4 ~ Friday, November 14, 1986 - North Shore News

Bob Hunter

@ strictly personal ®

I HAVE just finished re-reading a copy of the 1820 edi-
tion of an amazing story called The Narrative of The
Adventures And Sufferings Of John R. Jewett While
Held As A Captive Of The Nootka Indians Of Vancouver

Island, 1803 to 1805.

The only survivors of a
retaliatory massacre of an
American trading ship's crew by
the famous Nootka Chief Ma-
guinna, two white men found
themselves held as slaves.

Young John Jewett, a cheerful
English blacksmith kept alive by
the Indians for his skill at making
weapons, coped with the
nightmare by grovelling and in-
gratiating himself with, first,
Maquinna’s family, then
everyone else in the tribe, making
them beautiful trinkets and learn-
ing their language.

He unhesitatingly exploited the
affections of Maquinna’s son.

The other captive, sour old
John Thompson, was an
American veteran of the Napole-
onic wars who had served on the

} side of the British. He would
have been killed making a brave
last stand against the Indians but
for a clever ruse by Jewett, who
used his new-found friend, Ma-
quiuna’s sou, to appeal to the
chief’s fatherly sentiments to
spare the older white man.

JSewett’s rescue bid was almost
wrecked by Thompson’s stub-
born pride.

Thompson only grudgingly ac-
cepted the option of slavery over
death after young Jewett prom-

| ised him secretly that this way
he’d have a chance to avenge his
murdered crewmates and captain.

Forced to chop wood for the
Indians, who taunted him with
cries of ‘‘White slave!l’’ Thomp-
son couldn't help lashing back,
striking several men and even-
tually hitting the chief’s son. To
attack royalty called for the
death penalty.

Only Jewett’s intervention—
again—saved Thompson, who
remained isolated and tormented
but defiant and somewhat feared.

Using his youtbful charm and
skills, the glib Jewett rose quickly
to a position of great esteem
among the Nootka, providing
them not only with jewelry but
fish-hooks and knives and spears.

Most importantly, he fash-
ioned an iron harpoon for Ma-
quinna, which saved them all
from starvation one winter.

Jewett found himself being
promoted to the status of half-
citizen,

Flushed with success, Jewett
made the mistake of bragging to
Thompson about how amazing it
is that he, the younger man, had
saved the day so often while the
old vet had proved to be quite
useless, never mind that he
fought with Nelson at Trafalgar.

This was more than Thompson
could bear. Shortly afterwards,
he began work, using his skills as
a sailmaker, on a spectacular
robe that made Maquinna the
envy of everyone—and turned
Thompson, overnight, into the
new favorite among the Nootka.

As war and rebellion threatened
Maquinna, the chief found use
for Thompson’s military skills
too, appointing the old soldier,
along with the timorous Jewett,
as his royal bodyguards. Thomp-
son found himself with power
over all his former captors but
the chief.

He was quick to take advan-
tage of opportunities to kill and
torture Indians, regardless of
whether they were actually
Nootka.

Drafted into an inter-tribal war

YES, that's all it costs at the Bay

he wanted no part of, the
frightened Jewett unwittingly ac-
quired slaves of his own while
Thompson committed mayhem,
earning a great Nootka Indian
warrior’s name.

Jewett was honored for his
achievement by being made into
a full Nootka citizen and given a
wife, although this meant shed-
ding the last vestiges of his
Europeanness. He was painted
and his hair cut and he was
dressed to look Nootka.

But he began to die of ex-
posure and homesickness. To
save Jewett'’s life, Maquinna fi-
nally ordered the white man's
new Indian wife sent away and
his European garb restored.

The crusty Thompson, mean-
while, fell from grace in Ma-
quinna’s eyes and was sent back
to chopping wood like a regular
slave, despite his arthritis.

An American ship appeared at
last on the horizon!

Snapping out of his stupor,
Jewett concocted a daring plan
that lead to his and Thompson's
escape, with Maquinna ending up
in irons aboard the rescue ship.

The moment came for the
escaped slaves to take their
vengeance on their former
master, the mass-murderer Ma-
quinna...

But Jewett acted, after a lot of
doubt and pain, like a true Chris-
tian. And Thompson—like a true
Indian. For each their own
reasons, they successfully lobbied
their rescuers to let Maquinna go,
unharmed.

This was two centuries before
the Stockholm Syndrome was
diagnosed, referring to the
strange physiological reaction of
escaped hostages who have been
held by terrorists. They often end
up loving their kidnappers.

It happened here first. A long
time ago.

Leadership You Can
Expect And Deserve

YOU CAN EXPECT A NEW KIND OF
LEADERSHIP AT CITY HALL WHEN
YOU ELECT DON LANSKAIL.

HE HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD.

HE BELIEVES IN RESULTS. NOT COUNTING
PAPER CLIPS, CALLING SECRET MEETINGS
OR POLITICKING EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY,
EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

OUTSTANDING WEST VAN LEADERS WANT
DON LANSKAIL FOR MAYOR.

Former Reeves/Mayors Tom Brown, Russell Richards, Alex Forst
and Peter Jones support Lanskail unreservedly.

Lanskail served as Alderman with Mayor Alex Forst for eight years
and Mayor Peter Jones for seven years.
Here is what they say:

FORMER MAYOR PETER JONES:

Don, alone, is to be thanked for the seawalk, and for the regional park
protecting the Capilano River. In addition, his support resulted, before the
present mayor's terrn, in such policies as acquiring Ambleside Waterfront
proper.ies, partial melding of the Blue Bus system with a regional system to
fscv up: the bus depot site, limiting development above the Upper Levels, a
rigorous creek protection policy, and planning and arranging the financing of
the Sen'ors Activity Centre. Change is always resisted in municipal politics,
The easy political stance is to do nothing. Talk, pomp and ceremonial chains
do little harm in the short run but are deadly in the long run.

Don Lanskail has the courage to propose good plans, the wisdom to listen
to criticism and to modify plans and the ability to make them happen.

FORMER MAYOR ALEX FORST:

During my 14 years as Alderman and Mayor of West Van, I always believed
that integrity was the most important requirement in public office. In this
respect, Don Lanskail never shirked his responsibility. Furthermore he initiated
and supported many worthwhile policies for the improvement of West Van.
I sincerely support his candidacy as Mayor.

Former Reeves TOM BROWN and RUSSELL RICHARDS are still
active and keen observers of West Vancouver municipal politics. They also
back Don Lanskail for Mayor.

This is the judgment of leaders who know and have worked with Don Lanskail.
They understand the kind of leadership West Van needs in the years ahead.

BE SURE TO VOTE TOMORROW

FOR INFORMATION — OR ASSISTANCE TO
THE POLLS, PHONE

925-4389