Yukon who is who

Francis Joseph Fitzgerald (1869 – 1911)

Francis Fitzgerald was born in Halifax to John and Elizabeth Pickles Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald enlisted in the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) in 1888 and spent most of nine years near Maple Creek, Saskatchewan until he was chosen for special duty in 1897. Constable Fitzgerald joined a small party led by Inspector John Douglas Moodie to chart an overland route from Edmonton to the Klondike. They left Edmonton in September 1897, travelled about 1,000 miles, and reached Fort Selkirk in October 1898. Moodie praised Fitzgerald’s performance, and he was promoted to corporal in 1899. In 1900 he was given leave to join the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles in South Africa during the Boer War. He performed well, under Lawrence William Herchmer, and was promoted to sergeant after he returned to Canada. He was with the NWMP contingent that attended the coronation of Edward VII in England in 1902. In 1903, he and a constable went to Herschel Island to establish a police post and remained there for the next six years. He stopped the whiskey trade, collected taxes, and asserted Canadian sovereignty in the far north. He and Lena Oonaline had a daughter in 1909. He wanted to marry Lena but was dissuaded by his commanding officer. He was relieved in 1909, went to Regina, and returned north to Fort McPherson as an inspector in 1910.¹⁾

In December 1910 Fritzgerald left Fort McPherson on a patrol to Dawson. This was the opposite direction to that usually taken at that time of year. Fitzgerald was travelling south because he was chosen as part of the contingent attending the coronation of King George V in England in June 1911.²⁾ He lightened his load of food and supplies to make a quicker trip. The party included constables George Francis Kinney and Richard O’Hara Taylor, and former constable Samuel Carter who was acting as a guide. Carter had only travelled the route once before, coming from the opposite direction four years before.³⁾ Indigenous guide Esau George was hired for a day to show them the way and offered to stay without pay to take them to Forrest Creek and an easy route to Dawson, but Inspector Fitzgerald dismissed him near the mouth of Mountain Creek. Fitzgerald’s confidence was misplaced, and the patrol was missing when Esau George travelled to Dawson six weeks later.⁴⁾

Fitzgerald’s found papers recorded that it was 62 below with heavy snow. Carter spent nine days trying to find the route through the Richardson Mountains and the patrol turned back to Fort McPherson. Their food ran out and they started eating the dogs. Four men died from starvation and exposure, and Carter committed suicide. The bodies were found in March within fifty-six kilometres of Fort McPherson. The party became known as the Lost Patrol and became largely known for their heroic efforts to survive. After this tragedy, Commissioner Perry issued orders for emergency caches of food along the route from Dawson to Fort McPherson and experienced guides were required for all patrols.⁵⁾