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= {HE TRIBUNE, WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C.

Thursday, March 8, 1955.

Visiting Free-lance W

riter Describes

Impressions Of Tatlayoko Country

By Zeta Gr

The occasion of a visit from Mrs,
Zeta Graysen, free lance feature
writer. whose articles of the Chilcotin
and Cariboo often appear in a coast
newspaper, provides your Tatlayoko
correspondent with the opportunity
of having our limited news presentei
from a different perspective. G.B.

The reason I am writing Gerry's
column teday stems from a remark 1
heard over four years ago.

“The Cariboo is a man’s country”
boomed the hig he man (from Van.
couver,”” ‘Where does that leave the
women?’ I wondered fearfully, hav-
ing just arrived in the Cariboo. The
ominous words presented a challenge
to me — and also, I thought later, to
many of the wonderful women in this
country who have contributed to the
growth and settling of their respec-
tive communities.

Theard of Gerry, wrote to her, met
her. persuaded her to let me write sin
article on her way of life, which in-
cidentally. you may read about
any Saturday now, in the magazine
section of one of the coast papers,

This all led up to an invitation to
spend a couple of weeks at the Circle
X Ranch in Tatlayoko. It would take |,
many columns to tell of Gerry’s won-
derful hospitality and interesting in
formation pertaining to part of
Canada’s last frontier.

The little group of people who live
in Tatlayoko consisting of fourteen
families, are 156 miles from Williams
Lake (their nearest town), a fact that
would make the most of us shiver
with apprehension; but these people
do_not consider themselves isolated
by any means, There is a close knit
feeling of moral responsibility and
tolerance between them. There is no
community hall to dance in; no pic-
ture show; no stores; just a few scat-
tered homes along the bottom of-the
valley, spearing off from the main
road that terminates at the Circle X
Ranch. From there west, is a series
of snow capped mountains
stretch their way to the Pacific Ocean.
DANGEROUS HILL

The fact that Gerry’s young son had
te be-hospitalized for a short time to
clear up a small but persistent car-
buncle, gave.me the chance to ride
out and back with Gerry to the ranch.
We left Williams Lake in a %%-ton
truck to traveb over slippery and
dangerous roads that led westward.
Our one big fear, like so many more
who are-familiar with our Cariboo
roads. was Sheep Creek Hill, After
grinding and slithering up the icy
three mile hili, with the truck seem-
ingly trying to put the hind end
where the front end ought to he, we
reached the top. We had.a breather
and a sandwich there, and took olf
in high gear. We planned on going
the whole way that day, but ended up
by being delightfully detained along
the way with 100 per cent Cariboo
hospitality. We arrived at the Circle
X the following day at four in the
afternoon.

A MAJOR PROBLEM

One thing I learned carly in my
stey at Tatlayoko, is that a toothache
can be a major problem when one is
156 miles from a dentist, Pete Bap-
tiste, who feeds cattle for Alf Brace-
well. developed one of these — which
necessitated a trip to Williams Lake
for him. Besides losing said tooth, he
also had motor trouble and the trip
took him a good part of a week. This
made it necessary for Alf to go to the
meadow eight miles from home to
take Pete’s place, which in turn made
it necessary for Gerry to feed the re-
maining cattle near the ranch, which
in turn madé it possible for me (but
not so ably) to tag along and help
her.

The mile walk every morning via
two stacks to throw out hay, and fill
troughs with food pellets gave us a
good sharp appetite for lunch.

An impromptu party held at Brace-
well’s 26 by 40 log home on Feb.
12th provided pleasure for most of
the community as well as two visitors,
photographer Joe Lynch and myself.
Mrs. Bracewell showed movie Pictures
of the Anahim Stampede and other
interesting pictures of the surround-
ing country. Cakes, doughnuts, and
hamburgers. partly supplied by the
gathering, were enjoyed before the
older members began dancing. Music

CRISPY!

raysen

was no problem. as three different
neighbors had brought along record
players.

