The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 51

B.Cs You Mien Take Over :.) I av; 1 y't? i iin in i ill By MAC BOW YOUTH will talk ovr its future when the session of the Older Boys' Parliament convenes in Victoria for three days at the end of December. The parliament was scheduled to take over the sedate sanc tum of the Legislative Building from December 27 to 30. Extensive repairs to that structure, howevrr, h.is-made it necessary to switch the sessions to the Normal School. Youthful faces, young ideas, the enthusiasm, energy and intense activtiy of British Columbia's young men will mirror the scene: The 16 to 21-year old youngsters will debate and discuss important issues that confront the youth of the province. More than fiO democratically elected delegates from every section ol B.C.

will attend. And many of the province's elder statesmen like talent scouts at a hockey game will watch carefully the men who are following in their footsteps. They will not see a gang of boys playing parliament. But they will witness a legislative body strictly controlled by parliamentary procedure, hear biilliant and firry oratory, and feel the electric determination to get things done. When that first commanding shout "Make way for His Honor!" rings through the chamber, the young delegates will spring to their feet.

Dr. Norman A. M. MacKenzie, president of the University of British Columbia and Lieutenant-Governor of the Boys' Parlia An Death And Destruction Rode Frank Slide ment, ill take his place to oprn the junior legislature. Archie Macauiay, 18-year-old Vancouver high school student last year elected as premier of the coming session, will open debate on the speech from the throne.

Unlike any other premier he will not necessarily be strongly supported by his fourtecn-man cabinet, nor will he be op- ROBERT (BOB) ROLblUN old boy posed by an opposition For this legislature embodies no party politics or organized opposition. That is part of the history of the Older Boys' Parliament. them. Even now after more than forty years, I can recollect noting the different characters. While some, and I thank God, the majority, were looking for signs of life, others were already looking for money.

"I stood in a corner where the edge of a house was protruding from the rocks. Suddenly I heard a cry for help from directly below. At once I called out: 'Who is it? Where are "The answer canic back: 'I am Mrs. Watson. I am cornered! Racing To The Rescue "Hearing this I raced back to the crowd for aid, trying to lift the rock-covered wall without killing her.

At Inst after long hours of cutting and digging we managed to reach her and her two children. She survived, but the two little ones died later from shock and injuries. "In another place a girl was blown out of a window by the concussion of the second explosion. We could not understand how she was saved. "A contractor who was building about four miles away had his entire outfit and grounds covered for six or seven miles.

One C.P.R. freight train got through seconds ahead of the slide and another, a passenger, was delayed by a blizzard to the east and so was saved by minutes. Had she been on time the whole train would have been engulfed." Recounting his further terrifying experiences, Mr. Hie said: "We drew lots as to who would uncover and would pick up bodies. My ticket was to pick up bodies.

I found two boy. about 200 feet from their cabin, clad in their pyjamas. Their bodies never had a mark on them. Did they have time to run, or did the force of the blast throw them? That is one of the unanswered mysteries. A Few Survivor "At the mine itself, seventeen men were trapped.

These men dug themselves out. They Were'thirty feet und r-ground. When they came to top they were stopped by a huge rock. One of the men was shoved to the top to remove the obstacle." Mr, Hie gives the. time of the slide as 3.40 a.m.

Others say from four o'clock and 4.20 a.m. That, of course, is more or less immaterial. Continuing, he said: "Some say the reason they called this a slide was the company of Gibcault Frank wanted to mine again. But as an eye witness I would say that the cause of the explosion whs the undermining of the mountain, causing a large crack in the mountain ton. "This had givn away, allowing melting snow to run in on a huge -lountain of lime, which boiled up, and caused the concussion which brought death and disaster to so many." Another surv'vor in Vancouver of the Frank slide is Mrs.

Wilbur Bryan. She was formerly Jessie Leitch, who with Mrs. R. Weckes, of Vancouver, and Mrs, Laurence A- MacPhail of Nelson are members of the Leitch family and were young girl at the time of the disaster. Hermann Trelle, one of Alberta's wheat kings, was also a survivor.

THC VANCOUVER DR. N. A. M. MACKENZIE His Honor Through the years, senpe of the parliament has been broadened to encompass Sunday Schools, Boy Scouts, Boys' Brigades, Y.M.C.A., Community Clubs, and other youth organizations.

The junior a.ssenibly is now sponsored by the Christian Education Consultative Council of B.C., and includes Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches, and the Y.M.C.A. A 1945 convention of 54 delegates 22 of them from centres outside Van couver voiced an Insistent call for still "greater tolerance," and inclusion of Roman Catholic and Jewish delegates in the parliament. After a long, closely contested debate, the issue went to committee for investigation and recommendation. No Delegate Pays More Than $10 Finance will be one subject under fire at the coming session. Under the present system of operation, all traveling expenses arc "pooled," so that no delegate pays more than $10.

