Dave Humphrey
Items compiled from the archived newspapers held at the Cranbrook History Centre Archives
1902
Found … We found a pocket knife in our hencoop the other day. The owner may have same by calling at this office and proving property.
Christmas is near … There are a few families in Cranbrook who will not be in a position to do much for their children on Christmas, and that is a day on which no child should be overlooked. It beats sending money to foreign heathens.
Close call … There was a hot time in The Herald office last Thursday afternoon. The boys evidently wanted to celebrate something, and they kindly waited until the proprietor had left town on the afternoon train, and then they turned things loose. There had been trouble with the engine, and Mr. Billings, the foreman, had called in two of his friends to assist in the capacity of experts, Frank Rutley and William O’Hearn, both railway engineers. A leaking flue necessitated extreme heat to maintain steam, and they got up the heat. Just as the last bunch of paper was nearly off, O’Hearn, who had assumed the general management and reduced Rutley to the position of fireman, noticed flames shooting downward from the ceiling. A general alarm was sounded, and a fire brigade organized without loss of time. By the use of the force pump and hose, a serious conflagration was averted, as the flames were extinguished before they had gotten too strong a hold. Two or three minutes more and nothing would have saved the Herald plant or building. As it is now, it is a debatable question who put out the fire. O’Hearn or Rutley. O’Hearn that Rutley ran to the back fence and hung up his coat, saying that was the only coat he had to wear to San Francisco, while Rutley says that O’Hearn danced around and yelled, “put it out,.” Be as it may, the flames were beaten in their efforts to break a newspaper man, and the proprietor feels under many obligations to those who did such good work.
Finally hung … Henry Rose was hanged at Nelson yesterday, in the jail yard at 8 o’clock protesting his innocence to the last. He was attended in his last moments by his priest, Father Althoff, who communicated him on the scaffold kissing him at the conclusion of the sacrament. Father Althoff then read out a short speech which had been written by the prisoner, in which he protested his freedom from guilt, but declared he was prepared to die bearing no ill will to any man even to those who had brought him to the scaffold. Just before the black cap was drawn over his face the condemned man smiled and said ‘Good bye all”, then the priest began reciting the prayer for those in extremis and whilst in the act executioner Radcliffe drew the bolt and the body shot through the trap falling a distance of seven and a half feet before checked by the rope. The neck was broken and death was instantaneous. Radcliffe seemed to be very nervous about the execution and directly after the last act, approached one of the witnesses and asked if he thought the man was really guilty, adding: “I hope he is, but that last speech was pretty strong”.
Wild Horse … Wild Horse creek has long been celebrated for its placer gold mines, and the finding of a nugget, last week, having a value of over $100, together with the year’s output, which is estimated at about $20,000 demonstrates the fact that all the gold has not been washed out of the historic creek. The more development work that is done on the quartz properties on Wild Horse and its tributaries, the greater seems its possibilities, and there is enough free gold quartz blocked out to supply a large mill for years to come. The exploration of the gold belt, however, will be renewed next year with increased activity and with the bonding of several groups of mines, and the influence of new blood and fresh capital, there will be a grand awakening all along the river.
Looking good … With three meat markets and two banks in Cranbrook, the coming winter looks like it might be an uninterrupted dream of content and happiness to the Old Man.
What next … Col. Prior as premier of British Columbia! Ye Gods, what a comic opera the next house will be.
Let’s skate … Skating parties seem quite the go in the evenings on the pond of ice north of town. The young people are having glorious times these days on the ice. It makes the older chaps sigh for the days of youth when a pair of skates and a smooth piece of ice was likened unto heaven.
Change from the mountains … Misses Jessie and Emma Leitch left last Friday for Lethbridge where the latter went to consult Dr. Newburn on the condition of her health. Word has been received from Mr. Leitch, who went there Saturday that the doctor considers Miss Emma’s throat in bad condition and says that outdoor life away from the mountains will be necessary for some time, and daily treatment of the affected parts. She will commence at once to live in a tent and become accustomed to her changed mode of existence. Miss Jessie will remain with her for a week or more. The many friends of Miss Emma in Cranbrook wish her a speedy recovery.
1903
Incorporation talks … Nearly 100 representative citizens of Cranbrook gathered at Wentworth hall Tuesday night for the purpose of discussing matters of interest to Cranbrook and her people. No definite statement had been made in the call for the meeting that the question of incorporation would come up, but the general impression seemed to prevail that that would be one of the important matters presented, and such proved to be the case. The chairman opened the meeting by stating that incorporation was generally believed to be a good thing in towns like Cranbrook, and that the subject was open for discussion by the meeting. He called upon James Ryan, who spoke in favor of incorporation under certain restrictions, and emphasized the fact that the co-operation of the C. P. R. should be secured as they were the heaviest land owners in town. James Gill, of the townsite office, stated that at the present time, based on the list price, there had been $106,200 worth of property sold in Cranbrook, and that there was $168,400 worth of property still owned by the C. P. R. He expressed himself as satisfied that the C. P. R. authorities would be pleased to meet a delegation of Cranbrook citizens to confer on the matter.
Charged … On Tuesday Geo. Hunt and John Payne were ordered to pay a fine of $10 and costs or spend two weeks in jail for residing at a house of ill-fame.
Fresh venison … Monday’s west-bound train landed a curious cargo in Cranbrook, in the shape of eight of the finest deer seen in East Kootenay for a long time. The venison attracted the immediate attention of a number of bystanders, whose interest deepened considerably when three Indians came forward and claimed it. For quite half an hour after the departure of the train, the Indians, or rather their prizes, were the centerpieces of a throng whose admiration was only exceeded by their inquisitiveness. The laconic Indians stolidly ignored all questions; they had come to trade not to talk. When this became known the venison soon changed owners, the high prices notwithstanding. Later The Herald man learned from one of the Indians, Ambrose by name, that the vension was shot on Sunday, not two miles from Wardner station. Cranbrook sportsmen should take the hint and not neglect such a promising locality.
Bad luck … The Jeffries family is surely most unfortunate. Twice they have been in quarantine on account of two of their children having scarlet fever, and last week, after only a few days escape, the baby was stricken with the disease and now they are in quarantine again.
