Editorially speaking…
One of the joys of researching in old newspapers is discovering smaller news items, nuggets I call them, that just don’t make it to the big time. By which I mean, they’re what some would cruelly call trivia, so get passed by.
But this one recently caught my eye and, if only momentarily, sucked me down the rabbit hole. I share it with you today. It’s from the Victoria Daily Times of Jan. 25, 1929:
TINY GIRL TOWS BODY TO SHORE
Twelve-Year-Old Swimmer Recovers Canoeist Drowned in Gorge Waters
“An inquest on the death of 16-year-old John Moore, who was drowned in the waters of the Gorge last Wednesday, will be held to-morrow morning at 10:00 in McCall Bros. funeral parlours, Coroner E.C. Hart stated this morning.
The body was recovered shortly before 6:00 last night after five days in the water. floating face downwards. It was seen by children swimming near Craigflower bridge and was towed to shore by Nelly Tait, 12-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Tait, Admirals Road. Constable P.K. Cummings of the Saanich police attended the scene.
Young Moore was the victim of this season's first drowning accident. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Moore, 1883 Inez drive. He was a member of the Cowichan Boy Scouts and an employee of the delivery department of David Spencer Ltd.”
The report then lists young Moore’s family survivors.
And that’s it. A tragedy that, but for this tiny item in an old newspaper, would be long, long forgotten. But a heartbreaking loss for the Moore family, and an event that likely remained ever-fresh in the memory of “tiny” 12-year-old Nelly Tait who, instead of merely reporting having sighted a body, displayed the strength of character to tow it to shore.
Just a nano-second in the history of the world, but momentous and life-changing for those involved.
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Islanders urged to tackle invasive plants, reads a recent news item in the Victoria Times Colonist.
Greater Victoria residents are being urged to “take matters into their own hands” to tackle invasive plant species this spring.
The irony of many so-called invasive plants, and some animals, is that they were intentionally introduced to the province, often with the best of intentions, but then took off. Scotch broom, the devil’s-work of Capt. W.C. Grant, is one of the most visible examples of this human foible.
I’ve taken an interest in the subject from both a biological viewpoint and as an historian. The story of how some of these pernicious plants and critters got their start in the province is a fascinating one that will, I’m sure, make a great Chronicle one day.
But not today.
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A great shot of the onetime boom town, Sandon, in the Silvery Slocan by “Mike.” (Don’t ask what a retired Vancouver bus is doing in the Selkirks.—Wikipedia
In a recent Lost Kootenays Facebook post, prolific photo historian Eric Brighton noted that this historic ghost town “is looking good these days with all the upgrades and new paint, etc.!”
On behalf of his 1000s of followers, he expressed his appreciation “for all the efforts made recently by the hard-working Sandon Historical Society and for local legend Hal Wright who has contributed so much time and effort towards the preservation of this awesome Kootenay ghost town!”
I second that motion.
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If only the same could be said for the ghost town of Granite Creek, for which funds have apparently been secured for partial restoration, or at least, to preserve them from further deterioration. But, it appears, nothing has been done nor does it appear that anything, on a government level, will be done to save it from loss.
So much for history.