November 2003 - Vol Three, No.12

REMEMBRANCE DAY

This November 11th marks the 85th anniversary of the end of World War One, known as the Great War at the time. Would that it had also been the end of war! Let us remember, when we attend commemorative services this Remembrance Day, not only those who died in the service of their country, but also the civilians, often women and children, who were also victims of these conflicts. War to this day hurts us all.

Medicine in the 1890s

"A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION

At Fort Langley a few days ago a very rare surgical operation was performed, that known as the Caesarean Section, by Dr. Drew, of New Westminster, assisted by Dr. Boggs, also of that city, upon the wife of a well-known resident of the Fort. The patient had been two days in labor under non-professional attendance, when Dr. Drew was called in.

On reaching the bedside, the doctor found that the only chance of saving the mother’s life was by removing the child by the above mentioned operation, and he at once wired to Dr. Boggs to go up and assist him. The operation being a very difficult one, and requiring the most minute details of preparation, the doctor spent the interval in preparing everything for the occasion. It was dark before Dr. Boggs arrived, and the operation had to be performed by lamp-light, thus adding to its difficulties. Dr. Boggs having administered the aneasthetic [sic], Dr. Drew proceeded with the operation, and successfully removed the child.

The operation was performed Oct. 30th, and the mother is now going about doing her household duties as before her illness, and the child is strong and healthy. This is all the more remarkable from the fact that statistics show the percentage of recovery of both mother and child is exceedingly small. The successful issue reflects all the more credit on the operator when it is taken into consideration that the operation was performed by lamp-light, in a country house, unexpectedly, and without hospital conveniences. This method of delivery is not necessary in more than one case in several hundred thousand."

Source: Vancouver Daily World, 26 December 1895, page two.

Would these people be astounded to know how commonly this procedure is performed by medical practitioners today?

Historical Trivia?

I suspect that the following item was a filler, commonly used in newspapers even today. Who knows who among us might find this useful, and in what circumstances?

"A BIG STEAMER’S WASHING

There are no laundries on the Empress liners. They take up too much room. So the chief steward lays in thousands of pillow slips, sheets, and towels on this side. These go on board tied up in bales of a dozen each, and are stored in the linen locker, a cubby hole of a place on the main deck. The ventilator pipes from the engine room run through it, and keep it hot. There is no danger of linen getting mildewed there. This place is in charge of the chief bedroom steward. He is responsible for the condition of the line, and he takes good care of it. The linen which has been used is thrown into another room, provided with the same atmosphere, and is so kept thoroughly dry.

Where there are clean napkins every meal, frequent changes of stateroom linen, and an everlasting replenishing of towel racks, the demands upon the linen locker are very extensive. A liner, like the Empress of China puts to sea with about 2,500 napkins, 5,000 towels, 500 sheets, 1,000 pillow slips, and 500 table cloths. Most of these find their way to the soiled linen locker in the course of the voyage. When the vessel arrives they are carted off to a laundry to be made ready for the return trip."

Source: Vancouver Daily World, 02 May 1895, page 3.

Divorce Information, 1890s

"DIVORCES IN CANADA

The last volume of the Statistical Year Book gives some interesting information relative to divorces in Canada. In the Dominion, under the Union Act of 1867, divorce is one of the subjects assigned to the Federal Parliament. As, however, some of the Provinces had established divorce courts before Confederation, they have been permitted to continue the jurisdiction which was conferred upon their courts. These Provinces are Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia. In Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories divorce can only be obtained by legislation -- an act of the Parliament of Canada being necessary.

The rules of the Senate touching divorce require the production of such evidence in support of the application as would be deemed sufficient in a court of law; in other respects the matter is dealt with as for an ordinary private act of Parliament.

The statistics show that since Confederation 211 divorces have been granted, of which 54 were by the Dominion Parliament and 157 by the several Provincial courts. Prince Edward Island courts have not granted one divorce in the 27 years. The general figure give an average of eight divorces a year for the whole of Canada. The Provinces which have courts of divorce have absolutely and relatively to population very many more divorces than the Provinces which depend upon Parliament for divorces. With respect to the Province of Quebec, the comparatively small number of divorces must be attributed to the influence of the Roman Catholic church there. The large number in the Province of Nova Scotia is probably due to the fact that the cost of fees established many years ago is so small that the poorest in the land are not prevented from seeking relief in the courts.

The 211 divorces were granted in 119 cases where the husband was the petitioner for relief and in 92 cases where the wife was petitioner. By far the largest proportion of the divorces granted by the Dominion Parliament and by the several Provincial courts of divorce were granted for adultery."

Source: Vancouver Daily World, 19 August 1896, page three.

Home Children -- A New Resource

I don’t usually promote books and websites in this newsletter, but there are exceptions. Since I’m interested, though only peripherally, in the subject of Home Children, I’m mentioning here a new book that anyone researching the subject might find useful as well as interesting.

Marjorie Kohli of the University of Waterloo in Ontario has written "The Golden Bridge: Young Immigrants to Canada, 1833-1939." She has documented the story of thousands of young immigrants who were sent to Canada from England and Ireland, and has also compiled information about the various child immigrant schemes and organizations. Check with your local bookseller if you’re interested in this book.

Marjorie Kohli’s web page on the subject of Home Children can be found at http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/homeadd.html

Bill Miner, Maybe?

"ATTEMPT TO HOLD UP TRAIN

Strength of the Crew Causes the Bandits to Decamp

A despatch from Eholt, B.C., tells of a bold attempt at a hold-up, three men stopping a Canadian Pacific mixed train on the up-grade, near Summit camp.

As the train swept round the curve on the approach to the camp, three men suddenly appeared and signalled. The train came to a stand-still upon the would-be bandits flourishing revolvers, but luckily there was a large crew in the rear of the cars, and on their approach the intending robbers thought that the odds were against them and decamped without going any further in the bluff.

This is the first act of the sort in the country, and on the train arriving at Eholt an emergency train was sent back over the line and the place scoured for traces of the robbers. Up to the present nothing more has been heard of them."

Source: The Daily Columbian, Monday, 10 June 1901, page one.

Anyone know where Eholt, B.C., is located on the map?

Request for Information

My volunteer work for Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness sometimes takes me down newly discovered paths. And I’m now on one of those paths, looking for information about potter’s field at the New Westminster Cemetery. Has anyone done research that involved such a search?

By the way, the website for Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness can be accessed at

http://www.raogk.org/listing.htm

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