1914-08-15aga

“Domenti Oliksuik, the Galicia arrested at noon yesterday on a charge of conspiring against the King, is being held as a prisoner of war, but it is admitted that the evidence against him is woefully weak.”

Hamilton Spectator. August 15, 1914

 In the earliest days of the war in Europe, suspicion of Hamilton residents of Austrian or German descent was high. The case of Domenti Oliksuik clearly demonstrated the hostility and injustice that such Hamiltonians had to endure, particularly from the police department.

When Oliksuik was brought to the police court during the morning of August 15, 1914, there were conflicts between the police magistrate and Hamilton’s police chief :

“Several times this morning, Magistrate Jelfs was on the point of giving Oliksuik his freedom, but Chief Smith intervened each time and asked that the prisoner be held until advices as to the disposition of the case were received from Ottawa.”¹

¹ “Galician is Held as War Prisoner : Accused of Assisting an Enemy of the King : Will Hold Him Until Ottawa is Heard From : Orders From Austrian Counsel in His Possession”

Hamilton Spectator.  August 15, 1914.

Domenti Oliksuik had been in Canada only eighteen months:

 “He speaks English fluently. He also speaks Austrian, Polish, German and Ruthenian”¹

Although the newspaper reports did not indicate what aroused the suspicion of the police, it might have just been part of a general investigation of all “foreigners” in Hamilton during the early days of the war.

However, when he was stopped and searched by the police, some potentially incriminating items were in his possession:

“Two letters and a telegram in the Austrian tongue, which were found on Oliksuik when he was arrested, were translated in court this morning by Anthony Yarish, court interpreter.

“One letter was sent to Oliksuik by the Austrian consul at Montreal, and was a request that Oliksuik call on all Austrians, whose names were furnished later by the consul, and inform them that should they desire to go back to fight for their country, their transportation would be paid.

“The second letter produced was Oliksuik’s reply, wherein he stated that unless he got paid for his trouble, he would not act. The following day he received a telegram from the Austrian consul telling him to do as he was ordered in the first letter, but no mention of pay was made.”¹

Oliksuik strongly denied that he had no efforts to get Austrians living in Hamilton to mobilize and that he had not paid any attention to the communications he had received from the Austrian consul. He admitted that, when he still lived in Austria, he had been a member of the army, serving in an artillery unit. However, once he left Austria for Canada, he had severed all connections with the army.

A Spectator reporter investigated Oliksuik’s history and status in Hamilton:

“There is a truly pathetic side to the case. Oliksuik brought his wife and five children to this country two months ago. He had managed to save considerable money during his stay in Hamilton, and when his family came here he invested all his money in a small grocery store at 443 Ottawa street.

“His wife is unable to speak English and the store will have to be closed until her husband is liberated. The rent is due on Monday and Mrs. Oliksuik has no money to meet it."

Magistrate Jelfs after reviewing the case said:

 “He certainly appears to be telling the truth, and he doesn’t appear to be a dangerous man. I’d be willing to allow him to go on bail.”¹

 Chief Smith strongly opposed bail for Oliksuik and asked that he be remanded in jail until official instructions were received from Ottawa as to the manner by which such cases were to be handled.

The unusual and here-to-fore rarely invoked charge that had been brought against Oliksuik was that he assisted a public enemy of the King at war. Oliksuik had been asked directly by Chief Smith if he had not be heard to admit that he had rounded up 800 Austrians living in the Hamilton area who would return to their native country to fight in the army.

Oliksuik laughed in response to the provocative question, and denied that he had ever made such a statement.

Ollsuik was then summarily denied bail and returned to jail.

1914-08-15fa

 

       The afternoon edition of the Hamilton Spectator carried a hastily written article about the massive fund-raising effort which was in process that day.

That day, August 15, 1914, almost one thousand Hamilton women canvassed the city to raise money to equip a hospital ship.

The article follows in full :

“While the men of Hamilton are showing tremendous loyalty in their desire to go to the front, their women folk are showing equally as much enthusiasm, and doing all they can to assist in the maintenance of the empire during the present crisis.

