Henry McDame
Long studies have been made on the frontiersman, and
the frontier mentality. What makes someone leave behind family, friends and
civilization and adopt the frontier? A special kind of frontiersman, the
goldseeker, has not yet been fully studied. There are sketches at him in history
books and literature, but no details of his peculiar psychology. Plain urban
common sense dictates secrecy for a man who finds treasure, at least until his
own title or his own wealth is secured, but the goldseeker by vocation reacts
differently, even knowing the news he brings will create a rush endangering his
claim. Further, whatever the richness of his claim, you will doubtless find him
poor and prospecting again in a matter of time. There is an odd and strange
resemblance to a spiritual quest in the dedication of the goldseeker.
Henry McDame was such a gold-seeker. He did not share the fame of Billy Barker or Cariboo Camion, but his life resembled theirs. He was born in the Bahamas and came to British Columbia in 1858 during the "Fraser River Excitement". It is believed that he followed the gold panning crowd from the lower Fraser to the Cariboo, but by the end of the 1860's he had not earned much. He headed north, to the Omenica country, along with so many others. Refusing to stake a claim in the already crowded Tom, Silver and Vital Creeks, he went prospecting in the wild and unmapped country with three other men, all Blacks. A few weeks later, 75 miles to the east of Vital Creek, they found what was to be called Germansen Creek, after one of their party. Germansen was eventually to become an important "placer" gold producer, but for reasons unknown McDame was prospecting again less than 4 years later. In the spring of 1874, he moved further west to the back country of the Cassiar, unexplored for over 30 years. When a group of French Canadians led by Henri Thibert struck it lucky at Dease Lake, McDame followed the pattern that had worked so well before and explored further on the Dease River, the Canyon and the Eagle Rivers. After three weeks of patient and arduous work, disregarding his dwindling supplies, Henry McDame found that the "colours" in his pan were better than he had ever hoped to find. He had discovered, all by himself, McDame Creek, known at the time as Nigger Creek. By the 5th November, 1874, the Daily British Colonist in Victoria, far army "down south", reported the discovery and this led to McDame's association with a group led by a certain Charles Charity; the journalist reported that the ten associates of the Charity Company earned six hundred dollars each in the first month and still had "plenty of pay-dirt for years to come."
We know that the gold at McDame Creek was exploited for over 20 years, but the whereabouts of Henry McDame himself after the end of 1875 are unclear. We found him again in 1884, in the Skeena area, prospecting. He was financed by a successful Victoria Black businessman; in other words, McDame was personally without a penny. Is it luck, or instinct, or professionalism? Whatever it is, McDame possessed it, for he then found Lorne Creek, "the most productive placer stream on the (Skeena) river."
What happened to Henry McDame after the year 1884? No one knows. Theories and rumours abound. It is thought that he died some time between 1884 and 1901, at least, that is what is recorded in the archives. They do not want to believe that he may still be with us, prospecting...