1906 - Bells of St. Paul's

 

“When a chime of bells to complete the equipment of St. Paul’s Church was first talked of three years ago, a set of four bells composing the Westminster chimes only was contemplated.”

Hamilton Times.  September 09, 1906.

While only four bells were at first considered, the leaders of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church felt that more would be suitable for the beautiful church on James Street South in downtown Hamilton:

“It was felt that this handsome steeple, on which are 55 finials, and the only stone spire in Ontario, situate ‘downtown’ in this growing city, was worthy of a full set of eleven bells, as they would minister Angelus to the largest number of business citizens, and will be heard over a radius of one mile¹

¹“St. Paul’s Chimes : A Full Set of Eleven Bells for That Fine Steeple”

Hamilton Times.  September 09, 1906.

After extensive research a suitable manufacturer was chosen, and the casting of the bells was begun:

“They are not too heavy for tower, nor too light to be squeaky. The aggregate weight is under five tons, with the largest tenor bell weighing over a ton, mounted on steel ball bearings around the journals so that it can be rung alone when desired. The smallest or children’s bell weighs 300 pounds.

“Citizens must feel gratified to those liberal members now in St. Paul’s, as well as the church societies who have undertaken to place these bells there, costing $4,000. The striking apparatus and preparing the tower will approach about half that sum will surely be provided by the merchants and manufacturers.

“Word has been received that the bells are cast and are being tuned this week.”¹

There were some delays and the targeted date for the arrival of the bells in Hamilton was not met. However by the beginning of November 1906, the bells had arrived in Hamilton and were put on display on the grounds of the church.

On November 3, 1906, the Hamilton Times carried the following article about St. Paul’s Church and the bells:

 “Fifty or sixty years ago, many stately residences like Undermount, Arkledun, Highfield, Inglewood and Ballinahinch, were built in Hamilton by the merchants of the day. These fine structures are still admired for their architectural beauty and substantial worth in this solidly built city. About this time, some of the commercial leaders, assisted by skilled craftsmen , built St. Paul’s, which, at that time, was called St. Andrew’s. A much plainer building would have suited many a one but these public-spirited men thought of a day when Hamilton would be a great city, and built a stately and massive edifice. Every lover of Gothic architecture admires St. Paul’s, its pointed arches, suggesting the meeting of the boughs of the forest; its many floriated pendants and finials suggesting the opening and opened flower beds; its numerous quatrefoils symbolizing the fan spread petals of a blossom; its half-hidden trefoils fashioned after the clover leaf, all unite in making it a poem in stone.

“It is one of the finer church edifices in Ontario, and its people have prided themselves upon its preservation. The entrance with rich doors and decorated Gothic arches and marble floor further adds to its more recent enrichment. The graceful stone spire nearly 200 feet high, still the only one in this Province, attracts many an eye. The placing of a full musical chime of eleven balls in the very choice and suitable habitation of St. Paul’s belfry completes the cast of the church.

“Such chimes delight travelers in many cities in Britain, and on the continent. And will no doubt be appreciated and valued by the citizens of Hamilton generally, when their music appeals to the better nature and higher levels of every passerby. There are eleven bells, with striking apparatus set for the hours on the largest bell.

“How better can the business and church center of Hamilton be enriched? They will not only add to the artistic wealth, but the sweet music of hymns like ‘Rock of Ages’ and ‘Lead, Kindly Light’ will awaken on each Sabbath morn in many a heart memories that will be a benediction.

“Travelers from the T.H. & B. station; rich and poor, passing to and from the center of the city; perplexed hearts, going to and from the Court House and markets, will hear the church chimes and for a time be mindful of life’s nobler aims. The familiar and sweet music sounding out from the steeple into the midnight air, like the angels’ song over the plains of Bethlehem, will appeal to the strangers within our gates, and clear the weary wanderer through our streets in lonely hours, and lift many a careworn heart into communion with the Crucified. Then too these chimes will swell the minds of glad hearts on great national days, and will announce to the city events of joy and sorrow in the Empire. They will sometimes toll the departure of beloved sovereigns, Canadian leaders and prominent citizens.

