PRINCE GEORGE
PRINCE GEORGE. B.C., THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1925.
Lightning Wrecked Perry Residence Sunday Morning
M ^bers �f Household Had Miraculous Escape From Death or Serious Injury.
p Gtlt Wall of House Was Blown Out and Wreckage Caught Fire Instantaneously.
his froi
(',. Perry and the members of mily /'had a miraculous escape death or serious injury early
iy morning in the worst elec- storm which has visited this
n �f the province. The storm
bserved to the northeast of the bout -I o'clock. It was travel-,.;;th\veste.rly and broke over
iiv at (5 o'clock with intense
Mr. and Mrs. Perry were awaken-t,l bv a tremendous explosion which drove in the, windows of their bed-room showering them with flyihg ujass.1 Mr. Perry first got Mrs. Perrj' into the rear of the dwelling andjthen rushed to the sleeping porch in front of his bedroom where js two sons, Sidney and Frank, had been sleeping. The front part of the house filled rapidly with fumes and s!nokei and through the broken wiri-dijws Mr. PeiTy could see flames on th'e -Iriiung porch. The door lead-In.' to the sleeping porch was jam-mi'i! and for a tima defied the most frantic efforts to open it. By the time Mr. Perry got to the porch the boys had disappeared, and the clothing of the bed upon which they had been 'sleeping! as well as the porch curtains, were burning fiercely. The boys were found in the rear of the house. Both had painful flash burns about the face and head, their hair had been singed, and Sidney was bleeding at both ears. It developed the explosion which had- wrecked the front of the house had blown Sidney, I the elder boy, through the porch curtains into the front garden, and Frank, the younger, being awakened by the shock and seeing the curtains on tire made, his escape by the porch steps. \
Having ascertained the members of his family were all alive, Mr., Perry gave prompt attention to the fire. The garden hose had remained attached to the water service, and in a few seconds he had a small stream playing' upon the flames. This prevented the fire from making headway, and it was shortly brought under control and extinguished.
The property damage to the house was extensive and may - run from $2500 to $3000. The front wall of the" house was shattered, all the windows in the front portion of the house being cut clean from, their sashes, and the flying glass and plaster added to the damage in the interior.
An examination of the premises later disclosed that the lightning had been led into the house by the antenna of the radio set. This led right across the face of the house ami within a few inches of the electrical wiring and fixtures. The chiel explosion occurred at the porch light above the front door, where it splintered the porch structure and wrecked the doorway. The current evi-(fently followed the electrical wiring in the front partition of the house, and in the explosion which followed the wall was blown both ways. One freak action of the lightning was noted in the manner in which it had turned, the back of a mirror hanging on the wall in a bathroom. The bathroom was closed off from the rest of the house and there were � no evi-lences of burning on any of the avails, but two large holes were burnedinto the glass from the back, while the surface remained perfectly smooth. � ��
� Tho marvel in connection with the explosion is the almost clean escape 'v'n,h the members of the family made. The wire which brought the current into, the house was within a low feet from Mr. and Mrs. Perry in their bedroom, and ran along the S1(1<' of the porch in which the boys Were sleeping. The entire front of tlje house was showered with broken |l��ss and debris, and although Mr 1 erry was the only one with slippers on. no member of the family receiv-*<* a cut. Mr. and Mrs. Perry re-ti'u a numDer �f severe bruises, uicvboys received some flash burns Pn the face and had their heads sin-pd> and Sidney received some, in-
t!i'ry t0 his ear drvms� kut aside from nese minor injuries they came r�^b the wreck uninjured, ine property loss will be fully covered by insurance.
