Doukhobor Explosion Traditional Cache
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Size: 
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This is the site of one of the biggest tragities in West Kootenay
History. It is marked by a wheat leaf in memory of Peter Verigin.
Follow the old railway bed from either the entrance in Castlegar at
the Brilliant Dam, or from the Paulson side, there is a geocache at
the begining of the trail now as well.
Early in the morning on October 29th, 1924, an explosion on the
Kettle Valley Line ripped apart Canadian Pacific Railroad car 1586.
There were 21 people aboard this car. All but 2 were killed or
injured. The most prominent death on this train was Peter Verigin,
the Doukhabor leader. The explosion was actually centered under the
seat he had been in. Even after all these years, it is unknow if
the explosion was due to a tragic accident involving gases used to
light the rail car, or if it was an assasination of either Verigin
or John McKie, newly elected Conserative party MLA for
Grandforks.
Most people belive the tragity was for the assasination of Verigin.
The Sons Of Freedom where members of the Doukabor comunity who were
suspected of plotting Verigin's death. Verigin's own son had also
threatened his life. Or what it a threat against him from
Russia?
No answer has been forthcoming.
Although, McKie's death also caused the the BC Liberal Party to
gain a majority in Parliment, by ONE seat, so maybe it was a
political assasiantion? Of couse, some people also belive that the
Canadian and BC governments also wanted Verigin dead.
Who would have thought that this peaceful area would be the site of
such tragity, speculation and unaswered questions.
The investigation into this tragity used a total of 12 RCMP
Officers and CPR investigors, which was a huge amount, concidering
that at this time there were only 1000 RCMP Officers across Canada,
that's right, all of Canada. The Officers were on the scene for
only 2 days. Just imagine how many people would be involved if an
explosion of this magnitude happened today.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
oruvaq gur gerr haqre envyjnl gvrf
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