Deadman's Curse: Volcanic Gold

Slumach’s lost mine isn’t the only tale of gold hidden in Western Canada with a dubious history. There is a trail of treasures in and around BC with wild stories, danger, and legendary paydirt attached to their provenances. 

In this season finale episode, we dive into some of these other tales, and Jack Mould’s story comes to a close as we wrap up Deadman’s Curse: Volcanic Gold and reflect on what draws us to keep chasing the gold, in spite of a curse. 

Host: 

Kru Williams

Guests:

Don Froese

Adam Palmer

Judith Williams

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The Spanish were known for keeping records of their colonial exploits around the world, but they were also known for privateering, profiteering and piracy. What might have been aboard the legendary Spanish galleon the Santo Cristo de Burgos, that wrecked off the coast of Oregon? Was there treasure amongst the swaths of beeswax and porcelain? Cursed treasure?

Meanwhile, up in Bute Inlet, Jack Mould uses Slumach’s name to garner investment and continue his search for Slumach’s gold, at any cost.

Host: 

Kru Williams

Guests:

Don Froese

Taylor Starr

Judith Williams

Scott Williams

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Charlie Mould believed that Spanish explorers began mining and processing gold in the years before the British officially claimed what became British Columbia and that that gold was still out there…waiting to be found. 

Could this be true? Not too far down the Pacific coast in Oregon, experts investigate evidence washed ashore from Spanish Galleon shipwrecks from centuries past. Beeswax, porcelain fragments, and wooden planks have washed up along the beaches through the years. But no precious metals–and no gold–have been found. Nothing has been reported, that is.

Host: 

Kru Williams

Guests:

Judith Williams

Scott Williams

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Passed down to a young Jack Mould by his father Charlie, were tales of Spanish explorers mining for gold in the mountains high above the icy waters of Bute Inlet. For decades father and son searched Bute Inlet and the surrounding wilderness for lost gold mines. 

Over time, his search for Spanish gold entwined with a search for Slumach’s motherlode, and a fear of curses wouldn’t keep him away.

One day Jack disappeared. Authorities searching for him found his vehicle, a gun resting against it, two empty water bottles, his dog nearby, and a pair of boots down river.

But no sign of Jack Mould.

Host: 

Kru Williams

Guests:

Taylor Starr

Don Froese

Scott Williams

Robin Inglis

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Claiming to have found Slumach’s legendary motherlode, WWII veteran and German POW survivor, Stu Brown, allegedly hauls ten pounds of gold nuggets out of the Upper Pitt and spends the last three decades of his life trying to convince the government of the riches to be had in its own backyard. 

Host: 

Kru Williams

Guests:

Brian Antonson

Daryl Friesen

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Volcanic Brown vanished without a trace - but how? Why? Was he murdered? Did he fake his own death? Did he slip into another dimension? Articles have mentioned there have been at least 20 others who have also disappeared in search of Slumach’s lost gold mine. What could explain these mysterious disappearances?

In this episode we get insight from survival experts, prospectors and our very own research aficionado Taylor Starr into theories as to how a seasoned and exceptional outdoorsman and treasure hunter like Volcanic Brown could disappear without a trace, and why are so many others have gone missing in the same area.

Host: 

Kru Williams

Guests:

Adam Palmer

Taylor Starr

Renee Coghill

Daryl Friesen

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Volcanic Brown, known in some circles as ‘Doc Brown’, set his gold-fevered sights on finding Slumach’s legendary lost mine.

Legend has it, he did it after he saved Slumach’s granddaughter’s life and was repaid with the secret location of the mine.

Host: 

Kru Williams

Guests:

Don Froese

Brian Antonson

Marc Ferrero

Renee Coghill

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Volcanic Brown makes a name for himself as a miner within Boundary Country in the early 20th century by making headlines for landing in jail for shooting a man in self defence - sound familiar?

We continue our escapade through the booms and busts of mining towns in BC.

Today, there are over 150 ghost towns dotting the entire province of British Columbia. 

Host: 

Kru Williams

Guests:

Christopher Stevenson

Adam Palmer

Marc Ferrero

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On August 26, 1899, the name Volcanic City first appeared in the Cascade Record newspaper. It was said to be a city on a hill filled with wealth and abundance in the mineral richness of southern British Columbia.

By 1928, almost thirty years later, Volcanic City was a ghost town and its founder would vanish three years later.

In this episode we travel back through time to the early 20th century to the boomtowns of Boundary Country, BC.

Fueled by a global demand for copper, bustling cities sprouted up almost overnight, including Volcanic City which was dreamt up by the man at the heart of our story, Volcanic Brown. 

Host: 

Kru Williams

Guests:

Christopher Stevenson

Adam Palmer

Marc Ferrero

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In our mission to to uncover the truth behind the curse of Slumach’s gold mine, a major piece to the puzzle lies with Volcanic Brown. Although some things have been lost to history, one thing we know for sure he had been on the hunt for Slumach’s gold, for over a decade. Did their paths ever meet? How did Volcanic Brown become a prospecting legend?

In this episode, we retrace Brown's journey from the gold fields of the Maritimes, to the labour disputes in Ontario, and to finally, landing in the wild west of British Columbia where our tale begins to take shape.

Host: 

Kru Williams

Guests:

Dr. Keith Carlson

Don Froese

Facebook - @HISTORYCanada 

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Instagram - @Historyca

Instagram - @kru_williams

Twitter - @HistoryTVCanada

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