Results for ‘General News’
HAPPENING IN WELLAND COUNTY FORTY YEARS AGO
INTERESTING EXTRACTS
[Welland Tribune, 8 March 1895]
Mrs. A.E. Rooth of Port Colborne has favored us with copies of the Welland reporter, published in the village of Drummondville (now the Village of Niagara Falls), away back in the fifties. Our selections on Feb. 15th for a similar back number leave little more to be gleaned of interest to the present generation, but we cannot refrain from noting a few of the important events found in the Reporter’s columns.
DESJARDINS CANAL CATASTROPHE
The issue of March 19, 1857, gives a thrilling eight-column account of the dreadful railway accident which occurred at the Desjardins canal bridge on the Great Western railway, on the 12th of the same month. About sixty-four lives were lost in this fearful catastrophe, among the death list appearing the names of Samuel Zimmerman and Mr. and Mrs. John Bradfield of Niagara Falls, and John Morley of Thorold. Mr. Zimmerman was buried with Masonic honors, over two thousand people attending. The body was deposited in a vault built on his own grounds immediately below the house. Thos. C. Street and Dr. Macklem of Chippawa were injured in the accident. The Reporter appeared in full mourning; a day was set aside by the authorities as a holiday as a mark of respect to the memory of Samuel Zimmerman.
A NOTED PAMPHLET
The following advertisement appears; “The Chronicles of the Cataract, by Simon the Elder, just published in pamphlet form and for sale at this office; price, 25 cents.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sheriff Hobson announces Court of Queen’s Bench to be held at the “Town of Merrittsville.”
R. Henry of Drummondville and Dr. Aberdeen of Chippawa advertise St. Catharines mineral water for “indigestion and its various and manifold consequences.”
S. Falconbridge, postmaster, advertises a long list of uncalled for letters.
ARCHIBALD THOMPSON
Was county treasurer in 1857, and the complete auditors’ report for the year 1856 is published in the Reporter.
THE COURT HOUSE
Was then in course of erection, and the contractors, Hellems & Bald, drew nearly £6000 on the work in 1856.
DR. JOHN FRAZER
Was warden, A. Thompson, treasurer, Robert Hobson, sheriff, D. D’Everardo clerk and Alexander Reid and Richard Henly auditors.
AMONG THE ADVERTISERS
Are Lorenzo D. Raymond, barrister, Merrittsville, C.W.
James B. Secord, division court agent, Queenston.
James K. Peterson, Battle Ground Hotel, Lundy’s Lane, Drummondville.
F.J. & H. Preston, general merchants, Elgin, Suspension Bridge.
A.L. Cumming, clerk first division court, Merrittsville.
C.R. Otis-Clifton hardware store.
M.A. Mann-Dry Goods, Clifton, C.W.
M. Zimmerman-Dry Goods, Clifton
Suspension Bridge hotel-Fred Graham.
William Henry-Groceries, Clifton.
W.E. Tunis-Great Western book store, Clifton.
H. Barney-City hotel, Merrittsville.
James McCoppen-General store, Merrittsville.
Richard Henly-Drugs, etc. Drummondville.
W.H. Ayers- Tin shop, Merrittsville
Robert House-Western hotel, Stonebridge. “The best of liquors and an honest hostler.”
Saul Davis offers for sale the Table Rock hotel, which had then been built but two years.
J. Hartmann-Harness maker, Garner’s new building, Drummondville.
John A. Orchard-Advertises a number of well known properties that are now very valuable.
Adam Fralick-Pays cash for hides at his tannery, Muddy Run.
Wm. McKay-The one-price dry goods store, Drummondville.
Drummondville boot and shoe store was run by Thomas Cole.
Arthur Ellis managed the Ellis hotel, Henry Wright carried on a cabinet shop, and Lucien Morse a painting business in Drummondville.
The Niagara Falls museum is advertised by Thomas Barnett, who announces that “a new road, leading down the bank to the great sheet of water, has been cut through the solid rock during the the past winter at an immense expense, expressly for those wishing to to pass behind the great Horse-shoe Falls, and view one of the grandest sights of nature.”
Nathan T. Fitch advertises a “collection agency” at Merrittsville.
