VOL. 18, No. 10 PRINCE FRINGE GEORGE, B. C. THURSDAY, MARCH Fifteen Men Killed on the CP.R. by Runaway Tender Greatest Tragedy of the Rockies Since the Great Slide in the Rogers' Pass VICTIMS WERE TRAPPED Great Walls of Snow Thrown up By Rotary Plow Prevented Them Escaping Revelstoke, Mar. 2—-The greatest tragedy on Canadian Pacific Railway lines in British Columbia since ibe Rogers' Pass slide took the lives of fifty-one persons twenty-six years ag«, was enacted early this mortdng a short distance from Downie, a station on jthe_main_line thirty^mfles-east-of— RevelstaTce, and about half-way between EtteciUewaet and Albert Canyon, high up in the mountain*. Fifteen men are known to be dead, one fa missing and six are in hospital. The majority of the victims were employed on section work. A big slide had come down the mountain on- Sunday, completely blocking the main line. A work gang was rushed to the scene and the track had been plowed out, but leaving a wall of snow on both sides to a heighth of fifteen feet. Repair work was still going forward early Monday morning when the tragedy occurred. The tender on a work train had become derailed on Sunday, and workmen were engaged in getting it back on the track. Having got the tender on the rails it was being taken back to Ulecillewaet. attached to an auxiliary crane with a cable. When half way to niecillewaet the cable broke and the tender started back down the heavy grade. The men on the crane were unable to do anythLng to check the runaway tender, which rapidly gained momentum. Wlhen the workmen got their first warning of danger the tender was travelling at a high rate of speed and the fifteen foot walls of heavily packed snow and ice cut off their escape from the right-of-way. The tender was travelling at the rate of sixty miles an hour when it struck the locomotive and brought instant death to company officials and work crew to the number of fifteen. Doctors and nurses were rushed to the scene of the tragedy from Revelstoke, and the injured were brought in to hospital in this city. Train service, which had been interrupted first by the slide and later by the smash-up. was resumed this evening1. —Survivot-s of- the tragedy~say mest of the men killed were trying to keep themselves warm in and about the ride-tracked train, with, several of them in the cab of the locomotive. The dea-d include J. J. Roland, telegraph operator and former manager of the Revelstoke hotel, and H. L. Haus\ tra'nman. aLso of Revelstoke: Charles Johnson and E. Sanquist, section foremen of Twin TJutto. The other victims werp all members of ant •extra gang which had been called out to cl?ar fciie track, mast of whom were resident?: of ftevelstokt.. Among the injured were G. R Alexander, divisional engineer, and D. D. Cossar, divisional master mechanic, Revel stoke: and P. A. F-chaier, locomotive engineer. Revelstoke. Revelstoke, Mar. 3—D. D. Cossar, master mechanic, died here today ns the result of the severe burning he suffered in the railway accident early Monday morn'ng. All the others receiving hospital treatment for injuries in the accident are expected to make recoveries. CORONER'S JURY FINDS AUTO ACCIDENT WAS UNAVOIDABLE SMITHERS AND PRINCE GEORGE SPLIT GAMES IN HOCKEY TILT Board of Trade Refuses to Halt Health Insurance .Proposal of Vancouver Board of Trade That This Be Done Was Tabled BOARD FEE RAISED Annual Dinner Was Preceded by a Dinner Which Gave an Excellent Attendance Verdict Returned Early Saturday Morning Following An AH-Night Session Following an all-night session the coroner's jury at an early hour on Saturday menjning acquitted J. O. Wilson, of this city of any blame in connection with the recent death of Hylton A. Tilley. The deceased died in the city hospital on February 22nd as the result of injuries received when he was struck by an automobile driven by Mr. Wilson very early in the morning of Tuesday. June nth. As there had been a civil action arising out of the accident there was a mass of evidence to be considered by the jury, and it was shortly after one o'clock Saturday morning before a verdict was arrived at. TIil1 jury found the deceased came to his death as the result of injuries by I being hit by a car driven by J. O. j Wilson on the morning of Tuesday. I June 11th on the Prince George-Van- j derhoof highway, but were of the| unanimous opinion that it had been} an unavoidable accident, and render-1 *xi their verdict accordingly. The jury was composed of A. B. Moffat ''foreman), R. A. Pooley, William Bexon. Bruce Parker, William Hughes and Vic Morgan. Several weeks ago a civil action for damages arising out of the case was tried before Mr. Justice Harold B. Robertson. Following the hearing of the evidence judgment was reserved and handed down later. In this iudgment the court found there had been contributory negligence on the part of 'both Wilson and TUley. 00<7r in the case of the former and 40% in the case of the plaintiff, and on this basis substantial damages were awarded. Smithers Wins First Game 5.