C- N- R. HAS FINEST
BROADCASTING STATION
The new : CNRV broadcasting �tion, in the vicinity of Vancouver, as opened on Tuesdav evening by nr Henry Thornton. The reception , Prince George was perhaps the uest experienced in this city. The arioii is located on Lulu island, miles outside Vancouver
GREENFIELD PROPOSES
JOINT OPERATION OF
ALBERTA RAILWAYS
Joint operation of the northern Alberta railway- lines, with both the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific as interested parties instead of one or the other of them alone, i-; the newest and latest scheme for solving the problem of the Peace River railway tangle. An effort is to be made by the government at once to work out such a solution and ns a first move, to explore its possibilities. Premier Greenfield has- already wired to Sir Henry Thornton who is now at the coast, asking him to stop off in Edmonton for another conference on his way back, and it is probable that this conference can be arranged for in about a week or ten days. D. C. Coleman, vice-president of the Canadian Pacific, .will be asked to attend for his company.
FAIR MANAGER RECEIVES NUMEROUS ENQUIRIES ON
TWO-DAYS RACE MEET
The officials of the Prince George fair are receiving enquiries from several points in the province, as well as from Alberta, concerning the two-days race meet which wil] feature the fall fair which opens in this city on Tuesday. September 1st, It is fairly certain there will be horses representing stables at Kamloops, Telkwa, the 141-Mile House, Edmonton and Quesnel. , With race meets at Smithers and Quesnel, within, close dates, it will be easier to secure the attendance of outside horses at Prince George, and a good number of entries is counted upon; As the cost is no greater to bring horses in from Edmonton than from Kamloops, there is a good prospect of seeing a number of Alberta animals in action.
Changes Made in Dominion Election Act are Effective
Returning Officers Have Been Made
Permanent Officials in the
Service.
Procedure for Compiling Voters'
Lists Differs According to
Population.
The approaching federal elections will be conducted under somewhat different conditions as the result of amendments made to the Election Act. ' Alexander Smith, K.C., of Ottawa, who has made a special study of the law. has prepared an outline of the changes. On the suggestion of Sir James Lougheed, Conservative leader in the senate, the act when before the upper house was amended so as to make returning officials practically permanent officials. Instead of being appointed at each election they may hold office "during the pleasure" of the, government. The amendment makes the position one of considerable dignity, and in keeping with the responsibility < of the office. The duties of the officials can only be terminated by death, resignation or an order-in-council, and these officers can be reappoint-ed at any time. They are now being selected.
Under the act now the returning officer will appoint a registrar for each polling subdivision in the rural municipalities, and in villages and towns havng a population of five thousand or less. These registrars will compile the voters' list for the election utilizing as a basis the existing provincial or municipal lists. From these will be stricken names of persons not qualified, while those newly qualified will be added. This completes the list. There is no a'p-peal except that any elector who is qualified may appear oh election day in his division and make oath to that effect if vouched for under oath by an elector of the same polling division. , . . �
In towns and cities of over five thousand population a different method is adopted in preparing the lists No person is allowed to vote in such places unless his name is on the list as finally revised by the judge. A number of registrars are �\ppointed and persons desiring their names enrolled have to appear personally before the registrar, but he can not strike off the names. Appeals both to add and strike off are provided for before the district or county judge. _____
CANADA'S Wl ' VIEL.D 100,000 0 BUSHELS
OVER) TH-'iT OP 1024.
Ottawa. Auv. !"�� -T'.o '.'; radian spring and fall wheal cv ? I 1925 was estimat-d in a report I jued by the bwwjui . '' st.fi' tea iere late this aftarnon at 3 f6 10 , o was later helt in the Fenwick home. v Mrs. Hutchi son will be quite an acquisition to locaJ musical circleSj hav;j played the violin in most of the principal citie: of Great Britain.
VICTIM OF GJSCOME
SHOOTING ACCIDENT BURIED FUIDAY EVENING
The funeral of Gordon Andrew Dunn, the 12-year lad who accident-ly shot himself at Giscome on Thurs day morning last, took place on Fri day evening, Rev. S. T. Galbraith. officiating. The lad was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon A. Dunn, ol Giscome. He was interested in chickens and at the time of the fatal accident was on the look-out for hawks. While carrying a 22-rifle in the vicinity of his home he stumbled, discharging the weapon. The bullet pased through the heart killing him instantly. The parents have the sympathy of a large circle of friends in their bereavement. Mr. Mr. Dunn is an employee of the Eagle Lake company at Giscome, having charge of the stables and stock for the milling cojmpany.
