John Wintrip’s Lanthorn

It is just a very old-fashioned lanthorn of tin, with glass window lights, through which flickers a gleam of light when its one candle power is lighted. But what a wonderful story it could relate if endowed with the gift to record the events its light beamed upon for upwards of three centuries.

Last summer while strolling up Barkerville Main St., I met an old-timer who carried in his hand this old-fashioned relic of “Auld Lang Syne.” Many years ago, we were boys together, but had not met for quite a long time. After a few commonplace remarks Jack Wintrip ejaculated, “Bob do you remember this old lanthorn?” On the spur of the moment, I replied in the negative. “Well Jack,” he went on, “this relic has been in constant use by father and son for over three centuries. It is one of my greatest treasures, and I expect to keep this old friend with me until my own light flickers out.” There were three Wintrip brothers, Lewis, Edward and Robert, and the father, or John. They were blacksmiths by trade, and miners operating hydraulic mines on Stout and Walkers’ Gulches. On their journeys to and from Richfield and Barkerville by night, this lanthorn shone the way. Especially through the dark narrow “Canyon” this Jack O’ Lanthorn was a trusty guide.

Brave Souls, Lofty Goals

Dreamers, adventurers, risk takers, travelled by way of tall ships, paddle wheelers, & steam liners. Leaving behind families & homes to become merchants, land owners, entrepreneurs, diehard miners.

On foot, by boat, stagecoach, horse, mule, or ox. Some learned a trade through the school of hard knocks. Exploring & seeking through it all – mud, rain, mosquitoes, flies, sleet, & snow. Under cover of spruce, pine, aspen, birch, cottonwood, & firs they would go.

Dust on the trails behind strong sturdy livestock. Dust, shiny flakes in creeks from gold bearing rock. First Nations literally blazed trails to water sources through the woods. Leading to fish, game, berries, villages, rock, essential needs and goods.

Riches, losses or mediocrity set the stage for future plans down the road.

Invest, divest, settle down or move along, search for the elusive mother lode.

It had twinkled in the dance halls when Barkerville, Camerontown and Marysville were gold mad. It had glimmered on the gaming tables where huge sums were staked on the turn of a card. It had mingled with other lights when care-free miners reveled at the Wake-up Jake, and other famous resorts. When Billy Barker, John A. Cameron, and other fortunate miners were making history for B.C., and spending gold in a running stream, this relic of tin and glass was an acting part and parcel of it.

It had lit up the dump box in the shaft house, where the night shift labored, and cast its rays on many a pan of dull yellow gold. From the beginning of the gold rush, through its hectic, glorious boom days, then through its decline,

To stop the bleeding, returning home was the answer for a few. Others changed direction and their careers, trying something new. Larger cities with warmer climates might attract you. Others preferred wilderness for the lifestyle & view. There are those that left their mark in the region they called Cariboo.

It may have been a grave stone or a home where a family grew. Some were comfortable and rich, growing to a ripe old age. Unfortunately some died young, trying hard to earn a wage.

Looking around us now, there are pioneers’ ancestors. All that remains, of incredible lives of homesteaders.

– Grant Johannesen Feb. 2023 this old lanthorn of the Wintrips still glimmers on its even way.

As I remarked in a former paragraph, if this lanthorn of Jack Wintrips, which by wonderful carefulness has survived throughout the entire gold rush, could record the events its light has shone on, a truly wonderful take it would unfold.

– Written by R. N. Campbell

Additional notes:

Article extracted from Cariboo Observer, Vol.21 No.35, Sat. April 6, 1929, pg.2. The word “Lanthorn” was used during 16-19th century, an archaic word for “Lantern”. Photo of John Clavering Wintrip is from Ancestry.ca which was submitted by Karen Kaycee, from Wintrip Family Tree in 2014. Nice to put a face to whom this article was written about.

Who was R.N. Campbell? Robert or Bob as he was known, submitted interesting articles I might add, over a period of time, to the newspaper, of some early goldrush miners he became acquainted with.

A short mention of him is in the Cariboo Observer, Vol.19, No.36, Sat. April 16,1927, quoting from the editor, “R.N. Campbell one of the known mining men and prospectors in Cariboo, was in town from Horsefly for a few hours last Tuesday. Mr. Campbell met a number of his old friends during his short stay, and is promising himself, when he expects to make a business trip into the Barkerville district.”

When perusing through the early Cariboo Observer newspapers you may also stumble on a few poems he also wrote.

– Submitted by Lana Fox

100 Days of Barkerville

On January 25, 2023, Barkerville Historic Town & Park announced the dates for its upcoming season: Saturday, June 3rd until Sunday, September 10th.

This means that there will be 100 days to visit Barkerville to check-out the live interpretation programs and enjoy the shops and restaurants. Visitors will be able to take in old favourites such as the Guided Town Tour and Cornish Waterwheel, learn about Chinese culture, and immerse themselves in the stories of the Original Peoples of this land. The blacksmith’s forge will be hot, and the printing press will be spinning at the Cariboo Sentinel.

July 1st will see the continuation of Barkerville’s Dominion Day and the season’s opening of the Theatre Royal.

There will also be games for participants of all ages, special celebrations in Chinatown, and evening festivities at the House Hotel. Barkerville’s 8th annual Indigenous Celebration will return as a two-day event on the weekend of August 19th & 20th. Visitors will get a taste of Indigenous culture and history, and the weekend will include an artists’ market as well as games, dances, stories, and complimentary Bannock. The ever-popular Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival will help close out the season on Saturday September 9th with contests, lion and dragon dances, and special evening performances at the Theatre Royal.

Annual passes for this season are already on sale at http://barkerville.shop with an early bird discount of 15% off running until March 19th. Barkerville’s cottages and historic Kelly Guest House are booking up fast, and reservations for this summer’s campgrounds are now available with the Forest Rose opening on June 2nd followed by the Lowhee Campground on June 30th. We can hardly wait!

– Stewart Cawood

Manager, Public Programming & Media, Barkerville Historic Town & park