Samuel S. Smades, Stonebridge, offers his services as auctioneer, etc.
Volney McAlpine was a customs broker and town clerk of Clifton in 1857.
John and Alexander Pyper announce that they have bought the well-known Ross carriage works at Drummondville.
Wm. Horne was the veterinary surgeon of Drummondville.
Notice is given of a by-law to raise £466, 13s. 4d to erect a public school house in Clifton.
A LONG HEAD
The following appears among the notices: “Parliamentary notice-The undersigned gives notice that he will make application, at the ensuing session of parliament, to renew the charter of the Fort Erie canal company, or to obtain one to cut and construct a water course from Lake Erie to a point below the rapids on the Niagara river, for the creation of a water power, and for other purposes to be therein mentioned. -R.H. Thornhill, Fort Erie,”
MARRIED
At the residence of the bride’s mother, Lundy’s Lane, June 4th, 1857, by the Rev. John Roberts, Mr. Wm. Hill of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to Miss Elizabeth Brooks.
A LIBERAL OF THE LIBERALS
In the House on June 5th, Hon. Mr. Cayley moved that the House resolve itself into a committee of the whole on the supplies.
Mr. Wm. Lyon Mackenzie moved to amendment a series of resolutions, recommending the following as a desirable remedy for existing evils.
The apportioning the representation of the people in the legislature upon the basis of population, or an equalization of the elective franchise;
A repeal of the permanent civil list;
The doing away with the property qualification of members of parliament;
Fixing the time for holding the general elections and for the annual meeting of the legislature, for shortening its duration and fixing the time of its dissolution; making the legislative council altogether elective by the immediate removal of those of its members who were never chosen by any consistency;
The extension of the elective principle generally, even to the head of the government, it being found impossible otherwise to provide an efficient check upon immorality and extravagant public expenditures;
The full right to legislate upon our local affairs, without interference or check by the British government or any of its agents here;
The introduction of the system of vote by ballot;
An immediate change of the practice of granting pensions or gratuities, except in special places;
The putting a stop to class legislation.;
The bringing about as speedily as possible universal reciprocity, entire freedom of trade between Canada and the United States, thus relieving both countries from the enormous expense of maintaining a fast increasing army of customs officers upon a frontier 1500 miles long.
[Welland Tribune, 2 August 1895]
C. McNeal, one of our local liverymen, lost a valuable horse yesterday morning. On Sunday he hired a horse and buggy to two Englishmen, named Baker and Hart, employed at the Cork Factory. About 1.30 yesterday morning he was awakened by the above men, and told that his horse was in a ditch on King Street. Hurrying over to King Street he found the poor animal dead in a ditch near the B &G railway tracks. It had apparently ran away and fallen into the ditch and been drowned. Both occupants of the rig left the animal to its fate instead of trying to rescue it; it had fallen in such a way that it could not help itself or keep its head above water. After calling Mr. McNeal both Baker and Hart skipped and have not yet been found. The horse was valued at about $250.
[The Waterford Star, August 16, 1917]
Percy Elsie, aged 16, driver for S.L. Lambert, and Frank Polland, aged 10, who was taking a ride with him, were killed Friday afternoon by Michigan Central passenger train, No. 37, which struck and demolished the lumber wagon on which they were riding.
The train, which was in charge of Conductor George Waite, was coming around the curve at Welland and Engineer William Meehan, 106 Forest avenue, St Thomas, saw that the signal was down, thus leaving the track clear for the train to cross the G.T.R. crossing. The engineer blew the whistle for the crossing and just after this was done, he saw the wagon crossing the track going from north to south with two boys sitting on it, with the larger boy in front driving, and the smaller boy in the rear. Both boys at the time were looking towards the west, with their backs towards the approaching train.
Mr. Meehan again blew the whistle and applied the emergency brakes. The boys turned and then jumped towards the west; the engineer said that if they had jumped towards the east, doubtless they would have escaped. The horse escaped uninjured. The train was going about 40 miles an hour when the boys were first seen and about 35 when they were struck. The train was brought to a standstill about 10 car lengths from the crossing on which the boys were hit. The crew ran back to the bodies and found that one of the boys had been killed out right and the other one died soon afterwards. Coroner Dr. McKenzie, of Port Colborne opened an inquest last night and it was adjourned until next Thursday.
