The violence and bloodshed which the fur traders now heard of far and near paralyzed the fur trade carried on by both fur companies, and brought the financial affairs of both companies to the verge of destruction.

Two startling events of the next year produced a great shock.

These were sudden and untimely deaths of the two great opponents--Lord Selkirk at an early age in France, and Sir Alexander Mackenzie, at his estate in Scotland, he having been seized with sudden illness on his way from London.

The two men died within a month of one another in the spring of 1820.

Their passing away was surely impressive.