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[Welland Telegraph, 6 November 1891]
The 2nd of November, 1891, will long be remembered as a red letter day in the history of Welland. In the years to come, hoary bearded grandfathers will relate to the children around their knees, how that the day was memorable by the police magistrate coming out in a fashionable two button cutaway coat, casting to the relics of antiquity the time honored, one button, gray tweed, which for ages had been a familiar sight.
Another Petroleum Well Struck in Humberstone A Deep Hole in Bertie.
[Welland Telegraph, 18 December 1891]
The oil excitement in the township of Humberstone is growing, and from present indications bids fair to assume the nature of a boom. On Saturday, on the Troup farm in the 3rd concession, another good well was struck, which gives a good example of oil, so pure that it burns well in its crude state. Various estimates of the capacity of the two oil wells are made, which give the product from one to ten barrels per day. The company, which is virtually controlled by the great Standard Oil Company, has leased all the available land in the vicinity, giving the owners from a 10th to a 15th of the production, but since the last find those who have not yet leased their property are holding out for better terms. Now comes the question: What is the company going to do with the oil? And the most feasible answer is they will erect pumping stations and force the oil to the other side of the boundary line, unless legislature steps in and puts on a heavy export duty or prohibits its exportation in this manner. The great huckleberry marsh in Wainfleet is mostly under lease, and it is said this property gives good oil signs. Another well is now being drilled on the Johnson farm, and a plant is being erected on the Peter Barnhardt place, but the drillers and members of the company are very reticent in giving any information regarding their intentions or the capacity of the wells. The company is making a test of deep drilling on David Sherk’s place in Bertie, and a few weeks ago reached the Trenton rock at a depth of 2,800 feet, when the machinery gave out, not being adapted to such deep probing. Heavier machinery will be put on the work, and although the company are using every secrecy in the matter, they have not concealed the fact that the oil indications are good.
The Provincial Natural Gas Company Finds Oil in Humberstone
[Welland Telegraph. 11 December 1891]
Food for a new boom has been discovered in the township of Humberstone. Several weeks ago the Provincial Gas Company struck oil at a well on Peter Storm’s farm at the depth of 887 feet, but the matter was kept very quiet until all the property that could be obtained in the vicinity was leased.
The oil is said to be a first-class sample of petroleum, equal if not superior to the Pennsylvania product. Another well is now being put down in the marsh of Mrs. Troup’s property, just north of where the find was made, and if this should pan out good oil there will likely be a boom.
Arrangements are being made, and some of the appliances are already on the ground for pumping, but the capacity of the well cannot be determined until the pump is started.
[Welland Telegraph, 4 December 1891]
Everybody who has ever been in Welland knows Magistrate Hellems, and everybody who meets him has a good word for him, unless, perchance, a hopeless evil-doer who chances to fall foul of him. To the “bad man” he is a terror. His rough and unkempt exterior is only the covering of a warm and generous heart. The boys know this, and are ever ready to take advantage of it. Some little time ago it was learned that he intended paying the barber a visit. Mr. Tonsorial was taken into confidence and a plot was hatched which was carried out and caused a suppressed smile all over the town. He got into the barber’s chair, one side of his head had been shorn of its graceful load of flowing locks when the barber was called out. The latter evidently forgot about his customer until his patience was worn out, and when he came back to the shop the magistrate, half shaven, was very angry, and if there had been any charge standing against the barber just then he would have got the time. When the story leaked out, of course, everybody was amused.-St. Catharines Standard.
[Welland Tribune, 21 April 1893]
Work on the cemetery is progressing rapidly. Jas. Andrews, the caretaker, is daily to work, and already a great improvement is perceptible by the underbrush being cleared away and the long grass and weeds destroyed. All who have not yet subscribed are earnestly asked to contribute, and aid this work by a generous subscription. The money will be spent economically, and made to do as much good as it can possibly can, and will be put, as already promised, inside the grounds.
The Stork, the Pale Rider and Cupid-What They Have Done
[Welland Tribune, 3 January 1908]
Cupid is a bit slow in Welland. The little fellow, who laughs at locksmiths and deals in hearts, has not averaged a marriage a week in our town, there only being 31 marriages during the past year. But the stork has done better, and from out its long beak, and out from the land of somewhere, out from mystery, has brought 53 little cherubs, who someday will be voters or mothers in the land. Death is ever busy, and 54 has the pale rider come to the town and 54 times has the crepe been hung above the door a Welland home. In plain language, Welland during the last twelve months has had 53births, 54 deaths and 31 marriages.
[Welland Tribune, 17 January 1908]
Mr. W.O. Howell, carpenter, of Thorold township, near Fonthill, met with a very serious accident on Tuesday last. He was working for Charles McClellan on a building at Niagara Falls South, when a part of the framework fell, carrying Mr. Howell to the ground.
Mr. Howell’s escape from instant death was a mighty narrow one, a heavy timber crashing down but a few inches from his head. As it was, his left ankle was smashed, sustaining a compound fracture. He was removed to Dr. McGarry’s office, where the fracture was reduced by Drs. McGarry and Olmstead, and later he was removed to the hospital at the Falls, where he will be for the next five or six weeks. The accident is a most deplorable one.
Mr. Howell is a member of Court Raymond, Fonthill.
