(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)

The Platters are coming to BG

THE PLATTERS are coming to B.G on Saturday 29, with Rosco Gordon’s nine-piece orchestra and two vocalists at the Globe Cinema for three one-and-a-half-hour shows.

Sixteen artistes will perform at the biggest international stage show ever in B.G.

Admission: Box Seats (Reserved) $5.00; Orchestra Seats: $3.00; House and Balcony, $2.00.

Tickets obtainable throughout the day at Globe.

(Guiana Graphic: October 26, 1960)

What a find!

TWO diamond-seeking brothers, Ivan and Alfred Wade, of Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice had a rich find two weeks ago in the Cuyuni.

After a consistent search, they found a 20-carat diamond valued about $30,000 plus.

The two brothers, who have been in the diamond-seeking business for some time, have had varying fortunes.

This is one time when they have come upon a very good find.

This find by the two brothers will go a far way in swelling the precious stones average for this year in the country.

(Guiana Graphic: October 1, 1960)

Lovelorn lass, 16, in ‘miracle escape’

A PRETTY16-year-old, whose mother, it is said, forbade her to continue a love affair, laid down in the path of a speeding train.

But when the train had passed over her, the girl was found to have suffered minor injuries only.

The girl in the ‘miracle escape’ is said to have strode calmly unto the track in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, and laid down on the sleepers as the Georgetown-Rosignol train was coming.

According to a report, the girl left her home after an argument with her mother.

Exactly where she went after that is not known, but about 12:15pm on Wednesday, she was seen standing by the railway track at Plaisance.

As the Georgetown-Rosignol train came speeding along, she calmly strode unto the track and laid down on the sleepers.

Paralyzed with amazement, a few villagers stood awestricken, but simu
ltaneously came to life when the teenager’s white orhni was ripped away by the train.

The locomotive stopped some distance away, and a frightened driver hurried back to the scene, where he picked up the tear-filled and frightened girl from her prostrate position.

She was unhurt, except for a few burns on her back.

She later said that her mother had also ill-treated her, and that was why she had attempted to take her life.

The girl will appear in court on Tuesday.

(Guiana Graphic: November 5, 1960)

Wife gets $100 damages

SLANDER action, which resulted from a family row, has ended in the Supreme Court with a victory for the plaintiff.

The Court, presided over by Chief Justice (Ag) J. A. Luckhoo, ordered Haniff Khan to pay Ameenia Khan $100 damages for the slanderous words.

Plaintiff, Mrs. Khan, lives opposite her husband’s brother, Haniff Khan, at Cane Grove.

It is said that while the two brothers were quarrelling one day, the defendant, Haniff Khan, uttered the slander.

The Plaintiff, represented by Mr. Shakoor Manraj, gave evidence that she married her husband for 14 years, and had borne him 10 children, and she was very much hurt by the defendant’s slanderous words.

Khan, represented by Mr. Rex McKay, said he did not use the words.

(Guiana Graphic: October 20, 1960)

Biggest vessel built in BG launched

THE LAUNCHING yesterday of the ‘M.V Torani’ marked the completion of the largest shipbuilding job ever undertaken in British Guiana. It was done by Sproston’s Limited.

The keel of the ‘M.V Torani’ was laid in 1958, and since that time, an average of 300 men have been working on it.

According to Mr. C. R. Craigie, Works Manager of Sprostons, about one-and-a-half million man-hours have gone into the construction of the ‘Torani’.

The 500-ton ‘Torani’ –172 ft. long, with an overall breadth of 37½ feet at the main deck — was designed by Messrs. Ferguson Brothers, Port Glasgow, Scotland, who built the Torani’s sister ship, ‘Makouria’.

She has a cruising speed of nine-and-a-half knots.

(Guiana Graphic: October 22, 1960)

They’ve got you, boy

A MAN who it is alleged jumped the country in 1953 to avoid paying maintenance to his wife and two children may find himself in a dilemma.

And he would have brought it upon himself.

The man and his wife were separated during the latter part of 1952, and she sued him the following year.

The Court ordered that he should give her and the children $40 per month. He paid for three months and then left the country and went to England.

During last week, he filed divorce proceedings against the woman, and in his pleadings, gave his address and place of employment in England.

Upon receiving the document, the woman went to the Police and informed them of his whereabouts.

It is understood that the Police will be taking steps to get the man to pay the money he owes –something like $3000.

(Guiana Graphic: November 7, 1960)

Fear haunts this engineer

THE BLOOD-thirsty vampires have struck at yet another victim, who now lies in fear at the Georgetown Hospital waiting…waiting.

While every second slips by agonizingly, bat victim, engineer James H O’Selma is waiting to find out if he is infected with the terrible rabies virus which kills by destroying the nervous system and the brain.

And the 35-year-old Morawhanna engineer, who was bitten on his toe while he slept with other members of the Geological Survey team under an open tent just ten miles from Bartica, told the Graphic of his dreadful experience.

“All night the bats flew around us…We could hear the eerie flap of their wings as they brushed against the hammocks.

“I slept fitfully, nervously.”

He went on: “Then at about 3am on Sunday, September 25, I awoke feeling something warm and sticky running down my feet.”

And even as he moved, the large vampire bat which had been lapping up his blood flew off.

For ten hours, the sharply-made incision bled, and O’Selma could only watch.

The engineer was even more terrified, because he could not understand why his tiny wound bled so much.

Literature on the bat says that they secrete an anti-clotting substance which prevents the blood from congealing.

Thus, they can gorge themselves all night while the victim sleeps.

“Now,” O’Selma lamented , “I have to remain here two dreadful weeks before I can find out whether the vampire which bit me was rabid.”

(Guiana Graphic: October 10, 1960)

‘Bat-bite’ O’Selma is okay

JAMES O’Selma, under observation at the Georgetown Hospital since being bitten by a large vampire bat, is not infected with rabies, Dr. Frank Williams said yesterday.

Dr. Williams, who was assigned to keep check on the 35-year-old man, said he had not shown any symptoms of being infected by rabies.

Four days after admission , O’Selma’s left toe, which was bitten, was healed up.

He is expected to leave hospital today.

(Guiana Graphic: October 15, 1960)

Big Regatta on Rio Demerara:

THE BIGGEST regatta ever held on the Demerara River will take place on Sunday, October 30 when the Demerara Rowing and Sailing Club brings off their bumper water carnival.

The events will include rowing, swimming, speedboat racing, water skiing, and many other attractions.

Ten races are listed in the speedboat section when old champs, Garvin and Allan Fiedkou, Gerald Chee-A-Tow, Bill Burns, J. Davies (Berbice) and John Willems (Bartica) will battle it out with the newcomers.

It’s a date which no sports lover should miss.

(Guiana Graphic: October 16, 1960)

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or by telephone: 657-2043)