THE RIGHT WAY ON: Memoirs of W.H.T. Olive

William Henry Trewolla Olive was born in 1865 in Truro, England, and apprenticed in woodworking and architecture. He emigrated to British Columbia where he worked on the province’s new parliament buildings in Victoria. By 1897, a newly-formed syndicate entrusted Olive with the building of steamboats and management of their ambitious Yukon enterprise.

Olive was an educated man who took note of the character and stories of many ‘stampeders.’ His memoirs capture the spirit of the Klondyke Trail of ’98, and describe daily life of this historic time. The astonishing real-life adventures and hardships endured by so many are colourful and interesting examples of human ingenuity and endurance. Tales of friendship, loyalty, bravery and gold strikes overshadow stories of mishap and broken health.

The Right Way On was previously published as The Olive Diary and has been completely re-edited from the original manuscript. Singer/songwriter Tim Lawson was inspired by the first-hand accounts – the title track of his 1999 release The Right Way On shares the name of this worthy book.