1907 - Tiger Football Season Begins

 

October 1907 had arrived and players and fans of Hamilton’s football team were starting to get ready for the upcoming Big Four league season.

A little wet weather did not deter some Tigers to head to the Cricket grounds:

“If any person thought there was a lack of enthusiasm in the ranks of the Tigers, that person had only to go up to the football field last night and see a bunch of players working away like mud rats in the rain. Not only a few of the players, but almost all the members of the three teams, turned out and Captain Ballard put them through a good, stiff drill. The new men are taking right hold and have not missed a practice yet. That they will make some of the old players hump to keep their place on the team goes without saying.”

“Tigers in the Rain.”

Hamilton Times.   October 04, 1907.

A controversy had arisen in connection with the Big Four league. Were the players in the league truly amateurs or were they receiving remuneration from the teams to play in the individual city.

The Tigers took no public position on the matter and decided to press ahead as they had done in the past in terms of attracting and keeping players. While most of the Tigers were Hamiltonians, occasionally a star player from the United States or a Canadian college might be attracted if the money was big enough.

The Tigers were a non-profit team, almost literally. The expenses of operating the team came almost exclusively from ticket buyers which would allow entry through the usually-closed gate of the Cricket grounds. There had been a modest grandstand in previous years but for the 1907, the team had invested in the building of a much bigger grandstand, as well as a few other grounds improvements.

An additional revenue source appeared when the management of the newly-opened Bennett’s theater and the board of the Tiger team came to a cross-promotion initiative:

 “Next week will be Tiger week at Bennett’s when the Dominion gridiron champions will get a rake off on the gate receipts. Manager Driscoll has arranged for an especially fine bill in honor of the footballers and the Tigers will pretty much the ‘whole cheese’ about the theater next week.”²

² “At Bennett’s.”

Hamilton Times.   October 04, 1907.

On October 8, 1907, the start of Tigers’ Week, a number of representatives of the team were seated in a couple of the prime seating boxes:

“This is Tigers’ week at the Bennett theatre and an unusually good bill has been secured by Manager Drescoll for the champions and their followers, as well as the regular patrons of the house. The theatre has been nicely decorated in yellow and black – the Tigers’ colors – and at yesterday’s performances a number of the artists wore the colors of the terrors of the jungle.

“At the evening performance, a number of the officers of the club occupied two boxes and a large number of the kickers were in the dress circle. A strong football atmosphere permeated the house and a few hits were made on the champions.”³

³ “In the World of Amusement.”

Hamilton Times.   October 08, 1907.

At the Cricket grounds, extensive and hectically-propelled work was being done to get ready for the Tigers season opening game:

 “The football field looks like a circus ground just now, with the carpenters and the piles of lumber and the general bustle in preparation for the game on Saturday. Somebody apparently is quite satisfied that these stands will be used, for the expense of putting up this accommodation for the public must be considerable, and the Executive would hardly take a chance on it unless they felt they were warranted. It is said that the tickets for the reserved seats are printed, and just as soon as the official announcement is made these will be placed on sale in one of the city’ biggest stores, and the 2,000 seats will likely be sold during Friday.”⁴

⁴ “What Will the Tigers Do?.”

Hamilton Times.   October 09, 1907.

On the Thursday before the home game against Montreal was to take place. Bad weather and poor field conditions at the Cricket Grounds did not determine the Tigers from having one more practice:

“Notwithstanding the rain and very inclement weather, the full Tiger team turned out last night and had a real strenuous practice under the watchful eye of Captain Ballard.”⁵

⁵ “Hamilton Tigers and Montreal Are Ready : Great Game Looked for at the Cricket Grounds.”

Hamilton Times.   October 11, 1907.

