The timbered wilderness of north-central British Columbia is a rugged, snow-swept country, where frontiersmen fight for lifeand often lose.
Last week, near their cabin on Deadman's Creek, the bodies of two trapper-partners, Eugene Messmer, 33, and Hans Pfeuffer, 43, were found, lying in slushy surface ice. Both had been shot in the back. Guns, supplies and an estimated $4,000 worth of furs were missing.
Up from Prince George, B.C. flew provincial police, to begin a vigil at outpost fur sales. Soon an Indian tried to sell 16 marten pelts which had been cured...