The Helpman and Company expedition arrived in Canada in late 1897. They left Edmonton for the Klondike in early 1898, assisted by local guides and outfitters which included Oliver Travers, his brother Sidney Travers and several others. This party intended to carry out mapping and mineral exploration along the way. While they successfully traveled overland to Lesser Slave and eventually Peace River, their party separated into two smaller groups and never did reach Dawson City. By the end of 1899 most members of this party had returned to England and Ireland. The original engagement of the Expedition members was to be for one year from the date they sailed from England to be possibly extended for four months. In return the Expedition Members were promised fifty shares per month in Helpman and Company. The Expedition Directors were John Henry Helpman, Edward Wentworth Fisher Holder Alleyne, and William Algernon Yelverton Viscount Avonmore.

If you have information that may assist in this research or have questions or comments about the website please email mike@traverslancashire.net.

The Edmonton Trail...  

The fever of gain was on the land
From the farthest points of the ocean's strand'
Men braved the terrors of Arctic cold,
In the mad, wild rush for the Yukon gold.

The men of the town then spoke them fair,
"The dangers are many that ye must dare,
But the surest way to the golden North
Is the inland trail and the mountain path.

"Here is the mart where we supply
Cattle and goods that ye needs must buy."
The strangers listened and paid the price,
Not once the value, but twice and thrice.

By plain and mountain and valley and burn
They left homes which they will never return;
And many a woman's piteous wail
Goes up for the men on the inland trail.

Some were lost in the trackless wild;
Some were caught where the snowdrifts piled;
And wearily down to die have lain.
But the men of the town have got their gain.

Their bones lie white 'neath the Northern Lights,
Their only shrouds are the long-drawn nights;
The gaunt wolf howls 'til the white stars pale
O'er the undug graves on the inland trail.

Starved and crippled and sick and frail,
A few come back from that Inland trail;
But ever they rue and curse the day
When they followed the track of the 'hell-gate way."

But the men of the town who gave the lie
Will answer before their God on high
When the last trump rends the heavens veil
And summons the bones from the inland trail.

A R G, Victoria, BC, Aug 25, 1899

Victoria Daily Colonist (Aug 26, 1899)

Provincial Archives of Alberta B.5168 - January 13, 1898 - Photographer: C.W. Mather

    The thirteen members of the Helpman and Company Expedition included:

1. 1.Captain Edward Wentworth Fisher Holder Alleyne
   45 Barrowgate Road, Chiswick. Late 12th Royal Lancers, Esquire
   

2. 2.Lord Algernon William Yelverton Viscount Avonmore.
   Belle Isle, Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland
   

3. 3.Charles Christopher Bannister
   Aln House, Crowborough, Sussex
   Esquire
   

4. 4.Edward Albert Jeffreys
   21 Landsdowne Road, Tonbridge, Kent
   Late Sarawak Civil Service
   

5. 5.John Hall
   16 First Avenue, Manor Park
   Commander Mercantile Marine
   

6. 6.John Henry Helpman
   62 Elm Park Gardens, London
   Major 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
   

7. 7.Samuel Evans Mostyn Hoops
   43 and 44 Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London
   Doctor
   

8. 8.Charles Frederick Nicholas Le Quesne
   St. Heliers, Jersey
   Lieutenant-Colonel, Retired Pay
   

9. 9.Francis Wyllie Hall Wright
   215 Hagley Road, Birmingham
   Surgeon
   

10. 10.Edwin Henry Simpson
    The Hirst, Harborne, Birmingham
    Engineer
    

11. 11.Charles Atherton Folliott Powell
    Gravesend of Kent
    Commander Mercantile Marine
    

12. 12.Charles Atherton Folliott Powell Jr.
    

