125 YEARS AGO: JULY 2/JULY 9, 1898
Attempted Murder [July 2]: On Thursday evening at Savonas a man named Phillip Gatan, who has long resided in a small home near the railroad track, heard about 8 o’clock a rap on the door. He went first to the front door, but seeing no one, opened the back door. He was immediately grasped by the shoulder by a man standing at the side of the door, a revolver of small calibre presented close to his head and a shot fired. No word was spoken and as the shot was fired Mr. Gatan wrenched himself loose and ran through the house screaming for help. Those who first arrived saw a man running down towards the lake, getting shelter in the fringe of the trees there. The neighbours found Mr. Gatan to have been shot in the side of the head, the ball striking near the ear, passing around the skull, totally destroying the left eye and causing a terrible wound. He was taken to Kamloops and his wounds dressed. He may recover but is very dangerously hurt. Officer Burr tracked the would-be murderer about a mile this side of Savonas. After satisfying himself that the man was headed toward Ashcroft Mr. Burr caught a freight train that came into Savonas and came down, arriving in Ashcroft early Friday evening. He returned immediately up the road as he is satisfied that the assailant is between this point and Savonas. Mr. Gatan was well known as rather eccentric and to keep large sums of money on hand. He had in the house at the time of the attempted murder about $1,000.
Attempted Murder [July 9]: The would-be murderer of the old man at Savonas passed through Ashcroft yesterday morning and was again reported from the tunnel near the black canyon at 9 o’clock last night. Officer Burr is down after him and close on his track, he can hardly escape. The chap is known in Ashcroft, having spent some days here last week.
Ashcroft Locals: Fishing is now the rage. The king of all rainbow trout was caught at Ashcroft this week by John Mundorf. It weighed exactly 8¾ pounds. The trout was given to Mr. John Shields, who expressed it through to the Evening Telegram, Toronto, where it will attract attention and call to the Toronto nimrods’ [hunters’] mind the fact that there is no better trout fishing in the world than at Ashcroft. Mr. Mundorf last week caught a 6¼ pound trout. Mr. James Haddock caught a fine string Wednesday evening in an hour’s fishing. Think of it, ye who love fishing, gamey trout weighing from ½ a pound to nine pounds at any time in season, caught in the swift running Thompson at Ashcroft.
Lac La Hache: Lac La Hache is keeping up with the times for several of our young people have got bicycles, and it is no new sight to see three or four riders taking advantage of the good roads. Some of the ladies ride very well indeed, but of course some times an accident will happen with the very best, especially when they attempt to ride down some very crooked hill. Quite a number of cyclists have passed through the valley this season and all pronounce this part of the road the best.
100 YEARS AGO: JUNE 30/JULY 7, 1923
Masonic Lodge Formed In Ashcroft: At the annual meeting of the A.F. and A.M. held in New Westminster recently, Mr. Chas. E. Tisdall was elected Grand Master of the order for the province, and Ashcroft was granted a charter to be known as Zarthan Lodge 105.
Long Dispute Ends In Court; Squatters Claim They Are On Public Street And Not On Private Property: A unique case came before the county court on Wednesday in Ashcroft. The plaintiffs in the suit were R.R. Earle, K.C., sole executor, and Mrs. Mary Ann Nesbitt, who claims a life interest in the land [where the River Inn/Legacy Park campground are now located] under the will of her father, the late J.C. Barnes; and the defendants were E. Bradshaw and J.R. Harvey, both of whom claim that their buildings are either on crown land or on streets of the town of Ashcroft, and are therefore not subject to ground rent sought to be collected by the plaintiffs. Both defendants are several years in arrears with rent, and the suit was brought on to recover this, as well as to establish ownership of the land in question, [which] lies to the east of and adjoins the town of Ashcroft, but on a bench about twenty feet lower than the town bench. The contention of the defendants was that their buildings were situated on land laid out as streets included in the new survey. Maps produced proved the contrary. The land on which the defendants as well as a number of other squatters are settled has never been blocked out as a townsite. [Also see “Old Landmark Burned” below for more on this site.]
Lighthearted Larks: Old Lady — Here’s a penny, my poor man. Tell me, how did you become so destitute? Beggar — I was like you, mum; giving away vast sums to the poor and needy.
