March 9 - 15: Compiled by Dave Humphrey from the archived newspapers held at the Cranbrook History Centre and Archives
1918
Liquor offence … Magistrate, Arnold had an offender under the B. C. Prohibition Act, before him on Monday, when Guston Silverspar was charged with having liquor in his possession contrary to the Act. He was fined $50.00, the cash being forthcoming.
Man found dead in shack … In response to a telephone call between eight and nine o’clock on Monday morning Chief of Police Hersey proceeded to a shack on Van Horne Street where he found the dead body of Fred Buker. The coroner, Dr. F.W. Green, was immediately notified and directed that a jury be summoned.
The Chief made a thorough investigation but there were no signs of any struggle having taken place, nor was there any evidence that would indicate foul play of any sort.
At the inquest on Tuesday, the jury comprised of G. B. Brown, (foreman) V. D. Gilroy, W. G. Hayward, A. L. McDermot, R. Dixon, and W. F. Doran brought in a verdict of death from heart failure.
The deceased had lived in this district for a number of years but the police have not been able to get in touch with his relatives, who, as far as can be learned, live in Ontario.
News from the front … The following letter from Cpl. J. Bird has been received by Mr. Louis Pearron, who has kindly handed it to us for publication.
Ward 10, No. 1 Hospital, Exeter, Devon, Feb. 6, 1918 Dear Louis.— I was very pleased to get your letter of Dec. 5th, after it had been chasing over France and then back to this address.
Well, I suppose you would hear all about my misfortune from Mrs. Bird, I got it from mustard gas shells when up near Passchendaele. It made me blind for about 10 days and I suffered terribly with my throat and chest for nearly three weeks, losing my voice also.
Am glad to say, however, that I got rid of it from my lungs and don’t suppose I will have any ill effects left. Mustard gas makes one liable to bronchitis.
My eyes are still pretty weak, so wear a shade at present. Tomorrow I see the oculist and he will say whether I need glasses for a while or not.
You will be interested to know that I have been awarded the Military Medal, which came as a great surprise to me, as I only got the news on Saturday last, in a letter of congratulations from our Brig.General.
What a treat it is to be over in “Blighty” again. Today commences my third month here and this hospital has been a real home. Everyone is so nice and kind. I managed to get my “Blighty” leave at the end of last August after being in France just over twelve months.
I have had a number of “Heralds” sent to me in France but they were not returned to me here so have lost the local news.
I met Percy Adams one day near Ypres, but had only about a couple of minutes speech with him. He is Lieutenant in a motor M.G. Battery.
I did not see much of any of the Cranbrook boys for some time before becoming a casualty.
It was quite a relief to know that Mrs. Bird and Jacky arrived back in Cranbrook quite safely. I see they have gone to stay with Mrs. Bamford at Waldo.
Now I will close for the present time and will be pleased to hear from you again soon. John Bird
Farmers’ Institute notes … The Superintendent of Institutes has advised me that he will supply “Gopher Death” Tablets to Farmers’ Institutes on requisition of secretaries as to quantity needed, at cost, cash on delivery. This will be about $1.10 per box of 1,100 tablets. Members get busy and send your requirements in at once. A. B. Smith.
Grain requirements coming in fast — tardy members please speak quick. The Institute expects to bring in three bulls for the members in the near future, 2 dairy and 1 beef.
Annual meeting of Cranbrook Golf Club … The third annual general meeting of the members of the Cranbrook Golf Club was held in the City Hall on Monday evening. There was a large attendance.
After the minutes of the last annual meeting were read and adopted, the secretary presented the financial report which showed the Club to be in a satisfactory financial condition, having a surplus of $95.65.
The secretary stated that the club had a membership of 43, a slight increase over the previous year. He referred with regret to the loss the Club had sustained by the death of two of its most enthusiastic members, Mr. G.W.F. Carter and Dr. Moore.
He pointed out that the increasing membership warranted the consideration of enlarging the Club House and improving the course, but if improvements were decided on, it would be necessary to increase the membership fees.
Letter from the front … No. 349641, Driver E. Jones, “A” Battery, C. R. A. Witley Camp, Surrey. Jan. 20th, 1918
Dear Miss Kelsey:— Just a few lines to thank you so much for the very much appreciated parcel which I received a few days ago from the Junior Red Cross Society, packed by yourself. As perhaps you know they are certainly appreciated over here, particularly when they come as a surprise, which, I must say, your parcel did as I did not even think anyone had my address.
We are having bad weather over here at present, rain or snow every day and as a consequence lots of mud which makes driving rather difficult and almost an impossibility to keep anything like clean. I expect we will be in France in about ten days time and guess we will strike more mud over there.
I had six days leave early in December and must say enjoyed it to the full. I was in London for two days and while there visited Buckingham Palace and was shown through the stables and also saw the different State Coaches, among them being the Coronation Coach, but if I was the horses I think I would kick at having to haul the latter coach as there is enough bronze work and statues on it to sink a battleship, it must weigh several tons.
The rest of my leave I spent around Glasgow and Edinburgh and it would surely make you laugh to hear the language, they might just as well talk Chinese as far as I was concerned.
We are situated in a very pretty section of the country, in a valley completely surrounded by hills, which is the reason I have heard, that we have no air raids on this camp as on account of the hills it is almost impossible to see it from the air.
While I was in London I saw the effects of several air raids, among them being a bronze lion, at the base of a statue, which had a hole driven clean through it from a piece of a bomb.
