1869-1932+Katherine+Ryan

(Kate with her 3 nephews) -aka Klondike Kate -left home in early 20s=work as nurse @ Seattle & Vancouver -age 28=left to join Klondike Gold Rush -6 ft. tall, never married -tended to sick, washed clothes, operated restaurants -lived in Whitehorse for many years=ran cafe -hired in 1900 as 1st female special constable of Northwest Mounted Police (before RCMP) -served as guard for women in Whitehorse jail -later years =divided time between Steward & Vancouver -active in political & social organizations -served as member of government 'Minimum Wage Board' -grew up in Johnville (NE of Bath, Carleton, New Brunswick) -left Johnville for Seattle =1893 -went to help sick cousin -cousin recovered=applied for nursing position @ Nahomish hospital -2 years=confident nurse -left Vancouver on Feb 28, 1898steamer--->Wrangell, Alaska -Wrangell -previously=wood stop for steamers -start of Stikine River route -bad reputation where boats tried to strand passengers onboard -Kate given escort b/c of favor she did police officer=travelled w/ officer-in-charge's company -police stopped & made permanent camp=Kate went on -10s of 1000s head to Klondike -most tok Chilicoot Trail from Skagway, Alaska -less travelled route=Stikine River route->Glenora -Glenora -tiny settlement -before: few dozen people=population; almsot overnight: population=3000 -Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier's government promised railrod from Glenora into Klondike -stayed summer=operate restaurant as part of hotel; no railroad materialized=have to make journey by themselves -trail: Glenorahorseback (follow Stikine River)->Telegraph Creek->Teslin Trail (b/c river became too dangerous) -led string of packhorses up trail->Teslin City=hovels & tents -trade w/ man heading down trail=horses for dog & sled team -couldn't open restaurant b/c lack of supplies; started nursing instead -friend (Presbytarian minister, John Pringle) told her that nursing abilities needed in Atlin camp=promised coureur de bois dog & sled to guide her=late November=reach Atlin in 5 days, winder, 1898 -Atlin =few long buildings; half-a-dozen tents -nursed sick, took in washing, started restaurant=12 by 14 ft. canvas tent w/ dirt floor -organized Christmas (potluck) dinner=contributed last 6 potatoes -spring=Kate packed up & walked tail=across Atlin LakeTaku Arm->Nares Lake->Caribou Crossing -arrival in Whitehorse =pitched tent/cafe (Kate's Cafe) -congratulated by friends made in stops along trail -only woman in Whitehorse=instantly famous -Whitehorse grew=Kate built house=1 of 1st frame houses -from 1 room cabin->hotel space (restaurant) -began building fund for Catholic church -grubstaked miners (had to watch the miner's carefully to make sure they didn't run off with gold found) -helped sick, took in washing -Northwest Mounted Police approached her w/ special request=Lousetown -Lousetown -populated by prostitues & other women -1900, police force under pressure to round them up -Parliament=passed law (Feb., 1900)=allow 'woman special' to be hired to assist NPM=Kate=1st hired='constable special' -1 prisoner under her=Kitty Rockwell-=given 1 month labor=got revenge by messing up Kate's reputation -godson died in steamer=move to Stewart, BC -Stewart -new job as Commission Agent -1923=last visit to hometown, Johnville -died in Vancouver, 1932 __//what?//__ //did this person do that affected and/or changed hsitory?// //might they have done different?// //might life be like if they hadn't done this?// __//where?//__ //specific name then and how is this place in relation to places of significance today?// __//why?//__ //do we remember?// //is this important?// //how does it connect to things of today?// -was a nurse to many on the trail=helped many survive to father prominent figures in history -was the 1st female 'constable special' in the NPM -might have stayed in Johnville and never become famous by joining the Klondike Gold Rush -might have been harder for other females to get into positions in the police force/government positions -Glenora -in Cowichan Valley -near Duncan on Southern Vancouver Island -2/3=vineyards & farms -1/3=rural/residential -Atlin -far northwestern tip of BC -eastern shore of Atlin Lake -Atlin Lake -headwater of Yukon River -named after Tlingit word 'atlah'='Big Water' -largest natural lake in BC -Whitehorse -capital city of Yukon -Yukon River runs right through it -remember because of the hundreds of stories that spread telling of her actions on the trail -because she was the 1st female 'constable special' -yes, important=allowed women easier access into special forces [] [] [] [] [] Images: [] [] []
 * //__Katherine Ryan__//**
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