Slumach revisited
March 04th, 2017
Having served as the editor of BC Historical News from Spring 1999 to Summer 2003, the indefatigible Fred Braches has released Fact and Fiction; Slumach and the Lost Creek Mine to share his ongoing research on one of B.C. most legendary stories–about a rumoured gold mine in the Fraser Valley. “With this book,” he says, “I try to debunk the myth that old man Slumach — people don’t realize that he was over 70 when he was hanged — had nothing to do with the legendary gold.”
The co-author of a well-known book on the same subject, Rick Antonson, has responded, “As spring approaches and more people consider hikes north of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge in hopes of stumbling upon a cache of gold nuggets, your book about Slumach (nicely dedicated “To the memory of Slum.ook”) is well-timed.
“You graciously separate facts (of which there are many) from fiction (of which there is much) regarding a hundred years of embellishments. Indeed, anyone reading our Slumach’s Gold, In Search of a Legend would be well advised to also pick up your book. Congratulations on your dogged determination to remind us all that there is lots to learn and ponder about British Columbia’s history without the need for distortion of truths.
“Your role in the TV series, Search for the Frozen Gold, had you perfectly cast as the wise doubter, the resolute pursuer of veracity over folklore on all-things Slumach. Now, as an author, you have furthered that reputation for objectivity. Congratulations my friend.”
Fact and Fiction; Slumach and the Lost Creek Mine (Whonnock Books 2017) $17 978-0-9958945-0-1 [Whonnock Books, PO 130, Whonnock V2W 1V9 E-mail: books@whonnock.ca
or leave a message at 604-462-8942]
For more on Fred Braches, visit:
http://www.abcbookworld.com/view_author.php?id=4602
Many years ago I wrote a play based on this legend, The Naming of Charley Salmon, with three Kaatzi men as the protagonists. A strange story and one with so much food for the imagination.