Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society Inc.
Tisdale Gun Fight
On September 19, 1920 the Saskatchewan Provincial Police handled a sensational
manhunt and gun battle. Four men robbed lumbermen at Barrows junction, Manitoba.
They walked the Canadian Northern Railway tracks into Saskatchewan. The Manitoba
Provincial Police alerted Saskatchewan Provincial Police Constable Joe Ives and two
railway section men met the thieves on the tracks east of Hudson Bay Junction. After
exchanging shots the thieves ran into the bush. More police ater arrived to search
kilometers of track. Ives found and arrested two of the outlaws, Wasyl Braschuk and
John Fashchowy in the Hamlet of Peesane.
September 21, railwayman Nick Polloway tracked footprints to a disturbed haystack
4.8 Km east of Tisdale. the police surround the 15.2 tonne haystack. during the all
day shoot-out, the Saskatchewan Provincial Police pleaded with the hidden men to
surrender. Finally inspector R. R. Tait ordered the stack burned. The hidden men
Jerry Smule and "Tony" Kozal, died by fire or gunshot. Braschuk and Fashchowy
served seven years in prison for attempted murder of Ives and carrrying offensive
weapons.
Erected by the Town of Tisdale
"Gathering, preserving and promoting interest in the history and folklore
of the area now know as Saskatchewan"