The new grandstand, and other changes which had been made for spectators, were widely-known. There was an exceptionally strong interest in getting tickets for the big game:

“There is no doubt but that there will be an enormous crowd at the football game tomorrow. A lot of the reserved tickets have been sold already and today the sale was opened to the public. Of course, there are many who are buying only the admission tickets and who will take a chance on getting a good seat in the bleachers. There will be a seat for every ticket so that no one need fear to have to stand for the game. Absolutely no one but the officials will be allowed on the playing field, and after the game is underway, no one but the officials will be on the lines so that there is no danger of any person’s line of vision being blocked. The public has taken heartily to the increased price when they appreciate the tremendous expense the club is under and the sale today has shown that there is no valid or lasting objection to the necessary increase in prices. Stanley Mills have made every effort for the accommodation of ticket buyers so that there is no chance of having to wait long while securing the seats. A plan of the stands is prepared so that a person easily knows the location of the seats being bought. The Rooters’ Club will be stationed on the south side, opposite the old stand and under their energetic captain will entertain the crowd during any delays in the game, while the well-known Tiger yells will be given while the play is in progress. The boys are having a big practice tonight and they will be an entertaining feature of tomorrow’s game. Everybody who wants to join the boys is welcome to attend the practice tonight.

 

“The Tigers are going to have quite a nice surplus from the sale of tickets at the Bennett Theatre this week. They take the opportunity of thanking their many friends who have put themselves to inconvenience sometimes to get tickets at stations where they are sold to the club’s advantage. There was a big house last night and the Tigers think over half of it was with tickets bought through their agency and on which they will get a commission. Patrons of Bennett’s this week should remember that the club gets no credit for any tickets sold at the box office of the theatre. It would be well therefore to get the tickets at some of the many places where they are on sale for the club’s benefit.

“The tickets for the football game will be on sale until noon tomorrow. Those who leave it after that will have to take their chance on getting what they can without seeing the plan at the ticket office at the grounds. There are a lot of good seats left and it is best to get in today to get what you want.

 

“The Rooters’ Club will meet tonight at 8 o’clock at the Ramblers’ Club for final rehearsal, and to get their seat choices. ⁶

⁶ “Hamilton Tigers and Montreal Are Ready : Great Game Looked for at the Cricket Grounds.”

Hamilton Times.   October 11, 1907.

The early Saturday afternoon edition of the Hamilton Times had an item about

 

“Owing to the Montreal Express being delayed by connections in the east, the Montreal team did not arrive at 9 o’clock as expected. Word was received that the train was four hours late and wouldn’t arrive till one o’clock. That will give the players and followers time to get luncheon and dress for the game at 2:45.

“The Montreal team will make their headquarters at the Royal Hotel. They are accompanied by about 75 rooters. There are indications that there will be an immense crowd at the Cricket Grounds when the first match of the Big Four series will be played.”

“All Ready for the Kick Off This Afternoon.”⁷

⁷Hamilton Times.   October 12, 1907.

The Cricket grounds had been completed and the grandstand was ready, the Hamilton fans had turned up in an unusually high number and they were ready. However, the Tigers seemed not to be fully ready to start the season:

 

 

 

 “It was not on Saturday afternoon that you heard those hungry tigers roar – at, least not with their usual ferocity, and not subsequent to 5:05 p.m., when the sound of the referee’s whistle proclaimed Montreal victorious over the champions of four successive seasons, and left 4,000 people working out excuses and theories as to how it happened. But the same hungry tigers did not take to the jungle. They are not that sort. Their roar will be heard again, and the old familiar refrain will be sung as lustily as ever, and some team will know that the hungry Tigers of Hamilton were out for blood and gore – and maybe it will be the selfsame Montreal bunch of huntsmen who went gunning on Saturday and captured a great bag of the genuine big game.” ⁸

“Lost First Game in Five Years on Saturday : Their Combination Was Not Perfect in This Match.”

Hamilton Times.   October 14, 1907.

In reaction to the loss to Montreal, a poet submitted the following to the Times for publication:

 

 

 

 

 

 Football !

 

Lets see – yes

Hamilton used to play it,

Come to think of it,

Played it pretty well, too,

Yes, it did !

 

Ever hear of the Tigers?

