1914-08-19a

“Nineteen members of the Progressive association of East Hamilton, who have volunteered to go to the front, were feted, cheered and otherwise given a rousing send-off by their fellow members in Phoenix hall last night.”

          Hamilton Spectator    August 19, 1914

          While the farewell gatherings for members about to join the first contingent of Canadian soldiers were frequent occasions across Hamilton in August 1914, the one held on August 18 was notable.

          Because nineteen members of the Progressive association of East Hamilton” had volunteered, a high number for any one society, that group had become known as “the fighting association of Hamilton.”

          The gathering attracted a large number of citizens wanting to give the men a rousing send-off. The crowd included local politicians Controller Morris, Aldermen Walker and Plunkett, and Mayor Allan.

          The mayor took advantage of his invitation to speak to announce that the city government intended to co-operate with the federal government in every way possible to ensure that the dependents of the volunteers would be properly.

          The mayor statement received loud applause. After the applause died down, the mayor went on to say the following :

          “I am very proud to see the enthusiasm displayed here tonight, and at the same time feel sad that so many of our young men are going away. Like your president I do not like to see war, but it seems as though we must have it, and since we are involved we must fight with all our might. The best thing that I can say is that you are going to fight in a good cause.

          “You are going to fight under a flag that is honored throughout the world – more so than the flag of any other nation. That is so because Britain has always kept her promises. This war was practically forced upon Great Britain, and she is backed up in it, thank God, by most of the civilized nations of the world. There can be only one end to the conflict. Great Britain must win and will win.

          “Now I want to say a few words to the men who will remain at home. I want them to keep cool, level heads during this war. Not all Germans are in sympathy with the crazy Kaiser. We have in this city a good many quiet, peaceful citizens of German extraction who are deserving of respect and every consideration. Care must be taken that they are not insulted or humiliated.

          “To the men going away, I’ll say that if any dependents are left behind them, they can go away and rest assured that they will be well taken care of (Cheers). I am in possession of certain information which I think might as well be made public now as any other time.

          “You know that this is the first time that the Canadian government has taken any active participation in a war. By this I mean that the government has undertaken all the expenses of the volunteers of the war, and they are going to pay their soldiers better than ever and look after their families better than they have ever done before.

          “The pay that any volunteer will receive will be $1.00 a day, and 10 cents a day for field allowance. It is also intended to pay 75 cents a day to the soldiers’ wives who may be left dependent, and some small allowance will be made for each child under sixteen years of age.

          “I am sorry to say that I feel more dread for those who remain behind than for those who are going to the front. Everything points to a hard winter and no one is better aware of it than myself. In conclusion I can only say God speed and wish you a safe return.” ¹

               ¹ “Volunteers Are Given Send-Off : Presentations Were Made to Nineteen Men : All Going to Serve Britain Overseas : Soldiers Feted by Ward 8 Progressives”

          Hamilton Spectator.  August 19, 1914.

          After the mayor concluded his remarks, he presented each of the nineteen volunteers with a tobacco pouch and an a pipe :“ ‘Use them to smoke the Germans out of Belgium,’ someone shouted from the rear of the hall, at which there was general laughter. The mayor expressed the hope that the pipes would not only provide a solace during the war, but would be brought back intact.”¹

          The president of the Progressive association of East Hamilton, in a brief speech, said that he only wished that his society could make a similar presentation to each volunteer from East Hamilton, It was not possible because there were so many men from East Hamilton who had volunteered, President William Kinch said, noting that a full 80 per cent of the Hamilton volunteers were from East Hamilton.

          Then three hearty cheers were given for the nineteen soldiers.

          Throughout the evening, there were numerous songs and recitations by association members. Also, the association’s band played several patriotic selections.

1914-09-15aa

“Two horses were killed, a two-seated carriage was smashed into kindling and four occupants of the rig were badly shaken up”

          Hamilton Spectator.   August 15, 1914.

          Shortly after 8 p.m. during the evening of August 14, 1914, a man went to the Macnab street north livery stable owned by W. J. Dore. Giving his a name as Wlliam Maguire, and his occupation as a tailor, the man, accompanied by another man and two young women, hired a wagon and two horses.

