Ho! for the Leech River

In last week’s Cowichan Chronicles I set the stage for Vancouver Island’s only real gold rush to the Leech River in July 1864.

Within 20 air miles of Victoria, it sparked a stampede to the Sooke hills, and the Leech River continues to be extensively placer mined to this day.

Part 2 of the Leech River gold rush saga in next week’s Cowichan Chronicles.

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PHOTO: As this photo clearly shows, the miners had to earn their pay because the gold was very fine and mostly trapped in fissures and crevices that required back-breaking labour. —British Columbia Archives