In 1861, the gold commissioner at Rock Creek reported a First Nations account of coarse gold some miles above the Boat Encampment. However, the actual first "strike" by Europeans is unclear. That year, a party of miners led by Hamilton McKenzie paddled up the Columbia River and wintered near Death Rapids. During 1861–1862, small teams worked the Columbia bars and its tributaries. Four Frenchmen, who had settled on French Creek in spring 1865, were very successful. To avoid the gold export tax, half the gold leaving for the U.S. was estimated to be unreported.
Context
Gold rushes expanded the colony beyond Vancouver Island onto the mainland. These emanated from the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, the first to dominate the colony's history. A huge influx of miners, drawn from California to the Fraser, dispersed throughout the colony in search of gold. Other rushes during the period were in Rock Creek, Wild Horse Creek, the Cariboo, Omineca, Perry Creek, and Stikine, as well as the Colville and Colorado Gold Rushes.
In 1865, William Downie, an experienced prospector, and his party of ex-Cariboo miners ascended the Columbia from Marcus. They discovered gold in paying quantities at Carnes Creek. Others continued up the Columbia to the Goldstream, and its tributaries, French and McCullough creeks, and were also well rewarded. News spread, and the rush truly began in 1866. Between 8,000–10,000 flocked to the creeks and valleys. That year, the SS Forty-Nine commenced ferrying miners to La Porte, at the foot of Death Rapids. Conflicting accounts put this at either four or 37 trips from Marcus during the season. The Marten made twice weekly trips to Seymour. Many smaller boats also operated on the Shuswap. During the previous winter, a number of miners had hauled their equipment across the frozen lake. The main ore finds were on the southwestward leg of the riverbeyond the bend, south from today's Mica Creek. At French Creek City in 1866, Arthur W. Vowell was appointed constable, serving for six years. Peter O'Reilly was appointed as gold commissioner, and Walter Moberly laid out the proposed town site. Kirbyville arose on the Goldstream. Prospecting spread from above to below the rapids, venturing along Downie Creek. The mining settlements around French Creek, McCullough Creek, Kirbyville, and Wilson's Landing became sizeable towns with cabins, hotels, stores, saloons, blacksmith shops, laundries, billiard halls, and barber shops. In one incident, 18 miners drowned when a boat capsized in the rapids.
Outcome
By year end, the rush was over. In 1869, 37 miners remained at French Creek, and none on the others creeks. The rush itself had been modest in terms of earnings compared to the Fraser and Cariboo. Big Bend mining activity sporadically occurred later. Most of the goldfields, and what remained of their boomtowns and old mining camps and workings, are now submerged by the reservoirs of Mica Dam or Revelstoke Canyon Dam.