          When neither the carriage, nor the people who went off with it returned the next morning, Mr. Dore became concerned. Then he received a telephone call telling him that his horses had been killed and his rig completely destroyed in an accident. The accident had occurred on King street, just east of Ottawa street.

          Mr. Dore immediately went to the scene of the accident where he learned that his rig, filled with the four individuals, was proceeding east on King street, when it was approached, from behind, by an eastbound electric street car. In turning out of the way of that car, the rig was pulled to the left, directly into a rapidly advancing westbound street car.

          As described in the Spectator :

          “The horses were struck and pushed back for some distance, the carriage was crushed into kindling wood and the stone roadbed between the tracks was plowed up for a distance of over twenty feet.

          “The two girls in the carriage screamed with terror, but as soon as the car was stopped, they were helped out of the carriage by the men, and all four disappeared.”¹

               ¹ “Accident Almost Cost Four Lives : Horses Killed, But Occupants of Escaped : Outfit Smashed and Roadbed Badly Torn Up”

          Hamilton Spectator August 15, 1914

          Livery stable owner was left with the loss of two of his horses and one of his carriages for hire. None of the individuals involved in the accident were located. The shop of tailor, William Maguire, the only one of the four whose identity was known, was visited, he did not return to his place of employment.

1913-09-05

 

        “The interest in the house built in a day by Ald. James Byers during Centennial week reached a climax last night, when Mayor Allan supervised the vaunting of the beans contained in a ten gallon jar.”

          Hamilton Spectator. September 5, 1913.

          It was a major highlight during Hamilton’s 1913 Centennial celebrations, a house built in a day. When the effort began, there was a large amount of what was needed to build a house, and a considerable number of laborers ready and willing to transform a vacant lot into a fully furnished house in twenty-four hours.

          Due to a few unforeseen snags the project was unsuccessful as it was not fully finished in a literal day’s time, only a few extra hours were needed to finish it up.

          A huge number of people dropped by the location at Britannia to watch the progress of the event, and to enter a contest being hide to determine what would happen to the house once completed.

          A large jar was on display. Within the clear glass, people could that it was filled with beans. The contest entrant who came closest to either guessing the actual number of beans, or who came closer than any one else, would win the house.

          As proof that the contest was completely fair and that no one knew the correct answer, it was necessary to count all those beans.

          Beginning during the evening of September 4, 1913, thirteen men who had been hired to do the counting, began their work:  

“Sharp at 8 o’clock, Ald. Bryers brought the immense jar from the house which was being contested for to the committee room in the city hall where the counting took place.

          “The seal was immediately broken by Mayor Allan, and the young men started at once on the count. There were beans of all shapes and sizes, from the small Canadian to the larger Lima bean.

          “The beans were distributed in piles before each man, who was instructed to keep his count in secret until the final result was known. When this was finished, Mayor Allan took the total from each man.”¹

               ¹ House Built in a Day Awarded : Holder of Ticket No. 329 Declared the Winner”

          Hamilton Spectator. September 5, 1913

          The mayor kept the total number of beans secret as there was still more work to do. The next task was almost as great as the bean count, all the entries, numbering an estimated 15,000 guesses, had to be sorted:

          “The ballot boxes which were used for depositing the tickets used by the guessers were brought in by H. M. Marsh, industrial commissioner, and the mayor broke the seals.

          “The tickets were carefully gone over, with the exception of the mayor, knew the number of beans, and when the final assortment was made. In the hearing and full view of all, the mayor announced the lucky number, and personally searched for the winning ticket.”¹

               The ticket had been sorted in piles. As the mayor knew the number of beans was 94, 289, he went through the pile of tickets containing guesses between 94,000 and 95,000.

          The winning ticket was #329, but unfortunately the entrant had failed to include a name and address on the section of the ticket provided for that information.Mayor Allan declared that the winner would have one week to come forward and make a claim for the house.

          The guesses had ranged from 175 to 83,491,573,520 beans, and tickets had been signed by people, not only from Hamilton, but from other areas in Canada, the United States, England, Germany and several other countries.

          It was almost 2 a.m. when the effort of counting the beans, sorting the guesses and finding the winning ticket was finished :

          “At the conclusion of the work, Ald. Bryers entertained the workers at a sandwich banquet.”¹

1914-08-17abb

With so many Hamilton men volunteering to fight in the European war in August 1914, a difficulty arose as regards the protection of the city of itself.