“The bells arrived yesterday, and the work of taking them to the church was begun. The manufacturer states that after the tone testing, the experts pronounced them to be the finest chime that ever left the factory.”²

The bells were formally dedicated on Sunday November 11, 1906. On the following Monday and Tuesday evenings, the bells were played, attracting crowds of people who gathered on the streets around the church to hear the new sounds which would be part of Hamilton’s ambience from that time forward.

 

 

1903 - Police Constable James Barron (Part 2)

 

It was just a few hours after Police Constable James Barron had been shot.

The Times, as well as the Herald and the Spectator, raced to get out the day’s first edition as soon as possible.

An editorial writer with the Times had very little time to write up an editorial on the shooting. There was a notable error in his piece, that there were three, not two, suspects. The thrust of the editorial was focused, and the passion felt was palpable:

 “The shooting of Constable Barron by one of three suspected burglars, whom he was attempting to place under arrest, is a very serious matter, and emphasizes the necessity for the most rigorous measured in dealing with crooks. Another burglary on Sunday morning on Grant avenue leads to the suspicion that, as in Toronto, an organized gang is at work. Householders will do well to take no chances with unsafe doors or windows, nor leave their places unguarded. The police, be they ever so vigilant, cannot be everywhere at once, and forethought is better than regret.

“The armed burglar is a murderer at heart. He deserves no mercy. Every found with a deadly weapon in his possession ought to get the longest term the law provides for the offence of which he is convicted. No half-measures will do. The carrying of deadly weapons, without proper excuse, should be taken to mean intent to use them if occasion offers. Kill the pistol and knife habit.

“Meanwhile let every person co-operate with the authorities in running down the trio, one of whom wounded Constable Barron. Every honest man in the land has a personal interest in bringing them to punishment. The Council should promptly offer a handsome reward for their capture.”²

Later that morning, a hastily-scheduled meeting of the Hamilton Police Commission was held :

 “For twenty years the police Commissioners have been of the opinion that it was the wrong thing to allow constables to carry firearms, but as soon as the news of the shooting of Constable Barron reached them, they changed their minds and called a special meeting to discuss the matter. The chief gave a brief statement of the shooting and emphasized that the desperados made no attempt to escape before the constable came on the scene, and that they shot as soon as they got a good sight at him. They had about seven minutes from the time that their presence was discovered until Constable Barron arrived, and it was evident to the Chief that they waited for the constable. He further stated his belief that it was the work of a greenhorn, and not of a professional crook. The doctors held out very little hope of Barron, although they said that if he lived 24 hours, he might recover. The bullet had not been found. It had broken a rib and torn through the bowels.

“Answering a query of Judge Snider, the Chief said that Barron did not have a lantern, as it was customary to give lanterns only to the men who had to inspect alleys. The Chief admitted that it would have been an advantage to Barron if he had a lantern.

“Mayor Morden said that he thought a reward should be offered for the arrest and conviction of the shooter, and the Magistrate and Judge said they thought so too, and it was decided to recommend to the Council that a suitable reward be offered for the arrest and conviction of the miscreant. The amount will be left to the City Council, and will be settled tonight.

“The Mayor also thought that the men should be allowed to carry firearms, and in this he was also supported by the other Commissioners. Judge Snider, however, thought that the matter might be deferred until the regular meeting of the Commissioners when it would be approved of. The Chief expressed his opinion that the time had arrived to equip the force with firearms. Twenty years ago, they had been taken away, owing to the injudicious use of them. In the meantime, if a constable slips a revolver into his pocket, he will not be violating any rule.

“Judge Snider said that the habit of carrying revolvers was too common among young men, and he thought that when an offender was caught, the severest penalty should be imposed, it was not only dangerous to the public, it was dangerous to the young men themselves.

“The Magistrate said he had always been severe with such offenders.