“The city was alive this morning with decorated automobiles, which halted at various spots and collected money on behalf of the fund for the establishment of the hospital ship, which is being equipped for service by the women of Canada.

“Their appearance in the streets was the cause of a great deal of enthusiasm, and the response of the public to their appeal was wonderful. Money flowed in a way that Hamilton has seldom known before, and the eagerness of the collectors was only equaled by the readiness of the citizens to contribute.

“Nurses from the city hospital joined in the good work and were successful in collecting large amounts in different quarters, while the efforts of the ladies were greatly assisted by the distribution to the contributors of hundreds of small Union Jacks which had been presented to the ladies’ committee by the G. W. Robinson company, the Stanley Mills company, Mrs. Tudor, Mrs. W. E. Sanford and Mrs. William Hendrie.

“It is estimated that over 1000 Hamilton were at work this morning collecting the money for the fund, and they will continue until the last moment tonight.”¹

¹ “Work Hard for Hospital Fund : Nearly 1000 Women Were Busy Collecting Today : Citizens Most Generous Response to Worthy Cause”

Hamilton Spectator. August 15, 1914

1914-09-11abc

All three Hamilton daily newspapers tried to attract readers from the residential areas above the escarpment by providing news items of interest for those on “the mountain.

          On September 11, 1914, the Hamilton Times had two such items which are quoted in full below :

 

      “ Although there is some talk of hard times on the Mountain top, activities show no signs of ceasing. Many of the people, indeed are in close circumstances, but the majority of the residents of that district seem to be fairly well-prepared for the coming hard times. In different sections, houses and stores are being erected, and all are of a construction which seems to belie the statement that money is scarce up there.

          “Throughout the Township of Barton much is being done to give the unemployed men work to do to keep them through the coming winter. On the mountain top in the east end, sidewalks are being laid, and quite a number of men are working there. The township has also started work on Concession street, east of the city limits, and is grading and levelling the road. Wellington street is also receiving a coating of crushed stone. It is hoped that this work will be continued for some time, as many of the residents of East Mount Hamilton will be in need during the coming winter, unless the township provides some kind of work for them.”¹

               ¹ “Mountain Top : Considerable Work Both in City and County.”

          Hamilton Times.   September 11, 1914.

 

          “Although there has been an agitation on the Mountain top for a long time past for adequate police protection from the city police force, nothing has been done and there are no signs of any activity in that quarter. Mr. Pratt has been endeavoring to get a force organized and have the city pay for the upkeep. At present the only protection there is of that kind is afforded by one county officer and a police officer who comes over from Dundas once in a long time to see that everything is all right. As it is at present, a person could commit crime and would have half a day to escape from this section of the country before any one would be put on his trail.”²

               ² “Police Wanted : East Mountain People Need Their Protection”

          Hamilton Times. September 11, 1914

 

1914-09-10abac

“On behalf of all the Anglican churches in the city, a service of intercession was held in Christ’s church cathedral last night.”

          Hamilton Spectator.   September 10, 1914.

          Taking as his text, the 1^st Epistle of St. Peter, chapter iv, verse 7 : ‘Be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer,’ His Lordship the bishop of the diocese of Niagara delivered a sermon in which he urged all to remain calm even though the outbreak of war in Europe was alarming.

Bishop Clark also exhorted all to pray of a speedy termination of the hostilities :

“ ‘Four times within the past fifty years,’ he said, ‘have we of this land been called upon to take up arms in defense of our country or empire. On each occasion the call came suddenly and without provocation.

“ ‘We know something of the circumstances which led up to the present trouble. We know that Great Britain did not provoke it. We know that Great Britain did her utmost up to the very last moment to bring about reconciliation and peace.

“ ‘ With one voice Canada had said England’s war is our war. But a few days ago we saw a number of our young and grown up men go forth to do battle for the empire. We thank God for these gallant hearts, and we pray God that we, too, of need be, may be made willing and ready to follow them.

