Saturday 16 November 2019

1900 - Boer War Returning Soldier Reception


“Hamilton will turn itself loose on another popular demonstration tonight, when it extends a royal welcome to the returning heroes of the South African war. By noon today, the main streets were gaily decorated with miles of bunting and thousands of flags. Many of the business establishments have installed electrical illumination in the national colors.”

Hamilton Times.    November 06, 1900.

Hamilton had three daily newspapers in November 1900, the Herald, the Spectator and the Times.

Each paper would vie with its competitors for the best coverage of major local events. The November 6, 1900 events, welcoming home Boer War soldiers returning to their home city was an opportunity to show the public how well such events could be recorded in words and presented to the public.

The following is an overview of how the Times gave its readers an detailed account of the sights, sounds and general mayhem of that memorable night.

During the afternoon, hours before the returning heroes were to arrive, the Times in its afternoon addition, provided the following for its readers :

“At noon today, the children of the Public and Separate Schools were liberated for a half holiday, and tonight, the vast army of the city’s workers will join in a magnificent ovation to the gallant boys who went from Hamilton to fight in the battles of the Empire in the Transvaal.

“The returning soldiers will arrive at the Hunter street depot from Toronto at 8 o’clock and will be met on the platform by the Civic Reception Committee and officers of the city corps. As soon as after the arrival as possible, the procession will leave the depot, taking the following routes :

“Along James to King, thence to John street to Cannon, to James street, to King street to Victoria Park, where a large platform, well-lit, has been erected, and addresses will be delivered by the Chairman of the Finance and Acting Mayor Ald. TenEyck, Lieut.-Col. McLaren and Captain Forneret.

“The gallant soldiers will then be presented with the magnificent laurel wreath, the gift of the Daughters of the Empire. At the conclusion of the ceremonies in the park, the procession will reform and march along King street, and the military will then take possession of the Hamilton heroes.”1

1 “Honor For Our Heroes : Tonight’s Demonstration  for Returning Soldiers : Another Record Breaker”

Hamilton Times.    November 06, 1900.

The morning after the huge street procession and gathering at Victoria Park, the November 7, 1900 morning edition of the Hamilton Times was full of vivid details of the excitement of the previous evening. Its coverage started, under a very long headline, as follows :

Hamilton Times.    November 07, 1900

“Enthusiastic gladness in the faces of cheering thousands, from the housetops, from a thousand windows, from the street corners, from the sidewalks where the hosts of rejoicing men, women and children marched; gladness in the myriads of blazing electric lights, in the great torches of colored fire, at a hundred convenient spots; gladness in the reports of mortars and giant torpedoes; gladness in the chimes of church bells and in the din of thousands of fish horns and whistles; thus to Hamilton’s returning heroes of the South African campaign did this city of Hamilton rise to show welcome.

“To say the city went wild with enthusiasm last night does not express the situation. Words are empty things as far as the description of the reception given to the returning soldiers of the First Canadian contingent are concerned. Never before in the history of any city in Canada was a greater sense of rejoicing than that which all Hamilton presented last night. And the names of the men in whose honor the demonstration took place will live in the minds of the people of Hamilton and the reception given them will long be remembered as one of the brightest of red letter nights in the city’s history.

“Owing to the haste which accompanied their enlistment, the Hamilton lads of the first contingent saw no public demonstration of the good will of the people when they departed, and they were promised a royal welcome when they returned from the war. Did they get it? Ask the footsore and hoarse thousands when they marched on roadway or pavement; ask of the men who sell fireworks and bunting; ask of the horses that hauled their heavy loads of cheering humanity; the answer comes in a thunderous affirmative from all humanity who could ride, walk, limp or be carried up town last night”2

2 “Magnificent Reception to Returned Soldiers : How This Busy City Disported Itself On a Night of Nights : Received a Great Welcome : Citizens Turned Out en masse to do Honor to the Lads Who Had risked  Their Lives for the Empire – Paardeberg Remembered in a Flood of Gladness – A Grand Procession That Had Its Pathway Brilliantly Illuminated By Fireworks and Electrical Decorations – Addresses of Welcome Presented to the Khaki Clad Heroes at Victoria Park – County Battalion Joins the Local Militia in the Festivities of the Night – The Celebration Unequalled in the Annals of the City ”

Hamilton Times.    November 07, 1900

With the scheduled time of arrival at the T.H. & B. railway’s Hunter street station, of the C.P.R. train carrying the soldiers, Hamilton’s downtown streets became packed with people, eager to be part of the reception:

