Results for ‘LETTERS’
Letter from M. M. Buckley
[Welland Tribune, 1 April 1898]
Editor Welland Tribune :
I send you the Santa Cruz Daily Sentinel of March 17th. There is a letter in it from San Diego about Southern California; I wish you would insert it in the TRIBUNE, it will give the readers of the
TRIBUNE a better account of Southern California as it is at present than I can. The young men of
Canada will do better stopping in their own country; they can do better and make more money raising fruit in Niagara or Welland county than they can here. I don’t see any opening of any kind here for a young man either with money or without. All kinds of fruit growing is overdone, and fruit is getting cheaper and cheaper every year, so the grower scarcely gets anything for it. The freight, boxing, packing, commission, etc., eat up all the profits. I heard of one man who had nine tons of raisins last fall ; he hauled them to the packers, they put them up in boxes and sent them east ; he got his statement a few weeks since and they brought him in debt to them $14. The boxes, packing, freight, hauling, commissions &c. came to $14 dollars more than the fruit sold for, I also heard of a man sending 80 boxes of peaches to a commission house at San Francisco. They returned him 50 cents for the 80 boxes; the expenses took all the rest; you hear of lots of such cases. It is a standing joke in California that the only way to make a fruit farm pay is to sell it to a green Englishman just out. They get from one to five thousand dollars down and then they are sure to get the farm back in two or three years. Property of all kinds is almost unsaleable here at any price. I heard one land agent say he had not sold a lot in the last five years. The taxes are fearful here in Santa Cruz. They are $3.65 on $100. The Santa Cruz “Surf” of the
19th said:–
“Transcontinental railway rates continue to be cut lower and lower, as the fight between competing lines grows in bitterness. But there is little to come west for. Our factories are mostly closed, our building is at a standstill, our agriculturalists have all they can do to make ends meet, and our state county and city taxation is almost confiscation. They assess everything you have got here in this state, furniture, pianos, pictures, notes mortgages, fruit trees if they are over five years old, hens if you have more than twelve.”
The Sentinel of this morning says: “Who can engage in this manufacturing in California in competition with the East or Europe? Who can successfully raise wheat on the high priced and high taxed land of California, in competition with cheap land and lower taxes of every other state in the union, and the Dominion of Canada? Who can afford to make any kind of an investment in a city like Santa Cruz, where the axes are $3.65 on the $100, all that real estate ought to net, absolute confiscation in nine-tenths of the cities of the Union.
I have not met one Englishman or one Canadian out here, that are better off than they were at home, and most of them would like to return if they could sell out at almost any price. I heard of one Englishman that has spent over $15,000 on a fruit farm, besides a five years labor, and he is offering the whole of it for $5,000 and can’t get it.
This is a beautiful country to live in, if you have the income to keep it up, but no country for any other kind of people at present.
M. M. BUCKLEY,
Santa Cruz, March 22, 1898.
//aj
[Welland Tribune, 5 February 1897]
Mr. Sidey: DEAR SIR-Not being well when I left for the Pacific coast some might wonder how I stood the journey of 3000 miles. The worst part of the journey was to get from Welland over the rough roads to Welland station. We left Welland 6 o’clock p.m., met our party at St. Thomas all right, arrived in Chicago at 9 o’clock Thursday morning by Michigan Central; left on the Chicago & Alton road at 11 o’clock. Found Illinois a very nice farming state with large and rolling fields of corn but no timber, in fact no timber along this route. Arrived in St. Louis at 7 p.m. and laid over 8 hours; left St. Louis at 3 a.m. Friday; passed though Missouri and found it very low and wet, and Arkansas no better; then we struck Texas and ran through the whole length of the state-860 miles-it took all day and one night, Saturday morning arriving in Dallas, a large city. Arrived at El Paso at 11 o’clock Sunday morning and laid over seven hours. We took a street car and went over the river Rio Grande into Old Mexico. Went to the Old Missions church, a great many hundred years old; no seats in the church; congregation mostly women, and all wore shawls on their heads and all on their knees in time of service. Weather very warm. Arrived in Yuma at 11 o’clock Monday morning and it was very hot, the natives or Indians sitting in the sand bare-footed and bare-headed. Some looked to be a hundred years old and I think never combed their heads-this is in Arizona, where we pass the great Mohave desert, where nothing grows.
