1918-11-07dd

It was news that had been longed for since the summer of 1914. After four bitter, nightmarish years of warfare, it was announced that the world-wide conflict was over.

A large number of Hamiltonians felt that November 7, 1918 would long be remembered as the day that peace had be declared. Mass celebrations broke out spontaneously all over the city.

The Herald reported its afternoon edition the following :

“The news that Germany had surrendered and that peace had come caused a tremendous sensation in the city about noon today. The report seemed like an electric spark that touched the entire city.

“Within a few minutes after the first unofficial word came, the Herald office telephones began to ring as though every person in the city had heard the glad tidings. Never on any occasion did new spread so fast, and never were so many enquiries made in so brief a time

“As soon as the announcement was bulletined in the Herald windows, auto horns began to toot and everything that would make a noise was put into operation.

“An incident in the Herald office about 1 o’clock, typified the general feeling.

“An excited lady entered the editorial room.

“‘Is it true the war is over?’ she asked.

“She was informed that there was a rumor to that effect.

“ ‘Thank God!’ she exclaimed. ‘I have a son over there. Oh, it’s good to know that I shall see them again. I’ve prayed for nine months that this war would end, and that God would spare him. Thank God.’ ”¹

¹ “How Hamilton Cut Loose : Big Celebration When Rumored End of the War Was Announced.”

Hamilton Herald.   November 7, 1918.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m., the Herald issued a special edition of the paper repeating the end of war rumor. An impromptu procession was formed. Headed by a band playing stirring patriotic airs, the parade proceeded through the downtown streets.

The operators of the Bell Telephone Company were overwhelmed, so much so that a manger with the company sought out the Herald to make an explanation to the phone company’s subscribers :

“He stated that shortly after the first report of peace, the office was inundated with calls, and never in the history of the local office were the operators so rushed.

“ ‘We simply could not answer all calls,’ he said. ‘I never knew anything like it. This explanation is due our subscribers, and we think they will understand the situation and excuse what might have seemed poor service.’”¹

That special afternoon of the Herald contained the following editorial:

“Shortly after noon today, a ‘flash’ came that the terms of the armistice had been accepted by the German military commission, that the armistice had been signed, and that hostilities would cease at 2 p.m.

“This report has not been officially confirmed up to the time of writing – 1:30 p.m. It may not be true; but if not true, we believe it is only anticipatory of the truth. Germany is not in a condition to prolong resistance. If peace has not already come, it is near.”²

² “Peace?”

Hamilton Herald.  November 7, 1918.

The next day, the Herald contained the following description of the celebrations that the “news’ of peace had provoked:

“Hamilton has had some great  celebrations in the past, but never was there an outburst such as that of yesterday, when it was falsely reported that an armistice had been signed with Germany. The news, like fire in the heather, spread over the city almost instantly, and great crowds assembled in the center of the city and let loose the feelings that had been suppressed during four years of war and all its horrors.

“All Hamilton joined in one shout of joy. Indeed, the huge crowd seemed almost delirious. Statements that the news was not confirmed, as published by the Herald, were disregarded. The people would not believe them. Huge as were the crowds in the afternoon, they were small compared with those on the streets at night, and the din they made would ‘deave the miller.’

“Parades were formed in all places and made for the central streets, which were carpeted with paper and confetti, all mashed to a paste in the muck that was caused by the light rain.

“Conspicuous in the parade was a float representing the Spectator. That paper announced in the afternoon that the news was official, and the United Press Service, which furnished the false information to it, boasted of its great ‘scoop’ over its rival, the reliable Associated Press.” ³

³  Spectator ‘Scoop’ Proved to Be Hoax : Its Boastful Announcement That It Was Officially Reported That Armistice Had Been Signed Turned Out to Be False : A.P. Service To Be Relied On : Herald Published Official Denials of Report, and In Its Windows Bulletined All the Real News After Press Time.”

Hamilton Herald.  November 8, 1918.

The Herald maintained that it had not claimed that the war was over:

“”The Associated Press dispatches, published in the Herald, announced definitely that the armistice had not been signed, but people were so delirious with joy that they had no thought of reading carefully what was published in these dispatches and bulletined in the Herald office windows till ate in the evening.

“Then some began to reflect, and realized that the United Press’ great ‘scoop’ was a cruel hoax, and they did not hesitate to say it. Many went disappointed away from the Herald office to their homes.”³

While the Herald did acknowledge that the Spectator’s source of the ‘scoop’ was an inaccurate dispatch originating in the office of the United Press service, it was less forgiving about subsequent actions taken by the Spectator:

“The Spectator’s float in the procession, in spite of the denials by the Associated Press, continued to spread the false report all night. A large painted streamer on either side of it read : ‘Peace News Was Spectator Scoop.’