One thing that startled me while
at Tatlayoko was the casual talk
Grizzly bear and cougar, which caus-
2d me to study all tracks in the snow
“egardiless of size, in spite of the faet
“hat I was assured all bears at this
time of the year are fast asleep. 1
“iIncerely hoped all the time I was |
here that Mr, Grizzly would sleep
the winter through as nature ea
2d him.

During the week Mr. Gabby Bap-
tiste treed and shot a cougar, a/|
weighty old tom. He later presented
the hide to Mrs. Bracewell, who in-
tends to have it tanned for a ches-
terfield throw.

Neighbors from Westbranch, Hilda
and Lee Butler, called at the Circle
X on their trip down valley checking
snow conditions for future cougar
hunting.

A telegram from the doctor at Wil-
liams Lake terminated my visit. and
brought Gerry and I back over the
same route. with tension mounting
once more until we had finally passed
Sheep Creek hill, Bven though mantl-
ed with snow the trip to Tatlayoko
presents a picture of rugged beauty.

100 MILE |

Young People Lecra |
To Square Dance

(held over)

The Young People here are learn-
ing to square dance, The Youth Club
held a square dance party February
18. Mr. and Mrs. A. Morrison. M
Mrs. J. Gitfon,
r and others helped to m
pleasant evening for the club.
not the party Mr
Weatherall invited the young people
to her home for supper.

THE Canadian N:
Company operator eC,
installed in the new office at Perkins

and
John

resulting in a 1-1 tie.

YRANK HUBER sold a fine look-
sto Henry Le Blane,

Ing team of ho
who trucked them to Que:nel on
Tuesday.

MR. and MR
meved to their new home at M

iwood.

Mr. Avender is working for one of the
Netherlands Co.’s mills near Lone
Buite.

IWS

HORSEPLY

Work Progressing
On New Store

The work is progressing very wel!
on the building being constructed by

'U. Burr for his store, cafe and cabins

An installer is expected to arrive from
Kamloops this week to set up the new
“teletype” cquipment, The new tele-
type service should commence com
mercial operation at the beginning of
Mareh.

THE 100 Mile and Lac La Hache
schoo] hock teams played at 190
18, Lae L aHache w

Mile February

ning 4

MR. and MRS. GLEN GAINOoR
Gordon Nichol Ltd,, ar
t Grove. Mr. a

n, Kevin, is at present in Wil-
liams Lake Hospital.

“THE 100 Mile Girls Broom Bal!
team played at Lac La Hache on Fe),
16 against the Lac La’ Hache team.

ocated on the main‘oad to Williams
Lake, about a mile from the village
centre. Mr, Burr has a well-drilline
cutfit up from the lower mainland.
They have gone down one hundred
feet_and to date have found no water.

Mr. Burr is presently on a business
trip to New Westminster,

AFTER the lovely winter weather
we have had to date. it was quite a
change to find the mereury down to
35° below zere on Sunday 27th. Tu-
day it is, snowing heavily, ‘i

MRS. T. MacDOUGALL is. home

gain after spending several months
with the Herman Goetjens, 'Belling-

ham, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Goet-

Swept all top white bread baking prizes at
the Canadian National Exhibition — for the
third year in a row!

“Bake-Tested” — not once but twice!

Guaranteed to give you better baking

OF 8

results — or your money back plus 1O%!

| icn brought their mother home.

FW. Jan

to New Brunswick.

THE EXECUTIVE of
Women's Institute met at the home
W. AVENDBR have | of Mrs, Gibbons on the 25th to discuss
plans for the forthcoming District

Convention

home from his trip The local

‘will hold their
same time. *

the leeal

business vi:
last Saturday.

of Wemen’s Institutes

| Which will be held in Horsefly in June.
Cattlemen’s Association,
| affiliated with the Farmer's Institute

convention at the

THE STAN BARRETT family were
tors to Williams Lake

ROYALCity \

GREEN PEAS

leeshay 4
THE GUARANTEED
ALL-PURPOSE