13. 13.Captain Mathew Evanson O'Brien
    19 Cornwall Road Notting Hill London
    Late Inspector of Police Australia
    

1. Captain Edward Wentworth Fisher Holder Alleyne (Apr 11, 1852 - Dec 27, 1897) of 45 Barrowgate Road, Chiswick was a retired Cavalry officer from the 12th Prince of Wales's Royal Lancers. He received his education at Eton and his military training at Sandhurst. In 1873 and 1874 his rank was sub-lieutenant which he attained in 1872. He was also a past master of the English Masonic Lodge and took a very active part in local politics. He caught pneumonia and did not survive this expedition. He was interred on December 29, 1897 in the Edmonton Cemetery, Alberta, Canada. (Section C Block 4 Plot 0003). He left behind his widow, a daughter and two sons.

This is how his grave originally appeared:

Provincial Archives of Alberta B.3606

TO THE LOVED

MEMORY OF

EDWARD WENTWORTH

FISHER HOLDER ALLEYNE

FORMERLY OF THE 12th

ROYAL LANCERS

DIED 27th DECEMBER 1897

AGED 45

FOR THOUGH THE BODY DIES

THE SOUL SHALL LIVE FOREVER

2. Algernon William Yelverton (Nov 19, 1866 - Sept 3, 1910) succeeded to become 6th Viscount Avonmore on Feb 13, 1885 after the death of his brother, Captain Barry Nugent Yelverton, 5th Viscount Avonmore. He married Mabel Sarah Evans on December 17, 1890. They had one daughter, the Honourable Evelyn Marianne Mabel Yelverton, born December 1, 1893. She died unmarried at age 62 on January 16, 1956. Viscount Avonmore was a 2nd Lieutenant with the City of Dublin Artillery in 1889. He was promoted to Lieutenant to 1891 and in 1893 gained the rank of Captain in the 4th Brigade, South Irish Division, Royal Artillery. There is a memorial plaque to Viscount Avonmore on the wall of the Church of Ireland in Rathfarnham, Dublin.

SACRED TO THE MEMORY
OF
ALGERNON WILLIAM YELVERTON
6th VISCOUNT AVONMORE
BORN 19th NOVEMBER 1866
DIED 3rd SEPTEMBER 1910
"UNTIL THE DAY BREAK, AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY"

Viscount Avonmore's Obituary appeared in the Irish Times on Monday, September 5, 1910.

VISCOUNT AVONMORE. We regret to announce the death, which occurred on Saturday in a private hospital in Dublin, of Viscount Avonmore. The Right Hon. Algernon William Yelverton, sixth Viscount Avonmore, was born on the 19th November, 1866. He was the third surviving son of William Charles, the fourth Viscount, and Emily Marianne, daughter of the late Major-General Sir Charles Ashworth, K.C.B., and widow of Mr. Edward Forbes, F.R.S. Viscount Avonmore succeeded his brother, the fifth Viscount, on the 13th February, 1885. In 1890 he married Mabel Sara, second daughter of Mr. George Evans, of Gortmerron House, Dungannon. He leaves one daughter, the Hon. Evelyn Yelverton. Viscount Avonmore had two seats in Ireland, Belle Isle, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, and Hazel Rock, Westport, Co. Mayo.

3. Charles Christopher Bannister (abt 1857 - ) of Aln House, Crowborough, Sussex, Esquire. He arrived in New York from Southampton onboard the St. Paul with Viscount Avonmore and other members of the party in December 1897. He and Captain John Hall returned to Liverpool on October 20, 1899. Charles was married to Gertrude Isabel Keen and had two children Mabel and Christopher. Christopher, the son, was known as an early photographer in British Columbia and died in New Westminster 10 Feb 1956.

4. Edward Albert Jeffreys (abt 1857 - 18 Dec 1903) of 21 Lansdowne Road, Tonbridge, Kent was previously Surveyor General of the Sarawak Civil Service. He arrived in New York from Southampton onboard the St. Paul with Viscount Avonmore and other members of the party. He returned from New York to Liverpool onboard the S.S. Teutonic arriving March 29, 1899. He married Kate Lloyd-Williams on 14 Dec 1881. She sold at least a few of his possessions from Sarawak to the British Museum in 1948. He died in Paris on 18 Dec 1903.

