1918-11-09 HumanFly

“Barney Bergen, business manager for Harry H. Gardiner, the Human Fly, arrived in the city this morning and is busy today completing arrangements for Mr. Gardiner to climb the bank of Hamilton building at 12:30 o’clock Monday afternoon next.”¹

¹ Hamilton Herald.    November 09, 1918.

The strategy of the leaders of the Victory Loan campaign, in getting as many Hamiltonians as possible to subscribe, was to gather as many people as possible in one place. When that happened, Victory Loan could meet and hopefully convince as many citizens as possible to loan money to the federal government, with the commitment of the government to later repay those moneys with a handsome return.

To that end, it was decided to bring to Hamilton, Mr. Harry Gardiner, better known internationally as The Human Fly. Two days in advance of the Human Fly’s arrival in Hamilton, his manager arrived and made the rounds of the local newspaper offices for promotion purposes.

The Hamilton Herald carried the following account of the meeting with the Human Fly’s manager :

“In conversation with a Herald reporter, Mr. Bergen said Mr. Gardiner, during the past thirteen years, had successfully climbed seven hundred high buildings, throughout Europe and the United States. He commenced his ‘Human Fly’ act thirteen years by climbing the Flat Iron building in New York. With one exception, he has never had an accident. This was while climbing a building in the southern States, when he had a fall which laid him up for a few years.”¹

¹ “The Human Fly”

Hamilton Herald.    November 09, 1918.

The appearance of the Human Fly at the site of the Bank of Hamilton, King and James streets, had already been firmly scheduled for 12:30 p.m., November 11, 1918, before it was known that the date selected would be the one when it was confirmed that an armistice to end the Great War had been signed.

Wild celebrations had been underway since way before dawn on Monday, November 11, 1918. Also Hamilton Mayor Booker had declared the day to be a public holiday. For the Victory Loan people, it was a stroke of good fortune as the number of people capable of being present to witness the stunt of climbing the Bank of Hamilton building.

The Spectator published on November 12, 1918, carried the following vivid account of how the Human Fly carried off his stunt :

 “The most sensational stunt in connection with the Victory loan campaign, and one of the most nerve-wracking free exhibitions ever given in this city, was given by Harry Gardiner, the American Human Fly, at noon yesterday, on the walls of the Bank of Hamilton, in the presence of thousands of spectators. Mr. Gardiner climbed the wall from bottom to top, and when he reached the cornice, he swung out from the building supported by one hand only. He finally pulled himself on to the roof and disappeared from view. His daring act was freely applauded by thousands, although many held their breath at times. One woman in the gathering fainted and required medical attention.

“On his way up the wall, Gardiner addressed the crowd on Victory bonds, urging his hearers to do their utmost for the boys who fought for the world’s freedom. Bond salesmen passed through the crowd, and not a few persons subscribed.

“In an interview, Gardiner stated that his performance was not all due to strength in his hands and arms. ‘It is 60 % physical, and 40% mental,’ said the Human Fly, who has scaled the walls of over 400 of the highest buildings in the United States. The only fall he ever had was from the state capitol building of Carolina when, on a slippery day, he fell 51 feet, sustaining broken ribs and a smashed nose from which he carries the scar yet. Two months later, he made the climb where he fell.

“Gardiner’s home is in Washington. He left the city in the afternoon.”²

² “Held Their Breath : While Human Fly Climbed the Bank of Hamilton Walls”

Hamilton Spectator.    November 12, 1918.