From the Archives of Western Newspapers

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

May 17, 1893 – The Saskatchewan Times

The members of the IOF will have their first excursion on the Queen’s birthday. It will be on the safe and commodious steamer Nor’West, which will leave the east end landing at 8 a.m. before stopping at the foot of McKay Street and Sanderson Mill. A pleasant days outing is ensured with good music, beautiful scenery, delightful picnic grounds, a jolly crowd and a run home in the soft twilight. Come along, everyone else is going.

A fortnight ago, there was still snow lying on the fields but for the past week seeding has been going on vigorously. Tom McFadden put in 10 acres of wheat and already it is beginning to show above ground. It is being said this will be the largest crop for some seasons past.

Melfort Creek is higher than it has been for some years and several bridges constructed by settlers last season were swept away. Two good bridges are urgently needed and residents of Melfort are hopeful we get a sizeable share of the NW Grant this year.

May 20, 1911 – Redcliff Review

According to the Western Union telegraph company, Dell Rapids, South Dakota, a town of 1,500 people, was completely destroyed by a tornado on the evening of May 18.

In Edmonton, Mr. and Mrs. John Mills, along with their two small children and Mr. Fred Robertson, all narrowly escaped serious injury or worse the other evening. They were returning home at a late hour when the automobile in which they were riding skidded off the road and turned a somersault. Although Mr. Mills was pinned under the machine by his clothing, no members of the party were seriously hurt.

Two New York detectives came in for a good wigging by the Magistrate of the night court for wrongly arresting F.J. Torup, a buyer for a large Chicago millinery house. Torup arrived today and sails for Paris tomorrow. He went to a show and then a café with a friend and was accosted by a woman while walking back to his hotel. She threw her arms around his neck and immediately started yelling for police, claiming Torup tried to shake her down for $5. She repeated the story to the night court and Torup denied the charges, showing the court $50 in cash and $700 in negotiable papers along with his steamship ticket to Paris. The case was dismissed and Torup declined making charges against the woman as he was concerned it would delay his trip abroad. The two detectives have been involved in shake down cases for some time and one still has a bandage on his nose from being knocked down by a prisoner on May 2.

May 18, 1916 – Chinook Advance

Several Irish rebels hid themselves in coffins at an undertaking establishment in Dublin to escape being arrested.

The French Secret Service has been busy rounding up German spies in Paris. The spies are working in hotels as porters, waiters and valets. 200 suspects were recently arrested with half of them imprisoned and fined.

The Stock Inspection Act was passed in 1915 and the intention is to enforce it to the last letter as an effort against horse stealing. The first conviction was made under the act at the Calgary Mounted Police barracks with the accused charged $50 and costs. The horse was confiscated and will be sold with the proceeds going to the government.