5. Captain John Hall (abt 1854- ) of 16 FIrst Avenue, Manor Park was a Commander with the Mercantile Marine. He was one of the original ten expedition members so perhaps he was acquainted with Captain Charles Powell. He was the second member to arrive in Calgary. He and C.C. Bannister returned to Liverpool on October 20, 1899.

6. Major John Henry Rudyerd Helpman (26 Nov 1858 - 19 Dec 1912) of 62 Elm Park Gardens, London was a Major with the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. He was born in East Stonehouse, Devon, England and was the son of Rear Admiral Philip Augustus Helpman (abt 1808 - 23 Jul 1878) and Mary Richardson (29 Nov 1815 - 14 Aug 1901). He attended Kingsbridge Grammar School prior to completing his B.A. and LL.B. at Cambridge in 1884. He was called to the Bar on 26 Jan 1885. His military service included Lieutenant, 2nd Devonshire Regiment in 1878. In 1884 he was a Lieutenant in the militia with the Royal Fusiliers, 4th Battalion (City of London Regiment) and promoted to Captain in 1886. He was awarded the rank of Major in 1897. He returned to the Militia after his time in Canada and retired in 1900. His brother Robert Howard Rudyerd Helpman (1857 - 31 Jan 1936) served in the same battalion. It was renumbered in 1898 to the 6th Battalion and served in the Boer War, departing from Southampton for South Africa on 28 Feb 1900 with Captain R.H.R. Helpman. He was later appointed Honourary Colonel on 31 Jul 1909. Major Helpman's uncle Benjamin Francis Helpman is known for his part on the third voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle. His other uncle Robert John Crichton Helpman (abt 1814 - 1841) also served in the Navy and is known for his paintings. His mother Mary's maternal grandfather was Henry Rudyerd of the Royal Engineers.
     He married his first wife Amy Rudyerd Wyatt, daughter of Sir Richard Wyatt, on 8 Nov 1889 and she died in Chelsea, London on 14 Feb 1892. They had one daughter Dorothy Rudyerd Helpman later known for her service to the Girl Guides as well as a son Gordon Benjamin Rudyerd Helpman. John Helpman was remarried 15 July 1896 to Alice Edith Gibson and they had two daughters Natalie Rudyerd Helpman who was born at Eltham, Kent on 19 Oct 1897 and Joan Boynton Helpman born 1 Aug 1904 at St. Stephens, Kent. In the 1901 Census Alice and Natalie were living in the Manor House on St. Stephens Road in St. Stephens (Hackington), Canterbury, Kent.
    Major Helpman returned from Montreal to Liverpool arriving on 3 Sept 1898.

Provincial Archives of Alberta B.5182

February 14, 1898

7. Dr. Samuel Evans Mostyn-Hoops (1854 - 15 Feb 1937) of 43 & 44 Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London was from Co. Leitrim, Ireland and the son of Reverend Samuel Evans Hoops, D.D. and Jemima Maria Mostyn. He is pictured below on his horse with his dog Broncho close by.

    In the 1881 Census he was living in Wales and in the 1891 Census on the Isle of Man with his wife Harriet Anna Kathleen (1856 - 19 Feb 1906) (Robinson) and three youngest children, Ernest Mostyn (27 Sep 1878 - 1 Jul 1964), Brabazon Newcomen Mostyn (2 Mar 1883 - 29 Nov 1951) and Eileen Constance Mostyn (14 Sep 1885 - 7 Feb 1963). His eldest son was Dr. Albert Launcelot (6 Jun 1876 - 16 Nov 1940). The two eldest were born in Ireland, the two younger children were born in Wales. In January 1888, Dr. SEM Hoops was appointed by the Royal Navy to be surgeon and agent at Douglas, Isle of Man. He was living at 22 Derby Road in Porter's 1889 Directory and again in Brown's Directory for the Isle of Man in 1894. It would appear that his son Albert Launcelot did not use the name Mostyn-Hoops, only Hoops and followed in his father's footsteps to become a Doctor and medical author. Dr. Hoops was recorded in "Thom's Directory" for Ireland as LRCSI (Licentiate Royal College Surgeons Ireland) and LRQCPI (Licentiate Royal Queens College Physicians Ireland) as well as Licentiate in Midwifery. He was not located in 1876 but appears to have been practicing in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal in 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881.

