Rat River (Mar 10/03) - The last surviving member of the RCMP who took part in the hunt for the Mad Trapper has died. Cpl. Robert McDowell died Feb. 20 in Oliver, B.C., at the age of 94.

Const. Alfred "Buns" King was shot by Albert Johnson while investigating complaints of trap theft. The wounded King was transported 80 miles back to Aklavik by Cpl. Robert McDowell. - photo courtesy Inuvik RCMP

McDowell was part of the 21-person posse tasked with tracking Albert Johnson, "The Mad Trapper of Rat River," who led police on one of the most infamous manhunts in Canadian history.

McDowell had no children, but his nephew Jim Newbold said his uncle didn't talk much about the incident with Albert Johnson.

"He really kept it to himself," Newbold said. "It was just a matter-of-fact thing he had to do."

He was regarded as a top musher and a very athletic young man, during his posting in Aklavik.

"They relied on him to get sick people and rush medical supplies here and there," he said, adding that he loved his Northern posting." He would trade all his city life for the North."

Retired RCMP Insp. Hugh Westheuser interviewed McDowell and other retired members for a magazine article.

McDowell re-told the story of how they came across Johnson.

While investigating a complaint of theft from local traps, Const. Alfred "Buns" King from Arctic Red River paid a visit to Johnson's cabin at Rat River.

"He could see Albert Johnson inside, but he wouldn't respond to him," Westheuser said.

King left Johnson's cabin for Aklavik where he got a search warrant and detailed McDowell and special constables Wilson Bernard and Lazarus Sittichiulis to return to the cabin.

The group left Aklavik Dec. 28 and spent the night about 20 miles from Johnson's cabin. They arrived at the cabin about 10:30 a.m. the next day.

"Bob walked up to the door and King followed him," he said. "They announced that they were the police and they wanted to talk to him and kerbang, a bullet came through the door and caught King in the front part of his body."

"He staggered back and fell."

The special constables dragged King back to where the sleds were and McDowell fired several shots into Johnson's cabin.

McDowell retreated, emptied his toboggan and loaded King inside and set out on the 80-mile trip back to Aklavik.

Through the December darkness and 40-below temperature, the group spent the next 20 hours getting back to Aklavik.

"King was moaning and groaning the whole way," Westheuser said. "They did stop at a camp during the night to give the dogs a bit of a rest, but got to Aklavik about 8 the next morning."

"To me that's a pretty super-human feat," he said. "He told me his blood was pumping and he had to get King to medical help."

King went on to live a long life and died at the age 79 years.

McDowell injured his knee on the trip back to Aklavik and could not continue on the hunt for Johnson.

He spent four years in Aklavik and two years in Pangurtung, before accepting a post across the ocean at Canada House in London in 1938.

"He was the first red coat to be stationed over there," his nephew said.

Just before leaving for overseas, McDowell met and married his wife Una. The couple retired to Oliver, B.C., in 1955. Una died in 1979.

Sgt. Major Hugh Stewart, said with McDowell's passing, Canada has lost a formidable hero.

"We may have lost Cpl. Robert McDowell in body, but he will be forever alive as a legend in our hearts and minds," Stewart said.

Memorial service for Cpl. McDowell was held in Oliver last Tuesday. The service was televised. Six retired RCMP members served as honour guard.