[Welland Tribune, 14 January 1898]
On Friday, last, Isaac Pew of Port Robinson was not a little surprised upon going to the post-office at receiving a letter from one who had not been “located” for a number of years. The party referred to is Wm. H. Clark, who at one time farmed it just outside of the town, in Crowland. As “Billy” was so well-known, and thinking his many friends would like to know somewhat of his doings and whereabouts, Mr. Pew has kindly placed his letter into the hands of one of our reporters, who has sent us some of the more interesting points contained therein. At the time of the Fenian raid, in ’66, Mr. Clark hurried over to the town and enlisted in the Welland canal field battery, under Capt. Dr. R.S. King, and saw active service at that time. He afterward went west. It was reported at the time that he was drowned; but lucky for him, it was some other fellow. We will now quote one section of his letter, which proves him to be a thorough Canadian. He says:-“Now, I will tell you how I am getting along: I came here to Colorado in 1879 and went in to get rich quickly, but slipped up. Then, went prospecting for a few years: gave that up and went to work for the Denver & Rio Grande R.R., at first clerking and checking freight , then into the baggage and express department, and went in for saving money and now have rent enough coming in to keep wife and I in our pleasant home. Have a soft job: will keep right on working for all that. He then goes on telling about the state and its advantages, and winds up his letter by stating that he has not seen a sick day since landing there. Billy is a resident of Leadville, and would be pleased to hear from any of this old chums, of which he had a multitude in and around Port Robinson.
E. WARNER DESCRIBES A HOLIDAY RAMBLE IN SOUTH ONTARIO
He and Mrs. Warner Wheeled Through Niagara District, which they say is a Capital Place in which to Spend a Vacation. –An interesting and Descriptive Letter Telling of their Outing
[People’s Press, 4 September 1900]
E. Warner of the Central Business College contributes the following interesting letter to the Stratford Beacon:
Holiday reviews and outings are quite apropos now, hence by your kind permission I will give you a brief sketch of our two weeks outing during our “general outing” from the Classic City.
On July 24, Mrs. Warner and I mounted our silent steeds for a genuine constitutional. We left Abingdon, a place 20 miles south west of Hamilton, and about 10 miles south of Winona, at 2.30 p.m., when old Sol. was just gently introducing to us some of his 80 degree temperature, to be followed in the course of a few weeks by more burning doses. We sped along, passing field after field of ripe grain, which unceasingly pleaded for help and care of the wise farmer, and reached Fenwick, a “sandy” village at 5.45 p.m. Here speed must necessarily be a silent watchword for heavy strides would only take you a snail’s pace, while heavier ones would turn the front wheel at right angles to the rear one-not the choicest position for even a tourist, disregarding the scorcher. We ran on to Fonthill and reached this “elevated” place at 6.15 p.m. where a “full rest and no quarter” was made after the run of twenty-four miles. This little place is on a small mountain, for you can here see the waters of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, also the mist rising up from Niagara Falls, thirteen miles distant.
Next day we were shown through the famous nursery of Morris, Stone & Wellington. The nursery occupied over 400 acres of choice sandy land. Of course, to a sight-seer this was not the most interesting time, for either spring or autumn would be better, as the packing corps of men would be engaged. Now the men were “potting” roses by the thousand for winter, and arranging them methodically in the hot houses. We saw specimens of the wonderful imported plant from France. The seed was worth $300 an oz. They started the cultivation of the plant here by getting a limited number of grains such as you could hold on the end of a penknife. The plant had a large, bell-shaped flower, was variegated, the more decided ones being purple, mauve, pink, white, with numerous modifications. It requires a temperature of 80 degrees F., and retails at 25 cents a pot-a very reasonable price indeed.
