PART 2
1892 ESSAY BY JOHN SHEA OF UFFORD - MUSKOKA REPRESENTED IN A SHORT STORY
SUZANNE'S MOTHER, HARRIETT STRIPP, THE DAUGHTER OF UFFORD FARMER AND MUNICIPAL CLERK, JOHN SHEA, GAVE ME AN HISTORIC TREASURE, SHORTLY AFTER HER DAUGHTER AND I SET UP OUR OWN MUSKOKA HOMESTEAD. AS A FLEDGLING REGIONAL HISTORIAN, SHE GAVE ME HER FATHER'S ORIGINAL COPY OF "MUSKOKA AND PARRY SOUND," WRITTEN BY THE REGION'S FIRST HISTORIAN, IN 1871. I HAVE USED THIS BOOK THOUSANDS OF TIMES SINCE, AS IT CONTAINS A GREAT DEAL OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT MUSKOKA LOOKED LIKE, AND HOW INHOSPITABLE IT WAS TO THOSE FIRST ILL-PREPARED SETTLERS. I CHERISH THIS BOOK AS MUCH TODAY, AS I DID WHEN HARRIETT PRESENTED IT TO ME……IN THE HOPES I COULD, IN SOME WAY, REMEMBER HER FATHER, JOHN, AND HOW LONG HE HAD ALSO LOVED THIS SIMPLY PRODUCED REGIONAL HISTORY.
TO COMMENCE TODAY'S INSTALLMENT OF JOHN SHEA'S ESSAY, I WANTED TO, AS A WEE MEMORIAL, TO TWO FINE CITIZENS OF THE PAST, JOHN SHEA, AND THOMAS MCMURRAY, OFFER A FEW LINES FROM THE 1871 BOOK, OPEN NOW ON MY DESK. HERE IS SOME OF WHAT JOHN SHEA'S FAMILY, AS ORIGINAL HOMESTEADERS FROM THE 1860'S, EXPERIENCED IN THE HARSH ENVIRONS OF THE FREE LAND GRANTS AREA OF ONTARIO.
"THE SCENERY IS VARIED, AND IN MANY INSTANCES EXTREMELY GRAND. AT BEAVER CREEK, ABOUT NINE MILES NORTH OF WASHAGO, THE ROCKS RISE ALMOST PERPENDICULAR, NEAR 200 FEET, FROM THE LOFTIEST PEAK OF WHICH A DEER, BEING CLOSELY PURSUED, IS SAID TO HAVE LEAPED DOWN IN SAFTEY TO THE VALLEY BELOW," WROTE MCMURRAY. "MUSKOKA IS CONVENIENTLY SITUATED, BEING 121 MILES DISTANT FROM THE CITY OF TORONTO. ITS LOCATION IS IN DIRECT LINE IN THE OVERLAND ROUTE TO THE GREAT NORTH WEST. PARTIES LEAVING TORONTO IN THE MORNING CAN REACH THE SETTLEMENT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS IN A DAY, AND THE TRIP IS ONE OF THE MOST PLEASANT AND ATTRACTIVE POSSIBLE. THE EASTERN AND WESTERN BOUNDARIES ARE SITUATED WITHIN, AND BETWEEN 79 AND 80 DEGREES WEST FROM GREENWICH. THE GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF THE SETTLEMENT IS GOOD, FORMING AS IT DOES, ALMOST A BEE-LINE OF TRAVEL FROM LIVERPOOL TO VANCOUVER. IT IS THE SHORTEST ROUTE BY HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC. WHO CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE OF THIS SECTION OF ONTARIO? IF OUR CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD BUT MANIFEST THAT ENTERPRISE WHICH THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CASE DEMANDS, BEFORE FIVE YEARS, THIS ROUTE WOULD BE OPEN." OF COURSE, MCMURRAY WAS REFERRING IN PART, TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RAILWAY NETWORK, CONNECTING TO LAKE STEAMERS, AND OF COURSE, THE EVENTUAL TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILWAY. THIS, AS HISTORICAL RECORD, DID OCCUR QUICKLY, ONCE THE HOMESTEADING EXPERIMENT SHOWED ITS TRUE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL.
"THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA COMPRISES SAY 40 TOWNSHIPS, OF ABOUT 40 ACRES EACH, COVERING AN AREA OF OVER ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND, CAPABLE OF AFFORDING HOMES FOR ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND SOULS."