KENNETH CAMPBELL, MAY i BE UBEHAL CANDIDATE
FOR WEST KOOTENAY.
Nelson, Aug. II�Kenneth Campbell, who resigned the Nelson seat in the provincial legislature to permit the return of Premier Oliver, will probably be the Liberal candidate for 'West Kootenay in the . approaching federal election. The seat is at present held by Progressives but this party Is not regarded as a serious contender in the riding at present. West Kootenay has always been considered a safe con: servative seat and this time the party will have an aggressive candidate in W. K. Esling. Mr. Esling sat in the last legislature for Ross-lane! but in the merging of the Ross-land and Trail ridings he was put out of the running.
CHANGE IN WEATHER
HELPS FIRE SITUATION
Vancouver. Au& 13�The marked change in the weather conditions throughout the province during the past twenty-four hours has greatly lessened the forest fire menace. In north and south Kootenay the fires are still serious but on the whole the situation has been immensely improved. ' �________
John S Johnson, a Norwegian pre-emptor living in the vicinity of Francois Lake, was fatally injured by being dragged in the teeth of a hay �ke. He died on Sunday.
MINERS PREDICT GENERAL ELECTION IN BRITAIN WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS
London, Aug. 12.�Winston Churchill, chancellor of the exchequer, in a formal statement today emphatically denied that at the time the truce was arranged in the coal dispute he said to A. J. Cook, secretary of the miners' federation, "remember, Cook, this is not a gift from us, but it is cheaper than a revolution."
Mr. Cook in a statement yesterday attributed this utterance to the chancellor. Mr. Cook's statement has caused widespread comment, evoking Mr. Churchill's denial, in which he said that he had "never made at any time the statement referred to, to Cook or to anyone else."
"Within twelve months the mining problem will be the issue in a general election," declared A. J. Cook, general secretary of the miners' federation, in a week-end speech at Durham. "The commission to be appointed by the government to look into the mining question ought to hold an inquest with private ownership as the corpse."
PRINCE GEORGE GIVES
TWO HUNDKED MEN FOR PRAIKIE HARVEST FIELDS.
About fifty men left the city yesterday for the harvest fields in the prairie provinces. Yesterday's contingent makes two hundred which have been secured in Prince George district since Saturday . There was some mix-up in the forwarding of railway tickets for the movement of the harvesters and this occasioned delay in getting the men away. There are more harvesters coming from the west of the city this year. Most of the men going out have been fighting fire. This emplloyment has given them a stake and they appear anxious to put in the rest of the season in the harvest fields. It Is likely there will be a considerable addition to the number of men moving east within the next two weeks.
Conservatives Snow Liberals Under in Voting ori Monday
Hon. J. B. M. Baxter Carries New
Brunswick With a Sweeping
Majority.
Decisive Victory of the Conservative
Leader Was an Unexpected
Result.
St. John, Aug. 11.�Complete returns from the voting on Monday show that the Conservatives, under the leadership of Hon. J. B. M. Baxter, scored a decisive victory over the Liberal government of Premier Ven-iot. In__a house of 48 the Conservatives h*ave secured 36 seats, leaving the members of the "government party an even dozen. It was a straight party fight in all of the constituencies with the exception of two, in which there were three candidates running. In three other constituencies the government got behind farmer candidates. In the two ridings in which Labor candidates forced three-sided fights they lost their deposits. All mentbers of the Veniot administration suffered personal defeat with the exception of the premier and Hon. J. A. Dysart and Hon. J. E. Mechaud. Dr. Baxter has so far declined to discuss the personnel of the cabinet he will select to carry on the government of the province.
The result of the election came as a surprise to the-majority of the people. There was no certainty that the Veniot government would be retained, but it was generally considered it had an even chance with the Conservatives, and it was thought highly improbable that either party would have a majority of more than half a dozen.