After a big rain on the 27th, we left Fonthill for Welland. This would have been impossible on ordinary roads, but there is a bicycle path all the way, and one that is no mere ornament or sidewalk. The town of Welland is situated on the Welland canal about eight miles from Port Colborne. It is also upon the Chippawa river. The people of Welland have a very healthy town, good water being one main reason. The inflow of water for the waterworks comes from the canal and the refuse is emptied into the Chippawa river. A short time previous the town had voted on a bylaw to the extent of $40,000, which money was to build a town hall, a public school, and to be used for sidewalks and street improvements. The bylaw carried easily and now we saw the outcome Cockburn Bros. & Co. of Buffalo had the contract for the concrete sidewalks and they had four gangs of men at work. We saw a twin brother to the roadroller in Stratford. The town hired this one for $8 a day, and every idle day $4 was to be paid. The main streets were being torn up and improved by the macadamized method. They made no boulevards, however. As the canal divides the town into halves, it was a problem to know just how to get the steam roller from one side of the canal to the other. A communication was sent to the Government to send an inspector to know if it could be brought over the canal bridge, but before the reply came it was ferried over on a huge scow. The court house and jail of Welland are ancient. They have a beautiful new house of refuge, which is situated near the outside of the town. I thought first it was some M.P.’s residence, but later reports in the coming year will verify or annul my supposition.
We left Welland on the 27th for St. Davids, via Port Robinson, Allanburg and Lundy’s Lane. All along the canal you see guards in khaki suits, doing their duties nobly and heroically. Gunpowder plots are reviewed in history, but in our midst we have dynamite plots, one or more of which have already made history, and that, too, of the most interesting kind for the dwellers along the canal. On either side of the canal you read the inscription, “No thoroughfare.” A very critical point, of course, is the aqueduct at Welland. Here the government has invested one million and a quarter dollars in this wonderful piece of work, where the Chippawa river is made to flow under the Welland canal.
At Lundy’s lane we saw a relic of the present year’s jubilations over the South African war successes. In an oddly built caravan, with Mafe-king No. 2., painted on the side in large white letters. From Lundy’s Lane we wheeled for the mountain, about directly north, and passed over the track of the new electric radial railway, viz., the Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and Toronto Ry. The road is now completed as far as St. Kitts, and the first car ran over it this month, reminder of the road to Port Dalhousie to be complete early in the future. We also passed over a bicycle path which runs from Thorold to Niagara Falls and which is an improvement on the heavy sand roads. From the mountain road you get a fine panoramic view of the lower country and can see boats plying on the lake twelve miles away. Having partially descended the mountain we made our headquarters at “Lookout Place,” about one mile from St. Davids and six miles from the Falls. The night we arrived we attended a garden party at the village and heard a good program, on which the prospective M.P.’s figured. Of course they soared and lived in the higher digits, but wait till the transfigurations to naughts! We also heard some of Paul Hahn’s captivating strains of instrumental music. He is of Toronto and those who have heard him certainly have enjoyed a rare treat.
On July 30 we journeyed to Thorold passing under the Welland canal on our way. We found a picket stationed on each side of the tunnel and numerous police patrolling the locks above, which at this point are very near each other. Thorold looked quaint and slow, and is much cut up with railroads and canals. During our stay around here one of the Dominion police who was guarding one of the locks, was fired upon by two supposed dynamiters. It was at 1 o’clock a.m. One of the men said, “Give it to him,” meaning to Dunn, the policeman. They fired three times at him, but missed. Then they fired upon the marauders and they bolted immediately. Traces of blood were found the next morning.
We saw here a large freight boat if about 400 tons capacity, pass through the locks. She was called “Wm. J. Averell” of the Ogdensburg line, and was now coming down the mountain in water! What cannot the hand of man accomplish?
On July 31, we went to old Niagara-on-the-Lake. This is a beautiful town-14 miles from the Falls. In 1792 it became the place of residence of the Lieutenant-Governor of Canada, and the first session of the Parliament of Upper Canada was held there. A little distance away stands the old fort, and around it the famous Niagara camping ground for the soldiers. There were many pleasure campers at Chautauqua grounds; also in the old Niagara Park about one hundred tents could be seen. We were driven from here along the Niagara River to Queenston, passing many new commodious summer residences, the most of which belonged to Americans. A good bicycle cinder path runs from Niagara to Queenston, a distance of eight miles, beside the winding and picturesque Niagara river. Connecting Queenston with Lewiston, N.Y., is a fine new bridge over which vehicles may pass, and which heretofore was a broken link in the Niagara gorge belt line, but now completes one of the most exciting and interesting summer routes in the world. Thousand during the summer months enjoy its beautiful scenery and visit the many points of interest.