“As early as 7 o’clock King and James streets began to receive their thousands of pedestrians. Onward towards the section of James street, between King and Hunter streets surged the people, and soon the roadways were occupied by the carriages, drays, wagons, pony carts and everything that could carry people more expeditiously  towards the starting point of the demonstration. Like the crowd that thronged the streets on Ladysmith Day, it was a good-natured crowd, and it laughed defiance at the scattering raindrops which fell during the evening, and launched good-natured raillery at those who tried strength or ingenuity in the battle for position. From the City Hall to the depot and in the space around the Gore, there came a ceaseless noise of fish horns, almost drowned at times with the louder blare of brass, or punctured by the shrill music of pipes, as various bands.”2

The procession began, only a few minutes later than scheduled. Forming up at the area around James Street South and Hunter streets, the route headed north to King street:

“Along King street to John street and down John street to Cannon went the marching host, and as if the spectacular effects arranged for were not sufficient, rockets set fire to an immense Union Jack suspended across John street at Dodson’s paint establishment, and, as it blazed turned into a banner of flame, the elaborate decorations in front of the Gurney-Tilden building were ignited by fireworks, and added excitement to the scene. And the crowds cheered; cheered for Britain, cheered for the returning soldiers, for the flames and sometimes because they were alive and in the thick of the demonstration.  Turning west along Cannon street to James and up that thoroughfare to King street, the procession aroused of the throng to fever pitch. At the Royal Hotel, the van containing the contingent collapsed through the breaking of an axle, and the heroes in khaki had to take to carriages. As the procession reached the City Hall, the big bell in the tower commenced sounding a welcome that was kept up for nearly half an hour. Here, the decorations in front of Oak Hall caught fire, and as willing hands kept the blazing flags and bunting from doing serious damage, enthusiasts from the windows on both side of the street added their quota to then display of fireworks. As the procession moved along King street west to Victoria Park, several fires occurred amongst the decoration of store and dwellings.”2

Reaching King West and Locke streets, the excitement seen along the procession route grew even higher :

“On the west side of Victoria Park, a platform had been erected on which to welcome the boys to their old home. Before the procession arrived, thousands of persons surrounded it, and when the lads in khaki came, they had great difficulty reaching it. For once the police force of Hamilton proved itself adequate to handle the crowd. In less than five minutes, a sea of faces was formed, a mass of humanity which surged to and fro like the waves  of the ocean. When the soldiers finally reached the platform, they were given front row seats. In the place of prominence were the Marshall family, Mrs. McLaren; Messrs. A.T. Wood and J.V. Teetzel, Rev. T. Albert Moore, Lieut.-Col. Gibson, members of the Hamilton Rugby Football Club; Ald. Frank E. Walker, Acting Mayor Ten Eyck, and officers of the XIII Regiment.”2

Order was extremely difficult to maintain but, nevertheless, the speeches and presentations to the soldiers went on :

“Lieut.-Col McLaren stepped to the front of the platform, and called for order in vain. After waiting some minutes, he called again but still the cheering continued. He said : ‘It has been thought wise to limit the speeches tonight to words of welcome from the commanding officer of the regiment, and an address from the City Council. Had not an election campaign been in progress, there are other gentlemen who would have addressed you, but in view of the circumstances, this is not desirable. On an occasion like this, it is surely our first duty as Christian people to offer up thanks to our Heavenly Father for his mercy in bringing our comrades back to their homes in safety, and I therefor ask our chaplain to offer up a prayer of thanksgiving.’

“Chaplain Forneret offered a prayer, which was only audible to those within a few feet of him owing to the awful noise of the crowd, which did not appear to realize the solemnity of the occasion.

“Then the band played, ‘Nearer, my God, to Thee.’

“Cheer after cheer went up as Chaplain stepped forward on behalf of Fessenden Chapter, Daughters of the Empire, and presented the boys with a magnificent laurel wreath. He said in ancient times it was the custom, when a Roman general returned from victory, to present him with a wreath of laurels, and it was quite in keeping with the occasion for him to make this presentation in recognition of the splendid work done for the Queen and Empire. Lieut. Marshall responded on behalf of the boys. His speech was very brief and soldier-like. He said – ‘On behalf of the returning soldiers and the men of the regiment, I have to thank you most heartily for this expression of your appreciation, and specially for this magnificent reception tendered us tonight, and for all kindnesses. War is not a pleasant thing, but I think it is worth roughing it a bit for a reception of this kind. You only want to travel a bit to find out that there is no country like Canada and no city like Hamilton. A soldier knows that the burden of the work does not fall on the officer, but on the soldier. The one shoulders the responsibility and the other performs the labor. An officer has many comforts the soldier does not share. To Sergt. Rutherford and the boys is due the credit for their work throughout the campaign.’

