Saturday, 25 July 2020

BEARDMORE-LAKE NIPIGON EXTRACTS 4


April Daily Times in Beardmore - based on reports in the Fort William Daily Times-Journal in 1938
Fri 1 Apr HOME RAZED – Fire broke out at 12:45 a.m. Mrs. Fred Turebyko injured her hand while climbing out a broken window with her daughter Olga. Her husband was at work. When the volunteer firemen arrived, the fire was out of control. Only a few bedclothes were saved.
Tue 5 Apr BEARDMORE BADMINTON CLUB – Held a tournament for its members with an enthusiastic crowd as witnesses. Mr. Erechook purchased a lot next to the theatre and planned to build a billiard parlour. Home and School Club raised $32 at a very successful dance. “Hats, balloons and noisemakers added to the gaiety of the affair.” Earl McIlroy of Geraldton has arrived and “accepted a position” at the Northland Hotel. “The Educational School of Music has begun a class for pupils in guitar.”
Fri 8 Apr WOMEN’S INSTITUTE – The first meeting on March 29th was held with Mrs. H. Smith in the chair. Convenorship appointments: “Mrs. Cameron, education; Mrs. C.E. Robinson, current events, assisted by Mrs. Kowalchuk; Mrs. K.C. Noble as home economics; Mrs. Donnelly, home and child welfare; Mrs. McKenzie, Canadianization; Mrs. Bennett, legislation. Mrs. A. Pleson was appointed as secretary in charge of publicity.” A sick committee was chosen, as well as Mrs. Gustafson appointed in charge of finances. Plans called for a bake sale on Sat. Apr. 9th at Mitchell’s Supply Store. Mrs. A. Chadwell gave a short talk on “Neighborliness”.
Thu 14 Apr EASTER CONCERT – Sunday school are practicing for Sunday, Apr. 17th, at the school. Guests at Beardmore Hotel during the week including the following addresses: Winnipeg, Port Arthur, Haileybury, Toronto, Fort William, Geraldton, Nezah, Jellicoe, New York, Murillo, Renfrew. Lorne Gryts crushed his finger while working at “Empire Mine”. On Sunday afternoon some young people hiked to Buffalo Beardmore Mine. On their return they enjoyed “a delicious dinner” at the Northland Hotel.
Thu 14 Apr LOSS OF LIFE – “A snowmobile belonging to J.G. Burk, Indian agent, and driven by John Hardy, carrying a passenger, David Laidlaw, of Wolsey, Sask., broke through the ice at the gap of McIntyre Bay, on Lake Nipigon.” Mr. Laidlaw drowned about thirty feet offshore in twelve feet of water. J. Hardy made his way ten miles to Grand Bay Indian Reserve to seek help. Laidlaw was in charge of the sawmill and woods operations for the Indian Department at the reserve, where he also had a brother. Pilot F. Hawthorne of Port Arthur happened to be at Grand Bay and immediately took off for “MacDiarmid” to arrange for recovery of the body and salvage of the “snowplane”.
Sat 16 Apr SUCCESSFUL BAKE SALE – The Women’s Institute raised $25. The winner of “a log cake . . . guessed the nearest correct number of matches on a bottle”. Two other winners got boxes of chocolates.
Wed 20 Apr NORTHERN EMPIRE MINER KILLED – Seven miners fell when the cage plunged as the clutch on the hoist gave way at the 400-foot level. One was killed, six seriously injured. One miner, Steve Sami, had a narrow escape. “Just as I stepped off I felt something brush my back and before I could turn around the cage was out of sight.”
Wed 20 Apr MINERS RUSHED TO HOSPITAL – Arthur Kendall, manager of Northern Empire Mine, said the hoist mechanism passed inspection three weeks prior. Canadian National Railways formed a special trail to rush the injured to Port Arthur hospital. A baggage car was converted into a hospital by the mine’s Dr. G. Hogg and three nurses. “The faces of the injured were battered almost beyond recognition.” One was not expected to survive.
Tue 26 Apr ACCIDENT INQUEST – Two deaths, Joseph Barr and Tony Krill. The inquest officials examined the headframe and hoisting machinery. “The steel cable had ripped a portion of the roof from the head-frame housing when the cage went wild.”
Wed 27 Apr HEAVY RAINS –“Rain has fallen every day for the last two weeks in the mining country east of Nipigon, and the roads and streets in the mining towns are almost impassable, with the exception of the road to Leitch and Sand River mines, which was built by the Department of Highways during the last two seasons and which is in good condition, and in regular use by a bus line and private automobiles.” A washout between Nipigon and Orient Bay put 80 feet of track out of commission. A Longlac-Port Arthur train was stalled two hours while section men and train crew worked in driving rain to fill the hole with ties and timbers.
Thu 28 Apr WASHOUT ENLARGED – About one mile from Orient Bay, the washout has deepened and widened due to a raging creek. The regular train from Port Arthur and a special train from Hornepayne met at the washout and passengers walked from one train to another.
Fri 29 Apr TEACHERS RETURN – After the holidays, W.N. Allen from Fort William and Helen McKinnon from Duluth and Fort William. Women’s Institute had a successful tag day, raising $28 for equipment for the school. “A farewell party and dance was held at the Empire hotel hall on Friday evening in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, manager of Leitch Gold Mine, and Dr. and Mrs. Kunkle, who are leaving shortly.”
Photo #1 > Not dated, n.s. Snowplane at Beardmore – “Bob Vera That’s my dads snowplane and he is the third guy on the right with the salt and pepper hat”




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