We visited Brock’s monument on Queenston Heights, and saw the fortification of earth in the adjacent grove, both being reminders of the war of 1812, and causing that which made history to live over. Brock’s monument is seven miles below the Falls. It was erected to perpetuate the memory of Sir Isaac Brock, who fell here in 1813. The first monument erected here was destroyed by explosion on April 17, 1840, and was replaced by the present one in 1853. A week before we visited it four cannons were placed about it, two directly in front, and two facing the river gorge. It now resembles a fortress. The monument is 185 feet high, the base being 40 foot square and 30 feet high. The cylindrical shaft is 75 feet high by 30 feet in circumference, having a Corinthian capital 10 feet in height, carrying in relief a statue of the Goddess of War. Over this is around dome 7 feet high, surmounted by brock’s statue and can be reached by 250 spiral steps, starting from the interior of the base. It costs 25 cents to ascend. Imagine the view from the top of this monument at such an altitude! It is transporting, indeed! Toronto, 40 miles away, can be seen on a clear day. We saw it. At Queenston the electric cars wind their way up the mountain side, this road being a part of the Niagara River Ry.
It seems you are standing on most wonderful ground at the Heights when you begin to consider and meditate upon the history and geology of the place. We were told that the Horseshoe Falls are constantly receding, and within the memory of some had receded 250 feet. The question arises, where did this recession begin? Geologists tell us, and their answer has been accepted at the mountain near Queenston and Lewiston. The whole waters of the lakes there foamed over the dam, and the low lying land between the mountain and the lake some twelve miles of territory in diameter and extending from Hamilton to Rochester, was once the bed of the lake instead of rich, alluvial, fruit producing territory.
We visited the wonderful Falls of Niagara, ever interesting in appearance, even when viewed many times. It was delightful day, for you would imagine you were in fairyland, in the midst of the mists and rainbows continually. Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park, which was opened on May 24, 1888, has grown in beauty and grandeur ever since, and now you find yourself in 100 acres of veritable flower gardens and evergreen lawns. Space will not permit of further description of the mighty cataract familiar to us all.
We returned to Abingdon on Aug. 4, via St. Davids, St. Catharines, Jordon, Beamsville and Smithville, with invigorated and refreshened constitutions.
A Regular Subscriber
E. Warner
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 28 January 1921]
St. Augustine Post Office, Florida
Elmer Misener, who went south a couple of weeks ago, to escape the blizzards and chilling winds of the Welland Canal zone, returned on Friday last, and reports a pleasant sojourn in the land of continuous sunshine and occasional earthquake to change the monotony of the sluggish days. He spent a week at the beautiful summer resort, St. Augustine, Florida. While there he had the pleasure of meeting H.W. Hobson, of Niagara Falls, Ont., and Capt. Gordon, formerly of Fenwick, who now has an orange grove at that place. The thermometer registered 85 in the shade on his arrival-but registered a little higher before his departure owing to the much “hot air” that had been dispensed during his sojourn, and which was a great surprise to the natives as they thought the visitor came from a land of ice and snow, and where no hot vapors existed. He reports the orange crop in a high state of cultivation, and that he had a plentiful supply of the delicious fruit picked freshly from the trees. He was shown the alligator and crocodile farm which maintained thousands of these reptiles of all sizes and which is a great commercial industry in the state-the alligator and crocodile hide being used for the manufacture of many articles. He saw many of these reptiles about 14 feet long. Mr. Misener says it is all right in the sunny south, for a short stay, but for him the land of the “Maple Leaf.”
