Pelham Continuation School - Pelham Pnyx (Fenwick, Ontario Canada)

Page 63 text:

44 THE PELI-IAM PNYX We were then taken into a room which had a large maplike affair on the table showing Fort Erie and the vicinity as it was in 1811. In this room, the guard told us how Colonel Bradstreet had selected a certain site on which to build Old Fort Erie so that the men could be taken in a ship to relieve Fort Detroit where there was fierce fighting with the fierce Indians. One noted visitor at Old Fort Erie was Pontiac, an Indian chief, and he was well received for he was on his way to Oswego to a council meeting. In 1811 war was declared between Canada and the United States. The States thought that Canada would easily be conquered and on july 3rd, 1814, forty-five hundred Americans under Major-General Jacob Brown attacked Fort Erie, which had a garrison of one hundred and seventy men, so General Buck, the British commander, surrendered. The British, on August Isth, attacked Fort Erie. There were three columns of soldiers-two failed, but the third, under Colonel Drummond with 7oo men, led his force against the north-west demi-bastion with scaling ladders. They swarmed over the parapets and turned the guns against the Fort. The powder magazine under the bastion suddenly exploded blowing men to tre- mendous heights. The rest of the attackers were hurled from the parapets and as best they could, returned to the British lines. From here the Americans marched on Lundy's Lane, where they were met by the Canadians, who fought so valiantly that the Americans retreated. This was called a drawn battle. The Americans had now found that there was no use in keeping Old Fort Erie so they deserted it and returned to their own country. The museum was the next place that was shown to us. In one room there was a collection of Sir Henry Pellatt's photos of Regiments. In other rooms there were relics of all kinds-buttons of different regiments taken from the soldier's coats, a sword handle of Colonel Drummond which had a head of a lion engraved on it. On the upper floor there were swords, pikes, spears and guns of all kinds, armour, old hats, arrow heads, and metals of different makes. The floors of the Fort have no nails in them but are all pegged down and most of the relics that are in the museum are the ones found when rebuild- ing the fort. To leave the grounds of the Fort we passed through the Sally-porte and crossed the trestle bridge to the south-west bastion. In this place there are small holes for the sharp shooters to fire from. When we passed out of the gates of Old Fort Erie we thought that we had spent a very memorable day. PLATINUM By June Misener, GRADE ix PLATINUM was probably known in its impure state from early times, but because of its physical properties and especially its high melting point it was impossible to work it by any of the arts then known, and it therefore remained as an unnamed substance. About the middle of the eighteenth century it was introduced into Europe in small quantities and attracted the notice of various chemists. The chemists found that it was infusible in the highest temperature of the furnace. Plat- inum was melted in 1758 in the focus of a powerful burning glass. Platinum in the massive form is a greyish-white metal. When pure it is a white metal and is very soft, therefore for certain purposes it must be alloyed. It alloys very easily with metals of its own kind which are palladium, rhod- ium, ruthenium, osmium and iridium, and likewise with gold, silver and lead. Platinum is used in the laboratory. It is the best catalyst for the man-

Page 62 text:

THE PELHAM PNYX 43 Serials heard daily in many homes are but one of the many types of drama which radio has to offer. By the turning of the dial we are able to hear any- thing from the great Shakespearean Hamlet to a Gracie Allen murder mys- tery. ln this way public opinion in the dramatic world is formulated to a very large extent by means of radio. Drama of a rather different type was displayed quite recently during the visit of our gracious sovereign and his queen. National sentiment through- out the country was intensified by the varied broadcasts and commentaries, particularly those in which their majesties took part. Surely no one would foolishly deny that public opinion was influenced, as the hearts of all were stirred. N Regardless of what other programs may hold his interest, the average man derives much benefit from news broadcasts. Into the home the newscaster brings his commentaries, at the same time, by means of his personality, exert- ing an influence upon the listener. There occurs an earthquake in Japan, a flood in China, war breaks out. In the flash of an eye the world can be advised of any catastrophy by radio. War is truly a much-dreaded state, and yet it is made somewhat more tolerable by the widespread influence of radio, which keeps us up-tc-the-minute on all angles of the situation. ln the realm of politics, the opinions of the man in the street may be swayed by political broadcasts and this means of campaigning exerts perhaps as great an influence as any other. Politicians must educate the people to agree with their views, else their labour is in vain. Our education is never complete, and the educational features afforded by radio must not be lightly overlooked. Radio classes in spelling and English are one example of the many ways we are influenced by the air-waves. And so, by means of radio, the opinion of the general public is affected perhaps more than anyone realizes. We can listen to our greatest statesmen- or pick up a new recipe for noodle soup. However, the radio is knitting people closer together, giving us common viewpoints on both local and international affairs, creating common interests in our everyday life. The fullest develop- ments of radio have not been reached and what its future possibilities are, nobody can rightly say. OLD FORT ERIE ,, By Betty Aldrey, GRADE x ONE SUNDAY this summer we visited the Old Fort. After first seeing other points of interest we arrived at the Old Fort and bought our tickets. The Old Fort is situated south-west of the Peace Bridge and is now being reconstructed as it was in 1811 by the Niagara Parks Commission, The Fort is surrounded by a moat and in order to cross we had to go over a drawbridgeg it was here that we met a guard. We then passed from the Ravelin to the Sal- ie'nt by way of a wooden door studded by iron bolts to make it strong. The door is in a stone wall which is connected to the two barracks. Up on both the north-east and south-east bastions there are three can- nons-one of iron and two of brass. The barracks were then shown to us. Vwfe entered first the powder mag- azine in which the handpikes and powder were stored. There is a window in this room which is protected by copper wire. As we entered the door of the recreation room, we noticed a large bed about twelve feet long and six feet wide all made of wood. In a corner there is a fire-place and hanging on a crance is a large iron pot, which was used to cook the soldiers' victuals. In the Officers' quarters there was an old rope bed with a few old quilts on it. In this room was also an old oak table, a rocking chair and a fire-place.

Page 64 text:

THE PELHAM PNYX 45 ufacture of sulphuric acid by the contact process. Platinum or, better, iridium- platinum alloy is the most suitable anode material for electrolysis of all kinds. It is used extensively for some surgical instruments, such as needles, for it can be sterilized easily. Canada is the leading country to-day in the production of platinum. It was first found in Russia but its supply is not as great as Canada's now. Colombia in South America also produces some platinum. COMMERCIAL XI N E-15 -f Seated Cleft to rightl -Annie Dalybozyk, Dorothy Martyn, Evelyn Kelly, Doris Dalybozyk, Annabel Hicks, Marjorie Berg. Standing-George Misener, William Peacock, Edward Guinn. OUR NEW COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT By Doris Dalybozyk Qurre A change has taken place in our Commercial Department. Pre- viously, as you may remember, the balcony was open with a railing along the side which kept the students from falling over with a typewriter. This year an addition has been built out over the gymnasium, and a wall with three windows has been erected making it a proper room. What a relief! Now we can have all the space we want. Last year's classes were so cramped for room they could hardly move. Nobody has to worry about the typewriters falling over the ledge and as a result killing some- body below. The members of the School Board have had cupboards built in which to place them. The lighting system has been improved a great deal. If you can recall your public school days, you can probably remember that we are supposed to read with the light over our left shoulders, Well, we have that system up in the Commercial Department now. May we extend our warm thanks to the members of the School Board for their efforts in having the improvements made.