“As the evening wore on, hundreds of people, both through the Herald office telephones and its bulletins, were made aware of the facts, and the greatest jubilation ever known here pretty well died out by 11 o’clock.”³

Although the celebrations that had occurred throughout the afternoon and evening had been initiated by faulty information, they were nonetheless very memorable:

“When the bells and whistles throughout the city joined in the peace announcement, a foreigner who was engaged in some excavating work at the Steel Company of Canada works, thinking that the big noise was part of the Victory Loan campaign, turned to some fellow workmen, remarking : ‘That’s all right, I buy Victory bond. Me no stop work.’ A few minutes later it was announced that the bells and whistles were announcing the conclusion of the war. The foreigner immediately threw down his shovel, tossed his cap high in the air, and with a cry of joy rushed away in the direction of his home, shouting ‘the war is over,’ and up to this morning had not returned to his job.

“To add to the pleasure of many merry makers, yesterday afternoon, Tasker’s contributed about eight dozen hats, of the 1780 vintage, to the large numbers who had gathered in front of the Herald office and his store, located directly opposite. The donation caused many laughs and much pleasure to the pleasure-hungry crowds.

“A couple of returned soldiers complained to the proprietor of a North James street fruit store because he continued to keep his place of business open, while the big jubilee was in progress yesterday afternoon. An argument followed, which resulted in a free-for-all fight and the smashing of the fruit store window.

Hamilton’s hive of industry, which has been preparing munitions of war, as well as all her other busy places, poured their thousands forth on the streets yesterday afternoon, when the unofficial announcement  of the truce was announced and swarmed all afternoon along the public places, giving full vent to the emotion they had suppressed all through the war.

“Employees from all the large companies turned out in force, and bearing flags, tin horns and confetti immediately proceeded to the center of the city. One parade met another until King and James streets presented a scene unprecedented in the city’s history. Passing automobiles were speedily loaded down with young lads, all returned soldiers who were enjoying the news were invited to ride, and from noon until eve the crowds passed and repassed with a never slackening in the enthusiasm, even when later bulletins did not vouch for the truth of the armistice. ”³

The corner of King and James streets was a focus for the celebrations, and the Herald office was on King street, only a short distance west of the James street intersection:

“That nothing should be missing in the celebration, the band of the 91^st Highlanders, headed by Lieut. Harry Stares, appeared on the scene and played patriotic music outside the Herald’s windows. The crowd, with the exception of a few foreigners, who evidently did not join in the celebration, uncovered their heads and sang ‘O Canada’ and the ‘Maple Leaf Forever’ followed, which were sung on mass by several thousand people. A returned soldier led the singing of ‘Blighty.’

“The street cars ran spasmodically. The traffic regulation most of the afternoon was demoralized. The crowd was orderly, though enthusiastic, and there were no unpleasant occurrences.”³

The afternoon celebrations were spontaneous and free-flowing, but by the time evening had arrived things were more organized:

“The notice that a parade would be held, starting from the Market Square at 7 o’clock, had all Hamilton moving in that direction before that hour. The central streets were filled from curb to curb with traffic, afoot and awheel, and the night’s doings commenced at once.

“Special traffic officers were appointed by Chief Whatley to direct the movements of the vehicles and the marching crowds, and out of seeming disorder preserved order. They could not, however, keep open the street railway lines in the center of the city.

“There were bands of all kinds, but principally those composed of tin pans beaten with sticks. The bands of the 91^st Highlanders and the 13^th Royal regiment turned out. The 91^st band mounted a stand in Gore park, and played patriotic airs under the direction of H. A. Stares, who also led the community singing in which the thousands there joined with vigor.

“A number of attractively decorated autos were in the great parade, and the streets were ablaze with bright-hued flags of all the allied nations. Fireworks added to the brilliance of the scene, as thousands of rockets and Roman candles flashed into the night.

“The crowd was all good-humored. There was a good deal of pushing and jostling, but it was under the spirit of joy. Some young men thoughtlessly produced ticklers and pushed them into the faces of the crowd, heedless of the danger they ran of spreading influenza among the people. The police were on the alert for these germ carriers and took a number from those who carried them.

“ A German woman of considerable proportions came very near to creating a riot while the big parade was in progress last night. The woman took up a prominent position near the corner of King and Macnab streets, as the parade passed she shook her fists at the occupants of the floats, at the same time calling them ‘dirty English.’ A couple of women who were standing near the Kaiser admirer grabbed her, and before the angry German woman was released from her captors, she was missing several hanks of hair. The last seen of the German woman  she was beating it toward the mountain closely followed by a crowd of boys who were hooting and jeering her.”³

Although when Hamiltonians settled down after the afternoon and evening celebrations and realized that the war was, sadly still in progress, there was still a feeling of thankful anticipation that the end was near.

