Monday, March 24, 1862 Left Mr. Davison's in company with Lyons Davison and James Guthrie and landed at Kingston at 5:15 p.m. Put up at American Hotel. Accomodations very poor.

March 25 Purchased our tickets for New York, (city) @ $9.60 from James Wooley, Ontario Street. Changed Lyons's and James's bills for American gold @ 1%. Crossed to Cape Vincent (New York State) on the stage over the ice (St. Lawrence River) just in time for the cars (rail). Seem to travel very slowly on this route. Were 6 hours going 97 miles from Cape Vincent to Rome (New York State). Arrived at Rome at 11:30 p.m.

March 26 Left Rome at 2 a.m. and arrived at Albany at 6 a.m., the river (Hudson) full of floating ice. Left for New York (City) at 7 a.m. and arrived at 12:30 p.m. Put up at Lovejoy Hotel. Bought our tickets at $100. Nothing taken but City Bank Bills or gold. Sovereigns only passing at $4.80 but with the Brokers for City Bank Bills @ $4.88. Took a stroll up Broadway, was in Taylor's, 5th Avenue Hotel and Mape's.

March 27 Went down and saw the steamer and purchased our blankets from a Jew on the piers for $3 per pair. Removed to the Johnson House.

March 28 Took a bad cold this afternoon and was quite feverish.

March 29 Have received very much kindness from Mr. R. Giles who assisted us in changing our money, and many other things.

March 30 Much better to-day, but have a touch of rheumatism.

March 31 Several fires in New York lately, near quarter day. The city is almost crowded with Canadians waiting to go to British Columbia. This is the last night we shall sleep on terra firmer for some time.

April 1 Got our trunks on board the "North Star' at 9 a.m. and steamed out at 12:30 p.m. Got nothing to eat until night and that was so dirty that I could not touch it, but I suppose I shall have to come to. Lyons got sick and threw up all but his boots.

April 2 Lyons is better this morning and swears he will have a chew of tobacco if it kills him. Out of sight of land, vessel a very slow steamer. Appearance of rain.

April 3 A little rain this morning and quite a blow. In the Gulf Stream. Jim is quite sea sick.

April 4 Slept on deck tonight as it is preferable to the stench in the hold, where there is so much sickness.

April 5 I am beginning to get over my sea sickness. Ate a little mackerel and drank some coffee, the first I have tasted since leaving New York. Don't care anything for tobacco yet. Took a pretty good dinner and think I am going to come through feet first.

April 6 Fiddling and dancing commencing on board. All hands beginning to get over their sea sickness.

April 7 Saw a few flying fish, a very fine warm day. Took a feed down in the hold on some crackers and cheese accompanied by Johnson's preserves. Set us up on end at once. Came in sight of Hayti about 9 a.m.

April 8 A little rain this afternoon.

April 9 Came in sight of Porto Bello about 9:30 P.m. One of the passengers in handling his revolver accidentally discharged it and the ball passed within six inches of the barkeeper's head. Arrived at Aspinwall (Colon) about 10:30 p.m. Stopped on shore all night. Had a good bath for 75 cents and felt much refreshed by it and a change of clean clothing.

April 10 Started in the cars (rail) this morning and crossed the Isthmus of Panama, where we arrived about 11 a.m. I think the trees etc. on the Isthmus about as pretty a sight as I ever beheld. Sailed in the "Sonora", Capt. Hudson, about 6 p.m. and was almost choked for want of water to drink.

April 11 One of the passengers put In Irons for striking one of the crew.

April 12 Quite a disturbance on board on account of the poor provisions. We threw the rotten meat overboard and put up a petition to the Captain which slightly improved things.

April 13 Every thing orderly for Sunday. A small fight on deck.

April 14 Very hot day. Thermometer at 98 degrees in the shade. Cry of murder at night but it did not amount to anything.

April 15 Thief caught and set up for observation, Aipril 16 A man died this morning from Panama fever, and was thrown overboard.

April 17 Ran into the bay at Acapulca at 3 a.m. Went on shore and had a stroll 2 or 3 miles within interior. Left at 6 p.m.

April 18 Took down the yards, preparatory to crossing the Gulf of California.

April 19 Blew pretty hard this afternoon. Some of the passengers sea sick.

April 20 Passed Cape St. Lucas about 7:30 p.m. Slept below for the first time.

April 21 Very fine day. In sight of land, passed the Island of Marguerretta. Passed the "Panama"' about 12 noon and exchanged papers.

April 22 Made 238 miles.

April 23 Made 230 miles. Within 512 miles of Frisco.

April 24 Made 216 miles.

April 25 Made 181 miles.

April 26 Arrived at San Francisco at 5:30 a.m. Got ashore at 8 a.m. and went to the What Cheer House.

April 27 Took a walk back, and went up in the observatory.

April 28 Looked at some Cariboo tents. Was advised not to go In the 'Sierra Nevada" as she was unseaworthy.