    Dr. Hoops is recorded in Henderson's directory as a Physician living in the City of Vancouver in 1901. Dr. Samuel E. Mostyn Hoops married Jennie Elizabeth Huston (9 Nov 1854 - 2 Jun 1925) on 25 Dec 1906 at St. Joseph Mission, B.C., Canada. Jennie's first husband was Peter Curran Dunlevy, a pioneer of the Cariboo country who died on 15 Oct 1904. Dr. S.E. Mostyn-Hoops and his wife Jennie were residing in Soda Creek, B.C. in 1914. He died in Victoria, B.C., Canada on 15 Feb 1937 at age 83. Jennie Elizabeth died in Victoria on 2 Jun 1925 at age 70. They are both interred at Royal Oak Burial Park (Section E, Plot 169, Grave D and Section G, Plot 218, Grave A, respectively). Dr. Mostyn-Hoops married his third wife Frances Elizabeth Larken on 23 Jun 1926 in Oak Bay. She died 3 Mar 1947 at age 86 and is also interred at Royal Oak Burial Park (Section D, Plot 77, Grave 14).

    Ernest Mostyn Hoops married Theresa Josephine Kelly on 11 May 1913 in Prince Rupert, B.C. He died on 1 Jul 1964 in Port Angeles, Washington at age 85. She died on 6 Feb 1975. They are interred at Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery in Surrey, B.C. (FIR B, 61 and FIR B, 51 ST respectively). Ernest served in the Boer War. When Ernest died in 1964 he was survived by his wife Theresa, his daughter Mrs. Sheila Fredricksen, Port Angeles, and two grandchildren. (Source: Port Angeles Evening News - 3 Jul 1964). Brabazon Newcomen Mostyn Hoops married Doris Mary Campbell on 20 Jan 1917 at Telkwa, B.C. He died on 29 Nov 1951 in Vancouver, B.C. at age 67. Eileen Constance Mostyn Hoops died on 7 Feb 1963 in Vancouver, B.C. at age 76.

    In the Victoria Times (17 Feb 1937 Page 16) the death notice said that Dr. Mostyn-Hoops, "was born in Ardah, Ireland, son of the late Dean of Ardah, and had resided in the province for the last thirty eight years, coming to the McKenzie River at that time, and later practiced medicine at Vancouver and Soda Creek, B.C." He was survived his widow, daughter, and three sons including Dr. Albert Mostyn-Hoops, C.B.E. Singapore. (C.B.E. is Commander of the Order of the British Empire). According to the Victoria Times (20 Feb 1937) his funeral "took place yesterday afternoon" and that the "Masonic service was conducted at the graveside by the worshipful master, assisted by the officers of Mount Newton Lodge No. 89 A.F. & A.M."

8. 8.Lieutenant Colonel Charles Frederick Nicholas Le Quesne (14 Jun 1848 - 10 Jun 1923) was born on Jersey, Channel Islands. He is living in Fulham London in the 1901 Census and died at the Palatine Hotel, Lancaster Gate, Middlesex.
   

9. Dr. Francis Wyllie Hallwright (1868 - 19 May 1939) of 215 Hagley Road, Birmingham. His father Matthew Hallwright is one of the home directors of Helpman and Company and involved from the very beginning.