Of course; who hasn’t?

Kings of the Rugby jungle,

Lords of the football wastes!

Mighty on the gridiron,

Game from snout to tip,

Ringtail roarers,

Breathing glory,

Football!

Rah!

 

Where were their opponents?

N.B. – Look within,

They fattened on them,

Ate up all offering;

Ate them raw,

Flesh, bones, hide, claws;

Licked their chops and cried

 

“More!”

 

Then they hibernated – almost,-

Acquired adipose,

Loved case,

Became over-confident, Went out to seek prey

And were preyed upon,

Their hides were clawed,

Their tails knotted,

Their claws clipped,

Howl, O ye Varmints!

 

10 to 2!

 

How did it happen?

 

Arnica and oil,

Bandages and salve!

Lash those tails some,

Exercise those muscles,

Grind sharp those tusks

And point those claws afresh.

Prepare a strong diet –

Vitriol and shingle nails

Cayenne and asafetida salad,

Dynamite desert,

Wear off fat,

Or there’ll be

Hides on the fence,

Think deeply,

Work hard,

Then roar.”⁹

⁹  “A Gridiron Monody.”

Hamilton Times.   October 14, 1907.

                                      A Star Tiger player - Art Moore
 

1901 Socialist Riot (Part 2)

 

The intense disturbances which erupted in downtown Hamilton during the Socialist Riot of Saturday, September 14, 1901took place between 8:30 and 9:30 that evening. Although many of the leaders of the riot, were stored away in the cells of No. 3 Police Station on King William street, just a few blocks away the sidewalks and roadways were filled with people. The activity in and around Gore Park, the City Hall and Market Square continued until nearly midnight when it started to rain, sending people, finally, to their homes.

The new morning, bright and early, an unusual Sunday session of Hamilton Police Court began at 9 a.m.:

The Spectator’s account of that lengthy Police Court session follows:

“Long before the police court opened, the back benches were all occupied and several hundred men and boys who were unable to gain admittance stood on the sidewalk and road in front of the police station. Lockhart M. Gordon was the first of the socialists called on. W.M. McClemont assumed that he had been engaged to defend all the Socialist prisoners. The charge read to Gordon was :

“That you did, on Sept. 14, at Hamilton, unlawfully obstruct the public highway, to wit, King street, by inducing the crowd to gather there and refusing to disperse when ordered to do so by the police, who has reason to believe that there would be a breach of the peace occasioned by such gathering.’

“In a clear voice, he answered not guilty, and Chief Smith stepped into the witness box and began to tell the story. The chief said that during the week he had been warned by more than one prominent citizen that unless the police put a stop to the Socialist meeting, they would take the law into their own hands and there would be trouble. He then went to tell about visiting the meeting on Saturday night, and, after listening for a few minutes, ordered the speaker (Gordon) to cease talking and move on.

“’What was he talking about?’ asked Crown Attorney Crerar, who conducted the prosecution.

“ ‘Socialism,’ replied the chief.

“ ‘Anarchsim you mean,’ put in Mr. Crerar.

“The chief proceeded to give a detailed account of the arrest and the trouble that followed.

“Mr. McClemont wanted to know if these meetings had not been going on for some time, and if the utterances Saturday night were any worse than on previous occasions, or the crowd, any larger, but the magistrate informed him that it did not matter to him what happened in the past, he was dealing with what happened on Saturday night.
          “ ‘They can hire a hall and spout as long as they like as long as they don’t use words likely to cause a breach of the peace,’ remarked the magistrate.

Actine Detective Miller and Constable Hasselfelt corroborated the story told by their chief, adding that before the meeting  commenced, they heard talk of the speakers being mobbed and the stand overturned.

“Gordon went into the witness box to speak in his own defense. ‘The charge,’he said, ‘is obstructing the street. I claim as an individual that I am not big enough to obstruct the street.’

“Before he could say anything more, the magistrate stopped him, and informed him he was on the stand to give evidence and not to make a speech. ‘You can make a speech afterwards in place of your counsel want,’ said his worship.