April 29 Fine warm day. Went down and saw the "Sierra Nevada". Think she is a better boat than the "Sonora". A man made me an offer of $25 per month and board to go out to his ranch to work in the dairy. I didn't go much.

April 30 Sprained my ancle and can scarcely talk. Showered it with cold water.

May 1 Bought a tent for $6. Showered my ancle again and it Is almost well. Go on board the "Sierra Nevada" about 2 p.m. and steamed out about 4:30. Very disagreeable rainy weather.

May 2 Fair wind. Sea a little rough. Some rain.

May 3 Pleasant day. In sight of land all the time. The snow on the mountains looks natural again.

May 4 Entered the Columbia River about 4 o'clock a.m. Astoria is about 15 miles from the mouth of the River. The Columbia is nothing to compare with the St. Lawrence. Arrived at Portland, Oregon about 8 o'clock p.m.

May 5 Went into the woods back of Portland and tried our revolvers at a mark. Don't think much of Portland. Left about 8 p.m.

May 6 Were in the Pacific at 5 a.m. Mules sold in Portland from $100 to $300. A little rain this afternoon. Fair breeze.

May 7 Arrived at Esquimalt about 1 o'clock a.m. Came ashore about 4 o'clock. Shouldered our dunnage and marched up to Victoria, about 4 miles. Saw Dr. Evans and Mr. Lucas. Wrote to Squire Sheffield and my sister. Slept in our tent for the first time.

May 8 Took rheumatism and had to give up the mines.

May 15 Better some, only had a short attack but very--- (Pages missing for 2 mths.)

Charles Evans had intended to go to the goldfields of the interior of British Columbia; but after sleeping for one night in a tent, causing an attack of rheumatism; he changed his mind. The fact that he had visited Ministers Evans and Lucas upon his arrival, could also have had some bearing upon his decision to remain in Victoria. Dr. Evans had visited miners up the Fraser River, on the mainland, and knew that finding gold was not an easy matter.

William Culverwell, who operated a general agency at 52 Yates Street, hired Charles Evans to work for his firm as bookkeeper.

(Diary continues with few scattered entries over the next six months of 1862.)

July 18 Guthrie came down (presumably from interior).

J uly 23 Lyons and Jim (Guthrie) went to California.

August 23 Salary increased to $60 per month.

October 12 Lyons came back from Portland.

October 12 Lyons went to California.

October 15 Received letters from sisters and Squire Sheffield.

November 27 Left Culverwell (Wm. Culverwell Agency).

December 1 Started to work for myself in partnership with Beaven as General Agents.

The firm of "Beaven and Evans", Commission Agents, was located on Fort Street, Victoria. Part of the business involved the sale of Victoria city lots and mining claims in the interior of the mainland.

Robert Beaven had been in the area since 1858. He had come from Ontario to try his luck in the goldfields; then settled in Victoria. Later, he was secretary to the Confederation League; was finance minister for the George Walkem Government; and was premier of British Columbia in 1882. In 1892, he was mayor of Victoria.

January 3, 1863 About two or three inches of snow this morning. Snowing all day, steadily.

January 12 Secured nine feet of the Simmons and Hoffman claim, as commission.

January 12 Sold Drum's Fisgard Street lot and half of Bob's acre to Silas James.

January 20 Sold Nuttal's Belcher Street lot to Jim Ritchie and George Lyall (sic). (George Lyell, in 1865, took up a pre-emption (lot 74) in Chilliwack. He did not stay for long, and property was then pre-empted by Charles Evans (Sumas Central Rd.)

January 21 Bought 1/3 interest in the Moshe Williams claim below Canon near Raby claim.

February 5 Another little flurry of snow and some frost.

February 24 Commenced to take a walk regularly before breakfast and find it a very good institution. 1863

April 1 Closed business to go up country.

April 12 Wrote to Johnson and Angelia.

April 13 Left Victoria @ 11 p.m. in company with Jim Ritchie and Charley Hughes.

April 14 Arrived in New Westminster at 8 o'clock a.m. Nothing doing in N.W.

Left Westminster on the Reliance @ 7:25 p.m. (End of Diary) When Charles Evans, arrived at Yale, B.C., it wacs a thriving community of several thousand. Gold had been discovered In 1858; and soon after, the Royal Engineers arrived from England to maintain law and order. They erected public buildings, and surveyed and commenced the Wagon Road into the interior, etc. A new goldrush had commenced in the Cariboo, and Yale was now at the head of navigation on the Fraser River; gateway to the goldfields.

A merchant in Yale, Mr. Evans also did bookkeeping for Barnard's Express, and later became principal business manager for Mr. Barnard.

Last updated 31 August 1998. This digital collection was produced under contract to the SchoolNet Digital Collections Program, Industry Canada. Produced by Schoolnet Digital Collections Team.