He had some deformities to his spine and a foot, it was discovered. I found the mad trapper of rat river by dick north sitting on my bookshelf unread, apparently purchased years ago. Dick north an account of the 48 day running battle in the canadian northwest between albert johnson and a combined force of men of the rcmp, white trappers and indians during the winter of 1932. Its a tale that has stirred the imagination of canadians for 80 years. The mad trapper the mad trapper of rat river known as albert johnson, was a fugitive whose actions started off a huge manhunt in the northwest territories in canada. The identity of the socalled mad trapper of the north remains as much of a cold case now as it was more than 77 years ago when the notorious outlaw. I would recommend the book the mad trapper of rat river by dick north as the best. Now author dick north of course may have solved the mystery of the mad trappers true identity, thereby enhancing the saga. Albert johnson, also known as the mad trapper, outlaw born circa 18901900, place of birth unknown. For over six weeks, amid blizzards and numbing cold, he eluded a posse of trappers, first nations and rcmp, who for the very first time used a twoway radio and an airplane in their search.
While on my recent sojourn in alaska and the yukon i came across dick norths book, the mad trapper of rat river and read it cover to cover. It was prepared for exhibition in the communications and electronics museum during the early 1960s and all footnotes reflect the ranks and occupations of the participants at the time of. Albert johnson arrived in ross river august 21, 1927. A courageous and unrelenting posse on the trail of a furious and desperate wilderness outlaw more animal and more ghost than man. Mystery of the mad trapper from rat river caleb and linda. Grave of the mad trapper of rat river northwest territories. In newspaper headlines, he was called the mad trapper of rat river, and he is known as that to this day. The ensuing manhunt one of the largest in canadian history lasted 48 days and covered. The mad trapper of rat river by dick north boundary waters. Dec 01, 2005 the arctic trails do indeed have their secret tales, and one of the best is that of the mad trapper of rat river, equal to the legends of those other 1930s outlaws, bonnie and clyde and john dillinger. Complaints of local trappers brought the rcmp on him. Since ive been in a mood for historical novels, i thought id delve into this nonfiction account of the chase of a 1930s criminal by the canadian mounties in the arctic circle. Sep 29, 2019 lean and bloody, meticulously researched, the mad trapper of rat river is a dark and haunting story of human endurance, adventure, and will that speeds along like the best fiction.
A mad mystery man who led canadian mounties on a 150mile wilderness chase is still buried with his secrets intact. The arctic trails do indeed have their secret tales, and one of the best is that of the mad trapper of rat river, equal to the legends of those other 1930s outlaws, bonnie and clyde and john dillinger. Mad trapper of rat river ebook by dick north rakuten kobo. A loner working string of traps in the far reaches of canadas northwest territories, johnson lived a quiet life. Dec, 2017 albert johnson the mad trapper of rat river dec, 2017 boban docevski this is the story of a seemingly peaceful trapper that went berserk and decided to attack a member of the royal canadian mounted police back in the 1930s. This old canadian folk ballad from the 30s is played on guitar and sung by my father, james cornie a. It was great to read about the conditions and landscape of the area. Now author dick north of course may have solved the mystery of the mad trapper s true identity, thereby enhancing the saga. Lean and bloody, meticulously researched, the mad trapper of rat river is a dark and haunting story of human endurance, adventure, and will that speeds along like the best fiction. Id like to see the les stroud survivorman episode about albert johnson the mad trapper.
The mad trapper has been the subject of numerous films, books and articles, including a. About the author 1972 dick north is the author of the mad trapper of rat river and lost patrol, and spent many years as the curator of the jack london interpretive centre and museum in dawson city. The arctic trails do indeed have their secret tales, and one of the best is that of the mad trapper of rat river, equal to the legends of bonnie and clyde or john dillinger. In a forty eight day manhunt across the harshest terrain in the world, albert johnson endured blizzards and temperatures of. Dec 31, 1972 i found the mad trapper of rat river by dick north sitting on my bookshelf unread, apparently purchased years ago. Albert johnson was a loner, a deadly shot, who in 1932 triggered a gruelling manhunt that has become an arctic legend. The police overtook johnson on a river bend on february 17 th, 1932. Oct 15, 2018 on the book shelf i happened to find the the mad trapper of rat river by dick north. No motive for johnsons crimes has ever been established, and his identity remains a mystery.
A true story of canadas biggest manhunt by dick north 2005, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Moviedocumentary book yup, the movie is good you cant beat chuck bronson and lee marvin as a team. May 12, 2009 the identity of the socalled mad trapper of the north remains as much of a cold case now as it was more than 77 years ago when the notorious outlaw met his end in a shootout with rcmp officers. Post mortem photos of the trapper were circulated far and wide to try to find his true identity. The mad trapper of rat river by dick north boundary. This is book is a true story about the greatest manhunt in canadian history. Btw, i was the third grade in newbern, alabama, a place about this wide, settled by north carolinians from new bern. This book by dick north looks like its worth a read. Albert johnson mad trapper of rat river what the local people considered strange, however, was the fact that albert johnson did not bother to get a trapping license even though he built an 8. Johnson was involved in four shootouts, killing one policeman and gravely wounding two. Dec 01, 2005 a courageous and unrelenting posse on the trail of a furious and desperate wilderness outlaw. Discover grave of the mad trapper of rat river in northwest territories.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Anderson has two books published with the title the death of albert johnson these two books have great photos. Jan 18, 2020 in newspaper headlines, he was called the mad trapper of rat river, and he is known as that to this day. Albert johnson, the mad trapper of rat river the canadian. Mystery of the mad trapper from rat river caleb and. This saga of the mad trapper of rat river is an extract from the october 1948 notes of interest the northwest territories and yukon radio system. Mad trapper of rat river ebook by dick north 9781461749851.