“ ‘What is there I can do everyone is asking, and much is being done. We are becoming more frugal and leading the simpler life. We are less expensive in our pleasures, in our necessities, in our amusements.

“ ‘Now, let me name this evening one or two ways  by which we may serve our country at this time. First, let us be sober, let us steady our wills and not inflame them. Be not afraid of evil tidings and be not too much elated by our successes. Remember we are not at war with the great German people, but with the wretched, reckless military despotism of its rulers.

“ ‘Second, by prayer. If we seek success by the strength of our forces and by the justness of our position and cause, we shall be disappointed. No nation dare stand where Great Britain stands today unless it is not only a nation at arms, but a nation at prayer.

“ ‘Never was the call to prayer rung out so clear and strong as now, and there is an evidence of that in the large congregations which assemble on week days as well as Sundays. If you will only pray earnestly, you will lay by as much service as that given by wealth and activity. Here is a way for the sick, the poor and the bedridden to serve.

“ ‘We come here tonight to pray for our King, for our statesmen, for our soldiers and sailors, and for our country; to humble ourselves before Almighty God and to confess our sins. We know what is behind this war; we know not why it was God led us to take part in it. It may be God’s judgment on our intense love of pleasure, money and self-indulgence.

“ ‘Wake up Canada, I say tonight! England calls on us. God calls on us to take our stand on the side of truth, on the side of honor, on the side of righteousness.”¹

¹ “Bishop Clark Asks Anglicans to Remain Cool : Splendid Service of Intercession Held : Tells How Prayer Will Help Soldiers : Collection in Aid of Patriotic Fund”

Hamilton Spectator. September 10, 1914

After the bishop’s address, and before communion, an offertory was collected from the assembled. When the offertory was counted, the large sum was forwarded to support the Patriotic Fund.

1914-09-17aah

“Creatore’s band arrived in the city this morning for the big week’s festival of music which opens at the old armory tonight under the auspices of the Daughters of the Empire in aid of the relief fund.”

          Hamilton Spectator. September 25, 1914.

          It was a big undertaking – a week long series of musical entertainments to be held in the big hall of the old Drill Hall on James Street North. As a new armory building had been built beside it a few years earlier, the old Drill plus the new building become known as the Armories, while the older building was referred to as the old armory.

          Twice during the previous week, Bruce Carey, the Hamilton musical director for the concert series, had implored the editors of the local newspapers to write articles requesting that all singers who had agreed to participate in the mass choir attend rehearsals. A mass choir it was to be – 1000 voices.

          Carey had the voices ready to perform when the internationally-famous orchestra leader, Creatore and his musicians arrived in Hamilton. As the orchestra could expertly read and perform from the musical scores, there was no need to rehearse the choir with the orchestra before the opening night’s performance.

          The Spectator, in anticipation of the first concert, published the following in the hopes of encouraging widespread interest in the musical presentations:

          “The ladies met with great success on Saturday, and judging by the advanced sale, packed houses will be the order of the week.

          “The big 1,000 voice held its final rehearsal on Saturday night, and Bruce Carey, the director, has arranged a very appropriate program of patriotic and other music for the week.

          “The program for tonight follows:

          O Canada, words by Hon. Judge Routhier; music by Lavellee

          March – Royal Purple ……………….. Creatore

          Spring Song …………………………….Mendelssohn

          Suite :

          L’Arlesienne – (a) Pastorale (b) Intermezzo (c) Minuet (d) Farandole……Bizet

                    Land of Hope and Glory; words by Arthur C. Benson; music by Edward Elgar.

                    Culler Herran; words by Lady Nairne; music by Neil Gow

                    Hallelujah (Messiah) ………….Handel

          Waltz – Blue Danube ……………… Strauss

          Quartet from Rigoletto ………………Verdi³

 

              ³ “Creatore’s Band”

          Hamilton Spectator. September 20, 1914.

          Among those in attendance at one of the concerts at the old armoury was Richard Butler, whose column Saturday Musings was a popular weekly feature in the Hamilton Spectator.