Herb Swanton was the fireman on the train.
[Waterford Star, May 12, 1904]
Welland, May 4—The Welland County to-day, Judge Britton presiding, the jury found a verdict of three thousand dollars damages to the widow of the baseball player, Dalahanty, and two thousand dollars to the daughter against the Michigan Central Railway. Dalahanty was drowned at Bridgeburg some time ago, having been put off a Michigan Central Train.
[Buffalo Gazette, June 8, 1844]
We regret to learn Capt. Pickering of the schr. Columbia, committed suicide by cutting his throat in No. 8 lock of the Welland Canal on Sunday last. No cause is assigned for the act other than that he was unable to get his vessel through the lock. He has left a wife and four children. The mate of the Columbia had his leg broken the day previous. Capt. Pickering was extensively known on the lakes, and is reported to have been a man of high moral character, whose death will be sincerely regretted.
[The Waterford Star, March 15, 1901]
M.C.R Brakeman, W.P. Johnson, met with a terrible death at Welland at 12.05 Monday morning. The train was in charge of Conductor Phoenix, and as it was pulling into Welland yard the unfortunate man fell between the engine and the first car. The whole train passed over his body cutting him in two.
The deceased, who was unmarried, was twenty-four years of age, His parents live in Otterville. E.L. Johnson, M.C.R. brakeman, is a brother of the deceased. He has been employed on the road since January of 1899, but has only had a regular run for some two months. Last summer he worked on a farm near Tilsonburg.
Written for the Welland Tribune
[Welland Tribune, 1 March 1895]
I was night operator on one of the large roads running out of Detroit, at a little station about 30 miles distant. Let me describe this little place and its surroundings. There is a junction here, and a little to the left of the station is a tower house, where a man is on duty as switchman. To the right of the station and very close is the freight shed.
I started in on to work on this eventful night at 6 o’clock. It was very clear and still and sound could be heard very distinctly. Everything went along as usual during the early part of the evening, and to while away the time, I read some ghost stories. It was just 12.20 and I had received orders for No. 5 going west when I heard some strange unaccountable sounds. During the arrival and departure of No 5 I forgot all about them, and as I had no more trains until 3.06, I decided to take a little nap. I had just got nicely settled in my chair when I heard these same sounds, as if someone were trying to break through a wall or a barred window; then, as if a struggle were going on, accompanied by groans and shrill shrieks. I began to get uneasy, and after I had got my hair pressed down to its original position, I decided to go over and see Burns, the tower man. I didn’t tell him I was frightened or anything, but I felt queer. We sat in the tower house talking and smoking for some time. At last I asked him to come over to the station as something special might be coming. We had just taken our chairs when the same weird sounds were heard.
Burns didn’t say anything for awhile, but the noise grew louder and it appeared as if a horrible struggle were going on somewhere. But where? I procured a lantern and we started to investigate. We looked all around the station, in the waiting room, and at length nothing but the freight shed remained unexplored. I unlocked the door and just then a horrible hoarse groan, as if someone were dying, greeted us. Well, now the question arose-Who shall go in first? The tower man, although a giant and very strong, absolutely refused to enter. I picked up a club, thrust the lantern through the door and looked in-horrible sight! In one corner of the shed, in a slatted box was- a pig, the cause of all our fright.
It had been brought by express to the station that afternoon, taken out of the car and left in the shed. It had become restless and tried to turn in its box, and our excited minds, aided by its grunts and squeaks, had imagined all manner of strange and supernatural things.
FRANK DELMAR
A Piece of Unwritten History Disclosing the Identity of the Mysterious Backer of the Hero of Harper’s Ferry
By Sam P. Davis
[People’s Press, 5 January 1904]
When in 1858 John Brown made his unsuccessful but picturesque stand at Harper’s Ferry, Va., there was found on his person a letter. A significant paragraph which attracted the attention of the detectives, read as follows: “The axe is laid at the root of the tree and after the the first blow is struck there will be plenty more money coming. W.E.P.”
