From the Archives of Western Newspapers

Posted on October 22, 2026 by Vauxhall Advance

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

October 19, 1894 – Moose Jaw Times

In the early days, the town of Swift Current was a place of some repute. It was the base of supply for troops during the 1885 rebellion and, until the opening of the Prince Albert railway, was the southern terminus of a stage and carter’s freight line to Battleford. Since then, the Battleford trade has been diverted to Saskatoon, thus, to the outside world, Swift Current is now looked upon as a relic of its former greatness. 

The British barque Trafalgar has just arrived at London Dock after an experience that would make an excellent book of adventure. The Trafalgar sailed from Cardiff to New York, then to Batavia, where her troubles began. Three crewmen deserted, with only one found and brought back. The second officer was discharged due to thrashing one of the crew too severely. Nobody was allowed to go ashore due to the prevalence of Java fever, yet it found it’s way on board. The captain was the first to fall ill and die, followed by the steward and six crew. The chief officer, now captain, along with four more crew took ill and died as the ship sailed for Australia. In the end, a youth, Shatton, who had just completed his term of service, was promoted to third officer and, with a skeleton crew who refused to do nothing except what was necessary, managed to sail the vessel to the Victorian coast of Australia.

There were two gun accidents this week, neither serious. The first was a man who pulled a loaded cap from a cartridge, that exploded and put a hole in his hand. The other was fitting a lock on a gun and the cartridge exploded, giving him a burn. 

October 22, 1910 – The Buzzer (Macleod)

A slight scare occurred the other night when local police discovered, during the early morning hours, the rear door of the Union Commerce Bank was open. The bank clerks scampered upstairs in their nightclothes as they and the police were worked up over the situation. In the end, the search only revealed a dusty old hat. Hurray. 

A teacher asked a student how many feet were in one yard. The student replied that it depended on whose yard a person is in. 

In addition to fixing up the two lanes that were burnt last spring at the bowling alley, an additional two lanes have also been added.

Don’t let your enthusiasm drag, just because the World Sweepstakes were won by Macleod wheat. Macleod is the wheat field of Alberta, yet the warm enthusiasm we all felt after Spokane seems to have frozen already. 

October 24, 1912 – The Mirror Journal

Current dispatches state the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway is under negotiations for the purchase of a controlling interest in the Chicago Great Western Railroad. The Grand Trunk were busy in Mirror on Monday and Tuesday, with 14 engines in the yard and all crew called in. Half the engines were sent to Wainright and the other half will run out of Mirror throughout the winter. 

In Ottawa, a fire of unknown origin broke out in the vault on the third floor of the parliament buildings last Saturday afternoon. It is reported a number of valuable documents were destroyed. 

Last Sunday and Monday, 2600 cars of grain were inspected at Winnipeg. This is a record number in the history of Western Canada and reports are that four-fifths of the grain was contract grade.