          Following is the account shared by Richard Butler, aka the Old Muser :

Hamilton has been enjoying a grand musical treat during this week, the Creatore band and the local choir of half a thousand or more furnishing the programme. It will be a pleasant memory for the long winter nights, but we fear that the Patriotic fund is not going to be enriched by the hoped-for surplus. Thursday evening was especially enjoyable, for there was a larger audience than on any of the preceding nights, and both singers and musicians caught the spirit of it. When the first part of the programme had ended, Lieut. Robinson was escorted on the stage and Prof. Creatore ceremoniously handed him the baton. It was a compliment from the younger to the veteran bandmaster. The audience cheered and the choir waved a handkerchief salute. Then with his usual modesty, the veteran lieutenant waved the baton, the band played O Canada, and the music of Canada’s national song never sounded better. At the close of the piece, Prof. Creatore threw his arms around the neck of the veteran bandmaster, and with his most graceful bow handed him off the stage. The new marching song of the British army, It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, was sung by Roy McIntosh, and Mrs. McCoy-Hamilton roused the audience with Rule Britannia. As the new song is hummed and whistled by everybody, we give herewith the words that they may learn to sing it.

IT’S A LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY

Up to mighty London came an Irishman one day,

As the streets are paved with gold, sure ev’ryone was gay;

Singing songs of Piccadilly, Strand and Leicester Square.

Till Paddy got excited, then he shouted to them there

 

Chorus :

It’s a long way to Tipperary,

It’s a long way to go;

It’s a long way to Tipperary,

To the sweetest girl I know;

Goodbye Piccadilly;

Farewell Leicester Square.

It’s a long way to Tipperary,

But my heart’s right there.

 

Paddy wrote a letter to his Irish Molly O,

Saying, “Should you not receive it, write and let me know;

If I make mistakes in spelling, Molly dear,” said he,

It's a long way to go.

It's a long way to Tipperary

To the sweetest girl I know!

Goodbye, Piccadilly,

Farewell, Leicester Square!

It's a long long way to Tipperary,

But my heart's right there.

 

“Remember it’s the pen that’s bad, don’t lay the blame on me.”

 

Molly wrote a neat reply to Irish Paddy O,

Saying “Mike Maloney wants to marry me, and so

Leave the Strand and Piccadilly, or you’ll be to blame

For love has fairly drove me silly

Hoping you’re the same.

 

It's a long way to Tipperary,

 

1914-09-25aa

          It was a line-up of entertainment at just two of Hamilton’s many vaudeville theatres. Entertainment and diversions were badly needed as the news from Western Europe was becoming more and more grim.

          At the Savoy Theatre on Merrick street, the headline act for Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26, 1914 was advertised as “a Clean, Joyous, Sparkling Burletta, Bubbling Over with Melody and Merriment, featuring ‘English Jack’ Miller, Inimitable Eccentric Comedian. Gay, Girlish Group of ‘This is the Life Beauties”

The act was described in the Spectator as follows :

          “THE MOORISH MAIDS

          “Sam Williams Moorish Maids, one of the best burlesque attractions on the progressive wheel, will hold the boards at the Savoy this week, with daily matinees.

“The show is said to be a cyclone of comedy, introducing a big, singing and dancing chorus of good-looking, well-costumed  girls, while the principals include some of the stage’s best-known entertainers.

“Alice Fowler makes an ideal prima donna; Cyclonic Rene Cooper, a dainty soubrette, in a singing and whistling specialty; English Jack Miller, an eccentric comedian of exceptional ability; De Onzo Brothers, acrobats and tumblers and Master Alexander Hyda, 17 years old, the youngest musical director and composer on tour are others who contribute to the success of the show,

‘The book of the Moorish Maids is by Fred De Silva. The scenic and electrical effects are said to be unusually fine.”¹

¹ “The Moorish Maids”

Hamilton Spectator. September 25, 1914.

The attraction which received the biggest advertisement on the three Hamilton daily newspapers at the time was the appearance of George Evans’ Honey Boy Minstrels at the Grand Opera House.

