Slumach's Gold: In Search of a Legend

by Rick Antonson, Brian Antonson, Mary Trainer

Slumach's Gold chronicles what is possibly Canada's greatest lost-mine story. It searches out the truth behind a Salish man's hanging for murder in 1891 and tracks the intriguing legend about him that grew after his death. It was a legend that turned into a drama of international fascination when Slumach—the hanged criminal—was mysteriously linked to gold nuggets ""the size of walnuts."" The stories claimed that Slumach had placed a curse on a hidden motherlode to protect it from interlopers and trespassers just before he plunged to his death ""at the wrong end of a five-strand rope."" Although many have attempted to find Slumach's gold over the past 100 years, following tantalizing clues that are part of the legend itself, none have succeeded—or have they? Rick Antonson, Mary Trainer and Brian Antonson have diligently sifted through history and myth, separating fact from fiction, but leaving the legend intact—along with the promise of gold yet to be found by some future gold seeker.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

159 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Rick Antonson's latest book is Slumach's Gold: In Search of a Legend - and a Curse (Heritage House Publishers, 2024). Rick is author of 5 acclaimed travel books including Train Beyond the Mountains: Journeys on the Rocky Mountaineer (Greystone, 2023) and Route 66 Still Kicks: Driving America's Main Street which The New York Times called "One of the best books of the bunch" in their Christmas travel book roundup, and To Timbuktu for a Haircut: A Journey Through West Africa (2013) which the Chicago Tribune noted as a "travel classic." Full Moon Over Noah's Ark: An Odyssey to Mount Ararat, also, Walking With Ghosts in Papua New Guinea: Crossing the Kokoda Trail in the Last Wild Place on Earth (Skyhorse, NY). Rick is the former CEO of Tourism Vancouver, an Ambassador for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, chair of Destination Marketing Association International (based in Washington, DC), former deputy chair of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (based in Bangkok, Thailand), and president of Pacific Coast Public Television, Antonson now enjoys a career as a full time author,

Reviews

[CyGrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story about the legend of Slumach and the early prospectors of the area. Great info for sharing with friends around a summer campfire. The book is sure to infect some with gold fever despite the dangerous and rugged terrain.

[Stefanie L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was prompted to read this because I live in the area. I often find non-fiction dry but the authors did a good job of keeping this juicy with a good conclusion. I would share this book with friends.

[Milan Lukac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read history/legend, especially for locals.

[Austin Mathias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book about local legends and prospecting the harsh Canadian wilderness

[Deryck Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story. Maybe I'll check it out for myself one day.

[Aprille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #13 of 2010. The dedication to the original, 1972 edition opens with "Hidden in every legend is the first person that ever told the story." - Love that line. A compilation of many stories and storytellers and their tales of the Salish man, Slumach, his misdeeds, his gold, and the curse he left behind - this book tries to get to the bottom of the story. One thing that struck me is the wilderness of the region near Pitt Lake in British Columbia - an area that still holds secrets. Sooo cool.

[J W · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having recently watched an entertaining TV series on the search for Slumach's Gold I thought I would read up on the historical facts.
My main issue is it is written without context, a traceable narrative or any true historical perspective.
It is more like a series of magazine articles cobbled together which might suit some people's tastes. it just didn't suit mine..

[Betty]

Local B.C. history

[Priscilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat evocative