“Gordon’s only defense was that the chief was in plain clothes and he did not know him from anyone else in the crowd.

“ ‘Had you known he was the chief, would you have moved on?’ asked the magistrate.

“ ‘No,’ replied Gordon.

“Gordon several times commenced to argue points with the crown attorney and magistrate but was nt given much chance to air his views.

“William Barrett was the only other witness for the defense. He said he drove around the crowd purposefully to hear if there were any unusual complaints.

“ ‘That satisfies me that you expected trouble,’ remarked the magistrate.

“The witness was starting out to make a speech when Mr. Crerar interrupted by remarking : ‘If that man gets underway, he’ll talk for an hour.’

“ ‘Oh, no, he won’t!’ replied Barrett, and he cut his remarks short.

“This concluded the evidence, and, in giving judgment the magistrate said that, in his opinion, the public highway should be maintained so that the public can have free access to any part of it. The police didn’t have to wait until they thought a breach of the peace was about to be committed to break up the crowd and stop the meeting. ‘It must be understood,’ he continued, ‘at all times and places, when the police order people to move on, they must obey and not stop to argue the point. If they are being wronged, they have their remedy. The only thing I can blame the police for in this case is for not stopping the meetings long ago. They might have known that such gatherings would lead to a breach of the peace being committed.’

“His worship concluded by imposing a fine of $20 or 21 days but added that of the defendants would promise not to hold any more meetings, the fines would not be collected.

“Gordon was reluctant about making any such promise.

“Fred Appleton, of London, was called on to answer to the same charge that Gordon was found guilty on. Before pleading he addressed the magistrate, stating that he was in London, the headquarters of the party yesterday, and discussed the question with the national board. The result was that he had been authorized to appeal in case the police secured a conviction. He gave notice of appeal in the Gordon case and asked that his own case and those of his comrades, Shapiro and McKenzie, be allowed to stand until the appeal is decided on the understanding that no meetings are to be held in the meantime. His request was granted.

“This seemed to satisfy every person except Gordon, who was heard remarking to his counsel , ‘I won’t undertake anything. G—d—their souls.’

“The magistrate was informed of what had been said, Mr. Crerar adding that from the notes found on Gordon, it was evident that he intended to make a most bitter attack on a prominent city clergyman.

“ ‘I was going to give them some of what they have been giving us,’ put in Gordon.

“The magistrate gave the haughty young man some good advice. ‘The only thing you can gain by your action, ‘ he said, ‘is public notoriety. If you advocate liberty against the law, the citizens will advocate the same liberty and your life will then be in danger. Don’t, therefore, resist the law, for you will find in the end that it is much stronger than you are.’

“His worship overlooked Gordon’s hasty remarks and allowed his ruling to stand.

                   Sympathizers Dealt  With

“George McNeal, 297 Main street west, was then called on to answer to a charge of inciting the mob against the police. Constable Cruickshank said McNeal was urging those around him to take McKenzie away from the officers, and kept shouting ‘Murder the cops,’ Kill the Police’ etc. McNeal said he became excited and didn’t know what he was saying. He had no intention of bucking against the law or police. He didn’t remember making the remarks credited to him. He was severely lectured and fined $10 and costs.

“Isaac Sherwood, 76 Main street west, admitted he had done wrong in refusing to move away from the front of the police station when ordered to do so, but excused himself on the ground that he had just quit work and not knowing that there had been a riot, stopped to see what the crowd was assembled for. As he spent Saturday night in the cells, the magistrate considered that he had been sufficiently punished and allowed him to go with a warning.”²

While Magistrate Jelfs’ rulings at the Police Court brought an end to the matters which took place the night before, the efforts by Socialists to speak in other areas of the city, such as Victoria Park and Woodlands Park, continued.