According to the 1871 Census, Mathew Hall Wright, general practioner, lived in Birmingham and had a son named Francis. A Francis Hallwright (Age 28, Physician, British) is shown arriving at New Orleans onboard the ship Stillwater on 18 May 1897 from Central America. The same Doctor Francis Hallwright of Kingswinford, age 56, sailed 10 Oct 1924 from Southampton on the Olympic and arrived in New York on 21 Oct 1924. His father M. Hallwright of Abingdon, Berkshire is listed as his nearest relative. The record indicates that Francis will return to his Kingswinford home after a one week stay at a hotel in New York. His last visit to the United States was in 1899-1900. His birthplace is shown as Birmingham.

From the IGI: Francis Wyllie Hall-Wright
b. Birmingham,  Bap. 21 Sept 1868, St. Mark, Birmingham, Warwickshire
son of Matthew Hall Wright and Eliza Breward
Married: 7 Oct. 1899 Manhattan, New York to
Lilian Phoebe Burnham b. Bridgeston, Maine,  dau. of John G. Burnham and Martha E. McKeen. She was born 31 Jan 1867 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachussets.

Other children of Matthew Hall Wright and Eliza Breward:
Arthur Shirley Hall Wright bap. 30 May 1870 St. Mark, Birmingham
Matthew Leslie Guy Hall Wright born 8 July 1871, bap. 1 Jan 1872 St. Mark, Birmingham
Breward Ellington Hall Wright bap. 29 Dec 1874 St. Mark, Birmingham 
Lilian Ethel Hall Wright bap. 29 Dec 1874 St. Mark, Birmingham
Sibyl Gertrude Hall Wright bap. 26 Sept. 1876 Birmingham

Francis' family is found in 1891 still living in Birmingham -  his brother, Matthew Leslie Guy Hallwright was a medical student.  In the 1913 Medical Register there is the father Matthew Hallwright listed in Birmingham and his son Matthew is listed as living in New Zealand.

On 5 Dec 1908, a Lillian Hall-wright (age 28 years, 2 months) travelled from Southampton to New York onboard the S.S. Philadelphia and arrived December 13, 1908. Her husband, who was not travelling with her is shown as Dr. Hallwright of Madras, India. She was born in Boston, USA but is a citizen of Great Britain and was last in the USA on a visit in 1905. She was going to visit her sister, Mrs. Vincent in at 142 West 44th Street, New York.

10. Edwin Henry Simpson of the Hirst, Harborne, Birmingham, engineer. In July 1900 he was the engineer on the small steamer, the Argo. He was a Baptist who attended the Mount Zion Chapel on Graham Street in Birmingham.

11. Captain Charles Atherton Folliott Powell (13 Feb 1845 - 26 Jan 1898) was a Captain in the British Merchant Marine who routinely sailed between England and Australia. He was born in Ashbourne, Derbyshire and had lived in London with his wife Annie (1854 - 3 Jan 1897) and son Charles. Annie died in 1897 and Charles Jr. accompanied his father on this expedition. Captain Charles Powell was found dead in his bed at the Oriental Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia on 26 Jan 1898 at age 52 after receiving frostbite to his feet in Edmonton. He is interred in an unmarked grave at Mountain View Cemetery (OLD/3/01/012/0006) in Vancouver. This photo is taken in the vicinity of Captain Powell's grave.

12. Charles Atherton Folliott Powell Jr. (11 May 1880 - 16 Feb 1919). Charles Jr. had returned to England by 1901. He emigrated to Australia around 1908 and was married on 15 Nov 1913 in Norwood, South Australia to Marianne Estelle Jewaskiewitz, born South Africa. He died from influenza in 1919 and was buried in Brighton General Cemetery (Grave No: A1440), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 17 Feb 1919.