[People’s Press, 16 February 1904]
Mr. John E. Cohoe of the township of Wainfleet has favored the People’s Press with an old faded writing, the diary of a trip made from Welland County to the Talbot Settlement (now St. Thomas) in 1815-nearly 90 years ago. The manuscript was found among the papers of Mr. Cohoe’s grandfather-John Cohoe-who lived at or near Fonthill and died about half a century ago. The words inside the parenthesis are interpolated by the editor as explanatory. Mr. Cohoe tells us that he has been unable to locate the Dial McKinney’s referred to. Isaac Nunn’s, we are informed, is the farm now occupied by Cyrus Nunn in Pelham. From the diary it will readily be seen that travelling in this country ninety years ago was quite a different matter from the taking of a trip nowadays. The manuscript reads:-
April the 12th, 1815, I left home about 7 o’clock in the morning and went to Dial McKinney’s and from thence about 9 and went through by Isaac Nunn’s and crost Chipawa at Robin’s, and crost the mouth of Swaygo, and mist our way and took a road that led to the south, from which we took to the woods, which hindered us a good while, but the day being fair we got out to the road and went on through Canborough and took a new road through, but got out before the moon sot and staid at one William McDaniel’s (probably McDonald’s).
13th-Crost the Grand river and went by Justine’s place and so to the lake, and eat breakfast at Fite’s, and from thence went on the beach, and being fair, we got to one Wagner’s, and the next day crost the mouth of Patterson’s crick, and went through Dover and went by the Messodes (Methodist) meeting house and by the baptise (Baptist) meeting house and so on through Long Pint Settlement by old Thomas Welch’s, and from thence to Samuel Brown’s that night.
15th-We went on and got on Talbert (Talbot) street and arrived at Jesse Terl’s (probably Tyrrell’s) one mile beyond the big Aughter (Big Otter).
16th-Went on the street till we crost the Catfishes and then took a road down the Catfish to the Bostict road and got to Isaac Moore’s that night.
17th-Went through to the lake and so round to Jonathan Done’s and staid all night.
18th-Went on the Bostic road and with some difficulty to find the way we got to Cornnal Tolbert’s (Col. Talbot’s) and staid that night.
19th-Came back to Isaac Moore’s and heard the wipperwill for the first time this year, and staid the night.
20th-Come on the Bostick road, and came to Tolbert (Talbot) street at Isaac Crane’s and came to William Keskedan’s and staid that night.
21st-We came to Jesse Terel’s and got our breakfast and staid and looked at the lake till 2 or 3, and then I returned for Cornal Tolbert, and went on the street to John Melat’s and staid that night.
22nd-I went on to Tolbert’s and give in the numbers and came back 12 or 13 miles and it rained all day and was disagreeable traveling. Staid at Jeremiah’s Scrammer’s that night.
23rd-This morning cold and snowed some, and about 9 or 10 o’clock broke away and the sun broke out and was more moderate, and came to Jesse Terles about 1 or 2 o’clock and went and looked at my land some more and towards evening came to the Little Auter (Little Otter) and staid that night at Thomas Nevel’s.
24th-Came to Samuel Brown’s and got dinner.
(The record breaks off abruptly here, the remaining pages having been lost. The name of the writer is not given but it was evidently the diary of someone who went to buy land from Col. Talbot.)
Michael Blake, to Wit
Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, Oct. 17, 1898
[People’s Press. 1 November 1898]
To Mr. J.J. Sidey, Welland, Ont.:
SIR: I beg most respectfully to address this letter to you, hoping that it may find you and respected family in as good health as this leaves me at present. I was living with my son in Liverpool. They used me well, but I found it lonely; he always at sea and his wife constantly employed every day. I thought I would come to Chelsea. I like it very well. We all have the liberty we desire; only one roll call, at 9.30 p.m. Hyde park, Kensington park, St. James Park, Green park, Battersea park, within easy reach. We have beautiful grounds of our own. There are such beautiful walks and promenades and recreation grounds. The Thames embankment is just at the foot of our grounds. Everything is delightful; the parliament house and Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s cathedral, Trafalgar square, National gallery, art gallery, museums, &c.-lots of things to see and to amuse you. We have a good library and reading-room, with two billiard tables and several games to occupy our time.
I was very proud of Canada. She has done well. Sir. W. Laurier is very energetic. The prohibition was a grand thing, although if I was there I would vote against it. I know much misery is caused through drink. I have a pint of beer daily, and that is all. The times are in a ferment everywhere in church and state. While I was at Liverpool we had some correspondence with Mr. Tom Ray. I was glad to hear that Brother James Foster was well and doing well.