The Hamilton Times in its Monday editorial comment on the Socialist Riot of the weekend, carried a message, a message which began with the editorial headline, ‘Quit It’ The editorial put the rioting in the context of the very recent assassination of United States President McKinley, and carried a very clear message to those who would promote anarchism on Hamilton city streets: “With the dead body of an Anarchist’s victim awaiting burial in the neighbouring country, the people of Hamilton are in no mood to tolerate violent language in the speeches of the agitators who seek notoriety on the streets of this city on Saturday nights. In less excited times, no positive harm may be done by Rodehouse and his band of blowhards, who talk loudly about a lot of things they do not understand and feel repaid by the applause f their hearers. But the statement of Czolgosz that President McKinley’s death is traceable to an anarchistic speech by Emma Goldman is generally credited, and, so far as Canada is concerned, that sort of business must be nipped in the bud. Prevention is better than cure. If the orators have any work to do, it behooves them to attend to it in the day-time, and rest at night; if they prefer talking to working, the Vagrancy Act will fit their case. Of one thing they may be assured – the head-centre of anarchism cannot be transferred from the United States to Canada; our people will not permit it.”

                  No. 3 Police Station, King William Street 

(courtesy Hamilton Police Historical Society and Museum)

1901 - Socialists (Part 1)

 

  “The trouble which the police have been allowing to brew for some time by allowing members of the Socialist party to hold open air meetings on the Gore and in other parts of the city, at which city officials and prominent public and business men were blackguarded, was brought to a head on Saturday night, when Chief Smith and the members of the force tried to break up a socialist meeting which was being held at the corner of King and John Streets.”

Hamilton Spectator.    September 16, 1901.

For several weeks, a group of Socialist speakers had been popping up in various locations to harangue listeners about the benefits of socialism and about the exploitation of the working classes by the elite. Also the speakers were not hesitant to names, whether local, national or international targets of their hostility.

Complaints had been made about the speakers from the Socialists Labor Party, even from some Hamilton pulpits. On the Saturday evening, just days after the death of U.S. President McKinley, the speakers had aroused widespread indignation by their insults towards to the late president.

Late that week, Hamilton Police Chief Smith had been told that if nothing was done about the socialists, a group of citizens were prepared to take the law into their own hands and silence them.

On Saturday evening, September  1901, a group of Socialists had set up a temporary platform near the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald at King and John streets. Lanterns had been included as the nights had already been starting earlier and the speakers wanted to be seen as well as heard.

The Chief had prepared a plan for dealing with the Socialists and their leaders but circumstances were not as he anticipated:

“Early in the day Chief Smith determined to put an end to the meetings, but, anticipating trouble, took the precaution to have all the members of the force close at hand and ready for action in case of resistance. Robert Roadhouse, having been the orator at nearly all of the previous meetings, it was expected that he would hold forth again. Saturday night and to strengthen his case, the chief armed himself with a warrant for Roadhouse’s arrest on a charge of seduction, alleged to have been committed over seven years ago. Roadhouse, however, had gone to Toronto to address a gathering there.”^{1 (}Roadhouse’s name was also spelled Rodehouse in the press coverage.)

¹ “Police Broke Up the Socialist Gathering.”

Hamilton Spectator.    September 16, 1901.

The Hamilton newspapers certainly had reporters ready for the Saturday night meeting, scheduled to begin that evening :

“Before 8 o’clock Chief Smith, Sergts. Vanatter, Castell and McKenzie, and fifteen or twenty policemen, some in uniform and others in plain clothes, and a number of detectives were in the vicinity of Rodehouse’s rostrum. It was the intention to bag Rodehouse first, but that enemy of capitalists did not show up. Lockhart Gordon got on the stand and began the usual harangue against capitalists. There were fully a thousand  people around the speaker, and the sidewalk on the south side of the street was blacked.

