| Story History |
Copyright © 2009 Mark Fremmerlid All Rights Reserved.
This story spans a period of over a hundred years.
In 1906 Peder Johannes Haaskjold departed from
Norway, on a ten thousand kilometer journey to New
Westminster, Canada. A young Scandinavian, aged
18 or 19, travelled with Peder. His name was Albert
Johannes Rassmussen Haaskjold. Albert would live
out his days in Canada a salmon fisherman. Peder
worked in New Westminster sending his money back
to Norway to pay off his farm.
In 1906 Peder Johannes Haaskjold departed from
Norway, on a ten thousand kilometer journey to New
Westminster, Canada. A young Scandinavian, aged
18 or 19, travelled with Peder. His name was Albert
Johannes Rassmussen Haaskjold. Albert would live
out his days in Canada a salmon fisherman. Peder
worked in New Westminster sending his money back
to Norway to pay off his farm.
Peder left his wife and seven children behind
in Norway to await his return.
Sigvald, his oldest, is standing at the back.
in Norway to await his return.
Sigvald, his oldest, is standing at the back.
Portrait of Peder taken in New Westminster
| Sigvald grows up |
| Sigvald dresses up. |
| Manfred von Richthofen AKA The Red Barren |
| In 1913 Sigvald is eighteen years old and he travels to New Westminster. In 1914 Peder returns to Norway but Sigvald carries on to Prince Rupert. In 1917 or 1918, Sigvald escapes World War I draft to hide out on Digby Island. |
1917 to 1931:
In 1927 Thore Fremmerlid is sent by Sigvald's
mother to find her son. The trail leads him to a
small fortress-like cabin facing the ocean on an
island near Prince Rupert, BC. Here Sigvald was
hiding out, a draft evader of the first World War.
In 1927 Thore Fremmerlid is sent by Sigvald's
mother to find her son. The trail leads him to a
small fortress-like cabin facing the ocean on an
island near Prince Rupert, BC. Here Sigvald was
hiding out, a draft evader of the first World War.
Meanwhile Wop May, who enters this story later, escapes
becoming the infamous Red Baron's 81st victim.
Wop May actually escaped both the guns of the Red
Barren and the Mad Trapper in his career.
becoming the infamous Red Baron's 81st victim.
Wop May actually escaped both the guns of the Red
Barren and the Mad Trapper in his career.
1932:
A man who identified himself as Albert Johnson is killed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in
the Yukon Territory.
International news and radio reports followed the seven week chase, that resulted in the death of
RCMP Constable Edgar Millen and seriously wounded two others. In addition members of the
Royal Canadian Signal Corps were involved, along with expert native trackers. The pursuit of
Albert Johnson involved the expenditure of hundreds of rounds of ammunition and plenty of
dynamite.
An airplane, manned by Wop May, was also used to tracker this fugitive.
In spite of the enormous expenditure of resources and time the man Albert Johnson has never
been positively identified in the last 75 years.
A CBC radio program about the chase can be found here.
Please note the Albert Johnson referred to by the Bensons in 1927 during the radio program was later determined to be a
different man.
A man who identified himself as Albert Johnson is killed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in
the Yukon Territory.
International news and radio reports followed the seven week chase, that resulted in the death of
RCMP Constable Edgar Millen and seriously wounded two others. In addition members of the
Royal Canadian Signal Corps were involved, along with expert native trackers. The pursuit of
Albert Johnson involved the expenditure of hundreds of rounds of ammunition and plenty of
dynamite.
An airplane, manned by Wop May, was also used to tracker this fugitive.
In spite of the enormous expenditure of resources and time the man Albert Johnson has never
been positively identified in the last 75 years.
A CBC radio program about the chase can be found here.
Please note the Albert Johnson referred to by the Bensons in 1927 during the radio program was later determined to be a
different man.
Image In Public Domain
Mark Fremmerlid searching
Digby Island for clues in 1983.
Digby Island for clues in 1983.
Glenbow-Alberta Institute/NWT Archives
N-1979-076: 0001 (edit)
N-1979-076: 0001 (edit)
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For more information on the story
please visit the cave page.
please visit the cave page.