1918-11-02

“The special features arranged for tomorrow by the Victory loan publicity committee may well be classed as ‘two in one.’ While designed for the purpose of creating additional interest in the Victory loan campaign, it will also provide a fitting opportunity for celebrating the recent big military successes. With two such big objects in view, there is every reason to expect that tomorrow will be a day of exceptional interest in this city, and that Citizens, generally speaking, will turn out in great numbers to witness the parade and other special attractions which will be put on during the day.”

Hamilton Herald.  November 1, 1918.

As October turned into November in 1918, Hamiltonians, along with many other citizens in the world, were swirling with many conflicting emotions. There was hopeful anticipation that the Great War seemed to be winding down, although the pain of so many fatalities, not to mention even more seriously incapacitated young men tempered unfettered  joy.

In Canada, the stupendous debt rung up to fight the war was crippling. An ambitious Victory Loan campaign had been launched, whereby individuals and companies would be approached to purchase bonds, essentially loaning money to the government to cover the expenses incurred and still be incurred by the war effort. Although there were many patriotic citizens fully prepared to step up and contribute to the campaign, that enthusiasm was mixed with donor fatigue as it was hardly the first time that people had been targeted for cash donations for the war effort.

Finally, Hamilton, as was the case throughout the world, was suffering the effects of the so-called “Spanish” influenza epidemic which was causing health hardships, and deaths, on an unprecedented scale. While it was not the case in many cities across Canada, the Hamilton Board of Health, in an effort to contain the spread of the ‘flu’ had ordered a ban on public gatherings, both outdoor gatherings, and indoors gatherings such as schools, churches, theatres etc.

The federal government was heavily counting on the funds to be raised in the Victory Loan campaign. The ban on public gatherings in Hamilton would impair the ability to attract large numbers of citizens in one place, where they could be approached to purchase or pledge to buy Victory bonds.

Members of the Hamilton Victory Loan committee had repeatedly lobbied the Hamilton Board of Health to lift its ban, to no avail. Even a wire from the federal government’s Finance Minister to the chairman of the Hamilton Board of Health, urging a lift of the ban was not acted upon. The ban would remain in place.

Despite the ban, it was decided that the plans of the local Victory Loan campaign committee for Saturday, November 2, 1918 would proceed nevertheless .

The focus of that day would involve the display of a tank, the Britannia, which had used in battle at the Somme, plus three major street parades. The Hamilton Herald alerted its readers to the details of the proposed events as follows :

TANK PARADE

“At 10 o’clock a.m., the British tank ‘Britannia,’ which has done active service in France and is accompanied on its tour of Canadian cities by Captain Haigh, M.C., and a crew of eight men who operated it on the field of battle, will leave committee headquarters, West King street, and proceed direct to city hall. Here a brief stop will be made while addresses are given by Mayor Booker and other civic representatives. It will then proceed north along James street to Cannon, east on Cannon to Wentworth, arriving at the corner of Wentworth and Cannon streets about 11:30 a.m. It will then proceed north on Wentworth street to Barton, then to the Scott property, reaching the latter point about 12:15 p.m., where it will give a demonstration of maneuvering and demolishing a barricade which will be erected especially for this purpose. The tank will then return to Gore park, where it will remain on exhibition till 2:30 p.m., when it will join in the afternoon military parade.

                   AFTERNOON PARADE

“The afternoon military parade, which promises to be of exceptional interest, will leave the committee headquarters at 3 o’clock, the line of parade being as follows : Main to James, south on James to Herkimer, west on Herkimer to Bay, north on Bay to Main, east on Main to Walnut, north on Walnut to King. On arrival of the parade at the corner of Walnut and King, the tank will again demonstrate its fighting force by smashing through a big barrier, which will be erected at that point. The order of procession will be as follows : C.O.R. band, Lieut.-Col. Hendrie, Great War Veterans, tank ‘Britannia,’ Canadian railway troops, gun carriage, coffin containing effigy of Kaiser Bill, Lieut.-Col. Davey and Red Cross unit, Lieut. Leish, C.A.S.C.

                   EVENING PARADE

“The automobile parade, which will leave Gage avenue, where it forms at 7:30 p.m., will be one of the largest auto parades ever seen in Hamilton. Two prizes of $50 are being given for the best decorated automobiles, and this, it is expected, will tend to stimulate auto owners to special effort. The line of parade will be as follows : Gage to Main, to Locke, to Stanley, to Queen, to Herkimer, to Bay, to Barton, to James, to Cannon, to John, to King, to Wellington, to Barton, to Ottawa, to King, to Macnab, to York, to Strathcona, to Victoria park, to King, to Gore park, where it will be disbanded. The prize judges are: George C. Coppley, H. L. Frost and L. R. Green.”¹

¹ “British Tank Will Be Here in the Morning : It Will Leave Headquarters at 10 o’clock for City Hall : Three Processions Tomorrow Will Be Great Campaign Features”

Hamilton Herald.    November 02, 1918.

