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In the 1860s, gold fever was running high in British Columbia. This song tells the stories of some of the incredible people who lived during the Cariboo Gold Rush.

Billy Barker was a miner man

Dug for gold too far from the sand

People said, "You're so cold you're gonna shiver.

You'll never find gold that far from the river."

But he did find gold, he really showed them all

He showed them all that they thought too small

Soon everybody moved in on Bill

They made a town named Barkerville

Some men knew just what to do

When gold fever struck the Cariboo

Many lost in the mining game

But a few went on to riches and fame

The Camerons went to Barkerville to find some gold

Their daughter died before she was even two years old

Sophie joined her baby that same year

She said, "John, I told you not to bury me here!"

So off to Ontario she did go

Packed her out but the going was slow

People thought it was a treasure they carried

John had to dig her up after she was buried

Some men knew just what to do

When gold fever struck the Cariboo

Many lost in the mining game

But a few went on to riches and fame

The only law the miners would see

Came to them from judge Matthew Baillie Begbie

This "Hanging Judge" was feared by most

But you had to like him or else you were "toast"

Begbie spoke in Native tongues

An intelligent man who got the job done

He could sing opera and he loved fine arts

The people held him dear to their hearts

Some men knew just what to do

When gold fever struck the Cariboo

Many lost in the mining game

But a few went on to riches and fame

Miners were a rowdy bunch with whiskey and guns

People in the town needed some kinda protection

Douglas got Vancouver Island's first policemen

All of them he chose were Black Jamaicans

Douglas was the father of B.C.

The ocean was site for his fort to be

Fort Victoria was its name

He had a fort to run, and a land to tame

Some men knew just what to do

When gold fever struck the Cariboo

Many lost in the mining game

But a few went on to riches and fame

If you enjoy this song, you may want to contribute to the Bulkley Valley Museum via Shawna Audet's Ultimate Canadian History Site.

Many thanks to Shawna Audet for permission to display these lyric excerpts.
© Shawna Audet. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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