From the Archives of Western Newspapers

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

October 31, 1888 – Calgary
Weekly Herald and Alberta
Livestock Journal

Axworthy, the absconding treasurer from Cleveland, Ohio left Montreal by the mail steamer Polynesian today. The Quebec detectives have been notified to arrest him when the steamer passes through there.

In Kingston, the uninjured body of Miss Kenny’s was recovered from the medical students at the college yesterday. The body of Caleb Smith was also given up, although it had been badly mutilated.

In Halifax, the jury in the trial of Jane Doyle acquitted her tonight of the charge of complicity in the murder of her husband. The verdict was received with loud applause by the crowded courtroom.

In Ottawa, a serious row occurred between the French and Irish hands at a sawmill. Police charged the crowd, arrested the ringleaders and quelled the disturbance. 

October 30, 1902 – The Wetaskiwin Times

The coal strike in the Pennsylvania mines has ended after 154 days and involved great sacrifices and resulted in much property damage along with several lines lost during the riots. As is usual in these cases, both sides claim victory. At this juncture, it appears both sides have made concessions with the advantage slightly on the side of the miners.

That there are a number of hairbrained creatures abroad is fully in evidence by the numerous fires surrounding us. Surely to goodness something can and ought to be done to stop this illegal proceeding. It is difficult enough to obtain enough hay for cattle and even more so to obtain crops owing to hail and other causes. This work and anxiety are bad enough, but when fire has to be fought as well, the life of a settler is not altogether a happy one.

J.H. Walker has been appointed meteorologist of this district and received his thermometers this week. He is having a suitable place fitted up for the accurate recordings of climatic conditions and will commence taking records in a few days. He has been a weather observer for years and has kept a record of the highest and lowest temperatures each day since he came to Wetaskiwin 10 years ago.

October 29, 1910 – Bow Island Review

There has been an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Great Britain despite stringent regulations on the admittance of livestock from other countries. She maintains an embargo on Canadian cattle, where no outbreak of foot and mouth or other contagious diseases has occurred. When foot and mouth broke out in the Eastern USA a few years ago, Canadian quarantine regulations were sufficient to prevent the disease from crossing the border. Despite the record being very good in our country, the embargo remains against Canadian cattle as a measure to prevent the disease from entering Great Britain.

A woman was recently arrested outside a Parisian shop and charged by one of the shop’s private detectives with theft. She indignantly denied the theft. Unfortunately for her, an alarm clock she’d stolen chose that moment to go off. Three alarm clocks of small size, two watches and eight brooches were found in a specially made pocket on the inside of her skirt when she was searched.

Those who know, tell us at the paper that 90% of headaches are caused by eyestrain. An optician will be in Bow Island at Jameison’s jewellery store early in November, so it is best to make an appointment to see him.