Spanish Influenza - Hamilton Ontario 1918 Part 20

They were referred to generically as ‘distress cases’ and there certainly were an overwhelming number of ‘distress cases’ in Hamilton as the month of October, 1918 was drawing to a close.

Behind the statistics, each number representing a human tragedy. It was impossible for the City of Hamilton’s Relief Officer to attend to every reported case of distress in the city caused by the flu :

“Through lack of nurses, there has been much real suffering in the city, not only with sick persons, but with nurses and attendants that are on active service for the board of health. Yesterday noon, Relief Officer McMenemy was called into a house in the rear of 103 Caroline street north, where a nurse and two little colored children, who were ill, had been without hot food for over 24 hours. The officer sent in a hurry call to the I.O.D.E. diet kitchen, and hot soup, etc., were soon received. As the nurse was played out through long service, the officer arranged for the removal of the children to St. Joseph’s hospital, the mother superior very kindly offering to make room in the already crowded institution. The children were removed in the ambulance. In this house, the nurse closed up the house and adults were removed early last week. The man, whose name is Jones, is in the hospital now, and the woman died in the emergency hospital. Till they were removed, they were cared for by members of the Jewish mission on Hess street. A nurse was placed in charge of the children when the adults were taken away. The little colored children are about a year old and nothing is known by the relief officer as to their parents, although he was told that one was a child of the woman who died.”¹

¹“Hospitals Are Crowded With Flu Patients : And There is a Crying Need for More Nurses : Many Cases of Distress Reported to Authorities : 17 Deaths Registered Here Since Saturday.”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 28, 1918.

Two days after the above-quoted article appeared in the Spectator, an article appeared in the same newspaper concerning the City Relief Officer:

 “These are troublesome times for Relief Officer McMenemy, whose duties have greatly increased through the influenza epidemic. He has been working night and day lately, co-operating with the board of health, Sisters of Service and other local organizations which are working to relieve distress. To add to his troubles, a letter appeared in last night’s Spectator, signed by a subscriber, which accused his department of feeding a poor widow and children on oatmeal last winter. Mr. McMenemy expressed regret that the writer hadn’t taken steps to ascertain the facts before rushing into print with misleading statements. He says that the department doesn’t hand out or issue orders for oatmeal for any citizens in need of assistance, as the rule is to give an order good on any grocery in the city for $2 worth of provisions. These orders are issued by him as frequently as the needs of the case warrant, and as many as four orders a week have been issued to homes where the family was large.

“The order to the grocer reads as follows:

‘Nothing must be given on this order except the following articles : Flour, potatoes, sugar, bread, tea, meat, fish, peas, oil, matches, baking powder, salt molasses, cabbage, turnips.’

“To collect on the order, the grocer must sign this certificate:

‘I hereby certify that no liquor, tobacco, nor anything except the quantities of goods stated in the above list of articles has been furnished on this order.”²

² An Explanation : Relief Officer Tells How Orders Are Issued in Distress Cases”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 30, 1918.