Corporal Cameron, of the North West mounted police

by Ralph O'Connor

Ralph Connor (the pseudonym for the Rev. Dr. Charles William Gordon) wrote novels that described the rugged individualism and character of the men and women who settled the Canadian wilderness. In this novel (the full title being Corporal Cameron of the North West Mounted A Tail of the MacLeod Trail) the hero begins as a somewhat disadvantaged young man, beset by problems in his native Scotland. He comes to Canada in the hopes of a better future, and again beset by problems almost looses his life due to skulduggery, horse thieves and mistaken identity. He becomes a member of The North West Mounted Police – the Mounties – who are the Texas Rangers of the Canadian wilderness. The hero, Allan Cameron, was based on a real Canadian hero, Sergeant William Fury who famously faced down a mob (one riot, one Mountie?) in Kicking Horse Pass, stating ‘I’ll shoot the next man who takes one more step.” Dr. Gordon, a minister, enlists his characters with chivalry, integrity and honorable behavior, which are old fashioned attributes not usually admired today. Because of this his characters are very enjoyable – this book is written in the vernacular of the time and that is as entertaining as the plot itself.

Genres: Canada

454 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1912

Reviews

[Brian Burhoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ralph Connor (Rev. Charles William Gordon) first published "CORPORAL CAMERON OF THE NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE: A Tale of the MacLeod Trail" in 1912, he created the first great fictional Mountie hero. He based Allan Cameron on the real-life Sergeant William Fury, who alone faced down a mob in Kicking Horse Pass. His "I'll shoot the first man who takes one more step" became a staple in hundreds of later Hollywood Westerns.