Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1899
Date
1899
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
Eighteen inches of snow on the ground on New Year’s Day – Frank O’Reilly returns to Nelson and the West Kootenay area for his surveying work.
FEBRUARY
Peter O’Reilly continues his visits to the dentist and attends his usual director meetings – Kit and Jack O’Reilly play golf with friends and attend a tournament - “Carry very seriously ill during the night, great difficulty in breathing” - Dr Davie orders Carry O’Reilly to bed, “her heart is weak”, and requires “rest & good diet & no excitement”.
MARCH
Carry’s condition is noted every day – Dr Davie visits and comments on her slight improvements – Peter and Carry have colds – friends come to inquire for Carry - Carry moves to the drawing room after five weeks in bed.
APRIL
Carry sits in chair outside for the first time, continues to have good nights and sleepless nights, receives visits from Dr Davie and friends – Peter’s dentistry continues – Frank leaves for Nelson - death of Captain McCallum, Peter is a pall bearer at the funeral – HMS Amphion returns to Esquimalt - Peter meets with lawyer Aikman to deal with several property foreclosures – Carry alternates from cheerfulness to depression.
MAY
Peter suffers from back pain, unable to move, takes medicine which leaves him deaf, dizzy, and confused – Carry has some restful nights, but is still frequently “low spirited” and “greatly depressed” – Government House in Victoria burns down.
JUNE
Carry improves and is able to be taken for drives, but is still depressed – Carry has a falling out with Dr Davie, he suggests finding another physician – Peter pays taxes for Joseph and John Trutch’s properties – Peter attends his usual board meetings.
JULY
Fairfield hay cut – Peter attends synod executive meeting - croquet played – Georgie Ellis and children from Penticton visit for several days.
AUGUST
Peter attends a tennis tournament – a vote is taken on building a Government St bridge and filling in the James Bay mudflats – Peter attends meetings of the Howe Sound Copper Co and the Esquimalt Water Works Co – HMS Swiftsure, Warspite, and Amphion make a return appearance at the naval dockyard – Peter suffers from headaches and ceases to write in his diary.
SEPTEMBER
No diary entries until late September – Peter goes for a drive with Kit but is very tired – Royal Marines return to England.
OCTOBER
Alterations to St Saviour’s Church discussed – Carry and Kit attend church, shop, and go for drives – Temple Cornwall leaves for the Boer War in South Africa.
NOVEMBER
Dr Hanington states Carry does not have heart problems, but only “indigestion” - Fairfield caretaker Harding let go for poor performance and being drunk – Dr Jones recommends that Peter and Carry go to Europe – Dr Jones examines Carry and determines there is “organic disease of the heart” and consents to her traveling – Carry worried about traveling to England and can’t make up her mind, her condition is poor.
DECEMBER
Peter requests Jack’s salary be increased - Dr Jones does not take responsibility for saying that Carry can travel to England, then later gives his consent – Peter, Carry, and Kit depart and are joined by Frank – after a train trip to New York they board a ship to Liverpool, Carry’s health continues to decline, she is “weaker & greatly depressed” – after arrival in Liverpool Carry is taken to a nursing home and passes away there, “A good & beloved woman went to her home” – burial at Cheriton near Folkestone with family members present.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1899. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01911, Box 3, File 9.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.), civil service, history, 19th century