A courageous and unrelenting posse on the trail of a furious and desperate wilderness outlaw. The story of the mad trapper of the northwest territories albert johnson told by the rcmp officers who captured him. The mad trapper of rat river 2003 canadian manhunt great. On 31 december 1931, an rcmp constable investigating a complaint about traplines was shot and seriously wounded by a trapper living west of fort mcpherson, nt. Two other authors have written good historical accounts as well thomas p. In a fortyeightday manhunt across the harshest terrain in the world, albert johnson endured blizzards and temperatures of forty degrees below zero as he evaded the canadian mounties at every turn. Mad trapper of rat river documentary 110509 pm or email email protected name and address. A true story of canadas biggest manhunt by north, dick isbn. A mad mystery man who led canadian mounties on a 150mile wilderness chase is still. Grave of the mad trapper of rat river northwest territories atlas. The story of albert johnson, the mad trapper by thomas p. In appendix a exhibit c is a list all of the equipment albert johnson aka the mad trapper had in his possession at the time he was killed by the rcmp.
Mad trapper of rat river documentary 24hourcampfire. The arctic trails do indeed have their secret tales. Mad trapper of rat river we are stepping away from our thread titles purview a bit tonight tonight we do a sketch on what i have considered since my youth to be one of the incredible feats of human endurance ever exhibited. It was a manhunt the likes of which we will never see again.
The event became sort of media circus as johnson eluded the royal canadian mounted police that were sent to take him into custody, which ended after a 150 mile 240 km foot chase. The mad trapper of rat river aisle say twin cities. A true story of canadas biggest manhunt by dick north online at alibris. The arctic trails do indeed have their secret tales, and one of the best is that of the mad trapper of rat river, equal to the legends of bonnie and clyde or john. Nov 18, 2008 moviedocumentary book yup, the movie is good you cant beat chuck bronson and lee marvin as a team. Anderson has two books published with the title the death of. It ended in a mass of bullets leaving another mountie seriously wounded and albert johnson, the mad trapper of rat river, dead on the snow.
North makes a good case that the person using the name arthur nelson might be the real suspect but he was using an alias just like albert johnson was a phony name. Albert johnson mad trapper of rat river what the local people considered strange, however, was the fact that albert johnson did not bother to get a trapping license even. Manitoba education, special materials services, 1985. The mad trapper of rat river by dick north they called it the artic circle war. Top left albert johnson, the mad trapper of rat river yukon archives photo top right aklavik grave of the mad trapper the sign reads. Dec 19, 2012 the story of the mad trapper of the northwest territories albert johnson told by the rcmp officers who captured him. Read mad trapper of rat river a true story of canadas biggest manhunt by dick north available from rakuten kobo. Mad trapper of rat river by dick north overdrive rakuten.
The mad trapper of rat river 2003 canadian manhunt great pictures. The quarry, albert johnson, was a loner working a string of traps. Apr 27, 2016 this old canadian folk ballad from the 30s is played on guitar and sung by my father, james cornie a. On the book shelf i happened to find the the mad trapper of rat river by dick north. I have been fascinated by this story since seeing the movie death hunt. The death of albert johnson mad trapper of rat river, 1986, heritage house publishing company ltd.
This is the story of a seemingly peaceful trapper that went berserk and decided to attack a member of the royal canadian mounted police back in the 1930s. Third, albert johnson was apparently a consummate outdoorsman, excellent shot and extremely fit. The mad trapper of rat river canadian folk song youtube. He shot two officers and became a fugitive of the law. Bob butz, author of beast of never, cat of god they called it the arctic circle war. Hed eluded a wellorganized, wellequipped posse for seven weeks, surviving. Apr 28, 2019 the trappers extraordinary flight from the police across subarctic terrain in the dead of winter captured the attention of the nation and earned him the title the mad trapper of rat river.
In the case of derek lee miller, the plays project lead, the tale of the mad trapper of rat river haunted his imagination for nearly twenty years, ever since reading a book a book which was itself published a whole halfcentury after johnsons death. Oct 27, 2012 mad trapper of rat river we are stepping away from our thread titles purview a bit tonight tonight we do a sketch on what i have considered since my youth to be one of the incredible feats of human endurance ever exhibited. Nov 29, 2016 this page is the official page of barry fletts in the works, to be published book documenting his time, research, and related adventures in discovering and following what he believes to be a trail of crimes, objects, and other evidence of the route of travel by the man known as albert johnson, aka the mad trapper of rat river. This page is the official page of barry fletts in the works, to be published book documenting his time, research, and related adventures in discovering and following what he believes to be a trail of crimes, objects, and other evidence of the route of travel by the man known as albert johnson, aka the mad trapper of rat river. Dramatisation of a manhunt that took place in canada between the spring of 1931 and february 1932, with the mounties using dog teams, radio and airplane. With del henney, neil mccallum, brandon brady, dan mcdonald.