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
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