1918-11-05CitizenRecognition

There were many Hamiltonians who contributed to the community effort to combat the Spanish influenza. Nearly everyone who did so were anonymous contributors, but November 5, 1918, the Hamilton Herald chose to recognize two men.

The first was Dr. Thomas Balfe:

“An esteemed citizen and well-known medical man died this morning in the person of Dr. Thomas Hugh Balfe at his home on North James street. The doctor’s death, which will come as a personal grief to a large number of friends and acquaintances in medical and other circles, was the result of an attack of Spanish influenza, which developed into double pneumonia. He died at 11:30 this morning, after a short illness. With other members of the medical profession, Dr. Balfe had devoted himself too strenuously to the work of fighting the epidemic, and when he was attacked himself had too little strength with which to combat the disease. He was attended by Dr. Bauer and Dr. Elliot, of Toronto.

“Born 47 years ago near Smith Falls, Ontario, Dr. Balfe was the son of a well-known farmer of that district. In 1892, he graduated from Queen’s university, Kingston, and after taking a postgraduate course in New York, came to this city where he has practiced ever since. He had an extensive practice and was very highly thought of in local medical circles. Dr. Balfe was a large-hearted, and his genial kindliness had gained him a large number of close friends. In an unobtrusive way, he was the means of affecting much good will and his memory is one which will be revered by many. He leaves to mourn his death his widow Florence C., youngest daughter of J.W. Jones, of this city; five children, Hugh, Margaret, Helen, John and Florence; his mother and father of Smith Falls; a brother, Michael, of Smith Falls, and four sisters Mrs. Edgar Cotterell, of New York, Mrs. J.C. Cook, Fort William, Ont., Mrs. J. Devanna, Chrysler, Ont., and Miss Gertrude, graduate nurse, Superintendent of Beacon hospital, New York.”¹

“Dr. Balfe Died After Attack of Influenza : He Contracted Disease While Helping as Physician : Was Well-Known Here : He Had Practiced in This City for Nearly Twenty-Five Years”

Hamilton Herald.   November 05, 1918.

The second was Major H.D. Storms who was in charge of the military hospital:

 “Unlike the Base hospital at Toronto, the local military here has never had an adverse word said about its administration during the worst part of the present epidemic. Military and medical men state that, thanks to the work of Major H.D. Storms, M.C., commandant, the situation at no time got out of hand. The men received the best of attention, and every possible preparation was taken against the development of the epidemic. In consequence, though a few deaths occurred, the mortality at the local hospital was very low. When the influenza epidemic first broke out among the troops at the Westinghouse, the cases began to pour into the local military hospital with alarming rapidity. Seeing that room must be supplied, Major Storms anticipated the situation. He commandeered some of the C.O.R. buildings for hospital accommodation, then wrote for authority afterwards, thus getting the best of official red tape. By his administrative skill, he saved the lives of many, and medical men throughout the city speak in glowing terms of his forethought and administration.”²

² “ ‘Flu’ and Red Tape : Major Storms, M.C., Worsted Two Desperate Enemies”

Hamilton Herald.   November 05, 1918.

  

1918-10-29 Sisters of Service Complimented

As the days rolled on with only a few signs here and there that the influenza epidemic might be easing, the work in the basement continued as did the work of delivering the results of that work to homes all over the city.

The Sisters of Service Diet kitchen, organized by the Hamilton branches of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (I.O.D.E.) was a very busy place, and the spirits of the volunteers were surely buoyed by the following article which appeared in the Hamilton Herald on October 29, 1918 :

 “The work of the Sisters of Service in the diet kitchen is at its height. In the hour of greatest need, Lieut.-Col. A.F. Hatch walked in and handed over a check for ten hundred and thirty-five dollars, representing the contributions of a group of public-spirited men of the city. Special mention must be made, too, of the support of St. Mary’s Benevolent society, whose ladies have nobly aided the I.O.D.E. in this department of service.

“The head of a home on Leeming street, which influenza had invaded, wrote the following, which is illustrative of a general feeling among those helped in the hour of need :

 “ ‘My dear Sisters of Service : For that name you so richly deserve, is the thought of one husband whose home is afflicted with this deadly epidemic – wife and three children all lying down with same. God has spared me so far from taking it, and I trust that He will keep it from me. For seven consecutive days and nights, I had no rest , the cries of the mother (now in hospital) and children kept me busy looking after them, making it impossible to cook for them. And this is where the I.O.D.E. came in with its Christian work. The sustaining food that you sent to our home, and the delicacies, made it much easier for us. Not for its monetary value, but for the beneficial effects it had on the patients, and the keeping up of my strength during bedless nights. I dare say hundreds that are getting their fair share of these good things will never forget the kindness of the chapters for the blessed work you are doing to help the afflicted – for the rich have benefitted as well as the poor. May your good work go on in the future as in the past. May those who shared never forget to bestow a little to help any good work which you may offer to give service.’ ” ¹

¹ “ Diet Kitchen : Many Contributions Received by Sisters of Service”

Hamilton Herald.   November 02, 1918.

1918-11-02 Editorial

On November 2, 1918, the Hamilton Herald’s afternoon edition carried extensive coverage of the morning’s events regarding the Victory Loan campaign.

The biggest draw for Hamiltonians in the morning was the appearance of the tank, Britannia, which only weeks before had been involved in combat in France. The tank, referred to as a ‘Hun Chaser’ in the Herald literally demolished a railway box car had been set up in Gore Park.

Although the Spanish Influenza epidemic was still in full force, and although the Hamilton Board of Health was strongly against any public gatherings because of fears of spreading the disease even more quickly, the need to attract crowds was important for the Victory Loan campaigners. The idea was that canvassers could readily approach more people, more easily, if there was a crowd gathered..

The afternoon edition of the Hamilton Herald carried the following editorial :

“This is a red letter day in Hamilton. With the tank the outstanding feature of a day’s program crowded with attractions, citizens are not likely to forget the first Saturday of the Victory loan campaign. This tank – the Britannia – has been in many a gory fight, and we have been given the chance to see exactly how these wonderful  implements of modern warfare negotiate and remove all obstructions from their path. The military procession this afternoon and the big auto parade tonight make up an eventful day, which should mean greatly increased business for the canvassers.

“Yesterday a slight note of discouragement was struck. Certain householders visited by the canvassers did not respond as they should to call of patriotism and duty. Unworthy suspicions and lame excuses were advanced as a cloak for their narrow-minded selfishness. Such a spirit is astonishing at this late day. To argue that money is no longer needed now that victory is in sight is to misunderstand, fatally, the actual position of affairs. It should be obvious to all that the demand for money will be most urgent, even when peace does come, for the purposes of demobilization and reconstruction. Peace will rather accentuate the need of money. Sir Thomas White, the minister of finance, has made this clear. ‘The allies,’ he said, ‘including Canada, will necessarily be on a war basis, so far as expenditure is concerned, for a considerable period after the close of the war. It will take many months to effect demobilization. All the money that we are asking will therefore be required.’ ”¹

¹ “Victory Loan Day”

Herald editorial

Hamilton Herald.    November 04, 1918.