From the Archives of Western Newspapers

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

May 5, 1879 – Saskatchewan Herald

Our correspondent in Edmonton writes that Gus, the mail carrier along the Bow River, had a rough trip. He left Edmonton on March 12 and his horse gave out at One Pine near the edge of the woods about 70 miles from the Elbow. He left the horse and mail and started out on foot across the bare plain. After being snow blinded and three days without food or fire, he was found at Nose Creek, which comes into the Bow River at the Elbow. The mail has subsequently been brought in and forwarded to Fort McLeod.

On April 6, the ground was as bare of snow as in July, except in shady parts where drifts were deep. Two weeks prior, the snow was two feet deep on the level. The weather was severe up until then, but since has been as warm as June. The snow had disappeared without muddying the streets or raising the creeks more than two hours rain would have done.

The first thunderstorm of the season, accompanied by a refreshing rain, visited us on Friday night.

Looks like the intended and much needed mail service to Cypress Hills is to be further delayed.

May 6, 1895 – The Advance (Midway, BC)

Regarding a motion passed by the New York state legislature today favouring the political union of the USA and Canada, Premier Bowell states, “It is only demagogues and irresponsible vandals that attempt to create ill feeling between the two countries. Every Canadian knows there is no annexation sentiment in this country, because we believe we are better off than the Americans.”

Some time ago, when the roads were in a bad condition, Inspector Fletcher (who, by the by, never inspects this lower country) granted the mail carrier the privilege of making the round trip to Grand Forks and Penticton in six days instead of four. To this, the public, being reasonable, made no objection, as they recognized its necessity. Now, however, since the conditions of the road are good, no time should be lost by the mail carrier in rendering a service to conform with the stipulations of the contract.

Until the last few days, we were always inclined to feel that we were more or less isolated from the rest of the world. Since the advent of a bicycle in our midst on Tuesday, the feeling has passed away to a great extent, and we are beginning to believe we are much closer in touch with civilization than we formerly believed. Mr. Cann came all the way from Vernon on his wheel, not even taking the boat from the Mission to Penticton. He returned the next day, proceeding to Osoyoos and Keremeos on business. He reported the roads in excellent condition for cycling and doesn’t understand why there should be any difficulties for the mail carrier.

May 6, 1901 – The Morning Telegram (Winnipeg)

A lad convicted of theft received a flogging at the police court.

The bylaw repealing the regulation of carrying bicycle lamps after dark will be given a second reading.

The New York Health Department is uttering cautions against headache cures. It has been brought to the notice of the department that many of these cures contain drugs deadly to some persons, particularly those with weak hearts. There is at present no legal system of regulation for these remedies and ignorant use of them is often, it is alleged, at risk of life.

For years, the Northwest government has been conducting affairs on the totally inadequate allowance grudgingly doled out by the Dominion government. We are at the mercy of the government as territorial status gives us no financial rights of our own. As we have not any confidence in the current Dominion government, we believe this to be a dangerous power and one that might be used unscrupulously.