                             From the Regiment

“Lieut.-Col. McLaren addressed the men as follows : ‘Brave Boys. A new landmark was made a little over a year ago, when a sister colony was threatened with extermination, and when, spontaneously, the colonies of the Empire came forward and volunteered their services in assisting the mother country in maintaining the integrity of the Empire.  Canada was not behind in this matter, and her sons offered themselves from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

“ ‘War is a cruel game at the best, and we have to mourn the loss of many brave men who went forth in all the vigor of manhood and who never return. But who will dare say they have died in vain? Their blood will surely cement the bonds of the Empire more closely than ever before. And you, gallant comrades, who have been spared to return, we welcome you with all the fervor possible. You have upheld the good name of the militia of Canada, and through your intelligence and soldierly qualities the name of Canada is highly honored throughout the Empire today. You have proved yourselves good and faithful servants of the Queen. May you long be spared to prove yourselves good and faithful citizens of Canada.’

“In conclusion, he asked those present to give three cheers for the soldiers from South Africa. He said – ‘You will remember that the City Council, very generously and with the approval of the ratepayers presented each man on leaving with a liberal purse; this was done through Alderman TenEyck, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and it is therefore fitting that he should present you with an address of welcome now.’

                             From the City

          “Hearty cheers were again given as Alderman TenEyck, acting mayor, steeped forward and read the following address, which was only audible to a few –

“ ‘After the hardships, the vicissitudes, and the victories of war, your fellow citizens joyfully and heartily welcome you home. Since your departure to the distant battlefields of South Africa, your every movement has been closely and anxiously followed by the people, not only of this city, but of the whole Dominion; map after the map of the scenes of conflict has been worn out in tracing your many marches across the veldts and kopjes of that distant land, and the greatest possible interest has been taken in all that pertained to your welfare. We, your fellow citizens, knew, if the world did not, what to expect of you, should the opportunity be given to show your courage, and your fidelity and loyalty – to our peerless Empress Queen, and we are glad to say that the high expectations we had formed of you have been more than realized. Your gallant conduct and your courageous advance under the order of the ‘touch hands’ on that dark night at Paardeberg will ever remain in the history of the empire as an example of Canadian courage and valor. How you and your Canadian comrades is chiefly due the honor of one of the greatest victories won by the soldiers of the Queen in South Africa. As Canadians we are justly proud of the splendid record of our Contingents, and as citizens we are doubly proud of the part taken by you in framing such a record.

“ ‘The noble work of the soldiers of the colonies , sealed with the blood of many a brave boy, stands to the world a testimony of their love and devotion to the British Empire, and as a menace to all who would trample upon her principles of truth and justice. While in gladness we welcome you home, we would not forget the heroes who have lost their lives in the conflict, and who have filled the honored graves of British soldiers; to the relatives and friends who mourn their death and particularly to our esteemed and respected fellow citizen, Major O’Reilly, we extend our sincere sympathy in their irreparable loss.

“ ‘Again, we welcome you, well knowing that, should the Empire require your services, or should foes invade our own loved Canada, you, as well as thousands of your comrades, will be found semper paratus to respond to the call of your country or the great Empire of which we form a part.’

“Lieut. Marshall again responded on behalf of the boys, and the 77TH Band then played ‘The Red, White and Blue.’”2

It soon became obvious that speech-making should come to an end, especially as the noise from the assembled was so high, few could actually hear what was said: “By this time the crowd at the park had reached tremendous proportions, and speech-making was entirely out of the question. The crush around the stand was so great that to save their instruments from destruction the bandsmen had to hold them over their heads, and it was thought advisable to bring the meeting to a close.

“A number of the bandsmen were called to the platform and ‘God Save the Queen’ was played, but it was fully an hour before the immense crowd was dispersed.

“The militia was dismissed at the park, and no attempt was made to reform the procession. Most of the members of the XIII. Regiment marched to the Drill Hall from the park, to take in an informal welcome to the boys.”2

While that ended the coverage of the procession and the Victoria Park speeches, the Times then published the following anecdotes of things that happened during the evening :

                   Held Live Wire

          “There are many acts of daring performed by individuals for the benefit of the public which never come to light. But last night there was one who deserves special mention and praise, Superintendent Fisher, of the T.H. & B. had very prudently arranged for the decoration of the station building, but to his sorrow, the fuse had burned out which was attached to the handsome electric sign, ‘Welcome Home,’ ten minutes before the arrival of the train. He at once had Mr. W.H. Taylor, of the Cataract Power Company on the spot, who with much difficulty and risk clung to the building with one hand while holding the live wire with the other. Mr. Taylor was in this position until the impenetrable mass below had moved away, and all saw the heroes. Mr. Taylor said he was touched by the imposing spectacle, and realized its importance, as he was so time ago one of the men that was similarly honored by his own countrymen in New York on his return from Manilla.”

