TALES OF THE YUKON (256 ENGLISH)

TALES OF THE YUKON (256 ENGLISH)

CAMPBELL, the Explorer

Some tales from Campbell, the explorer

Louis Lapierre

Louis Lapierre was half-Iroquois, half French-Canadian. In 1837, he traveled alone to the Yukon and there he met Robert Campbell, the explorer.

Louis Lapierre built and directed Lapierre House along the Bell River, in the northern part of the Yukon. In 1843, John Bell took possession of this house in the name of the Hudson Bay.  During many years, this post supplied the region with caribou meat and fish.  Then in 1847, Lapierre House became a relay post and it was then abandoned in 1890.



François Houle (Francis Hoole)

François was half-Iroquois and half French-Canadian.  He worked all of his life for the Hudson Bay Company, especially as an interpreter for Robert Campbell and his companions during their trips of exploration in the Yukon and in northern British Columbia. According to Campbell, Houle was a skilful trapper and very ingenious in all his works. In 1843, Campbell named a tributary of the Pelly River in honor of Houle. According to Campbell and his companions, the rapids on the Pelly River carry Hoole's name.

Antoine Houle

On October 20, 1851, the explorer Robert Campbell mentioned in his journal that Antoine Houle traveled with him and had to return to Fort Yukon with the EXPRESS. Campbell noted also that a certain river was named Antoine's River.  This river was no doubt named for Houle or in his honor. Antoine Houle was related to François Houle, but the authors do not seem to be in agreement as to what this  relationship was. He seemed to be presented sometimes as his father, then at other times as his brother.

? Desrivières

Desrivières  was a French-Canadian who accompanied the explorer Robert Campbell during his trips in the Yukon.  In June 1843, after  going down the Pelly, Campbell gave the rapids on this river the name of Desrivières.

?Marcette

Marcette was a French-Canadian who accompanied the explorer Robert Campbell on his trips in the Yukon.  On September 20, 1850, while the two men were in a canoe on Lake Finlayson, they faced serious dangers.  The waves were very high and the canoe took in water.  Campbell and Marcette  found themselves in icy water and had to swim to the shore pulling the canoe which was half-full of water.



Dubois (Deblois)

The name "Dubois" was mentioned in the explorer Robert Campbell's journal.  During the winter of 1850, Dubois and many other men were found dead in a fort in Pelly Banks. The supply boats had not come in the previous fall and the men had no food to eat.  There was even talk that there were signs of cannibalism.

Ref. Empreinte, pages 4,5,6

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