The ranks of the local militia units were virtually depleted as those part-time soldiers were prime candidates to be accepted into service full-time.

Charles W. Heming, local scout commissioner and a former militia man, was actively interested in a proposal to address the need for soldiers to be able to serve as a home guard to protect Hamilton.

The idea was that a home guard consisting of from 1,000 to 3,000 men would be raised. A number of former militia men had suggested that the local rifle ranges they could be opened and the men volunteering for the home guard could be trained in the use of the latest models of rifles.

Mr. Heming stated his views on the matter to a Spectator reporter as follows :

“I am a firm believer in the scouts’ motto ‘Be Prepared.’ If another call is made, and most of the 13^th and 91^st men are taken away, it will be necessary to arrange for home protection. We have several thousand foreigners to look after here and with a hard winter and feeling running high, it is hard to tell what might happen unless there is a strong force to maintain order. There are many married men like myself, who do not feel at present that they should go across the sea, but are willing to help at home in every way they can.

“One prominent man here has promised me that he can raise from 300 to 500 men. I don’t think there would be any difficulty in organizing a force of at least 1,000 men and 200 mounted men. A good service khaki uniform could be secured for $5. I think that the city and some of our wealthy men should take an interest in this and lend a hand.”¹

¹ “Home Guard to Protect City : No Trouble in Raising a Force of 1,000 Men : Ex-Thirteenth Men Anxious to Take Part.”

Hamilton Spectator. August 17, 1914

1914-08-19abb

On Wednesday August 19, 1914, two articles appeared in the Hamilton Spectator which related to the effect that the outbreak of war in Europe had in two parts of the city.

In the east end, a farewell social was held by members of Westminster Football Club on behalf of two well-known residents who were about to leave for the front, W. White, jr. and John Scott of the East End Y. F. C. :

“After a number of songs, games etc., the ladies served a dainty supper at the close of which Jack Drysdale, in a few well-chosen and patriotic words, presented the volunteers with silver mounted meerschaum pipes.

“After a very enjoyable evening, the social was brought to a close by the singing of God Be With You Till We Meet Again, and Auld Lang Syne, followed by three rousing cheers for the soldier boys.”¹

¹ “Said Farewell : Westminster Football Club Honors Departing Soldiers”

          Hamilton Spectator August 19, 1914.

Back downtown on the market square, an incident occurred which demonstrated how intense feelings had become as regards the general patriotic spirit when it butted against those who might not be so patriotic.

Many ladies were selling flags in downtown Hamilton to raise money for a proposed hospital ship and were received well with one notable exception:

“Very few people refused to respond, but one of the ladies who was selling on the market ran up against a real anti-Britisher.

“He is a farmer and when first approached by the lady, he said he was busy and would see her later. She did not forget his promise, but much to her surprise, when she returned, he told her point blank that his sympathies were with the Germans and for that reason he would not support a cause as outfitting a hospital ship.”²

² “No Place for Him : Farmer With Anti-British Feelings Had to Move”

Hamilton Spectator.  August 19, 1914

At first the lady thought that the farmer was fooling, but when she realized that he definitely was serious, the lady lost little time in spreading the word about his convictions around the market square:

“It was not long until things were so uncomfortable for him that he decided to move and his wagon has not been seen on the market since.”²

1914-08-19and 21aa

With the outbreak of war in August 1914, many Hamilton poets were stirred to express their patriotism and the eagerness of many Hamiltonians to serve.

Following are two poems, written by Hamiltonians, which appeared in the Hamilton Spectator that month.

The first was published on August 19, 1914.

 

Mobilization by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

         Oh, the Kings of earth have mobilized their men.

           See them moving, valor proving,

           To the fields of glory going.

           Every one a mother’s son

           Brave, with uniform and gun,

           Keeping step with easy swing ;

           Yes, with easy step and light, marching onward toward the fight,

           Just to please the warlike fancy of a King

           Who has mobilized his army for the strife.

 

           Oh, the King of Death has mobilized his men

           See the hearses, huge and black,

           How they rumble down the track

           With their coffins filled with dead.

           Filled with men who fought and bled ;

           Now from fields of glory coming

           To the sound of muffled drumming

           They are lying still and white,

           But the Kings have had their fight ;

           Death has mobilized his army for the grave.”