There was considerable speculation as to the author of this letter, and all sorts of wild stories were afloat. The horses, arms and ammunition Brown had with him at various times must have cost considerable money. This capital came from his sympathizers. It was thought that the author of the letter was one of his heaviest backers, but though a very rigid search was instituted, all efforts to find W.E.P. were unavailing.
Now after nearly half a century has elapsed, the identity of the writer was revealed to me in a most unexpected way.
On October 20, 1901, I received the following telegram from San Francisco: “Mrs. Pleasant very ill and would like to have you come down. Doctor Kearney.”
A few weeks prior to this time I had called on Mrs. Pleasant, an aged colored woman in San Francisco, whom I had known for many years. She had told me then that being eighty-seven years of age she felt that her end could not be far off and asked me if I would come to her in case she felt that death was near as she had something of considerable importance to tell me.
When I reached her bedside next morning she had failed considerably, but her physician told her that if she had anything special to tell me that she should do it at once. I took down her story and reproduce it here as nearly as possible as it came from her lips.
“I have never made this statement in full to anyone, but before I pass away I wish to clear the identity of the party who furnished John Brown with most of his money to start the fight at Harper’s Ferry and who signed the letter found on him when he was arrested.
I furnished the money and wrote the letter. My initials are M.E.P. For Mary E. Pleasant, but in signing my name I have always made the M so that it looks like a W, and I suppose that little mistake was all that saved me from being captured and hanged alongside of John Brown, and sometimes I wished that I had gone up on the scaffold with him, for I would at least have died in a good cause and in good company.
I was born in Philadelphia at No. 9 Barly street. My father was a Kanaka and my mother a Louisiana negress.
His name was John Alexander Williams and he was an importer of silks and dress goods. When about seven years of age I was sent to some people in Nantucket. The name was Hussey and they kept a huckster shop. My father, as I afterwards learned, sent money every year for my education, but as I was an unusually smart girl and quick at everything, they kept me at work in the store.
I finally went to Boston to better my condition and learned boot-binding and vest making of a man named Jackson on Merrimac street. Here I met my first husband, James W. Smith. He was a wealthy Cuban.
I sang in the church choir at St. Mary’s church on Endicott street. Father McRoy was the priest, and Father Trainor the assistant.
I was so white that but few knew that I had any colored blood. I sang with a white choir and one evening after the service Mr. Smith, who was introduced by the priest, saw me home. We were married inside a month. My husband was a close friend of Wendell Phillips and William Lloyd Garrison, also of Captain Dampie ? whose mother was the daughter of the president of Jamaica.
Mr. Smith became very much interested in the abolition question and was always in close touch with the leaders of the movement.
Sometimes Garrison and Phillips would come to our home, also Geo W. Green and Louis Hayden. Mr. Smith frequently demonstrated his feeling for the colored race by buying slaves and giving them their liberty. On his deathbed in 1844, he made me promise that I would devote a portion of the money he left me to the cause of freeing the slaves. I promised with a full heart, and before I die I want to let the world know how I tried to keep my promise.
After my husband’s death, Captain Edward Gardner, who had known me in Nantucket, took charge of my affairs and settled up my husband’s estate. Most of the money I received came from the sale of lands which he had owned. They brought me in a little over $45,000.
I married my second husband, John J. Pleasant in 1848. He was the foreman and manager for my first husband. We were married in the Gore Catholic church in Charlestown.
We went to California soon after that and invested our money during the good times of ‘49. I lent money at ten percent interest per month and invested in real estate and kept a boarding house on Washington street. It was the leading boarding house in San Francisco and set the best table. Many of the best families of the city lived with me. Governor Booth was elected to office while he lived there. We were always great friends and I consider him the greatest intellect that California ever produced.
In 1858 I went back to New York to help John Brown. I had no well defined idea of just how I was to help him, and concluded to see what could be done after I reached the west.
I had been a regular subscriber to “The Liberator” edited by Garrison. I was corresponding with Garrison and and Phillips and Gardner. I told them that I had money and would bring plenty to help them in their struggle for the liberty of the blacks. I left San Francisco with my husband on April 5th. I think we went on the “Moses Taylor.” I took with me in addition to the money needed for expenses, a thirty-thousand dollar U.S. Treasury draft, which I decided to give to John Brown of whom I had heard through the letters from the east and the papers. Robert Swain of San Francisco took the money and got the draft. John W. Coleman and Richard Patrick sent us our steamer tickets by Wm. Alvord who was then their messenger boy. He subsequently became mayor of San Francisco and president of the bank of California. Just before I left I received a nice letter from William Lloyd Garrison. He was then editing “The Liberator” and lived at No 13 Pine street in Boston.