13. Captain Mathew Evanson O'Brien (12 Jun 1842 - 4 May 1911) was from Dublin, Ireland He had seven child by his first wife Emily Miles. The first three were born in Australia between 1863-1868 and the last four in Ireland between 1869-1877. He is listed in "Thom's Directory" for Ireland under Attorneys and Solicitors. He was called to the Bar in 1870 as was his father, Octavius O'Brien, in 1840. In 1871 he and his father were listed at the same office at 23 Kildare Street (Dublin). He was not found in 1877 so it is possible he had left for England or the United States by that time. He was an enumerator in the 1901 Census of the Northwest Provinces. His entry shows his birthdate, birth place and 1897, the year that he arrived in Canada. He subsequently opened a law practice in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. In 1901 he lived in Wetaskiwin with his wife Laura Alice (26 Oct 1860 - 1937) born in Ireland, and his sons Edward Harlem (29 Dec 1882 - 23 May 1952) born in the USA, Arthur H. (14 Aug 1884 - 16 Jun 1950) born in England, and his daughter Florence May (19 Dec 1887-) born in the USA. His wife was recorded in the 1911 Wetaskiwin Census and was a widow by that time. Florence was still living with her mother, and they had one more girl Eileen Clare who was born in Wetaskiwin on 16 May 1902. Laura and Florence arrived in Canada in 1898. Their eldest son Edward Harlem O'Brien was also living in Wetaskiwin with his wife and two sons in 1911. Arthur H. O'Brien was living in Gainsboro, Saskatchewan at the time of his father's death and is now buried in Westaskiwin. Mathew O'Brien lies at rest in the Wetaskiwin Old Cemetery (plot C 43 3a).

The Local Men Hired by the Helpman Party

John Oliver Nothing is known about this man.

Charles F Alexander was the head packer for the Helpman Party and travelled with the advance party as far as Great Slave Lake. There is a Charles Alexander living at Upper Dominion Creek, Lombard (Yukon) in the 1901 Census. Could this be the same person? After working for the Helpman Expedition he set out again with an exploration party sent out by the Dominion Government to Fort Graham in the charge of Mr. Dibble, D.L.S.

Charles Cottrill Nothing is known about this man other than his picture is found at the Alberta Provincial Archives in Edmonton. There is a Charles Cotterell living in Lethbridge in the 1901 Census. Could this be the same person?

Provincial Archives of Alberta B.5343 c.1898

Oliver Travers

Oliver was a great pioneer of the Grouard, Alberta area. Captain and Quartermaster Oliver Travers was killed in action on 29 Oct 1917 at West Flanders, Passchendaele, Belgium.

Sidney Travers

Sidney is the brother of Oliver Travers. His picture is also found at the Alberta Provincial Archives in Edmonton.

Provincial Archives of Alberta B.5344 c.1898

Jas. (James?) Cameron Probyn (Provin?) Nothing is known about this man.

Jas. (James?) Milburn Nothing is known about this man.

The later additions to the party were:

Geo. (George?) Gilmour (Gilmer?) Nothing is known about this man except that he may have previously worked for the Hudson's Bay Company.

Sam Cunningham Sam is well known for his role as an interpreter for the Government of Canada during the Treaty 8 negotiations.

The Journey

According to the October 28, 1897 Calgary Weekly Herald, Captain O'Brien was the first to arrive in Calgary at the Alberta Hotel.

Captain Hall was the next to arrive.

Dr. Hallwright and H. Simpson departed Liverpool aboard the Parisian of the Allan Line on 18 Nov 1897 and arrived in Halifax on 27 Nov. Mr. Simpson and Doctor Hallwright were reported in the Calgary Herald on 9 Dec 1897 as being in Winnipeg together on their way westbound.

Viscount Avonmore, Colonel Le Quesne, Captain Powell, Dr. Hoops, C. A. Powell Jr., C.C. Bannister and E.A. Jeffreys departed Southampton onboard the S.S. St. Paul of the American Line on 27 Nov 1897 and arrived in New York on 4 Dec 1897. On arrival they took the train for Montreal and were reported to be in Calgary on 16 Dec 1897.

