Hunt for the Mad Trapper (of Rat River)

[Tom H]

Start of the hunt for the Mad Trapper

80 years ago, December 31, 1931 RCMP Constable King was shot at a remote cabin near Fort McPherson, N.W.T in an exchange of gunfire while attempting to serve a search warrant to a person known as Albert Johnson.

This all began a few weeks earlier when complaints of Trap Line tampering had been made against Albert Johnson by members of the Louchoux Natives who Johnson has apparently made a habit of threatening and terrorizing the Louchoux.

RCMP members King and Bernard had been sent to speak to Albert Johnson and investigate the complaints. It was roughly a week to reach Johnson’s cabin and on arrival Johnson refused to answer the door or speak with them leaving them no option but to return to Aklavik N.W.T. for a search warrant, supplies and reinforcements.

This leads to the RCMP’s return on December 31, 1931 and the shooting of RCMP Constable King while attempting to serve the warrant.

So started what became the largest police manhunt in Canada and created the legend of the Mad Trapper.

Making the story all the more interesting as it unfolds is the use of the communications, by the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, aerial supply and surveillance, coordinating with the RCMP efforts on the ground setting the stage for the systems/methods that are used internationally through to today.

Edmontonian WOP May came to play a pivotal role in the man hunt assisting the search by air and providing support with both supplies and medical transport…But let’s not get ahead of the story.

Over the next number of weeks the Alberta Aviation Museum will be creating a special display to be unveiled February 17th, 2012 on the “Search for the Mad Trapper”, along the way we will add parts of the story as the dates fall into place.

Thomas Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum

Additional information at:
http://www.wopmay.com/adventures/madTrapper.htm
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/hh-ps/trap-eng.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_...%28criminal%29
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/rat_river.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/may.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/flight_log.htm

[RVgrin]

The link to wikipedia got munged by the forum software, probably because it contains a bracket.

Here's a shortcut to it: http://tinyurl.com/y73yuu

[robertsailor1]

I remember my Father telling me this story as he was a game officer that travelled that area. Great story. Getting shot and killed over a game violation just reminds us how things have changed for the better.

[RVgrin]

I remember my Father telling me this story as he was a game officer that travelled that area. Great story. Getting shot and killed over a game violation just reminds us how things have changed for the better.

Sadly, I don't think it has changed enough. RCMP officers are still being killed in a remote areas investigating minor violations:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/201 ... -duty.html

and game control officers still have reason to fear:

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index. ... ion_o.html

I am sure the officers doing your Dad's job these days do enjoy better aerial support, though.

Does anyone know what kind of aviation assets would be pulled into a manhunt in the northern territories if this happened today? Do the RCMP still enlist private individuals/companies or draw only on their fleet?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Cana ... raft_fleet

[Northern Flyer]

Not sure about a manhunt, but in northern MB the RCMP often use private companies to search for missing persons. Also they have used private companies to transport members to isolated communities, usually in the middle of the night when the RCMP pilots are probably dutied.

[robertsailor1]

I still have movies from that time, he was flown up in Fockers on floats at from there on it was on foot or canoe to all the different Indian villages to stamp their furs so they were legal for trade. He'd be in the bush for 3-4 weeks at a time. On the movie he would take pictures of the pack dogs and the birch bark packs and as he would pan over the locals they would all turn their heads down. He said they were worried that the camera would steal their souls. Cool times for sure.

[loopy]

A pilot I used to work with has written a self published book on the Mad Trapper based on the theory that the real identity is a relative of his. I've got a copy somewhere. His theory and evidence seems as plausible as any I've read. A search on the topic may bring it up.

[Siddley Hawker]

There's a short 98-page book about the episode, published by Heritage House Publishing Company of Surry, BC. The title is The Death Of Albert Johnson Mad Trapper Of Rat River. There's a slew of photos, including a few of the Bellanca CF-AKI that May used to track the guy down. Great read, but they draw no conclusions as to who the guy really was.

http://www.heritagehouse.ca/

[Blakey]

Terrible way to celebrate an anniversary.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012 ... oting.html

[ditar]

A pilot I used to work with has written a self published book on the Mad Trapper based on the theory that the real identity is a relative of his. I've got a copy somewhere. His theory and evidence seems as plausible as any I've read. A search on the topic may bring it up.

http://www.wassigvaldthemadtrapper.com/

[Tom H]

Part II of the Hunt for the Mad Trapper

After the shooting of RCMP Constable King at the Rat River cabin of Albert Johnson on December 31st, 1931 the RCMP officers were forced to retreat to get Constable King
Life saving medical attention.