“Chief Smith walked up to the stand and requested Gordon to cease talking, saying he was causing an obstruction of the sidewalk. Gordon refused to obey. ‘Take him down,’ the chief said to his men, and in an instant Officers Miller and Haselfeldt seized him and pulled him from the stand. Gordon shouted ‘Appleton,’ as he started for the cells. There were hisses from some in the crowd, but loud cheers from many other persons drowned out the hisses. A large crowd of boys followed the prisoner and officers to No. 3 Police station.”²

²“That Riot On Saturday Night : Was Caused By Socialist Labor Party.”

 Hamilton Times.    September 16, 1901.

The already tense situation around the speakers’ platform was heightened by the arrest and removal of Lockhart Gordon. Many of the crowd had followed him and his arresting officers along John street and east along King William street to No. 3 Police station.

About half the large crowd remained near King and John streets, waiting for developments there:

“By this time, over 2,000 people had gathered and some of them began to get excited and hissed and jeered the police and the socialists alternatively. As Gordon was being led away, he called on Fred Appleton, of London, to mount the platform and address the crowd. The excitement was at a fever heat. Appleton jumped on the improvised platform and began when Gordon left off.

“Policemen in plain clothes were scattered through the crowd to prevent breaches of the peace and to find out, if possible, who was doing the shouting and jeering. The sympathies of most of the men appeared to be with the police, but a few boys became troublesome and commenced throwing dirt and other missiles, but when they discovered that the police were in earnest , this quit for a time.”¹

The relatively peaceful pause was brief and things quickly heated up again:

“Before any person else had a chance to speak, Detective Coulter and a number of policemen had extinguished the lights and pulled down the platform. The crowd hung around, however, and Finally, A. McKenzie, a tailor, who lives at 205 John street north, took off his hat and started to talk. His friends advised him to stop, and the police ordered him to go away quietly, but he refused to accept their warning for some time. Finally , seeing that to remain longer would mean that he too would be arrested, he started west on the south side of King street, calling and waving to the crowd to follow him. Soon the crowd was pressing its way after him – a few because their sympathies were with the cause he advocated, but the majority because they wondered what was to be the next move and wanted to see the fun.”¹

McKenzie led a long, and increasingly agitated crowd on a protest walk through Hamilton’s core:

“Headed by McKenzie, the crowd went down James to Merrick street, along York street and across the Market square to the south side of the city hall. When James street was reached, a stop was made, and Mackenzie began to speak again. By this time, the crowd was so large that both James and York streets were blocked. The city hall steps were black with people, and small boys even climbed up on the window sills to get a good view of  what was going on. Acting Detectives Miller and Zeats turned the corner of King and James street, just as McKenzie started to speak, but the noise was so great that they could not hear him until they got close to where he was standing, hat in hand, shouting at the top of his voice. Again the officers asked him to go home quietly, but again he refused, and they had no alternative but to lock him up.”¹

It was at this point that the near-riot had escalated into a full-blown riot:

“Up till this time, the crowd, though unruly had not shown itself to be hostile to the police, but as soon as the officers laid hands on McKenzie, the police began to crush in on them, and there were cries of ‘Don’t let them take him. Several officers, including Constable Harris, went to the assistance of their fellow officers, and helped them get McKenzie to the police station. Constable Harris found it impossible to get the mob to step back, and drew his baton, and after warning those close to him to keep back, swung it right and left, for the purpose of scaring them. As he was swinging it, someone pushed a small boy named Thomas Oliver forward, and the club came down with full force on his head, stunning him. He was carried into Spackman’s drug store and was soon revived, and soon afterwards was able to go home, 145 Grant avenue, unassisted. It got rumored that the boy was seriously and perhaps fatally injured, and this incited the rougher element, and for a minutes, it looked as if there was going to be serious trouble. Several times, the police were surrounded and had to fight their way out of the mob. Large stones, rotten eggs, rotten apples and other missiles were hurled at them, but fortunately no one was hurt.