In the early afternoon of November 2, 1918, the early edition of the Hamilton Herald carried an account of the events of that morning :

“The citizens of Hamilton, especially the juvenile population, will long remember Saturday, November 2, 1918, as the date when they had the first opportunity of seeing a real, active service British war tank. From the moment of the arrival of the tank “Britannia’ at the Forest avenue freight yards of the T.H.&B. early this morning till the conclusion of the exhibition parade, hundreds of citizens followed its movements.

“Owing to a breakdown of the machinery, there was considerable delay in getting the tank to committee headquarters, West King street, from where the morning parade started. For several hours prior to the start of the parade, King and James streets were lined with thousands of men, women and children, all waiting anxiously for the first glimpse of the big Hun chaser. When it did make its appearance shortly before noon, there was a great cheer from the assembled crowds. The parade was headed by a band from the Railway Construction battalion. After leaving committee headquarters, the parade proceeded to the city hall, where an address of welcome was given Capt. Haigh, M.C., and his valiant crew by Mayor Booker.. Capt. Haigh replied briefly to the mayor’s address, and immediately bond sellers went among the big crowd and sold Victory bonds. They did a good business. The parade then proceeded on James street to Wentworth, thence to Barton, to the Scott property, where a large barricade was quickly demolished by the tank. During the progress of the parade, seven airplanes from the Beamsville aviation camp, in regular battle formation, flew over the city.”²

²  “Big Hun Chaser Was Viewed By Great Crowds: The ‘Britannia,’ Which Fought at Somme, a Grim-Looking Warrior : Airplanes in Battle Formation Over City Were Another Feature”

Hamilton Herald.    November 02, 1918

Just before the morning parade, after the tank and crew had arrived at the King Street West headquarters of the Victory Loan Campaign, members of the Hamilton press had an opportunity to interview Captain Haigh:

 “Captain Haigh, who is a young man of about 28 years, immediately after his arrival at committee headquarters, kindly granted, kindly granted a brief interview to representatives of the local press.

“ ‘The tank ‘Britannia’ with a crew of six men, took part in three attacks at Arras in April, 1917,’ said Captain Haigh. ‘During those  engagements we captured for machine gun emplacements, successfully repulsed four German counterattacks, and captured 393 prisoners. On this occasion we had 56 hours’ continued service, and during the engagement lost two of our crew, who were picked off by German infantry when they left the inner portion of the tank to look after some required outer repairs. There are two types of tank, male and female. The former carries a crew of one officer and seven men, and the latter one officer and six men. The ‘Britannia’ is of the female type and carries six machine guns, It is a mistaken idea among many that tanks are immune from shell fire. Any direct shot will put a tank out of business. The ‘Britannia’ carries 30,000 rounds of ammunition. We landed in New York on October 23, 1917, and have given demonstrations with the tank in the United States and Canada since that time. Hamilton is the last place in which it will be exhibited being turned over to the military authorities of the United States, in which country it will be used in training camp work. Tank service is not the most pleasant occupation in the world, but it is far nicer than going over the top on foot. I will leave with my men next week for England and hope to be back in France for the finish of the war.’

“When asked what he thought of Canada, Captain Haigh said it was just like coming home, and that he had thoroughly enjoyed his visit to this country and the United States.

“ ‘They are two wonderful countries,’ said Captain Haigh.

“Asked if it was correct that he is a relative of Field Marshall Haig, as has been stated, Captain Haigh said he was sorry to say he was not.

“ ‘My name is spelled with an ‘H’ on the end of it. I wish it was H-a-i-g,’ said the gallant officer laughingly.”²

          The events of the afternoon of Saturday November 2, 1918, the parade and the demonstration in Gore Park would be attract the largest crowds in Hamilton’s history :

          “The afternoon parade, which started from committee headquarters, West King street, was headed by a band of the Railway construction battalion. This was followed by a number of the members of the G.W.V.A. and returned soldiers on foot and in automobiles. Then came the tank ‘Britannia’ in charge of Captain Haigh, M.C., and his crew of veterans, all of whom served on the famous tank in France. This was followed by six returned men carrying a large Union Jack; a gun carriage containing a coffin to indicate the death of kaiserism; a number of soldiers from the east end barracks; a float containing a wounded soldier; a Red Cross float showing nurses giving first aid to the wounded; and a mechanical float containing a number of things made by returned soldiers.