The act, billed as “The Best Minstrel Show Seen in Years” claimed to have “a Company of Sixty.” Readers of the map might have been especially intrigued at the claim that theatre-goers should not “miss ‘Honey Boy’ and his War Map.”

The same Spectator issue which detailed the act at the Savoy described the Honey Boy Minstrels:

“George Evans’ Honey Boy Minstrels will be seen at the Grand tomorrow night. For this, the seventh year of the Honey Boy company, George Evans has made what is promised as a notable production for this class of entertainment.

“A scenic environment which provides for special settings for every feature of the show is absolutely new. The costumes are all new and striking, and the songs are written for the production and to be heard in no other, or chosen from the season’s most popular song hits.

“This class which is promised by the Honey Boy in every department of his show is said to provide much that is new in minstrelsy. There will be no mediocre vaudeville, as the specialists of the program are introduced in the action of the feature numbers.

“The program first introduces a court of honor at the San Francisco Panama Pacific Exposition. In this superb first part setting is found the traditional semi-circle of minstrelsy, for George Evans believes that lovers of minstrelsy want the old-time circle of silver-voiced singers and comic end men. The soloists and jokers here hold full sway.

“The second part introduces two full stage features in Underneath the Watermelon Moon, and salute the Flag, then comes the new monologue introduction by the popular Honey Boy. This year he devotes a lot of his talk to the war and illustrates his remarks upon a big war map.

“The evening ends with a new piece by George Evans, entitled The Brockville Bull Fighters, with Evans playing the most wonderful toreador ever seen.”²

² “Honey Boy Minstrels”

Hamilton Spectator. September 26, 1914

While Hamilton’s vaudeville audience may have wished for a relief from war news, the war map and monologue of Honey Boy would have been educational, and would have provided context to the alarming course of a war which many, just a few weeks previously, had felt would entail one big battle and would be over by Christmas.

         

         

1914-09-11aas

“Today is the last day of the Hamilton branch of the National Patriotic association’s colossal campaign. Yesterday at noon the recording clock in front of headquarters showed the sum of one hundred and thirty thousand odd dollars.”

          Hamilton Herald. September 11, 1914.

          It was felt at first that the $150,000 goal of the three day fund-raising campaign would be easily attainable, and would be surpassed considerably.

          There had been a huge amount of work done to collect cash and subscriptions but on the second day of the drive, the goal had not been reached.

          The canvassers had worked hard and had been very successful but as the final day began the canvassers and others with the Patriotic Fund were determined to work even harder.

          There were interesting experiences which the fund volunteers had encountered :

          “Many are the stories told by the collectors while at work.

          “One man who was interviewed by the collectors came to the door in his shirt sleeves. He was asked for a donation and refused. Then he told why he refused.

          “ ‘I have two sons now at Valcartier,’ he said. ‘My two brothers have also gone. At the present time, I am looking after four women and ten children. Do you still want that donation?’

          “The collector decided that he didn’t, although it was the only refusal of the morning.”¹

               ¹ “Tangible Proof of Hamilton’s Loyalty : Whirlwind Campaign Gets $150,000 For Patriotic Fund : Rich and Poor Open Purses Freely For Merciful Cause.”

          Hamilton Spectator. September 11, 1914.

          The Hamilton Herald reporter also heard of some interesting tales from the volunteer collectors:

          “The various canvassers while making their rounds bump up against some obstacles, which are hard to overcome, and in some cases the people are already such good work in a quiet way that no effort is made.

          “During yesterday’s work, one canvasser called at a house and asked for  a subscription. The answer he received was : ‘I think I am doing my share. At present I am supporting the entire families of four men at the front.’

          “One of the canvassers when turning in his report to the captain of his team, wrote, ‘Not at home – dead’ after a name.

          “A subscription that was very welcome was that made by an old woman, eighty years of age, who went to headquarters and asked : ‘Is this the place where you pay the two dollars to the soldiers?’ She was informed that it was, and her two dollars were immediately forthcoming.

