88 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
immense power of the animal obliged him to quit his hold—on doing this, 
he supposes, he dislocated his wrist. He remembers having received 6 
blows, one of which was so dreadful that his whole side is bruised black 
and blue and some of his ribs appear to be broken—the last furious butt 
made him call out, and what is very strange the Bull at the same instant 
fell down as if a ball had struck him. In this state they both remained 
for above an hour while Mr. H. ran to the Boats at least 2 miles distant 
for assistance, Mr. E. remaining near the spot to point it out, for altho’ 
these two gentlemen heard and saw as far as the darkness of the night 
permitted the whole of this distressing affair, they were unable to 
render immediate relief, lest in firmg at the Bull they might kill the 
man. A large armed party being collected were devising means of 
extricating Mr. McD. from his painful situation, when one of the men’s 
guns went off in the air by accident. This caused the Bull to rise. He 
looked at the party attentively for a moment and then galloped off. 
Mr. McD. whom they found perfectly sensible altho’ he had fainted 
several times as he himself says, also states that the Bull watched him 
the whole time they lay together and that he durst not stir. The animal 
too he says appeared to suffer much groaning and vomiting blood a great 
deal. The ground around bore evident marks of this deplorable catas- 
trophe, being gored up in many places and covered with blood—a shot 
pouch which Mr. McD. wore at his left side, made of thick sealskin, 
covered with porcupine quills and stuffed with rags, &c, for wadding 
was found to be pierced thro’ and thro’ and must have saved his life, 
altho’ he was not aware when this happened. He was conveyed upon 
blankets fastened upon poles on the men’s shoulders to the Boat and in 
order to reach Carlton! as soon as possible, we drift down the river all 
night in hopes of finding Dr. Richardson? at that place. His wounds 
were dressed as well as the means of the party permitted.® 
Sunday, 3rd.—Overcast with light rain. Commence rowing at 
daylight and continue till breakfast. Afterwards hoist sail with a light 
breeze which freshens and carries us till we pass the Elbow.4 Our 
course North, wind ahead—row till 9 p.m. Encamp. 

‘Fort Carlton. Douglas says that he here met Thos. Drummond, Asst.- 
Naturalist to the Franklin expedition. 
2 Dr. (afterwards, Sir John) Richardson (1787-1865) Surgeon and Naturalist 
in Sir John Franklin’s two Arctic land expeditions, 1819-22 and 1825-27. On June 
18, 1827, Franklin met him at Cumberland House “after a separation of eleven 
months.” Evidently Richardson had so recently passed down the North 
Saskatchewan that Ermatinger hoped to find him at Carlton. Ermatinger’s diary 
however, shows that he had left Carlton on May 21st. 
3 Douglas says: “I bound up his wounds, and gave him all the aid that a small 
medicine chest and my slender knowledge of surgery would suggest. 
*Near the Canadian Northern Railway bridge on its main line and five miles 
southeast of Borden station. 