                   SOLD BONDS

“The parade went from committee headquarters to Main street, thence to James and south to Herkimer, west on Herkimer to Bay, north on Bay to Main, east on Main to Walnut, north on Walnut to King, west on King to James, where it disbanded.

“Judging from the densely packed condition of the uptown streets, especially King street between John and James, about the only people who missed seeing the military parade in the afternoon were those who, because of illness or old age, were unable to leave their homes. Long before the commencement of the parade, the streets were so densely packed with men, women and children that businesses in the uptown district was practically at a standstill, and despite the strenuous efforts of the police and military several women and children were more or less injured by being caught in the great crush of humanity. On King street between John and James, it was estimated that 30,000 people were assembled. Additional to this big jam, the roofs of King street within this area were also packed with men and women, many of the latter, in order to reach these special points of observation, being forced to ascend and descend by means of outer wall fire escapes and rickety wooden ladders. Several men and boys, regardless of the danger incurred, sought positions on top of chimneys and electrical advertising signs. Street car traffic was completely tied up for over two hours because of the inability of the motormen to drive their cars through the great crowds on King street. A woman, despite the pleadings of her friends not to do so, climbed to the roof of the Provident Loan building and sought a good point of conversation by crawling through a small opening in the front fire wall to a narrow ledge fifty feet or more above the street, where she remained for two hours or more, apparently enjoying the futile efforts of the police to keep the big crowd on the streets in position. Another women with a young baby in her arms succeeded in reaching the roof of the same building using the fire escape.

“ ‘This certainly puts a crimp in the order of the medical health department that no public gathering of 25 or more people be allowed because of the influenza epidemic,’ remarked a man as he looked down on the seething mass of humanity from the top of a King street building.”³

³ “Dense Crowds Witnessed the Tank at Work : Orders of Health Department Forgotten in Excitement : Largest Gathering Seen Here in Years”

Hamilton Herald.    November 04, 1918.

The demonstration in the Gore Park area was described in the Spectator in the following manner:

“When the parade reached King and John streets, the tank was halted and for two hours Victory bond salesman got in some good work. Hundreds of applications were signed. So dense was the crowd that street car traffic was completely tied up for several hours.

“There had been three obstructions prepared for the tank, which was under the direction of Captain Haigh and seven veterans. The crew all served in France. The first two obstructions were merely railroad ties, with wire webbing. The tank went through, or, rather, over them as though was in the way.

“The third and real obstruction was an old box car that had been stretched across King between Gore park extension and the sidewalk. Britannia required three smashes at the old car before it went through, and on the third attempt, when really underway, the trip was as determinably made as though the old warrior were crossing a German trench or going through a shell hole.”⁴

⁴ “First Week Brought Nearly Half Amount : Canadian Westinghouse Company Subscribed for $750,000 : Tank Demonstration, Military and Auto Processions Attracted Large Crowds”

Hamilton Spectator.    November 04, 1918.

The third and final event of the day was another parade :

“The evening parade was just as successful as was that of a year ago, when hundreds of decorated automobiles were out. Many of the cars were very prettily decorated. The majority had been arranged with advertising posters only, but many car owners were out after the two prizes. The parade passed through every district of the city, and thousands of people watched it and received renewed enthusiasm for the Victory loan as a result.

“ Following the parade, the judges, through the chairman, George C. Coppley, announced the prize winners to be Capt. Storms of the military hospital, with an appropriately decorated Red Cross ambulance; and the Popular Priced Electricians, 203 King street east. This car was decorated with great originality and most artistically, and represented Uncle Sam and the allies. Flags and Victory loan posters were lavishly used, while the costumes were such as to evoke applause all along the route.”⁴

1918-10-09ii

“The homecoming of two big lots of wounded and invalided officers and men from the battlefields of the western front, last night and early this morning, indicates the intensity of the recent fighting ‘over there.’”

Hamilton  Herald .  October 9, 1918.

In September 1918, a convoy of large ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean bringing home to Canada thousands of soldiers from the front in Western Europe. One ship alone carried 800 soldiers in very cramped quarters.

After being taken off ships on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, three trainloads, carrying about 1000  returned soldiers, chosen to return to Ontario specifically, were assembled, arriving in Toronto on October 8, 1918.

 Knowing that the soldiers, mainly those who had suffered serious wounds, were on their way, and, knowing  when the trains were expected to arrive, citizens of Toronto turned out in large numbers to cheer the war heroes. The members Toronto branch of the Soldiers’ Aid commission worked hard to make sure that each soldier was taken care of and that all knew how much their service and sacrifices were appreciated.