The Conservative campaign w\s fought upon the record of the, Liberal party during its long control of provincial affairs, and especial em-ihasis was laid upon the necessity for a reduction in the government timber stumpages which are much ligher than those of the province of Quebec.
The government candidates endeavored throughout the campaign to keep away from the charges made against the administration, and kept the Grand Falls hydro-development jroposals to the fore as a project which would prove of immense value n the development of the industrial nterests of the province. The Conservatives attacked the government's jydro plan with its other policies. The bona-fides of the contract in connection with the hydro plan were questioned, and the promise was made from the stump that in the event of the Conservatives being successful any contract for the carrying out of the project would be cancelled.
Premier Oliver is Making Inspection of P. G. E. Line
Appears Personally Favorable to
Completion of the Road From
Quesne! to This City.
Necessary Data Will be Available
for Members of Legislature at
Next Session.
Premier Oliver arrived in the city Sunday evening on his tour of inspection of the P. G. E., and of the country between Quesnel and Prince Geor-ge which will be served by the completion of the 40-mile gap which remains to be constructed to bring the government line to this city. The premier made the run from Quesnel to Prince George by auto. He had an interview with H. g! Perry, M.L.A.. while in the city, and after some small repairs had been made to his car started for the south again on Monday morning.
In an interview with the Citizen before starting out; on Monday, Premier Oliver stated the future of the P. G. E. would turn largely upon the decision arrived at by the Alberta government. To his mind the big railway problem is in the crucible at the present time. While in bhe east he had done his utmost to interest the heads of the Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific in the building of a line which would tap the Peace River district from the west, but he had not found either of the railway companies very responsive. Their attitude had been there was not sufficient business offering at the present time to warrant the expenditures necessary upon capital account. As an inducement he had made the proposal of a land grant from the province of British Columbia, but it was only late in the negotiations that the prospect of such a grant appeared to have any attraction. Premier Oliver said he realized British Columbia would (have been in a much better position to have negotiated had the P. G. E. been completed to Prince George. Personally, he had favored the finishing of this piece of work, but during the past few years the attitude of the members of the legislature had been unfavorable.to the expenditure necessary. The premier said' he saw signs of considerable change during- the past few months. H. G. Perry, the member for Fort George, had always been very insistent in his demands for the finishing of the road to Prince George, and in the present house he was receiving the active support of A. E. Munn, the member for Lillooet, and of J. M. Bryan, the member for North Vancouver. In addition to these there were a number of the members from Vancouver city and adjoining constituencies who were becoming pronounced in their attitude that the proper policy called for the completion of the railway to its northern terminal. The matter would doubtless be dealt with at the approaching session of the legislature. When the house met the government would have estimates of cost . upon the work of completing the railway to Prince George, upon the building of the 15-mile spur to connect up with ;he Hat Creek coal deposit, and for the completion of the P. G. E. line from Squamish to Vancouver. The attitude of the members of the legis-ature would be a determining factor in shaping a policy, but the premier said he was convinced there was a much stronger demand for :he completion of the railway into Prince George than had existed for several years.
With regard to the estimate of cost being secured on the proposed 3at Creek spur, Premier Oliver said he securing of this data was under-;aken so that the government would >e prepared for any eventuality. The men operating the coal deposit were very optimistic, but before the decision to build a spur is reached there will be more definite informa-ion at hand as to the quality of the coal.
With respect to the country between Quesnel and Prince George he premier stated he was convinced here were considerable areas of good land. This consideration, however, did not lessen the difficulties o any appreciable extent. The rouble was not with the country to e served by any extension of the P. G. E. but with "the attitude of the people toward farming. There is a general feeling that -with present prices and the cost of production there is. little in farming. Had the province been faced twenty years ago with the necessity of settling the desirable- lands between Quesnel and Prince George the land hunger then existing would have found a settler for each quarter-section, but with the present mental attitude of the public toward farming strong inducements had to be held out to get settlers to take up vacant lands in any section of^the province. Premier Oliver declined to hazard (Continued on Page 4)