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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2585l� �L1 I A River Rouge, at Rosebank, Ont. 5 ar, v River Fcuge, it Roeebnr.k, Ont. a�s .37 yt_f Dailey of The 'Rouge C, t, " -1 - [ 4.L - R - -.. - mm iadows of the Roue Rosebank O i v Souvenirof Rosebank ASon* I A Flood Freak, Pickering, Ont., Canada V., i A Flood Freak, Pickering, Ont., Canada Lam. idz- 1". -.w[r 'i Rouge Hill Beach, Rosebank, Ont. �, ;;.� ��r '`�= � THE LAKE, ROSEBANK i �.. Y•� �.� 1 _ a .j i ` t�;t'�,/, (� �� �U' 2 5 y{ \ 33 `a ANT .� OA, -ri - / LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Sm—When we left Toronto on Friday night in the steam yacht -Daverish" for Rosebank, Port Union, we were a jolly party. We steamed over the bay and out through the Eastern Gap in gallant style but our spirits were somewhat dampened when we struck some heavy seas outside and had taking it all through a wet run to the grove. Our party was rather a mixed one. We had with us the conventional dude who seemed to find no enjoyment at all in Being splashed at regular intervals, the hale and hearty grandmama who assid- nously sough t the welfare of the babies, the drummer, who had been allover the world and could not be drowned in such a pond, and the gushing young school girl who thought the excitement ,just delightful" and smiled graciously the while. For my- self I considered the seas quite heavy enough and glanced disconsolately at my Wet garments as I stepped (not reluctantly) upon terra firma, grasped the hospitable hand of farmer Cowan, the proprietor' of the grove, and was hustled up to his house to get a change of clothing and a good square meal. Any amount of exertion or trouble in getting there i&&mply repaid by the beauty of the surroundings, she kind and hospitable reception of the people and the healthy ruddy breyzes that -blow into yom and through yon Dom the lake and seem to reach spasmodically for your stom- ash and eauee it to convince yon that the Euillish theory is correct, "The stoamb is King." After a., good sights rest, we (the men part) rose early and hied as away to the Rouge river where we were led to snp- pege titre were ffah, deploved ourselree aloftlts banks in mentions and advanced to thwfray, OX might perhaps mere properly say "flay," as some of the boys made the east as if they were using a black snake whip. There is somethingfase nating about fishing Something entrancing about the bob of the float and something peculiar, desperately peculiar, about the influence the disappearance of said cork will exert upon the averae mortal. If a small fish only knew what excitement it caused in the midst of a crowd like ours it would feel that its life had not been in vain. For myself I find the rod heavy and the sport tame and enjoy myself more thoroughly in watching the flocks of blackbirds and sparrows partaking of their morning meal. From among the rice bed ducks,, kingfishers, cranes, and birds of different sizes and plumage pass us and stretch their necks as if to enquire why we are there, while now and then a train of cars swoops over the railroad bridge which spans the river at its mouth and adds a picturesqueness to the scene. At nine o'clock we returned to breakfast. Rosebank is a charming spot. To row up the river as we did that evening by moonlight is one of the most beautiful tripe that can be imagined. Trailing north-west from the lake at the foot of the grove, the Rouge winds serpentine fashion through one of the prettiest delle in this part of Canada. To your right and left immense fields of rice sway gracefully in the breeze, affording a home and food for birds of every possible kind and color, and extending back w the green sward where the shading is taken up by foliage most beautiful, pines, willows and maples vieing with one another in their efforts to render more politable to'the eye the sprroundings. Winding and twisting, in some spots the Willows almost touching you as yon pass under them you glide alone from bend to bend, into a labyrinth of pond lillies, out of them again and on and 04util you are completely drawn away' froin�ourself and can only gaze and muse and wonder and think how marvelous that in nature every thing is so superbly correct that not a'leaf or thorn of all this agregation of beauty could have been spared. T presume most people who have visited the Rouge have heard of "Blacks Castle." At a sharp bend, in the river we were brought into full view of "Castle Black" standing out against the sky in the pale light of the moon and" it seemed well worth a visit. f would recommend any one visiting the locality to row up to this medieval spot. When we bad returned to camp at the grove, we found an immense bonfire blaz- ing up and sested round it a goodly number of those who had.not gone with us and who hailed us with a shout, invited us to join in the singing and merry making and right royally did we accept the invitation joining heartily into the pulling of taffy which an industrious small boy had been brewing for some time and 'what with story telling, singing and general excitement succeeded in destroying several happy happy hours. When, on Monday morning, the steam yacht whistled her signal for us to prepare to depart, it fell upon our ears with a dull sickening thud, reminding us that we must tear ourselves away from Rosebank where our hearts had been light and our spirits gay for a day or two at least and steam back to the rush and bustle and wear and tear of our hum drum existanee in the city. C.S.F. That Rouge Affair. Pursuant to