From the Archives of Western Newspapers

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Vauxhall Advance

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

July 24, 1884 – The Brandon Mail

Mr. Fegan, who was over in May, is coming out again, having left Liverpool on July 17th on board the Allan Line SS Parisian. He is bringing a large party of lads with him aged 13 to 16 years who have been trained in his orphan homes. The younger boys will be placed with farmers in Ontario at wages from $3 to $5 per month. Fegan plans to find employment for the older boys in Winnipeg, Portage and Brandon areas. The cost to bring the whole party is $2,500 and is being paid by an English nobleman.

The judicial committee of the Privy Council has made a decision on the first point raised in connection with the disputed boundary between Ontario and Manitoba. One claim states the province of Ontario must extend to near Hudson’s Bay because the Hudson Bay Company’s territory was the western boundary of old Canada. The company’s territory extended no further than to their post on the shore of the bay and the committee dealt with that question. They refused to entertain the contention in that regard, insisting the actual boundaries of the Hudson Bay Company’s territories must be ascertained in order that the true western boundary of Ontario could be marked out.

An English scientist claims to be able to sober a drunken man in one minute using a new application of electricity. If this be true, we are on the eve of a transformation too far reaching to be fully grasped at the first reading of this announcement.

July 17, 1908 – Coleman Miner

In Ottawa, Ontario, James Woods was jailed for six months for the crime of stealing three pairs of false teeth.

Commencing July 15th, the barrooms will all close at 10 p.m.

Spain wants a loan of $32 million, Japan $50 million, Russia $100 million and Canada $20 million.

If the Canadian Senate has its way, the only thing for youth to do under 18 years is to chew the rag, smoke mullein leaves, or perhaps smoke tea leaves. Under new legislation, anyone under 18 will be prohibited the use of tobacco.

July 23, 1910 – The Strathmore and Bow
Valley Standard

It is still very hot, although it is some consolation to know there are now five ice cream emporiums in town and three soda fountains. Additionally, it must have been cooling for many to have read about the alleged 18 inches of snow we received on June 2.

In Nelson, the bodies of four victims were retrieved from the tunnel of the Lucky Jim Mine, where they had sought shelter from the intense heat and smoke of the forest fires raging in the vicinity of Kaslo and Sandon. This is the season when large numbers of prospectors are out on the hills. As the fires have spread over such a large area, it is expected more bodies will be found.

The magnificent yacht of the late Duke of Najra, a grandee of Spain, was burnt and sunk at Cadiz by orders of the Duchess. The Duke was one of the wealthiest men in Spain and died a few weeks ago. His widow was unwilling to let anyone enjoy his possessions and had the yacht destroyed in sight of an astonished crowd.