Slumach facts for kids
Slumach was an elderly Katzie First Nations man who died in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, in 1891. Just before he died, he was given the name "Peter" when he was baptized, but this name was never used during his life. His grave, which doesn't have a headstone, is in St. Peter's Cemetery in Sapperton. People remember him today because of a famous story: he supposedly knew where a large amount of gold was hidden near Pitt Lake. This hidden treasure is often called "Slumach's Gold."
Who Was Slumach?
Slumach first appeared in official records in September 1890. At that time, he was involved in an incident where another man, Louis Bee, was shot. This happened at a place now called Addington Point, on the west side of the Pitt River. Louis Bee was in a canoe with another fisherman named Seymour when the shooting happened. There were no other people around to see what happened. The exact reason for the incident is not fully known, but it was likely due to a disagreement between the men.
Slumach managed to avoid being caught for several months. However, as winter got closer, he gave himself up to the authorities. His lawyers tried to argue that Slumach acted to protect himself, but this effort was not successful. They also tried to delay the trial, hoping that because Slumach was an old man, he might pass away before the trial, which would mean he wouldn't face a severe punishment.
Slumach was found guilty. He died in January 1891. Newspapers at the time wrote a lot about his death. The Vancouver Daily World newspaper mentioned that many people who saw him die felt sorry for Slumach. They thought the government might have been more understanding, especially since he was old and had not been in trouble with the law before this incident.
The Legend of Lost Gold
Many years after Slumach's death, stories began to spread. People said that Slumach had found a very rich gold mine near Pitt Lake but died without telling anyone where it was. The legend of "Pitt Lake's Lost Gold Mine" and Slumach has been featured in many newspaper and magazine articles. You can find many of these stories on a special website dedicated to Slumach. This famous story has also been the subject of several books and three television documentaries, keeping the mystery of Slumach's Gold alive.