75 YEARS AGO: JULY 1/JULY 8, 1948
59-Mile House Burns To Ground: On Wednesday June 30th one of the historic landmarks of the Cariboo Road was completely destroyed by fire, when the old 59-Mile House burned down in 40 minutes. The present owner and occupier Mrs. Ross York was alone in the building when she noticed a great deal of smoke in the kitchen. She ran outside and shouted to her neighbour, Buster van Horlick, who however was out of hearing distance. She then ran to the phone and gave alarm to the Clinton phone operator. The Dawson Wade crew at 70-Mile was at once contacted and they covered the ground between there and the 59 in record time. However by that time the heat was so great they could not get within a hundred feet of the building. Even a telephone pole 100 feet from the house was burning. Mrs. York was unable to save anything of the contents. There is believed to have been some insurance on the building.
Fears Giant Slide Near Ashcroft: Edgar A. Johnson, former CPR civil engineer and provincial water rights branch engineer, has issued a warning at Victoria that a gigantic landslide just east of Ashcroft is a serious possibility when the Thompson river subsides later this summer. Such an avalanche might block the river for a time, then break to release a great wall of water in a tidal wave of new destruction, he suggests. Site of the possible landslide is just east of the junction of the Bonaparte river and the Thompson. Johnson says that construction of the Canadian National cut across the toe of a volcanic ash plateau just east of the Bonaparte’s mouth. “After the building of the railway a crack developed in the land above, far back from and hundreds of feet above the railway grade,” reports Mr. Johnson. “That was in 1913, but the crack is not a crack now. It is fast becoming a chasm and is moving into the Thompson river trench. So long as the river is running full the water acts as a bulwark to the toe of the hill, but on the recession of the flood waters we may look for a slide.”
Old Landmark Burned: Last month the notorious “green house over the hill” on the flats of Ashcroft was burned to the ground. The building had been condemned by health authorities, and also to make room for progress in cleaning up for an auto camp which we understand will be put in there [where the River Inn/Legacy Park campground are now located]. The Ashcroft fire brigade was on hand to watch the building as it went up in smoke. The old building had a mate alongside it years ago, but was torn down some time ago. Many stories, good, bad, and indifferent, could be told by this building [which is said to have operated as a house of ill repute in Ashcroft’s early years], but not unlike the fiery life it lived in its infancy, so it went down to destruction. For some time in later years the “rooming house” was used as a Chinese hospital, later it reverted to the Nesbitt estate, neglected, and lived on occasions as a dwelling. But being in a state of collapse and unsanitary, the climax had to come, and burning it down was the only way out.
Spences Bridge: It was a Red Letter Day for the school children on Tuesday when their teacher, Miss Steps, gave them a picnic in the school grounds. Hot dogs, pop, candy, and ice cream was enjoyed which had been bought with money the children raised earlier in the year. The children in turn surprised their teacher with a beautiful cup and saucer and a box of stationery as a farewell gift. The school children received a thankful letter from a family at Mission to whom they had sent a $5 donation direct as their flood relief help.
50 YEARS AGO: JUNE 25/JULY 5, 1973
Study Of Martel Bluffs On The Trans-Canada: Bill Hartley, Minister of Public Works and MLA for Yale-Lillooet, today announced that the Department of Highways has commenced a preliminary investigation into ways of improving the highway at Martel Bluffs between Spences Bridge and Ashcroft Manor. At present this section of highway is considered dangerous and the Department is looking for ways to eliminate the dangerous alignment, or at least improve it.
Cache Creek: Water resources requirements for a 50-foot setback and a five-foot elevation from the 1948 high water level was mandatory for Cache Creek. Zoning bylaws that were in Victoria since February were being held until such time as the council amended zoning to meet these requirements. The council has been fighting the issue for several months, but finally had to give in to the Water Resources branch. Council realizes that these requirements will cause undue hardship in some cases, but they have had no other choice but to accept. Some property owners who have been holding property in anticipation of greater gains have now found that their property cannot be built on.
10 Years Of Incorporation: Clinton is celebrating its 10th year of incorporation in a two-day event July 14 and 15. Looks like a really good time for everyone by the program planned. These include: Horse show and there will be a concession stand on the grounds. A beer garden with refreshment stand where you can rest awhile. There will be a pet show for the young fry at the park; a babysitting service will be supplied to allow Mom and Dad to wander around on their own for a while. A Paint-in at the skating rink should provide fun for the artist, but bring your own paint. Games of chance will let you get that gambling urge going, and try your luck. An art and handicraft display set up at the museum should prove interesting and provide a few ideas to try at home. Last but not least will be street dancing for the more exuberant group. Souvenir buttons are on sale around town, so buy one to commemorate this 10th anniversary party. All proceeds from this gala show will be donated to community projects, so help Clinton celebrate.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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