(a look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with Clifford Stanley)

La Varre claims discovery of El Dorado
THE Region is said to be in the Southern Guiana Wilds, one of the greatest sources of gold and diamonds.
Associates of William La Varre leader of an expedition exploring the headwaters of the Essequibo river, were informed by cablegram yesterday of a river accident that cost the explorers their fifty-four-foot canoe and all their supplies.
The accident occurred in the Rupununi  river,  leaving the expedition isolated from civilization.
A runner was sent from the wilds to Georgetown,  the principal seaport,  to dispatch the cablegram.
The message indicated that the expedition had discovered gold and diamond fields in a region in an area that may prove one of the world’s greatest sources of such treasures.
New supplies and duplicate copies of mails lost in the river accident are being sent to the expedition which left  Boston last May.
David Binney Putnam, son of George Putnam Publisher, is one of the members on the expedition. (The Daily Chronicle, January 12th, 1934).

REDUCED FARES:
Reduced fares for sending men to the Gold and Diamond fields

WITH a view to facilitating travel for men to go to the gold and diamond fields, it has been arranged through the labour bureau to issue passes for men to travel at the following rates: Georgetown to Bartica, 24 c.; Georgetown to Garraway stream: 72c.
Applications for men to travel must be made through the labour bureau in all cases.
A. Mac Dougall,  General Manager, Transport and Harbours Department, 13th January 1934. (The Daily Chronicle,  13th January, 1934).

THREE DROWNED IN FALLS
Whitfield Alfred, Edwin Wilson and James Wright all of Hopetown West Coast Berbice drowned in a boat accident yesterday at Maripa Falls. There were twenty one survivors. (The Daily Chronicle, January 14th 1934).

White gloves for Magistrate Veerasawmy
THERE were no Police cases at the weekly sitting of the Magistrate’s Court  at Vreed-en-Hoop West Bank Demerara on Monday and in keeping with the time-honoured custom,  Magistrate  J.A. Veerasawmy , S.M., was presented with a pair of white gloves  by acting County Inspector D.G. Carruthers.
It is understood that this is the first occasion within the last three years. (The Daily Chronicle January 24th 1934).

Hinterland rapids claim 4 more lives
FOUR more lives were lost at Maripa Falls early last Monday morning when the boat ‘Sowaria’  owned by Messrs. Souza and Allicock struck a rock in midstream and sank.
The names of the dead men are Theodore Trotz , bowman of Bartica, W.M. Jordan and David Wilson of  Parika  and  Archibald Odwyn of Bartica .
The ‘Sowaria’ left the Puruni  district last  Saturday morning for Bartica with eleven passengers all told on board  and the news of the disaster  reached here last night with the arrival of the boat ‘Wolfe No. 2’ (Capt. H. Barron).
The seven survivors of the disaster also arrived here by the same opportunity.
All the valuables and personal belongings  of the passengers of the ‘Sowaria’ were also lost. (The Daily Chronicle January 25th 1934).

WANTED TO PURCHASE
Twelve (12)  good mules. Please communicate with Booker Bros. McConnell & Co. Ltd. (Office), Water Street. (The Daily Chronicle January 26, 1934).

NEW SET OF B.G. STAMPS FOR 1934
THE  B.G. Post Office will be issuing a new set of B.G  Postage and Revenue Stamps for 1934.
The proposed designs of the new stamps are :
1 CENT- “Ploughing a rice field”; 2 CENT: “Indian shooting fish” ; 4 CENT: “Kaieteur Falls”; 6 CENT: “Timber logs to be seasoned being shot over falls.”12 CENT: “Avenue in Botanic Gardens, Georgetown.”
24 CENTS: “Sugar canes in punts.” 48 CENT: “Forest road in the interior.”50 CENT:”Kaieteur Falls.”
60 CENT: “Victoria Regia Lilies. 72 CENT: “Mount Roraima.” 96 CENT: “Sir Walter Raleigh and son.”
$1.00: “Stabroek Market, Georgetown.”
The colors for the above new stamps and the date when they will be placed on sale   have not yet been fixed. (The Daily Chronicle January 31st 1934).

JAIL AND $100 FINE FOR “WATER PEOPLE”  OBEAH WOMAN
Matilda ‘Mother’ Prince,  alleged  by the Police to have a flourishing practice as an Obeahist, was sentenced to one month in jail in addition to a fine of $100 or two months  by Magistrate A.V. Crane at the Vigilant Court yesterday .
Prince, according to the Police, claimed healing powers by virtue of her association with “Water People” and was caught in a police trap.
She  undertook to cure an ulcer  on the foot of Jeremiah Layne  by propitiating the “Water People” with a dinner or offering.
Layne was to provide 12 cents in silver and 5 cents in coppers to pay Prince’s “Water Husband” for assisting the cure according to evidence led by the Prosecution.
During her trial it was disclosed that ‘Mother’  had enjoyed a large clientele as a voodooist extending from the Northwest District to the Corentyne and lives in a state of affluence at Zeskendren Mahaicony.
Among the paraphernalia seized by the Police in their raid on her temple were 27 letters from several persons mostly women which not only disclosed her popularity but the fact of her having an agency in a fashionable business section of the City.
Her correspondents comprised not only simple-minded folk seeking marriage,  employment or restoration to health,  but Postmasters as well as Policemen all of whom paid her fabulous fees.
The Magistrate deemed Prince a rogue  and a vagabond  and imposed the sentence stated above.
Her Counsel, Mr. A. T. Peters  gave notice of appeal. (The Daily Chronicle February 15th 1934).

ADVERTIESMENTS: BARGAINS IN CARS, TRUCKS, Etc!
Chevrolet Sedan No. 2378 with four new tyres and Willard Battery $350; Chevrolet 1929 1 ½  ton truck $275; Raleigh Motor Cycle $135; Willys-Knight 1930 Touring Sedan No. 2338 $450; Ford Model T Car $175; Whippet touring 15. H.P: $200; Easy terms! CO-OPERATIVE MOTOR SALES LTD.  69 High Street , Kingston,  Georgetown. Phone: 494. (The Daily Chronicle,  January 14th, 1934).

Party of ten off to Kaieteur
All B.G. is gradually getting “Kaieteur-conscious”. Yesterday morning in  the Transport and Harbours steamer and rail route to the world wonder went one City Father, several civil servants, a clerkess of the City council  and some clerks from the City’s business section.
The party joined the ferry steamer to Bartica at 7a.m yesterday (Wednesday)
They hope to be back in the City at 2 p.m.  next Thursday.
Good Friday will be spent at Mr. Humphrey’s dredging plant on  the Minnehaha.
The party consisted of Mr. F. O. Franker, City Councillor , Misses. R. Cendrecourt, D. Pollard, M. Franker, G. Kelly, M. Mc Nauth, & Winnie Hull and Messrs. K. I. R. Kirkpatrick, E. G. Fonseca and G. Rumble (Canada).
(The Daily Chronicle March 29th , 1934)

Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 657 2043.