“The Mayor said he would like to see the participants in the recent stabbing affray brought to justice, and if the young men who were stabbed would not speak, they should be punished.

“As the Magistrate would have to deal with that matter, he refused to express an opinion.

“It is likely that all the night constables will be given firearms.”²

² “Commissioners Meet : Recommended Reward – Police Will Be Armed Hereafter.”

Hamilton Times.   October 26, 1903.

The following day, all three city daily newspapers reported the death of the police constable. The Times report included the following, something mostly prepared the previous day:

“P.C. James Barron came here from Edinburgh, Scotland where he served for two years on the police force. He was about 48 years of age, and had been on the local force 21 years. He was a most capable officer and had a clean record. He had figured in some big arrests and had always been unflinching in his duty, meeting death bravely in the discharge of it.

“Deceased leaves a widow and a family of five children – four daughters and one son. They are as follows : Misses Mamie, Ada, Daisy , and Lillian, and William Barron. The son is with the Westinghouse Company, and is the clever center forward of the senior Hamilton Football Club. Deceased lived at 280 Robert street, and had a most comfortable house.”

                        The Funeral Thursday

“Arrangements have been made for the funeral, which will take place at 3 o’clock on Thursday afternoon from his late residence to Hamilton Cemetery. Deceased was a member of the Maccabees.”³

³ “P.C. Barron is Dead and Murderer At Large : Police Are Working in the Dark With Little Hope of Success : Barron Was Conscious to the Last, But Made No Ante-Mortem Statement : The Burglary Theory is Now the One Accepted By All, and Well-Established : An Attempt Was Made to Get Into City Solicitor Mackelcan’s House Also.”

Hamilton Times.   October 27, 1903.

 

Yet another editorial on the Barron shooting appeared in the Times, this time written with as much time as necessary to fully express the reaction :

““James Barron, Hero.”

Hamilton Times.   October 27, 1903.

“Policeman Barron is dead. The cowardly shot of the sneaking burglar, or lurking assassin, has put an end to the career of a brave and conscientious protector of the citizens. He gave his life to his duty.

“Heroism is not confined to the military career; the heroes of private life are perhaps more numerous; their courage more noble. Many a man who would have responded without a tremor to the order to charge an armed force on the field of battle, would have hesitated to go into a dark yard, unarmed, to grapple with two supposed burglars, knowing that they were probably well-armed and desperate. Barron never hesitated. His knowledge of criminals and their habits made him fully aware of the risks he ran, and the disadvantage he was under, but showed no disposition to save himself.

“ ‘It’s pretty dark down there, but I’ll have to see what they’re doing.’

“That was all. It was a mere matter of course that he should take all the risks. He had done so often before. And so, fearless, he went to his death.

“All honor to that sort of courage! The citizens have reason to be proud of officers animated by it.

                                _ _ _

 

        “And the murders!

        “The Council offered a reward of $5000. The amount is substantial, but we could better afford to make it $1,000 or $2,000 than that the miscreants should escape. Application should be made to the Provincial authorities for a further reward for their capture and conviction. Promptness and thoroughness should mark the actions of the authorities. The clues are slim, but more obscure cases have been followed successfully

        In the meantime round up the roughs and put them to work behind bars. Give no quarter to those guilty of deeds of violence or those who live by crookedness. Stop the carrying of deadly weapons. Make Hamilton sentences for grave crimes the terror of thugdom, and crooks and burglars will give the city a wide berth.

 

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the attack on P.C. Barron was held at No. 3 Police station. Nothing more was learned about the matter than was known from witness statements gathered immediately after the shooting.

For the Barron family, they were in shock, devastated, but a funeral service had to be held in their Robert street home.

The Times account of the funeral follows:

 “Another sad part of the terrible tragedy of the early hours of Monday morning took place today, when the remains of the murdered man, P.C. James Barron, were laid in their last resting place in Hamilton Cemetery. The funeral took place at 3 o’clock from his late residence, 280 Robert street. A short service was conducted at the house by Rev. John Young.

