In the remote wilderness of Canada’s Yukon Territory, a man known only as "The Mad Hunter" embarked on a daring escape that would become the stuff of legends. His identity remains a mystery to this day, but his 33-day flight from the law—across harsh landscapes, braving extreme weather, and eluding a massive manhunt—captivated the world. Albert Johnson, or whatever his real name was, became the subject of the largest manhunt in Canadian history. The story of his incredible survival and ultimate demise still leaves many questions unanswered, but one thing is certain: the "Mad Hunter" was not someone to be underestimated.
The Beginning of a Notorious Escape:
It all started on July 9, 1931, in Fort McPherson, near Rat River, when a man named Albert Johnson sought permission from the local sheriff, Edgar Millen, to build a small cabin in the woods. Johnson, with his Scandinavian accent that he seemed eager to conceal, was not from the area, and something about him made the locals uneasy. Little did anyone know that this seemingly quiet man would soon become the subject of one of the most notorious fugitive cases in Canadian history.
Johnson's troubles began when he began setting animal traps in the forest without a proper license. This poaching activity was reported to the police, and on December 26, Officers Alfred King and Joe Bernard visited his cabin to issue a fine. However, Johnson, unwilling to cooperate, locked himself inside his cabin, refusing to talk. This would be the spark that set off a chain of events that would escalate into a dangerous standoff.
The Shootout and the Siege:
After failing to reason with Johnson, the officers returned five days later with two more colleagues. They attempted to force entry into the cabin, but when they tried to break down the door, Johnson shot through the wood, grazing Officer King. What followed was a half-hour shootout between Johnson and the officers, who soon realized that the man they were dealing with was not easily intimidated.
The police called in reinforcements, and a crew of nine officers arrived to confront the fugitive. In an attempt to flush Johnson out, they placed 20 kilograms of dynamite around his cabin. When the dynamite exploded, the officers were shocked to find that Johnson was still alive. Another shootout ensued, and Johnson continued to take cover behind the wreckage of his cabin.
The siege lasted for 15 grueling hours, with temperatures plunging below -40 degrees Celsius. The police were forced to retreat and call for backup. The story of the "Mad Hunter" quickly spread across the world, and a massive manhunt was launched to capture him. The manhunt became more urgent with each passing day, as Johnson evaded capture by skillfully navigating the harsh wilderness.
The Chase Across the Yukon:
By January 14, 1932, Johnson had managed to stay one step ahead of the police, even as they sought the help of local native tribes, who were expert trackers and familiar with the difficult terrain. But the fugitive's luck was running out. On January 14, the search team found him hiding in thick bushes, just a few meters away from his original cabin. Another shootout ensued, and this time, Sheriff Edgar Millen was mortally wounded.
Johnson fled once again, this time making his way toward the Yukon border. The chase continued for hours as Johnson, aided by his intimate knowledge of the land, outmaneuvered the authorities. But his journey was far from over. On February 5, 1932, the renowned aviator Wilfrid "Wop" May, who had been called in to track Johnson from the air, spotted footprints in the snow on the Richardson Mountains. Johnson, aware that he was being hunted, had used the tracks left by a caribou herd to cover his own footprints, making it even more difficult for the police to track him.
The Final Showdown:
On February 17, the search team, guided by May’s aerial reconnaissance, finally closed in on Johnson near a river. Exhausted and with his snow boots worn down, Johnson tried to climb a hill but was unable to escape. A final shootout erupted, and this time, the "Mad Hunter" was mortally wounded by a bullet that severed an artery in his pelvic area. He bled to death in the snow, his 137-kilometer trek across the wilderness finally coming to an end.
In the end, Johnson’s true identity remained a mystery. While some speculated that he might have been Arthur Nelson, a criminal with similar firearms, the theory was discarded due to discrepancies in appearance. His autopsy revealed he was between 35 and 40 years old, in excellent physical condition, and accustomed to the harsh life he led in the wilderness.
The Legacy of the Mad Hunter:
Although Johnson’s identity was never definitively confirmed, his incredible feat of survival and evasion left an indelible mark on Canadian history. His story has been told and retold in films and documentaries, including a 2007 Discovery Channel special. The "Mad Hunter" remains a symbol of the untamed spirit of the wilderness and the extraordinary lengths one can go to when pushed to the limit. Despite the decades that have passed, the legend of Albert Johnson continues to captivate and mystify, his true identity still one of Canada’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
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