Albert Johnson, better known as the Mad Trapper of Rat River, of Canada’s Northwestern Territorties is a compelling story. In the bitter winter of 1931-32 Johnson eluded the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for forty-eight days in a running battle that ranged over 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle, in temperatures that averaged forty below zero. He was finally killed in shot out on February 17, 1932 on the Eagle River, Yukon Territory.
So, dear reader, you are probably wondering why I am writing about an incident in Canada. Before Johnson became known as the Mad Trapper, he had a little foray in Lassen County before moving north. That incident we will examine tomorrow.