“The police paraded at No. 3 Police Station, in uniform, and marched to the residence, where they took a last look at their departed comrade. They then formed a guard around the hearse a and accompanied the remains to the cemetery. The Maccabees, to which deceased belonging, having been a charter member, also turned in a body and marched to the grave.

“The funeral was very largely attended. At the grave, Rev. John Young conducted a service, as also did the Maccabees. The Chief and other officers attended the funeral. The pall-bearers were comrades of the deceased and were as follows : P/C.’s Hawkins, MacDonald, Cameron, Jas. Clarke, Cruickshank and Alex. Campbell.

“The floral offerings were very numerous and beautiful, and were another indication of the high esteem in which the unfortunate officer was held by a host of friends.

“The route of the procession was to king, Bay and York. The Maccabees came first, followed by the police, the clergy and the flowers and then the hearse and the mourners.”⁴

⁴ “Funeral of Murdered Man : Remains of Late P.C. Barron Laid at Rest ; Funeral Largely Attended and Many Beautiful Flowers : Police Working on the Case, But Still in Dark.”

Hamilton Times.   October 26, 1903.

 

 

 

1903 - Police Constable James Barron

 

Readers of the Hamilton Times of October 26, 1903 had been shocked to read that a member of the Hamilton Police had been shot and was in the City Hospital. There seemed to be little hope for Police Constable James Barron, to survive.

The morning edition of the Times for the Tuesday, October 27, 1903, hit the streets with the large headline , ““P.C. Barron is Dead and Murderer At Large.” Newsboys throughout the downtown core called out the tragic news. A brisk business selling copies of the city newspapers kept up through Hamilton, as citizens were anxious to learn the latest developments in the shocking incident

The Times reporter assigned to record the story of the policeman’s passing wrote the story with compassion:

““After a day and night of intense suffering, the grim reaper claimed his victim. Conscious up to the last, and with his wife and family gathered around him, realizing that the end was near, poor James Barron answered the call and passed away shortly before 2 o'clock’ this morning.”.”¹

P.C. Barron had been on his beat when police were called to a home where a burglary was in progress. In checking the rear of the house, Barron was confronted by an armed man who shot immediately.

The wounded constable was immediately taken to the nearby Hamilton City Hospital on Barton street:

“From the time he entered the hospital and the first search for the bullet was made, the doctors saw it was a fight against big odds. Rev. John Young was with him up to the end.”¹

Barron was a husband and father of five children, four daughters and a son. He was conscious but in intense pain at the hospital. His wife was notified as soon as possible:

“It was 1:30 on Monday morning when his family was notified of the terrible tragedy. It came like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. A strong, healthy man in the prime of life, leaving his family at 6:30 in the evening, to be carried to the hospital a few hours after in a dying condition.

“P.C. Campaign took the sad information. It was an awful shock to his poor wife, and she has been on the verge of nervous collapse ever since; also, his eldest daughter, Mamie. She had been away for the past week on holidays and returned just a few moments after her father had left to go on his beat. When she next saw him, it was in a dying condition, lying on a cot in the City Hospital. Miss Barron immediately went over to the City Hospital, which is a short distance from her home. The injured man requested that his wife be brought to him. This was done, and from 2 o’clock on Monday morning until he passed away this morning, Mrs. Barron and her daughter have kept up a constant watch. Other members of his family were also present during the day. He made a request to see his other daughters and they were sent for. The heads and members of the police force were at the hospital at various times yesterday, and the phone at that place was kept busy answering the calls as to his condition.”¹

During the morning and afternoon, Barron had been occasionally very conscious, and able to speak:

“During the day he spoke a few words now and then to the members of his family, and the police officials who visited him. Detective Bleakley went down to see him yesterday morning. The Chief and Detective Coulter were down last night at 10 o’clock, as was also Sergeant Pinch. These were the last officials to see him alive. The other detectives and officers were down during the day.

