Mystery surrounds the death of Louis Stark
Credit: Salt Spring Island Archives, Estes/Stark Collection.; “The History of the Stark Family”, Marie Stark Wallace. Driftwood, 1979-1980; British Colonist Archives.
A rich coal seam was discovered under Louis’s Vancouver Island property; several interested buyers, including his neighbour Ed Hodgson, offered to purchase the land. Louis was happy farming and refused to sell. On February 28, 1895, Hodgson reported that he had found Louis dead at the bottom of a bluff. It was unclear how Louis died; the family firmly believed that Stark had been murdered.
Louis’ son, John, hired a detective to investigate. The neighbour, Ed Hodgson was arrested, but with lack of evidence, was released.
It was that same neighbour, Ed Hodgson, who then purchased the property for $800 and then sold it to James Dunsmuir, the coal baron. Three large mines underneath the Stark’s farm opened later that same year. In 1898, James Dunsmuir created the “instant” town of Ladysmith B.C. to house the miners.
Louis Stark is buried at the Nanaimo Public Cemetery.
Transcript from Colonist March 1, 1895: Louis Stark, a mulatto rancher of Cranberry district, was found dead at the foot of a steep cliff near his home last night. Mr. E Hodgeson discovered the body and fearing foul play came to town and notified the police. From the wounds on the body and the nature of the ground it is probable he fell over the cliff.
Louis Stark was one of the pioneer settlers of this province. He was the son of a southern slave master, and first came to British Columbia over 35 years ago. In his youth deceased worked as a barber on the Mississipi river steamers. He then came out to Oregon, and later moved to Salt Spring Island. He was located there with his family for upwards of fifteen years and was engaged on an extensive scale of cattle ranching. In 1875 he took up land in the Cranberry district where he resided until his death. The deceased was 79 years of age. He leaves a widow and several children. The inquest was adjourned until tomorrow.
Transcript for Colonist March 2, 1895: An inquest was held this afternoon into the death of Louis Stark, The jury found an open verdict.