We had a very dry season in London. They are short of water in parts of the city. I go to Hyde park on odd Sunday to hear the discussions on Socialism and Hebrewism-a curious crowd of fanatics- but the grand carriage drive and bike and motor car are worth seeing. I like this place very much; every man has a room to himself, a table, a chair, shelves, a large box; no man to bother you; go out a la militaire or in your own plain clothes. Your meals are brought to you hot-coffee mornings, tea evenings. We have fruit pies in season; extas, Yorkshire pudding, &c.
I conclude and beg to remain truly
Your sincere well-wisher, M. Blake.
[Welland Tribune, 13 October 1905]
Editor Tribune- I notice by advertisement that the town council contemplate closing up the river road near the old public school building back of the court house. In doing so they will do away with what might be one of Welland’s most picturesque drives, as well as a very great public convenience. To close this would be little less than an act of vandalism, and I cannot conceive why the parties directly interested do not protest against it.-CITIZEN
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 1 March 1921]
Garden Grove, Calif.
February 18th, 1921
Dear Cousin:
I am having the time of my life here in the sunny south. I suppose you would like to know what the country is like. The place called Ontario where I have been stopping lately is a dandy little town up neat the mountains, and has about 6.000 population. The chap that surveyed the place was a Canadian and named it after our Province of Ontario.
The people out here certainly know how to boost if anyone does, and when there is a special picnic on, all the papers urge the people to be there to boost for California. It seems to do a lot of good for there are towns springing up all over and the larger cities are growing all the time. You will be surprised to hear that most of these new residenters come from back east. We are known as Easterners here.
The Yankees here are sure an open-hearted people. They go into everything with all their might. Now at present I am in Orange County, right in the heart of the orange district. They certainly keep things looking spick and span. But oranges are not the only thing grown here. They have thousands of acres of sugar beets and alfalfa. There are also large dairies, hog ranches and beautiful graperies, and in fact they can grow almost anything you can anywhere else.
It has been said that travelling is an education in itself. I believe it is. There are certainly some fine classes of people here. I suppose you know Santa Ana and Los Angeles are situated nearly on the coast, and also at the southern end of the state. We are nearly 500 miles from San Francisco, so it would be some trip to see all of California, but we have the best part of it down south right where I am now. Of course there is snow up north. You can gaze up on the mountains from here and see snow all the time, but down in the valleys the sun shines bright, and everything is green just like in the summer.
Last week I helped cut up some wood. It is called Eucalyptus, or more commonly known as Blue Gun here. This wood is very tough. I also had the pleasure to help dig out a large bamboo cluster.
I have spent some time riding about in a new Ford car. Last Monday we took a 100 mile trip up to Venice and Ocean Park. They are noted pleasure resorts out from Los Angeles by the ocean. The trip through the Orange Groves out here is fine and you have to keep your eyes open all the time.
On Wednesday, we took a trip to Orange County Park in the foothills. It’s a fine park given to the state by a wealthy rancher. There are 160 acres in it and it sure is worth seeing. This park is 20 miles from here, but the roads are so good you can go 50 miles without knowing it. Next week we are going to an Orange Carnival at San Bernardino about 85 miles from here. We can make the round trip easily in one day because there are boulevards all the way.
Last month we were up to Mt. Lorne. I was not prepared for the cold trip for we nearly froze. I thought I was back cast and was glad to get down where it was warm. There was 7 inches of snow up there, for it was a mile high. You take the street car as far as you can, then you change to a small encline railway. Finally you get on a small street car and wind around the mountain for 5 ½ miles. Some places you can look straight down for a few thousand feet. It’s a thriller. When you come to a tavern where you find a warm fire. You still have 2 ½ miles to wind around yet before you get to the top. We took some pictures here in the clouds standing in 7 inches of snow. This was some trip.
We next put in two days at Los Angeles taking in the free sightseeing trips. There are a lot of land companies spectating here and selling new city lots. They operate large auto buses, which hold 50 people. There are enough of these trips to keep on going for two weeks steady. The companies claim this is cheaper and is more effective than advertising in papers.