I am on duty this afternoon, so I must close, thanking you all again and with best wishes to you all, I remain. Yours sincerely, Ernest Jones.
No meeting refreshments … The decision of the members of the Women’s Institute to abstain from refreshments at their monthly meetings is to be highly commended. The women’s institute have set a worthy example.
Fond farewell … A large party of friends assembled at the station on Wednesday to bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Brown and daughters, who left on the west bound train for Spence’s Bridge where Mr. Brown has been appointed station agent.
Mrs. Brown, though not a long resident of this city, has been an active worker in the Methodist Church and has endeared herself to a host of friends both in the church and out of it, who bade her farewell with great regret. Her good influence among all who knew her will live after her.
Cabaret tea … The Cabaret Tea at the Cranbrook Hotel on Saturday afternoon for the benefit of the Prisoners of War Fund was a splendid success.
An exceptionally large crowd was present and the ladies who had charge of the tables were kept busy from three to five-thirty. The tastefully set tables were arranged down the sides and end of the dining room, leaving the centre cleared for dancing.
The ladies were also conducting a raffle, the winners being: Mrs. F. W . Green, knitting bag; Mrs. A. C. Nelson, hand-painted picture; Mr. T. C. Phillips, crochet yoke.
The program was under the direction of Mrs. N. A. Wallinger and consisted of dance music by Mrs. Wallinger and Mrs. Whitehouse: a vocal solo “Sunset” by Mrs. Tweed, Waltz, Chopin, by Miss Wanda Fink, dance music by Mrs. R. Edmondson and a fox trot by Miss J. Richardson and Miss McBride.
“Puss in Boots” and “The Taming of the Shrew” … Performances in past years by the pupils of King Edward’s School have established a reputation for entertainments that really entertain, and the presentation of “Puss in Boots” by the younger pupils, followed by a shortened version of “The Taming of the Shrew” to be given at the Auditorium on Thursday, March 14th, will, if possible, enhance the reputation of Miss Cherrington’s pupils.
The program will include dances in fancy costumes by pupils of Mrs. Van Braam, also several musical numbers, both vocal and instrumental. Arrangements are being made for some exceedingly attractive stage settings, etc. The curtain will rise promptly at eight o’clock.
“Henpecked Henry” coming … Billy Oswald, the famous Scottish comedian, who plays the part of the henpecked husband in “Henpecked Henry”, is without doubt the best and most favorably known comedian in Canada.
His early theatrical training was received in Scotland but for the past few years he has been seen in Canada with such attractions as “Alladin”, “The Girl From Nowhere,” “Floradora” etc.
Mr. Oswald with this attraction has been surrounded with a number of first class artists including Katherine Sheldon, an old favorite in Western Canada, Beatrice Carmen, another former member of the Alladin Company, Claire Coupez, Chas. Bates, Phil Ainsworth, and a big “Sunshine Girls” chorus.
The plot of the play is farcical and deals with the trials and tribulations of a henpecked husband who innocently gets into a number of compromising situations that cause further henpecking much to his disgust.
The story is told in a very novel and out of the ordinary way and is a scream from start to finish.
A number of the late song hits will be interpolated during the action of the piece, by the different principals of the company and the “Sunshine Girls” chorus.
The United Producing Co., Ltd., who are controlling this attraction, are offering it to theatre patrons with full confidence that it will prove a decided novelty and will give more than usual satisfaction. It will be seen at the Auditorium, Friday night, March 8th.
Thistlebeak suggestions … Jim Thistlebeak says, train your mind to delight people; don’t follow the crowd but step softly among human hearts; stop wailing over flowers that will never blossom on the north side of your house, go around to the south side and start a new garden; decorate your centre table with a copy of this great family paper, and be convinced that no person could be saved from drowning if there wasn’t any water. You can run a store without advertising and you can wink at a girl in the dark— but what’s the use.
Mill owners to ship … Messrs. Broley and Nolan who own the mill one mile north of the Roosville Post Office, and 12 miles from Newgate, motored to Flagstone and took the train for Fernie and returned the next day with the south bound cannon ball. They started cutting last week and are cutting the best clear cut lumber ever seen in these hills. They expect to be shipping from Flagstone in a few weeks and this will make Flagstone a shipping point for 3 mills.
Some essay! … Miss E. B. Paterson who is teaching school at the Kootenay Orchards near Cranbrook, and was for two and a half years in charge of the school in Roosviile where the Big Red Apples grow, tells a good story of the first fall she was there and shortly after the deer season came in. She told a certain pupil to compose a brief essay in which he should say something about all the days in the week, and the youngster turned in the following: Last Monday, my brother Dick and I killed a deer in the cabbage patch, and mother told us that the meat would last over Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Womens’ Institute meeting … There was an attendance of 123 at the regular monthly meeting of the Cranbrook Women’s Institute at the Parish Hall on Tuesday afternoon.
After the adoption of the minutes of the preceding meeting the Secretary, Mrs. J. W. Burton, presented the correspondence, which included letters of appreciation of Institute parcels from several of the boys overseas, including Charles Morrison Percy Adlard, Norman Griswold, E. W. Attree, Cam Lindsay, and T. H. Bronston.
Notices were received from the Army Post Office regarding parcels sent to Pte. A. Edgington, 931- 233, who had returned to Canada and Pte. J. Birch, 307899, who could not be traced; these notices demonstrate the care taken to ensure delivery of all parcels.