COAL GAS ACCIDENT
[Welland Tribune, 1 January 1908]
Elizabeth, widow of late Alex Philip, and mother of Mr. W.A. Philip of this place, died at her home on Claremont street last Wednesday, aged 80 years.
Mrs. Bernard Ball of Thorold, who has been in poor health for some time, was found hanging in her bedroom on Friday afternoon. Her husband died some time ago, and something over a year ago a brother of Mrs. Ball committed suicide.
Nearly smothered by Gas- A terrible fatality was narrowly averted here on Friday afternoon. Daniel Springer, employed at the Willson carbide factory, Merritton, put fresh coal on the fire and departed for work early in the morning, leaving the rest of the inmates asleep. In the house were Mrs. A.S. Ferguson, Springer’s sister; her grand-daughter, Norma Gadsby, and Mr. and Mrs. R.S. Ferguson of Buffalo, who are visiting at the house. None of the inmates woke till 11 o’clock, when the girl Norma was aroused, feeling very ill. She called her relatives, but got no response, and in a swooning condition she struggled to the street and attracted Chief Clark, who, with other citizens, went to the house and carried the unconscious inmates to a neighbor’s house, where they were with much difficulty restored to sensibility. An examination of the chimney showed that it was completely filled with soot, which had caused the escape of an immense quantity of coal gas in the house.
A brilliant wedding took place at Thorold on Wednesday afternoon, when Miss Augusta Campion Simson, youngest daughter of Mr. T.E. Simson, became the bride of Mr. George W. Northwood, architect, of Winnipeg. The ceremony was choral, and took place in St. John’s church in the presence of about fifty guests, Rev. F.C. Piper officiating. The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Gertrude Simson, as maid of honor, and by Miss Violet Lemon and Miss Winnifred Calcott as bridesmaids. The maid of honor and the bridesmaids instead of the customary bouquet, carried very large pink tulle muffs, something quite new in wedding party finery. Miss Weeks, organist of the church, played the wedding march as the wedding party entered and left the church, and all during the ceremony she played softly. The groom was supported by his brother, Mr. James Northwood of Winnipeg. Mr. and Mrs. Northwood left on wedding trip to Jamaica and the West Indies, and will be in Winnipeg, their future home, in five or six weeks.
Escort brought safely Into Port Dalhousie and now Lies in the Locks
-She is leaking but is Very Little Damaged.
(Special to The Telegraph)
[Welland Telegraph, 7 January 1908]
Port Colborne. Jan. 6- Everyone in town was delighted on Saturday to learn that DeW. Carter had at last been successful in his attempt to raise the tug Escort. The weather was very unfavorable all last week, but on Friday Lake Ontario was calm. At nine o’clock a.m., three tugs and the two large pontoon scows left Port Dalhousie for another attempt. After getting the cables and chains securely fastened, the tug was raised by the scows and the tugs began to tow her to port, which they finally reached at five o’clock Saturday morning. The Escort, which had been sunk for about six weeks, did not appear much damaged. Her smokestack and the roof of the pilot house were missing, but otherwise she appeared uninjured. On Saturday she was lifted above the surface by the gate lifters, but had to be let down again on account of an accident to the gate lifter. No bodies were found in the Escort. She was later raised again and pumped out, and will be at once towed to Port Colborne, where she will receive a through overhauling this winter. Capt. DeW. Carter was very fortunate indeed, in securing his lost tug, and only to his persistent efforts is his success due, which is always the case in this life. The man who sticks to it, all things being equal, usually succeeds in his endeavors or undertakings.
The tug Escort is in lock three. It is said the lock will be drained off, as she cannot be kept free from water, so the supposition is that she has a hole in her hull. Mr. Carter sent a lot of canvas down yesterday morning and other material to patch her up. The hope is expressed by everyone that the vent is only slight, and that is will be only a small job to fix it.
Merritton Cricketers Succumb to the Great Play of the Home Team
[Welland Telegraph, 29 May 1891]
By far the most exciting game of cricket seen in Welland for many a year was played between Merritton and the home team on Monday last. Merritton were first to bat and succeeded in running up 54, of which 26 came came from the doughty willow of Dr. Vanderburgh. Lunch was then partaken of, after which the visitors went to the field. The batting talent of the home team seemed to be decidedly off, as the innings was only productive of 34, nobody getting double figures. Merritton stock went up, and kept going up with her score until at the close of the innings it was about 97 per cent, above par, for Welland must make 88 to tie. The whisper went abroad that for once in the annuls of cricket the men from the railway centres were to prevail, and the crowd looked intently at the thistles on the ground. Wicket after wicket of the home team’s crack bats went down. The score was not is sight, and the crowd began to leave. At last McCaw and Cohoe joined ranks and a 6 from the latter shed the first ray of hope. A 4 to the boundary from the former increased the gleam. Over followed over, and run followed run, and still the two were not separated. People began to get excited; ye reporter to calculate, and a well-known sport wanted to bet. At last McCaw was brought down by Vanderburgh with the score of 19 to his credit, and only 17 were left to make and the bowling was broken. Hellems joined Cohoe and the game was won without the loss of any more wickets. Enthusiastic admirers carried Cohoe off the field and well they might for Ed had put up a remarkably fine game, playing in excellent form, and scoring 25 not out with never a chance given. To him and McCaw the local team is indebted for the greatest victory in the present generation of players. In bowling Dr. Vanderburgh was dead on the wicket the whole game, while Crow, Tuckey and Boultbee all did well.