“There is a certain amount of grim humor in a story told by one of the National Patriotic fund canvassers.

“The canvasser, who is a team captain, while making his rounds from the lists he secured from the city directory, called at a certain home.

“ ‘Is Mr. So-and-so in,’ he asked.

“ ‘No, he is not in’ was the reply.

“ ‘ When do you expect him in? I would like to secure a subscription from him for the patriotic fund,’ said the captain.

“ ‘He will not be in again, he’s in the cemetery,’ was the answer.

“Naturally, the captain beat a hurried retreat.” ²

               ² Fund Has Passed $150,000 Mark : Collectors Disappointed In Not Reaching It Last Night, But Today’s Efforts Left It Behind By Good Margin : Street Railway Receipts Were Disappointed – Amusing and Pathetic Incidents of the Canvass Are Reported”

          Hamilton Herald September 10, 1914.

          The Hamilton Street Railway had agreed to turn over all cash receipts from one entire day. The riders on the street cars that day were encouraged to pay cash, and not use any tickets that they already may have.

          In announcing the Hamilton Street Railways offer, the Spectator gave the details as follows :

          “Passengers can give any amount they wish for their ride as the entire receipts will be donated to the fund and the committee suggests that every person ride on the street cars if it is only for a short distance and in that way help such a worthy cause.

          “The management of the street railway has shown its loyalty by making such an offer and it is up to the people to do the rest.”³

               ³ “Cash Fares”

          Hamilton Spectator. September 9, 1914.

          While the street railway receipts amounted to $1185.35 much lower than the intended target of $3,000. To have overcome that shortfall, each employee with the street railway company, drivers and conductors as well as those at the barns, agreed to turn over their wages for the day.

          At the Central Police station on King William street, fifty-five policeman on parade all pledged to donate one day’s pay to the National Patriotic Fund.

          The policemen stationed at the Sherman avenue north were debating whether to donate to the fund, or direct their funds in a different direction:

          “ ‘I don’t believe they will give it to the patriotic fund. They have been talking it over for several days, and have decided to donate a day’s pay, but this money will go into a fund for the poor and needy of East Hamilton. Policemen on the beats are in a position to learn just what families are really in need, and there are many in East Hamilton who will be strictly up against it this winter,’ said Inspector David Coulter.⁴

               ⁴ “Police Donate : Give Day’s Pay to Fund – East End to Follow”

          Hamilton Spectator, September 9, 1914

          Hamilton’s “Poet Laureate” of the day, William Murray added to his financial contribution the following poem :

                              “Our Patriotic Fund

                    Bravo, Hamiltonian patriots!

            You will never be behind,

          Constructing what our land all through

            Approved with heart and mind –

          Without a thought of being dunned

          A powerful Patriotic Fund.

 

          With all our heroes in the field –

            Who knows where they may roam?

          Our dearest duty is to yield

            Support to them at home;

          And so we all, however summed

          Will help with our Patriotic Fund.

 

Athol Bank, Hamilton September 8, 1914                       Wm. Murray.

 

          As the last day of the three day campaign approached, it was decided to produce another newspaper advertisement to strongly encourage Hamiltonians to, in the words of the campaign’s motto, ‘Give! Give1 Give!’

          The final advertisement featured a poignant engraving showing a woman in a sparsely furnished room, with four children. One child was by himself on the floor, his slightly younger sister is standing, clinging to her mother’s dress while the eldest child, a girl holds the youngest, a baby. The mother looks wistfully toward her imaginary image of her husband, the children’s absent father. In the vision, she imagines him in army uniform, carrying a bayonetted rifle and leading some other troops across a smoky battlefield.

          The copy for the ad read:

 “Last Call !

  Send in Your Contribution Now to the War Relief Fund.

 Friday Last Day of Campaign

 We make a last minute appeal to those who have yet to give. Every dollar will be needed, as this mighty war will bring awful hardships to the families of our soldiers deprived of their bread-winners. The whole city could not be covered, some parts had to be skipped.