The plan was that soldiers would be sent along to their particular cities after a short time in Toronto. For those soldiers from the Hamilton area, two trains would be provided :

““The first party detrained at the Hunter street station at 6 p.m. The second at the G.T.R. at 1.10 a.m. Among the gallant lads were many of Canada’s ‘original firsts,’ who had been overseas for nearly four years. A great number had several times ‘gone over the top,’ at Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Passchendale, Hill 70 and other historic battle places on the western front. Some had fought side by side with the Belgians. Nearly all the veterans were wounded, a few being invalided. All were cheery and glad to get home after their thirteen days aboard a crowded ship.”¹

¹ “Large Party of Soldiers Reached Home: Many Had Served Nearly Four Years in Battle Zones : They Were Part of Contingent of Nearly 100 Men”

Hamilton Herald.    October 09, 1918.

The scene at the Hunter street depot was animated, if on a much lesser scale than the Toronto reception. It was mainly friends and family of specific soldiers who were present. For the first arrival, Secretary A. W. Kaye of the Hamilton Soldiers’ Aid commission had done good work  in making sufficient arrangements to have a number of automobiles present to convoy the soldiers to their homes. There were 50 soldiers on the C.P.R. train which pulled into the depot on Hunter street.

It was known that there were still some Hamilton soldiers who were not on the first train and an attempt was made to find out when they might arrive :

“About 8 o’clock last night, the secretary of the soldiers’ aid commission here communicated by long distance phone with Captain Lou Scholes, at Toronto, in an effort to gain information about further arrivals. Capt. Scholes said more men were coming, but he couldn’t say anything definite about their number or when they might be expected. However, if there were more than twenty in the party he would wire the local S.A.C. is still waiting for that wire.”²

^“There was occurred again the usual confusion between the military authorities and the soldiers’ aid commission regarding the arrival. The result has been that the heroes reached Hamilton as ordinary travelers, the fifty who came by the G. T. R. at 1:10 this morning being met by three people, all relatives. There was no reception. They simply returned to their old hometown, after being away to the war for as long as three and four years, without so much as a handshake, were loaded into a street car, obtained at the last minute, and taken as close to their homes as possible. Included in the party were invalids walking on crutches, meanwhile others limped with the aid of walking sticks, from injuries received on the firing line in defense of their country, and these men had to walk to their homes from the street car line. Their fathers and mothers didn’t even know they were in the city.”²

²  “It’s the Same Old Story Here re Returned Men : Party of 70 Arrived – Relatives Kept in Ignorance : Things a Little Different in Toronto, Though : Where Warriors Received Enthusiastic Welcome”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 09, 1918.

I the following day’s Spectator, a hard-hitting editorial appeared condemning the way the returned soldiers who had arrived at the Stuart street station were welcomed home:

“

“Cheerless Homecomings”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 09, 1918.

“Something is radically wrong with the arrangements for welcoming the returned heroes to Hamilton. The account which we printed yesterday of the reception – or lack of it – tendered about seventy soldiers arriving direct from the seat of war, makes very humiliating reading. The fault apparently lies with the authorities in Toronto who fail to notify the soldiers’ aid commission in Hamilton in time to organize any fitting reception. The local commission has done everything in its power to uphold the city’s dignity in the matter, and it is quite time that the remissness – whoever may be responsible for it – was done away with.

“Citizens of Hamilton are proud of their fighting men, and feel justly aggrieved that the opportunity of showing their appreciation and gratitude is denied them. The unceremonious bundling of maimed heroes – crippled for life – into the street cars, and packing them off to their homes without a word of welcome, of praise or cheer, is a proceeding which outrageous one’s sense of decency. It is little wonder that the war veterans complain at times of the coldness and indifference when such unfavorable impression is permitted to be created at the very moment of their arrival at their eagerly-anticipated destination. Wherever the fault may lie, some better arrangement should be speedily devised, whereby the relatives, at least, would have knowledge of the arrival of their dear ones. If the present system is broken down, another should be tried, in order to remove this scandal from the city’s record.”³

³ “Cheerless Homecomings”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 09, 1918.

1918-10-05

“With five deaths in two days, including Dr. C. W. Graham, who expired early this morning after a short illness, 180 cases at the military hospital, and many unrecorded cases in private homes, the outbreak of Spanish influenza had assumed rather serious proportions in Hamilton today. Drastic measures are contemplated to fight the disease.

Hamilton Spectator.    October 05, 1918.

Less than a week after the first appearance of Spanish influenza had been confirmed, not only had the deadly virus spread across the city, but fatalities resulting from the outbreak had occurred.

