River Flood History

With all the talk of high water and flooding, I thought it was time to bring into memory one of Prince Albert’s big floods. This article was written by Phyllis Carlson, a volunteer with the Historical Society. It was printed first in a June 2007 issue of the Rural Roots. These stories and many others like it can be found in the Bill Smiley archives at the Historical Museum, or in the book Voice of the People for sale at the museum.

The Prince Albert Historical Society lost all its artifacts, diaries, documents and first nations crafts to fire, when Nisbet Academy burnt to the ground Jan. 1, 1890.

In 1923, a group of businessmen reorganized the historical society. They asked old-timers to write their memories. Two of them told of the great flood of 1875.

Margaret MacKenzie, daughter of William Hiller of Miller's Hill, told of an ice jam in the river causing it to overflow its banks.

Margaret was the second eldest of five children in the family. Along with their parents they were up at 6 a.m. to start for higher ground in their wagon. Margaret had a favourite calf she didn't' not want to leave behind. By the time the water was up to her waist she had to abandon her pet.

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They camped on the hill for three days. There was three feet of water in their house. The hens they had brought from Winnipeg drowned in the flood. Their only visitor was Rev. Hugh McKellar, the Presbyterian minister who had succeeded Rev. (Edward) Vincent. He walked from town through terrible snow and slush to where they were camped. Margaret's father had not respected McKellar's appointment but was impressed, saying, “From now on I am your friend. Any man who (would) do as you have done is a true friend.”

ISLAND DISASTER
Another old-timer gave more details. He told how in the early days the aboriginal people who lived here used to go to the islands where most of the maple trees were. One island was west of the present bridge close to the present site of the penitentiary. This is where they made their sugar and syrup. They would go in early spring (March) to tap the trees and soon the sap began to run. In 1875 they were enjoying their work, not thinking of a flood or a tragedy.

A sudden thaw caused the ice to break up on both the North and South Saskatchewan rivers. The ice jammed at the Forks for four days and four nights. There were 10-12 people on the island. By morning, the river rose rapidly and they were not prepared. The only thing they could do was to climb the tallest spruce trees. They took all the belongings they could. As the water rose, they climbed higher. After two nights the children and older folks began to get sleepy and hungry.

One by one they fell into the water until only two were left — a young man and a young girl. The man had a long French woven belt. He tied it around himself and the girl and the tree so they wouldn't fall into the water if they fell asleep.

The big belt saved them from drowning and the two were saved.
The story was told by James Grain whose uncle, Henry Grain, later wed the young girl. They were married in Prince Albert by a Presbyterian minister.

NEAR ESCAPE
He continues that the three Badger families had just built their house, to live in for the winter, west of St. Mary's Cemetery. These people had come from the Red River Settlement in Manitoba the previous summer. They first heard a noise like cattle rubbing themselves against their house. One woman went to open the door and the icy water rushed in, covering the floor. They opened the cellar door so the water ran into it. Someone ran to hitch up the oxen, which they kept in the shed. The men and women threw their blankets up over the beams so they didn't get wet. Once the oxen were hitched to the cart, the people started for higher ground. They followed the ridges where the water wouldn't be so deep. Their names were John Badger, the eldest (who became a minister to his native people 12 years later), his first wife, old Joe Badger and his family and Peter Badger and his new wife.
James Grain's father worked for the Hudson's Bay Co. His job took him to visit hunters, taking them provisions in exchange for furs. He made a trip by dog team and saw no sign of water on the river. Early next morning the water was coming over the river banks. At the Hudson's Bay store they had to pile all the flour on top of the counters and then they moved to higher ground on the South Hill.

SUGAR ISLAND
He also told of Sugar Island almost 12 miles due south on the South Saskatchewan River near Halcro's Settlement. Here they were tapping maple trees. When they knew the river was rising the men started to make a stage high up to hoist their belongings up. At the same time, there was an old woman who started to gather some dry trees and tie them together, on the ground, for a raft. Some young folks helped. After the logs were securely tied together they gathered hay and put it on top of the brush. Then she added dirt or mud to top of the hay so she could light a fire on the raft when needed. Little did she know that they had to stay on it for four days and four nights.
At last they heard someone calling and firing a shot at the same time. The group on the raft had one gun and some ammunition. They loaded their muzzle loader to fire a shot and answer their friend's call.
They were thankful to be rescued and were thankful that the old lady's wits and cleverness which saved them all. As the river rose the raft went up with the water until it was almost as high as the tallest spruce trees.
The stage or rack the men had about 10 feet high in a tree was soon under water and all their belongings had to be moved onto the old lady's raft. The stage disappeared until the flood water went down again.

The photo was taken July 2, 1915, after the stories were told. It is interesting to note that the train was parked on the bridge to help weigh it down!