Social welfare is always prominent on the parliamentary qgenda, and modern techniques of leadership training will be discussed by the youthful provincial representatives next month. Premier Archie Macaulay's cabinet for the 1946 session will be; Oliver Howard, Eburne, deputy-premier; David Rea. minister of finance; Harold Patton, provincial secretary; Sylvan Villte, miniKter of devotional affairs: Grant Bracowel', inter-provincial relations; Bob Thurston. Intellectual affairs; Bill Sutherland and Ian MacGlashan, ministers without portfolio; Fred Davies, minister of Hobbies; all of Vancouver; Bill Morris, Prince George, conferences and rallies; Bob Wallace, Armstrong, publications; and Hubert Vcnables, Oliver, social affairs. WALTER OWEN Helsingfors 1922 fed i 1 I 'v i Iff ARCHIE MACAULAY present premier The first parliament for boys was held in Ontario, in 1010, under, leader-ship of Taylor Stat ten.

The movement caught the imagination of boys, and challenged their abilities and ideals. It spread west to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and east to the Maritime Provinces. Twenty-five years ago Rev. E. R.

Mc- W. J. (BILL) BELL big business Lean, assisted by W. A. Rundlc and Frank Fidler, commenced organization of B.C.'s first boys' legislature under sponsorship ot the United Church Tuxis Movement.

Many obstacles were overcome before the first session convened on January 2, 1923. DR. W. R. FOOTE surgery Walter S.

Owen, prominent city barrister was first premier of the new parliament, and was considered so capable that he was elected for a second term in 1921. The late John Oliver, then Premier of the province, took a ROBERT T. CROSBY fighter BOB McMASTER critic keen interest in the experimental sessions ot the boys. The first Boys' Parliament premier, Walter Owen, journeyed to Helsingfors, Finland, to represent his legislature at a World Boys' Conference. Few former premiers have since for-saken the path of leadership.

W. J. Bell, leader of the third session, is today general manager of a large business firm in Vancouver. W. R.

Foote, who followed him as head of the youth parliament in 1926, is now a leading gynaecologist in Montreal. They Adhere To Proper Procedure In 1927 Leslie J. Wagner, of Vancouver was in office. He was replaced the following year by Robert Rolston, a delegate representing the Y.M.C.A. Rolston is now a marine underwriter in this city.

At this session the reed for a B.C. boys work secretary was foreseen, and Frank Fidler was named to the post. An incident which occurcd while the 1931 election campaign was in progress LESLIE J. WAGNER youths' choice Illustrates adherence of the boys to proper procedure and authority of their parliament. A spirited group of campaigners travelled 30 miles to plaster the polling booth of an opposition candidate with The boys were called to order.

Jim Ferris headed the cabinet in 1032, when Boh McMasier argued for the opposition. Both men are well-known in Vancouver today, in 1934 John VVinde-bank, of Mission, held the reins of government. Last session ef the youth parliament before the war was in 1939. Bob Crosby, premier of that session, later served with the RCAF and is now a businessman in Vfn- couver. Although the war was then only three months old, members of the 1939 assembly urged an adequate reconstruction program and studied other postwar problems.

jWSftfsr jj 1 1 I Told by GEORGE HIE to WALTER BENNELL SHORTLY after 4 a.m. on the morning ot April 29, 1003, more than forty-three years ago. Turtle Mountain, in the Crow's Nest Pass, between Blalrmore and Coleman, Alberta, broke in t.vo and engulfed the flourishing little town of Frank under avalanche of 70,000,000 tons of limestone and rock. It Is known today as the Frank slide. History to the younger "generation of today, but stilt a vivid memory with the older generation.

It crushed out the lives of more than 80 men, women and children, and caused untold property damage. The large wedge of limestone, measuring about 1300 feet from top to bottom, and 4000 feet in width, crashed suddenly down the perpendicular side of the 4000 (pot mountain. The thickest portion of the wedge, estimated to be 500 feet thick, fell with, a roar. Down Dale And Up Hill In dropping, It struck the inclined base of the mountain with such force that the Impact broke many of the large rocks, and hurled the mass with terrific force across the valley, a distance of more than two miles, covering approximately 3500 acres of fertile land ranging from a depth of 75 to 150 feet. The rocks continued their disastrous course 500 feet up the mountain on the opposite side of the valley.

Such, in brief, Is the story of the Frank slide. Details of the experiences of survivors have filled columns of newspaper space. They tell the story of thopp who were buried for hours beneath tons of rock, or thrown clear by those strange eccentricities which nature, in its convulsions, sees fit to exhibit. Now comes George Hie, of New Westminister. He says: "The following Incident happened while I was working in Frank, Alberta, and enabled me to have' the unique though terrible experience of seeing a mountain crumble.

"At the time the cause was said to have been from undermining the mountain and causing an explosion. Two weeks before the actual slide took place I happened to be working at the twelfth level of the coal mine. I heard the mountain cracking. The pressure was so great at this place that a six inch timber was broken. During the days tha't followed many were killed or injured by accidents caused by the continuous pressure.

Mountain Passed Twenty-five Feet Away "At the actual time of the slide, I was in my bunk and was thrown violently out by pressure. I ran outside, and, was startled to sec a gigantic mountain passing down only twenty-five feet away from me. "My mother, who was very religious, had taught me in my youth how to pray. Up to this time I had never considered it, but this once I clutched a crucifix and prayed very hard, even for a beginner. "People were leaving their smashed homes along the creek, so I decided to stay with the survivors, and followed Ik.

-wt DAILY mOVINCE, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 10 1G.