THE SHEA FAMILY, SETTLING IN THE THREE MILE LAKE AREA, OF THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES, MUST HAVE BELIEVED THE WORDS OF THOMAS MCMURRAY, BECAUSE THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE LAND GRANTS, AND ALL THE POTENTIALS THE AUTHOR REFERRED TO IN HIS BOOK. OF COURSE, MCMURRAY COULD NEVER BE ACCUSED OF NEGATIVITY, AS RELATES TO ENCOURAGING SETTLERS TO INVEST IN MUSKOKA. SOME HISTORIANS ARGUE, THAT MCMURRAY WAS TOO POSITIVE, AND DID NOT PRESENT THE PRECARIOUS NATURE AND GEOGRAPHY OF THE REGION, AS HE SHOULD HAVE, AS A WARNING TO POTENTIAL HOMESTEADERS OF THE HARDSHIPS YET TO COME. THE SHEA FAMILY FOUND OUT JUST HOW DIFFICULT A LIFE IT WAS, HACKING OUT FARMSTEADS FROM THE THICK MUSKOKA FORESTS. I BELIEVE THIS FARMING EXPERIENCE INFLUENCED THE YOUNG JOHN SHEA, WHEN HE WROTE THIS SHORT STORY…..WHICH MOST DEFINITELY WAS INFLUENCED BY HIS OWN EXPERIENCES IN THE WILDS. HERE NOW IS PART TWO. SUZANNE HAS DECIDED, AS A SORT OF TRIBUTE TO HER GRANDFATHER, TO TRANSCRIBE HIS MANUSCRIPT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS BLOG. SO MY WORK HERE IS NOW DONE. SO IN THE WORDS OF THE SCHOOL STUDENT, JOHN SHEA:
The Horse With Horns Part 2
Suddenly they heard the deep bow-wow-wow-wow of Gin.
"Keep quiet he will be here in a few minutes", said Jim Hardly had he finished speaking before a monstrous animal, with large spreading horns crashed through the dry brushwood and with a splash, and a plunge was into the water. "Good Heavens!" exclaimed Ned, "Its a horse with horns on."
Be quiet" whispered Jim or you will turn him back. But what is it, asked the impetuous Ned. "A moose", came the reply. Ned who had never seen a moose before hardly knew what to make of the animal. By this time the moose had got out in the lake some distance, and the men could plainly see that he was heading for the island.
"Now let's see what you're made of," said Jim. No second bidding was necessary, both paddles were dug deep into the water, and the old canoe bounded along like a live thing.
The moose was ploughing through the water at a rapid rate.
It was a long, and exiting race, and it give the canoemen an excellent opportunity to display their muscle.
At last the hunters began to gain on the huge animal. They were almost close enough for to shoot. Ned sat in the bow so that it fell to him for to fire. He picked up his gun, and took aim. The next instant he fired, but owing to his nervousness, and the rocking of the canoe, he made a poor shot inflicting only a slight flesh-wound. The moose shook his head, gave a snort but still kept on his way.
Jim knew that it was no use for to trust to Ned to do the shooting, because he was so excited. A new idea suggested its self to Jim. It was to paddle closet up to the side of the moose grab his rifle, fire both barrels into the animal and paddle on past.
A few vigorous strokes brought the canoe close up to the side of the huge animal.
Ned now began to think that he was getting to close to be safe and wanted to paddle away but the stalwart arm at the stern, still propelled the bark forward. The next instant Jim grabbed his gun, took aim, and pulled the trigger, but to his horror and dismay both barrels went snap; snap. Instantly the cause of his gun acting thus flashed across his mind. The caps had got wet on account of careless paddling.
The moose turned towards the canoe. Both men jumped into the water. The next instant the heavy hoofs of the animal descended on the canoe and smashed to to splinters. Jim came to the surface some distance from shore he went down. His first thought was about Ned. He looked around, but could not see him, so with a heavy heart he began to swim to the island. The water was freezing cold, but Jim was hardy.
He saw the moose some distance ahead apparently making for the island also, but what was that on the creatures back? It was a dark object. Could it be possible; was it Ned; such were the thoughts that flashed through Jim's brain with the speed of lightening. Yes it was so; he could see Ned seated on the moose's back and hanging on by the horns.
Jim was chilled to the bone but he was game. He saw the moose near the shore. He also say Ned pull something out of his belt. It was his knife. Jim understood all now. Just as the animal touched the bottom Ned reached down and with one stroke of his hunting knife he cut the animals juggler. The moose bleeding and staggering walked up the bank and fell with a thud to the ground. Ned escaped with a little less than a sprained ankle.
By this time, Jim had reached shore, but he could hardly stand. Their matches were wet but they happened to have some dry ones at the tent. They soon had a roaring fire started, by which they dried their wet clothing. When they had warmed themselves they went down to have a look at their game. They dressed the animal, and then had their supper. After supper Ned explained how he came to get the ride ashore. "Well", said he laughingly, as he drew a little closer to the fire, "I jumped out of the canoe the same time that you did, but I did not like the idea of staying under the cold water long, so I came to the surface. Imagine my surprise, when I saw the creature, within a few feet of me. I thought this was my only chance of escape, so swimming along quickly, but quietly, I caught up to him, and as a moose swims very low in the water I easily got on his back, and grabbed hold of his horns. Mr Moose evidently did not like the idea of carrying passengers free, for he shook his head violently, but he could not get me off. After several unsuccessful attempts, he took it more coolly and started for the shore as you saw." Ned blamed Jim for the whole affair and laughingly declared that the next time he went hunting, he'd paddle his own canoe; and do the shooting too.
Both men lost their guns, but this loss was more than atoned for, when the settlers presented each of them with a handsome Winchester rifle.
John Shea
Ufford
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