The Basin Record Newsletter Vol.2 Issue 4

The following fromtheOctober 13, 1900 issueof theFort Steele Prospector speaks volumes about how perceived injustice was handled a century ago. Titled “Murder at Peterborough. Special to The Prospector,” the item fromwhat is now Invermere goes on to say: “A.Dando,betterknownasthe‘BanjoKid’wasmurdered by another banjo player whose name is unknown. Dando has been a frequenter of sporting houses all over East Kootenay, and as the ‘Banjo Kid,’ well known. On Monday the Kid got drunk, went to one of the sporting houses, and tried to get in, but was refused admittance, the Kid then succeeded in breaking into the house, then chased and caught one or more of the women, severely beating them, then returned to his room at Starks Hotel and went to sleep. A‘Pimp’whose name is not known, went to a police magistrate and tried to secure a warrant for Dando’s arrest. Not succeeding, he went to the hotel, asked for Dando, and was told that he was in his room. He immediately went to the Kid’s room, finding him asleep, shot him twice through the head. The ‘Pimp’was arrested byGeorge Starke, proprietor of the hotel, and J. Quinlivan.” The above is just one more example of the story threads we have inherited here in the Columbia Basin. Who was A. Dando? Who was the “Pimp”? Were “sporting houses” as prevalent as is implied here? In the coming days and weeks we may find some answers. Direct Justice In The Invermere Valley Divine Stories Here is a fellow from our files who will one day receive more attention. His story has the elements of a contemporary movie script. From The Cranbrook Herald of March 19, 1903, we give you the Reverend D. Holford: “The people of South East Kootenay will have occasion to remember Rev. D. Holford for some time to come. He first appeared in Cranbrook as a Baptist minister, and had a variegated career during his pastorate in this town. There were men here whom he classed as his enemies, who asserted that he used more wine than any creed allowed for communion services, and that in his mind all women were beautiful. From here he went to Fernie and several months ago he left that town unattended by a brass band or concourse of sincere and loving friends. He is now located in the wicked city of Seattle, and has left the vineyard of the Lord to labor in a field that knows not prayer or heavenly praise. The following card will explain his avocation:” Bad Debts - Collected Evidence in Law Cases - Secured D. HOLFORD Manager Independent DetectiveAgency Office 419Arcade Bldg. Seattle, Wash. All kinds of Private and Confidential Work Done. Legal Advice Obtained in Either Civil or Criminal Cases. 0019.0037 Hosmer, BC (c.1908). This is a portion of a panoramic view of Hosmer by C.B. Thorpe that was recently purchased for the Institute’s use. The Flathead Valley in the very south-eastern corner of the Columbia Basin, has a rich and interesting history, both natural and human. This is part of the area that has been proposed for inclusion in the Crown of the Continent Ecosystempreserve. TheCranbrookProspector ofDecember 9, 1905 reprinted an interesting piece from the Spokane, WA Spokesman-Review. “J. Gloyn, of Spokane, manager of the Southeast British Columbia Land & Oil Co., of The Dalles, Ore., operating in British Columbia oil fields, is in the city. He said: “The different companies operating in this new oil field [in the Flathead Valley] are doing well. Operations commenced October 15. Since then 17 miles of wagon roads have been completed, over which the boring machinery is being taken. The new company has one Standard boring rig in the field. “Building for the accommodation of men and for housing machinery are completed. A sawmill will be in operation in a few days sawing lumber for the derricks, and for the building operations in the new town ofAkamina. This new town was brought into existence by the influx of people coming into the field looking for business locations. “Practical oil men, chiefly from Indiana and Kansas are acquiring holdings, with the intention of developing them. “The first drill to commence operations in this field, the opening of which was made a political matter and was the cause of throwing out of power the government of British Columbia, will be that of the Southeast British Columbia Land &Oil Company, which will commence dropping inside of two weeks. It will require about sixty days to bore to the third oil sand, which is from 900 to 1100 feet deep.” Our region is pepperedwith towns likeAkamina, and each one of them has a number of stories. It is the mandate of the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History to uncover these stories and pass them on for inclusion in the discussion as to how our region will evolve. Akamina Is New Oil Town