From the Archives of Western Newspapers

By Samantha Johnson
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Thursday, June 25, 1896 – The Brandon Mail

The northern provinces of Japan suffered the loss of over a thousand lives when a subterranean disturbance shook the ground for over 20 hours. The ground rumblings were described as resembling the roaring of a distant cannon. Shock followed shock in almost uninterrupted succession about every 8 minutes, totalling about 150 in all with some stronger than others.

The city council of Victoria, BC have erected a barricade across James Bay bridge preventing the tram company from using it on the strength of a report from the city engineer that the bridge is not safe for tram traffic. The tram company’s engineer believes it is quite safe and the company is threatening to sue the city if the barricade is not removed. The city has thus far refused to comply with the request.

The steamer Alaska, bound for Tilt Cove with a cargo of copper ore, was caught in an ice floe and her bow and sides were crushed in. She reached port in a damaged condition and will require docking to render her seaworthy again. The schooner Edith was found abandoned off Cape Bonavista and it is feared her crew of seven have perished.

Saturday, June 27, 1914 – Edmonton Capital

At a special meeting of the commissioners this morning, F. Harris accepted the city’s offer of $2,000 to cover damages in depreciation of property that is near the overhead bridge. City solicitor Brown was instructed to prepare the necessary release, which will relieve the city of any future claims in regard to the matter once and for all. The property in question is situated at the corner of 102 Street and Victoria Avenue.

Annie Irvine Roney Chapin is being held for $1,000 bail and charged with theft. Her father, the Rev. N.W. Irvine, who was removed from his parish in 1900 for conduct unbecoming of his profession, was indignant about the arrest, “the charges have been trumped up to persecute a poor woman.” Miss Minerva Beeb, who lived in the Chapin household as a boarder, states Annie took $100 and nearly $1,500 in jewellery and clothing.

Militant suffragettes circumnavigated the police today and bombarded King George and Queen Mary with leaflets at the entrance to Hyde Park. A bundle of the papers struck the King’s hat and knocked it sideways while another shower of pamphlets caught the Queen’s parasol.

Thursday, June 28, 1923 –Macleod Times

A new long-distance phone record was made this past week when communication was established between Alberta and Winnipeg. The test was made at Calgary when General Hoadley, acting premier, spoke to phone commissioner Lowery of the Manitoba government. The test was satisfactory in every way and is the first time such phone connection has been established.

‘Thirty Days’ is the new photoplay at the Empress Theatre and was made for laughing purposes only. A melodramatic farce comedy featuring Wallace Reid, who plays a character with charity work being his sole purpose in life.  He innocently offends a vicious Italian who vows to kill him and the ensuing escapades result in many screamingly funny situations.

Burke’s Peerage is a hundred years old but only issuing the 95th edition due to an interruption in publishing by the war. The present editor is Sir Henry Farnham Burke, Royal Victorian Order, who is also Garter King of Arms and is thus head of the Herald’s College and the official and final authority on coats-of-arms.

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