There were three hospitals in operation in Hamilton in October, 1918 :

“In the military hospital, on King street east, 180 cases of the disease have been reported, with one death. In the armament school, there also are a large number of cases. Quarantine methods have been adopted in both these buildings, and hopes of counteracting the disease are being held by the officials of these places.

“Dr. Langrill, of the city hospital, stated that drastic measures would have to be taken in order to prevent the spread of the disease. The time to act is now, stated the doctor, before the malady gets its hold on the city. The only safeguard that citizens can take at the present is to avoid all public gatherings.

“In the city hospital at present there are only two cases, and one death, while in St. Joseph’s hospital, the number of cases has not been given out. In Hamilton, it is estimated that there  are over 400 cases, the majority of these being among the soldiers at the military hospital and the armament school.”¹

¹ “Spanish Influenza Epidemic is Serious : Physician and Four Others Died in Few Hours : Doctors and Health Board Will Confer Tonight”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 05, 1918.

An emergency meeting of the Hamilton Board of Health was called for the morning of October 5, 1918. The main item of discussion was what steps could be immediately taken to try to control the epidemic. Particularly, the board wanted to assess the advisability of closing school, and possibly even theaters, department stores and the prohibiting large public gatherings of any kind. Local doctors were strongly in favor of those items.

At the meeting, Dr. Roberts, the medical health officer of the city, informed members that he had been in consultation with the provincial health officer, Dr. McClenahan,  as regards the advisability of the closing orders :

“Dr. McClenahan said the first line of attack was to advise the public to avoid contact with persons who are affected. He said in epidemics he didn’t favor closing of schools, as a closer tab could be kept on school children.

“The provincial health officer advised against an order to close schools at the present time, and urged the board here to counsel the public against crowds and to keep away as much as possible from probable sources of infection.”¹

There was a distinct divergence of opinion between local doctors and the provincial health officer, whose opinion the Hamilton medical health officer shared.

Discussion at the emergency meeting featured an attempt by Hamilton Mayor Booker to bridge the divide:

 “Mayor Booker said if the medical health officer advised the closing of schools and theaters, he would vote for that measure, irrespective of the opinion of the provincial health officer.

“Controller Jutten didn’t favor that move, but the mayor had confidence in Drs. Roberts and McClenahan.

“The chairman announced that the board had been invited to attend the medical society meeting tonight, and the mayor modified his stand and offered a resolution that the board take whatever action the medical society and the medical officer advised.”¹

Sadly the article contained the following, a report whose content would be repeated again and again during the following weeks and months: 

“The first deaths recorded in Hamilton were:

                   FIRST DEATH

“The first death in Hamilton due to an attack of Spanish influenza occurred on Thursday, when Mrs. Harriet Warchopfsky, wife of Samuel Warchopfsky, succumbed to the disease at her home, 618 King street west.

“Last Saturday, Mrs. Warchopfsky caught a cold, but was not seriously ill until Wednesday afternoon, when it was necessary for her to go to bed. On Thursday afternoon, she breathed her last, although the family physician who had been attending her for several days, did all that was in his power to save her.

“Deceased was born in Hamilton 25 years ago and was a daughter of Pte. Morris and Mrs. Harris, 12 Hunt street. She had resided all her life, with the exception of a few years in the United States. Her husband, mother and son, Cyril, aged 5 years, of this city, and her father, who went overseas with the 86^th battalion, survive. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon from her mother’s residence to Anshe Sholom cemetery for internment.

                   DR. CLARENCE W. GRAHAM

          “Dr. Clarence W. Graham, 55, of Kensington avenue, one of Hamilton’s prominent practicing physicians and surgeons, died at the city hospital at 3 o’clock this morning after an illness of only one day. He had contracted the disease while attending to a patient.. Dr. Graham was born in Goderich, and had come to this city about seven years ago. He graduated from Toronto university in 1908, and went to New York, and since 1911 had practiced in Hamilton with marked success. Deceased was a member of the Masonic order at Stoney Creek. He was single and is survive by his parents, who reside in Goderich. A funeral service will be conducted at his home Sunday evening at 8:30. The remains will be sent to Goderich for internment.

                             OTHER DEATHS

“Dr. Pierce, of Brantford, who is well-known in Hamilton, died this morning as a result of the disease. Many cases are also reported in that city. Bert Miller, of Dundas, was also a victim of the disease, his death occurring after a few hours’ illness.

                             NURSE A VICTIM

          “Miss Marie Rose Bulham, aged 22 years, a nurse in St. Joseph’s hospital, who also contracted the disease from a patient, died after a week’s illness. She was a native of Mildmay, and the remains will be sent there for internment

                             CORP. A.A. DOBSON

          “Corp. Algernon Richard Dobson, whose home is in Hartford, Conn., died at the military hospital last night after several days’ illness. He was a member of the R.A.F. school. He was born in Hamilton, but had resided in the United States for several years. The funeral arrangements have not been completed.

