FORTY YEARS AGO.
April, 1908.
Sir,--I am always interested in "Forty Years Ago." It brings back to
me food for thought, especially of late, when so many old-timers have
passed away. Before commenting on the _Colonist's_ "Forty Years
Ago" in Saturday's issue, I would remark that I expected mention to
have been made in the article on the late R. S. Byrn, that he was a
newspaper man for some years. I remember Mr. Byrn as bookkeeper for
the _Standard_, under Amor De Cosmos, forty-two years ago,
seeing him every day, as the _Standard_ office was next door to
my father's store on Government Street, opposite Trounce Avenue. The
_Standard_, like the _Colonist_, was started by Amor De
Cosmos. The first item of interest on Saturday is the sailing of the
steamer _Enterprise_ for New Westminster (she made only two
trips a week); among her passengers were Chief Justice Needham, Rev.
E. White (the pioneer minister of the Wesleyan Church in Victoria),
and R. Holloway. The latter is connected with the government
_Gazette_ to-day.
The next item announces the first cricket match of the season at
Beacon Hill. The Victoria eleven are Charles Clark, a clever amateur
actor who helped to make a success of the various entertainments our
club gave for charity in these days; E. Dewdney, afterwards
Governor; --. Walker, a prominent barrister of those days; Joseph
Wilson, of the firm of W. & J. Wilson; Josiah Barnett, cashier of
the McDonald Bank; C. Guerra, a remittance man; C. Green, of Janion,
Green & Rhodes; Thomas Tye, of Mathews, Richard & Tye; John Howard,
of Esquimalt; Gold Commissioner Ball, and last though not least,
Judge Drake. A cricket match in those days was always able to draw a
crowd, being the ball game of the day. In this match the name does
not appear of a Mr. Richardson, who was a professional player and at
least an extra fine player, who came here about that time with a
visiting team. He is still in Victoria, as I saw him quite lately.
Among the passengers by the steamer _California_ for San
Francisco, I note Rev. Dr. Evans, of the Methodist Church, and
family; C. C. Pendergast, in charge of Wells Fargo's bank and
express, an important institution then; J. H. Turner, (Hon.) William
Lawson, of the Bank of British North America, and brother of James H.
Lawson; R. P. Rithet & Co., Mr. and Mrs. Pidwell, whose daughter Mr.
Higgins married; John Glassey, an uncle of Mr. T. P. McConnell; J. S.
Drummond, father of Mrs. Magill; Richard Broderick, the coal dealer,
and wife, and Mrs. Zelner, whose husband kept a drug store where the
B. C. Market now is. It will be noted that a number of people
assembled on the wharf to see their friends off. I might say that
this was the usual thing in those days. Even some business places
would be closed while the proprietor went to the wharf to say
good-bye to a relative or friend.
An Incident of the Mystic Spring.
Sir,--In Thursday's paper in the "Forty Years Ago" column I note the
account given of the suicide of a young girl at Cadboro Bay. An
interesting account is given in the "Mystic Spring" by my friend, Mr.
Higgins. Poor girl! It was another case of unrequited affection. I
knew Miss Booth well, being of my own age. We had met on many
occasions at picnics and dances and at other festivities. On the
memorable afternoon cited I saw her walking on the Cadboro Bay Road
from town just ahead of me, and I hurried and caught up and accosted
her, asking where she was off to. She was then more than three miles
from home, which was on the Esquimalt Road. She replied in the most
cheerful manner, with a smile: "Oh, I'm going for a walk to Cadboro
Bay." I remarked on the long distance she was from home, to which she
replied, and passed on. Little did I think then that she was on her
way to her death, and in so cool and collected a manner. My memory
has been freshened lately by my brother, as to the circumstances
attending the sad affair. Miss Booth was one of three sisters who
lived with their father and mother, as before stated, on Esquimalt
Road. She had become acquainted with a young gentleman who afterward
became an M.P. at Ottawa, and this acquaintance ripened into
something stronger, so much so that she fell in love with him, and
showed it so pointedly that he, as well as others, could not well
help noticing it. He did not reciprocate her affection, and I believe
told her so, and like an honest man avoided her. This in time was too
much for her and she took the fatal course which ended in her
drowning herself near the "Mystic Spring."
Being the last to see her in life, and knowing her so well, I
tendered my evidence at the coroner's inquest. I might say that the
family shortly afterwards moved to Ladner's Landing, and the two
sisters married there, and part of the family still reside in that
vicinity. This ends another little episode of forty years ago. This
is for those who may remember the sad occurrence and the interest
taken in the poor girl's sad fate at the time.