                             Notes

“Sunnyside!

“Paardeberg!

“Mafeking!

“Ladysmith!

“Bloemfontein!

“Pretoria!

“Our boys!!!

Oh! Billy, Billy Marshall

“and Rutherford –

“and Warren –

“and Warwick –

“and Tice –

“and Hendrie –

“and Sutton –

“and Dunham –

“and Holland –

“and all the Hamilton volunteers,

“well done, everybody!

“H-A-M-I-L-T-O-N, Hamilton, Rah! Rah! Rah!

“What would have happened to a Boer?

“Ladysmith Day was beaten forty ways.

“Even the skies wept after the show ended.

“No carpet knights about our khaki clad fighters.

“It was a welcome fitting the return of heroes.

“Even Hog Town could take a leaf out of our book.

“It was a great night for the small boy and the fish horn.

“The Victoria Yacht Club turned out strong and with no lack of fireworks.

“On the laurel wreath presented to the boys was Kipling’s motto, ‘Lest We Forget.’

“Every girl who owned a ‘scarlet fever’ shirt must have it on last night.

“With all the thousands of spectators, not a scrap of any kind marred the festivities.

“The address presented by Acting Mayor Ten Eyck bore the seal of the city corporation.

“The distribution of fireworks took place from drays stationed at three points along the line of march.

“Grey-haired men and small boys could frequently be seen struggling to light fireworks at one torch.
          “Two women fainted in the crowd on James street south and were with difficulty extricated from the crowd.

“A little girl whose hand was severely burned by fireworks had her injuries dressed in John A. Clark’s drug store.

“A ’66 veteran’s medal was snatched from the breast of Mr. Samuel Howard, on James street after the parade.

“The postchaise in its mimic warriors contained Messrs. A.H. Dodsworth, M. Applegarth, E. Mundell, T.W. Hand and J. Warnke.

“Miss G. Hannaford was struck with a rocket near the Royal Hotel. She fainted and Mr. Mackelcan was called to attend her.

“A number of gaily-adorned clown and burnt cork artists scattered through the procession to add to the merriment.

“Rev. Thomas Geoghegan, A. Goodenough, R.T. Wolson, and W.H. Wilson were the assistant marshals and did their work well.

“A bunch of merry maidens wearing scarlet shell jackets and Strathcona hats attracted much attention at the corner of King and James streets.

“Scores of people took chances on broken arms in order to shake hands with the returned soldiers, even when their big van was moving rapidly.

“A rocket struck Mrs. (Dr.) White on the shoulder, while she was standing at the corner of James and Cannon streets. A child in her arms had a close call.

“When the bandsmen were not playing ‘Soldiers of the Queen,’ ‘Rule Britannia,’ ‘Home Sweet home,’ or the National Anthem, they joined in the cheering and let off fireworks.

“As the parade moved down James street, a small boy fell, and would have been trampled underfoot had not a gentleman rescued him. His rescuer lost his hat as a result of his kindness.

“Ald. Walker, Chairman of the Reception Committee, was complimented on all sides on the excellent arrangements made. He and Ald. Ten Eyck were present at the reception in the officers’ mess.”

Finally, the Times editor could not resist making a statement about what it all meant:



 “The popular reception to the returned heroes from South Africa, in which all classes of Hamilton’s citizens took part, either as actors or spectators, was all that could be desired, and the enthusiasm must have gratified the young men in whose honor the demonstration was gotten up. Of course they never doubted that their valor was appreciated by their friends at home, but it nevertheless must have made them feel better to see the whole city turn out on the very eve of election day, to declare that joy over their safe return was universal. There is a lot of handshaking to be done yet before our boys can settle down into their old situations. There are stories to be told and incidents of the war to be explained, marches and battles to be described, generals to be criticized and comrades to be eulogized. The year in South Africa must have taught our boys a great many things, which they will gradually impart to the rest of us, after the excitement of the homecoming is over. They know what real soldiering means; they comprehend the horror as well as the glory of war. They have been through the fire, and we all love them for the dangers they have passed.”3

3 “The Welcome Home”

Hamilton Times.    November 07, 1900

A gallery of illustraions by Times artict, J. Thompson, depicting the soldiers:



















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