-1 While Prince George Annexes Second With 2-0 Score HON. R. B. BENNETT SAYS HE REJECTED THE RECIPROCITY PACT Ottawa, Feb. 29—In the house of commons yesterday Hon. R. B. Bennett, leader of the opposition, denounced the reciprocity treaty with the United States in unmeasured terms. He said his government had rejected the treaty Premier Mackenzie King had accepted for the reason he did not consider it fair to the r>eople of Canada. Ho said the least the government should have accepted in the treaty was the maximum cut of 50 per cent In existing United States tariffs permitted President Roosevelt. The only redeeming feature rtf the reciprocity treaty was the permission provided for the raisinqr of the intermediate Canadian, tariff. PROSECUTION OF THE REGINA DOMINION DAY RIOTING FIZZLES OUT Rglna, Feb. 28—The prosecution of men charged with the Regina rioting is fizzline out. Five of the principal men, Arthur Evans, John Oosgrove, Oeorge Black. Matthew Shaw and Ernest Edwards, have been relieved from further appearance in court. With a break in the weather on Thursday and Friday hockey fans of this city were provided with two of the best games staged here for some time. A smart young aggregation from Smithers took on the Prince George team, and in the first game played the fastest hockey witnessed here for some time. They defeated thr> local team by a score of 5 to 1. but th-e score does not fully Indicate the play. The Prince George goalie was out of luck during the latter part cf the game, and after stopping a couple of hot ones let them slide too far over the line for tallies. The pace set by the visitors soon had the majority of fans on their side and were cheered time and again for their clean fast play. They were commended on all sides for the way in which they conducted themselves, and at the end of the game it was found that while Prince George had several penalties the visitors had a clean sheet. Doctor Ewert refereed the game. On Friday night the Prince George team turned the tables on the visitors, although the ice conditions were not as favorable as the night before. During the afternoon and evening sleet was falling which somewhat softened the ice, slowed the play up greatly and crave a rolling of the puck which could not be controlled. Prince George were a Little better organized for the second game, and put up a good display to win the game with a 2-0 score. The executive of the hockey organization were somewhat disappointed over the support given them during the two games. They had gone to a great deal of expense to bring in thp pick team of the interior, and with the weather at its best the turnout for the games was small, compared to what it should have been. As a result of their efforts the club had to stand a lass of nearly forty dollars. B.C. INDEPENDENTS SUPPORT AMENDMENT OF C.C.F. LEADER Victoria. Feb. 28—The first test of strength in the legislature came yesterday when on a division of 28 to 13 the house rejected an amendment moved to the address by Rev. Robert Connell C.C.F. lender. Messrs. Tom Uphill. R. W. Bruhn. Herbert Ans-rombp find Hugh Savage, voted with tho CO.F. leader. The Liberal vote was solid. _---------o ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER ALL THE FOREIGN BANKS London, Mar. 3—Word was received from Rome today to the effect that thp Italian government has taken-over all the foreign banks operating in the country to tighten Its hold upon national finance. PRINCE GEORGE MEN HAD THRILLING TIME ON CARIBOO HIGHWAY "This should be the most cheerful annual meeting of this board for the past five years,"- said G. B. Williams, president of the local board of trade on Wednesday evening., injsubmitting-his report at~the annual meeting which followed the dinner in the Prince George hotel. "At no time since 1930 could any president of the board truthfully say. as I do now, that things are on the mend. We have faced one bleak year after another, and most of us, like our governments of various kinds, have accumulated nothing but deficits. Most of you will remember that throughout 1935 a better business feeling manifested itself, and in most parts of Canada better business conditions prevailed. It has always been our experience. however, that a change in business conditions, whether for betetr or worse, takes a longer time to make itself felt in our locality, due largely to our remoteness from the larger business centers. But business has picked up here slightly, and there can be little doubt there will come a considerable improvement during the ensuing summer. "Our main reason for hope for a better year is based on the improvement in the lumber industry, always the mainstay of business in this dls- J trict. During 1934 and 1935 but five mills operated to any extent in this area, cutting from twenty to thirty million feet, and employing at the maximum of operation less than 500 men all told. In the fall of 1935 two things happened wliich meant a lot to the lumber industry. The reci-rocity treaty with the United States was concluded, under which the U. S. duties on our sawn lumber entering the United States were cut in half— from $4.00 to $2.00. What this will mean to our lumber industry can be realized when we remember that in 1928, when local production was at its height, as mu creamery making butter for the loggers, and that our friend Mr. Bowman will be rushed off | liis feet getting enough cattle into) the country to meet the increased j demand for cream." Mr. Williams then gave a review*! of the activities of the local board throughout the past year. The con-1 vention of the Associated Boards of' Central B. C, held in Prince George! on August 2nd and 3rd, he considered the outstanding event cf the year. The business sessions of the conven- i tion were well attended, and a lot | of matters of importance in the de- | velopment of the province were dealt | with. Following the close of the convention most of the delegates joined in an excursion to Quesnel and Wells and this resulted in the boards at! these two centers deciding to affil- i iate with the