, Kingston; Mr. R. I. Fraser, Barrie; Mr. Andrew Fraser, Barrie; Messrs. Robert Lovat Fraser, George B. Fraser, and Miss Fraser; Professor W. H. Fraser and Mrs. Fraser; Dr.

J. B. Fraser and Mrs. Fraser; Alexander Fraser (Fraserfield), Mrs.

Fraser and Miss Kate Fraser; Alexander R. Fraser and Mrs. Fraser; Alexander Fraser (MacFhionnlaidh), Mrs. Fraser, Miss Fraser, Mrs.

Georgina Fraser-Newhall, and Mrs. Ramsay; Mr. W. A. Fraser and Mrs.

Fraser; Dr. Pyne and Mrs. Pyne; Alexander Fraser (Parkdale), and Miss Fraser; W. P. Fraser, Donald Fraser, Charles Fraser, Mrs. C. G. Fraser and Master Norman Fraser, James Fraser, Henry Sandham Fraser.

Letters of regret at their inability to attend were read from Messrs. E.

A. Fraser, Detroit; D. Fraser, Montreal; Ex-Mayor Fraser, Petrolea; O.

K. Fraser, Brockville; A. Fraser, Hamilton; P. M. Fraser, St. Thomas; Rev. R. D. Fraser, Bowmanville; and Rev. Dr. J. B. Fraser, Annan.

Mr. Alexander Fraser (MacFhionnlaidh) presided, and the vice-chairs were occupied by Messrs. George B. Fraser and R. L. Fraser, and Mr. W. A.

Fraser acted as Secretary.

The after-dinner programme was interesting and varied. Besides the usual toasts it included the "Fraser's Drinking Song," composed by Mrs.

Georgina Fraser-Newhall, and sung by Mrs. Alexander Fraser; readings by Prof. W. H. Fraser, bagpipe selections by Pipe-Major MacSwayed, and Highland dancing by Master Norman Fraser.

The speeches contained a great deal of information regarding the Clan, and were very interesting. Most eloquent was the speech delivered by Mr.

W. Lewis Fraser, of New York, who entered into the history of the Clan at considerable length; and that by Mrs. Georgina Fraser-Newhall, in response to the toast of her health.

A group photograph was successfully taken of the company by the aid of a flash-light, which will remain a memento of a very pleasant gathering.

Before dispersing the report of the Committee on the Organization of the Clan was read. It set forth that meetings had been held at which the Clan had been organized, and the annexed Const.i.tution and By-laws prepared: