1915-01-08ff

Fatal workplace accidents were not infrequent in Hamilton. Most simply happened with little publicity or follow up.

However, on January 7, 1915, an accident occurred at the outdoor shunting yard of the Steel Company of Canada. It was a location where railway cars were put into place to be unloaded or loaded near one of the company’s many buildings.

Unlike so many other accidents, this accident which occurred about 6 a.m. received the following description in the Hamilton:

“A door blew open on one of the buildings as the car passed, it knocked Laking off. He fell and slipped directly under the wheel of the car, and had his both legs mangled.

“First aid was rendered and he was rushed with all possible haste to the City Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate both legs.

“In spite of all medical aid, however, he passed away about 10 o’clock.”¹

¹ “Man Killed : Both Legs Cut Off and Died in a Short Time.”

Hamilton Times.   January 8, 1915.

Coroner Dr. R. Y. Parry was summoned to the hospital, and, unusually in such cases, ordered that an inquest be held to determine how the death happened and assign responsibility if any could be determined.

“Laking” was William Albert Laking, a 23 year old man, who resided at a boarding house at 146 Sanford Avenue North. He left no dependents.

The inquest was held on January 12, 1915, and, in what the Times specifically noted, the inquest “got away from the stereotyped verdicts and brought in one censuring the company.”²

² “Laking’s Death : Jury Found Negligence On Part of Company”

Hamilton Times.   January 12, 1915.

Two Steel Company of Canada employees were called as witnesses, both testified that they always had to be exceptionally careful when the railway cars passed that the building where the door flew open because the track passed within a foot of it.

Stanley Kinley told the coroner’s jury that he was employed as a yardman and that he was riding on the same car as Kingley :

“ ‘He was getting off the car by way of the side ladder,’ said Kingley,  ‘when, without warning, the door of the warehouse blew out, and swept Laking off the ladder. I signaled for the train to stop and got off the train, when I found him lying across the track, with both legs badly mangled.’ ”²

Train Engineer James Rae testified next and basically corroborated Kingley’s evidence. John Kenely, the Steel Company of Canada’s on-site first aid attendant, told the jury that he did all he could for Laking.

In response to a question from a juryman, Engineer Kingley said that the ground beside the track sloped away from the building and toward the tracks. The Engineer gave it as his opinion that Laking slipped down that slope after he fell, and slid right into the path of the train’s wheels.

Four other Steel Company employees, Joe McGanity, David Peckley, Charles Phillips and Samuel Rowan testified that doors swinging outwards hyad been a nuisance for a long time.

The doctor at the City Hospital, Dr. Parry, who performed the postmortem Laking testified that death was caused, principally, from shock.

The following verdict was returned by the coroner’s jury:

“We the jury find that William Albert Laking came to his death at the steel plant from the result of being run over by a freight car, as a result of being struck by an open door. We find that the company was negligent, and recommend the use of sliding doors.”²

1915-01-04bf

“The fact that Great Britain is now plunged in war was brought vividly before a bystander at the high level bridge yesterday.”

Hamilton Times.   January 4, 1915.

It happened at the base of the Burlington Heights, the sand and gravel bar separating the west end of Hamilton Harbor from Coote’s Paradise.

 A branch of the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo railway crossed the Desjardins canal in the vicinity. That made it a location which could be subjected to depredations by enemy spies wishing to disrupt the economy, or even kill passengers on the trains passing by. In response to such a potential threat, members of the Hamilton Home Guard were placed on guard there.

On January 3, 1915, one of  the guards was called to action:

“A man was standing near the railroad tracks, and when spied by one of the sentries on duty at the bridge, he was told to move on. Instead of obeying the soldier’s order, the man told him to mind his own business, and continued to stay where he was.

“Again the soldier ordered the man to go, and he replied that he would go when he got good and ready.

“The sentry immediately brought his rifle to his shoulder and once more ordered him to go away, and when he did not go, the soldier fired over his head. This time the brave stranger went, and according to an eye-witness, he went fast.”¹

¹ “He Moved Fast : When Rifle Bullet Whistled Over His Head”

Hamilton Times. January 4, 1915.

When asked for a reaction about the discharge of a rifle within the city boundaries, Hamilton Police Chief Smith had words of support for all sentries on duty with the Hamilton Home Guard :

“In commenting on the occurrence today, Chief Smith stated that a great many people do not take the precautions in this country seriously enough, and are inclined to jeer at the soldiers. He also stated that this might be a lesson to some.”¹

 

1915-01-02oo

In 1915, just as it had been for some years before and would be for some years afterward after, the Hamilton Times carried a daily feature, headlined “The Man In Overalls.”

Made up a series of brief observations on matters of interests to Hamiltonians, the Man in Overalls’ views were usually just a sentence or two.

Following is a collection of items from The Man In Overalls features appearing in issues of the Hamilton Times from January 2 to January 7, 1915. (Where explanations are needed, such are provided in parenthesis, where no explanation is needed, the Man in Overall’s comments stand alone.)

 

From January 2, 1915 :

“ ‘Votes  for Women are on the way.

“ We will need better fire protection on the mountain when the hospital is built up there.

“ The sneak thief seems to have lots of employment in the city at present. Look after your cash.

“ Don’t forget to pray for peace this week.

“ The January thaw, as usual, scared the life out of sleighing.

“ The third contingent may be the last. May be your last chance. (Two contingents of Canadians soldiers had already be raised to fight in the Great War. The third would not be the last.)

“ Perhaps it was intended that the Canadians should suffer all the horrors of war at Salisbury Plain before being sent to the front.

“ When are we going to get that belt line around the bay? (It was fully intended that Hamilton’s city boundaries would circle around the Hamilton harbor. A Hamilton Street Railway street car line, a belt line, continuously circled from Hamilton’s downtown to the far eastern section of the city, looping back downtown etc. etc. The Man in Overalls wondered if the time had come for something similar to run around the bay.)

“ Home Chat’s thought for today : Most of us are good at making excuses for ourselves. The majority are a little too good at it.”

 

From January 4, 1915 :

" Now, get to work for the unemployed.
"The week of prayer. Let there be peace with victory.
"The war is now in its sixth month, and it looks as if it may run into its sixth year.
"Already we have had a fair share of winter weather. That may shorten up the spring, which often lingers in winter's lap.
"Nothing unites a people like patriotism.

From January 5, 1915 :

“Take an axe to that sidewalk. Somebody may break a leg. (An ice storm had made walking on city streets a challenge.)

“ Hang on to your resolutions. If good, they are worth keeping.

“ It’s good to be at peace with all the world. I don’t even bear a grudge against my greatest enemy, if there is such a person.

“ This is the week of prayer and intercession for victory and peace. We can all help here.

“ This early winter may mean an early spring.

“We should have a parade of fire horses or something as a formal opening of the John street fire station.

“ I hope Mayor Allan will be allowed to take home with him the City Hall cat. It has been a consistent friend to him, (John Allan had been replaced as Mayor of Hamilton on January 1, 1915)

“ Nobody seems to know if the city military guards got a hot dinner or not on Christmas day.

“Take hot water cloths to thaw out frozen pipes.

 

From January 6, 1915:

“ Too many fires. Be careful.

“ When I get my back up about the street cars, I walk until the grouch wears itself out

“The home guard drill has been the making of me. I feel as if I could walk to Toronto and back and never miss a step.

“ Those chaps who stand round and sneer at the home guards should be sent to the trenches.

“ I would like to present an iron cross to the man who takes care that his horse is well shod these days. (So that horses could use the frozen city streets without falling)

“Well, I won’t sorry when this cruel war is over.

“Home Chat’s thought for today : The unhappy people are those who, because they look on it in the wrong way, are unable to take any interest in the work fate has given them to do.”

 

 

1915-01-21ss

“Dundas, Jan. 21 - Complaint is being made about the cutting of trees on the mountain side on the north of the town, on the long strip of woodland and mountain, belonging to the township of West Flamboro’ “

Hamilton Times.   January 21, 1915.

The face Niagara escarpment as it passed through the City of Hamilton had long since been denuded of trees, but such had not been the case in the nearby town of Dundas. In both Wentworth County communities, the escarpment was popularly known as “the mountain.”

In the case of Dundas, the “mountain” loomed directly over the core of the historic small town. Its beauty and natural features were readily accessible to residents and visitors as well:

“This land lies between the G. T. R. right-of-way and the mountain top, and is one of the beauty spots and resorts for the town’s people in the summertime.”¹

¹ “Destroying Beauty Spot : Fine Old Trees at Dundas Being Cut Down.”

Hamilton Times. January 21, 1914.

Perhaps it was simply the need for fuel in the cold winter months, especially for those hard hit by the economic downturn of the previous year and a half:

“The people consider it a shame to have these fine old trees destroyed. These trees have been cut down by Dundas people in need of firewood, and apparently without authority from the township.”1

Sydenham road, a steep road which ran along the face of the escarpment from the business district of the Valley Town to the top of the mountain, was the scene where an effect of the illegal tree chopping was evident:

“One of the trees fell right alongside of the Sydenham road and broke the wooden guard, leaving a dangerous spot for drivers. At another place, the road guard has been robbed of its planks, and there is not much protection for drivers.”

The Times urged authorities to interfere, lest some serious damage to travelers might result.

At the same time, the Sydenham road area was the location where municipal government officials had provided some work for the unemployed:

“”The town has reopened the stone pile under the brow of the Sydenham road, where a number of men are employed in changing the solid, compact fossiliferous dolomite into road metal by the hammer process.”¹

Nine days later, the Town of Dundas was again featured in an article in the Hamilton Times, again about conditions in the same vicinity as the previous article.

The second time did not deal with the loss of trees but to the influx of birds, despite the cold weather:

“A flock of several hundreds of beautiful Arctic buntings were noticed on the G.T. R. track yesterday. These birds usually come down from the north during the extreme cold spell as this cold weather is quite moderate for them. They remain for a week or perhaps a few days.

“Great flocks of purple finches are now feeding on the railway embankment on the weed seeds. This is about the only place that any such food is exposed. The adult males have brown-red and strawberry red colors, and are quite pretty.

“There has been a great gathering of crows this last few days. The Indians consider this a sign of warm weather coming. The likely explanation is that the heavy snow has stopped some food supplies, and the crows get nearer to town and railroads where many odd bits of corn and grain are dropped from the cars. The specimens near town seen near town are very fat and healthy-looking.”²

² “Winter Birds Are Numerous : Artic Buntings, Purple Finches and Many Crows : Nature Observers Interested in Their Movements.”

Hamilton Times. January 30, 1915.

 

 

1915-01-02ab

New Year’s Day, January 1, 1915 was a holiday for most Hamiltonians.

A Times reporter had been sent out to hunt up some news but found things to be very quiet:

“ The first day of 1915 passed off quietly in the city of Hamilton.

          “All day long, auto after auto could be seen conveying the electors to the polls, and on the downtown streets, knots of men could be heard discussing the elections and the bylaws, and conjecturing as to the outcome of the day’s voting.

          “Those who left the city went on the eve of the New Year and there were only a few belated travelers at the stations yesterday. The theatres were all well-attended, especially at night.

“The hotels being closed, few inebriates were to be seen upon the streets yesterday, and evidently the citizens of Hamilton chose to pass the holiday with due decorum.

“Quite a number of soldiers who obtained leave from the military camp in Toronto were noticed upon the streets with their friends, and this reminded many of the citizens that at the opening of the new year, the empire was plunged into the biggest war in the history of the world.”¹

¹ “Happy New Year : Day Was Quietly But Well Celebrated in Hamilton”

Hamilton Times.   January 2, 1914.

Over at the Hamilton Y.M.C.A., at James street south and Jackson street, the officials and the staff of the Y held a well-attended open house:

“Throughout the day, there were great activities in every branch, and a large number of interested friends and well-wishers were present to witness the exhibitions of the various games and exercises which have been instituted there for the benefit of the members.

“Special interest was centred in the physical department, and a large number were present to inspect the new ideas which have been introduced into that branch of the work since the new staff came into office.”²

² “Open Day at Y : New Year Events Proved Highly Entertaining”

Hamilton Times.    January 2, 1915.

An ongoing display of drills and exercises was put on for the benefit of visitors in the gymnasium. At four o’clock in the afternoon, Robert McBirnie, the swimming class instructor, aided by members of his swimming club, showed visitors their abilities in the Y’s large swimming pool. In the latter part of the afternoon, the ladies of the YMCA auxiliary served light refreshments in the parlor for visitors.

It was felt that the open house had been a decided success:

“Fully two hundred persons took advantage of the invitation to attend, and all through the day, the members, together with their relatives and friends, made tours of inspection through the building.

In the evening, a special programme of indoor team sports was held, including a basketball games, and an indoor baseball game:

“This year, the parents of the boys showed  great deal more interest in the work, and the means used to build up the boys, and the attendance was much larger than in former years.

“It is expected that the membership will be greatly increased, as all saw the excellent means used to develop the better part of the boy and young man.”²

Things remained quiet in downtown Hamilton. . Although it had been a municipal election day, there had been no untoward incidents :

“The absence of the ‘Black Maria’ also spoke well for the day, and the police did not appear to be overworked.

“In the evening, Mayor-Elect Walters, in an automobile, addressed the electors in different parts of the streets and was cheered to the echo wherever he appeared.

“The rinks were well-patronized.”¹

 

1915-01-01aa

The year, 1914, came to an end in the usual way in the city of Hamilton.

 Despite the tumultuous events in Europe which had caused so much death and destruction since the previous August, New Year’s eve, December 31, 1914, was the occasion of quiet reflection for many Hamiltonians, and an excuse for raucous celebrations for others.

Many of the leading churches in Hamilton held Watch Night services, including St. Giles’ on Main street east:

“St. Giles’ Presbyterian Church was filled to capacity at 11:15 Thursday evening to see the old year old and welcome the new year.

“Rev. J. B. Paulin led the ceremonies, and before commencing his sermon, the chimes rang out beautifully, ‘Abide With Me’ and ‘Nearer My God to Thee.

“Rev. Mr. Paulin pointed out that far greater and better things were in store for all during the coming year, and that the storehouse of God had future investments better than the past – ‘Forget the things past and reach forth for the things in front; reach forth for the prize.’

“A five-minute silent meditation followed, and then the chimes rang out loudly in the still of the night, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and “Oh, God, Our Help in Ages Past,’ and just before midnight, all lights in the church were dimmed, and suddenly the chimes tolled 12, and the lights all came on, showing the birth of the new year.

“The chimes then played the Oxford changes of the National Anthem, and all sang ‘God Save the King.”¹

¹ “At St. Giles’ : Impressive Watch Night Service Held There”

Hamilton Times.   January 1, 1915.

St. Giles’ was located in a predominately residential area in the east end of the city. In contrast, one of Hamilton’s oldest churches, Christ Church Cathedral, located in Hamilton’s central core on James Street North, held an impressive watch night service, while just outside the walls, James street north was filled with rowdy celebrants.

When the bells of Hamilton City Hall, located just a few blocks south of the cathedral rang out 12 strokes, indicating that the year 1915 had arrived, cheers rang out outside the cathedral, while inside it was a different scene:

“While the bells were ringing out the old year, the congregation joined in silent prayer, and shortly after the rector prayed for the success of the British arms in the present war.”²

² “At Cathedral : Prayers for Success of British Arms at Watch Night”

Hamilton Times.   January 1, 1915.

The reporter for the Hamilton Times began his account of New Year’s Eve, 1914 in Hamilton by quoting a poem:

“ ‘Ring out wild bells to the wild sky,

     The flying cloud, the frosty

  The year is dying in the night,

      Ring out wild bells and let it die.’” ¹

¹ “Noisy Entry : Year 1915 Ushered in With Usual Celebration”

Hamilton Times.   January 1, 1915.

The reporter then went on to summarize what he saw during New Year’s eve. 1914:

“The passing of the year 1914 in Hamilton would have given a philosopher food for retrospection in the way the citizens ushered in the new year.

“Some were for pleasure, others leaned to the more serious side, but in spite of all, a feeling for hopefulness in future prosperity predominated.

“The Savoy theatre, running a midnight show, starting shortly then ew year, was crowded to its capacity, and long before the curtain was scheduled to arise, the ‘S.R.O.’ sign, which is popular with all theatrical managers, had been hung out.

“The various rinks kept open until the new year, and some chose to pass the new year in the healthy Canadian exercise of skating.

“In many homes, the year was ushered in with dancing, and in some more quietly.

“Promptly at 12 o’clock, the whistles and bells sent out the message that another year was dawning. In various parts of the city, firecrackers were let off and people shouted and sang for joy as the new year with its possibilities and opportunities entered.

“Taken on the whole, the evening was noisy but, nevertheless, orderly as the police had no untoward proceedings to report.”¹

 

1914-12-03ss

In 1895, the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway company had built a line through Hamilton. Less than 10 years later, Hamiltonians were getting hostile to the railway because of the level crossings. Trains stopped at the passenger station on Hunter street east would block all traffic on busy thoroughfares such as James and John streets for considerable lengths of time.

In December 1914, conflict between the T. H. & B. railway and Hamiltonians arose as a result of repair work being done on a T .H. & B. bridge on Locke street south.

On December 3, 1914, the Spectator reported that work on the bridge caused prolonged inconvenience :

“The work started about three weeks ago, and is still far from complete, although it was expected it would only occupy a week. All street traffic on Locke street over the bridge is still blocked.

“It was pointed out this morning by one citizen that the G. T. R. bridge on James street north, was constructed without the least delay to traffic, ad that one street car track was always maintained.

           “ ‘Why is it that the T. H. & B. cannot work in a similar manner?’ he asks”¹

        ¹ “Object to Delay : Citizens Complain About Slow Work on Locke Street Bridge”

Hamilton Spectator.  December 3, 1914.

As of December 3, 1914 only one side of the new railway bridge had been completed, while work on the other side had barely begun. Materials and equipment for the side being worked on were piled on the completed side, thus continuing full blockage of traffic.

Citizens, fed up with the traffic blockage to that point, with the possibility that it could continue for another three weeks, took their complaints to Hamilton City Hall to little avail :

“ ‘The T. H. & B. has an order from the railway board to keep this bridge and roadway in repair,’ said Archie Kappele, secretary of the works department. ‘It is therefore at liberty to make such repairs whenever it sees fit, and there seems little chance on the part of the city to compel it to complete the work in any given time. It might be possible to compel the T. H. & B. to open the completed side of the bridge for traffic, and if there is evidence of continued delay, action may be taken along these lines.”¹

:

 

1914-12-05ts

It was a chance for the general public to get to know what was being done for the families of soldiers who had left Hamilton and Wentworth County to fight in the Great War.

On December 5, 1914, the Hamilton and Wentworth Patriotic society said that $199, 229.64 had been pledged to the society as of November 30, 1914.

Of the pledged amount, $76, 708.83 had actually been received and $16,297.06 had been distributed.

Beyond the numbers were a lot of wives, mothers, sisters and children of soldiers whose needs were being attended to by the society. Such was shown in the following extract of letter sent to the society:

“My husband is right in the thick of the fight, and in a letter to me he says that he feels more easy and can go into the battles with more vim since he knows that you are taking such good care of me and the children.”¹

          The officers of the Hamilton and Wentworth were heartened to receive such commendation and said that letters of that type were received regularly.

The Spectator enumerated just a partial overview of the good work done by the society :

“The society has spared no effort in seeing that the families and dependents of all men who left Hamilton and Wentworth county to serve their country are being looked after, and hundreds of dollars are distributed each month among the families which are entitled to it.

“The officers of the society have come across many pathetic cases, and since the first contingent left five people have been buried at the society’s expense.

“Nine wives and eleven children have had their passage paid to the British Isles, being the families of reservists who desired to return to friends in the old country”¹

¹ “Looking After Dependents : Patriotic Society Has Spent Over $16,000”

Hamilton Spectator.   December 5, 1914.

The following statement showed just how many men had left Hamilton or Wentworth County in the first few months of the war, as well as the number of dependents left behind:

        “Number of names on first contingent   …. 1002

Number of families receiving assistance ….  424

Total number of dependents receiving assistance, first contingent  … 1080

Number of names on second contingent …  589

Number of families receiving assistance, second contingent  … 159

         Total number dependents receiving assistance, second contingent … 467

         Total number of names, first and second contingent   … 1591

           Total number families first and second contingent  ….583

           Total number of dependants first and second contingent   …1547 

 

 

 

1914-12-04aa

"That it has been a common practice among the teachers of the Hamilton public schools to punishing pupils by washing their mouths out with soap was the statement of Chas. G. Booker, chairman of the internal management committee of the board of education.”

Hamilton Spectator.   December 4, 1914.

That such a practice was in effect was brought to light at a meeting of the internal management committee of the Hamilton Board of Education upon receipt of the following letter from Mr. David L. Matthews, father of a boy who was subjected to such disciple:

“I wish to place before you the case of my son, Albert Matthews, the pupil at the Picton street school who was ill-treated by his teacher, Miss Nunn, Thursday afternoon last.

“His mother received word that he had been so used and that the teacher was keeping him in school. She went to school and found the boy and the teacher in the class room. When she remonstrated with the teacher, she admitted that she had rubbed soap in his mouth and said she would do it again.

“The mother then threatened her should she ever do such a thing again, and Miss Nunn replied by saying, ‘Oh, no, you won’t, madam, for I have  the board of education at my back.’

“When Mrs. Matthews and myself called at the class room the following day, Miss Nunn told us we would have to see the principal, and then shut the door in our faces. Had she expressed regret, and promised not to do this thing again, we would have been contented to let the matter drop, but instead of this, Miss Nunn sent my wife a letter demanding an apology for having threatened her, a copy of which I herewith enclose.’ ” ¹

¹ “Soap Punishment Has Been Common : Chairman Booker So Says Regarding Incident.”

Hamilton Spectator.    December 4, 1914.

The letter from Miss Nunn read as follows:

“ Upon due reflection, I have decided that the course I pursued in order to cure your son of atrocious language was not the wisest. I take pleasure in assuring you that different means of punishment will be dealt him in future.

“Apparently you are ignorant of the fact that in Canada, we have a law whereby one person shall not threaten another, there fore it is only reasonable to expect that you, having violated this law, will make apology for your offense.”¹

Following the reading of these letters, Mr. William Simmons, who had attended  the meeting in company with Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, and their son Albert, rose and asked the committee if he could speak to them on behalf of the Matthews family” :

“ ‘Have you anything to say in connection with the Matthews case, but I have –‘

“ ‘Well, we cannot hear from you, so please sit down,’ said Chairman Booker, cutting Mr. Simmons short in his remarks.

“ ‘I think I have a right to address this board,’ replied Mr. Simmons.

“ ‘Well, we won’t listen to you, so please sit down,’ said Chairman Booker, and Mr. Simmons gave up the attempt to speak.

“ ‘I find on inquiry,’ said Chairman Booker, addressing Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, ‘that what was done to your child, has been done to many other school children, and that this kind of punishment has been quite the common thing among the teachers of the various schools.

“ ‘ I have discovered that my own daughter was one who was thus treated, and Charles Moran, the assistant city solicitor, informs me that when he was a pupil in Hamilton schools, he was also punished in this way.

“ ‘It is evident, therefore, that this style of punishment has been in vogue for some years. This case, however, will serve as a lesson and a warning to all teachers that in future such punishment will not be tolerated.

“In this case, Miss Nunn has expressed regret and I hope you will accept this as an end to the trouble and let the whole thing drop.

“On the other hand, we object to the language you, Mrs. Matthews, used to Miss Nunn, when you told her that if she ever did this kind of thing again, you would put manure in her mouth, and I think she had a right to demand an apology from you for this statement.

“We must maintain discipline in our schools. We regret the incident and I don’t think such a thing will ever occur in Hamilton schools again. I believe in corporal punishment, properly administered, but some of our teachers have not been complying with the regulation which requires them to report to the board every instance in which corporal punishment is used.

“Some of them regard hand whipping as not in this class, but it is, and in future, all teachers will be required to report to this board every case in which they find it necessary to inflict corporal punishment.’ ”¹

At this point, Mrs. Matthews was allowed to speak:

“ ‘I did say that to Miss Nunn, but I will certainly make no apology. If this is not demanded, I am will to let the case drop, on your explanation, and we will say not more about it.’ ”

In reply to Mrs. Matthews, Chairman Booker wrapped up the matter as follows:

“ ‘ I thank you, Mrs. Matthews, and I can assure you that the case of your boy will be a benefit to the whole city, as it will put a stop to this means of punishment.’ ”