“Captain Gardner knew of our coming and met us at the dock when we reached New York. We went at once to a colored boarding house kept by a Mrs. Bell. That afternoon I went out to attend to business, and having letters to the right people I got my money on the draft of A.A. Low, through Cartright Harrison. It was changed into a Canadian draft. I left for Canada that night, for I felt impatient to be moving in the matter at once. I crossed the river at Detroit and went to Chatham, the second stopping place then from Windsor.
I wrote letters to several parties and told them that I wanted to have a talk with John Brown in Chatham.
I put up at a boarding house for colored people kept by a Mr. Barbor on King street. Here I was joined by John Brown and his son. They had come direct from Harper’s Ferry. We had several conferences in this house. I had received the money on the Canadian draft from Mr McRea, who was in some way connected with the bank there. I turned the whole amount over to John Brown and his son one night in my room.
None of the people who had been corresponding with me knew to what use the money was to be put. John Brown and I talked it over but we did not confide the details to our friends. I told him that by the time he had organized for his fight I would have the blacks in a state of insurrection and near at hand to come in with reinforcements. With this agreement we parted. I then went to Montreal and there I met several abolition sympathizers. Wendell Phillips and Green, who was then his brother-in-law, called on me in Montreal, but I did not tell them of my plans with Brown. I know there was to be bloodshed and concluded not to talk it over with them.
I then went back to the United States and secured a trusted man to go with me down along the Roanoke river and incite an uprising of the slaves. I was dressed in the clothes of a jockey and he had horses along and we posed as people connected with the turf.
We stopped first at Mark Alexander’s plantation where we talked over the the outlook with his negroes. They were very much taken with the idea of participating in the fight for their freedom. We also visited Henry Coleman’s, Mr. Sydney’s, Mr. Townsend’s and John Nelson’s plantations. We remained in the negroes cabins at night. We arranged that when Brown made his stand at Harper’s Ferry the negroes were to rise in every direction, but our plans were all knocked to pieces by Brown himself. He started the raid on Harper’s Ferry before the time was ripe. I was astounded when I heard that he had started in and was beaten and captured and that the affair upon which I had staked my money and built so much hope was a fiasco. I have never been able to figure it out. It was a big blunder all round and when we saw that things had ended in failure we began to look about for our own safety, for we read in the papers that all of Brown’s fellow conspirators were being sought for by the authorities. When they captured him they found among his papers a letter from me. I cannot remember all of the letter now, but it contained these words.
“The axe is laid at the root of the tree. When the first blow is struck there will be more money and help.” The papers stated that such a letter was found and signed W.E.P.
I parted from my friend whom Brown had sent me and I have never seen him or heard from him except through other parties. I supposed he would write me after I returned to San Francisco, but I never received any letter. We went down the Roanoke river at night in a boat and then separated. I went to New York as fast as I could. I read in the papers that the detectives were on the track of the W.E.P. who wrote the letter, and I had a quiet laugh when I saw that my poor handwriting had given them a false trail. I went to a sailors’ boarding house at No 40 Grand street in New York and registered as Mrs. Smith. I remained there until after Brown was hanged in December and finally started home to the Pacific coast.
I did not dare to use the return steamer ticket that I had, but gave it to a woman on condition that she should take the name of Mary E. Pleasant during the voyage. My husband went on the same steamer in the first cabin, but to be certain that I would not be caught I went as a steerage passenger under the name of Smith. I asked all sorts of fool questions about California of my fellow passengers on the voyage and was often laughed at for my seeming ignorance. When I reached home I found a letter awaiting me from John Brown. I destroyed it at once. Brown was an earnest, sincere man and as brave a man as ever lived, but he lacked judgment and was sometimes foolhardy and cranky. He wrote too much and talked too much.