adjomatment the inquest oouoerning_the death of the Rouge victim .was resumed at Liverpool before Coroner Ferrier, on Tuesday25tb. Win. Cowan, sr., was called and testified that about noon on Tuesday, July 241h, while going west on the traokhe met three men coming towards the - bridge. - The south one very .much resembled the man found a week after in the river. The river was nine feet deep in some places at the bridge. He and others had raked the river but could find no weapons. A body could float.from the Kingston road bridge, but would require some days, and would likely be noticed before reaching the railway bridge. Two tickets were purchased by strangers at Fort Union for Toronto on Saturday, 25th, but isnot known who they were. Detective John Newhall.of Toronto, was called andexplained to the jury how he had established the identity of the man as August Werner. In the pockets of the de- ceased- it will be. remembered there were found three addresses, one of N.L. Steiner. The detective ealldd on Mr. Steiner and found that a man answering the descrip� tiou of deceased had appealed to him for assistance about a month ago. The visitor was a Germanandwas intoxicated. .He gave himaesistance, also the address of Charles Cluthe. It could not be learned where Werner precured the addresses of Steiner and Heintzman,: as he had them previous to calling on Mr Steiner. With the assistance of a heavy magnet the de- tective had searched the river below the bridge for a revolver, but without success. He had also visits 1 the belt line and double track,:. but could not learn anything con- cerning Werner. In his opinion a body could not float from the Kingston road bridge to where it was found. It would be prevented by the eddies and sand bare. The river from the wooden bridge to the .lake rune at therate of 20 feet to the min- ute. He was of the opinion that the man committed suicide. Thio -concluding the evidence County Crown Attorney Farewell addressed the Coroner, stating that all the facts obtain- able at,ptesent had bean produced. He thought that nothing could be gained by prolonging the inquest, but thought, under the airourretanoes .an open verdict would best serve the ends of justioe. Coroner Ferrier then charged the jury, and from his remarks it was clear that he agreed with the Crown Attorney. After about 45 minutes deliberation foreman George Smithannounced the fol- lowing verdict ;—"That the deceased•is one August Werner, tate of the City of Toronto, and came to his death on or about the 24th day of July, 1891, at the township of Pickering, from. 3 wound made by a bullet, fired from a pistol, held in the hand of some person to thejurors unknown." - We were,much better pleased with the manner in whichDetective Newhall handlaii h'e case, than were we with De- teotive Ro'gsre'-style,-although notWng.be- cd the man's identity, was established. Newhall- is also partial to the suicide the0y. 'He contends that if theman fired -the revolver with the muzzle pressed against the temple, no powder or other marks would bo visible, save the clean bbl- let hcle. It may seem like presumption on our part to dispute this man's opinion, he being a datoctive of 2u-.years:atanding,.but to our mind the air in the revolver barrel is certain to cause mote orlostdamage to the skin and flesh—the longer ,yha liana! th- more extensive the, woandl;Mo this case, however, the muzzle,coald'not have been all covered by flesh, as the bullet took a forwardidirection, scraping the skull for about an inch, before. entering the brain, and yet the doctor's assert that no marks wereyisinle at the time of the post mortem. Then we have the evidence of Win Cowan, sr.,, to the effect that the man had two companions.. If: so, 'why, do- they not come forward and say where •deceased had ''Ieft their. company.. 7: From.'the publicitythis case has beengivenby the press they can- not be in ignorance as; to.,bis .Aeath. De- tective- Newhall is of _optnion that the stains on thebridge' are'those of blood. The man could have pUe,e§ himself so as to fall from the bridge after death, but not so as to leave Chess .blo6d Maius before falling. Had not:-ceath been immediate after the bullet entefed the brain, he might have taken a rest and then jumped into the water and drowned, but we have the med- ical testimony dispellirrgthat idea. Wer- ner had a valise when ke left Nuttal's lodging house, but that has not been seen since. If he left it with some friend. why have we not -heard of its safety. Werner was a smoker, but in none of his pockets was found a piece of tobacco, neither an old knife. In fact no, person, would giye a cent for the contents ofhis .numerous pockets. We have not the least idea that Werner was mnrdered for plunder; as he was seek- ing assistance when at Steiner, but not un - frequently are men of his stamp killed in a drunken row, and often by their most in- timate friends. From all the evidence,and we have heard it all, and from a careful inspection of the locality; this. is how we account for the presence of the body in the Rouge river, To be sure the verdict -.is an open one justifying atrial in case further evidence is brought to light, but the chances are that here the matter will ,drop, and the suicide belief develops as the years intervene, but as yet we fail to experience and feeling of conversion thereto... The local suthoritiee, as well as the doctors and reporters, have shown much interest in the case, and we join with them in the regret that the mvstery surrounding the death of August Werner has not been satisfactorily cleared away.