The harrowing non stop dog sled run from the Rat River cabin to Aklavik was a Herculean effort by Constable McDowel and their native guides and worthy of a book on it’s own. Once in Aklavik Constable King received medical treatment and would eventually recover.

January 9th, 1932 the RCMP return…Constables McDowell, Sittichiulis, Millen and Bernard, return with Inspector Alexander Eames, trappers Karl Garlund, Knud Lang and Earnest Sutherland, 42 dogs and 20 pounds of dynamite. A 15 hour siege and fire fight ensue but still, Johnson does not surrender.

Once again the RCMP team is forced to retreat to re supply and the Royal Canadian Signals Corps is asked to send a radio call for additional RCMP assistance and re supply.

The story continues January 16th

Additional information at:
http://www.wopmay.com/adventures/madTrapper.htm
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/hh-ps/trap-eng.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_...%28criminal%29
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/rat_river.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/may.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/flight_log.htm

Thomas Hinderks
Executive Director
Alberta Aviation Museum

[Tom H]

Part III

January 16th, 1932 brings another chapter of the Hunt for the Mad Trapper to light.

After using the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals radio communications to arrange for additional personnel and supplies the RCMP return to Rat River. This time communications is considered an important priority and the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals has equipped the party with a specially set up two way radio.
Co coordinated Communications have entered the search.
Twenty-one men, including 11 Louchoux Natives, return to the cabin. Albert Johnson is simply not there. It is assumed Johnson has escaped, probably heading for the Alaskan border. The on site investigation reveals the reasons for the previous failure to enter and apprehend Albert Johnson; his cabin is built like a pill box.
The cabin was quite small but the floor had been dug down 2 or 3 feet (60 or 90 cm) below the surrounding ground level. The roof, well-packed with earth roughly 1 foot (30cm) thick. The base of the cabin at ground level was built using a double row of logs with earth packed between them. With the ground frozen the earth became much like concrete creating the pill box or bunker like structure and strength. Little wonder rifle fire and the explosive charges had no effect.

With enough food and supplies for 9 days Millen, Riddell (a soldier), and two trappers, set out to search for the elusive Johnson. The remainder of the party, now staying in radio communication with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in Aklavic arranged for aerial re supply. Aerial re supply/support enters the search.

What had started as a simple investigation on trap line tampering is now beginning to set the pattern for coordinated police searches for the future.

But things will get much worse before the story ends…

Compiled using information from these sources and great sources of additional information on the “Hunt for the Mad Trapper”.

http://www.wopmay.com/adventures/madTrapper.htm
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/hh-ps/trap-eng.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_...%28criminal%29
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/rat_river.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/may.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/flight_log.htm

[Tom H]

Part IV
Hunt for the Mad Trapper…the Saga continues:

Between January 16th and January 30th 1932 much has happened, the RCMP with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals providing tow way radio communication, Western Canada Airways providing air drops of supplies and the help of local trappers and band members have been chasing the trail and hunting for Albert Johnson.

Temperatures have been falling as low as -45 to -49 degrees with intermittent blizzard conditions. Equipment is reaching it’s limits with the radio batteries eventually freezing, clothing and sleeping bags becoming damp due to the conditions and no way on the trail to dry them.

January 30th brings this chapter to a climax…Constable Millen is killed.

For several weeks the RCMP Team had been tracking Johnson. A tedious task as Johnson’s bush skills was keen and as a skilled tracker he also knew how to avoid being tracked. As a result the RCMP and its team were forced to travel in sweeping half circles to pick up the fugitive’s trail.

The morning of January 30th two teams, one of Riddell/Garland, the second Millen and Verville found Albert Johnson’s overnight campsite. Riddell and Garland made a secure position and shortly across from them settled the team of Millen and Verville.

Once again a fire fight ensued with many shots being exchanged, Millen spotting Johnson’s firing position dropped to one knee and fired twice, Johnson replied with three shots, one killing RCMP member Millen. Sporadic shots were exchanged in the hours after and till dark when the RCMP team was forced to retire.

