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

Horse bites woman
(The Daily Argosy: January 4,  1960)
BODDIS (18), of No. 1 Canal Polder, West Bank Demerara, was admitted to the Georgetown Hospital yesterday afternoon after she was bitten by a horse.
It was learnt that Boddis was fetching a bucket of water from a pipe on the No. 1 Canal Polder Public Road when she was attacked by the horse and bitten.

Agriculture Department stepping up rabies control programme
(The Daily Argosy: January 8, 1960)

TWO young Guianese left B.G. on Monday for the island of Trinidad where they will undergo a two-month course in the identification and destruction of bats.
The two trainees are Messrs. N.D. Sooknandan and K. Bovell.
They will work with Dr. A.M. Greenhall, Zoologist attached to the Ministry of Agriculture in Trinidad, studying methods of identifying, catching and destroying vampire and other bats which are vectors of rabies among livestock and other animals.
Dr. Greenhall paid a visit to B.G. in 1959 to survey the bat population in various parts of the country, and it was as a result of his recommendation that the two young men were selected.
Their training is part of the rabies control programme by the Veterinary Division of the Department of Agriculture.

Back-to-school
(The Daily Argosy: January 10, 1960)
Good handwriting is a sign of intelligence. Get PLATIGNUM Fountain Pens made in England for good handwriting.  Get Golden Platignum Quick-change fountain pen for $1.32; Gold Ton Quick-change fountain pen: $1.32; Visi-Ink Quick-change: 84¢. Regal Quick-change: 72¢; Bijou Quick-change: $1.32.
Spare nib units: 24¢ each. A nib to suit every style.

Two die as early morning fire razes city hotel
(The Daily Argosy: January 12, 1960)
THE CHARRED remains of a human leg and one arm were removed by the Police hours after two badly burnt bodies were taken to the Georgetown Hospital mortuary from the debris of the Ritz Hotel, destroyed by fire early yesterday morning.
Gasps of anguish came from spectators as men from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) removed the body of a woman identified as Mrs. Patricia Cornelius of Charlestown, also called Patsy Anderson, and a man who had not been identified up to yesterday.
Another man, Cecil Alleyne, is hospitalized with several injuries.
A late report further stated that the body of a third person had been found, but the Police, when contacted, could not confirm the report, and were still investigating the matter.
All day yesterday, hundreds of men women and children crowded the scene of the new year’s most appalling incident so far.
The origin of the fire at High and Hazel Street remains a mystery, and it has left damage estimated at $150,000.
Up to last night, the Police had cordoned off the premises, while men from of the Fire Brigade and members of the Police Force searched the debris for clues and possibly other bodies.

Man tells how companion saved his life in Ritz Hotel fire
(The Daily Argosy: January 12, 1960)
“SHE saved my life and now she is dead.”
So said Leslie Allen (32), a labourer of Kumakang Mountain who was seriously injured in the Ritz Hotel fire, as he wept while sitting in a chair in the Georgetown Hospital yesterday morning.
The dead woman  is Mrs. Patricia Cornelius, also called Patsy Anderson,  of Charlestown.
Allen, in telling the Daily Argosy his story, said that since he came to town, Patricia and himself were living in ‘Room 34’ on the top floor of the Ritz Hotel.
Allen went on to say that about 7:45pm on Sunday, Patricia asked him to take her to a cinema to see a picture.
They were forced to stay at home as she took ill shortly after.
He went on to say that they turned into bed shortly after, and while asleep, he felt a hand shaking him.
As he began to get up, he heard Patricia shouting to the top of her voice: “Leslie, the Hotel is on fire!”
They then dashed to the door, but as they opened it, they saw the raging flames rushing towards them.
They hurried back into the room and locked the door before breaking away a glass window on the northern side of the hotel.
Allen then leaped across to a half-completed building and tried to put a board for Patricia to escape.
As soon as he got over, he heard Patricia saying: “Go ahead Leslie, I cannot make it; I am going to die.”
Standing on the uncompleted building, Allen saw Patricia crash through the floor of the burning hotel to the fire below.
Allen received burns on his face and arms. He also sustained injuries on his arms as he smashed the window to make his escape.
Several persons who saw Allen when he leaped across to the concrete building, which is about eight feet from the hotel, ran to his assistance and brought him down safely.
He was then taken to the Central Fire Station in Water Street, where he got conveyance to the Georgetown Hospital and was admitted.

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