I felt very bad over the failure of our mission, but I never regretted the times or the money I spent on the idea. It cost me all told about $40,000. It seemed at first like a failure, but time proved that the money was well spent. It paved the way for the war and the war freed the slaves. I always felt that John Brown started the Civil War and that I helped Brown more than any other person financially. I wish I had given more. It was the greatest pleasure of my life to give this money. When I die all I want on my tombstone is “She was a friend of John Brown.”
I called her attention to the fact that after all these long years her story would require considerable corroboration before the public would believe it, and I asked her if she would be able to prove conclusively that she was at Chatham when Brown was. She replied, “I bought four or five lots there from a clergyman, but I cannot recall his name. I think he preached in a Methodist church. John Brown has some children still living in California and they would be likely to know about the money I advanced to Brown.”
I hunted up Jason Brown an old man living in great poverty in Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz County, Cal. He is in the neighborhood of eighty years of age and is still strong and active. He is in receipt of a small pension from the government, for he served in the Union army fighting for the same undying cause, for which his father was hanged. When I stated my mission he received me cordially.
“Yes,” he said in response to my questions. “It is true my father went to Chatham in ‘58 and met a colored woman who advanced him considerable money. I don’t know her name.”
I found Susan Brown, a daughter of John Brown, living near Los Gatoes, not far from her brother Jason.
I explained my presence and asked for such information as she might give. She said that her father had met a colored woman in Chatham, Canada, and received considerable money from her to further the cause of emancipation, but he never disclosed her name.
I addressed a letter to the town auditors of Chatham regarding the presence of Mrs. Pleasant in Chatham in ‘58 and in reply received a letter from Mr. J. Fleming, auditor of Chatham, saying that old settlers remember Mrs. Pleasant.
I next wrote to the law firm of Lewis & Richards, Chatham, and asked them to make a search of the records.
They discovered a deed, dated Sept. 7th, ‘58 in which Rev. Archibald Campbell conveyed four lots on Park avenue and Campbell street, in block D, in the township of Harwitch, Chatham, to John J. Pleasant and registered on the 10th of September. The deed was witnessed by Thomas F. Carey and William H. Day.
Next was a deed bearing date of May 8th, 1872, and registered Oct. 23rd, 1878 in which John J. Pleasant and Mary E. Pleasant, his wife, conveyed same property to Jas. Handy of San Francisco. The deed was acknowledged before F.J. Thibault, a notary public of San Francisco.
This ends the documentary evidence relative to the case, or at least all that I have been able to discover.
[Welland Telegraph, 18 January 1901]
County Constable J.R. Dowd and other officers have received several letters and communications from residents of the town complaining of the fact that many boys and men loaf around the streets and store doorways at night using obscene language and making insulting remarks to passing ladies and young girls. The authorities have planned a campaign of action against these fellows and there will probably be some severe examples made in the next week or two.
Firemen Mark His Quarter Century Service as Secretary
[Welland Telegraph, 5 December 1916]
George Wells celebrated his twenty-fifth birthday as secretary of the Welland Fire Company by resigning the position. That happened a few weeks ago and on Friday night the firemen held a meeting to properly mark the termination of a service so long, so freely given and so valuable. Of course the item of the evening was the presentation of a purse of gold to Mr. Wells, and with it went endless thanks and good wishes.
W.H. Crowther presented the firemen with a hugh birthday cake for the occasion. It was inscribed “Welland Fire Company to George Wells in recognition of his twenty-five years of service as secretary.”
George cut the cake with his sword and then the company fell to, doing justice to a very enticing spread.
Addresses were made by Chief Stapf, A.E. Garden, J.C. MacMillan, and others.
The address accompanying the gift was as follows:-
Honored Sir,-
It is with sincere regret that the company has been obliged to accept your voluntary resignation as secretary of the company, as presented at our previous meeting.
The officers and members of the company feel that they have suffered a decided loss in the discontinuance of your valued service in the secretary’s chair.
Your term of service in this capacity-twenty-five years-speaks for itself. Such a stewardship, in one particular capacity, speaks well for the time, labor and devotion to duty which has characterized your services to the company.
In a small measure to express our appreciation of your good self and the service you have rendered the company in the past, we would ask you to accept this small token from the officers and members of the company.
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