Major Helpman and Captain Alleyne departed Southampton onboard the S.S. St. Louis of the American Line on December 4, 1897 and arrived in New York on December 11, 1897. They probably met up with Viscount Avonmore and the others in Montreal before proceeding west to Calgary.

From the Irish Times (Wednesday, December 15, 1897):

"OFF TO KLONDIKE

Viscount Avonmore headed a party of retired military and naval officers who arrived at New York by the St. Paul on Saturday, bound for the Klondike. In the party were Colonel Le Quesne, Captain Powell, Dr. Hooper, and Messrs. Bannister and Jeffreys. They left immediately for Montreal, where they join Major Helpman and Captain Alleyne, formerly of the 12th Lancers. From Montreal they go to Tacoma for their outfits. Proceeding thence to Yukon, where they hope to make huge fortunes by gold mining. "

Provincial Archives of Alberta B.5169 - January 13, 1898

The Route

    From Edmonton, northwest to St Albert towards Pembina River, about 55 miles. Then to Fort Assiniboine to cross the Athabasca, about 42 miles. Then through the Swan Hills to the Swan River, 85 miles, and down to Lesser Slave Lake, 25 miles. Then to Lesser Slave Lake post at the west end, another 40 miles. In the winter this could be done on the ice, about 65 miles total. In the summer it would be about 50 miles. From Lesser Lake Post to Peace River Crossing it was 80 miles. From Peace River Crossing to Dunvegan 85 miles. Dunvegan to Fort St. John, 115 miles. Fort St. John to Fort Nelson 200 miles.

According to the Edmonton Bulletin (Monday, March 7, 1898),

"Major Helpman left Edmonton on Wednesday afternoon to overtake and join the last detachment of the party, which started last Thursday and is now on its way to Lesser Slave Lake. The advance party, under the charge of Dr. Simpson, when last heard of was at Muskeg Creek, as well. The expedition consists of ten members, shareholders in the company, and ten hired men engaged, eleven months under an agreement. The whole expedition has been entirely reorganized and is now under the direction of the expeditionary directors, whom are Major Helpman, Lieut.- Col. Quesne and Captain John Hall, the latter gentleman, for the purpose of discipline, being appointed managing director, and as such has charge if the commissariat and the general order of the camp. Mr. Gilmer, of this town, has also joined the expedition and his services, as a prospector will be of great assistance. The expedition is well equipped with all the necessary mining implements, rock drill and earth borer. The destination of the expedition will be the Pelly River and Francis Lake, but every effort will be taken of prospecting as the party advances. The present intention is to proceed through the mountains at the Halfway River pass over the route taken by Insp. Moodie and so join the Liard west of the rapids. A large quantity of fodder is taken with the party and a quantity has been sent on ahead and cached at various points. The following are the names of the party: Major Helpman, Col. Le Quesne, Viscount Avonmore, Capt. Hall, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Bannister, Mr. Jeffreys, Dr. Hallwright, Dr. Hoops, M. E. O'Brien, Geo. Gilmer. The employees are Oliver, Travers, S. Travers, Probyn, Cotterell, Alex. McDonald, Gernon, Milburn and Sam Cunningham, guide."

According to the Edmonton Bulletin (Monday, June 27, 1898),

"At the Peace the party is to be formed into two expeditions, one party goes down the Peace and the other will prospect during the summer, on the Wapiti. The party which goes down the Peace will consist of Major Helpman, Capt. Hall, Dr. Hoops. Dr. Hallwright, Messrs. Jeffries and Bannister and Sandy McDonald. The party to prospect on the Wapiti will be composed of: Col. Le Quesne, Mr. O'Brien, Chas. Powell, Geo. Gilmour and Sam Cunningham, the latter three being merely employees of the company. Major Helpman came in to arrange taking out of additional supplies for the two expeditions."