Associated "Boards of Central B. C. At different time* the local board had served as the agency for the delivering of addresses byj Hon. Dr. G. M. Weir, minister of education; Hon. Wells Gray, minister! of lands and municipal affairs; De*n | Clements and Professor Bovins- of the i faculty of the U.B.C.. as well as by! representatives in the federal 'oarlia- i ment and the provincial legislature. I Mr. Williams urged his listeners and the residents of the district gen- j erally to a better conception es to; what the local board of trade stands for. and to accord the board better financial support. The membership ¦ f<*e had been reduced to XUX). but] there is more or less difficulty ex- ' nerienre^ in collecting. All that had been collected during the na.M. vs*ir oh account of dues had b?en *l?0.no | f»nd this with a srrnnt of S50 from +v»x> rvur>nt'v' th* sum of the board's revennps. Tf fcb" bonrH were to continue he ."nid ftj would have to receive better financial A party of Prince George curlers returning from Quesnel on Sunday evening had a hair-raising experience. In the car driven by Ted Williams were Dr. Ewert, W. H. James, W. J. Peckham and William Bexon. At a point about five miles this side of Stone Creek the car became unmanageable, and went over a steep side-hill wliich drops away for approximately 100 feet. Fortunately in going down the hill the car brought up against a tree with sufficient force to hold. The occupants of the car were somewhat shaken up, but the car did not turn over, and all were able to get out and speculate on how much worse things would have been had it not been for the tree which prevented them from making the rest of the descent. E..H. Burden, who was following the Williams car, came ^along^some-^ time—after- the- accident and conveyed the btranded curlers until they met a taxi which had been summoned to their rescue. JOHN W. PATERSON LOST RACE WITH DEATH ON VANDERHOOF ROAD John W. Paterson, postmaster and manager of the Paterson Clothing House of Vanderhoof. lost a race with death on the Vanderhoof highway on Saturday. Accompanied by Dr. W. R. Stone and R. H. Moore, Indian Agent, he was being brought in to the city hospital for treatment for a strangulated hernia, but passed away before this city was reached. Thp body was returned to Vanderhoof on Sunday where the funeral services will be held. The deceased was a pioneer resident of the Central Interior, coming in with the G. T. P. construction, snd settling finally in Vanderhoof where he was engaged in mercantile business. PRINCE GEORGE RINKS LIFTED CHALLENGE CUP AT QUESNEL SUNDAY A. B. Moffat took a couple of Prince George rinks to Quesnel on Sunday and managed to lift the challenge cup donated by the Northern Hardware and Furniture company. The cup was won by the Quesnel men during their visit to the Prince George bonspiel last month, when it was first presented for competition. The play on Sunday was very close for the first ten ends of the 14-end games when the score .stood at 9-9 in both contests, but from this point Prince George forged slowly ahead. The Ewert rink, composed of Dr. Ewert. W. H. James, H. Assman and E. H. Burden, defeated Roy White's rink 13-10; and the Peckham rink, composed of W. J. Peckham. W. Bexon. Vic Morgan and Charlie Gow defeated the LJoyd Harper rink 16-10. SUCCESSFUL LEAP YEAR DANCE BY C. H. A. Without question the dance Friday night in the Princess Ballroom, under the auspices of the Prince George Community Hall Association, was the mast successful staged in this city. From the start to the end of the dance numbers the ladies had their choice, and they made full use of it. The floor was filled for every dance and the few who did sit out were fortunate to get a much-needed respite from the advances of the young ladies. The executive wish to thank those who helped put tills - dance over, and assure them they were helping out a very good cause. The date of the next dance to be staged will be announced shortly, and in the meantime the executive will complete their preparations. _------------o------------ MAYOR LAGUARDIA SEES STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE ELEVATOR STRIKE New York. Mar. 2—Mayor LaGuar-dia considers a state of emergency lias been created in the strike of elevator operators, and will line up the police force to cope with the sltua-tin. The strike has now spread to the residential districts, and elevators operators in all buildings of six stories or more have been called out. Build-ins associations claim they will be able to replace strikers as quickly as they arc called out. New York, Mar. 3—A wave of violence featured the strike of the elevator operators today in which scores of persons were injured in clashes with striken, and the police. Much dnmpere was caused by the smashing of windows; and in some instances the striker? arp charged with having filled the basements in the buildings with live steam. BIG INCREASE SHOWN IN COLLECTION OF INCOME TAXES In (Continued on Page Six) Ottawa. Mar 3—Income tax collections for the eleven months of the current year, which ends on March 31-st, show an imrM.se of $23,000,000 over tho^e of the corrpspondi.ng months of the previous year. Local Hospital Annual Meeting Held on Tuesday Careful Management Resulted in Credit Balance Despite Heavy Expenditures DIRECTORS ELECTED Vote of Thanks Tendered Mem-bers of Ladies' Auxiliary For Assistance Rendered The annual meeting of the Prince George- Hospital Society was held in the City Hall on Tuesday, March _3rd_. and-was-very-poorly attenxle