St ie THE WILLIAMS LAKE TRIBUNE The ee SECOND FRONT Williams Lake, B.C., Wednesday, June 10, 1959 Digest pays $10,000 for rights to condense Collier’s first book Eric Collier, trapper-writer of Meldrum Lake in the Chilcotin country, has just received word that Reader’s Digest magazine has taken a $10,000 option for the condensation rights of his forthcoming book, Three Against the Wilderness,” to be released this fall by E. P. Dutton lishers, Since Eric had just finished the final check of the galley Proofs of the book, the Reader’s Digest bid for condensation Tights came as a pleasant sur- Prise to the noted outdoorsman. Scott Bartlett, editor-in-chief of the E. P. Dutton Company, Was So impressed with both the originality of material as well as the high degree of literary craftsmanship’ that’ went into the original manuscript that copies of it were sent to Reader’s Digest as well as cer- tain New York literary critics. The reaction of the latter upon reading the manuscript was that “this is one of the most out- standing stories yet to come from the North American wil- derness.”” SOLD FIRST STORY IN 1924 To Eric Collier, the Reader’s Digest bid came as a sort of an anti-climax to a struggle that & Co., New York book pub- started away back in 1924 when he sold his first short story to a New York pulp magazine for two cents a word. In the inter- vening years Eric had to be satisfied with what he himself terms “the crumbs from other writers’ bread.” A cent a word for this, maybe two cents for another article, or 25 cents.a column inch for his work. And there were occasions when edi- tors forgot to make any pay- ment for material submitted. But Eric kept writing. He made his first major sale —to Outdoor Life magazine—in 1947, and in 1951 became the first non-resident of the United States to win that publication’s coveted Conservation Award. Since then Outdoor Life has purchased some 120,000 words of material that have come from * Hot dogs, chips, ice cream, popcorn, chocs * Hot or cold toddy drink * Bottle-warming service THE STARLITE Eric’s typewriter, and in 1957 he received the highest price for a single article yet paid by that magazine to a free-lance writer. At the present time the maga- zine has two of Eric’s articles on inventory, TYPES FIRST DRAFT Four major publishing houses approached Mr. Collier suggest- ing that he try a book for them, and during the winter of 1957- 58, in between trudging his trapline, Eric typed the first rough draft of a 130,000-word book manuscript. This was sub- mitted to B. P. Dutton & Com pany in August of last year and the company offered a contrac- tual agreement for publication of the book when finalized in the United States and Camada as well as foreign countries. To concentrate on the finish- ing touches to his book, Eric left his trapline last winter for the first time in almost 30 years and took a cabin at nearby Riske Creek. Big Creek News VISITORS at Bambricks last weekend were Mrs. Johnny Her- perger and three children, Phyllis Bambrick, Marie Law, and Keith Welch. The group drove to Wells Camp were Mr. Herperger works before return- ing to town via Farwell Canyon. ART TREMBLAY and Fred Jenkins drove up from Van- DRIVE-IN SHOW STARTS AT DUSK Thursday and Friday CRIMSON Burt Lancaster Technicolor June 11 & 12 PIRATE Eva Bartok Saturday and Monday BEYOND MOMBASSA June 13 & 15 Technicolor Donna Reed Cornel Wilde Tuesday and Wednesday June 16 & 17 3:10 10 YUMA Glenn Ford Van Helflin COME AS YOU ARE — BRING THE FAMILY Children under six free couver to accompany Duane and Jacquine Witte and a cattle drive into Nemaiah Valley. They were three days on the drive and arrived back at Big Creek on Friday. GUESTS at “ Bin-Goh-Sha” last weekend were Mr. and Mrs. William Henderson and family FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED Eric Collier, noted trapper and writer of the Mel- drum Lake country, whose forthcoming full-length book, “/Three Against the Wilderness,” will be published in New York this fall. This picture was taken jn 1957. whem) Eric was demonstrating a and Mrs. and Mrs. William Sy-| billac and family. humane trap to the Registered Guides Association, a group which he has headed for a number of years. Repairs * WINDING * MAINTENANCE SALES * RENTALS * Electric Motor From westerns to opera on week's Alston program “Saga of Hemp Brown,” June 12, 13, Saturday matinee. This western picture in color stars Rory Calhoun as a U.S. cavalry officer who is dishonor- ably discharged by a military court who believes that he has been involved in a robbery of Our shop can handle in sheet metal from nace jobs to large mil CUSTOM SHEET METAL SHOP WwW. E. HARDING ELECTRIC & HEATING PHONE 320 the army payroll. Rory was victimized and his efforts to vindicate himself are depicted in a tense and exciting fashion. Family fare, any and every task . No Time for Sergeants, June 15, small domestic fur- 16 and 17. 