“Constable Harris was struck on the chest by a stone weighing several pounds. Another stone grazed Officer Miller’s head and struck the fence. A rotten egg hurled at Acting Detective Yeats missed its mark and landed on the jaw of the prisoner Mackenzie. A man named Benson was  was struck with a stone on the nose and severely injured, and several other persons were struck. Finally, however, Mackenzie was handed in to No. 3 police station, but even this did not stop the trouble. Stones were thrown at the station and the large lamp which hung over the door was smashed. Constable Cruickshank heard George W. McNeal, 267 Main street west, inciting the crowd to take McKenzie away from the officers when they were taking him down King William street and immediately placed him under arrest.”²

An immense crowd filled King William street near No. 3 Police station, and rocks were freely being pelted against the station breaking many of the windows:

“Several men called upon the crowd to take McKenzie from the police. Constable Cruickshanks seized George McNeil, Main street west, and acting detective Miller grabbed Isaac Sherwood, of the same street. These were arrested for disorderliness. The arrests put a damper on the crowd. As soon as the prisoners were taken inside of No. 3 Police Station, a number of stones were thrown through the windows.”

It appeared that the situation around the station was getting out of control, so the police dealt with it as follows:

“A riot call was turned in for the patrol wagon. The patrol wagon came down King William street, the horses at a dead gallop. This caused the crowd to disperse and the excitement was over for the night.”²

(To Be Continued)

 

 

1907 - Swastika Contest

 

Competition was fierce among Hamilton’s downtown department stores in the fall of 1907. Ideas to attract customers in novel ways were needed. The managers of the Stanley Mills & Co. Limited store just east of the King and James corner, came up with a contest, they the ‘Swastika’ Contest.

Within an advertisement for the contest in the Hamilton Times of September 30, 1907, the importance swastika was explained:

“For unknown centuries, this symbol has been used as a charm of good luck.

“Historically it first appears on the Greek coins of year 315 B.C., but has been found among relics of races of far remote ages.

“It is probably the oldest cross and the oldest emblem known.

“To illustrate the universality of its use, it may be mentioned that it has been found on the Archaic pottery of the Ancient Thera, on the shields of  the Ancient Britons, carved in the solid rocks of the mountains of India and ornamenting the prehistoric pottery of the Cliff Dwellers of America.

“Found among the relics of all ages and of all peoples, but still in use today – the Swastika has been emblematic of good luck and prosperity – a talisman bringing life and benediction to its wearer.”¹

¹ Stanley Mills & Co., Limited”

Hamilton Times.   September 30, 1907.

The details of the Swastika Prize Story were then detailed:

“We have adopted the Swastika as an emblem for the great Managers’ Sale to be held from Thursday, Oct. 3 to Tuesday, Oct. 8^th, and in order to get everyone thoroughly interested and familiar with this popular emblem, we will hold a prize story contest and invite the readers of this paper to weave some interesting romance around the ‘Swastika’ – or a story connecting this emblem with our Great Managers’ Sale”¹

The prizes to be vied for were enumerated as follows:

“To the person sending in the best story we will give a Solid Gold Swastika Pin, and to each of the writers of the next 25 stories, we will give an Enameled Swastika Pin.”

In conclusion the ad noted that ‘the stories must not exceed 300 words and the contest closes next Saturday, October 5^th. Address all stories to ‘Swastika Contest, Stanley Mills & Co. Limited.”

1905 - Tattto at the Cricket Grounds

“Arrangements are practically completed for the military tattoo on Thursday next. The officers of the Thirteenth have spared no expense to make the entertainment thoroughly enjoyable. Special seats are being provided for about 2,500 people, for which no extra charge will be made. For the grandstand and special chairs an extra 25 cents will be charged.”

Hamilton Times.   July 17, 1905.

It was an event that took a very long time to organize, and hopes were high for the success of the Military Tattoo to put on by Hamilton’s militia unit the Thirteenth Battalion:

““Few people realize the great expense of a military tattoo, the estimate for this being close on a thousand dollars. A special train is to bring the three Toronto bands arriving here about 7:30, these bands will go to the grounds by different routes.”¹

¹ “Military Tattoo : Arrangements for the Seating of a Very Large Crowd.”