 

          The second poem was published two days later, August 21, 1914.

 

          The Emergency

 

At last the deaf begin to hear

   The blind begin to see ;

Gone is the day to conjure fear

   And talk emergency.

 

The menace of a tyrant’s power,

   Insane with lust and greed,

Is undisputed in this hour,

   For war has come, indeed.

With fury fierce, the clouds have burst

   In peaceful lands afar ;

And Europe is at last immersed

   In real and bloody war.

 

To gratify a knave’s desire

   And work a madman’s will,

Millions go forth with sword and fire

   To plunder and to kill.

 

Led by its murderous feudal lord,

   The earth to devastate,

This ‘German peril’ we’ve ignored

   Is thundering at our gate.

Away with words ! Let action tell !

   The loyalty we plead ;

And Canada in deeds excel,

   For Britain is in need.

 

To arms ! To arms ! Send forth thy sons,

   Give of thy golden store;

For hear ye not the distant guns ? –

   The world is plunged in war.

 

                                        Fritz Hermath

Hamilton, Ont.

1914-08-19aa

“It was announced this morning by H. L. Frost, vice-president of the Hamilton Hotel company, that practically all the obstacles confronting the projected Royal Connaught hotel have been overcome.”

          Hamilton Spectator.   August 19, 1914.

          The site of the former Wesleyan Ladies’ College, (the building was later used as the Waldorf hotel) had been vacant for some time. The property on the south side of King Street East, east of John street, was considered a prime location for development. It was also widely acknowledged that Hamilton was in need of a first-class hotel.

          The Hamilton Hotel company was formed with the intention of putting a first-class hotel on that vacant site. The assembling of sufficient financing had been a challenge, as it was intended that the hotel would be of a very high-end nature using the very best of materials and internal amenities.

          While the financing arrangements were being put in place, the Hamilton Hotel company went ahead and ordered the needed structural steel from the Hamilton Bridge Works company.

          Mr. Frost also hoped that tenders for all parts of the needed work for the hotel would be examined by local contractors. Every effort would be made by the company to give the work to Hamilton firms as much as possible.

          In an interview with the Spectator, Mr. Frost said, “I am glad to say that practically all the monies paid in have been applied towards the purchase of the land, and the actual expenses incurred have been extremely small. Barring extreme conditions as the result of the war, there should be no further delays in finishing this undertaking of such extreme importance to Hamilton.”¹

               ¹ “Royal Connaught : President Announces That All Obstacles Have Been Overcome.”

          Hamilton Spectator. August 19, 1914

          The next day, August 20, 1914, the directors of the Hamilton Hotel company, held an afternoon meeting at the board of Trade rooms.

          At the meeting, one of the directors, Sir John Gibson told his fellow directors that the previously agreed estimated budget for the hotel would have to be increased by an as-yet-undermined amount, the increase was believed to be between $50,000 and $100,000.

          Sir John Gibson defended the increase saying that “the work would be carried through without cheapening any part.”²

               ² “Won’t Skimp in Building New Hotel : Cost May Be $100,000 Greater Than Estimated : Local Contractors Will Likely Get the Work : H. L. Frost Speaks Enthusiastically About Outlook.”

          Hamilton.  August 21, 1914.

          The directors were told that the work for the proposed 12-story building would begin almost immediately. It was confidently predicted that hundreds of thousands of dollars in labour and materials would be paid out by the Hamilton Hotel company during the upcoming winter.

          H. L. Frost spoke to the Spectator before the meeting, saying “the business interests of Hamilton cannot afford to have the construction of this hotel postponed any longer and if they will support the directors by subscribing  for five hundred shares of the 6 per cent, preference stock carrying a bonus of 50 per cent of common, the project can be immediately gone on with.

          “Business conditions are naturally influenced by the war, but by many men of keen foresight this is regarded as America’s opportunity. This hotel will be indirectly be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hamilton and just at the present time it is most desirable that the work be proceeded without further delay. Hamilton has goods to sell which will be required all over the world and with a number of European countries wholly out of the export business, it should not be long until there is an active demand for nearly all lines of goods.”²

               Despite the fact that war had been declared, the hotel project would proceed nevertheless. In August 1914, it was anticipated that the war would be over in a few months, probably by Christmas.