1 blower installation Based on the successful Broadway stage play of the same title, “No Time for Ser- geants” is a highly amusing service comedy. Andy Griffith, who repeats the role he played in the stage version, is extremely funny as the blissfully naive Georgia backwoods youth who is drafted into the air force. Myron Me- Cormick’s performance as the PICK YOUR TIRE -- NEW TIRE SAFETY 13.50 6.70-15 15.70 7.10-15 13.05 6.00-16 SAFETY-S. The econ- omy tube-type tire for the economy minded motorist Prices - plus your re- cappable tire. PICK YOUR PRICE top sergeant is rib-tickling. This film is an outright farce that hits a high note of hilarity and sustains it right through. B. F. Goodrich Direction and photography are first rate. DE LUXE — “ Aida,” June 18. TIRE This is the grandest of all grand operas and is presented 18 65 by S. Hurok, the master show- ° man who leads the world in his 6.70-15, field. Produced in sunny Italy, the film has a great singing and dancing cast headed by volup- Tube Type Deluxe The finest of all low- er-priced tires. tuous Sophia Loren, _Italy’s reigning screen beauty, bring- 21.65 ing glamor, youth and dramatic 23.90 talent to the title role. A ter- 22.90% rific picture bound to please all * Tubeless music lovers and discriminating movie patrons. Family fare. Prices - plus your re- cappable tire. C&S TIRE SERVICE LTD. “TIRE CENTRE OF THE CARIBOO” PHONE 150 Anahim school Tenders for replacement of the Anahim Indian Day School at Alexis Creek will be called about the middle of June, ac- cording to information received from the office of the Hon. Davie Fulton, Minister of Jus- tice. The day school was destroyed by fire in May, 1958, with a loss of 12 children. Burned man’s death found accidental by Coroner’s jury Accidental death as a result of third degree burns covering over.60 percent of the body was the verdict of the coroner’s jury at an inquest into the death of Phillip Basil Duncan last Wednesday. Duncan, a 36-year-old Indian from Dog Creek, died in War Memorial Hospital April 15. The jury at- tached no blame to anyone. At the courtroom in the Pro- vineial Government building, 2|hours.” Duncan was taken to six-man jury heard evidence|the hospital in the police car. given by witness Jack Bracken- bury, a PGE locomotive engin- eer who lives on Mackenzie Avenue. Mr. Brackenbury stated that he and his wife were awakened at about three o’clock on the morning of April 15 by strange howling sounds. At first they thought the noise to be an owl, but upon looking out the window they realized it was a man whom was seen near a car outside of the Taylor- Boughton garage. The witness said that he could see smoke issuing from the man’s feet. He phoned the police and reported that a man was in trouble. Continuing to watch, the Brackenbury’s saw the Indian stagger to the side of the road. Then a car passed and by the light of the headlights Mr. Brackenbury could see that the man on-the street was half naked. A second car arrived on the scene; this turned out to be the police car. Frederick Hencherofi, a fork- lift operator from Glendale, took the witness stand and ex- plained that he was driving home from work after a late shift. When he drove along Mackenzie Avenue near Taylor- Boughton’s he saw a man stand- ing on the side of the road. There was smoke coming from the man’s feet and his pants were partly off. Hencheroft stopped and went to see what was wrong. He was assisting the Indian to remove his burn- ing clothing when a police car arrived. RCMP . constable Davis was called to the stand and stated that around three o’clock on the morning of April 15 a call came into the police station saying that a man was trouble on — Mackenzie Officer Davis said he would investigate immediately. When he approached the scene there was a car parked and the driver was helping the injured man. The constable and Fred Hencheroff removed the victim’s burning pants and boots. At this time the constable noticed that the man was wearing no clohing above the waist and that the body was severely burned on the chest. The vic- tim had no use of his arms and during this time he kept re- peating, “Held me. Help me. I've been suffering for two Kenneth || “Doctor Fraser was called to the hospital where the Indian Phillip Duncan was admitted at about 3:20 a.m. When Duncan entered the hospital he was wearing only his socks. Thi man’s chest and back were cov- éred with third degree burns and his face suffered second de- gree burns. There was no indi- cation of injury below the waist. While in the hospital the man kept asking for his father and a priest. @ Later in the morning, Con- stable Davis, with the aid of Mr. Brackenbury, searched the area in which Duncan had first been seen. A pocket watch, a singed glove and bits of charred cloth were found. When Constable R. Brook- bank came on duty April 15, he which had occurred earlier that morning. Being in charge of the RCMP detachment while Cpl. Thompson and Cpl. Hender- son were away, Constable Brookbank conducted another search of the area. In this search metal buttons, the type and more used on blue jeans, was notified of the happenings| > pieces of burned cloth were found. Cpl. Dan Thompson arrived in Williams Lake about noon. When informed of events, he too made a search of the area where the Indian was seen to be in trouble. More charred material and a leather jacket was found near the ashes of what had been a campfire. Dr. Jack J. Temple, who con- ducted the autopsy, told the court that Duncan died admitted to -the ‘hospital. blood-alcohol test showed that the alcohol content was low. The doctor said that the man may have been drinking but not to excess. Cpl. Thompson said that it was his opinion (not to be con- sidered as evidence) that Dun- can fell asleep by the campfire and either rolled into it or sparks set his clothing on fire and he ran, causing the flames to flare about his chest. An old, grim-faced Indian man who stood in the courtroom was asked: “Who was Phillip Duncan?” He replied: “My joy.” Mae Duncan identified the leather jacket and the singed bits of material as part of his son’s shirt. Foreman of the jury was Robert Deck. The other mem- bers were Norman Fortin, Har- old. Wells, Douglas Moore, Joseph Hyde and Gordon Spence. 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WED. 16 17 18 NO TIME SPECIAL ATTRACTION FOR SERGEANTS Comedy Farce Andy Griffith - Myron McCormick - Nick Adams| Murray Hamilton - Howard Smith - Jean Willes| Lois Maxwell AIDA Grand Opera Sophia Loren