Hamilton Times.   July 17, 1905.

The grounds chosen for the event to be held on July 20, 1905 were the Cricket Grounds, the large open space north of Charlton Avenue West, between Queen and Reginald streets.

As well as the temporary grandstand capable of seating well over 2,000 people, special reserved seating, with higher ticket prices was also provided. It was also assumed that many more who had purchased tickets just to enter the grounds would watch the whole tattoo while standing.

The features of the tattoo, besides the massed bands and displays of marching, included a mock camp, in which a large chorus of singers were to be located, a mock night attack on the grounds by soldiers trying to enter the area from the neighboring streets. Blank ammunition was used on streets like Kent and Alexander streets.

The Times article announcing the upcoming event included advice for would be spectators :

“Tickets for the tattoo may be obtained from officers of the regiment and at the bookstores. It would be advisable to purchase tickets early and avoid the rush at the gates.”¹

A follow up insert in the Times of July 18, 1905 firmed exactly where tickets for the tattoo could be obtained:

“Tickets may be secured at R. Duncan Co., Cloke & Son, A.C. Turnbull’s and Mack’s Drug store.”²

² Military Tattoo”

Hamilton Times  July 18, 1905.

The weather proved to be ideal on July 20, 1905 and the tattoo went off without a hitch. Following is the full Times account of the event:

“The military tattoo held at the cricket grounds last night under the auspices of the Thirteenth Regiment was the most successful and enjoyable military night entertainment ever given in this city. There were over 5,000 spectators present, a large number being visiting Masons, and that they enjoyed the programme was evinced by the frequent and loud applause. The tattoo was a kind of military vaudeville.

“Selections by bands.

 Gun Fire

 First post. Thirteenth bugles.

 March around parade ground by combined Thirteenth brass and bugle bands’

                        Tattoo

(a)        Queen’s Own Rifles, Toronto … The Buffs

(b)        Royal Grenadiers, Toronto  … British Grenadiers

(c)        Thirteenth Regiment, Hamilton … Mountain Rose

(d)        Forty-Eighth Highlanders, Toronto … Highland Laddie

(e)        Seventy-Seventh Regiment, Wentworth Infantry … I’m 95

(f)          Ninety-First Canadian Highlanders, Hamilton  Bonnie Dundee.

Massed bands advance and retire, playing British Grenadiers.

Physical drill by squad of the Thirteenth Regiment, under Sergt.-Major Huggins

Camp scenes with choruses, under leadership of Bruce Carey.

(a)        Sentries posted and repelling attack.

(b)        Maple Leaf, Rule Britannia, with massed bands.

Illuminations

Musical selections by massed bands

(a)        Nearer, My God, to Thee

(b)        Evening Hymn

Last Post

God Save the Thing.

Lights Out.

“All the bands were given a good reception as they passed the grandstands, prior to the ensemble number. The Forty-Eighth Highlanders, Toronto, received the most applause, however, they playing a favorite Scotch tune, and marching with fine precision. The little Seventy-seventh, from Dundas, got its share of the applause. The playing by the massed bands of the British Grenadiers was most stirring, and the crowd cheered loud and long.

“The most realistic scenes were the camp fires, located in the northerly part of the grounds. The soldiers sang three choruses under the leadership of Mr. Carey. Mr. Carey took the solo part in one of them, and Mr. Dan Robinson in another. The one that made the biggest hit was the French song – Alluetta (sic)– and was sung by members of the first contingent to South Africa. Mr. E.G. Payne took the solo part, rendering it with effect.

“Major Labatt was master of ceremonies.

“It was 10:20 when the ‘last post’ was sounded. Hundreds of persons stood from start to finish, and still enjoyed the entertainment. It has been suggested that the tattoo be repeated.”³

³ “Tattoo Was Great Success : Thousands Witnessed Fine Military Entertainment : Music By Massed Bands Elicited Loud Applause : Physical Drill With Illuminated Sticks Pretty.”

Hamilton Times.   July 21, 1905.