RCMP Constable Riddell with one of the native guides and their teams of dogs again made a record run to Aklavik carrying Constable Millen’s body and by February 3rd was ready to run supplies back to the rest of the pursuit team that had remained behind.

February 2nd in the evening the Royal Canadian Corp of signals hears the announcement on Edmonton Journal Radio…Western Canadian Airways is sending a plane with it’s most experienced young airman…Edmontonian WOP May is now enroute in a Bellanca bush pilot named “Lady Edmonton". The tide is starting to turn for the “Mad Trapper”, time is running down.

Compiled using information from these sources and great sources of additional information on the “Hunt for the Mad Trapper”.
http://www.wopmay.com/adventures/madTrapper.htm
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/hh-ps/trap-eng.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_...%28criminal%29
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/rat_river.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/may.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/flight_log.htm

[Tom H]

Hunt for the Mad Trapper Part V
All the pieces come into play as the saga continues…

February 6 Wilfred “Wop” May flying a Bellanca Pacemaker (Lady Edmonton) begins providing aerial search and support/supplies for the pursuit team. With the help of this experienced young pilot the RCMP using the first plane to assist in the apprehension of a criminal.
Combined with the communication services provided by the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals this search created the pattern of combined police operations used today.

Today aerial search and apprehension assistance is a normal part of police work with not only the RCMP Air Division but most Municipal Police Forces.

In Edmonton Air One carries on the traditions of the Edmonton Police Service dating back to 1919 when the very same WOP May at the request of EPS became part of the very first aerial police pursuit in 1919. Not long after the “Hunt for the Mad Trapper” the RCMP established its own Air Division (April 1937) and continues to use their own dedicated aircraft across
Canada through to today.

In 2012 there are very few Federal and major Regional or Municipal Police Services that do not use aircraft and extensive communications as an integral part of their operations.

No more wasted time on the ground sweeping in huge half circles trying to pick up Johnson’s trail. No more supply shortages and the radio communications is tying everything together.

February 7 the WOP May reported he had landed and met the party waiting for him. He took Riddell up, showing him the trails and where they seemingly ended abruptly. A closer examination disclosed a faint trail at the head of the Barrier River circling to the right and ending in some timber along the river, from where a distinct trail could be seen joining Johnson's old trail. The RCMP supported by the radio communications of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and with the search assisted and supplied by WOP May in the air continue to pursue the man identified as Albert Johnson.

Compiled using information from these great sources and places for additional information on the “Hunt for the Mad Trapper”.
http://www.wopmay.com/adventures/madTrapper.htm
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/hh-ps/trap-eng.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_...%28criminal%29
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/rat_river.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/may.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/flight_log.htm

[Tom H]

Hunt for the Mad Trapper Part VI
The Story ends
February 17, 1932 the final shoot-out between the trapper, Albert Johnson, and the RCMP occurs. In the fire fight Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Staff Sergeant H. F. Hersey, is injured and Johnson is killed.

The air and ground teams had continued their pursuit and search since the last chapter and now were closing in on Johnson.

Mid morning of the 17th of February 1932 with WOP May overhead in Bellanca “Lady Edmonton” Johnson was cornered along the Eagle River. In the fire fight that followed Staff Sergeant Hersey was hit and seriously wounded by rifle fire from Albert Johnson.
Johnson however did not give up, caught along the banks with nowhere to run he fought to the end and was killed in the fire fight.

WOP May landed on the River and carried Hersey back to Aklavik, the Doctor in Aklavic stating if it had been 15 minutes more Hersey would not have made it.

Returning May picked up several of the RCMP officers as well as the body of Albert Johnson and flew them to Aklavik. The largest man hunt in Canadian History had come to an end but the mystery has continued…who was Albert Johnson?

Why didn’t he speak with police? A year earlier in Aklavik he had, with no problems.
Why did he begin firing? The Police were only investigating.
Who was this man that never spoke through the entire chase? We may never know.

But this chase created the pattern of police pursuits that will still use today. High tech communications, aerial surveillance and pursuit and carrying on in the tradition of all those that enforce the law…brave police officers, soldiers and volunteers on the ground.

Compiled using information from these great sources and places for additional information on the “Hunt for the Mad Trapper”.
http://www.wopmay.com/adventures/madTrapper.htm
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/hh-ps/trap-eng.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_...%28criminal%29
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/rat_river.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/may.htm
http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/flight_log.htm

[Kabloona]

Thanks for the great summary Tom.