We Urge You to Give – Something – Be It Large or Small.

What greater cause to enlist your sympathies than this War Relief Fund? Make Friday’s total one that will startle the whole of Canada with the patriotism of Hamilton.

USE THE COUPON – Send or bring it with your subscription and get a receipt for your contribution – a receipt you will cherish as a memento of your personal part of this occasion. Here’s the coupon, fill it in, tear it off and mail it to headquarters tonight.

WAR RELIEF FUND

          ENCLOSED find a contribution of $   which you may add to the fund for helping our soldier’s women and children.

Name …………………………….

Address ………………………….

Make your Contribution Large – 2 Years in Which to Pay

Patriotic Fund Headquarters on King Street East

The final push was successful, even more than successful:

“Exceeding the most sanguine expectation, the three-day campaign on behalf of the National Patriotic fund ended last night with a grand total of $180,000. To use an expression much employed employed in the great indoor pastime known as draw poker, the citizens of Hamilton not only saw the $150,000 desired as this city’s contribution, but went it $30,000 better – with more to come.”⁵

⁵ “$180,602 Raised in Thirty Hours : Hamilton Does Herself Proud in Worthy Cause : Patriotic Fund Far exceeds Objective Set : Large Number of Big Subscriptions Received”

Hamilton Times. September 11, 1914

A celebratory luncheon was provided in the basement of Centenary Church for all who had worked so diligently to put the campaign over the goal.

Sir John S. Hendrie had formally announced the three day total and then went on to say:

“It is the largest subscription ever given in the city of Hamilton, and it was all given within thirty hours. There were very few refusals – less than ¼ of 1 per cent. I think that every man on this committee must feel proud of the citizens of Hamilton for the way they have responded to the call at this present time.”⁵

At the luncheon, the members of the various campaign teams engaged in a good deal of good-natured banter between themselves as to their efforts:

“Every team captain accused some other team captain of stealing subscriptions which rightly belonged to him.

“Anyone drifting into the basement of Centenary Methodist church might well imagine he was at a ball game listening to the bleachers give their candid opinion of the umpire. There were cries of ‘robber,’ ‘pirate,’ and ‘oh, you burglar,’  across the room.

“Groans greeted the announcement of H. J. Waddell that his team had collected $20, 808 during the day. When Mr. Waddell explained that $20,000 of this was from the Bank of Hamilton, which donation rightly belonged to his team, there were more groans.”⁵

Special mention was made of the efforts of Mr. Fong Young, proprietor of the popular Young’s Café on King William street. Mr. Young had offered to canvass the Chinese population of Hamilton. He said that he had not received even one refusal to his request for a donation, and in some cases, the very last dollar was taken out of the tills of restaurants and laundries and handed over.

The Hamilton Spectator carried a fulsome tribute to Hamiltonians for the support of the campaign :

“Never before – at least within the memory of living men – has there been such an outpouring of practical sympathy on the part of the people of Hamilton as that which came to a climax last night.

“The raising of over $180,000 toward the National Patriotic Fund in a whirlwind campaign of three days is an achievement of which every denizen of the city may well feel proud.

“The officers of the movement set a splendid example by their own initial and magnificent contributions. The captains and members of the several teams, according to their several ability, did likewise. The people responded so spontaneously that to ask was to receive, and in many cases the gifts were pressed without the asking.

“The universal sentiment appeared to be that those who could not go to the front themselves ought at least make the lesser sacrifice of caring for the dependents of their representatives – the men who have gone or may yet be called upon to go.

“Vicarious suffering must, so far as possible, be lightened by those who remain.

“The scenes when the final returns were announced were indescribable.”⁶

⁶ “Hamilton’s Tribute”

Hamilton Spectator.   September 12, 1912.

The “final” announcement was that well over $180,000 had been raised for the fund. When the excitement died down and the headquarters was opened on the following Monday, the contributions just kept coming in so the decision was made to keep the campaign headquarters open for three more days. The final tally was eventually over $200,000.