Once found the cold of winter could not keep the miners away and a large number of them wintered on the creek living in snow caves. When the spring came every inch of the creek was staked and gold was being found in great quantity. The town that sprung up was something of a marvel, providing champagne and caviar and finally even a full race track with thoroughbred horses brought from back east.

For the first year after the discovery of William's creek Antler remained the dominant community because the easily available gold on Williams Creek was not rich enough. Only after the shafts were pushed down past a hard blue clay layer was the real gold bearing gravel found. Once that happened Antler was doomed and the rush moved on, leaving behind, finally a ghost town.

All text and images © Quesnel & District Museum and Archives unless otherwise noted. Thanks to the B.C. Archives for permission to show various images. Thanks to the BC Encyclopedia for permission to quote information on the roadhouse communities. Thanks to the Living Landscapes Project, the Royal British Columbia Museum, Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services for their support of site development.