Borden Bridge
Posted by: 
StagsRoar
N 52° 22.601 W 107° 08.671
13U E 354025 N 5805099
This site marks a refueling stop for boats travelling the Saskatchewan River well before the building of the bridge.
Waymark Code: WMDQ3
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Date Posted: 05/28/2006
Views: 126
This site and coordinates also markes the Golden Crown Geocache but it's significance to Saskatchewans history is that it marks the place where the infamous Stern Wheeler The Northcote used to stop to refuel for it's travels on the Saskatchewan River during the period of Fur Trading and passenger transport of the latter part of the 1800's. Frequently, the Northcote and later on other steamers would stop at this bend in the river to take on wood fuel from the surrounding bush that would have been more prevalent than it is today. The steamboat the Northcote played a pivotal role in the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. During the Battle of Batoche, the steamboat was supposed to act as a gunboat, but the plan was foiled when Metis troops lowered a ferry cable across the Northcote's path. The cable cut the Northcote's smokestack and sent the steamboat careening out of control downstream. After recovering from its unexpected adventure, the Northcote carried the wounded to a field hospital in Saskatoon. On May 19, 1885, the Northcote brought rebellion leader Louis Riel to Saskatoon for his fateful trip to Regina, where he was later convicted and hanged for treason.
- courtesy University of Saskatchewan Libraries and University Archives
A J.W. Craig pencil sketch of the stern wheeler Northcote "wooding up" on the Saskatchewan.