“The dying officer realized that his end was near, and to Chief Smith, he said : ‘Chief, I guess this is my last night on earth.’  He also told them he was suffering intense pain.

“To all the police and everyone else with whom he spoke he told the same story with regard to the shooting. He had answered the call for police, and remarking, ‘it’s pretty dark down there, sprang himself over the fence and walked down the gravel path to death. He told the police of the command, ‘Hands up or you’re a dead man.’ Before he had time to move, the shots were fired.”¹

Barron’s condition improved slightly during the day and into the early evening, raising hopes that perhaps recovery might be possible. However around 1 a.m, Barron’s condition declined rapidly:

“About half an hour before he passed away, Barron was unable to talk at all, although he was conscious and made a great effort to speak. With his family gathering around him, he passed away just before 2 o’clock. Before death, the murdered man made his will, and attended to other family affairs.”

“The news of his death travelled quickly, and cast a great gloom over the whole police force. The men on their beats are going around with solemn faces today, for ‘Jimmy’ was a great friend with all of them. He was jovial and good-natured, and his heart was as big with kindness as could be. Twenty minutes before he was shot, the murdered man was at No. 3 Police Station and was speaking to the deskman, Hawkins. A short time after, Hawkins was notified to call the ambulance for his comrade, who was even then thought to be dying. Barron was the soul of good-nature. Before drawing his last breath, he freely forgave the assassin who took his life. He said to his family, ‘I forgive him for what he has done.’

 

                                   (TO BE CONTINUED)

 

1900 - Macassa and Fog

 

“Lost in the Fog : Steamer Macassa Did Not Reach Port Until Early Morning.”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 26, 1900.

“Owing to the heavy fog, which settled early last evening, the steamer Macassa, which leaves Toronto at four o’clock in the afternoon, and is due to arrive here at seven o’clock, was unable to find the piers”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 26, 1900.

It was getting late in the shipping season as the month of October 1900 was nearing its end. However, there still were a few weeks left, so the passenger traffic between Hamilton and Toronto on the steamship Macassa continued.

On October 25, 1900 the Macassa set off from Toronto at half-past 4 p.m. with an anticipated arrival time in Hamilton of around 7 p.m.

The voyage was uneventful until Hamilton was nearly reached. A problem developed near the end of the trip. Avery heavy fog had descended at the western end of Lake Ontario and was especially bad at the canal where the big ship was to enter Hamilton Bay from Lake Ontario :

“The steamer left Toronto as usual, at 4:30 p.m., and made her usual time to the Beach, getting within half a mile of the piers shortly before 7 o’clock. By this time, the steamer was enveloped in the fog that lay like a blanket over the vicinity of the Beach. Capt. Crawford was unable to make out the pier lights and after making a couple of trips up and down the shoreline for an hour or two, waiting in vain for the fog to lift, he decided to drop his anchors and lie offshore until morning.”¹

¹ “Were Out in the Fog : Macassa’s Passengers Spent the Night on the Lake : Had a Novel Experience.”

Hamilton Times.   October 26, 1900.

Getting within a half mile of the Burlington canal, the captain of the Macassa could not see through the pea soup fog at all, could not see the lights at the end of the pier needed to guide vessels. The captain decided to run the ship up and down the length of the Beach Strip hoping that soon the fog would lift but that hope proved fruitless:

“About eight o’clock, Captain Crawford decided it would be taking a needless risk to try and make the piers until the fog raised and decided to anchor for the night.”²

² “Lost in the Fog : Steamer Macassa Did Not Reach Port Until Early Morning.”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 26, 1900.

While the big ship was anchored off shore, residents of the Beach Strip could hear conversations taking place on board the Macassa but were unable to actually see it:

“There were about thirty passengers on board, but being assured by the captain that there was no danger, they rather enjoyed their novel experience and spent the night singing songs and telling stories. Everything possible was done for their comfort and on arriving at the James street dock, they got together and gave three rousing cheers and a tiger for Capt. Crawford, his crew and his staunch craft.”²