The Basin Record Newsletter Vol.7 Issue 1

Published by the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History CBIRH Newsletter : Vol. 7 No.1 Two very differ- ent versions of the events were presented to the 12 man jury. Rose claimed he left Cole and Demars arguing on the shore. As he con- tinued down the river he heard cries of “murder”, he returned to find Cole dead and Demars badly beaten. Rose claimed Demars said, “Two men came out of the bush and beat us with clubs.” Rose went to Nakusp for help return- ing with four men: Jim Christie, Frank Bourne, Cst. Walter Scott, and Leo Simmons. Rose thought in their drunken rampage Cole punched Demars in the eye then Demars responded by clubbing Cole, breaking his jaw and windpipe. Demars claimed Rose and Cole began to argue as they made their way inland. Demars shouted at them. Rose quickly retaliated with a heavy blow to De- mars’ face rendering him unconscious. When he came to Demars saw Cole lying on the ground. As he tried to light a fire, Rose kicked it out and struck him unconscious for a second time. What happened remains a mystery to this day. At the time of the incident Cst. Scott didn’t believe Rose’s story, arresting him on the spot. Many peo- ple felt Rose was innocent. The coroner’s inquest revealed the first blow to the eye of 78 year old Demars would have knocked him out for hours, not minutes as Rose suggested. Cole was found to have a broken jaw and crushed windpipe from blows to his person. The jury returned a guilty verdict. Henry Rose will be forever remembered as the last man to be hung in the Nelson jail yard Nov 21, 1902. The Women’s Institute (W.I.) movement began in Ontario in 1897 and has grown to be a global movement that is still active. The goal is to provide women with educational opportunities and to campaign on issues that matter to women and their communities. The Women’s Institute of Renata (WI) was founded in 1948, by Mrs. Peter Warkentin. It played a very important role in Renata’s history. The first project for the Institute was to beautify the neglected cemetery since it had been over- looked for many years. In the be- ginning, work was completed by volunteers and money was raised for upkeep and improvements. There was never a charge for any burial plot. The Institute had to conduct interviews of several family members to correct information and a map of the cemetery was drawn. handmade markers were then placed on each grave. The Women’s Institute was also instrumental in fundraising and serving the community through buying folding chairs for social events, and purchasing a projector to show movies of the National Film Board. Other accomplish- ments included a lending library, furnishing a ward at the Castlegar General Hospital, and setting up a First Aid Station in Renata. Then as better boating service was needed on the Arrow Lakes the S.S. Minto ceased it’s service, the members worked toward a new government ferry and lobbied the Department of Highways to discontinue the toll. Their request for longer sum- mer operations was also granted. The Institute requested an exten- sion of the road from Renata to Broadwater from MLA, Mr. Robert Sommers. He replied “There isn’t that kind of money”. To which Mrs. Warkentin answered “Not for three miles?” Mr. Sommers then spoke to the Minister of Highways and the road was completed. A repeated appeal to the West Kootenay Power Commission for electricity was never granted, and perhaps this was the foreshadow of the High Arrow Dam (later called the Hugh Keenleyside Dam). The W.I. was disbanded in 1965 when Renata was being relocated in preparation for the dam and its reservoir. The Women’s Institute of Renata 0131.0075 Google Maps Image The Renata Ferry