On one of our trips we were taken down to San Pedro harbour at Los Angeles. They took our party of 50 people out for a 20 mile yacht cruise around the harbor explaining everything. Then we were brought to their land sites and they managed to sell five lots.
The next day we went out with another company’s bus through Pasadena and I saw the homes of 134 millionaires on Orange Grove Avenue. It was a swell trip from there to Eagle Rock. Here they tried their old game, but I didn’t bite. My friend called this “milking the dear blessed public.”
On Tuesday we took a trip over to Santa Catalina Island, 30 miles out in the ocean. We were there 2 days, so I can say that I’ve slept one night off the continent at least. While there we had a trip in a glass bottom boat called a submarine garden. This is fine sight as you can see down for 50 feet in the ocean and watch the fish swimming all around. Then a fellow dived down for 2 minutes and you could see him plain as day.
The next morning we took a yacht trip for 22 miles along the shore of Catalina Island up as far as a place called the Isthmus. We got off here, went over and investigated an old Chinese pirate boat, listened to all the wild cat stories and finally were served with a picnic lunch. Then we left for our original port call “Avilon.” At three p.m. we started back for North America again.
A few days later we went out to an ostrich farm, also to an alligator farm. While here I helped a fellow pull a large alligator out of the pond. They won’t bite in the winter. I spent one day more in Los Angeles and then returned to Santa Ana.
Well I believe that I have given you enough news for this time, so will close.
Yours sincerely,
BILL
Ernest Green Writes the Following Letter to the Globe:-
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 17 March 1921]
A short time ago there appeared in the columns of The Globe a prize winning essay entitled “The Life of Laura Ingersoll Secord” by a Hamilton school girl. This essay has been reprinted in several Western Ontario newspapers, and doubtless many copies of it have passed into scrap books or laid away for reference by persons who regard it as authoritative.
Unfortunately the article bristles with errors, but its publication serves to direct attention to the sources from which the young people of this Province draw their historical information. Prominent among these sources is the “Ontario High school History of Canada,” published under authority of the Minister of Education, a book which, in part at least, is as full of errors as the Hamilton school girl’s essay.
On page 158 this school history tells the story of Laura Secord and the battle of Beaver Dams. Explaining how the contest came about, it says the “Americans….endeavored to surprise the British post at Beaver Dams.” As a matter of fact, the British post was not at Beaver Dams, but at DeCou’s, farther west, an objective that the American expedition failed to reach. That they “missed their way,” as the book says, is inaccurate because they did not get off the road to their objective- DeCou’s. That they “were attacked by Colonel Fitzgibbon….with about thirty men and a few Indians” differs from the facts. The American force was stopped, surrounded and beaten by the Indians and a few Lincoln militiamen before Fitzgibbon reached the scene. The “dare-devil Irishman” was just in time to display his redcoats and negotiate for a surrender. Fitzgibbon at this time was Lieutenant, not a Colonel.
Referring to James Secord, the school history says: “Both he and his wife Laura were children of Loyalists.” Secord was the Loyalist son of a Loyalist, but Laura Ingersoll was the daughter of an officer of the “Continental” army during the Revolutionary war, who came to Canada in Simcoe’s time.
Quoting Cruikshank regarding the experience of Laura Secord with the Indians, the book says: “Some delay ensued before she was entrusted to Fitzgibbon.” The original reads “before she was conducted to Fitzgibbon,” which gives a rather different impression.
Continuing the history of the war in the school book, we are told that the British were “under Riall” in the battle of Lundy’s Lane. As a matter of fact, Drummond commanded from the commencement of the fight. The “reinforcements” came up after Drummond’s troops had fought for about three hours, but the book says that Drummond “came up with reinforcements.”
“The enemy…next day recrossed the river,” says the book. That would be on July 26, 1814. As a matter of fact, they remained in Canada until November. In the interval was waged the desperate and bloody siege of Fort Erie, the only regular siege operation of the war, which the book entirely ignores.
Canadians have long criticized American school histories for their inaccuracies. It is time that we put our own schoolhouse in order.
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