    Charles Mair accompanied the Treaty 8 Commission and Half-Breed Scrip Commission in 1899. In his 1908 book, Through the Mackenzie Basin (A Narrative of the Athabasca and Peace River Treaty Expedition of 1899) he said the following about the Helpman party.

"What was known as the "Helpman Party" was formed in England by Captain Alene (sic), who died of pneumonia in December, 1897, three days after his arrival at Edmonton. The party consisted of a number of retired army officers, including Viscount Avonmore, with a considerable capital, $50,000 of which was expended. They brought some of their outfit from England, but completed it at Edmonton, and thence went overland late in the spring. But sleighing being about over, they got to Lesser Slave Lake with great difficulty, and there the party broke up, Mr. Helpman and others returning to England, whilst Messrs. Jeffries and Hall Wright, Captain Hall, and Mr. Simpson went on to Peace River Crossing. From there they descended to Smith's Portage, on the Great Slave River, and wintered at Fort Resolution, on Great Slave Lake.

    In the following spring they were joined by Mr. McKinlay, the Hudson's Bay Company's agent at the Portage, and he, accompanied by Messrs. Holroyd and Holt, who had joined the party at Smith's Landing, and by Mr. Simpson, went off on a prospecting tour through the north-east portion of Great Slave Lake, staking, en route, a number of claims, some of which were valuable, others worthless. The untruthful statements, however, of one of the party, who represented even the worst of the claims as of fabulous value, brought the whole enterprise into disrepute. The members of the party mentioned returned to England ostensibly to raise capital to develop their claims, but nothing came of it, not because minerals of great value do not exist there, but on account of remoteness and the difficulties of transport.

What Happened after the Helpman Party Broke Up

    After the party reached Lesser Slave Lake on 11 June 1898 seven men were discharged. Charles Alexander, Jas. (James?) Cameron Probyn (Provin?) and Jas. (James?) Milburn came in to town, and the other four, Sidney Travers, Oliver Travers, Charles Cottrill and John Oliver remained at the lake. The three hired men that remained with the party were Alexander Macdonald, George Gilmour, and Sam Cunningham, guide.

    At Lesser Slave Lake, Major Helpman, Captain Hall, Dr. Hoops, Dr. Hallwright, Messrs Jeffreys and Bannister decided to go down the Peace River towards the Slave River and Great Slave Lake. Also Sandy Macdonald and Simpson. Major Helpman returned from Montreal to Liverpool, arriving on 3 Sept 1898. Dr. Hoops and Dr. Hallwright wintered at Fort Resolution and returned to Edmonton in May 1899 with samples of galena. Fort Resolution is located where the Slave River flows into the south side of Great Slave Lake. Dr. Hallwright was in Ottawa, Ontario to have his samples assayed in June 1899. Dr. Hallwright was married in New York on 7 Oct 1899 then left the United States for England. Dr. Hoops was living with his family in Vancouver, B.C. in April 1901 when the Census was taken.

    C.C. Bannister and Captain John Hall returned from Montreal to Liverpool, arriving 20 Oct 1899. They were travelling in the first class cabin.

    Lord Avonmore, Colonel Le Quesne and Captain O'Brien took Sam Cunningham and went up the Smoky River and its tributary, the Wapiti River to prospect. Charles Powell Jr. also accompanied them. They were unsuccessful and in September all but O'Brien returned to Edmonton and then left Canada. In November, Captain O'Brien returned and opened his law practice in Wetaskiwin. Lord Avonmore appears to have departed New York for Queenstown in May 1899 and then must have returned as he is found again inbound to Queenstown in November 1899. He was reappointed Captain of the Dublin City Artillery on 8 May 1900.

    Sidney and Oliver Travers may have reached as far as Fort Nelson before turning back. Sidney Travers remained in the Lesser Slave Lake area and opened a stopping house, and Oliver travelled to Edmonton to enlist for the Boer War on 29 Dec 1899.