What is possibly the only photo of Albert Johnson alive. The name Albert Johnson was given, but there was no indication that was true. This itself was unusual in a place where because of the isolation, dangers, and hardships of life in the wilderness, friendliness and helpfulness was the norm. He was soon viewed as a rather unfriendly loner. Any stranger arriving attracts a little attention and the local RCMP chatted with him, but found him to be less than forthcoming about who he was, why he had come to this remote region, and what his intentions were.
The story begins in summer of 1931 when a stranger about age 35, shows up in the tiny community of Fort McPherson in Northwest territores. Who was this man? They didn’t know then, and they still don’t know now, and probably never will. It is one of the many enduring legends and mysteries of Canada’s far northern frontiers.
