Tales from way back when…
Railway mishap at Rosignol
-van of 7:10 train turns turtle
DAMAGE running into hundreds of dollars was caused yesterday when a railway van ran off the line at Rosignol and turned turtle, wrecking a shed of the Station.

Eight head of cattle in the van, however, escaped unhurt.

A catastrophe was barely averted through the watchfulness of the driver of the 7:10 train to Georgetown.

The train was already in motion when the driver, looking back, observed that the van at the rear was running off the line against the northern part of the station.

He promptly brought the train to a halt.

But the van, bent already on its course, ran off the rail and turned turtle, uprooting the concrete pillars of a shed attached to the station and snapping the corner posts.

The eastern portion of the shed caved in as a result, while several sleepers were uprooted and the rails left twisted.

The van was badly damaged.

Mechanical engineer, Mr R Metcalf and Mr WR Austin in charge of Ways and Works later rushed from the City to the scene, and, with several gangs of workmen, set to work to repair the damage.

The accident occurred because the point was not closed after the last wagon was shunted in.

(Guiana Graphic: October 6, 1955)

Thousands on the Seawall last night
THOUSANDS went up on the Seawall last night for a two-hour show by local entertainers.

The collections were in aid of the Hurricane Relief Fund.

Arranged by Vivian Lee, four local dance bands provided the music, while several Calypsonians added their bit.

It was a good show.

(Guiana Graphic: October 3, 1955)

Zundapp! Zundapp! Zundapp!
The world’s famous power cycles have come to replace the ancient push cycles.

The Zundapp is so designed that they can be ridden by school children, saga-boys, glamour-girls, grandma and grandpa.

To avoid disappointment, come in and book in advance.

Sankar Brothers Limited, Machinery Division , AB & 9 Water Street. Telephone C 649.

(Guiana Graphic: October 12, 1955)

Labourer to serve three years for wicked act
-planted counterfeit coins in man’s house
A 36-YEAR-OLD labourer who reported to the Police that a man was making counterfeit shillings was found by a Jury at the Demerara Assizes yesterday as the man who did this act to put the man in trouble.

The man, Parmanand, of West Demerara, was sent to prison by the Hon. Justice Miller for three years for his wicked act.

One day in May last, Parmanand visited the offices of Sub-Inspector Butts and Asst. Supt. Puttock at Cove and John, and showed these two officers two shillings, which he said another man had made.

Parmanand even explained how the other man had promised to teach him the art, and how he wanted a trap to be laid.

A few days later, Parmanand went to another member of the Police Force, Const. Foo, and showed him two coins and explained how Sookram Hardat Singh (28) was making them.

Const. Foo and three other policemen shortly after visited Singh’s home, where they met both Parmanand and Singh.

The policemen found two moulds with a shilling embedded on one, and a quantity of other articles used for making counterfeit coins.

Singh there and then accused Parmanand of putting the articles there to put him in trouble.

As a result, both men were put on trial.

But in the meantime, Parmanand, while in prison, confessed to having placed the counterfeit articles in Singh’s home on the instructions of another.

The Jury acquitted Singh and convicted Parmanand.

(Guiana Graphic: October 16, 1955)

‘Coney Island’ arrives
THE CARIBBEAN fun fair, Coney Island, has arrived in BG.

The show will open on the GFC ground on the first week in December.

Among the attractions are a Merry-go- round, Ferris Wheels, Chair Plane, Air Ride and several side shows.

(Guiana Graphic: November 20, 1955)

From the City to Kwakwani in a jeep
A THREE-MAN party recently left the City in a jeep and arrived at Kwakwani twelve hours later.

They were able to do the distance in just under ten hours on their return.

The party comprised Mr. V J Willems, director of Willems Timber and Trading Co; Mr Charles Macaulay, director of USOM; and 19-year-old John Willems.

They travelled through the dense forests by way of Atkinson Field, Ituni, and then on to Kwakwani.

At certain stages during the hazardous trek, they had to cross savannahs, and repair bridges with logs from the forest.

(Guiana Graphic: November 11, 1955)

Working hours for barbers
Dear Mr Editor,

ON Wednesday August 31st last, at a meeting held by barbers at their Association Hall in Regent Street for the purpose of asking Government to make an amendment in the closing orders of barbershops in the City, the Union outvoted the action taken by the Secretary.

We, the Unionists, must also thank the government for the committee that was appointed, and the recommendations submitted by them.

We regret that only a few years ago, this Association was defeated on the same issue.

It is our desire that the Police Department should keep a watchful eye on all barbershops where the owners get away with infringing the law by opening after hours.

Yours etc!

Sundyal Marks,

Secretary, Barbers Union

(Guiana Graphic: October 1, 1955)

Rail crash averted
A RAILWAY mishap was barely averted on Wednesday afternoon when the two front wheels on the engine of the express train from Vreed-en-Hoop were derailed at Blankenburg.

Workmen were immediately sent to the scene, and the wheels of the engine were replaced.

In less than an hour, everything was normal again and the train continued its journey.

(Guiana Graphic: November 19, 1955)

Guide to Botanic Gardens on sale
AN ILLUSTRATED ‘Guide to the Botanic Gardens, Georgetown’ has just been published by the Department of Agriculture.

The Guide includes a history of the Gardens; a description with photographs of the various sections; and an article on Bird Life in the Gardens.

There is also a map of the Gardens.

The Guide costs two shillings per copy.

(Guiana Graphic: November 23, 1955)

‘Countryside Close-up’ tonight
LISTENERS TO ‘Countryside Close-up’, to be heard over Radio Demerara at 7:30 o’clock tonight, will be introduced to the newly-crowned ‘Queen of the Counties’, Miss Olive Junor of Hopetown, Berbice, during a GIS feature which will deal with ‘Life at Hopetown’.

The programme, which will be highlighted by a selection of Queh-Queh songs from Hopetown, includes a recorded interview with one of the oldest villagers, 80-year-old Mrs Phoebe Ferguson, familiarly called ‘Auntie Big’.

Also of special interest to poultry dealers will be tonight’s discussion on ‘The Treatment Of Newcastle Disease’ now being combated by the Agriculture Department.

(Guiana Graphic: October 10, 1955)

Fined for ill-treating a dog
GEORGE Perreira of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, who was charged by Sergeant Major (RC) CF Torrezao, BEM Chief Inspector, RSPCA (BG Branch) with ill-treating a dog at Enmore Sugar Factory on October 13, was fined $10, costs $2.80, or one month in gaol by Magistrate PM Burch-Smith at the Cove and John Magistrates Court yesterday.

He pleaded guilty.

(Guiana Graphic: October 28, 1955)

Dog shoots man?
A ONE-MAN hunting expedition ended in near tragedy at Grove, East Bank Demerara yesterday when Jagnandan’s feet were nearly shot off by his dog.

Jagnandan, a 22-year-old labourer, was hunting wild game aback Grove, but his quarry was elusive, so he decided to take a ‘breather’ at a watch house.

He rested his loaded shotgun on the ground with its barrel pointing towards his feet, but his dog, unwise in the way of guns, jumped on it and the weapon went off, severely injuring Jagnandan’s feet.

He was yesterday a patient at the Georgetown Hospital.

(Guiana Graphic: November 2,, 1955)
Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the above articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or by telephone: 657-2043.