This afternoon as usual, we saw the air ambulance helicopter and several ground ambulances heading to Royal Columbian Hospital many times, carrying people in need of care.
But in the past, getting to the hospital or to other help was, if it was even possible, an adventure or challenge all on its own.
Recently we came across a reference that led us to a story about such an event.
We were reminded just how different the world was at that time when it came to medical emergencies and whether or not any help was available for the victim of an accident.
The year in question was 1874 when a miller named Anthony Twentyman, who lived and worked in Dog Creek in B.C.'s Cariboo-Chilcoten district, managed to shoot himself in the knee.
There is no mention in the newspaper of anyone else being involved, just that the event happened and several bones were broken.
Our wounded man somehow got himself or was helped to the Cariboo Road, then down this road to Yale where he somehow got onto a sternwheel steamboat that would carry him to hospital at New Westminster. We were able to ascertain this as the list of passengers on the Onward shows the name Twentyman.
As a side note, the Onward's captain on that journey was one Jack Deighton - now known as Gassy Jack.
We see no other references to anyone accompanying Mr. Twentyman on his journey from Dog Creek to the main road or on to Yale.
Think about this for a moment. There were very few transportation options in 1874 for our injured man to use.
The road from Dog Creek to the Cariboo Highway was very rough and his choices were to walk, ride a horse, or be carried, in some capacity, in a horse-drawn wagon. Once out to the main Cariboo Road, there was the option of the stage coach down the canyon to Yale.
Obviously, he used one of these options, probably the wagon, but we don't know which - what we do know is that it would have been extremely painful and uncomfortable, but his only hope was to get to Royal Columbian Hospital.
Once he arrived in New Westminster, we can presume that some local folks took him up the hill to the Royal Columbian Hospital at Clement Street (now called Fourth Street) at Agnes Street.
A first-rate surgeon with excellent assistants did what he could, but Mr. Twentyman lost his leg, by then diseased, to amputation.
The surgery however was successful and he lived for many more years before he died in 1891.
An intriguing story for which we have many more "logistical" questions - maybe we will find the answers to them someday.
For more on the stories of Royal Columbian Hospital, go to RCH150. wordpress.com.