1918-09-30gg

“The epidemic of Spanish influenza which broke out late last week at the R.A.F. armament school, West Hamilton, was being viewed with a degree of alarm by the military authorities this morning.”

Hamilton Spectator.  September 30, 1918

The armament school near the intersection of  Longwood Road and Aberdeen avenue had only been in operation since the summer. The Westinghouse company had made its factory available for the Royal Air Force, Canadian division, to use as a place where the mechanics of airplanes, repair and otherwise, could be taught to soldiers. The school contained space for a barracks where as many as 175 to 200 soldiers could be housed while stationed there.

On Monday, September 30, 1918, the Hamilton newspapers carried reports an alarming increase in the numbers at the armament school who had contracted what was called the ‘Spanish Influenza’ contagion:

 “That the situation might be regarded as serious was evident in the fact that the armament school was placed in quarantine at noon on Saturday, and the civilian assistants sent to their homes to remain until further notice. At that time 47 cases of the disease had developed, and by noon today the number had increased to 150. As the hospital at the school could accommodate only 20 patients, the remainder were sent to the East Hamilton military hospital.”¹

¹ “Many Soldiers Fall Victims to Influenza : Nearly 150 Cases At East End Military Hospital : Accommodation Now Taxed at Its Utmost : Armament School Place Under Quarantine”

Hamilton Spectator.    September 30, 1918.

The situation at the east Hamilton military hospital changed for the worse very quickly:

“At that institution, the situation was considered serious. Though the cases admitted thus far were said to be mild, alarm rose from the rapid manner in which the illness is spreading. Up to early this morning, there were 137 admissions at that place. Owing to the unprecedented influx of patients, accommodation for any additional cases was now very limited, and it may be necessary to enlarge the hospital by opening wards in the adjoining C.O.R. barracks. The step was being considered by the officials this morning. The staff had already been increased by additional medical officers, nurses and orderlies from other institutions. Practically all yesterday, ambulances were busy rushing medical and other supplies from the Brant military hospital to the city.”¹

While the medical community did not have a specific identification of what the influenza virus was, how it was spread, how patients contracted it, or how to treat it, the reporters writing about it, as did the general population, had even less knowledge.

The Man for the Spectator said:

“In accounting for the outbreak among the cadets in West Hamilton, it was believed the disease came with a draft of birdmen arriving in the city from the east.” ¹

The man from the Hamilton Herald had this theory:

 “It is said that the form of grip so prevalent now is called ‘Spanish’ because it broke out with great intensity last summer, when upwards of eight million of the population were affected. It is caused by a microbe that is found chiefly in the nasal and bronchial secretions, and is transmitted through coughing or sneezing, or in the use of table napkins, kitchen utensils etc.

“It manifests itself by headaches, dizziness and a temperature that rises to 103 and 104.

“It has been stated that oil of eucalyptus is a specific for this malady, and that by anointing the nostrils with it, it may be checked in its early stages.” ²

²“Spanish ‘Flu’ Has Made Its Appearance Here : Aviation School in West Hamilton Isolated Because of Outbreak : Many Sufferers : Dr. Roberts Advises All Who Have It to Go at Once to Their Beds”

Hamilton Herald.    September 30, 1918.

When the number of soldiers who had contracted the influenza vastly increased in just a few days, the military authorities reached out to officials with the Hamilton Board of Health:

“Dr. Roberts, medical health officer, was called into consultation by the school authorities. On his request, the school was isolated, so none of the cadets will be visiting the city for some days at least.

“The influenza has not been reported from any other institution, though it would not surprise the board of health authorities if it did make its appearance, particularly in homes where children are cared for.

“No alarm is felt by the Hamilton health authorities. Dr. Roberts characterizes it as a form of grip and ordinary influenza. Dr. Roberts believes that the whole epidemic here, as well as elsewhere, is attributable directly to unseasonable weather. He points out that pneumonia follows in cases of grip when those who are ill do not take proper care. He advises all who feel the influenza or grip to go to bed and take the best of care of themselves in order to ensure against complications of a serious nature.” ²

While Dr. Roberts tried to minimize the serious of the outbreak or the possibility that it might develop into an epidemic, many worried citizens took the situation more seriously :

“Druggists report that never before was the demand for remedies for colds and fevers so prevalent. Doctors report the same thing, and there are few local practitioners who have not been called to attend patients with influenza.”²

The hope that the quarantine of the armament school, and the remedies suggested in the press, would halt the rapid and deadly outbreak of Spanish Influenza would soon be gone.